Back In the Saddle, in 2011

Again, it's been awhile since my last post and so many things have changed.

i finally bought a road bike, i think last year or so. a cannondale synapse carbon 4(?) i don't know if it was a 4 or 3. at this point it's maybe a year old but it looks like this red/black/white bike with sram rival parts. the bike rides nice, i just need to swap the saddle out to my favorite wtb devo i have it on my mountain bike and never had problems with it, so why not put it on my road bike. i'd like to upgrade to easton carbon bars and a stem and of course the saddle. i also thought about selling the frame and fork and swapping it out for a cyclocross frame and fork. i still haven't decided on that idea.

no new upgrades to the mtn. bike. i need a tune-up, maybe, i'll bring that in soon, to beat the spring time rush. this year, i may put on new grips, buy a spare chain, really run the wheels tubeless and not just run 1 wheel. i'd like new tires, just not sure what would be a good all around tire for this area. the soil conditions are always changing and i don't have the patience or time to be swapping tires on and off, so often.

in some late night down time, i have been creating t-shirt designs and selling them on a website. my store name is Trail Hog and i think i did pretty considering, i haven't really advertised it anywhere else. it takes me more time to post up the work, then to actually create a design. if you have time, check it out.

we have had a ton of snow this season, and it's finally melting. i'm getting the itch to ride but i don't want to ruin the trails, so this is where the road bike comes in handy. maybe i can motivate my phat ass and hook the bike up to the trainer and start riding. i read it's suppose to climb to 60 by friday. i gotta say, it's a bit boring riding on the trainer and never understood why anyone needed a fan blowing at you until i did a ride in my garage. jeeze, i looked like i just stepped out of a shower with my road shoes on. dripping disgusting wet. oh yea, i did my research and bought a kurt kinetic road machine, 100% leak proof and quiet (compared to other brands). I'm completely satisfied and would highly recommend it and it's well worth the extra cash. i got mine from Performance and they matched a price for me, i got it 60 bucks less with free shipping. a sweet deal i couldn't pass up.

happy muddy frozen trails,
th

Spinning the Night Away!

    I slacked last month with riding. I think I missed the whole month and it wasn't because of being sick or having to do with the weather but trying and I hate to say it, trying to finish christmas shopping. Work was hectic and on top of that, I got a frantic call from my mother, that she fell and broke her shoulder. So with taking care of her and shopping and working, my bike was buried in the garage under all the boxes of outdoor lights and furniture AND still covered in the dried mud of the month before.

    Within the month of bike slacking, I also neglected going to the gym so I asked santa to bring me a bike trainer. I figured I could spin in my unheated garage amongst the mountains of cardboard boxes while staring at the garage door. I thought it would be fun. I ruled out asking santa for rollers because i thought it wouldn't be fun, careening off the roller and smashing into the garage door or better yet into the beer frig.

    I thought about getting the trainer that ran along the rim like, Minoura's Progressive Rim Drive. It's ideal for mtn bikes so it cuts back on the noise and tire wear. Tire wear!? Like I need something that eats away at my 40 dollar tire. I'd rather have a rock rip the sidewall than this to happen. But I ended up asking santa for Travel Trac Century Fluid Plus trainer (wow, that was a mouthful). My plans were to take my Trek Liquid and put a slick tire on it and spin the night away.

    This never happened. Instead santa got me a much needed Fox Racing Launch knee/shin guards. I now look like a baseball catcher riding a bike. Don't get me wrong, there real nice and will save my knee when i do go back to riding at Chimney Rock. And they look pretty sweet, in a heavy duty fashion.

    Well anyway, I know I got off topic here but I was wondering if anyone uses a trainer and or what brand are they using? Thanks!

Happy Trails!
~dirty bert