John Rees

Quick update. I have been managing to still get in approximately 100 miles a week on the bike. There have been some weeks and weekends where the weather has made riding tough. A couple of weekends back, one of my daughters was involved with a service project to rebuild a trail at the Hemlock Bluffs park in Cary. I needed to take her there from Chapel Hill, and planned to take my bike and ride the roads around Jordan Lake. However, as luck would have it, that day came with 30 MPH winds, and I chose to run instead. I managed to run one some of Raleigh’s greenways whilst my daughter toiled with wheelbarrow and wood chips.

I also got to run on the Reedy Creek trail, which is the one that has the bridge over the Raleigh beltline. I was glad for the chainlink fence on the bridge as I might not have run across in the fierce winds fearing I’d fall off on to the cars below!

I have learned from the Chapel Hill Cycling group as well as from the Tri-Cyclists web site that the Meadowmont Criterium will no longer be held. This is truly a shame. Having been held for the last 5 years, this exciting race had become a tradition in the early racing season. The recent addition of speed bumps on some of the streets that made up the course is the reason the race can no longer be held.

Unlike a lot of flat, boring races held in parking lots, the Criterium was held on the streets of the Meadowmont community in Chapel Hill. The course was challenging and had lots of features.

The start/finish straight was on a downhill so the spectators saw the bikes speed by, nearly at maximum speed. At the end of this straight, there was sweeping downhill turn that lead onto a wide boulevard. Because of the width of the turn, some competitors could take the turn without touching the brakes. It was a test of skill and bravery. There were two significant climbs on the course as well. Some sharp right angle turns and a weaving section that connected the two climbs. Riders were challenged over the entire length of the course, and the climbs served to burn the legs, and thin out the pack for the final lap of the race. I participated in the race one year, as a beginner Cat 5 racer. I am glad I got a crack at this unique event.

I don’t know how the organizers pulled it off in the first place; Entire streets in the neighborhood would be closed to vehicles during the various classes of races, which lasted the better part of the day. But for fives years, they managed to pull it off, and the race gained a respectable reputation. It is a shame that ‘road furniture’ such as speed bumps, are even required in a neighborhood full of children, walkers and joggers, but the residents of the community must have felt they were necessary. I will miss this race, as I am sure some of my fellow cyclists will as well.

I’m getting a lot of training done right now.  I rode Saturday, Sunday and now today, for a total of 130 miles over the three days.

Today, I knew I had to do some work starting at 7PM, and it was going to take a while, so I took some time mid day and got out on the bike.  The weather was perfect; I was able to ride in shorts and short sleeves.  However, it *was* windy, and I nearly got blown off the bike a couple of times, especially heading back towards Carrboro on old NC86.  I saw a lot of other riders out there today, taking advantage of the good sunny weather.  I even came upon what appeared to be the UNC cycling team heading out on a group ride as I rode in on Cameron.  I tried a new pre-ride ‘energy food’ today.  Cocoa flavored marshmallow Peeps.  Mmmm, yummy!

In preparation for riding up Mt. Mitchell, I need to do increasingly longer rides. I also need to do more rides in groups. It’s hard sometimes to go out solo and ride for 3 hours or more on the bike. Fortunately, there are often organized rides of 60 – 100 miles in length each weekend. This Saturday, I participated in the Capitol Cycling Clubs “Ride for the Rock” a charity event to raise money for brain injury research. It was a sunny, albeit windy day, with gust in the 20’s

Approximately 100 cyclists turned up, and fortunately for me, there were plenty in my current state of fitness. The Mt. Mitchell ride is going to have a LOT more riders, and brushing up on my group riding skills is going to be important. It was especially important Saturday; the course made its way on roads around Jordan Lake. The headwinds were brutal.

When riding in a pack of cyclists, each rider takes a turn at the front of the pack, and all the other riders do their best to tuck in behind them. When the lead rider has had enough, they pull off the front and gradually drift to the back of the pack. There is no set point in how long each cyclist ‘takes a pull’ at the front. It is important not to bear the headwinds for so long they tire and then are dropped from the pack.

I was able to take several pulls in my group. And I was glad for the shelter from the wind when I would slip back into the pack for a brief rest.

Saturdays ride met all my goals I had set out. I finished the ride in 3 hours and 15 minutes, I rode in a well organized pack, and I also got to ride in some tough winds and a few challenging climbs. Now, I just need to convince my legs I need to go out again TODAY!

During the winter, cyclists need to find alternatives to training outdoors. Even if the weather is good, the days are short, and riding before the sun sets is not an option for most of us. SO we set our bikes up on a stationary trainer and suffer alone in our garage or basement. Riding this way is a dreary experience. This is where “Hour of Power” comes in to play.

Organized by the Derek Powers of the “Cats Cradle” and fearless leader of the “Doughnut Boy Racing Team, the Hour of Power turns trainer riding into a social event.

Held on nights when the Cradle doesn’t have an act booked, the training session attracts riders of all abilities and aspirations. Mondays session attracted 10 riders, including Derek, Scott Conary of the Open Eye, Adrian Carter, Tom Ricketts from UNC, Charles Fischer, some riders from the rival ‘FSC’ racing team, and – of course – me.

The format is simple. Participants arrive at the Cradle around 6:30, and set their bikes and trainers up in the dance floor, usually in a circle. Some adventurous riders, like Adrian, bring rollers. We warm up until 7PM, where Derek begins a 1 hour program of music. We ride intervals for the length of the song, followed by a 2-3 minute recovery. Our personal torture resumes when a new song is played. Since this is a music club after all, the music is loud and piped through the Cradles sound system.

The music choice is eclectic. Sometimes one of the riders brings in a CD with a personal selection. Normally, Derek chooses the music. It is not unusual for the music to include unexpected performers, such as Tom Jones. Tonight’s set list were songs from the great American composer, “Michael Jackson”

I really look forward to these training sessions. There is something about being amongst other riders that makes me work harder. I usually totally kill myself on the bike for the hour. Looking around in the room, and the large pools sweat below everyone, I can see I am not alone.

My glorious start to my training program on Sunday has been dampened a bit with the weather this week.

Monday was warm, but very windy.  Lightweight bikes with aero wheels are like sails in crosswinds.  With gusts in the high 20’s, and many of the roads I train on treeless and unprotected from the wind, I chose not to risk it.  But I’m still getting some cardio time.  The last few days I’ve been spending some quality time on the machines at O2 fitness in Chapel Hill.

But Thursday: Something different:  The Hour of Power.  Here is the deal.  A Bunch of cyclists show up at the Cats Cradle on an off night.  We set up our bikes on trainers or rollers.  Derek picks the music, and we kill ourselves on our bikes for an hour.  Usually about 10 riders show up.  It’s a bit surreal to see all those bikes in a semi circle on the floor that is usually filled with beer guzzling music fans.  I’ll bring my camera and see if anyone lets me take photos of them suffering on their self imposed torture devices.

Today, I went out on the road for 2 hours , 45 minutes, trying to get as many hills as possible in my route. My odo is broken, so no idea of average speed or distance. I need to start making 3 hour rides a regular habit, and today was a good start.

I had set this blog up a while back, but have not been able to find a ‘voice’ or a topic to write about. Other bloggers are quite good at blogging about any topic. But I wanted to keep mine narrow. The topic kind of fell into my lap this week when a co worker of mine at IBM offered me his place in the Assault on Mt. Mitchell. Due to injury and lack of training, he felt he could not do it this year.

The assault is a large bike ride, and it stretches 102 miles from Spartanburg, SC to the top of Mt. Mitchell in NC. In between, there is a cumulative climb of 11,000 feet. The summit is 6,500 feet and we will be starting at about 500 feet above sea level. This ride is all about climbing.

What my buddy Frank doesn’t know is I haven’t exactly been training myself. Sure, I run, and I have occasionally gotten out on the bike this winter, but I have some serious preparation to do so I can carry his number proudly to the top of the mountain. What do I need to do?

• I need to lose some weight. Although nobody would call me fat, my slight, 5’10” frame currently weighs in at 167 pounds. I want to lose about 10 pounds. Think it doesn’t matter? Walk up and down some stairs with a couple of 5lb bags of flour, then set them aside and do it again. I wish it was as easy as casting aside two bags of Pillsbury
• I need to get in better shape. I’ve been running, but not cycling enough. I need to get my body used to being in the saddle for hours at a time. My behind has grown soft from my hiatus from the bike. Time to get it used to the saddle again.
• When I can’t ride, I need to run. So, I’ll be either riding or running every day.
• I need to eat better. My wife will like that. She often questions the choices I make for meals. Now, she’ll have to find something else to nag me about (uh oh).

I won’t be eating these for breakfast for quite a while
Well there it is, maybe by keeping my preparations pubic, I will have a better incentive to stick to the plan.

 Just got back from helping stuff the swag bags for the North Carolina Science Blogging Conference that is taking place this weekend.  When I arrived, I was amazed at the number of boxes containing publications and swag that were in the kitchen of the Sigma Xi centre.  I was happy to see that nice, reusable canvas bags in use that came courtesy of the Museum of Life + Science in Durham.  I was glad to be of some help, and it gave an opportunity to meet some of the people who have made this conference possible.  Most importantly, Bora Zivkovic and Anton Zuiker.  This promises to be a great conference.

The second North Carolina Science Blogging Conference is taking place this weekend at the Sigma Xi center.  I am looking forward to attending and meeting, in person,  some of the great bloggers I have discovered locally.