Sort Of

Sort of got back on track today. At least I got my ass in the saddle for 40 miles, and did not spend nearly as much time perched upon the porcelain thrown as I have been. Taking what I can get, that's for sure.


The mountain bikes are in the shop getting some drive train swappages done. The Ti El Mariachi is deserving of the XTR/Hope/X.o set up that the Dos Niner is sporting, so some swapping is taking place. The BAD news is that the wheel that had the log in it about a month ago, has now shit the bed for good. It was saved briefly but just is just too ephed. The rim just is unable to effectively hold the spokes correctly. They thought it could be saved. It can't. So a new rim and relacing is needed. Crap! Not the time for this. Especially since I just blew coin I don't have on a cross bike for some yet to be ridden gravel adventures, as well as a possible Kisscross race or two in Michigan. Sort of geeked.

Wifey looked at a house today in MP that is pretty much our style, even down to the porch swing on the front porch. It's walking distance to the bike shop and more importantly the local brew pub! As as sort of an omen the back yard has a bike rack in it! Of course I need to check it out this weekend, and look at some other cribs too, but sort of liking the look and sound of this one. We shall see.

Gotta get some sleep. No ride Wednesday beckons. Too much to do and not enough time! I cannot wait until this move is over and I can attempt to get back on a fitness/training routine to get back to the mid pack instead of a Clydesdale weekend warrior.

Later.

Fail

Today's ride failed. Got all dressed up in my ride day kit, loaded up the xB and headed out. Got to the ride launch site, turned around and drove home. Just lacked any desire. The stomach is still all ephed up and my mind was 650 miles away from a ride. Gonna play this week out on pure gut feel for riding.

Got some nice design stuff done for XXC #9 today. Happy with the direction of the next issue. Still unsure of the overall direction/survival of the mag in 2011 though. I was so geeked coming into 2010, but failed somewhere along the line. I could blather about my worries and uncertainty, but would rather just keep on keepin' on. I know that the mag is a good idea. I just need to be patient and let it grow. Just not good at the being patient thing.

In non ride questions? Today's high was about 88 degrees, so why is someone in the neighborhood lighting a fire pit? I have to turn my AC off because all the smoke is being sucked into my house. Now everything smells like smoke, my eyes are burning, and I'm hot. Yeah, I'm gonna miss this ephing dump with all my heart. Can't wait to get up north to house hunt with Wifey. OR start looking for my Ted Kaczynski-esque cabin in the woods.

Later.

Another Ride Before The End

Even though I sort of had the week from hell, and I was up early in the a.m. with some SERIOUS digestives issues (my luck continues!), I still got my shit (no pun intended) together for a trip to the mountain with D-POW. Just made sure to pack some TP for the trip.


Since I wasn't sure how my back would react to single track, I kept the loop pretty mellow with just a few sections of "real" dirt, and the rest coming via snowmobile trails and forest roads. Not like it made a difference because some of the climbs had me grunting like a constipated pig (although I was really anything BUT constipated the past 12 hours. Oh the irony).


So I sweat, cussed, and grunted my way up the climbs with no pain in the back, but it was obvious that other muscles were trying to compensate for the back issue, and that was making me feel a tad kattywampus on the bike. But D-POW waited for me at the top of the climbs to make it feel like we were sort of riding together. These rides a great warm up ride for him. 40-ish miles with waiting for me at the top of most climbs, leaves him warmed up and ready to race the next day. If I should be so lucky! The rides leave me with a raw taint, sore muscles, and a plea to God for more sleep the next morning.

The ride like all my rides this week did no break the 40 mile mark, but came in right under. I'm like a 39.5 mile magnet this week. Oh well, with the week I've had, to pull off 7.5 to 8 hours of saddle time in 3 rides is pretty darn-not bad-could be better-take what I can get-OK.

Next week will have me getting all Labor Day-ish in M.P. Michigan with Wifey, so the mountain will have to wait a couple weeks 'till my knobs touch its dirt. Not sure if I'm even allowed to celebrate Labor Day? I guess I can celebrate Wifey's Laboring. Ha!

House selling/seeking/buying/packing/worrying/panicking/lamenting/strife will continue this week, and Wifey will be in Michigan for two weeks, leaving me doing the Mr. Mom gig, so I can't imagine that I will be breaking any personal records for saddle time. But at least I'll have that raw taint to remind me of today's ride for a few days.

Later.

Waiting

Woke up today with no back pain. Rode once again for a hair under 40 miles with no pain. Something is amiss!! As I type there are still many hours left in the day. and that of course means there is still time for my spleen to exit through my ear, or my brain to fall out of my ass or something. Fingers crossed.

Ride was good today. Not as good as yesterday's but good nonetheless. Rode about 2 miles with another road cyclist. Nice to see other cyclists out during a ride. In these parts, they are a rare sighting.

Breaking out of my recluse/hermit/freak in the woods lifestyle tonight and going out with a friend for Mexican and a couple beers. Always a good time.

Good luck, thoughts and prayers for recovery go out to Bells Brewing racer Jason Lummis, who was a victim of a hit and run last night as he rode home from work. Check out the Bells Facebook page to see some updates on Jason's condition and updates on the search for the suspect. Hate hearing/reading these things.

Later.

I Can Top It!

How could I possibly top the week, nay.. MONTH I've been having with health issues?? Pfffft! Easy when you're me. All you have to do is wake up, go to the kitchen and poor yourself a coffee. Then walk up to your office, sit down and read some bike blogs. 25 minutes later, raise yourself up out of your chair and FREEZE as the Mother Of All Back Spasms (MOABS) grips you so hard it takes your breath away. Then have the phone ring at that very moment, but you can't move since you're too busy hunched over, gritting your teeth, and sweating bullets from pain. THEN yell for your wife to get up and get the freaking phone. THEN stand there panting in pain as your wife asks you what's wrong. UGGGGGG!!!!

Next think I know I'm on the floor as Wifey ran to get me a heating pad to get on it stat. I laid there mad, but nearly giggling at the amount of bad luck ONE person could have in a few weeks. Finally after about 15 minutes it warmed up enough for me to be able to stand. I really thought I was going to have to walk around like a question mark all day. Would today be another day with no ride???

Nope.

Hell, high water, or bad backs my ass was going to ride today. I kept up the heat and stretching, popped a left over Magnum/TC 700mg pain pill (not its real name) left over from my root canal last winter, and went about my day. Which was most definitely going to contain a 2+ hour road ride.

I started the ride from the Boston Rail trail. Figured the warm up would be good for the legs and back. Then hit a nice loop and ended with a nugget hair under 40 miles on the day. The Campeon felt damn good. New bottom bracket, new chain, cassette, and some Pro Bikes love has made it run smooth, fast and creak free.

The back really warmed up about half way through and I was convinced that I was healed via the two wheeled doctor of love. At least until I went to get off the bike, and stand up straight. Then. Grrrrrrrrrippped again with the pain. Parking lot full of old people and helmetless fat guys on hybrid bikes and I'M the one ready to scream with pain. 39 never felt so old.

So once home it was a steady stream (nothing to do with urine) of heat/ice/heat/yada/yada/yada until I was once again able to walk erect (nothing to do with... oh never mind). So far, so good. It ain't great, but I've been able to function, pretty normal. So I'll take that for sure.

Never Enough

Because a DVT, blood thinners, lack of mag sales, and a move to another state isn't enough stress... I woke up during the night with what looked to be banana pudding oozing out of my eye. Yep, pinkeye (or at least an infection, the eye is not really "pink"). I knew I should have been washing my hands after picking my bung. So there was no ride today. But there was a trip to the Med Express, antibiotic eye drops, and a day spent wearing eye glasses that are about 6 years old and scratched to hell. To say I'm a bit bitchy would be an understatement. Frig.

In case you DIDN'T know that the mag came out a few weeks ago....

Open publication - Free publishing - More cycling

On the bright side I did get some ACTUAL work done on Issue #9 today, talked to an good old friend on the phone for a while AND got even more house organizing done. The inside of our house is so clutter free right now. I really don't know how to act.

No real bike blogging going down today. Other than me saying AGAIN- "I hope to get some miles in tomorrow." And to say someone bought the Jake The Snake I wanted on eBay before I could get enough scratch together. BALLZ!

Conversation between parents I overheard while waiting to pick B-Man up at school today: "I'm a naturalist. I like to hunt. So I know a lot about insects."

Hmmmmm.

Later.

Lull (Pardon My ADD)

Sort of a lull in the action right now. Ride time is suffering due to seemingly constant organizing, house cleaning, doctors visits, family stuff, etc., As I mentioned during my blathering on Saturday, I still have a number of rides I want to do here in PA, but racing is pretty much over for this year. Unless I can get myself to one of the Michigan CX races in the late fall). I did see that there is the 30 mile Log Splitter XC race on Sept. 4th in Grayling...

But me thinks that even though I will be up North (north from PA that is) that weekend, I will most likely be ballz deep in house hunting. But there is a slight chance I might be able to get my knobs on some Michigan dirt. Not holding my breath though.

Truth be told I sort of anxious to just get the hell out of here in a freakish way. Get back to the gym, maybe lose some pounds, maybe focus more on getting mediocre again, and see what the Wolverine State has to offer me in 2011. Then again at this point I'd like to be able to focus on anything. I have life ADD right now. Tried working on some XXC pages like a million times today and kept getting sidetracked, . And for a change "sidetracked" doesn't mean looking at booms and bums on the Net. Hell, at this point it might be 2015 by the time Issue #9 is ready! LOL!

Since nothing was getting done today I thought I would ride. Just as I had the thought, it started pissing down rain. Frig. So I trucked over to ProBikes (3 Pittsburgh locations to serve you) and picked up my Campeon that was getting tuned up.

I also have some bikes on the brain for the coming year. Not mountain bikes (I'm pretty set with that), but with a CX bike. Not for Cross racing really though. More for hitting the shit roads (of course soon they will be Michigan shit roads) and the long straight miles of gravel roads that the MP area is going to have. But what to get? Really don't want or need a RACE oriented Cross bike, or something brand new and spanky (Although there IS a new Salsa CCC coming out for racer types). So I've been cruising eBay like a Beanie Baby obsessed nut job with a new credit card. I found a couple used/demo bikes that JUST might be the ticket, but they are presenting themselves to me at sort of the wrong time. DRAT!

Since I wouldn't be focusing on Cross racing, I'm also sort on intrigued by bikes like the Salsa Vaya, and Surly Cross Check. I had thought about the Cross Check before but was concerned about weight. But now I'm moving to an area where I will have to ride up onto a curb to gain elevation.

But then again I've also thought about retiring the Dos Niner (even though it rode like a champ on Saturday!) and getting an inexpensive frame like the Niner EMD, throw my Bontrager carbon fork on it and have a nice light-ish, hydraulic brake, tubeless tired, rigid hard tail 29er for (dirt)road training and goofing off. Then if I need a back up to the inanimate love of my life Ti El Mariachi I can easily throw the Fox on it. OOOOOOOrrrrrr, I just might do nothing at all. But I had fun thinking about it. And the way I look at it, if I ain't riding, lusting bikes is sort of the next best thing. Yet another way that cycling is like sex. I mean how many folks (not me of course) do you know if they aren't having "a good time" are THINKING about having a "good time."

GOTTA get some miles in tomorrow.

Later.

I Heart My Mountains.

I was supposed to race today. Didn't. Felt bad about it for about 2 hours, then said "phf*ck it." Spent too much much time in the car traveling to the home of Future Me and back this week, too much stress, and too much to do. But since not riding, and NOT getting as much climbing in as I can before October is just plain silly talk, I headed to the mountain with amigos Don and Aaron.

The one loop I had been working on the past couple weeks was a bit played to warrant doing again today, so I lead A&D (they actually lead, but I told them where to go) on a hilly ride that started from the Camp Run Pkg. lot off 381, headed up CRR a bit then cut across to Auckerman, then UP to Skyview and back down to 381. Then a short paved section to Felgar, and UP again to Laurel Mountain where we hit mostly snow mobile trails and a few rocky sections. Would have liked to have added more single track in, but I was fading up there and knew we still had to get back to the cars, which depending on who you asked, may have been 7,8, or 9 miles away at the time. LOL!

There were a couple hiccups to the ride. Don had a slow leak in his rear tire, Aaron had a side wall issue that Stan's did indeed seal up! (Stan is a saint!!) There was also my camera that jumped ship and needed tracked down, Aaron crashing on a loose rock downhill and into a hole of some sort at mile 41, and of course me being the slow guy of the group, that no doubt put a crimp in the speed of the ride. But I have to say this 45.5 mile ride with friends easily made my top five favorite rides of the past 2 years.

Today was one of those rides that I will surely miss the most once the fam and I head to Michigan. Not that there won't be great trails to explore, friends and race buddies to ride with, etc., But today was a ride that just sort of brought out the best of everything I love about riding in the mountains of WPA... Thousands of feet of total elevation gain, rocks, roots, big trees, ferns, gravel, long up hill grunts, and super fast both wheels off the ground for feet at a time (whether you want to or not) downhills. All held together by a few miles of pavement and time spent with teammates and friends.

Soon I will be forcing myself to embrace miles and miles of flat roads and gravel to get a fix in between adventures to new trail heads. I will be dealing (most likely) with a shorter riding season, snow and some fear of the unknown as both a rider and publisher. On occasion there will surely be times when thoughts of missing killer rides like today will anger or sadden me, but I hope and expect that more often than not I will look at the memories of these rides as some of the best times of my (cycling) life, and just be glad to have had the opportunity to roll my wheels over the mountains.

The mountains of WPA have been here for me when I thought myself a racer, and they didn't care at all when my racing ambition started fading, I got older, the pounds crept up and I got (even) slower. They have been here for me to ride, to enjoy and to blather on like a dirt worshiping heathen.

Don on some double track.

There is still a month or two of riding them left before the move, and yes, I will be back a few times a year to ride them when visiting friends and family, and yes, we could end up back here in the near future, but that doesn't change the emotion of losing the routine (for a least a bit) of enjoying something that has become "me". I'm not the smartest guy, it's debatable whether I'm the greatest husband, or the best dad (not for lack of trying). And even though I love riding my bike, I've never been "fast" or the best technical trail rider. But the enjoyment I've found via two wheels in the mountains alone, with friends, and even shared with readers in XXC Mag and here has slowly defined who I am. I like that. And while you may be able to take the mountain out of my mountain biking. You can not take it out of me. The zen of the mountain ride is where you find it. And even with the lack of mountains in Michigan I plan to keep it alive.

Aaron climbing Auckerman to Skyview (not leaking air or crashing).
Funny, that doesn't even look like a climb. Ohhh, but it be!!

Last week when Don and I were up Seven Springs, an old man stopped us to chat as we looked for Horse Poop Trail. He asked a couple questions about the 24 hour race that Seven Springs has, and commented on the amount of trails in the area. He then said something like... "These mountains are old. They've been around a long time, might as well use them, and enjoy them." I'm not going to pretend to know what the hell he meant exactly. But there was something about it that I dug. The way he said it, it was like he "got it." He didn't say "use them" in a cut down the trees, build condos, rape the land for coal and gas sort of way, but more in a way that said "they're old, but they can take it, and WANT to be used, and to be enjoyed."

USE THEM! They're there. They let you see things and do things that are amazing on so many levels. Hike 'em, bike 'em, ride your horse on them, ski them. They are an incredible gift.

OK, enough of this. There are many more miles to ride in the coming weeks, and new adventures in new places.

Later.

P.S.... I can guarantee you when Wifey reads this she thinks I was half in the bag or something. (I'M NOT! But sort of wish I was).

Investigating

Wow, seems like forever since I last posted and drivel on this blog. Well, as much as I don't like to, I ventured out of town, er... out of state (to Michigan) with Wifey and B-Man the past few days. As I've mentioned Wifey got the opportunity of a lifetime to get all "judgie" in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, so we are picking up and moving to said town in the coming months. The past few days were spent there getting to know the town and enduring a frustrating attempt at finding a home to rent.

On the good side we are stoked about the town. We're of course NOT stoked to be 7 hours from friends, families and the rugged PA mountains (OK, that last one was just me), but the town is a nice small college town, with some seemingly good people. It's sort of like a miniature State College, but with NO mountains and LOTS of corn field. There aren't a ton of mountain bike options close by, but I was pleased by the sight of many dirt roads to get miles on. In fact the one home we did get a chance to check out was RIGHT on a gravel road! Sadly it was a bit too far away for what the family as a whole needs/wants, but it was cool! HA!


I didn't take my bike, so the past few days saw me taking full advantage of the hotel's StairMaster. My fave not bike aerobic activity. Just put on the iPod and step, step, step my way to a tighter buttocks (the muscles, not the shoot. Me thinks a lift time of high octane flatulence has than orifice shot. TMI?)

On paper I was a bit frustrated at what seems to be a lack of any real scene going down (as I dig I find more folks and though). Seems like they need to pimp what Ma Nature gave 'em. So you gotz no mountains, big deal... You got gravel roads! PIMP 'EM! Get folks up there pounding out miles on them. The shop in town was super nice and very helpful in pointing out some group rides to the local park single track, and what not. But it will take some ACTUAL exploring on two wheels to get acquainted.

Motorless Motion is the shop in town.

MP does seem to have a vibrant road scene, and LOTS of folks use bikes to get around. Oddly 99% of the folks on bike I saw rode on the freaking sidewalk! WTF? It's also good to know that I am in sub 2 hour driving distance to trails that are frequented by some other Michigan peeps. ;)

Our move ETA should get us there right in time for snow, LOL! But it seems like there some endless opportunities to XC ski. Looking forward to that. Lots of stuff to think about, including putting a bid in on a CX bike I saw on eBay before we move. Also sort of need a house to move into. I guess that will happen soon enough. More on all this stuff (whether you care or not in the coming days as I digest it all.


Later.

Lost Minds, Horse Poop, Undies & Broken Chains

Got up the mountain with D-POW today, or did D-POW get up the mountain with me? Either we were riding the mountain. Of course he was riding it 5 minutes ahead of me, but we were STILL riding together. Annnnnnyway, the plan was to ride from 31, to the Springs, check out a new trail, ride some of the 24 hour course, and then hit the forest road loop for about 40 mile ride.

As I readied my bike, I reached for my bottles to put on the bike, DOH!!! Sweet-mother-of-bull-poop!! I left them in the fridge!! Oh well, at least I have water in my pack. So off we went towards Seven Springs.

We rode Fire Tower over but then when we hit 7-Springs Don went ahead a bit, and foiled the plan to head up to the middle lot and ride Horse Poop. When I caught up and mentioned this he insisted that we take a taint rubber of a service road up and ride it. Curse him. So we poked around and found the entrance to the trail. For the life of me I never would have thought there was a trail there, and the first 100 yard were tall weeds and brush scratching my skin in attempts to let my newly anti-coagulated blood spew forth 80's pro wrestler style. Luckily that didn't last long and we enjoyed the rocks and roots of Horse Poop Trail. Very nice PA style single track. Rocks, dirt, roots, a couple bermed turns.

With the added climbs, having just rode the loop, and me with just water, I made the decision to cut out the other 10 miles of single track and just do the big loop. My mind is all over the place these days and just wasn't "feeling it" today. We continued on.... After we went down... down..... down... Nea'ls Run Road to some pavement then up to that gravely bitch Longwood. God I hate that road. Don crushed it. I spun like a lycra clad Augustus Gloop.

Rather than keep on the forest road, I suggested that we take a snow mobile trail that I'd seen before. That was a sort of OK idea. I guess they're grating the trail so there was mud, and deep tire ruts that made things interesting to say the least. Nice to have finally taken it after having had passed it a million times. Just another ride option.

Soon it was more gravel, more forest road, and more climbing. Once we made it back up to Pritts, we took a second and then readied to ride back via Jones. We went about 50 yards, I got up out of the saddle and PLING! My chain exploded. Great. Don looped back and we had a great exchange...

Do you have a quick link?
I think so. Y
ep here it is.
Do you have a chain tool?
Ahh, no. It's on top of the hot water heater in my basement. (I though that's where everyone kept their chain tool).

Just then an SUV with a couple bikes on it stops, and asks if we have everything we need. "Funny you should ask, do you happen to have a chain tool?" "Yes, yes I do." So the kind dude pulls over, get his chain tool for us, we get the chain going and were off. Thank you Mr. Chain Random Tool Guy. Thank you very much!

Then it was off to the 40 mph descent to the road (I only hit 38 before I started grabbing brake) and more miles to the car. We were almost back to the car when I saw something on the road. "UNDERWEAR!" I exclaimed, maybe a little too happily. I had been in sort of a drought in the underwear sighting dept., but this ride did not let me down.
I can't help but wonder what the ditched underwear sighting will be like in Michigan. Do they shed their gutchies as freely as folks here in WPA seem to? Hmmm. A left on some rooty single track to the car, and then off to the Six Pack shop for a yummy and delicious pepperoni roll. Of course Don felt the need to get some sort of pickled sausage that almost make me puke when I A.) Saw him eat it, and B.) Smelled it. I think the dude from the surprisingly slick looking, and surprisingly info packed, (If you like beef sticks, why does saying "like beef sticks" sound so gay?") website- Beef Stick Reviews, nailed it when he said "the smell of these devilish beasts is horrid. It's very much like a musty old dish rag that had already been used a hundred times with the last time wiping up some spilled vinegar." Mmmmmmmm.

So that was today's ride. Not that long at just over 30 miles, but we did hit some nice new single track, and I rode away with some more mountain ride memories to mentally pack and take with me this fall when we move to Michigan.

Later.

Still

Why are so few Pro riders on 29ers? I'm not saying one way or another good/bad. I'm as slow on a 29er as I am on 26er, but I am still sort of shocked looking at the pics (during my day job) from TransAlps, TransRockies, etc., how many (fast Pro types) are still riding 26ers. Personally I sometimes forget that bike mfgs make them. Again, not saying I HAVE to roll a 29er, but at 6'1" *** pounds of race suck I feel more comfortable on one.

This is all I have. It ain't much, but then again, nor am I. Listening to a LOT of Modest Mouse, pissed scared at the near future, and dealing with a black and blue needle holed belly. Scheduled some mountain in the A.M. with D-POW to soothe the soul, and pizza and good times with Y-Nizzle & Fam to ease de-stress and giggle.

Fired Up beckons.

Later.

Boredome, The Devil, and Idle Hands

Been a while since I checked in with euro race chick crush, AKA the "Polish Pierogie Princess," Maja Włoszczowskatoday. That was until today when I said to myself "I wonder what Maja is doing?" So I clicked the convenient link to your right titled (simply enough) Maja Włoszczowska (say Wall-zez-ka if you want to be in the pronunciation ball park.) and was happy to see that M.W. (that what her friends and trans Atlantic creepy old stalker guys call her), has herself a sweet new web site to showcase her racing.

OK, OK, the truth. I clicked on the site for the first time in ages, saw that it was new, and that there was a multimedia section. I MAY or may NOT have clicked on expecting (OK, hoping) to see .mpg files of sports bras and fit female Polish racer types stretching, and being all sweaty. BUT what I saw was some super cool videos from Velour on Vimeo. There are a bunch of great videos on there, and I have one cool one up on the Beskidy MTB Trophy stage race up on the XXC blog, 'cause it's just titz.

The video below from the Jelenia Góra Trophy (AKA the Maya Wloszczowska MTB Trophy) is super cool too. A little bit of Euro urban mountain bike racing the night before the main XC race. Maybe USA Cycling should ditch the short track races at the venues and do something like this through towns near the venues? If road racing was more like this, I think I would be more into it!

I am all sort of art geeked out by these videos. Love them, love the color, the editing, and of course the subject matter. Big props to VELOUR for them. Hope they stick around for a bit, or make some longer videos. BTW you can read Mike Broderick's CyclingNews.com post from late May where he talks about the race and racing and training in Eastern Europe HERE.

Did a bit of urban/paved/path/mountain biking riding of my own today. Continues to be hotter than the surface of the Sun. Oh well, in a few months I'll be begging for some heat.

Later.

Rolling One WIth The Bruces

Third Bruce: Blimey, it's hot in here, Bruce.

First Bruce: Hot enough to boil a monkey's bum!

Second Bruce: That's a strange expression, Bruce.

First Bruce: Well Bruce, I heard the Prime Minister use it. "It's hot enough to boil a monkey's bum in here, your Majesty," he said, and she smiled quietly to herself.

Skit: "The Bruces"
Monty Python's Flying Cccccirrrrrrrcusssss.

Yesterday was filled with a trip downtown (Pittsburgh, not White Oak) to see my doc, and a lot of other crap, so today I said "eph the work" and rolled some miles on the roads of WPA. While it was indeed hot enough to boil a monkey's bum I felt pretty damn good (for me). The road bike is in the shop getting an overhaul, so I rode my Ti El M on the limestone/pavement/shit road loop for 35 miles.

Thinking of getting a GPS for the bike. With the move and all, and exploring unknown areas, etc., I'd like to be able to map out some stuff, and take a look at them. Plus I'd like to be able to better share some ride knowledge that I pick up along the way. Thinking of going with the Garmin eTrex HCx but not sure it will allow me to do what I want. Which is A) find my way around if needed. B) map my rides for future use, and C) share them with blog reader n'at. So I need to do some more research. Don't really care about heart rate and that sort of stuff. Please drop some knowledge on me if you are familiar with said product. I look at the spec and they are all gibberish to me (lack of brain). Thanks.

Later.

One Week In

One week since The Clots came back. Damn them anyway! They can suck it. Not gonna stop me from doing what I love (unless they kill me, then I guess that would stop me). Anyway, I followed up with the Clot Doc today. Looks like blood thinners for life (given I'm almost 40, I guess that's like a max of another 40 years, but that is being VERRRRYgenerous).

Seriously though, just like the first time, as long as I take my medicine and don't do anything too stupid, I can't. and they can't see much cause to do anything different. It looks like I just have me some thick ass blood that is prone to clotting. I was more alarmed by the scale at the Doc's office than I was anything she had to say about me croaking. The great thing about that is I KNOW that riding more will help with all that. Nothing like doing something you love to help keep the poundage off.

On top of all that medical crap, I am FINALLY starting to come to grips with leaving Western PA for Michigan in October. The more I read the more miles I see that I might be able to ride there. Plus it will be nice to ride some of that sweet, buff, Michigan single track like at the Lumberjack. Then again, we could be back in PA by spring, so I don't want to get too into it.

I do feel bad, because between the medical shit I've been dealing with and the anxiety of moving, I have not given Wifey her due props. I am very, VERY proud of her. She will be slinging law in "judgie" sort of way come October and I could not be more proud of her. God knows XXC is hanging on by a thread, and maybe has one more issue in it, before the 22 people that actually buy it tell me to f*ck off . I hope I'm wrong and that the mag is around for years to come, but some things need to change, or it will just be a very time consuming expensive hobby. Then again, there are some big name mags out there with some big ass ad budgets thinking that will happen. So f*ck them, I'll pump this cool ass endurance stuff out just to spite their 90 pages of fluff and ads. LOL. That will make working at Taco Bell all the more rewarding knowing that I am STILL spreading the word about the greatest sport in the world.

Gotta split. Miles to ride tomorrow and boxes to pack.

Later.

p.s. I don't mean to sound so bitter. Just am. Sorry.

A Mental Mountain Cleanse

I could blather on about today's ride, but I don't feel like it. Basically me and "The Clots" went to the mountain and rode for 4 hours. I had a blast all by myself. Rode the forest roads to the Springs, rode single track, then more forest roads, and back. Climbed a ton, took some pics, had fun, and was lucky enough to snag the last pepperoni roll at the Six Pack Shop. Each ride on the mountain becomes the count down to when I will bid it's rocky, rooty, hilly goodness goodbye. *sniff* *sniff*.

I also went well over 600 miles on the Ti El Mariachi on this ride. I could not be happier with this bike. Compliant, light (for a lard ass like me), and maybe my fave bike ever. I'm not saying you should buy one, I'm not saying you would like it. I'm saying I like it, and since I'm the one flagellating upon it, I guess that's cool. Ride = pics....

Later.

Nothing

I'd love to post some stuff, but I've got nothing. This week has sucked the business end of a bull's lingam . Have you ever had to go to the funeral home for like a family member or friend, and then go back later in the day for a 2nd viewing? Remember how you felt between the two viewings? A combination of sadness, regret, and relief. That's how I feel right now. My stomach and mind feels like it is trapped in betweenst two viewings. Health issues, family issues, moving, jobs, poor selling magazines, worse fitness, blah, blah, cry, whine, etc., etc., It's a blur of suck right now.

BBBBBBBBBBBBBUT. Tomorrow I will throw up two middle fingers, say "f*ck it all" and head to the mountains for Zen Time in the saddle.

"And I know it's over - still I cling
I don't know where else I can go"
- Morrissey, from the AMAZING Smiths song "I Know It's Over"

Tomorrow I promise some post ride pics and talk of sore taints an mountain goodness.

Later.

Without Words

After two days of hospitals, shots and being bitter about The Clots I got back on the bike for a low key ride on the rail trail. I have every intention on being on single track this weekend, but for now until the medicine is in me and leveled off, I want to chill and just keep loose.

The Clots from above.

Felt good to be back in the saddle. Just put on some muzak (Iron Maiden "Live After Death") did some nice steady tempo with a few hard efforts thrown in. Gave me time to realize that I would love to hear Maiden coversions of the following songs done by the following bands....

The Number of The Beast by The Pixies, with Kim Deal reading the "woe to you..." stuff at the beginning. Black Francis could muster up some killer screams.

Rhyme Of The Ancient Mariner by Nick Cave. But then again, he's written some pretty epic tunes without covering one. So maybe the Decemberists could have that one.

Sanctuary could be done by Morrissey. I'd be smitten with that one.

Some people solve the worlds problems or have moments of Zen on their rides. I'm thinking about Black Francis singing The Number of The Beast. WTF?? Oh well, work, blood tests, and hopefully a ride in tomorrow.

In other "I can't believe it and don't know whether to be happy or not" news- After months of testing, interviews, etc., Wifey got a kick ass promotion today and for that I am VERY happy, but this also means we will be leaving Pittsburgh for a bit. Not that I'm that attached to the 'Burgh, but I know it. It's my comfortable old shoe. We thought she had a "in" at an office a couple hours away, but that fizzled. On the bright side, I am leaving it for a small town, that has some great dirt in driving distance, and what looks to be hundreds and hundreds of miles of rural roads to ride. Just not a mountain in site. Plenty of North Woods dirt just no mountains :(

I'll get more into this when all our peeps are privy. The rest of the summer is gonna be NUTZ!

Later.

Questions Answered

From a post last Tuesday...

"I keep praying that I'm sick, so I at least have an excuse!! I just feel like I have no power on the bike. Where the eph did it go??? I had it earlier in the year. I wasn't going to be winning any race, but I felt good on the bike."

I guess I know now, and I guess I know to be damn careful what I pray for! (don't cross me!!)

NOT a strained muscle from the treadmill. But another DVT (blood clot). This one in my left leg. Where, why etc.,? No one knows yet. But it be there. Time for more shots in the belly. More blood thinners, and more tests.

Another example how athletes (even one as mediocre as me) can pick up on the little things the body does to let you know "something just ain't right." Also helped knowing that given my history, it is ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry when there is discomfort in the leg/calf area. Strange thing is, there was NO swelling, no redness, no tightness, just a pain in the calf muscle. But hey, at least they caught it.

From the Doppler office I had to go to the ER at Mercy. You know it's gonna be a good time when a woman wearing nothing but a skanky t shirt , hand cuffs and the stench of a crack binge is being led into the hospital right in front of you. Then another dude comes in sporting the hand cuff look as well. THEN as you are leaving you overheard an ER nurse say to a doctor "did you smell that hallway? I about threw up!". Oh yeah, good times.... good times.

Gotta go count some blessings, take some shots, and plan my next big ride in the mountains that I will thank God for letting a heathen like me enjoy again.

Later.

Ride Zen

After a week of stress, lack of Mojo, and a nagging leg injury (yes Aaron, I believe it's from the treadmill, yes I ignored your e mail warning me to watch out, and yes it hurts bad enough that I have to go to the doctor to make sure it's indeed a calf muscle issue and not the onset of another DVT), I was longing/lusting for some quality mountain time.

I got it!

Whilst a bunch of my friend were in Central PA pounding out 101 miles at the Wilderness 101, I headed to the mountain for some "me time." I hadn't ridden the single track at Seven Springs in ages so I did a sweet 30 mile ride that started on the 1st part of the race course, then hopped onto about 18 or 20 miles of forest roads, and then finished with the 2nd part of the race course. It was just what I needed.

The temps were perfect (in the high 70s), there was no humidity, and the trails were in perfect shape! Getting the chance to ride without feeling like I was going to melt and/or sweat to death was so freaking refreshing!

As I was finishing up the 2nd part of the course, and looking for a trail entrance that seems to have moved on me since I last rode there, I heard someone yell "MAHOKEY!" It was my friends Ian, Jeremy and Chrissy. Always nice to run into good peeps. We chatted a bit and then rode back to the cars together. On the way up through Condo-Land™ I found a $20 bill on the ground. BONUS!! Also getting some vague beta on some new trails in the Seven Springs area that I am anxious to get my knobbies on.

On the way home I stopped at the Six Pack Shoppe and scored another homemade pepperoni roll with banana peppers. BONUS x 2!! But the Zen/Bonus didn't stop there. Got home and Wifey and I scored a sitter for B-Man and got to go to Mad Mex for food and drinks. BONUS!!

I really needed a day like Saturday. Felt good on the bike and got to spend the first real quality time with Wifey in over 2 or 3 weeks. Not to mention the way I rode that loop yesterday has me anxious to incorporate part of the standard loop which should take the milage to 50 easy and include over 15 miles of single track, 20 miles of big forest road climbs and a couple miles of pavement.

No ride today, but family stuff as I head to my Dad's to finally celebrate my birthday and my sister's birthday that occurred earlier in the month. Now were did I put that birthday suit?

Later.