Turbo rollers?

"Now I know many of you watch our videos by sitting on your turbo rollers and get inspiration"
God, I love you Phil and Paul. I love yelling at the screen when you get some information wrong. For example, I saw Stuey close the gap on Wesserman in Roubaix 2006, these two were still debating how Stuey got across the gap after he won the race. I had a few hours to vent on that one tonight. Luckily, that is done for today, and I have just finished enjoying a spot of Pinot and some wicked pasta. Oh, other than the snow tyres today, one other important purchase. Old man slippers. These puppies are wicked and only ran me $10 plus tax. I may have to buy several. Perhaps even a formal pair to wear with my plaid golf pants. Notice the classy carpet in my room. One level below (or maybe above?) shag on the classy scale. Hope you all are enjoying your "turbo rollers". Just remember, spring is near.


ps - check out this website! Some of the most wicked bike related clothes ever! I'm soooo close to just handing them my credit card.
http://www.opsalsport.com/modules/gallery/t-shirts.html

Official and whatnot

Celebration Belgie styles. Notice the new Stella Glass. Classy.

http://www.canadiancyclist.com
http://www.pedalmag.com

Its official. Team announcement. And apparently I'm the official French to English translator. Busy day off today (school that is). As reported on yesterday. Some more long hours on the trainer, no real surprise in that respect I guess. I have a few mildly entertaining pictures to share as well. Mostly cause I'm pretty excited and have had a little too much coffee this morning so far. The twitch is back. And this current music choice is not helping matters. Damn Thunderstruck.

Some celebratory Vino this morning. While writing the blog and talking to
my baking companion, the one and only Sarah Coney. Whos blog is faltering.

This is the true secret to how to ride inside for hours. Ride until you fall off.

Phil & Paul

These clowns get us through the winter. Cyclists will know exactly who I'm talking about, the rest of you will scratch your heads and wonder what I'm smoking. (The answer is nothing, mom.) Trainer time today. Took the afternoon off school, nothing happening as its the last class, with no exam forth coming. Felt like taking it easy. And by easy I meant ride. And then relax. Watched the 2006 Fleche Wallonne, hence....
word of the day: quack
Paul & Phil's translation: A bonehead move involving swerving your bicycle.
Use it in a sentance: Oh, Asterloa has quacked Bettini. (Asterloa swerved and nearly clipped Bettini).
No school tomorrow, but busy nonetheless. Winter tyres to be installed at 11, gotta get into school by 1 for a math re-test. Apparently myself and the rest of the class did so dismally on the last test we are being giving a chance at a re-test. Not that I failed like a good portion of the class, but I did make a number of bone headed, rushed calculations that left my mark with something to be desired. So I'll take this chance to allow myself to not have to work quite so hard on the exam. Somewhere after that, I may just ride my bike as well. Who knows, I'm just crazy like that. One more big architecture project to go this weekend, and then the infamous exam week. Then freedom. Should be a fun weekend. I may even try to study. We'll see what exam comes on Monday. If its English, I'm going out to the bar instead.

Thoughts on the trainer

I have received many a question and comment regarding the amount of trainer riding going on in my life. Mostly revolving around, how I survive long boring rides inside. To be fair, I didn't used to just hop on and spin out 4 hours +. I as well used to be like most of you, basically ready to throw the damn thing out the window after say 1 hour or so. I've slowly built up over the years, to the mentally unstable individual you see writing before you. Basically, I have developed an ability to basically shut down my brain for hours. This comes in handy in many other situations such as: talking to women (maybe why I stand as so unsuccessful in the long term?) and attending class. Other than my obvious turn something on, aka music, movie, race, tele... I have a few other pointers that help get me through some long hours.
-The first and last hours always suck. Always. The key is to break it down. I go by 10 minute and 1 hour sections.
-Eat regularly. Doesn't really matter much, what ever you feel like. Make it also a reward of some kind. Some like cookies. I mix it up. Anything from fruit, to hot dogs. I like to make it a rule to eat every 45 minutes.
-Drink even more regularly. I go through 2 bottles an hour. Think about it, you are sweating without any true wind. If you are dehydrated when you get off, you will not recover well and therefor the next session will suck more than it should. Plus it gives you a reason to get off and re-fill the bottles every hour. These breaks can be just what you need to keep your head in the game and your mind motivated.
-Set reasonable goals. If you are used to 10 hours a week, don't suddenly jump to 15-20 hours a week on the trainer. Sure fire burn out recipe. We still got a way to go to the real season. Maybe work on 1 long ride a week. Slowly build up as your body adapts.
If all else fails. Try something else. And by that, I mean go for a ski one or two days a week. Go for a run (I can't fully suggest this one wholeheartedly as I hate running) but the basic idea is to mix it up. Some cross training can do wonders for the brain and brake up the monotony of the trainer. I know the skiing is pretty wicked right now.
Oh, and please shower directly after finishing your ride. For all of us.

Disapointing

I think I was expecting (from the warnings from my mother) some kind of snow fall resembling one of the "powder days" I experienced in BC. The kind where you try to open the door, but there is too much snow, so maybe you crawl through a window. Cars don't move, everyone just starts running/walking to the hill. I mean, I did see an ATV/snow mobile thing driving down the road today. But hey, I do live in a hick town. Thats not all that unusual. The weather claims more snow still, but all is calm for the moment with only a light powder fluttering down. I may even be able to drive myself to the grocery store later on. Much needed. Dependant on whether the ol' Civic can make it out the driveway. Potentially no class today. Here's hoping no one can make it in! Otherwise more trainer time to fill out the final week of classes.

First ski

Snow storm coming. So I rushed out for a ski late morning (had to fit in a few hours on the rollers first) with Keir. Strapped on the ol' skate skis and hit the park. I must say, for the first of December, conditions are pretty wild. And should only be getting better for the next bit, with this 20-40cm of snow for cast by tomorrow eve. Dang. That's a lot of powder. Almost wish I was closer to a ski hill to go rip some powder tomorrow. How often can you say ski and fresh powder in the same sentence around here. More like ski and "glare ice". None the less, a good quality 1.5 hour ski with Keir along the parkway and Ridge road. Plus I only ate it once. Stupid Penguin and my insistence on tele turning my way through it. I blame the tourists who keep snow plowing through all the corners. Made a brief stop at Les Saisons for a nice warming cafe on the way home and a stop at the dep for the kid to buy some vino. Silly underager. I picked a sweet bottle of red up at the LCBO on the way home instead. Went quite nicely with my leftover pasta and fresh homemade pizza. I'll leave this informative session off with a glimpse of how I bring style to the cross country world. Picture credit to Giro de Keir. Ignore the jacket. Its all I had around my closet in Ottawa.

Official: winter is here

Yup. You heard it here first. How is this only now official you may ask? Sandy is strapping skis to his feet for the first time of the season. Thats why. Its a sign that I am temporarily giving up on the outdoor riding for at least a few days. First, a couple hours on the rollers, cause we all know the first ski of the season is painful and short. Me an Keir intend to keep it around the 2 hour mark. If we last that long. In other news, according to my mother, some storm of epic proportions is blowing up this way from Toronto. The crazy Toronto folk (wankers) are claiming 20cm of snow AND freezing rain. What gives? And of course, my winter tyres are not being put on until Wednesday. Should be a fun drive home today. For now, the rollers are calling me. In some sort of odd, anti social way. Did I mention I am the prank war king for the weekend? Just ask the girls at wag what was in the box...