So for the first time in months I had no race this weekend and was able to get out for a long training ride on Mines Rd. PRobably my favorite road in the east bay, long climbs, deserted, pretty flowers. Just kickass training. Got 6 buddies to join me, we had the sopro look goin' on as we rolled out of live-no-more.

Mines was beautiful, much nicer than the last time that Brother Maynard and I abused ourselves on it.It also started to take it's toll of undertrained crit-dwellers. Monster was drillin it with these evil little jumps all day long, sending several participants to the Junction for rootbeer floats. Mostly,the top picture was my view of Mo today......

Ended up with 91 miles on the computer, lot's of tempo on the climbs. Lot's of long climbs are good for ya, especially if yer dumb enuff to go all the way to Oregon to get spanked by psychogeezers in 2 months.

Big props to the sport dudes, those rides will pay off down the road, and the company was awesome!

A whole new world

I help a buddy coach newbie triathlete women some saturdays. Get to ride around, fix bikes, mostly make sure everybody comes back alive. Every once in a while i dispense a little knowledge on funny little tri-geek deals, like getting in and out of shoes while still rolling, close your horrified ears, my roadie pals!
The best part of today was the conversations with people that are trying something new, a lot of times with a borrowed POS bike with 10 year old tires. People that are willing to challenge themselves to something very unknown, all new, completely foreign.Willing to just show up to workouts every weekend and Thursdays. leaving their comfort zones behind them. I could see a difference in the people today since last month, a little more confidence and strength. Pushing yourself has a way of doing that, giving you the strength to see life's possibilities in a whole new light. It's so easy to get caught in a rut of work, food,television and the internet, living vicariously through others. The Friday radio shows break down Survivor like WE are struggling with the immunity challenge.
I love to see change and I love to see hope.

I got the itis......

So I am watching one of my favorite shows yesterday while spinning a little on the trainer- http://www.adultswim.com/shows/boondocks/comic/ and it gets me thinking about the way we eat in America. Specifically, the pure enjoyment I get from a giant plate or plates of Mexican, soul food, Italian, or anything burnt or fried. Hell, I love a big salad as long as it's big! Interesting the way I equate a full stomach with happiness, love, familial solidarity, friendship, etc. We ain't happy in our home if we're not overfeeding you like someones' grandma.
My whole family has suffered the effects of the standard American diet, and yet at the annual party I throw we buy enough food for 50 when 20 show up.
What makes this really strange is the juxtaposition between bike racers and the rest of America. Bikey/endurance maniacs have the weirdest attitudes towards food of all, kind of a love/hate thing. In my family and at my blue collar workplace I'm "skinny", always being offered food and treats. I hang around with my bike buddies and I get the "hmmmm, if you could cut up a little more" kind of look. Ridiculous to see my 190 lbs on a 650 cm tri-bike. Think of a trained animal riding a trike around a ring inside the big top, heh heh.
Anyway, I'm not saying what is right or wrong for anyone else, nor do I really understand this all too well for my own self. I think people need to be happy with themselves however they are. I also respect a persons' goals and striving for change- I've lost a whole lot of bodyfat and gotten a lot healthier since I started this journey 9 years ago.
Strange how the things that we can love the most can also kill us- just something rolling around in my head while stuck on the spin bike...

A little wine and no whine....

Masters 4/5
Teammates- Dave, Paul S., Paul T., Xeno, Jim, Mike, Mo, Larry
Field- Full- at least 75
We had a loose plan of attacking but keeping a couple back for the bunch sprint, this is a tough course to get lost on, big loops and very wide.
The pack surged and moved a lot, it was always a work in progress to stay up on the front of the wave. I jumped and got the first preem, 10 velobucks for the track and a bottle of wine. I had a big gap after the preem and in hindsight should of kept going, I had to freewheel for about a half lap to get integrated again. Boy, that was fun, I'd go again, but bad position out of the turn left me out in the open too early. Also seeing a old buddy that we need to bring to the fold sprinting for same prize had me ease off.
Paul T. made a beautiful move that myself and one other guy blocked for a half lap or so, won him a prize as well and tired some folks out.
I'd like to mention Paul S., Jim, and Racer X all worked hard bringing myself and others up, blocking, and stringing things out, excellent teamwork, fellas!
5 to go and I'm on X-mans wheel about 6 back. Miguel is there, Mo is there, cool. Big acceleration from Eastside and a red guy, I follow/jump to it, look back and see a gap. Not much, I take a pull and peek, there is something there now, just me and Eastside. We try the 2-up move, but despite blocking from the team, after a little hesitation, the pack is in full mode. Honestly, neither of us had the 29-30 mph speed needed to win out of a move like that, we almost got some help, but he fell back. I gave it my all, you never know what can happen with two to go, but cracked with one to go, rolling out the back like I had the brakes on.
Final survey during my trip back- Mike on the front with a funny look on his face (I'll let him tell that story, but obviously not his plan), and Mo about 8 back with Jimmy V.
Mo did a great job getting 4th, missing 3rd by a centimeter according to the camera. I had a good time, raced aggressively and with the team's objectives in my mind, felt it was a good tactical move, even if it wasn't the highest percentage move personally. Every race is still a learning experience for me, I look back to this race two years ago, I rode on the outside in the wind and was tired halfway through, sprinting endlessly, etc. This year I was comfortable all the way through in the pack, big steps for me.
The team was present in every move yesterday, I look forward to our race in two weeks!
Johnny

Well, tommorrow is my least fave race of the year. I thought I had gotten out of it, preferring to cheer on Miz C. at the Santy Crooze Half Marathon( see picture above). Well, the plans changed, and I have a teammate that is geeked up for this one, been practicing out there since like, December.
I've raced this twice and felt mortal terror twice like no other 4/5 office park special I have ever experienced. Time to face the monster that is a full field of 4's that all think they can win. I plan to go early and often, maybe find some help out there, and make those bitches chase for 45 minutes.

MAndatory first ramble

Well, this is gonna be interesting. After endlessly surfing many blogs of folks I barely know, I'm a little hooked. Curious when we are all working...wait a minute- I'm here now...
It's gonna be a good weekend, lot's of choices, and thats' a good thing.