24 HOGG

I did it again. Signed up for solo single speed. I hope this year I can pace myself and do better than last year. Another goal for this year, NO SLEEPING! It is hard to keep up with other riders if you are sleeping. That is the most important lesson I learned in my first summer of racing 24s.

Now I just have to keep training and hope not to suck.

Two firsts

Two firsts for this season. One, riding outside. Not a bad ride either. Hour and a half on the fixie flyer, then an hour and a half indoors. Kind of cold, not very scenical and a lot of dead end roads to explore. The roads were very low traffic, unless you count the six deer that walked in front of me. The second first (that doesn't sound right) was stretching. I haven't stretched in much too long. It actually makes me feel pretty good. I guess after an hour and a half x fit class and three hours of riding, it is probably a good thing to do. Maybe someday I will be able to touch my toes.

Jinxed

So, Saturday was a gorgeous day in the Notch (Smugglers, for those non-vermonters) with cold temps and very brittle ice. While my friend Marc and I were cleaning up the anchors at the top of the climb (I am at the "aspiring clown puncher" level of ice climbing, which means top rope everything and use brute strength and ignorance to perform mediocre climbing) we saw several snowmobiles fly through the notch with rescue personnel. Then came the ATV with tracks pulling a sled of firefighters. On our walk out, we see two ambulances, two firetrucks and a group of rescuers waiting around. When we asked what was up, they replied "a snowshoer fell, no big deal." From the thousands of dollars in equipment and man power, it looked like kind of a big deal.
On to Sunday, skiing at Stowe with the college roommate. We see a young-ish kid crumpled under a lift tower, with his friend asking if he is okay. Then we see the sled going down for rescue. Then the ambulance. Then, the Dartmouth helicopter flys into the notch, turns around and sets down. I hope that kid is okay. That must have been one scary ride. I didn't feel much like skiing after seeing the helicopter. Just made me feel like bad luck.

Still no snow.

Rain in the forecast. At least the ice was okay yesterday, even though it is all going to melt tomorrow and Tuesday. I guess on the bright side the salt will be washed off the roads. Maybe time to ride outside!

Winter. I miss it. It is warm-ish and sunny out. I haven't been able to ski for a while, and I miss it. I feel like I am having an affair on my favorite winter sport. Too much ice climbing, not nearly enough skiing. The current weather trends have me longing to hop on my bike and ride off into the sunset. Is it over? Will skiing ever take me back? I guess I haven't been totally unfaithful, i have been skate skiing quite a bit. It just isn't the same, though. No face shots, not as much solitude. I shouldn't be so hard on myself. It isn't my fault, the snow should be better. It forced me away. I can't help myself, I am just a man after all.

I need snow. Bad.

roller derby-licious

Training has begun in earnest. I don't know why, but I feel rather motivated as of late. Holiday break was full of skinning and ice climbing, my new distraction. It is fun to go out in the freezing cold, put pointy things on your feet and in your hands, and try to scale frozen waterfalls. But, I digress. Training has begun with skate skiing. Lots of it. 6 hours last week, 5 hours this week and more tomorrow. The rollers have also made their way from the basement to the bedroom, in front of the tv. Only 4 hours so far, but it feels good to be back on the bike. The only thing better would be if the bike were new.........

Delinquency

Yes, I am thoroughly delinquent in my posting. Lacking internet connection at my house makes it rather difficult. I am on the verge of some changes in my bike riding life, and I think they will make for more interesting (and much, much more plentiful posts) Hopefully the 3 people who have actually read this in the past will stumble onto the wonderful adventures of "Laps" again. Maybe someone new will read (ya, right) but I may just have enough motivation to get the interweb flowing into my house so I can post some pictures (with my writing skills, pictures are vital to the entertainment content of this blog)
At any rate, training has begun for this summer, skiing is good, and I am VERY excited to ride. New sponsor for the summer and, hopefully, a shiny new bike to suffer on.