Fashion Plate

I've been thinking about my 2010 racing season a ton lately. I know it's only November, but time flies and the Bedford County Mountain Cross series that starts in February will be here before you can say "spring fever."

I've been searching for right parts to build the race machine, working on core strength and explosive power and flexibility by working out daily, and last but not least trying to figure out what color(s) accessories would compliment the new Roanokeoutside.com/Mail It Plus team kits.

Best I can tell for 2010, black is the new black - at least for me. I scored a pair of Northwave mountain shoes in screaming white with red trim, but I think I'm going all black everywhere else. A black Laser 02 helmet would compliment black Six Six One gloves and a collection of black Twin Six socks fairly well, I believe.

Call it the Darth Vader in dancing shoes and a fancy shirt look.

Pieces, Parts, Progress

My 2010 race bike is starting to take shape. Soon I will have all of the necessary components to complete her. Then it will be time for us (yes, us...you, me, the whole blogiverse) to name her. I have some ideas...

Pictures of night rides are pretty stupid.

Thursday Night MTB Ride - Venue Change

Here Ye, Here Ye,

It has come time to moveth our weekly Thursday night mountain bike excursion from Carvins Cove to Mill Mountain.

In the past we have ridden the winter months at Explore Park, but I felt compelled to change the venue this year for a few reasons;

1. Mill Mountain is closer for almost everyone than Explore Park. This also gives us city-dwellers the option of riding to-and-from the ride.

2. I feel Mill Mountain has more options to vary the ride week-to-week. We can perhaps even mix in a bit of an excursion on the Roanoke River Greenway now and then.

3. More post-ride refueling options. (Fork In The Alley, El Toreo, several downtown establishments)

So, bring your lights and meet at the Discovery Center on Mill Mountain starting this Thursday Nov 5th. This ride maintains it's intermediate to advanced status with quite a bit of climbing and a fairly brisk pace. The ride departs at 6pm sharp, so plan on arriving a little early to get yourself and your bike ready for some fun.

See you then!

Groove

Monday - P90X

Tuesday - P90X

Wednesday - Trail Run

Thursday - MTB Ride

Friday - P90X

Strong is coming. Very strong.

Weighing in

We geeks have some strange preoccupations. Bicycle weight is one of them. The lighter the bike, the faster we shall go. Basic physics. Geeks also like spreadsheets. I meticulously assembled the claimed weights of every single component that I am purchasing to build my next race bike (the Niner Air 9 in the raw paint-free finish - much like the one pictured above) into a special weight-geek spreadsheet.

The result was a pleasant surprise; 9501 grams (20.95 lbs). In a few short weeks after all is assembled, we'll see if the geek-o-sheet calculations were correct.

All smiles!

I rode my bicycle again today for the first time since my shoulder dislocation on August 29th! In my usual damn the torpedoes way, I decided to ride off-road instead of some lame spin on a greenway. The shoulder remained intact over some roots and downhills where I let 'er rip. Feels pretty good actually. I still have a twinge here and there, and it's obvious that the muscle strength has diminished considerably, but I can unequivocally say that I am back on the bike!

That, my friends, makes me very happy!