Kinda disappointed.

Well getting started with my training plan has been more difficult than I would have imagined! Not only was it super busy at work but I also chose to start a table building project for my family. That would be enough, I think, to ruin any average Joe's training plan. In addition to all that my wife decided that if I needed to up the husband ante in order to keep her happy. So basically I haven't done shit this training year. If it is of any consolation pictures of the table will be my next post. Hell, what am I saying? Of course that's what you want, I mean why else would you be reading a blog titled Bikes n Beer?
Until next post!

2012 Seasons First Hurdle

As previously mentioned I work as a delivery driver and we are currently in the thick of our busiest time of year. I was hoping to slowly get started training and things were going smoothly until all the orders made on Cyber Monday arrived and we have been crazy busy since that day. You always know peak season is gonna suck but you never remember how much!
I initially set out to begin training in earnest right after xmas but this peak season I have had the great misfortune of contracting this persistent minor cold. I will still be able to get serious on schedule but I am going to have to accept, maybe even embrace, the fact that with the new year I will be starting over from scratch physically. Hell, emotionally too!  I haven't been on a bike in three weeks and that sucks!  

Training for the 2012 season.

  For my birthday my wonderful wife obtained for me The Mountain Biker's Training Bible by Joe Friel. It was really a timely present because I was already toying with the idea of doing the Fool's Gold an endurance race in northern Georgia.
  I had reservations about doing such an event because I am your typical weekend warrior when it comes to riding. However, my job keeps me active and I squeeze in running and weights during the week. With just that little bit of saddle time I knew I could certainly finish such an event but finishing just didn't seem worth all the travel costs. The Training Bible will give those few opportunities that I do have to workout be more effective. Another big concern I had about doing this event was the fact that it is held in northern Georgia where they have elevation, something that this Floridian has never had to deal with. While I wish someone would pay me to ride bikes I am forced to hold down a real job as a delivery driver. I do stay active all day but have very little, if any, daylight left for weekday riding. All that said, I thought I would use this soapbox to share with you my successes and difficulties training for an endurance event with a full time job a wife and three kids.
 

Bikes and beer, not always the best idea.

I know that this may be shocking news to some of you, but I love riding my bicycles and on occasion I enjoy a few beers. Now usually I will reserve my drinking for after a ride, but sometimes it doesn't work out that way. By now I am sure that you have guess how this early morning "beat the heat" ride went. It was awful, just in case that was not clear. I had the great pleasure of enjoying a few IPA's last night and really wanted to share my new favorite with you. I recommend you go out and find this IPA, by the Terrapin Beer Co.

Just make sure you enjoy it after a good ride, they are more delicious then!  I should note that I really enjoy a hoppy beer, like Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale.

If your like me and have tried every ale you could get your hands on and are in the market for something slightly different then you will love Victory Brewing's Prima Pils.

First post. The best one so far!

This is my first blog post so I'll keep it short and sweet while I get used to this new medium.
I wanted to have a place to share bike related articles, give you my two cents on new parts I've tried, and of course to help you pick the best post ride brew. I always enjoy trying a new beer, so your recommendations are encouraged.

Tour de france

If you're like most of the people I know, you don't have the time to watch every hour of Tour coverage. I have found that the Guardian has great and thorough content and here is the link. 

Of course there is always the official site, www.letour.fr but I find the site really busy and it is not always so easy to find the info you went there to get.

I would love too try the free 2011 Tour de France app powered by Skoda (cause you know if it is associated with the Tour it will have an ad on it!) but, alas it is not compatable with my phone. That said, I'll need
someone out there to try it out and tell me all about it. :)