Up To Here With The Road

Weekend Recap:

I'm pretty burned out on road rides, and I would have really preferred to be on dirt this weekend, but a tight family schedule would force me to the road both Saturday and Sunday. I wanted to be positive and make the best of it, but I just was NOT feeling any love for the road. Saturday started off bad right from the start when I forgot that this week must have been the start of the spring soccer season. SOCCER MOM ALERT!!!

Let me explain- I start my ride near some local soccer fields out in the sticks. They're pretty much out in the middle of nowhere, but the road is a direct link from some local McMansions. So every mini van and SUV driving soccer Mom/Dad was buzzing me as they hurried to get Jr. to his 1 hour outside. I've never seen so much high speed traffic on this usually low key back road. Frig!

I breathed a sigh of relief as I made it to the next road, turned, and escaped the grill of the previously mentioned Soccer Mom driven SUV. My next problem was a stiff 20 mph-ish head wind. It was like riding in wind tunnel. But I plowed on and got a 30 mile ride in. Not sure if it was Easter madness or what, but there was a LOT of traffic out there and it was hard to relax and have fun. I guess I'm used to my 10 a.m. weekday rides when traffic is pretty low key on these roads.

I hoped for better luck and times on Sunday. I was pleased to wake up to sun and was heading out to my Dad's house to hang out and get a planned 40 mile ride in.

As nice as it looked out, it was pretty chilly and in the low 40s at my ride time. But I farted in the general direction of the temps, put on base layer and some arm warmers. DOH! MISTAKE! I was one mile in and KNEW I was under dressed. Frig! I pushed on into the wind. Again, NOT wanting to be on the road in the least bit, and wishing I would have adjusted my schedule to accommodate dirt.

OK, lets make the best of this! Look at the chilly wind and my ill feelings for the road as mental training. I can do this! I can make this work! As I approached the 45 minute mark and some hills, I shifted into my 34 in the front. The chain jammed hard and then fell off. Frig!! OK, fixed, back on but the front derailleur will NOT shift into 34. I stopped adjusted it as best I could.... nothing. Frig! I try few more times, get it, shift back to the 50 and the chain drops AGAIN. And again I say "frig!" When the chain jammed in the front d., it must have f*cked it a bit. Grrrr.

Since the second hour plus has WAY more climbs, I made the decision to just keep it in the 50, do what I can, and when I get the chance take a bail out back to my Dad's digz. So 1:15 was all I got. WELLLLL short of my planned time.

Nnnnnnnnnot happy. I dig road riding, but it's easy for me to get burned out on it. I hate cars, drivers, and the boredom that the road can bring. But you do what you gotta do to get a ride in. I really envy the folks with miles of forest road and/gravel at their disposal. They can avoid cars, get big miles in, and ride fat tires when the trail might not be in the best condition.

Tomorrow, I'll have the time to hit Boyce on the Big Mama to make sure she's good to go for next Saturday's Leesburg Bakers Dozen. Some might ask why I would choose to ride a 29 pound FS 29er instead of a 24 pound Dos Niner, on a course that can be ridden on rigid hard tail with no problem? Easy- I'm a 37 year old schlep with a bad back riding 13+ hours on single track with access to TWO killer bikes. Both bikes will be there and both get to taste Leesburg Cow Shit I'm sure, but the Big Mama wins hand down on this one. With 2 feet of total elevation gain, lots of roots, and cow hoofed trails, I can't imagine riding any other bike for this year's LBD.

I'm pretty happy my friend Brad from Bikeman.com is coming, he was able to get a Solo spot! It will be nice to have yet another friend and quality racer on the course that day. Sadly Wifey can't come due to some unexpected B-Man school picture stuff that we don't want him to miss. And the way I figure, I can finish 25th with or without support!! HA!

In non bike news a new Apple 24" Apple iMac is hurling it's way towards my crib. Stoked! One of the frustrating things about putting the first issue of XXC together was some of the limitations my old ass Mac was giving me. So hopefully Issue #2 will be even better and the web site will be a bit more dynamic.

Speaking of XXC, thanks to all the support you all gave me on this project. I proved to myself I could be something out that folks wanted see and has audience. Now I just have to figure out how to make a few pennies, or I'll be flipping burgers PDQ. If I'm reading my stats correctly, I think about 400+ folks have downloaded it. That's 399 more folks than I EVER thought would do so. THANKS PEEPS!!! Anxious to start the next issue. There will be lots of gravel, cow patties, and some cool features from one or two folks doing some big ass self supported type epics. Stay tuned!

Tomorrow it's me, Big Mama, and some some single track baby makin' in the dirt.

Later.