Cycling Update 11/24/12

Now that the weather is getting cold and rainy, I borrowed some rollers from my coach. He believes that I couldn't learn it myself so he made sure that the other guy would help me. I really don't like to get help unless I have to. And I don't want him to touch me. The more I think about this, the more angry I become. How could he be so selfish? For one thing, he is old enough to be my father! Anyways, I practiced on the rollers. At first I just could NOT let go of holding onto something to keep me from falling. But I heard that it helps to look straight ahead (instead of at your front wheel!). So I looked straight ahead, counted to 3, too chicken to let go, then to 10, I let go....and behold, I am on the bars and cycling away! I did it for 5 min then I got bored and stopped. Needless to say that I am very happy with myself. I told my coach about it, he just said that I should be able to ride comfortably for 20 min...

Yesterday, I went to take a recovery test at the gym with another student from my coach. That kid could push 700 lbs on the leg press!! Well, he is a Cat 1/Pro cyclist. Anyway, I told my coach that I cycled on the rollers for 25 min (yep, 5 min more). Then my coach asked the kid how long it took for him to learn, he answered a long time. So you can see why I am very proud, more so because I proved my coach wrong in expecting less of me. The recovery test involved measuring the resting blood pressure, then doing 20 squats and measuring the blood pressure again to see how long it takes to recover to baseline. I took 2 min and 10 sec. Not sure if this is bad, but the kid took 45 sec to recover. One thing to note here is that 20 squats for him is probably nothing, maybe 100 squats would be the equivalent to my 20. So this test is not just a recovery test, but a combination of recovery and strength test.

This morning I did the Montrose ride. I didn't want to drive to TJ because that meant I have to ride in lots of traffic when I return. So I left from my apartment and stopped at the intersection of Sierra Madre and Huntington. I conservatively calculated that it would take me 20 min to get there. Instead it took 10 min. I was there at 8 am and the ride starts at 8. So I waited and waited. During the wait, more people came by. It looks like that spot is a popular joining section. Looking at their bikes and looking at mine, I could see a major difference, they all have these thick rimed wheels. I'm sure their bikes are thousands of dollars to match these wheels. The guys all seem to think that I am a very mediocre cyclist (without looking down). So I randomly told them about my rollers story (since I was still bathed in its glory). One guy was amazed and made sure that I was talking about rollers instead of trainers.....At 8.20, the group finally appeared and we joined in. This ride was so fun! I felt like I was playing a computer game maneuvering inside the pack. And I was hardly tired. There was one time where someone was verging to the right and I had to squeeze through the gutters, nearly crashed due to the uneven ground there. Don't ride too close to the gutters - lesson learnt. A dude said he thought they nearly lost me there and how I got out of it like a champ. Then came a part where there was some climbing, this was where I and many others lost the group :( Yet at least 5 guys told me how good I am etc etc. I think people should seriously stop saying good things about my cycling, because whether I want it to or not, it does go to my head :P At the stop, I chatted with this nice triathlon coach and we rode back together. A very fun ride, I loved it!

Breaking Benjamin - Forget it

so awesome

Training Update

I have gone to weight lifting 6 times now. After 2 times I could already see increased muscle definition on my quads! The first time I went weight lifting, I had no clue what all the equipments were. My coach showed me what to do, how to do it and how many repetitions. We first did legs, then arms, then abdominal and back. The next day my whole body was so sore! I practically fell off my bed when I tried to get up in the morning because my abs were rigid lol. Surprisingly the second time I went weight lifting, the day after I was fine. Apparently this is because my body adapts fast :)

Before I've been so stupid and thought that the best training is where I go all out and where I climb mountains. My heart rate likely averaged over 160 bpm all the time. The truth is that you need to have a strong base. I of course have no such thing. So it was odd that my body still burnt fat as the main source of energy! Now I'm supposed to train within the aerobic zone, with heart rate under 140 bpm. As well, I can't go climbing because that would defeat the purpose of muscle building. However, we went climbing up to Newcomb's ranch on the weekend. My friend seemed to know everyone even in the mountains. The others all assumed that I must be very good to ride with him. Ha! Not so! Even if I was going at 4 mph, he would have cycled alongside me. We finally reached the destination, had some food and went for the much anticipated descent. Previously when I descend, I would be on the bars, in aero position and not pedal. But this time, I was in the drops and pedaled hard, chased a car and we averaged 38 mph! It was so exhilarating and so cool!! I can't wait to do that again.

Whenever I tell people that a really good cyclist is riding with me, the first thing they ask is why is he so nice, he must want something from you. I wish I could prove them wrong....He is very nice, considerate and I feel like I could be myself around him. But I don't like him that way. I have to put a stop to this because the path he is headed would only lead to disappointment. And I can't help but feel that my cycling with him is taking advantage of him. I'm more than willing to give up cycling with him to avoid any hurt feelings. I tried to talk to him about it a couple of times, but he was always so nice and I just couldn't bring myself to say anything to hurt him. Instead I acted bad and distanced myself, and hoped that that would make him stop liking me. Ahhh I'm so lame. If he was anywhere close to an a-hole, I would have had no qualms. Sigh :(

Awolnation - Sail