Roadside

Started off moving to the 612 under some dark sky's..
 All the reports on the interwebs were saying that I90 was a mess.
And it was.. After a to close for comfort spin out from someone who was driving way too fast for the conditions we got to have a Police escort for a bit.  Roads
eventually got better to dry,, must have been caused by the
lift that the bluffs cause.  Yes I know winter is still here and
holding on tight. Word on the street is another 3-5" tonight-tomorrow.

Went up to the cities to get out hands on the Pips new rig.
Pretty stoked on the bike and she got fit spot on.. Moved a few parts around and need to put out a call for a Thomson set back, and she will be ready.  Her bike is broke down and in a box ready to go...

Got my new ride all dialed in and ready to go needed to clean up the shifting and get the brakes dialed and with the box of brake pads that showed up in the mail my Carbon DaRk HeArT  is going to fly in the desert. I am Scrambling for a bigger box one that I got on friday is too small and I need to have both bike broke down and ready for FedEx tomorrow.  I love last minute scrambling,, then making sure that all parts are accounted for... On the fence about parking the new Feedback stand to have it for any adjustments that may be needed,, when braking in two new bikes in the desert. 

Morning sun came through the windows this morning making it seem a lot warmer than it really was. I was really hoping to wake up OD on espresso and watch the coverage of MSR,,, But with a weather delay and a restart I lost interest and layered up. and headed out on the SSCX to cover some miles and hills.  With the mid March Sun and dry roads I quickly forgot about the cold and just drank in the sun and marched up the hills.

The next 6 days of work are going to be tough,
knowing that I have to get through them until we get to head out to the desert,, I pulled this photo off the Over the Edge FB page..  Where dreams are made.. Bring it ON!

 

Days like This..

I know that I have been bitching a lot about the weather here,, but holy crap this is starting to get old.

Snow then rain and not much sun.

I have been doing my best to get out and ride in the elements like a good 

Euro-wishing-cyclist,, but at some point in time my winterish riding equipment is going to fail.

As sit here now my rear wheel on the SSCX is read to explode and when it does their is no replacement for it. It was a treat to get out last weekend on dry clearner style roads and ride the good shifting road bike.

For the most part I have been riding the same loop over and over again. Twenty to twentyseven miles

with  a bit over 1000 feet of climbing. With the 44x19 it makes for good work and thanks to the 

social media tracking device on my phone I can see that my March numbers are not that bad. 

But that is about where it ends. I have a real hard time riding in the garage even if I know that I should.  And we are a few weeks away from getting to the desert.. it just can't get here fast enough. 

Things are coming together for the kid,, we are going to head up to the Hollywood HQ to get her new super rig.

Pretty sweet ride for such a little shit,,,, 

I keep telling her that I am making sure that she has the tools to compete at the next level in her life. 

Hard to keep a teenager motivated with all the indoor riding and gym work. 

I am super excited for her and all that she is going to get to see and do.. She is going to get to ride in new places and meet new faces,, and do things that this old semi washed up mountain bike racer has never gotten to do.   Oh All the Places You Will Go PIP!!

Osome

The weekend came and went like the evil temptress that she is.. This one 

came with deceptive blue bird skies and cold temps. 

But,,,,,,,,,the roads were dry and for the most part clear of too much crap. 

This allowed me to get the good road bike out of the Garage and hit 

some of the pavement around the hood.

Four miles in my handlebar mounted computer's battery decided that it was 

to cold for operation and called it quits.. I was a bit bummed wanting to 

see my HR suffer as I found elevation and wind to push me around. 

I did have my phone in my pocket so at least I would be able to compare my self to 

everyone else. 

Last March was one for the record books with warm conditions really warm...

So warm that the Apple trees in the area blossomed, only to bitten by frost turning out one of the smallest apple crops in some time. 

So no we don't want,, but temps above 30 would be nice. 

Not going to happen. I danced around on the pedals enjoying my Steel rig as 

my King Wheels plowed over every winter heave in the road.   

I returned home a happy man as goals were accomplished

and bikes were ridden, and Daydreams of the soon to come Arizona desert single track played in my head. 

Can't Wait!!

Sunday saw the family truckster get loaded up and we headed off to the place that Sophia will spend the next four years of her life. 

Ripon was celebrating the incoming class and the scholarships that they   received.  Pretty cool that the kid is getting recognized and has not even 

taken a class there yet... So much cool thing are ahead of that kid. 

With all the driving and running around I had just enough time to get the Rodie out 

again before night fell ,,, and it was good.. again liking what I am seeing just wanting more. 

I need to figure things out and decide what I am going to do with my self. 

It will all come together soon.. 

Mr Hand?

Looking for and finding form this time of the year is like trying to find that loose bearing 

that falls out of it's retainer and bounces and rolls across the garage floor. 

Looked back at the hand written log from last year,,  I was pretty good at keeping track till about the end of February and just gave up on the analog and went digital. 

Anyhow last year was an anomaly with little to no snow. 

The Pip and I were riding mountain bikes in jan and good miles were 

logged through much of feb.

This year I have been a little loose about keeping track but when I compare the numbers and workouts I seem to be on track what ever track that may be.

My shoulder still gives me some grief and  can make sleeping a chore,,but the work is getting done. 

Almost all the riding has been on one of the two single speed style road bicycle,,even though they are both beat up and falling apart i am liking the numbers that I see. 

Riding inside is not one of things that I enjoy so the layers get pulled out and miles get done outside and when i do have to ride in the garage it short and to the point...make it hurt then be done. 

The garage is for drinking beer and playing with and working on bikes. 

  Waiting on a crown race so I can finish this Lamere Cycles,

I wish Chris King made a headset for these style of head tubes 

but all good things in all good time. 

I think that after watching this,,,,,

I am going to pull the geared Road bike out and spend some times on the roads around Lacrosse County and parts of Trempealeau County.
I need to hear the angry bee's chasing me again.... it has been a while.

Fuzzy

Waking up in fog so thick that it hurts to breath.  >>>>>Rewind>>>

This boy does not see 10PM all that often let alone midnight or points their after. 

What all that said,, I drove up to the land of Grain Belt , Husker Du, and that guy Formally called and once again called Prince. 

I got up there saturday to Hang out and Help the Chamois Butt'r crew and slap some high five's to the good people that take care of me. 

Got to see some cool new stuff from All City and The new Pedals from LOOK!!

Caught up with some old faces and had a really good lunch.. 

QBP is the Midwest's equivalent of  Disneyland for tight pants fix gear hipsters. 

And I have to say if I lived in the area I would want to work there minus the tight pants. 

Speaking of tight pants I busted out to meet up with the older two of the Bauer Boys for some XC skiing.  Great 

ski conditions ,,freshly groomed and fast. I always think to my self why did this never get put in front of me when I was a youth growing up here??

The young Bauer boy and I after eating a good dinner with his folks headed off to a rock show and

we sure did not know what we were getting into. 

Yea took one for the team with this one. 

Hairball was no Ozorn and we were not at the double down.

After a few hours of many costume changes and some hefty drunk screaming middle aged women,

we split to go to GeneO's and check out his new Neighbors.. Handsome  Cycles...    

                                             Now through all of this evening the clock has been ticking and it is getting late into the night. We missed out on the Large crowds and the kegs still had beer. More tomfoolery and bicycle related conversations were had,, and as the clock struck two AM it was time to get rolling.   Finally crashing out at the Woods by three bells in the morning. 

I still am not sure what I was running on that late or was it early??

With a quick trip over to Hollywood's shop to pick up this years team Bike I was on the road ready to crash out and sleep and try to get ready for a full monday,..

It is a long way to the top if you want to Rock and Roll. ... and I think I go my late night partying out of my system. 

Snowblind

I am between dry roads and ride-able temps and good snow to ski. 

Mid winter burn out,,, time for a break as I get ready to kick into March.. 

The end of March can't get here fast enough.. but I glad that it is not here now. It has been snowing as low as Tuscon and in the burbs and foothills of Scottsdale.

Going to desert is one of the best things that can happen to anyone let alone a person from the Midwest. 

I can go out my door if I want snow and cold,, and I do not want snow and cold I want sunshine and single track .. 

So I bit of a break then some industry stuff up in the 612

for Frost Bike,, and the Cutters Ball. 

Some skiing with the Team and some good bonding time with the THC crew. 

Ready to build up the new rig and get  the season 

underway.. Need Some Thing to DU!!

GO PIP GO

Well first and foremost the Kid (PiP) Signed her letter of INTENT to attend and race for the Ripon Red Hawks. 

Pretty excited for her to get a top notch education and get to travel the USA racing her bike. 

It is hard to believe that she is off to college soon, but it fly's when you are having fun. 

It seems like just yesterday that she was starting the Summit Mountain Challenge's

Mountain Bike Little League. She has come along way. 

A new Ride is coming her way to launch her in to her next level of racing..

Things are happening and I can't wait for the trails to dry out. 

It sounds like we will be packing and shipping bikes down to AZ 

for trip at the end of March, Her coach has her on a 18+

mile week and that gives me a great excuse to do almost nothing but ride a bike on single track while on vacation. 

I got my newly built up King hubs to some Velocity Blunt SL's ,,,, MD at Velocity took care of all of the dirty work and I can't wait to do my part in the dirt. 

Not sure if I will pack the Spot or the new LaMere??

Should have my hands on it this coming weekend as I head up to the Frostbike and Cutters Ball. 

Excited to build up a new race rig,,, and even more excited to get after some more training and riding with the Pip.. 

Can't even begin to tell you how PROUD of the kid that I am .. 

GOOD JOB PIP>>