Crusty Cassette

It pleases Steve to refer to this as my challenge. The truth of the matter is, that I was reluctant to even complete that first January century that put Steve on to this craziness.

I did get out on Tuesday last week when it was 60+ and did 30 miles.

On Wedesday, a car with a bike on a rack passed me as I started down Critchfield. The car pulled off to the left at the gravel parking lot at the bottom of Critchfield so I stopped to see if it was anyone I knew. Turns out to have been someone named Dun. At 76, he said he hesitated to ride with us thinking he couldln't keep up. We rode up Clemens and on to 10 mile together. He was in shorts despite the temps having dropped back to the high 40s. I had kept my tights on.

On Sunday, Linda and I and Helen rode to the Boat Launch for the usual Sunday 1pm start. We were pleased to meet Bill Arnold.

Bill had been on a mountain bike when he joined Sean and I last spring riding toward Steptoe Canyon. Bill turned around before climbing up Steptoe Canyon. He'd lost 25 lbs and has lost another 25 and bought a Lemond from old Sean.

Saturday Nicky and Mike hosted a Christmas party and Chris showed up. He's working three jobs now and doesn't have much time for cycling but he wanted to ride on Sunday. Doug was up for it so despite the over cast and temps below freezing, I geared up--booties and balaclava and headed out for a ride. Doug lead us up Lindsay Creek a bit fast for my taste, but Chris still jumped out on that first steep climb. I think Doug may have caught him by the top but how would I know--I was bringing up the rear.

The cold got to my toes despite the wool socks and booties. It is tough to get out when you are alone and the clouds are hanging low overhead. Not even STeve's Challenge can interest me in a century now. How'd you get one in on these short days?

Two years ago Corrie challenged me to do a century each month. Last year I found December the most challenging month, and the same this year. I had planned to ride on Saturday as the forecast was for sunny with forecast highs near 40. I was up before dawn, but unforecasted snow had fallen and didn’t melt until afternoon. Sunday was forecast for cold and sunny- a forecast high of only 33 which it never hit. It was 17 when I got up, but I still wanted to get out, and wanted to meet Corrie’s challenge a 2nd time! I knew my tights were inadequate, so I slipped my nylon shell pants over them thinking I could shed them before noon. Within an hour of leaving home the few icy spots on the road seemed to end, so I picked up my slow pace a bit, and the sun was high enough it slightly warmed my back as I headed west. I prefer doing the Emmett Century on Saturday’s as I enjoy the old turn-of-the-last century country store there, and it’s closed on Sundays. I stopped anyway to sit on their chairs on the sunny porch. I was ready for a snack, so I went to my pack for a Cliff Bar that had been there for about a year. As I tried to bite it, I decided it was harder than my teeth. Not wanting broken teeth or a dentist bill I stuffed it between my layered shirts hoping it would melt. My desire to salvage the Cliff bars was increased by my discovery I hadn’t brought my wallet! I still couldn’t bite or break the bar when I got to Emmet, about 7 miles away. I threw in on the ground hoping it would break. No luck. Tried again as hard as I could, and it shattered with about half the bar’s shreds flying through the park. By sucking the shreds that remained they became soft enough to chew! I had a 2nd dehydrated bar that I was able to break against the pavement without losing so much of it! A good reason to take your wallet on your next ride! By 3:00 MST unforecasted clouds were moving in; I couldn’t find the sun behind them; and the temps started falling. Despite the lack of food, I didn’t bonk though I was pretty hungry last night! Except for the lack of money, it was a pleasant ride. My feet were a bit chilly that first hour, and were getting that way again as I arrived home though that pair of nylon pants never came off. So, why am I not seeing blogs of some of your winter rides up in the banana belt? I did notice that day last week when your high was 65 degrees!

Read the Full Story

My '99 Judy XC (Cross Country) shock with 11,636 miles on it started leaking oil this September. When I checked at a couple of bike shops for replacement shocks, they were showing me $500 to $700 shocks. Neither shop does many trade outs, and both suggested I have it repaired by a local "shockman" who used to work for RockShock.

Read the Full Story

After a workweek’s beautiful sunny weather with days in the upper 60's Saturday morning’s forecast wasn’t good- clear to party sunny for Saturday a.m., 30% chance of showers in the afternoon, and a steady rain that night, and that was the “good day” of the three-day weekend. After meeting Corrie’s challenge of a century each month in ‘06, I’m trying to meet it again in ‘07, but November can be difficult, and December could be impossible. Beside the need to meet Corrie’s challenge a second year, I found the idea of a three day weekend staring out the windows hoping for better weather made me willing to take a chance. I do own rain gear and fenders for a reason!

Read the Full Story