4luvandlife

finally got to race. not a moment too soon either. starting to race to stop lights in the car vs. fellow drivers and have been taking to "closing the gap" on unsuspecting commuters while riding in the morning. went to the Decorah Time Trials over the weekend. pre-ride on saturday with about 50 degrees and wet conditions. was lucky to hook-up with a group ride that knew the course for the next day. Decorah has a lot of friendly people and that definately extends to the bikers in town. a lot of hike-a-bike on saturday. sunday morning was scary with rain downpours and weather.com saying up to an inch coming. had visions of staying home and warm with the family competing with visions of running up streams with my bike on my shoulder. i went as far as talking like a quiter about an hour and a half before start time but Beth egged me on in the right direction and i drove into town to sign up for a start time. started #28 at about 10:28. was told it would be about 7 miles a...

I have often heard people say they ride bikes for the feeling of freedom it gives them. I believe there is a great combination of simplicity, self-sufficiency, and fun in the bike ride. The bike ride can be many different things. It can be the six year old riding down the street with a new found feeling of limitless range of mobility. I remember that feeling. I thought I could now go anywhere and do anything in a world filled with experiences and life. The world got bigger and smaller at the same time on a bike. The bike ride can also put the self up for observation. What experiences are within me? What can I do? How far can I go? How fast can I get there? How much beauty can I see as the light comes up over the morning horizon? The bike ride can be many different things.

in the market for a new bike. of course, i'm permanently on the market for a new bike. it is part love of looking at bikes and part confusion from all of the options anymore. i have been tormented about the 26 vs. 29 debate for months now. thankfully, i haven't lost any sleep over it yet but i fear that may happen if i don't take a solid position soon. i remember when you wanted a bike it was either a road bike or a mountain bike and that was an easy call for me. now it is road or mountain. geared or single speed. full suspension, front suspension, or rigid. and that is just the beginning. but i study... a lot. one thing i have found is that you pay for a cannondale. i have a cannondale (not the one mentioned here). i like it a lot. i have learned since i bought it that you will be getting a level down of components for their frame and lefty fork. it's fair. the design and ride are awesome. but i do believe that $3000 should get you out of the SRAM X7 shifters. for $30...

One of the coldest rides yet today. Maybe THE coldest. Weather.com said it felt like 7 degrees as I headed out the door. Was a little worried for my toes for a while about mile 16 or 17. Shoe covers definately on the list for next year. Got 20 miles in and rides are usually an hour and a half anymore.

The early start to the year is feeling good. This morning was great. 50 beautiful degrees and in-between rains. Loved it. It's that feeling of riding through a warm mist. After riding through February at about 10 to 15 degrees typically the 50 degrees is awesome. The pavement is ice free so I am not getting the little "espresso shots" to the heart rate from hitting black ice out of nowhere. I am thinking that is better for my ticker. H rode without training wheels for the first time last weekend. He rode with me for about 2 miles right before that. W had a blast in the Burley. He says, "Go Daddy!...Go Daddy!" W sometimes demands a water bottle instead of a sippy cup for his hydration.

She's been frozen adrift for months but she's slowly thawing out and coming to new life. About a month and a half into the cold weather riding. Turns out it's nice as long as you got the right clothes on. I may try to ride into work. A big landmark today. I lost one of my four layers.

Rides go better with good fuel. The most important meal of the day isn't the first. It's the one the night before the morning ride. Man can I feel the difference between McDonald's the night before and this.