Interlude In Pinch Flat Minor

I’ve just returned from Tucson where I helped the Turner/ProChain Junior Cycling Team with their training camp.  CZ from MissingSaddle was our gracious host. Curtis helped us with route selection, lactate testing on Mt. Lemmon, hooked us up with some Pro’s to train with, and even hosted us for an evening’s barbecue at his house. Thank you Curtis.

Alex Howes, Garmin Transitions U23 team anchor, rode with us most days. He made a great impression on the boys. Thanks Alex. I had the good fortune last year to meet Bill Peterson, founder and operator of Foot Fitness. Bill has been fitting pro skiers and cyclist with custom insoles then adjusting their equipment accordingly for 35 years! He has and amazing eye, is patient, intuitive, and knows what he is doing. I came away from my sessions with him with an adjusted position on the bike that produced immediate power increase without feeling radically different. I would highly recommend a visit with Bill and Cliff if your in Tucson. Schedule in advance. He is in constant demand.

While in Tucson we based ourselves out of the Windmill Inn on Campbell. Easy entry/exit from town for training rides, but also in the same complex as Arizona Cyclist. They were extremely friendly and helpful with the team. They received all of our bikes prior to our arrival, loaned me a PowerTap hub tool, gave us a good deal on a few items, and even had a bike wash station set up out front. Tim runs a nice shop.

To tide you over while we work on the next podcast (recorded half last night, the remainder tonight post LOST), I give you a few listener submitted items. Thank you – you know who you are, and you are stolid.

TRICYCLE MARATHON

the death of the blog?

“The blog is dead, long live the blog.” Twitter has killed our blog, my wife points out to me. Has the blog gone the way of the buffalo? Here’s my Friday attempt at resuscitation – in reverse chronological order.

Last night Ms. John G. and I watched the movie Twighlight. I had just finished watching our beloved Xavier University get knocked out of the Sweet 16 by the number one seeded Pittsburgh Panthers. I thought, “what could be worse than that?” I found out. One hour into the movie – no gruesome death, no fangs, no teenage heavy petting… just alot of longing, slo mo looks across high school parking lots and cafeterias. Oh my God, gag me with a spoon. This movie is like, totally for 13 year-old girls. I am told that there is a part 2 coming out. I think I’ll re-watch The Lost Boys instead.

Before the movie, and whilst it was still light so I didn’t have to worry about vampires (or teenage angst/lust), I did my first tandem training session with OB. Long time listeners of the podcast may recall that, on a whim, I did the tandem road race at Masters Nationals in Louisville last year with the result of a silver medal and ruined legs for the crit. This year I (we) are serious, or as serious as one can be at tandem racing. New partner, new bike, and more than 10 minutes practice. On our first ride we got pretty good at standing on a climb. The bike has a 55 x 11. I am looking forward to some group rides. Ok, I now open the comment section to all of the homophobic/brokeback mountain/paralympic jokes. Go ahead… I can take it.

Last week was spent in the company of the Pro Chain Junior Cycling Team. We set up camp in Tucson, AZ for a week for some warm weather training, testing, and goal setting. Kevin Livingston, owner/operator of pedalhard.com, and I are training the team this year. I was thoroughly impressed with the focus and receptiveness of the kids. The A team consists of five 17 & 18 year-old boys. They have various individual goals but all share the drive to make the team succeed. I think you’ll see them on the podium at quite a few races this year. Each day we hooked up and with a young domestic professional to give the boys a sense of what it is like living out the road and racing your bike full time. Teddy King, Cervelo Test Team, Ryan Baumann, Trek Livestrong U23, and Chad Beyer, BMC Racing, were all kind enough to ride with us and impart some words of wisdom about what it takes to make it to the next level. We had Kevin and myself as trainers, Mike M. as the DS, Dr. Patrick, a follow car, routes mapped out by Curtis at missingsaddle.com, on the road lactate threshold testing, bike fit and orthodics from Bill Peterson at wedofeet.com, good morale and team building. Ryan said that it was better than their camp.

So now you are up to date with more than 140 characters. Oh yeah, I picked up a copy of Cog Magazine at the NAHBS. I read a little bit every morning during my post-espresso evacuation. Ok I admit it, I really just look at the glossy pictures of the tatooed up boys and girls. I wonder if the “real” messagers are bitter that their profession has been fully monetized/stylized??