Back to the Grind!

Spring break has come and gone and here are the official 2006 Spring Training Camp Stats:

470 miles
27 hours
12+ lbs of pasta
108 Eggs
4.5 Gallons of Milk
1500+ oz of Power Aid
210 hours of sleep
3 flat tires
4 Reported Saddle sores
1 new digital camera

I would say Spring break was a success for PCW's nothern division. The rodes were clear of snow and we never had to ride in sub 20 degree weather. No casualties, no mechanicals and a nose tan to boot.

School has started back up again and this rest week fell right on the money. Two tests this week and two presentations next week. Time is flying and we are just seven weeks away from summer vacation! The only scary part about those seven weeks is all the school work that still needs to be done!

Training this week is short and slow to get the legs back for a good weekend of riding in the sun, weather man says 50 and sunny!

World is your playground!
Chad

Day 6

Today we headed back onto the roads for real. We even had a guest with us! Craig Manthe from here in Eau Claire met up with us today for the first three hours of the ride. It seems so strange riding with four people. John and Chad and I are so used to riding alone together, that its weird to have someone to talk to when your sucking wind in the draft. I think I could get used to it!

It's fair to say the week is starting to catch up with our legs and the rest of our bodies. We did just shy of 4.5 hours today, and if I hadn't chowed a plate of pasta this morning after breakfast, I think I would have been in for a rough afternoon! Speaking of a rough afternoon, John was the victim of our second flat of the week. It got him less than a mile away from home. Shit happens I guess.













John has the camera right now with the pics on it from today, so be sure to check out coffee and bikes for all of the other pics. So just to break up the blog I stuck this one in. I believe it is from the Sheboygen race.

We headed out south of town and crossed one or two the ridges south of hwy 10 before heading back up north. We rode back close to town with Craig, and then headed west for 45 min and looped back home.

Day 5 Recovery

Today was active recovery and it felt good. John, Chase and I got off to a late start after cruzing the town looking for an old bike shop know as the Bike Doctor. Apparently the Bike Doctor moved and then went out of buisness, or at least 212 Barstow had a for rent sign on the door. Chase needed a shift cable so we headed to water street, home to three other small bike shops. Chase picked up his cable and we head home to gear up. We rode just over two hours and thirty five miles all in zone one.

The weather is looking good for the next two days and Craig is joining us tomorrow so we should end the week on a good note. Check out John's site for the outdoor zoo sighting.

Quote of the day:
"Bad pros make more than good amateurs." -Greg LeMond

World is your playground
Chad

Day 4

Day four of training camp started out much like the past few days with one exception, no sun! We count on weather.com to tell us whats up with the weather and today they weren't far off. Overcast with a 50% chance of flurries was right on. Today we had our first flat and if one wasn't enough the value snapped and Chase had to start all over.

I wonder if we should be using better tubes?!?

We managed to crank out another four hour ride today and I think I may be entering the hurt locker soon. The hardest part of training this much is eating enough food. We made another trip to Festival foods tonight for the essentials and dropped another seventy some bucks on pasta and veggies. Eat to ride and ride to eat!

Quote of the day:

"I thought of that while riding my bike." -Albert Einstein, on the theory of relativity

World is your playground

Chad

Day 3

It is now day three of training camp and the wind has still not subsided. Today we rolled north to Bloomer via a plethora of number roads some of which were not paved. The wind was strong from the northwest and despite level roads our average speed was low. On a more positive note the sun was out in full force. Chase and I both have a small case of sun burn and some helmet tan lines to boot. The legs are definitely starting to feel the training load as we ticked over the twelve hour mark. It’s nice to have your legs as the limiter instead of college and work. The remainder of the week looks more of the same, I think tomorrow’s forecast will be high winds with the sun in the sky. Another seventy or so miles south of town is the tentative plan. However I think it’s important to keep in mind the words of professional mountain biker Rune Hoydahl, “Cycling takes so many hours to train and so many years to be really strong. Being good at cycling doesn’t happen because you train hard one year.”

We had a couple stops on today’s ride but nothing too serious and no coffee shops, only a couple leaks and some photo opportunities. John has been using his new camera to document camp and Wisconsin’s country side.

Tonight we’re watching Batman Begins with some friends from school; it seems we are not the only ones who couldn’t pop the bill for Cancun. Also on the schedule is a trip to Target for some groceries. You would not believe the food we have gone through and I now understand why my dad gave me a one way bus ticket on my eighteenth birthday. Several boxes of pancake mix, two boxes of Honey Nut Cheerios, three gallons of milk, 54 eggs, 8 pounds of pasta, and lots of Gatorade mix and were not even half way through camp.

To end the day I would like to leave all the bloggers and blog readers out there with a question. How much of “making it big” is trained and how much is genetics? Can anyone go pro? Is Juli Furtado correct in saying “I’ve always thought it starts with genetics. It doesn’t matter how hard you train, or how tough you are. Those are important, but you’ve got to have it in you to be a world-class athlete.” Either way I’ll be riding tomorrow and for all those aspiring athletes….ride on!

World is your playground!
Chad

Day 2

After another huge plate of pancakes and some scrambled eggs, we headed out for ride number two of training camp. What a great day for it too, we had mid 30's and sunny the entire ride. We headed out towards UW stout by taking some really cool back-country roads, and eventually found our way to the campus. We were originally going to visit with some friends there , but when we couldn't meet up with them, we headed to the Menomonie Aucustic Cafe for a quick cup of joe before the ride home.














Here is a great photoshopped pic of Chad and I sipping and chowing down, thanks for the pic John!

We had a strong cross/tailwind the entire ride home, so it was smooth sailing. The route we rode to and from Stout was great, so for those of you looking for a four hour ride, drop us a line and we'll send you some directions.

So day two was a complete success, see you again tomorrow!

-Sova bros

Training Camp 2006 Day 1

Today we kicked off the 2006 spring training camp. John, Chase and I are taking residence down town at friends place because the dorms are closed for the week. You don't know what you got till it's gone, and it may sound silly but having to buy, cook, and clean to eat is a pain especially when you're used to the all you can eat cafeteria. Today's ride was over fours and around seventy miles. We headed south because there was a 20mph gusting easterly wind that just wouldn't give up. We did the usual route south to Hwy 10 and then took some never seen before roads down and around hwy 121 to loop back. Today's ride had at least a dozen climbs around 200 feet which keep you humble, especially this time of year.

"You want to be like a carpet unrolling. Get faster as the climb goes on." - Chris Carmichael

In other news I made a trip to NMU this past weekend to visit an old high school friend. I have never been to Marguette before but I was glad I made the drive. On the way through Ironwood I had to laugh because the snow banks were over 10 feet high, I guess I can't complain about a little sand on the roads in Eau Claire. I went to a car show in the biggest wooden dome in the world. I think my favorite car was the Solstice.

We'll keep you posted as the rides and action unfold!

World is your playground

Chad

Start You Engines

John and I were so anxious for camp on monday that we just had to go on a quick ride today! Plus it was a chance for John to test out his new camera. Since we all have alot of time on our hands, both our sites will have daily updates with some different pics from each day, so check out John Beck's site http://www.coffeeandbikes.blogspot.com too!

















Lots of snow still here, but it does do a nice job of holding your bike up!
If you're a frequent reader of John's site then you already have heard this quote, but I think it deserves some more web time.

"I am the reference point, if they beat me, they win.
-Miguel Indurain

All for now, I'll talk to ya tomarrow!

-Chase Sova

Pre-Camp Thoughts

Hey all,

Today John and I are setting up base camp here at 137 niagra street in Eau Claire. We just grabbed some food for the next couple of days and should be ready to go. Chad is up in the sticks visiting his friends in Michigan, so hes missing out on the early fun. The idea is to chill out in Eau Claire while the rest of campus is vacationing in Mexico, and put together a mini, but still sweet, PCW Training camp. Without the stress of school I'd imagine we will get some pretty good riding in. I think the weather will hold out for us too, looks like mid 30's.

In other news, yesterday I did a conconi test on the trainer to see what kind of power I was putting out and to set up the zones for this year. I think the results were better than I would have expected, especially so early in the year. Big thanks to TJ for setting everything up for me and crunching the numbers. (http://www.tjwoodruffonline.com) Tj and I are going to be working with eachother the next couple of months to test a new style of training, which is looking pretty promising. I'll keep you updated and hand out some details as it goes along. The general idea is to get fast!

Keep checking in, we'll have alot of time on our hands this week so look for frequent updates.

Later
Chase

Spring Rides and Winter Weather

The last few days we have been spoiled! Weather has been in the high 40s and even the 50s with the sun high in the sky. It seems however the weather has taken a turn for the worst! This morning I woke up to over 6inches of snow/slush. What a mess! This morning I was walking down some wooden steps, covered in packed wet snow, when I saw this dude skid down the stairs on his rear bouncing off every step! I was trying not to laugh when I almost fell myself.

On a more positive note the last three days I have been able to get some good rides in. Thursday was a solid four hours solo but with no wind which is really rare and relaxing. Friday's ride, John and I put in over three hours cruzing on and around the Duran RR course. Yesterday's ride was also pretty epic. We ended up riding south of Elk Creek on Hwy 121, a road I have never riden on before, and made it home just before dark. With brutal winds that just wouldn't cooperate and a weather forecast calling for thunderstorms I was skeptical from the beginning. Chase, John and I rolled back into Murray four and half hours later beat and ready for dinner.

Spring break plans are still in the mix, but with limited budgets and time it seems we may be sticking around the northwoods. I hope to make it up to NMU to visit a old high school buddy on the first weekend and then head to Eau Claire for the remainder of the week. I hope the snow disappears or it will be a long week in a wet saddle.

This past week I almost hit the twenty hour mark so its time for a recovery week before the big spring break training. In the words of Roger Young, U.S. Olympic Cycling coach "You've got to rest as hard as you train." And in the words of Laurent Jalabert, "I'm going to sleep when I need sleep and train when I feel up to it."

World is your playground
Chad

Got Snow?

Saturday was beautiful no wind, sunny skys, and an open road! John and I put in 3.5 hrs east of town cruzing through the small towns of Fall Creek and Strum. Can you ever remember specific converstions you had at exact locations during previous rides? Kind of a day-ja vu if you will. Yesterday John and I were rattling off what we talked about a year ago when we did the same loop with Graig and Tj; and this fall with Chase and Tj when we flated a couple miles from home and it was already dark out. In any case it was good we got our miles in on Saturday because early Sunday morning mother nature released over 6inches of heavy wet snow! I didnt realize it until I headed out the door for breakfast and buried my shoe in snow. It was so nice the day before. I quess its back to plastic bags, hot showers, and hot chocolate.

In other news have you heard about the new Jeep Mountain bikes! They are all wheel drive! Chain driven rear wheel and with the push of a button a shaft driven front wheel. What will they come up with next, I bet the thing weighs 40lbs! Check it out here!

Most importantly we hope Whitey has a safe and fast recovery, I know everyone up north is pulling for you. As we know actions speak louder than words and the cyclists have taken action! Check out Whitey's journal with the details!

World is your playground!
Chad

Mud, Nutrition, and the Birkie

In northern Wisconsin sometimes you have to ask "What bike should I be riding?" The past two rides John, Chase, and I almost needed to exchange our road bikes for dirt bikes! We were riding down some narrow farm road west of campus and the road quickly went from blacktop to gravel to ice/snow to mud. I felt like McGrath flinging mud like a 250. I bet our rims were sunk in at least 3inches. Its a testimony to the Trek and Shimano b/c our bikes take some serious abused in the winter months.

On other fronts did you know your brain needs at least 130grams of glucose a day, and that glucose is the only carb your brain can use? Two thirds of glucose is stored in your muscles and the other third in your liver. According to Susan Krueger, professor at UWEC, the liver can only store 12-13hours of glucose. So what does this mean? Since your the brain receives its glucose from the liver you need to keep it fueled, if you don't your body will break down muscles and organs in a process called Gluconeogenesis. In conclusion you should eat breakfast everyday and never go over 12 hours without carb intake!

I know it was mentioned in the last post but I can't not talk about the birkie. What an event, if you have seen or participated put it on the list of things to do. John, mom, Kevin and I headed to Hayward's main street on Saturday morning to catch the finish. We were twenty yards from the line! It was pretty sweet watching the Italians dominate both the men and women's race.

In other news Chase has a birthday on March 4th so make sure to give him a shout out! Happy Birthday Chase!

World is your playground!
Chad