The Checklist!

Below is my checklist to complete before I start training in earnest for my century.  I want to get this done within the next 4 weeks and will update as I go.  Comments and suggestions are appreciated:

• Purchase all gear necessary:
• Bike, pedals, shoes.
• Maintenance stuff; spare tube, CO2, tire levers, multi-tool, small seat case. 
• Clothing; helmet, jersey, padded shorts, gloves.
• Pick a date and location.  I want to do my first century as a group ride.  I have never ridden with a group before but I think it will be safer and easier than going it alone.
• Develop a training plan.  I have done some research on this but need to do a bit more.  I need to find some good training activities for while I am traveling for work.
• Develop a nutrition plan.  I need to develop a solid nutrition plan to execute while I train as well as a nutrition plan for the actual century ride.  I am WAY out of my league here and would appreciate suggestions.
• Setup a template for logging my training activities.  I want to setup a template that tracks key elements related to my performance.  I will post that here for all to see.  I intend to use Strava to log all of my training rides.  Any thoughts on the things I should track?  At a minimum I am thinking distance, time, avg speed, water and food consumed, notes about the ride, my thoughts about my progress.  For non-ride training activities I will give a general description.
• Finish my intense work travel schedule.  I am working on a project right now that will cause me to be on the road 3 out of the next 4 weeks starting next week.  This is the biggest reason why I am not starting in earnest for a few weeks.
• Dial in my gear.  I need to have everything feeling great on the bike.  I am not used to the new saddle yet and I need to get used to the pedals and shoes.

I am sure that I will be updating and adding to this list.  In fact, if anyone reading this has any cycling expertise and can comment, it would be greatly appreciated!  If only I knew someone who is a triathlete or something.  Someone who has completed an iron man or two?  Maybe someone who enjoys scarring my shin by crushing it with a kayak?  Hmmm...

New shoes and pedals have arrived!

My stuff came in early.  Thanks Amazon!    My pedals are Shimano 105 SPD-SL and the shoes are Pearl Izumi Race RD III (pics below).  I will review the gear later and talk through why I chose these.  But I wanted to take a minute first to talk about my first ride.

I took Sven on cruise this morning clipped in for the first time.  That is an interesting experience! 

17.5 miles
1:20 
http://app.strava.com/activities/200553126

A few things I learned:

• I have a lot to learn about pedaling efficiency!  There is a technique that needs to be learned.  The coordination to complete the entire pedal stroke is not something that I will pick up immediately.  I felt a little like trying to play the drums for the first time.  Hard to get your hands and feet moving at the same time.  Similarly, I could get about two of the four zones of the pedal stroke working but not all four on both legs at the same time.  Here's the instruction I am working off of:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5DIwAveY7w
• When you add pedals and shoes, RAISE THE SEAT!  At least for Shimano SPD pedals.  It raises your feet up significantly and you need to raise your seat to accommodate.
• Be prepared to be tired!  Having the ability to pull up while pedaling in great.  However, it exercises new muscles.  The fronts of my hips are feeling it today.
• Practice getting in and out of your clips a bunch before heading out!  I went out after getting in and out just a couple of times.  I had a hard time getting in the pedals while crossing a major street.  Not cool...
• Remember you are clipped in!  I almost ate it on the trail portion of my ride.  There was a fallen tree that I had to lift my bike over.  I forgot I was clipped in and almost tipped over when I stopped.  That would have been embarrassing.  Here's a philosophical question...If a chubby cyclist falls in the woods and nobody is there to see it...Is he an idiot?  I am going with YES! 

In all, clipping in is easy.  I would say very easy.  It's a bit unnerving at first and my body needs to acclimate to the new capabilities of the pedals.  However, when I learn how to pedal right and get used to it, I can tell it will make a huge difference.

Shake Down Cruise

Sven and I spent some time getting to know each other today.  Specifically, we spent 3 hours riding 40 miles.  I wasn't going to go that far today but the temperature was great and I found myself inspired.  Here's my initial thoughts:

The Ride
40 Miles
3:09
http://app.strava.com/activities/200082756

I wanted to spend the day just getting a handle on riding a road bike for the first time.  I knew there would be a ton of subtle, or not so subtle differences.  Before I start training I feel like I should get to know the bike and begin to learn the nuances of riding a road bike.  I rode today with two water bottles and Nuun tablets in the smaller bottle with spare tablets for refills.  I ended up drinking about 80oz during the ride.  I brought no food but bought a banana and some lemon cake at my turnaround spot 20 miles in.  I rode without pads today, a decision I have come to regret.  The new saddle doesn't quite agree with me just yet.  I am sure I just need to toughen up some but I will be riding with pads the next time I go that far.  Overall it was a great ride!  I was trying hard to just take it easy with the occasional short push.  The bike is so much faster though that I had several Strava personal bests and finished the ride 20 minutes or so faster than I have ever done before.  Part of the reason is because I really didn't need to stop and rest very much at all.  I stopped once at 20 miles and then again at 32 miles.  Both stops were very breif and my body felt fine so I kept going. 

Differences

• Crank size.  These cranks feel much longer.  It causes me to use parts of my leg muscles that I didn't use with Olaf.  The longer cranks and new position on the bike creates a new feel that I need to get used to.  I almost ate it once too because I hit the pedal on the ground on a turn.  Longer cranks equals lower pedals.  Go figure.
• Body position.  I felt good in the new position.  I was a bit worried about that but in all I think I am more comfortable on the new bike than the hybrid.  There are many more hand positions than before.  
• The Saddle - This one is much harder and has a different feel.  I need to get used to it.
• Hand Positions - So many to choose from.  Yay!

The Good

• It's fast!  Well, by comparison anyway.  The bike just wants to go compared to Olaf.  It was really clear right off the bat that I could go much faster with less effort.  I am sure crank size and body position are to blame.
• It's comfortable!  Surprisingly so.  The carbon fork and other features really soak up the road far more than Olaf.  That was a great relief.
• It's easy!  Riding a road bike was no harder than any other bike.  I still have some techniques to learn and the I need to get better with the timing of the shifts but overall, it's an easy and fun ride.
• It Shifts great on the rear derailleur!  Very smooth.  A huge upgrade from Olaf.

The Bad

• There was an annoying rattle somewhere in the front wheel.  I think the valve stem was loose.  I will tighten and try again soon.
• The Saddle is hard.  Real hard.
• The front chain ring shifts like crap.  I am sure that much of the problem is user error.  I am used to a 3 gear front chain ring system so I am all out of sorts when shifting between the two gears.  There is so much space between them.  I just need to practice.  This will probably be the biggest adjustment for me.
• There was some annoying, periodic clicking from somewhere in the drive train or front derailleur area.  It was sporadic so that one may be hard to pin down.

In all, the goods outweigh the bads by a wide margin.  This bike will definitely meet my needs for some time.  Yay! 

The new bike has a name

In keeping with the Frozen theme, the new bike's name is Sven.  Here it is:

I will review it in detail in a coming post.

New equipment!

I decided to purchase a new bike for my 100 mile journey.  Olaf is great but really doesn't fit me well.  The Specialized Vita is made for a woman and the distance from my knees to the bars is pretty short.  Matt, my brother-in -law, gave me a new stem to use that was much longer which has helped.  I figure that I really should have a bike that fits if I am going to take this on though.  Also, that bike is like riding in a paint shaker.  IT is all aluminum and very stiff with no vibration dampening or very little compliance.  So last weekend, I took the plunge.

Here's what I wanted.  I planned to purchase an endurance road bike.  I wanted all carbon frame and fork with 105 Shimano (or SRAM equivilant) group set.  I wanted carbon for the soft feel and vibration reduction and the 105 components for smooth shifting and reliability.  By all accounts that would be a great entry level to mid-range bike and serve me well.

I had landed on either the Cannondale Synapse 5 (favorite), Specialized Roubaix, or Trek Domane.  My preference was the Cannondale and I found it new for $1899.00.  I was having a hard time with the price jump from Olaf ($200 used) to $2K for the new bike.  Also, I am a realist.  I may give up on cycling in the near future even though I am pumped about it now.  So I was looking for a good deal, possibly used or other options.  Ultimately, I was ready to pay the $2K if that's what it takes.  Then it happened.

I was at a bike shop in Orlando and they had a barely used Trek Domane 2.0 for just under $1000.  I rode it.  It felt good.  I slept on it and did a little research.  Then I bought it!  The bike is good looking and feels MUCH softer than Olaf.  Also, I am positive that I will be able to ride it 100 miles without upgrading it.  The point is, it's half the cost and will serve the purpose.

Here's what I gave up.  The frame is aluminum but the fork is carbon.  The rims and hubs aren't as expensive as the Cannondale's.  I had to go lower on the group set.  The Domane 2.0 comes with Tiagra.  The cables are externally routed.  Weight.  The carbon bikes weigh less.  Let's face it...carbon bikes look cooler.  Those smooth lines.  Mmmm...next time.

Here's what I got.  An Awesome bike that is very comfortable.  It is an upgrade from the Vita in every conceivable way so it feels great to me.  The Tiagra components shift fine.  Again, much smoother than Olaf.  Who cares about the weight.  I would be better served losing human weight rather than bike weight.  I am very happy with the purchase.
  
I will be purchasing my first shoes, and clipless pedals.  All should arrive on Monday.  Maybe I will do an unboxing video or something.  Once I get a few miles on the new bike I will post a "shake down cruise" and bike review.  Also, have to unveil the new bike's name!

The Chubby Century Explained

4 Weeks from today, Monday, October 27^th, I will begin training for my first 100 mile, century ride.  So why is it called the chubby century?  You guessed it.  I am a bit overweight.  More than a bit.  I am 5’10” tall and currently weigh between 215lbs and 220lbs depending on when I weigh in.  My goal is to train for a 100 mile ride, lose some weight, and hopefully have fun doing it. 

Over the course of the past few years, I have tried several types of exercising regiments, none of which have maintained my attention for too long with the exception of tennis, and now (hopefully) cycling.  I joined a tennis league while living in north Dallas and really enjoyed it.  We played for over a year and had a great time.  Then I moved to Charleston, SC and haven’t found an tennis group.  Also, I am carrying enough weight that my knees and other joints really aren't happy with me when I play.  Typically I need two full days of recovery if I play more than three sets of hard tennis.  It’s hard to build up solid fitness with that kind of recovery window.  I tried running but again, chunky dude plus running equals angry knees.  Then by chance, my sister and brother-in-law took me on a 20 mile weekend bike ride.  I HATED it.  The ride turned my butt to hamburger, I was sore for a week, and I didn't understand why anyone would ever do that on purpose.  Begrudgingly, I went with them another time or two and didn't think anything of it.  Then it happened.  I was buying a piece of furniture from a nice lady moving to Seattle.  She was about my height and had a bike in her living room.  A white hybrid, Specialized Vita.  I was looking for some exercise and remembered how much I LOVE cycling so I made her an offer of $200 and she accepted.  The journey begins…

You need to know that my sister and brother-in-law name their bikes and I didn't want to be left out so my little Vita’s name is Olaf.  It’s a white bike and that little snow dude from the movie Frozen is named Olaf AND my brother-in-law works for Disney, ergo Olaf it is.  We will discuss bike naming in general in a later post.  The point is that I have been riding Olaf for about 4 months now.  IT started with boring little rides around the high school during summer.  Then I found some trails.  Some of those trails led to downtown.  There is a big bridge here called the Ravenel Bridge which is awesome on a bike.  The next thing you know I am riding all over the place and for some reason I can’t begin to understand, I enjoy it!  I am getting stronger, going farther, and having a good time.  Olaf and I have gone on a couple of 40 mile rides and one 53 mile ride that literally almost killed me.  At least my knees didn't hurt.  That’s when I learned fun things like carry more than one water bottle, replace your electrolytes, people should eat something during long rides, have a plan, tell others you are doing it, etc.. 

Somewhere in the middle of this process I learned that there are complete weirdos out there that ride 100 miles continuously and that they call these ride centuries.  The weirdos are also called cyclists.  I have always made fun of cyclists, ridiculed their fashion sense, found myself annoyed when the block the road, and so on.  I am quickly becoming a convert.  I have a new found respect for what true cyclists accomplish.  Cyclists are amazing.  They ride faster than I can imagine for distances I may never reach.  Freaks of nature.  All of which is to say that I am now interested in cycling.

To summarize: My sister and brother-in-law destroy my butt one weekend, I get a bike, start cycling regularly, taking longer rides, learning about weirdos, finding out about century rides, culminates in my desire to take this challenge on. The universe is a funny place.

The other thing going on in my life right now is a super fun divorce.  My wife and I are calling it quits after 21 years of marriage.  We have two boys, ages 16 and 21.  I plan to stick with the topics at hand for this blog (cycling, losing weight, fat dudes doing cool things, etc.) but it is important to know that I will be going through a couple of the hardest things I have ever done in my life at the same time.  Wish me luck on both fronts.  I will need it.

In this journal I will document all that I learn as a new cyclist embarking on an epic journey.  Feel free to make fun of me, laugh at the silly stuff I do wrong, cheer me on, whatever makes you happy.  I just hope I make it!  

Welcome to to the Chubby Century!

Welcome to the Chubby Century!  In this blog I will document the trials and tribulations of training for and conquering my first 100 mile, century ride.  The plan is to give a brutally honest account of all that goes on in this process and provide some solid information from a beginners point of view.  Hopefully it will serve as a source of humor, information, or possibly even inspiration to others.  If nothing else, it will give me something to do for the next few months.  So come along for the ride or just sit back and enjoy the show.  The Chubby Century begins!