A Bit of Spring in January

Over 60 degrees. That was the temperature here in North Carolina last weekend.  Even better plus.  3 day weekend.

Sometimes its a tough spot to be in, having nice weather and wanting to go out to play with my friends and my bikes, and also trying to make sure that the wife and kids get to play too.  I like to think that I find a balance between the two, and with an understanding wife, she lets me go out to play as well.

Plans were finally finalized Thursday night about making a trip to the mini-mountains of Uwharrie.  Being only an hour away makes it convenient to get out of town, but still close enough that I can come back to handle husband/daddy duties. 

 I talked my roadie-esk friend Benji into leaving his kid and pregnant wife for a morning of mini-mountain goodness.  With plan almost derailed at Friday night at bed time due to a possible bent brake rotor (not my bike), it all got straightened out (the rotor and the situation).  Even though it was going to be up near 60 degrees near lunch time and that would be the perfect time to ride, we both felt guilty leaving the wives at home with the kids, and decided to get up there for an 8 am wheels down time.  Temperature, it was probably 32 degrees.

The trails were actually in great shape with a few wet spots, and just leaves covering the trail and there was no one else out there.  We stopped a few times to just look at the mountains hrough the downed leaves and just take in the views.  Makes me want to get up there more often.

After completing a modest 18 miles or so, it was time to go home.  A lot of  the other Charlotte crew thought that Uwharrie was a good idea too, as we were leaving, they were just getting there ready to ride.  Great minds think alike.  Except waking up too early and riding when its freezing out.  Good news is that we were home by noon to spend time with the families.  

That night was spent putting on new toys on Seabiscut.  She got a new cassette, chain, cranks, and chainrings to convert to the 2x10 drivetrain.  With the weather looking good for the rest of the weekend, I couldn't wait to try her out.

Sunday was just putting the finishing touches on the bike, as well as family duties of grocery shopping and probably some other family activities.  Details are sketchy.

Monday was a bonus day with the weather and the day off.  There were more family activities in the morning, but in the afternoon after the kids nap, it was play time again.  This time it was local at the Whitewater center.   The burrower has taken up running and used the path around the rapids to jog with the kids, so I finally got to try out my new toys. There are a few adjustments in which I need to make, but there is a difference, and hopefully it will make me a stronger/faster rider.  

New gear, new year and looking forward to entering in a few races again after a year off.  Upcoming this weekend is the Winter Short Track race.  The weather doesn't look great.  I said that if the weather was bad i wouldn't do it.  I tend not to listen to myself, especially when I am talking about being reasonable, so there is a good chance I am going to race anyway. 

BIKE PORN!!!!

Yeah you read that right. Its a busy week here at my household, getting the bathroom finished, starting the season of yard work. I did finally get my shiny parts in like I was hinting about. Shimano's 3x10 drivetrain. It shifts smooth. I was only able to get out on the trail for a few hours on Saturday to test it out. I also had to break in my new Manitu R-Seven Fork. Lets just say that the first few big hits at the WWC I was a little worried about it, but it held up just fine and I think it will be good to go for this weekend for the 6 hours of Warrior Creek. I am hoping the rain holds off and the trails are nice and tacky to ride on.

I dont have a lot of time today, but here are some pictures of the new and improved culprit.

Here is the after pic, I am showing it first because it is pretty, like a flower.




Is 30 gears enough? Probably not but thats as many as they make right now.


White on white fork, looks so smooth.


And the before pic, you can see how much work I put into it.

Well, gotta go finish up some stuff, ill try to be clever some other time, until then enjoy the new stuff.

Lets start at the end and then work to the beginning...

I tend to do things backwards. Mostly because it is more work that way, and usually a better story. I learn my lessons the hard way. So instead of going in order of fun/exciting events in chronological order (thank you spell check for change chrological for me) of day off on Friday and going to the mountains, bike build, bike race, I am just going to reverse it.

And I will start at the very end and pictures probably say it best.

Picture courtesy of The Mutt



That summed up the race on Sunday. My first ever did not finish. I should have seen it coming, I was doing average at the race, all of the other new shiny shifty parts were working almost seamlessly considering there was no break in period, and then this happened. I blame my mechinic, which is me for trying to reuse a pin on the Shimano chain. By doing so it stretched it out and popped off. Score one for SRAM and quick links.

Up until then I was riding along, minding my own business. There were a lot of people out on the trail taking pictures and I managed to get a hold of some of them. This is the fun part of short track. Some of the crowds are still drunk and hollaring from the night before waiting for a crash. And they bring cameras.




Thank you Burrower and Lunchbox for the action shots


Another good one by the Burrower, stupid tree got in the way. She was waiting for the next lap to get another action shot, but alas, there was no more.


On the other hand, all of the other stuff in which I put on the short track bike held up good. I think I will just save those wasted 4 hours of my life for tomorrow. Here are some more pictures.



Thanks Alex Hawn for posting these public on the F-Book

Tomorrow, how I wasted my Saturday afternoon.