Project 1 Stone

Tonight I’ve been scribbling in my notebook. 2010 is a one-month old. Time to make solid commitments. Even if you don’t race with a USCF license, it’s a good drill to put things on paper (or in your computer). While cleaning out the garage today, I found The Cyclist’s Training Bible. Somehow I knew I would. Two weeks ago, I was encouraged with a blog post by Mark Allen on heart-rate training, and how going hard all the time will actually set you back. Suddenly it dawned on me: I can dial it down and not lose anything. I’ve begun mixing in very easy spins during the week. It’s the start of a year with an eye toward staying fresh. By no means have I abandoned the mountains. They remain critical in a planned build-up for late June.

• Feb. 13 – 80 for Haiti
• March 6 – Death Valley Double Century
• March 7 – San Diego Gran Fondo (Century)
• April 10 – Mulholland Challenge
• April 17 – Mt. Laguna Cycling Classic
• May 22 – San Diego Century (watch ToC on VS.)
• June 26 – Climb to Kaiser

Something else I’m going to do differently this year is hit the weight scale. If Bradley Wiggins can do it, so can I. My personal aim is to go 1 Stone lighter by Climb to Kaiser. That’s 14 pounds or 6.35 kg. About the heft of a bowling ball. Climb to Kaiser suits “angels of the mountains,” not a Clydesdale. Today, I’m the latter. I’ll never be the former. Training this year calls for more low-intensity longer rides in February and March, and hitting the gym for some swim time and a little treadmill action. I can never make my racing weight of the 1980s. But I can set a new one for the 2010s. The passage of time works in mysterious ways. Riding with guys in their 20s is humbling. Not only are they younger. They’re lighter. By virtue of being lighter, they have better strength-to-weight ratios. Add higher aerobic thresholds to the mix, and you’re dangling off their back wheel almost from the start of any climb. It’s how life goes.

While I miss the days gone by of dancing on the pedals on instant command, I’m stoked for a more relaxed approach to riding. It’s one that challenges self more than an opponent or opposing team. These days when I ride, it’s more about gratitude than any type of conquest. I’m thankful for the chance to go places. See things. Share. And never stop learning. What are your objectives for 2010? And are you doing anything differently this year as you aim for them?

Related posts:

1. Back on the trainer and thankful Here’s Chapter 3 on my March 2008 crash. It’s the closing piece of material I wrote after the ordeal. I learned much. I’m sharing to help shed light on what happens. The italicized content that follows are my observations more than a year later. Food for thought. “Rode the trainer...
2. One mountain, one objective This post originally appeared last year on my personal blog. As some may (or may not) know, I try to “peak” for a ride called Climb to Kaiser. I first did it in 1984. It took another 20 years for me to return and experience the carnage in the Sierras....
3. Official BC training program 2011 has shaped up as the year I didn’t ride any organized centuries, doubles or my nemesis, the Climb to Kaiser. Guess what? I feel no loss of accomplishment. Zero regrets here. In fact, I’d count this year to date as one of the better ones. I’m fresher in August...
4. 10 reasons to climb Palomar in rain (or snow) As a new blizzard wallops NYC today, shutting down schools and reviving the over-used term Snowpocalypse, I offer my 10 reasons to locals in SoCal to climb Palomar Mountain in the rain, or snow (if temperatures fall to freezing fast enough) tomorrow. Bike’s already dirty Bike needs to get dirty...
5. Now what? With Thanksgiving over, and Christmas, Hanukkah and yes, Kwanzaa, on the horizon, the question begs: Now what? If you’re able to ride outside, how much? If you’re resigned to an indoor trainer or rollers, how long? If you’re officially in “off-season” mode, what are you doing to maintain fitness but...

Tagged as: climb to kaiser, cycling, cycling training, moots, ultra distance cycling