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Media Fridays

We'll posts videos or photos that will hopefully inspire trail shredding weekends.

This video combines two great media - video and pictures... kinda neat to see the action, and then a great photo coming from it.

Plus, that guy has one sweet ass beard!!

AND the video ends with a shot if a beer.... classic.

Hope you get some great trail time in this weekend to balance with the all the food and chocolates!

Moving v still from Benjamin Haworth on Vimeo.

Field Testing.

Went for a ride (starting) at Adams Farm yesterday because 1. it was close to work and I didn't get out of work until after 3:30 due to meetings and 2. I hadn't ridden there in a while.

The ride was good.  At first I was feeling a little stretched out with the new set-up but that faded throughout the ride... not sure if I'm still just adjusting to the new cockpit, if the water battole in the back of my jersey was somehow annoying my back, or if I will indeed need to shorten up the 105 stem... we shall see.  And... if I go shorter... how much shorter??  Any suggestions?

I also did a little impromptu testing the garmin edge 500 as well.  I just googled the user manual to see what they listed as their "waterproofing" and didn't find any material addressing it.  From my experience yesterday I can tell you that the unit can sit in about 6" of water for 5 or so minutes and be just fine!!  Of course that test was an accident!!  And as soon as I looked down and noticed it was gone I KNEW it was in the little stream I had crossed about .5 mile back.... YIKES.  I came to the stream crossing on the wrong angle and didn't carry enough speed, so as I hit the other side I had to jump off the bike.  Didn't really crash, just kinda laid the bike down.  I didn't think to check the garmin to make sure it was there, I didn't think there was any reason for it NOT to be there, so I continued on.  As I hit a dirt road I stopped to figure out where I was and if I should keep going (I hadn't been this far out previously) and that is when I noticed a missing computer.  So I took off back to the stream hoping it would be there.... I was HOPING it would be beside the water.... when I didn't see it I gleamed a little white in the mucky leaf covered bottom... hand in water- computer out of water.  It was still working (although with a "lost satellite reception message") and I was relieved.

Remember kids: ALWAYS close the weather proof plug in the back tightly before riding.  I think that was a big saving point there!!

So I grabbed the garmin and continued back to where I had stopped and realized it was gone.... I tore down the dirt road and came to another water crossing and then railroad tracks.  From my intelligent phone I saw there was more forest down the tracks a bit.... do I ride beside the tracks on big gravel to check out the possibility of trail... or head back?  Clouds were closing in a bit so I headed back.  But I'll do a little research/recon to see what is further out that way... I'd love to be able to make a huge loop out there!

new stuff

I was anticipating getting a new part for the HiFi this weekend.  I was actually hoping to get it Friday - so I could get it all set to go and get out for a ride on Saturday.  Friday I did get a package... but the box wasn't the right size.... inside I found this

That's right, a crap load of GU.  I had "forgotten" that I had ordered it.  Actually, it just arrived quickly and caught me off guard.  For me, so far, GU is my go to.  I've been playing with Jelly Belly beans, which are good and all - but not for a race.  So I stocked up on GU.

Saturday was a gloomy day... perfect for some bike maintenance.  And finally the box I had been waiting for arrived!!  New Ritchey Comp Flat 5D bars.



sweet purple paper!!

I quickly set up shop (yes, my current workstation is the kitchen) and got to removing the old handlebars.  I must say that I have LOVED the wide big sweep bars.  They provide great leverage, and are super comfortable... but I feel maybe a little too comfortable.  That isn't to say I'm looking to add discomfort to my ride, but I sometimes feel like the positioning of the bar set my posture less aggressive... plus, they are wide.  So squeezing through tight spaces is just that much harder.  So I figured some narrower straight bars would be more to my liking.


Before



After





Before



After



Aesthetically, it's a thing of beauty!! 

One area of concern was whether or not I would now have to replace the stem for a shorter one since I have taken away the backsweep from the original bars. Only time will tell.



The Ritchey is shorter...



And of course, there is the lack of backsweep...



I was eager to get out on a test ride... but the weather was crappy... So I had to wait until Sunday to get out for a quick ride at Cutler.  Initial testing says SWEET INDEED!!  I like it.  Control was great, stance was good... still wondering about going shorter on the stem.  I felt like I may have been stretched a little during the ride... so I'll pay attention to that during the next couple of rides and then figure out how much shorter I need to go.

If nothing else... the addition of white bars makes me faster, right?

Larry Legend

Today is the first day of my Larry Bird Year (aka. my 33rd birthday).  Ever since birthdays (or rather the age part) stopped being exciting I've been looking forward to this year for no other reason than my age equals my childhood hero's number.

Yesterday we celebrated my birthday with a celtics game.  We had amazing seats, sitting 3 rows behind the Heat's bench.  Annie had to wonder why so many people talked trash about LeBron as she pointed out he is "one big dude."  Not sure if any of you caught the game, but we saw Wade get completely humiliated right in front of us... here is a replay

You can't really see us in this video as it's very quick... but we are up behind the end of the bench... see the guy in the green shirt right behind the bench, we are the second row behind him just off his left shoulder...  If you catch a glimpse of me you can see me with my fist over my mouth as I looked on in shock and awe at the block.

Before the game I got out for a quick ride over at Cutler.  I left the house feeling like I forgot something... and I did, my HR monitor.... ah well, the main focus was testing out something new on the HiFi anyway. Yup, I got two packages over the weekend that I had been anxiously awaiting (well one of them at least) and they both arrived on Saturday - which was perfect as Saturday morning was miserable with rainy nonsense.  So I got the new part on the HiFi and she was ready to go.  First ride yesterday and initial impressions are positive.  May have to make another adjustment in the future - but I'll get into the details tomorrow.

I'm squeezing into my old Larry Bird jersey today (under my shirt of course) in honor of the man and in celebration of the day.

Bike Wash

Media Fridays

We'll posts videos or photos that will hopefully inspire trail shredding weekends.

This video is from 2009.... hopefully conditions are a bit nicer this year for all those racing, but if they aren't, at least now you know what t do after the race to keep your bike in tip top form!!

Have fun out there and I'll see you at the Fat Tire Classic at Winding Trails!

 

Watch more video of Root 66 Bunny Hopbrook Dam on cyclingdirt.org

Food, Movies, Parents, and Bikes

All of those things don't mix well....

Haven't ridden since Monday, and won't be riding today...

Tuesday went and saw Hunger Games.  Annie read the book, and had already seen it - but she wanted to see it again, so I went along.  I'm not 100% sure how I felt about it.  I think there was a lot of anticipation and build p by those around me who have read the books... so after seeing the movie my perception is that the book would have probably been better then the movie.  Tp me, the movie moved a little slow I guess??  It wasn't a bad movie, but I probably wouldn't watch it again...

Wednesday the kids had an early day and we had parent teacher conferences.  We do two sessions to accommodate all working schedules... so from 1-2:30 and 6:30-8 I was in the gym meeting with parents.  Wasn't so bad... just a long stretch of time keeping me from doing much productive.  I did think about sneaking in a ride in between - but that would leave me less then fresh to speak with parents, so I figured I should just bite the bullet and not get any bike time.

Tonight is our final installment of Restaurant Week with our favorite restaurant - Mistral!  So that means great food.  It also means (say it all with me) no riding.

This weekend would have been the kick off to my season - so I'm kinda glad that it isn't since this week has been void of bike time... but I'll have to get my butt back in gear tomorrow/this weekend... and of course, enjoy the Celtics beating the Heat!!

For those racing this weekend, good luck and have fun!

You fickle...

70-80s last week just dripping with sweat to frozen feet yesterday...

In all honesty, high 40-low 50 is a nice range (typically) for this time of year and I would have no complaints.  BUT, with the unseasonably warm weather we've been having I forgot the proper ride attire for the conditions and my feet were absolutely FROZEN during my ride yesterday.

Still had a fun ride - explored some more of Upton State Forest - took a nice ride out and around a lake in Whitehall State Park.  I stumbled upon the lake and there was a sweet little singletrack shooting around the shoreline so I followed... what I didn't realize was just how big this body of water was!!  A longer side track than I had planned, and with a late start I did get a little nervous I'd be fumbling in the dark to get back to the pterodactyl.  Never fear, I made it back in time. 

After two rides, I'm diggin Upton.  It offers a nice mix of terrain, some decent climbs, plenty of fire roads to bomb, and some nice tight twisty singletrack.  I've also realized that there is much more area to explore, both in and around the forest, and it looks like this place has the potential for some serious miles.

Oh, and the bruises are coming in nicely from the crash at Wompatuck over the weekend...  it sure is mountain biking season!!