Spinning My Wheels
This year, instead of working on century rides and endurance, I'm gonna try and improve my spin. Most people, without realizing it, pedal in "squares," that is, they tend to let the pedals pull their legs along on the upstroke and then they mash forward on the downstroke. This robs power and makes for sore thighs. Also, most people tend to push gears that are too big. So, instead of being in the almost too hard to turn gear at a real low cadence (80 rpm or less), it makes more sense to pedal at a higher cadence (100 rpm or more) in a much easier gear. It makes sense, doesn't it? This is how Lance Armstrong gets up those Alps each July. He's not a terribly gifted climber, but he realized that if you push a smaller gear more times you actually have a lot more energy available to get to the top than if you spend the whole hill at maximum effort. The thing is, when the gear is loose like that you have to really concentrate on a smooth spin, pushing forward, yes, but also deliberately pulling up. If you get a chance, watch Lance this summer and compare him to other riders who don't adopt the high-cadence, smooth spin idea. See who's on the podium in Paris. Not that I am expecting him to set a record by winning six in a row.

Enough geeky gear stuff. It probably didn't even make sense.

I got the new version 3 eMedia Guitar Method. It seems to get very good reviews. I think I need a guitar teacher, but I don't like humans because they have eyeballs--they look at you when you haven't practiced and make you feel all guilty. I took lessons for a couple months year and years ago and hated it. Now I don't have to play Frere Jacques and Twinkle Twinkle in front of a human. And that's much better.