'Weenerz On The Loose

The nice temps didn's do me a bit o'good today as I was trapped inside all day slinging hack art. By the time quiting time rolled arround it was raining and dark. Nice.

But hey, it is the off season, so it was home to do some steady low HR spinning on the trainer. But first I had to see B-Man off as he headed up to Papa-O's to pass out candy....


The lil' Web Slinger.


Another one of the Web Slinger and his taller, uglier side kick- Doofus Man

Orginally I was gonna head up to Papa-O's too, so as to avoid the begging hords that invade my neighborhood for Trick or Treat, but I said F it, I'm just heading down to the basement to spin.

After spinning I cooked up some Chik Patties and homemade baked 'tater chunks. Yum-O.

Later.

So It Begins...

So I started training a little more focused tonight. Got an hour of spinning in Zone 2, followed by some light weights and core. As I mentioned before I'm just doing enough weights to stay toned. Saw no real benefit between working out lightly with weights in '05 and more hard core in '06. In training for '07 I'll be just doing enough to remind some of my muscles what they there for. Most of my leg work outs will be done on the bike as I've done in the past.

Speaking of working the legs. I put this together for some low rpm, seated climbing sessions.



06/07 Off Season Mix V - 35:25

01. Janine / Soul Coughing
02. Shot In The Dark / RJD2
03. Mixmaster Mike Speaks / Mix Master Mike, Scratch Soundtrack
04. Mixmaster Mike/DJ Disk (Live) / MixMaster Mike/DJ Disk. Scratch Soundtrack
05. Tough Guy / The Crystal Method
06. I'm Just A Killer For Your Love / Blur
07 Anemie / Stereolab
08. 2 More Dead / RJD2
09. Onesixteen / The Crystal Method
10. Hope Road / DJ Logic

Where's that "ziga-ziga" come from anyway?

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Wifey picked up the Xa tonight. Our new sub, sub, compact car. Should be great on gas and looks Euro-tastic! I'll miss the E., but I'm sure I'll get over it. Plus I forgot how well the Soob handles.

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Tomorrow is Trick-or-Treat here. We'll be getting out of dodge for a few hours. I think they bus folks in to our part of town for candy. Teenagers without costumes bitching that they only got one piece, etc., etc.,

I should give 'em bags of vegetables and fruit. Of course I'd be 100% certain to wake up to a house smeared with dog shit in the a.m.

Later. Gotta go get my "ziga-ziga" on.

New Year's Eve 2006, 07, Whatever...

So this is basically MY New Year's Eve. I start focusing on my 2007 season tomorrow. Sure, my first race is 5+ months away and I really don't even know what it will be, where it will be or what I'll be riding. Many folks are still racing CX or not even thinking of racing, but to maintain my solid state of mediocrity I need to start watching my diet, doing some LIGHT weight lifting and doing some focused spinning on the trainer or outside using the new HR monitor.

One of the main goals the first few months is to lose 10 pounds. I think I can do it, but I'm not gonna get myself run down and sick either. I was worried when I weighed myself the other day, but relieve when my body fat percentage was still spot on. I know there has to be a huge margin of error on those scales, but it was low enough that even if I was off my 300% I'd still be lower than 95% of America. But then again, that's not saying much from a country who's kids weigh more than other countries full grown adults.

I'm really geeked for 2007. I had a decent year in '06, but each year I get a little more focused on my goals. Last year I realized I may not have the mental capacity or bank account to compete in 24 Hour Solos. So in in 07 I plan to focus more on the 100 milers, as well as 6 and 12 Hour Solos. I may try to hit up at least 1 24 Hour race either up a the Hardcore 24 again or out at Nationals just for shits 'n giggles. I wouldn't' rule out a Duo with someone either.

Anyway to celebrate the "New Year" I had a couple brews, cooked up some 'taters and tuna melts and hung out with B-Man and Wifey watching Over The Hedge.... AGAIN!

So whether you training for 07 starts tomorrow, next month or 3 months from now...Good luck and have fun! If you ain't having fun, why do it?

Later.

Parted

So today after a 1 hour spin on the trainer Wifey, B-Man and I headed down a few blocks to check out some cars. We went with the intention of looking at a Toyota Yaris, but when we got there we kinda dug the sub-sub-sub-compact Scion Xa 5 door hatch back. Euro styling, Mp3 port, cd, and nearly 38 mpg hi-way!

Couple hours later I'm signing papers to ditch my beloved Honda Element. I'll miss it but I wont' miss the gas milage, or the rate in which the 4wd ate through tires. My Subaru is 4WD also and I gotta tell you, for this area the benefits of 4wd are a waste of cash!!

Of course we will have the (slightly) larger Subaru for road trips and snow days and reep the benefits of some sweet gas mileage on the Scion.

Payment wise we stayed the same but hope that the gas mileage will put us ahead of the game. God I hope so.

Sad to say that being an "adult" sucks. I have one friend loosing his job in 12 weeks due to the fact that his design work will be "outsourced" to India, another friend who has got laid off from more jobs than I've had, and me and Wifey who went from upper middle class to uper lower class in the blink of an eye.

Not gonna bitch too much. I have A job, a great kid and a great wife that lets me spend mad amount of time on my bike. Nothing a little beer and 10mg of happiness won't control :)

Later. Gotta get the rack of the E.

And The Deed Is Done

Element will be gone Monday. Sadness, but it will be better for u$.

Went with this....

Actual size. Scion Xa

Parting? And More ...

No work today. That was cool. I have a ton of time off in the coming months and I'm geeked. Did my Lactate Threshold test today. Data recorded and set to start training next week. CatEye HR seems to be cool so far.

Had my Honda Element's inspection today. Passed. Barely. Dude says I need new tires. AGAIN! I just got tires last Sept. now 17,000 miles, 2 rotations, and an alignment later I need 4 more! Yikes!

I love what the E. has to offer to my racing road trips, but big miles, 4 wheel drive, boxy shape and $3.00 per gallon gas is NOT what this former DINK- now pay check to pay check doofus needs. So Wifey and I are once again thinking of dumping it for a used car or or SUPER cheap gas efficient car. Then the Soob would become my bike wagon again.

Possibly loosing my E. makes me a tad sad, but not racing would be worse. Doing the races is what it's all about for me, not where I'm sleeping or what I'm driving to the race. I've slept in a tent full of water before. I'll do it again.

I'd rather RIDE a Salsa Mamasita, Niner or Caffeine than DRIVE ANYTHING. PERIOD. Speaking fo the Caffeine I heard today you can get the frame and fork as a set, although I'm not sure about a retail $ amount yet. (thank's Rick)

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Because this is what I do when I have idle time...



Man, not sure what's in to me. Getting my mixing done now for the coming weeks workouts.

06/07 Off Season Mix IV - 49:55

01. Winning Style / Propellerheads
02. Rat Pack / DJ Logic
03. The Guns Of Brixton / The Clash
04. The Rolling People / The Verve
05. Setting Sun / The Chemical Brothers
06. It Doesn't Matter / The Chemical Brothers
07. Shit Schiesse Merde, Pt. 1 [Instrumental] / !!!
08. Red Eyes And Tears / Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
09. Choo Choo / Arctic Monkeys
10. Aftermath / Tricky

Oh well. Not working has made me thirsty for some Yard's and a tad bit "randy"

Later.

It's Hard Enough!

As Tom Boonen says- "Think of how much easier the Ronde van Vlaanderen would have been rocking my Euro mullet while listening to this mix!"

06/07 Off Season Mix III - 46:00

01. Majestic / The Orb
02. Every Planet We Reach Is Dead / Gorillaz
03. 1000BPM / Beck
04. Swastika Eyes (Chemical Brothers Mix) / Primal Scream
05. High Rise (Club Mix) / Ladytron
06. Empire / Kasabian
07. Myxomatosis / Radiohead
08. The Knock / U.N.K.L.E.
09. Hoops / The Chemical Brothers

Later.

Heart Rate In The House

Got my new HR monitor today. Looks pretty cool and was easy to set up. Fooled around a bit with it on the trainer just to get familiar with it. Off work tomorrow, so I hope to do my Lactate Threshold test with it so as to set my training zones.

Not much else going. Sorry for the sub par blogging. It should improved in the next few weeks with winter training starting and a scheduled vasectomy ;)

Later.

Multi Media Day...

No work out today and work was boring so I put together some info/entertainment for you all.

First here's a couple links to some 29er talk.

First is Dirt Rag's "TV" interview with some guy named Gary Fisher about 29ers. Heard most of it all before, but still neat. One of Garry's best lines is- "can we make a happy bike? If not ride something else." I like that line. I admit to not being on board the 29er thing till my '06 Dos Niner. Now I just feel comfy and "normal" on one and feel that it is better fit for my style of riding and racing.


Click HERE to see the Dirt Rag Clip.

Then there's the Keith Bontrager interview on the most recent Crooked Cog Pod Cast. Good interview, but Bontrager goes on a little too much for me about, the whole force, power meter, inertia, wheel size, stuff. I'm sure it's valid, but tired of it being an issue. Roll whatcha' dig, just roll.

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Now more music:

First is a mix I shared last week. Here is is again, but I included art work if you have the mix and want to put a little artwork on your iTunes or iPods cover art area.


Nothing too much here. Just a pict of the "cannibal" I dug. A little inspiration from Eddy.

And here's the latest mix that I'm diggin' :

06/07 Off Season Mix II - 38:58

01. There Goes The Sun / Pernice Brothers

02. So You'll Aim Toward The Sky / Grandaddy

03. Such Great Heights / The Postal Service

04. Astronaut / Luna

05. You Are A Runner And I Am My Father's Son / Wolf Parade

06. The Mine Has Been Returned To Its Original Owner / Superchunk

07. Sugar (Jagz Kooner Mixx) / Ladytron

08. The She / The Breeders

09. Think Im In Love / Beck

10. Balifon Planet / DJ Logic



This one is a little more down beat but I like it for steady spinning.

We'll I'm off to makes some chicken, rice and peas. Mmmm.

Later.

Belly Full O'Fiber

Still trying to kick the cold a bit, but it's not keepin' me down. Got another hour of tempo on the trainer tonight. Just trying to keep the legs spanky to start 2007 training next week.

Made a bad ass chicken chili tonight. Wow, FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFiber. Yikes.

That's it, gonna go listen to some tunes.

Later.

What Could Be Better?....

What could be better than a chilly Monday on the stationary trainer with a head cold? Wow there's a lot of shit on the wall of this Monday, but once the feecus fell it really wasn't so bad.

The S.T.H.C. (sexually transmitted Head Cold) that I picked up from Wifey (you think you know a chick! All we did was kiss, I SWEAR!) really isn't so bad, and my legs felt damn good working my way up and down the rear cassette. Got a good hour of tempo riding in and a nice sweat on. Plus a good work out really blows out the snot rockets!

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Anybody ever try Hammer Nutrition's Tissue Rejuvenator or other product with Glucosamine Sulfate in it? Here's why- every fall and winter for the past 7 or so years my right shoulder aches like a motherf**** for about 2 months, then gradually gets better. Dull ache, hard to sleep, limited motion, grinding bone etc.,

From the research I've done it looks like something like something like Tissue Rejuvenator or other product with Glucosamine Sulfate might help the ol cartilage and what not. Might try it since Bikeman.com carries T.R. and I can get some "love" on it. Leave a comment if you have. My shoulder and I will thank you.

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Been checking out the Crocodile Trophy race from "down under". Looks like a sweet stage race, but in a country with just about EVERY type of poisonous snake, bug, lizard, bird, worm, and spider PLUS alligators and sharks, I think I'll be fine just reading about it from half a world away.

That's about all I got shakin' tonight.

Later.

Cool Saturday

Today was cool on two levels. Cool in that it was in the mid 30s when I woke up this a.m. and cool that I'm having a killer day! I got out on the road bike for 35.5 miles of sweet fall riding. Crisp air, colorful leaves and sunshine.

Nice little climb from today's ride.

Ended up with about 35.5 miles in a little over 2 hours. I'll take that for a ride in mid October. Air was crisp but not too bad. Only downside there was a pretty steady breeze that wouldn't allow my leg muscles to ever REALLY get warm, but hey I was outside in the sun, and that is the ballz!

Then I got home and found that my friends Loretta and Fernando had picked up and sent me my trophy for finishing 2nd in the Mid Atlantic Super Series 6 Hour Endurance Series. Thanks guys!

I'm pretty stoked about the trophy. I know it's JUST a trophy and I only finished 2nd, but when I thought about it, I realized I NEVER got a trophy for anything. I mean I DID get ones when I played baseball years ago, but they gave EVERY kid a trophy. I feel like I ACTUALLY got recognized for something. That feels good, especially when it's something you LOVE doing. Thanks M.A.S.S.!!!!

Wifey and B-Man went to the Zoo tonight for some sorta Halloween thing with my sister and nephew, so I'm currently balls deep in a 6 pack of Sierra Nevada Porter, about to fire up some left over Mexican food, and watch college football 'till I get bored and put in a tape of some old Tour race or Off Road To Athens.

Good times my friends, good times.

Hope you are all having a good weekend.

Later.

Fall Training At It's Best...

Wow, that's good. Cheers to a long week, cold, rainy, fall weather and the prospect of a nipply Saturday road ride.

If you got meat don't be lettin' it loaf.

Later.

Heart Cooks Brain

Not too much going on (I know you're surprised). Was gonna sping the legs today, but just decided to throw some dumbbells around and work on the guns. (that's a joke). Just pegged down some of the exercises that I want to incorporate into winter training down in the dungeon (a.k.a. my basement).

I finally broke down and ordered a new heart rate monitor from Bikeman.com. Went with the Cateye MSC-HR10. I'm sure that decision hat nothing to do with the endless brainwashing done by Jeff.

Seriously, it was just the clear winner in the price vs. function vs. simplicity category. Sh*t you look at some of 'em and they're like computers on your wrist! Who has the time to be peeping at all that f*cking info when you're riding?? Plus It's kinda cool looking, and since I don't own a watch, I can use it for one. Dig?

Also been fooling around the Dos Niner's Rock Shox Reba. I've been happy with my current settings, but I thought I'd experiment with some settings that some folks on mtbr.com boards said they were using.

One kat said he's 180 lbs. and raved about the plushness of using 80 psi in the +/air chamber, Wow! I tried it and it was like going from 80mm to 40mm of travel. I'm using 125+/120- and find it firm and responsive to both big hits and small chatter. I have the rebound on the faster side of half way.

Just like underwear I'm sure that everyone has their preferences. I guess I'm a boxer guy with my fork. I like to feel my fork moving, but not go "commando" on me! I think it pays to read up, and experiment with your fork for your weight, riding style and overall comfort. Who knows I may change it again soon.

Also for some insight into the testing and designing of the Salsa Mamasita check out this post on MTBR.com. And you thought that this bikes were just shlopped together by some egg head engineer and robot in Taiwan!

Oh well, whole lotta nothing tomorrow and some saddle time on Saturday. I'm hearing the road call my name! Oh no, wait that's was just tonight's Burrito con Jason.

Later

By Friday Life Has Killed Me...

Ok that's a little bit much, and stollen from a Mozzer song, but damn let this week end! It's not bad. I've had and will have worse, but it's just Borrring! Work has been farily busy, but life without the structure that riding brings is kinda boring in my book.

I did hit the trainer again tonight for an hour, felt good and anxious to get some saddle time in this weekend.

I was made more anxious this a.m. by gettng the low down from Brent at Twin-Six about some due dates for the new duds. Stay tuned here and over on the T6 site for availability and pricing on the new gear. I already have a wish list of gear I want (cough, cough WOOL!, cough) and as soon as I get it you can be sure I'll be shootin' blue steel here.

Why is it Wednesday and I'm thinking about what beer I want to buy for Friday? I've been in a BIG beer mood (strong IPAs, Stouts, and Porters) I'd love to get a hold on some Fat Dog, but not sure pay day will allow. We shall see. Still have some Troegs Oatmeal Stout, but I'm always on the hunt for some new hooch.

Later.

Listen To This...

After two days of nothingness on the bike, I got back on the trainer tonight for a nice hour spin, followed by cookin' up some Mexicana de la Jason. Big Mex-Fest Colon Blow with black beans, peppers, onions, low fat cheese, chicken breast chunks, taco seasoning, salsa and brown rice.

Been using a lot of brown rice recently. Since I've been keeping track of my food intake the past week I REALLY noticed how quickly the pasta kicks my calorie limits ass. You can get many of the benefits of whole wheat pasta in brown rice. Easy to make too, I just use the boil n' bag kind. Good enough for my white trash cooking on a healthy lower middle class tip.

I've been able to get back into "music nerdness" since the season ended, making some mixes and seeking out some stuff I didn't have time to listen to between riding, dadding, eating and sleeping.

I've Been listening to a good mix the past few days. Couple new(er) tracks from Beck, The Rifles, The Reconteurs, Maximo Park and Arctic Monkeys as well as some older stuff I dig from The Pixies, Stone Roses and even (for some unknown reason) The Cars (must be from remembering this scene from Fast Times)

06/07 Off Season Mix 1 - 46:50

01. Death Of A Party / Blur
02. Moving In Stereo / The Cars
03. Limassol / Maximo Park
04. Repeated Offender / Rifles
05. I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor / Arctic Monkeys
06. Outsiders / Franz Ferdinand
07. Boys Better / The Dandy Warhols
08. Store Bought Bones / The Raconteurs
09. Motorhead / Primal Scream
10. Nausea / Beck
11. Wave Of Mutilation [@BBC] / The Pixies
12. Dirty Harry / Gorillaz
13. Fools Gold / The Stone Roses

Oh yeah, saying I had a crush on Maja yesterday got me a good verbal middle finger from Wifey today. DOH! Sorry Wifey, you know I dig you the most. Now can you put on that Lotto jersey? Ha! Ha! Ha! Sorry.

Later.

Yeah, But It's A Dry Shave

Not much going on today. Had the "Big V" Doc visit this evening. Nothing like a little "jostling" to get you in the mood to simply come home, eat dinner and try to forget you just made plans to have just a little more of your man hood taken away. In reality, it wasn't that bad and I've even coordinated the pending "procedure" to correspond with my first rest week of off season training! Sweet!

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For some insight into the Biblical ass spanking that the weather man gave the Moab racers check out Adam's blog.

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Got me a new mountain bike chicky crush (sorry Wifey). Oh Maja! She's super fast and one of my Easter European types to boot. Brush up on your Polish, grab a Pierogi and check out her site. I look at it for the race reports.

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Oh well, hope to get some saddle time tomorrow, although it will most likely be a trainer ride according to the weather.

I leave you with this....

"Did the doctor remind you to shave the night before the surgery? Because if you don't we have to do it here, and it will be a dry shave"

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFantastic. I have no shame.

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Later.

Wow!

Wow, looks like Moab got cancelled due to bad weather. That sucks for those guys big time! Lots of money, time and training goes into these races and it sucks when something you can't control effects it. Hope all the folks made it through the heavy rains ok and in one piece.

JB checked in via mobile on his way home from the 60+ mile Iron Cross race today. It was good to hear from John and good to hear he finished at tough race like Iron Cross. Congrats JB!

No riding today, just family stuff and other business. Not sure if tomorrow will have any riding or not, since I got me a doc appointment after work. Info to come down on the Big Snip. Yikes!

Bidding is happening as I type on two PSU vs. Temple tickets that Wifey had got for November 11th. Not working $o good for us to go, so we're selling them and using the money for a night out.

Later

Saturday Nipple Fest on the Dos Niner

Great mother of pearl it was chilly riding today! Probably about mid forties at ride time with a steady wind blowing. It wasn't too bad, I mean it was arm warmer/knee warmer & vest chilly, but the damn wind made it cold whenever I was out of the woods.



Felt great to be out on the bike. Every ride that I do between now and the end of November is looked at as if it could be the last good one 'till spring. You never know when Ma Nature will get her weather making panties in a bunch and bitch slap you with the cold rains and snow of fall and winter.



So, I enjoyed the ride and got close to 1:40 of dirt time. Snapped a few pics, chatted with some friends I ran in to and did more evaluating of my recent air adjustments to the Reba. Good times.

Time to watch some giant size college kids smash each other up, drink some brew and fire up some Mexican food.

Later.

Sponsor Love And I Don't Care...Sue Me M.F.!

UPDATE: Wow! My apologies for the "I love you man" tones of this post. THIS is what blogging with 3 or 4 Troegs Oatmeal Stouts coursing through you will produce. Yikes.

Wow,gotta tell you I feel damn lucky today. Why? Well 1. I've had a few e-mail exchanges with Jason from Salsa this week. Final geometry tests are going on with the Mamasita and the tubing and cabon stays are in production, so in 5 lllllllllllllllllllong months we lucky big wheeled Bikeman (an other) racers will be rollin' fast on the Mamasita! I thank Jason for keeping me in the loop on the progress. Much appreciated.

2nd I'm seriously geeked to know I'll be whoring Twin-Six again this year. I really dig these guys. Maybe it's the designer in me that appreciates their love of fun, functional. bad ass designs AND their passion for the "sex on wheels" that we call mountain biking. I'm totally stoked to get my hands on the '07 line of tees, socks and jerseys. One word: F*CKING WOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God bless you Ryan and Brent!! :)

Lastly Bikeman.com. You know you go all year thinking you race for a cool ass shop, but when fall rolls around and you see the passion that folks like Al, Matt, and others have for CX and the lengths they go through to keep the team up to date, involved and rolling fast, it REALLY makes you realize you race for some passionate folks!

Damn, what could be better than racing for folks that make fast as shit race bikes, dig racing, and look good doing it? Nothing. Cheers to Salsa, Twin-Six and Bikeman.com. Looking forward to '07 and it's still '06!!!! It's gonna be a lllllllllllllllllllllllllllong winter.

Later. There's crime and it needs fightin'! WIFEY!!!!!

Chicka-bow-chicka-bow-bow

Later.

Pretty Darn OK!

Nice day here. Crisp and cool outside with plenty of sun. Worked a half day, did my house chores, did and 45 minute spin, got the Dos ready for tomorrow's dirt duty, had a nice walk with Wifey and B-Man, now I have a lasagna baking and I'm 4 Oatmeal Stouts into a Friday night. Life is good.

El Santo was shipped out today, so now I just have to wait 5 months for my new ride! Swwwwweeeeeeet!

Don Niner time in the dirt tomorrow.

Have a great weekend, get some miles in and to all of those doing Iron Cross- Good Luck!! Wish I was there.

Later.

'Nother Week Almost Bagged

Man, some air just blew in off Johnny Canuck's Teet! My digits are cold and the headlights are on! Damn! Actually it's not too bad, just not used to it.

Not much on tap today, did a 50 minute workout on the trainer with some core & strength added in. Just needed to do something to get a bit of a sweat on. After that I cooked up some baked chicken and 'taters for me and Wifey.

Taking a 1/2 day off tomorrow just "because". I have the time and my job is boring, so the less time I can spend away from it the happier I am. Might get out on the bike or get my "house" stuff done so as to get a longer ride in dirt in on Saaaaaaaaaaaturday.

El Santo is packed and ready. Just waiting payment. Buyer is having some trouble with PayPal, but we're in contact and all is good.

Later.

1,2, You Know What To Do...

Sorry about the sub par blogging yesterday. Vomit shows no mercy. Fresh chili vomit shows even less. Not sure what the prob was but after I hunked up dinner I felt pretty good and just went to bed.

Last night's Road/RT ride was pretty good. Rolled the Dos and had a nice pace. Finished the last 20 minutes in the dark with the HID blazing. Didn't do much tonight, just made some dinner, had a Monkey Attack with B-Man (stuffed monkey attacks us, shows no mercy. Much like chili vomit, but way more fun).

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Real high on a newer feature to TrainingPeaks.com. The nutrition counter. You plug in what you eat and the nutritional info and then it keeps track of your calories, fat, carbs, proteins, etc. etc., I'm using that along with some info from Food For Fitness by Chris Carmichael to help with fuel and coordinate my training periodizations

Right now I'm in the Transition period-" a recovery period on an annual scale". Training time is spent just maintaining aerobic fitness, having some fun riding or cross training with less structure. And since less time and intensity is spent working out, I need to cut calories too. Much is common sense, but many folks kinda go off the deep end in the off season and the next thing you know you're trying to shed the winter weight just to start training. Yikes!

Right now I'm aiming a little lower since I'm trying to shed a couple el-bees before the foundation period starts, so my daily intake goals are: 2700 Calories/60% carb/18% Protein/ 22% Fat).

Once I get all my foods plugged into TrainingPeaks.com it will be a little less time consuming, and be easy to chart my meals. It will help me keep close to my dietary goals at least during the week. The weekend I like to have a few beers and not go too hardcore on the Food Nazi stuff. I'm f*cked up enough.

Alright I'm done with food talk.

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Got the new Beck today. Good stuff! Only one song I don't really dig. So in the past week I've got hold of some sweet tunes- Beck, Rifles, Decemberists, Frank Black. You see when I'm not a Cycling Nerd Food Nazi I'm a bit of music nerd.

Later.

p.s. WHY is my son screaming HOT DOGS! PEANUTS! downstairs?? Then again why is my wife screaming BEER HERE!! ? I guess we're all nerds. I LOVE IT!

UG!

Did a road ride/rail trail ride tonight. 2 hours/32.5 miles. Came home made chili. Threw up. No it's not part of a diet plan. Not sure whats up. Hope it was a one time deal. Later.

She's Got Standards

What a great day for a ride. Dry, sunny, and temps in the 70s. Got a nice 1:20 minute post work ride on dirt at Boyce tonight. At one point the sun was setting and was shining through the fall leaves and illuminated the whole section of woods that I was riding in a cool gold and orange. It was freaking sweet!

BONUS! found a new section of tight, twisty single track tonight. I've passed it hundreds of times, but thought it just was a dump off trail back down to some double track. Oh but no! Logs, dips and switch backs a plenty. I believe it's the Trail God's way of making up for my eating of dirt on Saturday.

El Santo is all but sold. Just awaiting payment, then off it goes to it's new owner. Hope the dude digs it as much as I did. I will miss the cush to the tush that it gave me, but overall I think I'll be fine splitting time between my softail Dos and a hard tail 29er. Now I just have to wait to see what I'm gonna be able to get.

Thank you shout outs to UKraig for turning me on to a new band called The Rifles. REALLY digin 'em. Check out their web site for some samples. It's a killer site too! One of the best designed sites I've seen in a while. Now I just have to wait for them to release the cd in the US. UPDATE: Found it! Sweet.

Later.

Wow!

Woke up a bit sore (shoulder, skull, leg) from yesterday's contacts with the earth, so instead of riding I just got my legs loose on the trainer for an hour listening to iPodious and a newly downloaded B-Sides collection of Frank Black and the Catholics I got from eMusic.com.

Then I sat glued to the Net watching the live updates on CyclingNews.com of the unofficial Solo "World Championships". Eatough gets knocked off! Wow! Was gonna happen sooner or later. Nice to see someone new get a win.

I thought it was huge to see Brandon Draugelis from Bear Naked/Cannondale get 3rd. He took 1st in '05 at Seven Springs, tears up the Mid Atlantic Super Series, NORBA XC and is ONLY 20 YEARS OLD! Congratulations Brandon! He's blown by me on more than one occasion out on the race course. Glad to see him put the wood to some big names in the endurance world.

Hope to get some time in on the Dos Niner tommorow. I'm starting the "Schlecking of Jason" on Monday. Cutting back on calories, banning weekday beer intake, and slowly upping my hours again till training starts up again in November.

A "Tumble" Riding

Wow, great day here in WPA. Mid 60s, blues sky and sun. Oh yes! Hit the dirt with the Dos Niner for about 1:45. Short and sweet 14 miles of tight single track.

Down side was I took 1 or 2 falls. Damn, Fall is great riding , but the damn leaves on the trail really f*ck with my eyes. Then coming off a super small log pile I see a small log laying perp to the trail, try to avoid it, twist my front wheel, endo and then get smacked in the head with the bike and forehead with a pedal. Yikes!

Then in another tight corner my bar gets caught on a small tree and slams me down. Damn! I took more falls withing 20 minutes today than I have the past few months!!

Might be close to selling the El Santo. Have somone interested, but we're in a bit of a haggle. I'm hopeful, but not too hopeful. Dig?

Had a couple friends over for some baked rigatoni and turkey balls tonight. Bad wine, and good beer.

Hope you all are having a great weekend and hope my Bikeman.com teammates are enjoying another CX filled weekend.

Later.

New Gear In The House

No riding today. STRESSFUL day at work and on the home front. Couldn't wait to plop my ass down and guzzle couple Black Hook Porters.

Matty-D put the bug in Big Al's ear late this summer to order up some skin suits and caps for CX season from Champion System. Now I MAY be the only member of Bikeman.com NOT racing CX, but that doesn't mean I won't be putting the hammer down in some nipply temps this fall.

Since we were getting a killer team price I ordered up a couple caps- 1 winter cap (shown) and one bad ass Euro cycling cap (to be modeled in the future). Thanks to Big Al and Matt for T.C.O.B.


Snug fit, brushed comfort. Ugly ass face not included.

Dos time tomorrow.

Later.

Popular Culture No Longer Applies To Me

Last night's storms and some crap weather today had me on the trainer tonight for an hour. This time of year I have even less of a training structure than normal. As I've mentioned before I just like to maintain my weight right now and burn off some beer calories.

So I rode for an hour, doing a couple 10 minute LT intervals, getting a sweat on and listening to some Art Brut.

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Saw Guitar Ted, respected 29" wheel loving blogger has named the Mamasita "Best in Show" from this year's Interbike. Right on G-Ted!

I may or may not end up on a Mamasita (the bike), but I think G-TED hit the nail on the head with his break down of the Hot Mama. Here it is...

"The Salsa "Mamasita" Scandium/ carbon frame. It got my "Best of Show" designation for the 29"er category at Interbike. Here's why: First off, it's a great looking bike! Salsa has some really good graphic design on all of their bikes and the Mamsita was no exception. Secondly, this is a very smartly designed hardtail utilizing some high zoot materials in a very logical way. Take for instance the carbon seat stays. Sure, there were other carbon rear ended 29"ers at the show, but you could tell that the Mamasita had a purpose for using the material other than the bling factor. I'm not saying the others didn't have a purpose for using carbon fiber, it's just that it wasn't obvious that it had a purpose. The Mamasita's purpose for it was readily evident. Vertical compliance and strength. There's more, the Scandium down tube that was clearanced for suspension fork control knobs, (Reba) and integrated cable stops in the left seat stay for brake lines. This design was well thought out. Plus, it wasn't some goofy "I can be single speed-I can be geared" hardtail. It's purpose is clear. Geared racing XC machine. Period. I like that! Commitment........it's a word too oft not applicable to 29"er designs these days."

Word to the Ted. Now I swear that's the last I'll speak of the Mamasita for at least 24 hours :)

Now check this...

Sorry
Later

Chased Like An Escaped Lunatic On Fire

Was anxious to ride in the woods again tonight. Storms were heading our way, but I was pretty confident I could squeeze a post work ride in. I did, and didn't.

Got to the trail head as quick as I could, got kitted up and on the trail. Was motoring pretty smooth. Not fast, just smooth and having fun. That's what fall riding is all about, right? After about 50 minutes I could hear some distant thunder and the woods were getting pretty damn dark for it only being 6:20. So I had to take a bail out trail and motor back to the Black Box before the storms came. Made it with just a few minutes to spare.

I dig when the woods get dark like that. Make the greens "pop" and takes on a surreal atmosphere, even more than night riding.

Lots of leaves down already. I have horrible vision anyway, so adding a million multi colored leaves on the trails REALLY helps :)

Ended up with only and hour ride and about 9 miles. Kinda sucks, but it beats an hour on the trainer any day.

The Reba was feeling much better tonight. I upped the air in both chambers and increased the rebound. I realized I like the fork better a bit firmer. It was still able to bottom out, one time in particular I hit a short, but steep rocky dip, bottomed her out and nearly ate some dirt. Some how kept it up though and kept going.

As you can see above I'm experimenting with new headers. I have some works in progress, but for now this is it. See what kind of R&D time I get at work. Like to find pict of me on Dos and in my full Bikman.com kit, but I'm just not "feeling" some of the ones I have.

Later.

The Shankhill Butchers Ride 29ers (I think)

Not much going on here bike-wise today, other than cleaning the mud of the Dos Niner from last night's ride and fooling around with the Reba's air pressures. I think I was too low for me, so I upped the positive and the negative and made them even. See how that works.

From mtbr.com: The Panaracer Rampage 29er 2.3

TIRE SIZE: 29 x 2.35/BEAD: Aramid/TPI: 60/WEIGHT: 800g

Not sure if I'll run this one or not. 800 grams per tire. YIKES! As I've said before i think I'm OK with 2.1s. 800 grams is a LOT of rubber. Might be nice for an uber technical course but I'll probably stick with the Maxxis Ignitor 29er or possibly some Kenda Klaw's. But who knows. With me sometimes it just comes down to price.

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iTuned some music today- The new Decemberist's cd titled "The Crane Wife" is out today. They're one of my faves. The is their first cd on a Major Lable and they didn't dissapoint. Highlights so far are: "The Perfect Crime", "Shankhill Butchers" and "Yankee Bayonet". If you like your music on a literary tip, you will not be disappointed.

That's it. Hope to get some saddle time tomorrow.

Later.

Turd Bar?

Only my blog could be stubbled upon by someone googling the term "turd bar"! FANtastic.

Got a 13 mile/1:30 single track ride in on the Dos Niner tonight. I need to figure out that damn Reba. Sometimes it just feels too harsh. Is this a result of me being used to the 100mm on my now recently sold Fox 100RLT? The fork's action is smooth as butter, it's just sometimes feels like I have a damn ridgid fork on it! Need to do MORE research on air pressures. I've heard that the RS recomended air pressures are pretty much crap. We'll see.

Been thinking more about bikes for 07. There are many I lust for. The obvious choice for me would be the Salsa Mamasita, due to the fact it looks freaking bad ass fast, and since Salsa is a team sponsor, it would make the most financial sense for me. Having said tha, the Cannondale 29er also looks freaking sweet (crap components, but the frame and fork are lusty), Titus will be making a stock Ti 29er hard tail version of the Eleven, and a stock aluminum Racer-X 29er. All are giving me a tingly feelings in the nether regions.

I was also riding along thinking tonight about how I poo-pooed the 29er, now I poo-poo the 26", will I un-poo-poo the 26" someday. Could happen, I'm not one to drink the Koo-Aid all the time and there are 26" frames I still would love to ride. Like the Scapel, Rush, Racer-X, Moots, Moto-Rapido and even my El Santo that I'm in the process of selling. All are fab bikes. The El Santo was freaking sweet, and I've seen them built up hella light, but I had the thing pushing 30 lbs. and that's just too damn heavy for me. Comfy as hell though.

Oh well this is what I do in the off season. Blather on about bikes, drink some beer, and sell stuff on eBay.

Later, gots to looks at more bike porn.

Pretty Good For Being Bad

I wouldn't call this weekend one of my best, but it was still damn good. KoKo and Double-K were up from Florida and some great news- they're expecting a little KoKo. Sweet! Fasten your seat belt dude.

No bike time this weekend except for yesterday's time on the trainer. Hope to get some Dos Niner saddle time tomorrow.

Stopped at Tom's to get the crank pulled off the El Santo and the head set removed. Tom bought my Fox 100RLT and XT/Mavic wheel set too, so now all I have to do is sell El Santo and wait for spring. Wow, that's gonna be a long wait.

Anyone running DT 240 hubs? Good, bad, horrible? The stats look good and I know in general their stuff has a good rep, but I wanna check 'em out. Thanks.

Beer of The Weekend: Wild Goose Amber Ale. Damn! It tastes like a smooth Belgium. I was shocked at how good it was. Yum-o

Later.