Congested.

Sunday was a dreary, rainy, cold day so I wasn't motivated to do much. In fact, I blew most of the day just hanging out at the bike shop, watching my friend build up his TCR Advanced; the same bike that the pros ride in the TourdeFrance. Monday was a road trip to LouisGarneau in Quebec city to finalize our team uniforms. Ended up getting a long sleeve jersey at their warehouse, and a new helmet for 'becca for 25$. Tax already included, its pretty well stocked. I didn't sleep very well the night before, and took a claritin - Tuesday, I woke up and regretted it. I've got a cold and the Claritin made me extra congested. I was miserable but I still went in for an interview with a headhunter. Today doesn't look too promising either, I'm still congested and I feel really tired.

don't leave home without it

A chain tool. Saturday morning due to the Tiger's schedule, we decided to go for a ride at 7:30am. Baldy and I met up at the gates and leisurely headed out up Cote-des-Neiges to meet the Tiger in St. Laurent. Just as we crested the hill past the Boulevard, Baldy tries to go to the middle ring and the chain snags. Plays around with the front derailler but it doesn't go anywhere. We finally stop, he tries spinning it and then I notice it. The chain just barely hung on by probably a mm of one link holding one plate. ... sigh... Once again I recollected the brief "who needs a chaintool?" argument with a friend. Thankfully though, my tool has one; albeit as poor as it is. So we broke the chain, and fixed it. Unfortunately I had a lot of trouble bringing the two ends together when re-attaching it. As soon as Baldy started riding we could hear this slight grinding noise and I had no idea what it was. I tried playing with the chain tension a bit but didn't think it was really a cause. 30 minutes late, we met up with Tiger and he starts laughing. I missed one of the pulleys in the rear derailler cage! arg... anyway, thankfully all we had to do was loosen the cogs and re-wrap the chain. So after all this was said and done we did about 90km, into Senneville. I felt pretty good although I was starving when I got home - a good 4 hours or so later. (Two bottles of fruit punch gatorade(powder) and two 1.7 powerbars.) [I forgot I never finished the 2nd bar until we got home because just as I started eating it, I was at the back of the group and Baldy suddenly sped up to 37-38km/h - I couldn't really eat and hang on/catch up at the same time so I had cars whizzing by and me working hard while I had a powerbar hanging out of my mouth -damn you!] We also dropped by the bike shop to have the mech look over the chain (it was brand new and just installed) but as I figured, it was just one of those odd failures that happens - the chain didn't get broken in until the torque of climbing was put into it. I felt good on the ride though; I was able to do mini "attacks" and climb in a rhythm up hills. Tiger got me on the last one though...

I went to my parent's place in the evening and Aki had a blast playing with Linus. By 7pm they were both fast asleep and looked exhausted. Even now my little bugger is sleeping near my feet. Its funny how sometimes you look all over for something, can't find it - and the next time you do, it's there. I remember looking for my park chain tool a long time ago, but yesterday when I was there, I looked in the garage and found it in a couple of seconds. Pbbt. To my toolbag it'll go. Unfortunately I think neither of these will be compatible with 10 speed chains so 'becca better get one if she gets a new bike. (Time to try a SRAM?) Moral of the story? Hex keys and screw drivers are important, as well as tire levers (if you get a flat) but don't discount the chain tool. Aside from the immense danger of if your chain snaps under load (you're pushing hard, out of saddle and the chain snaps - your feet suddenly spin out under you, and you have nothing to hold the bike up with so you'll fall -hard) there's no real way to go home unless you want to scoot your way back... anyway, you should all learn sometime. I should also carry a master link just in case...

Endurox R4

The jury is still out on whether this stuff works or not. I was introduced to it last year by A as a "just in case" recovery drink for Ottawa Kingston. It tastes watery, yet has the milkshake-like foam and consistency. At least it doesn't have an aftertaste! (That's what I hate about most endurance-sport drinks: Cytomax, E-load etc. that I've tried. They have that aspartame kind of aftertaste which I hate.) Anyway its supposed to help one recover quicker. Considering I didn't jack yesterday and I felt slow and tired after 40km, I figure I might as well finish the giant drum that I have in my cupboard.

So I explored some of the trails out in RDP, from PieIX go right on Gouin and keep on going. It suffered from the usual bike trail disappearing and re-appearing but it wasn't as elusive as some areas we know. One annoying thing though was the constant telephone pole insertions in the middle or completely in one lane. Road quality was pretty bad but not pothole dangerous. Just jittery and tiring. Did about 70km in 3:20? Kinda slow, yeah but I was also constantly lost and trying to avoid getting run over on PieIX and St-Michel. ...

oops. the week flew by.

I've been distracted by sudden calls for interviews; mainly one which I had yesterday late afternoon and I don't think it went so well :P Bleah. I didn't have to go out biking but I decided to head to Aquadome for a swim. I hate free swims. Too many retards in the pool.... anyway, did about 50 minutes of swimming, threw in 3x100's near the end 1:30-35.

Ahh its all coming back to me. Tuesday night I went to the F1 track, and started pushing it. I think I did about 26km of hard biking, averaging 35.8km/h or something. I was doing 40+ with the tailwind, and dropping down to the 34's into the headwind. Overall though, it felt pretty good. I was going to do 2x10mins but I kept chasing packs or stupid people (no drafting) so that motivated me - but not to the point of all-out chasing/catching up.

Wednesday I did some easy riding; more to errands so it doesn't really count. Maybe 1.5 total riding time.

Today I should head out for a long-ish ride, but we'll see how it goes. Last week when I pulled out mr.serotta I hadn't checked everything and during the ride my seatpost started sliding down. I guessed the height and went on. I found my tape measure yesterday and man... 72.6cm is high... really high... I don't remember being this high... feels weird...

my fat a**

Eesh. Mount Pleasant climb x6. Sluggish. Near the end I was starting to be able to focus on good technique (using the full cyclic motion) but overall I couldn't push myself, similarly I couldn't "gear up" by standing. Went for a 35min run this evening and that felt sloooow too. Why is running so hard to get back to?

Saturday ended up being lazy day; either my nutrition or staying up late has screwed up my body again. I don't wake up refreshed, even after sleeping more than 8hrs. Sunday I did ~70km on the south shore. ugg... I feel slow on the bike, run and just when I was improving my swim, I can't swim until the pool reopens in May... faaaantastic.

feeling out of shape

It really sucks having the pool closed. I think I need the swimming to restore my body. Thursday I did an easy 40min ride on the rollers, and yesterday I did my first ride on the Serotta - 100km. After about 90km, I was getting tired and had to drop the speed. My neck and back were sore... but it was also windy so I was spending a lot of time in the drops. Everytime I ride I think I remember I need to work on core, yet I never do... I feel so out of shape...

candy store

It was like being a kid in a candy store. A new Giant TCR Advanced (in my size!), 2006 TCR2, 2006 TCR Composite 2, Argon18 Helium (ick). I didn't get to ride them but looking at them gave me that itch. So many new bikes... definitely makes me want ultegra 10...

Today I biked leisurely in the morning, eastwards along the "bike path" next to Notre-Dame but it was terrible with lots of trucks wizzing by. After I napped, I went out again on the bike to go check out the new toys at the bike shop... actually got a decent almost 1hr swim at free swim.

Tuesday was laaaazyyyy... and yet I still feel tired... I need to recover... soon!...

dead legs, and I feel initiated into another group of bikers

This morning I met up with A to go bike riding on the P'tit train du Nord, a scenic, flat and safe biking path in the Laurentians. I had only been on the northern portion (North of Labelle) where it is paved, but this time we were going to go on the gravel path from Prevost.

We were told to go south as it was "rideable, just a few snow patches" and that going northwards was impossible. We headed south, going through the snow (I fell too) but gave up after probably 500m. It looked covered. We then thought maybe they were mixed up and headed north. It looked promising, all for maybe 700m. Ended up on a sideroad, towards a juvenille detention center. We figured we weren't getting anywhere so decided to take the shoulder of the 117North. It was hairy. Cars weren't used to us, and the shoulder was covered in sand, dirt and glass. After 1.5 hrs of 8% climbs, we headed back, which was easier but we still had some return 8% climbs. With my heavy bike, low gear options and lack of food, I felt pretty slow...

To be honest, I'd like to think the two previous days of biking had some effect too. Friday I took easy, Saturday we biked at the F1 track with the club (our coach recommended race pace efforts, but after the first one my throat was on fire due to the -3C temp.) I was doing mostly 8:30 laps, and one at 8:15 where I was really pushing it. Slow hunh? Sunday 'becca and I went for a nice ~80km ride west along the water. It was a bit crowded on the way out, but the return was beautiful. A lot of people probably didn't realize the sun would still be out at 6, or maybe they went home for dinner, or were discouraged by the wind and cold, so we had the bike path to ourselves and happily road home abreast.

So, you must be curious how I feel initiated? Well, on our return we were going to mec but got off on the wrong Acadie exit. A joked "why not stop in for some sushi?" and headed into the parking lot of Rockland centre. I was staring at the bright yellow overhang of the basement parking lot and thinking "something wrong"... and then we heard it. BANG! and we both remembered the bike on the roof...
Luckily, the damage was minimal, and it was my friend's city bike. Scratch on the headtube, and the rearwheel got twisted as the bikerack let go of the fork, but not the wheel so it got snagged. ... new wheels for A... another excellent reason for me to get a van in the future. I know for sure that I'd probably do the same thing with my bikes on the roof of any car. And knowing my luck, it would be my race bike.

weird. 24.05? ? must've miscounted.

So I ended up swimming, and according to K, I left on 14:55 and finished on 38:25. I might've missed one 50, so assuming I finished 39, that's 24:05. That would me a 1:36 pace time? Its possible but I have a hard time accepting it. I got a lot of draft from other people in my lane but stil... I felt like crap going into it, and did a really half-ass warm-up...

oops. my left ankle.

Yeah, my ankle feels a bit funny. I wonder if it was the 4x40 sled pushes I did on Tuesday. So I did weights on Tuesday, and spin on Wednesday morning. Not much else. Been feeling pretty tired so I might take today off. I have a feeling its a 1500m TT in the pool tonight and if it is, I'm going to push this ankle too hard...

overslept nap time

oops. I was a bit late to practice tonight; around 6:30pm I started dozing off and set an alarm for 6:55. I kept sleeping and then woke up at 7:15 in a panic. Anyway... I felt really good in the water. I think the nap really helped. Earlier in the day I went for a ride; I wanted to go for a short ride but I didn't realize how strong the wind was and had a headwind all the way back... oops it ended up being almost 2 hours.

bad parents?

Maybe my view will change on this topic but today was a mass-obstacle course on the F1 track. I was out with Dg who is a phenomenal biker and former track athlete. Every so often we'd have to brake suddenly to avoid the kid who was criss-crossing or the dog that suddenly wanted to go in another direction. When I was a kid, I *never* got driven to the F1 track. I had to learn the rules of the road on my own. Most of these parents are just coasting on their bikes & rollerblades, often times ahead of their children. Whats the point if you're not watching them? Anyway, I don't think kids belong there.

I got up on time since I was meeting someone to help time their splits for a 2000m track tt. But once I got to the pool, the deck was cool and I did not want to get into the freezing water. I took a jolly time doing my warm-up, and then got pushed over into the lane I normally swim in. We did 2x800 in (150free, 50choice/head-up) and practiced drafting. The second set we were to try to "get away". During the first set I had trouble seeing in front of me since E kicks like crazy. My right hamstring was also feeling very tight so I took a break for 50 to stretch it. The second set I was able to "get away" pretty comfortably. I was dead tired by the end though.

The F1 track was a bit more fun, even though Dg pushed it a little faster than I would've liked. I wish I could bike as fast as him...

poisson d'avril

I'm so tired. ..

Thursday swim was blah, 5x300 warmup with some accelerations, then a mainset of 4x100@1.35/2, 8x50@43-45/60, 8x25@20/30. I didn't finish the 25's after getting a calf cramp. I felt blah going into the main set, but managed to hold it ok, and thought I could do another set. We didn't though; as we ran out of time.

Friday was long. Even though it was a balmy 18C, I slept in, watched "Me, You, and Everyone We Know" which was cute. Took an afternoon nap, and started watching some TdF coverage from 2004. Met up with baldy and becca for a ride, ~2hrs on the canal, kept bumping into people. Then we went for the run; I did one at pace but took a rest after my right knee starting hurting a bit... It was a beautiful night; around 15C so 'becca and I did some walking around and stopped by Dairy Queen. It was nice seeing all the people out; but it also brings out the idiots with their loud/racing cars.

After more than 7 days of beautiful, sunny warm weather, this morning is quite grey and rainy. Was greeted to a spin bike covered in balloons in the front of the room. I had to take the balloons off the pedals but it was fun. Thanks everyone. ... hopefully I can rest up this afternoon.