Scrounging Da Parts

Today was a day to first of finish the Christmas shopping. Then it was to go by Sports Junkies to see if they had some good used stuff.

Man it's really not the same. It's way to much clearance stuff and not as much of the second hand consignment stuff. Was a little disappointed. But found a pair of shifters and a pair of Roach shorts that where basically new. Might go back on Friday to pick up pair of Core Rat pants.

For the rest of my parts I'll go by Simon's tomorrow to see if I can get a deal for some stuff. Part of the problem is I kind of want to take my Experience frame back with me to build up as a rigid bike.

It's funny though how I look at my shopping choices and realize how I've matured as a rider. I'm now closer to being a true mountain biker who does a bit of everything.

Plus tomorrow I'll be taking a ride around town to see what's been happening.

Air Travel

Couldn't bring my bike as I was travelling cheap. But thanks to Matt I have a bike for a couple of days. Though this situation has been the impetous to get back in motion the whole dirt bag bike transport system project.

Frozen Dirtbag

I know it's been a couple of weeks not posting. Nothing really going on really, just work and scrounging money for parts.

Am in Toronto before I fly out to spend Xmas with may parents in Van. Though today had some fun riding for about and hour. Toronto got hit big time with a storm today. But that will be all over the media for more details.

Frozen Few

Well, winter is now here. It started with snow and then some lovely rain later. It looks like this winter could be providing some challenging training options.

Today's ride was out in Collins Bay and was based on time not mileage. Some fresh track where made- nothing like first tracks on a mountain bike.




Half way through.

Furniture polish is the secret lube of the winter rider.

When I looked outside it was snowing again. This should make it interesting tomorrow.

On the equipment side I have decided to go with an AMP seatpost unless Crank Brothers make the Joplin seatpost in a 27.2 size.

The Problem with Racing

While out for a ride today was thinking of what events I want to race next year. There is the Uxbridge Icebreaker I want to do for example.

Yet even though I was interested in doing some races I also realized that I could careless if I did. It's not about the politic's and the costs though they are a severe pain. It's just that it's more fun to go out and ride hard. To see how far I can go in 4 hours of riding. I guess I just love the training aspect more then the racing aspect

To me it's almost more fun to ride with others and show them how it's done of the race course. It's more rewarding to look at a map and think I wonder if I could ride that. Some of this thinking seems to be missing in this day and age. This is pretty much in line with what I call Warren's Law. So named after endurance legend Tom Warren.

Warren's Law is a theorem of 2 axioms set against each other.

Warren's Law #1. Racing is like taking an exam. If you went to school and never took an exam then you'd never really know where you stand.

Warren's Law #2. Racing gets in the way of training.

Right now I'd like to start setting some creative training challenges. More to come.

Wet Rock

Today we had a trace of snow. This should make today's trail ride interesting. As anyone who know's tires will provide traction on any known surface, except sno covered or wet rock.

Archmolds 400km Review

Have been testing a set of insoles from Archmolds from the crew at Runningfree.com. So far have put in about 400km of offroad mileage on them. When it comes to mountain biking shoes they definetly help. Especially when it's tough to make stiff soled shoes comfortable for long periods of time.

So far they have been comfortable and had no annoying irritation to date. They fit into my shoes with only the standard trim. One good thing is that the insoles do increase the stiffness of my shoes which when trying to waste less energy on a 5 hour ride is important.

Next phase of testing will be to see what happens in winter. I ride year round in some of the toughest conditions at times so we shall se what happens next.