Random Cycling Quote

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

New Year's Resolution

With about 11 hours to go in the year, I thought I'd take this time to post some cycling-specific resolutions and goals. Some are the same or similar to last year's resolution, as I did not reach them or didn't have a chance to.

1) Top 9 at Rutger's Season Opener Time Trial for the ECCC collegiate season under the Men's D category.
2) Lose 10-15 lbs by mid summer
3) Start track racing and upgrade to category 4 by end of the season
4) Place top 15 in all USCF races over the summer
5) Category 4 in Road possibly?
6) Upgrade bike components
7) Compete in at least 6 USCF races (Road races, crit, or TT)

I'm going to try and approach my training differently this year, and include some lifting to improve power and strength, as well as endurance. Hopefully this will help me in upgrading to Category 4 in Road, as well as do pretty well on the track. In all honesty, I believe I belong more on the track than I do on the road. I'm more of a sprinter and I have power that makes me more of a track racer, and I do not really have a huge amount of endurance, as needed on the road.

Anyways, Happy New Years, and enjoy the extra second we are getting today!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Transitional days

As 2008 comes to an end and 2009 is about to start, I thought I'd go back to last year when I wrote down some cycling-specific resolutions and my results/reflections:

1) NO MORE CRASHES!

I did just that, no more crashes (well, still got 4 more days to go with at least 2 rides planned)

2) Top 9 at Rutger's Season Opener Time Trial for the ECCC collegiate season under the Men's D category

We actually didn't go to the first day of Rutger's, so I was not able to attempt this. This will probably be a resolution for next year.

3) Lose 20 lbs by summer

by summer I lost only like 5 lbs, and over the summer I lost another 5 lbs. I was able to keep most of that 10 lbs off, but never reached 20 lbs. current weight is between 175 and 178.

4) Place top 15 in all of my USCF road races over summer

Still not able to keep with the pack on races, but definitely getting better. Best I did was 19th, and that was out of 21.

5) Purchase a Fuji Track Pro

Haven't done that, but will be getting one next week

6) Start track racing, place top 10 in those races

Since I never got a chance to buy a track bike yet, haven't even raced on the track. I did, however, place 3rd in the AP Finals at the track on a rental bike, so that counts towards this... somewhat...

7) look into upgrading to Road Category 4

I did look into it (haha) but never actually did. Going to try to approach my training in a different way this year in order to do better in my races and maybe upgrade to 4 sometimes during the summer.

8) Upgrade to better wheels, tires, components, etc.

Well, I did do some upgrades. I got better tires after I was force to when one of my former tires became damaged. I got a new stem after a bike fitting several weeks ago. Other than that, I really didn't do any upgrades on my bike. Never got a job over the summer to afford upgrades, unfortunately.

So there they are. In the next few days I will be thinking of some more resolutions for next year, and then post them up. Thanks for reading!

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas

and a HAPPY NEW YEARS!

As a tradition, my immediate family exchanges gifts the night of Christmas Eve. This year we did it a little earlier, more like the afternoon or evening of today, but that's ok!

I got:
$80 gift card to Marshalls
Jeff Dunham Very Special Christmas Special DVD (funniest guy EVER!)
$200 from my dad to go towards the purchasing of a Fuji Track Pro (used @ $500)
Monopoly Electronic Banking board game
Garmin Nuvi 255w GPS (that I got a few weeks ago from my mom)

My younger sister's gift to me is yet to arrive, she told me she just ordered it online yesterday (late shopper, following in Mom's footsteps!). Probably should be here early next week in that case.

Anyways, I hope everyone got what they wanted, or will get what they want tomorrow from Santa Claus and loved ones. Drive safely too, and those of you that will be riding, ride safely! Unfortunately no outdoor riding here for a few days now, we got hit with a lot of snow and ice in the last week. Roads are horrible and nasty right now.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Friday, December 12, 2008

My 11th Ending

Today is the last day of classes for the Fall (and my 11th) Semester, and what's even better is that this will be MY last semester of required courses! I have two more classes to endure through, the next one starting in a few minutes.

Next semester I have to do 12 credits of internship (480 hours in 16 weeks). Since most of my work I'll be doing next semester will be within the internships, I wanted to have something to do outside of my internship. So I decided to take a photography class that meets Tuesdays and Thursdays evening. This will give me something to do and work on while I'm not working on my internship stuff. More about my internships when I get all the details worked out.

Later today I will be having Body Composition and VO2 Max testings done in the state-of-the-art science building we have on campus. What does this mean? FREE!!!! The one professor is an advocate for our cycling team on campus, and has offered us testings last year. Well, if you remember, last year I was in a collision with an SUV, just a week or two before the testings were to be done. I was fortunate enough to be able to have the testings done today, after all of my classes are done and I can relax finally (before Finals, that is).

Last Saturday I had a bike fitting done for $50, and let me tell you, it was DEFINITELY worth it! Everything was off on my bike, and so everything was adjusted (saddle, cleats, seatpost, etc). I feel a lot better and stronger on the bike now, but I will give more details when I get more rides in with the new fitting.

Well, my coaching class starts in just a minute of this typing, so I should go head to class. I'll write more soon!

Friday, November 14, 2008

Where's the motivation?!

I've been very unmotivated to ride the bike lately, but that could be because it is getting to be like winter and because I've got so much school work and getting little sleep because of it. I swear, every year about this time I fall into a human version of hibernation, where I just want to sleep all the time. And it has gotten to be like that, whenever I'm not in the classroom, in the University Center for breakfast, lunch or dinner, or when I'm not in the library doing work, you can find me in my room sleeping. So it's hard to get myself out anymore for rides.

However, my biggest paper this semester is due next Friday (Nov. 21st) so I've decided that maybe I'll just do one ride this coming week (Tuesday or Wednesday), while working on my paper the whole week. When I finish this week, then I plan on getting restarted with my regular training to prepare for the collegiate season that starts in March. This training will consist of some outdoor riding, but I plan on doing a lot of indoor training video sessions. I just bought two training videos off of eBay, so once I get those this week I will have 4 videos. Two are the Chris Carmichael videos (Time Trialing and Sprinting), while the other two are Spinervals videos (Ride Strong and Recovery/Technique). I could probably come up with a decent training program using each videos at least once a week and have at least one or two rides outside a week. My winter training will also consist of some weight and resistance training as well.

So if anyone out there is a certified coach or know a good deal about training with videos and such, please give me your suggestions. Again, the videos I have are:

Carmichael Training Series: Time Trialing
Carmichael Training Series: Sprinting
Spinervals 1.0 Ride Strong
Spinervals 8.0 Recovery and Technique

I also want to incorporate some weight and non-cycling cardio (i.e. Tae-Bo with Billy Blanks with a friend of mine) training, so I will most likely be training just about every day. I just have to remember about recovery, and maybe every other week having a day off or something. Anyways, give me your suggestions if you have any.

WISH ME LUCK ON THIS THEOLOGY PAPER, GONNA BE A KILLER!

Have a good weekend y'all!

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Phinally, 28 years later!

Where were you in 1980 when Tug McGuire pitched the last strike over home plate of the 1980 World Series? Where were you 28 years later when Brad Lidge finished off the second night of Game 5 with a strike out to win Philadelphia's 2nd World Series Title?

I wasn't born for a little more than 4 years after the 1980 World Series, but I was in the living room of my home with my dad watching the 2008 World Series, Game 5 (Part 2). And the feeling is unexplainable!!!! I've never been this excited in my LIFE!

And Cole Hamel gets the 2008 World Series MVP (and a 2010 Chevy Corvette which he said he'd give to his wife since it was her birthday today)!!! Congrats to him and the Phillies organization!

I also want to congratulate the Tampa Bay Rays. In my mind, they are still winners! Why? They only been a team for about 10 years now, only one year as the Rays (were previously the Devil Rays). They also had the worse record in the MLB last year, and have suffered a string of bad luck with their records, players, managers, etc. in the past 10 years they've been a team. To go from being the worse team in the MLB last year to being the best in the American League and second best overall, that's just amazing. I hope the Phillies and Rays match up again next year, it could certainly be different!

There has been announcements that Friday could be the day of the Phillies Parade. I hope to get a chance to go, even if I have to skip my classes to go. It would be well worth skipping the classes for this chance to be part of a HUGE celebration!

Congratulations Philadelphia Phillies, you've PHINALLY DONE IT!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Break's over, cooler stuff

I decided I've been off of the bike long enough (almost 2 weeks) and was back on it on Friday for a group ride with two of my friends, and then today for an hour on my own. Last time I rode, it was pretty warm, but almost 2 weeks later of being off the bike it has certainly gotten cooler. Anyways, it was certainly good to be back on the bike after a much needed break. I should take breaks like this more often than I do now (which is hardly ever).

Off topic (of cycling), Phillies are now 2-1 in the World Series, and I know they'll win the title. I even think they could go 4-1 in game 5 at Philadelphia, denying the Rays any opportunity to win again or to play on their home field this season. This will certainly be awesome, the Phils winning a World Series title since their last (and only) one 28 years ago! If they do, my brother and I said we would go to Philadelphia to celebrate and to see the parade that they'll probably hold in Philly. GO PHILS!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Off-Season stuff

It is officially my off-season time right now, as it has been for the last month or so since my last race late August. However, I caught myself recently still treating this as during the summer season and have eventually worn myself out. I started feeling depressed and seriously unmotivated to do any riding a week or two ago and didn't know what to do. I had to actually FORCE myself to get out for rides anymore. When it used to take me like 5 minutes to get dressed and be out on the road, it was taking me more than 30 minutes to get dressed and get out on the road because of the lack of motivation.

Having figuring this out and my body's desire to get me to STOP! and slow down, I've decided this Monday will be my last ride for the rest of this month. I haven't been out since last Friday up until yesterday, and then I went out for a big group ride today (a 2:30 ride that took over 3 hours because of regrouping and breaks). Tomorrow I'm off because of family and officiating a soccer tournament, and then Monday I hope to get out with my best friend for a slow ride. After that, the bike stays home while I go back to school on Tuesday. Hopefully the last 15 days or so of the month will be long and short enough to work mentally and physically for me. And what luck, November 1st is a Saturday so I can do a good first-day-back ride!

My off-bike training will consist of some lifting and weightroom cardio, and I'm considering getting a set of rollerblades because my good friend, Joe, at school rollerblades a lot and I would like to get back into that (last time I rollerbladed would be no less than 10 years ago. Besides, rollerblading works the back and core muscles (for balance and posture) as well as the legs, so it would definitely supplement my cycling.

Kind of off topic, today was another veloswap at the velodrome in T-town. It's like a flea market style, where bike vendors and personal vendors come to sell stuff. Bike shops will go to get rid of their overstocks of older model bikes, accessories, clothes, etc. while personal vendors come to get rid of junk piled up in their garage. I went to help out with my good friend Kim who had a table set up for her personal stuff, and to help out my club team that had a table set up for baked goods, several bikes (all but one was sold, I might be buying the Fuji Track Pro that was not sold yet), and several other stuff. When I went walking around, my Air Products Track program coach Jorge had a table set up for his club team, and he had for sale two San Marco saddles for sale, brand new for $30 (later research shows MRSP between 60 and 80). Because he knows me, he dropped it down to $25 for me. I think I got a good deal on this. Then later on I was looking at shoes and bought a pair of Nike Shoes for $60, half off of the original $120 deal. So for about $200 work of stuff, I've paid $85! I'm going to put the saddle on the bike if I get time to tomorrow, and try it out and adjust it until it feels right. Then for the test on Monday when I go riding. I figured that if I don't like the saddle I could always sell it on eBay for the same price, or hopefully a bit of a profit.

Now, I must go to sleep since tomorrow I go out for breakfast with part of the family... Good night!

(when you get a chance, go to http://fcskim.blogspot.com and congratulate Kim for winning Nationals in the team and individual pursuits in Colorado)

Friday, September 19, 2008

Rose Long




Last week, a friend of mine, Rose Long from UVM, whom I had just met last Spring during one of the collegiate races, was hit by a car and sustained a lot of injuries. She was in the hospital for a few days or so, and was recently released.

Insurance won't be able to cover all of the costs, especially for the oral surgery she needs. If you can donate, even just a buck, please do so at http://www.roselong.com, a website set up to raise funds to help cover the costs due to this horrific incident.

My heart goes out to her and her family. I hope and pray for a speedy recovery, and hope she'll be back for the Spring 2009 Road Season. She was the ECCC leader last spring, and I hope she'll be able to defend her title this year.

Good Luck Rose, and get well soon!

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Confirmed, Welcome Back Lance

It has been confirmed that Lance will be making his comeback, and has been quoted to saying that he would like to try and win his eighth Tour de France title in 2009. I am so excited!

News report on comcast.net here:

http://www.comcast.net/articles/sports-general/20080909/Armstrong-Comeback/

Anyone else getting excited?!

Lance's Comeback?!


According to cyclingnews.com, anonymous sources have rumored that Lance Armstrong will be making a comeback for 2009, including to race in the Tour de France next summer. Is it true? Here is the article from Cycling News.

You be the judge...

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Lehigh Valley Winery Criterium race report

First off, I forgot to give an update on my races in the last few weeks. Why? Because I didn't do any of the planned races, and I did one that was not under the "planned races" section of my blog (the AP Finals which is the previous post). Sorry...

Yesterday was the Lehigh Valley Winery Criterium, another race I did last year, and the race that my club is the host. What does that mean? I had to get up at 4:00 am, to be at the race location by 5:30, only to find out I would just stand around and talk to the mothers of the junior racers on the team. Ok, so I did help put up the start/finish line which involved a teammate climbing into the tree, but that was pretty much it and only took 15-20 minutes.

The course is 1.3 miles long, a downhill at the beginning and two climbs with a false flat in between them at the end.

at 7am, I got back to my car, unpacked my bike and got ready for the race. Ate a banana and a chocolate chip muffin, drank a lot of sports drink, and just warmed up in the parking lot and on the race course. at 8:30, my race went off.

Feeling very comfortable, I actually stayed in the field for 2.5 laps. However, the pace picked up on the first climb on the 3rd lap (which made no sense to me) and I did get dropped. My legs felt like they were lead at this point and I kept considering just dropping out. I kept going though, and with a few laps to go I did get lapped. However, I just caught on to the back of the field and did a lap with them, which helped me catch up to a racer ahead of me on the same lap. Him and I then rode the last 1.5 laps together and it came down to a sprint finish. This is byfar, the FIRST and ONLY time anyone has beaten me out in a sprint. I was spinning in too low of a gear, while he just kept inching away from me. I gave up about 20 yards from the finish line because I wasn't in a sprinting gear.

I got 2nd to last place (19/20) but there was at least 22 starters. I think I did better last year than I did this year at this race.

Possibly another race next week, I would just have to give up a some soccer games I am scheduled to officiate in order to do this race, since it is on the other side of the NJ/PA border, but only 30 minutes from my school. Even though it might be possible to do all, it would be too much driving for me. I will update later this week.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

yesterday I was a bike rider...

Tonight, I became a competitive cyclist.

I got 3RD and a bronze medal during the AP Finals at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center (Formally Lehigh Valley Velodrome) in my Adults category (19-39 year olds). I was up against 8 or 9 other cyclists, 3 or 4 of which I was to be concerned about being about the same strength as me or stronger. I almost got beaten by another guy, but just at the end I gave a few hard pushes to inch away from him, I just barely beat him by an inch or so.

Pictures will come in the next few days when they are put on the velodrome's website and when my dad runs the pictures from the camera to the computer.

New Dream: become a pro track rider at the Friday Nights in 5 years!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Michael Phelps

(tried posting last night, blogger wasn't allowing me to log in for some reason)

Congratulations to Michael Phelps for an incredible 8th Gold Medal win yesterday with his relay teammates. I was watching the race live and was scared they wouldn't do it when the second swimmer was falling back a little, tiny bit. But then Phelps was able to make that up and surpass the other swimmers by a little, and then the fourth guy finished it off. Just incredibly awesome.

And did you hear?

Phelps is the wealthiest swimmer at age 23, bringing in $5,000,000 in endorsements.

And I was blown away by this next fact about him... HE EATS 12,000 CALORIES A DAY! A DAY!! He trains 30 hours a week, I barely do that in 3 weeks, some of the time. The guy is incredible and just, a superhuman! WOW!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Haha very funny

If I haven't mentioned it yet, I am a High School official for basketball and soccer, as well as doing youth organizations. One of my basketball officiating "brother" sent out an email to the "brotherhood of officials" (10 or so of us in the brotherhood of "Axis of Evil" as we're called) busting me about not doing as well as I said I would in the Pottsville race, and then another "brother" sent out this email in response:

Test results just announced by head of city rec. dept.,Mary Quirk, that bicyclist,Zach Ellwood, had a high amount of FIC in his urine test which explains Zach's poor finish in last weeks race.Zach ,who touted throughout the "Deuce" that this was his year to win it all ,never thought that the substance would show up in his post race urine sample. When I questioned the local lab about the substance symbol,which perplexed even the so called "experts" the tester told me it is a very common substance found in O-Burg area people and that Zach is just a victim of his environment. The FIC is .....................................

FREEZE ICE CREAM!!!!!!
That explains why Zach had that extra "spare tire",better luck next year,follow in the feet of Stepdad and drink your nourishment

Yours in sports,
Joe-Secretary Pottsville Basketball Officials

Freeze is an Ice Cream/Restaurant place just outside of my hometown. And my "stepdad" is another official that everyone calls my other dad because I'm always around him and I do look up to him as well. I thought this was funny enough to share.

And actually, another funny thing is that I haven't been to Freeze in at least a year! I'M INNOCENT I TELL YA!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Allentown Sportsfest Race Report

Another PR today. Average speed of 20.6 mph at finishing line. Could have been higher but I'll get to that in a bit.

Before the race as I was warming up, I noticed my front derailleur was acting strange. I COULDN'T GET INTO THE LARGE RING!! My buddy from the local bike shop was there to race Cat 5 as well, so he looked at it quickly and told me to just try to get into the large ring and stay in that ring throughout the race. I was able to get it into the large ring eventually and didn't even touch the left shifter except to brake. Turns out you could do this criterium in the large ring alone.

So the races were all behind about 15 minutes, and of course since we're Cat 5 and we "really don't matter all that much" they knocked our race from 12 laps to 10 laps, so we only did 8 miles (.8 miles per lap). I had a good start, was in the middle of the pack for the first lap or two, then started dropping back. I was able to stay directly behind the pack for another few laps until my legs were getting that stiff feeling from the lactate threshold level being reached or surpassed. So I just kind of backed off a little, hoping I would sprint on the downhill to catch up. No luck. There were at least two guys that got dropped before me, and so I kind of slowed down. (This is where my average mph could have been higher if I didn't slow down to let these guys catch up to me). Anyways, so they caught up to me, but the older rider couldn't keep up anymore and so I rode with just the one guy. Pissing me off by drafting me, and I've tried everything to get him to pull through, except actually saying "hey buddy, pull through and do some of the work" (I'm still shy about that kind of stuff).

So then on the second to last lap, I started slowing down conserving my energy and had my head tilted back to see what this guy was doing. This lap we were doing like 13 or 14 mph, just trying to see what the other was doing and figuring out what we needed to do. coming around the first turn of the last lap I was able to get him to pull through and I drafted him until the 2nd turn which he just didn't want to lead anymore. I stayed on his side and on the third turn, I started sprinting and got ahead of him by maybe 5 yards, I sat down until the fourth turn, still looking back to see where he was, and then a few seconds out of that turn I got out of the saddle and sprinted for the finish line ahead of him. Just to prove I am a tactical rider and a darn good sprinter. I just need to be up front so the sprinting power can be useful.

for a good article on this subject, big guys like me and sprinting, speed, etc., click here to go to my blog-friend Ron over at Cozy Beehive who found an article about it

According to the final results I finished second to last, but like I said before, there was at least one more rider behind me than the guy I finished with. I don't know how many started, but hopefully the DNFs will be posted as well when the results are posted online.

Like I said, I think I have great sprinting potential, it's just a matter of staying with the lead pack until the finish where I can unleash the beast in me.

Tomorrow I start training at the track. I still don't have a track bike so I will have to use one of the velodrome's bikes, which are provided for free when you do the Air Products Developmental Cycling Program. I will be participating in two of their programs; Adult Advanced and Adult Fitness. I can't wait. I also hope to get a track bike before the Air Product Finals, which is the last night of Professional racing at this velodrome, which has a "special" race for those that participated in the Air Products program. So I will get to race on a Friday night in front of hundreds, if not thousands, of spectators, as well as many who will watch it live on TV on the local channel. Talk about pressure!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Pottsville City Cycle 17 Race Report

so today I did the Pottsville City Cycle 17, a non-usac sanctioned race. Last year I did horrible, but this year I did a lot better. I did 17 miles in just over an hour, and had my best average during any race which was 17 mph. This was with a power climb on each lap (3+ miles per lap) that I couldn't make it up each lap without walking up except for the last lap last year. This year, I got up all 5 times, and not only that, I got up quicker on all the laps individually than I did the only time I got up last year. My climbing skills are getting better!!!

My time was something like 1:01:16. Last year my time was like 1:08 or somewhere around there, so I did beat my time last year by 5 minutes. I placed 45th out of well over 60 riders. This year there were a lot more competitive guys than there were last year, which did play on my mind mentally prior to the race and probably was why I dropped off the back of the main group through the bike path on the first lap. After getting dropped I decided to race against my time last year. Next year I hope to do around 55 minutes.

Anyways, my buddy who races for Kutztown University won the race, beating the guy who won this race 5-7 years on the row. My buddy just barely beat him out in the sprint.

Now I must relax and get ready for my race tomorrow morning, a 12 lap x .8 mile/lap criterium. Knowing that I did 17 mph average today, I should do well tomorrow.

Overall, I felt great and comfortable on the course. The one turn I was always having problems with last year, I only went off on the first lap when I was with the leading pack. Someone kind of got in my line and I was forced off the road, but not so much that I got right back in where I was in the pack. Other than that, I was comfortable. Now I must concentrate tomorrow morning... race report will come tomorrow night or Monday.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Double Header this weekend

This is one of the few weekends I've been waiting for all summer. The Pottsville City Cycle 17 race on Saturday and the Allentown Sportsfest on Sunday. I can't wait. Huge Carb-loading starts Thursday Afternoon for this weekend, and then at least a day off from riding next Monday!

Saturday's race, Pottsville City Cycle 17, starts at 10:00. 17 miles total, with 5 three mile loops. Since the course is about a 15 minute drive from my house, I've been training on it for the last several weeks, as well as a few times earlier in the summer. I will go there one more time tomorrow before the race.

I plan to get there around 8:00 or 8:30 (it will get crowded since there is a kid's race before this race) so I can go around the course at least one time as warm up, and then get on the trainer or just ride around the parking lot and course until the race starts.

Last year I didn't do too well, on account that my bike was in the shop for a week up until the night before the race, so I had no time to practice that week. My legs were stiff and not ready that morning, and I felt it through the whole race. I did somewhere around a hour and 6 minutes, placing 48th out of atleast 60. This race is open to ANYONE, of any age and skill level, so there aren't categories as USAC races are.

My friend Kyle from Kutztown placed 2nd last year, and he plans to go for first this year. Another one of his teammates from Kutztown, Noah, will be joining, so I believe the two of us will help Kyle throughout the race to get first, while we'll place, hopefully, top 5. My only enemy is 18th street, a power climb that is pretty scary. If I can get up that with Kyle and Noah, I should be fine, however they're both Cat 3 while I'm cat 5 so they could very well get ahead of me easily. I'll just sprint on the downhill to catch up with them if I have to on each lap.

Then Sunday... Allentown. I remember this course from last year and liked it a lot. 12 laps of .8 mile each. This is the one that I mistakenly tried on the 3rd or 4th lap to push myself towards the front of the pack on the slight uphill at the start of each lap, and burnt out my energy. This time I will just try to get a good start and be close to the front of the pack during the race. At some point, if no one does yet, I will probably initiate an attack (I hope no one else doing the race is reading this!) to speed things up, and maybe have a few others leading the race that I could work with to keep away from the pack and finish together with a sprint. I have a lot of confident in myself for this one, because I did well last year in this one and could have done better if I didn't make that mistake on the 3rd or 4th lap. I was very comfortable sitting in the back half of the pack while waiting for something to happen. I just got impatience with myself and the rest of the pack that I wanted to partake in some of the actions up front. Anyways, I hope I can make the breakaway with another few riders to place top 5. If that doesn't happen, I will try to place top 10. My main objective is to finish with or ahead of the main pack and not get lapped!

Saturday afternoon I'll post about Pottsville, Sunday or Monday I will post about Allentown.

Monday, July 14, 2008

I'm coming home!

Monday morning, we're going to be packing shortly and then loading up the two cars to head home. I can't wait to get home!

The purpose of this post is for two things... first is to say I did not rent a bike as I wanted to, because I realized that with the flatness of these roads near the shore, and I did a hill profile it is an altitude change of like 15 feet on this island of Stone Harbor and Avalon, and the shortness of the island that I could go from the tip of Avalon (North) and the tip of Stone Harbor (South) in like 25 minutes or less, and it is about 12.5 miles long. It would be more like a time trial workout, maybe do some sprints. I wouldn't have wanted to do like 5 or 6 loops to get a 2+ hours workout. I also wouldn't have been able to find any hills unless I went out of, what I would consider, my comfort zone since I do not know the area that well. The only thing I know are the roads of this island.

The other reason is to announce my race schedule (to the right) has changed. There are possible races I can do every weekend until the end of August except for one weekend, and even though I'll most likely not be doing all of them, I don't know which ones I will be doing. The definites are the Allentown Sportsfest race, Pottsville race, and the Lehigh Valley Winery Criterium. I'd like to do a road race for once (besides collegiate) and so Deodate is highly a possibility.

Now, I pack...

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Momma, what's vay-kay-shun mean?

If you don't know where that's from, then you missed out on a great movie! (Forrest Gump)

Anyways, I am going on vacation Saturday morning and got some sad news... my parents are not allowing me to bring my bike. We're only going until Monday but I can't live without riding my bike. Heck, I had to go a whole week without riding because I was working the Tour of PA, and that was almost murderous on me, especially when 100+ other riders around my age were riding their bikes and I had to freakin' work. So I was thinking about how I will survive (again) without my bike, even for less than 72 hours. Then it hit me, I remembered that there is a bike rental place. So I went to google "bike rental in Stone Harbor" and it was the first Google hit. Harbor Bike & Beach Shop

Looking at the rates, I can either rent a road bike for 3 hours for $16 or for another $9 I can rent one for 24 hours ($25). I would either just ride Saturday or Sunday and do the 3 hours (2 hour bike ride or so), or I can do a ride Saturday evening and a ride Sunday morning within 24 hours... decisions, decisions. I guess I'll just decide when I get there. I just don't know if I can bring my own pedals since they have the clip and straps on their bikes (according to the pictures). Maybe they will swap pedals if I bring my own? If not I can probably just swap them easily and they wouldn't know, unless they have a way of figuring that out but I doubt it. I'll probably also bring my HRM watch along, but the computer stays home. I'll be doing some work on the bike tomorrow morning before leaving, taking the pedals and HRM off.

Anyways, I'm excited to go to the beach for the weekend. We're all busy these days that we can't go for a full week like we used to all the time, but we might get a chance to in August before the youngest (of five kids) in the family starts college (where does the time go?). I will post about my vacation Monday night.

One last thing, congratulations to Kimberly Geist for a good night of racing at the track tonight during the pro series. She got 2nd place in the Miss-and-Out race, and didn't do bad during the other races. She also earned $50 during a preme race and just barely had $20 stolen at the last second of another lap. Good Job Kim!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Tagged

So my Friend, Ron of Cozy Behive, tagged me in Six Random Things About Me. So I have to write six random things about myself.

The rules are:

Link to the person who tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Write six random things about yourself.
Tag six people at the end of your post.
Let each person know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog
Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

So here I go:

1) I dream of being a National Basketball Association (NBA) official some days

2) I have a high IQ, but am not book smart (Similar to Albert Einstein)

3) I regret never taking up cycling at an earlier age, before I got fat!

4) Tennis and Horse-Back riding have always been interesting to me, and I'd like to take up both eventually, in addition to my cycling

5) I believe in the Extra-Terrestrials and the Paranormals.

and last, but not least...

6) I have never been out of the Eastern Standard Timezone, and regret not going to England with my parents and two of my siblings when I had the opportunity to

Ok, this was tougher than I thought it would be.

Now I have to tag six people... The six people I tag are Brittney, Chris, Cycling Dude, Rebecca, SierraMTB and Bike Lane Diary.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Tour of PA RECAP

Thank you to all that have sent your messages, emails, posts about the death of my cat. I appreciate all of them!


So a week ago yesterday, I got home from the Tour of PA week, which was just an awesome experience. We arrived in Philadelphia on June 23, slept at a Crown Plaza, and went to the Memorial Park in Philadelphia on the 24th for the Prologue Time Trial and the Stage 1 Criterium. Both were fun, and we really didn't have to do much, just put up a few signs, take down a few signs, and do a number of random stuff. I got to watch most of the Criterium which was fun, and Kyle and I did watch some of the Time trials prior to that.

Then we headed to Downington and slept at a Holiday Inn, which was pretty nice. The next day we arrived to the start line of the Stage 2 road race, which ended in Carlisle. I was part of the Sign PickUp Crew as I called it. Basically we followed the race and picked up all of the signs along the way, such as the 50 KM To Go, 30 KM To Go, KOM and Sprint signs, etc. Mike and I were in charge of picking the signs up while Victor drove the truck. When we ended up in Carlisle, we transported stuff from one truck to the other as needed, helped teams unload their stuff from the Pitt Ohio trucks, and then headed to another Holiday Inn we were staying at for the next night.

Stage 3, Camp Hill to Bedford, this was just a little more than 100 miles long with 2 KOMs, 2 Sprints and 2 Feed Zones. Stage 4 went from Bedford to Latrobe, which I believe was a short day. Stage 5 was about 90-some miles, but the last 10-15 miles was ended with 3 circuits. That one went from Ligonier, through Latrobe where we finished the day before, and ended up in Pittsburgh. This was my first time in Pittsburgh. Then another criterium in Pittsburg, 50 miles as originally scheduled...

We had a tornado warning (IN PITTSBURGH?!) so the race was halted after a few races, and because it was being televised on Versus, they needed to make sure the race would continue eventually and end within the time alloted. So, for every 3 minutes the race was halted, the race officials dropped one lap. By the time the race was restarted, it was down to 18 laps, so about 10 laps were "canceled". Then the officials said that this criterium would not be counted for the whole tour, but would only count for itself. So in another sense, the race, sprint, and mountain leaders, and best young rider were all determined after the 5th stage. I thought that was stupid, but whatever. The race went on with 18 laps to go and the field split up immediately since there were a lot of riders not riding to race, but riding because they felt they needed to because of the sponsors and all with the TV being involved. I found out later when talking to some of the riders that NO ONE wanted to race anymore, they only did because it was being televised and to satisfy the sponsors. Riders were being dropped within the last 8 or so laps when they would fall back too far, and eventually it was down to, I would say, 20 or 30 riders in the main field. It came down to a sprint finish (by now the sun did stop by and dry up the road a bit) and the US National Criterium Champ, Daniel Holloway, won the criterium.

So that's my recap. I had a lot of fun and, being that I am a sport management major, I realized that THIS is the kind of stuff I want to do. Work for Pro Cycling Tour or other similar organizations and help with races, teams, etc. I hope to do an internship with Pro Cycling Tour, which has a headquarter within 2 hours of my hometown, so an internship with them is definitely not impossible for me! My supervisor, who "answers" to these guys for these races (he also helped with the Triple Crown that my friend raced in) and gave me the name, number and emails for the contact person, so I definitely have my foot in the door!

Anyways, Thank you for reading, and sorry it took so long to actually make this post. I hope to have more opportunities to do these kind of stuff, especially if I can get an internship!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

RIP Sunny

Just over an hour ago, I had to put my cat to sleep. She was a great cat and I will miss her until the day we meet again at that place beyond the sky. Vet said she probably had a stroke several days ago and that is why she wasn't able to eat, drink, or walk much the last few days. I feel bad that I wasn't there for her until I came home from the Tour of PA yesterday, and kind of mad that my mom didn't call me about it but I'm sure it was because she didn't know herself if Sunny would be OK or not.


This is a collage "banner" I made several years ago when I wanted to make my cat feel special and let her know that she is very important in my life. I'm glad I did this, I have some pictures to remember her by, including some today that were taking during her last few hours.

RIP Sunny. I love you and will miss you! You cannot be replaced...

Friday, June 27, 2008

one last thing (Tour of PA cont'd.)

I want to say that this experience has made me realized that THIS is what I want to do with my major, and I really do not have much, if any doubts about choosing Sport Management as my second degree. I'm loving this experience, and I am going to start talking to several people about a possible internship next spring. Like with some of the pro teams, some of the race organizers and other people who know people that could help me.

Tour of Pennsylvania, Mid-week Recap

I just want to say one thing. This is a very awesome experience for me. I get to see the behind-the-scenes of a bike race, and I have got to say it is a LOT of work to put together a tour and then run it, and I'm only doing less then 5% of it. Some would say "all you need to do is call the cops, make sure they'll help escort the riders, then call some sponsors to get money and stuff, then make sure the towns and cities you're going through all know what's going on, then find the riders". While all that is true, that's still only a small percentage. Now I don't know much about the details that happened prior to my actual start on Tuesday, but if what I'm doing is like this, then I can only imagine how difficult it is. Congratulations to all before me that have made this race possible, I am honored to volunteer for such a great and successful Tour of PA race.

On Tuesday was the time trial prologue and the actual first stage criterium, both in Philadelphia, (which it happens to be the same location as the Philly Phlyer's Team Time Trial and Circuit Race during my recent spring collegiate season). Both were interesting, and I got to witness most of them, the most I got to see of this tour. Wednesday was the second stage with two KOMs, 2 Sprints and a feed zone. 91 miles from Downington to Carlisle, I was in the truck behind the caravan, picking up signs along the way (you know, "50 KM to go", "30 KM to go" spring and KOM signs, etc). So I didn't get to see anything but the start of the race. This morning was a 104 miler with two KOMs, two sprints and 2 feed zones. We had to line up right before the riders took off, so I barely got to see anything. For both of the last races I was able to give my camera to someone I knew who both would see more of the races than me. Because we had an interesting KOM today, riders were dropping back and we were able to see some of them since we did a pretty good job staying in the caravan, so tomorrow I'm going to try my luck and hope that happens again so I can take a few pictures of them when we drive by any.

Tomorrow is a short race, 59.5 miles, from Bedford to Latrobe so there are no feed zones nor sprints. There are, however, two KOMs, so we still have some signs to take down. However, we should be able to stay in the caravan section for most of the race until closer to the end when we'll have more signs to pick up. Saturday we go from Ligonier through Latrobe to Pittsburgh, and then Sunday is the Circuit Race in Pittsburgh, which I can't wait because I'll have more time to watch the race then since there will be no following of the riders and stuff.

I miss riding my bike though, and seeing all of these guys about my age riding their bikes, makes me jealous!!

I'll wait until Monday when I get home for another post, stay tuned! In the meantime try to catch this race on the Versus channel and go to http://www.tourofpa.com/ for regular updates! I will probably be in a picture on http://www.dailypeloton.com/ as well, as there was a lady taking pictures and asked some of us to get together for one. I'll let you know!

Monday, June 23, 2008

Living on the road

Pretty soon I will be leaving for my friend's house before we head down towards Philadelphia for the Tour of PA. I am taking my laptop but I don't know how often I'll get to use it since I won't be able to sleep until late and have to get up pretty early each day. I have my camera but won't be able to post pictures until I get back next Monday.

Just a reminder, if you get a moment to watch it, the Tour of PA will be featured on the Versus channel from Wednesday to Saturday at 6:00 and on Sunday at 5:30. That's Eastern Standard Time (EST). I'm sure if you go to their website during the week (www.versus.com) you might be able to catch a few highlights videos.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Busy Times Now

First off, the exciting news! I will be working at the Tour of PA that is the first of its kind in the United States (or from what I've read). It is a 6-day stage race running from the 24th to the 29th. I will be taking my camera, but can't guarantee that I can take pictures if I'm working. The Tour of PA will also be on the Versus channel so if you want feel free to watch and look for me at the finish lines of each stage. Check out the Versus website for listings! I can't wait to head down to Philadelphia next Monday to start working on Tuesday. What's even better is that it goes towards Pittsburgh, eventually finishing in Pittsburgh on the last day. I can't want to see PIttsburgh, where I almost went to a school in the area (Robert Morris University).

Next... To Road Race or to Crit, that is the question. this weekend there is a Road Race on Saturday and Criterium on Sunday, both in the same area of Bloomsburg, PA. Because of gas I only want to do one or the other, if I do any, since I don't want to drive both days and don't know anyone in Bloomsburg that I could sleep at between both days. I might skip both since I need to save up some money for a concert I'm hoping to go to, and albeit both races have money rewards (I think) for Cat 5, I know my chances of winning any money is no better than 100-1.

Next... I joined a local group ride that a friend of mine has told me about. Bunch of older guys, several like to go at a slower pace while some are Tri-athletes and road racers that like to go at a faster, more serious pace. I joined the second group of guys, but we regroup often and what ends up happening is that when we regroup, us faster guys will get in the middle or behind of the slower guys for a mile or so to recover, and then we take off again. The slower guys didn't seem to mind so whatever works, right? Every Tuesdays and Thursdays, I think I'm joining them tomorrow for maybe half of the ride since I do play basketball Thursday nights. Tuesday night we left at about 5:30 and didn't get back until 8ish. I didn't get home until 8:30, I ended up doing about 42 miles total in about 2 and a half hours total (we take breaks when we regroups, one of the downsides of this group ride).

Probably the last thing for tonight, this Friday is the start of the Professional Track season at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center (formally the Lehigh Valley Velodrome) in Trexlertown, PA. My friend Kim will be racing Friday night so I'm excited to start seeing the professional race, the same night I want to be racing in 10 years or earlier. I think I would have more potential as a track racer than road.

Anyways, that's it for tonight. Tomorrow, instead of doing the Thursday night crit (expected to rain I think), I'll just stay local and do a light ride or join the group ride for 10 miles or so before turning around and heading home. Don't want to use all of my energy if I'm playing basketball later.

Next week when I'm doing the Tour of PA, I'm not sure if I'm going to have much internet time between end of day and sleep, as well as in the morning between sleeping and going to next stage race. If I can grab a few minutes during my busy week I'll make several posts next week about the stage races and my experiences. If not, expect a LOOOONG post when I get back the following weekend!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Cargas Criterium Post-Race Report

The course was a good one. two nearly-90 degree turns and the other two are more of a longer curve in the road than a turn. Uphill finish as expected by the hill profile I dug up.

I was on the trainer for 10 minutes, then got off the trainer and rode around a little. Then when the kids races were over, the course was open but the president of the club had an extra jersey he was bringing, and he showed up like 20 minutes before the scheduled race, so I had to try and pin the number on the jersey and then get everything else ready. Scheduled time was 1:20, and I was ready just before that and wanted to take a lap around before the actual start. I went up the "finishing hill" to take a lap or two, but saw that Cat 4/5 were already lining up. I had no idea and ended up in the back and knew I was screwed already.

Well, the whistle went off and I started to sprint to get my way to the front. I kept getting cut off by other riders wanting to do the same exact thing, so coming around the the base of the hill before the end of the first lap, I was in the back quarter of the field, and pushed up the hill with my teammate Aaron right next to me. I stuck with the field again, trying to move towards the front, but getting cut off again and coming around to the hill I was in the back again, but this time no such luck staying with the field and dropped off the back. I wasn't too far back until the start of the fourth lap when the field started to drop more people off the back on the hill. The biggest problem with this course was that just before the hill is one of the near-90 degree turns, and so the people in the front would speed through, and the further back you are, the more you're using your brakes, so the people in the front have a lot of momentum and the riders in the back have to push harder up the hill.

Anyways, I got lapped like 4 times, and with 5 or 6 laps to go the official started to take out anyone who were lapped or WAY out of contention, so Bob (our president) and I were pulled while Aaron did a good job staying in the field. However, he was in the back and with 4 laps to go we started shouting that he needs to get to the front now for any sort of chance. He couldn't push forward and so he finished in the back of the field, which split up on the last lap.

This was probably the WORST performance I've ever had, even worse than my very first race at Rutgers last year. There was at least one guy behind, I think he pulled himself off the course after getting lapped once. I stayed in, wanting to finish, until the official started pulling. I don't know if I'm being placed or not. I will post about that tomorrow or Tuesday, by which time the results should be posted.

This was a bad day for me, I don't know if I wasn't ready (i.e. didn't warm up or eat enough), or if it was just overall a bad day that nothing could have made it better. I think the second was the situation today, as I think I ate and drank enough, and had at least 20 minutes of warming up.

I have more work to do than I thought I did. Next week is Bloomsburg Town Park Criterium on Sunday. I think I'm opting out, taking a few weeks off from racing before the JBN race, which is one of two main focuses right now. My other is the Pottsville City Cycle 17 race.

I have some exciting news which I will keep the suspense up by waiting until later this week to post.

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Too many!

I just checked the registered riders for the Cargas Criterium, now that registrations are over. 58 riders are currently registered for the Men's Cat 4/5 race!!! Why not split it up into two different races now, since that is pretty large and I know there will be many day-of-registrations not counted for at the moment. So, I would say maybe 65-75 total???

So, first off, this is my first combined categories race if I haven't mentioned that yet, and second off it is a large field. What should I expect? I'm starting to get scared and nervous that I might end up in the middle of a pack, and may cause or become involved in a crash.

Weather is going to be nice on Sunday. Not stormy as it was expected earlier this week. Storm will come tomorrow afternoon/evening, and end in the middle of the night. Sunny and cloudy most of the day Sunday!

Post coming Sunday night or Monday, watch out for it, it might just come out of nowhere and bite you.

Friday, June 13, 2008

Thursday Night Training Series report

So last night, I finally made my way down to Trexlertown for the TNTS crit. I had no intention of going all out in this training crit, since I'm doing a criterium this weekend. I talked to the coach of our team who was doing the training crit as well and he said to just sit in, so I thought it would be that easy... HECK NO!

Right off the start people started sprinting and going hard, so I tried my best to stay towards the back of the pack. On the third lap of 15, there was a sprint (sprints are every 3 laps) and I already got off the back. By the end of the race I was lapped twice, which was pretty disappointing, but hey, it's only a training crit that cost me $5. I'll be doing the Cargas Criterium this weekend, next week I'll do the training crit again and maybe the Bloomsburg criterium that weekend.

Now, I gotta go lift at the weightroom, and go for a 2+ hour bike ride!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Cargas Criterium

So, I just signed up for the Cargas Criterium, my first USCF race this summer (late start, I know). I don't know why I registered for the race this early in the week, probably because I'm up at about 2am in the morning and really can't sleep right now and have nothing better to do. That is a problem I've been having lately, haven't been getting much sleep lately, but I won't bore you with that. I'm also hoping to kill some major time with this post!

So the criterium is this Sunday in Lancaster, PA. going to be a bit of a drive, about 1 hour and 30-40 minutes. I hope to meat my teammates halfway in the Reading area so we can carpool, since we will be coming from different directions before crossing on route 222.

Short, one mile loop, I signed up for the Cat 4/5 race. My first 4/5 combined race, I would love to see if I can beat any cat 4 riders to prove to myself that I can upgrade by the end of the summer. What's even better for me is that I will be part of a team this year and not unattached.

Anyways, we're doing 20 miles which would be 20 laps, with a short sudden climb at the end of each lap and with an uphill finish from what I can see from the hill profile. I used Sanoodi.com to determine the hill profile since the flier only gave the map of the course and location.

For this race, my main objective is not to get lapped. Second objective, top 15 finish. I have become a much better racer since last summer, and have learned about energy efficiency when racing.

Weather shows scattered storms, with 30-40% chance. Hm... I think I'll be fine. Race goes off at about 1:20, finally an afternoon criterium that I don't have to get really early for!!!

Results and my impressions Sunday evening.

Crap, only killed like 15 minutes... what to do now, I wonder..................

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Triple Crown Classics at Reading

On Thursday I got to go to Reading, PA to see the second race in the Triple Crown Classics series, sponsored by Commerce Bank. Just a post for some pictures I took

got to race about 2-3 minutes late, this picture takes place of the start picture I wanted to take

My friend Kimberly Geist (on left in blue and black) of Metro VW.

This has to be one of the best pictures I've taken in my life. I like how I managed to somehow focus on her and "blur" out the background on a simple Kodak digital camera. My friend Kim again.


This is the finish. The girl in white is Miss Ina-Yoko Teutenberg, very talented woman on the bike. Congratulations to her on beating out 4 other woman in the lead pack.

Today is the Philly race which I could not make it because of the basketball tournament I'm officiating this afternoon. My money's on Miss Ina for the win of the whole Triple Crown series.

change of plans, again

My parents decided we weren't going on vacation next weekend, rather sometime in July, so I will most likely be doing the Cargas race. I have asked off from work for the weekend from Friday to Monday for the vacation, so I can get plenty of rest and have plenty of time to be nervous haha.

Training plan for this week I am tweaking a bit than originally planned. I'm not riding today because I am officiating a basketball tournament this afternoon (two semi-finals and a championship match). I'm sure I'll be running enough for those high school level games. If I get back home in time, I might go out for a light recovery ride, or I'll try to do an hour in my room, with or without a training video (CTS Sprinting or Time Trial). Then tomorrow, one hour ride, 2 hour Wednesday, training crit on Thursday with maybe 50-70% effort, light recovery ride Friday for an hour or so, then Saturday I'll either take the day off or do some short riding around the neighborhood, maybe a few 10 second sprints and work on my cornering. I really wish I had a group to ride with in this area, pack-riding is still my worse weakness and fear.

Post on the Cargas Criterium coming this week.

Friday, May 30, 2008

I'm a working man! (EDIT 6/1)

So I did get a job, working for WIS, where I will be helping with inventory counting for multiple stores and such. The craziest thing about this job is the crazy hours! Since many of these companies prefer inventory counting to be done during non-peak hours, we need to do it like early morning or late night. So, some days I could be getting up at 2 or 3 am in the morning, going to work, then leaving to go to the store we're counting at about 4:00, could be anywhere from 1-3 hours of a drive, possibly more, then count for several hours, then drive back. the good thing is that if it is a morning job, we should be back mid to late morning, so I can just sleep for several hours and have the evening to train. There will also be nights where I may work from 5 pm to 3 am or something like that. What sucks is the driving pay... we don't get paid the first hour of the drive (company van, I think we'll be taking turn driving or something like that). My training starts on Monday.

I brought this up because now I can afford to pay for races, which I will most likely be doing my first race next weekend, the Cargas Criterium. About 1 hour 30 minute drive from my house, buy my race isn't until 1:20 (for once, in the afternoon!) so I don't have to get up AS early, but I would like to be there to watch several of the races prior to mine to get a drift of who doing what, and get an idea of the speed I should expect. When I am 100% sure that I will be doing this race (you know me, things can always come up) then I will post more about it sometime next week.

Happy end of May!

CORRECTION: The Cargas Crit is not next weekend, but the following weekend. Also, my parents were talking about going on vacation possibly that weekend, so I may not get the chance to do that race as well.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

crap, not again...

Again, I will have to miss the PSU Harrisburg Criterium. I know, I know... I promised that I would be doing it. Well, I had a little problem this week with getting a job, in that I haven't gotten any calls or interviews yet, and so I have no money now and do not feel like using my credit card to register for the race. Not yet anyways, unless something happens like tomorrow morning I get a call from Ollie's or any of the other places for an interview and get the job before 8:00 PM, in time for me to register for the race. If that happens, then I will for sure registered, but the chance of that happening is around 100:1.

To your right (if reading this web-based and not using an rss reader like Snarfer that I use) will be an updated schedule of races I plan to do. "Plan" does not equal "will do", so I can't say for 100% that I will be doing these races. If any of you are a complete fan of me and would like to see me race, please email me or write on one of my recent posts and I can let you know for sure if I'm showing up.

On the weekend of July 12 and 13, there are two races within a 50 miles drive, a road race on Saturday (12th) and crit that I missed and wanted to do last summer on Sunday (13th). I think I'm going to consider doing both on that weekend, assuming I will have a decent paying job and can afford to pay about $50 for both combined.

Track racing starts next weekend, and I still do not have a track bike. Most likely I won't be getting one on time and probably not until mid/late June or early July. So, I'm going to get a late start on the track season and will have to just use this summer as a "Start-up" and then in the fall will be the collegiate track season I might do, and then next summer I will race for real.

Ending... my best friend FINALLY got a road bike. He still won't sport the spandex sports or pocketed jerseys, nor the clipless pedals and cleats, but I think eventually he'll come around. He does not plan to race like I do, but rather just ride for fun and fitness, while still trying to keep up with me. We'll see how it goes tomorrow, when we do our first ride together with his new bike, a used 58cm (tall guy) Fuji ACE.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

new pic

As you may have noticed by now, to the right I put up a new profile picture. This was part of a team photo taken a few weeks ago at our last cycling meeting before the summer. Compared with last year's team photo, I look a lot better in shape. I still have some "chubby-ness" to take care of, but hopefully with the heart rate monitor and a solid training plan, I can lose the flab and tone up in the next three months before school restarts late August.

Couldn't ride today because of the morning rain and a banquet for my sister in the afternoon and baccalaureate for her graduating class several hours later. The weather was great in the afternoon and evening, which I wish I could have made time to ride. Tomorrow I'm supposed to do one hour of Active Recovery, but I think I'll do the two hours I was supposed to do today, with 15-30 minutes of recovery/cool-down. Lift on tuesday and back on schedule with my training plan.

On a sadder side, the Flyers lost to the Penguins (6-0) today in game 5 of the NHL playoffs and were eliminated. Next year... next year for sure.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

My heart is beating

Several things... first, my biggest news for this post:

I GOT MY HEART RATE MONITOR!

ok, so that may not be big news to everyone, but it is certainly for me. I got it yesterday and immediately set it up and went out for a ride. I noticed I'm training better, like my average speed is higher, because I'm working harder to stay within a certain zone. My stats for yesterday's ride:

Time: 2:23:05
Avg HR: 149
Max HR: 178 (for the day)
Calories: 1250+
Fat: 71g

I know the calorie count is a little low for 2+ hours, but I really wasn't pushing myself too hard for my first ride with it. Also, I'm still recovering (even today) from a lifting session on Tuesday, my second one since I've returned to lifting since January. The range I set for yesterday's ride was 156 to 174.

Next thing... NO race this weekend. I've decided not to go to Syracuse because I forgot about other plans made for this weekend, and I've decided not to do the Union Grove Road Race because I didn't want to kill myself while still being sore from lifting this week. I'm lifting today again, but will be a light one.

Next... I plan to do the Thursday Night Training Series criterium this afternoon at 5:30 in T-Town. Today I'm not going all out, so I wouldn't be surprised if I drop within 4 laps. Again, I'm still sore from the lifting and do not want to go all out. I'm also going to be playing basketball tonight at 8:00 with the guys I've been playing with since I was 17 years old.

Finally... I'll definitely be doing the Penn State Harrisburg Criterium next weekend. Unless something more important comes up this will be for sure. I'll write about it next week.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Summer Plans

I've come up with some summer plans as far as cycling and fitness goes...

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER...
1) Get to the top of the Haven Hill climb (from my house) in less than 19 minutes by end of summer (current Personal Record, 23:35 set on Tuesday, May 13)
2) Place top 10 in the Lehigh Valley Winery Criterium in Category 5, if I upgrade to 4 by then, place top 15 (In August)
3) Place top 5 in the Pottsville Cycle 17 race (non-USAC sanctioned race) with Kyle from Kutztown University (In July)
4) Place top 15 in the PSU Harrisburg Criterium (May 26)
5) Get into the 160s range for weight, and tone up like mad!

I just made all but one or two of these in my head in the last few minutes, I just wanted a reason to show off my Personal Record for the Haven Hill climb, and to set a goal of 19 minutes or less... then I thought of a few other goals as well... I'm sure I can reach the 4-5 minutes difference in the 3 months. It take about 10 minutes to get to the base of the climb, which I'm sure can be shortened up a bit with a bit more speed on the way there. So yeah, 19 minutes is definitely do-able.

This weekend there is a Syracuse Race Weekend with 3 stages; a road race, TT and crit. Kyle from Kutztown U. is going so I asked him if I could tag along and I'm waiting for him to get back to me. If I can, I may consider going with him. It will certainly be fun and challenging. The road race is a bit scary, with a wall-like climb according to the hill profile provided. Anyways, I'll post more about that. If I don't do that I might doe the Union Grove Road Race on Saturday...

Sunday, May 11, 2008

we've gone through all 4 seasons at least 3 times in the last 2 weeks

In Northeast US, we've seriously had it all in the last 2 or 3 weeks. This morning I wake up feeling good and I have decided that I want to race. I get on the computer and check weather.com and see that right now it's not even 40 degrees... IN THE MIDDLE OF MAY!!! And by the time of my race (8:30), it won't even be 60 degrees.

Normally I wouldn't let this bother me, but the reason it is bothering me is because of my car's air control not working properly and I can't get heat or A/C at all. Sometimes no air even comes out. So, I would be pretty much freezing the whole drive there until the sun shines brightly in through my car's windows. Maybe AFTER the race the car would be toasty.

I've decided, only because of the weather, that I'm opting out. I'm pretty pissed since I've already paid my $25 plus the $2.70 bikereg fee and I'm sure I'm not getting my money back if I ask for a refund. Most places won't unless for a good reason (i.e. got injured the night before). I'd be laughed at if I say because it's too cold for my car to drive.

Next week is the Union Grove Road Race near Lancaster, I don't know if I'm ready to do a road race right now. Yes, I know I've done road races during the collegiate season, but I'm on my "break" right now. I'll look around to see if any other races are going on, usually the Hellertown Crit would be happening next week but that was canceled this year.

I'm going back to bed, getting up in an hour or so and then going out for a ride. Good night...

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Envelope please...

After constant debating, I have just signed up for the BoB Rodale Fitness Park Criterium. My reasoning, I didn't want to do anything Saturday except maybe do a light ride, after having such a killer semester. I missed the New Bethlehem Criterium last year, and I guess I'm going to have to miss it again this year, which is this coming Saturday. Maybe next year I will get to do it.

The course is pretty simple, mostly flat with one sudden, quick climb with a slow downhill afterwards. This will be the same exact course as the Thursday Night Training Series criterium that I've done several times already. I didn't get to do it last night, I was quite busy.

I'm quite nervous actually, because I crashed in this last year during one of the training crits, and since this will be an actual race, people will be more aggressive. I'm just going to try and stay on the outside and towards the front for most of the race.

My race is at 8:30, so the only downside is I have to get up at 6ish and be out the door by 6:45ish. Results post on sunday night!

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

A Whole New Season

The collegiate season has ended over a week ago at Dartmouth, I'll be done with school for the summer on Friday before lunchtime. Staying on campus Friday night to hang out, maybe party, with my friends, and then going home Saturday. I can't wait.

This weekend, most likely, will be the start of my 2008 USCF season. There is the New Bethlehem Criterium on Saturday, and the BoB Rodale Fitness Park Criterium on Sunday. I'm debating which one of the two to do, or if I should do both or neither. I'd like to do at least one, and my thinking is that the semester is ending on Friday for me, and I'd like to have a day off from life in general. Just sit around, watch TV, maybe a short, easy bike ride on Saturday. Not have to think about a damn thing! That sounds nice, and then to start my season in T-Town at the fitness park, the same location for the Thursday Night Training Series that I've done twice already, and am debating whether to do it this Thursday or not, with a final Friday morning.

I need to sign up for either or both races by Thursday night, if I plan to do any. I'm going to sleep on it tonight and tomorrow night, and decide Thursday what I should do. Any inputs would be great! I will post Thursday or Friday what I've decided to do.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Dartmouth Road Race

The Men's D category went off a few minutes late. I was doing pretty well for about 12 miles, keeping with the field. Everyone was together but that was because the first lap we weren't going anymore than 15 miles average, which I was getting impatient. However, I couldn't do anything because I was near the back of the field. I kept trying to work my way up to the front, but there were too many riders, and the yellow-line rule was in effect of course.

Then, unexpectedly, when we were just starting the second lap the field started speeding up, and I was caught offguard by that and before I realized fully what was happening I was already 10-15 seconds behind with no chance to catch up. I kept focusing on this one guy ahead of me that was dropped shortly after me, but couldn't catch up to him for a while. So I just rode on my own for a while.

The Women's B category, which started about 10 minutes after the Men's D, caught up to me, with a leader pack of 4, and a chase group of 10 or so that my teammate Christina was in. They passed me, and a girl who was trying to chase the first chase group caught up to me, and I rode with her. Then it just kept adding on, more girls caught up, we caught up to more girls, etc. at one point when it was like 5 or 6 of us, I saw two riders ahead of me and I was just hoping they were Men's D, so I broke away from the Women's group I was with and caught up to them. It turned out to be a Men's D rider and a Women's B rider. So I stayed with them until the group I was in caught up, and I told them that we should catch on to the back. Well, they dropped right away and so I kept up with the girls I was with previously. After that, the pack kept growing, and it got up to 10 or so of us working a pace line. I actually did pretty well, keeping up with them for the rest of the race and working with them. Then, when there was 5 miles left I just stayed a few bike lengths behind them because I didn't know if there were still places left for points, and didn't know when one of the girls would make a break for it, or when the sprinting would start. I didn't want to get in anyone's way.

I got 54th out of 55 that finished (63 started), my worse placing of the season, but still one of my best performances. I say this because I actually learned to ride in a pack of riders, even though it wasn't with riders in my own field.

This was the last weekend of the ECCC Conference. Overall DeSales University is in 8th place for Division 2. We were 10th before this weekend which is AWESOME!

After next week (Finals week) I'm going to really get down on my training, avoid the cars, and come back stronger and better next year.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Dartmouth Criterium

The criterium course was very technical... so technical that riders were over-using their brakes being psyched out by the 4th turn that was a sharp left turn at the base of a short climb.

I was feeling fine before the race, I was on the trainer for 10-20 minutes, then rode around for a little. We also got to take a lap around the course before lining up at the start/finish line. Before the start I was starting to feel a little sick, and thought it was just the nervous butterflies. I was wrong... I just kept getting worse during the race and after the first lap I was behind. I did 4 or 5 laps with 2 other guys that kept using their brakes, and I had very little opportunities to pass them except on the hill, which I would do but then I'd be dead for a few seconds, enough for them to catch up to me. We eventually were out of contention and the officials dropped us out. I did get placed though, 32 out of 35 that finished, atleast 40 that started.

I started to feel a little better, but still had the puke-y feeling for a bit. Then, before Scott's race Kim, Christiana and I went to Boloco for something to eat... the food kind of helped but I still wasn't feeling too much better. After Scott's race I went back to the van, changed out of my uniform and slept for a bit. I was feeling better, but still had a headache. I still have it now as I type, so I'm about to go take a nap before I do some school work.

Tomorrow is the Road Race. We're leaving the motel at 5:45, do the one hour drive to the road race location, and then give myself atleast an hour before my race at 8:00. 36 miles, 3 loops with a climb. I hope to finish in 1:45 or less.

I won't be getting back until REALLY late tomorrow night, so no post until Monday most likely.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Dartmouth Weekend

The four of us, Kim, Christina, Scott and myself, just arrived at a Motel 8 in Vermont, about 10 minutes from our criterium location tomorrow morning. This weekend, there is a Team Time Trial, Criterium and Road Race. The TTT and Criterium are tomorrow. Due to lack of riders in same category, we are not doing the TTT. The first Criterium race is mine, at 11:05, which is nice for a change since now we don't have to get up until later. I believe we're planing to leave at like 9:15 or so, so we can be sure I have enough time to get ready for my race.

The course is 3/4 mile long per lap, and my race will be going for 30 minutes. Some technical turns as mentioned in the race flier, but no mention of any hills or flats, so I'm hoping to get there early enough to take a few laps before the first race at 10:25 goes off. My plan, just stick with the peloton, hopefully finish top 20. As of now, only 29 confirmed racers, but I'm expecting it to be more as usual, since some do not register until day-of race.

I will talk more about the Road Race tomorrow night, when I post about the criterium results and my opinions...

Last note, please pray for my friend's son, 14 years old, who was hit by a car yesterday. He was life-lifted by helicopter, and according to local papers was still in the Emergency Room at 9 P.M. last night. I haven't heard anymore about it. My prayers and love go out to the family who I have known for a long time.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

New Uniform pictures

Here are two pictures of my uniform, which I have a large jersey, medium jersey and two medium shorts for each. The first one is my Large shirt with Medium shorts.


This next one is me in my Medium jersey and the same Medium shorts.


I know my head was "chopped" off by the camera... I have yet to master the art of timing-pictures of myself.

Dartmouth this weekend, I can't wait. Will post about that Wednesday or Thursday night when I have time!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Retired

No, I didn't retire from cycling, I've only just started!

I've retired my first DeSales University uniform from racing, after doing a training race in T-Town on Thursday. Our new uniforms (jersey and shorts set) have finally come in this past week and I got both of mine that I ordered on Friday. I'm very excited now to finally look like a pro when racing, since my last uniform was in a crash last year at about this time in the same training race, and I had to race in the torn up, falling apart jersey since then because I didn't think to order a second set.

I will still train/ride in my original jersey and shorts if I manage to go through all of my other jerseys and shorts between wash cycle. I'm still waiting on my Team Vortex uniform (including a jacket!), which is actually not expected until end of June, early July because of backed-up orders at Verge... HURRY IT UP VERGE!

Pictures will come, if anyone is interested...

Monday, April 14, 2008

Boston Beanpot Classic, Part 2

I wanted to post last night, but when I got back to the campus I was too tired I went to sleep right away.

The criterium course... 6 turns, a left, left, left, right, left and left series with a power climb prior to the last turn. there's 2 blocks of a stretch between the last turn and the first turn of the next lap. The second turn was the bad, since it was a 90-degree left turn after a downhill. Also, you were going from a larger street to a little-bit-narrower street. Dangerous, especially when it rained for an hour or so.

So the race... I started too far back in the field. I was in the 3rd or 4th row when the official blew his whistle, and I tried to get up close to the front before the first turn. Wasn't successful, but I kept with the field for a few laps before getting dropped off the back with several other riders. The pack pretty much blew up. Anyways, out-of-contention riders were getting pulled and I got pulled 5 or 6 laps in, but I was given a place because where I got pulled I was pretty much in a steady place, even though I know I could've caught up and passed several other riders. Anyways, I got 48th out of 50 that "finished", 59 started the race.

Overall, I did better this year than last year. I'd like to go to Boston again next year in hope to finish stronger than I did this past weekend. Kim got 5th in the Road Race and 7th in the Criterium. I wish I could produce good results like her!

No race for DeSales University next year, we don't want to drive to UVM. The following weekend is the last weekend for the conference, the ECCC finals, at Dartmouth. Next two weeks are going to be very bust for me with school work, training, ref'ing, and finding time to hang out with friends, even for 10 minutes or so.

Several posts in the next 2 weeks probably, I will be doing the training crit if I have time and could write about that. Tomorrow will be a training ride with the team, the first of its kind that is actually SCHEDULED by the team! I can't wait cause I'm sick of riding by myself, I don't get as motivated! Anyways, I'm off to the library shortly, thanks for reading!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Boston Beanpot Classic, Part 1

Today was a weird day...

At about 10:45 we were ready to head off for the 26 miles Road Race. I had my leg and arm warmers on, and an under armour shirt. It was in the 30s, maybe 40s. About halfway through the first lap (13 miles per lap), the temperature shot up to, I would say, the 70s! And it wasn't like it went from 40-something to 50-something, and so on... it literally went from cold to hot in a matter of minutes! I was ripping my arm-warmers and gloves off, and roasting in the under armour and leg-warmers. oh yeah, I also had my toe-warmers on over my shoes, which was affecting me!

Anyways, the start was weird... the pace car kept speeding up, then slowing down, repeatedly. it was confusing everyone. Also, some of the riders still don't know how to ride in a pack, there was constant breaking, shifting of the bikes from side to side, etc.

I kept up with the whole field pretty well. A few riders have dropped every now and then but I stayed with the pack for the first, I'd say, 7-9 miles. Then I just started dropping back slowly with a few other riders. I've got to learn to increase my pain tolerance, because one thing I know is that once I get over the initial pains that I feel towards the beginning of the races, I'm good for the rest of the race. I noticed that the hill climbs were a lot easier the second time around... is it just me or does this go for many people?

Anyways, so I get dropped and I'm constantly picking several people off to chase after and then pass. I caught up to a guy from Yale towards the end of the first lap, I pretty much rode with him the whole second lap. We kept together, working to catch several riders, and then usually they were going too slow so we would just draft off of them for a few minutes and then take off after the next guy. We did pretty well. However, Yale got tired or something on the one climb that I was going too fast for him, so "oh well" I thought and proceeded on my own after the next guy. Caught up to him with about 3-4 miles left before the finish, and Yale caught up to us on a downhill. I rode with these two guys until about a mile left, when I was leading the line of the three of us. I was leading and at about a mile left, I looked back to see they weren't with me anymore, so I just took off making sure they weren't catching me. At the finish I almost got hit by a car because the idiot cop/traffic-director had no clue what to do. He let this car, that I was about to pass, go ahead of me, so he cuts me off to get around this car that was turning left at the final intersection before the finish, and I shout out to the cop "what the heck, I'm trying to finish" then I thought "IDIOT!" to myself (not me, the cop is an idiot).

I finished 73 out of 79 that finished, 88 that started. I know I usually have complaints, or I start pointing the finger at people and/or things that happen, but this time, the finger's pointing at me. I should have tried to fight through the pain to keep with the peloton. Nothing else happened that made me drop off the pack. Other than that, this was one of my best road race performances. When I got back to the car after the race, there were no helmet thrown, no bike being shoved into the ground or anything like that... I just got back, put my bike on the trainer, and did my cooldown with a smile. Yeah, my results weren't impressive, but I felt really good at the finish, because I had a personal best.

Tomorrow is the Crit, results when I get back to school tomorrow night! Thanks for reading!

Inspirational

Yesterday when I was at the school's library, I went to check my email and found an email from my mom. She "subscribes" to dailythoughts.org which obviously sends you THOUGHTS in your email DAILY. Anyways, the DailyThought for yesterday she felt like I would like it, and she was right.

This is the first time I've seen this quote from Lance Armstrong, as I've been trying to keep up with all of his because he is my idol. I called my mom and told her that this has motivated me more for the Boston Beanpot Classic this weekend, which I am about to eat my power breakfast for after this post.
Thanks Mom!

Friday, April 11, 2008

False sense of Spring

I got my wish from the post several days, Spring has visited us for the past two days... however the next 2-4 days are supposed to be pretty crappy with rain and all... hopefully after that Spring will make its full appearance.

Today was a great day to be sunny and warm. Nearing the 70s, there was a training crit today that is held every Thursday from Spring to Fall. Last week was the first week but I did not get a chance to go. I made myself go today though because of the nice weather. I also got my wish of not only racing without leg-warmers, but I also raced with nothing covering my arms and fingerless gloves! Great day for riding!

Not much to say about the training crit though... since I didn't go all out. I was leading the first lap until the final turn when a few guys attacked... I kept up with the increasing speed for a bit but my main purpose for today was to train (hence a training crit) for the Boston weekend. Some of the guys take it too seriously, and the only prize is at the end of the month a free pizza from Pizza Hut or something like that to the highest point-maker. I got lapped twice, the second time was just at the end of the final lap, as expected, again because I didn't go all out. I could've done a lot better but I just wanted to ride in a racing setting to prepare for Boston.

Dear Spring,

Thanks for showing up finally, I hope you show up for good until Summer after the next few days of rain! Also, be good to me in the Boston area this weekend.

Yours Truly,
Zach

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Boston Beanpot Classic

This weekend I have waited for all season. The Boston Beanpot Classic in Massachusetts, I can't wait!

Only two of us are going, Kim and myself. So I'm going to have to really step it up this weekend to try and help Kim bring in points, even though we're already guaranteed a lot of points with her racing (knock on wood).

On Saturday are the Team Time Trial and Road Race. Obviously with just two of us there will be no TTT for us this weekend so I won't say anything about that. Last year I didn't get to finish the Road Race because of a flat tire about half way through the race.

The Road Race; 13 mile loop, a gradual climb near in the first half of the course, a steep climb at the 8th mile... gonna be somewhat challenging but I'm going to try my best to stay with the peloton or leaders. Men's D-2 does 2 loops for 26 miles, I'm shooting for under 1:45. We go off at about 10:45 so I'll be able to get a decent night of sleep. Kim goes off at 2:10 for 4 laps. Gonna be a long day for just the two of us.

On Sunday is the Criterium. I liked this crit course last year, long, flat start/finish stretch with a challenging climb. I feel confident in this one, since I know my climbing is better than some others in the Men's D field. Men's D-2 goes at 8:45 for 18 laps. Kim's Women's A race goes off at 1:45 for 35 laps, another long day for just the two of us.

Results and Comments on Saturday for the Road Race and Sunday for the Crit.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Dear Spring,

It's April and I'm still wearing my leg-warmers not able to break a sweat. Please come visit soon.

Yours truly,
Zach

Saturday, April 5, 2008

West Point = Beautiful, Race Results = NOT

This was a bad weekend for DeSales University. Jon, Sean and I just were not feeling it today. However, I must say West Point is very beautiful and I wish I had my camera with me to take some pictures!

Team Time Trial
We had a good start, and were rotating very well. I just couldn't hack the climbs though, and Jon and Sean kept pulling away from me. Then we learn from a UVM group that only 2 need to finish, so Jon and Sean took off without me. I'd like to make a request... ECCC NEEDS TO GET THEIR RULES STRAIGHT! I read on Thursday in the rulebook online that 3 needs to finish for the TTT. Then I went to the race official after the TTT to see what the rules were and they said only 2 needed to finish up to Men's A, which needs 3 to finish. Contradicting facts people!

Circuit Race
Men's Intro for Sean, he had a great start after the two "coached" laps. Then coming up to the climb as leader at the end of the first lap his shifter breaks or something while in a larger gear, so he was pushing a heavier gear up the hill, dropping behind and just disqualified himself. Jon and I didn't have much better fate. Right off the start of the race we were doing ok keeping with the main group, and then on the one road the pace car was going like 12-15 mph, slowing everyone down which I can't understand why. Then we made the right turn up the short, steep climb and there was a crash right in the middle that Jon and I were behind. I lost my momentum as did a few others, and a lot of us fell behind. I didn't know that Jon was in front of me, also behind the crash, and he dropped out after this crash because it took a lot of us out of contention and the officials were going to drop anyone too far behind because of the narrow roads and stuff. I ended up being in last place so I dropped out as well after coming around to the parking lot. We were all very pissed and disappointed that we just packed up our stuff, and left.

Someone please explain to me how do you freakin' crash on a climb going like 5-10 mph! Then I saw one of the guys' wheel was popped off when passing him. Did he not check the skewer before the race or something? Is there any other way the wheel could pop off in a race besides not tightening the skewer enough?

Then I get a speeding ticket in New Jersey, which I have no idea how I'm going to drive back to Mahwah, NJ to appear in court for it. As if I wasn't already having a bad day, cops gotta piss me off now to make it worse!

Boston next week people, I'm training hard early this week for that. Post later this week...

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Army Weekend

This Saturday, Jon, Sean and I will be heading to West Point (in New York) for a team time trial and circuit race. I was the only rider that would have been able to go to West Point on Sunday, and I decided I wasn't going by myself.

The Team Time Trial, I have no idea if we're doing Men's D or Intros. Jon and I are D, Sean is intro, so since the majority of us is D I would say we're doing D. Sean is a strong rider so I'm sure we'll do good in D, but if we want to guarantee to bring points back to the team I say we do intro since there probably will only be 2 or 3 teams and I'm sure we could do first.

The Course is 7.5 miles on Route 293 with one turnaround, we should be able to get a good time.

The circuit race, later in the day, should be fun. Intros start at 9:30 for Sean, and then Men's D are right after for Jon and me. We should be done with the day by 10:45, which would mean we could be back at DeSales University by 1. Another short day like Columbia, I can't wait!!

The circuit race course is 2.07 miles long loop, rolling terrains with a short but steep climb "to test the warrior within" (as described in race flier). Will be interesting to see this climb!

Results and my comments saturday night, watch out for them!