It has been some time now that I have updated here.What is new? Well I borrowed the "loaner Power Tap" from my sponsor bike shop and reluctantly took it back days later, after not getting it to work with my Garmin 705. After some research, I found it had not yet received the ANT+ update and that is why it did not work with my
Garmin days prior. Not just 6 days later I get a message on Facebook, from the helpful associates at my sponsor bike shop that the Loaner Power Tap wheel has been updated and now is designated as a PT+unit. It is about a 100 dollar update, for anyone, I believe. This allows the PT hub to broadcast two sets of wireless signals. 1) is the Powertap w/less signal for the yellow PT "dash unit" and the other is the ANT signal for items such as the Garmin 
705. I have exactly two workouts in on my trainer with the PT wheel and my Garmin. It's badass. I can see, HR, avg HR, Power, Max Power, Avg Power, Time, Distance, Cadence all on ONE screen. Each of these are customizeable as well. I love that. Just a flick of the small joystick gets me to another screen I can customize with 8 other separate fields. Sweet. I was playing around last night just to see what 400 watts feels like. It's hard. I will be interested to see how well I can do over the weekend outside, weather permitting, with a power test. This should help me set my Power avg for early in the season and then give me so
mething to measure from in a few months. I like data.GOBAMA!
The GYM - It seems my gym has gotten busy and is now filled with posers, heavy breathers and musclebound hairless wonders, walking around with their crackberry's acting important. Also, the people reading magazines while working out - how is that beneficial? I like our Gym actually, it's small but great. They are building a larger new one near out house soon, which might be cool for a change of scenery. I have been going about 3-4 days a week, after my bike workouts, for the last 6-8 weeks now: which includes, lower back, upper back, abs, hammy, quads etc. Core strength is key this year. There may be a CAT upgrade in my future....ssshhhh don't tell anyone. Put in time now - benefit later - right! But my workouts have been very consistant on the bike and very beneficial. I am sitting at a good, well great winter weight compared to any other year - sans when I was in high school. In a few weeks, I hope that will drop more, as the weather temp. increase's and I can get outside to burn some calories.
I went out of state last weekend, for an amazing bike fit, and a little fun getaway with my wife, by one of the best, in the bike-fit business. It was close to three-hours, a truly great learning experience and fun. Lots of measurements, lots of red sharpie dots, some riding on a trainer and we were finished with the preliminary process. A few tweeks here and there, some turned out to be bigger or more than I thought and other changes, not so much, but some of the suprises were, I was right-on where I had some things set on the bike and shoes. It might take a few weeks to adapt, but it's already coming around it appears. Hopefully more comfort, more aero, and more power to crush the competition in 09.
The day we left town, a huge fire consumed about 17 local businesses, but the fire dept. managed to save a , local restaurant, that is owned by a very good friend. I am sorry for all the local biz owners that must be suffering already in this economy. One other bummer about the fire is I just bought Jen a gift card at The Candle Lab for Christmas. Thank goodness they have two other locations in town. Lets hope the property owners move fast to find new local homes for these business's.Other news: this morning a knock at our front door (= rare) my wife and I scramble to the window and see if there is a car, etc....nope it was
someone innocently standing on our front porch. It's our nice long-term neighbor friend, Judy (who walks her dogs every morning) with bad news our other nice long-term neighbor Tim has passed away. He had a heart attack and stroke, she states. I am sad for Tim and his family. He was such a nice guy and the first to welcome Jen and I to our small little street when we moved in. He was always the guy to keep a watchful eye on any and all neighborhood stuff - morning-noon-night. He had the best flowers, best grass and could talk politics and pretty much any subject until you had 
somewhere else to be. I remember him saying once, he used to be a political speach writer, for famous politicians. Now I wish I knew more about him. Who is going to take care of his grass and home? Who will help me keep a neighborhood watch? Who am I going to chat with about politics/military/etc after my long bike rides? I'll miss you Tim.
