Cold Weather Training...

I've been able to get outside a couple of times for some cold outdoor training.  The problem with the weather during this time of year is that usually if it's decent enough to get outside there's usually a layer of smog in the valley due to inversion.  It makes you wonder if it does more harm than good being out there breathing so hard that your lungs burn.  But I can't help myself.  I hate training inside.  The whole point of riding your bike is to get outside and enjoy the world.  Well, it may not be the whole point but its a main point for me.  I will risk the lungs just to get outside.



One cause of concern I've had lately has been my right hip.  In an earlier post I described taking a spill on a saturday group ride.  That was 7 weeks ago.  I've ridden ever since without pain but since riding outside I've noticed that every time I ride out of the saddle I feel a continuous "popping" in my hip just the side that I fell on.  It doesn't necessarily hurt but it does bug me.  Just the fact that I notice it is a distraction that I don't want.  I can't figure out why it's doing it either.  At the end of my outdoor rides I also notice that the hip is a bit tender.  Maybe it just needs more time to heal but I thought it would be completely healed by now.  It wasn't like I feel that hard on it in the first place.  I guess I'll just continue to monitor the situation.



I'm excited to go to St. George in a couple of weeks for my birthday to get in a weekend of riding in hopefully warm weather.  When I say warm, we're talking mid-50's.  That is warm when compared to Salt Lake temps.  Weather in St. George can be very unpredictable this time of year so I'll have to keep an eye on it.  If it's no good for riding then I will cancel and we'll ski instead.  Not a bad alternative I think.

Band Basement Gig....

Recently our band added a new drummer and with this addition has come a lot of renewed energy and optimism about our sound.  Unfortunately, it also came at a time when our frontman and lead guitarist made plans to move to L.A. as part of his video editing career.   As moving day for him approached we decided to do an impromptu show in the place where we practice, my cold basement.  We invited a few friends and family, set up some lighting, and served hot chocolate and donuts while we played our new album and a few other sweet tunes.  It went well enough and it served as a good excuse to rock out one more time with Col.  (At least until he comes back. After, of course, making it big in L.A.)

The good news is, I think we'll plan on keeping the music going with the remaining members and maybe even adding more.  It's a fun outlet for me so I hope it works.

A few short clips from the show.  The sound from the iphone is not the best but you get the idea.

Oh, and you can get our album here (shameless plug):

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/aligned/id763762612?ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Christmas and the New Year.....

Christmas was lovely as usual.  We skied Christmas Eve with the kids and stayed late to catch the fireworks and torch parade.  This has become a tradition for us but we missed last year due to a snowstorm that canceled our plans.  It's a fun atmosphere for the holiday up there.  Sip'n hot chocolate while watching the festivities is a beautiful thing.

The Boy and Jen riding through the tunnel to Mineral Basin on Christmas Eve.

The Boy killing time before the fireworks.

My new clock I got for Christmas made from recycled bike parts.

New Years was a fun night as well as we ate dinner at my wife's parents and then partied at my sister's later.  My sister did a french theme to her party and decorated accordingly.  She did a great job and my kids (especially the boy) were blown away at the ambiance.  The food was great too.

My brother standing in front of the Eiffel Tower.

My family.

Jen and myself.  (I'm clearly enjoying the food.)

The food.

Speaking of food, I fell off the healthy wagon over the holidays and ate like crap (as the above picture of me suggests), but I'm back on the wagon today.  I gained about 2 lbs which isn't terrible but not good either, especially given how hard I have to work to take it off.  My "race weight" goal weight is 165 lbs and right now I'm at 170 lbs.   I'm confident that I can make that by March.

I've been indoors the past month riding the rollers but I was able to get out the past two days riding outside.  Tuesday was cold but bearable, but yesterday was downright pleasant.  It was so nice to get out both days just to be out.  My legs felt sluggish and the smog didn't feel great breathing but I was just glad to be out of my basement.  I need to make more of an effort to get outside.   I met up with some infinite team members yesterday so that was nice.  It's always more fun and more challenging to ride with others.  Plus, the more I've got to know the infinite team the more I've realized they're just a good group of people who love to bike like I do.