Crunches Blow!!!!!

How I hope to look for Singlespeed-a-palozza in 2010
Gonna rip the cranks off the bike! (your bike that is)

Ab work sucks.....Its boring and I loath the time I spend on the floor doing many sit ups, planks, leg raises and such. Just riding the bike is so much easier, but conventional wisdom will tell you that you can only get so far just riding a bike (pun intended). I have read many articles on training and the general consensus is that cycling just doesn't stress the core muscles enough to make changes in performance. At the end of a long race what hurts the most? Often the lower back. Lower back pain usually equals week core. You do the math.
So here I am on the floor (working my abs) looking for the elusive step to the next level. Will I find it? Who knows. But as sure as shit on shoe I'll try and maybe unleash my inner Hulk in the process....

Week one: In like a lion, out like a lamb

This week started off like hell, I was suffering badly. So badly that I was wondering if I even wanted to do this to myself again. Fortunately just as I predicted I found my groove. Somewhere out there was that rhythm and it took about five days to find it. That constant whirrrrrr of the drivetrain that I want to hear was not present early in the week. More like a vooop vooop vooop. Sloppy pedaling sucks the life out of you , makes you slow and is inefficient. Who wants to work hard to go slow? Not me sir...Leave that for the others..

Frustration station

Buying a house, Maybe? Maybe not....
Seems like a good time to make a purchase. Interest rates are low, prices are low and sellers seem desperate.
Make appointments,talk to Lawyers, Realtors, Inspectors and mortgage agents.
Found a house, offer accepted, Blah Blah Blah....
Wow those closing costs seem high..... Whats that? I thought you said no points! Whats that? I thought you said no P.M.I.!
Kaboom!!! Deal falls apart... Mostly due to the fact that I refuse to take it in the REAR..Oh well. I'll try again tomorrow. My dream house awaits me. It's out there somewhere.

On a lighter note I have begun foundation work for 2010, and its painful. Seems my mind still wants to put the hammer down but the body is unwilling. Going by years past it usually takes about a week or so to "find my pace".
I know its a little early to start training but the job situation is right (getting done at 1pm, sweet!), the body knows when its time (I'm getting a little doughy around the middle) and the mind is ready. So lets go.

Coming soon: Goals for 2010...

"This sport is stupid"

Somewhere around December I will begin beating my head against the wall.
In my attempt to prepare for the coming season I will endure wet leaves, ice, frozen trails, angry hunters, even angrier drivers and expensive plane tickets. I will use most, if not all of my vacation time to "train" during the worst possible conditions and the coldest weather all for the off chance of a few early season wins. A little glory if you will. My little slice of the pie.
All of this pain for naught it would seem because in starting this early I'm sure to be toast by July. Or maybe August the latest.
So why do I do it? The truth is I love this shit...

"True fitness, It's not a destination its the journey".

The training gives me a purpose and I would not be lying if I said I enjoy it more than the actual racing. I'd be training even if there were no races! No shit! I've been doing it for years.

A couple things I've learned in the last few years.
Number one: In order to be 10% better next year I'll need to do 50% more. Smarter + longer = stronger
Number two: Always have fun doing it. Yeah its hard work but every once in a while you've just got to let it go and just go ape shit giddy.
I'm now unofficially in "training" for Darkhorse beer cross. Watch out C-Dubs..