What does an avid cyclist do for her birthday weekend? Duh, wear her self out to the point where she can’t walk, of course.
Yay, my birthday weekend has finally arrived. What big plans might be on tap for this grand celebration? Dinner at The Wine Shop Friday night. 100 mile ride on Saturday. I get to school some co-workers on the mountain bike trails at the US Whitewater Center on Sunday morning. Then, I’m breaking out the BBQ /smoker and making a feast Sunday afternoon.
So really, I guess it’s not that much different from any other weekend. EVERY weekend is my birthday!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Hello, Glutes. It's Been a While.
So my position on my bike has changed. So what, right? It shouldn’t be that hard to get used to. After all, I’m still pedaling with my legs. It’s not like I’m using my arms. So why do my legs hurt so bad?
Two days ago was my first ride in the new position. It was weird. I was fighting myself. My body was shifting the whole time trying to force itself into the old position. I got worn out quick…although that could have been a result of riding with Christina. Our rides normally go something like this: we start slow, catch up on gossip and life happenings, then I hang on for dear life. She pulls me over the roads of North Carolina and I do what I can not to lose her wheel. Honestly I’m not sure what she gets out of riding with me, but she keeps inviting me along so I’ll keep going.
Anyway, the next morning my legs felt like lead. Clearly, the new position has engaged some muscles I was not using before. Namely, my upper glutes, and the upper outside quads. I’m sure there are clinical names for these muscles, but for now that’s what I’m calling them. I’m also calling them very sore. So sore that 20 minutes into my interval session yesterday, I had to get off the bike. I could not pedal anymore.
I expected to feel a few tweaks in my muscles, but this is way more than I had imagined. I’m not worried about it though. My pedal stroke feels incredible. Making circles is easier than it’s ever been. I love that. My neck was a little sore, but my shoulders were not, so that’s a step in the right direction as well.
I still have a long way to go before completing my 200 – 300 miles to get used to the new position. This is just a very early assessment. Tomorrow, I’m looking at putting a big dent in those miles. Somehow, I’ve been talked into a 100 mile ride. “Somehow.”
Two days ago was my first ride in the new position. It was weird. I was fighting myself. My body was shifting the whole time trying to force itself into the old position. I got worn out quick…although that could have been a result of riding with Christina. Our rides normally go something like this: we start slow, catch up on gossip and life happenings, then I hang on for dear life. She pulls me over the roads of North Carolina and I do what I can not to lose her wheel. Honestly I’m not sure what she gets out of riding with me, but she keeps inviting me along so I’ll keep going.
Anyway, the next morning my legs felt like lead. Clearly, the new position has engaged some muscles I was not using before. Namely, my upper glutes, and the upper outside quads. I’m sure there are clinical names for these muscles, but for now that’s what I’m calling them. I’m also calling them very sore. So sore that 20 minutes into my interval session yesterday, I had to get off the bike. I could not pedal anymore.
I expected to feel a few tweaks in my muscles, but this is way more than I had imagined. I’m not worried about it though. My pedal stroke feels incredible. Making circles is easier than it’s ever been. I love that. My neck was a little sore, but my shoulders were not, so that’s a step in the right direction as well.
I still have a long way to go before completing my 200 – 300 miles to get used to the new position. This is just a very early assessment. Tomorrow, I’m looking at putting a big dent in those miles. Somehow, I’ve been talked into a 100 mile ride. “Somehow.”
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Like A Glove
There’s been a lot of buzz lately about professional bike fittings – people paying lots of money to have someone tweak the position of their saddle or stem in an effort to maximize their power output and comfort. I was immediately skeptical. I’m pretty proficient with a hex wrench. Why can’t I just tweak it myself?
Then I happened upon this article on velonews.com. I thought I knew a good bit about bike fit until I read about Tom LeCarner’s fit session at Boulder Center for Sports Medicine. And that got me thinking - is it possible to ride a bike for several hours completely pain free? I mean, after all, it IS a bike. Not a Simmons BeautyRest. Your shoulders should hurt; your hands and feet should go numb; you should expect a lot of chafing and your butt should be sore. Right?
Apparently not. So, I decided to give it a try for myself. I asked around and found the best guy in the Charlotte area to fit me is Jim O’Brien at The Right Gear in Kannapolis. I made the appointment.
It’s hard to explain exactly what went on. He took about a million measurements across my body and asked lots of questions about my concerns. What were my concerns? Mostly, the large knots and pain in my right shoulder blade, my numb feet and the hunch in my back when I ride.
We started with new cleats (the old ones were completely worn out – one of them broken). He repositioned the cleat on my shoe so that the pedal spindle hit just behind the ball of my foot. Then I hopped on my bike and started pedaling. He watched me spin for a good 2 minutes before saying anything. Then he began asking me to assign a number to the amount of pressure I was feeling at certain areas – like my sit bones and soft tissue on the saddle. With the first adjustment, I felt a huge difference. He continued making adjustments to the saddle until I felt very little pressure on my soft tissue while in the drops. Next, we addressed the shoulders and neck.
The cockpit of the bike is where the major changes happened. I figured at the very least, I would have to buy a new stem, but Jim made it work with my current set up, which was nice, because honestly, I would have bought anything he suggested. He could have taken advantage of that, for sure, but not once did I feel like that was his intention. He took a bunch more measurements and by the time he was done he had lowered my stem by about 2 inches, but flipped it over to change the rise which brought the bars a little closer. He brought the brake levers higher up on the bars, the right one even higher up than the left. Why? It turns out my right arm is about a full centimeter shorter than my left, which means my right arm is constantly having to overreach most likely accounting for all the pain on my right side. Remarkable that I’ve been riding all this time and never knew.
I don’t really experience pain in my lower back, but I’ve noticed that I ride with a huge hunch in my back where most of my cohorts seem to have flat backs. I asked Jim about this and he mostly told me not to worry about it; that it’s likely I have poor flexibility in my hamstrings and pelvis. Increasing that flexibility will help a bit, but that I basically shouldn’t fight how God made me…unless there’s pain. But since there’s not, he told me to take a second look at Chris Horner’s position on the bike. He’s known for his curved back. That made me feel better and I will no longer fight my hunch, I will embrace it.
So, just sitting on my bike I feel better. Now I need to get out and ride a few hundred miles to see if it worked. I will report back to Jim after that time on how I feel and I will update this blog as well. But, as of right now, I’m recommending a professional bike fitting to everyone who hasn’t had it done.
Then I happened upon this article on velonews.com. I thought I knew a good bit about bike fit until I read about Tom LeCarner’s fit session at Boulder Center for Sports Medicine. And that got me thinking - is it possible to ride a bike for several hours completely pain free? I mean, after all, it IS a bike. Not a Simmons BeautyRest. Your shoulders should hurt; your hands and feet should go numb; you should expect a lot of chafing and your butt should be sore. Right?
Apparently not. So, I decided to give it a try for myself. I asked around and found the best guy in the Charlotte area to fit me is Jim O’Brien at The Right Gear in Kannapolis. I made the appointment.
It’s hard to explain exactly what went on. He took about a million measurements across my body and asked lots of questions about my concerns. What were my concerns? Mostly, the large knots and pain in my right shoulder blade, my numb feet and the hunch in my back when I ride.
We started with new cleats (the old ones were completely worn out – one of them broken). He repositioned the cleat on my shoe so that the pedal spindle hit just behind the ball of my foot. Then I hopped on my bike and started pedaling. He watched me spin for a good 2 minutes before saying anything. Then he began asking me to assign a number to the amount of pressure I was feeling at certain areas – like my sit bones and soft tissue on the saddle. With the first adjustment, I felt a huge difference. He continued making adjustments to the saddle until I felt very little pressure on my soft tissue while in the drops. Next, we addressed the shoulders and neck.
The cockpit of the bike is where the major changes happened. I figured at the very least, I would have to buy a new stem, but Jim made it work with my current set up, which was nice, because honestly, I would have bought anything he suggested. He could have taken advantage of that, for sure, but not once did I feel like that was his intention. He took a bunch more measurements and by the time he was done he had lowered my stem by about 2 inches, but flipped it over to change the rise which brought the bars a little closer. He brought the brake levers higher up on the bars, the right one even higher up than the left. Why? It turns out my right arm is about a full centimeter shorter than my left, which means my right arm is constantly having to overreach most likely accounting for all the pain on my right side. Remarkable that I’ve been riding all this time and never knew.
I don’t really experience pain in my lower back, but I’ve noticed that I ride with a huge hunch in my back where most of my cohorts seem to have flat backs. I asked Jim about this and he mostly told me not to worry about it; that it’s likely I have poor flexibility in my hamstrings and pelvis. Increasing that flexibility will help a bit, but that I basically shouldn’t fight how God made me…unless there’s pain. But since there’s not, he told me to take a second look at Chris Horner’s position on the bike. He’s known for his curved back. That made me feel better and I will no longer fight my hunch, I will embrace it.
So, just sitting on my bike I feel better. Now I need to get out and ride a few hundred miles to see if it worked. I will report back to Jim after that time on how I feel and I will update this blog as well. But, as of right now, I’m recommending a professional bike fitting to everyone who hasn’t had it done.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
How Do You Define Scary?
As someone who rides a bike, I can tell you that a cyclist’s biggest fear when you’re going downhill is that you’ll come around a corner, swing wide, hit a guardrail and go over a cliff.
Knowing that, is anyone else floored by the news of a Spanish rider in the Giro d’Italia crashing on the descent of the Culmine di San Pietro pass, going over the guardrail and flying down a 150 ft. ravine? Look at this ravine. You can’t see Pedro Horrillo, but he’s at the bottom of it.
No one could find him at first. They found his broken bike, but for 10 minutes or so there was no sign of Pedro. Once they spotted him, it took another 20 minutes for medics to reach him. This is the definition of scary for me.
How does someone survive that kind of fall at that speed? Apparently, you survive it with a broken femur, a crushed knee, a broken neck and a collapsed lung. But, no brain damage. Seriously. He crushed his whole body, but managed to protect one of the most sensitive human organs. Um, I want that kind of helmet. And not just for riding. I’ll wear it in my car. I’ll wear it to work. I’ll wear it to mow my yard. You know what? I’m just never gonna take it off.
Pedro Horrillo is living every cyclist’s worst nightmare. For a seemingly benign sport, bicycle racing sure is dangerous.
Knowing that, is anyone else floored by the news of a Spanish rider in the Giro d’Italia crashing on the descent of the Culmine di San Pietro pass, going over the guardrail and flying down a 150 ft. ravine? Look at this ravine. You can’t see Pedro Horrillo, but he’s at the bottom of it.
No one could find him at first. They found his broken bike, but for 10 minutes or so there was no sign of Pedro. Once they spotted him, it took another 20 minutes for medics to reach him. This is the definition of scary for me.
How does someone survive that kind of fall at that speed? Apparently, you survive it with a broken femur, a crushed knee, a broken neck and a collapsed lung. But, no brain damage. Seriously. He crushed his whole body, but managed to protect one of the most sensitive human organs. Um, I want that kind of helmet. And not just for riding. I’ll wear it in my car. I’ll wear it to work. I’ll wear it to mow my yard. You know what? I’m just never gonna take it off.
Pedro Horrillo is living every cyclist’s worst nightmare. For a seemingly benign sport, bicycle racing sure is dangerous.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Giro d’whaddayacallit?
When I’m not on my bike, I’m a Broadcast Engineer… which means I do a lot of stuff pertaining to all aspects of television. When I heard news of Universal Sports providing live coverage of the Giro d’Italia for the first time ever in North America, I was giddy like a child hearing the bells of the ice cream truck. The coverage is not available in Charlotte, though. Not on Time Warner. Not on Dish. Not on DirecTV. Not a problem, I’m a Broadcast Engineer.
Theoretically, since I work for an NBC affiliate and Universal Sports is an NBC company, all I should have to do is call up my good buddies at Skypath and get the downlink frequency for the coverage. I’ll then be free to watch the race at work (while working, of course). Theoretically.
Skypath is basically a company made up of the guys and gals at 30 Rock that keep track of all of NBC’s (and its companies) satellite feeds. So, presumably, they should know where I can find Universal Sports Giro coverage. Presumably. Here’s more or less how the convo went:
“Skypath, this is Eric.”
“Hi Eric this is Jodi Winterton at WCNC –TV in Charlotte, NC. How are you?”
“I’m great, how are you?”
“Wonderful. Hey listen, I’m looking for the coordinates for Universal Sports Giro d’Italia coverage.”
“The what?”
“The Giro d’Italia.”
Silence.
“It’s a huge bike race in Italy.”
“Never heard of it. I don’t see a downlink for a Giro day…whatever you called it. Hang on let me try BOC…*pause, phone rings*…Hi BOC, this is Eric. I have an affiliate with a question. Go ahead WCNC.”
“I’m trying to find the downlink frequency for Universal Sports coverage of the Giro d’Italia.”
“Is that the swimming thing with Michael Phelps?”
“No, it’s a professional bike race in Italy – the Giro d’Italia.”
“The Giro what?”
“It’s the Tour of Italy – it’s one of the biggest bike races in the world and Universal Sports is covering it – I just need the coordinates for Universal Sports…”
“I don’t see anything for a bike race…just this swimming thing. Hang on let me try the Traffic department. They should know…*pause, phone rings*…Hi Traffic, this is BOC. I have an affiliate with a question. Go ahead WCNC.”
“Universal Sports is covering the Giro d’Italia at 8:45 this morning and for the duration of the race. Can you give me the satellite coordinates, please?”
“The Giro d’what?”
Repeat same conversation 3 more times and I still don’t have the downlink frequency *sigh*.
Theoretically, since I work for an NBC affiliate and Universal Sports is an NBC company, all I should have to do is call up my good buddies at Skypath and get the downlink frequency for the coverage. I’ll then be free to watch the race at work (while working, of course). Theoretically.
Skypath is basically a company made up of the guys and gals at 30 Rock that keep track of all of NBC’s (and its companies) satellite feeds. So, presumably, they should know where I can find Universal Sports Giro coverage. Presumably. Here’s more or less how the convo went:
“Skypath, this is Eric.”
“Hi Eric this is Jodi Winterton at WCNC –TV in Charlotte, NC. How are you?”
“I’m great, how are you?”
“Wonderful. Hey listen, I’m looking for the coordinates for Universal Sports Giro d’Italia coverage.”
“The what?”
“The Giro d’Italia.”
Silence.
“It’s a huge bike race in Italy.”
“Never heard of it. I don’t see a downlink for a Giro day…whatever you called it. Hang on let me try BOC…*pause, phone rings*…Hi BOC, this is Eric. I have an affiliate with a question. Go ahead WCNC.”
“I’m trying to find the downlink frequency for Universal Sports coverage of the Giro d’Italia.”
“Is that the swimming thing with Michael Phelps?”
“No, it’s a professional bike race in Italy – the Giro d’Italia.”
“The Giro what?”
“It’s the Tour of Italy – it’s one of the biggest bike races in the world and Universal Sports is covering it – I just need the coordinates for Universal Sports…”
“I don’t see anything for a bike race…just this swimming thing. Hang on let me try the Traffic department. They should know…*pause, phone rings*…Hi Traffic, this is BOC. I have an affiliate with a question. Go ahead WCNC.”
“Universal Sports is covering the Giro d’Italia at 8:45 this morning and for the duration of the race. Can you give me the satellite coordinates, please?”
“The Giro d’what?”
Repeat same conversation 3 more times and I still don’t have the downlink frequency *sigh*.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Dilworth Races
It’s been a strange racing year. More so than in years past there have been more top quality Pro’s showing up in the Women’s field at the local races. I’m not complaining…much. Cycling is unique in that its pro riders are very accessible. The fact that I can sign up for a local race and end up lining up next to Rebecca Larson, all in all, is pretty darn cool.
The race, however, sucked. It started very fast as these races do, but when the Pro’s show up, the pace stays super high until one of them can breakaway. This usually takes 3 or 4 laps and then the pace slows. Generally if you can just suffer like hell for that long, then you have a decent chance of hanging in with group until the finish. I, however, cannot do that. My body can’t handle that kind of effort right off the bat, even with a good warm up. I ended up in a chase group…going very slow. Frustratingly slow. Perspective: Christina and I averaged a full 1.5 mph faster on our 56 mile ride the morning after the race than my chase group averaged during the race. I was not happy with my Dilworth Race. The event itself was top notch. I only wish my performance could have been more up to par.
The race, however, sucked. It started very fast as these races do, but when the Pro’s show up, the pace stays super high until one of them can breakaway. This usually takes 3 or 4 laps and then the pace slows. Generally if you can just suffer like hell for that long, then you have a decent chance of hanging in with group until the finish. I, however, cannot do that. My body can’t handle that kind of effort right off the bat, even with a good warm up. I ended up in a chase group…going very slow. Frustratingly slow. Perspective: Christina and I averaged a full 1.5 mph faster on our 56 mile ride the morning after the race than my chase group averaged during the race. I was not happy with my Dilworth Race. The event itself was top notch. I only wish my performance could have been more up to par.
Monday, May 4, 2009
F*ck Yeah!
USA Cycling Rule 1Q5. ABUSE. (b) states: “No rider or licensee may use foul or abusive language or conduct during a race event.”
The winner of the CAT 2/3 race in Spartanburg last Friday night was relegated by Officials after crossing the line and dropping the f-bomb in excitement. I personally thought the uncharacteristic “Fuck Yeah” was wildly funny and well deserved. After all, he had crashed out of the CAT 3/4 race with 5 laps to go, changed out his broken wheel and with a bloody leg turned around and started the 2-3 race. All of us who have ever wrecked before know how a crash can wreak havoc on you mentally (and as we all know even the best cyclists crash, right Mr. Armstrong?). That he got right back in, I thought, was very brave. And then to win it? Sweet.
Unfortunately, one cyclist did not find the “Fuck Yeah” as funny as I did. He apparently complained to the Officials who then disqualified the Winner from the race. The Winner admitted his mistake to the Officials and apologized. I guess the Officials must have believed he was sincere – they took back the DQ and awarded him Second Place. In that, I feel like both parties acted with tremendous class.
When it comes down to it, a rule is a rule and the Dude broke it. This is the first time I’ve seen the “foul language” rule actually enforced, though. I mean, really, who hasn’t cursed during a race? I hear it all the time. But, what happened, happened. His expletive doesn’t take away from the fact that he crushed that race.
Fuck yeah!
The winner of the CAT 2/3 race in Spartanburg last Friday night was relegated by Officials after crossing the line and dropping the f-bomb in excitement. I personally thought the uncharacteristic “Fuck Yeah” was wildly funny and well deserved. After all, he had crashed out of the CAT 3/4 race with 5 laps to go, changed out his broken wheel and with a bloody leg turned around and started the 2-3 race. All of us who have ever wrecked before know how a crash can wreak havoc on you mentally (and as we all know even the best cyclists crash, right Mr. Armstrong?). That he got right back in, I thought, was very brave. And then to win it? Sweet.
Unfortunately, one cyclist did not find the “Fuck Yeah” as funny as I did. He apparently complained to the Officials who then disqualified the Winner from the race. The Winner admitted his mistake to the Officials and apologized. I guess the Officials must have believed he was sincere – they took back the DQ and awarded him Second Place. In that, I feel like both parties acted with tremendous class.
When it comes down to it, a rule is a rule and the Dude broke it. This is the first time I’ve seen the “foul language” rule actually enforced, though. I mean, really, who hasn’t cursed during a race? I hear it all the time. But, what happened, happened. His expletive doesn’t take away from the fact that he crushed that race.
Fuck yeah!
Friday, May 1, 2009
What Is 300 Miles?
300 miles is my goal for the 24 Hours of Booty. I will be on a 3 mile loop the whole time, but if I were released from the circle, where could I go?
From my home in Charlotte I could:
- Go to my parents’ house in Cary and back (288 miles).
- Visit my niece and nephew in Suffolk, Va. (304 miles)
- Visit my buddy in Atlanta and go up to Dahlonega for some wine tasting (294 miles).
- Ride to Charleston for the Sailboat Races and then head to Savannah for a ride on a river boat (314 miles).
- Watch a women’s soccer game at my Alma Mater, UNC-Asheville and return home (262 miles).
- Take a ride on the Chattanooga Choo-Choo (311 miles).
- Kayak the Gauley and New Rivers in Charleston, WV (294 miles).
- See the beautiful Luray Caverns in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia (317 miles).
- Get a Herring and Roe dinner ($7) on the Roanoke River at the Cypress Grill in Jamesville (280).
300 miles is also:
- 482.7 kilometers
- Approximately half of the Pacific Coast Highway (325 miles).
- The first 4 Stages of this year’s Tour de France (268 miles).
- The length of the Florida Keys…3 times (299 miles).
- The shoreline of Puerto Rico (311 miles).
- The height of the Space Shuttle when it’s orbiting Earth (~300 miles).
- The range of a Tesla Model S on one $4 charge (and 0-60 in 5.9, not bad).
- The length of Lake Michigan (307 miles).
- The distance ran by Pam Reed in 80 hours in 2005.
Or I could just ride 100 laps of the Booty Loop to raise money for cancer research and survivorship. You can help. Donate here.
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