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Showing posts from November, 2006

Late season club rides, cowboy adventures and clydesdales.

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Saturday was a day of contrasts to say the least. Got in a good "fast group" club ride in sunny but cool temps. I even took some of the advice I have been researching the last couple weeks on developing better climbing techniques to the bike. The climb up the Fall River Hill and the subsequent climbs went better than usual.Just by making small subtle changes in my position, gearing and cadence I got over the hills stronger and in better shape. Saturday night I attended my spouse`s work Christmas party at Hatfield`s Farm cowboy adventures. They wagon you back into the woods to a mock western village where you eat, drink and make merry. It was a good time but with a "no liquor on the bus ride home" policy it meant you drank all the booze you brought with you or left it behind. Needless to say the head is a little seedy today...lol. Oh well....this too shall pass, hopefully in time for hockey this afternoon. It was impressive seeing the big Clydesdales hitched to t...

Offseason Training

I evaluate the success of the past season and decide what objectives I need(or want)for the upcoming season.For 2006 I focused upon weight loss,improving my spin and expanding my participation in the BNS race series. In hinesight met my objectives. With that in mind I`m gonna tweak my offseason training to tackle my performance issues somewhat differently for 2007 to inlude...... A - Cadence "...if your legs hurt more than your lungs, increase cadence. If your lungs hurt more than your legs, use a lower cadence....if you lack the super cardiovascular power to ride efficiently at high cadence, weight training can help you develop tolerance to lower cadence, higher watts per pedal stoke riding..." Ken Mierke I have started a more disciplined weight training plan for the winter rather than my usual "ad hoc" approach to gym work. Specifically targeting lower body, back and abdominal work.Last year I impr...

Neat pic from the Halifax Crit

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A fellow rider posted this pic. Me at the front of the pack doing some domestique work for the squad. Geo

2006 Extra time - Riding into November

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Gotta love it! Rememberance Day, Nov 11, was an awesome day.Sunny with double digit temps. Got out on the usual Saturday morning club ride. Paid our respects to the vets with a moment of silence at Laurie Park and also a ride by the Waverley Legion during their(outside)ceremony. Sunday morning I got in a spin class then went to Seaview Park to take in some of the cyclocross action. Wow! Gotta be impressed with the finesse these guys have to dismount, jump barriers and remount without missing a stride. Real neat to watch such a physically demanding sport. Had the camera so I got some shots of the action. The hand is healing. Still sore as Hell but getting better. The bruising is gone and the damage by the thumb`s knuckle is scabbed over and more or less bqck to normal. The more serious cut on the pad of the thumb is still open but improving daily. The fact that it reopens as I move the thumb tells me a couple stitches would have been the best option. It will leave a scar but sho...

Rookie Mistake or Arrogance?

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It was a beautiful day for a ride as the fast group left Bedford on the club ride. Once on Rocky Lake road I grabbed some shots of the lads but then noticed my sensor for the computer was making contact with the magnet or spoke. Having let the group pass me on the right as I was in the middle of the lane snapping pictures I was off the back by the time the digital camera got tucked back in my jersey pocket. Stupidly or arrogantly I tempted fate by reaching down to pull the sensor attached to the fork outward rather than stop and loose complete contact with the group. Yup......a spoke decided to de-skin my thumb and also left a nasty little gash. At first I thought I just jammed my thumb against the fork but soon noticed blood on my BRAND new white bar tape....ugh! I had full fingered gloves on so didn`t notice the damage. Oh was I pissed! In a sense I`m glad the wireless cycling computer sensor was lost in the accident as now I can justify getting a good old fashioned Cateye. ...