Monthly Archives: February 2014

Early Season Training Surprises

This entry was posted in Comments about Cycling, Just Life on by .

I usually don’t get so out of shape over the winter that it is much of an effort to get back into some sort of respectable form early on. Cyclocross has been pretty great for that the last few years. But since I only did two cross races last season, and they were in early November, that form didn’t carry forward much.

Last season was a struggle. Between being hurt at the get go, and then doing rehab and starting weak and late, it made the year pretty challenging and ultimately, unfulfilling. That’s not to say that I want a do over. I think that each one of us has to go through ups and downs during their athletic careers and that these undulations allow us to appreciate different aspects of the sport from within ourselves. Of course it is always nicer to be on the upward side of the curve, than the bottom, but I don’t think we have all that much control over that.

So, this year, I’m at square one. Not square one like when I first started racing. That was when I just hung up your bike when the first snow fell and then maybe rode the rollers a couple times in January before actually going out and riding on the road by March. That is a place I don’t plan on ever going again, but this was as close as I’ve been in recent history. I haven’t raced since the UCI races in Louisville and before that it was two MTB races, Chequamegon and The Berryman Epic, which were Sept and Oct. So four races, going on 6 months. That is about the longest dry spell of racing I have experienced in decades. And I need to race to get to race shape.

Anyway, I’m trying to remember what it is like to get back in shape. I know historically, when I used to take a fair amount of time off, I usually rode pretty great for a week or 10 days. I’d think, man, I stayed in pretty good shape over the winter. Then all of a sudden, one morning I’d wake up and I would be destroyed. I’d be back at ground level and then really have to do some miles to get to form.

I’m a little worried that is where I’m at now. I’ve been feeling alright riding. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to complain about either. I’m just wondering when the wall is going to show up. I know it’s there, I’m just hoping maybe something might be different this year.

One thing I really hate about losing all race form is that when I do start racing, early season, I tend to get crazy stomach aches after long, hard races. It doesn’t happen every year, but more than not. It has always been after a long, hard road race, early on, and when I’m riding pretty okay. Then, a couple hours after the race, I get a super bad stomach ached that might last just a couple hours, but more likely will last really a long time, into the wee hours of the morning. I don’t know why it happens, but it seems like the formula is right for that to happen this year. Something to look forward to I guess.

Okay, I changed my ticket to stay out in sunny California for a few more days. It snowed again back in Kansas and is supposed to be in the upper 70’s, nearly 80, in a couple days out here.

I’m not sure what I’m doing for my “birthday ride”. I’d like to go and repeat Sunday, but I’m not sure I have that in me. Whatever I end up doing, I won’t overlook the fact that I get to do something special, something I love to do, which is just ride my bike.

I'll probably just start up the coast and then see how I feel.

I’ll probably just start up the coast and then see how I feel.

I'll probably ride to to start at the Pannikin in Encinitas. That is 20 miles from La Jolla, so I'd already have 40 miles RT before I start.

I’ll probably ride to to start at the Pannikin in Encinitas. That is 20 miles from La Jolla, so I’d already have 40 miles RT before I start.

I saw my old team manager, Mike Farrell, from the Schwinn team in La Jolla yesterday morning. He's out here to ride, but is heading to Borrego Springs to ride today.

I saw my old team manager, Mike Farrell, from the Schwinn team in La Jolla yesterday morning. He’s out here to ride, but is heading to Borrego Springs to ride today.

The birds at the Pannikin in La Jolla sure converge on the left overs a second after the people leave the table.

The birds at the Pannikin in La Jolla sure converge on the left overs a second after the people leave the table.

Dopers, Come Forward, We Offer Treats

This entry was posted in Comments about Cycling on by .

The UCI inquiry commission into doping released a statement “asking” for witnesses to come forward in exchange for, maybe, a reduced punishment. The commission chief, Dick Marty said, “We will treat all witnesses fairly and so I urge anyone in the cycling community with information that can help our investigation to come forward.” Wow, that is some offer to these guys. I bet they come crawling out of the woodwork for that great deal.

It says later on that the commission has the power to propose, “case-by-case” for a reductions in suspensions of anyone currently suspended, although these deals will have to be approved by the original sanctioning body, the UCI, and the World Anti-Doping Agency. All three. Wow again. I think that is such a good offer that Lance probably has already signed up and is ready to spill his guts.

Obviously, this is more than a little disappointing to me. I was hoping that this commission would be the catalyst to get as much of the doping culture and facts exposed and then we can all start at square one with a clean slate. I will be very surprised if any current rider takes them up on their offer.

The offer is so subjective and wishy-washy. I don’t understand why they didn’t come up with something more enticing, and maybe, fair? No one wants to walk in and testify before that commission and then get an offer. It would be like going into a pawn shop to sell something and tell the guy you were going to sell it before he even gave you an offer. Once you spill your guts, you’ve spilled your guts. That is all you have to negotiate with.

If I were a rider, or support staff, that had an issue, I’d hire someone to negotiate for me, anonymously, and work out the deal before I went in. My negotiator wouldn’t tell the commission my name before the deal was done. And if I was currently serving a suspension, there is no way I’d participate before the 3 bodies had approved a reduction of my suspension. It doesn’t make any sense to do it any other way.

Anyway, I very much doubt this is going to work. Maybe if the rumor gets out that they are giving out very lenient deals, then they might get the ball rolling. But I don’t see that happening.

I’m not exactly sure how the UCI came up with this commission, but unless they go back and regroup, come up with a plan that makes a little sense, then it is just going be another 3 guys that fly around the world on a budget, getting nothing accomplished. I hope that isn’t the case, but it seems to be as of now.

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