Cookie MonsterOk, maybe not everything else, but instead of making separate posts I thought I would just put all that is going on in my head currently in one post and try to keep it organized.

First lets talk about bike efficiency. I remember when I first test rode the CAAD10 how it really wanted to propel you, especially up hills. My test ride started off at the bottom of a hill, a small 5 minute climb if you will, when I got to the top I was so impressed with how it felt, I turned around and went back down only to go up again. I had never been on the hill before and I just wanted to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. It wasn’t. I got it on flat ground in an aero position and it just wanted to go. It just seemed like there was no lost power with this bike, it was very efficient, everything I put into the pedals made it to the pavement. After it’s purchase I didn’t get too many rides outside before the cold and winter came forcing me inside on to the KICKR. Now that I’m back out on the road I am still amazed at how much more efficient my new CAAD10 is. I’m riding a bigger gear now (52/36 vs 50/34), don’t even use all of the cassette except on the nastiest of climbs, and while I’m not faster on the climbs I’m finding I can ride them “easier” if that makes sense. Bigger gear, lower HR and lower perceived exertion. Sure the C’dale is lighter by a few pounds and I may be a little more fit than last year but I feel the biggest difference is going from a do everything entry level jack of all trades, master of none style bike to an upper-mid level race bike. The CAAD10 just wants to go fast and propels you up those hills.

Phil Gaimon… just finished listening to his podcast, “The Peloton Brief Podcast: Real Talent with Phil Gaimon” and it’s a great listen. He interviews other athletes and friends and tries to understand and convey to the listeners what makes them tick. Plus there are a lot of good stories thrown in there which make for an interesting show. I also just bought his book yesterday “Pro Cycling on $10 a Day” and started to read that last night as well. It’s a very easy read as he uses no ghost writer and it’s all his words, and again lots of great cycling stories and an inside look at becoming a pro cyclist. Oh and in case you don’t know who Phil Gaimon is, he is professional cyclist riding for Cannondale and he likes cookies.

While I like doing my charity rides and organized events I’ve been toying with the idea of entering a race or two. I have no delusions of grandeur and figure I’ll get dropped off the back of the Cat 5 races but it might be something fun to do, just to say I did it. Who knows maybe I’ll want to do more. Doesn’t seem like there are many opportunities in my area less than an hour a way for the rest of the year so I may have to put this on my bucket list for next year. It does seem like a daunting process, find an event, get a license, do I need to be a member of a club? can I wear logo’d kit if I’m not sponsored? sigh

Group rides… I didn’t renew my membership with my local cycling club this year and maybe it’s me but I really don’t enjoy group rides, or maybe I haven’t been on any good ones. It was always a no drop ride so they always seemed to regroup at every turn and then have ridiculously long lunch stops so by the time you get going again all your muscles have tightened up and you need to warm up again. It was a social club, but maybe a little too social. It’s a 45 mile ride, do we need to stop for an hour for coffee and donuts halfway through? The answer to that is NO! There is another local group I may try a few rides with, they seem more in line with my needs and objectives, less stops more riding. Drop me if I suck, I have a Garmin and an iPhone, I’ll find my way back.