Take me home, country road...

With a hint of sadness and an equal part of excitement, I am free to announce that my time in the mid-west will end this summer. Come this July the family and I will load up the Outback and make our trip back to Virginia, for what we hope will be the last time. To my families delight I have accepted a new job in Northern Virginia, and will find my life renewed in the commonwealth once again. The circle is complete.

More on the when and where soon. But for now, anyone have an entry for the SM100?

Be well.

Apex of Mid-Life

Ok, so today is the big 40. Boo hoo. Hip hip hooray. I have waxed and weened for a few posts on the ascent to today. And, well enough already. Bring on the next 40.


lets ride.

be well.

Respite from a Flurry

Winter arrived quickly last week and from the tire spray patterns on my kit and bike is leaving just as hurried. Whatever. Today we should see 50 and I will roll out 80k. Whatever. January is an odd time in the season of cycling. If you are Joe Road Racer you are spinning on your turbo trainer and dreaming of crit victories in March. Cross Racer is most likely unpacking from Madison and reluctantly entering the off season. MTB Racer is salivating over winter issues of Mountain Flyer and contemplating moving to AZ or UT. Then you have the Vet Master Racer, full of motivation and responsibility, stuck with choices and poor weather. You see, the Vet Master Racer most likely hates the trainer, is in a chronic crisis of off season behavior, and could never pull their child away from friends and move to Sedona. To avoid lunacy and depression and divorce Vet Master Racer clings to the velo legend of "historical miles" in the legs. The legend dictates that regardless of training neglect we old cats retain something from years in the saddle that is of benefit. As a Vet Master Racer, I have clung to such absurdities. My faith in the fairness of this velo mystic is in defiance to my Darwinian training as a scientist and only from denial can I post such blatant mumbo jumbo. You see I have invested in cycling, and the divedends are seasonal and lucrative. My return is in peace of mind and a taste of that old time feeling, and quietly an identity within me. Indeed, Vet Master Racer is a bike racer, our lead outs are varied and our patina is earned, but we are racers through and through. Racers Do what they have to survive and taste glory. We suffer and we suffer more, maybe not always in the saddle but certainly within the velo mystic. So, I say to you Vet Master Racer; historical miles exist, you are only 100k away from peak form and you are a racer though and through.

Be well.

Cyclocross With An Old Friend

The weather in my portion of the mid-west continues to be off the hook (wicked warm). The other day I pushed away from my house in shorts and a long sleeve jersey and I was over dressed. I have never been over dressed in January while cycling.

Over the holiday break I built up my 2000 IF Planet X. Since I left Virginia it had been relegated to family type bike or incomplete frame in the shop. It was a trip down memory lane to rebuild her up and I was smitten to take her back out on the trails.



Smooth as peanut butter was a descriptive statement from a friend of mine in Portland back in 2000. I have the same sentiments today. Amazing, but you get what you pay for. A hand crafted bicycle rewards in spades. How many carbon or alloy wonder bikes from 2000 are still able to ride smooth and fast? I would guess not many.

Today it is 60, again.

Be well

Happy 2012

A new year, a new start, and the eve of my 40th trip around galaxy. The New Years Eve was modest and uneventful, as it should be for a father of 1. With intent I went to sleep at 11pm CST, as I am east coast through and through and the new year in effect was upon us. Maybe, just maybe the new year will bring us back east...how sweet it is?

I have not ridden since the 8th ride of the Festive 500. My abstinence was not from pain or fear of the bike. Rather, the lack of spin was precipitated by the body language of a family that has had enough of daily three hour rides in the heart of the day. Ironically, mother nature had enough of this festivus on wheels as well and almost like clock work the new year ushered in 40 mph winds and a 30 degree high. Ouch, suffering conditions indeed.

So my 2012 mid-life crisis year of relevance has begun. Starting immediately, I will embark on training journey not for rainbow stripes nor a top series finish, but for something far more important. I train and ride for relevance in the cycling world. I train for ability and presence in a group of cyclists. For sure. As an introverted extrovert my mania seeks a glorious attach, a town line sprint, and a waist line reminiscent of my 18th moon. Truly heroic indeed.

Have a great new year.

Be well.

Day 8 Arrivee

Day 8 of the Festive 500 and I have reached the threshold for completion! I have had a great time and the motivation to ride has been exceptional. I have no artful stories of great ascents or arduous trogs over broken cobbles and icy passes. Rather, I have had a ride every day leaving a house with an encouraging family and a little taste of that old time feeling.



The start of a short day.



Damp and perfect.



Migratory Starlings and Grackles.



Indeed.

Total Ride 42.5 km

Total Festive 510 km

Be well.

Day 7 Warm Sunshine

The ride was warm, really warm.



The Crown Jewel has handled the kilometers with grace.

Total Ride 64.6 km

Total Festive 468 km

Be well

Day 6 Life in the Wind

Lovely day to be on the bike. Cold 35 degree air, strong wind out of the SSW and lots of frost on the road. I headed west then south out into the fields and pastures of the Troy area. Beautiful country and a challenge to ride. Several long hills with tough sections of rough pavement.

I have really enjoyed the challenge so far, and the daily riding takes me back to racing in my 20's. I would be lying if I did not suggest that the kilometers are begining to take their toll. The resultant fatigue is bringing to light all the little rises and hills on my normal routes that pass as after thoughts with fresh legs.

I am grateful to my family encourgaing my participation in the 500, what a Christmas present indeed. I have about 97 km to go in 3 days to complete it. Word up.

Total Ride 72.1 km

Total Festive 403 km

Be well.

Day 5 Who Needs a Stinking Rest Day

Snow was abundent early in the e. Snow men and snow mountains were made. By noon all the snow, with the exception of said men and mountains was gone. I spent the morning building up my vintage Independent Fabrication Planet X, with the exception of a lame ergo FSA bar and a cassette that has seen better days, the bike build up well and despite the dust rode just like it was brand new in 2000. Something to be said for custom steel bikes.



It was my intention to rest day today, let the weather improve and complete a bunch of writing. Well, by 2:30 pm the weather was betterish, a few quailty pages had been written, and my old friend was built back up. So a rest day ride it was.

Made it home into LeClaire just in time for the sunset to paint the old water tower pink. Tommorrow we will ride again.




Total Ride 46.1 km

Total Festive 331 km

Be well

Day 4 The Suffering Has Settled In

The honeymoon of the Festive 500 is over, I am half way through and the cumulative kilometers are taking this toll. The ride today was a similar loop to last week albeit in a the opposite direction. No dog attacks today, all the mutts must have been indoors, a wise choice.

The start of the ride was in the 30's with a warming sun and strong frost. The legs took a while to warm up and would have prefered a spin to a cafe for an espresso and scone.



As the ride progressed I felt better and was holding 30+ kmh. The wind was out of the south west and far colder than the previous few days. Winter is coming. Indeed, tomorrow is forecasted to be snow and rain for about 36 hours. Perfect day for a rest day and writing in my mid-tenure papers. Doh!

Total Ride 72.1 km

Total Festive 285 km

Be well.