now winter is here........sort of

my last post was about the advent of winter. I guess I was a bit off. I didn't actually get to ski until the Saturday after turkey day (and the Sunday, too) both of which were pretty good. Then the snow went away, so I started biking more. After biking in a bit of snow last Tuesday night, we finally got winter our first winter storm. That brought some good night skiing (via skins and headlamp to make it more exciting). It also brought some cold weather and ICE! I got a chance to use my pointy new ice Axes and shoe fangs. They were sweet, I was not. I felt like a turtle on its back flailing my way up. Oh well, I had fun. Hopefully winter is here to stay and I will be able write more.

Summer is done, bring on the snow!

This summer went well overall. I rode my bike more than ever before, raced consistently and had a lot of fun. The 24 races were good, although I am not sure they are worth it. I might try more shorter races next year, but we will see. The millstone grind went well. I hope the rumors about the date change next year aren't true so I can do that race again. The 50 started off okay, but went downhill quickly at the end. Three flat tires and only two tubes. He last flat being only five miles from the finish. I could have finished but I didn't see the point in ruining my wheel and I really wanted to be done at that point. Oh well. There is always next year. Some recent good news is I get to wear Outdoor Research clothing for the winter as one of their lab rat type people. I am excited to beat on clothing for this ski season. I promise I am going to ski every chance I get!
That is all for now.

wired

This is scary. I can now type stuff on my phone and post it. Pat's peak went well and the summer has been full of riding and working and more riding. Hopefully I can get my new wheels soon and get ready in time for great glen. Lot's of fun and hopefully more and more riding.

Last post for a while, back to VT!

yup. it is over. Done with the New Hampshire job, just have to pack up the car, visit family and then head home. Rainy, nasty day, so not much for riding, but I hope to do something active. I got into the VT 50 again, and Bear brook is this weekend. Then I get to start work for the summer, and look forward to the new job in the fall.
I hope it all works out!

Coyote hill

I love the Coyote hill course. I hate the fact that you need a license to race there. I am, admittedly, a "wicked noob" when it comes to racing, but I feel like I am physically capable of racing in the expert class. Unfortunately, I am only allowed to race cat 2 at "official" events. I showed up early after carpooling with a friend who was bringing his cousin down to race in the beginner class. His cousin started well, but broke his chain halfway through the lap and had to walk out of the woods. Mike (my carpool buddy) and I got dressed and pre-rode the course way before our 11 o'clock start time. Then we got nice and cold in the rain, and while waiting for the start which was pushed back half an hour. I wanted to race in the open/cat 1 single speed class, but I can't because I have never done a "norba" race before and because there are lots of rules to follow to race bikes with the big kids. Oh well, live and learn. I rode my two laps in the greasy, rooty, mucky, pump park that is the Coyote hill race course. I had a lot of fun riding, and if I ever race there again, I will put my suspension fork on my single speed. My arms are a little sore from riding it rigid. Mike crashed early in his lap and may have broken his arm, so I got to drive home. I had a pretty good day and might actually get more serious about this whole bike racing thing.

Back on the Road

So today I got to get back on the pavement for a two and a half hour ride.  It was hot, and the wind was fierce.  I have a bad habit of mistaking a tailwind for a headwind when I set out, probably because I am usually slow to warm up and I feel like I am working harder than I need to.  This makes the ride back home a better workout and much more demeaning.  If you are damaging your self confidence, then you aren't really training, right?  Anyway, the weather was actually really nice today.  I believe I increased my freckle count exponentially today riding around in the afternoon sun.  My loop followed a big river for the majority of the ride, and views like this are very tempting when it is ninety and humid.  

I felt pretty good after warming up (do you really need to warm up on a ninety degree day?) and was able to make good time for the second half of the ride.  Just a few more short rides and hopefully a good day down at Coyote hill this Sunday.  

World Cup sh*tshow

Yesterday I went up to Plymouth to get my crankset tightened up and to ride some single track.  Plymouth is a cool little town with an inordinate amount of trails for small town in Northern NH.  I asked the guys at the LBS about some trails further North.  They told me about some logging roads that I tried to check out, but they were still wet, so I headed back to town and rode a super, double secret trail that may or may not be called world cup, as rumor has it.  It is super tight, Eff you single track with rocks that eat tires and do funny things to tubeless tires.  It has steeps

And a very scenic view of the local thoroughfare.  

The first part of the trail runs right along the highway in between the deer catching fence and the pavement.  At times, you pop out right next to the trucks and tourist zipping South at 75 miles and hour.  After the first part, it gets gnarly and runs along a stream up some old logging roads.  It has some very cool rockwork. 

I like to ride the trail as an out and back, heading uphill and then coming down.  The climb is really technical on the way up, topping out on a rocky section with some cool bridges.

  I topped out and turned around back through the rock garden.  It is not a good thing when you pinch a tubeless tire between two rocks.  Air rushes out very quickly.  Somehow, I managed to keep riding after checking to see that the tire wasn't completely flat.  I hit some of the steep sections and immediately went over the handle bars, hit the leaf cover on the ground and accelerated downhill on my back.  Not fun.  I picked myself back up and continued down.  On the next steep, I turned the front wheel a little bit, and went over again.  I slammed my knee on the stem or ground (I don't remember which) picked my self up again and soldiered on.  It wasn't until the third trip over the bars that I realized my front tire was near flat.  Anytime I turned the wheel, the tire pressure was so low that tire tried to come off the rim.  Miraculously, It didn't.  I rode back to the car, refilled the tire (it had a whopping 8 psi) and heard the bead pop back into the rim strip.  I am lucky I didn't have to walk back to the car, and I think I will check my tire pressure a bit more often.  

Vermont state Single speed championships/Flower Power

(Pic borrowed from Bike29 blog, please don't sue!)
Today was the first race of the year. The Flower power race at Catamount outdoor center was a new course (much more technical) and lots of fun. I came in second for the VT state single speed championships, which is pretty good for me considering 1st place went to an ex-Sobe/Cannondale racer, who is still really, really fast. I think I rested a bit too much, and hopefully I can ride more this week and get ready for Coyote Hill next Sunday. We will see.

This week has been a rest week for me, somewhat by choice, but mostly not by choice.  I went on the Senior trip, up to Caratunk, Me.  It is beautiful up there, and there are a lot of logging roads that look like they could have been fun to ride.  We were up there and to raft the Kennebec river.  The water was nice and high and the rafting was sweet.  What wasn't sweet was staying up until 2 in the morning and then getting up at 5:30.  I love to sleep, and this did not working for me.  I was excited to ride yesterday when I got home, and I decided to try and ride with my dogs for the first time, since I was only going for a quick spin.  The spin was much quicker than I plan, as my chain decided to do this.  

I was not very pleased.  The icing on the cake was my dog, (the one that was hit by a car two weeks ago) decided to chase a porcupine.  Again.  I was a little perturbed when, after calling him for five minutes, he showed up with a face full of quills.  He got a porcupine about 3 months ago, and apparently his memory is a bit fuzzy.  Last time he went to vet, this time I removed them myself.  Hopefully, the removal of the quills sans-anesthesia will help him remember that porcupines=bad.  I am not going to bet on it, though.  

The best part of the ride is that afterwards, the dogs did this

And I did the same.  Fell asleep on the floor at 6:30, got into bed at 8, and woke up at 6 this morning.  Hopefully I will be nice and rested for Sunday, first race of the year!

Bike porn and bald eagles.

Today's ride was a repeat of Sunday's ride, only faster and less daudling.  I brought my phone so I could take some pictures of the sunny day, and the new ride.  It is sweet steel niner that is built up nice and light in hopes of a good result at this weekend's race at Catamount.  This has been my first race of the year for three years now, and I think I am in pretty good shape for this year.  It is also the VT state Single speed championship, so we will see how that will turn out.  

This is the new ride, which is cool, but not nearly as cool as my wife.

The shakedown rides have gone well, and the bike fits like a round peg in a circular hole.  It should be fun to ride all summer.  The ride was a quick road warm up, then 45 minutes of trail (almost all of the local trail network at Franklin falls) The cool part is riding below the dam.  I look almost celestial. 

The dam has been our salvation while at school.  A very compact area of trail that is a ten minute ride away.  It is where I run all winter with the dogs, and where I brought the mountain bike team for most of the fall.  We had a lot of fun.  The ride back across the dam is unlike any riding I have done in the East.  It is almost a moonscape with a big river right down the hill.  

On the ride back I got to scare some locals blowing the dope on a logging road that I take to get back to school.  Then I saw a bald eagle under the power line commute.  Not quite Epic wilderness, but it is cool to see any way. 

Not quite so sucktastic

Got the new bike together, after two days of running around getting all the little parts that were needed, and putting them all in the right places. Thougth I was going to ride early today, motivated and went for a quick spin with Jason who was right, ramped cogs do not work well on a single speed. Then I went to the in laws for an all pig breakfast. Bacon, hash, ham, sausage and some hash fries (they were like garnish for the pig products) After doing my part to save the world from future swine flu outbreaks, we headed home and then left for school. I figured I wasn't going to get to ride again as the weather was crap as we left, but as well pulled into Tilton the sun burned through the clouds and everything cleared up. I got a quick dinner and then headed out for a two hour tempo ride, mostly on single track. I even found a new loop at the local trails. Things have been getting a little better, but it still sucks that the woman has mono. She was training hard and working hard, and I guess she went a little too hard. Hopefully she gets well soon and can still do the 100.

Sucktastic.

Second day of duty in a row, lots of year end goings-on at school (lots of formal dress and pomp and circumstance and important people making themselves feel more important) Not my cup of tea.  The woman might have mono again.  I might have it.  Won't know for a few weeks, but the plans for the near future may be drastically altered.  

Silver lining is we get to go home this weekend because there is no racing with the sickness.  I get to build my bike, go for a ride and hope that I am not sick.  That should be fun.  

A random collection of stuff

Yesterday my wife convinced me to go and do the "stairmill" with her for an hour.  She is very fit, and she says the stairmill is hard.  I was very, very scared.  It turns out my fear was completely justified.  We set the stairmill for an hour on a ridiculous level, and we were off.  15 minutes into the hour, I was ready to be done.  I was sweating so much it looked like someone had wrung out a sponge of salt water on my stairmill.  My wife was just bopping along to her music, looking like she just started.  I suffered through an hour, and now I never have to do it again.  

The best part of the stairmill is that afterward, I ate one of these 

They are the best tasting bars, ever, period.  No ifs, ands or buts.  I would eat these things everyday if I could.  The only downside is they don't do too well in the heat (anything over 65 degrees and they get MESSY)  

Enough about my sweet tooth.  In other randomness, my dog got hit by a car about a week ago. The car was going about 40mph, and it hit him in the rear end.  He was not happy (I was pretty pissed at him for being so stupid) and we took him to the emergency vet, fearing that he was done for.  But, he is special.  The vet picked him up off the emergency gurney and he walked across the room.  The x-rays showed no broken bones.  The only change we have noticed is that he farts a lot now.  He also scares himself when he farts, getting up to see what is going on with his rear end.  

He is very special.  He looks sweet here, but he is mostly evil.  

In more relevant news, I went for a bike ride today.  I successfully avoided the rain and got in some good tempo work and some climbing with legs that were really funky.  They felt okay to start, then heavy, then springy, then dead, then heavy, then springy, and then okay but tired at the end of the ride.  Very weird, but maybe it means I am getting stronger.  Or my legs are going to fall off. 

This is the first ride of the season that I wore an actually kit for.  I feel goofy any time I wear a matching outfit and I am not racing. 

Can you tell?  

Even my helmet and sunnies match.  This is a monumental milestone in my cycling habit/career/infatuation.  I didn't plan it, but everything matches.  I know the vest isn't part of the "kit" but the colors match, so I am going to say it counts.  

The ride was one of my usual out and backs, although I added on some exploring at the end.  I got to a road I had looked at on google maps before, and I decided to see where it went.  It runs along a river for a while, and then up the side of a mountain. 

 Lots of private land, and some interesting snowmobile trails that I could see myself exploring. I went out for a while, climbed until the road started descending.  I turned back and headed home at this point, and made it home just in time for dinner in the cafeteria.  It is very nice to get home and just role into the dining hall with all the food I can eat ready for me.  I will miss that part of school, but I think I will get over it quickly.  

Waiting Game

Still waiting, not patiently, for the end of the year.  Or, at least to build up my new-to-me frame.  Pete had a frame that was too small, and I was done dealing with horizontal drops on my Soma.  It was a great bike, fun to to ride and race, but the two flats I had while I owned it were not fun.  Walking two hours out of the woods in carbon soled shoes is not a good time.  So, now I have to wait to get the parts from Vermont here to the frame so I can build a mountain bike and ride it for the remainder of the time we are in NH.  

Anyway, today Aliza and I went for a run at the dam.  We escaped the rain and made it through the cold.  The trails look to be in great shape, with a lot of raking done for a nice, tacky base.  Yesterday was a great set of intervals on the road bike.  I limped home after 8 sets, and I am trying to avoid going upstairs at all costs today.  Not easy to do when I live on the third floor.  

I am hoping to have the bike built at least for the 17th of May.  George from Five hills bikes has a really cool race going, which validates the property taxes we have been paying for the past two years while living in New Hampy.  

Hope it goes well. 

Longest post ever

The end of the year is rapidly approaching, which means three things.  We are done with our "real jobs" soon, we get to go home soon, and we get to start racing/participating/hanging out soon.  I am very excited for the summer and the new job next year, but I am also on the verge of soiling myself at the prospect of so many things being able to go wrong or not work out.  I know that worrying won't help, but it doesn't mean I am not going to worry.  

Anyway, Last week we headed down to Bear brook, a 10,000 acres state park in New Hampy that has a bunch of trails for running (Aliza) and biking (me).  We can both leave the car at the same time and be out on trails for 3-4 hours and meet back at the car.   The big bonus is there is a really good burrito and smoothie restaurant on the way home, so we can stuff our pie holes before returning to school.  

Aliza is very excited to have her picture taken. 

My last trip to Bear Brook ended 2o minutes in with a broken chain.  This time I was ready to ride.  I headed out on the fire roads and snowmachine trails, and then hit one of the best trails in the park, hedgehog ledge.  It is built under a huge boulder, with smaller boulders that the trail winds through and a lot of flakes that are used to step the trail up and down the hills.  Lots of fun on a rigid single. 

 After the rock maze, the single track is tight and flowy, with lots of rocks to fling yourself over and ride off of.  After the single track, you head past Bear Pond, which is quite picturesque.  

I usually head out from the main parking lot to the end of the main road (I believe it is called podunk road, but I am not sure) past bear pond, past the 4-h camp to the best section of single track in the whole park.  It is rocky, rooty, twisty, turny, fast, flowy and about seventy more adjectives that I don't have the patience to write out.  It is a lot of fun and climbs steadily to a nice rock outcropping that is the end of the trail.  I could ride out, stop and eat at the rock, and then bomb back down the single track back to the car for a nice 3 hour ride.  Much to my dismay, the majority of the trail now looks like this. 

Some of the best single track is now lost under slash and stumps from the recent logging.  I know that the state uses the park for logging and research, but this ruined my ride.  You can also see the winged harbingers of death, the black flies.  I stopped long enough to take this pic and then jumped back on the bike to head home, rather pissed that this section of trail is done. 

In happier news, I found a new favorite trail near my house today.  There is a certain hill, with lots a very techy climb, to a techy ridge trail, to a very techy descent near my house.  Part of the trail was shut down because of a land owner, but new trails have been springing up on top of the hill, and they are fun.  I spent three hour riding back and forth, getting lost on top of this hill.  I found this

which is one of my new favorite trails.  Although, any new trail can easily become my favorite.  I am easily entertained and have a very short term memory, so I can be easily won over with shiny new things.  Or even just shiny things.  

I also found this.  

Although it is neither shiny nor new, I thought it was very interesting to find an old tractor on top of a mountain.  (I told you I was easily amused)  The ride ended with a sprint home to get ready to help out the father-in-law with yard work, and left me tired and excited to get back to VT and be surrounded by killer trails right out the door.  Hopefully the end of the year will come quickly, my new-to-me frame will get here soon, and I will have something to entertain myself with for the rest of our time in NH.  

a lurge ick.

I don't know what is in the air, but whatever it was, I am allergic to it. Sunday I spent the day moping around like a zombie. Monday I felt like someone had jammed a can of EZ cheese up my nose and emptied the yellowish, cheese substitute into my nasal cavity. (I still went for a run, I figured I would either sweat it out, or die, both of which would be better than sitting around suffering) Tuesday the EZ cheese had migrated to my ears, so I could hear nothing. I didn't die on my run, and I still hadn't sweated everything out. It was 95 degrees, so I figured a bike ride with some intervals and hill repeats would certainly achieve my goal of death or healing through perspiration. Unfortunately, neither occurred. I went home and spent the evening on the couch with a kick ass migraine. Wednesday I was still hearing impaired, and we went to Bear brook. A 2 and a half hour ride getting lost on singletrack and fire roads was the miracle cure for my allergies. I think I should get a doctor's note saying I need to do that at least three times a week, but I don't like going to the doctors, so maybe I will just self medicate.

Being sick sucks

SHort ride Friday with wifey, we got lost and then went home.  Saturday was supposed to be the first big dirt ride, 3 hours at bear brook to prep for the blast off race at the end of May.  I get ready, head out and get the the top of the first ridge, and snapped my chain on a dinky little rise in the trail.  20 minutes of riding, and then half an hour of hiking.  I was not pleased.  I waited for Aliza to be done running, and then we headed back to school for our last weekend on duty.  

To make things even more interesting, I am starting to get sick.  I am not sure if it is allergies or a flu, but I feel useless and lethargic.  Maybe it is swine flu.  That would be perfect.  

Duty Night

Not much to do tonight, besides make sure the kids are all behaving and not killing each other.  The end of the year has them running around like, well, high school kids a month before the end of school.  I can't say that I am not excited, but I hope that everyone remains calm and respectful and doesn't make my life hell.  Anyway, on to more interesting things.  After my long ride yesterday Aliza and I headed to the dam to run with the doggies.  She powered on for an hour, I skulked behind on the hills and towards the end of the run.  Good rest day, hopefully tomorrow will be a nice long dirt ride.  I wish we were back in VT already, I have heard lots of good rumors about new trails in my neighborhood.  I hope they are true and I hope I get to help ride them in.  

Rockets, humanure and rain.

My wife came back from VT today, after taking care of her father for a few days.  He is doing well and going crazy because he is not able to do much of anything for the next 5 weeks.  Wifey called me before she left, and asked if I would like to meet her halfway.  I thought it would be a good long ride, and set out around noon.  

I am still trying to get the riding self portrait down. 

The ride is mostly back roads, through Plymouth, into Warren and then onto some interesting dirt roads.  It heads past an excellent climbing spot, through a few lumberyards and along the Baker River. The highlight of the ride is the town with the rocket ship.  

I am not sure why it is there, or why all my typing is now hyperlinked, but it is.  The town with the rocket ship also has really cool cops.  Just ask my father, who was pulled over by one when he was driving me up to college my freshman year.  The chief doesn't like it when people speed in "his" town.  After the rocket, I rode through a field where a farmer was spreading manure.  I live in Vermont, and my house is surrounded by dairy farms.  I know what cow shit smells like.  This guy was not spreading just cowshit.  I learned about "humanure" the other day watching the Daily show.  I think this guy saw the same show and decided to try his hand at his own form of humanure.  

The best part about choking through the field of freshly spread fecal matter was that it was right before the big climb of the ride.  Right around mile 50 the road goes up.  About 1500 feet in two or three miles.  Not fun.  

If you look closely, you can see the tractor spreading the doodie. 

After the climb, their is a short descent and then rolling hills until the state line.  I almost beat Aliza to the bridge, but she picked me up a mile before, right as it started to rain.  I was very happy.  

Another long weekend

This weekend was another chance to go home, and move some more stuff back to VT. I say it was a long weekend, when it actually was just a normal, two day weekend. I guess we have to take what we can get. I did get to do some manual labor Saturday night, making raised beds for the garden this summer. Sunday was the gravel grinder, which was a lot of fun. I saw a lot of familiar faces and met some new bike people. I am looking forward to the "Grabber."

That is all.

Trails, hills and white legs.

It has been a pretty busy week.  Some running with the wife (it counts as quality time, and she likes to make me suffer) It was good to get out and run on trails.  It was especially good because it meant that the trails were dry, and ready to ride.  So, Thursday I got out my trusty One-gle speed, and headed out.  Without any knee covers.  First time this year, and that can only mean one thing.  

WHITE LEGS. 

Yup.  I gave the guys a little sun.  They will be white for a few months yet, but this picture captures the true brilliance of my pasty, white, fish belly legs.  It was good to get out and ride in beautiful weather.  

The trails were nice and dry.  Franklin Falls is a really fun place to ride, and no one knows about it.  The CNHMBA (Central New Hampy Mountain Bike Association) has done a great job getting trails in there and planning lots of fun trails for the future.  The trails and view are spectacular.  

 

Friday was riding with the team, good young riders and some spinny intervals, and then hill sprints.  Lots of fun.  Hopefully more trail tomorrow and then the Gravel grinder on Sunday.  

Trying to be a cool blogger

In my effort to become really cool through the wittiness and cool photos on my blog, I tried to take a good self portrait of myself on my ride yesterday.  I had three hours to ride, and I set out towards Bridgewater hill road.  It is as fun as it sounds.  On my way back, I attempted to take a riding self portrait, because that is what cool bike riding, bike blogging people do.  Or, at least Rick does it, and he seems cool.  So, in my efforts to be cool I attempted to take a sweet, riding my bike, looking cool picture of myself.  My first attempt was not so good.  

Kind of trippy, but not very badass.  My second attempt was a bit better. 

Not quite so Fear and loathing in Las Vegas as the first, but still not very befitting such a cool bikeblogger like myself.  As they say, the third time is a charm, and it took me three tries to get something that looked okay. 

I even got some of the background in, even if it is rather boring.  Maybe some day I will take a ride in a more scenic portion of the Greater Franklin area (sarcasm) and take a really cool picture.  Or maybe I should just quit while I am ahead.  

Long weekend

We had an unplanned long weekend extending from last Thursday to today.  Unfortunately, not for the Easter holiday, but for my father-in-law to have heart surgery.  It was great to be back in Vermont, but not the reason we would have chosen to go home.  Fortunately, he seems to be doing alright and everyone got to spend some tense, but quality time together.  Aliza and I were also able to get out a few times and hang out with some friends.  Friday for me was an interval ride, from the big city out to our house and then back in to the hospital.  The Burlington bike path is a great place for a ride. 

Some single track and some intervals.  Thankfully, the intervals ended at the very last uphill before the descent into my hometown.  The view isn't that bad.  

Stopped at home and picked up some supplies, and then a nice leisurely sprint down the busiest road in Vermont, Williston road from South Burlington right into the metropolis of B-town.  

Easter morning I was able to head out with Jason.

Jason is always fun to ride with.  He will ride anywhere, no matter how dumb it sounds.  He knows a lot about bikes.  Plus, he can grow cool facial hair.  Like Wolverine.  Or a hobo.  He also really likes franks and beans, and pierogies.  

We ripped some very dry singletrack section maintained by an incredible organization, Fellowship of the Wheel.   These guys mobilize and incredible amount of people, make a ton of incredible trails, and they make my rides a lot more interesting.  Anyway, back to the weekend. Jason and I rode for about 4 hours, I think.  It was a great way to start the "season" riding with a great friend and railing some incredible trails.  

Hopefully this week will be a bit more predictable, with some road bike time and some more trails.  Hopefully. 

Making do.

Today was going to be good day.  Yesterday's ride went out the window with a last minute help session for one of my students (Hopefully now he will pass the tenth grade) So today's ride was going to be a good one, whether it wanted to or not.  I had plenty of time, the weather wasn't pissing rain, and I had my inspiration.  I suited up and headed out, and rode down this snowmachine trail I have been eyeing for a while.  I ran part of it this winter, but it had gotten a bit wetter since then. 

I figured it I could make it.  Big wheels, single speed, and all afternoon.  Sounds like a good idea. And, besides, it can't get much worse, right? 

(I don't know what is worse, me trying to convince myself it is good, or providing photographic proof of my rationalization)  

So, I ford the stream, and find some double track ATV trails that run all over what used to be a sand pit ( I think) and head down trail after trail, getting lost and finding myself many times.  So, given all the rain we have had recently, I should have known it would get worse.  

Fortunately, this was one of the last huge puddles/pondlets that I had to ride through.  I was already wet anyway, so it wasn't a huge deal.  Besides, the trails after this were fun.  I cruised through some pump track like atv trails, down fire roads, some trails that even slightly resembled single track.  

Okay, maybe not.  But, it has been a long winter, and I was really happy just to be in the woods and not on the road.  I rode in the sand pit for about and hour, and then I heard the sound of snapping twigs and splashing up ahead.  I came over a short rise just in time to see a moose heading into the woods in front of me.  It is somewhat scary to see one from 50 feet away, especially when you are wearing spandex and a styrofoam hat.  I was glad he was running away, and the footprints he left prove he was big enough to squash me. 

I decided then that it was time to head out of the woods.  I explored some dirt roads, then some paved roads, and then ended up on some dirt roads I had ridden before.  I was able to head down a severely washed out class VI road to make a loop onto some more snowmachine trails before heading home.  It was, interesting, to say the least. 

It was getting cold, so I started to head back.  I hopped onto some more snowmachine trails that I thought I knew pretty well.  After half an hour of getting lost, I realized I didn't know them that well.  But, it was still fun.  I made it back just in time for dinner, and hope to get a good ride in tomorrow. 

Soaking wet and bored.

Went for a run with the dogs today, lots of fun to tromp around in the wet and muck.  We were all drenched within the first five minutes of running.  The trails are clearing up quick, and the sandy soil under them should help them dry out quickly once they are clear.  I can't wait to ride on some dirt!  

In fact, my excitement is growing as the races get closer and my new uni came in today!  

Aliza made me model it and show it off.  

I couldn't just wear it, I had to make sure everything was in proper working order, so I hopped on my bike and took it for a spin.  Of course I couldn't go outside, that would be too strenuous.  I did laps in the apartment.  I always practice safe biking techniques, like wearing a helmet.

I did enough laps that Timber (my super special dog) decided to chase me and try to bite me while I was riding around our apartment.  This was the end of my test ride in the new uni.  I can't wait until I get to wear it on an actual ride.  

Run,run,ride.

The weather here in NH has not been cooperating lately. It was rainy and cold the past few days, so I was relegated to running for the past two days. Running is okay, but I feel like I need to bike as much as possible. I guess absence does make the heart grow fonder, as I was able to get out on the bike today and I felt good. I rode with a friend who is newer to biking than I am, and we headed out towards the speedway (NASCAR BABY!) with a strong tailwind. Then we turned around, and struggled back home. It was a good effort, as I pulled most of the way and kept it in the little ring to even out the ride for my buddy. I then rode back home with him, and continued on my own for another hour. Hopefully the weather will hold and I can ride some more tomorrow.

First MTB ride of Spring!!!

We did it today.  Aliza and I took the bikes out for a spin down the rail trail and out to explore some dirt roads.  We found the rail trail was not "totally clear" as our friend told us, so we had to deal with a bit of snow.  Okay, a lot of snow.  Then we tried to find the snowmobile path that runs parallel to the highway.  Instead, we got escorted off this lady's property.  She told us to try the other side of the highway.  So, instead, we found some good hills, mostly up, but a lot of down, too.  Then I dropped Aliza off at school and kept going.  I found some good "Class VI" roads as they are known in NH, with some mud, a lot of water, and quite a bit of snow.  

It can only get better from here. 

I am officially a bike dork

I did some testing today. It is called a "lactate threshold test" Much to my dismay, it has nothing to do with cheese, or other tasty lactose containing foods. I bought a copy of Joe Friel's book about Mountain bike training and realized he really knows his stuff when it comes to all that science-y stuff that has to do with physiology and other big 5 syllable words. I also read his blog the other day, and he wrote an idiot proof (I tested it today, it is idiot proof) guide on how to do a Lactate threshold test. I warmed up, the started to go pretty much all out for 30 minutes. Then I took my average heart rate for the last 20 minutes. I guess this tells me where I should be (heart rate wise) when I am doing my intervals and other fun things that make me want to expunge my lunch onto my handlebars. I almost lost it today, but I kept it all in. Maybe next time.

Goats and frost heaves

The weather was much more ride friendly today, so I took a ride up to Plymouth to pick up the gloves I forgot there last week. This is one of my typical spring rides. It follows the Winnepausaukee river from Tilton almost all the way up to Plymouth, on mostly back roads. Unfortunately, the back roads in NH have potholes in them that rival foxholes from WWI. They are deep. I got my gloves and headed back, and whem I am about 5 miles away from home, I see a furry black thing running towards me as I ride past. I thought it was a dog so I started to sprint, but as it got a lot closer, I heard it bleet. Or baahh, whatever it is that goats do. So, I stopped because the goat was in the middle of the road. I had no idea where it lived (there were several houses that it could have belonged to) So I brought it out of the road and made sure it was safe.
Fun in NH

He made it home safe.

Monday run day

Quick run with the dogs today.  Good run, about an hour, but nothing too exciting. The big news is that it is official, we are moving back to Vermont for good in two months.  I am pretty happy.  Back to school, good new job, and we get to live in a SICK area for biking.  This is a trail system that I can ride to, out my front door.  And the best part is that it is a two hour, mostly single track ride to get there. (my title pic is from that trail) You could get there more quickly, but what is fun of that?

Anyway, I am excited to go home.  Yup, home.  It should be good. 

Crouched over my handlebars in the fetal position, with my hands stuffed up my shirt

That was how I ended my ride outside today. I thought I would get in a quick ride before brunch, then ride after some shopping and call it a day. Unfortunately, like Wheels says it is a tough time of year to ride. I was alright on the way out with the wind, but once I turned and the wind was head on, my hands got cold. Real cold. So, I stopped to warm them up, by sticking them up my shirt. They got a bit warmer (which stung, kind of bad) so that the cars that went by definitely had some interesting thoughts about bikers. Once they were warmed up, I soldiered on. Then I got cold again, warmed my hands again, and continued. Of course, it happened again, and this time when I stopped, I got really cold. I struggled to pull my phone out of my jacket pocket with my deformed popsicle hands, then popped it out of the plastic bag, and dialed Aliza with my frosty nubs. Yup, I called the sag wagon. I couldn't grip the handle bars, and the braking was not up to par, as I like to be able to stop before colliding with inanimate objects.
I guess threes days of fifty degrees and sun made me soft. Friday's ride was excellent, found a new, low traffic route in Concord that made me feel like a hero. Nice, rolling hills with newish pavement. I will have to go back when my hands can hold things again.

Riding with the boys

Today's ride was a bit of a rest, but it was pretty cool because it was my first ride with the Tilton bike team.  I don't coach road biking, but I ride a lot after school, and it is fun to ride with the kids.  

Tilton's bike history is minimal, although Tom Coupe, who just placed first and second in the two races at NCCC last weekend, is our most successful alumnus.  The road team has just recently been resurrected, and I was able to start the first Mountain bike team last fall.  

We played dab.  It is fun. 

So, for today's ride I got to head out with the fast kids.  And they were impressive.  I thought I had been training well, getting on the rollers early and often.  I led them out, and they were right on my heels.  It wasn't until we hit the hills that they started to fall apart (and make me feel a little less old)  Then, at the end of the ride, I realized that neither of them brought water.  Or food.  If only they thought about riding as much as they thought about Xbox.  They would be scary.  

It is always fun to ride with kids.  It took me a while to discover biking and enjoy it, so it always gives me hope when young guys get the bug.  

Really? Come on.

Well, my wife and I have come to discover that nothing is easy in the world of education.  In these uncertain times we really like having jobs, and we like have jobs that allow us to keep our house, save some money, and get some really cool toys (MY BIKE!)  

Unfortunately, in an effort to better our situation, we decided to look for schools closer to home, or in an area that was more our cup of tea (somewhere we don't get forced of the roads when we ride or run, somewhere there are more than just the two of us who like to do things outdoors, somewhere that isn't where we currently are)  But, during our search, the economy had to fail, our current school wants us to commit (quickly, I might add) and the schools that have offered jobs haven't been able to come up with two jobs, or they are dragging their heels to commit.  

I guess all the uncertainty and hoping for something better have put us in foul moods.  Even though today was a gorgeous day, and I was able to run and then get in a two hour ride, and have dinner with friends from HOME, we are still at home, pissed off that neither one of us knows what to do.  

Maybe I will just put a poll on facebook and have the interweb people decide.  

Monday, Monday.

Yesterday was a waste of a day, and today was a little bit better. Got a sort of, kind of Job offer that might take us back to the Green Mountain state indefinitely. Plus, more money and the chance to go back to school are also bonuses. Thinking about it, it could give me a lot more time to train, and ride, which is the only real reason to train. I mean, what other point is there? I like to run every now and then, swimming is good to do when you don't want to drown, but there is nothing (in summer) that is as exhilirating as riding. In the woods, maybe with a friend or two, and everything is clicking. I hope that I get to ride more. That would be alright.

Today was running, 1 hour with 7 hill sprints mixed in. Fun. The bike shoes should get here on Wednesday, just in time to go for a nice long ride. Maybe up to Waterville valley. I haven't been there in a while.

I think my first race will be up in VT for Flower Power. Good, fun, local race. Hopefully I will get some pics.

Back in the saddle.

So, 10 days in Europe, (lots of fun, lots of cities, and some great memories with some very interesting kids) Then a truncated break, with about 20 hours of what resembled exercise, two job interviews and about 15 hours of driving. And the best parts, I forgot bike shoes and pedals in Vermont, so the two bikes I brought back are pretty much useless. Hopefully UPS will get the shoes here quickly, or I might have to run........

What a week

One of the benefits of working where I do is that I get to take kids out into the Wilderness, and make them do things they wouldn't normally do.  Participation is not compulsory, so there are small groups (two in this case) which makes it interesting.  This trip was up to Mt. Washington.  The forecast for Wednesday (our hiking day) the day before our hike was "wind gusts up to  25 miles per hour, wind chill of -15 and sunny all day.  Sounds good.  When we got to the visitor center, the forecast had changed a bit.  (gusts up to 75 mph, wind chill of -45 increasing clouds after noon)  Not so good. 

Nick, our gracious guide, checks the weather forecast.  

We set out anyway, hoping for a summit, but excited just to be out in some "adverse conditions" and playing on the snow with pointy things in our hands and on our feet.  The kids really enjoyed practicing self arrest technique, as I was hoping beyond hope that they would not have to employ that practice on the hike.  

We headed up into winds increasing from a dull, overhead roar, to full on, rig up the sails and hang on gusts that we had to lean into in order to stay upright.  One of the students was from Brazil, and He was rather excited to be experiencing something so new and gnarly.  

Here he is leaning into wind as he hikes up     

       We made it to the summit of Lion's Head, a small knob about three quarters of the way up to the summit.  The wind was howling, and the kids were fading, so decided to turn around.  The kids had a great time, even if they didn't start talking until we were down below treeline and headed back to the car.        I even found the time to ride the rollers for an hour when we got home, and today I was able to ride outside for an hour and 45 minutes.  I have to get everything in now before I leave for Yurp on Saturday.  

Ups and downs

                                             This pic makes me happy.  Summer is close!
Today was a beautiful day.  Sunny, high forties, and I was stuck inside all day.  It can be very rewarding to work with kids.  It can also be extremely taxing.  This week was the latter.  Too many things happening that aren't good.  Lots of stress for me with a ridiculously busy week coming up, and then a trip to Europe when I should be on vacation.  Not much fun.  To make matters worse, I didn't do anything yesterday, after a jarring encounter in the freshman dorm.  Today was just skating, on top of duty, and a long, drawn out day in the academic building.  Oh well, either way in one week I will be on "sort of" spring break, and then on the 16th it starts for real.  

Over the hill

Today is it.  I can no longer call myself 20 something.  I know that 30 isn't usually the age that people start to freak out about their midlife crisis, but it is a bit unsettling to know that I am no longer "young."  I guess I just have to start hanging out with older people.  

Training has been consistent.  Sunday was a 2 hour run, which I suffered for afterwards.  Too many hills and not enough stretching/water afterwards.  Yesterday was an hour on the rollers, to keep things moving.  Today was two hours, with 3 one foot pedalling drills (3x5x70 each foot) and some skating with the kids at practice.  

I hope that this year goes well for me, race wise.  I have been pretty focused on the training and I haven't even been able to ride outside much.  I don't want to feel old, and I certainly don't feel mature, so this year is important to me and I hope I perform well.  

On that note, I also registered for 24 hours of Great Glen, a race where I am going to give'er, and the Gravel Grinder, led by the local bike savant George at www.bike29.com

Should be fun. 

GOALS

So, after reading Friel's "Mountain biker's bible" I have decided that this was my first week of base building.  12 hours of training, with work and dog walking is not bad.  One week from today the winter season is over, and then it is on.  Like the monkey game.  I guess now would be a good time to write some goals for this year, and put them someplace I can see them.  

1.  Be more focused!!!!!  I need to continue to train over the summer, not tail off like last year.  Hopefully I can keep up the training through cross season and actually do some races.  

2.  24hr race podium.  I know this is a lofty goal, but I think it is achievable.  I think if I train and race smart, a local 24 podium spot is within reach.  Maybe more than one? 

3.  Represent at the VT 5o.  I love the race, as do 800 other people, but I want to set my sights on the 50 as my "graceland."  And I don't mean the Elvis one, but the Paul Simon album.  I like that one a lot better.  

4.  Not race related, but I want to ride A LOT this summer.  I think this will help with the other goals.  Bike touring, consecutive multi hour days, just a lot of time in the saddle.  Or, saddles, of several different bikes.  

Well, I guess now is the part where I work towards these goals.  Wish me luck. 

I hate.......

Waiting for warm weather, not being able to ski, rollers, not having enough time, rollers, being busy all the time, rollers, and not having enough time.

A bit repetitive, I know, but I am sick of being in "limbo." I always get impatient when one season is winding down, and I can't do either of the activities that I like to do because of work, or weather or any number of reasons. Oh well, I guess I will have to wait for summer and then I will have lots of time to bike.

Yesterday was a quick (not really, 15 minute miles) snowshoe run for 45 minutes. 6 inches of fresh, HEAVY snow, and the dogs running behind.
Today was a roller session, one hour, 3 sets of 5x70 one footers. My right leg was dying.

Maybe the weather will be nice in two weeks and I can get out and do something fun.

Inside out.

Yesterday was a beautiful day, even if it was chilly. 30 degrees with a stiff North wind chilly. I got to ride outside for 2 hours and 2o minutes. Nice, dry roads, not too much ice and a relatively clean bike for a February ride. I rode up to the 45 degree car on River road, mostly 39t with some big ring on the way back.
Today was back to the rollers. Not much fun, but riding outside is a lot more work, and I felt like I could fly on the rollers. 3 sets of one footers, first two were 70x5 each, last set was 50x5 because I only wanted to roll for an hour as a rest day. Maybe slowshoe running tomorrow.

A not so long weekend.

4 days off from work.  It felt like 4 hours.  Friday was running, and the lazy day for the weekend.  Saturday was an intro to ice climbing.  Lots of ice and lots of fun.  My father-in-law and a friend (our guide) spent the entire day climbing in the notch.  Lots of fun, hopefully next time I can avoid the bleeding. 

Sunday was two hours skiing with the dog.  He had fun, I was still beat from the day before.  It was good to be out, though.  

Monday, did some running with the wife.  10 miles, with 8x2 minute hill repeats.  Soooo much fun.  

Then, Jason called, and we went for a nice fixie ride.  2 hours at a pretty good pace.  Fun day to be outside.  I am going to be tired tomorrow.