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The Bike Shop Team Archives
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Dr. says I need a backeotomy!Monday, May 5, 2008
by Ryan Probert
I got a little excited on my second ride after the weather got nice again, and I think I pulled something in my back. I've never had back problems before so I didn't really know what I was feeling. When I explained it to a friend as "it feels like someone has their thumb stuck knuckle deep right here" he was quick to tell me that it is a pull and to take it easy for a bit. That wasn't quite what I had planned. I am really starting to feel the urgency of the situation. D-day for registration has come and gone, and now that the weather has turned it's time to get serious about some long rides and back to back days. I guess I can still get in the pool and on the spin bike, but I am pretty over it with that stuff. Riding a few times has me pretty fired up but I know that I can't do something stupid now that will cost me later.
Pretty discouraged by the bad timing but just gotta take care of it.
That's What Friends Are ForMonday, April 14, 2008
By Ryan Probert
After all my new-bike jubilation, the weather crapped out on us and we had a little winter relapse for a week or so. I don't know about you, but after riding a real bike outside a couple of times, I had a really hard time getting back on the trainer in front of the TV. Thankfully the warmer weather has come back to us, minus today, and I've been able to get out a few more times.
I work at The Bike Shop so Warmth = Busy. This past Saturday at The Shop had its busiest day of the year so far, and that means I run around like I'm on fire for 8 or 9 hours. I don't know what I was thinking when I told my buddy Clay "ya, swing by The Shop at closing and we'll spin it up and watch some hockey". Turns out his memory is better than mine.
He rolls in as we are cleaning up and having a cold one or two, thanks to a gracious customer. I am really not feeling it and am literally running away and hiding from him, but anybody that knows him knows how relentless he is. So needless to say after a couple of Pils and a lot of whining I'm on the trainer for an hour or so, and planning a road ride for Sunday. That turned into a 2 hour beauty with some covertly competitive climbs and sprints. Getting flipped off by some old guy on a service road was made up for by being honked and waved at by three cuties in a little yellow car. The two ol' guys still got it!
If it wasn't for Clay, I would have let myself off the hook, probably all weekend. Instead, I am a little stiffer in the legs and feeling a lot better about how I spent my weekend. Thanks buddy!
I hope you all have, or can find, support like this. Because I have a feeling we're all going to need some push when we feel like we don't have any push left.
New Bike DayTuesday, March 25, 2008
 By Ryan Probert
So I came up about 160 km short of my 2,000 km by Easter target but I feel like I have a good base and I got to get out on my new steed for the first time on Saturday. I went with the Rocky Mountain Element 50, she's a thing of beauty. My fitness felt pretty good but I've got a lot of work to do on my skills. I was down a couple of times but you gotta love rolling around in the dirt a bit! It was a rigorous little ride on Sidshow Bob and over the river into Edworthy Park. A couple of short steep climbs and one fairly long steepish climb... chased by a large, angry, barking dog. I think if TR can supply us with a handfull of those I can knock out the whole ride in about 3 or 4 days. I wish I had a wattage computer on my bike for that, I was climbing, picking up speed and gears. My heart was about to come out of my chest, I think I was holding my breath, but that pup wasn't catching me for nothing! The up side of the whole thing was the sweet descent that i got for my work, definately woth the price of admission. My buddy G that I was riding with, also chased by another dog in a separate direction, somehow ended up in somebody's yard with a couple of alpacas. Yep, I said alpacas. Very strange day.
Anyway....new bike, feeling strong, pumped to be riding out in the world, angry dogs and a couple of alpacas. It seems to all be coming together.
Spring has Sprung!Thursday, March 20, 2008
By John BaykoThe weather has been so nice lately one could almost contemplate riding outside! Now, i know there are hardcore riders who are laughing at that statement, and that's just fine. I had better get used to the laughter of hardcore riders being directed my way as i'm sure there's plenty more where that came from.
As of the Easter weekend, i'm happy to report my training is coming along quite nicely. Have i ridden an actual bike yet? no. Have i been riding a training bike? yes. Have i researched bikes to determine which one i'll be riding? yes. So in the words of the Loaf (or Meatloaf to those not in his inner circle) "two out of three ain't bad".
One thing i've noticed during the training of my old body is that it sure doesn't recover like it used to... The aches and pains of a workout are lingering longer and harder than an Indian buffet, and the potential for injury seems to have increased exponentially. Fortunately for me however, i'm one lazy som' bitch, so telling myself to back off and take it easy when i start to tweak something is not a problem (which is a good thing, because if it was a problem, and it took effort, i wouldn't do it, thereby ending up in some negative feedback paradox that only a physicist could decipher, and i don't know any physicists, so i'd have to look for one, which would require effort, which would further compound the problem and so on...).
Anywhoo, the next hurdle is an obvious one: the NHL playoffs. I was never great (or even good) at math, but how in the hell can anyone get any training done when there are three games per night seven days per week for three straight weeks, followed by two games per night every second night for four straight weeks, followed by the Stanley Cup finals (or something like that)???
My strategy is to play it fast and loose and shoot for mixed results... Hard at it! John (left) and Ryan working out their livers.Monday, March 17, 2008
Turning the CornerSaturday, March 1, 2008
By Ryan Probert
I'd rather bust my butt than drop the ball. I spouted off about 2,000 km by Easter, and by hell or highway I'm going to do it. I rounded the halfway mark last night on a 77-km session. Not much of a Friday night party, but certain sacrifices must be made.
250 km a week for the next four weeks and my base will be pretty well set and ready to move to the road and trails when the weather allows.
Clay, thanks for the tips on stretching exercises for my hips. They're awesome after a ride, what a difference the morning after!
The Nightmares BeginWednesday, February 27, 2008
By John Bayko
Tossing and turning, I'm caught in a nightmare. I'm at the bar eating chicken wings and drinking pints of cold beer; laughing it up with my friends until suddenly I'm on a bike at the start of some type of race. I'm still wearing the same clothing I was wearing at the bar, and I'm dripping with sweat in the sweltering heat. My throat is parched, and my head is throbbing; my stomach churns, and my mouth fills with saliva – I'm going to puke all over the tecked out rider in front of me. Other riders are staring in amazement at my sorry state when it starts: "On your mark, get set..." BANG!
Waking with a jolt, I realize the sweat is real, as were the wings and beer (last night) and as are the headache, nausea and dry mouth, but at least I'm at home in bed. It's officially six months until August, which means a couple of things:
1) I've put off seriously training for six months
2) I had better start seriously training
In spite of wings, booze, and bad dreams however, I feel fairly optimistic about things. Although I haven't been training as much as I probably should, I have been in the gym regularly working on core and leg strength. This seems to me to be a reasonable approach as I guess I'll be relying on my old legs rather heavily over the course of seven days of racing.
What is daunting though, is the prospect of starting to log some serious kilometers on the bike. Especially considering I don't own said bike.
Hmmmm, let's review: Six months until the race; already having nightmares; haven't started arduous training; don't have a bike.
Now may be an opportune time to set a few short term goals.
Goals for March.
1) Begin riding a set amount of KM's per week
2) Review merits of at least three models of race-worthy transportation
Well that was easy... is it wing night tonight? |
