For some people, riding bikes is about going fast, winning and losing races. For some it’s about adventure. For others still, it’s about going places and doing things that you never thought you would or could do.
Archive | Mountain Biking
Better Alternatives
When I woke up this morning, my legs–and other body parts– were so sore from yesterday’s inaugural off-season weight session at Ballstein’s, I could barely squat on the throne for my multiple morning e-vacs. Still, there were things that needed done. Like ride.
Repack Style: Denim on Denim
Alan Bonds rocking denim on denim aboard his klunker at one of several 1976 Repack downhill races in Marin County, California.
You really can’t go wrong with bikes racing dirt or denim on denim. They just sort of go together… like chafing and taints.
Photo: Alan Bonds
Tomac: Legend
Tomac. Freaking legend!
Fall, Hanging On
I had a chance to get some miles in on the trails today. The temps were the coldest they’ve been since early spring– hovering in the low to mid-thirties– the breeze was stiff and the clouds coming down from the north looked like they could piss down some snow showers at any time.
The Trail For The Leaves
The “wet season” continues here in mid-Michigan with rain almost every day for the past week, including a brief shower this morning before the sun came out, but other than some wet leaves and a slick root or two you would not have known it from today’s ride. The soil at MMCC sucks up rain harder than a Vegas hooker sucks up… Rain?
In Love With The Superfly
SKIP TO THE END FOR A JUNE 2014 UPDATE:
I have spent the last two day doing some 16 mile laps on the trails at Mid Michigan Community College. I have to say it was freaking awesome to be out in the woods, which are blossoming into a golden shower of autumnal leaves, and awesomer [word?] still to have the chance to ride through that crunchy golden shower on a bike that is very much NOT mine, but would NOT mind at all if it were.
How One Race Changed Everything
Yesterday, as I came home from my ride and sat my ancient, well stickered box full of gear on the kitchen table, I happened to glance down at the large 2002 24 Hours of Snowshoe bumper sticker that adorns one side (right between a bikeman.com and Merge Records sticker). I have obviously seen the sticker a million times in the past eleven years, but for some reason yesterday it hit home and reminded me of what all that ONE race spawned.
A Bob Ross Sort of Ride
With my scratched eyeball on the mends, I poo-pooed my eye doctor’s years and years of education, experience and expertise and stuffed my contacts back in my eyes so that I could get some ride time in. I’m sure glad I did, because fall has started to get its freak on.
Ripped
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!
Off to the eye doctor, hoping that I can get this cleared up and not miss too much time on the bike.