This Hair

I don't know if I'm getting attached to it's length or not, but something scary happened today. I actually pictured myself with keeping this length - even longer - in the future. Whoa. Weird. I'm the kind of kid who has always had "short" hair. I've always dreaded going to get it cut. I can be a self-conscious person. As a kid, I would get buzz cuts. Quick, easy, predictable, and you can't get it wrong. Whether it was out of ease for my mom cutting it or my own weirdness, I would just go for that. As I got older and certainly more self-conscious as a preteen and all, the hair became difficult accessory.

I've made many mistakes with it along the way too! Oh wow. Yeah, I don't think I will go into any amount of detail about those, but who hasn't made them!?! Then again I feel like I've done some pretty cool stuff with it too!

What I'm getting at, however, is that I am now wearing my hair the longest I have ever let it grow. I'm not about to measure it, but it goes past the tip of my nose in the front. What has really bothered me in the past has been those awkward stages. My hair is thick and when I wash it, poofy! I hate poof! grrr. Now, I do still wash it. Just because I don't like the poof doesn't mean I'm gonna lose hygiene over it. However, I have found a way to curb the poof and control my hair. I think it can only be done in these winter months - beanie. I have rocked the beanie all winter.

This beanie has been my weapon? defense? and allowed me to sort of bypass some awkward stages. Bad hair day!? No worries... hat is going on anyway. But what is going to happen when riding outside comes along? Will my helmet fit on all my hair? Will my helmet fit after I've tossed on a winter cycling cap on all my hair? I do not know. I guess I could try it out, sure, but I don't feel like getting my helmet from my car now. Anyway. That is the question.

Look at me... am I worrying that I may have to cut my hair? It gives me a new look though. A look I have never known... experienced... shown off? I kinda feel like I can pull it off too. But what about when I have no winter hat to put on? Bad hair day... pull it back? I can maybe see it getting that long. Do I want it that long? I guess time till tell. By the warmer months and Virginia humidity I am pretty sure I will want to chop it. No big deal. (I know... I say that now...)

Thank for reading this post. Riding is all the same really. The Roller Cam helps a lot too. Training hours are passing like a breeze. making new friends and enthusiasts is great! Shout out to Ernest. He's a cool dude who has really been finding some love in the cycling community and culture. Thanks for reading this rather pointless post. I will be trying to get some better content up soon! (I know pictures would have been a good touch for this post, but apparently my ex gf took the ones I had in mind with her... shame)

Quick Post- RePost - New Kit!

Oh baby! VOmax Techwear has come through and I couldn't be happier.

Yes, please.

Here is a profile shot of the kits that I have been spreading around my various internet sites. (Fbook and Twitter: @JohnnyBrison) I am really happy with how they came out and the new feel of the bib shorts is  great. (Also note how nicely they match my bike!) I know there have been a few upgrades to these from last year and I very much appreciate the work done in the fabrics, padding, and overall appearance of the kit. I was happy to have such a large part in the designing process. I do not mean to say I had everything to do with what was finally put on the shorts. VOmax was right there working to figure out what I had in mind and this is exactly it. 

At this point I am getting used to the new feel of the kit. I like the changes they have made and I just have to get used to a different feel down where it counts. I am very proud of them and the whole team is excited about being able to race these kits in the upcoming season and beyond.

A Look Back Racing 2010. #2

Season’s Final Race

The Tour de Strongland was a fun one this year. With a new course and smaller field, only the committed were up to the task of enjoying this 22nd annual race. I was not sure how my form would hold up and I believe I did alright considering life as it stands.

Myself and 3 other racers seemed to be the only ones willing to face the wind and push the pace during our 20.8 mile race. There were some decent climbs but nothing to write home about. I was hoping there would be a major climb like last year’s course, but I was happy to be in the lead group of 7. 

About 3/4 of the way through one rider was really above the rest. He had only done a few crits all season and this, being his only road race, proved to be all he needed to secure a solo win. He held a lead on us chasing for a decisive and impressive victory.

I felt good during the race. Near the end I was feeling a bit strained, but could hold my own. I made the same mistake this year that I did last- trying to bridge an insurmountable gap to the leader. I launched an attack on the group way too far from the finish with no hope of catching the leader’s wheel, keeping a gap on the group chasing, nor being able to have any energy to latch on as they all passed me or even have a recovery for a strong finish at the line. I am not upset, but more eager to address this rookie mistake next season with more patience for my sprint/ attack. I finished 6th as we had dropped another racer from our lead group.

I am very glad I raced and was not deterred by the rain that morning or questions of my form. 

On an unrelated note, I found a turtle about to cross the highway on the way back. I stopped, ran back, picked him up, and with my girlfriend, placed him in a beautifully secluded, wooded park in Indiana. We think Tangerine will like his new home!

Thanks for reading.

A Look Back Racing 2010. #1

New Race, Same Place.

Tonight at the “Bud” Cycling Oval in Pittsburgh I raced my first “B” race as a cat4. This B race was with cat4s and cat3s only. This was a different kind of race. Apparently breakaways don’t usually sick in the B race, but tonight I found myself trying to hang on to a 5 man break with about 15 laps to go. This being my first upgraded race, I wanted to be fresh, aware of, and ready for every move that was happening.

There were a few other attacks and break attempts, but I knew some wouldn’t really stick. I found myself chasing a lot after being blocked by teammates of guys in the break. Advantage goes to them, but I was left a few times to catch someone else’s wheel or ride my own effort to catch up to a break.

That 5 man break I mentioned spat me out with I don’t even know how many laps to go. We had about a half a lap (1/4 mile) lead on the peloton. I caught a strong rider’s move to bridge back up with his brother in a then 3 man break. I held on as long as I could noting my constant 195-6 bpm heart rate. Seeing the amount of laps left, even with our lead over the peloton, I knew I was gonna be really taxed to keep up. 

I got dropped and rode through the “no man’s land” between the break and the peloton. Once caught, I knew I had to grab whatever wheel I could and recover for the final sprint. On the last lap I was sitting nicely, but I was again blocked by a teammate of a guy in the break giving up. I missed the wheel of a surge for the line. I am happy to say I still came out top ten with an 8th place. I rode hard and got compliments for my racing. 

This race was fun and tough. I am excited for next week!

I had written this on another blog of mine and thought that it really deserved to be here. This is where I'll be posting such things. Anyway, I have more or less plotted out where I plan to begin my 2011 racing. The above was my first race as a Cat4 and it was late in the season so I'm looking to keep on training and hope momentum from this showing carries on for the next year. One more race summary to add after this.

Mind Blown

I have to write this now while I still have the excited mojo flowing. I read this tweet from Jeremy Powers today. "Go to www.therollercam.com and join in on the fun @ryantkelly@iamtedking and @johnswah are there live commentating... "


This got me wondering what www.therollercam.com was. I investigate and I find exactly what it is. Cyclists on rollers and trainers "Broadcasting" their rides for the world to see. Jpows and Ted King were there chatting it up with people... and me! How cool is that!?!


Now I get how some of you may not think this is cool and really don't understand what is up with what I'm talking about. Here it is. I don't know how it started or who started it, but this site is really all about beating that boredom so many face with winter training. I think someone said that usually only new england folk are there... which makes sense. I don't see them riding outside much up there these days...

Anyway, the site is like a chat room for the bored indoor slaves of training and even some fans!

Basically, this is how I rocked it. I was a little nervous before. I mean. Indoor training... I'm not one to usually have spectators... fans even. I had a blast!


Todays ride was particularly better than yesterdays. I had an hour and a half with "Spin-Ups." For those that don't know and... well it will make sense why i'm telling you now... For the spin-up workout, I have to warm up nicely and then for a minute build up my spinning cadence to a max, and then try to hold that max for as long as I can. I repeated this after rests 5 times throughout my workout. I have to keep in mind my breathing and relaxation of my legs and feet and just let the legs spin. The fastest I've been able to read on my computer is 180 rpms. 


Anyway, I talked up the workout a bit to those watching and they were digging it! They were happy to see some suffering and a little painface to the site. I was happy to give it. It's a bit flashy, but I had fun and it's a once a week kind of workout.


One fellow in particular ("corgi") made a drinking game out of it! I have no idea who he is, but he chugged a beer at I think 4 of my spin-ups when he saw what was up. This turned into a great workout and I am already meeting some really cool kids and dare I say... fans?! This totally makes up for yesterday and I'll be back tomorrow for a 4 hour ride. I will say it made me look better than I am, but it's all about the fun. If anyone wants to see me ride... anyone can. It's great. Have a chat... I'll be trying to find some way to ignore how monotonous my trainer rides usually are and I hope to meet some of these people at races and make some cool friends.


Thanks for reading and new readers too!

Pain and Anger

Today's trainer ride was probably the worst I have yet to have. It is hard to explain or sum up, but I will try to give a picture of it. Honestly, I have never been more angry (about pain) on a bike ride.

Today's workout called for three hours total with an "M2" workout tossed in. That M2 is described as a set amount of time in a zone 3 heart rate. Last week, I had the exact same workout and I felt great about it... during and after. Even before I have a sort of anxious excitement. A lot of workouts will have me going for this amount of time in just a zone 2 hr, but with the season creeping closer, I'm "allowed" to get my hear rate up during workouts a little more. It is fun to be able to do this. Something to break up the monotony is welcomed so before this ride, as I'm walking to and from classes, I am kind of waiting to just get to the ride and finally feel a bit more than usual.

Anyway, during last week's workout I decided that I would go with an hour and 15 minutes at a zone 3 heart rate inside the three hours. The most I'm "allowed" to do is an hour and a half, so I figured I would work up to an hour and a half for this week since it is going to be my longest week yet (some effort.... some pain... no big deal). So, after an hour and 20 minutes of not-so-great zone 2 riding, I crank up my intensity and try to figure out where I would find a nice zone 3 heart rate. Only problem... my legs were screaming!

I couldn't get it. Why was I feeling like I was pushing such a high gear? I was examining my bike computer expecting my heart rate to begin to go way up, but it didn't. I wasn't understanding. I then checked my breathing and noticed it wasn't any harder than I might expect. I wasn't sucking wind, but my legs felt like they were driving through mud. I had plenty of water and have been working on drinking throughout the day for hydration's sake. I even make a quick check to my rear brake-pads to see if they were somehow rubbing my rims, but even if they were, and that was causing me to be strained... my heart rate would be going up. Another glance back at my computer was telling me I should be fine.

All during this, I was getting mad. Angry. I couldn't understand why my legs were bitching and my heart rate wasn't sky-rocketing. Now I'm getting really mad. My legs were not allowed to be in so much pain. Not now. Not this early... or even late in my training. And this pain was happening right as I upped my gears. It wasn't how it usually happens... maybe after a goo tough hour or two of riding and/or riding at a higher heart rate. I had a good breakfast and lunch too. I could feel my furrowed brow and my anger driving through my pedal strokes.

I have never felt this emotion on the bike before and I didn't like it. I was angry and I was not going to let myself quit. I don't mean to say "look at what I can go through." No. I mean it was as if I was so mad at my legs for hurting like that, that I was not going to stop and give in. If they wanted to hurt and keep hurting, I would give them a reason to. I have no idea what kind of wattage I was putting out and I frankly don't care. My heart rate was steady in zone 3 and I was going to suffer through this.

My "not-so-good" zone 2 of an hour and 20 minutes before this serious pain was admittedly really bad. My left leg felt like it was not getting blood. That is just my guess. There was like dulling, numb-tingling feeling coupled with a little more pain than I usually encounter. My right leg was not much better, but I could really feel something was off in my left. I don't know if this is what caused it. It certainly didn't make my heart try to pump any faster when I upped the gears. I just don't get it. I even thought to pull up a fan and plop it on my desk, facing it towards me, (something I never do) aiming it at my core, to see if maybe I was overheating and that would lower the pain in my legs. That didn't work and again, I would just suffer through.

They say suffering is a real part of cycling. I'm not going to get all philosophical about this, but I remembered that today. I was angry. I was mad like how I get mad when something doesn't work as it should... like when my cycling computer won't turn on, and there is no reason (that I can figure out) why it won't. Except, I was really mad today and I think it was because I couldn't blame it on my bike or some faulty component. It was me. I was the one not functioning correctly. I am someone that can be very hard on himself. I couldn't get why I wasn't working right, but I know things will be better. I'm not worried.

Thanks if you read this whole stupid rant. Nothing was really resolved, I know.

To Match

Alright. I realize I may be biting off more than I can chew on these, but I can't help but dream.

Those are some sweet 50mm deep carbon tubular wheels from Ritchey. I think they would go nicely with my Ritchey stem, handlebars, seat post, and water bottles. I didn't think I would become such a fan of Ritchey's components, but I might as well! Also, I was thinking of grabbing some of their chain lube. Maybe one day I can nab a sponsorship from them. I can dream...

I know I did't write anything for my Monday post yesterday... Nothing really happened this weekend and all I have coming up this week is my longest # of hours on the bike. good for me? eh. see? not a big deal. When there's a race to report I'll be sure to post, but maybe I just need to get some other bright idea for a "post series." I'm open to suggestion.

If you haven't read this interview yet, and you've got some time, do give it a go. Floyd spills all! I have my opinions, but I don't know much.