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.