Easy Peasy

Ended up taking an easy spind around after work. Legs felt a little tight so decided to save up my energy for Sunday's ride at Macauley.

Today put $400 down on the GT 29er. And by next Thursday it will be all paid off. Then the fun of modifying it will beigin. I'm so far thinking of some light bar ends and pulling the 44T and mounting a 36T. I think that should work for now. Then later pull the STI and replace with thumbshifters.

It's been years since I had a more distance ride MTb and set up. So this should be fun and help me break out of my training rut.

Rain and Rain

20 Day's without a Frapp
$749 towards 29er

After work rode a lap of Roger's trails. Avoided some sections as the Limestone is pretty slick there. Was a good ride for a total bike time of 119 minutes.

2 Days ago started working in a local bike shop for the summer. Just to supplement my hours at the base gym. This will help alot when it comes to the bike parts and such.

Well I'm about $80 away from getting the bike Woo Hoo. Tomorrow will go in and talk with Steve to get the paper work rolling.

Extra Work

20 Day's without a Frapp
$669 towards 29er

Started a part time job working at a local bike shop. Basically a bike assembler. not much but it helps pay for the 29er in 2 weeks. Was tired so took a trg day off.

Kept drooling over the 29er all day as I worked.

The weekend should be good and hard. Especially with the road trip to Macauleyon Sunday.

Ride and 9ers

18 Day's without a Frapp
$615 towards 29er

Well a couple of days ago went into a LBS and saw the 29er I want. It's the steel GT Peace 9er. It's cheaper then anything else I have checked out. And am so close to meeting my goal of getting it.

Rode with the guy's at Collins today. Good hard ride with some good effort. The DMR V8 pedals are outstanding. Though now I may have to look into some shin armour of some kind.

Torque and Ping

10 Days With No Frapps
$586 Towards 29er

Did 3 hours in the Don today, ended up riding alone as no one was about today. Kind of peaceful though.

Time to start training harder though as of this week.

Ride till you Puke

8 Days without a Frapp
$586 towards 29er

Rode the Don for 90 minutes by myself. Bit rusty with the trails. Then hooked up with the Thursday night ride. Good hard 90 minutes of effort with a good hammer on the flats. When we hit the DJ's was coughing up stuff, though my buddy Lee was puking.

But earlier at Cycle Solutions talked with Roger and he showed me some 29ers. Looks like I'm going for the KHS 29er, nice steel frame. Though now I need to raise $563 more.

Today was not a good training day. Too much got in the way- well getting the car looked at.

Today,

7 Days without Frapps
$455 towards 29er

Maybe to day was a sign to take it easy today, to let my body rest a bit.

Oh Caffine

6 Day's without a Frapp
$250 towards 29er

It's been 6 days so far since I gave up Starbucks. Yes, I gave it up and willingly. By doing so I'll speed up the saving plan for the 29er.

I'll be going by Cycle Solutions on Thursday to say hi and to find out my 29er options. Hopefully they will be able to give me a good price. Plus am waiting for a response from the crew at Origin 8 about their frame as well. Now e just wait and see. Though I hope that the guy's at CS give me a good deal.

Oh, and according to the teams accounting department we are at $250 towards the 29er.

Also picked up my 2008 Running Free team kit. Also picked up a new race pack from Innov 8. This should meet my needs nicely for being able to do more longer rides with a lighter pack.

Gaps of Time

It's funny how things can take over and suddenly it's 4 weeks later.

Well, it's back to business. First off, new training regime from the coach. Basically follow the advise given by Eddi Merxc years ago, quite simply ride my bike more. Spend less time worrying about work outs and simply get out and ride. Sounds awfully similar to what I was doing in the 90's when I was fitter. Maybe there is something to it.

To go with that. After some further reflection and all that realized that I don't need a cross bike. The reality is that at every point I was at my fittest I wasn't riding road or crossbikes. I was riding a mountain bike. plus the cross bike position puts a fair bit of stress on my lower back. So I had to find a new tool to meet this requirement. And it's the 29er that is the big thing.

Now I need to decide between the Specialized Rockhopper 29er or the Redline.
Decisions, decsisions.... Can't forget that I won't be wanting the shifters- will be running thumbshifters.

But first need to offload all the parts I don't need now, especially since I'm getting a complete bike.