Vacation Pics

These are some pics of the Seattle part of out trip. I'll post some Vancouver pics soon. A great time was had by all.

Getting my legs back

Since I got back from Vancouver I've ridden 7 hours and done some yoga at the gym. The weight I put on from constant eating and drinking beer for a week is just about gone. Kip and I rode Palmer this morning. I rode the singlespeed but was wishing for full suspension. Next time I'll bring the Heckler.

Back from BC

We got back to town yesterday from our trip to Seattle and Vancouver. I had an awesome time. No biking, but lots o' beer and food. Today to try and burn off some of the pounds I put on I rode the Forester trail with Kip and Eric (guy from Fort Collins). 4 1/2 hours of pedaling got the mojo working again. I will post some pics soon but have to say I am very impressed with British Columbia. Vancouver feels like one of the most livable cities I have ever visited. 

Vacation time!

Tomorrow we start our vacation and head to Seattle and upward to Vancouver. I'm ready for some R&R.

NaNoWriMo

I want to get my behind in gear and start writing something worth reading. I stumbled across the National Novel Writing Month website while trolling the interweb. The people who sign up to participate will write a 175 page (50,000 word) novel by midnight, November 30th. Sounds like a great way to get something on the page. It don't need to be pretty, it just need to be completed.
Here's a great pep talk for the NaNoWriMo peeps by my favorite author Tom Robbins.
http://www.nanowrimo.org/node/1052008

Surly riding

I rode the Cross-check this morning and Monday morning before work. I haven't ridden the bike much this year and it's a nice change of pace. I haven't ridden either mountain bike since last Monday when I crashed. My knee feels much better so I will try to get out on the Rig and the Heckler before heading out of town this weekend. I'm getting excited for the vacation. We're heading up to Seattle from Saturday till Monday and then up to Vancouver from Monday till Friday.

Cross-check = Versatility

I put cyclocross tires back on the Surly and took it for a spin today. I rode on the road for most of the ride but hit the singletrack in Garden of the Gods and then rode through Ute Valley Park. The bike is not as comfy on the trail as my 29er but it gets the job done. This was my first ride since hurting my knee on Monday and I felt really good. It still hurts a little when I'm walking but no pain while pedaling.

The Crown of the Sun

A photo taken during a total solar eclipse of the sun's corona (outer atmosphere).

RIP EJ

I didn't know EJ well but he seemed like a great guy. He and another rider were killed yesterday by a driver. I was planning on meeting him for a singlespeed ride the last couple weekends and now wish I wouldn't have slept in. Life is short. Live a life worth living.

37 more days till Cyclocross season

I'm going to give Cross a go this year starting September 13th here in the springs. My team, Pikes Peak Velo, will be sponsoring the race so it should be a good time. I really am looking forward to the whole experience that is mud and cowbells.

Magical Thinking

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" - Arthur C. Clarke

This is a great article about magical thinking and superstition. I'm a very superstitious person, so this article spoke to me.

http://www.mywire.com/pubs/PsychologyToday/2008/03/01/6144633

Ouch

I rode the singlespeed in the canyon today and had a great ride until the end. After coming down the chutes and riding in the open space I tried to unclip at the top of a rock garden and my right shoe wouldn't come loose. I fell on my right side on a bunch of rocks and cut open my knee. The universe is telling me to take a break and drink more beer. At least that's what I want the universe to tell me to do.