2008 Year in Review

I attempted to meet up with teammates this morning for the "Hump Day Hump", a Wednesday morning ride that I've only been on once before (working in the suburbs, you miss a lot of stuff like this). Being that it's 9 degrees outside, it took me a little longer than I planned to get layered up and out of the house... then when I'm outside, I find that I've got a cleat full of ice. FYI, road cleats and ice don't mix well. I get to Irving/LFP at 8:12, find out later that the crew took off at 8:10. I rode up to Hollywood, then back home - just under 10 miles but not too shabby since it was so brutally cold and I'm supposed to be off the bike. I don't know that my toes could have taken it much longer anyways.

I've had some computer problems lately and was worried that I might lose my workout data from the past several years - thankfully, I had backed it up in numerous locations (iPods are not reliable backup media!) and was able to resurrect my Garmin Training Center data for 2008...

Runs: 231.54 miles, average pace 10:15.
Rides: 4076.77 miles, average speed 16.6mph.

Not too shabby. That's more than I've run/ridden in a year's time. Ever.

I'm thinking that next year's average cycling speed will be greatly increased since I'm planning a full summer at the velodrome... that and the fact that I've got a white/red/black bike, which everyone knows is faster than a white bike AND a black bike combined.

So for 2008...

I fell in love with the velodrome.
Escaped from Alcatraz
Broke 4 chains. (three 9-speed, one 1/8" track)
3rd Place at Sherman Park Criterium
Moved in with a hottie.
Crashed twice (once at Proctor, once on the North Branch Trail)
6th place post-crash at Proctor (I caught back on)
Won my division at the Chicago Triathlon
Tried Cyclocross and loved it's pure, sweet hell.

In all, it was a damn good year, and I'm proud of the fact that I accomplished all of the above and more while living in two cities at the same time. I'm almost through with that crazy travel, and I'm hoping that less time in airports equates to more time spend with the people and activities that I love.

Here's to a successful 2009!

Imagine the potential

for destruction. Ghost rider?

I've never crashed at the Velodrome, but I've come damn close numerous times... axle nuts hitting mine, wheel rubs, elbows knocking... I even popped a chain going into turn 1 at 28mph and stayed up long enough to make it down the wall (was at Stayer's line) and into the infield.

His knee is gonna be soooooore.

who remembers...

Burple?

Seems like something you could stuff in a jersey pocket easily!

Thursday Linkapalooza

http://spidermonkeycycling.blogspot.com/2008/10/after-kicking-some-ass-on-track-zack.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xADJoFpXNN0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3xDEIsCT64

Photoshopped images of this will be circulating soon...


BlagojeDOUCHE is more like it.

It's Here!

This one gets to stay in the living room, at least for a while :)





It needs a name.

HED Ardennes durability testing to come... look at all those spokes! Stallion Build, baby!

New Bike!

It's been ordered.



Teh sexy.

Ultegra SL and HED Ardennes.

I need to pick out bars and a stem... suggestions? I'll need 46cm bars and a high rise stem (likely 17 degree up).

I hope I don't break it.