Dear D.I.N.K.s

Dear D.I.N.K. bastards,
I hate you!
Well, that's a little harsh.
I'm jealous as all HELL of you.
Green with envy even.
I know, I know, I made my bed, now I should lie in it. Frolicking around the mild SW can't compare to the warmth of Fatherhood can it?
This has been one of the best Winter's for riding we've had in a long time, but even so, getting away from it and the joys of parenthood for even a weekend is more than somewhat appealing.
So when you are here:

Think of me here:

Contemplating if I should add another layer with temps in the single digits (I shouldn't have), or if I had enough calories to last the ride (I didn't).
At least bring some glory and stories back to the North East so I can live vicariously through you.
Ah, I feel better now.
Hugs and kisses,

Love,
Charlie

They say bad things come in threes

What about good things?
Started the day with a pre-work mtb ride. Temps were a couple of degrees below freezing, so other than some crunchy frost heaves and some not quite frozen spots in the really wet areas things were hard and fast. Nice.
Then I get to work and Brown Santa shows up with a couple of these:


I've been pretty happy with my wheels, but I've heard these mythical stories of people airing up their tires with just a floor pump (when setting up tubeless). Although my rims have never let me down, the initial installation of tires is never nearly that easy, so if I can make my life easier and loose some weight too? Seems like a no brainer. Other than they cost twice as much as my current rims.
If all that wasn't enough, when i switch on the ol' internet, Thom discusses his newest fetish.
Ah, life is good.

Thinking out loud; Outlaw Bike race?

I was thinking...what if we had an unsanctioned, unlicensed, unmarked, unsupported, underground bike race?
It would be a very limited entry; let's say 20-25 people max. Everyone would put in $20 or $25. A portion of that could go to food and drink, and the rest would go as price money. If it was totally byo food and drink there would be more cash for the winner / top finishers. Money for the top 5; let's say 40% for the winner, 25% for 2nd, 15% for 3rd, 10% for 4th, and 5% for 5th? Or just top 3 splitting it 50/30/20?
I was thinking it could start and end at Pennwood. There are restrooms there, running water, and a covered pavilion (I guess being a pavilion it wold have to be covered). Head North to Tariffville, then South to the W. Htfd Res.
Being an unmarked course here's how to keep people honest. I'll pre-ride it and create a GPS map. Along the course I'll place different colored tokens of some sort at marked spots along the map that you need to bring back to the finish. You can head in any direction you want. First one back to Pennwood with all their tokens wins.
Everyone is responsible for themselves.
There would be a time limit too; say the race if from 8:00 or 9:00 AM to 12:00 or 1:00 PM. That way everyone is back and enjoying cookout at about the same time.
Thoughts?

Cheater

Last Sunday I was riding with the CTNemba group ride @ the West Hartford Reservoir. I suggested an alternate route so we could hit the Secret Ninja Death Chute (SNDC). A chute off a rock ledge between rock and a tree, so named because if someone was just riding along the Metacomet trail in the MDC you could swoop down upon them from on high.
Like a Secret Ninja.
Reigning death.
Anyways...
The run up to the SNDC, you drop down a steep, rooty, rocky hill, and then immediately climb up a similar hill to a rock outcropping above the Metacomet trail.
As I led the way to the SNDC, I took my usual line up to the top of the outcropping and waited for the group before descending the SNDC.
When Fabian got there he attempted to ride straight up the rock as apposed to riding the switchback I always ride.
I gave him an A for effort, but explained the line was over there. Charlie Beristain then chimed in "That's the Cheater line, we used to ride straight up that (on our geared FS bikes)".
Cheater?
I'm riding the cheater line?
The shame.
I always pride myself on taking the original line, or most challenging line. I'm not like Al riding off cliffs, but if it's in the trail I'm going to ride it. Though shall not ride braids. That kind of thing.
I can't have this on my conscious.
Tuesday I was able to squeeze in a ride before work. Run up to the SNDC, not even close. But I see the possibility. Maybe a smaller gear? I had to keep moving; the sinks weren't going to buff themselves (If only they could!).
Saturday went for it again. Close but no cigar. But close.
Close enough to try again. Missed it by this much.
Third time's the charm? Nope, but I'm not quite ready to throw in the towel.
Lucky number 4 (actually my Sister's lucky number). Shazam! I made it!
Revisited it today to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Didn't hold the line exactly as I wanted, but I made it.
Of course I have no witnesses to corroborate this, so at this point it is just a fish tale.
You have to take my word, or am I a liar?
Would I ever tell a lie?

Commute #3

Just Kidding!

Have a great weekend!
I'm looking forward to taking the A-Game offroad.

Commute #2

Wouldn't it be bloggerific if I posted a report from every single commute this year...and wouldn't it be smurfy if I kept using terms like "bloggerific"?
Anyways...
The weatherman spoke of the much feared "black ice" this morning. It may have been black from the seat of an SUV, but on a bike it was a white frosty velvet. My rear tire would break loose every time I'd accelerate from a stop light. Yes, I stop at lights, even when it's light out. Something about not getting dead. Can't say I've never sprinted for a yellow though.
Other than that pretty uneventful. My lights work fairly well when there is no other light source. I still need to get used to on coming traffic's lights. The ride home was quite pleasant with a mild cross breeze, and temps in the upper 30F's. Took 3 minutes off round trip too, making it the second slowest commute of all time!
If the weather stays so mild I hope to have a decent base built by March.

The Bucket Cart

Yesterday I built a new bucket cart. The one it replaced was built in 1989 (which replaced a total piece of crap someone else built in 1987).
As I pushed my first bucket of matrix out of the mixing room, I was amazed at how effortlessly the cart moved across the floor.
Scary fast.
It's amazing what you can get used to over time. No more wrestling around corners anticipating a capsize on ever bump, leaning it against the table so it's one now "short wheel" wouldn't let the bucket start to slide and kick the cart out to the side. No more worrying about when the cracked 2x12 would finally give way to a 150 pound bucket.
What does this have to do with bikes?
Well the smoothness of the new wheels, the ease of motion reminded me of when you give your bike an overhaul. These days with cartridge bearings I don't think you get the full effect but back in the day (hop in the way back machine Sherman) of cup, cone and loose balls, that first ride after an overhaul would have the same sensation.
You would roll effortlessly.
So I suggest you find out just how nice a newly overhauled bike can be. Replace those bearing, cables and housings (if you have cables and housings), put on some new grips, and polish it up all purty. If you lack the skills or time to do it, it's a great time to bring it to a bike shop. Lots of shops offer a discount on off-season overhauls, and the mechanics probably would rather fix your bike than have to clean their work stations (but maybe not as much as looking at Internet porn).