845am

How fast thing turn.

Yesterdays ride did not happen. No real reason, just got busy. So I threw the Superfly on the roof of the car and planned on a quick ride in the woods this morn. Last nites rain made me cancel that. Today Im the store alone most of the day so no ride today either. So as fast as I get in some great rides a gap shows its ugly head. No biggie

 I will get in a ride tomorrow morn but I have to work all day so its going to be a shorter one. But as far as ride time go's I think Im in good shape this weekend. Bring it.

Another blow was finding out that my daughters high school grad ceremony is a week from Sunday, the day I planed to hit up my first race this summer. So that's out. In fact, looking at my schedule, seems I have a few weddings and such to go to and they all fall on MTB race weekends. My first race then, if I choose to do it, will be late July. Thats nuts.

So Im kinda screwed for bike racing for a while. 

Unless.............

I pull out the track bike. Its been two years since I did so. I have kinda another new one that I have yet to even ride. But will consider it after some practice of course.

Track racing isn't something you just show up and do. You really need to know whats going on or you could hurt somebody. This might be my only option until August. Need to lose a few more pounds tho, unlike MTB racing, then you getting your ass kicked on a velodrome there's no where to hide. But its a option as its Tuesday nites and not on the weekend.

Another Friday tidbit is the arrival of my Moonlander. My second fat tire bike. Now I have fat and fatter.

Im considering putting the Pugsly in the rental fleet. Soon I will be attaching all kinds of carbon stuff on the ML.

Among all my rides this holiday weekend I hope to put in a pretty good MTB ride. At some far away exotic land.

Would like that.

Have a great weekend.

DLD

TRAINING

Bonty D3. 25c tires. Thats how I roll. Smooth.

You ever have one of those mornings when you wake up and just can't wait to ride? For me that is today. No spesific reason. Just really want to. Maybe its because I have the new Bonty D3's mounted up on the Domane. But its way more than that. Suns out again. Its been like 5 days in a row now. Every day I get a little more pumped.

Todays HP visit was short. I was there, but never got out of the car. Drive thru only.

I think the reason Im (more) pumped to ride is that Im starting to feel better on the bike with each ride. I guess Im training, kinda.

For me, training is riding as much as I can, fast and slow, and limiting my food intake considerably. It hard for me to get motivated to do so.... until I start seeing results. Then its game on.

So... I wanna ride cuz I feel it improving. Weight going down.

For me, training is easy to plan, harder to do. Mentally, it hard to push myself into pain when alone. That's why group rides are so good for me. I have no choice but to chase hard. And I use the group rides to gauge my progress. And to hone my tactics. I planned on doing our local Wednesday Nite Worlds tonite but have a bike fitting at 6pm. Damn.

But once I start losing weight my ambition increases and I ride harder alone. And it hurts a ton. My training is way different than most. I train to lose weight. That means riding on a empty stomach. So not only do my legs get a workout, I feel like crap doing it. It hurts. I ride in the morning before I eat anything. Only coffee.

Now all you trainers out there, calm down, Im not starving myself. Just riding with a constant calorie deficit. And that's a fine line. A fine line that I have struggled with for a decade. 

Take in too many calories and you feel great on the bike, but negate some of the weight loss.

Take in too little and you hurting on the bike. And some time after. There were some rides I dont even remember how I got back.

Really, I train for weight loss only. Bike fitness just will come along with it without giving it any thought. Most athletes train for fitness. They also deal with the calorie issue but its opposite of what I have to do. I would hate to have to stick to training plan.

Ride cuz you have to. It does not  sound hard but when its cold and raining you still have to do it. Also, having a rest day on a day like today would be also tough for me to do. I'm glad I don't follow a plan. I sure if I did I would get fitter. But really, for me, weight loss has way more impact on my performance than fitness. 

So its game on. Gonna jump in the saddle as soon as help gets to the store this morn. Two hours. I will ride on a empty stomach and I will do a few intervals. And it will hurt. And I will lose a little more weight.

Rinse and repeat.

DLD

JUST LOOK

815am

I cant help talking bout all these glorious mornings. Ton of sun. Warm temps. I know this all seems like one day running into another but I don't care. Every morning that I hit my HP I see something new. Or newer. Or just out of the ordinary. I think most people would not. I think most people just don't know where to look, or how to look. Being able to look correctly a gift I think we are born with.

845am

Like these lilacs. These things are all over the park but you don't notice them but for a few weeks per year. And since most people don't see them, don't look for them or just don't notice them. They weren't there last week so wont notice them this week. So next time just don't look.... really look.
You would be surprised as to what you find right under your nose.

As I mentioned before I'm going to try and race in a few weeks. So I'm kinda trying to lay out some saddle time. The weather could not be cooperating any more than it is. Warm temps and sun (burn) for the 10 day out look.
Its game on and I'm doing it for real.
Today and tomorrow is road miles.
Thursday I'm in the woods.
I'm not sure about after Thursday cuz I'm incapable of planning my life more than 3 day ahead. But I'm sure I will think of something.

For all you carbon wheel haters, I'm getting my second set of Bonty D3's today and they will go on the Domane before the UPS truck pulls out of the ally. Today is my last ride on the Easton EC90's as they are going to a good home as soon as I yank them off the road bike.
The Eastons are awesome wheels and I will use them again someday on my road bike. But I want more time on the fat wheels to confirm my first impression. However, my Easton MTB wheels are so good they are not coming off the Superfly for nuthin'. Not no way not no how.
But you can have them in October.

Its ride time. Im out.

DLD

WEEKEND REPORT

815am. Jet pilot having a fun morning?

845 Morning view.

Nice weekend. Great weather. Almost 100 miles on the Domane. But first another seller Monday morn in the HP. Today's visit included a crazy X in the sky. Not sure if this was man made or not but I would like to think it was some jacked up pilot having a good time.

The weekend riding was good. Saturday had me rolling out with the group and I played my cards as best I could. But in the end it was the inclines that did me in. I fell off about 17 miles in and just as the group was going to disappear out of sight someone flatted. And I rolled back in. In fact, I knew there was a hilly section coming up so I continued on and went up those hills slowly and easy. I cleared that tough section solo and it was only a few minutes after the group rolled up. That kept me in the game almost all the way till breakfast. The group shattered once more during a 30mph run and I was off the back again but this time I was not alone and they waited up after a while.

After we ate it was game on and I was once again spit off the back but with less than 10 miles to go there is no more waiting and I rolled into the lot about 5 or so minutes behind.

While I struggled, I need to do these rides more to get faster. And hope to do so. I was absolutely devastated for the rest of the day. Limping after about 50 very hard miles.

After the ride I took the Domane home and so I did not need to hit the store to ride. That was nice and took advantage and got back on the bike Sunday. I was still a bit stiff from the "race" the day before but after a bit felt better as the ride continued. I had a great 35+ solo miles ride. I felt good so I jumped on a hill to open up a little and for sure had nothing. So I backed off and had a great soft peddle ride.

Got my first sunburn. One that hurt when I hit the sheets. So there go's trying to avoid the bike tan. I guess that was inevitable. 

Im pegging my first race in Wausau in two weeks. Shooting to have two great weeks in riding since the weather is great. I guess I should start riding the Superfly more. At least in the next few weeks.

Looking forward. Here's to a good summer..


DLD

FRIDAY STUFF

815am

835am

By rights I should have taken a bike ride with a morning like this. But I do have a pretty good riding weekend on tap so I opted for an extended stay in my HP this morn. Its almost as good as a bike ride.

I spent almost an hour here with stops at several fav spots. And coffee.

Fridays have been busy at the shop so I get here early. Mostly bikes to tune up and get out by the weekend. And its a race weekend too. Which I will not be going. Still not 100% health wise yet. Lingering congestion. I hear of so many people with the same thing. I can ride fine, just would not race yet. In the past I have always done well at this weeks race and always enjoyed making a weekend of it. Next year.

Here is a nice mix of tour bikes in the store. Not all mine. And not really a mix. Three Truckers and a Waterford. Last year it was cross bikes. This year tour bikes.

Since I mentioned cross, I still do not have one. Still waiting to see what Trek does with discs, if anything. I'm a little gun shy due to the way they released the Domane. I would love to be riding a new Cronus but dont want to see the disc version come out a week after I get mine. Cross bikes are so hard to order due to the season really starting in late Sept, and the new bike year turns over in Aug.

So I will wait. I really doubt if Trek will do some crazy thing with cross bikes because they still tale a back seat to the Madone\Domane\TopFuel.

So I better get to work. Plus I have to cut my grass today if I want to ride more tomorrow. Hope you all get out and ride this weekend.

Good luck to those racing.

And to those who are not I guess.

DLD