TRAINING CAAAAAMP!

Krogg go to training camp in mere 36 hours. Krogg hardly able to contain excitement. For number one, Krogg get new bike fit over at WN Precision. New bike feel great! Krogg going to crush it in comfort this year. Plus ceramic bearings on Williams Wheels are smoother than baby-butt, greased-lightning, and tomato sandwich (BBGLT) on silk pillow, held by Johnny Depp. For number two, Krogg help install like $3,000 worth of new Yakima racks onto van today. Holy smoking salamanders -- just think about all those bikes on roof! Pictures to come for sure. For number three, Krogg see this:

 

Which of course make Krogg one very happy happy caveman!!!!

Don't worry -- Krogg give many report from training camp. Stay tuned!

Fixing the Knee

So for the last year and a half, I've had nagging knee pain. I crashed hard at Nature Valley in 2009, and did this:

I landed straight on my knee, and while there wasn't much superficial damage, I knew my knee was hurt. I could still push hard on the pedals, but any lateral motion would cause sharp pain. I never had the injury diagnosed (no insurance, no money, and it seemed to be improving) -- I just kept racing on it. I was pretty sure I'd hurt myself, but had no idea what was wrong. This uncertainty shattered my confidence, and I spent the next month DNFing or getting pulled from every race I entered (it didn't help that I went straight from Nature Valley -- which I finished by the way -- to the 10-stage Tour of America's Dairy Land, where I DNF'd every stage). Eventually I healed up, and the sharp pains subsided, but in the months that followed, I started to develop an ache in my joint whenever I'd hammer hard. I first noticed this pain when I started working at Cycle U last October, after my brief off-season. The ache would come and go, especially when I would do harder, lower torque intervals. I managed this pain all year long, all through training, and all through the racing season. Somehow I'd convinced myself that this wasn't a big deal, that this little ache in my knee was just a minor inconvenience -- yes, a minor inconvenience that forced me to remove pressure from my knee for a few seconds every time I'd go really hard, instead of something that was slowing me down. I'm embarrassed to even share that; I think it's what you call denial.

Well this year, after a very satisfying and lengthy off-season, I returned to hard training, and found my knee ache still alive and well. This time however, instead of rationalizing my knee pain, and writing it off as a nuisance, I realized that it is actually reducing the quality of my training.

So I called around. My search led me to Mike Rogers, and Paragon Fitness Physical Therapy. Mike is a physical therapist, but he's also a cyclist. Apparently I damaged my PCL in my crash. That's the bad news. The other bad news is that I made all sorts of muscular adaptations to protect my damaged knee, and I've got some atrophied muscles to rebuild. The good news is that I don't need surgery, and that with the right physical therapy I can resolve the issue! I can't express what a relief that was to hear -- not just because I'll make a full recovery, but also because it validates my concern. Yes, my knee was damaged in that crash. Yes, I had a valid cause for concern, and wasn't just being paranoid. Also, yes, I'm an idiot for waiting a friggin' year and a half before I took this problem seriously.

Mike, at Paragon Fitness PT, thank you so much for getting me started in this process. I'm thrilled to see what I can do with two fully-functional legs instead of one.

CAVEMAN RIDE

Krogg go on nice caveman ride yesterday in cold cold but clear clear weather. Krogg ride with other caveman Jamie Stangeland and Ian Mensher. Jamie and Ian big bad caveman -- win many races! Jamie also possess ungodly good form at moment. This how ride go...


 Jamie ride at front at roughly one-gazillion watts:

Sam and Ian grit teeth and cling to Jamie's wheel:

Then we pass llamas: 

Then we go here:

Then we consumed these:

 And that made Krogg happy:

 And Ian happy, even though he flatted:

 And pumpkin pie await Krogg upon return. Thank god for pumpkin pie. 

HOORAY FOR PUMPKIN PIE!!!

Cycle University Special Offer

Ok, shameless plug time:

Right now, Cycle University is offering spin classes through Living Social. No matter what kind of cyclist you are, be it racer, recreational rider, or even non-cyclist-but-interested-in-starting -- Cycle University's InCycle program will help you get better.

I taught InCycle all fall and winter last year, and I know it helped me improve dramatically. This isn't your normal spin class: you're riding your own bike, and you're using your wattage as a training tool. Every rider tests regularly throughout the course, and uses personalized zones for training.

I mean, look at the guys who have taught that class:

Adrian Hagyvary: professional cyclist.
Dan Harm: professional cyclist.
And yours truly.

I'm not even teaching the class regularly any more, but I've still been going and logging some hours at Cycle U because the workouts are great, and the atmosphere is great. When the weather is nasty in Seattle, there's no place I'd rather be training than at an InCycle class: tons of fans to keep things cool, a nice sound system to pump out the jams, a full-wall projector to watch movies or races on, and a wonderful, knowledgeable, and high-energy instructor to guide me through the workout.

If you're curious, check it out. This deal ends today.

KROGG REMEMBER!

Now it time for Krogg favorite game: Krogg Remember!


In this game, Krogg use caveman brainpower to remember things from past. This not easy thing for neanderthal mind -- acorn sized brain only have so much space!


So:


Krogg go on long ride up near Bellingham yesterday.


First thing Krogg do is 20 minute power test. This where Krogg go as hard as Krogg can for 20 minutes and see what number say on little computer gizmo. Krogg love computer gizmo -- Garmin is name, because computer gizmo tell all about Krogg's ride. Unfortunately, computer gizmo have full memory, so Krogg can't share ride with you.


Anyway.


Krogg start test.


A few minutes into test, Krogg feel pain in legs like he hasn't felt in -- KROGG REMEMBER!!! POWER TEST HURT LIKE THE DICKENS!!! OUCH OUCH OUCH. Krogg push hard, and eventually finish test, but whoah -- Krogg not hurt like that since Utah!


A few miles after test, Krogg feel very tired. Krogg start to pedal slow. Krogg can no longer keep up with riding partner. Krogg start to feel awful. Suddenly, Krogg reach into back pocket and -- KROGG REMEMBER! It important to EAT and DRINK while riding. Krogg so rusty him forget to eat anything for first hour and half of ride! Krogg remove plastic bag containing mini-cinnamon rolls, and devour:

Then Krogg continue ride. Ride take Krogg and Alan (riding partner) all over! Krogg and Alan go by beautiful Sammish Lake. Then Krogg and alan climb little hill over to Chuckanut Drive. Something about Chuckanut Drive seem familiar....KROGG REMEMBER!!! Krogg pedal down beautiful Chuckanut drive several months ago! Krogg LOVE Chuckanut Drive (Krogg also love mini-cinnamon roll)!!

Finally, Krogg and Alan start getting close home. Krogg start to feel very VERY tired, and this time, Krogg fear that mini cinnamon rolls not fix problem. Krogg eat one more, just to see:

...but indeed, cinnamon rolls not fix problem. Krogg fear him ride himself to pieces. Poor Krogg. Then Krogg fall asleep on couch and slip into pseudo-coma while watching James Bond movie. When Krogg awaken, Krogg try to go walk up stairs and -- holy cow KROGG REMEMBER! Krogg ride himself to pieces earlier -- him no go up stairs like normal caveman. Legs hurt way too much for that! Krogg take steps one at a time. More like one step per minute.


Krogg remember: Krogg love training.

In Which Krogg Returns to Seattle, Resumes Training, and Suffers a Mild Shock to the System

Wow. Krogg back. Whirlwind off-season come to close. Krogg finished with trip to Las Vegas for Interbike. Krogg finished with meditation course in Idaho. And Krogg finished galavanting around East Coast. Now Krogg back in Seattle. Krogg reunited with trusty Ridley training bike. In fact, Krogg even try his hand at going on training ride. Whoah! Krogg forget how training ride feel after long off season. Good thing races don't start for loooooong time, because Krogg need some runway before he ready for takeoff. Krogg legs already tired -- after two days of training!

For now, Krogg excited about getting back to basics. Living in Seattle. Riding in the rain. Spending time at Cycle U on the trainer, re-working my pedal-stroke. Selling un-needed gear so I can pay bills. These things make Krogg happy -- Krogg ready to get nose back to grindstone.

Krogg Review Garmin Edge 500

So Krogg have splendid new toy to play with: Garmin Edge 500.

This pretty much best invention ever -- better than fire, better than wheel, and even better than spear! Garmin Edge 500 allow Krogg to train with the legs of 1,000 woolly antelope (fastest animal known to caveman), and the brains of 1,000 snow weasel (craftiest animal known to caveman). Garmin Edge 500 have GPS, which stand for Giant Pigeon in Sky. This giant pigeon fly waaaaay up high, and keep track of where Krogg go on training ride. Then Krogg can look at route afterwards on computer, and share with blog like this: 

See? Krogg climb Bogus Basin! Click "View Details" to see more magic Garmin Edge 500 information. Krogg never imagined in craziest caveman dream he have so much information at fingertips! Krogg can view useful training data (like wattage or lap time), or Krogg can see crazy things (like temperature, %grade, and distance to nearest mammoth herd). Here photos of Krogg's ride:

Bogus Basin great! When you reach ski area, you think you at top of mountain, but noooo, road keep going! Climb several more miles and finally get to spot where you look down on ski area! How sweet this? 

Garmin Edge 500 have many other amazing features. It easy to attach to bicycle, and easy to set up. In fact, Garmin Edge 500 so easy to use, Krogg wager even cave sloth could use one (stupidest animal known to caveman)! All menus are easy, and Krogg never need to use instructions to make Garmin Edge 500 work -- this good thing, Krogg hate instructions! Garmin Edge 500 very smart toy: not only does Garmin Edge 500 talk to Giant Pigeon in Sky, it talk to other new toy, Powertap SL+.

That way, when Krogg pedal, Krogg know exactly how many woolly antelope Krogg worth. Krogg can also look at powerfiles on computer too! See?
Krogg love Garmin Edge 500. And Krogg excited to share many more rides with blog.

STOP. Training Time!

Allrighty Sports Fans, pop quiz:

1: Let's say you finished Nationals feeling a little worn down, a little beat up, a little burned out -- and you have to get ready for the mighty mighty Cascade Classic a mere three weeks away. What would you do? 

A) Go home and cry for three weeks.
B) Go to Idaho where the weather is nice, and the roads are smooth, and the birds are singing, and cry for three weeks.
C) Go home and rest for a week (or cry, depending), but then go to Idaho and train your mother-lickin'-legs off!

The answer is C.

2: Let's say you've decided to go to Idaho and train your legs off. Where should you go: 

A) Boise, because you know the roads like the back of your hand, and it's nice and hot so you can acclimatize to the heat, and there's lots of fun stuff to do while you're not training.
B) Sun Valley, because you know the roads like the back of your hand, and it's high altitude, and it's downright gorgeous there right now.
C) A and B
D) Nampa.

The answer is C. Never go to Nampa.

3: Ok, so you're going to Idaho to train. How are you going to measure your workload? 

A) Well you don't own a working power meter at the moment, so you could leave a trail of bread crumbs on your rides, and go back in the car and count your milage with the car's odometer. Then you could go in a wind tunnel and calculate your drag coefficient, and finally hire a scientist to calculate your wattage.
B) You do own a broken power meter. Maybe you could fix it?
C) Nope. You don't have enough time to do that -- plus your old power meter doesn't work with your new Garmin Edge. I'd suggest contracting that psychic octopus, Oracle Paul, to predict what your wattage will be on your rides.

There is no answer to life's biggest questions. Or this idiotic one.

4: By the way, how the hell did that octopus predict Spain would win? 

A) He's a psychic dude! Psychics know!
B) He's actually the supreme master of the universe and his will becomes manifest, always. Spain won because the Oracle Paul wishes it so.
C) He's a patsy! The Germans needed someone to blame if they lost, and Oracle Paul happened to be in the wrong aquarium at the wrong time.

The answer is B. All hail Oracle Paul!

5: Anyway, none of those power meter ideas sound like good ideas. What about just getting a new one? 

A) Holy shit. I hadn't thought of that.
B) Are you a genius or what? Psychic octopus? How did you know that's what I would do?!
C) Say hello to my new power meter.

5: Awesome. Now get out there and train. How's it going? 

A) So far, so good!
B) So far, so bad!

The answer is A