another stroll in the dark

Last night we went on another night ride. This weekly night ride has been working out great so far. I am sure the weather will become an issue sooner or later. Last night was much colder then the last two rides. At least it was not as wet. It is breath taking how much the temperature can change in a few feet. There were times it felt like I hit a cold wall. That made the ride at times a little cool. I probably could have used a little more gear on. I will know better next time. I just need to keep an eye out on the weather. The temps were not too bad when I left work, but they sure dropped fast after that. I can't wait until next wed!

Still in the dark

What another great ride Wed. night. We went a little faster and farther then last week, but nothing epic yet. I thought we had an even bigger chance of being rained out this week then we did last week. It was raining most of the morning and supposed to rain all day, but it cleared up early enough for us to go ahead and check to make sure. Well, all I can say is it is a good thing we didn't bag the whole ride. The trail was great! I think it was in even better shape then last week. It did try to rain a few times while we were out, but it didn't amount to much. It was more like a heavy fog.

I sure hope I can keep this weekly ride up. It sure helps to be out riding with people and riding every week. I did get on the rollers Friday after the big Turkey day. I just hope I can keep that up too. Only time will tell.

2008 DINO Series

2008 DINO MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES

Sat May 3 Warsaw IN: Winona Lake Trail
Sun Jun 1 Nashville IN: Brown County State Park
Sat Jun 14 Portage IN: Imagination Glen
Sun Jul 6 North Vernon IN: Muscatatuck Park (AMBC)
Sun Jul 27 New Castle IN: Westwood Park
Sun Aug 17 Logansport IN: France Park
Sun Sep 14 Indianapolis IN: Town Run Trail Park

DINO SPRING TUNE-UP
Sat April 19 Avon IN: Washington Twp Park

24 HOURS OF DINO
September 27-28

Stranger in the Night

Hold on to your seat, I actually rode my bike yesterday!! Can you believe it? I even road off road in the dark! I think the last time I charged my lights was for the possibility of a night ride in Colorado, but that did not happen. So, I got an email on Tuesday about a night ride on Wednesday, so I clear the calendar and charged the lights. I knew I needed to do this ride no matter what.

Well, it was of to a slow start. It started raining just after I got home from work and started getting my stuff out side and ready to be picked up. At that point I didn't know if everyone else would ride or not, but I was ready no matter what even if I had to go by myself. A few minutes later my ride, Kurt, showed up and we were off. It was good to have him drive since he showed me a new way to get to the trail. I think it is a little shorter then the way that I take and plan on using it from now on.

Every one got there lights hooked up and off we went. The rain had stopped too. We made it to the top of the hill and realized that we were supposed to wait until 6 before leaving to see if the 4th guy made it. So, one went back down the hill to check, but no one showed up. So, by the time he made it back up the hill it was time to turn the lights on as we continued on the ride.

The bike sure felt weird. It felt like I was riding some big hit bike with the ass all squatted down and the suspension all squishy. I could not believe the amount of movement that my bike had. I was back on the NRS since I knew how the guys would be riding and I am not in any shape. I was holding my own except for falling a little behind on the hills. I was really having a hard time climbing. The front end was light and I could not move forward enough to help. So, half way threw the ride I stopped and made some adjustments to the seat and post. What a difference it made. I was no longer sitting on the back tire, I was actually up on top of the bike. From there on out it was a much more pleasant ride. Even with the rain trying to start in places.

Overall I could not ask for a better ride. The way it looks this just might be the answer I was looking for. The guys wanted to try and make this a regular weekly ride as long as it is above 35 degree. So, we will see it we can keep it up. I sure need someone to ride with to help pull me up off of the couch. Now I am itching even more to get the Proflex back up and running. I don't need all the bells and whistles of the suspension on the NRS, it moves much more then I like. Give me some good old school 80mm fork and I am good to go.

Should the towel be in the air??

After this weekend I feel like I should be like in the Rocky movie and throw in the towel. After this week it will have been 3 weeks since I have been on a bike. I say after this week because I just don't see myself getting out any time before next weekend. I am out of town for work Wed-Friday. I have stuff going on Saturday morning. So, Sunday will be my first chance.

Here I have all of these big ideas about riding and doing some races, but I am passing up my chance to really make a difference in myself. My weight is almost back up to where I was at the beginning of the year. So much for all of the work I did to loose it! Also, I keep eyeballing those hundies or wimping out and doing to fifty mile version, but who am I kidding. Right now a 20 would hurt. Here I have a good start to a work out plan for the winter and I can not say that I have actually done anything on it yet. Granted it was not a perfect plan, but I do have to actually do some work for anything to make a difference.

I have a lot of things going around in my head and also thinking of my yesterdays. When I could race the sport class or even the expert class. I would head out in to the woods for a normal 5-6 hour ride with out a second thought. Hell just a few years short ago I was riding in the snow for night rides with it being below 40 degree and my water freezing on me and loving every minute of it.

How can someone want to do something so bad and not want to do it at the same time? I fear that this type of depression state will set anchor. The only thing I can think is I really need to find a good riding partner. A riding partner will make the worst day of riding seem better.
I would not have thought it would be so hard to find someone to ride with, but the truth is I can not find anyone around. Everyone that I could ride with is either 2+ hours away or now working 5 day's a week and his off day is a work day for me!

It is just about time to throw in the towel and have that extra helping of cookies and milk or those extra 8 beers on top of the 6 I already had..............not like that will really help.