Quote of the Day

From Bike Snob NYC -

"I too have learned volumes about myself from riding. For example, by mountain biking I’ve learned from my tendency to ride around obstacles instead of over them and from my technique of stopping, dismounting, and visually inspecting drop-offs before riding off of them that I am both lazy and cowardly. I’ve also learned by being dropped from races and rides of all kinds that I don’t like it when things get difficult, and that no matter what you’re doing you can always quit. And that is a beautiful lesson. Knowing that life itself is optional is the key to getting through it."

Ride Report

Over lunch today I went for a nice little jaunt. I rode the Heart Ranch loop again only this time I mixed in some 1 minute 30 second sprints. I'd have to say that I nearly died. I honestly almost threw up twice. The wind was blowing right into my face and I was pedaling as hard as I possibly could. I tell you what, it made the trip back rather easy. So, I took a few pictures.











And on another note. I have a new goal for next year. A triathalon. I have done a marathon, a century, a ride across South Dakota (with team mates), however, I can't swim. So, I'll have to figure out how to accomplish that task.

The triathalon I would like to do is an Xterra event at Iron Creek lake. It is an off road triathalon consisting of a 1K swim, 22K bike and an 8K run. I'm trying to get my wife talked into doing it as well but she's a little hesitant. I think it's going to be a goal for me!

http://icort.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://www.xterraplanet.com/index.cfm

Last Summer

Last summer I cut my eyebrow open on a rock when i fell off a ledge while mt biking. I was even wearing a full face helmet. Here is a video of my injury. I'm all healed and better now.

Video Day

Here is a video I put together about 2 years ago. Some co-workers and I put it together to prove that we could do video for our boss. I did all the shooting and editing and the girls were the actors. I just wanted to share because it's fun and I like it.

April 23 Ride

1h 15min
21 miles
1018 kilocalories burned
1900+ feet of climbing
141 ave heart rate
16.8 ave mph

Question for you American cyclists. Do you use the standard or metric distances when talking the talk? For me it depends on if I'm talking about a race or my ride. My rides are in miles because that's what I know and love, however, races are in kilometers and that's how I talk.

Just curious.

So, I might have ridden
33.8Km

I think I need to read this!

Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer



by Jamie Smith, Illustrated by Jef Mallett

Veteran race announcer and long-time cycling enthusiast Jamie Smith sets out to explain the sport he loves and the roadies who live for it in this lighthearted treatise on bike racing. Finally, a book to explain those people who roll out for a ride dressed in technicolored Lycra at the crack of dawn on Saturday, and return at sundown with a glow of satisfaction and even stronger tan lines.

Perfect for anyone who has ever known a roadie, considered becoming a roadie, or walked away from a bike race completely puzzled, Roadie addresses all of the curiosities that accompany the sport of cycling, from shaved legs to colorful jerseys and unbelievably expensive bicycles, shoes, and components. Every seemingly neurotic tendency is explained and celebrated with humorous illustrations from nationally syndicated cartoonist Jef Mallett (also rumored to log thousands of miles of riding per year).

Explaining strategy and races from the famous Tour de France stage race to the local criterium, Roadie brings the excitement of bike racing alive for anyone with an appetite for adrenaline. And for the thousands who purchase a shiny new road bike each spring, it's a much-needed primer on the politics of a group ride. Pacelines, drafting, sprinting, climbing, and breakaways are turned into everyday commonsense with colorful anecdotes.

Whether interested onlooker or cycling aficionado, readers will find themselves laughing out loud as they revel in the roadie's world.

Paperback. B&w illustrations throughout.

6" x 9", 256 pp.
VP-ROAD
$21.95

About the Author and Illustrator

Author Jamie Smith has been a bike racer since 1983 and a bike race announcer since 1985, working his way up through the ranks of amateur cycling and traveling with some of the world's greatest cyclists. When he's not on his bike, Jamie Smith is a public information officer and photographer for the City of Rochester in Michigan. Learn more about Jamie at his website, ThatsBikeRacing.com and visit his blog, RidersReady.net, which is devoted to roadies, road cycling, and the misunderstood life of bike racers.

Illustrator Jef Mallett lauched his "Frazz" comic strip in 2001 and it now runs in 150 newspapers nationwide. An avid cyclist and frequent triathlete, Mallett writes a monthly column for Inside Triathlon magazine and contributes to VeloNews magazine.

Quote of the day

“What would happen if all of a sudden everyone stopped trying to save the world and started improving themselves? Well, you already know the answer.” Peter Ragnar.

April 22 Ride

17.7 Miles
1h 3 minutes
16.8 average mph

From work to Reptile Gardens, to Heart Ranch and on to Hwy 79 then back.

Earth Day

Shut down your computer tonight when you leave work. It's earth day! If everyone in the U.S. would do this, it would save $4.7 million in utility costs. So shut it down!

South Dakota Bicycle Coalition

South Dakota Bicycle Coalition - A site has now been started. It's pretty rough as I have never used Drupal (content management software) before but I'm doing research and trying to figure out how to customize the site to make it ours. It will get there, it will just take time. If you have any interesting stories or content about bicycling you would like to see on the site, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

Tuesday

The benefit run was good. I ran my 5K in 27 minutes with quite a bit of walking. I'm pretty sure I could have run it faster, but why? I will be riding the bike over lunch today. I won't be riding this weekend as I will be in a golf tournament. Bananas are good!

Out

Benefit Run

No rides today. I do have to go run a 5K this afternoon though. It is a benefit for a boy who was killed a couple years back. You know what he was doing? Riding his bicycle in his neighborhood and some lady in an SUV hit him. Not only am I running for the benefit of him, one of my buddies coached him in soccer and I created a memorial patch for him, and also the fact that he was killed while riding a bike.

It really makes me sad that people are killed that way. This is just speculation, but the lady was probably driving a monstrous SUV while talking on her phone and drinking a latte and trying to change the song on her ipod. Like all things, not paying attention. You know what? How often are we not paying attention when we are on a bike? Rarely, if we do, we crash. Who do we hurt, nobody other than ourselves. One more reason why bicycles should be a primary mode of transportation. Less crashes, less people killed in auto accidents, less pollution, less congestion, healthier citizens... the list honestly goes on and on.

I haven't run in a while... this should be interesting!

Lunch Ride.

What a great day. I went for a nice lunch time ride. Left the office, went to Moon Meadows, then up Sherridan Lake Road just past the 10 mile marker, then back to town. It felt good, real good. I averaged a little over 16 mph, went 20.4 miles and about 1900 feet of total climbing. Oh what a day!

I was going to put in a picture of my route, but blogger seems to be having some difficulties with the picture thingy. Such is life.

Go ride a bike.

Moving???

Are we going to move? Not from Rapid City, but to a different part. We've only been in our house for a little over a year but when we bought it, we didn't have a child and didn't plan on having one for a little while. Now we are with child and the house isn't the most child friendly. We had to make our dining room into his baby room. Now our dining room is the couch and our table is our laps. The bathroom upstairs has no shower and the tub is in need of replacing. We share a driveway and a 2 car garage with our neighbors and we have to drive out into the valley for daycare every day.

So, we are I guess toying with the idea of moving out to the valley now. Getting into a house that is a little more family friendly. So the question that is on everyone's mind, is it worth it? Should we do it? What are we getting into?

The houses we are looking at have more bedrooms, larger lot, more bathrooms, more house, 2 car garage, fenced yards for the dog and are quite a bit newer (our current house was built in 1935). We will have a longer drive to go to town, but we won't have to drive out to the valley for daycare and then back to town for work twice a day. Argh... I think I'm talking myself into it. Really though, it seems far more reasonable to be in a house that works for us... I don't think we should have to work for our house. There I said it...

Teeth

I'm a bad blogger. I am so sporadic at my postings. Sometimes I just feel that you really do not want to read about nothing. I don't feel like wasting your time or mine.

I think the boy is starting to get some teeth. He's been a cranky b*tch lately. Tylenol seems to do the trick. I call him crabby pants now. He likes it.

No rides to post about. I haven't been on my bike in a week. I miss it. It's so nice out. It is rather hard to ride when you have a tiny little person to take care of. It really cuts back on my bike time. No biggy.

Safe Routes to School

I saw this on a blog I read... I thought it was very important and the more people who see it, the better.

FOR SALE! 2006 Trek 1500

Bike for SALE!

Well, I've gone and done it now. I have posted my road bike for sale. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. I actually love the bike, I just want something a little more suited towards my style of riding. I am looking for either a touring or more so, a cross bike. I'm really interested in the Surly Cross-Check or the Surly Long Haul Trucker. I can do my long rides on these and still make them a good commuter and add racks and fenders to either. I am not a racer and I don't need a racing bike.

So, if you are interested. The stats are:

58 cm
Frame Alpha SLR Aluminum
Fork Bontrager, carbon
Wheels Bontrager Select
Tires Bontrager Race Lite, 700x25c
Shifters Shimano 105 STI, 9 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano 105
Rear Derailleur Shimano Ultegra
Crank Shimano 105 52/39/30
Cassette Shimano HG50 12-25, 9 speed
Pedals none
Saddle Bontrager Race Lux
Seat Post Bontrager Carbon
Handlebars Bontrager Select, 31.8mm
Stem Bontrager Select, 17 degree, 31.8mm
Headset Aheadset w/semi-cartridge bearings, sealed, alloy
Brakeset Alloy dual pivot w/Shimano 105 STI levers

I'm asking $850.. .and who knows... make me an offer.

SAD NEWS!

http://www.vanderploegfunerals.com/index.cfm

Randy Van Zee was killed in a car/bicycle accident. He was one of the winners of the 2007 Gut Check 212 and had many other cycling accomplishments. I didn't know him personally, but I have a great deal for respect for him. Condolences to his family.

May he rest in peace!

Weekend Ride Report

I was at home with the boy on Friday night. He fell asleep early and I got in 15 miles on the rollers. Nothing too special but it was a nice ride. I think the movie, Big was on. Saturday I went and rode Storm Mountain trails by Rockerville. I rode with one of my friends, Mike. I have never ridden with him before. It was his first time out on a bike this year and I'm pretty sure his legs hate him now. It was super fun though.

We rode for about 3 miles when this dude on a single speed came up and went by. His name is Dave and he had a dog named Treagen. He asked if we had ridden the trail before. I had but it's been a while since I went further than the 3.5 mile mark. He said he would show us the ride. It was great. I was having a pretty hard time keeping up with him on his single. I really really want to give the single speeding thing a try. It seems like single speeders use so many things to their advantage. i.e. momentum, power, speed and some other stuff. It was the first time I have actually ridden with a guy with one gear and I was totally jealous.

We rode about a total of 10 miles. It was excellent. Storm Mountain continues to be one of my favorites. We did a couple big climbs and some fun, flowy downhill.

Great fun on a bike!

Happy Trails

It has been a few days since I last posted. But, really there hasn't been much to post about. Yesterday, the buddy who I helped put together his bike, and I rode up to work together. It was a very fun ride. It was a little slower than I am used to, but that is good every now and then. It makes me enjoy the ride a little more. Then over lunch, I went for another ride. Such a nice day. I tried to cruise on the mtb trail on Skyline but it was just starting to thaw, so there was about an inch of mud and some snow. I didn't want to ruin the trail so I opted to stay on the road. It was a short ride, but a ride anyway.

I'm hoping to get out tomorrow and if I ride on the road, get 40 miles in, if it is on the mtb it will probably be considerably less. However, either way it will be fun to be outside, once again, on the bike.

It is supposed to rain tomorrow so I'm not sure if either will happen. It might be that I just spin indoors once again. Either way I guess.