WE HAVE A HIGH SPEED TRAIL NEARBY.  It's lined with cactus, lovingly waiting to give the uncontrolled a great big bear hug.  Most escape... 

... a few get a gentle reminder.

But, it often doesn't show up for weeks.

One day, you wake and think...

... dawgawnit, my knuckle really hurts.

We can't remember why until a few days later...

... a sliver of cactus prickly starts to surface.

Oh yeah, I musta brushed some cactus a while back.

Here's the real lesson in that...

• not to slow down and scrub some speed
• not to wear hard plastic knuckle savers
• not to change a thing

... to remember slivers count, too.

In fact, sometimes they're downright painful.
Most of the time, forgettable.
Unimpactful...

... or so we think, 
until they resurface.

If we're smart, 
and I know you are...

... we realize the real gains
more often than not...

... come in slivers.

Unnoticable,
unmemorable,
unremarkable, too...

... so we think they don't count,
that no progress is being made.

But, they do.
And, we stack 'em.
Gather 'em, store 'em...

... unleash 'em when it matters.

Competitors be thinking,
How the heck did he/she do that?!

We be thinking the same thing,
How the heck'd I do that?!

Then we be rememberin'...

... one sliver at a time.

 ---

162.4 lbs
8 hrs sleep
Got in a few more pullups, pushups and air squats
10 minutes recovery 
120 minutes reading + Journaling

UP UNTIL WE ARE ABOUT 18 YEARS OLD, we don't have bucket lists.  We have something quite different and significantly more powerful and dangerous.  Cover your ears kids... 

... this is about the less famous, Phucket List.

You know the one.

You're, 13, at the top of a big hill and challenged to go brakeless and see if you can not only make the corner at the bottom, but carry enough speed to clear the 15' jump across the stream.

Or, you're 15, on the shore watching huge, mountainous waves wipe out every surfer in the water and challenged to not just paddle out, but get beyond the breakers and then somehow catch one of the monsters back to shore.

The young don't say, Oh, I can't make it today but it's definitely on my bucket list to do...

... there's too much shame in that.

Instead, the young say Phucket...

... and go for it.

Why?

Because the young know two things:

• They will live forever
• They can't get permanently hurt

Of course, neither is true.

The only thing that is true is that not going for it is despicable.

Around 20, we aren't verbalizing bucket list, but we are assembling it with thoughts like these:

• I'm gonna find my soulmate
• Have some kids
• Build a cool career
• Travel to exotic places
• Do back flips off bridges

Of course, making those things happen requires, again, two things:

• Living forever
• Not getting permanently hurt

Neither one of which is true, or likely.

Which is why bucket lists are for losers.

They allow us to dream, and put things off for Some Day I'll...

... slowly killing us in the process.

Then, one day, we do something really stupid, like I did...

• Cause my pull up bar to fail
• Knock myself out
• Spend days in ICU

... and just like that, life changes in seconds.

Which is why we need to kill the Bucket List and... 

... live with a phucket list.

• Any question of what is possible
• Any criticism of how we are doing things
• Any doubts about our plans
• Any postponing of what we want to do 

We need to have one, and only one, response...

... phucket..

I'm doing it,
now!!

 ---

161.4 lbs
10 hrs sleep
Snuck in a few pullups, pushups and air squats
20 minutes recovery 
60 minutes reading + Journaling

WHEN I FINALLY WOKE UP, 3 days after the accident, I wanted to cry.  Not because I was alone in a cold, dark hospital room.  Not because my head was pounding. I ached...

... for the less fortunate.

Regardless of how I got there, I still had everything going for me.

Family,
friends,
children.

Visiting,
praying,
buoying me.

Incredible medical facilities,
wonderful, caring
staff.

I felt, and feel, overwhelmingly blessed and looked after.

How did I merit such goodness in my life?
How could I do better supporting those in need? 

Even though my brain had been scrambled, 
as difficult as it is to process information quickly...

... I never doubted I'd recover.

I'm so grateful to be alive...

... taking courage from the Grateful Dead's Touch Of Grey.

I will get by,
I will survive,
We will get by,
We will survive.

Because my brain is broken and there are little to no visual cues, it's hard to appreciate what thinking and doing and conversation feels like to me.

I look mostly fine.

This is the best I could come up with...

... asking me to engage is like asking me to run a 5k two to three weeks after breaking my leg.

Where I'm at now.

Starting last week, 8ish days post accident, my body started to hurt a lot.  Way, way worse than my head ever did.

When the pull up bar broke loose and cracked me in the forehead it must have knocked me out.  My buns and upper hamstrings and lower back were tremendously painful, indicating to me I had probably just had fallen straight backward on my tush then smacked my back of my head.

That body pain is mostly behind me.

My secret?

Taking a very hot shower 5-6-7 times a day, loosens everything up.

I'm off all meds during the day, and only taking Tylenol 2-3 times during the night.

This is great.

I had been really nervous to take the heavy stuff for a prolonged period of time.  I'd done that 30 years ago, and subsequently suffered migraines for almost 10 years.

Fortunately, the PEDALindustries crew is awesome.  Things are flowing as they should.  Just wonderful.

Your messages, and kindness, and support have been a great lesson to me...

... it's okay to cry tears of gratitude. 

 ---

159.4 lbs
10 hrs sleep
0 strength
40 minutes recovery 
60 minutes reading + Journaling

THE LAST WORDS OUT OF MY PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN'S MOUTH were shocking and memorable. Once I had caught him up on my situation, he said...

... Defend your life.

- Todd

---

Hey everyone, this is Shane, Todd's son. On January 8th, Todd had an accident at home, resulting in a traumatic brain injury and multiple skull fractures. He spent 5 days in the ICU.

We happily welcomed him home on Saturday and he's in good care with Surfer Girl. He's on track for a great recovery! For an athlete like Todd, we know he'll be (RaceDay) ready to rip as soon as he can.

First, he'll spend 10 more days in a dark room being the most boring person on earth.  Then he'll slowly, very slowly, return to his passion: writing the blog, developing cool new gear, and shredding the local trails.

Stay tuned!

Shane

P.S. Yes, it was his idea to share the photo :)

 ---

159
1,000 hrs
0 strength
1,000,000 minutes recovery 
0 minutes reading + Journaling

I'M GOING DOWN THE INTERVALS RABBIT HOLE, and I'm not sure I like it.  There are a number of reasons, not the least of which...

... the social angle.

Committing to a structured interval program is for losers...

... I mean loners.

And that's not all.

It hurts.

It's one thing to be on the group ride, going all out, and tell myself...

• Well, I'm just not feeling it today
• or, It's ok those guys are faster
• oh, if only I was lighter

... pull the plug, and drift off the back.

It's quite another to be hitting high power numbers easily on this first go...

... and watch those numbers sink as the efforts repeat.

Why?

Because the numbers don't lie.

I saw this last week.

4 efforts, 8 minutes long.

The first time, I ran out of road and had to take a turn to keep going...

... by the end, there was plenty of road left.

Just not enough Todd.

Do I like intervals?
No.

Do I like training hard efforts alone?
No.

Am I going to quit?
No.

I'm intrigued.
I want to see what I've got...

... and how fitness changes with new methods.

New Year,
New Methods.

---

164.5
7.5 hrs
No strength
0 minutes recovery 
180 minutes reading + Journaling

SO FUN TODAY.  I thought it would be a lot dryer, hadn't rained since Wednesday.  No puddles.  Definitely extra friction, that velcro feeling of...

... sticky lugs.

Hero dirt.

It's called hero dirt because we can carve the turns with confidence
just like our heroes.

Those tires aren't slippin',
they're grippin'.

The longer we ride it,
the more we lean and defy gravity.

The result?

Sometimes,
over confidence.

You know what comes with rain, right?

Ruts.

Towards the end of today's adventure, about 3 hours in, we were really feelin' it.

Laying down PRs.

Naturally, we'd need to hit the steepest,
and less well known trail...

... last.

What do they say about the last run?

Don't take it!

The segment is fittingly titled,
Dragon's Back Proper.

I'm not going to say it's the gnarliest trail ever,
still, there's a 0% chance I'm taking Surfergirl down it.

Anyway, with 30+ miles of hero dirt fresh in our minds we hit it.

Like any good friend, I neglected to tell Love Watts about what we'd face...

... knowing he'd be fine.

Butttt!, when we came around one of the turns which lead to a steep, straight shot of about 50 yards...

... there was a new and nifty rut straight down the middle of the trail.

Like a dragon, 
waiting to gobble our tires...

... and pitch us down its throat.

Here's the beauty of hero dirt...

... normally this would be a controlled skid section at best,
instead we were on the binders hard,
easily avoiding the doom...

... and snagging yet another PR.

Heroes for a day.

---

163.8
8 hrs
No strength
10 minutes recovery 
60 minutes reading + Journaling

ARE YOU AS FIRED UP ABOUT 2024 AS ME?  Five days in and I'm still holding strong on all 520 of my New Year's Resolutions.  I got more than a good feeling about this...

... I got one word.

This year's word for the RaceDay Rippers: S-T-R-E-T-C-H.

Yeah, it's good to stretch.
Be limber.
Flexible.

That's part of it,
but there's so much more...

... when we stretch regularly.

In everything.

And, here's what I'm talking about...

... forget the resolutions.

They seem static.

What can we stretch...

• athletically
• mentally
• spiritually
• socially
• financially

... because if we ain't stretching,
it's hellalikely things are gonna tighten up.

Take another look at your calendar.

What can you do by the end of this year...

... that is such a stretch,
it would blow your mind?

I know what I'm going for, 
can't wait to share it here.

---

162.4
7 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
20 minutes recovery 
90 minutes reading + Journaling

GREATNESS IS ONE OF THOSE HARD TO DEFINE characteristics.  Like beauty or skill or talent we often have differing opinions and struggle to explain the why leaving us with the simple...

... I know it when I see it.

Here's my definition of a great athlete.

Someone who knows what the are capable of achieving...

... and then wringing every ounce of their being to achieve it.

Sometimes they win something, but for most the greatest athletes...

... the ones who inspire me...

... winning is rare.

It's the daring to dream,
the untold hours of solo training,
the battle to overcome the impossible...

... and finish with nothing left and no regrets.

That is greatness.

It takes planning,
and dedication,
and courage.

The highest VO2 max or most ridiculous powertoweight output in the world won't make us great...

... commitment,
persistence,
focus
will.

Nobody's watching you can skip the workout, eat the donut, stay up partying...

... be common.

Nobody's watching you can do an extra set, up the protein, hit the sack early...

... be great.

Nobody's watching,
but you.

---

162.5
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
20 minutes recovery 
120 minutes reading + Journaling

LACTIC LYCRA will be served at 815am on Saturday, per my pal Doug's text message.  I can't wait.  It's been too long since I've had a...

... really good beat down.

The first one always hurts the most.

There's the shock to the system when we hit the first climb.  

I know it well.

About 30 seconds at 8%,
followed by 2 1/2 minutes of rolling up a false flat...

... all out.

If I make that,
it only gets more vicious.

Of course, the route can change from time to time, which means I might have no idea whatsoever of what's coming up.

Sometimes that's better,
often it's worse.

Why would I do this to myself?

Because, we are 8 weeks out from the first A race of the triple crown.

It's time,
to clear the cobwebs.

---

163.6
8.25 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
20 minutes recovery 
120 minutes reading + Journaling

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO FUEL the training.  We can go from all water and solid foods to no solids and all sugared up liquid, with a million combinations in between...

... racing I'm a little more sciency.

The special mixes and hi-tech prepackaged foods can be a challenge...

• Sometimes hard to acquire
• Often hard on the budget

... so, what's your answer?

Me,
as long
as I'm logging miles,
I don't care too much.

My favorite find of last year is an imported treat from France...

• Easy to find at Costco
• Inexpensive 20 for $8
• Super yummy
• Burns up fast in the gut

... individually-wrapped chocolate crepes.

Sometimes, I go with just water.  Others, longer rides, I'll put CarboRocket in the bottles.

Speaking of CarboRocket, you can get 25% off your first order here: https://racedayripper.com/posts/special-offers-carbo-rocket

---

163.8
7.5 hrs
2 Rip On RaceDay Circuits
10 minutes recovery 
90 minutes reading + Journaling

Read Online And Post Comments Here >>

BIKE RACING IS YEAR ROUND.  No matter where you live, with the means, you can jump on a plane on in a car and be racing tomorrow.  The pros, have one discipline...

... and one season.

Except for a select few who just can't get enough of wreaking havoc on two wheels.

For the rest of us,
we need the rest.

But, I was thinking about the upcoming year.

As usual, I've got a packed March through early May.  

Not as usual, I have nothing after that until September.

I'm thinking this year will be my first two season year. 

Take a solid break at the end of May,
keep it pretty chill in June,
on it July/August.

Put me down for 2 seasons this year.

Did you know?
All active PEDALindustries/Riders:

• Save 30% On All Purchases
• Have access to Race Reimbursement
• Unlock all Exclusive Courses and content

Click Here For Details_______________________

---

164.4
7 hrs
No Strength Training
10 minutes recovery 
90 minutes reading + Journaling

Read Online And Post Comments Here >>

IT'S TIME FOR 2024, another turn around the sun.  Most of us have been warming down, as we should.  Thinking about how the last lap went...

... we've got questions.

• What went well?
• What went wrong?
• Where did we shock even ourselves?
• Where did we miss the mark?
• How could we be smoother?
• How could we have made such blunders?
• When can we hit our next high?
• When can we do less?
• Why were we able to accomplish X?
• Why did we fail so miserably a Y?
• Who helped us the most?
• Who kept us back?

Answering those questions answers the first question...

... Could we improve?...

... only
if we commit
to make changes.

What's the most exciting change you plan to make in 2024?

• Gear?
• Training?
• Nutrition?
• Recovery?
• Type of racing?

All active PEDALindustries/Riders:

• Save 30% On All Purchases
• Have access to Race Reimbursement
• Unlock all Exclusive Courses and content

Click Here For Details_______________________

---

164
8 hrs
No Strength Training
10 minutes recovery 
60 minutes reading + Journaling

DURING THE METEOR SHOWER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I heard one of my friends lamenting the exceptionalism he was brought up believing.  I can't think of anything dumber than...

... thinking we are average, unexceptional.

Do you think for one second any champion of any sport, OR CAUSE, thought he or she was average, unexceptional?

Here's the tricky part, and a new meaning of an old word.

The tricky part:

• Never, ever say in public you are exceptional or better than everybody else
• Always think it
• Believe it
• Own it

 Can you imagine telling a child...

You really aren't anything special.

... talk about a way to shut down each individual's unique talents and abilities.

We each have different talents when it comes to physical performance, if that weren't the case...

• the same person would win over and over
• the sports prognosticators would always be right

... but, that's not how it works.

We know that inherently.

The new meaning of an old word:

I recently discovered the original meaning of the word meek, which is important because some dude once said the meek shall inherit the earth...

... how can the meek win anything?

Because meek comes from the greek word praus, which means...

... strength under control.

Now that,
is my kind of exceptional.

---

164.4
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery 
120 minutes reading + Journaling

TODAY WAS MY FIFTH BIG RIDE IN A ROW.  Seventeen hours in the saddle, 210 miles, 22,000' of vertical...

... and my legs feel great.

How is that possible?

All Zone 2 + Good Sleep + Good Nutrition

Take today's ride.

Nearly 5 hours,
60 miles
6329'..

... Strava called it a Massive Relative Effort.

I called it a fun adventure.
Never did any heavy breathing.

• Ave HR 131
• Normalized Power 212 Watts

Above you can see the HR is very steady, so are Watts dropping down mainly due to rough terrain and stop lights.

The key...

... to pulling that off is starting out easy, which means going based on power more than HR because it takes (for me) a while for the HR to rise.  About 30 minutes in I start looking at HR and Power...

... riding as fast as I can without letting the HR go out of zone.

The benefits...

• ride all day, as long as nutrition is on point
• push upper limit of Zone 2 higher
• develop insane endurance

... easily recover and do it again the next day.

The reason most people don't do it...

• they start out too hard
• under eat because effort seems easy
• ride with friends and get caught up in keeping up
• fail to recognize the hidden benefits for those with limited power
• rather than back down cadence and power they blast up the short stuff 

... is because they don't have the discipline.

If you don't generate a lot of power, and I don't,
then the next best thing is to be able to deliver the power you have
for longer than your competitors and recover faster than those around you.

Skip or skimp on Zone 2 rides...

... or feast on them.

---

164.2
7.5 hrs
Push Ups and Pull Ups
20 minutes recovery 
75 minutes reading + Journaling

AS AN ECOM MARKETER, I love studying the greatest brands.  One thing they have in common is a great tagline, like Nike's...

... Just Do It!

Why?

They are designed to create an emotional response for the consumers...

... to make us identify with what they're selling.

In the heat of race or chasing a PR or just plain ol' dying to finish the impossible...

... it's good to have a tagline of our own.

Because sometimes we have to sell ourselves on getting it done...

... usually,
right before we quit
and go on to conquering the impossible.

---

163.8
7.75 hrs
No Strength Training
10 minutes recovery 
60 minutes reading + Journaling

WHAT A DEMONSTRATION of how to do it well.  If you missed it, if you don't follow it, if you listened to the prognosticators, then you didn't witness...

... what happens with preparation.

I'm down to following one sportsball team, and it's been a dismal year for the fans of SC football.

When things aren't going according to plan, it is so easy to give up.

To quit.

24 players did just that,
either sat out the game 
or transferred to a new team.

The rest kept practicing,
and kept preparing,
for their chance.

The quarter back had never started a game,
had only played a handful of minutes...

... came in prepared.

Confidence oozing.

He left with...

70% pass completion
372 yards
6 TDs

... a record setting night.

Because he knew how good he was and kept preparing for his date with history...

... that is the Preparation H we should all aspire to accomplish.

---

162.9
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery 
60 minutes reading + Journaling

MY SON IS A PROFESSIONAL FINANCE NERD.  He constantly reminds me to know my numbers vs the ol' gut feeling.  It's a good practice and reveals the truth...

... sometimes confirming what I thought to be true,
others showing how off I can be by winging it.

We all have a lot of data available now.

So, while I was feeling discouraged this week regarding...

• my current weight
• the lingering cough
• the drifting fitness score

... I decided to look at the data.

2 years ago...

• same weight
• 3% better fitness
• and got covid just after Christmas
• hadn't perfected my strength routine

... had my best year ever on the bike.

1 year ago...

• slightly lighter
• same exact fitness
• battled a similar cold
• had just added the sled and nordic curl

... had a great spring racing campaign

In other words, it's quite normal for me to be at my lowest fitness this time of year,
and you know what they say...

... December hero = race season zero.

Am I still apprehensive?

Yep.

But, that's the point of the data...

... to kick the feelings to the curb.

They aren't helping.

Instead,
by looking at the numbers
I can relax and stick with my plan... 

... I'm right where I want to be.

---

164.8
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
 60 minutes reading + Journaling

ONLY OUR OLDEST WAS IN TOWN, so we met midway.  At the bay. Unloaded paddle boards.  Set out for some mansion gawking, and sunshine...

... and paddled for 6 miles, 2ish hours.

Not the traditional Christmas morning for most,
on par for us..

Something weird happened all day, 
never seen it before.

When we got home, there was still enough sunlight
for me to spin the pedals
and Mrs Claus to walk.

Every single person I saw,
on the water and on the dirt, 
had the exact same thing to say.

We live in an area with lots of people from around the country, and around the world, representing all kinds of cultures and beliefs. 

Which is why I thought this was odd.

The last person I talked to was a kid in his 20's from Michoacan, Mexico.

New bike?

No speak english.

No problemo.

I learned Spanish a long time ago, and can still get along pretty good.  I asked where he was from, told him how much I loved the famous ice cream sticks La Michoacana, from his state.

He was on a really sweet Giant Trance.  Said he'd just picked it up on FB marketplace, and how much he loved it.

A common language, we all understand.

We talked about how long he was here and his main objective to learn English.

It was time to part ways before sunset, and say the thing I'd over and over today.

Merry Christmas.

Feliz Navidad.

---

165.1
8 hrs 
No strength work
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling

I CAN'T STOP THINKING of the silliness I've practiced over the years.  Not the Christmasy stuff, which was personally a tough season for many years, but...

... ignoring the real point of it all.

Whether you're a belieber or not, doesn't matter, the principle is true...

... you can't ride your bicycle while looking backward.

Oh, you can go a ways, however the penalty of not facing forward will be paid.

Which is the message that little babe came to deliver...

... look forward with hope and faith that good things await.

He gave instructions on how to live.
He knew all would falter from time to time.
He gave a simple formula to get back on track. 

Repent.
Start anew.
Don't look back,
focus on forward.

I don't know why that is so easy to practice on a bike,
and so difficult when life's blunders serve up a shouldawouldacoulda sandwich.

Pedal on.

---

163.8
7.5 hrs 
No strength work
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling

I WOKE WITH A FROG IN MY THROAT.  Not surprising, Surfergirl has been coughing for a week.  There was only one thing to do, and it wasn't going to be easy...

... with all the rain this week.

No, I wouldn't be meeting up with the fellas.

However, since the onset of my cold was above the neck...

... I could ride long as heck.

Most people don't do this,
and decline my invites.

Where are we riding today?

I don't know.

You have no plan.

Nope.

Okay, I'm gonna do a group ride.

See ya next time.

The idea of getting lost,
aimlessly wandering,
is too vague.

I get it,
I also get this.

Every great adventure,
the ones we tell over and over,
are epic because at some point...

... the unexpected happened.

• We got lost
• Found a new trail
• Discovered a forgotten road
• Ignored the Private Property sign
• Had a massive mishap and lived to tell the tale

None of this happens on the group ride,
or in the man cave zwifting,
or at the races.

For me, It's almost a lock
I will discover something worthy
nearly every single time my objective is big zone 2.

It's an art,
to get lost and enjoy it.

Nothing new is ever discovered
on the road most traveled

---

166.2 lbs (more lost rides needed)
7.25 hrs 
Push Ups and Pull Ups.
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF WAYS to signal to your mind that it's time to shift gears.  Gurus, like Tony Robbins, might call it shifting states or moods... 

... and this shift matters.

Because if we don't get our helmet in the race,
we're destined to get shelled.

For racing, I cycle through till I find the right jam on my...

... special a playlist.

Sometimes the pump up music isn't getting it done for me and I have to...

... wait until the first cat cuts me off or won't let me through.

Other times...

... simply seeing a frenemy can raise the HR.

Another one I like for racing or hard training is ...

... lathering up with PR lotion.

For work, I turn the volume super low and hit repeat for...

... one goto song.

Butttttttttttt...

... what's the signal for a new season
or legit off-season
or mini-break?

Before I get there,
why does this work?

Why do preachers and motivators play music before the message is delivered?

Why do bands drop the lights before electrifying the audience?

It's all signals,
that things are changing,
and we mentally shift and become a different person...

... and love it.

The opposite is also true,
no definitive signal,
no change...

... and before we know it,
the race is over,
the day done...

... and nothing accomplished.

So, what's the signal for a new season?

Mine,
shave my legs.

---

166.1 lbs (might be time for the razor)
7.25 hrs 
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more.
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling

SPRINTING IS SO FUN, especially alone.  Down clear road with a tail wind, out of a turn and into the next, up a short hill...

... It's so energizing.

Then why not sprint all the time?

The answer's obvious,
because we can't.

It's not physically possible.

The next best thing is...

... if we do it right.

The great John Wooden preached...

... Be quick, don't hurry.

Quick is 

• precise
• error free
• looks effortless

Hurrying is

• looks atrocious
• mistake laden
• sloppy

We sweat with both...

... we win, PR, achieve greatness with one.

The difference?

• Practice
• Planning
• Routines

So, when the shift goes off the trails on the bike, in life...

... slow down,
be quick.

Oh, I almost forgot,
if you're hurrying to get a gift for your favorite cyclist, triathlete or runner...

... here's a quick and awesome idea.

---

164.9 lbs
8 hrs 
PushUps and PullUps
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling  

APPARENTLY, POSTING ALL THE RACE PLANS is a bigger thing than ever for the pros.  Imagine being paid to race, then telling your sponsors and team...

... which races you'll do.

It's one thing to say I'm going to X, Y and Z races, it's quite another to say...

... and I'm going to win.

For some racers, it's probably a requirement.  For sure...

• the team wants to know
• the journalists want to know
• the competitors want to know

... if they're going to be there.

It gives everybody a chance to promote and hype and draw in the eyeballs and the money...

... which is exactly not what most amateurs do.

Most of us...

• no plan
• no calendar
• can be easily swayed
• find committing can be tough

... because, well, we are amateurs.

Or,,,,, are we amateurs because we...

• find committing to be tough
• are too easily swayed
• have no calendar
• and no plan

... not that there's anything wrong with that.

It's just the difference between pro and amateur...

... getting results,
and the ability to call our own shots (wins, PRs, quests).

It starts here.

---

164.8 lbs
8.5 hrs 
Push Ups Pull Ups
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling  

ON THE RIDE THIS MORNING I was assured that pedaling in circles is wasted energy and that the studies of one bike fitter in England done on pros are conclusive...

... I sprint to differ.

While it may be true that mashers have just as much power in certain situations, I'm 100% certain that is not true of all situations.

For example, any mountain bike rider can you tell you that on technical climbs it is critical that the power you put down is even and steady.

Why?

Because mashing will likely cause 2 problems...

• slipping the rear tire
• stalling out and falling over

... mountain bikers are generally really good at putting power down all the way through the pedal stroke.

You know who else?

Track sprinters.

I learned this from the great Gibby Hatton when I went to him for a bike fit.

After watching me spin warming up...

Have you raced on the track?

No, mostly MTB.

Oh, that explains it... trackies and offroaders are the most efficient at putting out power.

Why, is the question.

And I think I know why, because when traction is required and when explosive power is required the hamstrings are engaged.

I learned this a long time ago when sprinting with my friend who easily beat me.  He taught me to extend my stride and pull myself forward.  Sure enough, I got a little faster.

Sprinters of all types spend time developing their hamstrings for this very reason.

Which brings me to my next thought.  The reason most cyclists don't have any power on the upstroke is because they are pathetically weak.

If they weren't, they'd engage the hammies more in certain situations:  sprinting, climbing loose terrain and...

... cruising on the flat.

Lately, with all my Nordic Curl work, I've noticed I can cruise faster on flats and let my quads rest a bet by more fully engaging my hamstrings.  

I'm just practicing bro-science, so take it or leave it...

... but, Joe Friel practices real science.

When I flew him out to speak to us a few years back he pulled up charts which definitively demonstrated the small gains to be made by learning how to pedal correctly.

Yes, mashers can go fast.
Yes, there are times to mash.
Yes, you should experiment with this in the off-season.

---

165.5 lbs
7 hrs 
PushUps and PullUps
20 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling  

YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE SHIRTS AND HATS, usually on old guys who are kinda pudgy and unreasonably confident.  I get it, but don't done it...

... more about that later.

I bring this up because lately the interwebs be chiming that old guys shouldn't be advising young guys...

... according to medium guys.

And really Peter Sagan brought it home on the latest The Move podcast discussing today's racing... 

... versus how they used to race.

I tell them young guys, why going so fast.  No need.

Whatever old man.

We go down hill and young guys crashing, all for nothing.

Another GenXer on X, was even harsher on old guys trying to help young guys.

Old guys are irrelevant. 

I thought about it all day...

... probably because I'm of a certain age.

I think when it comes to tactics, yes, the old guys' rules are probably outdated and useless.

But!,
when it comes to strategy I'll take the age-old wisdom of the old-age guys every time.

In business, a tactic would be knocking doors.  I did that.  Almost pointless to do these days...

... the wisdom is to hustle and get out there and be seen.

In training, a tactic is use a heart monitor.  I did that.  But, there's a lot more tech to be learned and mastered for improvement...

... the wisdom is to ride piles of miles.

Anyway, if you're into improving...

• old guys have the strategies
• young guys have the tactics

... those are the rules.

I love looking for the timeless ones...

... and ladies still love flowers.

---

165.3 lbs
8 hrs 
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling  

THERE ARE COUNTLESS WAYS to get faster on the bike, which is why it is endlessly fascinating.  They range from physical to mechanical to mental to social to spiritual and...

... help us on our quest to get fast.

Some think that the best way to get better is to fail faster, which sounds great until...

• we come up short on a jump
• or, slide out in a high speed turn

... mmmmmaybe we ought to temper that a bit.

So, I don't spell fast F-A-I-L.

The fastest people I know are relentless and pay attention to all areas where speed can be gained.

They experiment,
practice,
tinker,
study,
train,

... they do the W-O-R-K.

Usually, a lot more work than most are willing to do.

---

We're getting pretty low on Cycling bag inventory, but still have a good amount we can ship for Triathletes & Runners

---

164.9 lbs
8 hrs 
No strength work today
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling  

A BEAUTIFUL DAY WAS ON TAP, and I was meeting two of my fave riding pals.  Always good and uplifting conversation, plenty of shredding on the downhills...

... and Love Watts had planned a fun route.

After the first segment of goodness we had a problem.

Sure, I'd...

• checked all the batteries 
• pumped up the tires
• adjusted shock pressures
• lubed the chain

... what could go wrong?

Uh, what about them brake pads bro?

There we were 47 minutes in to a 4ish our ride and my rear wheel was not spinning...

... which explained why I'd struggled on the first climb.

This is how good my friends are.

Rather than let me slog home with my chamois between my legs...

... we got to wrenching.

The calipers were all kindsa messed up.
The pads were smoked.

Again, I tried to wo-is-me my way home...

... no dice.

Construction Kev...

My house is nearby, and I have a set of new pads.

... les go!

Never seen this before, look at the retention clip in pic above.
It is destroyed.

15 minutes later,
we're back on track,
hootin' and hollerin' and PRin'.

I love these guys.

On the suspension set up, I aired up a little higher than my normal, which is still lower than factory setting...

... 90lbs up front, 180lbs out back.

Perfect, 
much cushier,
still tracking the corners really well.

When Love Watts started charging a long, twisty and steepish singletrack I cut loose...

... figuring he'd clear the way.

Normally, with so many blind turns and a stunning day, there is just too much traffic to go for it.
I'm cautious that way.

It was a gamble,
total blast.

---

I have too much PR Lotion inventory.

This promo code: FRENS

It is buy one, get one free.  You MUST purchase TWO bottles, discount will be applied when you check out.

Code can be used 15 times, so use it new before it sells out.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/amp-pr-lotion

---

164.5 lbs
7 hrs 
No strength work today
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling  

THIS JUST IN, UCI figures out how to squash another innovation and has the innovators crying foul.  Was it for safety reasons?  Worry over racers suffering carpel-braking syndrome...

... or, something much darker?

In these cases, as in all news...

... it pays to follow the money.

Now, just who really cares?

You and I, the fans, who have seen these micro adjustments...

• levers
• socks
• rider position

... to name a few, burst onto the scene then be smothered?

We don't care because...

1. It's cool to sees these clever, committed racers explore the fringes of speed
2. and, escape into a breakaway that is never caught

... we like that, because we dream of doing the same thing.

Follow the money...

1. Fewer sponsors logos being flashed during hours long races, when a handful of racers are off on their own.

... and we get the only logical reason.

Money,
nearly always the #1 reason.

The conspiracylover in me says the big component manufacturers have already  begun developing a brake lever/shifting system that is designed to give these aero benefits while leaving the levers inline with the bars.

Nahhhh, 
they wouldn't be involved, too?

Personally, never tried it.
I'm also still running "standard" width bars.

I've seen the set up on local rides,
as well as the very short bar widths.

Looks cool,
seems faster.

What's wrong with that?

---

163.8 lbs
7.5 hrs 
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling  

When making a purchase I always go for the best quality available.  I like things that last a long time and are extremely reliable.  Given enough time and wear and tear...

... nearly everything breaks.

Here's the truth I've discovered, and it's not just bike parts...

... the replacement is almost always way better.

I was reminded this on a ride recently with a heartbroken friend.  The love of his life...

... had left.

Having had my own share of love gone wrong, I could relate.  I could also share the big picture, everyone of those girlfriends was replaced with someone better...

... and finally with Surfergirl.

Just this week my bookkeeper let me know she was retiring.  If you're looked for a good one, reasonably priced bookkeeper lately, you know they are hard to find.  I asked my CPA for a referral...

... not only does he offer that now, but at a much better rate than I was paying..

My chief designer moved on 2 years ago, best thing that happened to the business in a long time.  Forced me to rethink the entire process and put what is now, I believe...

... the finest experience in the industry.

Of course, we've all hit a nail, had the tire go flat, and realize there's just no way to proceed without getting...

... and brand new bike.

The real question is...

... should we wait until things break?

---

164.5 lbs
5 hrs (Surfergirl had to watch meteor shower until 2am)
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
0 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling  

I (ALMOST) ALWAYS SCAN THE RACE PHOTOS when the promoter sends out the link.  Yes, I like to see myself in action.  Who doesn't?  The thing is...

... they aren't always outstanding.

Which makes it even more important to purchase the pretty good ones.

Take last Saturday's race.

There were photographers all over the place, and I was really hoping one of the guys on the downhill would post his pics.

Instead, I got this one.

I like it, but for something you might not notice.

Before I get there, I'm just making a public service announcement...

• Buy the pics, unless they just muffed the shot
• Do NOT lift the pics and post without paying 

... we gotta support 'em for the days they nail the shot.

Like this one...

Now, about that shot at the top.

The thing I like is it looks to me like the weight training is paying dividends...

... which gets me kind of excited for next season,
and hitting the weights a lot more.

---

164.9 lbs
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more 
0 minutes recovery
75 minutes reading + Journaling  

COLD PLUNGE IS ALL THE RAGE, and I've yet to do it.  But, I'm wondering if today's ride counts as a cold plunge, which was prognosticated to be in the high 40's, yet on some devices...

... registered in the low 30's.

I'm still cold.

Because I dressed like a rookie...

• Decided my summer gloves would be sufficient
• Left my awesome KOM jacket at home
• Couldn't find my toe warmers

... I froze like a rookie.

Which gets us back to the original question:

Does not feeling anything in my hands for at least 20 minutes, wondering if I still had toes, and being cold 12 hours later count as a cold plunge?

Another bonus was we recorded very slow times on the main segments even though we were giving it everything to get home as quickly as possible...

... low hr,
low power,
complete exhaustion.

Now I know this is the point where all the armchair zwifties chime in on how dumb it is to ride in the cold, and the snowbound chide me for wearing arm and knee warmers, a base layer and skull cap in such balmy weather, so before you go there...

... can some heat me up so cocoa?

---

165.1 lbs
7.5 hrs
No strength
10 minutes recovery
45 minutes reading + Journaling 

DID YOU FIND SOME CRAZY NEW TECH in 2023, or something you want to try out in 2024?  I did, and it's not on my Christmas list because....

... it's priiiiii-ceeeeey.

In this case,
it's way better to give to myself
than to receive a look of shock and awe.

Oh, I'm gonna get it because... 

... I think it will be a game changer for me.

First, my gravel bike will get it since that's my focus for 2024.

Here's the problem it solves.

If you run a 1x drivetrain, like I do, you either have to run a mullet cassette (10-52) so you have a wide range or run a smaller range of gears so you have narrower jumps.

The obvious solution is to run a 2x with a front derailleur, but that's not possible because of tire clearance.

Is it really a problem?

Well, it sure was last weekend at the Hardman Classic.  I really wanted a few in between gears on the climb for maximum efficiency...

... and then on the return with 30 mph gusts blowing me at top speed.

The solution?

The Classified Hub which has a planetary gearing system in the rear hub effectively turning the drive train into a 2x system.  

The result...

• Wider range of gears
• Narrower jumps between shifts

... a minor weight gain, with big efficiency gains.

You can read more about here: https://www.classified-cycling.cc/en_us/

Once I get one, I'll report it.

Anyway, that's best product leap I've seen this year.

How about you?

---

166 lbs
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Ciruit + more
10 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

I'M FASCINATED WITH AI, not that I'm using it much, more with the implications of what it means to be human.  And the question...

... do we have an operating system?

For example, just yesterday bombing Coal Canyon, a rough and tumble dirt road, on gravel bikes it was clear....

... some of saw a playground, others saw a torture chamber.

From an OS perspective, I think it's pretty clear we see what we want to see.

• I wanted to see clean lines and the fastest way down
• Others, moving much slower, could only see the jagged rocks and harsh terrain

Can we control that or are we born with it?

Consider the Troxler Effect.  

Stare at the red + sign above, and you'll see blue dot's randomly disappear and reappear. 

Why?

Some say it's our Operating System no longer rendering them because they aren't novel.

I suspect something like this is happening when we bomb a mountain.  

Some of us can focus on the red + sign - the clean line down the mountain - while others are trying to take it all in and remember all the danger points instead of editing them out like the blue dots.

If we are focused on the red +, the clean line, we don't need to render all the blue dots, the dangers...

... which frees up processing speed for us to go faster, and safer.

If this is true, that it is just an OS issue, can we improve that...

... rewrite our code and go faster?

I think we can, especially when we are young.  And, I think the best way to do that is not to go as fast as possible all the time but to go slow and be playful and  assess the options and pitfalls in slow motion...

... then speed that up.

Which brings up the question of what is happening as we age?  

Why do we slow down over time?

I don't think it's the OS as much as it is the hardware, the gray matter, not being able to process as quickly and efficiently as it once could...

... take in the data and send signals to the body.

What does this really have to do with ripping on raceday...

... I'm not sure.

But, I never thought about this before observing AI.

---

164.9 lbs
7 hrs
No strength work
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling 

AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGEMENT, I opted for the long route of the 8th annual Hardman Classic.  The head wind was brutal for the first hour.  If it had flipped for the return, which often happens...

... I would have cried.

Why did I go the long route?

Well, because Tatt!...

You doing the race Saturday.

I reckon, but just the short version.

C'mon, we're all going long.  We'll ride together and just cruise.

Ok.

In other words, I knew that he knew that I knew he was totally full of bs, but...

... who doesn't want to ride with their pals?

The only reason we stuck together for the first hour was the brutal headwind.  Nobody wanted any piece of the front.  Once the climbing began...

... it was every racer for themself.

Let me just insert this odd piece of wisdom...

... I always suffer the most on the races I care the least about.

No disrespect to the race, or the promoter, or competitors.  But, if I'm not totally into pushing myself I can count on the usual rookie blunders...

• Not eat enough
• Not drink enough
• Forgot to start computer until 20 minutes in (hard to know how much torture is left when you don't know how many miles have been covered.)

... those got me today, but I've also done these...

• Stayed out late the night before
• Lazy bike prep leading to failure
• Changing a tire the night before to wake up to a flat
• and more

... I actually did put on a new tire last night, and it sealed perfectly.

I told the network yesterday I'd be going for a PR on Skyline, and I was pleasantly surprised to get it done.

Not that it helped me ride with my much faster friends.

The downhill was a pretty rugged gravel road that had clearly been battered by all the rain earlier this year and the hurricane we had a few months back.

I let it rip and had a blast, so glad I had the new tread on the back.

The Conti Terra Speed 45s were flawless even though I rimmed out numerous times.

28lbs up front, 30lbs in the rear.

At the bottom I caught up with the Assassin and Out Of Africa.  I was ready to pull the plug and head back vs doing all of that a second time.

C'mon, go with us.

Nah...

It's just that one climb.

For reference, long coures is 8300' of climbing over 70 miles... 

... 6000' of it in a scant 35 miles.

Anyway, they talk me into it and I swear, the first little bump in the road was like dropping anchor...

... leaving me to ride alone for 2 1/2 hours.

I have the best friends.

I really do...

... and I saw lots of 'em today.

All I can say is the Hardman...

... is hard, man.

---

Because I accomplished my PR goal, and persevered I figured it was time for my typical splurge.

---

166 lbs
7 hrs
No strength work
00 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling 

---

Comment on the post here:  https://pedal-r.mn.co/spaces/12740042

GRABBED MY "GRAVEL" BIKE THIS MORNING.  The only objective was to get to the cafe for some sipping time and take a breather from the rush of holidayness.  Why that bike?...

... I wanted an adventure.  

And, I got one.

Yeah, dirt and single track and pavement with no preset route...

... but, the best was the lovely gentleman I encountered whilst sipping outside.

Do you ride much?

Oh, yes, as often as I can.

Will you be around here Saturday?

Probably.

We'll be performing a Dixieland Christmas Concert over at the museum (downtown San Juan Capistrano).

Sounds wonderful.

By the way, you look strong.  Could you help me out?

Sure.

We need to put up the tents today.

On the way to the museum to set up the tents, he pulled out a painting his great granddaughter had made for him, knowing how much he also likes to ride...

... with a perfect quote.

If there is a fork in the road, take it!"
- Yogi Berah

And, well, honestly this is my beef with "gravel bikes"...

... nobody wakes up wishing for gravel.

We want an adventure.

Let it be known that from this day forth all road bikes with fat tires shall hitherto be referred to as Adventure Bikes.

---

164.6 lbs
7.75 hrs
Pushups and Pullups
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

---

Comment on the post here:  https://pedal-r.mn.co/spaces/12740042

OF THE TWENTY OR BOOKS I'VE READ THIS YEAR, one stands out.  It shouldn't really, it's a book for ages 8-12.  I've applied it's teachings on raceday...

... but, story of our heroin drives home the point so well.

I couldn't stop thinking about it.

You might consider yourself much too wise to learn from an 11 year old girl.

I did,
and, mostly, still do.

However, the story of Pollyanna is a gem.

It is set in the early 1900's and there are all kinds of culture norms to consider, and ponder upon.  

Plus, all the changes in technology and science that we take for granted.  

Then, there's the language.

It's english, with a larger and more complex vocabulary than we use today, mixed in with all kinds of slang along the various social statuses.

I said the story is a gem, because Pollyanna plays the glad game...

... whatever happens, she finds a reason to be glad about it.

Which, when it comes to racing, is a mighty fine attitude to have...

... almost a superpower.

Lots can go wrong over the course of a season.  Once we cross the start line and we have to adjust our plans, looking for the benefits of the challenges we face as the race unfolds is significantly more empowering than whining and complaining...

... the energy we have is limited.

We've to focus that energy on one thing only...

... getting across the finish line as quickly as possible.

Over the course of a season...

... Pollyanna would be tough to beat.

While we might complain about the weather, our equipment, lack of time, etc...

... she would be advancing every day.

--- 

Did you know PEDALindustries/riders are eligible for race reimbursement?

Check out here: https://pedalindustries.com/pages/pedalindustries-riders-gear

---

164.1 lbs
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling 

---

Comment on the post here:  https://pedal-r.mn.co/spaces/12740042

THIS IS HOW SELFISH I AM.  I was very apprehensive about attempting the Surf N Summit by myself.  At 122 miles, 15000' of vert, with 10's of miles on desolate gravel roads...

... I was too scared to go it alone.

So, I invited and invited and invited until...

... I had a small group of warriors to take it on with me.

For most of these brave souls, 
it would be their farthest ride ever.

By a long shot.

Which meant I'd be doing a lot of the pulling across the flats, 
and I was totally down with that, as well as...

• Putting together a training plan for those who needed it
• Buying dinner the night before (though they all wound up paying me back)
• Teaching some of them how to download routes

... basically all I could think of to make sure they'd make it with me.

That's how selfish I can be,
just to get a few hearty gents,
to do more than they ever thought possible...

... and accompany on my personal quest,
because I had to get it done.

Have you been that selfish?
I bet you have.

---

Comment on the post here:  https://pedal-r.mn.co/spaces/12740042

---

163.8 lbs
8ish hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

SOMETIMES IT HELPS TO PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE.  We see our heroes, the pros with big contracts, the local pros with endless free and amazing gear...

... and then there's us.

Doing our best.

Tight budgets.
Family to clothe and feed.
Pressed for time in every direction.

Then, when we are mocked for our endeavors,
chastised for our dedication,
misunderstood.

It can hurt,
if we let it.

But, we don't because we know...

... without our health we are nothing.

So in honor of the great Teddy Roosevelt...

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the busy and committed man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who actually crosses the start line...

whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood.
who strives valiantly,
who errs,
who gets dropped again and again...

because there is no effort without error and shortcoming;

but who does actually strive to do the deeds, who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause;...

who at the best knows in the end the triumph of the podium, 
and who at the worst, if he fails,
at least fails while daring greatly,
so that his place shall never be
with those cold and timid souls
who know neither victory nor defeat.

Dare greatly my friends... 

... it matters to those who look up to you.

---

Comment on the post here:  https://pedal-r.mn.co/spaces/12740042

---

164 lbs
7 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

LOOKING BACK ON THE BUSINESS YEAR is always a little more fun after the Christmas rush.  The investments in inventory and ads start to pay, just like our fitness...

... it's simple math.

The problem is figuring out the equation.

The basics are:

• Increase Sales
• Reduce Expenses

No body argues that...

... but they sure as heck do argue this.

Weightloss basics:

• Increase training
• Reduce calories

It's not always + and -, 
sometimes it's + and +

Fitness basics:

• Increase training
• Increase recovery

Sometimes it's just a feeling

Stress basics:

• Definitely gotta do that!
• No.

I use the last one a lot when I'm feeling overwhelmed or over committed...

... If it ain't Definitely gotta do!,
it's No.

---

165.6 lbs (uh, oh)
8.5 hrs
Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pushups, pullups, squats
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY STARTED, you've most likely started thinking about it some sort of cross training to do now that it's dark and cold.  Great!...

... being strong pays dividends on and off the bike.

You're not alone, 
and there's no need to over think it.

There are 3 basic must exercises, but I'll bet my helmet most of ya are over thinking squats.

I was reminded of this yesterday at the park with our grandsons...

... if you're around toddlers, just watch.

They don't bend down to pick things up...

... they lower down by doing an air squat.

All the way down,
@$$ to the gr@$$.

Whether or not you invest in weights start here,
air squats.

How many?

Well, here's my formula.

It starts with pullups.  For every pullup you can do, do 3 times as many pushups and 3 times as many squats.

5 pullups -> 15 pushups -> 15 air squats

Like a toddler,
do these EVERY SINGLE DAY.

How to remember?

Well, I have an inexpensive pullup bar I purchased a garage sell decades ago.  It resides in my bathroom's door jamb.  When I go to take a shower...

... I knock out one set of all 3 exercises.

We're busy,
We want to ride,
not change clothes and drive to gym.

This takes 5 minutes, and will astound you with...

... how weak you are
and how strong you will get.

Want bonus points?

My pullup bar is in the bathroom so any time I'm going to the bathroom...

... I'm knocking out a set.

Something quick.

3 pullups, 9 pushups, 9 air squats.
1 pullup, 3 pushups, 3 air squats
4 pullup, 12 pushups, 12 air squats

Nothing magical, just mixing up and getting on with life.

At the end of a typical day I've knocked out 10s of pullups and 3 times as many pushups and air squats...

... in no time.

Add the other accessories like dumbbells, jump box, sled, nodic curl fixture over time...

... this is a lifelong pursuit, not a sprint.

---

165 lbs
8 hrs
1 set of pushups, pullups, squats
10 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

THE GENTLEMAN AND I met up some dirt today.  It was perfect after a few light rains in the last 48 hours.  Tacky, ripable...

... hero dirt.

Is there anything better?

Maybe fresh, new asphalt.
Or, a real gravel road.

Stringing together a bonanza of trails, some well-know to us and some completely knew, it occurred to me that some of today's dazzling tech...

... is just a cheap counterfeit.

We were IRL.

Not VR glasses,
on a stationary bike leaning over,
with a fan giving the sensation of speed.

This was the real thing...

• My arm was bleeding after being stabbed by unruly shrubbery.
• More than once, I felt the strain of the knobbies giving way and regaining their perch as we carved down the steep stuff.
• Hard-earned sweat dropped onto my lens, then sizzled in my eye

... and we were loving it.

But, the best was the ol' lady heckling us as we battled a loose, 25% pitch...

If it isn't 90%, it's not a real climb.

It was like a cackle from with Wicked Witch of The West.

We ride bikes.
They can go fast.
You will likely get hurt...

... and have a great story to tell about a lesson you learned,
in real life.

---

164 lbs
6.5 hrs
0 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
10 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling 

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.

---

Comment on the post here:  https://pedal-r.mn.co/spaces/12740042

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Did you know PEDALindustries/riders are eligible for race reimbursement?

Check out here: https://pedalindustries.com/pages/pedalindustries-riders-gear

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164.1 lbs
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling 

I'M TAKING A FEW WEEKS OFF, by that I mean I'm riding with absolutely no agenda and only if I feel like it.  Three days so far this week, and I'm noticing a trend...

... I'm getting really good at my timing.

I have no reason to do this.
No coach in my ear,
No schedule.

Monday I decided I had time for a quick hour on the bike.

Tuesday, I passed on the traditional TMWC and as the day went on I was dying to get out.  I thought I'd go our for 90 minutes and just rip it up for fun.

This afternoon, after grinding straight from 7am to 4ish I really need a mental break and two hours seemed about right.

There are a couple of trends there.

• Longer rides each day
• Riding at sunset
• Predicting ride time

Which I think is kinda weird...

Why am I so bent on ending at just the right?
How am I getting so accurate on ride time?
Is it just a product of playtime on the bike?

... are you as weird as me?

On a related note...

... I never seem to care about hitting a certain mileage on a ride.

It's all about time because miles can vary so much with terrain and weather conditions...

... the body does need a certain amount of time in the saddle to be fit.

Good thing I don't really care about that right now.

---

Comment on the post here:  https://pedal-r.mn.co/spaces/12740042

--- 

Did you know PEDALindustries/riders are eligible for race reimbursement?

Check out here: https://pedalindustries.com/pages/pedalindustries-riders-gear

---

164. lbs
7.5 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + more
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling 

MY STORY

I grew up on southern California.

From an early age, I loved riding bicycles. I wasn’t great. My friends were faster, more skilled. But, I loved it. I loved riding, and I loved learning tricks. Jumping, skidding, wheelies.

Once we could all drive, we got into surfing. Saturday mornings went from riding around town to waking up next to the shore and jumping in the water. I wasn’t the best, my friends had more talent and guts. But, I loved it. Riding the waves, learning the tricks and hanging out with my buddies.

I went away to college and fell in love with the mountains. Saturday mornings were spent up high. Hiking and skiing. I wasn’t the best, my friends had more talent and guts. But, I loved it. The solitude, learning tricks and hanging out with my pals.

One day a roommate brought home a road bike.

The next day, I rode it 6 miles.

The day after, 12 miles.

I was hooked.

When I moved back to Southern California, I did some racing on the road. It was a lot of fun. I wasn’t the best, my friends were all faster. But, Ioved it. Being in the zone in a crit brought me peace and happiness. I worked up to a Cat 2.

Kids came.

I quit racing.

Mountain bikes were a thing. I got one and loved it. The skills from my BMX days with the fitness from road racing. We got a little group going on Saturdays. I was better than most of my friends – some had fitness but no skill, some had skill but no fitness.I did a few races, when I could.

In '99, my friend Jeff challenged me to do Leadville. 100 miles, off road, at 10,000-12,500’ above sea level seemed insane. I trained for it as best I could. The skills were there, but the actual workouts were a mystery to me. I rode a lot and watched my heartrate.  Looking back on it, I’m amazed I finished at all. My goal the first time was to keep my heartrate just under 180 beats a minute.

I went 3 years in a row, and each year cramped and limped across the finish line.

Because I’d cracked the magical 9-hour mark, and received a big belt buckle, I figured I knew what I was doing.

I didn't have a clue.

About that time, my friend Kevin challenged me to go under 9 hours at age 60. I was 39 at the time, and busy with work and family. It seemed so far away, and it was. This turned out to be one of the greatest blessings in my life because it was always in the back of my mind. It reminded me not to get too out of shape.

I was riding less and less, spending Saturdays with the kids on motos or surfing. If we were in town, I’d get up early and be home by 830 ready to play with the littles.

That changed.

They got older, wanted to do their own things. Went off to college.

I started riding more regularly, and reconnecting with the community.

In the early 2000s, Super-D burst onto the national scene. Promoters took the long DH of an XC course and timed it. Talk about an event tailor made for me: short, I wasn’t too fit or light; fast, I was used the moto speed; technical, and still pretty handy on my MTB.

I won back-to-back National Championships.

The key?

I did way more prep than anybody else, pre-riding the courses. Most showed up in baggies and pads, I showed up in a skinsuit with moto goggles and an aero helmet.

My 20 year goal, was getting closer.

I started to think about that date with destiny… sub-9 at 60.

Around 2012, I went back to Leadville and clocked 8:30. That marked 4 tries. 3 between 8:28 and 8:38, 1 at 8:20. I felt good about my chances of cracking 9, and figured I’d go back one more time between then and 2022.

A year or two later, our oldest got into road riding and racing, I followed him. Bought a road bike, started to get back into some light racing. It was the funnest two years of training I ever had.

He moved back to Southern California and returned surfing.

At that point, I started this incredible journey.

I had the time, kids were gone.

I had the curiosity, how to go faster than ever at Leadville?

In 2019, I went back. I’d learned a lot over the years about my body, about training, about bike set up, about going fast.

I decided to go for a PR.

It all came together, and I went 8:15. I was completely blown away. How did I just go faster than ever, at 57 years old?

The next 3 years, I studied more, tinkered more, learned more. I developed a philosophy of how to pull it all together and have a truly great day on the bike.

In 2021, I did the Leadville Stage Race with the solitary goal of qualifying for the Silver Corral. This would allow me to start with pros and other incredibly fast races. In a race with 1000s, starting position matters.

With the start assured, I was now ready to put it all together.

And, I did.

I started to feel so good in early 2022, I wondered could I do another PR… at 60? I believed I could, if everything was perfect on raceday: my body, bike, preparation, and the always iffy weather.

I set my sights on a truly absurd goal: sub-8 hours.

Only one person over 60 had ever accomplished that, and he was an ex-pro who had the race outright back when I did an 8:20. He beat me by an hour that day.

The day came in 2022. Everything, and I mean everything, went perfectly.

7:57.

I was stunned, my friends shocked.

But, was I really?

No.

I had cracked the code to ripping on raceday, and I knew it.

It started with the simple idea of exploring what is physically possible for me?

What am I capable of?

I’m fascinated by that question… in all areas of life.

Now it’s time to share the keys to mastering ripping on raceday.

LEARN MORE HERE

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164.1 lbs
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
10 minutes recovery
120 minutes reading + Journaling 

I HAD A CHOICE TO MAKE TODAY:  take the fire well-worn fire road or the hard packed clay with varying depths of gravel strewn across it.  One I could ride blindfolded...

... the other could leave me folded in cement ditch.

I didn't hesitate.

The treacherous gravel was much more appealing for the simple reason it would require more skill...

• The slippery feel of the moving gravel
• Proper modulation of the brakes as the road curved
• Quick identification and adjustments as the gravel depths changed

... and honing those skills will lead to massive efficiency on raceday.

For the same reason, I rode the very challenging singletrack on Saturday.

I'd much rather deal with the obstacles at my own pace, build up my skills by myself, than face them for the first time, in a crowd, at speed...

... in a racing situation.

But, that's just me.

---

164.4 lbs
7ish hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pull ups, pushups, squats and nordic curls
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

WHY ARE SOME OF US RIDING FOREVER, and others for a season or two?  Are there basic laws that if applied would keep us all endlessly fascinated with this beautiful sport...

... do they apply elsewhere?

I think so.

I'll take me for an example, because... yeah, decades in the saddle.

• I left surfing for cycling because of certainty. The waves are so fickle, the roads and trails always deliver.
• The thing I love about riding and surfing is variety.  All the places to ride, all the skills required to be proficient.
• When I started racing, I loved the recognition of moving up the ranks, getting on podiums, and now Strava cups and KOMs.
• There is so much connection between my regular riding pals as we log the miles and share what is going on in life.

 I've heard it said, if we can consistently deliver on 3 of the 4 qualities above...

... we will create an addiction.

So, here's the question:

Where else can we apply this?...

• lovers
• customers
• family
• teams
• ...

specifically, who needs...

• certainty
• variety
• recognition
• connection

... from us?

If we're losing teammates, or worse...

... it's a pretty easy fix to touch the people that really matter.

Another amazing lesson learned...

... JRA (just riding along).

---

164.9 lbs
8ish hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit + extra pull ups, pushups and squats
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

IT'S BEEN A MINUTE since our last Tour de Donut.  I know why we haven't repeated the silliness, because it just doesn't jive with the trend in massive carb consumption while racing...

... it was too much.

Maybe we did it wrong?

It was easy to string together 10 stops over the course of about 80 miles,
we live in a donut mecca.

According to the latest trend, Pro Tour racers are consuming 100-120 grams of carb an hour.  The science and the results prove this new twist on nutrition vs the old-fashion way.  

That is about 4 glazed donuts, and I can verify...

... a donut every 30 minutes was too much.

But!... since I'm 99.999999999% sure we did it wrong, 
I'm considering a second attempt.

How'd we foul it up?

We simply weren't riding that hard, and it actually got worse as the sugar caught up with us and nearly put us into a collective coma.

The more I think about it, 
the more a second attempt seems prudent.

In the name of science and athletic excellence a Tour de Donut must be reenacted...

... this time we must sprint from shop to shop.

Think of the strides we'll make for humanity.

Think of how smart we'll look powering down a bear claw,
while power away from the bunch...

... oh, the sponsorship opportunities!

Who's in?

https://pedalindustries.com/products/tour-de-donut-speed-jersey

---

163.8 lbs
8ish hrs
no strength today
20 minutes recovery
90 minutes reading + Journaling 

FIVE OR SIX OF US WERE SUPPOSED TO MEET UP TODAY.  Instead, it was just me and Smiles, and he had to be back early.  The trail, which is quite rugged...

... was unusually deserted.

We climbed for well over an hour before seeing a single soul, at which point we parted ways.

I climbed on, up and through a near-empty campground...

... the next singletrack was a place known for cougar encounters.

It was too pristine,
too sacred a morning,
to be concerned about...

... what could go wrong miles from help?

The final mile and a half gains 1000', with pitches well above 20%.

I could hear a few propellor planes in the distance.

Other than that,
silence.

I laid my bike down,
grabbed a tasty crepé,
and sat on a metal bar meant to keep traffic on the gravel road.

No need to hurry,
It was difficult to leave.

I was glad nobody else made it, 
the solitude was cleansing.

These days, it can be so difficult to rise above the noise and confusion and here I was...

... far above the illusions that tug us daily here and there.

And, I had a thought.

What if I tried something different this coming season.

Rather than block out Saturdays from some brutal group ride, or racy MTB PR-chasing throwdown...

... what if I dedicated more time for adventures?

I'd still get the hard efforts in the day before with structured workouts.

Gotta hit those highs.

But, rather than a couple of times in the offseason...

... most of my Saturdays would be filled with adventure.

Scoping out new single track on the MTB,
discovering new gravel routes...

... driving to the start of something new vs rolling from home for the same ol' ride.

Would I have more blissful moments like today, accompanied by the inherent risks of new territory and riding alone?

Can they be manufactured,
forced?

Would I lose fitness?
Would I lose the racer's edge?

Something to think about as I take some time off before ramping up for the new season.

---

164.5 lbs
7 hrs
Pushups and Pullups
20 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling 

WHATEVER THE BIKE RACE, what we see is totally different from what a casual observer sees.  First, the TV cameras always make the inclines, jumps and corners...

... look way easier.

Even if the casual observer gets beyond that, they are missing something more important that we have.

Context.

Because when you've done the same thing, 
or tried to do it and failed...

... you know what it takes.

Is the video of Tom Pidcock blasting by other pros down a mountain at 60+ mph, along the side of a cliff with no barriers thrilling?

Yes, for sure.

Anybody can appreciate that.

But, until you've suited up in colorful, aero underpants,
put on a pitifully lightweight plastic half-shell helmet,
"protected" your hands in ultra-thin leather gloves,
ridden on tires as wide as your thumb, 
at anything over 50 mph...

... you have no freakin' idea of the incredible,
skills and reflexes required,
or courage summoned.

But, we do.

Most of us have done something like that at least once.

For some, once is enough.
For others, it's never enough.

And, when we see Pidcock calm and relaxed and loving it,
we can actually imagine what it would be like.

Our hearts might race,
or our palms sweat.

We know how freakin' crazy it is.

We have real-life context...

... and that's a darn fine thing to have regarding anything.

---

163.8 lbs
8 hrs
1 Rip On RaceDay Circuit
20 minutes recovery
60 minutes reading + Journaling 

I WAS DOING GOOD, solid ride with the posse, recovery drink, quick shower, walk a couple of miles on the beach with family.  It was all according to plan...

... until we got home.

Smelled all the goodness.
Saw all the snacks to hold us over...

... and completely lost my mind.

It started innocently enough,
chips, salsa and a
game of chess.

Crushed my son-in-law...

... celebrated a rare victory with mini peanut butter cups.

That was it, 
chip tooth and sugar tooth fully activated.

Hours later, as I was polishing off two slices of pie (gotta find out which is tastier) my son said...

... Don't worry dad, it's just one day.

He's right, 
but here's the thing I want to share.

When we ride more and eat less,
the math of weight loss,
our energy drops.

Other than my belly feeling abnormally full,
I feel great...

... and I'll probably feel great riding tomorrow.

So here it is..

... if you want to drop some blubber,
do it now.

Not in the season when we're trying to train hard,
set big PRs,
and race.

We need good energy to rip on raceday.

It's just one day,
and there will probably be several more this year,
the rest of the coming days I'll be monk like so I can...

... roll into 2024 in fighting shape.

---

161.7 lbs
6.5 hrs
no weights
10 minutes recovery
20 minutes reading + Journaling