In competitive cycling it is folly and a waste to have much of an ego.
I got a new pair of pedals/cleats the other day and took them out in the mountains on a 50 mile, 4,800 feet of climbing shakedown. They work just fine, but it took some dialing in, of course. The `of course' means that I was unable to unclip about 3 times and fell over when stopping.
There is a steep 15% -17% gravelly, pot-hole filled switchback at the start and end of my usual training ride. I typically stop and get off the bike when finishing a ride rather than a) squeeze one more ounce of effort out of me at the end of a hard ride, b) risk falling down, over or off the bike.
Today, of course, as I coasted to the stop I had a problem with unclipping and ... fell over. A lady in her car was slowly making a turn onto the road I had fallen over on. She stopped and said: "Are you O.K.?" Hugely embarrassed I told her I was fine and thanks for asking.
Then she did it.
She said something that makes the authoritarian perfectionist in me explode into a chastising rage.
She said: "Y'a sure?"
At least 3 million, 47 thousand, 9 hundred and 88 bombs went off inside me. (No. Really, it is the deep-in-the-marrow-of-my-bones sense of original shame / sin with which I was born. Any fault is a pretext to send me to hell, proving I am born baaaaaad.)
So, there I was, a 66 year old man, father, husband, over-educated, `doctor' laying on the road, his bike on top of him with his foot still clipped into the pedal.
And she says "Y'a sure?"
And I said: "No. Actually, I think I'm dead but just don't know it yet." And I slowly upright myself, hold on to the bike, staring at her with dis-mis-badly-placed anger (and shame).
Pointless.
Cycling gives us unlimited opportunities to, one more time, try to practice humility.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Year to date training stats
Quick training log tally this afternoon yielded these data since Jan 1, 2012:
Today's training will add 54 miles and 5,700 more feet of climbing.
Strikes me as odd that I could wind up with as few as 6,000 miles of riding with over 400,000 feet of climbing for the year.
- 43 outdoor training sessions;
- 1,501 miles;
- 97,513 feet of climbing.
Today's training will add 54 miles and 5,700 more feet of climbing.
Strikes me as odd that I could wind up with as few as 6,000 miles of riding with over 400,000 feet of climbing for the year.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Accommodating the `real' world.
One of the big `draws' of cycling, for me, is how endless the learning process.
Each time I encounter a disappointment, a `mistake,' or a poor performance .. I feel like I have another `thing' to work on. A few examples:
Each time I encounter a disappointment, a `mistake,' or a poor performance .. I feel like I have another `thing' to work on. A few examples:
- The recent (my first) 400 km brevet demonstrated:
- My old ways of being a paceline gypsy (following other riders who know the course) don't work on brevets. Rando riders typically aren't trying to finish in record time. I was frustrated and angry about that.
- So I had a choice: accept what it takes to be self-navigating or just go as slow as the fastest rider ahead of you will allow.
- I'm choosing to be self-navigating so as to have no one to blame but myself if my performance doesn't live up to my expectations.
- A 42 mile ride with about 4,300 feet of climbing a few weeks ago.
- My riding buddy was about 5 years older and 50 lbs lighter than me. He left me in the dust.
- So I have a choice: stay heavy and go slower, or lose weight improve my power to weight ratio and go faster.
- I'm choosing to lose weight and improve power to weight ratio and speed.
- Riding a silk purse (my stable of expensive and high performance bikes) but equipping like it was a sow's ear.
- It's the same with folks who spend a lot of money on a health club thinking that such an expense would force them to go more often. It doesn't happen. They simply choose to not get what they paid for.
- So I have a choice: consider the mountainous terrain in which I live too hard and accept poor performance (rationalizing), or see the terrain as an opportunity and gear up the bikes, components, and equipment that will support powerful performance.
- I feel guilty and selfish spending money on `bicycle stuff.' But, being serious -- grave! -- about building performance means that I deal with the `value' issues and spend and do what it takes to achieve my potential.
- I'm choosing to accept and work with the self-critical thoughts and feelings, hoping that I can distinguish between self-interest and being selfish. A very, very tight line!!
- ("If you were really a good person you'd give up all your possessions, move to Calcutta and serve the teeming millions suffering from poverty!")
Monday, March 5, 2012
Itty bitty Rant.
Maybe it is a generational thing.
Whenever I speak with a service provider on the phone or in a store they refer to me as `Daniel.' Frankly that's offensive to me. For the previous many decades the customer would be referred to as Mr. or Mrs. `X.' I did it. They did it, too.
I whined about this in the presence of my eldest son. He's in his early 40's and he, too, found it offensive. But, he's got some of the `in your face' assets of his old Pa.
He told me about a time he was on the phone with a customer service person working to resolve a problem for him. She referred to him as `David' so often that he finally got fed up and said: "Have we had sex?!" "Do we know me well enough that you can call me by my first name?!"
I like the chutzpah!
But, in my maturity I now find myself saying: "I mean no disrespect but I'd prefer that you not call me by my first name. Mr. Fallon is better." I once had a person reply that she thought I was arrogant by saying that. So, in that instance I stated: "Fine. Don't call me `Mr' Fallon. You, and only you, are expected to refer to me as DOCTOR Fallon!!"
I know what she was thinking: "Not only is this guy arrogant, he's an arrogant p***k, too!?"
Right. I can be. I get my druthers, too, sometimes.
O.K. Rant over. Return to normal civility.
Whenever I speak with a service provider on the phone or in a store they refer to me as `Daniel.' Frankly that's offensive to me. For the previous many decades the customer would be referred to as Mr. or Mrs. `X.' I did it. They did it, too.
I whined about this in the presence of my eldest son. He's in his early 40's and he, too, found it offensive. But, he's got some of the `in your face' assets of his old Pa.
He told me about a time he was on the phone with a customer service person working to resolve a problem for him. She referred to him as `David' so often that he finally got fed up and said: "Have we had sex?!" "Do we know me well enough that you can call me by my first name?!"
I like the chutzpah!
But, in my maturity I now find myself saying: "I mean no disrespect but I'd prefer that you not call me by my first name. Mr. Fallon is better." I once had a person reply that she thought I was arrogant by saying that. So, in that instance I stated: "Fine. Don't call me `Mr' Fallon. You, and only you, are expected to refer to me as DOCTOR Fallon!!"
I know what she was thinking: "Not only is this guy arrogant, he's an arrogant p***k, too!?"
Right. I can be. I get my druthers, too, sometimes.
O.K. Rant over. Return to normal civility.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
This `happens' about every six weeks or so ...
The other day I installed a new carbon fiber hard shell seat Bent Up Cycles on my Ti
Aero. I replaced the seat that I severely modified in 2010 while living in the
flatlands of Illinois. The 2010 modification chopped off 2.5 inches at the
bottom and drilled mounting holes about 1.25 inches back, allowing for a
much steeper recline for flatland riding.
I don't live in the flatland anymore. On the steep, twisty roads in the mountain country of AZ less of a recline helps me descend more safely.
As I also converted from a 9spd to a 10 spd setup (50/34) it was time to take the bike out to the mountain for a shakedown. I met up with a local (DF) cycling buddy (who is 50 lbs lighter than me but about 3 years older than me).
I was carrying a 16 oz bottle of fluids - maltodextrin, protein powder and electrolyte (bite me `Hammer'), a 70 oz bladder of water, and about 7 lbs of tools, tubes and tires. He carried a 24 oz water bottle, 2 tubes and a patch kit.
The route was 54 miles that included about 4,800 feet of climbing. For the first 32 miles I made myself keep the climbing lead. Show off! I was redlining the HR.
On the descents I restrained myself in the interest of safety (too many 70 degree+ angle turns on the descents).
In the mountains the winds blow only one direction: in your face. No matter that you may do a 180 about face, the wind is still going to be `in your face.'
On the `out' leg of this route there is dismally annoying 9 mile descent averaging about 4 percent (which you have to ascend on the way back). Again, what with the headwind and crosswinds I was careful to stay under 35 mph.
We then turned SW for 4.5 miles on rollers. Given that I have less recline (don't even use a headrest any more in the mountains) I deduced that I might be able to let him hold my wheel and benefit from drafting me. He's a skilled rider. I pushed ahead in the late teens and early twenties and he was nicely tucked behind me.
At the turnaround point I suggested he lead out for a while as I was `plumbed' and he might not `understand' that. He registered shock and surprise at `plumbing,' and thanked me for the `heads up.'
We came to the first hill and I couldn't/wouldn't allow him to crest the next 4.5 miles of hills before us. Up the watts and HR!
At mile 34 of 54 I realized that my avg HR was way past threshold for the last 2.5 hours. From a `training' perspective that was about 115% of `more than enough.' I stopped the `threshold' anaerobic stuff and returned to a decent 140-120 bpm range for the rest of the route, which was almost entirely uphill. He was steady and took a big lead on me.
At the end of the training route I have about 2 miles remaining to ride home. These last two miles has me climbing a steady 8 - 13% grade before I dip down the last 300 yards to my home.
Came home. Was happily humble. Felt entirely spent. Showered and went to bed for two hours.
Woke up, uploaded the Garmin data and noted that I had the device `stopped' for about 6 miles of uphill return. I stopped to make an adjustment on the angle of the SRAM TT500 lever and failed to turn the Garmin back on.
Prescott-Kirkland Out and Back
I realllly had a good time!
I don't live in the flatland anymore. On the steep, twisty roads in the mountain country of AZ less of a recline helps me descend more safely.
As I also converted from a 9spd to a 10 spd setup (50/34) it was time to take the bike out to the mountain for a shakedown. I met up with a local (DF) cycling buddy (who is 50 lbs lighter than me but about 3 years older than me).
I was carrying a 16 oz bottle of fluids - maltodextrin, protein powder and electrolyte (bite me `Hammer'), a 70 oz bladder of water, and about 7 lbs of tools, tubes and tires. He carried a 24 oz water bottle, 2 tubes and a patch kit.
The route was 54 miles that included about 4,800 feet of climbing. For the first 32 miles I made myself keep the climbing lead. Show off! I was redlining the HR.
On the descents I restrained myself in the interest of safety (too many 70 degree+ angle turns on the descents).
In the mountains the winds blow only one direction: in your face. No matter that you may do a 180 about face, the wind is still going to be `in your face.'
On the `out' leg of this route there is dismally annoying 9 mile descent averaging about 4 percent (which you have to ascend on the way back). Again, what with the headwind and crosswinds I was careful to stay under 35 mph.
We then turned SW for 4.5 miles on rollers. Given that I have less recline (don't even use a headrest any more in the mountains) I deduced that I might be able to let him hold my wheel and benefit from drafting me. He's a skilled rider. I pushed ahead in the late teens and early twenties and he was nicely tucked behind me.
At the turnaround point I suggested he lead out for a while as I was `plumbed' and he might not `understand' that. He registered shock and surprise at `plumbing,' and thanked me for the `heads up.'
We came to the first hill and I couldn't/wouldn't allow him to crest the next 4.5 miles of hills before us. Up the watts and HR!
At mile 34 of 54 I realized that my avg HR was way past threshold for the last 2.5 hours. From a `training' perspective that was about 115% of `more than enough.' I stopped the `threshold' anaerobic stuff and returned to a decent 140-120 bpm range for the rest of the route, which was almost entirely uphill. He was steady and took a big lead on me.
At the end of the training route I have about 2 miles remaining to ride home. These last two miles has me climbing a steady 8 - 13% grade before I dip down the last 300 yards to my home.
Came home. Was happily humble. Felt entirely spent. Showered and went to bed for two hours.
Woke up, uploaded the Garmin data and noted that I had the device `stopped' for about 6 miles of uphill return. I stopped to make an adjustment on the angle of the SRAM TT500 lever and failed to turn the Garmin back on.
Prescott-Kirkland Out and Back
I realllly had a good time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)