I'd rather be numb than have (or watch) cabin fever

And winter's REALLY in full swing now! we just got a few inches today as a Nor-easter comes on through. I can still remember the 70 degree weekend we had in January. Why couldnt Global warming keep it up? It was making for such an easy training season. Thanks for nothing, Al Gore. That was more of a Convenient truth for us cyclists!

But noooooo. now its cold. too cold to ride.

Which means that most of the 6 workouts a week I'm assigned to do have been on a trainer or set of rollers.

The novelty of watching a movie or thumping to loud Techno during intervals passed a loooooong time ago. I've got full on cabin fever. It makes me desperate to get outside, and I've found myself rationalizing whether 20 degrees is too cold to go out (yes, it is. )

This weekend it came to a head. low 24/ high 32 for both days. I had to get out. i didnt care. I bundled myself up and off I went with some team members on both days. I was so glad I did. Got a nice 55 miler in with 4 teammates on saturday and did a nice (and slower) 45 miler on sunday with Chad.

the ride on saturday was a good strong one. we headed on out to Nyack and returned via some backroad hills that I had never done. I didnt expect to do hillclimbing work that day, but it's always refreshing to get a little variety in. However, Both days I had to stop at the Piermont Bike shop and pick up some Hand and foot warmers as my patties went numb on the way over. Such is the price one pays for not being cooped up in an apartment, watching breaking away AGAIN while you're pedaling away your life and going nowhere. it gets kind of depressing. That reminds me, I have to return my netflix DVDs. I've watched all of my DVD's already and I'm running out of trainer time distractions.

I'm sure many of you are at that point now or have been there before. Cabin fever. Not just a horrible movie, it's also an affliction that strikes the morale of the cyclist in the dead of winter. I'm beginning to develop a hate/hate relationship with my trainer. not enough to stop me from using it, but i cringe every time i look in its direction. Its responsible for me having to get up at 5 AM, sweat buckets, get to work late, and have to take a 15 minute naparoo in the stall cause i'm so friggin tired!


Racing season is but a month away, so we're in the home stretch! soon it'll lbe warm enough to ride outside again on a regular basis. instead of doing brain-dead trainer sessions, I'll have Mundane central park loops to do! (don't mind my scarcasm, it really is infintely better)


I had another Impulse buy on Ebay today- picked up a nearly new Fizik Aliante (in blue, of course) for $57 bucks. considering they go for $220 new, I think I did pretty well. Carbon shell, Ti rails. I hear good things. Hopefully my taint will be pleased. As pretty as my Fizik Arione is, I end up going numb after 40 min on the trainer.


Random Tip- Don't forget to change your chain once a season or every 1500 miles- the more you change your chain, the longer your cassette will last! I found a great deal on campy record chains at probikekit.com - 45 bucks! so remember, kids- change early, change often. it'll make your cassettes last and it'll keep your shifting crisp.


on that note, I've got an 85 min tempo workout in a few hours. time to hit the hay.

But I leave you with my newest friend, Unemployed Skeletor!