Stops Fast

 

UPS came and Dropped off

a nice package of 

Fun!!

Chicken Legs

Back to back days out on two wheels.

I keep reminding my self that 

it is only 

February

and I should not expect much.

Hard to see but those were a flock of wild turkeys 

that were running up this hill with me.

Got to the top and was putting my camera away 

when Stains little helper

came to 

tell me what he thought.

Though the dam dog was going to eat me.

I yelled he barked then I turned around and went down.

 

This is the look of first hill of the year and 

it was not even a big one.

Spin to win recovery day.

Magura is on board for the year

brakes are on the 

way along with a new Lid from Uvex.

Will feel like Christmas  again in a few days.

Snow is coming but not lots enough

to wax the skis up again and get

after it a few more times

then it is two wheel time.

2 For the Road

The Bike Choice,

                                                    The Destination,

Loving the Pain..

The other Lance

Coffee is going in and 

flapjacks are on the way.

Goals are good and mine today is

to end the month on 

2 wheels. 

Good loop picked 

and the CX is the tool of choice 

now just need the temps to go up a bit.

Yes punk rock changed my life but this movie change my world......

From Hell

Woke up this morning and 

it came faster than I expected.

Had still be around 

stuck in my head,

looked all over the internets for the song

could not find one. 

It is friday

which is the best news so far. 

Now the mental battle starts to

ski or ride a bike or both. 

Man choices are hard.

YouBEE4Tee

The reports on the internets is

that the skiing is good.

I would not know it has been a week.

Need to get off my ass and get back out

there.

Got to love the rain,

Put together a good string of outside

two wheel rides, and

have been supplementing with

Rolling in place.

It works and I am tired when it is over.

Need to stop looking at pictures of Tuscon,

looks nothing like the frozen tundra up here.

Soggy

Woke up to the sound of rain,,, It rained all night which made the snow pack in to 

mush.

So with the voices in my head yelling at me

I hit the pave.

The CX with some fenders made sense, because

after the rain stopped we got a .25 inch of

snow.

I am going to get sloppy I thought but did not care.

I kept things on flat roads and

headed north in to a good wind the kind of wind

in which you feel like you are going no where.

Through New Amsterdam and now the wind

was at my back strip some layers off and

spin home.

Glad to be out would like to see the sun!

So Long

Best Free Bird Ever,,,,,, Jay Leno Sucks,, He should have just retired !!!!

Round and Round

Wheels out spinning

first two wheeled

adventure of 210.

Good fun even if it was just to work.

I know that the haters say riding to

work dose not make a

difference on your cycling work

load but poo poo on them.

Grate way to start and finish the day.

ALL smiles here.

Tursdays low lights

The work comes in

waves like the weather here

in the upper mid east.

We sit on the edge of another

shit pattern of sleet and rain.

Oh well still can't control the

weather.

The Boys in Flag town are

going to need big shovels 

to dig out of what is hitting them.

up to 6 feet in town.

More is not less and less is not more

it is that perfect balance the will prevail.

I could use a spring training camp in the warm

mountains but instead I will

layer up.

Eyes wide shut

When you sleep at night what do you 

dream about?  A new bike for 2010 is what I see when I close my eyes.

Spot has changed up the rear end to make the belt change

easier but also to make tension and wheel changes quicker.

I'll take mine in red and black.

#12

Bike shop was jumping

yesterday.

A bit of warm weather

brings out the people.

Road Bikes were the

items of the day.

One more 5.2 is out the door

to another EMAG

rider.

I think that it is going to be EMAG brought to you by

Trek.

All smiles as it is january and roads are getting a bit

dry for riding.

I got the Lemond all ready for riding with

some new shifters and a full wipe down.

Out on skis today but the pave is in my sights.

It is weird to here this come out of my head but lets go

cowboys. It to see the real old man play:)

100%

Wiped out and not

sure if this coffee is strong enough.

My brazing is getting better

which makes my brain

rest.

Need more time but needing the

body to wake up.

More spinning in place,

then back to the skis.

And my internal sound track!

Amost

Blue Bird and warm

today.

With a break in my

day between work

and school it was

ski time

This weekend I skied in negitive teens

and today 35.

Crazy change had me almost thinking

about riding a

bike outside but, got to ski it while it is here.

Two hours full sun and race pace or at

least what I think is race pace.

Fried now I get to

play with torches and silver soder. 
This was playing in my head while skiing sure like the noise. 

FaceMasked

Back at it again on the

sticks.

Tired today lots of yelling and

jumping up and down yesterday.

Skied hard and now look forward to going

to bed and sleeping.

Weather is warming up time to

check snow temps

and wax up.

Fast enough for You?

The skis were much faster today. Big issue was that the pilot  was a

bit worked from the cold sharp snow of yesterday.

Wind was blowing on the golf course so

I stayed in the woods and beat my self up on the hills.

 

Good and cooked from the hard work.

More tomorrow with a break in the day

before refrigerant class starts. Would

like to get a few hours in.

Have to see how the body responds.

Till then It is Football day.

Go  PACK  Go...

Styrofoam

Cold out this morning but to not ski would have been crazier than not skiing. -8 when I got to the trail head, goal was one hour.. Ran in to a bunch from the Emag, and we skied around the forest.

The air was cold and the snow was even colder

which made the skis slow. Theses Atmic's just want to go fast but it was at times like skiing in place. 

After it was all over I was cooked all efforts we

x2 because of the

slow snow but it was so nice and quite in the woods

the new snow felt so good.

Now time to get the wax right for tomorrow

for another day slip sliding away.

I hope  the frosty effect is not the word of the day.

It's Uranus

Grab on and go

because it is going to be rocking. 

2 dark Park

Skiing in the

dark is not my favorite  but it is still better

than not skiing.

A good hour around links and woods

of Lacrosse.

Fast very fast almost

to fast for being dark.

The ski move and slide better than

any other that I have been on.

Now if the snow that is out there could just start to

stack up.

Back to Work

A blast of cold air showed up

for the new year and

the outside modivation 

has been hard.

After a long day of work at

the shop my modivation was

even less.

The kid got her first shot at the

skate ski on sunday the

temps were in the low 0's

and she spent a lot of time on the snow.

I think a few more times out and she should

be able to move around much better.

I got to fly around a bit on the new skis and

they are fast, all they want to do is move.

Now if I can only find the time to move them.

Shots

A full season of racing in just a few pictures.  All of these come from Dana's site. She does great work and spends a long time standing on the side of the trail snapping shots..

Now if only 2010 can be as good if not better than  2009.

Thanks to all for the support!! I could not have done it with out the help from the folks to the Right of this,,,!

What the Heck are you doing in my closet

The hills above the St Mary campus was glistening with a half inch of fresh snow. It was just enough along with the cold temps to make things a bit slow. I could feel the difference in the boots and skis. The new sticks want to go fast and the bit of hang up that they got from the fresh was slowing down that goal. Every thing was groomed and groomed well, the hills of SMU don't stop. Lots of climbing lots of climbing. Now the deep freeze is setting in so cold that skiing may be unpleasant. So far so good.

Atomic

New sticks have landed and more speed will come. Knocking down the K's.

down the drain

Yes the end is here and it has been a good one. Lots of challenges and more to come. Get the work done and push forward and hope that the puzzle has all the pieces. The harder I push the faster the wheels will spin. Now just make it happen. Next? We'll see just be ready.

Rolling

Riding inside is not my favarite thing to do. But I know it has to get done and while this time of year it is mainly tempo with a push here or there it is so much easier with my new Cycle Ops rollers. Smoother faster and so much quieter.. My old ones have found a new home and I hope that the new owner get good use out of them. Speaking of new it sounds as if some new sticks may becoming my way. This make the ski forecast more and more exciting. Now bring on some more snow so the trails here can get freshened up. May be time for some new music.. I am over the stuff in my player.

V1 or v2 ??

Ok after a few days of pouting and swearing at the rain and to much birthday cake it was time to ski. I went up to SMU knowing that the locals respect the trails and have not walked on them and that the grooming would be able to take care of the icy conditions. The pisten had been out and doing a great job. Their we a lot of times when I was motor pacing on fresh corduroy. Good work and very tired but still left me wanting more. Time to get some ski trips set up. I could use another pair of skis but with a tight budget and bike racing 3-4 months a way I need to save up. Some Day!!

1'000

Skiing may be on hold for a bit. Had a good ski on wed. morning had to fight my self to get out before work but the rewards were there. With the wind blowing and a full cover of darkness I stayed in the woods for the most part and just kept swinging at the hills. But now with a major winter event and the temps hovering around 34 all I can see is rain. A few more degrees cooler and we would be nipple deep in the white stuff. So I sit and wait like a kid on Christmas and wounder what the ski trails will be like. 8 days in to my winter bliss and mother nature has to piss all over it . Global Warming? Or just some angry sugar plum fairies! All I know is that they left me standing in the rain.

Up Up Up

Slip sliding away

Dark >>> that stuff that happens when it is not light out. With a trusty Led headlamp the XC trails get lit up just enough for some after dinner K's. My biggest issue is the small changes in snow and pitch. But as long as I keep it consistent the movement is good. I do like the light much better. Few more days and the longer days will be coming.

Swing and Miss

Wouldn't you know a ski race this weekend and I have to work. More to come or at least I hope. Warming the skis up so I can wax them and like a freak get out in the AM.. Going to be coLd.

Two Plank Wank

Tired I am. A bit worked... First day on snow was yesterday, and another today. Body responded well but towards the end of this morning I was felling it. The form needs to come around a bit and the speed will follow. More snow to come enough to cover up all the foot prints and crap from all the non skiing activity that happens. 12 Packs of Dales are now at the Woodmans so life for the holidays will be a good one. Maybe a good bit of rollers for tomorrow.

It has already been Broughten

It is dark dark like the coffee that sits in front of me. And with that comes the tiredness. A small break was needed yesterday and as always I felt guilty. My reward is more coffee and a friday that will lead in to a weekend of goodness. The skis are waiting for me just one more coat of wax and i will be ready for some sliding tomorrow. One thing stands in the way and that is work. In nine short hours I will be waxing up with a cold beer in my hand as loud punk rock rings in my ears. Here is to Coffee, Marshal Stacks, Cold Cold Beer.... Bring it on!!

Face Shots

It came!

Snow She Comes

The Wax is flowing getting ready for the snow.. These skis have been so good to me and I can;t wait to get out on them.. I do have new boots and bindings just no skis to mount them to. If another set of sticks came about I could get one of the girls here in the house out working on their V2. But the snow is coming and the silent winter days will be upon us.

Come Gather Round Childern

Got out for another blissful ride, cold temps 16 but I was warm with the T6 wool jersey. Need to get out again tomorrow because it sounds as if the ski tuner is going to need to come out. Things they are a changing.. Just need to keep between the colors?

Standing in the rain

I know that we have seen the first snow of the season, but my soul is still

celebrating summer.

Nors Wind

Dec 3rd, i woke up and put my shoes on. Layered up all in black, and hit the lights. With the swirly snow blowing work was at the other end. But first a small climb. A quick one up bliss brought much cheer. The decent was quick and just a bit slick. Now the ride home with the snow flying tons of cars crashing and my 28's rolling I looked like this...

More this time from NPR

A Good story from NPR>>>

A bicyclist rides down the street during this year's Bike to Work Day in San Francisco. Events such as this promote biking as a viable form of commuting, but tensions between cyclists and drivers persist.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

A bicyclist rides down the street during this year's Bike to Work Day in San Francisco. Events such as this promote biking as a viable form of commuting, but tensions between cyclists and drivers persist.

Five Bicycle Safety Tips

Wearing a helmet is arguably the most crucial component of bike safety. Beyond that, here are some things to remember:

1. Ride on the road — and the right side of it, too. It's a common misconception that it's safer to cycle on the sidewalk or on the left side of the road. But both practices can confuse pedestrians and drivers, especially at crosswalks when they aren't expecting fast-moving traffic.

2. Lighten up. Don't rely on reflectors alone to light you up if you ride at night. Drivers won't be able to see you in the shadows. Invest in bike lights.

3. Don't hug the curb. If you ride too close to the road's edge, passing cars might sidle you off of it. Aiming for the right tire track of the right lane is generally a safe bet.

4. Give your bike some TLC. A well-tuned ride is a safe ride. Regularly check your brakes, gears and tire pressure.

5. Keep your eyes peeled. Make it a habit to look all around when riding — check the ground for bumps and potholes while scanning the horizon for oncoming obstructions.

— Rose Raymond/NPR

Sources: bikecommute.com, bikexprt.com

text sizeAAA

December 2, 2009

Bicycling magazine called it "the road rage incident heard 'round the cycling world."

A driver in Los Angeles was recently convicted of using his car as a weapon against two cyclists. And the case is focusing attention on the often uneasy relationship between motorists and bicyclists who have to share the road.

It happened last year on the Fourth of July, on a steep, narrow road in L.A.'s Mandeville Canyon. Cyclists Christian Stoehr and Ron Peterson were riding side by side when a doctor who lived in the neighborhood came up from behind in a sedan.

"There was an exchange of words," Stoehr recalls. "He then accelerated within five feet in front of us, pulled over and slammed on the brakes."

Stoehr says there was no time for them to stop. He was thrown over the car and landed across the road. But Peterson didn't have time to swerve.

"And he went right in through the back window of the car," says Stoehr, adding that Peterson crashed headfirst. "I think they found his teeth in the back seat."

The impact severed Peterson's nose and separated Stoehr's shoulder. Christopher Thomas Thompson, the driver of the car and a former emergency room doctor, was arrested and put on trial. The jury found him guilty of six felonies, including assault with a deadly weapon: his car. Thompson now faces 10 years in prison.

"For someone to do this to you on purpose, it's unfathomable," says Peterson, a cycling coach for the University of California, Los Angeles. He says he still can't feel his nose, he now wears false teeth, and he will forever have scars.

"I'm happy that justice was served," Peterson told reporters outside the courthouse after the verdict. "I think all of our hope is that this brings to light just how vulnerable cyclists are out there."

During the trial, other cyclists told the jury of previous incidents with the driver. And a police officer testified that Thompson said he deliberately slammed on the brakes to "teach the cyclists a lesson."

Landmark Case

"The road rage was so egregious," says Bicycling editor Loren Mooney. She says this may be a landmark case in protecting cyclists and pedestrians. "It's the intent, the actual road rage, that's part of the conviction in this case."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic crashes killed 716 cyclists last year and injured 52,000 people riding bikes, trikes and unicycles. That includes recent fatalities from Brookline, Mass., to Portland, Ore. But unlike the Los Angeles case, Mooney says drivers who kill or injure cyclists are rarely convicted.

"It's easy for a driver to say, 'Oh, I didn't see you. You're small, you're traveling slowly in the roadway. It was an accident,' " says Mooney. "It takes an enormous amount of evidence to get a conviction of a reckless driver, or in this case, a driver with an intent to hurt somebody with a vehicle."

Mooney says crashes often happen when drivers are distracted by cell phones, texts and other hazards. And she warns bike riders not to aggravate or escalate tensions on the road.

Driver Resentment

The Mandeville Canyon driver's reaction was perhaps an extreme example of the everyday resentment heard from other motorists.

"These bicyclists are extremely rude, and they take up the road — four, five people at a time," complained one caller to NPR member station KPCC's show AirTalk. The caller said he lives in Mandeville Canyon, and he has had it with cyclists.

"When you pull up alongside them and ask them to stay out of your way, they yell at you," he said. "They're extremely provocative, they're asking for trouble, and this is not the worst case that's going to happen. Someone's going to get killed, and to be frank with you, the residents aren't going to feel too bad about it."

Another Mandeville Canyon resident, Tom Freeman, is sympathetic to vulnerable cyclists. But as president of the homeowners' association, he hears complaints that when drivers try to pass bike riders, "they give them the finger."

"If they catch up with them at a stop sign, they'll kick their cars," he says. "Somebody was spit at. It's the few that cause the problems, and they help create a perception."

Cycling In Fear

East Hollywood boasts what's known as a "bicycle district," with a bike shop, cafe and bike repair co-op. Here, cycling activist Stephen Box complains that police officers don't take bike crashes seriously. And he says cyclists feel the brunt of car drivers' frustrations.

"I've been left-hooked and hit. I've been hit from behind and left in the streets," says Box. "And they expect cyclists to ride where it's unsafe: It's unsafe to ride through potholes in the gutter pan; it's unsafe to ride through broken glass in the gutter pan; it's unsafe to ride in the door zone."

His wife, Enci, says that's why cyclists often ride the way they do — to survive, even if that means sometimes running red lights.

"When I see the light turn red, I try to race as fast as I can through it," she says, "because I know I will have a block of peace and quiet, where there won't be cars behind me."

These cyclists point out that it's actually legal to ride side by side in the streets of L.A. But the rules of the road can be confusing. That's why Alex Thompson wrote what's known as the Cyclists' Bill of Rights.

"Cyclists have the right to travel safely and free of fear. We have the right to the full support of the judicial system," says Thompson, a bike blogger who also co-founded the L.A. bike cooperative Bikerowave. "These are all rights cyclists already have, but we need to reaffirm these."

But even Thompson and another bike blogger, Ted Rogers, disapprove of reckless bike riders who maneuver through traffic as if playing a video game.

"Oh, we hate these guys," says Rogers. "We absolutely hate them. The driver you tick off is the one who's going to run me off the road."

USA Tody??? WTF

Two-wheel troublemaking: Have motorists let bicyclist 'rights' go too far?

Have bicyclist "rights" gone too far?

For a decade, urban bicyclists have become more brash. In some cities, groups such as Critical Mass organized mass rush-hour bike rides that tied traffic in knots, delaying commuters rides' home by minutes or hours. They are hardly tactics that will win sympathy from drivers.

In the aftermath and as their numbers have increased, cyclists have become emboldened to take over the road. That is, instead of riding to the right or on the shoulder, some are now riding in the center of the lane. Two incidents underscore how they are putting themselves in danger. One incident involved a cyclist hit and killed by accident. The other case is a motorist who is alleged to have tried to make bicyclists crash into his car on purpose:

In the first case, a driver on the way to work struck a St. Mary's County, Md., bicyclist earlier this month and killed him, police told The Washington Post. The driver, a 20-year-old in her Honda Accord, told police she never saw the biker. But the accident might have been prevented if the 47-year-old bicyclist had been riding in the right, not in the dead center, of the lane, a major contributor to the accident.

In the second case, a Los Angeles doctor is on trial for allegedly slamming the brakes on his car to cause two bikers to run into him. They did, suffering bloody injuries. The doctor, Charles Christopher Thompson, was allegedly peeved over having to slow down for three bikers blocking his path, refusing to pull to the right and flipping him off as he passed. He is on trial for having pulled in front of them and, according to testimony, hitting the brakes so that bikes were sure to hit. One biker needed 90 stitches.

For a little perspective, Drive On sought out Jeff Peel, a program specialist heading the League of American Bicycle's campaign for Bicycle Friendly Communities. His contention is that the road is "not motorist space. It's people space." Bicyclists are road users, too, even if they travel at the fraction of the speed of a car. In fact, he says, that's good.

"The idea is you are slowing traffic, which may be frustrating to some motorists but making the road safer for everyone," Peel says. "Creating safer roadways and right-of-ways for all users sometimes requires taking space away from automobiles."

Taking space away from cars? Ouch. When late to work, it pains a driver to slow down for a bunch of bicyclists hogging the roadway. In the past, you might have tried to steer around them. These days, they are right in front of the car.

It will be interesting to see how far this goes, whether bicyclists are allowed to stay in the middle of the highway. As the deaths mount, maybe it will become clear they need ride to the right.

Here's a breakdown from Peel about where bikers can ride in various states:

States that require cyclists to use trail or pathways when one is adjacent to roadway:

Louisiana

Nebraska

New Mexico

Oregon

States that require cyclists to use bike lanes when present:

Louisiana

Maryland

New Mexico

Oregon

Rhode Island

West Virginia

States that require cyclists to ride on the shoulder when present:

Alaska

Hawaii

Maryland

South Dakota

A 1997 bike rally by Critical Mass in San Francisco, by Sam Morris/AP

Rolling for a Empire of Dirt

December or the twelfth month of the year. The End of the beginning. At least one day outside on wheels every month of the year some more than others. Out again this morning beating the light at 6:50. Layered and warm for a bit of bliss and a scone to follow. Pain was in the legs as the raitos from the summer make the legs Hurt. It is in the numbers and their is light @ the tunnels end, I can see it.

Dark Heart Coffee

Work has gotten done, it has been a productive November, only missing one day in the month on a bike. I am tired all the time >>>I seem to be going in too many different directions. Some time I wounder what life would be like with out coffee. Little over twenty days and the light will be back. And then things will swing the other way. Now How About Some Snow?

Big Time

Square Hole

The path to Enlightenment comes from with in. Within what not sure. But I think that it is all stepping stones. As the parts of the Puzzle come together for next year all I can do is lay down the ground work and not covet what is being done else where it only matters here and now. Get it done and all will be good.......

Hellfire

Kenwood!

Rainy days Blue

I know full well that I am going to get wet on my commute today either coming or going. Just don't want to put gas in the car need to save the money when I can. I think that this last weekend was the first in months that I did not get out on my MTB. Had to work on saturday and the weather was shit on sunday. I think that means that winter is coming. As the days get darker the bringer of the light is on it's way. Then it is all up hill. Sunlight=Motivation

Brain Drain

Low cloud deck and rainy mist coming down. Dark at 7:00 AM, felt like what in my head would be a morning in the north west. With the elements just went to work, the nice part of it all was I was dry under my Crafty layers. Same for the spin home. Work week coming to an end but the woods may be off limits with Gun Season starting tomorrow. Would like some more single track time, but in late Nov.. I;ll take what I can get. Now back to my regularly morning coffee bonanza ..

What ever is cool with me

Score

Any Given Sunday

No ride sunday,, it was all football. With blue skies Anna and I headed to Pigskin Mecca. We had never been before and had no Idea what to expect. What a show the whole town puts on a big party, and then their is a foot ball game. We made it in early and sat in the sun and soaked up the Champagne of Beers. I can say that it was a good way to send a day especially because the Pack Won!! Good times but now it is time to get back to the work at hand. With roller ski in my sights snow skiing should soon follow. Whistle while you work.!

One track mind

Went up to the big ball today and got after the dirt that it keeps watch of. Good temps and no precep although it sure looked like it wanted to do something. Trails in great shape and little coverage of leaves even though they are all out of the trees. A little over two hours of two wheel bliss. I wanted more but the tired body had other ideas. It has almost been three years since I rode these trails for the first time. I have to say to say that they are some of the the best that I have ever had the chance to spin on. Lots of time for the brain to rotate while riding....and many thanks go out to all that help me get though the years. Today I am saying thanks to the boys\girls @ Twin Six,,,,,, they help a fashionless Bike Geek have a bit of style. Off to the frozen tundra tomorrow not sure what to expect.....this will be like going to a stage of the the tour or being in the velodrome as the Roubaix finishes.

Song for Aaron

Good miles for November, I have been able to put some good extra work in on the commute. Plan to get a few hours on the Spot tomorrow depending on weather. Then on sunday off to the frozen tundra! Should be good even if big D brings the sack train.

Sweet Kane

Sedona has a Vortex

Out in some dirt and leaves with the kid and some other local freaks,, With weather just perfect and temps in the mid 60's it was a great day on the trail.Sophia rode well for not being on the bike in a long while. Someone had been out with the leaf mover because the single track was sweetttttt!!! I hope for more time on the dirt ,,, or the Pave,,, just keep the wheels moving.... I want to grow up to be a ............ This next one is cool show a different side of the screamer..... I just wish I could find the entrance to the vortex so I could be in Sedona to ride in the red rocks and dip my toes in Oak Creek..

MTM

Putting it all together and seeing how the body reacts. So far I think that shock is the best way to describe. Still have a bit of the 800 pound gorilla on my chest and that will slow anyone down. Not that anyone ever liked it when you coughed in public but now it is even worse the glares and looks that you get. Things to be missed out on this weekend are the Midwest SSCX Championship and then the Ice Man in MI. I will be taking in the warm temps while riding a bike in the area closer to home. I need more coffee so go fast have fun and Play loud!!

New Standards

I got the needed Spot time yesterday. Rode ala solo because the superstar kid was too tired. That is fine time in the woods is good. All the leaves fell in the wind that we had on saturday, and it was a lot of wind. New signs on trails up at the HPT which is bull but from the way I understand it the wording in the grant was wrong and now people are trying to fix it. Would be a huge shame if the trails were lost or access was denied. Windy on the commute today and chilly on the way home but felt great to be moving out of doors in the first of november. If you are reading this and it is tonight go and look at the moon it was a great moon rise. It is in the forecast... ready??