Wind and Sun

Today's ride was so nice, first day without long sleeves or legs on. The weather was absolutely perfect except for the 20+mph winds. It said gusts up to 20, but I am sure sustained was almost 20 or above for the whole time. There were times going south where I was in the 39x18-20 and going maybe 15mph. Yikes!

But as everyone knows, once you turn back for home, it is smooth sailing...and that is exactly what it was.

Legs felt good after yesterdays 75miles of hurt, so I am hopefully picking up my legs!! and also got a tan!

Carson

Base Miles in Northeast Iowa!

Almost to Spring Break! Just one more week and I am out of here and able to train for a week with no other activities to worry about. A Global Politics quiz on Wed. and an Exercise Physiology test on Friday is it.

Worked my first shift at Hotel Winn on Saturday night. It was a lot of fun, going to be a lot of standing and working on my feet, but oh well, will be different after many years at the bike shop. Work Sat. March 21st again. Also have a job at the Country Club here in Decorah, will do some groundskeeping stuff, bartender, server, driving range dude.

Back to riding though, had a long week planned and even went over after today's ride. Ended up going out with Novian Whitsitt, Lee Venticher, Sarge, Ben Shockey and Stig. It was a great day to ride, left at 11AM with some southern winds blowing at us. Hit up a 75 mile loop, did it in 4 hours. Great roads and a good base building day!

Sorry to see Altoona and Big Creek gone, these were great races, but I am sure it is extremely hard to put on a race and keep it going. Might have to find another race to do now in WI or MN.

Iowa Weather.

So 4 days ago, I was riding in shorts and a long sleeve jersey, and still sweating. Yesterday, I was bundled up in 3 layers trying not to freeze with the rain/wind/snow and wet roads. I wish I could go to AZ or down south like a lot of people and train.

School has been starting to interfere with my cycling time, but since I have to be a good student, because I am paying 38,000 a year to go to college, I know its best I study. Still getting some good training in, and I am just waiting for Kent Park.

Alberto Contador absolutely set the tone in the prologue today in Paris-Nice. Wow, he is amazing. I look forward to Astana, racing all the big races this year. Looked like the riders were having fun in the rain.

Also looks like the Dirty RR #1 had a lot of slush to deal with. Looks like it was some good racing. Just makes me wanna race.

Hopefully the weather holds out this week, for some good training.

A little update.....

Been real busy last week with some tests and training. Riding is coming along good, legs feel they are coming on strong!!! I'm sure not ready to deal with Cat 3 Roller Dude....... absolutely sick time man! Will be good racing with you this spring. I know All 9 Yards will have a strong Cat 3 team this year with Shrek, Robinson Bros, Doug K and I know some others un-named. Jimmy will be good from ICCC. Without the Bikes 2 You guys dominating our races, I am eager to see how the races play out!

What great weather today here in the hilly portion of Iowa. And hills are what I had plenty to deal with today. I love doing mile long climbs into 15mph headwinds!!!! I have 2 weeks to go until Spring Break!!!! Get a good solid week of training in leading up to Kent Park and then Altoona the weekend after!!

Max Effort

Did my VO2 Max Test in Exercise Physiology today. What they did was take a Ergometrical Bike and attach a tube to my mouth, and I ride. I rode at a 1watt/2sec increase. By the time it was over, I had gone over 400 watts(much harder than pushing it on land). My heart rate got up t0 191.

My VO2 max came out to be 60.2ml/kg/min. For a person under 30, 50 is considered excellent.

When you look at it, the highest was Flip with a 73. Lance Armstrong has a VO2 max of 83. That is unbelieveable.


After the workout inside, I moved outside...Smart Move? Maybe not!

I rode for a while, and by the time I was getting back....I had pretty much bonked. Didn't re-fuel with anything after the test.

It was a fun day, but I gotta go hit the books and study stuff. Ahhhhh College.

Change it up.

Officially done with swim season. Took 4 days off the bike to recuperate. Went out for the first time today.

Wish it was 50degrees.... nope, it was 22degrees when I hit the road. Used the mountain bike, and quickly know that I will be switching to the road bike as soon as possible. Riding on the pavement, once off of gravel is just disheartening! I wanna feel some speed!

School is pretty vicious right now. A double major is tough... Biology and Physical Education. Neuroscience and Exercise Physiology are my two hardest classes, with Growth and Motor Development and Global Politics bringing up the rear.

I do get to do a MAX VO2 test in Exercise Physiology tomorrow. That should hurt a lot and also give me a good training number. The highest at Luther College was Matthew "Flip" Busche, who if you don't remember, WON the Iowa State RR last year, even though being from Wisconsin and ISCorp. He had a value of 78??? ish.

More updates to come.

Almost There!

Long time since I have even commented on this blog......let alone post.

Leave for Cedar Rapids tomorrow for our last meet. LAC is a 3 day meet in which we shave, taper and try and get nationals cuts. I am going to be swimming the 500, 1650 freestyles, and the 400IM. I am in the top 8 in both the 1650 and 400IM, hope to get honors for that. After that night, its gonna be time for cycling season!

I am pumped, and in some of the best shape of my life....swimming, lifting and cardio.

Usually doesn't take long to get the legs going, as I lift all winter and have the aerobic capacity.

I am really impressed by everyone's riding so far this winter, on the rollers. It just makes me more excited to race with everyone this spring.

Props to Jerome, for setting the fast time in the CAT 1,2,3 in Ames.

More to come after the meet, and into next when I am on the bike!!

Peace out.