Alaskan Pack Fodder

For the most part, the internet bandwidth for personal use at the radar sites sucks. It's worse when you have many, many people dipping into the same small bucket of data. So, I gave up on using Zwift and reverted back to using old Northern Classics videos. It worked for me on my best years, so I figured I'd stick with that.    However, what I've found is that without a good training plan and some definitive goals, all I do is ride steady. I'm not training for anything other than trying to stay somewhat in shape. I have no goals. I'm overweight, and getting a coach again would be a waste of money. I can't plan for any goals, because my schedule is variable at the moment. Plus, the season is over. That boat has sailed without me. All I have left is the fat.    This time around I lucked into a site without many people using the internet. I jumped back on Zwift, just to see if it would work. It did, and I've been chasing virtual rabbits and trying for virtu...

I like my LeMond Revolution trainers. The "road feel" is second to none, and I've never really cared about the jet engine noise level it produces. That said, not everyone at the radar sites could ignore it as easily as I can. When I'm getting on the bike around 3:45 AM, this becomes an issue. I needed to do something, but most quieter trainers either are too heavy or too bulky for air travel when in a case. The ones that aren't usually give the impression of riding through mud.    Wahoo came out with their Kickr Core , and I tried to research it to see if it would work for me. After less-than stellar answers to my very specific questions, I just went ahead and ordered one from Fall Line Fitness because they're local, they support local racing,  and everyone sells Wahoo products at cost anyway. Justin was cool in letting me weigh each piece and see how it fit in the case before I laid down the cash.    The good news? It fit in the Pelican case my LeMond tr...

It's been a few years since I participated in the Tour of Anchorage, much less competed in it. Injury, lack of form, and other reasons kept me away. I knew as soon as I heard about the stages that I wouldn't be participating this year, either- even if I was in town at the time. Even at what I would consider peak form, it wasn't my cup of tea. Given my current sad state of fitness, the climbing-heavy TOA was just wasn't something I am capable of.     As it turned out, I was home during this year's event. I chose to go camping with the family and ride the hills around Homer instead, missing the first three stages. After driving 5 hours, I made it home in time to shower, change, and load up my bike for the crit. As the only flat stage, it sounded like fun. After hanging with the pack during my last foray, I figured I would follow some wheels, jump for a prime or two, and get in the race intensity I've been missing the last year. That was the plan.     I got the...