Sticks & Stones

Got my first ride of the season on dirt today. Had a baseball coach's meeting after work but had enough time in between to get in a short spin on the dirt. I went over to Sticks & Stones and rode for a little over a half hour. Not long but it was nice to be on something other than pave.



Sticks & Stones is a very fun trail that is quite windy and twisty with lots of small hills, burms, turns, granite elements and fun. It was very dry but there were still a couple sections that had snow/ice that I was careful around.



Garmin Edge 305 Summary Data
Total Time (h:m:s) 0:35:27 9:13 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s) 0:32:36 8:28 pace
Distance (mi ) 3.85
Moving Speed (mph) 7.1 avg. 14.5 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +280 / -282

Avg. Heart Rate 157 bpm Zone 4.3

As you can see it was short and not very fast, but considering the little walking that was done to avoid the snow and ice it wasn't too bad. Weather this week looks pretty good so hopefully the rest of the snow and ice will be short lived.

Regardless, it was nice to ride the 29er SS since it was getting a bit lonely.

JJ

Power failure

At about 2:45 this afternoon something happened to the electricity in North Conway. Most of the village lost power. Once that happens in our office, the network goes down, the phone system dies and very quickly work comes to a halt. So I took this as a realy "Good" Friday and closedthe office early and headed home. Since I had been driving my bike around the past couple of days on top of my car with good intentions of riding it I figured that the early release from work was the perfect opportunity to ride.

The new team Bikeman.com kit had arrived a couple days before so I decided to get all suited up and see how the new knickers and long sleeve jersey fit.

2009 Bikeman.com Kit


Since next Saturday is the Inferno Pentathalon and I have really been slacking or at least letting the weather be a good excuse to keep from riding anything other than hte spinning bike a couple hills were in order. The goal was about an hours ride and 20 miles or so.

Ride Map

Summary Data
Total Time (h:m:s) 1:10:54 3:29 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s) 1:10:48 3:29 pace
Distance (mi ) 20.31
Moving Speed (mph) 17.2 avg. 34.9 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +1,258 / -1,258

Avg. Heart Rate 161 bpm Zone 4.5

Temperature (°F) 55.4°F avg. 55.4°F high
Wind Speed ( mph) WNW 8.6 avg. WNW 9.2 max.


Ride elevation


So it turned out to be a nice ride, a bit over 1,200 feet of clmbing over 20+ miles in a touch over an hour. I was pretty happy with the average speed , but had some pretty good cramping in both calf muscles as I hit the 14 mile mark. Luckily for me the climbing was pretty much over and there was some good descending where I could try to stretch a bit as I could not turn the peddles with any force at that moment.

Once I was back ont he flats the cramps had subsided and I was able to make it home without an issue. THe cramping is a concern as that would be a really bad thing next weekend. Need to solve that problem, hopefully I can get fit in 6 days, ya that should do it.

JJ

The Answer

I think I found the answer to DEA's brocken ass. Now he can get out and ride.



JJ

Wondering about bike seats

I went to Colorado with the family to ski and hang out with my sister. We skied. I fell down went boom on a pile of rocks and stumps. My bum is injured. My bike is now mocking me. My bike seat looks like it is a razor. The sun is out the roads are clean, the trails are drying. The food that I eat is now not going to pedaling circles, instead making my belt use a notch it shouldn't use. Argh.

DEA

Where Is My Bike?

It's been a crazy couple of weeks and I'm ready for things to relax a bit and to get into the cycling season. But before I do that I've got one more ski focused trip to take, as we are jumping on a plane tomorrow (K, the girls, and I) to head out to Colorado for a visit with my sister and to get in some skiing. I know I should be taking my bike, but just wasn't in the cards for this trip.

But when I get back it'll be full on cycling season with a few trips up to Mount Washington thrown in for good measure (and fun). Hopefully we'll also be looking at some dry trails within a couple of weeks- so the mountain bike can come out of hibernation as well.

Until then...

DEA

Trail Booty

Not really sure of the proper spelling for "booty", maybe its "bootie" either way I found some on my ride today.

I put my road bike on top of the car this morning when it was 18 degrees out hoping the weatherman was right and temps would rise to almost 50 by late in the day. By about 3PM I still had not made it out for a ride. I must have been acting miserable or maybe I was being mean to my secretary as by 3:30PM she told me to leave and go for a ride and that she would see me tomorrow. So I took her order and threw on some lycra and headed out.

Turned out as a very nice day. Temps were in the high 40's with only a light breeze. I ended up riding not far from the office looking for a few small hills to climb and then recover. After about 45 minutes I figured it was time to head back so I could change and head home.

As I was about 2 miles from the office I saw something laying right along side of the road. It looked like a book or magazine. I got closer and saw that it was a magazine indeed. As I we right above it I was the cover and almost crashed into the ditch laughing.

I realized that I needed to loop back and take a photo of the trail "booty" that lay at my feet. I have found CD's, money, sunglasses and all sorts of stuff while riding. Things that fall off cars or people throw out windows, but this was a first.


True Trail Booty

My first trail porn.

JJ

Nervous

I'm finding myself looking more and more at dual squishy 29er frames. Is it just a curiosity? Is it just to know what the rest of the sane world gets excited about? Or is it the beginning of bike lust? Hmmmmm. I've already bought my one bike for the year, so I have a while to let these fleeting feelings run their course without any concern of pulling the trigger!

I think I just need to get out and ride my trusty SS, that will fix everything!


DEA

Interesting Effort

Pretending to be a cyclist

I've snuck out on the bike a few times this past week as I'm realizing that I've got a lot of work to do to get fit, or even remotely fit.

Here is Sunday's ride
and then today.

Been out on the Surly with cross tires and damn it's heavy, I'm ready to get out on the road bike and maybe, just maybe feel a bit faster!

That's it at the moment- more to come now that I'm thinking about the bike a bit more.

DEA

Time to get crackin'!

Well it's rain/snow/yuck outside right now. This weather doesn't get me excited for much other than going back to bed.

Road a bit this past weekend, here is Friday, and here is Saturday. Friday was a good day, as I also skinned up and got in a run at Shawnee Peak first thing in the morning (tougher now that the clocks went ahead).

So I haven't totally been sitting on my butt, well I have the past couple days, but that will need to change and quick.

So far here are the confirmed races for 2009
Crank the Kanc
Mount Washington Hillclimb- foot race (WTF?)
Four on the Fourth foot race (WTF again)
Newton Revenge- a bike race up Mount Washington
24 Hours of Great Glen
Porky Gulch Classic (which includes the Toughest Two TT up the first two mile of the Mount Washington Auto Road)

I hope to add to this a 12 hour race and a number of XC races as well as cross season. We'll see how that all adds up!

Anyway that's it for now- time to go to work.

DEA

Frozen gravel

First ride for me outside since dislocting my shoulder last weekend. It felt good to get outside and ride for a bit. Spent about an hour out and rode up a pretty good hill and back. Was going to ride some snowmobile trails but they were a little too soft and I was sinking in too much to make it any fun.

Ride Elevation

Summary Data
Total Time (h:m:s) 1:09:20 7:09 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s) 0:56:20 5:48 pace
Distance (mi ) 9.70
Moving Speed (mph) 10.3 avg. 29.0 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +962 / -961

Avg. Heart Rate 143 bpm Zone 3.6

Temperature (°F) 24.8°F avg. 24.8°F high
Wind Speed ( mph) N 5.2 avg. N 5.8 max.


Ride map

It was a little chilly and after about 45 minutes my feet were getting pretty cold. Need to get me some of them fancy winter riding shoes that DEA has.

Supposed to get another dump of snow tonight, really want to get in a powder day but should probably stay off the snow for another week and rest the shoulder. We shall see.....


JJ

Chilli Con Crosso

Found a pic of the new Chilli Con Crosso from Salsa over on the Soiled Chamois and he had this pic of the new bike up- I've got one of these on order and can't wait for it to get here so I can drool on it. I just hope I can stay smart and ride the Cross-check until the roads get a bit cleaned up- no need having a brand new rig get all salted up!

That's it for now, I got out for a great ski this AM, recap over here.

later,


DEA

Skiing at Smugglers Notch, VT

D3 in the Terrain Park
Spending the week in Vermont at Smugglers Notch. DEA and his crew were here for a couple days for some fine skiing and riding. We are here a couple more days and are getting some major weather right now. Calling for 4-8 inches, hoping for the 8. Need a powder day before we go.

View from the chair at Smuggs

JJ

Can I use this as a reason to buy a new bike

I saw this and think it is the perfect reason to justify a new bike purchase (well I already pulled the trigger on a new Salsa Chilli Con Crosso- so this just further makes me feel like I'd doing my part!)

Temps today- 40+, rain, fog- killing the skiing but getting roads just a bit more bike friendly!

later,


DEA

Snuck out again

Two rides in two days- but the streak may end there.

Here is the map from yesterday:

It was nice to get out in mild temps, but the wind was a bit excessive, gusting to 28mph (I'm sure Blue would laugh at me calling that wind).

My knees are telling me that a 42x27 isn't cutting it this time of year- so I think I may been to go back down to the 39 or maybe even put the 36x50 back on the front end and make the bike a full on shifty bike. I keep looking at my fixie wheel- and I will soon put that back on- but I want a few more miles in my legs before I start doing that. I can't wait to feel how out of round my pedal stroke is!

I'll keep you posted.

later- DEA

More drug testing

To follow up on DEA's post earlier this week about Michael Phelps and his taste for weed. Another problem for a major star in The National Pastime. Can you say A-Roid?
Sources tell SI Alex Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003

Sad is the world of pro sports. I'm sure all of my Steelers were clean. At least these types of disclosures show that cycling is not alone in the world of performance enhancing drugs.

JJ

My first Feb ride

January started with a fair amount of riding, but then it tailed off as we got slammed with snow (stories about that over here) but today I got back out on the bike after a great day of skiing with K and the girls over at Shawnee Peak. The skiing has been great, and should be for some time- but the reality is that I need to start putting in at least a few hours a week on the bike (I can say a few as long as I hit at least three- right? Blue we'll need a judgment on that!)

Today I snuck out as soon as we got home from skiing, knowing that if I didn't go I'd end up on the couch and just drink beer. Not that that is a bad thing, but I've got the 24HOGG on the mind these days as I've raced there for 12 years and the last two as a solo and have yet to have a solo race that I felt like things went well. I realize part of it is learning how to deal with it- but I'm hoping I've learned some lessons and this year I can hit the race with the intention of riding well.

So here is a link to today's ride. Slow and short, but the goal was to get my ass on the bike. I may take a some time this week to put the Surly back over to a Fixie as the Salsa ChilliCon should be on the way soon I hope. Of course I may find myself having a hard time taking that out in the winter grit for it's maiden voyage!

Ride safe and enjoy the skiing.


later,

DEA

First Race of 09

So I am signed up for my first race of 09. Doing the cycling leg of theTuckerman Inferno Pentathlon. DEA has done this race in the past but this will be my first go at it. Now I need to figure out how to get on my bike again.

JJ

Drug Testing

Ok so Phelps competes in an IOC sanctioned discipline, and has to follow WADA- so does this photo= a failed drug test? Also how can a dude who is a world class swimmer kick everyone else's ass while pulling bong hits? If he doesn't fail an out of comp test, does that mean that he's able to beat the system? What if he were a cyclist- just the questions that I wonder about.

Maybe he's quitting swimming and going to the SSWC09 tattoo.......

DEA

24 Hours of Great Glen Reg. open

Registration is open for the 24 HOGG- and they have an early early discount- so don't miss out!




DEA