DClog

Favorite Time of the Week

Nice weather for a 30-minute race simulation. Many riders hung around for extra laps, technique practice, chatting and the gathering at Mellow Mushroom for refueling.

Next weekend the racing starts in Alabama so most of the riders will be there. Then everyone will be back at the STL 10/14 for a final practice before the Georgia Cross Series begins.

(L-R) Michael?, Tim, Theron, Chris, Grant, Daryl, Trish, Ben, Bob, Travis, Jeff, Stephen Torre, Michael, Marshall and Dan

Interval Data

Interval workouts always create the most interesting looking data graphs...

7x10 second (3 minute recovery) intervals

State Champion Jersey Proof

Georgia Cyclocross State Champion jersey. Now that's eye-poppin' and should stand out in a sea of colored Lycra... and still project some class. Nice!

Shopping for Sponsors

It's that time of year again and if possible I would be headed to Las Vegas for Interbike, North America's largest gathering of the bike industry.

I hope to reenlist all of our previous sponsors for another year of support, but I also welcome any help in this department. Ben and I put together a new proposal presentation for the team/club and hopefully it will get passed around and fall into the right hands. Check out the GTC Sponsorship Flyer created for potential GTC sponsors (can be printed or email).

Dans Macabre shirts - It's Back!

It's back for another limited run.
Makes a great holiday gift (Halloween, maybe)
* Offer ends Monday October 1, 2007 *

Dans Macabre T-shirt Order Form $12.00 each

Sept 23 STL

My HRM data indicated some measurable improvements in my performance today. Hopefully that is a result of the training and a sign of things to come. We could use a break in the heat around here and some cold weather would help riders to get acclimated for mid-December in Kansas City ('07 'cross Nats).

(L-R) Bill, Marshall, Stephen, Holly, Jay, Trish, Kim, Daryl, Jaymes, Bandit, Jeff, Tim, Ben, Bob, Theron, Lee, Torre and Dan. (not pictured: Grant) photo by Cathy Halgat

Bandit close up

The oldest 'cross racer in the neighborhood

The Wind Is My Friend

The wind is my friend. On a bicycle, where bigger is not better, the gravitationally challenged find their best place for redemption is on the flats or rollers with a substantial head or cross wind.

For the mathematically inclined the two most important basic equations for cyclists are:

power-to-weight ratio (power divided by weight)
and/or
power-to-aerodynamic ratio (power divided by aerodynamic drag)

A high power-to-weight ratio equals a better climber, and a high power-to-aerodynamic ratio is what matters most for a flatlander or time trialist.

Which is why a road cyclist my size, 188 cm 83 kg (6'2" 183 lbs) can honestly say, "The wind is my friend".

Color Challenged

Someone along the route to production decided it was too red. I thought the Georgia flag was red, white and blue just like the American flag, not some shade of maroon.

Here is yet another example of what I call the "sound man dilemma" (which I experienced again this past Wednesday). The dilemma is that no matter how much one develops their skill, craft, feel and good taste the people that come between the performer/artist/creator/designer and the public may have completely different ideas about what *they* think is good. For example as a guitarist I may have chosen my instrument for it's rich, dark, warmer sound but the sound man cranks up the treble on my mic because *he* likes a brighter sharper sound. Or maybe there is a musical passage that I want to perform quiet, subtle and in the background, suddenly the sound man realizes he can't hear me as well so *he* decides to crank up my volume. You get my point.

Back to the jersey colors, they made the little 'cross man logo on the back pocket a pumpkin orange instead of gold. Orange and maroon... I thought they wanted a state champion jersey not a Halloween costume ;-)

But seriously, I don't take any of it personally. We get asked or hired to do a job and that's what you do. I've been to parties where I stood on stage with some of the finest most talented and creative musicians in the region and the client asks us to play something like "The Hokey Pokey" or "Sweet Home Alabama". Often I refer to these jobs as 'lawns that need to be mowed' and think of my guitar as just a tool. Don't landscape the property, just cut the grass and be done with it.

GA CX Jersey

This morning when asked about possible design ideas for a cyclocross-specific state champion jersey I had lots of ideas but the very first design was pure and simple, the Georgia flag applied to the "classic" jersey layout. Done deal, now go out and win yourself one!

CX @ STL Sept 16

The weather is starting to cool down and the cross racers are heating up. This week's edition of the cyclocross practices at the Secret Training Location had a wide variety of riders participating, from top-level state champs to beginners. The course this week included grass, dirt, pavement, corners, ravines, barriers and running sections. I arrived pretty tired this week but actually started to feel better toward the end of the second 15 minute race interval.

There was some added excitement with occasional equipment issues and simply having a larger more competitive group. I try to learn everyone's names but I need some help in that department...

(L-R) Tim, Holly, Tiffany, Kim, Jim, Ben, Shey, Marshall, Theron, Joe, Brody, Daryl, Grant, Bob, Tim, Dan, (not pictured: Jeff).

5-Hills Loop Sept 15

A sturdy team of big horses motored around the 5-Hills Loop this morning making good time and friendly conversation. Average speed ~21 mph.

Theron, Marshall and Dan

Pre-Event Race

In cyclocross racing these days the racing starts long before the event. When you register determines your starting position at the event. Registration strategies are critical and the online registration opened at 1:02 AM EST this morning. I stayed up late so I could get a good starting position for the USA Cycling 2007 Cyclocross National Championships

Of course they call up the current champion and champions from younger age groups to the front of the line, but after them it is the order in which you registered. This year the first three registered riders in my 55-59 age group are...

1. Torre Smitherman (my teammate and SE regional MTB racer)
2. Dan Coy (moi)
3. Richard Sachs (World-renowned master frame builder and 'cross racer)

Friday Rush Hour

Atlanta traffic is among the worst in the country and Fridays are ridiculous, the only thing to make it worse is a huge storm at rush hour. So here it is Friday late afternoon and I'm trying to get to town to play a job at the Capital City Club in Brookhaven. The commute starts well, but a few miles north of "Spaghetti Junction" everything comes to a halt. After 20-30 minutes of stop-and-slow I get around a five-car pile up underneath spaghetti junction. Now I'm running a little bit late but should still make it on time. Not even a mile later there is a car sitting broadside in the interstate slammed into the center median. I give up on the highway and get on Dresden drive cutting through the old neighborhoods toward Brookhaven. Suddenly I notice news choppers hovering in the sky and as I near Peachtree-Dekalb Airport there are rescue vehicles and TV news crews everywhere. Please Lord I just want to get to work! A jet had slid off the runway and was dangerously near the fence around the airport and only yards from the road I was on.

As it turns out I was only slightly late for the engagement but was setup and ready to play before the guest arrived.

Approaching Spaghetti Junction as the storm begins to clear up.

Jet sitting off the end of the runway at PDK airport.

Plane Runs Off Runway at PDK Airport from 11alivenews.com

CX Skills @ Sunny Hill

Don't tell, but sometimes I practice cyclocross without a helmet at my neighborhood skills garden.

Bell Curve

Here's a look at the declining numbers. When I first starting training with a heart rate monitor about 16 years ago my estimated cycling LT (lactate threshold) was about 178 BPM. Today, at nearly 54 years of age, my cycling LT is about 152 BPM. Much of that decline has occurred in recent years as the bell curve gets steep.

Yesterday's cyclocross training session included a set of 3x10 minute intervals. While I seemed to be cranking out some watts and rolling pretty good, the numbers are almost laughable.

STL Sept 9

Some of the usuals were at the criterium races in town while several others were signed up for the 6-hour race in Conyers, but a dozen rough and ready 'crossers arrived ready for some friendly competition at the Secret Training Location this day. We've never had Jay and Cathy there before so that was a pleasant surprise.

I'll be darned, I forgot to bring my camera this week! Anyway I sat down and did a quick sketch from memory and hope I didn't forget anyone.

Sorry, I'll try to remember the camera next week!

Bragg-Blackjack Sept 8

Yesterday Rachel, Augie and myself explored the Mill Creek Greenway underneath Interstate 85 and GA Hwy 20. While down there I saw the following sign for the first time in my life.

There are some wooden bridges on the Greenway and they are slippery when wet. However on today's bike ride we went up the steep side of Bragg Rd and it hasn't rained here in so long this dirt and gravel road has turned to loose powder and is treacherous on skinny-tire road bikes... they should post that sign over here.

While TC did ultimately pedal all the way up this beast of a climb, it was after he left three, count 'em 3, full body imprints in the dirt.

No serious harm done, we all managed to survive and have decent ride this day.

Marshall, Theron and Dan

Deployed

Ruthie's Nick had to clock in this morning and take a trip to the "big show" in Iraq. We'll see him again in about seven months. Take care, my friend.

STL Sept 2

This week CX @ STL included more fire ants, some rain, new faces, a crash, some equipment issues and increasing intensity!

I didn't remember everyone's names...

(L-R) Dan, Jim, Daniel, Joe?, Daryl, ??, Theron, Ben, Marshall, Travis, Bob, Shawn, Dave, Grant, Torre.

Blackjack Sept 1

Just about the smoothest team of horses to ever work together. Marshall, Theron and myself motored at a moderately hard pace around the Blackjack Loop then plunged down and climbed back out of Bragg Rd (the steepest dirt/gravel road in the area). Also took a quick tour of the new High School construction site on Sunny Hill. Waved as Jeff Kidd went by leading a small peloton of riders.

35.5 mi @ 1:38 = 21.7 avg

Theron, Dan and Marshall