saturday....in the park...think it was the....

a few picks of the snowmoblie trails, and hoofing it through the snow on sat...i got a camera phone and the pics dont look that bad...12 miles of the trails was enough for me and the single...that is a workout.


ok, the pics didnt go through - will have to figure out why.

I now know

Why South Dakota would be great training grounds for a supurb cyclist - this goes for skibby too cuz N.D. aint much better.

I was just out there to pick up my new mini-van....that almost sounds like I was excited to get a van. I really didnt know what to expect until I got there - this is a cherry of a car with not a thing wrong with it and I know what to look for in used cars. So aside from that - all I could think about was that there was a constant 40 mph wind the entire time I was there. I thought back to when I was in high school - the last time I was out in Aberdeen - and I biked from Aberdeen to Ipswitch - about 26 miles due west on Hwy 12 - it was 26 miles with a 30+ wind at my side. By the time I made it to my dad's old 2nd grade school house the wind was at my back which meant my ride home was going to really hurt. Fast forward to yesterday and today - the same wind the same thoughts.

So - I made it home through two snow storms en rout which was scary cuz in SD the snow storms are more than snow coming down - it is a total white out - both times I had to pull over - no kidding. The funny thing was in between the two storms was blue sky. I could see to the right the ENTIRE storm cell - to the left another ENTIRE storm and along side of me I could see an ENTIRE 211 car train - all at once.

I am now serious about cutting weight - and getting into shape - things have gotten a bit out of control. so - back to the grind and feeling better.

anyone wanna buy a 1994 suburban?



andy

should i be concerned?

while i am waiting for my computer to defrag - i was searching ideal weight, bmi etc....I got a bit concerned. Now, I bike a lot - not so much in the winter but I seemed to be off the charts a bit. i know there are some prof trained med peeps out there - do these scales account for a higher amount of muscle mass which could be construed as body fat? I guess i am not worried per se but just a bit shocked -

ok, the cpu is done with the defrag - back to the grind while i finish my danish. oh, well, maybe i didnt need it but it sure tastes good.

ac

My New Bike....

Looks very similar to a mini van. Funny how your eyes play tricks on you. well, I guess the bike gets to wait a bit more....of all reasons to wait - mini van.


ac

a bit of tlc

took over the wash tub in the laundry room - against my wifes wishes - and dismanteld the working parts of the ratatoulie bike. it seems that the salt, sand and harsh climate has not been nice to the bearings in various places...mainly the headset. the garage was not an option at -7 degF. shoot, the lights barely turn on at that temp.

I also got a shock today when I realized how far off I was on the gas bill for the home etc...wow - that is a rather amazing figure. I usually pay the same amount every month on auto pay and i forgot that it like multiplies exponentially in the winter...lol - I guess I need to address that prior to a bike...yes it is that much. it happens every year so I shouldnt be that surprised.

Days like today - well they make me cus. no riding outside - i hate the trainer - no walking outside unless you want to die. so where is that global warming? I welcome it with open arms.

YAHOO

seeing that I am sharing my life with you three readers - I just got the mvp employee of the quarter award - 4th quarter 07. i guess the endless hours paid off. time to treat myself to a new single speed MONOCOG 29 flight....if my wife allows such activity.

I've felt better

Today was perhaps one of the worst days riding I have had. The weather's bite was worse than it's bark. Between the cold damp wind, low temps and exceedingly high amounts of sheer ice and no shoulder to ride on - the sidewalks were worse - I was not only cold to the bone but very scared riding out there today. I can handle riding close to cars - it happens all the time but being forced into traffic due to ice and not knowing if I will stay upright had me tense and generally freaked out.

Being forced to ride slower got my core temp way down - thus freezing the sweat on and in my clothes - inducing a near hypothermic state. I was dressed fine with lots of good gear - just wasnt ready for today. I will chalk it up as experience and will learn from it - and will appreciate warm temps.

I made it to the shop from work to warm up and dry off and Larry offered a ride home - what a God send.

cheers


ac

02.06.2008

rode in, should not have, the good thing is that I get to ride on the same crappy ice on the way home. so at least i got that goin' for me.
15 miles - 2 near death experiences - looking to repeat later on today.

drew

2.4.2008

ride - drive - ride - drive.....22 deg, snow in the forcast, ice on the roads...ahhhh why not? well, it was a tad more interesting than I was readyfor. Lots O glare ice and the trails were a near catastrophe. I liken it to riding on large rocks covered with ice and death. However - I did spin in and made it in record time - improved the commute time on the rat bike by 3 mins...I was a mess when I showed up to work.

The gals at Carribou were nice and I got a free cup of brew for the effort and had to explain to some folks why I wasnt crazy and that the proper term is passionate. So a small victory in a sense that I shaved 3 mins off of a 15 mile ride...either I was really crappy prior or really good on this run. I will opt for the latter. No ride home however - cub scouts tonight and I know that I wont be able to make it home in time so my beautiful latino wife is going to pick me up at work so I can get back in time for boot hockey. I need to get 3-4 days in a week commuting to work - not for any reason other than to say I started training in Jan...and to get a jump on things.

the more i ride out doors the more i realize that cycling really doesnt have to stop this time of year. i wont do the sub zero commute - well, maybe but this above zero stuff aint that bad. Enjoy the day - and see you on the road.

ac