Following Neils Trend.....3 stage 45

I couldnt resist Neil.

Today - first day back from vacation and it was nothing short of hectic. Lots of catch up work. My job is busy enough as it is when you are on top of things. Jump out of the routine for 5 days and it becomes a nightmare. Aside from that - I biked to work (15) and then biked during my lunch break with my boss - how cool is that? (15) and then biked home (15). En route home I stopped by the shop to view my new spoil - my Redline Monocog.... No, my countless raffle tickets didnt yield me a free one but what they did do is support one hell of a cause and that is worth every penny. I purchased a Monocog - the black one. Took it out for a test spin and it is very cool. Funny, it rides better than the rat bike - maybe cuz it actually fits me and it works without weird sounds and stuff. So, tomorrow I am going to make sure the size is right and take it home - then abuse the living daylights out of it.

The back is getting better - new seat on the road bike helps - and rest and recovery too. No pain today while riding but I did realize my long term endurance is nothing short of crappy. In time - I know. Good to see Jay H at the shop with his family - always with a genuine smile and sincere handshake.... there is a lot of character in a handshake. He reminded me that the group still rides on Tues/Thursday...funny, this I know but work, wife's work etc is in the way so I will focus on biking when I can. The new bike will for sure "make for some time".

See ya on the road...soon.

andy

black hills - from my camera phone

Family vacation to the Black Hills of SD...wonderful trip. 5 days in a tent, wonderful weather, no issues at all, renewed my faith in family... just learning the art of syncing music and files...sorry the music cuts out b/f the clips.

Curvey Martin came in second place

Weird - I just woke up at 530 am and decided to bike. I opted to jump all over that b/c Tina was working today and that means - usually no biking and a list of things to do. ANYHOO, I got on the bike - realized I should stretch my back first....then rolled out to elm creek via super prime.

I got to the entrance and decided to see just where my fitness was at. Just over 100miles last month - thats it b/c sprained discs in my back means - ouch when riding. Never mind the 50-60 hours of work in office or home. Ok, pitty party - I'll shut up.

I figured there wouldn't be many out so I tried the Elm Creek Time Trial but in reverse (clockwise) in single speed mode 42x15. Thinking there was some cosmic benefit to reverse I guess looking back, counter clockwise would be best b/c you end on a flat (thats if you start where I start - far north entrance where just at the base of the hill to the left of super prime). I headed out past Hayden Lake, then the towers, pet park, the shire, the switchback,past the troll bridge and then all the way going north on the west side of the park are big up and downs - big enough that when I am tired they suck.

I know I am not going to break any land speed records considering my fitness....Lord knows I am not going to beat my time last year of 38:10 single speed but one thing is for sure - I did beat Curvey Martin. For the non-trailhead cyclsits here - Curvey Martin is a mythical rider that always rides at 20mph - no matter what. Curvey is fast up hills and is slow on downhills. It is just a benchmark to measure where you are at.


Well, I rode the TT at 20.4 average and didnt look at the time. I kept the spedo on avg and then just rode home. I did snap a pic. I think if the math is right - 20.4 avg on 13 miles is like 38:13 but I think the loop is just over 13 miles so I am sure it is much higher. mid 38? I have a long way to go but you cant beat riding on a morning like this!

Carbon equals SPEED

Going high - tech. Well, changed out the seat, again. I got a matching seat to my mtb - which is really comfortable. WTB shadow...cheap and easy to ride. Noticed my old seat post - circa 1989 - was tall in the assembly holding the seat down....meaning the bolt would jam up under the seat - into the seat. So I got a new seat post - and it is fast...lol. How the heck is a seat post fast - its carbon...thats why.

Oh, dont think for a sec that I think it is an addition of extreme merit - it looks cool. One gripe I have is the FSA wheels...for this reason only...I have had no less that 4 spokes come loose on the rear wheel. They need a odd-ball wrench to tighten them and you have to take the tire/tape off to do this. no more fsa wheels.

did 20 in the park and around...back is getting better but still stiff. I hope the guys / gals doing the 200 are okay...

ac

back is back

at least I rode for 2 hours plus today in and around the park - no major pain. I tried out a new WTB seat - I had no idea what was best but I know what I had was horse hockey. I realized that I have this ice age seat post that is tall and the bolt thing actually pushes up against the bottom of the seat when I sit. hmmmmmm new seat post? ALSO I was trying to put the front derail on and at the shop the "Tech" was working a stuck bolt out and broke off the braz-on for the front derail....single front it is by way of old weld.

its okay - I rode today with minimal pain and rode well. I basically did 2 laps along with a TT on the OXBOW TWO STEP.... wasnt all that bad at 5:19....I can live with that considering I have not ridden much at all.


ac

Your Fav Seat???

Anyone have a favorite seat they like on their bike? I know that it is a personal pref thing but I might as well start looking at ones that people like vs. looking at something I have no idea about. I guess i am not interested in paying $200 plus for a seat - like Jorge does...LOL. Are there good seats for $60?

andy

GRISWALD

That is right - the trip of the year is planned to the wonderful Black Hills of South Dakota June 25-29. Bottom line - cant wait. What I can wait for is the ride out there - 9 hours of mini-van adventure, singing songs, playing the various games and the verbal battles that might result from being a prisoner of the van.

I love this trip really - it has been.....well never since we did something like this. Finally - we can have this trip and it will be worth it. Delux accomodations at the KOA in Custer - thats right....KOA. Tenting with the entire family and keeping it cheap and fun. At least the KOA has showers, pool and plenty of rowdy RV'ers with their 3:2 beer and dogs running free from the leash. I love it.

The trip will include - Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Wind Cave, Hot Springs and Devils Tower - with a spin through Needles Hwy. Gas, food, lodging and attractions - my math adds up to under $1000 for 4 days. Not bad at all. I was thinking to sneak my bike out there but seeing it hurts to ride and I have no bike rack - the family will rejoice.

easy ride - the pain is interesting

Took off for a ride in the park. the doctor said I may have a compressed disc in my L4 area and that I need to be a bit careful - no kidding as if the pain wasnt enough of a reminder. This is more than a blow to the fitness aspect but rather - pain when riding a bike is more of a mental thing. So, I am on a regiment to build the core and stuff - all the funny excercises with a big ball and light weights. I have found that my MTB is more comfortable - most likely the seat - so I will continue to ride that more. I can do about 20 without much worry - more than that and the pain shoots down my left leg like a freight train. No damage to the back so that is good - just need more build of of muscle.

I have been sick for a week too and that is not a good thing for endurance. I just turned 36 on the 14th and I feel as if my warranty just expired on my body - should have purchased an extended warranty plan...lol.

Once I am feeling better - I will ease into more intense rides - I am falling off the back each time and not able to recover at all - I appreciate Hemi for coming back each time, but the group is strong and I just cant ride at that level right now so I will continue with my mp3 player in the park - just have to be ready for Cheq40 - that is all I care about right now in the riding world.


AC

L4

This past week(s) have been interesting to say the least. I have had some major back issues that have compounded each day...not going away. I have had lower back pain since early years - tried everything but at least it never hurt when I biked. Until now. I am finally going to a doctor and specialist to resolve this or find out if I have to live with this for the rest of my life - its enough to stop me from playing tag with the kids, standing in one place for more than 10 sec, riding my bike...i hate this - I really do. I know it could be worse but that sharp pain is nothing to play around with - it will drop you to your knees. Tuesday will show some progress - I hope.

good stuff

Modify

Sunday - stayed tuned to Team Strong Heart - always fun to watch...should give me ample things to search throughout the week. No long rides - too much work and family events but I normally get some 20+ or so milers in here and there.

Modified the workout - I have 20 mile route through and out of the park (about half off road) that I take with the Mt Bike - SS. I have been lowering the psi a bit each ride to see where I can ride without blowing a tire - down to 30 psi and I have been lucky thus far. A few things, aside from entering the park just past super prime, I ride to the south end on the asphault and I treat it like a TT - going all out and with no psi it is not easy...like hammering with 7 inches of travel on a suspension bike - sluggish but wow, the pain. A guy I raced with in college once said that if you take a Mt Bike and ride 20 you can figure it is like riding 30+ on a road bike. i am not sure about the math there but I understand that more weight, more rolling resistance and less aero adds up - throw in off road riding too and it makes more sense. I guess there is a reason why Neil likes to ride the mt bike on road rides -

i am sore today in places I have not been sore in a long time and they say that is a good thing but it hurts to sit on my rear.

ac

UPGRADE

Remember when Justin headed out with the Tues night group for a 50 mile ride on his Kabuki Samarai bike? He just boosted his status... I give you the Samarai Night Train. I know I dont have 1500 cc's of power in my legs - maybe Hemi does...


Onto what went down today... cycling adventure. Tina goes to work and one heck of a day - I ask the kids - "wanna go for a ride?" YES!!!!!! of course that is the answer. the van is with Tina and my VW doesnt carry four bikes and four people at one time so I said - we are going to have to bike TO the park...and we can then bike to Culvers....They are game and well, I wasnt expecting them to make it but..... wellllllll.... I lost 3 bucks - here is how.


we head from the home up super prime - then beyond through the chin-high grass to the trail...I told the kids if they made it up super prime without standing on the pedals they would get a dollar....they did it! I was impressed b/c i stood on the pedals and these kids had 20" bikes single speed except for Dave who had a 35 pound bike - so I was still impressed.


We head down the east side of the trail with a few stops here and there and made our way right to Culvers. The kids bonked in a big way - LOL we load up on burgers and ice cream and lots of water...sat around for about 30 mins - ready to head back. We doubled back and headed back to the Hayden Lake trail bridge for a round of Pooh Sticks (throw your choice of sticks in the water on one side of the bridge and the first stick to show on the other side wins). By the time we got to the far north parking lot - Peter and Maria couldnt go any further at all. A quick call to Tina and she picks them up and Dave and I head up the back side of super prime on Fernbrook...this is a longer climb than super prime and its all at once. Dave did it and felt like throwing up but he didnt complain. We coasted home and collapsed in front of Star Wars episode II. I head out for 20 in the park on the rat bike after that and had a blast.

So, 15 with the kids and 20 miles by myself with the nasty bugs and the new TSH jersey - old one but new to me. GOOD DAY.

Sandman

I had a cool dream last night - despite all the stress I have in my life - about picking up a new SS MTB - complete with Stans wheels etc....and rolled out of the shop right to the start line of Cheq 40...it was light blue (no kidding...I guess I really want to win that raffle bike ) complete with airbrushed skulls on it....it was one pimped out rig. LOL. Oh well, it was a dream and I actually completed the Cheq route to "OO" when I woke up - dang it. I hate alarm clocks.

Illegal Mud

I bribed my kids with candy to avoid the impending doom of "another bike ride Dad?" Sad, yes but worth it. I know, I know a bad habit to get into. Added another 20 to the slowly growing list of miles this year but they werent easy miles - I will tell you that. The rat is a good trainer - its heavy even without the gears. The psi is low so its sluggish on the pavement and half the places I went, I had to dismount b/c it was a mess out there. My favorite 20 miler is straight on past super prime - head down the west trail and take the first right - up a steep climb that is usually washed out...at the top go left and follow that for a long time - there is another left at the top of a steady climb and that will drop you to that wood bridge - stay in the mud and hit the series of mud pits and then pop out just before the road on a killer climb. so far I have made that last climb with out a dismount - thanks to there being grass. Cross the road - go left and watch the mud shoot upward at high speeds - pop over the little bridge and go straight on the dirt road all the way to that cement bridge - go left and follow that up the climb to the right and then take the asphault to the right and just before the "only hairpin in hennepin cty" - go right on the grass and drop back on the trail - head out on 109th to the bike shop and from there - back home on the streets. I usually throw in 2 mtb time trials in the middle of that and it should be just above or about 20 back home.

Note - you can get busted out there b/c most of those trails are horse/hiking only and I am illegally in possession of forbidden mud on my bike and shoes. If test - I am sure it would reveal horse DNA. My full bodied suspension fork beat the tar out of me today - gotta get ready for Cheq sometime.

Dont drink directly from the hose...

After a rather fruitful musical adventure last night - I was just about ready to hit the bandwagon...seeing that of the 5 readers that jump on this site only one was not there...I will elaborate for you big Mexican diner.

Birthday parties are usually held to support, celebrate and otherwise give to the birthday girl (in this case)...not get loaded on someone else’s dime and hoard the mic for karaoke with your cycling home boys. Yes, we showed up to a great party - big time, band, open "lemonade" stand and great weather. when with certain people, things tend to escalate quickly and that is exactly what happened when Neil and I were having fun with gin and tonics and microphones...it got to the point where we weren’t even requesting songs but rather putting in a disc and letting it play ALL the songs on the machine and trying to sing them. I think we tried to sing one of them, the rest were trashed. THEN there was this guy that came up, after the first one, and seriously asked if we were trying to sound bad to make fun of people that really do sing them well.... I see karaoke in two ways - there are those that really do well, they have fun and know what they are doing and it is GREAT to hear people do well.....then there is Neil and I drunk and we just wanted to have a blast....I like it best when people step outside the box a bit to trying something they normally would not -

Anyhoo - good times and I felt like CRAP the day after. So Sunday rolls out and it was time to hit the trails - I need more miles and what a great way to do it on the mt bike ss. I head to the park, head clockwise and end up on the MTB TT and did that 3 times, then took the ski trails for about 5 miles more up and down - killer and painful. End up on the south side again and head home via city streets - ran out of water about mid ride and I was super dehydrated from last night. The bike shop was closed so I rode around until I found a spigit on a business - filled up a bunch and headed home. it was a good 20 miles today on that beast and it was good to ride in the heat once again.