moving

Well, this ought to get the word out,
if anyone looks at this blog....

Steve's bachelor/riding party at Spruce Knob

pics here and here

longboardin', most fun on 4 wheels

I've been amazed lately at the number of kids I see on my bike commutes out riding longboards, and skateboards in general. My ride takes me through an older-style neighborhood where the majority of the kids seem to walk, bike, or skate to their elementary and middle school. I've been seeing several different pockets of skaters each day lately, most on longboards.
Speaking of longboards, the other day I was in Eastern Board Sports getting new wheels for my longboard, and tried out the CarvStik. Talk about fun! This thing sticks to the turns like mad. You can really put your weight into it, and you can keep yourself going by gyrating as long as your legs can stand it. The most fun I've found with 4 wheels for sure.

a short,, solo GW ride

words over here

Bike to Work Day

For the past several years, I've worked one of the pit-stops for VDOT on Bike to Work Day. This year, we had plenty of people willing to work the stops, so I decided to try to get some new riders interested, and offered to lead a group ride from Centreville in to Chantilly.
The weather was far better than last year, described here in one of my first blog posts. Michele and Randy met me in different parts of Centreville, and we had a pleasant ride in and home. Randy bought his bike last week, just for this event. Three other VDOTers biked in from Vienna and Falls Church. The bike rack held a record 6 bikes yesterday.

12 Hours of Lodi

Some words here

Oliver on the bike

This is definitely not a, like father like son thing. I've never owned a trainer, and Oliver has never seen me or anyone on a trainer.

Now this one, maybe is imitation.

race season has begun...

Most tales will be told over on the Bike Lane blog, though nothing really to tell yet. Two races, two fun days, maybe something after this weekend's 12-Hour race with my ol' Woodbridge buddy Bryan Sims.

the skis are gone

.. no longer in the car....
no hope now..

Watershed

more pics here on the Bike Lane blog

Bull Run Mountain

wind sculpted pine at the rock overlook

lost and found

I rode to work today, a beautiful clear & calm 25-degree start.  But, that isn't the story today.  In the locker room of the Health Club where I shower, I find a wallet in an empty locker.  A leather wallet, stuffed so fat that it can't fully close, bills thick enough that they're poking out the edge.  So I grab it and take it to the Manager, and she opens it to find out who's it is and says she'll call him.

 

After I shower, while I'm getting dressed, a guy comes in, goes straight to the locker where my stuff is now stored, looks in, turns around and leaves.  I asked him if he was looking for his wallet, and he said yes.  I told him I took it up to the office.  He said, in an annoyed tone, "thanks".

 

I guess I expect too much.  Most people in this office park health club know, or at least recognize, everyone else.  This guy is new there.  I guess I expected a more hearty thank you, and maybe a "nice to meet you".  Seems like that would've taken a lot less energy than having to reclaim your life after an identity theft.

cool 'toons

Some good stuff here

Yee Haaa!

where are the posts?

Anyone who actually comes to this blog to read my bike/outdoor tales will find most of them now on the new BikeLane Blog where like-minded folks put their words too.

This blog won't die, but will probably continue to have fewer posts, unless I can think of interesting non-bike stuff to post...

White Grass, Jan 27

ahh, the bike commute

warning: this is a typical "journal" style blog, nothing really interesting will follow...

I rode to work today for only the 2nd time since ski season began in early December.
Not that I've been totally slacking,
been off for holidays and in Vermont a lot of that time,
been trail running on the way to work other times,
and have done plenty of general "leg work" to get in shape for skiing and running,
which I'd think would help for biking too.
so, why did those little bumps seem like big mountains.....

the reason I biked today is that all the other factors just worked out, not because of the tragically nice weather,
early in my ride, I was passed by a familiar pair of trucks,
for years, the concrete company's trucks pass me on Compton Rd. almost every time I ride,
there are usually 6 guys in each, crammed into their extended cabs,
for some reason, I feel comfortable knowing they're behind me,
I feel confident that they aren't going to hit me or yell at me,
maybe it's because they see me all the time and possibly expect me,
maybe it's the extra eyes to help warn the driver if he dabs for a second,
when they're behind me, I know that no other vehicle will be able to hit me,
when they pass by me, I smile and nod their way,
and then I get nervous again.

tragically nice weather

the temps today will be close to 60 degrees,
I think this is a tragedy.
it's mid-January,
the ground should be frozen,
if the ground would stay frozen for Dec, Jan, & Feb., we could all mtn bike on any local trails we want without doing any damage that we have to waste time repairing in Spring.
if the ground would stay frozen, White Grass and the lift-served ski areas could thrive,

since I've been keeping track of weather for work and play,
18 of our last 24 months have been warmer than the 30-year average,
I'm now hoping for a month and a half of solid winter for Feb-Mar.

why is this happening?

will Oliver be able to ski in the lower-48 when he's my age?
many scientists are wondering about that....

Vermont

Wow, been a long while since a post here.
I wish I could say we've been here that whole time.


the top of Vermont, Mt. Mansfield in Stowe


our 100 year-old house in the village

Lookin' forward to some less peaceful views from the top of Buzzard Rocks this Friday during what has become an annual Veteran's Day ride for the lucky gov't workers.