After a month of dedicating my body to the removal of snow from various structures and surfaces I am now ready to commence more serious training for the upcoming season. The month sort of ended in a shitstorm crescendo; I had an intense albeit short, bout of the flu last weekend. I had gone to the gym in the morning and felt ok but I had a feeling that something was a bit off. I got home and progressively got worse as the afternoon rolled around. Em and I were supposed to attend a birthday party for her nieces later in the day so I was a trooper and off we went. I don't think I was there more than a half hour when I ended up leaving Em there, with our couch being my most singular focus. I got home, promptly changed, and covered myself with several blankets hoping to cease the (now) excessive shivering. I was burning up. It was probably one of the worst fevers I've had. Em finally came home some 2 hours later with recently purchased digital thermometer in hand. The verdict: 101.6. I can only imagine what it had been when I first got home. Em put her sick nurse skills to good use. I was feeling better within the hour. The fever finally broke and all that was left was a night of every 2 hr diarrhea. Hey, at least I didn't shart in the bed.
Next day I came around. I started downing Gatorade to replace fluid electrolyte loss. That's when you really start feeling like shit- when you lose a ton of electrolytes. I probably get a little carried away making sure I get them back in. Anyway, it must have been a 24 hr thing. Never had it that intense and that quick before. So I think I'm in the clear and late Sunday afternoon my back starts spasming out of nowhere. I mean the type where if you move a certain way (usually unconsciously), it takes your breath away. As par for the course for most athletes, I start racking my brain in what I could have done to eff my back up. It must have been the shoveling Friday that did me in.
After 2 days of sitting around, we get yet another 4" of snow on Tuesday. I was back at it again. Sadly my hands have been wrapped around a shovel more this year than my handlebars. Even though I employed proper mechanics (I must look like a robot to my neighbors), I still managed to tweak an on-the-mend muscle. Wednesday night I figured I'd better try testing my back doing something so I decided to jump on the trainer (I know, I know) for an easy spin. Miraculously I was able to watch 3 episodes of Family Guy (1:30) with no issues. I can't help but feel like I'm incredibly far behind at this point but I guess you just have to hope that everyone else is too.
A couple of positives out of all this are that I currently weigh a pound less than I did all last season. I've gotten really focused with my eating. I eat several small meals a day and limit excess carb consumption after 6pm. I got that going for me. Which is nice. Seeing as I probably have less than a dozen rides in the first 6 weeks of this year, at least my equipment has that much less wear. I think I also have like 40 prs of chemical toe warmers as well. When it does get warm the roads will be eternally wet as this shit melts, so bikes and clothes are sure to take a beating then. Maybe this weather will end up being a blessing in disguise, giving us all the break we needed. Hopefully not completely breaking my back in the process.
Stay positive. Those first couple 60 degree days are gonna be unbelievable this year!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Quads
Interesting email I received from Graeme Street, owner of Cyclocore:
Dear Alex,
Are you riding "Quad Dominant"?
Most Everyday Cyclists are and if YOU ARE, it could be:
*Making You Much Slower in the Hills.
*Increasing Your Susceptibility to Back fatigue.
*Decreasing your power and speed potential.
*Leading to Chronic Imbalances and Potential Injury.
What is Quad Dominance?
Basically, it refers to a very common, over-dependance on the
contraction of the quads through the pedal stroke and more
importantly, a decrease in Glute/Hamstring/Hip Flexor utilization
leading to most of your power, coming from the front--not the rear.
Very common for people in general, not just cyclists and is
a PRIMARY REASON for most peoples back pain/problems.
In cycling, I refer to it as "mashing the pedals" as opposed
to "levitating the pedals". Again, very common in cyclists.
Usually, we want a 60-40 split in action power between our
glutes/hams/flexors and our quads. However, most of us are
more likely to be 50-50 or worse, 40-60. The 60% being the
power supplied by the quads alone--WAY TOO MUCH!
If you cramp a lot, have trouble snapping out of the saddle or
getting low and hammering at high leg speeds--you more than
likely are QUAD DOMINANT.
IN A NUTSHELL: "You're Not Pedaling from your Hips & Core!"
Basically, you're IMBALANCED and you're not alone!
What can Quad Dominant Imbalances cause?
In my experience...
*Poor climbing power due to weak glutes/hams.
*Increased back fatigue, usually from a weak core.
*Inability to get aero and for longer periods. (poor flexibility)
*Increased susceptibility to knee pain/injury. (big one!!)
*Cramping! Cramping. Cramping! (insidious truth)
Not to mention, losing huge potential for MORE POWER!
If you use my Cyclo-TRAINER Sessions, you know how
much emphasis I place into teaching you to RIDE FROM
YOUR HIPS and CORE! (at nauseam) Keep doing them!
It's my "core philosophy" and one that works incredibly well
to help you re-balance your hip power, quad strength, and
leg speed for more efficiency, for longer periods of time.
I'll attack your hips, core, leg speed, & power in
every trainer session we'll do together...
**TRAINER SESSIONS #1-10 + BONUSES (special today)**
http://www.on2url.com/app/adtrack.asp?AdID=530859
**NEW 2.5 Hr "CLIMBING EPIC" TRAINER Special (#17):
http://www.cyclo-club.com/products/item124.cfm
***NEW Strength & Wt-Loss TRAINER Bundle (# 11-13 + IN 5')
http://www.cyclo-club.com/products/item120.cfm
My Cyclo-TRAINER sessions will systematically help you:
*Retrain your hips and core to ACTIVATE while riding.
*Increase Glute and Hamstring Utilization and Power.
*Strengthen the back and open the hams for aero stability.
*Decrease dependance on your quads for power.
*Open new channels for more leg speed & efficiency.
*Super-charge your climbing muscular endurance.
You see, to help you balance your quads and hips, I need
to attack your body in multiple ways, that do not always
utilize the bike--which is why in many sessions, we get off the
bike and I'll attack you with Cyclo-CORE like training.
In fact, the more you ride with quad dominance, the more
quad dominant you become! READ THAT AGAIN.
Use my Cyclo-TRAINER Sessions 1-3x week, and I promise
you, you will be quad dominant no more and finally begin
to MAXIMIZE YOUR POWER & STRENGTH by tapping into
your "Cottage of Wattage".
I use to be quad dominant for years and I always had back
pain, tight hams, and was weak in the hills. Really weak.
Then, I started Cyclo-CORE Training and Cyclo-TRAINER
sessions and not only are those problems solved--but I'm
climbing and riding stronger than I was when I was in my 20's.
I want you to feel the same!
Ride Hard. Balance Your Quads. Dominate!
--Graeme Street
Totally makes sense. There is a huge reservoir of power in the back of your body.
You just need to tap into it...
Saturday, January 29, 2011
I cracked...
and rode my trainer! Hey, it's been one of those winters. I've been keeping busy with the gym sessions, snowshoeing, and seemingly daily snow removal. "I challenge ye to a shoveling contest!" Sorry, had to get that in there. But anyway, when my buddy Craig asked if I wanted to come over and do a sufferfest video, I said sure, what the hell.
I've done more spinervals workouts than I care to admit and I will say Coach Troy is a good motivator. But I was willing to give this a shot. After warming up with an episode of Family Guy on hulu it was time to get down to bi-ness as they say in the more non-rural areas. The workout was "The Hunted" and I was immediately taken aback by how interactive it was. It honestly felt at times like I was Robert Gesink. (Well, maybe if I was 5" taller and 20 lbs lighter.) The first part of the workout was 10 minutes of tempo followed by a 20 minute climb with some over/under efforts and at the end were some reverse intervals done like this: 10 sec full gas/50 sec recovery, 20 sec on/40 sec recovery, and so on until the last two (which hurt) were 50s/10 and then the whole 60s at full gas. I highly recommend these videos if you're really hurting (like I was) to spin the pedals. They are WAY better than Spinervals and if you can get a group together, all the better. I just got my wireless internet straightened out at the house so if you want to come over to the Combes torture chamber and do one with me, hit me up. After all, it's still only January...
Desperate times call for desperate measures, sure, but riding outside trumps the trainer any day. One could argue that you're constantly pedaling while on the trainer, but to be honest I pretty much ride like I'm on a fixie anyway (I know, I know, CB2) so that advantage is effectively eliminated. Trainer workouts have their place- probably more so in the recovery ride realm. I honestly don't have any flat routes near me. It's all good when you're in the heat of battle in the Strava climbing competition, but if you're just looking to spin the legs, the trainer is where it's at. I think overall you lose your sense of exertion on the trainer. If you don't have the luxury of one of these, then you don't really know how hard you're working. Sure you can wear a HR monitor but HR is more of a response to the power needs of the legs. In other words, the elevation of HR is purely autonomic: You don't will your heart to beat faster. The heart beats faster in response to the physiological needs of the body. Another important positive of riding outside is exposure to light. At least for me, to get outside helps minimize seasonal affect disorder. The end of November and into December sucks when it's starting to get dark at 4:00. We've turned the corner in a big way in that regard. On a non-cloudy day, the sun is still decent until 5:00 now.
I took the Nokian Hakapeliittas off last night and threw on the Michelin Mud2s for the ride today. What a difference dropping over a pound of weight (per wheel) makes! At times it felt like I was flying compared to the Nokians. It's funny how your body and mind get used to something. Had I been running slicks, the Mud2s would have felt slow. It makes me wonder why racers train on ultra light bikes. Ego, I guess. I'll never forget showing up to a fast group ride last Spring and getting dropped like a bad habit. Needless to say, I didn't show up with that bike again. I might ride my 24 lb winter beater more this Spring though, so that my 21.5 lb mtb feels light.
On the weight loss front, I've managed to dump 2 lbs already. Hey, a kilo is a kilo. I've got to get in shape for my little Spring training trip with Hilljunkie. We're headed to Tucson for a solid 7 days of riding. This will be my first bike centric trip. I'm looking forward to riding, eating, and sleeping my face off. I guess we're going to drive north a bit and hit Sedona as well. You can check out the latest scenery there on Sue Haywood's blog. 6 weeks away and would you believe it, a mere 9 weeks until Hopbrook Dam which will undoubtedly be a mudfest. Get your ass riding!
I've done more spinervals workouts than I care to admit and I will say Coach Troy is a good motivator. But I was willing to give this a shot. After warming up with an episode of Family Guy on hulu it was time to get down to bi-ness as they say in the more non-rural areas. The workout was "The Hunted" and I was immediately taken aback by how interactive it was. It honestly felt at times like I was Robert Gesink. (Well, maybe if I was 5" taller and 20 lbs lighter.) The first part of the workout was 10 minutes of tempo followed by a 20 minute climb with some over/under efforts and at the end were some reverse intervals done like this: 10 sec full gas/50 sec recovery, 20 sec on/40 sec recovery, and so on until the last two (which hurt) were 50s/10 and then the whole 60s at full gas. I highly recommend these videos if you're really hurting (like I was) to spin the pedals. They are WAY better than Spinervals and if you can get a group together, all the better. I just got my wireless internet straightened out at the house so if you want to come over to the Combes torture chamber and do one with me, hit me up. After all, it's still only January...
Desperate times call for desperate measures, sure, but riding outside trumps the trainer any day. One could argue that you're constantly pedaling while on the trainer, but to be honest I pretty much ride like I'm on a fixie anyway (I know, I know, CB2) so that advantage is effectively eliminated. Trainer workouts have their place- probably more so in the recovery ride realm. I honestly don't have any flat routes near me. It's all good when you're in the heat of battle in the Strava climbing competition, but if you're just looking to spin the legs, the trainer is where it's at. I think overall you lose your sense of exertion on the trainer. If you don't have the luxury of one of these, then you don't really know how hard you're working. Sure you can wear a HR monitor but HR is more of a response to the power needs of the legs. In other words, the elevation of HR is purely autonomic: You don't will your heart to beat faster. The heart beats faster in response to the physiological needs of the body. Another important positive of riding outside is exposure to light. At least for me, to get outside helps minimize seasonal affect disorder. The end of November and into December sucks when it's starting to get dark at 4:00. We've turned the corner in a big way in that regard. On a non-cloudy day, the sun is still decent until 5:00 now.
I took the Nokian Hakapeliittas off last night and threw on the Michelin Mud2s for the ride today. What a difference dropping over a pound of weight (per wheel) makes! At times it felt like I was flying compared to the Nokians. It's funny how your body and mind get used to something. Had I been running slicks, the Mud2s would have felt slow. It makes me wonder why racers train on ultra light bikes. Ego, I guess. I'll never forget showing up to a fast group ride last Spring and getting dropped like a bad habit. Needless to say, I didn't show up with that bike again. I might ride my 24 lb winter beater more this Spring though, so that my 21.5 lb mtb feels light.
On the weight loss front, I've managed to dump 2 lbs already. Hey, a kilo is a kilo. I've got to get in shape for my little Spring training trip with Hilljunkie. We're headed to Tucson for a solid 7 days of riding. This will be my first bike centric trip. I'm looking forward to riding, eating, and sleeping my face off. I guess we're going to drive north a bit and hit Sedona as well. You can check out the latest scenery there on Sue Haywood's blog. 6 weeks away and would you believe it, a mere 9 weeks until Hopbrook Dam which will undoubtedly be a mudfest. Get your ass riding!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Making the best of things...
We've had it quite easy the last few winters in CT. Since I started riding, this is probably the "worst" yet. Excessive snowfall and arctic cold have produced several Jens Factor 5 days. But I guess in a way, it's a good thing- this whole getting off the bike for a couple months (well, not completely) helps to refresh the body and the nervous system as it won't be long before we're BLOWN from the hard rides to come. I can't imagine if I lived in Southern California; I'd probably be perpetually overtrained.
The offseason is a good time to work on things that are neglected throughout the year when we're turning the cranks tens of thousands of times. It's funny how unathletic I feel this time of year when I explore other arenas of fitness. Hip flexibility and core and upper body strength have completely hit the fan. I remember the days when I could run and jump like a deer but I suppose those days are behind me now. I often like to say, "the older we get, the better we were." So true.
I've managed to get out on the bike when there's Jens Factor 4 or lower and if there's significant snow, then snowshoeing it is. I think continuing to get exercise outside is good for the mind this time of year as diminished daylight can really get you down. (Although, we are heading back the other way now.) I've probably been snowshoeing a half dozen times or so and let me tell ya, it's a heluva workout. The movement is almost identical to climbing hills out of the saddle. I've actually seen HR's in the low 180's going hard up a steep hill with 2+ feet of snow. I went backcountry xc skiing once and my hip flexors were sore for 3 days. Skate skiing is tantalizing but I guess it's my unwillingness to travel to a good place to do it, my lack of gear, and my impatience in learning proper technique that have kept me away. I believe I blew out all my patience learning a new sport with swimming 5 years ago.
With nearly 19k miles in the legs over the last 3 seasons, I'm not so concerned about "base" at this point. I believe I have a base level of fitness in the legs. I'm just trying to work on weaknesses at this point which include but are not limited to core strength/flexibility and leg strength all while decreasing the old bodyweight. Apr. 2nd is the first mtb race of the season, a mere 10 weeks away.
Got blood drawn this morning for 1st blood test in 15 years. I'm anxious to see really how healthy I am.
Saw a post from Todd Holland on Facebook last night:
http://www.ultracycling.com/events/GMD.htm
Never done a double before and that would be one mother of a way to pop the cherry on that. I know the word "epic" is probably overused, but if this isn't epic then I don't know what is. I might have to email that sicko Sandy for some details.
The offseason is a good time to work on things that are neglected throughout the year when we're turning the cranks tens of thousands of times. It's funny how unathletic I feel this time of year when I explore other arenas of fitness. Hip flexibility and core and upper body strength have completely hit the fan. I remember the days when I could run and jump like a deer but I suppose those days are behind me now. I often like to say, "the older we get, the better we were." So true.
I've managed to get out on the bike when there's Jens Factor 4 or lower and if there's significant snow, then snowshoeing it is. I think continuing to get exercise outside is good for the mind this time of year as diminished daylight can really get you down. (Although, we are heading back the other way now.) I've probably been snowshoeing a half dozen times or so and let me tell ya, it's a heluva workout. The movement is almost identical to climbing hills out of the saddle. I've actually seen HR's in the low 180's going hard up a steep hill with 2+ feet of snow. I went backcountry xc skiing once and my hip flexors were sore for 3 days. Skate skiing is tantalizing but I guess it's my unwillingness to travel to a good place to do it, my lack of gear, and my impatience in learning proper technique that have kept me away. I believe I blew out all my patience learning a new sport with swimming 5 years ago.
With nearly 19k miles in the legs over the last 3 seasons, I'm not so concerned about "base" at this point. I believe I have a base level of fitness in the legs. I'm just trying to work on weaknesses at this point which include but are not limited to core strength/flexibility and leg strength all while decreasing the old bodyweight. Apr. 2nd is the first mtb race of the season, a mere 10 weeks away.
Got blood drawn this morning for 1st blood test in 15 years. I'm anxious to see really how healthy I am.
Saw a post from Todd Holland on Facebook last night:
http://www.ultracycling.com/events/GMD.htm
Never done a double before and that would be one mother of a way to pop the cherry on that. I know the word "epic" is probably overused, but if this isn't epic then I don't know what is. I might have to email that sicko Sandy for some details.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Be careful what you wish for...
I was just saying to myself that I hadn't gotten a real good workout in a while and was hoping I'd get it today. Given the weather (17 for a high) and sub-par road conditions there were several exchanges of "What do you think?" and "What do you think?" before we finally pulled the trigger to ride.
Riding with Brian is never easy. Couple that with the fact that I still had the studded cross tires on and I was in for a ride to Hurtsville. Pulling out of his driveway, you're met with a nice 400' climb as a warm-up. Plain and simply, it sucks. Those tires seriously have to be worth a couple gears and with a 42x28 minimum, yeah, you know where this is going. ON top of that, I had to ride like I was on a fixed gear on the descents (Brian still effortlessly coasted away) and then slog back up the climbs. I initially thought that because it was so cold that my Garmin wasn't picking up my HR properly, i.e. it was running about 10 beats higher than normal. I tried a Fonzie tap of the unit, but I was still a regular vistor the upper 160's/low 170's. Well, it wasn't the Garmin, it was the goddamn tires.
The ride was nondescript, really. It was cold with a slight head wind as we headed north but my trusty Assos gear was (once again) doing its job wonderfully. I know everybody has their go-to gear, but let me tell ya, Assos is the best. Yeah, it costs an arm and a leg but there's a reason- It works. If you ride outside a lot, a Fugujack and a pair of bib tights will not let you down.
My water bottle was frozen solid 20 minutes into the ride. I think I was able to get the top off at one point and take a sip but I otherwise went without water for nearly 2 hours. Yeah, all the risers were taking their toll and for sure my mounting dehydration was only exacerbating things. I felt a twinge of a cramp coming in my right hamstring at one point and thankfully things just held together until the end.
For shits and giggles I weighed the cross bike with the studs. About 3# of rotational weight added over the Michelin Mud/Jet combo.
Also for shits and giggles I weighed everything I had on laden with sweat. I figured around 10# so nearly 9.5 was pretty close. And yes, I may have shot this naked.
For the metrics geeks: STRAVA
Note to self: Remove studded tires before riding with Brian.
Riding with Brian is never easy. Couple that with the fact that I still had the studded cross tires on and I was in for a ride to Hurtsville. Pulling out of his driveway, you're met with a nice 400' climb as a warm-up. Plain and simply, it sucks. Those tires seriously have to be worth a couple gears and with a 42x28 minimum, yeah, you know where this is going. ON top of that, I had to ride like I was on a fixed gear on the descents (Brian still effortlessly coasted away) and then slog back up the climbs. I initially thought that because it was so cold that my Garmin wasn't picking up my HR properly, i.e. it was running about 10 beats higher than normal. I tried a Fonzie tap of the unit, but I was still a regular vistor the upper 160's/low 170's. Well, it wasn't the Garmin, it was the goddamn tires.
The ride was nondescript, really. It was cold with a slight head wind as we headed north but my trusty Assos gear was (once again) doing its job wonderfully. I know everybody has their go-to gear, but let me tell ya, Assos is the best. Yeah, it costs an arm and a leg but there's a reason- It works. If you ride outside a lot, a Fugujack and a pair of bib tights will not let you down.
My water bottle was frozen solid 20 minutes into the ride. I think I was able to get the top off at one point and take a sip but I otherwise went without water for nearly 2 hours. Yeah, all the risers were taking their toll and for sure my mounting dehydration was only exacerbating things. I felt a twinge of a cramp coming in my right hamstring at one point and thankfully things just held together until the end.
For shits and giggles I weighed the cross bike with the studs. About 3# of rotational weight added over the Michelin Mud/Jet combo.
Also for shits and giggles I weighed everything I had on laden with sweat. I figured around 10# so nearly 9.5 was pretty close. And yes, I may have shot this naked.
For the metrics geeks: STRAVA
Note to self: Remove studded tires before riding with Brian.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Strava inspiration
Well, if you need any winter motivation, there's a climbing competition over on www.strava.com. I think it's $50 for the annual membership. The site is quite interactive in that it will automatically tabulate and categorize any climbs you hit on an uploaded route. I'm currently sitting in 15th as of press time. I think something like 10 of the 14 ahead of me are Aussies so while I'm swerving around black ice, they're riding around in shorts. The other 3 are Southern Californians. Bastards. Unless I start hitting Winsted Woods on a regular basis, I predict CB2 will be climbing (pun intended) the leaderboard seeing as seemingly 90% of his miles are on dirt.
I'm still weighing in at a buck fifty eight so that with my 26 lb winter bike and probably at least another 6-7 lbs of clothing/shoes, I'm pushing 190+ up the hills of northwest CT. My full intent is to go into Spring at sub-150 and hopefully when I jump back on the Cervelo, I won't be Battenkilled in April.
I've got one of these babies and I think that if I track my weight daily I'll do a better job of staying on top of my weight.
In other news, I'm going to be racing with Benidorm Racing in 2011. I was approached a month ago by some guys I ride with and it looks like the team's got a good group of people to hit the area race scene with so it should be a lot of fun. I'll probably do most of the Root 66 series and a few road races. I'll more than likely do a couple hillclimbs as well as the old standby, D2R2 and maybe another 100/10000'. Looking forward to it.
I'm still weighing in at a buck fifty eight so that with my 26 lb winter bike and probably at least another 6-7 lbs of clothing/shoes, I'm pushing 190+ up the hills of northwest CT. My full intent is to go into Spring at sub-150 and hopefully when I jump back on the Cervelo, I won't be Battenkilled in April.
I've got one of these babies and I think that if I track my weight daily I'll do a better job of staying on top of my weight.
In other news, I'm going to be racing with Benidorm Racing in 2011. I was approached a month ago by some guys I ride with and it looks like the team's got a good group of people to hit the area race scene with so it should be a lot of fun. I'll probably do most of the Root 66 series and a few road races. I'll more than likely do a couple hillclimbs as well as the old standby, D2R2 and maybe another 100/10000'. Looking forward to it.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Power:Too Much Weight and another Hilljunkie Classic
Well, yesterday was the Greylock TT, part of the BUMPS series. I had no expectations going in (as usual) and was sort of guesstimating where I'd finish. Based on past results, I was figuring ~48 min. Given my weight as of press time (157.4) I had no illusions of going much faster. Looking back to last year's log, I was 148 and change this time last year. I think I have a hormone problem. Like Oprah.
Anyway, I got a shit warm-up which apparently is my standard pre-race protocol. It's a good thing I don't take these things too seriously. I rolled up to the line literally <30 seconds before my start time. I spent the first 50 meters getting my right foot clicked in and away I went. It wasn't very long until I was passed by my 30 second guy. Have at it, buddy. Reservoir Rd. kicks up something fierce (in the neighborhood of 17%) and stays there. I was still trying to get my CV system opened up. It wasn't until I got through the gate into the park that I started to find my rhythm, well, whatever rhythm you can get at a steady 9-10% grade with steeper switchbacks. It was 25 minutes into the ride now and I was picking off riders. As I made it up to the upper slopes where the grade comes down a bit I went up into the big ring and began hammering, holding 20+ mph through this section. I probably went too deep into the well here because when I hit the turn with about a mile to go I had to spin for 30 seconds to recover. I had noone in front of me at this point and so I just put my head down to the finish. I crossed in 47:40, just under my pre-race estimation. If I have intentions of going faster on these things I have to work on the divisor in the power/weight equation. It's no mistake that the fastest guys are carrying the least amount of weight.
Post-hillclimb Hilljunkie Soiree
Doug seems to be coming back into form after his ankle mishap. I think he blitzed the TT in 44 and a half. I guess a week in Colorado at altitude will always help. Hanging around the summit, another young buck who apparently met Doug through his site wants to join us on our little "jaunt" through the Berkshires. I brought my buddy Paul along to show him just what these rides feel like. I knew Doug would appreciated this as he has this perverse satisfaction of ripping people's legs off on ridiculously steep climbs. Last year we did the Berkshire Boondoggle, a much longer version of the planned post-hillclimb route. A "fuck" may have slipped out of my mouth when the intended route would bring us over the famed Kingsley Hill Rd., aka meanest mile in MA. Great. My legs were pretty much toast from the hillclimb and I had serious doubts about even getting up this climb with a 34x26 minimum.
So starting out on 8 South after descending Greylock (fun, despite shivering for first 5 miles of descent) aforementioned young buck aka Aaron comes to the front and begins setting an "honest pace" at 26-27 mph. I began thinking, oh the climbs are going to feel wonderful if this keeps up. We make the turn for Hoosac Rd. and I resigned myself to backing off on the throttle as I knew this climb was a spanker and I hadn't yet flushed the legs out from the hillclimb. I took comfort in Doug saying that he was pretty trashed too and we rode up at conservational pace. Paul and Aaron were up the road a bit hopefully not burning too many matches for the ensuing climbs.
Hoosac Rd is roughly 4 miles, gaining ~1400' of vertical. The grade isn't too bad, maybe averaging 8-9% with a couple pitches exceeding 12%. My legs started to come around thanks to taking effort down a notch. The next 25-30 miles were nice as we made our way down 8a and West Hawley Rd., following the river.
Coming up Zoar Rd. heading toward Rowe, I was spinning with Paul and Dougie livens things up a bit by asking if we ladies are on an MS ride. I thought that was hysterical. Paul started to cramp and our water supplies were dwindling. A nice addition to the ride was Brittingham Rd., which gained over 300' in less than half a mile, the first couple hundred meters being well over 15%. It was here that I dug in a little bit and decided to see if I could catch Aaron who to this point had been KOMing all the climbs. I was able to catch him just as the road started to tilt downward a bit toward the top. Perhaps the standard gearing was getting to him or he was taking it easy.
Monroe Hill Rd. was next on the menu. The pace came down a bit on this one. A pall of anxiety descended upon us as the "Meanest Mile in Massachusetts" loomed just ahead. Descending Monroe Hill and coming over the bridge I quickly inhaled a gel hoping that it would magically transport me effortlessly over this beast of a climb. No such luck. Taking the right off River Rd., you see the worn out sign and you look up at a wall of asphalt. How the hell they paved this thing is beyond me. The first 100-150 meters the grade pushes 22-23%. I hit it out of the saddle in my 34x26 at a whopping 3.5 miles an hour. Aaron, pulling a move right out of the overgeared archive, dismounted and exclaimed, "This is so discouraging!" It really is if you look up. The road just ever so slightly snakes up the side of the mountain with exactly ZERO relief. Riding next to Doug his front tire was bouncing off the pavement. I'm probably a sick bastard, but I find these types of things highly amusing.
I notice that it's times like these that I feely truly alive. Everything is stripped away and all you hear is your breath (and Doug hacking). Every pedal stroke is agony but you keep going, inching along in your own exercise-induced trance. I think you just have to have faith that it will all be over sooner or later. I can say that if I hadn't done all those lovely ski resort mtb races this year, I would have been walking up Kingsley for sure. We all made it up one way or another and forged onward.
Paul began suffering badly from adductor cramps and so I gave him the remainder of my water. We still had Tilda Hill to contend with before the Rte. 2 plummet down into North Adams. Tilda drags on at an ever-increasing grade until it hits ~10%. I believe you've hit the top when you ironically see the sign for Bliss Rd. Seeing that Paul now knew where he was, I descended Rte. 2 with Doug and we all made it back to the car safely, facial bones intact.
Here's the file for metrics geeks.
Anyway, I got a shit warm-up which apparently is my standard pre-race protocol. It's a good thing I don't take these things too seriously. I rolled up to the line literally <30 seconds before my start time. I spent the first 50 meters getting my right foot clicked in and away I went. It wasn't very long until I was passed by my 30 second guy. Have at it, buddy. Reservoir Rd. kicks up something fierce (in the neighborhood of 17%) and stays there. I was still trying to get my CV system opened up. It wasn't until I got through the gate into the park that I started to find my rhythm, well, whatever rhythm you can get at a steady 9-10% grade with steeper switchbacks. It was 25 minutes into the ride now and I was picking off riders. As I made it up to the upper slopes where the grade comes down a bit I went up into the big ring and began hammering, holding 20+ mph through this section. I probably went too deep into the well here because when I hit the turn with about a mile to go I had to spin for 30 seconds to recover. I had noone in front of me at this point and so I just put my head down to the finish. I crossed in 47:40, just under my pre-race estimation. If I have intentions of going faster on these things I have to work on the divisor in the power/weight equation. It's no mistake that the fastest guys are carrying the least amount of weight.
Post-hillclimb Hilljunkie Soiree
Doug seems to be coming back into form after his ankle mishap. I think he blitzed the TT in 44 and a half. I guess a week in Colorado at altitude will always help. Hanging around the summit, another young buck who apparently met Doug through his site wants to join us on our little "jaunt" through the Berkshires. I brought my buddy Paul along to show him just what these rides feel like. I knew Doug would appreciated this as he has this perverse satisfaction of ripping people's legs off on ridiculously steep climbs. Last year we did the Berkshire Boondoggle, a much longer version of the planned post-hillclimb route. A "fuck" may have slipped out of my mouth when the intended route would bring us over the famed Kingsley Hill Rd., aka meanest mile in MA. Great. My legs were pretty much toast from the hillclimb and I had serious doubts about even getting up this climb with a 34x26 minimum.
So starting out on 8 South after descending Greylock (fun, despite shivering for first 5 miles of descent) aforementioned young buck aka Aaron comes to the front and begins setting an "honest pace" at 26-27 mph. I began thinking, oh the climbs are going to feel wonderful if this keeps up. We make the turn for Hoosac Rd. and I resigned myself to backing off on the throttle as I knew this climb was a spanker and I hadn't yet flushed the legs out from the hillclimb. I took comfort in Doug saying that he was pretty trashed too and we rode up at conservational pace. Paul and Aaron were up the road a bit hopefully not burning too many matches for the ensuing climbs.
Hoosac Rd is roughly 4 miles, gaining ~1400' of vertical. The grade isn't too bad, maybe averaging 8-9% with a couple pitches exceeding 12%. My legs started to come around thanks to taking effort down a notch. The next 25-30 miles were nice as we made our way down 8a and West Hawley Rd., following the river.
Coming up Zoar Rd. heading toward Rowe, I was spinning with Paul and Dougie livens things up a bit by asking if we ladies are on an MS ride. I thought that was hysterical. Paul started to cramp and our water supplies were dwindling. A nice addition to the ride was Brittingham Rd., which gained over 300' in less than half a mile, the first couple hundred meters being well over 15%. It was here that I dug in a little bit and decided to see if I could catch Aaron who to this point had been KOMing all the climbs. I was able to catch him just as the road started to tilt downward a bit toward the top. Perhaps the standard gearing was getting to him or he was taking it easy.
Monroe Hill Rd. was next on the menu. The pace came down a bit on this one. A pall of anxiety descended upon us as the "Meanest Mile in Massachusetts" loomed just ahead. Descending Monroe Hill and coming over the bridge I quickly inhaled a gel hoping that it would magically transport me effortlessly over this beast of a climb. No such luck. Taking the right off River Rd., you see the worn out sign and you look up at a wall of asphalt. How the hell they paved this thing is beyond me. The first 100-150 meters the grade pushes 22-23%. I hit it out of the saddle in my 34x26 at a whopping 3.5 miles an hour. Aaron, pulling a move right out of the overgeared archive, dismounted and exclaimed, "This is so discouraging!" It really is if you look up. The road just ever so slightly snakes up the side of the mountain with exactly ZERO relief. Riding next to Doug his front tire was bouncing off the pavement. I'm probably a sick bastard, but I find these types of things highly amusing.
I notice that it's times like these that I feely truly alive. Everything is stripped away and all you hear is your breath (and Doug hacking). Every pedal stroke is agony but you keep going, inching along in your own exercise-induced trance. I think you just have to have faith that it will all be over sooner or later. I can say that if I hadn't done all those lovely ski resort mtb races this year, I would have been walking up Kingsley for sure. We all made it up one way or another and forged onward.
Paul began suffering badly from adductor cramps and so I gave him the remainder of my water. We still had Tilda Hill to contend with before the Rte. 2 plummet down into North Adams. Tilda drags on at an ever-increasing grade until it hits ~10%. I believe you've hit the top when you ironically see the sign for Bliss Rd. Seeing that Paul now knew where he was, I descended Rte. 2 with Doug and we all made it back to the car safely, facial bones intact.
Here's the file for metrics geeks.
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