Winter rides

Cape cod rail trail...no body but me out there today...nice and flat and no snow!

Cookies! I love cookies...

For the past number of years I've been extremely dedicated to getting myself in the type of condition that I needed to be in, in order to compete against some of the best conditioned cyclists in the Northeast! But, over the past few days...I could not resists a shit load of cookies and a bunch of beer!...Maybe it's a Christmas Present to me? or I just need a few days of over indulgence? I must have gained about five pounds, there goes my power to weight ratio....

...I did sneak an hour in today...!

...it's been a while...

I haven't posted any training results in a while but, I have been working on my base. Bunch of moderate efforts and some long endurance rides...not to exciting! I have decided to join a new team this season to expand my racing and possibly do some sick racing this year(2008). The team was basically put together to develop an Under 23 squad...but in doing so they acquired about 14 masters riders including myself...Looking forward to racing on the team!

www.teamccns.com

...Friday lunch time ride...

Doing a little base training!...Well since my cross experience last weekend, I think I'm hooked. Went out today with Jeff and we hammered down the trails in Bolton, Vernon, and Manchester and threw in a little hill climb for fun!...Nice to get the legs going again after a 2 week rest period (no activity except the cross race!)...

Cyclo Cross - Kicked my Butt!

I did my first cyclocross race this weekend in Mansfield Connecticut, and man was it tough. My heartrate was well above maximum threshold for about 45 minutes...I've never thought about quitting a race but, this sucked (not really...pretty awesome, I'm just not in cyclocross shape!). I decided that I'd try the Master 35+ race "Mistake", these guys kicked my ass!...I wanted to do the "c" race but, my son's soccer was at the same time. The Mansfield race, I was told, is one of the tougher races throughout New England, Some steep climbs, logs, barriers, sand, water, roots, trees,...etc. My hat goes off to the guys that designed the course and the riders that lapped me! (Thank You)!!!

...Previous week, ran the Hartford 1/2 marathon, I sucked this time (ran with a cramp for about 5 miles). My buddies I run with kicked my ass! for the first time...I'll get'em soon! I was running @ a 8:30 pace...definitly, well above my training pace!

Jamestown Classic

I haven't posted in awhile so I figured I'd update my training/racing results over the past few weeks. Not much to report other than I've been running a bit too much, a few medium distance runs (6+) and one 10 miler, to get ready for the Hartford Half Marathon...Should be a fun run...!? I did go out and do a pretty quick ride with my buddy Jeff and his friend Troy up to Massachusetts and back, about 44 miles.

...Jamestown was my first road race, it was pretty good race, I started with the group and was bored so I decided to go out in front and see if I could break up the group a bit. My legs just didn't have the juice!..too much running. So, backed off and recovered for a few miles. In Jamestown there is a nice little hill before the end of the race...This is usually where the race is won (so I'm told), just as we got to the hill someone made a bad move and crashed 4 or 5 riders. causing a number of us to stop and skirt through the wreckage. This was not a good thing, I got stuck in the wrong gear and basically out of the race.

....but regardless it was a good race we averaged about 23+ mphs. Maybe next year!

8 Days a week

Ok, I'm officially toast! My legs need a day off!

Sunday - Ran 5+ in New Hampshire
Monday - Ran 6+ in Coventry
Tuesday - Road 1.5 hours, ended in the Dark
Wednesday - Ran 6+ Coventry
Thursday - Did a group ride (Actually just me and Jeff, ended in the dark)
Friday - Ran 5+ Coventry
Saturday - early morning tempo 1+ hours...cold!
Sunday - Road with Tom, Marty, Andy, Jeff S. in Coventry, Tolland, Willington, Storrs, Mansfield for over 3 hours...Colder still!

The Rock Pile and the Kancamagus!

Mount Washington weekend without the bike...took the family up to North Conway to check out the sites; the Rock Pile, Down Town North Conway, Story Land, and the Kancamagus Pass(highway)...great weekend(long) get away.

Did get a run in along route 16 early in the morning...my running wasn't spectacular but, the scenery and weather was perfect. 4-5 miles?

We drove up MT Washington on Saturday because the weather was supposed to be a bit breezy on Sunday(80+ mph), and I was able to get a real good look at the course for next year. This does not look easy!...after the 4000ft marker it looks real tough, steep climbs (especially at the end) and the wind will be ridiculous...On Sunday, we drove home on the Kancamagus and some of the views were awesome (The picture above is from the Kancamagus looking south). One thing is for sure, riding the Kancamagus on my road bike was just put on my list of things to do(I'd also love to ride that on a Harley or a BMW!).

...Octoberfest came early this year!

Today, I had the best intentions to do a two hour tempo ride, but, my body said no. I've been trying to find some goals to keep me motivated over the next few months before the wonderful New England weather decides to pop it's lovely head up again! I've been running and riding and not really resting the legs...so today I'm sitting at the computer and drinking a Sam Adams Octoberfest!

Since my last post, I've continued to ride and have increased my running with the hopes of being ready to run the Hartford Half Marathon. My cardio is a go but, the legs still need some work....I ran 5 miles Saturday and another 5+ miles on Sunday at a moderate pass with my training buddy "Jeff"; my knees where killing me, so I took Monday off...and got back on the bike Tuesday for about 1.5 hours and climbed about 2300 ft over 24 miles...ran a relatively fast pass for about 6 miles on Wednesday. So if I can get up to 10 miles within about 10 days I'll do the half! and also the road race on October 8th in Jamestown, RI.

Lunch time ride...

Snuck out for an 1+ hours through Coventry & Tolland. Got'ta love working from home!



...http://www.routeslip.com/routes/62998

Friendly competition

Sunday morning ride with the guys is usually a "hammerfest" by the end of the ride and this Sunday was no different. We road about 32 miles throughout Glastonbury (they have high taxes, which translates into nice roads!)...We climbed over 2000 ft and ended the ride with a nice 3 mile tempo ride up Hebron Ave (6%). It usually ends up with me and the human machine (Jeff S) going head to head up the hill, and everyone else showing up at the top eventually! And this Sunday, the ride up Hebron avenue was a little more competitive than usual. I'd have to say, I road his wheel 80% of the climb, and at the top I tried to sprint past him, nope...legs said no f'ing way.
...
Side note: Running really does suck? (I think)...decided to change it up today and go for a nice little 40 minute run (20 out and 20 back)...I surprised myself by not saying fuck it and walking home! 5+ miles...nice endurance run...getting ready for the Turkey Day run 32 minutes! I have got some speed work to do and have to continue riding, scheduled to race in the Jamestown Classic...

Morning Rides..and soccer!

Can't beat an early morning ride in September before a day of soccer!...My son played in the morning with the K's...he actually enjoyed it this year!...My daughter played with her travel team and played one of her best games; she was in the right position for three potential goals...she's come a long was since her days of picking flowers during the game! Awesome day of soccer!

41 Sucks!...not really!

Well...I thought 40 was a tough pill to swallow...41 sucks! Well not much you can do, just hair replacement and plastic surgery! Screw it, I'd rather buy a nice rig!

I been taking it rather easy without any goals in the near future, so I've actually been out riding and enjoying it. Doing hills is starting to be fun again. Still waiting for my riding buddies at the top...I do have a new goal, actually two; don't get fat and run 4.7 miles on Thanksgiving day (Manchester Road Race in under 32 minutes). My best time was 33+ minutes in some nasty cold rainy conditions...let's see what happens.

Donuts

I forgot how much I liked donuts..I'm up 5 lbs in just under two weeks! and within that time I have about 250 miles under my belt...including a very hot century with a load of climbing, I think my training is lacking a goal and with the idea of snow just a few months away I need to find something quick or I'll be in bad shape come the spring...and a real bitch!

Last Race Last Lap...Crash!

Tuesday Night Training rides ended in a nasty crash...Tom and a few others crashed on the 1st turn of the last lap of the last race of the summer training season in East Hartford. Tom was down for awhile and then carted off in an ambulance to the ER...I spoke with him the next day, nothing broken just a lot of road rash!...The crit was pretty fast most of the night until just before the last few laps when everyone slowed, then the last lap people decided to make a run at it and punched it into the first turn. Myself being a bit cautious decided to hang back. Actually prior to that Tom and myself made a few moves to try and break the group of riders up..but, we're a bit too old and slow!
...

Wednesday...went for an hour and 1/2 ride to through Coventry and Tolland...did about 2000 ft of climbing over 21 miles...Man I'm sick off hills!

Livestrong

...well since the MT Washington hill climb was canceled I still had one more event at this point to complete for the summer. Over the past week I road a few days and even ran once with the intent of possibly being in shape for some cross racing.

In regards to the LiveStrong challenge, I was taking this a bit lightly because I've done a hundred miles+ a few times and normally don't have any issues...This ride is a charity ride to raise money to fight cancer, so I figured it was going to be a casual ride with a few hills!...This ride had 8000 ft of climbing and one mother of a hill climb @ 55 miles in!...I saw a lot of people walking their bikes! Twelve of our thirteen TeamChristy riders completed the 100 miles (Jon A. signed up for 40)....

...Some notes of interest...Marty and Jeff B finished strong as did Kevin and Jeff S after Kevin crashed and had his bike fixed and his body bandaged! Brent (who is 59.5 years old) finished about 45 minutes after me on a bike that weighed 30+ pounds...
Jon B, Andy, Tim road 100 for the first time and finished strong...and to round out the group both Joe and Octavia finished strong as well...Hughroy finished the 100 as the broomwagon was close behind..awesome job everyone!

...I felt pretty good and some how ended up riding about 15-20 miles at the beginning of the ride in a paceline of 6 riders with the man himself leading out! (I was on the back!)

Cancelled

...6+ months of training and mother nature said no! 92 MPH wind gusts at the top! Hurricane force winds...

...regardless, I traveled with Marty who was planning on riding up the hill with his 30lb mountain bike(ouch)..., Jeff, Andy who were our support team...We still had a good time and we eventually did get to the top but it was by stage coach(van).

...Maybe next year!

Getting Closer!

I've been away from my laptop for the last few days and getting ready for the big ascent! I went pretty hard this weekend, Saturday 2 hours and Sunday 2 hours. The remainder of the week was one hour super easy spins...no problems.

...Checking the extended weather for Saturday...looks like the summit is going to me cold!

I'm a gambling man by nature. I think I'd go for it.

...Michael Anthony Hall...2 hours on the trainer watching 'Sixteen Candles'...pretty exciting! 1984~

...MT Washington is 8 days away!

Horses, Cows and Chickens

...Horse Barn hill...needed to get a 2 hour endurance ride in with the goal of keeping my HR @ 135...didn't quite keep it at that level...decided to head towards UCONN and see the horse, cows and chickens...plus theres a nice little climb on Horse Barn Hill Rd...

...if you haven't checked out routeslip.com..check it out.

http://www.routeslip.com/routes/57496

Deep Dish!

Well..tonight I tried/borrowed a set of Reynolds DV46, I was a little apprehensive to try these in a training crit, but what the f%&#!...It took a bit of getting used too, but once these wheels started to role it was hard to stop...I did a bit of attacking tonight and pulled one of my racing buddies to a prime win. His first...he was pretty pumped!

...I finished pretty strong 5th-6th out of maybe 30-35 riders. Probably could have done a bit better if I wasn't so far back with a half lap to go...jumped a bit too late!

Note: On Sunday, I road with Marty and Jeff S for about 2 hours did my normally work out without going too much into the red! One more note, Jeff is a machine...he can climb!

Legos are pretty cool!

Today after my 1.5 hour ride which I focused on hill repeats 4x10 (4 10 minute climbs, or close to 10 minutes)...went to Natick, MA to the Natick mall with the family to check out the Lego store...Legos have come a long ways...if you get a chance you should check out all the stuff you can build...man I wish I was a kid again!

Gravel Roads suck!

Today I had scheduled 3 hours of endurance work planned which included some tempo on the hills...Didn't quite get it all in! 1+ hour on the trainer and 1 hour on the road...Once on the road, I decided to take my normal route to do some tempo up some good climbing hills...But, I noticed an orange sign on the road that said "15 Mphs - gravel road ahead", Great! I decided to attempt it but, was passed by one of Coventry's read-necks in a suburban doing well over 15mphs and kick'in up some stones..decide it wasn't it worth it and changed directions...Got'ta love Coventry...a real diverse cross section of the America and also the only town that uses gravel on the roads! nice!

Tennis anyone

...I had a big training ride planned for today after work...2 hours of over/under intervals...(under and over my lactate threshold based on my heartrate)...But, my daughter wanted me to play tennis with her up at the High School...how could I resist...Instead hit the trainer around 9pm and got my work out in. Did 3x12 @155/164 alternating ever 3/2 minutes...after a 30 minute warm up.

Tapout Marathon!

...Sat on my bike in front of the trainer and got caught up on Tapout!. 2.5 hours of watching guys get their heads beat in while I did my workout...good stuff!

Valley Falls...20 years later

I was trying to come up with a different route for todays ride...and fortunately or unfortunately I dropped my wife's car off in Bolton and decided to ride home from there...so why not do a little climbing...This included my old stomping grounds(hill); Valley Falls I used to climb this with a couple of buddy's from High School on my Vitus (Steve Michaud, Steve Chormanski, John Tinney, Steve Albert and occasionally Don Lindi)...Not the same without that crazy dog chasing us...so anyways, at the top of Valley Falls take a quick left and a right up Hatch Hill. Not a real difficult climb but, when I'm climbing in my 39/21 setup and my 21 keeps skipping to the point I see sparks! It's makes the climb a bit more of a pain in the ass!....
...not sure of my miles or averages or any other stats for that matter...just that I climbed 5 descent hills...Valley Falls (Vernon, CT), Hatch Hill(Vernon, CT), Dart Hill (Tolland), Merrow Rd(Coventry), Lewis Hill to Ripley and then closed it out by going back up Gardner Tavern Rd...

Weekend at the Cape!

...took Thursday off and road with Jeff on Friday up at the cape...road for about 3.5 hours from Dennisport to Welfleet and back and over to Mayflower...way too many people up at the Cape...! Average 19.1 mphs and once again my crank started to creak!

...On Saturday after watching Levi "almost" kick some Aussie butt! I decided to see what it was like to time trial for an hour...no where near the effort required to win the tour but, maybe someday...road for an 1.15 minutes and completed about 21 miles before I had to go eat and drink a beer!

See Yah! Cheater!

...well I got to watch Rasmussen win his final stage of the Tour de France while on my trainer and then read on velonews.com that he'd been fired! Awesome...

...Spent my night on the trainer for 1.5 hours doing two 15 minute tempos...not to exciting!

Dopers Suck!

http://www.sockguy.com/Dopers.html

They're killing the sport...don't they get it? I guess not...

Well today was the Tuesday night training crits in East Hartford, great night and about 60 riders composed of 3 teams and bunch of independent riders. My buddy Marty decided to show up and ride, I think he needs a few more races in order to get his legs (he has potential)...I've been riding with 4 others during the past few weeks and we've been talking about taking on some of the teams and try to break-up the peloton and get off the front and go for the win. We went at about 20 minutes into the race (probably a bit to soon), we did get away but...Unfortunately, we only had 3 of us and the break didn't last. But, it was a rush! knowing that we have about 60 riders trying to catch us (old guys).
...I did feel pretty good..I went for a prime, and was out sprinted at the line..

...Training: warmed up for about 45 minutes and raced for 35+...max heart rate sky-rocketed to 189(my previous max was 182)!! Averaged 25 mph during the race...have two weeks between races and running out of training days for MT Washington!

Today...went for an hour 1/2 and about 24 miles and averaged 16.9mph, climbed 5 hills...and maintained an average hr of 146...my goal was to cause some hurt today. Need to get in better climbing condition for Mt Washington!

...Ascutney results...ended up 95th 37.38 minutes
...Kevin who climbed Ascutney with a 39/27!!! ended up 163rd 43.17

http://www.coolrunning.com/results/07/vt/Jul21_MtAscu_set1.shtml

Ascutney - Climb

...Ascutney climb sucked! Hardest thing I've ever physically done, the first 2+ miles was straight up!...At mile 3 it flatted to about 6%, I'm guessing. The last 2/10ths were @ 26% brutal! My heart rate max'd to 182 and my average was 176!!

...I completed it in 37+ minutes, little bit longer than I expected but...maybe next year!

Two days before Ascutney

...getting prepared to climb MT Ascutney with Kevin, should be fun..been taking it easy most of the week and nursing a sore back(not sure what it's from). Ascutney is in two days...leaving around 5:30 to get there at 8:15 in order to warm up a bit.

..Also ordered jerseys for the Livestrong challenge in Philly.

First Post

Blue Ocean Cycling blog is geared towards my Cycling Training with the goal of climbing Mount Washington within 1 hour and 20 minutes.

...prior to this post I've been training since February 2007 to accomplish this goal

..the last two days have been recovery rides for(easy spin) approximately an hour...on Sunday I road with four others in Massachusetts, the ride was 109 miles and 7700 feet of climbing and averaged 18.1mphs which included Mount Wachusett.