Tight as a Fiddle

I try to stretch as much as possible — typically after every ride but sometimes I get distracted. This video shows a few stretches that I haven't seen before.

Last year I went to Norwood Chiropractic late in the season and I swear they kept me injury free with their active release technique therapy!

I also have a Triggerpoint foam roller and "The Stick" for daily treatment of tight muscles.

Friday's ride was along the 360 loop - a hilly and scenic highway outside of Austin. It's kind of crazy that one of the most popular routes for serious cyclists is along a highway but there is an entire lane on the right hand side of the road that a cyclist can ride in.

Sayin goodbye to Austin with an early 9 mile run. I got up early and ran across the entirety of Austin Downtown paths. Austin's lakefront is lined with these pebble/paved paths where a lot of the city can go to relax and exercise. I hope we start to create more spaces like this in Cincinnati.

We got a little lost. Lance Armstrong was nice enough to let us ride along with him and got us back on track!

It was pretty crazy, we got to ride with him for about 10 minutes and he showed how to get back to the Shoal Creek Greenbelt path. It was kind of surreal, like riding with a unicorn.

Bridget and I set out early and climbed up Austin's Mount Bonnell. Spectacular Vistas! Too bad it was a bit overcast.

Korean-mex fusion tacos and a blackened catfish po-boy mid-ride along Austin's shoal creek greenbelt! better than gu!

Here's a pic from last weekend's relaxing ride on Route 8 in Kentucky. We saw teammate Tony and did a little soul riding.

It's been a really rough couple of weeks at work and I haven't had much sleep. I'm really excited for tomorrow's ride in New Orleans!

Team Roadrash Spring Training Camp 2011

First 2-3 days, NEW ORLEANS!
This is our sweet hotel, called Hotel St James. I guess I like the sound of it...
I was inspired to revisit New Orleans after watching Anthony Bourdain's program. I've been there one before and I really loved it.

Saturday:
• Perhaps a quick ride when we check in?
• Dinner and Walk in French Quarter
The Old School Antoine's would be delightful!

Sunday:
• We better see a Mardi Gras parade! There are two on Sunday. We could even ride our bikes to one in Metairie.
Super long ride along the levee?
• Researching some bike rides,
We could do the most epic NoLa bike ride ever! It would feature a Mardi Gras Parade and a Plantation! For the ULTIMATE ride would include some po-boy stands, gumbo and étouffé.
Another dinner and walk in French Quarter.
Perhaps Cochon?

Monday:
Early MTB ride?
There is a trail out west of NoLA.
There is also a rail-to-trail called Tammany Trace on the north side of Lake Ponchetrain.

My Brotha by anotha Mutha Michael said:
wasabinola.com: japanese renditions of calypso tunes. not too traditional, but really good!

My Homie Holly said:
Magazine street - has wonderful antique stores. Not sure if that is your thing and you'll have to take a taxi to get there (10 minutes tops) but its so cool. Also walk on Royal street and check out the art galleries. Go get a Hurricane at Pat O'Briens then sip your drink and stroll around on Royal street, listen to the street players and check out the galleries. I love this city! If you want some authentic new orleans music that's away from bourbon street, try Frenchman street. I bet if you ask hotel, they can direct tell you who might be playing. I think one was called DBA. It's still in the French quarter.

go to the Napoleon house, get HALF(a full one is HUGE) a muffalatta and a PIMMS CUP to drink.A night cap? go to the Chart ROOM (not house) on Chartres.Its a locals bar, comfy, TOTALLY monty's style. For a mid morning drink(im not kidding) g...o to the gazabo(down by the flea market and Cafe du mon) and get a frozen pina colada. now ,let me be clear,i dont normally do this or even drink these, but its creamy, coconutty, pineapplely, stupid good. circle bar( dark and hip), at lee circle(late nite), Get on the St Charles streetcar,you can get there that way, then continue uptown to Delminico( emerils place, i used to work there KILLER food) Igors bar( a MUST!!) one block below Jackson on St Charles.Camillia grill is one of the oldest(and coolest) diners left in our country.i strongly suggest this as well, and meat eaters, get the cannible special, its to "dye "for, ouch, sorry. to get there you take the streetcar the same way youve been going

My Cuz Michelle said:
K Pauls Louisiana kitchen for dinner! OMG. It is the best meal u will ever have. Get something with the Debris sauce,
Cafe du Monde for bengeigs and cafe au latte.

My friend Susan said:
Comida de cubano. French quarter, great authenic cuban food; wonderful family that runs the place.

Monday:
One last brunch in New Orleans then head to Austin!

Here are some posts from my trip last year.

Tuesday:
• Early ride and recon of City?
A South Congress Gastro Crawl!
• Big Top Candy Shop
• Vespaio
• South Congress Cafe
• Guero's
• Perla's
• Food Trucks!
• Amy's Ice Cream


Gastrotourism
Urban Spoon Austin

Bike Routes and Rides Info
Cycling Info Page, but can't find maps
Maps from UT
Some City Bike Routes
Austin Bike Associtation Hosted Bike Rides
Mountain Biking
> I might check out the Walnut Creek Metro Park near my Sis's apartment at 12138 N Lamar Blvd.
> The Barton Creek Green Belt seems to have both a paved path and off-road trails! Sweet.
> The Emma Long Park seems to be chockful as well and about a half hour away.

Wednesday:
Head to San Antonio.

Thursday:
Brewery Tour?
• There's Black Star
• There's 512
• NxNW near my Sis!

Man, I got to get to Torchy's and I really love the Dig and Duck Pub!


Friday:
Handbuilt Bike Show!

Pick up a bunch of goodies at the Farm to Market store for trip home!

Saturday:
Leaving Austin. I want to stop by Puddin Hill Chocolate in Greenville, Texas. I went there last year before Easter and it was fun to watch an Easter Egg hunt. Also, Ramage Farm in Hooks, Texas has great barbecue and a quaint country general store!

We'll be sleeping in Memphis. Maybe we'll catch a country show at a bar. Some ideas for food from the Travel Channel.

Hopefully Sunday AM catch some brunch and look in the windows of Hatch Show Print.

Working on a Plan Stan

Here is a sneak peek into the Annual Training Plan I am attempting to devise. I've been reading Joe Friel's "Training Bible" book from like 1997. It's the road cyclist edition, which is a little weird because I am still racing as most roadies have their legs up. So I am trying to glean the major principles and come up with a training plan for myself.

It is really hard to be a self-coached athlete. Sometimes you overtrain yourself and sometimes you under-train. Last year I devised a training plan for early in the year, planning to continue as the year progressed but I got lazy and it slipped my mind. Next thing I knew it was cross-country MTB season and I wasn't doing speed intervals, or I just started doing tabata intervals halfway through cross season!

I also need to send back an old PowerTap 2.0 so I can collect data around some of my power tests and intervals, that will really help make training more effective!

Miles and miles

Last weekend I had a great time getting a ton of miles in rolling along on beautiful country roads East of Cincinnati and South into Kentucky. Saturday and Sunday I rode 137 relaxing, scenic miles in 9.5 hours filled with fun teammate banter.