Want, Can, Have, Should

Fall is nearly upon us and so much of the spring and summer passed by too quickly thanks to things I had to and should do. Things wanted to do fell by the wayside or effectively stalled out with hopeful thoughts of "maybe later". 

Only seven days remain officially of summer. Time is racing by. Opportunities missed, sacrificed, or just forgotten. 

Races and trips missed due to work events and/or retail Saturday hours. But it is what it is. No use crying over spilled milk. I can only do what I can do. 

And what I can do is get out for whatever adventure, great or small, for which I can make time. But all is not lost. Better weather is on the way. No more hot humid muggy buggy days. Cool crisp nights and cooler mornings will soon be the norm. 

Fall has always been my favorite season. Caramel is ripe and ready, pumpkins, Halloween, sweater weather, and my clothing palate becomes aesthetically pleasing to natures backdrop. I've always  been an autumn. 

The lesson learned from the missed summer is to not waste time. You can never get it back and it never slows down. 

Best Laid Plans

One really needs to be careful for what they wish. The 4-7 hour mowing days were getting to me. It would eat up the majority of my days off just trying to keep up with the grass growth. I had little time for other chores or even to escape for a long ride in the dirt somewhere. So I wished I wouldn't have to mow every day off just for a day or two. Well, since that wish I've not had to mow going on three weeks now. The cutting belt busted and despite a 3 county and internet search, I can't seem to come up with a replacement in a timely manner. Fortuitous one might think, but oh how sweet Lady Karma likes to play with her boys.

The first Tuesday it rained, rained, rained and I lazily enjoyed much of the day off just taking the day off. I'd gone out and ordered the belt and assumed I'd be up and mowing by the following Sunday. So what would it hurt to take one day off and enjoy being off? No belt Sunday rolled into no belt Tuesday again. At least I managed to get a ride in by riding over to Chapel Hill to check on the belt status. After that the day was spent helping the in-laws fix computer woes and running errands with H. This past Tuesday started with H.'s car having a flat tire as she was heading off to work. She took my car leaving me the truck. Not being able to mow and wanting to act like a good husband I decided to take the tire off and in to be plugged. Easier said than done.

Naturally the "five minute job" turned into a 40 minute struggle. We bought the Alero from my grandmother a few years back. It has spent many a winter up in northern Illinois, ergo salt. When I placed the jack onto the car's jack mount all was well and good until the tire was just about off the ground. Then the crumpling of rusty metal could be heard as the jack mount folded under the weight of the car and it all came bouncing back down to the ground.

Naturally it would be too easy a job if I could just slide my hydraulic jack under the car and lift it. Yep, too easy. Being a gravel driveway, there wasn't enough room to slip in under the car, even when I dug a little pit out. So I wrestled with the rusty under carriage and managed to find a small sliver of solid metal to jack the car up just enough to slide the hydraulic jack under. Finally the tire was off, loaded into the back of the truck and I was on my way to town... er the gas station.

Since I needed to run my paycheck to the bank and check TSC and Home Depot for mower belts, all which were near the tire center, I figured I could drop off the tire and run my errands and pick the tire back up on my way out to Bonnie's for dog food. Killing all errands off in one big loop through the outskirts of town. But no, that again would be too easy. The tire wouldn't end up being done until hours later. So I finished my errands and headed home. To kill time waiting on the tire I started cutting some new trail, but little else got finished that day. Meh.

The last two days off have included digging holes and chasing cables. We lowered our plan for internet so naturally it's been dropping signal and service ever since. They claimed I had a bad line, so rather than wait for them to come out, I borrowed some tools and ran a new line to keep our end up. We'll see how long service lasts now. Stupid monopoly.

The digging came Sunday. The power has been out all week at the barn. It's a combination of issues resulting from our new water line and from setting T-posts when we moved in. The service is of course buried under ground and runs in a not-very-intuitive-or-logical-manner across the yard. So I started digging where we thought the issue was and moved my 3'x3'x3' holes until I came across a line or something I could follow. Finally finding the bad areas, it turns out it's legit power line cable and not the sort you can buy parts for at the local hardware store. Double meh.

But all is not lost. I have been able to enjoy early morning and sunset jaunts with the pups. We tested out my new cross gearing and wheelset on the Psychlo-X this morning, played in the pond, then brought the horses and measured wood for an upcoming barn improvement project. All in all not a lot of miles, but plenty of smiles.

I've also really enjoyed the past two Wednesday night group rides and the amazing fall-esque weather we've been enjoying here in middle TN. Although the sun is setting much earlier and the temps have been really nice, I'm not quite ready to let go of summer just yet.  It seems to short. To have gone by way to fast. Measured only in Tuesdays and Sundays, I guess it would move fast. Guess I shouldn't have been wishing fall would hurry up and get here.

Buzz Off

 New sights and new hoops. I captured these turkey vultures landing on an old roof top while riding to Chapel Hill to pick up a lawn mower belt. I ended up capturing the image I had in my head despite shooting it on the go from my bike after digging the phone out of my pocket and removing if from a plastic bag. Crazy luck. Luck that never seems to be there when I choose a lottery ticket. 

In other news I got my new hoops laced up today. Hed Belgium C2 rims to Pewter Chris King Cross hubs. Buzzy. 

I went clincher over tubular despite others disagreeing. I'm cheap and lazy. Although I have ridden tubulars and love them, I don't like gluing and cleaning and paying a lot for tires. The Clement tubeless tubulars almost swayed me but I can't swing cross only wheels. Not yet. 

Planning on skinning them with Challenge Bianca Strada 30c tires until cross season. Give my Clement X'plor USH 's a break and see what fancy open tubular  tires feel like. Hopefully the Challenge tires will be as reliable as my Clements have been. Maybe I'll kick myself a time or two for not going tubular. 

Scaping Goats

It's been an odd week. Work was so over the top I didn't have time to realize how quickly the week was passing by, a friend made the selfish decision to end his life, and despite it all it worked out that I could spend night out under the stars with friends I rarely get to see anymore. Keeping up with all the events needing/requiring/wanting support and staying on top of all the items needed to support those events has left me unable to adequately maintain my own calendar of events (aka life). It's been a rough balance, but one that I'm getting better coordinating. Although emails, text messages, and phone calls are embarrassingly backed up. Sorry about that. Input overload.

I had a point but I lost it. Thoughts have been buzzing around in my noggin like a stirred up hornets nest. I was going to talk about the lack of mountain bike racing and riding as of late, but it doesn't seem to matter. And only because I've caught some shit over it. The facts are work's crazy schedule of outside event support, lack of days off due to the events, and lack of bank account funds have kept me close to home. That's not a complaint, just how the dice is rolling this round. It'll ease up soon. It's also been kind of refreshing not doing the same old events, though I'm itching to get out and ride in the mountains. Perhaps fall will open that window of opportunity for me. I miss my mountain bike. That's a good feeling to have. Though I'll have to shake this "I want to travel but I don't want to have to leave the farm"-itis that's kept me holed up.

Typically I have a few big events looming overhead that keep me motivated to get into some shape other than "out of". Cedarcross back in early Spring kept me going through the winter but I've since had a void needing filled. I had hoped for a trip back to Steamboat followed by a chance at Breck Epic, but quickly realized it wasn't to be in the cards this hand. After such a long week and not having any event hanging over my head, I found it extremely hard to get motivated to get out of the house today. I really hate wasting my days off and by noon I felt I was on track to pretty much piss the hole day away. Determined not to let that happen but battling with myself to just laze about the house, I forced myself outside.

Once outside the cool breeze and low humidity slapped me in the face. Dammit! I can't believe I've been wasting weather like this by staying inside. I quickly got to work to get the barn chores done, trimmed some trees and the fire lane roads, then suited up for a ride. Still lacking motivation, it took me about 40 minutes to decide to actually head out off the farm for a ride. A quick glance at a map and a small desire for something new, I headed out hoping that once I got to pedaling my melancholy would wane.

By the third turn into the ride it had. Some of the new roads I'd been wanting to explore turned out to be better than I had initially expected. Good climbs, narrow one-lane twisty downhills, and gravel. The blue sky with puffy white clouds offered a stunning backdrop for the rolling farmlands. The further I ventured, the faster I turned the pedals anxious to see what the next road had in store. My cross bike has been an emotional blessing. It fits with what life has available for me at this point in time. It's capable of everything I need it to do and it inspires me to find new adventures.

Upon returning to the farm, I finished up with 6 miles of trail with the dogs. The cooler temps have allowed them more run time. They've been loving it. It's helped keep me sane too. Good stress relief. Plus the more time on singletrack with skinny tires and drop bars, the better I'll feel charging off the start line this coming cross season.

Old Crow Medicine Show at The Woods at Fontanel. Damn I love TN. 

Cross season. Heh. The only thing making me excited about cold, rainy, muddy, grey skied, shortened daylighted days ahead.

Save the Date

We received notice that one of the dates submitted to the Tennessee Cyclocross Calendar has been accepted. Looks like we will at least have one race out at the Cadence Creek Riding Center. All the work we put in building and grading the course last year (up until the day of the race) has paid off dividends this year. New sections were cut and cleared over the winter, but mostly we've just had to maintain it making preparations a lot less stressful.

A new course design with more zigs and zags, some cobbles, maybe a bit of gravel, and potentially a "sand pit" are on the agenda. Our newest feature, which we are calling "grass", is coming along nicely. The wet spring and summer we have been having this year have kept the dust bowl from returning. Hopefully it will continue to fill in throughout the summer.

In any event, October 6th will be the date of the first race. The course is riding well and should be 100% ready by the end of August. Which means I should be able to ride more and cross farm less this fall. Hup, hup!

Gravel Bikes

Most of the 2014 bikes either have been or soon will be announced. It seems most companies are announcing 27.5/650b bikes, gravel race bikes, and fat bikes in their lineups this year. Oh, and disc brakes on road and cross bikes.

My take on fat bikes is that they are some of the most fun bikes one can throw a leg over. Unless you live in a climate that gets a lot of snow or has a lot of sand laden coastline, there really isn't a need. However, if you are bored of the typical or have little time to ride, a fat bike will bring a giant smile to your face.  Use extreme caution if you ever ride one on a trail, they are highly addictive.

The "enduro" market seems to be the new red bull. It seems "enduro" this and "enduro" that are being shoved down every social media outlet available and with that long travel, little larger wheel bikes seem to be all the marketing rage. Even a hard tail or two. This bike I don't get. I have a 29'er and a 26'er that are as close to being the same bike as possible regarding components, fit, and weight. 

I love my 29'er as an xc race bike and for  longer endurance rides. I also know that when I get back on my 26'er, it feels more nimble, faster, and more fun. It's not that I hate the 29'er or that it isn't fun, it's just the 26'er feels that way when I get back on it. So I can see why people might be all ravey raversons about 27.5/650b since they ride more like a 26". However I don't get it. 

I've ridden a 650b bike similar to my 26" and could barely tell a difference. At least not one to justify a new ride. Maybe if I had 1.9 or 2.0 tires on my 26, but I run high volume 2.25 tires and the difference is negligible. Hopping on the 29'er is vastly different in so many ways, I can understand its popularity. Maybe 650b is so buzz worthy because all the 29'er zealots who eschewed 26" wheels realize smaller wheels are still fun but can't admit it and go back to 26 so a new size had to be created? That's my theory. That and since 29'er zealots swore off 26'ers the bike companies had to find a new wheel size to sell them as the 29'er sales flatten out. 

As far as gravel bikes, this is interesting. Some bikes are coming out are rather cool offerings that overshadow the road offerings. Others are more of a "what the hell were they thinking" and "marketing people kinda suck" variety. I've been asked for input on what my ideal gravel race bike would be and I've given my thoughts, but really pretty much any bike will do given a few mods or compromises. 

I used to think fatter tires were better, not so much anymore. Granted fatter tires offer more suspension/softer ride, less knife in on deeper, looser gravel, and tend to float better in sand/mud. But I've had fat tires knife in. I've had them sink into mud and sand. And I've had skinner tires offer a softer yet faster ride. For me 35 to 38c tires are perfect for most conditions and 30c for adventure roading. This trend for 40-45c tires leans towards monster cross or Fargo territory more than towards gravel racer in my mind. But that's just the curmudgeon on me. I feel similarly about disc brakes on road bikes. I get why people want it and understand the benefits. I just don't think they are a requirement for a gravel race bike. Nor do I think throwing fatter tires, disc brakes, and a taller head tube on a bike makes it a gravel specific race bike as some of the bike co's are spitting out. 

I do, however, fully understand their appeal. Fat roading (as I like to call it) is a lot of fun. It is a lot more convenient to head out on a roadie style bike and explore gravel, dirt, and farm roads than it is to load up and drive to a trail head. Less time driving, more time riding but still scratching the itch for off-road fun.  Calling them "Gravel Grinder Bikes" or "Gravel Race Bikes" is going to limit their appeal to folks. Either way, I'm loving the hell out of my Fat Road bike and that's all that really matters.

Pickers and Grinners

Sunflowers remind me of road trips to Colorado.

Summer seems to be in full swing and quickly disappearing before it can be fully enjoyed. Riding has been scarce for me lately.  I guess technically it's long rides that have been scarce, "riding" has been squeezed in here and there. Racing almost non-existent. Races have been falling on weekends where I've been out supporting events for the shop, which has me less than inspired to find "fitness".

The last two Wednesday mornings have involved a few CX compatriots and a big grassy field. We ride/pseudo-race for a few hours before work. It's been a great mental break and reboot of the self morale. Combined with our normal Wednesday night rides, it makes for a solid day of cycling and keeps me from complete curmudgeonry (mostly).

The other rides have just been short jaunts playing in parking lots or running errands to Kroger. For some reason screwing around on bikes after a long stressful day eases the pain. It reminds you of why you chose to break free from the cubicle and follow your folly. Mostly it takes you back in time and you feel like a kid during summer break.

Of course nothing brings out the kid in you than shooting one another with nerf guns. Just remember to wear your eye protection.

The most consistent riding has occurred on the farm. We've had a lot of rain over the past week and a half and although it's meant extra, extra mowing, it has filled the pond back up. The boys and I have wasted no opportunities getting out and swimming between riding laps of the CX course and trails. If only I could figure out a way to keep the pond full year round...

Nothin' like a good woller. 

Then in the "wow you grew up 40 miles from me and raced many of the same mtb races I did" department, American Picker Mike Wolfe stopped in the shop the other day. He and his wife were out shopping and popped in. He was quick to ask about my Moots Rigormootis and then took a spin on Brian Baker's new Frosti, to which H. piped up with "So he's not only interested in junk!" Funny, funny girl.

Of course, I was interested in his bike. A 1937 all original (including the paint) Harley-Davidson with sidecar. Picked from a barn in Pennsylvania. Pretty sweet. Here's to my fellow cornfed kids following their folly.