the Tuesday Thursday ride

For the last eight months I have ridden my Trek from 20 miles a week to 140 mpw. Since November I have been a faithful club rider twice a week starting with the B's and now getting into the A's. Yes those insane A's who promise to ride@ a max of 24-mph only to beat the crap out of each other @ over 28-mph on the back stretch. The clincher is the last few miles when speeds of 30 to 32 are reached in the train just before the sprint...or so I am told because I haven't gotten that far, YET.
So far the months of hard training and the rides for pure joy and everything else in between has really paid off. How can I tell? tonight I rode with the A's almost halfway @ a constant 24 to 26 mph. For me that was a real testament to a good work ethic. Does that mean I'll go to the Olympics? Heck no but it does mean I'm gaining on the others and that even with my biologic age of 52, I'm not far off from the A's speed and stamina. Oh sure most have several years of hard work and long miles on their legs but that will not stand in my way. Spoken like a true 'A type' personality right!?
So here I sit in the after glow of my improved stats etched on my minds eye and the fading glory of burning legs and lungs still heavy on my body, the thought of all the new horizons that have just opened unto me. How will the next few months unravel before me as I plan new and grievous tortures to get myself ready to take my place in the A group and eventually go farther? Yet once there too surpassing unto the next level  that will be as sweet wine unto my soul as my legs and lungs  are out of the saddle in a low altitude flight pattern that brings pure joy to my soul? How long? How much effort until the effortless? What cost to my body? When I think of this beautiful experience all I can think of is the Michael Angelo painting of man touching his creator...pure joy and yet pure effort to attain the unattainable.
And that is what cycling is to me. In the May issue of Road Bike Magazine it featured an article of men who are riding in the pros as old as 48 years of age. There is hope for me to ride in fast club rides yet! If I can do it so can YOU, don't give up!
If I pass you on the road stop  at Peets, because your buying.

Crazy

The world has really gone mad for different foods since I was young. I freely admit to being a perpetuator of this movement from my teens and with whoever was adventurous enough to go in on it.  As a kid in the 60's anything that was not 'American' food was looked upon as an exotic meal only to be had on very special occasions and never more than once a month. And the people you saw in there were somewhat more into 'cuisine' and conversation than just a good meal and go. By the time 1979 rolled around I had eaten Thai, Sushi, Korean, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Indian, Real Mexican (not Taco Bell), Brazilian, Costa Rican, French, German and the like but not as curiosities but as a way of thinking and enjoyment. This was the San Francisco bay area and all her bounty was at my disposal.
To day as the wife and I sat in an 'Asian' but mostly American restaurant, I looked around and saw not the seeker or the gourmet who looked forward to this as a dining experience by every day folks from all walks of life who just chose this place to eat as one would chose which fast food restaurant to get a 'burger' in. Don't get me started on my favorite burgers or I'll never get to the point. Yes there is a point here but I just can't seem to find it...oh yah.
It struck me at that moment when I was young and exploring Yoga, meditation and of course my great love, cycling,  it was just the tip of the spear. It was us intrepid few the hand full of restless ones who sought more from life than a roast for dinner and a 9 to 5 job. I'm not knocking a 9 to 5 either, trust me. It's just that now where I live it is commonplace on any morning to see ten to fifteen guys in full kit on a carbon bike headed out for a forty to sixty mile ride and no one gives them a second look...NO ONE. It's not exotic or unusual or even on a special occasion, it's just life and everyone is doing it. Running, cycling, Yoga, swimming and it's just great.
I remember how each time I had to go to the bike shop that had pro gear it was out of the way and I mean way out of the way. That is after I searched in the yellow pages to find it or maybe it was just dumb luck that I stumbled onto it at all. Which ever it was, more or less, the fact remains that cycling found me when I didn't know I was looking for it but I knew I was bitten by the bug from there on after. Me and a few others like me who knew they were onto something but it was not for mass consumption, it was to exotic.
Bottom line is everyone takes for granted that they can just find a great place to have a fine meal at what was once hard to find and the only reason you went there to 'try it'. Because, after all, you had it once before when your great aunt visited and you wanted to give her a 'treat of a lifetime' and you didn't remember everything but you think you liked it. Same with our new found organic-yoga-running-cycling lifestyle, it was once for trying now it's in our everyday vocabulary and I think it fits us really well. I'm truly glad at the transformation of this positive force in our lives in only 30 years. That's crazy right?
If I see you on the road stop Peets, because your buying.

Well shod

About a month ago I said I would do some in depth research on carbon wheels and write about my findings.  So I spent hours reading about all the different manufacturers on blogs, video blogs and big name magazine reviews almost all I could stand. And you know what? All the evidence pointed to 'personal preferance'.
Basicly that sucks because only dealers get to have demo wheels to play with and they charge  30 bucks each set and if your lucky your dealer has a couple of  wheels sets from differant manufacturers.  So how do I make a logical choice, because I'm not popping cash just for a test drive. I can say that when Cervelo came to town for the test drive they brought with them Zipp wheels on every bike. Some were the famous 303's and some 404's.
Instantly I noticed how easy they were to 'spin up' and that effort I use to keep my bontrager race lites turning. This also equals longer faster ride with greater endurance at the sprint, power to the ground and no loss in the transition from pedal to tyre. Thats a huge plus right there...if you are serious about cycling.
Another aspect of these wheels is ride feel. These ridgid rims offered up the most positive ride feel I've felt. I mean I knew exactly where the tyre was at all times and it went where I wanted it too every time. Man, so smooth at cruising speed and the way they allowed me to blast up and over bridges was AWESOME. I could keep my cadence on flats and over rollers, that what we call bridges in SW Florida, as a seated effort and out of the saddle the reward was hugh.  I actully felt like a pro, that's unlikely right.
Looking around the web I found 303's, 404's and 606's for $1450 a wheel set, that's a $600 to $800 dollar a pair savings. Find some at this web site for clincher or tubular. My choice is the latter. I guess the real question is which one is right for you? That's your choice.
http://gearwestbike.com/product/08-zipp-speed-weaponry-zipp-606-clydesdale-wheel set-tubular-700c-3327.htm
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets because your buying.

life's mysteries

For the last few weeks I have not been able to write more than two blogs a week. I have no idea what happened to the 'I'm going to write this every day' spirit I had. It was a passion that was beyond my control and now I have writers block to the nth degree.  So what gives?
Well I've noticed , in life, that sometimes  I get this low and then back on track after some time of reflection, refreshment and quite a bit of self flogging I get back on track.  As usual my writing follows suit with life in the grand scheme. It has been a long dry spell for me and the words just don't fall off the end of a pen as I had hoped but all in all every word written is a good word and until it flows as it did I'm good with quality and not quantity.
How is it then in life that all the years of working, raising a family, being married, to just one wife , that I run out of things to write about? After all the good, interesting and weird things that has happened to me and yoga girl you think I could have a a heck of a lot to say right? And if you are a friend of mine you know I never run out of things to say so go figure I'm speechless on my own blog.
So as a goal I want to get a little more white space filed with the english language and not just drivel. If there is any favorite ramblings I have it will be on these pages weather it is dull, boring and of course just crap. I specialize in that So read on gentle readers.
If I pass you on the road stop at peets, because your buying.

Death and Taxes

So tonight the wife and I bit the bullet and did our taxes or at least had a nationally advertised preparer do them. They were fast and efficient and that's the way I want to handle this kind of bother, fast and efficient.  It also reminded me of the fact the if you add all the taxes you pay: on your phone, your cable, your clothes, your household goods et al and we wind up paying about 43% of our money to taxes of one sort or another. The only person that can change that is me at the poll and you of course.
Death however, like taxes, is inevitable. Does it bother me? No and even if it did what the heck can I do about it? After all the things I can control I do but death has no adversary, well maybe Bill and Ted but not me. I seek rather the ability to improve my life as of now and in the future.
I don't want to dwell, but I will, the founding men of the US never wanted taxes in this country because e of the tyranny caused by the elite classes and politicians that got together and decided to tax those less fortunate than they were in order to support their own lifestyles as 'statesmen' and to support there pet projects and not the good of the people...sound familar? Now I know history is full of this kind of class distinction and caste system. Well it has raised it ugly head again and is gaining momentum with the aristocrats, senate and congress as well as the beaurocrats of this united States as witnessed by the pushing through of legislation for the last year.
I really find all this crap very frustrating but the one thing that takes the hot lead of anger from my spirit is a good long hard ride that is full of competition from some other hot dogs. Because of cycling I won't need the half baked medial plan, because of cycling I won't need the pills and therapy needed to complain about my dislike and distrust of others and why I don't do such a great job at work.  But still I want to scream and yet I know all I would get is death and taxes
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

The night of Cervelo

Yep, it came and went before I knew it, the night I had waited for the last two weeks. My preparation was to have my camera, get some notes for the blog and ask questions about the bike and some about the team. So what happened?  Everything I had planned went out the window as I pulled into the parking lot. Why you ask? Star struck, not by the people but by the bikes.  As I arrived I saw the tent for Cervelo and the rows of S-2's and R-3 sl's and my mind was blown. I couldn't think of the reason I was there I just wanted to ride these amazing bikes. I just walked over to the signup area and filled out the waiver, gave them my pedals and pointed to the S2.
This beauty was high gloss jet black, shod with Zipp 404's and full Sram red...dream bike! Really, your just going to hand me this bike to ride for how long? Take your time was the answer from one of the Cervelo staff but another said i had about an hour. OK, that's about right for me to go all out and really test the limits of myself on a super bike.
Well it wasn't smooth going at first as I had to learn the differences between the way Ultegra and Sram shift. The other thing I found out about the Sram was that it is very load when coasting and shifting. That said the Red was the most positive and firm shift I have experienced to date. The stopping power on the Swiss stop brakes was great, no fad and very little heat on the Zipp 404's.
But the very real and greatest part of this test ride is the S2 frame itself. What I noticed right away was the power from my legs went directly to the rear wheel.  Ok, it was the fit and finnish on the frame that got my spirit churning. As I applied power to the pedals the oversized bottom bracket did it's job of not flexing under my 200 pound body with the torque I generated.
So taking the route the velo club takes every Tuesday and Thursday I noticed that a 2 mph increase in speed right off. I also noticed the quality of ride was significant and focused on the long fast ride the Pros experience weekly. The comfort was awesome while the handling was so nimble that with just a thought about turning and my ride was going in the direction I was thinking, but not squirrely.
On the other hand the R3SL was an unbelievable bike for the Mountain sections of a stage race but as a daily driver it was a lot like an F1car on the interstate. Atop this bike I felt every bump in the road, it was the like being on a rock that is so nimble that there was no time to think about what I was doing I had to 'be the bike'. Like I said it's a great bike in the mountains and for pro tours but doesn't leave much to the imagination for one such as I who wants the pro bike without the twitchy rock ride.  If I was in hill stage of race I would count on this bike.
I don't want a new bike every year to have the latest-greatest or be the guy with this years hot rod. But to have a bike like this is an investment in me so that I can grow and always be excited to push my limits every day, every year and keep challenging myself.
So if I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

Fabulous Fabian

How cool is the Tour of Flanders? Not be able to actually watch the spring classics for the past 30 years I feel like I can relate to the reason for all the excitement that surrounds these races. First the shear beauty of the county at each of the venues is incredible. Second the quality of talent is not second to the Tour de france. And lastly this talent is not all the big guns but also the most desirous of the big win or at least a good show on the world stage.

But that was the after thought and not what the 'big guns' had in mind. Tom Bonnen and Fabian Cancellara had another idea and both rose to the occasion.  Fabian cashed his promise check in a hugh way. by powering away from the Belgian road race champion on the last and toughest hill showing his incredible will and force of spirit. The once on the flats he tucked into that world beating TT position of his and slipped into high gear and never looked back. Meanwhile Tom banged away on the pedals with such force as to make the viewers tired just watching but was unable to catch the flying swissman.  The rest you must see, and eve the begging through the middle. Watch the heck just watch the whole thing it is a perfect race for everyone.  It is a thing of beauty, grace and power.
There are many other races in the world but this one was magic.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

Saturday in South beach

Two years ago when we were in Japan, we had met a very nice couple. This year they traveled to Florida to make the sojourn, as is required when in Florida, to Disney world. But since they were here it was a good opportunity to hang out with me and the wife...good choice. Having moved here in 2000 we had been to South beach 4 times in the first year. It was ok at first, but after the second and third times were heinous and the forth was, well, not good enough to make up for the bad stuff from the first three.  So with our friends coming to So Beach we braved the traffic, the wacky freeway and toll system to the two and a half hour one way trip back to this island of humanity. And to top it off its the pinnacle of spring break just as in the days of old thousands of college students cross the street and there are skaters bladeing helter-skelter down the center of a street in bumper to bumper traffic. Hey kids, do your parents know your brain got sucked out of your head as you left campus?
So here we were finding ourselves headed to what we remember to be an ugly and unwelcoming city. But to our surprise we found areas that have been revamped to be welcoming to locals and tourist alike. I guess if you have a lot of movies and a hit TV show, Burn notice, focused on your town it better be fun and have lots of stuff to do that's suited to the whole family.  The best part was the people we went to meet were very adventurous about the food and scenery. Oh and I don't think I mentioned the 15 month old daughter that was in tow.
So as we cruised around to find a parking place in this over saturated part of the world we found a place that was tucked away from the main streets as if it was there just for us. This place was also on the edge of a few blocks that had been made into an open market/restaurant mall with some cool places for us to eat. This is the place we decided to eat and thank the powers that it was just the ticket for adults to have a great experience and the little munchkin not to feel out of place because of the loud and boisterous house staff. It's called Hosteria Romona and this is the web site: http://www.hosteriaromana.com/ .  This is an honest to goodness strait from Italy trattoria. Everyone in this joint are from Italy and that includes the wild and flamboyant mannerisms of these guys. If you never got a chance go to get to San francisco in the 60's then this would be the place not to miss. AND THE FOOD,WOW!
We did have a great time with our friends ad their daughter was terrific. After 4 hours at the same table with the same couple and the live theater of people in the streets we had blown our time and needed to get the munchkin back to the room for bed time. All in all I was so pleased to rekindle our friendship and get to see Miami in a whole new light. Better get there if you want a piece of real food and real people.
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.

This year in the peloton

I told you that this year would be different from the last few years. People are hungry and the smaller continental and regional teams want to be the next contributing factor and the guys on these team want to be the next 'Lance or Alberto' and nothing and no one will stop them, period. And as far as I can tell no one else does either because this will be racing for racings sake and not for the 'cause du jour' or because they are big stars protected by big teams. Ok lets say that the classics will be dominated by lessor known guys, future stars and that the big tours are by the big teams and not the new guys, good for you? http://bicycling.com/blogs/boulderreport/2010/03/29/contador-armstrong-feud-can-wait-until-july/
And that's how I see the Crit International as the the hungry got the wins and all others saw the backs of these men. It's always good to have the fresh blood, even if it's guys who have been around for the last few years, making the move to get over the top of the best in the world. Don't get me wrong I like the big riders and the style they have but I'm also for the little guys getting a meal from the big boys table...nuff said.
As usual the press is focusing on all the wrong reasons to report on the race, that is the 'feud' between Lance and Alberto. It gets boring to say the least to have the constant banging of that drum day in and day out and not on the dynamics of the peloton as it should be. At least focus on the new guys who are performing and the guys who may have been around and are the unsung heros who are winning stages and spring classic winners. 
Lastly, I really want thank Versus TV for getting the coverage of most of all the cycling season this year. I can't say enough about the American public getting a chance to view something that has been only broadcast in Europe. Thanks guys. 
If I pass you on the road stop at Peets, because your buying.