Lumberjack 100

The 5th year of the Lumberjack 100 is in the books and I am pleased to be able to report that this year I at least finished the race. If my body worked as well as my Scalpel I would have won instead of finishing seventh in my class. I am very pleased with the bike and the modification of running the slightly larger 650b wheel up front.

Robin, Shari and I left Thursday evening and spent the night at their cottage on Higgins Lake. The next morning we headed up to the race site so that we could arrive early enough to get a prime spot on the course for our pit. Having a good spot makes the lap transitions a lot faster. Shari is a pro at this by now.

After staking our claim we headed over to our rental house, or chalet, that I had reserved. I found the place on the internet and the cost was similar to what we paid last year for a hotel. The chalet had three bedrooms and slept 10. It included 1.5 baths and even had a basement with a garage door where we could bring in our bikes to work on them. In the winter I guess the place is popular for snowmobilers.

We had a bunch of people from the Cycletherapy team coming up to share the place with us so the cost per night was very cheap. It was nice to have a whole house to move around in. The fact that it was only about 4.5 miles from the race was even better. After settling in on Friday I rode over to the race and did a small portion of the course.

Race day morning we got up early to get ready and get over to the race site so we could get a parking spot to unload all of our gear. The heavy overnight rain had pretty much soaked into the sandy soil which was perfect; the day before parts of the course were like riding on a beach. The rain had also left the air very humid, not so great.

My strategy this year was to just finish; I was not too confident in my preparation for this race (almost none) so I wanted to try starting out slow for once. I always say this and then go out too hard, causing me to really slow down by the end of the race.

Once the race started we had about a two mile stretch of blacktop before turning into the trail. I was content to just sit in the middle of the group and take my time. Throughout the first lap I pretty much stayed in whatever group I found myself in and didn't really try to pass. I monitored my heart rate to keep from going too hard. Many times I had to resist the urge to press as I kept thinking I could go faster than I was.

At the end of the first 25 mile lap I was actually having fun and ready to go out for the second lap. I was able to make this lap little faster than the first as there wasn't as much traffic in front of me but I still had to force myself to slow down. I could start to feel a little fatigue at the end of the lap but a third lap was never a doubt.

On the third lap I would start to feel some cramps in my legs as we were now in the middle of the day and the temperature had risen. Fortunately most of the course in in the woods and well shaded. I did walk a hill or two that I had previously ridden on the first two laps. My lap time had slowed to where it equaled the first lap.

I didn't allow myself much time in the pits before heading out for my fourth, and final lap. At this point I was definitely feeling the effort but I was confident I would at least finish. The heat was starting to make me a little dizzy at times and I had to walk a few more hills than before, pausing to let myself cool down. I was so glad to get up the final hill knowing that the last two or three miles were pretty much downhill or level.

I crossed the line with a slower time than two years ago but at least I finished. I didn't think I was even in the top ten, knowing the other competitors in the race. I was surprised that I still ended up seventh but a long way out of first. Every year the 100 milers are attracting more people and better competition. But that's the way national races should be; not just showing up and placing because you finished. It also means I have a lot of work to do if I want to get on the podium again.

It was still a great weekend with good friends and a great trail system. The full suspension bike helped to mitigate any back problems or other discomforts caused by the long time on the bike and bumpy course. I'm not sure what the next race is except we do have another race at Lake Orion High School on June 30.

Thanks again to Robin and Shari for another outstanding race support.

Our primo spot on the course


Our rental chalet for the weekend


The back, complete with deck and gas grill


The living room, plenty of room for everyone to watch satellite TV.

In the woods

It seems like I spend a lot of time in the woods. Mountain biking is my main hobby and most of my riding is done on trails that wind their way through old growth timber. I have always liked being outdoors and was lucky enough to grow up in a rural area where I could walk out my back door and go for miles through the fields, woods and rivers. At one time I even wanted to become a forest ranger.

Our house was on a 5 acre lot but it was surrounded by empty fields that backed up to the forest and the same across the street. Even as a kid I was into building trails for my mini-bike and then dirt bikes. Some things never change.

But now I have traded the motor for pedals but still love to build trails out in the woods. I have worked on most of the major trails in my immediate area, either helping lay out or install new sections or simply maintaining the existing ones. These trails include Bald Mountain, Addison Oaks, Stony Creek, Bloomer, Pontiac Lake, and Maybury. When I first got involved with the Michigan Mountain Biking Association(MMBA)I was all over the area working at the trail days. Now days I pretty much stick closer to home.

I am fortunate to have the Lake Orion High School property within a half mile from my house and that the school property is a great piece of real estate for mountain biking. The multiple elevation changes on their meadows and woods has allowed me to build quite a few sections of singletrack and to tie them all together and also access the Bald Mountain trails. The school grounds crew has been super supportive of my efforts and assisted in so many ways to help put the trails in.

This past weekend I pretty much finished up another section of trail that while not being lengthy, will provide a few neat features but took a lot of work on a couple of sections. The best part about these trails is when other people ride them and are amazed at the trails they never knew existed. As a bonus it gives me a great workout, both while building them and then as an almost private training grounds.

Those that have ridden all the sections know that my trails can give you a good technical tree avoidance as well as cardio workout due to all the climbing. The terrain does not allow for many climbs to be rolled into; it's more descend, turn, and climb. But that is what makes the most difference in racing, climbing and the ability to hold sustained efforts. The latter I still need to work on but with a ready made course less than a five minute ride from my house I can easily get in the practice.

Hopefully some of these workouts have helped me get ready for the Lumberjack 100 this weekend. I didn't fare well there last year as I pulled out after 50 miles as I didn't seem to have any energy. This will be my fourth year in a row for this race and my field looks tougher than ever. There are 32 men registered in my class; I think that is the biggest field for my group in any of the 100's I have done. I know of at least ten that could be contenders for top honors. The forecast for rain may play a factor in who survives until the end.

I am traveling with my usual pit crew of Robin and Shari. We will spend Thursday night at their cabin on Higgins Lake and then head up to the race site Friday morning. The best pit sites fill up early so we will stake our claim and then head over to our rental chalet. This place will be new to us but it is a three bedroom house that we will be sharing with some other racers that we know. The place has satellite TV, AC, gas grill, kitchen, etc. And the best part is the cost is about the same as one tiny hotel room yet this is closer to the race. Hopefully this will be a place we will want to return to every year.

Snow in June?

Although snow in June not unheard of in Michigan, this is just the fallout from the line of trees that runs along the driveway. When the wind blows it does look like it's snowing. The trees can cause quite a mess in the spring and fall since they have little leaves that are hard to pick up. The branches are also full of thorns.

È quasi ufficiale

That is Italian for "it's almost official". After numerous delays and much conjecture, it looks like the Supreme Court has refused the motion to delay the Chrysler emergence from bankruptcy. Fiat will become the major player in how we do business from now on.

I imagine that we will be put to warp speed to get the plants and systems up and running. It will be interesting to see what happens to our management structure in the coming months. Fiat Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne, and soon to be head of Chrysler as well, has some different ideas of how management should operate compared with how we have been doing business. I expect we will see an exodus within the upper corporate ranks, either by request or by choice.

For now at least we have a glimmer of a future and can get back to the task of making cars and trucks. And of course greeting the arrival of the Fiat employees that we have been preparing office space for over the last few months. And while I can stop scouring the Monster.com ads, I will still keep the link handy, just in case.

Motorized trail hazard

I am lucky to be writing this update today. Yesterday while out riding at Bald Mountain I was going through a slight downhill section that is very fast and came around a corner to see a park utility vehicle coming right at me, also travelling at a good clip. The vehicle, or gator as they are called, took up almost all of the trail, especially as the trail is partly overgrown right now.

I hit the brakes hard while pulling off to the right as much as I could, all the while hoping that there wasn't anything sticking up or out of the brush that I was forced into. We passed each other with inches to spare and their eyes were probably as wide as mine. The gator never really slowed down and I kept going at a slightly slower pace but my heart rate remained up for a while. I can only imagine the damage a collision with that thing would have caused. The poor bike!

I was out testing the latest change to my Scalpel. I was not satisfied with the way it handled with the 29" wheel up front. The taller front end made short, steep climbs more difficult as well as quick transitions in the corners. It was great in the straight line or downhills.

I had borrowed a 26" wheel to put on there and the bike felt a lot better but of course that is what it is designed to use. I still had the problem of a low bar to seat relationship due to the geometry of the bike but I found out that Cannondale makes a longer steerer tube. I had one of those shipped to me and now the bars and seat are relatively close in height.

Tuesday I picked up my new 650b front wheel to try on the Scalpel. This wheel size is measured at 27.5", or half way between a 26" and a 29" wheel. The size has been around for a long time but over the last couple of year it has started to make inroads in the mountain biking community. It provides some benefits of both of the other sizes but is still limited in tire selection.

I have a Stan's NoTubes 355 rim on the Lefty hub and the Pacenti Quasi-Moto tire on it for now. Schwalbe is our tire sponsor but I couldn't get their 650b tire. After two rides I am very pleased with both the bike handling and the tire. The larger wheel has slowed the handling a bit so that it feels fairly similar to the 29" bikes I have and the wheel rolls over some of the small things better. Climbing does not seem to be a problem either. I plan on doing some long rides this weekend on this bike to determine if it is the bike I will use for the Lumberjack or stick with the 29'er.

Not even Last of the Mohicans

In order to even be last you have to finish. Unfortunately I didn't, nor did my racing partner Jay Jones. Even though we didn't finish we still had a good time.

Jay and I drove to Loudonville with my regular traveling companions Shari and Robin Scurr. Shari is the consummate pit crew, having done it now for the past several years while Robin and I raced. This time Robin wasn't racing but went along for the vacation and to enjoy the racing scene from a different vantage point.

We drove down Friday afternoon and checked into the motel. I had forgotten that the motel advertised it as a get away spot to enjoy the natural setting; there were no TV or phones in the rooms. But we didn't expect to spend much time in the room anyway.

We headed over to the registration area to check in, receive our number plates, and do a short ride to stretch the legs. Jay and I rode while Robin and Shari ran some errands. After the ride we headed back to the motel where they were putting on a spaghetti dinner. We managed to get to bed before 10:00 in anticipation of the 5:15 alarm the next morning.

After stopping at McDonalds in the morning we made it down to start in plenty of time and got a prime parking spot right by the start line. In fact, right after we got there they blocked the entrance to our parking area so we pretty much had it to ourselves. Jay and I got ready and got in place with the other 400+ riders.

At the gun all the riders proceeded down the main street in town and out to the big hill that soon separated everyone into a long line. I was taking it easy since there was nothing for me to gain in a 100 mile by going out hard at the start. Other than when we finally got to the first trail section it seemed that we were with a lot of riders that didn't have very good technical skills.

The weather was the best it has ever been for this race as long as I have participated in it. The trails were also dry, a first for me. Usually rain has been a part of the race somehow. I was riding at a steady pace and enjoying the trails instead of pushing too hard like I have don in the past.

Jay got past me and disappeared up the trail. I was surprised when I came to the first checkpoint quite a bit earlier than I had last year. I think the drier trail had something to do with it. Robin and Shari were waiting for me and I felt like a pro as they quickly took care of everything I needed. They said Jay was about three minutes in front of me and I figured I would catch him once we got to the road sections since I was on a geared bike and he was on a singlespeed.

About 15 minutes after leaving the checkpoint I was surprised to see Jay walking toward me pushing his bike. His bottom bracket had gone bad and he was not able to continue the race. I gave my condolences for his bad luck and rode on.

It couldn't have been more than another 20 minutes when I heard a loud crunch by my rear wheel and felt the wheel lock up. I slammed on the brakes and looked down to see a large stick had jammed in the rear derailleur and had broken the hanger. Fortunately I was carrying a spare so I pulled the bike off to the side of the trail and bent down to examine the damage. To add injury to insult a rider came by and crashed, causing the rear of his bike to swing up and strike me on the side of the head. It rattled my cage for a while and I had to get the cobwebs cleared before working on my bike.

Try as I might I could not get the bolt out of the old hanger as rider after rider came by. I resigned myself to trying to shorten the chain to make a singlespeed out of the bike and at least ride out. I was between two aid stations in the woods and had no idea where I really was. It was either SS or push. Once I finally got the chain to stay in the cog without binding I rode, or pushed depending on the steepness, as much of the rest of the trail I could before finally deciding to try and find a way back to the start.

I recognized the state route I was crossing but wasn't sure which way was back to town. I pushed on a little farther before finally asking someone standing in their yard how to get back. Fortunately it was only about another five miles or so along fairly flat roads. The ride back was actually very scenic and I was enjoying the ride.

Once back I sat by the Cannondale tent and wondered how to get in touch with Robin and Shari who were waiting for us at another aid station. I asked the promoter to call out there so the workers could let them know. No one at the aid station answered the phone so I just had to wait.

A little while later Jay pulled up in a ranger's car. He had been helping the ranger at a road crossing and the ranger brought him back once the racers had passed. I used Jay's phone to try and reach Robin and Shari but they didn't answer. Jay and I hung around watching finishers of the shorter race come in and then we got to see the pro's finish up the 100 mile race. Normally I am still two hours or so behind them.

Cannondale was well represented as four of the top six riders were riding Cannondale bikes. And the top women was also on the Cannondale Factory Racing team. Michigan put up a good show as both second and fourth place in the Men's class went to Michigan riders.

Robin finally got the message about jay and I and they came back to the finish. All of us hing around the finish for a while soaking up the sun and talking to other racers while we enjoyed the free food and beer. We went back the hotel room to take a nap before returning for the awards.

We decided not to hang around for the prize drawing because they were taking forever and we wanted to go into town for dinner. Jason and I found a little place our first time down there and we have eaten there every year. This time we noticed that it was up for sale. The owner is looking to retire and we hope they find a buyer that can carry on the excellent food. While we were eating several of the Cannondale pros also came in to eat.

After dinner we headed back to the hotel and the bar/restaurant to see if we could catch the rest of the Redwings game. Everyone was tuned to the TV when we walked in but it was the Cavalier's game as they were losing to Orlando. We convinced the bartender to switch the TV behind the bar to the hockey game and we were able to catch the last period of the game.

Heading back this morning we all agreed that the trip was still a good time in spite of the race results. We all wanted to return next year and would try to convince others to join us so we could rent one of the cabins near the finish area. And we are talking about coming back down some time just to ride the trails.

The next race on the schedule is the Lumberjack 100. Hopefully this race goes better than Mohican.

The weather doesn't get much better in Michigan

Wow! A three day weekend and the weather was darn near perfect. Mostly sunny skies, temperatures in the mid 70's and a light breeze. For Memorial day weekend it doesn't get much better in Michigan.

The trails have mostly dried up or are at least passable now. I spent the past three days on the bike for a couple of hours each day, riding a combination of back roads and trails. I was testing a few things on the bikes in preparation for next week's Mohican 100 which now looks like it should have decent weather.

I was going to get in a last hard effort yesterday at the rescheduled Bloomer XC race. I figured I would ride over to the race on my SS, race, and ride back home. While the race would be hard it should only take a little over an hour and half to complete. But once I got there I found out they were adding an extra lap to the Expert SS class so I decided to go ride somewhere else instead; it takes me a while to recover from hard efforts and I wanted to not overdo it before next weekend. I also saved $30.

This morning I joined about 15 other riders in a combination road/trail ride at an "easy pace", at least that's what the email invitation billed the ride as. It was hosted by the owner of Cycletherapy, the bike shop where I occasionally work part time. I should have known better since most of the guys/gals that showed up are also racers. The 2.5 hour ride was at times. "spirited", but always fun. I got to ride a bunch of new trails that I normally wouldn't as well as spend a great morning outside. I just wish I had left on the fat tires instead of switching to 'cross tires.

The rest of this week;s riding will be light efforts, maybe a few hard, short intervals to keep the legs from going to stale. I've not done as much training this year for Mohican, maybe legs with less hours on them will be better. We leave Friday morning to head south. I hope my new wheel comes in before then. I'm still trying to decide which bike to use.

Washed Out

Heavy rain overnight caused the postponement of the Addison Oaks 6/12 hour race for the second week in a row. I feel bad for the promoter as he has about $5,000 sunk into the event. He has rescheduled it for October 10. The Michigan race calendar is so full during the summer that this was one of the few open dates available. Hopefully a lot of people will come out in October to support him.

The storms also made the already muddy trails at Bloomer park even worse and the race for tomorrow has been postponed until next Sunday. With luck the course will be able to dry out some. I am not sure if I will race since it is only a week before the Mohican race.

Our final race at LOHS looks to be in danger of also being postponed based on the forecast for next Tuesday. We had a backup date for any rain outs and we may end up using it.

Long range forecast for the Mohican race does not look promising. Right now they are calling for rain just about every day in the week preceding the race and also on race day. I think this race is cursed as that would make four years in a row that it has rained on, or just before the race.

The postponements of race has made training even more difficult as you structure your week leading up to a race with the expectation that the race will consume a certain amount of energy. When it doesn't happen you have to try and make up for it or somehow adjust your plan. This spring has been very frustrating for both promoters and racers.

Slow to Report

I can't believe Jason finally updated his blog. He has developed a good eye for photo composition and the pictures of the kids are great.

It seems harder lately to concentrate. Several times I was going to update the blog and then put it off. It seems difficult to get some of the little things done.

A very big part of competitive athletics is the mental side. There are many book and coaches that address this subject. I believe that athletes who may be slightly inferior in skills may make up for it in mental toughness and voracity. I know this has helped me where I lack the physical attributes necessary to succeed. I think I have taken a few steps backward of late.

With everything going on at Chrysler over the last few months, heck, the last few years, it has kept many of us somewhat on edge. The uncertainty and dealing with the constant rumors and changes tend to wear on you after a while. But at least for now we still have our jobs. Although forced time off without pay may be on the horizon. I feel for those who may not have been as fortunate in the fallout.

My training has taken a hit this year in both time and intensity so I am using the recent return of the spring races at Lake Orion High School to try and get some fitness level back. But I can tell the bigger races may be a suffer fest.

The races have drawn the usual turnout, despite the fact that the first two races have not had any rain. In fact, last week the trails were almost 100% dry and it was sunny and in the low 70’s. I think it is difficult to get people out after work to race. Plus many still either don’t know about the races or may think that the course is probably some flat paths around a school.

In fact, I have been busy putting in new sections of singletrack that have added more elevation changes than before. And last year people thought there was a lot of climbing! At the last race one racer asked how I could possibly build a trail that was all uphill. Another racer commented that last week we ran the course in the reverse direction and it was all uphill then as well. They wanted to know what kind of vortex the LOHS property was in.

Last week was the scheduled 6/12 hour race at Addison Oaks. Many of the local trails have taken a long time to dry out due to all the rain we have had this spring, Addison being no exception. With heavy rains during the week preceding the race there was talk of cancelling the race. Nice weather for two days allowed the trail to somewhat dry out but would not be able to take on any more water.

Sure enough, the rains came down overnight and heavy rain a few hours before the start caused the promoter to reschedule to this weekend. A few years ago this same race caused major damage to the course that took a year of hard work to repair.

But the postponement of the race meant I could attend the demo day at Island Lake State Recreation area instead. For the past several years the event has been put on to allow people to come and ride demo bikes that are provided by dealers and bike manufactures set up at the event. Cannondale provides their big rig loaded with test bikes and the are sales rep, Jason Edinger, is also in attendance. It is a great opportunity to help represent the brand that helped me. Plus what better way to spend a rainy afternoon than hanging out with great team mates and talking bikes?

The weather has somewhat cooperated for this Saturday’s race but there is a forecast of rain and possible thunderstorms. Hopefully the rain will be short and the impact to the trail conditions kept to a minimum.

My plan is to race on Saturday if it is not pouring, I’m not sure if I will do the 6 or the 12 hour race. If I don’t race I may do the race at close by Bloomer on Sunday instead.

Next week is the last of the LOHS races and then in two weeks is the first 100 mile race for me, the Mohican 100 in Loudonville, OH. This course is probably one of my favorite 100’s even though it is also harder than some others. It has such a wide variety of trail conditions that you never really get bored, except for the long rail trail; that is kind of numbing. Maybe this year will be first in the four I will have done to not have any rain.



The Cannondale rig


Rolling some of my CFR bikes out for display at the bike demo.


The kids just keep getting cuter

Day 1 (again)

I have lost track of how many Day Ones we have gone through here at Chrysler since I started working for the company. Of course yesterday's big news was the company filing for bankruptcy and our announcement of the Fiat deal. Given the alternatives, this may end up a positive for the company but it will take some time.

In the interim there is much uncertainty about what will happen, especially since we are effectively shutting down the company for the next few months while the bankruptcy gets sorted out. Plants will be down and union members given most of the salary while off but no word yet on what the rest of us will be doing.

The plan for plant closings is more aggressive than originally announced. I was sad, but not surprised, to read that the plant that I started at will be closing next year, Twinsburg Stamping. Closing the plant had often been rumored and now that most of the assembly plants they supply will also be shuttered there was no reason to really keep it running.

Our shutdown plus the scheduled shutdown of some GM plants will have a big impact on the local economy over the next few months. GM will be the next company under the gun to complete their reorganization plan to see if they will receive additional funding. I think they have a more difficult task.

For now all I can do is wait and see how this will effect me personally and hope for the best. In addition to immediate concerns about continued employment there is also a concern about what might change to severance and retirement plans as well as other benefits. With the company in bankruptcy everything is open to change.

The upside is I may have more time to ride. But no money to race. Stay tuned.

Cannondale Goodness Times 3

I was fortunate this year to be able to build up three new bikes after selling off all my old frames, forks, and even another non Cannondale bike. I kept all the important stuff to swap over to the new frames and forks. Items kept include drivetrain, brakes, saddles, bars, etc.

Two of the bikes, the geared and singlespeed 29" hardtails are almost identical to the ones I sold except they have the new team colors. But I built a completely different bike compared to what I have been riding, a full suspension Scalpel. I had an older model Scalpel but they changed the bike a few years ago.

I went one better than stock by custom building mine with a 29" wheel on the front instead of the normal 26". Since Cannondale doesn't yet make a full suspension 29" wheel bike I figured I would try a 69'er build. I had seen one or two builds similar on the Internet and I thought it would make a great endurance bike. Lightweight carbon frame and a bigger wheel to roll over obstacles.

I had the regular 29" bikes built a few weeks ago but had to wait on parts to finish the Scalpel. I was able to take it out for its maiden spin on Friday on the Pontiac Lake trails. I could tell I didn't have it dialed in as I was not as fast or as comfortable on it as I should be. Saturday I changed the shock pressures and the overall fit, including a different stem and bar. Today's ride confirmed that it was a lot better.

I got out for about three hours and the bike felt great. Hopefully it will translate into faster times and less fatigue in the long races.

We had major thunderstorms roll through the area yesterday, accompanied by high winds. We were fortunate to not lost power for more than a few seconds but everyone across the street from us and in other areas close by are still without power since about 3:00 PM yesterday.

I had finished up a new trail at the high school yesterday but never got a chance to ride it before the rains came. Today I checked out all the school trails for storm damage and there are about five trees down that will need a chainsaw to clear. The first school race is a week and a half away and of course they are calling for rain. Hopefully we will not have the same bad luck as last year.

The Scalpel 69'er


F29 HT


F29 SS (time to tighten the chain)


Name stickers courtesy of Cannondale. In case I foget who I am after a long race.


A little anodized bling

Racing in Canada, eh?

Mark Parmalee and I drove over to Canada yesterday for today's Paris to Ancaster race, near Hamilton, Ontario. I had done the race a few years ago and had a good ride so I was looking forward to going back. The race is a 60k point to point route through back roads, rail trail, singletrack, farmer's fields, and a few super muddy downhills. All capped with a long climb right at the finish. It's one of Canada's biggest races, drawing over 1500 racers.

We got to the registration area late in the afternoon and after picking up our number plate packets we changed into our riding clothes to check out part of the course, especially the finishing hill. It was then that I realized I had forgotten my tool kit and pump that I carry with me in the races. I thought maybe I could find something at a local store later. But first we went riding and down the finish hill and tried to find the rest of the route. The course wasn't marked yet so we ended up riding some rail trail and the rolling back roads. We finished our ride back up the hill, taking note of the lines to use due to the deep ruts caused by four wheelers.

Looking for a place to eat we found a sporting goods store that had closed but the employees were still inside. They were gracious enough to let me in and purchase a CO2 inflator to carry in the race.

On the way back from dinner we decided to check out a curling club just down the road from the motel. Neither of us had seen curling in person, only on TV. The parking lot was crowded and we walked inside to find the place lined with spectators at the glass watching the matches going on. Upstairs was the bar and another viewing area, also crowded. We managed to get close enough to see and struck up a conversation with some of the crowd, made up of mostly those probably in their 60's.

It turns out that the club championships were being held that night which is why they place was so crowded. The ladies we talked to were very nice and explained to us the finer points of the game and how it was played. There were a few younger people on the ice but not many. I guess the sport is a great place to go and hang out and have few drinks, which we were invited to join but declined. After watching the matches for a while we were impressed with the skill it takes to be able to throw the stones at just the right speed and direction. Also the strategy involved in placing the stones.

Race day morning Mark and I arrived at the finish area early so that we could get our bikes loaded on the trucks to take them to the start line. We took a bus over to the start area. We had purchased this service with our registration, it solved the problem of how to shuttle our vehicle from the start to the finish. But we both cringed when we saw that they were basically just standing the bikes next to each other in a big box truck. We were fortunate that there was no damage to bikes once we goth them off the truck.

Mark and I set out for a warmup ride and could see that we were in for a long day. The race is primarily a west to east route and the wind was blowing very strong from the east, or a headwind that would greet us for most of the race. The gusts made it very difficult to maintain much speed. Sitting in a group would be the best bet, if possible.

The start is a little crazy since they have the top 100 riders from the previous year up front, with another 250-300 riders right behind them, all starting at once. Then there are two more waves after that. Mark and I were in the first wave and he was a couple of rows ahead of me and I expected him to be a strong contender for one of the top 25 spots by the end of the race.

When the race started all 400 riders funneled out onto the road up a hill and then onto a dirt road, eventually reaching a rail trail that resulted in two long lines of riders stretching out for some distance. This part always made me nervous as there is a lot of dust and nervous energy at the start. It wouldn't take much for a big crash to happen. Fortunately we made it through that section but I almost hit a post head on that was in the trail entrance as we crossed from one section to the next. With all the riders in front of you it was hidden until others parted around it.

Out on the course it was difficult to make up much ground by yourself. I found my self in groups and then would be faster than them when we came to the hills, only to leave myself in the open and exposed to the wind. Eventually a group would catch me and I would fall in with them but I seemed to struggle some today on the flats but was strong in the hills. I seemed to drop back some every now and then.

There were some singletrack and muddy sections where the lines would slow down and I would just go around them, either on the bike or on foot. Cyclocross skills helped in these areas. I had forgotten from the last time I did the race just how many farm fields we went through to connect the roads and rail trails. You definitely wanted to wipe off the top of your water bottle before taking a drink, you weren't sure just what that brown stuff was that was on there. The smell of fresh manure was prevalent in many areas we passed.

I was surprised to see Mark on the side of the course at one spot. He had flatted earlier and then flatted again. He had only brought one tube with him so I stopped and gave him mine, hoping I didn't get a flat later. It wasn't too long before Mark caught and passed me. But later he was on the side again, now with his third flat. There wasn't anything I could do so I just hoped he was able to borrow what he needed to finish.

We finally came to the infamous mud chutes and I knew we were near the end of the course. I could ride the first one but the second one was pretty deep and chewed up. I opted to get off and run, passing quite a few riders on the way down. At the bottom it was short section of paved road before we turned off onto the final climb to the finish. I manged to pass more riders and dug deep near the top to pass a few more as many riders were now walking up the last steep section.

I finished in a time seven minutes slower than three years ago, hopefully due to the severe headwind. I finished lower in the standings as well 12th out of 144 as opposed to 4th last time. I know the winning times were slower as well. I'm not sure what happened exactly, maybe I exposed myself too often in the wind. I know I didn't feel quite as strong as a few weeks ago but at least I felt good on the hills.

I changed and waited for Mark to come in. I was worried as to how he would get back as it would be difficult to have a sag wagon on the course for much of it. It turns out that he had to wait a while to find the third tube and then a pump. All of the course marshals really had no idea how to help either or even give directions on the shortest way back to the finish. He ended up taking two hours, much of it on foot, to finally make it back. That is a tough way to start the racing season. I felt bad for him, especially due to time and cost for the race, plus he was running in the top 20 at the time he got his first flat.

He was talking about coming back next year though, and bringing someone else who can drive from the start to the finish so we don't have to take the shuttle.

Next week Chris, Jay and I are supposed to head down to Ohio to ride part of the Mohican 100 course. I think the next race for me may be the first Lake Orion High School race and then the Addison 12 hour.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone. Sandy cooked another fabulous meal of roast lamb with the works and of course the Easter bunny made a visit. I have to have someone hide the basket so I don't eat all the goodies. We had a video call with Jason and family. both of the grand kids looked impressive in their Easter outfits. Isabel looks like one of those antique bisque dolls. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of her in her Easter outfit, hopefully Jason took a bunch and will share them.

This weekend we have been blessed with sunshine but cool temperatures and light winds. The trails have been starting to dry out with most trails now able to be ridden or they will be ready soon.

I got the team geared and SS bikes built up (pictures coming) and got each out on a few rides. I tried a new, lighter saddle that received a lot of rave reviews but it was not for me. I'm going back to my heavier but more comfortable WTB saddles. When you spend 10 to 12 hours or more on a bike the last thing you want to do is have an uncomfortable saddle just to save a few grams.

Friday and Saturday I joined Greg in softball practice and managed to screw up my right hand when I hit the ground going after a ball. When I went down to catch it I stumbled on the lovely outfield we were on and my hand hit the turf hard, while holding onto the ball. The impact caused my hand to swell and turn purple and it also is making it difficult to hold onto the handlebars while riding. I seem to have a habit of injuring myself while playing sports with my sons.

Next weekend I will be traveling to Canada for the point to point Paris to Ancaster race. I did the race a few years ago and had fun. It's one of Canada's bigger one day races with over 1000 racers split among the 60k and 35k course. Both courses finish on the same section that includes a monster climb right before the finish line. Last time I finished 4th in my group but with advancing age I hope to get into the top 10 this year.

My hand after softball practice.

Good weekend

This past weekend was great for several reasons. First, my brother and his fiancee, Sandy, came to visit. It was the first time we had a chance to meet her. They were in Windsor Friday night for a concert and we met them downtown on Saturday at the Eastern Market and had lunch at the outdoor barbecue spot while listening to karaoke. The singers for the most part would not present any challenge to the American Idol finalists. But I have to give them credit for even getting up to sing. And it wasn't like they were drunk. I think most of these people do it on a regular basis.

The sunshine made it feel warmer than it really was, especially if you kept out of the wind. The proximity of the market to Ford Field added to the atmosphere as people were getting ready for the NCAA Final Four later that evening.

After lunch we went to the Motown museum. We weren't sure what to expect and there were lines of people waiting to get in, most from out of town. The place is fairly small as it is the original home, office, and recording studio of Motown records. Once in you get a guided tour through the history of the company and the facilities. I had to laugh when one of the guides mentioned that most people that live in the Detroit area don't go to the museum unless someone comes to visit them from out of town. I can vouch for that.

It was amazing to think about all the recording stars that have been in that place and recorded records in the small studio. It kind of gave you goosebumps to think you were standing in the same spot as all those greats when they made their records. We sang as a group a short section of one of the Motown hits so now I can say that I, too sang in the famous studio.

After the museum we headed back to our place where my brother and Sandy checked in to the motel and then came over later for a great dinner prepared by my wife, Sandy. We got a chance to catch up and see more of Sandy. She has a great personality and I think she and my brother will do fine together. I don't see my brothers much so it was good to get together, but it was too short of a visit.

Since I went to bed late I also slept in but was able to get out for a ride on the back roads for over 3.5 hours. I mad a few more tweaks to my riding position and my legs seemed to adapt well. I couldn't ride my new bike though as I'm still waiting for a part from Cannondale to complete it. The part should be here next week, just in time for the crummy weather we are supposed to have.

Barry/Roubaix race report

Yesterday I went over to the west side of the state to compete in the Barry/Roubaix road race. While drawing on the name of the famous Paris/Roubaix race, this race was held in Barry County on primarily dirt roads, one of which was little more than a jeep trail. The weather had been calling for a mixture of rain and snow at race time but then changed to not having any precipitation until later in the day. If it had rained the race would have really resembled the notoriously muddy race across the pond.

I had ridden the course a few weeks ago and found that it was no different than the rides we do on our side of the state; in fact the hills were not as large but more numerous. And of course in a race every hill seems to require more effort than a casual ride.

There was close to 30 of us in my group and I was about mid pack at the start but quickly got myself toward the front of the group as we immediately started up the first grade of the day. A few went off the front but I was concerned about just putting in a solid effort for the day and did not take up the chase.

We soon came to the long, uphill jeep trail that caused problems for numerous riders with the sandy stretches and ruts. I was able to pick my way around and through a lot of riders that had started in the waves in front of us but at this point I had no idea who was in my class and what position I was in.

It seemed that for over half of the race I was on my own as there were not many groups forming since we were one of the last waves, so any group I did catch meant that they had started ahead of me and were going slower. With the windy conditions it made soloing a tougher effort.

I finally made the connection with one group that was going about the same pace I was and I was able to sit in for a while before going off the front with about seven miles to go. I passed quite a few riders in the last sections of hills and was surprised to find I had finished 5th. I thought I was much further behind.

I have been struggling with my training over the last 6-8 months due to extreme muscle soreness in my Vastus Medialis, the muscle just above the knee on the inside of the quad. I noticed on Thursday what I perceived to be a flaw in my pedal stroke and after doing some research and talking to some bike fit experts, came to the conclusion that bike setup may be a leading factor in my soreness.

I broke one of the cardinal rules of racing, trying something new in a race that hadn’t been tested. I changed saddle height, pedal width, and adjusted my cleats. I was surprised to find during the race that I had no muscle soreness at all, other than normal race fatigue. After the race my legs actually felt good, just tired. There is still some minor tweaking to be done with fit but overall I am relieved that the issue seems to be resolved.

The next race will probably be in Canada next month. Bring it on, eh?

Christmas in March

The Cannondale team has an annual ritual called Christmas in March, where team members receive their box of sponsors' products and the new team kits. Mine arrived today and the new uniforms look great in person. Unfortunately the bib shorts have yet to arrive and they are coming from Italy. In the mean time we will just be wearing plain black shorts while waiting.

The current economic climate has hit the bike industry as well and a few of last year's sponosrs are no longer sending free product. But the Cannondale kit and gloves, Uvex helmet, Smith glasses, Hydrapak products, Bear Naked and GU items are very much appreciated. Not to mention the great deal on team bikes and other sponsors'products.

Hopefully I can get the rest of the items needed to build the new bike and have it ready to ride next week. The weather doesn't look very promising. No one wants to get their new bikes dirty but they are mountain bikes.

Time to start getting ready for the Lake Orion High School races. A little over a month away.
2009 Spring Mtn Bike Flyer

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Business & Legal animals dogs

2009 Spring Mountain Bike Entry

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Business & Legal sport bike

New frame

My new SS frame arrived on Friday and it was the first time I had a chance to see the frame in person. It looks just as good as I had hoped. The frame has some of our sponsor's logos on it as well. We will have some new ones this year although I have not seen a list of who all of them will be. I can't build the complete bike yet since I'm still waiting for the fork. No word on when that will arrive.

I managed to get some trail work done up at Lake Orion High School in preparation for the spring race series in May. The trails were fairly dry in most spots but I blew the leaves off to help define them and to help them dry faster. I also redid one section to make it a smoother flow. The school was able to find me a few pieces of culvert so I dug on of them into place where the runoff is flowing almost all year.

I had softball practice again on Saturday morning and we still had a small turnout. They are going to have to do a better job recruiting players if we even want to have the minimum necessary to start a game.

We had the Cannondale Midwest Racing team meeting on Saturday evening at the Scurr's. It's always nice to kick off the season with the team get together and meet the new members. I led a team ride in the afternoon prior to the meeting.

Next Saturday is the Barry/Roubaix race over near Grand Rapids. It looks like they are getting a good signup but I haven't made the commitment yet. The weather looks like it may be wet and cold. Actually that is often the kind of weather that the Paris/Roubaix has; the race that the Barry/Roubaix race is modeled after. I'll probably go anyway, it's time to get the race season underway.

Weekend of firsts

I had a couple of firsts for the new year this weekend. I was invited by my son to play softball with a bunch of people he works with so we were out at 8:30 Saturday morning in the 25 degree temperatures practicing. With the sun shining it actually didn't feel too bad. But is was the first time I've played in a couple of years. Even then it was a sporadic thing. I used to play a lot but that was 25 years ago. I don't know when the games will be but this team is just in it for the fun. This will be a new experience for me as well.

On yesterday's ride past one of the farms there was a cow standing on the outside of the fence near a gate looking in at his buddies. I don't remember seeing a loose cow before. I stopped in at the farm to let them know so they could make sure the cow was safe.

On the same ride I had my first dog chase of the year. It was on a road I've ridden many times and never saw this dog before. Then for good measure I got chased two other times on the ride,once by two dogs at the same time. I hope I got my dog chases out of the way early. It's can be hard to outrun them when you are riding a singlespeed but you do get your hear rate up.

Today I got my first ride on an actual trail that was solid dirt. I had gone over to the west side of the state to preride a back road race I might be doing in a few weeks. It was just around the corner from a trail that is usually considered one of the first in the state to be ready to ride come spring. I did a lap of the road course and then drove over to the parking lot for the trail and found that the trail was generally ready to ride. So I switched bikes and did a loop of the trail. There were a lot of people out enjoying the nice day, both on foot and on bikes.

All in all the warmer weather and sunshine made for a great weekend of riding.

Sneak Peek

Not much has been posted on the new Cannondale Factory Racing bikes or kits but I gave a little hint a few weeks ago when I talked about going green. We had seen a few shots of the new Scalpel but were not supposed to reveal anything yet. But people in Europe have been seeing the new bikes and kits on the pros and posting pictures on the Internet so I thought I would share a few of them.

The new bikes and kits look great, I can't wait to see them in person. I won't write about what bike or bikes I may be building up but they will have the same graphics as the one in the picture. I don't know how much green anodizing will be used other than the fork clamps.

Madama Butterfly

Sandy and I spent a great rainy afternoon at the opera. It was Metropolitan Opera Live in HD, a series of live telecasts to movie theaters. I had seen advertisements for previous shows but I thought the tickets were kind of expensive for watching it in a movie theater. To my surprise a few weeks ago there was coupon in the mail for a buy one, get one free offer. And the theater showing it was just up the street in Oxford.

We were looking forward to this event ever since I picked up the tickets. We both are fans of all sorts of music, including classical and opera. Anyone who has travelled with me for any extended distance knows that my musical taste can be somewhat eclectic. But opera is best experienced while viewing it, especially if it is live. It is much more of an emotional experience than just listening to a soundtrack.

Sandy was an usher at the Detroit Opera House a few years ago but I have only been to a few in person. The theater version was better than having the best seats at the Met since many different camera angles were used, including closeups of the performers. In between acts Rene Fleming conducted interviews with the stars and other members of the cast. The back stage views were very informative. The sound was also first rate and the subtitles made the opera a lot easier to follow. I have to say the seats were a lot more comfortable than at the opera house and I don't recall anyone taking popcorn to a live performance either.

The entire experience was well worth it and we may buy tickets to one or two of the operas remaining to be telecast. They previewed next year's schedule and there were quite a few that would be great to see on the big screen.

After the show we stopped by a new barbecue place in town that opened a few weeks ago and got dinner to go. The barbecue was good and there was enough left over to provide lunch for tomorrow.

I didn't ride outside today but ended up on the trainer due to the rain. Tomorrow may be more of the same but with daylight savings time starting at least we will have longer to ride after work if the weather permits.

Sunburn instead of frostbite

It was almost 70 and sunny this afternoon and I took advantage of it to get in a 3.5 hour ride in shorts and short sleeves. It felt great to not have all those extra layers on although the muddy water in some sections of the roads was pretty cold. Most of the snow banks have melted now but some of the roads were wetter than earlier in the week. I think it may have been due to the ice on the roads finally melting as well.

This weekend looks like rain so I may end up back on the trainer. But I'm grateful for at least one warm day so far. Hopefully more won't be too far behind.

Lamb or Lion?

When talking about the month of March there is a reference as to whether or not the month comes and goes like a lion or a lamb. After riding this morning I would say it was more like the former, or at least a wolf in lamb's clothing.

The temperatures were in the low teens with negative wind chills but the sun was shining and the roads were either dry or at least frozen. From the warmth of the house it looked like a great day to ride.

Once out on the bike it seemed a lot colder than yesterday. The wind was biting and making progress slow when riding into it. I probably rode in colder temperatures this winter but at last then there was snow on the ground so you would expect the frigid air. I think I'm ready for some warmer weather. Although once it get into the muddy season I may miss the frozen roads.

Out west, Jason's school's girls basketball team made it to the state playoff for the first time ever. Jason is the Athletic Director for the school so the family was in Yakima this week to watch the girls play. They won their first two games but then lost the next two which earned them 6th place in the state. It was still a remarkable achievement for such a small school.

I've started putting some bike items on eBay in preparation of the new racing season and to be able to take advantage of team purchases at a great price. We weren't supposed to release any pictures of the new bikes or uniforms (kits) but some were posted on mtbr.com yesterday from over in Europe. It was my first look at the kits as well. I'll probably post the pictures tomorrow.

Strapping on the boards

Finally! We ended up getting a few inches of snow yesterday and another inch overnight so Sandy and I were able to get out and do some XC skiing. This was my first time on the new skis.

Comparing new and old skis is like comparing night and day. The old pair are old, old school. Three pin bindings, super long, and more ski shoe than boot. The new skis are significantly shorter, slightly parabolic with metal edges, step in bindings, and more like a hiking boot.

The new skis need to be skied a little more aggressively than the old pair to make the best use of the grip. I think maybe the old pair have been used so long that there isn't as much spring left in them so the kick area contacts the snow all the time. Which may also explain why the new ones are so much faster when gliding. And it was nice to not have snow get inside my boots for a change.

Earlier this morning I headed to Lansing for the MMBA annual meeting and expo to help set up the Cannondale display with our sales rep, Jason. This was a new venue for the meeting which previously has been held over on the east side. The Lansing facility was much nicer from a comfort and space perspective but the attendance appeared down from previous years. Especially the lack of swap meet vendors, usually a big draw for attendees.

I was able to score a few items at a good deal, all new stuff from the Cannondale area. Included in my deals was a sweet carbon BB30 crank for a new Cannondale frame yet to be ordered. I want to try something a little different this year along with my usual 29'er bikes. I can't tell yet what it is until I actually build it.

Yesterday I beat the snow and was able to ride outside for almost 3.5 hours. Not nearly as many miles as last weekend but I was riding several of the local trails instead of all the roads. Speaking of roads, most of the dirt roads were very icy and more than once my studded tires saved me from going down.

Hopefully they will get the roads cleared this week so we can get out again for some longer rides. It won't be too long before the racing season is upon us.

My new crank for a hopefully new frame.

Going Green

Much has been written about the need to "go green". If you notice, my blog layout has changed some to match the sentiment. But Cannondale is going green in more than just the environmental direction. While I haven't seen our new team kits yet I did see a sample team frame and Cannondale Factory Racing looks like it too is going green. Pictures to come when I get them.

Of course the big news around our area is the announcements made today by Chrysler and GM about their restructuring plans. It is of some concern that Chrysler has stated that if they don't get the money then they would probably have to cease operations as we know it. Now it is up to the government to decide our short term fate.

At least this week has been somewhat stable in terms of weather. Seven of us headed out to do a longer ride on Saturday in the middle of a snowfall but the roads were still manageable. I ended up with four hours and on Sunday got out for about another three.

Unfortunately we haven't had enough snow to allow me to use my new XC skis that arrived the Friday it got into the 50's. I hope we get some soon or I may have to take a trip up north just to try them out.

LOHS Run Results

I finally got around to adding the results for the running race we had last weekend. Not a lot of runners this year even though we stepped up our promotion.
Winter 09 Run Final Results

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Spreadsheets fantasy survival

Race Results LOHS 2/7/09

Here are the results from the mountain bike race at Lake Orion High School on 2/7/09
Winter 09 MTB Final Results

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Business Spreadsheets lohs winter mountain

First race of the season is in the bag

Yesterday was the 2nd annual Lake Orion High School winter race that I help to coordinate. With all the snow we have had this year the school grounds crew and myself put a lot of time into trying to get the course ridable by plowing, compacting, and snow blowing as much of the 3.2 mile course as possible. The day before the race it was about 98% there. But the almost 50 degree temperature at race time undid most of what we had accomplished.

It became apparent on my preride that the course was quickly breaking down and would be difficult to ride. I made a decision to reduce the number of laps since this was supposed to be a fun race, not a death march. Although by the second lap I was thinking it was more of the latter. There were very few stretches of the trail that were ridable so the laps turned into 2.5 mile jogs. Some sections were better on the second lap, some were worse.

At the start our group headed up the school driveway and out on to the course. We immediately cam to the signature feature, the ride down the sledding hill. Unlike the day before it was now very soft so that we pretty much ran and slid down the hill to the next section of trail. It too was soft and we formed a line of runners pushing bikes. At times we would hop on only to ride about 100 feet and have to get off again.

Fairly early on four of us managed to separate ourselves from the rest of the field but by the end of the first lap two of the riders managed to get a small lead on myself an another rider. I raced most of the race with the other guy and we stayed together until I started to tire from running and fell back. I could tell I was tired because I would jump on the bike to try and ride and then fall over in the deep snow.

As it was, I finished 4th overall and not too far back. My calves are sore from the run and my back also from the pushing. Biking shoes are definitely not designed for running any great distance.

The attendance at this year's race was higher than last year and everyone seemed to have a good time despite the conditions. It was a chance to break the cabin fever and enjoy being back on a bike outdoors, no matter how much we were actually able to pedal.

We have a spring series of races at the school in May and the fall race is scheduled again for October. Hopefully we have good weather for a change.

Below are some more shots of the family in Spokane.

A week out west

I just got back from spending a week out west in Spokane. Sandy and I flew out to see our new granddaughter born on December 7th. She is about the same age as our grandson Oliver when we first got to see him. It was a great trip but too short, at least Sandy gets to stay out for another week and a half.

While out there we mostly stayed around the house to maximize our time with the kids and family but Sandy and I did go XC skiing up at Mt. Spokane. The groomed trails were great, although a little icy. The trails were fun and offered a lot more elevation change than you get around here. Plus the scenery was outstanding. Sandy was a little concerned about the possible challenges of the hills but she surprised herself with the way she skied.

We also got to see Jason play a rec league hockey game and his team won in a shoot out. Jason played well for someone new to the game. We weren't surprised though when got to sent to the penalty box. He refused to be bullied by the other team and stood his ground. At least the other guy got a penalty as well.

In addition to the great meals cooked by both of the wives we also went out to dinner with the family. Oliver was a hit in the restaurant and played to the other tables, especially if the tables had women at it.

Jason and I played basketball against one of his gym classes and we old guys schooled the younger kids, even as we played five on three to give them more of an advantage. But the kids probably weren't hurting like we were the next few days. Jason managed to twist his ankle and one of the kids came down on my foot, causing it to swell up and turn purple in spots. It almost prevented me from going skiing.

The family seems to be doing well and the priests and nuns have taken a liking to them as well. They would often stop by for a short visit or we invited them over for desert.

So now it's back to a strangely quiet house and work tomorrow. The video chats will help to ease the separation but it definitely won't take the place of being there.

You can see more photos of the visit here.

Great day to be outside

Sandy and Oliver - the hat is made of wool and very warm.

Riding outside was not in the picture today due to the 5" of snow we received overnight. Nice and fluffy but more than I wanted to deal with, especially since the back roads have not been plowed yet. We were lucky? to not get as much as those south of us.

The early morning fog and cold temps lefts a coating of frost on everything that didn't have snow on it so I convinced Sandy to accompany me on a hike around the local trails this morning. We took our most energetic dog that loves to be outside and stays close by while off the leash. The dog is a bundle of energy and usually aggravates the other two so I'm sure they are glad for some peace and quiet.

Later today I'll get on the trainer to ride off some of the ribs I cooked on the grill. We barely put a dent in the slabs so it's probably leftovers for the next day or two.

Oliver in his normal "happy dog" pose and in his professional look.

Even the roadies do it

An article on the Cannondale web site talks about Ivan Basso getting in some training time in the snow. Of course after the pictures were taken he was jetting off to someplace warmer to continue training.

http://www.cannondalecommunity.com/utility/tb/?id=331387

Back at work or, "Life on the sinking USS Chrysler"

I borrowed the title of today's blog header from an article that appeared in today's Freep. It seemed a pretty realistic view of what we are facing, and I imagine to some extent the employees at GM as well. But probably not to the degree of Chrysler.

We are trying to stay positive about the future of the company. I am involved with our two new engine plants that will be producing engines later this year. But a lot of other new development has been halted and one of the system projects I have been working on has gotten slowed down when funding for our contractors working on it got pulled at the end of last year.

I think half of our time is spent scanning the news for updates of what is happening. But there are so many theories, opinions, etc., that there is probably an "expert" opinion to support whatever you want. And a lot of the predictions made for last year never came to pass. So we move on, each worker hoping for the best but half expecting the worst.

Out west Jason and Emily have had record snowfall last month and now the warm temperatures and rain are causing flooding problems for the area. They don't seem to have the problems that folks farther west in the state are experiencing. The have had some minor water coming in from melting snow but that is it.

The web cam is working great and Oliver gets excited whenever he sees us on the screen. He loves to wave and have us wave back. If I can capture some of the calls on video I will post them.

In the meantime I have been riding outside a lot as the limited snowfall since Christmas has kept the trails in good shape to ride. A predicted snow storm for tomorrow may change that as they are saying 5-8" of snow by Saturday afternoon.

Happy New Year!

I started the year off right with a great ride outside. I rode a couple of the local trails as well as the back roads. The snow covered roads softened the potholes while providing traction over the remaining ice spots. But it could still be slippery in spots as I discovered when my front end slid out while making a turn onto a road. The snow simply slid out. It was sort of a low speed event but I felt like one of those guys playing football that they show in slow motion as his leg gets twisted at an odd angle.

Today's ride was on my SS and other than it already had the bigger tires mounted I really didn't have a particular reason to choose it. But while riding I thought that it was an appropriate bike as it represents a simpler, less complex riding style. As the new year starts out I think we, as well as a lot of folks, will also be trying to simplify and cut back on some of the things we do. I may even take on one of the 100's on a SS, just from a personal challenge and to do something different.

The photo below is from today's dinner. Sandy surprised us with a package of crabs the other day. We are all fans of the Discovery show, Deadliest Catch. These crabs are from one of the boats that has appeared on the show. If you get a chance to watch the show sometime it is amazing the conditions these guys work in. I think we will appreciate the crab even more after having seen the shows.