Margaritas Make Your Legs Rubbery

Note to self (and the rest of the world): Margaritas are not a good pre-ride beverage. Last night we were fortunate enough to spend some time with some of our neighbors. One family invited the younger playgroup set over for taco night. And, apparently, taco night isn't complete without margaritas and sangria. And our hostess was talking and distracted while pouring at least the first of my two margaritas. The two corona lights probably didn't help, either. Anyway, Greg and I still did ok on the greg loop:

dst: 37.8 miles
time: 1.55.14
av: 19.6 mph

we just didn't make much progress on our 21mph goal on this loop.

Asinine!

I just read this article by Mike Imrem of Chicago's Daily Herald. Essentially, he minimizes Lance Armstrong's accomplishments in order to support his notion that "Top Athletes Don't Ride Bicycles". I don't even know where to begin, but hurriedly tried to send the following email:

I haven't heard the claims that LA is the world's greatest athlete. Even if there were claims to this effect, I don't see the need to tear down the man, his sport, or his accomplishments in order to push your clearly pro-contact sport views. Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of both cycling and football -- American football. Yes, it is possible. But to tear down LA's achievements because you claim he couldn't take a single hit in pro football and therefore is not a top athlete is akin to saying that a Ferrari or a Porsche is not a world-class car because it could not win a collision with a Hummer. Different competitions -- athletic or otherwise -- require different skill sets. Given RW's success in pro football, I would argue that he has a high percentage of fast-twitch muscle fiber, which in fact, would make it very difficult for him to hang with the boys on Le Tour for very long IF at all. He just would not have the endurance. The professionals riding in the Tour average over 25 mph on most stages, I doubt RW could maintain 15 mph over 100 miles. This, however, does not mean that he is not a top athlete. LA is a top athlete, perhaps not THE top athlete, but I do not think anyone could make that claim.

The email couldn't get through, his mailbox is full. Apparently he's pissed off a bunch of people.

GV Crit -- 7/29/04

Rode out to the GV Crit last night. Arrived 30 minutes late for the 6:00PM start. It's all right though, as I had good work in getting there and sometimes my betrothed cannot get home in time, which is fine, at least I'm able to get out. Recovery seems to be getting a little better. Was able to play more off the front this time than the last, but did end up sitting out a lap. So better, but still plenty of room for improvement. Noticed Andy Neumann in the pack and got to speak with him for a while. A good dude who I haven't seen in too long a time. On the ride home, again had good work.

dst: 43.23 miles
av: 21.1 mph
time: 2.02.57

Arriving at GV, pace was 20.1mph over 10 miles. After race pace was 23.0 at about 33 miles.

Victory Ride -- Reuther Flats

Small group on the victory ride tonight. A lot of faces I've never seen before. Roads pretty wet from previous rain. Group kept getting broken up around things like railroad tracks and expansions joints, mostly I think because people weren't used to or confident in each other. Led the group up the last half off the climb up to Northbrook pretty hard, just past Northbrook Bob flats. He had nothing with him so I stopped to help. We finished pretty hard into Dtown, then easy back to WC.

dst: 36.06
av: 17.5
time: 2.03.28

Fuel 95 Christened

Took the new Trek Fuel 95 over to French Creek with Dave and Curt. Rode about 1.5 hours. Full suspension is pretty amazing. I'd long been a skeptic and/or old skool hold-out. Not wanting mountain biking to become moto-cross without engines. But I'm a pretty solid convert now. Don't get me wrong, I still believe in earning your downhills, in fact, I almost prefer climbing to descending. What really impressed me about the full-suspension was actually its ability to make the rear wheel hook up on the wet and slippery and ultra-technical stuff at French Creek. Many thanks to the John and Kara at Immersion Research for their assistance in selecting and obtaining this ride. Visit them to check out their awesome whitewater clothing and accessories.

time: ~1.5 hours

Afterward, I had some help cleaning it off.

Tried WCCC -- Not for me (this day anyway)

dst: 38.3 miles
time: 2.01.38
av: 18.9 mph

riding out of my 'hood, i realized that i'd have time to hook up with the WCCC. when i got to the aloha cafe, i didn't see any of my boys, so i just hung in the crowd, comtemplating whether to enjoy a solo ride or not. after a minute or two, i finally saw scott. trying to get through the sea of people seemed futile. i figured i'd catch up as we got started. someone yelled that the "A" ride was leaving in one minute. the sea of people spilled somewhat dangerously and irresponsibly into the road. rather than add to the chaos, i figured i'd just wait an hook up with scott after we got started. when i got to the front, there was no scott. i must have somehow gotten hooked up with the "B" ride. as i drifted back looking for a graceful way to cut out, the group started to roll through a stop sign where cross traffic does not have to stop. three or four just rolled right into oncoming traffic without warning those behind (i.e. "car left"). nothing. fortunately, the group did stop and no one was hurt. once through this intersection and another, i accelerated off the front and never saw them again.

Encouragement on Victory Ride

Victory Ride -- 7/21/2004
rode out the normal spot and circled until the group came up. when they turned the corner all i could see were bean's jerseys -- actually there were two others but at first glance it was bean's team -- and noticeably fewer guys than normal. they were moving and it was intimidating. i got on and hung on until the hill up to north brook. i lost contact about 2/3 up the hill. part of me wanted to turn around, go home and lick my wounds. the more tenacious part of me won out and I persevered on the route. just before reaching 82, the rest of the group, essentially everyone else except the bean's crew, came rolling up on me. i finished the ride into Dtown with this group. Which is an improvement. Usually, I get dropped by everyone. Now just the very fastest are dusting me. Encouragement! Sweet.

time: 1.47.15
dst: 33.69 miles
av: 18.8 mph

even more than usual, av is artificially low. in addition to low speed waiting for the group, spent additional slow time riding to library to return book on the way to meeting spot. even at that av was 19.7 in Dtown, riding solo with moderate-hard effort back to WC av dropped off considerably.

considering a HRM. any of the three people who read this have any recommendations? i was considering the Polar 520 with the cadence option, but recently read some reviews of the 720 which were less than glowing concerning Polar's wireless cadence sensor. thoughts?

Greg Loop and Then Some

with Greg did the regular Greg ride with a 20 mile loop added on. Climbing up SoChesCo's rolling hills, I could not push the images of George Hincapie leading the Postal train up La Mongie out of my head. Clearly, any similarities are only in my head, but its good to be inspired.
 
dst: 65.53 miles
av: 19.6 mph
time: 3.20.11

Great Valley Crit

Rode over to GV from WC. ~10 miles. The group (at least 50) was already cranking around the loop. Jumped in and just hung out trying to get a feel for how things work. Seemed so slow (despite sometimes reaching 30+ mph) sitting in the middle to back of the pack. Started to work my way up and then eventually went off the front with two Bean's guys. After a couple of pulls I lost touch with them though and got eaten up by the pack, and then dropped by the pack. Guess I need to work on recovery after hard efforts. Moderate effort on the way back to WC.
 
dst:  46.53 miles
time:  2.09.36
av:  21.5 mph
 
 

Ventured Inland

Went inland for a bit, then through Stone Harbor and Avalon.
dst: 40 miles
av:  20.4mph
Very windy today, but felt good up until a bug hit my helmet and dropped into my partially unzipped jersey, then proceeded to bite me no less than 3x. For the next 30 minutes or so, I could just imagine the venom coursing through my viens. Fortunately, I was riding toward Cape May hospital anyway. More fortunately, I was completely fine.

Family Ride

Started the ride on the promenade in SIC. The boy child rode his bike the lenght of the promenade and then down on the street to 63rd street where we locked his bike up. With both kids in tow in the Chariot, we ventured over the bridge between Sea Isle and Avalon. We played at the park in Avalon for about 40 minutes, then loaded the crew up again. My betrothed pedaled solo while I pulled the kids. Ended up going down Dune Dr. to its end and then back again.
 
dst: 20 miles
av: 10 mph  (lots of waiting on the promenade for a certain young man.)

Cape May Courthouse, SH, Avalon, Strathmere

dst: 37 miles

Cape May Courthouse, Stone Harbor, Avalon

dst: ~35miles