Critical Mass

Last Friday of the month means Critical Mass. I will be riding in one of them, and I'll see you there!

Black Diamond Century

While most people are taking the long weekend off to relax, I'm riding a century to help out diabetes in Black Diamond before the MS150. That means waking up at 4:30 to make the 6:00 check in. I hope they have coffee at the starting line.
Then it's off to the coast Sunday morning to do some skim boarding.

So, I guess I'm relaxing in my own way...

Ride of Silence

Ride of Silence
May 21, 2008.
For those in the South Sound:
http://www.rideofsilence.org/locations-domestic.php?s=WA#WA

Golden Globes

I'm guessing because of the golden globes.

Just a guess..

Vashon_Island doesn't see 90 degrees very often, especially not in May.

Hell...who am I kidding? The south Puget Sound rarely sees 90 degrees...period.

My brother and his wife drove down from up north and we hopped the ferry to ride Vashon. As the most experienced of the group, I should have taken it upon myself to carry a map of the island so I could ensure a good ride. But I'm lazy and I have a habit of getting lost on my bike. My unfortunate family members were just along for the ride.

Literally.

We chose the less evil of the two climbs coming off the ferry dock. My mind went into the usual autopilot of trying to keep a comfortable cadence. I had attempted to swap out a smaller chainring the night before, but my 40T was the wrong bolt pattern. But, it was free so I can't really bitch. Up...up...and up I went...until my Phonak cap was filled with sweat.

Pull over. Remove cap. Oh yeah, there's other people behind me. Suffering up the climb. Newbies and family. One in the same. They're not THAT far behind. They'll live. Must push on...

As my lost family members crested their first big climb, I assured them that the worst was over.

Boy was I wrong....

We rode on, taking in the scenery and sweating in the rare Pac NW heat. The three of us were making good time. I thought "ride into town, get lunch, relax, ride back."

Again....I should've brought a map.

After stopping at a crossroad, we decided to go right.

Oh cool...look at the scenery...oh neat...oh shit...we're on another island...WTF??

It's cool. There's an entire group of a dozen or so riders behind us. They'll give us directions if we ask.

"Hey Mister, can you tell us how to get into town?"

Oh...you have no clue where you're going either.

Shit.

Oh hey, there's a fire station. Let's get directions.

Go back the way we came?

OK.

Ride, ride, ride, ride...take a right here. Left at the stop sign. Wall of a climb. No momentum. Fixed gear. Walk. No problem. Short hill.

WRONG!!

Longish hill. Keep walking. Crest hill.

Ride, ride, ride.

Town coming into view.

Phew!

Eat BLT. Relax.

Back on the bike. Fueled up ready to rip. Let's go!

Hey, we've been here before! Cool. Sweet views.

Too hot...want to die....

We eventually made it back to the ferry dock with. I think the famdamn had successfully completed the hardest ride they had ever done. I had another (hard) 30 miles under my fixed belt, and the Brooks is starting to take shape.

Next time, I'll bring a map so I don't have to look like a bitch as my sister in law out climbs me even though she has 27 times as many gears...plus I'm fat.

100K fixed

The Daffodil Classic marked my first over 50 mile ride on the fixed gear. While my top speed, and consequently my average speed, suffered, the climbs were easier than anticipated. I admittedly had to walk a few short sections but no entire climbs. It was certainly a different experience...especially when everybody whizzed past me on the descents. But as far as I'm aware, I was the only person who rode the course on a fixed or even a single speed--so I don't feel too bad.

I have never fielded so many questions on a ride before. Everyone kept asking me how the hills were treating me. The hills were fine so long as I was going UP them. It was the DOWN that hurt! I think I developed carpel tunnel from squeezing the front brake. Yet some cheered me on and others just thought I was nuts.

Somewhere along my return from Eatonville, I missed a course marking and rode all the way into Graham on the wrong road. Oops. My girlfriend, a Graham native, quickly corrected my path via cellphone and I was off again. I was only a few miles off....

All in all, I have to say that I enjoyed the first long distance fixed ride. I was in horrible pain the next day however. Heh heh!

Would I do it again?

Hell yeah!

Will I do it again?

Hell yeah!

See you at the next charity ride.

Kill Hipsters

A former co-worker of mine got me into the whole charity riding thing last year and I'm glad she did. I enjoy riding my bike, and as much as I can't stand most people, I like to help out where I can. When I told her I'd be bringing the trusty 925 on the 2007 MS 150, she hinted that I was nuts...which may be true. I joked that I'd ride the whole weekend fixed (which I didn't...I pussed out and rode the free side). My friend asked me if I still had brakes on the 925. Of course I do (well...I did...now I just have "brake"). She was relieved because, as she told me:

"Fixes kill hipsters."

Which may be true. I haven't read any studies on hipster death recently. But, even if it does, what the fuck do I care? I like Motorhead not Modest Mouse. The guys on the pink fixies in the tight girls' jeans don't have anything in common with me. My fixed gear isn't just for coffee shop runs to get some caramel blow me latte.

In my opinion, kill the hipsters. Hell, if we don't do it, they'll just commit suicide while listening to emo music anyway.