There have been a lot of blogs, news, articles - whatever about spring, cyclists and what the law is for riding a bike...
Today I went out for a lunchtime ride. No big deal, just getting a little exercise. County road 5 is always kind of stressful for all of the dumptrucks and traffic coming to and from Windsor (I-25 is a mile away, but many choose to take the local road). There was a guy in front of me on a felt tri-bike. One of the aluminum ones, think it was yellow and he was wearing a NB Winderful jersey. I'm maybe fifty feet back watching him come up on a couple of kids riding side by side on the shoulder. There's a dump truck approaching us and so I slow down (too many bikes in one spot on the shoulder) and wait for him to pass. This yahoo on the felt lurches past the kids and into the lane... The guy is lucky he didn't get hit. Even though the dumptruck driver didn't give much space, he also didn't run over the idiot on the felt. Good job - dumptruck guy!
Now just when I'm starting to think that drivers are looking out for cyclists on this road - there's a small hill with no shoulder before you get to the intersection. One of those roads where the white line curves away from you because there is no more asphault - only a shallow ditch. Double yellow line on a narrow road. I'm as close to the side as I can get and am almost blown off the road by a semi (probably same company as Mr Dumptruck) that passes me with no space while there is oncoming traffic. Seemingly gunning his engine to speed up the hill and not have to downshift.
I kinda wish I would have yelled at the guy on the Felt for the sake of Mr Dumptruck. I also wish I had something bigger than a semi to put some fear into the other driver.
Be careful out there folks. There are idiots on both sides...
Friday, May 30, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
this week
This is maybe my 3rd first week of training? Too many life things going on and having trouble really getting started.
Saturday swam 1100 meters total. Not at one time, in 25, 50 and 75 meter chunks. Hopefully I'll be able to swim 5x400m before the next half-ironman.
Sunday rode for three hours. Pretty slow, hung out with the second group and would slowly chase down any people that rode off the front of the group. I actually got too hot at the end of the ride and coasted in...
Monday swam 750m. Was still feeling it from Saturday. Combination of kicking, pulling and swimming. Just trying to get my endurance up...
Tuesday it snowed a little bit and unmotivated to throw the bike in the back of the truck. So I putzed around and finally decided to go to a spin class after work. Always go too hard in a spin class... I don't really know why, maybe it's the music or just wanting to get done, but halfway through the class I suddenly realized I was breathing so hard I was getting a little dizzy. Easy, easy!
Swim and run Wednesday, Friday. Bike Thursday and Saturday...
Saturday swam 1100 meters total. Not at one time, in 25, 50 and 75 meter chunks. Hopefully I'll be able to swim 5x400m before the next half-ironman.
Sunday rode for three hours. Pretty slow, hung out with the second group and would slowly chase down any people that rode off the front of the group. I actually got too hot at the end of the ride and coasted in...
Monday swam 750m. Was still feeling it from Saturday. Combination of kicking, pulling and swimming. Just trying to get my endurance up...
Tuesday it snowed a little bit and unmotivated to throw the bike in the back of the truck. So I putzed around and finally decided to go to a spin class after work. Always go too hard in a spin class... I don't really know why, maybe it's the music or just wanting to get done, but halfway through the class I suddenly realized I was breathing so hard I was getting a little dizzy. Easy, easy!
Swim and run Wednesday, Friday. Bike Thursday and Saturday...
Friday, February 22, 2008
Gettin back into it...
Time for the season to start. I'm moving pretty slow these days and need to get motivated. Waterboy is thinking about coming out in a couple of weeks for some riding and to see Buckethead (the guitar player). Then him and Timmers are looking at Memorial Day weekend for a painfest. Both those guys are an order of magnitude stronger than me, so it's time to get to it...
Base fitness? Can ride at 150W for 45 minutes on the trainer before getting bored. 30 minutes on the treadmill with the last mile at 7 minute pace. Swimming - maybe 700 meters/workout. Like I said, not really in shape yet, but it's more motivation and getting a base going than anything else.
So far no races yet, but signed up for triple bypass... Thinking about taking some exercise physiology or sports medicine classes at CSU just to pass the time. Something...
Also saw a cyclist, probably a commuter, that was hit by a car early this morning. Just makes me a bit upset - watch out on the road people!
Base fitness? Can ride at 150W for 45 minutes on the trainer before getting bored. 30 minutes on the treadmill with the last mile at 7 minute pace. Swimming - maybe 700 meters/workout. Like I said, not really in shape yet, but it's more motivation and getting a base going than anything else.
So far no races yet, but signed up for triple bypass... Thinking about taking some exercise physiology or sports medicine classes at CSU just to pass the time. Something...
Also saw a cyclist, probably a commuter, that was hit by a car early this morning. Just makes me a bit upset - watch out on the road people!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Triathlon training - take two!
Ummm, last year turned out ok. No major crashes and I didn't drown (or maybe I did and haven't realized it yet). My training took a bit of a nose dive after the half ironman I did. After swimming sidestroke for a mile and running out of water on the bike - I fell apart... I still finished the stupid thing, but I was thinking of putting everything on eBay the next day.
Then Chris and Liz came out for a little pre-Ironman training and a little beer drinking before shutting it down for the lead up to Kona. They taught me about salt tabs (wow - how did I survive without these) and leading with your armpit when you swim - or at least, that's how it makes sense to me. Swimming is one of those zen things. Kinda like breathing through your eyeball - I don't understand that either...
Since it's December and I don't have anything planned until June, I can take it easy, work on my swim stroke and build my knees up before putting on heavier miles. New road bike and some shiny new motivation for this year!
Then Chris and Liz came out for a little pre-Ironman training and a little beer drinking before shutting it down for the lead up to Kona. They taught me about salt tabs (wow - how did I survive without these) and leading with your armpit when you swim - or at least, that's how it makes sense to me. Swimming is one of those zen things. Kinda like breathing through your eyeball - I don't understand that either...
Since it's December and I don't have anything planned until June, I can take it easy, work on my swim stroke and build my knees up before putting on heavier miles. New road bike and some shiny new motivation for this year!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Big Sky Duathlon
Woke up at 4:30am - ugh to drive down to a little town east of Denver called Bennett. This was the location of the 2nd in the Mile High Duathlon series. After passing the airport I wondered if I would either drive off the end of the world or see a girl with red shoes and her little dog too? The town actually reminded me a little bit of northwest Iowa with the small towns and people curious as to what all the fuss is about...
Back to the race... Smaller field than the Barkin' Dog, but still has some crazy fast people. Started off 30 seconds after the elites with all of the men 39 and under. It always sucks sprinting out the first 1/4 mile and then having to dodge through people as they ease off on the gas. Eventually getting some clean road, settled into a nice pace over the 2.5 miles at 14:29.
Rode the tri bike for the first time in a race today. I think I was kind of amped a little high because of that - no more excuses - just ride and go fast! It was a little windy, a few rollers and a great day for a ride. Exited the transition area with two other guys and they were out and gone in a few minutes. Then the steady stream of one person passing every five minutes or so. Gotta get stronger on the bike. Intervals, climbing, anything to push that next higher gear.
The second run was a little more interesting this time because my legs were pretty wiped. Smaller steps for the first mile, trying to pass a guy I named the "pirate". He wasn't wearing a frilly shirt and a patch - just yelling Aarr! back and forth with a little kid before the race. Hit an open stretch and was able to open the stride back up again and catch a few guys that were ahead of me. Decent 2nd leg 15:28 so about a 6:10 pace. The 2nd elite woman finished directly ahead of me and said thanks for pushing her at the end of the race.
I wore a heart rate monitor today and it was at 180bmp for pretty much the entire hour. I think I might explode if I do a longer race! Gotta figure out how to push a higher gear and mellow out a bit. First year of racing - may not have as good of a base as needed...
Tired... Need to take a nap.
Back to the race... Smaller field than the Barkin' Dog, but still has some crazy fast people. Started off 30 seconds after the elites with all of the men 39 and under. It always sucks sprinting out the first 1/4 mile and then having to dodge through people as they ease off on the gas. Eventually getting some clean road, settled into a nice pace over the 2.5 miles at 14:29.
Rode the tri bike for the first time in a race today. I think I was kind of amped a little high because of that - no more excuses - just ride and go fast! It was a little windy, a few rollers and a great day for a ride. Exited the transition area with two other guys and they were out and gone in a few minutes. Then the steady stream of one person passing every five minutes or so. Gotta get stronger on the bike. Intervals, climbing, anything to push that next higher gear.
The second run was a little more interesting this time because my legs were pretty wiped. Smaller steps for the first mile, trying to pass a guy I named the "pirate". He wasn't wearing a frilly shirt and a patch - just yelling Aarr! back and forth with a little kid before the race. Hit an open stretch and was able to open the stride back up again and catch a few guys that were ahead of me. Decent 2nd leg 15:28 so about a 6:10 pace. The 2nd elite woman finished directly ahead of me and said thanks for pushing her at the end of the race.
I wore a heart rate monitor today and it was at 180bmp for pretty much the entire hour. I think I might explode if I do a longer race! Gotta figure out how to push a higher gear and mellow out a bit. First year of racing - may not have as good of a base as needed...
Tired... Need to take a nap.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Barkin' Dog
Drove to Denver this morning at 5am to race the Barkin' Dog. First ever multisport race! It was actually a lot of fun. Kind of milled around waiting for the race, watching all the elites do wind sprints to get warmed up.
We got started and people were serious from the start. Some sprinted out to get a clear path while others ducked and weaved a bit. It felt fast, too fast. Quickly brought back down to reality when we hit the one mile marker at 6:20. Took the foot off the gas and tried to stay mellow about it.
Transition to the bike leg was pretty good. Already kinda sweaty so had a drink, put on my shoes, helmet and took off. Within a few minutes of leaving the transition area I thought a car was passing me! Turns out it was a guy on a disc wheel - I'd heard about the noise they make, but never heard it up close (I want one now). Bike was good - kept getting passed by guys with aerobars and discs, but managed to pace a little bit off of another roadie a ways ahead until we got up to the dam - and then - one word - bugs! Seriously, so thick I thought I didn't need a gu because of all the bugs I was swallowing (felt like it was raining). Luckily - the return trip was relatively bug-less! Kept pushing on the bike - got passed by some of 40-49 guys, but a pretty decent ride overall.
The second run - that's where the pain sets in. First the legs were kind of numb and wobbly, then burning a little bit, then the lungs burn a little bit and maybe a mile into it just startnig to get tired. We passed the turn-around on the first leg and I seriously wanted to just turn around and go home... But we still had another road to cross, a downhill (knowing that we had to run back up it!), another road and another downhill - then the returning uphill. I just kind of relaxed and kept it at a decent pace.
Fun race overall - plenty of water and snacks. 1:33 something... Maybe 12th place in AG?
We got started and people were serious from the start. Some sprinted out to get a clear path while others ducked and weaved a bit. It felt fast, too fast. Quickly brought back down to reality when we hit the one mile marker at 6:20. Took the foot off the gas and tried to stay mellow about it.
Transition to the bike leg was pretty good. Already kinda sweaty so had a drink, put on my shoes, helmet and took off. Within a few minutes of leaving the transition area I thought a car was passing me! Turns out it was a guy on a disc wheel - I'd heard about the noise they make, but never heard it up close (I want one now). Bike was good - kept getting passed by guys with aerobars and discs, but managed to pace a little bit off of another roadie a ways ahead until we got up to the dam - and then - one word - bugs! Seriously, so thick I thought I didn't need a gu because of all the bugs I was swallowing (felt like it was raining). Luckily - the return trip was relatively bug-less! Kept pushing on the bike - got passed by some of 40-49 guys, but a pretty decent ride overall.
The second run - that's where the pain sets in. First the legs were kind of numb and wobbly, then burning a little bit, then the lungs burn a little bit and maybe a mile into it just startnig to get tired. We passed the turn-around on the first leg and I seriously wanted to just turn around and go home... But we still had another road to cross, a downhill (knowing that we had to run back up it!), another road and another downhill - then the returning uphill. I just kind of relaxed and kept it at a decent pace.
Fun race overall - plenty of water and snacks. 1:33 something... Maybe 12th place in AG?
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Hail...
Plink pa-plink plink PLING! That was the sound of my ride yesterday. It was kind of dark and rainy in the morning when a group ride I was thinking about was leaving - so I decided to trust the weatherman (bad idea) and ride after 10am. No rain after 10am - all done... Stupid weatherman...
Anyway - rode up rist. Actually not too bad. A little cold, the batteries on my watch died, but a nice climb. Got up to the top and saw a few gray clouds, but they didn't look bad. Had a little to drink and screamed down the back side of Rist. Maybe 20 minutes later it starts raining. Not too heavy, but enough to make me slow down a bit going around the curves. Then tink. Uh-oh... Tink. The incessant reminder that something potentially bad was going to happen. Tink ... tink - tink, tink, tink, tink, plink, plink, pa-plink... These little bombs being hurled from the sky kept getting bigger and more rapid. Hiding my fingers under the bars, hating all of the vents allowing little pieces of ice to zap me in the top of the head, keeping my glasses pushed up so I wouldn't lose an eye!
Eventually - I did hide under a rock/bush alongside the road for the worst of it. It was too much... The rest of the ride, well - it sucked too. A mile or two of slushy ice on the road and just couldn't really seem to get the engine going again after that. Maybe another 45-60 minutes of slow riding in the rain. Builds character, right? Stupid weatherman...
Anyway - rode up rist. Actually not too bad. A little cold, the batteries on my watch died, but a nice climb. Got up to the top and saw a few gray clouds, but they didn't look bad. Had a little to drink and screamed down the back side of Rist. Maybe 20 minutes later it starts raining. Not too heavy, but enough to make me slow down a bit going around the curves. Then tink. Uh-oh... Tink. The incessant reminder that something potentially bad was going to happen. Tink ... tink - tink, tink, tink, tink, plink, plink, pa-plink... These little bombs being hurled from the sky kept getting bigger and more rapid. Hiding my fingers under the bars, hating all of the vents allowing little pieces of ice to zap me in the top of the head, keeping my glasses pushed up so I wouldn't lose an eye!
Eventually - I did hide under a rock/bush alongside the road for the worst of it. It was too much... The rest of the ride, well - it sucked too. A mile or two of slushy ice on the road and just couldn't really seem to get the engine going again after that. Maybe another 45-60 minutes of slow riding in the rain. Builds character, right? Stupid weatherman...
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