Ice Cream Headache

Damn, after riding in short and a jersey last week, to be sporting cap, leg warmers, jacket, winter gloves, etc., etc., again is sort of a pain in the ballz. It really wasn't all that bad if you weren't moving, but the thing is... I was moving, so by the end of today 37 mile square I felt like I had an ice cream headache. Blah, blah, blah, at this point I was just glad to have to go to the E.R. after the ride.

No ride tomorrow as B-Man has a 1/2 day of school. Then Saturday is the Lowell 50 gravel race. I am very much using my CX bike and even got some new rubber in the mail today via Bikeman.com...

Ritchey 700 x 40 cx tires for dirt and gravel roads. It's been like a year since I ordered bike shit through the mail. It was nice to get a visit from the UPS man.

Saw this big ass dude coming at me and thought it wise just to move over and let him pass. I'm sure there was enough room for me, but with my recent luck I was taking NO chances!! The farmer appreciated it too and gave me a wave (not surprisingly) as he passed.

Every time I ride these roads I am just amazed at how endless the roads seem to be. I just wish there was more climbing out my way like there is down near Grand Rapids and in other parts of the Mitten. I am getting better at finding the hillier roads though. Of course the one pictured here is not one of them.

Above we saw a big ass tractor. These roads are crawling with Amish folk too, so I got to see another example of a big ass tractor. I think this one was 4 horsepower.

Even though I have been diggin' the dirt roads the most of late, it's mostly been due to the shoulder. But now it feels about 95% better so I am REALLY itching for some singletrack... not to mention my first race is just a few weekend's away (or less if I do Yankee). Need to Stans up the wheels and get my ass on some REAL dirt in the coming days.

Alright, that's all I got and way more than you need.

Loafing tomorrow, racin' Saturday then I'm going to interrupt my nutritional plan (which is in it's 4th day of excellence) and have a few beers. I just hope I'm not drinking them to once again forget a suck race!

Later.

Re-Motivated

Sort of feeling re-motivated today for riding, racing and general fitness. I know it's a bit early in the season (one race) to be needing RE-motivated, but I am not your normal athlete. I'm a bit of spaz/fuck up.

Monday night I did the XXC Podcast with Ben and Zandr. Our guest this week Jonathon Davis was super cool and I found myself losing the bad dog bite mojo, post race blues and the feeling of being 200 pounds of sagging flesh stuffed into a too small lycra race kit. I went to bed Monday night with a much better mojo and committed to continuing to race and have fun doing so. I also want to refocus my nutritional lifestyle and get back to the foods that helped me get to my "race weight" years ago: fruits, good fats, vegetables, lean meats and plenty of water.

I sort of got caught up in the "a calorie is a calorie" type thinking and looking at calorie and fat content of foods rather than "how or what does this food do for my training?" Just because a food is low in calorie does not mean it's good for you... but you knew that. Watching quantity and upping the quality is what I want to get back to. Sure I'll still be having some beers on the weekend (watching the Q&Q) and I'll still have have a night to sort of relax, but I always got a lot out of cooking and eating for my riding and racing, it feels more natural and even when I'm not losing weight I at least feel better about myself and less depressed.

The meal I cooked up tonight: Spicy grilled boneless chicken breast (8 oz. serving), homemade guacamole (avocado, garlic, onion + splash of hot sauce), ONE serving of rice & beans, not my normal 2+ plates full (1/2 cup of brown rice, 1/2 cup black beans, diced onions, green & red peppers, with some taco spices) and a modest helping of Meijer baked tortilla chips.

But enough about my food... I also got signed up for the Lowell 50 gravel race on Saturday, so my swearing off of racing lasted about 48 hours. This time I will show up WITH the CX bike that's for sure. Sounds like the course is perfect for it. Supposed to be a steep climb right at the beginning but then flatten out. Should suit my large and powerful ass. Ha!

Time for some bed, maybe a dump out... I've had a LOT of vegetables today!

Later.

Milk Bone Underwear

My Tuesday morning routine was interrupted by the need to help the county animal control agent track down the exact house the canine leg biter came from. I guess I should have been more worried about the house number rather than taking pictures of the flea bitten varmint and my leg. Anyway, the kind fem-mulleted agent got the dog and by the time I got home had called to confirmed that the dog had all its shots and I could avoid getting rabies shots. FINALLY some good luck.

At this point my ride window had sort of closed, so it was the choice of a quick ride on the trainer or waiting until after 5. I waited 'till after 5 when Wifey was home, but I was in no mood to ride. So I ate dinner and then later spent some time on the treadmill just so I could sleep knowing I did SOMETHING to stem weight gain for the day.

Then I just sat around reading and admiring the sucker bite the mongrel gave me.

I really do need to start using some moisturizer on my legs, I 'm really starting to dry out and lose that hot metro-sexual-cyclist-manscaper meets John Goodman look that I try to hard to maintain.

Time to work and then maybe brave the 2nd day of wind gusts and ride. Then again maybe I'll just go buy some skin cream so as to still feel pretty despite my dog breath smelling scab.

Later.

Dog Gone It!!

I spent my Sunday wallowing in some sort of post race depression. After the realization that yes, I can ride 62 miles of gravel roads with no problem, but can't (and may be shouldn't) RACE 62 miles. I was ready to give up on the race season entirely. Yep, after ONE race.

I'm an idiot.

By Monday morning I had convinced myself that not racing is stupid and that I would most likely be racing the Lowell 50 gravel race this Saturday in you guessed it.... LOWELL, MI. With my mind committed to continuing to race I figured wallowing in self pity was not the best way to train. So I found my winter clothing (from 70 to 35 in one day!!) and went out for a ride.

The sun was shining and my mind was shedding funk with every turn of the pedals. I headed north to hit some gravel, turn onto E. Denver Road and was enjoying fast dry dirt and a nice tail wind. Yeah man, this is just what the doctor ordered! Well at least until about 12 miles in.

As I rolled down Denver a dog came out into the road, I moved to the left, it ran beside me. Fearing that it would get tangled up in my wheels I stopped and it immediately chomped on my calf. "WHAT THE FUCK DOG!! YOU FUCKING BIT ME!!!" I screamed in the middle of the road, hearing my voice echo over miles and miles of nothingness... "WHA-WHA-WHA-TH-AH-AH-AH-AH-AH-FAH-FAH-FAH-UCK-UCK-UCK-AH-AH-AH....?"

The dog the scurried back into the front lawn, continuing to bark as I yelled expletives at it and the house in the attempt to draw the owner outside to A. Scream at them and B. See if the dog was up to date on its shots. But nothing. I looked down and could see a swelling bulge coming through my legwarmer. I took a pic of the bite and the growling dog. FUCK!

All the good vibes that I had in the 10 miles leading up to the bite were gone. I pedaled in extreme anger and disappointment. I even saw ANOTHER pair of undies on the road and didn't even have the want to stop, laugh and take pic. I just hammered out the rest of my loop, cussing to myself and regretting the fact that it is socially unacceptable (and probably more than a bit nasty) to eat dog in the U.S., 'Cause I would have cooked up the biggest Roast Dog ever seen for dinner and toasted it's demise upon munching it. Hey, I guy can dream.

Once I got home I showered, cleaned the wound and got some lunch. As I ate, MY dog Jake munched on a new bone. Next thing I know... BLAH.... BLAHHHH! Dude is puking all over the dining room. Mounds of undigested dog food and stomach froth.... then BLAH... BLAH... he did it some more. FUCK! I have HAD IT with dogs.

Puke cleaned up.

Then I sit and stare at the wound, then put some ice on it and get the swelling down. I have a bad feeling about the whole thing so I e mail with Wifey. We decide the best course of action would be to go to the Urgent Care and get it looked at. So I do. I sit for 30 minutes, fill out a bunch of paperwork only to have them call me to the window and say I should go to the E.R. since they don't handle the rabies shots if I need them. CUSSSSS!!

Off to the E.R.... 45 minutes later I see the doctor. I get a tetanus shot, antibiotics, etc., etc., I then fill out some paperwork so that Animal Control can locate the beast and see if it is up to date on its shots (Spoiler Alert: It is, I just found out this a.m.). As I walk down the hall with the nurse I say "this is my 2nd trip to the E.R. here in less than a month, I was just here for my arm & shoulder after I crashed on some ice." To which she replies "Oh yeah! You're they guy who's arm was like twice the normal size and black and blue all over." "Yep, that was me alright... that was me...."

FINALLY 3 hours later at 6:30 p.m. I am home. CUSS!! I shove a mound of whole wheat spaghetti/spinach pesto in my mouth, scream at our dog, think of a way to sell or get rid of him and get ready to do the XXC Podcast with Z., B., and guest.

It's been one hell of a month...
1. Near broken arm/separated shoulder, continuing pain, etc. etc., from crash on ice.
2. A week of being sick.
3. Crank arm falls off during ride with Ryan.
4. Horrible race (sort of) at the Barry.
5. Bit by dog, followed by ANOTHER visit to the hospital.
6. Continued worry that my mag won't be around in a year.

My life is falling apart a little more each day. What a fucking train wreck.

Later.

2012 Race Report #1

Not going to go too in to my Barry-Roubaix race for a few reasons.

1. I plan to write more on the race for XXC Magazine.
2. Thinking too much about my finish makes me want to suck on the barrel of a .45.

Finally the first race of the year came. Actually it came up on me super freaking quick. One day I'm bitching about my sore as hell shoulder and arm, the next day I'm thinking "OH SHIT I GOTTA RACE NEXT WEEK!!" Well next week came and I am now glad it went.

The Barry-Roubaix is an great race, put on by a great guy (Rick Plite) and is a great way to kick off the race season. Fitness wise I felt pretty good, having just come off a 14 hour week the week before. All of those 14 hours, plus the 7 I did this week were in some pretty stellar weather on top my CX bike (minus ONE road ride on the road bike). As luck would have it heavy rains and downpours moved in to the Grand Rapids area on Friday. I had the Jake CX bike loaded and ready to go, but now I just sat looking at the red and yellow blobs covering the Yankee Springs area and thought "I don't believe this! The road are going to be mud pits. I'm moving to the mountain bike!"

As I stood on the start line for the 62 mile race it looked like it was me and about 5 other guys on mountain bikes. The race started and I shot out the back of the group like a greased up turd out the ass of a goose.

So at the .25 mile mark I set out on 61.75 mile solo gravel ride/race. My goal was 4 hours or less. I did it in 4:05. I don't think that's too bad. What IS bad is that 4:05 in the Men's Open at the Barry-Roubaix gets you 195th place out of 217 racers. My bod felt good, my bike ran well, my nutrition was spot-on (CarboRocket is da best!!), I was just slow. Now I am not even a mid-pack racers... I am a back of the pack racer.

I knew going in that the CX bike would be THEEE bike to use. The mud changed my mind. Sadly the roads were not all that bad. I'm a fucking idiot. I hate racing. I love racing. I hate loving racing. For the life of me I can't figure out why I race. Because if one thing is apparent after 8+ years of doing this... I'm pretty fucking bad at it.

Having said all that... I'm probably racing the Lowell 50 gravel grinder next Saturday. I hate myself.

I leave you with this year's season theme song...



Later.

Road Ride (Seriously)

I can't believe I'm typing this but I rode my road bike for the first time in 1.5 years today. Nothing big, just a nice 35 mile square.

Here is some of what I learned today…

1. I really like the way my Campeon feels: Narrower bars, the compact frame fit and the position of my levers.

2. I REALLY love the way the Shimano Ultegra crank feels. It makes the FSA crank on the Jake feel like a wet noodle.

3. 105 shifters are good. But still not Ultegra. Love me some Ultegra shifters.

4. It seems no matter how hard I try and how many maps I follow I still end up on dirt roads! Ended having to take a 2 mile gravel detour.

5. 700 x 25c tires aired up to 100 psi (vs. 400 x 40c cross tires aired to just under 60) does NOT feel good on the gravel. Doable, but in no way preferred.

6. I am inching towards switching my road components (crank, shifters, bars, derailleurs, etc.,) over to my cross bike (or a cross bike to be named later).

7. While I would never rule out a cross bike (AKA gravel bike) with disc brakes, I have NO idea why someone would want a road bike with disc brakes. The 105s i have on the Campeon have some SICK stopping power.


8. While parts of doing today's ride were cool (i.e. going faster!) I am WWWAAAYYYYY more comfortable riding gravel and dirt roads. Not saying I won't ride the road bike again…. but I could go another 1.5 years easy.

9. Riding rolling farm roads at 25 mph is really fun, but being passed by semi trucks loaded down down with bales of hay at 70 mph is NOT that fun. Again, gravel roads win.

10. At least no one yelled "go Lance!" or anything else for that matter.

Day off tomorrow, so chillaxing tonight. Then Saturday brings 60+ miles of gravel, dirt and sand at the 2012 Barry-Roubaix. Might be fast... might be a mud fest. Either way it's my first race of the year and fun. GEEKED.

Later.

Feeling It

I've been putting in some nice miles and nice hours. Over 14 hours last week, that's some big numbers for a shlep like me! Now if I could just not eat and drink like a pig I might be on to something. I mean just from riding I am down over 6 pounds from where I was pre-shoulder injury. Not sure how that's happening? Must just be from mad time on the bike. Or a new disease I have or something. My luck it's a disease.

I saw these gems out on Deerfield.
Made me feel like I was in Western PA again.

Speaking of the shoulder... I still can not pull up on the bars. You know for like getting over logs, etc., It also hurts when I try to get going while in a big gear. Today a car waved me to go ahead and cross in front of them. I tried to get going, pulling up on the bars... pain shot through my shoulder, my face contorted and I'm sure I looked like I was giving a pissed off, I'm being a dick to you Mr./Mrs. Driver Person... BUT I SWEAR I WASN'T! It was just pain. Stupid pain. This needs to get fixed up soon, or I may not see singletrack for some time. More than the pain... it's more that I pull up and nothing happens. Pain? More just useless.

Deep, sandy, talc-like, gravel and head winds made things bitchy.

Today I tried to beat the freakish 85˚ heat. For the most part that worked and I got a good ride in, but about 15 miles in, on deep gravel, going into headwind, I knew I didn't have "good stuff" as the pitching coaches say. So I worked my way over to some pavement and let the tail wind push me back home. I still got 2 hours in on the bike, just not the ride I wanted. I'd like to get out tomorrow for my last pre-Barry-Roubaix ride of the week since Friday I will be on full time Dad duty with B-Man off school.

I hate when pavement needs to bail me out.
I hate me, I mean I hate pavement.

Side Note: With the tail wind I had the CX bike up to 28.5 mph on a flat. I was pushing hard to try to break 30 mph, but just ran out of gearing, legs, talent, want, etc., etc., . Surely the road bike would have broke 30 easily.

Forecast for the Barry looks iffy. Things might be dry... they might be muddy. If muddy I have the El Mariachi waiting to roll. If moderate to dry my plan is to roll the Jake. I just think overall the Jake will be faster and give me the best chance for a top 5. HA! I jest... I just wanted to see what it felt like to type that. Actually there are 247 dudes in my class. So my goal IS???.... 123rd or better. Ha! Not likely but I will be motivated by FREE Founders beer.

Freaky

Shit is super freaky right now. I mean 80 degrees in Michigan?... IN MARCH??? WTF? Believe me me and my early season bike nerd tad lines are loving it, but I just don't feel right. It's like flirting with a waitress in front of your wife. Umm.... ah... What? Ah forget it.

As I said I am not gonna turn down a ride, that's for sure. The great weather combined with a crap week or so at work has made it easy to get hours in. By crap week I mean no stories to work on, no orders to ship, nothing to cover that hasn't already been covered, no creative jua de vive and a few other things has made me focus on getting my ass out riding and taking care of some neglected house things.


Any-hoo, I got out for about 2:30 of gravel today. Had fun exploring some new connectors. I really enjoy finding new dirt road. I get the same feeling that I get when I was piecing together bits of trail and roads up on the mountain back in PA. I never thought I could get that same feeling from treeless, rolling at best farm roads but I do. Well, truthfully it's the same... but different.

I did get some work stuff done today, but everything just seem like it's in limbo right now. I hate that, it makes me very anxious and sort of a dick.

Later.

Recovery? Pfffft!

Yesterday was an awesome day on the bike and I assumed that it would cap off an awesome week of riding. 60 miles, 4 hours, lots of gravel, lots of sun, it was pretty damn sweet. As we rolled out for last night's roller derby match I assumed my saddle time for the week was done.

Then I woke up today feeling fresh as a daisy with 11ish hours of riding under my widening belt. I found myself thinking "What if I ride, but call it a 'recovery ride,' just do like 25 miles or so?" So I rode.

This picture makes me believe in alien abduction. IMHO this is all very strange.

The meat sticks were feeling good and I knew that I was about to do more than I wanted, er SHOULD be doing...


I knew it was over when I found myself on River Road (above). A relentless false flat that ends with a series of ups on loose gravel that bring out a quad burn that I have rarely felt (outside of racing) away from my original home base in Western PA.

There was a ton of wild life out on the dirt roads today: snakes, deer, turkey, and a couple turtles (see below)...

Always nice to see some creatures out there when riding.

In the end, my "recovery" ride fell well short (or well beyond) being anything of the sort. I ended up hitting some tough loose gravel climbs, and staying out way too long for the ride to be considered "recovery." 42 miles, 2.5 hours, etc., etc.., My bad. But it was goooood.

Tomorrow I HAVE to take a day off, not only to finally recover, but to get some work done as I prepare for this coming weekend's Barry-Roubaix.

Later.

I Was Totally Unprepared For This Ride.

I had a week filled with some sweet ass rides and it continued today. The weather was to be mid 70s and sunny. Who can pass up a chance to get some hours in?? Not this guy.

I mapped out one ride that was 75 miles (90% dirt) then I thought that might be BIT much right now. So I RE-mapped and came up with a 57 mile ride (90% dirt). I foolishly thought that 2 bottles would be enough. At mile 40 it was very clear that it would not be. CUSS!! In other words I was totally unprepared for this ride. One bottle of CarboRocket and one bottle of H2O was NOT going to get the job done. Again I say CUSS!

The sun was hot, the dirt was loose and sandy and I rand out of water. So I took at 2 mile detour down into Winn at about mile 43 and got some water. Thank God I took some cash with me. I'm sure I could have made it home on the fumes, but coming into a race week I didn't want to put my body through all that. The 2 miles and $1.29 was so worth it.

Once hydrated I headed home, feeling pretty good and enjoying a nice tailwind. I pulled into my crib with 59.5 miles and 4 hours of ride time + a sweet sunburn and some spent legs. Viva le gravel!

Addiction Isn't Funny...

Addiction isn't funny... unless we're talking about how I just might be addicted to gravel. 'Cause I think I might be.

I wasn't supposed to ride today. Cable guy was coming to work on some shit and I had a ton of stuff to do. But I couldn't NOT ride. It was 70, sunny, dry and I got a nice chunk of work done last night and early this a.m... So as soon as the cable guy was out the door I was kitted up, on my bike and on my way to get in another quick 2 hours on the bike.

Truth be told only half the ride was on dirt today, but that half was indeed freaking bliss. The wind was pretty calm, the sun was warm and I got the first hint of my 2012 bike tan. It was a good day. Nearly 7.5 hours in three days. Pretty happy with that.

I would like to say that I will finally take a day off tomorrow and save myself for a BIG ride Saturday. Who the freaking hell says I can't do both?? (probably me).

Later.

Back To Dirt

Still making progress with the arm. From trainer to road and now back to full on gravel. The gravel goodness could not have come too soon as I was UBER tired of the road in 35 mph cross winds with cars passing at 60 mph on 2 lane farm roads.

But gravel.... oh blessed gravel road. I really don't know how one could not like them. They must be even better in hillier parts of the state and sates like Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. But I'll take what I can get. I still think I should be able to get a 100 miler in this year on 95% gravel roads. At least I hope.

All I know is that the move from paved roads to gravel roads is like having a 10 ton weight of worry lifted off your back. Now I just need to get the ability to pull up hard on the bars again and I can think about hitting some singletrack. Sure hope that happens soon. It's been tooooo long.

Don't have a lot of time, so just gonna throw down this slide show from today.



Later.

A Planned Wrong Turn & A Missing Road

I could NOT get motivated to work this morning, I was such a scatterbrain. I did some e mails pertaining to the new XXC bibs and jerseys but knew I wouldn't here back for a while. So then I did a blog post. Then it was time for the brunch time ride. Yeah!

I was going to do Sunday's 41 mile 90% paved ride in reverse, so as to keep the arm/shoulder from bouncing around on the pot hole riddled and rutted dirt roads. I figured it would take me 2:25 or so. I did have an option to go a few miles further north before heading aast and back down to M.P. I reckoned it would add on another 5ish miles. I'd do a few extra miles and a few extra minutes and still get back in time to lunch, shower, work a bit more and get the B-Man.

What I didn't count on was a ball busting 20-25 mph head wind and a "I think I might get blown into the path of a semi" crosswind. I am REALLY starting to hate the wind. It's like I got rid of the traffic and near constant rain and clouds of Western PA but the trade was no climbs, crap pavement and wind that makes you ride along shouting "FUCK, FUCKER, FUCKEST, FUCK WAD!!" into the deafening howl of the wind. What, you think I'm kidding??


Along with the headwind, East Blanchard Road featured, some of the worst patch jobs I've ever seen on a paved road and a little too much traffic for my taste (although the photo is void of it). I might as well have hit the dirt roads.

BUT, all that was made up for when I hit the smooth pavement, low traffic, rolling hills and nice little climbs that seemed to go on forever (actually about 12+ miles) on Rolland Road. The cross wind wasn't too bad heading North, so I just settled and enjoyed the ride.

A nice sustained climb on Rolland. Not steep, but worthwhile.

'Tis the season... the tree catheter bags are back!

I was supposed to hang a right on dirt at River Road. But I said "nahhh, I'll hit Weidman about 4 miles up the road." Thing is I kept going and never saw the mythical Weidman Road. UGGG!! I kept thinking that it would be just ahead. But it never was (or at least I didn't see it)... still (like an idiot) I kept going.... Finally I said "fuck it" and figured any right turn would eventually take me where I wanted to go. And I was right. Coleman Road was nice, not too busy and sort of fun. At last I started spying familiar south bound roads.

As soon as I headed South on Winn I was hit with the most horrible gusting cross winds coming over the treeless farm fields. Sometimes the gusts made me feel like I would be blown into traffic at any moment. Times like this make me sort of glad to weigh more than Montana and Dicky put together. Hard to get blown around TOO much at two bills+.

I was then rewarded with my only tailwind of the day, but it was a dandy and had me spinning along and spinning out at about 28/29 mph on Baseline Road as I headed back towards MP.

A few more miles of crosswind later and I was back at XXC Mag HQ. 2:25 and 40 to 45 miles turned into 3:22 and 57 miles. The day was officially shot in the ass. My bad.

I de-kitted (my word), stuffed some left over pasta in my carb hole (again, my word), showered and made my way to fetch the B-Man.

Yeah, I f'ed my work day, went further than I wanted and dealt with more head and cross winds than I wanted but the way I look at it- I'm the boss, the wind makes up for no climbs, and doing the unexpected 57 miles has me feeling a bit better about next week's 61 mile Barry-Roubaix.

Time to try to get some stuff done now so I can do it all over again tomorrow! Just maybe not so long this time! Ha!)

Later.

Avert Your Eyes: White Legs

I had another HORRIBLE night's sleep on Friday night. In bed at 8:45, woke up with arm/shoulder/sinus pain ever hour on the hour it seemed. The Jake The Dog got up at 5 a.m. and would NOT shut the eph up, so I just got up and laid around watching footy and occasionally working on some XXC stuff.

I planned an hour on the trainer, got off after 10 minutes and decided that it just was not going to happen. Later Saturday I met up with some friends and went out for a bit. It was nice to see them, but I have to say I stayed out a little too late and it seemed even later due to the time change. I was ddrrrraggging ass this morning. BUUUUUTTTT. I had my first pain free night's sleep in almost 3 weeks! I have no idea why. It hurt like a mother all day, went out, had some drinks, some laughs, went to bed, rubbed some sort of Tylenol cream on my arm and slept like a baby. It was brilliant. Jake even cooperated by sleeping in. Thanks Jake!

But still I was DRAGGING! I e mailed Chris and told him to go ahead and ride without me, that I wasn't sure what time I would be up for going. So I had another cup of coffee, laid around bit and then got kitted up.

Pasty white meat sticks ready to ride.

The plan was to once again hit as many paved roads as I could on this sunny and 60 degree Sunday. The dirt roads are too rutted (kills my arm/shoulder) and still a tad damp and even slushy in spots if you can believe that. Seriously, I saw it out on River Road. Ice! UG!

The head wind heading West was LOUD and relentless. For over 10 miles my heart rate never went below 150. Just a constant pounding of the pedals to get through the wind. But there was no way I was going to complain... it was sunny and I was riding in SHORTS! I still used arm warmers 'cause I was a bit chilly when I left the house AND I like to compress and keep the battered arm warmer.

I found some new pavement, but still had to ride a couple miles of dirt. Luckily the stretch was pretty tacky and not too muddy or rutted. It was nice to ride some pavement, but I have to say I am SO used to riding the super low traffic dirt and gravel roads that I am a bit uneasy being on the road this much now. Hope the dirt drys out quick.

I got in about 2.5 hours and over 41 miles, so it was a pretty sweet day in the saddle. Actually I am shocked that I had such a good week of riding given how I felt. I think I got over 9 hours of riding (indoors and out). Too bad I ate and drank like crap, so I'll be lucky to just even out. Hope to buckle down a bit more this week.

Later.

Short Lived. For Now.

Subtitle: When In Doubt Post Pics of Your Ephing Dog (you alone by yourself loser).

The joy of yesterday's ride was short lived as I had a horrific night's sleep. The arm continues to throb at night for some reason and I am rocking a real nice head cold. GOD I hate colds. God I hate things not the little J-Man that throb... Anyway, since I was all achy and pissy (shocked?) and it's roughly the temperature of an Antarctic ice station here in Mount-Peezy I took heed to what the great MLK (Michale Luther Kubidongski) once said and said "SCREW THAT NOISE!"

I spent the day looking over 2012 XXC kit proofs, making some XXC blog posts and getting XXC Podcast #8 or is it 9? In the hopper. I also took the time to rest my achy bones, talk out loud to the dog and act like he knows what I'm talking about.

On top of all that B-Man and Wifey are in PA for the weekend leaving me alone. I didn't want to take the newly de-nuggeted Jake The Dog on a 7 hour car ride, not to mention that with the arm pain, the head cold and the mild winter that isn't THAT fucking mild and won't fucking go away, I have been a real dick. I think we ALL could use the break from each other. I hate to miss my nephew Ivan's birthday gig, but I think I would have just been a toxic personality there (per my usual?). I'm the sort that often needs time alone to sort shit out and wallow in the pit of despair. I look forward to 3 days of blissful self pity and loathing.

Time to go talk to the dog (even though he pretty much just sleeps, eats and shits)... Maybe see if any townies are around later tonight. OR... just drink beer, play video games and look at porn?

Later.

P.S. every time I get all pissy, I think of a dude like Mr. Wim van Est. Check it. Time to stop sitting down to pee and pull up my panties now.

Pedaling Squares

Yesterday we flirted with/heavy petted with some sun and temps in the low 60s. It was windy as eph but warm. Today it was windy as eph, about 25 degrees cooler, with mist and occasional squalls of face stinging snow pellets. It was sort of brilliant.

As luck would have it my buddy Ryan who teaches at CMU was off for spring break, was around and wanted to ride. Thank God, 'cause even though I am chomping at the bit to ride, I know me and I know I would have either said "fuck it," and rode the trainer like some sort of moron or would have done a way shorter loop, er I mean "square."

We had some heavy rain overnight as the cold front moved through so we knew my beloved dirt and gravel roads would be a deep muddy mess. So I concocted a 37.5 loop that would have us on pavement the entire time except for a 2 mile stretch of Beal City Road that is dirt. I was not happy about the amount of time on pavement but really didn't feel like pedaling 40 miles through deep mud either, so pavement it was.

Along with an annoying creek in my crank, a cold, annoying headwind was howling and slowing things down BIG time. Going right into the headwind had me going about 12 mph on my CX bike. No major climbs around here, but you gotta work you ass off!

After a brief respite on we once again hit the freaking headwind as rolled the dirt of Beal City Road. Or should I say the MUD of Beal City Road. DEAR GOD!! I was trying to follow the firmer car tire tracks to stay on, but at one point got off line and came to a DEAD stop. DOH!! Can you believe I had to hike-a-bike about 15 yards or so over a FLAT shoe sucking muddy gravel road??

The bone chilling wind continued as we hit paved B.C. Road and eventually the metropolis of Beal City (population: 345-ish according to various web sites).

"Beal City is a beacon in the farmland of mid-Michigan. Named for Mr. Beal, the city features a delightful small town atmosphere. The heart of the city is a blinking traffic light with four corners of excitement. A general store, complete with pizza and videos, provides high entertainment. For those looking for a little bit of nightlife, there's the Beal City Tavern across the street with its famous burgers and lifelong patrons. Across from that is a gas station/bar that just might be open. The fourth corner, well, it's a residence. (The owner of the bar lives there.) But there is a lot more to do then just downtown Beal..." - www.tombowl.com (I have NO idea what the Tom Bowl is).

Pictured above: The Beal City Tavern (mentioned above) and its presumed rival the Blue Bar. Right in the heart of the "city."

Once we got through the city, it we FINALLY got a lengthy break from the wind (I guess we "broke wind?"). It was nice to pedal and be able to hear more than the deafening wind passing through my helmet straps.

A nice tail wind pushed us close to 25 mph or more on Baseline Road, until we headed down Winn Road toward... you guessed it... WINN!

Remember that creaking crank?

So we're heading down Winn, dealing with a healthy cross wind but making some good time. I thought my foot slipped out of my pedal, looked down and saw my left crank arm attached to my foot and swinging in the wind. DOH!!

We pulled over and before I could say "Shit, I forgot my multi-tool on the kitchen table," Ryan had his out of his pocket and was dashing down to the creek to wash off the much. He was like some sort of NASCAR pit person and ignored me telling him to just give me the tool, that I thought I could fasten down a screw. (At least I think I could) Ha! Not sure why the crank came off, the spindle looked healthy, no gouges n'at, it just fell off... must have been the combination of raw power and lack of any maintenance what-so-ever. Glad Ryan had that tool, or I would have either A. Had to walk into the local gas station in lycra and ask for a tool. Or B. call my wife to come pick me up. I think we both know which one I would have chose.

3 or 4 minutes later we were back on the road with 10 more, cold windy miles to go. At one point it started to blow face stinging snow pellets. It was like low speed weed whacker to the face. Ryan pulled up along side of me, I looked over, smiled and said "this is brilliant!" And it was. My arm was killing me, half of my sinuses were clogged, the other half was oozing snot down my lips and chin and my face, I was soaked with snow and I just had a crank arm fall off. What's not to love?

Well a few more miles of wet, muddy pot holed gravel was what was "not to love." Ha!

This road was killing my bruised arm and I often would just ride with my left hand on the bars to ease the pain up a bit. It was over soon enough though and I was able to enjoy ONE more stretch of headwind, some more blowing snow pellets and the happiness that is riding 2:25 with a buddy. Good stuff.

Time for handfuls of various medications for all my various ailments. As my late Grandma Helen used to say "it's hell getting old." Indeed it is Gram, but days like this sort of make up for it.

Later.

Reunited

After 2 solid weeks of nothing but trainer time, I made it back out on the road today (SWEEEEET BABY J!!!). Temps hit the 60s, the winds hit 30 MPH+ and were a real bitch, but I didn't give a shit. I was out on my bike. The arm continues to hurt, but not quite as bad. Plus the cold (or allergies) that I appear to have come down with last night took my mind off it!

The ride was short, just about 30 miles, but it was 30 miles of me not on the f*cking trainer! The only really bad part was when I had to ride a bit on the unpaved section of Beal City Road. The jostling over mud and potholes was anything but kind to the arm and shoulder. But hey I made up for it with a SWEET tail wind once I made it to Baseline Rd. :)

Anyway, hope to get out more in the next few days and put this arm thing behind me. FINALLY. I'm sure you all are glad of that too (provided anyone is actually still reading this rag).

Later,

The Closer I Get The Further Away I Get

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since the "black ice" incident. Good gravy, I can't remember the last time I was thrown such a c*ck block to training and riding. Every time I think the arm is getting better I find myself laying awake at night grinding my teeth and wondering if it's too soon to take another pill. I pride myself on having a pretty high tolerance for pain but I am getting pretty frustrated. Only 2 pills left, so shit better get better soon.

Then there's "The fear."

Today the high was about 50 degrees. I could have gone out for couple hours on the road. Did I? Nope! Because I looked out the window at 10 a.m., saw there was some ice here and there and said "NO WAY, I'M NOT GOING DOWN AGAIN!" Yep, I became one of those freaky, won't leave the house 'cause the sky is falling type people. I mean not that I liked leaving the house before but I at least liked leaving to ride. Now all I think about it being slammed to the icy pavement again. I'm sure it will pass, but I'm feeling like a freaking old man.

So I rode the trainer for 1:35 listening to some new mixes I made. Damn it's been a long time since I made any music mixes. Glad to see I haven't lost my touch. I love having such useless, non paying talents.

UG. UG. UG.

Later.

Prison Bound: Day 11

Today marks the 11th day of not riding outside and I gotta say it's killing me. Continued pain, bad weather (thunder snow, wind & ice) and my intense fear of crashing again before I am healed has had me chained to the trainer like a for what is now the 11th day. I can't remember the last time I went this long without riding outside.

The bad news is my arm is still swollen, looks and feels only a little better. The good news is that 2001 24 Hours of Snowshoe T shirt still fits me. The other bad news is that I do NOT know the hot chick in the other photo, although I have a feeling I'll be seeing her again soon though.

I have had some good workouts, but let's face it, riding inside blows pole no matter how you look at it. I mean yesterday I burned over 1,000 calories "virtually" riding the Barry-Roubaix course, but it still sucked the aforementioned pole.

Waking up to roads covered in 2 inches of slushy snow made the decision easier. Seeing those roads become bone dry in the sun by the time I climbed on the trainer once again invoked thoughts of pole sucking (and not in a good way).

The lack of "real" riding has made thoughts of ACTUALLY racing the Barry-Roubaix in a few weeks a bitter pill to swallow and made parting with cash to enter the Lumberjack 100 yesterday just as bitter. BUT... I know that the arm will heal, I will get a reasonable facsimile of fitness back, will suffer and will have fun doing it.

OK, I feel it's time to take the panties off (and not in a good, wish I was talking about that chick pictured above way) and make the promise to myself that I WILL get outside this week. The arm doesn't hurt THAT much whilst riding, so if I'm careful and don't do anything stupid I think I can get out of this basement bound prison very soon.

Later.

Thinking

I have lots of thinking to do (and not a lot of time) for a late May/June endurance race $140 for one 100 Miler, $125 for another 100 miler or FREE for 62 mile gravel race. FREE is awesome but would require a 5.5 hour drive and maybe 2 nights in a hotel (that I would split with a fellow freak). Then again, the one June race would also require 2 nights in a hotel making it about a $300 race. Hmmm… Free MIGHT be the ticket this year. Curse you race addiction, curse you!!!!!

Then again if my shoulder/arm doesn't give me some painless love soon, I'm gonna drink myself to death (not really, but it's a happy, happy thought).

The Gravel Metric -- More Gravel from Seth Deming on Vimeo.

Who knows? Gotta check the books and with upper managament to see what can fly.

Later.

A Weak Week

The week has been weak no doubt about that. The arm is making slow progress, but still f*cked. The giant black an blue mark is slowly getter better and in the process following gravity and draining down my arm making my right arm look like it is a dirty purple color. Range of motion is getting getter, but things like putting on deodorant can be a challenge. The swelling has gone down quite a bit and that feels much better and makes me feel less like I have leg for an arm.

One bad thing (that is good) is that we have had shit weather for the past couple days. B-Man was off school again on Wednesday due to an ice and snow storm. So at least it's not sunny and 70 while I am reduced to the trainer while the arm and shoulder heals.

I tell you what, between the deep nagging pain, the vicodin that don't work , B-Man and a crazy ass Jake The Dog, I thought I was going to have a fucking breakdown on Wednesday. GOOD GOD!! Just relentless shit.

The only good thing is that I have been able to at least ride the trainer 4 of the past five days. Still shitting a brick that the race season starts in a few weeks and I'm riding the trainer with a fucked arm. Oh well, I guess I'm lucky that I can do that and will still have some fitness to get me through the 60 mile Barry-Roubaix.

I am hoping that tonight is the last night that I need pain medication and I am REALLY hoping to chill with some beverages tomorrow night.

Sorry for more negativity and bull shit. My bad.

Later.