Powercranks week 3 and beyond

I realize that I haven't been updating my progress with the Powercranks. Guess I shouldn't have promised weekly write-ups. As of today it's been around 6 weeks. Right after my last update on Dec.17th I left for a trip to Germany/Switzerland with about 2 more 2x20min indoor sessions. Before leaving I felt pretty confident using the cranks on early season group rides and I was looking forward taking them out for a spin in January. 

First ride in 2012: I went on group ride with the M2 training group. It was a decent paced group ride and either Christmas took its toll, or I wasn't ready for the pace ... after about 40 miles it HURT! I was trying to paceline with Dan to catch the other that left us at the pit stop, but I couldn't keep the pace. Riding home the last 15+ miles was SO HARD. Every stroke took a lot of mental focus and I was very close to lock the cranks. Of course that didn't happen. With that experience I continued my 2x20min indoor sessions during the week (twice a week)

Second ride 2012: M2 groupride again and I felt that I was mainly suffering from post holiday lack of fitness. This weekend we were up for a ~75miler through Sausalito, Fairfax, Pt.Ryes and back via HWY1. This time I felt great, we did several rounds of pacelining and I was able to go with the boys. Climbing back over Tam on the return hurt, but I was able to hold on. I am still not confident enough to get out of the saddle, especially in a group ride.

Looking ahead: I'll continue to use the cranks indoors twice a week for easy spins and I'll take them on more group rides. Let's see if they help improve ;-)

Here is another movie I found on youtube. Seems like a Swiss company picked up the concept as well and of course we trust the Swiss!

Epic Tioga Pass Ride

Tioga Road curves it's way through the high sierra and right through Yosemite NP. every map shows it's seasonal, ie. closed in the winter. Not in 2011/12! While typically snowfall forces the park service to close the road as early as October 17th (2004) and so far as late as December 11th (1995, http://goo.gl/MUux), this year it is still open as of January 16th (with the first snow anticipated for the 18th). Weather guru Matt decided that this would be an opportune time to claim the 'latest ever Tioga pass climb' on a bike. So Matt, Mitch and I packed our bikes on the 15th and left Berkley at 5.45AM (Matt slept in!).

Here is the route we took:

While driving up, the temperature dropped as expected and leaving the car for a first downhill was a bit chilly. But at the first rest we were quite pleased with the day:

Next came the climb up to the pass and down the other side, boy was it windy and chilly up at almost 10.000 feet ;-). Comment from the ranger: 'A bit frosty for a bike ride'

After the 8mile downhill I was frozen rock solid and hated Matt ...

... but riding along frozen lake Tenaya with several people ice skating and the vistas we got back at the parking lot, I did no longer feel the pain and was super happy to joined that crazy adventure.

Here is the post ride interview:

Thanks Matt and Mitch for one amazing day. In the interest of the health of the planet I sure hope this won't be repeatable. Let it snow and act on global warming.

The aero swim cap

I got a very special Christmas gift from my mom. She invented the aero swim cap, or should I say aqua swim cap. But in any case, this has to be the worlds fastest swim cap. I hope it won't be banned by the WTC or ITU! My dad pointed out that he donated his 30 year old cap for this prototype. See it soon at a pool near you :-)