Future Racer?

Here's Gracie representing her future bike style of choice. Do I hear an Amen HOH crew?

Peacocks On The Porch

Guys - this is a must read. If you don't chuckle, then you have yet to obtain your cycling puberty. This story is all of us. All you have to do is just change the names. BTW - it's a must share with your wifey...

From At the Back, Velo News, May 17, 2005.

Ladies, are you out there? If you’re the wife, girlfriend or significant other of a cyclist, and you’re wondering why this magazine and the others that look just like it are cluttering up your place, I’m talking to you.It’s not easy, is it? Your life revolves around your man’s need to ride. You thought you were going to have some quality time with him this weekend? Silly girl.Saturday morning doesn’t start with the two of you lazing around in bed together; he’s up and out there at 6 a.m. Between cups of coffee, he’s lubing the chain, cleaning the cassette, putting air in the tires and wiping last weeks drool off the frame. He’s inhaling a big breakfast and watching cycling on OLN. So much for snuggling in what was a warm bed. You ask when he’s going to be home from the ride, and you get the reassuring response. “Oh, we’re going easy today,” he says, Probably just a few hours, I’ll be back by one.”But you both know he’s lying. A well intentioned lie, maybe a white lie, but whatever – it’s not the truth. You will not be shopping together for that new hardwood floor today. The shower leak will not be fixed. You lost, sister. You lost to a bike.Here’s how it goes for me. They meet at our house, rolling up in ones and twos. They gather on the front porch, some of them a little nervous as they size each other up. And then the “dudes” come out.“Dude, I was out till three in the morning, I’m so tired. We gotta go slow today.” “Dude, I must’ve eaten some bad curry last night, my belly isn’t feeling so good. We gotta take it easy today”. “Dude, I rode like 60 miles yesterday, my legs are worked. Let’s go mellow today.” “Dude, I met the hottest girl last night, and well….”I call it the scroll, this sequential list of excuses. I guess they have to have something to fall back on when they get dropped. What’s that phrase? Shut up and ride?The one over here is posing in his new Italian kit, the one he scored on a recent trip. You can’t get it in the U.S., very slick. The next one’s straddling his brand-new Serrotta Ti, acting like it’s no big deal. That one over there is peacocking in a fresh set of Carnacs. It’s like the Discovery Channel on our front porch, only there are no females out there to impress, just me in the window giggling. After the big show, the last one arrives, takes his licks for being late, and they’re off.“I’ll see you around one and we’ll go look for our new floors. I promise,” he whispers so no one will hear. A peck on the cheek and off he rides.I know better. We’re not going to look at floor today, but I’m still hopeful for a romantic dinner, maybe a little quiet time this evening before bed.One o’clock comes and goes. Two o’clock comes and goes. Around three, he staggers into the house looking like hell. Salt on his helmet straps, smelling nasty and black circles under his eyes.“Hi baby”, he manages. “I’M so blown out. It was an epic ride. We rode to blah blah, and then over to blah blah, and then so-and-so attacked on the climb and then hmm hmm chased him, so I had to chase, too. Then he blew up but I still felt good so I dug deep but what’s-his-name came up from behind and then blah blah blah.”It sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher, squawk, squawk. It sounds amazingly like … last Saturday’s ride.“I couldn’t just ride home alone ‘cause I didn’t have it in me, so I had to ride back with the group and they wanted to ride back to town the long way. But we can still make it to the floor place. I’ll just take a quick shower.”Slightly miffed, I hear the shower running. I make him a sandwich while I’m waiting and open up a Coke for him. And then I wait. After a while, I go upstairs thinking maybe he slipped in the shower while shaving his legs, and I find him. With his towel wrapped around his waist, he is in bed snoozing, still damp. Later that night, when we’re out for dinner and drinks, we’re hanging with the “dudes” from this morning again. More talk about the ride, who dropped whom and who flatted and who blew up and who had no legs.I’m about to die. Hey, I ride a bike too, and I’ve ridden all the same roads and hills – they’re not that hard. I have my own Carnacs, what’s the big deal? Apparently, I’m missing something here.My man, sensing my annoyance, lovingly squeezes my hand under the table, and in a whisper assures me that when we get home. It’s all about us.I can’t wait. I light some candles, put on some soft music and slip into something much more comfortable. Before I even get to the room, though, I hear him snoring.And so it goes. A good friend who shall remain nameless is the wife of a pro cyclist. She told me that one time in the middle of a romantic, candlelight dinner she looked across the table to see that her man was chin-to-his-chest, dozing in the middle of the restaurant. His definition of cleaning up the garage, she says, means reorganizing the bike parts. What can you say ladies? This obsession is a bit of an inconvenience for us. But I have to admit, climbing into bed next to him, I gaze down at his peaceful, sleeping face and smile to myself. I am happy that he has this in his life. I feel his smooth, muscular shaved legs under the sheets. When I wrap my arms around him, I feel his lean body. I see how his stress is reduced when he rides, how he’s happy as a boy when he comes back wanting to tell me everything about his day on the bike.So maybe girls lack the testosterone to understand it the same way. But I know he’s happy, and that makes me happy.Ladies, you just have to find a way to make it work. Before my man got home that day, I went and picked out the floors myself. He’ll like them no matter what. I also met up with my friend (the pro cyclist’s wife), and we each bought a new pair of shoes, courtesy of those missing boys.See that cycling habit’s not so bad.

Thanks, Jens . . . Thanks, Torque

Leading up to Sea Otter, I had virtually no road experience, but wanted to make some longer deposits in preparation. Jens was kind enough to loan me his classic titanium Eddie Merck for about 8 weeks.

This bike would cause people to stop and stare when it was parked outside of Starbucks. I had no clue! I just rode, but it provide a nice smooth forgiving ride for this beginning hack. Though it was time to give it back, I was hooked and was jonesing to get me my own road bike.

So. . . Torque (formerly Sarg, formerly the Witch, always my brother) was kind enough to give me a bro steal of a deal on his Scattante, after he recently got a new bike.

I've made it my own by upgrading the pedals and adding an inexpensive HR monitor computer (future post!) Torque and I have virtually the exact same frames, so it fits great. Last week's 62 and 50 mile rides were a great break-in. The front end seems a bit stiffer than the Eddie Merck on the long rides, but I think I'll get used to it.

I just wanted to say thanks to both Jens and Torque. Thanks for reeling me in, getting me hooked and then supporting the healthy habit.

MDO this Wednesday, 05.07.08

Those who are driving out there, meet at Rabbit's house at 4:30 AM to be on the trail by 5:00. I'll have hot coffee and Coaches Oats for those who want it.

In the post below, it sounds like Sarg is planning on riding out there by leaving at 4:10. Is that right, Sarg?

We'll see how many ups and downs we can do in 2.5 hours with a goal of being in the car by 7:30, home by 8:00 and at work by 9:00.

I'm shooting for 4 big ups. Do you think we can pull that off?

If you're in, leave a comment and let me know if you want coffee and oatmeal.

Full Moon Riding

I would like to propose that we ride on the night or early morning of the Full Moon. Check out this link for a full moon calendar.

In summary:

May 19
June 18
July 16
August 15
Sept 14

If the forecast is clear, I'm riding on May 19th (Monday PM). MDO under a full moon would be sweet. As would Lopez. Any ride in fact.

Let's try it and see!

Saturday no go but....

A bit of confusion here with the Theule Family calendar. I will make the Friday ride on May 9th. Kyle's surgery is on Friday, May 16th. The OneSource homeshow is on Saturday, May 17th. I am tentatively planning on an early MTB ride on the 17th. Details forthcoming.

I am doing Turri Loop tomorrow (Tuesday). Leaving my house at 5:20. Back by 6:30. Just a blinker on the back. Let me know if you want to join me.

Also, Skippy mentioned something about riding to MDO on Wednesday. Rabbit - we're starting at MDO at 5:00 am, right? That means riders heading out are leaving by 4:10 am. Sharp.

On to other matters.....I'm not sure about Sarg but I'm rolling with it because I like it better than Witch.

Relaxing ride!

As you can see, Levi is so fast he has time to nappy while waiting for hobbits to catch up!!

Pick n Shovel

So I first must admit some failures... after my instructive plea to bring tubes, i of course forgot one and flatted on Pick and had to hike down the bottom half of it to grab one from mark (thanks bro!). Also i forgot to designate someone to bring a camera, but marky did take one shot of sean using his phone that will hopefully show up sometime soon... Besides that the ride was super fun and beautiful and we took some little "shortcut" steep steeps everywhere we could which was great too. Personally i was glad we didn't get lost and i'm lookin forward to wednesday at mdo!

Skippy Route Change

Make sure to check my post for the route change. We are meeting at the poly canyon start (not the poultry unit) @ 5. Be sure to bring tubes b/c this run is notorious for flats. Seeya Boys!

Do Sneakers really satisfy you?

I believe there are a couple overdue sneaker ride confessions out there? Come on boys.......fess up already!
Looking forward to the ride manana! See you all at the entrance to Poly Cyn at 5am

Huasna Recap

This is how a ride should start and end...

who's yo daddy?  ....er who's yo brudda?

Friday morning turned out to be a beautiful time to take on the Huasna valley! No wind, warm sun, beautiful oak studded hills, deer, even a pack of wild pigs were all seen once we arrived in the Huasna valley/township -- I even pointed out a house or two that I recommended that Sarg. should make an offer on... His reply: Yeah, yeah, I need to sell a few more garages... 

Skippy Ride

Ride Details:
Date: Monday, 05.05.08
Poly Canyon by Dorms: 5 Sarg Time.
The Start: Out Poly Canyon, TILT!
Climb: Up Shooters.
Traverse 1: Elevator to Pick and Shovel.
DH: Down Pick and Shovel.
Traverse 2: back to middle of Morning Glory
DH2: Down Morning Glory.
Maybe back up and down shooters from there or just call it good.
Down Tough and Dirty comin out of Poly Canyon.

Mountain Distance: 15ish
Elevation Gain: 2931ft.

Notice this has been changed. Goin back over to mornin glory instead of all the way out.


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Wildflower this Weekend

It would be nice if Coach could give us a take on the Wildflower Triathlon, since I'm sure he's raced there. . .

Here's the article from today's Tribune . . . Fast Times May Bloom

Hell on Wheels

Hell on Wheels - It's a cycling documentary primarily featuring Eric Zabel and Rolf Aldag during the 2003 Tour de France. It's a very complete documentary featuring the real highs and lows that these fine atheletes deal with. Spectators have no clue of the self doubt that each one of these riders go through on a daily basis.

Sean had a question of what a domestique is? Rolf Aldag should give you this picture of the "servant" at work and he even fits the role of a super domestique. The difference here being granted the occasion of working for a stage victory for themselves in addition to their role as a support rider and 700# gorilla.

Pay special attention to the soigneur! Talk about a servant and father figure both at the same time.

It's available on netflix. Somebody order it and we will have a get together to watch it.
Warning: its all in German, so don't think you can repair your bike while watching. . . requires undivided attention.

I will throw some more similar movie recommendations later.

Here are some youtube clips. . .

Legendary Cactus Cup Returns

Cactus Cup, Las Vegas September 19-21

See the article at http://www.cyclingnews.com/mtb.php?id=news/2008/may08/may01mtbnews

The stage race format begins in its tradition with a time trial, cross country, super D (new), and the infamous (put the slicks on) fat boy crit. Chad - You can win expert in this race for sure!

Who remembers Johnny T, Tinker, Ned Overend, Tilford, Frishy, and the rest of the titans slugging it out?

Mountain Bike formats are really dead these days when compared to the early 90's. And it sure does not look to be totally on the rise yet. Lets see...