Running

I've started running in order to get myself into a higher all-around condition. I could run a good while but I'm starting out with shorter distances for now. I have to build my joints and muscles up for running before trying to kill myself on a 10-15 mile run.

Shoes are always important for running so I bought a new pair. They're super hot Under Armour Spectres in yellow.


You can pick up a pair here if you want. I'd really recommend them.

Oh yeah, I ran a mile today and I'm going to bed early so I can ride my bike to work. Cheers :P

The season is almost here!

I rode 64 miles today since I had the day off and it was nice enough to be out for a while. I'm still out of shape but I'm getting back in it fairly quickly. I'm still looking at Time Trial bikes and I've been checking Ebay waiting for a sweet deal to come across.

I've started compiling a 2009 race schedule, and right now I'm sitting at 17 races this season. A lot of events aren't on the schedule yet and there's no telling what might happen, so I expect the schedule to be changed or altered. I'll post the list later when it gets closer to races.

Also I'm about to start doing regular updates, not daily ones mind you, but more frequently than I am now. I'm thinking 3-4 or so a week if I can manage it.

Days are warming up! (and so are my legs)

I was able to get out with Brittney and Nate today and take some pictures of the Tour De Hills race our club is going to host again this year. I wasn't really on the bike that much but Nate and I hit the steeper climbs of the course and then some. I'm a little sore from doing just over 8 miles of climbing after sitting around inside the last week.

Speaking of last week, I couldn't get out at all with the temperatures in the teens, the ice and gravel on the road, and the trees and debris all over the place. I guess Northern Arkansas and a few other places in the country got hit by the same front and it put us in a national disaster area. Being out of power for a week was a real bore. Sitting on a trainer and staring at candles in the dark was a lot worse.

I've got my bike in shape with my new wheelset. I sat down yesterday and took an hour to clean the bike and lube the chain and derailleurs. It was nice having a clean bike again but it's too bad that it's already dirty. I'll probably wipe it down real fast and throw some pictures up in the Bike Garage just so I'll have some updated pictures of the bike to flaunt about.

Just a little note: I'm going to get a time trial bike in the next month or two. I really want a full schedule this year and squeezing a few time trials in there would really break up the road races. Time trials would also help me focus on breaking my mental walls and enable me to really push myself in other races. Right now I'm almost sure that I'm going to go with a Leader 735TT frame and build it up myself. It should be a fun learning experience.

That's all for now.

Quick update

Things have been pretty slow around here lately. I'm getting back into the grove of riding again and I'm really enjoying it. I just can't wait for it to warm up so I can be on the bike 24/7.

The rear wheel I ordered has been outstanding so far. I ordered the matching front wheel and it came in just a couple days ago. After I get paid, I'm going to run to a shop to buy some rim tape and some new tires for my bike. I plan on breaking the bike down and cleaning everything so it looks good for some pictures.

My water bottle was getting funky so I got two new ones. I also bought four pair of cycling socks. I only have a few more items on my list to buy before the season starts. I need more time on the bike, but right now I just want the season to be here as soon as possible. It just feels like I haven't been getting anywhere in life lately.

The beast is back.

A couple weeks ago, I ordered a Neuvation wheel to replace the one I trashed. Well the wheel came in a couple days ago, and today, I got it mounted up. The wheel looks great and I'm definitely going to buy the matching front when I get the money.



Sorry for the poor lighting.

First time on the bike in 4 weeks!

The title says it all. My road bike is still trashed, but that doesn't stop me from going on grouprides. Every year, the club meets at Wes's house for night mountain bike rides. My mountain bike is a total piece of garbage and needs to be thrown in a ditch, but hey, it's all I have right now. I spent a little over an hour fixing it up, tuning the derailers, putting my road pedals on it and all that stuff.

Despite being crippled for a few weeks, I didn't do half bad tonight. The group did a usual 26 mile route, and I remembered most of it. There were a couple climbs but they weren't too bad compared to last year. I was riding at a CAT 4 level before my wreck, and now I'm lacking a bit. I'm pretty sore from the ride, mostly because the seat post on my mountain bike is an inch short, and I'm already half an inch over the max on the post.

Chad Payne, a rider in the group has set his mountain bike up so the bike's dimensions are almost identical to his road bike. I'd really like to do that too, but honestly I feel that it would be a waste of money on the bike I have now. I'm sure the parts going into the bike would cost more than what the rest of the bike is worth. Speaking if which, I was planning on buying a new mountain bike before I wrecked. Sure would have been nice /sigh :(

Oh yeah, if anyone reads this and feels nice enough to give me a 700c shimano 10speed compatible wheel it would really help me out a lot. It's basically all I need to resurrect the beast :P

So much for the training going well...

I haven't felt like posting about it, but two days after my last post on September 23rd, I had a really bad wreck and broke my collar bone. I was scraped all over and I'm pretty sure I bruised a few ribs because it still hurts taking deep breaths. The figure-eight brace came off last Tuesday after wearing it for two weeks. The bone has fused back and I've got 80% of my movement back, but it's going to be a while before it stops hurting and I can really move my arm around. Also, the deep gash on my left side still isn't healed. I think it's going to take a full four weeks for that stupid thing to close up.

My bike did fairly well considering it flipped down a road at 40 Mph. The new saddle I bought is torn up, but it's still usable. The bar tape is a little messed up but overall fine. I lost my tail light somewhere...and my rear wheel is pretty warped. I'm not sure if the wheel can be straitened out or not. I'm thinking it would be possible, but on the other hand, I think the wheel is going to have to be replaced. I want to be on the trainer NOW! I've been going crazy sitting at home the last few weeks being unable to ride a bike. I pulled my mountain bike out of the garage and put it on my trainer. The tire doesn't make contact with the drum so it's just sitting there right now.

I guess it's nice to have some time off. I just wish it was an optional time off because I'm seriously ready to get back on the bike now before it gets later in the year. I'll be able to actually ride my mountain bike outside in a few days. If not, pushing it back to the full four weeks wouldn't hurt.

Wrecks are stupid.