I Ate A Lot of Crab

ALC-Day 40 (109 to go)

I have been struggling not to be too lax on my training, though, in truth, this has been a challenging past week.  I was sick, we've had on/off rain and one other example.  I think when I began to train and write this blog I spoke about my trouble with stamina, keeping pace and, as of lately, enthusiasm to keep going.  I have to remind myself that I'm healthy and not dealing with any illnesses (save a sensitively to gluten), so really, I have no excuse to slack off.  

I wanted to do this ride to help people with life-threatening illnesses who perhaps can't help themselves.  If for no other reason and for one else, I need to do this ride and train regularly to prove to myself that I've got some follow-through when it comes to long and difficult physical challenges, always trying to keep focus on the bigger picture (which is not me and my whining).  

In my low moments I just remember all the people who have supported me so far and the people I hope to support with my efforts.  This year I'm doing the AIDS Ride and who knows, maybe next year the Cancer Climb or Jumping for Joint Health (not real events). 

Highlights this week:

• I got my new bike and love it!  (pictures to come)
• I went on a beautiful 30+ mile ride over GG Bridge with friends this past Sunday.
• On that 30+ mile ride I did not stop once on my ascent of the Sausalito hill leading back to the GG Bridge.
• My sister, Chrissy, started a "Ry-Cycling" campaign asking family and friends to donate recycling with proceeds going to my cycling (very clever and kind of her).
• My friend Nick has joined the ALC ride.
• Nick dedicated this weekend's ride to Whitney Huston who died on Saturday, February 11th (which felt more funny than sad and I think belongs on this list).
   

 Me at pit stop on the Whitney Memorial Ride with and without a mustache.

Tom and Nick at lunch after the Whitney Memorial Ride with and without a mustaches.

Click here to donate to my ride and ALC.
#4371

ALC-Day 32 (117 to go)

I had a particularly crap work day yesterday and woke up lamenting opening my email this morning.  When I did, I saw that a friend from high school, Brandi, had donated to my ride (and was instantly snapped out of my funk).  I remember Brandi being sweet, always reading in the halls and had a depth of character I don't think many people saw. 

I emailed Brandi to thank her for the kind donation and she replied to say, "Its not me, Ryan. It's Kitty [her toddler]. ... I decided when she was born to give $ in her name for every birthday and christmas. So she'll learn the importance of giving and that the world got better because she came into it."  I read Brandi's email to a new mother in my office and she teared up saying, "I'm going to have to do that for my Cole [her infant]."  Thank you Brandi and Kitty.  You're selfless and I'm touched by the bigger message of your gift.

In training news, one month down and I'm still keeping up with my training.  Although, with each approaching month I really should start saying amping up my training, and then assess whether or not I'm actually keeping up with it.  Semantics. 

So here are my personal training goals for each week in February:

• attend two spinning classes
• attend one yoga class
• go on a minimum of 30-50 mile
• no sugar or alcohol except on weekends (after ride

I've not really thought too much about a diet for my training, which seems like an oversight.  On Sunday, however, I was watching a program about the Paleo Diet, a.k.a. the "caveman" diet, which sounded not so challenging and along the lines of my already no or low processed food mentality of eating. 

In truth, I was wanting to research the diet for my father after hearing of its positive effects against diabetes (from which he is afflicted).  But what I found is that it's a relatively reasonable diet to follow and good for athletes and everyday folks (or me).  Here's what the diet is about:

The Paleo Diet mimics the types of foods every single person on the planet ate prior to the Agricultural Revolution (a mere 500 generations ago). These foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and seafood) are high in the beneficial nutrients (soluble fiber, vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, omega-3 and monounsaturated fats, and low-glycemic carbohydrates) that promote good health.  The Paleo Diet is low in the foods and nutrients (refined sugars and grains, dairy, trans fats, salt, high-glycemic carbohydrates, and processed foods) that frequently may cause weight gain, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and numerous other health problems. The Paleo Diet encourages dieters to replace dairy and grain products with fresh fruits and vegetables — foods that are more nutritious than whole grains or dairy products.* 

At any rate, I'm thinking of giving Paleo a go or at the very least, incorporating more of its dogma into my daily diet.  Of course, there is an exercise program that goes along with Paleo; flipping heavy tires the length of a football field, throwing medicine balls against walls, snapping the neck of an elk and eating its liver--you know, like the cavemen did.  I need to look into the workouts  more but for now, I've got enough on my plate with all this cycling!

Click here to donate to my ride and ALC.
#4371

*From Dr. Loren Cordain’s website, thepaleodiet.com

ALC-Day 28 (121 to go)

(This June I will be participating in AIDS/LifeCycle, a 7-day, 545 mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise awareness and funding for HIV and AIDS research.  Read about my training and fund raising progress below.)

I've raised $625.00 of $3,000.00, which astounds me!  I'm very humbled by the people who have donated to this ride.  Thank you everyone; Chole, Forest Family, Trish and Bob, Nancy and Clayton, Marti and MOM!  

In other good news, I've zeroed in on a road bike!  More specifically, I'm having one custom built by an Oakland artist who is also a bike enthusiast and one with a great eye for ascetics.

I'm picky and don't tend to make brash purchases, especially when I've got time and choice on my side (in that order).  I've been known to walk away from a great deal just to see if the item in question speaks to me when I turn my back.  "Stop!!  You can't live without me."   

So, over the past couple of weeks, I have been to most every bike shop in Oakland and San Francisco, both with new and used offerings, to see if I could find something to fit my build and budget (not in that order).  My favorites shops being Pedal Revolution, Recycle Bicycle, Tip Top Bikes, Mike's Bikes,  Pioneer Bikeshop, Refried Cycles, and Valencia Cyclery--all great places with excellent customer support and from what I can tell, skilled mechanics.  But, the one that won me over was by far Brazen Bicycles.

Being the difficult sell that I am, I emailed the owner of Brazen Bicycles asking him all kinds of important (read: annoying) questions about what he does, knowledge and background, etc.  What I found is that this guy is just starting this bike business, selling custom builds from parts that he has carefully scoured off the internet and obscure bike outlets--all done out of his work/loft space in West Oakland.

On the "About" page of his site he says: 

Brazen Bicycles is small bicycle workshop founded and run by...an Oakland-based artist and cyclist. Inspired by a love of classic bicycle style and function, the workshop was started as an investigation into the re-cycling of used bicycles, frames, and parts. The investigation has blossomed into a small business that offers something not found elsewhere in the Bay Area: affordable, fully customized bicycles with an acute sense of style.    

I've already met with the owner David, a cute, earnest, baritone-voiced guy, who measured my arms and legs and showed me pictures of sexy bike parts he's trying to procure for the build.   The wheels are in motion.  Even though I don't have the bike yet or have any idea what it will look like, I've seen what David can do and trust his knowledge and vision.  If you're looking for a new bike, I highly recommend looking Brazen Bicyles up.   Tell 'em Ryan set ya!

Here's some of his other rebuilt bikes:

Click here to donate to my ride and ALC.
#4371

Originally written 1/31/12

ALC-Day 26 (123 to go)

(This June I will be participating in AIDS/LifeCycle, a 7-day, 545 mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise awareness and funding for HIV and AIDS research.  Read about my training and fund raising progress below.)

After a particularly grueling cycling workout, this is me the morning after.  Jon thought I looked funny under the comforter and snapped this picture.  Trust, I'm only slightly less obese. 
 

Click here to donate to my ride and ALC.
#4371

ALC-Day 25 (124 to go)

(This June I will be participating in AIDS/LifeCycle, a 7-day, 545 mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise awareness and funding for HIV and AIDS research.  Read about my training and fund raising progress below.)

Currently I have a 7-speed Miyata hybrid that I adopted from a good friend who moved to Colorado--which is a really dependable bike but after this weekend's hilly trip, just doesn't cut the mustard.  Before I even signed up for the ALC ride, I didn't know what kind of bikes were what.  Brand names fused together for me, I couldn't tell you a thing about bike parts or their components and certainly didn't know how to ride one.  Well, I know how to ride a bike but didn't know really how to ride one (there's a lot more to the posturing than I knew).  

I'm still no expert but I have come a long way from where I was.  And now I'm looking for the right bike for me.  For other beginner cyclist, here's a quick lesson on road bikes (and their offspring) lifted from Wikipedia:

Compared to other styles of bicycles, road bicycles share common features, such as their tires are narrow and smooth to decrease rolling resistance and are often quite lightweight.  The term road bicycle can also describe any type of bike used primarily on paved roads, in contrast to bikes primarily intended for off-road use, such as mountain bikes. Several variations of road bikes include: 

• Hybrid bicycles, designed for a variety of recreational and utility purposes. While primarily intended for use on pavement, they may also be used on relatively smooth unpaved paths or trails. 
• Utility bicycles, designed for utility cycling and are a traditional bicycle for commuting, shopping and running errands in towns and cities (Roadster is a specific form of the utility bicycle developed in the UK).
• Recumbent bicycles, designed for variety of recreational and utility purposes, but are characterized by the reclined riding position in which the cyclist is seated.
• Vintage road bicycles, also known as classic lightweight bicycles, are generally older bicycles with frames which are manufactured using steel tubing and lugs.

If you are looking to buy a road bike I highly suggest you do your research.  Visit bike shops, talk to cyclists, go for a few test rides and find out what kind of bike you like best.  Pay special attention to your measurements (inseam and reach of arms) to see that you are riding the right size bike for you.  Just think of that episode of Oprah (R.I.P.) where she had a boob expert come on and tell all these audience women that they've been wearing the wrong bra size for most of their lives (because they never got properly measured).  Don't be that person.  If you're thinking about riding with any regularity, remember, fit is important and separates the hobby cyclist from the moderately to avid cyclist.  Measure your legs, your arms and your boobs (just to be safe).

In training news, in addition to the weekly ride and two spinning classes, I'm doing a class called "Guts N' Butts" which targets and works just what you might think from the title. 

Click here to donate to my ride and ALC.
#4371

ALC-Day 24 (125 to go)

(This June I will be participating in AIDS/LifeCycle, a 7-day, 545 mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise awareness and funding for HIV and AIDS research.  Read about my training and fund raising progress below.)

I nearly collapsed this morning as I tried to lean over to tie my shoe.  I am no cyclist and all those 30 mile joy rides I've been doing on flat land are nothing compared to the Marin loop I went on yesterday with Tom, Chris, Matt and Hung.  Yes, I have reached a point where I am not messing around, so says my aching muscles that have only just stopped complaining. 

I woke up early Sunday and was excited to put on my new cycling outfit, which I'd purchased earlier in the week; gloves, shirt, padded shorts and leggings, all new or slightly new.  (Cycling gear is pricey!)  But, as I pulled out my padded shorts I saw that the large plastic censor was still on it, snapped through the front of the right thigh.  Urgh!  I called Tom (no answer) to see if he could lend me a pair of his shorts.  Half asleep Jon said, "Stop freaking out, just cut a hole in the spandex."  I racked my brain and decided it would be easier to get my hacksaw and saw the sucker off.  Who thought that was a good idea?  Good news: I got the censor off.  Bad news: I ripped an even bigger hole in the front of the shorts.  

I had to meet the boys in SF (me coming from Oakland) at 8:30am.  When we finally met up we rode a route known as the "wiggle", a path named for its weave along the outskirts of the really big SF hills toward the Golden Gate Bridge.  To an avid cyclist this might not seem like a trek, but for little 'ol me and my current crap bike (sorry bike, I don't mean it) I felt like I was working twice as hard (more on that in a minute) just to keep up with the rest in my group, who seemed to breeze through the streets.  What a gorgeous ride through Golden Gate Park, the Precidio, over the Golden Gate Bridge, speeding down the Sausalito hill into downtown and then along a path into Marin snaking through the wetlands.  

When we reached our turn around point, me far behind everyone else, Tom took a look at my bike.  He lifted the front wheel off the ground, gave it a spin with his hand and the wheel came to a tense halt.  "Your brake is rubbing on the wheel."  After some tweaking and pulling of cables, he spun the wheel again, this time like a pinwheel in the breeze.  I'm a little embarrassed I didn't check that before because, let me tell you, bikes ride much smoother when you don't have on the parking break.  File this experience under "Learning Moment".  

We rode a total of 35 miles (5 more than my longest ride) and except for the hill coming up out of Sausalito, I didn't give up.  I'll get it next time.  When I finally got home my butt was sore and my legs alright...that is until this morning when I thought my quads wanted to buckle under my weight.  Pass the Advil, please.  

 Chris, cute pose, me, not so much.

Tom, our cycling guru.

Click here to give.
#4371