Twas the Night Before Cross
Twas the night before cross,
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.
The tubulars were all glued to the rims with great care
In hopes that Cara and Andy would soon be here.
The racers were all nestled and snug in their beds
While visions of Ridleys danced in their heads
Diana in her gown and I in my cap
Had just settled down for nice fall nap
When out in the drive there arose such a clatter
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But the BMW and eight cross racers and all their gear.
The driver being so lively and fast
I knew in a moment it must be Sven Nys
More rapid than eagles over the barriers they came
Sven whistled and called them by name
Now Andy, Now Cara, Now Dwayne and Eric
On Tim, On Nate , On Deb and Jason
To the top of the hill, to the top of the wall
Now run, Now run, runaway all!!
And then in a twinkling, I was in the Bimmer
Off to a cross race where I would hopefully be the winner.
Cross season comes and goes each year
It is shared with special friends and good Belgian beer!!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Old Soldiers Reunion Ride
Hello everyone, that is if anyone reads this Blog we had a great weekend!!! I rode both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was a 2.5 hour ride with some masters riders out of Asheville and Sunday was an organized event in Newton North Carolina.
The ride in Newton is called the Old Soldiers Reunion ride, and what a ride it was. Since I am old and served in the military (no not WWI as some of you may think) I thought it appropriate to go down and do the ride. Diana and I got up at 5 am Sunday morning and drove down to Newton, 1.5 hour drive. We had packed everything the night before so it was get up eat breakfast hop in my trusty old truck and head down I40.
The ride itself was awesome, a perfect ride to do on the tandem. The course had plenty of rollers where you could carry your speed going into them and pop over the top without much effort. Diana and I did the 60 miler and did it in 2 hours 40 mins. I had hoped for 2.5 hours but we both faded big time during the last 10-15 miles.This was a great ride with showers and plenty of good eats at the end.
We were back home @ 1pm and it was nap time (i like naps). Woke up, a little groggy and sat on the front porch for a while to overcome the grogginess and now we(diana) are preparing dinner for our daughter her friend and her boyfriend. All in all a great weekend and on to another week!!!
The ride in Newton is called the Old Soldiers Reunion ride, and what a ride it was. Since I am old and served in the military (no not WWI as some of you may think) I thought it appropriate to go down and do the ride. Diana and I got up at 5 am Sunday morning and drove down to Newton, 1.5 hour drive. We had packed everything the night before so it was get up eat breakfast hop in my trusty old truck and head down I40.
The ride itself was awesome, a perfect ride to do on the tandem. The course had plenty of rollers where you could carry your speed going into them and pop over the top without much effort. Diana and I did the 60 miler and did it in 2 hours 40 mins. I had hoped for 2.5 hours but we both faded big time during the last 10-15 miles.This was a great ride with showers and plenty of good eats at the end.
We were back home @ 1pm and it was nap time (i like naps). Woke up, a little groggy and sat on the front porch for a while to overcome the grogginess and now we(diana) are preparing dinner for our daughter her friend and her boyfriend. All in all a great weekend and on to another week!!!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Cleaning Tubular Rims
I received my Grifos today and started the dreaded process of cleaning the rims before gluing. I did a little research beforehand and found where someone recommended using Goof Off (I thought this was something I did at work)!
I stopped by Lowes on the way home from my training ride and picked up a pint. This stuff works GREAT!! I had the rims cleaned in ~ 30 minutes. I do recommended doing the final cleaning with alcohol. The Goof Off leaves an oily residue which may inhibit the ability of the glue to stick to the rim.
Oh yeah make sure you use in a well ventilated area. Inhaling the odors for a long period of time may make you goofy. Diana tells me she would have a difficult time determining if the Goof Off made me goofy or I was my normal self. Not sure what she meant by this?
Anyway the stuff works great for cleaning rims!
I stopped by Lowes on the way home from my training ride and picked up a pint. This stuff works GREAT!! I had the rims cleaned in ~ 30 minutes. I do recommended doing the final cleaning with alcohol. The Goof Off leaves an oily residue which may inhibit the ability of the glue to stick to the rim.
Oh yeah make sure you use in a well ventilated area. Inhaling the odors for a long period of time may make you goofy. Diana tells me she would have a difficult time determining if the Goof Off made me goofy or I was my normal self. Not sure what she meant by this?
Anyway the stuff works great for cleaning rims!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
A slight setback
My cycling plans have suffered a slight setback. I have given in to temptation.I know I said no more racing till cross season, but opportunities continue to pop up. I do not look for them they somehow find me; i.e. My friend Howard and his wife came up to spend the weekend and during one of our many conversations about cycling Howard happened to mention a mountain bike time trial that takes place near him and told me I could stay with them if I would like to come down and do it. How can one pass up an opportunity like this. The same day Van called and asked if I would be interested in doing a race in Chattanooga on August 31, then Kerry calls and tells me about some pre-season cross races in his area. What is one to do? OK, after August and September no more racing till cross!!!! Diana says DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!
Weekend Recap:Weekend started with a great mtn bike on friday then dinner with Diana. Saturday was a quick ride and tidy up around the house. Howard and Susan arrived ~6pm and it was off to Asheville and dinner at Doc Chey's. Walked around town a bit then it was home and off to bed. Got up Sunday morning (I) cooked breakfast(biscuits,eggs,bacon,hashbrowns,strawberries,grapes and jam) I like breakfast. After breakfast we headed to Brevard to do my famous Frozen Creek ride. This is one of the best rides around.After the ride we stopped at Poppies for lunch then we all headed home, Howard and Susan to Hickory and Diana and myself to Fairview to sit on the porch and relax.
I hope everyone has a good week!!
Weekend Recap:Weekend started with a great mtn bike on friday then dinner with Diana. Saturday was a quick ride and tidy up around the house. Howard and Susan arrived ~6pm and it was off to Asheville and dinner at Doc Chey's. Walked around town a bit then it was home and off to bed. Got up Sunday morning (I) cooked breakfast(biscuits,eggs,bacon,hashbrowns,strawberries,grapes and jam) I like breakfast. After breakfast we headed to Brevard to do my famous Frozen Creek ride. This is one of the best rides around.After the ride we stopped at Poppies for lunch then we all headed home, Howard and Susan to Hickory and Diana and myself to Fairview to sit on the porch and relax.
I hope everyone has a good week!!
Monday, August 11, 2008
The weekend has gone to the dogs!!!
This past weekend went to the dogs. We had 4 dogs and one cat to care for. Not a bad thing but it made for an interesting weekend. Taking them for walks, feeding watering. It was actually quite fun and entertaining.
Our daughter Amber spent the weekend with us. This was awesome. I installed a hitch on her car and assembled a SARIS rack which slid into the hitch. I definately prefer hitch racks(ones the bike sits in) to roof racks. It may have something to do with my height! Anyway once that was completed we had a shrimp boil mmmmmmm good it did stink up the house a little but we opened the windows to clear the air. After that Diana and Amber watched a chick flick and I went to bed.
Sunday was another great day, got up cooked breakfast and went for a bike ride, oh yeah Saturday Diana and I did our favorite ride in Brevard on the Tandem then ate at our favorite restaurant which has outdoor dining.Back to Sunday...the bike ride was great it was an intense 2.5 hour ride with lots of climbing. Got home cleaned up and waited for Diana to come home from her ride. Once home we went to a cook out ate some good burgers and returned home for a quiet evening on the porch. We were down to 3 dogs now!
That's about it for my weekend. I was a little envious of some friends who were racing but I still think I will wait till cross before racing again...although there is the Fools Gold this weekend and a race in Chattanooga the end of August.
Have a good week and if you need a dog I have plenty!!!
Our daughter Amber spent the weekend with us. This was awesome. I installed a hitch on her car and assembled a SARIS rack which slid into the hitch. I definately prefer hitch racks(ones the bike sits in) to roof racks. It may have something to do with my height! Anyway once that was completed we had a shrimp boil mmmmmmm good it did stink up the house a little but we opened the windows to clear the air. After that Diana and Amber watched a chick flick and I went to bed.
Sunday was another great day, got up cooked breakfast and went for a bike ride, oh yeah Saturday Diana and I did our favorite ride in Brevard on the Tandem then ate at our favorite restaurant which has outdoor dining.Back to Sunday...the bike ride was great it was an intense 2.5 hour ride with lots of climbing. Got home cleaned up and waited for Diana to come home from her ride. Once home we went to a cook out ate some good burgers and returned home for a quiet evening on the porch. We were down to 3 dogs now!
That's about it for my weekend. I was a little envious of some friends who were racing but I still think I will wait till cross before racing again...although there is the Fools Gold this weekend and a race in Chattanooga the end of August.
Have a good week and if you need a dog I have plenty!!!
Monday, August 4, 2008
great weekend
wow a weekend with no place to go, no races, I could get used to this. saturday dawned and I was up and off to fletcher park to do road ride with Paul and some others. I had originally planned on riding from the house but I saw the posting for this ride leaving @ 8 am and chose to do it. Two reasons:a) it was a lot cooler that time of day and... b) I could get back home and work on the shelving around the fire place. The ride went great a nice pace minimal stopping and we were back before lunch with 3 hours of riding, perfect.
I got home had lunch and started working on the framing for the shelving. I will post some pics of the project as it progresses. My intent is to have it complete before the first cross race mmmmmm anyone know a good carpenter?
Slept in Sunday morning, flopped around the house finally made it out to Bent Creek for a 2 hour mtn bike ride. It was an awesome morning to be on the mtn bike. I daddled around then it was back to the house. Sunday I was somewhat of a social recluse. Diana and Amber were gone to Charlotte for a concert so I had the place to myself. Well almost I had to share with a cat and 2 dogs. Anyway no progress on the shelves today. Came home took a nap, got up grilled some burgers, ate,read listened to music and layed in the hammock.
That's about it for my weekend, nothing exciting. Oh yeah I did go for my yearly check up. Doc said I was fine, said I should live to be 120, Diana rolled her eyes, 70 more years.
thanks for reading have a great week!!!
I got home had lunch and started working on the framing for the shelving. I will post some pics of the project as it progresses. My intent is to have it complete before the first cross race mmmmmm anyone know a good carpenter?
Slept in Sunday morning, flopped around the house finally made it out to Bent Creek for a 2 hour mtn bike ride. It was an awesome morning to be on the mtn bike. I daddled around then it was back to the house. Sunday I was somewhat of a social recluse. Diana and Amber were gone to Charlotte for a concert so I had the place to myself. Well almost I had to share with a cat and 2 dogs. Anyway no progress on the shelves today. Came home took a nap, got up grilled some burgers, ate,read listened to music and layed in the hammock.
That's about it for my weekend, nothing exciting. Oh yeah I did go for my yearly check up. Doc said I was fine, said I should live to be 120, Diana rolled her eyes, 70 more years.
thanks for reading have a great week!!!
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