two more Stella's gentlemen?

The temp has been perfect down here.  Marc loads up on sunscreen, I don't use too much.  By 'too much' I mean not any.  Marc has the Canadian blood ......I have the South African blood.  The sun means nothing to me.  It's cancerous rays bounce off of me like raisins on an Oldsmobile.    The only bad thing is that I have  a serious farmer tan.   So it's 'shirt's on' at the beach unless I can get rid of it.

Today we did the loop from Clermont to a town called Howey-in-the-hills and then past there for a bit.  There is a pretty nice little German bakery out there with a fantastic patio in the back.  We even met other Ontarians there today.

                                                 A sideways fire hydrant?!?!  Has this world
                                                                   gone topsy-turvy?

Anyways, we did 98kms today.  Most of it was intervals, or tempo.  Lots of hills.  And pretty fast.  the roads are pretty nice out here.  No potholes.  Few cracks, but some sand on the corners.  Not a lot of Redneck F-150 driving hill-billys giving us the finger.  But still a few.  I saw my first Armadillo today, just chilling by the side of the road.  Also lots of turkey vultures.  They are huge.

The pubs are pretty cool as well.  No matter where we go the beer is cheap.  The Stellas and Blue Moons tonight were $3.00 a pint.  Food was also awesome. Kellys Irish Pub!!!!!  Boom!!!!! I never want to leave this place.

Toronto has a pile of snow right now.  It''s really going to suck if I have to get back on the trainer.  

Listen, your either gonna race or you're not gonna race!!!! I'm not gonna argue with you!!!!

Today we awoke with no power in the hotel.  The whole side of town was down.  It didn't matter much , our race didn't start until 11:30 or so.  By the time we hit the start line it was pushing 90 degrees.  Searing heat.  The sunblock we had on was on thick.

             Even a $65 a night motel has a pretty inviting looking pool....at least to Canadian's in March.

About 40 or so guys were in our category, but there were 3 main teams.  Z-Motion, Rossetelli,  and the Heineken guys .  The Z Motion guys appeared to be the strongest.  This race was supposed to be about 115 kms but everyone complained it was too long long to race in this heat.  They dropped a lap and made it about 103 kms.

The first lap started fast.  I was breathing really heavy.  I began to wish I had never told anyone that we were racing in Florida, as the trip was originally just a training trip....but slowly turned into a racing trip.  I wanted to race but I always have found I suck in early season.  Anyways,  during the second lap the pace seemed to creep up fast.  I was  in a bad  position near the back and I got totally blown out the back.  No way of catching back on.  the wind was really strong and seemed to be hitting us in every direction.   For what it's worth, I wasn't the first or the last to fall off the pack but then I turned into the waterboy for Marc.

Marc held on strong in the front 10 or so for the rest of the race it seemed.  Drank 6 bottles of water in the 2.5 hrs of the race.  When the leaders came through for the sprint finish the first 2 guys were moving really nice.  It was nice to see a sprint finish, instead of a bunch sprint.  Marc had attacked 1/3 the way through the last lap in an attempt to catch the leaders but just didn't have the time.  He got 6th, but crossed the line a good 15 seconds ahead of the main group.

                                                         There's a new Watson in town!!!!

Later we got home and looked at the power splits for each lap and compared that with my getting hammered into the ground on the second lap.  Marc's wattage hit over 1100 watts right around the same time I got dropped.  That laps average wattage (296) was 30 watts higher than any other lap.  Had I been able to suck up that 1 lap I would have been able to finish strong instead of typing this confession of loserdom.

                                             Here is an awesome restaurant we didn't go to...

Regardless, We are putting in more hard kms all week here and around Clermont, Orlando and wherever.  Also doing a club race on Wednesday.  Will post pics on Friday when I get home.

word.

I almost threw up in the Starbuck's restroom.

Thursday morning we landed in Orlando.  That airport is the worst.  The worst.  Maybe it's really just the same as most American airports though where they have to do a crazy security check 3 or 4 times and keep you waiting for hours to get back your racing bike.  C'mon, what kind of terrorist devise can I hide in a bike?  

Thursday afternoon.  70kms,  86 degrees. Strong pace.  Lots of hills.   Tons of cyclists.  1 redneck pick up truck driver gave us the finger.  Must have seen our enormous packages and become enraged with jealousy.  There are pretty good hills out here.  Everyone says Florida is flat, but it's as hilly as Ontario.  Maybe  if you leave out Milton and Collingwood it's the exact same.

                                                    That green habanero sauce was primo!

Friday Morning.  Mid eighties.  50kms.  Also a strong pace.  Just not too long.  We had to beat feet down to south of Miami and check into our hotel and get our race numbers and timing chip.  5 hour drive.  We have a black Kia.  Great on gas, lousy A/C.  When we arrived and unloaded we went for what was intended to be a short 1 hr spin around town just to spin out the legs in prep for the next morning.  It turned into the Lycra version of "Boys in da Hood".   We rode through the total ghetto suburb of Miami.  It was total Compton.  Every car had huge chrome wheels,  every house has a  a steel fence and gate, and there were Pit-Bulls everywhere.  Not nice Ontario Pitbulls.  These looked like the Pitbulls that are the ones that sparked the breed specific ban in Ontario.  That was the scariest ride I have ever done.  We turned around after 5 or 6 kms.

Just as we couldn't find any place good to eat last year in North Carolina, it's pretty hard to find decent food here too.  There are millions of restaurants,  just nothing that bears any semblance to a healthful food option.  Sadly, we settled on Applebee's.  The Pasta dinners were pretty good.  Then today we went back and I had the steak , baked potatoes, and seasonal veggies.  Again , pretty good.  cheap too.

The beer is cheap , but pretty tasteless.

We raced the circuit race this morning.  Maybe 40 guys in our category.  most looked very fast.  Lean and fit.  Mostly, tanned as hell.  What they were telling us is that their racing season starts in right after Xmas and ends around the end of April.  So these guys are flying right now.  For me, although I have been training all winter, I have only been outside maybe 3 times in 2011.  So my goal was to just stay in the pack.  The first race was just under 1 hr.  It was pretty fast.  I hung on strong until the last lap.  I was really sucking wind, then some dolt from Z-Motion takes my line and we rub wheels really badly.  In true XC race fashion I manage to keep it upright  but that little jolt and the accompanying clicking in my front wheel sort of helped blow me out the back.  I dropped off and crossed the line alone.  Maybe second or third from last.  Disappointed and dissolutioned I rode back to the hotel with Marc, barely talking.  Marc got around 15th place or so.     About 4 hrs later we had to return for the Time Trial.  Not my forte at all.  Other than I feel that I paced myself well, there is not a lot to say about a time trial.  I think I did well.  I was at least happy with my effort.  Marc was also happy with his.  Although we haven't seen the official results yet.

Tomorrow we go back for the road race.  115 kms, and its going to be near 90 degrees.  Marc overheard some local racers complaining to the officials about the race .  They want it shortened because of the heat.  Hoping to do a bit better tomorrow.   Will post race results afterwards.

Going for dinner in Key Largo tomorrow night.   Booyaa!!!!!!!

Honey!!!!! Where's the stuff I stole from that Apiarist?!?!?!?

 

No seriously though.  I have always kind of considered myself a bit of a sandwich aficionado.  If I find a good sandwich place, I like to frequent it.  I enjoy the meat sandwich.  Oh man, there's nothing like a good turkey breast sammy, or baked chicken sammy to accompany a delicious bier. Recently though I have re-discovered a very old favorite.   One that my little brother lived on until he was 15.  Arguably one of natures finest kitchen creations.  The Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwich.  Hells yeah, You may have thought I was going to say something mental like Tuna Salad or something with Mayo on it.  Screw that, I'm a purist.  I won't bastardize a helpless quick and easy meal buy adding crap like that.  I didn't get my a 60% in grade 11 foods class for nothing.  But the PB and H sandwich can be mocked several ways.  You can use shitty PB like Kraft , Skippy, Jif or some generic version that's loaded with hydrogenated fat and salt, or you can get real peanut butter.  The kind with only one ingredient.  Peanuts.  Now, if you do get the real deal, you have to refrigerate it, onacounta it has no preservatives .  I also recommend stirring it while it's room temperature, then put it in the fridge.  It's hard to stir when cold.

Honey. It's so often overlooked.  Who really uses honey in their adult years?  Maybe you give it to kids, or to trick your dog or a bear into eating something .  Maybe even you use it for some lemon tea if you're feeling kinda swishy.  But pour a few tablespoons of it on on a fresh peice of bread , already dosed with organic peanut butter and you have some good chow.    My new favorite honey is Presidents Choice Organic Wildflower Honey.  It's thick and doesn't pour.  You have to spread it like Marmite.  And it's nearly as good as Marmite, and doesn't ruin your breathe for the day either.

If you find some locally made million grain bread, and don't screw up with crappy honey or PB.  You have an awesome sandwich that you can take on a ride.  Who cares if it gets squished in your back pocket?  It'll taste better I bet.  Better than a damn cliff bar or an apple.  Who needs apple's anyways?  Most types suck anyways.  The Royal Gala is the only apple with a decent palmares.

I am going to have a nice little snack before bed.


Recipe:

2 or 3 slices of good bread
cover with Organic Peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)
Add honey to taste.  The more the better

Leave out the butter.  You don't want a heart attack. 

Heroic Doses

After eating not 9 but 10 suicide level chicken wings last night and drinking 6 pints of various beer I figured that today I better try to offset that damage  by having something good for me today.  The wings were as deadly hot as they were artery clogging.  Wild Wing has like 200 flavors of wings,  but only a few really hot ones.  The spicy numbers I inhaled were crazy hot, and I normally like really hot.  I administer healthy doses of Franks Extra Hot to almost everything I eat.  But my favorite hot sauce , by far, is Dave's Insanity Sauce.  Although it can also double as paint stripper, chain degreaser or clogged drain clearer. It's so hot but so tasty.  Pretty hard to find as well.   But something in those Wild Wings last night blew my socks off.  I will assume it's my lack of practice with the deep fried delicious little bastards.

Today's birthday supper was a winning design.  Salmon , with arugula and a boconcinni salad with some red vino.  Perfect blend of protein and good stuff for the growing boy.   

I rode the Mid Week crit course today.  It was nice.  The road was dry and had already met with a sweeper.  Of course I was the only one there.  Once I ran in into Rob D'Amico there in the evening.  Other than that I never see anyone out there and it's great because it's well lit, and there are zero cars.  I wish I could get some guys to come out and do a mock Wednesday or Thursday night race series.   I love racing that loop.

When I got home I struggled to open the door with my bike in hand with my helmet and shoes and a coffee and , sadly, the door slammed shut and put a nice little chip on my drive side chain stay.  Sucked ass.

Perspective

I was standing at work today and a strange rush of dull pressure came over me.  I knew what is was right away. My little boy has been sick all week.  It had to happen.  My joints hurt, my back hurts, my bones all hurt, my knuckles hurt, my hair even hurts.  Less in the spot where it's thinning, but for two reasons I became bummed out.
1) It's my birthday this weekend and I have plans to go to Kitchener, hang out with some pals and teach a lesson  to a few cold Belgians.
2) I am scheduled to race in Florida next week.

I really didn't want to have to use an excuse for doing poorly next week.  If I can't ride this week, or at least can't ride hard, that is just going to compound this light week.  I worked several nights this week and wasn't able to train everyday.  So yeah, I was a little pissed the second  I felt the flu-like symptoms hit me with their triangle choke accuracy.

Then we watched the BBC news on the computer.  We saw all the death, and destruction in Japan.  We all watched the video clips in horror,  equally happy that we're not there as we were sympathetic to the people who are living in that chaos.    We have nothing to complain about here in Canada.  It's rained for the last few days.....who cares?   Beer prices are expected to rise by 33% in the next few months?.....pish posh.  Gas is at an all-time high?  Whoopie-Dee Look at Me!!!!   I am still going to Florida.  Still racing.  May not do as well as I thought I would have 12 hrs ago.  Maybe tomorrow I will wake up and feel much better.  Not sure.  Not that worried either.  My family is warm and safe.  I have 2 jobs that I like.  I have several awesome bikes that are waiting to be hammered on .  When I feel more like my normal lucky self.

Stormy day, won't see me sinking

Rode the other night on Marc's Cervelo with a power meter.  My numbers were less than I had hoped for, but still  decent I guess.  I am hoping they will get better once I get used to using a power meter and pace myself properly.  I will test again after we return from Florida.  Hopefully , I will do ok at those races and that will also be a boost to the motivation.  But regardless............we are going to have  good time racing down there.  A few other dudes from the team are going to Texas, but not racing.    I predict Andy is going to me a machine this year. 

Blender of Champions

Observe!  This is my new blender.  $100.  not bad.  I looked at a couple different blenders that were almost twice the price.  I couldn't see too much difference, the blades were the same thickness.  Maybe the motors in the more expensive ones were better though.  I just can't keep using $30 crap Presidents Choice blenders that claim to be 'professional' grade.  As soon as you throw in some ice, or frozen pineapple you can hear the motor struggling like Tommeke chasing  Spartacus.   This one rips through all frozen water, fruit, tundra....what have you......and doesn't smell like high school small-engines shop.  $100 well spent.


This weekend is going to be a bad weekend for training.  I am breaking with the program , for 1 night anyways, and drinking a pile of beer.  Hopefully all Duvels.   Oh, and speaking of Duvels.........I have heard from 2 friends this week that all the liquor stores are out of Duvel.  I have witnessed my favorite LCBO location also present to me an empty shelf where Belgiums finest once sat.   If this absence becomes a resident problem I imagine we are going to have to start ordering it by the case.  Or I could do what Dr Booth does and just buy a keg fridge and fill it with Leffe.   You magnificent bastard Booth,  always one step ahead.

Stay golden, Pony Boy.

Finally the bike show is over.  There weren't too many really hot bikes there.  Invita had the Petacchi Cento Uno, La Bici had a hot Dogma with DA 2 and a few nice Milram  Focus's on blowout, and Bianchi had their Oltre Nero with Lightweights on it.  Claiming 13.2lbs.  It was pretty alright.  But mostly I was blown the hell away by Stage Race Distributions little booth.  They had the coolest Euro bikes at the show......or anywhere.  Museeuw, Scapin, Storck, Carrera,and Pantani.  The only brands  they were missing were SPIN and Cipollini.

Yes, although I just got on my new DA Prince with 2011 303's,  I had a total boner for that white Museeuw with Super Record, and Lightweights.  Mike at Stage Race had it going on.

I finally broke my indoor trainer this weekend.  It sounds like a seizing engine.  I am not even sure how old it is, but its a goner now.  My friend Joe let me borrow his wifes new tacx trainer.  

Heading out to see what kind of power I can muster tonight.   Florida in less than 2 weeks.  Attacking off the line.  OFF THE LINE!!!!!!!!!!

Pushing the pace

Today is the first day of the Toronto bike show.  I wasn't able to even get there , and I was supposed to be there working.  I had another big job to do that I guess had to take precedence.  I generally hate trade shows, but I have never worked a bike show before*. I hope the fact that I am surrounded by awesome Colnagos, Pinarellos, Cervelos, and BMCs will help wash down the unpleasant aftertaste of a 9 hour work day.

I am going to Marc's place on Monday night to spend some time in his training room and do some power measuring.  We have a number we are shooting for.  I pray  I don't  disappoint.  Currently I am still training with heart rate and by feel.  I am curious to see what kind of wattage I am putting out.

For dinner tonight I tried to duplicate a favorite salad from Terroni.  It's baby arugula, with pan seared crimini mushrooms, hot Genoa salami , with melted parmesean cheese, and then I drip olive oil and vinegar all over it, with some fresh lemon.  Of course, I have to top it off with a glass of Italian red., and a couple of slices of Ciabatta bread.  You are probably thinking "Congratulations!!!! You've ruined that salad , that jerk forgot tomatoes!!!"  Indeed I did.   It was not as good as theirs,  but still pretty good for a master of  Kraft Dinner and beer.

                                                               Yeah, that just happened!

It's 5:20pm now, but after the boy goes to sleep I am going to fire up the engines and rip some cranks off my Pinarello downstairs.  90 minutes.  Hammer time.




*Not true-in 1999 I worked for Party Marty/Black Flys at the Dealers bike show.  Then we spent the night at System Soundbar.  Man, I would die if I tried that kind of party pace again.  

March of the Crabs

First day of March.  Nice weather too.  I should be doing the Donut Ride on Sunday but I will be working at the bike show.   Goddamn I can't wait for this season to start.  I have so many new friends to ride with, drink beer with, hang out with.  It's cool how easily you can make friends with other racers.   Unlike some of other friends , the ones you share such a common passion with can be your closest pals.  If I can get a little cheesy and put forth a slice of personal philosophy I think that life is about 2 main things.  Relationships and experiences.  Relationships are kind of like the glue that binds all the experiences together.  Without the relationships you can't fully enjoy,  learn from, or in some way benefit from the experiences.  Relationships can be good or bad.  The bad ones make you realize how good the good ones are,  and just  like good experiences you can never have too many good relationships.  Maybe it's the first friend you made in high school, or a teacher that took extra time with you, maybe it's some stranger who commented on your bike and asked you to ride with him,  maybe it's a pet that sometimes went hungry with you, but never held it against you.   One you'll always love and remember.  Good relationships are sometimes hard to build.  But are almost always worth their weight in gold pressed latinum.

2011

 Experiences. You need to experience things in countless ways.  Experience the thrill of dog sledding, or the pain of a massive injury.  The betrayal by loved one,  or simply putting yourself in another persons shoes.  Experience failure, or success.  Love or hate. Highs and lows.  These are all things that, when added up will be the pages of your life's photo album.   I recommend experiencing a cold tulip glass  of Duvel as often as possible.

 Currently, on the month of my 40th birthday I am still amassing both great experiences and even better relationships.  I am pretty confidant that the next 40 will be even more noteworthy.  (end of cheese)

 Tonight, I threw my training book aside (Aside you stupid book! I cried!) and just rode hard.  Not longer than an hour but probably still at around 165 bpm for most of the duration.   I am still loving my training bike, the chamois cream I use, I also am getting hooked on this FRS Healthy Energy juice.

                                                                               1996

O'Doyle rules

State Violence, State Control

It's almost goddamn March,  when will this winter turn and walk away? Yeah you better run you stupid season!!!!!!!  Winters seem to be getting shorter and more mild.  For years, ever since I started yearning to ride year round I have monitored (or attempted to) the winters length and severity.  Maybe they are just the same.....I don't know........Gov.  Jesse Ventura tells me that Global Warming is a hoax, and that  the somewhat  odd weather patterns are part of Earths natural cycle.  I was really hoping to ride outside this weekend, but CP24 staff weather specialist Nalini Sharma said that Sunday will be wet and sloppy.  Can't take a new bike out in that.

We added some new intervals to my nightly rides today.  I blasted some 80's punk/metal and mostly watched American History X.  I was feeling really strong tonight.  I didn't bail on any of the ride.  Sweat a lot too.  I usually don't perspire that much.  If I can get a power meter this spring, I may be detailing much different workouts.  But it is pretty trying getting through that last 15 minute hard effort.

Tonights ride:

15 minute warm up

3x15 minute intervals at 5% below threshold heart rate with 5 minute rest between

10 minute quick spinning at 60-65% ( a little faster than a cool down spin)

4x30 second sprints , with 30 second recovery between

10 minute cool down 

1 Duvel for a job well done, and if its slow tomorrow at the store we will watch the Spring classics begin.

I have my money on Phil Gilbert.  Dr Booth???

King for a day

Most of the time I ride at night.  Usually 9:30-11:00ish. If I am not doing a Spinervals or Carmichael DVD I do one of  my interval rides and I watch CP24.  It's good because it has a big clock that shows minutes and seconds so I can easily tell how long to do each set.  I also get to read the news.  Although, I am almost always listening to some sort of intense CD (see February's blog titles) and  I watch whichever news anchor is on.  Occasionally it's Gurdeep Ahluwalia, but most of the time, and if I am lucky its Farrah Nasser.  She loves her job.  She tells the news with a zeal and passion that few other anchorpersons have.  But  mostly she is just smokin' hot.  She is easily the best looking woman on CTV/CP24 but probably Canadian news in general.  I don't even need to hear her tell me what's up.  I can just tell if it's good news or bad.  But mostly, again, she is just really hot and I don't care what she is saying.  I wish she would come and cover one of our races.  I would make sure I somehow won/or crashed in that race  just so I could speak with her.   Afterall, I blew my chance with Dina a couple of years ago when I was at Breakfast Television.  Damnit.

                                      You're a dirty slut and I'm going to punch you in the ovaries.......

Tonight I am taking a night off.  For Christ's sake this blog is called Strong Beer, Strong Legs I can't just quit drinking just like that. I already eat way less food.  Dropped white bread and rice.  Eat almost no processed foods.   Tons less meat.  It makes me realize how shitty I was eating, even though it wasn't that bad.......I do start everyday with about 7 servings of fruit.  Tonight, however, I am having about 3 servings of beer.  Keller.  Not bad.  No Devil of a beer, but not bad.

Today Rob D'Amico came in to the store.  He tells me that Z-Team and Wheels of Bloor have merged.   I don't know whether to be upset and disheartened or just stay the course and hope that they incur some infighting and blow a team gasket.  Who the hell will be their team leader?!?!?!  Rob is probably the best (read: smartest) racer but Ian  and/or Bruce are strong as hell, and that's just the tip of the Iceberg.  They have Radek, Mike Peshco, Vic Pwu...........Christ they don't have any weak riders.  All these fucking guys just came back from Cuba and were flying down there.  Hell, Vic is going to Tenerife soon.

At least Marc and I are racing in Florida next month.  Oh, and Marco got hurt last night.  So he may be out for the season.  Crap.

I won't sleep well tonight.  Especially if I think about Farrah.

Darkness Descends

Occasionally you have to revert  to your roots.  Screen legend Tom Cruise once said 'sometimes you just gotta say what the fuck'.  So in complete juxtaposition to my training and eating plan I inhaled a plate of chicken wings and gave 3 drafts beers a good home.  It felt good.  Goddamnit , it felt great!!!  It wasn't even great beer.  Far from the Belgian strong beer to which I have become accustomed but our mere fancy free attitude made me really appreciate the warming glow that only nature's perfect beverage can provide.  Although I am not by any stretch deviating from my training plan , I can't wait for my next night out with several glasses of Flanders sunshine.

Maybe if I were to apply the same logic to riding I could see improvements in my strength and/or skill.  Maybe a week off the bike would give me a much needed mental or physical jump start when I get back on.

If not, I will have to settle for a couple of bottles of Chimay  to remind  me to appreciate life, both on and off the bike.

Apocalypse Inside

Here are the first pics of my new racing machine.  The Fulcrum wheels that you see are just on there until my Zipps arrive.  Hopefully next week.  As it stands it is 17lbs.  But those wheels are about 4 lbs and the Zipps are around 2.25lbs, and I will put on my titanium Speedplay pedals so that should bring it to just below 15lbs.
This Prince is 1cm shorter than my last Prince , but I always felt that bike was a bit long.  So I hope this one shreds.

I think I am expected to report my opinion on this bike for the new Invita Sport Blog.  That blog will be about the store, our brands, and fun stuff that happens there.  I'll also give my opinions on bikes, parts, on-bike clothes and supplements.

                                                               Dethroned Emperor

Leprechaun out.

As it was, as it soon shall be

I picked out my new bike today. Pinarello Prince.  It should be ready on Friday.  All except for the wheels.  I already have a smokin' fast Crit bike so I am going to sort of make this be more of a climbing road race bike.  Good for the Qualifiers as well as the hilly Nationals.

I have already have owned a few Pinarello's.  A steel Montello and a couple of Aluminum/Carbon ones.  Fantastic handling.  Matt DeCanios favorite bike. Juan Antonio got a Roubaix  podium spot on a Prince in 2005 I think.  I also think Ulrich won the 97 Tour on one.  Also Eric Zabel has a pile of notable wins aboard a Pinarello Prince.  I wish I had some good pics of my Orange Prince.  Full Record, with Cinelli Ram bars.  Those same bars are going on this Prince.  Although I am using Dura Ace 7900 on this build.  Oh well, I hope it impresses.   But I imagine this build will be just under 15lbs.

First Strike, Still Deadly

Sunday night Marco called me.  Wants to go riding.  It was above the freezing mark so I agreed.  We rode mountain bikes around our usual road riding loop and then hit the crit course and then a few hills up Eglinton .  Not a great hill, but in a big gear and on knobby tires I guess its ok.  I wish I would have worn shoes covers or thicker socks.  My toes were feeling pain that I haven't known before.

I guess the qualifying race for the World Masters Championships is in less than 3 months.  Somewhere in New York.  I have to do some more research on that, and by 'some research' I mean 'research'.  As I have really done shit sandwich.  But apparently its a 100 mile Grand Fondo , but they are only timing you on the climbs.  So it seems like we can take it easy throughout the race and then just torch the climbs.  Seems like a stupid way to gauge how fast someone is overall.

I am ordering a new pair of 2011 Zipp 202's this week.  Their service will be invaluable at that race.   I wonder where the whole team will stay down there.   I hope sub 15lb bikes are ok at this race.   Mine will be pushing  14lbs.

The other night with Marco I tried a new energy and vitamin chewable.  I am not sure exactly if it worked  or not, but last night  I had one of the best training rides downstairs that I have ever had.  Luckily my Guerciotti is stiff as hell or I may have snapped something off of  it.   I can only assume that the accompanying Energy drink was the cause.  It looks and tastes more like frozen concentrated orange juice, and is nothing like a Red Bull or Monster.  The 4 ingredients listed after water are basically all sugar or some variation of sugar.  So that would explain the burst of energy I felt.  The label states it is a 'Healthy Energy' dietary supplement, also a power antioxidant.  So I can only assume they have researched this and determined it to be true.

My honest take on this tasty beverage is as follows.  Yes, you will most likely experience a period of increased energy.  I imagine it would be on par with a can of Red Bull, a Hammer Gel,  or a donut and a Coke.  You may even get a small shot of vitamins.   I don't fully  see the benefit to taking an energy shot before a ride as the crash may come sooner rather than later.  I like to think you can complete a ride based on the nutrition already stored in your body, and the food and water you eat while you're riding, if you eat right.  Not a huge fan of the sugar blast.  But it will work for some quite nicely.  Eat 2 bananas before your ride and save some money, but I will repeat this stuff tastes pretty good.

I have to go drop $150+ on a new blender today.  All the frozen pineapple I throw in my current blender has ruined it.  I need to somehow hook up a blender up to my bike .

Word.

If you don't stand up, you don't stand a chance.

Today I got into Invita and was hoping for a rush of customers.  Nope.  Its still to early for our crowd to get in and start buying up all the new goodies.   I guess its just the racers who are out right now, both shopping and riding.  I counted and put away a crap load of cool merchandise.  The boxes of Sram Red and Campy Super Record were particularly drool worthy.  I didn't mind all the Colnago frame sets either.  Anyways I am continuing to meet new customers as well as existing ones.  A lot of nice bikes come through that door for Juan to fix.  That dude is one sick mechanic.  He takes  his shit to a whole 'nother level. 

                                                               Phil, Krys, and Juan.

Yesterday I banged off the hardest of my  rides for this week.  The second 20 minute effort was tough, but more tough just to sit through and complete than it was physically hard.  The sprinting at the end was like running for my life from a parliament of pissed off owls, a streak of Tigers, or even a crash of Rhinoceroses. Yeah, you heard me punchy.

Krys and Phil dropped by today.  Those handsome bastards were out running around in the snow attempting to get into race shape.  No running for me.  Indoor intervals and donut rides.

Oh yeah, if you are ever thinking about buying new shoes these DMT's are average, at best.   My Sidi Ergos are 10x better.   Even my old DMT Ultimax are better.  Just not as white.

T-Balls out.

Back in NYC

This month I am going to title all my posts with the names of intense songs or albums that I cranked and found helpful in putting the power to the wheels. Old Genesis is actually pretty hard.

I am following my program to the letter and the legs don't even look like mine anymore.  I am told next weeks program is adding a lot more power work.  The Barodeur is coming to town this spring.

After some long deliberation I have decided to try altering my diet a bit, starting now.  First thing is cutting out white bread.  I probably eat too much of that as it is.  Even if it is in the form of a soft fresh, delicious pita shell.  No more white rice.  More raw veggies.  Even less dairy.  Currently I don't consume much dairy, with the exception of choco milk.  But I can find an alternative.  I almost never eat read meat save maybe a monthly burger or steak burrito.  I have nearly dropped beer from my diet entirely. That is the hard one.  And although its an integral part of this diet I have to have some sort of crutch.  I never get drunk anymore, but I sure do love me some Duvel after a hard ride or while scanning my Internet machine.

Starting this year all the training is for the National Championships and the world Championships in Belgium.  We are not as concerned with the local  or provincial races.  I would love to do well in every race, but the Ardennes are the goal atop all other goals.    This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.   Racing in Belgium before I get too old, or too broke.  I am hoping for 2 weeks there.  Trip of a lifetime.

Gotta go sell some bikes today.

And then there were three.......

Today is a sad day for me.  I have them sometimes.  I had one about 5 years ago.  I felt I had to sell my Lemond Zurich, with full Dura-Ace for much less than it was worth.  All to ensure that the stupid mortage money was in the bank.  Lousy stupid needing a roof over your shoulders.  Then a few years later I sold my rarely-seen-in -North America Orange Pinarello Prince , also with full Dura Ace.  That time though, it was because I had purchased the bike you see below.  And it totally shredded that beautiful Pinarello to pieces.  Still, I should never have gotten ride of it.   I have a small photo album I keep beside my bed.  In contains pictures of my dogs (RIP boys) , and pictures of all the bikes I have owned.  CRAP!!!!!! I forgot about my steel EDDY MERCKX I gave to Paul Dean at Cycles London.  At least he would give it a good home, unlike that asshead who ruined the Pinarello.   

Why is it that parting with racing bikes is such a difficult endeavor?  I have had girlfriends I would, and have let go much easier than one of my bikes.  Shit, maybe even more so than a set of tires...........but back to my rant.  I have woken up sick thinking about 1 or more of my past bikes and where they might be.  Like a child who has stayed out past curfew, or runs away or something dumb like that.  You think "why did I let it go ???? For the love of god WHY???????"

Anyways, today is another day that I should have thought long and hard about.  As I sold my BMC Team Machine (see above pic again).  Definitely the best bike (or favorite child) I have ever had.  I know its going to a good home and will bring that skinny bastard a lot of fun.  Wait till he descends on that rocket.

All I have left now are the BMC Streetfire, Guerciotti Khaybar HT, and my mountain bike.

Sort of hoping my new bike will look kinda like this.