tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84808415190322923682011-10-11T10:57:15.128-04:00Tales From the Trails.Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.comBlogger531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-25274483282842518892010-09-26T15:28:00.002-04:002010-09-26T15:30:06.887-04:00

After a good run on Blogspot, I've decided to move this little shindig over to a new blog site over on Wordpress. Check it out and subscribe to that site instead!

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-9503106827914839852010-09-22T22:17:00.004-04:002010-09-22T22:52:07.974-04:00

And so it goes. About 10 days until the CX @ Brewery Ommegang. At this point, I'm expecting dry, dusty and (since it's been nearly 85 degrees here as of late) warm weather. That would actually be ok with me, since I really don't care much for cold weather riding, but I suppose since I'm pre-registered, I have to HTFU anyway. Strangely, since I've only got 10 days left, any significant

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-19320012211061026322010-09-12T18:30:00.002-04:002010-09-12T18:48:17.659-04:00

The days are growing shorter, the air is growing colder, and the season is winding down. Yeah, right.I just finally registered for my first 'cross race (CX @ Brewery Ommegang) and that means I'd better whip my butt back into shape. You see, since I've had a few things going on this summer (like a wedding, work being turned upside down, and of course the horrifically oppressive heat and humidity

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-20334802647392355382010-09-05T14:27:00.009-04:002010-09-05T15:10:07.954-04:00

The Labor Day weekend has been fantastic (so far anyway.) Since September actually heeded my previous request and has returned, bringing with it milder temperatures and a lack of humidity, it has been prime riding and training weather. After spending quite a while rebuilding and tweaking my 'cross bike for the upcoming season, I've got this to work with:Specs: Origin 8 Foxtrot frame (7005

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-8172603289234400042010-09-01T13:26:00.002-04:002010-09-01T13:38:52.355-04:00

Hi, I'm the month of September, and I've decided that fall weather is a bunch of malarky and I'm inviting summer back for a repeat visit. I've given you 6 days of nice seasonal weather, and that's more than enough. Suffer with 93 degree heat and excessive humidity. HAHAHAHAHA!Yes, it's horrendously warm again here in the northeast, so that means sitting inside and relaxing with the Vuelta a

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-7843867256251071142010-08-22T20:28:00.003-04:002010-08-22T20:47:43.932-04:00

Dear Bicycling:Your magazine is...a standard cycling magazine. Every issue has an article on techniques for riding (currently cyclocross, which I'm obsessed with right now), clothing reviews, component reviews, bike reviews, fitness information, and of course, the smattering of feature articles. You even have occasional human interest stories, about guys who hang themselves after getting busted

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-28388565757793646132010-08-18T22:29:00.003-04:002010-08-22T21:12:12.763-04:00

The heat...oh the oppressive heat around the northeast in the past couple weeks has been unreal. Average temperatures of 85+ degrees paired with 70% or higher humidity have made riding conditions awful. In fact, there's been very little riding to be had.My mountain bikes have been hanging in the garage with the exception of the 65 miles that I put on them around the time of the wedding in the

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-74030424408290516882010-08-04T18:48:00.003-04:002010-08-04T18:52:34.682-04:00

The wedding was fantastic. No wonder I've not been updating this blog with any frequency at all.Things have changed mightily in the past season. I built a new road bike (a Look 585 Origin), rebuilt my cross bike with SRAM components (now the Origin 8 Foxtrot sports Force levers and Rival derailleurs), spent a bunch of time riding my mountain bike (right before the wedding) and have committed to

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-8131385505353173252010-05-19T22:48:00.002-04:002010-05-19T22:49:57.907-04:00

Unfortunately, I've been inundated with a lot of things. Planning a wedding, work and riding have been consuming me lately. I have not ridden my mountain bike this season. I've ridden 993 miles on my road bike, built a new Look 585 up, and have been working on building a good fitness base.In a week and a half, I'll be heading for Kingdom Trails to do a little trail riding. Maybe there will be

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-89097294159575101082010-03-10T17:45:00.004-05:002010-03-10T17:54:41.686-05:00

Hello sunshine! It's been too long since your sparkling rays have warmed the dank and depressed earth here in NY. Amazingly, you've managed to show yourself after a record setting run of snow...good for you.Yes indeed, with the sunshine and 60 degree days comes the thrill of RIDING OUTSIDE! Mind you that the trails are still covered in snow and ice (thanks snowmobiles) but the roads are mostly

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-56105799901510724532010-01-31T22:23:00.003-05:002010-01-31T22:41:06.621-05:00

Tonight is the Pro Bowl. Tomorrow is February. A week from today is the Superbowl. In 2 weeks Valentine's day is here. This year is moving right along, with 1/12 of it history already.I've been outside for two rides this new year, and with only two rides outside in January, it's been the horrifying spectre of trainer riding. As insane as that thought is, I'm actually happy to say that I've

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-29724446238504855442009-12-16T10:39:00.005-05:002009-12-16T11:34:20.427-05:00

Almost two months since an update. Sad indeed, but there is a good reason for it.Insert real life here:I posted about my road bike crash that had taken me out of commission for a while. Fortunately, the wounds have healed, except for the obvious scars that will be with me for a while. Unfortunately, I did not post about the slip and fall that I experienced while walking on the rocky beach in

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-1793384415956569942009-10-27T09:57:00.005-04:002009-10-27T10:19:44.636-04:00

Ah yes, it's that time of year where we're trying to get the last hurrah out of a quickly waning summer season. The rain and cold has hit in the northeast, and things have gotten pretty sketchy pretty quickly.Trails are soggy from heavy fall rains, and are covered with wet leaves and deadfall, so in the interest of not ruining the hard work of many, we stick to the road on days following heavy

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-67892261066056585602009-10-05T14:44:00.002-04:002009-10-05T15:13:08.435-04:00

Here I am again. Forget updating ever couple of days, I can't even remember to check my bank balance that often. No, I'm kidding. Actually, the real difficulty in updating very often lies in the fact that life (which includes cycling, imagine that!?) has been interfering with...well, life.Here in the northeast we've become mired in that awful beast known as "fall" in which the sun drops below

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-67584436897540311032009-09-02T14:33:00.001-04:002009-09-02T14:36:44.775-04:00

That I forgot the link to the Livestrong Challenge photos.So, in the spirit of giving (which is a rare spirit for me) go to town. http://picasaweb.google.com/robdamanii/LivestrongChallenge#

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-14091002853652893552009-09-01T16:52:00.006-04:002009-09-02T14:38:01.815-04:00

Here we are again. Yes, it's been nearly 2.5 months since my last update, but there has been good reason for such an issue. I have been very heavily training for the Philadelphia Livestrong Challenge for the past couple of months. This has meant that weekends have been spent consuming pasta, riding copious miles on my (new-to-me carbon) road bike, and practicing how to suffer mightily at the

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-12909417981326353162009-06-17T17:43:00.004-04:002009-06-18T19:17:01.109-04:00

It has been utterly disgusting how much water has condensed and fallen from the skies in the past few weeks. It seems like we've actually had maybe 2 sunny days per week here in the north east, and that seems to put a damper on the amount of riding one can do. Although the road miles are racking up pretty quickly (what with all the long training rides while waiting for the trails to dry out)

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-50201533916795724462009-06-03T13:24:00.003-04:002009-06-03T13:27:49.057-04:00

...but what can I say? Nothing will absolve me of the sin of non-updates, but I can try.Work has been stifling. I've got a metric century and then a century to train for. I've not been sleeping well. The weather has been combative to say the least.On the other hand, I seem to be doing something right with my training, as I'm still improving, even when I've only managed about 6 hours per week

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-77644678754739801362009-04-10T08:02:00.003-04:002009-04-10T09:32:13.505-04:00

Another April Fool's day has come and gone, another Easter is now upon us. Since we as humans tend to look at holidays with a sense of amazement and we regard them as a milestone in the passing of time. How often do we hear "wow, it's Easter already?" or "Wow, how can it be 4th of July already? Where has the time gone?" So as the march of time wears on, we pass holiday after holiday and

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-75796128343868623692009-03-29T21:01:00.002-04:002009-03-29T21:15:22.704-04:00

There's nothing better than that point in the season in which you get your first cycling sun burn. Here in the northeast, we've been stuck in the throes of a miserable winter for what seems like eternity. Recently, we've been lucky enough to get a couple warm days here and there which have allowed time on the road. Trails are too wet still, but a couple more days of sunshine should be all they

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-58160008087060904062009-03-12T10:12:00.002-04:002009-03-12T10:48:17.666-04:00

The first sign of the beginning of cycling season is the extension of daylight, courtesy of the federal gubbermint. Maybe it doesn't save a lot of energy, but it sure does help me expend a bit more. I love the fact that in the middle of March, I still have daylight on my drive home (although it IS usually about 6:30, and too late for a ride.)Of course, even if the after work ride isn't

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-31030244612673448392009-03-09T09:26:00.003-04:002009-03-09T09:40:55.993-04:00

FINALLY! A weekend with sunny skies, warmer temperatures and a lack of wind/rain/snow was in the cards. Yes, I could have posted a little earlier, but there's been absolutely nothing to post other than "trainer again, more snow, freezing cold" ad nauseum. The weekend was a gift of sun and mid 50s temperatures, and although trails are a swampy mess of runoff water and oily mud, the roads were

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-40944689118005733352009-02-26T08:46:00.002-05:002009-02-26T08:58:13.299-05:00

Oh man is it. There's been only indoor riding recently since the temperatures here in the northeast have dipped yet again into the sub-freezing realm, and we've been subjected to a couple more ice storms. It's bad enough to wake up to ice on the car, but it's further demoralizing when you were hoping for some good weekend weather to get out and have a nice, relaxing (but brutally hard) road

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-43300196535890796042009-02-15T11:28:00.002-05:002009-02-15T11:46:26.287-05:00

Well folks, after nearly 2 weeks of blanking you all, I'm back to say happy V-Day. Riding has been non-existent in the past few weeks. There's just too much to do with moving into a new home and starting workk. I take solace in the fact that I get VS on DirecTV and can follow Velonews. In the world of cycling, there's loads of news: Valverde being questioned by CONI, the Tour of California

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-23659579576764586682009-02-05T13:19:00.003-05:002009-02-05T13:27:34.711-05:00

...it's time to get back on the bike. I'll be starting work soon, I'll be getting a good schedule down soon, so I'll be able to actually ride my trainer on occasion. Actually, I'll have lots of time until I get TV and intarweb access in the new place, although those are coming soon.That being said, check out the Road Bike Rider E-bookstore and pick up some training info for the coming season.

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-92056319084458350872009-01-29T22:58:00.002-05:002009-01-29T23:02:34.522-05:00

Yes, it's entirely true. It sucks to have a cold. It sucks even more when it goes from your head into your chest and you just feel like utter crap for a few days. Riding? Tuh, forget it. Doing anything involving coherent thought? Forget it. Even better is the fact of having to move on Saturday. Should be a joyful experience. I'm tired, I don't feel well, and I just don't feel like

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-80636614542632964492009-01-26T20:27:00.002-05:002009-01-26T20:37:13.177-05:00

...where you have to run yourself into the ground in order to move, finish getting together your life so you can start work, and of course, try to go for a ride. Yeah, right. I haven't been on the trainer in about a week and I have about...oh, maybe 4 or 5 days to get my base miles in before I need to start the 12 week power program. Yes, there's a race in May that I'd like to be in some kind

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-70980015589612910242009-01-19T16:13:00.004-05:002009-01-19T16:19:02.392-05:00

Moving sucks. That's a foregone conclusion in most circles, but it's always magnified when you're the sucker that's sucking up a move. Coordinating help, dealing with surly family members who don't want to be bothered to help you move the mess that they partially helped create, and ever-present issues with landlords (both new and old) and utility companies all combine into a vicious stew of

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-43037097630891879012009-01-15T10:45:00.002-05:002009-01-15T11:02:28.993-05:00

Five days. No, not five days until the Scripture written, Weekly World News reported end of the world as we know it and predicted by Nostradumbass (although there may be some kind of cosmic implosion of sorts.) No, it's five days to the Tour Down Under and the professional return of The Mighty Uniballer, Lance Armstrong. How will it go? How will he do? Will he have his old form back so

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-70575257198909608522009-01-11T10:50:00.002-05:002009-01-11T10:59:52.165-05:00

So for the past week or so I've been attempting to log my diet using fitday.com. Holy shit, says I. I can't believe some of the stuff I actually stuff into my face with just a casual thought of its utterly abominable dietary contents. Yet amazingly, since I'm polishing off chocolate mousse pie, cookies, soup and other sundry junk food that's leftover from the holidays, I've actually managed to

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-39197801365716619882009-01-08T11:11:00.003-05:002009-01-08T11:13:08.776-05:00

This photo caught my eye. Look closely...That's the same road bike I'm riding right now.Oh, and there's some woman in the photo too.

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-68190063862966417102009-01-07T20:04:00.002-05:002009-01-07T21:13:06.043-05:00

What a great place. I'd love to have one of these for the wine snob in me, or perhaps one of these for the post ride entertainment.In cycling news, it looks like the ice storm here in the north east will as yet prevent any outdoor riding. So that means I'm surfing Velonews and found this gem:In a year of the comeback, perhaps it’s inevitable that Michael Rasmussen will join the band of riders

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-49031657701590775182009-01-06T18:02:00.012-05:002009-01-06T18:31:44.227-05:00

Ho hum, more time on the trainer. It does give me time to think anyway.What does one reflect on while pedaling for an hour and not moving a millimeter (unless you get over-exuberant and the trainer slides an inch to the left?) Well, there's the obvious thoughts of how nice it would be to hit the paved streets, put fat tires to dirt that's not riddled with frost heave, or even breath fresh air

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-6469430830424500872009-01-01T18:58:00.002-05:002009-01-01T19:14:10.042-05:00

Happy 2009 blog-monkeys. Notes to live by in the new year:1. Champagne is probably the quickest way to get drunk as a skunk, especially after killing a growler of exceptionally potent beer. For those looking for some kind of comparison, try drinking a half gallon of gasoline and chasing it with a double shot of acetone. Ok, I don't really know what I'm saying, but you get the idea.2. I hate

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-45225722763084208792008-12-23T13:30:00.002-05:002008-12-23T13:37:57.688-05:00

Snow. Snow snow snow SNOW! I'm sick of the snow.12 inches of the white powdery stuff makes it nigh on impossible to plan for a new year's ride (although my typical schtick of crashing and hurting myself would be significantly damped by a mantle of white padding) and pretty much restricts life to the trainer. Blargh. Although, there are some reasons to consider the trainer at this point in the

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-14585315170191742952008-12-08T19:08:00.000-05:002008-12-08T19:08:01.069-05:00

(or, what to stick in your bike lover's stocking?)So, as an editor of Mountain Bike Tales (mountainbiketales.com) I get a lot of opportunity to see the best and the worst of products out there. So, being the holidays, it's time to come up with a couple things that I would classify as standout performers in 2008. Without further ado:Best of season, 2008:SRAM X.0 Drivetrain (Front and rear

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-15365193930720279552008-12-08T17:18:00.002-05:002008-12-08T18:07:56.943-05:00

Well, it's almost that time again...The worst of the year? Well, it has to be the significant down-turn in the economy that has put the squeeze on the wallet and everyone's spirits. 10-20% increases in all things bike related are definitely a killer, but what can you do? Luckily, there hasn't been any major breakages of anything horribly expensive since the downturn. Thankfully.The best of

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-54929790893087460232008-12-02T17:13:00.003-05:002008-12-02T17:18:57.241-05:00

So it's been more than a month since my last update. Let me explain why...I don't usually talk much about my personal life here, but this time I think it's relevant. I've spent the last 3.3333 (ad nauseum) years in a frozen wasteland known as Seneca Falls, NY. I've been spending most of my time attending New York Chiropractic College, working towards a doctorate degree. As of 11/24, I

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-91747156743080118902008-10-29T08:51:00.002-04:002008-10-29T09:09:05.905-04:00

No, it's not just the title of a great Billy Joel song, one that extols the sadness of never letting yourself be heard (although sometimes mother nature forces that situation upon you), but it's also a simile for the march of time.The past few weeks here in the northeast have been ultra-prime. Riding has been fantastic to say the least. With the fall leaf season, the soil has dried enough to

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-36405604798393803142008-09-22T21:14:00.002-04:002008-09-22T21:22:58.591-04:00

...since my last posting.Things have been busy since then. The road bike season has pretty much wound down. We rode our metric century, made it through most of it. The problem was all the riding was done in 80 degrees with 100% humidity, which made it very, very tough indeed. Besides, it came a little late in the season and I was of course a little undertrained for it, but it was still fun

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-9674302846735601212008-08-20T20:09:00.002-04:002008-08-20T20:42:26.902-04:00

...been almost 3 weeks since my last update?Well, yes. I've been terribly busy as of late. Unfortunately, I'm not doing as much riding as I am working, but I've been getting my fair share of time on two wheels. I've been spending more time on the road bike than on the mountain bike, mainly preparing for the end of season metric century that we have planned. Not only is it going to be a long

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-26770827443988095812008-08-03T18:49:00.003-04:002008-08-03T20:47:52.107-04:00

So. Beth and I decided that work sucks and time off is needed (although she can't complain after coming back from 2 weeks in grand old Italia) to clear our heads. We booked a room at the Village Inn right there in the middle of East Burke and headed up last weekend. Yeah, I'm a slacker and haven't put pictures up yet, but that's the zen of me. Pfft.Our balcony was just freakin' AWESOME. Yes,

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-27108522571894845042008-07-22T22:06:00.002-04:002008-07-22T23:09:20.585-04:00

Awesome. Only 2 days and counting until vacation in Vermont. It'll be a much needed rest and some very necessary downtime. Planning to get away for a vacation is the hardest part of going on vacation. Trying to figure out what to bring, what to leave at home, what spare parts to throw in the toolbox and what to leave home, and all the nagging little things. Add to the mix having to take bikes

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-16880681793037386692008-07-18T23:45:00.002-04:002008-07-18T23:50:33.538-04:00

So in the past two weeks, I've been an expensive annihilator of all things, bike related or not.Broken tooth - $280 (including gas to drive to have it fixed)Destroyed front Dura Ace Shifter - $240 (Forget it, not for 9 speed. SRAM anyone?)Sticking piston on my Formula K24 front disc brake on my trail bike ($46 for parts, plus about 4 hours of sheer agony of trying to rebuild it. Or pay a shop

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-30724186384413097752008-07-07T22:38:00.003-04:002008-07-07T22:42:35.922-04:00

So it was an excellent weekend.Lots of riding, a good amount of climbing. Power figures aren't as good as they should be, but then again, I wasn't pegging it the entire ride either. Oh well.Currently, it is so bloody humid that it even sucks to wear clothing. That's a horrifying thought, I know, but it's really not too conducive to riding. Maybe tomorrow when it cools off a little bit.

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-68401847878873879622008-06-29T18:00:00.005-04:002008-06-29T18:33:37.958-04:00

It's been a busy week in the cycling world for me, and for that I'm happy.I picked up a new saddle to replace the old piece of junk I had been using. So now I'm resting my ass on a Selle Italia....something or another. It's comfy, that's all I know, and it doesn't make my dumper hurt. That's very excellent.In the riding department, I've been out 4 days this week, and for some bizarre reason, I

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-10974355917529886532008-06-21T19:49:00.004-04:002008-06-21T19:58:34.718-04:00

With little to show for it in the riding department.Long days at work and rain make for no-bike days, at least for me. I'll seriously have to work on that since I've got a 6 hour mountain bike race in August and a 6,000+ climbing metric century in the beginning of September. Sadly, there's something that's really not pleasing me with my riding lately, and that's my power plot. I should be well

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-85793630940748790472008-06-13T09:03:00.002-04:002008-06-13T09:07:58.084-04:00

Ahh, so the grip of the Summer Heat Wench has put a stranglehold on riding in the northeast for a few days.A group trail ride last saturday in the 95 degree heat ended up with a near case of heat illness and a miserable ride. 6.5 miles, all of it absolute suffering.Sunday night the heat broke, post thunder shower, and we headed out for an 18 mile road spin to reclaim the legs I lost on Saturday.

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-5046971001971364272008-06-02T21:59:00.003-04:002008-06-02T22:07:29.488-04:00

50 miles over and done with. It was excellent to say the least. 3 hours and 21 minutes to finish the 50 mile route with 3072 vertical feet of climbing. I took off on an early break as soon as we hit the hills to wake up the legs and see how I was feeling. I put in about 3 minutes on the group, but they hauled me back in in short order (since I had no interest in staying away, it really wasn't

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-70502092984845218632008-05-30T09:11:00.002-04:002008-05-30T09:19:16.112-04:00

Ahh yes, only 2 days away from that 50 miler early/mid season goal. For some reason I've got just a touch of jitters about it.Last weekend was the last "stretch it out" of the early season in preparation for this goal. 35 miles and 2400 vertical feet (I'll point out that the climbing on the route for Sunday is not nearly as tough as what we encountered on the 35 mile training ride - max grades

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-45782720135925237232008-05-23T20:18:00.003-04:002008-05-23T20:24:03.710-04:00

So after a great 28 mile training ride last weekend, I haven't seen the bike for a while. Why?I wandered back from that weekend with a horrific sore throat. I could hardly drink water without wanting to tear my own tonsils out with a pair of kitchen shears. After a quick visit to the doc, it appears that it is some kind of viral tonsilitis, most likely due to the nasty allergy season and my

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-79439398991130431772008-05-15T20:15:00.000-04:002008-05-15T20:29:06.036-04:00

So, it was nice out today (about 64 degrees and partly sunny with a little wind) so I decided to go out for a nice easy training ride, despite the fact that I've really felt pretty shitty most of the week. The first problem I encountered was the fact that I didn't really decide to go out until I got home from work and realized that the weather was still being cooperative. That means I haven't

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8480841519032292368.post-21271342048858424232008-05-14T19:35:00.000-04:002008-05-14T19:46:13.584-04:00

Well, it's certainly not easy at all. Personal happenings have prevented me from stashing myself away on the saddle and putting in any decent road miles lately. Well, I've gotten NO miles lately, road or trail. It's really killing me, but still, at least I'm having the time to sit down and do some reading to get my training for the next couple weeks in line.After the early part of the season

Rob Manninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00796636594802265793noreply@blogger.com0