Where Y'at?

it's been a busy busy past few weeks. There's been a lull in racing on my part, but there's tons to highlight. lets-a-go:

-last weekend I went for a (very slow) ride with my dad on the bike we got him for Christmas. It was great- no, he doesn't ride a $6000 De Rosa- we got him a Gary fisher Hybrid (courtesy of the boys at Metro bicycles on 88th). since it was cold and un-fun to ride during the winter, this was his first time out on it since we got it for him.



I admit, it may have been a silly sight seeing a 60-something guy on a clunky hybrid riding with a bike racer decked out in a (snazzy) team kit and a (very hot) Italian racing bike. i did a lap with him to see if the bike fit properly, and we strolled through the park. a nice Sunday stroll.




I haven't ridden through the park that slowly in years. It was fantastic. It made me so happy to see my father on a bike, enjoying the park- enjoying something I do- enjoying life. it was pretty awesome. He's now started riding the bike to work- go dad! he'll be rocking the masters' field in no time!

i also took my second Lactate threshold test last week- i improved a good bit, and there's further room for improvement.

Back in January:
Starting weight: 185
body fat: 16.5
Watt/kilo: 2.68
Watts @ Threshold: 225

Now:
weight: 174
body fat: 15.7
watts/kilo: 2.98
watts @ Threshold: 236

I'm happy with that- I'm looking to lose 5-15 lbs more by the new year. (whether that happens or not, we'll see)



I also had the (painful) pleasure of joining a few of my teammates on a ride with the Adler racing guys. It was only supposed to be a leisurely ride up to Nyack... riiiight- The adler guys rolled up and off we went hammering to the Orchards (about an 80 mile trip both ways). It was the toughest training ride I've been on yet- every time there was an incline, these guys would go for it. those adler guys ride a smart training ride...

i stuck on with them up until the final little climb up the the orchards. once I got there, i noticed half our team had disappeared. A delicious muffin later, we were back on the road, hammering it out. my fat ass got dropped on the climb right before the Toga shop. I tempo'ed back to the bridge, eventually catching up with the "shake" to my "bake", Matt. We both proceeded to bonk at the end of the ride- it was miserable and fantastic.


I was in New Orleans this past weekend for a friend's wedding- it was a great time, although i ate like a pig (as is the tradition in good old n'awlins)- how can you say no to beer, oysters, and po boys?? It's funny how not riding for two days makes you feel like a fatty-bobilatty.
I did get to go on a leisurely 30 miler with my old riding buddy Mikey. it was good to hit up the pancake flat levee path, and even sprint to the Huey P Long bridge on the way back. good times.



I hit up a spin class on Sunday with my buddy Luke. Sure, I may have looked a tad ridiculous doing a spin class in my team kit, but that's all i brought with me! It was a good interval workout. I was amazed at how few people that spin actually ride bikes. it's really too bad, cause I think they'd have a good head start over the average fred on a road bike...

out of the saddle Harlem hill repeats from a standing start was on the menu for today. probably the hardest weekday workout I've had to date. from a trackstand at the base of Harlem hill, you sprint to full speed, and hammer out of the saddle till you crest the hill. I started cramping after about 8 of them. ouch. At least i had some fellow teammates along with me to complain to.



It's pretty hilarious how much we (bike racers) complain. I think half of the time its geniune "i'm-in-pain-so-let's-share-in-the-experience" complaining, and the other half is the old "I'll complain that I'm tired just to make you look and feel bad after i kick your ass up that climb" sort of complaining. we all do it. it's pretty funny.

I might race the Kissena park race on Saturday. it's a short, sweet circuit race that favors sprinters. let's see what we can do with that.

Big race on the calendar is the Harlem Crit on the 17th. Combined 4/5 field. top 10 in that field is a goal- top 3 would make me go wee wee in my bibs. but hey- that's ok, cause bibs are just glorified diapers, right?

Right??

TMI.

later.

The Ultimate recovery drink:

Ah, the sweet sweet goodness of an indian summer (or Global warming)

Today made me happy for two reasons:

1) I got out of work early since no one was around and it was the day after thanksgiving,

2) It was a beautiful, sunny, 50 degree day.


Well, after last night's culinary binge, I'd been itching to get out and put some base mileage on. So off i went to the park wearing a short sleeve jersey and some knickers. I may have been pushing it, but I love sunny 50-degree days. its the perfect temperature once you get your heart rate up.



I went out and went for a spin around Manhattan's backyard, aka Central Park. Brought the camera so I could share with internetland. People must've thought i was batty taking pictures while on the bike, but hey, I'm an ARTIST, DAMMIT.

Oh, how I love central park. Regardless of how many stupid, blind, jaywalking pedestrians there are, it's always a good experience for me. Sure, there are the leash less dogs and crazy mothers pushing their SUV-like baby carriages into oncoming traffic, but I think it adds to the charm of it all, and it definitely helps with your handling skills. In all honestly, I'd go batty without that park being as close as it is. As a New York city cyclist, it's my bread and butter.

I try to get out there two or three times during the weekday at about 6 in the morning to get the training in before work. it's a pretty loop, with some nice rollers and what passes for a hill (Harlem Hill) if you do enough repeats of it (like 5-10).

In the CRCA, we use the 6 mile loop for a bunch of our weekly races. it makes for a good circuit race, with most of the finish lines being at the top or right after the top of a steep little rise called "Cat's paw."



Biking around the park is a great way to see a random sample of the city. Next to the subway, its the greatest place for people watching. Even the cyclists are a motley crew:


The Bike Racers in training:

The Freds (Oh yes, Fanny Pack and all):

and, of course, Crazy old dude:

On a beautiful day in the park, you simultaneously forget and remember that you're smack-dab in the middle of the greatest city on earth. A little green in a concrete jungle, the New Yorker's sandbox, the cyclist's respite. It's even better early in the morning, when you can catch the sun rising and hitting the buildings on central park west. It's a vivid and refreshing sight.

Without this strip of land in the middle of Manhattan, cyclists would have a much, much harder time training and riding in the city. I think about that every time I almost get killed by a runaway child, dog, raccoon, or homeless person. This park is so many things to so many people, and for me, it's my escape from the drudgery of life. I just follow those double lines until I'm ready to attack the world again.