February 9, 2004

  • Well, it’s that time again.  Sunday and it’s Ride Time. 
    Well,  We all knew that the weather would be OK but the roads
    would be questionable so it’s MTB time.  A few of you wrote and
    said you were doing other things, and I am sure that your sprits were with us.

    So it’s 19 degrees F and the Neighborhood roads were still covered with
    snow and ice.  No bit deal for a MTB so it’s off to the High
    School to see who is gonna show.  I arrive at the exact time that
    Kent rolls in.  We roll around the lot for a while doing the
    occasional Stoppie (AKA Nose Wheel stand).  We hang out till about
    15 after and figure that’s gonna be it.  We decide to take the
    bike path to Pineridge.

    It’s a nice stroll down Timberline and onto the bike path.  We
    pass a few bi-peds and we exchange greetings a few times.  Always
    a good thing to do to keep up relations with those who haven’t
    discovered that riding is more fun.   We pass the BMX track
    and I am tempted to take a run at it but looks like only one set of
    tracks and that guy gave up for some reason so We continue on.  

    I must admit that the bike path is really pretty boring in the
    winter.  Not much to see and not many folks out.  Maybe Kent
    and I are “Hardcore” and maybe sane folks are snuggling warmly in their
    beds preparing for a nice hour + trainer session.  Well, I really
    can’t stand trainers but they are a necessary tool if one want to be
    assured that one  won’t be too embarrassed come spring time
    when  the pecking order is again determined.  

    So, Pedal, Pedal etc.  Kent and I are having a good time just
    chatting about cycling etc.   I was telling Kent about a book
    I just finished, “A Twist of the Wrist” by Keith Code.  Yeah it’s
    a motorcycle book and what’s that got to do with bicycling, but there
    are quite a few similarities, one of which is counter
    steering.   Way cool tool that will really help your bike
    handing in the corners.  Someone remind me to say 3 minutes about
    this some Sunday morning.  OK enough digression….

    We make it to the end of the Spring Creek Trail and then it’s onto the
    Snow.  Talk about a workout.  The snow is bumpy and we are
    focusing hard to stay upright.  When we reach the dog park the
    trail head is much nicer and we make the climb up to the
    ridge.   This is a good power workout, not to mention
    balance.  Something about being out in the cold fresh air I really
    like.  So anyway we decide to continue and descend onto the
    plains.  Well I was hoping some cc skiers would have smoothed out
    the trails but my hopes were not to be realized.

    Kent and I suffer on slipping and pushing through the snow.  
    I am having an easier time of it cause I think my tire pressures were a
    bit lower than Kents.  Nice now but I will pay for this
    later.  We stop and chat and decide that this ain’t all that much
    fun and that we should try and hit the roads and do the hogbacks. 
    Granted we were on FS MTB’s, Kent on a Cannondale Super V and me on the
    Trek Y but one can only take so much pounding, when were aren’t getting
    paid.

    We hop  a fence at the edge of the park and head up the 1st
    hogback.  Man this is easy compared to that snow grinding.  I
    never thought I would be so happy to hit the hills.   
    About this time I am getting Hungry but I figured I could wait. 
    We summit the 1st hill and then the 2nd.     The
    pace was civil but I couldn’t have really gone any faster cause my mind
    was really thinking about food.  

    As we crest the 2nd hogback the winds are in our face.   Kent
    easily warps away from me ( Tire pressure issue).  The winds are
    strong and even with pedaling we only hit 22 mph or so.   I
    am really getting hungry now and It takes some effort to  catch
    Kent, even though he is soft pedaling so I can catch up.  We reach
    the last hogback and pretty much take it easy on the way up, at least I
    think we were.  My speedo wasn’t working so I didn’t have too much
    of a clue as to what we were doing.

    When we reach the top I grab some food. Sobe bar and a power
    gel.   The park ranger arrives and we exchange
    pleasantries.   It’s time to take off, but we are dreading
    that descent.  The temps are warmer but that wind chill after a
    break is gonna hurt.  

    Kent one again leaves me on the descent and we are flying down the
    hill.  Man it’s cold.    We are both in a tuck, but
    even though it makes us faster, there less frontal area and I feel this
    keeps me warmer than being upright.    With some
    combustible  material just consumed I feel much better on the
    hills. Down right good, but this is probably just the after affects of
    the powergel so I  take it easy so as to prolong it’s
    affect.  The tail wind up the hill is nice for a change.

    The last hogback is always welcome and we make quick work of
    it.   Kent does his thing on the descent and I follow, but at
    a distance.  Onto harmony and I feel really good now. Must be the
    food.  I need to follow Kent’s lead and eat a nice big
    breakfast.  Like a wise man once said,  “Doesn’t matter how
    fast you car is, iffn you ain’t got no gas”   Ok I just
    made that one up now but it’s true.

    We make it to Timberline and it’s only 10:55 so I decide to ride over
    to Kent’s Palace.   Nice place!    We chat
    for a few seconds, and I depart so as not to get cold again. The temp
    in town was 39 but it’s sure didn’t feel like it.  I take it
    pretty easy on the way home.   

    I have no clue how many miles or what the average was, but who
    cares.  A good time was had by all.    Hope to see
    you guyz& Galz next week.

    Oh Yeah, be sure and check out the www site  for new stuff from time to time.