*yawn*

It’s been a lazy past couple of days. I haven’t really done much except for eat, sleep, and work. I haven’t looked at my bikes in the past few days. However, I did pick up a fancy new trainer thanks to our sponsoring bike shop Center Cycle. Man, those guys rock. It’s nice to talk to a bike shop that really is trying to improve how they cater to the common cyclist. I’ve been in a few discussions with one of the owners about how to improve their clothing/accessory department.

So tonight will be my first time on the bike since my bonk-day last Sunday. Nothing fancy, just 2H on the bike with a bunch of 1-legged drills thrown in for good measure. I have a couple new roads that I’d like to explore…not too sure if a night time exploration is the best time to do something like that…but when else am I going to get the opportunity right?

East vs West

Ah, the age old debate. Well, this time it relates to moutain biking…the east-core riding, or the west-coast riding…what’s the deal.

Singletrack
When East-core folk think singletrack, they think rock gardens, off-camber perpetually wet roots, mud bogs that have eaten small children. Basically, every ride completed soon becomes a fable passed on from generation to generation.

West-coast single track is lined with flowers and has ground so soft you could sleep on it. The little elves that live in the forrest come out each night to dust and sweep away any nasty and pesky debris that could potentially cause a rider some irritation during their pedal stroke.

Hills
West-coast hills are fun little ups and downs. Kinda like riding those roller coasters that you find at a travelling amusement part. You go up and down and up and down and wheeeee and up and down.

East-core hills are evil reincarnate. It is a relentless barrage of torture devices meant to trip you up at every rotation. The little elves that live in the forrest on the east-core are mean spiteful little creatures. They have to live in the snow half the year and they’re sure pissed off come spring. They go out and lube all obsticles on the trails with grease and goop so as to prevent any traction from being had.

Group Ride
East-core, no matter what the originally intention is, a group ride is an all out mad-dash to beat your fellow riders into the ground at every turn. Elbow thrown, smack talk laid down, and the only time someone stops is to mock and laugh heartily at the unfortunate souls who they just smoked over that last trail. If site of the group is lost, you had better know your way back becuase in the group’s eyes your as good as dead.

West-coast group rides are a friendly bunch that politely wait for everyone to complete the last little bit of technical singletrack (see above). Everyone encourages the rider that is trying to climb that tough hill (see above) and afterwards there is almost a group hug moment since everyone made it back without fail.

It’s been a while

Tonight will be the first time in a LONG time that I have been on my mountain bike. In fact, I think the last time I mounted it was at the Jay Challenge last July. Man I love that race. I am almost tempted to fly back east to do it next year. There really isn’t much of that endurance mountain biking stuff around here, it’s a shame. I digress…So I’ll be hitting up St. Eds park with a group from BBTC which is the local mountain biking group in these parts. Leave it to the techies of Seattle to build a web site of trails and organized rides that you sign up for prior to showing up. A little over the top…but that’s how these folks do it out here.The bike should be ready to go. As I said to myself last night:

I have about 1H of repairs, and it should take me 1.5H to do them

I replaced the stupid chain that broke three times during Jay, replaced the sliced tire from Jay, changed the rear rotor (was going to do both but got lazy). I also discovered that I lost the Mavic tubless valve stem, so hopefully the tube I used instead holds up. Man, I forgot how much of a pain mounting Seracs are! It better be worth it. Python in the front, Serac in the back…weird combo…

Sore bum…

08-01-05_1749

Originally uploaded by nathasm.

Because I think I’m “way cool”, I decided to ride my fixed gear to our team’s group ride on Sunday. I was thinking it’d be a typical day out on the roads doing our usual team ride. However, I was betrayed…hornswaggled…duped…the team decided to take a minor detour. A detour of rougly 20 miles and a bunch of climbing. Ack…

I rode along all happy and content and boasting that there was not a road in the world I would not attempt on my trusty ‘ol fixie. However, how I dearly wished to shift…to hear the chain skip from one cog to the next as my effort to turn the pedals melted away…and most of all…coast!

60 miles and over 3 hours later I grinded my way up the worst hill of the entire ride…the one that leads to my apartment.

Found art

Found art

Originally uploaded by kkolo.

Sometimes others can say things you can’t. Sometimes others can convey a feeling in images better than you can in words.

Fortunately, I have a good friend who can do this for me…

It’s a Trap!!!

It’s a Trap!!!

Rapha

Rapha

Originally uploaded by nathasm.

5:30am Shave Legs
7:15am Bag first Col
9:30am Bonk

And now we wait…

First Descent ‘nuf said.

Almost home…

I-90 Bridge

Originally uploaded by nathasm.

The view from the top of Mt Holly looking at the I-90 bridge (yes Bostonians, THAT I-90). Over the bridge is home…Mercer Island.

NightRider

A long time ago, I saw the sun. I really don’t remember what the sun looks like so if you do, please let it know that I miss it so! Over the past month, I’ve logged the majority of my hours on the bike at night. I’ve equipped my rain bike to combat the darkness with my HID handlebar mounted light up front and two, yes two, blinky lights in back…