This is cool

Here is something that just came out from Minneapolis messenger bag company, Trash Messenger Bags. It's a cycling specific winter bomber cap. Now I'm not a big fan of some cycling specific wear, but there are some things that do need to generally be cycling specific. This looks like one of those items that could be worth it.

Custom Garbage Lid - $36.00
A winter biking bomber hat with the warmth to keep you riding from 20 F to -20 F, no prob.

Features:
-Cordura outer & Polartec Windstop liner gives you durability, water resistance, windproofness, and most importantly warmth and comfort in bitterly cold conditions.
-Strap down tight side flaps, cut with the need for lateral visability in mind
-Nearly as thin as a traditional cycling cap -- fits underneath all helmets with ease and comfort.
-Available in one color for $36, or with a second color striped in the center of the hat for $40.
-Hand made to order in Minneapolis, MN, USA.

I currently use a military surplus helmet liner that I removed the bill from so it fits under my cycling helmet.

Military Helmet Liner

The chin flaps can be folded back behind the liner, which is how I usually wear it. On really cold rides, I have a neck gater that my wife knitted that allows me to breathe extremely well, but protect my face and neck. On really-really cold days I velcro the chin flaps in front of my face AND use my neck gater.

Anyway, I think the garbage lid cap would take the place of my helmet liner on all but the most extreme of cold rides.

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Races to think about - Sandwich 50 Enduro {Update - Date Announced!}

I just happened to notice that a date has been posted for this years Sandwich 50 Enduro (link: http://sandwich50.blogspot.com). If you want to reserve the date, it is Saturday May 5.

Sounds like they are upping the rider limit from 75 to 100. So may have to be ready for registration on March 14.

2012 date for MN's Enduro State Championship!!
Here is the deal, same format as last year. Categories are Man, Not Man, and Du0 (mixed or all female only).

Date for the race is May 5th. Limit is 100 racers, 25 more than last year.

Registration is set for Pi Day, March 14. Similar style as before, more details to come. - from the Sandwich 50 Enduro website (link)

Can't wait to do 50 miles of tight-twisty-Eastwood (Rochester, Minnesota) singletrack.

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Current training load/ramp rate

Been riding fairly steady on the rollers lately. Mostly zone1 and zone2 for base work.

The drawback to this kind of training is that you don't see much rise in CTL. ATL will rise and fall a couple of points with each day training.

Long term CTL is raising, but no worry about it raising too fast. The 7 day rate is only 1.

I'm at 9 1/2 hrs so far for this month vs. 11 3/4 hrs last year and it's about 1/2 of the 18 hrs ridden in 2010.

Of course, you need to be flexible with your training plan (cough-cough). I was hoping to get 5 or 6 hrs of riding over the weekend. Now I'm not sure if I'll be able to get that much in. Maybe I can split it up over 2 or 3 rides each day, but even that I'm not sure how I'll fit in. Oh-well. Maybe instead of training, I'll just order some EPO injections and a couple of Clenbuteral steaks. Hmmmmm.........

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Races to think about - MN Rusty Ride - 25//50//100 mile rides/races {Update - Registration Announced!}

The MN Rusty Ride. Take your pick of 25, 50 or 100 mile adventure through the new Cuyuna Lakes mountain bike trail network. This sounds like a blast.

Race fees are not terribly expensive and there's a kids race for the Pork Chop. This one has a strong possibility of my attendance.

I haven't been to Cuyuna Lakes yet, but I hope to get out there a couple times this year. Not sure how I'll do that, but this race would be a great reason for one. I guess we'll see how the summer goes.

This event is a fundraiser for Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists.

MORC is creating an event that is challenging but yet appealing for different skill levels and above all fun for volunteers, racers and spectators alike. We have placed this 25/50/100 mile event on one of our world class trails giving riders an opportunity to test their endurance to the max. We look forward to seeing this event grow to be a must attend event on riders calendars. - from the MN Rusty Ride website (link)

The race is August 18, so there's time to plan.

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Races to think about - Chequamegon 100 {Update - Registration Announced!}

So register online on Saturday (2/11/2012) and confirm registration with a postcard in the mail. Sounds simple enough.

Please be informed of a new registration process for this year's event.
When the registration page goes live on Saturday the 11th riders will fill out the form, hit submit, and then promptly get a post card in the mail to confirm their entry (post information will be available on the registration page).

We've implemented this process to keep better track of information and riders, making it easier on us, so that we can focus on making the rest of the Chequamegon 100 that much better.

The first 250 riders to confirm their entry with a post card will be entered into the event. 150 riders will be entered into the 100 mile event and 100 riders will be entered into the Metric 100 (62 mile) event. - from the Cheq 100 website (link)

So maybe I'll try to get in on the metric. Still gotta see about clearing the weekend and figuring which race to do when that's done.

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Fun ride (race) this weekend

So on Saturday (2/11/2012) is the Dickie Scramble (link).

As this is meant primarily as a fun group ride event and in the interest of safety the prizes will be given out in a slightly different manner. There will be a series of 5 or so pre-determined primes, or mini races, to locations throughout the course. The idea is that a large group will be able to ride together comfortably but the city line, hilltop, and other sprints will pay out in more than just respect. After each mini race we will regroup and continue as a group. Only I will know where all the primes are located and they won't be announced until they are to be contested. - from the Dickie Scramble website

This sounds like a fun event, with a little bit of competition thrown in.

I'm on the Twitters, follow me: @AnelloGrande

Races to think about - Whiskey Hill Road Race and Hill Challenge Series

This sounds really interesting. I found it on the RASC board (link). The The Whiskey Hill Road Race (link) is a non-competitive ride - but there is a finish line and they will keep places/time. The training rides are in Rushford and Chatfield, while the race starts in Plainview. All close enough to Rochester to be worth attending.

The Whiskey Hill Road Race is a bike ride on public roads starting at a prescribed time and place. Riders that cross the “finish line” will receive times. There’s no support, registration, sponsorship or any sort of formal organization... but it’s free. The race is named for the hill featured on the route. The Hill Challenge Series is a pair of bike rides (not races) on some of the hilliest paved roads in Southern Minnesota, maybe the whole state. There’s no timing, organization or support. Show up with your bike and ride the route. If you survive these, the WHRR will be a piece of cake. Note: The dates and times are subject to change in the coming weeks.
- from the About page of the Whiskey Hill Road Race.

I think it's great that people are getting into organizing events for the fun/challenge of riding bikes. So this will be one to add to the calendar as a serious think about.

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Cat 3 Comics - Issue 3 (part 1)

This issue contains 1 story in the whole book. Can you guess what it's called. They put the title on the front cover...

On the inside front cover...

And on the title page. It's called Fear and Loathing in the Big Ring.

It follows 2 riders riding home after having a bad race.

To be continued...

Link to other Cat 3 comic book posts
Cat 3 Comics - Issue 1 (part 1)
Cat 3 Comics - Issue 1 (part 2)
Cat 3 Comics - Issue 1 (part 3)
Cat 3 Comics - Issue 2 (part 1)
Cat 3 Comics - Issue 2 (part 2)
Cat 3 Comics - Issue 2 (part 3)
Cat 3 Comics - Issue 2 (part 4)

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I did ride outdoors this past weekend

2011 Trek Paragon Hello mountain bike racing fans.

These images are in no order.

Even though I mentioned that I'm now nervous to ride the Paragon in the snow because I don't want to mess up the Fox fork, I did try to ride Eastwood on Saturday afternoon. Rode from my house to the Hundred Acre Wood for the entrance to the west side trails (finally found them). There were only walking tracks on the snow there, so riding was tough and I did a lot of hike-a-biking till I got to the road.

I then tried to ride the mtb trails of the "practice race" course. Some of them were able to be ridden on because of the packing by the fatbikes. But even then, if my tires ventured off either side of the packed snow, tires would fall through and I'd come to a stop. I'm sure my riding there in these conditions ruin it for the fatbikes, and areas where I had to cross or go along the ski trails by creating ruts.

The sections I was able to ride the most of, at what seemed to be a consistant speed was the far east (southside) section and I guess the middle section.

I know the fatbikers and skiers will hate this, but I hope the weather gets as worm as they say to get rid of all this white crap (snow). I'm not really a fan of it.

I'm on the Twitters, follow me: @AnelloGrande

2011 Trek Paragon Hello mountain bike racing fans.

Arrowhead 135 updates

Arrowhead 135 start. Image from http://www.arrowheadultra.com/

Just want to wish a great race to all the athletes doing the Arrowhead 135 Ultra endurance race. I know a couple riders out and hope they do well.

If you want to be updated, I think this page will be posting times and such from each checkpoint. http://www.arrowheadultra.com/index.php/results/2012-results 

Here's a description of the race for those of you who've never heard of it.

The Race: 135 miles Deep Winter across Northern Minnesota all on rugged, scenic Arrowhead State Snowmobile Trail from I-Falls to Tower, MN Fortune Bay Casino. Pick mode of transport at start: bicycle, ski or foot. This is our 8th year, beginning with 10 entrants in 2005 to ~135 starters 2012, featuring some of the best winter ultra-athletes in the world.

Pretty hardcore. While I admire these guys, I seriously do not want to ride this much in the freezing cold. Course that may change IF I ever get a fatbike.

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Current training load/ramp rate

So I'm really wanting to do some racing this year but that means some "training." Even though I use a Garmin Edge 305 to track my rides, and SportTracks with Training Load and YearView (now known as A Calender) to analyze things, I don't really consider the riding I do to be training. Well, it is training... but it's not. Does that make any sense?

I guess it's hard to say I'm training when I don't really have something I'm training for. I ride. I try to stay fit. I want to do well on group rides and MTB training races. But is it really training when I don't race?

So while I haven't registered and committed to any races for the year yet, I am pretty sure I'll be toeing the line four or five times this year. So I guess I need to be in shape for when I do.

January is starting out pretty well. I have more hours in so far in January then any other year since keeping track.

16 hours this year (so far) compared to 13 last year.

In addition, the abnormally warm winter we've been having has made the month prior a bit more active, so my training load has actually been pretty steady.

Fairly level CTL since August. No sharp dips or climbs.

This week in particular I'm trying to add more duration to some of my rides to increase the CTL.

CTL 7 day ramp rate is 4

Ramp rate this week was fairly low at 4. Ramp rate is the ride in CTL over the past 7 days. Anything higher then about 8 and you can run the risk of training too hard. Hopefully as we start getting a little warmer temps, and the weather cooperates (and personal schedule cooperates) I can start getting some "Base" hours in. I can't do more then 2 hours on the rollers, and even that's a stretch. Most of the time I can't do more then 1. And while I like to ride in the snow, I'm nervous about putting too much wear and tear on my fork, like outlined in the blogpost from Freewheel bike. So I don't think I'll be putting many hours in riding the Paragon till it warms up a little more.

I'm on the Twitters, follow me: @AnelloGrande