It's often difficult to think of things to write about on the blog, because I believe some of the subjects are somewhat redundant and boring. However, this day, I have a few ideas.
I love to be creative and think about things and draw them out on paper. It's fun to go back to the old ways of doing things and just draw with a pencil and a paper! I'm working on a project that is proving to be quite a challenge. A friend of mine has had a hardshipn in which he lost the effective use of his right hand. So, I've taken it upon myself to design a mountain bicycle control setup that is completely done on the left hand. The brakes and shifters are proving to be the toughest part of this!!! You might say, "DUH!" But, the principal problem is that bikes just aren't designed to be ridden with one handed controls. My goal is to change that.
I'm not going to discuss that any further, because it's private intellectual property...
Today, my lovely bride bought an Albuquerque Journal and I thought it might be fun to peruse the sports page. Tucked in the middle of the third page is a picture of Bobby Cox, the soon-to-be retired manager of the Atlanta Braves. After 25 years with that organization, he's hanging it up. It made me sad for a minute to think that we will likely never see those squared sunglasses glaring onto the diamond at Turner Field after the end of this season. The article mentioned the names of former and current players-some of whom I believe were/are the greatest players of my time-David Justice (C), Greg Maddux (P), John Smoltz (P) Mark Lemke (2B) and no less than Chipper Jones (SS). I can only imagine how it must feel to see a legacy come to pass and how it must feel to have legends see the end of an era in Major League Baseball.
I lost interest in baseball when Ted Turner sold the Braves and we couldn't get the games on the southwest feed, anymore. Therefore, I haven't watched but two Braves games in the last three years and I refuse to switch my team loyalty. So, I'll just search out the standings on ESPN and look at the recaps and highlight reels.
On to my favorite subject: CYCLING! I didn't ride today, because my stomach hurts from eating way way way too much green chile: a common hazard this time of year when the chiles are really showing up all over the place. With that said, let's talk about sports nutrition and how it affects your ability to perform.
I've been losing a lot of fat lately, but not a ton of weight. My clothes feel better and I'm a TON stronger. We have been working on improving the quality of the food we intake around here from just avoiding fatty foods and eating leaner proteins and smarter carbs. That means that a lot of the foods we've been eating are really old fashioned good food! Salads, Vanilla flavored Ricotta, salads, salads, salads and Ricotta, cheese, celery, turkey rollups and crap like that just don't add up to smart eating. Those of you who have ever done that Beachy Diet know exactly what I'm talking about. Humans were not designed to eat that much ruffage.
That said, the weight thing is not tantamount to how you feel and how your perform largely on a bicycle or swimming. But, here's where weight hurts: running and walking. I'm going to keep working on it, though, but I'm afraid to lose that muscle. In college, I lost about 70 pounds by starving myself. I only ate a little meal one time per day. I can remember feeling like I was going to pass out from lack of nutrition. It's a wonder I was able to go to class and function. So, that's a great way to lose weight, but not be healthy and I gained all that weight back and then some.
Nevertheless, let's talk about technique: Hill climbing for big guys is hard, I don't care who you are, if you're over 200lbs, you're not going to be a great climber. Period. So, there are some ways to beat the odds on climbing. People-I mean a lot of people-have written books on how to climb faster if you're big like me. You don't need to read a damn book to climb better, you just need to listen to your body and do your best when you climb. Here's how to do that:
First, don't look at the whole hill. If you're doing blast climbs, like rollers or short hills in a series, the best way to handle this is let your wieght be an advantage. gain as much momentum as you can when you're going downhill. Spin the pedals, in a big gear and gain as much safe speed as you can and get a cdence going. When you reach the bottom of the hill, try to set your pace and keep it there. DON'T SPRINT on the downhill, you'll be sorry you did later in the ride. So, now what you want to do is keep as much momentum as you can, but stay out of the muscle and just spin up the other side with as much momentum as you can maintain. Then, you won't be mashed up when you get home.
Second, don't look at the whole hill. Set a goal and make it to the goal and then set another goal. Just keep climbing until you've cleaned all the sections. Keep your goals short. If you're on a highway, make up some points along the way, like road signs, the next reflective marker, the next crack in the road or the next passing zone-whatever you can see. When you pass those goals, just keep setting small goals until you reach the pinnacle of the climb. If you think in short terms, you'll reach the top much faster and keep your brain from slipping into a rut.
Third, listen to your body. If you're creaking up the climb, you need to reevaluate your method. If you feel pain in the joints, something isn't right and you can hurt yourself. Muscle pain is totally normal. If your shoulders are rocking back and forth and you're having to punch the pedals and pull on the bars, you're wasting a lot of energy and that hill is winning. You're likely in a too hard of gear or your bike isn't geared for a nhill that steep, or you're pooped. To combat this condition, set a pace you can handle. If you like to stand on hills, you better be committed to it, because it's hard to break the cycle once you get going. If the hill's not that steep, don't stand up, because you'll be torched half way up.
Fourth, set the pace. The majority of cyclists I know are NOT Iban Mayo, Lance Armstrong, Marco Pantani and the like. You can't climb like them, so why try? When you set pace, you need to do what you can handle to avoid the energy suck. SPIN. Think about turning the pedals and let the bike go up the hill. Remember, it's geared to climb. You should be working hard, but not so hard that your mouth is open and your body is swinging back and forth on the bike. The pressure on the pedals should be constant over the entire part of the stroke so you get maximum efficency. If you don't use clipless pedals, you should if you want to do this thing right and you're committed.
Fifth, just climb the hill. Watch your breathing and just let the bike go up the hill. Easy? Not by any stretch of the imagination. But, practice makes perfect and if not perfect, it'll make it a little easier as you focus and work.
Lately, my rides have been focused on hill climbing. So, instead of a two hour spin on the flat, I go out and do an hour and half of climbing and I focus on all disciplines of climbing: standing, spinning, sprinting and descending-my favorite part.
I'll say this as a final thought for you: braking and descending is a skill, just like anything else you do on your bike. The front brake is there for a reason and you should use it. Learning the essentials of braking is your responsibility and you need to control the bike. I can do 60mph on my bike and be in total control. I trust it and I trust my skills and I trust in God, because He takes care of dumbasses, like you and me who go too fast on their bikes.
Have a wonderful week!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A Milestone
It's official. I'm registered for the Livestrong Challenge in Austin, TX on October 22-25. Some guys from Roswell's Grace Community Church got me going on this thing and so I finally committed to do it today. as I was riding my bike to work, I thought, every pedal stroke up these hils is one stroke closer to being able to do a century, again. I'm SO excited.
One thing about this Livestrong Challengethat I'm not excited about is the fundraising. I'm all for it, but I'm not very good at it. I always feel funny asking people for money for a cause. When I was in choir in high school, my parents would just buy the candy bars and put them in the freezer, because they knew that I would leave them in my Bronco to melt and then they would end up paying for them, anyway. Plus, I'm pretty sure my dad ate the candy and it didn't go to waste! I mean, I know I'll make the $250 goal, but it won't be easy. My participant ID is: 300690573, so if you feel generous, look me up in the donate now section under Jay Smith for the Challenge in Austin and give me some support. I need it.
Why would I want to do this? It's a fundamental question that goes back to the reason WHY I'm riding my bike to work. Bikes are a tool for the greater good of humanity, which means that they can do more than save some greehouse gases. Bicycles, unlike any other group of activities really bring people together. I can't think of a single active lifestyle sport that doesn't do something for others in their endeavors, but they don't have the power that bicycles have.
That said, you might be saying to yourself, what about the walk for breast cancer and the St. Jude's Motorcycle rallies and the Team in Training? They all do fundraisers, but the main reason that they don't have the same kind of power is that they don't have Lance Armstrong. He is the reason that people are so aware of bikes and cancer: two things that totally don't fit together. So, when you doubt the power of bikes, think of the millions of people who watched the Tour de France just one time from 1999-2005 to watch a guy who was pronounced dead, before his time, come back to win it SEVEN times in a row, come back again to it and place third, then fade from the race, because of a run of bad luck. But, Lance never drops off the radar.
Another big reason that I want to do this ride is because I've known some people in my life who have suffered the ultimate price from cancer. One person, in particular, is the reason I'm doing this ride. I'm riding for my aunt, Ruthie, who was diagnosed with Malanoma on her leg, just a couple of years ago. the cancer was matastacized to the bone in her leg and she had to have may surgeries to get the cancer out. She still suffers with a lot of pain from the incision and from the scar tissue that now envelopes her calf muscle. She recovered, but it's not like a cut you just heal from. She must go back to the doctors every year form annual evaluations and she must always walk with a limp: a grim reminder of the cancer.
I also ride for my Grandfather, K.C. Hefner, who died from a long battle with bladder cancer and decided not to continue his fight against it. The medications ruined his life and mental well-being, because of a mistaken mixture of medications and the medical care he received was not up to par and therefore, the battle was deemed hopeless for him, I guess from his own standpoint.
I ride for my wife's maternal grandmother, Mary, who passed away from breast cancer before the research and any quality treatment was available to women. She died young and left three children to be raised by someone else.
I ride for John, my brother-in-law's dad, who has a serious type of cancer that does not have a ton of research done on it and is threatening. Lots of prayers are needed for him, his son and my sister-in-law, Dana as they go through a pretty rough time.
I ride for the fact that, since I was a pretty heavy smoker and a dipper in my late teens and twenties, that I will likely suffer the effects of cancer sometime before I reach my sixties. The future of cancer research is in the hands of many fine professionals who need all the resources they can get to smoehow prevent and treat this disease.
So, that's why I ride. Whay do you ride or run or walk or tri?
One thing about this Livestrong Challengethat I'm not excited about is the fundraising. I'm all for it, but I'm not very good at it. I always feel funny asking people for money for a cause. When I was in choir in high school, my parents would just buy the candy bars and put them in the freezer, because they knew that I would leave them in my Bronco to melt and then they would end up paying for them, anyway. Plus, I'm pretty sure my dad ate the candy and it didn't go to waste! I mean, I know I'll make the $250 goal, but it won't be easy. My participant ID is: 300690573, so if you feel generous, look me up in the donate now section under Jay Smith for the Challenge in Austin and give me some support. I need it.
Why would I want to do this? It's a fundamental question that goes back to the reason WHY I'm riding my bike to work. Bikes are a tool for the greater good of humanity, which means that they can do more than save some greehouse gases. Bicycles, unlike any other group of activities really bring people together. I can't think of a single active lifestyle sport that doesn't do something for others in their endeavors, but they don't have the power that bicycles have.
That said, you might be saying to yourself, what about the walk for breast cancer and the St. Jude's Motorcycle rallies and the Team in Training? They all do fundraisers, but the main reason that they don't have the same kind of power is that they don't have Lance Armstrong. He is the reason that people are so aware of bikes and cancer: two things that totally don't fit together. So, when you doubt the power of bikes, think of the millions of people who watched the Tour de France just one time from 1999-2005 to watch a guy who was pronounced dead, before his time, come back to win it SEVEN times in a row, come back again to it and place third, then fade from the race, because of a run of bad luck. But, Lance never drops off the radar.
Another big reason that I want to do this ride is because I've known some people in my life who have suffered the ultimate price from cancer. One person, in particular, is the reason I'm doing this ride. I'm riding for my aunt, Ruthie, who was diagnosed with Malanoma on her leg, just a couple of years ago. the cancer was matastacized to the bone in her leg and she had to have may surgeries to get the cancer out. She still suffers with a lot of pain from the incision and from the scar tissue that now envelopes her calf muscle. She recovered, but it's not like a cut you just heal from. She must go back to the doctors every year form annual evaluations and she must always walk with a limp: a grim reminder of the cancer.
I also ride for my Grandfather, K.C. Hefner, who died from a long battle with bladder cancer and decided not to continue his fight against it. The medications ruined his life and mental well-being, because of a mistaken mixture of medications and the medical care he received was not up to par and therefore, the battle was deemed hopeless for him, I guess from his own standpoint.
I ride for my wife's maternal grandmother, Mary, who passed away from breast cancer before the research and any quality treatment was available to women. She died young and left three children to be raised by someone else.
I ride for John, my brother-in-law's dad, who has a serious type of cancer that does not have a ton of research done on it and is threatening. Lots of prayers are needed for him, his son and my sister-in-law, Dana as they go through a pretty rough time.
I ride for the fact that, since I was a pretty heavy smoker and a dipper in my late teens and twenties, that I will likely suffer the effects of cancer sometime before I reach my sixties. The future of cancer research is in the hands of many fine professionals who need all the resources they can get to smoehow prevent and treat this disease.
So, that's why I ride. Whay do you ride or run or walk or tri?
Friday, August 20, 2010
Monday's bonk
On Monday, I went for a ride in the Bosque after school. I learned some valuable lessons that I would like to share with you today. I had to get my head back together after the disaster that was this ride. Focusing on sports physiology and the dangers of heat training, I'm going to endeavor into the world of the scientific.
The conditions, yesterday, were actually quite favorable to begin the ride. Temperature was about eighty-nine and the humidity was twenty percent. A southerly wind was blowing lightly at around seven to ten miles per hour. The sun was above partly cloudy skies. Thus, we begin.
On Saturday, I received my new Bell Volt helmet from Easton, Inc. This is a new concept of helmet for me, because I've never really used a Bell bicycle helmet. However, a year ago, I got a Bell Delirium mountain bike helmet and fell in love with it. The Volt has massive vents to cool your head and flush the heat out the rear vents, which actually works and you can feel it, even with a coolmax cap on. Bell helmets fit well, are lightweight and use advanced methods of manufacturing across a broad spectrum of proce ranges, which I appreciate. That said, some helmets on the lower end are made of a lower grade styrofoam that is cut out in the manufacturing process to match the cheap plastic shell. Then, they are bonded with an epoxy. After a year's worth of regular use, these helmets need to be destroyed and thrown in the trash. (Note: when throwing away a helmet, make sure you cut the straps and then step on the helmet to break it, so that someone can't dig it out of your rubbish receptacle and sue you when they try to run through the front door of a convenience store to rob it!)
As I was riding, I noticed that my head wasn't pouring sweat, like normal. So, I guess the helmet was working properly, but the weird thing was that I didn't "feel" hot. I used feel in quotations, because if you've been following the blg, you know how I "feel" abdout "feelings." Anyway, I was a little alarmed. It's like I said before that I have a really intact cooling system, so whenever I exercise, I expect to just pour sweat to the point that my clothes are soaked. I'm sure you're thinking, "Ewwww, that's gross!" However, if you're going to participate in endurance sports you NEED TO KNOW what your body does during periods of extended exercise. On the course of this ride, I pass two banks ion the downtown area and their outdoor signs read ninety-five degrees. That felt right, because I could feel the pavement releasing heat up the backs of my legs and the wind felt like it was coming from underneath me.
Now, to make matters worse, I forgot my regular shoes and had to use my back-up shoes. They are old Nike OCLV carbon-soled shoes and they are too small. I got them out of a trade a while ago thinking I needed two pairs. These Nikes are too narrow and too tight. Normally, narrow is good for me, because I have narrow feet, but these Nike shoes suck ass, that's all there is to it. So, I should have run down to Central and gone back to the parking lot, but I wanted to ride, damnit. Anyway, so when all else fails, blame your shoes.
At this point, the afternoon heat is starting to peak. I'm miserable and I'm not sweating. My water is hot in my bottles and I feel like my legs have turned to wood and my smile has turned to a grimace. As I turn of Edith onto Lomas to make the climb up to the bike trail, I relly feel strange. I had to repair a mechanical problem, which threw me off the climb, so I had to go all the way back down and start over, because the grade on Lomas is too steep to start from a stop. Here is where the fun begins:
I can feel this blistering heat and I KNOW it's not that hot. All of sudden, I start to feel the euphoric sensation all over my body and the wind is tickling my skin all over. I'm sipping my hot water and I feel it hit the bottom of my stomach. So, righ then, I know that my body has gone into freak-out BONK mode and that something may happen. If this is your first time to experience a bonk, you're going to freak out, because it's scary. I was close to the end of the ride when the real bonk started happening. I put my headphones back in and started tuning out the wind and the traffic and other riders so that I could listen to my breathing and heart beat. NO MUSIC! At this point, the heart rate monitor is my best friend. I keep the RPM and the rate very low and just pump.
It's ninety-five degrees...
I'm cold...
NOT GOOD!
When going into the bonk mode, your body shuts down its systems to protect itself. Your sweat and renal systems go into hybernation, because they know they will need the water to function later on. So, when I stopped sweating, I knew this was what was happening. So, I calmly found a shady spot under a tree and just literlly chilled out for a minute while my systems came back on-line. I drank my hot water and just watched the cars go by. I monitored my heart rate and watched it just stay stable, which means that my . As I began to recover, I felt the sweat beads come back to my head and the euphoric, tingling sensation went away. After about ten minutes, I dragged myself back onto the bike and squeaked back to the parking lot. I had a Gatorade in the car and I chugged it and it was the best Gatorade I ever had.
The physiology of bonking is very insteresting and it can happen at anytime: in fact, you bonk all the time and just may not realize it. The key so surviving a bonk is to handle it the same way you would handle a child in a dire emergency. Just try to calm your body down: start with your fluids. Drink a lot of liquid to tell your renal and sweat glands that everything is ok and that you're not back in the dark ages. Then, listen to your heart, if it's pounding, do not continue activity, becasue you risk damage to your muscles. Next, move into the psychological part of yourself. If you're still experienceing the euphoria, then you need to wait until that passes. The next phase of the euphoria is hallucinations. If you're in that stage,you won't know it.
In 1999, when I did the Santa Fe Century, I hit the wall hard. I have no memory of the last 12 miles and when I arrived at the school, my friends said I hit a speed bump and crashed. In the alst twelve miles, I was singing and laughing uncontrollably and just out of my head. When I realized that something was wrong, my friends were shoving Ding Dongs and Dr. Pepper down my throat to get my sugars back up. I recovered with no issues and now I laugh about it. But, it's no laughing matter.
I hope this helps and gives you some insight. There is a threory of bonk exercise that says you should get up, chug a pot of coffee and exercise your face off to burn fat. Then, go home and pig out. DON'T DO THAT. If you want to lose wight, do it right! Eat well, eat often and eat carbs. They're your friend!
The conditions, yesterday, were actually quite favorable to begin the ride. Temperature was about eighty-nine and the humidity was twenty percent. A southerly wind was blowing lightly at around seven to ten miles per hour. The sun was above partly cloudy skies. Thus, we begin.
On Saturday, I received my new Bell Volt helmet from Easton, Inc. This is a new concept of helmet for me, because I've never really used a Bell bicycle helmet. However, a year ago, I got a Bell Delirium mountain bike helmet and fell in love with it. The Volt has massive vents to cool your head and flush the heat out the rear vents, which actually works and you can feel it, even with a coolmax cap on. Bell helmets fit well, are lightweight and use advanced methods of manufacturing across a broad spectrum of proce ranges, which I appreciate. That said, some helmets on the lower end are made of a lower grade styrofoam that is cut out in the manufacturing process to match the cheap plastic shell. Then, they are bonded with an epoxy. After a year's worth of regular use, these helmets need to be destroyed and thrown in the trash. (Note: when throwing away a helmet, make sure you cut the straps and then step on the helmet to break it, so that someone can't dig it out of your rubbish receptacle and sue you when they try to run through the front door of a convenience store to rob it!)
As I was riding, I noticed that my head wasn't pouring sweat, like normal. So, I guess the helmet was working properly, but the weird thing was that I didn't "feel" hot. I used feel in quotations, because if you've been following the blg, you know how I "feel" abdout "feelings." Anyway, I was a little alarmed. It's like I said before that I have a really intact cooling system, so whenever I exercise, I expect to just pour sweat to the point that my clothes are soaked. I'm sure you're thinking, "Ewwww, that's gross!" However, if you're going to participate in endurance sports you NEED TO KNOW what your body does during periods of extended exercise. On the course of this ride, I pass two banks ion the downtown area and their outdoor signs read ninety-five degrees. That felt right, because I could feel the pavement releasing heat up the backs of my legs and the wind felt like it was coming from underneath me.
Now, to make matters worse, I forgot my regular shoes and had to use my back-up shoes. They are old Nike OCLV carbon-soled shoes and they are too small. I got them out of a trade a while ago thinking I needed two pairs. These Nikes are too narrow and too tight. Normally, narrow is good for me, because I have narrow feet, but these Nike shoes suck ass, that's all there is to it. So, I should have run down to Central and gone back to the parking lot, but I wanted to ride, damnit. Anyway, so when all else fails, blame your shoes.
At this point, the afternoon heat is starting to peak. I'm miserable and I'm not sweating. My water is hot in my bottles and I feel like my legs have turned to wood and my smile has turned to a grimace. As I turn of Edith onto Lomas to make the climb up to the bike trail, I relly feel strange. I had to repair a mechanical problem, which threw me off the climb, so I had to go all the way back down and start over, because the grade on Lomas is too steep to start from a stop. Here is where the fun begins:
I can feel this blistering heat and I KNOW it's not that hot. All of sudden, I start to feel the euphoric sensation all over my body and the wind is tickling my skin all over. I'm sipping my hot water and I feel it hit the bottom of my stomach. So, righ then, I know that my body has gone into freak-out BONK mode and that something may happen. If this is your first time to experience a bonk, you're going to freak out, because it's scary. I was close to the end of the ride when the real bonk started happening. I put my headphones back in and started tuning out the wind and the traffic and other riders so that I could listen to my breathing and heart beat. NO MUSIC! At this point, the heart rate monitor is my best friend. I keep the RPM and the rate very low and just pump.
It's ninety-five degrees...
I'm cold...
NOT GOOD!
When going into the bonk mode, your body shuts down its systems to protect itself. Your sweat and renal systems go into hybernation, because they know they will need the water to function later on. So, when I stopped sweating, I knew this was what was happening. So, I calmly found a shady spot under a tree and just literlly chilled out for a minute while my systems came back on-line. I drank my hot water and just watched the cars go by. I monitored my heart rate and watched it just stay stable, which means that my . As I began to recover, I felt the sweat beads come back to my head and the euphoric, tingling sensation went away. After about ten minutes, I dragged myself back onto the bike and squeaked back to the parking lot. I had a Gatorade in the car and I chugged it and it was the best Gatorade I ever had.
The physiology of bonking is very insteresting and it can happen at anytime: in fact, you bonk all the time and just may not realize it. The key so surviving a bonk is to handle it the same way you would handle a child in a dire emergency. Just try to calm your body down: start with your fluids. Drink a lot of liquid to tell your renal and sweat glands that everything is ok and that you're not back in the dark ages. Then, listen to your heart, if it's pounding, do not continue activity, becasue you risk damage to your muscles. Next, move into the psychological part of yourself. If you're still experienceing the euphoria, then you need to wait until that passes. The next phase of the euphoria is hallucinations. If you're in that stage,you won't know it.
In 1999, when I did the Santa Fe Century, I hit the wall hard. I have no memory of the last 12 miles and when I arrived at the school, my friends said I hit a speed bump and crashed. In the alst twelve miles, I was singing and laughing uncontrollably and just out of my head. When I realized that something was wrong, my friends were shoving Ding Dongs and Dr. Pepper down my throat to get my sugars back up. I recovered with no issues and now I laugh about it. But, it's no laughing matter.
I hope this helps and gives you some insight. There is a threory of bonk exercise that says you should get up, chug a pot of coffee and exercise your face off to burn fat. Then, go home and pig out. DON'T DO THAT. If you want to lose wight, do it right! Eat well, eat often and eat carbs. They're your friend!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Off the bike this week...
I am planning some long rides in the afternoons this week, so, I'm off the bike for commuting this week only. I will have some data bits for you as I complete these rides. I will dispense some words of wisdom regarding mountain biking, spin techniques for triathletes and how to conserve energy for the long run. CHEERS!!!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Too tied to our emotions...
Read the title of this post and think about it. Our modern society has forced us to be in touch with our feelings and has caused us to become overly concerned with how we "feel" about things. These feelings run the gamut from the clothes we wear to the food we eat. I keep hearing if you lose weight and eat right, you'll feel good.
So, I was reading an article on active.com on Friday about how cycling is a great way to beat stress. In the article, the author talked about how stress is what keeps most people away from exercising, because the stress has made you too tired to perform the exercise your body needs.
A year and a half ago, I was under a tremendous amount of stress. My wife was going through the toughest time in her life having been laid off in the pharmaceutical industry's downward spiral and also having a complicated pregnancy. She was at home at the time and had already been to the hospital once. So, everyday was a gamble on whether or not we would have our daughter. Finally, the doctors admitted her for constant monitoring, because her body was not providing a suitable environment for the fetus. My mind was just clouded with all the bad things that could happen.
I couldn't think about anything else and how hard it must be and what did we do to deserve this? I thought I was going to explode, because I couldn't get any straight answers from these damn doctors and experts. We just sat and waited.
I started riding...
I would cram my bike and portable shower into the Explorer and I would go ride after school, then go to the hospital to be with my wife. I realized how much I needed the heat and sweat and pain of riding the mountain bike up and down those hills. My total outlook changed as we neared the birth of Sophia. I became stronger in my thoughts and I was able to cope and when I needed some correction, I went out and pedaled that bike. I rediscovered the joy of cycling and the reason it's such a great sport.
In the Active article, I read where people who cycle and exercise regularly perform better at work and at home, because their body doesn't hold stress like non-exercisers. I'm still a fat ass, but the less fat I get, the better I "feel." I feel less like I want to drink and use nicotine to calm down and cope with regular BS. I feel like I can handle things in an appropriate manner. The best part about commuting is I don't feel mad at the world because I couldn't get outside.
COMPETITION IS HEALTHY!!!
For me, every ride is a race. On Thursday, a little storm was coming when I left school. I raced it home and literally landed in the garage about five minutes before the thunder and lightning started. That felt great. But here's the reality of things: I'm extremely competitive and that derails my good intentions most of the time. I think that fear holds me back in riding with others because I'm afraid I either can't keep up, or they won't keep up with me and that my competitiveness will ruin things. On the other hand, I think it's OK to have that. Otherwise, how do you improve? I try to ride with people faster than me, even if only for a minute. Or, I surgically dismember some poor bastard and leave them in the dust.
I got this hot rod Carbon racing bike on employee closeout, which is a really SWEET deal. Thanks Performance! I love that bike and I named her Freedom. On this bike, I feel like I can just go and go and go with no pain or bodily discomfort. I rode it 40 miles the first day I had it with no problem. Instantly, my mind turns to the notion that I could race again if I wanted to do so.
I watched a lot of videos and bike races when I was learning the art of the sport and I learned to be a surgeon on the bike. Now, I say surgeon, because that's what I am: a bike doc. But, when I ride, I consciously THINK about how I'm riding and what I'm going to do to beat the other person. I feel my RPM and watch my heart rate and I train in the high 160 range. I'm at maximum output at 185 for a steady effort. So, the other day on the bosque trail, I employed my strategies...
There was a guy in front of me in a read jersey riding a blue road bike and I was on Freedom. I was pacing at 85 RPM and 165 BPM. Right on track. I got within about a mile of this guy and started amping up my effort, little by little. I started my pursuit and calculated my gap to this guy at about 6 minutes. Here we go: I shifted gears and cranked it up to 90/172 and started thundering on the pavement. I passed some guy on an old Schwinn hybrid and he said "damn." as I went by.
I'm a really stable rider, because I spent so many years and miles on the white line in rural eastern New Mexico.
So, I'm watching this red jersey get a little closer and as we near the Rio Grande Conservancy State Park area, I'm within about 250 yards of the "catch." Somehow, this guy knew I was on then hunt for him, because I was him turn around and look at me. Right then, I gained about thirty seconds on him, because every effort not dedicated to turning the cranks, costs time. Thus, I hammered it. I sprinted up the hill and the heat because intensified and sweat was poured from my helmet. The red jersey's demise is now imminent. I got within about fifty yards and he turns again to look at me and he starts pounding the pedals.
I sit back and continue my steady effort of 90/172, which is hard, because now I'm into this speed mode for about the last fifteen minutes. The red jersey sees that I'm just going steady and something in me snaps to realize that there's no way this no-technique bum can continue with his pedal pounding for any distance. I start creeping up so that every time he looks back at me, I'm right there, like a bad penny. I gain on him and wait for him to turn around and look at me. Im' praying I don't get a flat, because if I pass him, I'm sunk and he'll lose respect for me. So I just continue my surgery.
I watch his shoulders start to sway and his muscles swell with fatigue, but I'm feeling great. I round the curve to Montano and I can see that I'm on the ticket for sure and this win is mine. I look at the speedo and I'm right on track at 21mph, HR looks good and cadence is awesome. The red jersey's head goes down in utter defeat and victory is mine. I give him a nod as I pass him on the left, giving him a standard courtesy of three meters so that he knows I never once drafted hi,, even for a second.
I feel Freedom take the lead and we ride off. We arrive in the parking lot and five minutes later, the red jersey pulls in. He rides up to me and and says, "Damn, that was amazing," and turns his bike toward his car. I said, "Thanks, it was."
and THAT feels good...
Cheers!
So, I was reading an article on active.com on Friday about how cycling is a great way to beat stress. In the article, the author talked about how stress is what keeps most people away from exercising, because the stress has made you too tired to perform the exercise your body needs.
A year and a half ago, I was under a tremendous amount of stress. My wife was going through the toughest time in her life having been laid off in the pharmaceutical industry's downward spiral and also having a complicated pregnancy. She was at home at the time and had already been to the hospital once. So, everyday was a gamble on whether or not we would have our daughter. Finally, the doctors admitted her for constant monitoring, because her body was not providing a suitable environment for the fetus. My mind was just clouded with all the bad things that could happen.
I couldn't think about anything else and how hard it must be and what did we do to deserve this? I thought I was going to explode, because I couldn't get any straight answers from these damn doctors and experts. We just sat and waited.
I started riding...
I would cram my bike and portable shower into the Explorer and I would go ride after school, then go to the hospital to be with my wife. I realized how much I needed the heat and sweat and pain of riding the mountain bike up and down those hills. My total outlook changed as we neared the birth of Sophia. I became stronger in my thoughts and I was able to cope and when I needed some correction, I went out and pedaled that bike. I rediscovered the joy of cycling and the reason it's such a great sport.
In the Active article, I read where people who cycle and exercise regularly perform better at work and at home, because their body doesn't hold stress like non-exercisers. I'm still a fat ass, but the less fat I get, the better I "feel." I feel less like I want to drink and use nicotine to calm down and cope with regular BS. I feel like I can handle things in an appropriate manner. The best part about commuting is I don't feel mad at the world because I couldn't get outside.
COMPETITION IS HEALTHY!!!
For me, every ride is a race. On Thursday, a little storm was coming when I left school. I raced it home and literally landed in the garage about five minutes before the thunder and lightning started. That felt great. But here's the reality of things: I'm extremely competitive and that derails my good intentions most of the time. I think that fear holds me back in riding with others because I'm afraid I either can't keep up, or they won't keep up with me and that my competitiveness will ruin things. On the other hand, I think it's OK to have that. Otherwise, how do you improve? I try to ride with people faster than me, even if only for a minute. Or, I surgically dismember some poor bastard and leave them in the dust.
I got this hot rod Carbon racing bike on employee closeout, which is a really SWEET deal. Thanks Performance! I love that bike and I named her Freedom. On this bike, I feel like I can just go and go and go with no pain or bodily discomfort. I rode it 40 miles the first day I had it with no problem. Instantly, my mind turns to the notion that I could race again if I wanted to do so.
I watched a lot of videos and bike races when I was learning the art of the sport and I learned to be a surgeon on the bike. Now, I say surgeon, because that's what I am: a bike doc. But, when I ride, I consciously THINK about how I'm riding and what I'm going to do to beat the other person. I feel my RPM and watch my heart rate and I train in the high 160 range. I'm at maximum output at 185 for a steady effort. So, the other day on the bosque trail, I employed my strategies...
There was a guy in front of me in a read jersey riding a blue road bike and I was on Freedom. I was pacing at 85 RPM and 165 BPM. Right on track. I got within about a mile of this guy and started amping up my effort, little by little. I started my pursuit and calculated my gap to this guy at about 6 minutes. Here we go: I shifted gears and cranked it up to 90/172 and started thundering on the pavement. I passed some guy on an old Schwinn hybrid and he said "damn." as I went by.
I'm a really stable rider, because I spent so many years and miles on the white line in rural eastern New Mexico.
So, I'm watching this red jersey get a little closer and as we near the Rio Grande Conservancy State Park area, I'm within about 250 yards of the "catch." Somehow, this guy knew I was on then hunt for him, because I was him turn around and look at me. Right then, I gained about thirty seconds on him, because every effort not dedicated to turning the cranks, costs time. Thus, I hammered it. I sprinted up the hill and the heat because intensified and sweat was poured from my helmet. The red jersey's demise is now imminent. I got within about fifty yards and he turns again to look at me and he starts pounding the pedals.
I sit back and continue my steady effort of 90/172, which is hard, because now I'm into this speed mode for about the last fifteen minutes. The red jersey sees that I'm just going steady and something in me snaps to realize that there's no way this no-technique bum can continue with his pedal pounding for any distance. I start creeping up so that every time he looks back at me, I'm right there, like a bad penny. I gain on him and wait for him to turn around and look at me. Im' praying I don't get a flat, because if I pass him, I'm sunk and he'll lose respect for me. So I just continue my surgery.
I watch his shoulders start to sway and his muscles swell with fatigue, but I'm feeling great. I round the curve to Montano and I can see that I'm on the ticket for sure and this win is mine. I look at the speedo and I'm right on track at 21mph, HR looks good and cadence is awesome. The red jersey's head goes down in utter defeat and victory is mine. I give him a nod as I pass him on the left, giving him a standard courtesy of three meters so that he knows I never once drafted hi,, even for a second.
I feel Freedom take the lead and we ride off. We arrive in the parking lot and five minutes later, the red jersey pulls in. He rides up to me and and says, "Damn, that was amazing," and turns his bike toward his car. I said, "Thanks, it was."
and THAT feels good...
Cheers!
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
WINDY!
Well, I got my wish this morning and it was windy in every direction. However, it was cooler today, but that didn't last. The 102 temperature makes for a long ride home, but still worth the effort.
In an effort to educate non-cyclists, I would like to discuss the type of bike Im using and some of the options out there for those who wish to commute.
My bike is a 2009 Fuji Cross Pro. It is equipped with Shimano Ultegra shifters and derailleurs. Basically, these are second from the top of the line parts from Shimano's road component line. The gearing, though, is not the same as a regular road bike. It has a 34-46 chanring up front and a ten speed 12-28 cassette in the back. These are not EASY climbing gears, but make the hills quite doable with steady power. The frame is all aluminum with drilled boss mounts for my pannier rack. The fork is carbon fiber and soaks up the vibrations and makes the body a lot happier. Currently, I am using Hutchinson Bulldog CX tires in a 700x38c configuration with Specialized Airlock tubes. The larger tire width allows me to run with goop in the tubes to resist flats and keep things rolling along without incident.
The panniers fully loaded make the bike VERY heavy. Unloaded, with no racks on it, this Fuji weighs in right at 19 pounds. But with the bags, it comes in at 45 pounds. That sucks, however, the bike is so well-made, you don't necessarily notice the extra heft due to the stiffness of the frame and balance that provides.
So, that's my bike. I'm not sure it's a good idea to use a racing bike as a commuter, but it's what I have, so there.
In the upcoming posts, I will dispense advice for loading the bags and maintaining balance and the obstacles you might run across, other than cars whilst commuting.
Have a wonderful evening!
In an effort to educate non-cyclists, I would like to discuss the type of bike Im using and some of the options out there for those who wish to commute.
My bike is a 2009 Fuji Cross Pro. It is equipped with Shimano Ultegra shifters and derailleurs. Basically, these are second from the top of the line parts from Shimano's road component line. The gearing, though, is not the same as a regular road bike. It has a 34-46 chanring up front and a ten speed 12-28 cassette in the back. These are not EASY climbing gears, but make the hills quite doable with steady power. The frame is all aluminum with drilled boss mounts for my pannier rack. The fork is carbon fiber and soaks up the vibrations and makes the body a lot happier. Currently, I am using Hutchinson Bulldog CX tires in a 700x38c configuration with Specialized Airlock tubes. The larger tire width allows me to run with goop in the tubes to resist flats and keep things rolling along without incident.
The panniers fully loaded make the bike VERY heavy. Unloaded, with no racks on it, this Fuji weighs in right at 19 pounds. But with the bags, it comes in at 45 pounds. That sucks, however, the bike is so well-made, you don't necessarily notice the extra heft due to the stiffness of the frame and balance that provides.
So, that's my bike. I'm not sure it's a good idea to use a racing bike as a commuter, but it's what I have, so there.
In the upcoming posts, I will dispense advice for loading the bags and maintaining balance and the obstacles you might run across, other than cars whilst commuting.
Have a wonderful evening!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Extended mileage!
I got a compliment on my Spandex shorts today from a fellow educator, which was fun. She said she was gonna honk, but thought I might fall off my bike. That's funny! I got hit with some beer cans once in my hometown and didn't fall off!
Anyway, the ride home was really nice. I decided to add a couple of miles to the commute home and found some interesting things. First thing I noticed was the wind. It was coming dead west to east when I left school and then as I made the round up the hill and down Northers, the wind shifted completely so that it was now north to south! WEIRD! Then, I climbed the hill up 528 back to ridgecrest and discovered that now the wind was pushing me again. It made the ride really really really HOT. Anyway, as I pulled onto High Resort, guess what? A WHIRLWIND! It took my all the way up Double Diamond before it gave out, then I had to push the West Wind all the way back to my house, which was kind of welcome, because it cooled me down a little bit.
I've always been fascinated and somewhat defeated by wind, but I find that in the hills, it's nice to push a headwind, because it does keep your body somewhat cool in the heat and since my sweat glands have no issues, that's a good thing. The other piece to fighting the wind is that there is no hill as long as the wind. So, you can either beat it, or join it and find the positive aspect of the cooling effect.
The other thing the wind provides in the Southwest is a cleansing effect for the air. It seems that every damn car that passes me has some smoking shitty tailpipe that would cause a horse to fall over! Therefore, the wind gets rid of those fumes and emissions. In California, they don't have enough wind to clean out the air and that's where the smog comes from, plus the sea causes temperature inversions. Since we don't get enough rain to wash the air, we must rely on the wind. So, stop your damn whining about the wind and love it, because it's part of the ecology!
I hope you decide to follow my b log. I love writing and I hope you enjoy reading. Leave comments, ask questions! I love it!
Anyway, the ride home was really nice. I decided to add a couple of miles to the commute home and found some interesting things. First thing I noticed was the wind. It was coming dead west to east when I left school and then as I made the round up the hill and down Northers, the wind shifted completely so that it was now north to south! WEIRD! Then, I climbed the hill up 528 back to ridgecrest and discovered that now the wind was pushing me again. It made the ride really really really HOT. Anyway, as I pulled onto High Resort, guess what? A WHIRLWIND! It took my all the way up Double Diamond before it gave out, then I had to push the West Wind all the way back to my house, which was kind of welcome, because it cooled me down a little bit.
I've always been fascinated and somewhat defeated by wind, but I find that in the hills, it's nice to push a headwind, because it does keep your body somewhat cool in the heat and since my sweat glands have no issues, that's a good thing. The other piece to fighting the wind is that there is no hill as long as the wind. So, you can either beat it, or join it and find the positive aspect of the cooling effect.
The other thing the wind provides in the Southwest is a cleansing effect for the air. It seems that every damn car that passes me has some smoking shitty tailpipe that would cause a horse to fall over! Therefore, the wind gets rid of those fumes and emissions. In California, they don't have enough wind to clean out the air and that's where the smog comes from, plus the sea causes temperature inversions. Since we don't get enough rain to wash the air, we must rely on the wind. So, stop your damn whining about the wind and love it, because it's part of the ecology!
I hope you decide to follow my b log. I love writing and I hope you enjoy reading. Leave comments, ask questions! I love it!
My thoughts on why riding the bike to work is a good idea...
First off, I want to say that athis is mostly my own opinion and not entirely based on facts...
It's difficult to understand the metaphysical effects of exedrcise on the body, which is a notion I need to look into. Most, in fact all, of the days I have driven to work in the past three years, I have felt guilty about driving. This is silly, because I would have to say that 90% of people dive to work, even if it's around the block. Nevertheless, I felt this nagging feeling as my fitness slipped away, day by day and year by year. I felt like I really wanted to do it, but just didn't have time or didn't want to make time, or I had excuses.
Excuses not to ride your bike to work include:
1. It's dangerous.
2. Too many hills.
3. I sweat too much.
4. I don't have proper equipment.
5. I need proper equipment.
6. Too far, in case of emergencies.
7. I'm hungover.
8. I'm sleepy.
9. It's too cold, too hot, too just right, too windy, too rainy, too snowy, too ridiculous.
10. SOMEONE MIGHT MAKE FUN OF ME!!!!
In retrospect, these are all bullshit excuses not to help yourself. Moroever, if you're sitting at your desk wishing you could go for a ride in the afternoon, guess what? YOU CAN!!
So, in the last two days, no one made fun of me, the weather has been perfect, and the other stuff has been managable and no hangovers, which are another story. That said, I'm also committed to not drinking, during the work week, to excess due to the weight problem I seem to have.
It's a known fact that exercise is great for the body amd mind. So, when I get to work, I feel alert and ready to tackle challenges, because I've already attacked these two massive hills on the way to work. Hills for fat people on bicycles are seemingly insurmountable, but it can be managed with perserverance and dedication. (Sometimes, that's what you need more of: perseverance and dedication.)
Blood flow to the brain is absolutely essential. Teaching high school is an absolute brain drain, so the more you can do to improve your physical health, the more postive effects it will have on your mental health. Think of all the "fitness and exercise experts" you've ever seen on TV and ask yourself: "Are these people stupid?" Well, some are and those are the jock-type professional athletes to whom I am referring: overpaid dumbasses. But, think of people like Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Oz, and the authors of all these diet books and lifestyle management books and series. They all have one thing in common: promotion of proper exercise and good nutrition.
You don't need a book and a motivational speaker, folks! You just need to find the little fire inside yourslef that says, "I can do it!"
It's difficult to understand the metaphysical effects of exedrcise on the body, which is a notion I need to look into. Most, in fact all, of the days I have driven to work in the past three years, I have felt guilty about driving. This is silly, because I would have to say that 90% of people dive to work, even if it's around the block. Nevertheless, I felt this nagging feeling as my fitness slipped away, day by day and year by year. I felt like I really wanted to do it, but just didn't have time or didn't want to make time, or I had excuses.
Excuses not to ride your bike to work include:
1. It's dangerous.
2. Too many hills.
3. I sweat too much.
4. I don't have proper equipment.
5. I need proper equipment.
6. Too far, in case of emergencies.
7. I'm hungover.
8. I'm sleepy.
9. It's too cold, too hot, too just right, too windy, too rainy, too snowy, too ridiculous.
10. SOMEONE MIGHT MAKE FUN OF ME!!!!
In retrospect, these are all bullshit excuses not to help yourself. Moroever, if you're sitting at your desk wishing you could go for a ride in the afternoon, guess what? YOU CAN!!
So, in the last two days, no one made fun of me, the weather has been perfect, and the other stuff has been managable and no hangovers, which are another story. That said, I'm also committed to not drinking, during the work week, to excess due to the weight problem I seem to have.
It's a known fact that exercise is great for the body amd mind. So, when I get to work, I feel alert and ready to tackle challenges, because I've already attacked these two massive hills on the way to work. Hills for fat people on bicycles are seemingly insurmountable, but it can be managed with perserverance and dedication. (Sometimes, that's what you need more of: perseverance and dedication.)
Blood flow to the brain is absolutely essential. Teaching high school is an absolute brain drain, so the more you can do to improve your physical health, the more postive effects it will have on your mental health. Think of all the "fitness and exercise experts" you've ever seen on TV and ask yourself: "Are these people stupid?" Well, some are and those are the jock-type professional athletes to whom I am referring: overpaid dumbasses. But, think of people like Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Oz, and the authors of all these diet books and lifestyle management books and series. They all have one thing in common: promotion of proper exercise and good nutrition.
You don't need a book and a motivational speaker, folks! You just need to find the little fire inside yourslef that says, "I can do it!"
Yesterday's commute (missed the entry last night)
So, last night, I was (kind of) too peaved to blog about the commute, so I skipped out. Let's see, it all started when I got called a tree hugger... I'm not sure that I'm a tree hugger, but I totally believe in the protection and salvation of of the environment, especially our local, state and national parks. I like to fish, so I want to be able to fish in the lakes and streams around here and I like to breathe clean air. This has nothing to do with taking anyone's rights away, just don't be an idiot and trash out your area.
So, on the way to work, I was gagged by car exhaust all the way to the school. I got honked at by someone, I think who knew me, which is fine. It was not a malicious thing, because they were waving, but I couldn't make out the face.
The sunrise was gorgeous and the air was mild. I'm waiting for the air to be cool and crisp, because thus far, I'm sweating when I arrive. This is not good, because my sweat system is very intact and I sweat a lot. Therefore, to combat this problem, I have made up a sweat survival kit in my classroom which contains:
1. small bottle of Camp Suds brand all-purpose wash
2. Deodorant
3. Cologne
4. Bathing wipes
5. Toothbrush and toothpaste
6. Microfiber towel that folds up to 3" x 3".
It was a good day at work. I believe the bike helped. The ride home was hot, but the heft of the panniers makes the bike descend like a rock, which is fun.
So, on the way to work, I was gagged by car exhaust all the way to the school. I got honked at by someone, I think who knew me, which is fine. It was not a malicious thing, because they were waving, but I couldn't make out the face.
The sunrise was gorgeous and the air was mild. I'm waiting for the air to be cool and crisp, because thus far, I'm sweating when I arrive. This is not good, because my sweat system is very intact and I sweat a lot. Therefore, to combat this problem, I have made up a sweat survival kit in my classroom which contains:
1. small bottle of Camp Suds brand all-purpose wash
2. Deodorant
3. Cologne
4. Bathing wipes
5. Toothbrush and toothpaste
6. Microfiber towel that folds up to 3" x 3".
It was a good day at work. I believe the bike helped. The ride home was hot, but the heft of the panniers makes the bike descend like a rock, which is fun.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
It's the Sunday before school starts...
Hello, about a week ago, I made a commitment to my Facebook friends and wife that I would ride my bike to work every day the weather allows me to do so. I live about 3 miles from the high school where I teach, so there's really no reason not to commute by bicycle. To give you some insight into my reasoning, I love bicycles and I believe they will ultimately be the means by which most of us travel in the near future, with imminent oil shortages.
The other thing about the bike is that I need something to get all jazzed up about and I figure that the bike will give me something to look forward to at the beginning and end of the school day. I want to improve my health and I want to do something good for the world and set an example.
I'm not sure about this blog thing, so my plan is to blog something each day about my bike commute, whether it's just a look at the sunrise, a complaint about bad drivers and stinky cars, or just to say I did it and didn't wuss out.
The other thing about the bike is that I need something to get all jazzed up about and I figure that the bike will give me something to look forward to at the beginning and end of the school day. I want to improve my health and I want to do something good for the world and set an example.
I'm not sure about this blog thing, so my plan is to blog something each day about my bike commute, whether it's just a look at the sunrise, a complaint about bad drivers and stinky cars, or just to say I did it and didn't wuss out.
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