My Best Ride To Date

My journey on the bicycle began over two years ago. What started as just another hobby, has turned into a full on life consuming activity. To be honest, I'm really proud of the fact that this "hobby" didn't end up in the storage shed like the other five or six "hobbies" I've consumed myself with over the years. I'm prone to picking up something new and exciting and fully immersing myself into it, only to find something new and more exciting months later.

The bike has produced many positives and memorable moments. For starters, my health. When this all began I was way overweight and had just kicked my cigarette habit. I've since lost 40 lbs and am in the best shape of my life.

The memorable moments are numerous. I'll never forget the day I rode my first metric century (62 miles) down in Greenwood, Ms. A big group of us drove down with our better half's and spent the weekend. The day of the ride it must have been 105 degrees. The route had no scenery and the roads were pancake flat. I suffered, badly, but somehow I made it across the finish line. It was my first major ride and it felt great.

A few months later, I rode my first century ride. It left out of downtown Memphis and headed north. During this ride, I got dropped and lost. I was by myself in what I would refer to as North Methville Tennessee trying to use my smart phone Map app to find the course. I was also chased for 50 yards by a pit bull. I later found the course and continued riding. Hours later I began to see the Memphis skyline in the distance, it was my pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. I made my way back down Beale St. towards the finish line to see my entire family who had come out to watch me finish. It was great and I was proud. I was just sorry that they had to wait a little, OK, a lot longer than they thought because I took so long.

This year I rode in my first race series. It was three crit races. On the first two events I was dropped quickly and spent the remaining 25 minutes fighting not only my burning legs, but my head which was asking me "What the hell are we doing"? But I kept riding lap after lap solo, each time passing my kids who were yelling for me with big grins on their face. I believe they thought I was in the lead because no other riders were around, so I just left it at that. On the third race, I had the legs. I was able to stay with the pack and avoid the crashes to finish 10th. It was really cool.

As you obviously know by reading this blog, I will be attempting my biggest ride to date in Leadville, Co in three weeks. I've spent the past four months training for this epic event and I physically feel amazing. I can only imagine what I'm in for, but I know that I have done my best at preparing for the day. I'm excited, nervous and anxious. I'm just ready to put my training in play and go. I look forward to the challenge, the scenery and the experience. I really appreciate everyone who follows this blog and your words of encouragement and I look forward to sharing the Leadville race experience with everyone.

This brings me to my Best Ride to Date. It was a simple ride, only three miles. My average speed was 8mph and I don't think my heart rate ever got above 100. But it was a ride that means more to me than any ride ever will.



This certainly wasn't Asher's and my first ride, but in a way it was. I was sharing my passion with him and he was loving it. That's a new bike and he is so proud of it, not just because it's shiny and has gears, but because it is like Daddy's.

Asher, I'm really proud of you. You're an incredible young man and an amazing son. I look forward to riding with you and watching you create your own memorable moments.

Love, Dad

A Culture Like No Other

I'm a big fan of documentaries, especially anything having to do with bikes. I've seen all the great ones, The Great Divide, Race Across the Sky, Bicycle Dreams, etc.... If none of the above are familiar, I highly suggest checking them out. These stories are full of raw emotion, grit and determination.

Last night, as I was doing my normal Tuesday evening review of the new releases, I came across this movie, To Live and Ride in LA. I was immediately intrigued, but a little weary. I'm not really familiar with this fixed gear culture or lifestyle, but it was a documentary about bikes, so I went for it.

55 minutes later I was mesmerized. This is an amazing story with incredible characters. Their passion for two wheels is immeasurable. It was not a story of endurance riding or racing, rather a look into the lives of a group in LA that enjoy the true essence of riding a bike, speed and freedom.

Along with the great characters, the soundtrack and cinematography were fantastic. Each shot or song pulled you in and pumped you up. If I would have been wearing my heart rate monitor, I'm convinced I would have been around zone 3 while watching.

While I don't encourage the road etiquette of most of these riders, I salute their bravery. By the time the movie was over, I was ready to ditch the helmet, thrown on a cycling cap and torn up jeans with pant legs rolled up and hit the city streets. But then I realized I don't own a fixed gear, I can't ride a wheelie and there is no way in hell I'm getting on the South leg of I-240 at rush hour, so I'm stuck with my spandex shorts and insulated water bottles. But it is fun to dream.

One final cool thing about these characters....They can flat haul ass.
I highly suggest checking this one out.

To Live & Ride In L.A. OFFICIAL TRAILER from TRAFIK on Vimeo.

It's Raining Bobcats

Click the above video and enjoy while reading this post.

This past Sunday I made my second run at the Lake Sylvia trail in Little Rock. On my first attempt, it was 105 degrees actual temperature, so I was hoping the weather would cooperate this time. I got my wish....it never got above 87 degrees and it rained...and rained...and rained. At first, I welcomed the rain, but after 3 hours I was praying for it to stop. By the time I finished, I was covered from head to toe in mud and as waterlogged as I have ever been. But at the days end, I was very proud of the ride.

I would normally have posted the ride details from my Garmin computer, but I forgot to turn it off when I was finished. It continued to run all the way of my drive home. I don't think anyone would believe that I rode 279 miles in 8:57 minutes and burned 7879 calories. So I had to break it down...

61 Miles Ridden
5000' of Climbing
5:45 Total Time
3,365 Calories Burned
1.5 Mental Breakdowns (Thats down 2 from the last time, so I was pleased)

There is a 40 mile loop at Sylvia that climbs 4000'. On my first attempt, It took me 4:30 minutes to do this loop. Sunday, I did it 4:10 minutes, I was very happy with the 20 minute gain. After the 40 mile loop, we took a 5 minute break and then headed back out to the trail. I was instructed by "LadyKiller" to go 10 miles out and then back. By this time I was starting to break down a little, my legs were okay, but the constant rain and mud spray in my face off the front tire was wearing on me. When he pulled up next to me and told me 100 more yards then turn around I thought I had just won the lottery. That final 10 miles was mainly a slight downhill, but a few climbs. Somehow, I truly believe I rode that 10 miles stronger than any part of the entire day. Reaching the main road brought a feeling a relief and exhilaration. It was also nice to see the look on "LadyKiller's" face, it was a look of "awesome job".

I could not get my gloves, shoes and socks off fast enough, but as soon as I removed the first glove I gagged....just a little.



My feet actually looked worse. I think it took the entire two hour drive back home for my hands and feet to recover.



I'm thinking these socks might become scrap rags. My shoes were so soaked they felt triple their normal weight.



This is my Camelbak. The sad thing is that I only wore it for the final 20 miles.



I have to admit that it does look much better when dirty.

On a side note, during one of the descents on the 40 mile loop I came across something I have never seen before...



Uh...Yeah.

Have a good week.

The Practice Run

On Sunday I will be back in the "Natural" state to tackle the Lake Sylvia trail for a second time in three weeks. For those of you who read the earlier "Sylvia" post, you know how that day went, for those who don't know, it's probably best to remain that way. On this second attempt I will be attempting to ride 73 miles, I figure that should be about 8500' of climbing. If I can accomplish this task in 9 to 9.5 hours I will be a happy man.

I will be treating this run as a true Leadville set up. I will be waking up when I will be in Colorado, eating what I will eat in Colorado and hydrating and refueling in the same manner. This day will be about a lot more than just the ride, there are so many other factors that must be in place and this ride will be the test of those items. One positive, I checked the weather and it is only going to be 97 degrees, much cooler than the 107 it was last time.

"LadyKiller" will be present again for the ride. I've got the over-under set on 3.5 for the number of times we will want to strangle each other. I do appreciate him taking the time to be there with me, it's one hell of a gesture.

I've got my checklist and laid out all my items for the trip, I thought I would go over a few of them with you.

BIKE
Two weeks ago I had a Retul done on the bike and I felt 100% better on the ride, I also added a pair of Ergon grips with the climbing handles. I wasn't really sure these would help, but they were amazing.

KIT
I have made major changes in the kits since the "Technicolor Dreamcoat" photo, but lets face it, I'm still 15lbs over weight and I'm only 5'9". I was excited to recently switch to a L for XL, but the thin & tall cycling physique is still escaping me. Because I would like to take some photos for the blog on this ride I will probably wear black, take advantage of that slimming effect.

GLOVES

About three months ago I switched to full finger gloves for both the mountain bike and the road bike. I thought that when the weather really got hot that I would switch back, but I haven't. I just like the comfort and I think my hands stay cooler than with the half finger gloves.

SHOES
I've wear the DMT mbt shoe and it is incredible. They are super light and very comfortable. I also like the two soccer style spikes they have on the tip of the shoe, they come in very handy when I have to dismount and walk on a steep section. I got a lot of practice of that two weeks ago.

HYDRATION
I've got two hydration backpacks, one is a 70oz and the other is 100oz. On my last ride at Sylvia I took the 100 and it was heavy, to heavy. This time I will be packing the 70oz. I will also have two water bottles on board. Plus the 70 oz pack is very basic with regards to straps while the 100 is like a damn octopus. It took me 10 minutes to figure out witch straps went with each other.

FOOD
I will eat breakfast at 5:00 am. It will consist of instant oatmeal with honey. On the ride I will be consuming a number of different products, all honey based. The first is what I call my honey shot, it is a flask with half honey and half water, it's really good and it's straight energy. The only problem with this one is that it must be consumed early, it's pretty nasty when hot. They rest of the day I will refuel with Honey Stinger gels and waffles. My goal is to consume around 80g of carbs per hour.

EARBUDS
I forgot these on the last ride and it was brutal. There is nothing worse than hearing yourself moan in agony for 3.5 hours. I haven't decided on the playlist yet, but I'm working on that.


HEAD
I packed my head last time, but it was on crooked. It must be straight as an arrow this ride.



Check back on Sunday evening for an update on the ride. Have a great weekend.

Vegas Baby!

I'm writing this post at 32,000' somewhere over Oklahoma on the way to Vegas. We are going for a long weekend to celebrate Kimberly's 35th birthday. Neither of us have been to Vegas, so were really looking forward to the trip. Along for the B-day weekend celebration trip are Douche & Douche's better half, my heart rate has already reached anaerobic level twice. Neither Kim or I are big gamblers, were just really looking forward to eating, relaxing by the pool and eating. Douche got us tickets to see Love, the Beatles Cirque du Soleil and has made some great dinner reservations.

The timing of the trip isn't the best with regards to training, but I welcome the short cycling break. It will be nice to take not just a physical break, but also a mental break as well. Although, traveling with Douche does not provide much of a mental vacation. I plan on spending my days by the pool sipping a few fruity cocktails and showing off my exquisite cycling tan, seriously, it looks like I'm wearing a white T-shirt.

The morning did start will a big laugh, Douche was wearing a pair of parachute pants and lime green tennis shoes, classic. But don't worry, the parachute pants were Lulu lemon, so that made them much cooler than anything worn in Breakin 2.

The drink cart is one row away and I need time to decide between peanuts or pretzels so I must end here, have a great weekend.

Pretty Crazy.

etnies PAS House for Public Domaine La Gaite Lyrique from etnies on Vimeo.

A Girl Named Sylvia... Part 2 - The Good, The Bad & The Reality

As I said in yesterday's post, Sunday was the most difficult day I have ever had on the bike. Mentally as much as physically. My goal was to ride 60 miles, but I was pulled at 45. It wasn't my body that let me down, it was my head. When I was told "Get in the Fuckin Car", I was relieved, but that relief quickly turned to anger. I knew I had given up instead of putting my head down and fighting. The car ride back to Little Rock was awkwardly quiet. I knew the man sitting in the passenger seat, who I will refer to in this post as "LadyKiller" was disappointed and probably pissed. He had just spent 5 hours driving behind me at 8 miles per hour while I rode the trail and I gave up on him and myself. He knew it before I did, which is why he called it off. The awkward silence slowly gave away to a discussion of the days events. There were positives, only a few, and negatives, but it was not a failure. This ride was a benchmark. I now know what must be accomplished in two weeks when I go back and I certainly know what riding Leadville will require.

The Good

My body did not give up on me. It was 105 degrees while I was riding and my legs stayed strong, never cramped. Looking back today, I'm blown away that I could even complete what I did on Sunday. It's only been 3 months since I had my final cast removed. I've definitely come a long way physically. At about nine miles in, "LadyKiller" stopped me and gave me some technical advice about climbing. I was riding these early climbs in to easy of a gear, which was causing me to bounce up and down on the seat. This was, "wasted energy" he told me. "Bring it up a gear or two, find a rhythm and stick with it". This advice proved to be very useful. I immediately noticed a big difference in my climbing. It was smoother and I was able to keep myself and the bike under control, which allowed me to concentrate on my pedal stroke and the lines I was taking on the hill. Finally, if there is ever a water drinking contest, I will win...hands down. I think I will have the words "The Camel" pinstriped on my bike. I consumed seven liters of water during the forty mile ride, that has to be a record. Told you the "Good" was short, but that's okay.

The Bad

My head. I was defeated before the ride even started. I think "LadyKiller" even knew it. While we were driving to Sylvia he looked over and told me to relax. I'm still wondering as I write this how he knew. I knew going in that these would be steep climbs, I just underestimated their length. They seemed to go on forever and with each one I got more frustrated. I allowed my brain to tell my body that it wasn't possible. I allowed myself to feel defeated instead of just accepting the climbs and taking them as they came. At mile 37, I cracked. I hopped off the bike and declared I was finished. I was using every excuse possible...the heat, my leg, you name it. LadyKiller got back into the car, locked the doors, cracked the window and told me to clip my ass back onto the bike and get going. I knew he was serious and that if i didn't get back on he would have left my ass for the vultures. I got back on and continued. I finished the final three miles back to the car and mentally quit. When he announced it was time for another twenty miles I cringed. I clipped back in and took off, about 100 yards into the trail he pulled up to me and asked what was the problem? Is this guy a psychic? I think I must have answered him with my classic smart ass tone, because it was at that moment he told me "Get in the Fucking Car". He knew it would have been a waste, I knew I wasn't mentally prepared.

The Reality

I can train day after day for the next five months, but if I can't get mentally tough, it will be all for nothing. I must believe in myself and my physical ability. "LadyKiller" told me in the car ride home, "You know how to eat an elephant?, One bite at a time". I really like that quote. It made me realize that I just need to relax and not to freak out at the big picture, just settle down and take each obstacle one at a time.

To the dismay of "LadyKiller", I did get a few pics of the ride, so enjoy.

A Girl Named Sylvia...

Today was the hardest day I have ever had on the bicycle, actually it was probably the toughest thing I have ever done. I'm now back at home and ready to refuel the 2500 calories I burned. To tired to do a full ride post, so I will have a part 2 tomorrow. Please click on the map to get the full specs of the ride.

Weekend Plans

One month from now I will be on a plane headed for Colorado. Time has flown bye. Training is still going amazing and I'm feeling strong. I've also really been working hard on my nutrition the past 7 weeks and its been paying off. All of my training this past 7 weeks has been solo and it's starting to weigh on me a little. It's nice to be able to have a conversation or share the work load with a fellow rider. But I do believe having to battle the elements by myself is only making me a better rider.

This weekend I take off for a training ride in Arkansas. I will be riding a 33 mile loop called Sylvia. It has a lot of climbing and the conditions are similar to what I will face in Leadville, minus the altitude. I will be making two loops for a total of 66 miles. It should be a good test of my current fitness. Two weeks from now I will go back to do 3 laps, 99 miles. That is the big boy. I'm a little nervous, but I just need to be confident in all my training and pay attention to my heart rate data.





On a side note, there is a big change coming to this blog. I won't reveal much at this time, but I'm really excited.

Get Buckled Up

Bike Porn

Here she is....I don't have a name for her yet, but I better pick one quickly. Leadville is approaching fast and we need to develop a very special relationship.

She is light, stiff and beautiful.

Hope you enjoyed sneaking a peek....Just don't forget to clear your internet history after viewing.