tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.comments2024-02-21T05:18:00.140-05:00Sprinter della CasaAkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00430651087205849350noreply@blogger.comBlogger2755125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-35266698096051973242017-06-12T10:41:39.744-04:002017-06-12T10:41:39.744-04:00Awesome race write up Aki, and congrats at getting...Awesome race write up Aki, and congrats at getting back on the podium!<br /><br />I always find your race reports riveting - almost enough for me to get back on the bike. :)<br /><br />Nice job!!!Allan Duenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-90637462139287411922017-03-29T19:13:02.386-04:002017-03-29T19:13:02.386-04:00Hey man, hope you get back to enjoying the racing....Hey man, hope you get back to enjoying the racing. Life has it's ups and downs for sure, hang in there!MetalLeghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13055931115890983825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-16131403762256813792017-03-01T14:20:24.190-05:002017-03-01T14:20:24.190-05:00Just so you know, I'm talking trash about you ...Just so you know, I'm talking trash about you as well:<br />http://alaskanpackfodder.blogspot.com/2017/02/being-guy.htmlAlaska Fat Cyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01560737500694617249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-43277040445891380982017-02-18T14:56:02.930-05:002017-02-18T14:56:02.930-05:00I happened to check email and saw the notification...I happened to check email and saw the notification. I feel the need to put in an entry but that's still developing.<br /><br />As far as getting a bit ground down, that's it. It was really liberating in 2016 when I didn't promote or even help promote, except for our club's race. I think that enforced time off was important and illuminating. Until then I felt like I had been rolled up into a race-promoting-snowball and rolling down a big snow covered hill. I couldn't get out until the snowball hit something, the snow flew off, and I had a chance to sit there clear of snow and recover.<br /><br />Thanks.Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430651087205849350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-4307651030576534442017-02-18T13:52:37.039-05:002017-02-18T13:52:37.039-05:00So many new starts in your life over the last few ...So many new starts in your life over the last few months- the possibilities are pretty cool. Hopefully you can find the stability and time in all of this to ride and race. Even the occasional office park crit or something to remind you of why racing bikes is just so darn cool.<br /> <br />I used to run an alpine ski racing league. A lot of hours, considerable financial investment, logistical nightmares related to outdoor sports... you can completely relate. Eventually I had to end it and it took a couple years before I truly found the joy in the sport again. I was just too ground down. Sometimes it's still hard for me to be just a participant, after years of being "the guy". I just reflexively go into that mode. I have to stop myself from being dragged back into the level of involvement again, and caution others from following that path. I tell them that no truly healthy organization survives solely on the back of one individual.<br /> <br />Help out here and there with expertise and advice, but enjoy being Aki the racer again. You've earned it.Mike Hancockhttp://alaskanpackfodder.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-47625437222624426532017-01-16T21:10:37.751-05:002017-01-16T21:10:37.751-05:00As always, a great post. Thanks for the update, Ak...As always, a great post. Thanks for the update, Aki, and very sorry to hear about your father.Bradnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-43012425185365693322016-12-14T21:40:14.612-05:002016-12-14T21:40:14.612-05:00No, I won't be working at the same place. Howe...No, I won't be working at the same place. However they both worked for the guy I'm going to work for. I know I'm venturing into a bit of uncertainty but my goal/thought is to, at some point, recreate that kind of feel where I work. It seems possible with the set up that is in place.<br /><br />Of course I'm like the pro cyclist talking to the team director. The director will promise the world to get the cyclist to sign up. "Of course we'll get invited to the Tour! We're about to sign a top ProTour guy! He's a friend of one of the sponsors and wants to bring this team to the top! Heck, yeah, you'll be on the Tour team. I see you infiltrating breaks and getting us a ton of TV time. What do you say? I know it's just $200/month but with prize money and stuff you'll do a lot better." And then in the end it's all smoke and mirrors.<br /><br />But I had a good gut feeling on this so I took a chance.Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430651087205849350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-88040885085980437372016-12-14T19:10:33.555-05:002016-12-14T19:10:33.555-05:00Hi Aki, great news! It wasn't clear to me, ar...Hi Aki, great news! It wasn't clear to me, are you going to be working at the shop where you got the tires?F16F22https://www.blogger.com/profile/14925066571453432901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-59801552891272028432016-12-03T09:15:04.961-05:002016-12-03T09:15:04.961-05:00Well to be completely clear that was back in the d...Well to be completely clear that was back in the day that a 42x18 was a normal racing low gear and a 21 was for hills. And maybe a 23 if it was a crazy hilly race.<br /><br />I went back and tried it a long time after, maybe 25 years?, and I thought, "This is ridiculous". I could see it if the finish was at the top of the first steep part.<br /><br />Still, though, the important thing is that it taught me to think outside the box. I never thought climbing a (short) hill was possible in bigger gears. My talks with Ken made me realize that I was limiting myself.Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430651087205849350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-84029969125839889552016-12-03T08:22:48.076-05:002016-12-03T08:22:48.076-05:00Enjoy reading how people got started in cycling, y...Enjoy reading how people got started in cycling, yours is no exception especially when it involves local roads I know!<br /><br />I've never even tried Wolfpit in the big ring! LOLfastk9dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08032426670071228191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-27396577655895166922016-11-20T21:04:33.282-05:002016-11-20T21:04:33.282-05:00I have to say that being outside has some magic. T...I have to say that being outside has some magic. Today I ventured about 2 towns away, looking at a car, and some of the roads up there were spectacular. I have another post in the queue where I talk a bit more about training outside.Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430651087205849350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-66834284509813209892016-11-20T20:36:10.219-05:002016-11-20T20:36:10.219-05:00Welcome back to the world, Aki. I'm just retre...Welcome back to the world, Aki. I'm just retreating to the trainer, and it's a very different environment- despite all of the virtual this and simulated that.Alaska Fat Cyclisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01560737500694617249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-91534923293236669772016-10-31T15:46:05.762-04:002016-10-31T15:46:05.762-04:00Thanks everyone. Dom I didn't know your dad pa...Thanks everyone. Dom I didn't know your dad passed only a couple days after mine. Like you said it's totally nutty, so intense and so permanent. John, I always remember you because my dad worked for a company with your first and last name and in fact because of them he got an unexpected pension check (UK companies apparently have to pay a pension to all past employees, no matter how briefly they were employed). Plus how could I forget selling you a 12T cog at the shop and then you riding me off your wheel either that night or a night shortly after at SUNY Purchase using "my" cog. I tell that story to everyone.Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430651087205849350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-32903715188748922722016-10-31T08:13:37.307-04:002016-10-31T08:13:37.307-04:00You're a good son, Aki.You're a good son, Aki.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-48169264624256585772016-10-29T23:36:57.874-04:002016-10-29T23:36:57.874-04:00I don't know you. Though from reading your sto...I don't know you. Though from reading your story, perhaps I do. A little. Your father was fortunate to have such a great friend by his side. EeyoreSchmeeyorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15471423414613480919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-188792942199197252016-10-28T19:30:07.228-04:002016-10-28T19:30:07.228-04:00I'm sorry for your loss. You're dad sounds...I'm sorry for your loss. You're dad sounds like a wonderful person and he certainly raised a great family. As the other poster said you have already honored him.fastk9dadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08032426670071228191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-27481166111903624272016-10-28T17:32:54.313-04:002016-10-28T17:32:54.313-04:00What a touching tribute. What a great kid you are....What a touching tribute. What a great kid you are. Any parent would be proud. You all did the right thing for an honorable man, as difficult as that was for your whole family. We should all be lucky enough to pass that peacefully, with our caring family nearby.<br />our condolences to you and your family.Matt Stuartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-11210841960928039752016-10-28T16:51:22.061-04:002016-10-28T16:51:22.061-04:00Aki,
I'm very sorry for your loss.
I never ha...Aki,<br /><br />I'm very sorry for your loss.<br />I never had the pleasure of meeting your father, but you're a good man, so he must have been alright.brownjahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872049582088466342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-24903023724534044812016-10-28T14:11:19.597-04:002016-10-28T14:11:19.597-04:00I think you've already honored him, Aki.
So so...I think you've already honored him, Aki.<br />So sorry for your loss. Reading the post rushed memories back to my mind when I sat by my dad as he passed at home. The breathing was very similar. I remember maybe the day or two before trying to match his shallow breathing and I could not do it for more than about 5 breaths. I need more air - how was he geting enough? I felt a large sense of relief at his death as the person fading away the few weeks prior was not the man I remembered. He left us on 10/21/16 and if I let myself think about him being gone for more than several seconds I feel the tears start. Just like right now. Life is nuts. Death is nuts and the whole thing confounds me.ddesmontshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04825293637794769249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-73246263295850814982016-10-15T09:12:52.553-04:002016-10-15T09:12:52.553-04:00I think a smart trainer is a bit away. My main thi...I think a smart trainer is a bit away. My main thing is to get my power setup working again, for races/outdoor. Then I want to set up the black bike like the red one, with a second stem (which is $250-300). After that... if I can get a rocking smart trainer, or I can get a rocking frame for a smart trainer... I know people around here that have direct drive / smart trainers, when I'm ready I'll see if I can jump on one to see what it's like.Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430651087205849350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-14571821087693511262016-10-15T07:33:33.442-04:002016-10-15T07:33:33.442-04:00Next you have to jump on one of the smart trainers...Next you have to jump on one of the smart trainers. With the way they been coming down in price, it maybe worth a look. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02186481746406535381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-80032772045352319162016-10-15T02:36:39.253-04:002016-10-15T02:36:39.253-04:00My name is Stuart. I'm a race director and a Z...My name is Stuart. I'm a race director and a Zwift Addict!<br /><br />On the other hand best shape I've been in quite a few years!sl149qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07362280493630645555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-45314853855856935262016-10-06T10:40:19.780-04:002016-10-06T10:40:19.780-04:00As I posted in the other place and mentioned in my...As I posted in the other place and mentioned in my own post, I think that all race promoters go through this. My numbers are a bit higher because of the nature of doing a Series, versus one day. One day races I think are harder because the promoter doesn't get into a rhythm and there's no return on all the course prep/etc done prior to the one day of racing. A Series is nice because the promoter gets to take advantage of the course prep multiple times, the staff/volunteers get comfortable with their duties, etc. Doing 5-7 races a year taught me a lot more than doing just one race a year.<br /><br />Obviously I put in the time, and I was okay with it when I did it. I get a bit worried when long time promoters start to pull out, wondering where the next batch of races will come from, but then I see some younger promoters with new events and it makes me feel better about the health of the racing scene.Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430651087205849350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-45571445312577951382016-10-06T10:36:46.561-04:002016-10-06T10:36:46.561-04:00Thanks for the links. I've been thinking about...Thanks for the links. I've been thinking about the tire thing for a while, from over the summer. I think that realistically those numbers are a bit inflated, based on the resistance roller (diamond pattern metal). However, the end result is the same, that there's a small but measurable difference between tires, and it could make a difference for me when going from the clinchers to the tubulars.<br /><br />Ultimately I'd like to get the wheels out on the road, as they are, and do a slew of sprints, and see what kind of data I come up with. I also want to see about doing some semi-controlled test, maybe on a running track, to see if I can measure a difference in speed or power (based on power or speed). But all this is fanciful thinking for some undetermined future time.Akihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00430651087205849350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36139180.post-42104872643506342492016-10-06T08:02:09.675-04:002016-10-06T08:02:09.675-04:00Amazing. Thank you for your many years of dedicati...Amazing. Thank you for your many years of dedication.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com