Tuesday, May 30, 2006

How bout this HOT weather huh? You gotta love it. My favorite time of year. 100 degrees and sweating. I had a pretty HOT weekend, Other than the fact I spent most of the weekend with My Honey Jill. I went out to Camp Thunder near Thomaston, GA in the middle of the day on Sunday. It was a scorcher. This heat has the Snakes on the move. I saw three snakes that day. I did get to take a break at the Dripping Rock to cool off a bit. I managed to move a few downed trees off the trail and clear some large branches. I was really out there to scope out the trail in preparation for next month's group ride. I was volunteered to lead the ride at last months OMBA meeting. I'm planning on doing it up right, Supplying plenty of bottled water, Gatorades, Oranges, Bananas, Goo Packets, and Cliff bars for the whole group. My only worry is that this is not a beginner course. This course is gnarsty! I "Was" Planning to start the Group Ride out with a "Intermediate loop" then add difficulty to the subsequent loops. But once you get up on that ridge there are only a couple of ways back down and they are "Very Steep" in some places with loose rock and pine straw. We may just have to come down the old way of the Fire Road Whoop de Woos on the first lap.

National Trails Day 2006 will be recognized on June 3, 2006, bringing together outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds to celebrate the great natural heritage of the United States trail system. Traditionally held each year on the first Saturday in June, National Trails Day was established to recognize the value of recreational trails and the people involved in building and maintaining them. Whether it's the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, or a volunteer group, trail preservation is necessary to keep our trails open to the public and available for years to come. OMBA is hosting our own trail work day to celebrate. 9 a.m. Arrowhead Park at Lake Tobosakee Macon, GA.We'll do trail work until about 1, at which point the burgers and dogs should be ready for eatin, courtesy of OMBA. After that we'll ride and celebrate all the good work we did!! Even if you've never attended a work party, you'll be welcome at this one. We'll have the tool trailer out there, so don't despair if you don't have tools to bring. We'll make sure you get some! We'll also have extra water if you run out.

Todays Commute Total: 16.3 miles, 13.8 mph avg

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Monday, May 22, 2006

Busy weekend for me, seemed like I didn't even have a weekend. Staying up all night on Friday just wiped out the rest of the weekend. After Commuting to work 4 days last week I did my part on my Relay For Life Team. I showed up at the Perry National Fair grounds at 8:00 pm and the festivities had already began. I saw Don B. (Go Fast Pops) and the other Central Georgia Cyclist battling the wind on my way in. I've since heard of there average speeds and mileage. I would have never been able to keep up with them. I was in for a long night myself. I made snow cones, grilled sausages and hamburgers then walked from 3:00am til past 6:00am. I'm figuring that was approximately 10 miles. I was the only one on my team still awake so I had to just keep walking. I was delirious by the time some one came and relieved me after 6. I managed to hang around and help tear down the tent and fixins. All n all I had a great time and enjoyed spending time with co-workers away from work, also hanging out with my sister and family some too.

After getting home Saturday Morning at 9:00am then sleeping a couple hours I managed to muster up enough strength to put on a Tie and go to a Wedding. It was at the Federated Garden Club on College street in Macon, Georgia. It was an out side wedding and turned out very well. I took a bunch of Photo's. The place was Built in the early 1900 and is on the National Registry of Historic places.

Last week I had the bright Idea of Challenging my Niece to a Running race. She has been running on her schools track team for the last few months. I bet her supper that I could beat her in any race under 3 miles. Well she picked the Mile. Sooo Sunday at 7:00 pm, At Northside Middle School we raced for 4 laps. With the family there to watch, and my niece sporting her Nike Kit and Asics Distance Spikes...I lead the first two laps but just could not hold on. She ended up winning by a minute. I was proud of her and myself. I gave it my all. We all enjoyed a great family dinner at Stevie B's Pizza.

"The Race" on Google Video

Yesterday's Family Challenge: 1 mile total, 8 min

Last Weeks Commuting Total: 68 mile total, over 4 days

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Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Didn't get to ride to work today, but did commute yesterday. My daughter and I had dentist appointments in Macon. After we got our teeth scraped we went by and saw Loucious at Bike Tech Macon. We were just planning to let her stand over some to get a feel for what size she would get. She stood over a 24" wheeled Specialized "Hot Rock" and it looked to be too small. There was plenty of clearance over the top tube. She also tried out a "Del Sol" "D" and we liked it alot but it still seemed kinda small for her and I was wanting to get her one she could grow into. Loucious suggested a 13", 26" wheeled bike. He pulled down a Trek 3500 and she stood over it with about 2 inches of clearance above the "girls sloped top tube". Woo Hoo that's perfect. It also had "Rapid Fire" shifters which none of the others had. I said to Loucious "I believe this is the one, but I'm sure she wants Pink". My daughter chimed in and said "No I want Purple Dad". Loucious said we have just the size and color but in the 3700 Trek. It was upstairs in the back stored away, we had to go find it, and sure enough it was just the right one. Soo I went ahead and put it on lay away for her 9th Birthday that is coming up on July 24th.

Yesterday's Commute: 16.9 mi total, 1 hr 26 min total, 11.7 avg mph

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Monday, May 15, 2006

May is National Bicycle Month. This week is National Bike to work Week. Friday is National Bike to work Day. I started my work week off good with a beautiful ride to work. Let's not get ahead of my self. I commute to work often as it is without it being National Bike Month. First of all for me to be able to commute to work takes much preparation. I wear a Tie, Slacks, and Dress Shoes to work everyday except some Fridays. I have to Iron all that up and fold it then stuff it into my back pack with minimal "Wrinkledge". I have to carry with me: Pressed Shirt, Tie, Pressed Slacks, Belt, Dress socks, Dress Shoes, Under shirt, Clean Drawers, Underarm Deodorant, Hair Gel, Clean Towel, Cell Phone, Work I.D., Bicycle Chain Lock, Tools, Pump, Extra Tube + any food Items I may want during the day. I'm lucky I have shower facilities just down the hall from my office at work.

Also, I have to get my 8 year old daughter UP, Fed, Dressed and to the Bus stop which is about 1.5 miles away. She has put many a mile on her Wal-Mart Schwinn. Her Birthday is in 2 months and I'm planning a Major upgrade from her White tired, single speed, starlet. Her seat post is raised to its maximum level, and well she has just plain out grew the bike.

This morning was kinda cool but beautiful blue sky's and Sunshine. It only took me about 34 minutes to make the 8.0 mile trip this morning. My route crosses Warner Robins Diagonally. I have to cross Three major 4 lane roads; Green Street, Watson Blvd, and Russell Pkwy. It took me twice as long to get home today. There was a Massive 20 mph Head Wind. I found my self assuming a "Tucked Position" Head down, elbows in, gripping the handlebar in the center at the stem. I plan on Riding to work everyday this week except Wednesday, My daughter and I have dentist appointments in North Macon that day. Hope to see more people riding to work this week as I saw no other "Commutist" today.

My Commute Photos

My Brother TOM went with me to the Dauset Mudfest. Even though I did not ask him too, he was there Mid race with a cold drink and Honey Stinger Goo packet ready for me. He also got some great Photo's and VIDEO footage. Well he's already got it up on line.

GSC Dauset MUDFEST

The Photo's

Yesterday was the Georgia State Championship Race #2 at Dauset Trails in Jackson, GA. I've been riding up there every weekend for the past month trying to get in shape and aquatinted with the trails. Very nice trails up there when there dry. Lots of Roots, red clay, and Rocks.

GSC # 2 turned out to be more than What I had planned for. All that pre-Riding was for not as the Rain came down at the start of the Yellow Wave. I got a good start and was up in the front as we entered the single track of bootlegger. I had opted to start on the left side cause I new that would be the outside for the first corner and the inside would crowd up. My wide down hill handle bars aren't good for being bunched up among podium hungry, hard core cross country freaks. The rain only got harder during the first 12 mile lap. I was just trying to stay up right for most of the race and never did take a fall though I did come close a couple of times. I had seen plenty of blood dripping off the beginners as they came in and just wanted to be safe. The first lap was a wet soupy type mud and I was gripping pretty good through corners and my Maxxis Minions 2.5 where not clogging up. I was sliding around some corners but stayed on the gas and powered through. It was alot of fun pushing through the corners where the skinny tire guys were sliding out. Coming out of the first lap my brother was standing there waiting for me with a powerade and Honey Stinger Gel packet. I stopped for a few minutes and just laughed and joked with him as I drank and slurped the goo.The second lap started drying out some and the mud was like peanut butter. My tires and whole bike were getting caked. My 40lb Haro now weighed about 80lbs. There were people all along the course with Mechanicals, mostly chain breaks. My drive train was all mucked up and hard to shift gears, So I decided to get in a mid range gear and stay there as much as possible. I wanted to shift gears as little times as I could. I just wanted to finish at this point. I never had a problem with breaks, My Hayes Nine Hydralic Disc breaks worked like a champ. Though I'm sure they are much more worn than before.The expert Guys started lapping me at the beginning of the second lap. There were a few tough guys passing "aggressively" but most were curtious and warned me of their advance.

My bike took a beating. It was in Perfect shape before the race. It looked great for having over 1,000 miles on it. I had just bought and mounted a new water bottle cage. The water bottle kept slipping through the cage and the bottom of the bottle would rest against my seat tube. I did not realize it during the race but all that bumping and bouncing the Bottle wore off the paint on my seat tube about as big around as a quarter. I'm going to have to kover it up with a sticker now. My new water bottle and cage look like someone took some sand paper to them. I don't think I will race or ride again in the MUD, Its just too much wear and tear on my Bike. I was pleased with my race and had a good time. Enjoyed having my bro there to help root me on.

Today's Race: GSC #2 Dauset Trails, 32nd of 37, Sport Master Men 30-39,

21 mi, 168.03 min, 7.5 avg mph

RESULTS

May is National Bicycle Month! Bike-to-Work Week is from May 15-19 and Bike-to-Work Day is on Friday, May 19. I'm going to commute to work that whole week. The League of American Cyclist has a very informative website and lists Events across the nation to celebrate.

The Weekend of May 19th is also the Relay For Life in Houston County. I am signed up with my employer's Team. I will be out at the Georgia National Fair Grounds in Perry All night. I have walk time slots between 4:00 am and 6:00am. I plan to be "Juiced up" on Coffee and Red Bull. Relay For Life is an event that raises money to fight cancer and raise awareness of cancer in our community! This team event has families, schools, companies, hospitals, and other community groups create teams of 8 to 15 people who take turns walking around a track all night to raise money to fight cancer. D. Bill and the Central Georgia Cyclist Club have a Team and Plan on Riding Bicycles all Night! If I had not already Signed up with my employer I would have joined in with them. Click here to donate to there Team. This years Relay for Life theme is "Sports". My employer is holding a Volley Ball Tourney along with a Ham berger Lunch Thursday Week to Raise money. We are allowed to wear "sports" jerseys to work that day. I usually wear a Tie and Slacks every day. I plan on Sportin my new Maxxis jersey to work. I'm on a Volley ball team with some "other" Nerds in my office for the tourney. Look for Goofy Photo's to be posted soon.