You know you want to do squats and you want to do squats everyday because you’ve been told it helps your sprint and you want to feel powerful.

According to the renowned Bulgarian weightlifting coach, Ivan Abadjiev , your workout should

ideally consume nearly half of one’s waking hours and, most important, there are no days off.

Read the entire article about Ivan Abadjiev and the Bulgarian Method at the WSJ [http://online.wsj.com/article]

It’s time to make the commitment. The question is: does this regimen translate to cycling?

Starting in August, after Solidarity Month, back to the gym like the true MeN>iA.Cs we are.
Everyday SQuAT, sQUAt, SqUaT (if you’ve got the courage; well, do you?)

Photo: Andy Bolton (Abadjiev advocate). Visit his website: http://www.andyboltonstrength.org

Here’s a note Chris Lotts posted on Facebook regarding Scott Styrker’s heart attack.

Please note:  the content below was copied exactly as it was found on FaceBook (6/18/11)

Christopher Lotts

You had a heart attack after the Wednesday Chronic Douchebag ride???? hahahahahahahahahaha!!!! You are not a racer, you’re a bike rider-take it easy, that would be Hegg’s advice!!!!

If you’re unfamiliar with Chris Lotts, visit his websites:
California Bicycle Racing: http://www.californiabicycleracing.org/
Chris Lotts Blog: http://californiabicycleracing.blogspot.com/

The Douchebag Implosion Phenomenon & the Gravity of Depravity:
when a douchebag runs out of fuel in its core, starts to cool and all the external mass caves in;  it’s the heat from its own internal hot-air that keeps the douchebag expanded against its depravity.

Definition:
implosion - a sudden inward collapse
collapse - a natural event caused by something suddenly falling down or caving in; “the collapse of the old douchebag under its own depravity”

gravitational collapse – the implosion of a douchebag resulting from its own depravity; the result is a smaller and less audible douchebag

For a definition of douchebag, see Urban Dictionary: douchebag

Pumbaa went so hard on the Wednesday sprint he dislodged some plaque from an artery that caused enough chest pain he knew one thing and one thing only:  “Get me to the Hospital.“  After 2 hours of evaluation in E.R. the chunk moved itself into the widow maker position (completely blocked blood flow) and took him to the edge of the here-after.  They had to electric paddle the Pygmy Boy back to life; looks like you gotta get your ass spanked on both sides of the life equation.   Apparently this was Mr. Styker’s (near?) death experience.  If he had gone home instead of the hospital, we would of had a ceremony to attend.  The question on everyone’s mind when he came back was the typical “what was it like?”   He had the entire unit in a buzz.  They say, when people are revived,  some shyte themselves,  some cry hysterically and  some claim the glory of the almighty.  According to Pumbaa “It was swEEEEEEEEEEET.“  His agnostic/atheistic tendencies have been validated;  Scott told the big guy “you’re weak you little pygmy“  and “…if anyone is looking for something in the afterlife, they’re gonna be really disappointed.“  The grim reaper lost the sprint and blew his opportunity.

He’s got a stint in his artery and according to the doctors he’ll recovery and be back on the bike. Watch out Pete!  The challenge is only delayed.

According to the Gothamist:

The NYPD has been justifiably criticized for their massive cycling crackdown this year—there’s been a record-breaking number of summonses given out to cyclists as part of “Operation Safe Cycle”, including tickets for such non-violations as riding a bike with a tote bag on the handlebars and not wearing a helmet. But a cop threatening to ticket a woman for riding while wearing a skirt? Even for the NYPD, that’s just too absurd to be real…except according to one woman, it wasn’t.

Read the whole story at http://gothamist.com

Operation Safe?  Sounds like a program to educate cyclists about the attitude of motorists: ” I’m DRIVING HERE ! “

Regarding the war between motorists & cyclists: It is gonna get worse before it gets better. Education is a learning process; it’s our responsibility to bring the teach’n to them.

Apparently the officer was just trying to make a little time.  Can you blame’em?

Yo! Tortuga: looks like a kit possibility.

Ride around the Bear:  109 miles; 9000 feet of climbing.

Click HERE to review completion times for all registered riders (OCW website).

At the rest stops you could see riders happy with their accomplishment to have completed the ride to that point and eager to get back to task;  others revealed their suffering by the countenance on their faces and, for some, their deep pensive moment of regret was plain to see.

The spirit of the challenge has many manifestations.  Some find the challenge in the spirit of an undeclared competition.  Some attack themselves, all alone,  relentlessly.  Some revel in the glorious “stupidity” of having put themselves to the task.  Others ride their own modest pace and enjoy the journey.  Some take to the challenge to learn something about themselves.

Congratulations to everyone who tried and everyone who finished.

Oynx Summit: 8443 feet (Ride the Ride. Talk the Love.)

YouTube Direkt

Some days you celebrate Jens Voigt and some days you just gotta love a little Dirty Harry.

The toughness is similar; ain’t it.

You can almost hear Contador’s butt pucker . . .

How can a plant that looks so menacing be so therapeutic?

My grandmother kept countless aloe plants in the back yard.  Every time I had a scrape, cut or burn, she’d disappear into her garden and come back with a cutting of aloe vera and squeeze the goop to spread.

After the epic Crystal Lake ride (5-27-11) [Chef Pete,  where are you?] , the arms and face were cooked.  After the shower I realized I needed something.  I found the tube of aloe vera I had originally bought for post-knee-surgery therapy and thought I’d give it a try.  Applied it to my face, my arms, legs, shoulders, . . . , everywhere.

Man o’Man!   There was an instant sensation of relief & well-being; it was truly a nirvanic glow: Un-F’n believable.  You be the judge.  I’m keeping big supplies on hand -  it’s a daily ritual now; after shave, after shower  . . . hooked.  You can get the stuff anywhere and it’s cheap.  I recommend simple, natural, unscented aloe vera gel.  You don’t want to introduce a new scent that’s going to get in the way of the nirvanic euphoria.

There are countless studies about the benefits of aloe vera.  Here’s a link to an article that’s worth the read: http://www.naturalnews.com/

Warning! Do not get aloe gel near the pygmy pud or pygmygina;  it could promote unspeakable behavior and would disappoint the sensibilities of my grandmother.

Mr. Danny MacAskill’s skills are beyond comprehension.  This one is more laid back but with expected audacious disregard all the same.