Long Weekend

To all those serving and who have served: Thanks.

I got the dirt road bike out for a quick 10 mile dirt road blast on Sunday. Monday morning I went to Lake Hope on the MTB for 13 miles of damp singletrack.

Felt good to ride two days in a row.

Commuter/Back Road Bike

The back road bike is all together. I even commuted to work with it on Bike to Work Day (May 15). Details: Jamis Coda Comp frame (mmmm, steel), left over Redline stem and seat, used Kalloy post, left over Tektro V-brakes, FSA 42cm bars, Tektro RL520 levers (road levers for v-brakes), Suntour Bar-con, Shimano 105 crank and rear derailleur (from my old road bike), Time ATAC pedals, WTB Interwolf 700x38 tires. Setup as 1x8 with 39t x 13-27t gearing. Comfy ride and a lot lighter and faster on the road compared to my Redline d440.

From Cycling Stuff

New bike - old parts

I picked up a 2004 Jamis Coda Comp frame (steel-is-real) and have been putting together a back road bike with it and old parts. Almost have it all together. I will take some pictures and post details soon. Hopefully (if weather allows) I will use it to commute to work tomorrow, Bike-to-work day.

Gravel Rouser Classic '09

From Cycling Stuff

First real ride of the year. I had been putting some miles on by running and short road trips on the MTB. I was feeling pumped. Ride started in Athens (at Toscano's) and headed out for a 20 mile back road trip to Lake Hope. Weather was great! Started in the 30's, but everyone was peeling layers by the time we reached the lake. We met at the stick pile on Habron and were to head up Bobcat, catch Copperhead, and back down Yosemite Falls to Habron and out to the furnace. I was with a group of about four riders and Tim (who I had not met before) yells "left". That left added somewhere between 5 to 7 miles to the ride. Shortly after, during the climb back up to the ridge, I had a cramp in the back of my right leg. Down I went and attempted to stretch it out. Now I am separated from the group on the wrong trail and late getting back. I could barely pedal down hill. I made it back to Copperhead and went a little way along the trail before jumping out onto Irish Ridge and down the gravel road to 278. Ended up catching a ride back to Athens in the SAG wagon. Bummed I couldn't do the full ride but I am glad I can walk today. More about the day at Athens Bicycle.

Wimped out.

I wimped out.  I added a 24T inner chainring and derailleur.  I'll post up a picture soon.  Couple of hills I just could not make on the 1x8 gearing.

The Thaw

Wow, the weather went from ice and 9 degrees to mud and 60.  Still need 4WD, but not because of the ice anymore.  Still, a few weeks of that and my training schedule is completely shot.  I also missed the early registration deadline for the Mohican 100k.  I think I am going to pass this year, not enough time to train and it would be a very expensive race for me.

Stem

I know I haven't posted in a while.  Weather has been stupid cold.  Night time low was -7 a few days ago.  I did finally pick up a new stem though - a 110mm RaveFace Evolve XC and got out for a 9 mile ride in the snow on Sunday, only to end the ride with a flat.