The Official Guide to the World between the Wheels

No luck

Last night the phone rang and before picking up I checked the caller Id "Jeremiah Bishop (555) 555-3404". I pick up "hello"

Jeremiah "stork, whats up?"

Me "not much just getting ready to pack up the car for the trip tomorrow"

Jeremiah "yea thats why I'm calling" "I just got back from the in-laws and need a little rest so lets postpone until later in the week"

Me "no problem well give that a try"

The conversation then continued for another 30 mins or so about racing and training before we said our goodbyes.

So my trip to ride with the pros has been postponed twice now and if I don't make it later this week then it probably won't happen. Never the less I'll give it one more chance here but we're now talking about New Years Eve Day. Not sure I want to skip all the celebrations of the night just to ride? Hummm I'll have to give this some thought.

stork

gift cards

Wow it's amazing just how many people feel the need to spend that gift card immediately after getting it! Today I had the pleasure of allieb's company and since we met up for breakfast in Robinson we witnessed firsthand the insanity of gift card holders! Traffic was horrible as everyone with a fresh piece of plastic rushed to use it. Allieb and I then made a trip to Butler to visit a few places before returning to the Burgh where we continued our "errands" before heading back to Robinson for lunch at Ichiban steakhouse! We had planned this day sometime ago and I think we both had a great time...well maybe she didn't because she wasn't happy about the photos. Nothing a little hug won't fix...right allieb??

Ok looks like I'm planning the trip to Harrisonburg for saturday evening/sunday morning. Fingers crossed that I get the ride in with Jeremiah & Chris on Sunday.

New Happenings

My riding has been dictated by the sketchy weather here (rain on day-snow or ice the next) but it hasn't really slowed me down any. I really just look for the window of opportunity and then enjoy it while I'm out. I made a go on Monday evening to pick up my paycheck and drop a movie off while the temps remained in the teens! Only a hundred or so yards out of the basement had me turning around to wrap a scarf around my neck which I also pulled up just over my mouth to help warm the outside air. What a freezing 25 mile ride but man did it keep me moving! 

Earlier that day I took some newly screened shirts to Trek of Pgh in Robinson and hung out for awhile.  I had my chance to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Jessie (aka Girl) the market manager had so kindly brought me a bag of sugar cookies, fruit cake and rice krispey treats! Yum Yum, all made with love just the day before. Thanks Girl! What a sweetheart!

Tuesday evening I got a great ride in at North Park with TJ and another friend Mark from Ohio came along. Very glad he did so because it was fun time. I then got cleaned up and went to dinner with this lovely lady who just happens to be my godchild. Little Hannah is so little anymore and she's so busy with school and boyfriends that we often don't get the chance to hang out. That wasn't the case last night because we spent a few hours catching up.

  

Ok well it'll be Christmas tomorrow and I have to sneak a ride in sometime during the day, friday I have an entire day planned with someone so I probably won't get any riding in and Saturday just may be a travel day since Jeremiah called and invited me to come and ride on sunday & monday. Oh yea sunday he said thatChris Eatough would also be there. How cool is that. I'm going toget crushed!! I haven't seen Chris since the Mohican 100 back in June so it'll be nice to catch up with him also. I'm excited and hope it all comes together& that I have the legs to stick with them for the day. We'll see.

the first photo is a new set of Bontrager MudX 29" tires mounted up tubeless on the Rhythm wheelset. Great winter set up here in Western Pa!!

*stork   

Time Off

Absolutely not! Sure my posts have been fewer but thats mostly because who really wants to read about me riding the road solo while listening to tunes? After a busy weekend of dinners and christmas parties I settled in for some riding. Well here's whats up. The work situation is getting ironed out and after a job site meeting on Monday I'll be free from the daily grind until January! This past week has found me waking a bit later than usual (7:00) drinking some coffee while cleaning up some paperwork, hitting Eatn Park for breakfast before stopping at the office. I've been getting several rides in which included two separate dedeliveries for work. I had some drawings that needed taken to Cranberry so I hopped on the Mendota stuffed the drawings into the Chrome messenger bag and off I went. The customer was very surprised to see me rolling in on a 25 degree day by bike. The next day I had year end invoices to take to Evans City. Again the Mendota and the Chrome bag served me well. Rain rolled into the area for most of Friday but by the afternoon it let up. I rolled out for an after dark ride which was a short 22 miles before going to pick up some new screened tees for the Trek of Pittsburgh crew.

My riding bud Timmy Lyons is back this week so we'll be getting in some trails this weekend somewhere and I'm looking forward to that. If I get motivated today I'll get the new Rhythm wheels set up for tomorrows ride.

Later

*stork 

Trek of Pgh Christmas 2009 gathering

Alright once again the holidays have rolled around and DonO assigned this little cutie the responsibility of overseeing the Christmas bash for 2009. Allieb did nothing short of spectacular putting together a great party which even included a prize bag where everyone got something to unwrap at dinner. Don went overboard covering the tab for drinks and dinner at Mad Mex (Big thanks to him for including me and for giving his employees a great party) and afterwards we pushed our way back into the store where the famous "Mosites Velodrome" track races are held. My gut is still hurting from laughing as we grabbed all the big wheels and even the pallet jack to race around in the warehouse. This lasted late into the night until most of us were busted up from rolling the 3 wheelers. I'll try to get some of the video up over the next week.

Anyway thanks again to Don for going above and beyond.

<<<<Ryan calling someone during the festivities "Dude these people are crazy can you come pick me up??">>>

 

 <<<<<<<<<<< Nick during a roll over>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

                                                                             

Lots of work.

Not much new going on here. December always seems to be my slow month for riding. Getting things wrapped up for the end of the year at work, shopping for the holidays and simply relaxing doesn't leave much time for other things. I still get out for short rides during the week which are mostly to run errands. I do however get a serious ride in on most Sundays. With the additional things mentioned in my earlier post i'm really left with less time for riding but things are starting to settle down. I've been cleaning room by room to remove all reminisce of the cats. Buying new carpets and waxing the hardwood floors! Its like a skating rink in here when you're wearing socks but the floors look great!This weekend comes the OMBC awards banquet in Ohio and I thought about breaking out the ski's to go but Timmy Lyons will be back from vacation this week and I don't want to miss out on a ride with him either Saturday or Sunday if not both days. Sunday I have a Christmas party to attend and there's rumor of lots of mistletoe (don't want to miss that). Jeremiah Bishop & I had plans to ride at his place for a couple of days next week but now we're thinking of pushing it back another week.

Well there's the latest and if this rain lets up a bit I'll be out tonight pedaling the Mendota around the neighborhood.

*stork

Hanging out

Went to pittsburgh to see a skiing movie with a few friends and then went back to Jessies (Trek of Pitts- marketing manager) apartment for some homemade stuffed peppers.
stork

The End of this Story & the Beginning of all the Others

Today December 1st 2008 comes to a close and it marks not only the 1st day of the month but the first day of many changes in my life. Normally I don't write much about my daily dealings and try to keep things bike oriented but it's really tough to write much about riding with all the speedbumps in my life so please excuse the following:

Last week some stuff (not good) went down at my job of 18 years and it's looking like I may need to move on to another Contractor. Not positive yet but I'm leaning towards that and with each day it gets easier to accept. I have meetings planned all week and into next week to talk about possibilities, strategies and see if they can convince me to stay. Add to all of that the end of a five year relationship with Michelle and I'm really overloaded with things to think about! I know I mentioned her in my posts and everyone who knows me from racing & riding also knew her. She was with me at almost every race and was always smiling! I will miss her but we just never seemed to get on the same track and now found ourselves in this unfortunate place. She's a great girl and I look forward to crossing paths with her at future events. 

So with all of this going on I'm looking forward to the close of this year and to new things for 2009. As C.S.Lewis tilted a chapter in the Magician's Nephew (part of The Chronicals of Narnia) this is "The End of this Story & the Beginning of all the Others". Some things may end like jobs & relationships but others may be new like bikes & friends but in the meantime and for the remaining days of 2008 I'll be plugged into an mp3 player and pedaling around in the white stuff. Hopefully my postings become more regular and a little more interesting since I'll be out a little more during December. I kicked off today doing just that...on my Mendota during a nice little snow fall.

Thankful for family & friends

*stork