Playing with Singlespeed

Tried it on the track (BMX) and ripped it. Tried it on the Road and loved it. Now to get into the dirt with a little MTB. How light is light for a single speed MTB bike. Working on sub 19, maybe lighter with a little extra love.

Warm Day

Oooooooooo.....sssss.....ooooo......sssss and whhhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

These are the best sounds I enjoyed today. Warm 60+ degree weather gave me the opportunity to get out for a quick ride on my road bike. I have been hammering away to the spin DVD all January, and I will admit, the motivation dropped a bit in February, but to my defense, I did get bronchitis, and baby #3 is due any day now. But back to the bit....

Ooooooooo

The feeling I felt getting outside on my Trek Madone and ripping up some 20 miles.

Sssssssss

The sound the tires made as they cut through the water from all the melting snow.

Whhhhhhhhhrrrrrrrrrrrr

The sound I miss riding inside as the wind whispers its tales to you as you pedal along that beautiful paved road.

Hope everyone got a good ride in....

Mods and Fit changes

So after a season running a fairly long stem on my bike. I started analyzing my fit and decided to go to a longer stem. After 1 ride on the trainer I am convinced the longer stem is the right way to go. and better looking on the bike. Bontrager Race XXX Lite stem at Scheller's Middletown on closeout. See pic below.

So the old stem was all carbon in color, and this one has highlights that match the white and grey on my bike.

I love an upgrade that makes everything even look better.

Gonna add some speed and power letting me get farther forward in sprint and climbing positions.

Anyone else got a cool mod on their bike.

SSMBT

Bridge construction has begun. It will be raised, it will be snakelike, and it will add difficulty. When finished will make this spot much more interesting. Below, trail will come directly at camera climbing to this corner, then will turn with camber from left to right and slope up a little more. Ya, I know most bridges work best as a downhill, but this should prove to be exciting. This area around the corner will be the widest part at just about 3 feet.

Fast Road Bikes

So I was noticing a new DVD we had rolling down at the shop today. A long flick of the 7th tour win by none other than Mr. Livestong himself. Thing is, we still have a few cross races left, but I found my mind wandering to the hot early summer days of road and crit racing, and although it is many months off, it kicked in my motivation to play with my road bike and stop fiddling with the muddy nasty heavy thing I have been lugging around the mud track so far this year. Ya, ya, ya, cross is still pretty awesome, but the pain from a cross race takes a toll, and I am ready for an all out sprint and the feeling of yo-yoing from back to front in that always awesome Norton Commons crit race. Plus all the BS coming from all the politics of the cross stuff is kinda tapping me out. I mean, I will fight as much needed, but this one is kind of a blind battle at this point, as the people talking won't share the "super secret" plan, which I see as just a line of BS to leverage certian people to speak over others. Guess I am just a little bummed that after all is said and done, there is still no concrete to fall back on and I am ready to get out and start riding again.

MTB Skills Course

The new super secret MTB skills course has been cut. Although, many refinements need to be made. I spun a few laps today able to ride over 75% of the course with just a couple tweaks needed on a climb or two...

Oh and if you need some cheer today....

MTB SHORT TRACK SKILLS COURSE

With all the recent hubbub about trail closings, I felt the need to get out and start work on getting another place to ride. No, I don't have a new venue for cross, but get used to that as neither will Louisville any time soon. I am talking about a short quarter to half mile that will showcase some tech rock gardens, steep switchback descents, some raised bridges, maybe a teeter or two, a natural rock berm corner and although short, a tricky climb or two. Gonna be sweet, and gonna keep it that way.

One cool as hell creek crossing where this old tree divides the creek in 2.