tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55972862024-03-14T02:37:16.549-06:00On your left...Ramblings fueled by Life, Food & Cycling
@ 39.51 n 106.06 wTimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.comBlogger2028125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-6390803399948138072018-01-17T07:03:00.001-07:002018-01-17T07:03:47.734-07:00Mid WinterSome mornings getting up and going out into the cold couldn't feel better or more motivating. Today, it'll have to wait, in the summer the early morning bike ride is easier and harder, it's definitely colder. Going uphill on skis requires much less layering and strategy to avoid hypothermia.<br />
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Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-57070188729947056242017-11-21T21:19:00.000-07:002017-11-27T10:21:50.147-07:00GoodIt’s been a rough fall, loss in a more important way than I ever imagined has put this cross season in perspective. It’s made me want to be fitter, not faster, more healthy and holisticly focused. Keeping the bad choices and negative thoughts at bay. Easier said than done some days and others just rolling through as though I’ve never made a misstep. Mid race today-thinking about loss, putting things out of my mind and getting that minute’s work done. Driving better than I have in a while and trying to clear the cobwebs negativity leaves behind. It’s ok to feel good, it’s ok to be satisfied, drive is great but sometimes park is ok too.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-23421989632944968432017-10-14T06:23:00.002-06:002017-10-14T06:23:29.583-06:00Back on TrackPutting fitness and riding back to where they usually live on my priority list has made this week tough. No lack of motivation for the normalcy of intervals and the taste of deep efforts. The drive grows from a different place that I'm not entirely familiar with. Now, CX is back where I like it to live, looking at the schedule and feeling the goals solidify into the season I know I can have.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-4066236427010427232017-09-10T23:21:00.000-06:002017-09-10T23:21:12.025-06:001st one for the yearToday it felt like my head was being held underwater for the whole hour. In a hot tub. I had enough air for a few laps then the efforts cost more and more, not on form not on task not on focus-whatever it was I paid for early confidence with a thorough lack of power and instead it became a training ride with race efforts. Not good but it gave me a chance to learn drifting the new bike (<a href="http://www.trekbikes.com/">2018 Boone 9</a>) with new tires (<a href="http://www.challengetech.it/products/cyclocross/baby-limus-pro-058/en">Challenge Baby Limus</a> for dry courses).<br />
The heat crept up on me, the ice sock on my upper back didn't do all I needed it to, I should've sat in the nearby pond for a half hour before the start. The heat was the antagonist today, as soon as it got me my system went into the survival mode and I tried and tried to cool, not today. It was good to open the account, to give my legs and lungs a taste of the next 4 months. It's here.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-32835137765310041492017-09-09T07:17:00.000-06:002017-09-09T16:44:53.257-06:00Open SpaceI went thru one of the most open spaces I think I have ever been today. It had to be 10 miles in any direction before there was a substantial break to the topography, kind of like Kansas but with mountains rimming the expanse. Warm and exposed, quietly hiding in my own space as I passed through. It was beautiful, I felt insignificant, comfortable.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-74157151269805405422017-09-08T07:16:00.000-06:002017-09-08T07:16:11.124-06:00ReadyI'm ready to break dishes, the snap will return and the accelerations will come easy. Ready to go, I know that the season is long and there is still lots to do, giving up a workout so one more wheelset can be readied and one less half finished project to make the prep for important races less stressful.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-37087121272568279772017-09-05T22:48:00.002-06:002017-09-05T22:48:50.486-06:00Obvious There's an innate beauty in repetition, our OCDs as athletes that keep us on the outside of the doctors office and on the perimeter of everyday life. We operate in plain sight, not hiding just functioning in our own way and ticking off the boxes that come with a set of good efforts. When the good ones are outnumbered by the bad we start to reconsider what we're doing, is a tweak in order? Or, will we come out of this hole better, stronger, wiser for being in it. This comes to mind as summer becomes CX Season. It's here and I'm not sure I've done enough. But if I felt good about it why would I even race? That's the reason we line up, if it was a foregone conclusion the racing would lack every single appealing characteristic.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-90904602033536949872017-08-29T22:17:00.001-06:002017-08-29T22:17:29.720-06:00CX is ComingI rode a new bike today, a little bit of tempo and a little bit of exploring what might be in the tank leading into September. The good and bad of your biggest races happening so early, attention to detail is never more focused than late August as the summer ends and the season begins in a field sprint. Hmmm, just like CX. I'm getting it all lined up, unfortunately it takes away from the training but maybe too much right now isn't the best thing.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-51933601676683518192017-08-28T05:48:00.000-06:002017-08-28T05:48:33.464-06:00More DirtNot having CX bikes yet isn't the worst thing it just makes the MTB routes I choose different. It's not that I haven't recovered from the Epic I think it's that I'm not recovering from the day before. Crappy sleep choices only offset by good refueling has me 50% there after every effort. At least I have the work of #WorldCupWaterloo pushing my efforts that little bit deeper into the box. The MTB still feels fresh and lively, so I know I'm not stale, but I am ready for some CX training. The high end is there, we'll see if the rest of the engine is firing.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-79825162964505777242017-08-26T20:43:00.002-06:002017-08-26T20:47:45.195-06:00Getting Out Of The woodsMy first ride of any real measure since the Epic-as tired as I was going into it, surprisingly I didn't suck. When I started pedaling the idea of a good ride seemed reachable, great weather and the motivation gained from watching this:<br />
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The ride was good, a little more than I've done and a lot more positive feeling. Maybe there's something in there after all. <a href="https://www.relive.cc/view/1153747019">https://www.relive.cc/view/1153747019</a> The MTB<br />
is good but I'm excited to ride the new Boones, maybe tomorrow...<br />
<br />Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-16039711738515669642017-08-25T21:17:00.003-06:002017-08-25T21:17:44.632-06:008/25/17The recovery is taking a long time, I guess disappointment loads he legs and makes you tired. Regardless I have a ball rolling behind me every day, CX is coming and I have the drive more than ever to be good and not let myself down anymore. Today was another good MTB ride, without CX bikes to ride it's just low cadence work to build power until I have drop bars to ride and leg speed to generate. Nothing will make me happier than to have a good September, get the first few races in the books, and put up satisfactory results. Waterloo will be an early Nationals-quality effort, I hope the body is firing those days.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-68866695542581894152017-05-11T15:57:00.001-06:002017-05-11T15:57:24.307-06:00Broken DishesI think I broke more dishes on Saturday than I did today but today just seemed better. Maybe the workman like pace today-a shorter ride made it feel like I had done more. Saturday (ButterGold '17) was just a smile for 5 hours, riding bikes with some of the best people I have ever met. 90 degrees and practically no shade or breeze. Today was different, the pace and the definitive destination and timeframe we had that made it feel more like training. Quietly riding up the pass, trading pulls as the air got clear and cold. Good legs, good pace, no gloves, the broken pavement rolling past made the effort better. Going thru the top still a long way from home made me smile, like when you swim just a bit farther out than you think you should and you have do the mental arithmetic to get back in, safely. Coming home surprisingly unfazed by the ride I was doing tempo the last 45 minutes. A smile earned not made, sunshine and finally a comfort in the legs that only comes from hours of good work.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-32551731878652875322016-03-21T12:27:00.000-06:002016-03-21T12:27:26.104-06:00MathSometimes when the workouts are piling up and the intervals feel longer than the clock says it feels like I'm running into a stacked stone wall somewhere in the countryside. Not a blip on any radar, not much more than a grease stain laced with lactic acid. I'm getting work done, not for any other reason besides it feels good to stop. If it hurts then when it doesn't hurt anymore I can do the math to know I did it right. Addition and subtraction.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-3777576896684651162016-03-17T17:05:00.001-06:002016-03-17T17:05:43.632-06:00<span style="background-color: whitesmoke; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-indent: 10px;">Most of my skiing is done by 8 am. One of the best parts about Breck is its access to high peaks and ski area tours that offer solid vertical, good training and a relatively sympathetic ski area administration. Training for the few SkiMo races I get to do is much more about the process. The 4:30 am wake up is easy anymore, knowing I'm headed up high to see the sun peak out and enjoy the purple light. </span>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-6677200975938145682016-03-17T09:29:00.003-06:002016-03-17T09:29:32.534-06:00Slowly ClearingBattling to beat a cold that haunts a clear head, I took out <a href="http://thefivepeaks.com/resultsmedia">5 Peaks</a> not at 100%, what's next? I hope a better last half of March leading into good bike legs. Amazing what a tempo pace can produce, clearing out the chest and building the desire to pedal. At least new snow is keeping the winter motivation alive. Pretty colors and fresh snow, better to be tired and a little sick than feeling great and not have any work on the ledger.<br />
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<br />Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-45030002258578055072016-03-15T10:11:00.001-06:002016-03-15T10:12:18.351-06:00The 5 Peaks SkiMo race was Saturday, a week before the race I scored a partner in Dirk Friel, a friend of a friend and well known bad ass athlete. Knowing what little I did about Dirk I automatically assumed he'd be faster than me, and then after getting sick a week ago I <i>knew</i> he has going to be faster. My head space changed a bit early in the week when I realized I might rally, I kept thinking 'oh, ok, the race is 4 days out and I feel pretty good' looking back I knew that I was getting better and was telling myself I was rallying really well. Thursday morning I did a quick little ski and that dug a deep coughing hole for me to climb out of all day. Friday night was spent mostly lying to myself that I had these great aspirations, that my fitness and good amount of skiing all season were going to pay off and result in a star effort. I reglued my skins Friday night, got the avy gear together and made my nutrition plan (Fig Newmans and Skratch Labs Apple & Cinnamon drink mix) pretty elaborate plan. Saturday morning I woke feeling better-or just more lying to myself. Made delicious oatmeal with a friend egg on top and tried to choke down calories to fuel what I was about to do. Dirk arrived we chatted a bit then headed to town for the start. Walking across town was plenty of a warm up, we checked in, did the gear check then after the pre race meeting I managed to pee, put my skins on and get to the start. We started modestly, nothing that would blow us up, good pacing to get thru the race and leave enough in the tank to finish strong. The first 2 peaks ticked by they were manageable but we saw a lot more teams ahead of us Peak 9 that ended up being catchable with a little stronger pacing, that hurt. When we got to Imperial Ridge on Peak 8 the steepness slowed us down but the drive was still plenty strong to keep the pace steady. We had some company here, 2 other teams that were also having good days, we pushed a steady effort up the climb and then by the time we hit Peak 7 it was just 2 teams then the skiing down to the final real climb separated us a bit more, we started Peak 6 with a good attitude, steep kick turns on rotten snow ended in a nice booter to the ridge, the best part of the course was this booted, snow and dirt and snow and steep climbing, super cool stuff especially in ski boots!<br />
Finally gaining the ridge we ski across to the top of Peak 6 to a nice descent we were chasing one other team here and a boot issue and subsequent crash gave us a gap on them to get us to a short climb to the finish. Great effort, fun course and another nice little accomplishment in my pocket. 7th place amid the fast kids felt pretty respectable.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-15917561242532420182016-02-25T10:06:00.003-07:002016-02-25T10:06:49.382-07:00SolitudeWith the times and durations of my workouts I feel lucky when I get to ski or ride with a friend. Most efforts are done solo, the window opens and then it's out the door, practically no warning. It's funny how the last few years it's become more frequent that I do have a partner for more of my workouts, fortunately I still have podcasts and music to keep me from getting too locked into my thoughts. Nothing like thinking and learning about macroeconomics and string theory to avoid pondering the calendar and the paycheck. I guess kids and commitments are a great driver to get out of bed when it's too early and too dark.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-66406475669140789442016-02-25T09:29:00.001-07:002016-02-25T09:29:38.184-07:00<div style="color: #454545; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal;">
I guess in retrospect it would have been smart to push harder early but not knowing how long the race going to be and how hard the climb of Guide's Ridge was going to be on us we conserved more than we should have. It's funny coming from cycling where you know how long and roughly how hard a race is going to be-the uncertainty in SkiMo races plays with strategy and planning. I had great legs the first 90 minutes, predictable considering what I do for most training efforts. Then at about 2 hours the rotten stomach showed up around the time that kick turns zig-zagged us up steep face after steep face. Instead, we kept a modest pace and only lost touch with one group whose pace would've been good to keep. These were faster and technically sound skiers-on the ups. My kick turn technique outright sucks, it needs a lot of help. So, I tried to do better and not lose balance and too much time. My legs were fine considering my comfort level on steep, icy faces that required good kick-turning. Then if I'd prepped better for Guide's I'm sure it wouldn't have been such a shit show. I know that all of those dark thoughts that creep in when on a long effort, the ones that sap energy, motivation and focus are fading and the satisfaction and thrill of what I accomplished takes over. We all talk about it, in the middle of the effort you are ready to retire and then within an hour of finishing you'd sign up for the next one if they put a registration kiosk in front of you. </div>
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<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/92430696">Video from a few years ago.</a></span></div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-52845634599336893162012-11-23T16:40:00.002-07:002012-11-23T16:40:43.990-07:00End is nearTest piece to see if this blog is still working, today was a little rough, the stress of the end of CX season on the horizon and the fact that I'm mediocre has me looking more in than out and down more than up.<br />
<br />Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-51382408465109885332011-12-16T15:50:00.001-07:002011-12-16T15:50:57.778-07:00He puts on his glasses like he puts on a sweater. The full effort that comes with a familiarity not yet honed to efficiency. More colors than I’ve seen; a subtle hue new to my palate not yet identified as a shade of blue, green or beige. Not the stark white of fresh snow or the brown/black of a winter’s forest but that light at the margin of the day where earth, sky & light mesh into one common point on the horizon.<br />
<br />Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-83204152953266679852011-10-01T06:43:00.000-06:002011-10-01T06:43:44.955-06:00Temporary ChangeI consider myself somewhat tech savvy, however the current iOS of the iPhone and iPad are not working/playing well with blogger. I'm hoping greater access will allow more and better posts. For what it's worth I'm going to use the tumblr I created a while back for most of my posts in the next few weeks and see if that helps me get the non-creative/creating monkey off my back and write/draft less shit and make something worth reading.<br />
<a href="http://www.radker.tumblr.com/">www.radker.tumblr.com</a><br />
<br />Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-86174788978322825982011-09-25T07:30:00.001-06:002011-09-25T08:20:20.367-06:00InnerWarmth in the turns and warmer on the straights, the tires sing over the dirt and hum on the asphalt, finished for the day I tumble thru the race in my head, the result matters less than the disappointment of it. Hours later I'm figuring out what it was I lack and the answer is nothing, I gave it what I had, beyond that I'm just not capable. I cannot take the pedals back, without them I'd be screwed, instead I have my own modest goals, all in, every one.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-51162224261741869702011-09-25T05:27:00.002-06:002011-09-25T05:27:45.542-06:00Pushing thru the days hiding the disappointments,<br />
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Aging gracefully, or so I think.</div>
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Without a healthy outlet I fade,</div>
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Waiting for the bumper with my name.</div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-67541793917045514812011-09-21T22:15:00.001-06:002011-09-21T22:20:50.756-06:00The solitude of riding dirt roads for miles and miles is with out fail the best thing I can think of to clear my head. At this point I need other things beyond my music to limit the din.<br />
MTB requires too much focus but 60 miles on dirt roads with the CX bike is quieting.<br />
The brain finally shuts the fuck up and allows a subtle calm,<br />
a peace not found as easily in the more populated aspects of life.<br />
Trees, changing leaves, big elk being chased by hunters all slip through my bubble as I roll down the roads, inside a cocoon of my own creation.<br />
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<br />Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5597286.post-83367336126266530392011-09-19T06:32:00.000-06:002011-09-19T06:32:17.277-06:00Mechanical formSometimes emotional availability is on par with accumulation of things. A lack of satisfaction is maybe what drives the successful but also the journey isn't always the goal. What if you constantly pick up and go to the next place, mentally or geographically? What about the enjoyment of what's there. I'm shutting out more and more things, less attention paid to the newest and nicest two wheel oriented bits and more to the experience of using what I have. I used to lust after the fanciest things for the bike, ignoring that the bike is simple in nature, missing the point of the process, efficiency in it's mechanical form.Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16190721193447941797noreply@blogger.com1