Tour de Champaign - Sunday

Caught the end of the 3's and the beginning of the Mens 1/2. Wowowowow. I wish I was half as fast. Fun weekend of racing and I guess the WildCards that raced did well. Maybe I'll be pack fodder in '10.

Link to my pics.

More pics by Nick Mann.

40.2 @ 19.8

Perfect weather for the Sunday ride ... gentle winds from the NNE. Only two riders made the line since everyone else was either off racing, helping out at the crits or being lazy ?? I knew this one was going to hurt. John is old enough to be my dad and still made me suffer on the hills. I was all over my gears, in and out of the saddle trying to keep pace. Dropped the chain once on a downshift and discussed the possibilty the chain is too long since it's dropping with the limits set to rub the cage on the little/big combo. Legs took 20 to warm up today ... knee hurt on the outside front under sustained effort. I keep looking for a group ride to sit in and keep finding rides that feel like solo hard efforts. With my eye on the Fat Ass Loop next weekend, I need all the miles I can get.

Tour de Champaign - Saturday

Made it down for the end of the 3's and the 1-2 race. Wowowow .. one racer from the 1-2's said he avg'd 28 - 29. That was a 70 min race plus three laps I think.

Picassa stinks and wont let me thumbnail link to a full size image so here's the direct link to the album.

29.5 @ 19

Looked like rain be we didn't care. Loaded up the leaf blower and brooms and managed to find or way downtown to sweep the corners before heading through some showers out to Meadowbrook for a WC ride. Yeah right. Only the diehard PCC folks showed so we headed back to the westside for a nice tempo ride.

JB worked on his stamina and I tried to share what I know about hand positions for getting aero and still be able to produce power. Very nice route today with 1,165 ft of elevation change. I'd like to go back with the good camera and take some pics of some monster oaks out there. For now a rock wall and a couple sxy beasts.

For once he waits on me.

Headin' back downtown later for some more volunteer and picture work at the races. Raining now so with any luck its dry downtown.

TGIF

I failed hard at bike commuting today. I even have a legit rear commuter wheel now... Ultegra hub with noisy freehub laced with DT Comps to a Deep V woohoo !
3' law anyone ?

And a few rack shots from earlier in the week, you might be asking yourself why a 190 lb person carrying a pannier is commuting on such a low spoke count radialy laced rear wheel. Well, I got them for a good price years ago and they seem to be working out OK as a spare. Meh.

Planning to show up downtown at 7 to do some course cleaning and hopefully make the 8 am start for a WC ride. Going to try and make it back in the afternoon both days to take some pics and help out where I can. Ride safe and hard this weekend !

42.7 @ 19.1

8 or 10 brave souls showed for the Wednesday night ride. Wet roads and a news of a tornado warning near Monticello greeted the riders, all who looked like they were going for a ride on a warm sunny day, except me in my endura stealth lite bibs, waterproof booties, beanie and arm warmers. I specifically asked the reporter guy that was there not to take a pic of me since I'd make these guys look bad.
I never seem to learn my lesson, accepted an offer from Martin to break off and stay near the west side of town for a 19 avg 50 miler-ish. He's uber stongen, even with his 30 miler pre-ride I was sucking wheel for atleast half of our 30 miler. He's really a great pace car, fast enough to hurt but slows for the squirlly stuff enough to allow recovery. I'm amazed at what crappy shape I'm in compared to 4 weeks ago. Left knee achin' on the front and inside today. I probably would have been better served by staying with the group and sitting in for some less intense tempo given my current status. Live and learn, noob. Good times.

Moist

Burned a vacation day at work and thought I'd take advantage of an afternoon shower to capture some of the bounty that is my surrogate coral reef aquarium.