Diary of a Madman

Two weeks off the bike:
Day 1: Exhausted. I keep telling Mrs. Skinny how tired I am. She insists that I come up with a new catch phrase. It's been a long season.
Day 2: The new puppy wakes up at 4:30am like clockwork. Sleep is a distant memory. Still using my catch phrase and no interest in pedaling anything.
Day 3: No interest in pedaling anything, but scouring the internet looking at new bikes. New road frame or snow bike? Interest is low, but I will pedal again. Firefly Bicycles is making beautiful bikes.
Day 4: My liver is hoping that I'll pedal a bike. The $232.22 in wine that I buy tonight makes this questionable.
Day 5: My energy levels are rising. At 9:15am I have a great idea at work and almost call it a day. I'm shot out of a cannon. The 4:30am wake up calls are a blip on the radar screen. Pinarello Paris frame or Surly Pugsley? That is the question!!!!! I demand answers but the man in the mirror just stares back blankly. When did my eyes start to look like a catchers mitt? Must still need rest.
Day 6: It's 8:45 am. There are no openers to be done. No race to prep for. I find myself watching Beverly Hills Cop. If I don't find a positive outlet for my energy I suspect all will be lost. Madness is setting in. For the first time in weeks I muster the energy to update the blog. Can I make it two weeks without falling off the wagon and riding? I need a self help group . . . or a local chapter of Fight Club. Mrs. Skinny demands to know why my energies aren't channeled into something positive . . . like cleaning. The puppy and I have a lot in common.

Food/Beverage Rut?

If you are one of the 2-3 regular readers that has periodically checked in for a while now, you may recall a few "discoveries" we've mentioned within the realm of food & beverage (at least discoveries for us simple 'cross lovin types of questionable intelligence).  Perhaps the two biggest discoveries noted in this here blog (IMO) include the Bialetti and Nutella.

Since it has been a while since any food or beverage discoveries have been recently covered, it seems timely to make out a list of 5 things a 'cross racer (or heckler) should check out if you have not already.

(1) The first is almond butter -- if you are a fan of peanut butter and almonds, this should be a no-brainer.  A personal favourite PBJ alternative is some almond butter with honey on good whole grain bread.

(2) While sticking with honey (or should we say sticky-ing), how about a nice cup of green tea with a dab of honey and lemon after a cold/damp weather ride.  Not exactly a big time discovery (folks have been doing this for a long time), but something kinda new on this end.   If you are unimpressed, add a shot of whiskey.  The added whiskey might not make for a great post ride choice but it sure takes the chill off on other occasions.

(3) So you are probably surprised it took us all the way to #3 before we talked booze (or does #2 count) but did you get a chance to try any of the Critz Farms hard cider?   They had around 5 or 6 varieties to try so one would likely hit a note with you.  Some sweet, some dry, and some flavoured yet nothing really like the non-alcoholic cider drink you may be familiar with.  This stuff was really interesting if you enjoy a decent alternative to a brew or vino.

(4)  Since we are all getting older and we all could use more fiber, be healthier etc, etc. .... have you tried steel cut oats (aka Irish oats)?  This ain't your mama's instant oatmeal here.  Read up on it and you'll see.  Besides, why just get on a carbon CX bike with fancy tubulars to be PRO when you could have had steel cut oats for breakfast ... now that is PRO.

(5)  OK, this blog has beer in the title so here ya go ... if you love your Belgian style brews, and if you can get your hands on any (this stuff is real hard to find - may not be distributed in NY), you truly should try to get a hold of some Allagash Curieux.  It is a Belgian-style tripel aged in used bourbon barrels (Jim Beam I believe).  Very hi-test but an amazing brew from Allagash Brewing Co. up in Portland, ME.   The bourbon sits quietly in the background but adds such an awesome subtle element to the overall taste. I would use intrigue and awe as descriptors of the Curieux tasting experience.

There ya have it ... the top 5 recent food & beverage highlights for the first half of the 2011 'cross season.   Enjoy!

Eff Me .. Priceless

Eff Me Once:   warming up/riding EZ at Long Branch before the gang got there with almost brand new Grifo tubulars (one practice & one race old) -- flat.

Eff Me Twice:  jump into a hot lap with the gang on the brand new, never ridden tubulars glued up last night -- stick with eyes jumps into rear derailleur & rips it off

Eff Me 3x:  while the derailleur is ripping off, the new chain I put on last week (w/only 1 race on it) decides to imitate a pretzel.

Bonus Eff Me:  On 690 cruising home in a combo bummed/pissed mood (with a messed up bike on the roof rack) and a freaking re-tread pops out from around a car as I'm changing lanes and slams the underside of the car. 

Having realized that it don't mean shit because I am still pretty lucky when I consider the big picture ... Priceless (and a vodka martini or two never hurts either)

Get With the Program - 3 Steps

So ya think you wanna give cyclocross a try, or maybe pick up a few tips/techniques to get better ... here's a basic 3 step program

(1) Attend this:    Free CX clinic 8/28 at Longbranch Park in Liverpool, NY hosted by Syracuse Bicycle and Team Ommegang - Syracuse Bicycle

http://syracusecycling.com/2011/08/free-cyclocross-clinic/ 


(2) Read this:  The unofficial CX racers bible/manual/reference by Simon Burney.

(3) Watch this:   The gold standard of CX instruction & techniques from Cycle-Smart.

(4) Bonus Steps:  websites to know:   Cycle-Smart.com, Cyclocrossworld.com, CXmagazine.com and associated links thereof; search YouTube for CX; get a cowbell; read the blogs of J-Pow, Jonathan Page, Adam Myerson and any other CXers, practice/practice/practice; know basic first aid for bloody/muddy shins; and most importantly .... keep the embrocation off your boy or girl parts.

It's Cross Season Baby - Free Clinic

Sure there are a few road races left, but for CX racers, the real season and training that go with it have already begun. Check out our free clinic . . . there won't be methadone, but there will be Nutella.

http://syracusecycling.com/2011/08/free-cyclocross-clinic/

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

 

 

Changes ....It's happening; just as it always will, always has, always does.  It is different for all of us and even if cyclical, it may come about or be perceived just a bit different than the time before or the time before that (etc., etc.).  Maybe it's like the instinctual cycles of our animal friends that sense temperature changes and hours of daylight that start the hormones a flowing.  Or maybe it's more like walking around the parking lot at an outdoor concert.  You don't see it but your nose picks up just the faintest hint and you start asking yourself, "is someone burning a lil' herb?". And when you think you were mistaken, it hits you stronger and hell ya, you see the ritualistic circle of friends sharing the "moment".  

This is somewhat how I see the road season "change" to CX season for different folks and the general local bike racing scene.  It's interesting to see when it hits you and your riding buds as mid-September approaches and then see if it was like that last year.  Some folks seem to have a wholesale hormonal switch that clicks on (not that I'm naming names Mr. Skinny).  Maybe it's the getting dark at around 8:00 pm or the sticky sweet smell of the tall corn -- or even the first email ad from Cyclocrossworld.com that throws the switch.  Or maybe it's as simple as your neighbours and co-workers inundating you with their excess zucchini and tomatoes. 

I guess for myself currently, I think, but not entirely certain, that I'm catching just the slightest whiff of that unmistakable and almost inevitable change in the air.  Check with me in a couple weeks and we'll see where I'm at.  

Either way, you know there is no turning back or denying the obvious once you realize you have semi-erotic responses to the word Dugast, the smell of tubular glue, the words of Adam Myerson or perhaps the most tell-tale sign, you have opened a jar of embro just to deeply inhale the glorious mixture and moment of mud, blood, and Belgian beer.

(And if you watched the vid, damn wasn't he umm, shall we say a bit "unique"  early on in his career?)

'Cross Season is Upon Us

2 New Bottom Brackets - Check
2 New Cassette's - Check
2 New Chains - Check
2 New Set of Candy 3 Pedals - Check
2 Sets of Clean White Bar Tape - Check
2 Sets of Cables and Housings - Check
4 Challenge Grifo Tubulars - Check
A Boatload of Glue - Check
1 Replacement Seat (White) - Check
1 Highly Motivated Cyclocross Racer - Check

Enjoy your last road and MTB races boys and girls. I'll be 'cross training . . .

PS - Clearly Drummroll is ready for CX . . . I think he has some pent up issues to work out (See below). You might want to give him some extra room on the first lap or two when we get back to racing.