The Bike Shop Team Blog

Confidence through humility

2008-07-01T14:16:00.000-07:00

by Ryan Probert

Hey everybody, sorry it's been so long. Life at The Bike Shop has been pretty hectic since we've finally had some decent weather.

So since I last updated you I've had two close calls with lightning (did you know lightning gives off the smell of burning ozone?....me neither), several short uneventful rides, an over-the-seat-tube creek crossing, one helmet write off, and we've just completed a three day suffer fest training camp.

Here's a few things I've learned:
1) just because you're riding slow doesn't mean you're not about to eat dirt 2) chamois butt'r is the real deal and I'm sorry I ever made fun of it
3) a bowl of cereal/cup of coffee breakfast isn't worth spit on a ride day
4) no matter how bad you feel, wait ten minutes, maybe you'll feel worse
5) every big climb ends "just around the next bend"
6) John and I could get lost in a Hoola-Hoop
7) from close up lightning is much bigger than you probably think
8) if you're shouldering your bike and the front tire disappears from view, heads up, you're about to get hit in the face with the handle bar
9) no matter ho gassed I am, I can sit up straighter and pedal faster when there are girls around
10) ready is a relative term

By this last one I mean that, if you don't know what you are about to be involved in, how can you know if you're ready or not? It sounds cliche but "as ready as I'll ever be" is appropriate to me now. After this three day beat down, and John and I asking each other "you ready?", I realize that the question is just a polite formality. It would be rude, I guess, to follow it up with " I don't actually care. We're about to climb that whether we like it or not". So we don't. We just take the other's response of "ya let's go" as some sort of reassurance that we have no choice in the matter so what's the difference.
It may sound like I'm feeling negative, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Somewhere in the three 70km, 6 hour riding days we just pulled together, is a level of confidence we didn't have before. By bashing our heads against our limits we've discovered confidence through humility.

Holy Hell... What Just Happened?

2008-05-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

By John Bayko

Where have I been for the past month? Seriously.

On second thought, if anyone knows the answer to that question, just keep it to yourself and let's move on.

Had a great ride up at Lake Minnewanka last Sunday! What a beautiful place to spend the afternoon, and man is that trail a lot of fun. The trek was essentially my first on that type of terrain and I really enjoyed it; especially the transitions along the relatively straight parts as you approach L9? Not too sure of the proper terminology, but whatever. The climbs were tough, but they're nowhere near as bad as Marlin fishing in 20 foot swells and 35 degree heat. I was tired during the ascents, but I didn't spend the entire time dry-heaving over the side and inhaling diesel fumes... wait... how do you know if you've just had a flashback?

Put in some work last night as well. Several climbs and some muddy downhill stuff to add to my repertoire and I seem to be feeling better with each ride (although something tells me my ass may not share that opinion, and that something is my ass - to which I say: "Suck it up ass! It ain't getting any easier!").

During the ride at Minnewanka however, something that both Ryan and I noticed was the fact that nutrition is going to play a key role in getting this race done. If anyone has any advice on said topic, I'd be grateful to hear it. Are there any rules of thumb for consumption to distance ratios or how do people typically figure out what they need to take with them food-wise? Any light shed would be much appreciated. And in advance, as a token of my gratitude, I'll offer these sage words in kind: "Sunscreen has many benefits as you near the equator, not the least of which is protecting your skin from sunburn."

Dr. says I need a backeotomy!

2008-05-05T10:06:00.000-07:00

By Ryan Probert

I got a little excited on my second ride after the weather got nice again, and I think I pulled something in my back. I've never had back problems before so I didn't really know what I was feeling. When I explained it to a friend as "it feels like someone has their thumb stuck knuckle deep right here" he was quick to tell me that it is a pull and to take it easy for a bit. That wasn't quite what I had planned. I am really starting to feel the urgency of the situation. D-day for registration has come and gone, and now that the weather has turned it's time to get serious about some long rides and back to back days. I guess I can still get in the pool and on the spin bike, but I am pretty over it with that stuff. Riding a few times has me pretty fired up but I know that I can't do something stupid now that will cost me later.

Pretty discouraged by the bad timing but just gotta take care of it.

That's What Friends Are For

2008-04-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

By Ryan Probert

After all my new-bike jubilation, the weather crapped out on us and we had a little winter relapse for a week or so. I don't know about you, but after riding a real bike outside a couple of times, I had a really hard time getting back on the trainer in front of the TV. Thankfully the warmer weather has come back to us, minus today, and I've been able to get out a few more times.

I work at The Bike Shop so Warmth = Busy. This past Saturday at The Shop had its busiest day of the year so far, and that means I run around like I'm on fire for 8 or 9 hours. I don't know what I was thinking when I told my buddy Clay "ya, swing by The Shop at closing and we'll spin it up and watch some hockey". Turns out his memory is better than mine.

He rolls in as we are cleaning up and having a cold one or two, thanks to a gracious customer. I am really not feeling it and am literally running away and hiding from him, but anybody that knows him knows how relentless he is. So needless to say after a couple of Pils and a lot of whining I'm on the trainer for an hour or so, and planning a road ride for Sunday. That turned into a 2 hour beauty with some covertly competitive climbs and sprints. Getting flipped off by some old guy on a service road was made up for by being honked and waved at by three cuties in a little yellow car. The two ol' guys still got it!

If it wasn't for Clay, I would have let myself off the hook, probably all weekend. Instead, I am a little stiffer in the legs and feeling a lot better about how I spent my weekend. Thanks buddy!

I hope you all have, or can find, support like this. Because I have a feeling we're all going to need some push when we feel like we don't have any push left.

New Bike Day

2008-03-25T12:58:00.000-07:00

By Ryan Probert

So I came up about 160 km short of my 2,000 km by Easter target but I feel like I have a good base and I got to get out on my new steed for the first time on Saturday. I went with the Rocky Mountain Element 50, she's a thing of beauty. My fitness felt pretty good but I've got a lot of work to do on my skills. I was down a couple of times but you gotta love rolling around in the dirt a bit! It was a rigorous little ride on Sidshow Bob and over the river into Edworthy Park. A couple of short steep climbs and one fairly long steepish climb... chased by a large, angry, barking dog. I think if TR can supply us with a handfull of those I can knock out the whole ride in about 3 or 4 days. I wish I had a wattage computer on my bike for that, I was climbing, picking up speed and gears. My heart was about to come out of my chest, I think I was holding my breath, but that pup wasn't catching me for nothing! The up side of the whole thing was the sweet descent that i got for my work, definately woth the price of admission. My buddy G that I was riding with, also chased by another dog in a separate direction, somehow ended up in somebody's yard with a couple of alpacas. Yep, I said alpacas. Very strange day.

Anyway....new bike, feeling strong, pumped to be riding out in the world, angry dogs and a couple of alpacas. It seems to all be coming together.

Spring has Sprung!

2008-03-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

By John Bayko

The weather has been so nice lately one could almost contemplate riding outside! Now, i know there are hardcore riders who are laughing at that statement, and that's just fine. I had better get used to the laughter of hardcore riders being directed my way as i'm sure there's plenty more where that came from.

As of the Easter weekend, i'm happy to report my training is coming along quite nicely. Have i ridden an actual bike yet? no. Have i been riding a training bike? yes. Have i researched bikes to determine which one i'll be riding? yes. So in the words of the Loaf (or Meatloaf to those not in his inner circle) "two out of three ain't bad".

One thing i've noticed during the training of my old body is that it sure doesn't recover like it used to... The aches and pains of a workout are lingering longer and harder than an Indian buffet, and the potential for injury seems to have increased exponentially. Fortunately for me however, i'm one lazy som' bitch, so telling myself to back off and take it easy when i start to tweak something is not a problem (which is a good thing, because if it was a problem, and it took effort, i wouldn't do it, thereby ending up in some negative feedback paradox that only a physicist could decipher, and i don't know any physicists, so i'd have to look for one, which would require effort, which would further compound the problem and so on...).

Anywhoo, the next hurdle is an obvious one: the NHL playoffs. I was never great (or even good) at math, but how in the hell can anyone get any training done when there are three games per night seven days per week for three straight weeks, followed by two games per night every second night for four straight weeks, followed by the Stanley Cup finals (or something like that)???

My strategy is to play it fast and loose and shoot for mixed results...

Hard at it! John (left) and Ryan working out their livers.

2008-03-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

Turning the Corner

2008-03-01T10:32:00.000-08:00

By Ryan Probert

I'd rather bust my butt than drop the ball. I spouted off about 2,000 km by Easter, and by hell or highway I'm going to do it. I rounded the halfway mark last night on a 77-km session. Not much of a Friday night party, but certain sacrifices must be made.

250 km a week for the next four weeks and my base will be pretty well set and ready to move to the road and trails when the weather allows.

Clay, thanks for the tips on stretching exercises for my hips. They're awesome after a ride, what a difference the morning after!

The Nightmares Begin

2008-02-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

By John Bayko

Tossing and turning, I'm caught in a nightmare. I'm at the bar eating chicken wings and drinking pints of cold beer; laughing it up with my friends until suddenly I'm on a bike at the start of some type of race. I'm still wearing the same clothing I was wearing at the bar, and I'm dripping with sweat in the sweltering heat. My throat is parched, and my head is throbbing; my stomach churns, and my mouth fills with saliva – I'm going to puke all over the tecked out rider in front of me. Other riders are staring in amazement at my sorry state when it starts: "On your mark, get set..." BANG!

Waking with a jolt, I realize the sweat is real, as were the wings and beer (last night) and as are the headache, nausea and dry mouth, but at least I'm at home in bed. It's officially six months until August, which means a couple of things:

1) I've put off seriously training for six months
2) I had better start seriously training

In spite of wings, booze, and bad dreams however, I feel fairly optimistic about things. Although I haven't been training as much as I probably should, I have been in the gym regularly working on core and leg strength. This seems to me to be a reasonable approach as I guess I'll be relying on my old legs rather heavily over the course of seven days of racing.

What is daunting though, is the prospect of starting to log some serious kilometers on the bike. Especially considering I don't own said bike.

Hmmmm, let's review: Six months until the race; already having nightmares; haven't started arduous training; don't have a bike.

Now may be an opportune time to set a few short term goals.

Goals for March.

1) Begin riding a set amount of KM's per week
2) Review merits of at least three models of race-worthy transportation

Well that was easy... is it wing night tonight?

Even Evel Knievel Didn't Know What He Was Getting Into

2008-02-27T16:12:00.000-08:00

By John Bayko

There was a picture of the Grand Canyon hanging in the bar, and "the drunker I got, the littler that Grand Canyon looked on the wall," he would explain later. After countless Montana Mules - draft beers with tomato juice - Evel Knievel decided that one day he'd try to jump a motorcycle over the Grand Canyon.

Evel Knievel never said he thought the Snake River Canyon jump was a bad idea... presumably because he didn't think it was. Unfortunately, I wasn't blessed with a Daredevil's peace of mind.

My name is John Bayko, and truthfully, I have no idea what I've gotten myself into. Having said that, I'd like to think that I'm a man of my word, and I look forward to heading into battle against what I'm sure will prove to be over 700 miles of screaming bloody murder.

By day, a mild mannered communications officer, by night, in the next several months, I hope to turn myself into someone at least three quarters capable of riding a bike 10 hours a day for seven straight days.

As my riding partner and long time great friend, Ryan Probert, has stated: we are not trying to win this sucker. We're in it for the challenge and its many beneficial byproducts, such as getting in shape, having some fun, and meeting some great people, and hopefully this little blog will kick the latter in to gear. Ryan and I have been in many adventures over the years, and for me, the best thing about all of them is our enduring friendship, and the many characters we've met along the way.

So as Ryan has said, we'd like to hear from our fellow riders!! Let's get in touch and together maybe we can figure out how to launch a rocket bike over Snake River Canyon and land without breaking every bone in our bodies!!

"God take care of me... here I come." Evel Knievel

A Little Bit of Backpedalling

2008-02-20T12:47:00.000-08:00

By Ryan Probert

Alright, so a ten day Hawaiian vacation isn't exactly on top of the list of ways to prepare for TR, but I highly recommend it to all of you. Really.

After telling you that I needed to log "some serious saddle time" before this update, I proceeded to continue mostly playing hockey instead (and all that accompanies that). I am, however, back on the trainer with the realization that I have a short period of time in which to get myself together for this Transanity thing. My "2,000 km by Easter" statement seems to have been a bit presumptuous, but it's pretty much my style to bite off more than I can chew and then act like it's no big deal. I can usually pull it off but this one, even by my standards, might have been a bit mouthy.

After my first couple of spin sessions - a high-pace 40km and I a hilly, breathless 55km - I am relieved to find that I am in relatively good shape still. Surfers, it turns out, are not in good shape from surfing. They are in good shape from paddling a giant hunk of foam into rolling, crashing surf for hours on end. Who knew?

John and I worked out yesterday focusing on legs (duh!) and core. I have a bit of a crunchy right hip, so working on my small muscles in my hips and trunk is going to be critical. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Back at it tonight, spinning again as I watch my Edmonton Oilers playoff hopes teeter on the brink for a few more hours.

And a breakthrough on the dietary front! I actually asked my wife to buy more fruits and veggies and no potato chips on our last trip to the store. She was looking at me strangely when I realized she was waiting for a punch line.
I think the fear has set in as I find myself behaving in these unforeseen ways.

Seem familiar to anyone?

Team In Training - Sort Of

2008-01-30T11:17:00.001-08:00

By Ryan Probert

My New Years resolution... make it to the finish of all seven stages of TransRockies 2008.

Sounds simple right? Well, I am not so sure about that. This will be the first attempt at anything like this for me, and I want to enjoy it. I want to share my experience of training up to the event, understanding that we are not "racing" it we are "riding" it. I want to be in good enough shape that I ride every inch of it and enjoy a significant portion of it. I know there will be pain and suffering of the cruel and unusual sort, but that just makes for a better story when I'm bragging to my friends and family after it's over.

My name is Ryan Probert, an employee of The Bike Shop, a recreational enthusiast cyclist, a skier, a golfer, a born again hockey player, and a few other things I'd rather not mention but you may figure out as this blog unfolds. It's taken me a few years of being around TR, the crew, the wrenches, and mainly the participants to allow myself to be swindled into riding it. My smooth talking partner, John Bayko, will be writing this training blog with me, and hopefully we'll get some participation from the readers - that includes you.

Here's what I've got so far...

Working in my favour:
1. Dec 2007/Early January 2008 - 575 km on the indoor trainer
2. Playing hockey everyday for the last week (just got new gear!)
3. Smattering of squash games with John (I think he's ahead in the season series)

Working against me:
1. The bloody holiday season - so much food and booze, not enough sleep or training
2. Sucked out of at least two training sessions to go for wings and beer instead
3. Five days in Vegas... ouch
4. One bottle of good scotch... man I love my customers!! Thanks John.

I should clarify that most of our training sessions are followed by some embellished storytelling at a watering hole of convenience. Just yesterday in fact, we put in a pretty full day of skiing (me) and snowboarding (John), including a couple of hikes to find fresh turns, and a very exciting 200-300 foot slide on the back of my head and shoulders. A fairly rigorous day in the freezing cold at Lake Louise. This was followed immediately by a couple of games of crib while watching the Patriots and Giants sealing their Super Bowl deals, eating meatloaf and downing a few beers. The way we justify it is, we'd be playing crib, watching football, eating meatloaf and drinking beer anyway. Better to do it with some exercise than without.

Tonight is a spin night, giving my haggard feet a rest after their first day of the season in ski boots, and breaking in my new hockey skates. I have to keep mixing up my sports to stay interested in being active everyday; there's only so much indoor spinning I can take. But, back at the beginning of December I set myself a goal of 2,000 km by Easter. Well, Easter is early this year and I've got a vacation with my wife for 10 days in February, so I better get some serious saddle time in before you get my next report.

I hope that you are enjoying getting yourselves ready for the big day, but I also hope that I am not the only one who can't resist a tasty snack along with a cold bevy at the end of a day of work and training. I'm sure someone somewhere is putting together a blog or diary for "racers" training to win this thing. You've just read that this is not that blog. So to all my fellow "riders", let me know you're in it with me! Send me your favourite training tales, favorite snacks, your highs and lows, goals and aspirations.