LATEST BLOG ENTRIES
“8 Days In California”: Stage 6 recap
Yesterday I rode the 6th stage of TrainerRoad’s “8 Days in California” challenge–the tough Time Trial stage. Here’s the recap… Stage description: Time Trial! Today’s TT is short but it finishes with a tough hill climb. No KOM’s or sprints, just individual racing against the clock. Stage strategy: We’ll follow a structured team warmup and hope for a couple of high finishes due to our climber’s time trailing prowess as well as our new rider’s… [Read more]
Added Saturday, May 18, 2013 by John Stone
“8 Days In California”: Stage 5 recap
Yesterday was the 5th stage of TrainerRoad’s “8 Days in California” challenge, and my legs let me know early on that they were feeling the cumulative effects of the first 4 stages. Stage description: Stage 5 is the closest thing this tour offers in the way of an easy day. After an early, moderate climb, a flat course favors the sprinters. There are 3 intermediate sprints and only a single KOM. Stage strategy: Our goal… [Read more]
Added Friday, May 17, 2013 by John Stone
“8 Days In California”: Stage 4 recap
Yesterday was the fourth stage of the “8 Days in California” challenge, and I made another solid showing. Stage description: A shorter stage with short, punchy climbs will require shorter, more intense efforts than the preceding stages. There’s plenty of downtime between these short climbs giving riders the opportunity to recover and then really attack each of the climbs. There are a total of 2 KOM’s and 2 intermediate sprints. Stage strategy: We can play… [Read more]
Added Thursday, May 16, 2013 by John Stone
“8 Days In California”: Stage 3 recap
Yesterday I rode the third stage in the “8 Days in California” challenge, and it was a very, very good day. Stage description: Stage 3 is a barrage of shorter climbs, and each of them has it’s own unusual twist when it comes to format & intensity. There are 4 KOM’s, each coming at the end of all 4 climbs, and there are 2 intermediate sprints within the latter half of the stage. Stage strategy:… [Read more]
Added Wednesday, May 15, 2013 by John Stone
“8 Days In California”: Stage 2 recap
Yesterday I completed the second stage of the “8 Days in California” challenge, and it was even more difficult than the first stage. Stage description: Stage 2 of 8DC includes 2 major climbs. The first is long and mid-race with a long, but steady descent afterward while the second is short but steep and concludes the race; this is where we are likely to see a challenge for the GC. Stage strategy: Our plan is… [Read more]
Added Tuesday, May 14, 2013 by John Stone
“8 Days in California” has begun: overview, and Stage 1 recap
Yesterday was the first stage of TrainerRoad’s “8 Days in California” challenge. As most of you know, I’m participating in this 8-stage race simulation, and so over the next week my blogs will be focused on this event as I work my way through each of the difficult stages. The opening stage was a monster workout. Before I get into that, though, I want to talk a little about the race itself, and the cool… [Read more]
Added Monday, May 13, 2013 by John Stone
2013 maintenance weekly progress report: week #18
Week #18 of my 2013 maintenance program is complete, and it’s time for my weekly progress report. My scale weight this morning (as measured by the ) is 172.4 pounds. That’s a 0.6 pound gain since last week’s weight of 171.8 pounds, and a 2.0 pound loss from my initial 2013 weight of 174.4 pounds. My 7-point body fat reading this morning (as measured by the is 6.1%. That’s a +0.1% body fat change since… [Read more]
Added Sunday, May 12, 2013 by John Stone
Short, but intense, 27 mile ride yesterday; Few new PRs.
I really should have taken yesterday off from riding. On Wednesday I was already feeling like I was right on the edge of over-training, but I did a pretty tough Sufferfest workout anyway. Yesterday morning, everything from my legs to my energy level was saying “REST!” I was really in the mood to ride, however, so I decided that I’d compromise and do a short ~30 mile road ride. When I left the house I… [Read more]
Added Saturday, May 11, 2013 by John Stone
New “Favorite Things” Item: K-Edge Cycling Computer Mount
When I posted some pictures of my Madone’s newly slammed stem (see yesterday’s blog: “Flip it and slam it: discussion and how-to guide“), JSF member and fellow cyclist Devery Andrews noticed that I was still using the stock mount. Devery asked me if I’d ever considered one of the several aftermarket Garmin mounts that are available, and mentioned a few by name: the , the and the . I always thought the stock Garmin mount… [Read more]
Added Friday, May 10, 2013 by John Stone
Flip it and slam it: discussion and how-to guide.
Hopefully the title of today’s blog has you excited! You’ll have to pardon the double entendre, the obnoxious teenager that still lives within me couldn’t resist. Besides, your first thought came from you, not me. So, to the disappointment of at least some of you (and the relief of others), my blog will remain G-rated. Today we’re going to look at the practice of “slamming the stem”. “Slamming the stem” is, simply put, lowering a… [Read more]
