Did a nice ride with Chuck today. Ended up being about 40-45 miles (about 30 for Chuck, he bonked and went home) The goal of the ride was to head out to Sunzzles for lunch. The ride itself was not too bad, but there is a killer pay off climb right before you get to Snuzzles. Its a long climb, but the reward at the top is worth it. At the top we threw back a couple beers, wings, and pizza, and started for the ride back. Conveniently we ride right by chucks house, where he called it quits. The last couple of miles back to Emmaus was a nice slow place ride, where I was just enjoying being out side.
Think I am going to be making that ride a lot more. Them wings are to die for!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, September 5, 2008
Two Ride Thursday
Was able to get out on two rides yesterday. First I met up with Erin at Jordan for a relaxed pace ride. After that it was off to the Lehigh Parkway where I met up with Dan, Chuck, and Dalton for a cyclocross clinic hosted by Dan. He showed us the proper ways to get off the bike, carry the bike, and get back on. Looks like I might have to try a couple cyclocross races this year!
Thursday, September 4, 2008
A lifelong excause to go for a ride
I turned 30 this year. The last time I was in a Doctors office was when I had to have my medical records submitted for college. That was about 13 years ago. I always said when I turn 30, I would go get a general checkup. Well, I am 30 years old and nine months.
Unfortunately, my family medical history is not a pleasanter one. My father passed away from a heart attack, and that was after a triple bypass. To my knowledge, my brother has high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and my grandmother had cancer and diabetes. Wonderful isn't it?
After discussing the above with my new doctor, he did the, what I guess is, normal check up for someone my age. Thankfully I make it under the age limit and he did not have to buy me dinner and a movie.
All in all, with considering how my father and brother are, the doctor said I was in really good shape, and there is nothing I need to worry about. We talked further about what I do actively, and cycling came up. In my doc opinion, I am in the shape I am in because of all the riding I do. He said with the genetic traits of my father and brother, if I did not cycle as much as I do, I would prob be in the same boat. His recommendation, keep doing what I am doing, if not more.
So as per the doctors orders, I now have a valid reason to ride when ever I feel the need too. Thanks Doc! See ya again in five years, have dinner ready!!
Unfortunately, my family medical history is not a pleasanter one. My father passed away from a heart attack, and that was after a triple bypass. To my knowledge, my brother has high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and my grandmother had cancer and diabetes. Wonderful isn't it?
After discussing the above with my new doctor, he did the, what I guess is, normal check up for someone my age. Thankfully I make it under the age limit and he did not have to buy me dinner and a movie.
All in all, with considering how my father and brother are, the doctor said I was in really good shape, and there is nothing I need to worry about. We talked further about what I do actively, and cycling came up. In my doc opinion, I am in the shape I am in because of all the riding I do. He said with the genetic traits of my father and brother, if I did not cycle as much as I do, I would prob be in the same boat. His recommendation, keep doing what I am doing, if not more.
So as per the doctors orders, I now have a valid reason to ride when ever I feel the need too. Thanks Doc! See ya again in five years, have dinner ready!!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Rum Cake is not the answer
Forth Of July.......I take this holidy a little more serious then most, If anthing I consider myself a patroit of this great nation. I will willing tell that I know know more than the avarage american about the history of the great nation. For example tha the consitutiton was signed uin 1887.
If you are already drunk, rum cake is not going to help you be any sober................that is all........good night
If you are already drunk, rum cake is not going to help you be any sober................that is all........good night
Monday, June 30, 2008
Mt Biking in St. Maarten
Wish I had some pics to go along with the post, but I dont. The day started as I disembarked from Royal Caribbeans Explorer of the Seas ship, where I was on a 10 day cruise. I dont do family vacations very well, so this was my time away to keep my sanity.
There were 14 in the group that would be ripping up the single track of St Maarten. I must admit, I was expecting the worst. I was thinking beach cruiser bikes and a pace of .05 miles per hour. We all boarded the bus and were driven from the Dutch side to the French side. We soon pulled into what looked like a building that belonged in Camden, NJ, where to my surprise, 14 Jamis Dakota Sports were waiting for us. Granted they were a couple years old, but they were real mountain bikes, and I was happy.
We all received our bikes, and an over sized red helmet that made all of us look like little kids. The ride leader then went over how to use the bikes, how to break, shift, etc. We were then off.
The ride started on the road, and through a traffic circle. Once through the circle we did a bike of a road climb where I was almost taken out by a stray goat. Yes a goat. At the top of the road, we went through a gate and were finally on some dirt.
The path was along one of the bays of the french side of the island. After a quick downhill section, we hit a slight uphill climb. This was the first time I was yelled at by the ride leader. While I am not a racer this year, I still like to get climbs over and done with. As I hit the top of the climb, I see that there is no one behind me. I took the opportunity to look out over the clean water of the bay and the cool breeze that came off of it. As the rest of the group hit the top, the ride leader, who was out huffing and puffing, thanked me for waiting for the rest of the group.
The cool part about reaching the top of a hill is that you get to go down. The ride leader said there was a bad bridge that we would have to walk over. After seeing it, I had not doubt that I could have ridden, but I am sure most of the group could not have, so I walk like everyone else.
The downhill ending in a storage yard for rock and sand. We took this out to a road where we did another out and back ride on the road where we stopped for a breather. After riding the road back in, we stopped and had an option. We could continue the main road back to the beach, or add another two miles to the ride. I took on the extra two mile challenge.
We started up a nasty dirt road climb and ducked into a fence that lead to another singletrack climb. That was mile one of the extra 2 miles. The rest was all downhill to the beach. I decided that I would let everyone go first, wait a bit, and then rip the down hill.
After about a 15 min break, I saw the trail was clear and let it rip. The downhill ride was very smooth with some rock thrown in. As I reached the final section, the ride leader was making his way back up the hill to look for me. "I thought sometin happen to you man, like you crash." I will take that as getting yelled at for the second time.
We took the road back to the beach where the bikes were loaded up, and we relaxed on what was NOT the nude beach, but I was glad some of the local females though was.
All in all it was a good ride, much better than I was expecting. I think we got about eight miles in and I was able to see some parts of St. Maarten most visitors do not see.
There were 14 in the group that would be ripping up the single track of St Maarten. I must admit, I was expecting the worst. I was thinking beach cruiser bikes and a pace of .05 miles per hour. We all boarded the bus and were driven from the Dutch side to the French side. We soon pulled into what looked like a building that belonged in Camden, NJ, where to my surprise, 14 Jamis Dakota Sports were waiting for us. Granted they were a couple years old, but they were real mountain bikes, and I was happy.
We all received our bikes, and an over sized red helmet that made all of us look like little kids. The ride leader then went over how to use the bikes, how to break, shift, etc. We were then off.
The ride started on the road, and through a traffic circle. Once through the circle we did a bike of a road climb where I was almost taken out by a stray goat. Yes a goat. At the top of the road, we went through a gate and were finally on some dirt.
The path was along one of the bays of the french side of the island. After a quick downhill section, we hit a slight uphill climb. This was the first time I was yelled at by the ride leader. While I am not a racer this year, I still like to get climbs over and done with. As I hit the top of the climb, I see that there is no one behind me. I took the opportunity to look out over the clean water of the bay and the cool breeze that came off of it. As the rest of the group hit the top, the ride leader, who was out huffing and puffing, thanked me for waiting for the rest of the group.
The cool part about reaching the top of a hill is that you get to go down. The ride leader said there was a bad bridge that we would have to walk over. After seeing it, I had not doubt that I could have ridden, but I am sure most of the group could not have, so I walk like everyone else.
The downhill ending in a storage yard for rock and sand. We took this out to a road where we did another out and back ride on the road where we stopped for a breather. After riding the road back in, we stopped and had an option. We could continue the main road back to the beach, or add another two miles to the ride. I took on the extra two mile challenge.
We started up a nasty dirt road climb and ducked into a fence that lead to another singletrack climb. That was mile one of the extra 2 miles. The rest was all downhill to the beach. I decided that I would let everyone go first, wait a bit, and then rip the down hill.
After about a 15 min break, I saw the trail was clear and let it rip. The downhill ride was very smooth with some rock thrown in. As I reached the final section, the ride leader was making his way back up the hill to look for me. "I thought sometin happen to you man, like you crash." I will take that as getting yelled at for the second time.
We took the road back to the beach where the bikes were loaded up, and we relaxed on what was NOT the nude beach, but I was glad some of the local females though was.
All in all it was a good ride, much better than I was expecting. I think we got about eight miles in and I was able to see some parts of St. Maarten most visitors do not see.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Need weekends like this more often....
It all started Friday, but before we get there I need to go back about two weeks.
It was the Allentown leg of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling. No, for the 4 millionth time, I did not race. However I did join a bunch of local roadie guys to ride out and watch the race. Many, many, many beers, and a flat tire later, I ended going over my bars, 20 yards from my car. Bloodied up the face a bit and bruised up some ribs.
Friday night I met up with some Valley Mountain Bikers at Jacobsburg State Park to kick off the weekend on the good foot. After exploring some of the spots I have never been to, we ended the ride and headed on over to the Crystal Spring Inn for some post ride beer and grub. We all placed orders for some food and shortly after all the food started to come out, except mine. The bartender said it would be another min or two. No problem. Then then chef come out. "Whos food did i screw up?" He apologized and told me I was getting a discount on my food. Sweet!! About three mins later, my chicken quesadilla arrived and onto in hot sauce was "Sorry." This place really knows how to make things right.
Saturday morning I away early to meet Chuck at South Mountain Cycles to do some road miles. Chuck just got a new Giant not-road bike. It some freakish road frame, wheel, with flat mt bike bars. In addition to Chuck and his not-road bike, there were about 20-30 roadies getting ready to head out on the Saturday morning ride. Chuck and I headed out and down to the Little Lehigh Parkway for some relaxed and easy miles.
Sunday was a ride at Jordan Parkway lead by Miss Liz from the Dirt Devils. I got there about a hour early and did a little ride myself. I was able to make some climbs that I had not been able to do before. There were about 15 people out for the ride, and the bad karma struck early. While in the parking lot Terry blew a seal on his fork. I haven't ridden with Terry in a long time, so I was a little bummed when he packed it up.
After the ride a bunch of us headed over to Grumpy's BBQ for some beer and grub to end the weekend rides. Three days, three rides, all with great people, cant get much better than that.
It was the Allentown leg of the Commerce Bank Triple Crown of Cycling. No, for the 4 millionth time, I did not race. However I did join a bunch of local roadie guys to ride out and watch the race. Many, many, many beers, and a flat tire later, I ended going over my bars, 20 yards from my car. Bloodied up the face a bit and bruised up some ribs.
Friday night I met up with some Valley Mountain Bikers at Jacobsburg State Park to kick off the weekend on the good foot. After exploring some of the spots I have never been to, we ended the ride and headed on over to the Crystal Spring Inn for some post ride beer and grub. We all placed orders for some food and shortly after all the food started to come out, except mine. The bartender said it would be another min or two. No problem. Then then chef come out. "Whos food did i screw up?" He apologized and told me I was getting a discount on my food. Sweet!! About three mins later, my chicken quesadilla arrived and onto in hot sauce was "Sorry." This place really knows how to make things right.
Saturday morning I away early to meet Chuck at South Mountain Cycles to do some road miles. Chuck just got a new Giant not-road bike. It some freakish road frame, wheel, with flat mt bike bars. In addition to Chuck and his not-road bike, there were about 20-30 roadies getting ready to head out on the Saturday morning ride. Chuck and I headed out and down to the Little Lehigh Parkway for some relaxed and easy miles.
Sunday was a ride at Jordan Parkway lead by Miss Liz from the Dirt Devils. I got there about a hour early and did a little ride myself. I was able to make some climbs that I had not been able to do before. There were about 15 people out for the ride, and the bad karma struck early. While in the parking lot Terry blew a seal on his fork. I haven't ridden with Terry in a long time, so I was a little bummed when he packed it up.
After the ride a bunch of us headed over to Grumpy's BBQ for some beer and grub to end the weekend rides. Three days, three rides, all with great people, cant get much better than that.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Stained
This is my life right now. This is what stands between me and my bikes. See, here is the back story, bought a new house. With the new house came a new dining room table. A new dark cherry dining room table. Its a very nice dining room table. Very classic, big, six chairs, just a nice table, BUT, there is a problem. That problem would be my china cabinet and wine racks. They are nice pieces, very well built and solid. The prob is, they are not dark cherry in color.
My new garage, is not a garage. It is a wood work shop currently with a dis-assemble wine rack being stained. Once the wine race is done, the china cabinet is next. After the china cabinet, I will be reunited with my rides.
I hate moving.
My new garage, is not a garage. It is a wood work shop currently with a dis-assemble wine rack being stained. Once the wine race is done, the china cabinet is next. After the china cabinet, I will be reunited with my rides.
I hate moving.
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