Indoor Training with Music -- Pleasant Surprise

I'll be 70 in 7 weeks.  My eighth decade.  Training is important for reasons greater than just performance goals on the bike. 

I have a LeMond Revolution trainer. 

I've had it for several years now and it is without question the best trainer for me.  This LINK refers you to the manufacturer where you can find information on the features and benefits of the device.

I haven't found an indoor training plan or system that allows me to get a strong workout without making me want to avoid doing it too often.  I'm not alone in having a `hate-hate' relationship with indoor training.  There are, of course, various `spin' classes to which I could go but they're not recumbent focused.  And I just don't want to go to `classes.' 

Power Meter: Despite my aversion to indoor training I realize that with a power meter and High Intensity Training (Joe Friel) I can get more benefit without the long, grinding hours.  So, the folks at LeMond have recently developed a device that I can put on my LeMond Revolution that is, in fact, a power meter.  The Wattbox.  I pre-ordered it last October expecting to have it for the cold, dark and bleak winter months.  They said I'd get it by Christmas. 

Christmas came and went.  No Wattbox.  Turns out they changed the date when I can expect it to ... March 1st.  AFTER the months when I most need it.

So .. how can I stay motivated and still do strong, high intensity training without a power meter?  The answer: I can't.  There is no substitute for the kind of training recommended by Joe Friel in his book Fast After Fifty.

Heart Rate: Without a power meter to precisely measure the `outcome' of my effort I am reduced to a very fuzzy measure: heart rate.  Heart rate is not a good measure for many reasons.  It is slow to respond.  And I have a very low heart rate in particular (my morning heart rate is typically in the mid-40 beats per minute range). 

Heart rate training is `input' based.  I have several workout `scripts' that have me doing intervals.  Two minutes of `hard' pedaling. Easy pedal for a minute.  Stuff like that.  I hate doing it.  Which means that I avoid it. 

Music: Podrunner.  Rather than divert attention to the originator and brainiac of Podrunner, Steve Boyett, I'll focus on what it does for my training.

Today I wanted a strong 75 minute workout on the LeMond Revolution trainer.  I downloaded the Podrunner Interval Training music (60 minutes of `ladders' music).  The MUSIC starts at 150 beats per minute and it increases every 10 minutes by 5 beats until it reaches 180 beats per minute.   


My pedaling is typically 95 rpm. My heart rate rarely goes past 150 bpm. My max HR is probably in the early 170 bpm range, though I very rarely do that.

The music is very entertaining, making the workout actually enjoyable.  My heart rate moves easily into the anaerobic range.  Though I may not be pushing massive watts I am most definitely improving my pedaling RPM, my pedaling form and my endurance capacity. 

Most importantly I look forward to the training.  It enables me to maintain consistency and work on endurance at Tempo and better pacing. 

Pain Does Not Always Mean Gain - 2016 Training Rationale

2015 has been a good cycling year for me: from the neck up.  I've experimented and made bike modifications that, though time consuming, have `worked' for me.  I've done some very satisfying hot weather desert training.  I've enjoyed riding in some of the most beautiful, ethereal terrain on the planet.   

Planning my 2016 cycling calendar presents me with the need to decide what is both motivating and realistic. 

In the past I'd target some events that were more challenging than realistic.  I'd show up and realize that I'd not done the disciplined and consistent training necessary to do well.  "Eyes bigger than my stomach."

The discipline and time demands required for some events exceeds my interest.  Training can be a `tyrant' in that I find that I am either cheating on the training or cheating on other important things in my life: wife, kids, friends, work. 

As well, I've come to terms with the fact that successful completion of some exceedingly challenging cycling events ... just doesn't `float my boat.'  "So.  I just rode the bike for 24 hours, through sleep deprivation, cold and grim weather, harassed by dangerous drivers, etc.  Big woop!"

Several years ago this exchange took place in an interview about an upcoming challenge:

Him: "Well, I am sure you will succeed and finish this event."

Me: "Not so.  If that were the case I wouldn't even do the event.  Why do it if you know you can?  What is the point?  When I consider how the training distorts and interrupts the rest of my life ... it would seem exceedingly selfish.  Or, just a form of socially acceptable masochism." 

So now I know what it takes in the way of dedication, single-minded focus and hours and hours of training to finish even the most daunting of cycling challenges.  Knowing this puts it all into perspective. 

First, I don't need the ego-stroking I'd get for accomplishing such an event.  (I'm already pretty confident of my ability to do challenging things if and when I want to).

Second, I'd rather read a book, go to a movie with my wife, hang out with some friends or indulge my interest and passion for my work. 

These are some of the guidelines I am following in planning my 2016 cycling calendar:

• There are undeniable health benefits to high intensity bicycling;
• I need a monthly event to anchor my training;
• Some time (12 hours) and distance (200 - 300 miles) limited events are challenging enough without disrupting the rest of my life with training demands;
• High intensity training achieves performance results for these events without succumbing to the `tyranny' of long, slow distance training (hours or preparation, hours of training, days of physical recovery);
• I am motivated to win some `metal,' i.e., podium finishes (awards, medals, plaques, course records);
• I like the people involved in ultra- and competitive cycling.  Joining with them in these activities is fun and satisfying to me.  

2016 should be a fun year for cycling. 

Consistency ... Or Misery

Work and life occupied the five days since my last training ride.   I was getting short, intemperate, impatient, crabby and just plain angry.  

The temp this morning in Prescott was 21F at 6:30AM.  Which meant that I was going to do more indoor training or freeze my tucas off outdoors.  I negotiated with fate.

I drove south 40 miles and down about 3,500 feet.  Best of all the temperature was in the high 70's.  A great training road called Vulture Mine Road just west of Wickenburg, AZ.  The road is almost smooth, at worst very gentle chip seal.  During the 4 hours I was training I counted no more vehicles than my fingers and toes.    Sunny.  Silent.  Mesmerizing cactus desert.  

Parts report:  Consistency of training supports improved performance.  In addition, importantly, those tight tendons, etc, make their discomfort conspicuous.  The last hour I put more effort into the training and more focus on dissociating from the pain (right gluteus medius tendonitis).  Some times it is not foolish to stare down the pain.  In fact, there is something ascetic about it.  

But, when I finally stopped there was a loud complaint from those body parts that had concluded that they were exempt from training these past five days.  O.K., guys.  I hear you.  I promise to be more consistent.  

VULTURE MINE ROAD

Systolic, Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Athletes

My questions:

 

1. If an athlete has a very low resting heart rate (45 bpm and lower) does that mean that it would be `normal' for the heart muscle to contract harder with each beat? 
2. If that is the case would it follow that the systolic pressure in an athlete is typically higher (greater than 120 but less than 140)?
3. If the diastolic (bottom number) is less than 80 would that support a conclusion that the higher systolic pressure (e.g., 140/68 with a heart rate of 45 bpm) among athletes is `within normal limits'?

Closing Out a Good-(ish) Year: 2015

From `the neck up' it has been a good and informative year.  In my heart, however ... eh!  Not so good. 

A few months from entry into my eighth decade I find that I'm more alert to signs of aging than I am aware of them.  It's like leaning into a curve and then ... no curve.  Am I just fatigued?  Or is this `age?'  Despite the numbers I don't really have anything to compare it to.  When I was `younger' I worked like a slave and got tired.  Got up the next morning and did it again.  And got tired. 

Now, I do the same amount of work but don't feel the hot breath of fear and panic on my neck.  And I get tired.  And that means?????

Opening a door and closing another.  2016 Should be the `year of the body.'  The `body' came in a distant fourth or fifth this year. 

Started up a new private practice. 

Got back into indoor rowing (ergometer), did some team competitions.  Tore a major peripheral nerve (ulnar) and was `impaired' for three months.  No cycling.  For that matter, no sleep either.  Enormous pain.  Did I say ENORMOUS?! Pain killers send one into a semi-conscious purgatory ... without the hope.  

And then spent the last 4 months squeezing the last drops of design capability out of my stick bike.  I'd be on a 100 mile training ride only to stop half a dozen times to adjust this, tweak that.  More a test of the equipment than of the rider. 

Ended the `season' with a perfectly adequate performance at the Borrego Springs 12 Hour Time Trial in mid-November.  `Perfectly adequate' just short of embarrassing.  I got out what I put in.  What I would call `rule outs.' 

So, aside from family priorities -- always first and last -- the private practice is more than thriving.  Such that I have to be deliberate about setting limits.  The bike design considerations have been dealt with.  No more `adjusting' or `tweaking.'  More on that at a later time. 

2016 is to be `the year of the body.'  A tightly designed training plan to increase power and endurance.  And here are some learnings along the way.

When I moved to the mountains I was determined to learn how to climb tens of thousands of feet in a few thousand miles.  In three years I climbed more than a million and a half feet on the bike.  Long Slow Distance (up!). 

I did a few Arizona brevets and realized that there are only two lane highways with trucks, RVs and other vehicles travelling at 80 miles per hour out here.  The accomplishment was not athletic.  Long Slow Distance. 

Long.  Slow.  Distance. 

I.  Don't.  Have.  Patience.  For.  That.  Anymore. 

So I bought a high end power meter and will be pushing harder on the pedal for longer in order to go faster and faster and faster.  High Intensity Training. 

Who wants to live forever!!!

Borrego Springs 12 Hour Time Trial: 2015

My (very) short report.
 
1. The most well organized and well run invitational I've ever attended.
2. Almost perfect weather for the 12 hour (but the 24 hr racers experience temps as low as 38F).
3. Not as flat as I previously noted. (Living in Prescott makes most everything else seem `flat').
4. A high racer with a 0% - 4% angle of seat recline makes it difficult to start and stop ... feet too high off the ground. I fell over twice starting and stopping. 
5. For flat courses (like Borrego) I will need a low-racer (rear wheel drive). I'm looking.
6. My training will now include a major focus on power (pedal harder go faster).
7. The CA2 ... I'm going to raise the seat incline and move the seat closer to the headset. A high racer just doesn't accomodate low seat inclines with bike maneuvarability.
8. The CA2 will be my bike for varied terrain. 
9. I'll be building up my Ti Aero for dirt road (not mountain) riding ... suspension, fat tires, Tweener bars, etc. 
10. I'm in the market for a low-racer (M5, etc) for flats.  (Seat height below 48cc).
11. I did as well (185 miles) as expected for the kind and amount of training I did and the fact that I was self-supported. 
12. If life circumstances permit next year and the bike and training goes according to plan I think I can break 225+. 
13. I really, really enjoyed the time I spent with friends and the chance to meet new people.

UPDATE: Nov 19, 2015:

The M5.  I'm going to put off any consideration of getting one.  Balance and priorities.  The real gains to be made are in my own power and endurance, rather than with equipment. 

I have a LeMond Revolution trainer and will be getting the power meter attachment next month.  A dedicated training program to improve power and endurance over the winter is in order.

I think that the very extreme (0% - 4%) degree of recline on the CA2 may help in fast descents but has little impact on flat terrain.  I'll experiment with the degree of recline on the LeMond power trainer to assess body posture, distance from the crank and power. 

I like the tiller much more than the superman bars.  More control.  Less stress with having to hang my arms on the bars for long hours of riding.

The Ti Aero and CA2 are the best climbing bikes I have ever experienced and know of.  If they have competitors the difference is essentially miniscule.  Again, the rider climbs, not the bike.

Bentcyclist, VAD and many others have done remarkable things with making the stick bike frame dirt road worthy.  That will be the next equipment order of business for me this winter. 

My mileage goal for the Borrego Springs time trial was 225; I completed 185.  Thank god for simple problems.  I think I can set a goal of 250 next year if I maintain fidelity to a training plan and some competitive events. 

Barring the unknown, next year will have fewer distractions from cycling and I should be able to keep a balance in my life while investing more time (less time driving to flatlands) and intensity into training. 

AZ Randonneurs Making a 600K Brevet Much More `Doable'

Spring 2012:

This year I've done pretty well with participating in the local Arizona Randonneur events.  A 200K, a 300K and, next Saturday, a 600K through SE Arizona. 

The 600K will start in Tucson and wend it's way S and SE to Tombstone, Bisbee and back again through Sierra Vista, Ft. Huachuca and then back to Tucson.  374 miles. 

It is a fact, in my case, that on the longer brevets I wind up being the only recumbent.  And, because of the different pacing characteristics between the DFs and recumbents ... I'm often riding solo. 

I prefer not to ride solo through very desolate desert terrain in the dark.  Especially so close to the US/Mex border.  So the plan this year is to start just before the break of dawn and stay in a motel overnight. Starting again just before dawn the next day. 

To my pleasant surprise the AZ rando folks are doing a bag drop for all of us at whatever location we choose to spend the night.  I assumed, then, that I'd be loading whatever was dropped in my bag onto the bike and carrying it the next day to the finish.  Asking that question I was told that, `no,' the AZ rando folks will pick up the bag the next morning and transport it back to the finish for me. 

Wow!  That means I can really streamline and minimize what I carry: minimal tools, tubes, etc.  Minimal clothing in event of unexpected cold. 

Several weeks ago I did an organized double century through the remote CA desert.  Even though there were `rest stops' they were just water and food.  Given the early season and my lack of familiarity with the CA desert location I loaded up on water, clothing and tools/tire/tube.  I felt like a pack mule. 

The 600K will be more challenging as far as time is concerned.  But now that the overnight bag will be dropped off and picked up I can exploit that fact and include not only sleeping and hygiene stuff, but extra tubes and the like just in case I run into real trouble the first day (using tubes, cartridges, sunblock, riding clothes). 

B-b--b-umpy but f-f-fun.

Got my hill climbing experience for the year on the Heart of Az invitational yesterday. I've been focusing on flatland riding for the past several months in anticipation of the 12 hour TT in Borrego Springs this coming Saturday. So the HoA was an opportunity to spice it up with some gynormous mountain climbing.

Riding characteristics on mountain roads are dramatically different from flatland riding. Grinding up long ascents and then screaming/coasting down the descents. Flat road cycling requires constant, uninterrupted pedalling. Places different demands on the body/legs. (With mountain descents you get a `break' and the body literally rests while you (mostly) coast and build bike handling skills with speed and switchbacks ... and road surface). 
 
The first 20 miles of the HoA had me `threading the needle' on Kingman Highway (AZ 93). White fog line to my left, next to that deep rumble strips, and then next to that a foot to a foot and a half of road surface. Not much. To the right of the road surface a dropoff into dirt, gravel and, in some cases, a steep descent into bushes and desert. Every now and then there would simply be nothing but rumble strips ... Given the option of riding to the left of the white line ... with speeding trucks, tankers, rows of cars doing 80 mph ... I just got off and walked. Walked probably half a mile. Better than being road kill.

Finally the course turned off `Road Kill Highway' into absolutely beautiful AZ 97. AZ 97 has no name. It is an 11 mile road that is used almost exclusively by big ore-laden trucks from the open pit mining complex. Not really meant for regular traffic. Short, steep, spikey, inclines and declines (11-13%), sharp right and left turns when cresting a hill, no shoulders ... but fairly good road surface. Grinding ascents and screaming descents. I love that road. Situated in some of the most remote and beautiful area of the AZ high desert. 
 
Then a right (east) turn onto 40 miles of washboard AZ 15. This is the road from the mine that the mining trucks don't typically use. Cars, pickup trucks .. the vehicles that mineworkers use to get to and from towns with stores. 
 
I had forgotten just how `rough' that road surface was. Two lanes. No shoulder. But lots of steep ascents and descents, twists and turns that tends to keep traffic going slower. (They have to be careful not to go flying off the road into the canyons below). 
 
Made for slow going on the bike. If there were any parts of the bike that were not tightened down they would certainly have been shaken loose! I had to keep my head from resting on the headrest because the rattling would have impaired my orientation while riding. 
 
Along the way I had, of course, the obligatory flat tire. And then, a series of jarring bouncing while climbing a hill rocked the chain off the big ring in back so that it became jammed between the spokes and the rear cassette. That took about 15 minutes to get freed up again. And then, while descending a half-mile hill the rough road surface managed to shake up the bike so bad one of my rearview mirrors just popped off the bike. This required me to carefully slow and stop, get off the bike, and walk slowly back up the hill in search of the mirror. I found it, reattached and secured the mirror and continued on.

And then there was that 8.5 mile relentless - no relief - climb from the Santa Maria river (dry, of course). Seven to 13% grade the entire way. Try that some time! My lowest gear ratio is 42/36 ... which works for me ... but for 8.5 miles solid?!! No cramping but I knew that if I were to stop at any point along the climb it would have been hell to get going again. Just grind, grind and grind. Does it hurt? "Hurt? Yeah. So what. That's why god made death. To stop the pain. So, dammit, grind or die." Simple decision. Just grind. Leave the `die' thing to mother nature. 
 
Finally crested the climb. Stopped to empty a bottle of my own concoction of maltodextrin and protein powder. Emptied another bottle of electrolyte mix. Rolled down the sleeves on my jersey for the cold descent ( I was wet with sweat). About four miles down the road a staffed rest stop with food and water. Wasn't hungry so just filled the bottles again and took off. 
 
More washboard. More climbing, though less steep and less long. At that point I had about 4500 feet of clmbing on my legs and lungs. Though I had ridden 60 miles, 30 of those miles were flats or descents. So the 4500 feet of climbing was done in 30 miles ... waaaay beyond TdF category. 150 ft per mile. 
 
Finished up another 22 miles of washboard rollers to reach the last rest stop. By that time it was 4pm, the sun was casting long shadows and the HoA ride organizers looked pretty knackered. The remaining 25 miles would have been on flat road with about 15 miles of that descending Yarnell Grade back to Congress. There is no interest on my part in just coasting down to the finish line so I accepted a lift from a sag vehicle. 
 
I got what I came for at the Heart of Arizona. Swarthy and relentless spikey climbs, shakedown assessment of the bike's mechanics and road worthiness. And, yes, reassurance of my climbing muscles and power. 
 
Twenty miles of life-risking highway traversing. Short, spikey hills. Mechanicals. Flats. Long, relentless steep mountain ascent. And 50+ miles of washboard road. 
 
Amidst some of the most amazing geological landscape on the planet. 
 
Lucky. Just plain lucky.   http://ridewithgps.com/trips/7027100

Arizona Live

Returning from southern California (a very good place to leave) I found a few interesting features of life and living here.

East of Salome, across from the Wedden dump, not far from Gladden and west of Aguila ... and

 

BEYOND HOPE

 

I responded to the `call of nature.' 

 

There, amidst all of god's creation I spied this:

 

 

 

EARTH COVERED STOCKPILE OF WEAPONS

 

DEFENSE NATIONAL STOCKPILE CENTER

 

 

 





A Race

Out in the desert today.  Doing long loops, stopping at the start point to make shakedown adjustments as they become apparent.  (Cable ties and Gorilla tape are GOD).

I’m climbing a short 2%er hill (2.5 miles).  I’ve got 75 miles under my belt so far today and the radiant temperature is 103F.  Thankfully moderate wind. 

A fellow on an upright bike behind me a bit, pushing to catch up.  He catches me and we share a greeting.  He slows and rides alongside me.  I admit to him I’m not likely to be much for conversation bc I’m a bit tired.  He’s o.k. with that. 

He says: “Recumbents have a hard time climbing, right?”  Me: “Actually, it’s the rider who does the climbing.  With good training a rider on an upright and a recumbent should do equally well.”  He responds but I can’t hear because of the wind and the road noise.  But the tone of his voice was friendly. 

A few minutes later he says he enjoyed riding with me and he needs to move on.  We both nod and he accelerates. 

As I watch him climb, out of the saddle, I begin to gauge how much I have `in the tank’ and what my training task for the day requires.  I conclude that I shouldn’t catch him.

So I take off to catch him. 

I reach him as we’re about finished with the first climb, before a false flat and another climb.  He sees me coming and speeds up.  I speed up.  He speeds up.  WE speed up. 

We hit the second, short, climb.  We’re both trying to kill ourselves, no energy even to laugh or yell in excitement. 

Finally, I’m at 27.5 mph and begin to inch forward.  Wisely, he tucks behind me to draft me with the plan to swing out when I am exhausted. 

Recumbents don’t offer an upright much of a drag. 

Finally, after a killing pace he pulls out and recedes.  I waive.  He waives.  We’re both too knackered to even risk a smile for fear that it will interfere with our breathing.

I reach a short descent and blast with everything, 33+ mph.  After a mile I don’t see him at all.

I’m toast.  Destroyed.  Empty.  And I have 25 – 30 miles to go. 

Made a great day. 

I think I could be his grandfather. 

CA2 - Oct 29 2015

SINCE THIS PIC WAS MADE I HAVE `SCULPTED' THE SEAT PADDING SO THAT IT IS TAPERED, BULL-NOSED AND NOT A WIND ANCHOR

 

 

 

SINCE THIS PIC WAS MADE I HAVE `SCULPTED' THE SEAT PADDING SO THAT IT IS TAPERED, BULL-NOSED AND NOT A WIND ANCHOR

 

SINCE THIS PIC WAS MADE I HAVE `SCULPTED' THE SEAT PADDING SO THAT IT IS TAPERED, BULL-NOSED AND NOT A WIND ANCHOR

 

 

Riding the White Spars # 2

Still awkward, weak and uncoordinated me on the White Spars Sunday, October 25. 

 

On my fixed boom, rear wheel drive Bacchetta CA2. 

 

Stiff east to west crosswind.

 

On AZ 89 from MP 298 to Wilhoit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riding the White Spars # 1

Awkward, weak and uncoordinated me on the White Spars yesterday. 

 

On my fixed boom, rear wheel drive Bacchetta CA2. 

 

Oh my!

 

White Spars in Central AZ Mountains

 

Ride With GPS File of Entire Training Ride

MARTYR COMPLEX

From a recent post on a bike forum. 

"Dan Fallon, i.e. "bookworm" was our crew chief on Maria's 2013 RAAM, until the accident between Tuba City and Kayenta, Arizona. He was one of three crew members who quit after the accident.

 

He was furious at me for choosing to continue in RAAM, and I believe he still holds a grudge. Ever since then, he tends not to pass up an opportunity to bash XXXXXX bikes, which I believe is based on 1) personal animosity against me, and 2) justification for his failure to learn to ride a XXXXXX well.

 

Frankly, during Dan's brief ownership of a version 1.0 XXXXXX bike, he was awkward on the bike, in part, because he kept riding his fixed-boom recumbent. In addition, there is a certain degree of core strength and coordination required to ride our bikes and not everyone has it.

Dan is right to express admiration for some of the racers doing amazing things on the XXXXXX V20, but to say their "accomplishments have literally nothing to do with the kind of bikes that they ride" is a statement all of these very successful racers would strongly disagree with. "

 

So Tiresome. 

 

Awkward Me # 1: Riding the Spars

 

Still Awkward Me # 2: Riding the White Spars

 

Descent to Skull Valley

Complaining vs Whining

UMCA - Indiana Recumbent Record - 2009

UMCA - Illinois Recumbent Record - 2009

Bike and Hike in the Desert - Adversity Leads to A Great Training Experience

I have been training lately on a 13.5 mile out and back course in the remote desert of Arizona.  Salome Road Training Course  Literally no traffic.  Minimal climbing (flat).  And great road surface (smooth).  A great location on which to train, make numerous adjustments to the bike and measure the effect of those adjustments.  Of course, also a great course on which to note performance changes (improvements) in training and fitness. 

 

Recognizing that this road is very lightly travelled I park my car midway on the course, at the 7 mile point.  That way, if I have an unrecoverable mechanical problem I would never be more than 7 miles away. 

 

My plan, yesterday, was to do the 13.5 mile distance on this course 8 times, for a total of 108 miles.  Didn't happen.

 

After 75 miles I stopped to make a small adjustment (shorten the tiller by about an inch).  The tiller tubes are connected by a small seat clamp.  When I retightened the seat clamp it simply broke.  Without this clamp I could not steer, i.e., the front wheel would just float left and right.  So, finally, I had my `unrecoverable mechanical problem.' 

 

I was 6.5 miles from my car. 

 

So, I stashed the bike off behind some scrub bushes in the desert and started walking.  (My Garmin recorded the end of the ride and my trek into the desert.  Drill down to the red arrow location on this LINK ) 

 

And there I was.  In the middle of the desert.  100F+ temperature.  Decked out in my cycling lycra.  White arm coolers and white leg coolers.  A day glo orange jersey and black shorts.  Carrying my helmet and walking in my clipless sandals.  I certainly looked like an alien. 

 

Every ten or 15 minutes a vehicle would come by and I would stop and hold out my thumb.  Would you stop to pick up a space alien in Area 51?!

 

Finally, after walking for 2.5 miles a big crew cab pickup truck stopped.  The nice couple offered me a place in the bed of the pickup.  I clambered in and noted lots of fishing gear and big case of Coors beer.  (Tempting).  They dropped me off at my car and I drove back to get my bike. 

 

Although I didn't accomplish my full training goal ... I know that I achieved something even more important.  An enormously satisfying and meaningful experience in the natural world, with kind and decent people, confronted with a real adversity. 

 

A welcome `problem.' 

 

The only people without problems ... are dead. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CA2 - Oct 11 2015

A dump of pics taken with my Garmin VIRB-XE today.

This seat was measured and fabricated for my Ti Aero.  But, typically, I changed my mind afterwords and installed it on the CA2.  A solid testimonial to the utility and craftsmanship of fabrication by Kent Polk.  I think this is the first time Kent may discover that I did a switch.  Still, an outstanding improvement over the typical carbon fiber hard shell seat. 

Hard to see but this is the head rest with rolled up foam pad
 



This is another angle of the head rest pad

Hard to see but two bottle holders under the carbon fiber hard shell Railgun

Hard to see but this is with the standard Ventisit pad.

With Kent Polk's proprietary foam pad seat

With the standard Bacchetta foam pad