Where did those two weeks go.....

I can't believe it two weeks since I posted...The days really do go by fast, well with work, biking, and all the beer events that take up time it shouldn't come as any real surprise. We are in the process of planing for our next weekend excursion to Portland, we almost went with the same costumes, but the Chief had a great idea that should make us stand out. Enough about what is coming up here is what went down...We have recieved much attention after out little excapade to Portland. Check out the Rapha video here. We made it here to, and a new link off their site is pretty awsome as well. If you haven't read the Chief's report on our trip you should, Check it out, you may have to scroll down, he likes to write almost as much as he likes to talk....

I decided not to race cross, because that is to be saved for nasty weather, and with the temps in the upper 50's and the sun shining it only seemed fit to go and enjoy some mtbing in the great weather. Here in the Northwest rain is always just around the corner and great weather needs to be taken advantage of. I rode the Suntop trial, and have to say if you make the bonus climb to the lookout you will be rewarded with one if not the best views of Mt Rainer that I have ever seen. It was way better than riding in circles for under an hour, to climb for about and hour and then climb a bit more before one hell of a fast, amazing decent and to finish on Skookum Flats trail. I couldn't ask for more out of a Sunday. Then it was back in to the weekly grind, then a bit of a head cold, flu to finish out last week. This past Sunday brought on more than a few decisions. Ride the mtb, race cross, or go out and support my friend who was hosting an Alleycat Time Trial right here in the city. Two of the options involved driving, I wasn't feeling that great and I really wanted to support my friend, so I opted for the $5 dollar time trial. In a break from the norm I decided I would race with,.....gasp gears...My get around town fixie is in need of some help and not the best race machine out there, and I wanted to ride gears I am unsure why, but I was feeling like something different. It paid off, I was the 12th rider to leave and the first to break the old course record, with a time of 42 mins and 16 secondsthe headwind was amazing on the last leg of the race. It took me a 1/2 min or so to find one of the stops that was right where i thought it was supposed to be. I finished and that is when this guy started, so I drained a few Rainer's and waited for him to finish. I watched him come across the line and the time was commputed, he finished in 42 mins and 12 seconds, 4 fucking seconds..damn. Bridesmaid again. I went home cooked dinner and then headed to the after party. Jaime was a gracious winner, taking just a sticker, which left the wheelset to me....a fixed, fixed wheelset from Traitor, felt a bit odd winning a fixed wheelset of my geared bike, say what you will...it was a wheelset that I can use on an upcoming bike project so I took em....Now if I can just kick this damn head cold, lung butter congestion thing and get back to feeling good it will be great.

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.