It's all about Pace

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

MAF Test

I'm just about half way through the Maffetone book but I thought I'd go ahead and do a pre test.

And since I am in essence starting over. I thought a weigh in was in order as well…

I did the test on a treadmill at the Y @ a 1% incline. I figured this would allow me to have constant test conditions even when it's 95F outside next summer.

Warm-up 10 minutes

Mile 1: 8:38 (132 BPM)

Mile 2: 8:46 (135 BPM)

Mile 3: 9:03 (135 BPM)

Mile 4: 8:54 (136 BPM)

Mile 5 9:00 (135 BPM)

Cool down 10 minutes

I guess I'll do this test every 2 weeks as I begin to implement my new training strategies…

Monday, October 29, 2012

Another reason to love cyclocross

Pasta handups

Friday, October 26, 2012

CX Series Finale

Last night was the 5^th and final race of our series… the first 4 had been progressively better

Race 1: 5 crashes

Race 2: no crashes

Race 3: 6^th place in the 4/5 division

Race 4: 4^th (and in the money)

Optimism and excitement were high…

Being near Halloween costumes were encouraged.

Triathlete was what I had decided on… but I had decided to forego the aero helmet… it was just too hot for that.

We got their a bit late… and Judi volunteered to sign me up and get my number while I did a warm-up lap…. About halfway through my lap I ran over a stick.. not much bigger than a pencil.

*SANP* *CHINK* *GRRRR*

I came to a halt pretty quickly pedals would not move and something was in my spokes.

That "something turned out to be my derailleur.

Broken derailleur hanger… race over

Well.. the bike was finished for the night but I got a second chance

One of the RDs lent me his 29er

It was a bit too big for me but… I was grateful

The race went pretty well… here's a couple of action shots from my pal Chris

After a few laps I started having shifting problems on his bike too…

I ended up a lap down but…

There is nothing like riding a bike around in the mud… jumping over stuff… getting dirty and drinking beer.

already looking forward to next year

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Movie Review - The Levi Effect

Let me preface this…. I am a huge cycling fan

I start watching cycling in February with the Tour of Qatar… and all the way to the Japan Cup in October… heck I even follow Pro Cyclocross in the Fall

I started competing in triathlons in 1997 and following cycling at about the same time.

I am no casual fan of the sport… I compete in the sport (albeit at the lowest of levels)…. and one of the two dozen people in the metro Jax area that shelled out $25 ($12.50 per ticket) to see a cycling documentary.

Only it wasn't

The movie was wrapped fore and aft with another (very poor quality) video of the actual screening where Levi and an emcee spoke about the movie. In the end there was a panel including McDreamy and Tommy D.

The movie started out well.. in Butte Montana and a 13 year old's dream to be in the Tour de France like his hero Greg Lemond… and oddly enough chronicled his ski racing days more completely than it did his cycling career.

The movie all but completely skipped 1998-2010 (aka the doping years) although it did include a tearful recollection of how and where he was when he was summoned by the Feds to testify in the Lance Armstrong case.

The movie then focused on the 2011 and 2012 tours of California and Levi's Gran Fondo.. good stuff… some good behind the scenes stuff here too.

My final impression was that it was just a tad self-indulgent… and definitely not the "untold story"

a couple of other reviews from different perspectives:

http://neilbrowne.com/2012/10/the-levi-effect-a-review/

http://www.fatcyclist.com/2012/10/23/talking-about-judging-doping-and-the-levi-effect/