Frost Bike 50 Too Frosty!

Last Sunday marked the unofficial start to the biking season with the Frost Bike 50. Frosty it was. We were registered for the 45 mile ride--not too short, not too far for the first ride of the season--but when we got to the start, plans quickly changed.

Sarah, suffering from a cold, and the near 30 degree temps pushed us to go easy and only do 17 miles, which was easy enough. Amanda did well for her first ride, although preparing for the cold with appropriate gear and dress--bike gear or just plain old clothes--still seems to be her weakness.

So how leisurely was our 17 mile jaunt? Afterwards, Amanda bemoaned the fact that she probably had not burned off the lean pocket she ate for breakfast, and that was probably true.

But the day was not a total waste. Amanda managed to score a brand new bike out of it courtesy of, well me. Borrowing Jeff Barnes bike for the interim proved to be unworkable, as the big was a tad too long for Amanda's shorter torso. So now she gets to ride a women specific Specialized in yellow and white (her choice of colors).

No rides this coming weekend as well, they are all too far away, and Amanda's father is here to come look at the new house that we are buying. A trip to the Memrioal PArk picnic loop may be in order for Sunday though to learn the proper use of the gears and shifting.

Rides Start in Two Weeks!

I've got to get into the storage shed in the backyard, peel through some cobwebs and hopefully find my bike and a bottle of WD-40. The chain is probably pretty sticky. After wiping off the thick layer of dust and greasing the drivetrain, the bike should be in pretty good shape. I'll be breaking in my new wheelset, which I obtained in part with the gift certificate reward I received last year from the MS Society.

Frost Bike 50 is on January 27! It ought to be fun seeing Amanda's first foray into long distance riding. Hopefully all that gear I got her for Hanukkah will last more than one ride...

My first email should be comign out soon...

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year everyone!!! I hope that your holidays were fun and safe, and that 2008 brings everyone great joy and prosperity.

Now that 2008 is here, it's time to get back into the riding season. Usually riding doesn't begin in earnest until after the Houston Half Marathon, but since all of my running friends are heading out west that weekend for Amanda's birthday surprise (and after a rash of other unexpected events that helped me rationalize being lazy) I decided to forego running this year, so biking will hopefully start earlier than normal since I won't need that week of recovery (read liming around) after the Half Marathon.

The first recommended ride is set for January 27 (the Forst Bike 50), which directly conflicts with the 300 Club Ride in Fayetteville. Tough decision, drive an extra 45 minutes to have a semi-private ride with a select few, or stay closer to town and ride with everyone...hmmmm.