College Trip - Day 8 - UNH Finale

  

Last stop Slauson 2008 College Road Trip.  University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH.  Jim's dad (Opa) lives 5 miles away in Dover, NH where Jim went to High School.  It would be nice for the boys to go to school near Opa and step-grandmom Peg.

Beautiful red brick buildings highlight the campus.

JW and Will's cousin Sara (far left) joined us today for the tour, led by the final comely student guide, Kaitlin.  Sara will be a senior this year so she is one step further along the process of college choice.

We couldn't quite figure out the masked lady on our tour today.  Protecting herself from pollen?  Protecting us from SARS?  Perhaps an Ordinary Decent Criminal taking a break from her work day to join the tour?  

Turk Coog added a cub to her pride today, cousin Sara Fechner.

A top benefit of schooling at UNH, the seafood!!  (By now you might have decided that food plays an important role in the daily life of a Slauson.   Well, you're right...)  One of our favorite seafood restaurants, Newick's.

The lobsters are trapped in lobster traps...

Taken from the Little Bay estuary...

Kept "on deck" in the holding pen....

Then placed on Will's plate for consumption.

Jim went with the Haddock and Shrimp.

You know the food is good when a Maine'er drives across the border from Maine (The Lobster state) to New Hampshire for dinner.  License plate in the Newick's parking lot.

Great end to a trip.  Perfect day at UNH, 75 degrees, pleasant breeze, blue sky.  Amazing that we've seen 6 colleges in 8 days.  Hopefully the boys are now motivated to maximize their grades so they have the most options available to them when the application process actually.

Besides education, access to seafood and great Greek food, the other fantastic benefits of UNH include snowboarding (a dozen areas within 2-3 hours in all directions,) and the beach (10 miles away.)  The family will recover from the trip at Hampton Beach tomorrow.   Then celebrate JW's 15th b-day the following day.

Trip stats.  6 colleges in 4 states in 8 days.  Texas to Ohio to NY to NH.  3100 miles driving, 188 gallons of gas, 50 hours of driving time.  Great family time.  Lots of great memories for Terri and Jim "just like we were back there."

Next big trip for the Slausons?  PAC Tour Ridge of the Rockies, riding bikes from Canada to Mexico in July-August.  2100 miles in 18 days winding back and forth thru the Rocky Mountains across the continental divide.  Terri and JW said they had enough last year and wimped out on the trip.

Hope you enjoyed the trip.  We did and appreciate all the support along the way!!  Jim talked on email with the coach of Syracuse University's Men's soccer team and shared the blog with him.  Coach Dean Foti commented that he was going to hire Terri and Jim to take his kids on their college search trip when they come of age....

College Trip - Day 7 - Burnt Umber

Our hotel in Syracuse had a cool "waterfall" style shower head.  

Syracuse one upped the other schools by giving us 2 guides for the tour.

Jim keeping an eye on the Turk's Cubs.

The castle.

The Adams Family house.

Scary Ivy growing on all the buildings.  Lots of "googlie eyes" required.

Probably for the vine encased buildings also.

One of our guides for the Syracuse Tour - Terry.  He may be competing in the 110m hurdles at Beijing.

And the obligatory perky beautiful guide, Megan.

We were running late and Jim didn't have enough money for 3 hours, so our parking cost us $25 instead of $4.

One benefit 2 teenage boys driving.  Mom and Dad get to hang out in the back seat together!!

Syracuse University.  Basketball crazy school (SYR dominates Lacrosse, multiple-time and current NCAA national champion.)

Today we had the privilege of 2 tour guides, Megan and Terry (no not the Turk.)  Those of you who know our Terri know how she adores celebrities and heroes.  We found out that our guide Terri is a 100m sprinter at Syracuse and is 0.27 sec away from selection to the U.S. Olympic team.  Well, when our Terri heard that, you know the next words out of her mouth "We're DEFINITELY, getting our picture taken with him."   All of a sudden the female guide was chopped liver, I guess.

Those of you who know the Slausons, will find this next anecdote amazing.   Today was the _first_ time we were late for one of the tours.  I won't go into the details, which include sleeping late, long showers, blow drying hair, and Jim's sense of direction.  Anyways, we got to the tour 10 minutes late.

That did not deter the Turk.  She took off in full sprint with her men and boys barely hanging on and wit in 3 minutes we had crossed the gap and integrated the tour in progress.  Jim later told Terri the guide that the Turk wanted to race him.  I think he actually paused a second and looked at her legs before smiling...

During each tour so far there is always  discussion of some sort of student activism, an important part of the young adult's development.  In the spirit of his alma mater's Miami Redskins now being the Miami "Redhawks," Jim suggested an idea for Will and JW if they came to Syracuse.   They could rally up support and change the "Orangemen" to "Burnt Umbermen." This came from the recent SNL with Christopher Walken.  During his monologue he fielded questions, one of which was "what is your favorite color?"  After chastizing the questioner for a poor use of valuable questioning opportunity, he responded with "Burnt Umber."  Don't know what color Umber is but it sounds "orangey," and certainly must be more politically correct than Orange...

Off to our final destination, Dover, NH to day with Opa and Peg for a few days and see UNH tomorrow.  In car entertainment today - Richard Strauss (Thus Spoke Zarathustra, 1896) — the opening section of which is well known today for its use in Stanley Kubrick's film 2001: A Space Odyssey,)  Sexy Beast (with Ben Kingsley,) and Will's eclectic music while he drove.  No speeding ticket (just one parking ticket) today.

Thanx for reading.

College Trip - Day 6 - Heartburn

After our day at Miami we sat in the Hueston Woods Cabin and discussed our trip so far and college in general.

The Turk does travel like a rock star for sure.  She has a doorman.

Limo side entrance.

Private couch in the back.

Will doesn't do so bad either.

Playing PSII.

We left Miami, heading east and Terri had fallen asleep. She woke up in the parking lot of Dorothy Lane Market, in Dayton, OH where she and Jim shopped for groceries. Fun surprise for the Turk, Central Market fans would drool over Dorothy Lane Market.

Dorothy Lane Market specialty is "Dave's Killer Brownie."  I'm not one for superlatives, but I will put these up against any brownie on the planet.  Jim and Terri had to move from Dayton in 1992 because they had developed an at least one a day Killer Brownie habit.

The duplex we lived in Oakwood, OH, beautiful suburb of Dayton a la Alamo Heights.  To live here now we would require lots of "googlie eyes" on the Ivy encasing the house (you'll have to be a Christopher Walken and SNL fan for that reference.)

Oxford is not the only town with drive thru convenience (beer) store. Dayton has'em too.

Another Ohio tradion, White Castle, which we had to kick out before we left the state. We hit one near Cleveland.

Certainly catchy marketing materials.

The boys were entrusted with the goods.

Well protected Slyders in the "Crave Case."

Fun and memorable couple of days in Miami.  It might be a bit far from San Antonio, but Jim and Terri would enjoy the experience with the boys if they ended up selecting that as their school.

We had a 9 hour drive from Oxford, OH to Syracuse, NY our next stop nearing the end of the Slauson 2008 Summer College Tour.  Coast (Gulf of Mexico) to Coast (Atlantic Ocean) for sure.

Our route took us past Dayton, Jim was driving and Terri had fallen asleep.  Jim surprised Terri by stopping off at the community that they lived in when Jim did his residency, and where Will was born.  Dave's Killer Brownies make the land excursion well worth it.

Getting back on the highway from Oakwood we passed Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where Jim did his residency.  We were rewarded with our first speeding ticket of the trip (damn laser.)  Ironic, Jim drove this 10 mile stretch of interstate every day for 3 years and never got a ticket.  So if you spread it out over each day, the cost is a bit less painful.

Everyone who hears this story asks "how bad did Terri freak?!?!)  Apparently she has the reputation as a bit of a "drama mama."   She didn't even raise her eyes or voice.  It took us a bit to figure it out - "Dave's Brownies!!!"  The Turk's sedative!!

Around Cleveland we found a White Castle.  To make it easy on you, White Castle offers a "Crave Case" of 30 Sliders.   So we split the Crave Case, a "Sack of fries" and a "Sack of Onions."   We ran into a former International Studies professor at Miami in the restaurant.  No disrespect to Harold and Kumar, but this wasn't the best idea.   Jim had indigestion from Buffalo to Syracuse and won't eat White Castle again.  Maybe thats not a bad thing.  This is particularly notable since, as you know, Jim has the stomache of a Billy Goat.

In Car Entertainment today included Berlioz and Schubert.  The movie was a clever Kevin Spacey flick "Ordinary Decent Criminal."  Music was the Kinks.  We landed in Syracuse around 9:30pm with only 1 speeding ticket in hand.

Tomorrow, Syracuse Univerity.  Home of the Orange Men.

College Trip Day 5 - Old School

My alma mater.  Miami University.  Fell in love with the campus the minute I stepped on it.  (My mom was a native of Ohio so we toured the OH schools when I did this trip with her 25 hears ago.)  I seem to be the happiest being in class and paying the most attention.  JW is about to fall asleep.

The customary and necessary university traditions.  Kissing under a certain lamp means lifetime together.

The customary Coogs and Cubs on the campus tour.

Miami bus system.  Will and JW argue over who rides the shorter bus...

College dormroom.  They are actually smaller than they look....

The Turk and her Cubs in front of the DDD statuette.  My mom and step-mom were Tri-Delts.

The usual beautiful, perky and competent tourguide.  I think the boys are at least sold on going to college.

Terri said we needed pictures of bikes on the Bicycle-Heaven blog.  So, here you have it.   Unlike A&M all the bikes at Miami come complete with saddles!

My fraternity house.  I forget the tradition of the firetruck, but that is something all Pike Kappa Alpha houses have (or had.)

I lived on the back of the house, 3rd floor facing the frat house you see to the right.  Phi Beta Psi I believe, we called the "Squiddies" I don't remember why.  They were the preppy geekier house, we were the partying jocks.  We used to have bottle rocket wars from my room's window at night.

Nothing ever changes.  Notice on the front door of the Pike House that the grass is too long and needs to be cut...

Will got his hair cut at the place I used to while at Miami.  Yes I did have hair that needed cutting in the past, smartass.

This is the restaurant that I bounced at then bartended at 25 years ago.  The name has changed (was Attractions) but nothing else has, the menu is even pretty similar...

The campus bookstore with Coog Turk and her cub JW.  JW, Turk, and I shopped while Will got his hair cut.

We don't have internet access at the Hueston Woods cabin, so the fam has to crowd around the laptop at Starbucks (no there was no Starbucks when I went to school here.)  Will looking good after his haircut!!

Can you tell we all got Miami shirts at the Bookstore?  Biggest bunch of geeks ever.  4 days on the road and we already had to do laundry...

Lots of houses around campus are rented by students and they give them clever names...

Chick-Inn

All Bed no Breakfast

Golden Shower

Pour House.  There are at least a hundred of these in the vicinity.

Skyline Chili.  A Cincinnati tradition.   I'll make it for anyone who wants it.

The perfect meal, drunk, sober or recovering.  3-Way (chili, spaghetti noodles and cheese) sprinkle it with oyster crackers.  Perfectly complemented by a chili and cheese coney.

Fun day with lots of memories.  Funny how something 25 years ago can seem to be as fresh as yesterday.  Miami University, in Oxford, OH, has changed little since I graduated in 1985.  Still 16,000 students in a town of 8000.  No crime.  Great academics.  Lots of parties and the co-eds are nonpareil.

The dorms, the class buildings, and the campus are 99% the same.  The uptown restaurants, bars and shops are 90% the same.  After our tour we lunched at the "Bagel and Deli" which was there when I went to school.  Drove around, went to the Krogers (which opened when I was at Miami) then went to Hueston Woods State Park and swam in the lake.   Dinner was at Skyline Chili.  Then we did laundry next door to the Red Ox, a drive thru convenience (beer) store and SDS (student delivery service) Pizza and Sandwich shop, both staples 25 years ago.

Terri agrees with me that our four college years were the best years of our lives and we both recall them as though they were yesterday.  This really reinforces to me the need to choose the right school and I hope Will and JW do that.

In the month or two leading up to the trip I was having alot of dreams about going back to college.  In those dreams I was my current age, but remembered everything exactly as it was.  Very cool that Miami really has not changed much.  It would be fun if Will and JW chose to attend.  Time will tell.  It was fun to get a few t-shirts and souvenirs from the campus bookstore, I haven't worn a Miami shirt in 20 years.

My only disappointment is the current mascot, the "Redhawk."  When I attended we were the Miami Redskins.  We had a live "mascot" who was of American Indian heritage and had a true "costume" complete with paint.  He did real Indian dances on the sidelines.  At some point, some sophomoric idea arose that this denigrated American Indian heritage and the mascot was changed to a Redhawk.  I cannot get used to that.  I understand the pros and cons and feel that the small cons carried the day on that change.  No biggie. 

600 mile drive tomorrow to Syracuse, NY, where Will and JW's niece Mika will be a sophomore.  Hopefully the boys will find it interesting, but not compelling.  Currently UT/TT/A&M are 15k/yr.  Miami is 28k/yr, Syracuse is 45k/yr!!!  Of course that might be what gas will cost to drive across the country in a few years, so maybe the boys should go to SAC and ride their bikes to school, and Terri and I can ride our bikes downtown for pay-rents weekend.

Thanx for reading.

College Trip Day 4 - The Trip and Travel

Leaving Memphis, TN in the am humidity.

Stopped at a Diner off the interstate to refuel.  Turk was suspicious of the quality of the food.  When we saw popo in there we know it would be good.

When you stop to eat in Tennessee you will be watching NASCAR for sure.  You think the Turk sticks out surfing the web on her iPhone??

Classic southern food.  Out of Mac n Cheese much to the boys chagrin.

Turks concerns further allayed when the utensils came in their personal condoms.

Turk had the Meatloaf with 3 sides.

Jim the Pork Tenderloin.  The item which looks like a pancake is actually cornbread!!

Will had steak and eggs.

JW the pulled pork and tater tots.

All good businesses realize the value of their customers, a sentiment at B-H we appreciate more than you know.  We chuckled a little at the misspelling on this sign.  (Someone will have to help Kane discover it.)

Think about this next series of photos and what is so interesting.   

1.  Will driving.

2. JW Gaming.

3.  Turk back in her office.  She really is like a rock star in a Limo on this trip.

4.  Jim "resting his eyes."

We hit Miami University around 9pm and ate dinner at a local restaurant.  Jim used to work there, first as a bouncer, then as a bartender when he turned 21.  Forget its current name, it used to be called "Attractions."  The layout and most of the furnishings have not changed one bit in the 23 years since Jim went to Miami!!

Since today was a travel day, some random thoughts about the trip.  Today we are driving from Memphis TN, to Oxford, OH. 500 miles, 7+ hours, or about 35 gallons of gas.

We are traveling in a Yukon designed for travel.  In-car nav and OnStar take the stress of navigating to where we go away.  JW has a song called On* (OnStar) by mc cris which is hilarious albeit a bit racy (High School Humor)

Last summer Terri, Jim, Will and JW rode across the country with PAC Tour from Washington state to Virginia. Terri and JW felt that once is enough, so are not joining Jim and Will this summer when they ride from Canada to Mexico thru the Rocky Mountains, again with PAC Tour.   This 6 colleges in 8 days trip gives us the opportunity to have some of that closeness as you can imagine.

As gas prices shot up this spring, Jim began to have visions of the trip becoming something out of Mad Max, or the Road Warrior.  Roving gangs of gas thieves looking for easy prey - like a family of four in a Yukon. Thank goodness we don't have the 1984 Suburban anymore - it had a 42 gallon tank!  Jim planned to throw Will and JW up of the roof with crossbows if it came to that.  Plan is to protect the Turk first, gas second.  Once it's $20/gallon that order might change?

Another thought Jim had was that could be the last great American Family adventure?  When gas is $20/gallon we will definitely be bike touring but probably not car touring.  Will America's roads be essentially empty next Summer?  The political ideas to keep gas prices down this summer to make people drive more were absolutely asinine - shocker, huh?  When do we return to 55mph speed limit as we did in the 70's do reduce overall comsumption.

Jim set this trip up to give the boys a feel for the various looks and feels of different shools. First 3 days in Texas (UT, TT, A&M,) then to Ohio (Miami University, Jim's Alma Mater,) then to New York (Syracuse University, the boys cousin Mika's current school,) and finally to UNH (next door town to Opa.)

We had to crisscross TX inefficiently a little, due to logistics. Jim worked til 7am Thursday and there was no way to get to College Station by 8am or Lubbock by 10am for admissions meetings so we did UT in Austin first. Easy to get there by 10am since Austin is only 70 miles from San Antonio. Starting Day 1 at either TT or A&M would have been logistically bette, but hey you take what is served, right. TT was scheduled the next day, Friday (clear across the state,) because it did not offer Saturday am tours, like A&M does. So back across the state Friday to A&M.

Our appointment at Miami is Monday am, giving us a day and a half to travel the 1000 miles.    We stay at a nice lake 10 miles north (Hueston Woods) and have an extra day there to let Jim relive his college days.  Man the Turk is a tolerant bird.

Wednesday we go to Syracuse, then race up to New Hampshire that evening to tour UNH on Thursday.

Total trip mileage should be around 3000 miles. The Yukon gets 15 miles per gallon and we are paying around $4.15/gallon for Hi Test. I'll leave the math to you, it is a bit painful.  Air travel isn't really a less expensive option with 1 way tickets at least $400 and roundtrip tickets at least $800.  It is what it is.  

Thanx for reading.

College Trip - Day 3 - A&M Tradition

Our tour guide. Amazing coincidence that each tour guide is cute, positive and perky.  Turk wondered why A&M didn't give out water bottles before the tour (it was 95+ today.)  Jim tried to explain that Aggie tradition requires a few missteps.

Jim with Will and JW.  A&M branding in effect

Gov Russ, who became president of A&M to save its closure.  When a student thanked him for his academic success, Gov Russ said all he wanted from the student was a "penny for his thoughts."  Around exam time pennies and other currency are found around the statue's feet in hopes to help with exam grades.

Turk investigated and found some coins left from recent exam preparations. Those of you who know the Turk realize how hard it was for her to leave the coins behind....

No idea at all where Aggie jokes might come from.

JW snapped this photo. Again is this "High School" or "College" Humor. The feed back from UT's photo was that falls within High School Humor...

The Century tree. Legend here predicts that if you walk under this tree together, you will spend your life together.  If you walk under the tree alone, you will spend your life alone.  Will wondered what happened if 2 dudes walked under the tree together.  Jim muttered something about don't ask, don't tell.

Terri under the Century Tree.  Jim went back and got her to spare her a spinster's fate.

The Cougar and her college exploring cubs.  Huge replica of the A&M class ring, with the Corps slogan of "An Aggie does not Lie, Cheat or Steal, nor tolerate those who do."  This is apparently printed for signature on many exams to reinforce the expected A&M ethics.

The famous Aggie "12th Man." Very ironic. This was a baseball player, was out of the stands and put into an injured football players uniform during a football game when the only uninjured Aggie football players were those still playing the game. This guy didn't actually play, and maybe that's why he (and the coaches decision to put a non-player into a player's uniform) is honored by a school with the slogan of "don't lie, cheat or steal?"

Our beautiful guide with Will and JW (who didn't miss the action today.)  Will the Turk continue to smile so much when she realizes her cubs are growing up and she will have to give them up some day??


A&M today, decent tour with lots of stories of the espirit d corps and Aggie tradition.  The boys found the campus to be in between TT and UT in terms of layout and charm.  The were spared the admissions spiel today since it was Saturday and only a tour was provided.

We drove to Memphis, TN after the tour (JW did around 3 of the 9 hours drive, today on a combination of roads.)  He didn't park too well when we stopped at Cracker Barrel for dinner, but hey Dad nearly made a fool of himself earlier trying to (according to the Turk) parallel park a 16 foot car in a 12 foot parking spot.

Yes we are 1500 miles into the trip and nearly 100 gallon of gasoline used.  More on that tomorrow.  Tomorrow's itinerary is a simple travel day, another 500 miles to Oxford OH, home of Miami University, which is Jim's alma mater.

Today's on the road entertainment included 2 composers, Haydn and Mozart, the 2nd half of the Andromeda Strain (6/10, but definitely watchable,) some classic rock on the iPod,  Resident Evil: Extinction (5/10 but definitely watchable for Milla Jojovich's customary strong performance.)  Turk set her office up and got 4-5 hours of Bicycle-Heaven work done which really helps her psyche on a trip.

Thanx for reading.

College Trip - Day 1 Cubs and Cougars

1st stop, Austin TX for UT, Home of the Longhorns. Big City, Big University.

Waiting for our campus tour, AKA the "dog and pony show."   Fathers and sons, Fathers and daughters, Cougars and their cubs. I wondered if anyone pays attention in class anymore or are they just checking email, surfing the web and txting all day?

The UT Mascot "Bevo" with Will and JW.

Parents.  I always recall the "Welcome PayRents" sign outside one of the more off color fraternities on Parents Weekend.  Looks like the cycle will come around to Jim and Terri..

I don't know why but the boys were snickering looking up at this building.  Is this High School or College Humor?

One of the benefits of an in city campus, particularly when the city happens to be the state capitol.  The Capitol building.

Evil sculpture, this might be enough to keep some from attending, but apparently is no biggie as UT enjoys a student enrollment of around 50,000!

Since we were in Austin we stopped by Mellow Johnny's, Lances' bike shop.

Even in his absence, Guillermo's spirit remains.  Will sporting the "Cholla Back" T, J the simple "G" shirt.

Inside the shop, amongst many prized bikes, is the Caloi from 1995, the bike Lance won the stage dedicated to Fabio Casartelli who had died on a descent a few days prior.

Tonight we dined in Lubbock, what else to eat in the Panhandle but center cut ribeye?  You would think at $1.67/oz they would cut it for you?  I'd hate to think what we would have to do if they were serving Kobe Beef at $30/oz...




What does this have to do with Bicycle-Heaven? Well you have to have physical, social and mental in life so educational pursuit, such as college feeds the eduction side of this balance.

Will and JW will be Junior and Sophomores next year at Reagan High School. So, it is time to start thinking about school.  They do well in school, but wonder why do they study, if they "don't know what they are going to do for a career."  Well, seeing colleges with its pretty girls and being away from home and the parents may be the "goal" of they are looking for.

We will try to emphasize a few points with the boys each day.  Today hopefully Will realizes the importance of working to maximize his grades.  Texas state schools have to accept a student who is in the "Top 10%" of his high school class, but not necessarily to the program he chooses.  Certain of UT's colleges had enough applications to only accept the to 2-3% of student applicants and "threw" students in the 3-10% back into the other schools (ehem, Liberal Arts school...)

Hopefully JW understands the importance of writing, a weakness of his.  Each discussion of the application process emphasized the several essays which have to accompany the general application.  Perhaps writing beyond text messaging is important?

Jim planned this trip a few months back.  We have about 9 days to see 6 schools, 3 in Texas (UT, TT, A&M) then Miami of Ohio (Jim's Alma Mater,) Syracuse Univ (niece goes there, hope the boys don't like it at 45K/yr) and UNH (next door to Opa in NH.)

There will be lots of stories to tell over the next week for sure.  Those of you who know Jim know that traveling with him is alot like traveling with the Grizwalds in the Vacation movie's series.

The Kid vs. The Machine Part I

The Machines version of events will be posted later.....


Blog of a VO2 max test with Joe from Peak Fitness at Bicycle Heaven in San Antonio, TX
To begin, I’m writing this nearly a week after my test, which occurred on Friday May 23, 2008, thus I’ve had a bit of time and a few races to reflect upon my experience. Coming into the test there were a few thoughts that were running through my head prior to ever stepping on the bike: 1) I sure hope my legs feel good today 2) There is a strong possibility that this is going to be uncomfortable at times 3) I wonder if I prepared in the proper fashion 4) I hope everything goes alright. So with these thoughts in mind, I began my day before the test with breakfast a full 2 hours before the test and a few glasses of water. I then drank a fair quantity of additional water following a realization that I may not have been extremely well hydrated. This I will attribute mostly to my body’s incredible ability to sweat at all times of the day and in all situations, which I like to refer to as my super cooling system.
Back to the test, I arrived at Bicycle Heaven at 10am and met Joe from Peak Fitness, who is extremely courteous upon first impression. He finished the set up of his testing equipment, while I prepared for a nice leisurely ride in the park/ shop. I then mounted the bike and began to pedal; however, a few moments in I found another advantage to having the test done at the shop; Matt informed me that I needed to raise my seat height by nearly an inch. With that corrected, I began to warm up again and a sense of foreshadowing soon overtook me when Joe had me do intensity jumps while warming up. (Keep in mind my general warm up involves slowly pedaling around while finding various people to talk to.) I was also burdened by the thought that I may have drunk too much water in the period leading up to the test and holding it in the reserve tank will be its own challenge.
The test begins with me pedaling very easy and maintaining a fairly low heart rate for the first number of minutes; however, as I learned far too many times, the good times don’t last forever. The testing equipment also involves a snug fitting mask that when applied to my face made me extremely cognizant of every breath I took. (All due respect to the Police) The wattage required to pedal gradually increases during the test and at some point my legs began to tell me, “This hill is quite long, do you think you’ll find the summit soon.” This thought corresponds with a jump in heart rate and a recalculation of my first impression of Joe. He is now Joe, the calm cool computer wielding torture aficionado. The sweat was now pouring out of me at a rate unseen by many city water systems and I’m breathing so heavily into the mask that I think I have a legitimate shot at sucking my face inside out. Then as the intensity increases and my legs begin to scream, “YOU SUCK, JACKASS,” I’m overcome with an epiphany. This oxygen deprived tidbit of wisdom is: “I bet they have you stop eating 2 hours before the test to make sure you don’t hurl in this evil mask.” As my heart rate begins to reach its max, I continue thinking to myself that this pain could all be over if I just let my legs stop spinning and I sure wish I had something to chase up this imaginary hill like rabbit or other woodland creature. However, I am a bit of a masochist and choose to get out of the saddle to push through the pain. Finally, Joe completely redeems himself and tells me the test is over.
In general, I feel that the testing was an excellent tool to help guide me towards my ultimate goals because the empirical data provided me with solid structure on which to guide my intuition and unregimented style of training. My numbers were by no means off the chart, but this is merely one test in a series of many and what truly matters to me in cycling is if I can continue to have fun and perform at my highest level possible.
Cheers,
Ryan M. Wohlrabe
P.S. I want to make sure Matt from Bicycle Heaven and Joe from Peak Fitness know how very thankful I am for all of their help and support

Gadgets are fun, useful and can keep you riding

My route and course profile riding from Southeast Baptist Hospital to Stone oak.

The course profile,  speed and pace.  Forgot my HR strap so no HR on this graph.

I like technology and gadgets.  Especially when they make my riding more interesting and fun, and maybe even get me on the bike more.

I've been using a Garmin 305 for over a year, and now the 705 for over a month.  B-H has a couple of the 705 units for sale.

The 705 is a step up from the 305 in 2 main ways - 1.  It is slightly larger, so the field sizes and characters are a bit easier to see for the over 45 presbyopic crow.  2.  It has road maps on it (with the optional map card which is included with the units at B-H.)

I rode home from Southeast Baptist hospital late one night last week.  For fun I put my home address in, I've ridden the route dozens of times and was interested in seeing how the Garmin would direct me.  A useful feature of the 705 is you select what vehicle you are in - ie a car or a bike - and so the unit doesn't try to take you out on the interstate if you are on a bike!!