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

Bored to Tears

Well the biking basically blows right now so here I sit blogging instead of riding. I've discovered a gem of a website that must belong to someone who is even more bored than I. He (or she) has cataloged dozens of popular song recordings with bicycle themes or references. There are songs from Pink Floyd, Queen, the Beatles, Poopiehead (never heard of them but it is fun to say), and others.  

Kirk, load up that iPod.

He has also cataloged a bunch of biking movies starring the likes of Nicole Kidman and Kevin Bacon.  And bicycle books, and posters, and even bicycle stocks in case you're itchin' to jump back into the market (DJIA down 80 today to a new 624 week low).

Wake me up when the trails dry up or the temps dip back down into the teens.  I'm going to bed.

Last Great Act of Defiance

Recognizing the weather would be working against us Sunday morning, a couple of us seized the day on Saturday and took a trip to White Clay. Soft and slow does not adequately describe it, but it was biking so it was good. Also worthy to note a mountain lion warning posted at the various parking lots. I think mountain lions are also known as cougars, so this is interesting on a number of levels (wink wink). 

Speaking of "seizing the day," following is a sampling of local races on tap for this spring. Personally I feel some compulsion to defend home turf. Less compulsion than the early days when I was deluded into thinking I might actually succeed, but some compulsion to at least make an honest effort...sort of a Last Great Act of Defiance. I thought maybe some of you may feel the same way, or are looking for a motivator to get back into shape, or whatever so here goes:

• Hibernia Duathlon (4/19)- Our traditional low-key kickoff to the riding season, this is a run/ride event.  You can compete solo or in a relay format.  If you've got a fleet footed wife or child, this is a great way to get them pumped for spring and build a little healthy family team spirit. Here's a link to the blog posting for last year's event.
• Fair Hill Spring XC Race (4/19) - I don't know anything about this one but if you have ever ridden at Fair Hill then you know this has gotta be one fun fast race.
• On the Rocks at French Creek (5/9) - Buckle your chinstrap and bring out the full squishy for this one.
• Fair Hill Classic (7/12) - Another Fair Hill event for those who missed the first one (due to the Hibernia Duathlon of course).
• Midnight in Milford Mills (7/18) - OK this is where the "home turf last act of defiance" thing really needs to kick in.  This will be a night race right here in Marsh Creek State Park.  Imagine the carnage!  There are not many riders who have our level of experience riding these trails at night, so this will be a great chance to get a leg up on the competition.

I can't say enough good things about the Hibernia thing, especially from a family perspective. Last year we had all sorts of awesome combinations - father-daughter, brother-sister, husband-wife, etc. In case you are wondering, I will be racing the relay with my fleet-footed-6th-grader Sara.  

Broke Back Biking

I could not resist the alliteration. Just for grins I looked up "broke back" in the urban dictionary (infinitely more entertaining than wikipedia and much more informative). I got a few chuckles but nothing that I could include in this PG-13 blog. I guess the picture will have to suffice. 

The weekend is looking reasonably good for riding.  Friday is sunny, warm, and windy so should dry things out pretty well, and temps on Saturday night are in the low 20s so trails should firm up nicely. Marsh Creek is a ridable if a little chewed up, but maybe there is interest in a roadie to Fair Hill or White Clay?

Chris