some times you feel like a nut...

some times you don't.  I felt like a cracked nut today.  I had the wingate test followed by the same 25k tt we have done 2 times already.  About 18 minutes into the 40 min. +/- trainer tt effort, I cracked and got off the bike.  I could not wrap my head around the effort today.  I rode the 23k back to the facility, went to my room and did homework.  I did come out to watch some of the Worlds TT that I was avoiding the results of all day. 

Here's to trainer rides!

Road Trip!

Today, a few of us took a day trip to Lausanne as normal folk, not grown ups who sometimes wear stretchy pants for fun.

old covered wood steps to Cathedral

espresso and Nutella Crepe

Cheers to our Family and friends!  Thank you!

Another day at the office (I mean hospital)

Today I had the hemoglobin mass test.  It is just another name for the CO rebreathe.  It is a pretty easy procedure.  They take a baseline blood sample and then we breathe on a closed circuit for 8 minutes with another blood sample at the end.  I was out of the hospital by 10 a.m. and on a solo road trip to clear my head.

Lake Geneva and the Alps

That is the view on the descent from St. Cergue towards Geneva.  I rode towards La Dole in search of another climb that Adam had done the day before.  I did not go up but will be back another day.

I spent the afternoon in my new room, making up the hours I missed while at the hospital.  Tomorrow we are off to Lausanne for some tourist time.

Conspiracy theories

      Just when we thought we had it all figured out?  A couple subjects have recently become sick which also meant one roommate got shuffled around.  We had the 3 groups figured out and even had suspicions of which groups were hypoxic and which one was the control.  Well, with the shuffling of one person, it has thrown the conspiracy theorists into an uproar.  Not really, but there has been talk of the new formed groups.

It was another cold, damp day up in Premanon.  The few people that went riding, decided to make their way down the Geneva side for a few extra degrees of warmth.  I, on the other hand, decided to take a rest day after my 3.5 hour trudge through the passes yesterday.  I did get a 40 min. run in with some core work in the gym.

The testing is starting up again with everyone getting a CO rebreathing (blood mass) test either today or tomorrow.  I have mine at 8 on Tuesday morning.  Wednesday we are taking a tourist day down to Lausanne to see the IOC Museum and get a nice lunch.  Thursday the testing is back in full swing with submax TT, biopsy, and arterial VO2.  There is a good chance that Logan and I will get another cx race in as we are the only 2 cx racers that have Saturday off from testing.

Sorry for the lame post with no pics but 16 hours a day in the room and no riding leaves very little scenery to show.

Got a little nippy going through the pass, huh Har?

 I wish I had that extra pair of gloves.  My hands were not sweaty. 

 This is what I had to deal with at about the 2:45 mark of my ride.  It was a slow descent down to town and then I had 25k to ride in the valley to get home.  When I finally made, I found out that they had turned the drying room on.  This is where I stood for about 20 minutes, defrosting and almost crying as the feeling came back into my hands.

Ah, so nice, yet so painful

A couple more days of the 5 degree and rainy weather and then it looks like we will be back to some fall like temperatures.

9 Euro? Are you sure?

    If I knew French, that is what I would have asked.  It cost 9 Euro to race today and when I returned my number, I got 2 back.  Wow, that is cheap racin!
    It was about 140k to the venue and by the time we made I was certain I was not going to race.  I never get carsick but today I think my face was looking quite green.  We got sent on a detour because of construction and my stomach was not having it.  We got lucky coming into town when a car with a roof full of cx bikes blew by and were able to follow them to the race site.

road trip!

    We were told through a researcher that our race was at 2:30, well, I think we started at almost 3:45.  The course was loads of fun.  It was a bit greasy in spots with a lot of beach riding, stairs, natural run up and some twisty stuff.  The non racers of the group were beered up and cheering like crazy Belgians.  It was awesome.  I had an ok start from 4th row and after 4 laps just did not have it.  I continued to pass a few people but was not very fast today.  It was good to get the first one out of the way. I am hoping the next one goes a bit better.  Thanks for the photos Adam.

Jesse, TJ, Logan, Russell

    It was quite a change to go to a race and not recognize any of the jerseys.  I do know that the Euros still love their neon colors.  They really need some graphic arts people to design their stuff.  It looks like someone vomited corporate logos all over.
   The drive home was a bit smother as we took freeway (not free, 23 euro later) the whole way.  Back in time for dinner, which I skipped so I could shower and get another 1/2 hour in the room.  Time for a beer and bed.

Secret stash

It seems that we are coming upon the change of seasons.  Today was a cold, windy wet day in Premanon.  I can't complain too much because it is only about the 2nd day of adverse weather.  I did opt to have a 20 minute breakfast so I could get out for my 1 hour opener session before the weather blew in.  I was glad to be done when the rain started to fall.

today's view

I did spend most of my time in my room in order to make up for the hours I will be missing while at the cx race.  They want the most accurate results for the test so we have to disciplined about putting in our time.
It looks like we will have a vanful of people going so hopefully someone will get some good photos.

Well, the dirtbag hippies have moved on which we thought meant a bad dinner.  It turned out to be ok.  We finally had some rare roast beef which happened to be pretty good.  The highlight was definitely when the lone cook brought out his secret stash for us after dinner.  Distilled wine (brandy?) most of us partook and it was quite smooth.

Cheers to no soup N#$I

Wish us luck in our first Euro cx race.

tick, tock, tick, tock

That is how slow the day goes when you have a rest day.  I spent the 2 hours before lunch getting my bike together for the race this weekend.  I put on the Michelin Muds (thanks Micah) they are 30's that I brought in case I was able to do the WC.  I put new brake pads on and washed everything.  After putting my feet up til about 2, it was time for a espresso.  Russell, AJ and I headed down to Les Rousses for coffee and a Carrefour stop.  Chocolate and lemonade today.

This is video of last years version of the race we are going to.
Montrevel en Bresse CX 09
The promoter wanted our palmares (race resume) sent over in order for us to race.  Call-ups, announcers, start money (a guy can wish)?  7C and raining on Saturday.  It is going to be rad!

French fan club

That is what I will call it in my head but I am pretty sure they were yelling for us to get off of their soccer field.  Russel, Logan and I made the 5k commute to Les Rousses for some bike practice on a soccer field and running track.  I looked like a hobo plumber riding my bike with the pvc barrier sticking out of the top.  We put together a decent 5 minute lap with some sand, a run up and grass with an off camber section.  Our workout was only shortened by 10 minutes or so because of our French fan club/Groundskeeper Willie.

It was all rewarded with my first croissant of the trip. 

the instant coffee tops it off (bleck)

I am really quite happy that I am taking three classes while I am here.  It really helps to pass the time. 

It looks good for some French CX this weekend.  The promoter has received our letters from USAC to ride in France, now we just have to find directions to get there.

The is also a houseful of students/smoking hippies dirtbags here at the facility.  The only positive to that is the meals seem to be better when the Frenchies show up.  Tonight was greenish soup, salad, moist chicken (noted because I have had gluten free bread that was more moist than the pork last night) green beans, pasta with a sausage/mussels sauce and ice cream cups for dessert.

courtesy of dirtbag hippies in town

La Dole- Ian's mad photo skills

He's coming, he's coming, he's coming..

Washington, Washington, six foot four....  Sorry, anyway.   This guy comes to our door looking for blood today.

actually it was Christophe and he came for our weekly blood draw. 

are you done yet?  we'll talk about the bad facial hair at a later date.

After playing human pin cushion (he missed the first time) it was also moving day.  I changed rooms, only to move in with another Dane, Adam.  He writes product reviews for a website in Denmark.  I may be trying some cx clinchers in the future.
The theories are running rampant as to who is in what group, hypoxic or sea level, but it seems that the groups have been established.  Once all of the room shuffling was done, 7 of us headed out to battle La Dole.  It is a 12k climb that goes up 1000m.  It averages 9-10%.  Ian and I smashed each other on the way up and were rewarded with awesome views.

Lake Geneva and the Alps

Ahh, McDees trash, even in Europe

even the gnomes enjoyed the view

We arrived back just in time for another wonderful sandwich, sauna and shower before heading back to our newly assigned rooms and roommates.

Fruit of the week- Grape

Weekend Update w/ Tina Fey

I not only held down the fort.  I went to the Fort (Les Rousses).  This is where the UCI mtb race started on Sunday morning.  I went to catch the start to see Zach and Thomas off.  The race started at 8 so I had a quick breakfast and rode the 5k down to the start.  The race started inside the courtyard of Fort Les Rousses.  They offer tours of the caves below which I guess there are miles of underground tunnels.

There were around 250? starters for the race.  Not quite Chequamegon but it was a pretty big event for the area.  Previous days offered road riding tours and a 55k and 80k mtb race.  I did not recognize any of the Pros on the front line but some big names have shown up in the past.

front line  - no back-ins allowed

99-Thomas,  497-Zach

After the start I headed back to my cell for 2 hours.  Upon release, I came out to find Zach, pretty bummed out.  His derailleur had broken off only 7 miles into the race.  At the same time, he came upon Thomas who was helping a friend of his from Denmark, who had crashed badly.  He was knocked out and Thomas rode along in the ambulance to the hospital.  It was not a good day for the mtb crew.
I was able to get out for a hard 2 hour training session on a new route.

Up we go

The road race gang got back just in time for dinner which meant 3 extra hours in their cells on Monday.  Their race was south of Geneva in the Alps.  120k with a 5k climb at 13% avg. to a downhill finish.  It was a hammer fest as they average 44k/hr until the final climb. I guess a couple AG2R guys showed up.  It was only 7 euro to race and a some finished some had problems.  I felt a bit left out while sitting back and listening to the war stories from the day.
I will have my chance next weekend at the cx race.  I have been hopping barriers and getting ready with bike practice on the soccer field.

Today, was a rest day for most.  The road racers walked around looking pretty thrashed.  I hit up the soccer field and did some core work in the gym.  A few of us went for coffee and other went on a beer run/ recovery ride.

The vampires are coming in the morning.  I better get some rest.

Best Ride Ever!

I have been in France/Switzerland for 3 weeks now and the riding is amazing.  I have to say, my favorite ride still has to be the 3 mile ride I took 1 year ago with my wife. It tops every ride I have done over here.



 

It was a no-chain kind of day!

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Holding down the fort

The days are becoming pretty routine around here.  There is not a lot that can be said when you spend 16 hours of the day in a 16x16 room.  It looks like I may be one of a few that is actually around tomorrow.  A UCI marathon MTB race starts about 5k from here tomorrow with 2 of the inmates competing.  There was an extra bike in the bike room that I was going to use for the day but nobody really knew who's it was so I will just be riding down to watch the start.  The other group is heading out for a road race on the other side of Lake Geneva.  I am not all that comfortable with the cx brakes on the road so I will be missing that one also.  I am banking my transports on doing some cx races which is what I am really excited for.

The halls were pretty empty today with some riding, some making up the time in the rooms they will miss by racing.  Meals were skipped and eaten in the snack area.  I am about 3 hours ahead so far.  Hopefully my room actually is at simulated altitude.

I did get out for a nice, hard training ride to get the race legs going.  I came across a few good photos.

Giant pipe and diamond in St. Claude

loggers dragged this out of the woods

The French skiers are gone and I think the staff around here hates us.  The sauna was not turned on, there was yelling going on at lunch (I missed out on that) and a lot of things just seem to be overlooked.  It doesn't help that there are food monsters leaving nuts and misc. food all over the snack area.  It is like someone just throws food towards their mouth and prays for the best.

Local cheese?

Well, now I am confused?  Where is the milk for the cheese coming from?  I thought it was the cows.

Rated R cheese sign

It was an uneventful day today.  A short, solo ride around Lac Les Rousses with chips and salsa and a beer after.  I felt like an American for a short while.

The sauna was on today and it was HOT.  I lasted for about 20 minutes and started to get light-headed.

There is only one way to go when you are on top.  Down.  We had cold, leftover chicken from last night.  I think since the French National Ski team left today, it will be all down hill.  The place is empty except for us.  They probably looked at each other at 6:50 and said, "what the hell are we going to serve".

Kings for a night!

It all started as a wet, dreary morning.  After our super-duper breakfast, we retired to our cells to plot out plans for the day.  Upon being released at 10 a.m. we all hung around the snack area, drinking super awesome instant coffee (not PRO).  Paul, researcher/soignier said he take us to the market.  Jacob needed a BB and then we headed to the Ecomarche next door.

Just the important stuff

After a successful stop, we headed back.  The clouds were blowing over and the roads were drying.  I rallied TJ out of his room and we headed out for some bike practice.  We descended into Long Chamois and continued on to St. Claude.

Still a bit hazy but great views

We climbed for about the last 20k to get back home only to find out the sauna was not on.  Bummer.  30 minutes left in the "yard" and it was back to our cells where I had a wonderful, magical care package from my lovely wife.  My lucky day.

chips & salsa, black jelly beans, PB & honey, crosswords, and a t-shirt

I spent part of the 3 hours doing homework and the other was spent looking for CX races.  I was stoked to find quite a few less than 100k from here.  So hopefully, I will have a few races in my legs before I get home.

Now, onto the living like kings part of the story.  It all started with whitish soup tonight.  Then, we find avocados at the salad table, Jackpot.  Next, some kind of cheese filled hot biscuit/croissant (meh, had one bite).  Meat, some type of bird, wow, this brought the morale up, as you can see!

Of course, pasta with a cream mushroom sauce.  I am over the pasta, had a few bites.

Now, you ask, what could they do to make it any better?  Well, everyone was pretty happy already and then this.

drumsticks, so delicious

Logan, Laust, Darren

I feel like this what our last meal and at midnight they are going to come to our rooms and take us to the electric chair.