Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Ouch!

Man, I crashed my brains out @ the 'cross race last Sunday! That's 2 races in a row where I've stacked it up......which probably matches my 'cross crash total. I'm tellin' myself that it's 'cuz I'm racin' harder and goin' for it....(whatever it takes, right?) but I'm pretty damn sore and the novelty has worn off for sure. I need to keep the rubber side down this Sunday @ Richmond Park!

Speakin' of this week's race................it's gonna be a hoot! My 'cross gang The Crazy Bastards are large and in charge and we're gonna raise the bar for Kiss Cross Races once and for all. A sound system, food, prizes, posters, a Podium Girl...it's gonna be an All Time Show Stopper!

(At least 'til the race here in Holland on 12/8 that is!)

Our good shop buddy and recent convert to the world of shaved legs and embrocation Dave Blandford nows holds the dubious distinction of being the first ever KissCross racer to suffer a broken bone. Two, actually. There he was.........chasin' his buddy Brian W in the C race @ Manhattan Park last weekend when a frickin' Chocolate Lab came outta nowhere and took him right out!

And that sucks, big time. So buddy Dave has a busted collarbone on his left side and a busted "signaling finger" on his right. He'll need 2, count 'em 2 surgeries and needless to say....his season is over w/ a capital "O".

(HIs bike's okay though, I know you were wondering)

Other than that, not much to report. The Tuesday Night Ride is pickin' up steam as we ride all those nasty-arse dirt roads out near the Allegan Woods. (We roll @ 6:30 - soon to be 6:00) from the Hamiilton Grocery store on M0-40. You'll need lights and at least a 'cross bike).

3 more 'cross races and that's pretty much it for the year. Given that the 1st race of the year was the Fisk Knob TT waaayy back in March, it's been a plenty long season and I'm feelin' it a bit. My off-season core workouts w/ Jess-the-Destroyer commence again tomorrow and the shop Indoor Training Rides kick off next week. (See also: No Rest for the Wicked!)

Still.............Bike Life continues to be a Fine Thing. Lots going on here @ the shop, lots of interest in the upcoming JDRF season and lots to do as we roll towards the winter. I gotta find some new Velo-Citizens, re-do various bits of the shop, do a buncha back-room kinda VCC stuff and plenty more. Before we know it it'll be Spring and the whole dang dance starts again!

I can't wait!

Be safe out there, ride lots, have fun, be good.

MC

Monday, November 12, 2007

el Weekend Grande!

Man whatta cool weekend! I went up to the Iceman Race on Friday w/ good buds Doez, CD, Gid and Dan-the-semi-reformed-tri-guy. The race was a complete blast...........the course was in awesome shape, the weather was perfect and we started in the 6th wave which was great 'cuz the traffic in the tight spots wasn't an issue but there was always folks to chase and pass. I was happy w/ my ride 'cuz I was hopin' to break 2:20 and was in @ 2:14 and change. That was good for 28th outta 93 in my catagory. Danielle won the women's S/S class and most of my other buds had fun too.

It's a little bit of a drag that I had as much fun as I did 'cuz they're goin' to a lottery system to decide who gets to race next season and now I kinda care whether I get in or not!

I left after a coupla hours of post-race hangng out and headed home to make chili for the big Chili Chilly Ride scheduled for the next day. We had about 60 riders on a cool and kinda dreary day. The Cannondale Demo Truck was here for 3 hours and we ended up w/ 10 pots of chili along w/ plenty o/ beer and cookies and cornbread and such. A great time was had by all and fellowship was observed being had.

Things are still rockin' at the shop, despite the fact that we're deep into November at this point. I'm excited about being a Salsa dealer and a buncha frames and a few bikes will be rollin' in right after the first of the year. Sounds like a good excuse to declare a "Salsa Month" and have chips and a different salsa every day! The new Redlines are cool too and along w/ C-Dale and Gunnar and Co-Motion and Electra and Seven and m-a-y-b-e Niner.............I think we got it covered!

5 more 'cross races to be done over the next 4 weekends so the season isn't exactly slowing down either!

Man............BikeLife is soooo sweet these days! Good rides, cool bikes to be worked on and I love this time of the season when all our friends come by to hang and chat. We got a buncha new 'cross dvd's to play, indoor training rides start in 2 weeks, the big JDRF post-season party in tomorrow, the Tuesday Night Dirt Road Rides have begun, the First-Ever Danielle's Dirt Camp was a big hit, the Crazy Bastard Rides are rollin'..............................................

See what I mean!?

Want a taste? Come on by and sit a spell!

If you're lucky mebbe Ted'll wanna interview you for his Blog!

Or maybe that oughta be if you're not lucky!?

MC out

Saturday, November 03, 2007

November!

Man, there's just a TON of stuff goin' on! It's so cool to sit here and write the Nov. newletter and be able to tell folks that there's still so much cool bike stuff (CBS?) to do and look forward to! There's a 'cross race on 5 of the next 6 weekends, the Iceman Race/Chili Chilly Ride double next weekend, a gig tonight, the first of several JDRF post-season parties on the 13th.........no let down, that's for damnsure!

Things are takin' shape here @ the shop for the "off-season" as well. The Tuesday Night Ride morphes into it's dirt road incarnation as of the 6th, Indoor Rides commence on the 28th, the Chili Chilly Ride is always a blow-out hoo-hah of a good time and the full load of cool new gear and bikes is rollin' in every day!

Some new stuff for '08 that I'm kinda excited about....I made a verbal committement to becoming a Salsa bike and frame dealer (We dig the Cassaroll fixie and the Mamasita 29r) and the next load of Redlines oughta be here soon. I think that the concept of a 29'r w/ a 1x9 drivetrain could easily become the hot set-up for trails in our area and both Salsa and Redline offer sweet set-ups like that outta the box. We are already lookin' forward to next Spring!

Still.............there's miles to go a'fore that happens! I'm gonna go and try to not suck @ The Iceman next week w/ some o' my best buds. I'll hafta hustle home after the race tpo get the chili on the stove 'cuz I'll hafta be here early on Sunday to meet the Cannondale Demo Truck when they show up here 3 hours before the ride on the 11th.

I haven't made a Crazy Bastard Ride for 2-3 weeks........lotsa travel, helpin' out @ the JDRF office on my day off, other reasons. I miss it like hell but I'm a little concerned that the ride's nature is changing into a 'training ride' as opposed to a group of guys that wanna ride together no matter the weather. What is it about rides? How come they get messed up when they reach a certain size? Why is it SO DAMN HARD TO KEEP a good ride togther?

More later, gotta go!