Gaining Fitness Takes Time, Losing Fitness... Not So Much

I would pay to find out the answer to the following: Why is it so #@&$ing hard, and time consuming to gain fitness, but losing fitness can happen, seemingly, overnight? Seriously? I can't be the only person to notice this. I worked like hell to get into something resembling fit. In about four months of working two jobs, having to stay home with the kids while the wife is at work/school, etc, etc, and not having the time to be as on top of the working out it has all but gone to pot.

I'm not going to say that I am a slob fat-ass like I was before, but I was nearing the lean stage heading toward cut. Now I am in the not lean stage, heading away from cut. I haven't gotten "fat" yet, I just have noticed a loss in muscle and a gain in fat for a zero net gain/loss. The problem, if you know the whole fat/muscle gig, is that muscle weighs about twice that of fat. So for me staying around the 180 mark, I am getting a bit more squishy at 180 than I was just this past March.

Not to mention, having been off the bike for about a month, I can't get over how quickly you get cooked. I did a ten or so run, before I lost sunlight, and I felt every hill that I climbed. I think part of it goes along with the loss of fitness. So, bottom line is I think we need to have another Lean Look Challenge or something. Would anyone else be in? I'd like to see a minimum of three to five people, nothing crazy, just keep people accountable, and I'll work on a prize for the winner.

Drop me a line, or hit me up in comments if you're interested.

Stage Six Tour de France

I know... I said I'd do this sooner, but I didn't. So, I'll make it really quick:

It rained
It was in Spain
Rain
Millar kicked butt and led a good portion of the race to get owned in the end... finished stage twentieth
More rain
Hushovd owned at the end
Couple great crashes, one at the end
Ugly weather, OH!, and rain
Lance is still about a tenth of a second off the lead
Top three overall standings still the same: Cancellara, Armstrong, Contador
Still catch it live at Versus
Contest from Versus... see the TdF Versus widget in the right sidebar
Oh, did I mention the rain in Spain... Yes, mainly on the plain

See you tomorrow. Work should be sane enough to update at the finish of the race.

More To Come Tomorrow, But Win Something While You Wait

Busy, crazy day today as I expected. There was, however, a great and surprising finish to the Tour de France today. Not to mention that for the second day in a row Lance Armstrong is in second place twenty-two one hundredths of a second off Cancellera! Could this be the eighth win for Lance? We'll know soon enough.

I'll be back tomorrow afternoon with a Tour wrap-up. Until then, go check out Ron at Cozy Beehive for a chance to win a great prize in the All Modern Who... What... Why Competition. It's super easy, and the prize rocks!

Cheers, for now. Allez, Lance!

UPDATED! What Better Way To Start Your Week? A Free Calendar & Beautiful Women!

Hey, OK... So I have a feeling that people might be checking but figuring that someone already snatched up the calendar... They haven't. Furthermore I know SOMEONE out there wants a calendar man! Did I throw you off with a question? I'll throw out a hint to answer the question, ready? I have a big ad for Spin, the LBS, on the right hand sidebar. OK? And the race was exactly a month ago... C'mon! (heh heh heh)
Seriously though, someone just send the answer(s) to me so I can ship this calendar off to you.

Cyclepassion has come through once again! Incase you didn't see the post a couple of weeks ago, I've got a calendar to give away! Thats right, the 2009 Calendars are out, and I'm going to give you, what's likely your first chance, to win one. I'm footing the bill on shipping these bad boys, so I am going to ask a favor. Please keep it to US and Canada... these things are, like, $10 to ship within the US, I don't want to spend as much as the calendar is worth to send it to the UK, or Australia, or something, sorry (puppy dog eyes, and a cute smile).

What does this mean to you? Twelve months of looking at scenes like this...I think you could handle that, right?

So, here's how it goes down. You want the calendar, you need to answer a question. The answer is (almost too easy to find) in this blog somewhere. Be the first to answer the question, and she... will be delivering you your very own Cyclepassion calendar! **OK, that was a lie, but I WILL send you one of your very own calendars to enjoy! So without further adieu, the question:

What is my favorite LBS (Local Bike Shop) that I talk about often in my blog?
Bonus Question (For a Jimi Products Game Shell). What race did they recently (like in the last month) sponsor?

Well there you have it. Click on the contact me at the top right hand of this page, the top of the sidebar, send me your answer, and if your the first to answer it correctly you'll get the calendar. If you don't win you can always order one at 2009 Cyclepassion Calendar Order Page, or just wait and see... Maybe I'll have another one coming up soon! *wink, nudge*

Hey... Just A Heads Up!

I just wanted to throw out a quick heads up to everyone. Tomorrow I will have a quick giveaway. To make it fair to all involved, and to cover all of the time zones, in the US anyway, I will have the contest positing at 12:00 noon EST! So thats 12:00 PM Eastern, 11:00 AM Central, 10:00 AM Mountain, 9:00 AM Pacific, right? OK. There you have it! So come back MONDAY 11/17 at 12:00PM EST to find out more about the giveaway!

Fat Cyclist Has The Coolest Idea EVER!

So I had a pretty great story to post, and then I wound up reading Fatty's Blog. So here's how today's post is going to play out. I'm going to phone today's in, by way of biting Fatty's post and sharing his COOLEST MOST AWESOME IDEA EVER! Seriously. It's an idea so very brilliant I am a bit envious that I didn't think of it myself. I'm also a bit sad because it's going to dwarf my Cyclepassion Calendar Contest. With that said here is a brief excerpt from Fatty, you'll have to go HERE to read the rest and find out the specifics of the prizes and such. Here's hoping you raise a million, nay, two million... or more! Let's all pull together to help Fatty make this work.

Here's what Fatty has to say:

Here are some interesting facts for you:

Team Dell — you know, the computer guys — had the largest LiveStrong Challenge team ever last year, with more than 260 people in it.
Team Toi raised the most money ever, raising over $350,000 for the LiveStrong Challenge.
Here are my thoughts on both of these records: Pffff.

Team Fat Cyclist: Fighting For Susan

For 2009, I am going to form Team Fat Cyclist: Fighting For Susan for the LiveStrong Challenge, and I want you to join me. If you’re willing to put in some work, together our neighborhood will not simply break these records; we will crush them.

No, we will demolish them.

And humiliate them, just for fun.

Oh, and by the way, by either joining the team or contributing to the team — your choice — you will automatically be entering yourself in raffles to win prizes that will make your head spin.

Want more? It's OK... you can admit you do. Just go HERE and read all about it. Then sign up, and help kick cancers butt!

Cyclepassion 2009 Calendars Are Out!

All I can say is WOW! I got the info from Anke over at Cyclepassion a short while ago that the 2009 calendar was out, and was anxious to see what awaited me. So quicker than you could possibly imagine I went to the 2009 Cyclepassion Calendar Order Page. Once again the guys over at Cyclepassion hit the mark! Ahhhh, to be an Ergon jersey. The photos this year are crazy hot, as always. I say it like the last few years have sucked, right? My only moment of sorrow was that Niki Gudex wasn't in it this year, but with shots like this... who can complain? Seriously?! What, you think they're not cycling related enough? The girls are riders... and in their jersey's... OK, how about this... See! She's even got her bike with her. So does she... See I told you so.
What, so you went from complaining that you didn't see the cycling connection now YOU WANT ONE!?! Are you for real?! OK, if you go to the 2009 Cyclepassion Calendar Order Page you can order yours there, or I suppose you could keep an eye on the blog and have a chance to win one! Yup, as usual Anke has give me a couple to give away this year! I'm not going to do it this minute, but consider this your tease! Keep watching my blog over the next couple weeks and I'll have your first chance to win one. I'll make sure I give them away in time for you to have 'em incase you want to give one to that special someone for Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever Holiday it is you may celebrate (Ramahanukwazamas, anyone?). For now enjoy the pictures, check out the Cyclepassion website, and keep an eye out to win your calendar soon!