Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
New Year
The New Year is here and I could not be happier for that. Time to start fresh with new goals and plans for 2013. I did not make it down to the Ranch Ride this year. The temps of high of 25 degrees scared me away. Those temps for winter riding are quite excellent, but for me the problem is in the facts of having to get my gear ready while standing next to the car in those temps. By the time I get ready to ride I would have been too cold to enjoy the use of my hands. Last time I checked, hands are a very important part of mountain biking. So I choose option two. Busch. Living so close to Busch gives me the luxury of standing in my house until I am ready to clip in.
Last year I bought some bar mitts. These things work wonders. There are many different styles and kinds. I went to an atv/moto shop and bought mine for under $25. I have seen bike specific ones on the net for considerably more. They are a little large and bulky but I have found that I can use them on both my straight bars for mTb or my drop bars for my cross bike.
The snowy was crunchy but easy enough to break through with out having to mash your brains out. Don't get me wrong though. The places where no one had hiked or driven put a little stress on the heart and legs. The roads were super packed from the car traffic and actually seemed smoother than just the normal gravel. I spent an hour and a half just cruising the gravel and off-beaten tracks around Busch. I saw a lot of orange. I did not know that many folks found it so much fun to walk around on New Year's Day a blasting things.
I also took some time to look at next years race schedule. I have a few ideas of what I will be doing up and through May. June is a big question mark for me now. The baby will come sometime in June so I doubt u will be doing any traveling. I hope all had a great New Year and wish you the best in 2013.
Happy New Year
Pics:
Last year I bought some bar mitts. These things work wonders. There are many different styles and kinds. I went to an atv/moto shop and bought mine for under $25. I have seen bike specific ones on the net for considerably more. They are a little large and bulky but I have found that I can use them on both my straight bars for mTb or my drop bars for my cross bike.
The snowy was crunchy but easy enough to break through with out having to mash your brains out. Don't get me wrong though. The places where no one had hiked or driven put a little stress on the heart and legs. The roads were super packed from the car traffic and actually seemed smoother than just the normal gravel. I spent an hour and a half just cruising the gravel and off-beaten tracks around Busch. I saw a lot of orange. I did not know that many folks found it so much fun to walk around on New Year's Day a blasting things.
I also took some time to look at next years race schedule. I have a few ideas of what I will be doing up and through May. June is a big question mark for me now. The baby will come sometime in June so I doubt u will be doing any traveling. I hope all had a great New Year and wish you the best in 2013.
Happy New Year
Pics:
Thursday, December 27, 2012
December
I seemed to get a lot of riding in early this month. The night temperatures were mild and the lack of moisture and freeze/thaw taking place made for some hero dirt. New corridors in and around Busch have been accessed. Quite honestly, the riding early to mid-month was spectacular.
As of late it has been all work and no play. The lack of riding has put me up 7lbs. This is the time of year where I get few days off, the food I eat is horrible for me, and I don't hydrate near enough. I seriously can't wait for the New Year. I am planning at least two long rides a month all winter. The rides will either be Ozark Trail based or my supercross rides (as I like to call them).
Next year I will be pushing towards my 40th year on the earth. My goal is to be in the best shape of my life. I have a new baby on the way come June. I have one baby that is getting ready to turn one in February. Life really could not get much better. Finding time to be healthy will have to take a priority to other things in life. Maybe that post-ride beer will have to wait...
Here are some pics of the months activities:
Happy New Year
As of late it has been all work and no play. The lack of riding has put me up 7lbs. This is the time of year where I get few days off, the food I eat is horrible for me, and I don't hydrate near enough. I seriously can't wait for the New Year. I am planning at least two long rides a month all winter. The rides will either be Ozark Trail based or my supercross rides (as I like to call them).
Next year I will be pushing towards my 40th year on the earth. My goal is to be in the best shape of my life. I have a new baby on the way come June. I have one baby that is getting ready to turn one in February. Life really could not get much better. Finding time to be healthy will have to take a priority to other things in life. Maybe that post-ride beer will have to wait...
Here are some pics of the months activities:
Happy New Year
Saturday, November 17, 2012
JRA
Just riding around. So in the last few weeks I have done quite a bit of just riding around. The Berryman Epic sent me on a 115 mile 'new bike' week. The new Raijin thrashed some serious singletrack. Trails encountered include the Berryman trail, the Courtois section of the Ozark Trail, Council Bluff, Johnson Mountain, Lost Valley and Matson Hill and don't forget to throw in some Busch Wildlife for good measure. Not bad for a weeks worth of sunsets. Then, after the time change, I logged about 50 miles of night riding on the new frame. Here are a few images of the festivities.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
BT Epic
The BT Epic was a race that I did not have on my list of things to do this year. Good friend Brian Busken decided that he would come in town from the PNW and do the race so I capitulated. The plan was made to head down and have a good time with good friends in our National Forest.
Keith Weinkein made the arrangements at Bass' River Resort for our lodging. The four of us, Courtney Green included would be holed up in cabin 14 for the duration.
The race to Berryman Campground went as planned and I was feeling decent except for my knee that I bashed on my stem. I had just built up my new bike for this weekend with the help of Gino and The Hub. The Kona Raijin. A Ti frame hand made in Tennessee by Lynsky. The bike rode well with a few adjustments along the way. She still needs to be dialed in a bit. I figure if I can roll 56 miles on a bike I have never ridden before it is going to be a great ride when she is all dialed in.
Somewhere right after the BC checkpoint I must have kicked up a rock in my front chainring. I had chain suck issues and derailments for the rest of the day. Inspecting the cog later I found a bent tooth.
From this point on the race definitely went into ride mode. The weather was borderline for me and I struggled keeping my hands warm most of the day, even having to stop at times to stick them down my bibs to get the circulation flowing. I have a condition called Renaud's where the arteries that supply blood to the skin narrow, limiting circulation to the affected areas. It can be painful at times but is more of a nuisance than a disability. But when you can't feel the bars to brake or control your bike you need to stop and warm them up.
The new section of trail built by the Ozark trail crew was awesome and really help the course flow a bit more towards the end. I ended up finishing in just over 7 hours. I took almost a full hour and a half longer this year. More chill at the checkpoints, chain suck, and the cold hands got the best of me this year. I was just happy to finish and spend some time on the trail with good people. Here are a few pics.
Tilford wins again.
Keith Weinkein made the arrangements at Bass' River Resort for our lodging. The four of us, Courtney Green included would be holed up in cabin 14 for the duration.
The race to Berryman Campground went as planned and I was feeling decent except for my knee that I bashed on my stem. I had just built up my new bike for this weekend with the help of Gino and The Hub. The Kona Raijin. A Ti frame hand made in Tennessee by Lynsky. The bike rode well with a few adjustments along the way. She still needs to be dialed in a bit. I figure if I can roll 56 miles on a bike I have never ridden before it is going to be a great ride when she is all dialed in.
Somewhere right after the BC checkpoint I must have kicked up a rock in my front chainring. I had chain suck issues and derailments for the rest of the day. Inspecting the cog later I found a bent tooth.
From this point on the race definitely went into ride mode. The weather was borderline for me and I struggled keeping my hands warm most of the day, even having to stop at times to stick them down my bibs to get the circulation flowing. I have a condition called Renaud's where the arteries that supply blood to the skin narrow, limiting circulation to the affected areas. It can be painful at times but is more of a nuisance than a disability. But when you can't feel the bars to brake or control your bike you need to stop and warm them up.
The new section of trail built by the Ozark trail crew was awesome and really help the course flow a bit more towards the end. I ended up finishing in just over 7 hours. I took almost a full hour and a half longer this year. More chill at the checkpoints, chain suck, and the cold hands got the best of me this year. I was just happy to finish and spend some time on the trail with good people. Here are a few pics.
Tilford wins again.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Recovery ride and LA
Had a nice recovery ride last night. Funny how the next ride after a big effort never seems to get going. I just cruised with a mellow heart rate and enjoyed the leaves and took in the changing of the seasons. Colors have to be getting close to peaking.
On another note, is anyone else tired of hearing about Lance? He made his way to the top cheating fans and contemporaries alike. He lived a life of power and excess while living the American dream. People cheat, lie, and steal everyday to get ahead in this world, his world just happened to be more influential than most. I think that is what is the real crime here. When someone has that much influence and total power the only next logical step is corruption. So everyone was cheating. Big deal. All pro sports are rife with cheaters. But not everyone can form a corporation of themselves from cheating and lying. So, I am kinda rambling here, but the lesson is simple: stop making sport stars your heroes or role models. Find someone real in your life you can model yourself after. Make your role models tangible, real, and people that can make true change.
Enough of all this. Here are a few pics from last nights ramble.
On another note, is anyone else tired of hearing about Lance? He made his way to the top cheating fans and contemporaries alike. He lived a life of power and excess while living the American dream. People cheat, lie, and steal everyday to get ahead in this world, his world just happened to be more influential than most. I think that is what is the real crime here. When someone has that much influence and total power the only next logical step is corruption. So everyone was cheating. Big deal. All pro sports are rife with cheaters. But not everyone can form a corporation of themselves from cheating and lying. So, I am kinda rambling here, but the lesson is simple: stop making sport stars your heroes or role models. Find someone real in your life you can model yourself after. Make your role models tangible, real, and people that can make true change.
Enough of all this. Here are a few pics from last nights ramble.
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