What beats the convenience of Hotel Room Coffee? Several things. But it's convenient nonetheless.
Over the past few days in Minneapolis MN, I've brewed up more than several pots of this java-in-a-pouch and some have been better than others. I won't claim that I'm an expert, but I am picking up a few tricks to perfecting Hotel Room Coffee brewing.
1. Don't fill the machine with the maximum amount of water unless you like your joe very, very wimpy. Go for a maximum of 3.5 cups of water instead of the indicated 4 if you want something decent.
2. Make sure the coffee pouch is centered in the holder and that the coffee grounds aren't pushed over to one side. Maximize the amount of coffee that the water will go through EVERY MOMENT of the brewing process!
3. Apparently, it's best to fill the machine with already warm or hot water. This is to give the little machine an extra hand with heating up the water to a reasonable temperature by the time it goes through the coffee. The coffee seems very hot once it's in the pot, which may be a bit misleading because the POT itself been sitting on the heated element. My new teammate Janel introduced got me thinking about this tip, proof that teamwork on Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies has already begun ;)|
Jan 30, 2012
Jan 28, 2012
Du plaisir en équipe!
Je suis à Minnepolis, MN avec Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies. Hier soir quasiment tous les membres des équipes masculines et féminines étaient arrivés. On a reçu une partie de notre matériel pour la saison. Plusieurs kits fait par Champion Systems, assez de vêtements pour rester chaud quand le température ne l'est pas, des baggages Thule, et des produits de Schick, Chamois Butt'r et Banana Boat.
Ce matin nous avons pédalé sur nos nouveaux vélos Orbea à Optum Health Performance Centre, sur des supports Kinetic. C'est un centre d'entrainement de haut niveau qui spécialise dans des services pour des athlètes d'endurance et ils ont une grande clientèle de triathlètes de haut niveau. Nous nous sommes assurés entre autres que la positionnement sur les Orbeas était parfaite. Je me sentais comme si je glissais par en avant sur ma Selle Italia alors Bob m'a aidé à corriger le set-up.
Le tout à été suivi par une session de yoga en équipe. Les filles autant que les gars ont bien apprécié notre expérience sur les Bosu Boards...à refaire, c'est certain. (Peut-être demain, même!)
En fin de journée on va assisiter à des présentations concernant notre matériel. On va nous familiariser avec ce qu'on va utiliser cette saison et on apprendra comment en profiter au maximum.
D'autres belles choses à venir, c'est certain!
Ce matin nous avons pédalé sur nos nouveaux vélos Orbea à Optum Health Performance Centre, sur des supports Kinetic. C'est un centre d'entrainement de haut niveau qui spécialise dans des services pour des athlètes d'endurance et ils ont une grande clientèle de triathlètes de haut niveau. Nous nous sommes assurés entre autres que la positionnement sur les Orbeas était parfaite. Je me sentais comme si je glissais par en avant sur ma Selle Italia alors Bob m'a aidé à corriger le set-up.
Le tout à été suivi par une session de yoga en équipe. Les filles autant que les gars ont bien apprécié notre expérience sur les Bosu Boards...à refaire, c'est certain. (Peut-être demain, même!)
En fin de journée on va assisiter à des présentations concernant notre matériel. On va nous familiariser avec ce qu'on va utiliser cette saison et on apprendra comment en profiter au maximum.
D'autres belles choses à venir, c'est certain!
Jan 27, 2012
Optum Pro Cycling Presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies
A few days ago the roster was published online. Here is the big news: There is a brand new women's professional road cycling team on the scene in North America: Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies. I am proud and excited to say that LEX ALBRECHT is listed on the roster. I couldn't ask for more as a cyclist! Check out the first press release here: Optum Press Release
Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies will be riding Orbea bikes, with HED wheels and bars, SRAM components, LOOK pedals and Mavic shoes. We will be wearing Lazer helmets and sunglasses, and racing on Selle Italia saddles. We'll cart our gear around in Thule luggage and have Acura team cars. What does all this mean? We're going to be equipped to the nines with the best product on the market, and that's going to help get Optum Orange all over the podium.
Look out for ORANGE in the peloton this year. Here is our new kit design:
There will be team launch events going on over the next couple of days in Minneapolis Minnesota. Updates, of course, will be kept coming.
- The managing director is Charles Aaron
- The general manager is Jacob Erker
- The women's performance director is Rachel Heal
Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies will be riding Orbea bikes, with HED wheels and bars, SRAM components, LOOK pedals and Mavic shoes. We will be wearing Lazer helmets and sunglasses, and racing on Selle Italia saddles. We'll cart our gear around in Thule luggage and have Acura team cars. What does all this mean? We're going to be equipped to the nines with the best product on the market, and that's going to help get Optum Orange all over the podium.
Look out for ORANGE in the peloton this year. Here is our new kit design:
Jan 26, 2012
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Ride to Cure Diabetes Event
I am in Minnesota, safe and sound.
I'm making a habit of sleeping through the take-offs of all of my flights recently- what a bizarre feeling. I'm snoozing without realizing it, and at the same time wondering just how darn long we're going to keep taxiing down the runway before we get up into the air. Then I look out the window...we're off the ground- and have been for who knows how long. Ha!
This evening I will be giving a presentation at REI in Bloomington Minnesota at the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes Event. It's a really cool event for several reasons.
http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=107183
http://www.rei.com/event/33897/session/42516
I'm making a habit of sleeping through the take-offs of all of my flights recently- what a bizarre feeling. I'm snoozing without realizing it, and at the same time wondering just how darn long we're going to keep taxiing down the runway before we get up into the air. Then I look out the window...we're off the ground- and have been for who knows how long. Ha!
This evening I will be giving a presentation at REI in Bloomington Minnesota at the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes Event. It's a really cool event for several reasons.
- First off, I know how important it is to fund scientific research projects. The more funding that is available, the greater the number of scientists that will research and study a topic, yielding more results, on more aspects of the issue, and at a faster rate. What that equates to is more high quality, concrete and tangible results that everyone will be able to benefit from.
- Secondly, type 1 diabetes is a condition that affects us all. Even if we don't have it, we most likely know or are close to somebody who does. A better understanding of the condition will benefit everyone.
- And finally...well geez, what better way to raise money for a worthy cause than RIDE BIKES?!
http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=107183
http://www.rei.com/event/33897/session/42516
Jan 24, 2012
Heading to Minnesota
In two days I'll be off to the airport again for my 3rd small adventure of the year. This time the destination: Minnesota. I've never been there before. The first time I realized where it was on the map was in my early days of grade school. It's the state that is home to Duluth, where one extremity of the St. Lawrence Seaway lays.
Why Minnesota? 2012 team presentation. I can't wait to meet the new members and to share all of the news with everyone. The adventure continues. And I love adventures. In the meantime, I still have a few more rides to do on my Kinetic trainer. I'll keep the updates flowing. And a new colour scheme on the site is coming in a couple of days...can't wait!
Every single time I'm heading off somewhere I think, "Geez, if I had some blue suede shoes I'd put them on to board the plane." Like in the song. I still don't have any blue suede shoes though, so I'll have to do with my regular footwear.
Why Minnesota? 2012 team presentation. I can't wait to meet the new members and to share all of the news with everyone. The adventure continues. And I love adventures. In the meantime, I still have a few more rides to do on my Kinetic trainer. I'll keep the updates flowing. And a new colour scheme on the site is coming in a couple of days...can't wait!
Every single time I'm heading off somewhere I think, "Geez, if I had some blue suede shoes I'd put them on to board the plane." Like in the song. I still don't have any blue suede shoes though, so I'll have to do with my regular footwear.
Jan 21, 2012
Another Winter Saturday in The Parc de la Mauricie
I packed up the car with my red skis, (red is great, red means fast, red means fun) and drove westward to the Parc de la Mauricie.
It was a chilly morning. The conditions weren't fast. And my rusty climbing technique (which needs to mature a little anyways) didn't help my speed on the uphills either. But, it was a blast. How can it not be in the Parc de la Mauricie?! It's my favorite place to ride my bike, and my favorite place to cross country ski.
We melted a few articles of clothing when we stopped in a cabin mid-way through the run. A few of us learned a lesson on how NOT to dry clothes on a wood stove and ended up with some extra holes in our gear. Even if you put a newspaper between your gloves and the hot stove, you are not in the clear. I was a lucky one. I learned from observation.
It's going to be a bit milder tomorrow, and it's going to be just as much or more fun in the Parc de la Mauricie. Yeehaw! I love cross-training on my cross country skis.
Want to learn more about my favorite place? You can check out this link: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/qc/mauricie/activ/activ_hiver-winter/activ10.aspx
It was a chilly morning. The conditions weren't fast. And my rusty climbing technique (which needs to mature a little anyways) didn't help my speed on the uphills either. But, it was a blast. How can it not be in the Parc de la Mauricie?! It's my favorite place to ride my bike, and my favorite place to cross country ski.
We melted a few articles of clothing when we stopped in a cabin mid-way through the run. A few of us learned a lesson on how NOT to dry clothes on a wood stove and ended up with some extra holes in our gear. Even if you put a newspaper between your gloves and the hot stove, you are not in the clear. I was a lucky one. I learned from observation.
It's going to be a bit milder tomorrow, and it's going to be just as much or more fun in the Parc de la Mauricie. Yeehaw! I love cross-training on my cross country skis.
Want to learn more about my favorite place? You can check out this link: http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/qc/mauricie/activ/activ_hiver-winter/activ10.aspx
Jan 20, 2012
Le livre magique
Pas longtemps après avoir commencé à m'entrainer de façon regulière il y a 10 ans, j'ai commencé à tenir un cahier dans lequel j'enregistre les détails de ce que je fais.
Il y a eu des bouts quand j'ai arrêté d'inscrire mes activités, et le format et la façon d'inscrire les donnés ont évolué aussi. C'est un peu comme ça que plusieures choses se passent dans la vie. L'évolution: c'est une bonne affaire!
Pourquoi je garde un livre?
Ca me permet de suivre mes entrainements. Je peux me référer à ce que j'ai fait dans le passé, que ça soit il y a un an ou il y a une semaine. C'est un outil pour pouvoir suvire le progrès, identifier pourquoi ça va mal, (sur-entrainement, une combination ou une séries d'entrainements qui ne marche juste pas), et d'établir le formule d'entrainements qui marche le mieux avant des compétitions ou évenements que je vise.
Qu'est ce que j'y écris?
J'écris le type d'entrainement ainsi que la durée. J'inscris l'intensité (soit de façon objectif selon mes feelings ou subjectif selon des données plus concrets comme des Watts mésurés avec mon powermeter Quarq). Si j'ai d'autres données disponible, comme par exemple la distance, et parfois les données sur la cadence etc. je les inclus aussi. Souvent j'écris des commentaires sur comment je me sens, la place ou avec qui je me suis entrainée, ainsi que si j'ai été satisfaite ou pas.
Pour bien des entrainements que j'enregistre dans mon cahier, je ne retournerai jamais analyser tous les détails. Mais quand j'ai le goût de le faire, au moins que l'option est là! Pour moi, mes "livres magiques" sont des outils indispensables.
Jan 10, 2012
Treasures in the Mail.
A few days ago it became official. I live in the Capital National, Québec!
It's not the same here. It's colder. There is more snow in the streets. People are out on the streets bundled up like it's nothing, walking here and there. The postman chats with me, as do the appliance guys that lent a hand bringing in my new washer and dryer. We're all buddies here I think...
With moving comes a lot of work, organizing, and time investment. The trick to avoid being overwhelmed is biting off small chunks at a time and celebrating the small victories. One box at a time. One address change at a time.
I've got my living room set up for training though. That was a priority. I also know where all of my ski equipement is. That was also high on the list. My espresso machine is up and running as well.
Yesterday I received my first special delivery in the mail. A big green box. The delivery man chatted with me, and asked me what my new treasure was. A Kurt Kinetic Trainer. Next thing on the list is to set this puppy up. I can't wait to ride it in my new living room in the Capital National. Yeehaw, I'm here- I'm home!
It's not the same here. It's colder. There is more snow in the streets. People are out on the streets bundled up like it's nothing, walking here and there. The postman chats with me, as do the appliance guys that lent a hand bringing in my new washer and dryer. We're all buddies here I think...
With moving comes a lot of work, organizing, and time investment. The trick to avoid being overwhelmed is biting off small chunks at a time and celebrating the small victories. One box at a time. One address change at a time.
I've got my living room set up for training though. That was a priority. I also know where all of my ski equipement is. That was also high on the list. My espresso machine is up and running as well.
Yesterday I received my first special delivery in the mail. A big green box. The delivery man chatted with me, and asked me what my new treasure was. A Kurt Kinetic Trainer. Next thing on the list is to set this puppy up. I can't wait to ride it in my new living room in the Capital National. Yeehaw, I'm here- I'm home!
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