TJ Woodruff ONLINE

Challenging Assumptions
So far the Serotta Science of Cycling Symposium has been great and highly engaging. I’m learning a lot from the very people doing the research and putting it to practice with the cyclists they work with. Good stuff and lots more to come in these next couple days.

The past weekend was awesome as John came to Tucson to hang out with Chloe and I. Cruising around in the GTI, all you can eat sushi, No Country for Old Men, and sidewalk tacos made the entertainment. The Shootout proved to be fast and furious (and long) again as got in Madera and a return up Helmet peak for the return. John says he’ll make the break next time as he now knows where to put in the efforts and where to sit in. Sunday we climbed Lemmon in the rain and nearly froze to death on the decent.  An hour after that ride I was in the car and headed to PHX so the weekend couldn’t have came and left any faster, but it was a great time.

Keeping it Real,  TJ

To start off the weekend I got out for another shootout ride on a cool morning Saturday. With temps at 31 degrees it was a chilly roll out from town, but once the pace picked up at Valencia the cold air was no longer an issue. I felt pretty good and kept the pace nice and steady while others did a bulk of the pace making at the front. It may have been the first time that I got to base of the sprint hill without ever doing a single pull or max effort – it was nice and steady as I found good wheels to follow the entire time. Tim offered me a leadout so I couldn’t turn down his offer. I got a good jump and opened a sizable gap, but Phil was able to pull me back and zip around just before the crest. If ousted by anyone, I suppose Phil’s a good one have ride by. With a good amount of intensity within the first hour, the shootout makes for an excellent workout even before riding Madera Canyon or returning up Helmet Peak. Perhaps I’ve been listening to Gord too much at the office, but its pretty fun to dice it up and go for the sprint when the opportunity presents itself. Here is the Google Maps route overview for those of you unfamiliar with the ride.

Sunday Chloe and I got out on the MTBs with Tim Allen who was in town from Flagstaff. We did a solid ride at Starr Pass, riding some of the good technical stuff there. It’s been too long since I last rode the knobbies and I need to get back out there again more often to keep the skills sharp. Another week is off and I’m busy with work. I best get back to it!

Keeping it Real,  -TJ

Since getting back to Tucson for New Years, it’s been a whirlwind of stuff going on. A head cold and a busy work week put a damper on the training, but this week looks more normal and I’m looking forward to some good rides. January’s climate is great for riding with long sleeve jerseys and knee warmers – some of my favorite weather to be out on the bike. A new wireless PowerTap wheel for the Team Machine will be a good way to build up the data collection and measure the progress as race season approaches. Riding stronger now than a year ago is the current trend. More to come with the training and race plans next time. It’s back to work for now,  -TJ