Lou Tice - I Will Never Forget You

This is a picture of the two most influential people in my adult life.   Teenie, of course, and our long time mentor and teacher, Lou Tice.

I wrote about Lou in our TEAM headstrong Blog a few years ago upon his death…….at least his physical death.   I say this because Lou has been with me so much and so strongly the last years.   I did not see Lou for about 3 years prior to his death, but I always knew he was there for me.   He has continued to be.

Volumes have and could be written about Lou by people much more eloquent than me.  There is a story about a guy walking down a beach where thousands of starfish have washed ashore.   The guy is throwing one at time back into the water so they can live.   An on-looker asks him why it matters as there are so many?   The man throws one more back and explains, "It matters to that one."   Well, Lou threw a hell of a lot of starfish back into the ocean and I am one of them.

I have quoted him so many times it is crazy.   People close to me, have likely experienced me giving him multiple, multiple credits.  I call them Lou-isms.  These are not just chic soundbites, though.  They are much, much more.

Lou picked me up when I was about 40 years old.   No, I wasn't a poor child at the time.  I had a few things going, but Lou helped me take my life up about 3 levels.   Lou taught me some truths about myself and how my mind works.   He never taught me what to think, he just taught me how to think.  He gave me a 'tool box' with a set of tools that work anywhere, anytime, if I just use them.   I have failed at times to do so, and I can attest that the outcomes are not good.

Fortunately, I was a pretty good student.   So, things have worked out pretty darn well in general.

Don't get me wrong, I never idolized Lou.  He was just a man and he had his shortcomings as we all do.   He never walked on water or pretended that he could.

I don't know if Lou was great man or not--just that he was great for me.   If you are reading this Lou, I want you to know the difference you made and are still making.   I want you to know that I am going to keep using what you taught me as long as I breathe.  I want you to know that I am going to keep teaching it through words and example to anyone who will pay attention.

I will probably revisit this relationship in future writings but for now Lou...

Thanks for everything.

A Starfish.

Euris Vidal of Foundation Cycling - RIP

Euris Vidal (far right) has died in his home country of the Dominican Republic.   He was shot while trying to aid a person be assaulted.   Three people were killed in the incident including Euri.

Teenie and I have been connected to the Foundation Pro Cycling Team of NYC for several years.  We originally met these folks through our very good friend, Roger Kennedy.   They have come to Tucson, stayed with Roger and trained.  We have ridden with often.  In recent years Euri came with the team and we got to know him.

Euri was young, maybe 23, handsome and always had a smile.   He was an aggressive crit racer, who had scored very well on the NRC Crit Series.   We rode with him and had him in our home several times.  This year, the whole team including Euri, stayed with us Gville while they raced in the USA Crit Week Series.

Euri never learned much English, but that was OK, as Teenie and I were improving our Spanish.   We don't know Euri's family but our hearts go out to them.   We also are thinking of all the members of the Foundation Team which include our pals, Alejandro Guzman, Rick Wolf and Abraham Soler.  Euri's death is a terrible loss for the world.
We are deeply saddened.

Dawn2Dusk

Well, the first race of the 2014 Season for MADDOG83 is in the bag and it was really fun.   DCB Adventures put this 'all day' event together for the 5th year and it was a fine race.

I will spare every detail but share some very motivating experiences.

We set up by our sister team, Park City, appropriately named as all of the 4 person team was from that area.

I was reminded how important it is to choose the folks with whom I hang out.   Bill and Melinda (married) were somewhat of a known quantity.   We have been riding and racing with them for while.   Melinda is 68 and a National and World RR Champion.  She is the real deal.  She trains hard and is strong but mostly she has a very tough mental attitude.   Bill is 75 and had exploratory work done on Thursday that would have sidelined most folks for days.  He is a cancer survivor, as well.

Before Bill's first lap, I put down the gauntlet, "Bill, you might be the only guy out here today who can do a lap under his age (1:15)."   I saw him thinking and a little glimmer came in his eye…….then he went out and did it.   I don't think I can describe the size of this accomplishment.

You won't see any press coverage about Bill.  Bill didn't make a trip to the podium.  No medals for him, but I was lucky enough to be there and witness it………. I will be telling the story for a long time.

Cal and Bob, both 55-60ish and the other two team mates, were amazing.   Cal is a liver transplant recipient……yes, that's right. …….a liver transplant recipient.   He peeled of two laps under 1:10.

Then there was the Teensanator.   She has come back from multiple crashes and injury.   Some will remember the smallest of them at 12 Hours at Tsali (face planted and cut the heck out of an eye).  She has been gripped with fear but stayed with it.  In September, she joined me for a skills clinic to help her 'get her mojo back'.   This weekend, she ripped off 4 laps in around 1:10 each.  At top speed, she rolled over, around and through rocks that weeks ago had paralyzed her.

We had one goal:  9 laps.  We were not riding…..we were racing, if only against ourselves.  We missed the time cutoff for the 9th lap by 8 minutes.   You might say we failed and you would be correct.   Teenie rode about 62 miles and I rode about 65.  We did all we could do.  We did not fail to have fun!  We are still both smiling.

Results should be up soon and I will share them.

I Cleaned the Ascent on Cougar Canyon Trail

Normally, I would not write a Blog about a mountain bike ride but today was pretty special.  When you go out solo on something challenging, it can become one of those 'mano y mano' experiences.  Today, it was just me against the mountain….actually the Tortolita Mountains.  There was only one of me but several of them.

About 4 miles from our house, I left the pavement on Como Drive at the base of a climb that would end up being about 800 vertical feet.  Hey,  Cougar Canyon (CC) is really not even a trail but a road….well sort of a road.   So, why I am so jazzed about climbing 800 feet on a road.   Well,  CC was only ever a dirt/gravel road.  A few feet up the road from the pavement, all improvements stopped, maybe about 53 years ago?   It is the worst you can imagine……rutted, gravel, big rocks, ledges, big rocks, sand, big rocks, ledges, sand and some baby heads.   Did I mention the big rocks and ledges?

At one point I went through a gate.   It was held shut by a piece of very tight wire.  As I tried to resecure the gate, the wire slipped off and I hit myself in the chin…..oh yea!!  BLOOD.

After the gate, it gets really fun.  I took one wrong turn that lead me toward the Ritz Dove Mountain.  The road was great fun but after about 5-7 minutes, I encountered a big 'No Trespassing' sign and I turned around.

Finally after a serious set of 3 ledges (each about 9-12 inches high) and more loose sand, I got to the top which is marked by an old inoperative windmill.

Once at the top, I was rewarded with about 8 miles of sweet single track….mostly downhill.   The trail is very technical but gets easier and faster as the mountain gives way to the desert.  Kind of made me giggle.

In all, it was about a 2.5 hour tour.  I returned home as daylight faded and a serious chill set in.   I came in the house with a smile….ear to ear.  Mountain biking is a lot of things and today it was about challenge and discovery for me.   The solo aspect:  I ride 6 days a week and mostly with others.   My solo times are special……..try it if haven't, you might like it?

Countdown to Launch

If you take this TEAM and racing stuff seriously, and of course we do, the off season is an important and busy time.   Here is an idea of what has been going on with us as we get ready to race:

Goals:  Both Teenie and I have been working on our personal goals for 2014 season.   These are a work in progress.  We have some good stuff on paper but the goals are still not finalized.  One thing we know is that we want to race together.   This means Teenie will likely cross over and race Mens Masters in some USA Cycling races and we will do some mass start races.

Race Schedule:  The AZ schedule for 2014 just came out.   AZ is very organized and does well at getting the whole year set early.   There were a couple of curve balls in the schedule and we will not be racing Valley of the Sun.   So, we will be picking up another big race.  Tucson Bike Classic will be an 'A' race.  Teenie will be competing in MT Lemmon Climb as an 'A' event.   For more info on the MADDOG 83 race schedule click here .  Summer and late season racing is up in the air but we are pretty sure we will back in Europe.

Kits:  Teenie did a great job working with Hincapie on our kits.   The company has/is making great improvements in their process but with us doing a complete kit redesign, this year took a lot of time.   We were disappointed in the design delays and our kits will not be here until January 15.   This is despite starting 6-8 weeks ago.  Good news is they are beautiful, original, have hot colors and we have a great logo.   Wait until you see the color (I definitely will qualify as metro sexual in these kits……no bubba crap here)!

Tent:   There is lots of sun in Arizona.  We have ordered and have notification that a 10'x10' pop up has arrived from EZ Up .

Caps:  We have procured engineering caps and Teenie has located a company in Tucson that will embroider them. They should be done prior to Christmas.

Shoes:  We have gone all out with custom design (to match our kits) and fit shoes from D2 in Eagle, Co.  These will be very cool.  Delivery is expected before Christmas.   Teenie and I teamed this duty.  We can thank our pal, Roger Kennedy, for introducing us to D2.

Socks:  I handled this duty and we went with Switftwick .   We did a sample order and have already worn the socks.  They are VERY nice compression (made in the USA)…….we went with black…….just cut the order and should have all in one week.  All our winter socks (4" and 7") and summer socks (Zero", 2' and 4") will match in color and design.

Bikes:  I am awaiting a warranty frame replacement for my SWorks Stumpjumper but I have a loaner frame.  We are learning to use seat droppers.   The road bikes are all ready for action.  We are learning to use Shimano pedals in a change over from Speedplay.   We hope to eliminate 'hot foot' on long efforts.

Training Schedule:   I serve as coach for both us.   The schedule is being developed now.   We will begin formal training after returning from snowboarding in Utah on Dec 28th.   We will be trying some new things this year which include 3 weeks hard/one week easy, intense consistent cross training and a lot of training races.  We are already working on sprint and climbing skills.  More is needed on cornering and descending.  Both of us will increase our training load as compared to previous years and most of this increase will come in intensity.  Currently we are riding a lot but we are using little, if any, structure.

Support:  We are accumulating new cycling friends and groups with which to train.   There is a large group of competitors in Tucson, a great community.   Any void created by us leaving TEAM headstrong, is being filled.   We already have some associates who are ZAPPING us versus SAPPING us.   We are not in the same kits as these guys, like we were with our old team, but it feels good.

What's Next?  We are racing at Dawn2Dusk on Dec 14 as a 2 person coed team.   We have had a lot of fun mountain biking lately.   In Sept, we completed a 3 day clinic in Asheville with Better Ride.
Gene Hamilton, our coach/teacher, was terrific.   Teenie 'has gotten her mojo back'.  We have set a bold goal to increase our lap count from 8 (last year) to 9.   I will be working on my night riding next week as the last lap will be 'in the dark'.  We will have friends from Tucson riding in the 4 person competition, who will set up next to us and support us.  NOTICE:  Our goal is set to only better our own performance…….no goal to 'beat' anybody or get any placement.  If we perform at our best, results against the field will take care of themselves.

Currently, Teenie and I are both in a good place.   Our overall health is very good.   Fitness wise I am at all time high.   I have reached some very bold training/mid step goals in this off season.  Teenie is a step behind due to a long bout with bronchitis.  However, she is in the best shape ever at this time of the year, and is gaining ground fast.   We will have no problem in bringing her up to speed in time to race.

Emotionally we are strong.   Both of us are continually looking forward to riding.   I think we feel good about our new situation with the 2 person team.   We are in touch with some of our team mates and their new Greenville Velo seems to be going well, which is very encouraging.  We have many friends in that organization and we want the best for them.   It seems apparent that our decision to leave the team was as good for them as it has been for us.   We have spent a lot of time with family in the last months and more is scheduled in December.   The deck is cleared to train/race hard during January, February and March.

So, I guess we are on countdown to launch 10, 9, 8…………..

Taking Some Time Off

Taking off has always been a sticky subject with me.   I have been long called intense and obsessive and how I deal with time off could add fuel to accusations.  I just don't like to do it.

You see, I love to ride.   There is little I would rather do.   I have a serious habit of riding and have always been a habitual person.   This ability to form a habit quickly and it be super strong, was really tough on me in the past.   However, once I figured it out, I just started 'picking' my habits.   It has since become a powerful tool.  Well, so much for the jag on habits.

I always feel inadequate about this because we have it drilled into us that we really need time off?

In fact, I am taking some time off this week in New Hampshire…..well sort of.   I have no bike and it is snowing.   I did do Crossfit the morning after flying in at midnight.   Tomorrow, I am planning a workout on with Teenie and a short 30 minute run after…..Crossfit guys are eatin' turkey.   Back in Crossfit on Friday.  I am off the bike, right?

I love seeing my fam here and we are having loads of fun, make no mistake about that. 

I just get 'a little out of sorts' when I am sedentary.

Ok, I am out of the closet now…….it would be interesting to know if there are others out there like me??

  

RIDING WITH PRO'S

Cycling is interesting in several aspects.   One interesting aspect is access to Pro Racers.  I don't know any other sport where guys like me have this access.   It is not just talking to them, I mean actually riding with them.

You see, I never really went out and casually played a round of golf with someone on the pro tour.  In the past years, I have ridden with George Hincapie, Craig Lewis, Chris Butler and several of their friends who were visiting.

Today in AZ, I was out again with 3 guys from the Foundation Pro Cycling Team from NYC.   Today reminded me what it is like and there are things that never change:

*  They average 18-19 mph for hours…….this means most of the ride is 20+.
*  The pace does not slow going up a very long 2-3% grade.
*  Their Z1 is my Z2 and their Z2 is my Z3….even if I am in great shape.
*  I should never pull.
*  They have unbelievable handling skills.
*  They can text, talk on phone, eat and take off a jacket all at the same time.
*  They can do the above going 20 mph.
*  They can talk at any speed.
*  They are gracious and considerate.
*  They have nothing to prove in terms of their ability (like many amateurs).
*  The whole experience is a lot of fun.

My thanks to Lisbon, Abraham and Alejandro for a great day…….and oh, my team mate, Teenie,  who joined and rode great.  

Teenie and I doing this ride was not only like playing golf with……..say Phil Mickelson (well maybe somebody a little less known?).   It was like playing with him and us both carding a 74 or
75.  

What It Takes to Make a Team

I have been involved in teams for 58 years now in the capacity of coach, player, captain, observer, competitor and consultant.   Having thought about this post for a very long time,  I must confess that I started out wanting to dazzle you with all my success but when I got real with myself, I realized very few of 'my' teams had been 'high performing'.  Most were mediocre and some failed completely.

So, many of the things I will put forward here,  are learned from what did not work rather than what did.

My friend Jon Limbird (Bird) always says IMHO (in my humble opinion).  Henceforth, in this BLOG, I will dispense with this as almost everything is an opinion, humble or otherwise.

OK,  teams.   To be successful there are 5 things needed and like a cake, you can't leave an ingredient out.  I am not sure of the order so I will just get it out here.

Common purpose - Goals is another way of expressing this.  These need to be SMART (Specific/Measurable/Attainable/Relevant/Targets).  Forget the mushy stuff like fun, hangin' out, friendship etc.  These are all nice but will never hold a team together.   You need a MISSION with bold and exciting goals.  Individual goals should align with team goals.

Leadership - The leaders must understand, articulate and embody the goals and mission.   They must have/make the time needed to perform both individually and in leadership.   If you are leader, you must have 'drank the coolaid'.

Resources -  This is time and money.   Leaders and members alike should carry a priority of commitment that allocates time and money to accomplish their individual goals and the team goals.

Core Values - It is the habits, attitudes, beliefs and expectations that drive a person's behavior.  The members of team should share values and beliefs about teams, people, competition, collaboration, responsibility, commitment and many other things.

Commitment - In the end, this ties it all together.  This means putting the good of team or other members above personal gain, need and desire.   Replace 'I' with 'WE'.   The team should not be the highest priority in the members lives but it needs to be a high priority.   A casual relationship is not possible if the team is to be successful.

Guys have written 400 page books about this subject and I realize 5 paragraphs is a little simple.   However,  there is nothing simple about attaining success in a team.  It is my observation that the world is full of team members and leaders who don't have foggiest idea of what I am communicating.

The next time you find yourself becoming involved in a team in any capacity, I suggest you check the oil....your oil.  Ask yourself meaningful questions about the bullet points above.  If you can't come up with clear, concise, positive answers, save yourself a lot of time and heartache........just take the people involved for coffee, that will create a more meaningful outcome.

A guy asked me the other day,  how many guys we had on our team.  When I answered, he snickered and said his team had about 30.

I told him if his team was going to compete with us,  they might need some more guys.

When I opened the hood and checked the oil on MADDOG 83, I got a lot of 'right' answers to questions about the above attributes.

I may only have one team mate but I can damn sure count on her.

Strava Strava Strava

I don't endorse a lot of products or services but when it comes to Strava, I cannot contain myself.   Yes, I am a PREMIUM member and I pay a whopping $60/year.   Teenie also subscribes.

The service has replaced my use of Training Peaks, WKO+, Connect Garmin and a power meter.   Sure, it does not quite touch all the bases but it touches enough for me to consolidate in one space.

It also does much more than just replace these competitors.  It is the Facebook of cycling.......a dynamic way to keep up with folks all over the globe.  It lets you benchmark your performance against the world or just your AG/Gender.  Nothing in the market allows for the building of community in this manner.......if you are a team and you don't fully subscribe, shame on you.

Now, it has taken another step with MY ROUTES...........goodbye Mapmyride, Bike Route Toaster, Ridewithgps and so on.  You use Google maps to create routes, spots SEGMENTS, and export to your GPS device.

To get started with Strava, you need zero money and only a smart phone.   Forget having to even buy a Garmin, although it interfaces wonderfully with the devices from said company.  Sure the FREE service is just fraction of the full enchilada but it will give you an idea of the wonderful things in store when you bust out and upgrade.

If you don't try this service, you might me missing one of most delightful new tech offerings in a long time.

www.strava.com

2014

The season of 2013 ended a 4 year run for TEAM headstrong and a successful one by many accounts.   Two new teams have emerged, MADDOG 83 and Greenville Velo.

A quick mouse click on the Strava link, to the right, will take you to history/background of MADDOG 83.  

Teenie and I hope to provide you with valuable insights on training, racing, leadership, nutrition and effective thinking skills.

We will welcome your comments and thoughts.

Soon GV will be developing an on-line presence and we will provide links to their site.   We have many friends there and we will be avidly following their progress throughout the year.

Thanks for your support!