What Is Going On.
- Not a lot besides riding my bike and making coffee.
<--If true, does that make me a drug
dealer?? Nice.
Races - Boulder to Lyons TT - 3rd
- Moral of the bike race is that Ben Day is strong like bull.
- Race time was recorded slower than Strava and my Garmin. That's all good.
http://coloradocycling.org/results/road
How To Ride Bikes And Work -
How I know What I'm Talking About - Trust Me
- I'll be honest and say I have it a lot easier than most people. I work a morning shift from 5:30a.m. to 1:00p.m. or an afternoon shift from12:30 to 8:00. If I want to ride four hours in a day I have time for that.
- The past couple of weeks I have ridden what feels like a metric shit tonne (slowing switching over to old world spelling). Here is quick guide on how to ride yourself cross eyed in the morning and then work eight hours. Also included is a lesson on hardening up after work and getting on your bike.
***Might as well stop reading here if you don't ingest high daily doses of caffeine***
How To Ride Then Work
Sleep
- When training and working this much it's paramount that you get at least nine hours of sleep per night. If you have to do something that gets in the way of sleep then it's probably not worth it. I swear you will never regret saying "fuck it" and then promptly heading for an enormous, comfortable, reading mecca of a bed.
Seriously. Sleep is important. Very few people sleep. ENOUGH SLEEP MAKES EVERY WAKING MOMENT BETTER. For real, wtf. People should sleep more.
Waking Up
- This is difficult
. Doubt will enter your mind. You have to battle it with something that's exciting. Examples include a new pair of Swiftwick 200 needle socks just waiting to be put on, a new flavor of drink mix in the cupboard, french toast with hot maple syrup, or the promise of warm coffee. Coffee rarely fails as a motivator.
That's a sloth. They're lazy.
Breakfast - After
- The key here is a quick meal that will go a long way toward fueling a four hour ride. Try throwing the following into a blender.
Buck's Blended Breakfast - Makes About One Liter of Breakfast
- One Cup Cold brew coffee (or two or three cups)
- One Banana
- Lots of Almond Milk
- Frozen Strawberries
- Frozen Blueberries
- Two cups cooked Oatmeal
- Cinnamon
- Maple Syrup
Blend that shit up and drink it as fast as possible. Yum.
Cook the oatmeal. Throw it in a blender. Add some Cold Brew.
*Have a more solid breakfast if you're heading out on the TT Bike. Stomach contents may shift when they are parallel with the pavement.*
Riding
- Best part of the day.
- Stop for coffee somewhere. Preferably somewhere different everyday.
It really can't get any better.
Work Preparation
- This is a really shitty part of the day. Do not fall asleep in the shower!
- A great way to combat this urge is to just do nothing for five minutes as soon as you get in the door. Walk in, turn on the song that's been stuck in your head the whole ride, and then just sit on the carpet and stare at the wall. I promise when the song is over you'll be motivated to get shit done.
- Eat some food. Or a lot of food. Eat anything available at any time always.
- Drink coffee.
**You really don't have to stare at the wall. I'm sure looking outside or sitting on a real chair would work fine. Just chilling out for five minutes is the important part.**
Just like school but only somehow better.
Work
- Ride a bike or walk if possible. This keeps your legs from cramping in a car
and keeps you semi-conscious of your surroundings.
- Work isn't that bad but it sure as shit isn't biking in the mountains. Get there early. It sounds counter-intuitive but this helps with readjusting into a work environment. The transition can be a shitty one if you jump right into it.
- Drink a hearty amount of caffeine in a form that won't make any pre-existing dehydration worse. Heavily diluted americanos work as do many iced beverages.
- Stay hydrated. Keep a giant water vessel near yourself at all times. The bigger the vessel the more you will drink.
These guys know what's up
After Work
- Bike Home. Eat food. Fall asleep.
How To Work Then Ride
Coffee
- Rate of consumption is key here. Too much at 5:00a.m. is a recipe for extended nap time at around 1:00p.m. I like to intake just enough to be aware of my surroundings until I leave from work. At that point I go all in with one of the following beverages.
- Three shot iced americano - Not that dehydrating. Can make you shake if you're not used to caffeine.
- Chai with espresso - Somewhat dehydrating. Will make anyone shake. Also packs a wonderful amount of simple carbohydrates in the form of sugar, about the same amount as a soft drink.
- Cold brew coffee - I'll say it again. This shit is the best.
A quick exponential graph showcasing ideal caffeine consumption between 5:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.
Ride Transition
- If you can, ride or walk home from work. That way energy levels won't nosedive whilst sitting in a metal box.
- Have your kit, bike, and pre-ride food ready to go. The more you have prepared the less excuses there will be to not ride.
Ride
- Best part of the day. I've never regretted it. Except for the time when I had to lay down on the side of the road and nap for a while. I've learned a lot since then.
- Music can help for intervals.
- Everything is easier in the summer.
- I really don't recommend any more coffee. There's a fine line between contently caffeinated and uncomfortably messed up on a stimulant.
Tweek from South Park
End
- Look for a post soon about "How to be a bike mechanic without bike tools"
- Buck
