Thursday, March 31, 2016

new food for riding


I have been working on a new recipe for bars to eat while riding.  Those that were at our team camp a few weeks ago had a chance to try these new treats.  They are a tasty treat with plenty of carbs and some protein.


Here are the ingredients you will need.




  • ½ cup honey
  • ½ cup creamy unsalted peanut butter
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 4 cups rice cereal
  • 1 cup of dried mealworms
  • ½ cup of dried crickets






You'll want to put the honey in a small pot and bring to a light boil. As you are waiting for honey to heat up mix your dry ingredients together in a large bowl; rice cereal, salt, dried meal worms, dried crickets. After your honey comes to a boil mix in the peanut butter. Stir the peanut butter into the honey until it's smooth. once thoroughly mix pour it over you dry ingredients. Mix everything thoroughly to make sure the honey and peanut butter coat all of the dry ingredients. Once the mixture is completely coated pour it into a glass 9x13 baking dish and spread evenly, press firmly to compact it into the pan. Let it cool completely, about an hour.  After it has cooled it's now timed to cut. I prefer pieces about 1" by 2" to eat while riding, though this can be cut any size that you see fit.




There you have it a quick simple recipe to eat while out on the bike, it'll help replenish the carbs you are burning and protein you body will need to recover. These are very tasty and will go quickly, so long as no one ask for the recipe.











Wait, why are there other dudes dressed like me…?

As winter had loosed its grip over the area and an increasing amount of decent days helped get me back in the swing of riding, I started to notice a strange thing happening. I was beginning to ride with a lot of other people wearing the same kit as I was. How could this be? It has been so long since something like this happened out on the roads. How long? Well I thought about it and the answer is 20 or so years! Yep, not since the early-mid 90’s have I been on a such a comprehensive team. I must say I really missed it!















While I mainly train alone I have always been a “team” guy, I enjoy the structured environment of one. I also love having a large group of teammates enjoying a sport as much as I do. I haven’t had that in quite a long time and for the last few years prior to this one I was hoping to find it again. With each passing week, as we have more team training rides and races together, I feel the team atmosphere will continue to grow. Of course bike racing ain’t easy and we’ll each have our bad and good days on the bike but it will be great to have teammates to share all those days with the rest of the year and beyond.



Monday, March 28, 2016

The Beginning of the End

As my spring break comes to an end, I begin the last quarter of my senior year of high school. After that I have summer break and then the next chapter of my life begins. It's pretty strange for me to think about: it seems like just yesterday I was a freshman in high school and tomorrow I'll be a freshman in college. Before you know it I'll be sixty-something, writing a blog about how I am about to retire. But that's a long ways away and it's best to live in the present.

Being the end of my senior year, I really don't have that much school stuff to do. I have two study halls every day, so the only work I really have to do at home is math homework and the occasional writing for my Creative Writing class. This lack of excessive work has freed up some time outside of school for me to enjoy this wonderful weather that we've been having. Here are some photos from my endeavors!


I asked my Girlfriend to prom!

I went longboarding(many times)

Remember that nice weather I mentioned? Unfortunately it didn't make it to this race

Fortunately a few days later I was able to ride with exposed arms and legs! 
A beautiful skyline on a beautiful car, to finish it off
Spring is here and soon it will be summer. I'm excited for all the great times and memories I will make with all my great friends and family before I begin the next chapter of my life! 

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

It's Race Time!!!!

Well, it’s finally starting to look like spring here in Western Pennsylvania and you know what that means…. Race season is finally here!!!! However, it did snow for the first race last Sunday at Fair Chance!?!?!?!?!?!?

In early March, we had our annual Dynamic Physical Therapy Cycling Team Powered by Pathfinder team camp in good old Morgantown, WV. Day one was a great 60 mile ride out to Fair Chance, PA to pre-ride the next week’s race course and get in a little long distance time in the saddle.  We also had plenty of miles to catch up with one another since last season and find out about our new teammates.  After the ride, we headed over to the Dynamic Physical Therapy office in Westover, WV to go over our team roles and responsibilities, meet up with Rob and catch up with him on what he has been doing since we last saw him, and then head over to Black Bear for some grub and more bonding.



Day 2 saw another great 60+ mile ride and more bonding time for the team as the miles rolled by underneath our awesome Kenda Tires.  We climbed a lot, did tempo pace line drills, and really just enjoyed the fact that we were all together and outside on our bikes.  We ended the day at Morgantown Brewing for some pints, laughter, and great food (as always at Brew pub).



Day 3 was our final day together, so we started the day off right by having a great meal together at Terra CafĂ©’ prior to the ride.  The mood was light even though we were all tired from the previous two days of riding, so we ate, talked, and then rolled out for a short ride.  The weather was overcast that day and would soon turn downright nasty as we were on our way back home.  We did a nice climb that day. It was like riding up Sycamore Street in Pittsburgh, but for 4 miles…lol….

All in all, it was a great three days together and we definitely got to know each other all over again and are looking forward to a great 2016!!!! 

See yinz at the races n'@!!!!!