Validation at Visionquest

Last night I went to an indoor training session hosted by Robbie Ventura, a former USPS rider from 2001-2004. The training session involved about 15 riders connecting their bikes to Computrainers. The Computrainer is calibrated to similate real riding conditions and a visual display indicates the terrain to be covered and a provides a summary of power output, speed, and heart rate. Before the ride, we were told that the fastest ride time EVER was 33min 30sec with an average of 330 watts. The person that put out those numbers is a professional racer who rode in the Tour de France with USPS.

Drum roll please...

I finished first in the group of 15 with a ride time of 37min 45sec and an average of 308 watts. I was about 10% slower than the fastest rider EVER. Robbie indicated that I definately have the power and skill set to ride competitively. He said that I need to work on my "X-factor", which is developing racing skills. To begin with developing my "X-factor", he invited my to ride on one of their upcoming outdoor training rides.

I am really bragging here, but I think that I earned it. I started 4 months ago at about 270lbs and have stuck to a rigorous training regimen during that time. I have transformed my slovenly body to a race ready machine.

I will be meeting with xXx Racing on Monday May 1, 2006. This will be the kickoff-day for my racing goals.

Mad Speed!

I had some big plans to ride about 80 miles over Easter weekend; however, I muched my rear wheel on a big hole while riding in a 25 person peloton. The rider in front of me floated over the hole without calling out the hazard, and I nailed it with all of my weight earning myself two flats. I finished 58 miles, the typical ride but I am in need of a new rear wheel. The highlight of the ride was that I was able to ride with the "A" riders of the cycling group. Before my flats, I hung onto a speed of 28 mph for about 15 miles. MAD SPEED! I weighed in today at 226 lbs, 41 pounds until my goal. I can't wait to ride with the A-group at my target weight (after unloading my sack of butter).

I took out the C-Dale Lampre for about 15 miles on Easter and it is such a beautiful ride. The bike is impressively tight laterally, providing an absolute minimum of energy loss. I am so thrilled to ride that bike. I have been treating the Lampre as a carrot, but after my latest riding speeds, I think I should take the Lampre on the next group ride.

Super Training Day

Today was the first day that I rode my bike to spin class instead of driving. It is about 9 miles from my home to the gym, which I covered in 23 minutes. At 5:15am there are very few cars on the road and it is really easy to go a long distance without stopping. I had about 20 minutes to cool down before spin class started. Strangely, I was able to continue solidly through spin class without any lingering effects from the ride in. It was a different story when I rode from the gym to work after spin class. My legs were tired and my heart rate remained elevated. After getting a protein shake and an energy drink in me, I feel like a million bucks. I hopped on the scale last night and I am under 230lbs. I am going to take my weekly measurement tomorrow and update the fit day website. I am hoping to weigh in at 227.5 lbs. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

58 mile ride

I went on a ride with a local cycling group on Saturday that turned out to be really great and really disastrous. First with the disaster. Because it was my first ride, I took it easy to get a feel for the pace and rider ability. After about 10 miles we encountered our first hill. I was feeling really strong and noticed that most of the riders began to take it easy up the hill. That is not my typical riding style. Typically when I see a hill, I sprint up the hill and give it everything I have because there are so few hills in the area. I checked my corners to check the vicinity of other riders, seeing none, I made a quick maneuver. What I did not see was that somebody made a similar decision and was already gunning up the hill. When I made my move, I essentially cut the other rider off. His front wheel glanced off of my rear wheel, and he hit the pavement at about 20mph. He came down hard and did not slide much. Luckily he was able to get up and he was no bones were broken. He ultimately had to quit the ride because his bike got munched up a little bit. He had a classic lugged Colnago frame (very sweet) and much of the tragedy is in the damage to the bike.

Now the really great part. My training has definitely paid dividends. I hung with the strong riders of the group and was able to out sprint and out climb all but one rider whose wheel was never more that a few feet in front of me. That guy is actually a competitive racer. I finished a few minutes behind the group due to a flat. The group ride stats are: 54.3 miles, 19.9 mph average, 39 mph max, 2 hrs 43 minutes. The remaining four miles were from the ride to/from my condo to the start/end point.

Some of my favorite compliments from the ride were:
"You are going to be scary-fast once you lose the weight you want."
"You are in some kind of shape!"
"You have fantastic thighs!" <- A little creepy, but a strict comment on the size of my legs (over developed from carrying my fat rear end around for so long.)