In the White Room

I have not sat down yet and thought about the best and worst of the year. 

Unfortunately as I get older and older it is harder and harder for me to 

remember what happened last week,, one of the reasons that my race reports are 

not as in depth and play by play as others. 

What I do know is yesterday I came out of retirement and strapped on my

tele skis and went and played with the young boy. 

I was nervous at first having been six years since i rode a chair and slid down a hill. 

Now where were going only claims around 345 feet vertical but when it comes to a cool 

funky little ski hill... Bruce Mounds was a good time.

The boy and I hit the T-bar right off the front and he show his old man what he could do. 

For the Rocket this was only his fifth day on skis and I am so impressed on how well he can handle him self. I am not sure if the skiing DNA can be pass on but if it can he sure has it. 

We made our way over to the chair and tackled the big hill,, which again for where we are I was impressed. We recently had gotten some fresh snow and they had the snow cannons a blazing. 

I wish that I had turned on my GPS so we could have tracked how many laps that we did,, all I know is we were getting dizzy with all the laps. I even found a small run with some nice pockets of fresh untouched powder for my knee dropping turns. 

It was fun and both the Rocket and I can't wait to get back on the sticks and make some turns. 

He asked why can't he ski everyday,, I smiled and said someday,, and then thought oh crap

don't want him to end up like his dad,, a recovering powder-hound. 

SoLiTuDe

Three day work outs are the shizle and should be in effect every week of the year. 

I have to say that I have much better days when I don't punch the clock five days. 

Speaking of good days or bad days it looked like a tough day for racing in Belgium today 

and Sven was having a hard time and then this happened..

This guy little Rocket has been having some good days learning to slid down the slopes and ride the chair lift. At the end of todays lesson he did not want to be done and wants more and more. 

As a recovering downhiller still in a 12 step program I worry about what could happen.

Sounds as if I may be falling off the wagon on sunday and sliding with him here..

Now if his uncle could just get the helmet sent to him I could stop  renting them.. 

Grover that mean you. 

More of the white stuff fell from the sky and it was the light and fluffy kind which made for

a super fun commute to work.. Saw a few accidents but no problems here just kept spinning the 53x24 and got to work.

Home was a bit more tricky with the snow turning to slush and in places having the consistency of mashed potatoes which can 

pull you in some funky directions. 

Regardless after getting home and having fun in the snow I wanted more. 

And much like in the summer months I did a superman change from one super suit to another and headed out for a xc ski. 

Was able to do a lap as the light went away and then back to the car to get my light.  It was by far one of the best skis of my short season. Snow falling and dancing in the LED rays strapped to my head...and I went with out music and due to the clouds the air was quite and still.

Going to wax up the sticks and get more tomorrow. Got to love it. 

Like the cool kids say I like to move it move it ....

Hogwash

Back to work after a nice six day staycation.  I know a few things in life and one is

that no matter how you shake it below zero is below zero.

With that said,, I am layered up like a seven layer cake,, and thanks to the holiday binge their is a 

nice layer of fat to help keep me warm.

Don't get me wrong I got a good bunch of skiing over this time off from 

work but any calories that were taken off were

put right back on. 

Now more than ever time to get moving and planing for the up coming season

is now.. as Fu Manchu says "the Action is Go"

Hope everyone had a good celebration  with friends and family and 

all travels were safe.. Now I must go and polish some turds.  

HeRe Like It Or Not

The Snow came and went and it was more blow than show... As of wednesday night the new was

calling for up to 16inches of snow and blizzard conditions. Schools closed and travel was not recommended.

Woke up Thursday to little to no snow on the ground and no work.. 

Snow Day!

The Rocket and I moved snow and then got on bikes and tooled around the hood,,shortly

joined by the pip..

By the time that it was all said and done I think that we ended up with 6inches of snow.. and that works out to an inch of snow  for each of the days that I have off of work...

I have my XC skis ready to go and the sun is shining on the shortest day of the year.

It should be a test of fitness and leg strength as I will head up to the home of SSUSA to go ski at ST Marys. The hills don't stop and the grooming is world class.

Tomorrow will mark the first day on sticks for the boy but,,,not the xc style we are going to send him out on some downhill gear and see what he thinks.. I truly think that he is going to love it as the gravity bug runs deep in the family jeans.  For me I have my lift access gear ready to go,,, but not sure when I will hit the slopes for the first time in 5+ years.  My plan is to the Levis Mound and ski the 30k of skate trails that they have all set up and ready to go.

I got my Pickle in the mail yesterday and as stated it wont be taken off anytime soon..

The world has not ended yet so get out

and enjoy the return of the LIGHT!!

Blasted

Weather man says that the S#!t is about to hit the fan here in the Drifless region

but by the time it is all over we will be more drift full..

Blizzard warnings have been blasting my phone all afternoon and I wonder if this is going to 

be the Armageddon that the Mayans spoke of. 

My biggest dilemma is how in the hell and I going to get to work. I Have not driven a car

to work in well over a year and a half. And I a have not dove into the fat bike Koolaid. 

My current snow bike has 32mm cx tires and a 53x22 and this may bring a bit of pain to the legs.

May have to after dinner play with gearing to get things right. The news is telling people not to drive,, unless it is an emergency... Funny that is what I do for work and I am pretty sure that they will

have me out and about driving in places that should not be driven in. 

But all this said it should hopefully mean that the skinny skis will get to come out and play. 

I have been aching to ski and with five days off  from work I should get my wish. 

Bench is set up and wax is ready to get melted,, I know the boy wants to wax up

his new sticks and get to sliding. 

Until then I need to figure out if and how I am going to be riding to work or if I 

just need to break down and drive a car,,,,Boo to that.. 

Tickle my Pickle

I had to take a deep breath yesterday AM when I woke up to the 

sound of Rain drops pinging off the Air Conditioner. It has happened three years in a row if not more.

We get some good snow in December nice deep snow pack good for skiing or what ever it 

is you do with the white stuff. 

This year it did not even last a week,,we got six inches last sunday and things looked good,,

like we would be skiing both down hills and on the xc gear. 

But after yesterday morning it is all gone except for a few piles on

some north facing aspects. 

Working over over the ski tuning bench I started playing the old switch-a-roo with tires and

wheels. 

With the King/Hed wheels back on the Gunnar I made a break for the last few minutes of daylight. It has been a few months since I rode a shifting bike let alone a true road bike. 

Felt real real good to get out and spin the legs and take in the mid december air. 

The one positive from the rain is that most of the salt and deicing material was washed off the roads.

Quite damp roads took me up in to a cloud and light precep. With my music turned down I could hear the sound of angry bees chasing me through the Coulee .

Not sure what today will bring,, going to do a quick family Christmas with Anna's family

and then the Pack plays, who knows with all of that I may need to get out again.

I did this morning find the Pickle Have you?

Not Sure Why?

Sitting down in front of the computer I was getting ready to 

type a bunch of words and rants like I normally do about bikes 

and riding them and things like that.

But as I sit back and scratch my brain I think WHY???

Today..... after another mindless act of Violence and Senseless Rampage that

has turned peoples life's upside down and inside out.

Nothing that I think or will say can mean anything. 

I am 

shocked and stunned

and trying to figure out how I am going to explain to my 

eight year old son what happened.

Wrong 

is all I can 

come up with.

I am saddened......... No Fiscal Cliff or he said she said

political bull shit can add up to the pain and suffering that these kids and familys

but mostly kids will live with for the rest of their lives. 

We should be a people of great good and care..

Not pain and destruction.

What I try to bring to you here who ever you are that reads my ramblings is a 

positive outlook and enforce that each day counts and make the most of them.

Hug your kids,, tell your parents that you care about them

pay the love forward,, 

No one should have to suffer like the family's in Connecticut are today.  

Love makes the wheels go round and round.