No Train

The weather forecast for today prompted me to mount the light on my cross bike and commute to and from work.  This would be the first commute of the year and it was a nice way to start off.

It was 37 degrees when I left the house this morning.  I rode through town but took a slightly different route than normal.  As I crossed the tracks that run through town I heard a train rumble and whistle.  I thought it would be a neat picture to with my bike propped up alongside the tracks and a train passing by in the background, at least I figured Daniel would like the train pic.  After waiting for several minutes I realized the train was on a different set of tracks.  Oh well, I'll have to try this picture idea later.

Sitting alongside the rail waiting for a train.

The ride home was even warmer, it was 57 degrees when I left the office.  The wind was supposed to be out of the south at 15 to 20mph but it sure didn't feel like it as I rode mostly due south.  The skies were overcast but it was a nice first commute of the year.  Spring is near!

A Mid-February Ride

With the thermometer reading 47 degrees in the sun and the wind blowing at 15mph from the SW I headed west towards Apple Creek on Messner Road.  The plan was to meet-up with Ryan on the road and then ride south together.

We road south on Cutter Road and the climb to the top of Moreland hill felt like an accomplishment.  After a couple of turns in downtown Fredericksburg, the zero stoplight burg that it is, we road west on Harrison Road.  Reaching the high ground once again felt like an accomplishment.

Plenty of dirty snow lining the roads on this ride.

The wind was in our faces until we turned north.  Via a diversion taking us down and then up James Road we made it to our splitting point.  Ryan headed east on Messner while I headed west.

Through the swamp on Messner Road.

With the sun setting lower in the sky and a head wind I was feeling cooler.  I rode through the swamps and looked to my left thinking a scene for a picture was developing.  When a large tree came into the frame I was imagining, I abruptly braked and held the camera down low for a shot.

I arrived home thinking about food and a hot shower, knowing my legs were going to feel this one tomorrow.  It was a nice mid-February ride indeed.

Tire Cleaning in the Snow

I've been doing some annual cleaning and maintenance on several of our bikes.  Today I took a pair of tires/wheels outside to scrub in the snow.  Warm water kept my hands warm and the snow made it easy to prop up the wheels!

No More Sick

What a fun past couple weeks.  Two weeks ago I came home after work on Friday thinking about what movie to watch during a long trainer ride the next day.  My plans changed when I woke up in the middle of the night with a fever and severe body aches.  A week later the flu was gone but I was tired and weak.

The past couple days I've felt some energy back but have held off on doing anything.  Today I had enough and thought it was time for a ride.  The roads were clear although littered with cinders so I put on the cross tires and fenders.  I've never used my fenders with cross tires but a quick adjustment of the fenders allowed ample clearance.

Planet Bike fenders over a Ritchey Speedium cross tire.

I had planned to ride a short loop but was feeling okay and I added on distance a couple times.  I ended up out past Moreland and riding on James Road.  Eventually I turned towards home and was met with a cold headwind.  For some reason I never even thought about wind direction as I chose my route.  Oh well, I stayed mostly warm.

Riding through the swamp on a snow covered road.

All the other roads on the ride were clear pavement.

There nothing like being down and out for a couple weeks to make you really appreciate getting out on a ride!

Hydrapak = Excellent Customer Service

Recently I noticed a small issue developing with my Hydrapak hydration pack.  The small loop inside the pack from which the hydration bladder hangs was beginning to detach.  I've figured that one of these days I would open the pack after a ride and find the loop had given way.

I sent the folks at Hydrapak an email with an image of the frayed loop attached.  Within 24 hours I had a reply stating the loop must not have been sewed properly.  They asked for my address to send a new pack.  Wow, prompt and very fair service.

 My replacement Hydrapak Flume.

About 7 to 10 days later a package was sitting on the front porch.  I had wondered if they would send just the pack itself or a complete pack, bladder and drinking tube.  After opening the mailing envelope I was excited to find the whole deal, including what appears to be a newer version 45 degree bite valve than my 90 degree bite valve.  Nice!

I give Hydrapak customer service very high marks.  Nobody wants to have a problem with a product but we all know mistakes happen and the important thing is the service you receive if the problem happens to you.  Very well done Hydrapak!

Also, I should point out the Hydrapak system is best in its category in my opinion.  Check out their web site (www.hydrapak.com) and study up on the ease of use and cleaning of their bladder.

2011's First Ride

Having not been able to do a New Year’s Day ride, Ryan and I set our sights on a second-day-of-the-year ride.  We debated the pros/cons of a road ride versus an off road ride.  It was warm enough on Saturday to melt all the snow and it was cold enough last night to refreeze the ground.  Today’s forecast called for sunny but windy conditions. 

We decided to avoid the wind on the open roads and head to the woods.  The Knob or Mohican?  We figured the drainage at Mohican better handled yesterday’s thaw so we drove south.

There were several cars in the mountain bike parking lot but only one with a bike rack.  We bundled up with multiple layers, heavy gloves and over boots.  Gotta love the warming effect of the first uphill mile.  We crunched along on frozen ground for 8 miles before turning around.  I’m still amused by how the trail feels different in the opposite direction.  It’s more than just downhills becoming uphills and vice-versa.  There is some good flow to be found in the first couple miles after the turnaround.

At mile marker 4 we chose the short loop return to the start.  The section along the campground is good fun and we had not ridden this section last time.  I always like the last 500 yards of the trail.  It’s slightly downhill with some rocks to drop over and then you come blasting out in the grass alongside the parking lot.

I stayed pretty toasty despite the sub freezing temperatures.  The bite valve on my Hydrapak was constantly freezing up.  Fortunately I could chew the bite valve and suck to get my Gatoraide flowing again.  Ryan enjoyed a slushy bottle of sports drink.

It was invigorating to get outside on a ride, a good start to the year for cycling!

First project of the year

Happy New Year!  I had hoped for a New Years Day ride but the weather was not cooperative.  Although warm it rained the entire day.  Instead I spent some time in the basement on a long over due project... bike storage.

I screwed bike hooks to a 2x4 and hung it from the

floor joists with some perforated angle iron pieces. 

 The bikes are hung by the furnace with care,

in hopes that a rider would soon be there.

The hooks are 16" on center.  I wouldn't go any closer

else the bikes may interfere with each other.  As it is,

they must be hung in alternating directions.

Final ride of the year... flats!

Ryan and I originally planned to do a night ride last night but he left work earlier than expected and we headed out in the afternoon.  We both left from our houses and rode towards each other on Messner Rd.  Just east of Fredericksburg Rd. I came upon Ryan stopped alongside the road, he was checking in with another cyclist who appeared to be changing a flat tire.  As I rolled up to the scene I realized it was Jeremy Grimm.

Back on the bike Jeremy joined us as we rode over to Honeytown and south to Fredericksburg.  It was good to chat with Jeremy and hear how he and his family have been.  We rode into Fredericksburg and climbed Harrison to the west.  Jeremy headed north on Nonpariel as we continued across 83 and onto County Line Road.

Aaron heading downhill on Force Road.

The day was overcast but warm for the season, the thermometer in the back yard showed 41 when I left the house.  Road conditions were wet from melted snow and the roads were covered with cinders.  It felt great to be outside on the bike.

We rode down Force Rd. to connect up with Cemetery Rd. and here began our problems.  Apparently the pre-ride adjustments I made to my front derailleur were not so good.  In a 500 yard section of road I managed to drop my chain to the outside and then inside.  Wow, that's a new one.  Stopped in the road and with Ryan holding my bike up I managed to get the chain back on and start rolling again.

About five minutes later we were on Cemetary Rd. and Ryan announced his rear tire was going flat.  No big deal, we stopped along side the road and got to work on a tube swap out.  Ryan searched for a foreign object in the tire and found none.  With a new tube, this one full of air, on the rear wheel we started rolling again... again.

Flat tire change #1 for the day.

"I've got some bad news..." Ryan stated a few minutes later.  His rear tire was flat again.  We pulled into a gravel parking area along side the road near the Killbuck marsh.  Ryan flipped his bike over and we both looked down to see bubbles puttering out of a hole in his wet tire.  I reached down and picked a pointy cinder out of the hole.  Wheel off, tube changed, tube inflated, wheel back on.  We started rolling again... again... again.

The culprit!

With our spare tubes exhausted another flat tire would result in a call for vehicular pickup alongside the road.  We rode up the old 226 bypass and turned west on Willow.  Just before reaching the Kister Mill Ryan called out, "my front tire is flat!"  I reached for my cell phone.

KT was glad to hear we were only a few miles from home and she picked us up in the truck.  Ryan announced we had set a new record, it was the first time the two of us had ever required a pick up on the road to get back home.  Oh well, it had some comic relief to it. 

Ryan is now shopping for new tires.

It was not the cleanest day on the road.

Christmas!

 Daniel was up bright and early on Christmas morning.

 I made a little guitar for Daniel.  He was excited to find out

what I had been working on in the basement that denied him from coming down.

 Daniel and KT taking a gift to the neighbor on Christmas morning.

I also made a guitar for my nephew Sam.  He was

even more excited than Daniel to play his own guitar.

Playin' Dead

Not much "real" cycling to post about but I haven't been playing dead.  This month I signed up to use our corporate fitness room and have been riding the stationary bike, rowing, and doing core work at lunch.  It's made for a nice break in the middle of the day and helps me sleep better at night.  Hopefully it also translates into some fitness advances come spring.

One less road kill to swerve around in the spring.

Speaking of playing dead... this strategy did not work so will for the possum Rock found in the back yard last night.  After playing with the possum for a while Rocky went in for the kill as Katie, Daniel and I watched from the porch window.  Katie made me brush his teeth after letting him back in the house.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

We hiked out into the Christmas tree field and found

the perfect tree for our house.

I helped Daddy cut it down with a saw.

Mommy and I stood it up in the house

and decorated it!

Staying Warm on a Mountain Bike

The temperature was 30 and there was skim coat of snow on the ground as Ryan and I pulled our bikes from the truck and geared up.  Two other vehicles were parked in the Mohican MTB parking lot.  The bike rack on the back told us one vehicle belonged to a mountain biker but the second vehicle, a truck, may have been a hunter. 

Getting ready to roll out.

In the previous two weekend rides I had done at Mohican I never saw a hunter, but we donned neon colors just to be sure we were not mistaken for venison on the bone.  The extra layer couldn't hurt either, given the temperature.

Self timer pic from the truck's tailgate.

A good thing about riding at Mohican when it's cold is the first uphill mile activates your body heat right away.  Despite the snow dusting throughout the woods, the trail itself was clear other than leaves.  Snow must not stick as easily to the compressed trail, maybe the ground temp of the trail is higher?

 The trail was obvious amongst the snow.

As we rode out to mile 8 we passed about 4 to 5 hunters.  Some were sitting close enough to the trail that I could have thrown and hit them with a water bottle.  They were obviously in violation of the law prohibiting hunters from being within 500 yards of the trail.  At least these guys were facing away from the trail.  I wondered what they thought of us as we came crashing through the woods.

At the 8 mile mark, where bi-directional riding ends, we turned around.  It's a different trail in the opposite direction, culminating in a mostly downhill final mile.  There were some cold moments along the way but I think we stayed comfortable most of the ride.  Ryan made two evaluations of the ride: "Hey, we didn't get shot" and "it was invigorating."  I agree.

Back at the parking lot a few more vehicles had showed up and we had passed four riders on our way back to the start.  One of the vehicles caught our attention as it looked like a sweet setup for bike road trips.  Check out the extra locks on rear and side door.  I'd never seen these type of locks before but quickly found them on the web, it's a guarded hasp with a hockey puck lock:  http://www.lockitt.com/TrailerDoorLocks.htm

This vehicle says "ready for adventure".

Bike Work Stand for Ryan

Some time ago I began work on making a bike stand for Ryan.  I had some ideas for improvement over the bike stand I made for myself several years back and was eager to see if they would prove out.  Of course a work stand can be purchased, but what fun would that be?  Plus, there's certainly a cost advantage to making your own stand if you can scrounge up some pipe.  Total out of pocket cost for this project was about $20.

The project was delayed for quite a few weeks as I searched for a steel plate for the base.  After having no luck, and after seeing that Ryan had been working on his bike on his basement floor, I compromised and built a wooden base.

As it turns out the stand and base seem to work pretty well.  I hope it performs as expected and elevates Ryan's bike work to a new level.  Ha!

Ryan's new work stand holding my bike and

my stand on the left.

The stand adjusts up and down for height with

telescoping pipes and a locking bolt with handle.

The bike is clamped into the stand via a

pipe clamp and padded wooden jaws.

The bike can be rotated and locked in place

with another bolt and handle.

Overdue Update in Pictures

Wow, I guess it's been awhile since I last updated the blog.  Rather than attempting to recap in text, here are some pictures...

 Chris' tie at the wedding in New Hampshire.

 A clock I made as a wedding gift

for Jessica and Chris.

 Daniel dressed up for the wedding,

with matching blue tongue.

 Nice fall day for a ride.

Daniel's pumpkin hauling service.

 Soupcan cyclocross.

 The result of chain suck at Soupcan cyclocross.

 Post ride cleanup.  Ryan and I rode at the Knob.

White Mountain NF Loop

This morning I set off for a White Mountain National Forest mountain bike ride.

Welcome to the National Forest.

Jim dropped me off on a forest service road just west of Bartlett, NH and I set out with map in pocket.  The first 4.0 miles on Sawyer River road, a forest service road, were a constant uphill that got my blood flowing quickly despite a temperature in the 30's. 

Steady uphill on a gravel forest service road.

At the end of the forest service road was a gate, blocking vehicular traffic, and a sign board.  From here on the riding would be on double track.

 End of the forest service road.

Still going up, there were some steep and continuous grades.

Along the way I was greeted by some nice views of surrounding mountains.  By this time I had been riding about 45 minutes, all of it uphill.

A view to the west.

About an hour into the ride I reached a "high point", just short of the infamous Kancamangus highway.  I was making frequent map checks to ensure I was on track.  With no cell phone service and a lack of familiarity with the land, it was important to keep up with my progress on the map.

 Map: $7 well spent.

After turning and riding east I joined up with another forest service road for a short distance and then had a decision to make.  Continue on with a good chance of being back by the time I had planned or do the "Owl's Head Climb" trail.  I figured I wouldn't be back here soon, so I headed up the climb.

 Coming down from the Owl's Head climb.

The climb was all good, with no shortage of steepness and some rocks thrown in for fun.  Coming down was equally exciting with rocks spotting the way.  I came to a small bridge and decided it was a good place for the PB&J I had packed for lunch.

Sitting on the edge of the bridge and eating my sandwich I had the idea to set the camera for a self timer shot.  I placed the camera on the opposite edge of the bridge, pressed the button to start the 10 second timer and attempted to walk back to my lunch perch.  Unfortunately my foot slipped in between slats in the bridge and one of the slats broke.  I fell knee deep through the bridge and violently wrenched my left knee.  My right foot also dropped into a space between slats and I ended up with both feet in the stream below.  As I groaned over the pain in my left knee I heard the camera take a picture.  Nice.

Fallen through a bridge.

 This was supposed to be the picture.

With a bum knee I had to modify the rest of the route.  I made my way to the nearest forest service road and road out to Bear Notch Road.  My leg was scraped up from busting through the bridge but I was thankful to be moving under my own power, praying for healing all the way.

An overlook on Bear Notch Rd, snow

covered Mt. Washington in the background.

When I reached Bear Notch Rd. it was a left hand turn, north, and a steady grade up to the notch.  I was pedaling along okay on the smooth road.  Over the notch it was all down hill to get back to Bartlett.  Passing by a scenic pull off I caught a glimpse of Mt. Washington, so I pulled off at the next one for a picture.  Further down I stopped at a pull off and asked another gawker to take my picture.

Sporting the OCC wool.

Despite the unfortunate bridge crash incident, it was good ~4 hour ride and the weather was perfect.  This will be a loop to repeat on future visits.

First MTB Ride in New Hampshire

Here's a post submitted from up north.  We are here in the northeast visiting with KT's parents, staying in their nearly finished new home.  The house is very nice with a great view and there is plenty of mountain biking nearby.  Yesterday Chris, who will officially become my brother-in-law this weekend, took me for an off road ride near North Conway.

The leaves have turned and the trails were covered.

We headed out for several hours of riding west of North Conway, NH.  The trails we started out on are called Sticks & Stones and for good reason.  There were plenty of rocks and roots to roll around and over.  Everywhere you look up here there are rocks and more rocks.

 

We stopped at an abandoned quarry for a look around.

A lathe was used to turn large, granite columns.

After connecting up with some other trails we went up and over a shoulder of a mountain before heading back to the start.  There were some fun, twisty sections and some good climbing on the way up.  At one point we popped out onto a rocky bald before turning back into the woods.  Once over the ridge, we rode some pretty steep downhills that were testing my counter-gravity bike handling skills.  It was a good ride.

 The final uphill to get over the ridge was a
hike-a-bike as it was unrideably steep.  
(Of course the picture does not do it justice.)

I hope to get out a couple more times during this trip, and I will try to get some "big view" pictures to show off the mountain terrain.  Tomorrow morning will hopefully result in a ride.  My map is ready to go.

 It was the perfect fall day for a ride!