Monday, June 29, 2009

6 28 2009 Kissena International Omnium data sort

1600 METER PURSUIT - 4 LAPS


STANDING 400 METER - ONE LAP


FLYING 200 METER - 1/2 LAP


Official results at this link -http://www.kissena.info/track/results/2009/KissenaInternationalOmnium2009.pdf

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Moises DeGracia racing in England






I raced the 2009 Good Friday International race at Herne Hill Velodrome in London. I had competed last year and got slaughtered in the sprints, although last year I did a fairly decent Flying 200m time of 12.65 for a windy day on a 450m track. But got eliminated in the first heat of sprinting. The sprints at this event are chariots, I believe, in order to save time. This year there were more than 140 riders.

I trained hard and ate right during the winter months. I did weights, roller training, push ups pull ups, core, the works, but I was not able to go the the track or during the winter. On the other hand I had a pair of new wheels.

I got to the track early, was nervous as hell. I did my warm up on my regular wheels the day of the race. Went to inflate my racing wheels with my new track pump ....... it blew up on me. Always trust your old equipment, race day is no time to be trying new gear, I learned the hard way. I borrowed a pump from one of the guys on the British team, was not able to get full pressure, didn't want to ruin the borrowed pump which was maxing out.

When I tried to install the wheel on the bike I did not notice the cones were spinning as well so as i tightened up the wheel I also tightened the axle, barely got to the line for the flying 200m. To save time they only give you half a lap to build up your speed. I was riding 106 gear, same as last year. Wasn't able to wind it up enough, ended up doing 13.7s $#@%@#!% yup that's right.

When I got back a friend of mine noticed the disc wheel was not spinning while the bike was suspended, he helped me sort out the axle.

I kept warm, tried to relax, did the rollers for a couple of minutes. They called out my name for the sprints. Went to the line, got set, focus, bang there goes the gun. I was in the middle of the pack, caught up to the guys in front before turn 4, settled and then slammed on the gas just after turn 4. Things got messy between 3 and 4 a bit of elbows, somebody bumped my rear wheel, I kept on the gas and managed to keep the bike straight. Final stretch, we're bunched up, I can see the line....guys in front started pulling away... gave it all I had, managed to place 4th, and that was it...race got canceled for rain.

Looking back at that day I was too nervous to begin with, I should have trusted my training and relaxed all the drama in my head led to disaster. A mind is a powerful thing.

I did a race the following week. It was an omnium, I managed a 3rd place in a scratch race, there was a solo break away, I managed to come in second place from a field sprint, less than half a wheel. This time the wheels were properly inflated and rolling fine, they feel like night and day compared to my regular wheels.

Monday, June 15, 2009

My new training method for next year.

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ..... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember:
'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'


AND.....

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine
and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

CONCLUSION

Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

Moises DeGracia emailed this to me from London, he said this training regime has some merit.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

6 10 2009 Ny Kissena Track Racing

Whoooooooosh, that was Colin turning on the afterburners and winning again. Note the Felt is in fact a Tiemeyer Frame.

Mattio check out his blog at this link - http://nooneline.blogspot.com/





Andrew's new carbon fiber frame.

Colin Prensky