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...."
Monday, July 31, 2017
The 175lb Cyclist
Back in 2005 when I got into road cycling, I was not the svelte athlete that I am today.
Just kidding, I wouldn't consider myself svelte even today, just in way better shape...
My first ride on my brand spankin' new Trek 5200 was only like 4 or 5 miles max such was my physical state that I didn't know how I'd do. I felt good after that ride and was amazed to look down at my cycling computer and see how fast I was going down some small hills. I wasn't fast, but that was okay, I was having fun.
I began to devour anything I could get my hands on that pertained to the history of cycling and on improving my performance. Pretty soon everything I was reading was using the 175 lb athlete as the benchmark. There was nothing for folks in my weight range (at the time 200+). I was researching different parts that I could swap out to make my bike lighter thinking that was what would make the most difference. The spring of 2006 saw me upgrade the bars, stem, seat post & pedals along with my cycling shoes and a better helmet.
I was becoming a weight weenie, which is a cyclist so obsessive over the weight of their bike that they will spend hundreds on a carbon fiber component that weighs 100 grams less than the top end aluminium component. I thought that by getting the bike as light as I could that it would make all the difference with my performance.
Another aspect to improving my performance at the time and through subsequent years up until 2012 was that I had to carb load, i.e. eat a bunch of pasta and such because I didn't want to bonk. All the aforementioned books that referenced the 175 lb cyclist talked about eating bars & gels at the rate of 250 grams of carbs per hour because that is what the body can process. The pros eat spaghetti pre-ride so that's what I did.
For real, I would make a small bowl of pasta top it off with Parmesan cheese and an egg all because the pros did it. However as I have learned in subsequent years is that what the pros do isn't necessarily the latest & greatest nor is what they say they do, actually what they do. For an example along those lines is how whatever bike is sponsoring their team that year is the best bike they have ever ridden. The proof in the pudding is to see what bike they get when they retire, when it is their choice.
Plus, what I ride in a year, they cover just doing the Tour de France and several week long stage races. They are riding their bikes way more than I do.
Because of his association with Lance Armstrong, I followed a lot of what Chris Carmichael was offering in the form of books & articles online. What we didn't know at the time was that Carmichael was essentially a beard for Michele Ferrari. And no matter what I did, my weight didn't budge past a certain point. I could ride for hours & days on end and fuel the way I should be based on what I was told by the mainstream and my weight would not budge or it would go up.
I basically resigned myself to being a 200 lb cyclist...
...Then I discovered ancestral health, dropped sugar & grains (except when I was on the bike) and eventually dropped to 185 lbs, which was a weight I'd not seen since 1992 or Junior year of high school pre-drivers license. And as I became fat adapted, I found that I could make my bike jump and go fast all because I lost weight, not my bike. I could do a century (100 miles) and feel as fresh at the end as I did at the beginning and wake up the following day ready to go again. Yes it helped that the bike I was on a great bike, a Cervelo S5 with deep section aero wheels, but in order to make that bike do what it is designed to, I had to be fit or rather fitter than I was previously.
Kicking grains & sugars got me there.
...Then stress kicked in and I ended up chasing that dragon for the last 5 years.
Now I know what's up. I know all those books about carb loading and eating x # of grams per hour are a joke. I was always upset that those books with the 175 lb cyclist focused only on those folks because I felt that there were more of me than them.
One of the last "fitness" books I bought pre 2012 paradigm shift was called Race Weight (I think). In it I followed the carb loading post workout with a massive bowl of macaroni that was recommended. Guess what happened? Not only did my weight balloon up, but I also had bad blood values all because I was doing what I was told would work to get me to being a 175 lb cyclist.
So now, my target weight is 175-170 lbs. Again, I've never been lower as an adult than 185. Hitting 180 and lower will be an interesting no man's land. I'll have no idea how I'll perform on the bike other than that my climbing should improve a lot.
I never thought I could be that 175 lb cyclist, but now because of a couple of guys named Loren Cordain, Ph.D. & Vinnie Tortorich I am within sight of that target. Dr. Cordain got me started back in 2012 and Vinnie has reinvigorated me with his podcast & his attitude towards food, nutrition & cycling and life.
Just kidding, I wouldn't consider myself svelte even today, just in way better shape...
My first ride on my brand spankin' new Trek 5200 was only like 4 or 5 miles max such was my physical state that I didn't know how I'd do. I felt good after that ride and was amazed to look down at my cycling computer and see how fast I was going down some small hills. I wasn't fast, but that was okay, I was having fun.
 |
| Here's a stock photo of a Trek 5000 minus pedals, this is the bike I had back in 2005-2006 |
I was becoming a weight weenie, which is a cyclist so obsessive over the weight of their bike that they will spend hundreds on a carbon fiber component that weighs 100 grams less than the top end aluminium component. I thought that by getting the bike as light as I could that it would make all the difference with my performance.
Another aspect to improving my performance at the time and through subsequent years up until 2012 was that I had to carb load, i.e. eat a bunch of pasta and such because I didn't want to bonk. All the aforementioned books that referenced the 175 lb cyclist talked about eating bars & gels at the rate of 250 grams of carbs per hour because that is what the body can process. The pros eat spaghetti pre-ride so that's what I did.
For real, I would make a small bowl of pasta top it off with Parmesan cheese and an egg all because the pros did it. However as I have learned in subsequent years is that what the pros do isn't necessarily the latest & greatest nor is what they say they do, actually what they do. For an example along those lines is how whatever bike is sponsoring their team that year is the best bike they have ever ridden. The proof in the pudding is to see what bike they get when they retire, when it is their choice.
Plus, what I ride in a year, they cover just doing the Tour de France and several week long stage races. They are riding their bikes way more than I do.
Because of his association with Lance Armstrong, I followed a lot of what Chris Carmichael was offering in the form of books & articles online. What we didn't know at the time was that Carmichael was essentially a beard for Michele Ferrari. And no matter what I did, my weight didn't budge past a certain point. I could ride for hours & days on end and fuel the way I should be based on what I was told by the mainstream and my weight would not budge or it would go up.
I basically resigned myself to being a 200 lb cyclist...
...Then I discovered ancestral health, dropped sugar & grains (except when I was on the bike) and eventually dropped to 185 lbs, which was a weight I'd not seen since 1992 or Junior year of high school pre-drivers license. And as I became fat adapted, I found that I could make my bike jump and go fast all because I lost weight, not my bike. I could do a century (100 miles) and feel as fresh at the end as I did at the beginning and wake up the following day ready to go again. Yes it helped that the bike I was on a great bike, a Cervelo S5 with deep section aero wheels, but in order to make that bike do what it is designed to, I had to be fit or rather fitter than I was previously.
Kicking grains & sugars got me there.
...Then stress kicked in and I ended up chasing that dragon for the last 5 years.
Now I know what's up. I know all those books about carb loading and eating x # of grams per hour are a joke. I was always upset that those books with the 175 lb cyclist focused only on those folks because I felt that there were more of me than them.
One of the last "fitness" books I bought pre 2012 paradigm shift was called Race Weight (I think). In it I followed the carb loading post workout with a massive bowl of macaroni that was recommended. Guess what happened? Not only did my weight balloon up, but I also had bad blood values all because I was doing what I was told would work to get me to being a 175 lb cyclist.
So now, my target weight is 175-170 lbs. Again, I've never been lower as an adult than 185. Hitting 180 and lower will be an interesting no man's land. I'll have no idea how I'll perform on the bike other than that my climbing should improve a lot.
I never thought I could be that 175 lb cyclist, but now because of a couple of guys named Loren Cordain, Ph.D. & Vinnie Tortorich I am within sight of that target. Dr. Cordain got me started back in 2012 and Vinnie has reinvigorated me with his podcast & his attitude towards food, nutrition & cycling and life.
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
99% Sugar Free Century
In cycling terms, a century designates 100 miles ridden in one day. It's a bit of a badge of honor and or a milestone for us and to those non-cyclists it's a bit of a head scratcher that generates a look of horror mixed with a decidely quizzical experssion.
Most non-cyclists cannot fathom doing 100 miles on a bike, let alone 10 miles. And to some extent I can understand that because I cannot fathom running more than 3 miles. Thus those who run half or full marathons are crazy. And don't even get me thinking about those ultra marathon events...
Back in the middle of June I found myself once more in North Berwick at 6:30 a.m. at the house of a friend who is also an avid cyclist. The two of us and one other were meeting there to ride up to Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Every year, barring one of my 12 participation in the Trek Across Maine I have ridden with these two to Sunday River. Sometimes there are more of us, but over the last 12 years we've been the core group.
June mornings in Maine can be quite cool, temperatures usually are in the mid to high 50s by 6 and as the sun creeps over the horizon temperatures rise rapidly. Mid to high 50s for a Mainer is shorts & t-shirt weather. On a bike though you have the added factor of wind, which can make the usually bearable temperatures less so when your heart rate is not that high.
We set out, I opting to forego a wind vest and knee warmers, but my arms covered because I knew from past experience that was all I needed. The mosquitoes that morning realizing the bounty that awaited them managed to appear just as we were leaving. Mosquitoes don't like cool mornings and what few I initially encountered were sluggish yet persistent.
A very brief section of town maintained dirt road greeted us for the first quarter mile. This was followed by a quick pause once we encountered pavement to wipe any grit and gravel adhering to our tires, lest we get a slow puncture as a result. About a mile or so down the road a short but steep wall greeted us. My legs yet to warm up weren't pleased but as with all that goes up,it to shall go down. We regrouped a bit further down the road just as the first real downhill approached.
I like going downhill fast and because of my weight I can hit some good speeds. However since becoming both a husband and later a father I don't take too many risks going down hill. In this case though I was familiar with the road and confident in both it's condition, my bike & my skills. Without even trying I hit 50 mph, which is both quite a lot of fun but equally crazy given how narrow road bicycle tires are.
By the time we emerged onto rt 4 in Sanford we were sufficiently warmed up and began to edge our speed up. My friend whose house we departed from is a strong cyclist and likes to sit on the front of the group. He also doesn't use a cycling computer so he has no real way of knowing how fast he's going, he really gauges his speed soley on how much effort is he putting out and like I said he's a machine.
We dropped our other friend at some point in this stretch of rt. 4 as we headed towards Alfred. D generally has fewer miles in his legs than us two so its not uncommon for him to drop off and ride his own ride. That day we had a tailwind, which was great but at the same time it also meant that we could easily go to hard too soon and end up paying for it at the end of the ride.
By now the course we follow is well ingrained in my head. And it's also neatly broken up into 25 mile segments, which is how I approach it for the most part. Thus we arrived in Limerick and stopped in at the local General Store. The only downside to stopping here is that they don't allow customers to use their restrooms. This was also were I began refueling for the ride and this is where I began to enter no-man's land for me.
All winter & spring I'd ridden without sugar or grains aka gels & bars. For the majority of my rides I was under 50 miles so I didn't need to eat, but I did use tea in my bottles. So this was going to be a wicked experiment where I didn't use gels, bars or sports drinks.
I put several packs of cashews into my jersey pockets and that's what my fuel was for the day. I tore into the first packet and ate even though I wasn't quite hungry yet, but I didn't want to run into a scenario where I did get hungry because then I'm chasing it rather than being out ahead. And speaking of being ahead as there was no bathroom, I rode ahead of my buddies to a scenic lookout where I knew a port-a-potty awaited.
The next 25 miles from Limerick through Cornish to Denmark are some of the most beautiful roads in Maine. At one point we cross and then ride along the Saco River. The roads here are usually free of cars to the point where when we do encounter one it usually takes us by surprise because of how infrequent it is.
The other thing about this leg of the ride is that you know when you hit Denmark that it's time for lunch at Jim Bob's Convenience Store, the last few miles into Denmark are also slightly downhill, which means easier pedaling, but not so easy that you can coast.
The folks who run & work at Jim Bob's remember us and look forward to seeing us each year. I'm particularly memorable because of my order, a ham Italian sans bread, which they put on a bed of lettuce. C the guy whose house we left from & I got there before D and settled in to our lunches. D got there about 3/4 of the way through our meal and insisted we not wait for him.
Awaiting us straight out the gate from Jim Bob's was a climb, which normally would not be a big deal, but we'd just sat for about 30 minutes. Our legs were tight and not happy about this effort. To make matters worse out of nowhere the ugliest black lab charged us from the other side of the road. It very nearly got hit by a car in the process and then C in trying to get it away made the dog think he was playing with it!
A bit past this was a right turn that would eventually lead to another right and short fast downhill before we eventually passed Shawnee Peak Ski Resort, yet another marker on the trip north. Just past Shawnee Peak we have another long easy climb and then a wicked stretch of downhill and by wicked I mean long and gradually the decline levels out. And that puts in to mile 75 aka Center Lovell and another General Store. Again I had my cashews and was feeling great. By this point we have 25 to go and some hills ahead, but the route begins to level out a bit as well or rather the hills are more gradual.
C & I eventually got to somewhere around 12 miles out from Sunday River when I started to feel something odd. I have never truly bonked and didn't want to that day. I had cashews and that ham Italian and water all day. At this point I had a bottle of water with MCT oil and probably should have drank that sooner, but I didn't. Macadamias being a nut higher in fat and lower in carbs also might have been a better choice. C had gotten a coke in Center Lovell, so I took a sip of what little was left in his bottle and immediately felt better. Yup I was nearing a bonk.
At around 7 miles to go we ran into some folks I know from a cycling club in Kennebunk, they too were riding up so C & I rode with them into Bethel and a convenience store. It was here at mile 94 that I had my first real big amount of sugar that day when I bought a coke. I knew that the Sunday River access road and it's grades of 13% or more for over a mile awaited me and I did not want to blow up there.
The Coke was tasty as ice cold ones are on a hot day. I refilled my bottles with water and off we went. C had already taken off and I didn't bother catching him and eventually I did see him and might have caught him on the access road had he not turned off to go to the Grand Summit Hotel at Sunday River. I was headed to South Ridge Lodge, which is where all Trek functions were taking place including bike storage. That 13% grade really bit into my legs, but I threw it into my lowest gear 34x32 and just rode it at my own pace at that point. As I neared South Ridge the grade eased and I threw into the big ring for a final charge at the non-existent line.
And there I was at Sunday River having ridden a Century, 99% on no sugar no grains and I was pleased as one could be. Now I'd have been more pleased had I done it 100% but I was not about to let my ego trump reality. I hadn't had a chance to test anything out before this ride, so I was headed into the great unknown so to speak and came out intact and with ideas with which to make it better next year. Or the next century I ride, if any, this year.
Most non-cyclists cannot fathom doing 100 miles on a bike, let alone 10 miles. And to some extent I can understand that because I cannot fathom running more than 3 miles. Thus those who run half or full marathons are crazy. And don't even get me thinking about those ultra marathon events...
Back in the middle of June I found myself once more in North Berwick at 6:30 a.m. at the house of a friend who is also an avid cyclist. The two of us and one other were meeting there to ride up to Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, Maine. Every year, barring one of my 12 participation in the Trek Across Maine I have ridden with these two to Sunday River. Sometimes there are more of us, but over the last 12 years we've been the core group.
June mornings in Maine can be quite cool, temperatures usually are in the mid to high 50s by 6 and as the sun creeps over the horizon temperatures rise rapidly. Mid to high 50s for a Mainer is shorts & t-shirt weather. On a bike though you have the added factor of wind, which can make the usually bearable temperatures less so when your heart rate is not that high.
We set out, I opting to forego a wind vest and knee warmers, but my arms covered because I knew from past experience that was all I needed. The mosquitoes that morning realizing the bounty that awaited them managed to appear just as we were leaving. Mosquitoes don't like cool mornings and what few I initially encountered were sluggish yet persistent.
A very brief section of town maintained dirt road greeted us for the first quarter mile. This was followed by a quick pause once we encountered pavement to wipe any grit and gravel adhering to our tires, lest we get a slow puncture as a result. About a mile or so down the road a short but steep wall greeted us. My legs yet to warm up weren't pleased but as with all that goes up,it to shall go down. We regrouped a bit further down the road just as the first real downhill approached.
I like going downhill fast and because of my weight I can hit some good speeds. However since becoming both a husband and later a father I don't take too many risks going down hill. In this case though I was familiar with the road and confident in both it's condition, my bike & my skills. Without even trying I hit 50 mph, which is both quite a lot of fun but equally crazy given how narrow road bicycle tires are.
By the time we emerged onto rt 4 in Sanford we were sufficiently warmed up and began to edge our speed up. My friend whose house we departed from is a strong cyclist and likes to sit on the front of the group. He also doesn't use a cycling computer so he has no real way of knowing how fast he's going, he really gauges his speed soley on how much effort is he putting out and like I said he's a machine.
We dropped our other friend at some point in this stretch of rt. 4 as we headed towards Alfred. D generally has fewer miles in his legs than us two so its not uncommon for him to drop off and ride his own ride. That day we had a tailwind, which was great but at the same time it also meant that we could easily go to hard too soon and end up paying for it at the end of the ride.
By now the course we follow is well ingrained in my head. And it's also neatly broken up into 25 mile segments, which is how I approach it for the most part. Thus we arrived in Limerick and stopped in at the local General Store. The only downside to stopping here is that they don't allow customers to use their restrooms. This was also were I began refueling for the ride and this is where I began to enter no-man's land for me.
All winter & spring I'd ridden without sugar or grains aka gels & bars. For the majority of my rides I was under 50 miles so I didn't need to eat, but I did use tea in my bottles. So this was going to be a wicked experiment where I didn't use gels, bars or sports drinks.
I put several packs of cashews into my jersey pockets and that's what my fuel was for the day. I tore into the first packet and ate even though I wasn't quite hungry yet, but I didn't want to run into a scenario where I did get hungry because then I'm chasing it rather than being out ahead. And speaking of being ahead as there was no bathroom, I rode ahead of my buddies to a scenic lookout where I knew a port-a-potty awaited.
 |
| The r3 at the scenic view, the spaciously sized porta-a-john is to the right off camera |
The next 25 miles from Limerick through Cornish to Denmark are some of the most beautiful roads in Maine. At one point we cross and then ride along the Saco River. The roads here are usually free of cars to the point where when we do encounter one it usually takes us by surprise because of how infrequent it is.
The other thing about this leg of the ride is that you know when you hit Denmark that it's time for lunch at Jim Bob's Convenience Store, the last few miles into Denmark are also slightly downhill, which means easier pedaling, but not so easy that you can coast.
The folks who run & work at Jim Bob's remember us and look forward to seeing us each year. I'm particularly memorable because of my order, a ham Italian sans bread, which they put on a bed of lettuce. C the guy whose house we left from & I got there before D and settled in to our lunches. D got there about 3/4 of the way through our meal and insisted we not wait for him.
 |
| Jim Bob's, Denmark, Maine |
Awaiting us straight out the gate from Jim Bob's was a climb, which normally would not be a big deal, but we'd just sat for about 30 minutes. Our legs were tight and not happy about this effort. To make matters worse out of nowhere the ugliest black lab charged us from the other side of the road. It very nearly got hit by a car in the process and then C in trying to get it away made the dog think he was playing with it!
A bit past this was a right turn that would eventually lead to another right and short fast downhill before we eventually passed Shawnee Peak Ski Resort, yet another marker on the trip north. Just past Shawnee Peak we have another long easy climb and then a wicked stretch of downhill and by wicked I mean long and gradually the decline levels out. And that puts in to mile 75 aka Center Lovell and another General Store. Again I had my cashews and was feeling great. By this point we have 25 to go and some hills ahead, but the route begins to level out a bit as well or rather the hills are more gradual.
C & I eventually got to somewhere around 12 miles out from Sunday River when I started to feel something odd. I have never truly bonked and didn't want to that day. I had cashews and that ham Italian and water all day. At this point I had a bottle of water with MCT oil and probably should have drank that sooner, but I didn't. Macadamias being a nut higher in fat and lower in carbs also might have been a better choice. C had gotten a coke in Center Lovell, so I took a sip of what little was left in his bottle and immediately felt better. Yup I was nearing a bonk.
 |
| The author wondering where to go... |
At around 7 miles to go we ran into some folks I know from a cycling club in Kennebunk, they too were riding up so C & I rode with them into Bethel and a convenience store. It was here at mile 94 that I had my first real big amount of sugar that day when I bought a coke. I knew that the Sunday River access road and it's grades of 13% or more for over a mile awaited me and I did not want to blow up there.
The Coke was tasty as ice cold ones are on a hot day. I refilled my bottles with water and off we went. C had already taken off and I didn't bother catching him and eventually I did see him and might have caught him on the access road had he not turned off to go to the Grand Summit Hotel at Sunday River. I was headed to South Ridge Lodge, which is where all Trek functions were taking place including bike storage. That 13% grade really bit into my legs, but I threw it into my lowest gear 34x32 and just rode it at my own pace at that point. As I neared South Ridge the grade eased and I threw into the big ring for a final charge at the non-existent line.
And there I was at Sunday River having ridden a Century, 99% on no sugar no grains and I was pleased as one could be. Now I'd have been more pleased had I done it 100% but I was not about to let my ego trump reality. I hadn't had a chance to test anything out before this ride, so I was headed into the great unknown so to speak and came out intact and with ideas with which to make it better next year. Or the next century I ride, if any, this year.
 |
| South Ridge Lodge at Sunday River Ski Resort, Newry Maine where the morning after this the Trek would commence. |
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Update on the (mostly to date) Sugar Free Lifestyle...
Back in January I wrote about my success with NSNG, aka no
sugar no grains, which is a close cousin of Paleo. The difference is that NSNG allows for dairy,
especially full fat dairy and it recognizes that we aren’t perfect and that now
& again having something that is normally off limits is not the worst thing
to happen.
So long story short there came a point in February where I
slipped and had a treat ending a sugar free streak that was quite long and with
that I became an intermittent eater of sugar once more. That isn’t to say I fell completely off the
wagon, because I didn’t, but I wasn’t 100% NSNG rather I was more like 80-85%,
which for some can be fine, but personally for my goals that isn’t good enough.
By the end of June I’d ridden more miles in 2017 than all of
2016 combined so I think even though exercise is a poor way to lose weight,
that it did help keep any excess weight off.
When I was on my bike racking up those miles (over 2,200 fyi) I was NSNG
and the only stuff put in my water bottles was either tea or MCT oil. The majority of my rides were under 50 miles
so I didn’t need to eat while on the bike and up to the 1st of April
I’d been doing strict zone 2 HR training, which kept my heart rate low to burn
fat for fuel not glycogen aka sugars.
I had three cycling goals for the spring. The first was the Crank the Kanc hillclimb
time trial. I sucked hard that day and
ended up being the second to last male rider in my age group. The last guy was hauling a tag along with a
couple of kids. I just did not perform
that day and I was not happy about it. I
slacked off, no doubt about it and those slips & trips with sugar meant
that I was at a steady weight and never dropped anything.
Years ago during my archaeology days, I had a crew chief who
was big into martial arts and being a home brew guy. But he came to a point in his life where he
had to decide what he like more martial arts or home brew because the latter
was causing his weight to fluctuate in a way he didn’t like. He was on the rollercoaster of losing during
the week and then come the weekends he’d brew and imbibe and gain it all back.
I was on a similar course except that my weight because of
the treats and the cycling was staying put, granted it was staying put at an
okay weight. However that weight was not
idea for going uphill on a bike very fast.
There were other mistakes made that day in terms of gear choice and warm
up, but at the end of the event it also came down to my decisions pure &
simple.
Next up was the White Mountain Memorial Day Classic, a ride
which I adore and have a bit of history with.
In 2012 I finally made it to the top of Hurricane Mt without stopping
and was literally flying until I crashed out and since then while I have gone
up Hurricane without stopping I haven’t gone up it feeling the same and haven’t
been flying since. Well this year like
last year it rained. Now I’ll ride in
the rain as it is not a big deal, but cold & rain, no thank you. And so I missed it again.
Third was the my 12th Trek Across Maine, the Trek
is 180 miles over 3 days from Sunday River Ski Resort to Belfast. I love this
ride and every year barring 1, I have ridden up to it with some friends. Now at the Trek all food is provided by the locations
where we stay, so it is tricky to be fully NSNG off the bike.
On the bike though I was able to stay NSNG, including the majority
of the 100 miles we rode up to Sunday River from North Berwick, Maine. And since then I have been thinking about how
I want to proceed with NSNG.
Do I go strict NSNG and go into ketosis and become ripped?
Do I go into a 95-99% state of NSNG?
I think and it’s really hard right now because of it being
summer and wanting ice cream, but I think I have to go full NSNG at least until
I know I can deal with the sugar beast.
Now that may mean I never taste sugar again, which even though I know
how good those things taste, is a good thing because regardless of taste they
are just awful for my health. And I’m
aware of enough of my limitations that I know I can’t just eat one. For me one leads to two and two to three.
So for now I take it day by day and try to get this under
control. I know I can do it, it’s just
getting there without any hiccups that is the kicker.
Monday, July 17, 2017
Memories Are Made of These...
What is your earliest memory?
My earliest somewhat vaguest memory is of an Afro-Caribbean gentleman who stopped me from wandering further afield when we visited my father's parents in Bermuda. I've no idea why I wandered off, nor did my parents. I just did it and this gentleman stopped me and kept me there until my parents came to get me. I think I was around 2.
After that, there are other vague memories like a stage production of Batman & Robin, of which there are photos from the event. But my most solid memories come from when I was 5. It was May 1980 and my Uncle took myself & my cousin Dave to see The Empire Strikes Back. I slept over that night, we went to McDonald's in Sanford, Maine and then up the street to the Jerry Lewis Cinema. McDonald's was doing a drinking glass promotion of the film and I got one of them.
As stated in other entries, I plan on doing the Mt. Washington Hillclimb. I'd wanted to do it the year I turned 40, but it did not happen. Once I got the r3, I was one step closer and had planned on doing it within 2 years of that acquisition. That plan meant that next summer I'd tackle the event.
I'm postponing my participation for at least 3 years. Why? See the photo below...
The back of this photo has a stamp from wherever my parents had the film processed, it reads November 1975, which puts me (the adorable bundle of joy in the carrier) at approximately 7-9 months old given the clothing being worn. That's my Dad rockin' his 70s 'stache and my sister who'd not yet be 5 years old. It's also the summit of Mt Washington, hence why it's summer and they are wearing jackets, thus putting it between July - September 1975.
I do not recall this trip, nor would I given my age.
My youngest is 2.5 and I want her to be able to remember seeing her dad ride a bike up Mt. Washington. Thus, pushing out to 45 adds another 3 years for all my kids to get a bit older and thus be able to recall seeing me do this.
There's also another more practical reason too. Aside from upgrading my bike to get it as light as possible. I also need to get as light as possible to maintain the perfect balance of power to weight. Traditionally I have been quite good at keeping my weight down from January through the Trek Across Maine in June and then it usually creeps back up and so I start the cycle all over again in January. This year I plan to keep the downward trend of my weight going.
The new plan is thus, shoot for 2020 when I'll be 45. Upgrade the gruppo and wheels over the next two years. Finally, start doing more hillclimb races to get whatever practice I can get all so I can suffer over 7 miles and thousands of elevation and steep grades to show my kids that nothing cannot be overcome so long as you have a bit of grit & determination.
But most importantly I want my kids to remember seeing their dad ride Mt. Washington.
My earliest somewhat vaguest memory is of an Afro-Caribbean gentleman who stopped me from wandering further afield when we visited my father's parents in Bermuda. I've no idea why I wandered off, nor did my parents. I just did it and this gentleman stopped me and kept me there until my parents came to get me. I think I was around 2.
After that, there are other vague memories like a stage production of Batman & Robin, of which there are photos from the event. But my most solid memories come from when I was 5. It was May 1980 and my Uncle took myself & my cousin Dave to see The Empire Strikes Back. I slept over that night, we went to McDonald's in Sanford, Maine and then up the street to the Jerry Lewis Cinema. McDonald's was doing a drinking glass promotion of the film and I got one of them.
As stated in other entries, I plan on doing the Mt. Washington Hillclimb. I'd wanted to do it the year I turned 40, but it did not happen. Once I got the r3, I was one step closer and had planned on doing it within 2 years of that acquisition. That plan meant that next summer I'd tackle the event.
I'm postponing my participation for at least 3 years. Why? See the photo below...
The back of this photo has a stamp from wherever my parents had the film processed, it reads November 1975, which puts me (the adorable bundle of joy in the carrier) at approximately 7-9 months old given the clothing being worn. That's my Dad rockin' his 70s 'stache and my sister who'd not yet be 5 years old. It's also the summit of Mt Washington, hence why it's summer and they are wearing jackets, thus putting it between July - September 1975.
I do not recall this trip, nor would I given my age.
My youngest is 2.5 and I want her to be able to remember seeing her dad ride a bike up Mt. Washington. Thus, pushing out to 45 adds another 3 years for all my kids to get a bit older and thus be able to recall seeing me do this.
There's also another more practical reason too. Aside from upgrading my bike to get it as light as possible. I also need to get as light as possible to maintain the perfect balance of power to weight. Traditionally I have been quite good at keeping my weight down from January through the Trek Across Maine in June and then it usually creeps back up and so I start the cycle all over again in January. This year I plan to keep the downward trend of my weight going.
The new plan is thus, shoot for 2020 when I'll be 45. Upgrade the gruppo and wheels over the next two years. Finally, start doing more hillclimb races to get whatever practice I can get all so I can suffer over 7 miles and thousands of elevation and steep grades to show my kids that nothing cannot be overcome so long as you have a bit of grit & determination.
But most importantly I want my kids to remember seeing their dad ride Mt. Washington.
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