Velo Rapture

There have been some nice, sunny days...due to the massive amount of rain, it feels like the Velo Rapture..haha..am i really still alive? Too bad the rain is supposed to return tomorrow...

I've been riding PILES the last few weeks!

Catching up, after my last post:

Tues Apr 3rd - did my Field Test out at the track, results were pretty much what i expected, confirming the level i thought i was at, which is a good thing. =)

Thu Apr 5th - rained out! No bunch races.

Mon Apr 9th - Pursuits were rained out.

Tue Apr 10th - first anaerobic intervals of the year, did 6x3min - holy crap the first one HURT!! It was awful. It just went on and on. I'd look down, it'd say 1min 45seconds in. I'd do a few more laps, and look down, and it'd say 1min 52 seconds in. Time was barely moving. I'd do some more laps, and it'd say 1min 37 seconds!?! The damn thing just wouldn't end!! Finally hit the 3min mark and it was over. I wanted to die. I barely finished it, and simply wanted to die. I didn't think i'd be able to do another...but after my 3min recover, i went back at it...it was gross, but not as bad. By the time i did the 6th one, time had been restored to its normal flow, and it wasn't nearly so bad. So remember: if you're feeling gross during your intervals, don't worry - it will get better as it progresses!! I'm suspicious that the point of these things isn't to improve any level of fitness, but to increase your tolerance to feeling like you just drank a bottle of bike lube.

From 07-04-15 - Bu...

Thu Apr 12th - oh man, i got hit with an awful stomach bug a couple days earlier, and was nauseous for several days...was just starting to get my stride back (and eat food) Thur eve, so came and watched Ryan Hopping and Andrew Kyle spin circles around everyone -- would have been a blast to race with them. =(

Sun Apr 15th - rode offroad with Tanya, Jenn and Janna, much fun! (Jenn and Janna are teaming up for that big 7-Day MTB race..kick ass!)

Mon Apr 16th - first sprint night, it was cold, surprised myself by cracking the 14 second marker in the flying 200m with a 13"87.

Thu Apr 19th - first long track race of the season, a 48 lap Points Race - woohoo!! I had a lot of fun in the race, i sat out the first sprint, and after an attack a couple laps later i counter-attacked and suddenly found myself solo nearly 1/2 lap ahead of the pack! I held a sustainable pace and easily collected 1st place points in the second sprint, and then let up - there was no way i was going to lap the other 5 riders, especially considering i'd re-gotten that stomach bug and had puked the night before and barely eaten anything that day... I tried a few more flyers, tho no one (or everyone) came along... Won another sprint with a long attack, kept the pace up the whole race, but finished second, 2pts down from Mike Cooper in the end, who took 1st place points in all but three sprints (David Mercer flew by me at the last moment in one sprint!) Despite feeling weak, i'm exceptionally happy with how i rode! Full Scoring is now online at the GVVA site.

From 07-04-15 - Bu...

Sat Apr 21st - it was the Earth Day festival here, and so tabled in the morning, so no group ride...went offroad with Tanya again in the afternoon, took out a Specialized full-suspension MTB demobike from Oak Bay Bikes, as i'm not keen to see what this is like for a full ride! It was a Stumpjumper, and rode pretty well. It's amazing how you can just sit and pedal over virtually anything, it really does allow a rider to conserve a lot of energy... Still, i get a kick out of riding my fully-rigid MTB. =) The bike climb decently, tho it felt a bit heavy, and i'd need to play around to get myself lower in the front end. Downhill, this thing shon! I was *flying*!! I was barely concerned with what was ahead, trusting that the bike would be able to handle it...very different feeling! I did some nice long, steep decents (Dirt Falls!) and often took the more dangerous/technical line, which was a hoot! I could get used to riding one of these beasts.

Yesterday rode out to the track and taught the second Learn to Race clinic, it was an awesome day, lots of sun and finally starting to show some warmth... If anyone reading this is interested, click here to get the dates for upcoming LTR clinics at the track - they're fun! (And cheap!)

Tonite is the first Pursuit of the year, got my aero bars (T2+ and T2 Wing base) now it's time to refine my position and get comfy..i gave 'em a quick spin on Sunday and they felt good so far!

Forecast is calling for rain for the rest of the week, so my fingers are crossed...