My 100th post!

So, for us poor working stiffs... there comes a time every year when riding gets harder to do. I love coming home from work at 6 or 6:15 in the summer and going for ride! Those of you that work at a bike shop and don't have to be to work until 10am... I'll be nice and just say I envy you. In order to get adequate time to ride during the week, we nightride!
In the past, my nightriding has been mostly in the woods. BikeBeat used to have a good MTB ride to Ipswich, which I have tried recently to resurrect. We have been meeting at 7 at the Kempsville shop. 3 laps in Indian River Park makes the ride about 20 miles total.
My homie Greg and I had a good after work ride schedule going this summer. The rides got shorter and shorter as the light faded earlier. Why should we stop riding just because it's dark? Because its dangerous on the roads with cars! The main reason to take to the woods. There is a few country roads, close to my house, that have very little traffic on them. They go by Fentress Airfield, but have no reason to drive down them unless you live on them. Armed with blinking taillights, and HID headlights, we set out to take advantage of the still mild weather.
Leave my drive way, across Centerville Turnpike, cut through Blooms' lot, ride about 50 feet down Mount Pleasant road, and right onto Schoolhouse Road. That puts us on Blueridge Road, and another side road, which we can make about 16 miles. Do this twice for 36 miles by the time we get back and that makes for a nice ride. Maybe get passed by 4 or 5 cars all night. We even have a " I guarantee you'll sprint" point each lap. I'll tell about that in my 101st post.

Rode the new bike 42 miles this morning! Feels very nimble and responsive. I am very pleased. Brought it home for the first time tonight, I dont think Sheri liked the bike in the bed too much.

15lbs of fun!

Unpacking...
Like a child at Christmas!

Here is a good shot of the carbon stem. Good looking, only I ordered 110mm, and they sent a 100mm. That is the only thing not correct. Trek will take it back and send me the right one. For now I put the right length aluminum stem on.

Thanks for putting my bar tape on Rick!

The scale...
Its all together and ready for a test ride tomorrow! I'll let you know how it goes.

15 years?

Let me give you good examples of what a great wife I have. She puts up with me being stressed out and grumpy all day at work, most of you know we work together. She doesn't complain when I rush home and jump right on my bike, leaving her to fix her own dinner. She often makes dinner for the 2 of us so I can eat when I get back from riding, or offers to make something just for me. She doesn't mind when I get up at 5:30am on weekends to go ride. She comes out to races and watches me go around and around. She puts up with my mood when the race doesn't go well. She comes to the bike shop with me. She puts up with "bike talk" when we go out to dinner. She agreed to me buying the Madone, and now has to deal with my obsessing over it! Will it ever arrive? AAARRRRGGGGG! She delt with me knocking myself out at a MTB race, then going back to watch me race it again the following year.

She could have insisted that this weekend be a "no bike" getaway for our anniversary. She agreed to us going to Harrisonburg early Saturday and spending the day together. Then on Sunday I can ride the Shenandoah Valley Century!

There are many other examples also, (like washing my clothes) but I try to keep this blog mostly bike related. So on our 15th anniversary I thought it fitting to say (or to blog) thanks for being my best friend, taking care of me, and being there for me. I love you!

Updates...

No bike yet, AARRGGGHH! It's been 30 days since I ordered it. Didn't make the 2nd practice crit. Started this one at 6:15. Hard to make it that early. All signed up for the Shenandoah Valley Century on the 13th. Looking forward to that... would be nice to have a new bike! Dont make me drive to Wisconsin. Starting the Bikebeat Saturday shop ride back up. Some newbies want to come out and ride, we'll do a B pace for now. How about a Ipswich night ride? Who's in?

Practice Crits...

Whizzing around the Sportsplex at 28mph with 39 other dudes is fun! I mostly sat on the back, but did move up some. Need to work on moving up in the pack, and being further up on the last lap. Did better tonight, glad I went. There will be 4 more Wednesday night crits, I want to see you there!