Archive for March, 2009

SLB on The Cheap-Final Call

Monday, March 30th, 2009

The SLB early bull speical ends April 1. Its 200 off anyone who signs up by then. That’s 925 bucks for 9 days in spain. That’s a sick deal as it includes lodging, food, all transportation within Spain and 4 pros/coaches.

The number of people who signed up has been surprisingly awesome. We got top pro ELF, outstanding bad ass Christian her husband. USA Track and Field 50k past camp the Annachrist as well as CREW peeps like PJ, David, Mike Hartnet aka Miguel del Norte and Niel from 2008 slb and CREW fame. Plus the ELF is rolling deeps with midwestern talent that includes 5 pre-reg folks and that’s even counting the CCB dudes. So hit me with an email, or else pay more later hyctn (at) aol (dot) com .

Remember the early bull stomps the worm.

Visit www.stronglikebulltraining.com for mas info, fotos y video. 

Coxsackie, Round I

Sunday, March 29th, 2009

“this is not a test, this is cardiac arrest.” Rise Against
There are magical moments and places. Where everything comes together to create something special. A punk/hardcore club called the Anthrax was like that. You knew it was a combination of factors, that you could never intentionally create or predict that would result in something awesome. Bands, kids, club, the era, it was all just right.
Coxsackie is like that. Its a meeting place of the strongest with 300 miles. Its way longer then anything even close. Its equal distance to new england, and mid atlantic. Its the right time of year, on a course that is safer and in the middle of nowhere. Its epic and people know it, and when these special moments happen people recognize it and fuel it.
Last year I got shelled and dropped here in the first race. This year I was shocked to find myself at the front, off the front at times and strong the whole 100k. The pace was brutal, the attacks never ending, the effort screaming hard, but this year it hurt much less, as I am a smarter bike racer, on a way better bike and hopefully stronger and fitter then ever.
The race started with endless attacks, counter attacks and chases to catch those away. I went with a few hoping to get lucky, but I am not strong enough to make my own luck, and every time I went off the front I ran the risk of going off the back. After 70k I noticed I was strong so I took some fliers, nothing feels awesome like jumping out of a group of rider and hammering away and looking under your shoulder to see a big big gap. Sadly my efforts got me nowhere in the end and as great as it feels to take a flier you have too dig twice as deep to not get dropped when they catch you and the counter attacks come. That’s nearly blinding pain.
A year ago this race destroyed me, I left devastated and near death. This time I left feeling strong and confident and realizing I needed to go swim.
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Coxsackie

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

This weekend starts the coxsackie weeks of bike racing. I will be doing this each saturday for the next 3 weeks in prep for Austin then St. Croix. 54-62 miles, all brutally hard efforts, sick sick sick.

Please feel free to use the comments section to enjoy all the cox-sack [ie] jokes you can muster.

Lance Armstrong Breaks New Ground, Collar Bone In Road Cycling

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

After winning more Tours of France then anyone in history, Lance Armstrong once again broke new ground by being the first cyclist to not bitch and moan and cry like a little baby over a crash. He said “That’s cycling. It’s nobody’s fault. Crashes happen all the time. It is part of the job.”

In the 100+ years of cycling which has seen countless crashes each one has been followed up with any number of roadies crying, whinning, complaining and pointing fingers. Interestingly to date, this is the first times any roadie has, in the long storied history of cycling, not done that following a crash. That said, 17 different member of the peloton that day blamed over 28 different people, animals, and objects for the crash citing everything from bad riders, poor course layout, the mananics and tv crews and cameras. Several attemps to blame tri athletes were also made after-all, everyone knows that anything involving any problem whatsoever in a group ride is the tri persons fault.

Thankfully all that post crash anger has yet to cause any problems as 115 lb athletes with no upper bodies wearing lycra and cycling shoes can’t fight.

Still left for new ground breaking in cycling: some owning up to causing a crash and taking responsibilty and even saying sorry. Ok ok, that will never happen. But this is a big step forward. Congradulation road cycling this is huge for you.

Nice!

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009

Ian in his lion tights. Oh man, thank god he wore other tights over them. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Ride Ready

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009

The BI Sport Shop kits are sweeeet. Get yours at www.blockislandsport.com and will someone please note the happy smile mug I am drinking out of!

Block Island Sport Shop

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009

3 friends, 3 bikes, 3 good workouts. Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Team Block Island Sport Shop Camp

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009

The Block Island Sport Shop Team got together for our annual training camp. The first order of biz-ness was Jim Ortel, Ian Sander-Flemming and myself meet up for a bike race. I did the B race and found it harder then I thought it would be. I raced dumb and worked hard but with 10 miles to go I got away from the field and made a gap they couldn’t bring back. A few cats joined me and we worked together until he end. I blew the sprint and ended up 4th.
In the A race I tried the same thing. It was nearly laughable and I missed the big move where all the heads of state left the rabble.
Afer 2 races I had a wicked bonk going, and was tricked into more riding post race by Silke. I was totally bonking but a Hammer bar and a little time got me back to normal. In the car ride back Ian learned that sumo newbies are made to do all the cleaning, cooking and are often hit with a stick. We just made him sit in the back in the car. That kid is SRONG and just getting strong. At 21 he has real talent a love of suffering, a combo that allows for some big results to come.
After some grub it was off on a run. Legs felt good, which was a nice surprise. Post run it was all about Crazy Burger. Seriously in Sothern RI its the only move. Totally vegan/vegetarian friendly super heathly and super yummy.
Sunday was the Steadman Bike shop group ride. I was seriously regreting having done that second bike race the day prior and my legs were very much in disagreement over how good of an idea a hard 3 hour tempo ride was. Some yoga and core and a run on my own and a good camp is in the books. Btw check out the picks of ian the rookie in his lion tights…
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All you can eat

Saturday, March 21st, 2009

Oh boy, all you can eat… Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

New Press Release About The E.L.F

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

50 Meter Long Course Pool at Riverside State Park, NY, NY.
For more info visit: www.stronglikebulltraining.com
For Immediate Release: ELF IS EVIL 
Co-director of Strong Like Bull John Hirsch survived a near death experience this morning at the pool at Riverside State Park when he tried to do Elizabeth L. Ferdofsky’s swim workout. Elizabeth who’s aka is E.L.F or The Elf was recently praised in an SLB press release for being “positive”. John Hirsch was however witnessed calling the ELF “evil.” He added “this workout is insane, she must be out of her mind.”
Forensic swim scientist Ken Schultz reviewed the workout. He concluded that: “I noticed the 5k workout was very very hard. But then I saw she struck out the 400s pulls and replaced them with 400 individual medley. That’s just cruel.”
Persnipits Pickelman who is the President of the Elf Anti-Defamation Leauge said, “elves are goodly woodland folk. Let us remember that we saved humans in not only all 3 Lord of The Ring movies but in Hellboy II as well. Moreover who doesn’t love the Keblier Elves and those yummy cookies?”
This isn’t the first time Hirsch has had a run in with elf-folk. In 2006 he claimed they ganged up on him at the Green Mountain Stage Race and attacked him on every climb.
Co-director Sean Langford expressed concern, “I got a call from John, he said he was wondering the city at 8 am topless because he couldn’t get his arms over his head to put a shirt on after doing the ELF’s workout.” He added: “if she rides like that we are all in trouble in Spain next year.”
The ELF declined formal comment but reports have surfaced that she was in a cafe near Chicago stroking her dog “Boss” and muttering: “mmmmwwwhhhaaaa, I. will get the humans.”

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