Training has started for the 'cross season. For me that means running. Right now I'm heading out with Graham in the morning (to beat the heat and let mom sleep a bit longer). We'll start to do sprint interval crap (nothing official like SPH 2.0) to push the heart rate and get the body used to the fits and starts of 'cross.
Today is definitely a "look forward" day as I despise this hot and humid weather. Night riding... cross.... cool rides... ahhh... only 3 months away!
Coming up....
SSSS?
Hot Lap! (Isaac may miss due to Carly working... but everyone else should show up and go low)
We're less than two months from the 3rd annual SPHDuathlon....!!!
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Aye Carumba!
It's July already! And we haven't started the SSSS! The SPH Super Sprint Series will most definitely have to make a come-back.
Tentatively let's put the first SSSS as Friday, July 12th. We'll line up and shoot for the first heat to head down the drag strip at 7:15 (unless Job can get out of the shop earlier... I would think it would be easier for all concerned to do it a bit earlier... maybe not... it's up for discussion).
One other thing that has been lagging... SPH Decathlon. We all thought it would be fun...
Events:
Biking:
Mountain biking
Gravel Riding
Road Riding (sprint)
Road Riding (hill climb)
Possible non-biking:
Cornhole (bean bags)
Basketball
Soccer Penalty Shot
Caber Toss
Bowling
Trail Run
Field Goal Kick
Chess
Obviously we'd have to figure out the events (and are they all in one day? a weekend? over the summer?) and how they are scored. It would be fun for everyone to be in it but we shouldn't have too many weird things just hoping that I'd do ok at them... each event should be fun/funny... what are the thoughts?
Maybe we should just focus on having fun riding our bikes... it's hard enough just to get out and do that sometimes with the schedules!
Tentatively let's put the first SSSS as Friday, July 12th. We'll line up and shoot for the first heat to head down the drag strip at 7:15 (unless Job can get out of the shop earlier... I would think it would be easier for all concerned to do it a bit earlier... maybe not... it's up for discussion).
One other thing that has been lagging... SPH Decathlon. We all thought it would be fun...
Events:
Biking:
Mountain biking
Gravel Riding
Road Riding (sprint)
Road Riding (hill climb)
Possible non-biking:
Cornhole (bean bags)
Basketball
Soccer Penalty Shot
Caber Toss
Bowling
Trail Run
Field Goal Kick
Chess
Obviously we'd have to figure out the events (and are they all in one day? a weekend? over the summer?) and how they are scored. It would be fun for everyone to be in it but we shouldn't have too many weird things just hoping that I'd do ok at them... each event should be fun/funny... what are the thoughts?
Maybe we should just focus on having fun riding our bikes... it's hard enough just to get out and do that sometimes with the schedules!
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Hot Laps and Cool Chaindrives
First off... it's been a couple of weeks since I've updated the Hot Lap listing... they haven't been overly eventful though, so it's no big thing...
Two weeks ago:
Jake dominated but I didn't record his time. He may recall, but I think he chopped 3 minutes or so off of his time. Job was doing fine until he popped his chain on Southern Cross. No time for him, PLUS a really sweet walk back to the parking lot (good thing he sometime carries a spare bike - note that maybe that was some foreshadowing). Isaac pulled in the rear with about a 43 minute time. No excuses for the almost 3.5 minute slow down. Jake would win the then mythical trophy.
Yesterday:
It was another small crew (only Job and Isaac as the SPH representatives for the hot one) and after all was said and done Isaac and Gus were the only finishers of the full lap (Job crashed yet again, and Brian C split off of the main loop). Isaac's time was 41 minutes and 3 seconds. So even though it wasn't really HOT... it was the hottest of those present. Luckily for him this was the first week of the traveling trophy being awarded. And it is sweet.
Now... on to bigger and better things (I know... tough to beat a lap around the local loop). Marcus, Larry, and I headed up to the U.P. to tackle what has become somewhat of a favorite race for some of the SPH crew.... Chaindrive (or The Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival).
What attracts us to this race? It's far but not TOO far away. The singletrack has awesome fast flowy bits, and choppy gross slow bits. Some ski trail. Some ATV trail. A freaking stream crossing (it's pretty wide actually)! The somewhat casual atmosphere also contributes to the general good time.
My gear choices for the ride (more for my sake next year than anything else):
- 32 x 20 (ok gearing if I don't have tons of miles on the legs, SUPER spun out at the beginning so if you're looking for a fast time, this isn't he gear to use)
- two big water bottles with Skratch Labs
- maybe 60 oz of water in my new Camelbak (I may need to do a write up of this... I LOVED racing with this pack... very much UNLIKE my other camelbak experiences)
Some highlights from the race:
- pretty much all of the singletrack was enjoyable... my guess is that Drunken Sailor may not be everyone's cup of tea, but most of the rest of the singletrack was pretty flowy and fast enough
- creek crossing - yet again I flubbed it up (twice this time) but it's refreshing walkin gthrough the cold water too
- not cramping at all
IF you can get up there for it... do this race. Or just get to the Keweenaw to ride. Lots of trails in Copper Harbor, at Tech, in Calumet, etc.
Two weeks ago:
Jake dominated but I didn't record his time. He may recall, but I think he chopped 3 minutes or so off of his time. Job was doing fine until he popped his chain on Southern Cross. No time for him, PLUS a really sweet walk back to the parking lot (good thing he sometime carries a spare bike - note that maybe that was some foreshadowing). Isaac pulled in the rear with about a 43 minute time. No excuses for the almost 3.5 minute slow down. Jake would win the then mythical trophy.
Yesterday:
It was another small crew (only Job and Isaac as the SPH representatives for the hot one) and after all was said and done Isaac and Gus were the only finishers of the full lap (Job crashed yet again, and Brian C split off of the main loop). Isaac's time was 41 minutes and 3 seconds. So even though it wasn't really HOT... it was the hottest of those present. Luckily for him this was the first week of the traveling trophy being awarded. And it is sweet.
Now... on to bigger and better things (I know... tough to beat a lap around the local loop). Marcus, Larry, and I headed up to the U.P. to tackle what has become somewhat of a favorite race for some of the SPH crew.... Chaindrive (or The Keweenaw Chain Drive Festival).
What attracts us to this race? It's far but not TOO far away. The singletrack has awesome fast flowy bits, and choppy gross slow bits. Some ski trail. Some ATV trail. A freaking stream crossing (it's pretty wide actually)! The somewhat casual atmosphere also contributes to the general good time.
My gear choices for the ride (more for my sake next year than anything else):
- 32 x 20 (ok gearing if I don't have tons of miles on the legs, SUPER spun out at the beginning so if you're looking for a fast time, this isn't he gear to use)
- two big water bottles with Skratch Labs
- maybe 60 oz of water in my new Camelbak (I may need to do a write up of this... I LOVED racing with this pack... very much UNLIKE my other camelbak experiences)
Some highlights from the race:
- pretty much all of the singletrack was enjoyable... my guess is that Drunken Sailor may not be everyone's cup of tea, but most of the rest of the singletrack was pretty flowy and fast enough
- creek crossing - yet again I flubbed it up (twice this time) but it's refreshing walkin gthrough the cold water too
- not cramping at all
IF you can get up there for it... do this race. Or just get to the Keweenaw to ride. Lots of trails in Copper Harbor, at Tech, in Calumet, etc.
yes... my awesome SS gear has us almost getting passed by the medical crew
Sunday, June 9, 2013
HOT LAPS! GET YOUR HOT LAPS!
So... the first recorded (officially) SPHHLOM (SPH Hot Lap of Memorial) happened last Thursday. Either everyone hit a time warp or the trails were just super fast!
Results:
1) Marcus (30:34.7)
2) Jake (34:29.9)
3) Job (36.52.3)
4) Isaac (39.06.9)
5) Larry (39.54.4)
While everyone won't be able to make every hot lap (and those that missed out on this one are welcome to come to the next Thursday ride) we'll try and keep a tally of everyone's time.
Some general rules:
1) You don't have to be SPH to partake in the hot lap, but you do have to be SPH to win the traveling trophy.
2) We will have a traveling trophy. We'll try and change up the format some so everyone has a chance of winning it (but we won't make it a participation medal either!). We'll need a 5er wrench each Thursday as well to pass the trophy around (assuming someone else gets it).
3) You have to either use an SS once over the summer, or just promise not to shift. We've relented from almost all of our original rules for admission into SPH, but we need some connection to our past.
4) HAVE FUN!
Results:
1) Marcus (30:34.7)
2) Jake (34:29.9)
3) Job (36.52.3)
4) Isaac (39.06.9)
5) Larry (39.54.4)
While everyone won't be able to make every hot lap (and those that missed out on this one are welcome to come to the next Thursday ride) we'll try and keep a tally of everyone's time.
Some general rules:
1) You don't have to be SPH to partake in the hot lap, but you do have to be SPH to win the traveling trophy.
2) We will have a traveling trophy. We'll try and change up the format some so everyone has a chance of winning it (but we won't make it a participation medal either!). We'll need a 5er wrench each Thursday as well to pass the trophy around (assuming someone else gets it).
3) You have to either use an SS once over the summer, or just promise not to shift. We've relented from almost all of our original rules for admission into SPH, but we need some connection to our past.
4) HAVE FUN!
Monday, April 22, 2013
This weather is sorta lame....
more snow.... and more snow.... and more snow... and more snow...
On the plus side of things it should be about 70 degrees this weekend!
On the plus side of things it should be about 70 degrees this weekend!
Monday, February 18, 2013
The Low Down
Hello campers! Last pre-kit order post... things are going to be in motion.
After the whole team placed their "order" it looks like we actually are just short of Champion's minimums. To order tops or bottoms you need at least 10 of a "style" (ie ten short sleeve jerseys, 10 bibs, etc) before being able to get ones and twos of the other things. Podiumwear has minimums of 5 (though they don't have tri stuff or the bib knickers etc.) so we're going to go with them. Job has indicated that he will be placing Wheelhouse's order shortly for their kit so if you want some tights, tri-suits, etc. let me know ASAP.
Some plusses to going with Podiumwear:
I'll keep people updated and hopefully within a week or two we'll have a proof to look at and approve.
Now, onto other matters...
After the whole team placed their "order" it looks like we actually are just short of Champion's minimums. To order tops or bottoms you need at least 10 of a "style" (ie ten short sleeve jerseys, 10 bibs, etc) before being able to get ones and twos of the other things. Podiumwear has minimums of 5 (though they don't have tri stuff or the bib knickers etc.) so we're going to go with them. Job has indicated that he will be placing Wheelhouse's order shortly for their kit so if you want some tights, tri-suits, etc. let me know ASAP.
Some plusses to going with Podiumwear:
- They are local. They do the design, the fab, everything local.
- Their re-order policy is awesome. There is no minimums for re-orders. If you crash and need new shorts you can just order them. We don't need to get 10 pieces to make a minimum.
- Their timeline seems shorter than Champion.
- They have gotten back to me super quickly every time I asked them a question.
- If we don't like the stuff we can go and TP their facility.
I'll keep people updated and hopefully within a week or two we'll have a proof to look at and approve.
Now, onto other matters...
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
We have our wiener!
In a landslide (ok ... It was pretty much a wash....) the Checkers win! In the next week or so I am going to get the process going. I'm teetering between Champion and Podiumwear. One question .... Will people want to order something other than bibs and jerseys? Post up!
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