I ordered the vest because it was on sale. :)
12 hours ago
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The UPS Man Cometh
My new Camel-Bak Classic arrived today. It replaces an old Performance Monsoon Porter I’ve used for the past 9 years. I didn’t realize until recently, but the Performance pack only holds 64 ounces, which can be a handicap on long, hot, rides. My new Camel-Bak holds 70 ounces, which should be good for about two hours. I considered something larger, but didn’t want to deal with anything too bulky.
I ordered the vest because it was on sale. :)
I ordered the vest because it was on sale. :)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
AMBC Events in the Southeast
American Mountain Bike Challenge(AMBC)
March 8 SERC #1
Gainesville, FL
March 29 SERC #2
Columbia, TN
April 5 - SERC #3
Bryson City, NC
April 26 - SERC #4
Winder, GA
May 3 SERC #5
Ducktown, TN
May 10 - Stump Jump
Spartanburg, SC
May 31 - Bump 'N Grind
Birmingham, AL
June 6/7 - SERC #6
Clemson, SC
June 21 - SERC #7
Jackson, GA
June 12 - Three Legged Dog
Little Rock, AR
June 28 - SERC #8
Chattanooga, TN
July 12 -SERC #9
Anniston, AL
Aug. 1/2 SERC #10
Fontana, NC
October 24/25 - Pinny Hills Classic
Ruston, LA
Click here for the full AMBC Schedule.
March 8 SERC #1
Gainesville, FL
March 29 SERC #2
Columbia, TN
April 5 - SERC #3
Bryson City, NC
April 26 - SERC #4
Winder, GA
May 3 SERC #5
Ducktown, TN
May 10 - Stump Jump
Spartanburg, SC
May 31 - Bump 'N Grind
Birmingham, AL
June 6/7 - SERC #6
Clemson, SC
June 21 - SERC #7
Jackson, GA
June 12 - Three Legged Dog
Little Rock, AR
June 28 - SERC #8
Chattanooga, TN
July 12 -SERC #9
Anniston, AL
Aug. 1/2 SERC #10
Fontana, NC
October 24/25 - Pinny Hills Classic
Ruston, LA
Click here for the full AMBC Schedule.
Regional Mtb. Series
South Central Championship Series
March 1 - Briar-Badlands-Battle
Gulfport, MS
March 22 - Back to the Bouge
Mobile, AL
April 19 - Attack on Swayback
Wetumpka, AL
May 3 - Baton Rouge Battle
Baton Rouge, LA
May 17 - Rock Crusher Classic
Louisville, MS
August 9 - Legend of Stanky Creek
Memphis, TN
September 20 Clear Creek Challenge
Oxford, MS
September 28 Butts Parks Revenge
Jackson, MS
October 19 McGee Lungbuster
Ridgeland, MS
--------------------
Southeastern Regional Championship Series
March 8 - SERC #1
Gainesville, FL
March 29 - SERC #2
Chickasaw Trace, Columbia, TN
April 5 - SERC #3
Tsali, Bryson City, NC
April 26 - SERC #4
Ft. Yargo, Winder, GA
May 3 - SERC #5
Tanasi, Ducktown, TN
June 6/7 - SERC #6/TT/XC
Isaqueena, Clemson, SC
June 21 - SERC #7
Dauset, Jackson, GA
June 28 - SERC #8
Raccoon Mtn., Chattanooga, TN
July 12 - SERC #9
Anniston, AL
Aug. 1/2 - SERC #10, DH/ST/XC,
Fontana, NC
March 1 - Briar-Badlands-Battle
Gulfport, MS
March 22 - Back to the Bouge
Mobile, AL
April 19 - Attack on Swayback
Wetumpka, AL
May 3 - Baton Rouge Battle
Baton Rouge, LA
May 17 - Rock Crusher Classic
Louisville, MS
August 9 - Legend of Stanky Creek
Memphis, TN
September 20 Clear Creek Challenge
Oxford, MS
September 28 Butts Parks Revenge
Jackson, MS
October 19 McGee Lungbuster
Ridgeland, MS
--------------------
Southeastern Regional Championship Series
March 8 - SERC #1
Gainesville, FL
March 29 - SERC #2
Chickasaw Trace, Columbia, TN
April 5 - SERC #3
Tsali, Bryson City, NC
April 26 - SERC #4
Ft. Yargo, Winder, GA
May 3 - SERC #5
Tanasi, Ducktown, TN
June 6/7 - SERC #6/TT/XC
Isaqueena, Clemson, SC
June 21 - SERC #7
Dauset, Jackson, GA
June 28 - SERC #8
Raccoon Mtn., Chattanooga, TN
July 12 - SERC #9
Anniston, AL
Aug. 1/2 - SERC #10, DH/ST/XC,
Fontana, NC
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Endurance Test #2
My original plan for today was to do 50 miles on the mountain bike to judge the changes made from the previous test ride and to gauge my overall fitness level more accurately. However, threatening skies and a disagreeable stomach in the morning convinced me to ride the sofa rather then the bike. The stomach discomfort, I assume, came from mall food I was forced to ingest when the family wanted to go shopping after my niece's recital yesterday. I'm not a mall person, but in the interest of family unity, I tagged along like a good little soldier. I digress. The mall is a topic for another day.
After a short nap and lounging for a few hours, I could literally feel myself becoming slower and slower. This motivated me to "suck it up" and go ride my bike since the worst that could happen is I soil myself in a torrential downpour, however unlikely and unpleasant such an experience could be.
Rather than the original 50 miles, I went out with plans to do about 25 miles along the same Forest Service roads I rode last weekend, only this time I would swing South on 277 and ride back to town on the shoulder of Hwy. 6 to get in some climbing. I maintained a brisk pace (15 to 18 mph) on the gravel roads in the national forest, but did notice a strange phenomenon when riding on pavement. Perhaps it is just my imagination, but it seemed as if I could go faster on a hard-pack dirt surface than I could on pavement. I have to investigate this further to be sure. It could have been that mall food working on me.
County road 277 (which I've never been on before) is half pea gravel and half pavement. It is also much longer than it appears on the map and mostly up hill. I really didn't mind the climbing and rather enjoyed the new scenery. The shoulder of Highway 6, however, totally sucks! I thought it would be similar to the forest service roads, but I was sadly mistaken. The gravel is much deeper and rougher than it appears at first glance. There is also all manner of refuse to avoid. The road shoulder is more like really bad single-track than a gravel road. My quick pace soon became a slow grind (8 to 15 mph) as I plodded up one hill after another for roughly 8 miles to town.
The Numbers
Distance: 30.53 miles
Time: 2:19:59
Average Speed: 13.08 mph
Max Speed: 25.15 mph
Max Heart Rate: 179 bpm
Total Elevation: a lot
After a short nap and lounging for a few hours, I could literally feel myself becoming slower and slower. This motivated me to "suck it up" and go ride my bike since the worst that could happen is I soil myself in a torrential downpour, however unlikely and unpleasant such an experience could be.
Rather than the original 50 miles, I went out with plans to do about 25 miles along the same Forest Service roads I rode last weekend, only this time I would swing South on 277 and ride back to town on the shoulder of Hwy. 6 to get in some climbing. I maintained a brisk pace (15 to 18 mph) on the gravel roads in the national forest, but did notice a strange phenomenon when riding on pavement. Perhaps it is just my imagination, but it seemed as if I could go faster on a hard-pack dirt surface than I could on pavement. I have to investigate this further to be sure. It could have been that mall food working on me.
County road 277 (which I've never been on before) is half pea gravel and half pavement. It is also much longer than it appears on the map and mostly up hill. I really didn't mind the climbing and rather enjoyed the new scenery. The shoulder of Highway 6, however, totally sucks! I thought it would be similar to the forest service roads, but I was sadly mistaken. The gravel is much deeper and rougher than it appears at first glance. There is also all manner of refuse to avoid. The road shoulder is more like really bad single-track than a gravel road. My quick pace soon became a slow grind (8 to 15 mph) as I plodded up one hill after another for roughly 8 miles to town.
The Numbers
Distance: 30.53 miles
Time: 2:19:59
Average Speed: 13.08 mph
Max Speed: 25.15 mph
Max Heart Rate: 179 bpm
Total Elevation: a lot
Bump N' Grind goes National
The biggest mountain bike race in the Southeast will likely be even bigger for 2009 as Bump N' Grind is on the new national cross country series calendar. This is an excellent opportunity to see the nation's best pro racers in action. Start training. This is going to be one wild ride!
2009 USA Cycling
Pro Cross Country Mountain Bike Tour
March 29
U.S. Cup
Fontana, California
April 19
Sea Otter Classic
Monterey, California
May 31
Bump N'Grind
Birmingham, Alabama
June 13
CTS, Sand Creek International Classic
Colorado Springs, Colorado
August 8
U.S. Cup
Mount Snow, West Dover
Vermont
August 15
Yankee Clipper at Windham Mountain
Windham, New York
September 26
USA Cycling Pro Cross Country Finals
Las Vegas, Nevada
2009 USA Cycling
Pro Cross Country Mountain Bike Tour
March 29
U.S. Cup
Fontana, California
April 19
Sea Otter Classic
Monterey, California
May 31
Bump N'Grind
Birmingham, Alabama
June 13
CTS, Sand Creek International Classic
Colorado Springs, Colorado
August 8
U.S. Cup
Mount Snow, West Dover
Vermont
August 15
Yankee Clipper at Windham Mountain
Windham, New York
September 26
USA Cycling Pro Cross Country Finals
Las Vegas, Nevada
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Recital
I didn’t ride my bike today. Instead, I played the good uncle and went to my niece’s recital at the Mississippi Bandmasters clinic. She is third clarinet with aspirations of becoming a genetic scientist one day. Yes, she’s a 14-year-old genius. She also plays the violin and piano.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Grips, Gels, and Drinks! Oh My!
I’ve decided to experiment with new handgrips to address the soreness issue I had last weekend. The Ritchey TVG grips I’m currently using are great for two-hour cross-country races. They have excellent grip and have served me well thus far. However, they may not be what I need for more epic endeavors. Enter the Ritchey WCS True-Grip. Since the outer portion of my left hand kept giving me problems on my 40-mile ride over the past weekend, I’m thinking something with more cushion will help.
I’ve also given a lot of thought to what sports drink to use and have settled on Heed from Hammer Nutrition. While my research isn’t perfect, Heed appears to have everything I need without all the sweeteners found in other sports drinks. I’ve had good luck with their gels, so we’ll see how the sports drink works out. Speaking of gels, I’m also looking into which one to use this coming season and it’s a toss up between Hammer Gel and Power Bar Gels. Since I already have a 24-pack of chocolate Power Bar gels, I’ll be going with them unless I have a problem.
The most important thing I need to do is develop a training program I can follow. I would normally go to a gym, but with the economy in the dumper, I just don’t want to spend the money.
I’ve also given a lot of thought to what sports drink to use and have settled on Heed from Hammer Nutrition. While my research isn’t perfect, Heed appears to have everything I need without all the sweeteners found in other sports drinks. I’ve had good luck with their gels, so we’ll see how the sports drink works out. Speaking of gels, I’m also looking into which one to use this coming season and it’s a toss up between Hammer Gel and Power Bar Gels. Since I already have a 24-pack of chocolate Power Bar gels, I’ll be going with them unless I have a problem.
The most important thing I need to do is develop a training program I can follow. I would normally go to a gym, but with the economy in the dumper, I just don’t want to spend the money.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
