Dirty Ones

My gluteus maximus is pretty well shot after two days of back-to-back riding this weekend. Both rides started in sub-zero temps on fast frozen trails, and ended in the familiar springtime tire-spinning mud-slinging slopfest. And yes, it was at least as much fun as when we were 12 years old.

Some highlights from the weekend:

• Two scuba divers donning their drysuits for a refreshing dive at the west side boat launch.
• Half a dozen coeds aimlessly wandering the bonus loop.
• Our own "McGiver" fashioning a makeshift emergency dog leash from a spare 29er tire tube. Even better was when McGiver nearly became a roadkill while riding his dog-propelled 29er down the access road.

With all the sun, mud, and fun out there I cannot imagine why anyone would be sitting on the sidelines at this point. Do yourself a big favor, get off the sideline, and get dirty.

Chris

"Chicks dig the dirty ones"

          -anonymous

bitter SWEET

For many of us, this weekend was the first ride in weeks or even months. For me personally it was a bitter sweet experience. Bitter because my heart wanted way more than my body could deliver. Sweet because it was still fun, even when stuff that used to be easy was anything but. Anyway I choose to focus on the sweet because well, it's sweet, and because I know the bitter will be a distant memory after a few weeks of springtime riding. 

The MCSP trails are in good shape, even the Creative Playthings trail which is sort of a "canary in a coalmine" for riding conditions there. I would rate the trails 8.0 out of 10 (they'd be 8.5 except for the chop from the equestrian traffic). I intend to ride at least 1x before a mid-week business trip. I'll be opportunistic unless someone else wants to sync up and ride together. You know the drill...

Chris

P.S. If you're wondering about the photo, it's of a trail called Bittersweet located somewhere in central Missouri. Roadie anyone?

Cheating

This might be just the ticket (cheating) for that long grind up the quarry trail. Just think how impressed your friends will be as you breeze past them while whistling a catchy tune or casually sipping from your camelback. It even has front wheel drive!

Be Offended

I'm not sure if it sells any bikes, but you have to admire this bold advertising approach. Let's see if it meets the academic criteria for an effective ad:

1. ...must stop the reader from turning the page - check

2. ...works like a good salesperson, telling potential customers what a product will do for them - Emphasis seems to be on pretty bikes - check

3. ...has a sense of urgency, tells the reader to do something - My gut reaction was to quickly buy the bike to avoid getting sodomized - check

4. ...speaks to a specific group of people it is trying to reach - This must target middle-age-males who watched the 1972 movie Deliverance...a group that presumably has disposable income to spend on good looking bikes - check

5. ...is distinctive - check

Clearance sales and marketing gibberish about the latest technology just won't cut it for me anymore. 

Chris

"It won't make you ride better, it will make you ride more, and that will make you ride better."

-- Nippleworks ad