Beer-backpacking the Pisgah trail!

This would be fun!

http://www.pedalingnowhere.com/routes/bikepacking-pisgah-appalachian-beer-trail/

Crank Up Cincy, a Bike Poster show

2 years ago I submitted a few posters to this event, and this year I am happy to announce that I am helping organize the event!

We are gathering Cincy artists and designers who have created rad bike posters and putting them on display during Bike Month at Coffee Emporium.






BikeArt Poster Show 2012 from CinéCinnati on Vimeo.


#crankupcincy  #bikeposters

Indiana Banana Training Camp 2014

Bjet and I are heading to Brown County for a family training camp weekend sometime soon. I have been sick for the past month and I can't wait to get back on the bike! Brown County has a plethora of options. For MTB there is obviously Brown County trails but also Nebo Ridge. If it's wet we will hit the fire roads of Hoosier National Forest. And if it's really bad we could hit the Columbus Architectural Tour and the bike trails. So last year I rode 500+ miles in January alone. This year I have barely ridden over 500 miles total. It's time to turn this year around!

Thinking about 2014 Goals

Goal: have fun, race hard(ish), chill with friends

This year I want to live a bit more of a balanced life. Catch up on some home improvement projects and make more art and posters. In years past I would pride myself on riding in poor conditions because it made me tougher when races were in poor condition, but this year I am going to use more common sense!

I plan to race less, maybe take more weekend trips, fun ones where I can still ride my bike.

In years past I was worried if I let off the gas on training that I would regret not being my optimal self. I was fueled by improvement, it seemed like I was constantly making gains.

Last year I started having less fun. I would feel stressed if I didnt get in the training ride i wanted. This year I say F it! Have fun, don't stress.

I do have fun on those days when I feel like the fastest version of myself. So I will plan an abbreviated 4 training rides per week, although I may ride everyday, these four focused rides should keep me in decent shape. I will blog about this more later.

So, here's the list:
• TOPO trail runs
• Death March
• Heart Mini Half
• Kings Short Track
• Mohican
• E/I TTs
• Xtrerra races, TOPO and Dino
• TriState 6 Hours (solo, but maybe co-ed duo if life is busy)
• Maybe JB 6 Hour
• 5-10 CX races at most, maybe focus on Ohio CX Cup...

I am going to focus less on series, race my bike when I want to and not race when I would rather do my own thing. If the weather is bad, or I dislike a course, I won't go.

I hope I can get this list down to 15-20 races. Race less, save some money, go on some more weekend trips.

Looking forward to having fun with you in 2014!

Biometrics in 2014

I thought I would have my blood screened and do an assessment of my cholesterol so I could get numbers/data. I've been a bit naughty and my biometrics have gotten worse. I have also been exercising less, so maybe that lack of exercise has contributed to higher cholesterol. Also, I've been vegetarian and a diet with cheese and eggs is not the best idea—those things are full of cholesterol.

So if you workplace provides a health screening I would suggest getting one and just seeing your numbers. I'm doing this to make sure I live a long, healthy life.

1/4/2014
Weight: 146 lb
Height: 68 in
Waist: 33.25 in

BMI: -- kg/m2

Body Fat %: 12.69

Body WT: 18.52 lb

Lean %: 87.31%

Lean WT: 127.48

Hydration: 3.67

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Blood Pressure: 109 systolic / 69 diastolic mmHg

Pulse: 50

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Total Cholesterol: 267 mg/dl
HDL: 100 mg/dl (good cholesterol)
LDL: 143 mg/dl (bad cholesterol)
Triglycerides: 118 mg/dl
TC/HDL Ratio: 2.0% (should be under 3.5%)

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Blood Glucose: 80 mg/dl


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6/11/2014
Weight: 147 lb
Height: 68 in
BMI: 22.5 kg/m2

Body Fat %: 13.9

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Blood Pressure: 114 systolic / 69 diastolic mmHg

Pulse: 61

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Total Cholesterol: 192 mg/dl
HDL: 80 mg/dl (good cholesterol)
LDL: 98 mg/dl (bad cholesterol)
Triglycerides: 71 mg/dl
TC/HDL Ratio: 2.4% (should be under 3.5%)

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Blood Glucose: 90 mg/dl

A bike without a chain is not a bike by any other name

I was at Armleder Park last evening doing VO2 max intervals. Well, started my second interval I ripped my chain straight off! Usually I have a toolkit with chain tool and an extra SRAM quick link but I had left it at home.

I had to push/scoot my bike five miles home. Geesh, my legs are sore.

Kit ADD

Dang, rode into work at like 5:45 am because I am slammed. But got some ADD and/or inspiration and came up with a cute Ohio logo... Then a kit. Okay, back to work.

And your safe!

Last week I was trying to crush that off-camber downhill on the backside of Kings... That didn't end up well. Rear brake froze up, slid and hit the deck...

The Cincy Bike Racers' Dining Guide, part 1

Cross is here! But more importantly, lovely day trips to cool MidWest cities. So, I've been meaning to write up a tourism guide for a couple years. But, you know, I want to write up something comprehensive but I always run short on time.

Here is a rough start:

Cincinnati:

Dilly Deli: Okay food, some hearty comfort classics. But a great beer selection. Perfect for post-time trial discussions with certain teammates who look like the love child of Kid Rock and Axl Rose.

Columbus:

North Market: a fun selection of food stalls for everyone. Plus Jeni's (support the peeps who support bike racing!).

Surly Girl Saloon:

Adams County:

Cruiser's Diner in Seaman: Perfect for a stop back after the Frankenbike 50!

Blake Soda Fountain in West Union: a nostalgic bite after a log training ride in Shawnee Forest.

Portsmouth Brewery: Pizza plus BEER!

So here are some things I want to try or have been to in:

Bloomington/Columbus/Nashville, Indiana:

Papa's Grill: good grub and good beer selection after a jaunt to Brown County.

Backwoods Brewery: they have pizza and grub and beer and just down the street from Brown County, located in Nashville.

Upland Brewery: super solid beer and pub food.

Soma: solid coffeehouse on way to Bloomingcross

Scholars Inn Bakehouse: Kind of like a local Panera, good for breaky

New places I want to try:

The Bloomington Brewpub at Lennie's: http://www.bloomingtonbrew.com/brewpub/

I've been to the Runcible Spoon in the past, I would like to go back.

The Irish Lion, bought a pint glass there but would like to try it!

http://www.urbanspoon.com/t/94/2/Bloomington/Vegan-Friendly-restaurants?last_filter=tag

http://www.happycow.net/north_america/usa/indiana/bloomington/

Bicycle Poems or "Spoke and Word"

I listen to this podcast called the BikeShow from London. One episode this creativity counselor (Rosie Walford of Big Stretch) spoke about how cycling elevates your mind into an alpha state of creativity.

So I wanted to design a poster to celebrate my love of bicycles. So, I through a leg over my saddle and as I rode I wrote a poem/prose.

After I wrote this short prose, I typeset it in antique wood type. I also hand carved two linoleum block illustrations to tie the bicycle art piece all-together.

I letterpressed the final poster on Rives BFK paper, using gold and silver inks on an old 1927 Vandercook press in Cincinnati, Ohio.

If you would like to purchase a copy, here is the link.

early drafts:

Oh Bicycle,
How you set me free,
Your wheels like wings,
All the things I see.

Oh Bicycle,
your wheels like wings set me free,

your wheels are my wings,
and I take flight with liberty.

I see the world,
all creation unfurled,
[forgot the rest, did I get buzzed by a car?]

My final:

Bicycles

OH! How we take to the roads

Climb mountains high

Soar through valleys below

We find ourselves on lost lanes

Bicycles give us freedom

—off we go!





Pablo NerudaOde to bicycles
I was walking
down
a sizzling road:
the sun popped like
a field of blazing maize,
the
earth
was hot,
an infinite circle
with an empty
blue sky overhead.

A few bicycles
passed
me by,
the only
insects
in
that dry
moment of summer,
silent,
swift,
translucent;
they
barely stirred
the air.

Workers and girls
were riding to their
factories,
giving
their eyes
to summer,
their heads to the sky,
sitting on the
hard
beetle backs
of the whirling
bicycles
that whirred
as they rode by
bridges, rosebushes, brambles
and midday.

I thought about evening when
the boys
wash up,
sing, eat, raise
a cup
of wine
in honor
of love
and life,
and waiting
at the door,
the bicycle,
stilled,
because
only moving
does it have a soul,
and fallen there
it isn't
a translucent insect
humming
through summer
but
a cold
skeleton
that will return to
life
only
when it's needed,
when it's light,
that is,
with
the
resurrection
of each day.

"Yeah I have a question: How much dope did you take?"

Speaker at Google opens floor to Q&A. First question is about doping, geesh... This was circa 2008 too (was that after Floyd?).

Teammates

Dude, we close. But not that close. I will always "share a square" though.

Seen at MOTR Pub.

Jersey designer?

Ever since I saw Twin Six back in the day I have wanted to design my own jerseys as well. I am thankful that I have had the opportunity to design kits for several teams—some that I have ridden for. But often I come up with designs that teams don't dig as much (I really dig retro kits—my passion dates back before Rapha, I bought a book for the 2003 Tour de France and I fell in love with the old wool jerseys).

I am trying to find resources to do a small run of cycling jerseys. One problem I have is that I would love to design a kit with a collar as well as the retro pockets in the chest.

Some locals who make lycra jerseys:
Made in Bloomington:
http://www.bikejerseys.com

Made in Cleveland:
http://www.pyroapparel.com/cyclepage.html


Peeps who are hip with retro radness:

http://www.oregoncyclewear.com/catalog/item/8667564/9614709.htm

http://www.etsy.com/listing/100664892/design-your-own-womens-long-sleeve?

http://www.rotheracycling.com/

Perhaps it is best that I find someone to do a small order in wool jerseys.
So going from here I have two options:
1. Find someone to do a very small order to make jerseys for just Bridget and I
2. I start designing jerseys that have broader appeal—and get the minimums required to have them printed by one of the above fabricators.

2013 Tour de Colorado!

Some of my fam moved to Summit County, near Breckenridge. Can't wait to hit that.






Brewery Crawl in Downtown Denver!

http://app.strava.com/segments/793443

Looks like a cool MTB trail down in CastleRock.

http://app.strava.com/segments/660768

Breck:
- Blair Witch
-peak trail
- Barney ford
Bankers Tank:
Rating: Moderate

Time: 1-2 hours

Elevation: 10,360-10,850 ft.

Type: Loop, dirt road, trail

Season: Late June to early October

Know Before You Go: When the gate near the trailhead is closed, Boreas Pass Road is still snowy and wet. Cyclists should avoid this ride until the gate opens. Expect vehicle traffic (especially on weekends) on the road which is bordered by aspen groves, making it a spectacular fall ride. Although it may look dry at the beginning, the shaded trail takes a while to lose snow and should be avoided in early summer and also a day after heavy rains. This is also a great ride in the opposite direction.

Parking: From I-70, drive south through Breckenridge on HWY 9. Turn left at the stoplight on the south end of town onto Boreas Pass Road. Drive 3.5 miles up this winding road to pavement's end. Park in a pulloff on the left where the road becomes dirt.

Description: Follow Boreas Pass Road for 3 miles to Baker's Tank (see the Boreas Pass ride to continue up the main road). Turn onto a jeep road forking left just before the tank. Climb briefly and veer left onto a trail starting near a fence. It parallels above the jeep road, then switchbacks left. Pedal along this nearly level trail as it winds around a hill, clinging to a steep slope. Reach a junction at 3.9 miles, turn left and begin a long descent (going straight leads to private property). For the rest of this ride, expect uphill traffic and use caution around blind corners. Twist and turn through dense forest. Then connect with an old road at 4.8 miles. Turn left (going right again leads to private land), descend briefly and then turn right almost immediately and back onto the trail. Cross another road and pass through a camping area/turnaround. Continue on the trail as it cruises along a fairly level section through the trees. It then descends along steep hillside, switchbacking downward and ending at the trailhead.

The Race to Refuel

Last year I bought "The Feed Zone Cookbook," featuring a lot of healthy dishes for athletes. This is an interesting interview inside the tour bus.

Biometrics in 2013

We had another Biometric screening at work, trying to track all these results. I am rather nerdy about checking blood pressure and I like to make sure I take care of myself.

I feel my riskiest behavior is actually working. I have noticed working long hours and not sleeping enough has a negative effect on my blood pressure.

My body fat % has gone up, mainly because I am not working out my upper body. I got down to 10% last year, doing swimming, yoga, running and weights.

7/9/2013
Weight: 142 lb
Height: 68 in
Waist: 31 in
BMI: 21.6 kg/m2
Body Fat %: 11.0

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Blood Pressure: 106 systolic / 61 diastolic mmHg
Pulse: 49

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Total Cholesterol: 188 mg/dl
HDL: >100 mg/dl (good cholesterol)
LDL: NA (unreadable/<100 nbsp="" span="">mg/dl (bad cholesterol)
Triglycerides: 55 mg/dl
TC/HDL Ratio: 2.0% (should be under 3.5%)

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Blood Glucose: 85 mg/dl

This is nerdy but I frequently track my blood pressure and weight to see how lifestyle factors effect my health. Every time I go to the Kroger i jump on that lil machine by the pharmacy. They must think I am a loon.

2/13/2013

Weight: 145 lb

Blood Pressure: 124 systolic / 78 diastolic mmHg

Pulse: 48 bpm

This was at the dentist, my blood pressure is always high there! Aside from the obvious perhaps it is because I am coming from work too, having to run out the door for a dental appt.

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2/28/2013, returning from vacation

113/77, pulse 59

Lean mass: 128.4 lbs/86.2%

Fat mass: 20.6 lbs/13.8%

Hydration: 3.7 lbs (consistent diet of beer and coffee at altitude?)

Weight: 149 (147 on home scale, the most I have weighed in over a year)

----------------------------------------

Domestic Domestique

This year I didn't really have any goals for Mohican. I just wanted to ride with Bridget and made sure she had fun. But now she is bailing on the 100 miler due to minor injuries.

I took my Strava data from last year. I might write these numbers on my bike so I have a lil bee in my bonnet during the race.

Here are my approximate splits from 2012:
To Aid Station 1 (20mi): 1:57/10.26mph split/10.26 avg, took about 3 min: A lot of trail
To Aid Station 2 (34mi): 1:32/9.13mph/9.5 avg, took 4 min messing with Infinit, more trail than I remembered
To Aid Station 3 (46mi): 1:04/11.25mph/9.82 avg, took 4 min
To Aid Station 4 (72mi): 1:52/13.33 mph/10.96 avg, last fill up, about 3 minutes
To Aid Station 5 (88mi-ish): 1:29/10.79 mph/10.67 avg
To Finish (93mi-ish): :32/9.33/10.79 avg

Overall I was 43rd/166 with a time of 8:37:09 about an average speed of 11mph.

I guess try to go faster right?

Cycling Citizen

I posted the following message on a radio station message board when they posed the question "Should cyclists be on the road?"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am a Madisonville resident and I commute by bike almost daily to my job in Downtown. I commute over 2,000 miles a year.
First, I want to say thank you to all my fellow road users. We all share the road. We all do our best to drive and ride safely and sometimes there are others, drivers and cyclists who are not cautious as we are.
Is it fair to take the rights away from all just because a few do not exercise caution?

I adhere to all the same traffic laws as a car. Most of the roads I ride on are two lane streets—I hope that in doing so it is easier for a car to change lanes to pass. I really make sure I signal using my hands and arms, and I often thank drivers with a wave. I do not take my fellow citizens on the road for granted, and I really ride safely because I do not want to endanger others or myself.
My commute also features many urban neighborhoods. I often average speeds of 15-25mph on flats and sometimes 35-45 downhills. I would worry that if I were forced to ride the sidewalk that I would endanger pedestrians, the mothers pushing carriages with their children that I often see along my route.
Also, I am a home-owner. I do own one car (although I let my wife use it). I have a job, insurance, pay my taxes. These contributions should add up to pay mare fair share as well of road costs.
I also hope my cycling can benefit you and society as well. Less demand on gasoline and health-care (I am fortunate to have lost over 60 lbs since I took up cycling and I have been going to the doctor less) will hopefully reduce the cost for everyone.
Once again I want to say thank you for sharing the road. I wanted to share my story and point of view. I am grateful to cycling for changing my life and health—and I am grateful that I can commute and be in the sunshine and enjoy our beautiful home town.
In closing I wanted to invite you to ask yourself how could you get around if you suddenly lost your car? Having a full array of transportation options benefits all of society. I am grateful to have a car but there are many who cannot afford this. I am happy to have the Metro as a convenient second choice. I feel that as the Greater Cincinnati area grows we need to ensure that there are options for everyone—sidewalks, buses, etc. so we are not tied to one specific form a transportation.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Unfortunately for commuters the bike trail (at the moment) does not network in every possible destination. In Cincinnati I am excited about the Wasson Way and Ohio River Trail which will provide this as an option.

At the moment cyclist are legally entitled to ride on the road. This 3 foot law just adds in a bit of safety for people. There are 1% of motorists who are not completely respectful and are rather dangerous. This law will help educate the public about safety (kind of like Buckle Up), prosecute the very few who are dangerous and will hopefully make the road safer for all of us.

- - - - - - - - - - -

True it is frustrating when all road users do not follow the law.

This is above the spandex nation. It is for the right of your neighbor's 16 year old without a license to get to work safely. It is for the impoverished that cannot afford a car to be able to get around safely. Currently is is legal for bikes to be on the road, the 3 foot law would just require extra safety, I feel it will act as an awareness campaign similar to "Buckle Up" and only be enforced against those who are truly negligent.

As Steve the bike lawyer wrote: "it is the right of every Ohioan to choose a vehicle to use on virtually all Ohio roads - be it motorcycle, car, truck bus, Amish buggy or bicycle."

http://www.ohiobike.org/bicycle-law-digest.html

- - - - - - - - - - -

I mentioned in another comment that I am a commuter who travels from the Suburbs of Cincinnati to Downtown for work. I do follow the laws because it keeps me and other drivers safe. At the moment there is not an option for me to get to my destination on a bike path. I would love such a route—sometimes rush hour is very stressful. Most people are nice and I ride in a way that is predictable (signaling, riding in a straight line, following traffic laws). But then there would be other days where I would require a more direct road route to get to my destination quicker—and I wouldn't want that bike path to make my ability to use the roads I help pay for and use a less "legitimate" option.

- - - - - - - - - - -

Trying to be a positive face for our sport and form of transportation.




http://www.700wlw.com/pages/onair_scottsloan.html?article=11337331&fb_comment_id=fbc_337156626413505_1555087_337186596410508#f28165a3c8

Bike to Work Week!

Photo of a photo by Chrissy B, capturing my red/white/black commuter get-up.

It's Bike Month again. The Giro is happening. And I'm getting ready for another Mohican and the first year of the 6 Hours Series.

Doing lots of rides. Last year I got hooked on a podcast from London called The Bike Show. He had the writer Lionel Birnie on recently and he is urging cyclists to attempt their own Grand Tours.

So I am tackling my Giro di Jimmy—trying to ride everyday until the Giro ends. Unfortunately I got a bit sick last week and I missed out on an epic Century with my teammate Gers. It was a reminder of how tough those races are and if one were to attempt the same, to race everyday for 3 weeks, how amazing the winners really are!

Anyway it IS bike-to-work week. I look back on my own history as a cyclist and I really owe some gratitude to commuting. Commuting was a real sea change for me—I rode more and got faster and became a stronger racer.

So I want to urge my fellow racers to give it a try. And I want to urge anyone to just to try commuting—cut back on your carbon and get some increased fitness. I think you will like it, it can be a rather relaxing way to get around. And if you live on the East Side of Cincy and interested, I will be happy to be your commute sherpa!

I've been missing out on the cool commuter stations Queen City Bike has set up. Try to hit those up! QCB is very cool, and these use these stations to count numbers of commuters.

I miss David Harmon

Listening to the Giro this year just isn't the same. David Harmon had such a good voice and brought a lot of delight to his commentary. I heard he is taking a break to rekindle his passion. Chapeau sir!