When I started this blog, I was living an entirely different life.
Back then, I worked full-time in software development for a large bank (and hated my job), was single (and lonely), wanted to be back in school but hadn't yet figured out how to make that happen (and was annoyed with myself about that), lived in a nice apartment in the Highlands (and -- okay, I loved that apartment and the neighborhood, actually).
Now, I barely work at all (and I'm happy about that), spend most of my time being homemaker-ly (and I'm happy about that, too), am happily engaged (and no longer lonely -- my circle of friends is also much broader), I'm halfway through my first semester as a Junior (still carrying a 4.0 GPA, booyah!), and I live in a cute little house in the South end, near Iroquois park.
I am in the bizarre position of having achieved most of my life goals within a very short span of time (Husband? Check [okay, so we're technically still engaged, but that seems moot at this point]. Regular house of worship? Check. Friends? Check. House? Check. School? Check. Time to write [both in the literary and musical senses]? Check. Horse? Not quite yet ;D). That's a startling place to be. Admittedly, my life goals aren't terribly ambitious, and many of them were highly interdependent anyway -- but it feels a little weird to be my age and to have pretty much checked off the big, permanent items on your life list in 'one swell foop,' as a friend of mine used to say. Thus, my life is no longer geared towards seeking those goals, but towards figuring out what the next set of goals is.
Moreover, even some of my remaining goals have changed.
When I started this blog, I was operating under the assumption that I would pursue a career in large animal medicine; now, I'm a psych major with no real definite career goals beyond wanting to continue to have plenty of time to devote to making my home a happy place to be (many people can swing a full-time career and managing their homes; I'm not one of them). I used to think I would probably never race; I have done a couple of races now, enjoyed the experience, and will probably give it a go again in the future. For a while, racing a lot was a major goal; now, that goal has faded into the background for the time being. When I started writing this blog, I was planning on riding a full brevet series at some point; now, I'm not entirely sure I'll ever do that. I like the idea, but it's not a goal I'm pursuing with great fervor. I certainly hope to ride more populaires, and would love to do a 200k this coming year, but beyond that, I'm just planning to, you know, follow my bliss.
Between those lives, a few threads remain: I still love bikes and riding. I still love music. I'm still playing handbells at Saint Andrew's, though I'm having a rougher time with choir (mono made singing impossible; now that I'm feeling mostly better, a momentary bout of insomnia is making getting up at 8 AM on Sunday -- or any day, for that matter -- impossible).
Of late, I've been reflecting on those changes a bit. I realize there's still something in me that's deeply resistant to change, especially in myself. That part of me had a lot of trouble letting go of my racing plans for fall, but having done so, I've found that another long-standing desire has suddenly become possible financially -- specifically, the surgical correction of gynecomastia that resulted from my natural hormonal profile (which is pathetic due to a condition called hypogonadism)and an anticonvulsant drug I took when I was in high school.
This will mean holding off on buying a 'cross bike, and indeed on a couple other big bike-related purchases I'd been hoping to swing, but it will also allow me to be a lot more comfortable in my own skin, and to pick up a few pursuits I've been putting off because I feel awkward about my body.
It's funny how letting go of one dream for a while sometimes lets you pursue another -- one, in this case, that's arguably a lot more important to my overall quality of life.
For a long time, I hemmed and hawed about this because I felt like I was choosing to trade an annoying but not potentially-life-threatening condition for a potentially-life-threatening procedure. Then, I realized that being alive is important, but so is quality of life. There are a lot of things I don't do right now, or that I do differently than I otherwise might, because I feel uncomfortable in my own skin. I love swimming, but I do so very rarely, and with big, loose t-shirts on, because I don't want people to see me. I would love to get back into ballet, but serious ballet teachers expect male students to wear fairly form-fitting clothes, and that's out of the question for me right now. Even just walking down the street, I feel uncomfortable.
It will be nice to be able to feel comfortable swimming in public, or to be able to wear a trimly-tailored shirt without feeling self-conscious. It will be really nice to feel less awkward in bike jerseys, or to be able to simply unzip my jersey when it's ridiculously hot in the middle of July. I don't know that I will ever be someone who makes a habit of going around in public without a shirt -- as I see it, my body is for Denis' eyes only -- but I delight in the idea of being able to wear a form-fitting tank top or rash guard or whatever while playing in the water.
A whole bunch of other changes have flowed from this one decision.
First, I've set a new weight-loss goal, or rather, I've revised my existing goal in a more aggressive direction -- I will (WILL) weigh 150 - 155 pounds by the end of December. The closer I am to my ultimate goal weight of 135 - 145 by the time I have the surgery, the less likely it will be that I'll wind up needing a 'revision' surgery. So far, I'm sticking with the plan, though I won't know how it's going officially 'til I do my Wednesday weigh-in.
Second, I've decided I am going to revamp my wardrobe. I've spent the last few years using clothes as camouflage -- not just hiding my 'moobs,' but also hiding the fat that makes me so violently uncomfortable. Prior to that, I pretty much wore whatever I thought my boyfriend at the time would like, or simply worked the Harry Potter look (my permanent default Hallowe'en costume, LOL).
The time I spent as a Buddhist makes me laugh at myself about it, but I've decided that I'm going to decide what image I want to project to the world, and I'm going to update my wardrobe accordingly. It will be nice to have to the freedom to choose, and I don't think I'll choose quite the same kind of image I've been projecting for the past few years (that is: dorky fat boy).
Third, I am going to take up ballet again once I'm sufficiently recovered from the surgery. I'd actually really love to learn some of the circus arts, but I'm not sure there's anywhere around here to do that.
Fourth, I'm going to try to be less retiring. I bitch about wanting to ride with people more often, but I don't actually follow through. I know plenty of folks who ride, especially the awesome guys from River City Cycling Society, but I don't make myself get out of bed so I can ride with them. I put the miles in, but I put them in alone, in the afternoons, when everyone else is at work. Likewise, I keep talking about getting a bike club going at school, but I don't because I don't know anyone at school who's into bikes -- which, I'm sure, is at least in part due to the fact that we don't have a bike club. If we did, bike peeps at IUS would have a way to meet, right? I joined some national leadership society thing that school nominated me for, so I think maybe I will make getting a bike club going a project under that umbrella, or something.
I realized not that long ago that although I'm an introvert, I need a social life as well. It's kind of like how cars work: you need to put fuel in a car, but you also need to run the engine, or it gets all gummed up and breaks down. Thus, I fuel up by being alone, but I need to better respect my need to 'run my engine' by getting together with friends. Riding with people more is a good way to do that. So is getting more involved on campus.
Last, I think I'm done being closeted about my body. I have an intersex condition, and I was lucky enough to escape the usual fate of intersexed kids in the US (surgery as infants, with lifelong repercussions). For a while, I was very much an outgoing poster-boy for the IS movement; then I went 'stealth' completely (largely, I think, as a function of being afraid that no gay man on earth would want to marry an un-'corrected' IS boy). Now, I'm finding myself in places and positions where I have an opportunity to talk about who and what I am and to maybe do some good for other people like me -- so I think I'm going to get back to doing that, though not, perhaps, on the same level I used to.
Anyway, this is already way longer than I intended it to be. I'll try to post some updated goals in list form at some point in the near future :) Right now, I'm going to go hop on the bike and buy a chicken and some stuff for dinner.
More soon!
Showing posts with label cyclocross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cyclocross. Show all posts
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Why Do I Do This To Myself?
Last year, in May, I think I was still in my 'maybe I'll race someday but probably not' phase. Then I decided to do some 'cross, decided to give King's Cross a whirl, and had a blast (can you say 'masochist,' kids?).
Over the winter, I beat around the bush. I told DD I might not race this season. He said, "Are you sure?" I said, "Well, no." Later, I said, "I'm thinking about racing," and he said, "Weren't you thinking about not racing?" and I said, "I was." Then I wavered back to 'not racing.'
And then, perhaps stupidly, I decided to see what's going on cyclocross-wise in the immediate area this year, and realized a race that I missed last year because I was too chicken or under the weather or something is going off again this year -- Huber's 'Applecross' festival, which combines apple orchards and bikes, two of my very favorite things.
There is also rumor of excellent jam and probably other food of some sort to be found at Huber's.
So I pretty much can't not go.
There's also a race in Fisherman's Park, which opens OVCX this year, called 'FishStiCX.' How could I not want to participate in something called 'FishStiCX?'
Besides, it's nearby and the course can't possibly be as murderous as King's Cross was, or at any rate probably doesn't involve anything that looks like this:
And assuming I don't entirely run out of money by then, I would love to do 'Bloomingcross' in Bloomington, IN (16 October) and of course Storm the Greens, right here in Louisvlile (30 October).
That's about all the racing I think I could possibly manage during fall semester, and I don't feel a great impetus to pursue anything else on the OVCX calendar.
Right now, our shop-team-in-the-making has run into the problem of not owning a single proper 'cross bike between the lot of us (though most of us are of a height that would allow us to share one, if we weren't all destined to ride in men's Cat 4 except Erica). Given dry weather (and possibly a different wheelset -- I'm not sure I really want to bomb around offroad on the low-spoke Aksiums that are on there right now), I would be more than happy to run Hg in a 'cross race, but he has no mud clearance to speak of (likewise, if I have my way, QS will never see another spot of mud or slush for the rest of his years). Thus, at least one of us needs to acquire something 'crossy. If we don't manage to pull it off, though, I will be more than happy to ride with Rogue again this season (speaking of which, the Short Track Series is coming up -- w00t!).
I think I might buy one of the shop's CX200s after all -- I don't think I'll be able to afford the Jamis Nova Pro I was hoping for, nor the Specialized Crux that I lust after in my darkest of heart-of-hearts (I assume this is the same darkest-heart-of-hearts that makes me look forward to punishing myself on the 'cross course this fall, I assume). Besides, they look like they have nice road manners, and DD seems to enjoy road bikes but finds mine a bit scary. The longer wheelbase and slightly-more-upright ride might suit him well. Also, a CX 200 could pull double-duty as a grocery bike, thus freeing QS from his unending torment. I am currently attempting to come up with a plan that will allow me to pull off purchasing a CX 200, making a fairly major purchase for DD as a wedding present, and still having sufficient funds available for school.
As you might have guessed, I am also starting to feel more like a human being again. I woke up this morning, hauled my butt out of bed at eight on a day that I don't have to be anywhere 'til 3:30 (though I'm going to try my darndest to get over to the Portland Clinic and finish up my paperwork), looked at the house and felt well enough to both think, "Man, this place has gotten out of hand," and "I can do something about this," and actually did something about ... well, some of it. Then I played the organ for a while.
Oh. I have probably failed to mention that DD bought me an organ. Apparently, they're hard to sell. This one had been on the market for a while, and the seller -- who very much wanted to see it in the hands of someone who would actually play it, and not strip it for parts and turn it into something else -- was offering it again for $50, so now we have an adorable little Baldwin Orgasonic. Built in 1966, it's both very pretty (I'll post pix once I get some good ones) and sounds quite good, though there's a short in the speaker for the pedals, which drives DD's engineering side a little nuts, since it makes funny popping noises from time to time.
Needless to say, I -- for one -- am absolutely delighted. I never would've imagined I would have my very own organ this soon, and would happily have settled for something quite a bit less pleasing to my ear. With the appropriate settings turned on, this one sounds about as close to a real pipe organ as one could hope from such a diminutive instrument -- and that's actually pretty close indeed. It also has two manuals and a full octave in the pedals, so it's an invaluable practice instrument.
So, I played the organ. Then I came in here and looked for races. Now I'm going to go put some sunscreen on so in twenty minutes or so I can wheel on out into the sun and enjoy the day (and, I hope, keep the rubber side down). That said, I am trying hard not to overdo it (the mistake I usually make), so I don't plan on riding too fast or too hard (note that I use the word 'plan' to excuse myself from responsibility when, inevitably, I do ride too fast and too hard, heh).
Over the winter, I beat around the bush. I told DD I might not race this season. He said, "Are you sure?" I said, "Well, no." Later, I said, "I'm thinking about racing," and he said, "Weren't you thinking about not racing?" and I said, "I was." Then I wavered back to 'not racing.'
And then, perhaps stupidly, I decided to see what's going on cyclocross-wise in the immediate area this year, and realized a race that I missed last year because I was too chicken or under the weather or something is going off again this year -- Huber's 'Applecross' festival, which combines apple orchards and bikes, two of my very favorite things.
There is also rumor of excellent jam and probably other food of some sort to be found at Huber's.
So I pretty much can't not go.
There's also a race in Fisherman's Park, which opens OVCX this year, called 'FishStiCX.' How could I not want to participate in something called 'FishStiCX?'
Besides, it's nearby and the course can't possibly be as murderous as King's Cross was, or at any rate probably doesn't involve anything that looks like this:
And assuming I don't entirely run out of money by then, I would love to do 'Bloomingcross' in Bloomington, IN (16 October) and of course Storm the Greens, right here in Louisvlile (30 October).
That's about all the racing I think I could possibly manage during fall semester, and I don't feel a great impetus to pursue anything else on the OVCX calendar.
Right now, our shop-team-in-the-making has run into the problem of not owning a single proper 'cross bike between the lot of us (though most of us are of a height that would allow us to share one, if we weren't all destined to ride in men's Cat 4 except Erica). Given dry weather (and possibly a different wheelset -- I'm not sure I really want to bomb around offroad on the low-spoke Aksiums that are on there right now), I would be more than happy to run Hg in a 'cross race, but he has no mud clearance to speak of (likewise, if I have my way, QS will never see another spot of mud or slush for the rest of his years). Thus, at least one of us needs to acquire something 'crossy. If we don't manage to pull it off, though, I will be more than happy to ride with Rogue again this season (speaking of which, the Short Track Series is coming up -- w00t!).
I think I might buy one of the shop's CX200s after all -- I don't think I'll be able to afford the Jamis Nova Pro I was hoping for, nor the Specialized Crux that I lust after in my darkest of heart-of-hearts (I assume this is the same darkest-heart-of-hearts that makes me look forward to punishing myself on the 'cross course this fall, I assume). Besides, they look like they have nice road manners, and DD seems to enjoy road bikes but finds mine a bit scary. The longer wheelbase and slightly-more-upright ride might suit him well. Also, a CX 200 could pull double-duty as a grocery bike, thus freeing QS from his unending torment. I am currently attempting to come up with a plan that will allow me to pull off purchasing a CX 200, making a fairly major purchase for DD as a wedding present, and still having sufficient funds available for school.
As you might have guessed, I am also starting to feel more like a human being again. I woke up this morning, hauled my butt out of bed at eight on a day that I don't have to be anywhere 'til 3:30 (though I'm going to try my darndest to get over to the Portland Clinic and finish up my paperwork), looked at the house and felt well enough to both think, "Man, this place has gotten out of hand," and "I can do something about this," and actually did something about ... well, some of it. Then I played the organ for a while.
Oh. I have probably failed to mention that DD bought me an organ. Apparently, they're hard to sell. This one had been on the market for a while, and the seller -- who very much wanted to see it in the hands of someone who would actually play it, and not strip it for parts and turn it into something else -- was offering it again for $50, so now we have an adorable little Baldwin Orgasonic. Built in 1966, it's both very pretty (I'll post pix once I get some good ones) and sounds quite good, though there's a short in the speaker for the pedals, which drives DD's engineering side a little nuts, since it makes funny popping noises from time to time.
Needless to say, I -- for one -- am absolutely delighted. I never would've imagined I would have my very own organ this soon, and would happily have settled for something quite a bit less pleasing to my ear. With the appropriate settings turned on, this one sounds about as close to a real pipe organ as one could hope from such a diminutive instrument -- and that's actually pretty close indeed. It also has two manuals and a full octave in the pedals, so it's an invaluable practice instrument.
So, I played the organ. Then I came in here and looked for races. Now I'm going to go put some sunscreen on so in twenty minutes or so I can wheel on out into the sun and enjoy the day (and, I hope, keep the rubber side down). That said, I am trying hard not to overdo it (the mistake I usually make), so I don't plan on riding too fast or too hard (note that I use the word 'plan' to excuse myself from responsibility when, inevitably, I do ride too fast and too hard, heh).
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Time to Build!
I brought the new frame into the shop to get the party started on the build. With the fork and headset, it weighs in at 4.09 lbs (around 1.86 kilos). Looks like a good starting point for a light, fast road bike. I've decided to name it 'Mercury.'
After a brief conference, Billy and I decided to build it up as a 9-speed touring bike, with a slightly more relaxed geometry than Quicksilver's and (OMG) bar-end shifters (they're a little less expensive than brifters, but won't look as wonky on the rather-more-modern-than-is-usually-my-style frame).
Billy is providing a pair of Mavic Aksium Race clinchers and an FSA carbon crankset, so the remaining parts for the build will probably run me around $300 - $400. That's a hair more than I was originally planning to spend (I was going to go with just the Mavic wheelset), but a really solid higher-end-than-I-was-expecting road machine for a total of about $500 - $600 (including the around $100 DD paid for the frame, after shipping) is actually a really good deal anyway. Next year, I'll probably stick some brifters on it and use it as my race bike.
We were planning to put a pair of older Shimano brifters (I forget the model number) on the new road bike, but scrapped that idea in favor of putting them on my old green GT, Swift -- which is becoming, in Billy's words, 'A legit 'cross bike.' I removed the old flat bar and the cables today, and Billy swapped in the drops and brifters from our spare parts bin. We'll need to order a crankset, since I'm planning on a 1x7 or 1x8 setup. The current crankset is a heavy -- and crappy -- triple.
As for wheels, I'll probably just roll with Swift's current wheelset for now. Lighter wheels wouldn't kill me, but the ones I've got aren't anchors, either. They're also bomb-proof, which is a good quality in a 'cross bike.
This process should significantly trim Swift's weight. I was amazed how much the flat bar alone weighed -- it was actually significantly heavier than the drops we've got on there now. The seatpost was also heavy. You could have used either to knock someone out (in fact, the flat bar was disturbingly well-balanced for use as a weapon -- eek!). I'm keeping the grips -- they might fit DD's mountain bike.
I think I'll see about a carbon seatpost and maybe -- if I stumble into some money, somehow -- a carbon fork (for now, I'm just sticking with the existing steel fork).
All of this couldn't be timelier, as we're seriously kicking around the idea of putting together a shop team (probably 'cross-oriented). Everyone actually seems pretty excited about it, which is awesome. The challenge, of course, will be organizing training rides, since most of the messengers (myself included) are also students -- but I'm sure we can figure something out. If nothing else, we can probably do 'cross practice on Friday after work. Fortunately, work just about two miles from the local 'cross course -- which happens to be where the 2013 Worlds will be happening, so we're all pretty excited about getting our wheels into it.
I'm pretty happy with how my life is kind of falling together right now, and pretty excited about getting more involved with 'cross racing. This means getting more serious about training, but I'm game for it.
Thus, I'm adding to my goals:
Drop 25 - 30 pounds by September (very doable)
Get the CBD Race Team rolling
Set up a weekly 'cross practice day (Friday?)
I'm thinking the 'cross practice should be combined with some kind of group outing involving significant others and beer afterwards, so nobody feels left out.
After a brief conference, Billy and I decided to build it up as a 9-speed touring bike, with a slightly more relaxed geometry than Quicksilver's and (OMG) bar-end shifters (they're a little less expensive than brifters, but won't look as wonky on the rather-more-modern-than-is-usually-my-style frame).
Billy is providing a pair of Mavic Aksium Race clinchers and an FSA carbon crankset, so the remaining parts for the build will probably run me around $300 - $400. That's a hair more than I was originally planning to spend (I was going to go with just the Mavic wheelset), but a really solid higher-end-than-I-was-expecting road machine for a total of about $500 - $600 (including the around $100 DD paid for the frame, after shipping) is actually a really good deal anyway. Next year, I'll probably stick some brifters on it and use it as my race bike.
We were planning to put a pair of older Shimano brifters (I forget the model number) on the new road bike, but scrapped that idea in favor of putting them on my old green GT, Swift -- which is becoming, in Billy's words, 'A legit 'cross bike.' I removed the old flat bar and the cables today, and Billy swapped in the drops and brifters from our spare parts bin. We'll need to order a crankset, since I'm planning on a 1x7 or 1x8 setup. The current crankset is a heavy -- and crappy -- triple.
As for wheels, I'll probably just roll with Swift's current wheelset for now. Lighter wheels wouldn't kill me, but the ones I've got aren't anchors, either. They're also bomb-proof, which is a good quality in a 'cross bike.
This process should significantly trim Swift's weight. I was amazed how much the flat bar alone weighed -- it was actually significantly heavier than the drops we've got on there now. The seatpost was also heavy. You could have used either to knock someone out (in fact, the flat bar was disturbingly well-balanced for use as a weapon -- eek!). I'm keeping the grips -- they might fit DD's mountain bike.
I think I'll see about a carbon seatpost and maybe -- if I stumble into some money, somehow -- a carbon fork (for now, I'm just sticking with the existing steel fork).
All of this couldn't be timelier, as we're seriously kicking around the idea of putting together a shop team (probably 'cross-oriented). Everyone actually seems pretty excited about it, which is awesome. The challenge, of course, will be organizing training rides, since most of the messengers (myself included) are also students -- but I'm sure we can figure something out. If nothing else, we can probably do 'cross practice on Friday after work. Fortunately, work just about two miles from the local 'cross course -- which happens to be where the 2013 Worlds will be happening, so we're all pretty excited about getting our wheels into it.
I'm pretty happy with how my life is kind of falling together right now, and pretty excited about getting more involved with 'cross racing. This means getting more serious about training, but I'm game for it.
Thus, I'm adding to my goals:
Drop 25 - 30 pounds by September (very doable)
Get the CBD Race Team rolling
Set up a weekly 'cross practice day (Friday?)
I'm thinking the 'cross practice should be combined with some kind of group outing involving significant others and beer afterwards, so nobody feels left out.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Je suis le cowbell rouge ... I think.
So!
Today's race was my best race ever!
...And I could have said that no matter what happened, because it was also my first real, official race (with a number and everything) ever.
In fact, regardless of what this shot may imply...
I didn't even crash into any other racers.
Sometimes I even looked like I knew what I was doing:
Though once I also dropped my bike in the middle of the barriers:
Um, oops.
I love the way I'm looking at my bike in this picture. You can almost see me saying, "Crap, where's my downtube?"
At least once, I looked pretty awesome:
...Even though I was the only crazy dude on a flat bar bike with toe clips:
Swift, it turns out, is not as effective an off-road machine as Quicksilver. I've ridden swift on trails and over grass before, but not really at speed. At speed, that is one rough ride.
I had some issues with my grip shifters — there was one big, steep climb, and whenever I tried to use my bars for leverage, I would trigger the grip-shift, throwing Swift into a bigger gear. Not what I needed, considering that I'd accidentally disabled my granny gear (yes, I really could've used it this morning, I admit it). I put up with that for one lap before realizing that I would not die in shame if I just ran that climb — half the field was running it, anyway.
The most important part is that I had a blast. Well, okay, the most important parts, in order, are that I did not die, my shorts did not split, I did not cause any disasters, and I had a blast :) In fact, I'm pretty sure that my race had only one spill — a fast fellow came around a sharp turn and wiped out. He was back on his bike before three of us could say, "Are you okay, man?"
The best moment, I think, was when another Rogue racer shouted out as he passed me something like, "Good job, Rogue! Stay strong!" That was awesome. It was near the end of the race, and I needed it. I found him and thanked him after I finished. Then I found DD and sucked down about two litres of water.
I haven't seen the results sheet, so I don't know if I was really DFL. Even if I was, I don't care. I had a great time, and I finished. There were four Rogues total in my race, and I think one of us did pretty well indeed. More will be out tomorrow, but I had to get back for church.
There is definitely more 'cross in my future. I may or may not do Shawnee Park on the 25th or 26th — it depends on the race details (time, entry fees, etc). If I do, and it's not soggy out, I think I'll ride Quicksilver.
Anyway, that's it for now. As you can probably tell, I am still somewhat addle-pated, and I will probably retire at some point in the not-too-distant-future and sleep like a log and dream about riding my bike.
Thanks to DD for all the pictures, and also for being the best soigneur/team car driver/boyfriend a fellow could ask for. DD, one of these days, I am going to win one for you!
Today's race was my best race ever!
...And I could have said that no matter what happened, because it was also my first real, official race (with a number and everything) ever.
In fact, regardless of what this shot may imply...
 |
| From OVCX Kings Cross 2010 |
Sometimes I even looked like I knew what I was doing:
 |
| From OVCX Kings Cross 2010 |
Though once I also dropped my bike in the middle of the barriers:
 |
| From OVCX Kings Cross 2010 |
I love the way I'm looking at my bike in this picture. You can almost see me saying, "Crap, where's my downtube?"
At least once, I looked pretty awesome:
 |
| From OVCX Kings Cross 2010 |
...Even though I was the only crazy dude on a flat bar bike with toe clips:
 |
| From OVCX Kings Cross 2010 |
Swift, it turns out, is not as effective an off-road machine as Quicksilver. I've ridden swift on trails and over grass before, but not really at speed. At speed, that is one rough ride.
I had some issues with my grip shifters — there was one big, steep climb, and whenever I tried to use my bars for leverage, I would trigger the grip-shift, throwing Swift into a bigger gear. Not what I needed, considering that I'd accidentally disabled my granny gear (yes, I really could've used it this morning, I admit it). I put up with that for one lap before realizing that I would not die in shame if I just ran that climb — half the field was running it, anyway.
The most important part is that I had a blast. Well, okay, the most important parts, in order, are that I did not die, my shorts did not split, I did not cause any disasters, and I had a blast :) In fact, I'm pretty sure that my race had only one spill — a fast fellow came around a sharp turn and wiped out. He was back on his bike before three of us could say, "Are you okay, man?"
The best moment, I think, was when another Rogue racer shouted out as he passed me something like, "Good job, Rogue! Stay strong!" That was awesome. It was near the end of the race, and I needed it. I found him and thanked him after I finished. Then I found DD and sucked down about two litres of water.
I haven't seen the results sheet, so I don't know if I was really DFL. Even if I was, I don't care. I had a great time, and I finished. There were four Rogues total in my race, and I think one of us did pretty well indeed. More will be out tomorrow, but I had to get back for church.
There is definitely more 'cross in my future. I may or may not do Shawnee Park on the 25th or 26th — it depends on the race details (time, entry fees, etc). If I do, and it's not soggy out, I think I'll ride Quicksilver.
Anyway, that's it for now. As you can probably tell, I am still somewhat addle-pated, and I will probably retire at some point in the not-too-distant-future and sleep like a log and dream about riding my bike.
Thanks to DD for all the pictures, and also for being the best soigneur/team car driver/boyfriend a fellow could ask for. DD, one of these days, I am going to win one for you!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Cognitive Dissonance
I'm racing on Saturday, so I picked up my team kit today. Of course, I had to try it on. Right away. While waiting for my dental appointment to begin (nothing takes the sting out of an enormous drill-and-fill job like new team kit*, I guess?).
Here's what I look like, all dressed up and ready to rock (or at least to go find my helmet and gloves, once I get done squinting at my phone):
Here's what I think I look like in my team kit:
Here's what my legs look like in cycling shorts:
Here's what I think my legs look like in cycling shorts:
As you can see, my perceptions might be a little skewed.
In the picture, I think I actually look pretty good in my awesome 2010-special-edition-Rogue Racing Project jersey. In real life, I'm like, "Does anyone have a bathrobe handy that I could put on over this thing? ...Because I totally feel like I'm naked." (But naked with three awesome pockets in back!)
This is what Bruce thinks of the whole matter:
...So. I'm way behind on logging my mileage, though not behind at all on the mileage itself (in fact, I'm ahead).
This is because I decided to bite the bullet and take a really cool job that I was offered, which has meant re-organizing my life quite a bit. The pay is less than my old job (a lot less), but the work is more interesting and the hours are much more compatible with school, which means I can keep this new job next semester.
Moreover, I've been out playing on the 'cross course this week (yeay!) and had an exam tonight (took all of about 20 minutes, so I either aced it or bombed it). This morning I spent half an hour cleaning sand out of Quicksilver's drivetrain. Tomorrow I have work and then choir.
Life is going to be calmer, but I'm still settling into the new routine.
This weekend is Kings Cross, and the following weekend, we're installing a new Bishop (not sure whether that requires flat or Phillips...), so I'll be singing on Saturday and Sunday. The following weekend, I hope to sit on my duff and do basically nothing.
I'm going to take it easy on the bike tomorrow and basically not ride at all on Friday, so my legs will be fresh on Saturday. They've combined the Cat 4 and Cat 3 races (edit: it turns out they combined the Cat 4 Open and Masters' 35+ and 45+ divisions — much less intimidating), so I will cop to being a little intimidated — but I think I'll have fun, regardless. I'm still trying to figure out whether to ride Quicksilver or the somewhat-improved Swift (now with real 'cross tires!). I doubt I'll figure it out 'til I get there. I'm planning to bring both bikes.
Anyway, that's it for now. I'm going to try to get caught up on my mileage log, but I'm not sure I'll swing it before Monday.
Monday I have absolutely nothing going on except class, so I'm looking forward to just chillaxin' before I roll up to school.
*Except having the world's best dentist — which I do.
Here's what I look like, all dressed up and ready to rock (or at least to go find my helmet and gloves, once I get done squinting at my phone):
 |
| From CyclingStuff |
Here's what I think I look like in my team kit:
 |
| From No, I'm not sure what the cat is doing in the background, either. Epic backpack battle, maybe? |
Here's what my legs look like in cycling shorts:
 |
| From Yes, really. That's about the size of it. |
Here's what I think my legs look like in cycling shorts:
 |
| Just imagine these in cycling shorts. I'm afraid that my computer will crash if I launch Photoshop right now :D |
As you can see, my perceptions might be a little skewed.
In the picture, I think I actually look pretty good in my awesome 2010-special-edition-Rogue Racing Project jersey. In real life, I'm like, "Does anyone have a bathrobe handy that I could put on over this thing? ...Because I totally feel like I'm naked." (But naked with three awesome pockets in back!)
This is what Bruce thinks of the whole matter:
 |
| a'Oh, Please.' |
...So. I'm way behind on logging my mileage, though not behind at all on the mileage itself (in fact, I'm ahead).
This is because I decided to bite the bullet and take a really cool job that I was offered, which has meant re-organizing my life quite a bit. The pay is less than my old job (a lot less), but the work is more interesting and the hours are much more compatible with school, which means I can keep this new job next semester.
Moreover, I've been out playing on the 'cross course this week (yeay!) and had an exam tonight (took all of about 20 minutes, so I either aced it or bombed it). This morning I spent half an hour cleaning sand out of Quicksilver's drivetrain. Tomorrow I have work and then choir.
Life is going to be calmer, but I'm still settling into the new routine.
This weekend is Kings Cross, and the following weekend, we're installing a new Bishop (not sure whether that requires flat or Phillips...), so I'll be singing on Saturday and Sunday. The following weekend, I hope to sit on my duff and do basically nothing.
I'm going to take it easy on the bike tomorrow and basically not ride at all on Friday, so my legs will be fresh on Saturday. They've combined the Cat 4 and Cat 3 races (edit: it turns out they combined the Cat 4 Open and Masters' 35+ and 45+ divisions — much less intimidating), so I will cop to being a little intimidated — but I think I'll have fun, regardless. I'm still trying to figure out whether to ride Quicksilver or the somewhat-improved Swift (now with real 'cross tires!). I doubt I'll figure it out 'til I get there. I'm planning to bring both bikes.
Anyway, that's it for now. I'm going to try to get caught up on my mileage log, but I'm not sure I'll swing it before Monday.
Monday I have absolutely nothing going on except class, so I'm looking forward to just chillaxin' before I roll up to school.
*Except having the world's best dentist — which I do.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
New Goals, Again
I need to look up my old new goals. For all I know, these are exactly the same goals ... but, here we go:
That's all for now :)
- Eat more often, and stop failing to eat after workouts. Recovery-chow is your friend.
- Sleep more.
- Complete at least one cyclocross race this season without dying.
- Complete A Good First (Imperial) Century in October.
That's all for now :)
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
New Month, New Route?
...Or perhaps not.
I tried a different route to work today, hoping to snag a little extra distance. It actually turned out to be shorter than my usual route from Willow Ave. Oops!
I'm debating whether going whole-hog and swapping the flat bars on Swift for drops within a span of 2 weeks is possible (if I can get the parts locally, I'm sure it is; if I can't ... ummm...). If not, I might just toss on a pair of Origin8's drop bar ends, wrap 'em, and call it done. It depends whether or not they're illegal under USAC and UCI regulations — bar ends in general are banned, but I think it's due to the 'no pointy bits' clause for mass-start races, so these might be okay. I've queried the Rogue peeps to find out what they think.
(Sidebar: the concept of rogue peeps is kind of funny. Makes me picture those little marshmallow chicks with ... like ... pirate gear, or something.)
I've decided to go with a single 48t chainring in a 1x7 configuration coupled with a 12-32 cluster (I was going to do 11 - 34, but I think 12 - 32 will do fine and is easier to find, apparently). This combo should give me enough speed for my Cat4 'cross ambitions without making the bike too mashy for less experienced folks who might right it from time to time.
I plan to replace the gripshift system with something less likely to invite disaster, and the RD with ... well, something decent. Fortunately, RDs aren't insanely expensive.
I'm guessing I'll probably have the build done at Bike Couriers', since they got to answer all my, "It this totally insane?" questions — but I think I'm going to stop by parkside and see if they have a reasonbly good-quality crankset and 48t or 50t chainring they'd be willing to sell me. Quicksilver is due for a tuneup, anyway.
Class tonight. I'm behind on my homework, so no 'cross practice for me tonight — probably Friday instead.
I tried a different route to work today, hoping to snag a little extra distance. It actually turned out to be shorter than my usual route from Willow Ave. Oops!
I'm debating whether going whole-hog and swapping the flat bars on Swift for drops within a span of 2 weeks is possible (if I can get the parts locally, I'm sure it is; if I can't ... ummm...). If not, I might just toss on a pair of Origin8's drop bar ends, wrap 'em, and call it done. It depends whether or not they're illegal under USAC and UCI regulations — bar ends in general are banned, but I think it's due to the 'no pointy bits' clause for mass-start races, so these might be okay. I've queried the Rogue peeps to find out what they think.
(Sidebar: the concept of rogue peeps is kind of funny. Makes me picture those little marshmallow chicks with ... like ... pirate gear, or something.)
I've decided to go with a single 48t chainring in a 1x7 configuration coupled with a 12-32 cluster (I was going to do 11 - 34, but I think 12 - 32 will do fine and is easier to find, apparently). This combo should give me enough speed for my Cat4 'cross ambitions without making the bike too mashy for less experienced folks who might right it from time to time.
I plan to replace the gripshift system with something less likely to invite disaster, and the RD with ... well, something decent. Fortunately, RDs aren't insanely expensive.
I'm guessing I'll probably have the build done at Bike Couriers', since they got to answer all my, "It this totally insane?" questions — but I think I'm going to stop by parkside and see if they have a reasonbly good-quality crankset and 48t or 50t chainring they'd be willing to sell me. Quicksilver is due for a tuneup, anyway.
Class tonight. I'm behind on my homework, so no 'cross practice for me tonight — probably Friday instead.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Pondering A Build
'Cross season is nigh upon us, and winter will follow soon after. Swift (who is much more 'cross and winter-friendly than Quicksilver) will be seeing a lot of action in the near future — and, as such, I'm contemplating some updates.
My goal is to simplify Swift's component set, preferably without adding a ton of weight (since I have the upper-body strength of an anemic 8-year-old, and 'cross involves — ZOMG — CARRYING TEH BIKE!!1 OH NOES!!!11!1). Since the idea is to take some stuff off (including two whole chainrings and a derailleur that I never really use), I don't think that's going to be a big problem.
I'm still debating whether I'm feeling bold enough to try working on my beloved Swiftie myself, especially when I live in a town with several very good LBSs that I like to support. I'll probably wind up sketching out what I'm looking for here, then taking Swift over to Parkside to see what we can accomplish.
It's possible (even probably) that slapping a bunch of upgrades on Swift will cost me as much as or more than a decent used 'cross bike — but I don't really want to add another bike to the stable right now. Or, rather, I want to, but I am trying to curb my impulse to own things I don't really need. A solid winter bike (that doesn't technically belong to my roomie) is a must-have, but if I can build one out of a bike I already own and love, I think it's a good practice to do so, especially if I can support the local economy whether I buy or build.
So here's what I'm thinking about doing. Please tell me if I'm insane:
The possible down side here is that my planned updates might make Swift a bit too much bike for friends to ride, unless I opt for the 48t ring up front.
Swift already has appropriate brakes for 'cross, as well as a set of clip-on fenders (maybe I'll invest in some not-so-clip-on ones?). Right now, he tips the scales at about 22 pounds, which isn't bad at all.
I haven't nailed down details like make/model of replacement bits — my plan is to get the best stuff I can afford (used is fine, as long as it's in good shape) so durability won't be a problem.
If I thought I had the chops, I'd say, 'Screw it, let's go singlespeed!' but I don't. Maybe next near :D To be honest, though, I like having the option of using gears, especially when commuting. It means I don't do stupid stuff and kill myself. Plus, I don't need to over-stress the tendons around my left knee before they're back to 100% capacity. I'm crazy, yes — but not that crazy :D
*I'm guessing that with the range I'm looking at, a mountain RD is probably going to be the way to go. That's what Swift has now, anyway.
My goal is to simplify Swift's component set, preferably without adding a ton of weight (since I have the upper-body strength of an anemic 8-year-old, and 'cross involves — ZOMG — CARRYING TEH BIKE!!1 OH NOES!!!11!1). Since the idea is to take some stuff off (including two whole chainrings and a derailleur that I never really use), I don't think that's going to be a big problem.
I'm still debating whether I'm feeling bold enough to try working on my beloved Swiftie myself, especially when I live in a town with several very good LBSs that I like to support. I'll probably wind up sketching out what I'm looking for here, then taking Swift over to Parkside to see what we can accomplish.
It's possible (even probably) that slapping a bunch of upgrades on Swift will cost me as much as or more than a decent used 'cross bike — but I don't really want to add another bike to the stable right now. Or, rather, I want to, but I am trying to curb my impulse to own things I don't really need. A solid winter bike (that doesn't technically belong to my roomie) is a must-have, but if I can build one out of a bike I already own and love, I think it's a good practice to do so, especially if I can support the local economy whether I buy or build.
So here's what I'm thinking about doing. Please tell me if I'm insane:
- Drivetrain:
- Remove front derailleur.
- Replace current triple crankset (170mm) with single 48t, 50t, or 52t ring on new crankset.
- Add chainguard or bash guard, as situation warrants.
- Add clipless combo pedals (the kind that let you ride clipless or not, as the occasion warrants)
- Swap out 7-speed 12-28 cluster with 7-speed 11-30 or 11-32. OR
- If feasible (both cost- and physics-wise), switch to 8-speed 11-32 cluster.
- Possibly swap out rear derailleur*, as the existing one is pretty old and not that great to begin with, and could probably stand to be replaced.
- Front end:
- Swap out flat bars for drops, if financially feasible.
- Add 'cross levers if drops are added.
- Remove front shifter, as it won't be needed.
- Wheels, tires, and miscellany:
- Swap out wheelset with Traveller's (alloy rims = better stopping power in wet conditions)
- Replace 700x40s with 700x32 'cross tires
The possible down side here is that my planned updates might make Swift a bit too much bike for friends to ride, unless I opt for the 48t ring up front.
Swift already has appropriate brakes for 'cross, as well as a set of clip-on fenders (maybe I'll invest in some not-so-clip-on ones?). Right now, he tips the scales at about 22 pounds, which isn't bad at all.
I haven't nailed down details like make/model of replacement bits — my plan is to get the best stuff I can afford (used is fine, as long as it's in good shape) so durability won't be a problem.
If I thought I had the chops, I'd say, 'Screw it, let's go singlespeed!' but I don't. Maybe next near :D To be honest, though, I like having the option of using gears, especially when commuting. It means I don't do stupid stuff and kill myself. Plus, I don't need to over-stress the tendons around my left knee before they're back to 100% capacity. I'm crazy, yes — but not that crazy :D
*I'm guessing that with the range I'm looking at, a mountain RD is probably going to be the way to go. That's what Swift has now, anyway.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
How Not To Train For Cyclocross
This post is, of course, intended solely as a public service, and is not in any way a description of how I am currently training for cyclocross.
Really.
I swear.
Ahem.
How Not To Train for Cyclocross
We now return to our regularly-scheduled broadcast day.
*Chicago is packed with good restaurants. If you're there, give Vivere ($16-$30/entree) and Cafecito ($5-$6/sammich) a try. Unfortunately, unless you are friends of the fabulous Eric&Larry, you probably won't get to try their amazing baked eggs, since they don't run a restaurant.
**In fact, I plan to ride in Florida, but I do not plan to ride my bike. It would cost at least as much to bring my bike on the plane as it would to simply rent a bike for a week — so instead I'm going to rent a bike, tool around Fort Lauderdale, and try not to get killed.
Really.
I swear.
Ahem.
- Do not ride your bike.
- Spend a weekend in DC seeing the sights and stuffing yourself full of DC-specific fare.
- Do not ride your bike.
- Spend a weekend in Chicago seeing the sights and stuffing yourself full of extremely awesome Chicago-specific fare*.
- Develop a sinus infection. Continue to not ride your bike.
- Spend a week in Florida, in August.
- DO NOT, under any circumstances, ride your bike**.
- If anyone asks, tell them you are taking three weeks off so you will be 'well-rested' when 'cross season starts.
- Do not ride your bike.
We now return to our regularly-scheduled broadcast day.
*Chicago is packed with good restaurants. If you're there, give Vivere ($16-$30/entree) and Cafecito ($5-$6/sammich) a try. Unfortunately, unless you are friends of the fabulous Eric&Larry, you probably won't get to try their amazing baked eggs, since they don't run a restaurant.
**In fact, I plan to ride in Florida, but I do not plan to ride my bike. It would cost at least as much to bring my bike on the plane as it would to simply rent a bike for a week — so instead I'm going to rent a bike, tool around Fort Lauderdale, and try not to get killed.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
King's Cross Registration is open!
As you all undoubtedly know already, cyclocross season is fast approaching.
So, what does that mean?
Well, besides the tingling anticipation of cowbells, beer, and luchadors in polka-dotted tights (half the reason I joined Rogue Racing Project), this means it's time to sign up for races.
Yea verily, I say unto you: woe betide the man who does not register for King's Cross, for under the feet of the mighty the newbies shall fall.
In other words, please come out to OCVX #1, King's Cross, and kick my butt (I am registered for the Saturday 10:00 AM race — I'll be the fat kid in Rogue kit). Since I don't own a proper 'cross bike, have never raced bikes (at least, not formally) before — let alone in a cyclocross setting — and I am also (kinda) fat and (sorta) slow(at least off the bike), it is extremely likely that I will completely embarass my team and immediately be asked to turn in my snazzy jersey and commit seppuku. You won't want to miss that. Besides, if you aren't sure of your talent and fitness, but you want to do some racing and be able to beat at least one guy in Cat 4, you should definitely come to King's Cross, where you will almost certainly beat the pants off of me.
I do plan to train for this event. Nonetheless, I am trying to keep my aspirations in check. If I give them free rein, they will spiral out of control from "I must have fun and finish the Cat 4 race without being asked to leave the sport of cyclocross forever!" to "I must place well and do honor to my team!" to "I must lap the entire field ... TWICE!" My bike does not go to 11; neither should my aspirations. I will use this race to have fun and assess my strengths and weaknesses relative to my fellow cyclocrossers. Yeah, that's the ticket.
I assume that 'training for cyclocross' means I will be (oh, the horror) running on a regular basis. (I can picture this now — DD: "Where are you going, dear?" Me: "Out for a run." DD: "Um ... why are you carrying your bike?" Me: "Cyclocross." This is going to be my new excuse for everything — Coworker: "Why isn't that one project done?" Me: "Cyclocross.")
I abhor running on roads and sidewalks, so I will try to do my running in the woods, where nobody canpoint and laugh see my super-secret training techniques like singing show-tunes, berating myself, tripping over my own feet, and sobbing like a little girl at the top of every hill ... if I list them here, actually, I'd have to kill you. And, frankly, I like both of you way too much to allow that to happen. You can thank me later. I am happy to accept gratitude in the form of nice bicycles and/or ice-cream cakes. Extra points for ice-cream cakes shaped like bicycles.
In other news, this morning's ride was uneventful except for the Unlimited Stoplight Buffet. Apparently, while 6:30 AM is a great time to leave home if you want to miss stoplights, 6:40 AM is a great time to leave home if you want to hit them — all of them — from the edge of U of L's campus on in to down town. My ride took half an hour, and a significant chunk of that was spent sitting at stoplights. Argh. I also fought valiantly with my toe clips, and won three out of four battles. The fourth time I came to YET ANOTHER stoplight before actually succeeding in getting my foot into the clip.
Ummm, yeah. Still gonna have to say clipless is looking realy good right now.
I'm planning on using my lunch break to ride my bike around. This will provide me with the perfect excuse for the fact that I am currently wearing my cycling shorts under my pants. This way, if anyone asks (not that they will, mind) I can simply say, "Oh, well, it seemed silly to remove them when I was planning to ride my bike in a couple of hours anyway," instead of, "Um, yeah. I kind of forgot my underpants."
So, what does that mean?
Well, besides the tingling anticipation of cowbells, beer, and luchadors in polka-dotted tights (half the reason I joined Rogue Racing Project), this means it's time to sign up for races.
Yea verily, I say unto you: woe betide the man who does not register for King's Cross, for under the feet of the mighty the newbies shall fall.
In other words, please come out to OCVX #1, King's Cross, and kick my butt (I am registered for the Saturday 10:00 AM race — I'll be the fat kid in Rogue kit). Since I don't own a proper 'cross bike, have never raced bikes (at least, not formally) before — let alone in a cyclocross setting — and I am also (kinda) fat and (sorta) slow(at least off the bike), it is extremely likely that I will completely embarass my team and immediately be asked to turn in my snazzy jersey and commit seppuku. You won't want to miss that. Besides, if you aren't sure of your talent and fitness, but you want to do some racing and be able to beat at least one guy in Cat 4, you should definitely come to King's Cross, where you will almost certainly beat the pants off of me.
I do plan to train for this event. Nonetheless, I am trying to keep my aspirations in check. If I give them free rein, they will spiral out of control from "I must have fun and finish the Cat 4 race without being asked to leave the sport of cyclocross forever!" to "I must place well and do honor to my team!" to "I must lap the entire field ... TWICE!" My bike does not go to 11; neither should my aspirations. I will use this race to have fun and assess my strengths and weaknesses relative to my fellow cyclocrossers. Yeah, that's the ticket.
I assume that 'training for cyclocross' means I will be (oh, the horror) running on a regular basis. (I can picture this now — DD: "Where are you going, dear?" Me: "Out for a run." DD: "Um ... why are you carrying your bike?" Me: "Cyclocross." This is going to be my new excuse for everything — Coworker: "Why isn't that one project done?" Me: "Cyclocross.")
I abhor running on roads and sidewalks, so I will try to do my running in the woods, where nobody can
In other news, this morning's ride was uneventful except for the Unlimited Stoplight Buffet. Apparently, while 6:30 AM is a great time to leave home if you want to miss stoplights, 6:40 AM is a great time to leave home if you want to hit them — all of them — from the edge of U of L's campus on in to down town. My ride took half an hour, and a significant chunk of that was spent sitting at stoplights. Argh. I also fought valiantly with my toe clips, and won three out of four battles. The fourth time I came to YET ANOTHER stoplight before actually succeeding in getting my foot into the clip.
Ummm, yeah. Still gonna have to say clipless is looking realy good right now.
I'm planning on using my lunch break to ride my bike around. This will provide me with the perfect excuse for the fact that I am currently wearing my cycling shorts under my pants. This way, if anyone asks (not that they will, mind) I can simply say, "Oh, well, it seemed silly to remove them when I was planning to ride my bike in a couple of hours anyway," instead of, "Um, yeah. I kind of forgot my underpants."
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