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Todd’s Journal
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Get RaceDay Ready
HR TRAINING TO THE NEXT LEVEL
THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE the joy of climbing with friends to a distant peak and poking through the clouds. Summiting is like having...
... the top of the world to ourselves.
All is calm.
Bombing down the mostly unfamiliar other side...
... not so calm.
Heaven forbid we'd let a gap open and get left behind.
Already on the edge of grip, I came into a sweeping lefthand turn...
... a negative radius, sloping downward.
I drifted all the way wide to the soft bulldozed berm.
Exiting, it was nothing but steep with ruts and rocks competing for my attention.
It wasn't looking good.
Somehow I managed to wiggle through the gauntlet.
My HR now sky high.
Only one thing to do, let out a huge...
... WOOOOHOOOOO!!!
Sheesh, my heart skipped a beat just reliving and writing this.
It.
Was.
Awesomeness.
Had I gone down,
I wouldn't have died.
But, it woulda been a bloody mess firshur.
Glad I kept my eyes open
and arms relaxed,
the tires held...
... just another reason to be grateful this time of year.
===
164.2 lbs/12.5%
480 Anti-Oxidant Score
7ish hours sleep
no PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Dips
no Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
10 minutes stretching
30 minutes Reading/Journaling
89/96/-8 (fitness/fatigue/form)
>
WHO KNEW WE WERE THAT BAD?
THE PROGRESS WE MAKE can be kind of embarrassing. We don't know it at the time. In fact, we're having so much fun those early pics and vids...
... can be kind of embarrassing.
There's hope.
Bad athletes,
can get good.
Good athletes,
can be great.
Great athletes...
... know the secret.
Keep doing it.
===
163.4 lbs/12.4%
480 Anti-Oxidant Score
8ish hours sleep
√ PullUps, PushUps, Rows, Shoulder Presses, Dips
no Box Jumps, Dead Lifts, Nordic Curls, Heel Raises, Calf Raises
10 minutes stretching
60 minutes Reading/Journaling
86/82/3 (fitness/fatigue/form)
>
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...
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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
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Order here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/ugly-sweater-collection-2025
===
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===
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
>
DON'T MUTE YOUR MUTT
Dec 04, 2021
by TODD BROWN
DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LEAN ON THE CYCLING SPECTRUM, you may have been tempted to mute your inner mutt. I came in during the extremely stodgy road only days...
... just after the invention of the wheel.
The shops and race scene were dominated by these cats who basically looked down on all the new clowns in town...
... which meant mocking Little Young Diesel.
My position,
my grip,
my gear choice,
hairy legs,
touring bicycle...
... and, oh, the horror!...
... my yellow jersey.
The mockery and meanery was discouraging, and lame.
But, I was undaunted.
In love.
I came from surfing, which I never would have left if there there unlimited and predictable waves. The idea that I could grab my bike and get my stoke anytime, all the time, was incredible.
And here's where the mutt comes in.
We're all mutts.
We all bring with us the other sporty things we did before finding the best of them all.
I brought surfing, and here's the skill set that helped me smack the highbrow lowlifes:
When 20 guys are sitting on the peak and only a handful of waves roll through with each set, you have to be very crafty. Very. Or, you're gonna get skunked. Turns out those very skills come in handy in a sprint finish.
So, what ya wanna do is think back on the sporty things you got good at before and apply those skills to bikyracy stuff.
You probably already do, unconsciously.
Get concious.
Little things, just recognizing them, gives incredible confidence.
This morning, I did a local group ride knowing full well they'd hit the climb way harder than I've ridden in months. Bam! Sprinting up a 10% grade which levels off to a false flat/rolling top.
My eyes were watering it hurt so bad...
... reminded me of the days I'd sit on the far side of the peak, dudes would think I was too far out, and I'd paddle so hard and so fast I'd catch the wave before they even had a chance.
Bark!
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
Would you like to
- receive a gift from me every month?
- save 25% on all purchase?
- have access to our best secrets and events?
Do you have someone that needs a big, fat hint of what to get you? Send 'em here, there's an Annual Option:
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---
165.6
7 hrs
20 Pull Ups 40 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
10 minutes reading + Journaling
ARE YOU TRAINING AS SMART AS GOLDILOCKS?
Dec 03, 2021
by TODD BROWN
AH THE AGE OLD QUESTION, would anybody sit in your saddle or eat your porridge or sleep in your bed? I mean is what you're doing worth emulating? Even better...
... would Goldilocks train like you do?
The great Joe Friel points out in Fast After 50...
... "that very strenuous exercise was an aerobic capacity preserver."
In other words, keep kicking arse regularly if you want to keep kicking arse forever.
Use it or lose it.
In Chapter 4, he goes into great detail of the benefits of intense workouts and is quick to point out that too much, is too much and will lead to breakdowns.
Says Joe, I'd prefer to see a mix of an individually reasonable amount of moderate-effort volume along with some high-intensity training.
Plus this, point the finger of blame for loss of performance with age at training intensity, not volume.
That's where Goldilocks comes into play. We have to find the right mix, balanced with our lifestyle and goals.
What does a reasonable amount of moderate-effort and some high-intensity look like to me and you?
Here's one way to look at it, and I'll into this in greater detail in the soon to be release training app and book titled, RaceDay Ready, 10 weeks to speed.
Take your max hours available in a given week, and put 80% of that in the moderate-effort category. 20% will then be dedicated to hucking up a lung.
I love lung hucking so much (kind of) that I split it between 2 days. The rest is reasonable.
This is a general fitness approach. As A races approach that changes a bit. But, in general, I never skip my lung hucking and I rarely stray from the 80/20.
Figure out your Goldilocks formula...
... and read any of Joe's books, good stuff.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
Speaking of good stuff, the PEDALposse will be receiving a gorgeous RaceDay Calendar and Free access to the new app.
If you want that good stuff all year long, send the link below to the one who loves and loves to give you something you really, really want:
- receive a gift from me every month?
- save 25% on all purchase?
- have access to our best secrets and events?
This link:
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
---
165.4
8 hrs
20 Pull Ups 40 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
60 minutes reading + Journaling
HOW THE HECK DID I GET IN THIS POSITION?
Dec 02, 2021
by TODD BROWN
WE CAN SCREW UP ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN RACING and most of them can be overcome quickly with little lasting damage to our odds of a good performance. One exception is bike positioning...
... and, I ain't talking about bike fit.
Bike fit is important, how we position ourselves is importanter.
You can have the best sprint in the world, but if you're a hundred cats back with 300m to go you gott no chance of winning. None.
If you're galloping along with the group in an MTB race and the course goes from fire road to skinny single track you better be darn sure you're up front.
Should we always be up front?
Gosh no.
It's mighty nice and wise to float back and get sucked along in the draft and energy of the peloton mid-race.
Some of us start a climb at the front, banking on the idea we can drift to the back and still be connected before dropping down the other side. Others, like to start back a ways and weave through the shrapnel.
The first rule of positioning is deciding what kind of rider we are...
... and then race accordingly.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
Speaking of positioning... have you propositioned the greatest gift of all?
- receive a gift from me every month?
- save 25% on all purchase?
- have access to our best secrets and events?
Send this link to someone who wants to give you a gift that will bring you joy all year.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
---
166
7.5 hrs
10 Pull Ups 20 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
45 minutes reading + Journaling
ZONE TOO TRAINING
Dec 01, 2021
by TODD BROWN
YES, YOU SHOULD TRAIN ZONE 2. It's the place where you build volume. It's also the place pro triathletes annihilate their competition, pushing speeds most of would only dream of...
... but you should also train Zone Too.
And just what is that Old Diesel?
Well, you won't get this if you are doing your Zone 2 on a trainer or that Pelotonythingy.
In the real world, on a bike moving through the air and over varying terrain...
... is the 8th Wonder Of Speed.
You start looking at your monitor and thinking How could I...
... go faster without raising my heart rate?
This is where the magic happens, because you can and will go faster without raising your heart rate.
- Get more aero clothing
- Lose weight
- improve your position on the bike
- Relax muscles that don't need to be used.
- Improve pedal stroke
- ... and so on.
The result is real efficiency gains caused by voluntarily giving our hearts a loving break.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
Speaking of loving, wouldn't you love to
- receive a gift from me every month?
- save 25% on all purchase?
- have access to our best secrets and events?
Send this link to someone who wants to give you a gift that will bring you joy all year.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
---
166.7 (it don't come off like it used to)
7 hrs
20 Pull Ups 40 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
50 minutes reading + Journaling
DECEMBER HEROES
Nov 30, 2021
by TODD BROWN
AS THE GROUP SPED BY ME THIS MORNING, I thought to myself now would be a good time to bring up a topic relevant to those living in the sunbelt. Could be germane to the rest of ya's, too...
... I give you the December hero.
This is not the local Toys for Tots champion. No, far from that. This is the cat who wins all the climbs and sprints in December...
... and can you blame them?
Yes.
Kinda.
Most of the time said cat has spent the spring, the summer, and the fall getting smacked around and dropped by those who hibernate in winter...
... and it feels dern fine to win a few.
But, why do some hibernate in winter?
To let the body heal and recover,
then build base...
... and then smack everybody around the rest of the year.
In other words...
... December Hero winds up Summer Zero.
I say this with only love in my heart...
if you've been on the gas all year chasing these fools around and they are suddenly taking it easy...
... slow the heck down!
And, repeat after me...
I am a December Zero,
and a Summer SuperHero.
Have faith padawan,
XOXO
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
A lotta peeps have been joining the PEDALposse this recently.
But, not just the monthly program. They've been grabbing the entire year in advance...
... you know what they are doing?
Gifting it to someone they know will love it.
So, if you would love:
- 25% savings
- Surprise swag worth $20 or more each month
- Access to our best secrets and events
Send this link to someone who wants to give you something that will bring you joy all year.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
---
166.7 (it don't come off like it used to)
7 hrs
20 Pull Ups 40 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
50 minutes reading + Journaling
A WORD OF ADVICE FOR THE SLACKERS OUT THERE
Nov 29, 2021
by TODD BROWN
OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND, I had a chance to sit down with an octogenarian. Dinner was over, the table had cleared, and out of nowhere he looks at me and says...
... Can I give you some advice?
Sure.
The easy way, always ends up being harder.
... hmmm...
And the hard way, always ends up being easier.
Now, I have no idea why he said that. Fact is, he couldn't place my name this year.
No matter.
I get it.
And, I guess I needed to hear it.
It can be applied to anything, but you know we only talk about racy things here.
Take bicycle maintenance.
It's easy to skip checking your chain wear,
there by letting the chain go to long,
and risk snapping it in a race,
or buying an entire drivetrain vs a little ol' chain.
Or food.
It's hard to eat farm food vs factory food,
but there's no better way to drop pounds and increase performance.
Or strength.
It's hard to do pull-ups and pushups every day,
but it sure makes climbing out of the saddle easy and powerful.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-apron-for-cooking-and-cranking
This is making me hungry for food and bicycle maintenance.
Which means, I'll be putting on the awesome apron.
Weather your cranking on your bike before a race, or working the backyard BBQ like a boss... do it in style!
- 7-ounce, 100% cotton twill with stain-release protection
- Three pouch pockets, pen pocket
- 1-inch wide neck and waist ties, adjustable neck strap
- Measures 22"w x 24"l
Use promo code: BBQ and save 25%
Sale ends Friday or when we run out of aprons.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-apron-for-cooking-and-cranking
---
167.1
7.5 hrs
25 Pull Ups 50 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6321991011
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Nov 28, 2021
by TODD BROWN
I RAN INTO MY FRIEND'S YOUNGISH SON. He's had a rough start in life. Childhood brain cancer, and all the accompanying complications and challenges. Today, he was excited to share his new training regimen...
... and I listened intently.
I got up at 5am to go to the gym.
Really? (I know he's a big time sleeper inner, this was impressive to me.)
Yes, I'm going to get in good shape.
What inspired this?
I read a book called One Punch, about a hero who makes himself super strong by working out.
Do you have any goals?
Right now I can run a mile in 15 minutes. I want to be able to run 6 miles, like One Punch, without stopping.
I believe he will do it.
He's persistent.
Motivated.
Humble.
A perfect example of why PRs are the best rewards. Far better than any KOM or podium is to reach our own personal potential. If we win one along the way...
... that's cool, too.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-way-of-the-r-a-c-e-r
If you're looking for a new approach to racing, look no further.
The book is free, just cover the shipping.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-way-of-the-r-a-c-e-r
---
168.2 lbs. this is gonna take a while
7 hrs
20 Pull Ups 40 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
45 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6314241486
HOW TO JUMP A GAP
Nov 27, 2021
by TODD BROWN
GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS, but we still do it. Customer John stopped by this week. He's been beta testing my new training program RaceDay Ready. He looks totally different...
... I only noticed because of the time gap.
And, that's the problem for some of us.
Without the gap in time the difference in his stature, shoulders and belly would have been indistinguishable from one day to the next.
Which is what I was thinking about on my ride today.
I'm committed to laying in a bunch of zone 2 training through the end of the year. Sure, there will be a few group rides and maybe a D race. But, the commitment is there to lay down some good base miles.
My first A race isn't until March.
Come January I'll start bringing in more intensity.
This type of training is somewhat hard to quantify. It can feel as if no progress is being made.
I've found the only thing that gets us through the all important base miles and months is passion.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/changing-ponchos
You know what would be a big set back?...
... getting busted changing au naturel.
Which exactly why we make changing ponchos... lots of colors to choose from, or if you like, we'll make them to match your team designs.
Use this promo code: cyclesense
and save 20%, this weekend only.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/changing-ponchos
---
168.4 lbs. heaviest I've been in years, yikes!
8 hrs
10 Pull Ups 20 PushUps
No HyperVolt & Stretch
30 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6314241486
DO YOU LISTEN TO YOUR CYCLESENSE?
Nov 26, 2021
by TODD BROWN
LATE LAST NIGHT MY CYCLESENSE WHISPERED You oughta put that 3rd cage on your bike and take 3 bottles tomorrow. I ignored it because I'd specifically planned today's DJ Diesel's MixAlot 100k to stop at a store 2ish hours in...
... too bad it was closed.
The cause wasn't the holiday, but high winds created a power outage. That's the thing about Cyclesense...
... if we listen.
We get warnings all the time, at least I do.
Usually it is obviously practical, but sometimes it's mystical...
... even spiritual.
Like when my Cyclesense told me not to roll through a green light.
As I stood there, bewildered, a car screamed though the intersection...
... it would have killed me.
I've found the more I heed, the more I receive.
Hopefully, this isn't a big set back.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/changing-ponchos
You know what would be a big set back?...
... getting busted changing au naturel.
Which exactly why we make changing ponchos... lots of colors to choose from, or if you like, we'll make them to match your team designs.
Use this promo code: cyclesense
and save 20%, this weekend only.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/changing-ponchos
---
168.4 lbs. heaviest I've been in years, yikes!
7 hrs
10 Pull Ups 20 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
20 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6310602266
THE THREE R'S OF RIDING
Nov 25, 2021
by TODD BROWN
THERE ARE THREE TYPES OF RIDING STYLES THESE DAYS. No, it's not pro, fast and slow. It doesn't have anything to do with speed or fitness or contracts...
... it has to do with style.
Roadies are refined.
MTBrs are rugged.
Gravelers are rakish.
Dress accordingly.
Or, don't.
I don't care...
... I'm rakish by nature.
How 'bout you?
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/black-friday
Speaking of which, we're having a little Black Friday fun. It starts now. Quantities are limited.
30% savings.
Use promo code BF
On these products -> https://pedalindustries.com/pages/black-friday
---
167.2 lbs
7.5 hrs
10 Pull Ups 20 PushUps
no HyperVolt & Stretch
10 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6306492647
WELL, I'M NOT GRATEFUL FOR THIS
Nov 24, 2021
by TODD BROWN
WE'LL BE RISING EARLY THURSDAY, 9 mile, 3500' dirt climb to take the annual group photo. I've seen a Burley full of coffee and donuts hauled up and pack of lunatics hauling down. But, I've never seen...
... a happier group.
Some years are balmy, others bitter cold.
It doesn't seem to matter.
We still go.
But, why?
Partly to humblebrag at the family dinner about our exploits, partly to see old friendly faces...
... mainly out of tradition.
At some point, someone will suggest we go down Joplin vs the easy road up. it's a nasty trail, plenty of options to hesitate...
... hesitation is never good.
If they sell it hard enough, I might cave. It'll take an extra 30 minutes, and be 10 times the adventure...
... I'm getting weak just thinking about it.
And, that character flaw is one I'm not grateful for...
... neither is Surfergirl.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/black-friday
Speaking of which, we're having a little Black Friday fun. It starts now. Quantities are limited.
30% savings.
Use promo code BF
On these products -> https://pedalindustries.com/pages/black-friday
---
166.7 lbs
7 hrs
25 Pull Ups 50 PushUps + gym work
no HyperVolt & Stretch
60 minutes reading + Journaling
no ride today
THE TURKEY BURNER
Nov 23, 2021
by TODD BROWN
YOU'VE GOT TWO OPTIONS, big ride before the feast or big ride after. Then, we can really to town on the feast. Frankly, neither approach has worked well for me...
... but, I am a weak soul.
If I do the ride before, inevitably it ends long before the feast. I get hungry. Binge all the candy and appetizers...
... before anybody arrives!
If I opt for the day after, I skip breakfast. Get hungry. Binge all the candy and appetizers...
... then, with sweet tooth completely reactivated and demanding go big on the meal, the second serving, and all of the deserts.
This year, I'm bookending the nonsense with big MTB before and big gravel the day after.
But, that's not all.
We aren't hosting, going to the son-in-law's. Which means I'll have to reign things in quite a bit...
... gotta maintain that reputation.
Hypocrisy, I know.
But, at least you know the truth.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/black-friday
Speaking of which, we're having a little Black Friday fun. It starts now. Quantities are limited.
30% savings.
Use promo code BF
On these products -> https://pedalindustries.com/pages/black-friday
---
166.7 lbs
7 hrs
20 Pull Ups 40 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
80 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6297517493
WHAT DOES OFFSEASON MEAN TO YOU?
Nov 22, 2021
by TODD BROWN
THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE OFFSEASON, but I am pretty sure we all have a different view of what that means. Does it mean off the bike or off the training regime or...
... off to do something else?
For me, the most important thing is to turn off the rigidity.
If I race,
I wing it.
If I go for a ride,
I wing it.
In other words, take the stress out of the training and monk like living.
Frankly, I think it's good to have many offseasons during the year.
But, do not, under any circumstances, let offseason turn into off-the-diet season.
We are still athletes.
- We want to perform at a high level at all times.
- We want to return to training at our "fighting weight".
Just a little reminder to prep before the upcoming holidays.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/black-friday
Speaking of which, we're having a little Black Friday fun. It starts now. Quantities are limited.
30% savings.
Use promo code BF
On these products -> https://pedalindustries.com/pages/black-friday
---
165.3 lbs
8 hrs
20 Pull Ups 40 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
70 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6293436029
ON THE ROAD TO MASTERY REMEMBER THIS
Nov 21, 2021
by TODD BROWN
WHEN THE RACE GETS BLOWN TO PIECES IN THE FIRST 5 MILES, you have plenty of time to think. Some of it is nonsense, daydreamy stuff, that if you don't snap out of it could see you plummet down the ranks...
... some of it is pure gold.
Check this one out.
The best racers are all great bike handlers...
... not all great bike handlers are great racers.
What makes the difference?
- Mindset
- Physical strength
- Endurance
- Discipline
- Tenacity
- Willingness to embrace risk
- And other factors beyond a simple understanding of how to race.
Each one of those, when developed, become a super power.
Today, I needed tenacity.
With 25ish minutes to go, I finally had the leader of our category in my sites. He'd opted to run MTB tires on a very challenging gravel course. Because of gusty winds, the sand was covering the tires tracks of the overall leaders. But, I could see the MTB pattern was getting more clear
Even though I couldn't see him, I knew I was getting closer.
Then, I caught him.
He sped up and managed to hold my wheel.
But, a curious thing happened.
No more than a minute or so later, I realized the cleat in my left shoe was very loose.
I had to stop.
I grabbed my tool, sat down, and started tightening. I was anxious, and fumbling. It took about 2 minutes, seemed like 20.
If it had happened just before I caught him, I would have pulled over without him ever knowing how close I was.
Instead, he knew it was on and really got after it.
So did I.
About 15 minutes later, I saw him again. This time I passed as hard and fast as I could, and he couldn't latch on. It was right at the top of the final climb and we raced all out to the finish line.
Got him by 30 seconds.
Sure, I'm bragging a bit, but only to share my thoughts.
You see, I know I'm a slow starter, and I legit count on my competitors cracking before the end.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
I wore red gloves and socks today... going for that Spartan look.
Did you know Spartans wore red because it's the color of blood and when the were wounded it wouldn't show. This gave them a look of invincibility.
You may not know this, but our socks are made on the same machines as the socks Tadej Pogacar wore when he won the 2021 Tour de France.
Here in the USA.
I only source the best for you.
And, when it comes to gloves nothing fits better or breathes better what you see here.
Right now, it's Buy Gloves, Get Socks for free.
Just pick out the color and size you want and the discount is automatically calculated at checkout.
Go here:
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
---
165?
8.5 hrs
0 Pull Ups 0 PushUps
HyperVolt
https://www.strava.com/activities/6290084468
WE NEVER RISE TO THE OCCASION, INSTEAD...
Nov 20, 2021
by TODD BROWN
TODAY WENT AS EXPECTED. Our jumbly mass of racers hit the bottom of the 4.5 mile climb and instantly splat out like giant bug on the PEDALvan's windshield. Within 10 minutes the fastest were high, high above. Me...
... I settled in.
By that I mean I dropped anchor and watched 'em go. It's a mere 27 miles, but it's only gets harder. Pacing would be key.
The single track, fast and flowy off the top, turns twisty and techy. So much so, the Ol' Diesel looked a lot like John Muir, hiking a helluva lot more than he'd like to admit.
Which brings me to my point...
... we don't rise to the occasion, we fall to our training.
While we do have trails within a short drive that provide this kind of challenge, I haven't ridden them for nearly a year.
And that long gas climb? Yeah, we have that too, but same thing. Ain't ridden it in many moons.
Which brings me to my other point...
... the moon was outstanding last night, camping at the venue.
Probs the same tonight. Highly recommend ya check it out. So put the screens away and get outside. Hold your lover's hand, and just soak it in.
Which brings me to my final point...
... the best one...
... TJ stopped to help a fallen rider out. He'd clearly taken a good whack to the helmet. That's cool as hell, the stopping part. I suspect it was because TJ himself had a real doozie this summer and nobody stopped...
Bro, you ok?
No, I'm not. I need help.
They kept racing.
TJ stopped.
His story brings me back to my original point...
... because he is a young man who's clearly received good training.
For me, TJ wins the day.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/training/products/the-way-of-the-r-a-c-e-r
TJ told me a second story.
I love your book. I read it in 45 minutes, but I can't stop thinking about it.
Really?
Yes, and then guess what?
Do tell.
I gave it to my girlfriend and as soon as she was done she signed up to run a 1/2 Marathon.
So, If you're looking for just the right gift to give this holiday...
You can get it on Amazon for $20...
... or here for free:
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/training/products/the-way-of-the-r-a-c-e-r
---
165?
7ish hrs
0 Pull Ups 0 PushUps
HyperVolt
https://www.strava.com/activities/6285012079
THE SIMPLE WAY TO TRAIN AND RACE
Nov 19, 2021
by TODD BROWN
TONIGHT I'M DRIVING TO A RACE, where there will be two kinds of people lined up in the morning. One will be calm and relaxed, confident. The other, stressed because they know...
... shift about to get real.
The reason for their differing emotions, of course, is how they prepared.
I'm gonna make it real simple.
Train hard, race easy.
Let me break it down for you cats new to racing.
Those who train hard,
who see stars at the end of their intervals,
who are in tip top shape...
... they will find the race easy.
It won't be anything harder than their prep, it won't be mentally confusing nor physically overwhelming...
... easy.
Everybody else...
... it's gonna be a helluva day.
Train hard, race easy.
When I say Every Day Is RaceDay™ˆ, I mean it's cumulative. Eat crummy food for a week, and it's gonna cost you. Skimp on your sleep, you're gonna pay.
If you feel weak, maybe you need this hat as a reminder.
Use promo code: EVERYDAY
---
164.7
7.5 hrs
15 Pull Ups 30 PushUps
HyperVolt
No ride today - man's gotta work.
IT'S NOT THE LACK OF FITNESS
Nov 18, 2021
by TODD BROWN
YESTERDAY, I JUMPED INTO THE MOST FEARSOME GROUP RIDE IN THE LAND, the Swami's Wednesday ride. Littered with state and national road champs plus taut pro tri riders, it's known for holding a blistering pace...
... and heavy duty trash talking.
One must be prepared for exceptional physical and mental abuse.
This, I know.
So, for me, it's like water spraying my seat tube.
No big deal.
For others, the trauma of holding wheels and ignoring insults can be too much and they never return...
... missing on the finest training they'll ever get.
Poor souls.
It's not the lack of fitness that stops them,
it's the lack of focus.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/amp-pr-lotion
The thing I really like about groups like this is how hard they push me... because it gives me fitness to really get after my PRs.
Which is why I love the name of this product so much.
Winning is nice, but PRs... oh, PRs... those are pure gold.
Just like this offer... use promo code PRS4LIFE and get 20% off.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/amp-pr-lotion
164.7
8 hrs
10 Pull Ups 20 PushUps
no stretch
https://www.strava.com/activities/6275529089
GET YOUR SHIFT TOGETHER!
Nov 17, 2021
by TODD BROWN
SOME PEOPLE YOU CRINGE TO INVITE ALONG FOR THE RIDE. You know the ones, they are needy, bike is always slightly lacking, forgetting to bring the essentials. I just wanna scream...
... Get your shift together!
But, I don't.
I have mercy.
I use to be like them.
Then, I had an epiphany.
What if I had a bag that was also a checklist and would keep me super organized...
... I'd remember to bring, and could easily find, everything!
Yep, that's how the RaceDay Bag™ was born, out of pure necessity to make packing easy...
.. and raceday a calm affair.
Nary a day passes I don't get a message that goes like this...
Diesel, my buddy forgot his ______. I just looked at him in disgust, he's seen my bag at least a million times.
Thanks for making my life easier.
To which I always respond, This makes me so happy.
Because it does bring me great joy to make life easier for cats like us.
I know I should make a pitch to get the bag here, but you already have one.
You might, however, need a green t-shirt for the upcoming holiday season...
... and have I got a deal for you.
50% off, use this code: GREEN
Code expires Friday.
Here's the link:
165.8
8 hrs
Gym Work
Stretch/Hypervolt
60 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6272204878
SHOULD TECH BE PART OF RACING?
Nov 16, 2021
by TODD BROWN
SERIOUS QUESTION: Should we have more and more and more tech in racing? I've just reading this article about Froome being all geeked up on a realtime glucose measurement tool...
... It will change racing more than power meters, he exclaims.
But, is that a good thing?
I think the tech makes racing less interesting. Less chaotic. Less dramatic.
The biggies I've seen:
- HR monitors
- Radio comms
- Power meters
Think on that.
HR and Power meters to tell you how hard to go. Race radios to tell you what's happening in the race and what to do. Glucose meter to tell you when to eat...
... imagine some dork whispering, Drink 2.5 ounces.
Rubbish.
Let them race on feel,
make them read the race themselves,
let 'em bonk...
... keep it real, keep it human.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-black-2022-raceday%E2%84%A2-calendar
It's getting time to start thinking about next year...
... and get your giant wall calendar.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-black-2022-raceday%E2%84%A2-calendar
166.2
6.7hrs
20 PullUps 40 Pushups
Stretch/Hypervolt
80 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6262086622
---
167.2
8 hrs
10 PullUps 20 Pushups
Stretch/Hypervolt
75 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6266586562
GET BETTER SOON
Nov 15, 2021
by TODD BROWN
I JUST BOUGHT A "GET BETTER SOON" CARD for one of my racing friends.
He isn't sick...
... I just think that he needs to get better.
The end.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-black-2022-raceday%E2%84%A2-calendar
It's getting time to start thinking about next year...
... and get your giant wall calendar.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-black-2022-raceday%E2%84%A2-calendar
166.2
6.7hrs
20 PullUps 40 Pushups
Stretch/Hypervolt
80 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6262086622
THE INTERSECTIONS THAT MATTER
Nov 14, 2021
by TODD BROWN
WE STOPPED BY TO SEE A LONG LOST FRIEND TODAY. Way back when, we'd all lived at the Whiting Ranch trailhead. The ladies joined the Trail Angels, the dudes joined the Warrior's Society...
... we rode, we raised kids.
We learned of the recent tragic and sudden passing of their grown child.
An unimaginable situation, the kind where you wish you nearby...
... today we were traveling through.
She was alone, spouse off to work trip.
It's hard to explain the bonds that form along our rides. Kindred spirits, intertwined. Miles down the road, we pick up where we left off.
We listened,
we hugged,
we wept.
We may never fully comprehend or accept unanticipated hardships as we ride through mortality...
... but, we keep pedaling and loving and being loved by those we meet along the way.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-black-2022-raceday%E2%84%A2-calendar
It's getting time to start thinking about next year...
... and get your giant wall calendar.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-black-2022-raceday%E2%84%A2-calendar
166?
8.5 hrs
0 PullUps 0 Pushups
no stretch
0 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6258804298
AWESOME 4 MILE HIKE AFTER SHREDDED SIDEWALL
Nov 13, 2021
by TODD BROWN
IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER THAN A NICE RIDE THROUGH THE DESERT IN LATE FALL? Not really. The first 90 minutes with Surfergirl was perfect. Fast, flowy, rolly, fun. Then came the ol'...
... You don't mind if I ride a little more, right?
What could go wrong?
75 and sunny.
2 bottles.
See ya!
I wanted to hit the Zen trail.
Last time I rode was 6 years ago, the True Grit 50. It's a helluva trail. Lots and lots of sharp jagged rocks. Massive desert vistas. Some cactus. There is nothing like it back home.
It's slow.
Like a chess match,
the ancient rock is constantly checking our momentum.
One must be calm,
unhurried.
Strong,
yet flexible.
I love it!
However, one outta put some extra PSIs in the tires. I'd already rimmed out a few times ripping the fast stuff on the desert floor. Up here on the mesa I was keenly aware of the vicious rocks and keeping things in check...
... picking my way, nimbly.
But, it wasn't enough.
All it takes is one jagged rock at just the right angle and you can be just like me...
... hiking 4 miles in stiffsoled MTB shoes over rugged terrain for 90 minutes.
Pros
- Plenty of time to rethink my tire set up
- Cross train the shoulders to burning point by lugging the bike
- Have something to write about
Cons
- Feet hurt like hell
- Miss an excellent dinner
- Nearly miss the concert as well
I like a good memory as much as the next cat. And, a greatly prefer a catastrophic sidewall tear on play day vs raceday.
Chalking this up as a win.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
For sure, today's ride is the kind you want to protect you fingies, and still be cool. Take me up on this offer...
BUY THE GLOVES, THE SOCKS ARE FREE.
Mix and match your colors. I went black gloves, red socks last weekend and looked so sharp the promoter featured this pic.
So, if you dig looking sharp and demand killer gloves and sock performance click this link below... no promo code needed, it's automatically applied at check out.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
Those dots you see are the perforations all along the top of the glove. Superduper breathable.
---
166?
8.5 hrs
0 PullUps 0 Pushups
no stretch
0 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6254138570
BIKING VAGABONDS
Nov 12, 2021
by TODD BROWN
WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO EAT LUNCH, and by happenstance it was an MTB trailhead. A crusty, ripped ol' dude pulled up on a super sweet Ibis Mojo. He was wasn't wiry...
... as much as he was sinewy.
A lifetime of adventure radiated his countenance. Flame and snake tattoos added charm, beginning at his fingers and flickering up to his biceps...
... he'd ridden a few miles, for sure.
Just got this bike.
It's a beaut.
My first full suspension.
Do you love it?
Yes, it just knows where I want to go. Telepathic control.
Amazing.
But, to be honest, I love all the bikes. I started riding in the 60s, Schwinn cruisers. We rode all over these hills. And just never stopped.
He could have been 60, or 70, or 80.
I couldn't tell.
Before he left, he looked at us and said...
... It must be nice to be biking vagabonds...
... then drove off in his fancy truck, dream bike inside.
I thought that was funny. He's aspiring to be like us, who he thinks we are, and we've spent a good portion of the drive to UT trying to figure out how to do these trips more than a few times a year.
New goal: Biking Vagabond.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
It's important to hang on to our dreams as much as our bars.
Our Black Friday special is BUY THE GLOVES, THE SOCKS ARE FREE.
Mix and match your colors. I went black gloves, red socks last weekend and looked so sharp the promoter featured this pic.
So, if you dig looking sharp and demand killer gloves and sock performance click this link below... no promo code needed, it's automatically applied at check out.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
Those dots you see are the perforations all along the top of the glove. Superduper breathable.
---
166ish
6.5 hrs
0 PullUps 0 Pushups
no stretch
0 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6249294776
HOW MUCH LONGER CAN THE TUR D' FRAWNZ HANG ON?
Nov 11, 2021
by TODD BROWN
WHAT A PARADOX! The biggest bike race in the world is by far the most boring. Sure it has drama, but it takes 3 weeks to play out. Of course it has the best athletes, but it takes 20 days of attrition and luck. They're trying to remain relevant...
... while gripping hard on tradition.
It's the fringes where we have real action and excitement.
Certainly, this year, for me, has been a big come to Merckx moment with races that are novel...
... requiring a much larger skill set.
Drafting is nice,
drafting on gravel and sand is rad.
Carving tarmac is swell,
carving on a banked dirt berm is exhilarating.
Single track is fun,
single track on drop bars is trickylicious.
Mixed surface racing is bomb!
Of the 3 biggies, the Vuelta has been the most exciting. They've had to be different, to stand out. Now they are on the leading edge of stodgy...
... I think they can do better.
Imagine.
One bike.
A stage race.
One, maybe two, tire choices.
Every day a different type of terrain.
Now that, that my PEDAlposse, would be a helluva race and give us...
... and helluva champion.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
Of course, they'll be wearing superlight fullfinger gloves. And you should, too!
Our Black Friday special is BUY THE GLOVES, THE SOCKS ARE FREE.
Mix and match your colors. I went black gloves, red socks last weekend and looked so sharp the promoter featured this pic.
So, if you dig looking sharp and demand killer gloves and sock performance click this link below... no promo code needed, it's automatically applied at check out.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
Those dots you see are the perforations all along the top of the glove. Superduper breathable.
---
166.9
7.5 hrs
20 PullUps 40 Pushups
Stretch + Hypervolt
60 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6243739019
WOULD YOU ACCUSE ME OF STEALING YOUR JOY?
Nov 10, 2021
by TODD BROWN
KEVIN WAS IN TOWN TODAY. He's a long-term thinker. Like 10 and 20 year plans. And, unlike most of us...
... he accomplishes the impossible.
So, when he reminded me of his 20+ year goal to go under 9 hours at Leadville at the spry age of 65 I looked at him and said...
Bro, we've got some work to do.
I know.
No, really.
I know, it's just the JoeJoe's from Trader Joes...
You're not going to make it.
Yes, I will.
I don't think so.
Don't steal my joy.
Don't steal my joy, that is a profound statement. It was almost a command.
Is it stealing his joy to point out the obvious?
Not, if it's honest, loving and supporting his ambition.
He's got to drop at least 30 lbs, probably 40, by radically changing his diet. That's the opening, obvious move. Then start lifting, and stretching. And, get on his mountain bike.
This is going to be so fun to witness, because I know he can do it. I'm sure of it. Plus, I'm on a similar quest to go under 9 hours.
We'll be checking in with each other often...
... and that is the secret to accomplishing big shift.
Having a buddy.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
Of course, it's also important to have a firm hold on your goals and your grips.
Which is why our Black Friday special is BUY THE GLOVES, THE SOCKS ARE FREE.
Mix and match your colors. I went black gloves, red socks last weekend and looked so sharp the promoter featured this pic.
So, if you dig looking sharp and demand killer gloves and sock performance click this link below... no promo code needed, it's automatically applied at check out.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves
Those dots you see are the perforations all along the top of the glove. Super breathable.
---
165.3
8 hrs
25 PullUps 50 Super Pushups + Kettle Bells
Stretch + Hypervolt
55 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6239546029
DID MUHAMMAD ALI JUST WIN OUR LITTLE BIKE RACE?
Nov 09, 2021
by TODD BROWN
I PUT MY MONEY ON BRETT TO GET THE V TODAY, and I was correct. As usual. I saw him go to work early, doing fake attack after fake attack. It was a master class in subterfuge...
... and reminded me of the famous rope a dope fight with Foreman.
So many similarities.
The good looks, the brash swagger. It was all there, but it had been so long since he'd decimated the ride nobody recognized him.
Instead, they surely wondered what this chunky brute was trying to prove with his weak and unmanly attacks...
... then he was gone.
Just like what Ali did Foreman, hypnotized him into thinking he had everything under control...
... then lights out.
10 miles from the finish line.
That's a helluva long range attack, considering you've got a fairly frothy bunch of cats all looking to score and PR.
A few more attacked, but none could catch the bull on the loose.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are just looking around to see if anybody in our respective categories is gonna make a break for it or if things will be fairly tame...
up The Wall,
down the canyon,
Nobody made a move of substance until we hit the bottom of the corkscrew.
This is the final effort.
.71 miles.
195' elevation gain, most if it the first .35 mile.
It stings.
A lot.
Many weeks, I pull the plug and cruise across the line.
Not today.
We were all vying for a strong finish. Even with Brett up the road, plus those other cats.
'Din't matter.
It was on.
What started as a ball of energy at the bottom, resembled a strung out line of old jalopies clunking across the line...
... gasping, and wheezing.
All in the name of fun, and a little cash.
Full results are below.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
And yes, you're almost outta time to get a custom RaceDay Bag™ for the holidays:
- a personalized RaceDay Bag™
- and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
167.4
6.5 hrs
0 PullUps 0 Super
Stretch + Hypervolt
45 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6234464375
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries/
| Cat 2 | Race # | Racer | Ovrl Finish | Cat finish |
| M / 35-49 | 43 | Brett Bylund | 1 | 1 |
| M / 0-23 | 38 | Rayan Jamshidian | 2 | 1 |
| M / 35-49 | 1 | Nicholas Bishop | 3 | 2 |
| M / 35-49 | 26 | Joseph Edmonds | 4 | 3 |
| M / 35-49 | 24 | Eric Bierman | 5 | 4 |
| M / 0-23 | 32 | Isaac Gould | 6 | 2 |
| M / 35-49 | 23 | matt smith | 7 | 5 |
| M / 50+ | 44 | todd brown | 8 | 1 |
| M / 35-49 | 33 | Michael Gould | 9 | 6 |
| M / 24-34 | 31 | Brian Lawler | 10 | 1 |
| M / 35-49 | 6 | Brent Thielke | 11 | 7 |
| M / 35-49 | 30 | Jacob Miller | 12 | 8 |
| M / 50+ | 19 | Joe Bowman | 13 | 2 |
| M / 35-49 | 20 | Michael Foster | 14 | 9 |
| M / 35-49 | 21 | Nathan Adams | 15 | 10 |
| M / 50+ | 13 | Mark Christopherson | 16 | 3 |
| M / 50+ | 14 | Brian Fitzpatrick | 17 | 4 |
| M / 50+ | 39 | MIKE ZANIO | 18 | 5 |
| F | 23 | Kristen smith | 19 | 1 |
| M / 24-34 | 15 | Adrian Leon | 20 | 2 |
| M / 24-34 | 22 | Cody Iverson | 21 | 3 |
| M / 35-49 | 2 | David Whalley | 21 | 11 |
| M / 50+ | 41 | Stephen Lind | 23 | 6 |
| M / 50+ | 7 | Jim Bishop | 24 | 7 |
| F | 17 | Maria Benson | 25 | 2 |
| M / 50+ | 34 | John Ramirez | 26 | 8 |
| M / 50+ | 3 | Richard Reimers | 27 | 9 |
| M / 50+ | 37 | Steven Donahoo | 28 | 10 |
| M / 50+ | 25 | Mireya Sanchez | 29 | 11 |
| F | 27 | Charlene Yarnall | 31 | 3 |
| M / 50+ | 5 | Scott Moncrief | 32 | 11 |
| F | 9 | kristiina beary | 33 | 4 |
| F | 10 | Ursula Carter | ||
| M / 24-34 | 12 | Jonathan Wilson | ||
| M / 35-49 | 4 | Tyler Dunigan | ||
| M / 35-49 | 8 | Michael Quito | ||
| M / 35-49 | 16 | ROGELIO LUNARIA | ||
| M / 35-49 | 29 | Sai Yeung | ||
| M / 50+ | 11 | James Carter | ||
| M / 50+ | 18 | Christopher Hill | ||
| M / 50+ | 36 | Richard Meeker | ||
| M / 50+ | 40 | mani Motamed | ||
| M / 50+ | 42 | Anthony Reguero | ||
| M / 50+ | 45 | Paul Iverson |
| Cat 2 | Race # | Racer | Ovrl Finish | Cat finish |
| F/ 0+ | 23 | Kristen smith | 19 | 1 |
| F/ 0+ | 17 | Maria Benson | 25 | 2 |
| F/ 0+ | 27 | Charlene Yarnall | 31 | 3 |
| F/ 0+ | 9 | kristiina beary | 33 | 4 |
| F/ 0+ | 10 | Ursula Carter | ||
| M / 0-23 | 38 | Rayan Jamshidian | 2 | 1 |
| M / 0-23 | 32 | Isaac Gould | 6 | 2 |
| M / 24-34 | 31 | Brian Lawler | 10 | 1 |
| M / 24-34 | 15 | Adrian Leon | 20 | 2 |
| M / 24-34 | 22 | Cody Iverson | 21 | 3 |
| M / 24-34 | 12 | Jonathan Wilson | ||
| M / 35-49 | 43 | Brett Bylund | 1 | 1 |
| M / 35-49 | 1 | Nicholas Bishop | 3 | 2 |
| M / 35-49 | 26 | Joseph Edmonds | 4 | 3 |
| M / 35-49 | 24 | Eric Bierman | 5 | 4 |
| M / 35-49 | 23 | matt smith | 7 | 5 |
| M / 35-49 | 33 | Michael Gould | 9 | 6 |
| M / 35-49 | 6 | Brent Thielke | 11 | 7 |
| M / 35-49 | 30 | Jacob Miller | 12 | 8 |
| M / 35-49 | 20 | Michael Foster | 14 | 9 |
| M / 35-49 | 21 | Nathan Adams | 15 | 10 |
| M / 35-49 | 2 | David Whalley | 21 | 11 |
| M / 35-49 | 4 | Tyler Dunigan | ||
| M / 35-49 | 8 | Michael Quito | ||
| M / 35-49 | 16 | ROGELIO LUNARIA | ||
| M / 35-49 | 29 | Sai Yeung | ||
| M / 50+ | 44 | todd brown | 8 | 1 |
| M / 50+ | 19 | Joe Bowman | 13 | 2 |
| M / 50+ | 13 | Mark Christopherson | 16 | 3 |
| M / 50+ | 14 | Brian Fitzpatrick | 17 | 4 |
| M / 50+ | 39 | MIKE ZANIO | 18 | 5 |
| M / 50+ | 41 | Stephen Lind | 23 | 6 |
| M / 50+ | 7 | Jim Bishop | 24 | 7 |
| M / 50+ | 34 | John Ramirez | 26 | 8 |
| M / 50+ | 3 | Richard Reimers | 27 | 9 |
| M / 50+ | 37 | Steven Donahoo | 28 | 10 |
| M / 50+ | 25 | Mireya Sanchez | 29 | 11 |
| M / 50+ | 5 | Scott Moncrief | 32 | 11 |
| M / 50+ | 11 | James Carter | ||
| M / 50+ | 18 | Christopher Hill | ||
| M / 50+ | 36 | Richard Meeker | ||
| M / 50+ | 40 | mani Motamed | ||
| M / 50+ | 42 | Anthony Reguero | ||
| M / 50+ | 45 | Paul Iverson |
IT'S JUST A SOCIAL RIDE
Nov 08, 2021
by TODD BROWN
ONE OF THE BEST TRICKS YOU CAN PULL ON AN UNSUSPECTING FRIEND is to invite them on a ferocious group ride under the guise of it being just a social ride. It's just so fun, and entertaining...
... which is why we all cave to the temptation on occasion.
Tongue in cheek is always a good time.
Take the name of our local group ride a few of us started 18 years ago: The Tuesday Morning World Championships. It's mainly a bunch of cats that like to ride and have actually only raced a handful of times.
To us, the name is a joke.
To the uninitiated the name is intimidating, frightening.
Which is exactly why we tone it down for our annual shindig...
... the unOFFICIAL TMWC.
We'll do the same course, sprint for the same 15mph sign, come back and do the annual awards.
For most of us, it's the only race we'll do all year...
... other than every other Tuesday in between.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
And yes, you're almost outta time to get a custom RaceDay Bag™ for the holidays:
- a personalized RaceDay Bag™
- and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
165.8
9.5 hrs
20 PullUps 40 Super PushUps + Kettle Bell
Stretch + Hypervolt
60 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6231909589
DEFUND THE TIME CHANGE
Nov 07, 2021
by TODD BROWN
I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK OF THE GREAT DEANDRE COLE this time of year and his classic What's Up With That? Because really!, what is up with the time change...
... and why is DST not ST?
Is it me or wouldn't y'all much rather ride the morning from dark to light than kiss your afternoons good night...
... so dang early?
I reckon it depends on where ya live. But, where I live I'd much rather be on DST all year long.
Which reminds me of Deandre who always haD to cut his shows off with...
... Well, we outta time!
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
And yes, you're almost outta time to get a custom RaceDay Bag™ for the holidays:
- a personalized RaceDay Bag™
- and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
165.1
8 hrs
13 PullUps 26 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
120 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6227416398
A NEW WAY TO RACE BICYCLES - CRITCROSS
Nov 06, 2021
by TODD BROWN
RELUCTANTLY CROUCHED AT THE STARTING LINE. Hearts pumping and thumping in time. The 30 second sign turns, the green flag waves. It's a full drag race for the first banked 180 degree turn...
... on go-cart course!
The energy of that start, into the first turn, was electric because the next 1/4 mile was a chicane, a short straight then onto a banked dirt turn to another banked turn and up the finish line jump...
... nearly impossible to pass.
Then back onto the smoothsmooth tarmac for good ol' crit racin', and what a crit course it was.
A perfect surface.
No road debris.
No cars or trucks.
Just bikes.
Racin'.
And, about two minutes later right back onto the 20ish seconds of dirt again.
That is my friend Eric's creation...
... called CritCross.
Crit and Supercross.
But, not just for the finish line jump.
We all raced 2 "Motos".
20 minutes + 2 laps.
Here's how it went for me.
I stuck with my gravel bike, only a few of us did that. The rest rode road, and I think that was clearly the fastest set up...
... but, i didn't want to soil the new roadie.
The first Moto my technique was terrible. I haven't raced a crit in years, and I just wasn't confident leaning the bike over. Plus, those gravel tires are really slow on edge...
... grippy, but slow.
I wound up 7th.
Totally cool, since it's off season for me, and I had zero interest in racing. Just wanted to check this new thing out.
Moto 2, different story.
First off, I felt racy.
Still had a slow start. That bike is just tough to get up to speed. Fortunately, this one was clean. No crashes in front of me. Within 3 laps I'd worked my way up to the leaders.
Second off, the rust was off the crit skills and I was leaning hard on those tires. Super grippy.
Wound up third in a three-man break, 35+...
... totally stoked.
Final thoughts...
the format of multiple heats,
the go-cart track,
the dirt section,
and finish line jump...
... made for some of the funnest racing I've had in years.
Oh wait, almost forgot...
... world class announcing,
terrific viewing for all trackside or up above,
and excellent food and drink included...
... Can't wait for the next one!
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Yes, I'm still running this promo because we're almost out of time to get for the holidays... and because people keep buying 'em:
- a personalized RaceDay Bag™
- and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
165.2
8 hrs
0 PullUps 0 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
0 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6221804628
IN THE PRISON SHOWER OF RACING...
Nov 05, 2021
by TODD BROWN
FIRST TIME RACERS SOUND A LOT LIKE FIRST TIME PRISONERS TAKING A SHOWER. And, well, are we surprised? I mean, who hasn't felt a little bit of What the heck is a nice cat like me...
... doing in a place like this?
All of the sudden whatever bravado we had typing in our cc info for registration is gonzo. The confidence we oozed after smokin' our outta shape neighbor up the back hill has evaporated.
We lose our minds...
How was the race?
It was great until the end.
Whadaya mean?
Well, I was riding really hard and feeling really good, leading most of the time until the last lap.
Yeah, then what?
Then a bunch of guys that I'd never seen jumped me and I finished dead last.
And riding like that my friends is like that first prison shower...
... don't drop the soap.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Yes, I'm still running this promo because we're almost out of time to get for the holidays... and because people keep buying 'em:
- a personalized RaceDay Bag™
- and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
164.8
7.5 hrs
10 PullUps 20 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
50 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6217500613
THE TRUTH ABOUT ZONE 2
Nov 04, 2021
by TODD BROWN
ZONE 2, MYTH OR MAGIC? I do a lot of zone 2 training this time of year. The benefits are undeniable. But, only if you know what you're doing...
... few do.
It's a lot more than riding in a zone, and every single, married, and partnered up tri-athlete knows the secret...
... yet, we still often make fun of them.
There's a lot to make fun of, but perfecting zone 2 ain't one of them. Nope...
... we should worship the ground the run and ride on.
Most cyclists think of zone 2 as a heart rate training zone, and it is...
... but it is much, much more.
What the tri-cats do is they get in the zone...
... and this is the part most cyclists completely miss...
... then focus on going as fast as they can without getting out of the zone.
Do you see the difference?
It's not riding between 120-140, my zone 2...
... it's riding as fast as I can at that rate.
It's about efficiency...
pedal stroke
cadence,
position,
aeroness,
carrying speed,
tire pressure,
fueling,
comfort,
... you got it?
What results is a feeling of being a giant steamroller... immense momentum and power produced with ease and confidence.
I had that exact feeling last Saturday at the Filthy 50. I started 15 minutes behind everybody, due to a mechanical. Rather than hit and try and catch, I steamrolled in zone 2 and 3 and spend the next 3+ hours saying...
... on your left.
That my fine young cannibals is the benefit of zone 2 training from yours Diesely...
... who learned it racing triathlons when I was a wee lad.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Yes, I'm still running this promo because we're almost out of time to get for the holidays... and because people keep buying 'em:
- a personalized RaceDay Bag™
- and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
165.2
7 hrs
20 PullUps 40 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
45 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6211252872
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries/
WHICH CAT SHOULD WE CHASE?
Nov 03, 2021
by TODD BROWN
FIGURING OUT WHO TO CHASE IS PRETTY TRICKY. Choose correctly and things can end well, choose poorly and it could mean finishing far behind our capabilities...
... or, not finishing at all.
There are basically three kinds of people you can chase in a big endurance race. Assume all three are leaving you behind...
... who's your target?
- The cat who's quickly going up the road, and riding off into the distance.
- The cat who's also ripping away, but comes back as the terrain changes.
- The cat who's slowly easing away.
For me, it's cat #3, the slow easer. That's the one that is going to make me stretch, but not to the point of blowing up.
Next best is #2 because I'm probably equal or better in certain areas. The key is to capitalize on those areas and slowly let go.
The worst is #1. Those cats are on a totally different level, what works for them will not work for me...
... to the point I'll be worse off if I try and match their speed.
Pick wisely.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Yes, I'm still running this promo because we're almost out of time to get for the holidays... and because people keep buying 'em:
- a personalized RaceDay Bag™
- and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
165.4
8 hrs
20 PullUps 40 PushUps + Kettlebells
Stretch + Hypervolt
75 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6208912300
DON'T LET YOUR CATEGORY DETERMINE YOUR AGE!
Nov 02, 2021
by TODD BROWN
I HAVE 2 OLD FRIENDS. They are quite different. Both are super accomplished racers. Both are over 30, fer cryin' outloud. But, as they say age is just an age group category...
... or is it?
One, stopped by to see me. Moseyed around, picked up a few cutting edge products, passed judgement...
... and left emptyhanded.
The other called me up.
Bro, I'm putting on a race.
Tell me about it.
Well, I rented a go cart track.
Cool, I like a lot of turns.
Yeah, there's that... but, the coolest thing is we are going off the tarmac and onto the dirt.
Really?
Yeah! A bunch of berms and a finish line jump.
Sounds rad.
Plus, we are racing heats to determine winners.
Like Supercross.
Yep.
I love it!
One of these guys is actually old, the other forever young...
... don't let your category determine your thinking.
Try new things.
Like this race, if you're around these parts.
It's called CritCross, get it? Crit and Supercross.
Website is here: https://www.critcross.com/
And bring your RaceDay Bag™.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Yes, I'm still running this promo because we're almost out of time to get for the holidays... and because people keep buying 'em:
- a personalized RaceDay Bag™
- and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
168.4 (nooooooooo!)
6 hrs
10 PullUps 20 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
15 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6201998987
HIGH LEVEL BIKE RIDING
Nov 01, 2021
by TODD BROWN
WITH ANY LUCK YOU'RE GOING TO MEET SOME COOL PEOPLE. Especially, if you really get into this endurance bicycle riding and racing thing. I was looking at my recent text messages...
... and thinking Damn.
Because we have this sense of We're all in this together, and because our community is extremely passionate, it's easy to meet and connect with new people.
But, that's not the cool part.
The cool part is we (all of us) are some really accomplished and awesome people. We just don't often recognize each other.
Helmets.
Glasses.
Skintight lycra...
... none of that helps.
Next time you're JRA (just riding along) or standing on the start line or hanging around afterwards...
... smile, stick out your hand, and introduce yourself.
Who knows, you might find yourself like me texting with a rocknroll drummer, an NBA star, and a grand tour winner...
... I'm telling ya, this community of ours is rad...
... and wants to meet you, too!
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
And just in case you all wind up bunking in the same cabin you might want:
- a personalized RaceDay Bag™
- and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
167.4
8 hrs
10 PullUps 20 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
50 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6197650285
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries/
THE SUBTLE ART OF READING THE RACE
Oct 31, 2021
by TODD BROWN
I WATCHED A BUNCH OF GRAVEL RACING VIDEOS TODAY. Simon, from GCN, talked about positioning himself up front at the start to allow for sliding space. Rather than making up ground...
... he prefers to slowly slide back, all day.
But, that got me thinking about the subtle art of reading a race.
You know, how it's unfolding.
Where the energy is.
The move to watch.
The kind of things coachy and racy people pontificate upon.
I shall do the same with this insightful view to what I see <- I say shift like that just to see if you're paying attention.
How the race unfolds is rarely dictated by the terrain. Instead, it's the competitors that matter.
Which, in my unhumble and cocksure opinion, is the point most of ya miss.
Amateurs and rookies worry about how to conquer a race's features.
Pros and victors focus on crushing their foes.
They aren't reading the terrain, they are reading each other. Which is just one reason I read a lot of books...
... rarely on bike racing.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Most races are won long before the final sprint. Here are two things you gotta have:
- a personalized RaceDay Bag™
- and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
166.4
10 hrs
10 PullUps 20 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
100 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6193790795
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries/
ARE YOU CLIMBING THE RIGHT HILL?
Oct 30, 2021
by TODD BROWN
TODAY DIDN'T TURN OUT AS PLANNED. What was supposed to be a ride with my pals, turned out to be 50 miles of soloing, all because I disrespected the course...
... and didn't pre-check my bike!
The Filthy 50 is always challenging for me. It's late in the year and I'm ready to play, not ready to slay. We were committed to do it and ride together and enjoy the beautiful course and see the peeps.
But, someone didn't check his electric remote wireless shifter and a full 1/4 mile into the course realized...
... I got no shifting.
Fortunately, in my RaceDay Bag™ I carry a few extra batteries: the 2032 that powers my chest strap also powers my shift lever. I hustled back.
12 minutes later, after hundreds left the start line,
I finally left,
which left me with a clean and clear course.
I could have been hacked off at my mishap. I wasn't. There was zero intention to race today. Honestly, I think it made my day even better.
That was the hill I set out to climb, a nice day on the bike.
All that to ask this question...
... are you climbing the right hill?
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
You could gift a friend the 2032 batteries... inside
a personalized RaceDay Bag™
and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Should out to Wrench House for helping me swap batteries!
1
Changing poncho in the wild
Yeah, I ate two of these.
---
165ish? slept at race
5.5 hrs Sleep got their late
10 PullUps 20 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
10 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6188963413
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries/
DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO IT?
Oct 29, 2021
by TODD BROWN
IT'S A MIRACLE I'VE SURVIVED THIS LONG. How many times did I attempt to jump the gap? Or sprint before, through, and out of the corner? Risking life and lycra...
... fearlessly?
Being fearless doesn't take courage.
Courage is when you are completely aware of the sitch, and you know dern well...
... this could end really badly.
Courage is when you state your commitment publicly that you'll be winning or placing or finishing in a certain time, and failure...
... could bring a heap of mocking.
It's cool to fearless.
It's rad to act with courage.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
You know what else is rad?
a personalized RaceDay Bag™
and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Get on this before it's too late->
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
164.5
8 hrs Sleep
25 PullUps 50 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
50 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6181166132
RAGE, RAGE AGAINST THE DYING OF THE LIGHT
Oct 28, 2021
by TODD BROWN
HENRY KISSINGER IS ALIVE. He's 98. That blows my mind. Seems like he's been 56 for a hundred years. He still gets up, works hard all day, has dinner, keeps working. If you want to be forever vital...
... never stop working.
As we ease towards winter, it's tempting to back off. Quit all together.
Check these stats.
We usually have 30-40 guys on our Tuesday morning ride.
We had 15.
Same on Thursday evening.
We had 4.
Don't be that cat,
under the covers,
sipping hot cocoa.
My friend Frank reminded me of the great Dylan Thomas poem.
Do not go gentle into that good night...
... Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
We're getting close to the holiday season, get on this before it's too late->
a personalized RaceDay Bag™
and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
164.5
8 hrs Sleep
25 PullUps 50 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
50 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6181166132
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries/
WHY ARE WE SUCH A SEXY LOT?
Oct 27, 2021
by TODD BROWN
LOOK AROUND. Who are the sexiest people you know? And, Why are the so dang attractive? I know you know what I'm talking about, but if you don't you will soon...
... as soon as you see your kin during the holidays.
Someone gunna say, Dang you look good.
You wanna know our secret?
We all know,
it's the blood flow,
that gives us our glow.
That, plus getting outside as much as we can.
Sunshine is a happiness drug, and we get it a lot more than most folks.
Oh, and one more thing...
... which I hope you're practicing.
We unplug when we ride.
No podcast.
No music.
While we give our bodies a good wringing out,
we give our brains a chance to uncouple,
from everything.
So, when they ask let 'em know...
... It's the blood flow that give me my glow.
Oh, and eating like an athlete...
... yeah, remember that when y'all sit down.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
How about this for a holiday gift for one of your supersexy friends->
a personalized RaceDay Bag™
and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
164.5
8 hrs Sleep
25 PullUps 50 PushUps + Kettle Bells
Stretch + Hypervolt
75 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6176726368
MY HYPOCRISY KNOWS THE END
Oct 26, 2021
by TODD BROWN
OVER THE WEEKEND I REALLY SCREWED UP. I broke rule number one, don't ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever skip eating after the big ride. But, things came up and there I was 5 hours later starving...
... which lead to massive binging.
Now I know I preach a lot about eating whole foods, but this was next level considering the narrow time window of my fall.
Whole double-patty hamburger, whole pint of ice-cream, whole bowl of fries, whole rack of ribs...
... and a whole lot more.
Finally I drifted off into a food coma...
... waking up a whole lot heavier.
Shift!
But, it was just one day and in a few days that will all be purged and I'll be back to where I wanna be...
... less of me.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Time is running out for this superprimo Holiday gift->
a personalized RaceDay Bag™
and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
165
7 hrs Sleep
20 PullUps 40 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
5 minutes reading books + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6169792854
CHECK YOUR FORM
Oct 25, 2021
by TODD BROWN
DO YOU EVER CHECK YOURSELF OUT RIDING BY RETAIL STORES, all of you reflecting back from their large and shiny windows? In sophisticated circles we call this checking our form. The rest of us just call it what it is...
... does this kit make me look fat?
This off season, I've added quite a bit of weight training to my schedule. At least for me it's a lot. The key is...
... to have good form.
Good form means we won't get hurt.
But, we can sure fry our legs without even riding. This has made it much easier to stay in zone two.
Concurrently, I've been hyper focused on my riding form when on the bike logging these easyish base miles. Specifically, my pedal stroke. The proverbial...
... pedaling in circles.
Pushing forward along the top,
pressing down,
scraping mud off my shoes across the bottom,
pulling back up to the top.
I've also been working particularly hard at getting my ankles back involved. Somehow I'd lost a lot of flexibility and was just mashing down. Hence, I've been doing all kinds of exercises to get them back in the game and whipping across the bottom of the pedal stroke.
Anyway, consider this a public service announcement. While everybody else is just pedaling...
... check your form.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
And check out this superprimo Holiday gift->
a personalized RaceDay Bag™
and, a dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you because you've been around here a while.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
166
7 hrs Sleep
20 PullUps 40 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
65 minutes reading + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6164923987
MY FREAKY FORMULA FOR FEELING FAST
Oct 24, 2021
by TODD BROWN
I DISCOVERED THIS FREAKY FORMULA FOR FEELING FAST by accident. And, let the record show feeling fast is a big part of riding fast. But, the weird part is this feeling...
... comes for going way slower.
Then, it manifests itself in a PR fest the likes of which are on par with NYE 1999. I got a lion in my pocket...
... and baby he's ready to roar!
It happened yesterday.
Due to time constraints, I cut the 50 mile version of the Good Dirt Ride and hit a number of the single track sections I've been riding on my gravel bike while trying to piece together...
... The Grand Master Flash Sir Mixalotta Surfaces 100k.
But, that's another story.
What happened was I hit all single tracks on my superbadass fullsuspensionrocket.
Rather than bouncing all over the trail and feeling like I was riding on the limits of physics, as I have been on the gravel bike...
... it was smooth, and in slow motion.
A feeling of serenity and calm control...
... ripping faster than ever the same exact trails.
So why the PRs?
- Gravel bikes force me to pick the cleanest lines.
- Gravel bikes require a firm grip and a loose body (see Zen and the Art of Archery book review.)
The result is refining of the dirt skills via gravel bike...
... and ripping freakishly fast on the MTB.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Holiday gift of the year-> a personalized RaceDay Bag™ + dedicated Way of The RACER book.
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden to the unwashed masses, but I'm sharing it with you because you've been around here a while.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
166.7
9 hrs Sleep
10 PullUps 20 PushUps
Stretch + Hypervolt
120 minutes reading + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6162024657
OH BOY... DO I HAVE SO GOOD DIRT ON A LOCAL HERO!
Oct 23, 2021
by TODD BROWN
DOUG GRANT CELEBRATED HIS 65TH BIRTHDAY by putting on the Good Dirt Ride and raising $101,652 for charitable causes. He's that kinda guy. Effective. Efficient. A servant leader...
... people naturally rally behind.
For his last time putting on the event, we had a light rain and the resultant hero dirt...
... the kinda dirt that is a moist and tacky.
It gives the feeling of riding like a hero.
So much grip.
Stand up and pound the pedals,
and the tires just dig and launch you forward.
Lean over and carve,
and it's like every turn has a perfect berm.
Of course he would conjure up just a morning.
As the riders came in from the 10, 25 and 50 mile courses, I could tell many of them had been challenged. There were a few nicks and bruises...
... but mainly smiles.
Happy to be done. Happy to have played a part in a worthy cause.
Doug was happy, too.
His final words, after many years of putting on the event, were a call to action...
... for all of us.
Isn't it wonderful that we able to set aside our differences and come together in harmony and do something good? Remember this, and keep building our community.
And that my friends, is the real dirt on a local hero: Doug Grant.
Few of us have what it takes to put on a ride of that magnitude...
... but, we can all invite a friend to join our next ride.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Wouldn't it be a wonderful gift to give a great friend, a personalized RaceDay Bag™?
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden, but I'm sharing it with you because you've been around here a while.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed The Way of The Racer book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
165
7 hrs Sleep
0 PullUps 0 PushUps
Stretch
10 minutes reading + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6155974192
THIS IS HOW TO FEEL ON RACE MORNING
Oct 22, 2021
by TODD BROWN
WHEN I'M TRULY READY FOR RACEDAY THE FEELING IS AMAZING. It's unlike all the other starts. Not hectic, not nervous. A quiet lake vs chaotic rapids. And that's how it should be...
... like going for an easy spin out your front door.
Routine.
Ho-hum.
Ready in every sense of the word.
Spirit.
Body.
Mind.
Are you feeling me?
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
For me, it starts the day before loading my RaceDay Bag™...
... the confidence I have everything I need to slay the day.
Mine has my name on it.
Wouldn't that be a wonderful gift to give yourself or a dear friend, a personalized RaceDay Bag™?
I have a special link for our Stock Designs with a personalization option... it's hidden, but I'm sharing it with you because you've been around here a while.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
Whatever name you type in will be printed... so be creative!
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Custom bags require about 3 week, so order now to have in time for the holidays...
... we'll do our magic...
... and you'll have one extremely stoked friend that is blown away by your very personal generosity.
You are that kind of friend, right?
Trust me, there's nothing better.
Use this promo code to save a few bucks -> PERSONAL
Plus... I'll also add a signed book to your gift.
Go here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/custom-name-bags
---
164.7
7 hrs Sleep
20 PullUps 40 Super PushUps + Kettle Bells
HyperVolt & Stretch
80 minutes reading + journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
TOP 8 REASONS NOT TO LIFT WEIGHTS
Oct 21, 2021
by TODD BROWN
AFTER FULLY AND COMPLETELY COMMITTING MYSELF TO A STRENGTH PROGRAM, I can confidently let you know there are some excellent reasons to stay far away from such activities...
... but you be the judge.
First there are the obvious reasons;
- You prefer the sexy look of small shoulders, arms and chest with accompanying t-shirt stuck on belly.
- You prefer to be weak, unsteady and prone to fall off your bike.
The lifestyle reasons:
- You hate going to the gym when you could be riding.
- You don't have room for weights.
- You don't have time.
The silly reasons:
- You're afraid you'll gain weight - true for a scant few, but not you.
The real reasons:
- You don't know what to do
- You don't want to get hurt.
Those are legit.
I had the same concerns.
Figure it out, it doesn't take much time and the benefits are wonderful.
Then let the celebrations begin with your new found powers.
You might need a fancy, high-quality tool like this. Truly hard to find, and always impressive when your posse is over for a visit.
Retails for $48, but with this code...
... it's 50% off.
The code is GETSTRONG.
There is only one of these in stock, so act quickly.
---
164.7
7 hrs Sleep
15 PullUps 30 Super PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
90 minutes reading + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6146493961
YOUR BIG SECRET AIN'T SAFE WITH ME!
Oct 20, 2021
by TODD BROWN
AT THE RACE THIS WEEKEND, a bunch of cats will show up. Fancy kits, shiny bikes, niiiiice legs. But, there's a huge problem in diagnosing who the players are...
... even if you know them by name, like your friends.
Because what you don't know...
... will kill you.
The shift you can't see....
... the secrets.
What's in them bottles?
What'd ya eat for breakfast?
How well did you sleep last night?
What workouts are you doing off the bike?
Who's your coach and what did they tell you to do?
Are you even recording all your rides on Starva or hiding some?
If you think you know your enemy, think again...
... think hard.
Do they know you?
What are you doing different?
Have you added to your arsenal?
Deleted some of that mass we call flubber?
Now, all them blingy thingies you see at the start should and most likely do have a purpose...
... to keep you distracted from their Dr. Evil plans.
Shoot, I used to...
... and sometimes still do
... show up with a filthy bike and stenchy kit
... glasses askew
... grease on my calf.
And, my all time favorite don't mind me question...
... Do you know where the course goes?
Meanwhile, I'm running black chains and cassettes that are purrrrfect, silky smooth. Ceramic bearings and ceramic lube, a drive train prepped for annihilation.
I'm that kinda kat.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/secret-stuff
Here's an example of the secret stuff I use that can't be seen. Everything you see here has been battle tested and proven.
I wouldn't race without them.
Ever.
Too crazy.
Who doesn't want their legs to feel magical?
Who doesn't want their chain to be silent and smooth and seemingly completely free of drag?
Don't let all that training you do go to waste.
I can promise you,
there are very crafty cats scheming all kinds of ways to leave you far behind.
But, you wisely have me on your side.
If I had to choose just two of these products it would be these two, because of their startling performance gains.
So, here's the deal
Go here:
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/secret-stuff
Order at least 1 of each because supply chain issues are real,
And I'll include, the extra luscious and protective DZ Nutz... for FREE.
So, go here and be sure to purchase all 3 and use this code at check out
BIGSECRET
and DZ Nutz will be free
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/secret-stuff
---
165.4
8 hrs Sleep
25 PullUps 20 Super PushUps + Kettlebells
HyperVolt & Stretch
75 minutes reading + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6143776855
GRUPPETTO STYLE CUE'S FOR 2022
Oct 19, 2021
by TODD BROWN
I GOT PAID A NICE COMPLIMENT TODAY and it occurred to me it was most undeserved. Because in this case I've done everything possible...
... to copy the best.
Ha!... because the best let me know in clear (often foul) language, I had it all wrong.
From Nelson Vails teaching me how to hold my bars to the local honcho mocking my gear selection.
Ever been there?
Are you still there?
Would you rather be here?
I was riding behind you last week and man, have you got good form.
Shut up!
No really, I was and I could tell every single effort was efficient and aero and beautiful.
Stop!
I mean it.
Well, gauldarnit... that's a mighty fine thing to say. Thanks man.
Whether or not it's as true as he said, I'm sure my form is a lot different from those early days for one reason...
... I didn't take it personally.
Well, I might of. But, then I got over it and paid attention because I wanted to improve...
... a lot.
So, if you're lucky enough to have someone ruthlessly,
or lovingly,
or mockingly,
comment on your form...
... be humble, and take action.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-lights
Speaking of taking action, this morning was gnarly...
Even with all our bikes lit up
with the sun in our faces
with bright clothes on
... we had the closest call in my life.
Some crazy person passed a lumbering truck, across the double yellow...
and came head in into us, too damn close!
... get lit my friends.
Life is a helluvalot better in one piece.
Use promo code: GETLIT to save 12%
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-lights
SAVE 25% Join The PEDALindustries POSSE.
Click here -> https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
Click here -> https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
165
7 hrs Sleep
10 PullUps 20 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
15 minutes reading + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6136628049
WHY I KEEP IT SIMPLE
Oct 18, 2021
by TODD BROWN
I TRY AND KEEP THINGS SIMPLE, as few cycling goals as possible. Like 2 or 3. It's not for everybody, but it works stunningly well for me. That's it...
... the rest is just putting the process in place.
The process revolves around the perfect week, and it's something I'm constantly fiddling with and adjusting.
Nothing big,
just little tweaks.
The big idea I set up a long time ago...
... figure out a process, that if followed, will deliver me as fast as possible to the finish line...
... with the least amount of time required.
It's like baking a delicious apple pie, you just need to know the recipe and have the ingredients. Then, put it in the oven and enjoy when ready...
... on raceday.
If you don't have a process or if your process sucks...
... get started here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/training
... or don't and just keep doing the same shift you've always done.
... get started here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/training
SAVE 25% Join The PEDALindustries POSSE.
Click here -> https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
Click here -> https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
164.7
8 hrs Sleep
10 PullUps 20 PushUps
HyperVolt & Stretch
100 minutes reading + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6131804925
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries/
THINGS I'LL NEVER DO AGAIN ON A BIKE
Oct 17, 2021
by TODD BROWN
THERE ARE THINGS I WILL NEVER DO AGAIN ON A BIKE, involving skills I had honed over time and with much practice. I don't miss them...
... the present is so much better.
I'll never...
have a pinch flat
snap a shifter cable mid-race
experience brake fade on a long descent
... because
disc are reliable and powerful
shifting is electric.
tubes are dead
... and I'm feel dawgawn lucky.
On the rare occasion sealant isn't enough, I whip out this magical tool and quickly plug a whole.
It's truly incredible.
Highly recommend.
SAVE 25% Join The PEDALindustries POSSE.
Click here -> https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
Click here -> https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
164.7
8 hrs Sleep
10 PullUps 20 PushUps
HypberVolt & Stretch
100 minutes reading + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6128167358
GRAVEL RIDES ARE SO DUMB...
Oct 16, 2021
by TODD BROWN
BY CHANCE, we met up with some of our other dropbar pals halfway through our respective group's rides. Grabbing Mexican Coke's and snacks at the country store, we chatted for a bit...
... then our little group continued on the gravel roads...
They'd traveled on asphalt,
we'd traveled mostly on dirt.
They'd dealt with cars,
we'd dealt with dust.
They'd paused at many lights,
we'd crossed a few streams.
They'd avoided road hazards,
we'd sliced single track.
... and that made all the difference.
I'd dragged, cajoled... nah, just invited a few of my gravleros to check out this route because after riding it last week I was worried it was too hard.
Turns out it's not...
It's challenging.
It's climby.
It's fun.
... according to them.
The question I have now is...
Can we do it under 4 hours if we're really getting after it?
Don't think so.
Really?
62 miles, 5000' of vert, some techy trails.
Yeah, it'd be hard.
You'd have to average just over 15 mph.
We averaged 14.
Maybe a pro, or some young stallion.
I left it that, ready for the challenge. But, first I think we need a few more practice runs and some much cooler temps.
Who's in for a dumb gravel ride?
I was wishing I had this tire on the back today. It was a little dusty and loose and climbing outta the saddle was tricky.
These are pretty hard to find.
Use promo code: CONTI to save 10%
or
SAVE 25% Join The PEDALindustries POSSE.
Click here -> https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
Click here -> https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalposse-membership
164
7.5 hrs Sleep
10 PullUps 20 PushUps
HypberVolt & Stretch
15 minutes reading + journaling
https://www.strava.com/activities/6123007604
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