Friday, January 17, 2014

Back in the Saddle. But someone isn't happy.

Just shy of 70 miles for the week as of last night and with today's commute I'll add another 15 on top of that and right now there is an option on Sunday to slap on another 40 or 50 miles with some Serious climbing. 

But in the WIN category I logged 3 commutes this week, making up partially for last weeks epic failure.   Hopefully another 3 next week and I'll feel....caught up.  Todays ride will mark #11 of day 17 so I'm a bit off pace.  Might do a REALLY short run tomorrow.  Or it might be an off day.

Did get into a discussion with someone about how I actually count my commute rides towards my total.  His point was is my ride in and ride out are generally 9 or more hours apart and it's really more of two rides, not just the one I log.  For now I'm leaving it as one ride. 

My posterior is displeased with this surge in riding this week after immatating a lump the last few weeks really.  Sure I've done some riding but things were slow.  I've joined the Strava PROVE IT challenge to get motivated. 

The pre-innaugural Plan B - F Variant Ride went pretty well last night.  We headed out from Wakefield directly up the CCT towards Fairfax.  Our first stop was Hacienda El Paso, since L-Dog wasn't along I opted against the PJ Skadoo's stop option.  One person had a Margarita and turned in his Man Card.  The rest went with beer (3 of us total).  We then motored up to Vienna and tried to go to WF but were thwarted twice over, they were waiting for Pint Glasses to finish washing and last call from food was now 8 instead of 8:30.  Sad face.  So off to Vienna Inn for a beer and Chili Cheese Dogs.  We then rolled out for Lost Dog Cafe in Dunn Loring.  A minor glove loss issue slowed us briefly but we made our way south rapidly after riding the WOD East.  A final beer was consumed before the long ride back to WF (6.6 miles).  We ended up back at the cars a bit after 10:15 or so.  A damn good ride.  In nicer weather with an earlier start I could see a couple variant routes involving

PJ's/Lost Dog/Mad Fox/Sweetwater or Hooter's, PJ's, Westover/spacebar/etc.   Lots of possibilities. 


Friday, January 10, 2014

FFFFFUUUUUU

The title says it all.  For those not familiar with this specific internet meme go google Rage Man.  It's basically a comic thing alternate for screaming FUCK! FUCKITY FUCKING FUCKSOCKS!  Etc.


For example:
I feel that way every time I play guitar hero and occasionally in Rocksmith when I've advanced difficulty on a song a hair to fast.  Nothing like jumping from 50 to 80/90 percent difficulty and going from a few notes/etc to a full ripping chord-age and change ups.

Last night was one of those nights for Mountain Biking.  I got back to the lot post ride and was removing gear and realized.  Yes I am an idiot.  I had taken off my glasses at some point and put them in a pocket.   And then didn't zip up said @#$@ing pocket. 

FFFFFUUUUUU!

I went and checked 2 easy places where I thought they might have fallen out.  No dice.  I may go back after work and re-check.    Back in the day they were Oakley Jawbones, now they are named Race Jackets.  Admittedly I did get them for about half price after trading in a non-usable christmas gift.  And they were about 4 years old.  But I had just put a new set of Ruby Red night riding lens in that I REALLY like right before Christmas.   FFFFFUUUU!!!!

Debating a pair of Smith Optics V2 or maybe some Tifosi.  I may also go out and look more tonight.  Ugh.

Hoping to get in a good ride on Sunday 40 or 50 miles.  Should be right about 50 degrees. 

Would have liked to ride in but my sidewalk was completely iced and the parking lots I've seen were a mixed bag.  Until I can justify/afford studded cx tires it just ain't gonna happen  in icy conditions.

Commute by bike to work Goal - 2x - Complete FAILURE.  Sub Zero Wins - Flawless Victory. 

Thursday, January 02, 2014

Uh 2014.

2013 was a good year for me activity wise.  I WAY surpassed my A180 goal by hitting 219 activities between biking, running, hiking, etc.  I'm really happy.  Hell I'm down to near where I can drop to size 32 pants.  34's are loose. 

So it's Goal Time 2014.  I'm setting a few goals including
1st  - Ride to Work at LEAST 2x per week.  I rode 41 times that I have logged from April thru Dec.  Ugh thats like 1x per week.
2nd - No Dead Weeks - IE no full weeks of doing Jack Shit unless I'm well and truly dead and there's 3 feet of snow. 
3rd - Activity Goal - 250 versus 180. 
4th - 25 Minute Commute to Work.  Probably have to wait till spring and full roadbike weather but this should be doable.  I've cracked 27 on the CX Bike.  And I think I can do better. 
5th - 8 Minute Mile on runs 5 miles or less.
6th - Half Marathon.  Fuck Me.
7th - Spartan Race or Tough Mudder again.  Fuck me 2x.


Got a few new video game addictions going also.  The main one is RockSmith 2014.  Lots of fun and challenge.  I'm REALLY getting challenged right now on the 1st song I'm trying to master of Blitzkrieg Bop by the Ramones.  It's fast as hell and my natural coordination is SHIT.  I'm putting an hour in on it at least most days.  Trying to rebuild calluses so I can play a bit more.  All the subgames in the game are fun.  Starts out about as hard as Guitar Hero/etc, but rapidly progresses to learning chords/etc. 

Also need some new picks, my thin one is WAY to easy to bend. 

The other game of doom?

Starbound.  It's addictive as hell.  It's in open Beta for $15 bucks you get beta access and download when it releases.  Really slick.  My roommate has probably put in 24+ hours in the last 5 days I estimate. 

Slop ride on deck for tonight as I expect the Wakefield trails to be too damn soft today, after no freeze last night and rain and funk on the way tonight.