Spring Signs

Today is Saturday, I had some work to accomplish down on flat ground, so I loaded the truck with the necessary equipment and then loaded my road bike hoping to catch a few hours of training. As I mentioned in my last post I'm pretty religious about this training so I try to catch it whenever I can. The weather while working, was beautiful, as soon as I got on the bike it started to cool....this is under the heading of "Just Figures". So off into the wind I went, on my merry way. Lots of folks out riding still, some training for next weeks Time Trial, some scoping out tomorrow's Boulder Roubaix.

I'm training in the hopes of doing well in a summer road race and to get in deep condition for Cyclocross. I missed last season almost entirely for a ridiculous work schedule, not this year.

I went up a familiar road to see the road construction that I knew was taking place, but being in construction and trying to get out of the aforementioned wind I turned toward this.

I think this pretty much explains that this is, at least temporarily, an out and back route, and today, respite from the wind.

So I turned around and continued, doing as the coach prescribed I rode looking for hills (easy to find) but these were specific hills, some had to be short, 1 to 3 minutes in length, others 6 to 8 minutes . I have enough trouble with the hills as it is, but now add telling time, or counting time, and hoping I'm doing what I should on the right length hill ...well, its a good thing I don't chew gum.

I continued into the wind, which had now shifted to accomodate me and had a really nice ride, I wasn't paying much attention to the duration of the ride as I felt pretty good, was nice and warm, seemed to be breathing pretty well and was enjoying myself. I made a few turns back in the general direction of where I started, was considering cooling down when I saw this..

So now I'm thinking maybe I've been out here too long...

maybe there's a good reason for this....I took the photo to be sure of what I was seeing....and to show you some signs ...of Spring.

Rest Week

I know its a little early to be thinking about cross training, but eventually the training I'm doing now will (hopefully ) add to my fitness by the time Cross is in season. I've never been very scientific about training ( it probably shows) but I've found that just going all-out all the time doesn't get me anywhere. So I started using Training Peaks. Training Peaks is a Joe Friel product (actually there are several really good coaches that have programs there), Joe does all the science, I just follow printed directions in the form of a calendar. I can also add Power measurements , heart rate and a host of other things, but, as I said I'm not very scientific.
I use a heart rate monitor and a Power Tap, but I'm old school enough to use both of these to check my percieved exertion. I'm usuall pretty close when I guess (feel) that I'm at a certain level of work. What I don't quite understand is rest week, oh, I follow the instructions, but a whole week of rest? It doesn't seem like I've done enough work to deserve that much rest.But for a guy that uses percieved exertion and has a sometimes flickering memory.....I'll just stick with the program the best that I can. I can feel changes in my body, I don't know yet if I'm any stronger or faster, but I do know I'm in good hands and I feel good.
So check back from time to time and I'll update this training....in the meantime go ride, the weather is getting nice and the wind will make you strong.
Thanks for reading....

Paul

Gettin' Started

This is a new blog, gettin' it started to spread the word about the Cyclocross scene in Colorado, and any other cycling related items, probably interspersed with thoughts, ideas and comments.

First of all for those of you that aren't familiar, Cross Propz are something......for cyclocross.


They're portable barriers that you can take
(easily ) to the park for a little dismount practice.
They're real light, don't come apart if you run into them, and can be used for practice, informal races, team workouts whatever you come up with these will help, and they really work!

Here in Colorado I belong to a club you may have heard of, Blue Sky Velo. Its made up of a bunch of regular folks, with the common thread being cycling. the club is loosely segmented into
separate disciplines, road, cross, club and mtn bike, with casual and racing elements of each. The best part about this club is the genuine-ness of its members...racing for 25th place.... the cheering is off the hook! Need some skills work? all kinds of people step up!
Cross Propz was created due to my own clumsiness......at a pratice session a couple of seasons ago I crashed and took out the pvc barricade, as I started putting it back together, a gentle hand tapped me an the guy said " I'll fix that, you just practice" The guy was Greg Keller of "Mud and Cowbells", his kind act got me thinking....why should anyone have to stop to place together a flimsy barricade.....a little experimentation ...and Cross Propz were born!


So that's what the name is about, and soon I'll be a lot smoother at blogging and not so blatant about product....but, if you want to check them out, crosspropz.com is the place.
'til next time,

Paul