I guess rain isn't so bad

Sometimes, at least.

The weather cancelled our weekly group ride yesterday, which gave us the opportunity "forced" us to tag along for the Dirt Diva event.  You really didn't have to twist any arms as our new pal Sonya Looney was there.  The Dirt Divas do an urban ride before their meetings, which is held at one of my old faithfuls in the neighborhood - the Kickstand.  The route was pretty neat, and the ride was well attended.

After the ride the Divas held their monthly meeting.  I had planned on just being at the bar enjoying fried pickles and beers, but the Divas were kind enough to let us into their meeting.  It was a great to hear about all the great things the Divas are doing individually and as a group.  I also got wrangled into the honor to help out at their upcoming skills clinic. 

Sonya spoke, answered questions, and handled a door that just wouldn't close.  While Sonya was talking about experiences from a few years ago it hit me just how long I have been following her blog.  It was a kind of a bizarre realization because as she was talking I was totally thinking "hey, I remember that."  You do kinda get to know someone through reading their blog and following their experiences.  The internerd is a crazy thing sometimes.    

Sonya get's frustrated with doors that won't stay closed, just like us!

It was a great talk.  Sonya's a real inspiration for a lot of female riders out there, and deservedly so.  We joke, about the fame and the "just like us" thing, but Sonya is a real person.  And I think that is really how she'd like to be thought of.  She's more than willing to share her experiences and knowledge that might help you out in a heartbeat.  So if you ever get the chance to meet her, or attend one of her  rides/clinics as she's all over the country, go for it.  And don't be shy, say hi - she has a serious sense of humor that you DO NOT want to miss!  

The Divas had a little swag raffle for stuff that Sonya brought to the meeting and I was a lucky winner.  I know white on the bike makes you faster... but same goes for pink on the rider, right?

I met Sonya Looney and all I got where these socks

I SWEAR I'll talk all about ME and my race tomorrow.

frosty

My hands are still in the warming up phase after the morning walk with the dogs.  Of course, that's my fault as I was wearing shorts and my Uconn hoodie... but whatever.  My eyes were watering so much it must have looked like I was crying.  I refuse to bundle up like it's winter... so now my hands are still cold.

Anyway.  Yesterday was the weekly social group ride.  Originally it was scheduled to be at the WWC, but rains on Sunday had the trails closed there, so venue was switched to Sherman.  With a late appointment with a client, and the trail switched to the opposite side of Charlotte, things were going to be tight.  On the drive over I shot TheMutt a text letting him know that they didn't need to wait on me, I would just catch up on the trail.  As it were, they hadn't hit the trail as I pulled in and everyone was gracious enough to wait as I got changed and ready to ride.  

I haven't ridden Sherman in a little bit, and since my last visit they have put in some great work out there rebuilding berms... the section is sweet!!  But, it looked like people were out there while it was wet as some of the berms were a bit torn up...

Afterwards we hit up the Kickstand for some food and beverages.  Good times all around.

Yesterday Fabian made a plea for me to hold out and wait on the I9s.  Part of me thinking that... but part of me had questions... do I want to wait however long, do I NEED I9s, etc.

The answer, sadly, is that I do not NEED I9s.  Yeah, I WANT them - who doesn't?  But when it comes down to it, I don't NEED them in order to ride and have fun.  And again, I've had this "build" going on for entirely too long.  It might have been different if I was still in New England and good riding weather was still a bit off.... but with no real off season here, and signs of spring all around, it's time to get the One9 up and running.

So, in order to get one giant step closer I put in my order this morning for my wheels - sans I9s, loaded with HOPE instead.  I've seen a lot of good stuff out in the tangled web of bike forums about them so I'm feeling that I won't be disappointed.

Ok, I might be disappointed if I were to ride my Hopes, then ride some I9s, and then my Hopes again... but that won't happen.  No one my size rides I9s anyway.  TheMutt rides a big ass bike, so I won't be throwing my leg over his steed to test them out.

So, what's the next step for the One9?  I'm going to collaborate with my LBS to get the last few parts ordered, the headset installed, the fork cut down some.  I'm on the fence on whether I should just have them throw the brakes on as well, or if I should do it myself.  I mean, that was the whole point of building it, to do some of this myself.

 

Water - from the sky and in the lake

Yesterday Annie and I cruised around Charlotte some more - checking out neighborhoods and houses.  We stopped in for a late lunch at one of my new favorite places - Kickstand Burgers -n- Bar.  Place is sweet.  Great food, bike inspired decor, and of course a nice selection of beers.  By the time we got back to Denver the skies opened up and my thoughts of a ride were washed away.

Saturday we were scheduled to hit Lake Norman for an all day pontooning adventure!!  Bright an early I get a text (from downstairs) ... conversation as follows:

Road ride now?
Serious?
a quick 20 miler
Damnit.  Sure

It was a fun spin - kinda cool, kinda not at all.  It was muggy as all hell, just felt heavy.  But the ride was good.  It was a quickie.  But the burned calories were much needed as they would be quickly overtaken by the pulled pork that evening, the junk food on the boat, and the beers all the way through.

The lake was awesome for sure.  I got plenty of sun and swam a bunch.

"Gangsta" pose with my John Deere hat

The sun certainly took it out of me as I was sluggish for the rest of the weekend.

Sunday we had a tentative plan to hit up the trails at Lake Norman, but our out of town guest had to hit the road and previously mentioned "sluggishness" got the better of us.  Instead we hit up some open houses.  In Boston the open houses were typically anywhere from 11-2, or there abouts.  In Charlotte, the earliest started at 2 and the range was from about 2-5.  Got to account for that church thing that rules  around here.  Don't get me wrong, no religion bashing here.  Just a cultural change to have church impact so many other things - open houses later, businesses closed on Sundays, etc.  On the other hand, I am originally from the home of the blue laws, so I get it... sorta.

Today, with the deluge of water falling yesterday, trail rides are probably out.  So if things hold off I'll be hitting the pavement when Sean gets out of work.  This weekend we may be heading out of town to check out some of the mountain trails in the surrounding areas... perhaps Warrior Creek??