Answering questions nobody asked

After Twin Bing, lo those many weeks ago, I swore off racing until I was ready to go.

I've had a good few weeks since then. I'm feeling fast, strong and mostly pain-free. The most telling night was Wednesday, when I drilled it (though off the back) and felt strong throughout.

So, basically, I'm ready to go. Or ready enough, at least.

And with a race available this weekend (and on dirt, even) ...

Wait? Saturday?

Nevermind, I have to work.

See you at the Flatwater Weekend. May 22 - 23.

The verdict

I've been wondering for weeks about the key to staying attached during Wednesday Night Worlds.

The warmup?

The previous day's workout?

The back?

Nope. It's easier than that: Get faster.

Last night my legs felt good, my back felt especially good and I was ready to roll. But the hill that usually pops me still popped me. And I struggled in the crosswind. You could chalk that up to lack of skills in crosswind.

But I'm going to chalk it up to not fast enough. Because the pace was hot, and that was enough to battle by itself. Add the conditions, and yeah -- trouble.

It's a work in progress. I'm still pretty psyched that my back didn't hurt. And all things considered, I still went plenty fast. Just not fast enough. Not yet.

Excited. Like most Wednesdays.

Wednesday Night Worlds is tonight. Yeah, I'm worked up. This is pretty much a repeat of most Wednesdays, though.

So, really, that's not news.

The news this week is, well, news. GamJams Midwest has been rolling for almost two months now, and I finally feel like it's hitting its stride. The past two weeks have had race features, rider features and actual cycling news -- as in one of the more popular races nearly got canceled earlier this month.

Though it requires a little bit of extra work, I love it. I get to satisfy my desire to write timely, newsy stories without having to worry about anybody or anything other than myself.

Plus, the numbers are showing that this kind of stuff is what people want. New stories every day. No nationally distributed press release stuff. You know -- news.

So this is where I ask you, if you haven't already done so, to go check it out. Please? It'll be worth your time if you're at all interested in amateur bike racing in the Midwest. And if you want to help, drop me a line. There's always room for more.

1,001

How do I top post no. 1,000? I have no idea. But here's what today entails:

1. Write a new post for GamJams Midwest. Done.
2. Prepare a couple of ingredients for tonight's supper. Done.
3. Move some bike parts around. I did a fit on Chris on Saturday, so we're experimenting with a few things today.
4. Ride. Duh.
5. Pick up one more bike part, along with some spices from Penzey's.
6. Make a quick Target run (hopefully by bike).
7. Vacuum.
8. Make some phone calls.

Yeah. I need to get to work. See? I told you I had no idea how to top post 1,000.

Old faithful

For nearly 10 years, this little $25 coffee pot -- which Chris and I received for our wedding -- has held down a corner in the various kitchens of our travels. And until recently, it did its job flawlessly.

But over the past year or two, it's been showing its age. Or maybe its quality. Both pots yesterday ended up partially on the counter. I'd like to think it was just a bad day, but it's been like that for a while. Its replacement looms in the background. It's pretty much the same in function -- a basic coffee pot, really -- but it probably won't leak all over the place.

Considering it's been used almost every day -- and sometimes twice a day -- the little black machine has done far more than should be expected of a $25 coffee pot.

You know what else has amazed me with its staying power? This blog. The post you're reading right now is No. 1,000.

Seriously.

One thousand posts. That's a lot. I started writing, basically, because the local cycling blogs I read were pretty entertaining. I just wanted to join the conversation. Plus, I had a lot of time on my hands. What better way to fill it than by emptying the contents of your brain every morning?

My apologies for subjecting you to that every morning.

In case you were wondering ...

• 705 posts tagged cycling
• 63 tagged running
• 219 tagged random
• 50 tagged weather

Yeah, seems about right. Anyway, here's to you: I raise a cup of coffee brewed from the new machine. Thanks for stopping by at some point through the first 1,000 posts. And here's to the next 1,000.

An unexpected benefit

When we moved to Omaha -- geez, almost six years ago now -- one of the things I was most excited about was easy access to minor-league baseball. The Omaha Royals, along with the rest of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, were just minutes from our house.

Pretty awesome, right?

Right. But I haven't been to a Royals game in at least a few years. Schedules, money and desire all joined forces and kept us away. We'll try to go more when Jack gets a little older -- maybe even this summer a couple of times -- but it's not really a priority right now.

What we have taken part in, however, is the music scene. Well, not the "scene," because a good chunk of the "scene" music sounds like crap. It's been more like taking advantage of the city's population base and venues.

Wilco, Springsteen, Sufjan Stevens, Ryan Adams. Really wanted to see Gillian Welch and Conor Oberst, but that didn't pan out. Basically, I've been able to see my favorite bands right here.

The one I've really wanted to see is finally coming.

Rush. August 25.

Snicker if you want, but Rush has been on my list for years. When I was a hack musician (high school, mostly), Rush was where it was at. Technically speaking, the group cannot be topped.

So here I am, waiting for the link to go live. Finally.

-- Done --

That was easy. We'll be to the right of the stage, row 15. Nice.

The root of the problem

Ah ha! Or is it "aha?"

Either way, eureka!

I think I might have figured something out at Wednesday Worlds last night. First off, yeah — I'm still kinda slow. It's getting better, though.

More importantly, however, is my back. I was able to replicate how horrible it felt at Twin Bing a few weeks back, and there are a lot of similarities. It starts with the warmup. My HR was barely into zone 2 on the way out of town last night, which isn't much of a warmup. At Twin Bing, I felt loosey-goosey and everything, but I'm not sure I was actually, you know, warm.

The result in both situations was a very short window of being able to hang with the pack. When it came time to give it some gas, my body wasn't ready for it.

By the time we regrouped in Fort Calhoun last night, I was loose and ready to go. And I had no problems — other than being slow — the rest of the ride. I came off the back on the second climb, but chased back on during the flat, drag-strip run back to NP Dodge Park. (Also, I got up to 47 mph on the descent.)

And after that initial run, where my back decided it didn't want to help, I felt fine.

The lesson: I need to warm up longer for pretty much everything. Races, Wednesday Worlds, and probably even the Corporate Cycling Challenge. Once I'm really, really loose, it's go time. That way I'll only have to worry about being slow.

Preparations for next week will begin on Saturday. A good five-day warmup should do the trick.

This passes for excitement

It's Wednesday. It's raining. Wednesday Worlds looms.

And yet, I'm totally psyched up and ready to go. In the absence of racing (read: throwing away money, at least for my current fitness level), Wednesday Worlds is the measuring stick. Week one was bad, week three was better.

Where am I this week? I'll find out later. In the meantime, I'm just gonna sit around and get worked up.

See you tonight.

A quick breather

Whew. Glad that's over.

Here I am, facing the first Tuesday in quite a few weeks with no writing projects to do, no big GamJams Midwest stories waiting to be written.

So what am I going to do about that? I have no idea. I do know I'll be out on the bike at some point. And I think I agreed to start cleaning the garage. Not sure what I was thinking there.

But anyway, it's more like a real day off. Little projects get done, a little bit of relaxation and then back to it.

Hey, speaking of back to it -- I got back on the mountain bike yesterday. It's been a few weeks, mostly because that Top Fuel isn't really mine. So when someone else wants it, I pretty much hand it over.

Anyway, dirt. Swanson. First time I'd been there, so I didn't really know what was coming. The only really tricky part was that super-steep, super-tight left-hander with all of the roots. Yeah, didn't make it through there. I got most of the way, stalled and tipped over. Eh, what are you gonna do?

I ended up with three laps and headed to work. Tranquility is still my favorite of the two, mostly because it's easier to get a good, solid rhythm going. Seemed like there was a lot of "go go go, chill chill chill" at Swanson.

Of course, my technical abilities (lacking) probably played a big role in that. Still, for a new guy on dirt, I had fun. Good enough.

Anniversary

Today, on the anniversary of eating pavement, I'm going to ride dirt. That's much less of an "I'm avoiding pavement" thing and more of a "Hey, I need to stop by the shop anyway. Might as well load up the Top Fuel and get to it" sort of thing.

Sweet and sour

For the most part, within two months (OK, 6 weeks) of breaking my back last year, I was back in the daily swing of things. Lugging Jack around, doing yardwork, handling things at the shop. And I could ride, too. So no problem, really.

Well, there's sort of a problem. The sport of cycling isn't exactly like daily life, is it? It's for more strenuous, violent and taxing than daily life. And that's what my back couldn't handle.

Fast-forward now. Daily life is still daily life, and cycling is much, much better. Sure, my back hurts now and then. Sure, it's frustrating.

But here's the real rub -- the really frustrating rub -- sometimes it doesn't hurt at all. Take last night at Wednesday Worlds, for instance. Sure, I got popped a couple of times -- high end fitness is an issue. But I hung in considerably longer than last time, and was able to stay reasonably stress-free for most of the ride.

And no back pain.

It's a fairly huge contrast from Sunday, and that's the part that sucks. I had no idea before either ride how my back was going to be. Sometimes it's Wednesday night, sometimes it's Sunday.

The only constant is inconsistency.

Hard to resist

We're by no means rich at our house, but we're doing OK. The major money problems of last spring and summer are pretty much gone. Basically, we're back to normal.

That's partly due to being smarter about our finances, but also due to supplementing our income with freelance writing jobs. They pay pretty well, they're not terribly complicated and ... well, I still like writing.

I was talking with a friend last week about finally reaching the point where I could start saying "no" to projects. As in, we're doing OK -- I don't necessarily have to snatch up every job that comes my way.

But on the other hand ... the money is solid. The jobs are, again, fairly simple. When I look at my schedule, read the project description and find myself faced with a decision, well, it's hard to say no sometimes.

I did it again yesterday. I got an offer for a quick-turnaround job midway through the afternoon. A quick weighing of the pros and cons -- along with the vacation plans dancing in our heads -- and I said yes.

Again.

Sigh.

Extreme wardrobe makeover

When the first of the year dawned, I looked in my cycling clothing drawer and sighed. Lots of team kit. Lots of old team kit that probably shouldn't be worn anymore.

And that's the conundrum that comes with switching teams/allegiances/careers. That stuff really shouldn't be worn anymore. True, perspective says it's only amateur racing in Nebraska, but I didn't even want to wear it. I've moved on.

Now, well into the warm months (right?), the closet is restocked. Behold, GamJams kit. And yeah, I have the whole ensemble -- bibs, socks, vest. And all in the delightful, easy-to-coordinate black and white that I'm so fond of.

Combine that with the new store kit -- which looks fairly awesome in the middle of a peloton -- and I'm actually pretty psyched about all of the options. Still trying to figure out a way to use it go faster, though.

I'll keep working on that.

Reality rides at the front

Anybody who spoke with me about Sunday's race beforehand -- like on Friday or Saturday -- got the same answer when asking this question: "You ready to go?"

Nooooo. Definitely not. Well, mentally, yes. I love racing. I love digging in and playing the chess match.

But physically? No. I'm reasonably fit -- I'm at race weight right now (160) --but not race fit. And my back? Well, if I play it smart, I can delay the onset of nasty debilitating pain for at least two hours -- sometimes longer.

When the pace got hot very early in the race -- like, within the first mile -- I knew it was going to end poorly. I did my best to avoid getting gapped, and that wasn't good enough. So then I chased and chased and chased and ... back pain. Instant, race-ending back pain. Bad.

The back part of the course, which is just roller after roller after roller, was nothing but headwind. And with no momentum to get up and over the next hill, it was torture. I did a lap, retired, peeled off my race number and went off into the hills to ride some more.

And now, a photographic interlude. GamJams socks. They didn't help much on Sunday. Upside: They're super-vented and super-comfy.

What did we learn on Sunday? Well, I'm not fast. That's one. And two, I'm not ready to race by any stretch of the imagination. If my back is going to go from "OK on a four-hour ride" to "done in 30 minutes," it's not exactly worth it to go to the trouble of driving and paying and suffering, is it?

So I'm not going to do it anymore -- at least not until my back is better. Though Sunday's trip was enjoyable enough, it wasn't exactly fun. If I want to ride in a fast pack, suffer and feel crappy (or not, sometimes), I can do that for free at Wednesday Worlds. I'll race again when I can actually race.

Oh, and it's not all clouds and rain here in Algomaha. I captured the picture below on the way out of town. That's Shim in the middle. Tucked-in sleeveless baselayer, jeans and a backward Castelli cap. Umm ... neato, Shim.

Time to do as we always do

Well, it's time to race. We've established that bit within the last week, but now -- really -- it's time to race.

Before I done blew myself up, I had this stuff down to a science. However, with a pretty big lack of racing last year and a pretty big lack of focus this year, there's a good chance I'll forget something.

So I'll make a list here. Fellow Sprinter van riders, please check to make sure I did all of this before we leave.

1. Put on nice tires ... both wheelsets.
2. Put on the proper cassettes -- again, both wheelsets, please.
3. Bring clothes to wear during and after the race.
4. Bring a bike.
5. Bring some bottles and food.
6. Bring some money.
7. Bring my emergency contact info. Yeah ...

I think that's it. I'm sure I'll think of something else later.

And I can't forget my own, personal race strategy (it's a lot like last year): Hold on for dear life, and if an opportunity presents itself, take it.

Oh, and wear matching socks.

Q and A

Anybody who rode a bike in Omaha yesterday knew what they were in for: 20 mph winds, gusts at 30 mph.

Yeah, ouch.

While lots of people fear the wind, it's not so bad in a group. And I'm feeling pretty solid, pretty fast. The wind would surely be horrible alone, but not with a group. Hey, there were two group rides in Omaha last night! Here's a quick breakdown of how things should go.

Q: What's the best way to get good, quality work in on a windy day without blowing yourself up?
A: Get in a group and share the load equally.

Q: Share the load? How do I do that?
A: Form a nice, steady rotating paceline. Speed should remain constant, with no sudden surges. Everybody will spend a few seconds in the wind, but then fall back and let someone else pull for a few seconds.

Q: Why don't we want sudden surges?
A: Because then gaps will form in the paceline, leaving too many people in the wind. Shortly thereafter, the group will fall apart.

Q: But what if I like to surge and up the tempo constantly? Who cares if people come off?
A: Then you ride like an idiot.

Welcome to last night's Bike Masters ride. About eight guys made the split. Facing nasty, horrible winds, it was pretty obvious what needed to be done: rotating paceline. Steady and uptempo, but rotating.

It took about 200 yards for gaps to form because guys were pulling through too hard. Screw that. If I just pulled, I shouldn't have to dig harder to stay on board because the guy in front of me is drilling it.

So I sat up and waited for the second group. Organization followed. No sweat. And then it all happened again. Guys were pulling through harder and harder with the sole intent of breaking up the paceline.

After a quick regroup, we settled upon a loop that was a bit windy, but still offered a chance to stay together before a big hill. You know how the last 2K of a pro race looks? The sharp end of the peloton snaking around all over the place?

Yeah, picture that. And then when we did finally rotate, it was more and more intentional gapping.

Seriously, guys. At what point did this become a dick-measuring contest? Were you psyched that you dropped the group?

If so, well done. Congrats on your early April form.

I hope you were still psyched when I caught and dropped you on the hill. You know, because I was rotating in the second group and sharing the load.

You'll learn someday.

Maybe.

Yes. Racing.

Yup, I'm going to Twin Bing on Sunday. I'm driving the store Sprinter van, even.

Racing? Well, I hope to do some racing. And by racing I mean racing. You know, making a move in an attempt to better your place. Sitting in and sprinting isn't racing. It's a parade with a town-line sprint. That's boring.

So yeah, racing.

Of course, while the mind is plenty willing, it remain a matter of legs. And back. Considering what I remember of the race, it shouldn't be too bad. I know when it's going to get hot, so I just need to stay attached when it happens and then be opportunistic.

I'm still trying to get wheels figured out, though. My quest to replace the blasted front Dura-Ace wheel continues. Single wheels aren't available, and I don't want to settle for something that'll be "good enough." Money is being squirreled away for a new set. And then another set of carbon wheels when the Madone goes away in the fall.

So for the time being, I'm riding the carbon wheels on Sunday. If it's windy, I'm sure I'll have something else ready to go.

And after that, it's all up to me. Yikes.

Coming back

Slowly, things are getting back to normal on the bike. Wednesday Worlds were hard, yes, but it's not like I was the last one in. And I've been getting good work in lately.

Sunday I headed out with Skinny Mark Savery and Brady, taking aim at the hills in and around Council Bluffs. Last time I did this route, I had to wait for Mark at the top of most of the hills. Also, I hit a trail pole (obscured by Mark's big fat ass). He's not fat anymore, by the way.

First off, it was the debut ride of the new store kit. We did an employee order through Capo, and it rolled in on Friday. Almost immediately, I regretted not ordering a second full kit. I have only one, which is good for cash flow, but bad for my vanity. It's really nice stuff.

After I got done thinking about how pro I looked, we headed for the hills. For the most part, I think I did pretty well. We were all within a second or two of each other at the top, though I don't think anybody was really going for it.

Getting up and over the top and managing a pretty high HR still needs work. I'm getting closer, but it's still going to be a while. If nothing else, I won't embarrass myself. Hopefully.

After the first loop, I needed to head home. Mark and Brady went out for another, so I rolled through CB and across the river by myself.

It's race week now — the Twin Bing Classic is on Sunday. I'm going to get the TT bike out today, mostly because I haven't had a true, solid road test on it. I'm not going to go kill it or anything, but I need to get some work in. I'll go hard tomorrow and Wednesday, then hopefully cool it enough over the following few days to allow some sort of freshness heading into Sunday.

And then, the comeback really begins.

Debris field

Here's what happens when stuff gets slammed at the bike shop. Yikes. My promise to you: It'll look better later.

And that's all I have. To the guys getting on the bike this weekend and pinning on a number -- or whatever you MTB freaks do -- have fun.

Not bad (but not good)

Yesterday, with the sun blazing and the temperature spiked, pretty much everybody in Omaha got on a bike. Also, pretty much everybody who races jumped into a Wednesday-night ride. At least that's what it seemed like from blog, Facebook and Twitter chatter.

Count me among that group. Though, for the first time, I jumped into the Trek Store ride. You know, since I work there and all. The roster was littered with the usual names: Shim, Kev, Lucas, Brady, Skinny Mark Savery.

My goal: To hang with them as long as possible.

The result: Yeah, I did that. Got popped three times, all on long stretches of high-intensity stuff — which I haven't even thought about for the last month. So it's not terribly surprising, really.

I felt strong in stretches, weak in stretches. I'll be OK by May or so. But for now ... eesh.