This is a site about me (Andy Vaughn) and my dream of becoming a top–level professional cyclist. You can read my story here. I will do my best to record the process, including the struggles, successes, and failures all honestly on a regular basis.
Please feel free to offer support, guidance, criticism, or even good ol' trash talk. Thank you for visiting.
I started a new job about three months ago. I was hired as the web admin for OSU Federal, Your Community Credit Union!
They have been treating me fantastically, truly a welcome blessing considering our latest accomplishment:
Ta-Da! Lily “Frogger” Vaughn – 
She is five weeks old, and the most wonderful thing ever. Stacey and I are truly blessed. She’s a biker-to-be, indeed. The first day she was born, she was already spinning her legs in circles, pushing and kicking. I showed her how to “pull-through” the pedalstroke, and she hasn’t been crying since 
No, really it is great to be a Dad. I am just so happy.
The other day, I was so tired, that during my morning ride, I leaned over and found that if I placed my arms just-right, I could sleep while spinning on the trainer. I had gotten probably about 4 hours of sleep that night, and was definitely in need of something to wake me up. Coffee wasn’t working, spinning wasn’t working…I eventually resorted to some loud rock music while driving to work to wake me up. “Oops! What was that? I was just having a nice dream. Didn’t mean to hit you pedestrians. Sorry!”
Anyway, I spin-on. Lovin’ the life, turning circles now as a bonafide Dad!
Baby on the way…we’ve got about 18 days until the due date. We’ve decided to call her Lily Lin Vaughn. I’ll put up pictures when she comes. Stacey and I are both totally excited, and are ready any day now to have her come.
I’ve been riding almost every day. I get up at 5:45am and put in 45min-1 hour on my trainer. It is dark at that time, and since I think it would be unsafe for me to do either mountain or road at that time, I stick to the trainer and some good solid DVDs.
Then, on my weekends, I usually take Saturday off and spend it with the family. Sundays, I get some work done and put in a longer ride. I’ve already gotten in a couple of good 4 hour rides since I’ve been on this schedule, and I actually feel pretty good all the way throughout.
Since I started a new job at OSU Federal, Your Community Credit Union, I have been disciplined about my training. By waking up an hour early and working out, I feel more relaxed since I’ve already been active and I am much more able to concentrate while working.
I will probably not be racing a whole bunch this fall or winter, since we have Lily coming. But, I may get the occasional sneak-out to race a cross race. I tried doing one of the Eugene Short-Cross races, and holy crap did I get my butt kicked! I didn’t get lapped, but trying to keep up with the Cat A men on their cross bikes while I was using my clunky Ibis hardtail mountain bike, was near impossible!
Anyway, it feels good to write again. Keep up the good work everyone!
So, to those of you who don’t know, my wife and I are expecting a baby girl to join our family this mid-October.
We are very excited with this news, and we’ve been doing everything to stay healthy, nutritious, and active for our baby. We want her to be brought up in an environment with the pinnacle of love and good-health, and I think we’re both doing an excellent job so far of creating that environment. Read the rest of this entry »
So…work has been real busy lately. I have been working intensely on a new website and training has been more like intense riding than anything formal.
I’m watching the versus channel right now, with recap of the Philly Road Race and the finals stage in the Tour de Suisse. Boy do I miss racing seriously! Just watching their legs turn over with sheer power emanating from the soles of their feet. I feel green with jealousy.
I’ve been aiming to get in at least 1 hour per day in on either my bike, hiking/running, playing tennis, or doing something similarly beneficial towards my endurance fitness.
This has kept me strong, but lacking when it comes to big races. I did the Test of Endurance 50 last weekend and had ridiculous cramps! My saddle dropped 2 inches (I didn’t find out this until afterwards), and I was seizing up completely on every pedal stroke. The whole race took me 5 hours and 48 minutes, which is definitely more than my average training day. But, I survived.
Here are a few pictures of me at the race:
I don’t think I will be able to go to the season finals in Grants Pass, but I will still try and make the Mt. Ashland Hillclimb and maybe even the Eugene Celebration.
See you there!
-Andy
Hi All!
I know it has been a while since I have sent out an update. But, I have been real busy looking for new work (anyone hiring?), and spending some quality family time.
I’m still riding almost every day, alternating between mountain and road. A “real” pro has moved to Corvallis, and I’ve been having a blast showing him around the Valley, putting in 2-3 hours on his rest days.
Later this Summer I will probably do a couple of crits down in Eugene and if I get in real awesome shape I might even get to do the Cascade Classic with the rest of the 2’s.
I plan on doing the Return on the Jedi, but that is also another “we’ll see,” as it depends on whether I start a new job or not in the next month. I’m planning on returning to work in the Health Promotion field, as I miss the interaction with individuals in improving overall wellness. So, if anyone hears of a job along these lines, feel free to pass it on.
Otherwise, I look forward to continuing training, racing, and plain-ol’ enjoying being on the bikes!
Off-the-bat, I’m poor at time-trialing. Most mountain bikers are poor at time trialing, with a few exceptions, but I am especially poor. Four years ago, when I was able to get top-3 in every road race I entered, I could barely get top-20 in a time trial, and that was with disc wheels, aero-helmets, skin suits, the whole number. So, when I lined up on Thursday for the Prologue to the Willamette Stage Race, I was intimidated, to say the least. I had dug up some old profile aerostrykes out of a cabinet in my garage, and only cruised two rest days on them.
Read the rest of this entry »
It looks like Spring is here, at last. At least, I can hope that the weather stays this nice. It was beautiful, clear blue skies and warm all today – perfect weather for riding, sunbathing, reading and working outside…everything I love to do.
Training was blah last week. After the BB3, I took a few days off, bought some new tires, and even went for a run!
Read the rest of this entry »
It looks as though there plans to be a criterium in downtown Albany, OR on Sunday, May 25th.
http://app.obra.org/posts/obra/show/42537
If this is the case, I just may have to head on down and do it. Albany is 10 minutes away from Corvallis, so this would be a good chance to wake up, drive down and race, without taking a whole day out for the event (like I usually have to do).
I hope to see other familiar, shining happy faces out there as well!
What a disappointment! I’m not even in the OBRA results… Although, it would say a big-fat DNF, I like seeing my name in print.
Short answer, here’s what happened: No, I didn’t get dropped again. I flatted out.
Long answer:
I arrived at Hagg Lake with good time to warm up. I didn’t bring my trainer, so I was going to have to get in a good warm up on the road. Another benefit of my arriving early to this race, is that there is no waiting line for the restroom (yet) – way to go coffee drinkers!
Read the rest of this entry »
On long rides I like to bring energy bars to eat. I’ve tried eating homemade snacks, sandwiches, fruit/pb wraps, even fruit & pudding pies (damn you Doug O. for showing me these). But, nothing beats a plain-jane energy bar. Whether your brand is clif, power, or otherwise, energy bars kick ass!
They recently had a sale on Odwalla bars at WinCo for 88 cents each, so I bought a case. I usually get Clif bars, as I like the texture and flavor more than other energy bars.
Always a sucker for variety, I couldn’t just get a simple case of “Berries Go-Mega,” so I had to throw in a few Banana Nut Bread and some of the Superfood flavor Odwalla bars. I’ve seen the Superfood smoothie that Odwalla sells, and it looks nasty! Talk about green sludge that you dig out of the garbage disposal when it’s backed up, or the stuff that comes out of the toilet after a heavy plunging…Anyway, it looks gross. Their energy bars, although retaining the same horrific green color as their sludge smoothie, are solid, so I figured they wouldn’t invoke my gag reflex quite as quickly. I especially don’t want to blow chunks half-way through a 4 hour hammer fest, just because my energy bar reminds me of something I need to call a plumber to fix.
Much to my surprise, these things are good! Real good! I think I ate the first one without even looking at what I was eating. But after I realized what the pleasant date-like, sugary flavor in my mouth was, I quickly made it a favorite. I have stocked one of these ugly green bars on my training rides each day since. So, Clif, you’ve got a rival in the Superfood Odwalla bar. I have to say, I am enjoying the change, and might make it a staple in my training diet.
Andy Vaughn with wife Stacey. Read my story.