March of the Stache

March is going to be a difficult month. Not because of work or anything, but rather due to some surrogate facial hair growing that I'll be doing. H.'s trauma team is doing a little fun fundraiser to help raise money for the Vanderbilt Trauma Survivors Network. Many of us have a cycling friend who's been affected by a trauma or two. In fact, we mid Tennesseans are dealing with a friend currently battling for life from a recent accident involving him, his bike, and a swerving dump truck. It takes a long time to recover, and recovery doesn't stop when they leave the hospital. The Vandy Trauma Survivors Network is there to help them with their recovery even after they go home.

So, in order to help her do her part, I'll be growing a mustache for March. I'm aiming for a good start on a Magnum by the end of March.

If all goes well, I might continue to nurture it into a full blown Wyatt Earp.

Though I might not be able to handle it as most likely it'll just turn into a Papa Ted. Hence, the difficult road ahead March presents: Can I handle the handlebar?

Though secretly I really hope I can pull of the Doc Holiday, although I don't think I have the jib to pull it off. It might turn into a half-baked Inigo Montoya.

You killed my mustache, prepare to die.

How 'bout it? Am I you're huckleberry? If so, visit http://marchmustachemadness.wordpress.com/ throughout the month of March and vote for me. It's only $1 per vote and you can vote as often as you'd like. The money raised goes to a good cause.

So long Strap-ons!

 It goes in here.

Friends. Friends are people who are there for you. People who help you out when you're in need. Or give you a tip on a good mechanic, a sweet deal, or a product hook-up. I have a "friend" whom I've helped out with some goods and products over the years. So in do-si-do fashion, I turned to this "friend" when I was ready to purchase a hitch mountable rack. After all, I finally got a vehicle set-up with a hitch. Time to ditch the strap-on units. 

 Apparently this "friend's" wee little man arms aren't as all powerful and far reaching as wee little man's delusional brain has him proselytizing. In fact, no one at the company seems to ever have heard of him. Despite that fact, and the fact that I'm getting full retailed, I've submitted my order for a Raxter Thorax 3 bike rack.

Finally, I can kiss those strap-ons goodbye.  I owe ya, wee little man friend!

Velo Latte

Working in a bike shop is today's version of the corporate dropout coffee shop craze of the 90's. Mechanics are the new baristas.

Since the big job loss of '08 I've only ever been working "jobs." Nothing "career" related. There's no job security. No pensions of old. No working 38 years of a company and being rewarded for your loyalty and dedication. Pennies on Wall Street decide the fates. We're an instant gratification, quick to dispose civilization. Easy come, easy go.

My decision to leave a better paying/benefits job has nothing to do with dropping out of the corporate world and everything to do with deciding to surround myself with people I want to be around. Life is too short to not spend as much of it around friends and loved ones as possible.

Then, whilst driving the scenic back roads into work, I was considering how long it would take me to save $6,000 in my current economic situation. Ideological self, meet capitalistic self.

Swimming in irony. Come on in, the waters fine.

Re-Cappage

You can tell spring is just around the corner. Not only is the weather heating up, but so is the calendar. The blog took a seat in the back this week, well actually starting last Friday. The job shifted me locations for Friday and Saturday, offering a great get-a-way trip. I spent the weekend over in Cooke-vegas enjoying the change of pace only small mountain-y towns can offer. It was perfect.

Back Sunday for a monster gravel route put together by Pumptrack Jim. It was a great route that was spoiled only by the peanut buttery conditions. It didn't really dampen anything other than some spirits, but made the 45 miles accomplished of the 60 planned feel like 85. A great day full of cold creeks, steep slimy hills, and good company.

The Duke rides again.

The Duke on his new MOOTS Psychlo-X YBB. 

Some of us are creek RIDERS. 

Others are creek WADERS.  (Wader, Darth Wader)

Today's menu: Dirt.  It's good for your immune system. 

Regrouping after the ice swatch took down the Duke.

The last photo taken before my Nikon died. Stupid lens error. 

Next came a couple road rides out in my old stomping ground. A modified loop showing some friends around town followed by an old secret loop revisited.

Road bike gravel rides sooth the soul and are the perfect pre-game amp up. Swiftwick came through with an offer of on-the-glass seats for the highly anticipated Preds vs Canucks game. A big Hell-yeah and a heavy gas pedal later I was at the game chillin' with friends.

During some down time, a total rebuild and regrease/lubing of the MOOTS was performed after the mess from the gravel grinder to get it ready before Friday morning's big adventure.

 photo cred: RideForReading

Another RideForReading book delivery was scheduled and I had a trailer to haul. Twenty-Four cyclists came out to help haul books, including H. partaking in her first delivery, it was great. This is one volunteer gig that never, ever gets old. If you're local and haven't joined in on a delivery, please do yourself a favor and get in on one. It's a grand time and a great cause.

photo cred: RideForReading

 

Brunch at IHOP on the way home before some crank work on the MOOTS and swapping to the mountain wheels/gearing setup in anticipation of Sunday's master plans. The predicted rain decided to show just as I was finishing the work providing me a small window of time to share some photos and words before I get ready to head back out. Tonight is Sorba MidTN's Ale for the Trail fundraiser. Followed by tomorrow's RideForReading's 2nd Annual Acoustic Benefit Show.

As you can see, there's plenty of bike related things to do. Get out and get involved!

5 Hours

A Gnat-esque Snowtograph.

I left for home yesterday around 4:45pm. I arrived home 9:42pm. Three minutes shy of a 5 hour commute. It wasn't so much the snow or the inexperience of the drivers, although those contributed, but rather the slick conditions paired with the hills and undulations common in middle TN roads. Traffic would stop at lights on a slight hill then not be able to start again. Cars would stop behind them and the cycle would continue. Off ramps would close due to TDOT plows trying to free stuck semis jack-knifed in the curves. Bumper to bumper for miles and miles. Cars stuck in middle lanes of the interstate, in ditches, and teetering off of ledges.

Pups ready to run. 

I tried to park and wait it out, but every business be it gas stations or restaurants were closed or closing.  The longer I waited, the worse traffic got. I parked the car in a lot I thought would be safe to leave it and started to get my bike out, but after 2 near misses of my car by other drivers cutting through the lot, I thought better of it. Once on the interstate I was stuck as no off ramp was available.

Perfect trail powder conditions.

I thought about leaving the car on the side of the interstate, but we all know what happened last time I had to abandon a car. Not going through that again. So I kept on, creeping along in 1st gear, making my way towards home. Once North of the city traffic cleared and only the icy slick roads were left to contend. 

Silver linings of the fiasco were we all made it home safely and a fresh coat of powdery snow on the ground awaiting the Snoots-lite. The 26x2.6" tires aren't quite endomorphs or Larrys, but perhaps qualify as at least a Shemp.

As much as the snowy conditions are causing havoc around the city and causing issues getting home, it sure has been fun riding all week long. I'm glad we don't normally have a lot of snow to deal with, but getting out in some of the white stuff has been refreshing as of late. It's been over a decade since I've gotten to experience a real winter.

Good Morning

Ice marks the spot. 

Snowy singletrack awaiting the Sun.

Making tracks.

Watching the Sun rise over the ridge. Good morning.

Ah, Hockey Puck!

When I first moved to TN I often heard people joke about the weather saying something along the lines of "if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes."  I never really got it because our weather isn't usually that crazy. Normally that is. Abnormally, it's all over the map.

So Sunday was a beautifully blue skied, near spring temps day out on some great singletrack. Monday we get rain, then snow and freezing temps. A perfect day to take in a hockey game on the glass courtesy of the fine folks at Swiftwick, despite the horrible loss to Canardian Edmondson Fitzgeralds.

 Dog ankle deep with white stuff.

Back to the weather. Just this morning I was visiting the photoimagineering that takes place over at Gnat's place and made the following remark regarding his recent snow bike photos:

"I just spent Sunday in single layers with arm warmers riding pristine singletrack after weeks of rain and snow. It was a spring like day and a very much needed ride for me and the pup. However, your images have me wishing the snow had stuck around for the weekend due to your images and their mythical feel."

 High volume 2.4's swallowed by the snow.

Well look at me now. We're blanketed with several inches of the white powdery stuff after having just rid ourselves of the last dumping. Be careful what you wish for over at Gnat's place. He apparently has some powerful connections.

The snow was too fresh. The temps were just about right. And the night sky had a cool eerie red glow to it that I couldn't wait until morning for a snow ride. So while H. brought the horses in for the night, the pups and I went out for a little fun in the snow.

I really needed at least one more snow ride for the season. I hope to squeak another ride in on the white stuff tomorrow morning before it's all gone again. Thanks Gnat!

Fixter Hippies

Paul fixed disc hub. Swanky. Alternator drops, Salsa.

A day off. Sunny and high near 50. Friends. Pups. The ingredients for a good day in the woods. Add in a first time fixed off-roader with a beard into the mix and you're pretty much guaranteed a damn good time. Question is if hipster fixie kids wear tight jeans, what should a bearded mountain man lookin' off-roader wear? Tight overalls and flannel?

Damn kids showin' off. I kept waiting for the big biff, but it never happened... to him, the non-coasting son of a gun. As much as I kinda hate him for his enviable skills, I'm pretty damn impressed watching him rock the Mountain fixed for the first time ever. Pretty bad ass.

Best part was the dual puppy power up the final road climb.