Saturday morning ride

Rode this morning with these, coached by 4thDimension, stellar athletes, Eric and Mark. Also along for the long ride, Eryn, Jason, Smitty. We ended up with an awesome 75 mile ride, with high tempo, mostly set by Mark. I think it was about at the halfway mark that my quads started screaming. I was tempted to ride back in with Kyle, but as always, happy I took the challenge;) Both Jason and I worked on our drafting technique, yet I know it made both of us stronger.


Jason put on a great performance at the coffee shop in Breaux Bridge.
(thanks again for the java Smitty).


Tomorrow will make for a nice, slow recovery ride and some R&R later in the day.

Vuijsters.com taking good form..

www.vuijsters.com

Quite some changes have taken place on this site since its young inception!
For several years now I have been blogging on a personal note as "Wielrennerke", which is Dutch for "wheelrunner" or "bicycle racer"...

For those that don't know me, the sport of cycling has been a passion of mine since childhood, my dad and brothers Berry and Emiel didn't give me another choice!
Born and raised in the Netherlands, it goes without saying that I had to play soccer!
My soccer career spanned 20 years (from age 4 till 24).
It was ended by an 18-wheeler accident in Sweden, involving me on a motorcyle...
(click on tab "pain and suffering" at the top of http://www.vuijsters.com/)
About 5 1/2 years ago my dear friend, (and at the time year-long tennis partner),
Mark Miller opened Precision Bikes, on Johnson Street, Lafayette, LA.
It was through Mark's encouragement and Precision Bikes' great selection of bikes, that I got involved in cycling again.

Bikes are nice subjects to collect.....
I can't imagine life without riding/racing bicycles since!
I also have been honored to co-sponsor the Precision Bikes Racing Team,

of which I am a proud member.

My logo is found on the left sleeve of the uniforms....

(pictured from left to right: Mark Miller, Smitty Smith and Eric Bernard)

Since the beginning of 2009 I have operated as 'webmaster' for Mark Miller,
owner of Precision Bikes, which has become the "2nd to none" bikeshop in the South!
For viewing of Mark's site, click here.

Finally I have become inspired to set up a site for
Ruud Vuijsters, PT Practice of Pain Management, Inc.
I hope in this way to promote my work
and at the same time share my insights with a broader audience.
From time to time I'll post about pain management, physical / manual therapy,
sports-medicine, prophylaxis / ergonomics and stress-management.
It'll be interesting to see what it is like operating 3 sites, while continuing to work!

Macca Talk at Red's

Chris McCormack (born 4 April 1973) is an Australian triathlete, known affectionately to the triathlon community as Macca. McCormack began competing on international-distance courses in 1996, winning both the 1997 Triathlon World Championships and the 1997 ITU World Cup Series; to date, no-one else has won both titles in a single year.

After shifting focus to longer distance racing he displayed exceptional aptitude for the distance winning many races. McCormack won Ironman Australia in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Twice he has finished the Quelle Challenge Roth, an Iron-Distance triathlon in under 8 hours, a feat only 5 other athletes have completed.

In 2007 he won the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii after 6 attempts at the race coming as close as second, within 2 minutes of the winner, in 2006.

Last year's planned event, to have Chris "Macca" McCormack speak at Red's,
had to be canceled due to inclement weather.
Macca was held up in Dallas, TX and ended up flying in late that night.
He still got some swim-bike-run training in, here in Lafayette,
after which he came over to my clinic, where I had the honor of fine-tuning his body.
Macca then went on to compete in the first New Orleans Half Ironman.
_________________

Well Macca is coming back to Lafayette!
He will give a talk at
Red Lerille's Health&Racquet Club
on Tuesday April 13th-2010 at 7:00PM
You don't have to be a member and there is no charge.
_____________________________

This event is made possible by:
_____________________________

____________________
And
Smitty "Mongoose" Smith.

_____________________

A heartfelt thanks to Red Lerille's for opening his doors, free of charge, for this event!

Spring

It's hard to imagine spring has arrived in Louisiana..
I guess Friday was just a tease. Not that I got full enjoyment, when riding my bike with MTS at Chicot State Park. It made for a wonderful afternoon, with instant lifetime memories!
But then, to have to put up with temperatures in the 30's and winds trumping 25 mph... It seems a bit much!





Yet I am so proud of the guys, Cole, Eric, Jason, Mark, Saul and Smitty, competing in the LaPlace, 40K/NOBC 2man Team Time Trial. Crosswinds both ways, mechanical problems for Mark and still claiming 1st (Cole and Smitty), 3rd (Eric and Mark) and 8th (Jason and Saul, while this was Jason's 1st TTT!) in the Cat5!!! Congrats fellows, great showing for Precision Bikes Racing Team;)

Chicot State Park Ride

With the weekend around the corner and spring weather arriving in Louisiana, planning a nice ride in Chicot State Park tomorrow afternoon. I'll be in the company of my dear friend Mark Stephan, who is an avid hiker/cyclist and knows his way around in Chicot State Park. It has been about 17 years ago that I use to ride my Harley Davidson LowRider around Chicot. In many ways it'll make for a nice ride, while visiting with MTS;)


The park covers over 6,400 acres of rolling hills and water in South Central Louisiana. The cool, clear waters of Lake Chicot have yielded record freshwater catches of largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and red-ear sunfish. Fishermen will enjoy the convenient boathouse, three boat launches and boat rental facilities.

An extensive hiking/backpacking trail completely encircles Lake Chicot and includes several primitive campsites along the way. The hiking trail allows the visitor to experience and enjoy the park's natural landscape, its bottomland hardwood forest and the lake itself. For visitors who enjoy a quicker pace, much of the trail is geared toward mountain bikers, and all cyclists are welcome to ride the roadways throughout the park.

The South Landing includes cabins, a group camp, a lodge, picnic areas and playgrounds, a swimming pool, a boat launch, a fishing pier and a dock with rental boats. A scenic road links the South Landing with the North Landing.

The North Landing features campsites, a playground, a boat launch, a dock, a 400 ft. fishing pier and a primitive group-camping area. The Conservation Lodge is located in this area.

The East Landing is accessible from LA 106. It is less developed than the other two areas. It includes a boat launch, a dock, a meeting room and a barbeque pavilion, which makes this area ideal for day visitors.

Humpday Ride

Leaving from 118 Demas drive, we got a nice 20mile ride in, just dodging the popcorn-showers. Eryn was very pleased to be riding with guys that can keep up with her, better yet, even pull her along! Jason looked to be ready for Sunday's 2Man Team Time Trial in La Place! It surely seems though that the Shimano Dura-Ace is holding him back a bit... ;)
Again, nothing but happiness, riding in the new Precision Bikes Team kit!

New Precision Bikes Racing Team Kits for 2010

The man on the left, Jason Meaux aka Rhino,
has a lot to do with the outcome of these beautiful new team kits.
We received the kits yesterday and couldn't wait long before subjecting them to a short road test.
These kits are manufactured by Hincapie, which stands for superb quality.
In my opinion the design and colors came out great,
all we have to do now is match our speed with our fast looks...

Alzheimer's Ride2Remember

Rolled out at 7:30AM this morning for, what turned out to be the Metric100 (62+miles). The terrible conditions of some roads around Breaux Bridge provided an early test for my shoulder! Great report though, all went well. Even though I was planning to ride 100miles, at the 50mile mark it was evident that a Metric100 had to be sufficient for today. The speed, with a tailwind, going out was higher than I wished for. Knowing we would have to fight a strong headwind coming back in, it turned out to be a wise decision;)
It was awesome to be out on the road with so many, though I have to say, riding in this big of a group had me on edge for the first few miles! The Colnago C50 is an awesome bike to ride and even my new Selle San Marco RegalE saddle felt (relative) great!

Daylight Saving Time...

Please be reminded of the time change Sunday morning at 2:00AM

Alzheimer's Ride2Remember 2010

"Lassiez les Bicyclettes Rouler!"

Sunday, March 14, 2010

The Metric100 and Century will roll out at 7:30 AM
The 30 mile ride will roll out at 10:00 AM
The 10 mile ride will roll out at 11:00 AM

SIGN UP ONLINE NOW

PRINTABLE BIKER REGISTRATION FORMS

PRINTABLE HIKER REGISTRATION FORMS

Printable route maps:

100 and 62 Mile Route Map

30 Mile Route Map

10 Mile Route Map

Written Route Directions all Distances

6th Annual

Ride To Remember

An Adventure for Alzheimer's

March 14th, 2010

at Acadiana Park

1205 E. Alexander Street , Lafayette, LA

Enjoy a beautiful ride through Acadiana’s back country roads

and support the Alzheimer’s Association. Event offers 100, 62, 30 &

10 mile routes and a Luau BBQ at the park complete with

entertainment and children’s activities. Pre-registration suggested.

For more information visit

www.alz.org/louisiana or call 337-984-4884.

email danielle.bacque@alz.org

Save the Date * Register * Become a Sponsor

"Lassiez les Bicyclettes Rouler!"

"Let the Bicycles Roll!"

Say What??

Rouge Roubaix 2010

Rouge Roubaix 2010

I had the honor and privilege to drive the Team Precision Bikes Subaru Outback
in support of Team Precision Bikes.
The awesome assistance of Jason Meaux, in form of navigation, mechanical support, music and fabulous catering, turned this event in an unforgettable one;)
We drove the 100+ mile course behind our friends and were blessed with front row seats and an awesome view of a spectacular event!
Riding a Century is a challenge in itself...
Riding a Century on rolling hills, with 3 brutal gravel sections, steep hills and all,
makes one want to pray for the arrival of the Grim Reaper...

The 2010 Rouge Roubaix was a great success for Team Precision Bikes!
Nick Smith won the Cat5, while Jed Darby took 4th place in the Cat3!
Congratulations!!!
Most starters from Team Precision Bikes finished the GranFondo in respectable time,
without major crashes or mechanical trouble...
Congrats to all enduring the pain!
Weather, though very nippy early on, cooperated for the day.
Compliments and gratitude to Raising Canes and all volunteers for putting on a great event!

LIFE is WONDERFUL

Got a great 3 1/2Hr ride in with the Rhino, earlier this morning. I'd like to think, just looking at the picture above, that Louisiana has a lot of beauty! So many roads, (albeit loaded with potholes), lined and covered with beautiful trees. The weather was awesome, though a little nippy at first.
Riding with the Rhino never gets old! There's always a new surprise awaiting. Last night Jason indulged in some awesome Cuban food, and I surely hope that the picture below will speak the remaining thousand words......


This is not a standard saddlebag addition, though once more MacGyver had the solution to the problem at cheeks;)

The Book of Eli

Just got home after having watched "The Book of Eli".
A must see! Denzel Washington at his best! And I thought he was at his best in "Man on Fire"... Aside of his stellar performance, the movie is great. What a story, what great photography! Again, definitely worth seeing;)

Humpday Ride

With sunshine galore and plenty wind, Mark "Killer" Miller, Smitty "Mongoose" Smith and yours truly,
Ruud "Flash" Vuijsters set out for a ride from my house.
Riding in the company of these experienced cyclists made it easy for me to ease into the art of drafting, without fear having a grip on me. We had a nice tailwind on the way out, which made me feel like I hadn't lost much strength during my rehab.
Needless to say, we payed a hefty price when turning onto highway 167 cruising back home. Even though my iPhone weather app indicated winds ranging from 5 to 7 mph, reality was different. It just felt awesome to go 30+ miles, while my shoulder once more held up great!
Thank you Dr. Matt Williams, you are truly a great surgeon.

I am hoping to get a good 3-4 hour ride in this coming Saturday, just so I know my legs will carry me on March 14th, when riding the Alzheimer "Ride2Remember" century.

Work- and riding wise I am surely on track to full recovery and it is hard for me to put into words how happy I am with my current status, after nearly 8 months of 'fighting' my shoulder problems.

At the same time I realize the poor job I've done in expressing my gratefulness to Mark.
Not only is the Colnago C50 a dream babe to ride, she is extremely easy on the eyes as well!
It has not been that often I've heard Mark say: "I'll never let go of this bike."
Well, I just heard Mark say this, when he was building up this Colnago C50 ST02!
Mark raced this bike at the Rouge-Roubaix 2009 and the Michelob Ultra La Vuelta de Acadiana 2009. Other than that it might have seen the road for about 10 rides....
She still looks like brand spanking new! A beauty on the road as well as in my bike-room...
Mark, thank you from the bottom of my heart for passing on this awesome bike!
I promise she'll be taken care of in such fashion that would make Eric Bernard's bikes turn 'lime-green' with envy;)

(Photo credit: Mark Miller/iPhone camera)

Cyclysm