Wednesday

It was 32 F when I got up at 5:20 a.m. I opted for the trainer. I know, sacrilege, but I just couldn't motivate to put that many layers on that early in the morning. I did my hour 20 inside.

Tomorrow looks to be much, much better, good thing because I've got LTs tomorrow. The weekend, especially Saturday, is looking rainy. Drag. I've got family in town this weekend for Elora's birthday so riding time will be limited to the early mornings.

Huff and Puff 2

Wind caused bike pile-up outside of Italian Coffee Bar, Post-Judson, Saturday, at approximately 10:30 a.m.

This is what happens when the wind knocks ALL of the bikes over at one time.

Huff and Puff

Back to back Judson's again this weekend. Saturday was about the windiest conditions I have ever ridden in.

Saturday's power #s:
Max: 764
1 min: 371
5 min: 265
20 min: 241
60 min: 218



Sunday's power #s:
Max: 653
1 min: 345
5 min: 251
20 min: 225
60 min: 205

My last 20 minute test was on 3/25 =235watts.

I did not do as much work on Sunday. My legs were pretty fried after Saturday, but I did what I could when I could and then sat up before Green Bay. Still two good days.

Speaking of power #s and to get some perspective, get a load of this. Velonews got this shot of Greg Henderson's SRM from his win at stage 3 of the TdG.

1250 watts! 81.3 km/h!

Friday

I ran into Doc Jones this morning on the lakefront while doing my "easy hour, low watts ride." We both commented on how much we love Friday workouts.

Knowing that I put in 3 good hard days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday let me just ride.

Sometimes the hardest part of training is to focus on your workout and your goal for that day only. Even if the guy on the Fuji passed way too close for comfort on the down wind stretch without even saying hello - not going to chase, not my workout today. Even if the guy on the red Trek sat behind me against the wind for 5 or 6 miles and then sneered as he finally came by me when I slowed because I realized I was going too fast for the "slow Friday ride." Don't care, not my workout.

Soon, it will Saturday a.m. Pre-ride coffee, the Judson, post-ride coffee. I love it.

LT Intervals or Man with Fish

Today is Thursday and that means only one thing: LT intervals. I woke up at 4:45. If it had been light outside, I would have just gotten up and left, but it was dark!, so instead I rolled over and woke up at:

I think today's workout was one of the best I have ever had... ever. Maybe the stars were aligned, all of the planets in a row blah, blah blah... but I felt great and still do.

The workout was supposed to be 2 x 8 mins and then 2 x 10 mins, watts between 210-240, recovery in between and then a 10 min lower level effort. I warmed up for 20 minutes and then started the first effort at Belmont going south into a stiff SE wind. 6 minutes in, I felt great and was pushing some high numbers, so I decided to go 10 minutes on the first one. The same thing happened during the second one, then the third and finally the last one. I ended up doing 4 x 10 mins. The last recovery took me up to the Shedd now coming back north.

This sculpture is simply called "Man With Fish." I think it is one of the best peices of art I have ever seen. When I ride by it I like to yell "Maaaaaaannnn Wiwwwiiiith Fiiiiiissssssshhhhhhh."

I looked back at last year's training and I am way ahead this year. In April 2007, I was just starting to get back outside, mostly just riding around, doing no intervals at all. in fact, before getting a coach, my interval use was minimal and sporadic at best. This season, I feel the best I have ever felt on the bike this early in the season.

8 years

Today is our 8th wedding anniversary.

Tammi, you are the best and still make me feel like I am bouncing around the room.

The woman was a dream I had
though rather hard to keep
For when my eyes were watching hers,

they closed,

and I was still asleep

For when my hand was holding hers,

she whispered words and I awoke

And faintly bouncing around the room

the echo of whomever spoke

I awoke and faintly bouncing round the room

the echo of whomever spoke

The place I saw was far beneath

the surface of the sea

My sight was poor

but I was sure

the sirens sang their songs for me

They dance above me as I sink

I see them through a crystal haze

And hear them bouncing round the room

the never ending coral maze

That time and once again I'm bouncing around the room

Phish, Bouncin' Around the Room

Felt good

Today was the first day that I was able to get outside in the morning on a week day since last fall. Inside or outside, my riding time is limited. It has to be done in the morning before the rest of the family wakes up That means I start at about 5:30 a.m. and need to be done by about 7 or so. The combination of daylight savings time and the cold just didn't cooperate.

But today was another story: 50s and the sun was just about up by shortly after 6. LT thresholds, 4 of them. They are alot harder outside than inside. It's easier to push the watts outside, but much harder to hold them steady. So, needless to say I was all over the place. Downwind was even harder to hit my target. I'll get the hang of it.

Tomorrow is an easy day and then the weekend. Saturday's looking rainy. I hope not.

Overheard

Michael Ball on Rock Racing being included in Tour of Georgia:

The fans told us they wanted us to be there. We are pleased that we were able to work with Medalist to come to a mutually beneficial decision. Now the race will truly field the best of the best of international and domestic pro cycling teams which will only build on the momentum created for domestic cycling at the Tour of California.

velonews.com

I'm a cycling fan. I could really care less if Rock Racing is there. Do any of you care if they were in or out?

Is it possible the Saunier Duval dropping out is a convenient coincidence?

Brief Update

Very brief.

Was in Vegas for a wedding over the weekend, Elora travelled very,very well and ended up being the flower girl. She interprets things so literally- as she was walking towards us with the petals, she was saying "walk, throw" then take a step and throw a petal on the ground. A 4 hour party in a massive 20+ ft. long limo with 25 people. I haven't been that drunk in a very long time. Flights delayed both ways, but at least we got there and back again.

Trial is still going on. We finished day 5 today, with 3 more to go.

Overheard: The Olympic Torch

China spokeswoman Jiang Yu commenting on the protests of the Olympic torch passing through Paris and London:

We express our strong condemnation to the deliberate disruption of the Olympic torch relay by Tibetan separatist forces regardless of the Olympic spirit and the law of Britain and France. Their despicable activities tarnish the lofty Olympic spirit and challenge all the people loving the Olympic Games around the world.
CNN.com

The running of the torch has been met with protests in all cities that it has been run. Some will argue that the Olympics are supposed to be a time where politics are set aside and human kind celebrates athletic achievement.

On the other hand, no human event is ever really "free" from politics.

Given what the Nazis were about to do, would a boycott or protest of the 1936 Olympics hosted by Germany have been warranted? During the 1968 Olympics there were several instances of political protest. In fact, several countries have boycotted the Olympics beginning as early as 1956, including the US and the USSR of the 1980 and 1984 games respectively. But boycotts are not the solution because in the end they penalize athletes whose only goal is to compete.

The reasons why China should never have been selected to host the Olympics to start with are numerous, beginning with its government's attitude towards free speech as demonstrated by the above quote.

To me that is the real issue. The right to free speech and to protest is integral to democracy. The right to stand up and say "Hey this is crap!" And if necessary to commit acts of civil disobediance.

Monday

An 8-4 meeting on Saturday resulted in very little time on the bike. Judson on Sunday, felt good for the most part, flatted towards the end and rode back with 4 kind souls who waited: Tom, Troy, Roman and Tony. Thanks again. Second flat of the season, both pinch flats. Roman swears it is the Conti 4000s, but they're brand new. Maybe I'll switch back to the Michelins, I never seem to get flats when I'm on those.

Do the Rock on April 20 looks like an impossibility as I haven't been on my MTB since September.

Even with VS. bogus coverage, Flanders looked like a great race. What a great strategy for Quick Step. Send Devolder, keep Boonen fresh. If Boonen had attacked, everyone would have marked him. Now Boonen will be fresher for PR on Sunday. I liked the way the Quick Step riders (Boonen and Barredo) celebrated as they crossed the line, even though they personally finished out of the top 10.

Flanders

I was going to watch it live, but not when it will be almost 50 at sign-in!

1. Cancellara
2. Gilbert
3. Hincapie

Preliminary Power Conclusions

After training for 2 weeks with the power meter, I have reached some preliminary conclusions.

1. It is a much better number to focus on than HR. In all of my workouts, my HR has remained roughly consistent during the workout, but my power output has varied. This leads me to believe that before using power, I wasn't working hard enough during my workouts.

2. All numbers must be viewed with the proper perspective. I owe Lou at the Pony Shop for this one. I was a little bummed by my first test with the power meter.: Lou correctly pointed out 2 things: first, it was my first test with the power meter and second, it's not the actual number that matter as much as one's power to weight ratio.

It seems like most cyclists do not disclose their #s to each other. I'm not sure why, but I view this blog as way to pass on anything I have learned. If I learn something that makes me faster, then others might also get faster, no? So, here's full disclosure.

I only held 235 watts for the 20 minute test. While my HR was pegged at 170 for the whole 20 minutes, the power output was all over the place. Every pedal stroke seemed to produce a different number. In fact, my coach has suggested that for the LT threshold intervals I have to do each week, I use the average power as my readout to try to smooth out my output.

My P/W (using kilos) from that test is 3.27. The magic PRO number is said to be 7!

I currently weigh 158 (5 pds. less than last year), or 71.82kg. I normally lose 8 pds. between March and August. Even if my output stayed the same for the rest of the year, by merely shedding the pounds my P/W goes up to 3.45.

The great thing is, my output will not stay the same, it will go up.