JDM XXIII: Gentleman's Edition

It's been a long time since the band got together for a Joelton Death March (JDM). Never flat, always up or down, constantly climbing and descending the ridge of the Highland Rim. Given the nightly coughing and phlegm fits, I knew I wasn't up for a super intense effort, so I governed myself by taking the mx rsl ss co-Mooter. Not certain it really helped all that much aside from keeping me spinning madly off the back on the big-ring descents. I got to let loose a bunch of snot rockets though (3 lbs worth by Parker's estimation).

I'd almost forgotten how much I love the back country roads North of Nashvegas. Little to no traffic. Tight and twisty. Steep and narrow. You never go far before the road points upward, and in less than a half mile we found ourselves heading up one of the local 30 percent-ers. The attacks pretty much started from the gun. Kanza training has begun.

Followed by the counter-attacks. 

Re-grouped and heading back up. 

Rollin.

Parker launches.

MJ chases.

Mr. "Automatically upgraded to Cat 1" Pumptrack Jim.

JDM regular KRS-1

Rapha shows up.

The Dook ready to roll.

Exploration Space

I've been battling a sinus-y head cold trying to keep it from creeping into my chest, but I think I have to just admit it's now a chest cold. Dammit. Stuffy, sneezing, achy, coughing, phlegmy  how the hell did I end up on the couch kinda cold. It's caused a day out of work and many days off the bike. I can feel the fitness oozing out of me like the snot dripping from my nostrils.

It hasn't been too bad, but it has made getting up and out a lot tougher. Though I did get out for a little exploration with JD today. We took a new to us gravel road and headed to find its end. We trudged through boggy grass, overgrown fields, through thickets, and trees till we reached the pond at the end.

Then we turned around and headed home as the sun began it's descent, satisfied with what we had discovered. Yup, we'll be back. Someday soon, we'll be back.

Wherever I may ROAM

Between gravel rides, cross races, and tri-weekly commutes, it was time to get back to the original plan: leave the ti-brid set up in gravel/commute mode and have the Rigor set up for off-road shenanigans. So Saturday I loaded up the little wheels to give it a once over after work to make sure it was ready to come back up off the bench. After an urban ride with street shoes and spd pedals, it was just like old times on the bike. Plenty of wheelie races, curb gleaming, and plastic and wood palate escapades clearly reminded me of why I loved my old 26'er.

Sunday we headed up to the mountain in lieu of the rain forecast. A last minute audible almost had us staying dry and riding an over-used at the moment local trail, but the promise of "epic" riding allowed me to swing the vote back to the mountain. I mean "epic" rides can only truly be "epic" in "epic" weather right? (think that'll get me a cease and desist letter from big 'S'?)

A slight drizzle met us at the lot but is quickly subsided. The mountain has magic soil. Soil that is sandy, rocky, and quick to shed water. We weren't going to get muddy, but we were going to get a nice coating of sand. Sorry bearings.

A rarity of sorts nowadays, Team 26 about to hit the trail. No 9'ers.

H. had ordered me up a Contour ROAM HD video camera for my birthday and it happened to arrive in time for me to charge it up and take it out to the trail for a shake down. I wanted the ROAM over the others for 3 reasons:

1. Instant on/off recording. Just slide the large sliding button forward then back. 
2. Tough waterproof design with a tripod mount
3. A continuous photo setting. 

I'm not much for wanting to shoot and edit video (although I do plan on attaching it to JD sometime so we can see what a day in the life of a dog is like and some trail running perspectives), but I do like to capture moments on 'film'. There are many moments during the action of a ride that I've wished I could pull out the camera, but can't due to the conditions. This will allow me to enjoy the ride and not worry about stopping for a photo, it'll just happen. I've done this before with my ps Nikon and had some great results, but the camera wasn't meant for that duty and thus it wasn't very reliable to say the least. In fact, 2 met their demise that way. Usually from sand. Which, although it's weather proofed, I didn't want to risk scratching up the lens of the ROAM, so these images are all that were taken today, basically for testing.

Despite a brief moment of "how the hell do you open the back of the camera" frustration (there is nothing in the manuals about how to open it, just that you have to open it)(by the way, thanks Google) it has been super easy to setup, use, and download images. I can't wait to get some better action shots and memories of time.

Adventure Co-Mooting 2.0

After 3 weeks of cold and rainy commuting, we finally were blessed with sunny and below freezing weather for our Tuesday morning adventuring. Once again the Bontrager thermal windblock jacket did not disappoint. Long sleeve base layer and the jacket were all that was needed to keep my upper body roasty toasty. It only took 6 blocks to heat up to a sweat. Isn't technology amazing?

We had a short bushwhack hike-a-bike up over a massive rock pile and through stick tight/cocklebur infested weeds to get to an unsigned/un-posted old gravel maintenance road running under some power-lines for a bit over a mile. The descent down from the top of the ridge was mega-steep. Glad we were heading down and not up, as it was probably 38% or greater.

It lead us on down to a field, across the road to another field with a cool bridge over a boggy section that connected to a neighborhood and a park. Through the park along a perimeter trail and across the railroad tracks to a bit more gravel and field. Finally dumping us out in Cool Springs headed towards the office.

On our way in, we swung by the Swiftwick offices to see if any of them braved the cold (ok we just wanted to brag and waste a bit of time) and to chat with them about developing a windblock front 12" woolie. Sadly, despite our best efforts to just barge in and waltz around the offices, we couldn't find anyone worth pestering. Only the nice sales folks weren't hiding in a back office away from us.

Thoughts for a New Year

Driving and walking around my old home town as another year ends and a new one is about to begin has me reflecting a bit on our current state of being.

It is no doubt that we are a global economy and that isn't going to change anytime soon. Most of the jobs and companies that kept this old town afloat have long since moved to Mexico. Amazon and other online shops have made 24 hour bargain shopping easier for the consumer, at the cost of the mom and pop / brick and mortar stores. Not to mention the loss of taxes to the local economy. You know the main revenue source for things like schools, road improvements, fire protection, parks, greenways, and bike lanes.

Occupy movements are protesting the unfairness of the wealth distribution. Unemployment is still too high. Jobs are still too scarce. Yet we choose to save a few bucks by buying online and not have to pay taxes all the while expecting our government to bail us out. We do this to ourselves. While online shopping isn't in itself a bad thing, we could support each other and our local community to build ourselves back up a bit more, but we don't. We'd rather bitch, blame, and not pay sales tax. We simultaneously embrace and fear change in our instant gratification world.

Maybe in the new year we will learn to be better. Learn that there is more to being a savvy consumer than just saving a few bucks. That sometimes where and how things are made justify those added few dollars. Or that a company that keeps local folks employed deserves a first chance before clicking that buy it now button. And maybe, just maybe my old home town, and yours, won't disappear like all the jobs and local companies have.

Little Moments

Godfather Cup Challenge - Phase II

The weatherman said partly sunny and low 50's were expected today, so imagine my surprise pulling up to the starting location to drizzling rain, 38 degree temps, and solid cloud cover. It stayed that way, along with some crisp wind, all day (Thanks Mr. meaty urologist). Despite the off-forecast, it wouldn't be much of a Godfather Cup Challenge ride if the weather wasn't part of the equation.

Four of the hardier Hardy boys showed up, others unable to make it due to myriad reasons: woke up late, afraid of moisture, afraid of Sycamore Creek's creek crossing and 38% grade, etc..., etc...

Inspired by our Hickman county adventures, Stanley has worked hard at searching out and linking up some Cumberland Plateau gems to ride. 6 big climbs were on tap for today with as much gravel and chip/tar roads as possible between them, along with a known creek crossing or two, and the "bonus" surprise creek crossing in the above photo. Luckily everyone's feet and person remained warm and dry through the deep, car infested, fast moving, cold water. As usual, Stanley's route left little reserves in the tank and offered enough adventure to keep me satisfied while off the bike for the holiday.

North Short Mountain road was one of my favorite adventures of the day, complete with a friendly rider and dog who offered their warm fire at the top of the steep climb section of the road. The waterfall in the photo isn't done any justice to the sheer size and steepness of it by my iPhone camera. Needless to say it was a steep and rushing water fall that was cutting it's way down Short Mountain and through North Short Mountain road. Hog Foot was the other highlight climb for me.

After 5 hours out in the cold a hot cup of coffee and some country cookin' was sounding too good to pass up. Luckily the Alexandria Cafe was open for business and readily able to satisfy both requirements. There aren't a lot of options in the small mountain towns and the Cafe had a bit of a stepping back in time flavor to it, enhanced by the old Christmas tunes softly playing in the background. A perfect ending to a great day on the bike with good friends.

Planning on warmer weather, I didn't take much clothing for the ride. I wore a single layer Melanzana sleeveless base tee and the Bontrager Thermal windblock jacket and was roasty toasty all day long. Full attire: Swiftwick 12" wool socks, knee warmers, Moots Voler bibs, Melanzana base t, Bontrager jacket, endura gloves, and a Moots Cycling cap. Never once did I get cold. Several layers less than I'd normally have had to wear before the new jacket. Color me impressed.