Winter ahead

Folks, I just might need to up my game when it comes to winter cycling apparel. I wouldn't mind grabbing a new jacket for the cold. Chilly, windy weather has come with the November month and I am feeling left out. 
This jacket doesn't seem too bad. I Think I might bite the bullet and get this Descente jacket, but we'll see.

I was also thinking about how I need to find my winter cycling gloves real fast. Arriving in class with frozen hands is getting old real fast.

Belgian Cyclists

To me, Belgian cyclists are inspiring. I love their grit and go get it style of riding. They ride through all kinds of weather and show everyone how to finish a race.

Here is a short list of Belgian cyclists that I enjoy watching.

1. Philippe Gilbert. He is my favorite cyclist and the most inspiring to me. I want to ride, attack, and win like him. I love how specialized of a rider he is. Races he enters, he does his best and pushes harder than almost every other cyclist on the road.

2. Tom Boonen. He is a solid cyclists and always a contender among the best. He is a marked man in almost every race he goes to. I want that feeling.

3. Niels Albert. This guy is a cyclocross machine. Every cyclocross race I catch, I see this guy tearing it up in the mud. I see him giving his all every race. I hope to be channeling this guy's toughness next year when I race on the road and when I try cyclocross for the first time. I'll be honest, I usually see this guy in the chase, but that's just it. I don't expect to be in the front. This guy is a champ for sure, but he never gives up.

I know there are many many more Belgian cyclists that are more than worth noting. These guys just make me want to take my cycling to the next level. I am humbled and excited for cycling every time I see them ride. They make it almost look easy.

Cracked Windshield

I seem to be posting a lot today.

Anyway, I found a sizable crack in my windshield yesterday. Who knows when the original crack happened, but I can see it has grown significantly.

I have an appointment tomorrow morning with an auto glass repair shop here in Indiana. I don't know how all of this works, but I will be happy when it's all done with.

Now off to the gym for some cross train rowing.

Picturing the Holidays

I have many reasons to be excited about the holidays this coming season. A lovely girlfriend, seeing family, and more training on the bike are all reasons to be excited for the winter's cold and season's greetings. But past all that mushy stuff is my "excited for a present" side.

I guess the real childhood bliss of not knowing what I will be getting for the holidays is gone, but I'm no Scrooge. Yeah I know I'll most likely be getting the Fujifilm Finepix S1800 from my parents.

I'm excited. I will be using it in a lot of ways. I want to really dive into photography. I think it will really open me up to more media and hopefully effective blogging and documenting myself and people and things around me. Shooting with up to 18X zoom, 12MP, and HD video, I am a spoiled boy.

Hopefully Competitive

NIELPRYDE Bikes just closed their Epic Rider's competition. I am one of those hopeful competitors. I put my best foot forward and tried to show them the cyclist and enthusiast that I am. I cannot expect to win. Who knows how many other people entered, but I hope they think of me as a smart, developing rider that would tirelessly promote their bikes and company.
Diablo
Alize

Their bikes are striking and look to be incredibly well made and fast. I do not know which I like better, but I would probably have to go with .... well I don't know. I'll cross that bridge if I ever get there.

On another note... more training today. I've got gym workouts and I need to keep watching that diet.

Year 2 Training

I've constructed the first 6 weeks of my training program. Last year's annual training hours were at 500. I have added 100 hours to that and I can tell this is going to be a tough winter training period. I am excited though. I know this season will be a tough one and probably one that I will not be able to participate in as much as I would like. Yet, I'm still going to prepare as though I will be in every race I want to. I now I have developed season and training goals, but I can't remember them offhand. (I'll save them for another post.)

I do know that having completed a season built on a solid training program, I have in mind to improve everything. I have found a few strengths in my racing this year, but certainly a lot of areas to improve. I began my racing last year in good form. I hope to see that again and work harder for the challenges I will face in my racing.

It's nice to work through a training program. I know what I need to do and I know how it helps me. I think I will be really challenged to complete every day's workouts. Time is a tough thing to hold on to. Physically I will be limited, but I do not think I will loose my focus and diligence.

I Want to Race.