Thursday, June 27, 2013

Funder Thuck.

That pretty much describes work, life and the weather this week.

I wimped out early in the week on riding to work Monday and Tuesday (well Tuesday I had to as I was driving in from elsewhere)  Monday I did haul home a 30lb system for some work and it wouldn't have fit in my bag.

Pace wise I'm picking back up on the CX bike slowly.  Was sub 28 in today I believe and I hit most of the lights nearly perfectly.  I stopped briefly at Nutley/Couthouse and 123/Courthouse but rolled every other light I actually made.  Good think considering how late I left!

The ride in was nice but super humid, glasses were super fogged up by the time I hit Sunset Hills I had them way down on my nose to see.

Yesterdays ride home I dogged the storm by leaving work late, 4:30 or so.  It was disgusting on the ride home.  I did a tuneup ride working on adjusting my new pedals/shoes around 6 and it was much better.  Not sure about the Pearl road shoes, they may be a tad narrow for me in the main foot, though the heel is almost perfect.  Will play with adjustments a bit more.  Right cleat needs to move inwards to move my foot outwards a bit so I can add a bit more heel in angle back on the cleat.  As of now its too far out by a tiny bit to keep my heel from hitting the chain stay.

Tonights WF ride is not looking great weather wise once again.  My plan is currently to ride, but who knows maybe it won't storm in WF land, like yesterday.  I suspect W@W is using up our good weather luck for the year.

Got in new breakpads for the MTB but I won't put em on till next week especially under the threat of shitty, err I mean gritty conditions.  Nothing like ruining new pads due to grinding the grit of the CCT/Etc.

Mileage has fallen back off.  Since the Birthday Epic Week, really to be a better rider I've got to get a 2nd day off a week and put in 1 longer ride, my Sundays just aren't regular enough.  Or I need to commit to a ride every Sunday be it a 6AM early bird or a forced march later in the day.

Weighed in yesterday at a shocking 196.  Holy crap!  Talk about un-expected especially after the Garbage In and Out weekend that last weekend was.

Well the hot fudge and brownie ice cream sunday I just ate helped that I'm sure, especially after eating salads for lunch 2 days in a row.

And to raise the level of awesomeness of this post I offer this for your viewing pleasure:
 TheBadPiper covering AC/DC's Thunderstruck.

Monday, June 17, 2013

100 Miles of Nowhere.

I crossed the 39th barrier recently.  Several notable stars on IMDB have their birthday listed on the same day.  And apparently the kard-ass-ian spawn arrived around then also.  Sigh.  There goes the neighborhood. 

I also believe I have come up with the most impossible classification for my #100MoN:

100MoN Workus Intrerruptus 2 Day Ride - You must make your commute to work, do at least 4 hours of work, Then go out and do at least 60+ additional miles.  Then the next day you must do any remaining mileage on the route you originally took.

My plan was to ride the WHOLE W&OD, but since I couldn't  get all day Saturday off I had to make it a 2 day since I had a 7PM dinner commitment. So on Saturday I blasted off to work at about 6:35 and did the 8 mile ride in.  Worked till almost noon then headed back out on the warpath out to Purcelville VA at the trails end.  An 8 to 10 mph headwind on the way out really wasn't bad.  My book on MP3 kept me rolling along instead of bored out of my mind.  At the trails end I stopped, at half a chocolate peanut butter sandwich and headed back.  In s'Leesburg I stopped to refill water and have some Coke.  It was damn good.  Making VERY good time back so far.  I thought wow I might have a slight opportunity to actually do this in one day.

Then real life caught up to me.  About 5 miles out of Leesburg my left leg cramped a bit.  I pedaled slower and lightly and eventually it cleared.  But it cost me.  I must have been pedaling a bit strangely as my left foot then decided to throw a fit just outside of Herndon.  Couldn't put any real weight/power into it.  My MTB shoes also contributed I think.  Not really meant for 4 or more hours in the saddle and at 5 years old they are pretty worn out.  Finally made it back  to my office in Reston for Advil, half a Taylor Gourmet Deli Sandwich and more Coke.  After checking on things and checking time I realized with my slower speed on the 2nd half back I had ended up with the same time out and back between work.  When it should have been 20 minutes shorter or more.  Foot felt a bit better but I still couldn't put full power into it or stand for long.  Time to call part 1 a day.  And back to starbase Vienna for a shower change and off to dinner.  But still I must note, my longest cycling set and day 76 for the day and 68 for the main ride.  That was my longest recorded total ride by 20 miles.  With a 16.2 average.  I've been commuting to work and back at about 15.6 lately with some faster days in the 16 range.

WAY too much dinner and drinks that night lead to the morning ride plan abandonment.  So I had to wait to finish till yesterday afternoon.

Part Deux was upon me and my motivation was failing slightly.  I went out to finish off the W&OD.  I had added a bit extra in Vienna the day before to  push my total up past 75 as I new Vienna was at MM 12'ish and I wanted to not have to go way further to complete my 100.  So off I went, foot wasn't bad, legs were a  bit slow.  Got down to Falls Church with some on and off rain sprinkles.  Stopped in at Bikenetic to chat on shoes and phone cases.  I need new shoes.

Then back off down to Mile 0.  It's a nice ride down from that point.  Fly down Glebe and I hopped on the road.  Found where Phoenix Bikes is and looked at their stock for a friend.  Nothing like what he needs alas.  And on I went.  I was craving a beer so I rolled into Shirlington but no where really safe to leave my bike unlocked where I could watch it and I wanted to head back as it was already 4:30.  Quick stop for another partial coke and back up the trail I went.  2 climbs sucked but the rest wasn't bad.  Way easier than the @#$@# Custis trail for sure.  Lots of runners and walkers out in both directions so I wasn't pushing speed very often.


And it was done.  105 miles in 6 hours 42 minutes over 2 days.  With 4 hours of work in part during the 1st.  Next year I'll do the whole damn thing in one shot.  In fact my goal is to do my first full century in the next month or two.  I've been pretty much a 50 mile a week guy..  This week I hit 140 and wasn't "dead" though I made 1 mistake yesterday.  On saturday I went for a 2.5 mile walk post ride (after a snack and 20 minute rest).  Yesterday I just vegged then went to dinner with no walk.  And today I'm paying my knees woke me up at around 4am.  2 advil later I feel almost human but they were sore, no ride to work today alas.  And I suspect no run.  May have to do a short ride on the CCT or something. 


My SIDI eagle 6's from 5 years ago are just worn out.  Now I must begin searching for a new shoe in ernest.  I want something cheaper for road and I think I will go SIDI again for mtb. 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

F Spring.

You know what else Spring brings besides cooler temps.

It brings rain.  GOBS of F'n rain.

Since June 1st - Between 4.5 and 6.5 depending on where you are in NVA.  MD has gotten more I think.  Today we may add an inch or more again.  And once again it's looking like no TNR.  Though I did get some pre-ride pre-rain action last week.  And it's almost the same forecast, clears for a bit this afternoon then turns to rainy/t-storm central starting at 5 PM for the next 4 or 5 hours.  Ugh.  I might have to commit to that ultimate sin after work.  A run.

Desolation and other things are setting in I fear. 

Yesterday I did bike to work, then opted to drive over to Fresh Bikes at Mosiac District and do the Wed ride in Vienna with Pete.  It was a blast, pretty informal.  Low key I suspect also.  I averaged 15.6.  In all 3 of my last 3 rides this week.  I definitely wasn't pushing last night so I know I could hold faster and this was after 16 miles in commuting also.  But it wasn't like I was Pete who had done 111 miles earlier in the day.  But we all know Pete ain't all there, in the best possible way.

Also met up with Mike R, Vince A, and Sean C who I haven't seen in a while either.  It was a lot of fun and I plan to be back next week with the course actually loaded.

Strava continues to be a tool of mostly good in driving me to push myself in distances and time and a bit  in speed.  I simply also realize that I'm not going to be strong enough for a while to challenge in some of the very regular segments out there.

This weekend I have flagged for my 100MoN for Fatcyclist.com.  If I get Saturday off it will be awesome.  Sunday won't be quiet as nice.  Oh well we will see.  It may have to be a 2 day split also.  Who knows.  I'd like to do it as 1 but life has a way of interrupting.  At the least it will be 100KM of Nowhere.  Out and back to P-ville will be 100KM+  I estimate actually that would be near, uh 109KM/68 miles. What will really suck is after I do whatever I do I will need to spend 20 minutes walking per 2 hours of riding to keep my legs from revolting for the next 3 to 10 days.  I may even just build it into the ride and walk a few sections to keep the legs looser. 

Wednesday, June 05, 2013

Spring! Redux!

Wow, I didn't think it would happen but Spring has returned after what was Summer weather last week.  60's this morning and the previous morning and highs for the next 10 days in the low 80's and lows in mid 60's.  It's a beautiful time to ride your bike in DC.  Or really do anything outdoors.  I've run 2x times in the last 2 weeks and thats a LOT since March for me.  Trying to get back to 2 to 3 runs a week alternating maybe.  Need to start building for 10 miles by mid summer then start making the terrain harder.  I'm solidly in the 10 minute area right now and that should improve into the low 9's fairly easily.  Beyond that I'm not going to push that hard.

Did a bit of surprise gravel road riding Saturday on the way out to the half marathon J was doing in VA.  It was a blast, plus it's somewhere I was familiar with as I grew up in the area.  The big changes is some BIG damn houses. 

On my 2nd ride into work for the week.  Yesterday was great, today was a bit slower and I was over dressed, it ended up being a degree warmer I think today than yesterday yet I wore full kit.  D'oh!

Strava is pushing me to push myself and try and go faster/do better in shorter stuff, now I just need to add distance.  Debating doing a post ride from work out the WOD a bit and back or just going home first then going east.  Depends on the winds.  Whichever I do I want to head into the winds first. 

Beer wise I've had a few things but nothing super new or unusual.  Working down stock in the b33r fridge.  The last unusual/rarity was a DFH 75 with maple, that I couldn't really taste the maple in at all, versus say Crown Royal Maple which is like pancake syrup with whiskey.  I am gearing up for a brewing run soon, going to order a La Choufe Houblon clone from Northwest Brewer and get it going very soon.  And once it's in secondary I want to get a fall beer also in by the end of June.  Basement should stay nice an cool enough for good fermentation. 

As of yesterday's morning weight in I was 200 flat.  Not bad considering I ate like a horse all weekend including one of the largest pieces of carrot cake ever.  Should be back to sub 200 by end of week, I'd like to solidly set at 190 again.  But if pigs had wings....we'd have no pulled pork.

And I just found the most awesomely disgusting youtube food channel.  EpicMealTime.  Bacon is your god...bow down before it.