life takes over...

A wise man once said..."life is what happens in between plans." Ain't that the truth. The plans are still there it just seems that I have been spending more and more time occupied by work, sleep and not much else.

Legs are still feeling mushy.

Mind is a bit like pudding right now, oh and it just started to snow...couldn't think of anything better......

The plan is to take it day by day and hope for some more sun breaks, which will hopefully brighten and lift my spirits.

So life is certainly happening. I hope to get out this weekend for a ride or two, but the weather looks to be quite horrendous, with snow, wind and rain in the forecast. Maybe I'll just stay in and watch the Roubaix.

Spring is where, oh it was Saturday, I'm hoping for a week of summer sometime in the future.

Maybe it is all a plan to make me tuffer...like that spelling there.

trying to be wise.....

Here I am trying to learn from past mistakes, I am spinning, no longer on the fixie ever day, but on gears to work, lightening the load and trying as hard as I can to recover. Recover has always been just keep doing what I was doing, with maybe a few days of lite riding in between. Looks like that will have to change here for a bit. I have backed it off. Even catching up on some reading. I look at all the reasons that I could be feeling a bit worked over and they all make sense, just thought I was above it all, that somehow I was special. The plan is more of the same, rest, sleep and ride when it feels right. It won't be easy as I just want to be on the bike seeing new horizons, and riding the edge of it all.

This thing called wisdom sure feels like work sometimes. Balance, moderation but only in moderation......blah blah blah.....I just want to be out there riding, so sunday I am going to go out and see how the legs feel, if they don't I will have to cut the ride short for me in the interest of keeping my legs, body and mind healthy......ouch. I always feel like this will in someway be scene as weakness on my part, that I will be one of those full of excuses, but the body doesn't lie and the mind can only override it for so long before the body takes it revenge......lets talk about some lowpoints if we must......I have been there and never wish to return to that place again....it was a cold dark cave so to speak......so I am rolling with the punches and trying not to freak too much...i am prone to highs and lows and have been known to overreact to things....the challenge is to stay true to me and what it is I want and need......so I will keep fighting the good fight and pedaling as much as I can. Thanks for enduring the mental slobber for sure there will be more....as always keep those pedals turning, be it circles or squares.....

so I dropped off the face.....

I have been known from time to time to take a long time between updates. The list of reasons can be long sometimes so I won't bore you with the details. However I have been dealing with some personal issues that have interfered with my updates. From time to time I deal with loads of self doubt and depression this has been one of those times, add to that the feeling of lead in my legs and you have a perfect storm for me not to post, not to see the value in connecting to the outside world. I sit locked in my own head, battling the demons so to speak, and cycling is my drug. When even it doesn't feel right I get very scared. I am currently hoping that I did not push too hard too early in the season and wreck my sometimes fragile mental state. Since I over did it a few years back I have tread lightly, and my fitness has showed that. I fear I may have a smaller dose of that right now. My legs just ache a bit. I do have to stand at work etc. I don't think that it is as bad as it once was, I hope. So I will be spinning my legs to and from work for the next little bit in hopes that I turn the corner and my fitness can get back on track. I have trouble with limits and boundaries sometimes and tend to dive in to what ever it is head first, I just hope that I have not done it again so to speak. I am trying to learn from the past and have a depth and understanding, but it is not easy for me to slow down, when right now that is what I should do. I will probably go riding this weekend again the weather is just too nice to say no to. My timing is impeccable just as the sun comes out I have to take a rest. I ask is there any justice in this, and what is the lesson I am to learn. So I have been reading and resting and trying to smell the flowers. Heres to a good ride on Sunday, that refuels the spirit.

oh what a feeling....

Nearing the top of Blanchard,
still some snow to contend with.
Had a couple of those this past weekend. Again the pilgrimage to Bellingham for the Sunday excursion. Brett and I left early, Craig could not make it. The group would be small again. Small groups tend to cover more ground with less stops. The route started with a trip across town and towards the top of Galbraith, on down the backside we went. Soon we had a bit of road to contend with, but not before rolling by some young hucksters who had this to say to Brett in unison as if they had planned it "sweet Beard dude" in that drawn out I just smoked a bowl drawl. I was immediately reminded of The Big Lebowski, and "the dude" except for the rest of the ride we referred to Brett as " the beard". The beard abides. I guess you had to be there. The plan included heading out to Blanchard and one of the greatest descents around. This would include a few hike a bikes and a little snow. Lets just say it was a very slick day. Around the front of Blanchard and back out to our nemesis, we revisited the " sick joke" climb from last week. I must say that my legs were feeling a bit more there, this week than last. At the danger of waxing and waining poetically, Some days you fight the bike and don't really feel connected and other days it is just you are one with the bike. This was more one of the days where I was connected with my bike. We waited at the top for a bit to catch our breath and then headed out the same as last week. This is where I get that feeling, all day I had been complaining about and wondering if something of the bike was cracked, it just felt not as stiff as usual. Well to make a long story short we are at the bottom of a double track descent through the trees when Kevin looks at my fork and claims the ride to be over due to a large crack in the crown of my Pace fork. We slowly take the fire road to the bottom and pedal our way across town. Turns out I was a few centimeters away from a face plant. thanks Kevin, the hush hush trail might have put the finishing touches on the fork and added a bit of a hospital bill to my day. Instead we had a 40 mile ride with just a touch over 6 grand in climbing. It was a good day. We are set to step it up again this week. We are starting to show signs of fitness.
" the beard" abides

a bit of blow down of the way up

Bad picture of a bad crack, everything has a life span.
just glad we found it before it was too late
back to the steel matching fork for now

pictures from last weekends ride

look at the view. what a day for early march


Kevin contemplates throwing his bike. This is half way up the "burnout" climb. the second of 3 bypass'

the three of us. small groups travel fast. although we saw very little of craig all day, no matter how many times we tried to leave him with the camera to catch up. which he did and then he would shortly disappear up ahead of us.

Kevin showing Craig how many fingers he wants to shove down his throat, at the top of the thrid by pass, "sick joke".

Well it's about time...

We got a big epic in. The "epic" Sundays continue, much to wives and girlfriend's discontent. Dare I use that word "epic", kinda like using "extreme". Is the word epic over used. I like epic rides. What do I define as an "epic" ride you ask, there are a few ingredients, I use duration and level of fitness required to complete as the major deciding factors. Scenery doesn't hurt. For the most part the ride must be over 30 miles in length, and be strenuous, leaving you with that feeling of completion that borders on exhaustion. Nothing of course is written in stone. Then again the definition of "epic" changes throughout the season. Our ride on Sunday is one of the Bellingham epics, dubbed the Triple Bypass. We did the traditional route, which has a bit more flat spinning in the beginning. It started with the cross town warm up on the rail to trail, "epic" huh? After just over half an hour of pedaling we enter the first short trail section, then the climbing began. It was a small group consisting of me, Craig, "see ya at the top" Etheridge, and Kevin "the new father" Noble. The first climb in Kleator Rd. a bunch of tempo climbing, we quickly settled in to our own rhythms, Craig was out of site shortly there after. We joked about having to strap 30 lbs on his back so we could all be the same weight. Kevin and I tip the scales near 180, Craig would be lucky to be 140 soaking wet. After a few miles we arrived at the top to a bit on snow and the beginning of the Black Diamond, yes that is its name descent. Craig had to wait for me and then we waited for Kevin, then Kevin and I extracted our revenge on Craig on the descent. Black Diamond is technical, steep, rooty, with slick rocks mixed in for good measure. More double track lead us to the next section, a climb dubbed Burnout. This thing goes and goes and then gets steeper and steeper. I kept Craig closer in contact on this on. At the top his bike decided to have some problems, which took a bit of trail ingenuity to fix, rocks were necessary. Then we again got to ride away from Craig on another steep descent. Which landed us at the bottom of the next challenge, the third and final climb, Sick Joke. The steepest, loosest, with the most baby heads climb, add wet ground to that and you will be mashing away to your hearts content. I refused to walk any of it, not that it made me any faster, I got to watch Craig walk in front of me, but I didn't get off. Then some super fun flowy, rolling, technical, descent and it was back across town to Kevin's we were rolling. 35 to 40 miles round trip, not bad for a early March day. Thanks again gentlemen. I'll leave you with this parting shot of Craig, look how happy he is.

talk about balls of steel

28 to 30 feet off the ground in a 777. Sure he lost his job, but my hat goes off to that pilot.
I took the picture from this article. Read it for all the details. Check the video below.



I get to go explore some new trails tomorrow, and it looks like the weather is going to cooperate. Sun and February, gotta get out and use it.

Dry trails....

That is right, there has been a dry spell here in the NW, we got to touch rubber to dry trials this past weekend.

I missed the Harmonic Convergence, but heard it was amazingly fun. Red haze rode around fixed with skill I am told.

Saturday I went for a road ride.... i know, to go mountain biking I would have had to sleep for 3 hours, after a 24 race last weekend, I tried to be smart. Apparently there is a learning curve.

Sunday we had a great group ride in Bellingham, Craig took lots of pics which he has yet to forward to me. Guess that's what i get for forgetting a camera of my own. I rode this log ride drop to transition that has been bothering me for awhile. Kevin said that it was easy, he was right you just have to commit to it. I did and felt satisfied. Carey and Myles got to ride dirt for the 15th time ever. Can you believe it. 15th time ever, they can move along for two city folks out in the woods, and no big crashes. Carey took a steerer tube to the ribs and came away with a souvenir, a large cut. Way to go Carey.

We talked plans for next cross season.....it is going to be super rad, very northwesty. I don't think that is really a word, but you will see.

Legs feel ok even though my seat kept slipping, I felt like I was on a BMX bike, the whole knees way in the air look.

Other than that it is just overcast so I think I will go ride again today, although it may just be on the road. ahhhhhhh. Still it riding a bike.

Keep pedaling. over and out....

Cause your dying to know...

I'll tell you about my time at the 24 hrs of Old Pueblo. I had an amazing time, connecting, reconnecting and meeting for the first time many folks. Putting faces and hand shakes to blog faces that I have read for a bit. I will try to make this short and sweet and leave out the superfluous details. We arrived in Pheonix to warm weather and sunny skies, however my bike did not make the plane flight that we were on. When I dropped it off at the TSA counter I should have woke the guy up, had a feeling something wasn't going right. We had a few hours to kill. We got a ride to pick up the van we had rented, our lodging for the next few days. What else to do but go to a brewery for some tasty adult beverages and some great food. That killed a few hours, by the time we navigated through Tempe, then it was back to the airport to sit and wait for my bike. We wondered just what we would do if it didn't arrive, since we were staying in the van. Well it arrived and we hit the road south towards Tucson. We arrived at the Catalina State Park late to a sign that said the campsites were sold out, we improvised found the trailhead parking and went to sleep, half thinking we would be awoke by the park ranger a bit later. That never happened and we were happy that it was so hot. We miss the desert.

The next day we woke up went for a great hike, then headed out to the venue. We arrived, I began to build my bike for a pre ride and we commented on how cold it was getting. I rode the course, towards the end running in to DJ and Jeff, we chatted and then they made the comment that it was supposed to rain and snow for the next day and a half. Are you kidding me. Here I am on vacation from the rain and snow, and what do I get but rain and snow. Cruel joke, well I quickly decided to just flow and have fun no matter what. There were many people there I wanted to see and hang out by the fire with, but with all the rain, and snow, it was not quite as easy to do. It also kept those with other places to stay away until Friday.

Friday it rained all day. We drove the road to the venue a few times on Friday and it was quite an experience in a two wheel rented van. We got sideways more than once. So Friday turned in to a day of rest. If rest is hanging out in a 40 degree rainy mess. Picked up our race packet, saw Scott the director of the Cream Puff, Roger, Mark and Amanda, Shawn and the other Bacon Strippers, then took the rear brake off and fixed my bike. I had brought two tomicogs, and I had trouble deciding what gear to run, I settled on 34x18 for the 29er. Thought i might be a bit spun out on some parts, but in the later laps would be just right with tired legs. Finally talked with Dave, to find out he was going to be in the next day. Just before the race started. Kevin, my riding partner from the north also opted to stay in town until race day, because of that we got to take his tickets to the dedication dinner to Richard Cunningham, good food and it was interesting to hear him talk. After that it was early to bed, what else to do when it is so damn cold and wet.

Race Day
Woke up to some sprinkles, but by race time the clouds had lifted and it look as though we were going to get some sun. Finally. Dave showed up dressed to the nines. Well if I'd known it was that kind of party...... He get out of the van and not two minuets later, my friend Gavin rolls out, funny haven't seen him in 4 years or so. We reminisced a bit about the old days, the old races we had been at together and such, too many stories to go in to here. He has a baby girl, wife and a job at Spot. Here's the teams blog. It was good to see him. I was up for the first lap. Our plan was to have fun and see what happened, Fun was the key. Hell I am riding fixed in the desert, since it had rained so much the most I got to ride the rig was around the expo. I had no idea, since I usually ride the monster cross fixed and the 29er ss I didn't know if the bb was lower, would I get pedal strike, was I geared too high? Too Low? I had a interesting hop in my front wheel, would that prove to be a problem? I had no idea, I just planned to ride and have fun.

1st lap
Old Pueblo has a long run, I was mid pack when we hit the bikes. A 29 inch inseam doesn't lead to having a great stride. I pedaled like crazy and spun up and down it all. Shawn, of team bacon strip and I went back and forth, and before i knew it I was headed for the timing tent. The course had some mud that was super energy sucking, and lots and lots of cactus. I was surprised to hear that I was close to the top 20 people in. I had no idea. I felt good about that. My friend Kona sponsors this great event. Kevin and the other Kona employees were on a four man team. Kevin rode a Kona Africa bike with a basket and coaster brake consuming 4 beers on that one lap and still put down a great time. Kona also had a more serious 4 man open team, that won the whole event.

Dave and I went back and forth for awhile. Darkness hit and I went out for a couple of back to back laps. Great to chase you Roger. Roger was rolling solo ss and keeping a great pace, I had to work to catch him. Passed i am indisposed, thanks for the laugh mike. Came in to rest, but had trouble sleeping. I felt pretty good. I was worried because after the first two laps my stomach really was turned inside out. Dave had all the bad luck for the team. First a double flat, then cactus.

He asked if I could do another 2 in a row, not a problem, that is what team work is all about. I ended up doing 3 in a row, with a nice 40 min break in between 2 and 3. Then Dave went out for the final lap, funny think I was thinking I would probably go out for a 4th if he wasn't there, I felt great on the last lap. All in all it was a great time, we ended up with 14 laps, 8 for me and 6 for Dave. Mission accomplished. The fun factor was high. Thanks again Dave. Enough with the words, more about what I learned by riding fixed in the desert at a later time. I'll leave you with this parting shot.

with my tax return i will?

Living in the city has its challenges, I have been trying to only drive the car to and from mountain bike destination. That is why I want one of these:

The Kona Ute. It could solve a few difficulties that I have with some small modifications. Bikehugger likes em and has the modifications that I would add, a stoker stem and pegs. Why you ask? My girlfriend is not as motivated as I to ride. She and I are different speeds, and I ride a whole lot more. This leads to different decisions being made in traffic, and I will ride any where. Distance will at times prevent her from getting on the bike. This way she could just sit back and enjoy the ride. Getting groceries made simple. Instead of packing them on my back, having to carefully pack my messenger bag and then having to do damage control when boxes get crushed, yogurt goes smush. Fruit and vegetables are always a bit of a challenge. While I will admit that it all can be done, the above vehicle would certainly make it all a lot more convenient. The price at $799 is not cost prohibitive other than the fact that I need to get rid of credit card debt and pay some other bills. It all comes down to priorities. Could that money be better spent? Possibly, if bills are better. Could this be an amazing purchase? yes. More thought is needed. This is just the beginning.

you know your commited when...

There has been a formula for Sunday's since the new year, load up drive, ride in some sort of inclement weather, cold hands, colder toes, laughing, and too much fun to put in to words. This Sunday was no different, well not quite. The weather here is Seattle has been quite unseasonably cold, La Ninia I am told, snow has been more prevalent than is the par here.
1st call: " there is a light dusting at my house here in Bellingham, you guys still coming?"
"yes, I committed to doing one mountain bike ride a week and I haven't gone yet this week."

2nd call: we have loaded up and are on the interstate headed north.
"ok, it really snowing, big flakes, just want you to know, still coming"
"yep, thanks, but we just might not ride for as long, but I want to get out on my bike."

As we get closer to Bellingham the weather gets really snowy, people go from driving 60 to 25, it's not that bad, but there is at least 3 or 4 inches of snow on the ground. Guess he wasn't kidding, its going to be something else if this keeps up.

We arrive at Kevin's house, suit up, we almost all over dress and find ourselves at some later moment shedding layers to not overheat. We start rolling out and up towards Galby. Our group grows on the way. It ended up being the largest group ride I have ever been on.

At the start to the Whatcom Falls entrance to Galbraith.

Cold weather cycling breeds creation, I would like to get a pair of the lake winter boots but until then, I have seen and tried many different means to keep the feet warm throughout the winter months. Two wool socks, wool socks and a plastic bag, old winter boots. Luke pictured above had large wool socks over his shoes, with holes in the bottom for his cleats. Yet another creative way to keep the feet warm, it seems to be a constant battle. Craig will sometimes add toe warmers at the beginning to keep his toes warm.

Kevin practicing his magic just below the towers.

Can you believe Brett has only been growing this beard since late November. The man is just a big hair follicle. When I first met him we dubbed him Bearded Brett. Guess Why?

Chris had the greatest traction, on a semi slick. We climbed a bunch and you just had to stay seated or you got no traction. Feels great when the road hits 18 or 20%

The train rolls on.

Craig has red hair, grips and tires. He is also one of the greatest human beings i have ever had the pleasure of riding with. "Bikes are the Best" is one of his most used phrases.

The view of Bellingham from the Ridge. By the end of the day it was sunny. We had an amazing day.

I got this here beauty mark. I think we all crashed at least 4 times. My pedals had the pleasure of meeting my shin in one of those falls.
We ended up riding for about 3 and 1/2 hours, it felt like more with all the grinding we had to do through the snow. I have never ridden in anything like that. The mud was frozen so the ruts just threw you all over the place, some of the sections of trial were ice, no braking allowed. We did at one point in time practice our front wheel skids.

The epic sundays continue

We finally got a camera out on the ride, see the above photo, then the batteries died. Guess that's how it goes sometimes. While we didn't get much photographic evidence of the epic sunday ride, we did have another epic time. This is fairly early in the ride, later on the sun came out and we could not have asked for a better time. Dale Plant graced us with his presence, and proceeded to show us all why he is dubbed "the great one" He stuck it to us again and again, and he wasn't even riding his own bike. Something about doing a lot of skate skiing. The last couple of weeks we have stayed on Galbrieth, we wanted a bit more climbing on different trails. We had just that. Long extended climbs followed by snow grinding and a bunch of hiking, due to deep unrideable snow. The hiking actually helped warm the feet. I imagine we will be back again next weekend for another epic, although the weather is supposed to be a snow rain mix. oh fun.

I have struggled with keeping my feet warm. I have old winter boots from Gearne, but the toe box is just too small and they cause my feet to go numb, well my big toe to be exact, for a day or two. I have toe covers on my sidi's but even with two wool socks on I just can not seem to keep my toes from freezing. This week the 30 mile an hour wind didn't help either. I just keep thinking that the weather will get better and I will be able to postpone biting the bullet and getting some real winter boots like the lakes, or the sidi's I just don't have the coin right now.

3 weeks from Old Pueblo. I am still tossing around what bike i will be riding, now that I have the tomi cogs here, I might not bring the monster cross and bring the 29er instead. Dave and I will have so much fun. I hope it is warm down there. I have held off looking at the weather report so as not to get my hopes up too much.

Sunday's are going well...

Each Sunday of the new year we have made the trek to Bellingham for a ride that we say will last 2 to 3 hours and always lasts at least 4. The best intentions. My friend Kevin and his wife just had a baby boy, and he likes spending time with them, but always ends up with a bit more time on the bike than planned. Hell last week he took a wrong turn on his mountain and we ended up getting in some bonus singletrack. It is amazing that we keep riding partners, between snow, mud, freezing digits and early season fitness we just keep rolling. This past Sunday was like the others, only Kevin left us early to get back home and we pushed on, the day was perfect, sunny, we joked about the light in the sky. We haven't seen much of it lately. Although the forecast is calling for a stint of sun, I will have to take advantage. Lets just hope it melts the snow we got last night????? It doesn't usually snow here, I got to ride home, I was amazed at how fast I could travel in the slush on my 28c tires. I had a blast. I tried to get some good photos, but I just looked like a wet rat.

So far I have these races on the schedule:
24 hrs of Old Pueblo (duo fixed) with Dave Nice
sswc
the test of metal
cascade cream puff

tentatively I would like to also race:
dirt, sweat and gears, ssusa
tahoe 100
and some that are just kinda on the radar.

Other than that I plan on exploring around the Seattle area and riding as much as I can, and still not get too tired. I always remember what happened to me and it keeps me honest, not trying to do too much, but enough to be competitive. Less is more as you get older I keep getting told. Recovery is key. Don't I know.

This weekend a group of us are heading down to All Comer's Meat, in Eugene. It was straight up debauchery last year, this year will be a bit more tame I imagine, but then again you never know, parking lot wrestling at 1 am is always a good time. The drive home the next day was one to remember. The last 90 miles we were on the top of a flat bed tow truck. I will not drive this year. Rode fixed last year, still trying to figure out if I will again, most likely I will. I just sold my mountain bike wheels and won't have new ones till later next week. I could change parts around, or I could just ride what I got. there you have it. As always keep pedaling.

Things are going....

Here I sit all broken hearted.... no really, like sayings on bathroom walls here I write things to stave off boredom. Thanks for reading.
There is something wrong with the race to get in to the race if you know what I mean. New Year's Day was dedicated to filling out race registration forms for events in months. One of the hoops we must jump through. I have taken to signing up for the races I want to do right now, gives me something to shoot for, a reason to "train". Training, I like to call it riding with a purpose, fitness is fleeting and I keep chasing it down, occasionally a bar stool gets in my way. On that front, I have cut way back, see what having a goal can do to you.

Enough about that. This weekend it is another trip to Bellingham, for a group ride, probably in the rain, it has a way of doing that here. Next weekend the trip to Eugene for All Comer's Meat, the Disciples of Dirt really know how to have fun. Last years details are a little hazy, the parking lot antics late at night go down as some of the best ever. I'll leave it at that. So there you have it, my little rant for the day....as always keep pedaling.

300th post....ps I in

That's right, I had no intention of that being the title, but there you have it. Is it me or does it seem like mountain biking is making a come back? The first of the year I was on the web at New Year's, like many, many others, waiting to sign up for a race in August, a single speed only race no less. More on that later. After spending all day running around I rushed home at 6 pm to sign up for the Test of Metal, which is in June. Both these races filled up faster than, I was looking for a good analogy, but just couldn't think that clearly yet, something about my 400 lb friend at the all you can eat buffet, but that just didn't seem to make much sense. There you have it both races filled up with in minuets, of opening. The Test of Metal, for those of you who don't know is a 67 km race out of Squamish, BC that I am told every Northwester needs to do. Last year I missed the sign up by a few months, didn't know you had to be armed and ready on the first of the New Year for a race months and months away, chalk it up to being under prepared or just lacking computer savvy or planning skills for that matter. I tend to fly by the seat of my pants a lot of the time, just ask some of my riding partners.
"you got a bar i can borrow"
"how bout a few of those Bloks?"
"you need all of that?"
"tube anyone, how bout a lever?"
I am exaggerating a bit, but I tend to "misplace" things on occasion. Thanks to all those who have been there for me.
Back to the World of registering for races. Test of Metal took my money right away, I knew I was in for sure, just had to wait a few days for the confirmation email, got it, now I am committed to lining up and completing this must do race. The SSWC was a different story. I woke up on Sunday morning to an email from a friend, I believe the title was"I'm in, I'm in, I'm in" There was nothing from them in my in box. I quickly punched in Dicky's blog address and saw that he was in as well. My little heart sank, but then again I hadn't gotten a rejection email as well which a bunch of my friends had, so I was still hopeful. I began analyzing every detail about the registration process, which was a bit hazy due to the time constraints. In the coming days I came to the resolution that I would just go down and hang out and have a great time, as that is what it is really about, having never raced in the SSWC I really wanted to officially do it at least once. Then with all the bitching on MTBR....please I would never bash the promoter's or bitch, it was obviously going to be hottly contested with 1 in 4 getting in or something, I am sure they have other tricks up their sleeves for the start, or the whole weekend, it is about having a good time racing your bike in a different atmosphere, the race is why we gather, but the real reason is to be surrounded by like minded individuals. We will take over the world.....
Sorry to make this so long.... having not received anything I sent an email to the headquarters to see what the story was, I assumed I was SOL and just going down to heckle, so you can only imagine how surprised I was today when I got the "your in" email. I'll be there and in the race.

Thanks Dave, just what i needed to help with my training regiment.

Happy New Year

A couple of days behind, it has been awhile since I have posted, one of the Resolutions I made was to update this think a bit more regularly, like 2 times a week maybe three. I have realized that if I leave goals or resolutions as simple as do it more I fall short. Not for lack of trying I just think that goals have to be specific to be achieved and evaluated. Here is the short list of goals.
Post 2 or 3 times on this blog.
Take more photos, I don't know how to be more specific, I would just like to have more photos than I do.
Not drink for the first week of the new year, clean the system out a bit. The Holidaze have a way of being just that a daze. I almost went for the whole month, but just decided I would make it up as I went along, a week when you work at a brewery is quite a long time. Being around all those taps of delicious goodness that just calls to me. That and we have some amazing beers coming out that I at least want to taste. The only way to taste is by the pint, we all know that.
To ride more consistently
To rest the legs a bit more. I have even talked about getting a geared road bike, long fixed gear rides leave the legs a bit tired. I haven't ridden a geared bike in many, many moons, hell I barely coast a lot of the time these days. Older and smarter? Wiser? or just Weaker? who knows.
To commit to races early so there is no backing out. I hopefully got in to the sswc, and I already registered for a classic in the BC are The Test of Metal. Had to be at the computer and ready at 6 pm on New Year's day for that one. Damn website wouldn't load, due to traffic, but I squeaked in, well they took my money so I assume that means I am in. Other races on the radar are the Cascade Cream Puff, The Tahoe Sierra 100, Dirt, Sweat and Gears(ssusa), the BC Bike Race, something back east like the Vermont 50, that's the short list, I could go on and on, but I digress.
I have never really done the resolution thing on New Year's but I thought it was a time to reflect and make some goals, not really resolutions but goals obtainable goals, to get back on the race horse so to speak and stick to a plan. haha plan, secret training. So there you have it my verbal diarrhea. take it or leave it, but as always keep pedaling.

Woman deserve this....

Got this email a few days back and had every intention of getting it up here. Equal prize money for woman at UCI events, hell make it Norba events too. Here is the link to the petition.

Today being one of those days I slept too much and my head feels all fuzzy, I don't really have much to say, maybe it was all the wine and cheese last night.

2 Slow 2 Coast

Last year we were low on money and wanted to get away from the rain for some sun, but just couldn't afford it. This winter we promised ourselves that no matter what we were getting away to the desert. We did the Old Pueblo race a few years a back and have wanted to return ever since. Usually it is 60 or 70 degrees and sunny, quite a change from Seattle. The only decision that remained was what category to race. My friend Kevin and I talked about putting together a 4 man coaster brake team, I thought about solo, then was I going to ride fixed or not, then I checked Dave Nice's blog and happened to see that he was thinking of heading to Old Pueblo, and looking for a duo fixie partner. I knew that was the answer.

2 slow 2 coast, our team name, fueled by Whiskey and beer. I can't wait it will be so much fun.

Now what gearing to run, gotta get some bigger tires than the cross tires on the bike right now. Spend a few more days relaxing and then put in a few more miles a week to get ready. We both have the same idea to have fun and enjoy, rather than tear ourselves inside out so early in the year.

Last weekend I rode up in Bellingham with Kevin and a few others in the pouring rain for just shy of 4 hours. We were all soaked and cold by the end. I must remember to bring a spare set of gloves and booties for my feet. On the final descent of the day I couldn't feel my fingers enough to know if I was braking or not. In the shower everything itched like crazy and it took a few beers before I was warm through and through.

Now I have to surf the couch a bit more before I head out to yet another Christmas party. My liver will thank me when they are over.

cross season finale...

It's over, my legs and back are thanking me, the are knotted up and in need of some rest. The finale was this Sunday at Kelly Creek, and it snowed a bit, making for a slick ride at times. I could give you the lap by lap run down, but why I'll just give you the highlights.

I lead for a bit, a lap or two maybe three.

For awhile it was 1 and 2 both riding fixed.

My friend Craig Ethridge won BRAKELESS on a fixie, by a bit. Remember his name cause he is such a great guy, after winning the ss race he jumped on his geared bike and raced the 1/2 race.

Dale Knapp did a bit of a strip tease. ouch!!!!

I did a couple of shots from the Cabana, some coconut pineapple concoction. Kept me warm.

Brap, Brap was heard from the sidelines, this is what I say to others when we are out gettin it, thanks to my friends Smiley and Amber.

The Revolution Cycling team did quite well on the season placing riders on the podium in most of their respective classes.

Now I am going in to the Holidaze a bit more fit than normal. I have also been running a bit, trying to cross train, man pavement is hard.

As always keep pedaling.

bunny hops...

i took this one off the cycling northwest website. thanks to whoever it was that snapped this here action shot. I wondered how I had been clearing the barriers on the fixie and how high I could get. Before this here shot I wasn't sure. Not bad for a guy on a fixie with more than a couple beers in him. Guess it ain't called liquid courage for nothing. I cleared the next one as well and rode a massive nose wheelie out. Some might call it style I just called it luck, and the sense to know that you just stay calm.

In other news, I raced now it would be almost 8 days ago and felt like crap, it was the 8th race of the series, only one more to go then it is a bit of a commuting hiatus for a couple of weeks and then I start "training" for the upcoming season, more on that later though. It was cold, I was tired from serving football fans all Saturday long, and I had to gut it out, no style just good old fashion grit and determination. I had my worst race of the season and finished 5th in the ss class. Looking at the results I was only 1 min 7 seconds out of first, 30 seconds out of 3rd 1 second out of 4th and 1 second away from 6th. All in all for how I felt not a bad day. true grit. The season finale is this weekend, looks to be extremely wet, we are literally preparing to build an ark real soon. Good times and as always keep pedaling.