...young cyclists give you credit you may or may not deserve!
Yesterday was an off day for me, so I decided to abuse some young legs at the Superdrome, as I do pretty much every Wednesday and Friday from April through November.
Some days I'm teaching them how to stop and start a track bike without falling over. Some days I'm just pumping tires and switching cogs. But every day at least one of the local ankle-biters has some question for me about equipment, race strategy, training tips, etc.
My response to most of them? "Ask Suzie!"
No...just kidding....I only pull that one out for things specific to Superdrome owned equipment or the drills Suzie is having them do that day. If they want to know about gears, tire pressure, how to race a Points race or similar I tell them what I can.
What never ceases to amaze me is how young folks will give automatic credibility to any adult that is not their own parent. Many times I've watched a parent tell a kid what to do on or at the track with no success. I can tell the same kid the same thing 1 minute later and they hustle off to get it done.
Even more amazing is that these kids have seen me race, yet they still give me props!
I've said it a million times over the years both in and out of cycling environments....if you want to feel young, go hang out with some kids. Volunteer at your local training crit, track, club rides etc as a helper or ride leader. I get to spend time with teenagers from our church youth group as well.
Cyclist to pray for: LB. God knows what is needed.
DB
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
OUCH!!!! OK, thats better....
Limited time and wet roads forced me onto the trainer last night as expected. After my 42 mile easy effort on Monday, last night I figured I'd wake the legs up and do some intensity work.
After fixing the trainer wheel by replacing the cassette spacer that I had to pull off and put on my race wheel a few weeks ago I hopped on and put in Coach Troy's Spinerval DVD - 3.0 - Suffer-O-Rama (a more accurate title has never existed).
I normally do really well with this particular torture method. I have a few others, but this one I can actually complete without passing out and waking up in a pool of sweat, bike parts and sawdust in the cave.
Not last night. Dagnabbit.
I got maybe 20 minutes into it and was in the middle of a 5 minute tempo set alternating standing and seated. I generally like this set but tonight about 2 minutes into it my quads shouted their favorite battle cry to me - "Siddown fool!"
I shouted back things you cannot type on a family-friendly blog and finished the 5 minutes. And pressed the Stop and Power buttons on the DVD player.
Did another 20 minutes or so of "up/downs" which is 30 seconds standing, 2 min rest, 30 second high rpm, 2 min rest...repeat.
Did an hour, went through two sweatbands, burned some calories. Not too bad.
Off today, so I'll make the kids at the Superdrome suffer instead while I stand there and yell intelligent things like "go faster!" and "turn left!" The best part about yelling this brilliant highly educated encouragement to kids on the track is that they can't hear it very well. I figure I sound like Charlie Brown's schoolteacher's angry husband. Sweet.
Cyclist to pray for: David Clinger. To stay on the right path, now that he has found it again.
DB
After fixing the trainer wheel by replacing the cassette spacer that I had to pull off and put on my race wheel a few weeks ago I hopped on and put in Coach Troy's Spinerval DVD - 3.0 - Suffer-O-Rama (a more accurate title has never existed).
I normally do really well with this particular torture method. I have a few others, but this one I can actually complete without passing out and waking up in a pool of sweat, bike parts and sawdust in the cave.
Not last night. Dagnabbit.
I got maybe 20 minutes into it and was in the middle of a 5 minute tempo set alternating standing and seated. I generally like this set but tonight about 2 minutes into it my quads shouted their favorite battle cry to me - "Siddown fool!"
I shouted back things you cannot type on a family-friendly blog and finished the 5 minutes. And pressed the Stop and Power buttons on the DVD player.
Did another 20 minutes or so of "up/downs" which is 30 seconds standing, 2 min rest, 30 second high rpm, 2 min rest...repeat.
Did an hour, went through two sweatbands, burned some calories. Not too bad.
Off today, so I'll make the kids at the Superdrome suffer instead while I stand there and yell intelligent things like "go faster!" and "turn left!" The best part about yelling this brilliant highly educated encouragement to kids on the track is that they can't hear it very well. I figure I sound like Charlie Brown's schoolteacher's angry husband. Sweet.
Cyclist to pray for: David Clinger. To stay on the right path, now that he has found it again.
DB
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Ride with no purpose...
My employer is awesome. I am allowed to work a split shift twice a week where I leave at 11am, and then finish my 8 hours from home in the evening. The purpose of getting these two afternoons off is to have the daytime to further to ministry of IC3. Sometimes that means meeting with a church or association leader, sometimes leading a group ride, and sometimes it just means training rides so I can continue to be active in the race community without being a laughingstock....
The weather yesterday afternoon was right on the cusp of being too wet for outdoor riding, by my standards. My standard is simple...if I'm going to HAVE to clean the bike, I don't ride in it. If I get caught in the rain, fine. But I don't go out in it intentionally.
Looking like it would be good, I decided to get in a "longish" (for me) ride of 40+ miles. I convinced Landon's mom to let him go out with me for a bit, since he was out of school and just hanging at the house (on his 14th birthday). It was an easy sell...
I rode the 12.6 miles from my house to his, and we headed south with no particular destination in mind other than "towards the Superdrome/RBM." Nice, easy spinning pace since this is a recovery week for him, and base miles for me. We found that even in the middle of a Monday afternoon, Legacy in Frisco is a nice clean road to ride on with one small section of construction. We did encouter some mist, which decided to change into "very light rain" so we turned around and headed back. All told, I hit 42 miles for the day and my bike got a bath, which is a rarity.
I got my miles, Landon spun his legs a bit and Fellowship was had. One of the better rides I've had in awhile.
Cyclist to pray for: Andrew - fast recovery from a jacked up collarbone.
DB
The weather yesterday afternoon was right on the cusp of being too wet for outdoor riding, by my standards. My standard is simple...if I'm going to HAVE to clean the bike, I don't ride in it. If I get caught in the rain, fine. But I don't go out in it intentionally.
Looking like it would be good, I decided to get in a "longish" (for me) ride of 40+ miles. I convinced Landon's mom to let him go out with me for a bit, since he was out of school and just hanging at the house (on his 14th birthday). It was an easy sell...
I rode the 12.6 miles from my house to his, and we headed south with no particular destination in mind other than "towards the Superdrome/RBM." Nice, easy spinning pace since this is a recovery week for him, and base miles for me. We found that even in the middle of a Monday afternoon, Legacy in Frisco is a nice clean road to ride on with one small section of construction. We did encouter some mist, which decided to change into "very light rain" so we turned around and headed back. All told, I hit 42 miles for the day and my bike got a bath, which is a rarity.
I got my miles, Landon spun his legs a bit and Fellowship was had. One of the better rides I've had in awhile.
Cyclist to pray for: Andrew - fast recovery from a jacked up collarbone.
DB
Monday, October 5, 2009
Just keep plugging along...
Not too much has been happening of any note since my last post.
Raced the Cotton Patch Challenge in Greenville, TX. I knew I wasn't going to stay in the lead so I hammered along until I dropped at the 23 mile mark. Chased a few break attempts down and stayed at the front while I was in it. I figure why not have a good time while I still have the legs, yah? Total sufferfest the next 30 miles :)
All of this has been to get me ready for the Fall mini-series at the track that runs through November. Results have been mixed. I've felt strong and ridden well but the placings don't show it as there are some VERY strong guys in the 35+/Cat 4 that should be upgrading to Cat 3 any day now (Yes, I'm talking about you Joel and Bob!!!).
I've spent quite a bit if time with Landon and the other junior track racers getting them up to speed as a volunteer helper during the Superdrome Youth Devo program. Sometimes I'm needed, sometimes I just air up tires but its all good either way.
Landon is doing well on the track and the road. He did 18.1 mph avg for 28 miles with me this last Saturday in a RBM training ride. Nice. Need to get him to the 36 mile endurance level very soon, and work on his spin in the process. Its good, but can always be better...
All for now..
Cyclist to pray for: Todd M.'s family. He passed away on a ride Saturday, details unknown at this time.
DB
Raced the Cotton Patch Challenge in Greenville, TX. I knew I wasn't going to stay in the lead so I hammered along until I dropped at the 23 mile mark. Chased a few break attempts down and stayed at the front while I was in it. I figure why not have a good time while I still have the legs, yah? Total sufferfest the next 30 miles :)
All of this has been to get me ready for the Fall mini-series at the track that runs through November. Results have been mixed. I've felt strong and ridden well but the placings don't show it as there are some VERY strong guys in the 35+/Cat 4 that should be upgrading to Cat 3 any day now (Yes, I'm talking about you Joel and Bob!!!).
I've spent quite a bit if time with Landon and the other junior track racers getting them up to speed as a volunteer helper during the Superdrome Youth Devo program. Sometimes I'm needed, sometimes I just air up tires but its all good either way.
Landon is doing well on the track and the road. He did 18.1 mph avg for 28 miles with me this last Saturday in a RBM training ride. Nice. Need to get him to the 36 mile endurance level very soon, and work on his spin in the process. Its good, but can always be better...
All for now..
Cyclist to pray for: Todd M.'s family. He passed away on a ride Saturday, details unknown at this time.
DB
Friday, September 4, 2009
Networking ride
The economy is looking like it may have hit bottom and is starting to show signs of improvement. But it will be slow.
Many talented individuals have been laid off or are working below their normal pay range...this is not news to anyone.
I've been there twice myself as a member if the IT industry and know the frustration of spending the entire day reviewing the same jobs boards, calling the same recruiters and sending out resumes all day long.
So....lets go for a ride!
Starting yesterday, I'm going to attempt to be at White Rock lake in the parking lot by the boathouse on West Lawther (TP Hill?) to lead a "Networking ride." I was originally going to call it an "Unemployment ride", but I want to make it open to anyone that can be there, whether they are unemployed, retired, flex-time, stay-at-home mom's, etc.
WRL is about 9.3 miles around, and you can do as many or as few laps as you desire. Yesterday some did 3, others 4 or more. The avg. pace was 16.something, with bursts up into the 20s. most of it was conversational pace, and we would have all stopped for mechanical issues if there had been any.
This is not a hard training ride, unless all of those in attendance want it to be. The goal here is to meet new people and see how you can help each other out professionally. Until yesterday I didn't know anyone in the construction management field. I may never need that....but I just might. Hard to tell...
So, please come out if you can get the time. If you are a recruiter and want to drop by before the ride (or better, come ride with us), please feel free to do so.
Cyclists to pray for: All 3 guys that met me there yesterday :)
DB
Many talented individuals have been laid off or are working below their normal pay range...this is not news to anyone.
I've been there twice myself as a member if the IT industry and know the frustration of spending the entire day reviewing the same jobs boards, calling the same recruiters and sending out resumes all day long.
So....lets go for a ride!
Starting yesterday, I'm going to attempt to be at White Rock lake in the parking lot by the boathouse on West Lawther (TP Hill?) to lead a "Networking ride." I was originally going to call it an "Unemployment ride", but I want to make it open to anyone that can be there, whether they are unemployed, retired, flex-time, stay-at-home mom's, etc.
WRL is about 9.3 miles around, and you can do as many or as few laps as you desire. Yesterday some did 3, others 4 or more. The avg. pace was 16.something, with bursts up into the 20s. most of it was conversational pace, and we would have all stopped for mechanical issues if there had been any.
This is not a hard training ride, unless all of those in attendance want it to be. The goal here is to meet new people and see how you can help each other out professionally. Until yesterday I didn't know anyone in the construction management field. I may never need that....but I just might. Hard to tell...
So, please come out if you can get the time. If you are a recruiter and want to drop by before the ride (or better, come ride with us), please feel free to do so.
Cyclists to pray for: All 3 guys that met me there yesterday :)
DB
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Hotter'N Hell Hundred...2009
I was invited by the Executive Director of HHH (through Texas Baptist Men and Lamar Baptist Church) to lead the traditional Saturday morning Sunrise Service at HHH. I gladly and fearfully accepted, trusting in God to lead me through preparations.
Since I was going to be in Wichita Falls anyway, I figured I might as well ride. The Tour riders scare me, so I decided to race the 35+ 4/5 category, based on not being anywhere near ready for 100 miles. Mine was 62 (100k).
Just to complete the picture, I brought along one of our Junior track racers to do his first ever road race in the Jr. 10-14 category (25 miles).
My training was almost nil, since I haven't had a fun ride in over two months. Every training ride has been a chore, and most I didn't event want to do. I was perilously close to mothballing all bikes for the season and getting really fat over the winter.
I got in a few Saturday morning rides, and a few sweaty afternoon 60-90 minute rides in near 100 degrees temps. Nothing even close to 62 miles. 36 - 40 was the longest.
My final two rides before the race were a 1 hour afternoon ride with a friend where I bonked hard, and a Crit where I dropped out after 2 laps. Ugh. And I broke my race wheel, so I had to steal one from our junior program and get it set up.
I picked up Landon about 4:45 and we made it to WF about 8 after a dinner stop at the world's slowest "Was-That-A-Burger" in Decatur. Picked up race packets, filled out required paperwork and headed to the church we were staying in for the night. Because we were leading the service in the morning, the kind folks at LBC-WF found us a room of our own. It also happened to be the room they were serving breakfast in at 5am. So we had to be up and out by 4:45 or so.
No sleep at all...maybe 3 hours, 30 minutes at a time. Not exactly the best prep for a devotional or a race. The service was a confusing jumble, and we never really figured out where we were supposed to be, so we hung out at the stop sign that had street signs for "3rd" and "Lamar". One person joined us. He flew in from North Carolina for the event as he does every year and has looked for this service every year. He was thrilled to find us. We had a great 3 person devotional on the "Armor of God" from Ephesians 6, relating it to the armor of a cyclist.
The race:
We started off at a pretty brisk pace. Brisk is the term I use when I forget to move a magnet to the race wheel and have no clue how fast we were going. At one point, I bounced up to the front of the group (way too sketchy at the back), and got in the rotation. When it was turn for my pull, I had no idea what speed we were going, so I looked like a n00b and dropped the group. Yes, I was leading. They let me get almost 200m up the road before they came to collect me.
After recovering at the back for a bit I moved back into the top 1/3 of the group and saw that there was a solo break up the road (Colavita rider I think). As we were on rolling hills, I decided to have a little fun and make a bridge attempt as soon as we hit the next downhill, using my descending muscle to my advantage. I hit it and got to within 20 meters of the break rider before I exploded. I'm guessing the group decided that 2 was a bigger threat than one, as they blew past me like I was in the junior race. I actually fell off the back as they passed and had to jam it just to get back in the draft.
All of this took place in the first 20 miles or so. As we made a right turn in Burkburnett to head south, I felt like I was riding two flat tires...but they weren't. My rear brake had shifted and started rubbing the rim, and no amount of coaxing was going to fix it...had to dismount. Race over. 40 mile solo TT to finish out.
I knew I wasn't going to last the full 100k, but was feeling pretty good while I was in it. The break and the bridge attempt were fun as well.
Landon lead out his good friend Nick (from a competing team) for the win in the Junior 10-14, and took 5th place only 2 seconds back. Sweet result for a new roadie. I'm very pleased with his effort and his sacrifice of trying to win so that his friend could. Lots of Character in that kid...
Cyclists to pray for: Dudes in the 35+ 4/5 that crashed when passing the Jr. Open race.
DB
Since I was going to be in Wichita Falls anyway, I figured I might as well ride. The Tour riders scare me, so I decided to race the 35+ 4/5 category, based on not being anywhere near ready for 100 miles. Mine was 62 (100k).
Just to complete the picture, I brought along one of our Junior track racers to do his first ever road race in the Jr. 10-14 category (25 miles).
My training was almost nil, since I haven't had a fun ride in over two months. Every training ride has been a chore, and most I didn't event want to do. I was perilously close to mothballing all bikes for the season and getting really fat over the winter.
I got in a few Saturday morning rides, and a few sweaty afternoon 60-90 minute rides in near 100 degrees temps. Nothing even close to 62 miles. 36 - 40 was the longest.
My final two rides before the race were a 1 hour afternoon ride with a friend where I bonked hard, and a Crit where I dropped out after 2 laps. Ugh. And I broke my race wheel, so I had to steal one from our junior program and get it set up.
I picked up Landon about 4:45 and we made it to WF about 8 after a dinner stop at the world's slowest "Was-That-A-Burger" in Decatur. Picked up race packets, filled out required paperwork and headed to the church we were staying in for the night. Because we were leading the service in the morning, the kind folks at LBC-WF found us a room of our own. It also happened to be the room they were serving breakfast in at 5am. So we had to be up and out by 4:45 or so.
No sleep at all...maybe 3 hours, 30 minutes at a time. Not exactly the best prep for a devotional or a race. The service was a confusing jumble, and we never really figured out where we were supposed to be, so we hung out at the stop sign that had street signs for "3rd" and "Lamar". One person joined us. He flew in from North Carolina for the event as he does every year and has looked for this service every year. He was thrilled to find us. We had a great 3 person devotional on the "Armor of God" from Ephesians 6, relating it to the armor of a cyclist.
The race:
We started off at a pretty brisk pace. Brisk is the term I use when I forget to move a magnet to the race wheel and have no clue how fast we were going. At one point, I bounced up to the front of the group (way too sketchy at the back), and got in the rotation. When it was turn for my pull, I had no idea what speed we were going, so I looked like a n00b and dropped the group. Yes, I was leading. They let me get almost 200m up the road before they came to collect me.
After recovering at the back for a bit I moved back into the top 1/3 of the group and saw that there was a solo break up the road (Colavita rider I think). As we were on rolling hills, I decided to have a little fun and make a bridge attempt as soon as we hit the next downhill, using my descending muscle to my advantage. I hit it and got to within 20 meters of the break rider before I exploded. I'm guessing the group decided that 2 was a bigger threat than one, as they blew past me like I was in the junior race. I actually fell off the back as they passed and had to jam it just to get back in the draft.
All of this took place in the first 20 miles or so. As we made a right turn in Burkburnett to head south, I felt like I was riding two flat tires...but they weren't. My rear brake had shifted and started rubbing the rim, and no amount of coaxing was going to fix it...had to dismount. Race over. 40 mile solo TT to finish out.
I knew I wasn't going to last the full 100k, but was feeling pretty good while I was in it. The break and the bridge attempt were fun as well.
Landon lead out his good friend Nick (from a competing team) for the win in the Junior 10-14, and took 5th place only 2 seconds back. Sweet result for a new roadie. I'm very pleased with his effort and his sacrifice of trying to win so that his friend could. Lots of Character in that kid...
Cyclists to pray for: Dudes in the 35+ 4/5 that crashed when passing the Jr. Open race.
DB
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Long time no post...
Has it really been a month since my last post? Apologies dear reader....
Not much has changed from a results perspective. Still chasing the Track Cat 3, but getting 4th and 6th places isn't going to get me there. I did race the open masters recently and finished...NOT LAST PLACE by virtue of a not last in the Miss-n-out.
My crit racing has gone from bad to worse...all time low of getting dropped in 7 minutes at the Tuesday nighter and a total embarassment at the state crits on Memorial day. Think I'll be taking a looooooooooooong crit break. I seem to do better when I get in some long steady rides the week before a crit, but I've not been able to do that and likely won't until after the Cooper Crit and final HCTT as well as youth camp...all in July.
I will be doing some more interval work and continuing to push hard at the track in the next month or two, but I don't have any more non-track, "must do" races on my schedule.
A "want-to-do" is the 12 hour Texas Time Trials, typically scheduled for September. Need some seriously long training to commence August 1...
Cyclist to pray for: John.
DB
Not much has changed from a results perspective. Still chasing the Track Cat 3, but getting 4th and 6th places isn't going to get me there. I did race the open masters recently and finished...NOT LAST PLACE by virtue of a not last in the Miss-n-out.
My crit racing has gone from bad to worse...all time low of getting dropped in 7 minutes at the Tuesday nighter and a total embarassment at the state crits on Memorial day. Think I'll be taking a looooooooooooong crit break. I seem to do better when I get in some long steady rides the week before a crit, but I've not been able to do that and likely won't until after the Cooper Crit and final HCTT as well as youth camp...all in July.
I will be doing some more interval work and continuing to push hard at the track in the next month or two, but I don't have any more non-track, "must do" races on my schedule.
A "want-to-do" is the 12 hour Texas Time Trials, typically scheduled for September. Need some seriously long training to commence August 1...
Cyclist to pray for: John.
DB
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