Flat land power yields uphill turmoil....
Heavy weekend, sportsfans. The work had to be put in and the doctor prescribed the pain pill for sure. I needed to get my large carcass to threshold for these two days putting in roughly 6 hours of super specific training.
Saturday I woke up and was as sluggish as our cat. I kept thinking how am i gonna do this? I pulled up my panties and rolled. The plan was Carter but very specific. Leverage the rollers the entire way there, and back to hit threshold intervals at certain periods. 5-600w hold....375 hold....finish strong. By the 10th set, I couldn't have even spelled my name if asked. Cross-eyed. It felt good to try and hit and hold on the ceiling. I am definitely behind over last year but whatever. I get to ride, right? I quote Private Joker in Full Metal Jacket: The dead only know one thing: it is better to be alive.
I finished and limped it home, wasted but smiling. Life is great. I love putting the work in. Because I can.
Today was more of the threshold. It involved hurling said large carcass up Flag again on the fat tire bike to do some stuff at the Ranch. The legs were screaming from yesterday so the mission was to be 'complete'. In other words, focus on maintaining composure on the bike rather than let the suffering demons distract you and the next thing you know you are all hunched over the machine slobbering. It's an interesting game to play with yourself when you are blowing yourself out. Just focus on spinning nice circles, back in the right position, and you will see the watts creep back up. All in all, I felt decent and so begins the creep forward. I supposed I'm going to have to throw a number on one of these days when I can find the motivation.
No planes this week so I am smiling from the depths of my soul. Birthdays coming up for the boys so the energy is high to say the least. "Can we open the presents now? How about now? OK, now?. It's the equivalent of "Are we there yet?" After the ride we took the kids up Betasso on a hike. Cool to hike it in slow mo rather than bomb it on the fat tires. I ended up carrying little man back the whole way. Awesome. The legs about seized after this AM and yesterday.
It's good to be home....
Sunday, June 8, 2008 at 4:18PMAnd I was a runnin'....
Home. Whew. So happy. Sorry for the lack of posts but I've been busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest these days.
Work has been all consuming as we acquired a fairly large company and have been knee deep in integrating. The good news is that the new crew and offices are in some of my old stomping grounds in Scotts Valley, CA, a stones throw from Santa Cruz. The even better news is that there are some core bikers in the new crew and I'm getting dialed into lunchtime ride action, etc. Got to get a bike out there....
I dialed in some trail runs in the early morning hours amongst the redwoods. This picture says it all. The trail then dwindled down into sweet single track, famous in the area. The running has been going on but I applied myself these few days and flew which was cool. I felt light.
But STILL, this year will be different. It already feels different. Darren gone and my father having had a scare combined with the increased level of intensity at work and i feel lost again. Lost in the sense that i have no ability to focus and it's incredibly hard to put the cross hairs on anything meaningful these days and believe in it. The family has been my sanctuary and I'm blessed for that. I've got to dig a bit deeper and try and keep my hands on the control stick as this gets squirly. T's in my camp and he knows me by now and can help me traverse the nastiness as I continue to try and stay fit, but ultimately it is up to me. What I want and what is important.
I'm going to go into channel zero mode on my ride today. See what comes about and see i I can focus mysely on this ride and understand a bit what the engine has left in it.
La Cruz...continued
I'm there. I'm back. I'm home. I'm there. Here. There. Everywhere. Yup. Back in La Cruz this week. A long one, this. Lots of work to do here. My weekend was tumultuous, but I am not going to take up pixels here for now. It's deep and personal and tested what I'd prepared myself for a decade ago. May was a horrible month....
Today I flew in, in the AM and finished up my workday in Scotts Valley and got a wild hare. Instead of just going back to the hotel and re-firing up the laptop, I decided to cruise to the Cruz to see if I could catch Paul and say hello. It's been a while and I really wanted to see him. So I flew down the 17 to the old workshop. I needed no directions. I got to the Rock Lobster lab all on memory and instinct having been here a zillion times before when I lived in this beautiful part of the country. 
As expected, Paul's shop door was wide open and there's Paul finishing up his workday working on a spectacular single speed for Aaron K. Oh God. Yum. The Easton Elite tubing was all married together with Mike's beautiful yokes and his now OEM'd single speed parts like you see here to the right.
It was fantastic to say hello and thank Paul for his long time help he's given me with frames and experience. I will have to work on getting a bike to stash out here so I can hang with the fellas and visit some of the old haunts.
I'm going to try and trail run amongst the redwoods before I begin the day's onslaught. I'll need something to keep my head on right. Things are going to get intense.
The Lion Returns!
OK, so I am not talking about The Lion Of Flanders....but I am speaking about something cleaner: The Lion of Fairfax! My bro Brian Double B Bruckner is hosting the 3rd annual edition of his cross race in the Boulder of the West, Fairfax CA. It will be held at White Middle School and will also help to fund raise for the school as was done last year.
I'm going to try and make it this year like I 'promised' last year. I'm hoping for some rain....
Nice work Bri!
La Cruz
A new 'leg' has begun: The DIA to San Jose leg. I will make 1K this year through my DIA and SFO trips...now adding in with SJC.
1K is not a badge of honor. It's for whiny fat guys with blue tooth devices sticking out of their heads. 'Not me'. But I'll take those 1-C upgrades every time, thank you.
I dunno how I do it every year. By 'it' I mean manage the three-part-teeter-totter. I'm gonna do it again. I think. Somehow I need to be there for the fam, be there for the biz and get in the training and racing. I'll crack someday, but for now, I am more fearful of letting it all fall through the cracks. I think I'll adversely handle the stress of not trying to manage it all....rather than simply managing it all.
But please come visit me when I have my first myocardial infarction. Bring beer.
So this new leg I will be traveling frequently to San Jo which is to work from our new offices on the Central Coast, in my old haunts of Santa Cruz. Well, Scotts Valley to be precise. Bombing down CA-17 today reminded me of the countless times I came over this pass for 'cross races down in Felton, Aptos, Watsonville...you name it. I've great friends here and am looking forward to doing the Tuesday lunchtime rides with the crew in Santa Cruz.
Day by day I'm gonna keep thinking about the Fall. It's hard to resist the beers when the stress comes in like waves. More like Tsunamis. I'm going to do my best to pin it again this Fall. Can I get one more try in? Somehow be at the pointy end. To be proud of myself. I expect no one to care or understand. We've all our own drama. Our own crosses to bear to make it happen. Respect to you that get it done.
Logjam
The real loads started this week. New batteries in the Drop-o-Meter. New chain on the roadie. I have been keeping fit and drilling it without any structure but the focus on the lens has been twisted quite a bit this week, back to za plan and all things 'light'.
Five Questions with - Retül!
Ah, performance. Everyone is trying to get an advantage. Obviously it starts with great fitness but short of that its enjoying yourself on your bike and when having fun, ensuring that every pedal stroke has meaning and is putting all of what you need behind it. Nothing wasted. To ensure that, you need to be properly 'fit' for the bike. There's more to it than just ensuring your stand over height is 'seemingly' correct. And further, its WAY more than just being fit when you are sitting there...static...on the bike. You move...and the bike moves. Dynamic. To be fit with THOSE dimensions in mind is key.
Over dinner at our dear friends house this weekend, my bud, marketing guru and fellow bike geek Ted of Anthem Branding here in Boulder mentioned that he was getting a fit for a new bike he received by Todd Carver. "Hmm. Really?" I say. Looked like a perfect opp for a "5 Questions With". Todd now is involved with a company known as Retül (say: re-tool) which is applying mad science and technology to work with cyclists of ALL types (from Pro racers to daily commuters) to make their riding experience better....where 'better' may mean better performance, less pain and fatigue....ultimately more a more enjoyable ride.
At 11Am sharp I showed up to Boulder Cycle Sport, one of Boulder's premier shops which provide Retül services...and lucky enough to have Todd, himself, so close!...to watch what goes down on a Retül fit to help you learn more about it. Todd and I go way back as he and I love to throw the gauntlet at each other in cross races. My boy is "fit." Trust me on this. Today I learned a LOT of the reasons why....
M & C: Todd! First, congrats on all the excitement around Retül! Yet another Boulder success
story. You make me all misty eyed with your success. Can you fill me in on the genesis of Retül? When did it form as a company and what was the inspiration?
Todd: Thanks Greg. The product was developed by Cliff Simms, an engineer at Boulder
Innovation Group and fellow MTBer, and the cycling-specific spatial model and biomechanical analysis were enhanced by me. We have also teamed up with Franko Vatterot, formerly of CAT and TriDubai, for business development, marketing, and sales. The inspiration was to give more fitters access to motion capture technology so that more riders have access to a top notch, research level, biomechanical analysis in their home towns. We have also created an open-forum communication fitting network across the nation that is only possible with the collection of accurate, objective data. Old fitting techniques were too subjective. Motion capture, and maybe video someday, is the way of the future.
M&C: Bike fitting has been an artisan trade for what seems like centuries, mainly done by rotund Italians with gray hair, cigarette dangling from their mouth and a string with a weight on it as about the most scientific apparatus they have during the whole process. What do you think has been the single greatest milestone improvement in bike fitting in the last 25 years to improve an athlete’s performance?
Todd: Without a doubt, dynamic fitting. As it's name implies, dynamic fitting records data while the rider is pedalling under normal, physiologic loads. Simply put, we are fitting riders to ride bikes, not sit on them. When a rider transitions from sitting to pedalling, or when a rider transitions between workloads (power) and cadences, things change. And they change dramatically. Also, the motion of the pelvis and frontal-view knee tracking have been implicated as big players in the development of leg power and the diagnosis of overuse injuries. It does not good to record anything statically.
M&C: There are a number of fairly scientific methods now to fit a riders body to maximize performance. What makes Retül bleeding edge? Why should I opt for Retül versus other approaches as a cyclist?
Todd: There are two things here Greg. We, as a company, have two different business models. First, if a bike shop or physical therapy clinic want to purchase a system for bike fitting, there are other options. The other options are mostly video-based systems which offer great visual benefits to the fitter and rider. Hook up a video camera to the laptop and the rider becomes an image on the computer screen. That is called 2D. 3D actually creates a spatial model of the rider's TRUE 3D motion (through 3+ camera angles) and takes the recordings from that stick figure. 3D is known industry-wide as the gold standard of accuracy. Second, if you want to get a fit done and are deciding between options, you should not only factor in the technological capabilities, but you should choose a fitter that has a good reputation. As much as we hate to say it, some of the finer details of fitting is still an art. And there are good artists and bad artists. It usually comes down to how the fitter uses the technology, and interprets the data.
M&C: So Todd, assume I come into my local shop and get a Retül fit on my road bike. How does this translate to my mountain bike or my cross bike? Is it desirable to have specific fits per discipline and the equipment used for each?
Todd: Absolutely. Each position is different and all equipment will be different. More importantly, you will pedal each bike differently. Between a neutral road/MTB position and the TT position, we see HUGE changes in the 3D kinematics such as joint angles of the ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow. Unfortunately for the rider, there is no good way to transfer the position between bikes other than actually fitting each bike. I guess that is good for guys like me.
M&C: OK, Todd, the ‘big’ one: Vervecken or Boom?
Todd: Well, I guess I have to say Boom.
Todd, thanks so much for being part of "5 Questions with!" I have learned TONS by watching your fit today with Ted and with the answers to my questions above. I am sure it'll help our readers!
Note the following as well!:
As Todd mentioned above, each discipline of cycling ranging from road to mountain to cyclocross requires a specific 'fit'. To supply the huge demand of 'crossers growing here in Boulder, Boulder Cycle Sport in conjunction with Todd Carver/Retül and Brandon Dwight will be offering 'cross specific fits this coming season. Stay tuned!
If you are interested in Retül and where this dynamic fit system is located near you, or perhaps you are a shop interested in providing this service to your customers, click here to find a dealer or general product/service info.
Larimer County...continued
I recently posted on recent encounters in Larimer County between cyclists and Sherrif's deputies. Many of you had great commentary. Here is the situation from the Sherrif's own (electronic) pen...
Cyclists and Dodge City
By Sheriff Jim Alderden
Don’t you just love this time of year, when the birds, boats and cyclists come out? Well, two out of three ain’t bad.
Tis the time of year for countless walking, running and cycling events that positively or negatively affect each of us. Then there’s the inevitable conflict between the motorists and cyclists using roads that are in disrepair and aren’t fit for either. The Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies are tasked with keeping the peace and enforcing the laws. The end result is that nobody is happy with us.
First, let me address the numerous events that impact traffic flow and raise the ire of the affected neighborhoods. All of these events require a permit. There are several stages of review. Many of these cross jurisdictional lines and require approval from the municipalities that they traverse, the county and the state. In the case of the county permits, they are NOT issued by the Sheriff’s Office but from the Commissioners. In addition to the Sheriff’s Office reviewing the plans for the events, the Health Department, Road and Bridge, Parks Department, Engineering and the appropriate ambulance, hospital and fire departments all review the plans and either approve or impose conditions. In the case of the Sheriff’s Office, we REQUIRE notification of affected residents, a traffic plan, certified traffic control personnel at key intersections, and volunteers at other locations. If the event is a race, we require either full or rolling road closures. Again, we are charged with making the event as safe as possible, but can’t deny a permit just because it inconveniences people. That’s a balancing act for the County Commissioners.
The Sheriff’s Office no longer assigns personnel to these events except in the most extreme circumstances due to staffing shortages, other high priority events that dictate deputies be assigned to work overtime, and the liability associated with these events. When we do, the event must pay the costs associated with the services provided. I don’t remember the last time we assisted with one of these due to the volume of other off-duty work where the services of a sworn deputy are needed. (As an aside, to the person who groused on the Reporter Herald RH line about the Sheriff’s Office escorting a group of cyclists on Glade Road on Saturday, May 10, the Sheriff’s Office was NOT involved in this event and we definitely did NOT have a car escorting the cyclists either on duty or on overtime. This event was a collegiate event hosted by Colorado State University, so I suspect that the lead car may have been a CSUPD car.)
Second, let me address the issue of cyclists in general and our enforcement practice. I’ve recently received a deluge of e-mails from the cycling community of Boulder after a group of them encountered a deputy who gave then the “don’t let the sun set on your behind in my county” speech or something akin to that. What the rider claimed was that the deputy offered the option of either returning to Boulder County or receiving a ticket for the alleged violation (more on that in a moment). That may be what they heard, but the deputy is adamant that isn’t exactly what was said. Apparently there was some dialogue (argument) about the interpretation of the applicable statute and the cyclists were advised that we were going to enforce the law regarding impeding the traffic flow in our county. The deputy continued by stating that perhaps they should return to Boulder County where they indicated they could ride two abreast, or be cited if they continued to do so here. It really wasn’t a “get out of Dodge” ultimatum but “if you stay in Dodge, be prepared to follow the rules or suffer the consequences.” Perhaps he could have been more tactful, but anytime you get to even suggest something to deal with Dodge City, its okay in my book.
Actually, we have a bonus point system when ticketing individuals from Boulder. So far, the deputy in question has won a toaster oven and is close to earning a rod and reel combination. (Just kidding!)
Now to the real issue and the reason for the contact in the first place. We have been receiving complaints about cyclists hogging the road in the southern part of the county so we have stepped up our presence. Not surprisingly, many of these cyclists cop an attitude when stopped. Also not surprising, many of the cyclists with attitudes are part of the Boulder cycling community. Now, I’ve had some fun making fun of Boulder in the past (all warranted by the way) and some will say this is just another attempt to bash Boulder, but this is what has been reported to me. Many have taken to not carrying identification, so when asked to identify themselves for purposes of determining if there are any outstanding warrants (which we always check), it isn’t unreasonable to determine their county of residence. (Another warning – When issuing a citation for a violation, if we can’t verify the identification of the cyclist, they WILL be taken to jail pending identification and their bicycles impounded. This isn’t a threat. Its the way we operate.)
The dispute is over interpretation of C.R.S. 42-4-1412(5): “Any person riding a bicycle shall ride in the right hand lane. When being overtaken by another vehicle, such person shall ride as close to the right-hand side as practicable. Where a paved shoulder suitable for bicycle riding is present, persons operating bicycles shall ride on the paved shoulder….” Also at issue section (6)(a) “Persons operating bicycles on roadways shall ride single file: except that riding no more than two abreast is permitted in the following circumstances: (I) When riding two abreast will not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic…” Many feel that they can ride two abreast as long as vehicle approaching from the rear can get around them, even if the motorist has to go into the oncoming lane of traffic. Our reading of the statute doesn’t require that traffic actually be impeded, only that it the cyclists riding two abreast would impede the normal flow of traffic if vehicles had to swerve into the oncoming lane, especially when there is a double yellow line as is the case in many of the winding roads favored by the cyclists. Further, section 6 doesn’t negate the requirement of section 5 to ride on the paved shoulder or as far to the right as feasible when being overtaken. While riding two abreast, one of the pair isn’t as far to the right as possible. When being overtaken, in order to get as far to the right as possible, they must ride single file if there is only one lane in that direction. If there is a paved shoulder, they should be riding on the shoulder, not in the traffic lane, regardless of whether or not they are impeding traffic.
The arguments offered by the cyclists are similar to those made by many motorists when blowing stop signs. “There were no other cars coming, so why should I have to stop?” - “They could still get around us, so what difference does it make?”
I believe in minimal enforcement to achieve the desired result. Our deputies have been giving verbal warnings, as was done to the Boulder cyclists. The warnings haven’t been heeded. I don’t expect my deputies to have to debate the point any further. We will begin issuing tickets for these violations, whether the offender lives in Larimer County, Boulder, or Dodge City.
To the motoring public, this does not mean its open season on cyclists. We also have received some complaints about motorists throwing objects at cyclists or harassing them. We will be equally aggressive in defending the rights of the cyclists to share the road as long as done legally and responsibly.
May 20, 2008
RM'ers at the Coal Miner's Classic Crit
Our newly upgraded Cat 2, Ryan, assembled this short film of he and the rest of the RM 3's at the Coal Miner's Classic criterium. Lots of RM Blue on the front which was rad to see. We need to keep these guys cool and hidden in the pack more! Lots of horsepower amongst the RM squadra and some great racing, but as you will see, hiding out helps win crits...
Nice work guys and congrats on the upgrades!
Epicness
Oh Lordy, Spring has exploded and is showing us the first signs of summer. You know when there are like your 'top 5' days of the year, weather wise? Well, this was probably No. 2....only it is a staged No. 2 as it could be a No. 1 if all other days of the year fail to live up to the expectation. Sick. No wind. Fluffy clouds and cobalt blue sky.
The day had to be celebrated. Picking up Amy last night from her trip she demanded it of me to get out today. She just wanted full uninterrupted time with the boys and just be silent in and around the house with thoughts of her week. All is moving on, slowly.
The WB, Batey, Wals, FRZ, J-Fry and I got it on. Super Walker ++. We pushed out 4.5 hours and 5K of climbing...the WB and Batey: 6 hours and 7,100 feet. Monsters. Or Bastages. I wish I could have continued on with them! We were boys and railed it all. FRZ, stitches and all, put on a down hill clinic on his sponsored Giant Trance...along with no handed wheelies. Sick.
Unbelievably deep breaths today in these living lungs. It was so easy spinning today as it was inspired. Flag was less problematic for me and rolling the singletrack was so fun. It was...inspired.
Look at the pics below. Look at the smiles, my friends. Life. These boys inspire me every day.
Ride. Breathe. Laugh. Progress. Talk. Laugh. Oh, and laugh.
