Greetings from Albir Spain

We are on Holiday at a Graham Baxter Sporting Camp doing some lovely riding up lots of hills and past many beaches and hill towns. Tomorrow we attend the Tour de Valencia and hope to get some good pictures of the racers we saw the team cars for Discover and CSC in town and have heard Valverde is planning to race. This isn´t really a training camp for the less serious set ie not racers but they have been very accomodating and tell us good routes that take us intersting places we arrive back later then the other folks but have done less miles, fewer hills but have probably had a nicer time then having our hearts jump out of our chests. I´m the only woman here. Most of the guys are planning to ride le tour l´tape which is riding a stage of the tour de france 8000 riders do it every year there are time cutoffs and huge passes to ride so they are riding the cols (passes) in the area. One of the Cols is the Col de Rates which we plan on riding before we return back to Seattle.

Ergomania

Ergomania
My hubby competed in Ergomania on Saturday January 27, 2007.
He uses erging or indoor rowing as his offseason training for cycling. We own a concept 2 rower and many gyms also have the rowers. Concept 2 is a very cool company sponsering events like Ergomania and also holding on-line Challenges. Between Thanksgiving and X-mas they hold the Holiday Challenge if you get your rowing in your holiday calories are burned off and you can get through the holidays without gaining a pound in fact you might loose a few. Bob is a PBP Ancienne and is planning to ride PBP 2007

Weight Training for Long Distance Cyclists

We are not like those no upper body Tour de France riders we need to be fit all the way around. I recently started weight training at the gym so I will be able to complete endurance rides in the future. Wednesday night I found myself drawing a blank about what I was there for and what I was doing. I spent some time today putting together a cheat sheet to use for weight training I need to add neck exercises to it so I don't end up with Shermer's neck. But its a start- If you weight train let me know some good additional exercises. I don't plan on doing all of these every time I lift.
I found a good page that has exercises choose the ones that work for you

LEGS
Dumbbell Stepups
Dumbell Squats
Dumbell Side Lunges
Leg press
Hamstring curls
ARMS
Biceps curls
Bicep Hammer Curls
Tricep Kickbacks
Triceps extension
Triceps Bench Dips
BACK / ABS
Low back extensions
Reverse crunches
Crunches
CHEST
Dumbbell chest press
Lat pulldowns

Paris Brest - The Pastry

OH MY GAWD!!!
Have you ever had one of these?
My blogging was a bit sparse in November and December because I was on a 16 day cruise with my parents. Due to a gym onboard and spin classes I came back with only an extra lbs or 2. It would have been very easy to come back with many more lbs due to the great food - yep they had Paris Brest the pastry on the menu.
Here is an awesome link about making Paris Brest the Pastry.
I found another awesome link about making Paris Brest the Pastry they even suggest which vintage french wine to pair it with.
Glad to know I'm not the only fixated on this pastry. David has some more to say about it. Vist his blog here.

On Your Bike!!!!

Or not.
Please be careful out there - I got an email on Saturday afternoon that said one of my regular ride partners was in hospital with a broken femur and was going to be having surgery. His plans for the year included Paris Brest Paris - no more PBP for him. He is going to be AOK, the surgery went well I feel really sorry for his wife to have to take care of this cranky guy for the next few months. He normally works out some of his crankiness by riding.
If the weather outside is frightful - don't chance blowing your big adventure. The weather in Seattle finally was good this past weekend and I was able to get in 2 short rides so a 80 mile weekend to get me started.
Also don't forget if you haven't done long distance riding in the past it stresses your body more then anything you have ever done before. Be sure to eat healthy, take your vitamins, work on flexibility and building up those small muscles you will need in the wee hours of the morning to keep your head up.