commuterDude: 2009, on my mark...

January 19, 2009

2009, on my mark...

Okay, enough putzing around. Let's call MLK day my personal new years day, okay? I've enjoyed some solid workouts in the gym, and started the year right with a 200k.... but the real work is just beginning. I returned my "coach" to the LBS, and reinvested in a stationary trainer. it wasn't doing me much good to have the HRM beeping at me when I had no way to get a workout in. With the roads and my schedule, its been difficult to suit up and go out for a prescribed 40 min ride. After watching a video on a 24 hour mtn bike race from 2006, and re-reviewing my 2003 training journals, the solution is not electronic wrist-mounted tech. The solution is physical. The solution is 40 miles per day, and weekends. The solution is Eddy Merckx quoted: "ride your bike....lots." It worked for me before, and looking at my recent work, I've been riding my bike lots....just in one, slowish shot. That's a great base....now its time to build on it. Twelve months of base work...time to change it up. The trainer is set up, and I'm in for a hard 40 minutes. Tomorrow, a commute, followed by a detour home....something I made a habit of in '03 to get more saddle time. Variable efforts, "rest days" still spent in the saddle...but at a pokey pace, and directly home instead of the long way. Less food, more quality nutrition. Beer takes a BIG back seat. Rewards will come in other packages, and in due time. Time...Patience....Persistance. At my desk at work I have two photos of myself....one taken at my wedding when I tipped 245 lbs...and one of me on the bike charging up a hill at Octaginta at the end of 2003. Everytime I feel tired, lazy, frustrated.... I'll look at those pics and ask myself what I want more. Happy New Year.... time to ride.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Thanks for the boost of inspiration!

By the way, are you really not planning ANY off-the-bike rest days?; January 21, 2009 7:57 PM
kG said...: In reality, probably not going to follow thru with that last ultimatum...
What will probably happen is that during the spring/summer when training REALLY ramps up, I will probably HAVE to take some prescribed rest-days to avoid over-training... that's essential. But, I can still keep my commuter streak alive by taking it really easy, and effectively accomplishing the same thing. It will take a lot of self-discipline to maintain a ridiculously slow pace, so we'll see.; January 22, 2009 7:54 AM

What is bicycle commuting?

Simply put, bicycle commuting is the act of travelling to a place of work or education by bicycle. In many areas it is common to combine bicycle commuting with public transport. Worldwide, the bicycle remains the most common commuter vehicle, and bicycle riding the second most common form of commuting, second only to walking. While the absolute number of bicycles in existence globally is unknown, it is clear that significantly more bicycles are manufactured than automobiles. In the United States about 40% of automobile trips are two miles or less; using a bicycle for these short trips can reduce your emissions and expenses. If you live within ten miles of work, you could save thousands of dollars in fuel, insurance and automotive maintenance costs each year. This webpage seeks to highlight bicycling as a viable transportation platform and a fun, exciting, healthful way to improve your life! Visit the commuting links below and get started today!

What is Randonneuring?

The French term "randonnée" loosely translates as a long tour or ramble along a defined route, and persons embarking as such are dubbed "randonneurs". In cycling, the term defines a hard-riding enthusiast attempting a long-distance randonnée (called a "brevet", usually 200 kilometers or greater) within a certain time allotment. Non-competitive by design, randonneuring encourages camaraderie: riders test themselves against the clock, the weather, and a challenging route - but not each other. Randonneuring's ethos embodies self-sufficiency and mental toughness; support vehicles are not allowed and brevets are held regardless of weather. Randonneurs USA (RUSA) organizes brevets in the United States under the auspices of the Audax Club Parisien (ACP) and the Randonneurs Mondiaux (RM), and rider's results are recognized world-wide. This website seeks to highlight the excitement and challenge of long-distance bicycle riding by sharing personal ride accounts, with the hope of growing the sport. If this type of bicycle riding interests you and you'd like to find out more, visit the RUSA webpage to find rides in your area!

For ride announcements and discussions on randonneuring in the greater Kansas City area, visit KC Ultra Cycling, and join the KC Ultra-Cycling Email List:

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Courtesy Randonneurs USA

What is Ultra-Marathon Cycling?

Just as the 26.2-mile marathon represents a benchmark for runners, bicyclists generally consider the "century", riding 100-miles, a worthy endurance challenge. Ultra-marathon cycling involves exceeding that benchmark, often several times over, offering the long-distance challenge of randonnuering with a more competitive flavor. This is the world of 24-hour races, double-centuries, and beyond. Where randonneuring rewards all finishers equally and emphasizes self-sufficiency, ultra-racers compete for time and placing, maximizing speed by utilizing support crews for hand-ups and fast repairs. Event courses can be long and scenic, but may take the form of many laps of a looped course. Winning ultra-distance events requires the rare combination of endurance and a high average speed. Randonneuring and Ultra-Marathon often complement one another: brevets can offer base-training to prepare for racing, and fast randonneurs often enter ultra events for a new challenge. Visit the World Ultra Cycling Association's website for more information.

Courtesy World Ultra Cycling Association

January 19, 2009

2009, on my mark...

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