Memorial day weekend became a 4 day weekend for me with the company furlough on Friday. Not a problem with me, I'd already planned to travel for the weekend and the extra day was great to have. I made the drive, through throngs of bugs, back to the home town. The front of my car, and the bike on top, were absolutely plastered with bugs. Pleasant to clean, let me say, especially off the bar tape and brake hoods.
As much fun as densely populated areas can be with all they offer to do, I always seem to feel so much better in the rural areas of Northern Pennsylvania. The rest is better, the rides are better, the air is better, a lot of things are better. I'll stop short of saying everything, because there are some great things about Southern Connecticut as well. I always enjoy getting quality rides in though.
This particular trip didn't see as much riding as a normal trip to the area. I spent a good bit relaxing, as well as visiting various extensions of the family. The biggest ride was nearly 58 miles, in the warmest weather I've ridden to date this year. I struggled a bit in it, and downed the 2 bottles I'd brought along, by the time I'd reached the halfway point. Luckily, as I'd hoped, there was a water fountain in Kinzua Bridge State Park. The biggest hills climbs of the ride came in the last 9 miles of the ride, I struggled with them to say the least.
The best ride of the weekend may have been the morning of Memorial day. I'd planned to start my trip back to Connecticut early, but thankfully came to my senses. Why head back early to get a ride in there, when I could ride the perfectly wonderful roads of McKean County? My dad and I put in a great 25 mile ride. The roads were quiet and nearly void of traffic, the winds were light when they were in our face, and we hit the fastest downhill I've been on. I only managed 51.6 miles per hour, a little shy of my personal speed record, which had been achieved on the same hill a few years ago.
Unfortunately such enjoyable times of relaxing and riding had to come to an end.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Riding Again
I'm back on the bike again! It's been a tough first week. I'd like to be stronger, especially on the hills, but I have to say that all in all I'm happy to be riding at this point. Those 3 weeks off were starting to get tough on the mind.
Helping even more with my motivation is the great coverage of the Giro D'Italia provided by Universal Sports. If you are lucky, like me, you get the television channel and get to watch the coverage in great clarity. If not, you can still watch! Just go to their website and watch the video for the stage you'd like to see.
As much as I'm tired of hearing about Lance and his return, it is probably everyone's infatuation with him that has allowed us here in the states to get this great coverage of the race. By the way, the Giro is a three week race, just like Le Tour. The other grand tour is the Vuelta A Espana. So, in some weird way, thanks Lance, for riding again, and for riding another big race beside Le Tour.
Helping even more with my motivation is the great coverage of the Giro D'Italia provided by Universal Sports. If you are lucky, like me, you get the television channel and get to watch the coverage in great clarity. If not, you can still watch! Just go to their website and watch the video for the stage you'd like to see.
As much as I'm tired of hearing about Lance and his return, it is probably everyone's infatuation with him that has allowed us here in the states to get this great coverage of the race. By the way, the Giro is a three week race, just like Le Tour. The other grand tour is the Vuelta A Espana. So, in some weird way, thanks Lance, for riding again, and for riding another big race beside Le Tour.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Insta-bonk
After suffering a grade 1 A.C. separation and being off the bike for 3 weeks and 2 days, I made a triumphant return to the road bike on Saturday. Surprisingly enough I felt pretty good and was even able to push my pace to some decent speeds at times. It was really great to be back on the bike, and in such good weather too.
My legs hurt a bit after I finished the ride, but I wasn't all that shocked. I'd put in a pretty good ride after such a long time off. Sunday, I figured I'd get another good ride in, though my plan was to take it fairly easy. I did keep myself from going overly hard, though the head wind certainly gave me its best.
Then after about 17 miles, the legs got real tired. Luckily I was already on the return portion of my loop. Not far after the legs got tired I was really starting to struggle and the wind was wreaking havoc with me. Then I began too realized just how hungry I was. It hit me, I'd just bonked. Quite possibly the quickest bonk that had even struck me. Thinking about what I'd eaten early in the day I quickly came to the conclusion that it was no where near enough to be out exercising for very long. It was really probably just enough to exist with basic functionality.
Lesson learned: eat more, ride well, get stronger.
My legs hurt a bit after I finished the ride, but I wasn't all that shocked. I'd put in a pretty good ride after such a long time off. Sunday, I figured I'd get another good ride in, though my plan was to take it fairly easy. I did keep myself from going overly hard, though the head wind certainly gave me its best.
Then after about 17 miles, the legs got real tired. Luckily I was already on the return portion of my loop. Not far after the legs got tired I was really starting to struggle and the wind was wreaking havoc with me. Then I began too realized just how hungry I was. It hit me, I'd just bonked. Quite possibly the quickest bonk that had even struck me. Thinking about what I'd eaten early in the day I quickly came to the conclusion that it was no where near enough to be out exercising for very long. It was really probably just enough to exist with basic functionality.
Lesson learned: eat more, ride well, get stronger.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Spring Travel
Travel has been my theme as of late. About a month and a half ago I made a trip to Washington D.C. metro area. With two uncles, a sister, and two good high school friends in the area it always makes for a busy visit. Three or four days just never seems enough time to spend the time I feel I need to with everyone.
A few weeks later I made a weekend trip to Florida to visit my brother and his family. Oddly enough, the weather that weekend was actually warmer in Connecticut than in Florida. I have to say, the weather in Florida that weekend was just about perfect for me. It was the type of weather I could get used to; sunny and warm, but not hot.
I was also able to meet up with up with my aunt and uncle in Stuart, just a few miles from my brother's house. They hosted me for a wonderful dinner.
The number of people out cycling in Florida made me rather anxious to get out and ride, but an injured shoulder and no bike, it was not to be.
I returned late on a Monday night, then that Thursday I took off yet again for D.C. I'd had so much fun during the recent visit there I really wanted to get back down before cycling season really took off for me. Being off the bike with the shoulder injury really opened up some weekends for me to take off and go do things in place of the usual training.
A few weeks later I made a weekend trip to Florida to visit my brother and his family. Oddly enough, the weather that weekend was actually warmer in Connecticut than in Florida. I have to say, the weather in Florida that weekend was just about perfect for me. It was the type of weather I could get used to; sunny and warm, but not hot.
I was also able to meet up with up with my aunt and uncle in Stuart, just a few miles from my brother's house. They hosted me for a wonderful dinner.
The number of people out cycling in Florida made me rather anxious to get out and ride, but an injured shoulder and no bike, it was not to be.
I returned late on a Monday night, then that Thursday I took off yet again for D.C. I'd had so much fun during the recent visit there I really wanted to get back down before cycling season really took off for me. Being off the bike with the shoulder injury really opened up some weekends for me to take off and go do things in place of the usual training.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
End of the early season
Getting too comfortable can be a bad thing. It turned pretty sour for me at the end of last week as my shoulder pulled a nice pile drive right into the ground. No broken bones, but awaiting the verdict on the rotator cuff. Needless to say, no riding for quite a while. Extreme bummer considering I'd just got healthy after nearly three weeks of random colds/bronchitis.
On the positive side, at least I shouldn't be burned out come 'cross season. Maybe this year I'll make beyond Charm City Cross riding strong.
Here's a little bit I put together from Hop Brook during the Cat 2 race.
Hop Brook Cat 2 Opening Lap from Scott Frison on Vimeo.
On the positive side, at least I shouldn't be burned out come 'cross season. Maybe this year I'll make beyond Charm City Cross riding strong.
Here's a little bit I put together from Hop Brook during the Cat 2 race.
Hop Brook Cat 2 Opening Lap from Scott Frison on Vimeo.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Lessons on the holeshot
I'm not going to say that getting the hole shot would have done me much good at the Hop Brook race on Saturday, BUT I think there is a lesson to be learned here. If you plan to be competitive with the front of the field on a course that involves narrow sections (read single track), you best get to the front at the start and not get stuck behind someone in the first tight section. This especially holds true if that section will be difficult to ride due to technical features and/or slippery mud.
Notice the group come through, then a gap, then the guy struggling to gain traction right in front of me.
Notice the group come through, then a gap, then the guy struggling to gain traction right in front of me.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Opening weekend, 2009
This was the first big weekend of racing for the 2009 season. I'm still just getting the riding going so there wasn't much to be expected for results. Mostly, I knew I'd get some good saddle time on the bikes.
Saturday was the first Root 66 series race at Hop Brook Dam. It was also my first race in the Cat 1 field, formerly known as expert. Right off the start I was somewhere near the back. A little way into the first lap I found myself riding closely with two other guys. Shortly into the second lap, one of them found some strength and pulled away. The other got a small gap on me shortly there after. Every time I closed most of the gap I started to make silly mistakes in technical sections of trail. Finally I caught and passed him. Now, as far as I could figure, this might have been the race to not be DFL. I did not want to be last. Starting the third and final lap, I dug deep and tried to prevent my competitor from passing, and to my pleasure, I found that I was pulling away. I dug deeper. Success ensued, I managed to completely lose him and finish relatively strong.
Did I mention that the race was just that much tougher because of the rain that fell during our entire bout on course? Well it was, rear tires were sliding around going up some of the hills. There was actually more traction in the wet leaves then in the clear line that people were following up the hills.
Upon just checking the results, I found that I actually placed 15th in a deep field of 19 guys.
After my race, I stuck around to watch Taylor in the Cat 2 race. It continued to rain throughout their race as well. Our friend John was also racing in Cat 2, so I got to cheer for a few guys. It was rather fun to watch despite the significant moisture. I jumped around the course and tried to grab some good photos. You can be the judge by looking at them here.
Saturday was the first Root 66 series race at Hop Brook Dam. It was also my first race in the Cat 1 field, formerly known as expert. Right off the start I was somewhere near the back. A little way into the first lap I found myself riding closely with two other guys. Shortly into the second lap, one of them found some strength and pulled away. The other got a small gap on me shortly there after. Every time I closed most of the gap I started to make silly mistakes in technical sections of trail. Finally I caught and passed him. Now, as far as I could figure, this might have been the race to not be DFL. I did not want to be last. Starting the third and final lap, I dug deep and tried to prevent my competitor from passing, and to my pleasure, I found that I was pulling away. I dug deeper. Success ensued, I managed to completely lose him and finish relatively strong.
Did I mention that the race was just that much tougher because of the rain that fell during our entire bout on course? Well it was, rear tires were sliding around going up some of the hills. There was actually more traction in the wet leaves then in the clear line that people were following up the hills.
Upon just checking the results, I found that I actually placed 15th in a deep field of 19 guys.
After my race, I stuck around to watch Taylor in the Cat 2 race. It continued to rain throughout their race as well. Our friend John was also racing in Cat 2, so I got to cheer for a few guys. It was rather fun to watch despite the significant moisture. I jumped around the course and tried to grab some good photos. You can be the judge by looking at them here.
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