I'm a bad, bad person. I don't blog enough, as I have been informed by several people, including Dave Almighty. With the race season upon us, however, I felt I should reassure my hordes of loyal readers that I am not dead! I did not waste away to nothing out here in the Land of Fruits and Nuts. Rather, I have been training extensively in preparation for my first race as a Cat 4: the Poor College Kids Road Race in Santa Barbara, CA. The next day is the Mothballs Criterium also in Santa Barbara. My new ride, named Viviane, and I will be headed up there to take names and kick ass.
I promise that a race report will follow on Sunday. Really!
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Monday, January 12, 2009
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Red Roubaix Resale
So it's been an awfully long time since I posted anything. Nothing terribly exciting has been happening in Mike's World of Cycling lately, other than lots of training (and let's be honest, how exciting are base miles, really?), and falling off the training schedule due to various side trips. As I write this, I'm sitting in the Windy City visiting with family for Thanksgiving. I am, of course, bike-less, so there's three days down the tubes.
In October I rolled down to the Grand Canyon with a crew of folks I met in the Chicago Basin last year and had a Grand time. Another five days gone, though I can write off a lot of that to cross-training.
And at the end of September I traveled up to Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park for a few days of backpacking and had an absolute blast. Sequoia is, hands down, the most spectacular place I've ever seen. I cannot wait to go back, to drink in the fantastic scenery and clean mountain air again.
On second thought, I guess there have been some interesting developments in my cycling career. As I already noted in my previous post I am now a Cat IV road cyclist. In addition, I have a new team. I will be racing for Liquid Fitness Cycling this year on their Cat IV/V squad. I'll have new photos and sponsor links up as soon as I have them, hopefully towards the end of this week.
I will also be bidding fairwell to Beatrix, my faithful, if short-lived, road bike (so if anyone you know wants a 58cm Cervelo Soloist, drop me a line). She's just too long and my pelvic angle is all wrong when I'm on top of her. Yeah, all you followers of Freud can have a field day with that. Instead, I'll be running a Specialized Roubaix Pro, with a SRAM Red build. The added head tube and shortened top tube are, according to several fitters at the LBS, exactly what my freakishly long femurs need. Looking forward to that, though not to re-learning how to shift. As in keeping with custom, I shall take suggestions for a name. Only requirements are that it be female, and you be able to tell me why I should name my bike whatever it is you suggest.
That's all on the Western Front for now. May everyone have a happy Thanksgiving, and a festive and joyous holiday-of-choice. Until next time, keep the rubber side down.
In October I rolled down to the Grand Canyon with a crew of folks I met in the Chicago Basin last year and had a Grand time. Another five days gone, though I can write off a lot of that to cross-training.
And at the end of September I traveled up to Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park for a few days of backpacking and had an absolute blast. Sequoia is, hands down, the most spectacular place I've ever seen. I cannot wait to go back, to drink in the fantastic scenery and clean mountain air again.
On second thought, I guess there have been some interesting developments in my cycling career. As I already noted in my previous post I am now a Cat IV road cyclist. In addition, I have a new team. I will be racing for Liquid Fitness Cycling this year on their Cat IV/V squad. I'll have new photos and sponsor links up as soon as I have them, hopefully towards the end of this week.
I will also be bidding fairwell to Beatrix, my faithful, if short-lived, road bike (so if anyone you know wants a 58cm Cervelo Soloist, drop me a line). She's just too long and my pelvic angle is all wrong when I'm on top of her. Yeah, all you followers of Freud can have a field day with that. Instead, I'll be running a Specialized Roubaix Pro, with a SRAM Red build. The added head tube and shortened top tube are, according to several fitters at the LBS, exactly what my freakishly long femurs need. Looking forward to that, though not to re-learning how to shift. As in keeping with custom, I shall take suggestions for a name. Only requirements are that it be female, and you be able to tell me why I should name my bike whatever it is you suggest.
That's all on the Western Front for now. May everyone have a happy Thanksgiving, and a festive and joyous holiday-of-choice. Until next time, keep the rubber side down.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Motivation
Just in case I needed motivation to train this off-season:
The following request to change your USCF category has been approved and by USAC:
Member: Michael Nies
License: Road Racer
Request to change category from Cat 5 to Cat 4
The following request to change your USCF category has been approved and by USAC:
Member: Michael Nies
License: Road Racer
Request to change category from Cat 5 to Cat 4
Sunday, August 3, 2008
On Training and Things
Saturday saw me spend pretty much the entire day on the bike. This is the first time I've put the aerobars onto the Soloist, and getting them positioned took a little trial and error. I also picked up a set of Specialized S-Works road shoes on clearance last week, and I took the day to get my cleat position dialed in, too.
I met up with Jonathan G., a fellow rider I met randomly while he was changing a flat. I stopped to offer assistance, and we ended up riding together the rest of the way back home, since we both live in the same neighborhood. We headed towards the coast and cruised down to Manhattan Beach. At one point I looked up and noticed six guys, heading the opposite direction, holding a nice tight group two abreast. All with shaved legs. All riding high end De Rosas with Campagnolo Record spec. That was about when I realized that I had just passed the Rock Racing squad. Jonathan and I did an about face and caught onto the back of the pack. Michael Ball was leading the pack, and Tyler Hamilton was there, too. We just said hey, asked about upcoming race plans, and parted ways. I'm quite glad that my first celebrity sighting out here was for the sport I love so much.
Oh, and the Soloist now has a name: Beatrix, after Beatrix Kiddo. Why, you ask? Because she's sexy, nimble, and takes down the competition at the knees.
Other than that, an uneventful week. Can't wait for Nationals on Wednesday!
I met up with Jonathan G., a fellow rider I met randomly while he was changing a flat. I stopped to offer assistance, and we ended up riding together the rest of the way back home, since we both live in the same neighborhood. We headed towards the coast and cruised down to Manhattan Beach. At one point I looked up and noticed six guys, heading the opposite direction, holding a nice tight group two abreast. All with shaved legs. All riding high end De Rosas with Campagnolo Record spec. That was about when I realized that I had just passed the Rock Racing squad. Jonathan and I did an about face and caught onto the back of the pack. Michael Ball was leading the pack, and Tyler Hamilton was there, too. We just said hey, asked about upcoming race plans, and parted ways. I'm quite glad that my first celebrity sighting out here was for the sport I love so much.
Oh, and the Soloist now has a name: Beatrix, after Beatrix Kiddo. Why, you ask? Because she's sexy, nimble, and takes down the competition at the knees.
Other than that, an uneventful week. Can't wait for Nationals on Wednesday!
Friday, July 25, 2008
I Really Dig the Styles They Wear
I must apologize to my glut of regular fans; I have been lax in my updates since arriving in sunny LA. I have no good excuse, other than I just haven't felt that anything blog worthy has happened. Since arriving in LA, I haven't done anything that special. I moved in my stuff (not hard, since it all fit into my rather small car), I found some yummy places to eat (too many to list, but the sushi place is closest), found the nearest grocery store (two of them, a Ralph's, and a Whole Paycheck) and figured out how to get to work (walk three blocks, turn right, walk one more).
Riding wise out here, it's spectacular. The Cervelo is in hog heaven out here, since nothing is flat. I took a ride through Bel-Air a couple days ago; in three miles I gain twelve hundred feet of elevation. To put that in perspective, Old Mill Rd. on the east side of Cleveland gains 320 feet in exactly a mile. And most of the riders I've met out here look at a hill like Bel-Air as a good start to the day.
If climbing isn't your thing, there's always the Pacific Coast Highway. The PCH is a little four to six lane road running along...that's right: the Pacific coast. Bikes are allowed on it, in fact it's usually the only way to get to some of the better rides through the Santa Monica Mountains. It is not, however, for the faint of heart. Most of the road has a very nice shoulder on which cyclists can ride. Sometimes, though, the shoulder is taken up with parked cars and every so often, like when you cross a bridge or the like, the shoulder just goes away. Usually the cars will let you in. Usually.
Riding on surface streets here is something of an adventure as well, though less so than on the PCH. The amount of traffic in LA means that often a cyclist can keep up with, if not entirely out-pace, traffic. So far, this has meant that I've not had any issues with rude or inconsiderate drivers; I'm not delaying them at all, so they mostly leave me alone. Of course this isn't always the case, as was demonstrated on July 4th.
And otherwise that's about it. Work is a lot like work, but I like the other staff on my unit, and the new hospital UCLA just opened is awesome to work in. It was designed by I.M. Pei, so it's very big, open, and full of natural light. It also doesn't hurt that I'm on the top floor ICU, with a fantastic view of the Santa Monica Mountains out one direction, and a look downtown in the other. For now it's time to chill and fine tune the bike in preparation for my first California race on Sunday. Race report here afterwards, I promise!
Riding wise out here, it's spectacular. The Cervelo is in hog heaven out here, since nothing is flat. I took a ride through Bel-Air a couple days ago; in three miles I gain twelve hundred feet of elevation. To put that in perspective, Old Mill Rd. on the east side of Cleveland gains 320 feet in exactly a mile. And most of the riders I've met out here look at a hill like Bel-Air as a good start to the day.
If climbing isn't your thing, there's always the Pacific Coast Highway. The PCH is a little four to six lane road running along...that's right: the Pacific coast. Bikes are allowed on it, in fact it's usually the only way to get to some of the better rides through the Santa Monica Mountains. It is not, however, for the faint of heart. Most of the road has a very nice shoulder on which cyclists can ride. Sometimes, though, the shoulder is taken up with parked cars and every so often, like when you cross a bridge or the like, the shoulder just goes away. Usually the cars will let you in. Usually.
Riding on surface streets here is something of an adventure as well, though less so than on the PCH. The amount of traffic in LA means that often a cyclist can keep up with, if not entirely out-pace, traffic. So far, this has meant that I've not had any issues with rude or inconsiderate drivers; I'm not delaying them at all, so they mostly leave me alone. Of course this isn't always the case, as was demonstrated on July 4th.
And otherwise that's about it. Work is a lot like work, but I like the other staff on my unit, and the new hospital UCLA just opened is awesome to work in. It was designed by I.M. Pei, so it's very big, open, and full of natural light. It also doesn't hurt that I'm on the top floor ICU, with a fantastic view of the Santa Monica Mountains out one direction, and a look downtown in the other. For now it's time to chill and fine tune the bike in preparation for my first California race on Sunday. Race report here afterwards, I promise!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Racing for Alex
Today saw me getting up at 0515, hopping in the car along with Michael L. and my girlfriend, and driving down to Mahoning County for the Race for Alex. Alex is a cyclist who also happens to be recovering from a spinal cord injury; the race was held as a fund-raiser for him. If the 54 riders in the 4/5 pack were any indicator of the fields for the other races, they did pretty well (entry was $25 each).
I was not in top form today. In fact, I was in pretty crappy form today. I got chewed up and spit out very early on, managed to hang on within striking distance through the first lap, and got dropped for real after the second lap. Potential excuses were rampant: my bike grappled with that of another rider on the first lap and I got kicked out to the side over the center-line thus ruining my poise and concentration, I was coming off night shift Friday night, my frame/wheels are vertically stiff and laterally compliant. Or maybe it's because my lazy ass hasn't seen a bike saddle since the last time I posted. Yeah, definitely the equipment.
Other than my lack of badassery today, the race was actually really awesome. We had five riders in the 4/5 pack, and Pete S. managed to pull out a 5th place. The course itself was a smoothly paved 5-ish mile circuit with some decent rollers. The corners were clean, registration was a breeze, and the weather was great.
Today's performance has led me to realize that I need to practice more. To that end, I've decided that I want 200 miles ridden by next Sunday. I'll try to get a more focused plan together soon, but that is the base goal. So if you're looking for a riding partner this week give me a call. I'm probably up for it.
Oh, and I'm likely moving to California in July. More on that later.
I was not in top form today. In fact, I was in pretty crappy form today. I got chewed up and spit out very early on, managed to hang on within striking distance through the first lap, and got dropped for real after the second lap. Potential excuses were rampant: my bike grappled with that of another rider on the first lap and I got kicked out to the side over the center-line thus ruining my poise and concentration, I was coming off night shift Friday night, my frame/wheels are vertically stiff and laterally compliant. Or maybe it's because my lazy ass hasn't seen a bike saddle since the last time I posted. Yeah, definitely the equipment.
Other than my lack of badassery today, the race was actually really awesome. We had five riders in the 4/5 pack, and Pete S. managed to pull out a 5th place. The course itself was a smoothly paved 5-ish mile circuit with some decent rollers. The corners were clean, registration was a breeze, and the weather was great.
Today's performance has led me to realize that I need to practice more. To that end, I've decided that I want 200 miles ridden by next Sunday. I'll try to get a more focused plan together soon, but that is the base goal. So if you're looking for a riding partner this week give me a call. I'm probably up for it.
Oh, and I'm likely moving to California in July. More on that later.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Monday in Paradise
Today was as close to a perfect outside day as Cleveland has seen in some time. I opted to take advantage of it and head out on as long a ride as I could. After being productive in the morning, I hopped on the bike around 3:00 PM and headed out towards the Valley Parkway. I wound up turning off the Parkway at Broadview Rd. and stopping at Bike Authority before I turned around. Doug, one of their fine employees, suggested heading down Avery Rd. instead of straight down Broadview, thus avoiding the rather sticky intersection at Broadview and Royalton. It also wound up being easier; the rollers didn't feel nearly as steep as on the way in.
On the way back up the Parkway I stopped at the Wallace parking lot near Berea and met the Skull & Goggles group, an offshoot of the Fagowees ski and social club. I cruised along with them for around ten miles before they turned around (they're a laid back short ride kind of club). I headed all the way up the Valley Parkway to the north end at Detroit Rd., and back home from there. Total mileage was 69 and change, with around 2,000 feet of climbing and an average speed of around 21 mph. Had I not turned off at Broadview I could have picked up quite a bit more climbing and a few more miles, but I think I earned my burger and beer tonight all the same.
Speaking of burgers and beer (and all sorts of other deliciousness), tonight's recovery meal was provided by the Buckeye Beer Engine in beautiful Lakewood, Ohio. The Beer Engine is on Madison, a few blocks to the west of Spin Bike Shop. They have 27 taps and around 110 bottles, all of which rotate on a regular basis. They also have a full bar, though the beer list has kept me more than busy. Food-wise, the Beer Engine is home to probably the best burgers I've ever had in Cleveland, if not ever. Toppings include everything you can think of, ranging from your standard cheese and bun to the jerk seasoning with mango salsa (and bun) I had tonight. If burgers aren't your thing, fear not! Any burger on their menu is available as a chicken breast, portabello 'shroom cap, or spicy black bean variety, and there are plenty of other entrees as well; I just happen to have a soft spot for burgers. The menu is extremely vegetarian friendly, with lots of options for non-carnivores, and anything vegetarian is cooked on dedicated equipment (unlike certain other local chains *coughLizardcough*). Check out their menu and beer list at their website or stop in after a Wednesday Spin ride. You won't be disappointed!
On the way back up the Parkway I stopped at the Wallace parking lot near Berea and met the Skull & Goggles group, an offshoot of the Fagowees ski and social club. I cruised along with them for around ten miles before they turned around (they're a laid back short ride kind of club). I headed all the way up the Valley Parkway to the north end at Detroit Rd., and back home from there. Total mileage was 69 and change, with around 2,000 feet of climbing and an average speed of around 21 mph. Had I not turned off at Broadview I could have picked up quite a bit more climbing and a few more miles, but I think I earned my burger and beer tonight all the same.
Speaking of burgers and beer (and all sorts of other deliciousness), tonight's recovery meal was provided by the Buckeye Beer Engine in beautiful Lakewood, Ohio. The Beer Engine is on Madison, a few blocks to the west of Spin Bike Shop. They have 27 taps and around 110 bottles, all of which rotate on a regular basis. They also have a full bar, though the beer list has kept me more than busy. Food-wise, the Beer Engine is home to probably the best burgers I've ever had in Cleveland, if not ever. Toppings include everything you can think of, ranging from your standard cheese and bun to the jerk seasoning with mango salsa (and bun) I had tonight. If burgers aren't your thing, fear not! Any burger on their menu is available as a chicken breast, portabello 'shroom cap, or spicy black bean variety, and there are plenty of other entrees as well; I just happen to have a soft spot for burgers. The menu is extremely vegetarian friendly, with lots of options for non-carnivores, and anything vegetarian is cooked on dedicated equipment (unlike certain other local chains *coughLizardcough*). Check out their menu and beer list at their website or stop in after a Wednesday Spin ride. You won't be disappointed!
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Friday Training, Saturday Salesmanship
Friday I went out through the Rocky River Reservation along the Valley Parkway with Michael L., and another friend of his named Mike. We rode south along until Eastland Road then turned around and headed back; all told around forty miles for me. On the way back, Michael L. lead us up and over a few hills, including Ruple Rd. to the east side of the valley, back down Cedar Point Rd. and up the other side. After looping up to Columbia Rd. and back down into the valley we headed for home.
Along the way back, two drivers decided to buzz us and generally drive like morons. Thanks to a driver ahead of them who was religiously following the 30 mph speed limit, Michael L. and I were able to time trial up behind the offending parties. We opted not to ride up alongside and salute their fine car handling skills, since neither of us really wanted to get killed.
Saturday I took both the MTB and the road ax over to a friend of mine on the east side. He's recently discovered road biking and wants to buy mine, so he took mine for a test drive. We tooled around the east side around Fairmount, Shaker, South Park and North Park for around 12 miles before heading to Dewey's for dinner. All in all, I think this was a better call than driving three hours south to a race that well could have been in the rain.
Along the way back, two drivers decided to buzz us and generally drive like morons. Thanks to a driver ahead of them who was religiously following the 30 mph speed limit, Michael L. and I were able to time trial up behind the offending parties. We opted not to ride up alongside and salute their fine car handling skills, since neither of us really wanted to get killed.
Saturday I took both the MTB and the road ax over to a friend of mine on the east side. He's recently discovered road biking and wants to buy mine, so he took mine for a test drive. We tooled around the east side around Fairmount, Shaker, South Park and North Park for around 12 miles before heading to Dewey's for dinner. All in all, I think this was a better call than driving three hours south to a race that well could have been in the rain.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Consistency is the Hobgoblin of Little Minds
So the results for Hinckley are posted. I finished in 1:02:30.5, with a combined run/transition of 21:38. That works out to a 22 mph average speed on the bike for the 15 mile course, only slightly slower than my time trial time from the week before, and that was without a 5k run beforehand. So now I have a good benchmark, it's time to work on improving. One thing I noticed, courtesy of Rick's pictures, is that I toe-down waaaaaay too much in my pedalstroke. That, and I think I need to get fit to the bike a little better when I'm in my bars. That's going to be a project for me and Sean from Bike Authority perhaps after I get the Soloist in and set up, but the pedal stroke is something to work on now. Guess I have my focus for this week's training rides.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies.
Once again I have been lax in my blogging. I'll be posting a review of the Cervelo Soloist Carbon shortly, but first I shall describe the riding exploits of late.
Thursday afternoon I went out to the Chippewa course with Matt T. for some climbing practice. We did a modified loop of the race course, starting at the bottom of the Valley Parkway and going all the way to Brecksville Rd. before looping back around Parkview Rd. to rejoin the course. We did three full laps and climbed the hill one last time before turning around and calling it a day, after I bonked on the last hill. All in all we wound up with about 1400ft. of climbing over 27 miles, and an average speed of 15.4 mph. About ten minutes after we got back to the cars, the skies opened up, dropping a blinding rainstorm. Fortunately we were safe and dry by this point.
On Saturday, Matt and I drove down to the Malabar Farm race, where we met up with Dave S., Pete S., and Chris B. Dave, Pete, and Chris raced the 3/4 pack (Dave took fifth, Chris took ninth, and Pete finished in the pack), Matt raced the 4/5 pack and finished with them, while I raced the 5/Cit pack and managed to hold out for the win. I guess all that climbing practice on Thursday paid off. So now the plan is to head out this Thursday for another gravity based torture session. See you on the road!
Thursday afternoon I went out to the Chippewa course with Matt T. for some climbing practice. We did a modified loop of the race course, starting at the bottom of the Valley Parkway and going all the way to Brecksville Rd. before looping back around Parkview Rd. to rejoin the course. We did three full laps and climbed the hill one last time before turning around and calling it a day, after I bonked on the last hill. All in all we wound up with about 1400ft. of climbing over 27 miles, and an average speed of 15.4 mph. About ten minutes after we got back to the cars, the skies opened up, dropping a blinding rainstorm. Fortunately we were safe and dry by this point.
On Saturday, Matt and I drove down to the Malabar Farm race, where we met up with Dave S., Pete S., and Chris B. Dave, Pete, and Chris raced the 3/4 pack (Dave took fifth, Chris took ninth, and Pete finished in the pack), Matt raced the 4/5 pack and finished with them, while I raced the 5/Cit pack and managed to hold out for the win. I guess all that climbing practice on Thursday paid off. So now the plan is to head out this Thursday for another gravity based torture session. See you on the road!
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