Wednesdays at Wakefield

The local race series is over for this season

Wow, since this blog was plugged in Spokes Magazine, I guess I better get busy with some more worthwhile content eh? The Spokes article used all my good quotes, so I guess I'll just write some words about the Single-speed races.

Last year, I won the overall series, and won a couple of the individual races (when Jason wasn't there). I had such great success last year at this event and the Cranky, that I actually thought I might be sandbagging. HA ha, nothing to worry about anymore. Last year, I thought the main reason I was fast at Wakefield was "gearing". I was out-gearing all the other SSers. With my 29" wheels, I was using a 34x16 gear, and was easily gapping folks on the flat cinder trail and the powerline sections. After the series, last Fall, the trails at Wakefield got a lot of work from IMBA, Larry Cautilli, and MORE. The Phase 2 sections took out some rutted fall-line trails, and replaced them with the new "rollers". Word was that the new course this year would be even faster.

So, I put on an even larger gear than last year, a 34x15 for a pre-ride the week before the series started. Yikes!, that gear was way too sluggish (or was it me?). I changed by one for the opening race, a 34x16. I got the hole shot, as I would for most of the races, and had my best finish of this season, a 2nd to StevieD. After the race Stevie tells me my gear is too hard, that he won by using a lower gear. So, I believed the logic, and went down another gear for the next race to a 34x17. Again I got the hole shot, again I died on the last lap, and finished 4th this time.

Anyway, to shorten this story, for each race including the Cranky's, I went down a gear until I was finally running a 32x17, a far cry and downright "Ricky" gear compared to the monster masher gear I started with. My last laps got better, but I never cracked the top-3 again.


The Single Speed class has become quite strong and competitive. Pearce spent the previous 10 months pulling heavy cargo around in a bike trailer on the streets of DC. Pierre swims and runs triathlons, and works out on his local trail at Fountainhead, RickyD has turned into Mr. Epic. Stevie has stopped road racing so much and his dirt speed is way up. Marathon man & log hopper Frasketti is always in the mix now. Nick and Dave are always tough, and of course, Jason can beat any of us when he shows up. Anyways, congrats to all the strong and fun single-speeders out there and huge props to PVC for putting on this great event. It is the thing I will miss the most about moving to PA. Maybe I can arrange to have work in NoVa for 4 Wednesdays next summer?

Cape Hatteras

A nice time as always on Hatteras Island with Kim's niece and family. Barry Quigley also joined us for a few days. Ridable surf for 7 straight days, from small and glassy like below, to bigger and choppy.




Oliver talkin' story with the big boys. They had a lot of fun (and tolerance) with O. All of these kids are great young surfers. They all live in Ocean City, MD and really enjoyed the warm clear water (we could see shells on the bottom 6' deep), and lack of crowds. Of course, clear water also means we saw all of the wildlife swimming around us, some of those big rays were cause for minor alarm.

airborne

Check out this pic of the Weds. at Wakefield race.

neighborhood bike race

How cool to come home from work and see this note taped to our window. One of the neighbor kids was inviting Oliver and me to his neighborhood race. I'll sure miss these kids.

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