ARE WE EATING TOO MUCH?
IN THE MAD DASH to fuel for, and the recovery from, the next heavy training session, is it possible we might overdoing it...
... to our detriment?
I mean, look around.
For a herd of endurance athletes...
... are we gazelles or elephants, or somewhere in between?
The reason I'm asking is today, after a fairly rigorous start...
- 5:30 am start, as always underslept, normal rise is around 6am.
- 60 miles, 5000' of vert, 225w Normalized (good for me)
- over an hour at threshold or above
... I felt unusually awesome.
What I did was...
- Ate light dinner vs a bunch of extra carbs
- Pre-ride skipped the oatmeal in favor of 3 Trader Joe's peanut butter cups.
- Got home, pounded a Fair Life chocolate milk vs. a pile of Kodiak cakes and a smoothie.
... not on purpose or as a test.
Just life.
Hanging out with one of the grands all evening before.
Getting home to a work crew taking over the downstairs and clearing out amidst the chaos so I could get some work done.
Results are in...
- slept amazing
- had awesome energy all morning
- and cranked out a buncha work before noon
... and I'm asking a legit question.
Am I eating too much?
===
163.8lbs/12.5%
7sh hours sleep
640 anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 10 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 box jumps (24"), Bulgarian split squats with 25lb dumbells, nordic curls, heel and toe raises
89/109/-20 per Strava Power & Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Black List, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHAT IS AN EVENT SO GOOD WE WOULD PAY TO HOST?
THE BEST EVENTS OFTEN START WITH NEED AND PASSION, or both. They grow organically from there until...
... they are famous and selling out.
What would be one so good we'd be willing to bankroll it ourselves?
Free entry.
That was the question on a recent Founders podcast.
It got me thinking the...
- lots of people I'd want to hang out with
- and be challenged and stimulated by
- share the experience with
- add in some killer eats
- outrageous awards
- swarm of vendors
... things that would be worth it.
That's the kind of event I'd be interested in putting together.
In the meantime...
- parting with our cash to help finance it
... isn't that what we are basically doing when we register for any event?
===
163.8lbs/12.5%
8sh hours sleep
480ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 50 push ups, 10 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 box jumps (24"), Bulgarian split squats with 25lb dumbells, nordic curls, heel and toe raises
86/90/-5 per Strava Power & Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Black List, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
TWO NOTEBOOKS
DOCUMENTING OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS is something many of us do. Whether it's a framed race photo, or race numbers with medals on the mantle...
... if it matters, keep it memorable.
What about the future?
Do we document that?
Each morning I bust out two notebooks...
- just after reading something uplifting
- meditating on it
- before all else
... one for imaging the future, one for the todos.
The dumb ideas get axed,
the good ones have a shot at life.
The tasks get completed and crossed out,
the survivors either get done or killed.
What does that have to do with racing, life?
Everything.
===
Deeper Dive
To image the future is to deliberately build a picture of what has not happened yet so that picture can shape what you do now.
It is not fortune-telling and it is not daydreaming. It is the constructive work of taking pieces of memory, observation, values, and desire and assembling them into a scene, a feeling, or a story of a possible tomorrow.
How the mind actually does it
Your brain uses the same machinery for remembering the past and picturing the future. It pulls familiar people, places, objects, and emotions out of storage and rearranges them into events that have never occurred. Neuroscientists call this constructive episodic simulation. People who lose the ability to recall personal memories often also lose the ability to vividly imagine their own future.
There are at least four related modes:
- Simulation — constructing a specific scene (“I see myself finishing the climb, breathing steadily”).
- Prediction — estimating likelihood.
- Intention — deciding what you want.
- Planning — laying out the steps.
They usually operate together.
Why the pictures matter
Sociologist Fred Polak argued that the images a person or a culture holds of the future are a driving force of history. A living, attractive image of a better world pulls people forward; a decaying or purely catastrophic image produces paralysis or decline. The pictures are not just reflections of reality—they help create it by directing attention, effort, and courage.
That is why practices such as writing a “best possible self” letter, running scenario workshops, or simply sitting still and seeing a concrete good outcome in detail can change mood and behavior. The image becomes a reference point you can steer toward.
Two common mistakes
- Treating the image as a rigid prediction instead of a working sketch that can be revised.
- Only imaging disaster. A mind that rehearses only collapse has less material with which to invent alternatives.
Imaging the future, then, is the act of making the not-yet visible enough that you can start living toward it today.
===
162.6 lbs/12.4%
9ish hours sleep
480ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 box jumps (24"), Bulgarian split squats with 25lb dumbells, nordic curls, heel and toe raises
87/98/-12 per Strava Power & Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Black List, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SOMETIMES PRE-VIEWING IS JUST A HECKUVA A GOOD REMINDER
THE FIRST WE EVER RACE A COURSE, taking the time to recon from parking to finish, even if it's just the first 5 miles...
... can pay oodles and oodles.
If we have the time,
pay the dime.
Pre-view it all.
But, what if we've already raced it?
Trust me on this...
- the turns
- the sunlight angles
- how the herd responds over undulations
... we'll never have the course as dialed as the locals.
I was reminded of this today
- 36 miles
- 4500' of vert
- most of it off road
... pre-riding the first 33ish miles of our upcoming epic SurfNSummit.
The reminder wasn't the route so much as these specific issues...
- check your batteries - the one day I don't check the shifter batteries the night before and my casual spin to the start turns into sprinting home to replace a 2032 and then pin it to meet the crew - we don't wait, ever.
- respect the pre-ride like we'd expect the race day - I went low on my calories/bottle and extra gels in the pocket and really suffered for it on the way back
- if at all possible - have the cold/icy water if it's going to be hot vs the "room temperature" free water that was as warm as the outside air of 100º. this made eating the NutttrButtrs during the last 90 minutes impossible because my stomach wasn't loving the hot water
- have the bike in the finest working order - that fouled rear 2-speed unable to access my 3 lowest gears made the 50 minute climb unnecessarily challenging
- pace to race - in this case, while grateful to have 4 of the posse join us, they weren't doing the whole thing and rather than high zone 2, we were bouncing between tempo and threshold for the first 90 minutes, which is not the plan for the epic adventure
... that said, it was great to push the pace and be reminded of such idiocy.
Interestingly, while the big climb was a definite grind, and with the superlow cadence I couldn't put out as much power...
... my time was only 7 seconds slower than during the event last year.
Go figure.
No.
Go preview,
as much as possible.
And if we can't in person,
we try and dig up some YouTube intel.
===
165.4 lbs/12.4%
7ish hours sleep
480ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 box jumps (24"), Bulgarian split squats with 25lb dumbells, nordic curls, heel and toe raises
89/113/-24 per Strava Power &Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Full Black, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SHARPENING THE EDGES WITH ANGER
HAVING CONTROL OF OUR EMOTIONS on race day doesn't mean just playing it cool. Some emotions are better than others...
... for those who know how to harness them.
Like anger.
I'm not ashamed to admit, below that happy go lucky, come what may demeanor...
... is one hacked off dude.
If I have to/I've been known to...
... conjure up the most heinous reasons to crush the least deserving, most innocent competitors on the line.
Don't worry,
they never know.
Anger works for me.
I had a business partner say...
... you're so mellow
and
... dude, you have authority issues
... during the same meeting!
lol
Here's the real dill.
When I was younger it was uncontrollable and cost me a lot of points on the tennis court and life in general.
These days, if I'm rejected, disrespected, doubted, stomped on...
... that rocket flame of anger is powerful stuff.
Suddenly, I have this amazing laser focus combined with get outta my way energy.
I love that.
- heck no I don't want cookies
- heck yes I'm doing that work out
- heck no I'm not staying out late
- heck yes I need that upgrade
It's way better if I can get it going months, sometimes years in advance, but...
... making it up on the start line is a great way to lock in and race.
You might be askin' What the heck is wrong with you Diesel?...
... let's just say getting rejected on a home we were trying to buy has me pouring jet fuel on PEDAL industries.
Yeah,
harnessed anger is lit.
===
163.4 lbs/12.4%
8ish hours sleep
480ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 box jumps (24"), Bulgarian split squats with 25lb dumbells, nordic curls, heel and toe raises
155/138/17 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Full Black, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
>
REAL VISION
ALONG THE WAY to a glorious A race we face a lot of decisions. Some are micro, others macro. How we handle them...
... depends on our vision of how it will end.
What are we seeing?
I've long been fascinated with visualization techniques.
Once I learned of the concept via the great Denis Waitley's Psychology of Winning...
... the pieces began to fall into place.
Things I was underconciously aware of suddenly made sense.
The question that remained was...
... Could it be mastered and controlled?
From a practical standpoint, I can confirm that having a clear vision of how I want to cross the finish line...
- good food choices
- commitment to excellent sleep
- making time for and executing the critical workouts when desire is flat
... has given me the strength to accomplish the steps necessary along the way.
Which lends immense and undeniable confidence as the A race approaches…
… because we approach all the prep as if the finish has already happened.
We literally see everything with new eyes.
But, what if it works in all areas of life, not just racing?
What would that be worth,
what does it tell us about our present circumstances...
... what are we going to do about it?
===
162.8 lbs/12.4%
8ish hours sleep
480ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 box jumps (24"), Bulgarian split squats with 25lb dumbells, nordic curls, heel and toe raises
158/156/2 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Full Black, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SPRINTING FOR THE WIN
UNLESS WE ARE ACTUALLY sprinters, racing events on the track or crits, it's unlikely we'll ever sprint for the win. We might race our pals to the city limits sign or...
... bang bars with other pack fodder.
So, why practice sprinting?
Here are my top reasons...
- to maintain, increase strength
- as a supplement to weight training
- to cement in neuromuscular connections so I can harness said power
... I have one dedicated sprint day per week.
This is not an interval session,
with efforts lasting minutes.
Yuck!
This is all out getting after it,
in bursts of 5-15 seconds,
spaced with full recovery.
I like to do 'em offroad.
Tonights was particularly fun.
Yes fun!
On the downhill sections, any time I had a chance to get on the pedals hard and keep my speed up, I went for it.
Not only was I recruiting the sprint muscles...
- legs
- butt
- core
- back
- arms
- shoulders
... I was reinforcing how it all works together over rapidly changing terrain.
Which is, in a sense, sprinting for the win.
The win being staying strong and coordinated.
===
163.4 lbs/12.6%
7 hours sleep
480 anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 60 push ups, 14 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 20 box jumps (24"), Bulgarian split squats with 25lb dumbells, nordic curls, heel and toe raises
161/170/-10 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Full Black, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE F-WORD NOBODY WANTS TO USE
IT'S JUST INCREDIBLE the amount of reasons we can come up with when we find ourselves OTB (off the back)...
... whether it's dropping anchor or slipsliding away.
Bring on the excuses.
Like today's TMWC stacked with visiting hitters...
... we were pinning it something vicious, all the way..
Until I started spinning the slowslide of shame,
with five miles to go.
Giving me plenty of time to think of all the reasons...
- haven't shaved legs since July
- got to bed to late
- creatine made me put on 5 lbs
- my Classified hub is dying and dragging
- upped my box jumps and other leg stuff Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday
- walked 3 miles in the sand Sunday (normally just 2)
- left a little late and had to hustle to meet group
- gravel pedals and shoes vs road
- unaero gravel frame
- somewhat shallow road wheels
- less than aero helmet
- extra weight from lights now that it's dark
... while gimping to the finish.
But.
We all know the truth...
... and it starts with F.
FATIGUE.
It's offseason fur cryin outloud!...
... what the heck am I doing?
Well, just the most lifechanging, epic adventure on SoCal...
- 120 miles
- 15k of vert
- around 12 hours (including stops)
... the SurfNSummit on 10.10.26
Sooooooooo... 1 more extralarge Saturday,
then two weeks to taper,
and feel fresh.
Might have to skip the legwork the week of,
or sooner?
===
165.8 lbs/12.6%
7 hours sleep
630ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 box jumps (24"), nordic curls, heel and toe raises
162/179/-18 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Full Black, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
I SPY
WE LIKE TO SAY this is my escape, to ride/run/swim for an hour or few per day. Our happy place isn't a pain cave as much as it is...
... a world without staring at glass.
Is it novel?
There was a pithy post on X this week...
... I'm inviting a bunch of people over this weekend to doomscroll together.
My other non-scrolling/glass moments are reading.
Ingesting something uplifting in the wee morning hours has been a goto for years.
But, then this happened.
The wind down used to be watching "just a few minutes" of TV,
then onto binge watching...
... now it's a full-on addiction to reading spy novels.
They're all basically the same character...
- ex-special ops dude with skills his government needs
- always going off the range to get the job done
- while mixing in some lady-drama
... and I can't seem to get enough.
It started after my TBI,
as therapy.
Who knew staring and scrolling glass was bad juju for brain function and ocular wellness?
In about 30 months, I've read...
- all of Jack Carr (10)
- all of the Gray Man series (15)
- all of the Pike Logan series (20)
- and I'm on book 11 of 25 in the Scot Harvath (series)
... with no end in sight.
From a therapeutic standpoint, my ability to rip downhill on my MTB has returned to about 90% of where I was.
From Oh crap! every ride,
to Heckyeah! this is fun!
Is there any connection between being a spy and racing?
Well, yeah.
If being resourceful, able to adjust on the fly, and see the mission through to completion is how you like to rip on raceday...
... this is your genre.
===
166.2 lbs/12.6%
8 hours sleep
630 anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 60 push ups, 12 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 box jumps (24"), nordic curls, heel and toe raises
156/144/12 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Full Black, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
NOW FOR THE REST OF OUR SHOW
WE'RE WRAPPING UP THE 3RD QUARTER, heading into the final three months of the year...
... but not the end of the racing the calendar.
Am I right?
We aren't going to...
- hang it up for 2 months
- watch games
- eat chips
... because we know the truth.
Now is the time to...
- bank strength
- build base
- hone diet
... for springtime cometh.
That's what I'm doing.
Shoot, tonight I passed on cake an icecream.
It wasn't hard, once I gave up sugar, the cravings were gone.
In years past, I'd say Bring it on, it's offseason...
... to the point of friends saying It's good to see fatTodd is back.
Imagine that.
Actually, don't.
Imagine ripping it up next spring, right on through the summer.
===
165.8 lbs/12.6%
8 hours sleep
620 anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 80 push ups, 16 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 20 box jumps (24"), nordic curls, heel and toe raises
159/163/-4 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Full Black, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
TORQUE TRAINING... STILL?
SOME OF US ARE WILLING to take chance with our equipment. Opting to go with the yet to be tried and true...
... can lead to great advantages.
And, big challenges.
As I struggled mightily up a rather steep pitch today...
- 52/42 chainrings
- 13/26 6 speed cassette
... I remembered how tall the gearing was back in the day.
It was brutal.
But, one of the benefits we didn't realize back then was forced torque training...
- high power
- low cadence
- in place of gym time
... something coaches preach in today's era of super wide gearing.
So, why was I doing it today?
Because my super niche 2-speed rear hub from Classified, which replaced the front derailleur dual chain rings...
... has been acting up for the last 2 weeks.
And died today.
Leaving me with the lowest gear of a 46 in front x40 in back.
Manageable on most road climbs...
... swear-inducing on the dirt steeps I faced throughout today's epic URBN GRVL ride.
I've had the system for just over 2 years,
and it has been great.
Superior, I think, to traditional 1x most cats are running offroad.
Because the Surf N Summit is fast approaching...
... I'm in a real pickle.
Classified is based in the Netherlands...
... which is much father away than the hinterlands.
They have few dealers in the states.
Hopefully, they'll get back to me in time to get the system functioning like the racewinning force it has been.
It was a risk when I purchased it,
and I don't regret it at all.
It's that good.
===
166.2 lbs/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
630ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 box jumps (24"), nordic curls, heel and toe raises
163/186/-24 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Full Black, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THIS CHAING HURTS
STAYING ON TOP of the maintenance game never seems like it's gonna pay off. It's a constant steady drip on our time and wallets...
... until it's not.
Then, it's chunky.
I was reminded of this today by reader Roberto (not his real name).
Here's the chat transcript:
===
165.4 lbs/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
630 anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 box jumps (24"), nordic curls, heel and toe raises
153/128/24 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Foreign Influence, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
>
SHIFT I HATE
DO YOU KNOW WHY WE SAY If it was easy everyone would do it? It's not just because it's true, it's also because for those of us who are doing the hard stuff...
... we need to know there's a reason.
We do things we hate to do.
Here's a few of mine..
- pullups
- pushups
- box jumps
- stretching
- going to work after a glorious morning riding
- hanging on the back of the group until I literally see stars
- skipping the cookies and cake and ice cream
... and I could go on.
If we are doing things like the above so much,
if it really is that hard to be consistent...
... what is driving us?
A couple of things.
One, it gets easier once we get started.
Two, it becomes habitual, part of operating system.
Three, the really big one...
... we know.
We know this is the path to mastery...
... and few are we, the willing and committed.
To arrive at our stated destiny.
===
165.2 lbs/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
750 anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 55 push ups, 11 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 20 box jumps (24"), nordic curls, heel and toe raises
157/148/8 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Foreign Influence, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
>
THIS ONE CHANGE MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE
WE ALL HAVE THAT FRIEND who we train with, who is about the speed, or even a little slower. Then, all of the sudden, seemingly out of the blue...
... they are a lot faster.
Leaving us in the dust.
What gives?
Just yesterday I was on the war path with one of these cats.
We'd opted to take a gravel route of the usual group ride, and if we reallyreally got after it...
... we'd meet/beat the group at the finish.
And romp we did.
I knew we had a shot because of his newly found powers.
And, I knew how he got them.
Because I asked.
Bro, your a lot faster and leaner.
It's my wife's fault.
Howso?
Well, she changed up her diet and she does most of the cooking and we're eating a lot cleaner.
If it's that easy then...
... why aren't we all doing it?
Maybe we don't know what eating clean is?
Here's my super simple rule...
... If I can identify the ingredients it's clean.
Steak,
easy.
Mr. Bachan's Japanese Teriyaki Sauce Surfergirl wants to smother it with,
not so much - probs not clean.
Corn on the cob,
easy.
Dorito's corn chips,
impossible - def not clean.
What is the one change we can make today that would make a huge difference in our performance?
Do it.
Then, stack it...
... with the next change.
Yes, it's that easy.
It just takes a bit of time for the results to show...
... fortunately, most of our competitors don't have time for that.
===
165.8 lbs/12.7%
8 hours sleep
790 anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 105 push ups, 21 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 40 box jumps (24"), nordic curls, heel and toe raises
160/168/-8 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Foreign Influence, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THERE ARE SOME DOOZIES OUT THERE
THERE ARE SO MANY INFOOLENCERS yaking for our attention on myriad platforms. It creates all kinds of noise and...
... makes discerning the truth challenging.
Impossible even.
I was reminded of the dangers of expert opinions today listening to The Marketing School podcast titled...
... How McKinsey Helped Nike Lose $223 Billion.
With a B.
TLDL: they hired a guy who didn't understand the business, and he leaned into all the new fangled, cool kid ideas, in the process destroying the brand.
Some were so stupid it was stunning.
Which reminded me of the Time-Crunched Cyclist podcast I'd listened to the day before...
... The Five Self=Coached Cycling Mistakes That Keep You Stuck.
TLDL: he states we're too unenlightened to coach ourselves, hire his firm.
Along the way apologizing for being so harsh. Except I didn't find it as harsh as it was condescending and self-serving.
I shared the above, so I could share this...
- we need to expose ourselves to new ideas
- test them out well before it matters
- implement the best
... using our common sense, listening to our inner voice, for the win.
Are there good coaches and consultants.
Absolutely.
As the great Charlie Munger said...
... Show me the incentive, and I'll show you the outcome.
===
166.4 lbs/12.7%
7ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, 0 box jumps, heel and toe raises
161/172/-12 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Foreign Influence, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
FAMILY FIRST. REALLY?
LOOKING AROUND AMONGST OUR FRIENDS we often see what really drives them. It's not at the races or the slaying rides where this shows up...
... it's at the events they miss.
Huh?
Yeah.
You know, we have this epic ride coming up.
It's not race, it's a social adventure.
From the beach to the mountains...
... the kind of thing you wanna do for the pure challenge.
And.
To blow your friends' minds...
... Yeah, I rode from Dana Point to Big Bear last Saturday.
WHAT?!
Yep, really fun.
No way!
Here's the dill.
A few have shared...
- planning Xterra with daughter
- family half marathon with most of family in Long Beach
- flying to Chicago to support daughter at Chicago marathon
... their reasons for missing this year.
Here's what I can tell ya about each one of these cats...
... they have grown awesome, loving families.
Nothing better.
In case weekend of 10.10 is open for you...
... it's an open invite: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/surf-n-summit-collection
===
166.2 lbs/12.7%
7.5ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 105 push ups, 21 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, 50 box jumps, heel and toe raises
160/168/-8 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Foreign Influence, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
ANY SYSTEMS READY TO GO?
WE ALL WANNA BE BETTER, at least that's what we tell ourselves. Anybody listening to us drone on about the initiatives we're gonna take...
... might possibly be convinced we really want the prize.
But, do we?
Could our actions convict us?
Better question.
What's it gonna take?
Not the big crazy actions,
that's for sure.
We'll never get those done,
because they are big and crazy.
The real secret...
... having a system to be a little better every day.
And, sticking to it.
One of my systems is to weigh myself each morning. I get instant feedback on the previous day(s) nutrition choices. It's a simple way to stay in tune with any changes I may have/have not made...
... like I'm thinking my adding 5lbs in the last month is a direct result of the predicted 2-3% gain predicted by consistent creatine intake.
Worth it?
===
166.2 lbs/12.7%
7.5ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 105 push ups, 21 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, 50 box jumps, heel and toe raises
160/168/-8 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Foreign Influence, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SIRMIXALOTS GRAND MASTER GRAVEL
DEPENDING ON THE LOCALE, there can be a lot of ways to get out and cover some ground. Some areas are all paved, others all single track, others lots of gravel...
... they're all a blast.
Which is best?
I dunno.
But, I can tell you this, where we are, mixing it up on a gravel bike is a great way to get out...
... and skip most of the lights, and traffic.
Like today.
The first 90 minutes were mostly dirt...
... with nearly 30 minutes at threshold or above.
Meeting up with a slaying group ride on the road...
... pushed me to my limits and stacked on the intensity.
From there it was a JRA road, gravel and single track.
I love rides that...
- mix up the surfaces
- skip most high traffic areas
- and traverse lots of interesting terrain
... for the pure adventure.
The biggest and best one of the year is just 4 weeks away...
- Sunrise to sunset
- from Dana Point
- to Big Bear
... and you're invited.
All the details are here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/surf-n-summit-collection 
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/surf-n-summit-collection
===
166.8 lbs/12.8%
7.5ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, 0 box jumps, heel and toe raises
164/192/-29 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Foreign Influence, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
JRA
BEING THE DEDICATED ADDICTS that we are, we eventually learn the jargon that sets us apart from the commoners who consider themselves in the know, but...
... are actually far from it.
Neophytes.
Anybody who's worked in a bike shop, particularly the service area has heard the phrase...
... I was just riding along.
And, said to themselves under muffled breath, while inconspicuously rolling their eyes...
... JRA.
What follows JRA...
- my X broke
- my Y stopped working
- my Z fell off and disappeared
... is always entertaining.
Not that it hasn't been heard before,
but the way it is camouflaged...
... as if it is somehow the shop's/mechanic's fault.
Yet, I digress.
Because what I really wanted to point out is how much fun it is to move about the country...
- breathtaking sunrises
- quiet, forgotten roads and trails
- daylight giving way to a moonless, star-filled sky
... and see so many amazing sites.
While we are...
... JRA.
===
167.2 lbs/12.7%
7.5ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, 0 box jumps, heel and toe raises
155/144/11 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostle, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THAT FEELING
SOMETIMES when we're out riding, the feeling is just right. Like we could just keep going forever...
... and never stop.
Why is that?
I honestly don't know.
It just happens.
And, when it does it's magical.
Like this evening.
There I was, about an hour in.
On my gravel bike, connecting the...
- trails
- roads
- single tracks
... and missing all the traffic stops and lights.
Slipping into the zone...
- HR 130ish
- PWR 220ish
... slicing through town with nary a stop.
And loving it.
===
166.2 lbs/12.7%
7.5ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 30 push ups, 6 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, 30 box jumps, heel and toe raises
160/175/-16 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostles, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IF I HAD A DOLLAR FOR EVERY TIME THINGS LOOKED HOPELESS...
FOR BETTER OR WORSE, as athletes we are really, really good at enduring. When things look absolutely hopeless...
... we press on.
Is that a good thing?
That's an honest question...
... with an unknowable answer.
Because choices stack.
Accumulate.
Tangent: when I had my pager business, my landlord, an old sage and jeweler by trade, told me the worst thing he ever did was keep switching careers. That it was best to lock in, and go in search of mastery.
Welp, I could see the writing on the wall and sold the pager business.
After that, I took his advice,
and can honestly say:
If I had a dollar for every time things looked hopeless and gave up...
... I'd be broke.
In sports...
... we be _____?
In relationships...
... we be _____?
As students...
... we be _____?
There is, of course, a point where things are hopeless, and we gotta/outta sell, but, if there's anything most of us can bank on it's that...
... there is such a thing as a second wind.
Reaching the finish/the goal usually just takes a little more than we initially thought we could give.
And, so, we endure.
===
166.2 lbs/12.7%
7.5ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 30 push ups, 6 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, 30 box jumps, heel and toe raises
160/175/-16 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostles, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IT'S NOT PERSONAL, IT'S...
SOMEHOW WE FEEL IT'S OKAY to do whatever it takes to win, even if it means clobbering our friends. Ok, not all of us, but...
... definitely some of us.
We might feel, think, say...
... It's not personal, it's racing.
Shoot, one of my frenemies said this to me after a recent race post sucking my wheel for miles...
... Sorry about doing you dirty back there.
All that to say, It's okay to make things personal.
Not all things.
But, I'm definitely making The Wall personal.
It's the next to last climb...
- .88 miles
- 7.1% average grade
- my PR is 4:16, Kevin Vermaerke (yeah, the UAE one) owns the KOM, 3:06
... on our Tuesday Morning World Championships.
While I'm not sure I'll ever best my current PR, set 8 years ago on a perfect day...
- weight down in the 150s
- great pace set by Zach Lloyd
- amazing road bike I shouldn't have sold
... I do wanna get back to regularly hitting 4:40ish vs the 5:24 I did today.
When we set personal challenges like this,
it's motivating only to ourselves,
but pays off everywhere else.
It's fitness and mental fortitude we can tap into on demand.
===
166.6 lbs/12.6%
6ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, 00 box jumps, heel and toe raises
160/176/-16 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostles, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IT'S TOO HARD TO EXPLAIN
DO WE KNOW WHY we do really hard stuff? I mean, really? We keep doing them. Like a young mother who, during the midst of labor, swears she'll never go through childbirth another time...
... and choosing to do it again.
There's something we know,
but can't put our fingers on.
As the great Carl Jung put it...
... Man needs difficulties. They are necessary for health.
It's not the difficulty that repeatedly pulls us back...
... it's the joy we experience on the other side.
Like the insanity of starting a gravel ride at Dana Point, in predawn hours...
- pavement
- to gravel
- to singletrack
- to gravel
- to pavement
- to single track
- to gravel
... and clearing the final summit above Big Bear, as the sun drifts away.
If we did alone, it would be courageous...
... if we did it with friends, it would be the memory of a lifetime.
As the great Terry from Mesa told me today...
- it's your 6th year
- I'm feeling fit
- I'm coming
... I'm always busy.
I'm in.
Are you?
===
Do you know any of these cats?
Previous Finishers
Henri Kavaja (1)
Michael Gould (1)
Richard Brown (3)
Mike Maderos (1)
Richard Ramsey (3) <12 (1)
Josh Wolff (2)
Chris Hill (1) <12 (1)
Spencer Roundy (3)
Michael Foster (4)
Ron Barrett (1)
Todd Brown (4) <12 (1)
Terry Butler (1)
Brennan Sizemore (1)
(times finished)
<12 - completions under 12 hours elapsed time.
===
165.2 lbs/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 80 push ups, 16 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, 00 box jumps, heel and toe raises
154/139/15 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostles, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
AN ADVENTUROUS PACE
A TRUE ADVENTURE requires a pace that is fast enough to get to the destination, yet slow enough that all can...
... make it to the finish.
It's a fine line.
Shackleton had is crew on a boat.
Pacing wasn't the issue...
- hazardous journey
- low wages
- bitter cold
- long hours of complete darkness
- honor and recognition in event of succeess
... so much as outright danger.
In this case,
all the men needed was the hope of success.
Which is what a proper pace should be...
... given an adventure of epic proportions.
The Surf N Summit may not be a novel exploration of the Antarctic, but it does require...
- manageable heart rate, low power
- lots of food and drink
- solid equipment
... because, it's a legit journey from the sands of Dana Point to the peaks of the San Bernardino mountains above Big Bear.
If you're in, go here now: https://pedalindustries.com/products/surf-n-summit-california-10-10-26
===
165.2 lbs/12.6%
7.5ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 80 push ups, 16 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, 30 box jumps, heel and toe raises
156/153/3 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostles, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SELLING ADVENTURE
WE SHOULDN'T NEED TO BE SOLD on adventure. It's in our DNA. Yet, often we are distracted and timechallenged and thinking...
... we are way too busy.
But,
life is short.
And,
as the great Ferris Bueller said...
... it comes at you fast.
Adventures, however...
- can be daunting
- involve the unknown
- create lasting memories
... which is why we go for them.
Especially, if we are/have...
... enlisted our posse.
On October 10th, we'll be riding the Surf N Summit for the sixth time this year.
The first two times...
- massive heatwave
- crazy early snowstorm
... we failed.
Last year, for the first time, everyone made the summit before sunset.
it's not for the timid,
those afraid to fail,
the unprepared...
... it's for the adventurous souls who dare what others fear to dream.
https://www.strava.com/activities/16111728104
===
165.2 lbs
7.8ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 30 push ups, 6 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
1560175/-15 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostles, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE RING LEADER
EVERY COMMUNITY has a ringleader. The cat who's constantly inviting to do some ride or run or adventure or race. They're usually mostly fun...
... and sometimes absolute slayers.
Even that's fun.
Why does the ringleader lead?
Because, literally, the more the merrier.
Who appoints the ringleader?
Nobody, it's more of an inner calling.
Who supports the ringleader?
Those looking for a good time.
Who pays the ringleader?
Everyone,
just by showing up.
Somecommunities don't have a ringleader...
... they're waiting for us to show up.
And lead.
===
164.8 lbs
8ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 30 push ups, 6 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
151/122/28 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostles, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
>
WHEN IT GETS ROUGH
IT DOESN'T TAKE A GENIUS to know we can go faster over a smooth surface than we can over rough terrain. That's why the most powerful sprinters...
... race on the track.
Indoors at the highest levels.
The rest of us get it done over...
- new tarmac
- gravel roads
- rowdy single track
... whatever we get served up.
Where we still need to put down the power,
whether sprinting or just plain ol' racing.
Here's the dill.
If we only ever train our sprinting on the most perfectist of surfaces...
... we're probably gonna stink it up, when it gets rough.
Practicing stomping on the pedals when it's...
- chunky
- slippery
- torn to pieces
... is a skill worth honing.
We've got to be able to perform excellently over all conditions.
When it gets challenging lower pressure in the tires is better...
- roll faster
- better grip
- faster cornering
... just like is in our souls when life gets topsy turvy.
Lower the pressure.
Which reminds me of a dear friend, the great Fritz Tomasello. who insisted we add backpack straps to the RaceDay bag...
... so he could carry his bike from the car to the track.
That's how pristine the indoor tracks are.
===
164.8 lbs
8ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 55 push ups, 11 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
155/138/16 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostles, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
CHALLENGES CALL
THAT MONUMENTAL CHALLENGE calls to us, challenging us to prepare and be ready and we answer the call with all we've got. Not just going through the motions...
... this time.
Willing to do the impossible.
We've tried before.
Many times.
Only to fail.
Shattered.
We reconstitute.
To vanquish.
Yet again.
Not trying, doing...
.. the impossible.
===
165.6 lbs
8ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 80 push ups, 16 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
157/151/5 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostles, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN
MIND CONTROL is a thing. Especially on the start line when the energy is sky high due to...
... a cocktail of tapering and caffeine.
It
takes
real focus.
Just look at your "resting heart rate"...
... pumping like an outta shape donut eater on an outta control treadmill.
We aren't even moving,
because we are thinking about everything.
How do we calm that down,
achieve serenity?
This is important because if we don't get control our emotions we're going to be leaking all kinds of energy we're going to need later on.
Here are my top 5...
5. breathe deep, breathe slow
4. take in the craziness in the competitors' faces and just laugh - cuz it is funny
3. sit on the top tube, rest on the bars
2. close your eyes and trust your training
... and drumroll
... 1. race more so these feelings are welcomed
Oh, one more.
For hecksakes...
... get to the venue early.
Like 2 hours early so we can go through our launch sequence calmly.
Which brings up the ohso obvious.
Have your raceday bag loaded the night before, with everything you (could) possibly need.
Ok.
There's a lot more,
but those are the basics...
... before we unleash our mighty fury.
===
165.6 lbs
7ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
158/157/0 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Apostles, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IS THERE REALLY AN OFFSEASON?
HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO MAINTAIN FITNESS if there are offseaons? It's a fair question and one that deserves...
... a fair answer.
I have my theory.
And it goes like this...
- get after it 2x/week
- keep stacking the base
- never get out of our routine
... there is no offseason.
But, there is an onseason.
What's the difference?
Look, we have to have a baseline of fitness.
For me, that means being somewhat respectable on the group rides.
If I let my fitness drop the point where I'm getting dropped quick,
that's dialed back too much.
When it's onseason, that means...
- I'll be charging the group rides
- stacking more endurance miles
- perfecting the every aspect of the routine
... everything gets dialed up.
Yeah, I thought of this as I yanked the gravel wheels off,
and mounted the road wheels.
Sticking with my commitment to hit the Tuesday Morning World Championships tomorrow...
... and shoot for a respectable sub-5 minute up The Wall.
===
166.2 lbs
7.5ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 50 push ups, 10 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 20 split squats, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
153/123/29 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Last Patriot, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHAT'S NEXT?
THE KIDS ARE BACK IN SCHOOL. Things haven't changed much. Some sit in back semicheckedout...
... others up front and eager.
Just like a new race season.
As we head into fall...
- there's still a mess of events calling out to us
- bombarding our inboxes
- popping in the socials
... we still have choices.
Before we choose what's next...
- goals accomplished
- unforgettable memories
- regrets of missed or untaken opportunites
... reflecting/celebrating/acknowledging might be the best next event.
===
165.2 lbs
8ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 100 push ups, 20 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 60 split squats, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
156/142/14 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Last Patriot, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
MORE AI SLOP?
UNDERSTANDING AI QUERIES, for most of us, is like understanding pig latin. If we don't have the key...
... it's meaningless.
Want proof?
Ok.
Rider X is a fast,
and uncoached.
Prepping for an upcoming, highly competitive gravel race...
... he had a sit down with Coach ChatGPT.
The recommended protocol?
Mostly endurance, but per ChatGPT I should as some higher zone work at the end of the ride to simulate race conditions.
Am I the only one who sees a problem with that?
Other than the fact that every romping gravel race I've ever done has started out like an XC race...
- completely pinned until the selections are made
- threatening to settle in before hitting it hard, again
- to the eventual war of attrition where riders finish mostly alone
... I'd say it's spot on.
lol.
So, yeah, as long as everyone agrees to save it to the last 30 mins then Coach Chat has it nailed.
In training...
- most of roll out,
- then, gradually warm up
- finally put in some good efforts
... which is probably why things unfold as they do.
Look, there are certain people I ping for their opinion knowing that whatever they suggest...
... the opposite is the best course of action.
With Coach Chat, it's not Be careful what you ask for as much as its...
... Be careful how you ask.
===
164.6 lbs
7.5ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
160/163/-3 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Last Patriot, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
GETTING DESTROYED FOR THE WIN
SINCE IT'S SO TEMPTING to sandbag, we should never be surprised that it goes on. At all competitive levels...
... it's a thing.
But,
why?
To get an easy V.
Where's the victory in that?
For the day to day group rides and non-A races...
... we should be lining up the monsters.
Who are going to push to our very limits...
... destroy us.
That's winning.
Ya know what else it is?...
... putting ourselves in position to win the ones that matter.
===
164 lbs
8 hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
153/120/33 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Last Patriot, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
>
WHY DO BODY WEIGHT EXERCISES
THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS to get stronger on the bike. Whether we want to climb better, fly on the flats or lay down obscene sprints...
... we need more power.
How do we get it?
Akshully go to a gym,
lift heavy at home,
body weight.
They all work.
Lately, I've been in love with the body weight stuff.
Not just the pullup an pushup stuff...
... but, high rep leg work.
Till.
It.
Burns.
Yeah, it produces the same I can barely walk feeling...
... after rattling 'em off.
And, I'm rightly winded to prove it.
The reason I'm really digging these is...
- plain ol' grinding up a long climb
- pushing hard the final minute to the top
- poking my nose in the wind for way longer than normal
... the fatigue resistance it seems to be building.
I feel the fatigue building,
and I seem to be able to deal with it better than high weight, low rep.
It feels so good,
I love it.
===
163.8 lbs
8 hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 75 push ups, 15 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 50 split squats, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
155/128/27 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Last Patriot, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
MOVING
MOST OF US, all of us, learned to run, swim and ride a bike at an early age. It came naturally to run, the bike a little coaxing, swimming a few pointers...
... and we were off.
Am I missing something?
Oh, yes.
Faith.
It took faith to put the coaxing and pointers into play and...
... realize we weren't gonna drown or fall over.
If, we'd just keep moving.
===
Designed this t-shirt, and realized why I love it so much.
Every successful racer begins with...
- 0 Starts
- 0 Wins
- 0 Fans
... the only difference between them and everyone else is they keep showing up.
Moving.
===
164.6 lbs
8 hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 75 push ups, 15 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 30 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
158/138/19 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Last Patriot, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
DOORS BLOWN OFF?
OCASSIONALLY, after an A race we might back it down for a few days. Then, think to ourselves...
... we really outta do something with this fitness and rest.
But, usually there's a problem.
Most of us, especially me, think we are resting and therefore recovered and hence ready to slay it.
I mean, if the metric are indicating it like mine were this morning...
... by golly let's get after it.
Welllllll, a funny thing happened on the final seven mile stretch.
Rather than romping like a renegade,
I limped like a lost loner.
It hurt,
I pulled the plug.
How could I have so misjudged my freshness...
- 81 mi
- 11 hrs
- 9,665'
... because last week 4 rides were far from restful.
I should been spinning the flats rather than grinding the climbs.
When I finally managed to make it home,
I thought might as well upload and see how badly my doors were blown off...
... Your highest power output for 30 seconds in 2026!
Oh...
... now what if we actually rested?
===
164.6 lbs
7 hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
152/97/54 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Last Patriot, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
CAUSING EFFECT
MAKING PLANS for the upcoming event can be nerve-racking because there is so much unknown. There are really only...
... two paths forward.
It's gonna tricky,
it's gonna be awesome.
I was thinking about this, watching the highlights of Leadville.
There was our PEDALindustries flag,
right on the course,
where I imagined it.
Not just any part of the course, but a part of the course which was only open to racers who qualified much faster than me.
But, I really wanted to be there, too.
At Lost Canyon.
In my mind, it was a superior location for my feed zone.
So, made the 12' flags weeks prior to traveling.
Figuring it was gonna happen,
seeing them on course in my mind.
How'd we get the flag there?
First, I applied for a lottery to gain access.
Next, a blog reader and customer reached out and invited me to use his access to the area.
Then, I was informed I'd lotteried in to the zone myself.
That my friends is a magical way to live called...
... causing effect.
===
164.8 lbs
8 hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 50 push ups, 10 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 50 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
152/97/54 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Last Patriot, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
ONE REASON EATING HEALTHY MATTERS
SOMETIMES WE'RE ON POINT with our food choices, other times, for a variety of reasos...
... we fall off the wagon.
What's the damage?
Over the course of a lifetime,
probably nothing.
If it's occasional.
As the great Tim Ferriss advocated in The 4-Hour Body: An Uncommon Guide to Rapid Fat-Loss, Incredible Sex, and Becoming Superhuman...
... having a cheat day once a week won't kill us.
Might be helpful.
Honestly, I'm not 100% sure about that.
Here's what I do know.
If my cheat day is Sunday, and I go all in on the cheating...
... I'm likely to wake up a few pounds heavier on Monday, than I was on Friday.
Which is not really the point I wanted to share.
When I whipped up a salad today, with fresh veggies and Safe Catch tuna...
... all I could think about was how good this was going to be for my body.
That kind of thinking matters,
more than some might think.
===
165ish lbs
9sh hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 50 push ups, 10 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 50 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
155/108/46 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The Last Patriot, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The entire works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE IMPORTANT THINGS
RETURNING HOME after a weekend or week(s) away on an adventure is usually awesome. The trip may have been amazing...
... but, not as much as what we left behind.
I was reminded of this today.
On a sweltering summer day,
we pushed through LA traffic...
... in time for a little family get together.
There really is nothing that compares.
===
164ish lbs
7ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
159/125/34 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The First Commandment, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THREESY DOES IT
DESTINATION RACES AND RIDES always bring their own challenges. One of them can be altitude, and the big question there is...
... how soon do we need to go up?
Give us a rule.
Oldtimers have a saying...
... three weeks or three minutes.
Anything else is subpar.
On the extremes, the very best I ever felt was after 6 weeks.
The worst was driving 15 hours from sea level on a Thursday,
then racing on Saturday.
Which got me thinking after yesterday's final ride above 10,000'...
- sprinting
- climbing
- bombing
... I finally felt pretty darn good.
Confirming the broscience...
... threesy does it.
===
164ish lbs
7ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
159/125/34 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The First Commandment, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
BE STILL MY BEATING HEART
OH, THE TRAINING METRICS! They overwhelm, underencourage, lead us like a ring through our nose, promise us magic, and...
... and in the end distract us.
Potentially.
But, what about HR?
What does it really tell us?
For me, racing anything over 90ish minutes, heart rate is key.
Representing a pace I can hang onto...
- elevation
- weather
- terrain
... how I will perform regardless of the conditions.
Which reminds me of one of my favorite passages...
... As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.
===
163.8 lbs
8ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
164/151/13 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The First Commandment, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing, Old Testament
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IT'S EASY TO FORGET
WHEN WE HIT REALLY HIGH LEVELS OF FITNESS, we are able to do so much more. We can climb, descend, go for miles...
... with relative ease.
It's really fun.
Sometimes, with all the focus of being our best we neglect to unzip a bit and go with the flow.
I was thinking about that today,
rolling into a well-deserved recovery week.
Starting at 10,600'...
- picking my way through the rocks
- negotiating switchbacks
- searching for traction
... and riding straight up for 30ish minutes.
Taking it easy,
in no hurry.
Thoroughly enjoying the low speed challenges going up...
... while testing my willingness to keep my fingers off the brake levers going down.
The other thing we/I forget is hardly anybody on the planet can do this and...
... find it relaxing and rejuvenating.
But, we can.
'Cause we're fit,
fortunate,
blessed.
===
163.6 lbs9ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 50 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 50 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
165/156/9 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The First Commandment, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
PARDON THE BRAIN DAMAGE
GETTING OVER AN INJURY is a process. If we're fortunate, every day we see progress. Sometimes it's inpercptible and frustating, other times it's...
... so rapid we think we're better.
Overdoingit often follows.
Not realizing we have a ways to go.
I'm not sure this falls in that category, but I did have a TBI 2 1/2 years ago...
... and I forgot I already wrote The Leadville Letters.
How I get it done at the race across the sky.
Here are a few snippets:
Intro
ONCE UPON A TIME, A FRIEND ASKED IF I'D COACH HIM TO RACE THE LEADVILLE 100. So, I fired off an email every day... with homework.
Some of the information is tactical for Leadville... like the actual secret shtuff that's helped me go sub 9 hours on all 7 attempts and snagging a PR 20 years after the first go...
... the going 7:57 at 60 y/o in 2022.
But, more importantly, the letters reveal concepts which may be applied to any ride or race likely to leave nothing but the residue of who you are when it's over.
If you're planning to get your head handed to you at Unbound or BWR... or, just want to do an epic attack on your local mountains you love the Leadville Letters.
===
No. 1 Well, HI THERE!
Are you ready to get started?
Each day you're going to get an email from me that will likely be extremely entertaining and motivational... don't let that blind you into skipping the homework.
It's going to seem easy at first and you're going to be asking yourself what the heck did I pay for?
Don't fret.
The goal is to win Leadville (more on what that means) and Leadville wasn't conquered in a day.
Stay tuned, I'm counting on you to follow through.
XOXO, tb
===
from No. 5
HOMEWORK
How and when do you start your taper – what is a taper?
What do you eat the day before, the race morning breakfast, and while you’re racing?
What does work look like for you most Fridays and how do you hack your way out of doing too much work?
What do you wear so the support team can see you?
Do you have a RaceDay Bag?
Email me the answers along with your calendar.
There’s a lot to figure out, and having it dialed early will make each and every race more and more successful.
No. 14 NEGATIVE SPLIT
IF YOU'VE PACED YOURSELF CORRECTLY, you will do a negative split at Leadville.
By negative split, I mean you will cover the second 52 miles faster than the first.
Huh?
What?
I will?
Heck yes you will!
But only if you do your pacing right.
from NO. 18 CREATURE COMFORTS
I never wrote this email... this is the point John dropped out. In fact, I’m not really sure what it was going to be about. I only wrote the headline...
===
There's a taste... I'm going to update all 30 letters, put it in book form, and include massive margins so you can make all kinds of notes. It'll be rad.
===
163.6 lbs9ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 25 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 25 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
165/15411 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The First Commandment, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHEN IT DOESN'T GO RIGHT, THEN WHAT?
WHEN THINGS GO SIDEWAYS, and it's not what we planned, had on the agenda, or would wish on our worst enemy...
... then what do we do?
It's easy to advise from the sidelines.
Harder when it's happening.
Think about what a few of my friends faced...
- Body not responding to altitude to the point of barely being able to move.
- Being taken out when the rider ahead crossed wheels, crashing and suffering an AC separation and road rash on the face
- Having a major need to go number two at 12,000' and not porta potty nor trees in sight
- Realizing your shifter batter is dead at the bottom of the first major climb, 8 miles from the start
... at Leadville 2026.
Half were able to finish,
half pulled the plug...
... none logged a time they were capable of had things gone perfectly.
And that's the dill.
Thangs always be changin.
Ideally, we...
- review
- apply
- learn
... come out better for it.
We grab onto that hope,
refuse to let go,
regroup...
... and charge forward to the next challenge.
===
163.4 lbs
9ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 75 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 75 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
166/156/9 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The First Commandment, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing
>
BUCKLE UP!
ONCE WE FIGURE OUT how to survive and thrive at anything we have two choices...
... share it, or keep it to ourselves.
Neither one is necessarily wrong.
In fact, it might be necessary ...
- the family treasure
- the hidden path to beauty
- the knowledge we use to provide
...to safeguard our survival.
If it's not,
or if we're feeling generous,
or we're just super excited to share what we've discovered...
... what are we to do?
Personally, I've already written one book.
In fact, I ran into a customer in Leadville who shared his sister bought him the book, and he read it several times.
It's short,
and to the point.
This morning my friend Kevi pinged me...
- how many times have you started Leadville?
- how many times have you finished?
- how many big buckles?
... 8, 8, 8.
I've been very committed,
and very fortunate.
Which got me thinking...
... maybe it's time to write another book?
===
icymi
===
163.4 lbs
9ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
170/180/-11 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: The First Commandment, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
FASTER AND SHORTER DOESN'T MEAN...
RACING LEADVILLE WASN'T ON THE CALENDAR in January. I had my sights on a few other events, one of them was Sea Otter with the friends...
... then I qualified.
Uh oh.
The last time I raced it I started planning a year out, this time I had four months to put my plan together.
I was already testing a new training program...
- more strength work
- more intensity
- more sprints
... and it was going to be fun to see how it would translate.
The impetus was to try and hang on to my dwindling power as I age, because my real long rangl Leadville goal is go sub-9 at 70.
Here's how it went down.
Last fall, I scored a nearly new Epic World cup on Pink Bike.
The perfect bike for me on this course - a little slower downhill, faster uphill.
Fueling was 100% liquid...
- USWE 2L to bottom of Columbine - I kinda regretted that because the pack is so tight when full I felt it restricted my breathing
- Camelback up Columbine is just easy to drink than bottles
- bottles the rest of the way
... CarboRocket, 333 calories/hour.
40 degrees on start line, dawned our Fly Vest, fleece arm warmers, and skull cap. Dumped it all before Columbine.
Tires.
Ugh!
The stress.
Chatted up the Conti crew about my recent punctures on Friday.
Yeah, running the Race Rapid Dubnital is a bit risky. I'd go with Trail version.
Oh, can I buy some.
No, we don't sell at events.
(Come on Conti - make some money and help a brother out.)
Would you run inserts?
They aren't really going to help with the punctures you're experienced, and I think they might make things worse because of tension created on the sidewall.
Crank up the pressure?
Mmmm, not gonna do much.
Bummer.
What are your athletes running?
Oh, they're all running Race Rapids, same as you.
With that, I left the inserts in. No time to remove the . Ran 20lbs up front, 22 in back.
A little bouncy, but I planned to send it on the DHs.
Leadville sends waves of riders off, based on how your time at one of their qualifiers.
I was in green.
Most of my friends and competitors started in the waves ahead.
Which meant, they rolled out either 5 minutes ahead of me or 2 1/2 minutes ahead of me.
Note: in 2022, I qualified for Silver and was beat by a guy who started behind me.
I took solace in that, hope that if I could catch up I technically had the lead.
Gotta have something to prod us on.
Halfway up the first 30ish minute climb we connected with the wave ahead.
Ok.
That's cool.
Here the course changed, due to the Willow fire.
At the top, we popped out onto pavement. Rather than going right, and racing over to the hardest and most technical part of the course, we went left and rode pavement all the way around.
Here, the goal was to plummet like a demon at latch onto the faster climbers.
The long game is to work together.
Back on the dirt, we had some punchy climbs.
It's so tempting to hit it for 1-3 minutes,
better to ease off and save it for the torture to come.
Course knowledge helped me here, I was able to pick my moments and scoot ahead when things to technical.
Even leap up to the next group.
Surfgirl was easy to spot next to the 12' PEDALindustries flag we had on course.
Packs swapped out, it was time to grind.
There is always a point at races like this where I/we say...
... What the heck am I doing? This is stupid, and it hurts.
Usually it's because we are barely moving due to fatigue or conditions.
In this case, it was being alone with riders strung across the mountain ahead of me.
I settled in.
My plan to keep HR in the 150s wasn't working,
it was in the 140s.
Power seemed okay, so whatevs press on.
I yelled at the photog, Here's your chance to get some good slowmo shots!
Humor helps in these sitchyashuns.
Because I started behind, and because we're now all just doing what we can to get up this 90 min climb, over 12,600'...
... we really have no idea where we are in comparison to others or how or when we'll actually finish.
It's terrible.
Lonely.
The top of this years course was back to the originally route, which meant rather than simply turning around we went a little further then down 150 yards...
... climbing out of that I always find heartbreaking.
Now here's the fun part.
Bombing back down the narrowish top, not only are we skirting around lots of rocks, but thousands of riders are still coming up.
Sometimes single file,
sometimes four abreast.
They're barely moving,
I'm doing anywhere from 20-40 mph,
on steep, loose gravel with morning light strobing through the aspens.
It's gnarly,
and I love it.
From the bottom on back to the finish,
it's pretty much the same as every other year.
No one can really help or pace together,
we're all just doing our thing and hope it works.
There's no moto riding up to give you updates on how it's going.
It's just going.
That paved descent we bombed down, was relentless and eternal on the return.
Finally, back on the last legit dirt section, I decided to just have fun.
I was alone in the mountains, it was beautiful, I felt pretty good.
Even stopped to pee.
I never do this, but man I really had to go.
It takes forever.
And, I'm thinking...
... I wonder if I'm screwing up my finishing time in comparison to others.
Feeling a lot better, I pedal on.
When all of the sudden a rider blows by me.
Crap.
Is that who I think it is?
He's uncorked going down the very descent that has sent more than one rider to hospital..
Gotta go.
We link up at the bottom.
Yep.
Good thing I got on it.
We test each other all the way back to town,
up the long and dusty dirt road called the Boulevard.
At the final turn,
he turns on the afterburners and puts a big gap between us.
I'm cool with that...
... cuz it ain't 2 1/2 minutes.
I didn't mail it in, I still went as hard as I could, barely able to stay upright as I crossed the line.
This year's course may have been shorter and faster, but...
... I was as smoked as ever.
It was fun to meet Roy in person, I'd supported his LUX team with raceday bags for a number of years.
===
164.3 lbs
7ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
170/180/-11 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Takedown, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
TRAVELING TO AN EVENT can feel lonely. Especially, if we are going alone. Or, even if we know a few people...
... it's not like being at home.
Where we have our stuff,
and our friends to bail us out.
Here I am, 10,000' above mi casa, in need of some mechanical assistance, and who do I see in the Shimano booth?...
... none other than the great Robert Plumb.
He's from home,
repping and supporting Shimano in Colorado.
In no time, he's got things figured out for me.
It was a shock thing, but I was still sheepish about handing him over my SRAM XX clad bike.
Being the pro he is...
- the new Shimano XTR wireless set up
- the down country brake levers
- the XC calipers
... he educated me on the latest and greatest.
And, I gotta tell ya...
... Mrs Santa better quit blowin' her money on bikinis and surfwax.
===
161.8 lbs
7ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 0 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 0 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
156/111/46 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Blowback, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
PREDICTIONS
DEPENDING ON OUR LEVEL, the type of event, and a whole host of other factors, we may or may not be shooting for the podium. Let's be honest...
... most of the time we're going for the challenge.
But, the pros aren't.
They're going for...
- money
- glory
- fame
... the win.
The rest of us are shooting for some sort of PR and/or bragging rights over our friends and frenemies.
All good.
Here's my prediction for Leadville 2026...
- Quinn
- Keegan
- Cam
... for the Pro men.
And...
- Sofia
- Melisa
- Rosa
... for the Pro women.
And, lil' ol' me..
... my palms are sweating...
... break 7:30.
Seems fast, given my current fitfatness.
But, like I said, few plan on winning.
PS... yes, I do have a few other targets besides time for the race... will report on that later, don't wanna jinx it.
===
162 lbs
9ish hours sleep
540ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 25 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 5 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
159/113/46 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Blowback, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
LOST AND FOUND
TAPERING ISN'T A RELIEF, quite the opposite. It's stressful in that we aren't doing what we're used to doing. Instead, we're doing...
... less, different and/or none.
Our routine is broken.
We try and hang onto it, but being disciplined creates an inharmonious tension with rest and recovery.
That was the path I was on as I rolled out this morning.
Strava maps said it would take 36 minutes,
I planned to go so easy it would stretch out to an hour.
Oh...
... the best laid plans.
Not so suddenly, I find myself in an enchanted forest...
- climbing
- winding around
- wiggling over rocks and roots
... more than I anticipated.
An hour in, the town is nowhere in sight, maps shows I'm miles from where I want to be.
I'm lost.
I come to a fork in the trail, and choose right because...
... it's going straight down.
The next five miles ...
- fast
- paralleling a stream
- bridges and jumps and berms
... some of the funnest single track I've ridden years.
I drop into Frisco, miles from where I'm staying in Breckinridge.
And realize...
... I've found my mojo.
Tapering is overrated,
having fun, the original motivation,
is what it's all about.
===
161. lbs
9ish hours sleep
540 anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 50 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 10 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
163/133/33 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Blowback, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IT'S GETTING REAL
THE CLOSER THE START LINE, the more real the event becomes. The visions of glory, the angst of readiness, maybe some travel or some distraction...
... there is stress and relief.
Then there's the finish.
But, before all that...
... there was a spark of ingenuity to create the what we are all eagerly anticipating.
In the case of Leadville, the town, the spark came from an explosion in the mine.
Or, should I say implosion?
Where the mine that employed the entire town, provided every job, all the tax revenue for schools and a hospital...
... shut down.
In a day.
No warning.
No jobs.
No money.
Anywhere.
From the darkest hours and days and months was born the Leadville Trail 100 running race.
As the founder said...
... We'll run 'em a hundred miles from the highest city in North America and by golly they'll have to spend at least one night in town.
That's how we'll save this town we love.
I could leave this post there...
... but, really, it begs the question...
... why are we motivated to put ourselves through the many truly insane events we pursue so passionately?
It's not Kirkegaard's What doesn't kill me makes me stronger...
- grit
- determination
- being unstoppable
... it's the lessons we learn along the way.
(That pic up there is of Ken and Merilee, this evening at a frontyard bbq, the dynamic duo who grew an event from nothing and in the process saved a town, raised millions of dollars for the local kids to attend college, and gave many thousands of us an unforgettable experience to race at over 10,000'.)
===
161.6 lbs
8ish hours sleep
550ish anti-oxidant level
Upper Body: 50 push ups, 0 pull ups, hand gripper, shoulder press, curls
Lower Body: 10 ATG air squats and 0 split squats with 50lbs, nordic curls, box jumps, heel and toe raises
166/144/22 per Strava Relative Effort (whatever that means)
What I'm reading: Blowback, Brad Thor
What I'm studying: The works of Neville Goddard, all kinds of marketing
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
How To Build Volume 101
IMAGINE YOU'RE STARTING FROM ZERO. How do you build volume? Are there rules of thumb? When do you introduce intensity? Does it matter?...
... can you wing it?
Good questions.
Short answers:
- Build volume as fast as you can, which isn't going to be very fast if you are starting from zero.
- There are no rules of thumb, it's ruled by legs and lungs. Do what you can.
- Introduce intensity as soon as you want, it ain't going to be much.
- Yes, it matters.
Long answer.
There are a number of good books on the subject. Anything by Joe Friel will give you a good plan.
You don't need a power meter, mainly because you're will not be putting out much power early on.
But, you do need a heart rate monitor.
In the beginning of the first rides, the heart rate monitor will be exciting. Then after a few miles, it will dim. Reality will set in as that heart rate gets lower and lower because you have no stamina built up. After a few weeks or months, the HR monitor will serve as a governor...
... holding you back.
This is good.
Because if you're tired, you can't do intensity properly.
Introduce the intensity one day per week.
Don't look at the HR monitor too much, instead get after it. Could be a group ride you want to desperately hang on to, a Zwift session with same obsession, or simply chasing that mystical PR you want to breatk.
Check the HR data when the ride is over.
Important answer:
- Pick an event far in the future - you need time.
- Set an insane goal.
- Get registered.
Nothing exceptional will come with your training without a date with destiny...
... that's paid for!
---
164.9 lbs
8ish hrs sleep
Pull Ups Pushups Squats Presses
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
Do I Really Love It This Much?
SO, IT'S GONNA WIND UP BEING 8 WEEKS OFF THE BIKE since the noggin took a hit. If I do the ol' traditional math, that's 8 X 3 (weeks to get back the fitness for every 1 week off the bike)...
... 24 weeks, errrr 6 months?
That's hella long time.
The big question is...
... do I love it that much?
And by it, I do not mean the obvious...
... riding my bike.
I mean being in shape and the...
... feeling of being fast.
If I'm being honest, and I always am with you...
... I've forgotten what that feels like.
Surfgirl said Let's go on a ride today...
... and I jumped at the chance to ride with her support.
How'd it go?
Well, even though I was on my MTB...
... I still easily dropped her.
Nothing new there.
What was new was how hard I had to work to catch her,
huffing and puffing and legs burning...
... at a pace I recall doing for hours, endlessly.
This time it was for about 2 minutes.
Was I surprised?
Disappointed?
Let's just say I laughed out loud when I saw what Training Peaks was showing for my fitness.
37.
Yep, nearly 100 points lower than my all time max fitness just 18 months ago.
Lesson: fitness disappears, fast.
Lesson: I'm gonna bring it back, patiently (not my superpower, but a lesson to learn).
Who's in?
---
164.8lbs
9ish hrs sleep
Pull Ups Pushups Squats Presses
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
TOP REASONS NOT TO LIFT WEIGHTS
THERE IS A LOT OF BANTER about weight training. We should do it in the off-season, shy away from in the race season. Frankly...
... I couldn't disagree more.
Weight training is for those who want:
- stronger bones
- to build muscle
- put out more power
- improved core strength
- better grip strength
Who want's that?
Year round?
Oh,
well,
me.
You?
Top 3 exercises we should all be doing?
- Pull Ups or bent rows to build up strength for pull ups
- Push Ups
- Squats - I like Bulgarian Split Squats
Takes just a few minutes to do a set.
Very little equipment needed: pull up bar, some dumbbells...
... or skip the minor investment.
- have weak bones
- look like a T-Rex
- less power
- weaker core
- pathetic grip
It's your body...
... and I'm just a dude, not a doctor!
---
164.8lbs
8ish hrs sleep
Pull Ups Pushups Squats Presses
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
CONFIDENCE, WHO'S RESPONSIBILITY IS IT ANYWAY?
IN GETTING CAUGHT UP WITH THE LATEST BREAKING CYCLNG NEWS, I saw an article title and it's bugged me ever since. Maybe I'm heartless, from a different generation...
... or maybe this guy is just weak.
The title of the article is, They Lost Faith In Me.
Honestly, I can't believe I even bothered to read it.
But, after a week of it percolating as a top article...
... it got me like a slow moving train wreck.
As expected, featured racer blamed his lack of success on the team losing faith in him.
Bro, it's not the team's job to have faith in you.
They are paying you.
Faith is there.
That's my first reaction.
Bro, them's fighting words.
Now go prove 'em wrong.
Create the failth.
Earn it.
That's my second reaction.
What happened to good ol'...
... if it's to be, it's up to me!?
Or...
... fake it, 'till ya make it!?
In the end, I couldn't decide if I should feel sorry for a grown man having such a pathetic excuse...
... or be ticked off that such lameness made the front page.
Bottom line,
like it or not...
... it's our responsibility to be confident,
and to infect all those around us with such assuredness.
Life,
racing,
everything...
... is more fun, and, oh, ah, successful!
---
162.7 lbs
8ish hrs sleep
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
WHAT HAPPENS IN SIN CITY...
THERE ARE SINS, and then there are things we personally consider sins. Either way, 'Vegas promise that what happens in 'Vegas stays in 'Vegas...
... is a big fat lie.
Not a big deal.
We are only letting ourselves,
and those we committed to...
... down.
For example, the second Friday in January is known as Quitter's Day because by then...
... most people have thrown in the towel on their resolutions.
Like I said,
not a big deal...
... unless you want to
improve,
make changes,
stay true to what matters.
If that's on the line,
we can't afford to sin,
and if we do we've got to...
... repent right away,
and keep moving forward.
So,
how are those resolutions doing?
I had two:
- Get to bed around 9,
start day before 6. - Get back to race weight,
under 163.
The only reason I'm mostly on track is due to putting myself in the hospital on Jan 8th...
- appetite disappeared
- needed a lot more sleep
... otherwise, I'd be struggling.
Which is better than quitting.
A lot better.
Struggling,
good.
Repenting,
good.
Never quitting,
Best.
Keep up the good fight.
---
162.7 lbs
8ish hrs sleep
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
THE RACERS CREED
WHETHER WE KNOW IT OR NOT, we stand for a few things. And, it matters. Because this is...
... how we roll.
The Racer's Creed
- Access to bicycles - and anything that makes you stronger and better - should be unlimited.
- Always yield to the In Real Life Imperative.
- All racing should be free.
- Mistrust tradition, government recommendations - promote bro-science.
- Racers should be judged by their racing, not by bogus criteria like KOMs, USAC Category, age, color or gender.
- You can be free and forever young on a bicycle.
- Bicycles change your life for the better.
Agree or Disagree?
Lemmeknow.
---
165.9 lbs
8ish hrs sleep
Pull ups, push ups, presses, squats
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
IT AIN'T EVERY DAY YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THIS
DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED RIDING? For most of us, it was a magical time. Each ride a little further, a little faster. Each effort...
... a little easier.
No wonder we got hooked.
Still,
some wonder off.
Is it because the day comes when going further, faster, with less effort is no longer predictable?
Shoot, forget predictable...
... sometimes those days have months between them.
Even years.
I can tell you this, as I impatiently wait for clearance to get back on my bike and start riding again...
... knowing I'll get better every ride keeps me hanging on.
Can you relate?
---
164.9 lbs
8ish hrs sleep
Pull ups, push ups, presses, squats
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
IT'S SO MIXED UP
ROAD BIKES use road tires. Most of us find a favorite, and that's what we run day, night, rain, shine. For MTB, it's basically the same formula. Find a tire we like, run it regardless. For gravel...
... ugh.
First off, gravel ain't just gravel.
It's gravel and asphalt and single track and rocky terrain.
So, a gravel tire needs to be fast on asphalt, tacky on gravel turns, nimble on techy stuff and rugged on the rockies.
What's the ol' saying?
There's fast, cheap and quality...
... you can only pick two.
But, we're racing.
We want fast, light and rugged...
... and we want all three.
Not gonna happen.
Me?
I'll take fast and light, banking on my handling skills to get me safely through the rugged stuff.
Is that enough?
Probably not.
If it really matters,
gotta pre-run the course,
then pick the very best option...
... not easy,
but, that's what make it fun.
---
164.9 lbs
9ish hrs sleep
Pull ups, push ups & squats
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
I TRIPLE THAT EMOTION
ON THE START LINE there is always a lot of emotion. Some are scared, some are anxious, some are seething, some are just happy to be there. And...
... it's all good.
Well, kinda.
Facts are facts.
The more emotion we have the more productive we will be.
There's just one problem.
It might not be positive productivity.
Personally, I prefer to make up some story in my head regarding an innocent competitor...
... that ticks me off.
Take that manufactured angst,
turn it up all the way to 11...
... and let emotion do it's thing.
It is nearly a lock that I will race better,
be more and better calculating...
... and not give a hoot about what others think.
So, yeah...
... I triple that emotion.
---
163.9 lbs
8 hrs sleep
No strength work.
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
WEATHER OR NOT YOU LIKE IT
ROCK COBBLER 11 IS THIS WEEKEND. With all the rain we've had, and a little more forecast this week, it's all set up for an epic adventure...
... for at least 50% of the riders.
We are at deer in the headlinghts point.
Some are wondering if they should go at all.
Others are relishing the epicality.
Whether racers ride through someone's house,
see some knucklehead get skewed by a bull,
need ropes to make it up the hikeabike,
have mud so thick they grind to a halt...
... one thing is for sure.
The weather just makes it so much more of a quest.
Here's the mantra, whatever the weather...
... it's going to be perfect for me,
and rotten for everyone else.
It's selfish,
I know.
But,
it works.
Which is why I prefer riding outdoors to indoors...
... weather I like it or not.
---
162.9 lbs
9ish hrs sleep
No strength work.
10 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
ARE YOU SOMEBODY?
THERE ARE LEGENDS, and then there's the rest of us. The difference isn't obvious if we're walking down the street or eating an ice cream cone...
.. it's clear when nobody is looking.
As hard as we may be struggling to regain our health,
or to reach a new level of performance,
you'd never know...
... just by looking at us.
To really know if we are a
nobody,
anybody,
or somebody...
... we'd have to be followed 24/7.
This quote hit me hard today.
"No matter how hard you train,
Somebody will train harder.
No matter how hard you run,
Somebody will run harder.
No matter how much you want it,
Somebody will want it more.
I am Somebody."
—Steve Prefontaine
Are we going to be Somebody?
---
162.8 lbs
9ish hrs sleep
No strength work.
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
THE TALENT REVOLUTION
WHAT COMES AROUND, goes around. Some call it karma, others call it fate, maybe it's just...
... wages earned.
We can have all the talent in the world,
but, if we aren't spinning the pedals around who'll ever know?
Not us.
Not anybody else.
Talented racers are spinning more,
a lot more.
The spinning brings up the talent,
the talent doesn't make the racers spin.
The old timers knew it.
AEddy Merckx, Piles of miles.
The current crop knows it.
Dr Stephen Seiler, 80% of your training is to be easy, and only 20% hard.
We know it.
Want more talent, spin (ride) more...
... a lot more,
talent will increase.
---
162. lbs
9ish hrs sleep
Push Ups, Pull Ups, Squats, Nordics, Shoulder Presses - a little more every day.
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH
WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, too few of us can handle the truth. Our flabby arms, soft as a baby'sbutt hands, round shoulders and bent necks...
... belie the truth.
We were born for more.
Proof...
- Do pullups, grow calluses
- Do pushups, grow muscle
- Do squats, improve stature
- Ride far and easy, drop resting heartrate
... is what we easily observe given just a short amount of time.
When nurses rushed in to my room during my lovely stay in the ICU...
... they scared the crud out of me.
Are you okay?
Yeah, why?
Your heartrate dropped into the 30's.
Oh, it's finally getting back to normal.
What?
Yep, that's normal for me.
And that's the freaky thing.
We, the fit, are a rare breed.
The pros aren't quite sure what to do with us.
It shouldn't be that way,
but, it is.
In A Few Good Men, Col. Jessup is badgered and cornered into exclaiming the famous line...
... You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!
The truth about our bodies' capabilities is all around us...
... yet, is it rarely explained or shamed.
With just a little effort, in a short amount of time,
we can easily see that not only can we dramatically improve things...
... we were born to do such,
the life force is stronger than we think.
This is the way.
---
162.6 lbs
8ish hrs sleep
Push Ups Pull Ups Squats Shoulder Presses - a little more every day.
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
MY FAVORITE 4 LETTER WORD THAT STARTS WITH 'F'
THERE ARE LOTS OF FOUR LETTER WORDS. Just saying that connotes negativity and degeneracy. Clarifying the ones that start with 'f' and...
... you've got to cover your ears.
But, really...
... is F-E-A-R all that bad?
Yes,
and no.
Depends on how we use it.
One of the reasons a public declaration is so powerful is the fear that...
... we will F-A-I-L.
Which, is why most of us never make public declarations.
Too scary.
Too much commitment.
and way too much chance for ostracization.
Nobody wants that,
so we skip the declarations.
But, what if we didn't?
What if we tapped into that power?
Besides...
... who gives a shiFt what others think?
I ain't a FEAR to FAIL..
... I'm way more a FEAR to not FIND out what's possible.
---
161.6 lbs
9ish hrs sleep
Push Ups Pull Ups Squats Shoulder Presses - a little more every day.
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
IF THERE REALLY WAS JUST ONE THING HOLDING US BACK?
I JUST FINISHED, for the third or fourth time, The ONE Thing. The joke of the book (ie: the main point) is that there is1 thing above all others that we need to focus on...
... to get results quickly and easily.
If that's true,
there is just 1 question...
... what is the 1 thing when it comes to ripping on raceday?
I can think of 100 things,
or more...
- Ride
- Polarized training
- Diet
- Sleep
- Recovery
- Stretch
- Intervals
- Race simulation
- Bike maintenance
- Rest
- Race logistics
- Team game plan
- Travel plans
- Pick an A race/event
... there's a few.
Once the 1 thing is figured out...
... where is it time blocked?
- Early morning
- Lunch time
- Afternoon
- Evening
- Which days of week
If it ain't protected,
treated as sacred...
... it will likely be sacrificed.
This year, I planned on testing out a new work schedule. Which is why I picked this book up again.
The schedule, once I'm cleared medically, that I want to test is...
- 7-11 my ONE Thing for work
- 11-2 Go for a ride, get some lunch
- 2-5 return calls and emails
... just need to get back to 100%.
Today's trial was hit and miss. It was my first day trying to work. Not easy. The most challenging thing is to mentally hold and concentrate on fairly complex projects.
I'll get there.
In the meantime...
... what's your ONE Thing?
---
160.5 lbs
8ish hrs sleep
Push Ups Pull Ups Squats Shoulder Presses
20 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling
DID YOU PICK THE RIGHT PATH?
WE HAVE A CHOICE. A quick and easy win. A long-range, outrageous goal. Most of the time...
... we make the wrong choice.
The quick win feels good,
it's easy to snag.
And that's the problem.
The quick and easy wins usually lead us off the path to long-range and outrageous goals.
But, why?
Because the long-range goal is so far off in the distance, it looks small...
We forget,
get discouraged,
grow too impatient.
... it's actually massive, just a long ways off.
---
162.3 lbs
8.5 hrs sleep
0 strength work
20 minutes recovery
240 minutes reading + Journaling
NURSE RATCHET IS TICKED OFF!
WHEN PEOPLE STOP BY TO VISIT they inevitably want to check out the garage. Oddly, they aren't impressed by the stacks of surfboards, or the quiver of bicycles...
... there is one thing that sticks out.
Over in the corner is a somewhat rusty, cobwebby and neglected unicycle.
Can you ride it?
Maybe, it's been quite a while.
This is just me goofing on them. I know perfectly well, that even if it's been over a year, I can get on the uni and...
... make it look easy.
But, first I pretend to really struggle.
Several fake and shaky starts.
It's like riding a bike,
put in the time and you'll always be able to do it.
Which is probably why Nurse Ratchet is so pissed at me today.
Bored out of my mind,
easily skipping down the stairs in the house,
doing lunges and walking backwards with zero issue...
... I couldn't wait until she left.
The second the garage door shut, I hustled upstairs and threw on a kit for the first time in 3 weeks.
I'd secretly lubed and checked out the MTB the night before.
It was go time.
Kitted up,
aired up...
... there was only one thing left to do.
Throw my leg over the saddle, and pedal.
Gotta be honest,
I was a little scared to clip in and go.
But, I couldn't take another day of lethargy indoors.
The first few strokes were glorious.
I was free,
at last.
There was no need to hurry, she'd be gone at least 2 hours.
I chose the MTB because of the fat tires and full suspension, figuring it was the bike least likely to jostle my noggin.
My balance was fine.
My ability to process information was still slow, and dull.
After 20ish minutes, I reached the top of the local trail system.
I stopped.
Gave thanks.
Took in the view.
It felt so good to...
- hear my breathing
- feel the sweat
- be outside
... things we think we are grateful for, but have no clue until we can't access them on demand.
I stood and coasted ever so slowly down the trail.
An hour later I was home, after more stops and moments of appreciation.
Refreshed,
encouraged.
I knew my recovering brain needed oxygen flow,
my body need to be taxed,
balance tested.
A quick shower,
change of clothes,
Nurse Ratchet would never know.
One problem.
She has Strava,
she follows me,
I was busted.
She stormed in pissed,
didn't want to talk about it.
Said I'd been stupid and reckless.
As usual,
she's right.
But, you know what they say...
... it's like riding a bike,
you never forget.
How do I feel?
Well, I took a catnap. So it musta been challenging.
My head seems fine.
Will I ride again?
Def.
How soon?
Unsure.
How long?
Lesssure.
Am I all better?
Not even close.
Because my ability to process information is diminished, I'm riding very slow. Another reason to stay on MTB and off the roads.
It's gonna be a minute, I'm predicting 3-6 more weeks to restore confidence. I'm cool with that. Spring goals have been tabled. Time is on my side.
Am I getting better?
Fo sho.
Will she forgive me?
Yeah, in a few days or weeks.
Am I upset about that?
Not even.
She cares,
and that's all I care about.
---
162.3 lbs
8 hrs sleep
A few pullups, pushups and air squats
20 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling
SLIVERS ARE GOOD
WE HAVE A HIGH SPEED TRAIL NEARBY. It's lined with cactus, lovingly waiting to give the uncontrolled a great big bear hug. Most escape...
... a few get a gentle reminder.
But, it often doesn't show up for weeks.
One day, you wake and think...
... dawgawnit, my knuckle really hurts.
We can't remember why until a few days later...
... a sliver of cactus prickly starts to surface.
Oh yeah, I musta brushed some cactus a while back.
Here's the real lesson in that...
- not to slow down and scrub some speed
- not to wear hard plastic knuckle savers
- not to change a thing
... to remember slivers count, too.
In fact, sometimes they're downright painful.
Most of the time, forgettable.
Unimpactful...
... or so we think,
until they resurface.
If we're smart,
and I know you are...
... we realize the real gains
more often than not...
... come in slivers.
Unnoticable,
unmemorable,
unremarkable, too...
... so we think they don't count,
that no progress is being made.
But, they do.
And, we stack 'em.
Gather 'em, store 'em...
... unleash 'em when it matters.
Competitors be thinking,
How the heck did he/she do that?!
We be thinking the same thing,
How the heck'd I do that?!
Then we be rememberin'...
... one sliver at a time.
---
162.4 lbs
8 hrs sleep
Got in a few more pullups, pushups and air squats
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
OUR BUCKET LISTS ARE KILLING US
UP UNTIL WE ARE ABOUT 18 YEARS OLD, we don't have bucket lists. We have something quite different and significantly more powerful and dangerous. Cover your ears kids...
... this is about the less famous, Phucket List.
You know the one.
You're, 13, at the top of a big hill and challenged to go brakeless and see if you can not only make the corner at the bottom, but carry enough speed to clear the 15' jump across the stream.
Or, you're 15, on the shore watching huge, mountainous waves wipe out every surfer in the water and challenged to not just paddle out, but get beyond the breakers and then somehow catch one of the monsters back to shore.
The young don't say, Oh, I can't make it today but it's definitely on my bucket list to do...
... there's too much shame in that.
Instead, the young say Phucket...
... and go for it.
Why?
Because the young know two things:
- They will live forever
- They can't get permanently hurt
Of course, neither is true.
The only thing that is true is that not going for it is despicable.
Around 20, we aren't verbalizing bucket list, but we are assembling it with thoughts like these:
- I'm gonna find my soulmate
- Have some kids
- Build a cool career
- Travel to exotic places
- Do back flips off bridges
Of course, making those things happen requires, again, two things:
- Living forever
- Not getting permanently hurt
Neither one of which is true, or likely.
Which is why bucket lists are for losers.
They allow us to dream, and put things off for Some Day I'll...
... slowly killing us in the process.
Then, one day, we do something really stupid, like I did...
- Cause my pull up bar to fail
- Knock myself out
- Spend days in ICU
... and just like that, life changes in seconds.
Which is why we need to kill the Bucket List and...
... live with a phucket list.
- Any question of what is possible
- Any criticism of how we are doing things
- Any doubts about our plans
- Any postponing of what we want to do
We need to have one, and only one, response...
... phucket..
I'm doing it,
now!!
---
161.4 lbs
10 hrs sleep
Snuck in a few pullups, pushups and air squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
FIRST, I WANTED TO CRY
WHEN I FINALLY WOKE UP, 3 days after the accident, I wanted to cry. Not because I was alone in a cold, dark hospital room. Not because my head was pounding. I ached...
... for the less fortunate.
Regardless of how I got there, I still had everything going for me.
Family,
friends,
children.
Visiting,
praying,
buoying me.
Incredible medical facilities,
wonderful, caring
staff.
I felt, and feel, overwhelmingly blessed and looked after.
How did I merit such goodness in my life?
How could I do better supporting those in need?
Even though my brain had been scrambled,
as difficult as it is to process information quickly...
... I never doubted I'd recover.
I'm so grateful to be alive...
... taking courage from the Grateful Dead's Touch Of Grey.
I will get by,
I will survive,
We will get by,
We will survive.
Because my brain is broken and there are little to no visual cues, it's hard to appreciate what thinking and doing and conversation feels like to me.
I look mostly fine.
This is the best I could come up with...
... asking me to engage is like asking me to run a 5k two to three weeks after breaking my leg.
Where I'm at now.
Starting last week, 8ish days post accident, my body started to hurt a lot. Way, way worse than my head ever did.
When the pull up bar broke loose and cracked me in the forehead it must have knocked me out. My buns and upper hamstrings and lower back were tremendously painful, indicating to me I had probably just had fallen straight backward on my tush then smacked my back of my head.
That body pain is mostly behind me.
My secret?
Taking a very hot shower 5-6-7 times a day, loosens everything up.
I'm off all meds during the day, and only taking Tylenol 2-3 times during the night.
This is great.
I had been really nervous to take the heavy stuff for a prolonged period of time. I'd done that 30 years ago, and subsequently suffered migraines for almost 10 years.
Fortunately, the PEDALindustries crew is awesome. Things are flowing as they should. Just wonderful.
Your messages, and kindness, and support have been a great lesson to me...
... it's okay to cry tears of gratitude.
---
159.4 lbs
10 hrs sleep
0 strength
40 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
DEFEND YOUR LIFE
THE LAST WORDS OUT OF MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN'S MOUTH were shocking and memorable. Once I had caught him up on my situation, he said...
... Defend your life.
- Todd
---
Hey everyone, this is Shane, Todd's son. On January 8th, Todd had an accident at home, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and multiple skull fractures. He spent 5 days in the ICU.
We happily welcomed him home on Saturday and he's in good care with Surfer Girl. He's on track for a great recovery! For an athlete like Todd, we know he'll be (RaceDay) ready to rip as soon as he can.
First, he'll spend 10 more days in a dark room being the most boring person on earth. Then he'll slowly, very slowly, return to his passion: writing the blog, developing cool new gear, and shredding the local trails.
Stay tuned!
Shane
P.S. Yes, it was his idea to share the photo :)
---
159
1,000 hrs
0 strength
1,000,000 minutes recovery
0 minutes reading + Journaling
NEW TERRITORY
I'M GOING DOWN THE INTERVALS RABBIT HOLE, and I'm not sure I like it. There are a number of reasons, not the least of which...
... the social angle.
Committing to a structured interval program is for losers...
... I mean loners.
And that's not all.
It hurts.
It's one thing to be on the group ride, going all out, and tell myself...
- Well, I'm just not feeling it today
- or, It's ok those guys are faster
- oh, if only I was lighter
... pull the plug, and drift off the back.
It's quite another to be hitting high power numbers easily on this first go...
... and watch those numbers sink as the efforts repeat.
Why?
Because the numbers don't lie.
I saw this last week.
4 efforts, 8 minutes long.
The first time, I ran out of road and had to take a turn to keep going...
... by the end, there was plenty of road left.
Just not enough Todd.
Do I like intervals?
No.
Do I like training hard efforts alone?
No.
Am I going to quit?
No.
I'm intrigued.
I want to see what I've got...
... and how fitness changes with new methods.
New Year,
New Methods.
---
164.5
7.5 hrs
No strength
0 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling
THE POTENTIAL DANGER WITH HERO DIRT
SO FUN TODAY. I thought it would be a lot dryer, hadn't rained since Wednesday. No puddles. Definitely extra friction, that velcro feeling of...
... sticky lugs.
Hero dirt.
It's called hero dirt because we can carve the turns with confidence
just like our heroes.
Those tires aren't slippin',
they're grippin'.
The longer we ride it,
the more we lean and defy gravity.
The result?
Sometimes,
over confidence.
You know what comes with rain, right?
Ruts.
Towards the end of today's adventure, about 3 hours in, we were really feelin' it.
Laying down PRs.
Naturally, we'd need to hit the steepest,
and less well known trail...
... last.
What do they say about the last run?
Don't take it!
The segment is fittingly titled,
Dragon's Back Proper.
I'm not going to say it's the gnarliest trail ever,
still, there's a 0% chance I'm taking Surfergirl down it.
Anyway, with 30+ miles of hero dirt fresh in our minds we hit it.
Like any good friend, I neglected to tell Love Watts about what we'd face...
... knowing he'd be fine.
Butttt!, when we came around one of the turns which lead to a steep, straight shot of about 50 yards...
... there was a new and nifty rut straight down the middle of the trail.
Like a dragon,
waiting to gobble our tires...
... and pitch us down its throat.
Here's the beauty of hero dirt...
... normally this would be a controlled skid section at best,
instead we were on the binders hard,
easily avoiding the doom...
... and snagging yet another PR.
Heroes for a day.
---
163.8
8 hrs
No strength
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
WELL, THAT'S A STRETCH
ARE YOU AS FIRED UP ABOUT 2024 AS ME? Five days in and I'm still holding strong on all 520 of my New Year's Resolutions. I got more than a good feeling about this...
... I got one word.
This year's word for the RaceDay Rippers: S-T-R-E-T-C-H.
Yeah, it's good to stretch.
Be limber.
Flexible.
That's part of it,
but there's so much more...
... when we stretch regularly.
In everything.
And, here's what I'm talking about...
... forget the resolutions.
They seem static.
What can we stretch...
- athletically
- mentally
- spiritually
- socially
- financially
... because if we ain't stretching,
it's hellalikely things are gonna tighten up.
Take another look at your calendar.
What can you do by the end of this year...
... that is such a stretch,
it would blow your mind?
I know what I'm going for,
can't wait to share it here.
---
162.4
7 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
WHO IS THE GREATEST ATHLETE?
GREATNESS IS ONE OF THOSE HARD TO DEFINE characteristics. Like beauty or skill or talent we often have differing opinions and struggle to explain the why leaving us with the simple...
... I know it when I see it.
Here's my definition of a great athlete.
Someone who knows what the are capable of achieving...
... and then wringing every ounce of their being to achieve it.
Sometimes they win something, but for most the greatest athletes...
... the ones who inspire me...
... winning is rare.
It's the daring to dream,
the untold hours of solo training,
the battle to overcome the impossible...
... and finish with nothing left and no regrets.
That is greatness.
It takes planning,
and dedication,
and courage.
The highest VO2 max or most ridiculous powertoweight output in the world won't make us great...
... commitment,
persistence,
focus
will.
Nobody's watching you can skip the workout, eat the donut, stay up partying...
... be common.
Nobody's watching you can do an extra set, up the protein, hit the sack early...
... be great.
Nobody's watching,
but you.
---
162.5
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
LACTIC LYCRA
LACTIC LYCRA will be served at 815am on Saturday, per my pal Doug's text message. I can't wait. It's been too long since I've had a...
... really good beat down.
The first one always hurts the most.
There's the shock to the system when we hit the first climb.
I know it well.
About 30 seconds at 8%,
followed by 2 1/2 minutes of rolling up a false flat...
... all out.
If I make that,
it only gets more vicious.
Of course, the route can change from time to time, which means I might have no idea whatsoever of what's coming up.
Sometimes that's better,
often it's worse.
Why would I do this to myself?
Because, we are 8 weeks out from the first A race of the triple crown.
It's time,
to clear the cobwebs.
---
163.6
8.25 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
THOUGHT FOR FOOD
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO FUEL the training. We can go from all water and solid foods to no solids and all sugared up liquid, with a million combinations in between...
... racing I'm a little more sciency.
The special mixes and hi-tech prepackaged foods can be a challenge...
- Sometimes hard to acquire
- Often hard on the budget
... so, what's your answer?
Me,
as long
as I'm logging miles,
I don't care too much.
My favorite find of last year is an imported treat from France...
- Easy to find at Costco
- Inexpensive 20 for $8
- Super yummy
- Burns up fast in the gut
... individually-wrapped chocolate crepes.
Sometimes, I go with just water. Others, longer rides, I'll put CarboRocket in the bottles.
Speaking of CarboRocket, you can get 25% off your first order here: https://racedayripper.com/posts/special-offers-carbo-rocket
---
163.8
7.5 hrs
2 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
HOW MANY RACE SEASONS ARE THERE?
Read Online And Post Comments Here >>
BIKE RACING IS YEAR ROUND. No matter where you live, with the means, you can jump on a plane on in a car and be racing tomorrow. The pros, have one discipline...
... and one season.
Except for a select few who just can't get enough of wreaking havoc on two wheels.
For the rest of us,
we need the rest.
But, I was thinking about the upcoming year.
As usual, I've got a packed March through early May.
Not as usual, I have nothing after that until September.
I'm thinking this year will be my first two season year.
Take a solid break at the end of May,
keep it pretty chill in June,
on it July/August.
Put me down for 2 seasons this year.
Did you know?
All active PEDALindustries/Riders:
- Save 30% On All Purchases
- Have access to Race Reimbursement
- Unlock all Exclusive Courses and content
Click Here For Details_______________________
---
164.4
7 hrs
No Strength Training
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
THE RESOLUTION
Read Online And Post Comments Here >>
IT'S TIME FOR 2024, another turn around the sun. Most of us have been warming down, as we should. Thinking about how the last lap went...
... we've got questions.
Could we improve?- What went well?
- What went wrong?
- Where did we shock even ourselves?
- Where did we miss the mark?
- How could we be smoother?
- How could we have made such blunders?
- When can we hit our next high?
- When can we do less?
- Why were we able to accomplish X?
- Why did we fail so miserably a Y?
- Who helped us the most?
- Who kept us back?
Answering those questions answers the first question...
... Could we improve?...
... only
if we commit
to make changes.
What's the most exciting change you plan to make in 2024?
- Gear?
- Training?
- Nutrition?
- Recovery?
- Type of racing?
seems hard and long...
far you have come.
All active PEDALindustries/Riders:
- Save 30% On All Purchases
- Have access to Race Reimbursement
- Unlock all Exclusive Courses and content
Click Here For Details_______________________
---
164
8 hrs
No Strength Training
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
NEVER SAY THIS IN PUBLIC
DURING THE METEOR SHOWER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I heard one of my friends lamenting the exceptionalism he was brought up believing. I can't think of anything dumber than...
... thinking we are average, unexceptional.
Do you think for one second any champion of any sport, OR CAUSE, thought he or she was average, unexceptional?
Here's the tricky part, and a new meaning of an old word.
The tricky part:
- Never, ever say in public you are exceptional or better than everybody else
- Always think it
- Believe it
- Own it
Can you imagine telling a child...
You really aren't anything special.
... talk about a way to shut down each individual's unique talents and abilities.
We each have different talents when it comes to physical performance, if that weren't the case...
- the same person would win over and over
- the sports prognosticators would always be right
... but, that's not how it works.
We know that inherently.
The new meaning of an old word:
I recently discovered the original meaning of the word meek, which is important because some dude once said the meek shall inherit the earth...
... how can the meek win anything?
Because meek comes from the greek word praus, which means...
... strength under control.
Now that,
is my kind of exceptional.
---
164.4
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
WHAT SHOULD A ZONE 2 RIDE LOOK LIKE?
TODAY WAS MY FIFTH BIG RIDE IN A ROW. Seventeen hours in the saddle, 210 miles, 22,000' of vertical...
... and my legs feel great.
How is that possible?
All Zone 2 + Good Sleep + Good Nutrition
Take today's ride.
Nearly 5 hours,
60 miles
6329'..
... Strava called it a Massive Relative Effort.
I called it a fun adventure.
Never did any heavy breathing.
- Ave HR 131
- Normalized Power 212 Watts
Above you can see the HR is very steady, so are Watts dropping down mainly due to rough terrain and stop lights.
The key...
... to pulling that off is starting out easy, which means going based on power more than HR because it takes (for me) a while for the HR to rise. About 30 minutes in I start looking at HR and Power...
... riding as fast as I can without letting the HR go out of zone.
The benefits...
- ride all day, as long as nutrition is on point
- push upper limit of Zone 2 higher
- develop insane endurance
... easily recover and do it again the next day.
The reason most people don't do it...
- they start out too hard
- under eat because effort seems easy
- ride with friends and get caught up in keeping up
- fail to recognize the hidden benefits for those with limited power
- rather than back down cadence and power they blast up the short stuff
... is because they don't have the discipline.
If you don't generate a lot of power, and I don't,
then the next best thing is to be able to deliver the power you have
for longer than your competitors and recover faster than those around you.
Skip or skimp on Zone 2 rides...
... or feast on them.
---
164.2
7.5 hrs
Push Ups and Pull Ups
20 minutes recovery
75 minutes reading + Journaling
DO YOU HAVE A TAGLINE?
AS AN ECOM MARKETER, I love studying the greatest brands. One thing they have in common is a great tagline, like Nike's...
... Just Do It!
Why?
They are designed to create an emotional response for the consumers...
... to make us identify with what they're selling.
In the heat of race or chasing a PR or just plain ol' dying to finish the impossible...
... it's good to have a tagline of our own.
Because sometimes we have to sell ourselves on getting it done...
... usually,
right before we quit
and go on to conquering the impossible.
---
163.8
7.75 hrs
No Strength Training
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
THIS AIN'T JUST FOR HEMORRHOIDS
WHAT A DEMONSTRATION of how to do it well. If you missed it, if you don't follow it, if you listened to the prognosticators, then you didn't witness...
... what happens with preparation.
I'm down to following one sportsball team, and it's been a dismal year for the fans of SC football.
When things aren't going according to plan, it is so easy to give up.
To quit.
24 players did just that,
either sat out the game
or transferred to a new team.
The rest kept practicing,
and kept preparing,
for their chance.
The quarter back had never started a game,
had only played a handful of minutes...
... came in prepared.
Confidence oozing.
He left with...
70% pass completion
372 yards
6 TDs
... a record setting night.
Because he knew how good he was and kept preparing for his date with history...
... that is the Preparation H we should all aspire to accomplish.
---
162.9
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
DATA DON'T CARE 'BOUT YOUR FEELINGS
MY SON IS A PROFESSIONAL FINANCE NERD. He constantly reminds me to know my numbers vs the ol' gut feeling. It's a good practice and reveals the truth...
... sometimes confirming what I thought to be true,
others showing how off I can be by winging it.
We all have a lot of data available now.
So, while I was feeling discouraged this week regarding...
- my current weight
- the lingering cough
- the drifting fitness score
... I decided to look at the data.
2 years ago...
- same weight
- 3% better fitness
- and got covid just after Christmas
- hadn't perfected my strength routine
... had my best year ever on the bike.
1 year ago...
- slightly lighter
- same exact fitness
- battled a similar cold
- had just added the sled and nordic curl
... had a great spring racing campaign
In other words, it's quite normal for me to be at my lowest fitness this time of year,
and you know what they say...
... December hero = race season zero.
Am I still apprehensive?
Yep.
But, that's the point of the data...
... to kick the feelings to the curb.
They aren't helping.
Instead,
by looking at the numbers
I can relax and stick with my plan...
... I'm right where I want to be.
---
164.8
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
WOULD YOU SAY THIS?
ONLY OUR OLDEST WAS IN TOWN, so we met midway. At the bay. Unloaded paddle boards. Set out for some mansion gawking, and sunshine...
... and paddled for 6 miles, 2ish hours.
Not the traditional Christmas morning for most,
on par for us..
Something weird happened all day,
never seen it before.
When we got home, there was still enough sunlight
for me to spin the pedals
and Mrs Claus to walk.
Every single person I saw,
on the water and on the dirt,
had the exact same thing to say.
We live in an area with lots of people from around the country, and around the world, representing all kinds of cultures and beliefs.
Which is why I thought this was odd.
The last person I talked to was a kid in his 20's from Michoacan, Mexico.
New bike?
No speak english.
No problemo.
I learned Spanish a long time ago, and can still get along pretty good. I asked where he was from, told him how much I loved the famous ice cream sticks La Michoacana, from his state.
He was on a really sweet Giant Trance. Said he'd just picked it up on FB marketplace, and how much he loved it.
A common language, we all understand.
We talked about how long he was here and his main objective to learn English.
It was time to part ways before sunset, and say the thing I'd over and over today.
Merry Christmas.
Feliz Navidad.
---
165.1
8 hrs
No strength work
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
IGNORING THIS CHRISTMASY MESSAGE WILL MAKE YOU CRASH
I CAN'T STOP THINKING of the silliness I've practiced over the years. Not the Christmasy stuff, which was personally a tough season for many years, but...
... ignoring the real point of it all.
Whether you're a belieber or not, doesn't matter, the principle is true...
... you can't ride your bicycle while looking backward.
Oh, you can go a ways, however the penalty of not facing forward will be paid.
Which is the message that little babe came to deliver...
... look forward with hope and faith that good things await.
He gave instructions on how to live.
He knew all would falter from time to time.
He gave a simple formula to get back on track.
Repent.
Start anew.
Don't look back,
focus on forward.
I don't know why that is so easy to practice on a bike,
and so difficult when life's blunders serve up a shouldawouldacoulda sandwich.
Pedal on.
---
163.8
7.5 hrs
No strength work
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
THE RIDING ART OF LOST
I WOKE WITH A FROG IN MY THROAT. Not surprising, Surfergirl has been coughing for a week. There was only one thing to do, and it wasn't going to be easy...
... with all the rain this week.
No, I wouldn't be meeting up with the fellas.
However, since the onset of my cold was above the neck...
... I could ride long as heck.
Most people don't do this,
and decline my invites.
Where are we riding today?
I don't know.
You have no plan.
Nope.
Okay, I'm gonna do a group ride.
See ya next time.
The idea of getting lost,
aimlessly wandering,
is too vague.
I get it,
I also get this.
Every great adventure,
the ones we tell over and over,
are epic because at some point...
... the unexpected happened.
- We got lost
- Found a new trail
- Discovered a forgotten road
- Ignored the Private Property sign
- Had a massive mishap and lived to tell the tale
None of this happens on the group ride,
or in the man cave zwifting,
or at the races.
For me, It's almost a lock
I will discover something worthy
nearly every single time my objective is big zone 2.
It's an art,
to get lost and enjoy it.
Nothing new is ever discovered
on the road most traveled
---
166.2 lbs (more lost rides needed)
7.25 hrs
Push Ups and Pull Ups.
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL SIGNAL?
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF WAYS to signal to your mind that it's time to shift gears. Gurus, like Tony Robbins, might call it shifting states or moods...
... and this shift matters.
Because if we don't get our helmet in the race,
we're destined to get shelled.
For racing, I cycle through till I find the right jam on my...
... special a playlist.
Sometimes the pump up music isn't getting it done for me and I have to...
... wait until the first cat cuts me off or won't let me through.
Other times...
... simply seeing a frenemy can raise the HR.
Another one I like for racing or hard training is ...
... lathering up with PR lotion.
For work, I turn the volume super low and hit repeat for...
... one goto song.
Butttttttttttt...
... what's the signal for a new season
or legit off-season
or mini-break?
Before I get there,
why does this work?
Why do preachers and motivators play music before the message is delivered?
Why do bands drop the lights before electrifying the audience?
It's all signals,
that things are changing,
and we mentally shift and become a different person...
... and love it.
The opposite is also true,
no definitive signal,
no change...
... and before we know it,
the race is over,
the day done...
... and nothing accomplished.
So, what's the signal for a new season?
Mine,
shave my legs.
---
166.1 lbs (might be time for the razor)
7.25 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more.
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
YOU CAN SPRINT SOME PEOPLE SOME TIMES
SPRINTING IS SO FUN, especially alone. Down clear road with a tail wind, out of a turn and into the next, up a short hill...
... It's so energizing.
Then why not sprint all the time?
The answer's obvious,
because we can't.
It's not physically possible.
The next best thing is...
... if we do it right.
The great John Wooden preached...
... Be quick, don't hurry.
Quick is
- precise
- error free
- looks effortless
Hurrying is
- looks atrocious
- mistake laden
- sloppy
We sweat with both...
... we win, PR, achieve greatness with one.
The difference?
- Practice
- Planning
- Routines
So, when the shift goes off the trails on the bike, in life...
... slow down,
be quick.
Oh, I almost forgot,
if you're hurrying to get a gift for your favorite cyclist, triathlete or runner...
... here's a quick and awesome idea.
---
164.9 lbs
8 hrs
PushUps and PullUps
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
IF I COULD RACE EVERY RACE
APPARENTLY, POSTING ALL THE RACE PLANS is a bigger thing than ever for the pros. Imagine being paid to race, then telling your sponsors and team...
... which races you'll do.
It's one thing to say I'm going to X, Y and Z races, it's quite another to say...
... and I'm going to win.
For some racers, it's probably a requirement. For sure...
- the team wants to know
- the journalists want to know
- the competitors want to know
... if they're going to be there.
It gives everybody a chance to promote and hype and draw in the eyeballs and the money...
... which is exactly not what most amateurs do.
Most of us...
- no plan
- no calendar
- can be easily swayed
- find committing can be tough
... because, well, we are amateurs.
Or,,,,, are we amateurs because we...
- find committing to be tough
- are too easily swayed
- have no calendar
- and no plan
... not that there's anything wrong with that.
It's just the difference between pro and amateur...
... getting results,
and the ability to call our own shots (wins, PRs, quests).
It starts here.
---
164.8 lbs
8.5 hrs
Push Ups Pull Ups
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
I HEARD SOMETHING RIDICULOUS TODAY
ON THE RIDE THIS MORNING I was assured that pedaling in circles is wasted energy and that the studies of one bike fitter in England done on pros are conclusive...
... I sprint to differ.
While it may be true that mashers have just as much power in certain situations, I'm 100% certain that is not true of all situations.
For example, any mountain bike rider can you tell you that on technical climbs it is critical that the power you put down is even and steady.
Why?
Because mashing will likely cause 2 problems...
- slipping the rear tire
- stalling out and falling over
... mountain bikers are generally really good at putting power down all the way through the pedal stroke.
You know who else?
Track sprinters.
I learned this from the great Gibby Hatton when I went to him for a bike fit.
After watching me spin warming up...
Have you raced on the track?
No, mostly MTB.
Oh, that explains it... trackies and offroaders are the most efficient at putting out power.
Why, is the question.
And I think I know why, because when traction is required and when explosive power is required the hamstrings are engaged.
I learned this a long time ago when sprinting with my friend who easily beat me. He taught me to extend my stride and pull myself forward. Sure enough, I got a little faster.
Sprinters of all types spend time developing their hamstrings for this very reason.
Which brings me to my next thought. The reason most cyclists don't have any power on the upstroke is because they are pathetically weak.
If they weren't, they'd engage the hammies more in certain situations: sprinting, climbing loose terrain and...
... cruising on the flat.
Lately, with all my Nordic Curl work, I've noticed I can cruise faster on flats and let my quads rest a bet by more fully engaging my hamstrings.
I'm just practicing bro-science, so take it or leave it...
... but, Joe Friel practices real science.
When I flew him out to speak to us a few years back he pulled up charts which definitively demonstrated the small gains to be made by learning how to pedal correctly.
Yes, mashers can go fast.
Yes, there are times to mash.
Yes, you should experiment with this in the off-season.
---
165.5 lbs
7 hrs
PushUps and PullUps
20 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
OLD GUYS RULES
YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE SHIRTS AND HATS, usually on old guys who are kinda pudgy and unreasonably confident. I get it, but don't done it...
... more about that later.
I bring this up because lately the interwebs be chiming that old guys shouldn't be advising young guys...
... according to medium guys.
And really Peter Sagan brought it home on the latest The Move podcast discussing today's racing...
... versus how they used to race.
I tell them young guys, why going so fast. No need.
Whatever old man.
We go down hill and young guys crashing, all for nothing.
Another GenXer on X, was even harsher on old guys trying to help young guys.
Old guys are irrelevant.
I thought about it all day...
... probably because I'm of a certain age.
I think when it comes to tactics, yes, the old guys' rules are probably outdated and useless.
But!,
when it comes to strategy I'll take the age-old wisdom of the old-age guys every time.
In business, a tactic would be knocking doors. I did that. Almost pointless to do these days...
... the wisdom is to hustle and get out there and be seen.
In training, a tactic is use a heart monitor. I did that. But, there's a lot more tech to be learned and mastered for improvement...
... the wisdom is to ride piles of miles.
Anyway, if you're into improving...
- old guys have the strategies
- young guys have the tactics
... those are the rules.
I love looking for the timeless ones...
... and ladies still love flowers.
---
165.3 lbs
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
HOW DO YOU SPELL FAST?
THERE ARE COUNTLESS WAYS to get faster on the bike, which is why it is endlessly fascinating. They range from physical to mechanical to mental to social to spiritual and...
... help us on our quest to get fast.
Some think that the best way to get better is to fail faster, which sounds great until...
- we come up short on a jump
- or, slide out in a high speed turn
... mmmmmaybe we ought to temper that a bit.
So, I don't spell fast F-A-I-L.
The fastest people I know are relentless and pay attention to all areas where speed can be gained.
They experiment,
practice,
tinker,
study,
train,
... they do the W-O-R-K.
Usually, a lot more work than most are willing to do.
---
We're getting pretty low on Cycling bag inventory, but still have a good amount we can ship for Triathletes & Runners
---
164.9 lbs
8 hrs
No strength work today
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
I THOUGHT I WAS SO SMART
A BEAUTIFUL DAY WAS ON TAP, and I was meeting two of my fave riding pals. Always good and uplifting conversation, plenty of shredding on the downhills...
... and Love Watts had planned a fun route.
After the first segment of goodness we had a problem.
Sure, I'd...
- checked all the batteries
- pumped up the tires
- adjusted shock pressures
- lubed the chain
... what could go wrong?
Uh, what about them brake pads bro?
There we were 47 minutes in to a 4ish our ride and my rear wheel was not spinning...
... which explained why I'd struggled on the first climb.
This is how good my friends are.
Rather than let me slog home with my chamois between my legs...
... we got to wrenching.
The calipers were all kindsa messed up.
The pads were smoked.
Again, I tried to wo-is-me my way home...
... no dice.
Construction Kev...
My house is nearby, and I have a set of new pads.
... les go!
Never seen this before, look at the retention clip in pic above.
It is destroyed.
15 minutes later,
we're back on track,
hootin' and hollerin' and PRin'.
I love these guys.
On the suspension set up, I aired up a little higher than my normal, which is still lower than factory setting...
... 90lbs up front, 180lbs out back.
Perfect,
much cushier,
still tracking the corners really well.
When Love Watts started charging a long, twisty and steepish singletrack I cut loose...
... figuring he'd clear the way.
Normally, with so many blind turns and a stunning day, there is just too much traffic to go for it.
I'm cautious that way.
It was a gamble,
total blast.
---
I have too much PR Lotion inventory.
This promo code: FRENS
It is buy one, get one free. You MUST purchase TWO bottles, discount will be applied when you check out.
Code can be used 15 times, so use it new before it sells out.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/amp-pr-lotion
---
164.5 lbs
7 hrs
No strength work today
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
YOU KNOW WHY THE BANNED TURNING IN THE BRAKE LEVERS, RIGHT?
THIS JUST IN, UCI figures out how to squash another innovation and has the innovators crying foul. Was it for safety reasons? Worry over racers suffering carpel-braking syndrome...
... or, something much darker?
In these cases, as in all news...
... it pays to follow the money.
Now, just who really cares?
You and I, the fans, who have seen these micro adjustments...
- levers
- socks
- rider position
... to name a few, burst onto the scene then be smothered?
We don't care because...
- It's cool to sees these clever, committed racers explore the fringes of speed
- and, escape into a breakaway that is never caught
... we like that, because we dream of doing the same thing.
Follow the money...
- Fewer sponsors logos being flashed during hours long races, when a handful of racers are off on their own.
... and we get the only logical reason.
Money,
nearly always the #1 reason.
The conspiracylover in me says the big component manufacturers have already begun developing a brake lever/shifting system that is designed to give these aero benefits while leaving the levers inline with the bars.
Nahhhh,
they wouldn't be involved, too?
Personally, never tried it.
I'm also still running "standard" width bars.
I've seen the set up on local rides,
as well as the very short bar widths.
Looks cool,
seems faster.
What's wrong with that?
---
163.8 lbs
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
I LOVE IT WHEN THINGS BREAK
When making a purchase I always go for the best quality available. I like things that last a long time and are extremely reliable. Given enough time and wear and tear...
... nearly everything breaks.
Here's the truth I've discovered, and it's not just bike parts...
... the replacement is almost always way better.
I was reminded this on a ride recently with a heartbroken friend. The love of his life...
... had left.
Having had my own share of love gone wrong, I could relate. I could also share the big picture, everyone of those girlfriends was replaced with someone better...
... and finally with Surfergirl.
Just this week my bookkeeper let me know she was retiring. If you're looked for a good one, reasonably priced bookkeeper lately, you know they are hard to find. I asked my CPA for a referral...
... not only does he offer that now, but at a much better rate than I was paying..
My chief designer moved on 2 years ago, best thing that happened to the business in a long time. Forced me to rethink the entire process and put what is now, I believe...
... the finest experience in the industry.
Of course, we've all hit a nail, had the tire go flat, and realize there's just no way to proceed without getting...
... and brand new bike.
The real question is...
... should we wait until things break?
---
164.5 lbs
5 hrs (Surfergirl had to watch meteor shower until 2am)
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
0 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER TODAY?
I (ALMOST) ALWAYS SCAN THE RACE PHOTOS when the promoter sends out the link. Yes, I like to see myself in action. Who doesn't? The thing is...
... they aren't always outstanding.
Which makes it even more important to purchase the pretty good ones.
Take last Saturday's race.
There were photographers all over the place, and I was really hoping one of the guys on the downhill would post his pics.
Instead, I got this one.
I like it, but for something you might not notice.
Before I get there, I'm just making a public service announcement...
- Buy the pics, unless they just muffed the shot
- Do NOT lift the pics and post without paying
... we gotta support 'em for the days they nail the shot.
Like this one...
Now, about that shot at the top.
The thing I like is it looks to me like the weight training is paying dividends...
... which gets me kind of excited for next season,
and hitting the weights a lot more.
---
164.9 lbs
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
0 minutes recovery
75 minutes reading + Journaling
DO CYCLISTS REALLY NEED TO COLD PLUNGE?
COLD PLUNGE IS ALL THE RAGE, and I've yet to do it. But, I'm wondering if today's ride counts as a cold plunge, which was prognosticated to be in the high 40's, yet on some devices...
... registered in the low 30's.
I'm still cold.
Because I dressed like a rookie...
- Decided my summer gloves would be sufficient
- Left my awesome KOM jacket at home
- Couldn't find my toe warmers
... I froze like a rookie.
Which gets us back to the original question:
Does not feeling anything in my hands for at least 20 minutes, wondering if I still had toes, and being cold 12 hours later count as a cold plunge?
Another bonus was we recorded very slow times on the main segments even though we were giving it everything to get home as quickly as possible...
... low hr,
low power,
complete exhaustion.
Now I know this is the point where all the armchair zwifties chime in on how dumb it is to ride in the cold, and the snowbound chide me for wearing arm and knee warmers, a base layer and skull cap in such balmy weather, so before you go there...
... can some heat me up so cocoa?
---
165.1 lbs
7.5 hrs
No strength
10 minutes recovery
45 minutes reading + Journaling
FAVORITE NEW TECH OF THE YEAR?
DID YOU FIND SOME CRAZY NEW TECH in 2023, or something you want to try out in 2024? I did, and it's not on my Christmas list because....
... it's priiiiii-ceeeeey.
In this case,
it's way better to give to myself
than to receive a look of shock and awe.
Oh, I'm gonna get it because...
... I think it will be a game changer for me.
First, my gravel bike will get it since that's my focus for 2024.
Here's the problem it solves.
If you run a 1x drivetrain, like I do, you either have to run a mullet cassette (10-52) so you have a wide range or run a smaller range of gears so you have narrower jumps.
The obvious solution is to run a 2x with a front derailleur, but that's not possible because of tire clearance.
Is it really a problem?
Well, it sure was last weekend at the Hardman Classic. I really wanted a few in between gears on the climb for maximum efficiency...
... and then on the return with 30 mph gusts blowing me at top speed.
The solution?
The Classified Hub which has a planetary gearing system in the rear hub effectively turning the drive train into a 2x system.
The result...
- Wider range of gears
- Narrower jumps between shifts
... a minor weight gain, with big efficiency gains.
You can read more about here: https://www.classified-cycling.cc/en_us/
Once I get one, I'll report it.
Anyway, that's best product leap I've seen this year.
How about you?
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166 lbs
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Ciruit + more
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
DO WE HAVE AN OPERATING SYSTEM?
I'M FASCINATED WITH AI, not that I'm using it much, more with the implications of what it means to be human. And the question...
... do we have an operating system?
For example, just yesterday bombing Coal Canyon, a rough and tumble dirt road, on gravel bikes it was clear....
... some of saw a playground, others saw a torture chamber.
From an OS perspective, I think it's pretty clear we see what we want to see.
- I wanted to see clean lines and the fastest way down
- Others, moving much slower, could only see the jagged rocks and harsh terrain
Can we control that or are we born with it?
Consider the Troxler Effect.
Stare at the red + sign above, and you'll see blue dot's randomly disappear and reappear.
Why?
Some say it's our Operating System no longer rendering them because they aren't novel.
I suspect something like this is happening when we bomb a mountain.
Some of us can focus on the red + sign - the clean line down the mountain - while others are trying to take it all in and remember all the danger points instead of editing them out like the blue dots.
If we are focused on the red +, the clean line, we don't need to render all the blue dots, the dangers...
... which frees up processing speed for us to go faster, and safer.
If this is true, that it is just an OS issue, can we improve that...
... rewrite our code and go faster?
I think we can, especially when we are young. And, I think the best way to do that is not to go as fast as possible all the time but to go slow and be playful and assess the options and pitfalls in slow motion...
... then speed that up.
Which brings up the question of what is happening as we age?
Why do we slow down over time?
I don't think it's the OS as much as it is the hardware, the gray matter, not being able to process as quickly and efficiently as it once could...
... take in the data and send signals to the body.
What does this really have to do with ripping on raceday...
... I'm not sure.
But, I never thought about this before observing AI.
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164.9 lbs
7 hrs
No strength work
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling