Bikes and Frames for Sale
Spring cleaning had to happen sometime. I'm riding for Raleigh Racing this year so will be switching the fleet over to the amazing rides available from Raleigh.
Old bikes - some lightly used (some hardly used at all) - have to go. I will miss them all as they are all excellent rigs!
Click here to see images and full descriptions but here's a short recap:
2011 Redline Conquest Team (DEMO, complete bike) - $1,600
2009 Redline Conquest Team Scandium (complete bike) - $1,000
2011 Giant Athem X 29er Frame - $1,000
2011 Ridley Damocles Frame - $1,000
2007 Kona UTE (complete) - $500
2012 Coaching Program
Hey everybody - time to start thinking about your plans for training and racing in 2012!
I'm reducing my number of coaching clients for 2012, down to just 10 from 15 in 2011. I want to be able to spend more time with each athlete, especially as it comes to mapping out racing and a program to achieve optimal performance.
I'll also be working with more athletes who have dietary restrictions - gluten-free, vegan, diabetic... If you fit into these categories you'll be in good company with other GBCoaching athletes.
Details of and pricing for the program can be found here. Let me know soon as there are a number of people "on the fence" and I'm really going to stop taking clients at 10...
Happy training and remember to stay active over the holidays. You might not be going 100% or sticking to plan because of other commitments, but that's no reason to come to a dead stop. Do something - cycle, swim, run, lift weights, cross-fit, etc. - every day.
It doesn't have to be epic to be quality!
Back in the Saddle
Well, I've been back in the stationary bike saddle for a while and teaching spin classes, but now I'm out on the trail and on the road.
Feels good to be back at it, though I've lost a good deal of high-end fitness. Three and four hour rides aren't a problem, so endurance is good. Sprinting and climbing is suffering a bit.
All-in-all, I don't recommend breaking your collarbone and taking a forced sabbatical from the bike. But being on the road and out on the trails again is a good feeling and I'm ready to begin preparation for 2012!
Cuts Like a Knife: Season Reset
This really IS my clavicle! The pointy ends - up to the right, down to the left - are supposed to be connected somewhere. Surgery scheduled.
Well, tomorrow is the big day for my clavicle repair surgery.
No doubt about it, the break is severe and trusted sources have given me the same answer: you need to have surgery to regain function. The orthopedic surgeon wanted to leave it open for me to decide. Not sure he understood fully that I want to return to MTB and 'cross racing, but my two other sources (another orthopedic surgery consultant and my family doctor) both said there is no go way for my fracture to heal on its own.
Looking in the mirror I can see the difference. My left shoulder sits 2" lower than the right and is jutted about 1.5" forward and in toward the sternum. This could lead to a slight "hunchback" look on the left side of my body if not corrected. Basically, there's nothing supporting my shoulder and it's going to droop without support.
So with less than 24 hours before going under the scalpel, I'm looking at recovery time and what of the rest of the season I can salvage.
Pre-crash, my race schedule included a 12-hour race July 30, Fool's Gold 100 MTB race August 20, the NEO Power series races in July and September, NEOCX races in early September and the Tuesday evening Findley Thorn MTB TTs as practice races. That's at least 8 races I had hoped to use as prep for cyclocross season that won't be raced.
This is the scalpel they will use to open me up...
Best-case scenario is that I'm up on the trainer/spinning bike by mid-August. First outdoor/off-road ride won't happen until six weeks after surgery, or mid-September. First possible race will be early October - allowing me to race eight races of the NEOCX series. Again, that's best-case scenario.
Although I'd hoped to race more coming into 'cross season, the time off the bike may be good for me as I was feeling a little cooked. OK, there are better ways to take time off from racing than breaking your collarbone, I'm just trying to find a silver lining...
One of the hardest thing to do during injury/recovery time is to keep your eyes on what is next. It's too easy to focus on what won't go right with your season/race/etc. rather than look to what you can accomplish.
I'd much rather be out on a Cannondale Scalpel or any other MTB...
Sure, I'm bummed about the crash and the surgery taking me away from my racing plan. But I can embrace this time as recovery and extra says with my family and still have fun racing cyclocross this year. Maybe there will be a little less pressure knowing that reaching top form by the end of the series will be my main goal. I'm not giving up on racing strong, but with a "season reset" it is always good to reset your expectations too.
We're out there competing to test our limits, tohave fun, to stay fit and to be with friends. Anything less of that is a job, and I don't see anyone writing me a check to ride my bike...
Racer Roundup – Ken Hagan
Ken Hagan after his 2nd place overall finish (and age group win) at the 2011 Huntington Triathlon.
Congrats to GBCoaching athlete Ken Hagan who continues to rip up the regional elite triathlon circuit - this time with a 2nd place overall at the Huntington Triathlon!
Ken switched to the Olympic (and sprint) distance elite category this year after a strong Iron-distance finish last year. We capitalized on the amazing fitness he gained last year by posting a Marathon PR of 3:08:33 and turning his training toward speed and skills. Ken is an inspiration and, as a coach, a great person to work with.
Nobody is more proud of Ken than his wife Amy and his two sons. With great support and dedication - anything is possible. Way to go Ken!
