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.