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The Sun Doesn't Like You

2009-11-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

Mr. Sun has not been kind to us in the Midwest during the month of October. And that coupled with the limited daylight hours available, riding is sporadic at best.

I was able to get in one last week night gravel grind on the single-speed just before Halloween weekend; in between the rainy days of course. It was a cold ride requiring toe covers, ear covers and insulated base layers. But the road was dry and fast, so quit yer bitching and get out there! I made a stop to see the mystery train along the way. Still have no clue why these are here?

But with November has come a warm up. And I for one am enjoying it. The mornings often feature foggy sunrises thanks to the cool night air and still warm river water.

The big warm ball in the sky returned this weekend and with it, I hit the road for a CX bike gravel grind. I found all the local roads to be dry, packed and great for riding. The final tally was just under 30 miles and it turned out to be one of the best rides of the year. Just love those Big Green Machines. I want to drive that behemoth!

It was so nice this past weekend, I was able to ride both days with shorts and short sleeves. A rare occurrence here in November. Saturday was an MTB ride at the Ski Hill trail. I had the place to myself all afternoon, which I incorrectly assumed was due to the 4,000+ racers up in Traverse City enjoying one of the warmest Iceman’s on record. I assumed wrong. Actually, the Ski Hill trail is closed to riding for the rest of the year and I was pouching! Had I known that fact, I would not have ridden there. I did not see a sign indicating this and no one came running out of the lodge to stop me, so, let’s just call it a misdemeanor. A first offense if you will!

This coming weekend is round #5 of the Kisscross series; Manhattan Park. The last event was Halloween weekend at Richmond Park and the course was a beauty. It had a little of everything and that combined with sunshine and a chili potluck, made for a great day.

The Bissell boys were fully in charge during the ‘A’ race and finished one-two.

Steve Kunnath, the manager at Ada Bike was all smiles here. He later crashed the barriers (which I recorded for posterity!) and mangled a shifter/brake lever. But he trooped on and finished in the top 10.

There were a lot of mountain bikes in attendance at this race and the course suited them. The guy on the sweet blue Niner above actually rode over the logs and up the run up, so that had to be an advantage!

Jeff Jacobi from the Founder’s team always seems to be enjoying himself. As he was riding by, he asked me if I got his good side. I said "what good side?" and he almost feel off the bike!

Then came Bronson (me). I had my best race of the season, moving up 8 or 9 positions from the previous week. Part of it was due to the new Vittoria tires but a bigger part was not hanging back at the start for a change. I eventually caught Kirk (who beat me last week) on the final lap and just barely beat him to the line! That was fun but we were both feeling like death warmed over afterwards.

It will be a long week due to a project deadline on Friday and that coupled with the sun setting at 5-ish probably means no riding until the weekend. Guess its time to pull out the wind trainer and head for the basement!

Champagne from a Paper Cup

2009-10-28T20:03:00.000-07:00

I guess the title could have said "make hay while the sun shines" but I thought that might sound too colloquial. My point is the weather, my work-load and the world in general have been pretty hectic of late. But despite that, I need to focus on the positive.

So, here are the "highlights". Fall has been beautiful here this year. Even with the gloom and rain, the forests and fields have been amazing. All month it has been a joy to walk the trails as it has been in a constant state of flux.

The boyz really enjoy running around in the leaves but often get lost sometimes as the trail disappears from sight.

The sunsets have been beautiful and often enhanced by the cloudy overcast skies. Rene and I have sat down by the river a number of times in the past couple weeks to take in the light show.

Between rainstorms I have been able to get out and ride and it is a treat for the eyes too. Every tree lined road is a canopy of color and you just have to stop once and awhile to take it in.

And then, there is cross season. It really has been fun regardless of my finishes and I am looking forward to this weeks event at Richmond Park despite the possible rain in the forecast. The last race was a great course with a mix of true cross challenges like a never ending series of s-bends and some MTB style, rooted trails. It was fast and the weather was great. I could not muster up the skill or ability to beat Kirk (pictured below in the red jersey and blue helmet) to the finish line but we were neck and neck the whole race! The loaner Challenge Grifos from Ted at Ada Bike were awesome and as a result, I made a purchase the next week for a similar treaded tire by Vittoria. We will see how they compare at this weeks event.

So, life goes on and the dance continues. I guess you either have to join in and find a way to enjoy it or become a bitter, grumpy old man. Well, lets just try to avoid being grumpy then!

Moon, Turn the Tides . . . Gently, Gently

2009-10-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, despite my constant whining the weather here has continued to be cold and rainy and November-like in October. After a September of 85% sunshine and abnormally warm temps, we are enjoying 3% sunshine and temps 10 degrees below normal. Sounds like Cross season to me!

Speaking of which, I entered race #2 at Highland Park two weeks ago and enjoyed a big move towards the podium, leaping from 34th to 32nd place in the standings with my stellar performance. And all while mugging for the cameras!

Since then we have had little good weather for riding but when I do get out, the fall scenery can be spectacular. Harvest time is in full swing too, so this is a constant sight along most of my gravel road routes.

The mornings can be frosty and foggy, but once and awhile we are treated to a light show spectacular.

Last weekend, we stopped procrastinating and spent Saturday downtown enjoying the final day of ArtPrize. This was a artistic competition brought to Grand Rapids by one of the Amway co-founders son's (I won't hold that against him!) and it appears to have been a success. From all accounts, the revenue brought to our local economy by visitors and residents alike was substantial (and a welcome boost!) Plans are in the works for a 2010 version as we speak.

I was able to get out once this week (between rain and darkness) to ride the famed Luton trail. The park is in its peak of fall beauty, so I just had to stop periodically to capture some of it. However, that cuts down on riding time. I was only able to get in two laps before dark.

This weekend is Round #3 of Kisscross; Caledonia Park. I have not entered this race before so I am looking forward to a new venue. Weather outlook is favorable now (hopefully this doesn't jinx it!) with sun and mid-50's temps. I am trying out some new tires this week thanks to my friendly Ada Bike wrench Ted. Challenge Griffo skinwall clinchers! Real cyclocross tires. Should be the difference between 31st and 32nd place for sure!

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Hindsight

2009-09-29T12:08:00.000-07:00

Looking back over the past couple week, I just realized how quickly the time has gone by. Much of it lately has been filled with clean and discarding and giving away and relocating many of our too many cherished possessions. Why you ask? Because we officially have put the Green Box on the market. Yes, our home of almost 10 years is up for sale.

The time has finally arrived to start making our next move(s). Rene is looking at a new position with an old company or another upstart she has been working with on the side. Either way, we will have to move. And we want to. Not because we hate it here or even MI for that matter. We just need to "shake things up" as Rene says so often now. And we do. Try something different. There are so many things yet to be done and most of them are not here. We have been here and done this.

Speaking of trying things that are new, I have officially decided to run the full season of cross this fall. First up was the Kisscross night race, held at Cannonsburg Ski Area, home of one of the best mountain bike trails in the local area. It was warm and wet and very un-cross like that night, but it was fun too. And painful. The course was very sandy and slow going and the legs were dead tired at the end. I finished 5th, from last. Not my best outing but no where to go but up, right?

Since the night race, we have been lucky enough to have a long streak of very nice, warm fall weather. Plenty of time to hit the trails if you hurried out after work. And so I did. Luton Park has been my regular ride most days. The photo above does not do justice to the fun, twisty trails that lay just beyond the cornfields.

Even the old barn where I park looks rather shabby and in need of repair. But the trails are n great shape. The newest route, the black loop is still sporting marker flags.

On nights I did not have time to drive out to the trails, the gravel roads were happy to provide me a nice workout. Most are slick and fast now with the cool nights and some recent rains. Hilly and in many areas, tree covered, there is an endless number to pick from. You can usually ride a good 20 mile route with only limited stretches of pavement between the gravel.

Along the way, there are many great sights including this line of parked grain cars. This is the line being removed to build the new Rail Trail but for some reason, this section has remained intact all summer. My original theory that they were temporarily parked there until the wheat harvest did not seem to hold true. I am going to have to ask around and find out what the story is. Stay tuned.

The biggest deterrent to riding this time of year is the lack of light. The sun is setting earlier and earlier now and one has to hustle to get miles in. But the low light makes for some great shadows too!

Along with fall comes cooler temps now. Mornings have been foggy and grey most days, but eventually burning off to allow a little sunshine.

So, when the sun is shining and I have more time, I am still out there on the road too. I have been able to get a couple 40-milers in the past couple weekends and as the colors change it is a great time to tour the area by bike.

But most of my on-bike time has been on-trails. Mainly riding Luton on the single-speed thanks to a stupid move on my part. I dropped my mountain bike. Not while riding it. Rather, I actually dropped it. From over my head while taking it off the rack. And it landed, on the fork dropouts. Which then proceeded to break. Ouch. And since you can't safely ride a bike with broken drop-outs, the Inbred became my main trail-squeeze. I had to send the fork out to Fox for a replacement lower assembly (which beats the hell out of buying a new fork!) and it just came back this past Friday. A costly lesson in roof rack removal techniques!

The nice thing about having the geared bike back is not having to pedal the roads with only one gear all the time. And the bumps are a little easier on the arms too.

This weekend I ventured back to the Ski Hill trail with the reborn Sinister and enjoyed riding the very fall-like trails. Many are covered already and the season has just begun. The trail was fast and fun and I virtually had the place to myself that day.

On Sunday Rene and I and the Boyz ventured out to the Fallasburg Fall Festival in the park. An arts and crafts fair, it comes to town each year and we typically trek over to take a look. Last year Rene and I purchase some new "wedding rings" so you never know what you might find. This year, it was more crafts than art and after a short tour of the booths, we decided to go to the park trail and enjoy the fall colors instead. Spots of fall are showing through here and there but it is still pretty green. With the cooler temps this week and rain, that will soon change.

I am home today with a cold or something that has thrown me for a loop. Not sure where it came from but it started coming on last night and hit me full force at work. I decided to cut my losses and head home for some R and R and hopefully, the other R; recovery. Can't afford another day of this. And not riding. The next Cross race is this Saturday at Highland Park and I am really looking forward to getting out there and mixing it up. Or tagging along behind. One or the other!

Rene is in Minneapolis today until Thursday, making an appearance with the powers that be to remind them she still works there. The final plans for her job are still up in the air and we are on hold because of it. But regardless, there is no looking back now. The wheels are in motion. They are rolling slow almost imperceptibly sometimes, but change is coming.

chaos/control

2009-09-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

Summer is coming to an end. Hate to admit it but the signs are all there. Cooler temps, color in the trees. Apples ready to be picked. Yup. Fall is here.

Straw has been cut and stored, ready for pickup.

So, with one last batch of nice weather and an extra day off, we headed to Chicago to visit friends and see the sites.

Found some interesting bikes. Not sure I would want to pedal this one in city traffic!

But with Fall comes cross season and I am really looking forward to it this year. Especially the first race this Friday. A night race under the lights! Hopefully, the bike will not look this bad for at least a couple races!

I do need to work on my barrier style. Not really sure it is a style. More like a leap! Probably should do that tonight. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.

I hate to see summer end, but I do love fall and cyclocross. So, bring it on!

Rain Down

2009-08-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

It has been a little wet here of late. Okay, a lot wet. Like, 7 straight days "with" rain wet.

It finally stopped on Saturday but the sky still looked gloomy even on Sunday.

So, with the trails still damp and recovering, I spent my ride time heading downtown to the Gaslight Criterium (the State championship event) to watch the youngsters tear it up.

The road was dry and the riding fast. I can't imagine hitting this corner in the wet at the speeds these guys were riding!

Found a nice xtra-cycle hanging out along the course. I don't know who the owner is but they had better invest in a lock!

Danielle Musto, endurance racer extraordinaire was hanging out having coffee and watching her sister tear it up. Seems pretty engrossed in the race! I was actually worried that plant would fall on her, but it never happened. The guy with the white glasses behind her is Ben Renkema, the eventual Men's pro 123 winner and State champ. He used to race MTB with my son during the Youth Cycling Team days but has gone on to fame and fortune as a road racer with the Kenda Inferno team. Good kid.

I have been riding this thing a lot thanks to the rain. Trying to stay off the trails and wet gravel, the road bike is the go-to ride lately.

This is what I want to be riding. And in the dirt. On trails. Hope to be out there tonight or tomorrow. Rene is out of town the next 3 days scoping apartments for her potential move to MN in October. Not thrilled at the prospect of her being away for an extended period of time, but in this economy you do what you have to do. And if all goes well, I might just join her next May. But that is a long time from now.

Saving up airline miles and vacation time for future rendezvous here and there. We were laughing the other night at the idea of both ordering a movie on HBO, turning on the phone to speaker and watching it "together" on a Saturday night! Might just have to give that a try.

Until then, we are enjoying the end of summer and hoping to take a trip to Chicago in a couple weeks for a day or two. One last get away before fall. And Cross season!!

I'm Lonely (but I ain't that Lonely yet!)

2009-08-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

I spend a lot of my on-bike time alone. It is convenient and often, easier to just get out and ride by myself. We live in a rural area and there numerous places to ride right from my doorstep. But very few of the folks I know who ride, live near my doorstep. So, I travel solo the majority of the time. And this year, more than ever. But it has been nice, really. The time I spend on the bike is not only beneficial to my health, it is crucial to maintaining my sanity.

And lately, that has been important. Life has been chaotic this summer for both of us. Even though Rene has thankfully been at home, it just seems busier than usual. Our oldest daughter came home from Tampa FL to visit with us (and her old friends) a couple weeks ago and while she was here, we had an impromptu family reunion at the house for Rene's family. Our daughter Heather left for home just this past week and we said goodbye in typical fashion: a final family Mexican dinner! And my son acting like a moron. Wouldn't have it any other way!

Speaking of the boy, he has decided to also fly the coop. He lost his electrical apprentice job in January and has been out of work since then. With a lot of extra time on his hands, he has decided to go back to school. Starting this summer he enrolled at a local junior college and now is becoming a full-time student this fall. Along with that came the desperate need to move out of the house. He and 3 college friends have found a cheap house to rent in the big city and are living the life without parents that they have always craved. Well, except for the occasional trip home to steal food and other items from our house that they need!

And this past weekend, the final child has left the nest. My youngest daughter moved up to college on Saturday and after only 27 trips up and down 4 flights of stairs, she is officially moved into the dorms. And the nice thing is, we get to do it all over again in 8 months when the first school year is over! But now, Rene and I are empty-nesters and as you can see from the photo below, pretty sad about the change!

So, time to get back out there and get some late summer riding in. The roads are still fast and shady.

The local drivers are not well trained in car-bike interaction. It should say "do not pass unless you plan to give me three feet clear!"

The rail trail is well underway but I don't think we will be able to ride it until next summer. The original rail bed is still in place and difficult to navigate. And they might want to consider installing some railings along that old rail bridge too.

Hope everyone is having a great summer. But hurry, its going fast!

One Hot Minute

2009-08-10T13:04:00.000-07:00

Is it me or is the earth spinning faster around the sun lately? Either that or my clock is running fast. This seems to happen every year. I just realized it's August. Damn. Snuck up on me again.

I have not raced since May 3rd! This was Fort Custer just after the crash. That did help keep me off the bike for awhile.

No Hansen Hills, no Big M and no Ore-2-Shore (despite the fact that I said I was definitely entering this year!). Not sure why not, but think many things have contributed to my lack of competitive spirit. Graduation parties, a trip to Tahoe and Chicago, the Family Moser visit and generally just too much goofing off (like attending the Picnic Pops on Thursday nights instead of riding my bike!)

But we did have fun that night! Dancing, singing and maybe, a little consumption of adult beverages may have occurred.

Since then, I have spent most of my mountain bike time on the gravel roads and trails near the house due to car issues, time constraints and wet weather. I think we may have watered the flowers 3 times the entire summer! To say we have had a little regular rain is an understatement.

I have been putting in good miles when I get out there, but never enough. I can hear the sound of Cross' season coming in the distance (one month from today!) and just know I am not ready. Maybe if I spent more time riding and less time taking pictures, it would be a small step in the right direction!

The trails are in good shape thanks to the consistent rains as it tends to compact our sandy soils. When I have been out there, the riding is fast and fun.

But the rain also makes grass grow, so my secret trail (which isn't maintained) is looking a little long right now. Oh well. It doesn't really slow you down too much.

Both of my youngest are leaving me. My daughter Lauren is leaving for college this Saturday and yesterday, my youngest son Matt moved out. He is attending a local college downtown and has decided to live in the city, sharing a house with friends. We have officially become "empty-nesters" (as of Saturday afternoon) and it is a weird new experience. I am sad for them both to leave but not too much. They are growing up and it is good to see each of them moving on with their lives. And what the hell; I have an official music room now!

However, I am also pining for the old days a bit. Going through some pictures last week, I found a series from my son Matt's "racing days". He started riding seriously around 12 or 13 and soon wanted to race. His first event was surprisingly the kids race at the Firecracker 50 in Breckenridge CO. We were out there visiting friends and they suggested we enter him as their son was also doing it. He was reluctant but as soon as the race started, the adrenaline kicked in and he was gone. We wandered around trying to find him on the course and saw one lap before he finished. Rene and I headed back to main street to pick him up at the finish line, but could not find him anywhere. We scoured the town until finally running into him pushing his bike. He had a medal for 3rd place! He told us he couldn't find us at the finish so he went searching for a much needed bathroom. Not finding one quickly enough, he decided to knock on a nearby condo and asked them to use their facilities! Someone actually let him in! And we are the worst parents in the world for not knowing he was in there!!

He continued riding for a couple seasons, eventually joining a team; Michigan Youth Cycling. The team had a trailer and a number of guys (and one girl; Toni Musto, Danielle's sister) who were slightly older than Matt and we entered a number of races that year. He had done well prior to joining finishing 1st through 5th in just about every beginner XC race he entered. After joining the team, they pushed him (and so did I) to step up to Sport that season. He did so reluctantly as his race confidence wasn't as strong as his legs. We even travelled to Vermont that season to race at a Norba event, Mt. Snow. It was a blast of a trip and the riding out there was amazing. And brutal. Elevation + rooty trails + big rocks = a Humbling Experience! For me anyway. Matt seemed to take it in stride and eventually placed 10th in the Junior Development race. I thought that was pretty amazing considering the field which included riders from sponsored teams like Bon Jovi's. He finished that season with a few good placings, but by the last race, it was clear he was losing interest.

Needless to say, I was bummed when he finally decided to hang it up. I love the sport of cycling and had hoped he would too, but it was not to be. He might come back to it some day, but for now, school and fishing are his priorities. But back in his "day", he kicked some ass!

Well, onwards. I plan to get more riding in this month but already the weather has again conspired to limit the chances. Most of the outings have been on the road bike, finally joining my buddy Randy last week for our first ride this summer.

The sandhill cranes showed up at the office last week too. Not sure what keeps bringing them back but we seem to be missing some veggies from the company garden!

We were hit with big storms this weekend and then, very warm, humid weather. I finally got out on Sunday and did a hot, sweaty, windy 30 miles. Wow. It has been a cool summer and I forgot how much the temp and humidity can zap your strength. Good workout for the upcoming cross season, so no complaining here.

Speaking of which, the season starts with a night race under the lights at the Ski Hill which should be a ball. Looking forward to it and plan to do all the events this year.

But, then again, I have said that before!

I'm on a Boat

2009-08-03T19:44:00.000-07:00

I had to do something to rid the blog-sphere of that hideous lip picture. So, here is a an uglier mug than mine. Not my son, the muskie!

And yes, to answer your question: the kid has no idea how a washing machine works!

Enjoy.

The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!

2009-07-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

Sorry. I am sure seeing that photo as my blog opens is a bit of a shock. Think of what I go through every morning walking up to that! My burden to bear I guess. But I digress.

The photo was taken by my wife upon returning home from my Monday night ride. During which I was stung "inside" my lip by a wasp! Head down, cruising along the shoulder of one of my favorite routes and WHAM. It hurt like a be-ouch at that moment and thank god there were no cars flanking me at that time. I was flailing away, trying to extract the bastard and weaving all over the road. Within 2 minutes, I could feel my inside lip starting to swell and as I went along, it progressively got worse. Another few miles down the road it was apparent to me that I needed to call it a Ride and head for home. Of course, that was 10 miles away (shortest route). When I walked in the door, I said to Rene (mumbled actually!) "notice anything different about me?" At first it didn't hit her and then she said "OMG! You are a cartoon character!" And she was right. My cheek had swelled and the lower lip was Hollywood collagen-injection-gone-mad size. She grabbed for the Benedryl and ice and by the end of the evening, I could drink a beer without drooling. Crisis averted I guess. Of course, in the morning, it was still "pronounced" and I had a meeting with contractors on a job site! Thankfully, I escaped that with my ego intact.

Last nights ride was a bit more uneventful. I ventured out onto the road again and pedaled up to Grattan Raceway for the Wednesday Night Training Races. Good to finally get up there as it was my first time this summer. Enjoyed watching the "professionals" battle it out from the safety of the sideline grass.

Heading home I came to a regular crossing near my house and was happy to find that they are extending the proposed rail trail into town. This has been in the works for years, but apparently, some stimulus money is finally being spent for something worthwhile! To me anyway.

Last weeks ride was my first time discovering the project in the works. It will be an excellent route not only for the proximity to my house, but also for the very nice, tree lined sites along the way. It should extend from nearly Lowell to Belding MI which would be a round trip of about 30 miles.

I have been absent from here quite a bit more of late and all I can say is, life is just busy right now. Sorry to be so distant, but there never seems to be enough time to blog.
Hope you can understand!

P.S. A shout out to my good friends Morgan and Lauren for their very kind package surprise this week. Rene and I really appreciate the t-shirts from Downieville and will wear them with pride! The book is already in process and I am enjoying it immensely. Be on the lookout. You may be find a package in your mailbox one of these days too!

Come Back Home

2009-07-09T09:06:00.000-07:00

Since returning from Tahoe, life is finally getting back to normal. Sort of. The first few days were long at work catching up on e-mails, project issues and all the things I blew off prior to leaving. And it rained. A lot for the first couple days. So, no riding until Thursday.
I was able to get out for a very windy, slightly cool road ride that night and it was a work out. About 30 miles in against the wind. But it would be my only chance for a couple days, so I made it work.

Along the way, I came across a flock of turkey vultures sitting on a fence and was able to take a picture of one of these ugly guys before he flew off.

On Friday, our friends from Chicago came to town to stay with us for the 4th holiday weekend. We had a blast hosting Amy, Jason, their two daughters and their dog Spike. He and our dogs played well together all weekend which was a relief for all of us.

Saturday afternoon was a Party Barge cruise of the river with our neighbors and our friends. We had a great time and spent quite a bit of time out on the water. We all came back to our house in the evening before sunset to continue the party until dark. That is when the next door neighbors low-budget fireworks show started. The kids enjoyed the display, but the dogs did not.

Sunday afternoon, our friends packed up and hit the road for home. Rene and I did a little light clean up, took the boyz for a walk, had some dinner and crashed. The weekend was over!

Needless to say, I was jonsin for a ride so Monday, I dragged out the single-speed and hit the gravel. Some of the roads are starting to get dusty due to a lack of rain, but it was a great night for a ride.

I stopped to visit with some furry creatures along the way!

Wednesday night's ride was my first at Luton Park since last fall. They have added a new loop (the red line) and it is fun and twisty. I love this trail and need to get out there more. The trail was busy that night but you would never have known it.

On Friday afternoon, Kristy, Jeff and Charlie Moser came to visit us at the end of their visit to West Michigan. They have been in the area all week visiting with family and enjoying the lakeshore. We had a short half a day to spend with them, but it was action packed. All of us hiked over to the park where their son Charlie proceeded to play in the creek with our dog Dewey. Pretty funny to watch and yet no pictures. I forgot the camera! After hiking back to the house and cleaning up, we headed to downtown Grand Rapids for dinner and a tour. All enjoyed a pasta dinner at Bistro Bella Vita (and a couple Founder's Dirty Bastards!) and then it was time to see the sights. Highlights of the tour included Founder's Brewery, The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, the YMCA (one of my projects), the 6th Street Bridge, the DeVos Convention Center, Rosa Park Circle and the Art Museum, the Frank Lloyd Wright Meyer May House, Wealthy Street Theater and finally, Gas Light Village and Reeds Lake. And once again, not a single photo! I don't know what I was thinking. Hopefully, Jeff managed to record some of our visit, so check out his site at http://www.bikecarson.com/ .

Saturday morning I took the Mosers to Gerald Ford International Airport and we said goodbye. I cried like a baby of course, but thank god Jeff didn't have his camera out at the time! So, it never happened.

The rest of the weekend was beautiful and time to relax. We have been on the go for awhile and it felt good to just chill, have a nice dinner on the deck and enjoy the day.

Of course, one last ride too. On Sunday afternoon, I was able to sneak out and get in my first 40+ miler of the summer. It was warm and very windy (again), but a good time in the saddle.

No big plans for the rest of the summer. Time to settle in and just enjoy it. Hope everyone else is having a good one too!

Have a great week!

Man on the Silver Mountain

2009-07-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

Brent, Sandie and Morgan discussing good whiskey.

Lauren and Morgan at the top of the Rock.

Jeff showboating for Morgan's video camera.

Sandie, Lauren and Jeff at the top of the climb.

Rocks along the Flume, looking down on Lake Tahoe.

Virginia City hills, just before the bar fights start!

Jeff driving like a maniac down the mountain toward Carson City.

I’m a wheel, I’m a wheel
I can roll, I can feel
And you can’t stop me turning
cause I’m the sun, I’m the sun
I can move, I can run
But you’ll never stop me burning

This man has left the mountain. And the mountain has won again. To say the ride kicked my ass
is to disparage all good ass kicking. It handed me my hat, showed me the door and told me to go home and cry to my momma. And yet, it was one of the best days I have ever had in the saddle.
The back story to my back-side trouncing started last fall during our first Official Bloggers ride in the hills around Oakland. Jeff, Lauren, Smudgemo and I hatched the original ride when it was discovered that my wife Rene would be traveling for work to San Fran. We met up in Berkley and after a great breakfast, rode most of the day in Joaquin Miller Park. Afterwards, it was agreed we must meet again the following summer, this time, in Tahoe. Though sadly, Smudgemo could not make it to this years event, we did manage to find a big crew of riders. The group consisted of a number of Jeff’s friends from the local area as well as Lauren’s husband Morgan and two friends of Morgan’s from Oakland. 11 folks originally and as Sandie said, if we finish with 9.5, it was a successful ride!

Rene and I flew out on Thursday morning and arrived in Sacramento CA around noon. We decided to take a day there and see the city before heading up to Tahoe. It was a beautiful day and we visited the home of Goven-ator Arnold while taking a walking tour of town. That night we found a nice restaurant near the hotel with outside seating and enjoyed a great meal. We stayed up as late as we could that day to try to assimilate to West Coast time, eventually crashing after a long 22 hour day.

In the morning we grabbed a Starbuck’s and then headed for the hills. Jeff had mentioned the elevation around Tahoe but I actually thought he was kidding. Along the way out (about a 2 hour drive from Sacramento), I started to see elevation signs along the way which quickly shot up to 5,000 feet plus! It eventually topped out just over 7,000 feet in the town of Incline Village on the North western edge of Lake Tahoe. It is hard to describe how amazing the lake and the surrounding mountains are but it was impressive. We found the condo and quickly unpacked before heading out to meet up with Jeff and Kristy and Charlie for lunch. We stopped by the Flume Trail bike shop located in Spooner Lake Park, right at the foot of the trail system to check on my rental bike for the next day. And then it was off for a whirlwind tour of South Lake Tahoe with the Moser’s.

Jeff took us to a number of great places including the Emerald Bay State Park where we viewed the Vikingsholm and Tea House and the nature trails. Of course, we both just spent time taking pictures of each other!

And then it was off to the Kingsbury Grade and down into Nevada to visit Carson City.
After a quick spin through town, we headed over to the Moser Estate where Jeff showed off his sprawling gardens and even more impressive bike storage facility! To see the Yute in person is really not to be missed!

Jeff and Kristy and Charlie took us out to see the Bunny Ranch (they insisted we see it!) and then on to what appeared to be a Hollywood western movie set but was actually a town called Virginia City. There we had a great dinner at Del Rios (along with my first Black Butte Porter!) before heading back to Casa Moser. Along the way we were ambushed by some armed desperado's who took all of our silver and gold (and lupines!) before riding off into the surrounding black hills. Actually, we sat for over 20 minutes waiting for the local authorities to clean up after a biker crash.

We headed back to Incline Village and a good night’s sleep before the big ride on Saturday. Lauren and Morgan arrived around noon that day and after dropping their bags at the Condo, we headed out to meet the others at the trail head. Rene spent the day slaving over a hot stove preparing our post-ride Mexican feast! Just kidding; sort of. After a round of introductions and the securing of my rental bike, we were off to the trail. Trails here in Michigan do not feature much in the way of elevation change. Typically, it is a series of rollers, with a climb immediately followed by a decent. Not here. From the first wheel off the pavement, the trail started climbing. And climbing. And then, it continued up. For 4 miles. There, we took a break and at that point, I actually thought I could cut it. And then Morgan mentioned that the next section was a bit steeper. More climbing? Oh, yeah. Two more miles. Needless to say, I had to bail about half way and walk the last section. So, here we are at 6 miles in and I am walking already.

From that point, the trail ran back down for a mile until turning sharply into the reservoir and into the first section of the Flume Trail. This is section I loved the most. Flat or mostly flat it runs along the perimeter of the mountainside, directly above the west shoreline of Lake Tahoe. To say the views are awesome is an understatement! Needless to say, we stopped a number of times to take pictures and jaw a bit, but eventually, this section came to an end. There we re-grouped and then headed into the next section, the Tahoe Rim Trail. Again with the climbing. Another mile of up. And then, it went up again. Now on single track, the trail runs back and forth along the edge of the mountain, virtually always uphill. This is where my fun in the saddle came to an end. Not only was I starting to feel the effects of elevation, but I was also not keeping up on nutrition and water. Both conspired against me and I lost energy fast. That combined with a very tricky trail (sharp rocks!), I had to bail numerous times and walk. This section seemed to go on forever and it was frustrating to only ride a small portion.

The rim trail eventually leads out of the woods near the summit to an open field where the views are unbelievable. It feels like your on top of world and at 8,400+ feet, you are close to it. There we hung out for awhile enjoying the beauty, taking more pictures and even enjoying a shot of whiskey, courtesy of Morgan. After a final group picture (see Jeff’s photos on flickr) we started our decent. And stupid me, I had my front shock locked out! The trail was so steep, rocky and fast there was no taking your hands off the bar for a second. I found a small level section, switched it out and then proceeded with the bomber run. This downhill went on forever, eventually leading back to the location where we had crossed the reservoir before heading back up one more climb.

At this point, there was nothing left in the tank and after riding a small portion of the climb, I wussed out and walked the rest of the way. Others there offered me gels and gummy bears and bars but I was so surly from the lack of water and food, I just yelled at them to leave me alone and started sobbing! Okay, I’m kidding about yelling.

The last section was the same first 6 mile section we had climbed at the end of the day. Thank God! Almost all downhill back to the cars. Never loved gravity more than that moment. We eventually rolled into the parking lot and I hustled over to the bike shop to drop my rig before rejoining the group. They were all talking and laughing and sharing a beer but I was weaving around like Sean Penn in Dead Man Walking! Slurring words and staring off into space, the days 22+ miles were hitting me hard. We finally said our goodbyes and then jumped in the truck for the ride back to the Condo.

After some much needed water, a little scrubbing and couple taco chips, I was starting to return to semi-normal. Rene had just finished up an amazing pile of burritos and guacamole and we all dived in. That combined with a couple New Belgiums and I was finally back in my happy place! Jeff, Kristy, Lauren, Morgan, Rene and I had a great evening of conversation and food and drink and I did not want it to end. But the Moser’s had little ones to attend to back home (dogs), so Rene made them a goodie bag and sent them on their way. Lauren and Morgan were staying with us that night and we all tried desperately to stay up and continue our discussions. Needless to say, it was a losing battle!

The next morning, Morgan was slated to head out and meet up with some friends for more riding, but thanks to my sobbing and wailing, he was convinced to stay and hang out with us for the day! We finished off a pizza, a pie, a roast-beast sandwich (with horseradish) and numerous bottles of water while chatting the day away. It was finally time for them to head home and we were shortly behind them, heading back to Sacramento for the final night. We checked in about 6 in the afternoon and the heatwave in the valley had reached 114 degrees! Do not let anyone sell you on that b.s. about it being “a dry heat”. It was a freaking oven outside! I do not think I have ever been in hotter weather. To survive it, Rene and I ducked into the same restaurant we had visited the first night but this time, stayed inside for dinner. And a couple gin and tonics (they had Hendricks!).

The next day we left CA around noon and went from 108 degrees to 63 upon landing in GR! And the cool air actually felt good. I have to say, this was one of the best trips we have ever taken. Not only was Tahoe an amazing place and the trail riding unbelievable, but the best part was the people who shared the experience with us. Thank you for everything. I cannot wait to get out there again and enjoy another ride.
Or just a beer and good conversation.

In fact, if anyone wants to skip the ride next time and just enjoy the beer, I am good with that too. Have a great 4th of July!!

Heat of the Moment

2009-06-23T09:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, I get it. Summer is here. I can officially stop complaining about Spring now. 80’s+ and humid as heck here this weekend. And rain? Ummm, I think we’re good thanks! Check out this video taken at a local fairgrounds where they were holding a large annual Country Music Bash. This was also on the National news Sunday night!

My niece’s car is out in that field somewhere! My oldest son went on Saturday and said it was a mud-fest but they managed to get their van out before the flood. Organizers are going to be “underwater” after this fee-ass-co!

It was a busy one (again). More grad parties, yard work, Rene packing for MN today and both of us preparing for our Tahoe trip on Thursday. I wasn’t able to paddle the Flat this weekend but it would have been a great one for it. Hot weather combined with high, fast water! Instead, I went out for a road ride late in the afternoon on Saturday. And it was hot and windy. The trails here are saturated right now, so I have made the choice to stay off until they have time to dry out. The ride on Saturday was so painful I didn’t even feel like stopping to take pictures. 35 miles later, I was cooked.

Last night was my last night to ride before Tahoe. Rene was in Minn-e-soda until today, so right after work I took the single-speed out for a long gravel grind (trails are still wet here). Along the way, I stopped at the White’s Bridge launch and found a small dog wandering around, obviously lost. I called him over and sat with him for 5 or 10 minutes until a car pulled up and two distraught teenage girls ran out calling his name. Turns out, he wandered away and after looking for him for awhile, they gave up and left to go get gas in their car! DOOH! Why they did not think to leave one of them there while the other went for gas (nearest station is 10-12 miles away) is beyond me. The dog could easily have been killed by the regular traffic of 4x4’s and cars that run up and down the dirt road near the bridge! I so wanted to get on their case about leaving, but they said thanks about a thousand times and high-tailed it before I could get all preachy on them.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. Well, except for the oppressive heat and humidity. It is full-on summertime here all of a sudden! Prediction is we hit 90F+ today. Felt like it at the construction site this morning. Not a big fan of extreme heat, but after all my bitching about cool and rain, I guess I have to shut up and enjoy it!

We are off to Tahoe on Thursday morning. I am looking forward to the get away and seeing old friends. Jeff has our trail ride mapped out for Saturday and we are planning to have the gang back to the condo for a Mexican food feast that night. Wish it was a longer stay, but I have a daughter and son in college now!

Hope your all staying cool!

Sound of no one clapping

2009-06-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

Since no one reads my blog anymore (except blue), i thought i would take the easy way out and just post pictures of last nights ride. enjoy!

Into the Heat

2009-06-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

Summer is here, finally. The grass is growing anyway!

And the Queen’s Coronation is complete. Friday was my daughter’s G-Day party and it was a hectic week leading up to the event. Rene has heard from others that this celebration festival called a Graduation Party is more of a mid-western tradition. Not sure when that started.

When I was in high school (they had them back then?), we did not have parties. The town I lived in was near the lake shore (Lake Michigan) and we typically spent one to two weeks camping at the beach, leaving for the there 5 minutes after post-graduation pictures. My parents did not have to rent a tent or tables or a slushy machine and invite their 3rd cousin to pay a visit and bring a check. I think they got me a radio, which I took to the beach with me, if I remember it correctly. That was it. Some cake with Grandma and Grandpa who came for the ceremony and then I was out of there. Times have changed I guess. Maybe they need to change again.

Anyway. The rest of the weekend was clean-up duty and attendance at other graduation parties. And a little riding.

I was able to get out on Sunday morning and it was a beautiful day. Maybe the best day of the summer so far. About time. It was a nice lazy, 2-1/2 hour loop.

Past a vandalized old schoolhouse.

Over the Townsend Park trail bridge.

Past a few barns and silos.

And back home.

The rest of the day was spent at another graduation party. We were there until almost 10, helping them to take down the tent and put away the chairs. I thought carnivals had roadies to do that? Too many slushies, a few too many bbq sandwiches and probably too many beers. Needless to say, I slept like a rock that night!

Yesterday evening was another beautiful night and we decided to take the boyz out to the park. We had not been there in a week or more due to all the prep for the party. The trail is about a three mile round trip and for a portion of it we can let the guys run free.

The flowers were still in bloom and the field grass as high as I have ever seen it.

The trail runs over the river at the bridge and crossing it is always interesting with the dogs.

Back home and our wildflowers are really starting to pop. Daisy’s have gone crazy!

I am back on the bike tonight, hoping to get some much needed dirt time on the single-speed. It has been neglected for awhile, so we will be enjoying the State Game area trail after work. Final prep is in the works for Tahoe and it looks like everyone is in. Jeff has been wetting my appetite for riding by flashing pictures of him and his buddies enjoying the rare air of the Flume Trail. I know I am going to get bit hard by the mountain riding bug. Probably just call the kids that Monday and have them start packing to move!

Hope everyone is getting out there and enjoying summer!

City Escape

2009-06-08T14:17:00.001-07:00

Back to reality today after our partial weekend trip to the City of the Big Shoulders (Chicago). We had a great time on Friday night with our friends from the area, but my ride in suburbia was a bit of a bust. Besides breaking a rear wheel spoke, my biggest disappointment was with the trails. A co-worker of Rene’s who knew the area suggested that I ride the Busse Woods Trail, which is located near the Woodfield Mall and close by the hotel we were staying at in Itasca. The problem was, it was a paved trail and I had hoped to ride off-road on this trip. Looking back on it now, I should have brought the road bike and taken his suggestion. On our way to dinner on Thursday night we went by the park and it was very busy with bikes, skaters and dog-walkers.

I had researched trails last week and found a Chicago mountain bike site where the trails in the area were listed. Nice maps of the trails were posted courtesy of the Cook County Forest Park Preserve as well as photos and commentary about the different loops. I settled on the Palos Park Preserve, located near Willow Springs in the Western suburbs. The setting is beautiful with a series of park access points, picnic areas, boating/paddling areas and as I was to discover later, horse riding stables. The word on the site was to start at a location called Wolf Creek.

Following some minor wrong turns, I eventually found the area. There were other cars with bike racks and the trail head signs, so it must be the place. After unloading the bike, I checked the map and then headed out. The first trail section I found was the main yellow loop, which turned out to be the longest trail in the park. It however, was not single track but rather a wide hard gravel trail. It rode very fast, with ups and downs and a few twisty turns but it felt more like a gravel road than a trail. In numerous spots there were serious wash outs that appeared to be were caused by poor trail planning. No diversions were put in place to run the water off to the edge and in most places, the trail was lower than the surrounding forested area so the it served as a gully for water instead of shedding it. As I went along, I found this was a consistent problem everywhere.

Within the first 2 miles, I came to a section of legitimate single-track, the black loop and dove in. It appeared to be very similar to trails in our area, but within a short distance, it started to get greasy and wet. I came across a hiker who told me “there is a little water but most of it was in good shape”. As I continued down the trail was clear, but it continued to be wet and muddy. As a result there were numerous areas where riders were obviously re-routing the trail wider and wider to avoid the mud. I know they had received some recent rains (as we did in MI the week before), but the soil was more clay-like than ours and it did not appear to shed water well. But the more disturbing issue was the complete lack of trail maintenance and diverters that could have helped to route water away from the trail. The other issue was, rather than follow the contours of the ground, the trail often dove straight down a swale and then right straight up the other side. Both sides then became a funnel for ground water creating more wet and muddy spots. This section of trail was pretty clear and easy to ride and actually had some fun twisty sections. It eventually came back to the main gravel trail (yellow loop) after 4 or 5 miles of single-track.

From there I headed up the gravel trail which eventually led to an open field area and the next section of single track. As I was turning in, I noticed a deer heading towards me, so I stopped and got out the camera. It did not run away and walked around me, stopping to eat as he went. I decided to bail before he did and head in to the green loop trail. At first, in the open areas, it was appeared to be another fun section with some twists and turns, but it soon deteriorated as it ran back into the woods. This time, the trail was not only muddy and wet but now it was over grown. In sections you had to spread the branches out in front of you to avoid being hit in the face. In sections it improved, but then came the horses. Two riders appeared out of nowhere around a corner and I immediately stopped. I stood off to the side and let them pass with little comment, but have to admit to being surprised they were riding that trail. One, because horses and bikes typically do not share trails back home and second, this trail was not well suited to horseback riding. That coupled with the wet trail, they were doing obvious damage. I stayed with it until the trail came out to a main road, somewhere in the central part of the park. I did not immediately see another extension to the trail and rode up the road a bit to look for it. I eventually found it across the road and it was in worse shape than the first section. From the overgrowth and wash outs, it looked like it had not been ridden in some time. As I went along, I found out why.

The rest of this single-track was worthless. It constantly crossed muddy, wet areas, especially lowlands and yet showed numerous re-routes along the edges where riders had tried to avoid the mess. By the time I got out of this section and back to the park main gravel trail, I was coated in mud, my shorts were wet and I was not having fun. More than a few expletives later, I decided to stick to the gravel trail for the near future, if for no other reason than to clean the mud from my tires! There were other, non-marked single tracks that broke off of the main trail, but within a hundred yards, most deteriorated pretty quickly. I would be forced to back track and that became tiresome very quickly. So, I stayed on the main trail and at an intersection took off to follow the brown loop which headed south and west away from where I had started. I rode this trail for some time and saw numerous washouts especially on hills where no provisions had been made for water diversion.

After about 4 miles, the trail came to an elevated main road and there was a tunnel underneath. I noticed a sign stating that it was a horse crossing, but the trail markings did not indicate that it was for horses only. On the other side, I began to see more and more horsesh_t on the trail and found myself constantly avoiding it. After a couple miles, I came to a main turn in the trail and there I found the first stable. There were a couple horse riders on the trail and they made muttering comments as they walked by about bikes on trails (I was standing off to the side while they passed). I continued on for 5 or 6 miles until the trail dead ended at another stable. All along the way, it was covered in droppings and I suspect that is why there were no other bikers on the trail. It was open to bikes but given the mess and the potential confrontations probably not worth riding.

At that point, I started heading back to the car, hoping to find other single track sections along the way. I followed the yellow loop until it intersected the orange and cruised that for 3 or 4 miles until it came to the red. There I turned down a short section of trail that I thought was a loop, but it dead ended at another road. That is where I broke a rear wheel spoke, trying to hop up off the trail onto the road to turn around. I torqued a little too hard and bang. Luckily, the wheel was still rideable, so I looped the broken spoke around an adjacent one and started riding again. I still had about 6 miles to go but avoided the rest of the single track, cruising the gravel trail back to the car.

In the end, I did get quite a few miles in and it was a beautiful day to ride. But the lack of single-track was disappointing. I am not sure why it was in such poor shape but maintenance did not appear to be high on the park systems priority list. But allowing horses to ride MTB trails? That is just stupid. The park is so large it seemed to me that they easily could have segregated the groups into specific regions to avoid conflicts as well as trail damage. I enjoyed the chance to ride the trails but I think next time, I’ll bring my road bike!

We moved downtown on Friday night after Rene finished her training class and stayed at the W on Lakeshore Drive. We were lucky enough to have a room on the lake side, so I was able to take pictures of the Navy Pier and beachfront from the room. After checking in, we headed into town for some coffee and shopping along Michigan Avenue. We only had a couple hours and then it was back to the hotel to clean up for dinner. We were meeting some good old friends who live in the area at one of our favorite restaurants, Coco Pazzo. We have gone there numerous times and it never fails to please, but we especially love sitting out along the sidewalk where you can really people-watch!

After dinner we headed to a local piano bar where we actually sat at the piano and enjoyed a night of good music. I will post some of those pictures later!
The evening ended back at the W. The lobby bar was closed but they have a Club on the 33rd floor, so we stopped up for last call. All of us had a great time watching the "crowd". From the looks of things, desperate times call for desperate measures I guess!

Rene and I had breakfast in town before heading out. The traffic wasn't bad and with only a few construction zones along the way, we made it home in record time. Just in time to head back out to a number of my daughter's friends graduation parties! Fun stuff; not. It felt great to just sit on the couch and vegetate that night!

Sunday was all work and no play which made me a very dull boy. But it had to be done. Weed pulling, garage cleaning and basement cleaning, all in preparation for our girl's party. Friday is only 4 days away now and everything must be perfect or else. Not sure what else is, but believe me, it is not an option!

Hope you got some riding in!

Random Analysis

2009-06-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy couple weeks. My daughter’s graduation, Rene’s travel and my work schedule have conspired against me riding as much as I would like. Our yard/garden/wildflower work is slowly coming together. Given the amount of rain we have had of late, all is growing like crazy. Some of the local farms have made their first cutting of hay this week! The great lake levels are up so dramatically this spring (we were in a deficit for years) folks along the shore are whining about losing beach!

We had some unusual visitors to the office last week: Sandhill Cranes! They were tapping on the door trying to get in at one point and spent most of the day hanging around in the yard.

My car has been a royal pain in the ass of late. With mileage in the 130k range, it has been very reliable for a long time. But of late, the car randomly will not start. There is a glitch in the electrical system that Volvo can’t find so I am taking it there on a regular basis every time it fails. I would ditch the car and ride if I could but with construction site meetings, client meetings, Rene’s trips out of town and no bus or rail service to fall back on, I need the car to work. A 21 mile commute one way and outside office trips, I can only plan to ride 1 or 2 days a week right now. I also can’t afford to buy a new or even newer car, so getting it fixed is a necessity. Anyway.

Rides of late have been typically on the road. It is saves time and trips to the trails, especially without a car! Last night was a long gravel grinder. It was good to get out and put some miles in while enjoying the wildflowers, random animals and few assorted “good folks” along the way! Photos are in the phone so nothing to show here at this time. I was able to combine single-track, double-track, gravel and pavement all in one ride. And all on the single-speed.

We are off to Chicago on Thursday afternoon (Rene flies out tonight) for a bit of a get away. She has a class on Thursday and Friday, so I am planning to do some off-road riding just outside the City. There is a cool trail system in Willow Springs (Palos Park Preserve).

http://cambr.org/TrailGuides/guideElements/maps/Palos2008Map.pdf

It appears to have quite a few miles of riding and I am planning to spend the day exploring all of them on Friday. Taking the Sinister out for the first time in awhile.

We will move that night to the ‘W’ in downtown Chicago (free room!) and then meet some friends from the area for dinner. Saturday might be a quick one in the City as we have to be back for graduation parties that night. Fun!

After that, it is all about Lauren (my daughter) next week. Her graduation party is on Friday (and if you’re in the area, feel free to stop by!). I personally will be glad when the hoopla is over!

Then we start prepping for the Tahoe trip!! I need to step up my riding to hopefully avoid embarrassing myself too bad while we’re out there. I have been suffering from congestion that has lingered on for weeks now due to allergies, so I hope to be rid of that by then as well. Gonna be fun!

Not much else to say. Work is slowing and that makes me nervous. GM is in bankruptcy and that will trickle down to all of us here in the Mitten State. Just fun, fun, fun to live in Michigan these day. Still no final word on moves, but we are leaning that direction. Biggest issue is whether to sell the house or sit on it until we have a more firm grasp on the future. And who knows when that will be!

Hope everyone is having a great week!

Brighter Days

2009-05-30T20:31:00.000-07:00

The sun came out today after what seemed like a week hiatus. Bright and warm but windy, it was a beautiful day. One that requires you to appreciate how nice a day can be and not waste it. Though I did not ride today, I did take a hike. Not figuratively, but literally. Down to the park with Rene and the Boyz, along the river, finally settling into its normal summer shallow-ness, watching the kayaks from the bridge under the bridge and stealing lilacs from an abandon home's yard. Better we enjoy them than no one!

All in all, a good day. A little salad with salmon for dinner, a good beer and bread with a movie and it is 11 p.m. before we knew it. Tired now, but good tired. Even the boyz were. They didn't fight me too hard when I said it was time to hit the kennel. Usually, they grumble or ask to go out one more time and then run around the yard for 30 more minutes. But not tonight. Tonight, they were satisfied they had accomplish all they needed to. Any more would be greedy!

So, we head to bed. Tomorrow, my youngest baby walks up to the podium and receives her well earned diploma. And I will be proud. Happy in her accomplishments, glad to see that she is becoming an adult, but a little sad that she can fly now.

But they all do someday. It seemed so far away just yesterday and now, it is here. I love her as much as all of them, but she is the last.

And now she too is taking flight.

Less is More

2009-05-19T10:09:00.000-07:00

I am finally riding more but writing less these days. More or less.

Bike to Work Week was a bust again in 2009, mainly due to Rene being out of town (rides to the airport) and my work schedule (numerous meetings out of the office). Finally wrangled a ride on Friday, with a nice 21 mile commute each way (added a few miles to avoid the bigger hills; wuss!). Met up with my Bike to Work com-padres at Starbuck’s in Ada at midpoint for a chilly latte stop (it was 44 degrees at ride time!) and then on to the office. Our resident marketing person asked that we pose for a group pick so she could brag on our website how “green” the employees are by riding to work. One day. Wow. Impressive.

Saturday was busy with preparations for my daughter’s upcoming graduation. Pictures, cards, etc. Shopping basically. The rest of the day was house and yardwork, but I was back on the bike on Sunday. Windy as heck, I headed out on the road and was able to get some hills and mileage in. I even ran into (not literally) Danielle Musto, racer/coffee drinker extraordinaire out on the road and we chit chatted about her Poison Ivy at Dirt, Sweat and Gears race. I had to let her go so as not to affect her training numbers and get her in hot water with the Coach! Finished up with another 30 miles in.

Monday was Danielle’s No-Drop Ride Night, this week at SGA. Super Bon Bonnie and Barry showed up too and it was great to ride and catch up. I took some shots from mid-ride and what you can’t see in the photos are the swarms of mosquitos that stopped by to feast on us. It was intense. All the rain has hatched a bumper crop this year. Might have to get a case of Off!

Not much else to tell. Still aiming to do the final time trial event in the Milk Jug series, as I am 0 for 2 so far. After that, it is a bit before I race again. Just enjoying the finally warming weather and sunshine and hoping to get many miles in before I have to go visit the Carson and Oakland-ites!

Have a great Holiday weekend and try to get some riding in!

Get on You're Bad Motor(less) Scooter and Ride

2009-05-13T14:14:00.001-07:00

I had to get back on the horse sometime. In the past week-ish I have been able to get out 3 times; twice on the road and one gravel grind. The pain of my crash a few weeks back is still lingering, specifically, the torn muscle in my chest/arm area. It does not like it when I ride, but like a junkie looking for a fix, out I go anyway.

Friday last week, Rene went off to the bar with a neighbor/friend so I snuck out and did a gravel grind on the single-speed. It was a beautiful night and with time on my hands, it seemed like a good plan. I did manage to get in 20 miles, but it paid me back in pain the rest of the weekend. Probably wasn't the best choice so soon, but I was itching for saddle time.

Yesterday night, the weather was a little windy but the sun was out. Great night for a road ride. I could not ride into the office that day thanks to two construction meetings which required a car, so I brought the bike along and rode a loop from the office after work. The wind made it a workout for a good portion of the ride, but I was able to get 30+ miles in, so it was worth the struggle. However, today, my arm is not happy again. I probably should lay off the bike and just let things heal, but I have never been good at that. I take a break tonight; have to pick up Rene from the airport (she was in MN again this week). Tomorrow night is another Milk Jug race but we will have to see how the arm is fairing before I commit. The first race was rained out.

Weather and work have prevented me from participating in Bike to Work Week so far, but fellas from the office have assured me we are on for Friday! I am hoping we can make it work (no pun intended, really!) including a stop at Starbuck's in Ada for a little caffeine fuel up.

Things are all a-bloom here thanks to all of the rain and sunshine.

River is still high and running fast. I need to get some paddling in one of these days!

We are planting a vegetable garden outside the office and it is in the ground and on its way. Hoping to see some cucs, carrots, tomatoes and jalapenos soon!

Season Finale for LOST is on tonight. Be there or be squared!

Man Down!

2009-05-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

This weekend’s race was a bruising lesson on knowing the course. The race is the Fort Custer Stampede which is located in a State Recreation area and has been run virtually the same for many years. This year they decided to throw a twist in and reverse a section of the course. This part of the trail features very twisty single-track in the woods and a constant series of log crossings. I am not much of a fan of log “stunts” and this section has more than its fair share of them. If a tree falls across the trail, you typically make the required corrections (by hatchet, axe and saw), but for some reason, the designers of this trail actually, purposely added fallen logs as obstacles. Not sure if they are functioning as speed bumps, but the nature of the trail doesn’t really make that necessary. And they appear to provide no erosion resistance, so I am baffled as to the need. This isn’t a free-ride course and it probably is ridden by a fair number of inexperienced bikers who could be “tripped-up” trying to cross them. Case in point.

The point I’m getting to is, when you put in logs, you create the need to cross them. And the nature of a trail is that they are typically designed to be ridden in one direction as well. I was actually surprised by the lack of a designated direction for the trails we rode in Oakland last fall. Most, if not all, trails in this area are specifically marked to be ridden in one direction only. As a result, they often “flow” or ride better in the direction of travel. This is the case in this area of the Fort Custer trail. Not only were there some sketchy climbs as a result of the reversal, but one log crossing proved to be downright dangerous (in my opinion). It was a stacked pile, maybe 4 logs high at the center and in the normal direction, had a relatively flat, downhill approach that allowed you to maintain your momentum over the obstacle. Reversed, you were required to ride up to it on the taller side and if you did not crank hard, you easily could lose the momentum needed to clear it. And that is what did me in.
I started the race with as much effort as I could afford, trying to stay in the lead group, maybe 6 back. For the first mile or so, I pedaled as hard as I could, but at the first uphill, lost some momentum and fell back in the pack. With that, I was now on my own and had to push myself to catch up again. Enter, the reversed trail section. Maybe 4 miles into a 9-1/2 mile trail, I came to the infamous log pile with some speed but obviously, not enough. As I cleared the top with my front wheel, I discovered on the back side, a gap between two logs exactly the width of my tire! Needless to say, my wheel went right in. Given my lack of speed, the bike stopped on a dime and I kept going. For a moment, it appeared I could actually fly! And then, the rude awakening as I tumbled to the ground, that I could not. I landed hard on my shoulder, right arm and hand and for a second, thought that I would be joining Lance in the cycling wing of the broken shoulder clinic. It hurt damn bad. I was lucky enough to not have someone directly behind me. One, I would have probably been run over, adding injury to injury. But also I would have had an audience to my screw up. That would have been more painful!
Once I realized I had not broken anything (including the bike, surprisingly), I decide I could continue. After the first race frustration of a broken chainring and walking to the finish, I was determined to ride this one out. I caught up with a couple riders who had passed by during my stunt and tried to hang on and make up some ground. That seemed to help me focus on riding and not on my arm which was hurting. We eventually made it around to the water crossing, which was deep but not as much as I expected. I did not plan it out and ended up drenched on the other side. In the process, I made up some ground on a few of the riders who lingered on the hill coming out of the stream and finished the first lap with a decent time.
The next lap was a blur and I just rode as fast as I could, gaining a bit of ground on a couple guys in my class and bettering my time by about a minute. Not an awesome display of power, but glad to see I sped up the second time around rather than falling back. I actually dismounted and ran over the log pile the second time around (using my cyclocross skills!). I had no desires to “be a man” and try my luck again. Best to learn from your mistakes!

I got into a group of about 5 guys near the end and we rode in a pack right up to the last half mile. There I was able to get around most of them and though it was mostly symbolical (they were not in my class), it felt good to have something at the end. Finished up 12th of 16 in the end, not my finest hour, but better than I thought I would finish while I was laying on the ground at the log pile.

It turned out to be a beautiful day and I even ended up with my first tan lines of the year afterwards. My buddy Matt, who rode down to the race with me, finished first in the Clydesdale class, so we hung around after cleaning up to give him the chance to stand on the podium and collect his booty (nice pint glass with the 15th anniversary logo of the race). They were giving away free beer as well (one to a customer) from Anchor Brewing and the ale I had was very tasty.
Danielle’s husband Scott finished first in Expert for the second race in a row, so the boy is back! He had a chain incident during the race but was able to fix it and still beat the competition to the line. Must be the cool Twin Six Metal outfit he wears that is making him so fast!
I had a ball racing but still suffering some pain in my hand and arm today, so I have stayed off the bike so far this week. Looks like we will be seeing rain again for the next couple days, so I may not ride again until the weekend. Racing is over for awhile (except for the Milk Jug events, the first of which was cancelled last week due to rain). Next possible race is early June but I may skip that and just focus on commuting and riding to train for the rare air in Tahoe.
Next week is bike to work week, so I hope to get a chance to participate. Check out Jeff Moser’s site “www.bikecarson.com” for all of cool stuff happening this month in Carson City. The boy goes all out and has even snagged some sweet sponsors like New Belgium Brewing for this years festivities. Excellent work, my friend!
Mid-June is the Great Harvest Cycling Classic in Minnesota (Minneapolis and surrounding areas) and I hope to get over there to see some racing. The event is June 10-15th and it should have some big names in attendance. We are again looking at moving to the area as things are changing on the job front for Rene but it is still too soon to call. We are thinking of doing some job and apartment reconnaissance during our visit if we can get out there that week. We will see.
Hope everyone is getting some riding in.

And remember: Just say No to Log Piles!

Return of the Swamp Thing

2009-04-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Swamp-like. That is the best way to describe West Michigan lately. As I write this, it is raining again. The rivers here are pretty darn high, trails are muddy and it is just damn gloomy; again. We have had the weirdest spring this year. One day of 80 degree temps and then 3 days of 50’s and rain. No consistency and that has really played havoc on my riding. I had planned to race tonight in the first Milk Jug series event but given today’s rain, I am not sure I will bother. I had already planned to race this Sunday at Fort Custer, site of my first SS race and my first DFL last year. So, given the weather forecast, I decided last night to take advantage of the lack of moisture to get out and put some mileage in. The best bet was to either road ride (it was windy and cool) or hit the gravel. I chose the later but this time on the newly restored Inbred. Sporting a shiny new Surly chainring (round and flat as can be!), I headed to the park right after work. The creek is running as high as I have ever seen it.

Given the depth and current, it is best I don’t let my dog in there right now! The poor boy would be paddling his ass off!

The grassy areas are still very mushy, so I stuck to the pavement all the way to the first gravel road. From there it was 20 miles of sandy, rocky roads with some good climbs to test my new crank bolts. They held up like champs. First stop was at the rail crossing along a line that is supposed to become a very nice, long rails-to-trails route. However, given the State’s budget shortfalls and a host of other, more immediate concerns, this will not happen for some time to come. It is a frustrating but understandable situation.

Onward. After about 15 miles in, I came across this very unique grain silo. I have never seen one with a clerestory (the wrap around windows at the top) before. Not even sure why that is there, but I have a feeling there is a ladder or stair inside leading up to that crow’s nest. The silo sits at the top of a plateau that looks out over the river valley a good hundred feet below, so I’ll bet the view is amazing. But the bonus of the night was the bald eagle sitting on a branch right next to the silo. If you go to my Flickr page, and blow up the photo to the larger size, you will see him. We have a number of them in the area and they have even been known to make a stop by my house from time to time, but it is still rare to see them. Very cool!

Around mid-ride, I hit a stretch of paved road between sections of gravel. At one of the turns, I ran into a couple older guys out pedaling and said hi as we rode up. Both of them gave me the cold shoulder! What the? I couldn’t believe it! One was wearing a full Bissell Team kit and he was hacking and wheezing like he had just lost a lung up the last climb. So, to spite them for snubbing me, I cranked up the SS and hung right on their wheels for a mile or so. They finally tired of me (or the sound of my knobbies on the pavement) and rode away. Thanks guys. Appreciate the friendliness and camaraderie. Putz.

Back to the gravel. After a series of hills, I passed by a local farm where I found a swan making the moves on a couple ganders right in the road. They high-tailed it when I came by but I have a feeling the ladies probably hooked back up with him after I was out of sight!

Heading back, I decided to hit the park trail. It was in good shape despite the rain, but near the river, things got a little more damp. The water is running high and fast right now, which is amazing. In the summer, the Flat is typically a very shallow and lazy river. This is a small stream where you usually can ride across without getting wet. The rain has really created some “beautiful plumage” this Spring.

After ride beer selection: Breckenridge Brewery – Vanilla Porter. Good beer. Go get yourself some!

The weather looks gloomy for the next couple of days, but Sunday is predicted to be sunny and in the 60’s for the race. We will see. This was the course water crossing from last year.

I might want to look into a wetsuit for this year’s event! Keep your fingers-crossed that I can keep a chain on and ride all the way to the finish this weekend!

Plans are finalized for our trip to Tahoe. I could use the vacation now, but like a kid at Christmas, we will just have to wait. But that also gives me more time to get in shape for the high altitude riding!

Last and least, my dorm project for a local university is finally taking shape after a lot of frustration and difficulty. The brick-ies are just about done installing the facade and it looks pretty good. And in about three months, the first kid moves in with his mini-fridge and blacklight posters.

Nothing else to see here. Have a great day!

Sit Down, Stand Up

2009-04-24T06:09:00.000-07:00

Another weird week here of ups and downs. The cold rainy weather on Sunday stuck around for the first half of the week and that combined with a serious project deadline meant no bike time. Speaking of Sunday, here are two pictures from the TT race.

Start.

Finished.

Pretty much says it all.

So, last night was my first chance to get out and ride, but first I had to stop by Ada Bike to pick up my replacement chain ring. Surly wouldn’t spring for it, so I had to bite to bullet and pull out the credit card. Consider this my “economic stimulus” contribution! We are now at 12.6% unemployment here on the West side of the state, so hopefully this will help keep the Shop lights on for a little while longer.

I headed out to the Ski Hill trail for the first time this year and on the way over it started to rain. I was bumming a bit but determined to get a ride in. That eventually cleared and it ended up being a great night out on the trail. Well, except for my lack of conditioning. The hills were kicking my butt last night and I was barely able to get 3 laps in before hanging it up. There was a few lingering piles of snow on the hill, the last remnants of winter clinging to the slope.

On my first pass, I rode through a section of the trail that cuts across the hillside and just about bashed my brain on this.

For some reason (I am sure it wasn’t intentional), the lift had been stopped so a t-bar was directly in the path of the trail. If you were standing on the pedals while riding through there, it would have smacked you right in the face! I saw it at the last minute and was able to duck under, but it caught me by complete surprise. I have ridden that trail a hundred times and there has never been a t-bar hanging in that spot!

The trail was in great shape and fast (if you weren’t a slacker like me) thanks to the moisture we had this week, which helps to compact the sand. It appeared that a couple re-routes are in the works as I saw what appeared to be new sections being marked out along one hill. The area is one of the worse for trail erosion and sand, so from the looks of it, they are planning to make a fix. I need to check in with the MMBA group and see when their doing the trail work.
We originally were planning to head to Chicago today and visit some friends, but decided to put it off for awhile later. Life is really up in the air right now and it is probably the best to stay close to home for the near future. Minneapolis may be back on now with some changes that are happening at Sun (can’t say anything yet, but the word starts with O and ends with Racle), so we are considering all our options.

We have made a commitment to the June Blogger’s Ride in Tahoe this summer and in the process of finalizing our accommodations there. Right now it looks like we will be renting a condo for 3 days at Incline Village, so anyone who can make it up there from June 26th through the 28th are welcome to hang with us. Really looking forward to the trip and riding the trails, but excited to see the folks from Oakland and Carson City again.

Of course, that is if Jeff promises to buy the beer this time!

Have a great weekend and get some riding in!

Flat Broke

2009-04-20T10:07:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! Saturday was our first really warm day of the year (70+ degrees!) and we took full advantage of it. After running to my office to deposit some old electronic at our sponsored recycling drive, Rene and I headed downtown to visit my favorite record store Vertigo for National Record Store Day. The place was packed which was nice to see. I joked with the owner that it felt like the good ol’ days when you would be elbow to elbow with folks going through the bins, looking for music. Those days are sadly behind us now I think.

I did pick up the new Appleseed Cast release “Sagarmatha” on vinyl and a sweet package it is. If you have not heard this record yet, by all means, give it a listen. Very good; maybe their best ever. My other purchase was the new Silversun Pickups release “Swoon” on CD. Very tasty as well. Rene went digging in the used bins and found her music: Elton John’s greatest hits, Billy Joel’s greatest hits and the Chili Peppers greatest hits. I am sensing a theme to her purchases!
After that outing, it was all yard work, all the time. We raked and cleaned and trimmed until I thought my arms were going to fall off. A good start, but plenty more to do. We walked the Boyz and then had a nice pasta dinner on the deck, all the time watching a gaggle of goldfinches devour our birdseed.

It was a beautiful day. So nice, I actually wore shorts for the first time this year!

But that all came to an end on Sunday morning. I woke up to rain and gloom and much cooler temps. And it was race day. First event of the season for me, the annual Deep Lake Trail Benefit Time Trial. Almost every year this race is a scorcher with temps easily into the 70’s and plenty of sunshine. This year was the exception. It rained pretty much from the onset, though the first couple groups got off before it started. My buddy ex-XTERRA Matt was there and racing in the expert category, which was bumped up to a 2-lap race for the first time this year. Here he is show-boating for the crowd at the starting tent!

He finished strong and about mid-pack but out of the medals.

Danielle was there with her husband Scott and I was able to get the first official photos of her non-production, super-secret full suspension Tomac race bike! Very nice. A virtual carbon bonanza with even a carbon wrapped suspension fork.

She finished well with a strong second place in the Elite class and Scott finished first in Expert.

Then came my turn to race. I decided to race single-speed this year and having ridden the course a couple times on the Inbred, I felt comfortable doing that. It was raining at the start, but the rain actually seemed to help solidify the sandy course, which will eventually dry out and get slippery as summer comes. It was fast and I was able to maintain a good pace consistently throughout most of the first half. The climbs here are difficult and it did take some cranking to get up a few. As I got further into the back section of the course, I noticed a consistent clank coming from the bike. It sounded like the creaks I hear sometimes when the rear loosens up and sure enough, the chain looked slack when I checked it. So, I stopped, twisted the Surly’s a bit and started up again. Went for another mile or so and the clanking was back, so this time, I thought the quick release may have been loose. Checked it and it didn’t seem loose, so I kept on going. At this point, I still hadn’t spent much time off the bike and felt like I was maintaining my speed. And then disaster struck. Coming out of the hilly section of the trail, there was more loosy-goosy going on, so I was forced to stop again to tweak the stays and the two guys I had passed, got back by me. I was determined to make up the time and catch them, so I set off cranking. Just as I started up again, we rounded a turn and rolled into a short but steep climb. That is when the bike broke. Bang and two bolts on the crank sheared off, which immediately left two to carry on and they in turn, torqued the chainring from a circle into an oval. The bike came to a screeching halt as the chain fell off mid-climb. I was so pissed! I put the chain back on and tried to pedal, but the crank would only turn a half-rotation and then jamb or throw the chain off. My race was done. At that point, I was still 4 miles from the finish of a twelve mile race, so I started hoofing it home. I would roll on the bike on the longer downhills and run the rest of the way, but needless to say, it took some time to get back. Determined to not DNF, I actually walked my bike over the finish line sensor for DFL instead. A few of the folks at the finish were looking at me funny wondering why I was walking. And then they looked down and saw this!

Morgan mentioned that it looked like a Rotor Elliptical chainring! But alas, no; just a Surly steel 34T, no longer in service. I wonder if they have a replacement warranty? Not sure yet if the chain is damaged but we will see tonight when I get a chance to look everything over. I just didn’t have the heart or the ambition to spend any time with it when I got home.

And so, the racing season begins with a bang! Hopefully, we can get back on track here and finish a race on the bike. The plan is to enter the Milk Jug Race Series, which starts next Thursday. I plan to race single-speed again, but we will see. The next XC race is May 6th at Fort Custer, which was my first SS race last year (and my first DFL too!).

Maybe I’ll bring the Sinister, just to be safe!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

Pictures of Bliss

2009-04-10T09:30:00.001-07:00

Last nights ride in pictures (sort of). They equal a thousand words, so that should save me a lot of time!

Trying to decide if I should go short or long. I wussed out. But I did make it home before sunset.

I love remnants I find along my rides. This used to be a barn. From the looks, it hasn't been one for some time.

Break time. Bike needed a rest. Trek was slacking a bit, so I took pity on him. But he really needs to step it up.

Mutt and Jeff stopped by to say hi. They kept their distance, but let me know they were watching. Good guys.

Spinning along. This was a long stretch of flat gravel that goes on for miles. Not sure if my cell works out there. Hmmm . . . .

There are a couple places along this stretch where (I think) the view is so cool. I love these trees both now and in the summer when the leaves make this section feel like a tunnel.

Last stretch just before home. The roads are extremely dry right now and every car crop-dusted me as they passed. This is a cloud still hanging in the air a good 5 minutes after the car went by.

I finished up with about 22 miles in and it was a slog-fest. Some of the ride was smooth and packed but much of the route has become loose stones and gravel. I love riding out here, but it is a workout. It was still windy and cool, but I will take what I can get right now. Thanks again to the two teenagers on quads for the gravel shower on White's Bridge road. Your parents must be so proud!

I need to check out my left shoe cleat when I get home tonight. Woke up with significant pain behind my left knee. That has never happened before and I am suspecting it will be a crooked or loose cleat. Stay tuned. Hopefully, it doesn't linger too long.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Don't forget to watch Paris-Roubaix this Sunday; Hindcapie's last chance to win!