I stopped by Trek Bicycles (formerly ST Bikes) in San Jose today and got fitted for a new bike. I decided to get the Trek Madone 5.9. I went with my old Trek 5200 and got fitted using that one and found out it was almost dead on, only a slight change in the seat moving forward a few mm was needed. The new bike should be here in a week.

I ended up getting a double crankset, which might be a bit much for a guy my age. My exisiting Trek has a triple, so I have a lower gear, but I rarely use that low gear now days.

Trek Madone 5.9

Categories: Cycling Equipment
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After struggling through yesterday’s 14 miler with an injury, I started to wonder about doing the Boston Marathon. Much of the thrill was just getting in but now I am down to crunch time because I have before me the 20 mile training runs and also I need to make airline reservations (which will non refundable). I figure the cost for me to continue from this point is about $2,500, including airfare for Ann and myself, hotel, meals, etc. I am losing interest. The cost to get out now is only the entrance fee and $30 to cancel the hotel. I need to decide by tomorrow. I am thinking more now lately about getting a new bike.

Hum ….

Categories: Boston Marathon
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Last Wednesday I got injured running and have taken most every day since they off running, but kept biking (which may not have been totally smart). I needed to get in a long run today since next Monday I need to run 20 miles. So I went for a 14 mile run this morning. I had to deal with the injury (same old place I keep getting injured) through all the run, but I kept the pace slow (8:57 average) and felt alright. I figured that since I only ran 10 miles last week for the long run and it has already been 2 weeks since I ran 17 miles, I had to run at least 14 or pay a big price next week running 20. I swear, this is going to be my LAST MARATHON, unless of course I decided to run the NYC marathon with John in November. The weather was beautiful, in the mid 60′s and sunny skies.

After resting for an hour I went out on a very casual 22 mile bike ride. I could not resist being outdoors on a day like today.

Categories: Boston Marathon
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Since last fall, I have been thinking it is about time to get a new bike. I did a test ride on a Look 585 Ultra and was quite impressed. I really want to get a lighter weight bike than my current Trek 5200 and I am concerned that I have 25,000 miles on those wheels. I have been considering three different options, the Look 585, a Giant TCR Advanced and the Trek Madone 5.9. They all run around the same price. I have been very happy with the geometry of my Trek 5200 and was thinking that a new Trek might fit me well. I noticed on the Trek website that they are a promotion of up to $700 off on select bikes, including the Madone 5.9. I am going into their shop on Tuesday to decide.

Here is a photo and specs of the bike I am considering.

And the specs.

Categories: Cycling Equipment
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Both Ann and I recently signed up to ride in the Tour de Cure on June 9th, in Brigham City Utah. Franz will ride the 100 mile route and Ann is training to ride 60 miles. This event is used to help raise funds to develop a cure for diabetes. Each mile we ride, each dollar we raise will be used in the fight to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. This is personally important to us since our son Greg has Type 1 diabetes. We will be on the Gold’s Gym team and will have a special member joining our team this year, Greg Lemond, prior winner of the famous Tour de France.

No matter how small or large, your generous gift will help improve the lives of more than 20 million Americans who suffer from diabetes, in the hope that future generations can live in a world without this disease. Together, we can all make a difference!

If you would like to sponsor either Ann or I, we would greatly appreciate it. Together we hope to raise at least $750.

Click here to sponsor Franz
Click here to sponsor Ann

Categories: Century Rides
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This week I was dealing with a running injury to my right Achilles that happened on the run on Wednesday. It was the third day in a row I was running a 8-10 mile run and trying to do it at too fast of of a pace. Still I was able to get in enough miles running and biking. Here is a portion of my training log. Click the chart to see a larger view.

This chart shows my accumulated miles biking so far this year. You can see I am about the same as prior years. Click the chart to see a larger view.

This chart shows my accumulated miles running so far this year. I am “running” ahead of prior years, driven by the marathon training. Click the chart to see a larger view.

Categories: Training Log
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While in the middle of training for the Boston Marathon in April, I got the bug to do a double century so I signed up for the Solvang Double Century. It is a 200 mile cycling adventure but with less than 7,000 feet of climbing.

Still I knew I needed to get in some longer rides so yesterday I did an ACTC (www.actc.org) ride called Cheese Burgers at the Junction. This is a ride that starts in San Jose and goes up over Mt. Hamilton, down the backside and out to the junciton. There had been considerable email traffic on the ACTC website warning about the terrible conditions for this ride, considering it had been snowing up there two days before. I was prepared to ride in the snow, and the sand placed on the road due to the snow. What did I find? A beautiful sunny day with temperatures at the summit in the mid 50′s and over 70 degrees coming backup the back side of Mt. Hamilton.

The following link shows the data that day from my Polar Heart Rate Monitor. As you can see, I was taking it easy because I was dealing with an running injury to my right Achilles.

This coming Saturday I plan to do even a longer club ride, part of the Long Distance Training rides, with 125 miles and similar climbing as yesterday. This time I get to go up Mt. Diablo.

Categories: Cycling Group Rides
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