words from the master

Austin (TX not Allison)

Last weekend the team headed down to Austin Texas to do a little testing at Pedal Hard in the dungeon of Mellow Johnny's with Kevin Livingston. We had a great time and, I at least, learned a ton. I have always been skeptical about training with wattage or heart rate, mainly because I've never taken the time to learn anything about it. We did a Lactic Threshold test. The test itself is pretty simple, you warm up for 15 mins, then the real test begins and you start out at 120 watts and ride for 3 minutes, then it jumps up 20 watts every 3 mins following that. It was pretty interesting that the test went just like Kevin said it would. Basically you don't feel bad at all, and then it hits you like a truck. I was pretty nervous because my training had started a little later than most of my teammates and I had missed a few days due to a weird sickness and another few to some big projects. I was feeling pretty disappointed comparing my numbers to everyone elses, but then I realized that they were pretty much non comparable. We're all different sized etc. The only thing that is really worth looking at from a strictly statistical standpoint is the watt/kilogram number which I was pretty satisfied with. Needless to say, this weekend convinced me in improving my training methods so much that I went out and bought a Garmin with heartrate and cadence. Time to get serious. I haven't had a computer on my bike since I crashed at Webster last summer, and I had that one on for about a month. I considered getting some kind of power meter, but I'll give it a year, anyways the Garmin works with any ANT+ power meter so it should be an easy upgrade. I am also really happy to say that our Director, Jim Schneider, will be writing my training plans for the year. I'm excited to combine these with the Garmin.
Thanks so much to Kevin, Chris and Jim for everything this past weekend. I had a blast and learned more than I anticipated. My schedule has also changed quite a bit since the last one I posted, so that's not super accurate anymore. Like anyone reading this cares.

bump this track.

man

do i miss Paolo Bettini. He is one of my all time favorite riders. I wish I had paid more attention in 2004.




He was intense, exciting, and had impeccable on the bike style. Being the Italian, World and Olympic champion at once. Pretty incredible, and produced some pretty incredible equipment with the tricolore, world championship stripes and splashes of gold for the olympics.



this video is awesome, and totally worth watching. He destroys the climb. If you're going to watch anything, watch the last minute, the announcers commentary on Bettini is golden.



here's his first worlds victory. again then end is perfect. there's something unique about how they celebrate a victory in europe. the passion isn't the same over here.



here's his second. again...the announcer. I would also normall stop after the finish, but the podium/national anthem scene is awesome!



this is a sentimental victory, he won the world championships like two weeks prior to this, and inbetween the two races his brother passed away. pretty beautiful victory, really shows how someone can ride inspired. and his descending is insane.



that's how you race on the road.
props Bettini.

real post

So life is moving along steadily. Training is trying to get going. I have a tough wednesday and thursday with a night class each night, and a lot of homework due both days. This friday we are headed to Texas for some testing at Mellow Johnnys. It should be a good time, hopefully I'll surprise myself in a good way. It's really strange. I don't feel like I have the long miles in my legs as much as I did last year, but I still feel pretty fit. I think it's really the long cross season carrying over. I never felt out of shape during my 3ish weeks off. Keaton and I had a good ride with Robert on Sunday, it was nice to get out with someone new and Robert is always entertaining.

The race schedule is looking like this.

Froze Toes Feb 28th
Tuesday Nights Start March 16th (!(the best race of the year that happens every week)) I think this past year has given me a real appreciation for Tuesday Nights. They're the perfect training on a Tuesday, and, generally, fun.
Dogwood March 21st
Forest Park Criterium March 28th
Hillsboro April 10th
Tilles Crit April 11th
Hermann April 17th-18th
Tour of STL April 24th-25th
Tour of the Gila (Maybe) April 28th-May 2nd
Joe Martin Stage Race May 6th-9th
Ofallon Crit (Maybe) May 22
State RR May 21
Iowa May 28th-31st
Tulsa Tough June 4th-6th
Tour de Grove June 13th
With tuesday nights continuing throughout.
Then Nationals sometime after that. I think we might be missing Tour de Grove to go out to nats early. I'd really like to race it, but we'll see. I think Keaton and I want to go back up to Superweek, which is after nationals so that should be okay. We'll probably race Soulard, I think on the 18th of July, then drive up that evening, rest a day, then race 4 days ending with Downers. I think we've convinced Robert to come with us. Maybe Grman too. The races will be longer and faster up there this summer, so it will have us flying for the State Crit, ideally.

I've pretty much decided that Cross starts too early around here, and that I want to wait around a bit more before I start racing this year. I guess I'll do the night Hermann race, because it's a night race and there's not many of those. But I think I'll skip the day race the next day. I was definitely having the Cross blues this year around November. When the season feels long, and that early excitement is gone.

I'm really ready for some Crits. I've been watching a lot of footage and looking at a lot of pictures, and I'm just craving it. I really feel like I have a totally new attitude going into races this year. That I want to make the race happen for me. I don't want to sit in any race. I want to make the race happen for me.

I'm excited to be racing with the 1/2s this year, in the big show. I'm confident of my ability being there, and I've worked for 5 years to race at this level. It'll probably be a learning year, but that'll only make next year, and even this cross season better.




this should be a common sight this year. Grman and I riding together, except he'll have different colors on. It looks like I'm keeping the Cannondale to race. Not a total bummer, it's a fantastic bike for the crits. I'm a little worried about racing Hillsboro, and the 110 mile road races at Joe Martin on it, but I should survive. It'll put a little hair on my chest.

crazy

this looks strangely similar to bike racing, but more scary. pardon the bad music and skip in like a minute.