Catching Up

Hello again! it's been a while since I've made a post of substance, but I'll get back on track now. I've always got things that I can talk about cycling related somehow! I decided to put up a picture that Carolyn took of me and Bubba taking our neighbors trike out for a spin after doing a bit of maintenance. It really shows my serious side. Serious. No really, serious. Seriously, how many times do I have to say it? Serious!

I'll tell you what, those three wheelers aren't build to stop. With the freewheel, the only brake you have is the front drum, which is pretty much useless at anything above 3mph.

I've finally finished the Masi, and have managed to put about 300 miles on it in the past six weeks or so. It isn't a lot of miles, but it is enough to know that the Masi rides sweet! The responsiveness, and shock absorbing qualities is amazing! It soaks up impacts so nice, and weighs in full up under 16lbs. I can deal with that! I think if weight was a priority a sub 15lb bike built on this frame would be easily doable. Of course at that level it's probably somewhere around a hundred bucks an ounce to trim weight.

I'm really happy with the sensible build, giving thought to performance, cost, weight and by pure luck, comfort. My two favorite parts are the Easton EA90 SLX wheelset, and Sram Force shifting components. The Eastons, are very light weight, but strong and using good non exotic parts for easy servicing. Another thing is these wheels are straight as an arrow and hand built right here in the good old US of A! Very sensible wheelset. My race wheels are Older Lew racing wheels with deep carbon tubular rims and hidden nipples. I spent 700 bucks, used for those puppies, and maybe saved 300-400 grams over the Eastons. I picked up the Eastons new from Nashbar on clearance for $425.00 plus shipping! Smart use of discounts offered randomly netted me a 20% off on those puppies. As for the Sram Force shifters and deuraillers they work perfectly! I love the Carbon and magnesium construction on the shifters, and the carbon cage of the rear deurailler. The double tap shifting is very precise and intuitive. Plus weight compared to even Dura Ace is favorable, as is the price. I really would like to try Sram's next step up the Red Group, I really think they are giving some serious competition to Shimano. I would take the Force any day over Dura Ace!

I've got a million things to catch up on, but The Country Road Bob has racked up over 1100 miles since March, and 300 For the Masi. Including the Giant which went to "Chucky" a few months back, I'm easily at 1700 miles for the year. I plan on riding at least 400 miles a month from here on out though. I think I can make 5000 miles a year pretty easily. I've been tracking my rides on Mapmyride.com and have almost hit 400 miles last month without really trying. I'm working on getting a gadget working that will show everybody my daily ride and stats. I hope it works because that will be cool!!! That's enough for now I think sooooo Peace out Napoleon!

Back in action!

Okay, that's a silly title, but I couldn't come up with anything witty as a reason for staying away so long. In all honesty, it seemed silly writing all of these posts for people that I see and talk to regularly. I'm still not sure why I decided to do this, but someone talked me into continuing, even if it seems like a self centered thing to do.

Well I know I left off in suspense, but it really wasn't intended to be so long, although I really was waiting for something. In hindsight it isn't such a big deal, but I'll try to pick up where I left off. I will try to catch up as close to cronologically as possible. So, first off! I went to Paso Robles on Memorial day weekend for the Great Western Bicycle Rally. I was scheduled to run a ten mile time trial, which I ran rather successfully!

If you look closely at exhibit A you can see that is a first place award! Yes, I got first place in my class! Of course that was the 36-50 year old class. My time wasn't really any different than usual, but I guess since they took out the classified racers was why I placed so well. In all of the other races, I've been grouped in together with the categoried racers and that was keeping my placing down.

So, I was waiting for the medal in the mail. I had to leave the rally the day before the awards were presented, so I had to wait for them to mail this to me. Of course that was about a month ago when I received the package, so everything since has been because of my trying to figure out if I would continue writing my blog.

As for the rally itself, it was fun, but not really as organized or interesting as I expected. I don't think that I will attend next year. I also participated in the hill clinb. This was about a quarter mile climb for time up a grade ranging from 12% to 22%. I thought I would try it on the singlespeed Country Road Bob. I had a lot of poeple look at me like I was insane for riding with the singlespeed, and I in hindsight I was. I had to really work and after a lot of weaving back and forth at some points even turning back downhill for momentum, I was able to finish, and with a respectable time! It was a lot of work but it is always fun to prove naysayers wrong!

I think I will leave this blog at that for now, but I really do have a lot of catching up to do, so check back frequently!

Thanks for sticking with me!

Darren

Not A Post

Sorry for the delay, but I've been waiting for something. I'll put something up soon!!!

Way Late Update, Belmont Time Trial

Hello, and sorry for the delay writing an update! I will have another update on the happenings of the Great Western Bike Rally in Paso Robles very shortly! As for the Belmont Time Trial it went okay. I ended up about thirty seconds of my usual pace, but there was a stiff breeze slowing me big time on the way back. You would think that a tailwind on the way out would null the effects of the headwind going back, but it never seems to work out that way. I went with a friend from work, and I think he enjoyed it, and has plans to be back for next weeks run. I was running about 27-28mph on the way out and that was really fun, but I seem to get flying like that and end up running way past my max sustainable heart rate. My heart rate was running upwards of 96% of max which works out to about 182. With the headwind, and my lack of keeping my heart rate down, slowed my pace to around 17mph coming back. about 3/4 of the way back, you always ask why again, have I decided to torture myself again?

Carolyn came out to cheer me on, but didn't arrive until after I started, but she managed to snap a quick picture of my suffering at the end.

Of course you can't really see the suffering on my face, so with the help of top secret government image enhancing software previously seen only on episodes of 24 you can see what looks like a peaceful almost happy look. I can't figure this out, but it is how I seem to look in all of these pictures when I'm focusing on staying alive, and breathing without passing out. I don't get it. Check it out.

On to the bike build. The Masi is about finished. All I'm lacking is a cassette, pedals, and final assembly. It is starting to look really good. Since it was my birthday recently, and I received some gift certificates to Nashbar.com and splurged on a set of Easton EA 90 wheels which are very light hand built and sensible wheels with nothing exotic about them. This is a departure from the norm for me, but I'm happy with them none the less. I also put on a pair of red treaded Continental Ultra Race tires. It is definitely flashy in a confident Italian sort of way. You can be the judge though! Here is a few pics of the current state of the Masi.

I have another picture of me doing what I do best, thanks again Carolyn for capturing the true me!

Two Tme Trials One Weekend!

Well, I know it has been too long since my last post, and I've promised my loyal followers (all three!) to continue posting. This weekend was my birthday weekend (36th), and I thought it would be fun to schedule two time trials. Saturday morning was the Team time trial with the Fresno Cycling Club, and Sunday was the Fiesta Island time trial down in San Diego. The plan was to run Fresno Saturday morning then make the quick 6.5 hour drive to San Diego, spend the night, then run on Sunday morning, then just zip back to Fresno. Well I guess I'll get right to it!

So, Friday night after work, I switched out my chain, brake pads and wheels to the race stuff while watching a terrible French horror movie with English subtitles! Then I went to bed to get up at six on Saturday for the team time trial. Six o'clock may not seem terribly early, but for a swing shifter that usually gets to bed about two in the morning it is quite a feat! So, Saturday morning, I get up, get loaded up and head out to the meeting point. We were supposed to meet at a location removed from the time trial and ride in to warm up and get in the riding groove before to event started. When everybody else at the meeting point found their teams and rode away, I was standing there with nobody there to ride with me! I got a bit worried and grabbed my phone and noticed I had a voicemail. To make a long story slightly less long, we had a rider drop, and the rest had stayed home because you need all four. I just wish I would have got the word before I left the house! So, one time trial down and no miles on the bike! I guess that's why I like individual time trials better. I need only to depend on myself to show up! So, on to San Diego for the next one!

We made it to San Diego with just enough time for a late dinner and about five hours of sleep before we needed to be up for the time trial. This is a pretty big event that seems to attract some very fast and professional looking riders, so I was looking forward to it. Here is a link. http://www.fiestaisland.com/ I think I can let the pictures take it from here!

Warming up.....hmmm what's that noise??? I guess it doesn't sound that bad!

Some of those professional looking riders! Okay riders behinds (Carolyn took the picture)

Me at the start......

And awaay we goooo!!!!

Group at speed.

Me after lap one of three. Chain was making some noise, but I shifted around a bit, and it got quieter, so I kept motoring. Something else I notice in this picture is my belly! Gross! I've gained about ten pounds since summer, and after this next time trial, I'll start working on that. Hopefully I'll lose the ten pounds again before June.

Here I am coasting in at the end of lap two of three, defeated by a mechanical issue on the bike. The noise kept getting louder at an ominous clunking had started. so I bowed out unfinished. Looks like I was on pace for about 33 minutes for 20k. I was happy with the way my heart rate was going, as I kept it in control at right at 92% of max. what a bummer!

So here is the problem! When I put the chain on I somehow routed the chain on the outside of the derailleur cage. If you look closely the chain portion that is farthest right, should be routed to the left of the tab it is riding on. As I rode it was grinding away at the cage getting louder and louder, nearly destroying a Dura Ace derailleur in the process! What a waste of two time trials! We did like the Fiesta Island time trial for several reasons so we hope to get back, but they all seem to fall on Drill weekends! We'll get back pretty soon I hope! Thursday is the usual Belmont time trial again so I will make that and I will run good! I hope.......

Faster Than A Speeding..........City Bus?

So, riding home from drill on Sunday, I picked up a city bus about a mile from base. He blew by me and I took advantage of the draft allowing me to effortlessly pedal above average speed. Then he stopped and picked up some passengers, and I flew by him. I played leap frog with him before pulling firmly away at about the 5 mile mark. So it is pretty cool, that on a low traffic Sunday, I can at least keep pace with the city bus, without blowing signals, or unsafe riding. Just riding along stopping at red lights and cruising at around 18 mph. The funny thing is I ride past people with bikes at the bus stop waiting to take the bus! All the time I see bikes in the rack on the buses cruising by. If they only knew they could make better time across town just pedalling! If you include time spent waiting then switching and waiting again, trying to get across town, cycling is probably twice as fast.....and waaaay better for you....plus my bike doesn't smell like pee!
On another pathetic and sad note, today was international bike to work day. I was unaware, and decided to sit on the couch for an extra 20 minutes and drive in instead. In my defense, I had a long weekend with drill and riding to work, then having my annual fitness test, then a bit to time trial practice, all on Sunday, I just felt tired. So I drove. I did manage to pull off a 10:44 for my 1.5 mile run. I know it isn't the greatest, but it was good enough to be first in my group. Plus I wasn't the youngest kid in the pack either! Another point is that I have barely racked up 200 miles miles on the Boxster this year! Yes after four full months, I've managed to drive 50 miles average a month! So, the one day I don't ride is the day the rest of the world does! I'm such a tool!
So, I took the Giant Bowery over to "Chucky's" house this weekend so he can get started riding. Of course he proceeded to stick in the back of the garage behind cardboard boxes and Christmas lights. This may be an exaggeration, but I'm wondering how long before he takes it out for a spin. Maybe we should take a poll. Okay then, I'm out!

Another Boring Post

I haven't really had any big cycling news, so I guess I can fill in with some mundane stuff. I don't even have any pictures! I was supposed to do a little practice for a team time trial coming up on May 9Th. (My birthday!), but it turns out 50% of my team is out of commission at the moment. I have my doubts we'll make the date, let alone get a practice in. SO instead I went out on the "Golden Arrow" that's the gold Transition Expert time trial bike, and put 40 training miles on. Things went, well and I was able to keep the heart rate at 140 average, and run an average of 17.6 mph. considering traffic lights getting out of and back in town, I consider that a success. It also highlighted my need for a better pair of cycling shorts. If I have learned a thousand times before, you get what you pay for!
Progress on the Masi is going slow but good. My Reynolds Ouzo Pro all carbon fork came in and compliments the frame beautifully. I won a set of Dura ace 7700 brakes from Ebay. for 56 bucks with shipping! They are a bit older, but weigh basically the same as brand new Ultegra brakes (about 320 grams). When I add the Jagwire carbon cartriges with Ti hardware, they will probably weigh in at around 290-300 grams. I've decided to run the old standard of 26.0mm handlebars. After a bit of research, the smaller diameter is usually lighter and stiffer, and most likely what the bike came with new, although 26.0 bars are still used( my Country Road Bob has 26's). I've got my eye on a pair of Kestrel carbon kevlar bars that have yellow and red accents, that will match the bike perfectly! Of course when I cover all that with bar tape who will know! If I get the bars and a Syntace f-99 stem, the combo will weigh less than 300 grams! SO, I'm well on my way to finishing a very light high performance Italian road bike! Cost so far is $782.05. In that total is all shipping charges, and includes frame, carbon fork, ceramic bearing bottom bracket, seatpost, and brakes.
Well, Im out!
Darren