raffy

Jeff, I have some Sportslegs but I don't use them as much as I really should. I'm very tolerant to leg burning but once I cramp up, I'm willing to club a baby seal just to get it to stop. I also just got Osmo hydration packets but not the Pre-ride version. Where did you get that one? I didn't see it available on Competitive Cyclist. Did you cramp a lot prior to this combination? I've had 2 rides where I've had to lay down at the side of the street as if someone shot me in the leg. Embarrassing but true.

1. Get below 140 from 157. - No much progress, I'm around 155-157 but I've built more muscle since the start of the year. 2. Log 3,000 miles - 1,483 miles so far this year. It's gonna be close. 3.Spend time on trainer when the weather is shitty or if lack of daylight prevents me from riding. - Didn't happen as much as I wanted to this past winter. 4. Average 20+ on solo rides for at least 20 miles. - Still working on it but getting closer and closer. 5. Do a least 1 full century - Probably not gonna happen this year, see number 9. 6. Find more hills to ride.....I've learned to like hills but never really dedicated the effort to look for hilly rides. - Need more hill time but I've really learned to like hills and I'm starting to develop better techniques in tackling hills. 7. Take longer and harder pulls - I can easily do this, if only my HC riding partners don't constantly break my balls for going .3 mph over or under their desired pace. Also, if I'm pulling too hard or unevenly, use this wonderful gift called a voice and speak up - I'm not a fricking mindreader nor do I have eyes on the back of my head! I've never had issues with my local shop rides/Tour de Cure training rides, OTOH. 8. Join the local shop ride - Done but gotta do more. 9. Hydrate better and take more electrolytes to prevent rampant cramping - Hah, I have a better chance of banging a Victoria's Secret model than eliminating cramps!

RIP

Don't sandbag, Mike. For all I know, you're racking up monster miles and getting ripped for the next ride.

I'm more bugged about just losing to you as opposed to giving up 2 bottles to you. If anything, I have less liquid calories to worry about consuming

Did 32+ hot and windy miles today. I left my apartment with rain really threatening so I didn't bother with any sunblock and put on my Yellow lenses. Of course halfway thru the ride it gets really sunny so not only was everything so bright I felt like I was on crystal meth, I now also have a wicked tan line on both my arms.

Looks good Jacob! Glad it made it to you safely.

Nice ride Vicki? You call 19.1 slow???

The whole crew is wondering who the fuck is this?

One last ride before I go on vacation. In honor of today's TDF TT and also my best Nate impression, my new PR but not quite Nate-esque pace Still felt really good even after leg day at Crossfit right before I rode. I was spinning like my shoes had ants in them so I'm suprised my cadence was just 93. I thought it was gonna be at least 100.

Also Vicki, Fizik offers "VS" models of their saddles. The VS models have a center trough (not cutout but similar effect alledgedly). If you find that it works but with a center recess, the VS versions might do the trick. JP's Selle SMP Dynamic is pretty comfy too. It's curved and has a generous cutout. If I didn't like nose riding saddles, that would be my choice.

No guarantees but I think the Aliante has a good shot of matching with you. Of all the saddles, it's the one that reminds me of the Brooks shape a lot.Also, sorry to sound like a nag but please be very mindful of the saddle tilt especially for curvy saddles like the Aliante. That can spell the difference between a comfy saddle and and man/female bits crusher Does you're LBS guy have the custom Fizik program? Last time I heard, there was only 1 shop in the Midwest to get custom Fiziks from. Yes, the SIDI's are Tony Montana white. A few rainy, dusty and dirty ride has put a nice patina on mine already. The insoles kinda suck so I might replace them with Specialized ones.

Awesome ride, Nate. As usual, you rocked it out. Vicki, you might like the Aliante. It's curvy and has a "pocket" just like the Brooks which I know you like. As with any saddle (especially non-flat ones), tilt can spell the difference between unbearable and comfortable. As for me, I think the Arione is what my butt likes best. It's slightly narrow and flat which suits me as I like to move back and forth a lot; I actually find that I ride slightly more forward than most people.

I'm a really heavy sweater plus my body likes to dump all my electrolyte reserves through my sweat. I would cramp up if I only drank 32 oz in 50 miles. I weighed myself before the ride as after and I was actually lighter after the ride even after drinking all those fluids. I know more factors contribute to weight loss during the day but I think that's a good indicator if I drank too little or too much.

Jeff, I was thinking about you when I saw the finish. Yay indeed! More importantly, I liked how the distanced contenders attacked Black and Blue and isolated the yellow jersey. I hope is this a sign of things to come in the next 2 weeks.

Great job Jeff! Was that with a standard or compact crank on the Calfee? Longest solo ride of the year for me, 41 miles. I wasn't as hot as yesterday as it drizzled a little bit. Regulated my heart rate again and drank almost a gallon of water. I know it's better to drink too much than too little but I'm not sure if a gallon is too much for that distance.

Hot, windy and hilly (for Florida) day for me today. I didn't get on my bike until almost 1PM. Got at really nice 15 mph tailwind for the first 12 miles but then it turned against me for the rest of the ride. I think I drank close to 4 750ml bottles just for 28 miles. Overall it was a good ride considering how hard it was today. I'm really surprised my heart rate wasn't through the roof today.

Competitive Cyclist has a sale on select DeMarchi bibs and jerseys for 50% off. There's a pair of bibs for $45.

Happy Birthday Biggie!

Happy Birthday Mike!

Yep, just ordered one last week and it should be here any day now. I'm already on a -20 degree track stem, the only stem steeper is a -28 degree stem that Specialized makes but it's never in stock.

I wish, Nate. The way it's set up right now is actually feels really good. I know I bitch about my frame all the time but in the grand scheme of things, my bike rocks. Of course, my next frame will have a more aggressive geometry but for where I am right now, my Roubaix is plenty good for me.

Here you go, Nate. 136 bpm average

I went over it a few times when I just had to sprint but I'm pretty sure my average is at 139 or lower for the whole ride. I was painful initially but I learned some sections you can coast to around 120 bpm or less then pound to 140 then take it easy again. It was more mentally than physically exhausting to keep track.

Rode a 25 mile HR Zone 2 ride today meaning I had to be at 139 bpm max for the ride. It was very very very challenging to force yourself not to hammer and it really took every ounce of whatever discipline I have in me to maintain the constant lowish HR. And how do the cycling gods reward me? A fucking gash to my 1 week old Vittoria Pave's less than .5 mile from my car! Fuck me, might be a sign that this HR zone training is a bunch of horseshit.