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A victim of my own success

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

I’ve always tried to be open with my thoughts here on Low Cadence. That’s what this site is — “Thoughts of a cyclist.” So, I am going to lay out what I’m thinking right now and hopefully my motives won’t be judged too harshly.

Going into this season (which has hardly even started) I envisioned how the year would go. I would have a good Spring Series and come out of it with a few points toward an upgrade to Category 3. There was reason to believe that by the end of the season there would be points enough to complete the upgrade.

Moving up to Category 3 was simply not in my goals. If I thought about it at all it was something like, “Yeah, I’ll get my goals this year and then retire at the end with an upgrade.” Once I got there I would become a sacrificial lamb for my 35+ Masters teammates. Mostly, I just didn’t think about it.

Here is how it works. You get points for each race in which you place. These races are divided into two types: Road Races and Criterium/Circuit Races. The races in which you compete must meet minimum distance standards. The amount of points you get is also determined by the size of the field participating.

The points you earn from placing in these races are compiled by USA Cycling. For a guy, to upgrade from Category 4 to 3 he must have 20 points within a 12 month period. He submits his resume to the regional officials and they decide whether to issue the upgrade. There are some other options for upgrading that are a little more complicated.

However, the upgrade guideline that got my attention was, “30 points in 12 months is an automatic upgrade.” If I’ve calculated correctly, I’m sitting on 28 points. Two more points and I’ll be at 30 points.

People assume you are all set to upgrade when you get the chance. I’ve heard, “Good, now you can upgrade to 3 and join us in the 35+ Masters.” “Welcome to the 3’s!” “Guess you’ll be moving on up now.”

Whoah! I’m not ready for that! Mentally, I have my season planned out and I have goals that as a Category 4 racer I just MIGHT accomplish. As a Category 3 racer… those goals become very slim. Upgrading now would cause me to reassess all of my goals for the year.

I simply did not expect to be at this level this soon in the season! Plus, I am learning a lot. I’m now at a point where I am actually competitive in the 4’s. Rather than just trying to survive, I’m learning to race. With only six races at this level, I don’t think I’ve come close to learning all I would like to learn.

I asked my coach about it and he said, “It’s up to you unless you reach 30 points, then an official may (I stress ‘may’) push you up automatically.” He then went on to say that we would discuss this further. Wonder what that discussion will be about?

Steve Sperry keeps telling me it is time to move up from high school to college. Yeah, I remember that transition! It was quite the change. He goes on to say that the day would then come when it would be time for me to move from college to grad school — meaning Category 2.

I appreciate the confidence — though sometimes I think he is just teasing me. Watching those guys fly around in the 1/2’s makes me feel like I am in kindergarten! Me? I’ll be Peter Pan. I don’t want to grow up — not yet. What would you do?

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Get behind the Furman cycling team

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Here we are in the midst of the college basketball season. It’s not going to well for me. I’ve been a Tar Heel fan for as long as I can remember. I used to have Woody Durham calling the game over the radio while I would shoot baskets out in the driveway. This year, I think the team should be shooting more baskets in my driveway! They could use the practice!

However, this post isn’t about basketball — though it is related to college sports. Did you know that there is a collegiate cycling race team here in Greenville? Yep, the Furman University Cycling Team rides in purple and white during the collegiate cycling season.

I asked Spencer “Piglet” Beamer about the team and learned a lot about some students who have a desire to race their bikes — enough of a desire to start the team with very little support. They have enjoyed some success and if things hold together this year, I’m betting they’ll have some more in 2010.

They have already gotten off to a great start with Chris Butler and Jimmy Mitchel leading the way for the team. Click here to read in Velonews.com a recent report of their exploits. These guys are doing a good deed for Furman… but also the Greenville cycling community. Let’s get behind them.

LowCadence: Who are the members on the team this year?

Spencer Beamer: There are six full-time riders and about 10 more students who are active members. The six  full-time riders are Chris Butler, Spencer Beamer, Andy Baker, Jimmy Mitchell, Craig Mckinney, and Megan Lordi.

LC: Do you guys get any type of scholarships for representing the school?

SB: We get NO scholarships for representing the school. We do get a small amount of money from the club sports department but it is not even close to the amount of money needed to fund a team.

LC: So, you are not considered an official sports team of Furman athletics?

SB: We are a student-run club. This basically means that the club members do all grunt work and the majority of the money we have is from fund raising and sponsorship. We have tried to obtain varsity status but don’t have enough support within the school to make this happen. There isn’t a really great example of another club like ours because we are so much better than the other club sports at Furman (most just do the sport for fun and aren’t competitive), but the Furman Rugby team would be the most similar club to the cycling team.

LC: Do you get any support from the school?

SB: We get minimal monetary support from Furman. Owen McFadden runs the clubs sports department and he has been a tremendous help to us and has done everything in his power to help us. We have to pay our own way to the races, pay the entry fees, pay the hotel fees, and basically pay for all expenses that a normal race weekend would incur. The problem with this is that we are students with no money and no jobs, which makes affording these expenses quite difficult.

LC: When you are operational, do you get any publicity or promotion from the University?

BC: We get tons of publicity for Furman. The first year at Nationals every other cyclist asked at least once, “Who are you guys and where are you from?” We were on the front of GO Magazine this past May and have been in our own local and state newspapers.

LC: Do you guys see yourselves as the beginning of something bigger or is this an opportunity you see for now to enjoy the sport?

SB: I personally want this to be the start of something much bigger and I believe that the other members of the team want this as well. My dream is actually to come back to Furman in 20 years and be greeted by the Varsity Furman Cycling Team. I want to leave my mark on Furman and the Greenville cycling community.

Greenville is a growing hotbed for cycling. The Furman University Cycling Team certainly adds to that sense of connection between the community and cycling. These guys aren’t half-bad either! Just put the 3B’s together (Butler, Beamer, and Baker) and that is a formidable team in and of itself.

So, consider that these guys are going out riding and representing not only Furman University, but the Greenville community as well. If you have the means, why not consider sponsoring the team? You can contact Spencer at spencer.beamer@furman.edu or call him at (865) 705-3527. Can’t sponsor? Get a hold of Spencer and learn how you can donate to the club.

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Upstate riders show your hospitality

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

The following was submitted in the comment section of today’s article. Yaniel is a regular reader and he’ll be up the road in Charlotte in July. He’d like to join some of our local rides. Can we give him some invitations here?

I’m planning on spending a couple of weeks with my sisters who live in Charlotte NC around July. Do you know how accepting the local groups are to outsiders/visitors and do they have daily group rides? I’d like to do 5 or 6 rides a week while there and try to make it out to your area also for some climbing which is something I’ve never experience being from Miami.

Please point your ride leaders here to this article at LowCadence.com and give Yaniel some information of rides he should enjoy while he is around. I know we have a great community here, let’s have him experience a good slice of it. The comment section is now open!

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Posted in Events, Life | 2 Comments »

When you do not want to be on a bike

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

I’m sitting in bed as I type this. Last night I woke up with a very bad feeling in my stomach and slept fitfully. Things kind of went downhill from there, and (how shall I say this…) I can’t go too far from the mother ship right now.

Not sure what it is. I did eat in two restaurants yesterday. It could simply be that I ate too much rich food and it is coming back to haunt me. Actually, that is what I thought at first.

Now, I’m wondering if perhaps I have a touch of the Norovirus. I say a touch because things don’t seem quite THAT bad. On the other hand, the “shared surfaces” at the pizza joint last night sure could have been breeding grounds!

The good news is that at its worse, it is the virus. At best it is “just something I ate.” Either way it shouldn’t last more than a day. I’m hoping I can be back at it for tomorrow’s workout. I’ve got to get ready for Saturday.

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Good luck, John

Friday, February 19th, 2010

At 9 AM my friend, John, will head into St. Francis for surgery to repair a broken collar bone. It will be his first time to go under the knife. When I talked to him yesterday, he was nervous and excited — but more just relieved that it would soon be over. Here’s to quick and solid healing to one of the guys that has most influenced me on the bike.

John James

John James awaits the 2009 SC Criterium Championshps

I first met John in the early 90s when I was in grad school. Newly married with no kids, I got me a mountain bike to ride some of the trails that existed back in those days. It was the first time riding a bike since my early childhood.

It was Mike McMillan that invited me to join the shop crew on some of the rides on Piney Mountain (yes, there used to be mountain bike trails where George Hincapie’s house is now located) and sneaking into the back of Paris Mountain State Park to ride on the fire roads. John was in the group, but I thought he was a mute. He didn’t talk much and he seemed to have one expression on his face all the time.

After a time, I eased off of the shop rides. They were just way to fast and technical for me! I started to do more riding by myself as I tried to improve my handling and endurance. Of course, the headquarters for all of this was Sunshine Cycle Shop.

Then I had kids, started a business, got involved in politics, and all kinds of other stuff. It wasn’t long before the bike was gathering dust in the garage. It was actually a vintage Vespa that brought me back into the shop. Mike McMillan was trying to help me get it running.

That introduced me once again to the bicycle. However, this time it was a road bike. I found it was a bit easier to keep up with the group and that is when I started to get to know John a little better.

At first it wasn’t very positive. I thought John was a snob. Turns out, he didn’t think that much of me either. He thought I was one of those flash-in-the-pan riders that would never learn anything and just be in the way.

At first I just avoided him on rides. However, as I slowly started to get stronger, I would end up around him more and more. I also started to hang out at the shop a bit asking questions about how I could be a better rider.

It wasn’t long before I learned that first impressions — even ones that go on for awhile — can’t always be trusted. Ultimately, it was John who ended up making me believe that I could actually ride the bike quite well. He was the one that took me under his wing to explain how you are supposed to behave in a group ride — or race.

That is really one of the great things about cycling. It is an activity that gives you common ground with people across social, cultural, and personality divides. Before long you find that you are knocking down some of your preconceived notions and you discover a friend.

John will probably kill me for posting this. He doesn’t like the attention. Maybe that is why I’m enjoying doing it!

Thanks, John, for being a mentor and a friend. Get that collar bone set and get better soon. Summer is coming and I’ll miss you on the Thursday night death march!

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I sure hope this stuff works

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

All this week I have been feeling pretty lethargic.  It isn’t like I’m in a funk or anything. It is just that I have been dragging physically. This morning I woke up and I think I might know why. Seems I’m starting to get hit with a cold.

Of course, it could be that I’m just feeling like I’ve worked in a sauna all day. My office is in a large building that has a very large and open lobby. There have also been a number of reconfigurations of the office spaces and that seems to have messed up the balance of the HVAC. That means some spots can get pretty cool and in order to warm them other spots get very warm. That would describe my office!

There are times when I find my head dropping forward and I almost feel flush because of the heat. I have to escape to get myself to wake up again before diving back in to get some more work done. It gets hard to think and I get very grumpy — as some of my co-workers will attest!

Well, this morning I started to have the feeling in your head that warns you that something is on the way. My nose was running and the tickling sensation of a threatening sneeze comes and goes. It is time to go on the offensive!

Zicam - Cold RemedyFirst, I am trying to get a good night sleep. I even slept for 8 hours last night. I’ll keep trying to get as much as I can before Saturday’s race.

Second, I am keeping the old nasal passages moist. I have my nasal saline spray for that. I’ll use the netti bottle this evening.

Third, I am going to try Zicam again. I don’t know if the stuff actually works or not. Even if it is a placebo and makes me THINK I am getting better faster, I’ll take it!

Fourth, I’m going to be drinking lots of fluids. I should be doing that anyway in anticipation of the race weekend. Good hydration is not just good for a cold — it is necessary to a good performance on the bike.

Thankfully, today’s workout isn’t going to cause a lot of stress. I’m on the bike for about 2 hours spinning along at around 90 rpm with a perceived effort of 2 to 3. I definitely don’t want to wear my body down.

Then again, this could all just be my body bouncing back from Monday’s session. That one was pretty tough and in the cold. I’ve found that sometimes I get the feeling like I am about to get sick, but it never hits me. It is just my body telling me that it is recovering.

I’ll hope that is what’s happening — hoping for the best. However, I’ll do what I can to fight it like a cold — planning for the worst. Either way, I’m going to be ready for Saturday!

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My Valentine

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

On this Valentine’s Day, it seems only right to write about my Valentine. For certain this blog — nor its subject — wouldn’t exist without her support. I love her and am thankful for the Beautiful Redhead.

Jonathan and Annette Pait

Jonathan and Annette Pait

It was my wife, Annette, who got me back on the bicycle. I remember well her question, “When are you ever going to ride your bike again.” She saw how I was sliding physically and what that meant to me mentally as well. Little did she know she was awakening a monster!

She is so supportive of my riding. She helps schedule the family so that while I am able to train, I am also able to have time with her and the children.

Annette isn’t a cyclist. While she helps me with this hobby, it certainly isn’t her own! She does not ride very often, nor does she have any interest in the sport. To me, that makes it all the more special that she allows me to devote the time and effort that I do to this season.

She is an accomplished actor, a former professor, a spiritual counselor, an ardent student of the Bible, and the mother of my children. In so many ways she is a challenge to me with her discipline and selflessness. As they say, I definitely “married up!”

She is also my cheerleader. She may not be a cycling fan, but she is my fan. Even if she doesn’t understand all the nuances of race tactics, she does know how much I want to do well. So, she is there encourage me when I don’t meet my expectations and there to yell as I cross the line with success.

Yes, there are definitely times when I have guilt. This season the training has taken more time than ever. This has added more to the burden that she holds in the family. It is one of the reasons why I know that this type of effort cannot be continued in the future.

This is my experiment and my one opportunity to see a significant jump in my performance. However, success in this effort is not the greatest priority in life. I don’t live for the bike — I bike to live better. Once again, success comes down to a matter of balance. I am so thankful for the Beautiful Redhead for helping me maintain that balance during this period.

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Trust the plan

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

As the new season comes upon us (the Greenville Spring Series is only a bit more than a week away), I find myself encouraged with where I am.  Sure, race day performance will really tell the tale, but at least I’m excited with the possibilities. There is one thing to which I have to attribute this new confidence.

Coaching.

There is no way I would be at the fitness I am without the employment of a coach. It isn’t that I have learned something earth shattering. I could most likely have found a training plan online, learned more about the TrainingPeaks software, and gained the knowledge to see progression. It still wouldn’t have made the difference that I am seeing now.

Why? Accountability. All of that stuff has no human interaction. How many times have I climbed on that trainer and completed my drill when I would have rather been somewhere else? How often when in a drill did I feel like cutting a corner here or there to avoid the pain? The powermeter doesn’t lie. I knew my coach was going to see the data and he would know I wasn’t giving my best.

Encouragement. I’m not saying my coach is a slave driver. There have been times when he has sensed a struggle and has adjusted my training to help me over the hump. More than that he has simply been a cheerleader to keep me “trusting in the plan.” When I’m lost in the data, he comes along to explain it in ways that keeps me seeking to improve it. When recently I struggled with team dynamics and frustration with my lack of riding skills, he came along side to teach proper tactics and pull me out of the funk.

Experience. It is one thing to have knowledge. I’m learning quite a bit about the science and equations of training with power. Sometimes I can anticipate what my coach is going to say as he assesses my power data. However, it has been said that wisdom is knowledge with experience. My coach has been there and done that. How does all that information translate into real life? Coach knows.

I’m sure that if you have a coach you think I’m describing yours! These points are not exclusive to just mine. Where ever you are, if you want to move your game up several levels, I encourage you to consider a coach. If you are in the Upstate then you’ve got to consider Jim Cunningham at the Greenville Cycling Center. Even if you aren’t in Greenville, he can coach you — whether you are a beginner or a professional.

Was this a commercial? I’m sure it comes across that way, but it is a sincere testimonial. I was skeptical as I entered the relationship. I knew having a coach could help, but I figured I could probably do nearly as well on my own. Looking back over the last three months, I realize now how naive I was. Wow! Has it only been three months? How much farther can I go in nine more? Jim has me believing! All I have to do is “trust the plan.”

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Posted in Bicycles, Life, Review, Training | 1 Comment »

Happy Birthday to me — I hope

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

This is for my wife. She asked me last night what I wanted for my birthday. So, I went back to my Christmas list and then added a couple things.

Here you go, Beautiful Redhead…

pgnc1-2331845t300x300I’m really in need of some more Cytomax. I’ve been using Heed for awhile and it is fine, but I like the taste of the Cytomax better. Race season is nearly upon me (as a matter of fact, it starts before my birthday!) and I know I’m going to need to be properly fueled.

matltodextrinWhile you are at it, I’ll take some maltodextrin. This is the complex carb I mix with the Cytomax to make my “meal bottles.” You can find both of these at Performance Fuel over on Orchard Park, or you can order it online. Oh, and make it a BIG bottle. My body thanks you!

I realize that some people don’t like getting money as a gift — or even a gift card. However, it will soon be time to build up my black TCR Advanced. The parts should arrive at any time, but I’m certain there is going to be something I have overlooked. It would be pretty nice to have a gift card from Sunshine Cycle Shop in that card beside my birthday cake.

Here is something for me that might be good for you! You know how I sweat like a horse. How about ordering me some of these? Action Wipes are bigger than those little baby towels. This way I can get myself cleaned up a bit before I get home. However, I still like those baby wipes for the bike. There most be some chemical in them that just cuts right through the chain crud.  You can get me a BIG package of those as well.

Okay, but here is the biggie… my birthday is February 21. I know that is typically the time when we would celebrate at your parents’ place. However, there is the 2010 Greenville Spring Training Series races that weekend and it will be the first race at the BMW Performance Test Track for the year. I know you can’t give me a win for my birthday, but it sure would be nice if I we could celebrate the birthday another time and I could give it a try for a win as my present to myself.

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Posted in Events, Life | 4 Comments »

Make sure your head is in it

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

So much of cycling is mental. You can work and work on the physical aspects of the sport, but you’ll never get all you can out of your ride unless your mind is in it. This is definitely true in racing, but the law extends to training as well.

It is amazing how when your mind is in gear, you can do things that you didn’t realize you could. For instance, I struggled for a couple of years trying to break a 12 minute ride up Paris Mountain. Finally, I nudged below it. Then with some mental encouragement from friends, I smashed the 12 minute mark by nearly 30 seconds. Physically, I was pretty much the same. Mentally I was given reason to believe.

It works the opposite way as well. That is what happened to me yesterday during one of my proscribed workouts. I’m waiting for the feedback from my coach and I bet he is thinking, “Where was his brain?”

I got started off on the wrong foot because I was rushing to get on the bike so I could have enough daylight to finish the session. The start time was just a few minutes past my target, so I was feeling a little better. Then once on the road I realized I had not confirmed that the Garmin Edge 500 had picked up my Quarq CinQo powermeter. Sure enough, I wasn’t reading any watts.

That problem solved I headed out into the park to do my 20 minute warm-up. As I was moving along I started to argue with myself what I was supposed to be doing during this portion of the workout.  I knew it was supposed to be something other than just spinning along, but I couldn’t remember. I should have just stopped and checked my handy dandy TrainingPeaks iPhone app, but I was still driven to get to the meat of the workout and beat the dusk.

TrainingPeaks iPhone application

TrainingPeaks iPhone application

So, I missed the 5 minute at 100% FTP portion of the warm-up. However, I did make it to the base of Piney Mountain Road. The good news is that it appeared that I would have plenty of light to get in this portion. I stopped to make sure I was aware of what I was supposed to do: 7 X 90 – 60 seconds seated at 350+ watts and then 30 seconds standing at 500+ watts. This was to be done on a 6% – 10% grade. Welcome to Piney Mountain Road.

Piney Mountain Road

Piney Mountain Road

The first three went off without a hitch. As a matter of fact, I was feeling really good. Then the phone rang. I stopped to check the message and returned the call. Ten minutes later, I was back at the workout. Now I was quickly losing daylight and my fingers were getting cold as the temperature dropped.

That fourth attempt felt completely different. My mind was reminding me of my mess up in the beginning and berating me for answering the phone instead of staying on task. Attempts 4 – 6 were solid, but not with the same feeling.

The seventh attempt started out okay. I had myself psyched up for the final push. Even the 60 second portion progressed well. However, in the back of my mind I was thinking that the final 30 were really going to hurt!

I shifted down and tried to register over 500 watts on my computer. The returning home from work traffic was starting to pick up and cars were zipping by me inches to my left. Then my legs just quit. I started to swerve as I willed my legs to pull and push the pedals around. Zip! Zip! went a couple of cars. Then I lost my nerve. I sat and the session was over.

Gasping for oxygen, I then tried to move into the next portion of the ride — 20 minutes at 245 – 265 watts. Of course, light was starting to fade and I knew I could not go too far from home. That meant more traffic and traffic lights. With each rush of traffic and stop at a light, my mind drifted further and further out of focus. Even though I worked pretty hard, I still only ended up with a 212 average for that 20 minutes.

Finally, I arrived at home in the dark. I was supposed to do another 10 to 15 minutes easy spinning. However, as I pulled into the driveway, I saw my family sitting at the dinner table in the warm light. Forget the spin. I’d just stretch and then go join them.

Later, I went out to get my bike and looked at my computer. I had forgotten to stop the timer when I got home! Yep, I think I’ll just chalk that one up as “just one of those days” — one of those days when my mind just wasn’t in it.

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Posted in Life, Training | 2 Comments »

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