Cycling

Might look a bit nutty – but it’s the best thing to avoid getting creamed by motorists while riding to Massasoit – and great eye protection for when you’re blasting down a hill at 20 mph in the deep woods… ahh heaven.

Jersey by Pearl Ozumi, camera by Sony, shorts by Pearl Ozumi, glasses by someone I forgot. Photo by me!

Unfortunately, this article from Bicycling magazine is not online, but I couldn’t resist taking the time to repeat the story here:

The rider had flown by in a blur, on a black and silver Madone, in US Postal bibs and a Nike jacket – another wanna-be from the city, dressed like his hero, I thought. We were on River Road, my usual route across the bridge from New York City. I figured I’d play it cool and catch him on the hill ahead. But then I noticed: the chiseled legs, a worn Selle San Marco Concor saddle – not a poseur’s expensive carbon – a saddle bag. And as he started up the rise, he took both hands off the handlebar to take food from his pocket. Maybe he was someone.

I am no one, a Cat 5, new to my club, but I wanted to see. I dropped my hammer, up the climb, down the other side, but he was still out of reach. It took me 8 miles to work up to his wheel. And then. He looked back, “Do you know where this road goes?” And I was certain, but my brain had not caught up. “Oh, it goes to Route 9W,” I said. Then, finally, “Lance?”

“Yeh, yeh.”

I said “Wow, I’m Konstantin,” and then nothing, trying to be cool. I knew that one wrong move could scare him off. Everything about him was familiar, his body, the way he talked, the cadence. I had experienced him, but only on TV. He rode close to me, 5 to 10 centimeters from my handlebar, too close for comfort. He kept asking about the road. I listened. Answered.

At the juncture, he was going left, back to the city. I grew bold and asked if I could join him for the 15 miles home. He said OK, and that’s when it happened.

We talked. About everything – fame, the Tour, saddle position, food and wine, Russia (where I’m from), Ekimov, riding in New York City, which he does when he’s in town. Cars drove past, not noticing.

He is The Man, but he could have been any guy from my club, just out having fun, shooting the breeze.

– Konstantin Dzbibilov, Bicycling Magazine, May 2005

I’ve biked 6.4 hours in the last seven days, covering just shy of 80 miles, and burning up around 3,470 calories.

In the process, I’ve also reduced my calorie intake by around 400-500 calories a day – and significantly increased the amount of fruits and vegetables in my diet – while pulling back on bad snacks, dessert, and fatty foods. So that’s good.

And it’s paid off, I’ve lost nine pounds this week – which leaves me with about 51 more to go.

I’m pretty confident if I can keep up with the 10-20 miles of biking each day and mind my diet (which will likely be the more difficult challenge), I’ll be able to achieve this goal.

Now if I can just kick my caffeine habit that i’ve re-created for myself!

74.31 minutes, 14.92 miles, average speed 12.0 mph, top speed 27.0 miles.

Home, neighborhood, out to Massasoit State Park, couple laps on the cranberry trail, back.

38.35 minutes, 8.14 miles, 12.6 mph average speed, 18.9 mph top speed.

Shorter ride today as was up at 3:30am for the Pope’s funeral, took a nap, and generally exhausted from longer ride yesterday. 15 miles or bust tomorrow.

93.45 minutes, 18.88 miles, 12.0 mph average speed, 28.6 mph top speed. Neighborhood to Massasoit State Park, around Taunton, back home.