Archive | September, 2013

Ripped

By soiledchamois on September 30, 2013 in Mountain Biking, Random

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After B-Man’s soccer match on Saturday I headed up to the MMCC trails to get a lap in. Before I headed out I noticed that it’s about time for a new pair of gloves, as my current beat to hell and back pair have finally ripped. With all those salt stains, it looks like they could use a wash too. The ride was brilliant though and I continue to enjoy the awesome spring-like fall weather we are having and the incredible trail conditions.

I think the rip in the gloves was just a little foreshadowing to the “rip” (or at least scratch) I was going to get in my left eye while I was putting in my contacts on Sunday morning. Not sure how I did that after 25 years of wearing contacts, but I did, and it hurts like a mother epher. Watering, sensitive to light, hurts to sleep, blink, etc. FRIG! Worst of all I have to wear my glasses which for some reason turns me into stumbling old man. Seriously, for some reason when I wear my glasses I hear even less, trip over my own two feet and have an even harder time paying attention… What? Oh yeah my glasses… Plus inevitably Wifey, or someone else, will tell me that I “look smart.” Which is like saying I KNOW you’re dumb but at least now you LOOK smart. Not to mention I find it impossible to ride with prescription eye glasses on. I use too much peripheral vision and I am blind as a bat, so even looking out the corner of my eye results in cloudy mess and throws off my equilibrium. Of course there IS the secondary problem of having an eye that is swollen and red and has everyone thinking I have pink eye like some baby who likes to play with their poo. I mean nothing agains playing with poo, but I don’t want people thinking I do it and then touch my face and eyes. I have standards.

Oh well, worse things have happened to better people than me. At least B-Man had a great weekend of soccer! His team won Saturday and lost Sunday, however the team on Sunday is the best in the league and B played great. Of course he did get hit in the face with a clearance pass that I believe has left the word Adidas on his cheek! Ha!

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Off to the eye doctor, hoping that I can get this cleared up and not miss too much time on the bike.

Not A Huge Fan, But

By soiledchamois on September 30, 2013 in Cycling, Random

I am not a huge fan of Pro road cycling anymore, between the (past?) drug use from racers and the snobbery that runs amuck among the road scene with their carbon wheels, overpriced Rapha kits and “rules” about everything from what socks you wear, to color of your handlebar tape, to how you wear your eyewear, has left me with little admiration for the lot of them. But I know when I see something cool, and this video by ShimanoRaceTV from the recent World Championship is pretty cool.

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A Fall Day On Dirt Roads

By soiledchamois on September 27, 2013 in Cycling

While this is technically fall, It just hasn’t felt like it, at least not the nipple hardening type of fall riding that I am used to. Night-time temperatures have been cool and during the day it’s been mostly sunny with temps in the 70s and NO humidity, so it’s been about as perfect as you can get for riding. Today was one of those days, so I got out riding on the dirt and gravel roads again for couple hours.

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Fred & Walter

By soiledchamois on September 27, 2013 in Cycling

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The great thing about finding cool vintage cycling photos is that through the magic of the Interwebnet machine you can track down a good deal of information on the photo and the subjects. The bad thing is that sometimes the information trail ends and you are left just staring at some cool old pics. Then again, maybe part of the charm is NOT knowing the whole story and letting your imagination fill in the gaps of the story.

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When In Doubt

By soiledchamois on September 26, 2013 in Random

Some say that if you have nothing worth blogging about, you shouldn’t blog at all. I disagree, I say that is the time to post photos of Jake The Dog…

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There was no riding of any kind today since B-Man’s school was cancelled due to heavy fog (yes, I said heavy fog). That was hard to take since it was freaking bee-a-YOU-tee-fool all day.

Oh well, there’s always tomorrow… unless it’s foggy of course.

Jacked Up

By soiledchamois on September 26, 2013 in Random

Man, WordPress has been all sort of jacked up today and it is beyond frustrating. This post may work, it may not (it seems it has, but still having issues). I hate the Internet (mature, aren’t I?)

Road Ride Pay Dirt

By soiledchamois on September 25, 2013 in Cycling

Today was a good day for a ride on the dirt roads surrounding my crib, and they did NOT disappoint, that’s for sure!

I won’t go to into all of the details of the ride, ’cause they ain’t that impressive, but just as it is with riding in the woods on singletrack, I see a little more than most when out on the dirt roads, so for the most part, I will let the pictures do the talking.

Basically the ride broke down like this: go south of town, hit Deerfield Road which is one of the shittiest roads I’ve ever been on (teeth rattling, nut sack pounding ripples of suck and THAT is on a freaking mountain bike), do some flats, do some mild hills, do some pavement, some sandy roads, see some freaky dirt road stuff, enjoy the ride, get 2.5 hours of riding in and go home. Fin.

Here are the pics…

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Vintage Dirt Racin’

By soiledchamois on September 25, 2013 in Cycling, Random

I recently came upon some photos of what is described as vintage BMX racing in Holland circa the 1950s. I have never raced BMX, however I do race mountain bikes (although be it with less and less frequency and less and less success) and have also done a few utterly forgettable and regrettable cross races, so it’s hard not to have the utmost appreciation for these kids ripping it up in the dirt. Not to mention they are doing it with impeccable style. To hell with skinsuits, lycra and helmets, I’m going helmetless with a big dose of flannel, leather shoes and knee socks from now on!

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