Back in January I came across the Bride 2b Primal Wear cycling jersey I thought that was the tackies or maybe the coolest jersey, but it has now been topped.
Here's the perfect accessory for the Bride 2b Jersey, none other than the Ritz Cyling Jersey.  Now a couple can have the proper attire when they ride down the aisle to get married.
This one is also available at primal-sports.com:
http://www.primal-sports.com/p-811-the-ritz-blue-ls-cycling-jersey.aspx

Last night I did a great workout... Spinervals Suffer-O-Rama.  Well, that is if your definition of great is cramping legs at the end of the ride and stiff legs the next morning.  Even with the pain it was fun in a sado-masochistic sort of way.  The weather was perfect and I was excited to get out riding for the first time in a couple of days.  I fired up the iPod to a good hard rock playlist and rode out through the neighborhood at a steady hard pace.  At the turn on to New Bridge Rd it was time to fire up the video and start the real workout.   In this particular video there are several hard 100% effort sets as well as some hard tempo ones.  My legs SCREAMING were screaming even after the first set.  The Suffer-O-Rama work out took me all the way out to Creeds and of course ended there leaving me to struggle all the way home with wasted legs.

I am very happy with the motivation that the combination of music for a warm up and the Spinervals video has been given me on my interval days.  It breaks up the monotony and Coach Troy yelling over your shoulder as you hammer out that effort is a big help at getting the most out of every second of each sets.  It is amazing how much more difficult the workout seems to be on the road than on the trainer!  Especially when it's hard efforts in to a steady 7 to 8 mph wind.  In a couple of weeks I will find out if all the hard work is helping when I race in the Hagerstown Criterium Challenge.  Who knows maybe I will even place well.

Pedal'n Arounds' wife, aka The Bike Widow was nice and had some T-shirts made up for him.  All three of the ones pictured are great, but I especially like this one:

I might have to steal this idea and make a T-shirt or two or three of my own.  Of course I will buy one from them first! 

Check out the other designs: http://pedalnaround.blogspot.com/2008/06/t-shirts.html

Boo Bee Juice Drink for kids is now available in the UK in four great flavors: Strawberry, Orange, Mixed Fruit, and Pineapple.

Ok…. that’s just a cool name for a drink.  I want some of that for my next race.  Even better I will get some for my son to take to school with him in his lunch box.  I can hear the conversation now…. “Hey, Bobby do you want to taste some of my Boo Bee?”  Even better the results when little Sally is overheard by the lunch lady asking Bobby the same question. 

More information, if you really need it can be found at the UniBev site: Boo Bee Juice for Kids.

The Wounded Warrior Unity Tour:

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Hello, “NAME REMOVED TO PROTECT THE HORRIBLY GUILTY!”,

Thanks for agreeing to help spread the word on this.

For the VA Cycling and BikeBeat websites:

"What:  2nd Annual Wounded Warrior Unity Tour
Who:  Armed Forces Cycling Association
When:  Saturday and Sunday, 27 and 28 September, 2008, 8am start with pre-ride briefings and registration starting at 6:30am

Where:  Day 1 = Fort Eustis to Fort AP Hill /// Day 2 = Fort AP Hill to Walter Reed Medical Center
Why:  To support our Wounded Soldiers
How:  Detailed ride/registration info and points of contact are available at www.afca.us/events/events.html"

Thank you for your consideration regarding this most worthwhile event.

Very Respectfully,
”NAME REMOVED TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT”
Peninsula Bicycling Association
Killer Bees
United States Air Force (Retired)

This sounds like it would be a great opportunity to get out and show support for those wounded in the line of duty.

I will not be racing this weekend at the Reston Town Center Grand Prix but for those that will be there is an opportunity to do some good for a great cause. Evolution Cycling has set up a raffle to benefit the Raisin Hope Foundation. The Raisin Hope Foundation was setup by Saul Raisin who, like Evolution Team member Craig "Doc" Clark, received brain trauma in an accident that occured during a bike race. Doc was injured in a crash that occured during a race in Wilmington, DE a few weeks ago. You can track his progress on his care page.
Raisin Hope was put setup to raise funding for brain injury research. To develop a support network and a source for education for people effected by brain injuries as well as to promote public aweareness and understanding of people with disablilities caused by brain injuries.
Evolution and Raisin Hope have managed to a great job at hitting up sponsors so that your hard earned raffle money has a chance to win you some good loot. Here's the prize list as posted on Gamjams:

• "Tour De Life" book about Saul Raisin, signed by Saul
• Authentic Credit Agricole cycling cap, signed by Saul
• HealthNet Team "Collection" -- Jersey, Cycling Cap, and Matt Cooke Racer Card signed by Matt Cooke
• $50 Gift Certificate to Bicycle Pro Shop
• 10 GamJams Water Bottles
• GamJams Featured Photo Prize -- Get your Featured Photo on GamJams for one week

In addition to the prizes listed above the first 75 people to enter the raffle will get Agricile Racer Cards that have been autographed by Saul himself!

Mike at Gamjams.net puts it pretty well in his recap by saying this:

• You will probably not win at Reston, but this will make you feel good about your day anyway

So if you are out there at the race, dig deep in those pockets and put some dough out for a good cause. If you arent there you can donate to the Raisin Hope Foundation by contacting Mitch Ferro.

I just came across the web site for a Medieval Festival in Gloucster, VA that will be happening July 19th.  Sounds like it might be a lot of fun.

From the site...

"With one step you leave behind all that you have known and with the next step into a world where Myth and Legend are Reality.  A place where Ladies walk hand in hand with Knights in shining armour, where Musicians sit under shaded tree and weave stories of lyrical wonder.  A place where Merchants offer treasures from far away lands, and foods are offered that are both new to the eye and pleasing to the palette.  Enjoy games and diversions of great merriment, while Performers entertain you with their cleverness and skill."

It sounds like the VA Beach Sportsplex Training Criterium Series may be extended!  The City has approved the following dates July 9th/16th/23rd and August 6th/13th/20th.  The race day has been moved from Tuesday to Wednesday.  Even better... there is rumor that they may have it worked out to reduce the registration fee from $15 to $5.  Now $5 is a price I can handle to go out and race knowing that I am going to get spit off the back of the pack.

Gas 3.76 per gal bp @ holland & dam neck

Posted from my Palm Centro

So…. I am contemplating doing the Hagerstown Challenge Crit on July 12th.  We were planning a trip up to that area to visit my son anyways, and what better way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning?  I haven’t been to Hagerstown, MD for years and I can’t really remember the downtown area that well. 

I have heard that those racers up North don’t know how to ride and I guess it should be up to me to go up there and single handedly teach them the proper racing form. Ok, that was me being sarcastic!

Does anyone have any opinions of that course and what it is like to race?  I really don’t want to make the hour trip up there to Hagerstown from where we will be to race on a course that is nothing but a crash fest.

If my son, Devon, was a cyclist I could hear him telling a story very similar to the one the TerribleCyclist has posted on his site about a great crash.  Well that is if a crash could be great.  No one was injured and there were boobies!
Check it out...TerribleCyclist: Funnest Crash EVER!!!!

Every once in a while you come across something that tears at your heart just a little.  Today I came across this story someone wrote about a neighborhood tomcat that they called Ugly.  Seeing as I have always had a soft spot for animals it kind of got to me.  It reminded me of the ugly tomcat that I used to feed at my old townhouse.  Maybe I could have or should have done more.  I fed this poor cat that was beat up and abused.  Kids picked on him, but despite all that happened to him he only wanted someone affection.  Finally after weeks of suffering with an injury that appeared to become infected he just disappeared.  I wonder if I had just shown a little more care and concern if maybe he would still be around today showing me some unconditional affection...

Ugly The Cat
Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was, Ugly was the resident tomcat.  Ugly loved three things in this world: Fighting, Eating, and shall we say, Love.
The combination of these things combined with a life spend outside had their effect on Ugly.  To start with, he had only one eye, and where the other should have been was nothing but a gaping hole.  He was also missing his ear on the same side.  His left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner.  His tail had long since been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch.
Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs.  Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction.  "That is one UGLY cat!!"
All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in to their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave.
Ugly always had the same reaction.  If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit.  If you threw things at him, he would curly his lanky body around feet in forgiveness.  Whenever he spied children, he would come running meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, simply begging for their love.  If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, and whatever else he could find.
One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's huskies.  They did not respond so kindly, and Ugly was attacked.  From my apartment I could her his screams, and tried to rush to his aid.  By the time I got to where he was laying it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost to an end.
Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front.  As I picked him up and tried to carry him home I could hear him wheezing and gasping.  I could feel him struggling.  I must be hurting him terribly I thought.
Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear.  Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying was trying to suckle my ear!  I pulled him closer to me and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head.  Then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring!  Even in the great pain, that ugly battle scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps compassion.
At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen.  Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away, or struggle in any way.  Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.
Ugly dies in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly.  Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever would.  For that I will always be thankful.
He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply.  To give my total to those I cared for.
Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always strive to be Ugly.

Here's the original version:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/Tarathiel/ugly.jpg
  

Trevor has finally posted his pictures from the Va Beach Farm Bureau Crit.  He even captured Jeff riding something he doesnt have trouble getting clipped in to!
Here's the link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/trevor.weiland/2008FarmBureauCrit

This weekend I am missing the Go Fast Turn Left Race and the State Time Trials. Both of them are awesome races put on by some great people and supporters of the cycling world. Family has to come first though and this is the last weekend that my son will be with us for a while. He has chosen to go spend the next couple of months in West Virginia with his maternal grandparents. They are the best of people and when he is there he gets to be a real boy. Unlike being stuck here in Va Beach playing video games all day and not getting outside to play much. He will be swimming, riding bikes, and climbing trees like boys on summer break should be doing. Him being up there ialso gives me an excuse to plan some trips up in the not so distant future to enjoy the scenery, get in some hill climbing, and possibly even race with some of those people that think they now how to race with MABRA.

What could be better than a smoothie on a hot day?  A FREE ONE!!
That's right, FREE!  Tropical Smoothie is giving away free Smoothies to anyone that comes in to their stores on June 21st wearing flip flops.

Lets see there is one on General Booth Blvd, from there I could head up to Great Neck Road, next, down to the one on Kempsville Road, then Princess Anne Road on the way back home.

Check it out:
National Flip Flop Day - Tropical Smoothie Café

Lots of posts today.....
I made a post in May about DZ Nuts Chamois Cream being released.  It had Dave Zabriskie's name associated with it and it was being marketed fairly well throughout the cyclist/blogging community.  All the hype was great and many cyclist were talking about DZ nuts Chamois Cream.  Here it is months after the release and the stuff is virtually impossible to find.  What good is marketing if you let the fires burn down and don't provide the product.  The only place I have been able to find it is Competitive Cyclist.  They give it a pretty good review, but I am wary of spending $23.00 plus shipping on a 4 ounce tube of something that no one I know has tried out. 
For now I am sticking with Brave Soldier Friction Zone.  At $19.00 a bottle this stuff is great.  It is has a weird creamy/oily consistency and you apply it directly to the "goods" and it stays on.    Unlike other chamois creams that dissolve and absorb in to the pad Friction Zone keeps you good and "lubed" up.  Brave Soldier Friction Zone also contains Tea Tree Oil and other natural ingredients to give it some antibacterial and antifungal properties.  Even better I can get it locally, Fat Frogs Bikes keeps it in stock.

Josh Goyet has made a post to his blog about his frustration with the successful promotion of races in the area.  His frustrations have led him, and his wife, to start thinking about the promoting a racing series in our area.  To do so we need to show him and his potential sponsors our interest and support for the race series.

I for one would participate in a Va Beach Wheelman race series especially if it meant some crits on more challenging courses.  Oh… how about a road race!

Head over to his blog and post a comment to show your interest and support!

http://firebike.blogspot.com/2008/06/little-pissed.html

Hopefully the fruits of my labor will actually make it to the net this time!…

Since my dismal performance this past weekend at the Langley Speedway Criterium I started to re-evaluate my training program.  I felt really strong starting out the season and my finish results were showing it.  Now as the season is progressing my performance seems to be getting worse.  Maybe it’s the other racers getting stronger or maybe it’s me leaving something out of my training program.

Throughout the winter and into the beginning part of the race season it was getting dark before I was getting home from work.  That meant I could not get in a ride on the road so I opted for a trainer ride with my “friend” Coach Troy and his Spinervals DVDs.  For those that haven’t done the Spinervals program, they are a high intensity interval workout program for cyclists.  Coach Troy wanders through the group of cyclists in the room encouraging them to eek out that last little bit of energy to take it to the next level.  All the while he doesn’t work up a single drop of sweat!  I hated Troy, he was mean and made me hurt all winter long!

Despite my hatred of Coach Troy I think I am missing his structured intervals and coaching during my workouts.  When I ride by myself on the road I have a hard time getting the same intensity or duration out of my intervals as I did riding the trainer.  This lead me to a solution: put Coach Troy in my iPod and make him suffer on the road along with me. 

Monday night I sat down at my trusty iMac and fired up Handbrake, my favorite “ripping” application then inserted the Spinervals DVD Enter the Red Zone.  The one I use to only make legal backups of DVDs that I have purchased.  Handbrake has an intuitive interface that made it super simple to convert the DVD to an iPod friendly size. 

Last night was the first attempt at Spinnervals on the road.  I left the house to head out to the Pungo Loop with the iPod playing some good tunes and got a good warm up.  To appease the “safety police” it was of course set at a volume level low enough that still allowed me to hear traffic.  At the intersection of Sandbridge Road I swtiched the Enter the Red Zone video on and went down New Bridge Rd doing Coach Troy’s high cadence warm up.  The turn on to Muddy Creek had me in 105+ RPM one minute intervals with  15 second efforts at 100% the end.  It was amazing how much of a difference having someone constantly telling you to keep it up makes.

I was doing good with this workout until Troy said “get off the bike to do squats”.  I forgot about that.  I was not about to get off of my bike and start doing squats in front of some red necks house in Pungo.  I could just hear it.  “Hey Momma, there’s some queer out there in the yard bouncing up in down in them gay spandex shorts.  Must be some new ritual they do.  Should I get out the shot gun?”  Then again maybe I would have done the squats if I knew which house belongs to the bike loving Va Beach council member Barbara Henley.  It would give her even more to talk about! 

Back to the ride… I made my way around the loop being tortured by Coach Troy in various ways when I made it back to Muddy Creek Rd.  This is where I would make a left turn to head back home.  This time I still had more time on the “DVD” so I made a right turn and went out to do another loop.  This is unusual for me, normally I feel burnt out and tired of riding by this time and am ready to go home.  Maybe the sadist in me was actually enjoying being tortured by Coach Troy.

The rest of the ride went well and I finished up feeling like I had a good workout.  Tonight is a night off to go hang out with the folks from Beach Eye Care at Shorebreak Cafe, but tomorrow night it’s back to Spinervals with an attempt to get through Suffer O Rama!  Hopefully this training will help me get in to better shape so I can place well at the upcoming Tour De Port and Tour De Chesapeake.

Lets see how this works.  Instead of Scribefire I am going to try something else.  I was really liking Scribefire but there are too many little “issues” that seem to be coming up with it.  The problems may very well be with my install of it so I will try straightening it all out once my level of frustration settles back down to normal.

GRRRRRR!!!! Lesson learned!  Backup!
This was supposed to be a nice long post written here about my revelations on my training program.  When posted through Scribefire plugin everything was lost!  It did it on the previous results post for the Langley Speedway Crit as well. 
Oh well.... back to the drawing board.... only this time in Google docs with a copy and paste to something else to publish the post.