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Todd’s Journal
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Get RaceDay Ready
THE OTHER 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
A LOT OF US plan to do some superspecialsecret training when nobody is looking in the coming days. Some are going so far as to...
... do the outrageous.
A gift to ourselves.
Which reminds me of one my pals who each year would ride a century 12 days in a row.
That was his goto way to start the year with a bunch of base miles.
Of course, the family and friends all thought that was...
... akin to getting coal for Christmas.
Personally, my overarching diabolical (counter season or counter intuitive?) plan is to...
- play around on jumps and technical stuff
- catch up with friends
- have fun
... make the training count.
What are you planning for 12/25 thru 1/6
While you're thinking about that...
... I'm sharing this kit with you in the off chance you're looking so spoil yourself with something outrageously sexy...
You can get it for full price here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/dusty-shins-collection
Or, 50% savings here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/pedalindustries-r-riders-collection
===
163.4 lbs/12.4%
500 Anti-Oxidant Score
7ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
no Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
86/84/2 (fitness/fatigue/form)
>
IS IT TOO LATE TO GO PRO?
THE SALARIES of the tops pro seem fantastic. The lifestyle unbeatable. Who doesn't want to get...
... paid to train and travel the world?
Sign me up.
But...
... it's too late, you're too old, you lack talent, you don't have time, you're too young, your equipment sucks, your friends and family won't approve, you'll nevereverver freakin' make it...
... SILENCE!
Though we may not get paid,
our travel will be less exotic,
we can still focus on...
- a specified activity
- honing our craft
- doing our best
... it's never to late to be pro.
===
164.2 lbs/12.5%
500 Anti-Oxidant Score
8ish hours sleep
no PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
no Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/89/-3 (fitness/fatigue/form)
>
WE WON THE LOTTERY!
WE DON'T DREAM enough. At least most of us. When we do, and I'm not talkin' 'bout shut eye...
... we change our state.
Great things are suddenly possible.
I was reminded of this yesterday...
... my son was going to buy a lottery ticket.
He does this when it's over a billion.
I told him how much...
- it allows us to dream
- things we'd change
- do or never do
... I love and hate the lottery.
Name one thing you'd do?
I'd never get up to an alarm clock again?
Later, I reflected on my greatest day on the bike.
In 2022.
The insane Leadville goal of...
- a PR
- sub-8 hrs
- at age 60
... and how I did it.
The dream of sub-9 at sixty started years prior.
Always in the back of my mind.
But, there.
How it would feel to be in that kind of shape.
The closer the date got,
the more real it became.
Until I believed I could not only go sub-9,
but shatter my 6 previous efforts.
We can win our own lottery...
- crystal clear
- detailed
- belief
... if we'll just start dreaming.
===
166lbs/12.5%
7.5ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
88/91/-4 (fitness/fatigue/form)
500 Anti-Oxidant Score
>
IS IT THE SACRIFICE?
WHY DO SOME OF US stick with the endurance thing year after year after year and others check in for a season or two then check out...
... never to return?
There is something unseen happening.
I think I know what it is.
Sacrifice.
For better or worse...
- could be skipping a new car for a better bike
- an hour later out at night for an early run
- a quick swim instead of a tv binge
... we've sacrificed something.
That sacrifice produces the faith necessary to really go for it,
go for that insane physical goal we've set.
It gives us hope.
And, we love that...
... in everything we do.
===
165.2 lbs/12.5%
7ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
88/93/-6 (fitness/fatigue/form)
450 Anti-Oxidant Score
>
YOU'RE GONNA SAY THIS IS IT
THINGS AREN'T GOING to go according to plan. Everything is going to go south. Everything. And you're going to say this is it..
... This is how I end.
You can accept that,
or you can get to work.
That's all it is.
You just begin.
Solve one problem.
And then the next.
If you solve enough problems...
... you get to cross the finish line.
Adapted from the closing scene of The Martian.
It's a long movie,
about solving problems,
which is what we do the moment...
... we register for a race or commit snagging that elusive PR.
(highly recommend the movie)
===
165.2 lbs/12.6%
8sh hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
88/95/-7 (fitness/fatigue/form)
450 Anti-Oxidant Score
>
THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
IF WE'RE REALLY LUCKY, and we (you n me) are, we'll stumble into something that keeps us endlessly fascinated. No matter how much we do it, or how long we put it on pause...
... it is always, ALWAYS, a ton a fun.
How can we do it forever?
At a high level?
Before I tell ya the answer...
- age
- friends
- failure to progress
... we gotta accept the challenges.
1. If we aren't on point with our health choices, age may ravish us...
... and not the sexy kind.
2. As the playground circles the sun...
... many of our friends will hang it up (see #1.)
3. Failure to progress...
... leads to boredom.
Today, I hooked my sassy grin...
- rode with younger cats
- picked up a new trick
- pushed my limits
... up to the firehose of youth.
1. Lucked into shredding a lot of single track with Steve and Brian...
... the schedules aligned, the conversations vibrant.
2. Coming in hot to a corner, Steve locked up the rear wheel...
... Why did you do that? To vector the turn and change trajectory.
3. Brian, did you launch off that rock?...
... Yeah, came around the turn so fast I had to.
The real secret to the fountain of youth...
... making and keeping young friends.
===
166 lbs/12.7%
7ish hours sleep
no PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
no Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/92/-5 (fitness/fatigue/form)
440 Anti-Oxidant Score
>
THE HIDDEN ADVANTAGE
WE'RE BUSY. We work. Raise families. Participate in communities. Do our duties...
... what's our hidden advantage?
Just that.
We know how to...
- schedule
- pacify
- lead
... and we have perspective.
Which is what sets us apart,
keeps us in the hunt...
... 'till we cross the finish line.
===
164 lbs/12.5%
8 hours sleep
no PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
no Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/92/-5 (fitness/fatigue/form)
440 Anti-Oxidant Score
>
DARE OR DARE NOT
SOMEWHERE AROUND 8 YEARS OLD, we learn of daring. Someone gets dared. We don't even know what the word means and, yet...
... we do.
Because there is tone.
An unsaid judgment.
I dare you.
Our response...
- bold
- calm
- weak
... means everything.
Later in life, that cat in the mirror still dares us...
... if we are lucky.
What are you daring yourself to do in 2026?
===
164.2 lbs/12.5%
7.75 hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/92/-5 (fitness/fatigue/form)
440 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SHOW A FRIEND AROUND TOWN?
GETTING A LONG-DISTANCE FRIEND TO VISIT is mostly rare, for most of us. We post to Starva, talk up our locale...
... to the point of bragging.
Then, the friend shows up.
Suddenly, we're wondering...
- will they be impressed
- can they keep up
- will they crash
... how this is gonna go down>
There was a time when Surfergirl would take such visiting friends aside and whisper...
... Be careful, he's kinda crazy.
Couldn't blame her as more than a few returned bleeding,
one with a broken bone.
It wasn't on purpose.
- I'd just forget
- be in the zone
- having a blast
... thinking they were doing the same.
The local, me...
... could rip the trails blindfolded.
Everyone else was riding blind.
Anyway...
... Tim did great today.
(I knew he would, and didn't really back it down at all.)
===
164.2 lbs/12.5%
7.75 hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
no Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/91/-5 (fitness/fatigue/form)
470 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
GOOD NEWS: THERE'S HOPE!
THIS TIME OF YEAR, the schedule gets crowded. The company parties, family get togethers, community events...
... we want to attend 'em all.
It eats into the training time.
And, that's good.
Just yesterdee, Surfergirl reminded me of our date to see Gentry.
Her favorite trio was in town for a Christmas concert.
Driving down, we wondered if we'd run into any friends,
walking in we saw my brother and sisterinlaw...
... seating, we were astonished.
We were exactly right behind them.
Couldn't have planned it better,
total surprise.
But, that's not the point.
We were carried away in the spirit of the night...
... all the world's nonsense, forgotten.
When we returned home, there was a package on the doorstep.
Incredible...
... a customer had hand made classic ornaments for each of our family members.
As a gift.
The real point is if we'll shut off the news, the pointless socials and get out to events and people we love we find...
... there's hope!
Hoping you'll find plenty of time to share your love for others in the coming weeks.
===
162.2 lbs/12.2%
7.5 hours sleep
no PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
no Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
86/86/-1 (fitness/fatigue/form)
430 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE BEST FREE ADVICE YOU NEVER PAID FOR
WE ALL GET ACHES AND PAINS. Mostly, we just blow 'em off knowing in a few days things will right themselves. At least that's the idea. But, we are organic...
... our equipment is not.
It won't self heal,
like our miraculous bodies.
No matter how much positive energy we send it...
... those creaks won't go away on their own.
We gotta respect and inspect 'em.
I mean really figure it out.
Lemme splain it.
I've had an annoying creak for a couple of weeks.
Finally, last Friday...
- removed cranks
- checked, cleaned bottom bracket
- found a broken bolt on the chain ring spider
... thought that'd solve everything.
Mostly, kinda.
However, last steep climbs at end of Saturday's ride indicated problem not resolved.
Took into the shop for professional treatment.
Ace mechanic gives me a call.
It's not good.
How bad.
Axle in hub is cracked.
Yikes.
Yeah, it coulda been bad.
How bad?
Well, if it broke while riding it would have destroyed the hub innards, and...
And, what?
... and possibly locked up the wheel.
Now, I dunno how things are where you live, but on that ride I'd just finisihed...
... I hit 35 mph over a rocky, gravel fire road.
Had that wheel locked up...
... I'd be dead, at best.
Consider this the best free advice you Never paid for...
- bike
- bones
- muscles
... Fix thy creaks!
===
162.6 lbs/12.5%
8 hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
86/89/-3 (fitness/fatigue/form)
470 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
HAVE YOU HAD A CLASSY SMOKE, LATELY?
CELEBRATING AN EPIC EFFORT is, can be, a powerful factor in repeatability. You know, whether or not we ever do it again and...
... gain the associated benefits.
Old time movies we so classy.
In black and white.
Couple meets,
goes to dinner and dancing,
the very next scene we see...
... they are covered up, smoking in bed!!!
Here's how we do it most Saturdays.
Meet up at the corner,
hit it hard for 3-4 hours,
the next thing we know...
... we're at the country store.
Cokes, RedBulls, chips, even had Zingers yesterday...
... our version of smoking in bed.
===
Now, here's the diabolical brainwashing science...
- guaranteeing many repeat performances
... celebrating with lots of sugar and caffeine burns those good feelings in.
===
165.6 lbs/12.5%
8 hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/92/-6 (fitness/fatigue/form)
430 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
APPRECIATING A ROUGH START
FOR SOME GETTING STARTED is easy, for other it's hard. Even messy. So, what's better...
... an easy start or a tricky start?
Take today.
We'd climbed 4141', 13.4 miles.
The start, though steep, was pretty smooth.
The final 4.5 miles, were quite a bit rougher.
Lots of rocks.
I really suffered that last 2ish miles.
After a bit of a break,
it was time to plummet back down.
We pushed the pace pretty good those first 4 1/2 miles...
... over terrain I've flatted on many times.
I knew the next 9 miles were smoother, but...
... after the previous beating they seemed like a freeway.
We screamed down.
Surprisingly, I posted my 3rd fastest time ever.
(In case you're wondering if that was my 3rd time down, it was my 44th since 2012, per Starva)
This served as a good reminder...
... if we push through a rough start, we gain the skills to go much faster.
===
Further update on the Conti Dubitals...
- they roll reallyreallyreally fast
- corner dependably at high speed
- seem to be pretty darn puncture resistant
... I'm loving 'em.
Looking forward to playing with pressures,
I think I can run lower than the 16 and 17 I ran today.
(that was in the cold garage, before the heated up on the actual ride which would increase the pressure by a few pounds)
===
164.8 lbs/12.5%
7.5ish hours sleep
0 PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
0 Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
89/107/-18 (fitness/fatigue/form)
430 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHAT ARE WE RIDING SATURDAY?
WE ALL HAVE A RHYTHM TO OUR TRAINING. We have a favorite rotation of workouts, training partners, intensity...
... just like the goto dinner schedule.
When all else fails, I know spaghetti and meat balls is a winner.
No matter what I have planned.
When it comes to Saturdays, the...
- crew
- pace
- route
... I have a few defaults.
If I've had two hard sessions during the week,
I'm leaning towards a longish sweetspot/tempo ride.
If the week only had one high intensity completed,
I'm gonna wring it out on Saturday.
This week's Wednesday Worlds was kinda hard, therefore...
... tomorrow I have a nasty 1ish hour uphill TT planned.
The younsters are gonna make me hurt.
Can't wait!
How do you do it?
===
165.6 lbs/12.7%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
0 Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
85/88/-3 (fitness/fatigue/form)
440 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
TACKY, TORQUEY TESTING... CONTI DUBNITALS
GETTING NEW EQUIPMENT is always fun. Usually, it is preceded by all kinds of Kool-Aid drinking. You know, the marketing team laying it on thick...
... and our friends laughing at our antiquated ways.
This week, I bit.
Finally jumped to wider tires.
From 2.2 RaceKing in back and 2.2 CrossKing in front to...
... 2.4 Dubnitals, front and rear.
My testing took place on our local single tracks...
... while doing low-cadence, torque climbing in Zone 2.
I'd rip down,
ponder performance on way back up.
Going from 2.2 to 2.4 doesn't appear to be much,
the tires are a bit lighter than the 2.2s
My initial...
- they go from edge to edge much quicker
- seem to roll very fast
- traction is great
... reactions.
I think they're gonna be a great upgrade,
will test on the smoking fast downhills, Saturday.
===
166 lbs/12.7%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
0 Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
86/93/-8 (fitness/fatigue/form)
450 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION
IF IT TAKES A VILLAGE to raise a child, then, for us, it obviously takes a group to train us up proper. The right gaggle...
... has countless benefits.
Number 1 being speed.
Which is why I did the Wednesday Worlds today, and rolled right into...
... Pain Cave.
When we're on form,
this is an hour segment of riding just below detonation.
Today was much easier...
- the group was slowish
- BBB and I cruised Pain Cave
- catching up and discussing next year's goals
... we were 5 minutes off the PRs.
That will come down because we committed to some rather outlandish goals.
Which means, we'll be pressing the pace on the WW ride,
then duking it out on Pain Cave.
Leading to our mutually assured destruction the rest of the work day...
... and, what we hope will be a massively successful 2026 campaign.
===
If we do it correctly, we'll sprout wings.
Deal below.
Use promo code: VELOBONES
To save 20% on any t-shirt in the collection.
Expires on 12.5.25
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/t-shirts-all
===
165.4 lbs/12.7%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
0 Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
86/95/-9 (fitness/fatigue/form)
420 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
OTB OR OTB?
WE HAVE ALL THESE CODE WORDS and acronyms in our culture. The deeper we get into it...
... the cryptic they become.
Here's the mechanic's favorite...
... I was just riding along.
His eye's roll and he scribbles on the notes...
... JRA.
I heard another from a shop owner who was barely hanging on and his "loyal" patrons were constantly asking for discounts and free stuff...
... he called them Freetards.
I've been guilty of both of those and quickly cleaned up my evil ways once I got the hint.
But, this one...
... it's been hard to stay away from.
OTB.
This one is a two-fer,
I can't get it out of my mind lately.
Off the back...
... which is where I seem to be finding myself a little more than my liking.
Over the bars...
... luckily, my recent wipeouts have been on solo rides.
===
165.8 lbs/12.7%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
0 Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
85/88/-3 (fitness/fatigue/form)
390 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
ARE YOU CHOPPING WOOD?
WE ALL HAVE A FAVORITE MOVIE, book or story. One that inspires us to be more than we currently are, or return to a place we once dominated. These myths are important because...
... they can lead and guide us to a better future.
Truly powerful.
One of my all time favorites is Rocky IV.
Rocky, seeing his once enemy, the great Apollo Creed, who became his friend and mentor, get crushed by a Russian giant...
... decides he must do something completely different.
He must go...
- runs
- pulls a sled
- carries logs
- throws boulders
- chops down a tree
... to snowy and freezing Siberia.
Maybe it's winter,
maybe it's cold...
... maybe they only way to get nasty fit is chopping wood like Rocky.
===
166 lbs/12.7%
7.5ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
00 minutes Reading/Journaling
85/88/-4 (fitness/fatigue/form)
390 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
EARNING VS LEARNING
LIFE IS LIKE AN EPIC CARD GAME. We're dealt our genetic hand. As little children, we have no idea...
... we're just running around having fun.
Somewhere around the age of 8 or so we realize...
... we're not all created equal.
I can throw,
my aim is woeful.
I can run,
my friends are faster.
I can swim,
holding my breath is a struggle.
Most of us here, found we love to endure...
... persistence and suffering are out super powers.
We can't earn our way to a sub-4 minute mile, but...
... we can learn how to be faster and more efficient.
That's the journey we are on.
Learning how to be our best.
===
164.6 lbs/12.5%
8.5ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
85/93/-8 (fitness/fatigue/form)
290 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
TRAINING BLOCKHEAD
FOR MANY OF US, this is the time to back things down. Pick up a sporty side hustle. Hit the weights...
... do something different.
Makes sense.
The next season is a long way off.
Just one problem.
Physics.
You can't shoot a cannon from a canoe.
Meaning, when the season does come around, we're going to need a good base from which to start launching our hard efforts.
So, whatawee 'posed ta do?
Personally, I'm gonna...
- have fun
- be more socisl
- challenge my skills
... while logging some solid base mile.
===
166 lbs/12.7%
6.5ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
88/107/-20 (fitness/fatigue/form)
290 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
ARE YOU COMFY?
WE HEAR A LOT ABOUT comfort zones. How we want to avoid them because they hold us back, lead us to settling for...
... more than we can be.
Who wants that?
Things I think about after a less frightful drop down one of my all time favorite descents.
I held the KOM at one point,
still top 11.
Back than, I was really, really at ease on that screamer...
... in a state of flow, relaxed.
Comfy.
The good kind.
Yesterday, on the same segment, I was a hot mess.
Smiley on my rear wheel, showing his front wheel, asking...
... Are you riding cautious?
I wanted to say...
... Heck no, and Screw you!
Things were not flowing,
I was gripping.
Hard.
It was very uncomfortable because I haven't been on my MTB much the last year or so.
Practice leads to comfy,
comfy leads to flow,
flow leads to ripping.
Effortlessly.
===
164.6 lbs/12.5%
7.5ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
85/94/-9 (fitness/fatigue/form)
290 Anti-Oxidant Score
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THERE'S A LEGENDARY CLIMB
SOARING 5600' ABOVE SEA LEVEL, we have access to a legendary climb. A gravel fire road. It's the kind of challenge we can sink our teeth into, get a baseline for our fitness...
... set legit goals.
The mountain ain't movin'...
- 9 miles
- 3000'
- 6.3%
... but, we are.
The KOM is held by current world tour pro Kevin Vermaerke,
which he probably set in the NICA days.
53:10
The next 9 are local legends...
... the legit kind, not the goofy Starva thing.
There are two ways to view...
- I'm slow, and I suck
- I'm slow, and I can improve
- I'm slow, and I'm dawgawn grateful to be ripping with my pals
... today's traditional Thanksgiving effort.
One more takeaway.
When I set my PR, we lived much closer to the mountain and I'd ride it 3-4 times a month.
It was a goto.
And, it got me thinking...
... if I wanna slay like that again, I gotta do it more.
Maybe every week for the rest of 2025,
and chop 18 minutes off today's time?
===
164.6 lbs/12.5%
7.5ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
84/90/-6 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
I NEVER LIFTED WEIGHTS UNTIL I GOT INTO THE NFL...
MOST OF US ARE PROBABLY HEADING OUT for the local turkey trot or some sort of holiday ride. It's tradition, followed by the traditional...
... Did you ride or run today?
Which deserves...
... Yes, and the sun also rose this morning.
Earning an...
... I bet your hungry!
Usually followed by a...
... I didn't know you could eat so much pie!
At some point someone will turn on "the game".
As full as we are,
as much as that lycra gonna be stressed tomorrow...
... we realize endurance training doesn't favor or create massive muscles.
Which brings me to one of my all time favorite athletes...
... the Great Hershel Walker.
Dude was devastating in college and NFL.
This quote must have been so humiliating to those left flattened on the field....
- 2000-3000 pushups/day
- 3000-5000 crunches/day
- hundreds of pullups/day
- hundreds of dips/day
- air squats and lunges thousands
- 20-50 yard sprints
... I never lifted weights until I got into the NFL.
Damn.
We may not be - ok, never will be - built like Hershel, but...
... kinda makes ya wonder how much stronger we could be.
Dedicating little time,
from home.
===
164.6 lbs/12.5%
7.5ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
20 minutes Reading/Journaling
83/82/0 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
STRATEGY VS THE DREAM
LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR yet? Maybe it's too early, I mean jeez it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But, almost...
... so, it might not be too soon.
There's no rule on that.
I was thinking about this on my ride yesterday.
What comes first...
... strategy or the dream.
Especially with all the InfooIncers on the socials.
You know which ones kill me....
... literally saw this one today...
... Download My 47 Points To Master Advertising Now!
hahahahahah
But, you get the idea.
We can get so hyped up on a new (to us) strategy...
- Single-legged box jumps while hula-hooping for explosive sprinting
- One million grams of carbohydrate from bonking to crushing
- Sleep like a grizzly and maul the group ride
... we start looking for a race to unleash.
I've done it,
still do it.
We can all be suckers,
the cons are as appealing as the conmen.
Anyway, what I concluded after zonetwoing my way around town was...
... The Field of Dream if we build it, they will come...
... is kinda right.
The players, errr strategies, don't show up until the field is built.
In other words, once we identify the...
- A race
- impossible PR
- unconquerable route
... then, and only then, will the strategies we need be apparent.
Let me say it differently.
We can quickly toss aside...
- techniques
- strategies
- hacks
... the worthless dross.
Because the really good stuff that works is easy to see...
... once we have our dream/goal/desire firm and clear in our minds.
===
164.6 lbs/12.5%
8ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
82/74/7 (fitness/fatigue/form)
>
NOT AS GOOD?
JOURNALISTS ARE SO MUCH SMARTER than us fans, they have incredible insights we just can't fathom. Why it's a wonder we even...
... bother seeing with our own eyes.
This is gold.
A journo says...
... MVdP is nowhere near as good as Tadej.
On the heels of saying...
... MVdP beat Tadej on the races he wanted to win.
He being MVdP,
and he being Tadej.
Wait,
what?
He's not as good,
but he beats him?
Oh, journo.
Here's the dill, and...
... it's a good lesson for us lowly amachuros.
On certain courses...
... certain riders are unbeatable.
The challenge is to find our course.
===
164.2 lbs/12.5%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
81/58/12 (fitness/fatigue/form)
>
MY VICE IS TERRIBLE, MY CULT IS WORSE
FEW OF US HAVE BEEN TO AN AA MEETING, but we've seen TV/movie version many times. Hi, I'm Todd and...
... I'm an endurance junkie.
Hi Todd.
When we come clean with the general population, Today I...
- swam 10,000 yards
- rode for 5 hours
- ran 20 miles
... they think we're crazy.
We're not.
The adrenaline rush of ...
- 60 miles an hour in nothing but lycra
- the swimmers blue mind
- the runner's high
... we need that hit.
Regularly.
This risks we take...
- sending it down the mountain
- running along into the cold, dark night
- impossibly holding our breath one more length
... would freakout any life insurance company.
These sensations of pushing well beyond normal, reasonable, safe...
... are often all that's keeping us stable.
In all sincerity, because the allure of the lottery and dulling our senses with substances is so very tempting and tragically treacherous...
... stay dangerous my friends.
The sane kind.
===
165.4 lbs/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
20 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
81/70/11 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
HOW WE SOLVE PROBLEMS
SOME PROBLEMS ARE HARDER than others to solve. It can be frustrating when the answers just aren't coming. This is...
... how I solve my problems.
It's a question of time, right?
The truly unsolvable problems need marinating...
- clearly identify what needs to be solved
- set aside time
- get outside
... during a very lazy ride, run or swim.
The only goal is to solve the problem.
A stop for a pastry and drink is often required...
... I carry a journal and a pen to help me flush out ideas.
The best problems take require more...
- miles
- creativity
- "fuel" stops
... 3 or 4 or a lot more sessions.
Just today I was trying to figure out what to focus on...
- goals
- events
- milestones
... for next year.
Went for a ride,
had a brainstorm,
came home to the Giant calendar.
And they think we ride just for fun and fitness!
===
165 lbs/12.5%
8ish hours sleep
0 PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
0 Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
20 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
83/81/2 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
BECAUSE IT'S BEAUTIFUL
WE ALL HAVE A WAY to perform. Whether it's vanquishing, showing off, sufferfesting, truly enjoying every moment, our individual efforts...
... leave a lasting impression.
On others,
on ourselves.
Is there a best way?
Right way?
Only way?
Let us not gaze into our own navel but...
- racers
- promoters
- business leaders
- matriarchs and patriarchs
- community and governments
... appreciate for better or worse.
It is what it is.
I was recently struck by a singer...
- unknown by most
- unwilling to submit to label demands
- who died without much fame or fortune at 33
... sold more than 10,000,000 records posthumously.
What?!... how? who?
The great Eve Cassidy sang as if every song was a gift to the listener,
with uncommon love and passion.
Nothing more.
May we all do our thing with such beauty.
===
Pull down her tracks on your music app... good wrenching vibes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C1_oNzhU7U
===
164.6 lbs/12.5%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
20 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
81/65/16 (fitness/fatigue/form) time to raise these numbers
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
ON THE GAS
A LITTLE KNOWN SECRET to not falling over is going faster. It's counterintuitive. But, it's the first thing we taught the kids when they started riding motos in the desert...
... speed is our friend.
Then why did I suffer so badly last weekend in a desert-bound gravel race?
You didn't have a motor Dingdong!
No, it's more than that...
... and I've thought about it a lot this week.
The 92-mile race
- low gradient climbs and descents
- long, long straight roads
- mostly flat
... provided very little coasting.
We had to stay on the gas.
It's not like the terrain here,
most of my ride profiles look like a lumberjack's saw blade.
Anyway, I'm thinking about that this week because I'm starting to do sweetspot training...
... 90% of FTP, without coasting.
I've got to stay on the gas (the pedals).
It's hard to do when we have so many punchy climbs and lots of turns.
But, I'm a committed fool when it comes to this stuff.
===
By the way, you might be one of the horde who loved this jersey...
... which means you'll probably love the kit.
If you wanna rock this awesomeness click here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/pedalindustries-r-riders-collection
There's an insane offer, so don't forget to click here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/pedalindustries-r-riders-collection
===
164.8 lbs/12.5%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
82/67/14 (fitness/fatigue/form) time to raise these numbers
>
TAKE TWO, AND CALL ME IN THE MORNING
GETTING A COLD is annoying. Can't train like we want to, can't sleep well, hard to be productive. If we get near our lover fingers are raised in an X...
... so, what do we do?
To speed it up.
There are my goto...
- Zicam at first hint
- Pollo Loco tortilla soup
- Insanely hot and long showers
... rider's tales.
Then there's what I did today...
... which could massively backfire, tomorrow.
I woke up,
it was cold.
I had a cold,
and hemmed and hawed.
I consulted my alter ego Dr. Goforit, who said...
- raise your body temperature
- the nose will start to flow
- blow that gunk out
... Put on a kit and get on two wheels.
Torture.
I've had mixed success over the years.
I'll either be on my way to pneumonia...
... or good as new tomorrow.
===
165 lbs/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
81/58/23 (fitness/fatigue/form) time to raise these numbers
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE GODLY CONNECTION IS STRONG IN THIS ONE
BEING OUTSIDE and unplugged is more than just an escape from "the real world". Most people in "modern society" rarely experience what that is like. We do because...
... that's where we thrive.
And, we're moving fast.
Even if we're practicing our craft daily,
and the whether is good,
we could use more.
Not less.
I experienced a snippet of much more on our road trip.
We took time to visit the land my greatgreatgrandfather homesteaded 100 years ago.
No one else was there but us.
Access is via a gravel road,
10 miles from a 2-lane highway.
No cell service.
The only inputs,
each other and nature.
The peace and solitude remarkable.
Over night, the temps dipped low enough to freeze the rain puddles from the prior evening.
We were cozy,
the van has a heater.
Still, when we rose to stretch and visit this hallowed land filled with childhood and parenthood memories...
... we were shocked by the reality of nature.
Not in a negative way,
one that makes you feel alive,
connected to more than a paycheck and bills.
To God.
To acquire the land...
- the extreme temps at 7000'
- the distance by horse or wagon to town
- the loneliness during the months no one came to visit
... E. M. Whiting had to stay on it and not leave, for two years.
How else could he make such a sacrifice if not feeling a closeness to his creator?
I feel it when I'm...
- there
- in the surf
- on our local trails
... and love it.
Need it.
And so...
- walk
- hike
- ride
- run
- surf
- swim
- camp
... we keep inviting and encouraging our friends to join us.
Outside.
===
164.2 lbs/12.6%
9ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
81/58/23 (fitness/fatigue/form) time to raise these numbers
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE...
DISNEY CREATED AN EMPIRE animating fairytales. Because the appeal is so strong, with little to no cultural barriers we have to ask ourselves not just why, but...
... which is our favorite.
Then, why?
Personally, Cinderella is my top choice.
Not just the story arc,
the snappy dances,
or catchy songs.
There's an orphan in all of us.
Often we don't see who we really are,
out talents lying dormant.
Could be naysayers,
could be something else.
It's nice that Price Charming is a price,
it's charming that he sees Cinderella as she really is.
The point isn't...
- Where's my prince charming?
- Who will save the day for me?
- Why am I not picked?
... to wallow in our sorrows.
The point is for whom are we Prince Charming?
===
165.6 lbs/12.6% (not sure, traveling)
9ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
83/67/16 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IT’S IN OUR DNA
TOO FEW OF US know our family history. Some barely know cousins. Great-grandparents? Forget about it. It’s just not a thing. And, yet…
… what could be more important?
To know their stories,
is to know ourselves.
Which is why we drove hours out of our way after the bike race.
Here in eastern Arizona, to soak of our roots.
Surfergirl’s great-grandfather helped settle Snowflake,
my great-great grandfather helped settle Saint Johns.
They are neighboring towns,
about 20 miles apart.
And the communities were quite friendly with each other.
You’d think we grew up out here,
and that’s how we met and married.
Not so.
I was born and raised in SoCal,
she was raised in Hawaii.
Maybe somethings are meant to be.
But, that’s not really the point.
This is hard country,
the high desert.
To carve a life and community out of nothing took strength, smarts, and massive cooperation…
… the same qualities it takes to complete very challenging endurance events.
Who is an ancestor that inspires you?
===
165.6 lbs/12.6% (not sure, traveling)
7ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
86/87/-0 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
I WANNA PUT A DENT IN THAT GIRL
IN THE HEAT OF BATTLE we can say and do the craziest things. You know things we might not normally say or do. And, at the time...
... they sound/seem totally normal.
Like today.
I had the awesome opportunity to flat 15 minutes into the 92 mile race...
... suddenly I'm swearing like a sailor.
It wasn't horrific,
still, glad no one was around.
Spent the next 50 miles basically riding by myself.
Doing my best.
Jumping from group to group.
I roll up on one of the female leaders,
bridge across to another badass Barbie.
And, I hear her say the funniest thing...
... I wanna put a dent in that girl.
Speaking of the other racer.
I visualize a halloween scene,
hatchet stuck in the helmet.
Hahaha.
Then the crass, neanderthal in me thinks...
... that sounds like something I'd like to do on date night.
Not the hatchet...
... if you know what I mean.
These crazy thoughts are birthed in our very depleted states, as we...
... do our best to stay upright and moving forward.
===
165.6 lbs/12.6% (not sure, traveling)
7ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/89/-2 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHY WOULD ANYBODY GO TO DOUGLASS, AZ?
RACING VENUES ARE HARD TO COME BY, especially in big cities. Almost impossible. The result is the bigger the race, the more likely we are to travel...
... someplace we've never been.
Would never go.
Here I am,
two hours south of Tucson,
on the Mexican border, in Douglass, AZ.
This gravel race has the same vibe as my first Leadville,
back in '99.
Small town,
somewhat forgotten.
Which makes it a perfect place to stage a gravel race...
... surrounded my endless gravel roads.
I decided to sponsor the race for three reasons...
- Mike, the promoter, is hella nice and persistent.
- He's a huge fan of our products
- I'm a huge fan of gravel races
... which are the only reasons to sponsor anything.
Passion and admiration for what each other are doing.
Funny story.
I have actually been here before.
Back in the 80's.
I was doing missionary work in Mexico and our visas needed to be renewed. Five us youngsters piled in a van and hit to Agua Prieto, MX. The plan was to walk across to Douglass, wait five minutes and walk back with new visas.
We were greeted with...
... No, no gringo. No se puede asi. (Not so fast whitey, you can't do it like that.)
So we...
- spent the night in Motel 6
- chomped Pizza Hut
- watched ESPN
... forgot all our Spanish.
And crossed back the next day.
I'm guessing Borderlands gravel will be slightly more challenging.
Good night now.
===
165.6 lbs/12.6% (not sure, traveling)
7.5 hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
83/64/18 (fitness/fatigue/form) ... somebody is tapered!
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
HURRY UP
IN OUR EFFORTS TO GET FASTER, we often think of the many benefits. Mainly health, youthfulness. And truth is...
... we are better than most, not as good as some.
Who's better?
By that, do you mean...
... how could anybody be better???
We are aerobic machines, and that is a key to longevity.
Mostly.
Here are...
- Sprints
- Weights
... the missing ingredients.
I know, I know...
- sprinting sucks
- weights can be dangerous
- and, for the weenies in the back, who wants to gain weight?
... what you're thinking.
According to research, when we lift weights not only do our bones get denser but there are intra-muscular gains to be made that we cannot get any other way.
You know what else is weird, most people in our culture never sprint again after their early twenties.
So, here's the main takeaway from all scientific facts do 'em and...
... move faster, age slower.
===
165.6 lbs/12.6%
7.5 hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
85/71/13 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
GIVERS
THERE ARE THOSE WHO VOLUNTEER selflessly and those who volunteer selfishly. Both are admirable. In fact, when I was a race promoter it blew my mind that...
... people just reach out and offer their assistance.
Just giving where there's an obvious need.
I ran into a selfish one tonight.
The sun had set,
my headlight was on.
I was making my way cautiously because the ruts on this particular trail are bad and...
... there's an enormous sinkhole that might kill ya.
As a get there...
... did I say it was pitch dark?...
... a man is standing with a shovel in one hand and a trowel in the other.
Creepy?
Scary?
Nope, I knew what he was up to.
Not burying bodies...
... prepping the trail so when it rains this weekend the ruts will fill in.
I stopped.
Introduced myself.
Thanked him profusely.
No need, I just moved here and can't believe how lucky we are to have these trails right here. Just wanna make 'em perfect for my kids and me to ride on.
To which I could only say...
... Bro, you gotta let me make you a custom RaceDay Bag.
Is there a better gift?
===
165.8 lbs/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/82/5 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
I THINK I VOIDED THE WARRANTY
LIVING IN THE ACTION SPORTS MECCA of the world, I'm surrounded and influenced by all manner of creative, ingenious athletes. We all feed off each other. My friend Kody...
... started making super aero computer mounts.
3D printed gloriousness.
My new MTB was in need.
I reached out.
Got a mount for Roval bars?
Yes.
Cool, I'll get one.
We haven't tested for lights yet.
He thought I was asking for my road bike.
So yeah...
- the road mount is super aero
- looks freakin' awesome
- supports a light
... survived and thrived on first MTB ride.
Did my evil test void the warranty?
I dunno.
But, this is...
- come up product ideas
- make it
- test it
... what we do around here.
Here's a ink to his site: https://nanoworx.shop
===
165.6 lbs/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/85/2 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
DO YOU KNOW YOUR GOLDILOCKS NUMBER?
WE ARE ALL SEARCHING for that magic number of hours to maximize our training. You know, the Goldilocks amount. Not too little. Not too much...
... the perfect amount of work.
I know where it is.
You do to.
Look back over the year.
Find the week that didn't wreck you, the...
- hours
- distance
- intensity
... I can do this every week.
Bonus/verification if you had any...
- Segments
- PWR
- HR
... PRs the following week(s)?
That's your Goldilocks number.
Mine's about...
- saddle time
- bit of strength work
- some sort of other fun
... 13 hours/week.
What's yours?
===
164.8 lbs/12.5%
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
0 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
88/86/1 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
YOU GET 1 WISH
2026 WILL BE HERE soon enough. Many of us are already planning work, vacations, family time...
... and, yes, races.
You get 1 wish.
Here it is...
- lay out your Giant RaceDay Calendar
- scour the interwebs for races
- pick one, and do it
... no limitations.
Imagine it...
- Anywhere on this giant blue marble.
- Any time of the year
- Dream equipment
- Fantastic lodging
- Clear schedule
... and ask yourself.
If not this year...
... when?
'Cause here's the deal, if we only did one race next year...
... we could probably make it happen.
It's just a mental game, play it out, and let me know...
... where, when and why.
Me personally, my top choices...
- Gravel Burn, South Africa
- Oregon Trail
- Rebecca's Private Idaho
... are gravel stage races.
Gravel Burn looks insane.
===
You do have a Giant RaceDay Calendar, right?
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2
===
164.4 lbs/12.5%
8ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
0 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
89/91/-3 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE REBEL ALLIANCE IS GROWING
EVERY NOW AND THEN a new format or race or course or piece of equipment comes along with promises to change everything. Except hardly anything changes...
... until something sparks.
How does that work?
Like this.
About 10 years ago, I purchased my first gravel bike.
My friends, like me, were roadies and mountain bikers.
A gravel bike seemed like the worst of both worlds.
I got it,
understood where they were coming from.
Except, I was having so dang much fun...
... I didn't care.
I just kept riding gravel,
inviting my friends,
enduring their
mockery.
It wasn't overnight,
more like overdecade.
The last two Saturdays, most telling.
Eight days ago, an absolute shredder on a mountain bike shows up on a spanking new gravel bike.
30 minutes in, he's grinning and shouting...
... This looks so wrong, but gadang it's fun!
Today, another pal shows up for his first group gravel ride.
He's gifted off road, we spent years riding motos in the desert...
... We're going 30+ miles an hour, I can't believe how much ground we can cover!
Does that mean you should be riding gravel, too?
Maybe.
But, really, it's just a lesson in how things that are worthwhile spread.
Then again...
... What did the gravel bike say to the road bike?
I am your father.
===
165.6 lbs/12.6%
8ish hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
0 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
90/105/-15 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
FAMOUS COACHES ARE GETTING FIRED RIGHT AND LEFT
IN PRO SPORTS, or high level amateur, there is always a spot light on the coaches. At some point, blame or credit lands...
... squarely on their shoulders.
Should it?
I do love to follow college football...
- the emotional swings
- the athleticism
- the stadiums
... so much energy and unpredictablity.
Who would have thought so many megamilliondollar...
... coaches would be punted this year.
Mid-season.
The great Seth Godin wrote The Gap.
The idea behind the book is when we find ourselves unable to close the gap to our goal...
... the sooner we decide to quit and move on, the better.
It might be a pro gambling tactic as well...
... but, the only gambling I do is putting my heart, soul and cash into this business.
Anyway, would you have/have you had the guts...
... to change directions, and how quickly would you do it?
===
163.6 lbs/12.4%
7.5 hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/83/3 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
CHOOSE WORTHY ADVERSARIES
WHAT IS IT ABOUT LOVING UNDERDOGS? It's so uniquely American. Is it our origin story, the DNA of our culture...
... to cheer for the fighter with no chance?
Honestly.
Who can't feel a bit of their own soul being crushed with every blow the awesome Apollo Creed delivers to a...
... bloodied, bruised, crushed Rocky Balboa?
We've all been in that arena.
Had the bell ring.
Still standing.
Somehow.
We humans thrive against overwhelming adversaries...
- inspiration
- desperation
- exasperation
... oozing with confidence and power.
When our all is required,
we discover who we really are.
As the great Kierkegaard said...
... What doesn't kill me makes me stronger.
===
164.6 lbs/12.5%
8 hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/88/-1 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
MY TOP 5 SPEED HACKS
FOR MOST OF US, going faster, getting better, has less to do with a fancy new gizmo or the latest training fad. We know that...
... but, what are doing about it?
Like the Mastercard ad says...
... some things are priceless.
Here are five...
- Sleep
- Nutrition
- Strength
- Maintenance
- Consistency
... anybody can do.
These are my hacks.
Sleep.
Figure out when we want to wake up. Get in bed 8 hours prior to that. Stay there until it's time. Eventually, our bodies get the hang of it, and boom... we're sleep doping.
Nutrition.
Eat clean. No packaged foods. If we can't identify the ingredients, we don't consume it.
Strength.
Do the basics, at home. We don't have time to drive to the gym. No need to do all the sets at once, break 'em up throughout the day. Hardly any equipment is needed: pull up bar, a few dumbbells (adjustables for the win).
Maintenance.
New equipment is so nice because it is all tight and precise. Flawless maintenance will keep that new equipment performance for years, and we'll always be race ready.
Consistency.
If we always train at the same time magic happens. Those around us learn and appreciate our commitment. We get it done. Always.
A final word.
I was never the best athlete. Not among my friends, and certainly not at school or among the general population.
I was never picked first, couldn't aim or hit anything regularity.
I wasn't the bravest or most daringist.
I did have one thing going for me...
... I freakin' loved being outside and being challenged by nature.
Today, I'm probably better than almost all my contemporaries.
That's not a flex, it's just happens.
They quit.
Which brings us to the top two hacks of all time...
... commitment and passion.
===
165.2 lbs/12.5%
8 hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
√ Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Split Squats
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/83/3(fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
YOU'VE LOST THAT AWESOME FEELING... GET IT BACK!
THERE'S A CERTAIN SOMETHING we feel during the early days of picking up our passion. It's tangible. We can taste it. We love it...
... that's how we got here.
I'd lost it.
Over the last couple of years, drunk with stupid stats from Training Peaks and Starva...
- more time
- more miles
- more climbing
... I found myself wallowing in fatigue.
Don't get me wrong.
I'd line up, or roll out with the pals, and, though I might be quick to drift back...
... the ability to endure for hours was ridiculous.
Something snapped.
Or, lightning struck.
I dunno.
But, a few weeks ago, I woke up and said...
Screw it!
I'm cutting down the long slogs...
... and bringing back sprint days.
2-3 hours became 90 minutes.
With 10-15 VO2 max efforts,
lasting 10 seconds to 5 minutes.
I'm super fortunate to live close to trails with a lot of straight up and straight down...
... I let the terrain dictate how long the sprint lasts.
Then, focus on my DH skills...
... coasting, staying off the brakes, carving and carrying speed.
The upshot, after 90 minutes and 10+ solid efforts?
I feel amazing,
not pooped.
Sprinting engages all our muscles and focus...
... a total mind, body soul work out.
Soul?
Yeah, trust me.
Do 'em right, and you'll see stars and feel God's presence could be imminent.
===
164.3 lbs/12.5%
8 hours sleep
No PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
No Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls
10 minutes stretching
90 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/83/3(fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
YOU CAN'T GROW A BEARD OVERNIGHT
WE WANNA BE FASTER. Right now. Not this season, not this month, not this week, not today. Right now...
... 300 meters from the finish line.
Houston, we have a problem.
Go ahead.
We forgot to add fuel to the return booster.
Sucks to be you.
Yeah.
We can't grow a beard overnight.
A good one, for some of us...
... can take months.
If we wanna be fast in the final sprint,
if we wanna negative split the course...
... we gotta put in the work before we need the result.
===
164.3 lbs/12.5%
8 hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises, Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/82/4 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
CULTURE WARS
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF TRAINING groups. Both extend invitations...
... the similarities stop there.
One culture assures...
- everyone is ready to start together
- there are plenty of stops
- nobody gets left behind
... fairness and concern.
The other demands...
- leaving on time
- no stopping
- no waiting
... rugged individuals.
The group we...
- join
- create
- help grow
... depends on the result we are looking for.
===
165.2 lbs/12.5%
8 hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises, Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls
10 minutes stretching
180 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/86/1 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
DIRT WORLD PROBLEMS
EVERY SURFACE HAS it's challenges. Add in the weather, how we approach things...
... changes quickly.
Super mist.
The normally grippy sidewalk we were slaying to meet the rest of the crew, was not only glazed with moisture...
... bright green moss screamed Slow down and do not lean over.
We ain't rookies,
not a problem.
It was so misty, the glasses were tucked away.
The late Fall moon dust covering most of our trails and roads...
- forks
- shins
- lenses
... quickly 3D prints on to everything.
Bombing the first downhill...
- nearly 40mph
- no brakes
- 1 minute
... the dust and pebbles flying up stinging our eyes.
Two choices:
Wear the glasses,
blurry, smudgy vision.
Wear no protection,
smoke your corneas or contacts.
When the sun finally burned through,
I grabbed my glasses from my jersey pocket...
... they were covered in sweat.
lol
Truly, dirt world challenges.
===
These Ugly Sweater jerseys woulda worked well today - which include matching gloves and socks
SPECIAL OFFER - 11.1-11.7 ONLY
When you Purchase an UGLY Pro Jersey, we'll include a gloves and socks. (we'll email you for your sock and glove size)
Order here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/ugly-sweater-collection-2025
===
EXTRA SPECIAL CUSTOM UGLY SWEATER OFFER - 11.1-11.7 ONLY
Same offer as above, but custom ugly in your team colors and graphics
Go here to get started: https://bookdesign.pedalindustries.com/
===
164.4 lbs/12.5%
8 hours sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises, Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
90/99/-10 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THAT FREAKED ME OUT!
IN THE HURRY to get the miles in, sometimes we find ourselves willing to risk a potential short cut to get home early. Which is exactly what I did...
... just before halloween.
Hustling down a new trail.
The night's shadows suffocating the daylight.
A long ladder bridge spans steep canyon walls and the trail...
... whips around and under the bridge!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
I was going too fast to even think about it.
Leaned on the tires.
Ducked my head.
Stopped.
Went back up and mastered it at even more speed.
I'd discovered a great way to freak my friends out...
... like finding a killer haunted house.
Gonna be good scare on the next weekly MTB ride.
===
Not as scary as these Ugly Sweaters - which include matching gloves and socks
SPECIAL OFFER - 11.1-11.7 ONLY
When you Purchase an UGLY Pro Jersey, we'll include a gloves and socks. (we'll email you for your sock and glove size)
Order here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/ugly-sweater-collection-2025
===
EXTRA SPECIAL CUSTOM UGLY SWEATER OFFER - 11.1-11.7 ONLY
Same offer as above, but custom ugly in your team colors and graphics
Go here to get started: https://bookdesign.pedalindustries.com/
===
164 lbs/12.3%
8 hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Heel Raises, Calf Raises, Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/82/4 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
BRING YOUR BEST AND LET US ADD UNTO IT
MOST OF US have backgrounds in something other than endurance sports. During those pursuits we learned what our leaders believed to be...
... the best practices for excellence.
Do we leverage that?
Here's an idea.
When I surfed almost everyday...
- most days were small waves
- 2 days a week would be pretty good
- 1 week of the month would have 3+ days of epicness
... which got me thinking, what would happen if I trained more like a committed surfer.
That schedule up there, is a lot like polarized training...
... except for surfers, the good days are usually back to back.
Good days, means...
- charging through the surf
- scrapping to get max speed and catch one
- battling back through the big waves to get back out
... a lot of VO2 max efforts
Then,..
- back
- to back
- to back
- to back
... consecutive days one week a month, when a great swell hit.
After the big swells, there is usually a lull.
Good, because,
we're tired,
we rest.
That's how surfers train because that is nature's cycle...
- lots of endurance
- regular intervals
- a big week
- a lull
... maybe it should be ours, too.
===
165 lbs/12.5%
8 hours sleep
0 PullUps, 0 PushUps + 0 Box Jumps, Nordic Curls, Heel and Calf Raises
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
87/82/4 (fitness/fatigue/form)
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
MY SECRET ALLIANCE
Jun 08, 2023
by TODD BROWN
I HAVE THIS CORE GROUP OF ATHLETES I meet with once a week on Zoom. In the beginning, it was simply to hold each other accountable. Six months in...
... it's become a trusted group of advisors and motivators.
If you're like me, very few people can relate to what I want to accomplish.
Why do you want to do that?
Ugh... I hate that question.
Is it to make me feel guilty?
Is it because I'm making them look bad?
Or, maybe it's just jealousy that I have something I'm passionate about.
Personally, I just want to go for it.
Simple as that.
I want to.
Which is what makes my alliance so invaluable.
They all get it because they are on a similar quest.
We ask why, so that we know how to support each other.
We ask how, and we get gold from the group.
We ask when, to cheer each other on.
Each week, we check in and update each other on our progress on and off the bike, our challenges, our races, our PRs, etc...
... and I love it.
I hope you have something like that in your life.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-alliance
If not, check this out.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-alliance
---
164
8ish hrs
Push Ups, Pull Ups, Squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
THE INFINITE RACE
Jun 07, 2023
by TODD BROWN
LAST NIGHT WAS A CLOSE ONE. Pre-riding part of the course, my chain was skipping a bit. Can't have that racing...
... luckily, my local bike shop was there.
So, I cut my pre-ride short figuring the course was unchanged from the previous week.
Big mistake.
(Note: this is why I highly, highly recommend supporting the local shop)
The other mistake, as The Coathanger pointed out, was not dialing in my bike before showing up.
Hey, I saw your bike hanging up and being wrenched on.
Yeah, chain is skipping.
Aren't you supposed to be raceday ready?
Yes, I am.
Don't you make a checklist for having the bike ready on raceday?
Yes, I do.
Well?
Well... shift happens.
Anyway, we line up to race and within about 3 minutes we've nearly caught the wave that stared 30 seconds ahead of us and as 3 of my competitors gap me with ease...
... I'm thinking Why the heck do I sign up for this torture?!!
My breathing is so loud and laborious, even I'm concerned.
Fortunately, along with my derailer not working well my Wahoo HRM wasn't working either.
Let the records show that both of these devices were working fine the day before.
If I'd been about to see the HR recorded by my back up Apple Watch, I probably would have quit.
It was really hard.
Towards the top, I made up a bit of ground and while the leaders were being held up a bit by slower traffic on the single track return to the bottom, I was able to connect once we hit the pavement.
Remember how I skipped riding all of the course?
Yeah, well, if I had, I would have known to be first into the final single track, which we haven't ridden all year.
It's not that hard.
But, it does have some very steep and tight turns that must be attacked with power...
... the kind of turns that can get in your head.
Sure enough, the rider in front of me misses the last 180 and we all have to dismount.
Ugh.
Winding around to hit the big hill for the second and final time, I'm feeling a little better.
Slowly, ever so slowly, I pulled away from the fellas and established a big enough gap by the bottom to comfortably ride away.
The point is this.
Sometimes, I (we?) just want to quit.
It hurts.
I'm tired of suffering.
Inevitably, at least for me, I almost always start to feel good.
As the great Mike Tyson famously said...
... Everybody's got a plan until the get punched in the face (gapped off the back.)
The thing is though, while the pain is real, it's not infinite...
pushing through,
giving it our all,
persevering,
... is what we do, and who we are.
It doesn't always work out, that we catch back on or feel better. Sometimes we just get shelled and do the ride of shame back to the start line.
You know what would be a real shame?
To never go back,
to stop clawing and battling,
to never chase another outrageous PR.
The real race is the infinite one, against ourselves.
---
164.7
6.8 hrs
RaceDay Ready Circuit Training and Run
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
DRAFT OR BOTTLE?
Jun 06, 2023
by TODD BROWN
HAD A RACER PING ME and let me know he'd beat anybody, anytime, anywhere. He'd put up $500, cash. He just had one requirement...
... no drafting.
Then asked me my thoughts,
poor soul.
They are many.
- He would lose to any pro male, and most pro women.
- Drafting requires a level of skill and cunning, I personally enjoy.
- Drafting is important in decreasing order:
- BMX
- Road
- Gravel
- Mountain
- Time trialing.
- Don't wish things were different, with you were better.
So rather than bottle up that angst,
go for something where drafting matters less, or not at all.
MTB
or, TT
Prove it.
Now, I really like this cat. He has sent me a number of emails over the years...
... I hope he is encouraged to go for it.
Winning a Cat 1 race in either of those would be a truly massive feat.
I hope he does it.
I hope he rips it up,
climbs to the top step,
and claims the all elusive Gold medal.
That would be rad...
... then, we can find a pro who he can give $500 to.
If you're still reading brother,
I send this in love and as a challenge.
Let me know.
Meanwhile, I'll be finishing at to top of my age group tonight...
... 15+% slower than the pros.
---
165.2
7.5 hrs
PushUps and Pull Ups
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
VISION PROBLEMS?
Jun 05, 2023
by TODD BROWN
ALLRIGHTY KIDS, you may be having the same challenge I am. Oddly, and this is happening on and off the bike, I have found myself challenged...
... to look far ahead.
That's a problem if you're trying to go fast.
For some inexplicable reason, I am having to really force myself to keep my eyes up...
... searching for the next turn or obstacle.
Instead, I find myself rather myopic (kids, that means only seeing what's right in front of me.)
The result is instead of being in a state of flow, I often find myself being reactive and overly cautious.
Do I need glasses?
Mmmmmaybe.
But, I don't think so.
In fact, after a deep dive into 10X Is Easier Than 2X, I'm convinced my vision has just gotten lazy on the bike.
Lazy?
Maybe not the right word.
Bad habits?
It could be I've been doing more road riding and it is so easy to just focus on staying glued to the wheel I'm drafting off.
In the 10X Book, Dan and Ben propose that by focusing on 10X goals our mind will develop the pathways to get us there.
Rather than looking far down the trail and having the faith my body will fill in the gaps...
... which is what it does when I'm in a state of flow,
when the stakes are sky high...
... I'm looking only a few feet ahead.
This puts me in a much more reactive state when ripping, far from flow. Much more of...
... a state of Oh, shift!
Not good.
Slow.
Not joyful.
Danger.
Where I should be loose and attacking,
I'm tense,
rigid.
The only cure I can think of is to get out on the trails more,
and go a lot faster than I've been going lately...
... because going 10 times faster,
used to feel a whole lot easier.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/the-way-of-the-racer
One of the secrets to going faster is...
... expecting good things to happen.
I talk about this in Chapter 4.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/the-way-of-the-racer
---
165.8
8 hrs
RaceDay Ready Strength Work
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
IT'S NOT AN 'A' RACE IF...
Jun 04, 2023
by TODD BROWN
AS RACERS AND ATHLETES, the 'A' race is our north star. Everything we are doing is aligned to achieve a specific result. To be truly powerful...
... 'A' races are something we have never done.
Doing LoToJa for the 'nth time is not an A race...
going for a PR is,
arriving at a never before race-weight is,
completing it when life derailed nearly all training plans is,
shooting for the podium after being pack fodder for years and years is...
... if it isn't scary, it's not an A race.
It's just a race that will B nice to do and allow us to C our friends
Which is fine, but hardly a north star by which all decisions are going to be weighed against...
... is this going to help or hinder the A race?
In that light, most us fail.
Me, especially.
We plan poorly,
make up excuses,
create unrealistic fears,
anything to keep us from facing the fact...
... we are scared shiftless.
Recently, I was talking myself out of going to USA Cycling's MTB Marathon Nationals...
- It's so far away.
- I hate flying (I really do)
- Work is so busy that time of year
- It's gonna cost a ton
- ... on an on.
... What a freakin' baby (I'd say pussy but I know that offends a lot of people, but that's what I was thinking. What a freakin' pussy to come up with all these excuses when it's been on my bucket list for years to go and to win.)
You know the difference between an A race and a B and a C?
Courage.
Because we don't know how we're gonna do it.
We've never done it.
It's impossible.
There is a secret, however.
It starts with Registration.
Just because we can't fathom the outcome we want to achieve,
doesn't mean it's unachievable.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/the-way-of-the-racer
If you've read my book, which apparently I need to read again for a kick in the bibs...
... then you know Registration is where the magic begins.
And, until that happens we are only fooling ourselves.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/the-way-of-the-racer
---
165.8
8.2 hrs
Pull Ups, Pushups, Squats
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
I THINK I'VE BLOWN IT
Jun 03, 2023
by TODD BROWN
ON THE VERY FIRST BABY CLIMB, I suspected I was in trouble. 2 hours later, when riders from all parts met up, I received confirmation...
Bro, you're overtrained.
I was shot right out the back 2/3s up a power climb...
... the lonely ride of shame ensued.
Dangit!
I knew it'd be risky, this little plan o' mine to put in a big training block during our racing break in order to up my fitness a bit.
5 out of 8 days, hitting it hard...
Saturday
Sunday off
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday exhausted, skipped the ride
Friday, very easy
Saturday
... plus weights, Mon-Wed and Fri.
Now, what to do in the next 72 hours?
- Get plenty of sleep - I've struggled a bit lately by adding an early morning commitment, but I think my rhythm is coming around.
- Hypvolt and stretch daily.
- Recovery walk tomorrow.
- Monk-like on the diet.
- Easy spin Monday...
... with any luck, I'll feel better.
We have 4 races left.
My plan, going forward, is back to back hard days with race Tuesday, hard MTB Wednesday...
... then lots of zone 2.
Ideally, the last 3 races I'll be feeling really good.
We'll see.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
At least I was looking good with these superlight gloves to match my kit above...
... we have lots of colors and did you know...
... it's Buy A Pair, Get A Pair for FREE?
Nothing like matching gloves to make the kit look slick.
Note: be sure and order 2 pair, the discount is automatic when you check out.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
---
163.9
6.8 hrs (no bueno)
Pull Ups, Pushups, Squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE POWER OF A GOOD TAIL WIND.
Jun 02, 2023
by TODD BROWN
WAS I REALLY GOING 24 MPH on my gravel bike, with underinflated tires and a heart rate of 114 bpm? It sure felt good, plus the sun had finally broken through after a month of May Gray...
... and, it dawned on me.
Everything is easier with a tail wind.
Except for one thing.
And, that can be a problem.
The tail wind speeds everyone up. Suddenly wind is not an issue, and the most powerful riders, if allowed to breakaway, can be nearly impossible to catch.
But, what if we had our won personal tailwind?
Wouldn't that be grand?
Some of us do.
And you can, too.
For a coupla bucks you can have a home gym,
and in 20-30 minutes knock out enough work to make a lot more watts.
Normally, I'd point you to the RaceDay Ready Challenge right here, where I unveil all the strategies I use...
... to Rip On RaceDay.
But, I'm not gunna.
I can't.
Hundreds and hundreds have started the challenge, but failed to make it.
That's on me.
And, it makes me sad.
I really do want you to have your best days ever...
... so, I'm revamping the program.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
So, allow me to point out that these supersexy, superlight race gloves are amazing...
... light and airy enough to wear ih the hottest temperatures.
Plus... there's a deal going on...
... it's Buy A Pair, Get A Pair for FREE?
You know how cool these are gonna be on the 4th!
Note: be sure and order 2 pair, the discount is automatic when you check out.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
---
163.6
7.5 hrs
Pull Ups, Pushups, Squats
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
ARE YOU A PROTEIN HACKER?
Jun 01, 2023
by TODD BROWN
IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE TO EAT ENOUGH PROTEIN, which our bodies need to repair and maintain muscles. With all our efforts to be fueled for the ride, it's easy to skip or skimp on...
... whatever your thoughts on how much protein you need.
The studies can be startling.
A study showed the young really don't need any protein because their bodies manufacture their own supply, while aging athletes need more because their bodies can't utilize it as efficiently.
What are we supposed to do?
Me, I have a goal to eat a gram of protein for every pound I weigh.
To stay on track and make it easy I try and knock most or all of my protein consumption prior to dinner...
... then, I can eat whatever the family, friends or I want to eat.
There are bonuses to this program:
- Your full all the time
- Not consuming a bunch of unneeded calories
I created a journal my protein consumption, the rest is a focus on eating "clean".
For example, here's today's entry...
6/1
30 Kodiak waffles
7 Bacon
7 Cheese
22 Sardines
12 Rx Bar
25 Kachava Shake
50 Poke (dinner)
36 Greek yogurt (dessert)
... a little over gram/pound of my body weight.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
Good thing the Superlight Race Gloves...
... provide such a powerful connection to my bars.
Did you know...
... it's Buy A Pair, Get A Pair for FREE?
I wear 'em all year long, they're that good.
Anyway, if you're in to Patriotic stuff like me, get a pair for you and a friend.
Note: be sure and order 2 pair, the discount is automatic when you check out.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
---
165.6
7.8 hrs
0 cross training
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
DON'T LOOK BACK, BUT DO LOOK DOWN.
May 31, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THE DRTY WDNSDY RIDE is one of my favorites. We meet at the corner, chase each other up the climbs, search out new and challenging downhills...
... what could be better?
The Assassin had gone to the front, and as the trail got a lot steeper, the pace stayed the same...
... I was afraid to look back.
If I looked back and saw The Gentlemen gapped off,
I'd probably drop anchor myself.
If I looked back and he was on my wheel,
I'd press on and blow up before the top.
Now, why do we do these rides?
Adventure, for sure.
Chance at coming home bloodied, that too.
But, there's something else.
Something bigger.
We're all training for A races in a couple of months. What we are doing now, is laying down the foundation:
- Lots of saddle time
- Riding trails much harder than we'll race
The Great Alex Hormozi shared a great and applicable story we can apply to base training.:
Two men set out to build a building.
One lays the foundation for a 10-story building and finishes the entire building in nine months.
The other lays the foundation for a 100-story building and it takes him the entire nine months just to build the first few floors.
The first “being ahead” mocks the second for taking so long. He decides he wants to build his building into a 100-story building to prove how good of a builder he is. So he tries to add stories on top. He gets to 15-16 stories and then the foundation begins to crack. He starts reinforcing things. But no matter what, he feels he can’t put anymore on top.
Over time, the second guy keeps building and passes the first man. Two years later the second man completes his 100-story building despite barely having his foundation finished by the time the first man finishes his entire building.
The first man, goes to a mentor to ask his advice on growing his building taller. The mentor tells him “you need to tear down this building or start another one new”
He says “and waste all the time I spent building this one? Can’t I just add it on top if I just knew how?”
The mentor replies “there’s a lesson here: The fastest way to build a 10-story building isn’t the fastest way to a 100-story building. Your desire to grow fast ruined your ability to grow big.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
All of us had on the Superlight Race Gloves...
... with the perforated palms, real leather and device friendly thread.
Did you know...
... it's Buy A Pair, Get A Pair for FREE?
I wear 'em all year long, they're that good.
Anyway, if you're in to Patriotic stuff like me, get a pair for you and a friend.
Note: be sure and order 2 pair, the discount is automatic when you check out.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
---
166.1
7 hrs (not enough, trying to shift my sleep pattern)
1 cross training
20 minutes recovery
80 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
DO YOU MAKE IT LOOK EASY?
May 30, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THERE I WAS, MOVING QUICKLY UP A STEEP CLIMB through a local neighborhood. The bottom far below and the top nowhere in sight, when a lovely lady said...
... Wow, you make that look easy.
I smiled back and wished her well.
She wasn't flirting with me, I don't think.
But, her assessment wasn't quite accurate.
What she couldn't appreciate was the miles I've logged,
the discipline I've learned to exercise,
the wonderful feelings in my body,
the challenges I've faced,
the skills I've developed.
I wasn't making it look easy...
... I was making it look enjoyable, pleasurable.
And that is all the difference,
why I'm endlessly fascinated with this sport.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
I was wearing these superlight gloves...
... with the perforated palms, real leather and device friendly thread.
Did you know...
... it's Buy A Pair, Get A Pair for FREE?
I wear 'em all year long, they're that good.
Anyway, if you're in to Patriotic stuff like me, get a pair for you and a friend.
Note: be sure and order 2 pair, the discount is automatic when you check out.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
---
166.6
7.7 hrs
1 cross training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
HOW TO GET PRs WITH RUBBER LEGS
May 29, 2023
by TODD BROWN
WHAT COULD GO WRONG WHEN YOUR PAL, who is already faster, invites you for an easy and lazy holiday spin? Nothing, unless he's noticeably lighter and says...
... We're just gonna cruise up a few hills.
To start, we did something I reallyreallyreally didn't want to do first
Nyes Place.
20% grade.
So steep when the homes were constructed cement trucks were mandated to carry half loads.
I PR'd Nyes, and that was just the beginning of the magic.
Let me tell you how weird this was.
I'd already done the full Cowboy Strong Circuit, plus my legs were still feeling fatigued from Saturday's 80 mile adventure.
Strangely, probably because everybody dropped me on Neyes, I rode that sunnuva climb faster than ever before. I'd only been up it a few times, but still.
Then, I PR'd 2 of the next 3 steep climbs, and got a 3rd fastest on the 2nd of the 4 climbs.
It was just so strange because the remaining 3 climbs seemed so much easier than they ever had before.
Yes, I was huffing and puffing.
Yes, it was a high threshold, nearly anaerobic effort.
Yes, we were regrouping and actually cruising from climb to climb.
But, how could that be?
All these PRs when I'm a lot older?
Maybe the cross training got my muscles firing?
I remember the hearing of the Lakers, in the glory days, hitting the weights before the game.
Maybe it was the nice 45 minute warm up ride over to the climbs?
I do appreciate a good warm up more and more.
Maybe it was the perfect, 60ish degrees and misting.
Maybe it was just physics?
I hadn't done any of these climbs since before I got back into racing and dropped at least 10 pounds.
Maybe it was fitness?
I'm just a lot more committed and fit than I was when Strava first came out.
Maybe it was the bike?
My current road bike is super legit, much more than the bikes I rode for fitness and getting road miles in.
Maybe it was chasing my very fast friends?
There really isn't anything like seeing someone else ahead and tapping into the mental magnet to get pulled along.
It coulda been any one of those, all of those, or some combination.
But, I reallyreallyreally think riding the beast that is Nyes first...
... made everything else seem a whole easier.
Maybe there is something to the Rubber Arm Experiment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdxlT68ygt8
---
166.6
7.5 hrs
1 cross training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
WHAT TO DO WHEN IT REALLY, REALLY HURTS
May 28, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THE BIKES WENT FLYING EVERYWHERE. It was a spectacular finish line crash, but I suspect that was nothing compared to the pain felt yesterday...
... which must have been overwhelming.
So, what do we do when we're really banged up?
If you watched the last, incredible stage of the Giro today you might have missed it.
- Not the crash
- Not G Thomas' massive pull
- Not Cav's insanely dominant sprint
A couple of kilometers out, I saw something none of the pundits caught.
Did you?
Geraint Thomas began the healing process from what had to be a supremely bitter and painful loss...
... by helping a friend in need.
Go back and watch it.
He' not paid to pull Cav's lead out man, LL Sanchez, but he pulls along side and says Get on my wheel.
Then, Thomas strings out the race at just the right moment, keeping the pace extremely high and making all the other sprinters work very hard to get into position while Cav is cruising in the perfect position.
With 1k to go, the other sprint teams' momentum carries them around Cav and he's perfectly slotted in 10 guys back on the wheel of the guy rocking the Sprinter's jersey.
It couldn't be better,
it wouldn't have been better if Thomas hadn't done a very good deed.
---
165.6
7ish hrs
0 cross training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
SMALL RING, SMALL DETOUR, BIG FUN
May 27, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THERE'S A LOCAL RIDE I'VE DONE A THOUSAND TIMES, which is why I don't do it that much of late. We hit it today because my pal TimmyV texted up...
... I'm outta shape and need a hard ride.
Perfect, CV is a ride he knows well and knows how to get home.
A mile from home, I realized my front derailer was dead. Same as yesterday, only this time I'd charged the battery...
... good thing there's lots of vert, little flat riding.
We picked up Charlie and met about 30 fire breathers, soon we'd be feelin' that burnin' he'd been yearnin' for.
The first little pitch I stretched my legs, looked back and saw a gap.
Hmmm.
I pressed on, made a light they missed.
I coulda waited, but I was really wanting to ride hard and the group didn't seem that interested.
After 8ish minutes, I eased up and waited and waited and waited...
... they were missing all the lights before the canyon.
We all dropped down the corkscrew, leanin' hard and singin' brake pads, pouring out onto the downhill run before blasting up the other side of the canyon.
I was about 7 guys back.
The pace was heating up, finally.
With zero warning, we hit a road closure. Stopped. Trees down. Turned around.
This is where it got fun.
Paralleling the road is a paved stretch through a campground, which turns to dirt for the final 1/2 mile or so.
Surprisingly, only a few of us knew the route.
A few roadies, balked and bailed out.
The rest loved the detour.
Back on the climb up the canyon, things got going again. It felt so good to be sweating, hearing my heavybreathing, watching the leaders ride away over the top...
... reeling them back in by the 120 degree turn at the bottom,
and hanging on.
Ryan, Chase and I opted for the extra credit, 20% pitch over the very top before regrouping with the rest.
Tim's text came through,
I'm done.
Fried.
I'm glad he got me out,
I'm glad I kept going with only the small chain ring.
It was good to see the friends,
good to get pushed hard,
good to test the legs.
When I got home, I saw the most amazing thing...
... the mark of a winner.
Primoz Rogic dropped his chain,
remained calm and put it back on.
Didn't freak out.
Didn't get emotional.
Didn't give up and quit.
That's focus.
---
166
8ish hrs
Push Ups Pull Ups and Squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
WANTING A LOT MORE RESULTS IN 2023
May 26, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THERE IS A BIG PRICE TO BE PAID when we have a true A race. It's not the entry fee, the bike upgrades, travel, lodging, food, time off work, time away from family...
... it's a lot more than that.
This is what makes it so hard, and why so many of us fail to accomplish that big A race goal.
The price we must pay is...
... saying NO! to every other race and event and thing we also want to do.
Sure, we'll do other races. Go for PRs. Race our friends to the City Limit signs all year long.
As the great Derek Sivers says in Anything You Want...
... If it ain't Hellyeah! then it's No.
Trust me, I'm battling like hell with this right now.
I had my A week back in March,
that fitness carried through to an exceptional April,
and now we are halfway through a weekly MTB series and it's been a real battle.
I'm burned,
My body is burned,
My MTB is even burned.
But, that competitive bug has bitten and I'm sick with a desire to see if I can manufacture some fitness for the last 4 races...
... then, I'll take a break before building for the next A race.
This could be really dumb and back fire.
If you love racing, which I'm guessing you do since you are reading this post...
... it's one thing to know you need a break, another to take it.
It actually takes courage,
and faith.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready-2023
Thanks to Neal F for the photo above...
... it's a progress shot from his 10-Week Challenge, so rad.
(photo credit RVAHUB)
---
165.6
8ish hrs
Push Ups Pull Ups and Squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
SOMETHINGS ARE BETTER NOT SAID
May 25, 2023
by TODD BROWN
I RAN INTO A FRIEND OF MINE who asked if I was going back to Leadville this summer. He said he needed to go back because he'd had a major mishap...
... and couldn't let that be his last attempt.
Who wants to end on a low?
Not him.
Not us.
We want to go out on top, whatever that top is.
Here's the weird thing though...
... few of our family and friends can relate to what we want to accomplish.
That's actually not that weird, because our standards are so insanely far above the average adult.
What's weird is the reactions of these friends and family.
The questions they ask, the looks on their faces.
They just don't get it.
I told him I wasn't going back that I needed a break, it's a massive commitment.
You going back?
For sure, can't let last year's flop be my last.
That's cool, I'm stoked you're taking it on again.
I knew you'd understand.
For sure.
It's gotten to the point where I rarely share these adventures and quests because nobody gets it.
I'm right there with you. We do these epic challenges just because we want to, it's our thing.
You know what else?
There's a lesson there, one we all know but...
... might not recognize.
At least I didn't recognize it until recently.
Wanting things magical. Simply wanting something a lot opens up the pathway to making it possible. In our case...
... the training, knowledge and plan.
It all starts by simply wanting to do it, regardless of what everybody else thinks.
We gotta want it.
---
165
7ish hrs
Minimal cross training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
MY SECRET COMBINATION
May 24, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THE THORN JAMMED IN MY THIRD KNUCKLE wasn't bothering me at all during my ride. I could feel it catch as I slid my glove off, which was no big deal. Then I knocked against the counter...
... yeah, I felt that real good.
It was a reminder of how great the day had been.
I'd gotten up early.
Done my morning reading and writing.
Followed by a quick session of cross training.
I settled in at my desk and knocked out some good work.
And finished the day riding single track trails with The Gentleman.
It's amazing how quickly things can be accomplished when the habits are in place.
James Clear, in Atomic Habits, says...
... If you want to do 50 pushups start by doing 5.
Naval Revekant says...
... At the end of the day, we are the combination of our habits and the people we spend the most time with.
To which I'll add...
... If you want to rip on raceday, start riding with purpose and meeting up with faster riders.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
Did I mention, I'm relaunching this and the price is going up? Join now, and get the current price.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
---
165
7ish hrs
1 round of cross training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
YOUR CATEGORY LEADER
May 23, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THE ANNOUNCER RAN DOWN THE LIST OF CATEGORY LEADERS, while I unloaded the van.. A few of my friend's names, and of course my frenemy's name...
... stuck out the most.
This is the 4th week of our 8-week series.
Only 6 count.
It's on.
At this point, everybody who has a chance at the series championship has raced at least once. The leaders have all raced 3 races...
... but not everybody has.
And those who have can still toss out 2 races.
In other words, now the fun begins.
My frenemy, Bob, got a coach this year. My coach! Damnit!!...
... maybe I should get back on a formal training plan.
I probably should.
I might.
My A race is still months off...
... I got time.
For now, it's time to see how the weekly MTB race season unfolds. We've had 2 different race winners and a lot of jumbling in the placings.
Each week is gonna have some drama.
The closer we get to race 8, the more the bars will be banging.
---
By the way, how rad was today's final climb of the Giro?!. They only have a few more days of hard climbing...
... it's gonna be epic.
Nobody wants to leave it for the last hilly time trial.
Too risky.
But, sometimes fate has it's say and we just might get down the last day or two with seconds still remaining between the leaders.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
Can't wait to check in with the club.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
---
164.5
7ish hrs
0 round of cross training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED?
May 22, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THE FIRST CRIT SERIES I EVER DID made all the difference in the world. Not because it was well run, or fancy, or challenging, or had any fans at all...
... it was the opposite.
The amount of blood I shed on the second race still stains my memory.
Who would go back to that week after week?
Me.
Here's why.
The race was put on by the college ski coach, to help his athletes stay in shape. They raced the B race. The actually racers did the A...
... newbs like me the C.
Like all asphalt-roots crits, this one was staged in an out of the way place...
... the giant, aging football stadium parking lot.
It was more packed gravel than pavement in spots, particularly the the turn I slid out in.
I didn't care.
Only 10 guys lined up.
None of us knew what we were doing.
Most of us placed, and occasionally won on a hot summer night.
I was hooked.
I hadn't won anything sporty to speak of since grade school...
... I was a very, very, very late bloomer.
Finally, I'd bloomed and found something I was good at.
But, what if first race was a legit California crit as a Cat IV?
150+ racers on the line was common back then.
The speeds seemed insane.
It's hard to imagine surviving a few laps.
Nope, I needed Bobby Bills and his girlfriend telling us to Go!,
Holding their silly posters with laps remaining,
The ensuing squabble over who won.
No photos or video,
No race numbers on our back,
No friends or family or spectators of any sort.
A handful of athletes...
... tasting victory for the very first time.
That's often all it takes to find a whole new world of adventure and the pursuit of personal excellence.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
---
165.9
7.5 hrs
1 round of cross training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE BEST SUPPORT MONEY CAN'T BUY
May 21, 2023
by TODD BROWN
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO WANTS YOU TO RIP ON RACEDAY, there are a whole lotta people pulling for you. But, sometimes it feels like we're...
... grinding up hill with a headwind.
Why?
Because we aren't using our calendars properly.
We have 'em.
Sometimes fill 'em out.
Completely neglect the most important parts.
Here's how I do it, and it's improved every relationship I have and given me superior support on my A race...
- Pencil in the A race, the sooner the better.
- Show it to your important relationships - family and work for sure.
- Add the the family and work dates in pen to your calendar.
... then go back and fill in your A race in pen - I like a fat, red Sharpie.
Share your calendar with all that matter, often.
Here's how to screw it up...
- don't share the A race until it's a few weeks or months away
- don't consider other events your supporters deem important
- only have your A race on the calendar
Can I share a little story?
Here's how I set up my A race in 2022.
- I put it on the calendar 3 years out.
- I blocked out time to take Surfergirl on a surf trip to Mexico months prior to my A race.
- I made sure to get to every family and work event I could.
You know how you want your loved ones and friends to crush it at their thing?
They want the same for you...
... the calendar and caption above are a perfect example.
Pro tip: check out their calendar, figure out a way to be there for them.
Bonus: if your calendar and goals aren't freaking you out, raise your standards. A lot.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
I'm in the process of dramatically upgrading the accountability club.
The price is also going to increase.
Those who join prior to the upgrade will be grandfathered in.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
---
164.8
8+ hrs terrible tossing and turning, too excited?
No cross training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
SYNCHRONIZED SPRINTING FOR THE BURRITO
May 20, 2023
by TODD BROWN
MY PLAN WAS TO MAKE THE RIDE HARD. When I found the Gambler and the Hulk loading up on caffeine at the corner bakery ...
... my little heart skipped a beat.
Then 1 X Beard, Captain Smith, along with the regulars and some cat named Nico pulled up.
Hellyeah!
This was gonna give me a real read on my new favorite segment.
... how fast can we do it?
Like the young buck I'm not, I started firing. At Jeffery and Alton, The Hulk hit it so hard, only 1 X Beard and I latched on, trying to get through the next light about a half mile away...
... so began the synchronized sprinting.
We barely missed it.
Red light!
Regroup.
Green light!
Over the freeway,
through the first round about,
1 X Beard, Hulk and I were swinging.
Red light!
Regroup.
Green light!
Up a little hill,
through the second, faster roundabout.
The three of us are gone again.
Charging to make every light we can,
pulling through hard...
... I gotta skip a pull.
Okay.
These guys are a little bigger, and I hung on over the freeway which felt like an alp.
Rotating,
Pulling.
Red light!
The Gambler and Nico catch.
Green light!
The next climb up Tesla...
... my batteries are shot.
Hulk, 1 x Beard
gone.
Nico
in between.
Gambler,
on my wheel.
It hurts so flipping bad.
What should be a 2.3 minute power climb,
ends up being a too dang close to 3 minutes.
We catch Nico.
Quick rotations.
Somehow, the idiot who wanted to make the ride hard,
the fool who thought he was a young buck,
pulled to the next short climb.
We're closing.
All 3 of us out of the saddle.
One of us off the back.
Dadgummit!
There's a shortcut.
I scoff and chase onward.
On Church Hill
i can see 'em.
Then I see the shortcutters.
All together over the top for the long, long drop to the coast.
Captain Smith waits,
friends!
We pedal like hell.
There are lights coming up.
Synchronized sprinting?
No luck.
But, we are making the lights too...
... at the last light before the 4ish miles to Laguna, we catch.
Red light!
Regroup.
Green light!
We're in the mid-30s, rotating strong.
This is just what I had hoped for.
Captain Smith and I head South,
they head North.
Only 3 miles and 1000' to go...
... For The Burrito!
It took us 1:07.
Can we break an hour?
First person who does, the burrito is on me.
---
163.6
6.8 hrs terrible tossing and turning, too excited?
Just PushUps and PullUps and a few Squats today.
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
TALK ABOUT BLOWING AWAY A PR
May 19, 2023
by TODD BROWN
LAST NIGHT'S PODCAST WAS A GOOD ONE. My scheduled guest had to bail due to emergency surgery. Luckily I had a PRO MTB racer...
... and he had a very clear lesson.
The thing about the podcast interviews is they always bring something neither of us were thinking of to the surface.
This dude is a total stud.
- Outstanding husband and father of 3
- 2-Time winner of Leadville
- National MTB Champion
- Founder of Rouleur Development
2 things stuck in my mind, which you might relate to.
- His 20-year quest to qualify for MTB Worlds
- Obliterating a difficult PR
I knew he'd represented the US at MTB Worlds in Switzerland. What I didn't know was that as a Junior, age 17, he was half a point away from going to Worlds...
... how heartbreaking would that be?
Someone would quit.
Many do.
At 40, he was in the best shape of his life. One a bunch of races, got the points and fulfilled his dream to carry our flag on the world stage.
His son is now beating him, and his next quest is to hang on to his pro status so...
... they can race pro together.
In the meantime, he's taken up Hard Enduro motorcycle racing. If you don't know what that is, it is by far the most difficult and challenging offroad racing on the planet: https://youtu.be/pD5qc9aAB4w
2 years ago, when he got into the sport, he found a terrible 1 mile climb. It took him and a buddy 2 hours to get to the top...
... this week he did it in under 7 minutes!
Bryson, how did you do that?
Well... the same way I won Leadville and went to World's, I kept at it.
Anything else?
I entered and trained for 5 Hard Enduros.
That's it?
I also found a new group of people to ride with that taught me so much I could never learn on my own.
Sound familiar?
- Practice
- Enter hard races
- Ride with better riders
That's Bryson Perry's raceday ripping, pr crushing formula.
Here's the link to the actual podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/raceday-ready-with-todd-b
---
164.6
8.2 hrs
Just PushUps and PullUps today.
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
WHAT'S MORE COMPELLING... RIPPING OR CRUSHING?
May 18, 2023
by TODD BROWN
BECAUSE MY 10-WEEK CHALLENGE has been incredibly successful in terms of downloads and attempts and an...
... utter failure at people finishing...
... I'm going to do a 5-Day Challenge.
To get the name right, I texted 60 or so of my friends a question:
Which is more compelling: Crush Your PRs or Rip On RaceDay?
The answers were almost a 50/50 split, with a slight lean towards Rip On RaceDay.
Of those, 50% were a quick answer and 50% quite thoughtful.
Some people had a lot to say, but I think the winner was Cameron Hoffman...
... Crush your PRs is worn out.
Before you tell me what matters more to you, and I do hope you'll reply and let me know...
... here are my thoughts.
PRs are such a good measure for our personal progress and readiness for racing. In a world of tailwind assits, ebikes, and questionable supplement choices it can be hard to win a race or snag a KOM segment. Only we know if it's a legit PR.
Winning is not the goal of racing for me. Yes, I definitely like to win and place well and climb the podium. But, if I didn't have to go all out because I registered in an unchallenging category or few if any participated it can be a truly hollow victory.
Ripping On RaceDay is the win for me. Making a plan, working out the details and through the many challenges, arriving at the start line absolutely ready to rip and then racing hard start to finish...
... that is what compels me the most.
As I'm writing this, my former t-shirt biz partner, Damion Hickman, votes for PRs with this...
... #PRCRUSHER.
Now I'm swayed right back to Crushing PRs because that sounds so cool...
... we'll have to make that tshirt.
Maybe we gotta go Johnny Cash at this point...
... PR Crushing, RaceDay Ripping, Sunuvagun!
How about you?
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/start-a-project
One of the most fun things I do is create a custom kit for the biggest A races. It's such a fun process. That jersey up at the top is one I'm working on for Nationals. I added a fiery look, because I want to be on fire for that race.
Did you know we have No MInimums for custom orders, and the designs are free?
Crazy, I know...
... but, I'm crazy about helping you Rip and Crush!
Creating custom gear is the best gift you will ever give your...
... PR Crushing, RaceDay Ripping Self.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/start-a-project
---
165.4
8 hrs
Just PushUps and PullUps today.
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
BLOODIED AND SCARRED
May 17, 2023
by TODD BROWN
MY GLOVES TOLD THE ENTIRE STORY. Once white and pristine, they were now covered with the stains of battle...
... will they ever be the same?
My shins and forearms weren't much better. A thousand little tears received as...
... we tore through the wildly overgrown trails.
Thistles and nettles pricking and stinging.
This is real.
Physical.
Fun.
The blood and weed stains are the proof we are alive and well. Screw the encroaching digital world...
... and its isolation and safety.
We want adventure,
and challenge,
and danger.
We need this,
it bonds us together,
strengthens our humanity.
The best part is we are fit enough to love it!
MY GLOVES TOLD THE ENTIRE STORY. Once white and pristine, they were now covered with the stains of battle...
... will they ever be the same?
My shins and forearms weren't much better. A thousand little tears received as...
... we tore through the wildly overgrown trails.
Thistles and nettles pricking and stinging.
This is real.
Physical.
Fun.
The blood and weed stains are the proof we are alive and well. Screw the encroaching digital world...
... and its isolation and safety.
We want adventure,
and challenge,
and danger.
We need this,
it bonds us together,
strengthens our humanity.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
Good thing we have a Buy One Pair Get One Pair glove offer going...
... those little stitches across the forefinger are heat sensitive so we can operate our devices with gloves on.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
---
165.4
8 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE BEATER RESULTS ARE IN
May 16, 2023
by TODD BROWN
RACED THE BEATER TONIGHT. It was rough. According to Starva, I worked significantly harder than previous two races. According to the race results...
... I got smoked, again.
This is going to be a fun nut to try to crack.
There are 5 more races.
5 more chances to figure out what the heck is going on.
5 more weeks to get my race bike back in racing condition.
But, I really don't think it's the bike.
The guys are all riding really well.
We had two new guys show up this week, and the Coxy, who's been beating us, skipped.
Emilio won. For those of you keeping score at home, Emilio is my pal who I desperately managed to hold off for 2nd at the state road race last month.
Look at his lap times.
That's crazy, right!...
... how did he dose his effort so perfectly?
Compare that to mine.
Clearly, I cracked on the 2nd lap.
I passed 4th place on the first lap, then he passed me back and put a minute and half into me. Had to cheer him on...
... he's also named Todd.
What am I gonna do between this week and next?
- Order the parts to fix the race bike, but doubt they'll get here in time.
- Try and drop some of the extra pounds I'm carrying.
- Get in one more hard ride Saturday.
- Recover, recover, recover.
Anything else?
- See what moving parts can be improved on the beater.
- Maybe throw on some new tires.
Is that it?
- I'm tempted to cut out the daily cross training for the remaining weeks.
---
165.4
8 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
BUSTING OUT THE BEATER
May 15, 2023
by TODD BROWN
TOMORROW IS GONNA BE INTERESTING. I'll be doing the local race on the bike I spend the most time on...
... I consider it my beater.
Not only do I do most of my training on it,
but I loan it out when someone comes to visit,
and, I haven't done a lick of maintenance on it in months.
Why do I ride it the most?
Because it's oldish,
identical fit to my race bike,
and ridiculously reliable day after day.
Why race it?
Well, the race bike's suspension is wonky and in need of love.
Here's the interesting thing though.
Is the ol' bike really a beater or have I just treated it like one?
In its day it was top of the top,
lots of carbon and tech,
super light.
It's lighter than my current race bike,
shifts as good as or better than the electric stuff,
and has a fork that is so plush I still giggle when it gets rough.
Ya know what I'm gonna have to do, right?
Convince myself this is fastest dern bike I own.
Which reminds me about the second chapter in my book, The Way of The Racer...
... All You Can Do.
All we can do is enough...
... not a haul pass to complain or make excuses.
---
165.4
8 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
HOW TO DO MAINTENANCE MODE
May 14, 2023
by TODD BROWN
WHETHER MY NEXT A RACE IS IN 6 MONTHS OR 6 YEARS, this is my maintenance mode. It's tried and true...
... and might be good for you.
Because here's the deal.
We can't race all the time.
Can't be always on.
Gotta rest.
Here's my formula for successful maintenance:
- Know what the next A race, or could be.
- Ride hard twice a week.
- Do other stuff.
Knowing what the next A race, however far off, is a powerful motivator to maintain our good habits we practice when we really want to preform well.
We might drift off course from time to time,
but we always come back because that big challenge is out there.
Riding hard twice a week is simple enough in concept. It can be difficult to do alone. The best way I've found is to have a group to ride with on those big effort days.
For sure somebody in that group has an upcoming A race,
and their energy will get us to regularly push ourselves.
There are lots of other activities I enjoy that compliment riding and racing. Most of them involve family and friends, and it's great to connect more often and deeply than I might when living the A race life.
During maintenance mode the ride time often fluctuates wildly. Long days when there's time, short days or skipping days when time is short. Often, it's just a matter of taking a mental break that necessitates this...
... lack of a regimen.
I've gone years between A races, but I've always had something big out there...
... haunting me to stay fit and healthy.
When is your next A race/event/challenge?
Who is pushing you twice a week?
What can you add?
---
164.9
8.5 hrs
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THIS STEEPLE IS STEEPED IN STEPPING TRADITION
May 13, 2023
by TODD BROWN
SHOULD WE BOW TO THE CLIMBING GODS on bended knee, or just admit they've broken our legs and will to ride, with ease? Like we have a choice!...
... when it gets truly steep.
To honor the Giro, some of the pitches I battled on a stair-stepping climb today were 24%.
On a stunning 1.3 mile ascent, my pace was pathetic compared to our local pro young Kevin, who rides for DSM.
- He averaged 10.9 mph
- Me, 6.9 mph
- Him 7:34
- Me 11:54
I was well off my PR from 4 years ago, 8.9 mph and 9:14.
Which is great news.
Why?
Because today's route was beautiful and extremely satisfying in every way.
Here's the link: https://www.strava.com/activities/9065838378/segments/3092547893762368880
It had everything...
- Nice warm up
- Some spirited group riding
- 3 Epic climbs
... and the best breakfast burrito I've ever had. Kudos to High Tide for upping their burrito game.
Now I have something to work on for the next few months.
- Dropping my times on the 3 big climbs
That's gonna be really fun to work on.
I'm not sure I'll PR any of them...
- The first one I PRd on a group ride 4 years ago. It's fast enough to make drafting matter.
- The second one I hit after the spirited group ride portion, 2.5 hours in, and PRd 4 years ago.
- The third one... see previous 2, I did PR it today but I've only been up it 3 times as it's a recent discovery.
... I won't ever be a climbing god,
but, I'll definitely be idolizing their gifts to ascend.
---
Time to commit to the RaceDay Ready regimen.
---
165.6
7 hrs
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
WEIGHT JUST A MINUTE
May 12, 2023
by TODD BROWN
YES, I WEIGH MYSELF DAILY. I have for years, and I record it as well. It's such a great way for immediate feedback on what was consumed the day before...
... however, there is a problem.
Weight isn't everything.
Yes, I need to shed all the ballast if I'm going to climb well.
My body always changes, when I gain control of my mouth and truly live by RaceDay Ready.
But, lately my weight is up a bit.
Should I care?
Maybe.
If my body fat is up, then yes.
If it's not, or if it's lower, then probably not.
How to know the difference?
There's the simplistic Do these pants make me look fat? test.
It's simple.
I put on the skinny jeans and if there's a muffin top, we gotta problem.
If the waist is same or looser then it probably means I put on muscle.
Another home test is using a scale that measures body fat.
Generally, they are consistently inaccurate. Meaning I don't think the percentage shown would match up with a legit pro body composition measurement, but I do think it's consistent. While it might say 18%, like today, which I think is high, I think it will be consistently high as long as I...
- weigh myself first thing each morning
- drink about the same amount of liquid each day
... then I can use it to track progress.
Capeesh?
So, do I care I'm up a bit.
Yes, on the surface it bugs me.
That said, I am on a very long-term goal 9 years out. My goal is to be as strong then as I am now. To do that, I'll probably put on more muscle than I'd normally carry because of all the additional strength work I've added to my regimen.
Also,
the skinny jeans are looking good
and the arm sleeves are fitting tight.
Nothing wrong with that.
---
165.1
8 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE SPEED OF THE PELOTON
May 11, 2023
by TODD BROWN
FOR ALL OUR HUBRIS OF BEING THE BEST OF THIS OR THAT, it really just comes down to our peloton...
... who we ride with matters.
We can choose the peloton,
we not the effects.
We've all been on a blistering group ride, traveling the same route we have ridden either alone or with a different group...
... and blown away our PRs.
Keep riding with the those cats and we often go from hanging on,
to regularly pulling through,
to winning the sprint.
The peloton's speed and effects aren't accidental,
riding with them is a choice.
Choose wisely.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/dirt-dad-fund-store
The picture above is from the DIRT Dad Fund.
Dads
Indoors
Riding
Trainers
These dads Zwift together all year long...
... that's their peloton to stay in shape.
20% of every purchase goes directly to the fund to help the less fortunate members of the peloton.
Click the image to check out some of their gear.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/dirt-dad-fund-store
---
164.6
8 hrs
.5 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
OH, THERE'S MY LYCRA
May 10, 2023
by TODD BROWN
GOT MY LYCRA HANDED TO ME LAST NIGHT. The course was nearly identical to the week before, Strava says my little ol' heart was ticking harder than last week's race...
... so, like any fool, I checked to see if my brakes were rubbing!
I mean jeeeeez... my splits were slower, and I was 3 min behind the winner and 2 min behind guys I'd battled the week before.
Whattheheck happened?
The weather was perfect for racing, overcast and cool. Same as week before.
There's a ton of data to dig through on Strava and other places...
- Freshness/Fitness
- Training time
- Effort distribution
- Weight
- Sleep
- Food
- Stress
... here goes:
Stress, I've had to decline some opportunities to give service and time lately and it was stressful to say no.
Food, I definitely cut my calories to get back to race weight last week... and skipping breakfast on raceay was a bozo nono.
Sleep, has been way off. Getting a decent amount, but staying up too late.
Weight, I'm down 2 lbs from last week, maybe too much too fast.
Effort, last week, I went out Thursday and drilled it again then went long on Saturday.
Training time, last week was about double the hours from the week before but less than I was doing a year ago.
Fitness/Freshness, this is the biggie... and a big change from this time last year.
Monday 5/8/23 Fitness 108, Form 19
Monday 5/1/23 Fitness 108, Form 27
Monday 5/9/22 Fitness 127, Form -8
I was definitely in a better place a week ago than this week, and it showed.
What is interesting to me is that my Fitness was quite a bit higher last year and my Form lower, but I was racing better
Let's see what happens in the coming weeks as I get back to last year's training during this series...
... hard race Tuesday,
long Zone 2 and 3 Saturday,
all the other days are Zone 1 and 2.
---
163.2
8 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
NO MORE STUPID GOALS
May 09, 2023
by TODD BROWN
I HAVE A HABIT OF SETTING STUPID GOALS. There is a big difference between stupid and audacious, but sometimes I forget...
... how about you?
It's a problem for me.
And, I blame it on the bike.
Because I have set many audacious goals over the years and accomplished them it's easy to fall into a trap by simply neglecting two key differentiators.
- Believability
- Highly desirable
Without that, the goals are just stupid at best...
... defeating at worst.
Why do I blame the bike?
To be clear, the bike has helped in both stupid and audacious goal setting.
Specific audacious examples:
- Race Baja 500
- Get kids successfully into adulthood
Not only did I believe those goals were possible, I desperately wanted to see it through.
Now, for some stupid ones:
- Double sales in 12 months
- Purchase a remote vacation cabin
These weren't goals in my soul, they were more like goals I was supposed to go for...
... because of some book I read,
or magazine article,
or guru.
Therefore, stupid...
... and doomed to failure.
Let me be clear, there is nothing wrong with most goals. Nor, do I think it's bad to set goals. But, if we don't believe they are attainable and we don't really have a burning desire...
... they are worthless, and in many cases defeating.
The filter for my goals is:
- Believability
- Highly desirable
---
162.6
7.5 hrs
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
DO YOU HAVE FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES LIKE MINE?
May 08, 2023
by TODD BROWN
HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH MY FRIEND KENT TONIGHT, and boy was it enlightening and confirming. He's a multi-time national champ...
... from high school right on up to the Senior Games.
Gold medals to prove it.
Funny thing is we'd never compared training notes.
Probably because he's a world-class Volleyball Player and we didn't considered ourselves to have much in common...
... he had a 40" vertical leap, I had an okay sprint.
Anyway, we have a lot in common now.
Not with sports, with age and how to preserve our health and be competitive.
For reference, his team is comprised of an average age of 65, and they still compete in the 50's.
Legit.
Turns out we're doing almost the identical regimen.
- Lift weights daily
- Stretch daily
- Eat whole foods
- Stay away from bread and sugar
- Hypervolt and Hyperice
He probably stretches more than I do, and for sure he warms up more than I do...
... he's doing very explosive moves.
- Box jumps, on and off
- Playing tennis
- Running hard
Funny thing.
He got all geeked up when I told him about the sled.
You got a sled?
Yeah.
They're so expensive.
I know, but worth it for all the activation in my ankles.
Where do you do it?
Right on my street, confirms to my neighbors how weird I am.
Ok, I'm getting it.
Get this one from Freak Athlete.
I guess the moral of the story is this...
- keep challenging yourself
- keep signing up for the races
... stay strong.
---
164.6
7 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
70 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
SERIESLY RACING
May 07, 2023
by TODD BROWN
ROLLING INTO THE SECOND WEEK IN MAY and most of the SoCal racing is done or nearing done. Road races, mostly done. MTB races, winding down. Gravel, kinda done...
... but there is a phenomenon.
The race series.
Some of the series are wrapping up, and some are just getting started.
One thing I've noticed, the race series seem to be doing pretty well.
- Lots of racers
- Lots of spectators.
From a business perspective, the various series going on seem to be taking a page out the the ski industries marketing book.
- Give 'em a deal
- Let 'em race a lot
- Take all their money
When that happens, there isn't a lot of energy or time or resources left to do other races.
I can see the series thing continuing to grow and the lone races continuing to shrink.
Is this a good thing?
I dunno.
Among the many positives is those who commit to do the entire series end up belonging to a community vs just doing a rando race. I actually think this is really good. We need to connect more, not less...
... not just the racers,
but the families and
the sponsors.
As athlete's, it's challenging to have an A series vs an A event.
I was thinking about this while listening to the Giro commentators discussing whether or not Evenepoel came in to the first stage too hot and he'll fade in the 3rd week. Or, will he build such a big lead it won't matter.
We kinda get to face that challenge if it's a weekly series, not so much if we race on a monthly basis.
Either way, it's a challenge to figure how to stay fresh and still stay fast.
I like it.
Do you?
---
162.8
8 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
CHOPPING WOOD AND ZONE 2 TRAINING
May 06, 2023
by TODD BROWN
COMMITTING TO ZONE 2 TRAINING HAS SOME LIMITATIONS AND BENEFITS. For example, it's hard to find a training partner who's zone 2 will match up, which means...
... we have plenty of alone time.
How to use that wisely?
Personally, I use to listen to podcasts or books while spinning along.
Not any more.
I prefer unplugged riding...
- My brain needs a rest
- Outside has many wonderful sounds
- All the better to hear any encroaching danger.
... because it reminds of the great Rocky IV training montage.
Not the wood chopping
running in snow
rock throwing.
Those scenes are epic, but for me it's what is going on inside Rocky's head.
While he's laying all the epic base strength...
... he's thinking.
How is he going to demolish Drago?
And, as the great Tony Robbins points out....
... the quality of the questions determine the quality of the answers.
Somewhere in all that crazy non-traditional and very raw prep Rocky finds his answer...
... maybe it's the scene where he chops down the giant tree?
That doesn't really matter.
What matters is what are we thinking about on these long Zone 2 rides?
---
164
7.75 hrs
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
ALL GEEKED UP ABOUT THE RESISTANCE
May 05, 2023
by TODD BROWN
LAST NIGHT'S GROUP RIDE WAS NUTS. I felt amazing. Even though I'd had a tough MTB race 48 hours prior, even though I'd lifted weights every day this week...
... the legs were magic.
I was all geeked up about it on our Accountability call.
Gushing.
Finally, after 7 months of consistently working on 2 newish moves I was feeling the results.
- The Sled
- The Nordic
For sure I'm a lot stronger than when I started, but I think that's only part of the story.
Permit me to go bro-science on you...
... I think it's neuromuscular.
The entire pedal stroke is engaged and firing because, again bro-science, I've activated all the muscles and tendons.
- The Sled has done wonders for my ankles and really pushing through the bottom of the pedal stroke.
- The Nordic has done the same with the engagement of the hamstrings on the back of the stroke.
Adding those to moves to the squats, box jumps, calf raises and shin raises has made a huge difference in my seated power...
... which is exactly when you'd feel it, all out and hammering on a flattish ride.
The good news, the really good news, is that nearly everyone I share this with thinks I'm an idiot. They think it's dumb to stress those muscles. Foolish to lift 3-5 days a week, year round, except when tapering. A waste of an investment...
... which means I've got a long runway before anybody catches on.
Bro-science...
... gotta love it.
---
Our pals at OverTheHump floated my a coupon code to save $5 for the race plate, use promo code PEDAL23.
---
163.2
7.75 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
WWTD?
May 04, 2023
by TODD BROWN
I HAD A DISTURBING CONVERSATION at the race this week. It wasn't a troll, I get those. It wasn't gossip, I hate those. It was worse...
... it was resignation.
We've all been there, had our lycra handed to us one too many times and wanted to quit.
Said we'd quit.
Yet, here we are...
... still getting after it.
I did BWR and had a terrible race.
How bad?
Worst finish ever.
Hmmm...
And this is after hiring a coach and going all in.
Ok...
So, I fired the coach and I'm not going to do my other A race this year.
Yikes!
Can I buy you lunch and pick your brain?
Sure, if you drive to San Clemente and we go to Kawamata's.
So, what am I gonna tell him?
Because when I think about it, I already post all I'm doing here...
... and I've consolidated it all in the RaceDay Ready Challenge...
... and I have an accountability call that is a helluvalot more than a check in.
Should he have fired the coach?
Maybe, maybe not.
Hard to know.
I think the right coach can be transformative. At the same time, I think a lot of coaches are plugging numbers into an algorithm and regurgitating the output, and not much more. It's not necessarily their fault, it's what they are taught to do so they can make a living...
... a great coach makes a difference.
PS I'm not a coach.
---
164
8 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
SLICING FOR SPEED
May 03, 2023
by TODD BROWN
IF WE'RE LUCKY, our competitors will be just a little faster and just a little slower. Bonus if that happens on different parts of the same course. Because then...
... we can get on the ultimate fitness train.
Last night at OverTheHump Race #1 was just such a race. The proof is in the following convo...
I was just trying to hang on to you and gap TR.
Ha! I was just trying to hang on to Coxy and gap you.
We weren't the only ones. I could see battle ensuing all over the course. Racers very evenly matched, pushing hard and trying get away and hang on.
What happens next?
We have a week to get better, and we're all thinking where we lost a bit and where we can gain a bit.
Me, I'm thinking I can make up the 22 seconds to the guy who finished ahead of me...
- I can drop a few lbs
- Carrying the loaded saddle pack was dumb.
- So was the full, tall water bottle
- Not to mention, lifting weights in the morning
- Or, the 2 hour ride the night before
- I can probably get some better sleep
- I could flip my training schedule and be more rested
- Maybe a better warm up would help
... and everybody else is guaranteed to be having similar discussions with themselves, their partners, their coaches, etc.
We're all slicing up the results,
looking for slivers of speed,
a little over here,
a little there.
We usually race the same course 2 weeks i a row. I hope that happens and the weather is about the same...
... we be cool to slice enough time off for a better finish.
---
164.5
7 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE 3 EVILS OF ENDURANCE ATHLETES
May 02, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THERE A 3 EVILS WE ALL FACE. Most of us would rather spend a few thousand on a better bicycle, hire a coach for a few hundy a month...
... than conquer the evils.
This is a fact.
In fact, it came up tonight at the races.
We were battling back and forth for quite a while. The fun kind, bar to bar action. My pal is extraordinarily powerful...
... he's also loaded down with too much ballast.
Dunlop's disease,
dunlopping over his bibs.
Bad for him,
good for me.
Post race went like this...
How much do you weigh?
165ish.
That's 20 lbs less than me.
That's a lot.
I've got to lose 10 lbs.
You'll be killing us all when you do.
Which brings up the 3 evils:
Sleep. We need more. When we get proper rest, the results are subtly better. Enough to matter, not enough to remember to get to bed at a regular time.
Food. We really are what we eat. When we avoid spiking our insulin with sugary foods and drinks we feel great. My simple rule is to eat whole foods as much as possible.
Strength. We need to hit the weights, work the core, and stretch and massage. The stretching and massaging is key to being able to hit the weights 3-5 days a week.
The struggle against these 3...
- Lack of sleep
- Cruddy food
- Skipping the weights
... is very real for me.
Fortunately, I've seen incredible results via RaceDay Ready.
The cost of discipline ain't money...
... but the results are pure gold.
---
165.5
7.5 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
70 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED
May 01, 2023
by TODD BROWN
WE DON'T RIDE IN A TRUCK TO THE TOP OF HALEAKALA and coast down in moon suits. We are hard pressed to do a 2 mile ride along the board walk...
... and you can forget the amusement parks.
After you've conquered a climb to the top of a volcano and had a seat of your lycra bibs thrill descending on the very limits of your own skill...
... everything else is boring.
BORRRRRRing,
Pay good money to be cattle prod in a long line,
have no control of velocity or trajectory?
Heck no!
We pay with sweat,
burning lungs,
blood.
Risks,
catastrophes,
hours of preparation.
Some say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
We say the road to heaven is paved...
and steep
and rocky
and twisty
and flat
and fast
and slow
and windy
and oil
and abandoned
and rainy
and hot
and freezing
and broken
and friends
and enemies
and pot holes
... and full of adventure.
That's our jam.
It's hard
and challenging
and we wouldn't want it any other way.
---
166.5 (time to get serious)
8 hrs
2 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
80 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THROW AWAY THE BOX
Apr 30, 2023
by TODD BROWN
I THINK WE'VE ALL HAD THE EXPERIENCE of being put in a box. Maybe we put ourselves there, maybe it was a coach, or a friend...
... who observed we were good at X.
Usually it's backed up with our first win.
But, what if we won...
an XC race against terrible bike handlers?
a sprint against the plodding TTers?
a climb against track racers?
... was that worthy of confidence?
Maybe.
The only way to find out is so throw away the box,
try something new or different,
take a chance.
It's a no-lose proposition.
We might discover a hidden talent,
Confirm what we knew all along,
Or, pick up some new skills.
For example, a long time ago I built up a single-speed MTB. Even though it was slower in almost every conceivable way, I actually became a better rider...
- smoother pedal stroke
- increased upper body strength
... totally worth it.
So much so, I'm thinking about building another one up.
---
165
9 hrs
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
10 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
ADVENTURE: STUPID OR SMART?
Apr 29, 2023
by TODD BROWN
AT 2PM, THE SUN'S HEAT WAS cooking the desert floor. Not a soul to be seen. I knew how to get back to where I'd started, had a pretty good idea of the long way to my destination...
... and hoped the short cut wouldn't kill me.
I wasn't short on time, but lately I'd been...
... short on adventure.
The fact that things could go horribly wrong was why it had to be done,
choosing the safe route felt like failure,
risk taking was irresistible.
The heat might overpower me,
my sense of direction be completely wrong,
a mechanical failure would make for a helluva hike.
I went for it.
Soon enough, whooshing through the dips and drops, my chain sounded terrible.
Why didn't I lube it?
Something had to be wrong, the sound was much worse than dry links.
I stopped.
Sweat filled the bottom of my lens as I inspected the drive train.
Of all the things!
The culprit, a loose chain catcher, was causing the grinding sound.
I grabbed my multi-tool, and went to work.
So did the horseflies!
Swiping at them only seemed to signal for their friends to join in harassing me.
The fix, in this case, was removal of the catcher as quickly as possible so I could get moving.
Rolling into the small town felt fantastic,
I'd tempted fate,
and won.
---
165ish
7.5 hrs
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
0 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
SHE GOT ME GOOD
Apr 28, 2023
by TODD BROWN
ANOTHER TRAIN INSANE SESSION with my littlest, and I'm smoked this time. A bunch of bouncy girls and a few guys, jumping, boxing, lifting, squatting...
... doing all kinds of whacky moves.
61% of the workout was zone 2, a little tempo, and an average HR of 116.
But, that doesn't tell the story.
The story is I'm weak; way weaker than I thought I'd be, especially during some of the moves focused on just one area, like biceps.
Another curiosity was my imbalance on coordination. On some of the complex moves I was clearly better at on one side vs the other.
Lastly, explosiveness. While I struggled to get my fried legs to achieve lift off...
... they looked like Peter Pan, easily floating up and twisting down.
There's a lot to be said for serious crossfitters, which is true...
... of any athlete that specializes.
---
165ish
6 hrs
1 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
10 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
WE TRAIN BECAUSE OF THE 2ND LAW OF THERMODYNAMICS
Apr 27, 2023
by TODD BROWN
BECAUSE THINGS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING TO A STATE OF DISARRAY we have to train. It's just the nature of this dimension as clarified in the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics. As athletes,...
... we can be sharp and fit or far from it by regular training and racing.
I was reminded of that when I looked at the heinous state of the van's once pristine vehicle wrap.
In just a few years, it went from sexy to shabby.
So I decided to do a refresh on the look and feel of things using the essence of PEDAL Industries.
This is our...
Creation Story – a friend asked me to produce a custom bag for his race team. When I saw his concept, I took it to the next level with all the compartments and labels. It was easy because I had such a need in my own life. It took about 6 months to figure out all the fabrics to use, printing, cutting and sewing. We’ve never changed our core process or partners.
Creed – We are athletes. We train and race in order to be fit and ready for all of life’s challenges. Each day we work to get a little better. For us, Every Day Is RaceDay.
Icons – Our icon is the flying wolf because we are hungry like wolves to improve, and we fly like eagles on raceday. I had created the flying wolf logo for the PEDALposse, but since that has been tabled and people love the logo, we’re going to use it a lot more.
We’ve also settled on Black, White and Yellow 1235 as our corporate colors. The yellow of all our pocket linings is one of our distinctive features. Next up will be manufacturing our bib pads with yellow highlights.
Rituals – Our rituals are laid out in the RaceDay Ready 10-Week Challenge.
Sacred Words – PRs > KOMs. Winning is nice, a bonus. PRs are the metric that shows improvement. In the end, we have only ourselves to conquer.
Non-Believers – The anti-athletes who mistreat their bodies.
... now to apply that to the new van graphics featured above.
---
165ish
8 HRS
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
10 minutes recovery
75 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
IS THIS PROOF IT PAYS TO PRE-RIDE?
Apr 26, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF MY BUDDY'S MOUTH, well, they kinda hurt. When it comes from someone else...
... it stings a little more than it should.
I gotta ask...
Ok...
How did you get second place again?!
Ouch.
Somehow it's not as funny as when I'm mocking myself.
But, some times we need salt in the wound to dig a little deeper.
Is there a common denominator?
Over the last year, 5 of 7 A races,
- MTB XC Nationals in CO
- Leadville
- US CUP XC
- CA State Road Champs
- Sea Otter Fuego XC
... I was beat by a local or a returning ex-pro.
Is that the difference?
The first two, was a CO local who lived in Leadville for 15 years.
US CUP ex-pro who has raced the courses many more times.
CA State, local.
Sea Otter, local.
It's weird.
I know.
You got a better idea?
Yeah, they were faster and better.
---
165ish
8 HRS
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
IT'S WORKING!
Apr 25, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THERE IS NOTHING MORE EXCITING than knowing the training is paying off. That is because it's so hard to know, right? Sometimes we doubt. It's not like you can see...
... the construction of more mitochondria.
How do we measure the little engines that can?
Power meters tell us how much power we put out,
and that's cool.
Heart rate monitors tell us how hard our heart is working,
and that's good to know, too.
Good metrics, for sure.
We can gain confidence and swagger tracking that data. Of course, some bad data results can also be...
... a sucker punch.
Which brings me back to knowing,
now that's powerful.
For me, there isn't a metric I trust or bank on. Sure, I'll do some checks on the local hill or get after it on a group ride that is essentially a practice race. Those can give me a good indication.
But, there's something better.
More powerful.
It happens after a serious 8-10 weeks of training...
Building in the base,
logging hours in the saddle,
continuing all the resistance training,
being a freakin' monk at the dinner table.
... then I taper, and go into major recovery mode.
Ideally, if all goes according to plan, 4 days out from the A race, I'll stomp hard on the pedals for 30-90 seconds. A few times, during an endurace pace.
The day before, I'll go out for a shorter ride, and stomp on those pedals for 10-20 seconds.
My legs, will feel nothing but magical.
Then,
the doubts vanish,
and I know for sure I'm ready...
... now, that's exciting!
---
165ish
7.8
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
TLDR IS NOT THE BEST OPTION
Apr 24, 2023
by TODD BROWN
THE DIGITAL WORLD is leaking into everything we do. It's not good. In many cases, what should be liberating us is...
... watering down the bike ride experience.
We have our own version of TLDR (too long, didn't read)
Because we can be reached any time at any place, it can be very difficult to create boundaries for work and the rest of life.
Consequently, we miss the group ride or skip a nice afternoon on two wheels...
... instead we hit the trainers.
Too long, didn't ride...
... is not acceptable.
We need sunshine.
We need connection with our people.
We need disconnection from the pressures around us.
The tools to make the time are readily available,
it takes commitment and planning,
to meet up for a ride.
... and it's totally worth it.
---
165ish
6
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
A SEA OTTER CLASSIC
Apr 23, 2023
by TODD BROWN
I FIRST STARTED COMING TO THE SEA OTTER CLASSIC for the road races. Specifically, to race on the famous Laguna Seca race course. There's nothing like diving down the corkscrew...
... tucked, at 60 mph.
Except for maybe today's XC MTB race.
We start on the same asphalt and race to the top of the same hill... then, 50-100 racers squeeze into a very hardtopass single track.
Instead of tucking to hit 60, we are flying over rock and ruts and carving turns...
... to get out of sight out of mind.
I was second through the gate, the guy in front could climb but he wasn't going nearly fast enough on that hardtail...
... as I go around his left another rider goes around his right and shuts the door on us.
He's gone, and I'm battling to get through myself.
Let me just say righ there, some people are cool and know you are being held up...
... some aren't.
He was.
As I'm closing back up to first, I completely overshoot a blind corner and go off course into the deep grass.
The gap increases to him, decreases to the hardtail.
10 minutes in and we are already catching the group that left 5 minutes ahead of us.
The trail is about 12" wide.
The only way around is through the tall grass, which requires a lot more power.
By the time I clear the first major climb of the day, 1st place is gone.
He was just a helluvalot faster.
We still have 90ish minutes of racing, which ends with one of the most heartbreaking climbs you'll ever do.
Time to settle in and go into diesel mode. Climbing at high threshold and descending like a demon.
Every now and then I look back.
Nobody is coming.
At mile 19ish, I'm feeling good and continually passing rider after rider from the previous when all of the sudden...
... that freakin' dude blows right by me.
I pick up the pace and hang on for a minute or so, but it's just too much.
The nightmare of cramping and battling the final 3-pitch climb is amazingly fresh in my mind. I opt to let him go and continue on at a pace I know I can hold for the entire day.
Yet another first rider up award to add to...
... the largest collection of 2nd places in the northern hemisphere.
That's the race story,
but not the story of my time at Sea Otter.
For me, this was a unique experience. After years blogging, and nearly a year working on my social media, and months of launching my podcast...
... some really cool things happened.
People took time to stop me, and introduce themselves and tell their stories...
... why they were there, racing.
Max studied with our son Trevor and has spent some time at the house...
... he was there doing his first race because his friends who make a really cool truck tent need someone to represent.
I hadn't seen Derek since he was 14 or so, when I was his counselor at church...
... he was there to get a better corral time for Leadville this summer.
Steve stopped by the van looking to purchase a changing poncho...
... he was there racing with his family.
Mark, who won, had been focused on the race since October...
... looking forward to aging up to the 60s. Any time on the podium with Francisco it's a good time.
I think this is Steve. He introduced me to his beautiful family as the guy who inspires him to get out and ride...
... it was the first race for his boys, and family trip back to Monterrey, where they were married.
This was by far my most satisfying trip to Sea Otter...
... maybe next year the race track will be complete and we'll hit the corkscrew again.
https://pedalindustries.myshopify.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
My friends, old and new, all had great races.
If you're struggling to get to the next level...
... check out the club.
https://pedalindustries.myshopify.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
---
164ish
8
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
THIS MAKES YOU SPECIAL
Apr 22, 2023
by TODD BROWN
TOMORROW'S RACE STARTS ON A WIDE RACE TRACK. We'll go straight up hill for about a mile then the course funnels down to a u-turn onto a single track...
... to get there will be a sprint royale.
But, we can't let up because we still face 28ish more miles with 4000ish feet of elevation gain.
Just that sprint start alone would have most people bent over puking.
Looking at the course profile we will deal with 15-20 similar, punchy climbs.
The single track is treacherous enough to take a good chunk of us down.
About the same amount will experience some sort of mechanical issue. Flat tires, broken chains, etc.
A similar percentage will battle cramps and sour stomachs.
In other words, about 25% of tomorrow's competitors will have to deal with some sort of real physical challenge.
Add in the fact that everybody wants to win, and nobody is going to make passing easy and you've got...
... the reason most people don't race.
We do because
- We're in it for the long haul.
- We've already fought to finish many races.
- We are battle hardened able to take any challenge and press on.
That is what makes us special.
Different from most people.
Resilient.
Without a doubt learning to be resilient has helped me push through all kinds of life's challenges.
How about you?
https://pedalindustries.myshopify.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
Need some help sticking to the plan?
Join the club.
https://pedalindustries.myshopify.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
---
164ish
8
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
BUILT TO LAST
Apr 21, 2023
by TODD BROWN
IT'S NOT ENOUGH to get in shape for a race this summer. We've got to think much farther out because racing is the anchor to our fitness. If we're fit, we are fit for all of life...
... so, what's your A race at age 90?
Work backwards.
Consider the effects of our decisions some times take decades to show up.
Good,
and bad.
Since the compounding effect of training is real...
... we think of Every Day Is RaceDay.
Tomorrow's ability is dependent on today's commitment.
https://pedalindustries.myshopify.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
Not getting it done?
Join the club.
https://pedalindustries.myshopify.com/products/raceday-ready-accountability
---
165.6
8.1
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
FADS FADE FAST
Apr 20, 2023
by TODD BROWN
SO MANY FADS COME AND GO. It's not easy to distinguish between the good and the bad. I have a few rules of thumb to help me...
... know what is legit.
Here are my top 2 rules:
1. When it comes to food, you know it's a fad when you see ridiculous claims on food that is complete trash.
For example, I've see Red Vines packaging printed with these gems over the years...
- Fat Free
- Gluten Free
... do those ring a bell?
Or these poisons proudly on the Keto train:
- Fried chicken wings
- Pork rinds
- Pizza
2. Good advice endures.
For example, long slow distance is key going fast.
- Eddie Merckx calls it piles of miles
- Phil Mafetone preaches Zone 2
- Joe Friel base training first
In other words, if it's been around a long time and the marketers don't have their fangs clamped down ready to suck your hard earned cash...
... you're probably in good shape.
Does that mean there's nothing new?
Not at all.
Study the literature.
Absorb the podcasts.
Just take it with a grain of sea salt.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready
---
164.8
7.5
0 Circuit of RaceDay Ready Resistance Training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
Podcast:
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
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