Hare-Brain (Is it hare-brain or hair-brain?) Idea #1 (well at least the first one posted to the blog)...
Northern Bucks Dirty Dozen... a dozen climbs and a dozen miles of dirt roads.
It is certainly doable in the Tohickon Creek area. I've ridden alot of the climbs and dirt roads/canal but never strung it all together. Yep, I already printed the map and started looking at it. I think it can be done in a 100k round trip from my house. It might be cool to do it as a "spring classic", Flanders or Roubaix weekend? hmmm... anyone interested?
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
The new bike continued
I got the easy stuff done on the new bike. I "draped" the frameset with some odd bits that I had laying around. Now for the hard part... I need to canibalize the IF cross bike...ugh.
I think I have a cleaner white seat laying around, that one looks pretty nasty in the picture.
I realized something with this bike. I really enjoy the process of getting a new bike, transfering old parts, selling parts and ending up with a "new" bike. This past cross season it was with the IF cross bike. Now with the Jami road, what's next? Sell the IF? Try and get a new MTB? hmmmm.... Kristen is going to kill me. She really puts up with a whole lot of my scheming...she's a very good listener, even if she is just pretending to listen. At least I only act on very few of my schemes. Now as Ferg said if only I was scheming with stocks, or real estate maybe I'd make some frickin' money!
Congratulations Otto and Cazz! They're getting married!
I think I have a cleaner white seat laying around, that one looks pretty nasty in the picture.
I realized something with this bike. I really enjoy the process of getting a new bike, transfering old parts, selling parts and ending up with a "new" bike. This past cross season it was with the IF cross bike. Now with the Jami road, what's next? Sell the IF? Try and get a new MTB? hmmmm.... Kristen is going to kill me. She really puts up with a whole lot of my scheming...she's a very good listener, even if she is just pretending to listen. At least I only act on very few of my schemes. Now as Ferg said if only I was scheming with stocks, or real estate maybe I'd make some frickin' money!
Congratulations Otto and Cazz! They're getting married!
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Jeff's House
Spent last night at Jeff's house. We took parts off of my new bike and put them on his "trainer" bike. Which worked out well, except for those stinkin' jag wire cable ferrels with the little o-ring inside, those things blow! "Gee lets add some friction to these deraileur cables." Frickin' brilliant, the guy that thought that up should be exiled with the bio-pace guy, (we had a bunch of those bike industry guys all living in exile) Anybody remember anymore? Oh here's one, the cannondale guy that put a 26" front and 24" rear wheel. Enough of that tangent for now.
When Jeff and I were discussing last night I kept asking what was for dinner. See Jeff is an executive chef. I suggested we have wings, we've had wings the last few times I was over his house. Well, he replied, "I'm a frickin' executive chef and you want wings!" Needles to say we had tilapia with, celery, onion, garlic, mushrooms, green peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes.... YUMMY! After dinner we had some of his 50 year old port, spectacular! Beat this crap out of that port we had a Long Valley a few weeks ago. Thanks Jeff for dinner and the hospitality!
So here's my new bike:
Yeah, it needs some work. I'm going to have some left over bits, anyone interested in some cranks?
When Jeff and I were discussing last night I kept asking what was for dinner. See Jeff is an executive chef. I suggested we have wings, we've had wings the last few times I was over his house. Well, he replied, "I'm a frickin' executive chef and you want wings!" Needles to say we had tilapia with, celery, onion, garlic, mushrooms, green peppers, sun-dried tomatoes and artichokes.... YUMMY! After dinner we had some of his 50 year old port, spectacular! Beat this crap out of that port we had a Long Valley a few weeks ago. Thanks Jeff for dinner and the hospitality!
So here's my new bike:
Yeah, it needs some work. I'm going to have some left over bits, anyone interested in some cranks?
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Trip to Delaware.
Around noon I drove down to DE to pick up my new bike. Got to Brent's house around 1:20, it really does take just over an hour to get to Brent's. We hurried up and loaded to mtbs in/on the MINI and headed to Brandywine for a ride. Rick was there, or apparently had been there since 1:00. Sorry Rick. We did run into him as he was heading back to the cars. It was good to see him, even though it was only for a couple of minutes. He had his bike in the big ring of course! I had to double check to see if I even had a big ring.
Brent and I continued on and ended up riding for about 1.5 hours, I think, it felt like 3 hours if you ask me. Actually, I think I rode very well for not riding very often. Brent did make the comment that he thought I was going to "run him over" going downhill. I guess I still have some skills, as long a the trail is flat or down I'm ok, up hill and... POP! I'm gone.
The ride was a lot of fun. On the way out Brent rode right past the "bowl" without even thinking about it, and I wanted to hit it. I'd have to wait for the way back. I did hit the "mica bowl" and got a little air, not a lot though, I'm still a little rusty and was not sure of the landing. So, we're riding back to the car and these two "chickies" ask if we are going to ride down the "bowl", because if we are they want to watch. Whoa, an audience! So, we hit it smooth and I even busted out my one and only "tweak". They were so impressed! Ok, not really but they said we made it look easy. We had to ride the "JCC climb" to get back to the cars. Yep, we saved the toughest climb for the end of the ride... ugh! All in all we had a great ride! Thanks Brent!
BTW, Brent was on his new bike a 29er. We got back to the car and I decided I needed to compare it to my bike:
Yep, his is bigger than mine.
Stopped at the grocery store on the way home. I was making my cheesesteaks for buba, pappy, kris, and scott. Got to their house just as the Steelers were finishing up with the win. I'm happy the Bus gets to go to the Super Bowl in his home town, that's nice.
I was planning on taking my new bike out of the box and start futzing with it but I am tired, not sure if I'll make it up the stairs... I may have to stop and take a break on the way...
Brent and I continued on and ended up riding for about 1.5 hours, I think, it felt like 3 hours if you ask me. Actually, I think I rode very well for not riding very often. Brent did make the comment that he thought I was going to "run him over" going downhill. I guess I still have some skills, as long a the trail is flat or down I'm ok, up hill and... POP! I'm gone.
The ride was a lot of fun. On the way out Brent rode right past the "bowl" without even thinking about it, and I wanted to hit it. I'd have to wait for the way back. I did hit the "mica bowl" and got a little air, not a lot though, I'm still a little rusty and was not sure of the landing. So, we're riding back to the car and these two "chickies" ask if we are going to ride down the "bowl", because if we are they want to watch. Whoa, an audience! So, we hit it smooth and I even busted out my one and only "tweak". They were so impressed! Ok, not really but they said we made it look easy. We had to ride the "JCC climb" to get back to the cars. Yep, we saved the toughest climb for the end of the ride... ugh! All in all we had a great ride! Thanks Brent!
BTW, Brent was on his new bike a 29er. We got back to the car and I decided I needed to compare it to my bike:
Yep, his is bigger than mine.
Stopped at the grocery store on the way home. I was making my cheesesteaks for buba, pappy, kris, and scott. Got to their house just as the Steelers were finishing up with the win. I'm happy the Bus gets to go to the Super Bowl in his home town, that's nice.
I was planning on taking my new bike out of the box and start futzing with it but I am tired, not sure if I'll make it up the stairs... I may have to stop and take a break on the way...
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
MAPS
I recently have gotten a few things together that enable me to print maps at home. I just finished my first set of maps, and I'm really psyched about them. I wanted to take a picture but I can't find the camera right now. So, I'll have to describe them: (I'll add a picture once I find our camera)
six -'D' size 24x36" (that makes a 6'x6' map), usgs topo maps with gdt centerlines overlayed and labeled, I made them for Rick at Henry's. He is going to mark road routes on the maps and then I'll either give him individual maps with each route on them and/or a big one for the counter at the shop. Yeah, I'm a map dork.
Stay tuned for the final product...
six -'D' size 24x36" (that makes a 6'x6' map), usgs topo maps with gdt centerlines overlayed and labeled, I made them for Rick at Henry's. He is going to mark road routes on the maps and then I'll either give him individual maps with each route on them and/or a big one for the counter at the shop. Yeah, I'm a map dork.
Stay tuned for the final product...
Sunday, January 15, 2006
windy!
For those of you not in the mid-atlantic, we have been having unseasonably warm weather lately. Last night the cold front moved through. We lost power for a little while, just long enough to make you wonder if it was going to come on again. We went from in the 50's yesterday to in the 20's today. This morning the wind was still going strong. Kris and I went to brunch while Jeb was at Buba and Pappy's. When we got home our, week old storm door was blown off its hinges! The screws ripped right out of the wood! I guess the door wasn't latched when we left, DOH! So, I try to get everything removed so it can be redone, I did think for a little bit that I could have had it done this afternoon. I changed my mind once I noticed that the piece of frame on the house had to be replaced, DOH, DOH! So, I finally get everything off the house and wouldn't you know it the wind blows over the frickin' ladder, and my drill was on it! BROKEN! DOH, DOH, DOH! (OK, maybe I moved the ladder and the drill was on it, but still!)
Now I have a stormdoor in my garage, which was already JP'd (Jam Packed), trim on the house with a bunch of holes in it, half of a stormdoor frame on the front of the house and a krazy-glued drill!
Got to watch a couple of great football games today. Go Steelers! I think I was 4 for 4 in the pool this week, or maybe it was 0 for 4?
Now I have a stormdoor in my garage, which was already JP'd (Jam Packed), trim on the house with a bunch of holes in it, half of a stormdoor frame on the front of the house and a krazy-glued drill!
Got to watch a couple of great football games today. Go Steelers! I think I was 4 for 4 in the pool this week, or maybe it was 0 for 4?
Monday, January 09, 2006
I RODE MY BIKE!
That's right folks, I actually got out and rode my bike yesterday! I ended up driving to High Rocks for a mtb ride. Trails were a little slick but it still was good. I ended up going a little further this time; I crossed the road I used to ride all the time on the road bike. The loop on that side of the road was pretty sweet. Although, I ran into a single speed guy and he said it was better going the other direction. Next time I'll do it that way. The trails are pretty technical, a lot of loose rocks and some steep downhills. I noticed on my way back to the car that there were quite a few "jumps" set up. It seems as if there are some "free-riders" out there. There was one 3 foot drop off I was tempted to do but I decided I did not want to go back down the hill I just climbed up. Next time when I go the other direction, watch out, I'm going to launch that sucker!
I ordered a road bike. It's nothing special but I'm pretty stoked about it. I'll give more details once I get my hands on it...
I ordered a road bike. It's nothing special but I'm pretty stoked about it. I'll give more details once I get my hands on it...
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Pork Sauerkraut and Mashed Potatoes
New Years Day, we had company, again! This time we had 12 people including the kids.
I made PS&MP and I have to say it was probably the best PS&MP I've ever made. The pork was extra yummy!
Resolutions... I have a bunch of them, more like things I want or need to get done this year, I'm only going to share one of them with you though.
I'm going to "work-out" at least 3 days a week. By work-out I don't just mean riding. To most of my riding friends that is probably no big deal. When I was at the shop I probably rode 5-7 times a week. Now, well, I have not ridden since Thanksgiving with Russell (thanks for getting me to go). Yep, over a month of in-activity... and my belly shows it, not to mention all the food around the holidays. Actually, I've been doing the "Stay-Ball" Instructional dvd. Yep, I'm doing aerobic type stuff in front of my computer, and no I'm not wearing fuzzy leg warmers with matching sweatbands.
I've been struggling with the fact that I don't have a road bike these days and I keep going back and forth on the subject. Poor Kristen has to listen to all the different "schemes" I have going in my head (I have 1.5 hours to think about it on my way home every night). Part of me says "Just ride your cross bike on the road. After all how many times do you think you are going to be able to ride with the new baby and Jacob (who btw has started referring to himself as Jeb)"
Then the other argument is "Get a road bike so you have it available for those times you actually do get to ride". But, "Just ride you MTB when you want to ride, its what you love doing"... I could go on forever... I guess I am having an "argument" between droopy rides and david drives...
I made PS&MP and I have to say it was probably the best PS&MP I've ever made. The pork was extra yummy!
Resolutions... I have a bunch of them, more like things I want or need to get done this year, I'm only going to share one of them with you though.
I'm going to "work-out" at least 3 days a week. By work-out I don't just mean riding. To most of my riding friends that is probably no big deal. When I was at the shop I probably rode 5-7 times a week. Now, well, I have not ridden since Thanksgiving with Russell (thanks for getting me to go). Yep, over a month of in-activity... and my belly shows it, not to mention all the food around the holidays. Actually, I've been doing the "Stay-Ball" Instructional dvd. Yep, I'm doing aerobic type stuff in front of my computer, and no I'm not wearing fuzzy leg warmers with matching sweatbands.
I've been struggling with the fact that I don't have a road bike these days and I keep going back and forth on the subject. Poor Kristen has to listen to all the different "schemes" I have going in my head (I have 1.5 hours to think about it on my way home every night). Part of me says "Just ride your cross bike on the road. After all how many times do you think you are going to be able to ride with the new baby and Jacob (who btw has started referring to himself as Jeb)"
Then the other argument is "Get a road bike so you have it available for those times you actually do get to ride". But, "Just ride you MTB when you want to ride, its what you love doing"... I could go on forever... I guess I am having an "argument" between droopy rides and david drives...
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