Porn or Music

Ok...so back to the cycling diary. The past two weeks I haven't got out much. A few short 15 milers after work last week before it got dark. Those were pretty much the last "weekday" rides I'll have till March maybe. Now with daylight savings in full effect...I'll just spend my evenings on the rollers with the occasional weekend rides if its not "too" cold. Man, I'm such a wuss.

Anyway...can't say I've really had a "start" to the winter training. The past week and a half have been spent with an hour each night on the rollers. At this point I'm mostly just breaking a sweat. Haven't really put together a structured workout. With some travel in the next two weeks I hope that during/right after Thanksgiving I can hit them harder. For now it has mostly been some spinning and intervals. 4 x 10 minute sessions of intervals during a 60 min ride. 5 minute spin in between. I do have to say that using the 5900 on the rollers has been way more tolerable than my beater bike...even with my saddle complaints...

And on the subject of rollers...there limited things to do:
1) Listen to music (which I am bored of my music, need to hook up the streaming)
2) Watch TV or a movie (but mentally I get too into it...not being able to focus on the spinnning)
3) Watch porn. Have yet to try it...but makes sense. Mindless visual action...enough to keep you busy...but not distracting.

Cast your vote. And a shot to keep you entertained. Damn, my tan is gone...

And speaking of Art

Check out this site...especially the *Jestograffx* section. Fun stuff...

Aerosol Blues

Randomly came across a postcard handout while leaving the design building at Kean last night. Not sure if the exhibit will be any good...but it is dubbed as a "New look at graffiti / Aerosol art"...featuring quite a few artists. Will run from November 9-30th. The gallery website was listed on the back of the card...although nothing yet of this new show. If you are brave enough to stroll through Newark perhaps it would be worth a look, lol. I'm not...

Snow drifting

With winter approaching I decided to order some dedicated snow tires/rims for tha G. Decided to go with the stealth look of matte black 5zigens. Kind of ironic how I always wanted to buy them as "good" rims for my TurboII...but now they end up being the "winter" rim for the G. Oh well. Next step is to buy some snows. Looking at either Blizzak LM-22's...or Dunlop M3's...both pretty pricey!

Quick photoshop...

Early xmas...


Now the really messed up part is I got these rims at $160 per wheel. Which is a pretty good deal considering they are lightweight 17's. Now, the rims I am looking at for my bike are around $1500. Granted they are carbon and lightweight (and two less!)...but its funny how in terms of proportionate material...the vehicle rims far outweigh those of the bike. But yet the price is very much the opposite. As Roe would say: "Whatever..." ...I'll buy them anyway...

5-Axis Freedom of Expression

Pretty cool article found here on Chris Bangle, current Chief of Design at BMW. Lots of praise and hate for the guy...but the interview captures some rad insights into design, perception, and emotion. Definitely worth a read...

Race report: Tour de Lake [Hopatcong]

So I had two options for Saturday:
1) Stay home and prepare my lecture for Monday...ughhhhhh
2) Race!

Not much of a choice there...haha. Opted to take part in the 40 mile race starting in Mt Arlington and going through the surrounding (and undulating) areas. Quite a chilly morning but at least it was sunny. A few teamates showed up as well so that was cool. Our field wasn't large at all and the first 15 miles or so were pretty stress-free.

The race became more animated on Edison Road (the big climb of the day). Shortly after the first switchback, a Team Bulldog rider launched an attack that opened the gap. Andreas and myself set a pace...and 3/4 of the way up the climb caught him. In the process everyone else but one rider was dropped. For the next 10 miles it was the four of us taking turns. About 8-10 miles from the finish the Bulldog rider and myself got a slight gap, worked together...and held it to the finish. In the slighty uphill sprint, he got me. I honestly didn't have much more to give. But 2nd place wasn't bad at all.

Now, the real surprise was who the guy was. I looked on their team homepage to realize that he was indeed ranked #1 NJ CAT3 Road racer last year!!! WTF! lol. Anyway, I was glad to hang with him and get complimented for almost dropping him on the last climb. Who knows what form he's been on this year...but for myself I felt it to be a cool accomplishment.

The highlight of the day was the Kamikaze move by Andreas. After getting dropped just before the summit of the climb, he barrelled down the descent and blew by all of us a mile later. Luckily I could sit back and watch the other two chase :-)

Ass man

So while I'm on the current topic of equipment...I wanted to switch to my normal bike and the dilemma of possibly getting a new saddle. My current San Marco "Angel" Aspide Arrowhead has been so-so. I've had it for two years...but this past year it started to bother me a bit. Nothing crazy like incurable saddle sores...but a little bit of fatigue under my left quad.

Reasons I do like it:
1) Light...180 grams with ti rails
2) Gotta love the color combo
3) Cutout helps the little guy. At least thats what I tell myself.


So back to the problem...which could be two things:
1) Slightly different position on the bike. On the flats I've pushed a bit more forward this year...resulting in a slightly more aero tuck and resting further forward on the saddle. Only my left side feels it...so obviously I've favoring that side.
2) Or my ass/quad is suddently not agreeing with the shape below...


The curve I outline in red is where its coming from. The San Marco Era saddle I have has a similar curve...although a bit fatter. I firmly believe it is NOT the minimal nature of the Aspide that is causing my discomfort...but more the actual curvature.

So I am thinking of trying a new saddle with a much different curve in that area. Options I am thinking of:
1) Selle Italia SLR
2) Fizik Arione

Both minimal (the SLR much more so)...but they have a much different profile in that area. This winter will hopefully give me more clarity...

Winter notes...

As I mentioned a few posts down...I'm hoping to use this blog as a cycling training diary this next year. Hell, why not start now. Can't say I won't be putting in any design news...but it'll be good to document the progress on the bike. With the daylight minimizing more and more each day...I find myself hopping on the rollers each night instead of the usual spin after work.

What I want to start off doing is analyzing my current indoor equipment...and what I hope to replace/reuse for this winter. I should be posting my goals to start off...but I'm still sorting those out. For the past few winters I have been using my old trusty lugged steel Faggin frame from God knows when. Quill stem, downtubes, etc. I have always used this for the rollers to collect the sweat and dust that I don't wanna get on my other bike.

Things I need to do to it:
1) Recheck the measurements. I did some fine tuning on the Trek this year for positioning. I will need to match the Faggin as close as possible so I'm comfy and not totally awkward when switching bikes...

2) Swap saddles. Currently have the San Marco Era on here...and the Aspide arrowhead on the Trek. Can't say I really like either...but 50mins of sitting on the Era and I'm sore. A new saddle could affect some positioning (like a Brooks)...but maybe it'll be worth it.

3) Decide on componentry. As you can tell from the pic...this shit is old. Which, for an indoor machine...I don't "really" care. But...if I put '07 D/A on the Trek...I can use the Ultegra 9speed on here. Could be an option.

As it is currently:


The rollers I've had for a WHILE. Unfortunately two years ago on of the belts for the resistance unit snapped and I can't seem to find a replacement. While the rollers are great for a better road feel...I would like to add some resistance to it. So I am thinking of purchasing a new trainer. Reasons:
1) Resistance settings

2) Transportability

Thinking of just picking up something under $200. Nashbar or Performance perhaps:


So thats a quick review for now. Hopefully tomorrow I can continue on the equipment and outline some goals for the winter training...

More pics

Some more pics were posted from the race I attended last weekend. Guess I was never taking pulls at the front, lol. Which was part of my plan...so long as everyone else was happy to do the work, muhahahaha.

In the Blue with white helmet


Hitting the climb

3vT Road Race

Drove up to Baltic, Conn today to take part in the Three Village Road Race. Wow...what an awesome course. Every inch of the 10 mile loop was freshly paved...with some nice undulating hills and two steeper "climbs" which suited me perfectly. Beautiful scenery, leaves changing, so inspiring. Plus, it took an hour less than expected to drive up...which ruled.

Legs felt great. Field was about 50 riders which was minimized to about 13 of us after the first climb. We stayed together until the second time up the climb and then there were about 10. I tried to position myself as best possible before the finish (at the top of a climb). Did almost everything right and I was ready to attack when we rounded the corner. Two guys went on the slightly flat section leading to the first hairpin. I chased...but I wasn't able to close the gap to 2nd up the hill. Oh well...next time! Anyway, 3rd was acceptable, hehe.

Coming across the line. Photography thanks to litte bro Paolo: