The Eternal city and the beginning of the year

Rome. It is fun to be a teacher. The kids are always entertaining and I get the opportunity to be a geek about the things that interest me. We took a trip to Rome and it was excellent. No crises, good food, good company and lots of old, old, old buildings and art. Italy is a very laid back country, people are friendly, and there are a lot of bikers. Both the moped variety and the pedal variety. I prefer the latter. I was constantly wishing that I had access to a bike so that I could ride. Rome was a bit traffic heavy, but Sorrento had lots of hills and a sweet seaside highway with hills and incredible views. I was a bit skittish (even on the bus) when I looked over the 2,000 foot cliff two feet off the road, but I think I could have handled it on a bike.

Being a classics dork, I was very excited to see Pompeii for the first time. All the pictures I have been staring at in Latin books over the years were there, right in front of me in person. I got to walk down the streets I have read about and imagine what it was like to live 2000 years ago. And then, I climbed in an oven to get a goofy picture.

On another note, only a month to go until the first bike race, singlespeed-a-palooza. It is going to hurt. Hopefully I can get out and ride a bit before then.

Take off, to the Great, white North.

Just signed up for this years Ultimate XC race. Did last year, and it was one of the best races I have ever done. The race director is the one and only Dan Desrosiers, formerly of Jay Challenge fame. This course is reminiscent of Jay but has better singletrack and a cooler finish line, the village of Tremblant.

This is the closest picture I could find of the last mile of the course. After climbing up the backside of the mountain, then descending part way, and climbing back to the top, you descend down a truly rugged downhill run. THEN, you climb back up and descend the final mile to the lake on the other side of the village.

There is lots of single track and paths and some paved road before this, and this race and the atmosphere is truly different.

And, if a enough people sign up and ride single speed, Dan will give us a category!

Any takers????

3 feet of slow.

Trying to motivate to ride rollers when there is three feet of snow on the ground is like trying to lasso kittens with dental floss. People look at you funny when you try to do it, and it isn't very gratifying. I have been skiing, and stuff. This goofy video proves it.

Single-speedapalooza is two months away. It is going to be ugly.