cycling

Unsuccessful Failure?

Yesterday was quite an emotional day for many reasons. My first Everesting attempt did not go as planned. Yes, I said first. It’s not completely off the table, but I’m also not fired up to go again any time soon. Maybe. Some day. But now I have to move on.

It was NOT a failure. I have to be clear about that. It was an unsuccessful attempt. My day succeeded in so many ways specifically centered on memorializing my father. It was his day. I clawed my way up and out. Up the climb and out of my internal retreat. The physical demand was just too much. My body slowly rejected what I was demanding of it. My mental state began deteriorating. I’ve always heard about the phenomenon, but this was the first time I’d experienced it. I started to, essentially, fall asleep on the bike. I couldn’t string together words to form a coherent sentence. I was retaining the fluids and foods I was eating. I stumbled when I got off the bike. It became difficult to stand and my position on the bike made me nauseated. It was clearly a “no-win” situation. At about the halfway point, it became all to clear that what remained was unattainable in my current state. And since the rules clearly state that I couldn’t sleep, I had to make the difficult decision to stop.

Thank you to all those who made it out for the climb.

I don’t know if I can point to any one thing as the weak link. Would I have avoided using pickle juice for the first time? Yes. Would I have installed more appropriate gearing on the bike? Yes. Would I have gotten more sleep? Fueled my body better? Trained more or better? Yes. Yes. And yes. Would any of that changed the outcome? Doubt it. It would have just delayed the inevitable. I’m a sprinter. Always have been. Always will be. Climbing is not my wheelhouse. So for me to even have attempted this challenge was enormous. So for all those asking the question – how do I feel today? All good. All systems normal. My legs don’t hurt any more than they would after a hard training session. And I lost 5 pounds so there’s that. Gotta market that, huh? Climb the Alpe, lose a pound.

I had so much support, which was overwhelming. Thank you to all who donated to the cause and more importantly (at least for me), a HUGE thank you to those who joined me on my challenge or who were planning on joining me. I truly tested my support system yesterday and every one of you came through. So I say a HUGE thank you. I appreciate you all.

For those interested, here’s a link to a head to head comparison of the real world climb and the in-game, simulated climb that I rode 5 times.

All told, here are the stats from yesterday:

  • Total distance – 129.6 km
  • Total elevation – 5,211 m (5 complete ascents)
  • Total moving time – 8:17:15
  • Elapsed time – 11 hours
  • Total raised for Alzheimer’s Association – $720

Longest Day

I know I set this up as a photography blog, but for some time now I’ve been off kilter.  Specifically since August 10th of last year.  Why August 10th?  That’s the day my dad died.  Dementia took him.  It was horrible to watch.

Everybody deals with grief differently.  I know this.  I never realized it would affect me this way.  Up until his health began to decline I was active.  I was motivated.  I was doing.  Since?  meh.  It’s had a profound effect on me.  I’ve found myself retreating to my own corner of the world.  I feel like I’ve alienated myself.  I’m unmotivated.  I’m going through the motions.  I’m phoning it in as they say. 

I hear of so many people who have a close bond to a parent.  A mom.  A dad.  A grandparent.  An uncle or aunt even.  A really tight bond.  Best friends, some would say.  I don’t think I had that with my dad.  Or at least I didn’t think I did.  Don’t get me wrong, the relationship I had wasn’t contemptuous or distant.  Just not buddy buddy.  My dad just wasn’t that type of person anyway.  But I find myself missing the various interactions we DID have.  I miss being able to talk with him and teach him about the Tour de France.  I miss being able to tell and show him the new installs on the RV or the latest gadget I discovered.  I miss the quirky way he always answered our weekly Sunday phone calls.  I just miss him.

When he died, I told him that I would honor him in some way.  I vowed that, in 2023, I would do something, anything, to memorialize his struggle.  On June 21st. the longest day of the year, I will do just that.  I’m going to push myself physically and mentally harder than I’ve ever pushed myself before.  My dad struggled for months.  I can struggle for one day.

I’ll be vEveresting beginning at 4am on June 21st. I’ll be riding my bike on my indoor trainer and climbing the equivalent of Mt. Everest in a single activity. 8,848 meters. That’s 5.5 miles of going up. It WILL take me the better part of the longest day to complete. The official Everesting website has me completing it in about 15 hours – only an estimate.

I’m by no means the first to attempt/accomplish this and will not be the last.  I’ve known about this challenge for years now, but have never had the interest in completing it.  Until now.  You see, the Alzheimer’s Association has “adopted” the longest day of the year as their day of fighting for this terrible disease – “The day with the most light is the day we fight®.”

Yes, it’s a fundraiser, but I’m doing this for a couple reasons.  Mainly, my dad.  Secondly, I think I need to push through this wall I’ve created and come back.  Back to work.  Back to the world.  Back to myself.  You can certainly donate at any time, but more importantly, at least for me, join me.  Join me in the fight.  Join me on the ride itself.  If you’re on Zwift, find me, follow me, ride with me.

I’m not great at fundraising.  I’ll let the Alzheimer’s Association handle that part.  But you CAN donate if you’re so moved.  I’m simply going to ride.

Funk

I’m in a funk.  Plain and simple.

Funk.

It was this lengthy blog post where I overthought everything and went on and on about stuff that you don’t care about.  I don’t really care about.

Cuz I’m in a funk.

July 30, 2020.  It happened for the first time on 7/30/20.  11 times since.  Ask me.  I’ll show you. SVT.  Flutter.  Afib.  Call it whatever you will.  It all sucks.

A lot’s happened in a few years.

  • Afib.
  • Ran my first (and only) marathon.
  • RV rental from hell.
  • Bought our own RV – even after RV rental from hell.
  • Replaced 3 catalytic converters – 2 of them stolen.  Don’t ask.
  • Father passed away.
  • Oh yeah, not the flu, but that other thing. Missing a year in there somewhere.

Energy is lower.  Motivation is lower.  Morale is lower.  Funk.

I have a cardiac ablation this week.  Friday – of all days.  Puzzle complete.  Connect the dots yet?

I hope I never have to give up cycling.  That’ll be funk on steroids.

24º

This is what 24ºC looks like to me in Febraury.  Come on, how could I not?!

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Places

If you don’t have one, you need to get something that is a solid head leveler.  You know, one of those things that can be your go-to activity that takes you away from it all and can really get your head back on straight.  A head leveler.   Mine is my bike.  There’s nothing like a good bike ride for me.  I’ve had cycling in my life now for over 30 years.  Through all of my ups and downs, I still have my bike.  I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t ride.  And a year ago I wasn’t so sure about it.  Glad I have it.  It take me places.

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I got this bike back in 1999 and absolutely love it.  It’s ironic that I’ve held onto this for so long when I’m the type who’s always in line to get the next best gadget.  It’s like a comfortable pair of jeans really.  It just fits right.

Real World

As fun and exciting as it was to be at the UCI Road World Championships for the past week, I’m facing the harsh reality that the real world picks back up tomorrow.  I’ve got plenty of images to edit and am pretty pleased with how everything went.  Check that one of the bucket list.  Spring classics are next…

Peter Sagan was my favorite all along. | Check out more of my Worlds images here.

Peter Sagan was my favorite all along. | Check out more of my Worlds images here.

Surreal

Everybody needs those stories that they can tell for years and years to come.  It’s going to be pretty cool to watch professional road racing next year and when they identify the world champions, I can say I was there.  Looking forward to tomorrow, rain or not here I come.  The whole thing has kinda been surreal.

#Richmond2015

I wouldn’t have missed this for the world(s).  Ha – see what I did there?

Even at level that they're competing, they still have fun. Gotta love it!

Even at level that they’re competing, they still have fun. Gotta love it!  More photos here.

Wheelhouse

When the UCI Road World Championships come to the United States, there’s no excuse not to go.  I’m a cyclist of 30+ years and a photographer.  This is where I’m supposed to be right now.

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I came to Richmond with the goal of getting images that I’d want to hang on my wall. I’m off to a good start – Lots of images to come. I’m posting them here.

Mission Accomplished

Well, I did it.  I said I would and I did.  I went into panic mode in the first 200 meters of the swim because I started the race cold and my heart rate skyrocketed.  And you can’t really stop and rest when you’re swimming in open water.  I found my stride at about the 1/4-mile mark and shaved about 20 minutes off my swim time of my first (and only other) Olympic some 20 years ago.  The run was a little slow because I was favoring my leg from the surgery, but all in all I’m pleased with how I did and how far I’ve come since the end of January.


  

From The Top

A view I grew up with near Harrisonburg – Reddish Knob.  Road this mountain many times.  By the way, hope you enjoy the new look.

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Challenge

I’m committing to competing in the Challenge Williamsburg this Summer.  I took an entire year off of racing and am itching to get back “in the saddle” so to speak.  I think I might be done (won’t really say “never”) with pure bicycle racing for now, but need/want to stay fit.  I think this is how I’ll do it.  I was looking over the course maps and sure enough, this is where it starts!

Jamestown Beach Park near Williamsburg, VA

Jamestown Beach Park near Williamsburg, VA

How It’s Done

And that, folks, is how it’s done.

Having some fun at the Rocktown Cyclocross Festical today in Harrisonburg, VA

Having some fun at the Rocktown Cyclocross Festical today in Harrisonburg, VA

Do Something With It

When I started shooting (both video and stills) I would just shoot anything and everything.  I had no vision and real purpose for what I was shooting.  I shot because, well, I could.  I see so many people these days shooting video and stills and I always wonder what they do with it.  My philosophy these days is “why shoot if you’re not going to do anything with it.”  It doesn’t have to be posted on a social media site.  It doesn’t have to be on broadcast TV.  It could simply be shared with friends around the kitchen counter, but do something with it, otherwise it was pointless to shoot it in the first place.  IMHO.

I choose to share mine online.  My original intent for purchasing an aerial camera was to shoot cyclocross racing.  So here’s a first look at a couple of cross races I’ve shot this season.  I actually plan on putting together a piece for the Psycho Cross race – a sort of promo of sorts.  Order a print of the featured image here.

Maps

I’ve got a series of images that I’ll eventually combine to create a “mapping” image of the Psycho Cross course in Sykesville.  There’s so much that’s cool about this venue, but what’s really awesome is that if I look up the address on my iPhone/Mac maps I can actually see the worn areas that mark the race course.  Check it out.

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12/24

If you asked me a year ago with which lens I preferred to use to shoot races I would have answered, without hesitation, “my 70-200.”  These days, not so much.  Almost 50% of my images from the last two weekends of shooting cyclocross were shot on my 12-24 lens.  This also plays into my purposeful shooting method for sports.  Today’s image has nothing to do with cycling other than it was shot at one of the coolest race venues around.

Every year I discover that the Warfield Complex is more boarded up in certain places and more dilapidated in others. It certainly makes for some fun images .

Every year I discover that the Warfield Complex is more boarded up in certain places and more dilapidated in others. It certainly makes for some fun images .

Flat

I spent the day at the local city park shooting cyclocross.  I don’t race cyclocross and never will.  My license plate even indicates that I’m a road cyclist.  Anyway, I don’t know what the cyclists were complaining about all day – that Belgian wall looks pretty flat to me.  Easily rideable.

The Belgian Wall at the Applecross cyclocross race in Winchester is approximately a 45º angle, which is eliminated with this top-down, mapping view.

The Belgian Wall at the Applecross cyclocross race in Winchester is approximately a 45° angle, which is eliminated with this top-down, mapping view.

Tri-al Period

Something weird is happening.  I’m hating running less these days.  I’m not a runner and am not trying to be one.  I’d still always choose the bike over running.  But I don’t dislike it as much as I used to.  This is probably how I’ll remain in shape throughout the winter.  Perhaps next year I’ll focus on some sprint and Olympic distance triathlons.  Who knows?  I do know this though – my body hates running much more than I do.  I’m going for a ride.

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BMX

A little BMX action at the park today.  I’d never shot a BMX race before and I haven’t the first clue about the sport, but it’s cool that we have a track here in Winchester.

There will eventually be a BMX category in my galleries.

There will eventually be a BMX category in my galleries.

Down Time

There’s a lot of down time when I shoot a road race.  Even though there are 3 fields on the course at once, they pass by me within 10 minutes of each other leaving me a big gap of about 25-30 minutes until they come by again.  What do I do during those breaks?  These days I attract a lot of attention with the drone.

Whenever I shoot a race I’m always concerned about being on somebody else’s property because most road races are out in the country and the only place to park is along the road.  And when I’m in their way it’s even worse.  At my first location today I ended up blocking the entrance to a farmer’s field.  He needed to pull in and I was in the way.  Great!  Not a good way for me to start the day.  Fast forward to the last location of the day.  I had pulled over near a very colorful barn because I thought it would make a great background in my shots.  Next thing I know, a truck pulls up and I get that feeling that I’m about to get chewed out – you know the feeling.  But no, that same farmer (the one I had blocked before) pops out of his truck and excitedly asks about my aerial camera.  We get to talking and I discover that he’s in the Screen Actors Guild and he’s met some amazing people through that work.  He asks how long I’ll be there because he wants to go get his daughters to watch me fly.  Then he flags down a buddy to pull over and watch, too!  Party at Jimmy’s place!  He tops the day off by telling me that he respects all the riders in the races and thinks it’s a great thing for the county.  There are some awesome people in Page County!  Thanks Jimmy for letting me park on your property today.

Down Time

Click here for more race photos from today.