First Outside Ride of 2009

First off, nope - no baby news. Chris' belly grows bigger and bigger. Here baby, baby, baby.

Looks like she swallowed a beach ball.
Maybe tomorrow we'll be lucky.

March 7th, 2009 - First Outside Ride

I have to admit, I've been just a wee bit jealous of a few fellow bloggers as of late . . . and I'm not talking about the ones who live in exotic, hot places who can ride year round. I'm talking about some northern Yank blokes (clicky & clicky) who are able to actually get out and ride. These guys are not that far away geographically, but don't seem to be living in snow and cold that surrounds Ottawa. Even Matty is out riding on the road and he's living in a snow belt. Not only them, but Big Ring Racing's own Vegan Vagabond, is presently riding in the mountains and getting chased on the road by dogs down in South Carolina.

Luckily for me today offered a rare window of opportunity to get out and ride and shake off the cobwebs from spinning on the trainer in my basement for the past couple of months. I don't recall having a day this warm, this early in March in recent years.


Rest, schmest. With warm weather this early in March I'd have to be a fool (well, a bigger fool) not to ride. With the glorious return and excitement of outside riding comes the rejection of even possibly skiing again this season. Bah, me thinks me does not want to ski again this season.

I've had enough of skiing. I can't do it anymore. The desire to ski is gone. Might of had something to do with the crap conditions as of late and the even crappier grooming that Demsis has done this year - going to have to think twice next year about buying a seasons pass if they are in charge of grooming.

So early this morning, while thumbing my nose at winter, I waxed all the skis, packed up all my waxing tools, folded up the wax bench and cleaned up. After, like a kid getting ready for Santa to arrive laying out his Christmas sock, cookies and milk, I got all my bike stuff ready - tools, clothing, this and that . . .got it all set up real nice like. I'm ready to go. I just hope that I'm not premature . . . . which I am guessing that I probably am. Damn you winter!

I put a big heaping pile of prep wax on all my skis (if you don't do this your skis will oxidize over the summer and that is BAD) and put them away until next winter.

Glorious, glorious outdoor riding. Oh, how I have missed thee.
Half hour on the bike pedaling from home and out of the city puts me on country roads (cue John Denver). Beauty - no cars.

Every time I leave the house to do this route I expect it will be my last. Seems I get buzzed and have close calls whenever I ride in the city.
Fuggers.
However, today . . . no issues. Just wet, messy roads (the bike got a good wash down once at home).

I passed three roadies while out on the ride, two waved. Not bad . . . for Ottawa. Perhaps I was shunned by the one because I was wearing some non-descript & non-club-affliated cycling clothing. I don't get the roadie scene here in Ottawa. Most of them (and I do say "most", not all) have egos so big that they can't pull their heads out of their assess because they're too busy admiring how great they are.
What's wrong with a friendly wave? Are you moving that fast that you can't acknowledge a fellow rider. Fugg you. While riding in France this summer I got waves from everyone. A pro team (I'm assuming they were pro - all kitted up, pace car with team logos painted all over, a coach and a motorbike pacing them) passed and all waved and said hello. Maybe they recognized me from the Blog-0-sphere and said to themselves, "Sacre bleu! Zat must be zee one and zee only Big Ring. Oooo laaaa laaaaa!"
Maybe Ottawa roadies are too busy matching their tops and bottoms and shoe covers to spend time on the web surfing quality cycling blogs . . . such as mine.

Farm country.
It was warm enough to get away only wearing my Swobo hat - I bought it this year for my commutes to work throughout the winter. It's wickedly awesome to the max - merino wool is fantabulous. I took my balaclava though just in case I got chilled and it would come in handy if I felt like holding up a store on my way home. Nothing like a high speed chase on the bike for training purposes.


Just a touch over 60 km'ish, completed in just a wee bit over two hours.

Belly

Bet you were wondering if we (and when I say "we" I mean 'my wife') had our baby yesterday since I didn't post up anything yesterday. Nope. Not yet. Sorry.

The reason(s) for the Fat Bastard video above is two fold, just like his belly . . . . . hhahaha, sometimes I slay myself. First, he says "Baby" a lot - what can I say, I got baby on my brain. Second, he says "Get in my belly!", the exact opposite of what we want. Third, I like his Scottish accent, which has nothing to do with having this baby - unless it comes out wearing a kilt.

I hope my wife finds the humor in all of this and doesn't take it like I am comparing Fat Bastard to her . . . though she tells me daily she feels like a fat bastard. She looks great despite what she says or feels.

Stubborn and hammered

First bit of hump day (teeee heee heee, hump day) news: no baby yet. The little bugger is a lot more patient than I am. But then again, if I was all snuggly and warm and covered in goo having my food delievered to me, not having to work everyday I'd probably want to stay put too. So we'll be on our toes for the next week or so at any little pang that happens in the nether regions - and when 'I' say 'we' you know I really mean 'her'. Chris also got weighed yesterday, and without going into the numbers, let's just say that if she was the catch of the day, she'd be a trophy fish that take you a few hours to land . . . ."It was this big!!!!" (hands outstretched while saying it). The doctor said it was mostly all water (and an aprox. 8.5 lbs of baby!). When her water does break, you'll be able to surf the crest of the wave . . . . . Charlie don't surf!

Other news, I've been ordered off the bike for a wee bit. I've been seeing a massage/A.R.T. therapist for a few weeks about my troublesome left handstring and abductor muscle which has been bugging me since summer. I'm having issues with the muscle, but also the nerve in and around the area that's bugging me. Yesterday he turned my hammy to mush; I felt like he was using a meat tenderizer to work out the muscle.

The man with the hammer.

So a wee bit of down time, no big deal I guess. This was the last week of my base training anyway (not that I am following any sort of training regime, I know how much man of you out there love a structured training program . . . . isn't it funny that the people who say that they hate training, don't do it and 'just ride' are already fast!), and I have a rest week next week. I've been okay'ed to do some light spinning, but that's it on the bike. Hopefully this weekend is nice and the conditions are good to get out for some skate skiing.

Houston, we have lift off

I hope you can appreciate my spaced theme blog post - despite how lame my attempt seems.

Lift off indeed! Look what landed up on my doorstep this afternoon - Carbo Rocket.
Will it be my rocket fuel this season? Will it keep me from having warp speed cramping?
Keep tuned in for future satellite transmissions of taste test and review.
Over and out.

*Thanks Brad for sending it up!

John and Kate, Big Ring Hates

Does your wife or life partner (hey, I'm not judging you) watch 'John and Kate Plus Eight'? If you're a self respecting male with two testicles (even if you have one, like Lance), I guessing you don't watch. And if you are a 'closet watcher', I pity you fool. My wife is watching it as I type and loves it, hence me sitting in front of the computer while she watches the mundane and trivial reality show on raising kids. Perhaps it's my sub-conscious attempting to avoid the inevitable 'father hood' bullet at the last possible minute before the peanut arrives. OR, it's because the show sucks ass. I'm going with the latter.

Remember the prego poll last or so ago week regarding your prediction of the birth of the next generation of big ring? 42% of you said that Chris was going to be early, delivering a wee little girl. Today (March 3rd) is our due date. Well, it doesn't look good . . . unless in the next couple of hours (I'm typing this Monday evening around 10pm) things go pear shape, looks like it's not going to happen before the 3rd.

We're both very excited for the peanut to arrive. The past nine months have flown by and a lot has happened, whereas the last couple of weeks have slowly gone by with very little happening. Anticipation, anticipation. Boy? Girl? Doesn't matter at this point, as long as he/she is happy and healthy and good genetics to be a powerhouse cyclist that will dominate the sport.

Trilogy minus one hour

Trilogy means three works of art - usually in the form of visual or sound. I was looking to finish off the set. I came up short.

Got through a two hour trainer throw down ride after work today. T'was supposed to get three in, but I skipped out on the last hour . . . got hungry, too hungry and it was around supper time. What can I say, I'm only human.

That being said, I didn't get through all of the movie - will finish it off tomorrow. Shockstar commented on the blog with some good movie suggestions. I'm looking for something around three hours. Post up your suggestions.

M.I.A.

This is me on the trainer Sunday.

Really the blog post should read: Missing in Inaction.

My three hour-Lord of the Rings - training ride didn't happen yesterday. The Princess Diaries movie was on TV, so I watched that instead. Actually, what I really did all day yesterday was lay in bed and slept. I absolutely had no motivation or energy or focus to do anything Sunday . . . . maybe I'm still fighting this flue/cold thing.

I did do a two hour charity (Spread the Net) spin session Saturday with Kari at a gym though, so I got a little ride time in. Long ride is still planned, but will happen today after work, and yes, I will be watching the final Lord of the Rings movie.

Any suggestions for next weeks movie?

Achilles

My achilles heel . . . peanut butter. I have no defenses or strength to resist you. Your light brown creamy, nutty goodness makes my mouth water and my knees shake. Why do you tempt me with your sweetness? Can't you see that I am trying to lose weight. Why do you wake me up at three o'clock in the morning, calling my name to come eat you on some delicious bread?

Mmmmmm . . . . creamy, peanut buttery goodness.

Either crunchy or smooth, on bread or crackers, nothing tastes better. Your companions on the journey to the centre of my belly are jelly, jam, bacon (yes, bacon - you should really try it!), chocolate and my favourite and daily combo - banana. I will never tire of you. You are the perfect food.
I love you. My belly is fatter because of you.

One of these jars last a week in the house . . . . my wife might get a knife full once in a while.

Rides on the radar

I was over on the Tall Tree Cycles Ride Log and have found some a few new rides that I'm going to try and work into the ride/race schedule this season. Matt, winner of the illustrious Big Ring Racing Invitational Mock Grand Prix, posted up some interesting, long'ish dirt/gravel rides:

• Hell of the North - 80 km of rail trail, dirt roads, trails and some climbing nearby Toronto.
• Tour of the Battenkill - various distances from 100km t0 200km in Cambridge, New York.
• Hastings Higlands Hilly Hundred - techincal, hilly, wilderness ride in and around Bancroft, ON.

All three of these rides would be most excellent on this bike . . . . which I am waiting to arrive . . . and waiting. . . . and waiting.

NAHBS

Jacks - I miss the big goof.

Winter Beater vs Time Trial Beauty

Is this going to last, until I get this?
My commuter has taken a beating this winter.
How does my bike compare to coach's new TT machine? You tell me.

Three hours of Hobbits

Feeling like a bag of crap Saturday and mostly laying low seemed to help set me up to be able to ride yesterday. I really wasn't sure if I was going to make it through the workout.

Three hours is a long time, so I chose to watch the first of the trilogy that I started last week:

I've never been a Lord before.

The video is sideways (sorry) and loops back on itself. You can watch it for three hours if you like and get an idea of how I spent the better part of my Sunday afternoon.

Pastels were the colour of day for my hankies.

You can't see them, but on the stool beside me is a banana and a Power Bar. I don't know about you, but I find Power Bars take more work to chew than the energy they give you. I was scraping the bottom of the energy bar barrel today - I think I got that bar in a schwag bag from a race in the past year or two.

Three hours of structured riding - workout can be found here. Every minute was accounted for so there was no time lolly gagging about. It was a mirror workout to last weekend's ride, except this weekend I was able to complete both ladders despite feeling a little under the weather.

Mmmmmm, fruity protein shake for recovery. It even matched my pastel hankie headbands.

Sick and a soak

A hot soak yesterday and lots of sleep made me feel a little better.
Duckman would be proud!

Thursday was my day off, Friday I was planning on skiing after work - but it just didn't happen. Friday's are usually a write-off for me anyway. Something happens to the brain and body and it just wants to shut down on Fridays after a long week of working with knuckleheads. This Friday was no different and even compounded by a looming cold/flue. Last weekend I battled through it by taking ColdFX (which REALLY works). However, it lingered in my system all this week, sitting on it's haunches waiting to bite me in the ass. And Saturday it did. Felt all achy and sore all day/night yesterday and ended up doing nothing all day.

Today is my long ride. Going to play it by ear (and legs, and lungs and muscles) and see what happens.

Saturday's News & Views

No Sign of Cycling

I don't often read the newspaper (partly because I'm illiterate, partly because I don't have the time), but yesterday I had a brief opportunity to thumb through it.

Most of the Ottawa Citizen had coverage of Obama's visit to our nation's capital - which was pretty cool as he left a very positive impact on the people of the city, and the country for that matter, with his short visit.

I was more interested in the sports section. I grew up playing hockey, played at a serious and competitive level here in Canada and overseas and am a HUGE Leafs fan (yes, despite the Leafs sucking I am still a fan), so I try to still follow what's going on in the league.

There is no shortage of hockey coverage - today is in fact Hockey Day in Canada - we are a nation which embraces and loves our game.

What blows me away is the lack of cycling coverage in Canadian media. Perhaps it is because we are a nation covered in snow for 11 months of the year, we live in igloos, eat whale blubber, we put our elderly on ice flows to die, and our climate doesn't allow for us to participate in sports outside the winter realm. Reading the sports section of the paper yesterday pissed me off - every winter sport in the world covered, every junior, midget, bantam, pee wee and atom hockey team in Canada has their season statistic printed, the International Dart League covered, and the seasons preview of the Lawn Bowlers league are all in there . . . . everything BUT cycling. Does anyone in the Canadian sports media even know that there is a world class cycling event taking place right now in North America?!?

The cycling section in the Ottawa citizen in one word is LAME.

Birth Poll Results:
42% of people taking part in the poll believe that we will be having a baby girl before our due date on March 3rd. Close behind, a baby boy at 32% of the votes, also before our due date. Time will tell, and here's to hoping it's either or boy or a girl.



Fat is Where It's At
I don't know what I am doing wrong, but I can't seem to drop any weight like I did last year. This time last year I was already down to about 185 lbs, from a whopping 206 lbs on Boxing Day. I can't seem to make a dent on my flabby torso (right now I sit at about 195lb'ish). I'm doing everything right - healthy food, proper portions, no 3 AM peanut butter sandwich runs, lots of training . . . . I just don't get it.

I do believe that I have put on muscle, which we all know is heavier than fat, over the past few months. Measuring and training with wattage in my correct power zones using the PowerTap I think has really helped and is probably one of the reason for the muscle gain. Also, my regular (two or three times a week) core body workouts and leg strength work is putting on some muscle.

I'm also starting to give up the hope that I will have a slim, ripped body which is completely suited to riding. I've never in my entire lifetime been even close to having a ripped, lean body - so why would I now, at the ripe old age of 36 (37 in March - just in case you want to send presents), think that I would/could have such a body!?

Acceptance is the answer! I just don't have the genetic make up (but then again, I don't have the talent either . . . I mostly get by on sheer enthusiasm). So, I've decided to do my best and see what happens and stop obsessing about my weight. That's not to say that I'll be parking my ass in front of the bakery on a regular basis (maybe occasionally), but I'm going to keep on keeping on with what I am doing - I'm recovering well from my rides, I feel good . . . . and gosh darn it, people like me.

Change of Plans

Intermontane Challenge is going to have to wait for this year.
Just because I can't go doesn't mean you shouldn't !

I had originally planned on heading out to Kamloops towards the end of July to do the Intermontane Challenge. After doing the BC Bike Race last summer, I've been dreaming of doing my next stage race. Unfortunately, money and time are going to be restricting me from doing such a costly adventure. Sucks donkey, but what are you going to do.

So, instead I'm tentatively (90% certain that I am going) scheduling The Wilderness 101 race, which takes place down in Pennsylvania (only a seven or so hour drive away!) on the 1st of August. The Wilderness 101 is one race apart of the National Ultra Endurance Race Series.



It's a "Hundie" or a hundred mile (160km) race is a long day in the saddle. Despite not being able to make it out west this summer, this is giving me something to really look forward to.

I've been reading as many race reports as I can about it. Anyone do it before, got any insiders tips?

Artsy

Thank you to all of those who sent me well wishes, sympathy cards, e-mails, phone calls and who stopped in to hope for a speedy recovery from my "athletes foot" infected toe. (did you read any sarcasm into that?)

For lack of any blog fodder today, here are a couple pieces of bike art that you'll find in my basement . . . . yes folks, I am desperate for a blog post. Desperateness aside, the art is pretty nice.

Picked this up in the tiny village of Castellane, France during our trip this past August.


Look familiar?
Got this for Christmas this year. Nothing like a naked lady on your wall.

Toesday

An hour and a half at endurance pace/watts. Nothing fancy, just a steady, consistent effort.

Isolated, one legged squats.

Some core body - how do you think I keep my girl'ish figure?!
Flabs of steel - PapaG would be happy.

And one infected "athletes foot" toe.

I probably should have trained Sunday, but I didn't. My baboon sized taint had other ideas after sitting on this for three hours on Saturday. Besides, I had better things to do. Like take a nap.

Sunday afternoon cat nap with Mrs. Pibbs.

Yes, Mrs. Pibbs. We got her from The Ottawa Humane Society when she was just under a year old. She had had a litter of kittens before we got her, so we can only assume that she was married in a kitty-cat-chapel before having 'relations'. I got no place in my house for some floozy pet.

Then me and Prego went for a waddle (ever see a pregnant woman walk?!) on the Rideau Canal - the longest skate way in the world despite what Winnipeg says. Nope, we didn't skate - not a great idea for an almost nine month pregnant woman to be doing double axles and triple lutzs. So we figured the next week or two is the last wee bit of 'couple' time we'll have - it was a beauty day to be out and about.

Monday was 'Family Day' here in Ontario = no work! Whooohaaa! Most of my chump friends work for the federal government and hence had to work - suckas. I took advantage of the warm temps and blue sky and got out for a skate ski loop of the park all by myself.

Snow was a bit granular - which made it wicked fast skate skiing.


Beavers came out in the warm temperatures the past week to fell some trees - some fell across the trail.

Warm temperatures made for some melting and run-off, freezing into walls of ice at night and in the shade.

It was by far the best skate skiing conditions of the year. Super fast, firm and well groomed. Get out while you can.

Hope on Two Wheels - Bicycles for Humanity and BEN Namibia

Please take the time to watch this short CBC news report on how donating an old bike can help change the lives of people in Africa. I am extremely proud to be apart of Bicycles for Humanity and the work that they have done.