New Bike Ordered

Pretty darned excited about the new bike I just ordered. I had my rider interview with the guys from Seven the other day. Talked directly with the folks making my bike...now that was a totally new experience! The amount of attention they already have paid to the minor details makes me think I'm going to be overwhelmed with the new ride. I can't wait.

This Week in Review

For the second week in a row I put in over 200 miles. I'm starting on a block of LT intervals. Legs were sore and slow prior to this weekends 7 hours on the bike. Yesterday hurt. The husband and I started hungry, not planning well for a ride with friends. The previous day was 4 hours + work which also left me feeling pretty whipped. Without a lot of good choices in Xenia, OH it was either McD's or nothing. I choose nothing. 1 package of clif blocks between the two of us, 50 miles, 3 hours = one hungry couple. Anyhow, it was great to ride with our fav. couple friends, the Bellante's and the Noble's...as well as some new buds from the Biowheels crew.

This week will be a busy one with Ladies Nite at the shop hosted by yours truly, a fitting for my Seven Mudhoney Cyclocross bike!!!!, and possibly my first race of the season. Phew. Looks like I'll be doing a 12 hour MTB race solo so the training begins now.

New Sponsor

I'm proud to announce my new cyclocross sponsor, Seven Cycles! More info to follow but I'm thrilled.

Cycling & stuff

Long weekend for the hubby & I. 3:15 on saturday and 1:45 today. Doesn't sound too bad until you add in my 3 hr. monday, 1.5 1.5 weds., 1.5 thurs, .5 hr. run friday. Phew, I was pooped. Saturday night James & I were happy to catch the Michael Franti/Spearhead show. We were cramming a lot of training into this weekend since we are headed out to Denver thursday and are opting to rent rather than pack up our bikes. We can't wait to meet our baby nieces/nephews!

Peace til later, Bridge

Team Kit

Our new team kits are at Verge being fabricated. My super awesome hubby (aka Road Rash Billiter) designed the new kits. He will be joining our team this year and he is excited about trying some road racing and doing a whole lot of cyclocross races. We are all getting free new Madones 5.2 Pros*, with Sram Red, and Aeolus Wheels.

*(No, I'm just joking but a girl can dream.)

Get your CX Fix

Great video of 09 CX world champs here. I felt the Velo News article on the race did not give credit to Katie Compton where credit was due. She was the strongest woman that day. She held an awesome early gap and then did the most work of the 3 woman break away. I have no doubt she WILL be world champ someday.

Improve upon it

Last years results = Motivation to do better. (Click on image to enlarge...if you are really interested).

No Comment

Seven Cycles Gateway program

Five choices. Truly beautiful bikes. Check it out here.

single speed project

I'm working on a SS project. I have purchased a 08' Fisher Paragon and am swapping out a few selected parts. Mostly a stem and bar. I'm not sure that I'd want to do much to it beyond that.

I sure am excited, it will be nice to have a back-up bike and I love the zen of the SS.*

Photo "borrowed" from Twenty Nine Inches

New Kicks

I couldn't resist this super deals I found on the site backcountry.com. I got two pairs of super nice trail running shoes for $108. No shipping costs either. Awesome. I'll post my reviews of them soon here.

On a side note, I had to ride my trainer for the 2nd night in a row. I decide there are a few things l'd rather do (here they are in no particular order):
a) get a root canal
b) take a cold shower in the winter
c) have to watch rachel ray or kelly ripa for more than 5 minutes
d) ride a recumbent - okay, NOT!

What Lance has been up to

Lance looking mighty fit. (Might want to turn the volume down on the video, the music is awful!) Couldn't anyone tell him that his HRM strap is all jacked up in the back?

Can't wait to see what happens in July.

If life deals you lemons

Landis offers another of his philosophies, one that comes courtesy of comedy writer Jack Handey. "If life deals you lemons," Landis quotes, "why not go kill someone with the lemons, maybe by shoving them down his throat."

This one is good too:

"There's only one rule: The guy who trains the hardest, the most, wins. Period. Because you won't die. Even though you feel like you'll die, you don't actually die. Like when you're training, you can always do one more. Always. As tired as you might think you are, you can always, always do one more."

From an article in Outside Magazine, July 2006

Quotes that sum up my state of mind lately.

Stupid Motivation

I started off todays ride in the rain. It was pretty warm out there and I felt pretty comfortable in spring/fall like attire. The ride started off pretty nice. It was raining but the temps were in the 50s-60s so I was feeling pretty good. I was actually feeling a little warm. Then about a half-hour into the ride my shorts, knee warmers, gloves, & shoe covers were soaked. Then it got about 5-10 degrees cooler. I wasn't the only cyclist with stupid motivation out there; I passed a dozen or so others. I turned back early after I realized my thighs were a bright shade of pink. My hands & feet were completely numb by the time I got home. Phew, I got home just in time.

Temps are supposed to be in the 20s this week. I am actually looking forward to it so I can hit the MTB trails. It has been a while since the Superfly has seen some action. Speaking of the Superfly, she is looking into some new crank bros quick releases.

In other news, the hubby is working on our new team kits. Stay tuned for their reveal.

Every gram counts

Inspired by a documentary about the cyclist from Texas who need not be named...I have been thinking about some goodies to lighten up the superfly. Sure, at 23 lbs. she is mighty light but I believe with some research and careful selection of weight loss vs. coin I think I can get her down below 22 lbs.

In addition to the weight of the bike I'll be watching what I eat. Not starving myself but thinking carefully about what I SHOULD be eating. Drinking season, both in regards to fatty Starbucks beverages and adult beverages is now over.

Madone Flavor of the Day

Part two. Isn't she pretty?

Madone Flavor of the Day

Here is my most recent creation.

Christmas

Dear Santa,

Please bring me this.

What Bridget has been up to

Here is what I have been up too:

1) Looking for jobs in Graphic Design that do not exist right now. Trying to decide between going back to school or sticking it out. Starting a freelance gig on monday.

2) Running. A lot. Trail running is fun. I love to be able to just throw on some clothes and go. Still in love with my Montrail /Continental Divide™ GTX/ running shoes. Wish I could afford a new pair now as I have put a lot of miles on my current pair. No other shoe I have ever tried has kept my feet completely dry in the slush and snow. Man, I wish they made a cyclocross shoe.

3) Perfecting the chocolate chip cookie.

4) Reading the Omnivore's Dilemma. Certainly a good read for those interested in nutrition, farming, slow food, etc.

5) Dreaming of a Seven Cycles cyclocross frame. Dreaming of dry mountain bike trails and those warm summer days.

Coach + Power Meter = Faster

Here is a great excerpt from a VeloNews article (I couldn't agree more!):

Having a coach helps: This is another no-brainer, but it was all new to me. The obvious benefit is the guidance of someone smarter than you — and I expected that. But the unexpected part was the motivation that came from the relationship. Even if your mom, dad, wife, kids, friends and dog don’t give a bleep about how you did in the Wednesday night office park crit, your coach will. This may sound corny, but it really meant something to me. We all need fans.

Power meters also really help: I know they’re a serious investment, especially when you’d rather get a new pair of Zipps — or just spend your money on something besides bike shit. But denying their usefulness is like longing for the days when phones had cords. Used properly, power meters can help maximize training time, provide data that a coach can use to design future workouts, and give you a very specific indication of what you’re doing on the bike. Ten years from now, they’ll be as common as water bottle cages.

Both investments have been great for me. If anyone needs a great coach shoot me an email (male athletes only! :0))