Let There Be Sun

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, we Mainers finally have some sunny days in the forecast and for a weekend even.  Most of my time this weekend I'll be bustin a move on the house but, hopefully, I'll be able to drag my sorry ass out of bed early each day to take advantage of the warming temps and sleeping family.  Of course, my wake up time is inversely proportionate to the number of beers I drink the night before so I might want to keep the partakement to a minimum.  We'll see how THAT works...

Now to my internal struggles.  Oh wait, I've spent way too much time wah-wahing about whether I'll get a new bike this year or not so I'll keep this short.  There is currently no bike for me on the horizon.  I've decided to sit tight and see how the first couple of races go.  If I suck a big fat one and it seems like it's the bike holding me back and not my total lack of fitness, then I'll throw down the coinage.  If I'm in bad shape and just not able to bring it, it will always be nice to be able to blame it on the bike (and ignore the fact that half the people who beat me are on hardtails).

Dilemma number two is which will be my first race.  I'm currently leaning towards the Maine Mayhem since Mike has finally posted info about the race.  Hopefully we'll get a good turnout.  It's a sweet course and close to home so I'll most likely be there.

Dilemma number three wasn't really even much of a dilemma, more a consideration.  I haven't done the Hampshire 100 for a few years and have been meaning to go back.  I missed it last season because it was the day after the off road tri that I was doing and I didn't know how my body would respond to the punishment.  This year they are on back to back days again but now I know what to expect.  Totally trashed legs from the run down the mountain.  I've been thinking that with a bit more hill run training I'd be able to do the race without killing myself so much so I could at least go to the 100, even if it wasn't to win.  Well, now, I see that Tinker Juarez is registered for the NH100.  How can I NOT go now???  I guess it's time to figure out how to properly recover between the two races.  Ice bath anyone?

Conflicted

Today, I find myself conflicted on multiple fronts.  May 15 is the date of my first race of the season.  Problem is, I don't know which race to do.  The Glocester Grind is the first race of the EFTA series and from what I hear, it's definitely my bag.  Really technical trails make me happy (although I haven't touched one yet this year) and usually help me do well.  Race day is also the only day you can ride there all year so it's a once yearly opportunity.  On the other hand, Mad Mike has his Maine Mayhem race happening in Rockport, only 45 minutes away.  That is a course that I know and love but I've yet to see any advertising and while I know the race is technically happening, I suspect turnout will be low.  So, do I drive over 4 hours to race on unknown trails against lots of competition or drive 45 minutes to race on trails I know I love against who knows who?

My current lack of fitness compels me to stay close to home because who wants to spend all day driving only to get your ass handed to you.  Then again, I need some competition to get my ass in gear and a good shellacking would do just that.  Oh, what to do, what to do.  I'm sure I'll flip flop my position multiple times in the next couple of weeks.  Maybe if Mad Mike would e-mail me back or maybe post the race on bike reg it would be easier to make my decision.  Mike, you out there???

Speaking of EFTA races.  I found this video on YouTube this morning about the Pinnacle race.  Sheer brilliance if you ask me.

Similar to Hill Junkie, I've been doing more and more running these days.  Unlike HJ, I'm not doing any stoopid hill intervals but, I must say, that I'm enjoying my daily trail runs with the pooch.  My running in florida seems to have actually propelled my running fitness to new levels.  There were no hills to speak of down there but my cruising speed seems to have improved greatly since I was forced to run around other people most days and my competitive nature doesn't allow me to do anything slow when other people are watching.  That's also why I like riding on semi busy roads (if there is a shoulder).  Lots of people around makes me want to go fast.  It's one of my adorable quirks.  Right up there with getting gas from drinking water.

on of my run locations in Florida.  a reserve down the road from where we were staying.

the straight trail at the bottom of the pic as well as the section along the 

lake are known as alligator alley because sighting are so common.  l

et me tell you, running there at dusk by myself helped me keep 

the average speed up.

The only time I felt safe in alligator alley was when I passed this bunny. 

I figured he/she would be an easier and tastier meal that I would be.

Brynna picture added to garner facebook traffic.

The Best Laid Plans

are accomplished.  Ha, fooled you there didn't I?  You expected me to bitch because that's what I usually do right?  Knowing that the first race of the season is three weeks away (despite the fact that all of my internet buddies have a couple of races under their belts) I've decided to man up for once and just do what needs to be done so that I'm ready to rock in a few weeks.  If that means getting up at the ass crack of dawn to get a ride in, that's what I'll do.  No more whiney bitching.  (today at least)

Saturday, I got up early and after a jog with the pooch headed into the Schmid Preserve to see how things were shaping up.  Because of the typical spring reasons, I hadn't been into the preserve in a while but since all of the snow left while we were on vaca in Florida I figured I'd give it a shot.  Turns out things were pretty damn nice and the trails were 98.5% dry.  There were a few splash through spots but only a couple of actual muddy sections so I was pretty happy.

Today, Sunday, I had planned on a hard road ride but after a delish easter lunch made by marcy and her mother, I was barely conscious enough to form whole sentences so an interval laced road ride just wasn't in the cards.  Mentally I just couldn't handle it. Instead, I decided to hit the preserve again.  Two hours later, my ride lust was satiated and I had added a couple of new sections to my typical loop.  How is it that I've been riding in the preserve for years now and I'm still finding new stuff.  Color me happy.
 

my picture added to lose traffic and to show what

it looks like when a dumbass wears an undershirt

and a long sleeve fleeced jersey on a ride that 

approached 70 degrees.  once a dumbass, always

a dumbass.

the trails on our property sure do look sweet though...

I think it's time for a group ride tomorrow night.  Now I wonder if I can get a group together to do it...

4-22-11

X-train time: 1:15

Ride time: 3:15

Ride distance: 15 miles

Total x-train time: 44:00

Total ride time: 63:00

Total distance: 601 miles

Weight: 188.9 (I was at 186 before vaca.  damn you time off!) 

Let's Get Crackin

Last night I began operation "get my ass into shape because my first race of the season is only three weeks away and I'm scared.  plenty scared".  All racers go into their race seasons complaining about poor fitness regardless of where their fitness really lies.  I'm no different.  My riding has been more than a bit slack recently but, for some reason, I'm not worried.  Do I need to start riding more?  Hells yeah.  But I kinda figure things will come around eventually.  Of course, I may have to make them come around instead of waiting (which is what I've been doing).  That may mean that I need to bring back the dreaded 3am rides from the days of yore.  You may remember them.  You know, back when this blog was interesting?  Yeah, those rides.  I'm also going to try to hit the weekly bleed your eyes out road ride in Brunswick if I can work out my schedule as well as the weekly training crits that have once again started up.  How exciting.  Let's see if any of this happens or if I'll just be back here whining in a few weeks about how, boo-hoo, I'm not ready for my first race.  Yeah, I can see where this is going...

Last night was a fabulous Bather's ride.  2 hours of almost entirely dry single track.  I wasn't sure if the mariachi was up and running and the selma is hanging from the rafters right now so I decided to throw down on the Mukluk just for fun.  I figured that, if nothing else, it would make me work a bit harder and shake the funk out after close to two weeks off the bike.  To everyone's surprise (but mine) the muk worked just fine for trail riding.  It was kind of fun actually (although it was a bit weird feeling going over skinny bridges) and other than a broken chain (second one on this chain with less than 300 miles.  that chain is going in the trash) it was a damn good time.

Well, as usual, I've run out of time so I'm cutting things short.

4-22-11

X-train time: 7:00
Ride time: 12:00
Ride distance: 155 miles

Total x-train time: 42:45
Total ride time: 59:45
Total distance: 586 miles

Weight: 189

We're Back!

We're finally back from our 8 day florida vacation.  Many good times were had on our first family vacation in 3+ years.  Unfortunately, we're very white folks and Florida was in the middle of a mini heat wave so Marcy and I felt like we might literally die on a couple of occasions but it was sunny and beautiful the whole time (unlike the 40 degrees and rain every day back home) so we won't complain too much.  I vowed to not even think about riding on this vacation since most of our spare weekends in the summer revolve around me racing and I can say that I did a pretty good job, although, I did stumble across a tri race during one of my early morning runs.  It wasn't intentional and I didn't even touch a bike so I think I'm in the clear.

We weren't sure if B was happy to be on vacation.

I wish I had more time but my work life is in a shambles at this point but I will be posting daily until I catch up.  Looking at photos is always better than reading my drivel anyways.  Right?

Crystal Springs was the shit.  Crystal clear water and no gators!

B posing with the polar bear prints.

Heading Out

As if I haven't been remiss enough about posting lately, the fam is readying itself for a trip to Florida for a week.  So, this will most likely be my last post for 8-9 days unless you'd like me to post pics of my morning runs while down there?  Or maybe me going in for an awkward grope on Minnie Mouse???  We'll see what happens.  To finish my Maine days off right, I headed out for the annual "Paris Roubaix" Sunday morning.  A 25 mile loop on the crappiest (and hilliest) roads Searsmont and Appleton have to offer. It never disappoints but it's a bit too short for my liking so I livened it up a bit by riding 24 miles to the ride and 28 miles back giving me a nugget under 78 miles (20 or so on dirt roads) for the day.  It was a good kick to the junk.

breakfast: oatmeal with walnuts, craisins and maine maple syrup

oh, and about 32 oz of coffee and an over easy egg.  yummers.

The group had a solid 17 riders with a pretty even split of road and cross bikes.  There were also a couple of mountain bikes in there.  I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy...

78 miles, 5300 ft of climbing, two raw taint patches and a couple of blown quads.  yay!

Cramming It In

In about a week the whole damfam is heading to warmer pastures for a week.  We're finally biting the bullet and taking B to Disney.  A couple days of paying for Walt's cryogenics, a couple beach days, a couple something elses and then we'll be back.  This is our first real family vacation in over three years so thoughts of riding hasn't even entered my mind.  Even cyclists who live in Florida almost never consider going riding.  Who would want to really?  I'm totally talking out of my ass of course, having no riding experience down there, but from what I remember from my trip down there with my parents in junior high, the riding sucks.

but, I'm off target here.  With the impending 8+ days of riding exile on the horizon, I've been trying to eek out any rides that I can sprinkling in 3 hour rides here and there when the opportunities arise.  Sunday afternoon was just such a day.  45 degrees, sunny and windy as a mother fucker.  I chose a route that headed straight to the hills and kept me on narrow, twisty roads to minimize the wind effect.  It was a mostly uneventful ride with a few surprises.  Surprise numero uno is that my legs are actually feeling pretty good of late and a three hour ride leaves me wanting more.  Surprise number two was meeting this poor pooch on the road.

Don't see why he's sad?  Well, take a closer look:

Yep, that's one very enlarged sack.  At first I was concerned that the dog was a stray and I chased it down so that I could call the shelter but he/she eventually wandered into an establishment that looked to be a bit less than spandex tolerant so I let it go.

Surprise number three was the amount of gravel road that I hit.  I hadn't planned on any gravel for the ride but I was hitting a few unknown roads and google earth doesn't tell you if a road is gravel or not so hit them I did.  When you're on a skinny tired road bike it can be hard to hammer on such roads for fear of flatting but they were a nice change of pace and they weren't so soft that they were unenjoyable.

Surprise number four wasn't actually my surprise.  On one of my dirt road excursions I came up behind a family out for a walk.  I figured that they'd hear me clanging along but by the time I was within 20' of them, they still hadn't noticed and I didn't want to scare the shit out of them so I simply said "How's it going?" and I swear to god, if the woman had been Fred Sanford, she would have dropped dead right there.  Upon reflection, combining a deserted dirt road with a deep voiced (what can I say, my voice is dead sexy) greeting could leave someone a bit unnerved.

Dirt road two is lined with painted telephone poles.  Hippies live in them thar woods. 

That's More Like It

Around 2 1/2 hours on the road last night, most of it with KillBill.  Good freaking time.  We hit up one of the hillier loops in the area and just drilled it, averaging just a whisker under 20mph for the ride.  It hurt, hurt really bad.  At one point, near the end of the ride, I stood to push quickly over a little rise and was immediately forced to sit down as the quads screamed in agony.  KillBill may be a bit on the meaty side :) but he can put the hurt on and any ride we do together turns into a hammer fest.  Just what I need especially since I think KB is gunning for me this year on the race course.  Better get my ass in gear.

4-1-11

X-train time: 7:00
Ride time: 10:00
Ride distance: 95 miles

Total x-train time: 34:45
Total ride time: 47:45
Total distance: 431 miles

Weight: 188

I'm Not Dead

Just freakin busy. It's been a while since I've gone almost a week without posting but sometimes shit happens. Like lots and lots of shit. Get home at the end of the day and melt into a pile of poo type shit. That type of shit (and also the illness shit) led me to give the blog the ole f-u for a few days.

Now I'm back and still with very little time so here are some highlights.

Test rode my buddy Kev's Jet 9 last night.  I must say, it was a pretty sweet ride.  There was something a little weird about the front end handling but that can probably be explained away since Kev likes to ride a bit more upright than me and it had a set of skinny nokian studded tires mounted up.  The good news is that it climbed really well with no nasty bob while standing which means that the Jet is back in the mix.  As you all can guess from my recent posts, I'm way to wishy washy to make this type of decision without test riding the bike first.  I've also lined up a test ride on a Tallboy.  My last tallboy test ride left me uninspired but I still think that the rear shock was screwed up and that's what led to the lack luster performance.

The mukluk rides have been able to continue as of late.  With night time temps dropping well below freezing, things have been firming up enough to get morning rides in.  I won't complain even thought it's meant that the snow is taking a long ass freaking time getting the hell out of here.  Thankfully, we're not expecting another 3-6" of snow tomorrow.  Oh wait.  Yes we are.  Fuckers.

And now a couple of maps for Will C.

See here?  These are the Schmid Preserve trails accessible right from my house.

and this is the singletrack on and just off of my property

and these are the trails just across the street (ok, I couldn't find that map this morning but trust me, there are an additional 5 miles of trail over there).

so, willc, get your ass up here this summer.  Bring your mountain bike and we'll shred.

Making Hay

As ye olde saying goes "make hay while the sun shines" I've been making hay of sorts recently.  The trails are too wet to ride right now and I've been a bit under the weather and over the toilet recently so those two things have given me time to think and make hay, or trails.  I've been in no condition to do any hard work but I did procure a new set of kick ass loppers with a bit of cash I had left on a Home Depot gift card from Christmas so I've been having at the two new trail sections that I flagged out this winter.  I've been wanting to at least get the rough clearing done before the leaves come in so that the trail would remain easy to find once spring really sets in.  Was it smart for me to be out there doing trail work while Montezuma's revenge was brewing in my belly?  Maybe not but after 4 hours of couch surfing I just couldn't take it any more.  I am not one for a sedentary life.  Maybe I get it from my father who still works about 70 hours a week even though he's "retired".

The two trails look like they'll be pretty darn sweet with lots of terrain features like small ledge drops, rock walls, some small "vistas" etc.  And, if I did my layout well, they should be fairly dry trails since there is good slope and good soils through most of it.  There is still a little bit of snow left to go though, so that might change.

Boring post today?  Absolutely.  At least I didn't talk once again about my wishy-washy approach to this year's race bike and my pissing match on facebook with KillBill about said dilemma.

If You Chose Not To Decide...

For anyone who comes here regularly (I'm sincerely sorry.  Wait, if you still come here after all these years you obviously have some sort of genetic flaw so you're parents should be apologizing, not me) you know that I've been having a not so internal debate about this year's race steed.  I WANTED the Salsa Spearfish but they were in such high demand that everything available to the team was already sold (unless I want to wait until July).

So, I thought that maybe I'd go with the Santa Cruz Tallboy.  A super sweet bike with a big price tag.

And then, just when I couldn't be any more conflicted, Bikeman.com became a Niner Bikes shop bringing the Jet 9 to the front of the heap of aluminum and carbon goodness.  Our team window for ordering a Niner was short and I came ever so close to buying an xt built Jet but by the end of the weekend (our deadline) I was so conflicted that instead of buying a new bike I did nothing.  If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice. (don't think I've ever quoted a song before, let alone a Rush song...)

What finally sealed my no bike decision was KillBill telling me that I'd probably have to change my riding style in order to enjoy any full suspension bike.  Most notably (and the real deal killer) is that I'd have to sit while climbing hills.  Now, who's stupid idea was that?  Hills are meant for standing as far as I'm concerned.  If it's long and gradual I will sit but if you tell me that if I want to attack on a hill (one of my favorite spots) my bike is likely to get all boingy on me and suck my energy than that is a definite problem.  To be honest, I don't have enough time on any of these bikes to make a true call as to how much it would affect my riding but, after hearing that, there was no way I was going to pull the multi thousand dollar trigger on any bike.  So, my indecision has led me to a new decision.  For the first part of the season at least, I'll be riding my once retired dos niner.  She's just a frame, headset and bottom bracket right now but with a few parts steals from my other bikes and a couple of purchases she'll be ready for prime time again.  Let's just hope she's less Brett Favre out of retirement ready and more (ummmm, somebody else who came out of retirement and didn't suck.  help me out, I can't think of any....) so I don't regret that decision.  Either way, it gives me a bike to race on and the parts can always be switched to a new steed mid season after I've had more time to try the other bikes.  Makes sense right?  Right?  Please tell me I'm right because I want to stop thinking about this...

Wow, looking back, I'm over a week behind on my mileage calcs.  This is exactly why I stopped keeping a paper training log and training plan.  I just can't handle the structure.  Let's see if I can remember it all.

3-21-11

X-train time: 5:00
Ride time: 6:45
Ride distance: 85 miles

Total x-train time: 27:45
Total ride time: 37:45
Total distance: 336 miles

Weight: 188

First Dirt

Sunday, I had intentions to ride. Originally I planned on a road ride but when I woke up Sunday morning with temps below freezing (22 degrees) I knew that this might be my last chance to ride the mukluk with a bit of snow on the ground. I figured the ride would either be a total blast with solid, frozen trails or totally suck balls in a quagmire of shit. Thankfully, it ended up being a blast.  Some of the north facing trails retained their snow pack and were a post holey nightmare but most of the trails had lost 95% of the snow so actual single track was had.

singletrack, it's in there.

really, it is

a river runs through it.  to be fair, this trail is actually in a stream bed year round

 

and a cool tree I saw.  no the sky wasn't actually red but it fit the tree 

as well as something else that happened on the ride 

You may remember that a couple of years ago, I got attacked by a hawk while riding in the preserve and being the blog whore that I am I got a video.  Well, Sunday I met my arch nemesis again.

Thankfully, no attacking happened this time.  Just some circling and scaring me but I now know where the nest is (about 50' off the trail) so I'm sure we'll meet again sometime this summer.

First 50

Yesterday I bagged my 50 mile road ride of the season.  Actually, to be more precise, it was my first 50 mile DAY of the season since I got a little cold and tired on the real road ride so had to include the day's commute to rack up the full 50.  Whose splitting hairs here?  Not me, so I'll take it.  It was a beautiful day with the sun shining and the temps in the mid 40's...at the ride's start.  I enjoyed the sun for the first hour or so but then it started to go down, the temps dropped and I realized I was a bit over my head for my planned 50 mile route.  Thankfully, I now have a decent phone with gps so I was able to devise a shorter but still kick ass route mid ride.

It took me past some maple syrup making venturs:

and about the only road in the area that would qualify for one of Jason's rides:

I usually shy away from such roads but this cut out the far point on the ride as well as the second biggest climb.  Could I have used the climb and the distance?  Sure, but it is still march and I had beer and a guiness/beef/cabage/carrot concoction made my Marcy waiting for me at home.  More hills and bonk-dom or beer and comfort food?  Sometimes you need to make the tough decisions...

planned route in red.  actual route in yellow.

F-F-F-F-Flippin Fail

Let me paint a picture for you. Yesterday was a beautiful early spring day. Temps in the low 40's, sunny skies and tip top ride motivation. I commuted to work in the morning and had a road ride planned with KillBill in the afternoon. No problem as long as I could leave work by 4:30 (got in at 6:30 so I figured there would be no problem with that. ahem. wrong). Got held up at work until 5. Sprinted out at least 15 minutes late. Raged on the road to get back to my place feeling good and motivated. Approx. 3 minutes into my ride home I slam a piece of broken asphalt and pinch flat the rear. Fucking-F!!! Thankfully a coworker happens by and gives me a ride home. Fixing a flat at home would surely be faster than on the side of the road plus it saved me 20 minutes of riding. Get home and throw spare tube in. Air it up but it's developed a leak itself. Tear basement apart looking for new tube. Steal Marcy's spare, air up and hop in the car to meet KillBill. Roll out. KillBill hurts me as usual. 20 minutes into the ride notice rear tire is soft and I have no tube with me now and KillBill is on tubulars so he's no help. Try to air the tire up with my frame pump (brand new last year) and that's not working either!!! KB says I'm having a Murphy's Law ride. Consider hitting him beside the head with now useless frame pump. Grab KB's mini pump and build my forearms a bit putting air in the tire. Stop three more times on the way back to air up. Drive home with my tail tucked between my legs. We'll see if Thursday is any better...

Shifting Gears

It seems that the time has come to officially hang up the mukluk for the season (unless I can eek one more ride in the next week).  I'm very sad because it seems like I've barely been able to ride it but at least the warmer temps mean that summer is approaching (freaking too fast actually with all I have to do...).  It's approaching so quickly that I've pulled this out of the rafters (actually floor joists) for the first time in easily four months:

KillBill and I will be raging on the road tonight.  More than likely, he'll be cruising and I'll be raging trying to keep up with him.  I've vowed to get on his wheel sooner this season so I can hopefully keep up once things get into full swing.  We'll see.

With the snow going away, I've also started to put some of my new trail plans into action.  Having a dog forced me out in the woods every day this winter so I put that time to good use scoping out new trail options.  Sure, everything was covered in 2' of snow but I could still get a feel for the terrain, do some basic clearing and hope for the best when the snow melts.  On Sunday, enough snow had melted that I was able to flag one of the trails.  I might have to change it ever so slightly when the snow is finally gone but it think it's in pretty good shape and it will be super fun.  Lots of ledge outcroppings, ravine side riding and a good bit of up and down.  Now to just find the time to finish it...

Playing with the camera options.

part of the trail crew

flags!

I've also made some very important race season bike decisions but that'll have to come tomorrow.  Instead, I leave you with this, a video (finally) of my 5 year old daughter horking down a raw oyster.  One of the best parts of the vid (beside her sheer determination of getting that sucker down) is watching her friend's reaction as B gets to work.  Priceless.

The First Family

Sunday marked our first official family ride of 2011.  A pleasant one hour romp around some of our quieter local roads.  Good times and from the look of things, probably our last summer (if we make it that long) with the chariot trailer.  B has grown so much in the last year that she could use at least another foot of length for those long Nelson legs.  In fact, I may need to build her a custom extension just to get through the summer.  These trailers are expensive as hell but well worth it.  Five years of use (as a stroller, jogger and trailer) and it still looks pretty much brand new.

oooooohhhhhhhh

not tight in here at all...

Marcy always plays the rear bumper when we go out together. 

Stopping by a roaring stream for a photo op.  Dirty snowbanks are purty.

Oh, and I'm way behind posting my yearly mileage.  I've forgotten some of it but hopefully it's all mostly in there now.

3-14-11

X-train time: 5:00
Ride time: 5:30
Ride distance: 40 miles

Total x-train time: 22:45
Total ride time: 31:00
Total distance: 251 miles

Weight: 189

Bust!

After Tuesday super fun snowmobile trail ride with C-dog I was psyched to get a chance to ride the trails in the Cumberland/Falmouth area last night.  Primo conditions Tuesday night would surely equal primo conditions on Wednesday right?  RIGHT??? RIGHT??? Ahem.  Wrong.  Scott and Gerry had the best of intentions and some of the ride was on some pretty fun trails but, overall, it was a bit of a bust.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad at Scott and Gerry for convincing me to drive 1:15 each way for a sub-par ride but, lets just say, that if I meet them on the street I just might kick them in the nards.  Just for fun.

We did have a couple of beers and some food afterwards at Binga's Wingas so that almost made up for it anyway.

The ride had the potential for being pretty good.  The terrain was varied, the trails were twisty, turny and the weather was just about perfect but, somehow, the trail conditions were just plain bad.  Crusty fall through ice everywhere and mealy snow = no fun (especially since I had decided to ride the El instead of the mukluk since it had not been needed the night before).

Oh well, it was still fun to ride in a new place with a few new people so Scott and Gerry are forgiven.  I'd still cover my junk if I were them though...

Speaking of busts.  While perusing my photos on the computer yesterday I came across the beauty pic at the top of the page. Who is this person and why is she holding her giant bosoms against my face?  Answer number one is, I have no idea who she is.  The answer to question number two is, I probably asked her to.  This is what happens when you go to an 80's theme bar and drink a bunch of beer..

Victory!

Yesterday, what I expected to be a lonely solo ride turned out to be a fun as hell rip with C-Dog. With all of the recent rain (and the cold temps yesterday), the trails have set up nicely. I didn't have time to set the El Mariachi up with the studded tires so I was rolling the Mukluk once again. This time I had the foresight to pump the tires up to 22 lbs of pressure and that made a HUGE difference. What was once a slow, plodding, lumbering mess on anything but snowy trails was now a vicious demon just begging to be pushed hard.  It was an amazing change.  From now on, I'll be keeping the tires aired up and only dump air as trail conditions require because there certainly are conditions that require 5 psi.

C-Dog and I ended up with a 1:44, 10.4 mile ride on some pretty nice trails.  Sadly, because of all of the recent rains, we couldn't do the full loop since it required riding over two very large, and potentially deadly, ponds so we did a shortened version.  We still managed to get our feet wet though.  Hurah!  One time, quite comically, C proclaimed that he had found the perfect way over one of the wet areas only to suddenly crash through the snice right up to his hubs.  Dunking his feet in the process.  Just as I was about to laugh and point, I fell through as well soaking both feet.  Woops.  Thankfully, we were both wearing winter riding boots so the water only made it as far as our ankles before our socks soaked it up so the toes were spared.  

C-dog's crank area (hopefully the last time I ever photo his crank area) post ride.  notice ice inside of the crank spindle?  frozen solid.

And, as promised, here is a vid of Marcy ripping it up on Friday on the Carver snow bike.  It looked faster in person...