winter – Page 21 – littlecircles

December 20, 2009December 20, 2009

Ride

First ride in 2 weeks. First decent ride since before the Thanksgiving holiday. Amazing how quickly fitness can slip away – but – I had a good time out today. We kept it mild – Jim and I explored the icy and snowy Intervale (sans studs!), and warmed up at a favorite coffee house. Temps were in the teens with wind chill dropping it below zero. I logged about ~22 miles just exploring around town.

I explored North Beach on the way home – very different experience riding on frozen sand from my last journey. I sat and listened to the waves and the ice / slush out of the wind and snapped some pics and let out a nice long sigh for a good day to finally get back on the bike. Back is mildly sore – I’m going to do my PT exercises this afternoon after my soup warms. I’m chilled – but not frozen. Time to start clawing my fitness back.

December 9, 2009

PT

Back is still in trouble. Started PT so I have some basic exercises to do – aside from casual spinning on the bike I foresee 4-6 weeks sans riding. Foot is back to 90%. Good to go, even in cycling shoes. Last Sunday’s ride was slow and painful due to my back. Trudged out maybe 20 miles around town. Snow is starting to fall. 4-8″ due in town this morning. I’m going to use this time to rebuild my core, get into a yoga class, and work on stretching, flexibility, and changing up my routine – maybe even getting into the pool for some swimming.

December 3, 2009December 3, 2009

Broken

Messed up right foot. Docs, acupuncture, x-ray, – its not broken – but it hurts to walk. Have a specialist scheduled for next week. And my back is torn up from lugging suitcases around during out holiday trip. Last ride was a week ago – when my back crumbled on the Soma climbing 8% on the road. The foot was actually rideable in my stiff cycling shoes. Was a long slow slog back home and made for an uncomfortable Thanksgiving Day dinner. I’m sitting in front of the happy light taking in full spectrum waves trying to stay sane. No bike, no run. Maybe can walk a bit peg leg style with some stiff soled shoes. Making me a bit crazy.

I knocked off a nice chunk of body weight about a month ago, trending downwards and feeling great. That trend has reversed and I need to battle to get back in the groove – fight the gray and cold of winter coming on, and gain some consistency. Dreams of the Tour Divide keep me motivated and inspired – but 2-3 years seems so far away…

April 8, 2009April 8, 2009

Dusting

Closing down for the night I watched the rain turn to sleet turn to snow. This morning there was a dusting of the white stuff – nothing sticking to the roads – but it was cold and wet. Certainly de-motivating to get in some decent miles this morning. Cyclists tend to complain about the same things – helmets, drivers, and the weather. I’m officially done with the snow and the wet and I’m complaining. I’m positive that once my new rain gear arrives we’ll have sunny skies and mild temperatures and I’ll never need to wear it.

I was only in the cafe for a few minutes.

March 25, 2009

Cold, What is it good for?

I’m done with the cold. Been getting up at the lovely hour of 4:30 am to get my miles in before turning into daddy or worker bee – and its been cold in the morning – with wind. Todays 27 miles was a freeze fest. True, I’ve ridden in colder weather – but when the sun starts to shine the body starts to expect milder temps. I can’t wait to ride in knicks and a wool top.

March 22, 2009March 22, 2009

Spring Sun

Out again for ride number two. After lunch the snow moved out for clear blue skies and a brisk breeze out of the north – northwest. I couldn’t resist a few more miles and did a short loop to enjoy the afternoon. I don’t think I combined enough to get in my metric… but it felt good to be riding in the sun. Deceptively cold for sure – and the breeze off the lake was brutal. I trudged home on North Ave. into a stiff breeze – totally cooked from fighting the wind this morning and afternoon. Climbing a short hill a ‘ding ding’ rang out and commuter man on a citified mountain bike dropped onto his aerobars, passed me, and gave a little wave.

March 22, 2009March 22, 2009

Spring Snow

Went out for an attempt at a metric this morning… but the weather foiled the plan. Managed a blustery, cold, and raw ride out of town and up around the bay before rolling back home. Probably 30 or so by the time we were done. The snow was blowing horizontally at times – and as soon as I rolled into the garage the sun started peaking through.

I’m very happy with Acorn bag. I need to add some pulls to the elastic chords that close the front and main compartment for easier access while moving – but everything else about it is working out great. A decaleur is in my future – I just need to see what will fit – as I’m pretty tight to the head tube now and from the looks of the VO it is pretty short. I might have to commission a local rack builder to rig something up for me. 33 days until my first 200k of the season, and 54 days until the NE Flèche.

February 22, 2009

Free Motion Rollers – Video

In action…

February 22, 2009

Free Motion Rollers

I finally found some time to fabricate my free motion rollers… the parts have been sitting in the garage since the first of the year.

Why? because I wanted to change up the way I ride inside. Aluminum channel to contain the mess, my Kreitler rollers mounted in 1/4″ aluminum plate. Skateboard wheels. Bungie cords. They work well enough. I’m getting some vibration I didn’t notice on the original Kreitler frame – I might have a hop in a wheel – or the bit of flex I’m getting with the 1/4″ aluminum plate is throwing everything out of alignment just so. I might rework the inner carriage to remove the flex – and I need to find a stronger 12″ bungie – while sprinting this afternoon I managed to bottom out the forward and rear travel.

The sensation is quite nice – the rollers slide for and aft in the aluminum track as you apply power, stand, or shift gears. No more of that awkward body weight shifting to keep the bike from jumping off the frame. Ride (nearly) naturally – stand up, sprint, mash, spin high RPMs… so far its all worked.

February 18, 2009

Skinny Tires

Started turning the cranks this week. Got out for a short ride to meet the boys on Sunday – took the brevet machine and felt like I was flying on the skinny (28s!) tires. I did a short loop to stretch the legs and warm up the lungs. I couldn’t push it – my airways are still inflamed from my recent bout with bronchitis and multiple asthma attacks. It felt good to spin!

No studs, and I wasn’t riding fixed – what a pleasant change of pace. The sun was out and there was a cold, clear, blue sky. I think I am starting to feel human again!