Saskatoon Tuesday Nighter

Video Courtesy of peter Steckhan.

Bookwormed

Cuylar Conly

cool morning breeze

It ain't summer anymore.  In the last week I have had a fast transition back to the life of a student.  It's like running full on into waste deep water. School is full on and all structured training has screeched to a halt   It's hard not to notice, and it feels significant.  My non cycling friends even comment that I have become "more human".

   Instead of squeezing in academia, I am now trying to squeeze in some physical activity. More than half my saddle time right now is just riding to and from the University campus.  Speaking of which, I just had a refreshingly crisp ride to school this morning.  Just one more reminder that summer is closing fast.  It makes me wonder; Does school begin because summer ends? Or, does summer end because school begins?

That's just way too deep for me.

Now that I am "commuting", I also think about bicycles in a different way.  For instance.  What if bicycles where like cars?  As a societal institution.  What if everyione rode every day?  I imagine there would be regulations and conventions, much like cars.  In particular I am thinking of the controlled infrastructure commonly reffered to as roads.

If everyone rode every day, there would be considerable bicycle traffic.  With so many people on the roads it would be necissary, from a safety perspective, to regulate the rate of locomotion.  AKA speedl-limits.  Just like with cars, this would be accomplished by posting maximum and minimum speed limits in different areas.  Imagine the bicycle version of residentials, freeways, highways and schoolzones.  Unlike with cars the minimum speed would need to be enforced with greater regularity.  It would be very dangerouse and inconvenient for someone to be traveling less than half the speed on the "freeway".

On the freeway I expect it would not be possible to ride much longer than 2 minutes by yourself.  For extended highspeed travel it would be necissary to band together with a group of mates and "carpool".  Or in this reality, economize your metabolisms.  Imagine a group of one-hundred comuters roaring down the freeway at >50km/hr...      BLISS.

Training shall be based solely on feel,


while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.







Cuylar Conly

Text Books

Bellow I have posted my text book list.  I guess I have a little shopping to do.  Does anyone have any of these books?  I would like to buy used and save some bones.

University of Saskatchewan - Online Shopping ListPrinted on: September 1, 2011 4:22 pm

BIOC 310 (01) - Biochemistry		Sep 6th, 2011 to Dec 2nd, 2011
Proteins & Enzymes (Lee, Jeremy S.)

1.		Guide To Writing In The Sciences (Recommended)
		978-0-8020-8366-1 / 40000029461
		Gilpin (Paperback -  Ed. 01)
		Price: $20.95+GST

2.		Lehninger Principles Of Biochemistry (Recommended)
		978-0-7167-7108-1 / 40000123666
		Nelson (Hardcover - 2008 Ed. 05)
		Price: $140.95+GST

3.		Lehninger Principles Of Biochemistry Absolute Ultimate Guide (Recommended)
		978-1-4292-1241-0 / 40000123667
		Nelson (Paperback - 2008 Ed. 05)
		Price: $66.95+GST

4.		Lehninger Principles Of Biochemistry Loose Leaf Version (Recommended)
		978-1-4292-2263-1 / 40000146727
		Nelson (Paperback -  Ed. 05)
		Price: $80.95+GST

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PHYS 252 (01) - Physics		Sep 6th, 2011 to Dec 2nd, 2011
Foundations Of Modern Physics (Steele, Thomas G.)

5.		Modern Physics (Required)
		978-0-534-49339-4 / 40000073157
		Serway (Hardcover - 2004 Ed. 03)
		Price: $209.95+GST

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RLST 314 (61) - Religion & Culture		Sep 6th, 2011 to Dec 2nd, 2011
Contemporary Catholic Thought (Hrynkow, Christopher)

6.		Amazing Church (Required)
		978-2-89507-570-7 / 40000159380
		Baum (Paperback - )
		No Price Available

7.		Evening Thoughts (Required)
		978-1-57805-130-4 / 40000159387
		Berry (Paperback - )
		Price: $25.95+GST

8.		Models Of Contextual Theology (Required)
		978-1-57075-438-8 / 40000159386
		Bevans (Paperback - )
		No Price Available

9.		Put Down Your Sword: Answering The Gospel Call To Creative Non-Violence (Required)
		978-0-8028-6357-7 / 40000159415
		Dear (Paperback - )
		No Price Available

10.		What Happened At The Vatican Ii (Required)
		978-0-674-04749-5 / 40000159385
		O'Malley (Paperback - )
		No Price Available

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*All prices are subject to change








Brain Training


Cuylar Conly

Home a Few Days Now

You think a cross country move would be a complicated and taxing endeavour, but it almost felt like flicking a switch.  I had almost no change in routine before the move.  I packed all my things in less than 3 days, totalling two duffle bags and a bike box that was over filled.  According to Google Maps, for a cost of $0 I could walk the ~2800km to Saskatoon in 24 days.  I elected to buy a plane ticket and was back in Saskatoon in little more than 4 hours.  Now how's that for perspective.

Since coming back to Saskatoon I have observed that the week preceding September 1st  has the highest turnover of 20 somethings of the entire year.  There is a simultaneous rush of students retuning to town and a mass exodus of those leaving for schooling elsewhere.  Thank goodness I am unemployed, so that I can attend all the homecomings and sendoffs three times a day.  I have some very good friends who I only get to see a couple times a year, and it feels good to just drop whatever I am doing and go catch up.

To facilitate my transition back to school I feel like I have become a professional pencil pusher.  There seems to be a whole lot of administrative papers involved in your final year of school.  And "they" said computers would be the death of paper.  At least this is conditioning me for the mental work that will come come this winter.  Sometimes I feel like my brain has become really lazy, nay I know it has.

On the sporting side of life.  I spent a couple days cobbling together a cyclocross bike.  Seems to be the only bike I have right now. (My Time Trial Bike is on it's way to Saskatoon, and is still for sale).  Even though I am riding on a cross bike I am not ready to hit the mud.  Right now I am running slick road tires and yesterday went for a great tour around the north end of Saskatoon.  I forgot how flat it is here,  I also forgot how windy it can get.  It's a completely different way of riding, even to the point of changing your equipment selection and altering your riding position.  Yesterday was my first "real" ride in some time, and it was great.  I think I will have another good ride today.  This is the "not training time" when you just go ride around until you think it's time to go home.

Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.



Cuylar Conly 

Bikes for Sale !!!!

2011 Marinoni Rewind Time Trial & Triathlon Bike

Ideal for Triathlon or other timed solo events.   This bike has been used for two months.  This is your chance for fall pricing in the middle of summer.  On display at Fresh Air Experience (1291 Wellington).

Handmade Carbon Fiber Frame, Size Small (53cm, fits 5'8"-6'0")

Ultegra deraleures

Dura-ace shift levers

FSA Gossamer TT crankset

Deda Elementi cockpit

Fulcrum Racing 5 wheels

Mechanic Owned

Retails for $4200

Used for $2300

 

ALSO

Giant TCR Advance SL

Giants top end ultra light frameset, with affordable ultegra groupo.  Stiff and agile this is a real racing machine. 

-High modulous hand made carbon fibre frame

-Complete Ultegra 6700 groupo

-- DT Swiss Tricon R1700, Giant LTD-edition wheelset

-mechanic owned

Size Medium

Retail price $4200

Used for $2400

cracked

Summer is coming to a close.  I have no races remaining on my calender.  This is okay, I have had a long season and my mind has begun to loose pace with my body.  My appetite for riding hard has hit rock bottom but that's okay too.  Normally I place allot of pressure on myself, so right now I am allowing myself to ignore these demands.  I have plans to move back to Saskatoon at the end of the month, so the next couple of weeks will be more about collecting a couple paychecks than stacking kilometers.

The big question is where to from here?  I have plans to go to school full time this winter.  I will continue my undergraduate degree in Biomolecular Structure Studies, and I plan to graduate in April 2012.  I wont lie, I have my work cut out for me.  I have stacked allot of classes into my final year as well as a research project.  I have a daunting 8 months ahead of me.  So much in fact, that I find myself incapable of planning beyond April.  There is a defined finish line, but instead of a ribbon it is marked with a curtain.  I know a few directions that I would like to take on the other side. But, I have never been good at multiple directions.  I have a Goal until April, and some time to realize what comes next.

Cuylar Conly

About those Shoes

FOR SALE!!!!

Diadora Speed Racer Road shoes (size 9.5)

Brand New!  In the BOX!

These shoes where used for three days.  They are not right for me, and I am selling them at a big Discount.

Retail $120

Asking  $90

FIrst and Last Time I Swear!

Yesterday I drove 7 hours into upstate New York.  My Team and I will be racing the Tour of the Catskills, which begins today with a 20km Time Trial.  Despite the car being packed floor to ceiling I awoke this morning to the realization that my helmet and my shoes remain on the closet shelf back in Ottawa.

What followed was a complete systems crash.  My brain become scrambled eggs my legs like noodles and my heart dragged heavy on the floor like an anchor.  I didn't think a solution was possible, and I could not bring willpower into my body or my mind.  It's true the season is wearing hard mentally at this point.  It seems I have motivation enough as long as everything goes smooth.  Unfortunately when I come to a block I haven't the force of will to solve the problem.

Thank god for Michael DeKelver my team manager and directer sportif.  Without him I probably would have just wandered off into the woods and become some harry mountain man.  "There's always a solution," he says.  "You are ridding this race.  That's obligatory.  We can tape your feet to the pedals if we have to, it's been done before."  Right away Michael started on solutions, and eventually he had me coming around too.

Here is the solution.  After aggressively networking we found a man from Rochester, NY who will loan me a helmet for the weekend.  He found me through the twitter-verse, our world really is shrinking.  If you appreciate the kindness of a stranger please follow @k0demonkey and thank him on my behalf.  As for the shoes.  The good semaratin k0odemonkey has also offered his extra shoes, which are 1 1/2 sizes too big.  After some deliberation and a visit to the Local Bike shop to plead my sob story I have decided to purchase a second set of shoes.  This is justified as either rainy weather training shoes or resale.  I bought an entry level shoe in the same brand and size that I always wear.  Big thanks to Windham Mountain Outfitters for hooking up a deal on that.

I am once again equiped to race.  My Time Trial start time is at 6,54pm. My mind is still like mashed potatos and I will spend the rest of the day relaxing and getting my head screwed on straight.  My focus will be the two road races tomorrow and Sunday.  Each is over 150km long and includes several mountain passes.

pray for wings

Cuylar Conly

RE-structured

This is my restructured scheduled for August.

Today -Quebec provincial Criterium championships.
Aug 5-7 Tour of the Catskills, NY
Aug 14  Niagara Classic or Montreal du Quebec?
Aug 25 move back to Saskatchewan and start University

Thought you ought to know

Cuylar Conly

So what else is on your mind.

Today I entertained my right brain.  I went on a walk about in the National Art Gallery.  From my doorstep its about 4km to the museum, plus wandering the halls and galleries for a good 2 hours, and then I plodded my way home. This is the most walking I have done in months and my feet agree.  I suppose I could have taken the bus but I felt like walking. It was worth it.

The Art Gallery was super deadly.  Although I have little artistic talent, I do have a great appreciation for art and those with talent.  I particularly liked the contemporary exhibit and the collection of Inuit sculptures.  I would go into more detail except I neglected to take a note pad.  Instead I thought it would be a good idea to just take pictures of everything.  I was immediately chastised.  photographs are not allowed... DUH.  I guess I didn't think that one through.

I probably could have spent more time wandering around and I might even go for a return visit before leaving Ottawa.  It is strange I have been in Ottawa almost four months now and I have neglected investigate any of the monuments or museums.  I suppose that's what locals do though.  Now with only one month left in Ottawa I want to commit to a little tourist activity.  Maybe I can awaken my brain from its hibernation before returning to school in the fall.

Cuylar Conly

What are your goals

As the saying goes, "you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone."  I had some big goals for the month of August.  I was presented with the opportunity to travel to the Caribbean and race in the Tour of Guadeloupe.  This 10 day race would dominate the remainder of my summer.  All training was to prepare for this race and all other events became secondary.  In fact this became the only race I planned to do in August.

When this project was cancelled the sensation was that of a misfire.  I had been so focused and dedicated, and still felt that way.  Except that I was now aiming at a void.  My goal, the target, had been removed.  All my work and planning now had end point.  The rest of my summer was suddenly void of any racing.  I find myself with no goal or target event  and my motivation has taken a serious blow.

I have been scrambling to organize a new calender for the rest of the summer.  Unfortunately all my plans remain abstract.  I could list for you races that I would like to do, but for each one I cannot say if it will actually happen.  So, I remain with out target races.  I don't know if I will be racing and so it has been very difficult to motivate my training and diet.  I feel broken, and it's only because I don't know where I am going.


Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.



Cuylar Conly 

Now What do I do.

Last Night I arrived home to a heartbreaking e-mail letter.  The tour of Guadeloupe project, has been cancelled.  The reason behind this cancellation is that certain mandatory logistical deadlines could not be met.  Essentially the managers ran out of time to fill two more spots on the roster.


I feel lost.  I have devoted so much focus and energy into this project and now, I don't know where to go with it.  I have been training hard the last two weeks in preparation sometimes fueled only by the goal.  Now without the big goal it is hard to be so dedicated.  I need to find a "plan B" race calander for August, so my fitness does not go unused.


I want to take this time now to thank the individuals and organizations that pledged to fund my travel costs for the Tour of Gudeloupe.  I was amazed and grateful to those that came forward offering to make this project possible.  For offering financial support I would like to thank 1% for the planet, My trade Team Fresh Air Experience/Ottawa Bicycle CLub, The Saskatchewan based Western Cycle Development Team, the Saskatoon Racing Club Cycledelia, and of course The bank of Mom&Dad.  I also want to thank my landlord who offered to cut my rent for the month as well as the mechanics at Fresh Air Experience who assured me that they could all balance out the scheduling for me to go away for 12 days.


Thank you to all my supporters.  I was so amped to do this race, and it wasn`t going to happen without you.  Unfortunately it is not happening now, and this is beyond my control.  I am currently working on some contingency racing plans and I will update later on.




Training shall be based solely on feel,
while racing shall be guided by sensations and instinct.



Cuylar Conly 

Guest post. The Art of Cycling

Today I am bringing you a blog entry written by my very good friend Michael Spehar.  Michael is not a cyclist.  Yet as an outsider he has written a piece that clarifies the complicated simplicity of bike racing.  There is this never-ending analysis of technique, training method, tactics, and physiology.  All of this vocabulary can creat barriers to improvement.   What a cyclist needs to focus on is just one thing...  Turning the pedals.

The Art of Cycling: A Layman’s Perspective

Watching professional cycling is always an entertaining venture, avid fan or casual viewer alike; albeit for vastly different reasons.  To a person indoctrinated and baptized into the world of cycling, the intricate nature of strategy and rhythm is no doubt akin to a general mobilizing his troops.  Planning a dozen moves ahead, taking into account the terrain, the time, the weather, barometric pressure, the capabilities of your enemy, the perpetually shifting face of the engagement.  I imagine to the enthusiast, a 4 hour race would be akin to a slow dance which culminates in a blitzkrieg of muscular and pulmonary prowess. Reading signals and responding in turn with grace and practiced ease, a balance of violence and control.  A world where one might lay in wait for an eternity only to spring forward, when a few seconds can make or break your day.  A world where a strategic move may be made and the fruits of your calculated act will be reaped hours from now.  A world of multi-layered complexity coupled with the peak of mental and physical prowess; the perfect sport.

Or so I would imagine. 

I have glimpsed into the looking glass of cycling while watching the passionate, animated, and frankly zealous reactions of my cycling friends gathered around the television during the Tour De France.  Hearing the big names of Jan Ulrich, Eddy Merckx, and Alberto Contador being tossed around with the same fervor as 16 year old girls gushing over the “hunks and hotties” of the week.  Yes, there is much entertainment to be had in the month of July. 

It should be mentioned that it took all of my willpower not to include Lance Armstrong in that list out of an effort to appear knowledgeable and cultured in the cycling world.  A world that I am admittedly not schooled in.  While my bicycle buddies will utilize only the edge of their seats, eyes unmoving from the television while the two-wheeled battle plays out in front of them, I am there to laugh in utter confusion at their reactions and steal their beer.  Most often the ale is given willingly, since beer has too many calories.  Or so I’ve been told.

To be blunt, they watch the race, and I watch them.  And I would suspect I’m not alone.  For those of us who feel that 20km by bicycle is a marathon and $500 is a lot to spend on human powered locomotion, this world of “drafting” and “crits” and “cadence” is strange and amusing.  It is a culture of funny looking men using funny words, and the funny people watching and whooping. 

 I was watching the Tour last year with my good friend Cuylar Conly.  He mentioned how the team leader often would have a headset or earpiece, with the coach relaying information and strategy.  At this mention of strategy, I was utterly baffled.

“Strategy?” I inquired.  Lowering my/his beer and raising my eyebrows, “How so?”

Cuylar was about to launch into what I am sure would be an explanation of long term cycle strategy that would have no doubt been very informative, detailed, well structured, and looooooong.  I opted instead to state what I believe all this hifey-fifey biking guff really amounted to.  A simplistic view that I feel is the root of all bicycle “strategy.”

The root of all bicycle strategy is peddling, moving your legs in a circle, nothing more than doing the same thing over and over for the appropriate duration.  All of the instructions that one will receive from their coach will ultimately amount to doing the same thing faster at times, maybe a little slower at times.  A cyclist is made to do the same thing up a hill, down a hill, standing up or in an aero tuck.  Doing the same thing behind some other guy who’s doing the same thing you are, but he’s working twice as hard. Ha, brilliant.  In the end if you do the same thing faster and longer than anyone else you get to wear yellow and be on cereal boxes in the UK.

So I’m sure it should become apparent why we laymen find the hype surrounding and saturating televised cycling so humorous and enjoyable.  It’s a lot of people doing the same thing for a long time, and other people wishing they could do the same thing as good as Jacques Anquetil could do that same thing.  Perhaps this strategic breakdown will provide much needed perspective and clarity to any cyclists that over think the sport that they love.

Now I’m off to watch the NFL and squeal like a little girl. Excuse me.

-Spehar