The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 24

Day 24 is the day I show my complete and utter ignorance.

For some unknown reason, I decided to check the air pressure in the tires before I rode today. The rear tire - the one that propels the trainer and gets 100% of the resistance - was at 40 psi. The recommended minimum is 115 psi. So, for who knows how long, I have been training on what amounts to a FLAT TIRE.

I am an idiot savant, without the savant part.

After inflating both tires to 120 psi, the difference in results is simply ridiculous.

Time: 38:58

Distance: 10.07 miles

Avg. speed: 15.5 mph

Max speed: 25.5 mph

Music: The National - Boxer

Relevant lyric: "you're dumbstruck, baby . . . racing like a pro now"

That's a full 2.5 mph more than I've been averaging, an increase of about 20%!

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 11:27:11

Miles: 150.12 miles

Avg. speed: 13.11 mph

____________________

Even though I am happy that I pushed the cumulative total past 150 miles today, I can't help but wonder how many miles I've left on the table because of my stupidity. I would guess another 15-20 miles easily, and probably more. And the sad part is that I know better. I mean, they were 120 psi back on January 31 when I set this whole thing up, but I don't know why I thought they would just magically stay there.

Today's relevant lyric could not be more prophetic (or pathetic, depending on how you look at it).

If Bill Maher were here, he'd say "NEW RULE: Check the air pressure before every ride, because air in the tires is a good thing, but air in your head is not."

I'm out (and ignorant) -
KWass

Cubicle Tunes - Week of February 23, 2010

2010 is already shaping up to be a pretty great year for music. It's not even March, and I already have 5 or 6 legitimate contenders for the Vox Acerbus Best Music of 2010. That doesn't even take into account the multiple releases I have spotted on the horizon. It could be the first multi-volume offering since 2006.

Dig these:

Vampire Weekend - Contra (2010)

I didn't give their self-titled debut much of a listen, but I become a huge fan after the inclusion of "Ottoman" on the soundtrack for the movie Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Funny how one song can make you a believer. My runaway favorites here are "Taxi Cab", which features a very unique string arrangement and a constant melodic line trickling from the piano, and "Run", which unlike the other tracks, is driven by intricate synth programming.

Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back (2010)

80's and world music icon Peter Gabriel returns with a collection of covers in a very unique way. The complete lack of drums and guitars creates ethereal arrangements of piano and orchestra, and turns some formerly bright pop songs into darker excursions. Gabriel covers acts such as Neil Young, Talking Heads, David Bowie and Arcade Fire among others, but the standouts here are Paul Simon's "Boy in the Bubble" and Bon Iver's "Flume". This one is best reserved for some dedicated, uninterrupted listening.

Shout Out Louds - Work (2010)

The Swedish group Shout Out Louds were featured in the Vox Acerbus Best of 2007 with a bouncy number called "Your Parents Living Room", full of energy and sound and a Cure/Robert Smith-ish vocal delivery. Three years later, this record is much more subdued and stripped down, allowing the pop essence of the band to come through with songs of longing, sadness, and nostalgia. My favorites are "Four by Four" and "Play the Game", but the album is solid throughout.

Editors - In This Light and On This Evening (2009)

I was drawn to this record by the name alone, and it quickly ascended in the play count of my iPod. Even though the album is full of sweeping synth programming, it maintains a very raw quality. The goal in the studio was "to give the machines a human feel", and by not polishing every song into submission, they've done just that. My favorites include "Papillon" (included on the Vox Acerbus Best of 2009), "Bricks and Mortar", and "The Boxer". This album was a complete and radical departure from the sound of the previous album "An End Has A Start", which reached number one in England. For lack of a more elegant way to say it, that takes huge balls.

We Were Promised Jetpacks - These Four Walls (2009)

I didn't find out about this Scottish band until my brother turned me onto them very late last year, or else they would have been represented on my annual collection. They have a very intense, emotional quality to them, and aren't afraid to let their songs build and maybe even go a step too far, because face it - sometimes emotions do that despite our best intentions. I like to think of them as similar to Snow Patrol, but more like Snow Patrol getting punched in the face so they are right and pissed off. My favorites are the opener, "It's Thunder and It's Lightning", "Conductor", the epic "Keeping Warm", and "Moving Clocks Run Slow".

I'm out-

KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 22

Day 21 was an off day. I only needed about 3 miles to get 50 for the week, but I put foolish pride aside and listened to the pain instead. Recovery was necessary!

Today I caught myself laughing to myself (don't judge me) because I was thinking I would do a "quick 10". Who the hell do I think I am? 3 weeks ago I couldn't even do 10, and now I'm talking smack about it.

It was a pretty quick 10, but that's beside the point. I can't get cocky or complacent, because it's all too easy to fall back into bad habits.

Time: 43:33

Distance: 10.02 miles

Avg. speed: 13.8 mph

Max. speed: 23.5 mph

Music: Ministry - The Land of Rape and Honey

Relevant lyric: "We go around in circles . . . retaliate"

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 10:48:13

Distance: 140.05 miles

Avg. speed: 12.96 mph

____________________

Over 3 weeks into the Experiment and other than cutting out a LOT of soda, I still eat a lot of crap, so the next phase will be to eliminate that. I think I've been successful by wading into the water instead of diving in, so it's a good plan.

Also, I did go and buy a pretty high tech scale last night. And it says I'm heavier now than I was three weeks ago. I trust the new one, though - the one I had was pretty cheap and probably not very reliable. So, I have a baseline now, and I am going to give it a week to see where I am, and when I know, you'll know.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 20

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, the goal for today was 20 miles. I questioned that bravado all night after I posted it. I mean, the farthest I've gone so far is 15 miles, and that was after two days of rest. Now I was planning 20 miles after a pretty fast 10 miles just the night before. Obviously, wisdom is not one of my more prominent qualities.

I wish I could say it was motivated by some creative impulse to do 20 miles on the 20th day of the Experiment, but honestly, it was motivated by the fact that I only had 23 miles in for the week, and it was already Friday. After making the 50 mile goal last week, it would be a shame if I took a big step backwards. Wisdom be damned - I went for it.

Time: 1:56:50

Distance: 24.02 miles

Avg. speed: 12.3 mph

Max. speed: 19.1 mph

Music: Vampire Weekend - Contra, Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend, Nik Kershaw - The Riddle

Relevant lyric: "I never want to see you again"

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 10:04:40

Distance: 130.03

Avg. speed: 12.91 mph

____________________

As cool as this is, I still need about 3 miles to hit 50 for the week. I may or may not jump on for a few miles tomorrow - it all depends on how my legs feel.

I am ecstatic over the progress I've made in the last few weeks, and I hope it continues. I know I am due for a weight update, but I have been planning to buy a good scale and haven't done so yet. I need to get on that - literally.

Always end a post with a bad pun.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 19

I didn't want to go too far or too fast today, because I am foolishly thinking about 20 miles on Day 20, but then I did it anyway. The distance itself wasn't excessive, but the average speed was pretty high, meaning I had sustained higher speeds that zap a lot of strength and create a lot of next day soreness.

A word about average speed and fluid resistance trainers - while 13.7 mph may not seem all that fast, when you combine it with the resistance, it's a fairly intense workout. There is no coasting on one of these things - once you stop pedaling, the back wheel stops in about 1/2 of a revolution. Basically, it fights you the whole way, and the faster you go, the harder it is to push.

Time: 45:02

Distance: 10.11 miles

Avg. speed: 13.7 mph

Max speed: 25.0 mph

Music: Cause & Effect - Another Minute

Relevant lyric: "Bare your soul, you'll never learn"

____________________

Time: 8:07:50

Distance: 106.01 miles

Avg. speed: 13.03 mph

____________________

So, the goal for tomorrow is 20 miles, and I will have to go slow to get it. I'll be happy with anything over an average of 10 mph. Stay tuned . . .

I'm out-
KWass

Cubicle Tunes - Week of February 16, 2010

Today marks the first installment of Cubicle Tunes since June 17, 2008.

The way I figure it, if I’m back on the bike, then I need to be back on the keyboard as well.

Writing is enjoyable and somewhat cathartic for me, and I can’t fathom how or why I have only written about my greatest passion – music – twice in the last 20+ months (those writings being the annual best music collection liner notes).

Here’s a quick refresher. I spend a lot of time in a cubicle, and during those hours, my iPod fills the dull silence with aural pleasantries. How do you think I compile the annual best music collection? That research goes on all year long, and I make notes of lyrics that catch my ear or songs that stand out for whatever reason.

These are the albums that will grace the triumphant return of my musical musings.

Ellis Paul – The Day After Everything Changed (2010)

Paul returns to contemporary folk form after the children-themed album “The Dragonfly Races” of 2007. This album is a markedly different offering and features Paul in more uptempo full band arrangements. A lot of people hate it when an artist breaks their mould, but I appreciate the evolution of an artist. Favorites here include the title track, “Lights of Vegas”, and the opener, “Annalee”.

Patty Griffin – Downtown Church (2010)

Recorded in a church in downtown Nashville (hence the title – duh), the album is a collection of gospel inspired songs, only 2 of which were written by Griffin herself. Admittedly, I wasn’t excited at the prospect of a gospel album, but when the opening lyrics were “People steal, they cheat and lie”, well, we here at Vox Acerbus were right on board. Favorites include “Little Fire”, “Coming Home to Me”, and “Waiting for My Child”. Griffin’s voice dominates this record, and trust me – that’s a good thing.

The Swell Season – Strict Joy (2009)

The Swell Season is none other than Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the duo who starred in and recorded the gorgeous soundtrack for the movie “Once” back in 2006. This album branches out a little further, featuring some mid-tempo numbers and some bigger instrumentation, but the underlying beauty remains. The deluxe edition features 14 live tracks from various albums, and the live version of the Oscar-nominated “Falling Slowly” will burn itself into your soul.

Owl City – Ocean Eyes (2009)

Although I have gravitated into the singer-songwriter genre over the last several years, I am still a big fan of synth based music, and simply stated, I love this record. I first heard “Fireflies” on Radio Disney (XM 115) of all places, and have been transfixed by it ever since. Favorites include “Vanilla Twilight” and “Tidal Wave”. It’s a rare occurrence when such a mainstream record makes this forum, so savor the flavor, because it may not happen again for a long time.

10,000 Maniacs – Our Time in Eden (1992)

This was the last studio album to feature vocalist Natalie Merchant, and that’s a damn shame. Merchant and the band both continued on, and for Merchant, with some degree of success, but this was the apex for both of them. “Jezebel” is on my all-time favorites list, and other highlights include “If You Intend” and “How You’ve Grown”. To hear how completely talented and flawless this band really was, I highly endorse the “MTV Unplugged” live set from 1993.

I'm out-

KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 17

OK - first things first. As I mentioned in my last post, Monday (Day 15) was an off day after struggling on Sunday to get the measly 6 miles I needed to hit 50 for the week.

Yesterday (Day 16) turned into an off day after Alex's diving meet ran long and I got home pretty late. So, I am behind for the week, and I hope I can make it up.

That being said, here is tonight's recap.

Time: 1:00:11

Distance: 13.11 miles

Avg. speed: 13.0 mph

Max. speed: 22.9 mph

Music: The Verve Pipe - Underneath and Vertical Horizon - Go

Relevant lyric: "It's not pretty underneath"

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 7:22:48

Distance: 95.9

Avg. speed: 12.99 mph

____________________

I am only 4.1 miles away from 100 miles. I did not anticipate that kind of mileage this quickly after such a long hiatus. I am going to increase my protein intake to help my muscles recover and see if I can put in these longer sessions more often. I shouldn't need so much recovery time or hurt so much after a longer ride, at least not 2 1/2 weeks into the Experiment.

Learn by doing.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 14

Happy Valentine's Day, and what better way to celebrate the holiday of hearts by riding your bike in an effort to avoid a myocardial infarction.

Today was short and sweet. I only needed 5.9 miles to make my goal of 50 for the week. To be honest, I don't think I could have gone much more than that today. It was my third consecutive day, and I rode this morning following a semi-intense ride last night. As of now, I will celebrate President's Day tomorrow by not getting in the saddle.

Time: 28:39

Distance: 6.06 miles

Avg. speed: 12.7 mph

Max speed: 20.5 mph

Music: Perfect Circle - aMotion

Relevant lyric: "Difficult not to feel a little bit disappointed"

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 6:22:37

Distance: 82.79 miles

____________________

I bought a new pair of jeans today and they were a size smaller than the ones I've been wearing. That's a small affirmation, but I'll take it.

Enjoy the holiday.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 13

My legs were definitely sore this morning. Before I rode this afternoon, I consulted with my beautiful fiancee Karen, who also happens to be a certified clinical massage therapist. She found a few knots (I'm sure there is a more technical term) and massaged them, and then she helped me stretch my quadriceps. The difference was amazing. I was almost 30 minutes into the ride before the pain started to set in, and as a result, I was able to get in a pretty respectable ride.

Time: 48:35

Distance: 11.10 miles

Avg. speed: 13.6 mph

Max speed: 23.8 mph

Music: Audioslave - Revelations

Relevant lyric: "I am such a wreck, I am such a mess"

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 5:53:58

Distance: 76.73 miles

____________________

This leaves me a scant 5.9 miles from my goal of 50 miles for the week, so it looks like I won't be taking Valentine's Day off.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 12

Day 11 was an off day, but I did walk 1.16 miles at work. Something is better than nothing.

So, after an off day, my legs felt good and I was ready to ride. I jumped on and settled into a brisk, steady pace. But something wasn't right. I had only been going for about 10-12 minutes and my legs were aching something hurtful. I checked the stats on the onboard computer and zoinks! I was clipping along at 15 mph!

Wrong gear!

I didn't notice at the start because I had the fresh legs, but it didn't take long to make me look like a fool.

I knew I was screwed, so I decided to turn it into a mini time trial, and see if I could tough it out for 30 minutes. I managed, but I am spent.

Time: 30:07

Distance: 7.23 miles

Avg. speed: 14.6 mph

Max. speed: 24.5

Music: Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine

Relevant lyric: "Just a fading fucking reminder of who I used to be"

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 5:05:23

Miles: 65.63 miles

____________________

I also clipped off 2.32 miles walking at work, so that may have had something to do with the early ass kicking. Still working on that whole "balance" thing . . .

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 10

Day 10 of the Experiment was a double bonus.

I took a snow day from work today, so I had a little extra time on my hands. And, since yesterday was an off day, I had a little extra energy as well. As I descended the basement steps, I wondered if I could squeeze out 15 miles. The result:

Time: 1:13:32

Distance: 15.15 miles

Avg. speed: 12.3 mph

Max. speed: 23.5 mph

Music: Book of Love - Lullaby and Erasure - Erasure

Relevant lyric: "Just look at the state of you . . ."

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 4:35:16

Distance: 58.4 miles

____________________

I also stepped on the scale again, and the results were encouraging.

Previous weight: 222 lbs

Current weight: 218 lbs

That 4 pound drop is all sweat equity too, because other than cutting out sodas, I'm still eating the same kind of crap I was before. And since I haven't eaten yet today, I am probably going to eat some crap tonight as well. All in due time . . .

I am halfway to my goal of 50 miles this week and have 4 more days to reach it. Things are going well.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 8

Longer. Faster. Farther.

Today was a great session, although the muscle fatigue was pretty pronounced. I started out strong, and then the pain set in and lingered between the 10 and 20 minute marks. It eventually faded, and I finished the last 25 minutes pretty well. Hopefully it's a sign of improvement that I was able to push through it.

Time: 48:30

Distance: 10.63 miles

Avg. speed: 13.1 mph

Max. speed: 25.1 mph

Music: Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War

Relevant lyric: "Sorry to be so heavy, but heavy is the cost"

____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 3:21:40

Distance: 43.25 miles

____________________

Week 2 is off to a great start. Day 9 is likely an off day because Alex has another diving meet pretty far from home and the weather report is not promising, but you never know . . .

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 7

What a difference a day makes. I felt great on the bike today. In fact, the only real reason I stopped was because I couldn't sit in the saddle anymore. Yes - my ass hurt. Fat ass - skinny bike seat. I'll let you figure it out. It was by far the longest and farthest ride of the experiment, and hopefully it is a sign of things to come.

Time: 49:34

Distance: 10.13 miles

Avg. speed: 12.2 mph

Max. speed: 24.7 mph

Music: Owl City - Maybe I'm Dreaming

Relevant lyric: "It's cheap transportation to a new destination"
_____________________

Cumulative Experiment stats:

Time: 2:33:10

Distance: 32.62 miles

______________________

After week 1, I am pretty happy overall, and I look forward the mileage numbers increasing.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 5

I fully intended on riding tonight, but ultimately decided that I had to listen to the screams of agony coming from my quadriceps. I have to get out of the mindset that rest is a bad thing.

I like the idea of a two-pronged attack (walking and riding), but I need to figure out the right mix. I cranked out some great distance walking today, but then I nixed the ride. Maybe I have to decide each day where the bulk of the effort is going to go and back off on the other. Either that, or I just need to keep hammering and wait it out until I am actually in shape again.

Pedometer count: 10,500

Another nice round number. I should start playing the lotto.

Day 6 is a scheduled off day. See you Sunday.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 4

Day 4 was a semi-scheduled day off from the bike (Alex had a diving meet tonight that was a scant 90 miles from my condo), but I did manage to get in some decent distance in the walking department.

Pedometer count: 11,149

I got a long, brisk walk in at lunch (4828 steps), and another decent one (2578) later in the afternoon.

As I was saying yesterday, it's hard to balance the need to rest and recover with the need to maintain focus and momentum, but I have to be sensible. Riding in the morning instead of the evening was possible, but not feasible. It would have been less than 10 hours between rides, and I was already pushing it physically. I like the fact that I was able to replace one exercise (biking) with additional work in another (walking), and I am happy with my overall effort so far.

Like Depeche Mode said over 25 years ago - get the balance right. 25 years? Damn.

Cumulative stats have been compiled and will be included in tomorrow's blog post.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 3

Stubborn pride is all that got me through tonight, because this one kicked my ass.

Maybe I should have taken a night off instead of forcing the issue, but after 2 years (more than that, really) of taking nights off, I am afraid I will lose this momentum if I do that.

Suck it up, buttercup. What do we love? PAIN!

Time: 36:08

Distance: 7.77 miles

Avg. speed: 12.9 mph

Max. speed: 18.3 mph

Music: Nik Kershaw - You've Got to Laugh

Relevant lyric: "That's the limit, that's enough"

I did manage to squeeze in a few steps today as well. Not great, but better than none, and more than I ever used to do.

Pedometer count: 7873

And, as promised, I stepped on the scale this morning. I was naked. I bought it several years ago and it's not even digital, but it will suffice until I get one of those high tech baddies that measure you down to the ounce.

Weight: 222 lbs

Weight will be more of a weekly stat. Sadly, 222 is actually the lightest I've been in a while. I am Fat Bastard.

Tomorrow I will begin calculating cumulative stats and averages, because how cool will it be to look at this a few months from now and see a big ass number for total miles?

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 2

A little bit slower today, but also a little longer and a little farther. Given that my legs were sore all day from last night's ride, I'll take it.

Time: 35:02

Distance: 7.53 miles

Avg. speed: 12.7 mph

Music: Vox Acerbus Best of 2009

Pedometer count: 6393

I had 2 long staff meetings today so I didn't walk during the breaks, but that was probably a good thing. I'm sure I couldn't have gone as long or as far as I did on the bike tonight if I had.

Tomorrow morning I will weigh myself and I'll start posting that as a stat as well. It's embarrassing, but sometimes that's what it takes. A little humiliation goes a long way.

I'm out-
KWass

The Basement Bike Experiment 2010 - Day 1

And so it begins.

I didn't start off all crazy - I wanted to be able to walk tomorrow, and it's been a good 20 months since I've been on a bike. But, I may have already overdone it, because walking back up the stairs was an adventure. We'll see how bad it is in the morning when I try to get out of bed.

Time: 32:26

Distance: 7.19 miles

Avg. speed: 13.3 mph

Music: Ellis Paul - Translucent Soul

Relevant lyric: "I'm letting go because holding on's killing me . . ."

It probably didn't help that I also walked about 2 miles during my work breaks today.

Pedometer count: 10,000

Yes - exactly 10,000, the recommended daily allowance. I couldn't hit that bulls eye again if I tried.

Day 1 is in the books, and most times, just getting started is the hardest part. Overall, I am humbled yet encouraged, and I certainly look forward to these numbers increasing.

I'm out-
KWass