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!