Random

I love the smell of dirt, sweat and spent beer cans.

The Dilemma (Not the stupid, poorly acted movie)

Road or mountain? I couldn't decide.  I went to bed on the fence, I woke up on the fence. Finally it hit me.  Do the "AD Special". I have this stupid fast buddy in the Springs who occasionally does hammer rides on his mountain bike (his only bike) that include dirt and road. This is an AD Special.

So I left my house and began the climb to get to the trail head.  I had about two hours and the plan was to do a mini-climbfest including a couple of road climbs.  It turned out to be a great ride, but what made it worth noting was the little bonus I got during one of the climbs.  I never thought it would happen, but I "fat tired" a guy on a road bike.  I had heard of this sort of thing before.  In fact, in the Springs, it would be called getting "Duked". I just couldn't believe I actually did it. It was very casual.  I didn't kill it to catch him. I just rolled past, waived, and kept rolling thinking to myself, "This dude has skinnies, and gears. Surely I will fall apart in a mile and he will redeem himself by blowing past me with a big Campy shift and solid effort out of the saddle. I mean, the guy is a roadie." but it never happened.  I got to the top, ate a snack, talked to some strangers and after a few minutes, he rolled up.  I wonder what he was thinking.  If I were him, here's what might have gone through my head:

1) Dopers suck.
2) He must be running a really easy gear.  Its probably like a 30-30.
3) Dopers suck.
4) I'm doing a rest day ride and this jerk probably thinks he's Lance Armstrong now.
5) If this climb were 20 miles instead of 2, I would have caught him eventually (this one is true).
6) Dopers suck.

Good Times

My pre, during, and post hydration system.  Order and amount of consumption is up to the rider.

DBA #4

Hallucinations, Realizations, and Motivations Riding in the Desert

I now have two blazing hot mid-day rides under my belt.  One mountain, one road.  Here are some thoughts:

Mountain:

Wow, I have the trails all to myself.

Look up for snakes.

 The heat is not that bad. 5 minutes later, dang its hot! 5 minutes later, the heat is not that bad.

  It’s a good thing I have some “tropical” in me.

Road:

9 minutes 21 seconds in: Beer is going to taste so good when I’m done!

10:13: It must be hot if there is a snake carcass in the bike lane.

 21: 06: Climbing back up to my house is going to hurt.

 24:37: Agh! 100 degree Gatorade tastes like piss! This flavor is dead until winter.

 32:24: Dang its hard to put a water bottle into my jersey pocket. Tommy D makes it look so easy.

 40:42: I should probably sprint to a sign or something.

 40:43: Sprinting is stupid.

 60 minutes: Beer

Note: Roadies, don't judge me because I only road for an hour, it was hot!

DBA #3 (I think)

Deconstructing the Roadie:

I like road biking.  I have a roadie friend or two.  I think they are all too often misunderstood and consequently, stereotyped.  We have all heard the stereotypes.  They never waive or say hi, they always look angry, they are clicky and usually try to drop outsiders to show their superiority. Oh, and they wear too much Lycra.

Most roadies are nice. The assessments above are often not true, but we have all encountered the roadie who embodies most or all of these traits and bolsters the stereotype.  During one of my euphoric states (a.k.a. good ride) I realized why there are some roadies who fit the stereotype. 

On the road, there is bliss.  The sound of the tires against good pavement, a perfectly silent bike, the rhythm that can be found on long grueling climbs and the calm of achieving and maintaining the perfect cadence on a flat or rolling road.  Great conversation can be had on group rides as well.  This is the positive side that keeps roadies coming back. What is missing from this description is what I like to call, “the missing link”.  It is the reason why some roadies seem to hate biking, and more importantly, why many don’t waive.  The mini-van full of screaming kids, or pickup truck with a 10 inch lift and 44 inch tires that are taller that you, that comes within an inch of your elbow or actually clips you and sends you flying. Motorists who yell, spit, honk, or throw "Big Gulps" at you while riding.  Roads without bike lanes or even a shoulder for that matter.  Roads with bike lanes full of green and brown glass shards. Loose dogs, stumbling drunks, deer,  the list of variables goes on and on.  The one thing they all have in common is they rip a cyclist out of the euphoric state of joy like being abruptly awoken from a perfect bike dream.  The response in both of the above is to be grumpy and resentful of what has been taken from you.  Just like the state of bliss achieved from perfect conditions, the resentment and anger from terrible conditions can linger for hours or days.  During that time it is perfectly understandable that the roadie described above doesn’t want to waive, smile or chat.  They are grieving over the loss of bliss. The one thing we must all remember is that deep down, they still appreciate the waive or word from a fellow cyclist, even if they don’t respond to it.  

2 Kinds

I've been to a lot of shops over the past few days and I remembered something I figured out a long time ago.  There are two kinds of bike shops.  There are the "Mystical Magic Shops" and the "Bikes Are Cool and Everyone is Invited Shops". The MMS has a chip on its shoulder.  Strongly opinionated and if you don't agree you are stupid.  Working on bikes is magic, a gift even and if you aren't born with it you are SOL. Take your bike to the "Magic Men" or you will suffer the consequences.  The BACEIS wants to share.  They know most people, who want to, can figure it out and they also know not everyone wants to.  They believe, like good beer, bike knowledge/love should be shared.  Since they are cool, people want to come back.  Both types have their strengths, because MMS usually do have gifted mechanics.  BACEIS can have great mechanics too and usually have great customer service. I know which one I prefer, but really I just need one to hire me so I a can become "gifted".  Odds are it will be a BACEIS. Stay tuned...

Home...

Finally got on the dirt in ABQ. Being relegated to the trainer in prime riding season is just short of waterboarding.  Riding up the road to trail was pretty painful too, but when my tires finally hit dirt and I heard that familiar sound, a song popped into my head. Here it goes (fully butchered): Home, home, take me on home, home is the place I want to be, home, home, take me on home, home is wherever I'm with you...

Ode to Dirt