Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Weekend Ride, Team Jerseys and Team Goals.

Well folks here we are,


it's almost June and the big ride is upon us. This upcoming weekend I will be hosting our third team ride on Saturday morning. Depending on weather and turn out I have charted out 2 options. Option 1 is a 66 mile ride that covers quite a bit of the mid cape


http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ma/chatham/396518443


check out this fly over google earth video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-eI3_ucGrM

Option 2 is to have a two loop course (which worked nicely at Lambert's house)


I am game for either so we can make the decision the morning off (or the night before)



Team Jerseys are in! They came out great! Give me a call and get them! The design looks very nice and the material is also top notch. I think the PwC logo is printed on the jerseys about 20 times so in case you forget which team you are riding for... fat chance.



Team goals: Our fundraising has picked up some speed and we are skirting the $12,000 mark. We could use additional support so please if you haven't so already put a strong fundraising effort in.



As usual, call me with any questions.



regards,



Miguel

Friday, May 18, 2007

Motivation Baby

Check out the VIP Jerseys!!!! Raise $1,500 and you'll be sporting one of these beauties!

Well done MS Society the design looks great! It also looks like it may have a full zip.


Friday, May 11, 2007

Lambert's Loop

This is a cool a site http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-states/ma/hull/396434483

check it out

This is the elevation profile!
max:202ft
min:-3ft
ascent: 645ft
descent: 626ft



Wow I am really teching out.

If you have google earth you can actually do a fly by of the entire route!!!

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Great Article from Active.com

Freedom from the grind: Become a bike commuterBy J.P. PartlandFor Active.comMay 03, 2007
Since you're reading this, you have a bike. Are you commuting on it? Get away from the dangerous assumption that commuting by car is the way things ought to be. It isn't.Many of us first tasted freedom riding to and from grade school. We dropped bikes when we started to preen in junior high, and gave up for good when we were given the option of moving a few tons of metal between home and high school. Burning fossil fuel to move 6,000 pounds, one person and a small bag a short distance just doesn't make sense.If you take the energy stored in a gallon of gas and convert it to food calories, many cyclists could get over 900 miles to the gallon. What does your car get? The cost of operating a bike is pegged at three cents per mile, while driving a car solo costs 70 cents per mile.There are other benefits, too. Riding means you don't have to commit the absurd act of driving to a gym to work out. Transit doubles as exercise, a twofer that saves time and improves health. Commuting means you're in control; no more sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic. You can also eat more and enjoy it. Gobble that leftover donut down; consider it re-fueling after the morning ride.Parking options improve, too. Bicycles almost always get the rock-star spot while the poor chumps in cars circle for several minutes looking for parking -- another environmental disaster and huge waste of time.In today's fast-paced world, time is valuable. Luckily, for most short trips -- whether to the market, quick errands or work -- riding can be comparable to driving. If you can manage 15mph, five miles can be completed in 20 minutes -- with almost no time spent stuck in traffic. Between walking to the car, traffic lights, finding parking and walking to the destination, that five-mile trip in a car can easily run beyond 25 minutes.Leave the rush hour traffic behindAnyone with a bicycle can be a commuter. If you have only one bike, then you've got your commuter ride right there. Converting an old bike is becoming popular, and there are a number of ways to improve your ride for the task. As in racing, lighter is better -- but not at the cost of reduced durability or the potential for extra maintenance.If there's one essential for commuter bikes, it's bulletproof tires. Tires that have Kevlar or some other impenetrable layer reduce the likelihood of flats. While carrying a pump, extra tube and tools is always a good thing, flatting when late to work sucks. The right belted tires may mean the only flats you get result from riding the tires under-inflated. Many of these tires have thick treads, so they can last a year or two depending on how far and how often you commute.The best commuter bikes are simplified, with the gearing appropriate for the ride. If it's a hilly route, make sure you have extra-low gears so you don't have to huff and puff to get where you're going. With a flat ride, consider using internal gearing, a single speed or a fixed-gear in a ratio that is easy to pedal.The fix is inFixed-gear bikes are becoming pretty hip these days, offering certain advantages when the conditions are right. They're light because the chain is short and there's only a single cog and chainring. You can also get away with just one brake in the front. The rear wheel is generally bolted on -- making it harder to steal -- and the same can be done to the front wheel. And you'll never space out on the morning ride because the direct drive attached to the pedals means that when the wheels are rolling, the pedals are turning.If you're a newbie and you're lusting after a new fixed gear, get one with a flip-flop hub and two handbrakes. A flip-flop hub allows you to switch from a fixed cog on one side to a freewheel cog on the other. Schwinn re-released their popular Madison model, and Swobo also has a stylin' fix called the Sanchez.Older bikes can be converted to fixed gears or single-speeds, whether they're designed for road riding or mountain biking. The rear dropouts (where the back wheel connects to the frame) determines whether it will be an easy job or one requiring a savvy mechanic. Devices such as the Surly Singleator are available if you want to turn your freewheel into a single-speed.Extra accessories for commutersWhat lock you need depends on where you are and how long you're staying. Sometimes, a cable is all you need for a deterrent; other times, a U-lock is needed for its security. Ideally, get something light enough to carry and always lock your bike when leaving it alone -- even for a minute. Many companies are happy to accommodate bikes, providing bike lockers or secure storage areas.Fenders keep clothes clean and dry on damp rides and can be a welcome accessory for commuters. They don't have to be heavy and made of aluminum. Many are made of plastic and designed to be attached and detached quickly.Every commuter should have at least one blinking light. Most are designed to clip onto clothes, or come with quick-release brackets that make taking them on and off bikes a breeze. A red blinking light for the back is essential. A white blinking light for the front is useful for alerting oncoming traffic.Most commuters will find a bag or rack is a good investment. Using a small bag forces you to be efficient and take only the minimum, but not everyone has that option. While some believe messenger bags are the way to go because bike messengers carry all sorts of stuff, what they don't realize is that messenger bags are designed for carrying large, oddly-shaped objects short distances. They're not always comfortable when fully loaded over longer rides. Backpacks designed for bike commuting usually are long and narrow so the bag doesn't easily shift when riding. They often have a back padding system to minimize sweat, multiple compartments and optional hydration bladders.The big questionIs it best to ride in normal clothes or riding clothes? Most commuters base their decision on the distance covered. The big break seems to be at five miles. Less than five, many opt for street clothes -- use some kind of band to keep pant legs from getting greasy or caught on the chain. More than five miles and it's time to get changed.And thus do clothes beget the sweat discussion. A shower at the destination, especially if it's work, makes things easy. But there's always dressing in layers, riding easy, and doing a quick manual spritz in a sink.The hardest thing about forsaking your car for a bike is the first ride. It won't feel right. But the more you commute, the easier it gets. Before you know it, you'll be contemplating riding to work in the cold, the rain, the snow -- anything to stay away from driving. It's addictive. Luckily, it's the good kind of addictive.

J.P. Partland is the author of three books, including Tour Fever, published by Perigee, Mountain Bike Madness and The World of BMX. He also contributes to the Kissena Cycling Club Web site with JP's Corner.

Monday, April 30, 2007

Inspirational Quotes

During a long ride you are inevitably going to go through some bad patches. You will either be tired, sore, hungry, thursty or all of the above. When those patches come through, and I hope they don't it is better to be prepared for them so that you can deal with them. There is an aspect of physical training that I hope we all have under our respective belts and a mental training so that when a bad patch comes around you know how to deal with it. Sometimes, when I am very tired or feeling spent I repeat little sayings like "Longer and stronger" or the "Longer I go the stronger I get". This all may sound strange but the power of the mind is not to be under-estimated.

Here are some quotes that I like. Please feel free to add others on the comment section.

"Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwhile." —Sir Wilfred Grenfell

"Security is mostly a superstition. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." —Helen Keller

"Life's strict rule is this: You get more of what you focus on. Ignoring this, we abandon our healthiest, concentrative energies and court emotional upheaval." —Marsha Sinetar

"We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit" —Aristotle

"There's no substitute for getting smarter faster. And the way that you get smarter is to screw around vigorously. Try stuff. See what works. See what fails miserably. Learn. Rinse. Repeat." —Tom Peters

"If you overtrained, it means that you didn't train hard enough to handle that level of training. So you weren't overtrained; you were actually undertrained to begin with. So there's the rule again: The guy who trains the hardest, the most, wins."
- Floyd Landis

"Pain is temporary, it may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place."
- Lance Armstrong

The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights. Muhammad Ali

Saturday, April 28, 2007

First Official Team PwC Ride

All week long the forecast kept threatening but we never really got rained on. The sun actually peeked out and dried up the roads. 10 of our team riders showed up and wheels were rolling by 9:30. So much has happened these last few weeks that I made a little video montage... Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OilyflicTfM

OK the video is not very good here are some of the better pics...


From left to right, Garrett, Kelly, Matt, Miguel, Tomas (the little guy), Michelle, Tyler, Dimitris, Johnathon Munko, Andrew (Wataru behind the lens)


Kalyan and Matt share a laugh post ride.




We are famous!!!

Check out page 98 of the improper Bostonian!



Friday, April 27, 2007

Alumni Event

John, Michelle and Larry share a moment at the PwC Alumni event.

Monday, April 23, 2007

Steve Jobs, "Computers are like a bicycle for our minds."

I thought this was a pretty cool video.
the best part of this video is the black turtle neck an the comment posted on youtube.
"what irony. The "bicycle for our minds" is also a contributor to physical atrophy across the board. In the context of where man stands in "movement" vs. the rest of creation...I thought this was again, ironic. -and here I sit on my computer. "

The solution for us self proclaimed computer jockeys... Ride your bike more! Alternatively get a really cool cycling computer.

The last 2 days I have managed early morning bike rides. The weather has been warmer and the pavement has been dry. The beauty of an early morning ride is how amazingly quiet everything is. On Tuesday I saw to deer in a field playing. They crossed the road right in front of me and continued chasing each other around! Today, I got out a bit earlier with the help of my niterider lights (http://www.niterider.com/prod_minewt.shtml) and saw a spectacular sunrise. I also saw a family of foxes scurrying into the woods.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Events of the week


Spring has sprung and biking season is upon us!

In this weeks update:

Update on goals:
1. Raise a minimum of $30,000 - We are at $5,160 or 17% of our goal. For those of you have not yet started your fundraising campaigns the time is now! If you have any questions about how to fundraise and who to target please do not hesitate to call me or our resident fundraising leader (Andy Fairbanks)
2. Raise awareness for MS - See Ridapalooza below
3. Build a large team (30+ riders) of PwC employees and alumni - We are at 27 and I am confident that we can get at least 3 more riders. If you know anyone interested get them to sign up ASAP.
4. Get in shape - I hear that many of you have been riding which is great!
5. Have a great time doing it all!


PwC Alumni Event: Thursday 26 th
To register -> www.meetpwc.com/bostonallalumniOn behalf of the partners and managers of the Boston office ofPricewaterhouseCoopers, we are pleased to invite you to our annual All-Alumni Reception. To those of you who have RSVP'd, we thank you!Please register at the web address below.Date: Thursday, April 26, 2007Time: 6:30-9:30 pmPlace: Fairmont Copley Plaza 138 St. James Avenue Boston, MA 02116 617-267-5300RSVP: www.meetpwc.com/bostonallalumni by April 20, 2007

PwC 125 High Ride-a-thon / Ridapalooza: Friday 27th
When is the last time you got to ride to work? When is the last time you got to ride AT work? Your chance is here! Come join us as from 11-2 in the atrium of 125 high for a spin an a few trainers as we raise a few $$$'s raise some awareness, and recruit a few riders. Many thanks to Michelle for pulling this event together!


Team Ride Chez Miguel: Saturday 28th with a potential rain day on Sunday 29th
Here is a proposed ride route. There are a million options to shorten or lengthen the ride. Bring 2 water bottles a bit of food. Plan on riding for 2 hrs and going 20-25 miles with a coffee break.

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=858351

I think this may be a bit over 25 miles but there are lots of places to cut it down a bit depending on the weather, how the team is feeling etc...
Exact start time for the ride will be posted on Friday but I am leaning towards 8-9 am start time. To minimize road traffic and maintain family bliss. If you are planning to ride please be sure to drop me an email so that I have an idea of how many people to expect. Again my address is 50 Glen St Dover MA 02030 and will serve as the starting point for the ride.

and last but not least BIKE PORN....
Here is my latest project that was finalized and christned today. I have not named her yet but she is Italian and was born in the 70s I am leaning towards Giuseppina.



http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=my6ha63.52ldvo2z&x=0&y=a5psbn


Giuseppina came to me at the Dover dump and was quickly turned into a single speed. At the time her paint was white with rainbow stickers. Her wheels were missing and her bottom bracket rusted but functional. Over the winter. She was sanded, primed, painted and clear coated with great care and attention. Her bottom bracket was shipped in from Italy (given the reverse threading). A new 46 tooth crank was added, the profile design threadless converter was also added (this little beauty turns quill style fork into a more update threadless stem) This was perfect as I already had a Ritchey stem and a handle bar kicking around. The brakes are a bit of missmatch... Campy chorus in the back and an old school pull breaks in the front.

I rode Giuseppina about 20 miles today and what a fantastic ride she was. Giuseppina needs no timer or speedometer, she makes her own time.... While not breaking any sound bariers atop my "new to me" steed her silky smooth ride has me on the fence about which bike to bring down to the GMG.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Mark your calendars weekend rides are here



Hello Team,
I hope you had a great weekend. The Saturday morning ride was super fantastic! Crisp clear weather, dry roads, and low traffic made for a great time on the bike. Over the next 2-3 months I would like to schedule a couple of team rides. Team rides are a great time to get to know each other, get into shape and learn new routes. They are also a great time to learn bike handling skills, basic maintenance and upkeep etc...
Michelle and I wanted to propose to you all that we arrange for 3 team rides.
20-25 ride in late April /early May,
40-45 mile ride in mid to late May and a
60-65 mile ride in early June.
20-25 mile ride West of Boston - APRIL 28th (APRIL 29th rain day) We can use my house as pit stop / watering hole and there are support vehicles in case of break down.
40-45 mile ride South shore -MAY 12th - (NO RAIN DAY /May 13th is mothers day) Michelle volunteered the Lambert estate as a meeting point / watering hole.
60-65 mile ride Cape Cod - JUNE 2nd - (JUNE 3rd rain day) Beers and Barbque to follow. I think it is key to experiment with a ride that mimics the actual ride in length to sort out your nutrition, bike set up etc.... We can use my parents house in Chatham as a watering hole.
I know many of you may not be early risers (on weekends specially) but I would strongly recommend early starts for all of these rides so that we are exposed to less road traffic. Rain days would only be used in the case of major rain. A few showers would not stop the riding. Let me know what you think of these dates and ride locations.
As we get closer to these dates I will post ride cue sheets.
I look forward to riding with all of you!
Miguel

Friday, April 6, 2007

Team Update #3 - Friends, Riders, Countrymen Lend me your ears.


This week we are at 23 riders and we have raised $3,465 to date. Fund raising is starting to pick up but many of you (including me) need to start the process in earnest. A special thanks to Andy Fairbanks our resident fund-raising champ for setting a great example. Andy gets the special gold star award for the week. I also want to thank you for coming out and meeting the team last Tuesday at the Black Rose. Watching the new MS video and getting to know you all was a pleasure. A couple of other announcements.



1. Weekend rides. I will be riding Saturday morning and would welcome anyone to join. I will be riding from my house (50 Glen St Dover, MA) and will be leaving at 9 am sharp for a 2 hr slow ride. This ride will take us through the gentle rolling hills of Dover, Sherborn, Medfield and Needham. Ride time will be 1.5 to 2 hrs. The weather should be brisk so layer up. Following the ride you are all welcome to join us for an Easter egg hunt on the Dover green. This is mostly for kids but should be fun nonetheless.

2. Future Weekend Rides will be posted on the Blog at : www.teampwcms150.blogspot.com there are also many great rides at www.crw.org if you are looking for places to ride (and people to ride with)

3. 125 High St Atrium Ride - Currently finalizing the plans but it looks like it will be either April 26 or 27th. Our preference would be for the Friday but we will see what happens. Michelle and I will keep you posted. If you are interested in this little fund-raiser/rider recruiting event please let us know. Our time slot is from 11 - 3 so we will need at least 4-5 riders and a few people to stand guard at our information table.

4. For those of you who are alumni, I hope you are considering going to the Alumni Event at the Fairmont on April 26th from 6:30 pm on. These events are a great opportunity to catch up with current PwC colleagues and past acquaintances. Team PwC will be there recruiting alumni riders.

regards,
Miguel

Team Update - Weekly Update #2

Hello Team PwC,
I just wanted to provide everyone with a quick update on the current status of our Great Mass Getaway Goals.
The goals for this year are:
1. Raise a minimum of $30,000 - We've doubled last weeks' fund-raising amount and are currently at $3,060 - 10% of the way there and still 3 months to go! (and I'm sure many of you have checks at home that haven't been entered on-line so we're probably even higher than that...)
2. Raise awareness for MS
3. Build a large team (30+ riders) of PwC employees and alumni - We're at 67%! Keep recruiting!
4. Get in shape - We are looking into the possibility of renting out a spinning room at a gym and having an instructor teach a 60-90 minute spin class with all the proper cycling techniques. We'll be keeping you posted.
5. Have a great time doing it all!
We now have 20 riders officially signed up for the GMG 2007 and another 2-3 on the fence or lurking around the fence. If you see or know any of those people get them to commit asap.
Upcoming Events:
April 3rd 6pm - 8pm at the Black Rose we have a Tour Kick Off Celebration. We will show a video and have some appetizers.
At some point during the month of April, Team PwC will be having a ride-a-thon in the 125 High atrium. The plan is to have 3 Team PwC members ride, in FULL cycle gear, from 11-2 one day to raise awareness of the event. We will have a table where people can sign up, donate, or start their own teams. We currently have 3 people willing to make fools out of themselves :c) however, if anyone else is interested, we would like an additional 3 people so no one has to ride for 3 straight hours. Let me know if you would like to ride or run the table...
Thanks to everyone who has signed up so far!!!

Team Update - Weekly Update #1

Hello Team PwC,
Thank you so much for signing up for the Great Mass Getaway. I am really getting fired up for all the great events that this year will provide us with. I would like to also thank you for helping us get closer to our desired goals of:
The goals for this year are:
1. Raise a minimum of $30,000 (ok so we are 5% there)
2. Raise awareness for MS (today I received an email from one of our alumni at Stonebridge that was so inspired by our efforts that she decided to start her own company team!!! Our lost is her gain! Unbeknownst to her I have channeled all of her donations to team PwC.....)
3. Build a large team (30+ riders) of PwC employees and alumni (40% met!)
4. Get in shape
5. Have a great time doing it all!
At the close of the day today we now have 12 riders officially signed up for the GMG 2007 and another 10 - 15 on the fence or lurking around the fence. If you see or know any of those people get them to commit asap. We have raised over $1,450 and the donations are still coming in. I know that some of you just joined the team but there is no time like the present to get on the fund-raising wagon. I also need to get your desired shirt sizes as the order is going in this Friday.
A couple of other events worth noting:
March 22 by close of business - I need your desired shirt sizes (check out sizing below) If I don't hear from you Michelle will be making executive sizing decisions...
April 3rd 6pm- 8 pm at the Black Rose we have a Tour Kick Off Celebration. We will show a video and have some appetizers.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

PwC Cycling Jerseys











Check out our PwC Cycling jerseys! What a great design and high quality too.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Cycling Etiquette and Signaling


Cycling Etiquette

  • Obey all traffic signs and signals. This includes traffic lights and stop signs.
    Communicate with your fellow riders, using proper cycling terms, such as “On your left,” “Car back,” etc.
  • Car back ... move to single file on the right hand side of the road or shoulder. Give way to the car... they are bigger than you and they will win.
  • On your left ... allow the person coming up behind you to pass safely within the lane; not crossing over into the other lane. If necessary move to the right.
  • Stay to the right, except to pass. Pass on the left side only. Do not pass on the right.
    Do not cross center line regardless of passing zone.
  • Use proper signals when turning. Make left turns from the center of the road or left turn lane. Cross railroad tracks at right angles.
  • Ride in control of your bike at all times (i.e. being able to stop within a reasonable distance.)
  • Ride defensively, in consideration of your fellow riders.
  • Don't use Aero bars in a group.
  • Point out and call out any road hazards ahead. These include potholes, drain grates, stray animals, opening car doors, sticks or stones, parked cars, etc.
  • Do not overlap wheels. A slight direction change or gust of wind could easily cause you to touch wheels and fall.
  • Pedal down hill when you are at the front of the bunch. Cyclists dislike having to ride under brakes.
  • When climbing hills, avoid following a wheel too closely. Many riders often lose their momentum when rising out of the saddle on a hill which can cause a sudden deceleration. This can often catch a rider who is following too closely, resulting in a fall from a wheel touch.
  • Follow the instructions of Ride Marshals.

    MS 150 Tips - Vocal Warnings
  • Slowing - When someone yells out "Slowing", this means that there is something that is causing the pack to slow down. This can be anything from a light, a slower pack of bikes, a car up ahead. In any event, prepare to slow down. Tap you brakes and repeat the yell "Slowing". This is to indicate to others that you've heard them and you are also slowing. This will also alert those behind you that you are slowing down.
  • Stopping - When someone yells out "Stopping", this means that there is something that is causing the pack to stop. This can be anything from a light, a slower pack of bikes, a stop sign or a car up ahead. In any event, prepare to stop. Tap you brakes and repeat the yell "Stopping". This is to indicate to others that you've heard them and you are also slowing to a stop. This will also alert those behind you that you are slowing to a stop. It's VERY important not to slam on your brakes especially if there are others behind you!!
  • Hold your line - When someone yells, "Hold your line", this means that you need to stay in a straight line as best you can. In most cases, the person yelling this out to you is attempting to pass. If you swing out or if you don't keep your bike steady, you could cause the other bicycler trouble.
  • On your Left - When someone yells, "On your Left", this means that they are passing you on your left. No need to take this personally. Let them pass as they have the right of way. You should never hear "On your Right". That is, a bicycler should never pass on the right. However, there are many bicyclers with varying experience. Be on the look out for those that will pass on your right. If someone does this, kindly remind him or her that they should pass on the left. Also, it is common courtesy to say "Thank You" to the person yelling "on your left". This indicates to them that you've heard them.
  • Car Up - When someone yells, "Car Up", this means that there is a car up front. It is intended to be a verbal caution indicating that a stop may be necessary. If you hear this, repeat the call so that others know that you are aware of the vehicle up front. It is also common courtesy to repeat this so that others behind you also know about the car.
  • Car Back - When someone yells, "Car Back", this means that there is a car up back. It is intended to be a verbal caution indicating that a stop may be necessary. If you hear this, repeat the call so that others know that you are aware of the vehicle is behind you. It is also common courtesy to repeat this so that others behind you also know about the car.

    MS-150 SAG Signal... To signal Support And Gear vehicles follow these three steps:
  • Off Road. Move out of the path of other riders.
  • Off Bike. Stand or sit nearby.
  • Wave Helmet.

Fuel and Fluids

An understanding and application of the basics of eating and drinking before, during and after exercise will greatly help your preparation and ride experience. Riders sometimes don't realize the importance of before and after, and tend to only think in terms of during ride itself.

Here are some of the basics: Some further references are provided later.)
Hydration: (Critical to both cooling as well as nutrient transport)

  • drink often and in small amounts - before you get thirsty
  • drink before, during and after extended exercise
  • too much is as bad as too little (your body can only absorb at a certain rate)

Electrolytes: (As important, though often forgotten piece of the puzzle.)

  • don't rely on sodium (salt) only
  • use electrolyte supplements &/or 'sports drinks'

Fuel: (Provides the calories to keep you going.)

  • avoid simple sugars (They provide fast acting but very short lived impact.)
  • complex carbohydrates provide a sustained energy source
  • use protein supplements

There are LOTS of specialist products available - 'energy bars', gels, power / water mixes

With respect to the above, practice drinking and eating during training rides - don't leave it to the actual event. That way you will get to know what is best for you personally. Experiment a little with different products.

Check out this fueling handbook.

Additional Training

Don't just exercise your legs. Do a little training for upper body strength. This will help avoid fatigue or stiffness in the arms and shoulders.

Mix up your training - add variety - distance, routes, speed, who you ride with......

Pedal circles - i.e. not just push on down stroke. This achieves a smoother smoother action and reduces overall fatigue. It will require practice. Use toe clips or "clipless" pedals to optimize each rotation of the crank.

Take a break when you need to. Don't overdo it - especially in the early part of your training. Even a short break of five minutes will revitalize you.

Use a mirror to see behind. This helps know what is coming up behind you and hence adds to your safety. Mirrors can be attached to the helmet or handlebars. Get into the habit of looking in your mirror &/or over your shoulder regularly and especially when changing direction or position on the road.

Be sure your bike is the correct size and that it is adjusted to fit your body. This is especially important for longer rides - you can get away with a not so good fit for just and hour or so. Correct set up will greatly help both your comfort and efficiency. Consult experienced riders if you are not sure.

Use a bicycle computer. They are inexpensive and help develop an understanding of your capabilities and keep track of your improvement. It is helpful to keep records in a log.

Frequency - you should ride no more than 6 days a week. You will need at least one day a week to recover.

ALWAYS WEAR A HELMET - every time you go out. Make sure it fits you properly and is in excellent condition - no damage, frayed straps, buckles/clips work correctly etc....

Training Schedule

The training plan below is listed in miles per day, and was adapted from a century training schedule from Bicycling Magazine. It is based on the target of completing the MS150 at the end of 10 weeks of training. One modification you might make is to increase the mileage on Sunday, to get used to doing 2 consecutive long days. 1) Take a rest day—here it is on Thursday, but you can adjust to meet your personal schedule. 2) Try to ride most days of the week - especially getting closer to the ride date. 3) Don’t increase your weekly total more than 10-12%. To do so risks injury. 4) “EASY” means relax. This is a recovery period for your body. 5) “BRISK” means 2-3 miles per hour faster than your target speed for the ride 6) “PACE” means your target speed for the day of the MS150 7) The big mileage days on Saturday are critical to the program. It doesn’t have to be on Saturday, but they should be more than 4 days apart, and once a week. Program to help you ''comfortably' complete the MS150


More Training Tips
Intensity: Alternate hard days with easy days. Allow your body to recover from the hard efforts. On hard days you may only ride half the distance you would ride on an easy day. Alternating intensity not only allows you to be able to sustain hard efforts (like riding all day into a headwind), but also changes the monotony of riding the same speed/distance day in and day out.

Warm-up: Use the first few miles of every ride as a warm-up. Especially when it’s cool out, this will minimize the chances of injury. Many people make the mistake of pushing too hard early in the season when they are both not in shape and riding in cool/cold weather.

Stretching: Stretching before you ride can prevent injury, while stretching after you ride can aid the recovery process – especially on a two day ride. Stretch until you feel the pull, then back off slightly. Pain while stretching means you are overdoing it. Remember long (at least 30 seconds) and slow.

Find a Buddy or Two: Riding is MUCH more fund with a friend. It also adds to the safety and a buddy will be there to help out if you have a puncture or a mechanical problem.

Clothing: Don't under-dress for cool conditions. Dress in layers. Tendons and ligaments work best when warm. Wear leg warmers until it reaches about 60 F. It may look cool to have bare legs at 55 F, however you run the risk of injury. You can always take off layers if you are too hot, but can’t put them on if you find yourself too cold and didn’t bring them with you.

Bike Preparation

Rule #1: Never, never, never make adjustments to your bike the night before the ride. Give yourself a week to ride the bike after you’ve replaced equipment, adjusted derailleurs, brakes, etc. This is to make sure that everything is working as it should .....and nothing falls off!

Tires - Be sure your tires and tubes are in good shape, and fully inflated. Under inflated tires create more rolling resistance, causing you to work harder. Replace tires that show signs of deteriorating rubber or large cuts. Tires can fail catastrophically ...and with significant consequences! If you have off-road tires, consider replacing them with "slicks" as this will greatly reduce rolling resistance. Have with you a couple spare tubes, a patch kit, a pump or CO2 cartridges, and tire "irons", so you can fix a flat. There are bike mechanics at some of the rest stops, and SAG wagons patrolling the route, but if you get a flat, you'll be glad you can fix it yourself.

Derailleurs/Shifters - Be sure your derailleurs are properly adjusted, operate smoothly, and that the cables are not frayed. Lubricate the derailleurs and cables.

Chain - Clean and lubricate your chain the week before the MS150. With all the training miles you've ridden, your chain has picked up some grit, a little effort in cleaning and lubricating your chain will give you a smoother (and quieter) ride. Better yet, if you can't remember the last time you cleaned your chain, it's probably time to replace it - you might be surprised to find out a new chain only costs only $10-$25 and will reduce the wear on your cassette.

Wheels - Check that your spokes are tight, and that your wheels are "true". If your brakes rub intermittently, that's a good sign you've got a wobble. If needed, you'll probably want to have a bike shop true your wheels as this is a specialist job.

Brakes - Make sure your brakes operate smoothly and effectively. Check your brake cables and if they're worn, frayed or gritty, replace them. Make sure that your brakes are adjusted so that you can apply lots of breaking force without the brake levers contacting the handlebars.

Pedals - If you use clipless pedals, be sure the cleats on your shoes haven't loosened, and that they are adjusted so your feet are neither slanted inward or outward unnaturally. If you feel like your knees are being forced in or out when you're clipped in, you probably need to adjust the cleats on your shoes. Periodic lubrication will help make them easy to get into and out of. Make sure that the pedal axles are not loose.

Wheel Hubs: If you have unsealed hubs, the front and rear hubs should be repacked yearly. Check to see that there is not excess play in the axles, that the cones on the axles are not pitted, and that the bearings are not worn. If any of the above are true, it’s time to overhaul the hubs.

Cranksets: Not much to do here. Make sure that the chainwheel bolts are on tight and that the teeth of the chainrings are not excessively worn.

Headsets: Make sure they are properly lubricated and adjusted. Replace the headset if you have pitted races.

Bottom brackets: These are typically sealed, so lubrication is not an issue. Make sure that there is not play in the bottom bracket (that it is screwed into the bottom bracket shell securely).

Handlebars and stem: Make sure that these are tight and aligned correctly.

Saddle: If the one you are riding is not comfortable now is the time to find one that fits. Saddle fit is very individual - take your time and seek advise of experienced riders or bike shop professionals. A saddle that fits you is worth its weight in gold. (But remember it does take time for your body to get conditioned to even the best of saddles.)

If you are wondering what a derailleur is or what kind of wheel hubs you have drop me a quick email.

regards,

Miguel

Monday, February 26, 2007

MS 150 2006 a ride to remember

Here are some classic pics from last years' ride

Riding single file to take advantage of the slip stream

It was a little wet so some of the riders used special floatation divices.
Day 2 the team took a nice food break. This is my favorite part of the ride! The guilt free mobile buffet!











Friday, February 23, 2007

Welcome to the team!

Hello everyone and welcome to the official site for PwC MS 150 team. The purpose of this site is to communicate with all team members upcoming events, fund raising progress and logistics.

The annual MS150 Bike Tour is a non-competitive bike ride to raise money for the National MS Society, whose mission is to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. This event is the largest organized cycling event in the United States, with nearly 100,000 cyclists participating in over 100 tours nationwide. The MS150 is suitable for riders of all abilities. Riders pay a modest registration fee, then raise pledges for their efforts.

The goals for this year are:
1. Raise a minimum of $30,000
2. Raise awareness for MS
3. Build a large team (30+ riders) of PwC employees and alumni
4. Get in shape
5. Have a great time doing it all!

As the ground thaws out, we will be headed outdoors to ride our bikes and to do a bit of training. We will also be holding a 2 hr bike safety course taught by one of the GMG tour director to cover safety issues and ride protocol.

Stay tuned,

Miguel Roque
Team PwC Grand Poobah