So while my posting may slow here on Spoke Fiend for a bit, I would love to encourage you to visit my new project WWW.MAKEMYFEETGO.COM and consider making a donation on behalf of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
 

He recently traded his old 76' Bayliner boat for a 2001 Trek 1000. The carcass, I mean boat, had been sitting dormant for about a decade so on the surface the deal appears more than fair.

2001 Trek Alpha 1000

I woke up early and was greated by some seriously cold air. I aired and lubed the bikes and got them ready. I threw on my Ritte fleece lined long sleeve jersey and my Ritte thermal lined track jacket. Both purchases I couldn't love more. My brother on the other hand tried several combinations, some of which included jeans and roadside safety vests, before settling on my sister's sweatpants, a Paul Bunyan sized hoodie, and a ski cap. His outfit would have been fine for a quick spin to the grocery store...but not terribly efficient for the 25mile ride I was about to surprise him with.

The ride started out fine. I could tell he was slower than me, but I expected that. I had the benefit of a better bicycle and an affinity for cycling. He only had youth....which as anyone who knows anything about cycling isn't always an asset.

An interesting side note about my brother. He's a survival nut. He's one of those guys who thinks the world could end at any moment. He's always preaching about how prepared he is. This plan of his includes an evacuation route involving a bicycle.

After 20 minutes into the ride....I told him that he's going to need a new plan. During those first 10 miles to my father's nursery Joshua had to stop several times to catch his breath and have some water?  Was it the blistering pace?  Hardly.  I was crawling along at 15mph and was pulling away from him with ease. I'm guessing he was averaging about 8mph. Joshua is always the jokester...so I expected him to be messing with me. Turns out, he was just slow.

The best part of the ride for Josh was when it wasn't happening. All in all it was a really great morning. I was reminded of how much I love riding that BMC, we got to see our father, we selected  xmas trees and burned off some thanksgiving day calories.

When I finally returned home, I saw the boat sitting in the driveway. I was reminded of the many years that boat sat there unused. My mind immediately flashed to Josh...who was still somewhere out there struggling to get home, cursing with every pedal....and wondered. Will the Trek ever ride again.

Moments before I swear some girl on a big wheel blew past him.

Our destination

Still looks good, despite the chips I took out of the paint and carbon during the move.

No doubt, my brother was discussing the horrors of the bike ride with my father.

My back is garbage. It's been that way since one fateful morning while playing a pickup basketball game at Boston University. That day I herniated a couple of discs. The year was 1994. I've never been able to play basketball competitively (at least well) ever since. Over the course of these last super duper 16 years, my chronic pain has evolved. What used to be lightning bolts down to my toes has been alleviated somewhat. Now, all of my pain is located on my left hip and pelvic region. The lightning bolts generally only come out when I sneeze. Oh how I have learned to fear sneezing.

But oddly enough, through it all...the one thing I've been able to do pain free was pedal. For some reason or another the pain goes away when I'm riding. Not before, and certainly not after...but when I'm on that bike, I feel great. I guess you could say my love for bicycles has been influenced by my back pain.

However, from time to time the pain is too much for me to even think about getting on a bike. After my Bunny Hop debaucle I started to log some serious miles. About 200/week to be exact. Problem was, I wasn't stretching like I should have been. So as the miles added up, so did the tightness. Until ultimately I was unable to sit, walk, or stand pain free...let alone ride. Seriously, when those days occur you can visually see just how screwed up my back is. I am crooked like you wouldn't believe.

Now, it's important to note that I have tried everything short of surgery. Epidural Injections, Chiropractor, Physical Therapy, Acupuncture, Massage...you name it. I've tried it. A few have provided temporary relief, but none have solved the problem. I've seen orthopedic surgeons in 3 different states and they've all said the same thing. I'm not a good candidate for surgery. I will have this problem until I die. So I deal.

Which brings me to my latest hope: The Foam Roller. My buddy has back pain as well and he has been raving about this simple tube of foam. I figured what the hell, I'll give it a shot. Turns out the silly tube works pretty well. Essentially the foam roller is the poor man's version of a personal massage therapist.

If you do some digging around on foam rollers you'll find something to this effect.

I've been using the foam roller for about a week. I focus primarily on my Piriformis/Gluteus Medias and my Iliotibia Tract (IT band).

• Am I cured?  No.
• Am I feeling better with improved flexibility?  Definitely.

My conclusion: While the foam roller is never going to cure my back problems, it sure is helping me deal with it. For that I say, God bless that silly tube. I say, if you suffer from back pain or muscle stiffness, why not throw $30-40 at your problem. It's worth a shot.

Oh...but beware. I may have forgotten to mention how painful it can be. But like the marines say, "Pain is only weakness leaving your body".  Enjoy.

I arrived around 10am, leaving me some time to walk around and get ready. The rain had finally stopped and the course appeared better. As I walked thru vendor city I noticed that the starting line had been moved. So much for the carnage I mentioned yesterday. Coming as no surprise, I also heard that a rider had broken a leg during the Cat 2 race. After getting my bike dialed in by one of the SRAM mechanics I was ready.

At 11:15 my group was called to the gate. Roll call is supposedly random, but it's really important to have your name called early. When your name is called, you get to leave the jealous onlookers behind and place your front tire right on the starting line. Out of a field of 51 riders.... I was called 51st. Not exactly where you want to start on a course full of mayhem and limited areas for passing. The interesting footnote to the 'random' roll call was that my fellow md/va/dc rider was called right ahead of me. Now this isn't sour grapes talking, but the three riders who began at the front, finished there. It was just that sort of course.

The race started a bit cautiously with only a few jockeying for position. A quarter of a mile in the group hit a climb that was to difficult for most. And so began the day of riding and running up hills. After a quick swan dive over my bars I gathered myself and began moving up positions. Over the next 5 miles I was rolling. Where people dismounted and walked their bikes, I ran. On my bike, I passed rider after rider on the long arduous climbs. I was feeling strong and my second wind had just arrived.

After working my way up and passing the guy who would eventually finish 20th - disaster struck. While screaming down a steep creek crossing the same tire I blew the day before, blew again. Thinking that I had prepared myself to change my tube, I went to work. Wheel off, bad tube removed, new tube installed.....noooooo! MY PUMP DOESNT WORK!!!. Rider after rider pass. At this point, I'm ready to throw in the towel. I hoist my bike on my shoulder and speculate my pilgrimage. Finally, a weary rider who had long since given up pulled to the side and offered assistance. It would require a third person to stop before the tire was ready. By the time I got rolling again, I was right back in my starting position with only 3 miles to go.

In the end I made the best of the cards I'd been dealt and placed 35th. That finish would normally disgust me, but the quality and pace I rode with before and after the flat really has me full of optimism. Next time will be different. No doubt.

As for the pros.....it went like this. Gun sounds and then suddenly a stampede of blazingly fast riders came screaming down the trail. Reflecting on it now still leaves me stunned. If I hadn't seen it myself I'd never believe just how fast those guys truly are. The Pros aserMons boggingly fast. The race was won by Jeremy Horgan-Kopelski going away. He was so fast that he had already wrapped up his post race interview before the 2nd place rider arrived.

For the host of this event, the day did not fair well. Lance was out of the gates fast and was in 2nd place before a flat derailed him. Rather than repair the flat, he quietly returned to his ranch. He just vanished. Lame.

Picked up Adam at the hotel and we went back to MJ's so he could see. Some BBQ at Stubbs and a lot of browsing at the funky thrift shops in SoCo and the afternoon had come and gone.

After a nap and about an hour of stretching (my back has been torturing me) I walked back to MJ's for a 3rd time today. I felt a bit like a stalker but I was there for registration. Inside the very swag-light goodie bag was my number plate. #589.

Dinner was at a place called Cuba Libre and the beers were at the Tap Room of the Six Lounge. The pints were cheap ($2) and flowing. Perhaps flowing a bit too well. It'll be an exciting beer-free Saturday when I head to the course to do some pre-riding.

State of the art facilty for indoor training. Also open to the public.

Trek heaven

Inside Stubbs BBQ

One of the many cool thrift shops in ATX

A new Mellow Johnny's stem cap.

I was really nervous as I rolled my hardcase up to the Southwest counter. But, it couldn't possibly have been more painless. "is that a bicycle", "yes", "ok, that'll be $50 extra". That was it!

However, the arriving in Austin part wasn't as smooth. Turns out the hardcase won't fit in any of the standard sedan/minivan cabs. The dispatcher radioed for a handicap taxi, and 10 minutes later we're on our way to grab the rental car. To make a long story short, 1.5hrs later we're driving away in a Ford F150xlt for the astonishingly low price of $25/day.

Getting to the hotels was a breeze. Downtown Austin is about the easiest city to drive in. Logical grid system with alternating one way cross streets. Even numbered streets take you west. Odds take you east.

Checked into my kitchy liitle hotel, re-energized and then took in the South Congress (SoCo) scene. Gueros Taco Shop for dinner and some music in the beer garden. Then over to the Continental Club for some more live music, (lots of sad country was heard tonight) and then finally over to a sports bar called Doc's.

I returned to my room and built my bike as I heard the rain begin to fall.

My ginormous bicycle carrier

Perhaps the most dramatic thing about these past 8 weeks was that I started out riding a stock Jamis Exile XC and now I'm riding a lighter, and faster Dean Duke soft tail that still feels a bit unfamiliar beneath me.

It had been almost 2 years since I had been out to Schaeffer and I had forgotten how much I love it there. It's fast, almost too fast, it's got some challenging climbs, and a few technical spots, but more importantly, there is an overall absence of rocks.l...just how I like my trails.  Keeping with the tradition that seems to be shared by other riders, Adam and I knocked back a few post ride pints at nearby Dogfish Head Brewery.

Weather permitting, I'll be doing it all again this weekend.

Photo found on flickr (SSO's photostream). Incidentally, this is wider than any part I saw.

Now, I may not have $3000 to throw at my bike, but what I do have is — a crazy, blinding, tireless obsession to scour the internet for deals and information. I've managed to land a titanium frame for under $600 and upgrade to Easton carbon bars, a thomson stem and SLX cranks for around $200.  I'm shaving weight slowly, but it's also not breaking the bank. More importantly, I'm gaining knowledge and finding the resources to help continue that.

Here is what I've learned so far.

#1. There are amazing deals to be found on eBay, you just need to be patient, and know how to look. My favorite method for deal finding is to deliberately misspell words. If you're looking for a Thomson stem....type Thompson. There is a pretty good chance that there is a stem out there, and I guarantee...there aren't many people watching it.

#2. While Jenson USA and Pricepoint are still my first stops for online shopping, I'd recommend picking up a Mountain Biking magazine. There are a ton of advertisements for smaller companies all desperate for your dollar. No one is going to tell you where the cheapest prices are, you have to go find them.

#3.  Make friends with the guys at your Local Bike Shop (LBS).  I can't tell you how many times I've walked in with a broken something or other and those guys have come to my rescue. I can't promise that their prices will always be cheaper, but what they can offer you is knowledge. Take the time to linger in the shop. If they are working on your bike, hang around if you can. You'll not only be able to learn a thing or two but these guys are plugged into what's happening in the biking scene. LBS's are the hub of any biking community. They'll tell you about swap meets, events, group rides, or even take you out on one of their rides. Be forewarned...if you do go out riding with them, chances are they are going to be 10x the rider you are.

#4.  Titanium is sexy and flexy.

For the bikes inaugural ride and my first attempt at clipless pedal mountain biking I decided to head out to Frederick MD. I'd been wanting to hit those trails for quite some time. I'd heard great things and was anticipating a day filled with fast single track and challenging and taxing climbs. Craig from Germantown Cycles was the acting ride leader. As for me, I played the part of ride buffoon...and it was a role I performed with great vigor.

Frederick offered all of the challenges I had been expecting and then some. The 'some' came in the form of rocks, rocks, rocks, and more rocks. In fact, less than 100yards into the ride I was thrown off the bike after launching myself off one rock and into a tree. And so went the day. About 30 minutes in I took the cleats off my pedals...enough was enough. About 1hour in my crank arm fell off. Thankfully, I was able to located the bolt. NEVER EVER BUY TRUVATIV FIRE X cranks. NEVER. Oh, I also managed to lose my keys on the ride.

Despite all the mishaps, the ride was great fun and I can't wait to get out there again. Out of the 5 riders only Craig managed to escape without a horrific looking wreck.

As for how the new bike performed – I honestly can't say. I had never ridden on anything that severe with my Jamis so I have no frame of reference. What I did learn was that on a really difficult course, I am not ready for clipless pedals.

I managed to track down some photos of what it looks like out there.

This is what it looks like out there. Courtesy of bundokbiker's flckr photostream

Courtesy of bundokbiker's flckr photostream

Courtesy of bundokbiker's flckr photostream

Incidentally...that is one crazy looking bike! I need to learn more. Courtesy of bundokbiker's flckr photostream

I picked one up yesterday after reading Chris Carmichael's book The Lance Armstrong Performance Program.  Chris is a big believer in 'zone' training, and lets be honest, it's hard to argue with the results.

So, I went out and purchased a heart rate monitor, (two if you count the piece of junk Sigma PC14 that froze up while trying to program it) and gave the workout a shot.  There is something incredibly motivating about it, hearing that alarm go off reminded me of a coaches whistle. Any time I felt like slowing the alarm would deter me.

The Sportline 1025. So far – so good.

I can't wait to get down there.  Speaking of a down note. I found out that Mellow Johnny's bike shop will not rent Mountain Bikes for racing. So, now I'm forced to figure out how to get my heavy ass Jamis down to Texas.

The bmx season is lost for me this year. I ride so infrequently that I think there is no hope for improvement. I'm still going to try and squeeze in another race or two if possible. I love being on that GHP so any chance I can find to ride I will. Speaking of loving that GHP...I can't tell you how many times I find myself contemplating candy apple green colored purchases. Bright shoes, bright sunglasses... You name it.

On a sad note (more sad than the ineffectiveness of the 3 epidurals injections to my spine) I found a career ending crack in the headtube of my Casati road bike. I've never owned a bike that I was as instantly comfortable on. But, unless I want to wind up with a fork through my heart it's time to let her go.

A dark day indeed

I'm going to have to put the racing on hiatus for a little while now. My orthopeadic surgeon was pretty riled up when I told him that I had been racing less than a week after my previous injection. REally sucks though, because nothing worse than sitting around when you feel fit enough to ride. The way I figure it, I've had these 2 herniated discs now for over a decade. I wouldn't know what it was like to not be in constant pain...so why change things.

I really hope I get the clearance to ride again because I'd like to make it up to Trumbull CT for the Constitution Classic. I used to live in that area so I definitely have some friends there, but more importantly, my brother Josh would be able to drive down from Providence and race the event with me.

As for the races... Let's just say I had no chance. I was racing the #1, 2, and 6 35-40 in the northeast in my class. Me, I was in my 2nd race. I'm having real regrets about racing novice instead of rookie because I know I could have competed for the win in the rookie class. Instead, I finished 4th out of 4 with a mouthful of dust.

So after the woodbridge race was over I found myself hungry for more. I was starting to feel more confident on the new bike and was hoping to redeem myself. To make a long story short l drove 1.5hr by myself to race under the lights of Winchester bmx only to be turned away by a sharp and sudden downpour.

Bit, there is no denying, I love racing and can't wait for the next event

With that being said, I rode a relatively strong 22 miles today.

Will I ride next week? Hard to say because there is a bmx race next weekend and I can't deny it. I love bmx more.

#1.   The jumps are huge. I was not anticipating that.

#2.   I suck at gates big time

#3.   Falling really doesn't hurt when you're all geared up.

So....all in all it was a great outing. I can't wait to get back at it. In fact, I'm already scheming about what my next build is going to be. I'm 99% certain it's going to be a GHP XXL frame.

On a different note. The BMX bug is starting to afflict me again. I'm itching to get back out there on them.

• 16.4 avg mph

• stationary bike

• random hills

• level 10

Another lame day at the gym. I desperately want to get out there and ride on the street during the week...but it's just too dark, and too cold. Clocks get turned back this weekend so hopefully that'll help. On a side note. Heading to Cali this week from Saturday to Saturday. That means I'll miss the group ride this sunday and it's predicted to be close to 70! Sucks to think about it, but today was quite probably my last ride for the next week and a half.

Sadly, I wasn't able to hit the road this weekend on account of the snow. Good news though, Adam got himself a roadbike...so in theory I have someone to ride with. I say in theory...because I know he's not going to want to log the same kind of miles I will.

If I'm going to be stuck riding at night on the stationary bike..I need to start making these workouts do more for me. Time to start climbing the levels.

Did something I'll never do again today. That's ride in the snow and cold rain. 30 miserable miles. Started off feeling pretty good with the group. But...it turned out that I was riding with the A group today. Their pace was just too much for me. I riding right with them for a while, even doing my part pulling from time to time. But at about mile 15 I started to fade. By the time I got to mile 16 I was on my own. So..rather than head back I decided to tackle the hill that usually crushes my spirit.

On a side note, dropped the bike off for it's first ever cleaning and maintanence. Found out that I'm running a 'racing' setup on my cranks and cassette. So..if my legs can ever get stronger I could be a pretty fast rider.

It's snowing today..and the weather says snow for the weekend. I really hope not. I'm excited to get back out there on that group ride and start to improve.

• random hills

• level 11

Ran to the gym just to say I did it. I really didn't push myself terribly hard.

ALL YOU CAN EAT 'HUMBLE PIE' BUFFET!

Today I had a gluttonous serving of humble pie. I knew I was in trouble the moment a couple of blue haired geezers wizzed by me like I was on a big wheel. I experienced more of the same throughout the ride. The highlight however came while I was doing about 35mph down a steep winding hill. I was faced with the lovely choice of woods, car, or pothole. I opted for the latter and of course is popped my rear tire. Thankfully I had a spare and what I needed to get the wheels rolling again.  The break actually was a blessing for me as I refound my form and averaged about 17-18mph for the remaining 8 miles.  Rides like these are good for me though...let me know how much work lies ahead for me.  I'll be ready for those blue hairs next time!