Waitin' for the Fog to Clear...

So, I got lost driving to work the other day because I couldn't see the street signs. Yeah, I was driving, like I usually do. I drop the kids off each morning, so riding isn't in the cards. At any rate, IT'S WAY TOO SMOKEY! I've lived in Sac nearly all my life and this is the most smoke I've ever inhaled! All my rides and training rides have been cancelled and I feel fat and lazy. I could go to the gym, but that means... going to the gym.

I bailed out on doing Death Ride this year. I want to know more about the heart palpitations (PVC's) before committing to a day of lung busting climbs and long fast descents in poor air quality. With all the smoke, my training got thrown off and I didn't get the mileage under my belt that I needed to complete DR. For me, it's all or nothing and I'd rather not waste a day up there and not complete it. The air quality and the heat played huge into my decision as well. Oh well, there's next year.

The next big idea of the year is the Tahoe-Sierra 100 MTB ride. It's only an idea at this point because I want to wait until after I see the Doc next week to make a decision on whether or not I should be training hard over the next month or so. We'll see. For now, I'm focusing on fun rides.
This weekend, "Sweet Cheeks" and I are hitting the road at 4am to get on the Hole in the Ground trail early so we can be at the top of the climb around sunrise. We all refer to those early rides as "Dawn Patrols". It'll be nice to get home before most people wake up!

PC

Sick in the Alps...?

Sunday we did another Death Ride training. Nine of us rode Monitor Pass up and over the other side and the planned to take a break at the base of Ebbets before the next 2. Upon climbing the backside of Monitor, I started getting dizzy, lightheaded and having heart palpitations. I figured it was the heat and altitude. We reached the summit again and descended down. The dizziness got worse and to the point where I felt sick to my stomach. I had done this ride a week prior with not problems, so it baffled me a bit. A few miles later, I had to pull over and scream at the pine needles (throw up). My day was done.

The next day, back home, I woke to the same feeling of lightheadedness and a sense of something was just not right. I scored a late afternoon appt. with the Doc and had him check me out. After an EKG, I learned that I'm having PVC's (Premature Ventricular Contractions) where my heart is firing prematurely and pumping blood at an irregular rate. It explains a great deal, but I won't know why or how until after I wear a Holter monitor for a day. Doesn't sound like it's serious in my case, but at least I know it wasn't just a normal "bad day of riding".

For now, I wait to find out what's next. I hear pacemakers are fun. Maybe I can wire one into my Garmin for that extra training tool.. get that cadence DIALED! :-)

-Papa Cat

Gas Bad - Pedals Good

The shop has been overwhelmed with folks looking to save gas and start pedaling. We are regularly hearing requests for bikes to get from A-B and y-Z. Function over form seems to be the trend, but yes we're still selling tons of FS MTB's and road bikes for the enthusiasts out there.

Intrinsic satisfaction seems to be happening regularly (at least on my end) while helping someone find the right bike and all the associated gear. Yeah, selling bikes pays the bills, but selling cycling and the sport is more rewarding. I love it when customers stop in after a day of "hitting the shops" and searching for that special bike to suit their needs. We do our regular presentation, ask them some questions, get to know their needs and make some suggestions. Somewhere in the process, the customer usually begins to appreciate what we do... they're not always looking for the "best deal", but the best service and relationship. We're not a huge shop that carries every bike for every person, but I feel that we care and will do our best to meet their needs. Having someone thank you for the wonderful service at the end of a sale is worth more than anything I sell.

I think that's my greatest reward for being a business owner.

-M

Vacation... Tahoe Style

I just returned from 8 days in Tahoe with the family. Every year, for the last 6 years, we have rented a little cabin at Camp Richardson and it's become a tradition that we can't seem to shake. We load up the bikes, hiking stuff, beach stuff and everything that you'd need to relax in Tahoe (including a good selection of beverages) and head to the hills. It's good "reset" time, but we also manage to get some runs and rides in throughout the week.

This year I decided to take advantage of "the passes" and invite some friends up to ride part of the Death Ride. We rode Monitor and Ebbets on Thursday and it worked us pretty good. I've still got a couple good rides coming up, so I don't feel intimidated, but DR is going to mame the body for a few days. Surprisingly, my muscles liked the climbing and I wasn't even stiff the next day, HOWEVER, my hands, feet, butt and neck were screaming big time during the ride. I just need to have more saddle time. My body is accustomed to MTB where you rarely do the same movement for more than 5 minutes (for the most part). Long road rides are a relatively new thing for me, but I like it and will continue to do so... but I'm a mountain biker at heart.

Glad to be home.

Papa Gato.

Birthday Mileage and Breakfast Club

Yesterday was Breakfast club... A few friends and I decided that once a month we will commit to a 5:00am breakfast and a 6am ride. It just so happens that yesterday was also my Birthday, so it was decided that I needed mileage to meet my age, which is becoming a tradition for our team. With my ripe old of 39, we set out to try and get about 40 miles in the Auburn area. The only way to effectively get that mileage without riding the same trail over and over again, is to ride all trails in the area.. Stagecoach-Manzanita-Flood-Clementine-Connector-Foresthill Divide and the quarry trail on the south side. We ended up with 44.9 in total, ending on the long climb back up Stagecoach in the sun with empty bottles, legs and souls. It was tough, but it felt good in the mind.

I ended the day with the Drive-in movies to see Ironman with the Team and a muscle relaxer that put me in a 10hour coma. Nice Birthday I'd say.

Northstar - Opening Day!

IT's true, Northstar is now open for bizz. We were first in line (within a person or two) and got a chance to check it out and ride the new stuff on lower mountain. The upper mountain won't open until late June, but the lower stuff is pretty fun. Count on finding me up there this summer.. I shot some vid from my GoPro helmet cam... enjoy!
MC

Holy Cow Time Flys!

I can't believe we're pushing into the end of May already! Damn! Cool24 came and went in a hurry but not without glamour and fortune (well, maybe a little less than that).. The MAd Cat Single-Speed A-Team (my Team consisting of Robert Ives, Ken Mederios, Rich Nielsen and myself) gave it our all. We had a super clean race, no mechanicals, no crashes, super fast laps and good collaboration and teamwork. We rallied for 24hrs straight, taking turns at bringing home the bacon. Rich pulled some 57 min. laps, I pulled a 58 and 59.. it was cool. In the end, we came in 2nd place against Dan Tebbs and the Victory Velo crew. Not bad considering they are some fast riders. I'm cool with second and completely happy with the results.

Since Cool, I've been doing some road rides, racing PC and working my ass off. As of today, I've commited to a ride schedule for the next 6 weeks to get me ready for Death Ride. Miles, rides, diet, you name it. I'm going to give it my all. After that... it's Cyclocross time.

The shop has been rocking with business, events, promotions and overall craziness. It never really stops being crazy, but sometimes it's a bit more in control. I feel like were sitting on the front of a magic carpet that is whizzing around Sac on autopilot sometimes. It hasn't crashed yet and it seems to know where to turn, but who knows what it's going to do next. It's fun.

The Team is rocking the PC races right now! We're are set up to have quite a few folks on the podium at the Series end. Exciting for them, exciting for me.

The Swap Meet this weekend was good. Lower turnout, maybe from the heat, but all the vendors had a good time and sold a ton of stuff. The team sold some stuff and the shop got rid of a few things in the back room. That's about all we needed to accomplish.

Rest time for the Papa. Peas out.

El Papa Gato.