Update

The shoes are done, finished, I guess a pair of Sidis are worth about 2 seasons of cross and 1.5 of mtb. Meanwhile fresh keds are on the way. Pics from the area where the race went last Wednesday. Today I feel restless, trying to not get dehydrated and also excited for dinner, always excited for that.

No rest for the Wicked

Sven does it all year, he gave up on the mtb thing for the Olympics next year but to win this race in June must mean that the form is building.

Rhythm

The trails are like a soft couch, I settle in to a rhythm that only comes from years of watching lots of tv. I find my place and the episode unfolds, better than old happy days and the reruns of sanford and son more like the new show you want to see but haven't caught yet on dvr or tivo. Even if it's an old trail, new lines and jokes are there if you look and listen close enough. Rolling across the commuter path is rewarding but the point is made, no rubber stamps and no blanket amnesty.  

Dieter is brilliant, I applaud his research skills and my own when it comes stealing his funny bits.

Bike everyday

Today is bike to work day, I did, what if I drove or rode the bus today? Would I be letting the system down? I haven't driven myself to work in 5 months, bike or bus every day, what does that mean...I think there should be one day where it's ok to drive yourself solo to work, not one day that is the designated bike day. What about that? Public transportation or bike or walk and then one day you can drive yourself in without getting out the bike gear or the bus-headphones-I-don't-want-to-look-talk-see-interact-with-anybody-gear. I do realize the Utopian nature of my thoughts, however, isn't this possible a few days a week? Or what about one? I think it is doable. I feel slow on the rolling stuff today. One direction is ok, I prefer it, but I was better on the sustained climbs this morning, punchy ones hurt. The bike is so comfy, an extension of whatever it is that it is an extension of. Quiet solitude on the trail beat the bike path hands down, even the off leash dogs chasing me weren't enough to ruin the pleasant rolling through the woods. Same tomorrow. Pics tonight.

#%?er

Reeling still from the truck that didn't like him riding on the bike path, at least that's what I was told, he doesn't really recall seeing the driver but more than likely a bushvoter. The weird thing is that they weren't even breaking any rules. Whatever. Mid day work avoiding the cyclo-tourists, where do they all come from? I thought we were between tours right now. Scary, they don't always realize the path is two ways. My pockets are full and the stomach is empty, the day is done.

The way, she is up

I would have had more shots of the ride but when the camera is buried under that much uphill riding it gets tough to get the thing out. Rocco was the leader for most of the ride, the only one visiting but he rode like it was home. Talent. Up and down. That second picture doesn't look blurry to me, you? The green Ergons matches the sunlit trees, too high up to get the beetlekill area involved. I had to add the vanity shot of the bike on top of West Ridge, pointing in the direction it did a lot of, up. Not long as in mileage-distance long as in from here to up there. Hills are good for the head. Props to Jesse for a big win and Marko taking a strong second close by at singlespeed states out in Wisconsin and Devin for suffering for a solid result (6th) despite mechanical slowing.

Collage

This guy didn't make it across the road last Saturday, he tried but either the warm road felt too good or he was too slow. Bummer, he was about a 4 foot rattlesnake. I raced this cloudbank for about an hour, I lost, but it never rained on me, about 4 drops at the most. That was refreshing, if I was smarter I would have looked for water sooner that day too. This one was while pedaling, I thought of Sager as I was pulling out the camera and taking the picture as I rolled through the intersection. I get to ride these roads all the time, can you beat a road like this without traffic? I can't beat it, I've looked for better roads but come up short every time. Last night Thompson started as hard as I did and then he was gone, the lungs he said weren't too friendly to the effort. You can't win every Wednesday, I guess. I was starting to open up at this point and the lungs were happy to be there, that, and the nice walk up Heinous.

Good Work

Even on a onespeed bicycle, or I guess especially on a onespeed bicycle a plan can work. Big gear, suffer on the mostly climbing course to have the gear to get across the top and over to the final descent. Two pretty long climbs and a lot of traversing put the advantage over to the bigger gear. Heinous wasn't too bad as soon I figured out I would be walking it. The small lead I had there was gone mid way up but cresting the hill in third with less than 30 seconds to make up wasn't too much trouble on singletrack I've ridden 100 times. Travis and Cal dusted me on Heinous, I was walking and riding only little bits, they could ride more than I could. I managed to keep a good pace, caught them and moved on towards the finish a lot loose descending and trying to just roll the big wheels and get it across, pretty perfect stuff for the faster bike set-up after Heinous Hill. About 90 seconds at the line. Good work. I don't ride these particular trails that often but my house is right behind the red one in the picture, yes, home field advantage.

Up

New stuff, the camera went on a little road trip b/t last Wednesday and yesterday, here are the pictures I wanted to load from the race last week. Good course. And my newest jar of morning goodness. This stuff in the Bialetti makes every early start less of a challenge. The pocket has the keys, I'll open the locks later.