The rain finally came to town.  It may be as exciting as the circus considering we have not seen any in like a year.  Oh yeah next weekend is the Fourth of July, and we are trying to decide where we will go for some action.  This weekend's action however consisted of a really good road ride that we did not even know we were going on untill we left and where we were going till we turned and went that way.  I think we have been really tired doing research, setting and attending meetings, and phone calls.  If anybody is looking for something to do-- go rafting the river of no return.  I hear they have a very cool gift shop there too.  Yeah my sis owns it, but it sounds cool and we have talked about going.  I went on another group ride and it was good.  We had three Yetis representin the ride and they tore up the hill side.  My bike sometimes yells at me and says "I NEED SOME LUBE, BRAD" but you know it's just a bike.  Well till next time I hope we have a story of somebody burning off their hand with fireworks but we will have to wait and see. 

 

Brad

 

Just 'cause I have a picture of me naked, doesn't make me a porn star.  I heard this statement a few days ago and it got me thinking about people's perceptions of themselves.  There are those who think they are more or better than what they are, there are those who think they are less or worse than what they are, and then there are a few that are realistic and know exactly where they stand.  Brad and I are looking into opening a mountain gear retail shop.  We have been researching local demographics, traffic patterns, retail locations, product manufacturers, successful retailers, and just about everything else we can think of.  Everyday we question ourselves-- will we be successful?  do we want to really be small business owners?  will we have enough creativity to get customers through the door, over and over again?  Are we ready to step out of our comfort zone and take a new risk?  It all boils down to- are we who we think we are?  No matter what the outcome, we will learn more about ourselves.

 

Billi

 

 

Single speeding is an entirely different way of viewing the world and riding a bike.  You can take the same trail, same weather, even the same day if you are up to it and ride your single speed instead of your all-mountain bike, and the world just seems to slow down, quiet down, and become peaceful.  It is kind of like taking a deep breath and closing your eyes. 

 

Well, all that would be during the part of the trail that is flowing up and down.  During the steep hill climbs--- what was I thinking?  Instead, you think about your lungs gasping for the next breath, your legs burning to turn that crank over--- just one more time, and where the hell is that lower gear?  Eveything is focused on how you feel and how you can possibly make it to the top.  Shoulders and triceps straning to pull up on the handlebars while your legs are pulling up and down to push the cranks around, hands gripping tight on the rubber grips until all you feel is numbness.  I don't notice any of the scenary, none of the wildlife my stealth, no-gear bike sneaks up on, and most certainly not the mileage on my bike computer.  Occasionaly, I grunt aknowledgement to Brad's encouragement, when my breathing allows.  Hill climbing is a workout-- in the most simple and sincere form and no sitting allowed.

 

Downhilling is much easier on the lungs than climbing but it still has its challenges.  My legs are tired, my hands are numb, the muscles between my shoulders are aching but I still have to stay alert and absorb all of the bumps of the rocks.  Move with bike--up, down and sideways.  I try to sit when I can to rest my legs.  Downhill on a SS is just like any other bike but I think I am much more tired.

 

So, you ride a SS and you are hooked.  You go back again and again.  Maybe for the challenge, maybe for the pain, maybe to know you can still can overcome?  Maybe for the different pace of life. 

 

Billi

The weather has warmed up a little bit, and lots of people are coming out and getting in our way.  I know I sometimes do some things that leave others scratching their heads but here are some things I noticed already this summer that I laugh at. 

 

Do not put a feather in your hat when you're hiking, that makes you look dumb.

 

Excuses, I could ride better but I ran 50 miles, hiked a 14er and rode 500 miles yesterday.  Most people around here hit it hard anyways so we

Somebody had a "OBAMA MEANS OBOMB US" painted on their vehicle rear glass.  What is that?  I wanted to stop and ask him what he meant.  Oh yeah, he was a tourist.

 

I can sit on the side of the trail and litter.  I don't get it why people throw their trash in the forest.  Oh, maybe so I have something to carry out.

 

Some people know summer is coming so they hit the club hard for a day or maybe two.  I bet that don't work.

 

Once on a epic ride, my little sis said "I am glad I did that leg stretch before we started."  We climbed Puke Hill that day.  Well me and Pam laughed, but then again we have a different kinda humor. 

 

People I do not know, always telling me how great they are. 

 

Speakin of Pam, hey if you read this send me an email sometime.  I look at your blog whem I can and I saw Brian wearin some AM gear--did you find some trails or what?  I like your Luke I am your father bit.  Did you hear Ben got a new bike?  Oh yeah there was a DH race here-- I think it was up by Summitville but they did not do the Powerline.  Anyhow if they did do the Powerline, that would have been great if Brain would have come down.  I don't even know who rode it or what bikes they had.  I do not see many FR bikes around though.  I took a fall and the handle bar stuck in my stomach.  I thought I died for a small while, then I laughed cause at least it didn't rip my pants off like the bmx bar scence.

 

Back to the blog.  I am kinda spacy right now. (Billi says I have A.D.D.)

Drive slow, get out the way.  Drive fast, go around me.

 

"Saw saw saw saw saw saw, here"  Ben

Brad

 

Brad may have been reluctant to go to the trail building class but since going he has fully embraced the whole experience. 

 

The IMBA instructors continued to plug Clif energy bars throughout the class, since Clif Bars sponsors IMBA.  Brad decided to try Clif Bars a few weeks later and we have been eating them on every mountain bike ride-- they are easy to digest and pretty tasty for an energy bar, especially the chocolate chip.

 

Every trail we ride gets a little trail building class help.  If there is a mud puddle, we create a drain outlet.  If there are any branches in the "corridor", we remove them.  If there are some unneccesary rocks, they get kicked out of the trail.  If some previuos trail users have cut the trail, Brad plants some "vertical deadfall" to encourage the next users to use the existing trail.  Any nice size logs that cross the trail get left-- nice obstacles and challenges.

 

Last weekend we headed out to Trout Creek trail.  The plan was to check out some trail we had not yet traveled.  Someone had done some trail maintenance to the part we had not ridden and the trail was nice riding.  Then we came to the first creek crossing and the water was gushing.  Someone had previously built a plank bridge to cross but the bridge had been washed out.  So Brad takes off his cycling shoes and socks, and gets to work re-building the bridge.  It took about 30 minutes to remove the debris and get the planks back in order, but Brad was successful and we were able to to get the bikes across without getting wet.  So we head back on the trail, only to come to three more creek crossings.  By the fourth crossing, we had had enough for one day and headed back---- at least the bridge got us back across on the way home.  The plank bridge was still in place this past weekend when we went back, so Brad's work paid off.

 

I posted some pics from our ride and of the bridge building.

 

My favorite Brad quote of the week--- "Are you serious?"

Billi

 

 

I am going into week 12 of commuting to work on my bike.  Here are a few thoughts on my experiences so far:

 

1.  The wind has not stopped but at least the bugs haven't been an issue

2.  Mornings have gotten warmer-- 30's and the occasional 40's

3.  I have encountered some wildlife-- a few coyotes, a couple of deer, lots of cats on the prowl, and a couple of packs of dogs

4.  Nothing like a good pack of running, barking dogs to get your speed workout in

5.  I have seen more people riding bikes, even a couple of guys touring but no Big Tom Boonen

6.  Did I mention that the wind hasn't stopped yet

7.  I am getting better at climbing the hills standing

8.  I haven't had anyone buzz me yet-- I am sure it is just a matter of time

9.  I now know where a particular state trooper hangs out and makes his cell phone calls in the AM-- I'm not judging, just merely an observation

10.  I have noticed more people making hauls to the dump but no flat tires---- yet

 

Time to get ready for the commute tomorrow----

Billi

 

 

 

 

Somehow the threads stripped out on Billi's bike mount.

Yeti was screamin from running in mud awhile back.

Sidewall cut on my tubeless tire.

Yard getting way too tall.

Dog does not listen to me.

Yep all this stuff needs work.  I tend to believe that is why my blogs may be getting shorter and shorter.  We again this week are running behind and again did not get everyhting done.  But as you read above I have some parts to order and some things to work on, so again we can go riding and avoid our responsibilities and fall asleep two things behind.  Almost kinda sounds like a rant but it's not.  I think we are having a lot of fun but running out of time on the week.  We do tend to meet a lot of people lately that are um..... a little different-- maybe more on that next week.  Also I need to find a saw that I can mount on my bike and do some trail maintenance.

 

"Don't listen to Brad no more, I give you permission." --Mayor Chuck

 

Brad

 

 

 

It felt like the first real weekend of summer-- temps above 70, the winds less than 35 mph, trees with leaves/blooms and green yards.  It was also one of those weekends that we did not do any riding.  Instead we caught up on yard work, laundry, eating, sleep, trail maintenance, helping out on a house project, and a little project work for me.  We did catch a few episodes of the TV show "The Dog Whisperer" while eating breakfast.   I first watched the show while I was sick a few months ago and thought Ceasar Milan (the dog whisperer) was not only entertaining but also effective.  If you have not watched the show-- Ceasar usually ends up working on the dog owner(s) more than the dog.  So after watching a few shows, Brad and I started discussing this weekend our dog's issues and the causes--- the dog owners' issues.  Ceasar also teaches the importance of the proper walk--- walking the dog should be a psychological challenge for the dog more than a physical challenge.  So after some disucssion, we took Tucker for his walk but did things differently--- what we think Ceasar would have told us.  And what do you know, it worked.  Not that Tucker is a perfect dog in one walk, but we made some progress-- both with Tucker and with ourselves.  It was a nice, relaxing walk.  We might just be able to rehabilitate our dog (as Ceasar calls it) and learn more about ourselves.

 

Billi

Well I planned not to do much this weekend, and that worked well for me but I did do somethings with it.  Saturday, we went to build a trail and then we were headed home when we drove by Ben's house to see them working outside.  Well, they were installing a window in their house and I thought I would help out.  Of course I had to organize a couple of the items on the ground and pick up the scrap wood before I was any good at anything else.  It was fun--- we got it framed in around 7:00pm, drank a beer and then we came home.  Next day I thought I would fix up the yard.

I was thinkin about what I really enjoyed this week and came up with a couple of items.

Commuting to work:  This really slows down the world and gives me some relaxation during the day.

Watering the yard: As mush as it sucks, I still like to do it.

Magazines:  I like to read them, look at them, and pile them up.

Internet:  I have to be able to search and surf the net or I would get bored.

Coffee:  In the morning, black, dark, and not hot but warm.

Tea:  After 8:00pm I like it also warm and straight.

 

"You need to read more"

Brad