What Else Could a Guy Ask For?

New PAMBA Tools

I spent almost $2700 that wasn't mine and got a great run in this morning before I did it.

By the way, this picture is what 2 Farm Boss chain saws, 2 FS 110 brushcutters, a BR 600 backpack blower and a Honda QS generator look like stuffed in the Jeepster. Not to mention gas cans, oil, bar oil and the other accessories. How freakin' cool! I can't wait to show them off. This is a BIG step for the club!

My run was great too, 35 minutes at a higher speed. I felt great. Things are coming together nicely. Another 2 hrs on the spinner with Howie tomorrow and I'll be well on my way to a good week.

Speaking of a good week....The Wood Box Gang and the Super Bowl in the same weekend........are you serious?! This is better than Christmas!

On Second Thought......

I went ahead and did the urban in Champaign today. I didn't get there until 1 p.m. though. It was a blast. I was really glad I made it over there for the ride. I actually had the camera but never got it out. Too busy watching some really good riders doing some trick ass stuff around UI campus. Really good group of folks over there.

I need D to take a look at my wheels. They just aren't setting in my dropouts right. I think I need some washers and a little file work.

I never did get my pizza today, but I got brunch before I left and had some mexi food before I left to come home. I'm a sucker for mexican food. I have to say it is moving ahead of pizza for me. On that note, the treadmill will be waiting for me when I get up......33 minutes worth!

Back To the "Dungeon"!

Met up with Howie today for some trainer time in "The Dungeon". I think I finally got the saddle where I want it. We did 2 hrs. today and I felt pretty good. I started to cramp at about the 90 minute mark when I was finishing a little interval, but I just backed off and spun it out. Hopefully he and I can get out for a real ride this week sometime. I say that, and then I read Kerkove's blog about him actually riding in this slop today.......that's dedication.

The urban in Champaign isn't looking good. Way too much rain for me to drive 2 hrs. for an urban ride and burn a vacation day to boot. No biggie. That just means I get to hit brunch with the Tiffster.

With the success of the concert PAMBA will be purchasing two brushcutters, a huge backpack blower and a chainsaw next week, all Stihl equipment. We'll also pick up all the accessories like gas cans, extra chain, oil, etc.

I'm seriously craving some pizza!I just need to hold off until tomorrow.

NEW PARTS!!

Can't Go Wrong With Thomson!

Beefier Wheels

Well, there's the new parts for "BB". Can't wait to test them out Sunday at the Champaign urban ride. Should be fun.

As for me......bad week. The concert earrly screwed things up for me. Early to work Monday, trail meeting at Jubillee that night. Back to work Tuesday morning and took the Tiffster to a hockey game that night. Wednesday I realized that even if I worked out, I had no groceries and without the right stuff to eat, nothing else mattered so I went grocery shopping and then to work. FINALLY, I got a run in this morning. Went for 33 minutes. A little tougher than what they have been, but it still felt o.k. It was nice just to get a run in the books for the week. Hopefully another run tomorrow and a ride on Saturday.

Got my 39 tooth chainring today too so I can convert the Roubaix to a double. Howie can't accuse me of dropping into granny anymore that way. I'm off to work!

A Few Pics With My Updates

D and Molly Slingin' Beer at the DSO Show 

I'll be brief. The concert was HUGE! We cleared over 2 grand! Now we can really buy some new trail equipment.

As far as me......I ate like shit and am short on sleep. I'm going to the rack early tonight so I can get a run in before work. I REALLY need to hit the grocery store, but I'm not sure when I can get that done. Might be Wednesday morning.

That's "MY" corner of the house. Tiffany hates it, but she lets me have one little space for my nasty little biking habit. That KHS will have bars on it in the next few days. I have to if I go to Champaign this weekend for an urban.

The Dark Star Orchestra show 

My Stable 

Mission Accomplished!

Well, I got my 2nd run in for the week this morning. I had already got my two bikes in (3 if you count my urban on Sunday). My runs were better than expected. I was hoping for 27 minute runs and instead got 30 on for both. Both runs felt good and I should have no problems bumping to 33 minute runs next week. I wish I had felt better on the bike, but it's just going to take some saddle time to get my body used to it again. It will come, I just need to be patient. So next week is the same, I need two bikes and two runs. Tuesday will have to be an off day for me I think since I promised a certain someone a hockey game. My bike days will have to be Wedneday and Saturday and run days on Monday and Thursday. I might try and sneak a run in on Friday morning as well.

The DSO concert is tomorrow night. Should be a good time. I'll try and take some pictures. I think we might do pretty well and bring in some decent coin for the club.

Hoping to get in touch with CIC this weekend to pick up my new bars, stem and wheels I'm buying off him for the Black Bitch, my mtb. I'm going with 36 spoke wheels, a shorter stem and beefier Azonic bars. These urban rides are tearing my stuff up so I need the beefier stuff.

Tomorrow is Cheat Day!

No Pics Today

Just a simple post. I got in a 60 minute spin today on the trainer. My saddle adjustment seemed better today, but I still need more time to get "seasoned". My riding position muscles are going to take some time. I just need to be patient and keep riding 2-3 times/wk.

I was just informed I have to be in court today at 2p to revoke a guy's probation. He deserves it. I can't wait to give him his DOC ticket.

Missed Yesterday

My Morning Run

So I snuck my run in today. It was a good one for me too! I ran my 27 minutes like I'd hoped and was feeling pretty good so I decided to go 28. At that point I still felt strong and decided to just go for 30 minutes. I finished and felt good doing it. I have one more run to get in this week. If it goes as well and I can get to 30 comfortably again then next week will be 33 minute runs.

I have to work at 2p-10p tonight. I hate that shift.

Welcome to the Dungeon!

"I have an idea!"

Nice spin session tonight at Howie's. Stauby showed up too and helped the 90 minutes pass by pretty fast. I felt good overall, but I need A LOT more saddle time. I think I got the new saddle adjusted right, but we'll see for sure next time. I was sittin' a little high and had a slight downward angle that was causing some problems about 15 minutes in. I suffered with it for a bit. then finally stopped long enough to at least lower the saddle a bit. It made a big difference. It might take me another ride or two to get it where I want it though. I didn't think a new saddle would make that much difference.

Now I just need to get up and get a run in the morning. I'll back my pace off and go for 27 minutes. I don't want to push it with such a quick turnaround.

Tri or Bi? Still no hard answers..........only hard questions

Sunday Urban!

Broke Another One!

Met up with some of the BGR boyz today and a couple buddies from KMBC for an urban ride. We didn't stay near the river long with the wind and made our way through downtown hitting hot spots like the hospitals and courthouse among other places. From there we worked our way to Bradley. Campus wasn't as fun today due to the students moving back in from semester break. Back down to the bus depot (maybe my favorite spot in town) and back down to the riverfront. No real damage except my spoke (pictured above) and Jeremy's flat tire. Looks like I need to get to Ade's for some spoke repair!

Tomorrow night is our first Monday trainer session at Howie's. I'm ready to get after it. I have two goals this week: 1)two runs and two bikes and 2)bump my runs up to 27 minutes.

No Ride Today

So I got a little run in instead. I really wanted to ride but it was nasty out today with sleet, snow and rain pretty much all day. Of course it was 50 and sunny yesterday when I was in the office. That's o.k. though. My run was good. Another 25 minutes. Next week I'll bump it to 27.

I really need to start using that trainer. The bike is all hooked up, but I just haven't used it like I should. I know that will change Monday night at Howie's though. I also got a 39 tooth ring so I can make it a double and lose the triple ring set-up. I'll wait till after Monday night though to do that.

I work 6p-2a today. I've been using the time to catch up on some file work.

I need to be deciding.......tri or bi? If it is tri, I need to get in the pool pretty soon.

Whoops!

I was supposed to be on the trainer last yesterday morning before work, but somebody didn't set the alarm and I got up ay 7:20!! I barely had coffee and a Balance bar out the door. Last night I went to an informational meeting about Tri-Peoria. It was pretty cool stuff. Not exactly my crowd, but learned a few things about the club.

I will probably take today off also and get a ride in tomorrow morning since I'm working nights.

I've spent my week at work moving offices. Our new office is smaller, no windows and stuffy. Other than that I'm excited about the change. It will be nice to get back out in the streets tis weekend.

Have You Ever Noticed

That when I'm actually doing stuff, I post more. When I'm a slug I never come on here except to whine about it. That's just an observation I made today on the treadmill. About that, I had a nice run this morning and got in a nice 25 minutes. It was how a run or any workout should be. When I stopped, I was looking forward to the next workout. If everything else is good, I know I've trained smart if I walk away from a workout feeling that way.

Had a nice PAMBA meeting last night. I can't believe how many people are showing up at these things now. We have to change locations again next month due to space. Luckily our contact actually moved to the Peoria location and has a 50 seater room. That will work out great. We have another busy year ahead of us with the races and trail stuff.

I'm attending an Illinois Valley Wheelm'n meeting tomorrow night, just to shake hands and kiss babies with another club. Also, they are having a speaker about the Tr-Peoria club. I thought it would be interesting to hear what they had to say. I'm still debating the whole tri thing. It sounds good, but getting in the swims will be easier said than done.

And Yes, those are shifters on the down tube! 

The Nishiki, my new "project bike"! 

Urban Saturday

That's the plan this morning. PAMBA is hosting a little intro wrench clinic at 1 p.m. today, so we thought we'd start the day off with a little urban and some lunch on the riverfront. Sounds like we're having a nice crowd show up. I think the BGR bretheren anr going to be in attendance, Deon included.

I ended up not riding at all yesterday. I intended to get a road ride in the a.m., then that turned into a trainer session in the p.m. By the time I left Little Ades It was 6:30 and I wanted to install the goodies I had just purchased. I got a set of 27" tires for the Nikishi. Now I just need a suspension post and that baby is ready to rock. I also got a new saddle for the Roubaix, the Specialized Avatar. I'll put the old saddle on the Nikishi.

Not much else going on right now. My weight is down to 223 today, which is good. Well, off for some urbany goodness!

A Little Run

on the treadmill this morning. I was a little timid at first because my left achilles tendon was a little sore. I'm not sure what from really, but I decided to start slow. As I got going it worked itself out and things were good. At this point I am 75% ready to commit to the tri in June so I know I have to take it slow and build up correctly. Let the planning begin.

I'll hit the bike tomorrow as long as it's not raining. For some fun I'm doing an urban ride downtown on Saturday. After that we'll head to TC's for a little wrench clinic sponsored by Pedros and PAMBA. Pretty neat idea actually for a few club members. It will be a nice Q&A/demo session for those not so mechanically inclined.

The search is on for some 27" cyclocross tires. I need them for the older Nikishi I picked up. A little beefier tires, a suspension seatpost and I'll have myself one kick ass Rock Island Trail bike. That would be a nice change up for some base miles and not pounding myself on singletrack.

Work is good. We have a bad batch right now. A small caseload, but what a bunch of thugs. I'd say we have up to 5 or 6 on the "watch" list right now that could be getting their ticket to DOC. My partners and I are very aware of what we're dealing with and are taking extra precautions to be safe.

PAMBA meeting on Monday!

Good Start.....

so far. I hit the treadmill on Monday for a couple miles, then a road ride with Howie yesterday. I took today off and will alternate a run with a bike the next two days. I decided to fully commit to the Charleston Challenge Bi in September. Today an interesting turn of events has taken place. Andy Weinberg is putting on a tri here locally and told me I could use the Pekin HIgh pool anytime I wanted. How freakin' cool is that?! Now I am STRONGLY considering making that my "big" goal of the year. That race will be in June and consist of a 1.5 mile swim, 20 mile bike, 4 mile run. I know if I stick to my guns, I can make it happen.

I get the trainer back from JHiggs this week and will start doing a spinning session with Howie on Monday nights when I'm not working. If I can hook up with him a couple times per week for some activity, I'll be good.

2006.......

will be better than 2005, in every way imaginable. I'm talkin' on the bike, off the bike every aspect. I don't do resolutions, I just want things to be better this year.

I ran this morning, that was a good start. Sounds like I'm riding with Howie tomorrow. That should be cool. When the hell have I had me road bike out in January....!? That by itself is a good step. But hey, it will be a long year and I want it to be a nice progress from where I'm at now.

The race series is shaping up, just waiting on sponsors to start falling into place now. Red Bull is back on and that is nice. The rest of the regulars are back as well. I'm more concerned with the new guys. I'd love to hear from Azonic, Rock Gardn, an others.

Howie is getting things together also. I hope to be more involved with his season this year. I know I planned our races around his the best I could, just to be at more of them. That guy motivates the heck out of me and it does me good to be around him.

For me, I just want to be better. Better boyfriend, better PO, better president, better fitness, everything. Only one person can control the outcome.......