Solistice Ride 2009

Well the winter solstice arrived in Michigan and the biking-gods were kind! Weather was perfect, freezing for the past week, fresh snow on the ground - who could ask for more? Having talked this ride up I even managed to convince to more Okemosians to join in the fun. Hard running Mark has been night riding before and wanted to test a new light he had bought, but Bob (with whom I had ridden once at Birchfield back in late summer) had never done the night thing. I lent Bob my "proper" light and mounted my old 10 w halogen bar light on by monocog (Big Dog).

8:30 pm and we meet at the assigned place then head (somewhat illicitly) onto the trails. They are in absolutely perfect condition! Just enough tracks to help navigation in the dark - with the small puddle of orange light provided by my halogen lamp - but the majority of the snow was crunchy goodness. First sections and we take it easy, all just settling in to the unfamiliar feel of riding in the dark me for the first time fixed! Trails are not technical but with the lack of coasting it it challenging enough not to be boring. Scoot alongside the river through some mildly rooty and bumpy sections until we cross the road Harris Park. Have to carry bikes over a chained up gate suggests that perhaps we shouldn't be doing this but what the hell! Its the Solstice and we are biking.

The trail here passes very close to several "MacMansions" and a persistent barking dog puts my nerves on edge for a while until the trail pitches back into the woods and we are alone in the quiet darkness again. At the half way point (close to Meridian Road) we stop and take the required "team photo". Then we head back along the lower (and slightly more technical) trail to the steps (which are negotiated with our bikes on our shoulders cyclocross stylee).

Take in some very nice tight single track on the way back to Van Atta Road and thence back to where we started - hung a right to take in the "muddy crossing" - half way along trail is a new fallen log, slightly at angles to the trail and covered in snow. A bit bigger than any log I've tackled on a fixie but I give it a go (or three) and fail miserably each time (this riding fixed is going to take some learning). Over the frozen muddy crossing and back to the "interesting" bit of trail. Bob nearly comes a cropper into the stream but manages to save himself courtesy of a tree branch he can cling to until he has disengaged himself from the new Time Attac pedals he is using (for only the third time). Up the hill, under the log branch and we are back at the trail head.

Suggestions of a beer are made and accepted so we cruise along Dobie to Dusty's Tap Room where in our snow covered biking gear (see photo) we bemuse all the ther patrons. Fortunately without my glasses I can't really see much so am comfortably ignorant of the strange looks we are attracting.

Trip home is a bit on the nippy side, having thawed out and gotten wet in the bar but "no-one died". Awesome ride! Good for the Soul!

Happy Solstice!!

DB

Trek Madone - now faster!! Ha Ha

Just heard that Trek have managed to make Lance Armstrong's Madone even faster!!!

They let Alberto Contador ride it!!!

Ridin' the Big Dog!!

So the Redline 29er Monocog was set up as a fixie not so long back and I've been riding it around the burg to get accustomed to the new feel of riding fixie on the MTB. Just so happened that this Sunday I had a couple of hours free! Meant to go for a road ride but with the snow decided an MTB would be a better option. Went for a night run Sat pm to check out the trails (bit soft in parts but mainly frozen) and then crossed my fingers for a nice cold night to firm them up. Sunday morning rose bright and cold - 25 oF lovely. Though the temp hardly warranted it I chucked on all my winter gear, in anticipation of slower than usual progress. The Big Dog!!

Hit the local trails off Dobie Road just after 8am and had the whole place to myself (pretty much). I rode EFI of trail - through to Meridian Road and back along the lower path - has been washed out but with the frozen conditions the trail was hard and perfectly ridable. None of the trails are what you would describe as technical but managed to negotiate my first log overs on a fixie - the second of which was a reasonable size and despite the snow I didn't come a cropper once. Took the trail to the "muddy Crossing" for the first time and it was frozen solid - rode straight across. Back closer to Dobie I took the more fun route back over the small stream and under the fallen tree. All went swimmingly.

Trails to myself!

Back on Dobie - headed to Harrison then as time was still available took in the Meridian Nature Area to the Elementary school - again nothing too challenging, but it was enough to just ride off road and resist the urge to coast when the trail got a bit bumpy. Think I'm going to get to like this.

Back home cold and happy - not until a lot later I realized how tired and sore my legs were - guess with all the fun I hadn't realized I was actually getting a reasonable work out -despite the slow pace.

Need to hit these trails at night now - definitely a viable prospect.

Monday and despite cold and potential snow managed a commute to work on the fixie - used the Light and Motion head lamp for a change - what a difference!! Actually able to ride at decent pace in comfort - a must in future - though the trip home was a bit dodgy in the snow which makes me wonder if the cycling commute should be be left for days when the weather can be relied upon to be kind.

Cheers


DB

It's a wrap!

So on a cold dreary Wednesday morning (December 2nd), in the dark, bumbling to work at slightly less than 16 mph the Mi 1000 is rather unceremoniously finished. The lack of occasion is exacerbated by the momentous moment being marked by my odometer clicking past 930 miles! As a consequence of some early Michigan luddite moments in my first weekend when I dropped my cycling computer and the batteries coming out - resetting the odometer and loosing me 70 miles!

Still it is behind me - and a good job cos on Thursday we have our first snow of the year and as a result my Friday morning bike commute is cancelled due to slippery conditions. Good effort generally though - first time I've ever 1) ridden a thousand miles on the fixie in a single calendar year (in fact in just shy of 7 months) and first year I am still riding my fixie to work in December.

Not sure how many more mornings this year will see fixie action to work!

Cheers

DB

November to Remember

So October was pretty freakin’ average weather wise – wet as a ducks arse. Consequently opportunities to ride were rare as hens’ teeth. But baby what can I tell you? November has been a totally different animal. Cool to be sure but nice and dry and perfectly fine for time in the saddle.
First week was spent out West – San Diego for the second time in two months. Mr sensible the whole time – “early to bed early to rise”… means I could go out for a run every morning before the conference started! Sunday through Tuesday did just that Sunday about 50 min along a jogging trail from Mission Valley to Fashion Mall (?) then a fantastic climb up to the University of California campus. Next day just went straight up the valley wall – first ten minutes all up hill, through some pretty dodgy neighborhoods – running is a kin brilliant way to see a city. Early morning, people heading out to work, school and an amazing number of homeless people getting their stuff together. Guess if you are homeless San Diego is probably a good place to be based – would bloody well beat Michigan in November! Last run was a different animal – headed the other way and up into a very pleasant neighborhood – gated the whole business. Ran up a storm drain to the electrical towers then down into the valley and along a dried out river bed. As I head through the scrub and brush I suddenly think – “hey no-one knows I’m here, wonder if there are any snakes around here?” Ran back to the road faster than I ran out! As I run back into the neighborhood I notice all along the chain link perimeter fence signs warning about rattle snakes!! Holy CRAP!! Sighting of coyotes on the way back too the hotel and enough West Coast fun for this Mid-Western guy.
Back in the safety of Michigan and back on the bike – Marky, Mark “Mr Marathon” calls and asks if I fancy a drive out to Brighton to hit some more challenging trails than Rockburn? Oh I hate the difficult questions! Like “does anyone fancy another pint?” Course I fancy a trip to Brighton! 40 min each way – blimey! But there we are, driving past guys emerging from pick-ups with guns to head off deer hunting, into Brighton Park. We assume/hope they keep the hunters and bikers apart, cos a slug in the back would put a serious downer on any ride. Hit the Torn Shirt Trail – 5 miles of serious up and down amusement. First time in Mi that I encountered hills that were a struggle on the SSer. Actually failed on a couple and ended up pushing – how it should be. At one point I pass a kids tent by the edge of the trail – only it’s not a kids tent, a soddin’ shooting blind!!! Oh how safe we feel for the rest of the ride.

Marky Mark "Mr Marathon" hitting the leaf strewn trails at Brighton

Next weekend and I get a “pass” for two hours on Sunday morning! So it’s out on the fixie for a few miles. 34 oF when I head South to Dansville and back – pmretty flat which means even though I am not pushing I can cruise at 18 mph for the whole time. Hit a nice patch of dirt road which has me just laughing out loud it is so much fun! End up with just over 38 miles and closing in on the end of the Mi 1000 – over 970 done! With a commute to work the next day and I am less than 7 miles from 1000 miles fixed riding in Mi – life is sweet!

"Don't go back to Danville" oh go on then!

Happy Thanksgiving

DB

Like Hell!!

Yeah Right!! So like no night ridin' you mean? Gotta catch me first!

Brass Monkeys (Part 1)

First sub-freezing ride of the year this morning. 28 oF as I left home on the trusty old fixie, beautiful morning, frost on the ground, sun just risen. Perfect ride through the fields of the MSU agricultural grounds past gently steaming livestock. Even did an extra lap of the car park at work to bring up the 900 mile mark for the Mi 1000.

Off West tomorrow until Thursday so no fixie fun next week :(

Happy Guy Fawkes for yesterday!

DB

Fixed Heaven!

Yeah O.K. so we've established (i) the trails lack serious technical falloffability round here and (ii) the weather's been a bit crap lately. I've whinged and bloody moaned to everyone who would listen and to many people who really don't give a c**p. Eventually Mr Malone heard enough and told me (via email) to shut up and do something about it!!!! Sensible man Mr Malone (aka Mikey, Mike Mr Bike). Suitably chastened I decided that changes needed to be made........ and that change has arrived, in the form of a nice shiny 20 tooth Tomicog. For the uninitiated a Tomicog is a thing of great beauty, it is a cog drilled so that it bolts to the disc tab of the rear wheel very inexpensively and painlessly converts my Monocog 29er into possibly the biggest baddest mtb ever! A 29er, fully rigid (ooer) fixed bloody wheel. Spent the past week irritating the crap out of my 6 year old as I spend most of our bike rides trying to do track stands on my "new" rig. Christened it "Big Dog" for good measure and aching to hit the trails (I suspect hitting the trails is a pretty good description of my first few rides on this beast). Gonna add spice back to the riding.

Oh the fun we will have!

Cheers (photies to follow)

DB

It's Grim Up North

Full impact of increased latitude has become apparent - it's now "proper" dark when I leave for work at a smidge before 7 am. New commuting lights have been purchased and installed which at least means the cars can see me - but with headlight glare my visibility is limited at times. No mishaps yet but a couple of near misses. One early morning shadow turned out not to be a shadow at all but a very deceased raccoon lying stiffly across the bike lane. My heart rate went up significantly even if its didn't. Then I had a close encounter with with a piece of cast iron sewer pipe that some kind joker had stood on end right in the middle of the bike lane - few choice words into the darkness I ca tell you. But the best was yet to come! Friday on my very happiest commute to date - 45 oF and pishing down, and I only have a very jolly flat don't I!! Dark with frozen fingers so a fix at the road side wasn't on the cards so I took what was described as the "walk of shame" in this weeks "Bicycling" and walked/jogged my bike the last mile to work - what joy!

Still at least the 2-3 times a week bike commute is giving me some saddle time! And glacially slow progress toward the Mi 1000 (almost at 900 miles now). Weather has been damper than Marty Pellows backing band and has put the kibosh ob mtbing completely! The Rockhopper hasn't seen any action in weeks. Trying to maintain a semblage of fitness by running - but crikey isn't running (even in the dark/cold/wet) a dull activity? Mustn't complain and just get the miles in over the winter so that the HAT is at least a possibility come March!

Cheers

DB

Epiphany

Been a long time again, many reasons other than just sloth.

Been travelin' some, workin' some and even ridin'/runnin' a bit. But the progress on the Mi 1000 has become a real issue! Few weeks back I was doing nearly 70 miles/week on the old fixie, this past two weeks only 30 miles in total! Weather played a part but no real excuses.

Been running maybe twice! Once round the local burg, on roads/trails around Okemos and one in San Diego (a nice early morning jaunt round Coronado).

Only real thing of note in past couple of weeks is the epiphany of why we (in the old country) drive on the left hand side of the road! It's not just down to obstinate wrongheadedness (or not totally anyway), but down to the need for motorists to recognize the righteousness of the fixed wheel cyclist! Over here, riding on the right - your drivechain is tucked against the roadside where no bugger can see it! Motorists charge by without any appreciation of your wholesale awesomeness. BUT!!! Back from where I came from the drivechain is loud and proud out in the open! Into the road so all motorists have no choice but to be aware (and bow down) of the puritanical struggle of the fixie cyclist!

Hey this might be a pile of horse do, but whatever.

Till next time - be careful out there.

DB

So Little Time!!

Holy Moly, it's been over two weeks since the last post!

So much to do, so little time. No time at work to prat about blogging and at home everything is still upside down from the move north.

But seems to have been plenty of time to ride my bikes so can't complain (too loudly). Managed the first night ride in Mi - hard runnin' Mark, he of the fast marathon and National level orienteering also turns out to be an experienced Adventure Racer. Has his first 30 (count them 30) hour race in Sept so some nocturnal mtbing is on the cards. Got himself a new light and wants to check it out. Well........ as I have found the local trails that look "nightridable" (from the trail run the other week), and have checked them out again on a trail run with Daughter #2, who has taken, somewhat kicking and screaming (or at least moaning vaguely), to middle school cross country. Seems like a plan.

Meet up with Mark at the appointed time and place - pretty obvious that his light will be a limiting factor - and hit the trails. Ride round, get lost, get stung by some bloody huge nettles! Oh I'd forgotten the delights of nettles living in Md (none down there, out of the ocean anyway). Nettles so bad on one trail we just give up and head back the way we came! But on the whole the trail has potential - need to think about a bit of trail building to add some spice but the basics are all there. Short but might be a life saver!

The the weekend comes around and I have my first ride with "Smilin' Bob" a neighbor who mtbs a lot but I haven't managed to ride with before. Sunday morning and I skip my usual date with deities to worship the trails (I know where I'd rather be). We absolutely bloody blast round Birchfield, neither wants to give an inch so we crush it. Bob even shows me a new section of trail I've missed in the past and which is the most similar to back East I've seen here - nice log overs and tight twisty. After one lap too much fun!! So we do a second, blasting away and inevitably tiredness takes it's toll! As fatigue mounts mistakes creep in and we both taste dirt before we are back at the cars. Spec-freakin'-tacular! Get home to find LW has only gone and bloody well won her age-group at the local 5 miler road race!!! First individual gold, she is psyched as a psyched thing.

Thursday and back to Birchfield (followed by beer) with Kevin - all is well with the world.

In between times the Mi 1000 is slowly progressing - up to nearly 800 miles and still a vague chance of success before winter sets in. First really miserable ride this week, heading home in the rain, mid 50's and a decent West wind that had me leaning at 20 degrees into to stop me blowing over - fantastic fun! Scaring car drivers and the occasional dog walker with my off key rendition of Song Two (by Blur). Guess it must be a bit disconcerting if you are out in the rain walking the dog and some idiot blasts past you on a bike screaming "Woo Hoo when I feel heavy metal!". Just happens to be my go to song when life is at it's best (i.e. toughest) on my bike!

Till we meet again


DB

Weapon of Choice

Weapon of Choice (1987 Specialized Rockhopper)

Since moving up north my allegiance in terms of my weapon of choice has shifted. Back in dear old Md the Redline Monocog 29er was the preferred beast of burden. Big wheels better for taking on the logovers and rockgardens of Patapsco. But when move to Mi I left the Monocog behind and hit the trails on the old 1987 vintage Specialized Rockhopper SS conversion. Though the Monocog has now made the trip north ain’t seen a need to go back yet! Trails up here are tight and twisty, more suited to the compact feel of the Rockhopper and none of the technical bits (such that they are) really require the advantage of wagon wheels to make them ridable.
So the old Rockhopper is still the weapon of choice. Gone are the dropped bars previously featured (that was simply too silly an idea even for me) and now she is proudly sporting a Batman figurehead. Batman is my favorite of all the “Marvel/DC-era” superheroes cos he was the only one that didn’t have superpowers to fall back on when things got dicey. He was just a multi-millionaire with a flash car and a proclivity for wearing spandex strides! I am neither a millionaire nor do I drive a flash car (sorry Bolluxmobile) but I do probably spend more time than is healthy wearing spandex.


"Batman, Dinner Dinner Dinner"




The Rockhopper has various idiosyncrasies chief among them are the rear U brake housed under the BB (who thought this would ever be a good idea?) and the beloved Biopace chainring. With the SS conversion it only has the middle 38 tooth chain ring (originally it had a rather eccentric - by today’s standards 28/38/48 chainring combination. During the conversion process the Biopace chainrings scared the young guy at my LBS, where I’d taken it cos I couldn’t free the ceased chainring bolts. The poor lad was convinced he had torqued the bolts so hard during the removal process that he had “ovalized” my chain rings. Despite my assurances that they were supposed to be that shape he wouldn’t be convinced, and even refused to accept payment in some unshakable belief that he had destroyed my “vintage mountain bike.
She still rides strong though, and hopefully this week might even be party to a little nightriding fun, such that hasn’t been had since leaving Md. We can only hope.

Biopace and U brakes! Oh Yeah!!!

Cheers

DB

Labor Day and more Runnin'/Bikin'

So all of a sudden lots of stuff seems to be happening. Guess we are just getting more “plugged in” here in sunny Okemos.

Labor Day weekend was action packed. Tired legs from the weekly commute and I was all up for a lazy weekend, fat chance.

Sunday and off to Sleepy Hollow State park for a bit of MTB fun with Hard Runnin’ Mark and MLW. Mark as well as a damn fine runner is a pretty competitive Adventure Racer, so his biking isn’t too shabby. Hit the trails at Sleepy Hollow at a fair old clip. Mark still sporting his early 90s Specialized Stumpjumper (Biopace chain ring – a thing of great beauty) and I am on my current weapon of choice the late 80’s Specialized Rockhopper SS conversion (also sporting a Biopace chain ring) – we are the throw back twins.

We scoot along and it is the best aerobic workout on the MTB in a while. Trails are not technical but are rooty enough with sections of quite long grass and some half-decent climbs to keep it interesting. For brief sections I am totally “in the zone” just focused on staying on Mark’s wheel as he tears through the narrow and rooty single track. Not an epic but trails that are certainly worth another visit. Only downer is my rear wheel flats (again) jumping a small log about a mile from the car. Third time in a few weeks – something up with the wheel, needs sorting. So end up running with my bike the last mile hey it’s a workout! Loop was probably around 7 miles and plenty of stuff we didn’t hit this time.

"Hard Runnin' Mark" and MLW at Sleepy Hollow

Monday and it’s time to hit the trails running! Hook up with MLW’s running group at a very local trailhead (just off Dobie Rd not 2 miles from our house). Neighbor mark also joins us and we head into the woods. Trail is actually three trails in separate park areas but makes a sensible 5 mile loop. Lots of stopping and waiting for the group to gather at forks but plenty of good running. Last couple of miles is a fun fest as mark and “Yours Truly” race Dakota – the dog that accompanied us – back to the car. I suspect she would have beaten us handsomely if she hadn’t stopped periodically in the middle of the trail until she could hear her “Mommy’s” voice behind us.

Running group in Okemos Mi

Trail is certainly worth checking out on the bike too – maybe even a night-ride venue?

Tuesday and back to the commute and track club – Wow, legs are a little frazzled.

Lots going on – making the best of what is available and trying to get into some kind of shape before winter comes along and chucks a great big stick in the spokes of MTB-fun. Ho-Hum just have to stay flexible with plans and see how things pan out – an adventure if nothing else.

Mi 1000 update! Up to over 700 miles now - cutting back to 2-3 days a week commute - will be a "nail biter" to see if I can get the "1000-fixed" done before year end.

Till next time,

DB

Ridin' Some, Runnin' Some

Despite the new car and some initial doubts the fixie-commute continues and I must admit I am enjoying the road riding on my faithful fixie as much as anything!

Mountain biking (in the words of Borat) "not so much" - in a bit of a downer at the moment, last three weeks and the weekly ride at Burchfield has been a bit below par. Mind and soul just not in it at the moment. Ride with a Canadian guy three weeks hence, technically and physically a bit of a nightmare! Flat within a mile of starting, my mental state exemplified by the fact that I was happy to call it a day and just go to the pub. Erin (for that is the Canadian guys name) is mor up for it than me and once back at the car he fixes the flat and we head off again. BAD CHOICE as it transpires! Half way through "Annie's Playground" and Erin is crushing it, fastest ride so far "oop north", then disaster Erin - first ride for several years - misjudges a small log (yes I know i claim they don't have the up her - but believe me it is a pretty small log), and drops his front wheel on, not over it. Down he goes - in that "I'm a forty year old man and I don't bounce like I used to" fashion - and managed to tear his rotator cuff!!!!!!

Damage isn't immediately obvious - won't be til next morning - but confidence is shaken and with a tire that is still leaking air we cut the ride short - only doing the first half of the loop. Back to car, quick beer at the Crystal bar (almost my local now) and home. Next day Erin ends up at the doc's - MRI later and thankfully no surgery but 6 (count em - 6) weeks of physio and no MTBing! Bugger.

Mr "Busted Shoulder" Himself

Next week and "hard runnining" Mark is my partner - various screw ups timing wise leave us only 30 m in to ride - quick aerobic workut over first half of trail and we are done! this week me an MLW do similar half loop before stoping for beer/wine. Need to change up something, getting a bit stale. Might be time to think about running fixed?

Fortunately what Mi lacks in decent Mtbing it makes up for in running! Tok MLW to "track club" for first time - three one mile efforts with short rests tough workout! Then I hooked up with "hard running" Mark for a spot of road running. Saturday morning and a 14 miler planned - furthest I've run since the Washington's Birthday Marathon. Now Marks a bit of a runner! A 2:40 marathoner - basically well out of my league! I try and just stick with him, 14 miles in 1:35 kin ell - I'm sore till Wednesday!!!

Cheers

DB

Balmy Michigan Summer!

Last day of August,

Michigan summer in full effect!

48 oF when I left my house to ride to work this morning!!!!

Bloody hell it's going to be a long winter!

Long sleeves and long fingered gloves - still out on the bike and that's the main thing. Bought a new(ish) car last week so the "Bollux" are a two car family again :(

Thought that might end my rides to work but still cruising - nearly 600 miles of the Mi 1000 clocked up and hopefully rest will happen before darkness/ice make bike commuting a no no. Lights have been installed on the fixie for those gloomy mornings - two last week when rain and cloud meant leaving home before 6:50 am was impossible without illumination.

Happy ridin' guys

DB

Mi 1000

Whooo, two weeks since last post! Wot a lazy SOB!!

Fortunately been some bike time! So not quite so lazy. Still one car family - tho not fort long :( - so the commute continues.

When I moved north I was supposed to put in big miles but never happened. Wanted to get 1000 miles "fixed" in before the family joined me. Nope, not even close.

But last few weeks with the daily fixed commute the miles are slowly piling up. Roads round here are a bit on the challenging side, bloody bumpy - potholes and bad patching. Fixie riding can be a bit teeth chattering. Commute to work is a short 6 mile jaunt, Hulett Rd, Bennet Rd (past MSU beef cattle R&D center) onto College (past MSU swine R&D center, oh yes the commute is an olfactory safari), then Jolly for last bit onto Collins. Few ups and downs (and windy sections) to keep me honest, but nothing that can't be ridden sat down if I really put my mind to it.

Back and I turn a 6 mile jaunt into an 8 miler by tagging on a section north of Jolly (including a nice little hill). 14 miles a day done for 3 weeks now and beginning to feel benefit.

Tuesday also did session with the "track club" and legs have still not fully recovered.

But most important the miles are being done and I am now half way (and more) to the 1000 mile fixed in Mi!!

Till next time!

DB

Heroes and Villains

Scotish Biking Hero: Graeme Obree, read his book "Flying Scotsman". Made his own bikes out of bits of scrap, never made anything like a decent living from cycling, pissed off the UCI just by being "generally a bit mad" and broke Merckx hour record - a feat so bloody hard Lance Armstrong thought about it once but decided it was too hard to be worth trying.

Scotish Biking Villain: David Millar, god I hate this bloke - whinging scotish git who artfully combined constant moaning about how hard biking was, celebrating how little training he did in the off season, drug taking and not actually being all that good

In the groove (at last)

It's been a long time coming!
But the past week and a bit has actually seen some quality biking time!
Turns out we are only ging to have one car for a while (shame) so poor old me has to cycle to work..... like everyday, in the words of the immortal (probably) Belinda Carlile "oooo oo heaven is a place on earth" right now that place is Okemos Mi.
So I've cycled to work on the fixie everyday for the past week - only 6 miles (20 min) but enough to get the heartrate up and to log over 50 miles since Monday. With the 20 mile road ride I did with MLW last Sunday the past 7 days have taken in 6 consecutive days on the fixie totalling over 70 miles. Hardly epic but a start.
Thursday was a departure from the norm in that I didn't ride home but was picked up by SWMBO in the Bolluxmobile so we could head to Burchfield and introduce MLW to both Kevin and the local trails. MLW liked Kevin (and his family) more than she did the trails but overall whole thing totally positive!
Another short post but back in the groove.

Later.......

DB

Philosophy via Youtube

No time for posting but here is a journey through my life via Youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuK2A1ZqoWs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9f-lXqUZ18

Enjoy, normal service will be resumed shortly I hope.

Cheers

DB

Two Rides in One Day!

I need to get back in the saddle!

All week life has been crazy! Spent Wednesday and Thursday in Illinois and so it's been eight days since I have even broken sweat. Bad enough, but next Saturday I am running the Baltimore 10 mile Road Race - guess that's gonna hurt!

One week left and a level of fitness that is lower than a midget limbo dancers arse! Time to step it up big stylee.

Friday and there is no bloody option. Finish work, change into running gear and hit the road. First road run in Okemos - how long have I lived here? What the hell have I been doing? Headed up Okemos Rd then turned off to the left along a footpath - pace is kinda fast, trying to stay smooth and keep the stride stretched out. By 10 min I am gasping. By the end I reach the end of the trail I'm winded and wondering if I should cut the run short. Eventually I find my way to Hulett Rd. Hang a right and keep going. Over Bennett, rail tracks and finally hit Okemos again. Left over the river, round the park, finally to Marsh Rd. Right and then Dobie Rd? Heading home but bugger me Dobie is quite hilly! By time I hit Jolly Road I am 55 min in and more than happy to head right and back to the Hotel. In the end 1.05 hrs effort. Sore legs, clogged lungs. All is good.

Saturday, and my mission (if I chose to take it) is to window shop for new cars. Yeah, like I'm not gonna drive so it's me and the Rockhopper. Spend the best part of 6 hours riding and looking at cars.

Sunday and I have two rides planned (Yoo Hoo)! Mark (my adventure racing friend) has lived in Okemos for over 5 years and has never ridden Burchfield! To quote the Pet Shop Boys - "It's a Sin". Arrange to pick Mark up at 2:30 and we head to Burchfield with me (as ever) apologizing for the state of the Bolluxmobile. As I left my helmet in Kevin's car the other evening I am sporting (against the advice of everyone who I've asked) the V1-Pro helmet! It's a bit of a classic ride, cos I'm on my mid-80's Rockhopper and donning my vintage lid and Mark (bless his cotton socks) turns up on a mid-80's Stumpjumper (Biopace chainrings and all).

I'm trying to remember the route we took the previous week and we are tearing it up! Decided Annie's Playground is just about my favorite bit of Mi singletrack (so far). It's in a shallow(ish) depression in the ground but by heck the trail builders have done their best to utilize every bit of elevation possible. The result is a twisty, up and down rooty fun fest. If only a decent hurricane could come along and drop fifty or so logs across the trail it might just be a classic to rival the long lost (but not forgotten) Small Intestine!

Good as Small Intestine (almost)

First obstacle (the titter totter thing) and I balls it completely! Over the bars, not even close! Pick myself up - minus pride - and carry on, at the next obstacle (the elevated boardwalky thing) I have a bit of a half hearted crack but sod it not today. All in all a nice ride - take in the swampy bridge portion and Dragonball Run .Then it's time to get Mary home cos, he has a dinner party and I am supposed to be meeting Kevin for a ride in 15 min!

My Nemesis!!

Fortunately Kevin is as late as me and so we both arrive at 5:00pm for Burchfield Park take two! manage the whole big loop with Kevin - get horribly lost and do a couple of loops around the lake on the back half of the trail, ah well adds a mile or so to the total. By 7pm we are back at the cars and partaking in some rather smashing "High Seas" IPA. Two ride, one day - sore but happy legs, and a bike that is complaining - think I may have nicked a tooth on my back cog!

Next day legs are sore, but sun is out and bugger it I have nothing better to do so I hit Burchfield for third time in two days! That bloody first titter totter thing (My Nemesis) I try to ride it three soddin times and end up arse over tit each time, let's face it "it owns me!". Lost as a lost thing by the raised walkway thing - round and round and round I go, but I'm always seemly heading the wrong way down a rail and no matter which way I go i end up back at the raised walkway! All a bit Blairwitch for my liking!

Scary elevated walkway thing!

About the fourth time I meet a jackass at the raised section - no bloody helmet! Remembering Todd's parable about pointing out the stoopidity of this behavior I decide to keep my mouth shut! I ask the guy if he knows the way out and he completely misunderstands me and replies that "no he isn't going to ride the raised obstacle cos it's his first ride of the season". Something in my head goes ping! Whether it's the humiliation of being lost, the irritation with the plonker with no helmet or what, but I suddenly have a desperate urge to ride the bloody obstacle! Up I go and bloody well get on the raised section!!! Only when I get to it's zenith do I think about how much this is going to hurt when I fall off (it's about 3 feet off the ground). But in my panic I stay upright and even manage to make the left turn to dismount in a vaguely controlled fashion! Don't know if Mr Jackass was impressed, but I was bloody amazed!

Between us, Jackass and DB finally found our way out of the lost world and parted company. About five minutes later, by one of the car parks I ride up behind Mr Jackass again and as I reach him start to chat away - he never even registers my existence, well bugger him! It's not till about 2 minutes later as I pass by him to take the trail to his left that he jumps half out of his skin and declares "Shit, you scared me half to death" and pulls his earplugs out of his ears!!!!! Yep he's the real deal, no helmet and ipod so loud we is completely oblivious to the rest of the world! Glad I came across him while he was riding his bike not driving his car! As I finish my ride I do a bit of exploring and end up in a clearing with just me my bike and a mother dear and her fawn - stand and look at each other for an age - I get out my camera and take a load of photies, she just stamps her hoof occasionally - I decide discretion is the better part of valor and leave them on their own and retracing my tire tracks to the car.

Two's Company

Fantastic - knackered, skeet bitten and happy as a pig in doo doo!

Cheers

DB

1985!

"there was Sprinsteen, Madonna,

way before Nirvana,

there was U2 and Blondie,

and music still on MTV,

her two kids in highschool,

tell her that she's uncool,

cos she's still preoccupied

with 1985!"

Oh yes for us Generation Xers the mid 1980s are days to dream about - days when we could go out biking all day and not have to worry about anything except being home before it got dark - and doing our homework for the next day!

So where is this going? Well as it happens I was doing a bit of exploring in my new "burg" today and passed a consignment store. In the window all forgotten and forlorn was a thing of great beauty, a thing to behold. A thing that took me back to - yep you've got it - 1985!!!!!

A Bell V1-Pro bike helmet!!!!

"That's one BAD HAT Harry!"

An object so 80's I had to have it.

So $3.99 later I am now sporting a fantastic new (old) lid

OOhh I feel just like John Tomac!

So if you spot an older guy on a yellow mid-80's Rockhopper wearing a ridiculous looking helmet (specially if you are riding in Burchfield Park) don't yell abuse or laugh - I know I look stoopid! You've just eyeballed the DogzBollux!

Cheers

DB

And then... there were three!

Tuesday and I finally made it to the "track club" running group, invited by two of my work collegues. Wow...... I had forgotten just how unremittingly painful track work outs were! Paired up and had to run 800 meters, 1000 meters, 1200 meters, 1000 meters and 800 meters in a continuous relay with your partner! Only three miles, so why does it hurt so much eh? Still the beer and burger afterwards helped. Hopefully this could become a bit of a regular bit of agony.

Then Thursday it was time to hit BurchField with Kevin. As we leave the parking lot a guy shouts "Hey Kevin" turns out it is another of the team Kevin organizes (Joe). Now then - Joe is the Man! KNows the trails and leads us on a magical mystery tour around bits of the park I had completely missed on my first exploration! Twist and tight (like Charlotte) but with more ups and downs and some fun obstacles and roots etc. Several "teeter-totters" the first of which nearly does for me and quite a few elevated (O.K. by about 6 inches most of the time, but still)sections.

Logs to get over (though most almost inexplicably built up on both sides - even when less than 12 inches in diameter) and some nice short steep downhill sections! All in all pretty much spot on - in no time we had over 8 miles under our belts and it was time to head back to the cars and a sneaky beer (somewhat spoiled by a policeman showing up!).

Skeets were out in full force and I'm still scratching now but it was all worth it!

Nuff already

Cheers

Jim

Wot a weekend!!

Whoo Hoo!
That just about sums it up!

Like all the best weekends this one started on Thursday. Got invited out for a road ride on Saturday by a work colleague (David), so decided I have bloody well better get used to riding on the roads at some kind of pace! So Thursday after work I did a quick change and was out on the fixie by 7 o clock - giving me just an hour before the light would get dodgy. Aimed for approx 20 miles and so headed south on Okemos Road. Dead straight! Try and keep the pace at 19-20 mph but it is a struggle in places, a cross wind takes it's toll and the gentle uphills drain the legs a bit. Turn left on Howell Rd with wind behind me and the pace really ramps! Feel almost like a real cyclist for a bit. Then left again on Meridian Road and I'm heading home - weather looks like it might chuck it down any minute but in the end I escape with nothing more than a few drops. Meridian Road seems to go one forever, no shoulder for much of the way and a pretty pock marked surface makes in interesting. Wind feels like it is more in my face than sideways and the pace drops to mid teens for sections. Over I 96 and all of a sudden the sign for Jolly Road appears. Blimey never though Jolly Road was so up and down! Wind in my face doesn't help but the end is near! Finish with 20.2 miles on the cyclometer and an average of 18.9 mph - solid effort.

Friday (with Saturday on my mind) head out for a repeat of Thursdays adventure - weather is awesome! Sunny so just short sleeves tonight and no hint of rain. Plan is to take it easy but the evening is just too nice. End up with exactly the same average as Thursday.

Saturday and the morning (up here without the family) is directionless! Need order! So I decide it's time the bikes got some TLC. Spend a good hour and a half (probably much to the bemusement of the other hotel guests) out the back of the Staybridge Inn Okemos cleaning both my fixie and my Rockhopper! Oh the beauty of a sparkling hub!

Happiness is a sparkling hub!

Afternoon (after an abortive attempt to bike to Denny's Bike Shop in Okemos - flat bloody tire on the Rockhopper) and its time to head to David's house in Watertown for my fist "proper" road ride in Mi! Windy as a cowboy in the bean sequence of "Blazing Saddles". Riding into the teeth of the wind is a real adventure. But we doggedly stick to the task and cover just over 40 miles at 18 mph average (15 mph into wind and 23 mph with the wind). Beautiful countryside, rolling hills, Life Is Good! Afterwards David and his family invite me to dinner - which is marvelous - then back to the hotel and I watch 24 solo on DVD for about the 6th time. Awesome movie! Makes me homesick big time for the gorgeous trails of Patapsco! But motivates me for Sunday and my inaugural ride with Kevin (Biodegradable Bike) Karpinski!

Sunday 2:30 and after many telephone calls and emails DB and Kevin finally meet in person - both riding Specialized MTBs - just made about 20 years apart (as I am riding my 1986 Rockhopper and he is riding an early naughties Stumpjumper). Head for Charlotte and a new section of trail. When we finally find it (after may missteps and me going over the bars trying to jump a log on the entrance to the first trail we find - I do like to make a good impression) we fins the new trail! It is pretty spot on - not much in the way of obstacles but twisty as a twisty thing and as tight as a nun's bits!

Kevin thru the flowers

Sections were hard to decren as we scooted along. A couple of fallen logs gave me the opportunity to fall off a couple more times and soon it was time to go home - DARN!

Here endeth the first ride!

Still 4 days/4 rides and nice clean bikes! Can't complain - life is treating me well in Mi!

Till Next Time

DB

Cat Aerobics!

Our cat (Hermione) - just thought this was amusing! She wants to come in from outside!!

Making Friends in Michigan

Been here for over a week now - Wow it's been a blast.

Without the beloved family (not moving up here until after "school's out for summer") time seems to be sucked up mainly by work. Hoped to cycle to work but pressure to turn up (i) bloody early and (ii) looking half professional have crushed that ambition! BUGGER.

Still found time on the weekend to hit the roads on the fixie, and what an adventure it was. Searched on line and found a site that gave me a whole host of road rides around Okemos - ranging from well over 100 miles (Crikey!) to 10 milers. Smashing. Chose a 50 miler for Saturday am, headed north into the country with a detailed route scribbled on a piece of hotel writing paper. Not too far into the ride I turn right and wadda you know the road is dirt! What the....! At first I am non-too pleased, as it has rained overnight and still drizzling the road is slimey and soft. But after half a mile it turns out to be massive fun. To the point that by the end of the ride I am disappointed when the road is paved. Biked up as far as Sleepy Hollow State Park and round the lake - checking out the trail heads for XC ski-ing this winter - cos biking will be out and I'll need to find some novel way to hurt myself! At one crossing I see a large yard sale outside a church and stop to check it out - despite my somewhat unusual lycra clad appearance the people at the sale are spectacularly friendly and only slightly bemused when I start eying up a pair of XC skis! "Bit tough on your bike" is one comment -" yeah" I sigh "guess so". But they come to my rescue putting them to one side till I can finish my ride and come back in the Bolluxmobile! Cracking.

As I return to my bike I meet an older Gentleman eyeing up my fixie. "How many gears you got" he asks and is somewhat surprised to hear I only have one! "I've got 26 on mine" he tells me - then if he was surprised by my lack of gears then I was flabbergasted when he revealed that he still rides with a club, did a 400+ mile tour a couple of years ago and that the next day was going to be his 82nd birthday!!

Sunday and I headed south, not so many unpaved roads (only found one section) and the paved roads were pretty straight and flat. Pretty countryside and some nice old farms and small communities but not as cool as heading north the day before. Managed to get another 35 miles in to make it about 90 miles for the weekend and just over 100 miles in my first week in Mi.

Tonight - bugger it it was time to try and find some trails!! Headed over to Burchfield State Park - which is rumored to have some smokin' technical trails. Another website claims it has trails that "are straight out of a B movie". Rode for about an hour - still early in the season so some sections under water - found some "technical" sections, very short and man made rather than the natural goodness of Patapsco. Nothing I was uncomfortable attempting on the Rockhopper SS conversion! So even though I fell my regulation twice the ride was not super taxing, the second half of the ride I followed a young local who I met as he took a spectacular fall right in front on me - on a completely flat piece of trail - my kind of rider I thought!! Will go back and explore some more another night next week - it is 15 miles from Okemos and likely to be my only regular mtbing in Mi for the foreseeable future so I better damn well enjoy it!





Ciao for now

DB

Crazy Shit Goin' Down

Yeah, I know......... Been too freakin' long! Well guess wot? Shit been goin' down in my life.

Enough already, I'll explain.

Stuff was stirring in the depths even as I ran the George Washington Birthday marathon back in Feb. Not bike, run type stuff (so not important enough to make it into the old Bollux-blog), but stuff to do with the other bits of my life...... you know work and stuff. Turns out that I was offered a job in Michigan! Yep they do exist! This lead to a huge amount of teeth gnashing and sleep loss as MLW and I tried to work out if we wanted to leave the delights of Maryland (and proximity to Patapsco and all the adventures that allows us) and head West. Too much on my mind to get round to scribbling for the blog.

In the end we decided we had better take the plunge! So I am currently sat in Okemos, Michigan (just outside Lansing) trying to remember what the F has been happening for the past three months!

Weather has been pretty dodgy so a lot of biking (both Sunday morning rides and night rides) has been washed out. Nevertheless there have been some rides of note - both in Md and else where!

Now it;s a sad fact that although I have lived in the Good Ol' US of A for over 7 years, I have never mtb'ed west of the Appalachians! So when a business trip to Boulder Colorado was on the cards - Woo Hoo! Contacted a colleague across there and plans for a bike in the foothills of the Rockies was confirmed - bike borrowed and work schedules wiggled so it would fit in. Only slight issue is the weather, sunny Colorado and all that! Talk to colleague two days before departure and he announces all is well with the world and temps are in the 70s. Fan-freakin-tastic! Pack accordingly and am only slightly bemused by the pilot of my plane announcing ground temperatures in oC when I realize he soddin well isn't! It's bloody 15 oF in Denver! Snow on ground the whole soddin lot! And me (like a pillock), short sleeved shirt, and a light casual jacket. Worse still only short fingered bike gloves and no hat! Quick trip to Safeway sorts that - nice pink woolly beanie and a pair of fleece gloves later and it's "Mother Nature - bring it on!"

Ross against a majestic backdrop

Ride is a blast - deserted trailhead, cold but not too far below freezing and a lovely grinding climb for the first mile and a half or more to get the blood pumping! Ross (my colleague) suffers up the hill - a result of no mtbing all winter - slacker! But then after we pass a Prairie Dog "farm" at the summit shows me how Rockies technical riding is done as he disappears down a wicked rocky downhill (boulders the size of cows I tell you! Well nearly). I pick my way down sections, walk others and launch myself over my bars a few times - oh what fun we are having!. Then we take wide open swoopy sections which are about as fun as life gets, past abandoned ranches and herds of deer. Far to soon it is time to head back to the car and thence to a local brew pub for excellent beer and food!

DogzBollux in Co - In the words of the Lengendary Max Boyce "I was there"

Does life get any better?

Yep apparently! Cos I fly home the next day and get a pass from MLW to go night riding with the guys!! Two days, two rides, two states!! Died and gone to heaven. Turn out is Brian and George (as it turns out last time I ride with George before I leave for Mi :( but that is in the future and not known as we head out into Patapsco. Usual trek up and onto Ridge, then down the white hike only trail to the road! Soapstone anyone? WaddaUthink? Up we go gasping our lungs to capacity. At the top Brian mentions a new bit of trail that is huge fun! Rocky, rooty downhill between tight trees, woo hoo - and I don't even fall off. At the bottom is a plain stupid steep approach to a drop off with a run out that I can't even discern. No way in God's earth am I even thinking about it. George of course throws himself (and hit rigid single speed) at it and bugger me if he doesn't make a complete Dogz Breakfast of it and nearly eviscerates himself on jagged log that is sticking out from the right hand side of the trail!! Exactly how I will always remember riding with George!

Brian and me walk it (and that's tough enough) then we scoot back uphill to take the steep down, up and down again that takes us to the base of soapstone (by the toilet block). And so with limbs intact we head back to HC side and the cars and beer I'm knackered but as happy as a pig in poop! Unfortunately (and unbeknownst to me at the time) these nights would be in short supply!

Next adventure involved a trip back to Old Blighty in April to see the folks, which gave me the opportunity to reacquaint myself with my nephew Chris. Now Chris is a pretty keen roadie and even though last time we went "home" he was only 15 he kicked my butt pretty bad! So it was with some apprehension that I saddled up to join him on a 50 miler on his home turf roads. Needless to say in the past twelve months I have not gotten any fitter - Chris on the other hand has grown up even more and added 15 lbs of muscle to his frame - 6ft 4in and 155 lbs, man this was going to hurt!

In actual fact had a blast, scooting round the Cambridgeshire countryside - felt almost like a real cyclist for a bit! Chris took it easy on me and it wasn't until the final 3 miles that he put the hammer down and left me for dust. I tried to hang on but my legs were spent and I finished with stars flashing before my eyes and having to go and lie down in the porch with a powerbar for 15 min to get my blood sugar back to a range that avoided the imminent danger of me passing out.

Once back in USA and the decision to head to MI is made - notice at work handed in and leaving date confirmed. Just three more chances of night rides with the guys! With Todd traveling extensively with a new job of his own every chance was like the last one - so despite some soggy weather a ride was slated - a change in venue was called for (i) to safeguard the health of our beloved Avalon trails and (ii) to allow us to start and leave from a pub! Good thinking my man! Cars parked on the pub car park (can't recall pub name - it'll come back to me and I'll edit later). New trails and a guest appearance by not only Todd's dog Pepper but a visitation from Mr Mike! First time he has ridden nighttime with me and first time ever for him in the dark on his single speed! Possibility/probability tat this will be our last ride together - Todd, Brian, Mike and me - so we keep it fairly short - couple of hours - to allow time for brews in the pub. Excellent time all round having a warm pub to crawl into after a ride certainly has it's advantages - bikes, beers, barmaids! This was last ride with Mr Todd :(

Da Guys!!

Next week and as luck would have it weather was kind and back for one last scoot round Patapsco in the dark! Oh how I love that place! Leaving the guys and nightrides in Patapsco was infinitely more difficult than leaving the "dream job" I had dragged my family 3000 miles across the Atlantic to pursue! Great hilly ride, Soapstone, down Vineyard, up Convent and then the steep up and down to Bull Run - with Mr Mike and Brian as company. Even got a nice trail tattoo to remember the night! No pain when it happened but when I got home I had a nice inch long split in my shin that went right to the bone! Cleaning it out with alcohol wipes, a face cloth (swigging heartily from a bottle of Blue Moon) was a real blast and then trying to hold the two edges together - at least a bit - with strips of band aid - Oh good times I'll miss them immensely.

Guys! Thanks for all the memories! Small Intestine, New trail, Soapstone, Tunnel trail, Mission Impossible all will live long in my memory!

And now on to the next chapter...............

DB

George Washington (GW) Birthday Marathon 2009 (Race Report)

So I was talked into this by Running Sean - as part of a pact to try and qualify together for Boston, only Sean never got round to actually entering! So on Sunday morning I am by myself trying to find the start of the 48th annual GW Birthday Marathon in Greenbelt MD. Good news is it's only 20 min from the house.
Takes some finding as it is a VERY small race and hidden away.
Turns out it is a marathon that looks like it is frequented mainly by the ultra-marathon crowd. Several faces I know from other races (including Mark Zimmerman - whose article on the HAT Run website was one of the things that got me through my first ultra), I'm wearing by JFK50 shirt (more as a comfort blanket to remind me I can do this) and end up talking to several other who did the race too.
At 10:30(ish) the race gets underway with very little ceremony, just a small group (around 200) of runners huddled in a suburban street with a Race Director saying "Ready, Steady GO!" The pack, inevitably thins quickly - it was never really that thick! And by one mile marker I'm running with a guy in a Red "Boston marathon" vest and a tall young guy with a white baseball cap. First mile is ticked of in under 7 min, a bit fast but what the hell. Initially i think I will run with the guy in the Boston Vest - seems like a good pacer for a Boston qualifying time! But I strike up a conversation with the tall guy in the baseball cap and turns out he ran JFK two years ago (in sub-8, wow!) and did the Vermont 100 in 2008. We talk and run and the miles just tick away, by 6 miles we are still under 7 min/mile pace and life is good. The course is a short "out and back" leading to a loop that the runners lap three times. Not super hilly but enough up and down to keep things interesting! At mile 9 we lose the first round of relay runners and enter a feed station where Running Sean is standing with his eldest and my middle daughter - great to see the girls having fun handing out water and Gatorade at the aid station. I take Gatorade at every stop - having remembers how to drink from a cup. Mile 10 and we are still under 7 min/mile pace and the pace feels comfortable - I am waiting for the inevitable crash to happen but for now I am fine. Start the second loop and passing lapped runners who are all happy to shout encouragement "Go JFK guy!" is shouted at me at one point - CHEERS! Halfway and a time of 1 hr 31 min and change means that for a brief second I am even contemplating a sub 3 marathon (in my dreams). The guy in white baseball cap (lets call him Will, because as I find out at the end that is his name) pulls ahead and I feel my time running with him is at an end. I relax and just try and stay smooth. After a mile or so we are back together, chipping away at 7 min pace and still talking ultra running. At mile 19 things start to change - we are slowing to over 7 min/mile pace. Sub 3 hours is out the window unless a miracle occurs. At 19.5 see Sean and the girls again - he yells "come on under three is doable", but I know today probably isn't the day. 20 miles and we are 1 min over 7 min/mile pace. A guy overtakes us and we try to lift the pace. At 21 miles Will mentions that the hills seem to be getting bigger. the guy who overtook us earlier has come back to us but makes another break. Will goes with him and I try and relax - let them go! At the next hill I am back with Will and then he is behind me. I think about waiting but at 22 miles it is not time. I head on desperately trying to lengthen my stride to gain a few seconds a mile. By 23 miles it is officially hurting - I am trying to keep it smooth. A look at my watch at 24 miles and I am at 2 hrs 47 min. No chance of sub 3 but even at 7:30/mile a bash at under 3:05 is achievable. At the end of the final loop Sean and the girls have abandoned the aid station to head to the finish, just after the aid station a Marshall is guiding me and another runner to the left. I ask "when do I peel off to the finish?" Good job I ask because this is the place! "You at 25 miles?" the Marshall asks, when I nod he guides me right to a stop sign and then left towards the finish. As I head to the stop sign I sense I am alone! I resist the urge to look behind, but snatch a quick confirmatory glimpse as I head left at the stop sign. No-one within a hundred yard of me so no panic for now, just me against the clock. At 25 miles a long hill appears and my heart sinks! I can see a runner way ahead but my chances of catching him are zero! The only change can be someone passing me! I can feel the pace slow as the hill continues on and on! At the top I give in and have a look for potential pursuers. There is no one. I am tempted to relax but then decide with less than a quarter of a mile to go now is no time to give up. A Marshall guides me down a footpath (and a steep downhill) to an underpass and the 26 mile marker hoves into view. Just 385 yards to go. I try and lengthen my stride and then I hear Sean and my daughter yelling. Pin my ears back and cross the line with a goofy smile and the traditional arms raised salute. The final hills have cost me a sub 3:05 finish - final time 3:06:25 a PR by over 3 min, a Boston Qualifying time and good enough for fourth overall and first "Old Bugger". I finally have one of those plaques to hang in my downstairs toilet, taken me 41 years but it was worth it!

I can't say enough good things about this race! Fun and friendly as it gets, marvelous course, great volunteers and an ace long sleeve shirt. All for under 40 bucks!! - Welcome to the 8th oldest marathon in the US of A. An absolute gem!

Now if only my legs would start working again!

Cheers

DB

Where'd the time go?

Wow!

Feb has been a strange old month!

The poor old Monocog has not made it out of the garage yet - trails either too sloppy or other commitments keeping me away!

Still not been a complete waste. Superbowl weekend was spent Ice-climbing up in Pa. Great time had by all, travelled up with Todd, George, Mike and Spence on Friday - stopping briefly in Sunbury to restock with beer (I can recommend Molson XXX to anyone, useless you ever want to function properly again) and talk to the rudest man on Earth.

Saturday started with outside temps of 8 oF and blistering hangovers (think it must have been something we ate) and improved rapidly. discovered a skill I didn't know I had - I am now an expert at sitting on my arse with cross-country skis attached to my feet (less fun than it sounds).

Cold as a cold thing all day which meant the ice (on my first introduction to ice-climbing) was fantastic - hard as concrete. Saturday night was the traditional camp out! Tents pitched and fire lit. Temp was a disappointingly warm 14 oF by 10:30pm and just kept on climbing to a toasty 18 oF by morning - we had kind of hoped for a single digit low to boast about but it was not to be. Sunday and it was time for the "organized" ice-climbing - with a trip lead by students from Boonsburg Uni. Very different experience, high temps in the high 30s and climbing in T-shirts was an option. Wet ice, soft and the occasional icefall to remind us to keep our helmets on even when not climbing. Well I'm hooked - need to build some upper body strength, the cycling/running vestigial arms not so useful when trying to pull yourself up an ice face!

Happy Campers

One of most memorable weekends since been this side of the pond! MLW took a look at the "movie" put together by George and proclaimed "wow! that looks REALLY miserable" - women what do they know?!

Group Photie In Front of Ice!

Rest of month spent trying to prepare for GW Birthday Marathon (15 Feb). Meant to do loads, in the end did the bare minimum - longest run in preparation 16 miles. Just hope the training for last years JFK 50 has been maintained. Managed to get the trusty fixie back on the road - BIG UP to Princeton Sports for rebuilding my backwheel - super job!

Later

DB

Back In The Swing

When does normality become the exception? For ages the usual routine was a Night ride mid-week and a Sunday ride. But it's been bloody ages since I have managed to do this with any kind of regularity. Maybe life is regaining some semblance of order cos for the second week running both the night ride and the weekend ride both happened. And conditions for both were absolutely freakin splendid! Midweek and although the temp crept above freezing briefly during the day (putting the ride in jeopardy for a while) by the appointed time the mercury was buried nicely in the "bugger me it's cold" region. Flurry of emails and on arrival at the appointed launch site turns out a couple of Brian's mates are joining us - more the merrier, splendid.

So the roll call for this iteration of the "oh so infrequent of late" night ride was Dave (who road with us once before), Kenny, Todd, Brian, George and DB.

All starts as it should, Small Intestine, Belmont and "up the Purple" (snicker..oh grow up!). Belting along at a fair old clip. At the crossroads we decide that the same route as previous Sunday sounds damn fine - Ridge to White and down the Hike Only section. New guys and old guys vying for bragging rights so the speed down White is higher than usual - not to my taste at all! Over to BC side and it's time to take on Soapstone, trails are very conducive to climbing - hard and no loose surface. Still involves a lot of out of the saddle anaerobic effort but the climb is completed just before my heart explodes. regroup at the top and work out it's a night for climbing! So the aim is down Vineyard, up House of Pain then down Mission Impossible - EPIC!

Vineyard passes in a complete blur - the guys are up for it tonight and it's all I can do to keep in sight of their lights as they hurtle away from me. Fortunately House of Pain is a great leveller - I can push my bike as fast as the next man! Stupid steep at the bottom, fun going down but virtually impossible up, some loose stones make the steep section even tougher as spinning back wheels add to the torture. Second section is almost doable then the upper third, more gentle (but still a heck of a climb) feels like a holiday in comparison to what we have just endured. Regroup again, and hit Superhighway to Mission Impossible, at the junction though there is a change of heart! Instead of Mission Impossible we take the re-routed Patarini Hill to the the top of the Hillside section and then the group splinters, George and I opt for Tunnel Trail (now "officially" closed - sign up and everything) whilst other favor staying on official trails. But you know how it is, within seconds on George and me starting on Tunnel we are joined by Brian and Todd - just couldn't resist this trail. It's been knocked about a fair bit in attempts to close it with a few obstacles being made just about unridable - result is that each of us take one trip over the bars in the first half of the trail. With ice and snow George is only one who takes on the big rocky section and then I opt for discretion and walk a fair bit of the very steep leafy descent. At the road we head to the bridge then take the steep route to the right of the waterfall, Brian absolutely crushes the first (and steepest) portion of the climb and is still cranking away on his Redline SS 29er when he gets to the stoopid rooty section. Gets as close to riding it as anyone I have ever seen. At the top of the hill pause for the (now routine) group photo. Down the rocky stream bed descent and Brian mentions to me that although he has ridden bikes for over 20 years with some guys, and only just over a year with me, that he has seen me fall off my bike more than anyone else he knows - Cheers Brian!

By now legs are fried, lungs are seared and thirsts are well developed. Talks of extra sections are quelled and we take a direct route back to the cars and beers. Fantastic Ride! Longest of recent times and fast ads we have gone for an age. Couple of beers and it's time for bed.

Sunday came and with it a lonely ride for MLW and me! Were suggestions that may be five of us, but with the Bollux-house thermometer reading 17oF when we left I didn't hold out much hope, and so it proved.

MLW was a bit leery both of riding just the two of us and riding in such cold conditions. We took on the "big loop" from Landing - Small Intestine has again been removed and "Not Trespassing" signs erected - so we took the old route up to Belmont Road. Fist 15 min were pretty hard on the hands but once we got some body heat going all were happy. Along Ridge two guys rode on MLW wheel for an age - despite her offering to let them pass. I thought perhaps they were just enjoying the view but the reason became apparent after a brief stop to catch breath at the top of one on the hills, we set off ahead and they just disappeared! So not (as MLW though) so much trying to pass MLW - they were desperately trying to stay on her wheel!

Trail again just perfect, SWMBO was a little bothered by "trails like concrete" descriptions, but by the end she was a convert! Admitted the trails conditions were the most fun she has ever ridden. Some hills climbed that I haven't made in many months and when we got to the waterfall on Cascade it id frozen solid! Photo-opportunity or what?! Bikes are discarded on the trail and we scrabble down to stand on the petrified splash pool and get a picture right in front of the falls - magical.

Quick sprint up Cascade back to the car and the big loop has been done faster than ever before on a Sunday - we the team!

Enjoy the cold while we can - summer soon.

DB