I'D HEARD ABOUT IT, and looked forward to seeing it in person.  The race director had kindly nudged and nudged and nudged me, until I drove

... 500 miles to see it for myself.

A miracle?

Close.

Why?

Because of this people.

How do you gather two thousand five hundred teenage racers, plus their coaches, family and friends in the foothills...

... for a mountain bike race?

Love.

Love for riding mountain bikes,
Love the kids who are racing
their hearts out,

Love for the volunteers...

... thousands of them.

Then, I pre-rode the 6 mile course.

It was tough.
Rocky.

Uh oh,
maybe they don't love these kids after all?

During practice racers were stacked up waiting to take a crack at the rocky climb.

Following that was some fast, flowy single track,
broken up with sections of razor sharp lava,
followed by low speed, large
granite boulder riding.

Tires would be shredded,
wheels ruined.

The evidence rolled by throughout the day,
plenty of banged up limbs
bikes being pushed...

... nearly all smiles.

A different kind of love,
that of being tested,
showing mastery.

Tough.
Love.

Credit Dallin Atack, the brains behind it all, for making it happen

What did I learn from this?

• Clear vision of what is going to happen
• Plenty of volunteers who care
• Excellent training
• Community

The secret is good feelings for each other.

Teams of 100 or more kids all lined up in neat rows,
lots of chairs and shade to hang out,
plenty of food being cooked.

This isn't just a race,
it's a lifestyle.

And, I love it.

---

163ish
7 hrs 
no strength training
0 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

THERE IS A FEELING that most people never experience.  I had it today.  Many times.  If only we felt this, not just once, but often...

... maybe there'd be a little more hope.

Weightlessness.

Not the kind during an Oh shift! moment.
Or, the butt puckering kind.
The kind that brings joy.

With the proper speed, 
just right amount of lift in the whoops,
we are airborne, flying without a concern in the world.

It's a physical experience,
with a spiritual counterpart.

No matter what kind of pressures
I'm feeling or dealing with...

... they are gone when I'm weightless.

I learned of a tragedy that struck a friends' familiy,
the weight had become too much to handle for a young soul...

... how do we become whoops to those who need to take a load off?

That's not the right question,
everybody needs a whoop from time to time...

... how can we be better whoops to those we love?

---

161.7
6 hrs (early start to UT)
no strength training
0 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

WHAT IF ALL THE TIME WE PUT IN, in the saddle, could be improved by spending a few minutes a day doing mental work?  Would it be worth it?  Would you do it, or...

... are you too headstrong?

Some people are saying...

... If there isn't a scientific study, can't be worthy of my time.

Ok.

But, for those who are open to new ideas...

... I think there are neuromuscular connections we often over look.

For example, pedaling with one leg clipped in using a very easy gear on flat or nearly flat ground will quickly identify any dead spots in our pedal stroke.  If we have one...

... doing that exercise several times a week reaps huge rewards.

There was a time, when I'd do that for the first minute or so of each ride.  30 seconds, each leg.

I've blogged ad nauseam about the amazing results I'm having with these 4 exercises:

• Sled
• Nordic Curls
• Toe Raise
• Calf Raise

And, I can't overemphasize developing the discipline of looking only where you want to go, which I screwed up tonight and followed the wrong line into the bushes - pic above.

Here's the dill, to be head strong...

... we must allow time to do its thing and cement in the good practices.

---

162.3
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME.  D-! athlete decides to get a bike.  Goes for a ride.  Likes it.  Quickly advances to the fast group...

... and burns out.

And, I think I know why.

Maybe.

Today, G, who I met out gravel riding joined our peppy morning ride.
On his gravel bike with big knobbies,
finished with the bunch.

It was his very first group ride,
and this ain't an easy one.

On the way back to the start, he let out that he'd played college sports.

Figures.

What should I do to get faster?

Log a lot of easy miles.

Really, sounds counterintuitive.  That's not how we did things in college, it was hard, hard, then harder.

Yep, my experience is most people ride too hard, so they can never ride truly hard on the hard days.

Was today hard?

Not really.

I'm gonna get a lot faster.

I have no doubt.

High level athletes are very competitive.  
It's in their nature.
Easy to see.

The key is, and I hope I can be helpful, is to make sure it's fun.  That's where the Zone 2, easy riding, comes in.  Sure, there's immense cardiovascular benefits, but I think the mental side is every bit as important.

The advice I gave him, is no different than any other fit athlete

• Ride hard twice a week
• Zone 2 the rest of the days

Those are the big rocks,
we can get a lot more granular.
There's no need now, he's a busy dad and entrepreneur.

All work and no play,
makes Jonny a dull boy.

I'm sure G is going to redrum me soon (see pic above)...

... just hope it goes on for years.

---

162
7 hrs
No strength training
60 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

NOW THAT I'M TRAINING WITH POWER, I find myself shifting gears all the time.  Off road, where the terrain is constantly undulating, is when it happens the most and the new SRAM rear derailleur that can be shifted under a load...

... looks like a great upgrade.

Being in the right gear makes all the difference in the world.

We really see this over time, longer races, where efficiency can put our competitors in our dust, or so far back the dust has settled.

Why shift?

Efficiency.

When to shift? 

When we are bogging down or spinning out.

Apply that everywhere...

The measure of intelligence is the ability to change (shift) - Albert Einstein

If that's true, and I believe it is, and you are feeling bogged down or spun out, then...

... I have 1 question for you.

When are you going to shift?

---

162
9 hrs
No strength training
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

I'VE SAID IT, and I've heard it.  We all have, at one time or another.  Mostly, the sentiments are genuine, logical, sensible.  We want to do something, but we put it off.  It is, after all, ...

... just a bike ride or race.

There will be next year.

That's what these guys said.

MG was hit by a car this week,
he'll be fine, the bike not so much.

AS, went to Xterra Worlds,
got food poising and couldn't start.

WH, made it into Kona,
2 months later diagnosed with cancer.

What if it wasn't a bike race, but...

• A phone call to a dormant friendship
• A conversation to say sorry
• A chance to do good

... someone who needed us?

Last week, I got an amazing meal at Chipotle.  I can be a kinda high maintenance when I order, so I like to go in person.  But, I was pressed for time and ordered online.

Someone made it with passion and care.

I thought I'd try it again the next day, see if the same lady was making magic for the to go orders...

... there she was.

Were you working to go orders yesterday?

Yes.

It was great!

She smiled, I grabbed my food and headed out the door.

Go back and do better.

Huh?

Go back... get your wallet out.

Really?

Really.

Who has cash these days?  Seems I have less and less in my raceday wallet, but the night before I'd been impressed to get some cash when checking out at the grocery store.

Just a $20.

Miss?

Yes.

Thank you.

I have no idea if she needed the cash, I only knew...

... sometimes there isn't another race or ride or opportunity.

---

161.2
6 hrs
No strength training
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

WE ALL KNOW OUR LONGEST RIDE.  Might have been last week, last year or decades ago.  Might have wrecked us, might have opened our eyes.  Bottom line...

... it was memorable.

Epically unforgettable, like it was yesterday.

Part of that, for me, is I couldn't and wouldn't have done any of my longest rides without a friend.

Some one to hatch the plan with,
no matter how stupid it sounds.

My first longest ride was with Tally, my roommate, 6 weeks after purchasing my first road bike.  A 125 mile loop, sunrise to sunset through the mountains of Utah.

30 years later, after much shaming from countless friends who'd done it, my next longest ride was LoToJa.  212 miles, just over 9 hours.

Yesterday was the latest. San Clemente to Big Bear.  After two failed attempts in 2022, we made it:

• 122 miles,
• 15000' of vert,
• over pavement, gravel and single track.  

It started in the dark, (photos below)
a balmy, coastal fall morning.

It ended in the dark.

I'm just gonna say right now, we could easily have died up there.

Sweaty
8000'
35°

But, we didn't.

Josh, Michael and I clocked 14 hours, just under 12 on the bike.
Richard and Terry amazingly finished 3 hours later,
Met at the summit by angels Kevin and Marrissa,
After Kevin's irreparable tire escapade.

Post a hot shower,
Trevor, my son, showed up with hot pizza.
Wrapped in blanket, still shivering I couldn't help but ask...

... Would you do it again?

Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes.

We could make a few changes...

• Go when the days a longer
• Streamline Doheny to O'Neill a touch
• Skip the extra miles and 1700' of Grafton (I love)
• Get more people for a stronger paceline across the I.E.

Logistically, we nailed it pretty good.

• Stop in Corona at Speedway minimart
• Stop in Redlands at 7-11
• Hamburger and fries at Angelus Oaks. 

Bike choices, it's def a gravel bike ride.

Emergency prep, could have been better:

• Space blanket
• Arm warmers
• Skull cap

 Major mistakes on my part:

• Left my bottles at home, turned around and got 'em
• Left them again at Angelus Oaks, pressed on
• Back up batteries for Wahoo and head light

... yeah, we could change a few things.

But, we can't change this.

We made it,
together...

... and it changed us,
for the better.

---

A few stats:

• 300+ calories/hour, mostly carbs
• Average power 179
• Average HR 129

Terry got a "lift" back to OC from Richard.

 ---

Targeting 6.14.24... put it on your calendar

---

161.3
6.5 hrs
No strength training
0 minutes recovery
0 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

SIX OF US GATHERED FOR DINNER.  Introductions were made, and I fully expect the niceties of the evening to deepen into bonds of friendship, doing...

... a ride that's never been will do that.

We've got a solid plan, a good route, above average fitness.

But, as the great Mike Tyson said...

... Everybody has a plan until the get punched in the mouth.

I try to think of all the potential punches...

• Flats
• Broken chains
• Dead batteries
• Distracted drivers
• Inclement weather

Over this terrain, anything is possible.

130 miles.
15,000' of climbing.
Road, gravel, single track.

The most likely, of course, is bonking.

We're all fit enough to do it...

... are we wise enough to fuel it?

---

160.3
7.5 hrs
No strength training
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

PROS HAVE ALL THE KNOWLEDGE and rarely share it during their careers.  If they do, it often lacks relatable context. But, sometimes they drop gold...

... like the famous Eddy Merckx method.

Eddy, how do you dominate every race you enter?

Piles of miles.

The follow up question I would have asked...

... How does that work?

Here are some reasons why piles of miles create smiles.

Implicit in Eddy's quip is repetition.
Repetition makes hard look easy...

.. because our skills increase with more reps.

Where a novice struggles with...

• bonking
• a paceline
• a smooth pedal stroke
• cleaning a techy single track
• carve a swooping turn at max speed

... an experienced racer does it all with ease and grace.

It's not so much genetics,
or being lucky...

... as the reps.

Overtime, it's practically a lock we will become proficient.
Even, expert.

Then there's the endurance component.

If we are riding piles of miles, we can't be full out day after day.  That would lead to burnout, and massive fatigue...

... intensity just isn't sustainable in large quantities.

However, we can ride what we moderns call Zone 2.

According to Stephen Seiler, Inigo San Millan and other cutting edge thinkers, we can ride Zone 2 almost endlessly...

... and continue to see gains.

And there's a bonus,
when the opportunity arises,
we can easily ride almost any distance.

Because we've put in the time,
piles of miles,
the reps.

---

160.7
7.75 hrs
Push Ups, Pull Ups, Squats, Nordic Curls
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

IN THE QUEST FOR MAXIMUM FITNESS, it's easy to look for the quick fix.  The hack.  My pal recently sauntered down this path, and...

... he has transformed his body.

He no longer giggles when he walks,
he's skinny fat.

And, that's a problem.

Not because he has lost a few chins...

... because he is weaker than before,
lost so much muscle.

We don't want to get there,
we run from such evil...

... we want to increase our power to weight ratio.

Where did he go wrong?

It wasn't the magic pill that fooled my pal into eating less,
or the serious surgery others opt for,
those can be a good jump start,
it is the intoxicating effects....

... You weigh less. Yippee! Hoorah! You made it!

Lies.

What would have been significantly better, and be absolutely amazing, is if someone came up with a pill to reframe his thinking...

... I'm an athlete.  I fuel my body with sufficient good food and lift weights, to be hella strong!

Which is why you're reading this...

... your daily dose of reframing.

---

162.7
8.5 hrs
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

IT'S NOT EVERYDAY I get an insane compliment like this.  We'd just finished the weekly showdown.  It was a rough one, and I finished 3rd.  Rare for me...

... and here came the insanity.

Dude rides up to me and pinches my skin,
just above my bent knee,
legs loaded with blood.

Your skin is tight.

Yeah...

You're on testosterone.

Really?

Oh, for sure.

Your background in software sales has come up with this analysis?

Funny.

Well, do explain.

That's the sign, tight skin.

Really, you actually believe that?

Yep.

Ok, let's take a test and find out.  I'll pay you $1000 if you're right and you pay me $1000 if you're wrong.

Uh....

End of conversation.

How insane is that experience/compliment?
Who does that????

I'm riding fast,
eating a ton of protein,
adding collagen to my diet,
and lifting weights almost daily...

... so good they think I'm doping.

LOL

I wish he would have taken me up on the bet, 
I could use some Christmas money.

Side Note:  A dear friend got into body building late in life and slid down the doctor enhanced slope...  

... He died two years ago from breast cancer.

... stay away from that $#!7!

Bonus Side Note:  I'm open book, if want to know exactly what I'm doing and ask me anything, click here: 

https://pedalindustries.com/pages/30-day-rip-on-raceday-transformation

Double Bonus: Yes, that is my "tight" skin up there, 8 hours after the most awesome compliment ever... click that link if you want to be so good they call you fake. 

https://pedalindustries.com/pages/30-day-rip-on-raceday-transformation

---

163
7ish hrs
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
20 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

ON SATURDAY, 10.14, WE ARE RIDING THE SURF N SUMMIT.  It's not too late for you to join us.  In redoing the routes, I noticed some really good news...

... it's less than 100 miles.

I mean anybody can do that, right?

Just eat enough.

Well....

50% of it is off-road,
some it single track.

And... 

There is some climbing,
4600' on the first 38 miles,
and a mere 9000', after that.

Don't forget...

It's gonna be hottish,
in the 80s,
no shade.

Bottom line is, we've attempted this twice and been foiled each time due to insane weather.

How have I prepared?

Lots of Zone 2 miles.

What will I eat?

Honey Stinger Waffles and Costco Crepes.

What will I drink?

Carborocket 'till I run out, then Gatorade.

Any other nutrition?

I love Salt Tabs.
Whatever I can score at a minimart.

Gear?

Lights for the 530am start, hopefully not needed for the finish.
Bug netting for my helmet.
KOM jacket.

Who's going?

The few, the brave, the nutty.

Who's finishing?

All of us...

... it's only 98 miles.

Wanna go? Click Here.

---

164
8ish hrs
1 RaceDay Ready Circuit
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

WE HAVE THE ANSWER for rapid improvement.  It's guaranteed to work.  We can show you exactly what to do, but there's a hitch...

... we can't do it for you.

All you have to do is take 2 elements,
add them together,
and get results.

First, FAITH.

Have faith that your plan will work,
and that you can accomplish your dream.

Second, LOVE.

Do it,
because you love it.

Improve it,
because you love it.

Share it with others,
because you love seeing them enjoy it.

Act In Faith,
Do With Love.

Want to...

Set a PR?
Win a race?
Improve your fitness?
Fix things up on the home front?

Act In Faith,
Do With Love.

... make it a great week.

---

163
8ish hrs
No strength work today
10 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

I'M STILL THIRSTY.  80 miles and 6000+ feet of climbing will do that, especially with the Wahoo-exaggerated 111* max temp.  We could have turned around early...

... before climbing 2000' up Blackstar.

Not our style.

We wanted to hit the gravel climb on gravel bikes and see what kind of times we could show vs our MTB times.

Before I get to that,
I think I've cracked the code to gravel's popularity.

At least part of it.

On this ride were a bunch of my friends.
Road friends who know each other,
mixing with MTB friends...

... and all of us making new friends.

Where roadies would rarely ride dirt
and MTBrs rarely get on the  road...

... gravel is a convergent.

A place to learn new skills,
and more importantly,
make new friends.

So, how'd that big climb go?

I PR'd all the steep stuff, and would have easily PR'd the entire climb if we weren't taking it so easy the first 2 miles.

Was it just the bike?

Youtellme.

We'd already ridden 2 hours when we got to the climb, not at a blistering pace just a good endurance clip.

I'd been up it before on a gravel bike, but under different conditions and with a little different set up.

I can't say enough about the 45s with 30ish pounds of pressure. 
They are just really fast, and shock absorbing.

But, my training is also a lot different.

The last 18 months I've really committed to Zone 2 almost all the time, with some explosive group riding twice a week.

Lots and lots of endurance miles.

Plus, all the leg workouts I do, almost daily, for strength.
I don't care about muscle size...

... strength, wirydude strength, comes from near daily resistance training.

Not blowing the legs out twice a week in the weight room, which is so typical and traditional for body builders and "lets get strong this offseason" bike racers.

Bro, Why don't you want to be strong year round?

Right?!

Check it out, I'm updating my 10-Week Challenge for 2024, and creating...

... The 30-Day Rip On RaceDay Transformational Sprint.

https://pedalindustries.com/pages/30-day-rip-on-raceday-transformation

---

163.6
7ish hrs
Pull Ups, Push Ups and Squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

SO MUCH DATA, so many screens.  We think it's not a big deal, because they have crept into our lives, like ivy growing up a wall, then covering the house...

... until we can't imagine a screenfree life.

Or, imagine at all.

That is one of the reasons I sometimes race with my computer in my jersey pocket...

... so I can visualize all the options as the race unfolds.

There is another time,
perhaps more important.

When I have a problem I want to solve,
need an answer from on high.

Then, I roll out with no agenda...

... slow and unhurried.

I find dirt delivers more consistently,
a quite slice of nature,
accessed by few.

No screen.
No music or
distractions.

Me.
Nature.
The possibility of lightening.

Lightening of burdens.
Ideas born in a flash of magic.

But, yeah, that computer is still in my pocket...

... because if it ain't on Starva it didn't happen. 

LET'S BE HONEST, we're the only ones who might possibly aspire to the starving waif look of a Euro pro.  Not our friends, neighbors or lovers.  Because most of those cats...

... look like they'd snap in two with a little nudge.

Not strong.
Not resilient.

Here's the thing.

We really can change the way we look and feel in just a few minutes a day.

I timed it during a break, 
and the answer is yes.

In a mere 3 minutes, I did 1 set of

• Pull Ups
• Push Ups
• Squats

The Core 3, which I easily do
without sweating,
at home.

Details.

• The first round is always palms out pull ups until I start to lose my form.
• 3 times as many push ups as pull ups, hands about mtb handle bar width.
• Bulgarian split squats are my current favorite, enough weight to max out at 5-6 reps.

That's it.

Trust me, 
takes no time...

... is a raceday game changer.

I LOVE RIDING MY GRAVEL BIKE.  Everywhere.  Over everything.  As far as I'm concerned, a course with some pavement and a healthy dose of gravel, doubletrack and singletrack...

... show's who is the best rider.

Ya gotta surf the group like a bee,
and glide the dirt and rocks like a butterfly.

If you're a roadie, you have a pretty good idea of how to surf the group.  

Going from wheel to wheel putting out the least amount of energy possible and always being in a good position is a musthave skill to successfully race on the road.

If you're not a roadie, and you're planning to gravel race, find a group to start training with.  You don't need a road bike, your gravel bike is close enough in speed...

... and will make you even more proficient at surfing the group.

If you're a competent mountain biker, you know how to glide over rocks...

... especially those who started off on a hardtail.

If you're not a dirt ninja, go find some dirt.  The gnarly the better.  If you don't have your gravel bike yet, your road bike is surprisingly competent in dirt and can do way more than you think is possible.

It'll be fine.

There is one place where both the roadies and the mtbrs are going to need to up their skills.

Cornering.
At speed.

On gravel, it is very common to have your tires drifting in turns.  Roadies never do this on purpose, and mtbrs will find it a new game on the skinnier tires.

Which brings up tires and tire pressure.

Personally, I prefer to find a tire I like in nearly all conditions and just ride it all the time.  There is so much speed to be gained in knowing what your tires can do.

For example, a couple of seasons ago my friend Eric put on a race at a gocart track and had us go off into the dirt for a short section. 

It was a lot of fun.

Tight, banked turns,
Smoothsmooth tarmac.

Most everybody opted for a road bike since 80% of the time we were on pavement.

I chose my gravel bike.

Here's what I learned.

1. I could cruise and relax on the dirt.
2. If I stayed in the draft I was just fine in the group.
3. I could take the corners muchmuch faster with my fatter, lower pressure tires.

How did it go down?

Once I figured this out, I would let a gap open between me and the rider ahead into all the tight turns...

... then go much faster due to superior grip.

I'd latch on again,
and draft.

Riders behind me had to work really hard to get back on.

It was a war of attrition.

On the last lap we were down to 3 racers.

I came in third.

Way better than I'd have guessed at the start of the race.

Lesson:

Master your tires, and tire pressure.

Which bring me back to the title...

... the best news in gravel, for me, is the BWR Triple Crown next year.

Can't wait to test my skills and bike set up across three very unique courses.

https://www.belgianwaffleride.bike

WHEN A PROBLEM COMES ALONG, you must whip it.  And, boy do we have a problem on our local group ride.  Today was hard, blowing all kinds of riders off the back...

... and not that fast.

Nowhere near what we were doing 5 years ago.

I detect a problem,
and we need to whip it good.

This ride used to be the bar by which all rides were measured...

... and sadly, still is.

What happened?
We got soft.
Friendly.
Social.

Now, I'm all for being friendly and social...

... I'm also for holding the bar high.

For me,
and, my friends.

Those are the friendships I cherish.

Who the heck really wants a friend that will let us slide,
let our standards drop, or even worse,
lead us away from our greatness?

Not me.

Lead me,
guide me,
ride beside me...

... teach me all I must do,
to rip on raceday!

That is what we are all about.

Not to win "the" race,
to win "our" race and
maximize our potential.

As the great Devo sang,

Now whip it into shape
Shape it up, get straight
Go forward, move ahead
Try to detect it, it's not too late
To whip it, into shape...

... to whip it, well, whip it good!

For you locals...

... get your buns out to TheTMWC.com for our unOFFICIAL World Championships on 11.7.23

The new jersey is an homage to Cafe de Columbia... since there isn't more than about 100' of pancake flat on this ride.

FROM THE ANALS OF HEART MEDICINE, I bring you a serious issue.  I've seen this in more than a few racers...

... myself included.

It's kinda scary,
and I don't like the feeling.

Maybe you've experienced it.

Last week, it really flared up...

... at first, the amount of hate mail was amusing.

From long, long, long unpuncuated and emotion laden communiques to my favorite from Joe, short and concise...

... You're an idiot!

I responded to everyone and shared several key points which had been overlooked.  Most of us had a good laugh and got on with the day.

Why did this happen at all?

They were triggered.
By the post title.

Why does this matter?

Because being unable to control our emotions is the fastest way to lose a race...

• a winner would laugh it off and get the gold
• a loser gets offended and blows it

For example, I was told in no uncertain terms all the products some had purchased and enjoyed were going in the trash.

Now, imagine you had a major heart problem.  You are of a certain political persuasion, the specialist who is uniquely qualified to save your life belongs to the opposite party...

... so you refuse the help you need.

You die,
over a difference of opinion.

Sad.

But, what if we are all dying of heart disease?

My favorite song in the wholewideworld was written by Longfellow, during the Civil War when his son was killed.

These chilling lyrics are still so true...

For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on Earth, good will to men

... fortunately, those lines are at the beginning not the end.

A few verses later, is hope...

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on Earth, good will to men

I DIDN'T HAVE A POWER METER FOR A LONG TIME. Then, I had one on my MTB for about 18 months. Followed by 3 years without, until this summer...

... now I have 3 giving me all kinds of intel.

But, do we need one?

No.

Long answer,
maybe.

Reasons not to use a power meter:

• Cost
• Focus on wrong data
• Potentially useless training

Reasons to use a power meter:

• Training alone
• Immediate feedback vs the lag of a HR monitor
• Ability to know if we are actually improving our output.

Endurance racing situations where a power meter would be almost pointless?

Cross Country MTB, Cyclocross, Crit racing.  These races almost always have such rapid changes of pace as to make the power meter useless.  

• There is little to no time to be looking at the data screen.
• The efforts are often so violent that setting a power ceiling would be counter productive.

Endurance racing situations where a power meter could be gold?

• Time trialing 
• Solo or small group break away...

... ideally, over very steady terrain.

Is a HR monitor helpful at all in racing?

Yes.

During the races with rapid changes in power needed, a HR monitor is great to give overall feedback on the amount of work being done by our bodies.

Do we really need the devices at all?

For training alone, I think they can be quite helpful for analyzing our efforts in terms of power and stress on the body.  

• Low power, high HR could indicate illness or overall fatigue.  
• High power, low HR could indicate superior fitness.

For racing, they are most useful for

• In race feedback
• Post race analysis
• Typically highest numbers are recorded and used for future training markers.

Are they absolutely necessary?

No.

Often, during the really intense XC and crit races, I'll put my computer in my back pocket to give 100% focus on the race dynamics.  This requires racing on feel, a skill honed over time...

... which means a lot of our training must be race simulation.

It's not all about how our bodies feel.

But, the feel of the race.  

• The energy of the mass of competitors
• Who the players are that day
• Which moves will work
• Who will get dropped
• Poor bike handlers
• Under fuelers

If we miss the key move, or get taken out...

... what point is of all that data?

---

Or, as the great Jim Morrison (kinda) sang Roadhouse Blues...

... Keep your hands on the bars and your eyes upon the race!

---

162.3
6.5 hrs
No Weights today
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

I CONNECTED WITH A LOT OF MY HEROES TODAY.  All of them much braver than your average racer, scratch that...

... braver than 99% of riders.

Some blaze the trails with astonishing feats,
others give until there's no more to give.

Who are they, and what do they all have in common?

A few shoutouts from today...

• OG Doug Grant for founding the Good Dirt ride, a fantastic 50 mile XC untimed ride through our local trails that has raised 100s of 1000s of dollars for transportation starved Africans.
• The incredible Kurt Weimann who has masterfully taken over the reigns of said fundraising adventure.
• The Girlz Gone Riding group which consistently recruits, trains, assists, teaches, encourages, friendships girls who want to get into bike riding.
• Sir David Browning's efforts to coalesce all the local trail advocacy and maintenance groups via OCMTBA have been transformational in our county.
• Ross Bennet heads up what I believe is by far the largest high school mtb team in the county, and has done so for at least 10 years.  Long after his kids graduated.

... and this knucklehead, who I love...

... the great Andrew Kemp, who introduced me to the insanity of Leadville 25 years ago, and had this to say about my stupidlight XC MTB race bike...

That's for exercise, this is for the party...

... pointing to his spiffy e-bike.

Every single one of these boys and girls loves to ride, and more importantly...

... will do whatever it takes to make sure you have fun on two wheels.

We all feel that way,
these cats just do it at a super high level...

... give way, way, way more than they take.

---

163.1
6.5 hrs
No Weights today
0 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

I'VE READ WALDEN POND numerous times.  More than any quote, I remember the raw feeling of wanting to be alone with nature, and few visitors. It didn't inspire me, as much as...

... tug at my core.

Thoreau's observed horror of living like the masses...

... a quiet life of desperation...

terrified me.

I would venture on my own.
Against the grain,
my path.

Work.
Nature.
Solitude.

It is easy to see the allure of a long bike ride, with a few core friends...

... and the call of a solo ascent up a long, desolate single track.

To summit,
with the sun as companion.

We are the few...

... living a life of silent perspiration.

I was thinking about that today as I quickly staged and shot numerous photos for our website.

All the time and thought that went into the first products...

... and the beauty and craftsmanship we produce right here in the USA.

That's also my kind of perspiration.

For example, these special bags for Triathletes to set up at each transition area.  My dear friend Will Howard was an exceptional Ironman competitor and helped me with these bags and the labeling.  Then Noel and I worked on beautiful color options... this is Brick.

Before you skip away, you should know something...

... I'm also sweating something else.

For this first time in 5 years, our costs have risen to the point where we are going to have some price adjustments starting 10/9...

... so, you're thinking about getting something for someone awesome for the holidays, now's a great time.

---

162.3
7 hrs
No Weights today
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

LET'S BE HONEST, blubber season is fast approaching.  It kicks off with Halloween, builds up steam with Thanksgiving, and the Holiday Season...

... just steamrolls most of us.

And, why not?

• The sugar addiction is reignited, rendering us powerless
• The food is so deliciously comfy
• Jan 1 we'll be good again

I'll tell you why not...

... Because it's a bunch of bs we don't need!

Look, my fine lycracovered athlete, I don't really hate the holidays...

... I hate how it ruins so many of my friends and family.

What are we gonna do about it?

• Cut out all sugar now, crush that wicked addiction
• Dress warm so your body doesn't need blubber
• Ingrain the twoaday workout
• Eat more protein

But, I can't live without sugar?

Suck it up and give it up, for good!

Does dressing warm really help?

Yes.  On the bike, should be easy.  Off the bike, is where it's easy to underdress. Don't worry, all your fans will still know your athletic freak you are without seeing your shinyshaven legs.

Twoaday workouts?

Yes, definitely.  And, easy to do.  Take 15-20 minutes, the time you spend on the toilet play games (I like chess.com), and do your pull ups, push ups, squats etc.  

More protein?

Probably, a lot more than you think.  Shoot for 1 gram for every pound you weigh.

Do you promise it will work?

Heck yes!

Here's why.

1. You are going to enter the blubber season a lean, mean fatburning machine.
2. You will get your protein knocked out by dinner time.
3. Enjoy a few "guilty" calories without blubbering up.

Andddddddddd... drumroll please.....

... you'll enter Jan 1 at or close to your race weight.

Want a little extra motivation?

Start planning 2024 like a pro, now.

---

164
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

ON THE LONG LIST OF THINGS that will not make you faster is one of my favorites.  I'm such a sucker for marketing that I fall for these things...

... all the time.

Here's the thing...

... they also might make you faster.

Looking back, I can only laugh at the silliness.

Bro, you really need a ti bolt kit.

Really?

Oh yeah, so much lighter.

The idea that something that saves about as much weight as...

... a well baked booger.

Is.

Ludicrous.

You'd never fall for that, right?

But, I do.

Here's why?

1. If it makes me feel faster, I'm probably gonna ride faster.
2. Marginal gains, is actually a thing.
3. See #1.

I could have just said, The placebo effect.

However, it's the compounding of the effect in tandem with marginal gains...

... where things can multiply.

If I believe the...

• bolt kit
• toe straps
• sock height

... and all the other incremental nonsense.

It's gonna work.

My potential hasn't really changed but my belief...

... will have me accessing every milligram of what I've got.

---

164
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

E-BIKES.  What are they good for?  Nothing.  Absolutely, nothing.  Really?  I'm really gonna go there?

Oh, yes!

As if we aren't already slothful enough...

... as a people, we outsource everything.

Even our workouts.

Why pedal when you can have a motor do it for you?
Why create when AI can do it for you?
Why do anything for that matter?

But, it's not the bikes' fault.

Like annoying dogs...

... the owners are to blame.

E-bikes could be great tools for transportation,
and a lot of fun.

But, like the clueless dog owners, e-bike riders...

• destroy the local dirt trails
• obliterate the normal pace of a paved trail
• are ridden no-hands, while owner stares at phone
• have a huge chunk of huge people out thinking they are exercising

... if that bothers you,
if you're mad about this...

... you just might be an overdressed,
underexercized, 
e-biker.

(Unless your body is somehow broken.)

---

162.3
7 hrs
Push Ups and Pull Ups
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

IT'S NOT A MYSTERY.  In fact, it is so painfully obvious that sometimes I wonder why any of it is surprising at all...

... the results are just math.

The formula is simple.

Time X Effort = Results

No secret there.

What is secret,
is our dedication...

... how much time and how strong of an effort we are willing to put in.

The answer shows up on raceday,
at the big group ride,
or a stab at a PR. 

Where most people get it completely wrong is by...

... wildly underestimating what it takes to be great.

=== 

Can you believe I've spent over 200 hours on this already?

---

163.4 (I seem to have plateaued)
7 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

BATTLING THROUGH ANY RACECOURSE, there are seemingly endless barriers.  It all starts when the gun goes off and our meticulous plans are...

... almost immediately trashed.

The stinking voters!

Who?

The...

• weather
• competitors
• terrain
• equipment
• our bodies
• our minds

... and more, all get a vote in how it's going to go down.

As any leader can attest,
it's hard to keep the voters in line...

... which is what makes it so rewarding,
when things go as we'd hoped.

I heard a great observation today...

Our losses don't define us,
they refine us.

...

By the way, one of the reasons I love stage races is there are more opportunities...

... with each stage generally favoring a slightly different type of racer.

My friends at The Cactus Cup, a 3-day mountain bike stage race, which is one of my all time favorites, extended us all a promo code to save 10%.

The code is pedalposse10.

I hope to see ya out there.

---

163.4
7 hrs
Push Ups and Pull Ups
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

AS WE GLIDE INTO FALL, things are winding down around here. There are still races.  More often they turn into get togethers and parties...

... like today.

We can be a little nuts around here during the season.

My pals all work bigboy careers, raise families...

... and train alone most days.

Time is short,
precious.

So, when we all meet up,
on the the weekends,
things heat up fast.

Not today.

Well, mostly not today.

We gathered,
we rode fairly easy and talked,
then let it all hang out on the downhills.

Which means we had a lot of fun,
and all smashed a ton of PRs,
ripping the descents.

You can take the race
out of the ride...

... but, it's hard to avoid the joy
of snagging PRs.

PRs > KOMs

If you get that...

... and wanna help us share the message...

... use this promo code: LOVE2RACE,
and save 20%.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/among-the-wolves-collection

Code expires in 5 days.

---

162.4
7 hrs
No weights today
10 minutes recovery
15 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

ON A PLEASANT SATURDAY MORNING, a week ago, I was enjoying an easy ride with Surfergirl.  Matching her pace up a rather challenging climb...

... minding my own business.

We passed a dude...

... Racing is for losers!

Is he joking?
A friend?

Or...

... was it the very sexy Among The Wolves kit, which is smattered with a few of our favorite phrases.

Should I engage?

Yes, it sure is.

No really, racing is totally for losers.  Everybody loses, except one person.

Okay...

Nope, not joking.
Just hating.

We rode on.

But, it bugged me a bit.

Is racing for losers?

Yes, 
for sure.
If you're there solely to win,
if you just gotta have that golden trinket.

However, if you are there to be pushed,
be inspired by other great athletes,
see how deep you can dig,
you're a winner.

Every time.

And...

... if you dig this kit, 
and wanna help me share that message...

... use this promo code: LOVE2RACE,
and save 20%.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/among-the-wolves-collection

Code expires in 5 days.

---

161.8
8 hrs
Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra stuff
20 minutes recovery
45 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

I ONLY HAVE ONE QUESTION REGARDING GRAVEL RACING.  It's not where does it go from here, it's just gonna keep getting more and more pro.  Which is fine, I'm actually excited...

... because it's real racing now.

But, that's not how we got here.

And, not how we got MTB racing going.

Or, BMX for that matter.

MTB racing exploded because it was fun, 
and different,
and new.

Then, it got kinda organized and whole ton of money poured in.  When that happened...

... USAC scooped it up.

NORBA, the golden goose, was killed.

Today, MTB racing is a shell of what it was.  It's still super fun.  Still requires superior fitness, and insane bike handling skills...

... but, it ain't NORBA.

So, Gravel... what's it gonna be?

• Standardization
• Championships
• Medals
• Rules

Can we have that, and still keep it fun and fresh and...

... most importantly,
inviting and socially vibrant?

I don't know.

When the real racers show up,
breathing fire,
elbows out...

... I just don't know.

My question isn't where is gravel going, but...

... are we at the high water mark for participation?

Will the racers
push the riders and enthusiasts
onto the next, new, greatest thing ever?

Probably if...

• It stays mass start
• Racers staged by ability
• Everybody rides the same route

... the after party rocks.

Besides, gravel bikes are just a lot more fun to ride than road bikes.

---

163.4
7 hrs
Pull Ups, Push Ups, Split Squats, Nordics
20 minutes recovery
45 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

IT'S HARD NOT TO BE A MINIMALIST.  Minimalism is everywhere.  It's popular, trending, and threatening to take over its opposite.  The scream for the least...

... is a siren song.

Heck, I hired a coach once because I wanted to train less.

Loser
thinking.

Like cramming for a test,
and learning nothing.

Speeding,
the least amount of law breaking to not get caught.

Minimum wage thinking,
do the least amount of work and not get fired.

The opposite is Essentialism,
giving and doing everything for what is important.

There is the gold,
the podium,
PRs.

Funnily enough,
my coach is constantly throttling me back...

... asking me to do less.

We aren't minimalists,
we are essentialists.

Hanging out with our kind...

• Eating
• Training
• Sleeping
• Studying
• Meditating

... like champions.

All in,
on all that matters...

... asking, What is the most I can do?

---

163.6
8 hrs
Full Rip On RaceDay Circuit + Extra Pull Ups and Push UPs
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

AT 8:00PM, I started getting the gear together the 5:35 roll out.  Going over the bike, I noticed the rear tire tread was shot.  Time to replace it.  Off with the old, on with the new...

... bike is ready.

Right?

I mean, if a new tire is on...

... everything else must be good.

Just as we're showing up to meet the group for our weekly social ride my shifting is weird.

Unresponsive.
Then, responsive.

Hmmmmmm

Mind you, I always check all of my batteries the night before each ride. 

• Computer
• Shifters
• Derailleurs

Always.

It's so easy.

Tap 'em,
they light up.

Green for go.
Red for replace.

Except this time,
when I was rushing to swap the tire.

You'll never need to know this, because you are smarter than me, but if you are ever on a ride and your SRAM shifting starts misbehaving it is probably because your shifter or derailleur batteries are dying...

1. Tap the shifters, check the lights.
2. If red, acknowledge the issue on your computer - my Wahoo asked me to confirm I knew they were low.
3. You have a lot of shifts left.

... that was all new to me.

At first, I panicked a bit and just tried to shift a lot less so I could finish the ride.  This left me grinding and spinning a lot.

However, once I confirmed, the shifting returned to normal and I rode hard for 2 more hours.

No prob.

BONUS -> P = F x V

Reader, and smart dude, John Jonas, had a comment on my post regarding cadence.

It's simple physics dude.

How so?

Power is a function of Force multiplied by Velocity.  If you spin faster (Velocity) with the same pedal Force you generate more Power.

Ahhhhh

So, it's not just my Broscience intuition...

... it's actually science.

In fact, today, once I got the battery/shifting sorted out I noticed on the hardest parts of the ride...

... my sweetspot RPMs were closer to 110.

John also confirms this.

Most people can't produce power because they don't have a smooth pedal stroke.  They aren't applying force all the way around.  You probably do that becuase of so many years of riding.

If at any point you feel like your'e pushing on the pedals, you're doing it wrong... pushing against the crank vs with the complete pedal stroke.

I use to push harder when I wanted to go faster.  Now I often think...

... efficient, efficient, efficient.

To which I'll add...

... The updated Rip On RaceDay Challenge dramatically improves pedal stroke.

Key exercises:

• The sled
• Nordics
• Heel raise
• Toe raise

---

164
8.25 hrs
Full Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

SEPTEMBER IS MY SLOWEST MONTH.  And this one is a doozie.  From bailing on my own A race plans, to slogging through setting up the 4th quarter promotional calendar...

... this has been such a battle.

Then, today I remembered the cure.

Measure backwards,
as outlined in 10x is Easier Than 2x.

Rather than focus on the predictable sales drop,
the missed A race opportunity...

... and the accompanying Chicken Little blues,
I scanned the year to date.

• YTD Sales up 7%
• My work team, insanely better
• Our apparel offering, about to launch beautiful updates
• Our children all moved back to within a 35 minute drive
• The racing results have been outstanding, best year ever

Am I bugged...

we haven't 10x'd the biz?
gone to the last A race of my season?
navigating the cash crunch of the sales cycle, again?

... yes, 100%.

Glass halfempty is my kryptonite.

But,
measuring backwards,
seeing how much has been accomplished,
is an amazing way to kick myself in the lycra.

---

164
8.25 hrs
Full Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pushups and pullups
20 minutes recovery
600 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

AS I DIVE DEEPER into power meter training I'm noticing a piece of data I haven't paid attention to for years.  I figured my cadence is about 85-90...

... and didn't care much about it.

All that has changed.

Because now I have a data point,
and the accompanying insight.

The higher my cadence, the better my power.

It makes sense, 
and I'll prove my case in a moment.

First, here's my discovery.

When putting out a certain amount of power, say 250 watts.  It is much easier around 98-104 RPMs.  My heart rate is lower, too.

I never would have figured this out with out watching my power and my rpms.

Is this true for everybody?
I don't know, but consider this...

... how much faster can you sprint when your cadence is high vs low?

Is that proof?
I think it is.

Here's a thing that bugs me...

... Greg LeMond poopooing the modern generation's high cadence riding.

We never rode like that, they must be on something.

Yeah Greg, they have learned way more about their bodies because they have massive amounts of data unavailable 40+ years ago.

Which brings up the Todcast I did with Tom Danielson.

Tom, I'm guessing you learn all kinds of cutting-edge training when you join a big pro team.

Not really, the teams don't really offer all that much in terms of training.  Each racer has to have their own coach and program.

What does that mean for us enthusiasts?

Same thing as always...

... if it's to be, it's up to me...

... to figure it out.

Read the books,
watch the videos,
hire the top coaches,
join the groups and forums.

The next step in this RPM breakthrough is setting up the perfect gearing so I can be in my sweetspot all the time.

Stay tuned, 
I definitely have something I'm going to be working on.

---

163.4
8ish hrs
Push Ups and Pull Ups
20 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

THE BIGGEST WEAKNESS REMCO HAS is that it has all come so fast, and so easy.   He goes from teenage soccer phenom, to pro cyclist in a season...

... and punking the best in the world in short order.

But, he missed something grand today even though he unwittingly set it up perfectly a few days prior.

He should have won another stage win,
after another day dragging a bunch of riders around the course.

He's won twice at this year's Vuelta doing just that,
dropping everybody and soloing in.

He also lost twice,
pulling too much and paying for it.

So, everybody knows he's a beast,
they also know he can over do it and be beaten.

Which brings up the acting,
something he's never had to do because he's so darn good.

IMHO, today was a day to bring out the acting skills.

For mortals and pros,
acting is just another skill in our quiver.

Think of the great Mohammed Ali's 
rope-a-dop.

Our version...

I'd pull if I could...
Oh, I'm cramping...
Sorry guys, I'm gassed...

All of that can be communicated...

verbally
facial expressions
and the all power body language

... it's easy,
should be practiced
and used judiciously.

Unfortunately, Remco is probably still too proud,
overconfident.

I can't blame him.

But, that's what I woulda done.

---

162.8
8.2 hrs
Push Ups and Pull Ups
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Todcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

I LIKE THE IDEA OF SECRET TRAINING.  A lot.  Like Rocky pounding sides of beef in a giant meat freezer, doing the training solo...

... the weird stuff few are willing to do.

If you have 3 things...

... It's romantic,
and can lead to massive performance gains.

First.

A chip on your shoulder,
considered a chump,
not a champ.

Second.

A shot at the title,
at setting things right,
knocking out the feared competitor.

Third.

Hope.

That's the magic formula:

• A chip on the shoulder
• A shot at the title
• And, hope.

 But, who has that?

Sure, maybe a wish to wreak revenge on some rando racer can be conjured up.  Given enough time, we can all gain some hope...

... but a title?

So, how do we do it?
How do we tap into that 3-step formula to being insanely ready to Rip On RaceDay?

Here's my plan.

I'm going to shoot for PRing a local climb.  It's a big one, and takes me just over an hour...

... can I crack an hour?

Most of the fast guys around here can go, or have gone, sub-60 minutes...

... that's the chip on my shoulder.

Setting the PR would be beyond epic...

... that's the title I want.

Knowing I'm about to start doing the weird stuff, like actually using a power meter in my training...

... that's the hope.

Oh, there's one more thing...

... a date.

I'm shooting for late February, right before my A races.

This Week's Featured Product

$12 for 2 bottles, 
free shipping,
click here.

---

162.2
8.2 hrs
Pull Ups Push Ups Squats Nordics
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

IF WE HADN'T ALREADY FAILED TWICE LAST YEAR, I wouldn't be nearly as fired up as I am about next month's adventure.  Will we fail again...

... is it just an impossible ride?

Should you do it?

No.  
It's way too hard, way too long.  

You probably wouldn't make it.

You think you can ride 130 miles in a day...

... over mixed surfaces?

15000+ feet of climbing should shock you into reality...

... the final 2000' up a steep and sandy jeep trail.

Seems doable still?

What about a narrow ribbon of single track cut into the side of a cliff?

Leaving in the dark is easy,
does finishing after dark freak you out?

How will you carry all the food and water needed between only 2 stops?

Where are you going to find someone crazy enough to do it with you?  

You'll definitely want, and probably need a buddy.  We leave on time, and we don't wait.

Are you good at navigating unknown territory?

Can you fix a likely broken bike?

Still in?

Well, don't say I didn't warn you! 

We are a month out.

October 14, 2023

Starting at the shoreline of Dana Point... 

... riding on paved roads, gravel roads, degraded and abandoned roads, miles and miles of paved bike trail, a good chunk of single track...

... finishing in the mountains at Big Bear.

Check it out: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/surf-n-summit

---

162.8
8 hrs
Pull Ups Push Ups Squats Nordics
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

IT'S AN UPHILL BATTLE.  Somewhere up ahead is the finish line, in the mist and the clouds.  I'm so close to smashing my PR...

... the legs and lungs are burrrrrrrning!

I've done this climb many times.

9 miles up.
3300' of elevation gain

There is only one choice to make...

• drop anchor, and quit trying
• drop ballast, and get better

... and it's not an easy decision to make.

Because, the goal has haunted me for years.

To break 1 hour,
up.

To break 1.5 hours,
up and down.

Which begs the questions...

• What is holding me back?
• What can I eliminate?

... there is always something we can ditch to go further, 
faster.

---

162.8
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + Push Ups Pull Ups and Squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

I HAD AN EXCITING CALL TODAY.  A first-timer, who had just completed his longest ride ever, The MS Ride.  He'd done 30 miles...

... and was already looking forward to next year.

What could I tell this oakley-eyed young buck?

I could quote a wise man who spoke the truth about how to be a successful rider and racer.

So I will.

But, before I share the quote let's give it some context because this enlightened being first laid out all the do's and don'ts for his followers on a mountain top...

... commandments, if you will.

Thou shalt:

• Ride hard twice a week, easy the rest of days
• Eat whole foods
• Lift heavy weights daily
• Get plenty of sleep
• Do 1-legged drills
• Weigh in every morning
• Read wisdom daily
• Journal daily
• Drink enough

Thou shalt avoid:

• Bonking
• Alcohol
• Bread
• Soda
• Sugar

What the teacher was laying out for the wouldbe racers was how to build a strong foundation, on rock vs sand.

He summed it all up with this...

Wide is the road which leads to destruction and narrow is the way which leads to PRs and Podiums.

Few understood the advice, or heeded the commandments.

Instead, they did their own thing.

• Trained as hard as they wanted, whenever they wanted
• Ate good some days, cheated the diet like mad other days
• Had good lungs, but zero strength and weak bones
• Lived in a sleep-deprived fog and poor recovery haze
• Pedaled in squares
• Continually expanded their spandex
• Atrophied their brains and spirits with social media
• Failed to explore their inner genius
• Were constantly dehydrated 

We can wander the broad roads...

... or we can take the sage advice of the narrow path...

... they take the same amount of time
and render dramatically different results.

---

162.8
6.5 (back to morning rides, gonna be painful transistion)
Push Ups Pull Ups and Squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

IT WAS AN 'A' RACE.  I'd planned it for months, years actually.  Racing Marathon Nats was, and still is, something I've always wanted to do...

... then why was I depressed?

From the moment I paid for the AirBNB and race registration, a dark cloud blocked my normally sunny disposition.

Something wasn't right,
and I knew it.

Once I made the decision to cancel,
the cloud lifted.

Why?
Because I was forcing it. (see below)

Truth be told,
the timing was not good,
the travel and time away daunting.

On top of that, there are other pressing issues that are significantly more important in my personal life that I want to care for.

Was I afraid to race Tinker Juarez and the rest of the ageless studs who line up?
Were the challenges of racing over roots and ruts vs rocks and dust too much?
Did the prospect of not overcoming a cold in time concern me?

Heck no!
I love that stuff.
Give me the best, most difficult...

... so I can be schooled!

So, what now?

It's early September,
a third of the year is left to play...

... and I'm in great shape.

Nothing is next.

The whole point of racing is...

... being in great shape, for life.

---

A note about Forcing It.  One of my many grandfathers (bonus of divorced parents) taught me something.  He was a gentle and kind human, who was also a lion in business.

The crescent wrench I was cranking on had slipped and started to strip a bolt.

Todd, don't force it.

But, I want it off (my bike wheel).

Well, step back.  Get the right tool.  Be smooth and gradual with your effort, and the bolt should loosen right up... might need a little WD-40.

---

163
7.5
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more pull ups and push ups
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

THERE IS A BATTLE GOING ON INSIDE OF ME.  A terrible fight between two racers.  One is evil and weak and lazy, one is good and strong and determined.  My grandson asked me who will win...

... The one I feed.

Is this true...?

The battle, yes.
The convo, not yet.

On the surface, I could tell you how this weekend I skipped the cookies, muffins, ice cream, and most of the chips.  That's easy, because...

... I don't crave that junk any more.

I wasn't surprised to jump on the scale tonight and see things are where they should be, even after a funfilled 3 days with the whole family.

Which isn't really the point of my ripped off version of the Cherokee legend, about feeding the wolf.

The point is the racer we pay attention to will get stronger.

A long time ago,
over about a decade,
I'd packed on 30 lbs of blubber,
I was feeding an ex-racer who I hardly recognized.

When I decided it was time to course correct,
I cut out a picture of a favorite racer,
and pasted my head over his,
and taped to my mirror.

That simple act
was so powerful.

Everyday,
I'd see future me...

... and feed the good racer, accordingly.

---

164ish
7ish hrs
No strength training
20 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

TODAY'S VUELTA STAGE WAS NUTS.  Remco make the break, and then goes off the front for hours.  Hours! Before...

... crying?

Yesterday, he lost 30 minutes.
He lost his chance to be a repeat winner...

... total humiliation.

Some would have packed their bags,
come up with a faux illness.

Shift happens.
Plans go completely awry.

Remco's quote on twitter echoed my grandpappy's oft repeated advice...

... It's not the problem, it's how you handle it.

Why did he cry at the finish?

I can only guess...

• the pain of the massive effort
• the salvaging of the Vuelta by winning another stage

... but, I think it was really this.

To know, he had it in him to ride nearly solo for hours and claim 8 minutes back on the leaders, while everyone else is getting shelled out the back...

... that would truly hurt.

When tires are low,
the headwind strong,
and the plan totally fubar...

... we get up, 
put our bibs on one leg at a time,
and ride like the wind, till we are free again.

Thanks for the reminder Remco,
I needed that.

---

164ish
7ish hrs
Push Ups, Squats 
0 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

WHAT IS IT WITH RUTS?  Some say they are graves with the ends kicked out.  I'll tell ya this, when ripping some single track...

... a rut can put you on your lycra in not time.

Which brings up today's ride.

Surfergirl and I got up to Big Bear early, before the rest of the family.  

After unloading, I shot out for a structured work out...

... at least that was the plan.

But, then I found myself on Skyline a beautiful fast and flowy trail that traces the highest ridge between Big Bear and the greater LA Basin.

Not a soul out there.
Just me.

Riding where I hadn't ridden for at least 5 years...

... the whole time I'm asking myself...

... Why aren't we up here once a month in when it's warm?

Ruts,
that's why.

Here's how people try to ride out of ruts:

• Ride in the rut and hope for the best
• Trying to ride up the side and out
• Bounce out

For me, the best solution is to bounce out.  
If I want to exit on the left side of the rut, I will steer into the right side...

... to bounce off it and out the left side.

Which is what we are doing this weekend.
Bouncing out of our rut,
doing different.

---

163.9
7.5 ish hrs
Pull Ups Push UPs Squats
0 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

ARE YOU WATCHING LA VUELTA A ESPANA?  The three bicycle race around Spain has an American in the lead, and I'm think thinking...

... it's just such a shame.

Not that Sepp Kuss is leading.

That's super cool.

But, pro cycling kinda lags because there are only trade teams. 

Not teams like we have in every other sport.

Therefore, there are no mega-dynasties like the...

• Yankees
• Celtics
• Patriots

... a team to root for year after year.

Now, that would be cool.

Right now, Sepp rides for the trade team Jumbo-Visma.

A super team,
born from Rabobank.

The previous sponsor.

It would just be so much cooler if these teams had decades and decades of history.

It's way cooler for Michael Jordan to play all his years with Da' Bulls.
To build a legacy there.
The history,
legacy.

We can't change that now,
probably never.

But, we sure as heck can cheer for Sepp! 

---

163.7
7.5 ish hrs
Pull Ups Push UPs Squats
0 minutes recovery
30 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

THERE IS AN OLD JOKE, about how many Masters racers it takes to fix a flat tire.  And, no, it's not a joke about being old.  It has to do with being...

... something entirely different.

On our ride yesterday, we experienced the rare flat.  

It had been so long, we had to chip the rust off the old group protocol for when a flat happens.

• Do we stop?
• All of us?
• Do we help?
• How much?
• Do we wait?
• If so, how long?
• Can we ride super slow?

Concurrently, I was feeling quite flat yesterday...

... as well as the day before, and the day before that.

It happens.

From time to time, I get to deal with the old depression demon.  Feeling like there is no air in my life.

Which brings me back to the joke.

How many masters racers does it take to fix a flat?

One, and the rest to watch and mock and laugh.

At least that's how it feels when you're trying to be efficient and quickly change a flat and too proud to ask for help.

The thing is,
just having one friend
do something as simple as...

• hold your bike
• fish out your tube or patch
• check inside the tire for glass
• get the pump or inflator ready to air up
• take your wheel off and help put it back on

... makes all the difference in the world.

Even if you don't want the help,
want to show how proficient you are...

... It is best to receive and to give help graciously ...

... if you want to inflate things back and get going.

---

163.9
7.2ish hrs
Full RaceDay circuit + short jog
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF BOOKS I ENJOY:  business, spy fiction, and wisdom literature.  Often, I'll read two or three simultaneously.  However, one of them is more...

... applicable to racing.

For me, that's the spy novel.  

They're all pretty much the same story...

• Smart spy
• Mission prep
• Dangerous situation
• Axe to grind with the enemy(s)
• Things look really bad until the tables turn
• Throw in some sort of romance for good measure

...  and I am a sucker for a good page turner.

It's probably why I enjoy racing so much...

• Register
• Race prep
• Gun goes off
• Competitors self-identify
• Things get rowdy as miles go by
• A hill at the finish needs conquering
• Throw in some sort of podium or PR for good measure

... it's always astonishing how time is palpably different when racing.

It's all stats with Registration.

The bigger the race,
the more unsure the outcome,
the more likely to be beaten into submission,
the better the stories we can tell and the memories to last a lifetime.

Are you planning an A race for the Fall,
or already looking at next year?

---

163.5
7.5 hrs
Full RaceDay circuit + short jog
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

FROM WHAT I CAN TELL FROM THE COURSE MAP and satellite view, the upcoming A race needs some specific training.   No intervals, no huffinpuffin, no long climbs...

... something I haven't done enough of lately.

Off I went,
busting spider webs,
enjoying the sun rise across the hills.

I was in search of turns.

Lot's of 'em.

Sure, I've been riding off road a lot lately.  However, much of that has been on the gravel bike and...

... railing turns with flat bars requires a different approach.

It is so easy to lose time in twistyturny single track.

We'll be racing two 19 mile laps, with an infinite amount of turns.  Let's say there are 300 turns per lap.  If I lose a half a second per turn, that's 150 seconds...

... well over 2 minutes each lap.

That's hard to make up.

What if I gain 150 seconds/lap?

Also, hard to make up...

... but not for me.

Fortunately, there is a great playground not too far from home.

Take a look.

Here are a few of the tricks to taking the turns fast...

• lean the bike early
• get on the side lugs
• play with tire pressure
• play with suspension settings

... these little things add up.

Because I was focused on the turns and riding at a low effort endurance pace, I also focused on my pedal stroke.

For racing offroad, especially MTB racing, keep the power down throughout the pedal stroke is key to cleaning the steep, loose, and rocky sections.

The great Stephen Covey, preached sharpening the saw before starting to cut.  

For us, that means...

... sharpening the skills before starting to rip.

---

This is my favorite MTB cornering video

---

163.5
7 hrs
Quick RaceDay circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

HAVE YOU GOT A REPUTATION YET?  Have you put in enough time, spent enough cash, dedicated the energy to stand out?  Do friends and family introduce you as...

... Oh, this is the bike rider, triathlete, runner who...

... accomplished a feat they can't fathom doing, ever.

Something we think of as easy, normal and a good sign of physical health...

... not a big deal, just fun and enjoyable.

Or, maybe it's the evergreen question...

Are you still riding, running, swimming?

... you'd think they'd know by now.

But, here's the question I really have,

Is it that we are out of balance?

Because, when I look back on the last 20 years, I'm significantly more satisfied with other accomplishments...

• We've raised a family
• Become grandparents
• Started a business from scratch
• Built a following of 11,000+ readers
• Taken care of aging parents
• Devoted time teaching youth
• Served those in need
• Put on the last legit road race in the county

... yet, somehow I'm still that nut who likes to ride and race bikes.

Which is exactly how I was introduced multiple times at a get together last night...

... awkward.

---

164.5
7.75 hrs
No strength training
20 minutes recovery
180 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

A FEW IN THE ALLIANCE ARE DOING LOTOJA next weekend.  The training is done, nothing to do now but taper, recover, travel, and...

... go over the strategy.

Here's how I did it,
and what I'd do different.

At just over 200 miles,
it is the longest sanctioned USAC race in the country.

Fueling is the biggest issue.

I'd have something solid for breakfast.  Back in 2017, I started my day off with a can of sardines and half a can of black beans.  Whatever you choose, I'd get some protein and fat in, along with calories.

Because of the altitude, I would stick with a 1 bottle/hour strategy.  In that bottle, I've have 250-300 calories.  Plus, I would eat something solid for another 150 calories.  I'd stay away from gels, mainly because they don't do me right.

That's 400 calories an hour.

How to get the fuel in, and when.

You'll want a disposable feed bag with supplies to get you from stop to stop...

... toss your bottles and trash, and grab you bag without stopping (assuming you have support).

Beware.

There are multiple sections at each feed zone.  Coordinate with your team, and be vigilant of knuckleheads coming in and out.  Stupid place to crash, and it will happen...

... but not to you!

Load your bottles and pockets, toss bag responsibly.

My team met me at Montpelier, Afton and Alpine.  I took neutral support at Wilson - liquid, I had food.

Now for pacing.

Ideally, you will never touch the front of the group until the finish line.

That's the dream,
it's not gonna happen.

Here's how it will likely go down.

Everyone will be all geeked up, and roll out fairly fast.  Nobody will be feeling pain, because they are all ready and rested.  Let the bunnies do their thing, stay in the top 15 riders...

... only go to the front if you are simply rolling through.

Spend no time up there.
Bunnies, bunnies, bunnies will do the work.

The first climb around Preston, will hurt a bit...

... because bunnies still be fresh.

Hang on, without killing yourself.
You'll want to be drafting over to the start of the Strawberry climb.

It's a long climb,
not as hard as it looks on the map.

Bunnies will blow,
go your pace,
push the top.

The drop to Montpelier is fun and fast,
you won't want to be alone and you
won't want to wait for slow climbers.

At this point, you pretty much know who you'll be riding with the rest of the day...

... except for one thing.

Those who skip the early calories are gonna start to suffer.
Not you!
Right?

With luck, you'll be with a good group,
have a working pace line,
and maybe a bunny.

Let that bunny work.

Clothing.

The start can be cold. 

Tubesocks with toes cut out for your arms,
newspaper inside the jersey for chest,
are likely all you need.

Dispose of responsibly - Preston.

Make sure your team is carrying rain and cold weather gear.  
It's high altitude and things change fast,
stay warm.

The only thing I would do different,
is familiarize myself with the competitors,
and not foul up the finish like I did here: https://pedalindustries.com/blogs/feed/lotoja-mocha-choca-lata-yaya

LoToJa is truly a oneofakind experience.
Highly recommend.

If you win this year, you'll be getting one of these RaceDay wallets... with a top secret code for a special RaceDay Bag™.

• 400 calories an hour
• Stay off the front
• Know thy enemy

---

163.8
7 hrs
PushUps, PullUps, Squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured

DOES THIS HAPPEN TO YOU?  It happens to me.  A race is getting close, training volume is up, schedule is crammed, body is tired...

... and I want to pull the plug.

Happened just this week.

Here I am 3 weeks out from my  A race,
a bucket lister I've had for a longlong time,
and I'm thinking about potentially pulling the plug.

Why is that?

Better question...

... How often are we close to achieving the dream and we quit?

We're tired.
Unsure of the outcome.
Doubting we can pull it all together.

Another better question...

... When and why and how do we push forward?

Me.

I thought of you,
because I made a public declaration.

I looked at my giant calendar,
and saw the goal I'd written in red sharpie.

I palmed my custom raceday wallet,
considering all I'd put into making this happen.

I met up with the Alliance on zoom,
and the shame of even considering quitting gutted me.

If you're like me...

... I need reminders, accountability and support.

But, here's the thing. 

It's normal to want to quit, have doubts, feel overwhelmed...

... which is why most people quit before,
right before, the breakthrough.

Don't be normal.
Be true!

---

163.9
7.5 hrs
PushUps, PullUps, Squats
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

Podcast:

https://www.strava.com/athletes/10248

https://www.instagram.com/pedalindustries

https://twitter.com/pedalindustries 

https://www.youtube.com/@pedalindustries/featured