Monthly Archives: February 2016

Random Stuff

This entry was posted in Just Life on by .

The weather has been pretty unreal here in Kansas this past week.  I think the normal high is somewhere in the mid 40’s, but the last couple days it has been in the 70’s.  Needless to say, I’ve been taking advantage of it.  It is so much nicer riding a bike without something over your knees and all bundled up.

I’ve got about 70 miles to do today to have a 500 mile week.  I’ve been lucky to usually have a pretty good group to ride with.  Just having one other two-some to pull every once in a while makes the ride so much easier.  Yesterday we rode to Lawrence the long way and met up with Brian Jensen out in the country.

I got an email from Jonathan Jacob from Indianapolis and he said that he was out on a 100 mile ride yesterday and thinks he might have run into Dale Stetina.  He said his group was shattered and hightailing it back home when a guy rides up from behind and says his name is Dale.  I told him I didn’t think it could have been Dale because he was alone.  Turns out it was Dale, Wayne confirmed it.  It is nice to see that Dale is out riding solo and is recovering great from his accident.

I replaced a window at a house I own.  Some dick broke into the house only to steal a couple antique door knobs and a few window sash locks.  I didn’t have double dead bolts on the doors, so I guess it is my fault, if someone robbing you can be your fault.  I’m sick of other people causing so much destruction to society.  It really gives people excuses for being mean to each other.

SInce I’m ranting, a fuel truck passed us yesterday south of town.  He came up behind us and blew his horn for over 30 seconds.  Then he went by and when he was hardly half way by, he started moving over, missing my bars by less than a foot.  I got my camera out, but missed the shot,  Below.  What a dick.

I saw a house fire a couple days ago when it was super windy.  Like 40-50 mph windy.  I have to give the fire people credit for keeping the fire from spreading.  They kind of let the house burn down being more concerned with the surrounding properties, which was the right thing to do.  With wind like that, it could have gotten way out of control.

Talking about fires, they have already started burning the fields here.  Yesterday the wind was less than 10 mph, so there were a ton of smoke plumes to be seen.  I hate this time of the year, which is now from February to May.  It used to only be the end of March thru the middle of April.  Time to start thinking about buggin’ out for a while.

Tucker is growing by the day.  He definitely has a mind of his own.  He is pretty smart, which is sort of usual for an English Setter, from my experience.  He is pretty fearless.  He can take a bunch of rough play and comes back for more.  He seems really happy.

I’m thinking about heading down to Austin to race next weekend in Walberg and Pace Bend.  They are both 80 mile road races that are pretty hard for early season.  Walberg for the wind and Pace Bend for rolling terrain.  There are two races here locally, so if that plan falls through, then I’ll get some racing miles in either way.

I’m feeling better, but not well yet.  I’m still coughing some nodules up, but can’t complain about being able to ride through it all.  Tomorrow will be two weeks since I started feeling bad, which is about normal for me getting sick.

Okay, that’s about it for now.  It is only supposed to be in the mid 50’s today, downgraded from the mid 60’s.  It is sunny, so it should be fine for a nice longish ride.

Dick truck driver.

Dick truck driver.

Fired.

Fired.

Broken window. Now there are double dead bolts on both doors. Like that will help.

Broken window. Now there are double dead bolts on both doors. Like that will help.

Tucker is always playing.

Tucker is always playing.

 

 

I Can See it Could be Easy to Overtrain

This entry was posted in Comments about Cycling on by .

Yesterday I finished off a 500+ mile week.  The weird thing is I really didn’t do anything other than just ride.  On Saturday, I did ride Bill home and an extra 3 miles to get to triple digits, but that just felt good.  Yesterday I needed 70+ miles and the ride was just 64, so I did a little extra and ended up with 84, which was easy too.

I have never been too much into big miles.  I’ve only been keeping track of my mileage since I got a Garmin and have been using Strava, which does it automatically.  Cycling is funny, but there are many ways to get up to race speed.  And they differ as much as the weather.

I seem to do better with more miles now.  We’ll I’m not positive about that, but I’m really enjoying riding longer miles, so I’m going with it.   This year, the miles are passing quickly.  And by that, I mean our average speeds seem fast.  I had a 90 mile ride last week at over 21 mph and an 100 mile ride at 20.5.  That is with it being fairly windy, like 15-20 mph.  For the month of February, I’ve ridden a little over 1200 miles and have averaged 18.5.  That is with riding on gravel a few times and more than a couple days with the wind 30+.

Even Bill and my brother were riding big miles.  Bill had a 500 mile week a couple weeks ago and 400 last week.  My brother rode 600 miles, which to me, seemed crazy.  But, the weather has been pretty great here, other than the wind, so it has been easy getting on our bikes.

I have been sick the last two weeks.  I’m not sure if it was from flying, then allergies or what. But I wasn’t sick enough not to go ahead and train.  Cycling is perfect for that.  It is one of the only endurance sports that always you to train through illness.

It is supposed to be closer to normal here today, in the lower 50’s.  I would love to get on my bike and ride to Lawrence and back on gravel, but I know I need to rest.  When I have been riding a bunch it is hard for me to rest.  I know I don’t need any more miles, but want more miles.

I haven’t really done any intensity yet, so this weekend is going to be a shock to the system.  But I’m too lazy to go out and do intervals, etc. when it is so much easier, and enjoyable, just to enter a few races and get up to speed that way.

Since everyone’s mileage is out there, it is so easy to think you’re behind when it reality, it is still only February.  But, the season seems to be nearly year round now, which I like.

Anyway, I can see how it would be easy to overtrain.  Once you get those endorphins going on a daily basis, it is hard intellectually override the urge to just keep going.  Maybe that was Forest Gump’s deal?

But, that is the plan now.  I might even go out and do a few efforts to see if I can breathe deeply and elevate my heart rate over 150.  The only problem with that is they are started to burn the grazing land already, so the air isn’t that great.  I guess that is one of the downsides to an unseasonably warm February.

miles copy

 

I'm bad.  Remiss.  Here's Tucker's picture.  With Kukla watcing over.

I’m bad. Remiss. Here’s Tucker’s picture. With Kukla watcing over.