Double Decker Bike!

Click for short video

So I had these two bmx bikes laying around. What a better way to recycle unused bikes into bikes that get ridden. This is my first attempt at a "Tall Bike" or "Double Decker", and I'm sure it will go through some modifications. The brakes are not hooked up, and it doesn't steer just right yet. It is ride able and alot of fun. There is a festival for freaky bikes in April, in Richmond. This bike should be ready for that. How about a "Triple Decker"?

Snowball crit # 1

The first race of the year! What a nice place to have a race, the Virginia Beach Sports Complex.





A .7 mile asphalt, almost oval, loop around a parking lot beside the soccer stadium. The asphalt is new, smooth, and super fast! The wind was moderately blowing, the temp. around 45. This seamed chilly at first, but was good for racing.


Registration went smooth, and the warm up on the trainer felt good. Greg and I went to ride a few laps, and that seemed to be going good too until we got yelled at! The roadie head honcho dude, who I don't know, or know his name, yelled in the gruffest voice imaginable "Change your numbers!" as we passed. Were our numbers defective? Did our numbers (203 & 204) add up to his age? We pulled off the track in bewilderment, feeling like I was 16 and had just been scolded by my first girlfriends father. Finally figuring the numbers were pinned to our jerseys the wrong way, they were fixed, and we were back underway. Soon everyone gathered at the start line. Most people would have needed a bullhorn to address a crowd this large, but not "Mr. Personality". It seems a few other newbies had installed their numbers incorrectly. A few extra minutes to remedy this, and someone yelled "Go!!"
More than 50 riders moved forward with the collective clicking of clipless pedals. Soon we were going 25 mph. The pack surged and slowed like a school of fish evading a predator. Accelerations from the corners left those of us in the middle to the back trying to play catch up. Greg stayed closer to the front. After 10 or so laps and 25 to 30 mph, I fell of the back. Once this happens, you are done. Aggressiveness is the key to stay in the pack. The Cat. 5 race was limited to 50 racers, but also had Cat.4, women, and juniors racing at the same time. This made for lots of riders on the track at the same time, but somehow I was out there all alone. After 15 miles the counter read "0".
When the laps to go counter reads "0", does this mean the race is over? Or does it mean you are on your last lap? What about when you get lapped 3 times? At this point the cool down lap and the last lap were one in the same. I headed back to my vehicle and my wife, thankfully both were close by. They only scored the top 20, so I'm not shure how many people finished behind me. I dare say not too many, but thats okay. This has lit the fire to train harder.

Country roads...

Although the closest MTB trails are a hours drive away in Williamsburg, the best country roads are right outside my door.

On a typical 30 mile loop, 8-10 cars may pass me. Almost never do 2 cars meet from each direction. The roads are varied, sometimes winding, sometimes straight as a arrow for miles. Sometimes through thick woods, sometimes across wide open farm land, always peacefull. What a way to clear your mind, nobody around, the wind in your face.

The best climb in Chesapeake is the Pungo Ferry Bridge. 17 miles from my house, this makes for a good ride. 10 mph up the bridge and 35 mph down the other side! Feeling good? Do it again! Luckily on this 55 deg. day, I had a tailwind on the way back. Alot of the year, when the days are longer, I can do this ride after work. Today was a good 35 mile day.

Sat. @ the 'swich

I have been hearing of some new additions at Ipswich, and large groups riding them, so I went to check it out this morning. Officially named Indian River Park by the city Chesapeake, then left unpoliced. Basically people can do anything they want here, drink anything, smoke anything, shoot anything, or build anything. Paintballers had parked at the main entrance, no bikes. Thought I might be riding alone until I found Doug back by the new drops and ladders. We rode some of the new stuff and did a few laps around the park. The first lap was on the single speed. The rigid fork was not a problem here at all, but the gumballs... like ball bearings! This place needs some love, I just dont have the time. Not a epic ride, but fun. I need a "trail bike" for the drops and stunts. Maybe I dont need it, just want it.

Holy smoke!

Everything was hazy this morning with the smoke from the fires in The Great Dismal Swamp.

This is not a cloud! This is the smoke from the fire in Camden County N.C. On that day the wind was blowing toward the east.

Happy Valentines day!

I hope everyone got to be with their significant other today... not your bike! Your wife, husband, or what have you. Its not enough for me to work with my wife all day, so we spent the evening together too. What could be more romantic than sitting in a movie theater, trying to listen to the new sci-fi movie "Jumper" over everbody talking on their cell phones? With all this technology we have these days, couldn't theaters block a cell signal? Maybe only during the movie. We sat fairly close to the front and still had 2 people in front of us with their "bluetooth" blinking a bright blue light on their ear. This would make a good target for a baseball bat in the dark. The movie was enjoyable, despite these rude people. The effects and the concept was cool, the acting okay, and Samuel L. Jackson always kicks butt! I didnt mind giving up a night ride to be with my girl. She's pretty cool.

Freedom park with friends (how sweet)

Today was such a nice day, maybe thats why the parking lot at Freedom was full of cars with bikes. Lots of people riding the trails, wich is good to see. Everyone liked the new trail, including me. Freedom has such a good variety, smooth, fast, flowing single track, downhill, uphill, and now skinnies, jumps, and drops! Ththe newest trail starts with a real steep technical climb thats super fun. Lots of bumps and moguls on the climbs and decents for the first 2 or so miles. Some you can get air on. Near the end of the 3.2 mile addition Mike Benton and his crew put in some drops, jumps, and a fun skinny. A skinny is a narrow bridge, usually a 2x4 or a 2x6. The length and height off the ground can vary. I did not ride the drops on my carbon xc bike, in other words I chickend out. Good job to the whole EVMA for a fun addition to a already excelent trail. Without Kirk, Penny, and all the other hard workers we wouldnt have all these places to ride. After 1 lap of the old trail and 2 laps of the new trail, we were ready for lunch!
12 or so of us headed to Sacred Grounds for chow. This is a Coffee shop with good food also. A Matcha iced tea, and a chicken salad salad was what I needed. Good food, good people, good conversation. How about hitting New Quarter park on the way back?
L.D. and I Made our way to N.Q. park. Being tired, we could only manage one lap. I did ride the raised trail for the first time, and it was fun. The trail here was in good shape, and there were a few people riding here too.
It was Chocolate milk time! Stopped by Wawa on the way home. We were wore out. It was a good day.

Al Greene, U2, and Clutch

Has is been 2 weeks since I rode? Weather, work, and the "Flu" have conspired against me. Its not my fault now, not ever. A higher frequency of rides is on the way, I can feel it.

The wife went to the outlet shops in Nags Head today with some friends, leaving my schedule open. Hmmm... lets see... clean the gutters? Pick up all those pinecones? Paint the bedroom? Its going to be 50+ degrees today! Lets ride! Where to? Hmmm... again... Freedom Park for trail maintence and a ride with the EVMA. One hour on the road by myself, listening to U2's Joshua Tree. Cool hidden tracks at the end. I havent listened to this since high school.

Friday did bring rain in Chesapeake, but Williamsburg must have got hit hard! The trail was soft as we walked into the woods. Two small sections of trail needed to be rerouted. This was quickly done and the trail was drying up nicely, time to ride.
Grabbed the SS and hit the trail. Felt good at first, but soon developed a minor headache. This was strange, was it dehydration? Finished the old trail and headed to the new. The new trail was still too wet, so I aborted mission. Legs and head hurting I headed home.
Another hours ride with me, myself, and I. Listened to a cd I burned with some Al Greene, and Clutch. What a combination.