The Official Guide to the World between the Wheels

The gift of winter

For most of the month of January we have been covered with snow and the temperatures have stayed below the 32 mark for majority of the time. Usually we only get a week to two weeks likes this a winter. What i mean is it usually comes and goes a couple of time so it isn't normal to see snow coverage for 4 or more weeks in a row. I'm not complaining. I love it! Sure its cut into the trail riding but almost everyday I come home I find my Mendota (like a dog waiting for its owner) sitting outside ready to go.
 With snowfall coming daily it's been very hard to take days off. I absolutly love riding during a heavy snow and never want to pass up the opportunity to do so. So nightly rides have been my norm.

 <<<<the township plow truck

some friendly neighbors>>>>

The real deal

For the past few weeks we've been locked inside the freezer. I actually look forward to it and don't mind the numbing temperatures at all. Slowly over the days of riding in the salt and ashed roads my shifting has deteriorated on the Mendota. Just a few hiccups here and there during my outings, mostly due to the snow and slush that build up in the drivetrain. Now I'm pretty handy with the bike mechanical issues, where as I'm comfortable building up my own bikes and prefer to do so. Over time I've come to own most tools needed like headset presses, wheel truing stand, Bottom bracket tools, brake bleeding kits etc. So usually the quick repair/replacement of parts isn't an issue for me at all. Now that being said, I'm still a huge advocate for the Pro mechanic. Once I build up my new bike I always take it in and have it gone over by my local shop (Trek of Pittsburgh). So every so often my bike makes a trip to the shop and I have one of the pros give it a once over. I recently replaced the cassette and chain but was still getting a few stumbles while pedaling. Guessing that it was probably something a bit out of alignment due to the heavy amounts of ice that I've been taking on I rolled her into the Robinson store for handyman Scooter the on duty service pro. he tweaked and mumbled and tweaked some more before resting his tools and turning to me.

"Its amazing that that bike worked as well as it did" he stated.

He then added "I made adjustments to every screw on the drivetrain"

We then discussed how SRAM is so forgiving of these mis-adjustment and had my drive train been Shimano I would have suffered much more grief from the out of whack components. I left reminding myself that I'm fully capable of bike maintenance and tuning but the guys that do it everyday always have the upper hand. Its important to keep good relations with your local shop they are there when you need them and my Mendota hasn't shifted that nice since I rolled her out of the store the day I bought her! Sometimes you need the real deal....a pro mechanic.

Thanks Scooter

*stork

 

Little Extras

 This past Sunday I stayed close to home and made my ride a local one by jumping on the Mendota and hitting some of my favorite roads in Butler & Armstrong County. I rolled into the driveway after almost 4 hours on the bike to find my Dad plowing the snow for me. I parked the bike and grabbed a shovel. We finished up moving the white stuff and Dad headed home as I went inside to thaw out and get something to eat. Feeling a little euphoric after spending an afternoon in the wonderful winter weather I sat down and loaded some of my photos from the day. As I went through them I notice one particular shot that I took of the snow falling over a frozen section of the creek with a train trestle in the background. I had spent a few minutes at this stop taking in the awesome tranquil view but not until loading the photos did I notice the two ducks walking together in the photo. How interesting! A quite stop on a lonely road with the snow falling and still I missed things right there! This brought to mind that I must start making it a point to take more pictures. If I hadn't taken these shots I would have never known of my two friends, all of us out enjoying the seasonal weather. It makes me wonder how many other times I believed that I was alone but really wasn't. Did these two ducks see me and if so what did they think of a stork on a bike?
Don't forget that there's a lot more to riding than simply training to be fast. Mostly its for the life experiences...so enjoy them by taking the time to look around.

<>stork   

Welcome Mikayla Renee!

Congrats to my younger sister & her husband on the birth of their first baby, a sweet little girl Mikayla Renee. I skipped my evening ride to take the opportunity to go see my new niece on her first big day. She was so content during our visit and was being such an angel, and in only her first few hours in the world she was already cracking a little smile! I'm happy to see her born during the winter wonderland of weather we've been having because I too was born during a week of heavy snowfall and frigid temps way back in the 70's. Maybe thats why I love the winter? I only hope she too finds the love for the winter months and stating off in them surly has to help!
Hey Do you think I can get one of those Trek Go Bugs heated???

>>"uncle" stork

Brrrrrrr

No pictures from tonight's ride. Leaving the house to take a few things to the office around 4 o'clock had me taking a quick look at the thermometer on the porch. Just one digit... a big 7 degrees. Wow this was going to be cold and the air quickly took my breath away. I spun around unlocked the door and headed back in for my scarf. Its not very often that I ever cover my face but today would be one of those rare occasions. Dressed no different than the last ride with the exception of the scarf and I was off. Returning home after a crisp 23 miles and ready to thaw out. Shortly after getting in the door I got a call from my mom who was just checking on me since she saw me heading towards town earlier. She then said todays recorded temps broke the record for the coldest day in our area in the last 15 years. I was so glad I rode!!!! Who's afraid of a little chill? When i rolled into the office they asked "why are you out there riding?" to which I replied "well it's supposed to get cold later tonight & I wanted to get my ride in before the temps dropped" heeheehee it drop by 50%. from 7 to 3 degrees!

*stork

...better....faster.....

Alright

Work it harder

Make it better

Do it faster

Makes us stronger.........

Pedal to that one!!!!! This song defines the true racers motives... everyday during our workouts we should be working it harder, making it better, doing it faster to make us stronger and yes hour after hour our work is never over...we must continue thats why no matter the temps some of us are out there working it.

Thanks for comment Bob but really depressing?? I didn't get that from the tune especially while riding! It, like most of the music I have loaded, helps to keep me motivated cranking the pedals through our winter wonderland so I can work harder..to make me better...faster & stronger. Yea baby ;)

Gotta love these temps!

Download 10 The Tempest
Heres another excellent tune thats been shuffled around on my player lately.

Well last weekend at the Ohio Valley trek team meeting I was asked just what do I wear during those frigid rides. Tonight the posted temp before leaving the house  was 14 degrees!  the following  clothes were exactly what I wore  with the addition of a helmet, glasses, Light and Chrome messenger bag with my tubes cell phone, cliff blocks, dry gloves and a scarf. Of course I must stress the importance of wearing reflective gear and having a "blinking" light on not only the back but the front of your bike also. In addition I go one extra by placing a "blinky" on my Chrome bag! Why? you ask. Well just in case I happen to be run off the road by a car over a snow drift! Maybe someone will notice the red flashing and find me! Well at least the snowplow drivers  would notice especially since I've told them to be on the lookout. Ok heres the clothes:

• Nike long sleeve base layer
• Wicking Turtleneck (think ski shop /running clothescatalog)
• Nike Long sleeve jersey
• Nike Wind shell
• Trek visor hat (love this little bugger!!!!)
• Trek AMFib wind resistant tights
• Smart Wool socks
• Toe warmers
• Shimano winter GoreTex shoes
• Levi cut off jean shorts
• Pearl Gavia gloves

 

Happy Birthdazzzze!

Alright a real quick a shout out to Christopher Spring & Chris Skinner from the Ohio Valley on their birthdays that came and passed over the last couple of days.

A few of you faithful readers have heard Skinners name..... he's a great athlete, competitor, friend and basically just an all around wonderful person! Happy Birthday Chris!

Christopher Spring is one of the young up and comers thats been groomed by none other than C Skinner. If you don't know this kids name right now rest assured you will in the years to come! Happy Birthday Christopher!

Sorry for the lack of photos but I wanted this on-line before I head out for a ride. Check bck later tomorrow and I'll dig up a mug shot of these two rascals

<<<stork

Feel Alive

    Oh yea! Finally a couple of days of pure Winter riding!!! Friday night found me burning the LED head lamp late into the night. Actually since I didn't have a full charge on it I had to end the ride with nothing but the moonlit snow and my MiNewt handlebar light. The only thing that hurt after my 2+ hour ride was my face from the perma-grin I rode with for the entire 30 Miles! Traffic was low due to the heavy snowfall, temps were perfect, lighting was at a prime and I had some awesome new club tunes blasting from the mp3! Had it not been for growing tired from the constant wattage needed to turn the wheels thru the snow & my light tuckering out I would have like to stay out longer. Nothing and I mean nothing beats the solitude of a late night ride during a snowstorm. The local plowtrucks know me and also give me room even sometimes stopping to say "hi" and get my opinion of traction. I'm guessing they are checking their quality of work from my answer. Come on if a bike can make it down the road then why not a car, right?

Well I made it home late and after getting up saturday to find more snow I figured I had no other choice than to get out again. This proved to be one of my most difficult rides. The snow was so thick and many roads had not been plowed. This forced my ride to a 20 mile loop which took me quit a while to complete. Never the less I got a load of "thumbs up" of the middle aged men in their driveways leaning on their snowshovels thinking either I was a crazy kid or that they wish they could drop the shovel and grab a bike themselves! 

I was so content with my first real winter rides of the '09 season that I took sunday off entirely and visited with friends in Ohio, which is another story.    

 

Download Feel Alive  here's an example of the club tunes that keep me motivated during all these solo rides! listen... you just may like it!

Moving Forward

  Lots of forward movement for the months where I usually lay lowand slack off on riding. All of my miles have been fairly casual fun miles to say the least. I've been sorting out some equipment for this year, re acquainting myself with the gym (not a favorite thing to do at all), and getting acclimated to my new position at work. Several modifications to the house need completed before my mind settles in on nothing but work & cycling.

I keep hearing about the snow storms and frigid weather but it only seems to come for a day or two. i've recently stumbled on to a product (thanks to Timmy Lyons) that helps to keep the legs & back warmed up while "playing"outside. Its so fantastic that I'll admit to using it a few days on the job where I was outside for the majority of the day! It beats the other products like warming oils that I've tried and it smells like hard tack candy. Since its a Vaseline based product it stays on well and adds the protection from windburn and drying. Love it! Thanks Timmy. Anyway I'm really counting on some great winter rides on the Mendota but damn where is the weather???  I've been getting home early enough to get my ride in shortly after dark but the blowing snow never seems to start until after I'm in the door! Well not this past week because I've been out smarting mother nature by leaving later and on more than one evening riding later than 8 o'clock has gotten me "in the mix"! A quick exit from the driveway as the State Snowplow motors past honking his horn and I'm on my way riding in some of the best conditions Western Pa has to offer.

*stork