The Adventure Continues

This morning we are in El Paso. We've come a long way, come a long way, 500 miles per day. Yesterday we woke up in Canyon de Chelly. The drive has been quite scenic. The only problem is, we have not had a chance to stop and enjoy it. Drive, drive, drive. Today we start across the big state of Texas. San Antonio tonight? Who knows? I will keep you posted if I get a chance to post.

Still Here

We're still in Utah
It is time to start driving
A snowstorm's coming

The Adventure Begins

The shop is closed
Except for those who need me
Like James and Destry

I must change the oil
Pack the car with bikes and dogs
And rotate the tires

Southern Utah and
Red rock country, Navajo
Mexican Water

Apache Sitgreaves
Arizona, White Mountains
Wolf tracks in the snow

A big adventure
Isn't that what life's about?
Stranded in Texas

Sunrise on the gulf
Cajun music and crayfish
Flocks of white ibis

Resurrection ferns
Spanish moss on the live oaks
It's good to be home

Hell

I think my face says it all in this photo. This was the hardest race of the entire series. Each lap got worse and worse. Above is lap number one. Nice white shirt. I wish I had a picture at the end. I had at least 10 pounds of mud on me and the bike. Below is lap three, getting dirty. One lap later I was down more than once. With one to go, Clark M., who had just passed me after another slip, went down right in front of me and I lost another place. Bad day.

This Week is the Last Week

Well, if you tell people you are not going to be around for a while, they bring you a bunch of bicycles to work on. I will be in the shop this week, and I will be busy. There is even a lugged steel cyclocross bike to convert into a single speed for Andy. Josh A. needs a seat post and a wheel true. Again, come on buy.

The cyclocross series is over, and it leaves me a little down. Now there is no "next race" to look forward to. I do plan on taking the cross bike to Florida. There are races almost every week in January, so I will put that in my head, think positive, and try to do a little training. It's hard to go ride when it is 10 degrees out. Most of next week will be spent in the car. The bike needs help. It is still covered in mud from the last race.

The races are run
Brake cables frozen with mud
Pedals do not spin

The Last Days

Saturday, December 15, will be the last day open in 07 for Recycled & New Bicycles. I should be back in the shop by early February. We will be on the road to Florida the week of December 17. We plan to take the southern route to avoid the sideways snow in Wyoming. This route includes Moab, UT, Arizona, Silver City, NM, all of Texas, the gulf coast, then home.

The Utah Cyclocross Series is over. It's like "lost dogs and mixed blessings." At yesterday's race, I started fast and finished slow. I got in a crash near the end and lost a place. I crashed several times before that. Not a good day, riding in about a half-foot of mud and snow all day. Overall, I will end up 6th in the points standings. That sounds good, but I am near the bottom of the list of those who did at least 7 races. I probably will not do the series next year. Bicycle riding is a priority, but the travel involved in racing is not. I may try to put on a Logan cyclocross series next year. I could ride to the races.

Last night's Alley Cat Race was a blast. What a turn out!

Cold and Wet

It was slow at the shop again today. I sold only one tube, one fixed cog, and one lock ring. Just a week or so to go, so come on in. The deals are hot; the air is cold.

We have some serious winter weather moving in. The final race of the cyclocross series is on Saturday. And you thought last week's conditions were bad. This time it may be worse. The temperature should be near 20 for the single speed race. Saturday night I plan on doing the Mooseknuckler alley cat race. Iced roads on the fixed gear! Wish me luck. Or brains.

Migrations

Like a sandhill crane
I feel the urge to fly south
Back to Florida

To sit on my porch
And stare at the blue water
Watching the sunset

The sandy trails call
Gold Head and Etonia
Black waters move slow

Video

Here is a video from Saturday's race. That was a lot of snow for skinny tires.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuxnUZyzs30

A Picture Says 1000 Snow Flakes

I took this picture from my friend Seth's blog. I'm sure he would not care too much. Anyway, this was the start of Saturday's single speed race. The snow was falling pretty hard, about two inches just during the race. Looking for me? White jersey, red helmet, head down.

Slick

Yesterday I did a cyclocross race in a snow storm. At the start there was four inches on the ground. After the finish, there was another three inches on top of the car. I rode too conservatively. I slipped and dabbed a lot, but I never hit the ground. I gained and lost a place on the last lap. I will have to work harder on my "killer instinct." In cross, if you pass someone, you have to go as hard as you can and bury them. There was enough snow for burial, I just should have shoveled harder.

I will blog the results when I find out where I finished. Bottom line: "if last week's results still look good this week, this week's results are not so good."

Patty's birthday is on Tuesday, and her sister is coming for a visit. So, the shop will be open when I am there. I may not be there very much. Call me if you need me. I still have plenty of nice bikes I need to move.