It's hard to tell exactly where I'm at this year, but physically I can't be too far off from where I was the year before. Early in March I did a lot of sub-lactate threshold intervals (heart rate 156-165), and recently this has progressed to above lactate threshold intervals (heart rate 170+). It takes fresh legs to push my heart rate above threshold for so long, but so far I'm getting it done. Lately I've been doing intervals in the mornings and then doing group rides in the evening.
I've had a couple fun weekend rides lately. The first was a ride from my house down to Dublin (about 150 miles) on Saturday, and then I followed it up with a fairly fast St Patrick's century on Sunday. It was fun to ride with Gator, my brother Chris, and friend Marshall. A couple days ago I rode a double century from Publix and was treated to some beautiful weather, and then this weekend I rode the North Carolina Fleche. The fleche is a 24 hour point to point group ride that we rode from Bishopville SC to Atlantic Beach NC. Team members were Gator Cochran, Chris Kaiser, Walter Wilson, and Leslie Shapiro. It was fun to ride a non-competitive event, and the good company made it very enjoyable.
My weekends have recently opened up, so I'm working feverishly to come up with a crew for the Heart of the South in a few days. The cross state records were supposed to be my first supported events, so I'll also have to get my pace vehicle and bikes ready a little earlier as well. On the side, Stephen Auerbach has given us permission to host a screening of Bicycle Dreams, so we're putting together a charity benefit for April 20th.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Dublin Weekend
The weather is coming around nicely, so getting time on the bike doesn't seem as hard as it did last month. Today's training included 39 minutes of sub-lactate threshold intervals during a 2 hour ride. It's still hard, but at least I'm not wheezing while trying to get enough air in the freezing temperatures.
Tomorrow Gator and I will ride down to Dublin (about 150 miles). The goal will be to take it easy so we'll be fresh enough to ride hard on Sunday's Dublin century. I don't ride many organized centuries anymore, so it will be fun to see a lot of the locals. No doubt that they'll want to show off their spring form, and they'll take pride in wearing me out.
I've finally completed all of the flight reservations for my crew on RAAM, and I've also reserved the third and final vehicle that we'll use during the race. The last step will be to tweak my Oceanside hotel reservations because the crew will be arriving on Saturday this year (instead of Sunday and Monday).
In an interesting development, we've come up with an exciting plan to help raise money for the Golden Harvest Food Bank. It's still an idea in progress, but I'm working with Stephen Auerbach to have a public screening of his award winning film "Bicycle Dreams." I'm very excited about the possibility of linking RAAM and bicycling to something that might have a positive impact on our local community. Gator Cochran is working very hard to make this a reality, and at this point we appear to have the support of our Columbia County Commissioners. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I will hope that most of my friends can keep their calendar clear for April 20th.
Tomorrow Gator and I will ride down to Dublin (about 150 miles). The goal will be to take it easy so we'll be fresh enough to ride hard on Sunday's Dublin century. I don't ride many organized centuries anymore, so it will be fun to see a lot of the locals. No doubt that they'll want to show off their spring form, and they'll take pride in wearing me out.
I've finally completed all of the flight reservations for my crew on RAAM, and I've also reserved the third and final vehicle that we'll use during the race. The last step will be to tweak my Oceanside hotel reservations because the crew will be arriving on Saturday this year (instead of Sunday and Monday).
In an interesting development, we've come up with an exciting plan to help raise money for the Golden Harvest Food Bank. It's still an idea in progress, but I'm working with Stephen Auerbach to have a public screening of his award winning film "Bicycle Dreams." I'm very excited about the possibility of linking RAAM and bicycling to something that might have a positive impact on our local community. Gator Cochran is working very hard to make this a reality, and at this point we appear to have the support of our Columbia County Commissioners. Nothing is set in stone yet, but I will hope that most of my friends can keep their calendar clear for April 20th.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Training for RAAM
I've been very busy trying to prepare for RAAM. Somehow I still need to find time to ride my bike after hosting a couple brevets, planning for a fleche, planning two cross state record attempts, trying to set up a fundraiser for the Golden Harvest Food Bank, and then trying to make arrangements for this little race in June. At times it seems overwhelming (even though I've been through this a couple times already).
Things seem to be going according to plan. I feel like I've got a solid crew for the race, and Gator Cochran has been helping me with some of the logistical issues. I still have some assorted tasks to take care of like designing some crew t-shirts, making flight arrangements, and getting my van ready to race. I don't want to forget to update the van's sound system so I can have some good music to keep me company on those long climbs.
My goal is obviously to be in by best physcial shape ever by June. It's been a long miserable winter, but I've battled the elements to get in some respectable saddle time. It's very hard to know if I can reach new heights, but I believe that I'm at least close to where I was last year at this time. My weekend long rides leading up to RAAM will look something like this:
2/21 pre-ride Augusta 300 km start sub-LT intervals
2/28 100 mi
3/7 ride Augusta 300 km
3/14 125 mi
3/21 Dublin weekend 150 + 100 mi start over-LT intervals
3/28 200 mi
4/4 100 mi, fleche
4/11 break
4/18 150 mi, preride Augusta 400 km start progressively longer tempo rides
4/25 125 mi
5/2 100, Augusta 400 km
5/8-16 Vacation South Carolina E-W-E record attempt 400 miles
5/23 100 mi
5/30 Georgia record attempt - 300 mi
6/6 100 mi
Things seem to be going according to plan. I feel like I've got a solid crew for the race, and Gator Cochran has been helping me with some of the logistical issues. I still have some assorted tasks to take care of like designing some crew t-shirts, making flight arrangements, and getting my van ready to race. I don't want to forget to update the van's sound system so I can have some good music to keep me company on those long climbs.
My goal is obviously to be in by best physcial shape ever by June. It's been a long miserable winter, but I've battled the elements to get in some respectable saddle time. It's very hard to know if I can reach new heights, but I believe that I'm at least close to where I was last year at this time. My weekend long rides leading up to RAAM will look something like this:
2/21 pre-ride Augusta 300 km start sub-LT intervals
2/28 100 mi
3/7 ride Augusta 300 km
3/14 125 mi
3/21 Dublin weekend 150 + 100 mi start over-LT intervals
3/28 200 mi
4/4 100 mi, fleche
4/11 break
4/18 150 mi, preride Augusta 400 km start progressively longer tempo rides
4/25 125 mi
5/2 100, Augusta 400 km
5/8-16 Vacation South Carolina E-W-E record attempt 400 miles
5/23 100 mi
5/30 Georgia record attempt - 300 mi
6/6 100 mi
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