Riding Unplugged Part II

Daily Miles: 40.0
Avg. Speed: 18.2
Jan Total: 1350.95

Today was the first day in a bit that I've ridden in the sunlight. Sunny days like this are the reason why cycling is so much fun. The warmth of the suns rays, the wind in my hair, and sound of me thrashing home. I couldn't imagine missing all this with headphones plugged into my head.

I took a bit of a longer way today since I have Theatre tickets tonight so I won't have a chance to ride the trainer. Plus, this way, I can ad the miles to my Feb. total tomorrow. Kind of cheating but whatever.

Not looking forward to the wintry mix that's in the works for tomorrow. Oh well, we need the rain.

A Moment of Zen

Daily Miles: 39.7
Avg. Speed: 18.0
Jan Total: 1310.95

It has occurred to me that too many people are far to plugged in when they exercise. I think many fail to see the world around them for what it is. Today coming home in the dark, I passed 12 people. All but one of them had headphones on.

It's incredibly unfortunate that these people aren't taking the time to enjoy the outdoors in which they are exercising. Noticing the way the city shimmers off the river, listening to steady dull roar of the trains on the bridges, the sounds your shoes make as the hit the pavement.

For cyclists, headphones is an even larger sin, missing that connection with your bike is unfortunate. The sound of the chain whirring through your dérailleur, the sound of your tires slicing a path home. The subtle clicks and squeaks you'll need to attend too when you get home.

These are all sounds we miss when we're plugged in. As a society, we spend enough time on electronic life support. use your precious workout time to unplug and enjoy the natural "music" around you.

Running From the Rain

Daily Miles: 54.5
Avg. Speed: 18.6
Jan Total: 1271.25

Barely missed the rain today. Took a look at the radar at work and decided to make a run a for it. Just made it with only a few minutes to spare.

Good trainer workout as well. Good day overall!

The crazy winds tomorrow should be a challenge. 50 mph gusts! YAY :P

Dark Clothing and Winter Don't Mix

Daily Miles: 39.4
Avg. Speed: 18.0
Jan Total: 1226.75

WOW!! 1200 Miles in a Month!! Depending on my trainer workouts, I could hit 1300! Not bad for having a full time job and a masters program to squeeze in.

I've often told fellow riders about the importance of having a light on the bike, especially when you're riding close to dawn or dusk.

Today however, I couldn't help but wonder what the hell clothing designers were thinking when they designed winter exercise clothes. Maybe they chose black to hide the extra winter pounds. For whatever reason, it's idiotic. Winter means it's dark out. Black clothing means you're invisible. For a split second I almost feel sorry for you when I nearly run your ass over on the trail, but then i don't. I see plenty of people who recognize that dark clothing and winter don't mix so they carry lights or glow sticks.

Wake up people, try to be a little visible to those around you so you don't get run over on a dark lonely trail. No one will hear you, I probably won't stop.

Sunny Days Part 2

Daily Miles: 70.75
Avg. Speed: 17.5 (13.3 total time including the stop)
Jan Total: 1187.35

Today was hyped by many as a day that was too cold to ride. It was anything but. despite moderately cold temps (not overly cold but...) the sun was shining and the wind kept to itself.

The same old pretzel group met up and had a great calm endurance ride out to Phoenixville and back. I really enjoy riding with this group. Great conversation, no egos, good riders. All adds up to a perfect group ride.

The only thing that could have made the day better was a higher quality of coffee from Steel City in Phoenixville. The coffee was quite honestly quite weak. Food was good though, and the half price day old bagels overcame the java.

The new winter clothing order from TSV came in and the gear from Voler is great. My old winter gear was getting a little worn from being used every day for the 40 mile round-trip commute. I t was nice to have some new shtick to throw on.

The "new" Bianchi is awesome as well. It's light enough, plenty stiff, and definitely responsive. Took a little getting used to, but by the end o the ride I had no problem getting it up to speed on the town line sprints. Now, the only excuse i have for not winning sprints is my own weakness...

Another Week Over

Daily Miles: 39.7
Avg. Speed: 17.6
Jan Total: 1116.6

Today was an incredibly long day to end an incredibly hard week.

On the bright side I got to see the sunrise this morning and the sunset this evening. Quite the sight with the clear cold air. It was a beautiful sight to see not only for the fact that sunrises look nice but also for the fact that the days are getting longer. It's going to be great to ride to work with some light instead of in the dark.

Lookin forward to a long weekend ride to test out the new Bianchi!

Riding to the Group Ride?

Daily Miles: 55.0
Avg. Speed: 18.7
Jan Total: 1076.9

I was reading an older post today about driving to a ride, and if doing so made you a poser. My initial reaction was "Hell Yeah it does." If you're going to ride 80 miles but can't ride the 10 miles to and from the "start" of the ride, you're a poser.

Then I started to read some of the comments and sort of changed my opinion. There are some circumstances, such as if you're on a mountain bike (I don't ride one because it's just another thing to buy) as I'm sure it's not fun to ride a full suspension machine with low tire pressure on the street.

The best comment on the post came form bert and is the last comment on the page. Riding to the start of a group ride doesn't me a better person then you, it just makes me a better rider.

So I guess it goes like this. If you're paying hundreds of dollars a month for specialized training at Cadence and you own a several thousand dollar bike, why not give up the car and ride to the group ride? You don't have to go fast, just get some good base miles in, work on your bike handling skills, warm up (and cool down) properly, and save some money on vehicle expenses. The extra miles just might give you that extra edge over your oponents come June.

So there you go...want to drive to the group ride? That's fine, but just remember, you're only cheating yourself!

Sunny Days

Daily Miles: 39.7
Avg. Speed: 18.0
Jan Total: 1021.9

A beautiful ride today. On the ride out in the morning, winds died down and for some reason the traffic was a bit lighter than normal.

Coming home was also great. Again, little wind, and lots of sun. Plus, to top it off, I broke the 1000 mile mark for the month. It looks like at this rate I could get 1300 for the month which would just be awesome. It will definitely put me on my way to 12,000 for the year.

One final thing that added to a great hump day: Finished putting together/adjusting my Bianchi so I'm looking forward to a long weekend ride to put it through its paces and test it out. Props to Ron for getting me such a kick ass frame!

Headwinds Suck

Daily Miles: 53.0
Avg. Speed: 18.0
Jan Total: 982.2

Headwinds both directions. The trainer workout I hate. 36 degree rain. Asshole drivers. Not much else to say. Will be happier tomorrow.

Get a Damn Bike

Daily Miles: 39.7
Avg. Speed: 17.5
Jan Total: 929.2

Today I was reading various news articles about the credit crunch and its effects on the average consumer. It was talking about much money people were spending on gasoline and how it's getting so expensive and wah wah wah. Cry me a freakin river. Gas is still the cheapest liquid you can buy. It's cheaper than milk, cooking oil, or most importantly, beer.

Maybe if people picked their head up from the collective herd of sheep that seems to be the average consumer they would realize that the economy is no different today than it was a year ago. The only difference is the media is portraying the current situation as a recession.

Want to put more money in your pocket? Drive less! How many people drive less than five miles to work, sitting at every traffic light, most likely using a gallon of gas each way (especially when you factor in the time the car is idiling to warm it up)?

People need to figure it out. If you're a parapalegic, carpool or get a bus pass. Otherwise get a bike.

Imagine a world where the only car trips would be for distances of 10 miles or more, or if you need to haul something. Imagine how much healthier we would all be if all single passenger short trips were replaced with public transit and bikes. It's not impossible...it just requires the average obese American to get off their ass. Unfortunately, not even $10/gallon gas will accomplish this.

A great indicator of just how much you are destroying our country is located here. Take the test! Our household produces about 15,000 lbs of CO2 which is about a third of what the average household of 2 produces (42K lbs). Imagine if the average household produced this much. We'd be in lot better shape, both environmentally and financially.

66.9 Miles of Hilariousness

Daily Miles: 66.9
Avg. Speed: 18.6
Jan Total: 889.5

Today, there was a poor turnout for the Pretzel Ride. A teammate suggested me do the Cadence ride. They had already departed so we hammered pretty hard to catch them. It took about 12 miles, but we did. As I had pulled much of the way, I sat in for a bit.

When we reached Oaks we hopped off the path and got on the roads. At this point, the pace increased dramatically. This got me excited! I was looking forward to a good hard ride and embarrassing a bunch of wannabes on ridiculously expensive bikes.

The results of my efforts to blow up the group did not go unrewarded. I got to watch a guy pass out, his $6K bike pretty messed up. I watched riders working themselves toward a heart attack drafting us while Lauren and I were having a chat on the front. And finally I completely blew the ride apart with a hard pull at the city line into Manayunk.

I got to say, for all the crap I give the rich wannabe Cadence types, I love them; without them group rides just wouldn't be as satisfying.

It's Finally Over

Daily Miles: 39.5
Avg. Speed: 17.3
Jan Total: 822.6

What a long week! Headwinds in both directions today really topped it off. Looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend with my wife, a long ride, and some chocolate pie. Mmmm chocolate pie!!

Anyway, I'm smoked. I think I rode a few too many miles this week in some pretty horrible conditions. It's 8 PM and I'm ready for bed....

I'm an Idiot

Daily Miles: 50.8
Avg. Speed: 17.5
Jan Total: 783.1

Yesterday was a pretty miserable ride. Rain, cold, and poor drivers make for very little fun.

This morning was more of the same. Not only was it drizzling a bit, the road was wet, salt covered, and generally nasty. The bike path, unlike the road was frozen. After avoiding a few close encounters with large fallen branches and a random large rock, I thought I was home free.

But wait there's more! In my absent mindedness, I failed to ride perpendicularly over the frozen train tracks, instead taking them at a 30 degree angle. As one would expect, I was soon suspended in mid-air; a moment later laying on the ground contemplating remaining there and taking a nap until the sun came up.

I was fine, and more importantly so was the bike. Note to self: Don't fall asleep when riding the bike in the snow in the dark.

So Freakin Tired

Daily Miles: 40.5
Avg. Speed: 17.8
Jan Total: 732.3

Yesterday I had to run the post office onmy way home to pick up a package. Why did I have to go the Post Office you ask? Why don't they deliver your mail? Excellent question! Like most things in Philadelphia, the mail service is incredibly half assed. The mail often takes weeks to reach us, the mail man simply throws our mail on the ground instead of putting in our box, and packages don't get dropped off.

Anyway, the real story was that I forgot how big of a box would bee needed to ship 2 boxes of protein packets and two jugs of carbo powder. The box was huge! I managed to cram it in my already full messenger bag and roll home. I'm sure I looked quite funny with that enormous box strapped to my back.

Is it Really Only Tuesday?

Daily Miles: 57.75
Avg. Speed: 18.8
Jan Total: 691.8

Funny story from this morning's ride:

I usually see a few other commuters going into the city during my reverse commute. This morning was no different. I often pass a rider with a particularly bright head light right near the beginning of the trail outside of Manayunk. I thought I saw the person this morning as I was nearly blinded by the light.

However, as I got a bit closer, I realized it was a previously unrecognized headlamp. The owner of this headlamp was in fact not a commuter but just some jackass out for a morning ride. As I passed him, he quickly whipped his bike around and pedaled like crazy to catch up to me.

I've previously expressed my opinions about people who grab my wheel while I'm commuting and they are simply out getting exercise, but I must again emphasize WHAT KIND OF EXERCISE ARE YOU GETTING DRAFTING A COMMUTER WITH A HUGE MESSENGER BAG? Not only that, but this person took upon themselves to turn around mid-trail to draft me. I'm not motor-pacing you. If you can't pull at my speed, get off my wheel. I'm commuting, and have enough to worry about on the dark, icey trails without having to worry about your likely abhorrent bike handling skills.

What killed me was when I slowed down, so to did this person. When I sped up, so did he. Finally I all but came to a stop before my new shadow finally came along side of me, at which time he was treated to some choice words of the English language. His excuse for shadowing me? "I was looking for a group workout." Sorry dude, drafting a commuter is not a group workout. Come out to the Pretzel Ride on Sat for a group workout...where the group will promptly rip you a new one and drop you as far from home as possible...

On the bright side, the ride home was quite pleasant. This evening's trainer ride was brutal but in good way.

Singing In the Rain

Daily Miles: 40
Avg. Speed: 18.0
Jan Total: 634.05

Pretty nice ride yesterday. Although it rained in both directions (and pretty hard on the way home) it really wasn't a bad day. It wasn't terribly cold and the traffic on the roads was incredibly light.

A co-worker asked me why I would ever ride my bike in the rain. I just kind of shrugged and gave the general answer I give everyone around here: "I don't own a car." The truth is that he would never understand. There's not a chance a hell that I will ever drive a car to job again. If I had to sit in a car for two hours a day I would drive off the closest bridge. I would rather ride my bike in 33 degree rain every day of the year than drive to work for a week. Once you get over the fact that you are riding 40 miles a day and your legs get used to it, you'll never go back. There's something so liberating about the wind in your face, the sound of your bike, the freedom you have on it, and the feeling after you're done with a ride that non-cyclists will never understand.

Saturday Was A Beautiful Day

Daily Miles: 90.6
Avg. Speed: 17.5
Jan Total: 594.05

Another great Pretzel Ride today. Did a route that went up north into Bucks county toward Carversville.

Big fan of the people that lead this ride. Everyone has a good time, rides hard, and doesn't do anything stupid. Can't ask for much more than that.

The bike rocks, post repairs. Was able to sprint at full speed, maxing out around 37/38. Really looking forward to training with the bike working properly. Finally able to focus on what matters, my performance.

Good times...

Moore's Law

Daily Miles: 45.5
Avg. Speed: 17.6
Jan Total: 503.45

The good news is I broke five hundred miles. The bad news is that Friday's ride was a bit on the unusual side. Besides the expected rain in the morning, my derailleur cable decided it was time to fail. It probably should have been replaced last Sept. but that's beside the point. Fun times ensued trying to even partially fix it in the 40 degree rain.

Coming home, the ride started out surprisingly well. One could say almost too well. I had rigged the cable well enough to be able to use several of the 10 rear sprockets, and the rain had stopped early yielding a partly sunny afternoon. A beautiful ride home I thought.

Then...ba'am! About a mile from Human Zoom in Manayunk, the bottom bracket freezes. Also a part that should have been replaced in Sept '07, its failure forced me to walk the rest of the way to the shop. Luckily I was able to procure new cables on the cheap, and was given a used BB.

With the new parts installed, my ride is buttery smooth. Looking forward to a great longer ride today.

Brutal Trainer Rides

Daily Miles: 48.5
Avg. Speed: 18.6
Jan Total: 457.95

Yesterday I got a few extra miles on top of my usual 39.7 slog to work with a 30 minute trainer workout that quite hoestly felt much harder than it probably was.

The workout involved some standing intervals (the details of which are top secret) but really shouldn't have been that hard. I guess it will take a few more weeks for my legs to fully get used to the 200+ miles with the trainer thrown in on top of it.

In weather news, I missed the rain completely yesterday which was awesome as I was expecting to get rained on in at least one direction. I kind of paid for it today but more on that later.

Depending on my route home, I could 500 miles for the month today which would be awesome. We'll see though, it might have to wait until tomorrow as I kind of doubt I'll feel like riding the long way home in the rain. Either way, definitly on pace for over 1,000 miles this month which is great!

Last Nice Day For a While

Daily Miles: 39.7
Avg. Speed: 19.6
Jan Total: 409.45

Another beautiful day riding back and forth to work today. I missed the AM rain and enjoyed a sunny, clear, and surprisingly warm afternoon. I'm not really looking forward to the cool down, and especially not the rain, but it is Jan and maybe the crappy weather will build some character.

On the bright side, cold and rain means fewer idiots on the trails around Philly!

Also really happy I've been able to get my miles in. 400 miles already this year and it's only 9 days in. Got to love it. At this rate I'll be way over my goal of 12,000. Hopefully I can keep this up.

Damn I Love the Weather

Daily Miles: 50.0
Avg. Speed: 18.6
Jan Total: 369.75

Not much to bitch about today, though I did avoid the path knowing the usual band of idiots would be out. Great ride, weather was awesome, and the trainer workout was incredibly tough. Suprisingly the legs feel really good!

Monday was Like Spring Time

Daily Miles: 39.5
Avg. Speed: 18.6
Jan Total: 319.75

63 degrees and sunny! So I was looking out the window, noticed how beautiful it was and decided that it was incredibly short sighted to sit around at my desk all day and lose a beautiful day.

Instead I'll work late another day this week when it's raining. I took full advantage of the weather and had a great ride. Nothing like cruising around in short sleeves and no gloves and basking in the sun's rays in Jan!

Love it! And today's only going to be better.

The Pretzel Ride

Daily Miles: 105
Avg. Speed: 17.2
Jan Total: 280.25

Today, my coach came down, so Taylor and I opted to do the Pretzel Ride out of Manayunk.

All i can say about it is "Awesome." The pace was great, the town line sprints were fun, the people were some of best I've ridden with in Philly, and not much can beat going out for 100 miles on a beautiful Sat. Definitely looking forward to doing this ride more. It'll prepare me for a great road season...

TGIF

Daily Miles: 39.75
Avg. Speed: 18
Jan Total: 175.25

I am a huge fan of three day weeks. My Friday miles were pretty good considering the weather. I know I still have several months of cold, but I'm ready for Spring!

Funny thing happened while I was slogging home (after riding 20 miles to work and working all day). I passed your typical "I own an expensive bike, therefore I rock!" kind of guy on the way home. Him: On a Cervelo Soloist (est $4000) Me: Carrying 25lbs in my messenger bag on a heavy flexible Felt F55. So this guy hops on my wheel. What kind of workout is this guy getting drafting what is essentially the profile of a pickup truck?

Well needless to say, it pissed me off, so I decided to make this guy suffer. 25 mph from Kingswood Apts on Gulp Mills to Manayunk. This guy was dying...and still drafting me...

We got to the base of the hill and the left urn to head into Manayunk when this guy comes around me and proceeds to *try* to sprint up the hill. I laughed and just kept slogging away, passing him about halfway to the diner. He gain hops on my wheel the whole way into Manayunk where he promptly slowed down to go to Cadence, where he no doubt had an appointment to try and figure out how to make his 48cm frame even lighter to compensate for his complete lack of ability on a bicycle.

To the Cervelo Soloist: Stick to a Huffy so you don't continue to embarrass yourself! And don't draft commuters you tool, offer to pull them...not that your 5'1" frame would have much to draft.

Brrr...

Daily Miles: 39.5
Avg. Speed: 19
Jan Total: 135.5

Yesterday was a day of one syllable words, clubs for hands, and general numbness.

The AM temperature was about 13 degrees and the high temperature was only 25.

This made for a fun but completely cold and fridgid ride...really, the only bad thing about the cold, other than the frostbite danger, is the fact that I don't sweat much when it's so damn cold.

Plus, it's nice to be the only one on the trail.

Yesterday Sure Was Fun

Daily Miles: 46.5
Avg. Speed: 17.5
Jan Total: 96

Good times yesterday. It was pretty cold and windy in the morning but was a great ride home. The days are sarting to get a little longer, and I'm definitly looking forward to riding home in the light.

The trainer workout was pretty brutal, but it feels great to sweat, which I'm not doing a lot of when the temp remains below freezing.

Start of 2008

2008 Should be an exciting year. I feel like I'm on the cusp of being a successful cyclist. I've had some success and am really looking forward to taking my riding to the next level.

Goals for '08:

1. Ride 12,000 miles (basically ride to work and home nearly every day)
2. Upgrade to CAT 2 (Road)
3. Upgrade to CAT 1 (Cross)
4. Ride in Elite Cross Nationals
5. Eat out less and spend the money I save on a 2nd cross bike

Started the year off right, and rode to work today despite the freezing temps and 25 mph head winds.