cross-training

What do you do out of "cycling season" (some of us go all-year) to stay in shape? I never downhill skied before (I x-country skied one time last year) and I went to Mount Baker last weekend to try it out.

The drive up to the mountains


The ski area


Another view of the ski area


Ready to ski (?)


Heading down the (beginner) slopes


Overall, I'd try it again. I was sore as I'd expected, but I think cycling has improved my overall conditioning in general so I wasn't as sore as I could have been if I'd not been cycling.

What do you do out of the saddle for fitness? I'd also recently caught on to racketball. More on that another time.

20 miles and 50 degrees

Went out for a 20 mile somewhat casual (averaged 12-13 MPH against the wind) ride with my friend, Bill, yesterday. The weather was clear - no rain while we were out - temps in the low 50s and not much wind. A great ride for sure, especially after so many days (or weeks?) with temps in the 20s around here.

Bill and I even had time to drop by GHY Bikes to look around at the new Felt bicycles they have in-stock including a pretty nice looking carbon-framed model. They also have a special Traitor Cycles' PBR-logo'd fixed-gear (track) frame still for sale.

Looks like this:


Bill and I are trying to get ready for the STP in '10. It'd be out first time doing it. We figure we'll start building up miles over the next few months so doing 200-something miles over 1 (or realistically 2) days is feasible.

Here's where we rode yesterday, the Cedar River Trail. Nice, generally flat, and paved. The only bothersome parts are the stop signs or signals at driveways or streets which cross the trail. You also have to be aware of other trail users, which include dog walkers, human walkers (with MP3 players and earbuds on), kids on trikes, and the insanely fast riders screaming along in an aero tuck position.