calm and steady....

after yesterdays 63 miles with 6400 feet of climbing i have decided that my climbing needs more work. trying to follow The Goat on this route of his further drove home the fact.

i was all over the bike on these climbs. wasting way to much energy and effort. i was up. i was down. i was rocking. i was grunting. i was spitting. i was suffering. i was like that muscle guy at your local gym using the free weights while sounding like a heard of elephants. no one wants to work out next to that guy.

it all can be corrected. i will follow and study and practice.

all was not lost on this ride. i did feel strong at the end and i did see a 54 mph max speed on the last descent of the day.

how about some numbers talk? despite being on a love boat quarantine for 13 days i am near 500 miles for the month of June. the sky is the limit for July. this week is the crucial week for me and RAIN. one day, one way, 160 miles is fast approaching.

later.

this is weird...

since the Udder Century, back on 6/1, i have had a small cycling related issue. we shall refer to it as The Issue. it is a small thing, but a thing that could slam the brakes on a season. while i sort of have it under control i have to laugh when i think about what i am now doing and what i have done to fight The Issue.

to date i have applied Balmex, Neosporin, Baby Powder, Destin, Wet Ones , Equate Triple Antibiotic Cream, Chamois Butt'R, & Assos Chamois Creme on and around the area of The Issue. i have never ever been so aware of and paid so much attention to this particular area The Issue calls home. never, ever, ever.....

i have treated The Issue, but only time off will vanish it for ever. this is not in the cards for me. i am also treating what i believe is the cause, old lycra & possible poor fit.

i ain't messing around with the lycra either. out with the shorts and in with bibs. the best of the best, Assos. when it is all said and done i will have two pairs, the Equippe and the top of line F.13 S2. take that Mr The Issue. toss in some lower end every day bibs and i will be lycra short free forever.

as for fit, the only thing i changed over the winter was my saddle height. i jacked it up just a bit. i do not think this is the issue, but may make some small changes in saddle placement. small increments are the key. i really think the culprit is worn out chamois.

i think i had a point here????? oh yeah, this is weird. i thought that as i looked up and into the bathroom mirror while partaking in my new post ride ritual. wipe the area with a wet paper towel, then a Wet One, then stand with legs spread and allow to air dry, then 20 to 30 minutes of stretching and recovery, then a shower with more cleaning of the area, then more standing and drying, then application of cream & baby powder.

don't even get me started on the trimming.

later.

Vacation Action.....

me snorkeling

me swimming with killer stingray

me holding the wall up at 3am the night before debarkation

the end

first night, before even boarding, the in-law love is flowing.

me, on a boat, needing a drink.

pretty please.

oh yeah.

the end

debarkation

To unload, as from a ship or an airplane.


thank gosh almighty.

the love boat captain has returned.

now, where is my freaking bicycle?

how much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

this is the question that must be answered. 15 days off the bike. 15 days i said. at least, the legs should be fresh..............................????

later.

you can just call me......

the Love Boat Captain.

i will miss my bike.

and my super start to superior cycling fitness.

that is all.

later.

Double or Nothing....the pictures

the BFNIC gang ready to roll.

climbing Barlow Road

i am second wheel here. almost to the top and almost dead :)

fudge rounds from the grocery slash craft store never tasted so yum yum.

you see that hill to the right? that is the highest point in Southern Wisconsin, Blue Mound State Park. this is me trudging my way towards it.

the Double or Nothing Weekend has come and gone. however, someone tell my legs that, cause they are barking mad at me.

i think the weekend can best be summed up with numbers.....

Saturday: Double or Nothing Ride. 4:15 am wake up. 6 hours in the car. 4 hours 9 minutes of ride time for 63 miles and 6000 feet of climbing.

Sunday: the Udder Century. 5:00 am wake up. 2 hours 30 minutes in the car. 5 hours 5 minutes of ride time for 100 miles and 3000 feet of climbing. this was a 19.7 mph pace and a personal best ride time for a century. not to mention it was a day after this flat lander busted his butt climbing hills in Wisconsin.

last week i was on the bike for over 14 hours and totalled up 248 miles.

wow, that is a lot for one week. get this though, i loved every minute of it and wish it could have been more. good times man. good times.

later.