Oh, Hell Yeah!!!

That's enough to make me want to go mountain biking.

I would so totally buy that for Kiki if she asked.  Here's the photo gallery.

Since I'm just being silly.  Here's a funny video I found the other day.  21st Ave Bikes

January Wrap Up, Week 3 and 4 Totals and Monthly Total

January passed in the blink of an eye.  It's been hot, cold, wet, dry.  I was lucky enough to ride with Raleigh over the weekend after almost giving up hope that he'd want to ride again.  Shanna got a new bike, a MASI Souleville Mixte.  I've stripped the Crosscheck down to the frame and almost finished building it back with some fun new parts.  More on that later...

Here are the mileage numbers.  Yawn...

1/15/2011	0.00	Rain
1/16/2011	0.00	Rain
1/17/2011	27.00	360 loop (counter-clockwise) with south MoPac to Zilker > Exposition
1/18/2011	20.00	Shoal Creek > Hancock > Balcones > Scenic > Red Bud > Sratford > MoPac foot bridge > Exposition > Shoal Creek
1/19/2011	21.00	Shoal Creek > Bull Creek > Jefferson > Exposition > Lake Austin Blvd > MoPac foot bridge > Stratford > Red Bud > Lake Austin Blvd > Scenic > Balcones > Hancock > Shoal Creek
1/20/2011	0.00	Yoga.  Arctic north wind with strong gusts.  Brrrr!	Week 3 Total:
1/21/2011	29.90	Truancy Ride with Mellow Johnny's (3000 miles on IF bike)	97.90
1/22/2011	42.46	Butler Park > Zilker > MoPac bridge > Lake Austin Blvd > Scenic > Mt. Bonnell > Mesa > Greystone > Far West > Mesa > Spicewood Springs > Yaupon > Rain Creek > 360
1/23/2011	27.16	360 loop (counter-clockwise) with south MoPac to Zilker > Exposition (flat tire - rear)
1/24/2011	10.74	Errand to The Peddler Bike Shop to pick up front canti cable stop
1/25/2011	0.00	Working in Temple
1/26/2011	0.00	Working in Temple
1/27/2011	0.00	Working in Temple	Week 4 Total:
1/28/2011	32.82	360 to Mopac bridge > met Jason > 360 back home	113.18
1/29/2011	23.55	Hill Country AIDS training ride with Jason and Raleigh.  Tim's house > Shoal Creek > Exposition > Downtown > Exposition > Shoal Creek > Home (flat tire - front)
1/30/2011	25.95	360 loop (quick outing, kids at the house)	Short Week Total:
1/31/2011	20.02	Shoal Creek > Hancock > Balcones > Scenic > Red Bud > Sratford > MoPac foot bridge > Exposition > Shoal Creek	69.52
Total:	590.46

Feeling pretty good.  The knee pain that I'd been struggling with seems to have resolved itself.   A little ice, higher cadence, and avoidance of the really steep hills seems to have done the trick.

Bike Notes: 
- bought new tires but haven't installed them yet.
- flats on both tires recently.  need to install new tires
- need to check the chain...  over 3000 miles on it.

More and Less

New Year... three weeks in. I feel inspired by the Distance Challenge you boys are doing, and the blogging. I was really happy to receive an invitation to join this smack talking forum (thanks, Marc!). I'm new to blogging, and as the only chick on this blog I may have to sprinkle in the occasional hearts and flowers. Along with tales of bike grease, headwinds, awesome hills, and the like.

I've committed to riding 2,500 miles on my bike this year. There. I've said it. You are my witness. I think this goal is both achievable and will be a stretch for me, too.

I've adopted "More and Less" as a theme for the year. My mileage goal is part of that. More of what I love, more time outside, being active, connecting to the elements, nature, and friends. More miles on my bike. More camping, more hiking. More time laughing, loving, being present. I'm hopeful that Liam will get inspired and join me on two wheels this year! Less time in pursuits that aren't fulfilling. Less time being scattered. Less time on frivolous spending, time or money.

So, I went for a chilly, drizzly ride with Celeste yesterday. Two pink Pinarellos, 25 miles. If we hadn't planned to ride together, I'm pretty sure my day would have involved a book, a sofa, a blanket, and a cat or two. But off we went! We didn't break any land speed records, but it felt great! We did the "Money Loop" from her house, Lake Austin (very low water), up Mt. Bonnell, down some others, Exposition, Bull Creek, Hancock, Shoal Creek and back into town on Lamar. Shannon was a good pre and post ride supporter, helping us get out the door. It was seriously comical. Celeste and I went for awesome zuchini migas at Bouldin Cafe afterwards, and brought our calendars. We planned rides together for the next month. Two new and longer ones for me that I'm looking forward to, Fitzhugh Rd. and the Cream Cheese ride from Cedar Park.

Thanks for having me, you awesome cycling dudes! Fun and safe riding to all!

PS Marc - comment on your post about potential places to live: I have not been to Ashville yet, but hear that a lot of people there are short on teeth. Just sayin.

Going the distance?

Choose your weapon wisely. This video reminds me of a bumper sticker in Aspen. 'Longboard is the Wrongboard'

Welcome Anna!

Anna,

Glad to hear you've set a goal for the year and that you'll play along.  I'm looking forward to following your progress and reading about your experience.  Have fun with it.

Me and My Shadow, So Much for a Dry Ride

"Hello darkness, my old friend"

So nice to have the sun back.  I noticed my shadow leading me out yesterday.  Has it really been that long since it's been sunny?  More likely that I have zero tolerance for long periods of overcast, rainy days.  I guess that takes Portland off the potential places to live list.

Potential Place to Live

1. Boulder, CO
2. Portland, OR
3. Southern California
4. Mexico
5. Ashville, NC

The city has lowered the water level in Lake Austin.  It’s shockingly low.  Especially around the Scenic area where there are little coves with boat garages.  It’s just mud, mud, mud everywhere. 

Monday’s ride was great and after two days of no real activity it did a lot to elevate my mood.  To my dismay, the construction project along

Bull Creek Rd

was busy cleaning the road.  What had been a perfectly dry ride up until then turned into a muddy, nasty mess for about half a mile. 

Ugh!  Yuck!  I’ll be digging that mud splatter out of cracks for weeks.

Week 2 Totals, FrankenFred

This week has been pretty dreary.  The sun only came out for a few hours on Tuesday.  Otherwise it's been either overcast and grey or misting rain.  Great cyclocross weather and I've been eyeing the Salsa Chili con Crosso which would probably be cheaper than building out the Surly Crosscheck as a 'cross bike instead of the singlespeed townie-esque abomination that it is today.  Maybe I should add some fenders to the Surly...

While the Crosscheck is a Frankenbike in the truest sense (parts from 3-4 old bikes), I've been dressing like a FrankenFred all week.  Today I broke out the olive drab ('moss' if you subscribe to the J. Crew color palette) wool jersey complete with big moth holes.  It's so misshappen that one pocket hung down below my hip while the other was halfway up my back.  I think the front is so short that the top of my bibs was visible if I stood upright.  The bibs were blue and I suspect that they are getting a little thin.  They are at least 10 years old.  Probably closer to 12 years, but I can't remember.  Either way, they're a testament to Voler bibs.  Cheap and durable.  Perfect training gear for midweek rides.

At least the cold weather has given me an excuse to wear my new Ibex neck gaiter and cap that I picked up in Boston.

Here are my mileage totals for week 2:

1/8/2011	54.81	Group Ride - Dam Loop from Butler Park with Shannon, Paul, Jeff, Robby, Paulo, DuShaun
1/9/2011	0.00	Lazy, rainy day.
1/10/2011	0.00	Cold, wet day.  Went to the gym for lunch workout
1/11/2011	22.92	Shoal Creek > Hancock > Balcones > Scenic > Red Bud > Westlake Dr > Toro Canyon > Westlake > 360 > Mesa > Steck.  Cold but a really nice day.
1/12/2011	0.00	Gym
1/13/2011	16.72	Scenic Loop (16.72)	Week 2 Total:
1/14/2011	15.36	Spicewood Springs Loop	109.81

Year to date:  309.86

I'm creeping up on 3000 miles on the bike which is serving as a reminder that I'll have to step up how much I'm riding in order to meet the 5000 mile goal for the year.  Work projects are looming so I'll continue taking advantage of getting in the miles now.

Bike Notes: 

• Need to check the chain again for wear. 
• Rear tire is squared off.  The 'wear indicators' are gone and I'm starting to see threads from the sidewalls
• I noticed a really roughed up spot on one of the tires
• The cleat on my right shoe (the one that that I unclip at stops) is showing a lot of wear.  Thinking of replacing them when I replace the chain.

Winter Part 2 (the part when I ride)

Today turned out to be much nicer.  Still cold (40 degrees) and a little breezy, but dry and the sun was out.  I took advantage of a slow schedule and did a nice loop the included Scenic, Red Bud, Westlake, and Toro Canyon.

A list of what I wore:

• midweight long-sleeved shirt
• long-sleeved winter jersey
• lightweight jacket
• bib shorts
• full leg warmers
• wool socks
• wool hat
• neck gaiter
• winter gloves
• shoe covers

I was comfortable (maybe a little overdressed for the climbs, but grateful for the jacket in the wind).  It always surprises me when the water in my bottle is cold.  I guess I'm just conditioned to expect lukewarm to hot water when I'm riding.

I've shared a bit about my latest book purchase with a few of you, The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike). I've been feeling a little anxious anticipating it's arrival in all, so much I surprised myself. I had to pause for a moment and reflect on why I was filled with such excitement for this book. Cycling is without question a passion of mine, a passion that has taken me a long time to discover. The more I pedal, the more I learn and the more I pedal.......It is a love affair that has no ending! I humbly admit I am not even close to understanding this, it is not about the destination, rather the journey that matters. Clearly my passion is leading me up all of the hardest hills and I'm following it!! So begins my biking passport of all the hardest hills! I welcome anyone who would like to join in!

http://usacyclingclimbing.com/2.html In case you want to purchase one of your own.

Winter...

I want to ride today.  Seriously, I do...  yeah, it's cold.  38 degrees.  but then you look up and it's so cloudy and there is this pesky mist that coats my glasses.  Everything is wet and drippy.  The road is all wet and it would make for a really nasty ride.  The kind that leaves permanent black stains on the back of your jersey.  Cleaning the bike would be a pain in the ass too.  All that coupled with the fact that I live in Texas and it will probably be sunny and mid-60's by next week.  There's a decent class at the gym today.  Gym is gonna be packed though with all the New Year's Resolutioners...

what to do...

an update.  The gym won out.  Hopefully it will dry up a little tomorrow.

Marc's Week One Recap and Saturday Group Ride

Off to a good start with a solid week of riding.  Short rides on the holiday weekend, but got in my first longish outing on Monday which was a company holiday.  My right knee has been hurting since the Tour das Hugel.  I was hopeful that the business trip to Boston (two weeks without getting on the bike) would let it heal up, but it doesn't seem to have helped.  I'm focusing on keeping a higher cadence and trying to stay in the small chainring.  Also trying to avoid hills, but I'm like a moth to the flame.  At least I'm avoiding the really big ones.  Group riding is going to be my downfall because I can't resist staying with the group on the climbs and this crew LOVES the hills.

Here are the week 1 stats:

Date	Distance	Notes
1/1/2011	31.85	Jason.  Knee pain.  Started from Jason's condo, ATC short route (south MoPac > Soutwest Parkway > Bee Cave Rd > 360 > Westlake)
1/2/2011	15.38	Spicewood Springs Loop, Knee pain
1/3/2011	74.60	Spicewood Springs > Lime Creek Loop > 620 > Bee Cave Rd > Cuernavace > 360 > Westlake > MJ > Nueces > Shoal Creek
1/4/2011	14.20	Shoal Creek > Jefferson > Exposition (quick turn around and back home) Rain and knee hurting really bad)
1/5/2011	15.40	Spicewood Springs Loop, Knee pain
1/6/2011	15.62	Spicewood Springs Loop with Paul (Knee feeling better.  Iced it following ride)	Week 1 Total:
1/7/2011	33.00	Shoal Creek > Anderson > Balcones > Scenic > Red Bud > Stratford > Rollingwood > 360 (U-turn before Bee Caves) > S MoPac > Expositon	200.05

Saturday the 8th was our first group ride of the year.  Great to be out with everyone again.  The weather was beautiful, a cool start that warmed up a bit, but not so much that it ever got hot.  Sun was out, breezy... all in all it was a great day to ride.  We did the Dam loop from Butler Park.  55 miles.

Jeff executed a nice 'front wheelie endo to shoulder roll' in the parking lot after the ride. 

Cold, wet weather is settling in for the next week.

First ride in 2011, first ride to new office (Mopac and Anderson) and first ride in the rain this year while biking home. Ride in was smooth and minimal traffic, the ride home gave me a headache. Slipper roads, wet leaves, wet road glare and evening traffic....."WHY"popped up a few times. I added the miles thinking I'll feel better knowing, a measly 23 miles.... Wednesday is a new day, high of 70 Degrees, no rain and I think I'm going to try a new route home.

Ready to ride...

Ready and waiting to ride on New Year's Day.

Happy New Year!

Last year was a great cycling year for me.  Jason introduced me to the group and we put in some fun early season miles before the summer took over.  We took some great trips (Ft. Davis/Marfa, Leakey) and did some nice charity rides (Shiner G.A.S.P.), I turned 40 and got a new bike (enough to make any year special) plus I was lucky enough to have Raleigh (11 at the time) ride 40 miles with me to celebrate.  There were beautiful rides through the Texas Hill County in the Spring and Fall.  In September I was able to spend a week in Aspen and ride each day with the Independence Pass summit as the highlight.  The Tour das Hugel capped off the year and riding it as a group made it even more special.

As a personal challenge I decided to ride (and log) 5000 miles in 2011.  Additionally I noted two milestones:
1.  Giro de Italia - 2174 miles (3498km)
2.  Tour de France - 2157 miles (3471km)

I set up this blog to record mileage and (more importantly) post photos and stories about riding this year.  Thanks for joining in, good luck, stay healthy and have fun.