53x16

New Year, New Post

2012-01-20T07:33:00.003-07:00

Here is the obligatory New Year's Resolution post. Missed it last year, but with some reminding from Melanie got it up this year. Maybe I will post more .... or maybe not.

Rock in my Shoe?

2010-01-20T19:13:00.004-07:00

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So the holiday season has come and gone. It seems like yesterday I had a girlfriend... Yeah I did it. Popped the big question on a MTB ride. Luckily she said yes. So it made for a pretty great time celebrating and celebrating and celebrating. Yeah, drank way to much champagne, beer, wine, etc.

So now the semester has started and there is no extra time. Its going to be a couple of hard months, but that's life. Fortunately and unfortunately getting back on the bike is going slower than I want it too. At least, I'm back on the bike and that's the good thing.

So I got a nice little ride for you today. We (Cody, TJ, and I) used to call it the Ghetto Loop back in the day. It used to have a sprint a la American Flyer (luckily that mean looking pit bull never caught us). Its a nice little 40 miler with a climb up the backside of Gates. Here's the map.

View Larger Map
Have fun!

Wish I was as lazy as my dog

2009-12-15T07:25:00.006-07:00

Laying low and hitting it hard. Got a big 32 miles on the bike this weekend and despite having great aspirations, it wasn't as great as planned. I've been hitting the PT hard with John Woolf and its been going pretty well. Isolate an extreme muscle imbalance from one leg to the other and a lack of firing glutes. I've been riding back and forth to school which has been very liberating after slumming on the Sun Tran for the last couple of months. The Somec didn't go to well though and I felt all out of whack both rides along with some additional pain in the hip/groin area. Crap. Going to check it out today and see if we can make some changes to make things right.

Other than that, work has been slow on the new bus, but I just received some new fuel lines in the mail. I'm hoping to get them installed along with some vacuum lines and fire the old gal up. Nope, she doesn't have a name, yet.

From U of A Wildcat's Tailgating

I did start tearing the inside out, but hit a snag with a rusted bolt. The paint on the inside looks perfect. So that's a good sign. Just need to find some Vanagon front seats and put some new fabric on the inside to get rid of the smoky smell.

There are three new brews out there from Garden Brewing. Yeah, I gave myself a name, had to for the Christmas presents. There is Kurt's ESB (its his favorite), Pumpkin Ale, and Christmas Cheer!. <- I meant to do that, the name is Christmas Cheer!, not Christmas Cheer. I was going to go for the six pack, but I ran out of time and money for ingredients. Don't fear though, there is a full grain extraction setup in the works. I'm looking forward to making 5 gallons of beer for $20 and some relaxing brewing. And finally I wanted to start putting up some of my favorite rides in the Tucson area. So we will start with a old time favorite. This is the bare bones big square ride. Head out of town over Gates Pass, turn on Kinney and head through the park. Watch your turn onto Sandario and then down Manville. David has been known to hang round these parts. Turn the pedals over on the longest, windiest straightaway and hit up a killer brownie at the store. Then head back on Avra Valley (don't worry about the bump every 5 feet). Turn on Airline, then Lambert, beat Karew on the sprint over Rattlesnake pass, then head in Silverbell to Cortaro. Head down the frontage to Orange Grove. Then turn onto River and hit up the bike path whenever you want and head to Mountain Ave and the University. Of course, I like to spice it up a bit. Maybe I'll post my favorite route some other time, but this one will net you 65 miles and lots of flat windy riding along with one killer brownie. Enjoy (I can't get the map to cooperate, so you will need to zoom out.)
View Larger Map

Melting in Tucson (Hawaii)

2009-07-11T06:40:00.008-07:00

Well, it hasn't really been that bad. The summer started out pretty slowly with some killer weather in May and early June. If you throw in a five day trip to Oahu that makes it even better.Doesn't hurt when you go with a great gal and hang out with your best friend. We saw all the sights, attended a military ball, and I even got attacked by the state fish, an Hummuhunna-acaquacky-eickyeicky or something to that extent.

Mel started off the trip working on her hula skills while a bronze sculptor carefully replicated her unique style.

This is the bay were I got bitten by the fish. Mel's shoulder was still out of commission from the Tuesday ride crash. So I towed her around while she held onto my suit. I felt like a harassed sea turtle or a dolphin. (And I'm pretty sure it's illegal to hold on while there swimming and I think that the law should be extended to boyfriends as well.)

I bet you can't spot the cyclist on this beach? I'll give you a hint, that's not a white shirt that I'm wearing and Mel isn't wearing a one piece. We had a "bbq" on the beach in Lanikai and I'd have to say the backdrop is pretty stunning.

Rhona drove us up Tantalus Dr. and I shot this video of the drive. Let me tell you those Mini's really go.

We ended the trip with a nice walk in the park and a killer sunset. It was a killer trip and a ton of fun to hang out with Rocky and Rhona.

I have to roll to the coffee shot and to meet everyone at the end of the shootout, so I have to end this one with the Hawaii trip. I'll work on getting an update on the trip out to Tahoe for Tour de Nez and the reasons why I'm not throwing down in the 53x16 in a post or two. I'll leave you with one of the nature shots that I took. We also got a new camera and it pumps out some good pics, don't you think?

Until then Aloha!

It May? Where did all that time go?

2009-05-14T12:51:00.002-07:00

Well since you asked, here's a little list:
Teaching Lab
Training
Racing
Getting old
Hillsboro
Car time
Flagstaff
Car time
San Dimas
Car time
Teaching Lab
Car time
Redlands
car time (not again)
U of A Crit and Tuma (finally a win)
Weekend at Home!
Teaching Lab
State Crit
Teaching Lab
Mel's Bday!
Scholarship Dinner
Meet with lab sponsors
La Vuelta de Bisbee
AIAA conference
Collegiate Nationals
and
Grading

Dang its been a busy one, but I've had a great time the last couple of months. Now its time to buckle down. I have big plans that involve getting some big work done at home and in the lab. Throw in some good bike racing and the summer looks like a lot of fun.

The Amazing Starfuckers presented by Leroy Jenkins

2009-02-20T19:42:00.001-07:00

We rocked the 4 man open and once again came in 5th. Great times had by all, at least that's what I remember.

Got it?

Good!

Workin' it (or getting worked?)

2009-02-05T20:23:00.005-07:00

The last week has been full good news and a lot of work. Since seeing the doctor last month, I've been working on stretching out those pesky hip flexors. Then this past Friday, Brianna shredded the psoas and it resulted in me feeling much better on the bike than I have in a long time. Then this Wednesday, I got the results of the CT scan ... negative. So I've been reworking the scene of the crime and I think that it wasn't the waterskiing that ruined my back. It was playing King of the Raft with guys twice my size that resulted in a pulled iliopsoas and pain for the next two years. At least thats the thought of the day. Of course Mel says I should stop diagnosising myself because I haven't been right yet. Well, chances are I'll figure it out someday.

What I do know is that having 48 college students is a bit to much. The first lab of the semester was this Monday and we wired up some soda can's to determine the pressure inside them. I'm guess the students results will range from 0 psi to a couple million. Do they think about what they are writing? Sometimes I wonder.

So anyways, I've been riding again and thought I'd show you a pic of what I look like soon after a ride .....

Pretty worked, huh?

In order to get some extra miles, I've been bringing the race bike into school with me. Here's a shot getting home from school.

For all you hardcore training types out there, do the miles I logged with this rig count double?

Another Day, Another Dollar ... Well a lot of days, but only a couple dollars!

2009-01-25T19:47:00.003-07:00

Tomorrow I'll meet the next 48 kids that I'll attempt to teach. Those of you that stop by and read this or have a subscription on g reader already know that I spent last semester with 34 students and the same class. That's not because I wrote anything about it, but because you know me. I can't imagine anyone else dropping by for once a year post. That drive you to tears at the least. And unfortunately those aren't from laughing.

A lot has happened since I posted anything here and its been trying and rewarding and relaxing and hectic... Well its pretty much been a while and in that amount of time a lot can happen.
I finish the Tour of Utah by a string.
Got in pretty dang good shape for cross and then fell apart.
Mel had knee surgery.
My Nana passed away.
Hayduke slept on the couch.
I spread half the gravel.
Finished the drywall in the closet .... and then tore it down.
I told you a lot happened and that above is just the half of it.

At one point the stress of teaching and riding coupled with trying to do everything else finally caught up with me. I felt so bad I even contemplated a possible wheat allergy. That would have been a drag on the beer drinking to say the least. Luckily that wasn't the case. It was just my old habit of overworking my body my trying to do everything. Well, I'm not going to say that I'll change, but I'll give slowing down a chance.

So I regrouped and bulked up with Jesus. Not that Jesus. The one that rides and is a personal trainer. I worked on all the muscles I'd been neglecting. Was really excited for the new season with all the new guys on Rideclean. Then it happenned. My leg was hurting again. Not horribly or all the time. Just when I pushed it a little harder and mentally it was/is tough to face the fact that it wasn't just in my head. So I'm trying to figure it out again. We will see what the tests say, and if they don't find anything? Well, I'll just deal with it, and slog ahead.

Because you see that to me, the ride is worth the pain. It's a test of the body and chance to clear the mind. A five hour medidation broken only by the buzz of a rednecks truck out on big square. Now if I could only find a way to make riding, or the something to do with riding make me enough of that green paper to keep Mel, Hayduke, and myself living like kings then I'd be truly happy.

Now if only that homebrew was ready, cause I think I'd have one (or a couple).

Pre-Lab

2008-08-12T14:16:00.002-07:00

Well, we made it Park City last night for the 2008 Tour of Utah after a long drive from Phoenix. By long, I mean really long. When you are rolling with a 36' trailer and a bunch of people its never fast. The trip took 18+ hours which I think might be a record, but not one to brag about.

After a decent nights sleep the preparation started, which was only a short ride for us. Meanwhile the amazing support crew consisting of Marty (Director Sportif), Evan (feeder extraordinar), Kay (Massage Therapist), Jared (mechanic) and Brian (Rideclean cameraman etc.). While we are busy sitting around typing boring blog post, they were cleaning the bikes, cooking food, getting the bottles ready, and organizing for the upcoming days.

Looking forward to getting out there and riding as a team the next couple of days. We have a good bunch of guys and I think thats its going to be a great time. I'll be updating daily to let you know how it goes down and how the old and young handle the heat.

Small Update

2008-07-26T21:34:00.003-07:00

Its turned out to be a really busy summer, and that's not because I ended up heading to Nasa. I did get the roof done, but that huge pile of rock is still in the front yard. And a couple feet of weeds. The rain has been really coming down in Tucson, and unfortunately we have an evap (or swamp cooler). So it pretty much sucks in our house. All I can say is that September can't get here fast ehough.

Cascade went okay, despite a couple hard days at the beginning. I really rode crappy, but came around in the later stages. My positioning needs some work because trying to ride through the field and make the selection isn't really working. Mel was riding tough and then she headed out to the OTC (Olympic Training Center) which seemed to be a really good experience for her. I'm just hoping to make it to Cascade with some good legs. We will see how that pans out.

I'm working on our 1969 VW Type 2 (a bus or more specifically a baywindow bus) that we use for our tailgates. Its coming along now after two long years. I think its going to be pretty cool when it gets done. Check it out here if you are interested.

Thats it for tonight. I know, pretty lame. Well if you have read the other post, you know its pretty status quo.

Rollin on

2008-06-10T20:15:00.006-07:00

I'm still waiting from the dates from Nasa, but now word yet. So Cascade etc. is still up in the air. The last week or so has been pretty busy, but I've been getting a bunch done. It's been great to get back on the bike and get some training time in as well. As those euro fools would say, "Ahhh yes, my legs, they have, how you say, good sensations." Unfortunately not good enough to win the Arizona State RR this past weekend, but I did give it the old college try and ended up 4th.ble to give it a real go at Cascade for once.
As you can see, I've been working on keeping the bikes sparkling clean. I'm really diggin' the Fort frame and all the KCNC stuff. There is nothing like a stiff bike for racing and with all those trick components its pretty light as well.

The house is full swing and as you can tell from the pics, I usually start more than one project at once. Unfortunately the last owner of the house let the cooler run down the roof and cause a big leak that caused a bunch of damage, so rather than do the whole roof, I'm laying down the ghetto patch job. Hopefully when the monsoons roll around they water will stay out, but it couldn't have been any worse than before. We also purchased a ton of rock. Well, actually twenty to cut down on the dust stirred up by the dog and his little friend. Well, Molly (my parents dog) doesn't really hang out in the yard much, but they do make a pretty interesting couple.

Here are some ride stats to let you know how its going down out on the mean streets of Tucson:
- One Sun Tran sans driver parked in the bus lane (he was in Circle K)
- One plant watering stop
- An aggro lifted truck driver (when won't they be able to afford gas)
Thats all. Hopefully I write a post after a longer ride, so the stats are a bit more interesting.

Summertime and the livin's easy

2008-05-27T15:27:00.005-07:00

... Well at least compared to the last semester. Despite changing one of my two classes to audit and streamlining the on the bike training with an actual plan it might have been one of my busiest semesters. Although I anaged to get some really good results from the research in the lab and had some really good rides at races. Some of the highlights feature getting dropped out of the break or selection at pretty much every race. I know, number one rule in bike racing and I can't even get that right. One of the worst was the 60 mile four man break at TBC. Just me and three Mexican guys who happened to all be on the same team. Then at La Vuelta de Bisbee looked poised to finally pull of something good and then hit the deck at just south of 40 mph. Kind of ruined the next couple of weeks, but I suffered through and finish strong.

At least I got to watch Melanie tear it up at Gila and Collegiate Road Nationals in Fort Collins. She placed 22nd in her first NRC stage race (and any race with over 40 people in it) and took 4th in the nationals RR. Pretty impressive for a first year roadie.

<-- Here she is doing some secret training in the black jersey ala UCI Riders in Black. (Note the small ring descent, she is deceptively fast on the easy rides though)

But onward and upward... onto a summer full of lab work and training towards for the Tour of Utah in August. On the RIDECLEAN team we just got our new digs from Pactimo. This new stuff is really nice and the design is even better than last year. As you can see from the shorts my dog even liked them better than last years stuff.

So look forward to some more post on a regular basis because these update ones are pretty boring. I'll keep you updated on all the stuff going on at the "new" house, possibly a peak into work at the lab (or NASA later this summer) and some insight into the races and training for the Tour of Utah.

Here's some ride stats to tide you over:
-4 (3 confirmed) pee bottles on road
- 1 pee break
- ...

I know, the stats suck, but its kind of hard coming up with stuff on a 1.5 hr easy ride.

Riding Again and We gots the Internet

2008-01-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

So all kinds of stuff has been happening:
-Moved into a new house
-Worked a tons on that house
-Got my bike stolen
-Got my bike back
-Adopted a dog
-Started training (Here is my ride today)
-Bought a new computer

I'm planning on really doing a blog this year, so hopefully I'll be able to update on all this stuff. I did leave a certain word in italics to give myself an out, but hopefully that won't be the case.

Until then,
Late

More Crap in the News

2007-11-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

I just don't get it. Why do people have to put this or any other crap in their bodies to assure that they are fast on the bikes. And although it seems harmless, its still people trying to cut corners to get that little advantage. Although its not EPO or testosterone, its just as bad. Even more so because this gives some of those kids out there that are desperate to "make it" in pro cycling some other thing to try and make themselves faster. Unfortunately most of them don't have the medical help and even health insurance in some cases. I don't the specifics, it was prescribed, and there was an excuse/explanation offered. That still doesn't make it right and its not any better than doping up on that other stuff. Cycling is often about power to weight right ....

Anyways, hopefully I'll have some cool pics as a good story about the hike thats planned this Monday. This is what happened last year in the 12 hour bushwacking, dual summit slogfest!!!

MAD $KILL$?

2007-11-05T21:18:00.001-07:00

Nah, but I'm working on it.

Cross started too and RIDECLEAN posted 1-2 in the AZCROSS race in Phoenix. I would like to dedicate my 2nd place finish to all the cement curbs that produced a late race pinch flat.

I'm out.

First W of the year and Mormon Country

2007-06-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

This past weekend the family and I (3:52, the Snake, Dafadile, and Mel) headed out to lovely El Paso for the Tour del Paso. Yeah, its the del not de el or el so I was right again. Anyways, we loaded the team gas hog up and made our way on the road. Unfortunately, Dafidile has the bladder of a two year old (actually I think his daughter can hold it longer) so we were forced to make quite a few stops on the road for that and of course Snacks!! Our co-pilot flaked on his directions, but we made it to the Hilton (thanks Marty) it only 6 long hours.

Somehow I managed to snag the win in the Uphill TT and take 3rd overall. Mel did some sweet riding in the crit and attacked the field from the front with two laps to go. She held her gap to the line and took home a five spot which was more than enough to cover her saddle bag, that I conveniently dropped in the portapotti. Hey, give me a break, I was kind enough to take it off her bike and when I was entering the "establishment" to relieve myself the front of my time cleat caught on the floor and I almost at "it" myself. Not a good situation. The Snake posted a pretty good write up of the race on Drunkcyclist.

On Wednesday night, Mel and I started our trek up to Yut- ahhhh for the Deer Valley Norba for her and the High Uinitas race for me. Should be fun.

Later,
'Tower

Bad Luck Continues........

2007-05-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

So I'm out at Collegiate Road Nationals and for the fourth time I've been here I had some trouble in the road race. (Oh yeah, I also haven't post in forever, and a lot has happened, Hawaii , Shingles, etc.) So here is a flashback of the previous races ......

First nationals, Berkeley and I'm just a cat 3. I'm about to rejoin the selection with a lap and a half left and right behind the wheel car I broke a spoke. I ended up riding the broken wheel for a half a lap and finished 23rd.

Madison, crash on the last lap and made it back on right before the finish. Managed to beat Ted in the sprint and get top 30.

Two years ago here in Kansas and I ended up breaking my wheel and almost finishing. The wheel car was before the finish and I decided I would rather get my wheel than finish.

Today in Kansas I was feeling great, in the top fifteen on the gravel and I got a flat. No way to get a wheel for at least 15 minutes. I ended up changing a tube and finished one more lap and got another flat on the hill.

Hopefully the crit will be better tomorrow and I'll be able to do something. I did a bit of carbo loading tonight (3 CL smooths) so I should be set for tomorrow. I'll let you know.

Crazy Townies and Open Roads

2007-03-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Hit up the infamous Mogollon climb on Sunday and its still steep when you are going extremely slow. Mel and I continued on past the finish line and into the old ghost town. Only saw two people there, and as Mel put it the nicer looking one was, "straight out of a horror movie." At least we saw them on our way out of town so we weren't watching our backs the whole time. You can't really see it in the pic, but there is a creek that flows right in front of that building on the left. There were quite a few old building and some newer, vacation style places.

We also went up this canyon where there is a catwalk that they built to access this mine, but it was a mile walk in and in cycling shoes, thats not always the best time. Not to mention the fact that somehow I always wear out my shoes in about 6 months and I don't really want to do that with my new ones.

I've been working on my water crossing skills and I think I've got a pretty good style down. I pretty sure that it won't work for the long crossings though. Mel tried the mountain biker style, pedaling across, and ended up with some soaked shoes. I guess you live and learn or at least don't worry about wet shoes.

I'm back at school again and its a big rush to get two papers done for this conference that happens to be in Waikiki, Hawaii. So at least the payoff is pretty good for all the work. Well, hopefully between the work and the riding I'll get some post up this week. We got the new kits and Tumacacori is this Sunday, so at least there will be something to write about in the near future. If I only had the time ...

Silver City or Hoodrats and Hippies

2007-03-17T18:14:00.000-07:00

I spent the first four days of Spring Break working in the lab so that I could head out to Silver with Mel for a couple of days of good riding. We have been here two days and its been pretty epic so far. I've spent ~5 hours each day on the bike with a first day jaunt on the Inner Loop course and a nice ride out the City of Rocks today. We are staying at the Palace Hotel which was built in 1890 and might be haunted. It located downtown, so there is some traffic noise at night, but they make up for it with a continental breakfast which drives the cost down a bit. We'll see how loud it is tonight, which happens to be St. Patty's. Hopefully there's not a large irish contingent in town, but somehow I don't think that there is.

The ride down to the City of Rocks had some of the rollers that are everywhere around Silver and of course some wind. At least it picked up on the way back up the hill to town. At the park we had to pay a $5 fee to see the rock mounds. I couldn't find the windshield on my bike, but hopefully this will work.The rocks were formed by a volcanic eruption that was larger than Mt. St Helens and occurred 35 millions years ago or something like that. At least they were a good place to ride to and have lunch.Afterwards we headed back to town, had a Blake's Lotaburger and then I dropped Mel of before heading out for a couple of more miles. Remember to keep your form on the rollers as I'm demonstrating in this pic (in my defense it was a wicked crosswind).

Tomorrow we are heading out to the Mogollon and then back to Tucson. Hopefully I survive, that hill hurts even when you are in good shape.

And ... I'm pretty old

2007-03-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally turned my racing age and it’s pretty crazy to think of everything that has happened in the eight years since my 18^th birthday. I think everything turned out for the better and I’m pretty happy with what has happened and where I am in my life. I found a sport that I love and a way to prolong the whole working business. Anyways here are a couple of pics from the night out, which was pretty anti-dramatic. I guess that’s what happens when you get as old as me. I guess I feel bad for anyone even older than me, it must really suck. Kind of like Karew. And if you were wondering that is my twin sister and yes, she is married.

Copper Valley Stage Race or the Messed up Globe Omnium

2007-03-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

I finally made to back to racing this weekend after a long and painful, well kind painful, recovery from what might have been an entrapped siatic nerve. Whatever it was, hopefully its being taken care of by the 30-45 minutes of mind numbing core work that I partake in daily. Due to this regiment I now suffer from chapped elbows from planks and extremely ripped abs. Its a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Since January, until about two weeks again my riding has consisted of ~10 hours a week riding at a pace slower than your grandma. Unfortunately, if my Nana rode, she would be faster than me so it kind of limited my riding partners to people walking on the river path and Karew.

Needless to say the race was pretty hard with the limited fitness, but I think it went pretty well when you considered everything. The prologue was a 1.6 mile with a wall in the course and then a false flat for about 3/4 of a mile to the finish. The fastest rider on the team was Jake Rubelt in second place and managed to not get last place which was a pleasant surprise. The crit the next day was one of the best courses in Arizona. It had two walls with a slight pause in between and a nice long finishing stretch. I felt really good and managed to last about half the 90 minutes. Jake rode a good race and managed to get fifth place while Forbes squeezed in between him and JR to put Jake in the leaders jersey for the RR.

The RR started off a bit weird because of the people allowed to just do individual stages without scoring in the Omnium. At the beginning of the stage a large break rolled off with mostly riders just doing the road race and since they didn't figure into overall we let them go. At the turnaround we were 14 minutes behind. Some of the GC contenders started to attack, so we set pace into the headwind until we got to the climb. At the climb, Chris put in a nice pull and then it was my turn. As I was pulling off, Matt Cooke attacked and I struggled to hang on for two more accelerations and then pulled the plug. I struggled over the climb and then got dropped by one of the last groups on the road. The end of the race didn't go to well and Jake ended up tying JR in points and getting second with the tie breaker.

Overall the race was a good experience and I'm pretty excited to be out there again. It's been a long road getting over the leg pain and it doesn't happen again.