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TODD'S BLOG
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Get RaceDay Ready
IS IT WORTH 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.
---
Thrill a Runner or Triathlete in your life with a RaceDay Bag just for their sport.
Use this promo code: TRIRUN
To save 20% on ISD Running and Triathlon sport specific bags - code expires Monday, 12.26.24
---
166.8 lbs (too much recovery fuel?)
8ish hrs sleep 10pm-6:04am)
Push Ups
0 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
>
GETTING HIGH
NEARLY 6000' IN 32 MILES represents a good amount of climbing. Mostly straight up or straight down, on dirt. At about the 2 hour mark...
... I hit the highest point.
A few miles prior, a thought occurred to me.
If something bad happens,
I'm a long, long, long way from help.
The tires are new,
sealant fresh,
new chain,
cassette.
And, I was feeling pretty good...
... check, check, check and more checks.
Carry on,
enjoy the views,
and lack of humanity.
A bobcat appeared on the trail about 20 yards ahead of me,
it made a quick u-turn and loped along as I closed in,
before lunging over the side into the brush.
The red-tailed hawk surfed the gusty ridge,
searching for pray.
Chipmunks sprinted up and down the ancient pines.
Nature really does rock my world.
This mountain range is about a 35 minute drive from home.
I used to live closer,
and spent almost every Saturday up there, alone.
Looks like I've started the new year's resolution to adventure something new or different at least once a quarter...
... resolutions are kinda dumb.
Why wait?
As the great Yoda said...
... Do, or do not.
---
Thrill a Runner or Triathlete in your life with a RaceDay Bag just for their sport.
Use this promo code: TRIRUN
To save 20% on ISD Running and Triathlon sport specific bags - code expires Monday, 12.26.24
---
164.7 lbs
7ish hrs sleep 10pm-5am)
PullUps Push Ups
0 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
>
I CHOSE THIS?!
THE BROCHURE PROMISED A CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE, everything would be tested. Yeah, all the mind, body, spirt stuff. Plus...
... every ounce of perseverence.
I salivated.
Months of prep were stacked,
when the date came,
I was ready...
... I thought.
But, then shift got real.
Way harder than I expected.
The sections with the group were hard,
we encouraged each other.
When it got really difficult,
nature split us up.
The loneliness was brutal.
I knew, hoped, we'd regroup when the elements eased.
Work together.
Get 'er done.
Crazy as it sounds,
getting towards the end,
I thought I'd gladly do it again.
Winning didn't matter,
completing the mission did...
... and, yeah, those hands were gonna be raised regardless of place.
Crossing the finish line,
to my surprise and delight...
... was my dad,
my creator.
---
Thrill a Runner or Triathlete in your life with a RaceDay Bag just for their sport.
Use this promo code: TRIRUN
To save 20% on ISD Running and Triathlon sport specific bags.
---
163.6 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:45pm-6:27am)
PullUps Push Ups
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE BEST ON BIKE WORKOUT EVER?
THERE ARE A LOT WAYS to get stronger and off the bike. Routines, fads, and trends come and go. For my money...
... nothing beats a singlespeed mountain bike.
I built one up because it was fashionable.
Little did I know how addicting the workout would be,
how much I would love riding it.
It was like battling a bipolar bull...
- docile spinning along the flats
- UFC cage fighting any time it got steep
... and it worked perfectly.
At the time, cycling had been quarantined to a few days during the week because weekends were family time in the desert riding motorcycles.
My spin stayed smooth due to the fixed gear range - it wasn't a fixed gear, I could coast.
In order to get up the constantly changing elevations...
- legs
- arms
- lats
- back
... were all recruited and magnificently engaged.
No need for weights or any kind of resistance training.
It was basically going from one interval to the next, with luxurious spinning in between.
As I'm writing this, I'm thinking of the ol' Trek hardtail.
Dusty.
In the garage.
Maybe it's time to spend the least dollars possible and...
... make strength training fun and sexy again.
---
164 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (10pm-6:20am)
PullUps Push Ups Squats & Stuff
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
ARE YOU BORING YOURSELF?
IS NEXT YEAR GONNA BE BETTER THAN THIS YEAR? It'll be different, for sure. Better is subjective, only you can determine...
... if it will be a year to remember.
We need new...
- locations
- friends
- events
- skills
... experiences that will change us.
Memorable,
forever.
As I start to fill in my calendar for next year,
it's tempting to play small,
safe...
... instead I do this.
First, I have to have one giant, unreasonable physical goal each year. (spiritual, mental, and social, too).
2024 it was Gravel Nats.
Next year (2025) hasn't crystalized yet, but it will.
Second, I think it's imperative to try a new event once a quarter.
Right now, it's looking like...
- March BWR AZ
- April Highlands Gravel (UCI)
- June BWR MT
- 4th Qtr is TBD
... it doesn't have to be fancy, could just be a weekend adventure someplace new.
Third, master something new, and have a plan to track progress.
For 2025, that is going to be bicycle mechanicing.
By the end of the year, I want to be able to do everything at a level that I could bail myself out if I was nowhere near a competent mechanic.
I'll be adding milestones to the calendar for that, and purchasing the proper tools.
There lots of other stuff on the calendar...
- date nights
- family activities
- work objectives
- service projects
... gotta make it all work cohesively.
Back in 2020 I set about getting out to the Cactus Cup for the first time.
I met a bunch of cool people, and made new friends.
Rode some fantastic and unusual terrain.
Found an outstanding Italian joint.
Cactus Cup stays in the rotation...
... I never would have found it if I hadn't ventured out.
They're having the 12 Days of Giveaways starting 12.12...
... I hope you'll win this bag, and join me out there.
---
Side note:
- I'm planning to do BWR AZ and stay the week in the desert for Cactus Cup the following weekend. If ya get out there for either one, let's meet up for sure.
- I'm also planning BWR UT, in May, and heading to Fruita/Moab the days following for some epic MTB. Lemme know if you're interested in joining.
---
164.9 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:55pm-5:55am)
PullUps Push Ups Squats & Stuff
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE THUNDER
LOOKING FOR SOME BACKGROUND VIBES, I loaded up a Goettl Media raw file of BWR Arizona 2024. It was supposed to be my first A race of last year, but..
... life had other plans.
It's never too early to start doing recon.
I like Joe's videos because...
- the POV is always really good
- his comments teach a lot
- he's super respectful
.... in other words, he's a good dude.
Turning away from the big screen to get some work done it struck me how much...
... a race at speed sounds like thunder.
Especially the gravel sections.
I got so electrified,
I ditched the project,
and dug into examining the terrain.
Joe raced the long version, the Waffle.
I'll most likely do the shorter Wafer.
From the looks of it,
I think this terrain will call for the Race King 2.0s...
- lots of sand
- some rocks
- whoops
... means it's gonna be a hoot.
Can't wait for my next thunder storm.
---
164.7 lbs
7ish hrs sleep (9:55pm-5am)
PullUps Push Ups
0 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
EASY DAYS AND HARD DAYS ALWAYS
I WAS LISTENING TO A PODCAST with the superfamous coach of an ultrafamous racer, and the host, trying to dumb it down for us dummies, asked...
... What's the one piece of advice you'd give an amateur racer?
He had me on bearings and spokes.
Train easier.
What do you mean?
I mean most amateurs are doing too much.
Isn't that the way to get better?
No. I mean Yes, but no.
Explain.
If an athlete is training too hard all the time, and by too hard I don't mean to exhaustion, but, at a level that will not allow them recover, really recover, then they can't...
... go really hard, and get the big gains.
I thought about that today as...
- miles rolled by
- watts low
- h.r. lower
... my mind open and free.
That advice is easy to understand, hard to thoroughly absorb.
It feels wasteful.
Useless.
And so we ignore it,
to our detriment.
Being that it's a Monday, I tweaked the great Karen Carpenter's song...
... Easy days and hard days always get me fit.
This works for work, too.
There are days I'm resting, prepping, organizing...
... and days I'm slaying it with back to back to back appointments.
---
165.8 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:55pm-6:20am)
PullUps Push Ups & Stuff
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
COASTING IN
AS WE WIND DOWN THE YEAR, few of us are racing. Personally, having backed down the miles I'm feeling really fresh and spunky, which reminds me about...
... what I love about tapering.
Sure, there's the reduced miles and training and all the good feelings that come with that, but there's something else and if we're doing it right...
... is a huge benefit.
Because all the fatigue is leaving our bodies we not only start to feel really good, we have time to reflect on how we got here...
... all the work we've put in.
The result is where once we were tired, questioning out motivations and our capabilities....
... now we are confident.
Confidence is key to...
... ripping on raceday.
===
Now it's time to party!!
I wish I'd come up for this idea of this collection in time for New Year's...
... but, Hey! let's party like it's twenty twenty-five!
Here's the deal...
... order by 12.9, save 25%.
Use code PARTY25.
Most likely ships just after the New Year, if we can get it out early, we will.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/pedal-party-collection
---
164.5 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:45pm-5:30am)
No Strength Work
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
DRIVIN' THAT TRAIN
THE PROBLEM WITH CORROSION isn't the corrosiveness itself. That's bad, for sure. But, I find the real problem is...
... it comes on so slowly.
Then, catastrophic failure.
Because I've been neglecting my trusty MTB all year, well, basically for two all years...
... I was caught out, bad.
"All of the sudden",
my shifting was shift.
It wasn't really sudden.
For months the shifting had been off, but...
... just good enough to put away and forget about.
It had reached the point of no return.
Irreparable damage had been done.
Rather than simply replacing the chain in a timely manner,
an easy home repair,
at little cost...
... I had to get a divorce,
and a hot, new, young,
complete drivetrain.
Costly.
It's just a drivetrain,
not something that really matters...
... those things deserve immediate, constant loving maintenance.
===
Now it's time to party!!
I wish I'd come up for this idea of this collection in time for New Year's...
... but, Hey! let's party like it's twenty twenty-five!
Here's the deal...
... order by 12.9, save 25%.
Use code PARTY25.
Most likely ships just after the New Year, if we can get it out early, we will.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/pedal-party-collection
---
164.5 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:45pm-5:30am)
No Strength Work
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THERE IS LITERALLY NO SCHOOL FOR THIS
WE'RE ALL OUT THERE ENDURING, and it's like we have no compass, no gps, no no map, no field manual. There is no associates, four year, masters, or doctorate degree...
... and yet, somehow experts evolve.
Oh, there's the occasional book.
Usually so filled with jargon and graphs they are worthless, but boy...
... the authors sure look smart.
So, we rely on our...
- inner voice
- experience
- friends
... and get to work like mad scientists.
We can and do glean much from...
- watching races
- podcasts
- youtube
... then, we do our best to put it into practice on the next ride, run, swim.
Kinda makes ya wonder if...
- Jobs
- Ford
- Edison
... were just having fun, fascinated with figuring out what was possible?
---
Got a friend who's a Triathlete or Runner?
Blow their minds with a sport specific RaceDay Bag.
Use this code and save 20%: TRIRUN
Good ONLY on in stock Tri and Run bags.
---
165.6 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:45pm-5:45am)
PullUps, PushUps, Squats
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE WORST GOAL EVER
ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO, I set two lofty goals. One I accomplished, one I fell far short of. What was the difference between...
... success and failure?
Both seemed outrageous at the time.
They still do.
I each case, I knew everything would have to go perfectly in order to get anywhere near what I wanted to accomplish.
The one I attained, everything did go perfectly.
I went about my business,
mission accomplished.
The one I muffed, a massive unforeseeable mountain in the road popped up.
It was such a kick in the front of my bib shorts where my legs come together,
that it was mentally and physically debilitating.
Months later, unforeseeable mountain turned to gopher mound, I'm back on track.
There's all the fancy platitudes of goals...
- goal unwritten is a hope
- goals must be believable
- goals should be realistic
... we could go on and on.
But, I'm not sure that's the point.
Really.
Having the guts to...
- set an outlandish goal
- share it with real allies, not punks who puke on our dreams
- and take massive action
... is the lifeblood of everything I do.
Failure.
Success.
They matter, but not nearly as much what occurs...
... in the process of going after personal excellence.
===
We could wait until 1.1.25 to think, start, plan...
... or, we could grab a calendar and get down to business.
https://pedalindustries.com/calendar
---
166.4 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:45pm-5:55am)
PullUps, PushUps, Squats
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
DECEMBER'S FOCUS AND AN EXPERIMENT
THIS MONTH'S FOCUS ISN'T FOR BABIES. Babies crawl, make a mess of their food, and are on a quest to get fat. I'm not. Are you? I'm looking to...
... start the year on fire.
For December...
- LSD, not tripping, long slow distance
- Strength work
- Weight loss
... this is my focus.
That should have me in prime shape to hit it hard in Jan and Feb.
Two months to prep for the first races,
BWR AZ and Cactus Cup.
For Jan and Feb, I'm planning an experiment...
- Tues/Wed back to back intensity days, with long tempo on Saturday
- Tues/Sat intensity, with zone 1/2 days in between
... for alternating weeks to build race specific fitness.
The intensity for BWR's start and dynamic surges,
the tempo for Cactus Cup's old school XC race.
Should be fun.
No,
really,
it should be fun.
Just gotta nail December to be hammering in March.
---
167.2 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:45pm-5:55am)
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE RULE OF 3
NEW AND FIRED UP, I jumped full speed into the road scene. Since all I'd done was road race, I was one hundred million percent sure...
... I was born to race road.
While I shamelessly slobbered, the old wise man at the bike shop tried to duck.
When I stopped to breathe, he said...
... Sonny you don't know you lycra covered butt from a pothole!.
Huh?
Listen up, buttercup.
Gulp.
It takes three full years...
... to know what you're good at.
But...
But nothing, now get outta here and go to work.
He was right.
By the end of that first year, I realized I was a much better crit racer.
So, I focused on crits for the next two years.
When I found mountain biking,
I was sure I'd be a cross country racer.
Turned out,
I was a much better descender than climber.
When I finally got a gravel bike,
I was sure I'd just use it to mix up the training.
Turns out,
it's actually pretty darn fun to race gravel.
There's nothing magical about the three years...
... it's the three years of working at getting better that matters.
Oh, and before you quote the 10,000 hour rule, think on this.
There are 26,297.46 hours in 3 years, which is kinda like saying...
... if you live, eat and breathe anything for 3 years, magic happens.
Now get to work!
---
168.2 lbs
7ish hrs sleep (10pm-5am)
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IT'S THE DATA DUMMY
I DO LOVE ME SOME DATA. In this vast digital world, there's plenty of it to access, crunch, and geek out on. The only question I have is...
... why? what? how? when?
It's more than what the Garwahoo is delivering.
That little screen can be divided so small the numbers become trivial, useless.
Then we can dissect it all on Starva, Training Peaks, etc.
Which brings up the question?
Do we.
And, if we do, what are we to make of it?
It is so tempting to wing it.
And, why wouldn't it be? That's how it was done from Adam till now.
Gut feel.
But, I had some sense knocked into me today.
Realizing inventory was running low on our gloves and socks, I was about to wing it on a replenishment production run.
Wait, why not pull a report?
Takes a few seconds.
Data don't lie.
And, whadaya know...
... winging it was not the way to go.
The thing about all the Garwahoo data is there's just a heckuva lot of it. We could...
- read a ton
- take some classes
- pester the nerd that rides
... or hire a coach, let a pro figure it out and tell us what to do.
I'm not for winging it,
and I'm not for outsourcing it...
... I'm more for figuring out what the data means.
Empowering myself.
---
167.2 lbs
7ish hrs sleep (10:30pm-6am)
PullUps PushUps & more
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
BECAUSE IT SUITS US
ARE RUNNERS BETTER WRITERS or are there just more runners and therefore more writers that run...
... leading to a larger talent pool?
Christopher McDougall's Born To Run is probably my favorite running book.
Inspiring.
It got me to run.
Trail running for miles.
His book, Natural Born Heroes, got me totally into strength work because...
... the heroes were so naturally strong and lethal.
Jesse Itzler is a runner.
His book Living With A Seal is hilarious, and wildly challenges our limited beliefs about what we can accomplish.
Here are a few gems from my latest find...
- The most important thing we ever learn in school is that the most important things can't be learned at school.
- With my mind elsewhere I'm able to run for a long while, keeping up a natural speed that doesn't tire me out.
- There are three reasons I failed. Not enough training. Not enough training. And not enough training.
... from What I Think About When I Talk About Running.
For me, it's not so much the running that is compelling, but the book's ability to help me understand...
... why I love riding, and enduring.
How about you...
... got any faves?
---
166.4 lbs
7ish hrs sleep (11pm-6:05am)
PullUps PushUps
0 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
I'LL RACE YOU TO THE CORNER
AT SOME POINT, and it doesn't have to be now, but it will happen soon enough, we wake from our hibernation. Something stirs, and in disgust with our gluttony and laziness...
... we show our puffy faces.
It happened for me today.
I thought I could postpone it a few more weeks,
but there I was meeting at the start
of a ferocious ride.
The ride down was lovely.
Seeing the fellas, charming.
Even the first little climb
showed some promise.
It ended there.
My ballast keeping me grounded.
Basically, I made it to the first corner.
Now, I have a baseline.
And, it wasn't all bad.
I was only two seconds off my PR on that 6ish minute effort.
Things quickly went downhill after that.
Like, really fast...
... errrr, really sluggish.
On the next section I was 3 minutes off the pace.
20, TWENTY!, % slower.
I pulled the plug at that point,
proudly did the lonely ride of shame back to the van.
This Thanksgiving weekend, I am darn...
... thankful to have the desire to improve.
'Cause when desire goes,
when there's no more fire,
then what do we really have?
Gonna make to the second corner next time!
===
In between Black Friday and Cyber Monday are...
... Get your overstretched lycra in gear Saturday and Sunday.
Since some of ya pointed out the code wasn't working perfectly, I extended through Sunday.
TNX24 will save ya 20%.
That is if you're relating to my admission of bottoming out and still reading.
Which thrills the heck outta me.
---
166.4 lbs
7ish hrs sleep (10:15pm-5:55am)
No Strength Work
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SATURDAY TRADITIONS
AT DINNER WITH THE FAM, I asked What was your most memorable Christmas gift? The kids are adults now, I was curious what they'd answer. I knew exactly what mine was...
... the moment the words left my mouth.
What surprised me however,
was Surfergirl's answer.
My bike, it definitely wasn't new, and I didn't care. It was freedom, we'd roam the streets of Kailua, and all to go the donut shop on Saturday mornings.
That surprised me.
Not the donuts.
Not the pre-ownedness.
I've asked myself a million times...
What did Surfergirl see in me way back when,
What does she see in me now,
... maybe she saw a kindred roamer?
Because, I was doing the exact same thing on my Stingray...
... roaming the streets and dirt lots with my pals on Saturday mornings.
Still am.
Oh, my favorite Christmas gift?
The red Schwinn Le Tour I drooled over when my mom's boyfriend took me to Fullerton bikes. I imagined myself flying up the hills and traveling great distances...
... shocked me to see it with a bow.
Wish I'd kept it.
---
166.9 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (10pm-6:10am)
No Strength Work
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE KNOWLEDGE CHEAT CODE
MOST PEOPLE don't know this. Some do, like the great Steve Jobs. Meanwhile, we have this amazing cheat code...
... for insider knowledge.
Take today's ride.
Love Watts brought his wife's best friend's husband, and let me know he's a triathlete.
Here's the beauty of riding with someone.
Because when his wife's best friend's husband told me he was brand new to the gravel scene, I thought...
... Oh boy! This cat is gonna get wrecked once we hit the dirt.
Nope.
Dude can shred.
Guess what else?
My friend's wife's best friend's husband, who had been to our town many times, had no idea how amazing the gravel riding could be here in "suburbia".
Quite canyons.
Canopied trees.
Miles of single track.
What Steve Job's knew is if he went on a long walk with someone he could really get to know them.
It's the same with us.
While humanity zips around in cars...
... we go for ride, run or swim and get to know humans
and the places they live.
===
Black Friday.
I see all the unbelievable sales and savings, and sometimes I wonder..
- is it something a company does when the import gear made with slave labor in China?
- are my competitors that desperate?
- if it's such a great strategy, why don't the greatest brands like Apple, Cervelo, Tesla, Belgian Waffle Ride, Luis Vuitton, Kask, Tiffany, do it?
... seems like a good way to cheapen, destroy a brand.
But, what if it's a way to reward the loyal, cult following we have developed..
... for example my friend's wife's best friend's husband has three of our RaceDay bags.
How cool is that?
So, here's the deal.
Since you passed the test,
since you know me.
Use this code, TNX24, to save 20%.
It is only good through the 29th of November 2024.
Yes, I know it's not a mind blowing discount, but you know...
... we make our bags and apparel right here in the USA.
Quality.
===
166.9 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (10pm-555am)
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THIS IS SO OVER THE TOP
DO SOMETHING ENOUGH TIMES and we start to pick up on the littlest things. Trust me, I've done this twisty country road decent at least 1000 times, when it comes to going fast...
... the littlest things matter.
On Tuesday, I hit 46.2 mph.
Not bad.
Not my best.
The PR is 50.2 mph.
A few of the little things...
√ Aero helmet
√ Tight tuck
√ Winter blubber
√ Fast wheels
... I had most of it right for top speed.
But, there was one massive ingredient.
It's not enough to make it to the top...
... gotta be sprinting past the goal to reach escape velocity.
===
166 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (930-530am)
PullUps PushUps
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SLOWVEMBER, DEEPSLUMBER AND JAMUARY
IT'S MORE THAN OKAY TO CELEBRATE the holidays. In fact, it's mandatory. Will we sneak out for a turkey trot or social ride? Heckyes! Will we pile on the food?...
... it'd be a shame not to.
Nothing better than the 3 F's...
- Food
- Family
- Friends
... for our slow-thudding hearts.
Bring on Deepslumber...
- More parties
- more events
- less time
... soak it up.
Jamuary will soon be to the rescue.
It's so dang easy to get carried away and spend the entire first quarter trying to...
... undo what we done did.
Honest question,
asking for a friend...
... you planning to wake up on 1.1.25 ready to jam?
===
166.4 lbs
7ish hrs sleep (9:30-5am)
No strength work
10 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
A PAIR OF 45s MADE ME OPEN MY EYES!
LEAVE IT TO HOLLIES to set things right. I'm not sure when it heppened, but it's pretty dawgawn clear my sprint is dead and...
... we gotta do some resurrectin'.
A veil of dust and yuck has been yanked open.
I couldn't put my finger on it,
but on today's MTB ride I could sense it.
Something I love, is missing.
The shackles of endurance were weighing me down...
... the chains getting longer and heavier.
It's my sprint, my freakin' sprint.I used to love to sprint...
... not the fastest, but cagey and wiley.
That was it.
Somehow, the singular focus on long endurance races had killed the speeding spirit...
- That fire.
- The angst.
- Thunder and lightning
... slumbered like a middle-earth Tolkien forest.
Doing the dishes an old tune came into my mind...
... What's the name of that?
Next thing I know, Long Tall Woman...
... is cranked up to 11.
Dishes, instantly done..
I'm jamming, alternating between...
- Squats
- PullUps
- PushUps
- Bent Rows, BENT ROWS!!!
... reactivating those muskulls.
Can't freakin' wait to get on my bike, and sprint!
===
166.7 lbs (starting to wonder if my scale is stuck)
8ish hrs sleep (10:15-6:30am)
PullUps PushUps Squats Rows
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
PUTTING A RACING SUPERPOWER TO GOOD USE
RACE LONG ENOUGH, and you can eye a competitor and know, pretty quickly, if they are suffering. And, if we're feeling good...
... this is when we pounce to distance ourselves.
But, should we,
always?
Some of the tells are...
- heavy breathing
- sloppy form
- hanging on
... they are mostly easy to note.
Though there can be fakery...
... for the worse and the better.
But, what about out of competition?
Can we use this highly-honed superpower for good...
... when neighbors, friends and family are struggling?
Even faking All is well.
Rather than pounce...
... can we embrace and lift up?
===
166.7 lbs (starting to wonder if my scale is stuck)
8ish hrs sleep (10-6:30am)
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE SEXIEST HELMET HACK EVER?
IT'S NOT OFTEN someone eyes us over and says we look sexy all kitted up. Maybe that's why it worked this time, 'cause there I was with my helmet on, and she said...
... you look sexy!
It never would have happened if I wasn't...
... on my way to my new sexy helmet hack.
When I get home...
- I put away the bike
- stow the shoes and glasses
- strip and head to the shower
... head into the house.
So there I was...
... buck naked.
Helmet on my head.
Normally, this would merit a head shake.
Another silly idea.
Here me out.
Step into the shower post ride and pop out...
... helmet and body, fresh as can be.
===
Do you think it has anything to do with penning in Date Night on the RaceDay Calendar?
Right now, the miracle working deal includes...
- the Calendar
- the Annual Plan Masterclass
- plus, one month of the Be True & Rip Alliance
... a magical way to rule the year.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/giant-raceday-calendar-2025-bundle
===
166.7 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (10-5:50am)
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
HOW TO 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!
===
Right now, the Giant calendar includes...
- the Calendar
- the Annual Plan Masterclass
- plus, one month of the Be True & Rip Alliance
... a magical way to bring on the year.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/giant-raceday-calendar-2025-bundle
===
166.7 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:45-6:30am)
PullUps, PushUps
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHY I LOVE COACH PRIME
THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS to love Deion Sanders. Just imagine all that incredible speed and power sprinting for the win at Roubaix, at least that's what I used to do...
... when the euros would strut and think their chamois don't stink.
That was then.
Three things I love about Deion now.
- He's not living in the past, pining about how great he was. In fact, he has a noticeable limp because he's had toes and muscles amputated. Can you imagine being great, then hobbled like that?
- He's turned around 2 different college football programs, from absolute trash into winners. Can you imagine making something great out of nothing?
- He's mission is a calling, not to win games or score a big payday, but to impact young men and turn them into winners. Can you imagine being driven like that?
What epic race or insanely long event have we ever done where at some point we weren't...
- hobbled
- down and out
- driven to get it done
... like life itself.
Inspiration is everywhere,
even in lil' ol' us.
Be great.
===
166.9 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:30-5:30am)
PullUps, PushUps & Other Stuff
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SOME PEOPLE ARE SO GOOD AT SHAMING
THERE IS A PLACE AND TIME for an honest conversation that might hurt. Done right, people can say something completely offensive, grab our attention, and we still take action because...
... shaming can be loving and effective.
Just yesterday, effing Michael F had the nuts to say...
... You stayed warm because you are fat.
Ouch.
True,
but ouch.
Early this morning, I was on a...
... "fat burning" ride.
See, shaming works.
I got to thinking a measly letter is...
... the only difference between F A T and F A S T.
Words came to mind...
- Speed
- Strength
- Stretch
- Sleep
- Sprints
- Salad
- Sculpt
- Strict
- Smart
- Start
- Sticktoitivenes
... things I could do.
Now, if someone could point out my impatience...
... and shame me!
===
166.7 lbs
8ish hrs sleep (9:15-5:10am)
PullUps, PushUps & Other Stuff
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
PULLS NOT PILLS
THERE ARE PET PEAVES and then are things that make you go hmmm. This isn't going to be about either those because some things make me shake my head so much...
... my helmet might fly off.
I just don't get it.
Take today...
- it's dark
- f'ing freez'ing
- and early as heck
... I thought we all got out on the road to be pushed.
But, no...
- jokers are gonna sit it
- get to the front
- not pull thru
... it's embarrassing.
I used to boast about how vicious this ride was.
Like, come out...
... and cry all the way home.
This is how pill pushers work,
attacking the weakminded,
for a quick fix.
You're probably like me, almost every ride that starts like this...
- cold
- dark
- earlisimo
... I'd way way way rather be in my pj's reading a book,
or sleeping.
"Feeling like it",
ain't the determiner of if we're going.
Yes,
I know it's offseason.
Yes,
I know not everybody can take a pull
No,
it's never cool to clog the front of a dawgawn training ride.
Pull the heck through!
===
167 lbs
8+ hrs sleep (9:15-5:19am)
PullUps, PushUps & Other Stuff
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
>
I TOLD MY DR. TO TAKE THIS PILL AND SHOVE IT!
SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO BE AN ATHLETE. Okay, all the time it's hard to be a committed athlete. It's simply not enough to have...
... drive, discipline and determination.
Sometimes, the indomitable spirit gets dominated.
My doctor reminded me of this during a check up last Friday (referring to bloodwork we did after my injury, back in April).
Old timer, your testosterone is muy low.
I'm old.
We can increase it.
How?
Take this magic pill or inject this secret elixir.
Ugh, No. And, don't even suggest it in the future.
Why?
It's not permitted for competition.
And, you compete?
Hellyeah, I compete.
So, my lycraloving friends what do the internets tell us...
- lift weights
- be lean (proper body weight)
- get plenty of sleep
- don't drink, smoke or do drugs
- no sugar
- eat fruits & vegetables
- Brazil nuts
- fiber
- flax seed
- lots of protein
- sunshine (Vitamin D)
- spinach
- pomegranates
- zinc
... without too much effort, cost or danger?
I'm not saying, don't get the shot, I'm just saying it's not for me at this stage.
Here's a weird one, some say...
... cold plunge can help.
If there's a common thread here, I think it's...
... doing manly things creates manly bodies.
Probably an oversimplification.
I don't mean to be a selfpromoting, Itoldyousoing knowitall, but...
... all this has been covered in the RaceDay Ready Challenge.
If you're into challenges,
if you're into going for it
if ya need a little help...
===
167 lbs
8+ hrs sleep (9:15-5:19am)
PullUps, PushUps & Other Stuff
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
TALIBAN CHUCK GETS HIS CHERRY POPPED
YESTERDAY WAS ONE OF THE BEST RIDES OF THE YEAR. We rolled out with no planned route, no ambitions to train, just the friends...
... out for an adventure.
Here's the problem,
when you're riding from home,
it can be hard to be truly adventurous.
We already know everything, right?
Kinda.
Collectively, yes.
Individually, no.
Even if we did actually know it all from experience...
... time changes everything.
Thought experiment:
If we went back in time, for exactly one year, where would we be?
Right where we are?
Nope.
Earth ain't just moving around the Sun...
... the entire solar system is on the move.
We'd be lost in space.
Which is why yesterday was such a great adventure, we...
- hit trails we hadn't been on for a few years
- tested latent water crossing skills (I failed)
- shared secret areas only some of us knew
... with the sole directive: let's check it out.
After a virgin run on a trail new to him, my friend with the amazing beard said...
... you popped my cherry...
... he instantly regretting giving me blog fodder.
Bowie was right...
... Time may change us, but we can't help having a good time on an adventure.
===
167 lbs
8+ hrs sleep (10-6:30)
PullUps, PushUps, Squats
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
GEN - ET - ICKS, WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR?
THE OL' BORN ON THIRD BASE ANALOGY is an easy copout. It's almost as good as winning the genetic lottery. But, my favorite is...
... beginner's luck.
These are the things we say to ourselves when we are struggling.
At least,
I do.
For example...
- my dad once scored double-digits in a church basketball game
- his dad, and all my uncles struggled with diabetes
- as I look at my shirtless self, I can see the beginnings of his Buddha belly
... on the other side...
- my mom once ran a marathon
- her dad, also had diabetes
- like her, I have one knee that ain't great
... this is what I was given to start off with.
Don't misunderstand, I'm well aware of all the blessing of a sound body and mind (though many question that), of living in a free country, and being surrounded with incredible family and friends.
I'm just sayin'...
- pops didn't play pro basketball
- mom wasn't an olympian.
... would that matter?
There's more...
- my dad loved sailing the ocean, and mastering the elements
- that marathon my mom ran, was on a wrecked knee and required limping the last 12 miles
... that I can draw from.
I'm naturally pulled to activities that feed my need for...
- Adventure
- Endurance
- Persistance
... and help fight off modern society's penchant for all things sugar and couch.
If we put in the work...
... all the things we think lack, make us extra-ordinary.
(Trust me, our neighbors don't think are normal... ain't that great!)
===
167 lbs
8 hrs sleep (10-6)
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
CAN WE CHANGE?
THERE WAS A TIME when our oldest was a certified speedster on bikes. He'd been bit by the bug, chucked his other pursuits, and...
... gone all in.
My favorite training rides ever were during this period.
Eventually,
he moved on.
Sold everything
One day, he got the bug again and purchased a bike to just ride and get some physical activity going.
Was there a chance he'd be back killing me?
I was reminded of all of that as I helped him move this week and saw that glimmer of hope of a bike.
It's dusty.
Tires are pretty much flat.
He's busy pursuing his career,
and hitting the gym 6 days a week.
People change,
passions change,
pursuits change, too.
How do they change?
I'm asking, because I'm wanting to change a few things.
For example, since my injury, I've become this insane sleeper.
Not insane insane.
But, a year ago 8 hours of sleep would be a miracle,
now it's normal.
A while back, I was having lunch with the great Joe Friel.
We were talking about sleep, and he said...
... If you need an alarm clock to wake up, you're not getting enough sleep."
After the injury, I ditched the alarm clock.
My challenge is I want to start my day earlier, around 5 or 530am vs 6 or 630am,...
... so I can get more done in the morning when my brain works best.
The obvious reset is to go to bed earlier,
which should be easy for an emptynester.
Which route do I choose...
- Forcing myself to bed at 9
- Forcing myself up at 5-530
... is change that is forced even good?
Just for fun, I'm going to start posting my wake up time...
... there's a chance it will work.
===
165.8 lbs
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
6:30 am
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE PROBLEM WITH BEING OBSESSED
I'M OBSESSED, and it's a problem. Everything I do, everything I think about, even my dreams, all revolve around...
... my obsessions.
It's good, in the fact that I'm extremely focused.
But, it leaves me not well-rounded.
Imagine being focused solely on my ...
- Babe
- Babies
- Business
- Books
- Bikes
- Big guy in the sky
- Best friends
... who cares about the order?
Honestly, the priority of each varies, constantly.
But, the focus doesn't.
I'm such a mess.
It leaves me no time for anything else...
... maybe that's not such a bad thing.
===
166 lbs
7.75 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
6:30 am
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
QUICK LEG WORKOUT
TODAY WAS JAMMED PACKED. It started early with Zoom calls, and ended late helping my son load up the moving van. Like any committed nutjob...
... I found time to hit the legs.
When I say I do squats almost every day, here's what I really do:
- Deadlifts
- Weighted Bulgarian Split Squats
- Nordic Hamstring Curls
- Box Jumps
... one set of each with sets of PullUps and PushUps in between.
Takes like no time,
definitely cooks the legs.
As the shadows got long, I thought...
... Dang, I got time for a quick hour.
So, hit my very local hills on the gravel bike...
- 2070' of vertical
- 256 Normalized Power
- 704 kj
... in 61 minutes of glorious pain.
The results?
Well, I'm dang glad I regularly do this workout so that when called upon I can actually lift something and be useful.
I'm also dang glad we were moving boxes and stuff down stairs...
... legs are officially jello.
===
165.3 bs
7.75 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
>
THE HOLIDAY PACE AND DECEMBER LOSERS
LOVE WATTS SHOWED UP WITH A NEW KID. This isn't the easiest ride for a virgin. They left early to make the ride over easier. What could go wrong...
... when riding holiday pace?
Oh, so many lessons and reminders.
New kid is so new,
he's riding tubes.
Poor lil' fella...
... after a flat,
and another flat,
he had to make the call of shame.
Newlywed to boot.
Back to the holiday pace...
... and its potential folly.
Jovial as the ride was,
things still got semi-serious on Up & Up and The Wall.
For some riders...
... this is the danger zone.
Take a poor slob like me who has spent a good chunk of the year gettin' his lycra kicked.
It's tempting, dang tempting to ramp up...
- training
- intensity
- commitment
... and stick to these easy going turkeys.
A little pay back.
But, here's the oh-so-sad truth...
... December Hero = Summertime Zero.
We must resist.
A great way to do that is to invite a new kid.
===
165.9 bs
6.5 hrs sleep
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SHOW ME THE LIGHT!
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT DARK MORNINGS, is it means I have to show up with lights. Front, and rear. Simply because...
... I'm committed and I get up early.
What's so great about that?
Well, ya see, it takes me about an hour to get to the start of tomorrow's ride.
While those who live close, leave home after the sun is up.
I don't.
Which means...
- extra work
- extra weight
- extra resistance
... I'm getting some secret training.
But, wait, there's more!
I'm less of a secret on the road...
... those lights are lightin' me up.
So, it's the win-win-win...
... extra lights = extra visible = extra fast in the summertime.
PS I often run lights during the day, too.
===
166.1 bs
8 hrs sleep
PullUps & PushUPs
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THE ROOTS OF THE MATTER
IF YOU'VE EVER CLIPPED A TREE while careening through the forest, you know one thing for sure...
... the tree always wins.
Why?
The roots...
- the wind my howl
- the weather punish
- fire char and burn
... healthy trees live to fight another day.
What are the roots of fitness?
Here's what they aren't...
- stunning locations
- fancy equipment
- snazzy labels
... those are leaves.
The roots...
- power
- strength
- flexibility
- endurance
... cannot be bought.
Got calluses?
===
166.3 bs
7 hrs sleep
No Strength Work
0 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
COULD YOU RIDE FOR PONY EXPRESS?
THERE IS SOMETHING INSANELY APPEALING to an opportunity that is literally death defying. It calls to some of us, like...
... a beguiling lover.
Is it a massive challenge to our bravery?
The Pony Express put out this ad (image above)...
YOUNG, SKINNY, WIRY FELLOWS
not over eighteen. Must be expert
riders, willing to risk death daily.
Orpans prferred.
Wages $25 per week.
... the job was to ride a horse, form MO. to CA,
in 10 days or less, in 1861.
Interested?
How about this one from Shackleton...
MEN WANTED
hazardous journey, small wages
bitter cold, long months of complete
darkness, constant danger. Safe
return doubtful, honor and recognition
in the event of success
... the job was reach the South Pole, in 1909.
Would you dare?
Modern life is so figured out now, so coddled, few of us can imagine ever attempting these adventures.
And there's no need.
But, and here's the challenge, we can be...
- skinny
- wiry
- expert riders
... able to
- withstand brutal weather
- attempt risky adventures
- accept total failure
... it's literally in our DNA.
I was thinking about this today, while suffering during a pretty climby MTB race.
Dropped early,
getting demolished,
there was time to reflect on the truth...
... I need one ridiculous goal a year.
Unlike the qualifications listed above, I'm not..
- young
- an orphan
- willing to die
... it's not the
- honor
- money
- recognition
... that calls to me.
It's the challenge...
... to find out what is possible.
What's on your calendar?
===
166 bs
7 hrs sleep
No Strength Work
10 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR, RIGHT?!
AT THE TOP OF A NASTLY CLIMB, two athletes stopped. Gasping for air, heads down, sweat pouring, and sharing...
... that all knowing smile.
A rider,
and a runner.
They'd never met.
It didn't matter...
- gender
- color
- age
... because they know what it is.
Bound by the ties of adrenalin,
and fitness,
and fun.
What it is...
- runs
- rides
- swims
... in our blood.
It's who we are.
As the great Sly Stone sang...
You see, it's in the blood
Both kids are good
Blood's thicker than mud
... it's a family affair.
===
165.6 bs
8 hrs sleep
No Strength
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
CHANGING UP THE BREAKFAST ROUTINE
WITH TIME CHANGE, I switched over to riding early in the morning. Which means when I roll in, I'm pretty dang hungry and need to...
... get in some good calories.
Not donuts,
though the do sound awfully dang good.
After a few days in a row, I'm wondering why I ever stopped...
... concocting these yummy shakes.
This weeks beaker project included...
- L-Glutamine powder
- Frozen blueberries
- Kachava
- Water
- Ice
... and I can't get enough.
The only reason I'm not doubling up is my throat is frozen when I'm done.
I scramble up...
- butter
- bacon
- eggs
... and warm my throat right back to normal.
My functional health doctor prescribed L-Glutamine when I was coming back from my TBI. It's know to help muscle recovery. I have still have some, so in it goes.
Kachava is pretty nuts, in terms of what it contains. All kinds of good stuff. My son got me onto a subscription and I ended up with surplus, so in it goes.
The frozen blueberries? I just love 'em, and they're great for thickening the shake.
I'm pretty sure you know what butter, bacon and eggs are good for.
What's your go to post ride breaky?
===
167.1 bs
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
IS SECOND WIND A REAL THING?
THE SANTA ANAS ARE BLOWING TODAY, a seasonal wind phenomenon in this area. I ignored the weather warning and hit out for a second day in a row of Hill Fest...
... with gusts and dust.
Half way in,
I wanted to quit.
It wasn't that my lungs were struggling,
they were.
On the heels of last week's climbing focus,
and this week's Hill Fest rides...
... I was runnin' outta steam.
I pressed on.
Why?
The plan was to climb for two hours...
... and I wanted to see if the legs would come back around.
Up the final climb, I looked down...
... 400+ watts.
Not my best,
not bad.
The only guaranteed way to get a second wind is to keep chugging along...
... and have some faith things will improve.
===
PS... That's Love Watts in the pic, he rode straight into the dust storm for over an hour. I'm guessing the tailwind on the way back, felt a lot like a second wind.
===
165.3 bs
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
POSITIONS OF POWER
TODAY I RODE HILLFEST, a diabolical route through my sleepy little town. Covering a mere 32 miles, I got in 4200' of elevation, in just over 2 hours...
... without killing myself.
In fact, it was fun.
There is something infinitely easier, for me, to hold a decent Normalized Power while climbing vs. on flat terrain.
What could it be...
- the position
- undulating pitches
- opportunity to stand on the pedals
... that makes it feel easier?
Another position where it appears easier to put out more power is the faux time-trial, where the forearms are on the bars, and hands cupping the Wahoo.
Why does...
- the position
- resting vs grabbing bars
- increased speed from aero
... make me want to stomp on the pedals a little more?
Is it just boredom with...
- flat terrain
- upright position
- hands on the hoods
... the usual, the common, the comfortable.
I think it's fair to say, in my case anyway...
... greater challenges inspire and deliver greater power.
===
166.2 bs
7.5 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
YOU DO NOT GET A VOTE
I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. A simple question, asked kindly and thoughtfully at the dinner table, when we were all together on Sunday...
... would I like the answer?
Why did I even ask it?
Will we ever eat together again, as a family?
It was stupid,
I should have let it go.
But, when your kid's are making decisions for their kids, and their kids' kids...
... you've got to know why they are voting that way.
What are you voting for...
- giant orange rolls
- or
- green beans and bacon
... on Thanksgiving?
Little did I know they are split...
- carb-free always
- blow off the diet on holidays
... evenly.
It's a toss up over here.
How is it at your place?
===
166.2 bs
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
>
PROPER FUELING
WHAT WE USE FOR FUEL MATTERS because it propels us. We study it, we buy it, we consume it. But...
... is it consuming us?
Why am I in bed early,
out the door before the sunrises?
Is it...
- to win the trinket?
- prove the doubters wrong?
... that will be fulfilling?
Or, do I define success on my terms,
with metrics that matter to me,
that endless fascinate,
and captivate...
... what is possible?
===
165.9 bs
8 hrs sleep
No strength work
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WHY GETTING DESTROYED IS AWESOME
OUR LOCAL FOREST BURNED DOWN last month. Not all of it, but over 23.000 acres of beautiful mountains. Along with it, we lost...
... some of our best trails.
Trails that had made many magazine covers.
They're gone,
destroyed,
closed.
Today, I rode up to where the fire had burned.
Branchless sticks replaced our lovely scrub brush and ancient oak and pine trees.
Everything was charred and naked.
And, then I saw it.
In the pic above, there is a little tiny green plant pushing through the blackened soil.
It's so vibrant,
valiant.
Isn't that a perfect representation of racing, of life?
We train,
we enter,
we battle...
... we resist everything that is fighting against us.
When we cross the line,
we collapse.
There is nothing left to give.
We swear will never do such insanity again, and a month later...
... there is a little bit of yearning starting to sprout.
It's not recreation we are after...
... it's re-creation.
And, it's good.
===
166 bs
8 hrs sleep
No strength work
0 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
WE ACTUALLY BELIEVE THIS
WHY DO WE BELIEVE SOME THINGS AND NOT OTHERS? Pretty simple, we've found them to be true through our own experiences. Sometimes good, sometimes bad...
... always teaching us something.
Every Day Is RaceDay.
That's a truth.
It doesn't mean we actually pin on a number and throw down every day of our lives...
... it means what we do every day matters.
Every thing matters.
Every action.
They all combine and build on each other...
... whether we like it or not.
That's why having a plan is so important.
The plan could be to...
- take it easy
- be lazy
- rest
... but, it's planned.
Just like...
- do base miles
- lift weights
- intervals
... is planned.
Good Plans = Good Results
===
166 bs
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats & Stuff
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
GOING THE DISTANCE
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO RACE, it's on the calendar. It is so far into the future, you don't really care about it. But, you should because...
... starting early matters.
Whether the course is the same ever year, or changes every year, getting acquainted with it can make a big difference in success.
Still, we don't.
At least, most don't.
And, if we do, we just look at the distance and think...
... Oh, I've gone that far before.
Or, maybe...
... I'll start training tomorrow.
But, do we?
No,
not even.
The route,
the passage of time,
and, our ability to overcome obstacles..
... never winds up according to our plans.
We can either plan early,
plan well...
... and make minor course corrections along the way.
Or, we can skip the planning,
wing it...
... and wonder What the heck happened?
Either way,
we will line up and race...
... how we finish is on us.
===
165.3 bs
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats & Stuff
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
I NEVER GET COLD FEET
A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, I quit wearing shoes for anything other than riding, running and hiking. One of the many benefits is...
... I never get cold feet.
I mean I do,
but not like I used to.
Back in day of shoes, as soon as the temperature dipped I'd throw on the toe covers or booties.
Not any more.
So, when my kid called to complain about the cold sand during his sunrise walks...
... I had to shame him.
Suck it up!... it's good for your circulation, getting blood movement down in your feet, and good to connect with the earth, and good to feel some discomfort. : )
Did I walk our daughter down the aisle in flipflops?
Yep.
What about a nice dinner with Surfergirl?
Yep.
On the way to the slopes for a day of skiing?
For sure.
Not church?!
Yep.
Why Todd... why would you do such a thing?
Well, my feet starting hurting in regular shoes.
I probably rode them into the ground,
and destroyed them.
Not only am I...
- quick to ditch the shoes walking into a home
- infinitely more comfortable every day
- using my lower leg muscles
... I get to shock everyone else on those cold morning!
Before you say, Bro you live where the weather is great all the time, trust me...
... 39 degrees with humidity is very C O L D.
Never getting cold feet maybe...
... the secret to signing up for hard stuff?
===
166 lbs
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats & Stuff
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
>
IS IT WHAT'S INSIDE THAT COUNTS?
AERO FRAMES ARE SO SEXY. Just one look, and t's hard to imagine anything but going fast on them. Unfortunately...
... looks aren't everything.
What about the things we can't see?
Here's a short list...
- Bearings - wheels, bottom brackets, pulleys, pedals
- Teeth wear - cassette, chain rings
- Lubes - chain, pulley
- Tire pressure
... of things we don't see or notice.
There's all kinds of speed to be gained or lost on those four things.
So while we might be intimated by the fancy aero bike, and aero does matter, there's a whole bunch we can't see or don't notice or neglect that matter. A lot.
And, what about the bodies of other athletes?
You know the racer who is lean,
or has great muscle tone?
That can be intimidating, too.
But, wouldn't it be much more telling to know their...
- power to weight ratio
- nutrition strategy
- VO2 Max
- readiness
... before we make a judgement?
My pal Pete and I were training a lot years ago.
We were decently fast on bikes.
So, we decided to do a 10k.
What could be so hard about a 6 mile jaunt?
We figured we'd crush it.
Around mile 4, I was dying.
My body hurt, and I was barely moving.
Suddenly I'm being passed by...
- on ol' lady in a Juicy Courtier sweatshirt
- a chubby dude with rubbing thighs
- and some cat in flipflops
... it was very humbling.
The point is,
we can be awed by the sexy and shiny stuff, or...
... we can focus on improving what we have.
===
As I'm typing this, Surfergirl stops by for a goodnight kiss with a Hagen Daz bar in hand.
Where did you get that?
The freezer.
Did you hide it from me?
You told me not to let you be tempted.
Ugh!
===
165.3 lbs
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats & Stuff
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
THIS WOULD BE A CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT
MY DENTIST IS SO ANNOYING. The dentistry is great, but he's a sadist when I'm in the chair. One of these days...
... I'm going to get even with him!
He's like your worst training partner.
You know the type...
- We're doing all we can to relax
- keep a grip on our emotions
- our hearts are pounding
- our lungs exploding
... and Mr. I'm In Control is talking.
Talking!
As if it's nothing to be doing 400 watts up a hill.
That's how he is with his diabolical drill in hand...
- Chatting away,
- asking about the family,
- sharing some juicy gossip.
... and all I can do is grunt.
Well, I'll tell ya,
if I ever get him out on a bike...
... I'm going to yak it up and half-wheel him until he pukes.
That's the kind of friend I am,
and I've been friends with this Dr. Day since we were wee lads.
===
165.8 lbs
8 hrs sleep
PullUps, PushUps, Squats & Stuff
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
FIGHTING DEMONS
AT SOME POINT, the race always gets tough. Could be a blistering rush for the single track, missing out on a powerful break, dust so thick it chokes and blinds. In all cases...
... there's a demon to be fought.
How do we prepare for that?
As the great Mike Tyson said...
... Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the nose.
First off, our plan needs to go beyond the initial encounter.
You know...
... getting punched has to be part of our plan.
It's gonna happen.
And, it's not so much preparing to be hit that matters,
as knowing what it feels like, that it will pass,
that we can and will recover.
As the great Paul Simon lyrics from The Boxer reminds us...
And he carries the reminders
Of every glove that laid him down
Or cut him till he cried out
In his anger and his shame
"I am leaving, I am leaving"
But the fighter still remains
... we are fighters.
The great Pat Benatar sang...
Knock me down, it's all in vain
I'll get right back on my feet again
... Hit me with your best shot.
===
Last Call
The Ugly Sweater Jersey offer ends 10.28.
When you purchase an Ugly Sweater Jersey, we'll include:
- Matching Skull Cap $32
- Matching Socks........... $20
- Giant RaceDay Calendar ............ $37
... $89 dollars in product for FREE.
Check 'em out: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/ugly-sweater-collection
Check 'em out: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/ugly-sweater-collection
===
166.2 lbs
8 hrs sleep
No Strength Work
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
>
SAINTS, SINNERS AND WILL POWER
Apr 03, 2023 TODD BROWN
THERE IS A BIKE RACE FROM SALT LAKE CITY TO LAS VEGAS called Saints to Sinners. It's a relay race. I wish it was called Sinners to Saints. Not because there is a prevailing headwind blowing east, I just like the idea...
... ending up a saint vs a sinner.
Today, we lost a saint..
A few years after selling Dragon Alliance,
18 months PRing IronMan St George,
12 months after his diagnosis,
6 months after helping me
launch our Tri bag,
he's gone...
... to race in the heavens.
We met in college, in a fraternity.
I didn't get him at the time.
We were friendly, but I thought he was arrogant.
That's on me.
My insecurities and my inability to read people who are simply a lot smarter than me kept me from appreciating Will.
We reconnected here in San Clemente.
Once he retired, he got out his hammer and chisel to reclaim the fitness he'd enjoyed as a young man. He went from doughy hanger onner, to a lean, happy...
... watt producing machine.
Few recognized him at first.
It was an astonishing transformation.
Why wouldn't it be?
He'd transformed an idea; from his garage to a successful business.
More importantly, he'd transformed himself into a wonderful husband and father.
Along the way he'd found time to serve his local community, and guided many people to a higher way of living...
... closer to the Great Spirit.
Will was so kind to me, and a champion of my little business. He spent hours sharing Dragon stories with me, and how to do things better...
... because he enjoyed seeing others succeed.
Maybe that was his secret.
I'll miss him,
his intellect,
his spirit.
Heaven got a good one today.
HOW MANY CHARITY RIDES SHOULD I DO THIS YEAR?
Apr 02, 2023 TODD BROWN
DURING THE LAST MILE OF THE LAST LAP, in a tough battle for second place, we entered a nest of high speed berms. I made it through cleanly...
... another racer didn't fare as well.
I could hear his tire give way,
glanced over to see his legs in the air,
followed by a gnashing of machinery and body.
Should I stop?
My competitor got around him,
kept charging hard after me.
I was thinking about that today after an order for JDRF came through. JDRF is a charity that helps those in a real battle...
... of life and death.
JDRF isn't just putting on ride to raise money to cure Type 1 diabetes, they are connecting people who might not otherwise get to know each other. People from varied backgrounds, religions, political philosophies...
... are united in a common cause.
Uniting our hearts and minds is always an offshoot of charity.
This is why we are encouraged, commanded to be charitable. Yes, to help each other for sure. More importantly to unite us and see each other's humanity through working together.
I didn't stop to help the fallen racer.
I told myself, I'll be finished in less than a minute and will report it as soon as I cross the line.
Here's the shame of it.
At the line were Surfergirl and our son and grandson. The other person's pain and potentially bad injury were quickly forgotten.
Was he okay?
Yes, for sure. No ambulances were called or medics alerted.
Should I have stopped?
I dunno.
We were all racing, all doing our dangest to finish fast. We know the dangers. 97% of the time, we pop up and ride on...
... shaken, bruised, not broken.
Had it not been a race, I would have stopped for sure.
But, is that even true?
How often am I racing past people in need every day.
I have a friend who brings an extra bar on every ride and makes it a goal to find someone who might be hungry to give it to.
I have others who stop for any flat or mishap and help out.
As I complete my 61st lap around the sun, I ask myself...
How many more rides will present an opportunity to be charitable, to meet someone new, to possibly be of service...
... and unite our hearts and minds, even for a moment?
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready
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163ish
8 hrs Sleep
0 Strength training
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
----
164ish
7.5 hrs Sleep
0 Strength training
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
I LEARNED SOME CRAZY SHIZ TODAY
Apr 01, 2023 TODD BROWN
AFTER ALL RACES there is always the huddle. Could be a group, a single rider, or just ourselves, but we always...
... replay the race.
Today was not different,
except some crazy shiz was shared.
First up, Tim and I had to rehash his blistering start. It was nuts. From the word go he was sprinting and...
... Tinker and I were hanging on.
He backed off a little before the single track and we got by him.
What the heck was I doing on the World Champion's wheel?
Weaving, bobbing and dodging some very fast, flowy single track. I was there for a bit.
This was blowing my mind.
I've never been there. Either Tinker has raced pro, or had a call up to the front row.
Two weeks in a row he has put the wood to me.
15 minutes in 3 hours last weekend, 3 minutes in 1 hour this weekend.
Could I have held his pace?
Maybe, if I'd tapered and really focused for this race...
... maybe, just maybe.
Could he have gone faster?
Probably.
But, it's something to think about.
Am I just gonna resign myself that we are all racing for second place when Tinker shows up or am I gonna go for it? That is what I did today, resign to race for second, and consequently Tim and I had a very fun and tactical battle.
Here's another weird mental thing.
Because I didn't know Tim before our battle at Cactus Cup a few weeks ago, I figured I could probably beat him. Why? Who knows?...
... I learned it was totally unjustified.
He has beaten really fast guys who regularly smoke me or have smoked me soundly in the past. That was one of the things that came up in our post race huddle today.
Now that I know that will I race Tim different?
Maybe.
Now that I know I can at least start with Tinker will I race him different?
Maybe.
It's crazy how expectations impact us.
But, I wasn't expecting this crazy story.
Apparently, and I didn't know this, at Cactus Cup some of the guys Tim and I were racing were cutting the course.
No shiz!
I couldn't believe it, but sure enough, these cats were dramatically short on miles according to their Strava files.
And, when confronted, simply stated well the officials said I placed X and I'm taking the prize.
How crazy is that?!
Grown men, cutting course to win a bike race?!
So dumb.
How do you do that to your soul? For get your competitors, that kinda shiz can snuff the light right out inner greatness.
Then, Jon showed me his new Trek SuperCaliber. It was so light. At least 3 pounds lighter than my bike and a super sano cockpit. That weight savings is enough to actually matter, and I never would have guessed it would be so much fun to ride.
3lbs...
... how crazy is that?!
When I finally got back to camp, Steve and Bryson were there.
What place did you get?
2nd.
You?
2nd.
And, you?
2nd.
If you're a regular reader you already know I have the largest collection of 2nd place awards in the world...
... but, 3 friends all ending up 2nd in their age class?
That's some crazy shiz.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready
----
163ish
8 hrs Sleep
0 Strength training
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
I'M SO DANG HUNGRY
Mar 31, 2023 TODD BROWN
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE DAY BEFORE A BIG RACE?! No matter how much I eat, and I've already eaten a lot, I'm still hungry...
... is it just habit?
I remember the dumb days, when I'd be afraid to eat too much the day before a race.
Predictably, I'd bonk.
Tomorrow's should be a screamer.
14 miles mostly single track.
Hero dirt conditions.
About an hour.
I know this, but my body is behaving like there's a 100-miler ahead.
I guess that's just part of racing,
being full.
Unlike all my friends who are eating pasta and carbohydrates,
I prefer something substantial.
Red meat.
Tonight, it's gonna be shish-kabobs on the camp fire.
No s'mores, though.
I ain't crazy, LOL.
Maybe it's also camping? Even if it's not really camping, with the van and neighbors so close we can hear each other whisper. We outside all day long.
For that matter, I'm looking forward to the actual race.
Might be my only alone time of the weekend.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-hats/products/pedal-beanie-available-in-4-colors-instock
I'm glad I have my beanie.
It'll be low 30's tonight.
You can be warm outside, too.
4 colors available.
$20 and its delivered to you.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-hats/products/pedal-beanie-available-in-4-colors-instock
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163.9
7 hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
0 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
WELL, THAT STINKS!
Mar 30, 2023 TODD BROWN
MY B.O. WAS OVERPOWERING THIS MORNING. That should get rid of 50% of readers. Now, we can get down to why...
... and what to do about it.
Just after reading and writing for about an hour, I headed out to the garage for some RaceDay Ready resistance training.
Jumping Jacks, to start.
Within 20 reps, my body heated up and oh boy the stench was real.
At the same time, I'm listening to a marketing podcast by a dude who is ripped and their conversation reveals a stunning piece of knowledge...
... I've been doing 30 sets a day for 10 years.
What?!
Did I hear right?
I hit every body part, every day, 10 years running.
He isn't wiry, Cowboy Strong.
He's Hulk Ripped.
Giant.
Which brings up the B.O...
- I get up
- Read, write
- Do my 10ish sets
I don't
- Put on a special outfit
- Drive to the gym
- Get prettied up
Which brings up the other point.
I've learned, it takes a lot more than we think to be great...
- I used to think 90 minutes, 4 days a week was enough saddle time.
It's not. - I used to think legs twice a week in the offseason was enough make me stronger and faster.
It's not. - I used to think I could wing it on 6-7 hours of sleep.
I can't. - I used to think cheat days were a good idea.
They aren't.
... which is why we have to work through the B.O.
Time is short.
Efficiency matters...
... consistency matters more.
You know what stinks worse than working out in the tshirts we sleep in?...
... being weak.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
Want to get stronger?
Get a Giant calendar and fill in your A, B and C races...
... there's nothing like focus to keep ya on track.
We have about 5 of these left, in stock.
Ships free.
Can make in your team colors.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
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162.3
8.2 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
IS THIS YOUR RELIGION OR ARE YOU SIMPLY RELIGIOUS?
Mar 29, 2023 TODD BROWN
I SEE A LOT RACERS GET SIDETRACKED BY RACING. Suddenly, years have flown by and...
... opportunities have been missed.
Racing hard became religion.
Why not? We have...
- Regular meetings
- Gospel preached by local wizards
- Rules to live and ride by
- Strange diets
- Unusual apparel on public display
- Secret symbols of commitment
- Different sects posing as clubs
- Different disciplines posing as denominations
That is religion.
Not all religions are created equal.
Some, notably the great religious movements, provide something much more mystical...
... a feeling of love and connectedness that reaches into our souls.
This is true religion, connecting us to who we really are, who we can become, and to the Great Spirit.
I train religiously,
it's not my religion.
Training facilitates religious experience by purifying our bodies.
Do the less active feel the spirit of religion?
Sure.
I enjoy a richer experience when I can move freely and and powerfully, without the many addictions calling to my physical existence.
Training used to be my religion.
It filled a void.
One day I woke up and committed to keep one simple commandment of the religion I was born into.
Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God …Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
A funny thing happened.
Out of the blue, I learned all kinds of training and racing secrets that had been previously hidden to me.
A better thing happened.
I rested.
Family was properly placed first.
A day to study higher things became a daily practice.
I would like to say I care which of the great religions you adhere to, those I worship with would like me to say that, too. I don't. That isn't important in my mind, not nearly as important as...
... setting time aside to connect with the Great Spirit.
Crazy as it sounds, setting that time aside is part of the RaceDay Ready Challenge.
Note:
Join us for live interview and Q&A with Brad Keyes, Founder of CarboRocket
On Zoom Meeting - 730pm PST
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/4149084992?pwd=Y2dGZ0p1RXFoK2dQTTVIUGRick1PQT09
Meeting ID: 414 908 4992
Passcode: rL0pz4
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready
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163.5
7 hrs Sleep
1 Strength training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
STRENGTH, MUSCLE AND LOSING
Mar 28, 2023 TODD BROWN
IT WAS SHOCKING TO SEE ONE OF MY FRIENDS at the last race. He's always been super fit and muscular, but something had changed. He'd lost a lot of upper body muscle...
... noticeably smaller chest, shoulders and arms.
We're all getting older.
Common knowledge says we lose muscle with age.
That's true at some level. The common level. But, we want...
... to be uncommon.
Am I right?
This is why I'm so adamant about being Cowboy Strong by lifting weights or some other type resistance training...
every,
single,
day.
Here is just one result I can report on from the same very difficult race.
Multiple times we were forced to dismount and push our bikes. The terrain was very steep and rocky.
Rather than struggle to put one foot in front of the other, I was able to run up these sections. Not because I've been running, but because I've been regularly pushing my sled...
... every day, up and down the street.
On the bike results have been astonishing. Superior ankle flexibility has led to a greatly improved pedal stroke.
I could go on.
I won't.
The point is, most people are losing muscle mass by either not doing any resistance training, or reducing what they've done in the past.
Conversely, I've increased that area of preparation and I'm seeing great results. I won't be mistaken for The Hulk, but I'm holding stronger...
... much more than I ever thought possible.
The decline may be inevitable,
it doesn't have to be rapid.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready
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164
7 hrs Sleep
1 Strength training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
INTERVIEW: RYAN DAHL, CEO OF WAX RESEARCH... WE TALK CHAINS AND DRIVETRAINS
Mar 27, 2023 TODD BROWN
I SAT DOWN WITH RYAN DAHL, CEO OF WAX RESEARCH, TO TALK SPEED. Specifically, the latest version of his WEND chain wax with ceramic particles. I learned alot...
... scored us a 50% off coupon.
What did I learn, specifically?
- Which chains are fastest
- Why wax with ceramics are faster
- How lifestyle a business can become a world class operation.
- Teflon contaminates ground water, how WEND fixed that
- Why chains turn black with oil-based lubes
- How to mix water and oil to create a super thin lube to really penetrate the chain and get into the rollers
- Borrowing from their downhill ski wax technology is a huge R&D advantage
- Why you want a solvent free lube, why it's hard to do
- How WEND emulsifies water and oil eliminating need for solvents
- How to properly apply lube
- How much lube is needed
- How much time is needed before riding
- Why dry lubricants like wax will extend the life of your drivetrain
- Will different formulations of his WEND wax play nice
- Does he really use Tide to clean his drivetrain?
- Pledge for the rest of the bike?
- How Ryan competes at the highest level without having a big VO2 motor
- How he gets 2 seasons out 1 chain
- When is the best time to lube your chain
- Why we argued about how much he charges
- Why his purchasing power is so massive
- How to get free lube if you see Ryan out riding
It was a lot of fun to connect with Ryan. He's been beating me on the bike since he was 16... and there's some video at the end of one of our battles from the 90's.
Use promo code: RDR50 to save 50% on his new lubes... code expires 4/1/23
Order here: https://wendperformance.com
You can watch the interview here.
Listen to it here.
Ask Ryan anything about lubes here.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready
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164
8 hrs Sleep
1 Strength training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
SORE LEGS, BROKEN BONES AND GOOD TIMES
Mar 26, 2023 TODD BROWN
I'VE WRECKED MYSELF AGAIN. The legs were barking as I headed downstairs in the dark this morning. Cleaning the muddy water bottles, I got to thinking...
... is this all there is to life?
Race.
Destroy body.
Clean up mess.
There used to be so much more chaos and energy. Craziness that would spill past midnight...
... would leave me just as wrecked.
36 years ago, I'd had enough. I didn't want more. I wanted zero...
... but, a funny thing happened.
This girl I met found out I rode bikes
and went out and got herself a road bike,
then she invited herself on my trip to Mexico...
... next thing I know, it's permanent.
35 years ago today, the real race started.
Like the Cape Epic, we started with a team of 2. Now we are 8. The course has thrown us all kinds of challenges...
- broken bones
- smashed dreams
- wind from all directions
- weather so extreme we almost quit
Like all epic races, we learn and adapt until all that's left...
... is a better version of ourselves.
I was reminded of that today at a surprise brunch celebration with the entire race team...
... with my nevergonnabestraightagain right elbow in the pic.
May the finish line be far away...
... until the best version of ourselves is attained.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
Surprisingly, the kids all know and love the English Beat and are digging the Mod inspired hoodie.
Plus!, the hoodie grants early access to this limited edition kit
$35
Order Now, quantities are limited and dwindling.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
163.4
8 hrs Sleep
0 Strength training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
CAN YOU RACE TOO MUCH?
Mar 25, 2023 TODD BROWN
TODAY'S XC RACE WAS HARD. Technically challenging single track, with deepish water crossings, a good amount of rain ruts...
... it was epic!
Two conversations stuck in my mind.
One with Smiley who snagged 2nd, not one with former World Champion Tinker who one the race, and another from Huey.
Ya gotta understand the hardness of this 31 mile race.
- Strava called it a Historic Relative Effort
- My fitness jumped from 120 to 129
- Everybody walked some of it
- Water crossings knee deep
- A relentless 3 hour effort
That right there is why I raced it,
plus the insane beauty,
and camping.
This is my favorite local race.
Easily.
Am I racing too much?
This was my 7th day of racing in the last 4 weeks, and I have races slated the next 4 weekends in a row.
Smiley is my bud, and he knows what I'm up to.
I couldn't do what you're doing.
I know, I wouldn't do it, but the calendar just kept filling with races I really want to do.
Huey is part of the RaceDay Ready community and had this to say.
You should write about how you recovered the last 2 weeks after smashing your A race.
Those convos sewed some doubt and then I remembered:
- I'm not recovering. I went into my A race rested, completely healed from training on and off the bike.
- The last 2 weeks have been big volume with lots of resistance training, and some decent hard days.
- I detest intervals, just not my jam. I race for fitness and practicing racecraft, and seeing my pals, which is what I did today.
- I'm not crushing myself at all these races.
- Only 1 of the next 4 races is of interest to me. I love the course, though it doesn't really suit me. The best guys around will be there, and that is very intimidating. I love that.
- With two big weeks of volume and an Historic Relative effort today, I'll be recovering and polishing the arrows in my quiver for the 1 race.
Can we race too much?
Yes.
Am I?
No.
If we are trying to win them all, we will lose many and burn out and die...
... cuz if we win them all, we losers for sandbagging.
---
Join the RaceDay Ready community where we discuss what's working, what's not and generally how to rip on RaceDay.
Go here: https://join.slack.com/t/raceday-ready/shared_invite/zt-1rpm0wwev-jW9p_uJj6XhcGusmz00szg
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
At the top of the RaceDay Calendar there is space to write in your A race(s). I suggest no more than 3...
... which is about how many calendars we have left.
Stock is dwindling, when we're out they can be made to order.
Ships free.
Can make in your team colors.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
----
163ish
7ish hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
I WANT TO LEARN FROM YOU
Mar 24, 2023 TODD BROWN
AFTER GETTING BLOWN OUT THE BACK OF OUR LOCAL GROUP RIDE, I received a humble message. A cry for help...
... what could he have done different?
First we had to get through the fake excuse.
I had to meet my wife for dinner.
That's a good one.
Is there anything I could have done different when I closed the gap?... one thing, I was the last rider when that happened.
Good question.
What could he do different?
Did you get popped off after the gap closed or did you rotate on up to the front?
I rotated through,
then blew.
Sometimes it is easy to close the gap then rotate through because you have some momentum. Other times it's better to just hang on and recover for a bit.
How do I know this?
Partly experience, and partly because someone took the time to teach me whatthehell was heppening.
My guess is you're like me, the goto person in the neighborhood when it comes to bikes by virtue of the fact that you regularly ride...
... it's super cool to help people out.
Still, we all have much to learn...
... and, I want to learn from you and share with you.
If you want to share your knowledge, and I'm sure you have a lot, join the RaceDay Ready community.
It's new.
This is where to ask questions, share knowledge, breakthroughs, tips, etc...
... it's tempting to hold back, keep your secrets.
That's fine. This isn't for you. This is for people that want to learn from others, be generous with what they know,
... and accelerate their progress.
Please, join our Slack channel HERE.
This is new to PEDAL Industries. Anybody can join.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
Should this be the official RaceDay Ready hoodie?
I dunno, but it's pretty cool. I get compliments all the time.
Plus!, grants early access to this limited edition kit
$35
Order Now, quantities are limited and dwindling.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
163.2
7ish hrs Sleep
0 Strength training
20 minutes recovery
50 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
MY GUTTY LITTLE BRUINS
Mar 23, 2023 TODD BROWN
MY GUTTY LITTLE BRUINS. Dangit, they taught a helluva lesson tonight in the NCAA basketball tournament...
... one we can all learn from.
Up by 13 at the half.
Down by 10 with 2 minutes to go.
Oh, crud I can't watch any more.
Be positive.
I can't take it.
Ya never know.
UP BY 1 WITH 12 SECONDS TO GO!!!
How many times do we think we have it all under control in a race, only to find ourselves in a real battle?
How often do we feel overpowered and scratch and claw our way back to the front of the race?
That finish line.
That dern finish line!
Can't get it to it fast enough when we're ahead...
... coming at us too fast when we're behind.
But, here's the lesson I learned tonight and the reason locals have referred to them as the gutty little Bruins for decades...
... they kept playing.
All 40 minutes.
Never did they waiver from their plan or look lost.
The kept relentlessly pressing and shooting and hustling...
... until the very last second.
Can we ask more than that?
Can we ask more of ourselves?
My gutty little Bruins will weep tonight, but as my dear ol' Bruin dad said...
... They'll live to fight another day.
The world is relentless.
Competitors are relentless.
The finish line is always approaching...
... we have to be relentless,
in all we do,
everything,
always.
Tonight I was relentless on the group ride...
... thanks to this wonder product. 
Use code: DONTbeAbaby
And save 33%... code will expire TOMORROW, 3/24.
----
163.3
8 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
70 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
WE HAVE TO BE MUCH STRONGER
Mar 22, 2023 TODD BROWN
I WENT TO BED WITH RAIN FORECAST. To my delight I woke up to sunshine. Did my rituals, filled up some bottles, grabbed my bike...
... flat tire.
Rookie move.
Always check yer gear the night before.
Things got interesting.
Snagged my forgotten gravel bike.
One bottle cage.
Battery dead.
Tires low.
Now I'm late.
As I'm hustling down the coast to meet the henchmen, I see a massive cloud of grayness dipping all the way to the ocean...
... freakin' rain!
Worse.
The road closure along the way was actually warranted. I've had wheels swept out from underneath me in fast moving water, so I did...
... the ride of shame home.
Drenched, speeding through dropping temps, I was losing the ability to shift my already ridiculouslyeasytoshift gear.
But, ya know what?
I loved it.
I'd put all my bitcoin, which ain't much, on a bet that exactly...
... ZERO % of my neighbors friends or family would enjoy the morning like I did.
Well, maybe Rocky, the retired fireman...
... he's an 80 year old beast.
Which brings up why cycling and running are so awesome...
... our stadium is the great outdoors.
We don't just battle competitors,
we battle the elements.
Pros don't ask the onlookers to whisper...
... fans are in their faces and shoving them.
This is a sport for warriors.
Which means, we have to be stronger.
Strength takes preparation, which is what I thought about all morning late to my freezing ride.
We have to regularly battle the elements, ride through equipment challenges, and do our dawgawn...
- Push Ups
- Pull Ups
- Squats
... or we're gonna be weak just like so many of our neighbors, friends and family.
With any luck, they'll see us coming back from an epic adventure with our supersilly grins and...
... be inspired to get out and do something.
Ideally with us.
Good thing a lathered up with PR lotion this morning...
... got me home quick.
Are you ready to rip on RaceDay?
Use code: DONTbeAbaby
And save 33%... code will expire after 30 uses or 3/28, whichever comes first.
----
163.5
8 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
POLARIZED TRAINING MADE EASY
Mar 21, 2023 TODD BROWN
(excerpt from RaceDay Ready, the book I'm working on)
I WOKE UP SEVERAL TIMES LAST NIGHT WITH THE SAME DREAM. I knew it was about polarized training and that I needed to share it with you.
But, I didn’t understand it.
There was a hill about a quarter of a mile high. At the top was a grayish granite boulder. Pristine. Clean. No dirt. The path to the boulder was smooth and straight.
About 50 yards to the right was another boulder. This boulder was the same size and color, the same boulder really, but it was covered in dirt and dust. The path leading up to it was rutted and rocky and would be a real challenge to ascend.
Polarized training kept bouncing around my thoughts each time I woke up.
What did the dream mean?
Then it hit me.
The clean rock on the left with the straight and smooth path represented polarized training. The dirty rock with the rutted route represented what most of us do before figuring it out.
On the left side representing polarized training the ground below and the rock above were bathed in sunlight. The meaning here is either train in Zone 2, the bottom, or train very hard, the top of our efforts. Spend no time in between.
What most of us do, is the right side. We quickly leave Zone 2 and train the middle area between the bottom and the top. We stay there too long. Consequently, we do not have the power to reach the top. Instead, we are left to struggle in various ruts. The rock, rather than a shine beacon of hope and power becomes tarnished, dirty. Eventually, we cannot even see the rock. Our vision vanishes and, stuck in our ruts, we fail to reach the top and fall over.
Here is what is happening physiologically when we practice polarized training:
- Our cardiovascular system becomes very robust and our endurance increases.
- Our max power increases.
The result is:
- We can go faster in Zone 2 because we have more power.
- We can go longer during max efforts because we have better endurance.
The dream, I hope, illustrates our options.
- Be powerful and able to endure.
- Struggle and never reach the top.
Bringing back to the title: 80% of our training is fun, enjoyable miles and time; 20%, more or less, is extremely hard.
Since the hard efforts are spaced out with lots of Zone 2 in between they aren’t mentally draining. In fact, we look forward to unleashing all the holding back we’ve been doing during the balance of our riding.
Polarized training is training made easy.
We aren't the only ones using PR Lotion on our hard and race days...
... power house road team JUMBO-VISMA announced yesterday they've been using the key ingredient, sodium bicarbonate, to ride harder and longer.
They are using an ingested form.
PR Lotion was developed because most people's stomachs cannot tolerate the sodium bicarbonate. The get the trots...
... is that what hit Tom Dumoulin in the Giro?
Why risk that...
... especially with this outrageous savings code below?
Use code: DONTbeAbaby
And save 33%... code will expire after 30 uses or 3/28, whichever comes first.
----
164.2
8 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
HALFWHEEL COMEDIANS
Mar 20, 2023 TODD BROWN
WE ALL HAVE A HALFWHEELER IN OUR LIVES, a friend who's just gotta be half a wheel ahead regardless of the speed. It bugs some people...
... I think it's funny.
First off, who doesn't like to halfwheel a pal just to needle 'em a bit?
C'mon.
It's fun.
But, I said funny and funny is morebetter than fun.
Ok, so there's the friend who constantly halfwheels who you know is gonna halfwheel and it's your friend so you just have to laugh because you know it's gonna happen and you're gonna have to say something or even better...
... ride even slower.
Whole wheel 'em, whole bike 'em.
Just to mess with 'em.
That's friendly funny.
Then there's unfriendly funny.
Where two people who don't know each other rotate to the front of the group in a double paceline.
Gawsh I love this one.
First your pal, who you dearly love, nudges a bit a head, then newrider realizes what has happened and...
... it's even better when I know both riders but they don't know each other and I know they are both chronic halfwheelers...
... newrider lifts the pace a bit.
Back and forth,
the pace increases.
I've seen a leisurely ride shift up to 24... 25... 26... 27... to a near sprint, and here's the best part...
... they are so unconscious neither one is aware of Whattheheck is going on here!
Why do halfwheelers halfwheel?
Derned if I know.
Human nature.
One upping.
Like on our spin this afternoon, LoveWatts rode over to my place then we rode together. I rode him back to his house and commented...
I'm riding you back so we are even on miles today.
Uh-huh.
Hey isn't that your house?
Yep.
Aren't you pulling?
Sure.
That sunuvagun kept riding back towards my place just to out mile me today!...
... now what are we gonna call that?
This PR Lotion special promo STILL has me ticked off!
I loaded up on inventory so we could all stick it to the halfwheelers...
... that's how much I love you.
Alas, I have way too much inventory.
So I have a temporary insane offer at 33 FREAKIN' % savings!
It won't last.
Smart people are buying multiple bottles.
Use code: DONTbeAbaby
And save 33%... code will expire after 30 uses or 3/28, whichever comes first.
----
164.4
7ish hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
DO YOU WHEELSUCK OR JUST SUCK?
Mar 19, 2023 TODD BROWN
WE ALL SUCK. From time to time, we find ourselves glued to that wheel in front of us. The question is are we...
... sucking with purpose?
On yet another ride, a bunch of us worked hard on the front for miles and miles.
On yet another ride...
that dude we haven't seen since the meet up,
who hasn't had a whiff or sniff up front,
who's been leisurely hanging on,
while we suffer...
... stuck it to us at the finish.
Do I care?
I try not to,
but I do.
Silly.
Petty.
I know.
I should be grateful, because there's always some wily hack who tries that in a race...
... and, sometimes makes it work.
We gotta be vigilant for such wheelsuckery.
One thing is fursure...
... we can't suck our way to fitness.
The art of wheelsucking ain't easy to master, which is why...
... so many riders just suck.
When training with riders who are a lot faster, it's easy to convince ourselves we should be sucking.
We shouldn't.
We need to get our lycracladbuns to the front and pull through,
no matter how brief.
Pull through,
just for a second.
Get that fitness,
earn that grit,
be a boss.
Two things will happen:
- (self) Respect will be gained.
- We quickly learn it's easier to pull through than dangle.
Dangling is for babies and those about to blow.
I've dangled plenty o'times...
- Lungs bursting
- Blood pounding
- Tunnel vision turning to stars
... I've never dangled like that and had any power or game at the end of the ride or race.
That is wheelsucking to greater fitness at the mercy of superior athletes...
... anything less is just sucking.
Why are so many people sucking?
- They are afraid, I get it.
- They spend too much time on the trainer, indoors watching TV or scrolling while pedaling and have lost the feeling, the art of wheelsucking with purpose. They have become soft, unsure of themselves and their abilities to do more than simply suck.
I'm down with wheelsucking with purpose...
... not with sucking.
What about racing, particularly the road, where speeds are high and drafting matters?
That's where wheelsucking with purpose makes a difference. It's an art to get sucked along, to pull through when the speed eases, to be as efficient as possible, to fake we are tired when we merely pulling back the arrow...
... before shooting for greatness.
That is wheel sucking with purpose...
... not sucking.
What about when we're out of shape, tired, in over our heads?
Sometimes we just gotta hang on. Hanging on as long as we can on a group ride can be an incredible workout. If it's the same route each week, making it to the next corner or hill or climb can be such a rush.
That is wheel sucking with purpose...
... not sucking.
There are many good reasons to be wheelsucking...
... none to suck.
Am I truly grateful to the suckers who stick it to us on a group ride?
Nope.
I'm trying to be,
but, as a human I kinda suck at gratitude.
The good news is we don't have to be grateful for these suckers,
we can harness that angst,
and learn and prepare,
to be faster,
and win.
(that book above talks a lot about courage and resistance and being pro)
This PR Lotion special promo has me kinda ticked off!
Like a drunken fool, I purchased way to much inventory thinking y'all'd be like me and use this for every blistering ride or race...
... when we don't want to just suck.
I have way, way too much inventory.
To make matters worse, I posted it was 25% off yesterday... it's 33% off.
It's an insane deal, it won't last.
Don't wait, smart people are buying multiple bottles.
Use code: DONTbeAbaby
And save 33%... code will expire after 30 uses or 3/28, whichever comes first.
----
163.8
8ish hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THIS GUY ALWAYS BEATS ME, DANGIT!!
Mar 18, 2023 TODD BROWN
I HATE TO ADMIT THIS, but it's true. There are some people when I see their names on the start list I automatically think I got no chance. This morning...
... I had that feeling.
There, on the start list for an upcoming race was the name of a friend who beats me like a drum.
It's bad.
He just waits for the final climb and rides away.
I'm not alone.
Sometimes, on reallyreally long races like Crusher In The Tushar I can get him.
It's rare, bloody quivering rare.
Being that I've oversubscribed to too many races in the next 6 weeks I instantly thought...
... Let's focus on something else.
I could hear Fat Bastard...
... He kinda looks like a baby!
Dangit!
Then, I started thinking about it. A lot. So much so that I had to hop to the porcelain throne and unload my worries.
Where they worries?
Maybe.
I thought about it some more...
... it's been raining nobody likes training in the rain but I've been in the desert racing and got a big fitness bump and I'm feeling pretty good and maybe just maybe I can take this fitness and massage the coming weeks to take it a bit higher via the races between now and then which aren't road races but MTB and will definitely be filled with threshold efforts and in between the racing in can do some punchy group rides and my weight is back near fighting shape and when I'm as light as I was last summer I can climb a lot better and maybe I'll have some luck since nobody really knows me these days on the road because I race road so infrequently and perhaps I'll sneak away and as the great Lloyd Christmas said...
... So you're telling me there's a chance. YEAH!
There's always a chance.
Life gets in the way,
plans change,
tires flat.
The most exciting thing about this race...
... there's 5-10 other frenemies gonna show up.
And that, my fine lycracovered friend, is my plan too.
There's a chance I overdid it a bit today - check that photo at the top. I was just so excited after my pep talk to myself I couldn't resist.
Time to put the feet up and recover.
Because I'm gonna need to do some serious 2-5 minute efforts next week, you know I'll be applying the PR Lotion.
Just fer fun... there's a promo code down there + FREE shipping.
Use code: DONTbeAbaby
And save 25%... code will expire after 10 uses or 3/28, whichever comes first.
----
162.3
7.5ish hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
THE RHYTHM THAT MATTERS
Mar 17, 2023 TODD BROWN
RIPPING ON A BIKE IS A LOT LIKE DANCING. You've got to have the rhythm of the thing or you look like a wanker. It's the same in everything really...
... and, I've been out of rhythm lately.
About a year ago I found a really good work, ride, husband rhythm and I've been surprisingly productive.
Prior to that, I was still dancing to the kid at home beat.
- Up early
- Ride
- See 'em off to school
- Work
- See 'em
- Tuck 'em in
On weekends, I'd still get up crack o'dawn.
My weekend warriors always complained,
Why so early?
I wanna get back before kids get going.
This worked pretty darn good for decades. Kept me in decent shape, got me out with the fellas, got me into nature, got me the sunrises I love to see.
Then I read a book in 2015, The 5 Hour Workday. He proposed working from 8-1. No breaks. Just grind.
I liked the idea and attempted it several times since reading it. I say attempted because invariably I'd get thrown off track.
- Rides running later than 8
- Poor work output due to lack of sleep - gotta get up early to be seated by 8.
These were the top two problems.
About a year ago, I recommitted and moved all my riding to afternoons. The exception being Saturday. I still like to get out early and meet the hardest sonsaguns on two wheels, and that means mornings.
I liked the changes of the new beat, and it showed.
- We shut down the office and retail store
- Outsourced shipping
- Increased our sales
- Increased our product offering
- Improved our ad spend
- Built a new, virtual work team to support me
My weekdays now look like this:
- 6-8 read, journal, RaceDay Ready resistance exercises
- 8-1 grind
- 1-2 lunch
- 2-4 grind
- 4ish-7ish ride
- 7ish dinner with Surfergirl, maybe watch a movie together
- 830ish write a blog post if not already done
- 930ish stretch, do some hypervolting
- 10ish hit the hay
This has been a really productive rhythm for me: socially, mentally, spiritually and physically.
During the week it's common for me to intermittent fast until 1pm. The key is pushing through the urge to eat around 9-10, then I can easily go to 1 or even 2pm. No problem.
One day a week, I get up to the factory and check on production, QC, etc.
Weekends are similar. Still hitting it early on Saturday. Surfergirl gets out on the water. The afternoons usually involves chores or catching up on work. Sunday is the day of rest, and I've been honoring that for 30+ years now and absolutely love it...
... I'm thinking of not blogging on that day and unplugging completely.
Now, why am I sharing all this?
I think a lot of you are like me, trying to find a rhythm to groove to. When were in that groove, life is so much easier and pleasant. When we're out...
... we just aren't as productive as we could be.
For example, one of the new products we added was a RaceDay Bag for running...
... and we ran out.
I blame it on the recent travels, but I also think the rain had a lot to do with it. We've had so much rain and I've been going out in the windows the weather has presented. Weak, I know.
The good thing is we make everything here.
We aren't employing kids in China or other parts of Asia.
We don't have to wait for a boat and pray the dock workers are working.
I was thinking about that the other day. The world is a weird place and their are tremendous forces in play. The fact that we are producing here, in a strict state, is a huge advantage to us and I don't think I talk about it enough.
Where your gear comes from matters.
So, we got out heads together and added Made In USA to our logo above.
The only thing we haven't been able to make here is gloves, it's a leather thing. Weird, that weird world again. One day we'll get that mastered.
In the meantime, I'm listening to my inner drummer and following my celestial band leader...
... so I can rip on raceday.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
This is such a powerful tool for accomplishing great things throughout the year.
Just yesterday SurferGirl was in here looking at what I have planned and writing in things of her own, and family things, etc.
Gotta keep all the bandmates in tune and on the beat.
$30, shipping included.
Stock is dwindling, I'm not making more.
Ships free.
Can make in your team colors.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
----
162.4
7.5ish hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE 1 THING PROS DO AND AMATEURS DON'T, BUT COULD
Mar 16, 2023 TODD BROWN
I LOVE PRO RACING. Seeing the teams, the attention to detail, the whole attitude and vibe pros radiate. The weird thing is...
... some pro's are so amateur and some amateurs are so pro.
The difference isn't...
- Money
- Sponsors
- Equipment
- Training time
... nope, it's something so obvious it's easy to miss.
A bit of background:
Amateur (noun)
1784, "one who has a taste for some art, study, or pursuit, but does not practice it," from French amateur "one who loves, lover" , from Latin amatorem "lover, friend," agent noun from amatus, past participle of amare "to love"
Pros love racing.
Amateurs don't love racing enough.
It shows in everything pros do.
Sponsored or not.
Amateurs wing it.
Pros leave nothing to chance.
Weekend warriors vs.
Every Day Is RaceDay.
Every single day the pro works on their craft. They rest like pros, eat like pros, sleep like pros, recover like pros, train like pros.
It's not a matter of time as much as it's a matter of dedication and consistency.
I've seen amateurs spend ride a lot, spend immense sums of cash...
... only to be smoked by a pro on a mid-level bike, holding a fulltime job.
Amateurs diet.
Pros fuel.
Amateurs race.
Pros race to win.
And before you get all itsnotaboutwinning on me, you know where I stand on that...
... the pro leaves nothing on the battlefield, win or lose.
Amateurs take two pedal strokes, and coast.
Pros keep pedaling.
Here's a little pro secret: it's easy to maintain pro once you...
Dedicate.
Commit.
Plan.
Do.
... we're all counting on you.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-wallets/products/custom-name-raceday-wallet
There are two tools that I find invaluable for staying on the Pro path.
The Giant RaceDay Calendar...
... and the reminder wallet.
I have printed a wallet with an outrageous goal going on 4 years.
Not only is at a constant reminder of what I'm after, but it's made of inner and has a true cycling vibe...
... plus, it slides perfectly into a jersey pocket.
Type into the Custom Name field what you want on your wallet.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-wallets/products/custom-name-raceday-wallet
161.7
7.5ish hrs Sleep
1 Strength training
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE TRUTH ABOUT ROLLING RESISTANCE
Mar 15, 2023 TODD BROWN
THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHICH TIRES to roll at the races last weekend. Faster treads vs more traction. Tire pressure matters, too...
... does any of it really matter?
Definitely.
But, that is not the rolling resistance I'm most concerned with.
The real rolling resistance to worry about is rolling through life avoiding the scary stuff. The great Ryan Holliday says The obstacle is the way. The great Steven Pressfield says Resistance points to what we are called to do.
In other words...
... do the scary stuff.
More directly for us...
... sign up for the scariest races.
The races and events we are most likely to fail at,
most likely to truly suffer,
most likely to lose...
... are most likely to bring out our very best.
Publicly stating our goals adds bonus power...
... there is massive resistance to that.
---
Speaking of which I have been experiencing a lot resistance to writing my next book: RACEDAY READY - a philosophy for ripping on and off the bike every day.
Here's an excerpt:
You want to know the answer to the other comments, particularly this one…
What are you doing?
It’s not a mystery, if you’re patient. I blog every single day about exactly what I am learning and applying. How it works. How to incorporate it. Plus, I post every single workout and how much I sleep, weigh, read, write.
So, when someone poses the question What are you doing? I quip, read the blog.
Who has time for that?
There are over 2000 posts at this point. Plus, the newly added video and podcast readings and riffs of each post.
For this reason, I have written this book. Yes, it’s for you to absorb. It is also for our kids, their spouses, their children…
… because this is would have been so valuable to me 30 years ago.
At that time, I called myself Fat Todd...
---
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
How can you resist this hoodie? $35, ships free.
Plus!, grants early access to this limited edition kit
$35
Order Now, quantities are limited and dwindling.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
163.7
7ish hrs Sleep
1 Strength training
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
WE DO THIS BECAUSE THEY DON'T
Mar 14, 2023 TODD BROWN
IT'S HARD TO GET UP EARLY and get dressed in the dark and cold and roll out into pre-dawn in our underwear, but we do it...
... because they aren't.
They are sleeping, cozy and mostly soft.
We are up, uncomfortable and hardening ourselves.
It's easy to say no to a donut when we have the power to say yes to doing hard things.
I said yes today,
to the hard group ride.
I said yes today,
and I'm darn glad everybody else did, too!
Where would we be without riders who are equally committed to do the hard work?
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
Do you know who puts the Industries in PEDAL Industries?
The industrious,
on and off the bike
those get after it every day,
If that's you, check out this hoodie. $35, ships free.
Plus!, grants early access to this limited edition kit
$35
Order Now, quantities are limited and dwindling.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
163.7
7ish hrs Sleep
1 Strength training
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE BURNOUT PROBLEM
Mar 13, 2023 TODD BROWN
I INTENDED TO WRITE ABOUT THE VIRTUES OF TIME OFF. But, I wound up grinding for 9 hours straight, trying to catch up after the road trip. My output dwindled, the sun broke through...
... and a battle ensued.
The 14 days of riding in a row, 6 of them racing, vs sitting in my office grinding from sun up.
My body ached to rest, my soul longed to get outside.
I can definitely burn out on racing, same for training with an agenda...
... but there's nothing more rejuvenating than rolling on two wheels.
So I kitted up
kept my HR low
and lightly tapped the pedals.
It's good to be home.
Here's the burnout problem.
There are some really fun and good races to be had during the next 6 weeks...
- Team Big Bear's endurance race, 3/18
- Sagebrush Safari best XC race in SoCal, 3/25
- US Cup XC on Vail's new sweet single track course, 4/1
- State Road Race is back, and I love the course, 4/8
- BWR San Diego, I've never done it, 4/15
- Sea Otter, Fuego XC, 4/22
... I've already signed up for 5 of the races because each one that I learned about seemed better than what I'd already committed to do.
Last weekend was my A race for the first half of the year.
I didn't plan to ramp things back up until summer, for Marathon Nationals in September. I thought I'd do a few events in the spring for fun, not 6.
Then, the state road race was rejuvenated and ya know I gotta take a crack at that.
Then, I heard about US Cup and how can I pass that level of competition up?
Right now, looking at the calendar seems daunting. I will definitely burn out if I try and treat them all as A races.
That's impossible.
I can probably pick 1, and do the rest for fun and practice.
Even then, there is a fair amount of travel and the ensuing chaos that always goes around getting all the equipment dialed in perfectly. Which means, I will probably skip one or two and definitely roll in on a half ready bike.
The key to not burning out, is to keep it light and get myself in a headlock if I waver for one moment on committing to making more than one of these races and A race...
... which will it be?
We'll see.
(Why did I sign up so early you ask? Because I like to help the promoters sleep easier, it's so stressful wondering if anybody will show.)
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
This is such a powerful tool.
Stock is dwindling.
Ships free.
Can make in your team colors.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
----
164.8
7ish hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
RATIOS I LIKE
Mar 12, 2023 TODD BROWN
THE CACTUS CUP enduro is the final stage of a super fun weekend of racing desert terrain. Rolling, fast and short, punchy climbs. Plus, my favorite component...
... a little bit of danger.
All racing has danger, but this racing is unique.
Nearly everybody sheds a little blood.
Cactus rips and tears at your arms and legs.
Rocks will leave scars to match the lifetime memories.
Slip and slide on the sand and it'll take a layer of skin off faster than a Makita.
For every mile raced, it's hard to match the fun and bloodletting.
I like it.
I'm forced to pay attention.
Under those conditions it's easy to slip into a state of flow, and critical to stay there. No mind wandering, no day dreaming, no bird watching...
... just flowing fast.
On today's enduro stage, we all raced our XC bikes because it's not that difficult. The promoter calls it the hangover stage...
... I call it fun.
We, all our crew, ride to each of 3 stages together, then race all out down some fast trails time trial style for 3-6 minutes.
It's relaxed a very relaxed atmosphere in between the intense effofrts. We chat and enjoy the beautiful wide open desert.
I had a few flesh tears,
others some skin sanding,
and one a very nice, deep slice.
Did we care?
Nope.
That's that we signed up for.
Racing.
Life.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
At the awards ceremony it got a little chilly in the shade, so I busted out this lightweight hoodie.
If that's you, check out this hoodie. $35, ships free.
Plus!, grants early access to this limited edition kit
$35
Order Now, quantities are limited and dwindling.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
162.8
7.5 hrs Sleep
0 Strength training
0 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
ARE YOU A BELIEF STACKER?
Mar 11, 2023 TODD BROWN
FOR YEARS NOW, my prerace meal before an epic distance has been a can of sardines. I'm partial to the King Oscar's, Mediterranean style. And, I like 'em...
... 2 hours before the race.
- Protein
- Salt
- Fat
What could be better?
I can think of about a million things that could taste better...
- pancakes
- bacon
- eggs
- waffles
- butter
- syrup
- crepes
... to name a few.
But, for me it's sardines.
They fill me up,
they go down easy.
Today, I chased them down with chocolate French crepes I get at Costco.
I'm sure you can get on board with the crepes.
How about the sardines?
Too low brow?
fishy smelly?
gross?
I hope so, because I give y'all way too much of my secret secrets as it is.
Now, you might be thinking there's no way he does that on purpose?
You'd be wrong.
Superstitions die hard for a reason...
... they work.
Belief is everything in competition.
Would things have gone as well as they did today without my sardines?
Probably.
But, that is not the point.
The point is belief stacking works.
It wasn't just the sardines.
It was also...
the white socks and gloves I saved for today,
the fresh jersey and new prototype bibs,
quietly lubing my chain last night,
listening to my play list,
warming up by myself,
a dusty, dirty frame,
glasses over strap,
... little things I like to do.
No, none of it really matters.
Training matters.
Fueling matters.
Sleep matters.
Belief stacking is the final polishing,
and it's often the difference between a great day and a good day.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
Want to turbo charge your beliefs?
- Get this giant calendar
- Place it where you can see it daily
- Write in red Sharpie your top A race
Stock is dwindling.
Ships free.
Can make in your team colors.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
----
162.5 (better)
8ish hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
ANOTHER PR?!
Mar 10, 2023 TODD BROWN
THERE ARE LOTS OF REASONS TO KEEP GETTING PRs. Since I just PR'd the TT course at Cactus Cup, after racing it for my 4th time...
... do ya wanna know what I did?
The most important thing, I didn't do.
We had great weather.
The first year, it was well over 100 degrees. Today was low 70's, slightly cloudy.
Good temps.
Good lighting.
Now, here's what I did personally that I think made a difference:
- I raced with a larger beefier tire up front, a Continental Cross King 2.35
- I've purposely spent most of my time training on my MTB. Training the position, training I raced in today. I cut out all gravel riding, and reduced my road riding... about 4 hours on the road, 8-10 on the MTB.
- Got another great night of sleep.
- I pre-rode the course 3 times Monday, and then road the XC course the rest of the week which is the same type of dirt. Very hard dirt, with small pebbles of decomposed granite on top. It's unique to the desert and requires a different feel than what we ride at home.
- Because I follow my Cowboy Strong philosophy that I teach in the RaceDay Ready 10-Week Challenge, I am always riding with a little fatigue due to the fact that I'm doing strength training every single day. I haven't been able to do that for a week now, as I've been on the road, and I think my body is just super fresh.
- I followed my warm up protocol of starting an hour before the short TT (the longer the race the shorter my warm up). I rode easy for 35 minutes, then brought my heart rate up with 2 minutes on 2 minutes off at threshold for 16ish minutes, and kept spinning until 2 minutes to go.
- Racing the same format last weekend, with a TT last Friday, was a good reminder of what it takes to do well in a TT... as someone who never does intervals, I need to do races that are similar to get the feel of the effort required.
Here is what I didn't do:
- I didn't freak out that I'm heavier by about 5 pounds than last year, that I had a nasty flu for 10 days early Feb, or that rain as hindered the training.
- I didn't waste any energy worrying about starting 2 hours after my competitors when it was warmer and windier - my fault for screwing up my registration.
- I didn't hit it hard from the get go and try and get my HR up asap to gain every second possible by starting fast. I brought my speed up gradually, paced myself so i could pound the one 3ish minute power climb and every climb from there to the finish.
There you go.
As for data, saw my HR get into the 180s for the first time in a year...
... on that power climb.
It probably happened at last week's TT as well, but I had no data for that ride due to Wahoo Tickr malfunction.
Wins are nice,
PRs are better!
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
I had multiple racers come up to me today and tell me this weekend has been on their Giant RaceDay Calendar.
Do you know why?
Because there is nothing more powerful than a giant calendar with you races written in Sharpie.
Stock is dwindling.
Ships free.
Can make in your team colors.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
----
164.2
8ish hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
40 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THIS IS NOT THE PILL YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
Mar 09, 2023 TODD BROWN
I'M A SUCH A SUCKER. Some people fall for nice legs, others broad shoulders, a sweet smile. Me, I'm a total sucker...
... for a bad@$$.
And, I'm finding more and more of you since we expanded our bags to include triathletes and runners.
We may look different, move different, play different but in the end it's all the same...
... people pushing their limits.
I love it.
If you've taken the 10-Week challenge then you know about Cowboy Strong and my cousin Norman.
Check out Becky:
I'm the tiny female version of Norman:. a full-time horse trainer, with 22 horses, 1 miniature donkey, and various stray dogs to care for on my ranch in Texas. I have those cowboy callouses from hay bales, feed sacks, manure forks, and lead ropes. I feel that all of this has kept me relatively injury free as a competitive runner, and recently, functional fitness athlete.
Yep.
Cowgirl Strong.
She continues:
I appreciate your promotion of fitness as a lifestyle. It's so important in this "take a pill for everything" world we're living in.
Eating dinner at the bar tonight (I'm on a road trip), a commercial popped up for a weightloss pill. It seamed insane to me.
Dad bods playing soccer, good.
Dad bods working up a sweat, more good.
Dad bods loading up their plates at the barbecue, WTH?
When we commit to a life of bad@$$ery...
... there is no need for pills.
There is only one need - to be excellent.
- Physically
- Mentally
- Spiritually
- Socially
A proper focus eliminates all desire to deviate...
... and reveals that excellence is actually the easier path.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready-2023-ala-todd
This is the pill you need.
Are you up for the challenge?
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready-2023-ala-todd
----
162ish
8ish hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
40 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
WHY RACE AT ALL?
Mar 08, 2023 TODD BROWN
THOUGHT EXPERIMENT: Why do you race? And before you say, I don't race...
... you race.
We all do.
We might not pin on numbers or tie on plates, but we sure as heck know our PRs...
... and go for the City Limits signs.
So, why do you race? Because you like...
- the action?
- camaraderie?
- the ego boost?
- a fitness check in?
- inspiration by humiliation?
... whatever your reason, what would happen if you stopped racing?
The racer who simply loves riding,
will race harder and longer
than the racer who loves
the finish line.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
Do you know who puts the Industries in PEDAL Industries?
The industrious,
on and off the bike
those get after it every day,
If that's you, check out this hoodie. $35, ships free.
Plus!, grants early access to this limited edition kit
$35
Order Now, quantities are limited and dwindling.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
165
7.5 hrs Sleep
0 Strength training
20 minutes recovery
900 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
DO YOU HAVE FRENEMIES
Mar 07, 2023 TODD BROWN
MAYBE IF WE WERE GETTING PAID IT'D BE DIFFERENT. But, we aren't. We are just racing for fun and sport and competition...
... the challenge.
Along the way friendships are formed.
Oh, I've managed to ruffle a few feathers along the way. Maybe it's just part of doing all you can to be your best that drudges up a few haters. Not a big deal...
... maybe a compliment?
Far more common is to meet so new people, who are also committed to excellence on and off the bike.
Friends before the race.
Enemies during.
Buds after.
I received a nice note from Adam, who one the overall last weekend. We only know each other by doing this one race, in Tucson AZ, since 2018. Over time, we have battled back and forth on each stage...
... and I look forward to seeing him each year and catching up.
Above is a picture of Dan and I after the last stage. We met this year, and we battled all three days. He held onto 3rd place overall by a whopping 3 seconds.
Below is David, from MO. We connected when he purchased a RaceDay Bag 4 years ago...
... and he happened to be in Tucson this past weekend and noticed the van.
The point is, if you're going to races and make friends...
... you're doing it right.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
And if you're wearing this hoodie, you're definitely part of a friendly tribe of dedicated athletes.
Ships free.
Grants early access to this limited edition kit
Order Now.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
165ish (Surfergirl diet got me)
7.5 hrs Sleep
0 Strength training
20 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THERE'S A BEE IN MY BIBS!
Mar 06, 2023 TODD BROWN
RACING CAN BE SO WEIRD. You're shoulder to shoulder with someone. Everyone is working so hard. But, we get tired and get crabby and sometimes...
... behave poorly.
I prayed things would be different.
Yep.
I actually said a little prayer before heading out to race...
- Help us all to ride safe
- The officials to have an easy job
- And help me to be kind and understanding
That last part is pretty much why I don't race crits any more. The are so gnarly, so technically challenging. Everyone is on the edge because the danger is so high...
... and, frankly, I can be a bit of a jerk.
Not on purpose.
But, when tensions are amped and emotions raging, it's a challenge to give another racer the benefit of the doubt let alone...
... a freakin' inch of road.
So, on lap 5 of yesterday's race when I politely inquired of another racer...
Hey, any idea what lap we are on?
Yes.
What lap?
You should know.
No, what lap are we on?
You should know, that's racing.
So you're not gonna tell me?
He looks at me, smiles, looks away.
I think, Jerk!
Ok, well, you can close that gap I just opened...
Yes, not my finest moment.
I was so tempted to go for it right then and there...
... the bee was definitely in my bibs.
That little exchange served to pump up the adrenalin for the plan I'd hatched in the morning.
As he closed the gap, I slid back bottling all that silly emotion up. Time to disappear for lap and fein exhaustion.
The things we do for a win.
It's pretty darn fun.
If we stay cool.
Playful.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
Like this playful, midweight, hoodie.
Ships free.
Grants early access to this limited edition kit
Order Now.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
163ish
8 hrs Sleep
40 pushups and air squats
0 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RACING FOR THE WIN AND RACING FOR VICTORY
Mar 05, 2023 TODD BROWN
I HAD ONE PLAN TODAY, victory. Friday, I winged it on the time trial. Yesterday, I raced to win. Today, I went for the victory...
... which is unlike winning.
In fact, for me, it's a completely different mentality.
Winning is about hedging and managing and strategy and doing what it takes and nothing more...
... to win.
That's nice, but nowhere near as satisfactory as the feeling of knowing there was nothing more to give, vanquishing my fears of losing, risking everything...
... this is victory, regardless of the outcome.
I woke up with this mental image: a greased pig, wreaking havoc and uncontainable.
Can't image a better vision.
Of course, it's easy to feel that way after a great night of sleep in an outstanding hotel...
... before the first hard stomp on the pedals.
(Surfergirl turned in my points to stay at the Lowes, and why not?)
My warm up was spot on this time.
1 hour.
45 minutes easy on the pedals.
15 bringing the heart rate up and stoking the fires.
For some reason, I lined up at the back of the pack even though I predicted it would start out hard. Heck, I even thought about the same thing before hatching my plan to go on the 7th lap.
So, I got to spend that first mile or so chasing and hustling my lycra up to the front.
For 5 laps I went with every attack, or let it go and bridged up, or pushed on when things slowed down. We needed to suffer, and make the teams work, and tire out the sprinters.
During that time, I was able to ferret out who could handle their bike in the turns, who's wheel was good to follow and who had something left to give on the day.
My plan, hatched the night before was to go for it on the last climb of the 6th lap, rail the turn at the bottom and keep on going.
It almost worked.
What happened was just as good, if not better.
The teams were sprinting for the bonus seconds on lap 6, completely stretched out the field, got their seconds, then shut down the pace...
... I sailed on by, and kept going.
Then Gerry, who smoked us in the tt, passed me like I was standing still.
I looked back.
I had a good gap.
Gerry was pulling away.
I buried myself to catch up...
... and he eased up a bit.
Thanks for waiting, give me a minute to recover.
He gave me 3 minutes, to the top of the climb.
As I'm pulling through, I look back and see a white jersey.
Dang.
They caught us.
Nope.
It's yesterday's hero Gary.
I can't believe he made it across the gap. We have a good 15 seconds and now we are rolling and rotating.
It's on.
We are smooth, and committed.
Greased pigs, on the loose.
Into the bell lap, we have nearly 30 seconds. That 7th lap was the fastest of the day for me.
Gary is gassed.
Hang on bro, recover.
Gerry, Gary is struggling.
We couldn't wait, but it was cool if he skipped a few pulls. It was too much. Gerry is such a powerhouse uphill, it's just a battle staying on his wheel.
With 2k to go, we still had 20 seconds.
We started the mile or so downhill to the last turn.
This is where we would lose a lot of time. The bunch was anxious to pull us back, some wanted to hang onto their GC positions, some wanted to win the stage...
... they'd have to wait another day.
300 meters to go.
It's a drag race for the line.
Today was that rare instance, where a victory comes with a win.
Insights:
This was the first race in quite a while where I have felt really good, didn't battle any cramps, and had excellent energy.
- Great sleep
- Arrived 2 hours early
- Proper 1 hour warm up
- Consumed 600 calories, 400/hour
Those little details probably made the difference. But, who knows? The older I get, the more difficult it is to predict good days on the bike.
Marco Colbert, with a lot of great people from the city and volunteers, has rescued the Tucson Bicycle Classic. USAC, had a really pro and friendly staff, which I found to be very refreshing. If you are looking for a helluva fun weekend of racing, in the beautiful winter desert...
... get your buns out here next year.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready-2023-ala-todd
Victories start way before the gun goes off.
Are you up for the challenge?
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready-2023-ala-todd
----
163ish
8ish hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
40 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
IT'S MARCH, IT'S MADNESS
Mar 04, 2023 TODD BROWN
THE TUCSON BICYCLE CLASSIC delivered another wild race. On the start line, race jitters were dialed way up because the temp was...
... dialed way down.
35 degrees.
USAC officials really, really, really like to see race numbers so there was serious deliberations on what to wear. Because the speeds can be very high on the long, long, long decent I opted to go aero.
- Skull cap
- Base layer
- Neck gator
- Two jerseys
- Arm warmers
- Plastic trash bag pieces over socks
- Covered holes on aero helmet with tape
Nobody warmed up much.
Too darn cold.
I stayed in my light down jacket as long as possible. Still, I was shivering as we waited for our wave to roll off. Surfergirl took it from me with 2 minutes to go.
Like everyone else, I was anxious to get it on...
... get that blood pumping.
We hit the first few hills pretty hard.
It felt good.
Well, I felt nothing.
The one thing that was way better than I thought was pullng that neck gator up over my face as we raced along the lumpy terrain before bombing down hill for 4 miles...
... at 30+mph in our underpants.
The racing?
Chaotic as usual.
Lots of free agents, like me, rolling the dice on attacks. A handful of teams willing to pull it all back. This carried on for 2 and half of the 3 laps, 60 miles, we'd race...
... then, the madness.
We turned right to go down the hill, I was in second position and let a gap open. These breaks were going nowhere...
... but, this opened up a bit.
The teams weren't working at all.
Then a bigger dude I thought had no chance to hold us off on the hill went.
2 guys up the road.
I waited for the teams.
The Adam went, and I thought for sure the race leader, Gerry, and his team would pull him back.
Nothing.
So I took a flyer, got within 5 seconds, could see the group was coming hard and waited for them...
... nothing.
The gap kept getting bigger and bigger.
They were gone.
3 guys up the road.
No teams working.
No free agents rolling the dice.
The only hope was they'd blow.
They didn't.
At the bottom of the 4 mile climb to the finish, my friend Gary took the front and really put it down.
Nobody could come around him.
He pulled off, everybody was gassed.
He went back and kept the heat on.
Heroic stuff.
Honestly, I thought I'd have something for the finish. Even though the time bonuses and lots of time were gone...
... it's still good to sprint across.
I had nothing.
Something, but not enough.
Adam won by over a minute, and picked up 13 seconds in time bonuses.
Impressive.
He has 53 seconds on Gerry, and a minute twenty on little ol' me who...
... somehow is still 5th overall.
Madness.
Tomorrow, I predict, is going to be lit.
The teams will have plans and the free agents got nothing to lose.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-hats/products/black-skull-cap
This skull cap is so nice
Made from the same luxurious Italian fabric we use on the front of our #1 and PRO jerseys this is breathable and moisture wicking.
Use promo code: CmonTodd!
to save 20%, ships free
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-hats/products/black-skull-cap
----
163ish
7ish hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
40 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
TIME TRIAL OF MY LIFE
Mar 03, 2023 TODD BROWN
TIME IS A CONSTRUCT WE ALL AGREE ON, and can be very real for us humans. For all other creatures there is day and night. Measured or not, seconds can mean the difference in another construct...
... winning and losing.
Aren't you glad you have me making mistakes so you don't?
This is a great one.
I thought I was being so smart and clever. Earlier in the week, I pasted all my start times into my calendar on Outlook. For some reason, I thought to share them with Surfergirl.
Good thing.
This morning, after a solid night of sleep in the van, we popped down to the Waffle House.
I love Waffle House.
She'd never been.
It's one of the reasons I come to this race.
I really look forward to it.
It's a time machine.
Backwards.
Fueled up, I doublechecked my start time: 11:40:30 AM
It was 830ish.
Plenty of time to get to the start, 30 minutes away, and relax before a 60 minute warm up.
Everything was according to plan.
9:40 AM
Why aren't you getting ready?
Still have 2 hours.
Are you sure?
Yep.
It says 10:40 start.
What?
Right here.
O. M. G!!! Arizona is on MST, Outlook updated all the times!!!!!
That's a pretty big mistake.
Rookie!
I hustled.
She pinned numbers.
No time for proper warm up.
On the line, I had another genius idea.
My new TICKR HR monitor from Wahoo, had finally connected yesterday and was working great. During the warm up it was working great. On the start line, I decided to stop the ride, which it deleted I later learned, and start a new Ride so I could look at the miles and exact time.
It read 128 as the official counted down. This is normal for me, my HR gets pretty high right before...
... ready for battle.
As I rode away, it started to drop.
120
112
104
98
Yep.
98 bmp, as I'm getting after it in a 10 minute time trial.
I don't use a power meter.
I raced on feel.
This isn't totally new for me. Short MTB XC races, I often put my Wahoo in my back pocket so I can concentrate on the racing and terrain and ignore what my body is telling me.
Who knows what the difference would have been with the HR data?
I'm 5th.
27 seconds off 1st... 5 seconds off 3rd, 1 second off 4th.
Want to know what else I did wrong?
Why not...
... I didn't crank my shoes down and had to do that within the first 100 yds.
3 mistakes.
How much time did it cost?
Who knows?
Who cares?
It's just racing.
Good times.
Fun.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
Inventory is dwindling on the GIANT RaceDay Calendar...
... with magical properties of
- Increased Focus
- Superior Planning
- Dreamlike Results
The calendars ship FREE.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
If you like the blog, you'll LOVE the podcast version:
----
163ish
7ish hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
IS THIS AIRBNB's LAST STAND?
Mar 02, 2023 TODD BROWN
RACE TRAVEL IS IT'S OWN THING, and if you're like me and don't do it much it can really be a roll of the dice. While I have generally had good luck...
... not so this round..
I should have known it would be amateur night when I had to meet the owner for the key.
After a brief run through, and assurance the place will heat right up, he was gone.
A few minutes later we discovered there was a major roof leak, water soaking down the wall and dripping all over the only toilet and puddling on the floor.
While he circled back we went to dinner at Reilly for "craft" food and drink. We ordered a giant salad, meatballs and a small pizza...
... it was excellent.
Upon returning, the heater was making all kinds of heater sounds and pushing all kinds of arctic air.
We took hot showers while we waited for the owner.
It's not heating up.
Let me get my mechanic down here tomorrow.
Don't worry about it, we aren't staying.
Ok, I'll refund everything.
Great.
The thing is, I didn't want a refund. I wanted a little place, central to the races, where I could relax and stretch and generally enjoy a bit of racing and time away with Surfergirl.
Here's the good news:
- We have a van,
- A comfy bed
- A heater
And I'll have something to be pissed off about tomorrow, which is requisite for...
... putting down a blistering time in a short time trial.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
Inventory is dwindling on the GIANT RaceDay Calendar...
... with magical properties of
- Increased Focus
- Superior Planning
- Dreamlike Results
The calendars ship FREE.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
If you like the blog, you'll LOVE the podcast version:
----
162.8
7,5 hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
0 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THE ONLY GIMMICK GUARANTEED TO WORK
Mar 01, 2023 TODD BROWN
DO YOU AHVE A FRIEND LIKE MINE? He's younger than me, was a standout athlete in high school, and...
... is in terrible shape.
I took him on a bike ride once.
Three miles of flat ending with a slight incline at the end of about 20 feet spread over about 100 feet.
Nothing.
At the top, poor fella, he had to get off the bike and lay down.
I literally thought he might be having a heart attack.
Over the years, among other attempts to regain some health he has...
- Hired a trainer at the gym
- Hired a chef
- Intermittent fasted
- Considered surgery
... and here's the latest: a diet suppression pill.
Speaking of hills to die on, I will die on this one...
- pick an event
- make a commitment
- be as ready as possible.
... this is the way.
The trainers, chefs, coaches, diets, surgery...
... are crutches.
Catalysts at best.
He will continue to fail and struggle and decline. It's rather sad. I would love nothing more than to see him return to being...
... an extremely capable, high-performing athlete.
Cut the crap.
Pick an event.
Get his butt in gear.
Yes, I've told him that with all the love and kindness and encouragement I can.
I know you're doing the same with your friends.
Keep inviting,
Keep showing the way,
Keep being the awesome person you are.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
Inventory is dwindling on the GIANT RaceDay Calendar...
... with magical properties of
- Increased Focus
- Superior Planning
- Dreamlike Results
The calendars ship FREE.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
If you like the blog, you'll LOVE the podcast version:
----
163
8 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
BATTLING THE NPCs
Feb 28, 2023 TODD BROWN
IF YOU BELIEVE IN THE SIMULATION, then you've got to consider the reality of NPCs. Christians know the verse In the beginning was the Word, coders use words and text...
... to create virtual worlds.
Today, I was an NPC.
For gamers, NPCs are non-player combatants. Their threat is real, they are easily killed, there isn't a human player controlling them...
... they are part of the simulation.
I had every intention of doing the local group ride today. It's been months, and I needed a final beat down before the racing starts on Friday.
Up early.
In the van.
Rain started pouring.
I was easily taken out of the game as the road soaked and the tires hydroplaned. While I generally enjoy the occasional ride in the rain...
...not this one,
not on my race bike,
not right before I'll need it working perfectly.
And why ride soaked for 3 hours?
Maybe I'm not an unconscious NPC?
Maybe we are in a simulation?
Either way, I'll be back out later today when the clouds clear. Gotta get that final hardy ride in...
... no NPCs are showing up at the races.
Are they?
https://pedalindustries.com/products/join-the-pedal-posse-monthly-subscription
If you're feeling like an NPC,
if you need a weekly kick in the lycra,
if you thrive hanging out with players IRL...
... today is the last day to join us who are playing the big game.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/join-the-pedal-posse-monthly-subscription
----
162.8
7 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
THIS IS WHAT DRIVES ME
Feb 27, 2023 TODD BROWN
I'M GONNA PUT MY HEART OUT HERE, because I think you ought to know. There is one thing driving PEDAL Industries...
... it's not you, and it's not me.
It's us.
Not just you and me, all of us. The planet.
I realized this the other day. I've been inviting people to ride bikes for as long as I can remember.
Why?
Because it's fun, and a great way to do the cardio side of in shape.
There are 3 things necessary for this nefarious plan of ours to truly work wonders:
- Pick an event, 1 a year will do
- Recruit or join a Posse.
- Get RaceDay Ready.
Let me explain.
Having 1 event a year to train for is invaluable for those looking to stay in reasonable shape annually because it's always out there...
... reminding us to stick to the plan, however loosely.
Knowing our posse is going to meet us at the proverbial corner each week is integral to staying on course. Training can be lonely, and for many of us...
... our deepest friendships often start and strengthen via the hours we ride side by side.
Being RaceDay Ready is all encompassing, it is much more than having a low resting heat rate and putting out big watts. Being truly ready means we are growing not just physically, but socially, mentally and spiritually.
The most fulfilled racers I know really are well-rounded squares.
They have an event or two on the horizon, a good group of riding pals, and both wheels on the ground...
... unless they're purposely shredding the gnar.
This what drives me to make the products we make, and to make them all customizable for each of our riding groups, teams, etc...
... there is something special about a uniform.
We showcase the colors and shapes and words that inspire and bond us into our unique tribes. For us, those tribes are made up of
- athletes
- adventure
- camaraderie
Want to make something amazing for your tribe?
https://pedalindustries.com/products/add-more-custom-products-to-my-store
Everything we make I've had a hand in creating and tested the heck out of...
... you can be sure it's quality.
Click here to set up a FREE design consultation.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/add-more-custom-products-to-my-store
https://pedalindustries.com/products/join-the-pedal-posse-monthly-subscription
----
163
8 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
RACING LIKE AN ELEPHANT
Feb 26, 2023 TODD BROWN
I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT one of the insights from the book Into The Headwinds which I'm reading and how it applies to going fast on a bicycle by tapping into...
... our inner elephant.
Not a circus elephant on a bike.
We are primarily the products of thinking that is below the level of awareness.
That's the elephant.
Here's how it applies to bicycle racing.
New racers are like the rider, hyper aware and nervous and desperately trying to take it all in...
... think will power.
Experienced racers are like the elephant, much more relaxed...
... like daydreaming while driving home after work.
The rider has finite reserves.
The elephant has limitless energy.
Why is it so hard to establish a new habit? Because the elephant is in charge of the routine events in our lives.
Want to eat better?
Sleep better?
Train regularly?
The elephant is hard to overcome. Too much inertia.
However, the authors state...
If we do something with our rational/conscious self (the rider) long enough, we can train our intuitive/unconscious self (the elephant) to take over the task. The boundary between the elephant and rider is not static or impermeable.
I see it so clearly now.
In the beginning racing, particularly off road, required massive amounts of emotional energy. After years of riding and racing, instead of being nearly panicked during tense and technical racing...
... I slip into a state of flow.
Do you see it now?
Have you had that feeling or sensation on or off the bike?
The caveat, of course, is long enough.
What is long enough?
I've read it takes anywhere from 21 days to 60 days to establish a new habit. Personally, I think it's impossible to eradicate bad habits but infinitely possible to...
... instill good habits.
We're all riders and elephants.
The idea of sitting atop an elephant and trying to get it to do anything seems impossible in my mind...
... good thing I'm a persistent sunuvagun.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/join-the-pedal-posse-monthly-subscription
If you're looking for a way to get control of your elephant, join our Posse...
... you have until the end of the month, 2/28, then enrollment is closed.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/join-the-pedal-posse-monthly-subscription
----
163
8.4 hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
SAVE MONEY, FEEL GREAT
Feb 25, 2023 TODD BROWN
SINCE THE WEATHERTHINGY SAID RAIN ALL DAY, I slept in. The plan, a few days ago, was to make this Saturday my last very hard day before next weekend's races...
... I did the next best thing.
Out in the chilly garage, I got down to business.
Threw the race bike up in the stand,
pulled out the race wheels,
mounted new tires,
lubed the pulleys,
waxed the chain,
race readied,
the bike.
Once done, the rain ceased for a few minutes. I took it for a brief spin...
... the bike felt amazing.
There's something about being able to do my own wrenching that is both...
... satisfying and energizing.
The investment of time to learn what and how to do the basics, and a few dollars in equipment...
... is one of the best returns we'll ever get.
Confidence.
I felt so good, I bundled up and took a shot at dodging the storm clouds coming in off the ocean.
Ninety minutes later a soggy and cold mechanic rolled home on the Frankenbike...
... ready as I'm gonna be.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/join-the-pedal-posse-monthly-subscription
It's been good to have The Posse keep me on track...
... we start a new month next and there are a few spots available.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/join-the-pedal-posse-monthly-subscription
----
163.3
9 hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
DO YOU HAVE A SYSTEM?
Feb 24, 2023 TODD BROWN
IT'S REALLY HARD TO HAVE DISCIPLINE. For those who do, the results are amazing. For those who don't, like me...
... we have a secret.
We get all the benefits of discipline while having none.
What?
Yes.
It's called habits.
We don't think about habits, we do them. According to Duke University...
... 40% of our behaviors are habits.
We all have the habit to hop our bikes.
Meet the group at the corner.
Weekend morning ride.
We don't question Will I ride?, and our significant others think it's weird or something is wrong if we aren't on the bike at our normal time.
There's no decision,
no discipline.
We do it.
I was thinking about this because on the lightly attended due to heinous cold and blasting wind group ride someone said...
... I don't know what you're doing, but keep doing it.
You know exactly what I'm doing, I post it all every day.
I know.
Then do it.
It's hard.
It's not, it's just a few habits.
Personally, I wish I'd been practicing them my entire life.
They aren't complicated.
Easy to remember.
Effective.
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready-2023-ala-todd
https://pedalindustries.com/pages/raceday-ready-2023-ala-todd
----
163.1
8 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
HOW OLD ARE YOU?
Feb 23, 2023 TODD BROWN
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I DO ALL WEEK is to check in with The Posse. We review how the previous week went, how this week's going, our progress for the next big race...
... it's magical.
To listen how these other athletes are juggling life and fitness goals, their approaches and secrets, is incredibly powerful.
I learn so much.
Something stood out to me tonight. Their energy and enthusiasm is unmistakably youthful.
I had to ask...
How old are you in your head?
22
17, maybe 23
32
27
... nothing remotely close to our actual ages.
It shouldn't be surprising.
All of us are in phenomenal shape, with real health and performance goals...
... that make us stretch.
Are we stretching out our lives?
Going to live longer?
Who cares?
It's not about how many days we have,
it's about how good the days are.
We're approaching a new month, which means we are opening up membership in The Posse again.
You have until 2/28 to join.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/join-the-pedal-posse-monthly-subscription
https://pedalindustries.com/products/join-the-pedal-posse-monthly-subscription
----
163.7
8.2 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
I'LL HUFF AND I'LL PUFF
Feb 22, 2023 TODD BROWN
THE WIND CAME THROUGH AS PREDICTED. 25-30 mile an hour gusts, mostly tailwind on my way south to meet the group. I expected the turnout to be light...
... only the brave, crazy and stupid would show.
Which one was I?
You be the judge.
Normally, the group is 30-40 strong.
Josh and I rode down to meet...
... 4 guys?
4?
6 total.
Once we cleared the first hill and got up on the mesa the headwind was blasting us.
Everybody took a pull.
One guy bailed out.
5 of us.
On the mesa, the road snakes and the wind shifts from the right side to the left side and back to the right...
... we lost another.
4 of us.
The thing about the wind is it's just annoying.
- You really have to wrestle with the bike because it's weaving all over the place.
- It's so noisy you can't talk.
- Literally a drag.
The fact is, it's not really any harder than riding up a steep grade in terms of effort.
I'm used to that from all the mountain biking.
A lot of roadies aren't. They are used to taking a pull and relaxing, or just sucking wheel the whole ride. When the wind blows, suddenly they are super defensive.
The fact is, most of the ride was high tempo to low threshold. Comparing the effort to previous weeks on the same ride I actually spent less time in threshold.
It was easier.
But, the wind is so annoying it feels a lot harder.
Consequently, Josh and I did 90% of the pulling while the others sat in. I didn't care, I came for the workout.
At the turnaround, it was just me and Josh.
2 little piggies battling the big, bad wind.
What's the best way to ride in the wind?
If it's a huge group, and a headwind, it's pretty easy to just sit 15 riders back and hide. However, the moment that wind turns to the side it's a lot easier to be in the top 5-10 rotating.
In fact, I'd say it is almost always easier to be at the front doing short pulls because you're only in the wind for a brief moment then you are generally right back to being protected.
The farther back we get, the more squirrelly the riders get and the more difficult it is to conserve energy - physical and emotional.
It's just wind,
take a pull,
it's not a wolf,
get up front.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
Train up front,
finish up front,
see the checked flag first.
Quantities are getting low.
Ships free.
Grants early access to this limited edition kit
Order Now.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
163.3
7 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
YOU HAVE LESS THAN 6 MONTHS
Feb 21, 2023 TODD BROWN
THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: You have less than 6 months until the Leadville Trail 100. That is for my friends...
... who think they have plenty of time to prepare.
They don't.
Neither do we, regardless of what we're planning to attempt this year.
We don't have plenty of time.
We have very limited time.
Every day we wait,
we have less time.
This isn't golf.
We don't have lucky days after not riding for months.
We have results of our preparation,
of our work.
I played tennis all through high school. Worked my way up to varsity. We were the worst team in the league, and I never made it out of round one at the championships. I played because my mom's boyfriend played and he kindly spent time with me. I didn't love it, I loved him. As soon as I left home, I quit playing. But...
... I'm always surprised how well I can hit the ball the first few swings.
Kinda like the first few pedal strokes after taking a lot of time off. It feels great...
... then it doesn't.
It hurts.
We wheeze.
Fire engulfs our legs.
The only way to avoid that on the day of reckoning is...
... training consistently.
Every day.
For the next 170ish if you're doing Leadville.
I'm not.
If was here is what I'd do:
- Every Saturday would be a long ride with big climbs at tempo. If I had children at home, I'd leave before sunrise and get home by 9ish.
- During the week I would begin with 1 intense group ride or hard interval session. Later in the season, I would up that to 2x per week... back to back, Tues/Wed.
- My volume would be 8-15 hrs/week. Maybe higher once or twice in July.
- I'd find 2-3 long races to do, or make my own, to simulate race pace and race day
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
Inventory is dwindling...
The calendars ship FREE.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
If you like the blog, you'll LOVE the podcast version:
----
163.9
8 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
THIS IS GETTING ME ALL HOT AND BOTHERED
Feb 20, 2023 TODD BROWN
SURFERGIRL POINTED OUT THE CRAZY WINDS slated to hit us in two days. We get them this time of year. They'll be blowing hard Wednesday morning...
... and I can't wait.
That's the difference between us.
She's looking for calm winds and glassy water. I like that, too. But I also...
... live for nasty weather.
Not always.
For example, today was just incredible.
Green everywhere.
65 degrees.
Perfect.
So perfect, in fact, I felt better on the bike than I have in months.
What's too look forward to then?
A legit battle with the bike and wind,
jockeying for position in the group,
vigilantly watching the players,
and working together while,
others are spit backwards.
Yeah, that's fun.
What makes it even more entertaining is knowing how so many riders loathe it. Skip the rides...
... and struggle when it happens in a race.
But, not us!
Am I right?
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
Races and rides that are nasty make the checkered flags and finishes something to truly relish.
Ships free.
Grants early access to this limited edition kit
Order Now.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
164.1
8 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
HE HATES IT, BUT HE LOVES IT. ME TOO.
Feb 19, 2023 TODD BROWN
I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE: There is only one way to be great. Nowhere was that better captured than this week when the great Wout van Aert said...
... I hate it, but I love it.
Was it interval training?
Intermittent fasting?
Bike hygiene?
Nope.
It was his loss at the UCI Cyclocross World Championships, to his arch-rival Mathieu van der Poel.
Why would he love it?
A stinging loss at the line?
Because as the great TS Eliot penned, The journey, not the destination matters...
So, how do we achieve greatness?
We go on a quest.
If we're lucky, we find a worthy adversary who extracts not the very best of us, but...
... all of us.
That is why Wout hates it, but loves it.
When we go on a quest, it's a helluvalot more than
- Just finishing
- Standing on the podium
- Being the winner of a crapshoot sprint
The finish line is already known...
... what we are willing to do to get there is the journey.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
This design reminds me of the checkered flag and the victories that await those who put in the time.
Ships free.
Grants early access to this limited edition kit
Order Now.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
164.3
9 hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
DO YOU HAVE THIS TALENT?
Feb 18, 2023 TODD BROWN
BE HONEST. Look over today's ride, the previous week, month, quarter and year. Next, look over your results. PRs, KOMs, Podiums, Titles. Now, here's the question...
... do you have talent?
Before you answer that, let me tell you about today.
My goal was a shockingly fast group ride. Pain. Humiliation. Complete exhaustion. I wanted it all because my fitness is lagging...
... and the races are fast approaching.
I chose Swami's.
It's habitually nasty.
This edition was extra saucy with Jess and Sam in town. Sam, who rides for Legion, and his henchmen, got after it from the start. While they take over the front and start spitting people out the back, the beautiful Jess sits in. Barely breathing...
... like it's a day at the spa.
Me?
Gassed.
Gapped.
Gone.
While Sam and Jess certainly have talent...
... there was a less obvious talent on display today.
Think about this.
They live in Montana.
400' deep in freezing snow.
They've been here for less than a week.
My fitness is lagging because we've had a bit of rain and I had the sniffles...
... they are in great shape to lay down serious training in our perfect clime.
The takeaway for me is to further develop...
... the talent to work hard.
We can all do that.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
This design reminds me of the checkered flag and the victories that await those who put in the time.
Ships free.
Grants early access to this limited edition kit
Order Now.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
What's more fun than a blog post?... me riffing on it.
----
162
7.6 hrs Sleep
0 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
CHEAPER, BETTER, FASTER
Feb 17, 2023 TODD BROWN
HARDTAILS ARE GREAT FOR MTB TRAINING. Not because of fewer moving parts to maintain, not because they can be picked up cheap. Those are good reasons...
... this is a great reason.
Hardtails feel fast.
Going all out on a hardtail is a lot rougher than a fullsuspension bike. We are bounced around significantly more, making the bike harder to handle at racepace. It feels like we're going really fast, but...
... we are really going slower.
That's okay.
We get the rush of riding on the ragged edge while being forced to pick cleaner lines. The result on raceday is we are picking cleaner lines and the fullsuspension MTB makes it feel slower and safer even though...
... we are really going a lot faster.
Oh, one other benefit to having an inexpensive hardtail to train on is a lot less wear and tear on the racebike.
One of the few cases where we can have cheaper, better, faster vs picking between two of the three.
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Whereas with this hoodie you only get to better and faster.
Ships free.
Grants early access to this limited edition kit
Order Now.
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I riff on all these posts here... Check it out:
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162.4
8.6 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
THE MOST UNDERRATED SKILL IN ROAD RACING
Feb 16, 2023 TODD BROWN
IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, I've probably raced on the road about 10 times. With what has become a personal tradition, the Tucson Bicycle Classic, happening in three weeks...
... it's time to dust off the one skill needed to win a road race.
Assuming it comes down to a sprint, likelihood 90%, there is really only one thing to remember...
... be the last one to lead the race.
If you really want to win on the road, you have to be a villain.
Be patient.
Fastfriendships and alliances will be short lived.
Be patient.
This is no time for chivalry.
Be patient.
Wait.
Wait.
Wait.
It thou desirest to win...
.... thou shalt not put thy nose in the wind.
The problem of course is training like this leaves us unprepared, weak, ineffective.
We must train on the front.
Take the pulls.
Burn.
We get used to the feeling, the respect and leadership that accompanies shredding the group to pieces and to our detriment...
... when the gun fires we want to display our readiness.
Resist.
There is one big risk.
It's always possible there is a brave, heroic and welltrained sunuvagun who can deliver the goods...
... and ride away solo to victory.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
Superheroes where hoods...
... and this hoodie is one of my favorites for the athletic cut and perfect weight.
Ships free.
Grants early access to this limited edition kit
Order Now.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
I riff on all these posts here... Check it out:
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161.4
8.6 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
80 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
WHO'S IN YOUR POSSE?
Feb 15, 2023 TODD BROWN
WHEN I SHOW UP TO THE RACES, a mess of guys pile out of the van with me. No sense in taking on the competition solo...
... I roll with a badass posse.
Each one of them took a special part in prepping me.
It matters.
There's...
- Get plenty of sleep Sam
- Eat whole foods Ed
- Stretch and recover Guru
- Read and Write Sensei
- Lift weights Wanda
- Checklist Charlie
- Custom kit design Ken
- Weigh daily Danika
- Sargent Strava
... when I prep with the POSSE, anything's possible.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
I made this hoodie just for the posse, so we look sharp...
... it is a Limited Edition hoodie inspired by The Specials.
Ships free.
Grants early access to this limited edition kit
Order Now.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
I riff on all these posts here... Check it out:
----
161.7
7.3 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
75 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
HOW TO DETERMINE ZONE 2
Feb 14, 2023 TODD BROWN
THE GODFATHER OF ZONE 2 IS THE GREAT PHIL MAFFETONE. I learned about Phil while studying the great Mark Allen, aka The Grip...
... who destroyed his competition, staying in Zone 2.
Mark Allen was a devastating competitor who's epic battles with the great Dave Scott at Ironman are legendary.
I wanted that for the type of racing I was doing at the time. long distance MTB events.
The idea of chasing my competitors down who always went out too fast continues to captivate me.
According to Phil, Zone 2 is 180 - your age. It's based on the idea most people have a max HR of 180 in their prime. At the time, my max was 198 and I was 40.
Was my zone 2 158bpm?
No, of course not.
Was it 140?
Probably.
There are many systems and ways to come up with our zone 2 range.
- 60%-70% of Max HR
- Resting HR x 3
- 180 - age
There is the Power world, where HR is somewhat disregarded and zone 2 is based on a percentage of max power.
Or, the Perceived Exertion method, where any pace that is conversational is zone 2.
While these methods are based on the traditional 5 zones, there is also the 3 zone camp where zone 1 is the hero zone.
What I'm currently using, and think is quite accurate are the ranges generated by Strava. For me, that is 107-142. That is based on my max hr I hit last year at the Tucson Bicycle Classic TT.
Last night's Zone 2 MTB ride
How do I know this is my Zone 2 pace?
- I can easily converse at that pace,
- ride all day long,
- and survive on fewer calories than I need when racing or training hard.
- Also, I never feel sore after riding in that zone.
The biggest hurtle those new to Zone 2 training will face is the feeling of riding slow, not doing enough and wasting time.
Which is great because it keeps our competition in our grip...
... just where we want 'em.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
It takes a special, committed athlete to achieve Zone 2 greatness...
... this is a Limited Edition hoodie inspired by The Specials.
Ships free.
Grants early access to this limited edition kit
Order Now.
https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-limited-edition-special-hoodie
Please check out the live versions and extra riffing on what inspired the post:
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163.5
7 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
NOBODY WILL EVER CONVINCE ME
Feb 13, 2023 TODD BROWN
I'VE BEEN TOLD A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT MYSELF. Some selling on me on my potential, some telling me I plain suck. Sound familiar?...
... it's tempting to believe.
But, it never sticks.
Good,
or bad.
As the great Matteo Jorgenson said today after his first big win.
I didn’t even believe I deserved to be professional. It was a process of convincing myself and doing races and being up there enough to believe it. Today, finally my dream came through.
I get that.
I miss that part of my cycling journey.
Starting out at the local team training race: C to B to A
Going to my first USA Cycling event as a Cat IV and shaking on the startline...
... to battling my way for three years to Cat II.
The great Henry Ford exclaimed...
... Whether you thank you can or you think you can't, you're right.
However, too often I forget it's not a switch I just turn on,
it's a process.
Doing,
Being,
Believing.
The great Tom Watson repeatedly taught...
... The fastest way to succeed is to double your failure rate.
You can take it from here.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
This is where my doing starts.
The calendars ship FREE.
https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars™
Please check out the live versions and extra riffing on what inspired the post:
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163.9
8 hrs Sleep
1 RaceDay Ready Strength Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling
https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248
https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries
https://twitter.com/pedalindustries
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