Joe’s Blog!

I haven’t done a cycling related post in quite some time, so here it goes.

The racing season is just a month or so away and I couldn’t be less prepared. That’s the way it feels anyway. My winter training has been much, much different than in the past. The last two winters I haven’t done crap, and then was pretty much M.I.A. when the bulk of the racing starts. Mostly because of work and life and any excuse I can come up with to not ride my bike indoors. The trainer sucks ass. Late last season I downgraded to the 3s in hopes that I will be able to race again and by race I mean finish races. A two year hiatus does not help a whole lot if you are racing in the 1/2s. Prior to the last couple years I would spend big number of hours on the bike (15 to 25) and a couple hours a week in the weight room. This winter I have rode very little probably 3 to 5 hours a week, pretty minuscule. But on the other hand I have been hitting the gym a lot more than I ever have. I have certainly gotten physically stronger, arguably as strong as I have ever been, but without a doubt I am bit heavier and laking endurance. I have no idea if this training plan will work so I am a bit of a guinea pig for myself. I suppose we will see how things go at Froze Toes, hopefully my younger brother doesn’t hurt me too bad. Once things get warmer I will head outside and get a few miles in. Hopefully my lift when its cold, ride when its warm training plan will at least keep me racing through August.

Check out this post at BoingBoing. NYT photos and article.

VeloNews has this press release about a North Carolina company that wants to start a grand tour in the US.

In its release, the company said it expects the race will be “the largest spectator event in the history of U.S. sports, covering approximately 4000 miles (more than 6000 km) from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.”

Organizers of the tentative 30-day, 27-stage race expect to invite “25 of the most elite cycling teams in the world and will boast a prize purse currently pegged at $11 million, the largest purse of any international cycling event.”

Sounds cool enough. They also provide a link to this “preliminary site” for the tour and mention the official site www.aqusports.com that will be “made available after Thursday’s press conference”.

Interesting to me is the route on the preliminary site. One of the stages start here in STL and ends in Carbondale, IL which is roughly 5 miles from my home town. The next day starts in Carbondale, IL and finishes in Nashville, TN.

Stage 6 – 9/12/08 Indianapolis, IN to St Louis, MO

Stage 7 – 9/13/08 St Louis, MO to Carbondale, IL

Stage 8 – 9/14/08 Carbondale, IL to Nashville, TN

Lots of racing to be seen within a just a couple of hours of STL. Dope.

Alright guys, today is Wednesday that means that tomorrow is Thursday. Which results in there being a ride from the Muny at 6pm. Show up. Ride.

You missed the Thursday night group ride, it was a joyous time.