Dobovedo's Journal of Journeys

January is officially in the books and here’s where I stand on various mileage tallies:

Bikes are at 630 miles, up from 400 in 2006. Even without the century I was over 500. Good start to the year.

The Focus, surprise surprise, came in just barely under 500. I had been guesstimating all week and apparently added too many miles in my rough calculations. I cheated a little bit late today by swiping the Honda… but that’s only because Cindy had blocked me in the driveway. Yeah right – I just plain cheated.

Read more on January summary…

Today when I got ready to go to work the sun was shining and it was a balmy 11°, so I decided to make the commute instead of another day on the trainer. By the time I got all my winter gear on it was up to a scorching 14°. I thought about losing a layer or two, but decided I’d better err on the side of caution.

Read more on Havin’ a heat wave…

Whew! After putting it off for hours, I finally got on the bike and put in a valiant, but ultimately weak effort. I tried out the blessedly short but intense No Slackers Allowed. Following 2 days off and the Hardcore 100, I just had nothing to give. Despite my post title, I did not slack.. I gave it what I had to give.
Read more on 1 Slacker Allowed…

On my way home from work last Thursday, I’m in my car (booooooooooo!) and notice a Troy police cruiser behind me.

Seatbelt on? Check.
Not speeding? Check.
Windows cleared of snow? Check.
Not running any red lights? Check.

Read more on “License and Registration, Please”…

I felt great today after yesterdays indoor century, so I decided to follow it up with another huge effort.

Read more on EPIC 2nd Day…

“I hate you Coach Troy!”

Anyone who’s done a Spinervals workout has more than likely uttered or thought these words, or something very like them. But those aren’t the cruel words I’m referring to. Not only are the workouts hard enough to make you want to scream in anger, but Coach Troy has a really unique talent for saying the perfectly wrong thing at the perfectly wrong time. Things that come out sounding just plain cruel.

But by far the cruelest words I have ever heard occurred roughly 5 hours and 20 minutes in to a 5 hour and 38 minute session.

Read more on Cruel words…

“Pain – makes us make bad decisions;
Fear of Pain – is almost as big a motivator”

I heard this today while watching an episode of House.

Interesting words… not all that poetic… but ironically, it does sum up todays ICEntennial experience.

Read more on Pain – and the fear thereof…

You may notice that my journal entry about the Hardcore 100 lacked specific details of the ride. I would normally spend a whole lot of time on the blow by blow evolution of a ride of this sort, but not this time. If you want to know how this one plays out, you’re just going to have to do it yourself. Curious? Read on…
Read more on ICEntennial 2…

“You’re gonna do what?”

That was pretty much what most people said when I mentioned doing a 100 mile indoor trainer ride.

This is usually followed with: “You’re nuts!”

“We did what?”

That’s what I keep asking myself now.

And it is definitely followed in my mind with: “Yep. we’re nuts!”

Read more on ICEntennial…

I used a 45 minute spin on the trainer to test out the new Poggio’s. They felt really good and after a couple of adjustments, I got ‘em in pretty much the same position as the old. The only problem I noted in the half hour I wore them is there’s a creak coming from somewhere in the cleats. I’ll have to work that out, but otherwise I think they’re gonna be real nice.

The spin itself seemed a bit labored. It’s been a long week hard week. I had intended on doing an hour, but decided 45 minutes was plenty.

Read more on Spin-not-erval…

Cracked open the seal on yet another Spinervals tonight. This time it was Have Mercy! the Sequel. Another 2 hour compilation. This one was quite different than the first.. more tempo/TT sets in the bulk of the middle. They whole DVD looks like the following:

• 14.0 – Warmup set
• 8.0 – 10×1 min. superspin
• 10.0 – 10 min. tempo
• 13.0 – 30 min. tempo
• 14.0 – 15 min. tempo
• 10.0 – 10 min. tempo
• 8.0 – 5×30 sec. one leg drill
• 11.0 – 5×1 min. hard
• 11.0 – 3×20 sec. sprint
• cool down

If you are familiar with those workouts, you can add it up. Read more on Have Mercy! part 2…

I stopped to swap cyclometers about 1:40 into my 2 hour workout… the cadence was wigging out for some reason. That occasionally happens on rainy days when the contacts get wet, but I couldn’t figure out why that would happen today. Yes… one sweats a TON on Spinervals rides, but not in that particular location (I checked)

Also.. I’m having a hard time getting consistent readings on the HRM. Sometimes that the position of the strap, but it’s too chaotic lately. Must be time for a battery swap. Figure I’ll just change ‘em in everything cycling related… both cyclometers, HRM, lights, etc.

Read more on Batteries running low?…