Faithful reader(s),
I have moved this blog to a much more prestigious address: www.DennyYunk.com. Please stop by for a visit. Don't mind the guard pugs. They're not as vicious as they appear.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
New blog?
Hey there. Been awhile. If you're hip to Twitter and Facebook, you know I'm still around, just in different parts of the Internet. My interest is turning back towards blogging, though. I've got an idea for a new blog (or a new direction for this blog) that reflects my changing focus, from road racing to a broader spectrum of competitive and non-competitive riding.
In a nutshell, I've been racing less this year but riding more and having a lot more fun on the bike. I've gotten back into mountain biking, and I've been commuting to work about two or three times per week. Kelley has become a very strong rider, and we ride together most Sundays, often leaving from her parents' house near Holy Hill.
If I make good on my intentions, my future posts will relate to racing, training, and transportation; mountain biking, road biking, and touring; rides, tips, and maybe even some product reviews. I haven't decided yet whether I'll keep it here on Blogger or if I'll switch over to Wordpress. I'm trying to come up with a catchy name right now. It's slow going, but I've already drafted some new posts that will help me set my direction and hopefully aid in the naming process.
Meanwhile, if you've never been to the Rivendell Bicycle Works site, go there now and read anything in the "Read" section. I don't agree with 100% of Grant's "velosophy", but there's a lot of truth there that you won't find on other bike companies' websites. While you're there, if you're feeling generous, I'd love an A. Homer Hilson in size 55. I'd also be quite satisfied with a 52cm Sam Hillborn (in orange, please).
In a nutshell, I've been racing less this year but riding more and having a lot more fun on the bike. I've gotten back into mountain biking, and I've been commuting to work about two or three times per week. Kelley has become a very strong rider, and we ride together most Sundays, often leaving from her parents' house near Holy Hill.
If I make good on my intentions, my future posts will relate to racing, training, and transportation; mountain biking, road biking, and touring; rides, tips, and maybe even some product reviews. I haven't decided yet whether I'll keep it here on Blogger or if I'll switch over to Wordpress. I'm trying to come up with a catchy name right now. It's slow going, but I've already drafted some new posts that will help me set my direction and hopefully aid in the naming process.
Meanwhile, if you've never been to the Rivendell Bicycle Works site, go there now and read anything in the "Read" section. I don't agree with 100% of Grant's "velosophy", but there's a lot of truth there that you won't find on other bike companies' websites. While you're there, if you're feeling generous, I'd love an A. Homer Hilson in size 55. I'd also be quite satisfied with a 52cm Sam Hillborn (in orange, please).
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Training Philosophy: Having Fun
Riding a bike is fun. If it weren't, kids wouldn't do it. So why do adult cyclists frequently suffer burnout? I think it's got a lot to do with poor goal-setting, and the work we undertake in order to meet our self-imposed expectations.
Like I wrote earlier, it's important to have meaningful goals, and to work hard towards them. But come on - nobody reading this is making a living racing their bike. It's our hobby, so if it's not fun, what's the point?
With this in mind, here's a list of ways I've found to make riding fun. If you've got more, leave a comment.
Like I wrote earlier, it's important to have meaningful goals, and to work hard towards them. But come on - nobody reading this is making a living racing their bike. It's our hobby, so if it's not fun, what's the point?
With this in mind, here's a list of ways I've found to make riding fun. If you've got more, leave a comment.
- Ride with someone you care about. Go at a pace that's comfortable for them.
- Ride a bike that forces you to go slowly - a cruiser, a clunker, or whatever's available.
- Ride somewhere new. (Find a route on MapMyRide.com.)
- Ride to an interesting destination.
- Bring a camera and take pictures during a ride.
- Leave your computer/power meter/GPS device at home.
- Ride farther than you've ever ridden before.
- Do spontaneous intervals of indeterminate duration and intensity. Just enjoy going fast.
- Go to a race and just spectate. You'll remember how much fun it is to be in the action.
- Go on a night ride.
- Ride a route you haven't done in a long time.
- Ride to work.
- Ride in the rain.
- Try a different type of riding - road, MTB, BMX, cyclocross, time trial, touring, track, whatever. Just don't start running and swimming. That's a slippery slope...
Friday, January 30, 2009
Training Philosophy: Key Workouts
As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've struggled with training programs that were too detailed and regimented. I seldom actually managed to do the prescribed workouts, so I was in a constant state of catch-up and readjustment.
Once I began targeting specific racing goals, I realized that my training program didn't have to be so complicated. Last year, since my main goal was a time trial, I made sure to get out on the TT bike once a week for a hard, race-pace workout. If I could only ride once in a particular week, that was the ride I'd do. Beyond that, I took whatever threshold-level intensity I could get on solo and group rides. And beyond that, I rode as often as I could, just for the fun of it.
Since I plan on doing a number of crits and road races before this year's national championships, I'll do more short, high-intensity intervals than I did last year. The weekly TT ride will still be a priority, but I won't adhere to it quite as rigidly as I did last year. When I do race, I'll try to get in breakaways, which of course are a great way to build threshold power.
After Masters Nats, I'll shift my focus to mountain bike races. My limiter there has always been endurance, and especially leg cramps. Consequently, I'll do my best to get out for one long ride per week - either 2+ hours on the mountain bike or 3+ hours on the road bike.
Finally, if I still have the motivation, I'll go back to short, high-intensity training to prepare for the fall cyclocross season. While a 'cross race couldn't be much less like a time trial, both require dedicated, race-specific workouts in order to become competitive.
So, the message here is this: once you've set your goals, figure out the workout that will most effectively prepare you for your target event. Do that workout at least once a week, and make it count. Having done that, look for ways to incorporate similar, goal-specific work into two or three other training rides that week. If you're fortunate to be able to ride more still, make sure it's the adult equivalent of recess, not extra homework.
Once I began targeting specific racing goals, I realized that my training program didn't have to be so complicated. Last year, since my main goal was a time trial, I made sure to get out on the TT bike once a week for a hard, race-pace workout. If I could only ride once in a particular week, that was the ride I'd do. Beyond that, I took whatever threshold-level intensity I could get on solo and group rides. And beyond that, I rode as often as I could, just for the fun of it.
Since I plan on doing a number of crits and road races before this year's national championships, I'll do more short, high-intensity intervals than I did last year. The weekly TT ride will still be a priority, but I won't adhere to it quite as rigidly as I did last year. When I do race, I'll try to get in breakaways, which of course are a great way to build threshold power.
After Masters Nats, I'll shift my focus to mountain bike races. My limiter there has always been endurance, and especially leg cramps. Consequently, I'll do my best to get out for one long ride per week - either 2+ hours on the mountain bike or 3+ hours on the road bike.
Finally, if I still have the motivation, I'll go back to short, high-intensity training to prepare for the fall cyclocross season. While a 'cross race couldn't be much less like a time trial, both require dedicated, race-specific workouts in order to become competitive.
So, the message here is this: once you've set your goals, figure out the workout that will most effectively prepare you for your target event. Do that workout at least once a week, and make it count. Having done that, look for ways to incorporate similar, goal-specific work into two or three other training rides that week. If you're fortunate to be able to ride more still, make sure it's the adult equivalent of recess, not extra homework.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Training Philosophy: Setting Meaningful Goals
In my last post, I summarized my training philosophy in three points: setting meaningful goals, focusing on key workouts, and having fun. In this post, I'll develop the concept of setting meaningful goals.
I've been racing for about 15 years. I've done mountain bike races, cyclocross races, road races, criteriums, and time trials. I even did one duathlon just to remind myself how much better riding is than running. That variety is one of great aspects of our sport. It has allowed me to set and achieve a number of meaningful and challenging goals.
We all know that goal-setting is important. What I think gets overlooked, though, is the importance of setting meaningful goals. A meaningful goal is one that, if accomplished, is worth more than the sacrifice required to accomplish it. Too many people have pursued competitive success at the expense of more valuable things like relationships, careers, financial wellbeing, and their health. Don't let cycling take any of those things away from you.
Here's an example from my own experience. One of the most challenging goals I've ever set for myself was a top performance in the time trial at last year's Masters National Championships. Before I decided to make it a goal, I calculated the cost of the equipment I would need, the travel expense, and the time investment. More importantly, I discussed the idea with my wife. I ended up taking third and was extremely satisfied with my result. It was well worth the sacrifice. Of course, if I had bought more expensive equipment, trained longer, and spent more time away from my wife, I might have done better. But the satisfaction would have been less. I would have given up more than I'd gotten in return.
Another key to setting meaningful goals is variety. Every time we achieve a goal, we expect to be able to do it again. For some people, the repeated accomplishment of a goal is satisfying every time. For me, though, the goal becomes more of a burden than a challenge, and the accomplishment becomes more of a relief than a reward. That's why I try to start every season with a fresh set of goals. Some may be repeated from the previous season, but only if I still have the motivation to give them another run. This year, I'll target Masters Nats again, but I'm adding the Midwest Cycling Series, a top-100 finish at Chequamegon, and possibly the state cyclocross championships. I'm looking forward to a more balanced mix of road and off-road events.
Well, that's enough said about meaningful goals. My official training program begins next week, so I'll tackle the subject of key workouts in an upcoming post.
I've been racing for about 15 years. I've done mountain bike races, cyclocross races, road races, criteriums, and time trials. I even did one duathlon just to remind myself how much better riding is than running. That variety is one of great aspects of our sport. It has allowed me to set and achieve a number of meaningful and challenging goals.
We all know that goal-setting is important. What I think gets overlooked, though, is the importance of setting meaningful goals. A meaningful goal is one that, if accomplished, is worth more than the sacrifice required to accomplish it. Too many people have pursued competitive success at the expense of more valuable things like relationships, careers, financial wellbeing, and their health. Don't let cycling take any of those things away from you.
Here's an example from my own experience. One of the most challenging goals I've ever set for myself was a top performance in the time trial at last year's Masters National Championships. Before I decided to make it a goal, I calculated the cost of the equipment I would need, the travel expense, and the time investment. More importantly, I discussed the idea with my wife. I ended up taking third and was extremely satisfied with my result. It was well worth the sacrifice. Of course, if I had bought more expensive equipment, trained longer, and spent more time away from my wife, I might have done better. But the satisfaction would have been less. I would have given up more than I'd gotten in return.
Another key to setting meaningful goals is variety. Every time we achieve a goal, we expect to be able to do it again. For some people, the repeated accomplishment of a goal is satisfying every time. For me, though, the goal becomes more of a burden than a challenge, and the accomplishment becomes more of a relief than a reward. That's why I try to start every season with a fresh set of goals. Some may be repeated from the previous season, but only if I still have the motivation to give them another run. This year, I'll target Masters Nats again, but I'm adding the Midwest Cycling Series, a top-100 finish at Chequamegon, and possibly the state cyclocross championships. I'm looking forward to a more balanced mix of road and off-road events.
Well, that's enough said about meaningful goals. My official training program begins next week, so I'll tackle the subject of key workouts in an upcoming post.
Friday, January 16, 2009
My training philosophy
It's often said that if a person has $500 to spend on getting faster on the bike, that money is best spent not on equipment, but on coaching. A number of my teammates can attest to this.
I've worked with two local coaches, both of whom taught me a lot. The actual process of adhering to a predefined training program was a challenge for me, though. Despite my coaches' flexibility and laid-back approaches, I felt like my training program was too much like a syllabus, with homework assignments, quizzes, and a final exam.
So, here's what I've found works for me: I set meaningful goals, I focus on a two or three key workouts per week, and I just have fun riding my bike. Every once in a while I force myself out for one of those key workouts when I don't feel like riding, but for the most part, I make sure not to overdraw on my motivation.
I'll write more on those subjects - meaningful goals, key workouts, and having fun - in future posts. I'll also expand on motivation and what in particular motivates me this season.
I've worked with two local coaches, both of whom taught me a lot. The actual process of adhering to a predefined training program was a challenge for me, though. Despite my coaches' flexibility and laid-back approaches, I felt like my training program was too much like a syllabus, with homework assignments, quizzes, and a final exam.
So, here's what I've found works for me: I set meaningful goals, I focus on a two or three key workouts per week, and I just have fun riding my bike. Every once in a while I force myself out for one of those key workouts when I don't feel like riding, but for the most part, I make sure not to overdraw on my motivation.
I'll write more on those subjects - meaningful goals, key workouts, and having fun - in future posts. I'll also expand on motivation and what in particular motivates me this season.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Updating the wheel quiver
As I do every winter, I'm contemplating my equipment selections for the coming season. I sold almost all my race bikes last year and replaced them with new ones, so those are staying put. It's wheels I'm thinking about this year.
Last year, I had two primary road wheelsets and one MTB wheelset. My road wheels were both equipped with PowerTap SL hubs. One set had Flashpoint FP60 rims - these were used exclusively on my TT bike. The other set had Sun Venus rims - these were my training and racing wheels. The TT wheels had Michelin Pro Lite tires, while the RR wheels had Continental Grand Prix 4000s. I switched to tubeless Hutchinson Fusion 2s at the end of the season, which proved comfortable and dependable.
My MTB wheels were a set of SUNringle' Black Flags - a nice, light XC wheelset. I rode them primarily with a Kenda Small Block 8 tire up front and a Maxxis Crossmark out back.
Here's my tentative plan for 2009:
Training/road races
PowerTap Pro+ rear hub, SUNringle' City Flea front hub
Sun Venus rims (28 hole)
Wheelsmith AE15 ovalized spokes
Hutchinson Fusion 2 tubeless tires
Criteriums
PowerTap Pro+ rear hub, SUNringle' City Flea front hub
Sun Vista Cruiser tubular rims (28 hole)
Wheelsmith AE15 ovalized spokes
Continental Competition tubular tires (700x22)
Time Trials (same as last season)
PowerTap SL rear hub (with ANT+ firmware upgrade), SUNringle' City Flea front hub
Flashpoint FP60 rims (24 hole)
Wheelsmith XL15 spokes
Michelin Pro Lite clincher tires (700x23)
MTB training
SUNringle' Disc O Flea wheelset
Kenda Small Block 8 front tire, Maxxis Crossmark rear tire (both 26x2.1")
MTB racing
SUNringle' Black Flag wheelset
NoTubes "The Crow" tubeless tires
Last year, I had two primary road wheelsets and one MTB wheelset. My road wheels were both equipped with PowerTap SL hubs. One set had Flashpoint FP60 rims - these were used exclusively on my TT bike. The other set had Sun Venus rims - these were my training and racing wheels. The TT wheels had Michelin Pro Lite tires, while the RR wheels had Continental Grand Prix 4000s. I switched to tubeless Hutchinson Fusion 2s at the end of the season, which proved comfortable and dependable.
My MTB wheels were a set of SUNringle' Black Flags - a nice, light XC wheelset. I rode them primarily with a Kenda Small Block 8 tire up front and a Maxxis Crossmark out back.
Here's my tentative plan for 2009:
Training/road races
PowerTap Pro+ rear hub, SUNringle' City Flea front hub
Sun Venus rims (28 hole)
Wheelsmith AE15 ovalized spokes
Hutchinson Fusion 2 tubeless tires
Criteriums
PowerTap Pro+ rear hub, SUNringle' City Flea front hub
Sun Vista Cruiser tubular rims (28 hole)
Wheelsmith AE15 ovalized spokes
Continental Competition tubular tires (700x22)
Time Trials (same as last season)
PowerTap SL rear hub (with ANT+ firmware upgrade), SUNringle' City Flea front hub
Flashpoint FP60 rims (24 hole)
Wheelsmith XL15 spokes
Michelin Pro Lite clincher tires (700x23)
MTB training
SUNringle' Disc O Flea wheelset
Kenda Small Block 8 front tire, Maxxis Crossmark rear tire (both 26x2.1")
MTB racing
SUNringle' Black Flag wheelset
NoTubes "The Crow" tubeless tires
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Birth of a handmade cyclocross bike
"Didn't you just get a new 'cross bike?"
"Isn't the 'cross season over?"
"How many 'cross races did you actually do this year?"
Yes, yes, and two. So why am I getting a new bike? Well, when an award-winning builder offers a sweetheart price on a custom bike that's going to be shown at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, I'm not the sort of fella to say "meh". Besides, I ride my 'cross bike a lot, especially in the spring when the roads are too messy for the road bike (unlike Katy). And I'm just a sucker for a pretty bike.
My new bike is being built by Drew Guldalian, owner of Engin Cycles. Drew's 29er hardtail, which featured a prototype set of Hayes Stroker Gram brakes, won "Best Mountain Bike" at this year's NAHBS. He posts a web gallery of every frameset he builds. Here's the first picture of mine.
It may not look much like a bike right now, but if the final product ends up looking something like the bike Drew built for himself, I'll be a very satisfied customer.
"Isn't the 'cross season over?"
"How many 'cross races did you actually do this year?"
Yes, yes, and two. So why am I getting a new bike? Well, when an award-winning builder offers a sweetheart price on a custom bike that's going to be shown at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show, I'm not the sort of fella to say "meh". Besides, I ride my 'cross bike a lot, especially in the spring when the roads are too messy for the road bike (unlike Katy). And I'm just a sucker for a pretty bike.
My new bike is being built by Drew Guldalian, owner of Engin Cycles. Drew's 29er hardtail, which featured a prototype set of Hayes Stroker Gram brakes, won "Best Mountain Bike" at this year's NAHBS. He posts a web gallery of every frameset he builds. Here's the first picture of mine.
It may not look much like a bike right now, but if the final product ends up looking something like the bike Drew built for himself, I'll be a very satisfied customer.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Vote on round two of proposed Manitou fork graphics
Thanks to everyone who voted in round one. Please click here to see the updated designs and chose your favorite.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Help choose graphics for future Manitou forks
Want a sneak peek at future Manitou fork graphics? Want to help with their creation? Click here and tell me what you think of the prospective designs.
Friday, December 5, 2008
What do you want to know?
I asked a similar question on the Hayes Bicycle Group blog and got some interesting suggestions. So, Racerveza readers, any suggestions for future posts? Just click here or on the "comments" link below and ask away. Could be bike-related, could be work-related, could be Milwaukee-related, whatever.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
More on winter training
Holy smokes. Thanks to Tom Held's mention on his Off the Couch blog, my last post got ten times the usual number of views. I promised a follow-up, so here goes.Let's start with a little humor. Craft is a manufacturer of some of the nicest cycling apparel money can buy. I especially like their cold-weather base layers. World Cycling Productions is a Minnesota-based company that sells high-end cycling apparel and accessories. They also have a somewhat unique part numbering system with the potential for some awkward results. You may have to enlarge the image in order to appreciate its full hilarity.
So, back to the subject of winter riding. One aspect I haven't really figured out yet is tires. Cycleicious recently did a post about studded tires. I've never had a set, but they sound like they could open up some riding opportunities when the roads are covered in snow and ice. Here in Milwaukee, the main roads get plowed first, followed by the side streets (where we're more likely to ride). As a result, car traffic often packs the snow down before the plows get a chance to remove it. That ice is pretty much un-ridable with standard tires. If studded tires are as effective as they sound, that would be an awesome triumph of bike technology over winter weather. Alternatively, one of my intrepid coworkers choses to put big, fat downhill tires on his mountain bike. He claims that the big footprint and aggressive lugs allow him to ride pretty much anything offroad. So depending on where you like to ride, studded tires or big, fat knobbies might be the key to more outdoor miles in the winter.
A few other equipment notes:
- Changing a flat is never fun, but it can be impossible in the cold. Do whatever you can to prevent flats. Wider, knobbier, heavy duty tires and puncture-resistant tubes add weight, but it's a price worth paying. Tubeless tires might be another solution, but I'm not sure how well their sealant performs in sub-freezing conditions.
- Road slush has quite an affinity for chains and cables. As it accumulates, shifting performance deteriorates (or disappears) and drivetrain resistance increases. A singlespeed bike is less vulnerable to these effects.
- Similarly, road slush can render rim brakes almost inoperative. Disc brakes, on the other hand, are pretty impervious.
- Fenders are a key ingredient to pleasant winter riding. They keep your body relatively clean and dry, and they protect your bike from salty, corrosive slush. Full-coverage fenders should be an absolute requirement on winter group rides.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Winter Riding
I've read a number of great articles lately on the subject of winter riding. All have been helpful and inspiring. Here's a bit of what I've learned over the course of ten or so Wisconsin winters.
Grow some hair. A beard is nature's balaclava. Granted, most people are unable to grow one due to gender, age, or spousal disapproval. Let me tell you, though, a week or two of growth goes a long way towards keeping your cheeks and chin warm. Leg hair can be a big help, too, creating an insulating layer of warm air between your skin and your tights. Again, social mores and marital harmony may rule this out.
Get a hardshell jacket. For years, I piled on layers of undershirts and jerseys as the temperature dropped. I stayed reasonably warm, but felt a bit sausage-like under the compression of all those layers. This year, I bought a waterproof, windproof jacket (the Showers Pass Elite 2.0). Unlike a winter jersey, it has Velcro cuffs, pit zips, a vented back, and an elastic drawcord in the collar. As a result, I'm able to make mid-ride adjustments so that I'm never too cold or too hot. I can ride comfortably at temperatures between 20 to 40 degrees Farenheit with just my jacket, a short-sleeve jersey, and a long-sleeve base layer.
Don't sacrifice circulation for insulation. As I mentioned above, I used to over-swaddle myself for winter rides. I've since learned that looser is warmer. Loose clothes allow warm, dry air to circulate against your skin, keeping you from getting cold and clammy. This applies to upper-body and lower-body layers, and especially to hands and feet.
Get some good lights. Around here, what little daylight we get during the winter is often lessened by clouds. A good set of blinky lights will make you more visible during the day, and a good set of rechargable lights will enable you to ride all night long (if that's your kind of thing). I'm a big fan of DiNotte's LED light systems. I have a 600L on my handlebar, a 200L on my helmet, and a 140R taillight.
Build a great indoor setup. I bet you thought this was some tough-guy article about riding outdoors all year long. Well, riding outside is usually better than riding inside, but not when death by snowplow is a possibility. The secret to endurable indoor riding is a good setup. For that, I recommend a fan, a big TV, lots of race videos and action movies, and a power meter (to keep you honest). Company can also be a big help. My wife's treadmill is right next to my rollers. Instead of watching TV or a movie from the couch, we'll head down to the basement and spend our tube time working out. It's surprising how quickly a two-hour indoor ride can go by with the right distractions and a minimum of fuss.
Grow some hair. A beard is nature's balaclava. Granted, most people are unable to grow one due to gender, age, or spousal disapproval. Let me tell you, though, a week or two of growth goes a long way towards keeping your cheeks and chin warm. Leg hair can be a big help, too, creating an insulating layer of warm air between your skin and your tights. Again, social mores and marital harmony may rule this out.
Get a hardshell jacket. For years, I piled on layers of undershirts and jerseys as the temperature dropped. I stayed reasonably warm, but felt a bit sausage-like under the compression of all those layers. This year, I bought a waterproof, windproof jacket (the Showers Pass Elite 2.0). Unlike a winter jersey, it has Velcro cuffs, pit zips, a vented back, and an elastic drawcord in the collar. As a result, I'm able to make mid-ride adjustments so that I'm never too cold or too hot. I can ride comfortably at temperatures between 20 to 40 degrees Farenheit with just my jacket, a short-sleeve jersey, and a long-sleeve base layer.
Don't sacrifice circulation for insulation. As I mentioned above, I used to over-swaddle myself for winter rides. I've since learned that looser is warmer. Loose clothes allow warm, dry air to circulate against your skin, keeping you from getting cold and clammy. This applies to upper-body and lower-body layers, and especially to hands and feet.
Get some good lights. Around here, what little daylight we get during the winter is often lessened by clouds. A good set of blinky lights will make you more visible during the day, and a good set of rechargable lights will enable you to ride all night long (if that's your kind of thing). I'm a big fan of DiNotte's LED light systems. I have a 600L on my handlebar, a 200L on my helmet, and a 140R taillight.
Build a great indoor setup. I bet you thought this was some tough-guy article about riding outdoors all year long. Well, riding outside is usually better than riding inside, but not when death by snowplow is a possibility. The secret to endurable indoor riding is a good setup. For that, I recommend a fan, a big TV, lots of race videos and action movies, and a power meter (to keep you honest). Company can also be a big help. My wife's treadmill is right next to my rollers. Instead of watching TV or a movie from the couch, we'll head down to the basement and spend our tube time working out. It's surprising how quickly a two-hour indoor ride can go by with the right distractions and a minimum of fuss.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Down with cyclists!
I serve on the Milwaukee Bicycle Steering Committee (love that name) as a representative of the bicycle industry. In our meeting last week, an interesting conversation broke out with regard to people's perceptions of cyclists. Initially, I proposed that we should regard anyone on a bike as a "cyclist" regardless of the clothing they wear or the type and value of their bike. However, after some discussion, I changed my position. In the interest of getting more people on bikes, I think it might be better to do away with the whole "cyclist" designation. To me, a "cyclist" is someone for whom riding a bike is a lifestyle - a part of their identity. Other people may occasionally ride, but under that definition, they're not "cyclists".
Here's the problem. This distinction creates an in-or-out situation. Those who are "in" look for ways to distinguish themselves from those who are "out", employing all the usual techniques we remember from high school - clothes, language, rules, etc. That creates barriers for those who are out. They'll feel like they have to have the right bike and the right clothes in order to gain acceptance. Becoming a cyclist will require effort and investment to do correctly. Consequently, they're likely not to bother.
Look at it this way. We don't consciously regard some people as "drivers" and other people as "non-drivers". Those of us who do drive don't make an effort to identify ourselves as drivers. We simply interact with each other knowing that most people drive cars. It's no big deal. It's just a part of life.
That's how it should be with bikes. Just about anyone can ride a bike, most people own a bike, and everyone who does ride could ride more. By removing barriers and distinctions, we would make it easier for people to just hop on and ride. Who knows where they'll go from there?
Here's the problem. This distinction creates an in-or-out situation. Those who are "in" look for ways to distinguish themselves from those who are "out", employing all the usual techniques we remember from high school - clothes, language, rules, etc. That creates barriers for those who are out. They'll feel like they have to have the right bike and the right clothes in order to gain acceptance. Becoming a cyclist will require effort and investment to do correctly. Consequently, they're likely not to bother.
Look at it this way. We don't consciously regard some people as "drivers" and other people as "non-drivers". Those of us who do drive don't make an effort to identify ourselves as drivers. We simply interact with each other knowing that most people drive cars. It's no big deal. It's just a part of life.
That's how it should be with bikes. Just about anyone can ride a bike, most people own a bike, and everyone who does ride could ride more. By removing barriers and distinctions, we would make it easier for people to just hop on and ride. Who knows where they'll go from there?
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Night Rider
I went out tonight for my second ride on my new mountain bike, accompanied by Russell and his buddy, Bubba. Filled with new-bike exuberance, I committed the cardinal sin of night riding - embarking without fully-charged batteries. Consequently, both my handlebar light and my helmet light were running low by mid-ride. That I could have dealt with, but falling and tearing a 3" hole in my jacket was a downer. Durn trees. Fortunately, Russell and Bubba didn't seem to mind waiting for a spastic roadie. And riding the Tosa trails with someone who actually knows them was a blast.
UPDATE - I nearly forgot to mention the funniest part of the ride. At one point, while riding the new Harley trails north of Capitol Drive, we came upon a very startled beaver. Under the light of our three headlamps, he frantically scurried across a layer of ice that had formed on the near bank of the Menomonee river. Naturally, the river wasn't completely frozen over, so he inevitably broke through the ice, to our great amusement and his probable relief.
UPDATE - I nearly forgot to mention the funniest part of the ride. At one point, while riding the new Harley trails north of Capitol Drive, we came upon a very startled beaver. Under the light of our three headlamps, he frantically scurried across a layer of ice that had formed on the near bank of the Menomonee river. Naturally, the river wasn't completely frozen over, so he inevitably broke through the ice, to our great amusement and his probable relief.
Random stuff
Man, I've really let this blog out to pasture. Blame Facebook and Twitter, both of which require less effort and creativity than blogging. That's both good and bad.
My last post was uncharacteristically negative, so today I'm going to give a roundup of some cool stuff that's going on.
My last post was uncharacteristically negative, so today I'm going to give a roundup of some cool stuff that's going on.
- My sister got married last weekend. The wedding was beautiful, and the reception was a blast. She will stand up in her best friend's wedding this weekend, after which she'll head off for her honeymoon.
- Good things are happening at work. I can't be real specific, but I'm excited.
- Kelley and I are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year. She's taking off all next week to prepare.
- I got a new mountain bike - a Giant Anthem X. Took it out for a brief shakedown ride last night, and man, is it fun.
- Tomorrow night, two of my best guy-friends are coming over for some long-overdue hanging out. One's going through a rough time, so I hope he'll be encouraged.
- In four days, I'll begin reading Watch for the Light, a daily Advent devotional I bought years ago. Each day's reading is an essay or poem by a different Christian author, including Martin Luther, T.S. Eliot, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Brennan Manning, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Soren Kierkegaard.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The lesser of two liars
I voted this morning, despite strong misgivings about both major-party presidential candidates. I voted because good people have given their lives to grant me this right.
Hard as it may be to believe, I still didn't know who I was going to vote for when I woke up this morning. As has been the case in all four presidential elections in which I've voted, I am once again fed up with the candidates' behavior - in particular, their dishonesty.
Throughout the campaign, both candidates have spoken in obvious half-truths. In some cases, "half" is being generous. Why? I can only think of three possible explanations:
I really don't understand how so many people can tolerate being treated this way. Regardless of how enthusiastically a person may agree with a candidate's policies and beliefs, how can he or she get behind a person so willing to use dishonesty to achieve his goals?
The end does not justify the means. A president should understand that.
Hard as it may be to believe, I still didn't know who I was going to vote for when I woke up this morning. As has been the case in all four presidential elections in which I've voted, I am once again fed up with the candidates' behavior - in particular, their dishonesty.
Throughout the campaign, both candidates have spoken in obvious half-truths. In some cases, "half" is being generous. Why? I can only think of three possible explanations:
- They think we're too stupid to know we're not being told the truth.
- They think we're too lazy to test the truthfulness of their statements.
- They think we're too stupid to discern the truth if we were to test their statements.
I really don't understand how so many people can tolerate being treated this way. Regardless of how enthusiastically a person may agree with a candidate's policies and beliefs, how can he or she get behind a person so willing to use dishonesty to achieve his goals?
The end does not justify the means. A president should understand that.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Season Review
With the possible exception of a few cyclocross races, the 2008 racing season is over. Time to take a look back.
The season began poorly with my big crash at Sea Otter, in which my new Specialized Tarmac SL received a fatal down-tube injury. I crashed again in my next race, but fortunately, the replacement frame survived. That pretty much quenched my thirst for mass-start races. The only exception I made was for the State Road Race Championships - an epic battle with the elements from which I emerged as a very wet state champion, thanks in large part to my teammates' help.
After the RR championships, I focused on my main goal for the season- the Masters National Time Trial Championships. Thankfully, that went well. I ended up taking bronze and setting a personal best. My teammate, Scott Latell, came up from his home (and a very busy work schedule) in North Carolina to keep me company and serve as my soigneur deluxe. It was great hanging out with Scott and not having to worry about anything but turning the pedals. Plus, there's no better post-time-trial drinking buddy than Scott.
After Nats, I came back out for a few Superweek crits. Those went reasonably well. Most notably, I didn't hurt myself or break anything.
The next highlight of the season was the Door County Century, which I did with my wife, Kelley. It was her first 100-mile ride, and she did awesome - that is, she did awesome after I diagnosed a rubbing brakepad 15 miles into the ride. The rub was my fault, but she was so relieved not to be dying that she forgave me almost immediately. In fact, she even had the energy and nerve to punk me in a sign sprint.
The final big event of 2008 was the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival - a 40-mile mountain bike race in northern Wisconsin. With a field limit of 1,700, it's the biggest mass-start mountain bike race in the world. I hadn't done a MTB race in four years, and I hadn't done Chequamegon in about 12 years. Despite a poor start and a flat tire with five miles to go, I managed to finish in 236th place, achieving my goal of finishing within 30 minutes of the winner. Plus, I had such a good time that I'm thinking about devoting the second half of next year's season to endurance mountain bike racing.
So praise God - it's been another good year. There's still some great riding to be had, but it's never too early to look back and think ahead.
The season began poorly with my big crash at Sea Otter, in which my new Specialized Tarmac SL received a fatal down-tube injury. I crashed again in my next race, but fortunately, the replacement frame survived. That pretty much quenched my thirst for mass-start races. The only exception I made was for the State Road Race Championships - an epic battle with the elements from which I emerged as a very wet state champion, thanks in large part to my teammates' help.
After the RR championships, I focused on my main goal for the season- the Masters National Time Trial Championships. Thankfully, that went well. I ended up taking bronze and setting a personal best. My teammate, Scott Latell, came up from his home (and a very busy work schedule) in North Carolina to keep me company and serve as my soigneur deluxe. It was great hanging out with Scott and not having to worry about anything but turning the pedals. Plus, there's no better post-time-trial drinking buddy than Scott.
After Nats, I came back out for a few Superweek crits. Those went reasonably well. Most notably, I didn't hurt myself or break anything.
The next highlight of the season was the Door County Century, which I did with my wife, Kelley. It was her first 100-mile ride, and she did awesome - that is, she did awesome after I diagnosed a rubbing brakepad 15 miles into the ride. The rub was my fault, but she was so relieved not to be dying that she forgave me almost immediately. In fact, she even had the energy and nerve to punk me in a sign sprint.
The final big event of 2008 was the Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival - a 40-mile mountain bike race in northern Wisconsin. With a field limit of 1,700, it's the biggest mass-start mountain bike race in the world. I hadn't done a MTB race in four years, and I hadn't done Chequamegon in about 12 years. Despite a poor start and a flat tire with five miles to go, I managed to finish in 236th place, achieving my goal of finishing within 30 minutes of the winner. Plus, I had such a good time that I'm thinking about devoting the second half of next year's season to endurance mountain bike racing.
So praise God - it's been another good year. There's still some great riding to be had, but it's never too early to look back and think ahead.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
You have to ride on a day like today.
Today was one of those perfect days for a ride - sunny, no wind, and just cool enough to necessitate arm-warmers. I saddled up the new/old Waterford and went for a nice cruise out to Pewaukee Lake and back. I'm really enjoying having that bike back in the lineup. It's probably going to become my go-to ride, supplanting the Specialized for everything but races and competitive group rides. If it does, I'll probably have to rig up some sort of power-measuring device, which would kind of spoil the retro aesthetic. Eh, I've got an entire off-season to ponder that one. Until then, I'm hoping for a few more rides like today's.
See the pumpkins in the background?
See the pumpkins in the background?Wednesday, October 1, 2008
The phoenix rises!
My attitude towards the machinery of cycling has changed pretty significantly this year. First, the North American Handmade Bike Show renewed my appreciation for the pure form of the bike and for the craftsmanship that goes into a handmade frame. Second, my crash at Sea Otter taught me how easily a high-tech, carbon fiber wonderbike can be destroyed. These two lessons recently led me to send my dear old Waterford back to the factory to be repaired and repainted.
The Waterford is by far my most treasured bike. The tube shapes, lengths, and angles are all custom. I bought it through Spring City Cycle back in 2000 - the year Carl Zach, Mark Hughes, Scott Latell, Tom Driscoll, and I formed the Spring City Velo cycling club. That was a significant year in many ways. It was a breakthrough season for me as a cyclist, but it also included the tragic accident that claimed Carl's life.
Back to the bike. When I built it up, I gave it a Salsa Shaft seatpost - the long, mountain bike version. I never took the time to cut it down to a suitable length, and apparently I didn't remove and regrease it with sufficient regularity. As a result, it ended up getting well and truly frozen inside the frame. Two bike shops failed to remove it, and in the process, rendered the frame unrideable.
The frame (and a matching steel fork I never used) remained in mothballs for years. I really don't know what pushed me over the edge, but I finally got sick of seeing my favorite bike lying naked and useless on my basement floor. I called Dave Hellekson at Waterford, and he invited me to send it in for a quote.
As I expcted, the seat tube and seat lug needed to be replaced. That necessitated a repaint as well. Fortunately, the quote was lower than I expected, so I pulled the trigger. The hardest part was deciding whether to have it painted in the original scheme (burgundy with cream panels and gold/black decals) or something different. I ended up going for a new/old look, with a "pearl in black" basecoat, white outline decals, white detailing around the lugs, and white arrows on the top tube and fork.
In keeping with the retro theme, I chose a Brooks saddle and a Nitto bar and stem. Other components include a SRAM Rival drivetrain, some off-brand faux-carbon brake calipers I bought for $15, SUNringlé Accelerator X2.0 wheels, and Conti GP 4-Season tires.
So here it is, in all its renewed glory:
The Waterford is by far my most treasured bike. The tube shapes, lengths, and angles are all custom. I bought it through Spring City Cycle back in 2000 - the year Carl Zach, Mark Hughes, Scott Latell, Tom Driscoll, and I formed the Spring City Velo cycling club. That was a significant year in many ways. It was a breakthrough season for me as a cyclist, but it also included the tragic accident that claimed Carl's life.
Back to the bike. When I built it up, I gave it a Salsa Shaft seatpost - the long, mountain bike version. I never took the time to cut it down to a suitable length, and apparently I didn't remove and regrease it with sufficient regularity. As a result, it ended up getting well and truly frozen inside the frame. Two bike shops failed to remove it, and in the process, rendered the frame unrideable.
The frame (and a matching steel fork I never used) remained in mothballs for years. I really don't know what pushed me over the edge, but I finally got sick of seeing my favorite bike lying naked and useless on my basement floor. I called Dave Hellekson at Waterford, and he invited me to send it in for a quote.
As I expcted, the seat tube and seat lug needed to be replaced. That necessitated a repaint as well. Fortunately, the quote was lower than I expected, so I pulled the trigger. The hardest part was deciding whether to have it painted in the original scheme (burgundy with cream panels and gold/black decals) or something different. I ended up going for a new/old look, with a "pearl in black" basecoat, white outline decals, white detailing around the lugs, and white arrows on the top tube and fork.
In keeping with the retro theme, I chose a Brooks saddle and a Nitto bar and stem. Other components include a SRAM Rival drivetrain, some off-brand faux-carbon brake calipers I bought for $15, SUNringlé Accelerator X2.0 wheels, and Conti GP 4-Season tires.
So here it is, in all its renewed glory:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)