The Blackburn torture device.
Gardner's Art through the Ages - Seventh Edition. It's just the right size and one more reason to hang on to your old textbooks.
11 hours ago
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The Meat Grinder
The holidays are over and it's time to ride the meat grinder again. The trainer can be monotonous, mentally torturous and just plan boring, but I tell myself it is better than being slow during race season. There are two seasons in the cycling world, race season and trainer season. Forget Paris-Roubaix, riding a trainer is the real Hell. … Okay, so maybe that’s overstating it a little. Let’s say it’s just not my idea of fun to grind away on a bike that isn’t moving.
The Blackburn torture device.
Gardner's Art through the Ages - Seventh Edition. It's just the right size and one more reason to hang on to your old textbooks.
The Blackburn torture device.Gardner's Art through the Ages - Seventh Edition. It's just the right size and one more reason to hang on to your old textbooks.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Quotable Quotes
"He conquers who endures."
-Persius
Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
-Jim Ryun
"Until mountain biking came along, the bike scene was ruled by a small elite cadre of people who seemed allergic to enthusiasm."
-Jacquie Phelan
"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."
-Buddha
Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you stop pedaling.
-Claude Pepper
"People who think by the inch and talk by the yard deserve to be kicked by the foot."
-Anon.
Do not judge by appearances; a rich heart may be under a poor coat.
-Scottish Proverb
Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
-Lou Holtz
"Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are foosteps on the moon."
-Anon.
"Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood."
-Susan B. Anthony
-Persius
Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
-Jim Ryun
"Until mountain biking came along, the bike scene was ruled by a small elite cadre of people who seemed allergic to enthusiasm."
-Jacquie Phelan
"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."
-Buddha
Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you stop pedaling.
-Claude Pepper
"People who think by the inch and talk by the yard deserve to be kicked by the foot."
-Anon.
Do not judge by appearances; a rich heart may be under a poor coat.
-Scottish Proverb
Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
-Lou Holtz
"Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are foosteps on the moon."
-Anon.
"Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood."
-Susan B. Anthony
Sunday, January 4, 2009
2009 Race Menu
I'm working on a menu of races and events for 2009 and this is what I have so far. I use the term "race menu" because it's not a schedule yet, and I don't plan on doing every event listed here. The races in italic are ones I'm most serious about and consider them target events.
I will be adding more events as dates are set.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JANUARY
Janurary 3/4 - Columbis CX Series (race 1 & 2)
Columbia, TN
Janurary 18/19 - Columbis CX Series (race 3& 4)
Columbia, TN
MARCH
March 7/8 - Spa City Extreme (6 Hr)
Hot Springs, AR
March 29 - Chickasaw Trace/AMBC
Columbia, TN
APRIL
April 19 - Attack on Swayback
Wetumpka, AL.
April 25 - Cohutta 65/100
Ducktown, TN
MAY
May 3 - Baton Rouge Battle
Baton Rouge, LA
May 9 - Syllamo's Revenge
Mountain View, AR
May 9 - Dirt, Sweat & Gears 12 hour
Fayetteville, TN
May 17 - Rock Crusher Classic
Louisville, MS
May 31 - Bump 'N Grind AMBC/XCpro
Birmingham, AL
JUNE
June 28 - Mississippi State Games
Meridian, MS
June 21 - Three Legged Dog
Little Rock, AR
JULY
July (TBA) - Iron Butt 100
Memphis, TN
July 12 -SERC #9/AMBC
Anniston, AL
AUGUST
August 9 - Legend of Stanky Creek
Memphis, TN
August 15 - Fool's Gold 50/100
Dahlonega, GA
SEPTEMBER
September 20 Clear Creek Challenge
Oxford, MS
September 28 Butts Parks Revenge
Jackson, MS
OCTOBER
October 24/25 - Berryman Epic
Steelville, MO
October 19 McGee Lungbuster
Ridgeland, MS
October (TBA) - 12 Hours of Stank
Memphis, TN.
October (TBA) - Bama 'Cross Series
I will be adding more events as dates are set.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
JANUARY
Janurary 3/4 - Columbis CX Series (race 1 & 2)
Columbia, TN
Janurary 18/19 - Columbis CX Series (race 3& 4)
Columbia, TN
MARCH
March 7/8 - Spa City Extreme (6 Hr)
Hot Springs, AR
March 29 - Chickasaw Trace/AMBC
Columbia, TN
APRIL
April 19 - Attack on Swayback
Wetumpka, AL.
April 25 - Cohutta 65/100
Ducktown, TN
MAY
May 3 - Baton Rouge Battle
Baton Rouge, LA
May 9 - Syllamo's Revenge
Mountain View, AR
May 9 - Dirt, Sweat & Gears 12 hour
Fayetteville, TN
May 17 - Rock Crusher Classic
Louisville, MS
May 31 - Bump 'N Grind AMBC/XCpro
Birmingham, AL
JUNE
June 28 - Mississippi State Games
Meridian, MS
June 21 - Three Legged Dog
Little Rock, AR
JULY
July (TBA) - Iron Butt 100
Memphis, TN
July 12 -SERC #9/AMBC
Anniston, AL
AUGUST
August 9 - Legend of Stanky Creek
Memphis, TN
August 15 - Fool's Gold 50/100
Dahlonega, GA
SEPTEMBER
September 20 Clear Creek Challenge
Oxford, MS
September 28 Butts Parks Revenge
Jackson, MS
OCTOBER
October 24/25 - Berryman Epic
Steelville, MO
October 19 McGee Lungbuster
Ridgeland, MS
October (TBA) - 12 Hours of Stank
Memphis, TN.
October (TBA) - Bama 'Cross Series
Friday, January 2, 2009
Ole Miss 47, Texas Tech 34
I made it home from my ride in time to watch the second half of the Cotton Bowl. Ole Miss completely controlled #7 Texas Tech and went on to win 47 to 34. SEC, baby!
Endurance Test #4
The cyclocross race in Columbia is a wash, so I went out to the Holly Springs National Forest for another endurance test. I found a different route on my map to the Forest Service roads that will save me the trouble of having to ride too much on the shoulder of highway 30. I ended up in a development called Timber Lake and got lost for a few miles, but eventually figured things out.
I seem to have my riding position worked out for endurance rides, as I didn’t experience any discomfort issues. This afforded me the opportunity to pound the cranks, concentrate on keeping my speed high, and closely monitor my heart rate.
If the weather ever cooperates, and the ground dries, I plan to take my next endurance test out to the Clear Creek Trail for a single-track endurance test. It’s one thing to rail on gravel roads, it’s quite another to do in on single track.
Make a right turn at this sign.
Make a left turn at this sign. I made a right turn originally and got lost. By the way, it's really not that foggy. I had my camera in my jersey pocket and the lens fogged. :)
Hammering down the Forest Service roads at high speed.
The Numbers:
Trip Distance - 50.99
Trip Time - 3:55:05
Average Speed - 13.01
Max Speed - 31.28
Start Time Temp. - 56 degrees
Items consumed - Two 21 ounce bottles of Heed, Two gels
I seem to have my riding position worked out for endurance rides, as I didn’t experience any discomfort issues. This afforded me the opportunity to pound the cranks, concentrate on keeping my speed high, and closely monitor my heart rate.
If the weather ever cooperates, and the ground dries, I plan to take my next endurance test out to the Clear Creek Trail for a single-track endurance test. It’s one thing to rail on gravel roads, it’s quite another to do in on single track.
Make a right turn at this sign.
Make a left turn at this sign. I made a right turn originally and got lost. By the way, it's really not that foggy. I had my camera in my jersey pocket and the lens fogged. :)
Hammering down the Forest Service roads at high speed. The Numbers:
Trip Distance - 50.99
Trip Time - 3:55:05
Average Speed - 13.01
Max Speed - 31.28
Start Time Temp. - 56 degrees
Items consumed - Two 21 ounce bottles of Heed, Two gels
Thursday, January 1, 2009
First Ride of 2009
I went out to the Clear Creek mountain bike trail today and started my new year by threading a little single track. The temperature was in the middle 30’s when I started, and as usual, I over dressed and started getting too hot within the first two miles. Fortunately, the trail loops past the parking area at the three-mile mark, so I ditched my jacket and got back on the trail where I came out. With all the rain we’ve had over the past two weeks, the trail was muddy in a few spots and some of the corners felt loose. It probably didn’t help that I run a Kenda Small-Block on the back, which is awesome on a dry surface, but temperamental on anything wet. This is also the first time I’ve ridden single track since the end of the racing season. I made too many mistakes and just felt sloppy.
The local mountain bike crew is doing a lot of trail work on different sections and rerouting others out there. The “Big Switchback” in the middle of the system is much harder now and there are a couple more tight turns than before. The biggest change over last year is a complete reroute of the last mile. This new section is going to be sick fast when the surface compacts a little more. This new section also adds some distance to the overall trail, making it just over 10 miles.
There is a cyclocross race in Columbia, Tennessee this Saturday I want to do, but I’m watching the weather and it looks sketchy. I will likely continue with my endurance tests tomorrow if the CX race is a wash.
Return trip to the car so I could ditch my jacket. Damn! That bike is HOT! ;)
Enjoying the first day of 2009.
The local mountain bike crew is doing a lot of trail work on different sections and rerouting others out there. The “Big Switchback” in the middle of the system is much harder now and there are a couple more tight turns than before. The biggest change over last year is a complete reroute of the last mile. This new section is going to be sick fast when the surface compacts a little more. This new section also adds some distance to the overall trail, making it just over 10 miles.
There is a cyclocross race in Columbia, Tennessee this Saturday I want to do, but I’m watching the weather and it looks sketchy. I will likely continue with my endurance tests tomorrow if the CX race is a wash.
Return trip to the car so I could ditch my jacket. Damn! That bike is HOT! ;)
Enjoying the first day of 2009.
2009 Resolutions and Goals
My Resolutions:
(Eat healthier) It’s not that I subsist on a diet of Twinkies and Pop-Tarts, but I do rely on the microwave, sandwiches, and prepackaged meals a little too much. It’s not easy cooking for one since most recipe’s are designed to serve groups of four or more. Then there is the matter of keeping things like lettuce fresh long enough. I can’t count the number of times something has turned to goo before I could eat all of it. I realize this resolution requires actually using my stove for more than storing my pots and pans on top of it, but I’m willing to give it a shot. Let’s just say I plan to eat more like an athlete and less like a chronic bachelor. Another thing I plan to do is drastically reduce the amount of sodium and processed sugar in my diet. I’m already good at avoiding high fat foods. However, according to some of the literature provided to me by Hammer Nutrition, simple sugars like fructose, sucrose, and glucose are poor carbohydrate sources for exercise. They also bring a host of other health problems in the long term. Hammer Nutrition also recommends athletes eat a low to moderate sodium diet. The Hammer rational is a high sodium diet only increases the salt concentration in sweat and impairs the body’s sodium-regulating mechanism. Salt only provides two of the electrolytes (sodium and chloride) the body needs during exercise.
(Save more) This will probably be my easiest resolution to keep since I’m already a cheap bastard and do a good job of saving. With the economy whirling down the toilet, I think it will be more important than ever to pinch every penny. It just comes down to necessity over luxury and putting things in priority. This isn’t to say I’m going to live like a hermit, but just look closer at my choices.
(Enjoy life more) This may contradict my resolution to save more, but one doesn’t necessarily have to be extravagant to enjoy living. Some of the greatest pleasures in life are small. For starters, I can expand my little container garden. I rescued some flowers last summer from a construction lot (got them free), and tending to my plants gives me something to nurture. Another thing I can do is connect more with people. Anyone who knows me will tell you I can be very quiet and shy. The truth is I’ve always been that quiet kid in the back of the classroom. I can also take a break from the daily grind; maybe do some hiking or camping. I would like to take a vacation, perhaps to New Mexico or maybe back to the Pacific Northwest. I’ll just have to wait for a good deal.
My Goals:
1. Place in the top 5 at Chickasaw Trace.
2. Place in the top 25% at Syllamo’s Revenge.
3. Win the Rock Crusher Classic.
4. Podium at Bump ‘N Grind.
5. Win the State Games of Mississippi mtb. Race.
6. Survive the Iron Butt 100 in Memphis.
7. Place in the top 20% at Fool’s Gold 100/50.
8. Win the Clear Creek Challenge – again.
9. Earn upgrade mountain bike points.
10. Continue to progress at cyclocross.
(Eat healthier) It’s not that I subsist on a diet of Twinkies and Pop-Tarts, but I do rely on the microwave, sandwiches, and prepackaged meals a little too much. It’s not easy cooking for one since most recipe’s are designed to serve groups of four or more. Then there is the matter of keeping things like lettuce fresh long enough. I can’t count the number of times something has turned to goo before I could eat all of it. I realize this resolution requires actually using my stove for more than storing my pots and pans on top of it, but I’m willing to give it a shot. Let’s just say I plan to eat more like an athlete and less like a chronic bachelor. Another thing I plan to do is drastically reduce the amount of sodium and processed sugar in my diet. I’m already good at avoiding high fat foods. However, according to some of the literature provided to me by Hammer Nutrition, simple sugars like fructose, sucrose, and glucose are poor carbohydrate sources for exercise. They also bring a host of other health problems in the long term. Hammer Nutrition also recommends athletes eat a low to moderate sodium diet. The Hammer rational is a high sodium diet only increases the salt concentration in sweat and impairs the body’s sodium-regulating mechanism. Salt only provides two of the electrolytes (sodium and chloride) the body needs during exercise.
(Save more) This will probably be my easiest resolution to keep since I’m already a cheap bastard and do a good job of saving. With the economy whirling down the toilet, I think it will be more important than ever to pinch every penny. It just comes down to necessity over luxury and putting things in priority. This isn’t to say I’m going to live like a hermit, but just look closer at my choices.
(Enjoy life more) This may contradict my resolution to save more, but one doesn’t necessarily have to be extravagant to enjoy living. Some of the greatest pleasures in life are small. For starters, I can expand my little container garden. I rescued some flowers last summer from a construction lot (got them free), and tending to my plants gives me something to nurture. Another thing I can do is connect more with people. Anyone who knows me will tell you I can be very quiet and shy. The truth is I’ve always been that quiet kid in the back of the classroom. I can also take a break from the daily grind; maybe do some hiking or camping. I would like to take a vacation, perhaps to New Mexico or maybe back to the Pacific Northwest. I’ll just have to wait for a good deal.
My Goals:
1. Place in the top 5 at Chickasaw Trace.
2. Place in the top 25% at Syllamo’s Revenge.
3. Win the Rock Crusher Classic.
4. Podium at Bump ‘N Grind.
5. Win the State Games of Mississippi mtb. Race.
6. Survive the Iron Butt 100 in Memphis.
7. Place in the top 20% at Fool’s Gold 100/50.
8. Win the Clear Creek Challenge – again.
9. Earn upgrade mountain bike points.
10. Continue to progress at cyclocross.
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