Yani Has H.A.D.

Normally I would say it's rained out, but this is almost frightening. I'd be back in bed but I already had breakfast and caffeine and I'm pretty freakin wired. The best part is the magic 8 ball Weather.com uses to predict the weather.  It said clear skies and 20% chance of rain 30 minutes ago. Now it's telling me that my area is under a flood advisory?  seriously? 

Anyway, I've been demoing a Selle SMP Lite 209 saddle, it's a whole new level of comfortable compared to the Fizik ass hachets I was testing before.  It better be too at 3 times the price! The only problem I've been having is that the tip of the saddle rubs on my thighs.  Not to toot my own horn.. even though I always do, but I have a damn nice pedal stroke and my legs stay very close to the top tube so I feel the front of the saddle constantly. I'm going to try out the SMP Glider next, it's supposed to be 3 mm narrower which isn't much difference but 7 mm shorter.  I'm hoping the difference won't affect my sit bones but the combination of narrower and shorter might help my legs clear it better.  It's also like 50 grams lighter for the same price, and even though my bike is an 18 lbs tank, I fancy myself a weight weenie.

Anyway, onto the important stuff.  I've been having a good couple of weeks on the bike. I've been changing my method of training from "ride lots all the me", to "ride lots some of the time".  I used to try to ride almost everyday, sometimes 20 miles, sometimes 60 miles, sometimes more.  Now I've changed it up to try to do 50-60 miles on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and then a couple of big rides on the weekend.  I'm still getting the same amount of saddle time and miles, but the extra recovery time has really improved my fitness. The last few rides have felt "easy" at least compared to before.  I'm going from deep concentration to not mess up and get dropped to just relaxing, talking, going out in the wind to go around slower people, closing gaps, sprinting to close big gaps, etc. 

My climbing has also improved a lot.  I'm carrying about 10 lbs less than even 2 months ago so that has definitely helped but I'm hoping it's also some improved strength. When the climbs would come up on the ride, I used to start at the front so I can slide down the pack and end up at the back by the top.  Now I'm starting at the top, and generally stay in the front, or at least the front half and I don't feel like puking when I get there either.

I'm hoping all these improvements will show during the El Hueco Crit in September.  I'm not thinking I'll kill it, but I'm hoping I can have fun instead of just hanging on for dear life.

Rant time:

I was riding on Key Biscayne with Alex last Friday and had a small accident/incident.  I'm on the Crandon Park area of the Key, where the bike lane is narrow and Alex is on my wheel.  I'm keeping a good pace and coming up on two female joggers that are running in the direction of traffic side by side taking up the whole lane and not noticing anyone coming up. I always thought that joggers were supposed to go against traffic but that's not what this rant is about.  Behind Alex some guy decided to get on his wheel and use our draft which normally doesn't bother me. Traffic is a little heavy at this time, and I going about 22-24 mph, I look back and a car notices I need to go into the lane and gives me space.  Cool.  I signal with my right that we're approaching the runners, then with my left arm I signal that I'm going into the lane.  The douchebag on Alex's wheel decided that this is now the time to pass us.  I'm now closing in on the runners, I look back as I'm switching lanes and I notice the other guy passing us.  Screw him, he sat on my wheel for about 4 miles and I signaled what I was going to do. He can freakin wait, I cut out in front of him and make the pass.  Unfortunately Alex goes to follow me on the pass and suddenly notices the asshole is next to him, he swerves back in and clips one of the runners and crashes.  The douchebag that caused it didn't even stop and just kept on riding. Seriously... If you're going to sit on someones wheel, doing be an asshole and block them in when they need to pass someone, have some fucking respect.  The runner didn't appear to be very hurt, but Alex was a little banged up. Banged up glute, some road rash, tore through his brand new Hammer shorts.  Ripped the bar tape, moved the shifters, the front wheel came so far out of true the bike was not ride-able. He took it to a shop to get trued, but it appears to be slightly bent as well and couldn't be completely fixed.  The bike has less than 100 miles on it, I guess Karma will eventually get the douche bag.