Seriously George?

Jean clothing companies and designer jeans have had an intermittent role with cycling over the years, mostly in the form of title sponsors of events and teams. Memorable, though certainly not favorably, were the heinous kits of the Castorama team (overalls?) in the mid 90s and the Carrera team (sublimated with stitching and pockets to look like acid washed jeans) of the late 80s.
Over the past 2 years, like it or not, we have become accustomed to the actions of an egotistical, self described rebellious, bad-boy fashionista wanna-be. Good or bad for cycling, and the opinions run the gamut, Michael Ball's concept and direction has always left me viewing him as little more than the nerdy kid who tried too hard to be different; the kid who had the homemade Misfits tattoo and traded first pressing Effigies and Government Issue 7"s for a leather jacket and spiked dog collar before going home to listen to Spandau Ballet, Naked Eyes and Romeo Void cassettes. He tries too hard to be different that everything comes across as an act...and all of it simply to make himself look better in the small hope that someone will think he is cycling's saving grace even as a martyr. He always reminded me a little of a pro wrestling manager, all talk with little follow through except to let his international caliber team with several members with questionable pasts - an one now retired doped national pro champion) lay waste to fields in mostly regional Pro/1/2 events. But I digress...
Most of the folks (and I would actually estimate none) I race with on a regular basis are not club going, coke snorting, trust fund party hounds with a taste for fashion and female D-list celebrities and models with complex eating disorders. My limited marketing education would lead me to believe that the target demographic of team sponsors would be to glean some exposure with US cycling fans and participants who are generally the middle income folks with a moderate disposable income. I'm not talking European teams, simply the domestic US market which arguable is very different than the Euro one in which cycling is second only to soccer for numbers of fans, interest in the sport and the money that circulates through. The bottom line is, I know of no friends of mine who have enough dispoable income to currently afford a pair of Michael Ball's Rock and Republic jeans at $175 a pop. Personally, I cringe when I pay over $25 for a pair of Levi Strauss jeans that I know will last 5 or more years. Those Levi's will certainly be more comfortable in my opinion, than something meant to be worn so tight you can tell my religion in them. Shockingly, just as Ball's exit of cycling seems eminent along with his crumbling Rock and Republic empire and mess of a cycling team, George Hincapie appears poised to fill a gap, that as I mentioned above, doesn't seem to need to be filled. As most know, George and his brother Rich own Hincapie sportwear, makers of fine cycling clothing. I have worn their bibs and jerseys in past season, and found them as well made as any mid-level competitive cycling clothing company (Garneau, Pactimo, Champion, etc), but recently they have moved into something more removed from "sportwear". Yep, you knew it was coming.....designer jeans. Introducing Hincapie Premium Denim, where the jeans are priced at more than the cost of a Giro TT helmet. Seriously George? And to top the whole thing off, a quick internet search reveals that the most often sited retail location to buy these wonders of denim fashion - Competitive Cyclist! They are being advertised as "apres ride" garments. I have to admit though, the euro model poses of Rich and George on the website, make me smile. Is George the new Cipo, I bet there are several out there who would hope that is the case, but I'm not sure his wife would approve.

No one's talking....

Why is no one reporting this?! VeloNews - nope, CyclingNews.com - nope, heck...even the Frenchies, who luuuvv to assume doping in the professional peloton by Americans is morosely prevalent, aren't reporting it. Heck...the only one "reporting" it is a from a friggin' Twitter post by the management of the affected team, Rock Racing (check the tweet link at the end of this post). Rumors have been running of a positive test at the Tour of California of a certain American veteran of the European peloton (who has tested positive before, suspended and continues to be linked to Op Puerto) . Evidently organizers have been keeping mum about it until appeals and secondary tests (if necessary) are completed in an attempt to avoid a backlash similar to those encountered by Amaury Organization every time they announce a positive prematurely at the TdFrance. I'm guessing ToC organizers are also probably consulting with some lawyers to hold on to sponsor contracts (including two more years on the Amgen title sponsorship) and I would bet a PR firm or two.

You know, it's funny that there was such a heated dispute last year when they kept a certain someone from competing in their event for reasons that some would say were unsubstantiated. Of course the issue was made even more ridiculous by their "protest", which involved riding the route buried within the caravan behind the peloton before being pulled from the course under threats of arrest. AEG might prove to come out looking like prophets last year in hindsight.

Rock Racing Tweet

I shouldn't complain, but...

I honestly live in one of the best places in the US to ride a bike. I have variable terrain that includes rolling stuff right where I live, really flat stuff within a one hour ride (or 20 minute drive) and some of the best big climbs within a 2 hour drive in the form of the Blue Ridge Mountains. To top it all off, the areas I ride in are so often used by cyclists, that motorists are aware and for the most part completely accepting of their presence. Other places I have lived have not been so friendly! Compared to where I have lived also in the past, we have some of the best cycling weather around. With the right clothing and gear, you can comfortably ride year round here with temperatures in the winter dropping into the 30s typically only for a couple weeks or so. But my complaint with the weather this winter has been the uncommon cold and precip that has existed. I can't remember a day where it was above 50 and not raining. All you Nor'Easterners are aghast I could complain about such things...and honestly its nice to complain about such a trivial item when it comes to cycling. I will also probably be complaining about the heat and humidity come August...almost definitely. To answer the question, "Yes", I have been using the eMotion rollers, but typically use those for days when I have no daylight to train in not for weather thing. I like to "harden" my body ala Euro-pro, and recognize this as mostly psychological, by riding in conditions others won't though I'll complain the whole time and fight with the reasons in my head to turn around. This has been a change this year, and I have definitely been savoring the "winter" rides. I also do very well when racing in those conditions. There is probably a link there, but its probably mostly my lack of reasoning and little dimness on my part.

My best 20" powers so far this year have been by doing these rides outside in the wind, headed straight into it. I hate it as much as the next guy, but have seen the results by accepting those stressors and using it as additional workload. Yeah, it stinks, frickin' ABSOLUTELY STINKS.

Headed to Mexico late this month for a well deserve, vacation. Its going to fit in right as I maximize my base. Trying to come up with ways to address the conservation of my cycling fitness there knowing I can't take my bike and not sure what the resort workout facilities are. I know I will end up putting in a lot of open water swimming as my swimming has been coming around nicely in the pool and swimming in the ocean for an hour or more (3 miles or so) is so relaxing to me...rhythmic and hypnotyzing.

Hope all is well, stay safe!

What's In A Name?

I'm glad to see folks get a kick out of reading these posts...actually surprises me some and one question has come up regarding the name of the blog and whatnot. Truthfully, the name is from old school cycling...the act of a rider being dropped. Those who race or have watched races have seen this - a rider who keeps get slung around near the back of the group, stretching the distance off the back before pulling himself back in (either by his own effort or a slowing of the group in front). Once someone starts to stretch that distance, just like elastic, it has its limits and either due to the number of times its been stretched or the large distance at one time that needs to be overcome to regain contact with the group - the elastic snaps and the rider loses contact with the group as they ride away. In no uncertain terms did I ever insinuate I would be the one dropping the rider/racer. My biggest memories of "snapping the elastic" were from the receiving end. I say that's the case for most of us, eh?

Musings while logging the miles

Just a couple musings at this point, the things that have stuck in my mind while I have been putting in the long miles that make up this part of the season.

Group Rides. I continue to be surprised at the wasted time, effort and miles that are put in at this time of year with "team rides" or group rides. Certainly there are times of the year for this as long as the participants all have similar goals or are meeting individual goals as part of their training plans. This is not to publicly slam teams out there - hell, I've noticed this happening with group rides on my team. To further explain my thoughts here, let me identify specific examples. Team X is a very large team with riders extending all the way from very competitive Cat 2s to unlicensed riders looking to get their feet wet for the first time in organized races this season. Group rides for the team have been occurring since early December and include any and all riders (all are encouraged to attend). These rides have moved from drills about moving through a pack to paceline training to enjoyable social endurance rides into the fast tempo rides traditionally found as we all start into speed work. I have great regard for those teams who take the time to work new racers in, mentoring them on riding, mechanics and training by the more experienced racers. I applaud them. But is it me or isn't it a tad ludicrous to be bringing out Cat 5s (or lower) into the rolling paceline rotation worked in among the Cat 2s. This is not meant to discredit lower category riders in regards to technique or skill this is more in regards to fitness levels. I find it hard to believe that the Cat 5s are doing anything for building threshold and endurance when they are hanging on for dear life and can't even speak to you as they roll through, snot and drool slinging down their jerseys. Additionally, I find it hard to believe the Cat 2s are getting much out of a ride when the Cat 5s are moving through right at their tempo zone if that would ever occur (note: I don't see that often right now as there are always the riders with a point to prove - the offseason rainbow jersey challengers). Don't get me wrong, group rides and team building have their place, especially in drills, tactics and technique exercises...but to think everyone is benefitting from group rides that have such a broad spectrum of riding levels is ridiculous. I get questioned all the time why I choose to ride alone much of the time and its because I value my training time and like to use that time efficiently with my own personal goals in mind to overall fitness. Blowing out my legs over 120k at LT isn't going to do me a lot of good when the next three days will be spent in AR zones and at least one night with restless sleep due to the throbbing in my legs.

Music. Without getting into the iPod/earphones while riding debate, I will admit that I do pass the time riding long endurance miles with tunes off the marvelous little Apple box. Honestly, it exists between my ears more like a friendly voice keeping me company than anything I ever did for tempo or to a beat. Usually the music matched my mood and had little if anything to do with the workout at hand. Interesting aside, last summer I found I usually rode faster sans music than with it. This past Saturday I rode out to do my first intervals on a road I love only for this purpose. The road is a perfect distance from my house for a nice organized warmup and during that time I listened to some new music I had purchased. Just as I started into my first interval, the music switched to Tool's Aenima. Lets just say that I am a huge believer in the power of music as incentive and will carefully choose my music for the harder workouts in the future. It had never been a priority to me, but I can say that honestly, at least that day, it indeed made a difference. The time past quicly and I was very well aware of the task at hand, staying right at my zone for all the intervals. Thank you Steve Jobs for creating this wonderful device, thank you Dawn for understanding my need for training and cycling....and thank you Maynard- you'll be between my ears often when the time comes to feel that heaviness that only comes from pushing power past where it should be.

Da Bug

Again, neglecting...

I apologize for neglecting this blog, but as I hoped for something decent to write about regarding my cycling and all, its pretty much been just base miles averaging around 12-14 hours per week. I haven't focused on power at all and had actually removed my power meter, riding electronic free for nearly a month. Now that its back on, my long rides show nearly no loss of power when averaged over similar rides from mid summer - obviously nothing scientific and only average, but a pretty optimistic finding. The cross training/weight lifting has continued and recently I have been back in the pool and feeling a little more than unfit there. The weather has been so, so - but literally though we are here in the Carolinas, it has felt alot like either Belgium or Seattle. We have had periods of rain and just gray days offset by days of cold weather (30s). Perhaps I have become spoiled after having grown up in the Pittsburgh area, but I now find it difficult to get out the door for rides in 30 degree weather. Its amazing that when I was a junior racing in Pittsburgh in the mid to late 1980s, I would train in any cold weather as long as there wasn't ice on the road. Hell, I remember riding in shorts thinking we were in a heat wave anytime the temps got above 45 in March. Now, you probably won't see me out in anything under 40 degrees regardless of what I am wearing and with my purchase of the rollers- that temperature is definitely going to increase. Additionally, though I freakin' love racing in miserable weather (rain and cold), I hate the increased maintenance and needs required after riding in the rain.

So with all my non-hardman of cycling guise and "tenderness in training" principles in mind, and with my training now moving to intervals to increase threshold power and some workouts geared to increasing some anaerobic efforts, I dropped the money and splurged on the InsideRide rollers (http://www.insideride.com/). Very cool systems of free motion rollers which allow riders to actually climb out of the saddle and do sprints on the rollers much easier than your standard rollers package. They also have a great mag resistance unit which has been very smooth so far and with a realistic power curve that for the first times makes the indoor training seem very realistic.

The other positive as far as my wife is concerned is my creation of a training area in the garage - which has had me cleaning out many boxes that have resided like punk rock squatters in there since we moved in (18+ months ago). She essential required me to move the rollers out there, afraid of the very real potential of me coming off the rollers while sprinting and shooting across the spare bedroom at 30mph, leaving shredding carpeting behind me.

On a related note, I know NC has a great cyclocross series and season...and I realize I probably would love racing CX(never have done it), but unfortunately that skill set does require a bit of practice and training in the season dedicated for it (cold winter) - hence I look to other avenues to increase my cardio fitness that allows for me to remain in a comfortable termpaerature range. For now, I'll remain a drunk fan in my off season at cyclocross events here in NC, on the other side of the barriers, bringing some Euro realism to the event with my inebriated heckling and behavior.

The holidays are upon us and I hope that all of you get everything YOU DESERVE, heh!

da Bug

Been a bit...

Lots going on in my world and I have been neglecting keeping everyone up on the training. So last I wrote on here, I had completed a miserable ride after a flu shot, well it turns out that the weakness and fatigue wasn't attributble to the flu shot, just coincidental to a little chest/sinus virus I picked up (probably at work). This left me pretty drained for 6-7 days with a couple rides over the next week after. Slowly I have moved to increasing mileage and time on the bike, without the pressures of structure, though I see improvements in general. I also took all electronics off my bike (power meter, HR monitor) to get back to the basics of enjoying the ride. That's not to say its always comfortable with no minor suffering, but the riding is different when you aren't worrying about numbers, recovery or intensity. The "stuff" will be back on the bike as I begin to finish out base mileage in early December and begin inserting some power workouts to build back the speed both in the short and long distances.

I have been purposefully following a less structured exercise schedule, riding when I want, but mostly using the time to improve my core through cardio cross training on various machines, a little weight training and getting back into the pool after many years. Its amazing that I have taken as many years away from the pool. I grew up swimming, swam at a very high level through high school and college (and even one season post college) during which I competed in 2 Olympic Trials. Mind you my whole season goal was to simply qualify for those Trials and I was realistic in my very limited chances to even impact the Olympic team selections. It was a great experience and one I will always savor for the knowledge that on one day I was one of the 20-25 best swimmers of a specific discipline/stroke at that time for the U.S. Anyway...its great to get back in the pool and swimming laps, nothing structured there yet, but intervals will come. I have a couple ideas and theories of making improvements to my VO2 Max and lung capacities through swimming that may show merit as they translate over to the bike in the 2009 season. Even if they don't, my cardio fitness through swimming can only assist in overall fitness for the bike - not hurt whatsoever, even if I'm wrong in my amateur physiologic theories.

Recent rides are in the 70-100k range and the longer rides of a little over 3 hours are the longest rides I've done since mid season back in June or so. The distance/endurance is coming back very easily with no major issues and actually quite enjoyable. Yesterday I completed a ride that I usually do to test fitness (its got a couple decent foothills climbs in it), but I did it much more passively, and found it to be very easy even with the steepish (12-13%) climbs on it. I plan on continuing the riding as is (around 300k a week) but nothing forced to meet mileage and move to a more structured weight training and core regimen every other day and to attempt 3 days in the pool.

On the personal front, I resigned my position from a pseudo-administrative role to concentrate more on the aspects of my job I love (which has very little to do with management), to gain more time for personal and family reasons and to truly finish concentrate on the schooling that has been neglected by other pursuits. I continue to work with the same group of people, but its from being part of the team and sharing common goals without the pressures or worry that come from a management perspective. Its amazing the weight that lifted off the shoulders the moment I signed my resignation letter. Made me wonder why I waited. Lesson learned - "When things don't seem or feel right, don't be afraid to pull the trigger."

Hope everyone is enjoying the great fall weather!