JOE ROGAN WAS RAVING ABOUT THIS BOOK ON A PODCAST, Natural Born Heroes.  Because I'm always down to read and study what's going on in other sports to see if I bring something new to my code, I took his recommendation.  It's a wild and heroic tale of real histry, definitely a good read...

... I burned through it in a few days.

In the end it reminded me of a magical day racing.  Before I get there, here are a few of the nuggets I mined:

• True heroism is motivated by compassion
• You aren't an adult until you can rescue someone
• The holy trinity:  PullUps, Burpees, Squats
• Burn fat for fuel to go the distance
• The mediterranean diet is king
• Go slow to go fast

It's that last one I'm having trouble reconciling at the moment.  In past years, I've been focused on real tests of endurance:  Leadville, VisionQuest, Tahoe 100.  But, lately I've been road racing and doing some short XC races.

In these short races there are moments of violence that if you miss them, it's pretty much over....

Screw up the start of an XC race and you'll never make it to the front. 

Same goes for road racing.  If you miss the winning break it's over. 

... ya just can't go slow - the distance too short, decisive moment to quick

But, the book brings up Mark Allen.  6 time Ironman champ, known as The Grip.  Because as the races drew to an end if he had you in his sites he'd run you down.  You had no chance.

All that reminded me of something I used to have my best day ever at Counting Coup, Tahoe 100, and most recently at Leadville.

I call it The Pace.

Natural Born Heroes definitely alludes to this as the heroes live up to their Greek origins fighting the Nazis in WW2.

I need to get back to that type of training, especially with Cactus Cup in 3 weeks and Sagebrush Safari after that.  I might have waited too long.  We'll see.

Thinking about The Pace today, while finishing the book, I realized I left it out of The Leadville Letters.

Shame on me.

It's critical info for anybody looking to go the distance.  

So, I'm going to add it to the letters and ship it out to everybody made a previous purchase.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/books-n-such/products/the-leadville-letters

If you've got something epic on your RaceDay Calendar™, then you might want to have these handy letters in your library too.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/books-n-such/products/the-leadville-letters

---

163.4
Stretch and HyperVolt (almost everyday, don't always post it)
8.2 hrs
https://www.strava.com/activities/4827006272

THE TRAIL SPLITS AND WE ALWAYS GO TO THE RIGHT.  Been doing if for decades.  I've stopped, looked to the left...

... and just kept going to the right.

Not today.

Fittingly, the name of the trail is Viejo Tie -> I am old, and I prayed it would tie back into where we wanted to end up.  

It wasn't much of a prayer, I was prettydamnsure this was the famed trail nobody ever rides because if you have a mishap nobody will ever find you.  Plus, there are bonus points if you can make it without dabbing...

... mission not accomplished.

Yet, still accomplished.

The whole point of today's ride was to get on some terrain that would beat the crud out of us...

... get the blood flowing inside and outside our mortalness.

In that we were most successful. 

Plenty of scrapes, dandy dabs, and a wholelotta Damnman we should be able to ride this!

When we got back on familiar, easier terrain the results where immediate.  We cleared a number of features we might normally walk, and Chris PeeYar'd the long and ridiculously fun final 30 minute downhill. 

This is not the first time I've confirmed R. Frost's claim...

... nor will it be the last.

The reason for today's adventure is the Cactus Cup looming 3 weeks out.  I can see it on my great, big, giant, amazing RaceDay Calendar™.  March 11-14 is circled in red.  

The terrain is very similar to the racecourse out in Arizona.  Only harder, and ideally will make us fasterbetterstronger.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2

The calendars are awesome.  27" wide x 50" tall

• printed on our beautiful bag fabric
• grommets to hang up, and remove easily
• foldable for travel
• ... and we can make them in your team colors with your team's special dates highlighted.

For $30, delivered.

Yes, for just a few bucks you can have this calendar delivering inspiration all year long.

Order here: https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2

---

163.6
21 PullUps 21 Burpees
7 hrs
https://www.strava.com/activities/4820131182

WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS SILLY CHALLENGE... some people straight up refuse.  I don't know if it's out of embarrassment or inability or if they are offended.  Today we had more takers than usual.  Anybody who walks in we ask 'em...

... How many pullups can you do?

Then we point to the pullup bar.

After the pullups...

... How about pushups?

Now before you ask yourself what the helk does that have to do with bike riding... let me just share the results.

WH
3 Pullups - 40 Pushups

SD
1 Pullup - 0 Pushups

MS
10 Pullups - 0 Pushups

JE
15 Pullups - 7 Pushups

Ok, now you can ask... What the helk does that have to do with bike riding?

Honestly, I'm not exactly sure.

But, I was thinking about it lately since more than a few of my friends have managed to fall off their bikes and get pretty banged up. 

Could it be they are weak? 

Pullups require a fair amount of hand strength, and tendon strength through out your arms and back.

Pushups require a lot of chest, tricep and core strength.

All I can tell ya is since finishing Living With A Seal and getting on this Pullup and Pushup kick ...

... I feel a helluvalot stronger on all my bikes

• Out of the saddle climbing and sprinting
• Steep descents on the local trails
• Seated, technical MTB climbs
• Bunnyhopping and other quick moves

Would this have helped my pals stay on their bikes?  I dunno, but it makes carrying in the groceries a lot easier.

I do sets throughout the day.  However many pullups, I do twice as many pushups.  I try and keep my form - no swinging on the pullups and shoulders as high as the bar; back flat and legs locked on the pushups, all the way down and all the way up.

Right now I'm doing sets of 7/14.  The goal is to do 5 sets of 10/20 each day, minimum 5 days a week.  I think I'll be able to do that by my birthday in April.

Steve installed a sweet bar in our rafters, and Chris wrapped it with the most excellent ENVE bar tape.  

It's so grippy and soft.

Just what you'd want on your handle bars.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/bikeshop-enve-composites-handlebar-tape-black

If you're looking for some super sweet bar tape, here it is.

Use this promo code:  BARENVE

It'll save ya 10% and get ya free shippin'.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/bikeshop-enve-composites-handlebar-tape-black

---

162.9
35 PullUps 70 PushUps 
8 solid hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4813488611

NBA SUPERSTAR REGGIE MILLER IS PART OF OUR LOCAL MOUNTAIN BIKE SCENE.  Racing.  Putting up prize money. Buying RaceDay Bags™ for his team, Boombaby.  When he commented on a video I posted on the Instagram today...

... then, and only then, was I sure we were onto something.

But, let me give you some background.

Lately, I've realized just how useless I've become.  Having tacked a bike shop on to our online empire, staffed with a pro mechanic named The Wrench to bail me out regularly, has only made my uselessness more useless.

It's embarrassing.

We, me for sure, oughtta be able to fix our bikes.  Because if we can't fix our own bikes how the helk are we gonna help anybody else roadside, trailside or gravelside?

I was thinking all that when it me...

Fix a man's bike and he can ride for a day,
Teach a man to fix his bike and he can ride forever.

So, I walked around the corner and shot impromtu this video

 Which I posted and which the great Reggie Miller commented That's actually TRUE...

So count me in as a dude who is recommitted to becoming a kickarse garage mechanic.

And why not?

It's a helluva a lot better than HuluFlix.

How am I gonna do it?  The same way you can. 

Next time I need some work done I'm going to schedule Chris and let him know I want to watch and learn.  Easy enough.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/bikeshop-wrench-calendar

I'm also going to get a good set of tools for home that I can travel with.

In the meantime, I'll keep my hands protected with the most awesomest, lightest, airiest race gloves ever...

... and my feet cozy in our socks knitted in these united states using EZ Breathe Yarns and FastMax compression technology.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves

And I highly encourage you do the same.  With this BuyOneGetOne promo code - > REGGIE

Now if you're thinking it's too cold for the superlight awesome stuff... the weather is going to be perfect before you know it, and won't new gloves and socks be a joy to pull on when it's time?

A scant $25 will get you the gloves and the socks, shipping is free.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves

---

163.8
28 PullUps 56 PushUps 
8 solid hours sleep
no ride - boohoo

IF A RUT IS A GRAVE WITH THE ENDS KICKED OUT, what is a rut filled in by the county tractor?  I'll tell what it is, one of the most lethal tricks in the book...

... but, is there a name for such hazards?

They are phrases for sure, and depending on who you're talking to the phrase will range from grateful to hateful. 

A hiker, might appreciate a rut being filled in.  Just moseying along, it is nice to have a smooth surface on which to plant one's boot even if it's a little loose.

A runner, moving a little faster and hitting the ground with more force, if not careful, could turn an ankle.  Lucky for them, they aren't really going all that fast and have time to adjust course accordingly.

But a rider, a racer, like you and I...

... letting it all hang out, possibly at night, might come whipping around a familiar corner and realize too late - if at all! - that things have changed.  The ruts are gone...

... that's what the new rider might think, Oh look it's all smooth now.  Yippee!...

... Not us.  We see that change and our PEDALsense is on high alert, Oh crud, the ruts are gone which means the county tractor rolled through and filled them with loose dust and a couple of rocks. Be careful Joe or we're going down!

Yep, we really think all that and maybe a few saltier words in a micronanomiliseocnd.

We search madly to find the old ruts and avoid them because we know if we hit them with speed the wheels will drop in and we'll be an instant yardsale.

It happens so quick.

Ruts.

This is about the point where I come up with some new, clever name for ruts recently filled in by the county tractor.  But, I got nothing.  No new word.

No pithy way to describe the feeling we've had, lurking beneath that newly smooth dirt is a disaster waiting to happen.

Can't win 'em all.

But, you can win the Ultimate RaceDay Bag™ - custom bag, custom kit, custom poncho, custom KOM jacket, custom RaceDay Calendar™ and a bunch of other goodies.

Check it out:  https://pedalindustries.com/pages/3000-enve-wheel-giveaway

---

165.2 - the horror!
42 PullUps 84 PushUps 30 leg to shoulder press
7.25 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4805024710

YA KNOW....... SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER TO STAY IN BED.  But, I never do.  Even when I get home late the night before, even when the ground is soaked, even when the Wahoo isn't charged...

... I charge out the door for TMWC.

And that soaked ground is always risky on road tires, right? 

I think the flats per ride goes up a million percent on wet days. I wasn't worrying about it this morning...

... getting a flat...

... because ya know, tubeless.  In fact, I've been consciously wreckless since going tubeless.  Purposely not paying attention like I did in my tubed days.

Psssssst psssssst psssssssssst.

Flat!

Oh man, we got time to change it.

Not changing it, got this handydandy plug.

And I did have a handydandy plug.  Jammed it in the toobigtosealwithsealant hole, yanked it out, shot in some CO2.  Just like the commercial said, except the CO2 shot right back out.

I wasn't surprised. 

This is exactly what happened last time we experimented with the Stan's Dart system at the shop.  If the hole is too small, the dart head separates from the feathery things meant to fill the hole.  It's a big fail.

Luckily for me, Steve was driving over and stopped to lend a hand and a CO2 cartridge.  

The second dart I shoved more slowlier.  Then even slowlier extracted the dart shover.  Said a prayer.  Filled it up.  

Success!

I wasn't suprised.

It supposed to work that way.  

There is somewhat of an art to all these dartlike systems for patching a hole too gaping for sealant.  With the Stan's, if the hole is just barelytoobigforsealant the dart must be shoved in carefully.

Anyway, I sent the guys on ahead and turned around.  Figured it would be better to be close to home in case the system failed.  Rode for 30ish miles. 

It's still holding air perfectly now, hours later.

Even though you can see the feathery thingies, you really don't feel them when riding.  Part of the reason could be that this all happened on the BMC URS which has 20 millimeters of travel in the rear.

The temptation, when you're surrounded with new tires like I am, is to throw a new one on.  But, I think I'm going to really test this out for a few hundred miles.

It's good to practice flat repairs.  Tubeless or tubed.  Not too long ago, flats were things you got once a month, or more.  It was a skill every rider honed and could easily perform.  These days not so much.

Which is why I say Every day is RaceDay.  Especially today.  I got a little more practice with the darts and reminded myself to carry more than one CO2.  One could say this was a fortuitus time to flat:  not in a turn, not in a hurry, not in a race... a good time to practice.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/every-day-is-raceday-trucker-curved-bill-adjustable-hat

It's still beanie weather, so you probably don't want this hat yet.  But, then again maybe you do.  Even if it's just hanging in the garage by the Zwifty set up.

According to our website, this hat sells for twentyfour dollars and ninety seven cents, which is such a weird number.  I don't know what we were thinking.  So just remember this...

25 bucks, delivered to your door.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/every-day-is-raceday-trucker-curved-bill-adjustable-hat

 ---

164.2 lbs - not bad after 5 days on the road eating junk
20 PullUps 40 PushUps
6 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4797003122

SEDONA, AZ. FEB 15 2021.  It’s 29 degrees.  The sun ain’t quite up.  But you are.  And you want to have the best day ever mountainbiking Sedona AZ...

... What are ya gonna do?

Well, the obvious first move is to look up the closest 3 out of 5 stars rated greasy spoon... ‘cause the heaterless PEDALvan is fffffffffreezing.

Now, why a 3 out of 5?

• You know all the touristy snobs won’t be there.
• The locals will be.
• There will be plenty of grease.
• The price will be cheap.

Let me introduce you to The Coffee Pot.  $7: eggs and sausage and French toast. 

Perfect.

An hour later, we’re stuffed and warm and have a plan thanks to the Trail Forks app I’ve been studying. 

It’s warmed up to about 40, but it’s a dry freezing. 

Not terrible. 

The only terrible thing was my app reading skills.  In no time, we are riding along a cliff edge on some fine Arizona sandstone.  I like the challenge.  Surfergirl... well, she later admitted to wanting to cry. 

It got better.

We got off the Most Difficult trail after a bit, onto Intermediate, and finished with a downhill Green.

This is my third or fourth time to Sedona.  I’ve never had a great riding experience.  The first couple of times we had no idea where to ride and I’m pretty sure the locals purposely pointed us in the wrong direction. 

A few months back I visited my friends Hardtail Party and Dusty Betty.  Hardtail took Chris and I out for some raucous and righteous singletrack.  If it weren’t a million degrees that day, I probably would have gotten the Sedona bug.  But it was, and we suffered mightily under the sun.

Today... today was a new day.  My best Sedona day ever.

While Surfergirl recuperated, The Old Diesel went out to shred.  I took another stab at Trail Forks and found a bunch of sweet singletrack.

The trails were most excellent, after a heavy rain two days prior.  Hero dirt.  Plenty of berms and jumps.  Miles and miles of goodness.

Finally, I found something perfect for my lady and swung back to coax her out... and found her out hiking along the same trail.

I found some good stuff, you’ll love it.

Let me see the app.

Right here.

That’s where we supposed to go last time.

Uhhhhh... let’s go!

Okay.

... yeah, way more than ok.  I’m definitely coming back.  Not for the 6-mile hike...

... for the endless challenging and playful mountain bike trails, stunning views and the locals at The Coffee Pot.

I wouldn't change a thing.

But, I did change using the internationally famous Changing Poncho.  The custom one I made for the PEDALposse.  

More and more teams are starting to order these ponchos to go inside their incredibly awesome RaceDay Bags™. 

Can ya blame 'em?

Can ya join 'em?

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-changing-poncho

Of course you can join us... order an InStock poncho with this link below or send me a note and we'll design a custom poncho for you and yours.

No minimum required.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-changing-poncho

---

? lbs - traveling with family and feeling bloatederish
100 PushUps
8 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4793751282
https://www.strava.com/activities/4793753187

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE IS SHOW HOW BUFF WE ARE.  And we are, right?  Rippling legs, sinewy arms.  Everybody loves buffness. It's so useful.  In a bind...

... call my kind.

Until, well, someone actually calls or says something like...

We rode bikes yesterday for you, today I want to do a long hike for me.

And we say to ourselves... Hike.  Sheesh.  What could be easier than a hike with these tree trunks of mine?

Sounds great.

There's a really pretty one.  It's seven miles.

And we say to ourselves... 7 miles, no prob.

It was going so well.  Surfergirl plotted the hike, filled up our bottles, grabbed some fruity things.  Off we went.

Straight up for the first 3 miles.

Took just over an hour.

I barely broke a sweat.

But, here's where things got ugly.  Seems maybe we ain't as buff as we think. 

First, I was wearing these old New Balance Minimus shoes.  As in minimal to nonexistent padding.  As someone who rarely wears anything but flipflops and who only walks long distances in the sand this was quickly turning into misery on the balls of my feet.

Second, within about a mile on the return these tree trunks of mine were chopped into kindling.  We aren't tough at all when it comes to the jarring of each downward step.  The quads were definitely lighting up.

Third, and my favorite because it's gonna be around for at least a week, by the time we got back to the PEDALvan I was sure I'd developed a solid case of shin splints.

There are the things we do for love.

These are also the things we suffer for our love of getting around on two wheels vs two feet.

I'm just glad it turned out to be 6 miles vs the promised 7.

Speaking of promises...

... I can promise you we are nearly out of these beautiful bottles.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-water-bottle-24oz-purist-2-pack

Get 'em while you can.

$20.

Delivered.... yes, the 2-pack.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-water-bottle-24oz-purist-2-pack

---

? lbs - traveling with family and feeling bloateder
80 PushUps
8 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4788749699

GOT IN 2 MOSTEXCELLENT RIDES TODAY.  The first was with my pal Markell and his Best pal.  The second started with Surfergirl and ended with Sufferdiesel...

... both were kinda backwards, which has a few significant benefits.

Generally, Markell and Mike Best have their way with me.  But, poor young Markell's fire for cycling needs some new fuel.

I think he got it today.

We met at the Hawes/Canal area outside of Phoenix.  TBH, this singletrack is so good I'm surprised it's still legal.  Surely someone will find out humans are having a ball and nobody is collecting rent on this happiness.

Imagine endless singletrack, as far as you can see, and your mouth hurting at the end due to a constant grin.  Yep, it's that good.

Mike schooled us both.  Up and down.  But, for a rare moment I got best of Markell.  I know this bugged him.  He's a legit D1 athlete.  Competitive is an understatement.

So that was backwards ride number one... me beating Markell into submission, kinda, with the noble purpose of stoking his MTB fire.

The other started off correctly, ended backwards.

Surfergirl and I snagged a campspot in the overflow at McDowell Mountain Regional Park... site of next month's Cactus Cup.  We took a leisurelyforme ride up to the top of the racecourse.  She was on her limit, I was working on my onelegged drills and trackstand.

But, true to form she had some good game on the downhill.  Always has, always will.

After an hour I shot out for some hot time on the racecourse. 

Immediately took a wrong turn and found myself going up the 3rd leg of the Enduro stage. 

Then, around a technical section of the XC stage.  In reverse.

I did manage to get myself back to the start of the TT course and ride that in the correct direction, part of which we race in reverse/down for the last leg of the Enduro.

That's when it hit me.

Something I've always done when time permits, but you may not have considered for race prep.

Riding the course in reverse allows a racer to see things differently.  For example that first Enduro section is not nearly as steep as I remember it.  I rode it easily, which probably means I could go even faster.  

The section of XC I rode in reverse, which I remembered being much more punchy is actually quite manageable.

But, the very best part of all this desert riding is getting on the terrain and messing with my tire pressures. 

I rode 25ish last time I raced out here.  

It worked well, and no flats.

Today I went as low as 19lbs. 

Sure the traction was nice, but that puncture I got and the subsequent slow leak was quite unwelcome.... especially as the sun had set and the shadows were long gone.  

I was miles from camp.

The thought of hoofing it in stiff, carbon soles was terrible. 

Fortunately for me, I was carrying my miniRaceDay Bag™. 

Inside was a canister, a nozzle and some plugs.  I couldn't find a hole big enough to plug, so I gave it a shot of CO2 and easily got back with a pinch of twilight.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-mini-raceday-bag

We make these from bicycle innertubes.  They are very light weight and tuck up under your saddle.

The pic above and this one show the road version which is all I use these days as I don't carry tubes any more.  Risky, I know.

They are $20.  Ship free.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-mini-raceday-bag

 ---

? lbs - traveling with family and feeling bloated
80 PushUps
8 hours sleep - this is killing me
https://www.strava.com/activities/4782015830
https://www.strava.com/activities/4783267363

THE WORST SANDBAGGING I EVER SAW WAS RACING MOTOS IN THE CALIFORNIA HIGH DESERT.  A certifiable pro lined up next to me in Novice.  Never saw him again...

... which is a lot like MTB vs Road.

MTB has a tradition that is much more wild west.  Sign up for what you feel you can, should, want to handle.

Whereas, the stuffier side of the sport, the road racers, force everybody through a set of hoops many fail to even finish.  And track... you can't even get on the track without completing a few classes.

And that's where the sandbagging comes in...

... while there are always few wolves in the henhouse looking for an easy win, I have to say MTB has the most offenders.

Why?

Welp, because in MTB you can waltz in and sign up for any category, there is less of an ego stroke in saying I'm an X level racer.

Conversely on the road, and more so on the track, you have to earn you way up to the higher levels.  Hence, saying I'm a X Category racer means something.

All that to say the MTB side has the most winers when it comes to being kicked out of a lower level for winning too much.

I know there's some sort of life lesson in there, but I can't put my finger on it.  

It's probably something like we cherish most what we pay the most for - whether it be blood, treasure or time.

Or is it... we care least for the things that are given to us.

Nah... its sandbagging is for dummies.

Because, the best of any of these disciplines are always at the top.  And few, if any, are in for the easy win... they best always want to be the best, of the best.

The best are planners.  

They look at the entire year and pick their one or two races.  Oh, they'll race a lot.  To practice, to get to know the competition, etc.  But, look at their calendar and guaranteed there is only a few races circled in red.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2

You can get this giant beauty which measures 27" wide X 50 inches tall for a scant $30.

Yep, for 30 smackers you can plan out your year and the various smackdown you intend to deliver or have delivered.

Can you see it there in your garage?

Motivating you?

Or what about one with your team graphics and sponsors?

$30.

Delivered.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2

 ---

? lbs - traveling with family and feeling bloated
100 PushUps
6 hours sleep - this is killing me
no ride

IN AN EFFORT TO GET AHEAD OF POSITION DOPING, the almighty and glorious governing body of cyclng, The UCI, has decreed dropper posts to be illegal in all forms of bicycle racing.  We want to congratulate this bold move...

... only enlightened visionaries could see Droppergate far on the horizon.

Head of Technical Advancement & Safety, Dr. Enrich Von Schmartypants, was captured on Zoom.

Vee are wery concernded with da safety of da pros.

Really?

Ya.  Day are taking big risks with da superduperpooper tuck.

Do explain.

Ju see, in da superduperpooper tuck position not only it's likely to lose control of da bicycle but da pooper as well.

Da pooper?

Ja!, just look at der position.  Turn it precisely 90 degrees and you see da poop gonna come out.  Just a matter of time.

Has it been documented?

Just a matter of da time.  Da rider gonna poop during da race.  Could easily have been Herr Doumolin.

Oh...

And da sponsor logo gonna be covered in da poop.  Dhat's too dangerous for der sport.  We already losing so much sponsor euros.

So, it's about the euros then?

It's always about da euros ju dumbpoop.

There you have it folks.  Sell those droppers before the bottoms drops out of the market like steamy...

...  wisdom from The UCI.

Fortunately, and I do mean very fortunately, neither the UCI nor it's step-child USACycling have much say in most races around these parts.

So, as I start to fill in my RaceDay Calendar™ I'm not worried about their many, silly rules. 

I'm really digging the Eddy Merckx version of the calendar.

Check it out.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2

Look at those eyes.

The determination.

Confidence.

It inspires the helk outta me.

You can get this giant beauty which measures 27" wide X 50 inches tall for a scant $30.

Yep, for 30 smackers you can plan out your year and the various smackdown you intend to deliver or have delivered.

Can you see it there in your garage?

Motivating you?

Or what about one with your team graphics and sponsors?

$30.

Delivered.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2

 ---

165.4 (very late family dinner, ugh I have no will power when it comes to fresh, hot sourdough bread.  none.)
18 PullUps 70 PushUps
6 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4771271357

WE SET UP THIS TERRIBLE PRACTICE COURSE.  Really hard... 3.77 miles long with 780' feet of elevation gain per lap, and all the downhill is single track. It’s perfect...

... for me to get gapped.

As the laps wore on, the other's lights got further and further ahead.

There was no doubt.  I was not up to the pace.

Slower on the climbs.
Slower on the drops.  
Slower...
... than some really fast cats.

Speaking of cats.

Lots of sitings lately. 

The big ones, 130 poundsish. 

You know the kind that run 40 mph.

Jump 20 ft.

Attack from behind.

Well I’m thinking about these stealthy killing machines...

... and that saying about being faster than your friend being more important than being faster than the really big, fast cat, that wants to snap my neck and claw my guts out...

... which gets me going. 

if you’re really into getting going at night, this light set up is really sweet.  A huge beam on my bars and a nice spotlight on my helmet.

Perfect for charging hard when the friends are gone and imagination is riding wild.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/t-o-d-s-night-set-up 

Use promo code: BIGCAT

To save over $50.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/t-o-d-s-night-set-up 

 ---

164
54 PullUps 108 PushUps 108 Squat to Press
8 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4768502383

I HAVE A NASTY HABIT BATTLE GOING... not the Flying Nun kind.  This is the kind of habit battle that could kill a rider if he wasn't careful. That's how habits are, they get burned in...

... and can leave us burned out.

I'm not burned out yet.  But, as they say...

.. the struggle is real.

The first habit is the wind down.  Each evening, around 9 or so, I start shutting 'er down.

You know... mindless TV, stretching, and some serious HyperVolting.

This process lasts about an hour.  It's enjoyable and signals to my helmet holder Time to sleep big boy.

That's a pretty good habit to have, resulting in nearly 8 hours of sleep most nights.

The other habit is every Tuesday morning...

... up at 5am.

Meet the boys and girls at the corner for the weekly leg ripping affair.

Also a good habit, keeping us all light and lean cycling fiends.

And there is the nasty battle....

Like today.

The wind down started at 930 last night, ended at 1020.  

The 5am habit sometimes is so locked in I rise sans alarm at 450.

Result, 6 1/2 hours of sleep.

Heap on a true beatdown of ride like today...

... and The Old Diesel morphs into The Worthless Very Old Diesel.

But Diesel, start the wind down earlier... you'll be fine.  

I hear you. 

But these two habits are deep.

Like ruts...

... you know, Ruts!

... graves with the ends kicked out.

Hopefully, this battle won't kill me...

... and Friedrich I'm derned sure it ain't makin' me stronger!

The thing that is saving me, I believe, is that HyperVolt.

It's the weirdest recovery tool I've ever used.

Most recovery is awful.

Ice bath : Misearable

Epsom Salt Bath : Awkward and messy

Essential Oils : Hard to tell

Massage : Costly and time consuming

You probably have a few secret home remedies you swear by, but I don't.  I didn't.  Until I got my hands on one of these.

If I could distill it down to one sentence, and I can, I'd say...

... A few minutes on the painful muscles and the pain goes away.

If I could shrink that down to one word, and I will, I'd say ...

... Easy.

By easy I mean it's super easy to use.  Super convenient.  

And, you'll be super happy if you use this super promo code which will save you $$$$ and get you free shipping.

The code is WINTHEBATTLE and it will save you 35 smackers.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/recovery/products/hypervolt-w-bluetooth

 ---

163.6
24 PullUps 48 PushUps
6.3 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4761011137

SEEING OUR PROGRESS BUILDS BELIEVE IN OUR PROCESS.  A perfect example is all the pushups and pullups I've been doing for about a month to get stronger for MTB season and life in general.  No joke, I look slightly less like a T-Rex.  But, the best part...

... they are getting easier, a lot easier.

Plus, I felt a lot stronger on Saturday's race course:  punchy climbs and technical drops.

That's the seeing part.

The hearing part is different.

On a smooth section of road with few cars buzzing me, I pedaled my MTB this morning.  The treads are wide, the pressure low.  I could hear the power being put down on the road.

The sound was smooth.

Not vrmmmm, vrmmmm, vrmmmm... 

but, vrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

It reminded me of a chat with Gibby Hatton about smooth pedal strokes.  He said BMXrs put down the smoothest power because no clips.  MTBrs second smoothest because no traction.  Roadies the worst because no feedback.

If you have a trainer, you can easily hear your pedal stroke...

... and know if it's smooth or not.

Smooth is faster, more efficient.  

Better.

I like to see stuff, whether it's results or visualizing the future.

But, the question I have for you is can you see Eddy Merckx in this calendar?

Can you see his eyes?

Determination?

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2/products/eddie-merckx-raceday%E2%84%A2-calendar

It looks outstanding in real life.  27" wide X 50" tall.

A perfect place to plan out the year's adventures.

$30.

Delivered.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2/products/eddie-merckx-raceday%E2%84%A2-calendar

 ---

164.5 (superbowl got me good)
35 PullUps 70 PushUps
7.5 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4755920548

BRYSON AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT WHEEL CHOICE FOR LEADVILLE A FEW YEARS AGO.  Shocking, I know.  Because what self-respecting cyclist would ever talk about wheel choice? Uh...

... everysingleone.  

Wheels matter,.

(We know Diesel, get on with the story.)

Anyway, there we were talking about wheels choice... mind you, he's won Leadville twice, is a national champ in MTB Marathon, etc...

I looking at getting some new wheels for PbVille.  What are you running?

ENVEs, even though ENVEs are a little heavier.

Why run 'em?

Because I trust them.

Which reminds me of my own intro to ENVEs.  I was running brand X, and they kept warping and breaking.  Finally my very awesome local bike shop got the money back from brand X and hooked me up with my first set of ENVEs.

Road wheels, 3.4s.

Rode 'em 3 years, never trued 'em.  Ever. 

#3 Reason not to purchase ENVEs is the price.  Which is why I was on Brand X to begin with.  ENVEs will cost you an arm and a leg, but in the end I can honestly say the are veryvery cost effective.

You'd think, of course, if you're gonna pay that much then you oughta be able to get them quickly.

Nope.

#2 Reason not to purchase ENVEs is you have to wait.  It's probably a bad analogy, but you know how you can get a BigMac quicker than Sagan can snag a sprint?  Well, ordering ENVEs is more like waiting for a juicy steak at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse.

Totally worth it.

I realize, I kinda left the Bryson story hanging... didn't connect the dots.

Here you go.

#1 Reason not to purchase ENVEs is there will be no excuse for not getting it done. By it I mean, your PR/Win/KOM thingy you're chasing.  A lot of people like to have excuses of why things didn't work out.  So, if you're one of those types you don't get ENVEs.

They are reliable.

Strong.

Fast.

If you can handle not being able to blame your wheels for poor performance...

If you're okay waiting many weeks for perfection...

If you've got a few extra bucks...

Let's chat.

We are an ENVE dealer, and I'd love to hook you up with just the right set for your bike...

... just reply to this email.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/enve-wheels

 ---

162.7
HyperVolt/Stretch
7 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4751970787

I LOVE ALL KINDS OF RACING.  Bikes for sure, and cars and motos and skateboards and paddleboards and running and skipping and... But, when it comes to bicycle racing there's something about mountain bike racing...

... because of something it lacks.

It's unlike road racing, and though I've only dipped my cleat in gravel racing I'd say it leans more toward road than MTB.

The reason I like MTB so much is at the end of the race.

Not the finish line.

I mean, generally, the races are so damned hard the finish line is a very welcome site.

But the thing I really like is seeing the placings...

... and the times.

You see, in a road race a breakaway can get on up the road and put big chunks of time into the group.  So when you look at the placings things are distorted.  Unlike MTB, where the placings so obviously point out the truth.

The reason for that, of course, is there is very little to no drafting on the MTB.  It's much more mano a mano. You either have the goods or you don't.

Which brings me back to the placings, and what I like.

I like to look at those final times and see the guys who trounced me, and see the time gaps... because I'll go away, like today, and think to myself...

... sure as helk I can close those 2 minutes and get my arse up a couple of placings.

Now you might be thinking Wait a minute Diesel, that could be done in a road time trial as well.. But, you'd be mostly wrong.

You see, in a road time trial... well, yes, you can improve... but not like you can MTB racing.  

There are many more places to improve in MTB racing, mostly in this order:

• The start, from a good spot on the grid to holding max effort well into the first singletrack.
• Handling skills can be dramatically improved simply riding the MTB a lot more, over a lot more challenging terrain.
• Because the MTB requires so much more upper body strength, regular pull ups and push ups and core work can make those final laps much faster.
• Bike set up, sure road has position and aeroness and tire pressure... but, MTB has those plus suspension and dropper posts

I could go on... but, the point is... making 5%, even 10%, gains, is a real possibility on MTB which is why those placings and seeing the fellas just a few minutes a head is a helluva motivator...

... and yes, after today's beat down The Old Diesel is plenty motivated.  

I bet I'm not alone.

A couple of more things about today:

• Victor is putting on a dandy race series this winter:  excellent course, live timing, good sound system.  Really pro.
• I realized we are actually a well-known brand now:  multiple people came up and thanked me for our RaceDay Bags™ and Changing Ponchos and bygolly that makes me happy.
• I was determined to get at least 3 hours in today, so I rode near home this morning, got in a giant warm up for the race, raced hard, then went out with Coach Brian and his little boy for our cool down.  Honestly, I can't tell if the extra morning ride or super long warm up helped or hindered.  I felt pretty darn good.
• I saw a bunch of my friends, which always makes it fun.

My legs felt great due to the PR Lotion, and my special purpose did too thanks to DZ Nuts.

Ya really don't want to chances with either of those areas when racing hard, and facing a long drive home afterwards.  

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/lotions-for-speed-comfort-and-recovery

Cool thing is these ship free... and if you use this promo code you'll save a bucks too.

The code is LOVEMTB

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/lotions-for-speed-comfort-and-recovery

 ---

163.6
HyperVolt
7.5 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4747270996

MY FRIEND ZACH MISSED OUR RIDE LAST NIGHT, and I was so glad!  Not because he's a beast.  Not because he's a bad bike handler.  Not because he always snags a waffle when he's here... 

... none of those reasons.

I was thrilled because he bailed out to spend time with his young daughter,
take her on a bike ride.

There's nothing better.

I was able to do the same myself this morning with my old son,
take him on one of my favorite gravel rides,
to one of my favorite stops,
first time.

We did a ton of riding when he was little.  First on our tandem.  Then shuttle runs and resort runs.  But, he never really caught the vision of climbing...
... under manpower 
... suffering
... and I get it, it's not for everybody...
... but then again, he did say...

I can't wait for Beck to be big enough to go on a bike ride.

I still have the tandem.

Don't sell it.

Not a chance.

But, I am selling this beauty... the one that got me down this gravel road, the gateway drug to endless choices. 

Even Shane loves gravel, and that's something.  Heck, we road for 2 hours this morning... and on the way back he said, lets go further next time, and have the ladies meet us at the store.

So, if you're into adventure and possible carving out some time with family and friends...

Details are below... no unreasonable offer will be refused.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/bmc-bicycles/products/sequoia-merz-2017

---

164.4 lbs - oops
20 PullUps 40 PushUps
7.5 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4740272216

WE'VE JUST BEGUN.  Opened a shop off the side of our online empire to scratch an itch.  Personally, I swore in no uncertain term, I'll never own another retail operation again... but, you know, sometimes things line up and ya gotta go for it...

... like when Chris, longtime customer who moved to town just as the last local "pro" shop closed, had no place to hang his helmet.  He's a15+ year professional bicycle mechanic known as The Wrench...

... we pitched our idea to BMC Switzerland, you know Tour De France winning road bikes and recent winner of the MTB XC World Championships.  Apparently The Old Diesel has quite a following so they joined our mission...

,,,. people think we are killing it.

We aren't. 

We aren't trying to.  

What we are doing is delivering the kind of experience we want to a very specific client who demands high performance and personal service. 

How personal?

Schedule an appointment and get your service done while you wait personal.

Along with BMC, we carry only product we use and love:  ENVE wheels, KASK helmets, Fizik shoes, etc.

There aren't a lot of people like us... who demand outstanding racing bicycles and accessories, individualized bike fitting, service-while-you-wait.

We like that.

We enjoy working with likeminded athletes.

It's better that way.

If you're ever in town, stop in.

Heck, schedule an appointment with Chris.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/bikeshop-wrench-calendar

Just be prepared to be greeted by a friendly dude who will listen to what you need and get it done professionally.

Disclaimer:  because we are small and nitchy sometimes we have to order parts, which can delay the process...

... but, you know... ya can't hurry love.

---

163.6 lbs 
Light Weights Workout
7.3 hours sleep
No ride today.

TONIGHT, I SAW THREE THINGS I'D NEVER SEEN BEFORE.  The first happened early on the ride, between 2 riders who barely know each other.  I know one of them real well, so when he said he forgot something I wasn't surprised...

... I was surprised by the quick solution, a true trailside rescue.

I forgot to charge my battery.

Your lights?

No, derailleur.  It's red.

C'mon Rookie!

No worries man... take mine.  I have two.  I won't use the front one.

And, just like that, problem solved.

There's one more thing about this first surprise that was not surprising.  Our crew is really giving and caring.  That instant giving up of the battery is just the way we are... when we aren't kicking the crap out of each other.

Okay, the next two surprises I have no photographic proof so you'll have to take my word for it.

I came whipping around a turn and a giant, and I mean GIANT, owl was right there.  It's head spun around, the flat face, wise eyes, vicious beak... it stayed put.  Not even a ruffled feather.  More of a...

... Hey man, nice night.

Ten minutes later, higher on the trail we saw a million little, white field mice.  They reminded me of snow blowing across the road, their white fur gleaming in our lights.

Only now is it dawning on me what Mr. Owl was doing, still as can be trail side.

I would have been freezing if I was just standing there like him.  In the dark.  Not moving. 

At a minimum I'd need a sexy beanie to keep my head warm.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-beanie-available-in-4-colors-instock 

Probably this green one, to blend in... but, maybe the black one for the night or the blue one to match my eyes or perhaps the gray one for dawn?

Final surprise... you can get any of those colors delivered to you for $20... yep $20 includes said beanie in preferred color and shipping.

Get one:  https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-beanie-available-in-4-colors-instock

---

163.1 lbs 
50 PullUps 100 PushUps
8.2 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4730991490

ONE OF THE MORE ENTERTAINING PARTS OF OUR LOCAL GROUP RIDE IS BRINGING THE NEWGUY.  Today's newguy certainly looked the part:  svelte, stylish, confident.  You know the type...

... no fat, gold shoes, effortlessly navigating our galloping herd.

I've seen a lot of newguys start out like that. 

Just fine. 

But, the cumulative effect of multiple surges, not knowing the course, not knowing the players from the fakers can wear newguy down.  Just like that, spunky turns to spongy.  Bouncing off the front to soggy off the back.

Which is why it's so entertaining for yours Diesely.

Kindly, I let him know what was coming. 

Turn ahead,
watch that dip,
5 minutes of pain.

Just being friendly, in a voyeur sorta way.  

Now you might be thinking that I was thinking, can't wait 'till he blows.  Noooo, not little ol' me.  Why would I hope for newguy to blow and roll in with debris like me?  That wouldn't be nice, or gentlemanly, or even mature.

Nope, it was more of a self-bet. 

I'll bet he gets ejected on the wall.

That's a safe bet.  Real safe.  Everybody gets ejected on the wall.  

But not this newguy.  Hellno! 

He popped around me and everyone between me and the front like a humming bird pollinating beautiful blooms on a bright spring morning. 

When The Old Diesel finally finished, I did what every spongy, soggy piece of debris should do...

... Great to meet ya Fern!  Keep coming, we need more guys like you.

Because, you know

It's just a social ride.

To reinforce the friendliness of our little ol' ride I thought I'd highlight the socialness on the sleeves for this year's kit.

Check it out.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/the-tmwc

Now, if you're unfamiliar with our gear:

• We make it to order
• In the USA
• With the best Italian fabrics
• The best Japanese zippers
• And a pad so delicious you'll never ride another bib again. 

Yes, it's sexy as hell.

Yes, you can wear it even if you never do the ride... in fact, we highly encourage you to start your own TMWC.  A few people have done just that.

This promo code will expire in 2 weeks: TMWCNEWGUY

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/the-tmwc

---

163.4 lbs
Stretch and HyperVolt
6 hours sleep <- that cost me at least 100 watts
https://www.strava.com/activities/4722948021

AROUND 6PM TODAY, CUSTOMER BRIAN AND I TALKED A BIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF A LOCAL RACE CALLED VISION QUEST.  For most people, it's a once in a lifetime experience.   It took me two times to figure that out...

... it's hardashell.

A feather under 50 miles.

11000' of vert.

2 miles of hiking.

Average finishing time is 9ish hours.

In '99, the heat topped out at 90 degrees just as I was hitting the hikeabike...

... brutal.

There aren't really any races like that any more. 

VisionQuest has been on hiatus due to forest fires, tree huggers, and now the pandemic thingy.

Supposedly it will be back later this year.

But will it?

I feel like the troubled souls who were doing these insane events 20 years ago are a dying breed.  

My first VisionQuest, we loaded our bikes into a U-Haul and our bodies into a rusted out school bus just to get to the start.

Then we stood in the dark, freezing, smelling tribal smoke as the promoter blessed our efforts.

Brian reminded me about the aid station he manned over the years.  He'd be up there grilling hamburgers.  And people'd eat 'em.  They were 7 hours in and famished.  Just trying to finish the dern thing.

Seems more like today's racers think an adventure is a $500 event, with cushy accommodations and cushy bikes and cushy plane flights.

Back then, I gotta be honest, we were a helluva a lot tougher. 

No suspension,
heavy bikes,
multiple flats,
broken chains,
drinking just water,
eating PB&J.

See that paper number plate?

I'm real proud of that.

One, that I still have it.
Two, that it's #4... the promoter would use your finish from the previous year.  I wasn't 4th, but only 3 guys from the previous year were faster than me... therefore I got number four.

Sometimes ya gotta remind yourself where you've come from... those days when you'd just rather quit, climb under a rock... when it seems like nothing has changed, no progress has been made...

... those are the days I look back on my VisionQuest(s), buckle up, and say...

...  I can do hard things.

One thing I know I would have loved back then is our superlight gloves and socks.  Back then I was rocking the half finger road gloves, which are perfect for ripping the skin right off your fingers in a crash. 

I would have loved our race socks with EZBreathe Yarns and FastMax Compression.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves

If you haven't tried them... knows the time.

Use promo code:  HARDASHELL

and, when you buy gloves and socks the socks will be free when you check out.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves

the code is good for 48 hours.

---

164.2 lbs 
40 PullUps 80 PushUps
7 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4717699151

CHRIS FROOME SAYS AGE IS A STATE OF MIND.  I say whatev'. He also says, he plans to snag his 5th TdF while simultaneously becoming the oldest to ever do it.  I say again, whatev'.  Meanwhile, Tom Brady switched NFL teams because his previous team said he was too old and he is now taking his new team to the Superbowl...

... cute stories, hopes of old guys.

Not at all relevant to what matters.

What matters, what has always mattered, is motivation.

Winning is always nice, and it's a motivator for sure.  But, TBH I think it's weak compared to things like revenge, anger and proving a point.  Yes, these are baser motives...

... but, I guarantee you they're a huge part of these super human performances.

These guys are pros.  Seasoned.  They won't be seeing red, hurrying, making mistakes.

They're killers.

Patient.

When they strike, it's a killshot.

Do they have a chance against young phenoms? Not really.  They know that.  Which is what makes them so deadly.

But, they are just like us... right?

We can harness that same energy.

And, just like us they have to eat and sleep and ride and drink.

But, will they have these stylish bottles?

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/water-bottles/products/pedalindustries-water-bottle-24oz-purist-2-pack

I mean, they are good looking bottles.  And they're tall, because sometimes when you are hacked off, looking to prove a point you have to ride long.

$20.

That's it.

Shipping is included.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/water-bottles/products/pedalindustries-water-bottle-24oz-purist-2-pack

---

163.6 lbs 
Stretch and HyperVolt
8 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4714419471

TODAY TURNED OUT TO BE A HELLUVA RIDE.  Got to prove OneBikeToRuleThemAll concept, got mugged on the Thug Ride, got to sing HBD to Justin, and just for good measure...

... a onceinalifetime experience getting shelled riding renegade through Camp Pendleton Marine Base.

One of these things will likely never be done again.

First things first... I've been riding my sexy BMC URS - aka Showtime - with full gravel set up for months now.  Partly 'cause it's dern fun, partly 'cause the Srambassador parts for my sexy BMC Teammachine are floating somewher off the coast...

... so last night I mounted up my sexy ENVE 5.6s and through 'em on Showtime.  

Things went beautifully because both sets of wheels have ENVE hubs.  Slotted them in, didn't even need to touch the brakes.  

Right off the bike felt faster... duh Diesel, you put deep dish roadie wheels with Pirelli tubeless tires.  I felt pretty confident I'd be able to hang on the Thug Ride.

The Thug Ride is made up of the killers who used to do Swami's, the badassiest ride in these parts.  Every Friday they post the route for Saturday morning.  It makes for an exciting ride.  I hung on pretty dern good.  Considering I haven't done any road intensity for months, I can say in all honesty...

... if you want OneBikeToRuleAll, a killer gravel bike and 2 sets of wheels is a legit option.

I would only say if you're truly racing road, you're gonna need a proper road racer.  I never really spun out.  The bike is a few pounds heavier due to it's design for comfort and taking a beating, plus the 20mm of rear travel/bumper.  But, I don't think that mattered much.  The only thing that mattered to speak of was being in the perfect gear on the extremely fast climbs.  But, like I said... 

... unless you're truly roadie racing, this is a gloriously easy way to go.

We finished the Thug,
I was feeling smug.

So much so that rather than drive home with MattnCharlienJimmy I opted to ride home - another 50ish miles with MikenEricnChris.

You would have, too.
55 degrees.
Beautiful people out.
Along the coast.

No, I haven't ridden a hundy in months... maybe a year?

No, I didn't have enough food to make it.

Yes, I clearly was going to get a taste of my own medicine... and find myself begging for sugar!

When you ride through Camp Pendleton you have to have a special ID.  Eric had a current one.  Mike's had expired yesterday.  Mine expired  last year.  Chris didn't even have one.  We got lucky at the guard station... the alternative is riding the freeway where the minimum speed limit in the right hand lane is 200 mph.

It's a beautiful ride through the base.  One lane roads, open country to the right, gorgeous ocean to the left.  All was going according to plan, until we hit the North gate...

... we road around the barriers, ignored the road closed sign, and introduced ourselves to machine gun totting 20something who were not impressed with our fancy underwear and inability to follow directions.

Turn around?

Huh?

Didn't you see the barriers?

Uh....

Back to where you came from.

We just wanna get home.

Too bad.

We'll take Basilone.

You do that.

Now all 6 of us, those two and us four, knew the Basilone route is verbotten for der bikes.  They even have nice signs saying Getthehellouttahere.

But, we were tired and hungry and too dern close to home to care.

Which meant...

... we rode some of the most beautiful roads you'll never see.  Mostly to ourselves.  Especially me... I kept getting dropped on every rolling hill, of which there are a plenty.

It was so worth it.

One of the best rides of my life, even though I was hating on my friends for continually dropping me.  As Surfergirl so nicely pointed out... a bit of your medicine, eh. Dawgawnher!

We got back to town, I road straight to Surfin Donuts thinking of a huge apple fritter.

Closed.

Across the street was a gas station.  I came out with candy bars and bananas for all.

End of story.

I read a great quote today, 
If it scares you, you should definitely do it.

Right now LoToJa's 204 miles from Logan UT to Jackson Hole WI is definitely scaring me.

What's scaring you on your calendar?

Our calendar is HUGE!  27.5" wide X 48" tall.

It's made of fabric so you can hang it, and take it with you.

Don't you wish you'd had one of these for the last 10 seasons?... something to remind you of all the amazing things you've accomplished?

use this promo code: PHILOSOPHY

to save 33%, but you have to use it before 1/31/21

THAT'S $20 DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR... YOU'D BE A FOOL TO MISS THIS ONE.

Check it out: 

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2

---

164 lbs (too much loading last night)
Stretch and HyperVolt
7 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4701082377

IT'S LOOKING LIKE THE FALL OF 2021 WILL BE FILLED WITH ALL THE EPIC, ICONIC, BUCKET LIST RACES AN AMATEUR COULD EVER HOPE TO DO.  So, what's the plan kids?  Gotta pick one, maybe two, possibly three...

... but, can't do 'em all.

Me, I'm going with my gut on at least one... maybe all.

Now, the curious thing about going with the gut is it rarely lines up with the race that best matches my talents... which is what makes them so great.

The expectations are askew.

The unknown turned up to 11.

All of the sudden, I've got a whole new set of arrows needed for my quiver.  Could be figuring out lodging in a place with no lodging, food for a race with no support, tires for unknown terrain...

... but why is the gut saying go race X?

Because the gut knows things have got a bit stale and it's time to change it up.

So, right now I'm just filling in My RaceDay Calendar™ with all the possibilities...

... later I'll take out the red Sharpie and put a big red outline around the gut race(s).

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2

You did get your calendar didn't you?

The one where the promo code expires Sunday?

Our calendar is HUGE!  27.5" wide X 48" tall.

It's made of fabric so you can hang it, and take it with you.

Don't you wish you'd had one of these for the last 10 seasons?... something to remind you of all the amazing things you've accomplished?

use this promo code: PHILOSOPHY

to save 33%, but you have to use it before 1/31/21

Check it out: 

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2

---

162.6 lbs 
Stretch and HyperVolt
8 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4701082377

YOU CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT A PELOTON, BUT YOU CANNOT THRIVE WITHOUT ONE... no this is not a ringing endorsement for fancy spin classes on a stationary bike...

... if anything it's a tangential rant. 

What I'm talking about Fred is,
the peloton,
the guys,
the crew...
... the posse.

I can survive just fine riding alone, or even one a themthere zwiftoton thingies.  Okay, TBH, it'll be a hot day in Antartica before I zwiftoton... but I know for a lot of peeps they're a godsend... so, for me personally, I can survive just fine riding alone...

... but I can't thrive riding alone.

I need my posse.

I need to meet up with the fellas and the ladies.

Whether it's a fake social ride like the Tuesday Morning World Championships where legs are casually ripped off and tossed into the burning fire or a social adventure like DRTY WDNSDY or an actual conversational pace like EasyPeasyThursdee...

... we can't truly thrive without those that push us and pull us and love us.

Speaking of love, don't you just love having an ace up your sleeve?  You know, some secret weapon to spring on your posse.

It's impossible to hide a serious upgrade like a new BMC bicycle.

Nearly as difficult to disguise a game changing set of ENVE wheels.

But, for just a few bucks you can massively upgrade your legs. 

I'm actually surprised how many people have yet to rub on this magic elixir.  My friend SuperDave let me in on this secret.  I ran it by Coach Brian who said...

... Dude, I applied it twice every morning during the Tour of Utah and again each evening before I went to sleep.

... which I did myself the morning I broke my PR at Leadville in 2019.

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

One cat who is definitely in the know, John J, purchased 4 bottles yesterday.  4, like four.  You think he knows something you don't?

Yes, we ship it for free... and yes, you should use this promo code:

THRIVE

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

---

162.9 lbs 
https://www.strava.com/activities/4695912490 - paddle
8 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4697950397 - ride

I TRY NOT TO SWEAR, OUTLOUD... it might be a dad thing, or just the right thing.  But, when I'm racing I love the F word...

... not that F word.

The adverb that follows Ride...

... FAST!

Faster is always better...

... to ride faster, isn't to hurry. 

Hurrying creates errors.

Fast is a result of practice.  It's reptilian.  It's reflexes.  And, it comes from practice.  From doing the right thing, over and over.  

As my good friend Olympic Champion Peter Vidmar says...

... Practice makes permanent...

... to which we say...

.... F' yeah, we ride fast!

Especially this guy, who just picked his new BMC Roadmachine... first new bike in years!

I probably could have taken a better pic of the bike, but I just couldn't get enough of that smile!

Don't check out the BMC... website... unless you're into Swiss precision and exceptional engineering.  

For sure do not go to their website if you're looking for a cheap solution.

And, in no way should you go to the BMC website unless kicking asst and going fasst is important to you.

In the meantime, we still have a few of these hats in stock.

https://pedalindustries.com/pages/hats

Which you can have hand delivered to you from a friendly United States Postal Service worker in just a couple of days for less than the price of a new BMC bicycle.

Yep, that's the truth.

You can have that hat, for less than George's bike.

Delivered.

https://pedalindustries.com/pages/hats

---

164 lbs 
40 PullUps, 80 PushUps, 50 Squat to Press
8 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4692962398 

WE HAD A COLD RIDE TODAY, and before you say sure West Coast softie... let me lay out the raw facts:  5:38am pitch dark start, low temp 28.9 degrees.  But, that's not the real indicator of how bonechilling it was...

... this might be:

• Mark C, who hasn't missed the ride in 13 years... missed the ride
• Fashionista Charlie M... wore a flappy long-sleeved flannel
• Mike G, who has never donned more than a jersey... sported shoe covers and arm warmers
• Consistent Chris H, who texted last night I'll be there!...  stayed in bed.

... or this:

• Our numbers were down 50%
• Our speed was down 20%
• Our conversation down 70%
• Nobody, and I mean nobody, wanted to be on the front.

... but, I think it was this:

• It never warmed up, average temp was 34

That's a helluva cold ride...
which called for a helluva long, hot shower... 
leading to a helluva giant hot chocolate...
finding me with a cranked up space heater jammed between my legs all day....

Sometimes I wonder if my lights weren't so awesome, would I still head out to the dark and dreary world?  It's so much easy to roll out knowing I'll be able to see everything... and be seen.

If you're finding excuses to say cozy, maybe you're in need of a little more light in your life?

For road, I'm really digging the VIS 1000 Trooper... it's compact, aero and muy powerful.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-lights

Use promo code: BRIGHT

And get out there and train!

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-lights

---

162.6 lbs 
Stretch and HyperVolt
7 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4685149829

WE CAN'T ESCAPE OUR POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS, it's in our genes.  We are born athletes.  Our predecessors ran down their prey, not with speed, with endurance and cunning. They had to as a matter of survival...

... but we don't.

We, not you and me, the collective we no longer need to be athletes.  The effects are obvious and tragic. 

Look at a distance runner, that's what we were designed for.

Crud, watch a movie from the 50's, that's what we are supposed to look like.

We, you and me, get this.

We see the stairs next to the elevator, and bound up.

We see a mountain road, and dream of climbing... and carving down.

We are attracted to our kindred souls.  We push each other.  We demand more from each other, without saying a word... or, unleashing a string of salty words when the sitchyation demands.

We can't escape our potential for greatness.

When you're not the fastest or strongest in the jungle, and we aren't, you have to use cunning.  Making a plan, coordinating with others, and persisting is what we do best...

... which is why it's so fun to pick a huge personal challenge, register for a giant event and start planning.  Methodically working backwards and putting all the pieces into place to be our very best at a given location and time...

... to be greater and better, is in our DNA.

Nothing is better for making memories than a giant calendar. 

For inspiration as the event(s) approaches.

To look back on as the years go by.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-2021-my-raceda-calendar%E2%84%A2

Our calendar is HUGE!  27.5" wide X 48" tall.

It's made of fabric so you can hang it, and take it with you.

Don't you wish you'd had one of these for the last 10 seasons?... something to remind you of all the amazing things you've accomplished?

use this promo code: PHILOSOPHY

to save 33%, but you have to use it before 1/31/21

Check it out: 

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-2021-my-raceda-calendar%E2%84%A2

—

163.2 lbs 
40 PullUps 70 PushUps
7 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4682097054

I JUST FINISHED A BOOK THAT HAS ME FREAKIN PUMPED UP!  Pumped to train my lycracovered heinie off.  To pedal morning, day and night.   Plus, way more pushups and pull ups and strength stuff.  It has nothing to do with bicycle racing... 

... and everything to do with getting after it.

A few quotes:

• I don't do shit for applauses.  I don't do shit for fanfare.  I do it for me.
• I don't think about yesterday.  I think about today, and getting better.
• If you want to be pushed to your limits, you have to train to your limits

If you're into getting better, you're gonna love this book, Living With a Seal, by Jesse Itzler.  Jesse invites superendurance athlete and ex-Navy Seal David Goggins to live with him for a month and train him...

... he destroys him, day after day.

The day after day of being pushed to his limits is so motivating.  It's just ridiculous some of the things they do.  And it got me really thinking how predictable my own training has become.  

Yes, I have a process that's worked really well.  But, I think it's time to shake it up a bit/a lot.  Set some new goals.  Try some new methods.  Helk, I might even get a power meter again.

As I look over the things I want to accomplish this year... well, I think I can do a helluvalot more.  My RaceDay Calendar™ is gonna be key to make that happen.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2

I keep thinking how cool it would be if I'd had these calendars for all my years of racing.  Such a great way to memorialize the things we do.

use this promo code: PHILOSOPHY

to save 33%, but you have to use it before 1/31/21

Check it out: 

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-2021-my-raceda-calendar%E2%84%A2

PS... click here to check out the book:  

Living With a Seal,

—

164.2 lbs 
Stretch and HyperVolt
8 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4677087640

I HAD BIG PLANS TO RIDE IN THE RAIN TODAY.  Kept telling myself, Hellyeah I'm riding in the rain!. Thus, I tucked in for my beauty sleep and got down to dreaming...

... of how much better I'd be than everybody else.

I knew the locals would mostly opt for staying in bed.  A few might get on their trainers.  Where as I would be riding, getting in secret miles.

But, that's not even the main reason.  The main reason Fred was this...

... because it rains on raceday.

Yeah, no joke.

And when it does, I'm always thrilled.

First, a good chunk of the racers will straight up DNS.

We don't DNS.  Ever.  We always S.  Because we are badassedly prepared.  Always.

Second, of those who start another good chunk will DNF.

We don't DNF.  Ever.  We always F'ing F!  Because that's what we registered for in the first place. Finishing the dern race.

Third, slice off another chunk of racers that will get washed away in the elements.

The soaking shoes, the drenched butt crack, the puddled glasses... most cats can't handle that, it slowly zaps their energy.  We love it, because we know they hate it.

A good gnarly rain can easily whittle the competition down by 75%... without you are I having to do a dawgawn thing besides show up prepared.

Easy.

Anyway... as much as I was looking forward to all that rain I didn't get much more than some wet streets, cold toes and a squishy chamois.  I'd artfully dodged the main storm and still got a good ride in.

I was never cold thanks to the neverceasestoamaze KOM jacket.  It's such a great tool for rainy and cold days.  Just a jersey underneath. 

Looking at My RaceDay Calendar™ I can see I have a number of opportunities to race in the rain.  I don't love it, but I sure ain't afraid of it. 

For sure it can rain at Leadville and LoToJa... 2 of my A races... because they are high altitude, during the monsoon season.  The local races this winter always have a good chance, because it always rains in CA in February and March.

Will you be prepared?

What's on your calendar?

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/raceday-calendars%E2%84%A2/products/pedalindustries-2021-my-raceda-calendar%E2%84%A2

You do have a calendar don't you? 
I mean you gotta have a giant calendar where you can see the whole year, right?
How else can you plan like a pro?

Our calendar is HUGE!  27.5" wide X 48" tall.

It's made of fabric so you can hang it, and take it with you.

Don't you wish you'd had one of these for the last 10 seasons?... something to remind you of all the amazing things you've accomplished?

use this promo code: PHILOSOPHY

to save 33%, but you have to use it before 1/31/21

Check it out: 

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-2021-my-raceda-calendar%E2%84%A2

—

163.2 lbs 
50 PullUps 150 PushUps
7.5 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4669979044

YEAH, I LIKE MY TED NUGENT SLOW AND STEADY, LIKE A STRANGLEHOLD... and that's exactly how I feel when I'm planning out my race season.  Month by Month.  Week by Week.  Day by Day...

... until I'm ready to do the deed.

There's just a helluvalot of confidence to be gained by having a long range plan and checking off the boxes of what needs to be done each and every day.

I'm not a killer...

... just methodical.  disciplined.  patient.

A friend once told me, You give me 10 weeks and I can get you in shape for anything...

... and I believed him.  put it into practice.

I plan out my base weeks.

The building intensity weeks.

The race specific training weeks.

If you've never treated yourself to the awesome pleasure of having a Hugh Jass calendar just for yourself, with your important dates now's the time.

If you have experienced the magic of doing the impossible because you planned for it, there's no time like the present.

Trust me... forget that... watch this highly education video:

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-2021-my-raceda-calendar%E2%84%A2

Click on the link below, scroll down a touch... turn up the volume, and remember to

use this promo code: PHILOSOPHY

to save 33%, but you have to use it before 1/31/21

Check it out: 

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-2021-my-raceda-calendar%E2%84%A2

—

163.6 lbs 
https://www.strava.com/activities/4663223170
7.5 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4665132329 (sometimes ya just gotta ride twice)

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY WHEN IT COMES TO RIDING AND RACING YOUR BIKE?   Listening to an old Jim Rohn recording I was reminded of his insistence that we all have a personal philosophy.  A way of approaching life that is our truth.

... what is your philisophy(s) when it comes to riding and racing you bicycle?

Here are a few of mine:

Every Day Is RaceDay™.   To me that means every day has a purpose:  recovery, strength, endurance, etc.

Another is PRs > KOMs.  Sure, it's great to win a race or snag a KOM.  However, it's superior to set a PR.  Knowing I did my best and there was nothing left to give is everything.

Ride Fast, Don't Hurry.  I got this from the great John Wooden who implored his players to be quick, yet not hurried.  Hurrying is when we make mistakes.  Being fast or quick means we are error free. 

Here's one I haven't talked about enough...

... having a giant calendar of your upcoming events.  Mounted up where you see and appreciate what you're committing to make happen.  To work backwards and arrange your training, work, family and other commitments for a few key events each year.

I believe in this so much I created a calendar just for us...

... and it's HUGE!

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-2021-my-raceda-calendar%E2%84%A2

We're going to create a video tomorrow... but quite frankly, I'm just too excited to wait.  

We're going into production and will be able to ship in about 2 weeks.

Here's the deal... you can order now and save 33%,

using this promo code: PHILOSOPHY

Check it out: 

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-2021-my-raceda-calendar%E2%84%A2

What are your philosophies?

—

163.4 lbs 
Paddleboard
6.5 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4660241280

ENDURANCE SPORTS, LIKE OUR BELOVED CYCLING, REQUIRE A LOT OF ENDURING.  You already know this.  Just like you know the more you ride the deeper your reserves.  I was thinking how much riding style has changed in the last 5 years ...

... by adding an endurance hack to my quiver.

There was a time when I'd rarely ride out of the saddle.  I was a spinner, maybe more of a grinder.  Then I had an encounter with a coach who told me something unbelievable...

I want you do the Live Oak climb out of the saddle next time.

All 5 minutes?

As much as you can.

Why?

Because with your body structure you'll be more efficient.

I didn't believe her. 

1. I could only ride out of the saddle for about 30 seconds at a time... and that was only when my back was tight or I just need a quick change of pace.  
2. See number 1.

So I gave it a try.  Sure enough, my pace remained the same and my heart rate actually dropped slightly.

But, I was so weak.

That's when I read the Geoff Kabush's metric for mountain bikers... you've got to be able to do 50 push ups.  Concurrently, on an episode of Tim Ferris' podcast, Jamai Foxx said the only exercise that matters is pull ups. 

Naturally, I decided to combine their advice and start doing push ups and pull ups daily.  Those two exercises done regularly have made a huge difference in my riding.

Being able to climb for long stretches out of the saddle allows me to use my muscles differently.  Some get to rest a bit while others get to pitch and help for a change. 

Want to see how much push up and pull ups matter? 

Do a set of each to failure, back to back, when you're fresh.  Next time you come in from a moderately easy ride, do those exercises again. I think you'll be surprised at how much more difficult they are post ride.

Plus, there's nothing wrong with looking a little less like a T-Rex and more like a super hero...

... okay, that might be a stretch, but I'll bet you'll linger just a little longer in just your bibs before you pull on the changing poncho next time you're at the races.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-changing-poncho

We offer the ponchos in four different color schemes, or we can make them for you team to match your kit and RaceDay Bags™

Use promo code: LARGEAMOUNTS

To save and get free shipping.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedalindustries-changing-poncho

—

162.6 lbs 
40 PullUps 120 PushUps 120 squat presses
7.75 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4655039116

RIDE REPORT:

• Was so excited to ride hard today, I could barely sleep.
• Woke up early, still left late.
• PR'd getting to the meet up.
• Had a genius idea on the way home....

Put on your biking clothes.

What.

Kit up, and ride towards me.

Why?

Because we're gonna go to Moulin and indulge ourselves.

Okay!

Now why in Todd's name would I invite Surfergirl to crash my Tuesday tradition of riding with the fellas?  What could I possibly be thinking?

It's pretty obvious, really.

1.  I ride the last 40+ minutes alone on Tuesdays.  Most of the time I'm so smoked one would hardly call it riding.  I'm barely able to turn the cranks. 

2.  Most Tuesdays, Surfergirl isn't surfing.  She has a beautiful bike that needs riding.  Her pace will synch up nicely with my slog.

3.  We both enjoy delicious croissants smothered in goodness.

But, for sure there was one more reason...

... I knew I could bribe into listening to the blowbyblow of the ride.

You're gonna think I'm just trying to sell a bill of good on this next part, but you'd be wrong.  What I'm going to do is try and convince you to do what I did this morning... because I really do want the best for you.

Not only was I excited.  Not only did I spend a good 20 minutes a day on my legs with the HyperVolt.  Not only was I off the bike Sunday, and riding easy yesterday.  

TBH, I do the above almost every week any way.

But, this morning I did something I hadn't done since I was ramping up the intensity for Dirty 30 way back in November...

... and it's the reason I left a little late for the ride.

I would put a picture here, but I don't want to give it away to the speed readers.  This is really good info, just for you and me.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/my-top-secret-secret-weapons

You'll want to use this promo code:  TRADITIONS

Sometimes I put the promo code on the product page, but not this time.  This time it's just for the careful readers.

PS... is Surfergirl invited next week?  Hellyeah, it's a great tradition.

---

162.6 lbs 
Stretch and HyperVolt
6.5 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4647650387

I HAVE TUNNEL VISION.  Is it bad?  I dunno.  Want proof?  I can't find a darn thing, even when it's close enough to kill me.  Is it curable?  I'm not sure I care.  It took a long time hone it...

... and it's served me well, manymany times.

For example... One day, after climbing up for a couple of hours, we gathered at the top of the Trabuco trail.  Preparing to shred the tight shaley single-track that skirted the super steep mountain side... I was pumped, raring to go.

12ish minutes later, after the more challenging portions, I waited for my pals.

RiderX rolled up.

All that cactus was freaking me out.

Where?

Up there.

Hmmm.

So were those giant, jagged boulders all over the place!

Really?

Yeah, I had to stop a bunch.

Oh...

I wondered if we’d ridden the same trail?  I wasn’t being a tool; just hadn’t seen any of it.

That's when I self-diagnosed Tunnel Vision... and I knew exactly how I got it:  repeated exposure to challenging situations.  The only way to ride 'em was controlling my mind, focusing solely on the ridable parts of the trail.  Never even considering the dangers or threats.

It’s not always easy...

... especially as I get older and continue to ride with younger and younger cats.  My vision, literal vision, isn’t as sharp.  The reactions are a little slower.  When my vision expands I have to recenter myself, remind myself to see only the good stuff...

... but, it's worth it, like all superpowers.

One disadvantage to riding with said confidence is rolling up on other riders, hikers, runners, strollermoms, etc...

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/bike-parts/products/knog-oi-bike-bell

... which is why I love this bell.  I wouldn't say it's going to drown out the headphones you can hear from a mile away, but most folks hear it from a good distance and appreciate the cheerful chime.

Use promo code: TUNNEL

You'll save and get free shipping!

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/bike-parts/products/knog-oi-bike-bell

---

163.6 lbs 
PushUps and PUllUps
8 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4642930993

ON A RECENT RIDE, WE WERE DISCUSSING ALL THE LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED AND THEIR PARALLELS OFF THE BIKE.  Is it all the time we spend doing bikey things that the world starts to look so bikey?  I found this amazing statement in a book I just finished...

... and I naturally applied to bicycle racing.

The power of one is above all things the power to believe in yourself, often well beyond any latent ability you may have previously demonstrated.  The mind is the athlete, the body simply the means it uses to run faster, jump higher, shoot straighter, kick better, swim harder, hit further or box better.

To really get the impact of the above statement, you'll need to read the book.  A movie was made, but ya know... the book is always better.  

Don't fret, I haven't given away the punchline or even a hint of what the book is about... just a piece of what us bikey people stow might in our minds when we find the going particularly rough.

Believe in yourself.

The mind is the athlete.

The body the means.

Tomorrow, I'm going to wake as I have for the past 20ish years and read Dr. King's famous speech.  If you've never read it start to finish, click here.  Afterward, I'll review the dreams I have for 2021.

Then, I'll head out for a ride.

It's one of my favorite rituals.

So, if you're trying to reach me...

https://pedalindustries.com/products/gotta-ride-t-shirt-avail-in-2-colors

I'll get back to you as soon as I can... no doubt I'll be wearing this super soft shirt with the not so cuddly message.  

Use promo code: PEEKAY

And you can get this shirt delivered for $17, all in.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/gotta-ride-t-shirt-avail-in-2-colors

 ---

164.4 lbs 
Stretch and HyperVolt
6.5 hours sleep
http://strava.com/activities/4638188185 

THERE'S A LOCAL SINGLE-TRACK I'VE PLAYED ON PLENTY OF TIMES CALLED T AND A.  I'm not sure what the T and the A stand for or what the phrase T and A means...

... but, I know I got a lot of T and A today.

For example:

Training at Altitude,
we spent about half the ride over 5000'

Together and Alone,
we started together until Andy couldn't contain himself any longer and rode on ahead.

Trailblazing and Advice,
we did some serious trailblazing and were advised to stay helk off the private property.

Traction and Adrenalin
there's nothing like the adrenalin rush you get with the traction of fat tires carving pavement.

However, the best T and A of the day was by far...
... all the trails and asphalt we covered.

It was a perfect day for riding all kinds of surfaces.

Of course, our tails were still lit with lights.  It's just an easy safety measure.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-lights

These lights last a long time and have nearly 180 degrees of awareness.

Use promo code TANDA

to save on any of our lights.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-lights

 ---

164 lbs 
Stretch and HyperVolt
6.5 hours sleep

FRIDAYS, WHEN I CAN PULL IT OFF, AND I TRY TO PULL IT OFF EVERY FRIDAY, I like to sneak over to a little out of the way place where nobody knows me.  You know, the kind of place where your people don't hang.  One you can ride to, prop up your bike, get a snack...

... and do nothing.

Doing nothing ain't as easy as it sounds. 

My preciousphone is with me for snapping pics along the ride, and it's hard as helk not to reach for it.  So, I turn it off.

After a few moments, the urge to grab it goes away and the colors and sounds of this part of town become more vibrant and distinct.

I used to bring a note pad and jot down ideas, but I don't like that any more.  

Doing less makes the stop so much more enjoyable.

It's addicting...

... and a great way to start the last day of the work week, fresh and creative.

... and roll in to tomorrow's suretobeblistering ride rested and ready.

Since this promo did so well, I'm going to extend it through the weekend.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/helmets

My all around favorite is the Protone.  If I had to chose one that would be it.  The Valegro is excellent for MTB... and I really like it for night riding because it's easy to mount a helmet light up there.  The Utopia is most aero.  The Rapido is a good all arounder.

Use promo code:  GoChar

To save 20%.  Code expires on 1/16/21.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/helmets

---

164.2 lbs 
Stretch and HyperVolt
7 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4625406198

YEAH, BUT YOU LIKE IT... is a complaint/comment I often get from, well, everybody.

I'm going for a giant ride.

I wish I could.

You can, if I can.

Yeah, but you like it.

I'm want to head to work early today.

I wish I wanted to.

You can, if I can.

Yeah, but you like it.

I'm diving in deep on this history book.

I wish I did that.

You can, if I can.

Yeah, but you like it.

I know you get the joke.  You probably got it first time, but not everybody is as sharp as you.  Just like not everybody can do what you and I can do...

... and it grand to love what we do so much it ain't work at all?

... to get all the benefits of working out, without working at all?

... to really work hard on something because we love it?

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/patriotic

These gloves remind me of how lucky we are.

Not because the are super lightweight and can be worn year round, on and off road.

Not because Jimmy proclaims: Todd, these gloves are like glue on my grips.  I love 'em.

Not because they have tactile thread for snapping quick pics with touch screens.

It's those colors.... if you're into that sort of thing, use this promo code:

 ITAINTWORK

That code wills save ya 15% through the weekend.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/patriotic

---

164.2 lbs 
Paddle
7 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4622214102

APPARENTLY WE HAVE SOMETHING OF A REPUTATION.  People are concerned, even scared, they won't be able to keep up.  Then, they don't show up...

... tonight a brave soul took a chance.

Maybe it was the ride description?  Gravel adventure, friendly pace.

Maybe it was her new bike itching to get dirty?

Maybe the timing was right?

While the rest of us were whining about this and that prepping to start riding, Char just came right out with it...

... I'm worried I won't keep up, y'all are so fast.

I wasn't worried for one second about her chances, because when we say gravel adventure, friendly pace... by golly, we mean it!

For someone whose an accomplished track racer like she is, jumping on a gravel bike is easy.  Riding on a wide gravel road is no big deal.  That's why we took her straight to our local single track; the twisty one, with a few burgeoning rain ruts...

... so she'd have an adventure, be challenged and improve.

We all had a blast, witnessing one of the most glorious sunsets in recent memory.  There's just something about this kind of ride for forging friendships.

It's a mystery to me, this jumping to conclusions.  We may have a reputation for being a heartless bunch, but we sure ain't cruel.  That's the problem with myths I guess...

... or maybe the power of myths.

Whatever it is, I'll continue doing my best to set each ride's expectations. 

If the description is easy, it's probably gonna be too easy and I'll end up being half-wheeled the entire ride... which means you probably won't be invited back. 

If the invitation says adventure, expect to be challenged... and encouraged.

If the there is a speed warning, we ain't waiting so make sure you know you're way home.

It's good to mix up the rides, and the people you ride with.  Join us or join someone closer or start you're own ride.  Just keep your head up to the ride description...

... starting with the ever excellent KASK Helmets

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/helmets

My all around favorite is the Protone.  If I had to chose one that would be it.  The Valegro is excellent for MTB... and I really like it for night riding because it's easy to mount a helmet light up there.  The Utopia is most aero.  The Rapido is a good all arounder.

Use promo code:  GoChar

To save 20%.  Code expires on 1/16/21.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/helmets

---

166.2 lbs 
Stretch and HyperVolt
8 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4617351551

BE CAREFUL, IT'S WET OUT THERE! said the voice in my head.

It's hard to shed the mom's voice... at any age.

But, it wasn't in my head...

... her concerned pronouncement shrieked down from her room... in our home.

Shyte!... next thing I knew I was wondering if my jersey matched my bib and if I needed to get her permission to be home late after playing at the office all day.

... and worst thing is...  she's going to read this between now and the time I get home from tomorrow's ride.  She reads them all.  She's my No. 1 fan for heck's sake.

I'm doomed.

Which only means I'm going to ride even crazier, and be home later.

Just kidding, because...

Our daughter also has a room at our AirBNB... which she will be vacating at approximately 2pm to drive back to school - 2 states away.

... ya know what I'm gonna say...

Be careful... blah, blah, blah.

---

Can't wait to load up my new Wild Child RaceDay bag... they're in production now.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/wild-child

It's gonna go perfect with the kit... and I don't even need my mama to help me pick it out.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/wild-child

_____

164.8 lbs 
Stretch and HyperVolt
6.7 hours sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4609750855

THE 4200' CLIMB WE DID SATURDAY REINFORCED A TRUTH.  The lookout was high, high above.  It was tiny.  White.  Barely distinguishable.  Within 5 minutes, nothing had changed.  After 10 minutes I could see the hotel where we started looming large.  Shortly thereafter, I realized how important it would be to control my mind...

... because things weren't changing.

The hotel still seemed close, and the lookout far away.

I hadn't prepared mentally for this kind of climb at all. 

For 45 minutes we ground out the miles.  Some pitches were 20%, and the average was just under 10%.  We stopped talking.  Andy would ride ahead on the very steepest sections, I'd work my way back to him when the climb backed off.

All the while, the hotel still appeared large and the lookout nothing more than a small white box.

This is what I call clawing the climb.

Staying on top of the pedals, maintaining a sustainable pace, never slowing down. 

Clawing our way up the climb vs cracking and letting the mountain claw our souls.

Suddenly, the perspective changed.  

The hotel now seemed minuscule and the lookout a giant white beacon towering above the pine trees.  The grave grasp of the hotel was released and the magnetic pull of the lookout unleashed.

15 minutes later we stopped at the summit.  The view was clear and beautiful and worth every clawing pedal stroke.

I love that feeling of clawing and clawing until where I started is far, far away and the destination seems inevitable...

... which is why I often wear this shirt.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/ride-your-bike-t-shirt

To inspire people to get outside, put their phones away, connect with the physical world.

If you're of the same mindset, use promo code: CLAW

... and save 20%

https://pedalindustries.com/products/ride-your-bike-t-shirt

---

164.8
Stretch PushUps PullUps
7.5 hrs sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4604145336

THE BEST RIDERS ARE EASY TO PICK OUT FROM THE PACK.  You just have to know what you're looking for...

... and it's not their fancymatchy kit or unobtanium rig.

Nor is it a question of ectomorph vs endomorph.

Don't let pack position fool ya.

The confident knowitall bark ain't it either.

Chiseled muskulls?  Forget about 'em.

Sunglass arms over helmet straps?  Nope.

No gloves?  Gloves?

Elbows bent, hands relaxed yet secure?  Good guess...

Shaved legs? puuulllease...

It's the spin.

The spin, I tell ya!

The truly great riders have an unmistakable grace in their spin.

Easy.

Smooth.

Effortless.

Unchanged whether a recovery ride or a legripping charge.

They pedal in circles, meaning their is pressure on the pedals all the way around.  They press down.  The bottom of the stroke is like scraping mud off your shoe bottoms.  Pull up.  Forward across the top.  One continuous motion.  No dead spots.

A smooth pedal stroke is an indication of a well-trained athlete.  Someone who's not relying just on natural talents but who has put in the effort the learn proper pedaling technique to maximize their potential.  AKA, the kinda rider we all aspire to become.

Want to know if you have dead spots?

Go to a flat road.  Shift to a very easy gear.  Unclip one pedal.  If there is a point in your pedal stroke where you are pedaling air, that is a dead spot.

One legged drills are a great way to get rid of the dead spots and pedal like a pro.

Do these on your easy days... and remember, Every Day Is RaceDay™

https://pedalindustries.com/pages/hats

Use promo code SPIN

to save 20% on all headwear through Tuesday, Jan 12th.

---

164.6
Walks
8.5 hrs sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4601756678

SEVEN YEARS AGO MY SON TREVOR DID A SUPER GNARLY RIDE.  For sure, I told myself, I'll do that ride in a couple of weeks.  It took seven years, but it was totally worth it... 

... up Harrison Grade, down Palomar, with a lot of snow riding thrown in for good times.

I'd share the pictures, but I was so excited to get going I left my preciouspet iphone in the van... so, let me paint the picture.

At 8am, on a gorgeous winter's day, we left the Harrah's Casino in Funner, CA. 

The first 5 miles were mainly downhill.  

It was 35ish degrees.

I was donning just my kit and the KOM jacket.  Andy was dressed similarly... because we dress for the ride and not the rollout.

Within 18 minutes we turned right to start the climb, and thaw-out.  Each of us on BMC URS gravel bikes... Andy had just picked his up.

Nate Harrison Grade is an 8.5 mile climb with 4200' of vert... with some pitches close to 20%.  And, it's all on dirt.

Nearing the top I spotted a patch of snow on the embankment.  Then more patches.  Followed not by water, but black ice.  It was exquisite.  Cool, cool air while we climbed at a decent pace through the pine trees to the lookout.

A lot of people have done that climb.  Some famous, some very fast.  Most head on over to the store and then drop down Palomar.

Not us.

Andy had scouted a route that would take us down to a frozen pond then back onto dirt roads that would pop us out at the famous Palomar Observatory.

Now you might be thinking, how are we going to navigate a forgotten road with snow patches up to 50 feet long and 8 inches deep when everybody knows Andy doesn't ride with electronics like phones or bike computers and The Old Diesel left his phone in the van...

... slowly would be the answer.

We didn't care because we were out for an adventure.  We picked our way up the next climb, making a few wrong turns along the way.

Finally we came to a snow patch that was at least 100 yards long, down a pretty steep road. We figured we were probably close to the next major road.  But, we weren't sure.  We'd been riding for 3 hours we were running out of time.

We played it safe and turned around.  

Forty minutes later we were at the top of the south side of Palomar mountain.  

This is a paved road we have gone down many times.  It's famous to the locals, and to anybody who has followed the Tour of California.  There are about 40 or so turns.  Some are high speed sweepers and some of the turns nearly turn back on themselves with a recommended speed of 20 mph.

It's also a rough road.  

Plenty of cracks to rattle your bones and your nerves when your going faster than most cars.

We weren't racing it.

The sensation on the gravel bikes was dramatically different than on road bikes.  The big 40mm tires at low pressure give all kinds of confidence...

... like PRs all the way down confidence.

That surprised the heck out of me... to upload and see I'd PR'd it all the way down the mountain without trying.

Speaking of turns, turns out we were about a 1/2 mile away from the road we were looking for when we turned around at the big snow field.

I can't wait to go back and complete the route and really charge down Palomar.

For sure I'll bring my preciouspet with the Trail Forks App... and of course the KOM Jacket which once again proved the perfect tool for keep me warm on the downhills and tucking neatly away on the climbs.

Use promo code KOMLAYER to get the arm warmers free.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-industries-wind-jacket-black?variant=30180238884900

Click here: 

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-industries-wind-jacket-black?variant=30180238884900

Use promo code KOMAdventure

PS... watch the neat trick I teach in the video, you'll see it when you click on one of the jackets... you'll thank me later for this one.

---

166.2
Sunset Paddle
7 hrs sleep
https://www.strava.com/activities/4594406407

IT WAS ONLY AFTER TWO MILES OF HIKING WITH LOCKED UP/CRAMPING LEGS THAT I LEARNED HOW TO RIDE VISIONQUEST.  At the time, I was well beyond miserable.  The 90 degree heat, swarming horseflies and circling vultures were overwhelming...

... I just wanted it to end.

Weeks passed out at the giant parking lot where we did crit races until I finally learned how corner and carry my speed vs sprinting out of the corners to catch back up to the group.  The humiliating final sprint resulted in elation for some and a sagging head as I crossed the line last again.

 ... I just wanted to be in the hunt.

I reckon y'all have stories like that yerselves...

... and ain't it a curious thing how unimaginable results can come out of trying experiences.

Why just the other day I was thinking about the time I lost my ID on a bike ride, which lead to the dandiest wallet ever.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-wallet

What is so awesome about this wallet is how in keeps everything tight... and keeps me from carrying a million cards and such... PLUS!, it will not ever in a million years fall out of your jersey pocket.

Use promo code UNIMAGINABLE

https://pedalindustries.com/products/raceday-wallet

---

164.6
PullUps and PushUps
8.2 hours
https://www.strava.com/activities/4588040510

IT WAS A SATURDAY LIKE ANY OTHER SATURDAY...

Hey.

Hey.

I so tired, stayed out way too late.

Me too, musta rode 500 miles already this week.

Hey.

What's up?

Ugh... ate way too much over the holidays.

Me too, first word outta Rocky's mouth when he came back was Did you put on weight?

Hey.

Damn its cold.

I hate it went it's cold, takes forever to warm up.

And with that we set 200 PRs and stole 23.5 KOMs.

We would have stole 24, but Jeff Gibbons wasn't with us to pull us along with his new secret weapon.

Who is Jeff Gibbons?

Oh, just the luckiest guy in the world...

... winner of our $3000 ENVE™ Wheel Giveaway.

I hope Jeff is a regular reader.

Thank you all for participating... here's a promo code for free gloves with your next PR Lotion purchase.

Purchase the PR Lotion and the Gloves and use this code at check out

IJUSTWANNAWIN

You're Awesome!

---

164.8
Stretch/Plank/Hypervolt
7.8 hrs
no ride

I'M ALWAYS IMPRESSED BY RIDERS WHO COME PREPARED WITH PROPER TOOLS FOR A QUICK FIX... which covers most of us.  And we should.  We are  better skilled than 90% of riders out there at doing a quick fix.  We're racers dawgawnit, and ain't got time to waste...

... I'm even more impressed by those who carry toolkits in their heart.

On a winter's day, long ago, shivering as we all bombed Live Oak Canyon, I heard the dreaded pssst pssst pssst of a rather rapid slow leak.  I knew I was in big trouble.

Standing slack-jawed as the group rolled on... panic set in.  It was the bottom of the canyon, I was shaking, couldn't even close my hands.  It was so bad I'd had trouble coming to a stop.

Big Craig pulled up.  

Slow leak, can't get the tire off.  Fingers are done.

No prob.

He stopped, because he carries a set of tools in his heart.

We've all done the same thing, slowed or stopped to help a rider out...

... now seems like a great time to bust out the most important tools:  charity, patience and kindness.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-mini-raceday-bag

We make these in the here in the UNITED State of America.  By hand.  From innertubes... 

... and ship to you for a mere 20 dollah.

Check 'em out:  https://pedalindustries.com/products/the-mini-raceday-bag

---

164.6
Stretch/Plank/Hypervolt
8.2 hrs
https://www.strava.com/activities/4579928464

MY CRANK LENGTHS ARE 172.5 AND 175.  Which means the diameter around the circle my feet travel is at most 350mm or just under 14" in 'merican.  Hardly a stretch for my 32" inseam...

While I was not riding today I still managed to move a lot of weight in a short amount of time.

I did a 50 pullups today, it's about an 18" move from extension to head above bar.  All told I pulled up over 8000 lbs.

With the 150 pushups I did, my head moved about 12".  I'm not sure how to calculate the total weight pushed.

The 150 shoulder presses I did was with 15 lbs hand weights, which a total of 4500 lbs.

The growth we experience on and off the bike is mostly achieved through many small movements...

... often with our hands and feet, so keep 'em protected in style.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves

Right now, you can get socks free when you purchase gloves.  Put them both in your shopping cart and go to check out.

Use this promo code:  SMALLMOVEMENTS

Why these gloves and socks... because I said so and because I created them just for you and me.

https://pedalindustries.com/collections/socks-and-gloves

---

165.4
50 pullups 150 pushups 150 shoulder presses
7 hrs
no ride today

---

165.4
50 PullUps 150 PushUps 150 ShoulderPresses
7 hrs
no ride today

LAST WEEK WAS A BIG ONE.  18 hours in the saddle.  It's a lot for a young tike such as me.  It was part of my plan.  Not only did I have the time, but the weather was incredible all week.  Now for the rest of my plan...

... proper recovery.

First off... let me point out that my week starts on Monday, not Sunday.  So, if you happen to get your hands on my calendar you'll notice it's special that way.

The 18 hours started Monday and ended Saturday.  It's the following Monday night now, and I'm not riding tomorrow... not Wednesday.  Maybe Thursday?

Which is quite a few days off for a regular5dayaweekkindaguy.

Mainly, I just thought it would fun to do a giant week and take a good chunk off.  Let the body recover...

... until the mind can't stand it no more.

Changing it up kinda thing.

Speaking of changing it up.. the ENVE™ Wheel Giveaway has ended.  We'll announce a winner via this very blog this week... a new contest will launched around the 15th - and I dropped a big hint of what will be involved up above. 

Wondering what we're giving away next time?

We'll it won't be the amazing KOM jacket.

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-industries-wind-jacket-black?variant=30180238884900

Because the contest won't end for a while and you probably need a primo jacket such as this right away.

Use promo code: 9THDAY

https://pedalindustries.com/products/pedal-industries-wind-jacket-black?variant=30180238884900

---

165
WEIGHTS
8 hrs
no ride today

LATELY I'VE NOTICED A NEW HABIT OR TENDENCY IN MY APPROACH TO THINGS.  If there's a way to make it more uncomfortable I'll do it.  And, it feels great.  For example, I've been rolling out very underdressed lately...

... just a jersey and bibs in the 40s.

Or, walking barefoot across very sharp rocks vs the smooth path.

I wasn't really conscious of this until yesterday.  After an extremely hot bath, akin to a smoking hot sauna, I rose and turned the shower on pure cold...

... it took my breath away, WimHoff style...

... deep, rapid breathing went on for at least 2 minutes.

Truth be told, I think we can get too comfortable.  Overbundled in the cold, overairconditioned in the heat.

It's not good.

Racing can go sideway real fast.  At altitude, the weather can dramatically shift in minutes.  We can travel to an unfamiliar locale and bring all the wrong gear.  And so on...

... the point being we need to train for the bad situations.  We don't want them, but we want to be ready for them... knowing most of our competitors won't be prepared, we can thrive when the situation becomes misearable.

Riding through that cold on 1/1 in just my jersey while my pals were bundled up I wasn't concerned.  I knew in an hour it'd be warmer.  Instead I concentrated on feeling heat in my hands and feet.  It's weird, but with practice I seem to be getting better at it.

What does walking on sharp rocks have to do with bike racing?  Not much, except gaining confidence at handling adversity.  

But, the hothot bath to chilly shower tied it all together...

... I felt damn alive!

It was invigorating to say the least.

After I went to work on my latest creation which should be ready for primetime in a few more days.

In the meantime, if you're inspired at all to start or finish in the cold and dark...

 https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-lights

Use promo code: LIGHTS

 https://pedalindustries.com/collections/all-lights

---

165
Stretch HyperVolt
7.5 hrs
https://www.strava.com/activities/4562945088