Recent events

Taughannock Falls after 50 degree day melts a foot of snow. Dangerous trail conditions kept Michael and I from hiking to the base of the falls so we could only look from above.

That same snowmelt, and all it carries, mixing with the Cayuga Lake waters.

A front moving through, displacing a late December day's 60 degree temps.

Gone Now Later

Earlier this year, I attended a friend's opening for a number of art works he created. These installations used television sets to display images and films. One in particular stands out, even these many months later. It was a film, probably 10 minutes in length, of clouds and birds recorded in a railyard. The amazing thing about art is that it challenges people to think about different things and can have as many meanings as there are people on the planet. To me, this film made me reflect on what I make time for everyday. I watched the film of passing clouds and flying birds - all ten or more minutes of it - without moving away. In essence, this was nature in action. But it took a video artist capturing it for me to make the time to see it. In reflection on this experience, the challenging part of this is that I claim to be someone who enjoys the natural world but I honestly cannot remember when I last sat for ten minutes to watch the clouds roll by or birds fly. I may have spent at most 30 seconds enjoying these things happening in real time, without the use of electricity or toxic chemicals to create devices for emitting electrons on a glass screen. To me, this piece spoke of the need for me to allow time to enjoy those things that I do wish to enjoy.

Now I am thinking. Thinking about the past and the future but rarely the present. Thinking about the present is something I rarely do, hence the need for someone else to show me what I am too busy missing.

Later I will be moving. 

Moving to the next opportunity. 

Opportunity to serve more than I conceive to be possible.

Possible I will not be ready?

Ready to move later.

Fall down, go boom, get up, ride away

The wind was blowing and there were some snowflakes in the air... what better conditions to go riding in. As I felt the need to unwind late this afternoon, I bundled up and headed out for Pittsford along the canal path. The tailwind helped keep the pace decent, the headwind helped slow the pace down, and the crosswind kept the pace interesting. I felt good (on only one slice of pizza and 3/4 a bottle of Gatorade) to continue past the turnoff on the return trip and continue on to Genesee Valley Park and the trail along the U of R campus. By then it was getting dark and I, tired and cold, so in my cognitive abilities were getting a little sloppy. On a corner near my apartment, I became victim of wet leaves, speed, and a corner. I went down smoothly as the bike slide out from underneath me. I was fortunate no cars were coming. I don't think anyone saw the event. I got up quickly and remounted. A non-daylight added inspection of the bike indicates other than some gouges on the rear derailleur and right pedal, everything seems to be ok. The other major concern is the iPod, which seems ok - it is still working. I landed right on it. There is a small tear in my coat but that's ok as it could have been a lot worse. I cannot remember the last time I went down on the road bike. This could quite possibly be the first time. All in all, a great ride. It was good to be out. I passed a couple who were riding west when I was going east. Upon turning around, I caught them - they seemed to have met their match with the head wind. 

The picture is from this July when I took care of my family's 19 year old cat. I figure I have not posted a picture of the road bike and it is the easiest one to access right now. 

Funnier than the Fockers

I'm not a Ben Stiller fan but this is funny.

Bittersweet

There are always questions. The answers are always elusive, never black and white like you want them to be. Do you stay and tough it out for an indefinite period for the love of the game? Or do you cut and run, moving to a new option, always searching? Some congratulate and support you in this, as they know it is what you think you need. But is it? Who are you really doing this for? Isn't it supposed to be about service to others? At what cost? Are you being held back or are you learning? There will always be someone needing a hand, something your skills are capable of providing at a certain level. There is good in this place, can it be great? Can you be a part of it being great?

Only time will tell.

You need to stick around long enough for time to tell. 

Maybe next time.

Hikes and bikes, not hike-a-bike

It has been a while since I took the initiative to just get out and decompress. I think it might be a week early as I don't finish at the job until next Saturday but I needed these passed two days. Saturday I drove south with no real destination in mind. I wound up in Naples so I decided to visit Hi-Tor again. It was raining off and on so the weather wasn't really ideal but it was good to hike and spend some time messing around with the camera. It was also time to think about where I have been recently and where things are going. No real conclusions but I don't think there ever will be. 

Hi-Tor would be a great place to ride but...

then I see signs like this. And then I get mixed signals when I see signs like this:

My guess is that Hi-Tor itself is open to riding but some of the trails that access the area are not. Bummer because those are the ones that are definitely more interesting to ride. I'll need to find a map and figure out where the public and private lands are.

After the hike I spotted some wind turbines south of Naples and off toward Cohocton. Very cool, massive structures. I hope more are brought online. 

Today I changed out my rear tire on the road bike. I've put three plus years and 2500 miles on the Continental Ultra 2000s - the threads are starting to really fray so I figure it is time. I am trying Michelin Lithion tires. I rode to Honeoye Falls and back for a total of about 35 miles. So far, I am impressed. It was a mix of wet and dry and there weren't any iffy situations. The real test will be to see how they hold up riding through the city streets. 

One great fall day...

Yesterday was a picture perfect fall day. Long sun rays, slight breeze with a bit of a nip to it, temps in the low 60s. Ideal for playing hooky from the little work I had and going for a mid afternoon ride. I haven't been out on the trails since getting sick a few weeks ago so things were a bit rusty. However, getting out on the trails, smelling the tones of fall released by my rolling wheels, and having the park essentially to myself was great. The colors were spectacular, even on the ground where the trail was traced through the leaves by a slightly muted tone where previous riders had flattened the fallen leaves. It is days like those that I hope can last much longer than the hour I was given.

Mailing a Bike

My sister found this for sale and I thought I would share. There really can't be enough done to promote the bike.

Words to ride by

Found this and thought it would be a good thing to include here.

It's all icing on the cake from here.

Today, I hit 1,000 for the season. Now, I know some riders do this in a couple of days, but for a weekend warrior who spends as much time on dirt as he possibly can, I am pretty stoked about hitting this mark in a season. I also passed my previous 1,000 mile mark total so anything from here on out is a new all-time high. I am interested to see how many commuting/around town miles I have versus those logged on dirt.

I could... but I will

I could say how disappointed I was about all that went wrong with yesterday's ride:

• How I only had enough in me for 25 of the 44 miles I started out to do
• How I constantly had to get on and off the bike in order to go in and out of the stream crossings
• How I forgot my headphone and had to buy a new pair
• How I thought the trail would provide more scenic views
• How I frequently had to stop to pick sticks out of the drivetrain
• How the bike was ghost shifting
• How my camera batteries died

I instead will say all that went right with yesterday's ride:

• How it was a picture perfect day for a mountain bike ride, 75, sunny, not too humid
• How I was able to practice weight distribution on the bike to be able to descend and ascend some of the trail crossings
• How I really enjoy the setup of the new bike and that it has worked well without any tuneup all season
• How the spokes didn't snap and I didn't endo when a stick got caught in the front wheel
• How my rear derailleur stayed intact
• How the sun filtering through the trees toward the end of the ride reminded me of the perfect fall day for hitting the trails
• How I still got a few photographs of a huge oak tree and the gorge
• How I enjoyed picking out the old fence rows and property lines marked by larger trees
• How I enjoyed listening to two DMB concerts and multiple KEXP podcasts

It was a great ride and I am glad to have had the time (5+ hours) to spend out there. I think that it might have been the last great day for the season as I doubt there will be many more 75+ degree days that fall on a weekend and are preceded by 5 or so days of no rain. 

Yes, not everything went as planned but all was good.

 

Perspective

It's been a long week at work and I am feeling the effects of not shredding the stress on some single track. It's nice to commute by bike as this helps some but getting out and hammering on the trails is what really helps. So I hurried out to the local place to ride and got in a quick loop before the sun set. I almost cleared the unclimbable hill except for a loss of momentum right at the top of the steepest part. I think I hadn't been hammering so much in the earlier sections, I would have had the momentum to clear it. Oh well, next time. It's now raining so I think I got out just in time. I was thinking of playing hooky today (part of me says it would have been a good idea on many fronts) but I didn't. The weather lately has been some of the best of the summer and it is likely to be very numbered.

A digression - you were expecting it right? Tonight I watched a movie about a soldier's struggle with the decision to follow orders to go back to Iraq despite having served his contractual duty. While I am sure there is some Hollywood and there is always a second side to the story, I can't help but think about the sacrifice these young men and women make to serve. If I have a bad day/week at work, no one dies or becomes an amputee. The decisions I make effect people's lives but in the long term, not instantaneously. Stress is dealing with an incompetent boss, not someone who's sole mission is to me and my friends. See this puts perspective on what I gripe about and how, at times, I need to step back from the micro view and look at the macro view. Control what I can, leave the rest to whatever else is out there. I think about the friends and other people I know who have family and friends serving and wish to say thank you so that I can have the freedom to do my job and live my life the way I have the privilege of having the choice to do so. While I may disagree about the causes and reasons for some of the conflicts this country finds itself in, we are there none the less and people are sacrificing. I am going to try and think about this more and be thankful that at the end of a bad day, I can still get on my bike and ride. There are those who can't in all parts of the world on both sides of whatever someone sees as right.

New Month, New Beginnings

September brings some new changes - I moved from my old apartment to a new short-term place in another neighborhood. I think I am going to miss the diversity of the old neighborhood but it looks like this place will have its own perks. It was a long two days of moving and sorting through my stuff in anticipation of the next move.

I did something today I haven't done in a long time. I rode without a computer or camera. It was a liberating-ish experience because I wasn't glued to how fast I was going or what my average speed was. However, I didn't like not knowing how far I'd ridden at the end but I am guestimating abut 15 miles because of what my general average speed is for 2 hours of riding. I explored a good deal of the sanctioned riding areas at the Finger Lakes National Forest. Nothing very challenging but it was fun to see a new place. Had to navigate through some ranching areas where a warning sign had been installed about a bull. I hope they wouldn't put an aggressive bull in a pasture regularly receiving bike/horse/hiker traffic... but you never know. I also rode Dad's 4500. It was unusual to be without the clipless pedals and I definite realized how much I rely on them.

I had a friendly conversation with some horseback riding folks about the issue of mud and horses. I noticed in many places the horses were going around muddy areas - a curious event for an animal that would likely not care if it was muddy. Apparently, the mud can suck the shoes off a horse so this is why they are directed by the rider to go around the muddy areas. Knowing this, I feel somewhat better that they aren't just widening the trails because they don't want to get dirty hooves...

No pictures, although there were some really great views. A place to take Carrie, Maggie, and Dad in the future for some mellow riding.

Musings

It's mid-summer and I've been absent both the trails and the blog for a while. I dragged the bike all the way to Lake George this weekend and didn't make the time to ride between hiking, storms, and weddings. Did get to talk with someone about participating (potentially) in a 24 hour race as a team, which would be a fun challenge to try. Right now I am looking at jobs, which would require a change in venue, and therefore riding partners and places. This leaves me with mixed emotions but I am putting the cart before the horse and should settle down to take one day at a time.

Speaking of settling down and taking one day at a time, I did a quick recalculation of the total mileage for the year and I am around 720 right now. Not a blockbuster year for some but a great one for me so far. I am on pace to break the all time record for a calendar year (1000 set back in 2003 or 4) but need to keep going to be able to do this. The majority of these miles are coming from my commuting which has kept me in decent shape but not entirely race ready. Have to see if I can carve out time for the Farmall series. I will miss the race tomorrow but would like to be able to make the other two. On top of that, I raced my first xc 5k since high school last Thursday. Crossed the line in 24:18 which isn't too bad - ran a sub 7 min first mile which was a little fast. There are three more races in that series so I will have to see if I can improve.

One last thing - about that energy crisis. I have noticed people complaining about the cost of gas, etc. but not necessarily driving their cars differently. Being on a bike much of the time in the city, I get a chance to observe how people drive and it's amazing how people floor it at green/getting going from a stop sign, and wait to the last second to get off the gas and onto the brakes instead of coasting. Making subtle changes in driving habits would improve way their mileage (and thus their fuel expenses). But alas, I am but a lowly road hazard they have to speed around that would be better smeared on the front of a H3 - what do I know.

An addendum

This local rider whom I met once when I was picking up a frame I bought from one of his riding buddies is a national competitor. I periodically check his blog to see how he's riding and saw he and a group were at Shindagin the day after Kev and I were there. It would have been cool to meet out there on the trails as I am sure he was riding with the crew from the Geneva Bicycle Center.

Ok, now back to the Tour...

Birthday Confrontation

Happy birthday, ya wanna be biker. Well, I guess I am a biker sort of but not the one I wanna be - still working on that, one pedal stroke at a time.

Today was a muggy one, in the 90s, not the most ideal for pedalin' around. But to make the mood more humid, there was a bit of a vehicle / bicyclist encounter. I hope I didn't give cyclist too bad of a name but there were some one fingered salutes (the other guy started it) and some words exchanged. I caught him off guard with the concept that the cyclist has the right to be in the road and be treated like a vehicle. He countered that I could get hit, which is true, but I told him it would be his fault - not entirely true but still... Basically it all comes down (at least in my book) to being, as Dad puts it, "You can be right and you can be dead right." I try to ride smart, keep an eye out for things, don't cut through traffic often, only run red lights after coming to a point when I can stop if I have to and make sure that no one is coming. Some of these things violate NYS laws of riding in the road. This website is a bit more user friendly. Apparently, cyclists Rochester can choose to ride on the sidewalk anywhere except in the Central Business District - I wonder if that applies to the path along the river...

All in all, I live to ride another day. And now back to the Tour...

Getting Reacquainted with an Old Friend

I spent a fair amount of time on the bike this fourth of July holiday weekend. On the fourth, I hauled out one of the logs that will soon be firewood to heat my parents' house with this winter and created a "log ride" to practice on. This involved getting out the chain saw - something I had never used. However, everything went fine although the ramp on one end was a bit too steep. The neighbors must have thought I was a bit off because I spent about two hours riding a figure 8 in the yard, mostly just barely making both wheels on the log and then falling off. I did manage 6 successful full-length traverses (all in the same direction) combined with a few entertaining falls.

After I got bored/frustrated of trying to navigate the log lengthwise, I decided it was time to practice crossing it. I found another smaller log to build a small approach to cross and gave it a shot. After about 2 unsuccessful tries I was nearly over the third time when I did something I have never done - broke my chain.



I was surprised that this happened as the chain probably doesn't have more than a couple of hundred miles on it, if that. I suspect it might have something to do with the very muddy conditions I put it through last weekend but even then, I have trashed more chains in rougher situations and not had a problem. Fortunately, Michael's Trek is also an 8-speed so I borrowed his chain to get me through until I can get to a shop.



On Saturday, Kev and I spent a good portion of the day riding at Shindagin Hollow. It has been probably 2 years since I rode there last and that is way too long - this is such a great place to ride. There were a number of trails I hadn't ridden before and while we saw a number of riders passing as we geared up in the new parking lot, we only saw two other riders out on the trails. There were a few crashes - including me getting ripped off the bike by a branch protruding into the trail and Kev endoing on a benign looking bump - but everyone was ok. Kev's mechanical woes at Shindagin continued as he lost a screw on his derailleur but we fixed it with a well placed stick to keep the cogs from running on the cassette. The last time he was there he blew up his chain a long way from the car. I managed a few crossings of some of the TTFs crews have built over trees - some more unnerving than others. I think I was more apt to try these because someone was there who could drive us out if need be.

We took a break for lunch and then headed back out for about another hour of riding. I think my computer is a bit messed up because when I was grinding up hills it said I was going 10+ mph... So I am not sure how far we went or for how long but we rode from about 11:30 to 5 with a few breaks for repairs and food. All in all, one of the best days of riding I have had since Kingdom Trails.



There are some videos to post but Blogger is being uncooperative tonight so that'll be something to look forward to in future posts...

If how muddy you are...

at the end of a day of riding is directly proportional to how much fun you have, then I had a lot of fun at the Raccoon Rally today.

Before


After


Actually, I did have a good bit of fun. It was pretty a grueling event as I decided to enter the sport class which rode a 25 mile course. I knew I could handle the 13 mile beginner course but wasn't sure about my ability to finish the sport class race. We started with a steady climb up a gradual slope on a fire road. This eventually lead to some rolling cross country ski trails that were mainly grass. The recent rain was not conducive to getting a good bite on the trail so there was a bit of spinning and eventually walking. I was told we wouldn't be riding this portion of the trail again, something I was thankful for due to the steepness and difficulty walking/riding it I was having. It took about an hour to go the first 6 miles... and I thought I was going to finish in about 2 hours!

Once back on the fire roads, things began to pick up pace again. I blasted through some sections pretty smoothly and quickly. Things were going great until I hit a downhill that was really slick. I started to loose it and I thought the dirt section to the right was double track - it was actually a ditch. Needless to say, I bought it kind of hard dislodging some fallen (but rotting, thankfully) logs in the process. I let two riders go by while collected my bearings and took it easy down the rest of the hill. At the bottom was another rider who did not fare as well as I - he had to be taken out on an ATV and backboard. Another rider, one of the ones who passed me while I was gathering myself, informed me there were a couple more dicey downhills coming - something I was appreciative of. There were a couple of spectators who asked me to give them a show as I wound my way down through some switchbacks but I politely declined.

Lap two began with a long grind back up the hill - this time minus the grass rollers section. I was feeling it at this point so I downed a gel and this helped to stoke the furnace and get me going again. I passed a guy pushing his bike up the hill who said he thought he went out too strong - I commended him for going back out for the second lap - I think I might have thrown the towel in if I was pushing the bike up the hill. At the top, I was very glad to see the water volunteers and used the water to cool myself down. It felt great to know I didn't have to go up the hill again. I was very careful not to overdo it on the downhill and saw an expert rider come out from a side trail and the quickly dust, or rather rooster tail, me. I made the turn for the finish line and crossed around 3 hours and 6 minutes, the second to last sport rider. Maggie was waiting, taking pictures and, as she put it, enjoying the hot men in spandex. If that'll get her to mountain bike races, that's fine. It was great to have her there at the end. We waited in line to wash off the bike, loaded the car, and then left to go to Carol's to meet up with the rest of the Hudsons. I am now really tired and imagine I will be sore tomorrow but it was worth it and definitely fun.

At the finish

Pump it up

Yesterday was a beautiful day - one of those torturous "I can't believe I am stuck in the office all day" kind of days. So I made arrangements to meet Kev after work and go for a ride at Dryer. We got a bit later of a start than I had hoped - still can't leave work when I want to no matter how hard I try - but it was an excellent ride. It started out on a great note when one of the GROC members came up and said hello, presenting a sticker and chatting about riding while we suited up. Once we rolled out, I could feel it was going to be one of those great rides. I had cleaned my bike really well last week when my brother was in town so it was super smooth.

We hit all of the usual trails, trading turns leading. It was a bit muddier than expected but not too trail damaging I don't think. Stuck to the usual trails although I really wanted to take Kev down one of the black diamonds that Michael and I had explored. We rode for about an hour - only one endo for Kev and a few close calls for me - and then tried our skills on the pump track. This time I did it in the counter clockwise direction and it seemed to be more manageable - I mad it around nearly 4 times pumping. Locking out the front fork seems to help and there is definitely a lot of body english involved it seems.

All in all, an excellent way to pass a Tuesday afternoon.

Roc to "rents

Yesterday I did what I've been talking half-heartedly about for a while now - rode from Rochester to the 'rent's house. It was just shy of 60 miles, my first 50+ ride since August of 2005. I set out with the mindset of taking it slow and easy so I could finish, calculating that it would take about 4 hours. Well, as soon as I got out of the city and started heading southeast, the wind at my back, the slow and steady went by the roadside. I was in the upper teens, low 20s from about mile 15 to mile 45 - raising my average mph to 17.7. I hoped to hold this pace to the end but the lactic acid buildup. threatening cramping sensations and the arrival of hills pushed this goal to the roadside as well. I ended at 3 hours, 24 min and av'd 17.4 mph, not too bad in my opinion. The parents were surprised to see my - "uh-oh, it looks like you rode your bike" (Mom) "what, gas is that expensive?" (Dad). The lactic acid buildup was really bad at the end but I anticipate if I do this often enough, I will raise the threshold so it won't burn so much. Aside from stopping to answer nature's call outside Victor and for a few stop lights, it was a continuous ride. There was quite a bit of "you're almost there, don't stop now" and "I will not cramp now, just keep spinning" toward the end... and unfortunately, no pictures. Overall, a beautiful experience on a beautiful day for such a ride.

I had also fleeting ideas of riding back but Kev was at his parent's so he picked me up on his way back to Rochester.

I had originally wanted to explore Letchworth's FLT trail section (open to mountain biking) but saw a post on the WNYBA website that it wasn't suitable for riding after all of the rain we experienced recently. Didn't want to be the one ruining it for everyone else so I opted for the pavement. The ride is to serve as my training for the sport class Raccoon Rally mountain bike race next Sunday.

Recent Adventures

So the last week was a busy one. It started with the Dirty Duathlon Sunday morning. I haven't trained beyond an occasional mountain bike ride and my commuting. I think I ran about 15-20 minutes for three days before the event. Needless to say, when I found out the course would gain 600+ feet for the first 2 miles, I wasn't too confident in my ability to make it. I thought for sure Kev would have a good lead on me by the time we got to the bike portion and I wouldn't be able to catch him. So when the gun went off, I just kept to my own pace and plodded along. It burned a bit in sections and I backed off some but amazingly I had Kev in my sight most of the way up the mountain - until I passed him near the top! Whoa, what's going on here? The downhill was treacherous - wet roots, leaves, fresh trail with loose dirt. I made it into the transition at around 32 minutes - not bad for 4 miles and no training - and out of the transition just in time to hear them call Kev's name. I set out up the hill via a different route this time, passing a saddle along the way. Someone had an uncomfortable race... We were met with a killer climb I probably could have made if my granny gear was working. Oh well, hoofed it up (twice because it was a two lap deal). The downhills were interesting - muddy, twisty, steep in sections. On the second lap, my calves cramped up like I have never experienced before. Very painful, made me fall off the bike on two separate occasions, once surrendering a spot I had been battling for throughout the race. Oh well. I finished in 1 hour 42 minutes, 26th out of 40 total racers. I finished the run portion in 18th. It was fun, I am glad that I did it but would like to have been in slightly better shape...

Race pictures can be found here. My bib number was 76, Kev's was 77.

On the way back, we took the scenic route and checked out some wind turbines near Warsaw. Very cool - how can you not be in favor of wind power???







There is no rest for the weary (or crazy) as the next day Michael and I rode at Dryer - his first time there without snow. He kicked my butt but we pushed out skills limits, testing out the black diamond routes. There were a couple of good wrecks on my part and Michael nearly ran into a deer.We road for about an hour and a half and tried our hand at the pump track. I am not so sure how to pump my way through but maybe I will find someone to show me at some point. I was officially wasted by the time we finished. My legs felt like rubber bands and it has taken since Monday to fully recover. Tuesday was the DMB concert at Darien, a great show as usual. Glad to have the pavilion seats - out of the rain.

Due to all of the riding, my commute times were a little slow this week. I had wanted to get to Letchworth this weekend but the rain and work prevented this. Something local tomorrow might be on the list though.

Enjoy the videos - one should make you smile...

Disappointed Pleasure

Since I infrequently have a riding partner (today's bailed on me) I thought I would reminisce about the last time I rode at Harriet Hollister with someone other than myself. It was with Michael and he kicked my butt. We did stop long enough for the above picture. It was fun to have someone else to ride with and push me (something I always look forward too). When I ride solo, I tend to be reserved do to the fear of getting injured and stranded. Today, I kind of threw caution to the wind and rode some sketchy stuff on the edge of control. Pacifier handled everything well, even the rock that glanced off my foot and then the frame. Stung my big toe pretty well but no visible damage to either me or the bike. Do they make steel toed riding shoes?

I was conversing with a friend last week who was expressing her surprise over how much mental awareness mountain biking takes when compared with road riding. I guess I never really thought about it until today when I was mulling over the bailing of a riding partner and having to ride solo again. It was eating me up something fierce but once I got onto the single track, all that went away as I was concentrating on the next obstacle and best line. Even when I was grinding up the hills (or pushing...) my head was clear. Maybe that's why I like mountain biking so much - there isn't time for anything other than being in the moment, a place I seldom find myself. Even road riding, I kind of get there but not like mountain biking. As an added bonus, the endorphin high keeps me going for a while afterwards.

I am on pace to have a record breaking year for mileage. Not like what diehards do but still good for me. The commuting is helping and I hope to find time to do more mtbing as the summer progresses. I still need to find a little, cheep digital camera to document these adventures but at least for now there is one picture on this thing...

Glad to be at work...

So I had my closest car/bike call to date on my way to work this morning. If all accidents happen within 2 miles of home (or some such statistic) this was a 1/2 block. I had a green to go straight through the intersection and the oncoming car decided to make a left. Thank goodness for decent breaks and the ability to unclip quickly. Stopped about 3' from the car but that was too close for me. Got the adrenaline going, that's for sure.

Yesterday I got Maggie out on the trails (and road) for a 10 miles or so. She did very well and had more confidence than I expected. It'd be nice to see her on a better bike as her huffy isn't up to the challenge - shifts poorly, is very heavy, all of the criticisms department store bikes get. But at least she is out there riding and seeming to have fun. She did say her knee hurt - something like a pulled/strained muscle. I attribute it to her mashing the pedals to get up the hill instead of shifting to an easier gear. We'll work on that.

I also did some more volunteering this weekend. First at the bike kitchen Saturday morning and then at a county park to build more single track. It was too bad I could stay and ride but fun to meet new people and see old faces - a large contingent (like all) of the Geneva bike shop was there.

and still no picture, or music...

New Places and Missed Connections

Today I rode in to work and back for lunch and back to work and back home - a total of 8.5 miles without even trying. Excellent. I had some crazy driver of mini-van blasting the horn at me as I moved around a delivery van and into the left turn lane to make a left. Not at all a dangerous situation from my assessment but I don't think they liked a cyclist impeding their progress. Probably a potential "dead right" situation... They decided to pass me by going into the oncoming lane - an interesting solution. I gave bike commuters a bad name by giving the driver (and all occupants for that matter) the one-finger salute... I have bike rage, I know, but it is something I am going to work on. Maybe waving and saying "have a nice day" is a solution I should try.

Kev and I got together to explore a new mtb place to ride after work and the afternoon thundershowers. Riding on city/county property isn't legit in Rochester/Monroe but this place seems to be where the powers that be turn their heads the other way. It is actually a very beautiful place to ride - we saw a ton of wildlife. The trails are a bit sketchy in places but we took it easy and explored about half of the available riding. Next time we'll check out the rest. I had a bit of foresight and brought the menu for the pizza joint and called ahead so the pie was ready when we got back. Excellent.

Today was the lil' bro's birthday. Tried to get in touch with him but no such luck. We talked last night but it would still be nice to wish him a happy birthday on the actual day.

I have noticed these posts are getting pretty wordy. I think I need to start adding pictures. But not tonight.

Happy Day, Earth...

Well, here it is Earth Day and I drove to work today. I need to get a system figured out so I don't have to rely on the car so much. However, I did get to bike in to work two days last week so there was a little less carbon in the air.

These past few evenings I have taken advantage of the 15 degree above average temps to get out and ride, trying to work off some of the winter rust (aka poor shape, flab, etc.). It has been good so far and a great way to unwind from a stressful work environment. I just hope I can keep it up and make this part of my daily schedule. Tomorrow I might try to get out and explore a local mtb area that is the closest to my current abode.

I also tried my hand at wheel truing for the first time. I am not sure they were too much better than when I started but at least the brake and rim aren't rubbing so much.

Lastly, my yearly mileage is almost on par with 2007 - time to see if I can up the ante and beat the monthly total...

Lots of Firsts

Well, today was the NRS' first off-road, non-gravel path experience. It was also my first mountain biking of aught-eight. Great biking experience but man, oh man, am I double oh es. Out Of Shape. It was a slow, painful, start to the year. Lung searing, leg burning, walk on stuff I should be riding, that sort of event. I could blame it on the new bike that I am not used to but who am I kidding. I will need to do some serious work to get in line for the May Farmall series.

The bike handled well but not as snappy as Michael's NRS. Dryer Road has lots of twists and turns and I expected to be "thrown around" a bit as I tried to muscle through these but none of the twitchiness was there. I am wondering if it has something to do with the handlebar (I went with a Nubar). I will ask at the shop when I take it in for the stem sizing. It was great to be back out on the trails even if they did cut me down to size. I am really looking forward to a good season. I have decided to name the the NRS Pacifier - because it is typically a settling, inner-peaceful experience to be on a bike and because of the pacifier Michael gave to me for Christmas that will adorn the saddle when I get around to zip-tying it there.

In other news, Maggie now has her bike up here so I hope to get her out on the canal path. Mom and Dad brought it up when they came today. She estimates it has been ten years since she last went for a bike ride and judging by the "newness" of her bike, I guess she didn't ride much even back then. Oh, and I have five bikes in my apartment right now, all in working condition with the exception of a flat that needs to be fixed.

Gettin' 'er done

An article in Dirt Rag that will prove useful if I decide this is the year, which I hope it is.

My Biking Movie