Balance points

So, I'm back to training again.

That's a pretty good thing, I'd say. I'm feeling a bit heavy and thick and slow and such. And my smug feeling of superiority depends upon being skinny and fast and such.

Yeah, I'm pretty down right now.

Anyway, training. Due to a number of circumstances yesterday, I missed my workout. (Those circumstances included riding a Ridley Dean TT bike with the new SRAM R2C shifters, along with checking out the new 2010 Force gruppo.) It's mostly my own fault. After spending most of Wednesday making the most perfect ribs in the history of ... well, me and my smoker, I slept in.

I probably should have ridden.

So I got up early today and got some hills in. Tomorrow I'll get up early for an uptempo trainer workout. Sunday I'd like to get out for about four hours, but we'll see how that goes.

Other than lugging this rather obese Bianchi around, it's not going too bad. I'm still not really fit, and I really am a bit heavy. But I think I could be ready to go soon.

GamJams Review: Serfas headlight

My first foray into bike commuting was a bit daunting. At the time, I worked nights (4:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. And it was an hour each way.

But I wanted to ride to work now and then. My reasoning was thus: I'll be going against the heavy traffic (into downtown, rather than out), and when I go home, nobody is on the roads at all.

But to make that happen, I needed lights. I settled on a Serfas headlight, though I have no idea which one. It's similar to this. Really, I was just looking for something that strobed brightly, to make sure I was seen. Omaha is lit up so bright there's really little need for a full-on headlight.

And that little Serfas light has done its job. The only downside, really, is the batteries. I wouldn't say it's hungry, but it does use alkaline batteries. And if I used it more, I'd get a set of rechargeables and go that way.

I've noticed that when it's really cold -- say, 25 degrees -- it doesn't strobe as quickly. It's almost like it's saying "help me. it's cold. I shouldn't be here." But brightness is OK, so I don't worry about it too much.

Were I a more regular commuter I would, indeed, go with a headlight system, like NiteRider. But for my neighborhood connections and Keystone stretches, I'm OK.

I may have to ride the trainer

Ugh.

Looks like rain/storms all morning. I have a commitment in the afternoon (ribs, beans on the smoker), so riding may be out. And that means the trainer.

That's uncool. Really, really uncool.

But I'll do it. Because I'm fat and out of shape.

Going by bike

Back to normal, at last. Or at least close. I rode to the shop yesterday for the first time in more than two months. My back finally feels good enough that the extra pressure from my bag isn't uncomfortable.

And I had a good ride, other than being out of shape, on a heavy bike and fighting a pretty stout headwind. It was nice to get back out on the road and leave my car at home.

Earlier in the morning, when attempting to get groceries, I saw another bike commuter. I was pumped at first, but then I just kind of shook my head. He was riding on 132nd Street.

For those who don't know Omaha, or beyond-the-beltway West Omaha, 132nd Street is busy. It's sometimes two lanes, sometimes three, sometimes four -- all within two miles. It's a main arterial from beyond 132nd/Fort Streets to West Dodge Road. So at 8 a.m., it's busy -- and fast.

And it's a horrible, horrible place to ride a bike. Watching this guy lumber up the long, two-lane hill on his mountain bike made me hope for his safety. And it reminded me of one of the first things I learned when I started riding to work a couple of years ago: choose a good route.

Omaha is built for cars. There are wide swaths of east-west roads that connect to big north-south roads (like 132nd). They're designed to get people to where they're going faster.

Unfortunately, the rest of the grid is a total mess. Dumb, curvy, non-connecting subdivisions dot the area west of I-680, making east-west travel on something other than a main street difficult at best.

But it can be done. You just have to study. I tried to find an alternate way from 120th to 95th or so, but didn't have any luck when I glanced at the map real quick yesterday. There are two subdivisions side-by-side that connect to Fort Street (four lanes, busy) but not each other.

Nice job, Omaha.

So, to the guy on 132nd and to you, please choose your route carefully. Consider traffic flow at certain times of day, consider safe riding space. People aren't generally against bikes -- they're against bikes that are in the way.

And that's when they get mad and you get buzzed. Sometimes you have to take the busy street, but everything works better -- and perhaps more safely -- if you don't.

Shiny new bits

The Felt is gone. It has a new home in Lincoln. KB has it, and I hope it serves him better than it did me in the last few months. It was a straight-up swap -- he gets the Felt frame, I get a Trek Equinox 9 TT frame.

I've always wanted a TT bike. The idea of not having to rearrange your whole bike setup to do a TT-specific workout is a big, big plus. Just take it off the hook and ride. I'll build it up later this fall, probably.

But I'm without a race bike, of course. The Bianchi has all of the Felt bits on it currently, and probably will for a while. I have seven months until spring. I'm sure I'll get something else figured out.

Also new: the Bell Volt helmet. My Ionos has a big crack in it, right along the seam where the strap inserts toward the front. So instead of another Ionos, which I'll categorize as good enough, I went with the Volt.

The first Volt I tried on earlier this year didn't fit quite right, but this one is perfect. Way, way better than the Ionos. Older Bell models never fit right, but this one is dead-on. Too bad the blue doesn't really match Kaos blue.

And that's it. Time for work.

Hey.

Today is Jack's birthday. Two years old. It's going to be a fun one, I'm sure.

What the hell happened?

OK ... so, two years ago today -- August 19 -- I rose early, met with JP and rolled down to Caribou Coffee (since closed. Actually, it closed later that day, didn't it?). Once there we met with Mike and a few others, rode downtown -- where we hooked up with still more riders -- and then thoroughly dominated the Corporate Cycling Challenge.

By the time JP and I got back, we had some 70-80 miles in the books. After a good lunch and a quick nap, Chris and I went to a movie (haven't been to the theater since) and then out for supper. It was a great day.

Jack was born the next day. The rest is a blur.

First, there's the shock of, "Holy crap. We have a kid. Are you sure we're ready for this?"

Then it's the complete rearranging of everything -- schedules, daily business, mindset. Through most of Jack's first year, I worked at night. So I'd get up when he got up -- early -- and take care of him until mid-afternoon. Then it was off to daycare, and I was off to work.

But then last June, I got moved to daytime hours. That was cool. Less time during the day with him, but more time everywhere else. And life was good. We had things figured out.

Of course, that didn't last. Since February, the only constant has been chaos. Two hospital stays for me, one surgery for Jack, a new job (career, maybe?) and the onset of two-year-old issue.

It's been two years, but that morning with JP and Mike -- and the lady who tried to replace her tube by putting it on the rim, sans tire, and inflating it -- seems like a lifetime ago.

Maybe it was.

The last waltz

The first time I laid eyes on my Felt was in July or August of 2006. Dave at Bike Masters had it blinged out with Zipp 404s, and as we rolled out for a Saturday-morning ride, it was attention-grabbing to say the least.

"How much?" I asked. I had to know exactly how unobtainable that thing was.

$3500. A lot.

But I was smitten. We rode to Fremont that day, and I remember gawking at it most of the way.

Later that fall, in October, I took it home with me. Sans Zipps, sans a good chunk of that price tag. The second post on Algomaha was about it.

Since then, it's been all over the place. It's been on the trainer, in the rain, the heat and at the front of the peloton.

And it's been in the back. Pulled from a race. Dropped on a climb. Crashed spectacularly.

After each ride, good or bad, it's been there in the garage waiting for more. From now on, it will be in someone else's garage.

The Felt has found a new home. It's hanging on a hook, shiny and stripped of parts, awaiting transport to Lincoln. In its place ... well, I'm not sure yet. For now, the Felt parts will go onto the Bianchi. And the Bianchi parts will just hang out for now. I'm sure I'll find a home for them. Maybe on a new bike.

Or two.

Another crushing blow

So you've probably heard by now. I didn't win the Corporate Cycling Challenge. I'm pretty pissed, to be honest.

I knew the pace would be hot from the beginning, so I warmed up accordingly and got to the line just before the opening ... uh, whistle, I guess. Anyway, I got on Shim's wheel right away, but when I got to the first corner, I heard a telltale buzz closing in fast.

Was it the haunting memory of crashes past? The swell of dramatic music as our protagonist faces his fears?

No. It was just some doorknob on a Magna trying his best to hammer out the first few blocks.

Anyway, we got up the little one-block climb and around the corner before things got really, really stupid. As in 30mph in aero bars in a pack stupid. I was doomed right there. Maybe it's common sense, maybe it's a newfound fear of speed in packs on wet roads. Maybe I should have been in tri shorts.

Regardless, the end result was the same. I lost. I would have liked the Felt to go out on a better note, as Sunday was its last ride. It's found a home. It's a fun story, really. Remind me to tell it sometime.

But in the meantime -- back to work.

--

Oh, wait. I saw Fred. We rode together. I apologized for calling him a fatass. Then he dropped me on a hill.

For frick's sake

Use your imagination a bit. No Zipp wheels, different saddle. White cages insted of blue.

Someone buy my Felt already, huh?

$1500 for a carbon bike with Force/Ultegra bits? Nearly new Force/Ultegra bits. People ... do the math. Yeah, it's been crashed. But you're looking at aluminum with maybe -- maybe -- 105 for $1500 if you buy a new bike.

Oh ... it's the 'used carbon' part, isn't it? Fine. That's a good point. It's used. It's a little dinged up. How about this, then? I'll cut you a deal.

I'll take off the Force bits, since half of the people who contacted me about it don't know what the hell it is, anyway. I'll take 'em off. And I'll replace them with things you do understand: Shimano. 105 shifters/front derailleur and a Dura-Ace rear derailleur. It'll go nicely with the Ultegra crank and brakes.

At that price, it's $1150. And you get new bar tape (pick a color), cables and housing.

Now ... carbon bike with full Shimano build. $1150. Go to a shop and see what flavor of Shimano parts you get for $1150. Sora? Tiagra? Sweet.

Buy my damn bike. It's a 58. It's light. It's fast.

I'll deliver it, even.

GamJams Review: Aspen Cool Collar

Perhaps you scientific types can back me up, but here's what I know about body temperature post-ride: The quicker you get cool, the better. You know, for recovery and such.

An ice bath is the quickest way, but it's more than a little uncomfortable. It's inconvenient, too, unless you have your own assistant. And if you have your own personal assistant, you suck.

Without the ice bath, you'll need something quicker and more convenient. I've been testing the Aspen Cool Collar for the last week or so. It could well be that quicker and more convenient option.

At the initial inspection, it's nothing to get excited about. It's a tube of cloth with velcro on the ends. Inside are some small beads. I was fairly certain mine was underfilled at first. There just wasn't a lot going on inside there.

To "activate" the Cool Collar, you soak it in icy water for at least 30 minutes. The little beads swell and end up filling out the cloth tube pretty nicely. So, no, it's not underfilled.

But what does it feel like? Well, imagine putting a wet sock around your neck. It's like that at first. It's kind of strange. But it does help cool you down. I wore mine while I did my post-ride stretching. By the time it was drying out and warming up, I was ready to shower anyway.

After a few times around the block with the Cool Collar, I have a few things to note:

1. The online directions are different from those included in the packaging. Follow the online directions -- soak it longer.

2. The best way to get the collar really, really cold is by putting it in a big cup of ice water in the fridge, then going for your ride. It'll be ready when you get back.

3. The Cool Collar is not color-fast -- at least not on the first soak. The cup I used was filled with blackish water when I pulled the collar out. Keep that in mind if you have a white-collared jersey on. Subsequent soakings have yielded clear water. I have no idea what that means.

4. It takes a long time to dry. Lay it flat, on a towel, and wait. It's going to be a while.

Overall, it's a solid product. And it's pretty cheap, too -- $15. It would be easy to stuff the thing in a water bottle in a cooler and take it to a race. It would be especially useful for a two-race day. Works for me.

Pain, suffering, etc.: Went to the Bike Masters ride last night. It was predictably horrible. My HR average -- the average -- was above threshold. I was well above it most of the time. And I was off the back on the first big hill. It's to be expected, but that was painful. It'll get worse, I'm sure, before it gets better. Looking forward to it.

Experimenting

I have a pretty cool job some days. I see new stuff first, and sometimes I get to test things, too. And I've mentioned the coffee, right? There's coffee. Lots and lots of coffee.

Anyway, we get to test things. I've had Speedplay Zero pedals on my bike for the last few days. We're going to carry them in the store, so -- being a Dura-Ace guy -- I need to get them figured out.

The biggest key is getting the float dialed in. Unlike plastic-cleated pedals, which have the float built in as part of the design, Speedplays have a wide, wide range. If you don't make any adjustments, they're all over the place. My heels were hitting the chainstays on both sides before I tightened the screws. Think of the float adjustment as limit screws, not unlike those on a derailleur.

Once you get that figured out -- I set the inside float at about 1 degree and the outside float as 2-3 degrees -- they feel just like any other high-end pedal. Light, smooth and comfortable. And another note about that float -- there's almost no friction, unlike Dura-Ace or Look. Not that there's a lot of friction with DA and Look, but there's some. It's noticeable.

I have two gripes, in general. One, the pedals are hard to get into. Not finding them -- that's easy -- but actually clipping in. I'm guessing some of that is due to the newness of the cleat. Two, I don't like the cleat itself. There's no rubber edge or anything to make it even semi-walkable. Just metal on concrete. Not cool. Plus, those cleats are $40 for a set. Dura-Ace cleats are $25, which is still too high, but considerably better.

So that's that. I don't see myself changing to Speedplay in the long term, mostly because I like my Dura-Ace pedals. But I'd have no problem selling them to you. Which, I guess, is the point to begin with.

It's a big day

Monday. Here we are again.

If you ask Jack what happens on Mondays, he'll say, "Garbage truck comes on Monday." He's a fan of the garbage truck. He missed it this morning and asked about it the whole way to daycare.

But the garbage truck comes every Monday. Today is different than those Mondays. One, I'm finished with a project that will keep food on the table and require no more work the rest of the month. That's pretty nice.

Two, I'm heading to the doctor in a little bit to find out if I can take the back brace off. This is funny, of course, because I've had the brace off for a few weeks now. After today, hopefully, it'll be official.

Three ... I guess there's no three. I should finish this coffee and get going, though. Gotta get my best poker face worked up. "Yes, of course. I wore the brace as often as possible ... just not while I was out riding."

See? Big day.

Perfect weather for a comeback

It's going to be hot this weekend. Like, 100 degrees hot.

I'm also going to be on the bike this weekend. Both days. Probably going to need two bottles.

Wide berth, please. I'm fragile.

Gam Jams Review: Socks - Pearl Izumi

As a semi-fashion-conscious guy, it drives me flippin' nuts when I see racers in socks that don't match their team kit. How hard is it to look at the colors and say, "Hmm ... I bet I can find socks that match this — or at least be close" ? It's not.

Think of it this way: There's no need to try to match your bike to your kit. That's just dumb. With shoes, you have to go with what feels best on your feet, regardless of color. So that leaves your helmet (black or white goes with anything) and your socks. So, really, you have one thing to try to match to your team kit. But yet people with red and black kit show up with blue socks.

No. Stop it. You're hurting my eyes and my sense of style.

Speaking of style, check out these socks.

Pretty awesome, yeah? Even if you don't like the color (which must mean you hate coolness), the socks themselves are great. Pearl Izumi, tall, Garmin-Chipotle design from 2008.

A few years ago, Pearl Izumi made horrible socks. Really heavy materials, hard seams, etc. Not good. But they've turned things around lately and put out some good stuff. The argyle beauties above have a nice, soft foot section with very small seams. The cuff is just supportive enough to feel great. And there's something about them that fit just right.

Another example: the PRO sock. Very stretchy, very supportive, very light. Lighter than they seem once you get moving. I'd prefer a taller cuff, but I'll survive. The Tour sock is always an option, too. Oh and both the PRO or Tour sock should be worn in white. My team colors are blue/white/orange. Black does not apply. (Nor does red, JP.)

Other winners in the sock game: Sockguy and Twin Six. Sockguy makes Twin Six socks, which generally have awesome designs. Like the PI socks, they just fit my feet right.

My only complaint is the thinness of the materials in the toe area. All but two of my T6/Sockguy socks have holes in one toe or the other. I use them a lot, true, but there's a trend going there.

In closing, please wear socks that match your kit. Since I'll no doubt be relegated to following wheels for a while, I'd like to have something interesting and tasetful to look at.

Other things: It's Chris' birthday today. Stop by her blog and wish her a happy birthday. She deserves a mountain of gifts for putting up with me this year.

Local boy makes good

I probably don't talk about my friends enough. I have really great friends. Brady is one of them. After I broke my back, he came to the hospital almost every day. And as a bonus, he brought Dairy Queen and an Xbox.

When Brady's bike, Old Yeller, was stolen a few weeks ago, I felt a bit of loss, too. I knew that Brady loved that bike. But I also knew I was ill-equipped to help him find it. I did a bit of Facebooking and Twittering, but the real work (and it was a lot of work) was done by the man himself.

The result: Old Yeller was found in a pawn shop, where it was taken immediately after the theft. Yeller is home, Brady is happy and life has gone on.

Oh, and there's a big story with a big picture in today's newspaper. I couldn't think of anybody who deserves it more.

Congrats, buddy.

Steel. For real.

As much as the title excites a fair number of readers (or maybe only one), let this first sentence be a call to settle the hell down.

With the Felt on the selling block and currently unrideable (you know, because it's for sale?), there are no options other than the Bianchi. As I wrote last week, it's been updated, and it's an ungainly beast of a Frankenbike.

But it's the only choice if a guy like me wants to roll down the driveway and spin the legs for a bit. So I headed out yesterday looking for an easy hour. Though the bar shape is all wrong (round instead of flat tops) and my hands don't like the Dura-Ace hoods as much as the Force hoods, I gotta say it: that bike rides really nice.

Pretty smooth, pretty quiet. All in all, a nice ride. In fact, I met JP on the way back and told him as much.

"It's fast, huh?"

No. God no. It weighs a ton and flexes like crazy when any amount of power is put into it. But it rides nicely. And it always has. But fast? No. Efficient? Barely. It would be horrible to ride when attempting any sort of speed. In fact, I'm glad I don't have a computer on it. I don't want to know.

Really, it just rides nicely. I'll leave it at that.