I have always said that a bad day on the bike is better than a good day in the car. Mostly this pertains to cyclo-commuting in the rain and or at the end of the week when you might be tired, etc.
Today though it took on an entirely different meaning.
On Friday I opted to get some Five Guys take out for us. Now any no sugar, no grain adherent understands that Five Guys burgers sans buns and certain condiments are a go. The french fries though, because of the glycemic index of white potatoes and the peanut oil they are cooked in are not okay.
I know this and yet it did not stop me because I love french fries.
What I realize now is that potatoes might be a gateway to sugar and poor food choices. On Saturday I cooked up and devoured a massive plate of sweet potato waffle fries. While lower on the glycemic scale than white potato, SP is just as bad because of the sugars. And with that I went right off the wagon and had ice cream and capped off the weekend with some pizza last night.
At the time I just said screw it, I have eaten terrible today, one more meal won't matter, which is a complete cop-out. We had plenty of choices that would have allowed for a no sugar no grain meal, including fat head pizza, which is delicious.
By the time bedtime rolled around last night I could see evidence of bloating in my belly & in my feet. Normally my feet look a bit veiny, but if I eat enough garbage they swell up and the veins disappear. Thankfully, because we have 3 kids under 7, I was not feeling sluggish, which is a result of bad eating. I had energy, but noticed that I wasn't wanting to do much of anything.
What I learned this weekend is that I just can't cheat, at least not right now. I need enough time under my belt that maybe I can control it better and eat something not good for me and then stop at that one item, whatever it might be.
Nope that too is utter bullshit. I just can't cheat. Whenever I do, it doesn't stop until I jack the brakes & the proverbial e-brake. I am pretty sure that I what I need to do is live clean 99% of the year and maybe just kick my heels up on my birthday.
In a perfect world I would cheat with one thing and then get back to clean eating. However history tells me that I am not able to do this.
So back to my ride this morning. I rolled out from my driveway at 5:45 and knew right away it would be a slower 12.4 miles to work. August in New England can mean temperatures in the low 50s as was the case this morning. Having scoped out the forecast ahead of time I was dressed appropriately so that wasn't an issue. My legs just weren't wanting to work, yes it had been a week since my last ride, but often I have fresh legs when that occurs.
Also normally I don't notice my full stomach when I roll out this early. Today was different, literally having just finished breakfast a few minutes earlier I could feel my stomach like a leaden weight. And as I type this hours later, it still feels a bit sour. By the time I was 4 miles out that sour stomach started to talk to me.
I was aware I wasn't feeling good, but I was thinking still better than being on the bike because it was low 50s and sunny. Just gorgeous weather. But as I pushed up a short climb my stomach revolted at the effort and I burped. It was not a normal burp, but one of those saying, "hey, if you keep this pressure up, something else is coming up."
Twice that happened and twice I had to back off.
I'm pretty sure that my aforementioned adage about bad days on the bike would have been tossed out the window had I tossed bacon, eggs & avocado all over my r3.
The other disappointing thing about this weekend is that we had been on a streak of no sugar no grains. Now that streak is reset to 0. But it was the longest streak in a while. I'm not perfect and while I know the science and understand why things are bad for me. Just like teens that have all the info on smoking, I still make bad well educated decisions at times.
Back at it though.
Monday, August 14, 2017
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Another Kind of Fit
Anyone who has ever watch a bicycle race knows that cyclists are rail thin with bones & veins protruding everywhere.
Anyone who has ever ridden a charity or group ride knows that non professional cyclists are not rail thin and the only thing that might be protruding is a bit of a gut.
That's the magic of lycra, it is the great equalizer and you cannot hide when adorned in it.
As mentioned elsewhere, I've done the Trek Across Maine 11 times and already registered for 2018. The types of folks who ride the Trek are very much like that United Colors of Beneton ad from the 80s. Or that Coke ad that apparently Don Draper created in the 70s. There's one of everything represented and a lot more of the latter description above then the former.
When I decided that I wanted a road bike and sought out my Uncle who owns a bike shop, one of the things I had to think about was whether I was going all in and wear spandex. In the 90s when I was on a mountain bike I never wore spandex. Taking that leap and wearing spandex meant that any sort of body issues I had would be front & center.
I won't delve into it much here, but guys can have as many body issues as women do. It's definitely not gender specific and to top it off all those fitness books I read were meant for the 175 lb skinny cyclist. Society puts less emphasis on a guy's appearance to the point where nowadays you'll see guys out on a date and not even trying and looking like they are reaching and the woman settling.
Ball busting is a great leveler, but there are times when it can maybe hit a bit too close too home. When I first went out for a ride and my mother commented with some superhero sounding name, I felt a bit self conscious for sure. Same with my father, snide comment meant to be funny but a bit deflating at the same time. I can give as much as I get, but this was something I was excited about and they were kind of in their own way shitting on my parade, even if it was wet squib...
They just didn't get it then and to be honest I don't think they do now.
The first ride was only 4 miles. I didn't know how easy it would be or how far I could go. Plus I was still getting used to integrated shifters and clipless pedals. The next ride I just started riding and didn't stop until I got to the Cumberland Farms on rt 236 in South Berwick. I felt AWESOME and just fell in love with my Trek 5000. The last road bike I'd ridden was heavy & clunky. My Cannondale mountain bike, an F-500, was fun but only zipping around on the trails. I effortlessly did 25 miles round trip that day.
So back to Cumbies. I rolled into the parking lot with the intention of getting something to drink. This too would be a first, the first time going into a convenience store all decked out in spandex.
That was on my mind I was slowly came to a halt.
What wasn't on my mind was that I was clipped into my pedals.
You can see where this is going yes?
As my predicament dawned on me and unaware of the "track stand," I tried to unclip but instead lurched slowly to one side and began what seemed like a slow motion fall. Hitting the pavement sped up the process it seemed and there I was, the fool on the bike laying in the parking lot. Since then I have learned that that happens to every new cyclist with clipless pedals at least once. All it takes is one time to never ever forget to unclip.
Anyway that comical tumble erased any sort of self consciousness that I was feeling. I owned that tumble and stopped worrying if anyone was staring.
Years on from that moment I get a little kick out of catching folks staring at me a bit too long if I'm in the grocery store post ride. Little kids will ask their parents if I am a baseball player and sometimes I catch folks staring a bit too long. And to be honest, the fitter I have become the more comfortable I have become in my cycling kit. I don't prance around like a Prima Ballerina, but I don't skulk around with shoulders down either.
Nor do I let cycling kit sizing affect my self esteem either. You know how women complain about sizes and how say Marlyne Monroe's size then is different than what it would be if she were around today? Well cycling kit is kind of the same based on the manufacturer. For instance, in Pearl Izumi or Giordana kit, I wear a XL jersey. But my preferred brand is Castelli and that's a XXL. Heck even Castelli socks are sized up (XXL too btw).
But one of the best feelings is when you are getting fit and seeing little changes here & there. You get ready for a ride and pull out a jersey you haven't worn in awhile and when you slip it on you notice the sleeves are looser. That's a good indicator the weight is going in the right way. Jerseys are meant to be tight and loose sleeves are a positive sign.
Long story short, spandex reveals all and own it, just own it.
Here's a bit of an addendum to my mother's super hero comment. Flash forward several years to the inaugural Dempsey Challenge in Central Maine. Patrick Dempsey, the actor/ race car driver & cycling enthusiast was born & raised in Lewiston Maine. He started the Dempsey Challenge as a fundraiser for the Eastern Maine Medical Cancer Center.
That first year Dave Zabriskie, George Hincapie & Ted King all professional cyclists participated in the ride and rode with Patrick. At one point between the start & 25 miles in, I passed them standing on the side of the road waiting for Patrick. They all were in their trade team kits and all three looked like superheroes standing there. And to this life long fanboy of 4 color fiction I was pretty stoked.
I was also stoke a bit later just before the first rest stop when I heard this noise behind me and suddenly WHOOOSH I was passed by Dave Zabriskie going flat out towing a massive line of folks behind him. It was pretty awesome and the only time I liked getting passed....
Anyone who has ever ridden a charity or group ride knows that non professional cyclists are not rail thin and the only thing that might be protruding is a bit of a gut.
That's the magic of lycra, it is the great equalizer and you cannot hide when adorned in it.
As mentioned elsewhere, I've done the Trek Across Maine 11 times and already registered for 2018. The types of folks who ride the Trek are very much like that United Colors of Beneton ad from the 80s. Or that Coke ad that apparently Don Draper created in the 70s. There's one of everything represented and a lot more of the latter description above then the former.
When I decided that I wanted a road bike and sought out my Uncle who owns a bike shop, one of the things I had to think about was whether I was going all in and wear spandex. In the 90s when I was on a mountain bike I never wore spandex. Taking that leap and wearing spandex meant that any sort of body issues I had would be front & center.
I won't delve into it much here, but guys can have as many body issues as women do. It's definitely not gender specific and to top it off all those fitness books I read were meant for the 175 lb skinny cyclist. Society puts less emphasis on a guy's appearance to the point where nowadays you'll see guys out on a date and not even trying and looking like they are reaching and the woman settling.
Ball busting is a great leveler, but there are times when it can maybe hit a bit too close too home. When I first went out for a ride and my mother commented with some superhero sounding name, I felt a bit self conscious for sure. Same with my father, snide comment meant to be funny but a bit deflating at the same time. I can give as much as I get, but this was something I was excited about and they were kind of in their own way shitting on my parade, even if it was wet squib...
They just didn't get it then and to be honest I don't think they do now.
The first ride was only 4 miles. I didn't know how easy it would be or how far I could go. Plus I was still getting used to integrated shifters and clipless pedals. The next ride I just started riding and didn't stop until I got to the Cumberland Farms on rt 236 in South Berwick. I felt AWESOME and just fell in love with my Trek 5000. The last road bike I'd ridden was heavy & clunky. My Cannondale mountain bike, an F-500, was fun but only zipping around on the trails. I effortlessly did 25 miles round trip that day.
So back to Cumbies. I rolled into the parking lot with the intention of getting something to drink. This too would be a first, the first time going into a convenience store all decked out in spandex.
That was on my mind I was slowly came to a halt.
What wasn't on my mind was that I was clipped into my pedals.
You can see where this is going yes?
As my predicament dawned on me and unaware of the "track stand," I tried to unclip but instead lurched slowly to one side and began what seemed like a slow motion fall. Hitting the pavement sped up the process it seemed and there I was, the fool on the bike laying in the parking lot. Since then I have learned that that happens to every new cyclist with clipless pedals at least once. All it takes is one time to never ever forget to unclip.
Anyway that comical tumble erased any sort of self consciousness that I was feeling. I owned that tumble and stopped worrying if anyone was staring.
Years on from that moment I get a little kick out of catching folks staring at me a bit too long if I'm in the grocery store post ride. Little kids will ask their parents if I am a baseball player and sometimes I catch folks staring a bit too long. And to be honest, the fitter I have become the more comfortable I have become in my cycling kit. I don't prance around like a Prima Ballerina, but I don't skulk around with shoulders down either.
Nor do I let cycling kit sizing affect my self esteem either. You know how women complain about sizes and how say Marlyne Monroe's size then is different than what it would be if she were around today? Well cycling kit is kind of the same based on the manufacturer. For instance, in Pearl Izumi or Giordana kit, I wear a XL jersey. But my preferred brand is Castelli and that's a XXL. Heck even Castelli socks are sized up (XXL too btw).
But one of the best feelings is when you are getting fit and seeing little changes here & there. You get ready for a ride and pull out a jersey you haven't worn in awhile and when you slip it on you notice the sleeves are looser. That's a good indicator the weight is going in the right way. Jerseys are meant to be tight and loose sleeves are a positive sign.
Long story short, spandex reveals all and own it, just own it.
Here's a bit of an addendum to my mother's super hero comment. Flash forward several years to the inaugural Dempsey Challenge in Central Maine. Patrick Dempsey, the actor/ race car driver & cycling enthusiast was born & raised in Lewiston Maine. He started the Dempsey Challenge as a fundraiser for the Eastern Maine Medical Cancer Center.
That first year Dave Zabriskie, George Hincapie & Ted King all professional cyclists participated in the ride and rode with Patrick. At one point between the start & 25 miles in, I passed them standing on the side of the road waiting for Patrick. They all were in their trade team kits and all three looked like superheroes standing there. And to this life long fanboy of 4 color fiction I was pretty stoked.
I was also stoke a bit later just before the first rest stop when I heard this noise behind me and suddenly WHOOOSH I was passed by Dave Zabriskie going flat out towing a massive line of folks behind him. It was pretty awesome and the only time I liked getting passed....
Monday, August 7, 2017
The Obsession of Hurricane Mountain
2.28 miles long
1,176 ft of elevation gain
9.6% average gradient
16% max gradient
And a ripping technical descent off the backside, where once past the access gate that closes Hurricane Mt Road in the winter, where the road straightens out and the brakes are released you'll accelerate from 5 mph to ludicrous speed in mere seconds.
That's Hurricane Mt and I fell in love with this climb a few years before I successfully ascended it.
The CCCP out of Portland Maine, runs the White Mountain Memorial Day Classic each Memorial Day. The ride is a fully supported 80 mile ride that goes up the aforementioned Hurricane Mt, over to Pinkham Notch and the Mt. Washington visitor center (not the summit) and then over to Evans Notch and then back to the start in Fryeburg, Maine. 2/3 of the rides 5,000 ft+ of climbing is done within the first 30 miles. Donations are accepted for the support provided and seriously who wouldn't put a few scheckles in the proverbial hat.
I first road the ride back in 2010. Back then I was hovering around 200lbs and riding a Trek Madone 5.2 OCLV with Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 11-27 standard cranks and Bontrager Race XXX lite components & Mavic Ksyrium wheels. On the CCCP event site it suggests running a compact crank and a 28 tooth cassette if possible. They are not kidding.
I walked more of the climb than I rode. It's steep enough that depending on where you stop if you do so in the wrong place, you aren't getting started again until it levels out a bit. My buddy Tommy who rode with me is a lot lighter than I and he got to the top without stopping or walking. I just did not have the right gearing and was too heavy.
The same thing happened again in 2011, except that I was a bit lighter due to doing a paleo light/ NSNG light approach. This time though I rode slightly more than the previous year, which I took as minor win.
Then that July a car pulled out in front of me while I was descending a hill doing 35 mph. The Madone was destroyed. In the two months inbetween the accident and reciept of my new bike, in dealing with Progressive I was super stressed and my weight ballooned. That fall I had a bit of a scare, where I over reacted to a chest pain that was a result of overdoing it at the gym, but having been told I had bad cholesterol back in 2006 I got scared.
That's when I gave Paleo a second go after reading whatever book Loren Cordain PhD had just put out. By February 2012 I was already noticing differences on the road. Come that year's Hurricane ride I was around 185 or fewer lbs. I was riding it with the guys who I ride up to Sunday River with each year. I hit the lower slope of Hurricane on my Cervelo S5 running SRAM Red, Zipp 404s and a 3T cockpit and made it all the way to the top without walking. My mind got the better of me at one point so I stopped to make sure my rear tire wasn't squishy. I was pushing it and at one point could feel that vein in my forehead pulsing against my helmet. My heart rate got into the high 180s. But I got up before anyone else in my group of folks I was with. I was flying.
By the time we got down and regrouped I realized that there was a huge bump in my self esteem for making it up all the way without stopping. It made the ride way more fun than it already was. I was in such good form, that no matter what I asked of my bike it did. After lunch, we shot downhill into Gorham, NH and crossed a set of RR tracks. The course turned right and approached those same tracks again, but this time they were at a sharp 45 degree angle. We approached them doing 25mph and I hit them at the wrong angle.
In a flash my front wheel dropped into the tracks, turned and flung me across the road into the soft shoulder. My helmet hit and cracked. And with that my ride was over.
Since then I have been chasing that dragon. The subsequent years going up Hurricane I have not been as fit as I was in 2012 but fitter than 2011 or earlier. Thus I have gone up it in one fell swoop but not as easily and in one year I went so deep overall that on the way home I came down with a nasty cold/ sore throat.
The last 2 years it has rained on Memorial Day and thus I have not done the ride. Those that do it have an option not to tackle Hurricane. But for me part of the attraction is Hurricane Mt so why would I do the ride if I didn't do Hurricane and I'd rather not slip n slide up it or chance a wet descent off the bike side.
As always I'll plan on being there next spring and hope to be in better form than 2012. And as always I'll spend the winter on the dreadmill churning out 5 miles at a time 5x a week chanting my mantra "hurricane mt, hurricane mt, hurricane mt...."
1,176 ft of elevation gain
9.6% average gradient
16% max gradient
And a ripping technical descent off the backside, where once past the access gate that closes Hurricane Mt Road in the winter, where the road straightens out and the brakes are released you'll accelerate from 5 mph to ludicrous speed in mere seconds.
That's Hurricane Mt and I fell in love with this climb a few years before I successfully ascended it.
The CCCP out of Portland Maine, runs the White Mountain Memorial Day Classic each Memorial Day. The ride is a fully supported 80 mile ride that goes up the aforementioned Hurricane Mt, over to Pinkham Notch and the Mt. Washington visitor center (not the summit) and then over to Evans Notch and then back to the start in Fryeburg, Maine. 2/3 of the rides 5,000 ft+ of climbing is done within the first 30 miles. Donations are accepted for the support provided and seriously who wouldn't put a few scheckles in the proverbial hat.
I first road the ride back in 2010. Back then I was hovering around 200lbs and riding a Trek Madone 5.2 OCLV with Shimano Dura-Ace 7800 11-27 standard cranks and Bontrager Race XXX lite components & Mavic Ksyrium wheels. On the CCCP event site it suggests running a compact crank and a 28 tooth cassette if possible. They are not kidding.
I walked more of the climb than I rode. It's steep enough that depending on where you stop if you do so in the wrong place, you aren't getting started again until it levels out a bit. My buddy Tommy who rode with me is a lot lighter than I and he got to the top without stopping or walking. I just did not have the right gearing and was too heavy.
The same thing happened again in 2011, except that I was a bit lighter due to doing a paleo light/ NSNG light approach. This time though I rode slightly more than the previous year, which I took as minor win.
Then that July a car pulled out in front of me while I was descending a hill doing 35 mph. The Madone was destroyed. In the two months inbetween the accident and reciept of my new bike, in dealing with Progressive I was super stressed and my weight ballooned. That fall I had a bit of a scare, where I over reacted to a chest pain that was a result of overdoing it at the gym, but having been told I had bad cholesterol back in 2006 I got scared.
That's when I gave Paleo a second go after reading whatever book Loren Cordain PhD had just put out. By February 2012 I was already noticing differences on the road. Come that year's Hurricane ride I was around 185 or fewer lbs. I was riding it with the guys who I ride up to Sunday River with each year. I hit the lower slope of Hurricane on my Cervelo S5 running SRAM Red, Zipp 404s and a 3T cockpit and made it all the way to the top without walking. My mind got the better of me at one point so I stopped to make sure my rear tire wasn't squishy. I was pushing it and at one point could feel that vein in my forehead pulsing against my helmet. My heart rate got into the high 180s. But I got up before anyone else in my group of folks I was with. I was flying.
By the time we got down and regrouped I realized that there was a huge bump in my self esteem for making it up all the way without stopping. It made the ride way more fun than it already was. I was in such good form, that no matter what I asked of my bike it did. After lunch, we shot downhill into Gorham, NH and crossed a set of RR tracks. The course turned right and approached those same tracks again, but this time they were at a sharp 45 degree angle. We approached them doing 25mph and I hit them at the wrong angle.
In a flash my front wheel dropped into the tracks, turned and flung me across the road into the soft shoulder. My helmet hit and cracked. And with that my ride was over.
Since then I have been chasing that dragon. The subsequent years going up Hurricane I have not been as fit as I was in 2012 but fitter than 2011 or earlier. Thus I have gone up it in one fell swoop but not as easily and in one year I went so deep overall that on the way home I came down with a nasty cold/ sore throat.
The last 2 years it has rained on Memorial Day and thus I have not done the ride. Those that do it have an option not to tackle Hurricane. But for me part of the attraction is Hurricane Mt so why would I do the ride if I didn't do Hurricane and I'd rather not slip n slide up it or chance a wet descent off the bike side.
As always I'll plan on being there next spring and hope to be in better form than 2012. And as always I'll spend the winter on the dreadmill churning out 5 miles at a time 5x a week chanting my mantra "hurricane mt, hurricane mt, hurricane mt...."
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