Team in Training - 12/19/06

Team weekend rides are fun! Last Saturday we did some climbing up Flagstaff, NCAR and Lehigh before heading further south for some sprinting fun on the flats. I noticed that it is a lot better going out with a big, like-minded group than a hodge podge mix or with just 1-2 others or solo. 2007 should be a great season for Feedback Sports.

On Saturday, I noticed a few things. First, Greg and I are going to kill the hill climb races. Second, I can't sprint to save my life. During one of our sprint challenges, I was out of the saddle and giving it all I had. Then I look next to me and Andrew is still seated and hasn't even wound it up yet. Once he did, he blew past everyone and "won" going away. That boy could win some races next year in the 3s. Third, I'm happy and willing to be a domestique in any race. Let's face it, I have trouble keeping the reins in. If I want to go, I fucking go. I think my talents - and my limitations - will be best served by being one of the team's whipping boys / lead out men / peloton fracturer and so on. Guys, just don't expect me to shuttle your water bottles for you. I gotta draw the line somewhere!

Anticipating snow later today and tomorrow. Funny, the sun is out right now . . . If we do get the promised precipitation, will most likely be snowshoeing this weekend.

It's great to be excited for next season and to see that excitement echoed by my teammates.

Ride safe,
Nate

2007 Prep is Well Underway!

So, it’s back to full-time training. Relatively speaking, given that my weekday rides are shorter than they are during the summer. Hitting the weight room very hard again, just like last winter. After not lifting since May, I am surprised – more like shocked – at how fast the strength is coming back. In the core exercises, I am about 11-12 weeks ahead of last year’s build up. That bodes very well.

Weekend rides are also going well. The expanded talent and numbers of the team is awesome! I can tell that the new riders will help me become a better rider in ’07. Climbing with Greg Ross on a regular basis will either make me a lot stronger or kill me in the process. The addition of Jeremy Collins will make weekday rides on the flats more challenging. And this is not to mention the increased fitness of the incumbent Feedback Sports teammates. The team’s gelling, training well together and we’ve taken a big step forward in terms of our “professionalism” (how we are portraying ourselves out to the marketplace). It’s all exciting and helps keep the motivation high!

The goals in racing as a 3 in ’07 will be no different than the goals were in ’06. My big races will be the hard road races and pure climbs, like Mt. Evans, Gore Pass, Mike Horgan and similar ilk. I’ll most likely be playing second fiddle to Greg, which would suit me just fine. I’d like nothing better than to blow these races up for him, detonate the pack and then watch him ride to victory. Same goes for our other fine athletes who are more in-tune with results in crits or non-technical road races like Hugo.

Also looking forward to some epic snowshoeing with Andy and whomever else may like to join in that fun. Will probably get out after the holidays when there is definitely enough snow and the weather tends to be more predictable. Have already gotten out once up at Eldora. Was fabulous in that for about 90% of the 3 hours, I was breaking trail and trekking out of bounds. Aside from the maddening wind, a great outing.

Stay tuned for more. Updates won’t be as consistent given it is the off-season, but keep checking back for the musings.

Train smart; stay safe!
Nate