Changing of the Seasons

I told myself when I started my 2011 training that I would not complain about the winter riding.  I was going to accept that I have chosen to live in the Upper Peninsula and train to be an elite athlete in possibly the worst place to do so, in the early months, in the country.  Well, I'm going to stick to that and not complain but I can say, "I can't wait for a change of seasons," without it sounding like complaining.  I have not missed a day of riding in the month of March and the days I scheduled to ride in February I rode everyone of them.  I have endured some nasty winter days but I have also enjoyed some beautiful ones.  I have also vowed not to ride the rollers more than an hour at a time 2 days a week.  This rule has pushed me outdoors even on the nastiest of days to earn my hours in the saddle.  The last thing I told myself through this first block of base, I'm not going to countdown to my California trip.  That rule I broke this week.  I'm 8 days from leaving for California and I can't help but count down each hour until that time comes.  It could be that the weather is calling for 8 inches of snow (probably going to miss us, thank God.) with a high of 29 degrees all week.  Or it could be that last nights ride felt like I was riding through snow made of peanut butter.  It could also be that I have to fit a huge week in before I leave and the weather decided to be the worst we have had in the month of March.  Oh well, as I said I can't complain and I won't.  I'm just going to saddle up and ride my bike.  What bike?  The weather will determine if it's the Pugsley or the MTB.  For now I'm dreaming of my overnight transformation of the Changing of the Seasons happening the night of March 31st.  

Culvers Racing p/b Meyer Family Vision Gives Back

As the director and a rider of Culvers Racing p/b Meyer Family Vision it has always been a goal of mine to use the team to spread the word of cycling.  To pass on the benefits to our cities, our community, and most importantly our youth.  Cycling is a life long sport, a way of transportation, a health tool, and best of all it's fun.  It can be done by all ages, all types, and all abilities.  The more we educate our communities and youth the better chance they have at accepting cycling and accepting us on their roads.  That is why I have decided to start with the Big Brothers Big Sisters bike give away.  To give a child a chance to accept the sport and enjoy a beautiful bike they may not other wise have the chance too.

Myself, Tyler Gauthier, in combination with Culvers Racing presented by Meyer Family Vision will be giving away a Trek MT 200 purchased from Quick Stop Bike Shop at the inaugural Bell Bike Race.  This is a Bell Hospital fund raiser involving spinning bikes.  It is a perfect platform for the give away.  Below is both the Bell Bike Race flyer and the rules to the Big Brothers Big Sisters give away.

Please help spread the word of cycling.

 

March

With the first Pro XCT happening this past weekend it is a real sign that the 2011 MTB season has kicked off.  Most Pro's and Elite's are wrapping up base training and starting to add in some sort of intensity. Others are in the midst of base and entering the early season as a stepping stone to the latter part of the season.  Either way the racing season is upon us no matter what fitness level you have chosen to have because it moves on with or without us.

I, myself, have chosen to be in the midst of base.  The Pro/Elite circuit starts in March and ends in September but our weather challenged geographic has our season starting in May and ending in November (Iceman.)  This is why I have chosen to be in the beginning of my fitness.  It is early in my career and I am still learning what my body is capable of.  How long it can and wants to go and how many times through out the year it can perform.  With my most important races happening in July and August I'm playing it more conservative and getting a later start than our West coast friends.

In a few weeks I'm fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel to California for 3 weeks of training.  Without this opportunity even the late start I've chosen becomes difficult especially with the March we have had this year.  Although blessed with good days we have had our fair share of slush, snow, rain, cold, and wind.  Many may recall that March in 2010 was amazing.  I road outdoors on good roads 10 or more times.  This year we have been lucky to have a 1 or 2 days that would present even a descent day to be on the road.  Luckily I have my Pugsley, aforementioned in an early blog, that has given me a great tool to be outdoors logging hours.

Reading results from Bonelli Pro XCT gets me excited and even though I'm early in the training phase, after reading how most racers felt during the first real effort of the season I'm completely satisfied at where I am at.  I will be racing in just about 30 days (Sea Otter Classic) and I will soon feel that first race effort and be able to put in perspective on the choices I have made.  I may love where I am at but I may not, but at least if I'm not satisfied it will be in 80 degree California heat.