Sweet Treat

The expected rains came and I welcomed them with open arms. As usual I was going to ride in downpour, sprinkle or dry. Luckily I rode in a drizzle for an exciting hour with all me and 1 other person on Saturday morning. The wet rocks kept me on my toes but I loved every inch of the ride!

Ok the tire sealant is in and off for the 2nd ride on the new bike. This time feeling a little more comfortable but still no faith in my chain I was moving around Hawes not at my quickest but definitely feeling better on the bike. It's ver solid, I noticed onw downside to the wheels, they not as compliant as my Stans Arch's, they stiff as heck with no soul so far anyway. Great ride! Weather rolls in tomorrow.

Go away spring

Welll early spring mode is kicking in full gear, the eyes are itching at night but thats about all I am affected with for now. The sun is also gaining strength and the wildflower season is in which I like. Great ride today but getting a little worried about summer heat as I always do.

New bike day!!!!!!!!!!

It took me about an hour mondya afternoon to get the bike completely ready to roll except some internal brake cable routings. I took it for a test ride with zip ties and thanfully everything felt perfect fitwise and feelwise. The next morning I ran the cables and it was in business minus tire sealant, but the air held all night and I decided to roll the dice and take it out for it's maiden voyage! I ended up with I9 101 trail S wheelset and Tidell rigid fork, the rest came off the steel bike. On the trail it felt just a little tighter than my superfly, nothing to compalain about there. The bike felt very solid, and planted but I did notice it does like to pop and play and I like that since it climbs just about as good as anything else. Welcome to the stabe Salsa Timberjack, I love it, all murdered out! Felt pretty good I built it up from the frame without any help, not that a singlespeed is anything too challenging;)

Good an strong!

Monday those chocolates must have been kicking in cause I was feel good and strong! I went up and over twited sister as the habit seems to be and then went and picked up my new frame!!!!!!!!!

Lovin serving of desert

Another time crunch ride, but just enough to meet my daily serving of awesome. It was valentines day and all went great!

Getting ready for chocolate

Another pristin day as normal, time to start busting out the sun screen it's getting hot out! Put together a nice piece at Hawes, I counted 5 loops in my ride, it looks kinda cool on strava. Good ride with good vibes.

Morning, just me, thank you, sorry, enjoy, repeat.........

Beautiful day, lots of hiker folks out there and lots of communication, trying to be a good steward for us MTBrs. I find if you greet someone with a smile and be courteous it goes a long way, so far I haven't pissed anyone off that I can tell. Nice spin around hawes, becoming a habit these loops.

Magnitude of Gratitude

Monday ride was not going to happen so Tuesday was the day. I had an appointment in the morning and then off I went for a noon ride. Feeling particularily good as I spun around Hawes, got my 15 in and barely in time to pickup me boy from school.

Salsa Timberjack ordered!!!!

Look at that beauty! I was so happy the frame only option cae in matte black with black logo. I am going to strip down the steel bike and use the parts along with some new one to make the salsa close to a dream ride. I also splurged with a gift certificate from Christmas and was able to buy what I consider a really nice wheelset, Industry 9 101 trails S. Sooooo excited, a little sad for the trek but I will probbaly still ride it 50-90% of the time. I have everything I need now except chain and seatpost if I want. Next week will be exciting waiting for the frame and slapping the parts on, won't be long.

Getting back to knowing the Superfly

Felt a litte wonky on Monday when I happily pedaled into Hawes on the Superfly. It felt just a little different most the ride but quite familiar. I had some chain sensations going on which made me veyr nervous as to the strength of it since I snapped my chain twice last week on the cracked bike. My mind was also on a new bike, I now down to one bike was really picturing what I wanted for a new bike. DO I need two not really, but for years I have been looking for the excuse to have to get some fresh new gear since my trek has served me tremendously for the last 5 years and will do for another 5 and beyond. My mind was on singlespeed obviously, which was santa cruz chameleon, specialized fuse, salsa timberjack. I have ridden all three in parking lots, the end result was the timberjack frame only option. Warantee is short but for the price of 450 it is a very fair risk worht taking. Specialized wanted twice that for their fuse and I could see for now good reson, plus I have always wanted to do business with salsa Luckily all was well and had a good ride on that that lightweight scalpel of a bike!

Crickety Crack

Friday came as another beautiful day on the bike, I was doing the pinwheel loop and found the two little connectors, doesn't change much but give quick access to and from High noon to boths sides of stinger. All was pleasant until I was looking down whie riding and noticed a odd scratch I wanted to check out. After a close look that scratch was a crack in the top tube. My heart sank but quickly rebounded as I was fortunate it made it this long. This is the 2nd belltown I have cracked and likely my last, they just can't hold up to me. Sad to not have another one of Bob's home built beauties but happy for my time with them. I wondered if pedaling was safe. Given the location I felt ok about it, I figured if I took it easy I has the lower tube and head tube to back up a catastrophic heade tube snap to faceplant. I took it real easy and got back to the car and one piece and was not realy bummed, but anxious to get back on the Trek.

Haw'll to myself

After weekf of hiker trains and hikers, I had not seen a single soul on Thursdays ride surprisingly. Not that other bikers or foot soldiers bother me, but I don't mind when they're not there for sure! This was a solid mix of Hawes, body is doing great, stronger every week. While being 30 lbs heavier my body is alot more happy than it was a few months ago.

Making XC great again

Our president was Aquitted last night and I am veyr happy for him and America. Thinking about our country I went patriotic to name this loop. Just 2 miles of pavemet makes for a way to avoid heavy usery foot traffic and enjoy a nice loopy.

Niceness

I like to call this the pinwheel ride, the shape pf the tracks looking like it. This 20 miler takes a bit of overlapping but man it's flowy and good. I keep wanting to drive further to get to places I ride less but theres always traffic the time of day I like to go and I like getting home as soon as possible most times.

Overdue chamois

Another great week in the AZ, continuing my hawes 20 habit I set out for the double loop with a brand new chamois under my rear. Sure made my seat feel brand new again and offered much more comfort for me. The ride was solid, and grateful.

Kiddo rides!

On Sunday LuAnn was in a class so me and the boy headed for the great outdoors with bikes. The location was the Riparian Preserve which has wide easy dirt paths and a playground to boot. My boy pedaled eagerly in and it was really great chasing him around the Preserve and made for a great event, I love my son. So good that we went two more times the next week :)

Call it good 101 miles

I got to admit I was not feeling all that strong today so it started with pavemet to warm my legs up to see if I felt like doing more than 15 miles. Once warmed up I got into the feel of things, still off my game but pedaling on it wasn't going to be a problem. I made my way up the ridge and the rest was easy peasy. Ready to relax this weekend and be ready for Monday after 101 miles of riding this week.