Great Lakes - Meow

It's a slow day and I don't know how many of you read my blog so I thought I would drop this here as well. I up cat'd. 5-> 4. It was approved (cliff hanger there right :rolleyes:).

Yay me. Now all my races will be much longer and I will never have a shot of finishing in the top 30.:twitchy::notamused:

C'mon, you just gotta have confidence. If you just choose to do it you can succeed and by the end of the season you'll be finishing in the top 30! :D

its a bit early to be sandbagging for the 2009 season. even for you Psi.

speaking of slow, i am soooo glad to be working from home today. when i say working, i mean working on my Wii Rock Band skills. is it to early for lunch time beverage?

later.

Congratulations! :D

In other news I finally got back to doing some lifting, Cyclo-core workouts and some running. My running is still where it was, the lifting is already making a difference, and I am actually making it through the workouts without quitting each exercise after doing it for 10 seconds.

I am amazed at how much stronger I am this year over last. I am still keeping the weight off so far as well. I'm about 2-3 lbs heavier than my all season low a few weeks back, but I'll call it muscle from lifting. :D

I'm in a similar position. I feel like my fitness is higher than 12 months ago, but I'm heavier too.

Well, technically I am about 25+ lbs lighter than 12 months ago....but I still feel fat. Does that count?

Blog?

So who the hell am I going to race with? :wtf: I'm still a sad, slow, old, fat cat 5. Damn!


Congrats!~

In other news I finally got back to doing some lifting, Cyclo-core workouts and some running. My running is still where it was, the lifting is already making a difference, and I am actually making it through the workouts without quitting each exercise after doing it for 10 seconds.

I am amazed at how much stronger I am this year over last. I am still keeping the weight off so far as well. I'm about 2-3 lbs heavier than my all season low a few weeks back, but I'll call it muscle from lifting. :D

Um, yesterday I was told by a certain Cat1 that I could be a badass... if I brought my weight down. That's cyclist talk for calling me a ******, right? It's ok. I'm a big boy. I only cried for a few minutes.

Congrats on the upgrade. As Rob says, we're "going to have a lot of fun" this season. Now we just need to find a few more Cat 5's to help Justin...

So who the hell am I going to race with? :wtf: I'm still a sad, slow, old, fat cat 5. Damn!


Congrats!~

If you'd have done those races I was trying to get you to do at the end of last year you wouldn't have to worry about it!

Blog?

Link in my sig.... here (http://psimet.blogspot.com)

Um, yesterday I was told by a certain Cat1 that I could be a badass... if I brought my weight down. That's cyclist talk for calling me a ******, right? It's ok. I'm a big boy. I only cried for a few minutes.

Congrats on the upgrade. As Rob says, we're "going to have a lot of fun" this season. Now we just need to find a few more Cat 5's to help Justin...

Doesn't count. A certain Cat 2 also told me I was Cat 3 material for sure.....as I get stronger.

They're smoking dope. We know this.

Doesn't count. A certain Cat 2 also told me I was Cat 3 material for sure.....as I get stronger.

They're smoking dope. We know this.

Yeah. I suppose we could all be good "if" something else were the case. Right now I suppose I should just be shooting for "average Cat 4". I wasn't that last year, and I'm not sure that getting there would require losing as much weight.

Dude.....you should be my weight. You know it. You're not fat or anything, but you need the cycling body make-up....That will require you to lose 20-30 lbs. :eek:

Dude.....you should be my weight. You know it. You're not fat or anything, but you need the cycling body make-up....That will require you to lose 20-30 lbs. :eek:

I don't see losing 30 pounds without a significant loss in muscle mass which, I think, would negatively affect my riding... not to mention my ability to stop at McDonalds on a whim.

Well, technically I am about 25+ lbs lighter than 12 months ago....but I still feel fat. Does that count?

Gotta love this snow day. Hey, congrats to you. And, no, you can't feel fat when you're 25 lbs lighter than you were 12 mos ago! Keep running :D

Fat?

I don't understand :innocent:

Congrats on the cat-up!

Link in my sig.... here (http://psimet.blogspot.com)

That video is great! One of you elite BFers need to embed that. :roflmao2:

That Great Lakes jersey does kinda make you look fat.

Way to set the bar low for yourself right away...good strategy.

That Great Lakes jersey does kinda make you look fat.

Way to set the bar low for yourself right away...good strategy.

You haven't seen me in a long time. That thing is a tent on me anymore.

....but in the words of pcad...I am still too fat for this sport.

Dude.....you should be my weight. You know it. You're not fat or anything, but you need the cycling body make-up....That will require you to lose 20-30 lbs. :eek:

I'm down 3 pounds, Ms. Weightpolice. You going to be there tomorrow night?

Congrats...I'm still riding cat 5. Given the results I had in the cat4/5 races in 2008, I'm sticking to cat 5 for 2009. The cyclocross has worked for you guys. I stepped on the scale this morning and was up 10 lbs from the Fall Fling. See what happens when I attend cyclocross races as a beer drinking spectator. However, I did eat a ton of salty food along with a bunch of beer this weekend so I hope that part of that will be easy to take off.

Time to get on the trainer.

Congrats...I'm still riding cat 5. Given the results I had in the cat4/5 races in 2008, I'm sticking to cat 5 for 2009. The cyclocross has worked for you guys. I stepped on the scale this morning and was up 10 lbs from the Fall Fling. See what happens when I attend cyclocross races as a beer drinking spectator. However, I did eat a ton of salty food along with a bunch of beer this weekend so I hope that part of that will be easy to take off.

Time to get on the trainer.

You should upgrade, man! All the cool kids are doing it. Besides, in the "big" races (Superweek) you'll be racing combined 4/5, anyway.

And, uh, I seem to recall you getting a top 3 in a Master's Cat5 race!

I'm down 3 pounds, Ms. Weightpolice. You going to be there tomorrow night?

Nope. It's not as if all the holiday lunches and celebrations (thanksgiving, my birthday, anniversary,etc) weren't enough I have to go to a family meal at a pizza place. I'm dying.

Running and trainer at home are all that is keeping me sane at this point. I think I found the 3 pounds you lost.

Nope. It's not as if all the holiday lunches and celebrations (thanksgiving, my birthday, anniversary,etc) weren't enough I have to go to a family meal at a pizza place. I'm dying.

Running and trainer at home are all that is keeping me sane at this point. I think I found the 3 pounds you lost.


If it makes you feel any better, my birthday (for 2008, still) is next week. Could be a tough couple of weeks to close out the year. Of course, I attribute those 3 pounds more to what I haven't been eating than what I have... Don't think I've been to McDonalds since the morning of that TT.

In other news: McDonald;s reports poor 4th quarter earnings. A spokesperson identified a poor return in the fox valley area of northern illinois as the cause. They are puzzled, but hope that by re-introducing the McRibb sandwich that they will regain those short term losses.

Nope. It's not as if all the holiday lunches and celebrations (thanksgiving, my birthday, anniversary,etc) weren't enough I have to go to a family meal at a pizza place. I'm dying.

Running and trainer at home are all that is keeping me sane at this point. I think I found the 3 pounds you lost.

Dude I got all ya beat. Holiday lunches at Maggiano's, Capital Grill, Ted Montana's and such. Holiday gift baskets from Harry David, Mrs Fields, ect ..... The last couple of days the Brother In-Law has been visiting. So in three days I have eaten at Ginos East, Smileys, Giordanos, Portillos and Lou Malnatis.

Not too mention all the beers and late nights of Rock Band. I am about to burst. Later.

Dude I got all ya beat. Holiday lunches at Maggiano's, Capital Grill, Ted Montanna's and such. Holiday gift baskets from Harry David, Mrs Fields, ect ..... The last couple of days the Brother In-Law has been visiting. So in three days I have eaten at Ginos East, Smileys, Giordanos, Portillos and Lou Malnatis.

Not too mention all the beers and late nights of beers and Rock Band. I am about to burst. Later.

That's just regular eating for me, man. The other day it dawned on me that I haven't been grocery shopping (let alone purchased anything that needs to go in the fridge) since July. JULY! I'm thinking of unplugging the fridge to save on electricity.

Just ran a dreadmill 5k followed by 30 minutes of lifting weights in the midst of my holiday guilt. Because I have to go eat pizza and drink beer with the family tomorrow I think I will get up early and do some core work and ride a Spinervals.

Psi,

How many hours/week do you plan on doing? btw, don't pay too much attention to the Coggan chart as related to cats. It tells me that I'm cat2 in certain zones and untrained in others. As it is, I'm a mid-pack cat 4 who hates crits. btw, I'll be doing the level 2 coaching course in Chicago in March. I'll be more than happy to help people with training plans etc once I've got that certification.

Anyone who's still a cat 5. If you've done 10 races and have achieved a top 10 place at least once then you have no excuse for not catting up. Like it or not, Cat 5 is supposed to be a gentle introduction to Bike racing with the emphasis on learning safe skills. You're not going to get better unless you cat up.

I'm up 4 pounds in about 2 weeks. This sucks!

My scale broke. Literally.

That's probably a bad sign.

Psi,

How many hours/week do you plan on doing? btw, don't pay too much attention to the Coggan chart as related to cats. It tells me that I'm cat2 in certain zones and untrained in others. As it is, I'm a mid-pack cat 4 who hates crits. btw, I'll be doing the level 2 coaching course in Chicago in March. I'll be more than happy to help people with training plans etc once I've got that certification.

Anyone who's still a cat 5. If you've done 10 races and have achieved a top 10 place at least once then you have no excuse for not catting up. Like it or not, Cat 5 is supposed to be a gentle introduction to Bike racing with the emphasis on learning safe skills. You're not going to get better unless you cat up.

I guess that explains whether or not we'll be seeing you around these parts again this summer. FWIW, I'm a back-of-the-pack Cat 4 who loves crits. Odd how that works out.

You doing Hillsboro?

I'm up 4 pounds in about 2 weeks. This sucks!

Scale this morning said 7 lbs up. :eek:

Some of that has to be from lifting because the flab factor is not in full effect. Partial effect....not full effect.

Carlos - currently I am in a transition period with 3.5 hours./week planned. Trying to stick with cross training - weights and running, but find I am still doing some trianer work 1-2 times a week as well.

I'm not sure I'm going to be able to stick with this losing weight thing... I like to eat too much. If I do, though, and you keep on your trend I WILL actually be at your weight. Awesome.

I will not keep on this "trend".

To me, Crits are quite bizarre events that exist mainly because the US is so bike-unfriendly and road races are so difficult to get permits for. Besides, I value my skin too highly.

I'll be doing about every race going in April and May and will shut it down sometime in June to prepare properly for Cross season. I overdid it last year, ran out of enthusiasm, and somewhat underachieved in cross. I'll probably only do a bunch of the longer TTs over the summer as my main priority this year is to increase my FTP. Not with the purpose of just going faster, but with the aim of improving recovery after hard efforts. btw, Hillsboro will be an A race for me.

Cat 4s need to aim for an average of 8-10 hrs per week training. You can get away with less if you only do crits and concentrate on intensity.

btw, ramping up intensity, combined with running, was the only way I could successfully lose weight. The eatless, exercise more approach is too simplistic IMHO.

I'm following Friel's periodization plans based on a 250 hr/year training schedule. I just don't have time for more. The plans vary hours/week based on the phase and type of trianing you are targeting in that phase.

Crit races are all there is around here for the most part. I enjoy crits and TT's. Cross is an end of season diversion for me that keeps me riding farther into the winter than I would normally.

Weight melts off of me when I do high intensity work, but just about everyone's plans call for taking it easy this time of year. 1/2 hr every Sunday really helps. It was nice to do that during cross and now it was nice to have it for the indoor TT.

Still playing around with training, but right now I am trying to clear my mind and avoid my 3 cycling pitfalls this time of year: eating too much, burnout from too much indoor training, spending too much on bike crap.

Crits are bizarre yes. But also, crits are awesome. Skin is cheap. It grows constantly, whether you need more or not.

I'm hooked on crits. Everything else in life is boring in comparison, so I'm always looking for that next rush, the next high. Only 127 days to go!*

(that's a guess, I'm not really that crazy)

I do enjoy crits. Also....carlos...cyclocross is just a crit with dismounts and running.


.....just sayin.... ;)

Psi,

How many hours/week do you plan on doing? btw, don't pay too much attention to the Coggan chart as related to cats. It tells me that I'm cat2 in certain zones and untrained in others. As it is, I'm a mid-pack cat 4 who hates crits. btw, I'll be doing the level 2 coaching course in Chicago in March. I'll be more than happy to help people with training plans etc once I've got that certification.

Anyone who's still a cat 5. If you've done 10 races and have achieved a top 10 place at least once then you have no excuse for not catting up. Like it or not, Cat 5 is supposed to be a gentle introduction to Bike racing with the emphasis on learning safe skills. You're not going to get better unless you cat up.

I agree in concept that you want to push yourself by moving up. However, there is more to Cat 5 than just the number of races and placing within the top 10 at least once. I have place in the top 10 and my best finish was third. However, these were not just Cat5 but Cat5 races that were limited by age as well. In the 40+ Cat5 races, I'll make top 10. The open cat5, i.e. Tour of Elk Grove, I'll be in the middle of the field (20th - 30th). I raced in four 4/5 races last year and was pulled off the course in 3 of them. I tried a 40+ race...that was a joke. Those guys are fast (being Cat1 - Cat5). I was lapped 3 times by the lead group in the 55 minutes of racing. I'm coming up on 50 and am fine racing in the Cat 5 for another season to where I can regulary finsh a race when I'm up against cat4s. There is no learning if you are way off the back. I take that back, the one thing you can learn is that you're in the wrong class.

Finally, I would be more open to moving up if I saw more Cat 4 races that have age brackets within the class like the Cat5. But I can understand why they don't. If you're constantly being dropped/pulled off in Cat 4, you can go to Cat5. However, in Cat5, you have no place to go. So, instead of losing potentional racers, they even the playing ground by creating the age bracket within the class.

...cyclocross is just a crit with dismounts and running.



I disagree. Crits are about doing the least amount of work necessary. Cyclocross is more of a full-on time-trial with obstacles that test concentration and recovery. Increasing your cruising speed (increasing ftp) will give you the greatest benefit before concentrating on accelerating out of corners.

You can't downgrade from a 4 to a 5. 5 is only meant for experince. Most of the "5" races that are age bracketed are actually 4/5 races. I only raced a few out and out "5" only races.

The only thing to "gain" by going to 4's is that you aren't a "5" anymore. That and you are now forced to race in longer races. The riders aren't that much faster than what's in the 5's but the talent pool is deeper.

In other words in a 5's race of a field of say 50 riders you have about 20 that can race. The rest are either dipping their toes in the water, off form, or hopelessly outclassed. The top guys were solid talents bound for bigger and better things once they could upgrade....

....well they upgraded to 4's. There you find more consistant talent, but apart from some of the guys at the very front dominating this stuff (on their way to 3's) the fields are made of of guys that were consistantly in the top 20 in their 5's races and can/will race. Not Sunday riders looking to see if racing is for them.

So....kind of like using the 5's example: 50 show but only 20 are racing....in the 4's 50 show and all but 1 or 2 are racing.....but 40 of them are about the same as the top 20 in the 5's field.

If you're constantly being dropped/pulled off in Cat 4, you can go to Cat5.


Actually not true. You can never downgrade to 5 according to the rules.

I disagree. Crits are about doing the least amount of work necessary. Cyclocross is more of a full-on time-trial with obstacles that test concentration and recovery. Increasing your cruising speed (increasing ftp) will give you the greatest benefit before concentrating on accelerating out of corners.

I was just trying to be cute. Basicly building ont he fact that they are both run on closed courses over a set time/numebr of laps. That's about where the similarities end. :thumb:

I'm up 4 pounds in about 2 weeks. This sucks!

I told you not to get fat!!!!!

:roflmao2:

I'm following Friel's periodization plans based on a 250 hr/year training schedule. I just don't have time for more. The plans vary hours/week based on the phase and type of trianing you are targeting in that phase.

Crit races are all there is around here for the most part. I enjoy crits and TT's. Cross is an end of season diversion for me that keeps me riding farther into the winter than I would normally.

Weight melts off of me when I do high intensity work, but just about everyone's plans call for taking it easy this time of year. 1/2 hr every Sunday really helps. It was nice to do that during cross and now it was nice to have it for the indoor TT.

Still playing around with training, but right now I am trying to clear my mind and avoid my 3 cycling pitfalls this time of year: eating too much, burnout from too much indoor training, spending too much on bike crap.

This is true....I have found over the past week that the flu works pretty well too for weight management :( I have been sick since the day after Colorchange's Holiday Photo Shoot. Done with the contagious, fever, chilling (you know the rest) part but still have no appetite.

I stumbled through my first trail series run up in Rockford on Saturday just to keep myself eligible for the coveted "Survivor" shirt that one gets in March if all the races are finished. I would have crawled to the finish if necessary. Something I think only aham23 would understand ;)

You can't downgrade from a 4 to a 5. 5 is only meant for experince. Most of the "5" races that are age bracketed are actually 4/5 races. I only raced a few out and out "5" only races.


You're right, there are many more 4/5 races that are age bracketed. You should also consider that you would not qualify for the 40+ races so you may not have been looking for them. For example, Winfield has a 40+ cat5 but only an open Cat 4. The MAJORS (Master and Juniors Only Race Series) offered a 40+ cat 5.

I am considering upgrading but don't want to be stuck getting pulled out of races or always falling off the back. I'll have to see how you do in the 4s.

Wow, all this talk of upgrading is motivating me to get seriously into training.

Ahhh...but I was looking for 30+ everywhere and all of those were 30+ 4/5.