tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1527183943671568192024-02-07T00:45:19.505-05:00Crispie PursuitsThe Witties "Athlete" on the Web. ProbablyChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.comBlogger284125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-77776200518095053172022-02-04T12:16:00.000-05:002022-02-04T12:16:24.271-05:00DIY Disasters - A How To guide to build your own train wreck (pt1)<p> First off - new name for the blog. "<b>The Triathletes Wit</b>" worked, but it lost most of it's meaning after the whole "triathlete" thing fell off. And it's also debatable whether I have ever been witty. Changing it to "The Formerly..." also was just long and pointlessly complex. So here we are with "Crispie Pursuits"<br /><br /></p><p>- Crispie - Something one of my buddies calls me.</p><p>- Pursuits - As in... pursuit races on the track - but also pursuits as in random weird projects. And that makes a great segue to...</p><p><br /></p><p><b>The Disaster Projects:</b></p><p>At this point I think I'm a relatively handy "maker" in regards to the bike space. Lots of modified / custom parts, at least so much as you can do on a cheapskates budget. Most of them are pretty simple things, but sometimes hubris gets the best of me and I really botch a project. Long time readers (or if you just look back far enough) will remember one of my first big undertakings... stripping down my Scott CR1. I did that in the absolute most convoluted, pointless way possible and it didn't even save me any weight by the end. Still... so long as you learn something no project is a complete waste of time I suppose.</p><p><br /></p><p>Well, this is one of my most recent, and most egregious disasters. </p><p>1.) <b><i>The Bamboo Gravel Bike</i></b></p><p>Something I have had a passing interest in over the years is building a bike from scratch, but it's been something I've long thought was just outside my skillset. I know how to weld (arguably... I know the absolute basics of putting two pieces of metal together) but not anywhere near competently enough to build a steel or aluminum bike. I'm most familiar with composites, so carbon fiber seems like a natural choice, but after reading Damon Rinards old blog posts and seeing some other folks diy bikes, it seemed like it made a little more sense for someone who grasped the basic concepts of frame building better than I do (as you'll see later on, I was right to think this) - but then, stumbling around on the internet one night, I saw it... a diy bamboo bike kit. It ticked off all of the right boxes for me... it had it's own "jig" that came with it (another sticking point I had) and it used epoxy/hemp to make the joints, which was basically the same principles as composite work. It was also all inclusive, they just shipped you what you needed and you followed along with the instructions. It was like IKEA for bicycles. It would also be a cool, different looking rig. Worst case scenario I figured I would learn a lot (this also proved true)</p><p><br /></p><p>So first off I want to put this out there - don't take this as a "review" exactly, nor a criticism. (Not that I might not do some criticizing) Just my experience. I did not reach out for help (although I did e-mail asking about headset sizing and got a reply very quickly, so I do believe post purchase support is available and seemed positive) primarily because I really just wanted to "work through it" myself.</p><p>I purchased the <a href="https://bamboobicycleclub.org/products/gravel-frame-build-kit" target="_blank">Gravel Frame Build Kit</a> from <a href="https://bamboobicycleclub.org/" target="_blank">Bamboo Bicycle Club</a> in Size Large.</p><p><br /></p><p>The kit included </p><p>- The Jig </p><p>- Metal Headtube, Seattube (insert not the post) bottom bracket shell, dropouts (including bolt on solutions for a thru axle, regular skewer and rear facing dropouts) and extra bits<br /><br /></p><p>- Bamboo tubes in varying diameters (some extras, mainly of the thinner tubes)</p><p>- Hemp for binding the tubes</p><p>- Epoxy for the hemp<br /><br />- 2 part glue for the seatpost insert / tacking tubes. </p><p>- Instructions / some extras (gloves / popsicle sticks / etc)</p><p><br /></p><p>Obviously you need some other stuff of your own. A table large enough to build it on (and don't mind ruining with screws/epoxy runoff) saws, files, sandpaper, a knife/box cutter, other things I'm not thinking of and the general knowledge of how to work around such items. Also, you're going to need a lot more gloves than the pair or two that come in the kit. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXryuqWVxkx_MBfZb2axFD8qeEtmBkDtDveSSrNR3G2mIGhvWWosxYuxGjl_g1ILfDdndSVwqIe54kR5eeiHh6-BsVrjoyG7a4xHc0qrwLB7CstocYX1lbsnbHQO6BaL3HD4nne4muBZWarRxJ5awRdAfNV-MQ-eDqza280Uq-Z3H_kRS5Ddk-7rLl=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXryuqWVxkx_MBfZb2axFD8qeEtmBkDtDveSSrNR3G2mIGhvWWosxYuxGjl_g1ILfDdndSVwqIe54kR5eeiHh6-BsVrjoyG7a4xHc0qrwLB7CstocYX1lbsnbHQO6BaL3HD4nne4muBZWarRxJ5awRdAfNV-MQ-eDqza280Uq-Z3H_kRS5Ddk-7rLl=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kit ready to begin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p>The first step is setting up the Jig. The reason you're going to need a throwaway table is that you need to bolt the pieces down to keep them from moving. For fairly obvious reasons... if things start moving it's bad. The instructions are pretty straightforward at this point, just follow along and build your sense of confidence.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirUOc5D03mn51GGQYK4iB5pC8zlo-JgL3c7gOeSUHNbjgwXktehyi62qtfs0-kBRBv1s0sLMnM5V17MS-ej7kA0EMqNMHNpfDT8OJYESpO_wLM-POIdLFJF-wxQDPZbn72AFX0UfLwYvzK8qGPU09JH1x714zeeop2kaey2u_Nsp2cPS_VJmtyXmcT=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEirUOc5D03mn51GGQYK4iB5pC8zlo-JgL3c7gOeSUHNbjgwXktehyi62qtfs0-kBRBv1s0sLMnM5V17MS-ej7kA0EMqNMHNpfDT8OJYESpO_wLM-POIdLFJF-wxQDPZbn72AFX0UfLwYvzK8qGPU09JH1x714zeeop2kaey2u_Nsp2cPS_VJmtyXmcT=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Then the real work begins. A lot of measuring and test fitting, along with sanding, is the first test. You need to cut the bamboo tubes to roughly the right length... but you need to account for how much material you'll be taking off to make it sit between the metal pieces. Unfortunately, it's not 100% math...there is some eyeballing that is just going to take place. The front triangle, and especially the downtube, are going to be important to get right... as there aren't many viable pieces in the kit that will work for the DT you can't really afford to mess it up. You're also going to need to make rounded cuts into the DT in differing directions (vertical where it meets the head tube, and horizontal where it meets the bb shell) so pay attention to your angles.<br /><br />In my "I'm smarter than the system" moment, I ruined my first downtube getting a little to overzealous using my drill press with sanding drums. The second one I was much more cautious with... but it split when I was sanding it (which bamboo can do if you aren't careful... or if you just have bad luck) - which led me to a day or two at a standstill while I tried to source another piece of bamboo that would work. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEqgM5sfW8MYYuvJb9m7vjOXEsQ7top85hQ5hWSwubVqtAE38d9HPJlhi6kwXKoZhvLu3N3IU89lJO24o06jxBd6sqeku4e5gvRfcc4lzTQL99hzTc9v1ddNa7CWP-OOJuzjZNAAOWT7Sgy3Ix06KK0H1Wp3YNY2sJ1G2EH83hN9j2wOiendzEa7lM=s1008" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="752" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEqgM5sfW8MYYuvJb9m7vjOXEsQ7top85hQ5hWSwubVqtAE38d9HPJlhi6kwXKoZhvLu3N3IU89lJO24o06jxBd6sqeku4e5gvRfcc4lzTQL99hzTc9v1ddNa7CWP-OOJuzjZNAAOWT7Sgy3Ix06KK0H1Wp3YNY2sJ1G2EH83hN9j2wOiendzEa7lM=w299-h400" width="299" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">aye yay yay</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Once getting the feel of the medium down a little better I was able to get the front triangle built up pretty quickly. Measure twice, cut, sand (at this point I had moved back to hand sanding as to not ruin any more tubes) and test fit.<br /><br /></p><p>Test fitting was my first taste at the limitations of the jig. Look... jigs are very expensive pieces of equipment, so thinking cnc'd fiberboard screwed to a flat board would be a good substitute is obviously flawed thinking. That said, it works, you just need to be kind to it and not try to force anything, because the fiberboard will not necessarily hold exactly where you thought it did if you forced a tube into a tight fit. I ended up reinforcing mine with some L-brackets.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWJ76PpHhp1hLxg49seV8SIrURR-yML1VMqCVjZOYvmiePuv5c8sBiT7l81TqeKD4DYRu0PV_sMOXfEmwXTGjvAjLMofWft7HagZ0O4_5fx8eKIHoYEUh_iUAcJRXHJDnYoRj0DqogkcZhBRuvzKlSQ3swcqpA5ixzkGkUK9t8ZjDabuyUOj89ieLv=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgWJ76PpHhp1hLxg49seV8SIrURR-yML1VMqCVjZOYvmiePuv5c8sBiT7l81TqeKD4DYRu0PV_sMOXfEmwXTGjvAjLMofWft7HagZ0O4_5fx8eKIHoYEUh_iUAcJRXHJDnYoRj0DqogkcZhBRuvzKlSQ3swcqpA5ixzkGkUK9t8ZjDabuyUOj89ieLv=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p>Once I had the DT roughly where I wanted it I tacked it on some of the 2 part and then filled the gaps with a mix of epoxy and sawdust, making a not so tasty peanut butter substitute.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp-pIX8VjtRujAG4RAyJ2J487pip9iteiFl7Kp5YtPqF3TlIm8wwZTLjpy_7MG4Nfj3Y-BE1zvu6Bg7gxzdSzaZp7Qp5CAacTw9jjPEB1l8smDk9axdrpMVGL3-WwjnSS6I1sM0T4COYZtblSz1XraiOe17eqxEMwT54Ju2NkkZPb9Pn4hrGDQdhF4=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhp-pIX8VjtRujAG4RAyJ2J487pip9iteiFl7Kp5YtPqF3TlIm8wwZTLjpy_7MG4Nfj3Y-BE1zvu6Bg7gxzdSzaZp7Qp5CAacTw9jjPEB1l8smDk9axdrpMVGL3-WwjnSS6I1sM0T4COYZtblSz1XraiOe17eqxEMwT54Ju2NkkZPb9Pn4hrGDQdhF4=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div>The next step is inserting the seat post...insert... and getting it glued in place. I was lucky and the tube I chose for the seat tube and it very nearly fit as it was. If it's not a snug fit you need to put some hemp in there to take up the slack... I put a single layer of fiber in there and epoxied it in.<p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAS1JSnIhDkieu1CKO_emmgdChLup38XOowyzDp1OzO6GpDudaaW_lP7lyxNU0NjYPDrHvjlKEV0f86eXGpiI6ZUd6OPr-mvYxAHKJQlxBhZ5m2bSYux2xFaee1BUMFUmuc8wpUB_feOzuMDkuxhqAyA_Uph27VTtnQWDyAtONT0cGFZAd4uM9_z9J=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAS1JSnIhDkieu1CKO_emmgdChLup38XOowyzDp1OzO6GpDudaaW_lP7lyxNU0NjYPDrHvjlKEV0f86eXGpiI6ZUd6OPr-mvYxAHKJQlxBhZ5m2bSYux2xFaee1BUMFUmuc8wpUB_feOzuMDkuxhqAyA_Uph27VTtnQWDyAtONT0cGFZAd4uM9_z9J=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Basically the same process described above for the rest of the front triangle. Again, keeping everything snug without bending/breaking anything is the challenge.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRCdbtGiyw6Lej2J883Wg855OXGFvfMgKjK7qY1XI2kF5fQImZIeeTvUn3xs7ooSRJEzQqgUqtiGhz_A422NsacU-0SJmiM9GIhpwgjP_4aOTCeaiWwQmqYn97_rB2t9RqQqv8GooVJrDCGhKQWxRFfZuQikHxWpgMpKYp4BXmZ9VK1qC2XrvxqVxe=s4032" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRCdbtGiyw6Lej2J883Wg855OXGFvfMgKjK7qY1XI2kF5fQImZIeeTvUn3xs7ooSRJEzQqgUqtiGhz_A422NsacU-0SJmiM9GIhpwgjP_4aOTCeaiWwQmqYn97_rB2t9RqQqv8GooVJrDCGhKQWxRFfZuQikHxWpgMpKYp4BXmZ9VK1qC2XrvxqVxe=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk3R2lYsY-za6k44G4B75pT58p4Mskki8T79V67sjYmsWr0_DGzDBtd_4yn0RmSEnvec82y2u4WRvT4f8C7Tx1mw_uZ-k-sVENNgSNWzQ9NB_Iauvr3-hTCPhCnAFcMrDqdlMK1cZWkrbGI4CTkl7ELZhHMrLDiQpaFqdOb-p-yy-feV6UoKmR30dq=s3998" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2997" data-original-width="3998" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhk3R2lYsY-za6k44G4B75pT58p4Mskki8T79V67sjYmsWr0_DGzDBtd_4yn0RmSEnvec82y2u4WRvT4f8C7Tx1mw_uZ-k-sVENNgSNWzQ9NB_Iauvr3-hTCPhCnAFcMrDqdlMK1cZWkrbGI4CTkl7ELZhHMrLDiQpaFqdOb-p-yy-feV6UoKmR30dq=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the most part, the front triangle went together without much of a hitch. Confidence level... high :D<br /><br />Of course, next time I'll start diving into the rear triangle, where it all starts to fall apart.<br /><br />As always, thanks for reading!</div><br /> <p></p>Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-13551070107692417832022-01-18T09:59:00.000-05:002022-01-18T09:59:12.873-05:002022 - We're still here<p> Hopefully this post finds everyone well. It has of course been a while as has become my normal the last few years. <br /><br />Honestly there is not much to post about because not much is happening, or has been happening in some time. I've got some hope that things will change in 2022, but here we are staring down February and things are still a little... well you're aware of how things are I'm sure.<br /></p><p>I know I had promised the ultimate cheapskates di2 build part 2, but honestly... there just wasn't much to say, definitely not enough for a blog post. I put everything together and it worked, which was welcome but unexciting. I made a dummy shifter for the other extension (3d printed and then wrapped a layer of carbon over top of it) and other than not reading the manual (I didn't get a manual) and not understanding how to check the battery level, no hiccups.</p><p>I used it twice, at the TN State TT and the Oak Ridge Velo in 2021. I would write a race report but again, nothing worthy of it's own post... The long and short of it was, I went in out of shape in general, but VERY out of shape for a 40k effort. I felt pretty good for about 5 minutes, tolerable for about 20 minutes, and then I really suffered the rest of it. It's one of the tougher events I've ever completed... I really wanted to just stop at the turnaround on the first lap, it was that bad. I did manage to stay under 60 minutes, but I think I averaged around 220 watts... far off some of my past performances. Still, just to finish was a personal victory for me. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm likely never going to snag a State TT jersey, so I don't have that burden of disappointment any longer.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji2KJ_U0aC0hdj2N1Ik6ZrNyn9Cvp38ATMcBU8cAkvOfJPDRtz86eIlYu8rh65bltmvcAyyn8E3ndxpLI77iqE2jy_TETenevjNq8aslstG3qwGSe0f2VhvHH5a7yqhmCXYnHpmEU4Sqlzl0SPgif4Q12LMf02WcqFcd84SgqlcYkbybeHxsr95fzS=s320" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEji2KJ_U0aC0hdj2N1Ik6ZrNyn9Cvp38ATMcBU8cAkvOfJPDRtz86eIlYu8rh65bltmvcAyyn8E3ndxpLI77iqE2jy_TETenevjNq8aslstG3qwGSe0f2VhvHH5a7yqhmCXYnHpmEU4Sqlzl0SPgif4Q12LMf02WcqFcd84SgqlcYkbybeHxsr95fzS" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even channeling my Inner Bigham didn't help</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The Oak Ridge Velo TT I was in possibly even worse shape for, having spent a week in the woods in Montana. It was thankfully only about 10k, so although I again did suffer, it wasn't all that long. Fortunately my training the last year or so was more suited to a sub 20 minute effort and I was able to "fake it" a bit more convincingly than I could in the 40k.</p><p><br /></p><p>The track... I don't even know if I remember how to ride it. Certainly if I ever had a good line around the black, I've lost it. It's almost impossible to believe I was traveling to Rock Hill at least once a month a couple of years ago. Now I'll be thrilled if I get to go to the track at least once for a long weekend this year.</p><p><br />It honestly leaves me in a weird spot mentally. I would blame it on Covid, but really the roots were planted before 2020, although I think it certainly brought it forward at an accelerated rate. I do enjoy track immensely, but the harsh reality is that location at the minimum, among other more global issues, seems to mean I'm not really a trackie. I enjoy time trialling, but again, due to location I'm really limited to a handful of events every year at the maximum. I've also lost a lot of the "spark" to suffer for long bouts of training... anything over an hour or so and I'm just ready to be done with it. I've really been enjoying lifting with my wife... something I'm not ready to give up again. I've had the urge to run nagging at me more and more the last year or so... something I'm not sure my health will allow, although I'm willing to try again in a healthier way than what I was doing a decade ago. Sadly swimming is mostly off the table (again primarily a location issue) but I suppose if I could get some miles under the legs and keep on the bike a bit, I might be able to survive a few hundred meter pool swim. </p><p>Still that's a lot of if's and my mood seems to change with the weather... so no promises you'll see my name on a 5k or sprint tri start list in the near future... but it's something I'm thinking about again.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks again for reading. I know every post I say I'm going to try to get some structure back to this blog, then a 6-12 month break... but I really am going to make an attempt. I do find it therapeutic to put some of my thoughts into text. <br /><br /></p>Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-50264910348891170822021-03-30T13:06:00.001-04:002021-04-02T09:21:27.875-04:00The ultimate cheapskate budget di2 TT build - pt.1 - intro<p> We're back, at least for one new post! (currently we're on like annual post schedule haha)</p><p><br /></p><p>So, like most of the world, 2020 was a wash in events. (obviously, very minor complaint in the grand scope of things) For me personally that meant no velodrome travel for sure, and in the "used bike boom" I ended up selling my Fuji Track Elite. 2021 is looking like there will be at least some form of return to "normalcy" for racing, but I'm still not convinced much travel will be happening. So in my mind the most likely return to some local'ish racing is time trialling. The only problem with that... all my dang time trial bikes were sitting in some form or another of neglect and/or disarray. In all fairness, so am I, so everything is going to be a slow build :)</p><p><br /></p><p>My Speed Concept sat there in the corner of the garage, a thin layer of dust coating it... it's old plasti dip ruined and peeling in multiple places. Alright then... let's get started.<br /><br />I'll spare you the full breakdown, but I stripped the old dip, roughly blocked the entire frame (120grit) and oh yeah, cut the stupid duotrap mess out of the chainstay, then layed up some carbon the make it less annoying when trying to fit a disc wheel. Using Spray.bike carbon primer and paint, we were able to shoot some new life back into the tired old Gen1 7 series SC.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Step 1 - Set up a non-embarrassing fit.</b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqzgOg_bVYHTIYvsn5GNYx8TAL4rWhW9fuTI_xGeEL_G9ObAN7DyPn0yiRhxBbepVcbky8L_k-tGfFs_mqLmknbKmizqXkIhtaVYfh8scfybR_xSxHZR1P4mazflIpuB170wc03a5EnI/s651/Untitled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="651" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqzgOg_bVYHTIYvsn5GNYx8TAL4rWhW9fuTI_xGeEL_G9ObAN7DyPn0yiRhxBbepVcbky8L_k-tGfFs_mqLmknbKmizqXkIhtaVYfh8scfybR_xSxHZR1P4mazflIpuB170wc03a5EnI/w400-h391/Untitled.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Honestly that was my first sit down on the bike after just guessing some measurements. Screw trying to meet any regulations, I just want to go fast, so I set it up similarly to my old triathlon position from my first trip to A2 (a decade ago lol) albeit I'm considerably less flexible (and considerably more brittle) than I was back then.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Step 2 - deciding on a build</b></p><p>Look, I've been wanting to build a Di2 setup for years, for a bike and tech nerd it's always appealed to me. But I'm also a cheapskate (it's why I always end up using like 7800 I've had for 10 years) so it's always been like "yeah, I'm going di2" - 2 minutes of looking on online swap meet later - "ehh, back to mechanical." But this time was different. I had a mission. And that mission was... I really didn't want to re-cable the rear derailleur on the speed concept again. :) </p><p>So then I thought... alright, lets do this as cheap as possible. How cheap can I get this bike shifting.</p><p>I thought $500 would be a challenging, yet attainable number. So that's where I started.</p><p><b>Budget - $500</b></p><p>I did some consulting with some folks that actually knew something about di2 (and Slowtwitch where some folks showed off some truly brilliant hacks that I'll be borrowing in the future) and after checking and re-checking some compatibility charts, I figured I could get by with just 6 pieces.</p><p>- Shifters</p><p>- Junction A</p><p>- Battery</p><p>- Battery Charger</p><p>- Rear Derailleur</p><p>- Cables (I'm counting them as one damnit) </p><p><br /></p><p>Going into it I knew the hardest bits to obtain at discount would be the battery and the charger. These are things EVERYONE needs pretty much regardless of what kind of build you are going for, so there is very little reason for them to ever sell at discount. I briefly considered building my own battery (and charger for that matter, as I have most of the necessary stuff to make one in my garage) but after consulting with some folks smarter than me, I came to the conclusion that at least to begin with it would be wise to not cause myself any more headaches than necessary. </p><p><br />So I put out the call for some gently (or not so gently) used components. My friend Emil had an extra junction A, and we were able to trade around on some wrench work I do for him. I don't know what you'd consider that in terms of dollar amount... but since they are my rules (I'm like the Iron Cowboy with my rules) I'm counting it as $0 and you can't stop me.</p><p>Another friend (Thanks Rudy - shoutouts galore!) had built a fair number of setups for folks in the past and had some extra parts in his box. OG (from Beginnertriathlete!) discount code engaged, and $125 later, I had secured a battery (the older internal style) and a rear derailleur (6870) as well as some random cables. So far, we're off to a good start. The rear derailleur was the thing I was most concerned with budget wise, as ideally I'd have wanted a long cage shadow/xt (as I only have a 1x setup I'll need a large'ish rear sprocket to bail out on) but as most of them are easily $250+ it just wouldn't have worked for the budget. We'll talk more about the RD later.</p><p>So now I needed a charger and shifters... and off to ebay we go after not finding anything that <strike>would work</strike> was cheap enough on Online Swap Meet / forums.</p><p>I found an open box single tt shifter floating around on ebay, after sending an offer that was accepted ($70 after shipping/tax) I was down to the charger.<br /><br />I bid on a few that were just auction style, but most of them ended up bringing either as much, or in one case...more... than a buy it now nib. I feel like if I had held out I could have found a used one a little below the $100 mark, but I had saved enough on the JuncA/rear derailleur/battery combo (thanks again Rudy and Emil!) that I just bit the bullet and bought a new one. After shipping/tax - $130</p><p><br /></p><p>That brings the total to</p><p>- Shifter (came with it's own cable) - $70</p><p>- Junction A - free'ish</p><p>- Battery - $60</p><p>- Battery Charger - $130</p><p>- Rear Derailleur - $60</p><p>- Cables - $5</p><p>Total so far - $325</p><p>(obviously I just broke up the Batt/RD/cables - as they all came together, you can split it as you like)</p><p>In theory, that should shift right there with no other money spent. It's likely since I'm foregoing a junction B, that I may need to purchase a longer cable to run from A to the RD, but I'm waiting to get everything in hand before I buy that.<br /><br />Also, something will have to change on the rear derailleur. My plan is to buy a cheap OSPW (token/digirit/KCNC/etc) that will allow for at least a 32t max on the rear. A 36t would be nice, but I can always go down a little in chainring size if I have to on hillier courses.</p><p><br /></p><p>So can you build a sub... $400 di2 tt setup? To quote the Beatles "with a little help from my friends" (and some bargain shopping, and obviously some concessions) it seems like the answer is yes.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the next episode (hopefully before 2022) I'll have everything in hand and we'll see if it actually works :) <br /><br /><br /></p><p>Thanks for checking in and reading. I would blame it on 2020 but obviously this has been an on/off (mostly off) project well before that. I'm considering moving to a video format in the future, but I really have a voice and face for text based communication so we'll see.</p>Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-47560119776018390042019-08-13T12:26:00.004-04:002019-08-13T12:26:59.737-04:00The Iron Price<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You want to race, get deep in the thick shit and show everybody how strong you are? Throw down for that $20 gift card to Taco Bell in the prime sprint? Take that Cat5 podium and taste the sweet nectar that is the tears of your opposition? Or maybe just take that Strava city limit sign KoM.<br />
<br />Then you have to be willing to pay the iron price my friend. And you better like that shit, cause brother (or sister) you're going to hit the ground, sooner or later.<br />
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Maybe it's a little fresh in my mind. I was involved in two wrecks over the weekend, albeit I only went down in one of them. (My friend James rolled a tire at the end of the day in our practice match sprint on Saturday... broke his clavicle and some ribs... and some bike equipment. Right before Master's Nationals in CA. Shit totally sucks) First race of the Rock Hill track series (12 lap scratch race) and about 10" into it (still on the neutral lap, made it from the start to turn1) a rider in front of my friend Dyllon and I clips a pedal going too slow into the turn. He slides out, directly in our path. First rule of track cycling... you can't go under a rider slider... it never works out.<br />
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You see that shit happening and time slows down, Bullet time like the Matrix, except you aren't Neo, you're the poor non-agent policeman he pulls some crazy kung fu time and matter defying kick you in the face fella... ie. You're about to get shit on. You play out a few scenario's in your mind in hyper speed... can't go up the track, not going fast enough. Can't bunny hop two people. Can't go low... fuck. Hold on to the bars. This is going to hurt. Not again. Hope my bike is going to be ok... Hope it doesn't scare my wife too bad...<br />
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Personally, I almost black out in the crash itself. I always have. It's like my mind just partitions that away so I don't have to re-live it. I'm on the ground. Stuff doesn't feel great. Hear people running, bikes untangling. Somebody tells me to take it easy... yeah, gotcha. I sit up, take stock. Shoulder hurts a bit, left hand is bleeding freely. Cheek hurts, and ear burns. "You're bleeding quite a bit behind your ear, did you hit your head?" Did I? Hell if I know. When you're not terribly smart to start with it's hard to know. Deciding my lower body is functioning properly I get up and we move to a bench. The race has re-started at this point, they definitely aren't waiting on my busted up ass. Somebody tell my wife I'm ok. Oh, there she is. Hey dear, look at your dumbass 35 year old husband bleeding through his spandex. Did you get any good pictures? Where do you want to eat tonight?<br />
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"Your collarbone looks broken" Oh no, don't worry, that's the plate from this one time way back when I broke my collarbone... why does it stick up like that? Oh that's from the last last time I wrecked on that side and dislodged it. It just looks bad. "What cut your ear so bad?" That? Let's see... helmet doesn't have any scratches or bashed spots... sunglasses aren't broken. Oh... that's just the back part of this expensive Kask helmet digging into the back of my ear when it went forward, thanks a lot Kask. Dyllon's ass saved me from smacking the ground with my face. Give me ass over pavement any day. Ear stops bleeding eventually... band aids on the fingers. Alright, now to the important part... how does the bike look.<br />
<br />Dislodged wheel... broke my computer mount for the saddle, tore the side of the saddle very slightly. Scratches in the (brand new) handlebars. Nothing seems broken. The pro/1/2 race is ending, almost time for the second 3/4 race to begin.<br />
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Hop back on the bike "Are you sure?" We drove all the way out here to race... might has well try to race.<br />
I ride around the practice track with just my left hand on the bars, making sure my arm isn't going to give out on me at a random inopportune time. Seems like it'll hold. We line back up on the rail "Everybody make sure you're going fast enough to get around the turn this time" a slightly nervous laugh rings out.<br />
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After this race (I managed to get 4th in the win&out for what it's worth - nothing like adrenaline to keep things moving fast) the guy that clipped his pedal finds me and apologizes / asks if I'm alright.<br />
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--- Real talk --- This is what you do after you're involved in a wreck with other people. ALWAYS. If you're not fully sure what happened or it was a "shit happens" scenario, you find whoever was hurt and check on them anyways. This is your responsibility. And if you did something that directly caused it, be doubly sure things are good.<br />
On the same note, if you're the person that got wrecked... when they come and apologize (so long as it wasn't malicious of course) that's the end of that shit. You're good. You signed the waiver, you knew it was a risk. Don't hold a grudge or be a dick about it. Move on. Bike racing (triathlon, cross, mountain biking, running, spartan, etc etc) is a fun, beautiful sport but it's also dangerous as fuck. Don't try to convince yourself it isn't. Read that waiver you signed... you could DIE. They don't put that in there just to scare you.<br />
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Jump back in for the points race. Shit is high tension now. Everybody is tired, everybody makes mistakes when they are tired. Field splits... Points races are wild because everyone stays in, so if you get lapped you're still in the field. So speeds can be drastically different. (Did I mention there are no brakes ;) ) We run it a bit, eventually the prime lap comes up and I put in a massive effort to stave Dyllon off at the line (for a sweet $20 gift card might I add) but I've blown my load. I try to take it easy for a lap or two but can't get my wind back... shit still burns/hurts... to hell with this. I pull out. Great decision! Probably the first one I've had all evening.<br />
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I have a couple of beers and try rubbing some dirt in "it." Not sure what to rub dirt in, but it sounded good, and I'd had a beer or two, so I try it. Didn't seem to help. Still sore as hell, and now it might be infected.<br />
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Look, this isn't a scare you post, it's not a pity me post. This is a reality check post. Bike racing is dangerous. You're going high speeds on two 19-25mm slits of rubber wearing a helmet and spandex, oftentimes in close quarters with people are tired, bored, nervous, or just plain fucking sketchy. (You aren't safe triathletes... you have to pass a shitton of people in aerobars that often don't even know which side of the road they are supposed to be on... and go through aid stations with these people... and of course the stereotype is you suck at bike handling anyways...)<br />
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I'm a safe, defensive rider that is past the point in his life where he is willing to take a chance on a gap that might not really be there, or take a sprint for top15. But I still wreck. Shit happens. It sucks. Often it's not my fault... sometimes it is. It happens to newbies that forget to unclip and fall over, it happens to Chris Froome when he takes his hands off the bars... it happens to everyone.<br />
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Decide if that is for you or not. Talk to your partner about it if you have one. But FFS, don't lie to yourself. Be willing to pay the iron price!<br />
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<br />Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-47997630823576051752019-06-25T11:30:00.002-04:002019-06-25T11:30:29.535-04:00Has it really been that long?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Preface: This is going to be different, more foul mouthed, more raw/honest. If you're offended easily, I'm glad you came to check in on the blog, but from here on out, things are going to be different, this is your warning to turn back. -Chris</i><br />
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I have re-written this post about 10 times in the last month or so. Trying to figure out what the next evolution would be. If you've been paying attention / checking in on the page you'll have noticed some of the layout has been changing to reflect the current state. In this post, I'm going to go over my thoughts on the next "phase" of this blog and just talk about some stuff that I've been wrestling with.<br />
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First off, I look back on my old posts and see that there are some quality technical posts sparsely strewn into an otherwise mediocre attempt of an ok athlete to hype up middling results. While the blame for that is definitely on me, I'll say that the culture of Age Grouper Hype Men (and Women) definitely rewards (can you call whoring yourself out for a discounted kit a "reward?" I suppose we all want to be a part of something.) us for making something out of nothing. "<b>Check me out bro, I just won overall at the YMCA Tri A Tri, next stop Kona! #Zuut #WATEINC #CerveloJ5x</b>²" Yes, I was that fucktwit. (*by the way, in the new iteration of the blog where I am more "honest" and real, I cuss. Liberally. Just like real life.) Look, if you like part of the culture that goes along with these teams, I have no beef with it. And really, is there ever a feeling that compares to that first time, after sending in thirty applications to age group teams, figuring out creative ways to tell the company their product changed your life, (<b>Seriously bro, Snowman Jizz flavored Goo changed my fucking training! Sponsor me!</b>) that you finally get that confirmation email that you've been accepted to the team. It's on par with the first time you got tongue, or smoked that cowboy killer behind the school gym... amirite?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="about:invalid#zClosurez" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image result for brahs" border="0" height="229" 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3mA4N9ZlRa+IgROo+M+qm5lksXY2W8huPDoqn2QBAG54cfRZj1e0Myc1pi+zOBbiMQ1j3hoIc6/EgEgX6qxzHszWbUj2ZcNgQLEDiqgYSB9/fJWGT57UwtRpDiac99hMjTxLRwPGy07fgFJRXyRZ4jsvXbhXvMNIE6fzFoufD6rGuC7PnNb8J2kyXQGn/KwPlMrl2c5WWVDEu3PEm3vOPS/xVY5/srLC9oqmvhO1ncdUnxn5hNaDEwiRQFsCJSGUZaTE3ueAUdWmU00d3weQAmajtQ5NBE+LjEDwWoxlT2eGeWwCQGNjYTaB4NB9FGpiPv76KP2ir/hUxt3yfQH9VyJeaOom5SQxk+Yvp7AObyNvCDwKyH8Qsrw9d9PEUWCm/UBVAEagT7xAtI58RvsrV1Uqiz+odLiDBh0He4E/RVhtT0Fywi02zP4XGM1MENMgtMEj3yTufAJx+K0OaIcLNNnSNi4fNUXtZ0+7s3ptNk4+pu43gbg7BoAC6PUSUy+wuK0guJOp3dBFjHd97hFz5+ClYCq4vcXCJOw2iABHgAFR5Wxxsbgnwg93h4WWuw2DGmSgZWo6HOPFy2TGVtknFZ22lGo77JeWlpElUfamiar6Ypt90kuPKbD6pWMVKVManKUY2jY5ZmjXReVPxdIHvDisBgMvxFIBze8OQ/dX2Dz22lwIPIhDyYlfxdmoZX96JtY+X6/fyUDDgmo4cCAeWyaxGaAuIDbc7+XC89E3g6/4sC5iFcYNI05psbxVANJ6n5LnGaUgys9o2Bt5ifqt/m2I4m0H9eC57mdXVVeZm/0T/FTOdz60R3FJRIimzlByiQQUIBCUE9gmB1RjTsXAHwlQtK2bbsPkwa0YiozU4+63k3n5/JWeOxffLncza8J/B5iRT0NMAiCFn8zfJN0huc7Z14xWONInZjjWgCOKpcZVBAdFwbcYtdG+SFBrTcI0IpA8jtDmKcCxsbix+nwVVignmVOCarPlGSoVyS7I6PkrvaYTDEn8gHWxgmfAD1T1TCF7jAAabn/FvPlsqHsVihUFOkQZpguF7RLgbcfeaFedscc1lJtEHvVfEEMbuR1MwPXgl5J9gsX8TB5uG1KztAim0lo4iRufDr+qVlOSmvqIsA/RPQRqPxH3uzmVVoEMBbwA5D7C3PZTBNGFov3c4E+ryfVFlLrEF1Tlsq6mUBlMiLEwBwIG1/JYHT0XUszx7QG6RNiBy2EfI/ouV6ypiba2TLSo9MNrBZfttnLKNJridnEAeIt8lBzDtNLfwxfmXNj1lYDtLXc4A1HlxcbWgWF9M8L/ABS0MVvYZy6q0avJ859q2SIUfPa/cceh+SsclwjPZNsBACpu0tMljgzkTx2An6LMVH8mg7b6WY9tiNJ4D5fFS6jrO62sADwHjsoJPu+W+23NOVqo3gb8J5zEp+jnJ0XmTuJqSZ2G5nePRbWk4lsLDZJVv7obA4c/NbvLh3NXmkuTpnW4e4CHuFNo4JnKMQ1zXOJkucfCBYfr5qH2lxeim6Dc90eJ2VV2crDQAeHBDWO4Nm5ZKydTpOXvB2I+ScxVOZBa1UmW0mbtkcxJVoXADl6pOSp6GI79KXGYIOdAtwEcPBSDh20Wt0iDIJj038FJfAOrh4JvFS8EAQBxWuzejfRLZju2DnM1meo9P9rBrfdsCXM23ab+DT+ywC63G/gcPn/7AShKCJHEQ0SCChAJyg+HNPIg/FNoKFo1uCxp07pqtiO8BzKiYEWjwUfFVSKlhsPDigqKs6DyfFNl85lgoWMbAkpFDGE7qNj8e0ix/wBqlF2XKcetlf7TvFIrOSOMnikvKNQg5Gn7E4jQ57jsBAtzu74BR85zQ18U8tuLMb/i23LiST5pORSxntJgN1GPBhj6Kw7M4ZjAHOjUbklCk0m2M44uVIgVcoqEAkeF/mtjklWMPRYd2jSfGSYvwgkx1UV1cGXckzhsRcdXAfEj6oTk5IPLGo7Kw4gNc8ERcgGZuCRI6dL8FkY6fNanOYa908XEfE+gusrqKPATyyqjtlfC4SkCXYugwdXU3HwhtvguYdssbTqYg+xqGpTa1rWnTpFh3g0G8Tx6eC1H8Q6mGdRaKFSlIcNTANFQt4Q2LgHdc7Kxhhqy8099Tp+RVpojqEWLA49f3n4qv7LV5pN8FKzA78vv9kq1UzpQdwMHXpFry3fSdPPZNmT6KVXpONVwDS5znWaASTxsBuLo6uWVaQmpSezq9rgINuSeTOW4u3RM7NOEwf6vgBsuilhFGQNh47CVzbLAIaQb6zt5QV0fKcTqpQdx9lJ8peM6vCfwo5zn2amq8Dg2/nH6JeT1odE3UbtHgvY4h7eBOtvg6THkZHkmMK+HN6ppJdNHP7yWXf7Oi5PiOGx5K/Fa2yzGVMNp34Hy4rS4Zlly8yVnax7Q3VfILdhzTVLETT35g+IsU7iRwJhU9QlmtoMjXF9+9cH4rMY2EtpEDPXD+X6jUPmFzkLb5qXOplnM36DisZiKJY5zHCHNMHxXT46qNHF5zuSY2gggmBACCCcbQJaXgS0ENJ5EyRPjpPoVCGz7HZXTLA8sDif6r/P0UDtRhKTXgsYGQfyiAb8tlfdnKcUGmYt+6zufvkgdSfv4JWDbyPZ1JQisVUMYQ7+ChAa6juCc9tpHik5VTLiSjf2Lt20h7+UHM+qRVwjRsFLrsIGyh1KziNo6qI1KMV6iDV3SadMucG80dRSMqHfnkt+IVSuVEvGP00S0f1afKB62T+FxZawJjNxDWXu4k+Q/2PRFiCABvuFirQwnUmWxxdun3zRYLESaYAsXcf8AODbzCYpNEcvFLw1CfAE9O8II++qxSDybYx2kcS99rarWI8d1nlre0RkT1H1WSg9USD0JZl8jrX8Sg04R5/k3NdrYDVcGNLO9wvqcTcea5KV0/wDiLgWfypqBjmua9kAObAa7UDraCRfhBJtcrmAErOH+BWb+RoOzeP0w3qtRnBhgjdVPZfJQz8WoL8P7R+qm55mLGgk3PAdf0QJ1LJo6GG44vkN5NmNJga7Z+o03EWMESL+M/BHie1jdVQOY5zJLWw+DAJHe4LHU6zjrjiQ7ciIduL+V004m8kXn1Rvwq7Yu+VKqRa43Ganh+ljA8ag1hkjb3v7jvK3HZ/Fy0TsRH/ZcvElbHspjge64wQf0grHIhcQnDzfOmSe3OB10xVAuw3/wNj6GCsXSd3m+IXUsfQ103tOzmkHzB+C5dhKBc8N638iq40rhX6L5mOsikvs6Lk9YFoWlwskLH4Jj6UHSXN4wJI8uS1OAxYc0EGQeqRzrdo6OOWqYrEMG8KoxLSKroJgifMWvw5eiuMTUsRxVfi6luZI8ljG2gr8KHMCBQfz1R42k281X9q8pFRn8zSuYBeBxEDvDw+SezarYjnB+SHZvNA6p7E3sWxzj9k/HtFdkI5Os30f34YdBXvazKBQqSwfhu26Hl4clRJuMlJWjkZIOEurAnKL4MzH3vytc3TaXQp6nNaPzODfUgK2ZXp0LBGMOP9cBeFks3rTVA5fNavMXimwN6fQdOhWCfVl5dzKWwr1nR5UusVEdxX0UvKagAhQ64ME8v3TmErMiHEtPPh6ozWhWLqZcuqgpmsRChtqRs4EdD9wl1qllmhjumV2IdcgcE9lxgkqLUNypeDpkiGiXOOkDmSYA9UR+CkH87FZi7U4EAw1rQeQJmx5TCkU67dOk+P38FvMN/KMDcGXMqfiNaWSSHOZ3qtSqGkT7pa0HawAsVi+21dhxTmUmMpspgUwGMawF0S9xDQJJcSPABDi1J0EbcN/sTTrjb5W9VPwtb8MkbajMcDDI+E/BZOVaZdiCKL2cCT8Wj9FcolxzW6LDMa2pnWf3H34rNalY1axiOBuR6/uq1ahHQLLK2dP/AInYqnToCgHAve9ri0G4a0OuWyTF/wAyyXZnKtRD3DwHIQb3+CVl2TAd+qZJvG9+Z5nxVo/HtpC0A+VuSC3S6xGoYt956JeOxgY0jgPisTmGNNR08OH6peZZmalhsq9bxY+qBcjP20h2k6OX2UH1PRNygUUWsWwqRgcUWPBUcJKqrLUnF2jquUZm17AHbERPI8N1j8yAwmKcSyWuOsR1N48/mEvsnmMdw3A38DxV/neWNxFKAe829N3ldpPJJJLHOn4zrtvNi7R9QjB9rMLFxVb4sB/9SVKZmuCfdtc0nbyGuaCeo0wVzrQQSCIIsQpVI2KI+PH6AQ5U3qRu6Wa03WdXpki1nAT6peJxbdJ7wjxH6rn1UKOC2HRZ0iNgIvq+nFV/jI0+XKP0X2aY1k+8D4bp7scGA1a7t50idhME/NZbzV5lLtOFrG/+mhFlH40CxZe+Ts15sve1VRtSi4DcDV8fv1WBK1dPEh+GmDJkGTNhuPgFlFeGPVUZ5rUpKS+0BXnZHB66+qJDBq/7bNHxJ8lV4HCOqvDGi535AcSei6Nk2Vsw9O1ju5x3MDf04Ks2TqjHFwuc+30ir7QAhj38QLen7rDNWp7X4iGho/MZPgJ367WWVCvCqiXzJXkr9Eyo78PzUNSn3pTyKioiF5/QErWeZ9SkoKzFgWz7B5Z7XEsP5aUVDItN9E+F3f8AVY1m4XVOxeBNKgHE6XVw5/8A1uKflAc4f59UPK6iGwrZHyDs21zamIeH+31Oc0kaaZD5AGkcReW7gxvx51mNXVVqOO5e49feK7ayg9jHMJLuRgbAiAR63XHe0mD9jiq1PgHkjwNx81jDK3s3nVLRWKbgT3XeXyPp4qEpOCPvDmEdgI+kpjp1Hbu/T9lWSrAWAHT9bqulVEuZqsdmAYCfIRbyCzmJxLnmT5BN1KhcZJkpCqMVE3lzOf8AwCNEgtAA07RZJTScpvifvzUNL0VVbCaS3vngkKEfpIwWJdSeHt3HxHJbfJcaHAG+k3Hmb+nJYFWeTYvQ6JgH0nqhZYdkNcTO8cq+jcZzktOszVEOj3mi/Tx8Fz/MWFjiyWkj8zeo28eYWwGdgUzp72n3hx8VTdoKlMspvbSAdxeNjebjnf4IWHtHTG+WoSj2jplTRfb3jPEH6FKrMJ/+z1amjWDtwPqprcS3YO8kwJxUXorhRMxH39j4KTWxNRlM0g78NxDiIG42vunK1Xj5eXD76qvr1JKi2YmlBaZZ08QWYWP6nOjwiFUJdSsSADs0QPWUhWlQOc+1f0aDIKWgNeSQXuFh/wDm25N+ErV4nHhzTpcC3nx32Cw2CzAglz5c4jS0k7D6cE7XxLRaZLW2vYuPG3AX9UGePtKx3DnjCFDnairLmi3E2M8h+qpE5iagc4kbbCd45nqmkaKpUJZZdpNliwTSIHL91Xqbl9WDdO4ugCYA70SDz6dVSdM249o2itQQRLYAdojcnb6rqlPODVwbXlrKAp0wWv0lxIYIgNkNvtuTfYWXLWP7jhyIPrYpypjXlgYXGGjaTBvaRMWQ5R7B4S6nS8Nm9dweMbVbScQHNDHezboi5Dmm7pgQTcGyyfbnS40quktc8OkHctBaWk9YcVMdmFNzGPdU0uGxa46mvAGm46T03CpO0OdDEtpktIqNnUZBBJ4g7+XBYhH5WbyNdaKVSsucQ4xxafooqUx8GUZi6dMmYlx422+OyhJx1QHnPNNqJEk7CQQRKzIaCJBUQNCUEFCAlBBBQgaNm4nb6JKtsny0VYOqCXRtaAQD5yR6Km6Nwi5OkO0MSKffBHtKdjyqU+HnEJnFYpji5jP/AI3XAI9129uk/ApjNKJpvLTEtJaIM2mwkgKFKpL7CyyvwNKCSChqWgVgc8pJQQUMgQRI1CgIkEFCBokEFCC6dTSbJ9uMcOM+O6jFEoaUmvAyUESChkU0wiKCChYEESNWUEjRIKEDRokFRD//2Q==" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First rule of Goo, tell all your friends about Goo, Brah! We got cheap kits to sell!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ok, I'm starting to get off track. That was basically my long roundabout way of saying I'm sorry for all the shitty filler shill posts throughout the years. I'll expand on that a little more later in this post, but for the most part, I'm happy with most of the how-to's, and maybe a few of the reviews, but really it is the posts like my struggle with OTS and DNF'ing my first race where I was closest to my honest self that I see a spark of pride at what I wrote. I want to write more about what things are really like, or at least what they are like to me.<br />
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Now I'm going to take one quick aside'ish and talk about banner ads and adsense in general, the bloggers starter kit of selling out. MONETIZE that bitch! Look, if you're a small size blog like this one (all time hits 150k, 1k last month, most of those probably bots or a wayward search from Pornhub) don't become that sellout for the big time. In 3 years time of having that stupid targeted banner ad on this page I tallied up an impressive $23.35. If that's not worth annoying the shit out of any real person that might have found the blog by accident I don't know what is. Moral of the above couple of paragraphs... shilling is stupid and I'm not doing any more of it.<br />
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That said, let's tackle the reviews portion of this blog.<br />
I want to read back through all of them and tell you that I was wholly honest about my reviews up until this point. To put it diplomatically, I'll say I was in general pretty honest to point out what I saw as flaws but overall I was definitely more or less positive on anything I reviewed. One of the most popular posts OF ALL TIME on this blog is on Osymetric Chainrings, and a follow up on it. It was positive enough that Osymetric USA had a link to the review for a few years (maybe still? I dunno) and while I linked to TomA's much more scientific review of them (Look, if you come to this blog for good data like that, I will fail you. Go check out Tom or some other smart guy's blog) I basically ended it saying "I think they feel good and power seems to be up."<br />Of course power is up asshole. You've been training. If it's going down there is a problem. (and that doesn't even touch on the issues of Osy's and power meters, but I did touch on that in the post itself)<br />So I'm sorry if you bought placebo products on my suggestion. I wanted to be a sick ass reviewer, and figured the best way to do that was not to piss off the product creator by saying their shit sucked.<br />
My one consolidation to you is that from now on, if I post a review of a product, it's going to be one of two things<br />
1.) Something I really believe in<br />
2.) A total piece of shit I'm going to bash!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.atr.org/sites/default/files/emoji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Related image" border="0" src="https://www.atr.org/sites/default/files/emoji.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overall it's not that bad. 8/10 </td></tr>
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<br />On to a more positive note... I look back and I'm overall pretty happy with my How-To section. I think most of them are filled with more "a,b,c,d" and less bullshit. I hope to continue those, as I think some mediocre pictures off my phone and some explanation together can on occasion help people out. Now that I'm focused on Track, maybe even more so, as track cycling is a small subset without the kind of overwhelming Q&A that comes in Triathlon or road cycling/TT circles. So, I guess that's something to look forward to. Or skip.<br />
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<br />
So my view for the future of this blog is something a bit more realistic. I'm still going to have rambling posts about nothing and about racing in general, but they're going to be honest posts of a former triathlete trying to figure out track racing, Or whatever the hell else I end up doing. If something scares the shit out of me (Real talk, learning how to Madison is scary as shit.) No more puff pieces talking about how great thou art by finishing 1 out 1 in my division. (thou? thy? I? I art doesn't sound as good) <br />
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That's my vision for the blog going forward. Hopefully you'll stick around as the motherfuckin' saga continues. If not, I'm sorry to see you go, but I just don't want to write trash any longer. (Well, it's still going to be trash, but honest trash. That's better, right?)<br />
<br />
-Chris<br />
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Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-17160669843303863012018-09-04T12:56:00.003-04:002018-09-04T12:56:48.077-04:00Unexciting StartNot just a great title for a post, but also how I describe my standing starts on the track. Other words that might fit are "lackluster" "uninspired" "terrible."<br />
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It turns out, years of muscle memory starting at a pedestrian speed (either for a longer time trial or with a running start before hopping on a tri bike) don't really lend themselves to the violence required for a hard and fast standing start on the track. At the CCA Regionals at Giordana Velodrome a few weeks ago I learned this the hard way.<br />
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Ignore my kilo... that would be for the best at least... as it was dishearteningly slow for the watts I invested into it. <br />
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My first lap in the 4k (as well as the kilo) was about 4 seconds off the pace of pretty much everyone else in that list. My second lap was also a little slow as I had still not got up to top speed. After that point I put down pretty good lap splits until the very end where I started to fade (it was another 1k longer than my masters races) but overall it would have looked much better if I had just done an even slightly better start.<br />
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Of other things to note, with the power I produced for the ride I went slooooowwww. Most of the calculations I ran it through spit out a 5 even or slightly under for the watts I was making... so something was/is off. Looking at the other times I suspect a big portion of it is that the track at Rock Hill is getting significantly slower at a pretty fast rate. You can feel it getting lumpier even compared to when I started a little over a year ago. It's certainly not DLV levels of bumps, but it's not smooth either. <br />
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Another thing to consider is some of my equipment. (We're going to assume my SRM was reading correctly as it was zeroed before the start) I was trying out some 3T Revo bars in hopes that they'd help with my start (seems they didn't, or perhaps it'd be bad to see what it looked like without them) - but it is definitely possible they aren't very slippery bars, there is a lot going on with them. (although I do appreciate the on the go adjustibility) My skinsuit (the new Velotec) fits really well, but It's been beaten into my head over the last 10 years that "fits comfortably" usually isn't a good thing for a skinsuit. Having shredded my BodyPaint 3.3 though, that's sort of where we're at. My rear tyre changed from a Vittoria Pista Evo to a more durable (although certainly slower) Continental Tempo2. There's also my position, which has gotten a good deal wider and higher than it has been in the past.<br />
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My experiments with width have brought out some good results in the ability to produce power within single digits of my road bike power (something I've never gotten close to before) but it's something I haven't put a ton of work into and definitely needs tuned to be optimal... if it can be optimal. I'm guessing from my Aerolab analysis that I'm giving up roughly 12-15 watts in cda to gain roughly 18-20 in power production... so a net positive but not by much. Albeit a wider position may allow me to ride a tighter line, be more comfortable, etc etc. Still, needs work.<br />
Mostly, I think I may need to work on my head position on the track. I'll post the video below so you can see how I'm periscoping... a lot of that is because I suck at lining up the turns on the track and have to look up not to ride the red line (which I do a bit of anyways) but some of it is just how my head sits. It's possible a longer tailed helmet like the Wasp might be better than the Aerohead for me.<br />
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Still, overall everything went pretty well. I've got a lot of work to do. My short term goals are to improve my standing starts as that's where a lot of "free" time will come from, and also to bring my top end power up so that I have a bit more "punch" when I need it. That'll take up the next couple of months, then it'll be a build to bring my 4-5 minute power up while in position, while riding a tidy black line around the track. The longer scope goal is to get back to planning an attack on the Master's hour record. There have been setbacks this year, but if there is a silver lining it's that it will give me more time to become more confident in my abilities to take on the challenge and set a solid record. Time is on my side (unless some other stud breaks it first and puts it out of my reach)<br />
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As for the site/blog, I'm hoping to get things back on track this winter and return to more how to's and reviews. I've got a nice list of things built up but just haven't gotten to any of it yet.<br />
Other things I'm going to consider (depending on how big of a job it turns out to be) is trying to build a part of the site that carries on the legacy of Aeroweenie.com where lots of data was compiled to one place where you could quickly find the white papers/data you were looking for. It's still a resource I use although it sadly isn't kept current.<br />
Finally, I have had a lot of interest in some of my 3D printed projects. I may begin selling some of those projects for those that have interest. Mainly the "nubs" that exit out of the extensions for trackies like Bridie O'Donnell famously used in her hour attempt. (I see that the Tanfield's / Bigham also have some ends in their track bars, although a different design)<br />
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There you can see some of my prototypes, each with different amounts of stack/reach they add to the bars. It's not a certainty, but something I might do if there's the interest. I think the 3D printing place that did Bridie's was charging over $100... mine would be considerably cheaper.<br />
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Anyways, thanks for reading! I always appreciate it a ton.<br />
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- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-66508546194374765552018-08-06T12:34:00.000-04:002018-08-06T12:34:56.157-04:00Still here (Some short State Championship Reports)<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">I'm still here!</span></i></b><br />
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It's been a long time since the last post. There has been a lot going on, and honestly, some really low points for me. It's been a real roller coaster the last couple of months, but I'm hoping to have come out the other side for the better. But, for this post I wanted to put down some of my thoughts on the State (Track and TT) Championships for Tennessee.<br />
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Most of my season has been derailed after a high speed crash (my front tyre blew out) at the track a couple of weeks ago. Most of the damage was just to equipment and skin, but I did a real number of my hip and hip flexor. After two weeks I can spin again on the bike without much pain, but the damage to my fitness has been done, and I've had to pull out from my hour attempt in Aguascalientes this year. Hopefully I can salvage some of the rest of the year and gain some strength so that when I start planning next year I'll be ahead of my target as opposed to right on/below it. Another season of track craft certainly won't hurt my odds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately the Bodypaint isn't the best at protecting your skin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruined a nice pair of socks too :( </td></tr>
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But enough whining, on to some reports from the weeks (now I suppose month+) past</div>
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<b>Track State Championship</b></div>
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The astute among you might have noticed some red flags already. The primary one, that Tennessee doesn't have a velodrome. (but we'd like to change that!) </div>
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Fortunately, Dick Lane Velodrome was gracious enough to host us during their own state championship, which will bring up the second point... there wasn't a big show of support from the Volunteer state. In fact, my success was guaranteed the moment I lined up... as I was 1 of 1. Participation award - Check.</div>
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Nonetheless, I wanted to actually contest some of my division. What I didn't quite realize was that I was about to get thrown into the elite division (as there was no 35-39 Masters group) and that all Cat's would race together. As you might expect, a lowly Cat4 who's done a couple of mass start track races wasn't going to have a snowballs chance in the big league. The omnium structure was cool, although it rained out the scratch on Friday night, we made up for it early Saturday (making Saturday's schedule scratch - kilo - 4k IP - points race)<br />
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Overall, it went pretty poorly. In the scratch race things went pretty boringly, and I foolishly took the opportunity to show my stuff off the front. Unfortunately for me, I got strung out for a little bit then shelled off the back where, with the other unfortunates like myself, we formed a little gruppetto and circled the track half a length behind the big leagues. There were no pulls, and slower riders were instructed to stay on the bottom of the track. This turned into a real problem the final lap, as our little group was caught directly in the final turn. There was some yelling, and some rubbing. Fortunately, there were no wrecks, and I scathed through the finish "best of the rest."<br />
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The Kilo I fared far worse. It had been a long time since my last stint in aerobars at Dick Lane, but I had forgotten exactly how rough it was. I hit the first turn at speed and very nearly wrecked. The next two laps I had a death grip on my bars and coasted through... almost getting caught (very embarrassing) at the line. Off to a great start!<br />
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As the 4k approached, I had a gut check moment. I seriously considered putting my drop bars back on. My ego however told me I'd rather crash than suffer the indignity of doing a pursuit without my aerobars. I lined up with the intention to just go as hard as I felt comfortable with. While the lower speeds made the bumps less of an issue, it didn't help me out any when it came to putting down a fast time. I finished 4th in the Elites... and took a fair amount of pride in that considering I did it at a well below max effort.<br />
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Finally was the points race. Unfortunately it was quite a bit of a letdown, as I had broken a cleat at some point that evening, and after a couple of laps with heavy clicking and an odd feeling in my foot, I decided to not chance it and DNF'd. It also saved me the humiliation of getting shelled again, so that's a victory, right?<br />
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All in all, a great learning experience, but not what I'd hoped to bring out of it. Of course, one of my goals for the year was to finally lay hands on a State championship jersey... and I suppose technically I accomplished that in the lamest way possible.<br />
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<b>TN State TT</b><br />
The State TT has been something I've wanted to win for years now. Something most of my friends have won on their way to better things. I was seriously hoping to improve my placing from 2017 (2nd) and felt that I had been putting in the work to get it done. Specific training I hadn't been doing (there is a lot of climbing on the front half of this 40k for a TT) and gaining weight for track wasn't going to be a big help in that respect, but I still felt I was in the running.<br />
<br />About 1k into the race I came upon a divet in the road/bridge connection and hit it full speed. It jarred me hard enough that my TULA bars slipped backwards (and up) a bit. It was slightly less comfortable than what I had set up to begin with, but higher hands should be a positive, right? Derek and myself had came up with a strategy and power targets for me to hit on each section... a plan I executed perfectly! I came in the last kilometer full gas, and nearly wrecked as I crossed the line. It was a race I went very deep in. I felt like I had left it all out there and had a great race.<br />
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Unfortunately, not great comparatively. I went slower than I did the year before (on 20+ more watts) and was not even on the podium (4th) at the end of the day.<br />
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For sure, it was a blow to my confidence, in everything. One of the problems with only having a few specific targets over the year is that when doesn't go "to your expectations" then you have a big letdown. But, upon review and a non-emotional look at the event, I can't be anything except happy with my performance.<br />
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It was only a couple of weeks later I took my spill at Rock Hill. Here we are a month from that point and finally I don't have pain in my hip. (Although sitting extended periods does make it sore/stiff still) I'm melancholy about how it has turned out and what it means for my hour attempt. I wish things had turned out differently, but it's a fools errand to focus on what could have been, instead it's back to working towards something. Fortunately I happen to enjoy the journey, so on to bigger and better things!<br />
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Until next time, thanks so much for checking in on me. Hopefully it won't be as long of a break between posts :)<br />
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- Christopher Morelock </div>
Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-44105904770774487382018-05-21T10:15:00.002-04:002018-05-21T10:15:48.343-04:00The nightmare of logisticsIt seems like I am starting more and more posts this way, but... it's been a while.<br />
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The primary reason is that training has taken a front seat in everything. This is the final push towards July to get as fit as possible, and it's a trying time. Mentally as much (if not more so) than physically. Unfortunately, the things that don't immediately fuel that get pushed to the side. (like the blog, sadly)<br />
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One of the things that seems to go hand in hand with hour records is devilish logistics. For possibly the best firsthand account you can read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hour-Michael-Hutchinson-ebook/dp/B004FV4XAS" target="_blank">The Hour</a> by Michael Hutchinson. While his struggle was primarily related to the bike required for the antiquated "athletes" hour, my own tribulations stem more from the location. Mainly, it's the end of May and I don't have a concrete venue to do my attempt at in July.<br />
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Aguascalientes is still where my hope lies, but it's becoming likely that the velodrome will be undergoing maintenance (re-finishing the track) during our target dates. Sanding/working on the boards can take quite a while (a month or so) and the process can indeed slow the track down a bit until it is again "worn in." The work was supposed to be done by now, but delays have set it back to what seems to be perfectly scheduled to interfere with our trip. It's possible we won't know for sure until July1... at which point I'm concerned I won't be able to secure flight/lodging (for a price I can stand to pay) which has left me scrambling to try to figure out a "plan b."<br /><br />The seemingly obvious choice is just to wait and re-schedule the trip for later in the year. While that seems the most logical solution, it's one that I'm not sure I can come to terms with. I am ready for this to be finished. Spending every waking moment thinking about bearing friction and atmospheric pressure is something I enjoy in the abstract, but has begin to take it's toll on me. It's difficult to focus on one big event for almost two years and not start to feel the strain as the end comes into view. I suspect this will be my first and my last "serious" hour attempt.<br />
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The next spot on the list is Colorado Springs. The altitude is similar, the track is longer (both a good and a bad thing) and the travel is easier. The downside is that the paved track is not on par with the boards in Aguas, and just in general the track is a bit slower. I think it's still a great option, but of course it doesn't come without it's won logistical problems. Namely, the bubble that surrounds it is not a permanent structure, and the velodrome is working to make it permanent. If that happens, it will have to come off while the permanent fixtures are installed... of course the time frame for that is likely in July...meaning best case the top is off, and worst case the track is just closed. Neither being ideal for a backup plan.<br />
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There is also "<a href="http://www.dayofthehour.com/" target="_blank">The Day of the Hour</a>" in Milton. By all accounts a very nice track, and pretty quick. Unfortunately, it's also at sea level. Doing my calculations, it would be very difficult for me to break the record at sea level... maybe impossible. It's also possible I'm selling myself a bit short, but with the cost involved in this endeavor (and the likelihood that I'll never try it again) I really want to make this shot the absolute best I can.<br />
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At the end of the day, these are all things that are mostly out of my control, so all I can do is ride the wave and see how things pan out. Of course that's easy to type out on the computer, and a lot tougher to deal with sitting in the chair. We'll see how this all shakes out. At the very least, it's going to be an interesting story to tell in the years to come!<br />
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Thanks for checking in, I really appreciate it. I promise we'll get back on a normal schedule one of these days!<br />
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- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-31473920783315397582018-04-17T09:28:00.000-04:002018-04-17T09:28:04.919-04:00A short TT report (Oak Ridge Velo TT)<i>I'm still kicking! It's been a while since the last update, I apologize for anyone who was anxiously hitting refresh on the blog for the next post! Things have been moving quickly, and they're only going to speed up between now and the end of July. I've started about 8 posts and not finished any of them... so when things slow down again there is going to be a flood gate of stuff! Thanks for checking in, on to the report!</i><br />
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It's been a while since I last turned the cranks of my TT bike in anger. Actually, it was the Oak Ridge Velo TT last year that was the last time. As the schedule flipped this year it just so turned out it was the first race of the season this time! While the weather conditions would be vastly different, it would be a pretty good way to measure how I was progressing vs. where I was last year. </div>
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For the nerds out there that are interested in such things, and to add some spice to an otherwise "I rode hard" style race report, here's the difference in the weather at 4p.m. (roughly my race start) between years</div>
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7/22/2017 - (16:51) 91° <b>RHO(kg/m3) - 1.1422</b> with wind ~ 7mph blowing Southwest</div>
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4/14/2018 - (16:50) 77° <b>RHO(kg/m3)</b> <b>- 1.1744</b> with wind ~10mph blowing South</div>
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What does that mean? Well, the condensed version is that the day was slower due to the conditions. (I know, I've just opened up a whole new world of excuses for people to use for a bad day now! "Yeah man, I was feeling good, but the Rho was just not in my favor!") While the lower temperatures "feel" better, in general we usually go faster when it's hot. (The caveat being if it's so hot that you are truly overheating) To expand - </div>
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In 2017 I finished the 7.6 miles in 16:51:xx</div>
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In 2018 I finished the 7.6 miles in 16:50:xx</div>
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What was the difference then? It took me 20 more watts to cover the distance 1 second faster this year. I rode the same bike, same wheels and tyres, with equipment/position that gave me a similar CdA (I looked!) or at least similar <b>total</b> drag, (total drag being a mix of CdA, rolling resistance and drivetrain efficiency) and paced the race similarly. (Note this doesn't account for traffic draft, changes in road surface over a year, etc etc) If you look at other repeat racers times vs. 2017, pretty much nobody went faster this year.</div>
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But enough of the nerdy stuff. This is a race report! </div>
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As a full disclaimer and apology, most of the people racing the ORV TT had already been riding on Saturday before I even got out of bed. Road racing, and especially any going longer than an hour isn't in my wheelhouse any longer, and I don't miss it! Nonetheless it's my new secret strategy to winning Omnium TT's... just don't wear yourself out earlier in the day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abs of steel has been failing me...</td></tr>
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I arrived about an hour and a half before the start. The general plan is to get to race site with plenty of time to fix whatever inevitably breaks on my bike (last year it was a flat!) and sequel into the start tent moments before it's time to start with a sky high heartrate. Somehow the universe mercifully spares me any mechanicals and I get to spend that time socializing. Some may say it's the right time to warmup for such a short event...but what do they know. Eventually I do kit up (In my red kit... which hides the blood from when I'm stuck with safety pins... just like a spandex Deadpool) and figure I probably should at least pretend to warm up. I do some openers, which any the track guys I know would laugh at, but felt like huge starts for me, then ride into the start tent. As usual, once things start moving, it moves fast.</div>
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3,2,1 Go</div>
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I come out of the gates hot. (For me, again... laughable standing start watts) As soon as I'm up to speed I find my place on the saddle and tuck. For me the race is split into three sections, the first third (up to the highway on ramp) is to get into a good rhythm and settle my heart rate. The second section is all about making power (a long steady incline up the highway to the turn on Bear Creek Rd) and the third section is about maximizing where I spend my energy.<br />
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The first third goes by to plan. My heart rate settles in around 180 and my watts are pretty consistent though the slight rollers. As we approach the on ramp I catch my first rider. I split my focus between the road, (a dangerous balancing act as the shoulder is not swept, and the curvy road begs impatient motorists to make dangerous passes... all divided by some gnarly rumble strips) my wattage and relaxing...as much as you can relax at 180bpm at least. I've found giving myself things to think about helps me TT much more consistently. Nothing worse than a blank mind counting seconds. I come up on my second rider but I'm close enough to the edge I can't squeak out an "on your left" I just have to pass and move on. </div>
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Making the turn on Bear Creek it's time to bury myself. At this point the terrain changes pretty significantly, going from a general trend of steady uphill/false flat to true rolling terrain. Unfortunately I'm at my worst at stuff like this, I just can't get comfortable and stay in a gear, and my watts can drop / jump pretty wildly. I focus and just try staying smooth, something that has gotten a bit easier with my increased track time, but still isn't optimal. I pass my third rider and as I cross one of the hills I can just glimpse my fourth one. I figure if I can hold my pace and increase it to the finish I might just catch him. As we make the final sweeping bend before the final straight, I take my first second (too much, a full cadence drop to 0 in an otherwise beautiful power data file) of freewheeling. Once I'm out of it I put my head down (don't try this at home kids) and just follow the white line. I glance up and can see the finish, and realize I sadly won't be catching my fourth rider! I don't have anything left for a sprint, so I just hammer on to the line. Finally, I hop onto the base bar and can gasp air again. </div>
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The primary success for me was hitting my targets (technically I was 1 watt below my goal... but I'll allow it to be rounded!) and feeling "comfortable" doing it. That was a success. It was a happy bonus to also be able to take the top step of the podium at my "home" race as well. The fact that I was able to add a chunk of watts to my race on less fitness (for those of you who are Trainingpeaks nerds, around -20 CTL to the race last year) should mean my goals for later in the year are going to plan. </div>
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After that, I watched some of my friends start/finish their race, and collected my sweet sweet prize purse. It was great to see so many of my teammates dipping their toes into the world of bike racing.</div>
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So that was my ORV TT. I managed to sneak into the top 10 overall (I'm a nerd and looked) finish times, which I'll also take a small amount of pride in. </div>
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Next on the agenda is getting back down to Rock Hill and doing some aero testing on skinsuits, as well as doing the final adjustments / dialing in my position. I'll try to grab some pictures and jot something down worth reading!<br />
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Until then, Thanks so much for reading, I really appreciate it!<br />
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-Christopher Morelock</div>
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Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-71187353652843220972018-03-13T08:28:00.002-04:002018-03-13T08:28:25.438-04:00New Saddle and fitSniped a Mistica on Ebay, been interested in this saddle a long time (I've worn out many Arione Tri's in my time) put it on the FUJI and adjusted the fit. Got a lot more roll in the hips, I like it. Power is a lot smoother at the top of the stroke.<br />
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Still a couple of tweaks to make, but overall happy with it so long as it feels good turning left!<br />
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- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-5385598459818738312018-03-05T09:41:00.001-05:002018-03-05T09:41:18.683-05:00Aguascalientes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I haven't been totally honest with you guys. Since late 2015 when I began working with my new coach Derek Dalzell, we've had one thing in mind... one "long term" goal that we knew would take years to come to reality, with no guarantees that it would even then. And so, nose to the grindstone, we've waited and worked toward it. Now, it's time to put it out there and bring it to words in "public" for the first time. July 2018, I'm going to attempt to best Jason Sprouse's US National hour record of 45.641km<br />
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Some folks might find that a pretty modest distance for a Men's master's record. I did, and that's exactly what spurred me on towards it. If you were to look at the AG records, the 35-39 record is certainly the "softest" one still out there. That's not in any way taking a dig at the record... it's stood for 10 years and was done at T-town (outdoors at not the fastest track in the world) something I'm fairly sure I couldn't do. Nonetheless, I think with the right amount of "smart planning" and hard work, a nobody has been triathlete with only minimal track experience like myself might have a shot at putting a couple of meters (at least 10 please!) onto the record and getting my name jotted down on USAC's record page. That said... I've gone 41k in my hour last year at Rock Hill... that means I need to add around 19 laps to that. 19 laps is a LOT of laps.<br />
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So you say... you are crazy... how do you plan to get that many more laps plugged into the same time frame. Well... I've definitely <strike>worried</strike> thought of that.<br />
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First, from the data we collected at the track at Rock Hill, there are some things to be considered. The primary one is that we were ONLY aiming to best the current track record (40.5km) which meant both gearing and target lap times were set to be slightly up on that pace... NOT my threshold (or, looking at the power data, anywhere close) which means, on paper, I should have been able to go much farther. Now, paper vs. reality is two things... and I didn't feel great at the end of that hour... but it was my "first" time. I plan to do another tune up hour (again at Rock Hill) quite soon, and we'll see if I can't add a fair amount to that.<br />
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Another thing I plan to use to tip the scales in my favor is location. Aguascalientes Velodromo Bicentenario is the fastest track in the world, as it is a fast wooden (indoor) track with the near optimal amount of elevation. Many very smart individuals estimate that going to that track "gifts" you a "free" kilometer or so in distance. Being indoors it also means I'll be able to run a front disc, which should help with the aerodynamics. The downside to going to altitude is that it can have a negative effect on your ability to produce power... but I'm hoping to adapt well (and lets be honest, I don't have much power to lose)<br />
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Alex Simmons (who has an excellent, much more technical blog you should certainly check out) has done a lot of hard work figuring out what kind of W/CdA is necessary to go a certain distance at certain elevations. Using his charts, it seems like, roughly, I should be able to do 47km. Again, Paper vs. Reality, but from all I've seen this paper lines up pretty accurately. That gives me a little wiggle room if things don't go perfectly.<br />
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There will be more updates in the future as things develop and I know more. I've also been keeping a blog entry over the last year or so that has chronicled the journey... once this is all done and finished I'll edit it and release it in a couple of posts. It should be fun to look back at what I've learned over the years!<br />
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So, until next time, thanks so much for reading! Time to turn left!<br />
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- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-658916158297133922018-02-14T10:10:00.000-05:002018-02-14T10:10:58.833-05:00How To: Install Soyo (or other Track) Grips<i>I was halfway through installing these the other day when it struck me I should do a "how to" on it... that's why one grip is already on and the pictures kind of suck. Sorry... be glad you got anything!</i><br />
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Since I've made my way into the world of track, there has been one seemingly endless source of frustration... getting those dang grips on "easily." Some people will always prefer just good old fashioned bar tape, but personally, I like the grip from Soyo's. (with gloves on... might be a little tough to handle if you ride gloveless) Well, the first time I *attempted* to install some, I absolutely ripped my hands to shreds. So bad in fact that I had to stop and wait a couple of days to finish while the skin healed back. That was after spending an hour or two online looking for the "easy" way to install them. Sure, a google search will find you a couple of threads and some YouTube video's, but nothing really helpful for installing the super tight NJS style grips. (Soyo, Yoshida Champs, StrongV, etc) so, using what little I picked up online, and a lot of trial/error, I've gotten really good at installing them, and I thought it'd be fun to put a resource out there that was a little more in depth. So lets get to it.<br />
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<b>- Lubricant/glue - </b></div>
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The first thing to decide is what kind of lubricant you want to use. First, let's be clear, you want something that won't continue being slick after it dries. (When you're twisting from a start or in a sprint, you don't want the grips moving) That means oil/wd40/grease/etc isn't what you're looking for. From the things I've tried, it really comes down to 3 choices. </div>
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- Rubber Cement</div>
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- Hair Spray</div>
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- Windex (soapy water would be fine too) </div>
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All of them have positives and negatives, so I'll let you decide as to which one to use. I've tried all 3, and have my own thoughts on each. </div>
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<b>Rubber cement</b> is the "traditional" way if such a thing exists. The Keirin stars in Japan (or their mechanics) do this using rim cement (I used Elmer's rubber cement... but whatever) and once that sets, those grips aren't moving. EVER again. The good thing about that is you don't have to worry about anything slipping on you when you are really torquing on the bars. The downside is that you've basically bonded your grips to your bars, and getting them off is a matter of literally cutting them off. Once you've got them off there is also the matter of cleaning the dried glue off before you can move forward. That's not a huge deal on metal bars as any number of solvents will help you along, but on carbon it's a little more dodgy. There's also the fact that you will inevitably (or at least I did) make a hell of a mess installing them in the first place. Fortunately, it's a lot easier to clean up while everything is still wet, but still... it's not a lot of fun. I used this on my Nitto bars, but honestly... I think it's overkill.</div>
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<b>Hair spray</b> is the next step down in terms of hold vs. mess. This is what I consider the go-to method. You'll get a lot of hold, some lubrication while installing, and not a lot of mess either installing or after removing. This is what I've used on most of my carbon bars since it's a lot less difficult to clean the residue off if I ever want to replace the grips. I use good old aqua net (also what I use for my 3d printer build plate) because it's cheap, unscented and readily available. Some of the "spritzer" bottles might work a little better as they stay "wet" longer than the aerosol spray does, but I haven't had much problem. The main downside is the over spray, and that it's pretty fast drying so once you commit, you need to get the grip on asap. It's almost certainly not the same strength hold as glue is, but unless you're really putting a ton of torque into your drops, I can't imagine them budging. I've tried multiple times (using both hands) to move mine, and I can't do it. Although I'm not a pillar or upper body strength to compare to.</div>
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<b>Windex</b> is the go to for when you're having issues getting the #$@*& things on. (Soapy water is a fine substitute as well) Windex is really nice for installation because you can be LIBERAL with the application and not worry about it. It's quick drying, which is another nice bonus to using it. The downside is that you don't get any extra "stick" when it dries, so just the tightness of the grips is all that keeps it from moving. I can move the "centering line" of my Soyo's ever so slightly when I use this method under normal conditions, and I can twist it a bit if I really try. Not enough that it would be noticeable mid-sprint/start, but enough that you can see it afterwards. If you're a big stickler for things being perfect (I sort of am) then it might drive you crazy... but functionally it should be fine for the already super tight grips.<br />
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<b>Other Options</b> There are a bunch of folks (well, some anyways) that use other methods. One that's pretty popular is using an air compressor with a needle nose (search google/YouTube for installing a golf grip with an air compressor to get an idea how it's done.) to "slide" it on while consistently blowing air under it. I've tried it a couple of times, and I don't find it to be a great installation method. That said, it is great for removing the grips, and it can help you straighten things up if you got it twisted around somehow. Overall, I think it's meh, but to each their own. Another option some suggest is boiling the grips to make them more pliable. You could also heat them up with a hair dryer / heat gun (I'd be very careful with a heat gun that you don't burn them) I've actually heated the ends before to make them easier to slide over the tip of the bar when starting out... I don't know that'd I'd go so far as to boil them though.<br />
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Alright, so you've picked your poison. For the installation part I'm using the Windex method, mainly because I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep the short grips on or swap them for longer ones. I'm also putting these on Sphinx bars, which are so noodly that I'm likely not going to be using them for lots of sprinting/hard starts... so no need to glue them on.<br />
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Here's the steps I use to get them on "easy"<br />
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<b>Secure the bars</b><br />
This is probably the thing that made the biggest difference for me. Take the stem/bars off of the bike (or mount the stem to the bars if you haven't installed them yet) and remove the fork or use a spare fork/metal rod to attach the stem to. Then secure the fork/rod in a vice or your bike stand (so long as it's sturdy) with the end of the bar facing you. You're going to be tugging/twisting/pushing on this thing in anger pretty soon, so it needs to be well braced.<br />
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<b>Lube it up</b><br />
I start by spraying down the inside of the grip and the very end of the bar. I just want to get the grip slid over the lip of the barend to start with (and if you go crazy with the Windex at this point everything will be too slick to get a good grip on.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcKnQTKmF1Pflc5NcDFHf-LEASaS7CW-EWvqA1CYIKcXpI7Wc11AGrUym8XVJBiyKn-WPgq8gxonWtZorho6Esfn8dzKnz9bwK9tY19NShsgdXelH7oBOv3L-Uc-xlEjU3aPQJs1s5Tk/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcKnQTKmF1Pflc5NcDFHf-LEASaS7CW-EWvqA1CYIKcXpI7Wc11AGrUym8XVJBiyKn-WPgq8gxonWtZorho6Esfn8dzKnz9bwK9tY19NShsgdXelH7oBOv3L-Uc-xlEjU3aPQJs1s5Tk/s400/2.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Windex to the rescue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7HhcohdjFLnTm4e1-PHTUI35fRVBs26lnnfx7o9qk0JtmHRgmtY-zR5CZ9GhdQP1w_TAuEHON_CJecIAdrwGWE2uFaFl-7qOBJJ6RcWJSXlnbXSWQfJNnyPJayyOt-7h-C7QO0vYgHM/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7HhcohdjFLnTm4e1-PHTUI35fRVBs26lnnfx7o9qk0JtmHRgmtY-zR5CZ9GhdQP1w_TAuEHON_CJecIAdrwGWE2uFaFl-7qOBJJ6RcWJSXlnbXSWQfJNnyPJayyOt-7h-C7QO0vYgHM/s640/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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As you can see, the grip has to stretch a pretty significant amount to fit over the bars. Again, if windex is proving to be a little tricky getting the grip over the end, you can gently heat it up and you shouldn't have any problem clearing it. Now that you've got it started, it's time to get a bit more liberal with the Windex. I coat the rest of the bar, and spray a little more into the end of the grip for good measure at this point.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEAANafuVKOvOBzR5Bt4wkawgztsYMHDK_Y_uUbTRGHpMASqtNsGaK66WsKocMubx4TxqKkl8836Pazn90MjrYxO1kdX8QvFzFxyFkXeZ9KkQ-1952-RCqeivGqsx0NX2tOfeFMfq3RI/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXEAANafuVKOvOBzR5Bt4wkawgztsYMHDK_Y_uUbTRGHpMASqtNsGaK66WsKocMubx4TxqKkl8836Pazn90MjrYxO1kdX8QvFzFxyFkXeZ9KkQ-1952-RCqeivGqsx0NX2tOfeFMfq3RI/s640/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<b>Test your grip strength</b><br />
At this point it's all about how tough your hands are and your technique. Personally, I've got delicate hand model'ish hands, so it's here that I pull out my trusty leather work gloves (whose real purpose is relieving stress in spokes on wheels I build, and occasional yard work... very occasional) and spare myself the blisters that I'm sure to incur without them. If you're more of the "manly" type, then by all means forgo the gloves.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuY3Pa3v4dbq7YxAq_MF7R3POxAjkEoCjk_uBK5I9dwQqJsn4ZartNjp7LLfDYObPjoxJfWbCo-hLrA6i3dOdpXWx9kCNsLQzpRGPkUkLFI02C0LFvoQkEStgM6Q4BDSxkVI44OiSuac0/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuY3Pa3v4dbq7YxAq_MF7R3POxAjkEoCjk_uBK5I9dwQqJsn4ZartNjp7LLfDYObPjoxJfWbCo-hLrA6i3dOdpXWx9kCNsLQzpRGPkUkLFI02C0LFvoQkEStgM6Q4BDSxkVI44OiSuac0/s640/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The best method I've found is to take your other hand and brace the bars (pushing back against the bend in the drop) as you both push and <b>slightly</b> twist the grips up the bar. You don't want to go crazy with the twisting, as you want the grip to line up straight when it's all the way on, but twisting will help it climb up the bar. Once you get about halfway up, it'll become much more difficult. At this point it's best to go back down to the start of the bar and start pushing/twisting again. Once the grip moves up in that area, go back to the top of the grip and pull it further up. It's a little tough to describe, but you'll get more grip on the bar by working in these two steps.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleN2S_T-Z8Q3pj_aky409XN-_TRh3x8NFqm1YYZaWkJ1ILynTl3_anSklBTaMc-o-TMxTqhL6Nklre8BJrKAuLQkiPNqZBb2nfkcw_N3IytDZoWMROoT1BCuR7h21dTDUPWRh6R0Ctu8/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleN2S_T-Z8Q3pj_aky409XN-_TRh3x8NFqm1YYZaWkJ1ILynTl3_anSklBTaMc-o-TMxTqhL6Nklre8BJrKAuLQkiPNqZBb2nfkcw_N3IytDZoWMROoT1BCuR7h21dTDUPWRh6R0Ctu8/s400/6.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go back and make sure it's all the way on</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
When you get close to finished you need to check and make sure that the end of the grip is firmly against the end of the bar, it can be a little hard to tell. Once it's on, check and see if it's lined up correctly. (Most grips have a seam that runs straight up the grip... I always line that up dead center) You want to do this now, because after the Windex dries up it'll get much more difficult to make adjustments.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisty-AUcKjFdFdk07u3LiNtKKK-UwZytcMT83PWdkLhoVJsGufxxSO73Md_Fdusj7UOHIJrHhRpFqGHr3WZ4B9ZFXgjdth4bLUkKZeaFnmNZtxrOiqh5Q0YT1MbgkKu0BQTsxWKl6WZN0/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisty-AUcKjFdFdk07u3LiNtKKK-UwZytcMT83PWdkLhoVJsGufxxSO73Md_Fdusj7UOHIJrHhRpFqGHr3WZ4B9ZFXgjdth4bLUkKZeaFnmNZtxrOiqh5Q0YT1MbgkKu0BQTsxWKl6WZN0/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ni9qahI12qrySsVR7iXFv-WGJNltpNKzOrObsXNhAisV5oxrghjC63Ek65ES0-XYEHcikKeapeXOMQgChHEct7fnwmspSN3oZy0J6u352C32sQcqTc2rn_Or8_VHyeXlC1oK0oNZX4o/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Ni9qahI12qrySsVR7iXFv-WGJNltpNKzOrObsXNhAisV5oxrghjC63Ek65ES0-XYEHcikKeapeXOMQgChHEct7fnwmspSN3oZy0J6u352C32sQcqTc2rn_Or8_VHyeXlC1oK0oNZX4o/s640/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
And that's how that is done. I'm still not 100% sure if I'll keep the short ones or get some long one's... I really only use the back of the drops on these bars (check out that super short stem on these Sphinx's to keep them legal) so I don't really need any more surface area, but then again it might look slightly better with the longer grips. If I do, maybe I'll update this with pictures using another style.<br />
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Well, thanks for reading, hopefully this saved somebody from some frustration and blisters!<br />
<br />
- Christopher Morelock<br />
<br /></div>
Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-9628932305791157072018-02-01T06:45:00.001-05:002018-02-01T06:45:31.561-05:00Short Update on a bit of a MilestoneIt's been over 3 years since <a href="http://leegoocrap.blogspot.com/2015/11/overtraining-syndrome-ots-my-experience.html" target="_blank">my bout with overtraining</a>. In that time a lot has changed... and while I tried my best to eliminate the temptation to compare myself to how I was before, in the back of my mind it was always there, sort of taunting me.<br />
<br />
It's been a long road, one that isn't finished yet, but last week I took a step forward that I thought might never come. For the first time since 2014, I set new (all time, including before my bout) power records for 15, 20, 30 and 40 minutes.<br />
<br />
Seeing those peak power values update from 2014 to 2018 is unbelievable... something I thought might never happen. A special thanks to <a href="https://www.dalzellcoaching.com/" target="_blank">Dalzell Coaching</a> for helping make it possible. Everything from this point on is uncharted territory. I'd like to think this was all physical... but part of me wonders if (due to it seeming to be a "floodgate" of PB's over a few days) there was not some mental barrier I had constructed for myself over these last few years. Perhaps I'll never know.<br />
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One thing is for sure... everything past this point is a bonus that I probably don't deserve. I'm going to make the best of it. Onward to bigger and better!<br />
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Thanks for checking in, I really appreciate it!<br />
<br />
- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-32093195529035371792018-01-10T09:06:00.000-05:002018-01-10T09:06:13.743-05:00How To: Add laces to your (non lace up) cycling shoes<i>If your first thought was "why?" then you're obviously new here. We'll forgive you for that. The stuff we do and try on this blog isn't about having good reasons, it's about seeing if we can do it. That said, my poor Specialized 74's have seen better days. I had replaced the boa's about a year ago and cut the new wires slightly too short, which made getting into them a real pain. A week or so ago I broke one of the new boa's and decided instead of replacing them again I'd see if I could make them into lace ups! Because that's the hot thing right now. It'd also be practical as it'd make it a lot easier to get into them and one might argue have more control over keeping them tight when riding. So there, there's you reason. But really, this isn't a blog for rational reasoning, just trying to do new and interesting stuff.</i><br />
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<div>
So, you want to breathe some new life into some old kicks. I did with my old Specialized 74's. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43ZUsaHBeMCKzzrReTaAr0ugqK0QF60wI1CUp8TjEkCLMDyKSme7UupkjOichNnXLpOJHeKLtfrXkfOawA_YvlDX3XboYgq-e00zdkHHkEHztgq22iPWueJS0hJaaotLuXTwpkwtk5T4/s1600/26732420_10156246101515864_839543544_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1440" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43ZUsaHBeMCKzzrReTaAr0ugqK0QF60wI1CUp8TjEkCLMDyKSme7UupkjOichNnXLpOJHeKLtfrXkfOawA_YvlDX3XboYgq-e00zdkHHkEHztgq22iPWueJS0hJaaotLuXTwpkwtk5T4/s400/26732420_10156246101515864_839543544_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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They've seen better days since then. Not long after adding some gold "flare" to them one of the boa's broke on me. The simple solution is to just contact boa and get a replacement shipped to the door, but that's no fun. Since I've been using these as my backup track bike shoes, I was interested in trying to convert them to lace ups. So, after scouring the internet for some time, I cobbled together what I decided was the "best" way to do it, and so this post was born. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While the themes here are universal, keep in mind that your specific shoes might require more/less work, and you could indeed ruin your kicks if you screw it up. Follow at your own risk.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First, let's get to what you'll need.</div>
<div>
- Seam Ripper</div>
<div>
- Butter Knife</div>
<div>
- Heat Gun (probably not necessary)</div>
<div>
- Xacto Knife</div>
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- Hammer</div>
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- Leather Punches (+ a block of wood... junk)</div>
<div>
- A leather punch tool with rotating head (you can probably pick one of the two)</div>
<div>
- Eyelet Tool (and eyelets)</div>
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- Some laces</div>
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<div>
All of that together is probably $20-30 worth of stuff (minus the heat gun) depending on what you already own. You can get the seam ripper (get one with a big handle) eyelet tools/eyelets and leather punch at your hobby/craft/sewing store for a couple of dollars each. (Also most of that you could find at Harbor Freight as well) </div>
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<div>
With that out of the way, let's get to it!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
First, you're going to need to remove whatever system of closure your shoes previously employed. (Straps, ratchets, boa's, etc) For me, that meant removing the boa closure system. Time to bring out your trusty seam ripper and start plucking away. Find and cut the seams on the INSIDE of the shoe first, the less you have to mess with the outside of the shoe, the better it's going to end up looking.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURZ7sTz0lQi6SeQqbpIP9CriOR15L0P7Fr6qGH-NL8Vu9-QpxSFe-O2Csfp0MuXVZC4ujP3fJi015HFSlie6LpBodxGQ6RcCYwiSHSBonp75xxhyeOmBlQOIXHnM8Co2acWzIlJV1pqs/s1600/26648601_10156243238275864_1013067448_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiURZ7sTz0lQi6SeQqbpIP9CriOR15L0P7Fr6qGH-NL8Vu9-QpxSFe-O2Csfp0MuXVZC4ujP3fJi015HFSlie6LpBodxGQ6RcCYwiSHSBonp75xxhyeOmBlQOIXHnM8Co2acWzIlJV1pqs/s400/26648601_10156243238275864_1013067448_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just dig under the seam and push</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
This is going to make up the lion's share of the work you do. Take your time, and try not to rip out any seams that aren't directly holding what you're trying to get rid of. For me, the issue was that the top boa's were also glued onto the outer of the shoe. Now fortunately the glue was old and cracking so a butter knife under the lip did most of the work, but I heated it with my heat gun just to make it slightly easier to remove.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PfEqBMw1ekc9GCUkAvDTckqlVWXSWlZcewv0DjliUUYSvMc23p_ddOYZZfa5yZ6Y0sIVObg_0bfL1s8lyLY2eE8dV65eTx0WYiQ4J2ifyIV9mmJII1xXX319aTOULIlxebyRk_awdAY/s1600/26732355_10156243239105864_2020173475_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PfEqBMw1ekc9GCUkAvDTckqlVWXSWlZcewv0DjliUUYSvMc23p_ddOYZZfa5yZ6Y0sIVObg_0bfL1s8lyLY2eE8dV65eTx0WYiQ4J2ifyIV9mmJII1xXX319aTOULIlxebyRk_awdAY/s640/26732355_10156243239105864_2020173475_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gap where the glue began letting go</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
With a little bit of elbow grease (and cutting a couple of the seams on top of the shoe as well) the dial finally gave up and pulled free.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUk83JRRenDoDrpUbxhJuFbotfF8sbD4cstmQ-t3_9550-uaIuACu5pnxBB1m5h4vPgYX6ElzcCRkGhA3ULzV3j0mjsgWNm8CNAPHnXUUDl8jsdXqbwLPY58EYJ31gTj5f4Np6lgfgEg/s1600/26753812_10156243238205864_663393996_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUk83JRRenDoDrpUbxhJuFbotfF8sbD4cstmQ-t3_9550-uaIuACu5pnxBB1m5h4vPgYX6ElzcCRkGhA3ULzV3j0mjsgWNm8CNAPHnXUUDl8jsdXqbwLPY58EYJ31gTj5f4Np6lgfgEg/s400/26753812_10156243238205864_663393996_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One down</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The key here is not to get flustered if it seems like you're not making headway. Take a step back and don't do anything hasty, that's how you ruin stuff. In my case the top boa also had a couple of "hidden" stitches I couldn't see (you can see them in the above picture in the top right corner) that were holding the boa in place. Instead of just yanking on it harder I ran my xacto underneath the boa and cut them by feel. After that it pulled off easily.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBp7HOkqp_EhyphenhyphenSh8uPH9KWbPJ9QvU8HYPmCshcuxuhxy-VfLSeD_-Zno2LgoqZ3hYmMOQtVc-ta8QZwxvYg3epyFu0QYHyrogrAZv0cUHxsbKoSAZkmBOHoW5-cE9pIe_2eanlmqmGuxU/s1600/26755646_10156243238375864_246613014_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBp7HOkqp_EhyphenhyphenSh8uPH9KWbPJ9QvU8HYPmCshcuxuhxy-VfLSeD_-Zno2LgoqZ3hYmMOQtVc-ta8QZwxvYg3epyFu0QYHyrogrAZv0cUHxsbKoSAZkmBOHoW5-cE9pIe_2eanlmqmGuxU/s400/26755646_10156243238375864_246613014_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after getting the first boa removed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For the most part the rest of the ratchets/guides were a snap to get off. The only other tricky part was at the bottom of the tongue, Specialized had decided to stitch the upper to the tongue itself (I suppose to keep the tongue from freely moving) which again required a steady hand and the trusty xacto knife.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2CMPV7SH1RSCielqMhklquYVhX5CL4Gih1mYmlpm5H85K5SUK_mSVrwpTTrsNlOfZERwGm78OyX62B85LDINd0H1WnnhkyMpRH-ni7MS1iQrBIGaeubyXt0xHn_9yb9JJ5uY2M2PCok/s1600/26754954_10156243238825864_461686851_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2CMPV7SH1RSCielqMhklquYVhX5CL4Gih1mYmlpm5H85K5SUK_mSVrwpTTrsNlOfZERwGm78OyX62B85LDINd0H1WnnhkyMpRH-ni7MS1iQrBIGaeubyXt0xHn_9yb9JJ5uY2M2PCok/s400/26754954_10156243238825864_461686851_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">removing the tongue from the upper.</td></tr>
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<div>
After that it was mainly a little attention to detail that was necessary. Removing the loose / frayed stitches and just cleaning up the shoe left us with this.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRBgSUy_Nip_B_bKLK2opJ_KujJ_y5_v4uUm3TBmt2taBOtzWsMA8VuDYeya1TW3zIsRp9ZZZjp_WPEm-n4vptFLHTNEutCBpixkcVhtipEU3dfvNrjyK2CPlsM0aLHQADbunfx62Y2s/s1600/26755461_10156243238885864_1901789907_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRBgSUy_Nip_B_bKLK2opJ_KujJ_y5_v4uUm3TBmt2taBOtzWsMA8VuDYeya1TW3zIsRp9ZZZjp_WPEm-n4vptFLHTNEutCBpixkcVhtipEU3dfvNrjyK2CPlsM0aLHQADbunfx62Y2s/s400/26755461_10156243238885864_1901789907_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all gone</td></tr>
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<div>
Since my shoes were all white (or at least they started their life white) but really looking aged, I went ahead and took this time to freshen them up a little bit. I started with some Clorox wipes to remove the dirt and smudges, then moved on to a Kiwi "white restorer" I picked up at the grocery store.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhKZbOGwO6_Ga0xZwPenuEYNzzRye5aptwucXkmGaPEThEA3U8ADa3sOoTcACi1ezGV7bUITdoCWhumytbSLlmYWucTN02bDvfX907oe1GMIo1SIqKLdebbch_BLWzT4Be1oHsXSvfI8/s1600/26694538_10156243237940864_1958536937_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhKZbOGwO6_Ga0xZwPenuEYNzzRye5aptwucXkmGaPEThEA3U8ADa3sOoTcACi1ezGV7bUITdoCWhumytbSLlmYWucTN02bDvfX907oe1GMIo1SIqKLdebbch_BLWzT4Be1oHsXSvfI8/s400/26694538_10156243237940864_1958536937_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White on White</td></tr>
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<div>
While you certainly don't need to do the above step, it is a good time to at least clean your shoes a little bit before we move on. And the Kiwi restorer...it works ok... just basically painting new white on. It does look "better" but certainly not like new.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIILT0iwDhvglLC3yYZ9dxpAmR45AQ21WY9p30TAsCxUwNN_JFaSrNz17aOgyU1Ia4TE7sGo62CF6BxqQXJ8Xx-gUlS5IE70UESLAbvk5wcUhV-opy7flTk5McXcVCW2oPZkNaa4klMk/s1600/26648545_10156243238225864_766347450_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIILT0iwDhvglLC3yYZ9dxpAmR45AQ21WY9p30TAsCxUwNN_JFaSrNz17aOgyU1Ia4TE7sGo62CF6BxqQXJ8Xx-gUlS5IE70UESLAbvk5wcUhV-opy7flTk5McXcVCW2oPZkNaa4klMk/s640/26648545_10156243238225864_766347450_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Alright, so the kicks have been cleaned and freshened up as much as I'm willing to do... now it's time to start poking holes in them. </div>
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<div>
Figure out how many eyelets you want, and where you want them. I marked mine with a tiny permanent marker. It's a good idea to put the eyelets back from the edge a little bit at least, since it'll be more sturdy. The flip side to that is that if you move too far from the edge some of you hole pokin' tools might not reach. </div>
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Here's where the debate heats up as it were... which tools do you use. Purists, or at least those that work with leather a good amount will tell you that the punches are the only way to go. You get a clean hole that cuts straight through. The downside is that you need a hammer, a solid block of wood and a little more patience. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9FlC-dlTAsTu6Y_WklOPLR5poiYyNr0qwykwmURQPgePpx447ykYsjTI4D0GZBFjnO8a058U-WrdgtVacdBwOnjECN4ARJXERABjvrIJXtsCd_PzzfubC1-yGJQdzRJqP-BRL1f3bfU/s1600/26753775_10156246041385864_2034269037_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9FlC-dlTAsTu6Y_WklOPLR5poiYyNr0qwykwmURQPgePpx447ykYsjTI4D0GZBFjnO8a058U-WrdgtVacdBwOnjECN4ARJXERABjvrIJXtsCd_PzzfubC1-yGJQdzRJqP-BRL1f3bfU/s400/26753775_10156246041385864_2034269037_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tap tap tap it in</td></tr>
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<div>
The other option is the rotating tool like I bought from Harbor Freight. Instead of cutting through you're really just pushing the head through and ripping the material. That sounds a lot worse than it actually is... and I decided after using both on this project that either would have been perfectly fine. The caveat to that is when using the handheld tool it's important to "twist" it while holding pressure on it to make sure you get a clean break/hole. Otherwise, you might end up with a bit of a mess.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXammyXFWTGez4mlyJr0G2WXZcEKk9YJLFnvlfMhCLjN38vd3OZ_Wx_6AOwXPnexTYvG6TZmxsfn8uxRX21t7gnnTWEV8y77UsDZlLMvhj5kaSuhMRjYc8pvZSFJAl7aAjoVBMUqcrRLc/s1600/26696442_10156246041735864_672627102_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXammyXFWTGez4mlyJr0G2WXZcEKk9YJLFnvlfMhCLjN38vd3OZ_Wx_6AOwXPnexTYvG6TZmxsfn8uxRX21t7gnnTWEV8y77UsDZlLMvhj5kaSuhMRjYc8pvZSFJAl7aAjoVBMUqcrRLc/s400/26696442_10156246041735864_672627102_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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I used to punches for most of the holes, but the handheld tool for the bottom holes because it was tough to get my wood block in position. Whichever way you choose, just take your time and do it right and you should have no problems. After all that we end up with something like this.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShy4xZMaI8S5mn1xOdOO4l-PAmLSOKX2Na5rOhaT9s6VIlK5ZRdjY5Poj8C2TdKnT7GT9Jr2KTktqi3d9zUMWO4dyCfS6KojDcLZgLNxu39Gwt-tWlS0cKMPnwSmw9Tou5nceHiagMDQ/s1600/26735637_10156246041745864_1132643313_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShy4xZMaI8S5mn1xOdOO4l-PAmLSOKX2Na5rOhaT9s6VIlK5ZRdjY5Poj8C2TdKnT7GT9Jr2KTktqi3d9zUMWO4dyCfS6KojDcLZgLNxu39Gwt-tWlS0cKMPnwSmw9Tou5nceHiagMDQ/s400/26735637_10156246041745864_1132643313_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">holey...</td></tr>
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<div>
Now that we've got our holes (mine are offset a bit due to the way the 74's ended up after all the hardware was removed) I suppose you could technically stop here and lace them up. But, we'd like for it to look nice'ish and the eyelets should add a little bit of protection against ripping, and it's cheap enough to pick up that you really should just go the distance. </div>
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<div>
It's worth noting there are other, "better" ways to add eyelets, but you're starting to get into harder to find / more specialty tools so we're not using them.</div>
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So poke some (right size!) eyelets into the holes you've created and grab your eyelet tool. It's pretty self explanatory as to how it works, just go down the line and get a good firm press on each one.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOFcRPBpWr9kDkt2DHS3dINsunnGGY7E6kwPFyeq1SA74bnadqX0BGdp4-BXCaTjv-J8RteIZpWwdS33E0lqELOTaBsugbx7K8Mag3GjJsnz73elS4sitCqEQ5XBsMxQovvnZk6dIr6Q/s1600/26793843_10156246041755864_1923702509_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcOFcRPBpWr9kDkt2DHS3dINsunnGGY7E6kwPFyeq1SA74bnadqX0BGdp4-BXCaTjv-J8RteIZpWwdS33E0lqELOTaBsugbx7K8Mag3GjJsnz73elS4sitCqEQ5XBsMxQovvnZk6dIr6Q/s400/26793843_10156246041755864_1923702509_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lighting because...ambiance</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAFNFbIXlKOBxVqXKvOp_rjTAHid3FcMcE9gx3EGVrFWeVLsXnpXBkRzdCG8TzdSkPYCDOQfOb-OZU-1yazy3QX3d54-K86oITsNg8nuioGe_YX0us0AZiql1VTpNGMOTCscn0hb3jpM/s1600/26828699_10156246041760864_1341954461_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHAFNFbIXlKOBxVqXKvOp_rjTAHid3FcMcE9gx3EGVrFWeVLsXnpXBkRzdCG8TzdSkPYCDOQfOb-OZU-1yazy3QX3d54-K86oITsNg8nuioGe_YX0us0AZiql1VTpNGMOTCscn0hb3jpM/s640/26828699_10156246041760864_1341954461_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pressing in the eyelets</td></tr>
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<div>
Once you've got the eyelets installed it's time to lace things up. When it comes to laces the sky (and maybe your imagination) is the limit. Me, I'm kind of old school, and just went with black. (Although some black and gold combination or maybe leather laces might be cool) </div>
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The final product</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlirR1e7xMeul26X2u2-zPhDimlqTuIV23Ed1XbZYjQqEsjfGDzD7j8gxz3PCUHiYjC3zqcQpuYQZFGQxr9XlG_w6Bw6jRevk_yEtT3ktIzkbVbVIGL9mrgdiVQUnXL78J7X43uO3u20/s1600/26753986_10156246041800864_381391300_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlirR1e7xMeul26X2u2-zPhDimlqTuIV23Ed1XbZYjQqEsjfGDzD7j8gxz3PCUHiYjC3zqcQpuYQZFGQxr9XlG_w6Bw6jRevk_yEtT3ktIzkbVbVIGL9mrgdiVQUnXL78J7X43uO3u20/s640/26753986_10156246041800864_381391300_n.jpg" width="356" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not bad</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OyrQ8jMDDtWQ5P4BVsmRpY_pVPLb_fFIbzv8DNOsAKpVg42jWF0de4gLokLLIjpbdCUNgZ4Obb_8OykskLFIiuBDXiRIF7hDNmlql-t3D67bh9dEBDVQqWhTsIv2r9FSSOwm4dA_IWM/s1600/26772185_10156249031845864_1923523552_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OyrQ8jMDDtWQ5P4BVsmRpY_pVPLb_fFIbzv8DNOsAKpVg42jWF0de4gLokLLIjpbdCUNgZ4Obb_8OykskLFIiuBDXiRIF7hDNmlql-t3D67bh9dEBDVQqWhTsIv2r9FSSOwm4dA_IWM/s640/26772185_10156249031845864_1923523552_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snazzy new old kicks...</td></tr>
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Not too bad of a job if I do say so myself. We'll see how the long term durability holds up, but this was a fun little project that ended up waaay better than I expected it would. I suspect if you were a little handier with the tools, and maybe a little more imaginative than I am, that you could have come up with something even better. Still, I should be able to squeeze out a few more miles in these guys now!</div>
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<div>
Thanks so much for reading, I really appreciate it!</div>
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- Christopher Morelock </div>
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Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-87924794668099416842018-01-02T12:06:00.001-05:002018-01-02T12:06:15.291-05:00Traveling pt.2 - GermanyWell, we've arrived into 2018. Hopefully, at least on a personal level, we're all better for it.<br />
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I've been toiling away, scheming for some big things this year. Nothing in stone yet, but a lot to be excited for. But that's for another time and another post... first I'd like to finish my recap of my trip. This time I'll do more pictures and less writing, as that's the pics are the best part anyways. (and because I took way more pictures in Germany than I did in Iceland... the benefit of not being in a constant frozen haze)<br />
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We began in Regensburg (actually we flew into Munich, but with no time to take in any sights.)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmH4xaco1w3ybcnmgVYLFB9iydbkAkPIXqltHhu9pBJrOih7rzJp9zlYD6y-6n5ZCyGD97gDD6Hc0PbIUHcrbuQVO0ugsXpv2sJb04HydeZdkoas4QpmwU13m9KJ7r3UHWKGkIY_8FjQ/s1600/Untitled12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmH4xaco1w3ybcnmgVYLFB9iydbkAkPIXqltHhu9pBJrOih7rzJp9zlYD6y-6n5ZCyGD97gDD6Hc0PbIUHcrbuQVO0ugsXpv2sJb04HydeZdkoas4QpmwU13m9KJ7r3UHWKGkIY_8FjQ/s640/Untitled12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">look, not EVERY car is a VW or Mercedes... but I think this picture represents the market share nicely</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv-4sP2gMvZJycJX2EK-7aPQ3MgGbJ8OI94ZqHjK8sOiqLtcDhWkUlcoSgh4Ofh0F7ekSu6U4Ep45zyrXwlxGFxCk33mi5L9SIbXmMU5Pobh35UfwWrjChRQBribCMAxuPkvPR7IRhKQ/s1600/24177056_10156132766325864_7475365026380001595_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicv-4sP2gMvZJycJX2EK-7aPQ3MgGbJ8OI94ZqHjK8sOiqLtcDhWkUlcoSgh4Ofh0F7ekSu6U4Ep45zyrXwlxGFxCk33mi5L9SIbXmMU5Pobh35UfwWrjChRQBribCMAxuPkvPR7IRhKQ/s400/24177056_10156132766325864_7475365026380001595_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When it comes to poor choices I made, this is the worst. Ewww...why Pepsi</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh4bGf6XTFrUcEHXNME-QYncYrJuIo8NQzEh2SBkI_6497wUNBXlaF6XfJxTL-aF5wbFEe6smKmxSIB1GxF4kgUJeICa2zyAUGwioH0UczttWfnBUWG4APtg6AZpQ6HSoRBq4ct4sEno/s1600/23847563_10156115317490864_7054991773349089702_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBh4bGf6XTFrUcEHXNME-QYncYrJuIo8NQzEh2SBkI_6497wUNBXlaF6XfJxTL-aF5wbFEe6smKmxSIB1GxF4kgUJeICa2zyAUGwioH0UczttWfnBUWG4APtg6AZpQ6HSoRBq4ct4sEno/s640/23847563_10156115317490864_7054991773349089702_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bike shop that was sadly closed (it was Sunday) with a couple of World Champion Jerseys in the window... interesting!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJDCcZmzA5X5RwsBjkk1HFlWSgaJTMem7oWkjn94qI0_SPHgSRVDHvEifNO7ZLBuxN2Vk7I9LRMf4TmWw6ZB_auB4hNlNduuQEO5ZpZBZGruWgJgyJpV42XeWcMrHnuP0M6fZ6tmbPPM/s1600/euro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJDCcZmzA5X5RwsBjkk1HFlWSgaJTMem7oWkjn94qI0_SPHgSRVDHvEifNO7ZLBuxN2Vk7I9LRMf4TmWw6ZB_auB4hNlNduuQEO5ZpZBZGruWgJgyJpV42XeWcMrHnuP0M6fZ6tmbPPM/s400/euro.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Mercedes, Vespa and an Opel in one picture... if that's not Euro I dunno what is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicARhwcKMVce4hK9SjTkui697uqyPOe-VWdYAqDho_pzN2orrVVXcUE2Rg01y2djJQenbh7C-EoocnvxRr4ANGp13QcBeLYi5e10h8hyphenhyphenjqv7uhyVTeEuletEk0fQEjJXbR2dbgfzH3Wao/s1600/24058770_10156115315270864_106505376005246613_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicARhwcKMVce4hK9SjTkui697uqyPOe-VWdYAqDho_pzN2orrVVXcUE2Rg01y2djJQenbh7C-EoocnvxRr4ANGp13QcBeLYi5e10h8hyphenhyphenjqv7uhyVTeEuletEk0fQEjJXbR2dbgfzH3Wao/s400/24058770_10156115315270864_106505376005246613_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oldest coffee shop in Germany (or so I was told) I sadly didn't have time to sample it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The boat doesn't sit still long though, and we were quickly getting carted off to the next destination, Nuremberg. I didn't get many pictures here, because we spent the majority of the time inside museums. A very interesting city I wish we had gotten a chance to explore properly.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7scXgSCl-RuC5CAgKy-avhfvb0f-dG6FgHf5SRRoGvuJnIqaSPHLjl_pbaFNVOQh00vabVo0ExxTiY8nju1-tylQjMbe_yMQVPNhN6sujqXxi5VY5On6snvSQfpnsIdRONgkeDoHJdU/s1600/nurem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7scXgSCl-RuC5CAgKy-avhfvb0f-dG6FgHf5SRRoGvuJnIqaSPHLjl_pbaFNVOQh00vabVo0ExxTiY8nju1-tylQjMbe_yMQVPNhN6sujqXxi5VY5On6snvSQfpnsIdRONgkeDoHJdU/s640/nurem.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Christmas markets were being hastily constructed during our visit. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqLVj916wHTPAbJlGzc1NzqI0mQ8BaeL7loMNSSVexyPRu1j9ATuWLT5KhaGIrM6BXnnHZZpluClrK6RBdduE5QG415L7sGAdxEeVNKGUCAgcanyEyFm-zwKx4uMLO6a3FQicJSCGYA4/s1600/coffe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqLVj916wHTPAbJlGzc1NzqI0mQ8BaeL7loMNSSVexyPRu1j9ATuWLT5KhaGIrM6BXnnHZZpluClrK6RBdduE5QG415L7sGAdxEeVNKGUCAgcanyEyFm-zwKx4uMLO6a3FQicJSCGYA4/s400/coffe.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little down time requires sampling as much fine kafe as possible.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFONSeq9LYAIrZUUHRLw30-FJRW4eC9dolq3gYS_fWkCaK5hI0ic16mlNesf0PXS9PWWf_4YxrvURy2-m4KSsS25HRYBeT2HCUUxoNxWxASe_PoQqxTDaqzUK68EkfYdHGJRz5FAjxW0c/s1600/nurem2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFONSeq9LYAIrZUUHRLw30-FJRW4eC9dolq3gYS_fWkCaK5hI0ic16mlNesf0PXS9PWWf_4YxrvURy2-m4KSsS25HRYBeT2HCUUxoNxWxASe_PoQqxTDaqzUK68EkfYdHGJRz5FAjxW0c/s640/nurem2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard to believe how hastily the Nazi's constructed things. Much of it, despite an outward show of beauty and strength, is falling apart. Perhaps irony isn't lost on the universe.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Our next stop was Bamberg. This was my favorite town that we got to visit. Truly a beautiful place with a ton of history.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAwBLTQWUYvfxlVmJHWZF6vK3uqa34ZL115W_tiWBTw8eEubHDMjh1QmR7UnSLHKwxOln1Ri-Tk4Zj-KNrY8lf7eT5tXVfdRJg5RFJUKei1ad3uP4Au-WcueeZ_KbkfLk_mybfoHoiAw/s1600/bamb3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAwBLTQWUYvfxlVmJHWZF6vK3uqa34ZL115W_tiWBTw8eEubHDMjh1QmR7UnSLHKwxOln1Ri-Tk4Zj-KNrY8lf7eT5tXVfdRJg5RFJUKei1ad3uP4Au-WcueeZ_KbkfLk_mybfoHoiAw/s640/bamb3.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought this was such a neat view of how the city was built onto itself.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_zmh30LMNU-TLGYCqdZDFSod_yrK-Ldoa_0YTDbWmQxCj1qF0p1sh0nJ7tv23nttbvwWiDgbbGilxEDcI9d2hSZaAH_qFN-pTnbPkLFoqno2bgJ0K8jsihGMq8GQkJ_2Qzd9UyB5h14/s1600/bamb4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT_zmh30LMNU-TLGYCqdZDFSod_yrK-Ldoa_0YTDbWmQxCj1qF0p1sh0nJ7tv23nttbvwWiDgbbGilxEDcI9d2hSZaAH_qFN-pTnbPkLFoqno2bgJ0K8jsihGMq8GQkJ_2Qzd9UyB5h14/s640/bamb4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, really cool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOPNgGMHfQUaAVztYlZr0c1sxOeQqytdnpoIzOE2jweYuLEPgkhZ_fJ_AO_P_0eCs1etZsWoCxw6ISHwZBLvamGE8mRX0HyFbHd2hvu6iW5_fx6MLgICR0vYC-NPGamsKVy_ivDzpNQw/s1600/bamb5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitOPNgGMHfQUaAVztYlZr0c1sxOeQqytdnpoIzOE2jweYuLEPgkhZ_fJ_AO_P_0eCs1etZsWoCxw6ISHwZBLvamGE8mRX0HyFbHd2hvu6iW5_fx6MLgICR0vYC-NPGamsKVy_ivDzpNQw/s400/bamb5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wish I knew what exactly this was, but I was trying to get a picture without being murdered by vehicle and didn't pay quite close enough attention to our guide.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx78RxJGoi1r_5NY0ypAV4ORoHJcHm88ubrSnIlqvFEPPaIPs7IIAHaUv5tv2UJXJEJFf8dzIs6avNNwCmcwdYrlSkB7nzel-oCM47xieRiFD8-WvBTxoFWk_kHATz0961wKD-kfLMHDY/s1600/bamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx78RxJGoi1r_5NY0ypAV4ORoHJcHm88ubrSnIlqvFEPPaIPs7IIAHaUv5tv2UJXJEJFf8dzIs6avNNwCmcwdYrlSkB7nzel-oCM47xieRiFD8-WvBTxoFWk_kHATz0961wKD-kfLMHDY/s640/bamb.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite picture. Man, this is almost like a painting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-Zd8kj-aeRLaKElPCZRnsge7RURPS7zgH6fL0Hat-wzdV5259tQl_hVa-F5FNTVPj8WSJEho4o7gLFeLIo8oisbjuevOQNivjjwfphnzU879ZQ2XMxSdLTG63rZaJYtt1jPPhkhTQBI/s1600/bamb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-Zd8kj-aeRLaKElPCZRnsge7RURPS7zgH6fL0Hat-wzdV5259tQl_hVa-F5FNTVPj8WSJEho4o7gLFeLIo8oisbjuevOQNivjjwfphnzU879ZQ2XMxSdLTG63rZaJYtt1jPPhkhTQBI/s640/bamb2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No blog post complete without a food picture. At the home of the Rauchbier (smoked beer) everything was awesome, although the side of potatoes seemed slightly out of place. (good thing I love some potatoes)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Next up it was Wurzburg, where we toured the Residenz. It reminded me, honestly, of a mix between Biltmore and Graceland. (Of course this has been here much, much longer than either of those) Unfortunately no pictures allowed inside, so I snagged one off of google of the amazing ceiling painting.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0qIwUsj6kk3koBg26O1WscVjJB1VAQ5OxfAONQJAo5TbcIrkou8HHKzZrPNaPHmu5I1dl-bnLqsW2Sqt4l6S81dYqwMiKhNh_hS5wPxOj9nhDet6YnS3Ysa_DI4ewhOrALEk1byKB08/s1600/wurz+res2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="960" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE0qIwUsj6kk3koBg26O1WscVjJB1VAQ5OxfAONQJAo5TbcIrkou8HHKzZrPNaPHmu5I1dl-bnLqsW2Sqt4l6S81dYqwMiKhNh_hS5wPxOj9nhDet6YnS3Ysa_DI4ewhOrALEk1byKB08/s640/wurz+res2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'd love to see it in the summer, when everything is blooming.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__JOxx5h7dPu5gMEVSNz3ZCrPb0EdLeTSxD4dqAhG93AsQSjBRx-RXLk7B_8EbDgJDNFFjMeppOU1E5bcDXQ4dKUEP2TREjBVBohZzchCy1qgZ8uaM7rve0DRpGgKS0wGWB_Ug4V7TZM/s1600/wurz+res3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="960" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__JOxx5h7dPu5gMEVSNz3ZCrPb0EdLeTSxD4dqAhG93AsQSjBRx-RXLk7B_8EbDgJDNFFjMeppOU1E5bcDXQ4dKUEP2TREjBVBohZzchCy1qgZ8uaM7rve0DRpGgKS0wGWB_Ug4V7TZM/s640/wurz+res3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite the gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw96EGyXrZNCdxJQVZ_nkzm8sFEs0vqiIc3CwSh0PBPA_KgSCsfVTNlzkm04wnDDqXR-vBH9a23B5bGUGFxUrWMKbQHGJUd07p3qtX706q_nb609x8On-3BVHuzlcw2gZlsy4Zznl-wyM/s1600/wurz+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="579" data-original-width="1593" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw96EGyXrZNCdxJQVZ_nkzm8sFEs0vqiIc3CwSh0PBPA_KgSCsfVTNlzkm04wnDDqXR-vBH9a23B5bGUGFxUrWMKbQHGJUd07p3qtX706q_nb609x8On-3BVHuzlcw2gZlsy4Zznl-wyM/s640/wurz+res.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The carriage loading and unloading zone (which extends to inside the residenz) makes a fine parking lot as well.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNcafa_RdRYUkunBWr1Yb2lwSEuRXhj19KzjOTUhyphenhyphenbqJaY_KhoaU8EJjaG7t1nl3TfGGs61hhpJ-JU5qEyDXrNdvfUsc8F0k4ETGXwfnZCUAv4i97d_gZN8YhN2PbEONNaH2mWa61PDo/s1600/treppenhaus500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="500" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNcafa_RdRYUkunBWr1Yb2lwSEuRXhj19KzjOTUhyphenhyphenbqJaY_KhoaU8EJjaG7t1nl3TfGGs61hhpJ-JU5qEyDXrNdvfUsc8F0k4ETGXwfnZCUAv4i97d_gZN8YhN2PbEONNaH2mWa61PDo/s640/treppenhaus500.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks google! It's like you were there!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was a little bit of an artist (I don't want to offend the real artists) in a past life, so I really loved the work that had been put into the Residenz.<br />
<br />
I'm kind of muddled, I think our next destination was Heidelberg... the "college town" as it were.<br />
Unfortunately, our touring of the castle was shortened due to our travel plans changing last minute (as in, the river flooded and we got kicked off our boat) so there was not much time to explore the town and all it had to offer. It was my wife's favorite town.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ph3OG6wg5Yo7Vk0hp2AUIVr0i_2O-6uKEuFHoEHzpeppHgbhJfhgW5P9Fv1zj6BIh5-V3Z7NuWlnZqA45f88rrVsWQQSbaCMNVV9K-AZU5m4AoRkp7NzjmtxM8tICpIWlx4C45ErbCk/s1600/24131314_10156127748735864_4881412039721601606_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ph3OG6wg5Yo7Vk0hp2AUIVr0i_2O-6uKEuFHoEHzpeppHgbhJfhgW5P9Fv1zj6BIh5-V3Z7NuWlnZqA45f88rrVsWQQSbaCMNVV9K-AZU5m4AoRkp7NzjmtxM8tICpIWlx4C45ErbCk/s640/24131314_10156127748735864_4881412039721601606_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Heidelberg castle at dusk </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A6aca6tKzA-wYy1lZl_gRg-w3isOLbp5Gspg-J9agjTS1ipD-TwTf-Yus5HeC3MsgM7IJmSczI5261H-ElnN3038mg_bp0hhbDYWrQzvRMHC9bF715VyYp03hmiutkmsWUNDybaZsGE/s640/24174370_10156127751630864_6314083036324076806_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">seriously, that's a big barrel of booze</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A6aca6tKzA-wYy1lZl_gRg-w3isOLbp5Gspg-J9agjTS1ipD-TwTf-Yus5HeC3MsgM7IJmSczI5261H-ElnN3038mg_bp0hhbDYWrQzvRMHC9bF715VyYp03hmiutkmsWUNDybaZsGE/s1600/24174370_10156127751630864_6314083036324076806_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-A6aca6tKzA-wYy1lZl_gRg-w3isOLbp5Gspg-J9agjTS1ipD-TwTf-Yus5HeC3MsgM7IJmSczI5261H-ElnN3038mg_bp0hhbDYWrQzvRMHC9bF715VyYp03hmiutkmsWUNDybaZsGE/s1600/24174370_10156127751630864_6314083036324076806_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzETIvYi_TCx2NXhevQA0HzKL3iBRsgiqxH8fkU4G84rQkYJahOBFdZ26BfiHy31hdQr4jfeCsz_4NwflXwEFIz6QBF0LD7vhMNUkPQyZ3vgoM7MDRTh6243ysAQBYAOpeW6ewGF_rEs/s1600/24174653_10156127749330864_1848445445497644561_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzETIvYi_TCx2NXhevQA0HzKL3iBRsgiqxH8fkU4G84rQkYJahOBFdZ26BfiHy31hdQr4jfeCsz_4NwflXwEFIz6QBF0LD7vhMNUkPQyZ3vgoM7MDRTh6243ysAQBYAOpeW6ewGF_rEs/s640/24174653_10156127749330864_1848445445497644561_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The city from atop the castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hllNrZ2JGBM1pCATJ_zenTinWOp0TZx6MlbYL9bmogRZm_OfjsO030Npi_X-vrqW5-8f2JQH9y1O24YJDlyRbF1i09iqeyjdK3Mb5O5iOA2ToPHHsH_Yepd2lv3wD0x5Qk54DmvbC4E/s1600/24232253_10156127749810864_99179087251790232_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hllNrZ2JGBM1pCATJ_zenTinWOp0TZx6MlbYL9bmogRZm_OfjsO030Npi_X-vrqW5-8f2JQH9y1O24YJDlyRbF1i09iqeyjdK3Mb5O5iOA2ToPHHsH_Yepd2lv3wD0x5Qk54DmvbC4E/s640/24232253_10156127749810864_99179087251790232_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and another view of the river</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The final stop on our journey was Frankfurt, which, at the end of the day was a nice way to end our trip. We had seen lots of Bavaria, which is a more historic part of Germany, and the last day we could spend in what's essentially "modern" Germany. Nonetheless, the "Christmas Markets" that had eluded us the rest of our trip were finally open, and so we spent a good amount of the day shuffling through them looking for presents to bring home. (I was told just buying a box or two of kindereggs was not sufficient)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZU1F1DFjUCAfBQ61XXUOozq-Dn1nKYGWCZaaw6y0Jk7bTlLCRirGodPykI56-Nz1WlNeE3e5ulZdZbbfpEqP1fVSEL3YUxWB-2i8eabOIO_J7UEvScPm_UAYjntNMfIdVGTperFtR0o/s1600/24131046_10156130439890864_5275070451209922651_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZU1F1DFjUCAfBQ61XXUOozq-Dn1nKYGWCZaaw6y0Jk7bTlLCRirGodPykI56-Nz1WlNeE3e5ulZdZbbfpEqP1fVSEL3YUxWB-2i8eabOIO_J7UEvScPm_UAYjntNMfIdVGTperFtR0o/s400/24131046_10156130439890864_5275070451209922651_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas market, open!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8PcCIeoXAULUywyUlP_8pWpl80nH6CE6E88BlOi_j32asWvqLf5DvZhhySruRuGuv98SCp9OtDVHWsh0-70YjR2HnFm0xIhtB2m3xeenjVoF1XgWpp4BKy_oa0u8_H8UA3NAwkp8dG8/s1600/24174535_10156130440125864_8789481976568297899_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ8PcCIeoXAULUywyUlP_8pWpl80nH6CE6E88BlOi_j32asWvqLf5DvZhhySruRuGuv98SCp9OtDVHWsh0-70YjR2HnFm0xIhtB2m3xeenjVoF1XgWpp4BKy_oa0u8_H8UA3NAwkp8dG8/s400/24174535_10156130440125864_8789481976568297899_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the Christmas Market, tons of business springs up seemingly out of nowhere.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTG_6m5o57Cabn3XZ4v90Af2NFwNbapWFiJkxVAcKCoJWRNZDECG5v3lsU0StT4UKA3vTzOxTWdUKMfsKhfe19F2Sp0K3bngRk0JXczipYaAPlb-5XG7yGmxNpNwNC0WFIidMdW3tPTg/s1600/24131315_10156131431410864_7371847081637470006_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTG_6m5o57Cabn3XZ4v90Af2NFwNbapWFiJkxVAcKCoJWRNZDECG5v3lsU0StT4UKA3vTzOxTWdUKMfsKhfe19F2Sp0K3bngRk0JXczipYaAPlb-5XG7yGmxNpNwNC0WFIidMdW3tPTg/s640/24131315_10156131431410864_7371847081637470006_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a random side street sunglasses shop I found this in the window. I wonder if the owner knew the significance of Indurains Pinarello hour bike, or if he just thought it looked cool.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXlBtBVDa0e3CyhFjjDLJwr5_gAOfYrD-xMSpJosKe_xVRFEimLkzMXNbvmm17GKfx9U3BtnRBxpu4WG9BzIK4J6FBTk0vO3Jl1D3vGQNjuC1PjGrGF1B8Kd_7wx0u6IG37-R4M7Jy4g/s1600/24174675_10156131431535864_2111509438547909584_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXlBtBVDa0e3CyhFjjDLJwr5_gAOfYrD-xMSpJosKe_xVRFEimLkzMXNbvmm17GKfx9U3BtnRBxpu4WG9BzIK4J6FBTk0vO3Jl1D3vGQNjuC1PjGrGF1B8Kd_7wx0u6IG37-R4M7Jy4g/s400/24174675_10156131431535864_2111509438547909584_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside a mall we found this impressive Lego sculpture.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEw25Z0hHyi0eIFdt9KU97uHrPV5tXnrvVkYWHA5UD_Ajqg03y7kAnTW204Ylv9Qu8wc_6AiGQzzJjwviTyYrovgjJy7FTs7m2gEzihGwQHOCPVWuo81biHTtD8w9Ei1PR_hQ9KLkU_Y/s1600/24232510_10156131432025864_5723599818753184083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEw25Z0hHyi0eIFdt9KU97uHrPV5tXnrvVkYWHA5UD_Ajqg03y7kAnTW204Ylv9Qu8wc_6AiGQzzJjwviTyYrovgjJy7FTs7m2gEzihGwQHOCPVWuo81biHTtD8w9Ei1PR_hQ9KLkU_Y/s640/24232510_10156131432025864_5723599818753184083_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Opera house at night!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWuoyI5YNh5T_JPgf775OAiPkSgxWkNUhXjb94vYmki8W1d5AIH6IwXgBqlgJOPoNqlpQ5__lygthKqlx2C31RfvgmK8v-Mkbpau6hyew_HSaSCzWZrTTC6N_K_sWRhPQ0Pd6mS6am1o/s1600/24232555_10156130439040864_3631749757668888572_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZWuoyI5YNh5T_JPgf775OAiPkSgxWkNUhXjb94vYmki8W1d5AIH6IwXgBqlgJOPoNqlpQ5__lygthKqlx2C31RfvgmK8v-Mkbpau6hyew_HSaSCzWZrTTC6N_K_sWRhPQ0Pd6mS6am1o/s640/24232555_10156130439040864_3631749757668888572_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our hotel room of the city.</td></tr>
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<br />
Frankfurt is a big city, and for the most part, one big city is like all big cities that I've been to. Nonetheless, it had a certain charm about it (at least in the area's we stayed) that was a little friendlier than the US.<br />
<br />
<br />
Our cruise, despite running into trouble due to flooding, was a great way to see a lot of countryside in a trip. Being able to cover distance from one town to the next while you sleep/eat/etc is awesome, and I became keenly aware of us the last two days when it was taken away. The flip side of the coin is that you are always keenly aware of the time when traveling like this... so to sit around and just enjoy something you found interesting is sometimes impossible. I'm not sure what, if any compromise exists, but overall I thought the experience on the ship (a Vantage if that's of any interest) was a mostly positive one. When we return to Bavaria however, I think it will be in a more traditional way.<br />
<br />
Thanks for checking out my blog, whether you found it by accident or are a follower (I know you exist) We're going back to normal schedule for the next post, don't worry. I've got some reviews and how to's that just need editing. I've also got that "big news" that I'll have to let out of the bag pretty soon, so that's exciting. Until then, I really appreciate your time!<br />
<br />
-Christopher Morelock<br />
<br />Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-53888059990876843782017-12-20T09:27:00.000-05:002017-12-20T09:27:59.522-05:00Traveling Pt. 1 - Iceland<b><i>Guten Tag.</i></b><br />
<br />
That's about all the German you will pry out of me (although I did also figure out "Englisch Speisekarte bitte!" pretty quickly) currently, although I have taken up trying to learn a little bit of the language as I realized how inadequate I am when I can barely speak fluent english and everyone in Iceland and Germany spoke at least two languages. I do now understand how some people can spend their entire life planning to travel the world, there is so much out there.<br />
<br />
I admit I had considered not writing this and posting it, as not so long ago I decided the new format of the blog would be less about "me" and more about reviews and how to's. That said, it's still my blog and I'm allowed to change my mind back and forth as I see fit, and beyond that I've been gone so long I had some pictures and stories to share from the trip, and I also didn't have a review or how-to put together that would be out before Christmas, so I figured what the hell.<br />
<br />
<b>Travel</b><br />
<br />
It might be a surprise, but not only had I never left the country before this trip, but I had also never been on an airplane or a "large" boat before... so we were going to be checking quite a few things off the list in very short order.<br />
<br />
My wife's aunt and uncle had generously paid for the majority of our trip as our belated wedding present, and we were fortunate that both of them are experienced travelers (my wife also has some expeditions under her belt, so really only I was out of my element.) and could give me some easy guidance on some pitfalls to try to avoid.<br />
<br />
We were going to be gone a total of two weeks, considering we took one extra day off work to drive up to Maryland and stay a night with her Aunt/Uncle. We were scheduled to leave at 7:30 from Dulles airport. Our package included one (50lb) checked back and a carry on bag each. After doing some research online I quickly realized that we would have trouble bringing back any souvenirs from Germany if we both packed a loaded check bag, so I figured I'd see if I could go as spartan as possible and pack everything essential to me in my carry on.<br />
<br />
I chose the Timbuk2 Wander pack as my carry on bag. It basically pushes the boundary of the carry on pack, but it does fit, and although this isn't a full on review of the pack, let me just say it was easily one of the best bits of money I've ever spent. Plenty of extra pockets and dividers to keep things tidy, and it doubled as both duffle and backpack being pretty good at both.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8SkRLO00BCFvsDgYZD9uovzSk3D9rfo7F_t2L64Wp__Zh9xtPD7sGHK912zEz00pD5d2Fk_kNhdu_gNLHy5bgVoeHo7YOtvio4QCXYtKpY8nbQ6zbgZji5ha_D-1Nc0EFGeWr6BD9RQ/s1600/s-l1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8SkRLO00BCFvsDgYZD9uovzSk3D9rfo7F_t2L64Wp__Zh9xtPD7sGHK912zEz00pD5d2Fk_kNhdu_gNLHy5bgVoeHo7YOtvio4QCXYtKpY8nbQ6zbgZji5ha_D-1Nc0EFGeWr6BD9RQ/s400/s-l1600.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damn good bag</td></tr>
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<br />
Now the hard part, fitting that bag with enough stuff to survive two weeks in varying temperatures from holy sh*t cold to comfortable. In this I did a pretty good job in retrospect, a great job considering it was my first time... but not a perfect job. My list ended up like this.<br />
- 1 Pair weatherproof Sperry boots (great choice, worn not packed)<br />
- 1 North Face hoodie (for lounging/layering, worn not packed)<br />
- 1 Travelers Jacket (lightweight, tons of pockets, worn not packed)<br />
- 1 18oz Denim Jeans (worn not packed)<br />
- 1 Baseball cap (to make sure I looked American, worn not packed)<br />
- 2 "Puffer" jackets (the kind you can roll up and save space, packed)<br />
- 1 Pair of thermal base layers (ls shirt and pants, packed)<br />
- 5 Pair boxer briefs (Lightweight fast dry so I could wash them in bathroom sink if necessary - which it was, 1 on, 4 packed)<br />
- 5 Pair socks (2 wool, 2 lightweight, 1 sport, again some that could be quick washed, 1 on 4 packed)<br />
- 1 Pair winter lined Levi's jeans (packed)<br />
- 1 Pair North Face wind proof pants (packed)<br />
- 1 Pair Converse high tops (packed, pointless never worn)<br />
- 5 T-shirts (1 on, 4 packed)<br />
- 2 Button up lightweight shirts for any fancy situation (packed, should have been 1)<br />
- 1 Long sleeve sweater (packed)<br />
- 1 Toboggan (packed)<br />
- 1 Scarf (packed)<br />
- 1 Pair of wind proof (cycling) gloves (packed)<br />
<br />
On top of that I also had my toiletry bag (primarily my contact lenses and glasses) and a portable charger brick (along with a power outlet converter) all fit neatly into my Timbuk2 bag.<br />
<br />
In my checked bag I had my Ski jacket (too big for the check bag, didn't want to wear) and water bottle (should have emptied and hooked to my carry on bag) and just because we had a little extra space, I also packed my hand burr grinder and Aeropress so I could get a cup of coffee in most any situation (priorities) while still leaving us with a fair amount of extra space to fill up with anything we bought.<br />
<br />
On Monday morning we drove up to Maryland, around an 8 hour drive from the house. We arrived in the early afternoon and spent the rest of the day with my wife's family. The next day we killed time in Maryland (and bought my wife a different check bag, as she felt her's wasn't big enough) and really just waited for time to head to Dulles.<br />
<br />
Worried about all the checks/getting there on time/delays/horror stories, we arrived around 5:30, and reasonably quickly made our way through all of the hoops that you have to jump through to clear TSA. It actually went by pretty smoothly, other than the fact that I foolishly left my passport in my pocket as I stepped through the scanner. That got me a good feeling up (and without even a drink) but I understand it was my blunder and take it all in stride. First new experience under my belt!<br />
<br />
As we've got some time to kill, I explore some of the duty free stores and keep looking out the windows at the different jets. Damn, there are some massive planes out there. Of course, when a dinky little 757 with "Icelandair" written on it pulls up in our gate, my disappointment is palpable. First flight on plane that has been in service longer than I've been alive, check.<br />
<br />
My first takeoff was kind of underwhelming really. I kind of expected slightly more "oh shiiiiiit" but I guess they design them to kind of take that element out of it. Unfortunately it was pitch dark, so other than some of the lights of DC there really wasn't much to see. Our plane had onboard entertainment in each headrest, and my wife and I managed to make our way through "Wonder Woman" (yawn) and a couple of educational Iceland videos before Reykjavik was in sight. One smooth landing and a seemingly timeless wait to step off the plane and we were finally in Iceland.<br />
<br />
Customs met us and again I had only the slightest problem (take your hat off!) before we were given our stamp. We head for the front door of the airport, where we'll take a bus to the rental car service. Only a few more feet until I take my true first step in a new country! We push open the doors and...<br />
<br />
... Fuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!<br />
It's cold. Not just cold, but holy crap cold. My hoodie and light jacket are absolutely laughably inefficient at protecting me from the wind. That walk down the sidewalk toward the bus pick up, and the wait for said bus, might be the coldest I've ever been in my entire life. It's about this time, going on 20 hours with no sleep and no food since a bag of chips at Dulles, that I think, perhaps this traveling stuff isn't for me.<br />
<br />
The bus mercifully arrives and shuttles us to the rental car street. After a brief discussion with the man behind the desk (and assuring him we have no plans of going out into the wilderness) we are given the keys to a "nice" SsangYong XLV (which a quick google search will reveal is the 4th largest auto company in South Korea) which is basically the same as any small SUV you'd rent, with the slight exception that it's 4x4 and diesel, which are both sort of requirements in Iceland. Unexciting in the grand scheme of vehicles you could be driving in Iceland (Do a quick google search for Iceland Super Jeeps) but since we were planning to stick to the roads, it'd do.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGgNmivMIzKpqbw14C9IT4v7cS7TtPsiR2eNj_q39pIWEPoZG3HG1Tqam-V3FgKSpX7is2vHOrEvjDILy-IKOaX6kmqSxi13lsgOtg7l-sd_iR4fPvWNHbTEuj6ge-rQkW_HgK5Llu_A/s1600/23960838_10156104195030864_1207849683_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGgNmivMIzKpqbw14C9IT4v7cS7TtPsiR2eNj_q39pIWEPoZG3HG1Tqam-V3FgKSpX7is2vHOrEvjDILy-IKOaX6kmqSxi13lsgOtg7l-sd_iR4fPvWNHbTEuj6ge-rQkW_HgK5Llu_A/s400/23960838_10156104195030864_1207849683_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are no rap songs about SsangYongs that I know of, although it'd be fun to try to rhyme.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The drive to our rental was fairly unexciting, it's dark (it's dark a lot in Iceland during the winter) and it was windy, with random bouts of fairly heavy snow, so it was tough to get too good of a grasp on the landscape... other than the ice. Did I mention it was cold?<br />
<br />
We arrive in the small town (I won't even try to butcher it's name) where we had rented a condo, in an area brimming with... greenhouses... weird. All of that thermal heat is actually pretty good for growing plants it turns out, so long as you protect it from the biting cold. Our place is pretty nice really, the kind of place you wouldn't mind calling home, if you planned to never leave your home 6 months every year. The floors were heated (again, thanks nature!) which was a welcome relief, with nice, inviting beds. I love sleep all the time, but I REALLY wanted nothing more than to curl up in like 6 layers of clothing and sleep 12 hours, hoping that when I awoke the biting cold would be gone. Unfortunately, the rest of my crew outvoted me, suggesting that it would be best to suck up the jet lag right now and suffer through than it would be to sleep the day away now and try to adjust later. Sigh.<br />
<br />
To thy own self be true... I'm a bit grumpy the next day if I don't get my 8 hours. Take a full 24 hours away from me, and I'm a truly miserable human being to be around. Then add to that I'm hungry and probably the coldest I've ever been for the longest stretch and you'll see why my wife especially is a true saint for not leaving me stranded somewhere in Iceland...<br />
<br />
We drive back to Reykjavik to explore the town, and even in my grumpy mood I had to admit, it was a very cool place. The Chuck Norris bar and the Big Lebowski themed bar are interesting sights if you're into goofy pop culture references (I am) and the rest of the town does a good job of being a modern "big" city while still not letting you forget where you are.<br />
<br />
We look for a place to eat, and while I was outvoted on whether to get some sleep or not I was adamant that I would not suffer the indignity of my first meal in Iceland being from the equivalent of an Ol' Charleys. Off on one side road I see a three story house converted into a restaurant... LOKI's. Alright, it's got the draw, and it's not flashy enough to make me think it's just a gimmick, so with my half muddled logic of "It's got to be good, look at it!" we cautiously embark on our first culinary adventure.<br />
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Let me tell you, this place kicked some serious @ss! While the "meat soup" I ordered sounded pretty adventurous, I'd be hard pressed to pick it out of a blind taste test with Campbell's Vegetable Beef. At the time, that was exactly what the doctor ordered though... the first bit of warmth I'd felt in half a day. The rest of the food was outstanding (lamb and rye is what I got, while my wife tried the Skyre... a form of yogurt native to Iceland.) and I really wish I had had the foresight to have tried some of the more "adventurous" meals while we were at a place like this, but at the time I was in a mental state where I didn't want to risk getting something I hated.<br />
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The ride back to our rental I pitched between consciousness and delirium... Eventually settling into a happy medium. I don't honestly remember much else... a stop at a woefully stocked grocery store with an odd piggy bank mascot, debating which bad coffee grinds to buy (no beans) and finally getting a shower. At this point it was evening again... While my wife quickly slipped away to sleep I decided to catch up on anything I had missed back home and kill another hour or so so that when I finally hit the pillow it would be back on my "normal" sleep schedule. Let me tell you... that is the deepest I think I've ever slept. 10 hours blackout.<br />
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The next day, after a couple of cups of coffee, I was back to my old self. Still not loving cold weather, but taking it in spite to appreciate everything else around us. I daresay I crossed the line back to "crotchety" away from "impossible to be around." Our second day was filled with lots of exploring, mostly in the car, but really trying to see as much landscape in Iceland as we could. We checked out frozen waterfalls, black beaches and a large crater! On our way to the national park we also found our way into a white out, which is one of the more harrowing things I've experienced. Snow so hard that you literally can't see the lines on the road or the taillights in front of you any longer is a bit of a shock!<br />
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Those final two days in Iceland were pretty awesome. I saw tons of things I really never thought I'd see... and came to really like a place I HATED the first little while I was there (look, I don't like the cold.) We're already planning a return trip (during the summer) to explore more of the island and see what else it has to offer!<br />
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Sitting in the airport, ready to head off to Germany for the next part of our adventure, I couldn't help but feel like I was leaving with unfinished business. I came to Iceland with one goal... to try <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A1karl" target="_blank">Hakarl</a>, (link to the wiki page, but for the abridged, dried rotten shark) which is an Icelandic tradition. There had been only one opportunity (at Loki's on that first day) which I squandered, and now it seemed I'd never get the chance. As fate would have it, as we were looking in some of the Duty Free stores at the airport, there was a little shop with a cooler in the back. More than anything I just wanted a bottle of water, but I was surprised to find a pack of Hakarl sitting lonely on the shelf! Price be damned, I scooped it up, and despite some incredulous looks from the cashier and a long sigh and eyeroll from my wife, I finally got my Hakarl.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5vIzVvc-0cHNPDvha5v6wnu5WnCqwVQQJ6NXLZSRMRRVdLQr2kCevnLpCMuvhsx1rAQHmtXI_W523ZOM-imJyT0ZqD1ZNak1ox5S6IOp2V3hbRjK3HfogqSWNVOVCNp-vIcakMuAnMQ/s1600/DPdSZfAWsAAkCj-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5vIzVvc-0cHNPDvha5v6wnu5WnCqwVQQJ6NXLZSRMRRVdLQr2kCevnLpCMuvhsx1rAQHmtXI_W523ZOM-imJyT0ZqD1ZNak1ox5S6IOp2V3hbRjK3HfogqSWNVOVCNp-vIcakMuAnMQ/s400/DPdSZfAWsAAkCj-.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sounds pretty good. It's just shark, right?</td></tr>
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Opening the package quickly cleared out the area next to us, so I was free to try it (and video it, which you can see on my FB page) in peace. I channeled my inner Ultimate Warrior and psyched myself up. Feeling the Shark, it really just seemed like any piece of white fish sashimi. Smelling it was another, less pleasant story. Faintly fishy, but overwhelmingly encompassed with a lingering, pungent hint of ammonia. (That is the nice way of saying it smelled like a neglected urinal) Not to be deterred, even in the face of a four hour flight that I was risking possibly enjoying from the wash closet... down the hatch it went.<br />
<br />Chewy, and certainly not "good" by any stretch of the imagination, but not anywhere near the horror stories I had read on the internet. The ammonia smell lingers in your nostrils, although I didn't really catch any "taste" of it, for the most part... it really was just "meh." The closest thing I can think of to describe it to is when you go to that sketchy sushi joint that has all you can eat sushi, and you get that piece of fish that has probably been sitting out for a little too long... that's what this tastes like. With the smell of pee. So, after describing it and re-reading it, it's not very good.<br />
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And with that... we were boarding for Germany...<br />
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I think this is a pretty good place to stop for now so that this post doesn't take hours to read. I'll finish up with some pictures I snapped from Iceland! You can also check out my <a href="http://instagram.com/thetriathleteswit/" target="_blank">instagram</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/leegoocrap" target="_blank">twitter</a> to see even more pictures. My <a href="http://facebook.com/chrismorelock" target="_blank">Facebook</a> also has quite a few video's checking in on some famous sights if you want to head over there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yRyrj1QfpghLIcUOmolvRu8DO4kJbc9Iyk1KvB0wISPZyhDX2roRfALf1ZuRPAGW8Z16cfoTbmnHgQkHtlt8hJ7JMFS4xZGQID44KEPKlYM5PAkWhaAP2cmhAna_Q0yFD3bDbd2Fc7s/s1600/23755698_10156104230450864_1287589603548569289_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yRyrj1QfpghLIcUOmolvRu8DO4kJbc9Iyk1KvB0wISPZyhDX2roRfALf1ZuRPAGW8Z16cfoTbmnHgQkHtlt8hJ7JMFS4xZGQID44KEPKlYM5PAkWhaAP2cmhAna_Q0yFD3bDbd2Fc7s/s640/23755698_10156104230450864_1287589603548569289_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look, I've played Skyrim, nothing good can come of going in here... except sweet loot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1dyLvonxFD4pA8L9PwJr1cWzkZV_0QeuowBnh0yEJNJQaFwT-N_3gJF4BaA2GykdAKA1ULtve6GAm-QwAux83EVHSHSijHMueHfxXyLbhTkqUvtSb8ikMVy8hlS4npxWFqFfoZ88YBA/s1600/23843641_10156104230535864_2998777615473078408_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1dyLvonxFD4pA8L9PwJr1cWzkZV_0QeuowBnh0yEJNJQaFwT-N_3gJF4BaA2GykdAKA1ULtve6GAm-QwAux83EVHSHSijHMueHfxXyLbhTkqUvtSb8ikMVy8hlS4npxWFqFfoZ88YBA/s640/23843641_10156104230535864_2998777615473078408_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside, no loot unfortunately, but it was pretty cool nonetheless.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCre-laRz9CRipCamXM4zaugX8WkQXgHrbUmpv9et0TGHWwOPpkWKBLfBdD6QxyJ-F5iDpEYLKbj0-CE9c8mLX2OjaYOfb_vrbK7WpnxhSKkv7o5nU80q0eSLVKBC0Fx_aU-6ABi-mPE/s1600/23795935_10156103562650864_3700011222488403547_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCre-laRz9CRipCamXM4zaugX8WkQXgHrbUmpv9et0TGHWwOPpkWKBLfBdD6QxyJ-F5iDpEYLKbj0-CE9c8mLX2OjaYOfb_vrbK7WpnxhSKkv7o5nU80q0eSLVKBC0Fx_aU-6ABi-mPE/s640/23795935_10156103562650864_3700011222488403547_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture taken from the window of our rental. Isn't it...cold looking...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0v1Gv3N_x3PNsmWeRurKqBdIP0YlR82_yo2O_VW1I22trHuBobJu69s4hESnDUjN1kexSIlN-eT3FzglKkSZG482-EuJf64Ovxza4f6AH8zDxp2eI6ycJyKJ46VyebAv3ty0Phh7i8-s/s1600/23826343_10156106972310864_3613628990154271047_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0v1Gv3N_x3PNsmWeRurKqBdIP0YlR82_yo2O_VW1I22trHuBobJu69s4hESnDUjN1kexSIlN-eT3FzglKkSZG482-EuJf64Ovxza4f6AH8zDxp2eI6ycJyKJ46VyebAv3ty0Phh7i8-s/s400/23826343_10156106972310864_3613628990154271047_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selfie (hi wife!) in front of the crater. I liked how there were 0 safety precautions taken here... one false step (on ice) and you just plummeted to your doom. Cool.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhsC2HWLAURDSVxNX_8Qrb34tw92yJVaFWI_zw1noW13Nb08D0HLjeBm7un4CNZdNpRXZ9XOt5wi4LoDUTXVw-lkYUEw2rsN0tLXmJfO6i426gsSO6qKVgLEpDHNX4gLRkEGrqHC37mY/s1600/Untitled12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="589" height="609" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhsC2HWLAURDSVxNX_8Qrb34tw92yJVaFWI_zw1noW13Nb08D0HLjeBm7un4CNZdNpRXZ9XOt5wi4LoDUTXVw-lkYUEw2rsN0tLXmJfO6i426gsSO6qKVgLEpDHNX4gLRkEGrqHC37mY/s640/Untitled12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crater, sans selfie. You can make out tiny specks in the center... those are people!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJTsGacgSooLvMuD9wV5thewLxtV_z30o8K7sXL6iNthuTNijf0zjJWXYjyxsPqv8T_KNVHrLYmJUw9fZzU7qXSrP9qhFZK0Cy3QJgQD3Yo95fqT6fp2KiNhDfU6Hwim_svPhQzsvnhI/s1600/23915809_10156109912515864_2268942282582766737_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJTsGacgSooLvMuD9wV5thewLxtV_z30o8K7sXL6iNthuTNijf0zjJWXYjyxsPqv8T_KNVHrLYmJUw9fZzU7qXSrP9qhFZK0Cy3QJgQD3Yo95fqT6fp2KiNhDfU6Hwim_svPhQzsvnhI/s400/23915809_10156109912515864_2268942282582766737_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I kind of look like a drunken dwarf in this picture in front of the frozen waterfall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX79XEGwjZ9sE2XbWZQDD3cKI9v10VJnKuqs3DhSRLwNRcULjcp3RP-t803O4NGi3GGHe9HmpjbmC_0ID2CrYZJ9m0ZCZhi5SVKFPIlWkriC3Etb_ITkNpAarg2QwcfgMITTZcJAn-acU/s1600/DPVvwJGW4AArJoK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX79XEGwjZ9sE2XbWZQDD3cKI9v10VJnKuqs3DhSRLwNRcULjcp3RP-t803O4NGi3GGHe9HmpjbmC_0ID2CrYZJ9m0ZCZhi5SVKFPIlWkriC3Etb_ITkNpAarg2QwcfgMITTZcJAn-acU/s640/DPVvwJGW4AArJoK.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iceland - go for the views, stay for the shark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT81uzYzELmfCKPSADeioRzKE5s6m_s_JJnfqKX-tOCrDyU01wVBYizFJ5tEM1U7FNyE5zi4yLllfBeRI2ezBRgfQ-68Ceqggkp-MvPiW6QruPsrxOZ9zc5R2_QtZq2_wjo3k9CePhkQg/s1600/Untitled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="592" height="609" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT81uzYzELmfCKPSADeioRzKE5s6m_s_JJnfqKX-tOCrDyU01wVBYizFJ5tEM1U7FNyE5zi4yLllfBeRI2ezBRgfQ-68Ceqggkp-MvPiW6QruPsrxOZ9zc5R2_QtZq2_wjo3k9CePhkQg/s640/Untitled1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another unbelievable view. Now that's an OWS!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf79FsdAqRLlJi5QcYnFJ8fw3Y11CiIoJL-JJp7dp87-_IIQEc5Hc66RaDDC7wJJ-NAs6uPsgFqbqa2cCpFklYMBT5ceH4JDBZElXWDe8YB2Xrm4-TlN_vsYyQTrV198uTOLNwXugNGIk/s1600/DPa7HMBXkAA-QVB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf79FsdAqRLlJi5QcYnFJ8fw3Y11CiIoJL-JJp7dp87-_IIQEc5Hc66RaDDC7wJJ-NAs6uPsgFqbqa2cCpFklYMBT5ceH4JDBZElXWDe8YB2Xrm4-TlN_vsYyQTrV198uTOLNwXugNGIk/s400/DPa7HMBXkAA-QVB.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look, I didn't come to Iceland NOT to eat at sketchy food trucks in the middle of nowhere. Good thing too, because these fish and chips (despite being $15/plate!!!) were awesome!</td></tr>
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Alright, thanks so much for reading! We'll wrap this up next time and then get back to some how-to's (which I've got in the works, arts and crafts time!)<br />
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Everyone have a Happy Holiday and be safe!<br />
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-Christopher Morelock<br />
<br />Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-12933130707650945822017-11-16T10:17:00.003-05:002017-11-16T10:17:49.851-05:00Review: A used Computrainer for trainer season!We're living in a pretty awesome time. The market for smart trainers is quickly following that of power meters, which is to say they are getting much cheaper at a very quick rate. There is a lot of competition out there now vying for your hard earned dollar, and so the question often comes up... what smart trainer is for me?<br />
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I do almost all of my riding indoors, and for MANY years I put an untold amount of miles on my trusty old Kurt Kinetic Green Machine. (The angry badger special if anyone remembers what that was.) But eventually I decided it was time to enter the world of the smart trainer, and so I had to go through that very same line of reasoning... what trainer is for me? I spent a lot of time considering it and comparing models, and in the end I chose a used Computrainer that I picked up for $400 off of a classifieds site. That is still about the going rate depending on the model and what all is included, although with Computrainer shutting down prices seem to have dropped slightly.<br />
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So, I'm going to go over my through process and explain how I came to the conclusion that the oldest smart trainer was still the one for me.<br />
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First, I wanted a system I could run a fixed gear bike on, which (at least at the time) meant either a wheel based system or the Lemond trainer (which has a fixed adapter) but since I wanted to be able to switch (quickly) between geared and fixed it really meant ONLY a wheel based system. For others direct drive might hold more appeal.<br />
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<b>What I liked</b><br />
There were two main things that in the end swayed me to choosing the Computrainer over another system, reliability and replacement parts. Those two things mean a lot to me since I like to DIY most of my projects and not rely on sending things back to the manufacturer.<br />
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I think when people talk about reliability in trainers, it's hard to argue that the Computrainer is still the benchmark, with many professional studios running units hard day in and day out for many years with little maintenance. That's not to say that some of the newer offerings aren't just as reliable, but they don't yet have the 20+ years of data that the Computrainers has to look back on. It's nice that as a whole the machine is fairly "simple" in design and all of the parts are well built meant to take a beating.<br />
I like that the head unit controller is an easy to understand setup with no frills attached. (as you might expect) It's sort of like the old SRM units, just a couple of buttons, sturdy design, not much to draw your attention away from getting work done. The buttons don't provide quite the feedback I'd really like (sometimes you need to look to make sure you actually hit the botton) but overall everything works the way you'd expect.<br />
While it's certainly not something unique to Computrainers, the stability of the unit is something I like as well. I'm certainly no sprinter, but occasionally I wind up for a meager 800-900w "sprint" in a zwift race or what have you, and I appreciate that a big out of the saddle move doesn't "rock" the trainer. It's a little back of the mind relief that this thing can take much higher outputs without throwing the rider off like a scorned bull that makes me willing to embarrass myself when the green jersey comes up for grabs.<br />
And most of all I like the accuracy. After you've set your crr for the unit you can be confident that 250w today and 250w tomorrow are going to be what you're hitting. There is a great debate out there about whether accuracy is more important than inaccuracy so long as it's repeatable... but why not get it right if you can? This thing is accurate, repeatably!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-BuEnEO31WPv-cBC0qMbXl7JJyjWzu0KARWBtWMD4hZK6SF4FV30vCW6eFKMD0-w9QRLNXKT_7qH-8IYvn8BjqnCvGQLvhkVfJxPBcKXrRSij_1n4i8SPaMavhkhCvtml3bfaG_1CuQ/s1600/23634641_10156085724380864_1378903415_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-BuEnEO31WPv-cBC0qMbXl7JJyjWzu0KARWBtWMD4hZK6SF4FV30vCW6eFKMD0-w9QRLNXKT_7qH-8IYvn8BjqnCvGQLvhkVfJxPBcKXrRSij_1n4i8SPaMavhkhCvtml3bfaG_1CuQ/s400/23634641_10156085724380864_1378903415_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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What I didn't like<br />
For all the things I did like about the Computrainer, there are some things that are not in it's favor. The biggest one is that it is a wired system. That means that ANT+, Bluetooth, and pretty much anything that will come in the future will NOT be compatible with the Computrainer, and (especially now with them being semi-defunct) it's unlikely that going forward there will be any reverse engineering to make it work (like what Zwift have done) and you aren't ever going to get it working on a phone/tablet/whatever. At current, this isn't a problem for me since I run a desktop to use all my programs, but I can see a time in the future when that becomes either cumbersome or just totally obsolete. You can use both TR and Zwift on your iPad (and Android, at least soon for Zwift) and while that's not the "norm" for most people in 2017, it might be in another year or two. That's something that will likely never work with the Computrainer.<br />
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You'd expect, as things look right now that we've hit enough of a lull in technology (both actual hardware and in programs like Zwift / TR being top of the hill right now) that you'll get a good couple more years out of the Computrainer before compatibility really starts to become an issue. Zwift and TR are the current big dogs, and both have been thoughtful enough to include compatibility with the Computrainer, if a bit crudely retrofit. Still, what's hot today is often overshadowed tomorrow, so this is a big sticking point to consider.<br />
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Speaking of negatives and software... there is the Racermate program made for your Computrainer. To say it hasn't aged well in the face of the Zwift era is, well, a huge understatement. While there are some parts of the software that are convenient (downloading a race course is simple) it's not something you can't do with the other programs (I just download the course from mapmyride and put it into Zwift)<br />
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There is also the video series... I'll admit, the first time or two you load one up it's got some novelty to it, but really, of the stack of videos I got with my Computrainer I've watched/ridden each of them once or twice, and now they are laying in a forgotten CD protector book with my Weezer albums.<br />
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Another negative towards the Computrainer is sustained climbing/big gear work. Since you cool the load generator by spinning it, once you slow your cadence down you start heating things up. Eventually you run the risk of burning up the unit... although the tyre might give up before then. For most people this will never be an issue, but it's something to consider if you were planning some epic Everesting challenge.<br />
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While I did list reliability and ease of getting replacement parts as a positive, it's also worth noting that it's possible that will change in the coming years. While finding a DIN cable or Audio cable will never be an issue, I could imagine a time where needing a new power strip or load generator might become more difficult. It's also worth noting that while Racermate does sell all the essential parts for the Computrainer as of now, they aren't cheap. $375 for the Handlebar controller, no matter how sturdy it is is fairly laughable. (*as of Nov 17 both the Controller and Load Generator are on backorder... maybe something to consider as well.)<br />
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Working with Zwift<br />
Zwift is sort of the shared king of indoor training / entertainment (TR is less so entertainment) and very likely something you've at least considered if you're looking at a smart trainer. The good news is that the Computrainer does indeed work with Zwift... the bad news is that it's not without some hiccups.<br />
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Obviously, it needs to be wired into your computer. I think everyone is aware of that, so I won't belabor the point. No iPad/Android Zwifting.<br />
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Otherwise, the biggest annoyance is the calibration. The Computrainer needs a couple of minutes at a warmup pace for the tyre to get heated up enough for a stable pressure/crr reading. (I know, in theory if you got the pressure exactly right on the rear tyre with the same air pressure every time it'd be ok, but that's not real life.) Once everything is warmed up and get consistent readings when you check the crr then your Computrainer is ready to go and accurate. Unfortunately, Zwift doesn't have a way to do this calibration In-Game. Once your Computrainer is connected to Zwift, you lose any use of your handlebar controller, including setting the crr. Unfortunately, that means you are going to be spending the first 10-15 minutes of every ride you do off of Zwift, calibrating, then loading up the program. Some creative folks have tried things like yanking the cord from the computer, setting crr, then plugging it back up... but in my own experience/testing Zwift would never recognize the Computrainer again without re starting the program, at which point you might has well just wait and do it right. I wouldn't look for this feature to be implemented in the future either... it seems like if an in-game calibration was going to be added, it would have made it's way in around the time Beta ended. As mentioned above, it's unlikely much thought is given to a "dead" smart trainer any longer.<br />
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That said, once you are up and running things are great. The Computrainer response in ERG mode is fast and, well... it's a Computrainer. They didn't get everything right, but the things they got right, they REALLY got right, and the ride quality is one of those things. Outside ERG mode (in "riders choice") you have some crude resistance up/down controls and the things works like a slightly smarter dumb trainer.<br />
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Final Thoughts<br />
The Computrainer is in an odd spot right now, and that makes it tough to recommend to the average person... certainly it's built like a tank, but how many of us are sending .50 shots at our smart trainer? It does pretty much everything you need it to do, but it (likely) won't do the things you will want it to do in a couple of years. They don't often break, but if a key part does break, how long will you be able to get parts for it? It's accurate, but it's not high tech. These are things that's the average person really has to weigh against how much they are willing to pay for "the nicest old house in the neighborhood." At present, I think $500 for a nice model with some extra's is about where I draw the line. Anything more than that and the competition is just too steep. Below that and you are in what i think of as "deal" territory. Sure there are other smart trainers in that price range, but nothing quite of the same build quality and reliability.<br />
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So at the end of the day, I think it's a good option for folks who have their eyes open going in and don't mind waiting for the right deal. I love mine, and hope I can get another 5 years or so at least out of it before I even start having to think about "upgrading." We will see!<br />
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<i>I will be in Germany for the next couple of weeks. It's unlikely I will get any meaningful blogging done in that time, or the immediate future when I get back to work/real life. I will have another post up before Christmas for sure though! Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!</i><br />
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- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-80688129654657282572017-10-25T09:33:00.000-04:002017-10-25T09:33:36.227-04:00How To: Dip Your Whip!Well, it's our first post in the new format, I hope I can deliver!<br />
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In the last couple of years one of the things I get the most comments about is my Speed Concept, or particularly how I painted it flat black and then wrote a bunch of crap on it in gold. Well, it isn't paint, it's Plasti Dip. I've painted a carbon bike before, and while it's not the end of the world, it's a bit more job than I want to replicate in my garage again.<br />
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Being that it's been about two years since I started riding my Trek, I thought it was time for a refresh. As the theme of the last little bit has been new formats, I thought I might branch out and paint it a new color as well! So, after perusing the local hardware store I chose red. (Fastest color, right?) Since I was going to do it anyways, why not make it a how to!<br />
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<b>Plasti Dipping your bike</b><br />
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<b>Prep Work</b><br />
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The first thing I needed to do was strip the old dip off of the bike. You can of course skip this if you're starting fresh, or refer to it if you want to take the dip back off later! One of the big bonuses of using Plasti Dip as opposed to paint is that once you get good and tired of it, it's relatively easy to remove. After removing all the components (it'll be necessary for the next coat anyways, and it makes removing all the old dip / cleaning the frame much quicker and easier) you'll have your choice of where to start as there will be plenty of places that the dip ends. Failing that you should also be able to get your fingernail under some of it and start that way. I began at the seat post insert.<br />
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As you can see in the picture above, large chunks really do come off pretty much as advertised. The caveat to that is that when you spray something it has enough of a layer to stick together. If you lightly coat a part (easy to do if you weren't paying attention while spraying something of similar colors) then it will not peel quite as easily, although it still shouldn't cause too much problem. For those problem area's and any residual nooks and cranny's my suggestion is to spray with good old WD-40. Leave that on for about a minute and wipe with a rag... the plasti dip should melt enough to come off pretty easily.<br />
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Now you need to give the bike/parts/whatever you're coating a good bath. Make sure that everything is nice and clean so you'll have a good surface to spray onto. Don't skip this step! Just take the water hose and a rag and give your bike a bath you filthy animal.<br />
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The next part of the preparation is to mask off the parts of the frame you aren't interested in coating. The better job you do here the less headache you will have later. Trust me. If a degree in design taught me anything at all, it's that a little extra prep work will save you from having a disaster towards the end. You are going for a nice even spray all over. If you have to start cutting/ripping bits of plasti dip off to fit your water bottle cage bolts, it's going to start ripping up your coating prematurely.<br />
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I always start off with big squares of painters tape to block off most of what I don't want sprayed. Holes in the bike (cable inserts, bottom bracket, head tube, seat post) are annoying because you want to try to get as close to the edge as possible, but you still need something for the tape to stick onto. I go back and forth between taping over and cutting a slightly larger diameter around the opening, and stuffing the opening with bunched up tape. Both seem to work pretty well, it really depends on how well I can get the tape to stick. Then it's time to pull out your trusty xacto knife and <b>CAREFULLY </b>trim the masking tape into the shapes you need. I can't stress enough, carefully. You don't want to be cutting down into the paint, and if you're using a very sharp knife it is easier than you think. Just don't get in a hurry and you should be fine.<br />
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Here's how it looked when I got done trimming. You don't need to be perfect, but again, the better you do now the less cleanup you'll have to look forward to later. Once you're satisfied with your masking, it's time to get to the fun part.<br />
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<b>Spraying the bike</b><br />
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There are a LOT of options when it comes to plasti dip. I'm going to be using the cheap rattle cans I bought at the hardware store, but you can certainly go hog wild. Dipyourcar.com has some really cool stuff, although I've never used it personally. (I'm a cheapskate)<br />
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It's here I'll throw some words of advice/caution out before you get started. If you're using pretty much any color except black, you are going to have a tough time totally covering the designs on your bike (unless there are none of course.) Using red to cover blue/white for example (in this post) it will be very tough to totally conceal the Trek logo's / where the bike sharply changes color. I tested it out on the fork first and decided I actually thought it looked pretty cool with the design very slightly visible underneath, but if you're looking to get a solid coloring out of it my suggestions are to either<br />
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a.) build a lot of layers. Personally I go 3-5 sprays and that seems to build up a nice coating. If I wanted to totally conceal what was underneath, maybe 8ish(?) would be necessary, maybe more.<br />
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b.) Start with a coat or two of black plasti dip, then use the color of your choice over top of it. Black pretty much covers everything, and then covering black will hide any of the logo's/paint underneath. This probably ends up being cheaper and easier than option a.<br />
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So, once that's out of the way it's time to start spraying.<br />
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When it comes to spraying, especially out of a rattle can, it can't be understated to do it in a warm area with a warm can. The colder it is, the longer it'll take to dry and the more likely you're going to get runs in the dip. Runs are going to cause you all manner of headache down the road. On the first layer or two you're going to be really, really tempted to load it down with dip... it might look like you're not even getting much of a layer on the first time over... you will regret overspraying the first layer or so, trust me. This is where you're most likely to get runs, and again, runs now are headache you can avoid later.<br />
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If it's nice and warm out the layers should go on and be relatively dry quickly. It was around 70° here and the dip was pretty much as done drying within 5 minutes. Give yourself a little time, use a ventilated area (with mask of course) and slowly apply layers.<br />
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Now, having said that, I wanted to bodge mine pretty badly so I could show you how to "fix" a bad job and repair plasti-dip. If you're only a layer or two in and you've got horrid runs/texture/etc, probably the easier course is just to peel it off and start again. But I'm going to show you a little bit more "advanced" stuff. It'll come in handy when you inevitably get a tear in your dip (bike carriers will shred plasti dip, as will sweat eventually.)<br />
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Another thing for me to stress to you is that no matter what, you're not going to get professional looking results out of a $5 rattle can. Not in paint, plasti dip or anything else. If you can't live with some imperfections, this isn't going to be for you. You can end up with a very nice job that will look sweet to somebody passing by, but if they put their face right up to it it's probably going to show some flaws. My advice is to fix the major flaws that are in obvious areas, but don't worry about some runs on the bottom of the left chainstay or somewhere else nobody will ever see.<br />
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So, back on track... give the entire frame/part a good 2-3 layers, where the plasti dip is noticeably built up.<br />
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As you can see, from a few feet away, not bad. Unfortunately, once you get up close the ugly details become more apparent.<br />
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The top right of the first picture you can see there are runs that culminated on the downtube. These run all the way down the right side of the bike. When you run your hand down the downtube they are noticeable humps to the touch (that's important, make a note)<br />
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In the second picture I've got some rips (I actually ripped it on purpose, but it's easy to do if you didn't let it totally dry and accidentally brush it, touch it, etc... this is also how most of your damage later on will look, albeit possibly bigger) so I'll go over how to "fix" both types, or at least the way I do it.<br />
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<b>Fixing imperfections</b><br />
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Understand first that plasti dip only builds layers on what is already there. So just spraying another layer on top of an imperfection will not do anything but add another layer of imperfection. That mean's that there are two steps to fixing either a tear or a run.<br />
1.) Get the dip even.<br />
2.) Add more layers<br />
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In the case of runs, you have too much plasti dip in a few area's (where it has pooled) compared to the rest of the layer. I've found the best way to bring it back to even is by wet sanding with very fine sandpaper (I use 1500, although that takes a lot longer than something like 800 you have more control over it. You really would prefer not to make a dip into a tear)<br />
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Sanding dip, like sanding anything, is time consuming. Using a lower grit makes it a lot quicker, but you have a bit more chance of going too deep too soon. I use a spary bottle of slightly soapy water and use a microfiber rag to dry it after I think I've sanded enough. It's important to remember, you aren't trying to make it look pretty at this point, you're just trying to make it even. So sand, rinse, wipe, run your finger over it, if you feel a bump, repeat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeSBfH7cLwas4vatM1S2-TLRweMyIsW0yrbY1vNEnV0axmYPAUvA9qdOG-NuCvH13yLibpv9RYElZaWlzXGHMPPKJD8e2sgY9xJk9T-ETQYmxdAgyWRwkkzkfGcb-JpS80w_XEKOwQBE/s1600/22500771_10155987104365864_970104083_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdeSBfH7cLwas4vatM1S2-TLRweMyIsW0yrbY1vNEnV0axmYPAUvA9qdOG-NuCvH13yLibpv9RYElZaWlzXGHMPPKJD8e2sgY9xJk9T-ETQYmxdAgyWRwkkzkfGcb-JpS80w_XEKOwQBE/s400/22500771_10155987104365864_970104083_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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Now, when you have a tear, you need to try to even out the layers a different way. The real PITA of a tear in plasti dip is that the edges inevitably flay back, meaning when you spray it again it will look like crap. We'll fix this kind of stuff by "melting" the surrounding dip back down and smoothing it. There are a number of chemicals that will "melt" plasti dip, but I prefer to use good old mineral spirits because it's a little less "nasty" than some some of the others (many people use paint thinner, but I prefer not to on my carbon bikes)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn4rwp9_XZ92VCIhGQAagj8GjvAVTnCCA9yuj-nRDW6byEg1SdfSXuY4vvgeimhE2Z2D2lApU_q5vGAeW23wVV0S4sQvWwa2uAYMXN2mOZq7hvf2afcY28aNhFmpk4z2oYKrg7wmSgWs/s1600/22547709_10155987103945864_806312803_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn4rwp9_XZ92VCIhGQAagj8GjvAVTnCCA9yuj-nRDW6byEg1SdfSXuY4vvgeimhE2Z2D2lApU_q5vGAeW23wVV0S4sQvWwa2uAYMXN2mOZq7hvf2afcY28aNhFmpk4z2oYKrg7wmSgWs/s400/22547709_10155987103945864_806312803_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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I take some spirits and pour it in a cup... put on my nitrile glove and dab my finger in it. Then I start rubbing the area I want to loosen up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit52-BTmfk2iBcYKK6XVgqVY2sKzpe_zZOHiYCpoOhUA_nGOxdJzbSbqnl8QH1XGNHEF4yUdknmehveLEP19Vdb3uS7O8vUJWsxh-iKxQgUPvzt1EBY4M_kTweekYwLMapASU_JIhFAMQ/s1600/22524071_10155987104145864_2073631650_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit52-BTmfk2iBcYKK6XVgqVY2sKzpe_zZOHiYCpoOhUA_nGOxdJzbSbqnl8QH1XGNHEF4yUdknmehveLEP19Vdb3uS7O8vUJWsxh-iKxQgUPvzt1EBY4M_kTweekYwLMapASU_JIhFAMQ/s400/22524071_10155987104145864_2073631650_n.jpg" width="223" /></a></div>
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It may seem like at first you aren't doing anything, that's because mineral spirits isn't quite as powerful as something like paint thinner. Just keep rubbing and you'll see that the dip starts to slowly melt. Now start working over the area that has the tear slowly. You may need to get another dab of spirits on your finger, and sometimes for bigger discrepancies it helps to use your fingernail to "help" move it where you want. Again, I can't stress it enough... you aren't trying to make it look good, you just want it to be even. When you feel like it's fairly smooth, give it some time to air dry. (Don't use your towel!) Now go back and rub around the area and see if you got it close.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69w3zzkw2TFCbdm4o_DnHnLoTXxkg_MSCzqbyAzyfIUwVaWc_QCukNNmPK1_9Yh-umuj8yrONtvKVLq4n4RfQyDYF_wDpGqaS44UkEZ3_urNGca9mHbdVsi8JIUudHj-8Q9x48vTW7Pc/s1600/22494864_10155987104235864_1919544591_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69w3zzkw2TFCbdm4o_DnHnLoTXxkg_MSCzqbyAzyfIUwVaWc_QCukNNmPK1_9Yh-umuj8yrONtvKVLq4n4RfQyDYF_wDpGqaS44UkEZ3_urNGca9mHbdVsi8JIUudHj-8Q9x48vTW7Pc/s400/22494864_10155987104235864_1919544591_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the picture above you can see I've done an "ok" job, but still need to go back over it a couple of times and smooth it out further.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9n-3oWePl7JDGmnjs89nwGewgLpOZEauI8fw9ssJzPVUmLh_KkKdlWw3scKZY2hCDiw2qRUZzXZ6c3vfVnG23DxBFrbA3u57zIbIslwPr_gzPKocJI8ieITDK8LdboPbjLSvbXGNUuSc/s1600/22553648_10155987104340864_46914381_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9n-3oWePl7JDGmnjs89nwGewgLpOZEauI8fw9ssJzPVUmLh_KkKdlWw3scKZY2hCDiw2qRUZzXZ6c3vfVnG23DxBFrbA3u57zIbIslwPr_gzPKocJI8ieITDK8LdboPbjLSvbXGNUuSc/s400/22553648_10155987104340864_46914381_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Later on, much smoother now.<br />
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Once you've got things moderately well smoothed out, go back and add another layer or two of plasti dip to it. When you start adding more layers it should all start to come together nicer. Take your time with these final coats, because if you get more runs now, you've got to go back and start the smoothing steps over again.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMKDkAY_BrZNqZuUjHRKr8cD_z3Xxp-H53Ljl8GsaslrZLNEt3QoPJFaOCuHel7HZcy590m-5FWjSm7jCWOGWq58MCC1SfkCcwZZVot60b8YEqeY_hJEXu7ynwhTBgXmZy3vk9IvAzZo/s1600/22684891_10156001170410864_184368937_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMKDkAY_BrZNqZuUjHRKr8cD_z3Xxp-H53Ljl8GsaslrZLNEt3QoPJFaOCuHel7HZcy590m-5FWjSm7jCWOGWq58MCC1SfkCcwZZVot60b8YEqeY_hJEXu7ynwhTBgXmZy3vk9IvAzZo/s400/22684891_10156001170410864_184368937_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's the last layer before putting it all back together. There are still a couple of imperfections, but you need to be standing right on top of the bike to see the majority of them. I certainly could have gotten it better, but for a bike I'm going to beat up, I'm not going to stress too much over it.<br />
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<b>Finishing up</b><br />
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Now that you're done with the spraying, it's time to remove the masking tape. You have to pay attention during this step or you're going to end up with tears. If you've put a good few layers on then your plasti dip has sealed over the tape, so just yanking it off will pull some of the dip you want to keep on the bike with it. I go over the edges of the tape with my xacto knife and try to make sure there is a clean break before I yank it off. A good trick for bottle cage bosses is to get the xacto underneath one side and use the sharp edge to both lift and cut at the same time.<br />
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If you need to do touch up (either now or later on) the best solution I've found is to spray some plasti dip into a cup (enough for it to pool up) and use a cheap paint brush (a small one, like for painting a picture) to fill in whatever is missing. You'll have to add a layer (it'll probably be watery) let it dry and repeat a couple of times, but that's best for small issues. For larger rips, you really need to mask off a large area and smooth the edges/re spray it. Keep in mind any time you touch up big areas it will not match, with plasti dip you pretty much have to spray the entire bike to get it to look even again. Just something to keep in mind.<br />
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So, here's what I ended up with<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1pUQJQqyIQJm_j8esnyRKr7U7fh2hvVUsYbakH26vD8D_gQhf99mphGxI1hKzf62dLDl1JTfGjNyGPPxGJ6INGtCTWqDXNOW6OcMQvZdFkPe3Xm5UYxRed4lIpV4R1YVMLAOWig2C40/s1600/22686513_10156001170690864_1112959626_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1pUQJQqyIQJm_j8esnyRKr7U7fh2hvVUsYbakH26vD8D_gQhf99mphGxI1hKzf62dLDl1JTfGjNyGPPxGJ6INGtCTWqDXNOW6OcMQvZdFkPe3Xm5UYxRed4lIpV4R1YVMLAOWig2C40/s400/22686513_10156001170690864_1112959626_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuFWfXgZ3tLXvmDEhgLh8MKSL1oXq8UtcMP2NzY0QhkFuZ5yntPL3CgsYD95BdagiU8R47pzpVur66YrLAjmbgo07_CHz0F-rreO1BPej7zkxOCWpVy8fyCsejxOb_uIU3zFh9Zf0-iA/s1600/22635079_10156001172435864_2103677153_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCuFWfXgZ3tLXvmDEhgLh8MKSL1oXq8UtcMP2NzY0QhkFuZ5yntPL3CgsYD95BdagiU8R47pzpVur66YrLAjmbgo07_CHz0F-rreO1BPej7zkxOCWpVy8fyCsejxOb_uIU3zFh9Zf0-iA/s400/22635079_10156001172435864_2103677153_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The total cost, if you include all the "extra's" (most of which I had laying around the house) was about $40, and I still had about 190 extra gloves, some extra trash bags, 50 or so extra plastic cups, most of a gallon of mineral spirits, 2 microfiber towels and part of a can of dip left over.<br />
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Hopefully that got you through the crash course on dipping your bike. If you've got any questions, feel free to shoot me a message!<br />
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Thanks so much for taking the time to check it out!<br />
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- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-88396960916958062362017-10-09T05:58:00.000-04:002017-10-09T05:58:28.961-04:00Page Update - Format ChangeHello all,<br />
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I didn't want to leave everyone in the dark when a post didn't show up on Wednesday, but this will be just a short update on what's happening.</div>
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<div>
I started this blog in late 2012, and since then, minus a couple of weeks where I was on vacation / etc I've steadily posted weekly. For the most part, it began as a fun side project for me to get some of my thoughts down. Seemingly on it's own and through feedback from you guys (both in comment and from analytics) the blog became more focused on reviews and how to's, along with a couple of race reports and the intervening weeks being mostly "filler." As I've started racing less and less (moving from Triathlon, to cycling and now almost totally to "only" time trialing) there has been more and more "filler" and a couple of people have let me know that the blog's quality has dropped. (Not that it was a bar of excellence at any point in it's life) Looking back over the last few months with as impartial an eye as I can have, I tend to agree. </div>
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<div>
So, like many things in life, it's necessary to adapt and change or become completely irrelevant and disappear entirely. I still enjoy writing and most of the things to do with this blog, so I'm not quite ready to hang up my quill just yet. Nonetheless, it's time for a change.</div>
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The new format of the blog will focus on what it seems the viewer wants to see. More reviews, how to's, a couple of race reports and only the most infrequent "what's going on in life." Fair enough. </div>
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<b>What that means</b></div>
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- Less frequent posts overall. The blog will no longer be weekly, maybe not even bi-weekly. From this point forward I'll do my best to post links on Twitter (hey, follow me and I'll follow you back!) when a new one is up.</div>
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- Large focus on Reviews and How To's. Keep in mind that my reviews are almost always from things I've purchased with my own hard earned money. (Or ill gotten gains...whatever) So, unless you see a big disclaimer at the very top of the review, you'll know I wasn't paid/given the item to review, and I try to be "practical" about my reviews and just say "I don't know" if I don't know. The how to's will stay primarily bike related, but something else might pop up from time to time.</div>
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- Hopefully more quality despite less quantity. It's my hope that with more time to spend on fewer posts the quality of what gets put out will be much higher. This is where feedback helps me out!</div>
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So, that's the plan. Thanks everybody who has stuck with the blog over the last xxxx amount of time. I really appreciate it! </div>
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Until next time</div>
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- Christopher Morelock</div>
Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-51880500710250667572017-10-04T06:39:00.001-04:002017-10-04T06:39:32.422-04:00Nostalgia Race Report: IM Augusta 2011So as Facebook often does, it reminded me that it was six years ago that I did my first half Ironman race in sunny Augusta. I had filed a race report on Beginnertriathlete at the time, and I got a little bit nostalgic. Not nostalgic enough to want to do another triathlon, but nonetheless, looking back at what I felt and wrote at the time was good for me, and I thought I'd share! I'll add my commentary in italics where I feel I need to reflect.<br />
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<b>Pre Race</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">First let me put in my shout outs. All kinds of people deserve thanks, Bryan, Trigal, TriAya, Rudedog, Trix, Lockout, Shane, all the people who have been in my mentor groups, anyone who has answered any of my stupid questions... It would take a whole page to thank all you guys on BT and ST. Beyond that my LBS Cycology bicycles and my fitter Eddie Sloan, who's worked with me for countless hours on my position. </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">Also my best friend Wes who has to listen to me talk about triathlon 24/7. </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">David, who's not just the only man I've ever met paler than I am, but also a fantastic coach and friend who has to listen to me whine. </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">Finally, my family, especially my mom, who doubles duty as moral support, mechanic, Medic, cook, driver, etc. Anyways, that's enough of the gushy stuff, on to the meat and potatoes. </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">Getting to Augusta has been a bit challenging. My first two "A" races this year have been pretty disastrous as DNF's </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(Flatting out at Rev3 Knx and going off course at Amica 19.7</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) so I was a bit hungry to show I could perform. A week or so ago, I got a little overzealous on my run and ended up doing "something" to my back/butt/left leg. It basically put me to a super easy taper and quite a bit of doubt as to how I was going to hold up on race day. My goals were set up like this </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">worst case scenario - finish </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(I really wanted to avoid a DNF</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">meh day - 5:05 or better </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">happy day - sub 5:00 </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">good day - 4:52 </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">great day - anything below that </span><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><br style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">I arrived in town midday Friday to our hotel in Aiken. After we dropped off the essentials it was a quick drive over to Augusta Marriot to get signed in, then to scope out swim start and transition. I ended up walking </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(in sandals no less</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) quite a bit farther than I expected to / should have. Most of the day Saturday I spent laying around besides setting up transition and driving the bike course. My grandparents and dad arrived later in the afternoon, and while my family went out for the night I walked across the street to Applebees, had dinner and went to bed early. </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(About 7pm</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">)</span></span><br />
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<i>woah, already some people I have fallen out of touch with that I miss. Actually the mid-2000's BT forum folks in general were all pretty great. You can see I sucked at taper's from the beginning.</i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIv2Uxm1GtAvBpx0Lj8SFDTTM-ZV92oBUA7pBX_ZhdPevvgQBvmaqiJ833ftogJhOZYgeOE4sW8hfxmDKJW64z_6c9BmpgsRj0f0uwNcxQTLebanRH1yJYLBc0td5ujQVE5pghSsOUdU/s1600/299838_10150404042225864_763656405_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZIv2Uxm1GtAvBpx0Lj8SFDTTM-ZV92oBUA7pBX_ZhdPevvgQBvmaqiJ833ftogJhOZYgeOE4sW8hfxmDKJW64z_6c9BmpgsRj0f0uwNcxQTLebanRH1yJYLBc0td5ujQVE5pghSsOUdU/s400/299838_10150404042225864_763656405_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look so small in this picture!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<b>Warmup</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">I got up Sunday at 3:15a.m. took a shower, had breakfast and coffee, took care of the essentials and got the rest of the car packed up. I was feeling pretty good overall, my ankles were a bit sore from walking around in sandals Friday, but no big deal. I set up the rest of Transition, jumped the bus to swim start, and waited around there until they started calling for my wave </span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(wave5, second half of men 25-29</span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) Jumped in the water, and had to make an effort to stay behind the start buoys. It began raining while we were waiting to start, but just sprinkled and had stopped before I got out of the water.</span></span><br />
<br />
<i>Perfect stuff, spend all day the day before the race on your feet... </i><br />
<br />
<b>Swim</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">The announcer said the current was not nearly as fast as it was last year, but I dunno, it seemed like it was certainly moving to me. I started at the front of this wave, and got melee'd back to my "ideal" spot. I've found this a better solution than starting back too far and having to battle people kicking. I quickly found some feet and had a very uneventful swim... every minute or so I'd stick my head up to make sure we were on course, but honestly it would have been very tough to get off course. It did seem like we were pretty close to the shore </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(too close for the fastest part of the current</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) but I decided it was better just to sit and draft than it was to break out on my own. About 1k to the swim exit we ran into some very thick "seaweed" </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(whatever you call it in a river</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) which was a bit gross, but no big deal </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(or so I thought</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) </span><br />
<br style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">I was looking at 35min going in, so when I saw 27' on my watch I knew it was going to be a good day.</span><br />
<br />
<i>You could throw a potato chip bag in the swim start at Augusta and expect it to do close to a 35' swim, so my 27' was certainly not impressive in the least. I didn't drown though.</i><br />
<br />
<b>T1</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">The run up the ramp and into transition was extremely long. </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(the entire length of the transition area</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) and I had to dodge the wetsuit stripper pile up. I had cut about 1.5" off the legs of my wetsuit prior to the race and it made a huge difference getting it off fast, I highly suggest it! As I'm pulling my left leg out my calf cramps!! OUCH. I shake it off fast and keep moving. Helmet on sunglasses on Out the door. Had to dodge a few people all over the course, but finally got into my shoes and down to business, calf being a PITA all the way.</span><br />
<br />
<i>I actually still acutely remember the pain in my calf. I've never experienced the same kind of pain before or after, and I hope I never do again.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsAlbEckjT0FK3bsdLDzsLoJWmu4ftMpehb6Fds93Km5E22RumYi30eB8dP1PSdpfDIcn1QgYrH_WDOsjtVWKMSeyEY12VTjGpZlhX2eZQ-AOyv1Qf5OplOHqsbgVCEVOshEfgJUNJw4/s1600/316951_10150412499240864_133165700_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsAlbEckjT0FK3bsdLDzsLoJWmu4ftMpehb6Fds93Km5E22RumYi30eB8dP1PSdpfDIcn1QgYrH_WDOsjtVWKMSeyEY12VTjGpZlhX2eZQ-AOyv1Qf5OplOHqsbgVCEVOshEfgJUNJw4/s400/316951_10150412499240864_133165700_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out of transition! No flying squirrel though</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Bike</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">This was the first time my bike ride has ever been a "controlled" thing. Generally I just ride...hard. The goal at Augusta was to stay in the neighborhood of 200watts, and around 270-300 for the climbs. The first 10 miles or so this was very easy as I was fighting with my calf cramp along with the miles of people lined up. I spent this time making sure I was getting my calories in and massaging my leg. Eventually the crowds started thinning and my calf gave me some relief. Any time my watts climbed over 230w I would sit up on the bullhorns, just to stretch / grab a drink. The rest of the time I spent in Aero. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">At about mile 15 I was having a new issue. Severe pain in my crotch. I tried to push through it, but it was not subsiding and I was becoming quite worried. Finally I sat up on a downhill and reached down to see what the issue was. I pull my hand out with a fist full of that stupid seaweed! WTF! I try to wash my junk with my water bottle and clean up the situation. I got enough of it to make life tolerable the rest of the ride. </span><br />
<br style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">I was hoping for a 2:33 and ended up with a 2:27, and never felt like I left my comfort zone doing it, so I would call it a good day. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">Avg. Watts: 191 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">Max. Watts: 532 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">NP: 206</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<i>Ahh yes, seaweed crotch. One of my finer moments. Not a particularly impressive bike ride, from the max watts you can see I followed the plan of "around 270-300 on the climbs" almost perfectly... It would take me another 6-7 years to figure out how you pay for stuff like that. Still, it wasn't a terrible bike for the fitness I had at the time.</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrR436PEyq0vF_LCMxjIXJZARfmNXxUaw047QGhPpJsqLovM6GiwmSX6auLUbGPIH1ZIRzITWzgQ-VWhU3Baua3P4AxcNn4TqksDlrSgW_Xe7AB1ZFpV4zpFQwX6Ym_ualXgcuATpSR8/s1600/305421_10150404036645864_940536783_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="337" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrR436PEyq0vF_LCMxjIXJZARfmNXxUaw047QGhPpJsqLovM6GiwmSX6auLUbGPIH1ZIRzITWzgQ-VWhU3Baua3P4AxcNn4TqksDlrSgW_Xe7AB1ZFpV4zpFQwX6Ym_ualXgcuATpSR8/s400/305421_10150404036645864_940536783_n.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man, the Planet X... I miss that bike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>T2</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">Coming into T2 crossed some covered train tracks and otherwise rough pavement. I was about to swing my leg over the saddle when I remembered my cramps earlier in the day... I came to a full stop and stepped over, losing a second or two but saving my dignity. </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(What there is of it to save that is</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) </span><br />
<br style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">Otherwise T2 was pretty uneventful. Again, I did have to run the entire length of transition to get out. </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(same as the swim but reversed</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">)</span><br />
<br />
<i>Well, common sense seemingly did play a part in my early triathlon career. </i><br />
<br />
<b>Run</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">And here we were. 13 miles to the finish, two hours to beat my goal of sub 5. I come out of the gates just a bit hot </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(pun intended</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) but quickly slow down to a more tolerable 7:3x pace. The first three miles go pretty well and I am feeling fairly comfortable. Then, like a scene from a movie, the sky parts </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(it had been fairly overcast all day</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) and the sun beams down in all its glorious suffering. The heat pretty much skyrockets into the 90's and I immediately feel it. The aid stations on the run were also not exactly a mile apart, so after I miss getting a drink at mile 3 </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(I was throwing water on myself as opposed to down my throat</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) I can feel myself burning out. At 4.5 or so I can feel my left leg throbbing a bit in the back area, so I decide to stop and stretch it out. TERRIBLE idea, as soon as I stop and lift my left leg my calf balls up on itself and very nearly puts me on the ground. I get that worked out and decide that stopping is a bad idea in general. New plan - Walk every aid station and make sure to get 1 coke and 1 water </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(plus as much Ice as I can pack onto myself / under my hat</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) At one point I have 5 sponges shoved in my tri suit. At mile 8 I start feeling considerably better, but continue to walk through the aid stations. I see that I can very nearly walk the last 3 miles and still beat 4:52, but press on. I do take some extra time at the last aid station to "clean myself up" </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(Zip up my jersey, remove the sponges, clean coke off my face</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) and try to make myself look presentable at the finish line. I come into the finish with a last surge and stop my watch </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(after pictures of course</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) at 4:46ish... I'm pretty ecstatic as you can imagine! </span><br />
<br style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">Planned Run was 1:40 and I came in at 1:44. With some of the small issues I had leading up to and during the race I can't say I'm unhappy with it, but I can't help but think if I had had a good run today I would almost certainly have been going to Vegas. </span><br />
<br style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">Run splits per mile </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">1.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 7:23 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">2.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 7:43 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">3.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 7:07 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">4.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 8:14 </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(started walking aid stations</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">5.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 8:21 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">6 & 7.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 16:28 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">8.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 8:01 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">9.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 8:03 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">10.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 8:21 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">11.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 7:47 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">12.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 8:47 </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">13.</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) 8:18</span><br />
<br />
<i>Considering my open 1/2 marathon PB was 1:29:55 this is slightly less embarrassing than it first looks. Not an excellent 1/2IM Run, but better than any I managed after it. (Sadly)</i><br />
<i>Also, even though at the time 1/2IMWC was not well loved (Clearwater was hated and nobody was quite sure about Vegas) I wasn't anywhere near qualifying.</i><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KPO0GLJGYLCXA6PlTTkmynVqklXyzG1yga3ImsObqW70-bWhkGzYTjoBOL7vqwDoFPIaLV4fwACVj6k76PaZTAYO7mq5rNwfnrzi2JmYHTK4WejhzOXY1eT1mBGmzrPeDZcaPmhQ0DA/s1600/296077_10150404038925864_503559466_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KPO0GLJGYLCXA6PlTTkmynVqklXyzG1yga3ImsObqW70-bWhkGzYTjoBOL7vqwDoFPIaLV4fwACVj6k76PaZTAYO7mq5rNwfnrzi2JmYHTK4WejhzOXY1eT1mBGmzrPeDZcaPmhQ0DA/s400/296077_10150404038925864_503559466_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The heat was on. In those awesome Adidas Adios</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Post Race</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">I quickly got checked out in medical </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(they shipped me over there despite me telling them I just "LOOKED" like crap. The medics seemed to agree and quickly got rid of me</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) Next it was over to the recovery area, where I graciously accepted a Bud Light, well deserved IMO. Next I found the family and we watched some more of the race, then walked across the street to BEEMIES </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(sp?</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) bar/restaurant and had lunch </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(Great food btw</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) </span><br />
<br style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">Post race binge - </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">- 1 order onion rings </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">- 2 order french fries </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">- 1 crab cake </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">- 1 appetizer fried calamari </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">- Appetizer platter dinner </span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">(Shrimp, Chicken fingers, Fried Fish, Oysters</span><b style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;"></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">) </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">- 1 Bowl Ice cream </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">- 2 Pitcher Water </span><br />
<br style="color: #4d4d4d; font-family: verdana; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;">I also waited around at the rolldown, but being only 2 slots in my AG and me being 13th I knew there wasn't much hope. Nonetheless it rolled down about 6 people... enough that it would have been mine with a 1:36 or so run... well within my fitness on a flat course :/ Oh well.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;"><i>Disgusting... Bud Light? I really was young and stupid. That Beemies bar was pretty awesome though, if it's still there I highly recommend. </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;"><i>Mehh... knocking 8 minutes off my run at that time (or any time since) was a little delusional. Looking back, I don't know that I could have knocked 4 minutes off with a perfect day. Still, that's part of youth!</i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnWJBghmMd6Hch113rAXszRrERJJ95C7O0gINJ2D7yN2-yXt9BU_IVWIttDHvCLLwpcK4e3ErfeEs-aDLELEOHWfoOgWKwtNDTGkqZiEAxESJbwBCYUixqWi7sGRqaAIGSItvC2wy87c/s1600/313739_10150412497965864_707769686_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDnWJBghmMd6Hch113rAXszRrERJJ95C7O0gINJ2D7yN2-yXt9BU_IVWIttDHvCLLwpcK4e3ErfeEs-aDLELEOHWfoOgWKwtNDTGkqZiEAxESJbwBCYUixqWi7sGRqaAIGSItvC2wy87c/s400/313739_10150412497965864_707769686_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Am I ok?</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d4d4d; font-family: "verdana"; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span>
Augusta was a race I still fondly look back on. I went back the next year and came away 13 minutes slower, falling prey to some foolish mistakes and being impatient in both lead up and execution. Somewhat sadly looking back I never did another 70.3, and I think it was a distance I could have been pretty good at with enough time and work. Priorities shift and now that I'm pretty much a dedicated TTer it's not something I can jump back into easily. Maybe in a few years when things settle down a bit once more I can dedicate myself back to training to be mediocre at three sports instead of one. Anyways, thanks for giving me something to write about this week Facebook!<br />
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Until next time, thanks for reading!<br />
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- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-6321214082695999882017-09-27T06:45:00.000-04:002017-09-27T06:45:44.892-04:00Entertaining week!This last week has been extremely solid if you are a fan of cycling. Sunweb put a real stamp of authority taking both men's and women's TTT at the World Championships. Watching the women's individual time trial was pretty exciting as well. I was, of course, rooting for the American's (Imagine how good Chloe Dygert has the potential to be with a few more years!) but it was the Dutch that really dominated. Van Vleuten and Van Der Breggen really looked solid even through that nasty uphill.<br />
<br />
In the men's TT Dumoulin really looked like he was on another level, and in a way I'm happy that a "time trial specialist" (although honestly, can you even classify him that way any longer?) still won the bands, as the climb seemed to be put in there as a foil for Tony Martin and friends. Rohan Dennis continues his streak of bad luck in World Championships... he's been my pick the last 3 years and has had an issue every time. Maybe it's my fault. Froome looked good overall, but tired. Not surprising considering his Tour Vuelta double. He needed to be a lot fresher to compete with TD in form.<br />
The transition area was ridiculous... and pretty much was consistently a bad idea to change bikes. I didn't see anyone who seemed like they gained anything from taking the swap. Martin Madsen (MTM on Slowtwitch) did it with only a single ring on his TT bike and finished a respectable 21st. Dark Horse story (well, it was more a story for the UK guys, I didn't see much about it over here) Hamish Bond turned out rather disappointingly, not because of his performance, but rather his mechanical. It would have been great to see how he stacked up with no issues.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PWKdwcGW6c_Xac1XfPki78TIvu2OcM9pZVAnVEDpgbbPQ6cg_3rM7oj2Te6Eus7AoDGUvU_gkPm3wt2N3hElDrbURrsNXiwxo84bC5HEb7z9AmUMA3Ni-Z8S20kA0iODq7pI1Io51xs/s1600/dumoulin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="670" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PWKdwcGW6c_Xac1XfPki78TIvu2OcM9pZVAnVEDpgbbPQ6cg_3rM7oj2Te6Eus7AoDGUvU_gkPm3wt2N3hElDrbURrsNXiwxo84bC5HEb7z9AmUMA3Ni-Z8S20kA0iODq7pI1Io51xs/s400/dumoulin.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hard to argue with that</td></tr>
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<br />
In the women's road race, it was tough to see anything but the predictable outcome. The Dutch had the power and the numbers, and Blaak, with a little help from her friends, will get by with the stripes next year.<br />
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The men's race... what a good race to watch. (except when the coverage got miffed and we stared at the 1k to go banner for 5 minutes) When you look back at it now, I think... of course Sagan won it, but at the time... I never would have bet on him doing it. Even when he seemingly materialized out of nowhere for the sprint, it didn't look like he had it. But he did. Winning 3 WC road races in very different finishes... it's hard not to think he is one of, if not the best one day racer...maybe ever. Long live the champ.<br />
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FYI: You can watch the UCI's replay's (and live streams) on their Youtube channel by using a proxy service to get around the Geoblocking they put up. Of course you can also use Steephill.tv for live viewing, but you get some sketchy websites/streams and often a lot of non-english language streams.<br />
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But it wasn't just the WC going on. The Newly opened Mattamy National Cycling Center Velodrome in Milton, Ontario was the scene for "The Day of the Hour" where 8 Canadians set off on attacks on both the Canadian Hour Records as well as the UCI World Hour Records. You can check out lots of <a href="https://youtu.be/hA6R5_97bNs" target="_blank">video on it here</a><br />
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By the way, Congratulations to all! I only have a taste of what it's like, and my hat's off to anyone who can ride the track for an hour at some serious speeds.<br />
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There were 4 new World Records and 8 new Canadians records at the end of the day, with outstanding performances by everyone. Like any good hour record, there was a non-zero amount of drama that has the forums humming. The placement of the little bumpers was not in it's normal position (which is touching the very edge of the upper part of the Cote, to prevent someone from dipping below the black line)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGin4iUeMfQrt4flVu9ERDwLm-DC8f5vGv7Lbxb6y-Bhr3x3H1FOCZmuMiAuA0OmSJtvjCqRPPMU6JHuI5uGUZe_8WEd9UZXwBYNLxKRFA4OucUz7xZV1hiDQEcwTdE6ZYi27caQVp_do/s1600/cotebumper.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="244" data-original-width="461" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGin4iUeMfQrt4flVu9ERDwLm-DC8f5vGv7Lbxb6y-Bhr3x3H1FOCZmuMiAuA0OmSJtvjCqRPPMU6JHuI5uGUZe_8WEd9UZXwBYNLxKRFA4OucUz7xZV1hiDQEcwTdE6ZYi27caQVp_do/s400/cotebumper.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My awesome art program showing where they "should" be touching</td></tr>
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While historically the bumpers do indeed touch the other edge, the always informative Alex Simmons brought to light that in the UCI handbook there isn't a rule specifying where the bumpers must be. (At least back to 2000 - take with a grain of salt as I'm not a UCI Comm intimately familiar with the rules)<br />
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From an actual performance standpoint... it's kind of a grey area in my mind. On the one hand, actually trying to gain an advantage by riding on the Cote for an hour record is a little ridiculous (you travel less distance in the turns, but you also have less banking) but on the other hand, having that extra 6 inches or so can allow a rider to be significantly braver about the line they choose to ride. Would I ride farther up the track if I was afraid I was in danger of hitting the bumper? Possibly. So in that way there is a little bit of advantage, if only primarily a mental one. Since a few records were set with under a lap of distance between the records, it starts getting a little muddy as to the "spirit" of the rules. That said, there were UCI comm's at Milton who had no trouble with it for 8 hour attempts, so I see no reason to be outraged beyond a curiosity. Perhaps, with the renewed interest in the hour and this day in particular, we might get clearer rules.<br />
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That's all about other folk doing great things. Me... I've started riding a semi-serious amount again, but not anything overly exciting. With my mind focused on all the things to get in order for our trip to Germany my own cycling has taken a bit of a back seat, in my mind if not in my legs. I'm sure things will pick back up into full order soon. It's about time for a new project as well... I don't have anything staring at me from the workbench in desperate need of repair, it feels a little strange!<br />
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Until next time, thanks so much for reading! I really appreciate it!<br />
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- Christopher Morelock<br />
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<br />Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-42444557192878082432017-09-20T09:58:00.001-04:002017-09-20T09:58:49.102-04:00Shimmy Shimmy yaShimmy yam shimmy yay<br />
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Ok, ODB references aside... my new project (well, bike project, the real time consuming project I've been working on is learning to cut my own hair, which is MUCH more difficult than bike related stuff!) is printing off some angled shims for my Brezza bars.<br />
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I've learned both times that I went to the wind tunnel (I'm a slow learner obviously) that higher hands worked for me. While I understand it's not quite so simple as some is good so more must be better, I think it's safe to assume it's not going to be a negative hitting the limit allowed by the UCI. The problem of course is that 3T doesn't make any angled spacers for the Brezza II's I use. There are a couple of ways around such an issue, but I spent good hard earned money on my 3D printer, and by God I'm going to take every excuse to use it!<br />
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The initial mock up just took my original spacers design and chopped off a 10° angle towards the back. Voila!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYJ9e9xJNK5sbKCCregR5e09opY_QMAYnBCIaaJeSBPvoyRd6P3RQkBNmp20rdKAMJNrmTqr-JHyVL5HZf4Fqz4UhPLr3cpBvAygsMtVKb2eFj6-i1m8qU4c3w9CE2CLN1Wst33j-RjI/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="528" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYJ9e9xJNK5sbKCCregR5e09opY_QMAYnBCIaaJeSBPvoyRd6P3RQkBNmp20rdKAMJNrmTqr-JHyVL5HZf4Fqz4UhPLr3cpBvAygsMtVKb2eFj6-i1m8qU4c3w9CE2CLN1Wst33j-RjI/s400/Untitled.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Maybe not the most refined piece of work, but the important thing is that it's functional.<br />
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So, after a shell for test fitting and some minor adjusting, I printed off two of the little buggers and bolted them down. With the way the 3T bars bolt on, I don't see any need for a conical washer or any other frills, everything seems to be a-ok!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCNwLqYJ7TDBk8y8Y_ZLS3rtdPppHPkitFR3IiJ5SUxlcoCDng96BImeAvD8rCyLfWG6bA3DAVefr-a3tRI8bSpbMe6P_r4CnEF3MdAESy6jS7R0IJIhWlBtSMnT-JHH5dIW0RxVuZgs/s1600/DJ2RdsCU8AI4klg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoCNwLqYJ7TDBk8y8Y_ZLS3rtdPppHPkitFR3IiJ5SUxlcoCDng96BImeAvD8rCyLfWG6bA3DAVefr-a3tRI8bSpbMe6P_r4CnEF3MdAESy6jS7R0IJIhWlBtSMnT-JHH5dIW0RxVuZgs/s640/DJ2RdsCU8AI4klg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You get a feel for how much higher 10° actually is. I'm lucky with the 3T hardware as it conveniently also tilts the pads so no need for another solution for that. Now to throw it all back on the homemade jig and make sure it all passes snuff.<br />
<br />I may print off a few taller and shorter shims as well, just in case I get froggy and want to be able to test multiple angles and/or heights. With the material I'm using I don't want to add much height to the spacer, as I'm much less confident of it's lateral strength.<br />
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Thanks a ton for reading, I really appreciate it!<br />
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- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-73810129032960267422017-09-13T09:48:00.001-04:002017-09-13T09:48:41.767-04:00What's next?My break is over and now it's time to enter back into a base period. I do hate those first few days after a few weeks off the bike... when you still have the fitness to do some work, but all the tender and moving parts of you moan and hurt just that little bit to remind you that they enjoyed sitting on the couch more than they enjoy sitting on a saddle. It never ceases to amaze me that you could be averaging 2hours/day for months, take a short break, and then riding for an hour feels like eternity until the body re-adjusts.<br />
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So now it's nose back to the grindstone for a while. Most everyone has issues with it turning to worse weather, but since I do the vast majority of my training indoors anyways, it's pretty much business as usual for me. I do hope to make it back to the track a few times before full on winter though... we'll just have to see if it all lines up.<br />
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As for next season... the planning is already taking place. Of course I am looking at another shot at the State Championship TT... I was soundly beaten this year, but wasn't totally on top of my game. Another year's worth of fine tuning and hard work will hopefully give me what I need to finally take that top step. I also missed the track TN championships this year, which was unfortunate, it's definitely on my list for next year.<br />
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But primarily, it's the hour record that has my attention. I can do an hour, now I just need to fine tune doing it and start squeezing in more laps. The fact that my legs were in perfect shape afterwards tells me I wasn't working anywhere near my max at Rock Hill (although other factors certainly made up for a lot of that) so now I've been lured into the hour's hold. I'm not sure how far I can go with it, but right now it is what I'll continue building for. There are a couple of other velodrome records I'd like to use as test runs to improve my technical abilities... but my eye is really on the US Masters record. Time will tell whether that is a far fetched dream or not, but it's a nice carrot to consider during the long months ahead.<br />
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Until next time, thanks so much for reading!<br />
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- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-45925259809543426872017-09-06T09:35:00.002-04:002017-09-06T09:35:37.798-04:00Some new projects in my off timeAfter Rock Hill, it was time to back off, partly because mentally I needed a break from the season and partly because the hope is that a little R&R will bring my TSH back down to normal (for me) levels. My extended bloodwork came back with no flags, so I suppose popular theory now is that I just have a fairly high TSH to start with, but that my increased load leading up to this had pushed it higher still. We'll see in a few months how that goes.<br />
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Nonetheless, time off the bike doesn't mean I've forgotten about the bike. There are some things I came away from Giordana thinking would make excellent improvements to the setup... and so here I am keeping myself busy.<br />
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The main thing I found uncomfortable at the track was my "Bridie nubs" (look, they probably have a better name than that, but I think that's a cool name and it's what I've always called them, so there.)<br />
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Version 1 and 2 were just something I whipped up on tinkercad and printed out on my 3d printer. They worked adequately, but for extended periods they really dug into my fingers and caused some pain, something I don't need more of. So it was back to the drawing board, and after a couple of hours messing with some different designs, I came up with these.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4ll9YYJuQbaZh24dY-MAci5tS5hCsVxTSrs-WokgmtmWm8-HaLVGX5k6vgSSFQlXfCE5ljfO9Gpgj-NC6jsEwnrWmePkTbaqT2rSMSCRPOTyAgSNKlHjy2Dmfld8mxn5J8wBm5AkCPA/s1600/bridie+plug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="1600" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4ll9YYJuQbaZh24dY-MAci5tS5hCsVxTSrs-WokgmtmWm8-HaLVGX5k6vgSSFQlXfCE5ljfO9Gpgj-NC6jsEwnrWmePkTbaqT2rSMSCRPOTyAgSNKlHjy2Dmfld8mxn5J8wBm5AkCPA/s400/bridie+plug.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Version 3 is slightly more ergonomic with the cutouts (I wrap my pinky underneath, next two fingers in the cutout and pointer/thumb more on top) and probably more importantly I've totally removed any non-rounded edges. The smooth profile should keep them from digging into my fingers and hopefully the cutout will make for some slightly more secure wraparound. I'll have to do more testing on them, but at the least they are the right direction for v4 I think!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zX_6dG2N97a4eILMI_e6IpL3wYIxNYn1DL3gfuDH4WnPgLum7xNWS1tJS0P4gA3cBC8m9zSv9XsJe0iKd3kqWIT3S0iE7TNeXOMPLtwP3M2WSIFylXfsMaM9x6qZmwPbAcESy8BYclQ/s1600/plugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zX_6dG2N97a4eILMI_e6IpL3wYIxNYn1DL3gfuDH4WnPgLum7xNWS1tJS0P4gA3cBC8m9zSv9XsJe0iKd3kqWIT3S0iE7TNeXOMPLtwP3M2WSIFylXfsMaM9x6qZmwPbAcESy8BYclQ/s400/plugs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here you can see the difference in design between v1 and v3.</td></tr>
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As you fine readers certainly are aware, I'm an aero weenie. I love to eek out the absolute minute details of position/equipment. But, when you've worked on it like I have, you get to the point where the gains that you can still make require either a lot of time or a lot of money, most likely both. Certainly I'm not against spending either searching for those elusive missing watts, but now I'm taking a little closer look at other ways to save just that little bit extra.<br />
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I'm officially making my way into the world of friction weenies. I admit, in the past I've put very, very little interest or thought into friction. Sure, I bought the friction facts reports, but the extent of what I came away with was "wax your chain with additives when you're racing" and I called it good enough. But while searching for anything "free" I could for the track, I read that a lot of folks were pimping out their bottom bracket. Sure I've seen the video's of the BB/wheel/etc that spins seemingly forever, but until the FF report showed it actually could save a watt or two I never got invested.<br /><br />Well, here we go. I picked up a pretty nice 7700 (needle and ball bearing style) DA7700 bottom bracket, found a pack of 50 ceramic enduro 1/8" balls (after balking at Ceramicspeed wanting $6!!! each for them... holy jeez) and picked up some CeramicSpeed TT/Track grease. Putting it all together and I ended up with... still a bottom bracket. But it should be a slightly more efficient bottom bracket!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCajMBoeiF3-whU-vDKdSvbkMdL3L14nsbPRWeJNJW0oyuzw2ftE1FMsN3Xn4BFJmKmuH9PbmDJwWPcQyHpJXHupW1ZlZwFXet_Gxeoyzctf_4aP6bxjeTnu_ihJy9YiFDgIYB7C7XA4/s1600/7700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCajMBoeiF3-whU-vDKdSvbkMdL3L14nsbPRWeJNJW0oyuzw2ftE1FMsN3Xn4BFJmKmuH9PbmDJwWPcQyHpJXHupW1ZlZwFXet_Gxeoyzctf_4aP6bxjeTnu_ihJy9YiFDgIYB7C7XA4/s400/7700.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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Otherwise all has been pretty quiet in my part of the woods. I'm still pouring over the data I did get from my hour... plugging numbers, calculating... My mission was accomplished to get through the hour, and to set the track record, but now I wonder what distance I could have went if I wasn't riding to someone else's schedule. I want to have another go. Maybe sometime early next year when it warms up we'll head back and try to tack on a few more laps.<br />
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Anyways, as always thanks so much for reading, I really appreciate it!<br />
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- Christopher MorelockChristopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-152718394367156819.post-70229217323001342482017-08-30T06:43:00.001-04:002017-08-30T07:58:29.388-04:00Race Report: Giordana Velodrome (H)our RecordThis is a tough one to put down into words... it's not the end of the journey, just a step... but man, what a good step it was to take.<br />
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Monday, August 28 at 1p.m. in Rock Hill, things came to a head and I took the first pedalstroke toward trying to set the track record at Giordana. It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time now, something that I wasn't sure I *could* do, something I still don't think I could have done... and yet, something <b>WE</b> did. But let's get to the actual report first, and then I'll throw in all my shoutout/thank you's at the end!</div>
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My wife and I set out late Saturday morning for Rock Hill. My mom had planned to go with us as well, but unfortunately had to stay home leaving it just us for the long weekend. Our trip down was pretty uneventful, Regional championships were taking place at the velodrome and we made it there literally just in time for the last person to step off the podium. Drat. We spent the rest of Saturday evening and most of Sunday exploring the local area (and checking out some great places to eat!) and just relaxing. </div>
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Since I've had some very limited track time this year (and, well... ever) I was a bit nervous going into this, so I decided it would be best to do a little bit more on the track on Sunday than what was originally planned. I wasn't going to do any crazy efforts, but getting re-accustomed to riding the track was certainly going to be a boon. While there I met with some local riders, one of which (I am very sorry I forgot your name!) was nice enough to help me with my line entering and exiting the turns and "flattening" the turns. This was a simple, short little bit of advice that REALLY helped me out on Monday. As time was winding down I did a couple of laps timed at "race pace" to see how it felt. I was on my training wheels and not in my skinsuit but was still slightly up on the pace without feeling like I was really working too hard for it. That gave me a much needed boost of confidence and maybe for the first time of the weekend I really internalized that this might just work out. At this point I even let just the slightest bit of bravado slip in and texted Derek "I think this is going to go well." It's at this point I should point out my phone auto-corrected "well" to "terrible" and I had a nervous laugh... stupid Galaxy S6...<br />
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Monday rolled around and the overall feeling I had most of the day was one of nervous anticipation. Since my start time wasn't until 1p.m. and my wife and I are early risers, we had a LONG time to spend just hanging out. I had breakfast and half/half coffee (1/2 decaf) around 6:30, then a larger breakfast at Panera Bread (Quinoa honey almond oatmeal) with more coffee and a lot of water. At the point my pee turned light straw color I started drinking Skratch mix to make sure I didn't over-hydrate. We really lucked up with the time wasting as The Big Lebowski was on and let's be honest, there is no better way to get psyched up for a big event than watching the Dude abide.<br />
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Finally, it was time to make our trek to the velodrome and get set up. It never fails to amaze me how time simply crawls by right up until you are at the venue, then it's like somebody puts you in fast forward. Bob and Ivan at Giordana already had most everything set up and were ready for me... I can't stress enough how excellent and professional these guys were. As I was drinking my (absolutely terrible tasting) mix of Beet Elite and baking soda and contemplating things that those who attack hour records contemplate (which at this point is all the things that aren't controllable, like weather) Derek (Dalzell, my coach) and his wife arrive and the team is all together and there is not much left to do other than a practice standing start (and test the timing) and to make a few nervous jokes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyK54CiSW0xg-yiEPxxsUT9HqTcemcEEQdmoc4iyojwxpuzw64s54jRJmkDXS6FaQKxNMWOnT39CRg0tal8Hj1ePaGYbvhZsjsbF8oEULe9R8uVRuG2fPOhmTJtVe93NS-ZtqF817Qt8/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="1224" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyK54CiSW0xg-yiEPxxsUT9HqTcemcEEQdmoc4iyojwxpuzw64s54jRJmkDXS6FaQKxNMWOnT39CRg0tal8Hj1ePaGYbvhZsjsbF8oEULe9R8uVRuG2fPOhmTJtVe93NS-ZtqF817Qt8/s640/Untitled.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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As far as weather goes, we got good temperature (maybe just slightly warmer than ideal) and a nice overcast, but with a good bit of wind. Some of the guys at the track said it was a bad day for an hour attempt, but it was what day we had, so we were going to have to make the best of it.<br />
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As I made my way up to the start line and clumsily tried to clip into my speedplay pedals (look, I'm a shimano guy... cut me some slack) I was struck very pointedly by the thought that Tony Rominger, one of the hour legends, didn't get up to speed fast enough from his start and fell unceremoniously, having to restart. (And fwiw, then setting the world record) As the countdown began, I thought... I hope I don't fall...<br />
...2<br />
......1<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't fall don't fall don't fall...</td></tr>
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I make it through turn 1 and thankfully don't wipe out. Coming into the straight it's down to business and I click off the first of many laps at a pretty unimpressive 31.4" something that certainly won't gain me any street cred with the real trackies.<br />
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Our plan was to ride conservatively at the current record pace. Having never done an hour before (or really any sets over 20 minutes on the track) we decided that would be the most likely to be successful strategy. That would mean holding roughly low 22" lap splits. Lap #2 I'm at 21.8" and for the next 20 minutes I'm pretty much like a metronome clicking them off. Derek and his significant other did an excellent job relaying information to me, I got lap splits each time around and every 5 minutes I got a sheet of how I was doing compared to the record. At about 20' I was 1.5km up. I was smiling, giving thumbs up to Derek, things were going well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black line...nailed it...right... at least I'm still in the sprinters lane</td></tr>
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An hour attempt is unique. The challenge isn't just a physical one, maybe even moreso it is a mental one. There is just you and some lines. Every few seconds you try to line up entering and exiting the turn, and you see a flash card with your split on it, but otherwise you really see nothing and hear nothing. If you've ever done a set you may know the feeling... you look at your watch after what seems like forever has passed and you see that in reality only a minute or two has gone by. The hour is like that, except longer, and desolate. In a road time trial you have scenery, the danger of traffic, turns, other competitors, things to think about and ever so slightly distract you and take your mind off of small things that aren't really issues. On the track, you feel everything, and it feels worse because you have no distractions to take your mind off of it. The first thing to hurt, for me, was my pinky fingers. Wrapping them around my bars was just uncomfortable enough for it to start annoying me. Then my thumbs started to feel numb (from the loops of my bodypaint3.3 choking off circulation I guess) and all in all my hand area just bothered me. Then my lats started to feel the stress of holding me in position. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">later in the day, not even on the red line any more...</td></tr>
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At around 30 minutes there were no more smiles, no more thumbs up. There was just one lap, followed by another. There were also starting to be more than a few 22.x" laps mixed in. As the day had worn on the wind had shifted, when I started it was hitting me coming out of turn 2, at almost the "perfect" spot to help me slide a little up toward the red line setting me up to cut the inside of turn 3. Unfortunately, as the day progressed the wind started hitting me exiting turn 4... and it was hitting me hard. For a while I tried to fight the bike and hold it in the sprinters lane, but as I have tried to convey little things turn into big things on the track. Fighting the bike was costing me a lot of energy I didn't have, so I eventually decide to just let the wind send me out of the turn wherever it wanted and to just ride it back down when it calmed. I'm sure it looked like I was totally losing control...hell, maybe I was... but it made sense to me at the time.<br />
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As the 5 minute intervals were coming up, 1.5km slid to 1km to .5km and finally to even pace with the record. 40-50 minute mark was steady 22" laps, a bit of a meltdown but not a disaster. At 15 minutes to go I remember thinking "I've done so many 15 minute sets... just do this one more and you never have to do another one." I could also hear everyone on the track trying to bolster me... part of me was very, very glad for the support, and part of me was concerned... were they trying to keep me going because it looked like I might stop at any second.<br />
Honest moment, there was only one thing I wanted to do more than stop... and that was finish. At 10 minutes to go Derek started giving me minute to minute updates "9 to go!" "8:30" "Hold the black Line!" "steady!" and other things I'm not 100% sure I heard correctly, but I got the message.<br />
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"FIVE MINUTES, LIFT IT!"<br />
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Actually, from my lap splits at 7 minutes I started lifting, although I didn't feel like I was. I dropped back into mid-low 21" laps. At this point I was experiencing something I never have before... I saw things, I heard things, but they had no meaning. I could see Derek hold up my lap split, but it didn't hold any information that made sense. I heard my wife cheering, but she was foreign to me. I was a picture frame you buy at Target... There is a picture in it, but no meaning behind it. The only thing that I had to hold onto was a ferverous (or feverous?) voice telling me to push the damn pedals harder.<br />
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In the distance, I hear a whistle blow. I ride by and someone is smiling, giving me a thumbs up. Distantly, a realization dawns on me that the whistle means I can stop.<br />
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Panic grips me.<br />
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For the first time in my cycling life, I truly believe there is no possibility of me slowing down without wrecking. I'm not sure if slowing down will lock my legs up, not sure if I can support myself in any position other than the one I've been locked in the last hour. Slowing down is a painful shock to my system. I lift onto the basebar and my arms have support in them. I slowly ride down the track and have enough sense to let Derek know that I need someone to catch me. He does. Things happen, people, wife... all I can do is put my head into the aerobars and try not to fall over. I get off the bike and make it to the grass infield, where I collapse onto my back and finally have enough oxygen back to my brain to realize that the words being formed are "you did it."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefEzUrkiEI3hUL9YN12Bs5jQ31nYylFy74cUM1aNPb5B58SHI7uC9JN9B5N4IpMPBJgZVqqHlcShA0fgh9eCPb1BWE31k2wsHzWA4I8g4elvd_Qc20cufCHy_0q-MCBRe0mKAWRlOuWI/s1600/21149916_1848904221803472_2289016630993063750_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefEzUrkiEI3hUL9YN12Bs5jQ31nYylFy74cUM1aNPb5B58SHI7uC9JN9B5N4IpMPBJgZVqqHlcShA0fgh9eCPb1BWE31k2wsHzWA4I8g4elvd_Qc20cufCHy_0q-MCBRe0mKAWRlOuWI/s400/21149916_1848904221803472_2289016630993063750_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Derek and Jenny keeping me from toppling over. Notice I'm still in the same position I've been in for an hour </td></tr>
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We did it! The final damage was 41.03km/25.49mph, or 164 laps. I was only able to add 3 laps to Tim's record, but I feel it was everything I had to give, and I'm happy for it!<br />
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So, this was a big enough thing for me to feel like I need to give some long winded shoutouts! If that isn't your thing, feel free to sign out early! Thanks so much for reading, bigger things are coming!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ivan (from Giordana) Jenny me Derek and Millicent</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Derek, one down more to come</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most weight I've lifted over my head in years!</td></tr>
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Thanks to<br />
- My wife, who is the ultimate support<br />
- My family, and especially my mom!<br />
- Derek Dalzell for being an awesome coach, and his wife for doing math for me and just coming out to as support!<br />
- Kevin Sprouse and Podium Sports Medicine for getting me to the line healthy<br />
- All my friends who have listened to me talk endlessly and senselessly about 1/8th of a watt savings, Jimmy, Wes, Emil, Joe, Matt, Tony and so many more<br />
- Tons of knowledgeable folks who took time to listen to and answer my endless questions... Marc Graveline, Alex Simmons, Colby Pearce, Dr. Bassett, Heath Dotson and lots of folks at Slowtwitch and Timetriallingforum<br />
- Mark Florence from the Time trial podcast, which is likely the biggest source of information on hour attempts out there.<br />
- All my sponsors, for continuing to believe.<br />
- More that I've certainly forgot. I'm sorry.<br />
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The only other thing I'll add... come out, try it! It's $60 to make an attempt. Break my distance. Give me a reason to come back and do it again! I think 43km is well within reach of somebody with a fairly good W/CdA ratio and an ok day. Maybe a lot more!<br />
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- Christopher Morelock</div>
Christopher Morelockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04491785610585603214noreply@blogger.com0