Back in the Saddle Again

Dr. J, Heavy D, Evenslower, Green Beans, myself, and a guy who borrowed my old Epic who shall remain nameless as he is secretly training for a special coming out party, met up at Binder for my first ride back on fat tires in 3 weeks. In fact I just started getting some TITS on Wed of this week with a short 90 min recovery ride. The day was spectacular with dry trails (a rareity in MO this year), good company, and of course the Pivot. Dr J got us all on film. Heavy D poached some trail and got lost again (good thing he has a Garmin). Evenslower found some more MidMO ticks. Nameless dude looked fast, yet twitchy, for a guy who's been off the fat tires for a bit. Beans impressed my SF buds with his ever smooth flow. And I couldnt wipe the smile from my face as it was the first pain free ride in 6 months!

Retts Run this weekend. Get your game on!

Perpetuating the Myth

I’ve been to AR three times this spring. Rather than arrive with some preconceived notions about the indigenous people, I made a point of keeping an open mind about the local “wildlife” if you will. Let just say the stereotypical views of Arkansas’eans hold true. In a list form, things I witnessed during my travels:

· 3 County and 1 State Police at a campground because of a domestic violence “issue”
· 13 canoes full of Amish teenagers in full dress, headgear, and long pants
· Grandma and Grandpa on dulling golf carts drinking Bush Light
· 3 tooth hillbilly hitting on my wife and sister by offering them strawberry moonshine
· A sign entering the camp requesting I break down or unload all firearms before entering
· Dry county-nuff said
· A mobile home that had been converted to an RV – no joke

: (

Nagging injuries suck. In 20+ years of riding I’ve never had much of anything to complain about, as my discomfort on the bike was in direct relationship to my fitness, not some anatomical problem. Somewhere along the road this winter that all changed. It started with some tendinitis in the upper calf, moved to the Medial Patellar Femoral Ligament, and is finishing with some IT Band tightness, etc. After a slew of adjustments to my setup and riding/sleeping through pain constantly, and the strickt recommendation from my therapist (wife), I’m taking a couple weeks off to get things healed up.

I’m 7 days into what plans to be 2 weeks off. Its amazing how everyday life issues seem to pile up and ruin your day when you have no avenue for release. My wife is sick of me, my coworkers wanna know what’s up, and even my dog looks at me funny.

I still haven’t gotten what I consider a decent ride on my new rocket ship MTB, and the local trails look like this.

Oh well, at least I have a new keg of Fowler Creek Red to keep me company as I sulk in the basement.

Syllamo Here We Come

Dr J, Dasiy and I are off tomorrow for some North Central AR trail thrashing. 50 miles of single track bliss. I'm super stoked to be rocking the new Pivot (yes BH there will be some loving going on pre-race) but at the same time apprehensive of taking an untested bike into a 5 hour event.

Luck will be needed.