Weights and Cycling

I have started up with my Wednesday night lifting again.

The benefits I gained last year were unquestionable. I did not get whole body fatigue on the bike. I could ride 3-8 hours and still feel relatively good. Before I would often get very a very tired and sore lower back, neck, and my triceps would kill on some long downhills.

Nothing fancy yet, just gettin the body used to holding and liting. I Will be putting in squats which will make Thrusday night interesting. My theory is that with the weights being heavier than what I can push on the pedals when I go back to the bike threshold riding will feel easier in the legs. I responded well last year to some serious power training.

I was worried at first about carrying around a few more kilos on mass but after last yrear I will gladly weigh more to have the endurance and power in my whole body.

I'll let you know how it goes when I really get into in the new year.

CFC part Duhhh

What was I thinking?? I mean really. Who would accept an invitation to go ride last Saturday? It was minus 10 going to minus 14, with howling winds that woudl take it down to minus 25.

Here is what I thought I would look like:










And here is how much fun I thought it would be:








I was standing in my living room, which was a nice 19 degrees, staring out the window thinking okay I can just ride to Cadence cafe and see what happens. Erik said the previous night that we might just go for breakfast. Why does everything sound good when you have one of these in front of you:






I showed. There was no one there. I had a coffee. I waited. I called. They showed. We were going. Shit!!! Ah, really I wasn't that dejected. I was looking forward to this. After last weekends ride to Fish creek with the CFC I knew they could be reseasoned with and that no one was trying to get killed.

We left Cadence and decided to head West to sstart. Straight into the wind. Theory= if wi go into hte wind and get tired we turn around and get pushed home. Just three of us this week. Erik, Craig, and Me. All on SS, the deep snow bike of choice.

Here are the stats
top speed=32 kph
time=3:49:00
distance=41.26 km
elevation=1069m
Ave speed=11.6 kph

11.6 kph??? It was all torque and keeping hte bike upright. When things were going well 18kph. Until I rubbed the side of a tire track and lost balance fought to recover and started at 3 kph again.

We really didn't go to far. Bear's Paw dam. Edworthy hill. Cadence for a good lunch.

It was just plan fun on a bike. I think we could have gone hiking and had just as much fun.

Lesson learned. Go on try it, the worst that could happen is you could have a great breakfast with friends.

Riding with the Calgary Fast Cats (CFC)

Last weekend I finally accepted an invitation to go out with the Elite/Cat 1,2 riders here in Calgary.

Craig Stappler usually is the guy organising the rides and is one of my main competitors. He has been sending me the emails since last spring but this was the first one. Why? I am sure that we could get into a deep well of pychology on this one but probably because I was a little apprehensive (read-scared). These are the guys that I trade battles with all summer. But if I am to take the next step then I need to ride with these guys. I need to be pushed over and over again.

Shawn-cranked past me at XC8 listening to Pantera in the last 10 minute to bumpme to 3rd.
Brain-rode with him and his partner in TransRockies and Mical and I tried to beat them everyday.
Chris-Canadian Master A TT champ and top provincial cx racer
Gabor-the SS animal who I tried to drop in the Bow 80 but couldn't unitl Jumping Pound.

Missing were Dallas, Keith, Devin, and Erik. Some serious horse power in all these guys.

It is like going for boxing practice with Mike Tyson and Evander Hollifield. Who in their right mind thinks that is a good idea?

I am trying to work on all the things that are my limiters. Riding above myself is one of them. Riding with the CFC should do it.

We met at Cadence cafe at 10 had a bite to eat then headed out. Where? I think only Shawn and Craig knew but we were quite happy to follow. Some were on cx bikes adn Gabor, craig, and myself were ridin the SS. The roads were slick, the temp was great, the company was awesome. It was a pleasure to be riding with these guys and not racing. I got to know more about each of them. Races they plan on doing, gear they like/dis-like, secret trials they know about. We rode the long way round to Fish Creek. The trials were excellent and fun. Lots of new stuff that was challenging. Too bad no one saw me catch my bar end into a fence, promptly sending me to the ground landing on the only tree knub in the area.

At times the pace was high. We all tried to climb steep hills. I knew that this was my day to push myself. I tried all the hills others did, sometimes successful, sometimes not. As the day worn on I actually started to feel better. Must have been the chewy pb and cocoa bar from the cafe. Our numbers slowly declined as the time past. Chris was selling his house, Gabor has kids, Shawn said something about more coffee. In the end at 4 hours Brian, Craig and Myself headed to Nosehill. By the time we got there the sun was going down and we all decided that was that.

So what did learn in my 75km SS adventure? I can ride with the CFC. I will get better riding with the CFC. It can be fun to do the 18a St hill 3:30 hours into the ride at redline.

Mostly, we all want to ride, make it fun, and have a good coffee after. Even the CFC.