Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Have NO FEAR




If, as Marshall McLuhan suggests, the medium is the message, the House of Mirth must be close to hog heaven. The translation being that at long last we are up and running with a full head of steam. This week, and as long as necessary, we are conducting our annual Power to Weight ratio testing. It is pretty straightforward and easy to preform.


Here is what I do: Set up the CompuTrainer with a 15 mile custom course, appropriately labeled as "moderate" in degree of difficulty terms, wire up your bike (or if you cannot afford one, one that will be appointed to you), display the graphics and data on the big screen, dial up some mojo tuneage, highball the fans, and hit the start button.


Here is what you do: Ride the course. The CT's load generator makes constant changes to the resistance loads creating a challenging and effective measurement of your current level of physical fitness. Upon completion of the 15 miles all data is crunched and a brain numbing set of algorithms extrapolates your PTW ratio.


What we do then: Set out to improve the ratio over time. Or, more of the same. We will refine our dietary habits, manage our stressors more effectively, become more diligent in our workout sessions, find a higher level of balance and, almost miraculously, delay the onset of the aging process. Oh, and we do that as we laugh, smile and sing, too.


Or, you can guzzle energy drinks all day as this hysterical video illustrates. There are drawbacks to this approach, however as illustrated here by the No Meat Athlete.


For your continual entertainment on the inspirational trail, please take a listen to this podcast from Competitor Radio, hosted by my pals Bob Babbitt and Paul Huddle as they interview the phenomenal Chrissie Wellington after her fourth Ironman win two weeks ago in Hawaii.


If ANY of this sounds like something of value to you (as it should) simply respond via the Post a Comment tab below and schedule a PTW test. Your initial test is FREE!!!!!


Lastly today, while the 15 mile PTW test is about an hour, Bernie, shown above did his in 55:46 yesterday, please do not worry about taking longer than that. Even if it takes TWO WEEKS, I will be there with you from start to finish. Matter of fact, and in keeping with today's rather animated HoM theme, please in this, or any other regard, dear VBA:


HAVE NO FEAR.


Pix: The infamous HoM. Bernie kills the 15 miler, adding a HUGE .2% to his PTW since Feb. Atta boy BB!