Chain Ring Choices
Sorry for the lack of posting...But I've now returned from my incarceration in the land of the evil puppets (don't ask...Trust me, you really DON'T want to know).

Anyway, it occurred to me the other day when I was out riding, in the middle of a particularly tenacious climb, that now that I have a fully functional front derailleur, I actually have a choice of how to approach a climb. With my old derailleur not shifting right last year, I was always very reluctant to shift down off my big chain ring (52). But now that I can shift willy nilly between them I can opt for the 42 if I feel like it. The thing is, I've become really accustomed to the low cadence, hard push approach to climbing (a la Jan Ulrich ). But is this really the best technique or is a higher cadence approach better? From what I've been told the quick spinning approach is better on your knees, but when I climb this way, I feel like I run out of steam alot quicker. Help me out..what do think peoples??

PS: I posted a couple of my favourite pics from last year in my photo blog..take a peek!!! 
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Posted by PunkAss at 12:34 PM

  In the Flesh.....
Punk Ass Pics are now on line !!! You can click on any of the pics on the right to go to my Photo Blog on Buzz Net. Just do me a favour....try not to laugh TOO hard :) More to come as soon as a certain Team Captain gets off his Guin-Ass and emails them to me......... 
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Posted by PunkAss at 6:42 PM

  It's Just Pure Evil..Kinda like a Virus
If you're like me, when you're out there riding, you fall into a certain cadence, a groove if you will. This groove tends to lend itself to getting a song going in your head; usually matching your feet as they crank away the miles. This past Saturday, I was out doing a training ride with the Clones; Ass Master Guin-Ass, at the head of the pack, yells back to all of us "Take a left at the next intersection, then we have a long grinding hill". This inspires me to burst into a verse of "The Long and Winding Road" changed of course to "The Long and Grinding Hill". A couple of miles later, Eric (GP-Ass) pulls up next to me shaking his head. "Thanks a lot" he grumbles, "Now I have The Long and Winding Road stuck in my head..grrrrr". To return the favour, he starts singing Farmer in the Dell (Dude I'm in a Dell !!....ooops sorry) and any other nursery rhyme he can think of. He couldn't have picked a more infectious weapon...those simple little sing song melodies stick in your head like crazy glue on acid..Especially while peddling...errr, and as much as I hate to admit it; Bingo WAS his name-o....Damn you Geepster, Damn you!! Evil I say....Pure Evil. 
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Posted by PunkAss at 10:42 PM

  Terrapin & Really Big Bunny
So I just got back from a nice 19 mile, after work, blow off some stress, try to feel less like a sloth, ride (you know the kind). While I was out there I had a rather humbling experience...there I was, pacing along at a not too shabby 18 mph when this heavy set couple in their 50's on a tandem that was built like a Hum-V, blows by me, leaving me to flounder in their jet wash. As the pulled away from me I thought to myself..."Self, I gotta see how fast these guys are going". So I got up out of the saddle and really stood on it until I was zipping along behind them. I looked at my computer....26 MPH! Yep.....I got a lotta work to do :)

BTW..Pictures coming soon....Really...............sooon......Patience grasshopper....... 
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Posted by PunkAss at 8:04 PM

  Tour of the Vineyard 2004
This past Saturday the Clones and I rode the 2004 MS Society Tour of the Vineyard. The weather couldn't have been better: 63F, Sunny with a 14mph wind from the SW. There were a few stretches near the coast where the head wind was a bit much, but overall it was a very nice ride! We managed a 16.8 mph average speed over the 54 miles; not stunning but not granny speed either. Mad props to John Siemiatkoski from the MS Society for putting together a great event!

Personally, I felt like I rode a little sub-par. At about the 20 mile mark I felt like I was loosing some juice. But by the time we hit 30 miles or so I got back into the groove. Consistency is something I defiantly want to work on this year. It's so frustrating to go out one day kick butt then go out the next and suck ass.

Well, as pictures from the event roll in I'll be sure to post some here (not the ones of me doing jello shots in the tree house though...sorry...well....ok....maybe one:) ). 
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Posted by PunkAss at 10:49 AM