Boo's New Bike

182/365:  Look at that excitement!

I'm not sure who was more excited about today, Boo, Klucker or me.  (It definitely was not Bella!)  For about the last eight months I have been telling Boo that once he learns how to ride without training wheels, I will get him a new bike.  In the midst of his decision to tackle this challenge, my job craziness began.  So the second piece of that has been that as soon as I signed a contract with a different district, Boo could pick out the bike that he wanted.  The contract was signed on Monday and today we went to buy the bike.  And where else we go but Big Shark? 

I rode hills with the girls this morning and Klucker brought the kids to meet me for lunch.  Ms. Stephanie decided to come along and be a part of our day.  Boo had no idea what we were doing until we pulled into the lot at the shop.  He was so excited.  He looked at a few different bikes before he decided on this one.  Now he just has to practice getting faster.  His goal is to win the kids' races at Tour de Grove this year.

163/365: Outdoor Fun

We've been spending a lot of time outside lately.  Boo has decided that it's time to learn to ride his bike without training wheels.  Last year we entered the kids in all the kid races in the area.  They both did great at the Midtown Alley race, but there were very few kids entered.  By the time we got to Gateway Cup, Boo couldn't keep up with the kids who were riding without training wheels.  That, coupled with the fact that I told him he couldn't race anymore with training wheels, may have spurred this interest.  Plus, my deal to him as been that he can get a brand new bike when he can ride on his own.  So every night we come home, he wants to practice.  He's getting better and better.

On the other hand, Bella still has no interest in her bike.  She plays on the swingset or draws on the driveway.  Tonight she followed Daisy dog around the yard.

126/365: The Dirty Valentine's Day Ride

Today's high was 65 degrees--in February!  Of course we had to have a road ride to celebrate.  We met at the Chateau Nadeau and headed out to Clayton Road to get some hill time.  Steph is doing Iron Horse in May, so she's working on her climbing threshold.  I believe we had 12 when we headed west.  We lost a few along the way due to varying workouts and comfort level. 

The weather was beautiful.  While I thought I was prepared for the muck of the roads, I know I didn't expect this.  No, those aren't spotted tiger sharks on my knee warmers, that's road grit.  The patch of skin I had showing between my knee warmers and my socks looked like I'd been sunning in Jamaica due to the dirt I collected along the way.  I will happily tackle the laundry issues if it means that outdoor riding involves less than three layers.

119/365: How Long Has That Been Here?

My 365 Project has caused me to be more aware of my surroundings.  I find myself looking for opportunities to take photos.  I also find whereas before I would think "I wish I had my camera" now I pull it out and take a shot.  Of course sometimes I wonder what people around me must be thinking as I snap away like a crazy papparazzi. 

Today Steph, Kate and I took the cx bikes out for a ride on the Columbia Bottoms.  In spite of the massive amounts of snow we've gotten lately, the roads were in pretty good condition--cinders being the only real hazard.  On the way out past the sod farm, I was counting down the minutes until I got to turn around and begin heading home.  I assume my head was down because I didn't see this tree.  Of course, I've ridden past this point countless number of times and I can't remember this tree.  I don't know if it was recently struck by lightning or if I've just been oblivious or if the starkness of it against the snow caused me to take notice.  Whatever it was, it caused me to stop my hard effort to snap a shot.  The landscape in the bottoms felt raw and harsh yesterday.  The snow had blanketed the fallow fields, with only the carcasses of past crops showing through.  During the ride, the barreness seemed to zap my energy and make me feel as if I were running from something.  While it was good to be outside, not on the trainer, I was happy to be finished and home where it felt more secure.

118/365: Snowy Girl

Waiting for Castlewood to open. 

Meet Ernestine.  She's the newest addition to my stable. 

I got up this morning and ran a quick 30 minute route, not realizing what awaited me.   We had 3-4" of fresh snow, with more still coming down.  So much for the flurries predicted.  I guess that forecast was along the same lines as Snowpocolypse earlier this week.  The running was a bit frustrating in that I dealt with blowing snow and unplowed roads.  It felt like I was running in sand.  My post-run plan was to meet a group out at Castlewood for a mountain bike ride this morning.  Now I was more than a little apprehensive. 

Klucker loaded up the bikes and while I took care of some Frostbike business.  We headed west.  The highways were anything but clear.  As we descended to the entrance of Castlewood, I really wondered if it was a good idea.  We got there and had to wait for the gate to open--they were still plowing the lot.  We finally got geared up and ready to go at 8:30.  Ryan, Mike, Lee, Klucker and I headed down the road.  It only took about 200 yards before Ryan got an up close idea of how deep the snow was.  We stuck to the trails down by the river; that was fine with me.  My bike handling still needs a lot of work.  All in all, I was pretty happy with my efforts.  I wiped out twice.  Only one section where I felt like I had to walk the bike.  But of course we were on the flat, easy trails too.  I'll give mountain biking another go next weekend.  I don't see it becoming my main focus, but it was a good way to be able to ride outside in some pretty unfavorable conditions.

94/365: Meet Jimmy

Happy Father's Day, Anniversary, Birthday and Merry Christmas all rolled into one!  This is Jimmy, Klucker's mountain bike.  After his first crit this spring, Klucker decided he wanted a mountain bike.  That's significant, but more about that in another entry.  So he did his Klucker-thing and obsessed over it and researched it until he finally found what he wanted, a Dillinger from Soul Cycles.  I've been married to him long enough to know when to give in so I did so quickly. 

"Fine, order the frame, it can be your Father's Day present."

Because after all, he already had all the parts he needed in the garage from building up someone else's bike.  (I knew that was a bunch of hookie because I've fallen for similar lines like that from him previously.)  So June got here, but the bike didn't.  It was back ordered, it would be here in late July.  Luckily I got him a great Specialized race bag for Father's Day.

July came and went with no frame.  We bought each other furniture for the basement instead of the frame, or a trip to Mexico. 

August came, but a frame did not.  It would be early September.  I tried to buy Klucker a different MTB, but cancelled the order after he pouted.  I also took him to Big Shark and told him to pick one out.  He sulked like a little kid.  Instead, I got Klucker a pair of Time MTB pedals; I figured if the frame ever got here, he'd be set.  Good think I plan for contingencies 'cause the frame material got held up in China.

Somewhere in early November, Klucker got an email saying the frames would be ready in a couple of weeks.  About that time, Klucker mentioned that he would need a few things for the bike when it got here and he a shopping cart on a website with those things in it.  Oh, and by the way, he'd also need bars, a post post and a wheelset.  (But he had everything in the garage!)  So I hacked into his shopping cart and ordered what he had in there.  I was well prepared for the frame not to arrive. 

Christmas morning came and Klucker opened his mtb in a box.  He acted surprise.  And then, December 27, he successfully ordered the frame.  And then came the wheelset, bars, and seat post.  Somehow he made out like a bandit in this whole deal. 

So the building began.  Tonight I came home to the finished product.  Hopefully, this obsession will not go the way of the airsoft guns, the climbing harness or the telescopes.  Our garage is much too full for all of his unused whims.  This one needs to be fully utilized.

91/365: You Ride Your Bike in This Weather?

To answer that question quickly:  YES!  Frostbike 2011 began this weekend.  The purpose of Frostbike is simple, to get women comfortable with riding their bikes in all types of weather.  We get them to push their limits.  Sunday, at ride time, it was about 22 degrees.  Yet over 30 rode through the streets of St. Louis.  What's even better is that we had 15 women riding on Saturday in colder temps. 

Once upon a time, I had a riding threshhold of 40 degrees.  And I thought I was amazing.  I made a promise to myself that I would get out and ride at least once a month all winter long.  And I did it.  I can remember thinking how much better of a rider I would be than everyone else because I was so hard core.  I laugh at my foolishness.  Last year, my promise was to get out and ride at least once a week all winter long.  And I did it.  I can't tell you it wasn't hard at times, but I will say it was fun.  I did it because I knew there would be other racers out riding in the cold and they couldn't get stronger than me.  If I wanted to be competitive, I'd better ride.  The coldest weather we rode in last year was 11F at ride time. It warmed up to 14F by the time we finished.  I am now sensible enough to know that no matter how much I push my comfort and my extremes, there will be someone who goes further.  I'm ok with that, but I'm not ok with being a slave to the climate.  My goal this winter is two-fold.  The first part being the same as last year, at least once a week outside on the bike.  The second is to not miss a workout. 

Our Sunday Group

87/365: My View This Morning

I got the idea for this photo from my friend Steph's blog.  She's working on writing more and wrote a blog entry while on her trainer.  So this morning, iPad and camera in hand, I headed to the basement.  Wednesdays are my tough workout days.  Coach Chuck had a 40 minute run with 2 fartlek ladders and a 60 minute easy spin on my schedule.  Plus, I choose to do a conditioning class on Wednesday evenings because I love to feel humiliated at how weak I am and be barely able to walk on Thursdays.

While I didn't write this entry from the trainer, I was much to groggy for that, I made myself acutely aware as to how I was feeling during the workout.  By necessity, I am a morning person.  I do many of my workouts from 4-5AM so that they don't interfere with my family or work.  Plus, during the summer months, it's a great time to be outside.  During January, not so much.  Typically my AM workouts are my runs.  There is no one out that early to see my poor form or to laugh at the painful expression as I trudge up and down the streets of town.  Today I chose to do my bike in the morning because speed work is much easier for me to do on a treadmill.  (I can make myself run at a specified pace that way.)  To be able to workout that early, I plan ahead.  My clothes are sitting out in the bathroom, shoes are along side my bike, a filled waterbottle is in the fridge, and my Garmin is sitting by the top of the stairs.

As I locked into my pedals I thought about how heavy my legs felt.  It was as if there were extra weight added to them.  It took a lot of effort to spin at an 85 cadence in an easy gear.  I thought about feeling lucky that today's bike was an easy spin.  I turned on the DVD plan and loaded the next episode of Mad Men.  I questioned myself about how I was able to run so easily this early, but the riding was feeling so difficult.  About eight minutes in, I added a gear and finally was able to hit 90rpm.  I switched between sitting straight up and having my hands on the hoods.  I could seem to get comfortable.  Somewhere after 15 minutes, the blood began to flow better.  My head still felt foggy, but my legs had more life in them.  Actual proof, to me, of the value of a warm up. 

I picked up my camera and took two shots of my view.  Nothing exciting to see.  Most trips to the trainer require me to pick up Barbies, Nerf toys and Wii accessories.  I looked over at the iPad and decided against trying to blog and ride.  I wasn't sure I had that much in my brain or in my ability to coordinate so many movements at once. 

My brain finally began to clear about 35 minutes into the spin.  I began to contemplate the day ahead, what I had to do.  As I did this, I noticed my cadence was speeding up as well.  I was finally maintaining 90+ without concentrating on it.  I was beginning to feel normal.  It made me question those people who are up and out the door in the morning.  Do their brains really engage that quickly?  I would be forgetting everything if I didn't take the time to process my day ahead. 

My hour passed quickly.  I hopped off the bike and headed upstairs to the day ahead.  Work and two more workouts await.

Obsession

I was IM'ing with a friend today and she made the comment "We're obsessed and sound like broken records!". I realized she's so right with this comment. "My name is Suzanne and I am addicted to my bicycle. It's been seven hours since I last rode my bike."

I'm not really sure how it happened. I started riding in July, 2001. It was innocent enough, a metric century in Texas for the holiday. I came home and bought a road bike. I began doing "Bicycle Fun Club" rides. I got clipless pedals. I upgraded my frame. At that point, I was probably averaging about 60 to 80 miles a week. I rode the MS150 in 2001 and 2002. I volunteered at a rest stop in 2003. I bought a trainer, but I remember wondering why people needed a sweat catcher or put a towel on the floor. It was never that intensive for me. And I even stopped for a while. I don't think it became an obsession until I started again. That was 2007. December 2008 brought my first race, a time trial, and a new frame. After that it was all over but the 12 step program.

I could downplay this and say that it's just a hobby. After all, there are some real enthusiasts out there that drive to car shows every weekend or have model railroads in their basement. But I would probably refer to them as fanatics, so . . .

I don't know if I should be worried. I think I'd more appropriately refer to my cycling obsession as a lifestyle. It's a healthy lifestyle. I exercise regularly and eat well so that I can perform better. I will admit that cyclocross and crits are a bit hazardous, but I'd argue the benefit outweighs the risk. However I do worry what others think of my passion. I usually have a bike on the rook of my car two to three days a week at work. We have no room in our garage because of the bikes, stand, tool box, wheels, Burley, and various other related items. My weekends are planned around a races that I have little to no chance of winning now that I've catted up.

I could stop, I think. I know I'll have to stop racing at some point, but I've already convinced myself that it will be on to triathlons. I think the endorphins my body produces from all this are way more addictive than any street drug I could take. I might ween myself off the bike, although I think I'd find something to replace it. Maybe it's physiological and I'm predisposed to having an addiction...think OCD. Maybe it's safer if I just keep riding and don't expose myself to something more elicit.

12/365: 'Twas the Night Before a Race and All Through the Garage

This is the view of the garage when "everyone is sleeping." It still amazes me how many bikes we have. I remember buying my first bike as an adult. Klucker and I bought each other hybrids for our birthdays one year. I think I rode that bike a total of two times. It ended up getting stolen from our atrium when we lived in the city. It was pretty well permanently racked when I bought my first road bike, a steel Fuji with a 105 grupo. I am now on my fourth road bike, Lulu. She went out on her maiden voyage today with Zues (Steph) and the Cannondale (Phil). As irony would have it, it was the Cannondale's last voyage. We did the Maplewood Saturday route which is a great tour of south St. Louis and hits JB Park before turning back to Maplewood. Although the wind was bothersome at times, it was a great day to be out and a perfect first ride.

(You'll note there is no photo for this post. I wrote my text after taking this shot and waited to upload. I uploaded three days worth of shots and came to the blog to post. When I went to look for the shots, my computer wasn't recognizing my flash drive where my photos were saved. IT has had no luck recovering them. The photo was a black and white shot of the bikes hanging on the wall in our garage, with one on the stand. )