Solo Velocidad

Why?

2006-12-27T20:56:00.000-08:00

"Why?" has got to be one of the simplest complex questions one can ask.
As the 'rainy season' here in SoCal threatens to rear its ugly face, I decided my well tuned and well maintained Surly Pacer would be spared from messy road rides through mud puddles and flowing grit. The best solution seemed to be a fixie so I slapped together a bit of a Frankenbike - a Surly 1x1 frame with 700c wheels, a front disc brake and drop bars. Over time it transformed from road tires to 700X45 semi-slicks and a 46X16 drivetrain to a 38X18 drivetrain, no longer suited for road riding but great for exploring local fire access roads. Thrilled at the creation we ventured out for a 50 mile ride with roughly 3,000 feet of elevation gain (& loss) - which wouldn't be so bad if 2,500 feet of that climbing didn't all come within a 7 mile stretch. A great ride it was. Then came the next day. Stumbling from bed my legs reminded me how long it had been since i rode fixed gear. Nevertheless I felt accomplished.
Hobbling around the office with more sore legs, I shared of the experience with a co-worker who rides and who could appreciate the effort that goes into such a fixed gear ride. Instead, he uttered one word... "Why?"
Really, what could I say? Coasting sucks? I like the threat of getting tossed over the bars or having the legs shredded by the spinning pedals?

Misleading Photos

2006-12-01T20:13:00.000-08:00

SoCal mtn biking is nothing like I expected. I kept seeing all these sweet photos of rolling singletrack, only to get here and discover that sections of trail like the one pictured here are few and far between. Doubletrack and dirt roads prevail and steep climbs don't make those dirt roads any more enjoyable. On the upside, its December 1 and 70 degrees and sunny. What do I really have to complain about.

2006-05-13T21:08:00.000-07:00

Moving To Cali!

Facing the realization that we will be living in a smaller place (due to the cost of living) once we arrive in California, I had to sell a number of parts that alway keep me tinkerin' when I want to tinker. By the time today's moving sale was over, I had lost (sold):
* gunnar rockhound frame
* 2 wheelsets of xt disc hubs laced to sun mammoth rims
* xt/rhyno lite wheelset
* marzocchi 80mm fork
* 3 manitou forks
* rock shox psylo race fork
* a few rigid forks
* 3 cranks
* countless chainrings
* shifter sets (who needs 'em)
* cane creek air shock
* saddles
* seatposts
* countless tires
* and much much more

I miss the stuff already. But I know that I now have less stuff to move and more room when we get to where we're going. A bitter-sweet taste no doubt. Amazing how attached you can get to stuff that you don't really even use.

2006-05-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

Variety... The Spice Of Life

Ok, I admit it ... though shamefully ... that somedays it takes a little kick in the butt to get me on my bike. Riding seven days a week and commuting to work by bike, you cover a lot of ground. Once I'm on my bike I'm great. I've never come home from a ride and said "Geez that sucked!"

Even rides on cold, rainy days come out great. Its just that motivation to get out the door. That and the 'destination' dilemma. I always look forward to riding I guess, I just don't so much look forward to where I'm going.

So I've turned to variety. First, is the bikes... a road bike, commuter bike, fixie 29er, and two singlespeeds. Second, is pavement, singletrack, forest service roads, or a mixture of two or three of the above. Third and last, is mixing long loops with destination type rides, like riding to Sisters (25 miles of mixed surface) for lunch and then back a different way, or even more utilitarian errand type rides around town.

Mix 'em all up and you find yourself anxiously awaiting the next day because its been so long since you've done a road bike / pavement & dirt road / destination ride (or some sort of mixture not done recently).

2006-05-04T15:05:00.000-07:00

Trade You My Shimano WH-R550 For Your Wal Mart Wheels?

The more I ride the more I hate 'technological advancements' in the world of cycling. Against my better judgment I maintain a Surly Pacer road bike. Road rides provide a nice break from hitting the dirt. The shifters and complex parts always cause me problems, but none more than the Shimano WH-R550 Wheels, which have now suffered from three broken spokes. Conclusion, they are absolute crap! Even my wife, queen of pampering her bike by finessing her way over bumps and dips, has broken a spoke on her WH-R550 wheel!

This isn't so much a rant about a crap product but rather a precaution to help fellow cyclists from falling into the same sinkhole. Of course I'd advise against any sort of non-singlespeed wheel but I recognize they have their place.... Shimano's place being in the trash can of course.

2006-04-29T16:42:00.000-07:00

Smoke Anyone?

After pressing my luck and riding fixie without a lock ring, I decided it was time to get a true fixie wheel built up. Mean Todd at Web Cyclery builds great wheels and even turned it around in seven days -- a surly fixed/free hub laced to a Salsa Delgado rim and a Surly 18t cog.

Then it occured to me that I didn't have a tire for it. I've been running IRC semi-slicks 700X43 with good luck and planned to do the same until, from behind the counter, they pulled out a Panaracer 700X45. I've ripped knobs off the 26" version of these things so only time will speak to the durability issue but gads they're smokin on the Karate Monkey. Low rolling resistance on the pavement on the way to the trail, up to 85psi capability, and plenty of bite when you need to stop quick. They don't seem to get along with sand too well but at less than 2" wide and that much pressure, anything is gonna dive in a bit.

Wade of Vulture Cycles first turned me on to the tires during a group ride a few weeks ago (he rode fixie for 39 miles of dirt and pavement with a number of roadies) but I had never seen them available anywhere and had pretty much forgotten about them.

Give me another 200 miles or so and I'll get back with an updated review.

2006-04-28T13:56:00.000-07:00

Are You Claritin Clear?

After a (few) morning(s) of coughing, sneezing, nose-running and just plain being miserable, Donna finally reached the conclusion that she might have some sort of allergies. One late-night stop at Safeway and we had $19 worth of Claritin non-drowsy allergy relief stuff.

So Donna pops one this morning with her coffee, banana and oatmeal and 90 minutes later she's dropping me on our ride like she got Kit's turbo boost button on her handlebar or something. The last few miles of the ride I'm drafting big time and still barely maintaining her pace. Dang! She swears she feels like she's on speed (I'd like to know how she knows what that feels like but I don't bring that up) and that it's the Claritin thats giving her the boost.

So I can't help but wonder exactly what they mean by 'non-drowsy'? Is it naturally a drowsy medicine so they add some sort of speed to counteract the effect or what? It was great to hammer with my better half but not at the cost of possible health risks. So one more day, I agreed to let her try it to see if her body just has to adapt but if the heart is still 'a poundin', no more claritin!

2006-04-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

She Ain't Slow, She's My Wife

For it to be all that enjoyable of a ride, I need my better half with me. I mean come on, half the crap I try is just to impress (ok, show off for) the woman. But of course, our pace isn't the same - I started cycling almost ten years before her which gives me a considerable advantage on any sort of technical terrain.

So how do we balance out the pace? I've been convinced that different bikes would take care of the problem, but each type of bike excels on different types of terrain. Me on a cross bike and her on a mountain bike slows me down on technical terrain while she flies through but hit a long smooth patch and I'll smoke her with the skinny cross tires. We've thrown everything into the mix and in the process added a heap of bikes to the arsenal.

Bottom line, we'll never ride the same pace, and that's just fine! I've grown to enjoy the opportunity to stop and enjoy my surroundings while waiting for her to catch up. I miss that when I ride by myself... every time I finish a solo ride, as I'm pulling into the driveway I ask myself why I didn't make a few stops to enjoy the scenery, landscape and wildlife.

So it all works out, except for her attitude... complaining that she's too slow every time she catches up to me, and getting down on herself. Which takes me back to wishing that we rode the same pace, not because I want to ride the same pace, but because I get tired of her getting down on herself.

Ironically, she'd be happier if I enjoyed our rides less... that is to say, she'd be happier riding my pace which would mean I wouldn't have the time to stop and smell the roses which would mean I wouldn't enjoy the ride as much.... but she'd be happier, thinking she was making me happier.

Kind of feel like a dog chasing its own tail.

2006-04-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

Where Have You Been All My Life

With well over 100 miles under my belt over the past week I have to say riding fixie off-road is certainly for me. Not easy. Not always even what I'd call fun. But wow what a connection to the bike and earth beneath! Long descents have proven to be exhausting and I frequently find myself looking forward to the climbs, much unlike my attitude while freewheelin'.

I think I'm adapting pretty quick, learning how to anticipate where the pedal stroke will be when approaching an obstacle. I've had tremendous success with rock gardens, leaning or rocking the bike to one side or another to help the pedals avoid the obstacles.

I'm bummed I waited so long to try this but anxious for the future rides. I'm having to learn every trail and every patch of obstacles all over again. Day one on the fixie, I stood up to relax a bit forgetting that I didn't have a freewheel and got bucked a bit (but not thrown) and I'm just hoping that doesn't happen again... maybe a note fastened to the handlebar that says "KEEP YER FANNY ON THE SEAT".

2006-04-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

Freewheels & Friends

One charming quality to any small town is running into friends at the grocery store, bike shop etc. Its nice. It adds a little something to your day. But even better is running into friends on the trail. As the snow line retreats up the mountains and more and more trails open, the running-into-friends phenomenon becomes less common, simply because more trail equals decreased odds.

2006-04-19T12:57:00.000-07:00

Surprise Surprise Surprise

Late Sunday evening a few snowflakes began to fall from the sky, but no worries, there's really only a 30% chance of scattered snow showers. Well, somebody needs to explain to me exactly what a "shower" is because when I woke up to eight inches of the white stuff, I considered it the fault of more than just a "shower"... thats just full blown "snowing".

Convinced riding was ruined for the day we decided to run some errands first thing. Two miles later, on the way to Home Depot, we discovered dry ground without a trace of snow! Talk about isolated. So we buzzed through the 'errands to run' list, got home and got out for a ride. Dry roads... paved and dirt. Dry trails would have been really nice but beggars can't be choosers, right?

2006-04-15T15:50:00.000-07:00

Finally Fixed The Karate Monkey

Ok, so that White Industries freewheel still rests on the other side of the hub but after today's ride I doubt its gonna see much use. 90 minutes of constant pedaling and no coasting at 38X18 felt fantastic, as did the overall 'connection' to the bike and trail... slowing by applying a little resistance and laying off the levers was a nice change of pace as well.

It would appear that riding fixed is going to add that dab of challenge to the trails close to town that might revive my interest in rides I was starting to avoid out of boredom and a desire for something new. The rear brake will likely never come off due to the inevitable freewheelin' down the road but the front brake was all I seemed to need today.

Log crossings will be the next challenge - today's ride threw few surprises my way while I learned I need to pay better attention to the trail ahead while riding fixie, but for the most part it was a mellow ride.

I missed my better half - as she sat at home awaiting the arrival of the cable guy (who never did show up). I'm fine without tv for a few days but I'm a weather forecast junkie as I try to plan the next day's ride and I'm already feeling lost without those meteorologists who have a 30% chance of getting their forecast of a 70% chance of rain, correct.

2006-04-14T15:13:00.000-07:00

Get While The Gettin's Good

Yet another Friday afternoon in the office, checking out the weekend forecast, not feeling so optimistic, and being thankful that mother nature was smiling on me and my desire to ride this morning. Today's ride was great - a nice breeze, dry trails, and two hours with nothing to do but pedal.

It felt sooo good to hit the dirt. I've been enjoying the road riding lately, don't get me wrong, but there is nothing like dirt, especially when you can throw in a few rock gardens, drops, and off-camber tight squeezes. One huge perk of the road riding is that after a few days of those skinny tires and drop bars, you feel like you can ride anything (and pretty much can) with 2.4 motoraptors and riser bars. Rock gardens that I remembered being more challenging felt like nothing today. And climbs that once presented a problem were no challenge for my 32T chainring and 16T cog.

2006-04-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

Always Leading... By Example

Weird, living in a place like Bend, Oregon. You run across people like Adam Craig on the trail, as we did today. Despite his Giant/Pearl Izumi sponsorship and the fact that he could drop Donna and I in about five seconds on any given trail, he's still cool enough to slow and say 'hey, how ya doin', and even stop to yield right-of-way should he be approaching an uphill rider or hiker.

2006-04-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry I Wasn't There For You George

This year's Paris-Roubaix was truly a nightmare from the start. Transportation problems prevented me from making it to the starting line on time - I'm sure you noticed Hincapie getting nervous, looking around for me. And it was all downhill from there.

If only I had been there, my trusty Surly Pacer providing the strength and comfort of steel.... no carbon steerer tubes or other sissy parts. If only... I would have bailed and left George with the Pacer, finishing the race with confidence, crossing that finish line before all others.

2006-04-13T14:16:00.000-07:00

Pretty, Ain't It

There's nothing quite like the feel of a new bike. All that shiny stuff. Raise the seat a few millimeters, slide the rails back a pinch, drop one more small spacer under the stem, pull the left brake pad in just a tiny bit... eventually you're left with a ride like no other. So I really don't have a point here, just a photo of the new, shiny Surly Pacer. Having purchased a steel road frame keeps me out of the 'roadie' category, right?

2006-04-12T15:10:00.000-07:00

Can't We All Just Get Along?

One should examine oneself for a very long time before thinking of condemning others. ~ Moliere

My first cycling experiences as an adult were on a mountain bike on the trails of Eastern Pennsylvania, at a time when it was so rare to run into another mtn biker that you'd generally stop and talk for a minute or two before continuing on. In choosing a mountain bike, I was convinced I had made the right decision because after all... road cyclists are just a bunch of snobs, bmx bikes are toys for kids, and cruisers... well gee wiz, I'm not heading over to the Beaver's house for dinner.

I think there will always be conflict between roadies and mtn bikers, freeriders and xc geeks, and so on. An attitude of self-righteousness and willingness to condemn other just seems to be human nature.

Not long ago during a road ride to Redmond, we were returning to Bend when we passed a group of teens on bmx bikes. Immediately I passed judgment that they must be some punk kids up to no good and that they were old enough to be on 'real' bikes. Pedaling furiously, one caught up and pulled up along side of me. I slowed down considerably and carried on a fun conversation for at least five minutes. Cyclist to cyclist, it was great.

As much as I hate all the 'attitude' that has come into cycling over the years I realized I can carry just as much as the next person when I'm not careful about it. So next time you pass a cyclist (of any kind), wave, nod, say hello, whatever... we're all about the same thing.

2006-04-12T12:29:00.000-07:00

An Extreme Cyclist

Extreme is a very relative term. What I call extreme, Evil Knievel would have laughed at. Yet I glide through terrain that some consider extreme. Point being, its all a matter of an individual's skill level and limitations.

My better half may not be holding up any world cup downhill trophies in the near future, but still I consider her an extreme cyclist. Roots and rocks frequently present problems but 90% of the time she's willing to try.

Our weekend mtn. ride was great, dodging trails with snow or soft terrain in search of the ready-to-be-ridden trails. And despite being so early in the season, there went Donna, squeezing between two large rocks, pedals scraping on either side, heart ready to explode, and a huge sigh of relief once she cleared the section. She has never ridden the short drop but there she went, inspiring all along the way.

Many riders will tackle terrain she won't but she's more extreme than most simply because she pushes her limits on most every ride, either in terms of pace or skill. It seems odd that you might be able to find more inspiration on a beginner's course than on a podium but its very true.

2006-04-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

Kind'a Hurts The Eyes, Doesn't It

Saturdays always seem to get too busy, cramming too much into my morning before heading off to work in the afternoon. So after some bike work today I was left with one hour for riding... not much.

The river trail was way too crowded and if Donna had been on her cross bike instead of her mountain bike we might have just taken to the streets for a while, but given what we had to work with we decided to keep dodging hikers and runners, knowing at the end of the (wide) trail was a rewarding section of (unmapped and unmarked) singletrack that was sure to be quiet.

Rounding the last corner I started to understand 'ecoterrorists' and the arson that has plagued so many new subdivisions. In place of the singletrack lay a long stretch of dirt road! What! What was once a beautiful Bend hillside is now being cleared for more $750,000 homes so idiots can sit on their back porch and look at what used to be a beautiful landscape.

So I've not been coping with this outrage very well today. There is so much land in this area that wouldn't even need to be cleared for building purposes and they have to take the most wooded property in the area and level it, leaving only a few scattered trees here and there.

After searching high and low for remnants of the singletrack I managed to find a 20 meter section that had not been destroyed... what a fun three seconds that was.

Maybe I should just be happy that in place of my trail will be some enormous home that some Californian will buy when they move here in four months. And they can run next door to their neighbor, who also moved here from California, when they need to borrow a cup of sugar or milk.

2006-04-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hurray For Doohickeys

Granted, this little gadget might not be the newest of creations but its new to me and its the best thing since sliced bread. Running drop bars on my Karate Monkey means running road levers, but for all the off-road mountain riding I do v-brakes make more sense than cantilever brakes. So for quite some time I've tolerated these mushy feeling brakes.... until today.

The Problem Solver Travel Agent installs relatively easily (though I didn't anticipate that the cable would be routed 360 degrees around the pulley wheel). And as for the feel - a world of difference. Much snappier and responsive, though you have to 'break-in' the cable around the pulley wheel by squeezing the brake levers real hard a few times. At $15 a wheel, they're well worth it!

2006-04-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

Sixty To Zero In Two Seconds
* editors note: this is being posted despite any contradictions to the previous post

While cycling provides the best moments of my days on a regular basis, its also been known to provide the worst. Over the years I've become quite the Surly fan, first with a 1X1, then Karate Monkey, and today, I was to add a Pacer to the list. But when I called the shop, I discovered it did not arrive as it was scheduled to. So here I sit, Friday evening, frustrated, trying to control my outrageous temper, knowing this weekend will be nothing like I had planned. I've got five bikes sitting at home but I don't want any of those... I want my Pacer (I of course can just sense the sentiments of pity right now). As childish as it sounds, I just can't get over this.

The trails are still in horrible condition which leaves only pavement and maybe a few forest service roads for riding and mentally I've crashed already. I'd like nothing more than to snap out of this funk right now but I'm seeing red, angry that I've got to forget about that 70-mile road ride I was anxiously anticipating.

So it just seems odd to me... during yesterday's ride I was thrilled the whole time about being a cyclist and this evening I wish I had never heard of a bike. Being passionate about anything I guess can lead you from joy to misery in a matter of seconds.

2006-04-06T16:39:00.000-07:00

If You're Not Smiling, You're Not Doing It Right

There's a real lack of smiles on the trails and roads here in Bend, Oregon. Maybe the locals are just stressin' too much about their heart rate monitors, cadence, power output, or who knows what else. Bottom line, the joy of cycling seems to be the last thing on their mind.

Today's ride was great. The Karate Monkey, 38X17, with semislicks. The dull river trail gave me time to wake up, then a painful road climb that I thought for sure I wasn't going to clear, then some spinning and into Shevlin Park, through the park to Phil's Trails, then back into town. Cold temperatures kept the ground frozen, otherwise the soft soil would have forced me to turn around in interest of preserving the trail (too late unfortunately considering the idiots who already left 3" ruts in the trails).

It was just a great ride... little of this, little of that. Two blocks from the end of the ride, I passed and waved to a co-worker who later in the day commented on what a huge smile I was wearing. I paused for a second and thought, why wouldn't you have a huge smile on your face - its cycling!

2006-04-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

Hemingway, Emerson, Cummings, Dickinson... And Whoever Wrote This Sign

Maybe I'm making a mountain of a mole hill here but as I passed this sign I thought, what a great literary expression. So simple. So to-the-point. Who possibly could have authored this?

"Pavement Ends". . . a.k.a., Stress ends, screaming motorists ends, shattered glass ends. Take anything bad in life, replace it with 'pavement', and there you go. Just pass a sign like this and you'll see what I mean, assuming you're not running skinny slicks at 120psi.

Running out of pavement just provides one of 'those' sensations, leaving the world behind and taking in the sights, sounds and smells. Its a sensation you can't get by driving to a trailhead. The Monday ride was a pure gem. 50 miles. Perfect weather. Paved roads, dirt roads, forest service roads, singletrack, and a destination (Sisters, Oregon). Absorbing motorists, exhaust, glass, nails, noise, and then getting to leave it all behind as the road grows more and more narrow, as any roads appears to at its vanishing point.

2006-04-05T14:22:00.000-07:00

Literally, A Walk In The Park

I got super lazy today and decided I didn't feel like cleaning and lubing a bike after a rainy ride so I decided to do something kind'a stupid - I went for a walk. I can't go a day without at least an hour or two of fresh air and while cycling shoves oxygen up the nostrils much faster, I had to give some credit to the 'ol one foot in front of the other process.

Turns out walking is a lot like fixed gear riding... very simple and you only get out of it what you put into it. I had to admire the simplicity of the process. Comfy pants, light windbreaker and sneaks and its out the door. Not even a chain to lube afterward. Then just one foot in front of the other.

While adrenaline levels never spiked, it turned out to be an interesting morning, watching as Bend got going for the day. The bakery truck dropping off breads at the restaurant, seafood chefs unloading the catch of the (yester)day, store clerks polishing the hard wood floors, construction workers sipping out of there thermos containers, and the garbage man trying to grab trash cans so conveniently placed between tightly parked cars.

You really have the chance to observe much more and the experience becomes much more about your surroundings than the actual activity. Of course all things considered, I'll stick to cycling.

2006-04-01T21:40:00.000-08:00

Kind Of Ironic

SRAM makes some really nice stuff. For $496.00 you can get 220g shifters and a 208g rear derailleur.

My shifters and rear derailleur cost me $496.00 less and weigh 428 grams less. Viva la singlespeed!

2006-04-01T17:19:00.000-08:00

Did Dirt Rag Sell Out To The Man?

I wasn't too thrilled when the latest issue of Dirt Rag hit the mailbox. Gracing the cover, a full-squishy bike with some rider wearing Run DMC addidas sneaks. Say what? I've never renewed my subscriptions to the other cycling magazines - too much high tech crap with suspension that needs maintenance every 200 miles, special pumps, fluids, tools (been there, done that, hated it). Geez, I just wanted to go for a bike ride! But Dirt Rag seemed to be holding out, refusing to sell out to The Man, that engineering crazed bike industry that would love to empty your bank account with new parts and new stuff to maintain those parts.

I've started to question even Dirt Rag, wondering if that subscription would get renewed at the end of the term. So as I sat to read this issue, I started to realize maybe I was passing judgment too quickly. Yes, there's a bunch of crap I could care less about, but the staff deserves much credit for recognizing all types of cycling, from singlespeed to freeride to touring to commuting to cyclocross and more. As a matter of fact, I'm glad Dirt Rag is there to keep me in line and remind me its all about two wheels and human power. If you don't mind blown seals and seized freewheels, more power to you. Want to keep it fixed and simple, keep on rollin. Its all good, as long as its good for you.

2006-03-31T15:04:00.000-08:00

44.058 N 121.314 W

Sights unseen fuel my desire to throw a leg over my bike every day. Every turn and every horizon hold beyond them something new, something I can't see without physically reaching that particular point.

I could give a rip about riding the same route, over and over again, trying to improve my line or time. Why not just hop on a stationary bike and watch the stopwatch compared to the odometer?

Over the past twelve years I've moved six times - Kentucky to Pennsylvania to Chicago to Austin to Utah to Oregon. Such a lifestyle has allowed me to explore new roads and new trails for more than a decade.

Of course with exploration comes the unknown... some days good surprises, others, bad. Maps with ghost roads. New private property boundaries. Misleading topography. So on.

But what happens when you finally round that corner and find yourself back where you started? When I meet people who have lived in a particular place for fifteen years all I can think about is how I would have run out of new trails and roads years ago.

July will be the two year mark for Bend, Oregon, and I'm getting that itch, looking at trail and road maps that have few routes left to highlight. The thought of moving again just plain sounds like too much work. Unfortunately, even worse, is the thought of settling into routes already explored and landscapes already absorbed.

2006-03-30T13:15:00.000-08:00

My Pace Car

I've always been a bit of a Ferrari, peeling out at each green light then slamming on the brakes, one block down the street, for a red light. Donna, on the other hand, has always been more of a Mercedes... smooth, classy and controlled, lightly accelerating at a green light, maintaining a moderate speed and hitting every green light from here to kingdom come.

On the bikes, out of the gate, I'm likely faster than I should be. The thrill of being on two wheels, the anticipation of the ride, the fresh air... it all just gets to me and I explode. Then there's my better half, Donna, who out of the gate is moving the same speed at which she'll cross the finish line, a master of pacing and controlled output. I'll never know how she does it.

Rides somedays turn into a game of leapfrog, me exploding then bonking, over and over again, while Donna passes by with her consistent, rhythmic cadence. Of course she only seems to notice when I explode and pass her, not when I bonk and she passes me, concluding every ride with gripes that I'm too fast or she's too slow, not at all paying attention to the fact that we both finished the ride at the same time.

She is my pace car, plain and simple, both on the bikes and off. While my energy and temper explode and bonk, explode and bonk, Donna glides through with a very even-steven approach to everything. Calming me down when I need it, picking me up when I need it. Leading by example. If you've never met anyone who could lead a ride while bringing up the rear, you've never met Donna.

2006-03-29T10:19:00.000-08:00

Letting Go

I frequently hear parents talking about their aging children, letting them go off on their own, worrying, and hoping for the best. Letting their child ride without training wheels for the first time. Giving them the keys to the car for the first time. So on. I got a small dose of that this morning.

Donna and I always ride together. I ride by myself once a week maybe, but donna has only gone off on her own maybe three times, and those three times were on the mild trails at Phil's trail area. No traffic. No technical riding. She's perfectly capable of fixing a flat though she always lets me do it if I'm around. So she got the idea of cycling to Redmond, 22 miles away, once a week for a meeting she attends there every Wednesday morning.

Cringing at the thought, I've been supportive but asked her to ride with a flashing strobe on the rear to increase visibility. She cranks it out in about 70 minutes but probably 9miles of the route has 50mph traffic on windy, hilly roads. Even if I was with her, there wouldn't be anything I could do to divert an accident but it kills me not being there to watch for her safety.

So off she goes. Determined. Capable. Strong. Worrying me to death. I knew I shouldn't have gotten her that Salsa LaRaza for Valentine's Day.

2006-03-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

Round And Round

Everything about cycling is circular. Physically, the bike is made of round parts. Round bearing pins and rollers in the chain, round chain rings, round cogs, round wheels and so on. In less tangible terms, cycling is circular regarding the effort that goes into the bike and the reward that comes out of it. Circular. Flowing. Rhythmic.

All these things considered, you can't help but consider out-and-back rides very disruptive and unnatural. Loops complete cycling's circular nature.

Today's ride only proved that point. The 1X1 had tremendous strength is resisting my efforts to turn the bike around, back onto the same track it had left only seconds ago. The only reason I even agreed to an out-and-back ride today was because old man winter dumped 3 inches of wet snow and roadways to other trails were a mess of slush and puddles. The river path on the other hand, just around the block from the front door, remained covered with soft, relatively dry snow.

The ride was still a very rewarding experience. Fresh air. Scenic landscapes. And the legs burning from the resistance of 2.7 inch tires at 20psi rolling through 4 inches of heavy snow. Even at 32X18 the heart rate was staying up there. So it wasn't all that bad, just not very natural. The bike was confused why we were turning around... did I do something wrong? Cuz I can do better I promise if we just keep going!

The 1X1 was moping the whole way home as it criss-crossed its own tracks. Been there, done that.

2006-03-24T20:41:00.000-08:00

Dirt Or Asphalt?

Its that time of year again where my biggest dilemma of the day faces me at 7am, head for the dirt or hit the asphalt. Asphalt is guaranteed... dirt on the other hand, might be too soft or muddy, might be a bust of a ride. Snow is still melting and earth is still thawing. But I always lean toward dirt.

Base miles. Right? Hop on the KM and its two hours of rhythmic spinning, burning calories and getting my legs ready for a few off-road centuries this season. Dirt on the other hand is more fun... its where my roots are.

Road rides are fun too I guess - passing roadies and watching as they try to decide to wave or not as they notice I'm riding steel and one gear instead of full carbon and dura-ace. Then again, maybe I just think too much. I mean, if my biggest dilemma of the day is trying to decide what kind of ride to do, I've got it pretty good.

2006-03-23T13:14:00.000-08:00

Captains Log:
(As In A Captain At Sea... NOT Star Trek)

Thursday
March 23
7:30 a.m.

Months and months of waiting have finally paid off. Morale had been down for quite some time, the crew was getting restless, and I was getting worried.

Today's discovery started with the decision to leave the 700c at home and roll out on the 26" WTB's. Cruising through town, ok.... a few shortcuts.... 200 meters of paved bike path..... then, in all its glory, there it was... DIRT! Dirt within riding distance from home!

None of that freakin' white stuff! No Ice! Just good 'ol dirt. Ok, so maybe a bit soft in spots and maybe a trace of snow here and there but after having my therapeutic maze o' trails buried by old man winter, I'll take what I can get. It will be months before the good stuff starts to clear but in the mean time, I'll try exhausting my interest in the low elevation areas. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder, doesn't it.

2006-03-22T16:56:00.000-08:00

Who Likes Crack?

In all my years of cycling I never saw anyone jump for joy after discovering a crack in their frame. Over the years I've cracked a Cannondale (big surprise), Rocky Mountain (good warranty service) and Gary Fisher (fantastic warranty service), and every time I've felt a sinking sensation in my gut, wondering what I did to deserve such bad luck.

This past weekend I was reminded that bad luck falls on all of us, and that any victim can use a little sympathy and encouragement. Just 30 minutes before beginning a group ride in Oakridge (following an early morning two hour drive from Bend) a crack was discovered on a one-week-old, custom steel front / aluminum rear, 29er full-suspension bike. OUCH! I felt so bad for the guy, as did most everyone there. No, sympathy won't fix it, but it can help in the grieving process.

So the lesson was two-fold:
a) bad things don't only happen to me
2) do unto others as you'd have done to you (show some sympathy)

2006-03-22T13:35:00.000-08:00

I Should'a Had A V8!

How dumb am I.... probably 30 chains later, after stretching SRAM 8-speed chains like they're made of dental floss, I've finally found KMC and their Kool Chain. Slapped one on before riding Oakridge this past weekend and no problems at all. The true test of course will be durability. Anything will be better than the 400 miles I've been getting out of the SRAM chains. The KM, 1X1 and Inbred each got one... all set to go for the next season (or at least half of it.)

2006-03-17T20:16:00.000-08:00

Don't Get So Huffy

I easily impress myself... peering out the window, checking out the thermometer, the morning ride will be a bit brisk. 28 degrees isn't the end of the world cuz check me out; pearl izumi vest, jersey, shell, pants, booties, skull cap plus smart wool socks, and windstopper gloves. Yep, I'm just so dedicated going out ridin' 30 miles in this.

The slope gets steeper and the speed picks up and the next turn greets me with snow and ice on those areas of the road where the sun never shines. Cringing with fear the 50 meter stretch is soon behind me. Its all good and over the next two hours I'll be so brave as to attack strong winds, hail, snow and slick pavement.

Rolling back toward town I'm so proud of myself. Then I pass a die-hard cyclist and shrink back into the fortunate, sissy rider that I am.

The die-hard cyclist... a grocery store clerk riding her huffy to work (and the closest grocery store is at least another three miles down the road). Mud and grit already stain the back of her pants and coat from lack of a fender. The apron is visible, sticking out from under the coat. Cotton socks. Cotton gloves. A chain that sounds like it hasn't seen lube for 1000 miles. 15 pounds of pressure in the tires. No helmet despite the frequent spots of ice and snow. And a plastic grocery bag hanging over the handlebar, likely carrying her lunch a personal belongings.

To anyone who rides and has never heard of Chris King, Shimano, or Pearl Izumi... Keep On Rollin'

2006-03-15T19:31:00.000-08:00

A Fortunate Mistake

A weekend road ride turned out to be 1 hour longer and 20 degrees colder than I had anticipated. Exploring new routes, new roads, new scenery is always the best part of a ride but you really rely on your map being accurate.

As we rode into a 25mph headwind, we discovered mistake number 15 on the Deschutes County road map. Bear Creek Road dead ends before Dodds Road! During the last unexpected hour of the ride, I cursed the map maker as my fingers got colder and colder. Then, on a short straight stretch of the highway, this view popped up. What more can you ask for on a road ride in early March.

I'll still say that the map maker better hope I never run into him in a dark alley, but ee-gads what great scenery.

2006-03-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting

Rolling down the driveway today I wasn't sure if I was going scuba diving or heading out to a Kung Fu class. I feel like the Michelin man. So much neoprene-like material, but the all-black attire looks more like a ninja outfit and feels like a scuba outfit. The Lake winter shoes have worn out so its booties or nothing for the rest of the winter.

I dared the snow gods last night by putting a new road tire on Donna's LaRaza. Getting any particular bike ready the night before guarantees you won't be riding it the next day. Today's ride was great cuz it was the first ride this week with Donna. The downside was the snow, which no local meteorologist seems to be able to forecast with any accuracy.

But its all good. The weekend is just around the corner, concluding a really long work week for Donna. Morning rides and lazy afternoons are just around the corner. There's a bag of hot wings in the freezer that have been calling my name since Superbowl Sunday and I think we've got a fresh bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch. Maybe a Godfather marathon type of afternoon? It would be something new for Donna... how do I get her out of the room for the horse-head-in-the-bed scene?

2006-03-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

Give Me An Inch, And I'll Take A Mile

Yes, I'm guilty of always wanting more. Harsh winter this year. Snow so deep we only dreamed of just throwing on shoes and walking around town. Once the snow was low enough for that, I didn't want to walk or run, I wanted dry pavement to ride. Now the pavement is dry and its easy to get greedy and long for the trails to dry (which won't be for two more months). So today, wahooo, dry pavement and a 25 mile road ride on the 38X17 monkey. Just being thankful for what is instead of what could be. Two hours of house cleaning, nine hours of work and 1hr 20minutes of ride time. Todays ride was great but looking out the window now, more white stuff is falling from the sky - tomorrow's ride might call for the Schwalbe Ice Spikers.

2006-03-09T19:22:00.000-08:00

Mother Nature Blows

... and blows and blows and blows. Dang! Wind gusts of 35mph don't sound so smokin hot when you're considering a road ride. I vowed not to get the studded tires out again this year. Hate to start this whole thing with a rant but enough with the friggin snow already. Settled for a painful jog this morning - ouch, I hate running unless someone bigger than me is chasing me. Tomorrow the wheels come out again, rain, sleet or snow.