Learning to like the trainer

Textbooks are the perfect size to support your front wheel.  Plus the sweat stains are a great way to intimidate other students.

This is the first time I've both tried to train in the off season and been in a cold environment.  I decided some time ago that once the temperature drops to a certain point I'd rather be bored than frozen, so I ride inside.  It's been below that point since December.  Thus, I've only actually ridden my bike outside twice since Elvis Cross on October 15.  I've been on the trainer five days a week, however, since early January.  With so much time inside, it really shocks the system to get out on the roads.  Outside there are countless small efforts, like accelerating from stop signs, that cause me to put a lot more force on the pedals than I'm used to.  But in my experience, those punchy efforts come back pretty easily, usually in just a few rides.

I've done a few things that have helped me break up the monotony on the trainer.  I've focused more on interval training, without building up much of a "base" of long, slow distance miles like I used to do.  I also use a power meter, so I can see where my numbers are compared to the previous week.  It only took me three weeks of training to surpass my numbers from last year...which says more about bad I was last year than how good I am this year.  Most important, however, has been streaming media content online.  The only truly boring part of riding inside is when you're between intervals or warming up.  The Daily Show and Colbert Report, which are free online, are my go-to distractions.  They're usually 20 minutes long or so, which is perfect for a warm up.

One redeeming attribute of the trainer is that it allows you to push yourself to the point of being completely cross-eyed and drooling on yourself without risking an accident on the roads.  To put out that sort of effort outside simply isn't safe.  I'm not necessarily into pushing it that hard this early, but it does give you something to break up your ride.

I'll end with two trainer movie recommendations: Hoop Dreams and More than a Game.  Both are documentaries about basketball.  They've got all the necessary parts to good sports movies, existential "why we do it" type of stuff, reliving the glory days, and over-invested parents and fans.  Both movies keep you on the edge of your seat.  Even though I don't follow pro basketball, or like it that much, it's nice to branch out to other sports and see that no matter how different the game, so much remains the same.

-Brian B

A must read for the new cat 5.

Yesterday, I logged onto a good friends blog, As The Crank Turns. He had a post that is a must read for all cat 4/5 riders. As a matter of fact it's a post that anyone that races or rides in large groups should read. If we all follow his advice, racing would be that much safer and fun to participate in.



Bob

Bring On the Spring

The beginning of the 2011 season is knocking on the door with a hammer. The season starts off with the wheelmen hosting a race at the autobahn in Joliet. I did this race last year, and it was one of my favorites. The week continues with the Gapers Block Crit series, hosted by Half Acer. The racing will consist of 2 cat 4/5 races and 1 women’s race. The fields for all 3 races always have a good turn out. To finish the week off we have the 4th annual Burnham Racing – Spring Super Criterium. Not bad to start off the season. That’s just a warm up for Hillsboro Road Race the folling weekend.


The team plans on having riders at Joliet and the first 2 nights of the gapers block races. Then it’s off to 5 days of training in Southern Illinois. We had a training camp last year around the same time and it was a blast. I personally suffered due to the fact that I weighed too much, so going up hills sucked but I rocked on the down hills.


I want to take the time to welcome our new sponsors along with our always faithful title sponsors of Beverly Bike and VeePak. This year we added on Easton and PowerBar as sponsors. Giant and Serfas also have been with us since last year. Latter in the season we will be putting together reviews of all the equipment that we have. I hope that you read about all the equipment. And if you like what read then come on down to Beverly Bike and talk to Paul or Mike. I’m sure they can help you out from sales to service.




Bob

Random Thoughts from DeKalb

Cool, I don't have to wait for 20 minutes before the race to start lining up because I'm getting a call up. That was weird everyone rolling up on me from behind at the start. Am I in the right gear to start? Oh shit, I'm clipping in with the wrong foot! Shitty start. Power up, catching.Get up Lew.  Do I double up on the steps or single step with my stubby legs?  The fly over wasn't that bad. The guy right behind me sounds like he's having a heart attack, he's breathing so heavy. Oh it's just Brian Morrissey. I can pass him. Up the flyover double stepping, not bad. What the hell just happened? When I sat on my bike at the plateau of the flyover, one of my testicles shoots up into my throat. What the hell is poking me in my butt? Shit, the nose of my saddle is attempting to sodomize me! Should I quit or stand for the next 2 laps? Onward. Come to a complete stop after every dismount, so as not to impale yourself. No energy standing up. Anybody got a spare bike I can use? Why would anybody follow me up the stairs? Turns suck standing on every one.
After the race I feel nauseated, not because I exerted myself, but because I just go whacked in the nuts.
Elvis Cross here we come!

Jackson Park

                                                                                     
Cross season has begun! Let the goofy handups commence!
Some background on how me and my son, Alex got here. Alex is a Cub Scout and was given the opportunity to camp in a tent at Northerly Island for the Scouts 100 year anniversary. So he and I made it a bicycle weekend. On Saturday morning we left by car for my firehouse near the South Shore Cultural Center. We unloaded the bikes and carrier, and loaded all of our camping gear into it and headed downtown. Now Saturday morning started out fine, but the forecast looked grim. Just as we got there the heavens opened. I thought we would be stuck in our tent for the entire stay, but the rain let up and we had a great time thereafter. At night they had a concert by Smashmouth and the best fireworks display I have seen this year. They really put on a nice event for the kids.
Sunday morning we were awoken at 6. We loaded up and started heading to JP. I unhooked the carrier and now had to wait for our events. I tried to get into the 30+ but it was full. I never went over how to get over a barrier with my son until that morning. I couldn't believe his learning curve. It's unfortunate there aren't more options for small kids, my son is 9, for good bikes. I got him a used Novarra Pulse which is 23 lbs! It was the only 26" bike that I found. I couldn't find any cheap Redline 24" and didn't want him to grow out of it too fast.
Onto racing. Alex was first. He went from "I can do this" to "I am tired" to "I don't think I could finish" in the couple of hours leading to his race. He started out slowly, which I am happy he did. I didn't want him to poop himself out early and not enjoy himself. On the first barriers he did great. then he started to catch some kids. He fell towards the end and lost a spot, but after the race it didn't even phase him. All he wanted was a drink of water afterwards.
My race, the 4A's started with us lining up 25 minutes before the race, just like every other race year preceding.  It's like a flock of vultures circling their prey waiting for the first one to dive onto the line for everybody else to follow. What's the sense of warming up? A lot of new and old faces, a good amount of conversation, and one very necessary act took place at the lineup. At this time I told Brian Hague what to expect seeing as this was only his third cross race and the first one in the past two years. Bob was there jawing with Rob Curtis and Elvis were there also.
I started on the third row. The race starts and I start my move to the front. Two riders went down separately and I was able to get around them without slowing down. I think that helped me immensely. I got to 5th and was really able to hammer in the straights, but I can not turn to save my life. I ended up finishing in 9th which is still my best finish in the 5 years I've been doing this.
Hague comes in 1st! I knew he had an engine and this proves it. It's nice to have another area guy on the team. So he's in a battle for the top position when he goes down and drops his chain. He reengaged rhe leader, when the Iron Cycle guy chain pops off, putting Brian on top of the podium. Congrat's to Brian on only his third cx race ever.