The Adventures of a Short, Old, Bald, Single-Speeder...Now With 3 More Inches...and Rigid, Oh My!!!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Your Not Hard Unless Your Rigid!
So, I guess I am no longer hard. Does that mean I am now flacid? Regardless, after two months, I have removed the rigid fork and reinstalled the Rock Shox Reba. I liked the rigid fork. The bike was so light and nimble, and it took no effort to get the front tire up over obstacles (I put a almost 600 miles on it); but I strained my right bicep tendon last winter and hey, I am in my 40's, so what am I trying to prove? Really, I just wanted to see how I would like it, and it was fine. For long rides, I do not feel like it inhibited me, though I would need to go slower on fast, bumpy downhills. I definitely was not going to go rigid for the Burn24 or PMBAR, so it just made sense to make the change (a week before Warrior Creek 6 hour race).
You will be missed, my fragile friend.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Endurance Training, Is It Enough?
In order to balance being a good husband and father, I ride my mtb. only twice a week. I get one weekday ride and one weekend ride. The key has been making the most out of both rides. I try to make the weekday ride 20-30 miles max with a mix of 6 hr pace and XC pace. There are always faster riders to try and keep up with, and something about night riding makes you want to go fast anyway, so that is never a problem.
On the weekend I try to get a long 'endurance' type ride in. 40-50 miles that will hopefully increase to 6 to 8 hours of riding. These rides are usually done at somewhat sustainable pacing. At Umstead, a 21 mile loop, hitting all the hills can be done twice at a 11.5-12.5 average. Throw in some single-track and the average drops. My favorite trail off Old Reedy Creek Rd. is ~a 12 mile loop and a good endurance pace would be ~8.5mph. Unfortunately, the poor weather, Umstead is all that I have ridden (on the weekends) for the past two or three weeks. Hopefully this week will lead to some sweet single-track. :)
So, hopefully riding my mtb. twice a week will be enough to train for PMBAR and the Burn24. As far as Warrior Creek is concerned, I will treat that like a 6 hour training ride and just try to enjoy myself.
Oh, I should mention that I do get to commute to work a few days a week on my SS road bike (gear ratio of 48:17). It does give me a decent work out, and my average commute is ~17 miles (6 to work and 11 home) sometimes more, sometimes less.
On the weekend I try to get a long 'endurance' type ride in. 40-50 miles that will hopefully increase to 6 to 8 hours of riding. These rides are usually done at somewhat sustainable pacing. At Umstead, a 21 mile loop, hitting all the hills can be done twice at a 11.5-12.5 average. Throw in some single-track and the average drops. My favorite trail off Old Reedy Creek Rd. is ~a 12 mile loop and a good endurance pace would be ~8.5mph. Unfortunately, the poor weather, Umstead is all that I have ridden (on the weekends) for the past two or three weeks. Hopefully this week will lead to some sweet single-track. :)
So, hopefully riding my mtb. twice a week will be enough to train for PMBAR and the Burn24. As far as Warrior Creek is concerned, I will treat that like a 6 hour training ride and just try to enjoy myself.
Oh, I should mention that I do get to commute to work a few days a week on my SS road bike (gear ratio of 48:17). It does give me a decent work out, and my average commute is ~17 miles (6 to work and 11 home) sometimes more, sometimes less.
Darn Burn24!
So I have commuted to work every day this week thus far (single-speed road bike) . Monday I really did not want to ride after only five hours sleep thanks to staying up for the Super Bowl (yeah Packers!), Tuesday was fine, but Wednesday was cold (and I am getting tired of the cold). Still, whenever I don't feel like riding, I think about the Burn24 and how I will feel at 1 or 2 a.m....guessing I probably won't feel like riding. So, will I just stop and pack it in or will I continue to ride? Well, if I cannot get up and ride an easy 6 miles to work after 5 hours sleep, or if I don't ride because it is too cold, I am more likely to pack it in during the Burn, or at least that is what I have convinced myself. So, here I am, riding when I don't feel like it because it is darn good practice physically and mentally. Hope it pays off.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Race Schedule as of February 2011
4/2/2011 6 Hours of Warrior Creek
5/7/2011 Pisgah Mountain Bike Adventure Race (PMBAR)
5/28 & 5/29 24hr Burn, Dark Mtn. NC
I have registered for the above three.
Hoping to do Shenandoah 100 also.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Welcome and a bit of History
Welcome...
to the blog about, well , the adventures of an old (41), short (5'8" almost), fat (fluctuated between 161 and 195 the past two years), bald (I shave what hairs I have left), rider. I ride a 26" Single Speed and I am darn proud...in fact I get annoyed of hearing about all the advantages of a 29er...whatever!
History--Running
At one time in my life, I was a runner, and a pretty good one. In Junior High I was undefeated in the county in the 800m at middle school track. I ran varsity cross-country and track as a freshman peaking with a 2:03 800m, a 4:44 mile and a 10:19 two mile before I gave up running shortly after my freshman year as life became complicated. Got Back into running as a young adult in the Air Force and ran my first half-marathon in 1:26. Unfortunately my first Marathon was only a couple weeks after and I had a poor race (likely from running too hard in the half-marathon) and finished in 3:45. I then started doing triathlons, but injury (two knee surgeries), school and personal life issues took over and I was out of the scene for a while.
History--Riding
Now for the important part of my life, riding. When I started doing triathlons, I purchased a used Schwinn LeTour with downtube shifters...it was a solid bike with decent components but it was also my worst leg during triathlons. Fortunately, everyone who passed me on the bike, I later passed on the run (and then some). Finally ended up getting a solid bike in 2004, a Fuji Cross (I still own). I used this mostly as a road bike, but there were some decent double track areas where I lived in California and plenty of hardpack dirt paths to ride on. I rode inconsistently over the years with my ultimate accomplishement being the 75 mile course of "The Worlds Hardest Hundred" now called "The Auburn Century".
History--Riding in NC
After moving to Fuquay Varina in 2005 I still did some road riding, catching the Cycling Spoken Here rides out of Cary on Saturday (50+ miles) or Sunday (30+ miles). My biggest road bike accomplishment on the road in NC was likely riding the "3 Mountain Madness" ride...unfortunately, due to a lack of hill training, my ride turned into 2.5 Mountain Madness. It was not long after that, due to a few close calls on the road that I talked to the wife about getting a Mountain bike. Wanting to keep her husband safe, and willing to forgo the life insurance policy for a while, she agreed.
History--My First Mountain Bike, 2008
I knew nothing, and I mean nothing about mountain bikes. I scoured the web. I discovered MTBR and other sites. I looked at REI, Performance, local bike shops and Craigslist. I finally decided that I wanted the best bike I could possibly afford as to not need to do a ton of upgrades later. My best bang for the buck (other than used) was a Motobecane Fantom Team. It came decked out with great components for ~$1800 shipped and advertised at 24.5 lbs for a full-suspension bike. I put on pedals and usable tires and it was still under 27 lbs. I was pretty stoked.
History--Beginning Night Riding
As the days started getting shorter I discovered night riding. My first ride I had not idea what to expect. I was at a trail I did not know (Legend Park) and had two cheap lights that did not help me see. Still, I liked the excitement and decided I had to do more of this. After a lot of research, I decided my best bang for the buck would be some LED torches from dealextreme.com. The batteries did not last as long as traditional bike lights (1-2 hours) but I was not riding much longer that that anyway, and if I was I would just switch out a battery. I love night riding. The way the trail looks different at night, the sounds...it was truly exhilarating. If I was not hooked before, I certainly was now. I decided to join TORC who sponsored many of the rides and I consistently began showing for at least one night ride a week.
History--First Race (sort of)--January Mountain Bike Marathon, 2009
Started riding the bike in the Summer of 2008 and I absolutely loved it. Sure, after 8+ miles of single track, even on FS, my back was sore, my hands were sore and I was sucking wind, but I loved being on the trails. I was hooked. I decided to enter my first race, The January Mountain Bike Marathon (Jan. 2009, set up as more of a training ride really). I had noticed that it was getting easier to keep up with guys that I had a tough time riding with when I first started, so why not try a race. It is kind of a blur now, but the race invovled 6 miles of single track at Governors Creek, then ~30 road miles (much on dirt roads) and ending with 6 more miles of single track. I ended up getting into a nice pace line on the road after working hard on the initial single track. Unfortunately, when we started climbing up the last hill before entering the single track, I (and a couple others) started to fade back. At about 1 mile into the single track my right leg started cramping (little did I know this was the beginning of a problem I would not get ride of). I had never cramped before so I shifted up, started massaging the leg, drinking some water and taking it easy. It seemed like it was feeling better so I started going harder again...then lock up. I did not know what to do so I started pedaling with just my left leg as my right stuck out and I hoped the cramps would just go away. Then the true nightmare began. My left leg locked up and I had to fall over on the trail and pull my bike off the track and sit there. After a couple minutes I was able to get up and walk...eventually I finished the race by sitting on my bike and coasting down an hill and walking up any incline. I was able to pedal the last half mile or so without cramping by being in my highest gear. Yeah, I learned a lot that day. Oh did I mention it was 33 degrees at the start of the race and ~37 at the end? Oh well. There were supposed to be prizes raffled off at the end of the race (according to the website) but many people had already left by the time I finished, and I found out prizes just weren't happening. Oh well, I did not deserve anything anyway, so I packed it up and left...hoping not to cramp-up on the drive home.
More History is sure to come, but rather than writing my entire memoirs right here, I think I will interject some history throughout current updates whenever relevant.
to the blog about, well , the adventures of an old (41), short (5'8" almost), fat (fluctuated between 161 and 195 the past two years), bald (I shave what hairs I have left), rider. I ride a 26" Single Speed and I am darn proud...in fact I get annoyed of hearing about all the advantages of a 29er...whatever!
History--Running
At one time in my life, I was a runner, and a pretty good one. In Junior High I was undefeated in the county in the 800m at middle school track. I ran varsity cross-country and track as a freshman peaking with a 2:03 800m, a 4:44 mile and a 10:19 two mile before I gave up running shortly after my freshman year as life became complicated. Got Back into running as a young adult in the Air Force and ran my first half-marathon in 1:26. Unfortunately my first Marathon was only a couple weeks after and I had a poor race (likely from running too hard in the half-marathon) and finished in 3:45. I then started doing triathlons, but injury (two knee surgeries), school and personal life issues took over and I was out of the scene for a while.
History--Riding
Now for the important part of my life, riding. When I started doing triathlons, I purchased a used Schwinn LeTour with downtube shifters...it was a solid bike with decent components but it was also my worst leg during triathlons. Fortunately, everyone who passed me on the bike, I later passed on the run (and then some). Finally ended up getting a solid bike in 2004, a Fuji Cross (I still own). I used this mostly as a road bike, but there were some decent double track areas where I lived in California and plenty of hardpack dirt paths to ride on. I rode inconsistently over the years with my ultimate accomplishement being the 75 mile course of "The Worlds Hardest Hundred" now called "The Auburn Century".
History--Riding in NC
After moving to Fuquay Varina in 2005 I still did some road riding, catching the Cycling Spoken Here rides out of Cary on Saturday (50+ miles) or Sunday (30+ miles). My biggest road bike accomplishment on the road in NC was likely riding the "3 Mountain Madness" ride...unfortunately, due to a lack of hill training, my ride turned into 2.5 Mountain Madness. It was not long after that, due to a few close calls on the road that I talked to the wife about getting a Mountain bike. Wanting to keep her husband safe, and willing to forgo the life insurance policy for a while, she agreed.
History--My First Mountain Bike, 2008
I knew nothing, and I mean nothing about mountain bikes. I scoured the web. I discovered MTBR and other sites. I looked at REI, Performance, local bike shops and Craigslist. I finally decided that I wanted the best bike I could possibly afford as to not need to do a ton of upgrades later. My best bang for the buck (other than used) was a Motobecane Fantom Team. It came decked out with great components for ~$1800 shipped and advertised at 24.5 lbs for a full-suspension bike. I put on pedals and usable tires and it was still under 27 lbs. I was pretty stoked.
History--Beginning Night Riding
As the days started getting shorter I discovered night riding. My first ride I had not idea what to expect. I was at a trail I did not know (Legend Park) and had two cheap lights that did not help me see. Still, I liked the excitement and decided I had to do more of this. After a lot of research, I decided my best bang for the buck would be some LED torches from dealextreme.com. The batteries did not last as long as traditional bike lights (1-2 hours) but I was not riding much longer that that anyway, and if I was I would just switch out a battery. I love night riding. The way the trail looks different at night, the sounds...it was truly exhilarating. If I was not hooked before, I certainly was now. I decided to join TORC who sponsored many of the rides and I consistently began showing for at least one night ride a week.
History--First Race (sort of)--January Mountain Bike Marathon, 2009
Started riding the bike in the Summer of 2008 and I absolutely loved it. Sure, after 8+ miles of single track, even on FS, my back was sore, my hands were sore and I was sucking wind, but I loved being on the trails. I was hooked. I decided to enter my first race, The January Mountain Bike Marathon (Jan. 2009, set up as more of a training ride really). I had noticed that it was getting easier to keep up with guys that I had a tough time riding with when I first started, so why not try a race. It is kind of a blur now, but the race invovled 6 miles of single track at Governors Creek, then ~30 road miles (much on dirt roads) and ending with 6 more miles of single track. I ended up getting into a nice pace line on the road after working hard on the initial single track. Unfortunately, when we started climbing up the last hill before entering the single track, I (and a couple others) started to fade back. At about 1 mile into the single track my right leg started cramping (little did I know this was the beginning of a problem I would not get ride of). I had never cramped before so I shifted up, started massaging the leg, drinking some water and taking it easy. It seemed like it was feeling better so I started going harder again...then lock up. I did not know what to do so I started pedaling with just my left leg as my right stuck out and I hoped the cramps would just go away. Then the true nightmare began. My left leg locked up and I had to fall over on the trail and pull my bike off the track and sit there. After a couple minutes I was able to get up and walk...eventually I finished the race by sitting on my bike and coasting down an hill and walking up any incline. I was able to pedal the last half mile or so without cramping by being in my highest gear. Yeah, I learned a lot that day. Oh did I mention it was 33 degrees at the start of the race and ~37 at the end? Oh well. There were supposed to be prizes raffled off at the end of the race (according to the website) but many people had already left by the time I finished, and I found out prizes just weren't happening. Oh well, I did not deserve anything anyway, so I packed it up and left...hoping not to cramp-up on the drive home.
More History is sure to come, but rather than writing my entire memoirs right here, I think I will interject some history throughout current updates whenever relevant.
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