Cigar Shaped Obects (a road ride)

A warm and toasty day in WPA with temps hitting he mid forties! Woot! Woot! Soooo, I gussied up my Mamasiata, and stuffed my ass and its burning bung (last night's dinner, may have been a TAD too spicy), into a chamois, layered up and hit some local back roads.

I had it in my mind I wanted to do the my newly mapped 50 mile ride, but it really didn't work out due to poor planning on my part. By poor planning I mean I didn't take enough hydration, and had to start heading back at about mile 35. BUT I still got in 3:40 and 43ish miles of saddle time in, and did a lot of nice 4 mph climbing.


As much as I used to riding the Mamasita on the road, the sluggishness of a MTB on the road in very apparent on a day like today. When I ride my road bike on the road, I pretty much do 40 miles and end the ride with some water left in my bottles. On a mountain bike the effort to get a knobbied, 26 pound, 29er up the steep ass climbs of WPA ghetto farm road make it a LOT harder. It might be time to get the Campeon back in shape. Maybe.

I didn't take the iPod today. Should have... got sort of bored without it. Didn't take enough water. Should have... I ran out. Should have worn less clothing. I didn't... got overheated much of the time, and in turn got pretty cold from all the sweat. FYI- I was sweating like a fat girls thighs, encased in the yeasty confines of a leather mini skirt.

I did do some newer farm roads today, and they were just great!!! I sometimes can't believe that there are such low traffic, buttocks fornicating roads so close to W.O. and the surrounding ghetto areas.


I had one sad-ish moment out on one of the farm roads. As I climbed a steep grade I looked over to see a dude in a wheel chair, no legs that I could see, just sitting in his driveway, sunglasses on, blankets on and just enjoying being out in the fresh air and the Vitamin D inducing sunshine. I felt bad for him, but then realised, that for all I know he's happier than me. I mean my late mother spent waaaay to many years not being able to move any part of her body below her neck, yet was one of the most positive, upbeat people I've ever met. Still, it's when you see folks like that, while you're out doing stuff like riding, that makes you feel lucky and thank God for the ability to ride. Even if it is, in my case, a pretty half assed attempt.

The purposed 50 that I was going to do is pretty much a series of figure eights, that weave to/fro to make up a nice 50. Having to ditch the last figure 8 was not a great feeling, but with little water and about 3 sips of Perpetuem left, I opted to error on the safe side and just head back to the xB. It was the right call. A great ride though... and in JANUARY!!!

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I stopped at Pro Bikes yesterday to drop the Dos Niner off for some fork love, and a new derailleur (the current one is two years worth of freaking shot!!) and other shit. While I was there I spied the new Specialized Epic 29er. I HAD to take if for a spin. BIG mistake. It was pretty freaking great. Stock it weighed in at 26.5 pounds. And let me tell you SRAM XX is the titz. Dear Lord!! The Reba felt pretty sweet on it too, and I'm not a Reba fan. I have to say it would be nice to have a twist shift option for the XX though. (Personal pref peeps.)

I am not sure I have what it take to run a FS bike, but with 2 to 3 12-ish hour races coming up in '10 it's a nice thought! I keep experimenting with them, but always end up unhappy, riding this one made me think that it was good the Spesh took so long to get on board the 29er train, because it seems like they got this one dialed in. It's a light weight endurance race machine for sure.

A swap to tubeless and and some lighter wheels would have the Epic down into a VERY respectable weight range. There will be a few racers out there on the Epic in '10 for sure. I'm 99.9999% sure I will not be one of them, being that the Dos is still running well, and the Mamasita does what's she's told.

BUT it is always nice to ride some other stuff. It's like going to a strip club. "WOW, she's hot!! Betcha she shags like a minx!!" Yeah, but you know she's high maintenance and out of your price range bro! Move along... Plus she's probably got Chlamydia. "But dude, they got medication for that shit now... right??

Did I mention I can barely move my "core" area. Freaking Mark Verstegen!! God it feels gooood though.

Later.