Lack of Posts ...

Sorry for the lack of posts in the past few weeks. The posts are almost equivalent to the amount of time my arse has been in the saddle. I have been able to get in a few good rides on the cross bike last week with another slated for this morning.

Going to be meeting up with Nate so we can both get fully accustomed to riding the cross bikes. Need a little practice getting on and off the bike in a timely manner and not falling on my face. Mostly because my dental insurance is not all that great and my wallet not heavy enough to pick up the slack.

Really wanted to be able to make it up to Iron Cross this year but alas I swore off cross racing for this year about 2 months ago. That was until last week when I built it back up. Well not entirely up. I left off all those pesky dérailleurs and shifters. Looks like I will be able to make 7 races here in VA throughout the season. First one is this Saturday at the Cooper Vineyards where the course description states, "This course is offers only a fewe short downhills and not much time for recovery." F-in great! As if cross doesn't take it all out of me as it is. Not sure my chest can take all the vomiting and heaving after the races that took place last year. Good thing I am in worst shape this year than last.

Going crazy without the time to get in a good ride until Saturday morning. How does one cope?

Catching Up

Seems like forever since I last updated. Truth be told there hasn't been too much riding done by me here lately. I was able to get out for the Heart of VA century ride this past weekend. I had begun the day with a time window of when I would have liked to have finished. The window was between 5 and 5 1/2 hours.

The ride started off in Ashland and would take us all over Henrico and Hanover before all was said and done. I started the ride alone and before I knew it, was starting to reel in some of the groups that had started a little before me. This worried me a little as since it had been so long since I had put in a long distance ride, I was a bit afraid I wouldn't be able to hold that pace until the end.

About 60 miles in was the "lunch stop" where I stopped for a banana and new bottles. There I ran into Cycles Ed. Stopped and chatted with him for a second before getting back on the bike. That's when my fears came to fruition. I no longer had the power in my legs to sustain the 21 mph average I had set before the stop. It was a long last 40 miles full of upper quad pain in my left leg. Limping towards the finish, I arrived 6 hours after I started.

Despite the discomfort towards the end of the ride I was pleased with my effort. Looks like I will need to get out for the longer rides more often. Hard to do though with the race season dwindling to an end. Any suggestions?

A clear radar for the Heart of VA ride this morning.

Riding w/ Others

Spent this week riding with others. I know this is somewhat of a new concept for me as my schedule usually forces me to ride when everyone else cannot. So when a chance comes up I usually take advantage of it.

Met Zach at the store Monday morning for a nice 22 mile loop through the Hanover/Henrico/Ashland area. Although I have ridden out there many a time, I still do not know where the town/county lines are. Oh well doesn't really matter until I look like a dumbass trying to explain a route I rode through "Ashland" the other day when it was really in "Henrico". Zach got the chance to rock his new Diadora's and might I say he looked a bit Tom Boonen-ish(I know Tom doesn't wear Diadora's). Maybe its because they rock the same build but probably more so because he put a hurting on me for the entire 22 miles.

Last night, Jenn and I loaded up the bikes once again and headed over to WestCreek. After her first ride last week, the concensus was we needed to bring the bars back to her just a little bit more. Grabbed what I described to the LBS as "a stem that is short, stumpy and has a lot of rise", she was much more comfortable on the bike. 18 miles last night and she is pumped and asking for more.

Blurry due to speed!

Thursday equals a rest day with a short ride on Friday to get the legs stretched out before Saturday's Heart of VA century. Legs are feeling a bit tired as always but am looking for my first ever sub 5 hr century.

Spent Labor Day weekend in Hickory, N.C. with Jenn while visiting her sister Aprill and soon to be husband Adam. Saturday was pretty laid back and which means my ass didn't leave the couch while we watched the opening weekend's worth of college football.

Sunday the girls pressured Adam into showing me some of the local trails. A pint of Jack Black the night before had him thinking he really would rather not but did anyway. We hit up South Mountain State Park. Wish he would have told him to pack my climbing legs. Ended up climbing about 1000ft every four miles until about the 10th mile or so and then as we all know, "What goes up, must come down!"

Pointed the bike down the hill and just held on. The Carver was handling great through the rough rocky sections which put that shit eating grin on my face. That was until, "psssssssssssssssssssss" and then silence once again. F! Reached in my jersey to grab the extra tube I had pulled from the bag and found many a pack of Jelly Belly Sport Bean. Double F! Did I lose it? Nope my opposite of brilliant tail left it sitting on the tailgate of the truck.

Started to run down the hill but then realized that I hate to run. Since the majority of the remaining loop was downhill, I decided I would just jump back on and nurse it back down the hill. Wasn't worried about the tire but more so the rim. Got to the bottom to find a little wear (surprise suprise) on the tire but none on the rim. Still as true as true can be!

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In other news, the final few pieces needed to finish up Jenn's first road bike arrived on Thursday and I was able to hang them before we left for Hickory. Looking forward to her first ride on Wed evening!

And just to leave everyone with component envy, I finally was able to complete the SRAM Force grouppo when I found these beautiful puppies awaiting my arrival back from NC. And to think it only took me a year to accomplish. Will get those installed this morning before heading to work.

As we all now by now the 18 hour race was canceled due to major storm damage earlier in the week of the race. It has now been rescheduled for November 17-18. That same weekend, is the VA State Cyclocross Championship in VA Beach. I really enjoyed that event last year as well even though it is very clear to me that short races like cross racing I do not excel at.

Would have been a tough decision to make had I been forced to make one but luckily I'm not. I will be arriving back home late that Sunday from my trip out west to visit my lil sis! I am super excited about this trip. I know for a fact I will be taking the road bike with me but may also end up taking the Carver as well. We will see!

Since my schedule isn't going to be too Cross friendly this year, I have decided to put my training efforts for the next few months onto longer rides. The 24 hours of Sebring looks to be my next big race, also the first of next year, and I want to do better than this year. Actually riding the bike more than once a week like I was before the event this year, will be a good first step. I think?

Chris has been trying to get down his way for a trip around his new favorite loop through Southern Chesterfield for awhile now. Finally got the schedules matched up and planned on meeting up with him on Friday evening. On the ride back to get my car from Jenn's place after work I started to get a ridiculous vibration in my left pedal. Limp it back to the car and take a look at it. Crank arm has come loose.

Threw the bike on top of the car and call Chris. "On my way, I will need an 8mm wrench when I get there." Arrive at Chris', throw the bike up on the stand, insert said wrench into bolt. The bolt has no head. Argg! Ride is called off.

Call around on Saturday morning looking for a new one. Thinking Ben at 3 Sports would be the only place who would have one in stock he was the first I called. "Yup! I've got one." Great! Headed over there during my lunch break and picked it up. The Felt is back up and running! Going to give the loop another try tomorrow night. Looking forward to it!

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Jenn has expressed some interest in road riding. Decided to tear down the Cross bike and build up a bike for her. It is coming along great and I am excited because she seems very excited. The last pieces of the puzzle will be arriving this week and I will be able to get her out on the road.

Cannot wait to get this bike complete. What is it about building bikes from scratch attracts me so much? Light frame with 105 shifters, Ultegra front and rear and FSA carbon cranks. NICE!