A Pabst Smear

In With the New

2012-02-20T15:01:00.000-08:00

I have been struggling to write my first new blog post, so I came back to where I am familiar. This blog has been a huge part of my life and I am sad to put an end to it. I will not be deleting it, just not writing in it any longer. When I started writing A Pabst Smear, in April 2010, I had no idea where my written word would take me. The more I wrote the more I grew as a human. Maybe I should say... evolved as a person. The feedback I received fueled my fire and kept me motivated to stay at it. Somewhere along the way, I found myself writing more as myself, Wendy, than I did as Sasha, my Team Seagal nickname. What started off as some random chick's mountain bike blog, grew into something bigger.

In short, I have a story to tell you. You may have heard others like it, but I can assure you, it is not nearly as honest or entertaining as mine. Hell, I have shared my poison ivy hell, cataracts, kidney stones with you guys. So, pretty much nothing will be off-limits. I can promise many adventures by bike and foot, solo style and with friends. I will keep the gear reviews coming and contests. ( I absolutely loved doing the blog name contest. AND I have more socks. ) It has been one hell of a journey and I can't keep it to myself any longer. I want to share what I have learned. It's time to shout it from the rooftops and inspire some more people to do the same. Get off the couch, go outside, move your body, and start living YOUR life out loud.

Become a follower here. Hop on my FaceBook page here. It's going to be a wild ride.

And The Winner Is.....

2012-02-14T11:58:00.000-08:00

I want to thank each and every one of you for sending me suggestions for a new blog title. It was a very difficult decision deciding who the winner would be. I had received over 50 suggestions. Way more than I expected.

This is the new blog. It will take a while to get it in gear, so to speak. I will let you know when it goes live. The content will NOT change.

Congrats to you. I will get those awesome socks to you ASAP.

Valentine's Day Gifts for Your Health

2012-02-11T08:19:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is just a few days away. Some of you may be struggling with what to give your active sweetheart. I urge you to 'think out of the box this year'. Look past the stuffed animals, the huge boxes of chocolate, and further past the diamonds and expensive dinners. I want to provide you with some healthy and very practical choices for that someone special.

I have never been a fan of flowers, and my husband knows better than to give me chocolate in obnoxious quantities. I do not need a enormous box of garbage that will negate all my hard work to be healthy and fit. Neither, do I want to absorb a tremendous amount of calories at dinner. I figure , that $25 in chocolate and a $75 dinner , add up to $100 that should be used wisely.

Thanks, but no thanks

So, here are a few suggestions for you active sweetie, to keep them forging ahead on their journey to be physically fit. First, think of what they want to accomplish and what they could use to achieve their goal.

A runner should change out their shoes every 500 miles or so. Running shoes are hard to buy for someone else, so I suggest a gift certificate to a running store, such as Big River Running or Fleet Feet. A newbie runner would benefit from the wealth of knowledge these folks have too. You could buy an awesome pair of socks and put the certificate inside them.

They have red

Cyclists are easy to buy for. We tend to go through a lot of tires, tubes, or may need to have a critical piece of gear replaced. A new jersey, jacket, or winter cycling pants would be awesome choices. Take your biker to the local bike shop, Alpine Shop, or REI . Alpine Shop and REI are having 50% off sales which means more bang for your buck. If you shop at REI, here in MO, you could hit Whole Foods for wholesome lunch.

Keep your athlete safe by buying them some safety gear. Reflective vests and clothing will insure motorists see your road warrior. Perhaps a new headlamp, or night riding lights for someone who likes to play in the dark.

If none of these ideas will work, how about a massage or a personal training package at the gym they belong to. These are both thoughtful gifts and will to keep your loved one motivated and headed in the right direction.

Keep it together

And finally, jewelry. I am not a fan of diamonds or pearls. But I like this. I am also a huge fan of recycled bike parts to make jewelry. For the runner or triathlete, go here. When I completed my first marathon, I purchased a silver 26.2 necklace. I wore it for several years and loved explaining to people what it stood for.

I hope these suggestions help you buy something special for your significant other. Have a healthy and Happy Valentines Day.

Do I Need A Coach?

2012-02-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

Do I need you?

I have been wrestling with the possibility of adding a coach this year. I have read several blogs from fellow athletes who are singing their coaches praises and having a very successful training season . Here's one. I have not had a coach since high school. Back in 1984, there were only a handful of girls on the track team. We were given the same exact coaching as the boys. We even shared the same coach. Mr. Schnell expected a lot out of me, and pushed me just as hard as the boys. He made me throw the boys shot put and the boys discus in practice. When I lifted the girls shot put and discus in competition to throw, I understood immediately. He also had the girls run with the boys. Even back then, I like beating the boys.

From talking to others who have coaches, I wonder if it would be beneficial for me. I have heard both good and bad stories. I have a lot of motivation, a lot of internal drive, I am a self-starter, I can push myself, I am goal oriented, etc... You get the idea. I am self-taught, have done my own research, stalked how other athletes train, asked questions of elite folks, etc.. I have been "building my beast", solo style, for the last four years. I wonder what a coach could add to this.

Do you have a coach? A same-sex coach? What do they do for you, that you can't do for yourself? Is it worth the money? What does it cost? Do they push you? Do they write out your weekly workouts? How are you held accountable? How would I benefit from one?

I have a lot of events I would like to complete this year. I am in the research phase and appreciate all your feedback. Feel free to email me. Thanks.

Sock Contest Update

2012-02-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

I had no idea how much buzz a superior pair of socks would generate. Apparently, some are even losing sleep over how to acquire these socks. I have received over 40 recommendations for blog titles. Wow, my followers are creative. Since the suggestions keep coming, and they keep getting better, I would like to extend the contest until Monday Feb 13th. A winner will be chosen on Valentine's Day. I will throw in a special PBR sticker for making you wait.

I didn't realize this would be so frustrating. It is unfortunate that several of the titles were already taken by other bloggers. I want to remind you to keep it short and think out of the box. I LOVE my bike and writing about two wheeled adventures, but I like to write about several other topics too. And, it does not have to be PBR related. I named this blog from a punch line in a joke that I heard two years ago. I didn't give it much thought. Now, it's time for a more professional name. No offense Pabst.

You still have time to get your entry in. Put on your thinking cap, have a pint or two and let me know what you come up with. A few of my immediate favorites:

Living Out Loud
Spinning My Wheels
Wendy's Wanderings
SS Journey's
Move It

How do you think those fit me?
Thanks for your help.

Priorities

2012-02-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

In life, it is important to remember what your priorities are. Honor your priorities. Cultivate them. Let them dominate your very existence. Meet my priority.

Sydney age 5

Sydney's Ride

For the end of January, Missouri weather has been amazing. Every day after school Sydney and I have gotten to ride our bikes.

We have been able to put in five miles each ride. Fifteen miles total, so far.

Monday smirk

Tuesday domination

Wednesday

Single-speeding

I realize this is not something a lot of parents get to do with their children. Especially at 4pm. I know I am lucky .
I have left clothes unwashed and unfolded, dishes in the sink, and beds unmade for her. This stuff will be there when we get done shredding sidewalk. It's February in MO. How long can this last anyway ?

Remind yourself of your priorities. Then take good care of them.
Todays weather is magnificent too. Hope you are able to enjoy it.

Now, I need to get " my priority's" bike ready before she gets off the bus.

What Is Hiding Inside You?

2012-01-27T08:28:00.000-08:00

January is almost over. How are you doing with your New Year's resolutions? If you have resolved to get healthy and lose some weight, I applaud you. I know exactly where you are coming from.
Below is a pic of the old me.

Me at 220lbs

I look happy in the picture. Truthfully, I was miserable.

My life has changed so much since that photo was taken, about 2002. I did not lose the weight overnight. Everyday I was a work in progress. I started being active in 2006, after the birth of my daughter. I never wanted her to know that woman in the picture. I was very successful. Upon seeing this picture she said " that is not my mommy". She is correct. My life as that girl ended when I decided to make some small changes. I started paying attention to what I ate, portion size, and walked everyday. The walking evolved into running, and eventually I started biking.

I am stubborn by nature, so I was able to stay motivated and not let anyone get in my way. I carved out time in my day to exercise. I made my health a priority. I wanted to be able to chase my little one at the park, run with her in the backyard, and be able to play with her without getting winded. I did not want to sit on the sidelines and watch. I wanted to be able to play.

My favorite picture

And play I did. The picture above is from my first 12 hr race in 2009. That woman on top of the podium was inside me all the time. I just had to lose 75lbs to find her. I had many struggles, but I kept my eye on the prize. The prize was being healthy, happy, and a good role model for my daughter.

I want my story to encourage you to keep moving forward to a healthier lifestyle. I also hope my story inspires you to find out "who is hiding inside of you ".

Superior Sock Contest

2012-01-24T04:52:00.000-08:00

You know you want me

Good day followers, friends and FaceBook fans. Are you creative? Need an attitude adjustment? In need of some cool socks? All of the above? I have some Team Seagal socks up for grabs. Keep reading...

Who: Any male or female residing in the USA

What: Re-name my blog

Why: Because it's time for a change

Where: Post you suggestions on this blog post, on my FB page ( Wendy Davis ), or post on APabstSmear FB page

When: Entries accepted January 24th until February 1st at midnight

How: Leave me a comment with your title suggestion in any of the three designated spots for your chance to win

THE RULES

You can enter as many times as you like. Be creative. Keep it clean , the entire world will see it. Remember it's a title, so make it short.

On Feb. 2nd I will post my top five picks on this blog. A final decision will be made on Feb. 5th. The winner will be announced by 8pm on this blog, and on facebook.

You will receive one pair of socks for your winning submission. I will either mail them or put them in your hands if you are local. They look amazing in the photo, but even better when they are on. These socks come in small/medium and large/xtra large. If you have XXL feet, I will substitute the socks for something equally superior.

Any questions?

Thanks for your help. Feel free to share this post. I am eager to see what you come up with.

*** Blog content will not change

Get Ready To Rumble DK2012

2012-01-21T15:14:00.000-08:00

Kansas is beautiful

It is very difficult to plan for a race that is six months away. Sitting at your computer, you are quite comfortable while typing in your info and parting with your hard earned money. Time is on your side. You have time to train and get your gear together. Many, many days to figure out how your ass is going to handle 203 miles of gnarly gravel in Kansas. I believe you have just enough time, IF you start immediately after signing up. It is overwhelming to grasp how you will complete this task. I know. These ten things helped me:

1. Have a plan. In order to formulate a plan you will need to do some research. And by some I mean a ton. Start by google-ing double century training plans. These will give you an idea of weekly mileage to shoot for. Read blogs by those who have completed the race. Read blogs by those who did not. Another perspective. My day. Gather as much information as you can. Knowledge is power.

2. Research your fuel. There are a bazillion fueling options out there. Train with your selection and make sure you can go the distance with it. I passed a lot of dead bodies last year. Your fuel will make or break your ride. Last year it was 103 degrees. I would pick something that will endure the heat and not curdle in your belly.

3. Test out any gear you will wear or use on the ride. I picked out a white jersey to wear, very smart, but ended up putting a black camelback on my back, not very smart. Jim outfitted his steed with a rack and carried a small cooler with water bottles in it. It worked well for him. He did not have to carry anything on his back, just in his jersey pockets. I can not stress this enough, You will need a LOT of water. Trust me, you don't want to run out.

4. Ask an expert cyclist, female and male for tips. If you have an opportunity to talk one on one, take it. Ask them anything and everything. There are no dumb questions. These athletes had to start somewhere, and like to share their knowledge with those who strive to be better.

5. Draw up a plan and stick to it. Schedule your rides around family time, NOT in place of them. The weekend before DK 2011, I went hiking with my family. You think I should have fit in one last monster ride? Hell no! That ride was not going to help me. In fact, the ride would have hurt me. Missing valuable family time would have left me feeling very guilty.

Just hangin' at Taum Sauk

6. Be flexible with your plan. If you miss a scheduled ride, know it's not the end of the world. Don't be hard on yourself. Stay positive and complete your next ride. Beating yourself up will not achieve anything. You will miss a few training rides, that's just how life is.

7. Family first. Without them you are nothing, nowhere, nada. They aren't going to care if you finish or win your race. Especially if it came at the expense of spending time with them. I passed on the Dino24 race last year. I do not regret it. Sydney had been in school about a month. We had spent everyday, all day, together for the last 5 years. Now we were down to a few hours in the evening. I trained for Dino, and it would have been an amazing experience, except for one thing. Hearing "don't go Mommy, I will miss you" as I pedaled.

8. Love your bike. Name it, take care of it, hug it often, ride it more. I love my Kona Jake The Snake. I keep him clean, his chain lubed and stay on top of his repairs. If I take care of Felix during training, he will take care of me on race-day. Love you Gino at the HUB.

I want to be on the 2012 card

9. Do the work. Your bike will not pedal itself. Be prepared to make sacrifices along the way. Be mindful of what foods you put in your body. You are expecting your body to perform this incredible feat. Take care of it for goodness sake. You can't expect your body to respond well to copious amounts of Taco Bell and McDonalds chased with six-packs. Drink more water, eat simple food. Eat when you are hungry. It's really that easy.

10. Envision the finish line. If you can see it, you can achieve it. I saw the finish line last year from my first pedal stroke. If it had not been for the weather..... I will be making best friends with mother nature and hopefully she will not screw me this time.

Dirty Kanza sign up is done. Spots sold out in record time. I got one of the last 25 myself. A field of 400 riders will be there. If you are on the fence, hop on the wait list. A lot can happen in six months. If I can do it, YOU can do it.

I can't wait to see this red door again.

I am not leaving Kansas without my bragging rites, pint glass and posing for my trading card. Goosebumps...Dirty Kanza 2012 WHO'S WITH ME?

Airborne News

2012-01-18T08:42:00.000-08:00

It's not that heavy

I owe you all an apology for not keeping you up to date on what's going on with me and the Airborne Flight Crew. Life has been pulling me in several directions lately, all of them good. Gus, my Goblin, and I had a great summer and fall together. We covered several hundred miles on the various trails here in Missouri. We even raced one in Cape. Great pictures here. I put Gus together all by myself and did not modify him. I wanted to ride him "stock", to show you that this bike does not need any improvements and is good to go, right out of the box. I did play around and put a set of sweet Velocity BluntSL's on him. The white rims really complimented the 'alien green' frame.

Berryman Trail

Council Bluff

I have to be honest, I have been a little hard on him. We have had a couple of instances where either he threw me or I threw him. Either way, there is not a scratch on it. The paint job is incredible, in my opinion. I did not have any issues with the Selle San Marco SPID saddle, even after a ride of four hours plus. The Rock Shox Reba RL fork and Elixir R brakes performed well. I did not see a need to upgrade them. The drivetrain set up is a SRAMx7 2x10, which shifted easily, even with all of my operator error. For a price tag of $1,149.95,without pedals, I was not able to find anything comparable with the components the Goblin came with. At this price, you can afford to upgrade any component you would like. You can see other in-depth reviews here. I stand by my original assessment also.

By late August, I needed to spend more time on my single speed with the up coming races I had scheduled. I had to hang up Gus, until.... November. My last ride on Gus ended in disaster and me in the emergency room the next day. I accidentally stepped in a hole and twisted my ankle.

Patience, grasshopper

I can give you one guess what Gus is undergoing this winter. He will become a bit lighter, and you will see a lot more of him out on the trails in 2012. He is quietly hanging in the basement , waiting his turn to become a badass.

On that note, I want you to know that I had a "life-changing" time being on the Flight Crew. I learned a lot about how the bike industry works, got to see some top secret designs, and met a gaggle of new friends. Want to be a part of it? Not sure? Start reading here..... I suggest going for it. You never know .....

Details on application submission are here. Good luck.

FaceBook Games

2012-01-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

Love it or hate it, FaceBook has changed how society communicates. Growing up in the 70's, we wrote letters and waited anxiously for a response. With email available, you can receive an answer to your situation within a couple days. With many businesses creating pages on FaceBook you can connect with someone in an instant and call it a day.

If you have hit the "LIKE" button for your favorite company, you may have noticed that several of them have giveaways. They may have you leave a comment , write a caption for a ridiculous photo, tag yourself in a photo, or even write a poem about one of their products. I look at these contests as an opportunity to try new things and win gear that I can use.

Well, let me tell you about the items I have scored in the last 2 months:

Sweet new meats

Just yesterday I received a SET of Specialized Armadillo tires. These run $65 a piece. I won a set by uploading a photo of myself on a commute. Super easy. These tires came at a fantastic time, since I will do my DK200 training on them. Specialized boasts the "you will die before these tires do". I will let you know.

Comes in six other colors

Last week I received two things. The first was from Innate Gear. I received a Doppio, to drink whatever I want from. I drink coffee from it every morning. It's smaller than my usual cup, so I have been drinking less caffeine. The Doppio also holds scotch well.

Great towel for the trainer rides

The second bonus was from Amino Vital. They were very generous and sent me a great towel, polo shirt and winter hat {which were quickly scooped up by Trevor}, and a sampling of there product, in all three flavors.

I was contacted by yurbuds, I won something in their twelve days of Christmas contest. They won't tell me what I won, but it should be here in 4-6 weeks. I will post a picture when I receive it.

Try your luck, you never know what you might win.

Say Hello to My Little Friend

2012-01-08T11:35:00.000-08:00

Most women would be upset if they received a piece of exercise equipment for Christmas. I am not like most women. I have wanted one of these bad boys for a long time. I admit I have ignored my core and arms for too long. It's high time they both catch up with my legs. Living with a Certified Personal Trainer, leaves little room for excuses. This little fella came with a DVD, but with Trevor's help, I intend to build my own personal workout. Tomorrow is Day 1. After taking a picture and measurements, I will give the DVD and a whirl. According to my research, I will improve strength in my arms and define my marshmallow core. Hell yeah. My mantra " this will make you a better cyclist" will be playing in my head. I expect it's going to hurt. I also expect this 12lb. item to take me to another level of fitness, so I will be able to, ' do what I do' even better this year. Enter the kettle bell.... Out the door are squishy arms and jelly belly. I will stay accountable by posting results and pictures. Every two weeks? Too much? Let's do this already.

New Years Eve 2012

2012-01-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

Prepare to be jealous. Last year Jim and I hiked Lewis and Clark, full 8 miles, hung a hammock in the trees and were home at 11:59. This year we took our hike a little further and spent the night under the stars with friends.

Beautiful night for a hike

Heading out

Stay hydrated

Break time

Campfire

Ambiance

Home

Moose Drool is better in the bottle

Mid morning

Great place to converse

Vitamin D

Yoga

More hydrating

15 lucky peeps

Awesome story I found under a rock

This was pretty good at midnight

Until next time

What did you do?

New Years Resolutions

2012-01-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

Are you one of those people who makes New Year's resolutions? If so, are they easy, attainable? Or are they a pipe dream, something that will probably never happen? Either way, are you able to achieve them or do you give up a few weeks/months in?

Most of society has made a resolution to lose weight, exercise, and eat healthier this year. I will not be one of them. I already enjoy an active life-style, don't need to lose any weight, and do not need to overhaul my diet. So, what resolution did I make then?

Sitting across the table from several of my relatives, this past holiday season, opened my eyes to what I need to work on this year. I can get in the best shape of my life, but it really means nothing if I can't share it with those I love. I realized that I have let some important relationships shrivel up. I felt somewhat alone and out of the loop. There are many things that I could have talked about, but all I felt was awkward. Very awkward. The words did not come and I am left feeling ashamed that I had lost touch with members of my family.

My focus in 2012 will be spent on repairing relationships that I have let go. It's time to take action. I can change this, even though, I am not quite sure how to go about it. Baby steps, I imagine. I don't think it will be easy, but it's definitely worth my time. Besides, if I can figure out how to ride a bike for 24hrs, I can figure this out too.

I wish you all a happy and healthy 2012. You have the power to make it an awesome year. So, do it.

Inquiring Minds

2012-01-02T14:04:00.000-08:00

I have received several inquiries as to the 'nature' of my recent writing assignment. So.... drum roll please .... I am very pleased to announce, that I am writing a piece for the Ozark Trail Connector magazine. The Connector is a magazine put out by the Ozark Trail Association, so they can show you what you are missing, right here in Missouri, and it's right outside your door. Link to the issue.

I will not be able to share any of the article with you, but I can tell you that it's about my journey's along the Ozark trail . I get to work with an incredible editor, who I know I will learn a lot from. I will let you know the when the magazine will be available and where you can get a copy. I am told it will be sometime in spring, March/April. Don't worry, I won't let you forget about it.

If you can't tell how excited I am to have this opportunity, ask me about it in person. I would love to tell you all about it. Thanks for your support. What an awesome way to kick off 2012.

December

2011-12-29T13:01:00.000-08:00

Usually by the end of December I have spent time on my trainer. I have a beauty of a machine to place my steed on. I figured that I would have had many rides on it. Heck, I fully expected to be on it today, Dec. 29th. However, It's 60 degrees out. The trainer is going to have to wait.

Build your beast

Heading out with a perma-grin

I had about 2 hours to work with, so I rode from home to Lake St. Louis. The sun was shining brightly and the wind is blowing just enough to make it more of a workout. What a beautiful day God gave me.

He wanted to go in, but settled for a picture

Obligatory holiday shot

I hope you were able to get out and enjoy some of this weather. Living in MO, you never know from day to day what you will get. The weekend looks good, low 40's at night and low 60's during the day. A New Year's Eve hike is being planned...... Stay tuned

Priceless

2011-12-26T13:46:00.000-08:00

I have been around long enough to know that the " best things in life are free ". Yesterday was Christmas and I opened several gifts. There was one gift of surprise my husband and daughter had up their sleeve. They had wanted me to go for a bike ride since I have been too busy all week. The gift of riding my bike got even sweeter when I saw that my good friend Mary was going to be hitting some gravel about 1pm. Perfect timing for me. We have not had a ride together in a super long time. Our rides together are at races. And by together I mean we see each other at the beginning and I chase her to the finish.

Our last ride together was along the Katy starting at Research Park ending in St. Charles, about a year ago. Great 30 mile ride with a beer in the middle. We found a beer tasting and tried a new beer. Funny thing was, we could accept samples but could not enjoy an open beer. What? We purchased two O Fallon Sticke It To The Man bottles with two brown paper bags. We enjoyed them hiding behind a building, shielding ourselves from the wind and any possible lawmen. On our ride back the alcohol took effect and we laughed a lot. I will never forget that ride.

Last year for Christmas Mary bought me a four pack of Sticke It To The Man. I have held on to them for a special occasion. That day came yesterday. Christmas day 2011, I spent riding with an awesome friend. We rode the Katy to Klondike. We chatted, caught up on each others lives, rode 18 miles in 1:18, and parted ways by 3pm. I handed Mary one of those four beers yesterday. I imagine she enjoyed it and reminisced about our ride too.

O Fallon did not make this beer this year. There will be only two left by the end of this evening. I will enjoy this beer and remember that day. Priceless. The last two we will drink together. You can't buy that.

CXMAS In PICS

2011-12-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

The pictures will speak for themselves. If they don't you should mark your calendar in 2012 and join us. Team Seagal does this non-ride of JERKS every year. Check this blog in Dec. and you will be provided with what we think you should know. If you are in need of words in an R to X rated version, read this. YOu have been warned. Read a cleaner version here. Thanks SuperKate.

Look What some " Jerks " Did

2011-12-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend a group of JERKS, actually a term of endearment, got together for a social ride. It was a wonderful day to socialize, ride bikes, and collect canned goods. I started collecting at last years ride, which went over very well. This year was also a very generous year and I am pleased to report that I am just shy of 200 items. A generous soul donated $30 cash , that I will take to the store and purchase more. Feel good, as many families will be touched by your kindness. Pat yourself on the back. You jerks rock, and I love you all.

2011 Donation

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

UltraFit 2000 Sports Headphone Review With A Sweet Deal

2011-12-16T08:33:00.000-08:00

Last week I told you about the UltraFit 1000 Sports headphones. This week I want to introduce you to the UltraFit 2000 on ear headphones. These are perfect for someone who does not care for ear-buds or in the ear headphones. They will cover your ear and the headband goes behind your neck, instead on top of your head. Polk uses a 'SecureFit' system, which keeps them in place and quite comfortably. I wore these for several walks and runs, as well as a couple bike rides.

1. Headphones
2. Protective Case
3. 1 pair of silicone ear pads
4. 2 pair foam ear pads
5. 1 pair cold weather Shearling pads
6. Connection adapter
7. Shirt clip

I was still aware of my surroundings, and could hear beyond the music. This surprised me since the ear pads covered my ears. The sound quality was just as impressive as the 1000's. The 2000's come with an attached, flat 46" long, tangle free audio cable. Also included is a 3.5mm connector cord that is designed to fit through the small opening of your carrying case. These headphones come with the same stain-guard and moisture resistant properties as the 1000's. Punish them. They can take it.

The orange clips keep them in place

Looking at these in a photo I thought they would be heavy and cumbersome. They were neither. They weigh approximately 2.5 oz. I did not notice I had them on, even after a couple hours. These can be used while wearing a helmet. In fact, you could wrap the cord in the back of your helmet and hook them on to the helmet. Thanks for the tip Mike.

Helmet fit

I liked the on ear three button remote and microphone, over the 1000's button being on the audio cable. Just my preference. I also like the choice of ear pads. The "cold weather Shearling pads" are a good option to have while braving Missouri winters.

The UltraFit 2000's cost $69.95 and come in black/red and orange/white. You can still win a pair of these by signing up here . If you are local, you can stop by Ballwin Cycles and drop your name in the hat. The drawing will be on Dec. 23rd. Polk audio is also giving you 20% off starting today ( Dec. 16) until Dec. 31st. Sweet deal at $55.96.

Stay tuned for the 3000's review. Which are also 20% off.

I was not compensated for this review in any way. This is my opinion.

Pere Marquette Run

2011-12-15T07:54:00.000-08:00

I had absolutely no business doing this race. Not that the thought would stop me. I did not get in on the initial registration, limited to 650 people, since it sold out in under seven hours. I was hoping the girl with the broken butt would give me hers. No dice. I did not utilize the 'wait list', which I should have. My good friend Mary asked friends and scored an entry for me. Unfortunately, it was after I did this. The girl with the entry contacted me and said her friend wanted it. I was alright with that, since I really needed my ankle to heal. On the last day of transfers, Nov. 30, the girl with the entry contacted me and said I could have it. With minimal training, ankle still hurting, and never seen the venue, I grabbed the entry. I knew it would be fun and painful. Sign me up.

Rock Racing's Chuck and Robin

Pre-race with the incredible Abby

I was chauffeured by Mary Piper, with her daughter Abby, to Pere Marquette Lodge for packet pickup. I received my race number, #522, and then received a vest. I have so many t-shirts and was stoked to get a glow in the dark safety vest. That vest will keep me alive on the streets of MO. Thanks Team Godzilla .

Can you see me now??

I was able to visit with a few friends before the race. I visited with SuperKate a little too long and missed my wave. Oh well, I got in the first available, wave 24 of 25. Don't feel bad for me. Kate, I enjoyed our chat and don't blame you for anything. But, next time you want to run with me, just say so. I hoped I dressed properly for the 26 degree weather. If I didn't, I was going to pay for it, in one way or another.

SuperKate always smiling ( Patrick Albert)

I had heard about the HILLS. Not one person described them accurately. You have to experience them for yourself. I was given a great piece of advice, " pace yourself up the hill, and bomb down it". I did not get to use this advice since I could not breathe when I got to the top of the hill, which made it very hard to bomb down it. There were some ridiculous rock stairs to climb, and just when you thought you were at the top of a hill, you realized it wasn't over yet.

Some of the stairs ( Patrick Albert)

I had my ankle wrapped and felt pretty confident that I would not re-injury it today. However, that did not stop me from compensating. I taxed the right side of my body heavily while dragging the left side through the trail. It was totally worth it. I can't come up with anything to compare this trail to, except when Jim and I bushwacked our way through Chubb during the '10 Castlewood 8 race. PM was as beautiful as it was ridiculously hard. What's funny is.... I like riding hills, running them, not so much.

Says it all ( Patrick Albert photog)

A funny thing happened at mile 5. The volunteers had a huge box of chocolate candy, M & M's and my kryptonite. I reached for the Reeses, popped it in my mouth, started to chew, it's semi-frozen. I had just passed the last water hand-up and wouldn't get this chocolate down without water. I bent over and spit it out, apparently a bit violently. The guy behind me thinks I am throwing up and wants to help.?. He grabs me around my middle, I freak, and he almost got punched. No worries though. He wont ever do that again, hee hee.

FAF Laura and Abby with hardware

The amazing Emily

New category because of him. 80 and over

My hero, 71 and still going

I finally crossed the finish line at 1:36:50. Which may be off a bit since I missed my wave.?. The picture below almost captured the pain. I was able to breathe normally after a minute or two. Wow, what a tough trail. I will be back in 2012. Who's with me?

Trying to breathe ( Mary Piper)

Recipe for Success

2011-12-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

I was very impressed with this entree and wanted to pass it on. I used the recipe below, minus the chicken. I added another clove of garlic and more curry This was my first time eating lentils. Yum. I have been missing out on these bad boys all my life. This meal was both healthy and inexpensive. The ingredients, minus the chicken, cost around $7. Jim liked it too and made suggestions on ingredients we could add for next time. As a bonus, my house smelled delicious, and I used a crock-pot, which means I filled it and forgot it. If you make this, post your opinion. Would you add anything?

Jillian’s Mulligatawny with Shredded Curried Chicken

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 tbsp plus 1/2 tsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 tsp grated peeled ginger
1 tbsp plus 1/4 tsp curry powder *
Salt and ground black pepper
1 medium carrot, chopped
1 granny smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
8 oz dried red lentils, picked over and rinsed
4 cups low-sodium chicken stock or vegetable broth
1/2 cup coconut milk
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
8 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 cup brown rice, cooked
1/4 cup chopped scallion greens for garnish

Instructions

Place all ingredients into slow cooker on low for 6-7 hours or until vegetables and lentils
are tender and meat is cooked.

* For a less-spicy dish, reduce the amount of curry powder.

*** My crock pot on high took about 5 hours. The longer it cooked the thicker the stew. This would be an amazing filling for a burrito, you could add a sweet potato, length-wise on a tortilla and lay the filling on top.

Food doesn't have to be boring to be healthy. This dish proves it. Enjoy.

Another recipe I will try this week is here .

Too Good To Pass Up

2011-12-09T11:20:00.000-08:00

I grew up in the seventies. Not hippy -style either. The sperm donor was in and out of jobs and we lived day to day. I wore second-hand clothing and stood in government "cheese lines", with my mom and Grandma, on the weekends. I was fully aware, I resided on the wrong side of the tracks. My parents had to work very hard to provide the essentials; which is shelter, food, and clothing. There were no extras. I received an education in life's harsh realities at a tender age. Being the oldest, I went everywhere to help, either carrying groceries or keeping my siblings in line, whatever was needed. I knew what our financial status was. We had none. It was Christmas time.    There were many heated battles, always about money. It was hard to remember it was " the most wonderful time of the year" with all the ruckus.

The Christmas of 1980 was a rough one . The sperm donor had refused to get a job months prior. There was a decision to sit in the dark and freeze or buy presents for 3 kids. At age 11 I was forced to digest this and it shaped my life. That Christmas I asked for nothing. I wanted nothing. I hated Christmas. I went to bed listening to my mom cry. She was alone, He left after punching a wall. I laid in my bed on Christmas Eve night, worried he would return and dreading Christmas.

Christmas breakfast was very quiet. He was there, it was very uncomfortable. My younger brother and sister were excited about opening their presents, oblivious to what had transpired the night before. There was a knock at the door. On our front porch was a HUGE box of presents. We had no idea that someone had put our names on the church giving tree. Our presents bought by people who did not even know us. That HUGE box changed the tone of the day and forever changed how I view Christmas. I received a pair of Chic jeans { real big in the 80's } a long sleeve plaid shirt, nail polish, cool socks, and a writing pad and pen set.  I will never forget that Christmas. It's been 30 years and I can recall it like it just happened. That would explain the waterworks while I wrote this.

As I said, this experience shaped my thinking about Christmas. I think of people who have next to nothing, especially around this time of year. Since I know what it feels like to be on the receiving end, I do what I can . Just as my life changed 30 yrs ago, I have the power to keep it going. You can too.    While you are out shopping for your family and friends, grab an extra gift to give to any charity. You have an opportunity that is too good to pass up. An amazing feeling of goodness will follow , I guarantee it.

If an extra gift is not in your budget, you could donate the shoes and clothing you no longer wear. Most charities will pick it up right off your doorstep. Bag it up already. That extra coat in your closet, gathering dust, could be keeping a homeless person warm. You get where I am going. Times are tough for everyone. BUT, if each of us does one thing, anything, we can change a lot of people's lives at Christmas time. Isn't that what it's all about anyway???

UltraFit 1000 Sports Headphone Review

2011-12-06T18:17:00.000-08:00

If you are one of those who like to take your music with you while you train or enjoy the outdoors, you will want to check this out. Nice, huh? I've had a set of those headphones for three weeks now. No need to be jealous, relax, I will tell you about them and how you can score a pair. I've used them running and riding, in good weather and in bad. I was not bribed or promised anything to review these headphones. This is my opinion.

Contents

I think the folks at POLK have thought of nearly everything when it comes to manufacturing headphones. They were built for the fella that might be a little hard on his stuff, the weekend warrior, the endurance athlete that needs motivation at 3am, for those who sweat, run in the rain, and those who just play long and hard. These headphones are fully adjustable, and will fit even the funkiest shaped ear. The ear wraps are totally flexible and mold to the shape of your ear to give a comfy superior fit. Polk includes one small, medium, and large silicone ear tip, since all ears are not created equal.

My first test run... I found my ear tip size, plugged into my Ipod, clipped my Ipod on the back of my shirt collar, no cables, and was off. After pounding the pavement for thirty minutes, I found that the 1000's stayed exactly where I put them. I did not have to readjust, tighten, or loosen them. Not having any cables bouncing around was cool. The fit, inside my ear, did not close off the world entirely. I was able to hear traffic and if someone spoke to me. That point is very important from a safety aspect.

The 1000's promise an " ultra high performance digital sound", and they delivered. The sound quality was like nothing I had ever heard. I have bought a lot of cheap headphones since my birth. I am now getting the big picture.... You get what you pay for. The fit was so comfortable, I forgot they were in my ears on a nine hour journey by bike I took last week. I have sweated in these and used them in the rain. The moisture shield did its job. Plus, they did not fall out. You don't have to worry about your ear tips stinking either. They are odor resistant and washable.

These headphones come with three cable cable lengths, depending on your preference. I used the short, 14" cable for a run, once. I did not use the shirt clip, also included, but barely noticed the cable swinging. It was very light and did not tangle. I tried the 41" cable, with three-button remote control and microphone while talking on my phone. Honestly, it's highly possible I will not use these cables again. I like it Simple. I will store them in the protective zippered bag Polk provided, in case I change my mind.

UltraFit1000 Simple

The UltraFit 1000's run $69.95 but.....
You could WIN a pair for yourself if you go here. There will be three winners in Dec.. If you 'like' Polk Audio on Facebook, you can follow monthly giveaways and learn more about their products. OR, if you are near Ballwin Cycles, located at 15340 Manchester Rd, stop in to see Mark and put your name in the hat to win a pair. Drawing to be held Dec. 23rd. Hell, do all three and goood luck.

Stay tuned for the UltraFit 2000 review. I have a pair of UltraFit 3000 to try, if I can steal them back from my son.

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are

2011-12-01T09:58:00.000-08:00

This past Monday, I was finishing up a blog, minding my own business. Then, out of nowhere, I am on the floor. Literally, laying on the floor and clutching the right side of my abdomen. Not at all how I envisioned starting this week. I decide to ride the roller coaster of pain for a while and see if it works its way out. By " it " I mean, I have no idea what the heck is bringing me to my knees. Wave after wave of pain. Two hours later, Jim comes home for lunch and sees the peril I am in. He calls my primary Dr., who says "get her to the ER". I do not want to go, after all, it will be the second time this month. As the pain increases, I decide to go.

After being scanned, it is confirmed...... Kidney stone. OK, it could have been worse. Now, I get an education on kidney stones. Basically, anyone can get a stone, even kids. Some people will have them and never know it. The only time these stones are a problem is when they decide to move out of the bladder. They travel down a narrow tube, slicing their way through. As you can see from the picture below, kidney stones can be sharp.

Kidney Stone

My ER Dr. informed me that I have one stone travelling right now. It may be as painful as child birth as it comes out. I have named him Kenny. Kenny the kidney stone. The Dr. also told me that Kenny has nine siblings. Yes, you read right, nine. I feel like a ticking time bomb, but at least I know what is going on now. I have to catch Kenny and put him in a jar to be tested. At only 3mm small I hope I can see him.

Kenny needs to move out soon. The medication I am on says no alcohol and I have some holiday parties to attend this weekend. Plus, after this ordeal, I could really use a drink. I guess I could be a designated driver if he doesn't.

****** Edit******

At approximately 2:02 pm this afternoon, Kenny made his way out of my temple. He is not as cute as the above picture, but he's mine. It was painful but quick. When Kenny is ready to speak I will ask him when his siblings will be arriving. I believe calling him out in public did the trick. Now, I am ready for that drink.

Black Friday Middle-Fork Style

2011-11-29T12:15:00.000-08:00

I am not a shopper. I actually despise shopping, unless it's for food, bike stuff, or gear. The weather was supposed to be awesome, upper 60's, perfect time for my husband to take me to Middle Fork. Connor , my ss, hadn't crushed these trails since May.

All smiles

We were going to do the loop, about 38 miles, at a casual pace. I have had a lot of experience riding with Jim so I should have known better. He likes to stop and take pictures, remove trees from the trail, and chat with anyone he may come across. Those three things alone added several hours to our journey. I am not complaining, I should have asked how many hours to plan for , instead of miles. Any ride with my husband has a potential to be epic. He does not disappoint.

Miss you John

Beautiful day

Finally I got to see the memorial in person

TTM log

Making it look easy

Trying to keep feet dry

Friends Lisa and Steph

The happy couple

Monty's place

Crushing some gravel Uphill

Odd sheep

Awesome day

Beautiful views on the way back

Sunset

My awesome other half

After our ride we headed to Council Bluff campground to spend the night. Did you know it's still open??? Support this by paying your camp/parking fees and they will leave it open next year too. I have decided that ALL Black Fridays should be spent like this. A TTM tradition, so to speak.

First customers of the day

Trail MOnstering in November

2011-11-23T09:34:00.000-08:00

The weather has been quite nice this Nov. in Missouri. It's not too cold yet and there has been minimal rain. It takes a lot to keep a Trail Monster inside. With proper planning and some gear adjustments we are still playing outside. If we can do it, so can you. Get it together and GET OUTSIDE.

Elephant Rocks in the Fall

Sometimes you gotta gravel

Night-riding in the neighborhood

Rock Yoga

Mr. Trail MOnster

Sydney

Boys Hike at Council Bluff

Jim won a backpacking trip in Utah. Thanks Backwoods

Ready for a road ride

Climbing with Daddy

These are just a handful of pictures of what we have been up to. Stay tuned..... Video's are coming

In For Review

2011-11-22T07:02:00.000-08:00

I currently have some reviews in the works. I have been using a Kurt Kinetic Trainer for a few months. It's a bad@ss, green machine that rides just like the road. I have a set of Specialized Fast Tracks tires, currently installed on Gus the Goblin, who will also receive his final review. I also scored three different types of ear candy from Polk audio. I have the 1000, 2000, and 3000 series. As I work on these reviews, I want to cover " all the bases", so to speak. If you are currently in the market for a trainer, tires, headphones, or a mountain bike, what questions would you have before buying ? You can leave a comment or contact me by email. Thanks for your help.

The State of Positivity

2011-11-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

Let's face it, big or small, injuries suck. Injuries that result in hospital visits and are followed up with rehab, tend to suck more. However, if no bills are incurred, you may have to pay a "mental price". I lose my confidence for a couple of miles, but I am always able to get it back. I believe what keeps me moving is a combination of past mistakes and the fact that my mind does not care if my body gets hurt.

Up until a week ago, I had a relatively injury-free 2011. Since January 1st, I have had several minor boo boo's, poison ivy, and that cataract thing, but nothing as epic as in the years prior. The following is an account of what I did when I injured the same ankle in 1999. The Dr. had told me I would never run again. I was destroyed. Running was "my thing". I felt like my life had just ended. I spent years in an antidepressant haze. No one, not even the expensive psychiatrist, could grasp the depth of my loss. The pain was unbearable. I took up residence on my couch and waited for surgery. I gave up. I started to find comfort in food, lots of food. I chose to quit. I was miserable for six years. Understandably, injuries scare me.

I could not repeat that cycle. I approached this injury differently. From the moment I felt my ankle snap, I remained positive. I refused to accept I would be down for long. I was not going to let this defeat me. I had thrown in the towel eleven years ago. I had no passion. I had no fight. This time I was "coming out swinging". There is no way I was going to give up my life again. I allowed myself a short "pity party" and then put my focus elsewhere for a moment. It's highly possible, I was slowed down in order to gain
some clarity about where my life is going.

I followed the Dr. 's orders, more or less. The swelling has gone down and there is no pain while I ride. Running is going to take more time. I am okay with that as long as I can still bike. I wish I had been introduced to the bike in 2000 after my surgery. However, I wouldn't be the person I am today if that had happened. After I hit send I am hopping on my bike.

Lemonade

2011-11-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

This past Thursday evening I received a few lemons. "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." That statement will be my mantra for the next couple weeks. While night riding, I stepped off trail, perfectly between two rocks. The only problem was it happened quickly. My body had continued moving forward, as my foot had clearly stopped. There was some snap and pop followed by several grunts and hollers on the miles we had to walk out. Definitely not the ride Gabrielle Renner had planned.

Goose-egg

Once again, the two of us are thrown together and I am injured. We briefly chatted about that injury and had several chuckles about almost making it through the year unscathed. Thank you Jim for meeting us and picking up my broken body, again. Thank you Gabby for entertaining me and nearly freezing your butt off in the process.

I went to the Urgent Care Center, it was 11-11-11, and it was 11:11:11 as I was signing in. What a shame those weren't my lucky numbers.

Look at the clock

Jim kept me company while the Doctor took my info and later read my x-rays. The good news is that the ankle is not broken. That's awesome since this is the same ankle I had to have operated on in 2000. As soon as the swelling goes down I will have a better idea if there is any tendon or ligament damage.

What a difference a few hours make

The Dr. was surprised at my range of motion ( ROM ), which I am encouraged by. He also said this may be a blessing in disguise. Since I had surgery, my ROM is minimal. After long or hard efforts, by run or bike, I experience moderate pain. He is hoping the pop I heard and felt is the scar tissue located exactly where I had surgery. This accident may stretch that area and give me better ROM and less pain in the long run. Still too early to tell, but I like his way of thinking. I have been icing, elevating, and wrapping my ankle like clock work, so I expect to heal quickly.

I am going to use this down time to spruce up a couple of blogs I have procrastinated on. I also picked up a couple of books on writing, I now have time to read. Happy riding and be careful out there.

Paying It Forward

2011-11-09T13:09:00.000-08:00

From the moment I saw the light and got healthy, I can't resist helping someone else hop on the healthy bus. In mid- Sept., I had such an opportunity come along. My neighbor, Angela, asked if I would help her get started with a walking program. She said she was sick and tired of being sick and tired, and was committed to make a change. She wanted to get healthy. Those of you who know me personally, know she came to the right person. I was more excited than she was to get started.

Angela is a working, single mom and only has 30 minutes to spare in her busy day. We agreed that Monday through Friday we would walk every morning after putting our kiddos on the bus. I mapped out several 2 mile routes that we could complete in her time frame. We started that following Monday.

As soon as the bus pulls away, we begin walking. Not a casual pace, but conversational. During these past 8 plus weeks we have encountered some wonderful weather, along with the cold and bone chillin' wind. Less than a handful of days have been missed due to life getting in the way.

We have gotten to know each other quite well and discuss several topics while we are trying to breathe. Recently, the topic of Thanksgiving came up. She told me of her plans to head to her family's neck of the woods. She told me she was looking forward to eating tacos in Tenn., at one of her favorite restaurants there. I cringed inside. Then she told me about all the foods she was looking forward to indulging in once she got to her Mom's. Again, I cringe. I try to explain that I don't think it's a good idea to indulge in a holiday buffet right now. I remind her of her goal and how far she has come. Angela said she doesn't care and she is going to splurge. After all, it's the holidays. I have a couple more weeks to get her to see things my way. If I am not successful, Angela will pay for it when she gets back. Ha Ha

But seriously, yesterday, she and I met at the bus stop, like usual. She said " I want to show you something." She had to roll down the waistband of her pants in order for them to fit. I was so excited for her that I gave her a hug and a huge slap on the back. It's highly possible that I was happier about her progress than she was. I said " see, you must be doing something right." Of course, I couldn't resist saying something about all that hard work going to waste in a couple of weeks. I still have time...... Fortunately , the bus came and I was able to sneak away without her seeing my tears. They were tears of joy, I get emotional sometimes.

Over these last few weeks I have noticed a huge change in Angela. Beyond the physical, she has started smiling more and has just been happier. It's so amazing to watch someone take charge of their life. I feel honored to have had a front row seat. I have watched Angela get excited about her life and what the future holds for her. That is priceless.

I want to thank Angela, for letting me share her story. I am very proud of her and how far she has come in these last couple of months. Today, I informed her that we have walked about 80 miles together. We did it 30 minutes, two miles, at a time. That distance is just over 3 full marathons. When you put things in perspective like that I believe it helps motivate you to keep going.

Change Your Life. Move Your Body.

2011-11-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

Every Wednesday, for six weeks, I attended a writing class. I learned about format, punctuation, grammar, writing rules, and different writing techniques. I want to share my final paper with you. After being told I could write about anything; after three revisions, with teacher critique, the following is what I ended up with.

Change Your Life. Move Your Body.

Before you are done reading this, you will be inspired to stop the couch and mouse surfing. You will be ready to get your body moving. It’s very easy to get busy with our lives and forget to take care of ourselves. Moving your body is something you have to make time for, despite a hectic life. Good health does not come in a bottle. You have to get off the sidelines and get in the game. If you don’t, you will gain weight and feel awful. I can tell you from my own personal experience , if you don’t make a change, it will only get harder.

I let myself go and gained nearly 100 pounds. My health and happiness were greatly compromised. As the days grew into weeks and months, I grew more depressed. I had to do something. When my daughter was born I took matters into my own hands. After receiving a clean bill of health from my doctor I began a walking program. I invested in a top of the line pair of shoes since I would be spending a lot of time in them. I began walking for 30 minutes a day, pushing a stroller. Less than six months later I was running again. Running had been a huge part of my life before I became obese. It felt great to get that joy back. Another six months passed and I was introduced to mountain biking. I had not been on a bike in 20 plus years. I learned that you can teach an overweight dog some new tricks.

When I started my walking I had no idea where it would take me. I was thrilled when walking evolved into running. When I met up with biking, I found my true passion. My bike has changed my life. Over the span of three years, I was able to chisel off 90 pounds and regain my life. I have kept the weight off for three years and enjoy competing endurance events that range from six to twenty-four hours. I would have never dreamed that I could become one of those ‘crazy athletes’, especially since I am over forty. I did not set out to achieve this level when I took my first step. However, I believe I was made for this lifestyle.

Over time, I noticed that not only did my physical health improve, but my mental health also improved. I became the happy energetic person I used to be. I began looking forward to every day instead of dragging myself through like a robot. I had a positive outlook that was contagious. My friends and family watched me grow and then hopped on board. They wanted to experience what I was experiencing. It was great to have their support and be able to support them in return. I have made a lot of new friends along the way, who have kept me motivated and given me advice when I needed it. I also have a new wardrobe that I feel confident wearing.

Before beginning any exercise program I suggest a visit with your doctor. He or she can help point you in the right direction. Your physician can provide you with recommendations an appropriate activity and help you set realistic goals. He or she can give information on diet and lifestyle changes you can make, along the way, to help achieve your goals.

My advice is to purchase some decent shoes and equipment for your activity. This gear is your tools for success. You deserve to have quality stuff, buy it. Besides, if you spend $100 on running shoes, you are more likely to use them than if you spend $30. Remember, you get what you pay for, and the cheap usually comes out expensive.

Do you ever wonder what kind of person is hiding inside of you? My journey was anything but easy. If it was easy everyone would do it. I have a few suggestions to make it easier.

· Tell your friends and family your goals. They can’t help if they don’t know.

· Take a picture. That way you can see your progress.

· Track your workouts in a notebook. This will help you remember where you came from.

Staying motivated can be a challenge after you get moving. Here are a few additional suggestions.

· Find a buddy to walk with. If you know someone else depends on you, you most likely show up.

· Surround yourself with like-minded folks. They will help you stay on track.

· Attend some community events that are geared toward health and wellness. This will help you meet others and give you information on types of group activities in your area.

· Look back at your workout entries. Never forget where you came from. This will help you to keep moving forward.

I hope I have inspired you to get out of the chair and get your body moving. You never know where it will take you. YOU have to take the first step in order to find out. I encourage you to take your first step toward a better life. What are you waiting for?

If you have any questions you can contact me personally at sydsmomma@gmail.com. I also write a blog that contains motivational posts and inspirational stories. You can find it at apabstsmear.blogspot.com. Leave me a comment and let me know you visited.

Bikes, Beer, and Buckles. Burnin' 2011

2011-10-26T07:46:00.000-07:00

I have recovered from the buckle blues, and am ready to present my side of Burnin'. Mark your calendar for 2012, it only gets better. Mesa and crew know how to throw down a race and an after- party like no one else.

Farinella The Ringmaster

Saturday, October 8th, was a perfect day to compete in a solo 12 hour mountain biking event. The weather was beautiful, as a high of 85 would surprise many. A potpourri of racers show up to Mesas' Burnin' at the Bluff . By potpourri I mean everyone from " the best of the best" to those who " have a dream", so to speak. Council Bluff Trail is not for the faint of heart. Every year, the rocks are spectacular and become more plentiful.

Just a reminder

The trail is 12 miles around the lake, where there are several places to eat sh*t, or easily just roll off into the lake. The last mile is a masochistic climb to the finish in the campground. Yes. I expect to be humbled by the long climbs, each lap I ride them. I also expect, each lap will be more torturous then the last. Yes.

TS Hammock Headquarters

I picked a 32x20 gear set-up and crossed my fingers. The night before I was second guessing myself with a 32x21. Jim said " no " and hid the tools. Then he crossed his fingers. I started locking out my fork, on purpose, every ride this year. This race would be no different, in fact I am thinking of going rigid next year.

Connor and his new wheels

Courtesy of the husband and Team Seagal sponsor Velocity, I had some sweet new white Blunt SL's to enjoy for the day in, tubeless style. This 12 hour race would be my second ride on them. I'm not worried, Jim pushed them to their limits at Lost Valley and ran them in a 12 hr AR in the weeks prior.

While having coffee, race morning, I visited with several athletes gunning for the highly coveted belt buckle.

Everybody wants you

Dwayne was going after a record 10 laps. There was no doubt in my mind he could do it. I did not want to throw out any goals for myself. Been there, done that. Last year did not go as planned. With very limited racing experience this year, I was just going to stay positive and do my best. I felt good physically and my head/heart were in it. I also packed my superior attitude and state of mind , in case I would need them.

In my opinion, lap one is the hardest of any race. On this bone dry, loose trail, there would be some slide outs too. There is very limited passing coupled with some technical stuff and short grunts for the first 3 miles. I would be riding lap on a somewhat cautious side , so I could check out the new wheels and tires. Ignitor on the rear and Captain Control on the front. I handled the terrain and rocks easily with these faster rollers - I get tubeless now! I wish I had changed to this set-up for Syllamos Revenge.

Rollin' out ( photo cred Remember This )

On lap two - my already loose bottle cage, broke entirely - totally interrupting a pedal stroke and sending me flying. I came away unscathed, shoved my full bottle in my bra, and moved on. I was wearing a 50 oz Camelback, filled with water only. I needed to rethink my fuel choice since my bottle cage had broken. As luck would have it, the Team Seagal support tent, at the Enough boat ramp, was giving away free Shot Blocks by Clif Bar. I found several unopened bags scattered along the trail - which I took as a sign to try them. I ate them all day - for the next 9 hours. They were delicious and worked well. Definitely saved my ass. Jim removed my bottle cage, while Mr. Farinella cut off a partial strip of the plastic under sole from the bottom of my left shoe. Great. My bike and my shoes are falling apart and I have 9 hours left.

All smiles ( photo Brandon Amos)

I had no concept of time the entire day. I also had no idea where my competition was. I felt like I was on a different planet. I was in the zone. I was so focused, I had a hard time hearing and comprehending what was going on around me. I had conversations, but don't remember them. I felt a little wild-eyed and kinda crazy at times. Very cool.

During lap 3, Stoney from TRW rolled up on me. I was trail-side, a little confused having noticed my tires were leaking Stans. Both the front and back were slowly seeping out. Stoney was no help and said " to just keep riding and think thin", or something like that, smacked me on the butt and he was off. Thanks, Stoney. About 5 hours in now, I started to miss my ipod. I had decided to do my entire race without music. I didn't want to be a hindrance to the elite racers. I wanted the experience of being inside my own head all day - that's a blog in itself. I felt great as I pitted from lap 3. I aired up my tires and downed a can of Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup.

Diggin' deep. ( thanks Brandon )

Lap four was quite warm and Team Momentum shared their for ice and filled my camelbak. At mile 5 I was joined by a teammate, T'tocs was doing a fun lap. It was during the next 2 miles he would confess to me that he was checking me out that morning. He had not realized it was me. Great - and now you're riding behind me looking at my butt. He replied "Ugh, not all the time- I have to pay attention out here." Considering he is 23, and I am 42, that felt awesome. I am glad he was with me when I need the entire plastic under sole portion of mt right shoe removed. Both shoes are almost useless now. The next 6 hours in them sucked.

I think I need new shoes

Looking back to the last two years at Burnin, I rode my entire 5th lap in the dark. This year I was 4 miles into my 6th lap before I had to turn on my lights. This alone made me feel I like I've done something right in my training. Taggort, another teammate, graced me with his presence on this lap. I had borrowed lights from Mr. Pryor and apparently didn't have the helmet light on tightly enough. Taggort stopped to help me put it on correctly and even offered me his lights to use instead. What a guy!

I was not prepared to ride in the dark. I left in the warm daylight and forgot to grab arm warmers. Dumb move for sure. On lap # 6 I got cold, bone chilling cold. The downhill, after the climb at mile 4, is super fast. At times, it was difficult to maintain the pace needed to stay warm. Once I felt the cold invade my bones I knew lap 7 would be even more difficult to stay warm.

I returned from my 6th lap at 8:27. I had 33 minutes to talk myself into going out again. There is no question, that if I had left on a 7th lap, I would have completed it. But, at what cost? Was it worth the agony of climbing those hills a 7th time? Hell yea. But was it worth the risk of getting hurt? Definitely not. Taggort was my voice of reason when I needed it. He helped me see there was no reason to go out again. The buckle was already mine. I had already surpassed last years result and Sydney would get her mommy back in one piece. That last thought alone sealed the deal.

I was thrilled to accept the prize and stand next to Gabrielle Renner, who also kicked major ass and completed 6 laps. She has a lot to be proud of. Six laps is no joke at Council Bluff.

(great photo Adam Rybar)

Dwayne met his goal of 10 laps. Team Seagals single speed boys snatched a buckle.

Jerks with Buckles

My husband's Clydesdale team with Brian and Keith also scored a buckle.

Gimme buckle please

You can look, but no touching

It was a great weekend.

The next day we rode up to a secret mountain top. I need to get clearance from the team before I tell you any more than that. Happy Trails.

Saying Goodbye

2011-10-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

Sheera

Last night I sold my first mountain bike. She was a 26r Giant Rincon, that weighed about 35lbs. I named her Sheera. That bike was so heavy, but I loved it . It was my stepping stone to earn a better bike.

I dusted her off and lubed the chain for the last time. She has been in the basement, hooked up to a trainer for the past 2 years. I threw a leg over her and took one last ride around the block. As I flipped through the gears I remembered several rides; doing 40 miles of the Ouachita Challenge in platform pedals, learning to ride clip-less pedals at Lost Valley, the rides with my daughter riding on the front in her special seat.

Bike Tutor Seat

Finally removed zip-ties from 2008 Ouachita Challenge

I hope the woman who gets her, rides the hell outta it. The bike has a way of changing you, if you let it. There is a road/trail to happiness just outside. A bike is a great way to see it. This bike was the vehicle that changed my life. I rode my way into a healthy lifestyle. I am glad Sheera will see daylight again. She deserves to be ridden. Do you have a bike you don't ride? Consider donating it or selling it to a newbie. You may just change their lives.

Short Post on Cowbell Run

2011-10-15T08:52:00.000-07:00

My picture with the cow

On Oct. 2nd I ran a half marathon in beautiful downtown St. Chuck with over 1500 runners. I will admit to feeling a little out of place. Runners are definitely different then cyclists.

Had a hard time getting 1500 people to pose

Jim was there, on his bike, to offer encouragement. The Cliff notes version is ....... I was doing great until mile 8.5. My first mile was well under 9 minutes. My four mile split was 35:37, still under 9 minute miles.

Trying to stay with the pack

By mile 8 I had slowed to a 9:19 pace. I was trying to conserve a little energy so I could have a strong finish. Just before mile 9, the hamstring started to act up. I had been having problems, for a couple weeks before the run, with my right hammie. It was only right that it should act up today.

So true

By mile 10 I had to stop and stretch. I must have looked like a wounded duck trying to keep moving forward. It wasn't pretty. I have a lot of respect for runners. Running is hard on the body. It takes practice to run efficiently and fast. I am still working on that.

Beautiful Lake to run by

My official finish time was 2:14:35. To put it in perspective.... I was #871 out of 1,407 finishers. I was #382 of 783 females and #61 of 135 in the 40-45 category. Not bad for a cyclist.

I received a sweet medal for finishing and an awesome cowbell and tech long sleeve t-shirt. I will be back next year. I am not going to stop running, that would be silly.

Buckle Blues

2011-10-13T15:26:00.000-07:00

I have been working on my Burnin' race report the last couple days. The writing has not gone very well. It's not that I don't want to write it, because I do. I have been dealing with the "aftermath" and it hasn't been pretty. I don't understand the way I feel right now. I have been riding an emotional roller-coaster all week. After I am done writing this I hope to get off the coaster and be my old self again.

The last couple weeks have been amazing for me. Why on earth would I be depressed? I proved that a mountain biker CAN run, if she wants to. I achieved a goal and won a highly coveted belt buckle this past weekend. So, why do I feel like sh*t ? Why do I feel so sad and empty? I should be happy, right?

I remember racing Burnin' in 2009. This was my first 12 hr race. I was totally surprised when I won. I carried my buckle in my pocket during the day, and slipped it under my pillow at night. I kept it polished and dust free. I could look at it and smile so big my face hurt. It was an incredible feeling being up on the podium. Truth be told, I have been chasing that feeling for the past two years.

Usually, after a race, I am able to sit back and enjoy the warm fuzzy. Why is my chin scraping the ground? I was thrilled to receive my buckle. I had worked hard for it. Why did the thoughts of " what's next " hit me on the drive home? The dust on the trail had not even settled and I was already thinking of Burnin' 2012.

Have you ever felt this way ? How do I get myself outta this?

I Made It

2011-10-11T10:17:00.000-07:00

If you don't read the Bike Shop Girl blog, you should start today.

Link

Arleigh is also in the running for Shape magazines favorite sports blog. You can vote for her here. Just do it, she deserves it.

Take A Kid Mountain Biking in Pictures

2011-10-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day for mountain biking. Thank you to all the sponsors and volunteers that helped make this an incredible event. Pat yourself on the back because the kids, and adults, had an awesome time.

Tent City

Safety talk before hitting the trail

Kids waiting patiently to enter the skills course

One of several obstacles

This girl rode form beginning to the very end

Never too young to start riding

See-Saw was no problem for Sydney ( Lisa T. photo credit)

Yes, she can

Crushing it

Ready to attack those cones

No problem

New to biking and very happy with her prize

Mountain Biking Mama and her boys

Girl power

Ready to hit the trail

Our event gets a thumbs up

Pretty in pink

I couldn't stop smiling all day

All smiles

After winning this helmet it was hard to keep from smiling

Kids love stickers

Can A Mountain Biker Run??

2011-09-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I can't believe I am going to say this...... I have found joy in running again. It's hard for me to grasp, considering I did my first run on July 17th and it was anything but joyful. I hated every step. I suffered in heat and humidity through two miles which took me 21 minutes. My mind wanted me to quit by the time I hit 1/4 mile. I was already out of breath. But, I couldn't quit. My son wanted me to run the Cowbell 1/2 marathon with him on Oct. 2nd. I was not going to let him down.

The prize

As the weeks passed running did get easier. I was starting to enjoy some of my runs. Not every one, just a few. I invested in some mid-level road running shoes since my trail shoes weren't cutting it on the pavement. I did not follow any specific plan. I just went with how I felt. I figured out mile markers around my neighborhood and just kept adding to them each week. I hit the trails up when I could. Twice I had company. Thanks Nicole. I did not time 80% of my runs. Especially after seeing that it was taking me nearly 10:30 to complete a mile.

Finding the balance between running and biking was not easy. Some days were better than others. I felt old and broken several times. I took days off and just walked when I felt bad. I did not quit. I could not quit. Trevor was depending on me. It became real after I signed up for the race. Fifty-five dollars was the price-tag. Damn, I could have put that $$ into my bike.

The race is this coming Sunday. I am excited to see how it goes. I have run 150 miles to train for this. More than some, less than others. I am confident I will finish, but have no goal time in mind. This month I have run several 8:25 miles, but it's doubtful I can hold that pace for the entire 13 miles. I did run a half marathon in just under 2 hours once. But, that was more than 10 years ago. Carrie Sona once said " I am just going to do my best" So, that is what I am going to do. Do my best.

What sucks is that I will be doing this run with 1500 strangers/runners. Trevor has decided not to join me. He wants his first race to be in California. His focus has always been Cali. He doesn't want this race to possibly affect him negatively. Plus, his race will be with other amputees. I get that. It is his choice. I am disappointed, but I am not mad. We all pick and choose the races we do, and sometimes we change our minds.

The other prize

Another thing that sucks is that there probably will not be any Pabst hand-ups. I am sure around mile 8 I would like one. So, if you are in the area.........

Letter to Goliath 2011

2011-09-22T09:13:00.000-07:00

I originally wrote this post back in April of 2010. I have a lot of friends racing this weekend and thought it was a perfect time to change a few words and throw it out there again. Remember where you came from and keep moving forward. Stay positive. Anything can happen. I wish you all the best.

Dear Goliath,

Hi, how are you? I hope your training is going well. You don't really know me. I have been observing you for a few years now. I have watched you grace the podium several times. I have seen the promoters hand you $$$, and some great schwag. This year you will not even recognize me. I have been working hard and cant wait to see what the end of the 2011 season has in store for me.

You see, I - WE- have:

trained ALL summer
suffered through the 100 degree weather, complete with humidity
completed looonnnnggg gravel rides
endured boring indoor rides on the trainer
worked on downhills
climbed a lot of hills, over and over
been doing P90X tapes, back to back
gained some speed
shed some weight
gotten more sleep
dropped my Clydsdale status
eaten healthy
skipped buffets
declined Happy Hours
upgraded my bike
started running
hired a trainer
tried yoga
ETC....

I realize you are strong, fast, talented, and have worked hard to get where you are. However, just because you have won so far doesn't mean sh*t. Prepare yourself for some pain. It will be you who will be pushed by me. You will feel me breathing down your back. Even if you don't see me, know that I am close. I will be watching for you to bobble, choke, have a flat/mechanical, or just run outta gas. When you least expect it... I will be there. Waiting to make my move.

I will be your competition these last few races. I foresee epic battles between us. Each one better than the last. I am looking forward to seeing you.

David

***** To all the Davids, you know who you are, keep up the hard work. It will pay off. *****

Lizard Skins Review Continued

2011-09-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

Cross season has just begun here in the Midwest. Are you searching frantically for some bar tape because yours sucks? Well, look no further. Lizard Skins has you covered. I wrote a review on their bar tape back in June. When I wrote that, Mother Nature was still serving up tame weather. I have reread it and I stand by everything I wrote. This post is a continuation. I want you to see how the tape is holding up to MO weather and my abuse.

Living in MO comes with a lot of heat and humidity. I rode my share this summer and sweated, like a man, all over this tape. My hands, sans gloves, did not slide nor did the tape feel sticky. Not even on those 100 degree days.

With approximately 1000 miles of getting to know this tape on my 2011 Kona cross bike, I still have not worn gloves. Not once. Even after a 75 mile gravel grinder my hands felt fine. I like feeling "one" with my bike. Lizard Skins tape allows me to feel connected/attached to it. As an added bonus, my hands have a great tan.

I expect to go the distance of the DK200 next year with this tape. The black compliments the bike beautifully, but I reserve the right to change it up. The lime green, orange, or the pink are good options. Any opinions?

Aftermath of Dirty Kanza

After the mud I encountered at DK I thought I had ruined the tape. I was surprised at how easily it wiped off. Much easier than cleaning the bike, which explains why it is still a mess in the picture.

Truth be told, the tape looks like it was just put on. Greg, at the Hub Bicycle Co, did an awesome job for me.

Picture taken on June 17th

Exactly the same

I know that there are many options when it comes to bar tape. So, do you homework. Lizard Skins bar tape comes in seven colors and runs about $ 35 - $40 dollars. You can definitely find cheaper. I found some online for less than $10. But remember, you get what you pay for. I suggest giving your bike some love and skipping dinner out once this month. Priorities. After all, it is cyclocross season.

What's In My Bag

2011-09-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

When I first started mountain biking I carried a plethora of gear. I took "everything but the kitchen sink" for a seven mile ride. I didn't know what I should be carrying, so I just grabbed a lot of stuff. I have pared down my gear to just the essentials over the years. Depending on the weather, or length of the ride, I don't even use a backpack. Two years ago, my husband bought me a Mountain Feed Bag. The bag velcros right onto the handlebars and stem. There is also a third strap securing it to the fork crown.

Revelate Designs shows how to use two

The bag doesn't move. Trust me when I tell you " you won't even know it's there". It can be easily opened with one hand while riding. Yep, even I can do it. This bag has changed my life and has left my packs hanging in the garage waiting for the epic rides.

I can fit almost everything in it for an average ride to an endurance ride. There is plenty of room for food, tools, keys,etc. What doesn't fit inside will fit in the dual sided mesh pockets. Everything you see above fits in the bag.

List: multi tool
gel- used as emergency tire boot or emergency energy
gum, lifesavers
CO2 with head x2
tire lever
extra tube, in tube sock with extra lever and CO2
$5 spot
Road Id - Never leave home without it

I keep my phone in this handy bag with fold over top and drawstring. It has saved the IPhone from certain death by water, humidity and my sweat several times. Well worth the $5 I paid at Walmart.

I have a hand pump on my bike in case of CO2 failure. Duct tape is wrapped around the pump. Duct tape has several uses, such as emergency band-aids, so I like to have some just in case.

A couple of Flight Crew members posted what they carry. Jerry Hazard and Dan Lucas carry a lot of sh*t. I thought myself, as the girl ,would carry more. Didn't you? What's in your bag?

Skinny

2011-09-14T10:10:00.000-07:00

My friend Nicole joined me for a run a couple weeks back. We met at Lewis and Clark Trail-head, my favorite running trail. The first words out of her mouth were " you look so skinny". I said thanks, we chatted briefly and then began our run. I would hear those words, over and over, while covering the miles. She said skinny. Did I really look skinny? Was she just being nice? Just yesterday, we met for a run, at the same venue, and she said " you look even skinnier". Seriously? Damn, that's not the look I was shooting for.

Six years ago, I would have sold my soul to hear that. I would have done anything to be skinny. So, why did those words irritate me so much today? All girls like to hear they look skinny, don't they? Well, this one doesn't. Not anymore. I don't want to be skinny. I don't even want to be thin. However, I like the word "lean". Craig Siebert asked me once if I " was working on my lean". Huh, that's one way to put it.

I know she didn't say the word skinny to hurt me. As we ran, I voiced my problem with the word skinny. I told her I wanted to give off healthy and strong. Definitely not skinny. We discussed how our perception of ourselves had changed over the last few years. It was totally different than in our 20's and 30's. My perception had done a 180. I did not have a weight problem until I was 30, sometime in 2000. It hit me really hard. I thought that I just needed to get skinny and skinny as quickly as possible. What I learned was, I really needed to be healthy. And, it wasn't going to happen quickly. It is real funny how your mind changes when you let your mind change you. Make sense?

I changed my mind from being skinny to being healthy. I recall dwelling on what the scale said. The scale was not my friend. The scale informed me if I was having a skinny day or a fat day.The scale set my tone for the day. My attitude was set by the number glaring back at me. However, the scale never told me how healthy I was. I am not a quitter, but I quit the scale. I began caring more about how I felt. I was no longer going to chase skinny. No longer chasing a number. I was going after something bigger. My health. Changing my mind set me free. Free of the nasty scale. Free to discover and eat healthy foods. Free to reeducate myself. And the freedom to concentrate on a healthy lifestyle. Once I freed myself the weight dropped off.

Once I let the idea of skinny go, it opened me up to being happy. Happy with myself. Happy with my body. Happy with my life. Happy with the positive direction I had taken. Health and happiness go hand in hand. Don't you agree?

Writing 101

2011-09-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

My first writing class was last Wednesday, Aug 31st. I found the school quickly and arrived early enough to do some deep breathing. I had no idea what to expect from the teacher and was nervous about meeting the other students. I was out of my comfort zone. Would there be any cyclists?

I took a seat at the front of the class. I don't want to miss anything. I silently told my brain to check in and absorb everything. This class is important to me. I will get out of it what I put into it. That said, I plan to get my moneys worth.

There are nine of us in class. How's that for a student to teacher ratio? Nicole, our teacher, asked us to introduce ourselves and explain why we were taking the class. Out of the nine, seven work outside the home. A couple of the guys probably have to wear ties during the day. After the introductions, we got down to business.

I attended Catholic School from the first grade until graduation. We had to dissect sentences everyday in English class. I became a pro at finding the subject, verbs, adverbs, etc. For our first class we were going to revisit and refresh what we learned in grade school. What is an adverb? What is a verb? We pointed out the subject of the sentence and re-familiarized ourselves with nouns and pronouns, plural and singular. Are you still with me? Does your brain hurt ? Mine sure did. I was surprised that I had remembered quite a bit after all these years. Maybe I did learn something useful in Catholic school.

Nicole gave us a handout that listed the " Rules of Writing". Yes, there are rules. If you want to take your writing to another level, another audience, or make money , you will need to follow them. But, remember " rules are made to be broken" sometimes . The last fifteen minutes were spent in small groups discussing the topics we had chosen. Each student would be responsible for writing one paper. Can you guess what my topic is?

That statement really sums it up

The hour and a half flew by so fast. Dammit, I wanted more. Nicole gave us homework and we were dismissed. I drove home that night excited and eager for my next class. I did not feel intimidated at all by the class, teacher, or students. This is going to be a good thing.

Take A Kid Mountain Biking

2011-09-08T15:10:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendar Mom's and Dad's for Sat. Oct. 1st. Gateway Off-road Cyclists- GORC , is putting on it's annual Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day at Brommelseik Park. The event will begin at 10am and end at 2pm. I have been out and about visiting your local bike shops gaining their support. We are very pleased to have so many sponsors this year. We will have several mechanic's on duty, along with demo bikes for kids to try. There will be a skills clinic and guided trail rides. The event is FREE. All you need to do is call 636-949-7535 to pre-register.

If you are in the first 100 registered, your child will receive a goody bag. There is a lot of schwag to be won also. I have picked up shirts, gloves, helmets, and other goodies from our generous sponsors. What more could you want? I will be there with my daughter, a niece and a nephew. This is a great opportunity to expose a child to riding. Let them see first hand why you do what you do. All the cool kids will be there.

This event is sponsored by: St. Charles County Parks, GORC, IMBA, The Hub, Granada Cyclery, Momentum Cycles, MESA Cycles, Alpine Shop, Big Shark West, Peloton Cyclery, REI, Backwoods, Airborne Bicycles and 2nd Street Bike Stop Cafe.

Goblin Racing Pics

2011-09-06T13:30:00.000-07:00

The proof has arrived. I was there. Well, kind of.

A picture says a thousand words.

These pictures were taken by Andrew Welker. A special thank you to one of my followers, Susan, for bringing them to my attention. Enjoy

Ready for the descent

Grab my wheel fella

Almost to the top, you still hangin' on?

Sweet finish

TTM was there too

Can the Goblin teach an old dog new tricks?

2011-09-01T10:22:00.000-07:00

**** This post has been sitting for too long waiting on photos. If they turn up I will put them out there ***

My husband bought me my first mountain bike in Oct. of 2007. It had gears and weighed in at 35 lbs. I had a lot of difficulty learning how to ride and learning to shift gears at the same time. It was very overwhelming. He saw my frustration and within six months he handed down his Spesh single speed. I only had to pedal and keep the rubber side down.

Fast forward to this year, getting the Airborne gig, and receiving a geared bike. I was determined to give it another try. I know how to ride a bike now, I know how to climb hills, I know how to jump stuff, ride rocks and techy stuff. I just need to learn what gear to be in when I do these things. How hard could it be?

Heading out

This past Sunday, there was a 3hr race pretty close to home. I heard this race was fun, well organized, and the course was fast and flowing. I figured this to be a perfect race to see where I am at with the Goblin. I did a practice lap and liked the course, but found it more ss friendly. There was a lot of little grunts and a small hill that would put me all over the gears. My plan was to learn and hang in there for the full 3 hours.

Sitting at the start line I realized I forgot my gloves. Very bad move . It was only 92 but, very humid. I almost crashed while trying to hold on to the bars with sweaty hands. Before starting lap 2 I got my gloves on and resumed chasing the 3 girls ahead of me. Around Lap 3, Mother Nature gave me a present. You know me well enough to know I did not stop. Thanks goodness for padded black bibs.

Like my bell?

I kept pedaling and getting frustrated with myself. It seemed that I was in the wrong gear about 80% of the time. I will spare you the details of wanting to quit. About Lap 5 I started repeating " this is only a test" in hopes it would relax me a little. I did not want to think of the 3 girls ahead of me making it look so easy. I completed 8 laps, which was good enough for me. I thought I would have done better. But why? It took me over 3 months to learn my cross bike's gears, and that was on the road. Why did I think I could learn gears on a mountain bike in a couple of months? I don't want to give up just yet. But, how long does it take? Those nice folks at Airborne said I could make my Goblin a single speed if I wanted, so there is always that option.

There was a terrific partay on the hill, after the climb. They were serving up Pabst, ice cold. One surely wouldn't hurt me. Kellan, my bar tender on said hill, made sure to have a cup of swallows ready for me. Thanks Kellan and Cyclewerks for a great time.

The Goblin and I pedaled our way to a 4th place finish. I am proud to have hung in there nonetheless. I learned that I am not ready to race the gears just yet. And I see a lot of practice in my future. Seriously tho, how long did it take you to learn gears?

You've come a long way baby.....

2011-08-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

I found inspiration this morning. I did not get her name. I was out for a run, with about a mile left, and I saw her. She was roughly 5 ft 5 and weighed easily 250 plus. She was walking to her ipod and really working hard. I gave her a high five and told her "Great job".. She smiled and said the same. I have seen her around the neighborhood before today. She doesn't know it, but she is my inspiration.

I am the blonde 2005. About 220

Upon seeing her I immediately went back to how I felt when I was obese. It left me with chills. At 5 ft 4 and 3/4 I used to weigh in at 220. I am pretty sure that qualified me as obese. I remember how much my body hurt, how many tears I cried , and how I just wanted to be my old self again. I would have done ANYTHING to weigh the 125 I weighed when I married in 1999.

May 2011 Weighing 147!!!!

I am living proof that it can be done. If you have some motivation and inspiration you can do a lot. Your starting point is just that. The next time I see her I will get her name , her story, and see if she would like a walking buddy. I will also tell her that even though I only had a mile left, I tacked on another one because she inspired me to. Wohooooo I got in 6 miles today. My longest run this year!

The Goblin Shreds Lost Valley

2011-08-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

Since being fired on Monday, I have been spending time with my " two- wheeled therapist's". After enjoying two days on the road, I took the Goblin out for some dirt. A couple of my rides where not as good as they could have been. Through no fault of the bike. My fault entirely. I had a rough time dealing with the 100 degree heat and I bonked.

Wednesday was a beautiful day for the Goblin to take on Lost Valley. A short 15 minute drive and I was on a magnificent trail all by myself. I saw a few runners leaving , but did not see another human. I was excited to practice gears and get a better feel for the new fella in the stable. I have a 24 hr race, two 12 hr races and a 60 miler left to my season. I would like to use this bike, but need some more on time on it. Now, all I have is time.

Basking in the sun

I love the descent into LV, in fact, I used to be terrified of it. But, once I saw I could make it pedaling down and still stay upright, I hammer down it every time. I take the climb up the middle, which was easy riding the Goblin. I think Airborne should have called it the Goat. Might be hard to sell. Once I reached the " new stuff" I was comfortable and just let the bike flow. Being familiar with the trail I started to go faster than I normally do. Primarily a single speeder I don't get the chance to hammer 20 mph plus thru the flats. Today was a different story all- together. As the first lap ticked off, I got a little full of myself with my new found speed. I almost lost it several times, but have no flesh wounds.

Awesome 'shroom

I headed out for the second lap and was a bit more conservative since I was still alone. I was enjoying myself and just flying along one of the flat sections, when I looked up to see a squirrel in the middle of the trail. I thought he would move. He didn't. I ran over his tail and he made the oddest sound. I can't duplicate it but will always remember it.

I am still figuring out the gears, but can tell I have gotten much better. practice makes perfect right?

It's dirty! No trail was harmed.

Getting Fired

2011-08-13T16:31:00.000-07:00

On Monday I will lose my job. It's okay. I knew this day was coming. I have been preparing for this for a long time. I just didn't think it would be here so quick. I enjoyed my job. Every day was different from the last. Some days were more fun than others, but all in all, I loved my job. My day would start early, end late and there was a ton of overtime. I didn't make very much money. In fact, I never got a paycheck. I never complained, well not loudly enough to be heard. Ha Ha

I have been a stay at home Mom since Feb. 15 2006. I was in the restaurant biz for over 20 years. Worked every position. Serving and tending bar were my faves. I made great $$$$. There's only one problem..... I can't go back. I would not last a day, probably not an hour. I served and over-served people on a daily basis. Mostly shit-food. I made people fat and fatter. I just can't do that anymore. Plus, I wouldn't be able to ignore the young fellas talking right to my chest. Yup, that happened a lot.

I am on a journey to find a healthy job. I know they are out there, but not sure where to look yet. I would like a non-smoking, positive, and energetic environment . If that's not asking too much. I have lots of passion and want to be around others who do. No drama, no bullsh*t, and no whining. If I am surrounded by like- minded folks I will be happy. I am anxious to see what's out there, however, I am not in any hurry to find this needle in a hay-stack. Jim has already informed me several times that there is no hurry. Plus, I have plenty of things to keep me busy around the house. I see a lot of painting in my future. UGH!

I have signed up for a writing class that starts the end of August. It will be my first time in a class since 1987. It's not supposed to be an intimidating class. As with all things, I'll let you know. I have really enjoyed writing throughout my life. Often thought of writing a book. Maybe this class will help me to write better and open another door. Who knows, maybe BIKE Magazine will come knocking someday. Hmmm, like my own column for ladies over 40???? Dream a little with me.

Kindergarten Orientation

On Monday Sydney officially starts Kindergarten. I am very excited for her, but also feel like I am going to throw up in my mouth. I know that she is more than ready to go. She will even be riding the bus. And I will be right behind on my bike. Only for a couple days. How else can I see how this fella Mr. Mike drives? He is carrying some very precious cargo, not to be taken lightly. It's almost 3 miles to school. A lot can happen.

First Run

2011-08-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

Almost 23 years ago, a nurse handed me my son and I was afraid I would break him. I remember being very careful when I held him, like he was fragile glass. I had no idea what he would be capable of. I knew this was going to be a tough journey for him, but I wanted to make it as easy as possible. I know God knew what He was doing when He gave me Trevor. I just hoped He was right. Trevor endured a 7+ hour surgery at Shriner's Hospital, having his legs removed from above the knee. I was a huge runner back then and used running as my way of dealing with life. It was not easy, but here we are, almost 23 yrs later.

Not one person could have told me back then what my son would be capable of. I apparently " won the lottery", so to speak, since his condition did not even have a name back then. I remember taking it day by day and NEVER told Trev that he could not do anything. We wanted him to find his way himself and learn what he could and could not do on his own. He has definitely surprised me by going after life and learning how to do things most of us take for granted.

Half man-Half machine

On Tues night, I got to run with him fro the first time. I probably should have NOT done a 20 mile ride before, but I have to take my rides when I can get them. It was a cool evening, which is better for both of us. Trevor's legs are held on by suction, so when it's hot, he has a potential to throw one. Not a good thing. We set off from the house and intended to run 2 miles.

Trevor started the pace, damn he is faast. I will need to pick up the pace. He made it look so easy. He was running without any effort at all it seemed. He wasn't even breathing hard. After mile 1, I slowed down a bit and started to watch him from behind. I noticed he wasn't lifting his left leg as much as his right. I asked him if he was compensating his left side a little. He said Yes and how did I know that. After my explanation we talked about videoing his runs so he could get a better idea of what I was referring to. It would help him a lot to see his form and could him improve on it.

Mile 2 was hard for me. My legs were not used to running as fast as this, Trevor was about 15 seconds ahead by this point. As we were in the home stretch I watched him fall. HARD. I was not close enough to see what had caused it, but as I reached the spot, I saw a lot of cracked pavement. He was not hurt and just shook it off. Standing back while watching him fall brought back several bittersweet memories. When I was teaching him to walk on his first set of prosthetic's he fell a lot. I was told to stand back, with no emotion, and let him get back up by himself. Still brings tears to my eyes. I know it was the best thing to do now, but that doesn't change how it felt then.

We finished our run in less than 18 minutes. Both of us in one piece and no blood. I look forward to doing may more of these runs with him, or behind him, as the case may be. We are going to do this together in Oct. As together as we can!

*** If you read this, you can see what we are working on next. It's going to be a busy end to summer ***

An Education Or An A$$kickin'

2011-08-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a beautiful day for a ride. Limited on time, I headed out with my cross-bike . I chose some hills, stayed in the big ring and pedaled. My legs felt great and very strong. Is this a pay-off from the running? All smiles with 4 miles until home, an inconsiderate young male driver made a huge faux-pas right in front of me. I was rolling along about 18mph as he chose to accelerate into a parking lot and cut me off. I clearly had the right of way, as other motorists honked at him and shot him some looks that kill. I slammed on my brakes, as well as you can slam on cantilever's, and yelled " What are you doing?" As I pedaled a few more feet I was engulfed with rage.That's it! I was ready to rip this guys head off. How could he do that to me? Who did he think he was? I was going to teach this guy a lesson. I took a quick right that lead behind the strip mall. I would find him in the lot and give him an ass kickin'.

He ALMOST hit me! He COULD have injured me! He COULD have killed me! Lucky for both of us, I was paying attention. I know he saw me, He looked right at me while he pushed on the pedal. He did not even look back as I almost flung myself over the bars trying to stop Normally, I would never go after someone, especially a male. In this situation I felt safe. It was a very busy parking lot and there were many shoppers milling about.

As I passed the last building I scanned the lot. I spotted him. He had no idea I was coming after him. I was his worst nightmare right now. I was going to make damn sure he NEVER put a cyclist in harms way again. He was reaching for the door, to return to work at JC Penney's, when I said, " Hey, you could have killed me!" The look on his face was priceless, shock and confusion. A true WTF expression. He's right where I want him. Now, do I deliver the ass kickin' or give him an education? I hopped off my bike and walked towards him. He let go of the door. I quickly sized him up. I could take him if necessary. Looking around, I realized that there were other people about to witness this. I undid my helmet.

He was early 20's, maybe he didn't know any better? His eyes showed he was truly sorry, even before he said " I am so sorry ma'am. My bad." Ya think! I explained that I could not stop on a dime, like his car, and if either of us had been going any faster/slower I would have made an ugly hood ornament. He would be on his way to jail. I told him I ride because I love it and it keeps me healthy. I said I have to follow all the rules of the road and so does he. I informed him that I have a 5yr old girl at home waiting for me. [ I hoped to show him that it may be someone's Mom or Dad on the bike.] He apologized several more times. I asked him to slow down and please watch out for other cyclists like me. Share the road!

I know, I should have given him the ass kickin' huh? It took me about a minute to ride behind the strip mall. I experienced several emotions as my heart beat out of my chest. As I rounded the last building, my voice of reason said, " if you attack him, in any way, you are no better than he is. " There are so many negative stories of cyclists and motorists. I did not need to create another one. My initial reaction proves I am human. It wasn't right, but I believe I handled it correctly in the end. Thank God for the whisper in my ear.

Running with the Devil

2011-08-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

I used to be a runner. I used to run everyday before work and also sometimes after work. I was one of those " obsessed " runners always chasing the runner high. I did many road races in my day, everything from 5k to completing 6 full marathons. Running was my escape from the world. In 2000 I was hurt at work and tore all my ligaments off my ankle. All running came to a screeching halt. Surgery and physical therapy for over a year followed. I was told I would never be able to run again. The stress of running on my ankle would be tremendous so I stopped running. I quit.

Not being able to run was very painful for me and my family. I ate to feel better and put on almost 100lbs in 2 years time. I wish I had been introduced to cycling back then. I tried to run, many times, but failed miserably. At 200lbs I was not very light on my feet and felt I couldn't do it. I gave up and ate some more. I am so glad that person does not exist anymore.

Fast forward to 2007. My husband wanted to do the Castlewood 8HR adventure race. I had began mountain biking about 2 months prior. I started running again and it was real painful at first, but as the weeks passed, I forgot about the pain. I really wanted to do this race. Jim and I took 2nd coed in our first race! From that moment, I told myself that I would learn to deal with being uncomfortable and never let it stop me again. And it hasn't. Here's proof

However, being able to ride a bike for many hours and put in insane mileage does NOT mean sh*t when you are running. When I first started 3 weeks ago, I found this fact out quickly. I realized there is no coasting to catch my breath either. I found a pace I could handle in the early morning heat and stayed with it for 2 miles. Sounds lame, I know. But, you have to start somewhere. I am currently up to 3 mile runs with plans to go further. Much further. I promised my boy that I would do this with him in Oct. How amazing will it be to stand at the start/ finish with him? I would never have guessed I would be given this opportunity. I hope I can keep up.

With all of this running I am doing, I think some cross races are definitely in order. I hope some of the running fitness also helps on the bike. I have a 12hr race and a 24 hr race in Sept.. Stay tuned to see how that plays out....

Happy Monday

2011-08-01T06:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! Did we all have a nice weekend? I planned a nice weekend, but.... you know how that goes. On Sat, I headed out to Lost Valley , Goblin in tow. I was looking forward to riding with a couple of "girl's over 40" , since I am usually a solo rider. Mother Nature obviously did not approve. While I was waiting for them I received texts and calls that rain was headed my way. They wouldn't be coming. Lots of rain and lightning showed up 5 minutes later. What a cruel day. Maybe I will get a rain-check, no pun intended.

Today is a great day to check out this blog. Why, you may ask? Because, I wrote it. Greg is vacationing in Colorado and invited several blogger's to write a guest blog. I am very excited mine was chosen for today. Leave a comment and let Greg know you were there . { And that my write- up didn't suck.} Greg has started a column on Thrifty Thrashing, giving mountain biker's tips on how to save $$$ and how to pick your battles .I love the last post, Tip #4. That is exactly how we do things. Ride it until it falls apart. But, I would NEVER race that way. New to semi-new tires are necessary for racin'.

Greg's blog is very organized, so you can find a specific post rather quickly. You can become a follower while you are there by clicking on the ' join this site ' tab on the right. He has posts for beginner's, everything from learning to shift to washing your bike. Lot's of great info from an experienced mountain biker. He does gear reviews and writes for singletracks.com. Greg is on FaceBook ,under Greg Rides Trails page, so go there and " like it ". All the cool kid's have. Like I said earlier, he is in Colorado and is sure to post some amazing pictures, video, and include some stories about riding his Goblin out there.

CrossTraining With Bears

2011-07-24T11:51:00.001-07:00

I love this spot

Last weekend, Mr. TTM and I planned to manicure the entire 13 miles at CB. A day of weed eating 'n sawing trees. How romantic huh? On Sun. we would ride our handiwork. I had no idea how much effort it was going to take. Hiking 13 miles with a 20lb pack and carrying a weed-eater down one side of the trail as Jim did the other didn't sound too hard. Should be a good workout. I should have asked more questions.

Weapons

Armed with our tools of destruction we were on the trail by 7am. It was going to be 115 heat index so we wanted to get an early start.

We started our annihilation of weeds on the downhill from the campground { or the bitch slap climb at Burnin'}, where the trail is covered in poison ivy and boasts several rose and wild berry bushes. It was cool to get to use our new saw. This saw is badass and definitely worth the price tag.

Lost an hour ride time here

only pic of me working

I found it very easy to use and quickly learned my upper body needs work. The first mile took us 1 hour and 15 min. It was going to be along day. I should have asked more questions.

Spillway

This was definitely cross training at its best. We were lugging backpacks and bulky professional eaters while sweating a river. I assumed I would be using an eater like I have at home. Never assume. I should have asked more questions. However, I would rather do this kind of thing outdoors than be in a crowded, stinky gym.

Before

After

Jim and I are a great team. We work well together and remind each other to eat, drink, and be merry. You can't get behind on your bug spray or sunscreen either. You will pay dearly if you do. You need to have a superior attitude and flexible sense of humor to deal with what you are doing. Especially in the heat. Tempers need to be kept at bay in order to be productive. Breaks are mandatory.

The Dam Wide Open

At the end of our 11 hour and 18 min day, we had cleared several trees and opened up 7 miles of trail. Yup, it's open like a corridor. Go see for yourself. It's lovely. ***** Jim was down there this weekend and has done a LOT more. I am sure there will be a full report somewhere.!?

Goblin resting

Weekend home

Now, let's talk about the Bear. There is at least one Black bear at CB. We have not met, but I have seen his evidence. Jim showed me where the bear had moved a tree to find food. His prints and scrapings where there. I say we hire the bear to move trees off the trail, since the one he moved was huge and very heavy. He made a personal appearance at our campsite #19 at 2am.

We both heard him and did not make a sound. He was snorting, making blowing noises, and moving about. It was too dark to see him. He hung out for an eternity and than left. He came back again, making noises and danced around and finally left. As I laid in my Eno, I prayed. I was pretty sure I was not going to meet my Maker by being eaten by a bear. But, I also kept in mind that we did look like two burritos hanging in the trees.

*** After a little reading it seems the bear was making those blowing sounds because he was scared . Hopefully he was scared of our hammocks. ****

Until next time..... Happy Riding

Bears and Goblins at Council Bluff

2011-07-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

I got in some more Goblin time this past weekend at Council Bluff Lake. After a full day of trail recon on Saturday, Jim and I rode a loop, 13 miles, on Sunday. It was not the most enjoyable ride, which had nothing to do with the bike. The day had started out cool, but raised in temp to almost 100 by 11 am. The trail is very overgrown in several areas. Its a big deal to me since I am highly allergic to poison ivy and that sh*t is everywhere. Its on the trail and in the campground. I do not care to have my arms sliced up by rose bushes either. We were able to remove a couple trees and kill some rose bushes while getting this ride in. We had the trail all to ourselves.

Trying out the new hand saw.

The Goblin performed well as we completed our first loop at CB. Until now, this trail has only been seen by my single speed. Wow, what a difference gears make. I was able to haul ass in the flats where I usually spin my brains out. I am still getting the hang of down shifting before I get to a climb. I just need more practice. I am very fortunate to have this sweet green machine to learn on. Don't be jealous. Airborne has plenty of them, in your size and very affordable. Whatcha waiting for??? Buy one already.

Weekend in Pictures

2011-07-11T06:20:00.004-07:00

After leaving the Dirt Crits, we were at Bass by 11pm. Jim placed 17th, by the way.

We slept here on Thurs and Fri evening. Mine is orange and Jim's is the blue

Sydney was not far from us in her own Hennessey Hammock.

FRIDAY

All of us before the 6 mile float . It was my niece and my sister's in laws first time in a canoe.

This is how the girl's took in the sights.

Swimming with Dad

Jim showing off

Sydney takes after her Dad

SATURDAY

Had to go.

The Goblin meets The Berryman

Jim looked this good all day

Goblin time

SUNDAY

New signage at Council Bluff

Beginning of our night paddle to "our home in the trees"

It just got better

Our resting place Sat evening and Sun morn

Playing

Mitch and Jim at the top

Me at the top of Council Bluff

MONDAY

Leaving on an EPIC adventure at 130pm

Getting started

Shot timed perfectly

Been there. Done that.

Saw this in a restroom. Should have just gone outside?!

What the......

Seen around Cottelville

Katy Trail

When there is no Pabst, drink Stag

Riding home watching fireworks. Home at 1107pm

What did you do????

A Girl and Her Goblin

2011-07-08T08:34:00.005-07:00

This past holiday weekend I finally got some " Goblin Time ". The plan was to ride the Berryman Trail, a 24 mile loop on Sat, then ride Council Bluff trail , 12 mile loop on Sun, and on Mon, ride the GORC Firecracker Epic , about 40 miles in 3 County Parks connected by the Katy Trail. I have learned that just because I plan it, doesn't mean it will happen.

We were on the Berryman by 11:30 Sat. It was a stifling 100 degrees on the trail with absolutely no wind. To make it short, my body freaked and I had trouble breathing. I have never felt this miserable and could not overcome it.

However, my legs felt great and could have gone all day. After riding 12 miles of sweet trail and 3 of gravel, I was cooked. Tomorrow is another day.

The Goblin was quite impressive his first time out. Riding gears in the Cali sand was way easier than on the Mo trails. There are plenty of roots and rocks here to navigate and hills to climb. The SRAM X7 2x10 shifters were very smooth considering I was behind them. I have a bit of a learning curve here since 80% of my mountain biking has been on a single speed. There were several climbs, and you know how I like to climb. I quickly found out there was no way I could stand and mash one out in the heat. I sat patiently and spinned right up them. After a nice long hill I said " Holy Sh*t, this bike climbs like a goat". And I mean it. I even climbed sections I have difficulty with on my ss. Mr. Goblin cornered very well and rolled through switchbacks with ease. I am liking that.

The Kenda small block 8's were a good choice for this trail. They rolled easily over the roots and rocks. The San Marco saddle was comfy, but this was a short ride. Saddles are a personal choice and NOT one kind fits all. As of now , it's not an issue.

Sunday at Council Bluff was a much better experience. Mother Nature made it rain and then killed the heat entirely. It was 75 degrees by 4pm . It was 'Goblin time' again. We spent the next few hours with Mitch the Mashor. What a treat.

We started by bushwacking a few miles before we got to the trail. While we rode I worried I was knicking and scratching my brand new bike. Upon inspection, there was no sign of the abuse. I even dropped it once. Honestly, he threw me, but there are two sides to every story.

We came to a HUGE rocky downhill section where I found that the RockShox Reba RL fork did it's job. It absorbed the shock of the terrain very well. I did end up falling once, under the bike, and decide to walk the really rough stuff so I could ride tomorrow.

Sunday was a huge confidence builder. Council Bluff hosts several technical climbs that I have difficulty finishing. Not this time though. The Goblin and I nailed 'em.

There has been a lot said about the weight of this bike. All I am going to say for now is.... It ain't that heavy!

Monday's Firecracker Epic was cancelled. Yup, it rained . I can't wait to hop on this bike again and ride the trails I am fortunate to be close to. Maybe my plans will actually work out. Stay tuned.....

Half Man Half Machine Blog

2011-07-06T06:10:00.001-07:00

A new blog has hit the internet folks and I wanted to bring it it your attention. After some gentle nudging, my son Trevor has started blogging and is using his site to journal his training for this race in California. He has written a few entries already, so stop by and check it out. Leave a comment or become a follower and let him know what you think. You will also find out about a new race we are going to be running together, yes I said running. You are going to enjoy watching this. I guarantee it.

Great Green Goblins

2011-06-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

Back in March, I was accepted to be part of the Airborne Flight Crew. In April I was given an all expense trip to California to attend Sea Otter and partake in a photo shoot. It was such an amazing experience that it took several posts to get it all out there. In case you missed something.......

The first week of May a huge box was delivered to my door. It contained my very own Goblin. I wanted to tear into that box and put it together. I had waited patiently for this bike and now I wanted to get to know it. Regrettably, I had to push the box into a corner. I had three single speed races in May and really needed to ride my ss. There was so much rain , I only managed a handful of rides.

California

The third week of May I built my Goblin. I opened the box, within a box, to find the frame and wheels smothered in bubble wrap, cardboard, and foam. I have never seen anything like it. Zip ties everywhere. This bike was packed so well I think it could have fallen from the freight plane and not sustained any damage. I did have pictures of the unwrapping and the build, unfortunately , my Iphone took on some water and was destroyed. Check out this awesome video from FC member Brent Davidson.

I have never put a bike together, so I was very relieved to see that Airborne did 80% of it for me. Hell, they even inflated the tires. Who does that? About 20 minutes later I had successfully put it together. All by myself! Now all I needed was for Mother Nature to cut me a break. Here in the Midwest, trails have been closed more often than open.I have been forced to ride the road, a lot of road . I had been training for the June DK200 , and there I would be using my cross-bike. I had been looking forward to this race, but also wanted it over so I could begin my relationship with the ' new guy ' in the stable. All the followed was more rain, trail closures, and frustration. I planned an epic with the Goblin, had a sitter for the day. Yep, you guessed it. Buckets of Rain. Several races have been cancelled to prevent trail damage. I would much rather build new trail than repair trail damaged by some thoughtless riders.

I also had eye surgery this week and am recovering well. I hope the Dr. lets me loose to ride sooner than 2 weeks. Breaking in the Airborne Goblin will be a pleasure. All mine. I have decided that I will run this bike exactly the way it came out of the box. Well, except for one adjustment, adding Ergon grips and bar ends. I want to see how this bike holds up without making any upgrades. I want to see how it performs after some long rides and how it will handle my abuse and MO trails. I like the Kenda small block 8's and plan to run them as much as I can. They are not my fave choice for every trail or trail condition tho.

As soon as I am released to ride I will hop on the Goblin. Gears are cool, lots of choices. I will now have choices! It's kinda funner to be faster sometimes. I have been adapting with one gear for a while now. I am thinking about doing some races on it. Watch out local experts. HaHa I know I have a ways to go. I am confident that 'his green-ness' will be the bike to take me there. I ride because I want to be better, and because it's fun. It's also fun to get better and podium once in a while.

Lizard Skins Review

2011-06-17T11:50:00.001-07:00

Bar ends not included

Last April I had the opportunity to attend Sea Otter in California, courtesy of Airborne Bicycles. Along with meeting the Flight Crew members, I met Pam Sayler. She is the North Atlantic Sales Manager for Kinetic training. After chatting with her I knew she would be a good person to know. Later that day she brought me a gift. It was some Lizard Skins bar tape. Perfect. I was needing some for my Kona JTS. The tape that came on it was white, and with over 2000 miles now a real dingy white, and I wanted to replace it before the DK200 .

I have zero experience with bar tape so I trusted her when she said it was "the good stuff". I do not know who the manufacturer of the original tape that came on my bike is. In comparison I noticed immediately that the Lizard Skins were much thicker and appeared more durable. I had Gino, at the HUB, wrap the LS tape over the existing tape. I was wondering if this was a good decision. I felt confident having done so when Tyler said, " I don't normally approve of double wrapping, but yours I like". Tyler would know.

Yep

I put a few hundred miles of wear on this tape and another 115 miles of gnarly Kansas gravel before writing this review. I must say that I am shocked about a couple of things I found. First, I was surprised at how I did NOT need cycling gloves. I like wearing gloves, but found I enjoyed the feeling of this tape on my bare hands. I feel more connected to my bike. The tape was soft, yet felt firm. It seemed to absorb a lot of the bumps in the road I usually felt. My hands did not hurt even after 50 miles of road. This tape did not feel sticky, and you know how important that is if you live in the hot and humid Midwest. Second, it cleaned up amazingly well. After my race ended in Kansas, my bike and bars were covered in disgusting tacky, thick mud. I was a little worried I might have ruined the tape in just one race. However, it cleaned up quite easily and still looked brand new afterwards.

Below is a picture of my bar tape vs. Jim's. The Lizard Skins tape is on the right. You can immediately see the difference. I am not knocking Jim's tape, however, his already has signs of wear and is coming undone after only 5 months. Good thing he knows where he can order some.

I am extremely satisfied with my Lizard Skins and will NEVER purchase another brand. I highly suggest you head over here and get some for yourself. They have many colors to choose from. They even have a video on how to install. Be careful not to stretch it too much and use light pressure when wrapping. Or, take it to your bike mechanic and have them install it for you.

Thanks Pam for turning me on to this amazing tape and giving me the opportunity to test it. I am also still willing to cut up my Cyclops with a chainsaw in order to try your Kinetic Trainer!!! Yes, even on video.

If you are reading this review, there is an update here. Lizard Skins is still going strong.

I was Robbed at the Dirty Kanza

2011-06-10T17:17:00.000-07:00

This past summer, I ordered a Kona 2011 Jake the Snake, specifically to complete the Dirty Kanza 200. Having been discouraged from trying this on a single speed, I learned the gears and rode the hell outta this bike. I logged over 2200 miles in the outdoors, in snow, wind, rain, and cold. I really got to know this magnificent bike and felt very comfortable with it. I had every confidence that ' Felix' would carry me to the finish line.

Felix

This race was a group effort and there are several people who deserve to be thanked. First on the list would be my husband, Jim, who supported me mentally and financially. He also gave up his birthday and our wedding anniversary in order to ride this. Next is you Trev, thanks for babysitting and not complaining as much as you could have. Sydney, my 5 yr old, who made sure I got my ride time in. Jeff Yielding, who wrote my training program, encouraged me , and answered my endless questions. Dave Breslin, the Professor, and Mr Shottler, who helped with nutrition and training stuff. Gino, fellow teammate, and the Hub, Team Seagal sponsor, who took excellent care of my steed. Craig " Boz " Brassler who loaned me some expensive lights and let us borrow his Kuat NV rack for the trip. Kuat racks are #1, in case you haven't heard. And to my friend, Mary Piper for your endless inspiration and the Finishers Crowns.

And last, but not least...... Team Red Wheel. Our race would not have been possible without these folks. They offered us support at the check points, the only place you could accept help. Red Wheeler wives and Nick's mom took great care of both of us. If you are ever in the Jeff Co area stop by The Red Wheel Bike Shop and say hello.

Alright, strap yourself in. I am ready to take you there. It's gonna be a long, bumpy ride.

Feeling very welcome in Kansas

Emporia Kansas is a 5 1/2 hour drive , which was quite comfortable, thanks to a purchase of a Brand New Subaru. It rides smooth and came with A/C, something we haven't had in a few years. We got there at 1pm and checked in to our hotel. We then headed to The Grande Theater to buy tickets to see The Great Divide. I own the movie, but always notice something new when I watch it again. I also knew it would get me in the mood. The mood to ride my ass off.

After the movie , we got to hang out with the TRW crew, Nick, Barry, Peat, Stoney, Bopp, Matt,and Corey; three members of Team Virtus , Bob, Robby and Luke. Including , Travis, Steve, Mia, Steph, Barbie, Zack and Don, all from Missouri. Everyone was excited and nervous about their pending adventure tomorrow.

Pasta Palooza was next. I devoured a heaping plate of scrumptious spaghetti , some salad, two pieces of bread , and 2 desserts. Yes 2 desserts. Anyway, I was almost done eating when a young girl sat down. We chatted briefly and I regret not getting your name. I was already planning what I still needed to finish getting ready when we reached the hotel, so , if I can off as self-absorbed, at that moment I was. If you happen upon this blog please leave me a comment.

Sweet race plate, dontcha think?

At 8pm there was an informative racer meeting . A fair amount of schwag was thrown out. Unfortunately , none in our direction. Some lucky guy won a Salsa frame and another guy won an incredible work of art from Eric Benjamin. I used a few of Eric's pictures in my last blog, and borrowed a couple more for this post. He goes by the name Adventure Monkey. We then gave our racing tote boxes with the support crew and headed back to the hotel. We both needed to think, talk, plan, and ride the bikes around the parking lot. It was quite a challenge to unwind, since I felt like a ball of rubber bands. Damn I was excited to begin my adventure. I was ready. We were in bed around 11pm, with a 415am alarm set. Superior attitude. Superior State of Mind rang in my mind as I struggled to fall asleep.

Happy 43rd Birthday Jim and 12yr Anniversary

Over 300 riders lined up at 6am. Words cannot describe what it felt like to be there. It was electric. The video below captures a small portion of the start. Thanks Luke for getting up early to capture this.

In my opinion, the DK 200 is not about beating anyone. It's about testing yourself and beating the course. For some reason, neither my cateye , nor my Garmin worked for the first leg of the route. I rode 'zen' for the first 58 miles. I enjoyed not knowing how fast I was going or where I was at on the mileage. Huge groups of bikes were pace-lining on gravel. You don't see that everyday. In fact, this was a first for me. Especially at this level. Several fellas grabbed my wheel, but would not return the favor. This is where I met Carter Jones. He and I worked together for over 25 miles. He would inform me of our mileage and mph when I asked. He is a Clydesdale racer in training for an Ironman. He was awesome and inspiring to ride with.

Not sure on the exact mileage, I saw Mia, struggling and not having a good time. This worried me since she is a strong rider. She commented negatively about the last hill we climbed. I said, "what hill" ? Apparently it was Texaco Hill. I missed it. I rode it , just didn't notice it was a hill. I love hills. Sadly, I couldn't do anything to help her. I did see her later at CP1. She was in even worse shape and had to end her ride there.

Great shot of Texico Hill - the start of it

I found Jim around mile 30. We rode together for about 10 miles. Jim looked great and seemed to be having a spectacular birthday. He stopped for a drink and for the last 18 miles I was alone. I was okay with that. I took in the beauty and the sound of gravel being crushed. I did not use my Ipod at all so I could hear the crunch of the gravel. Weird? Probably.

I arrived at CP1 at exactly 11am. Perfect, exactly what I planned. I wanted to make all the CP's an hour ahead of cutoff. Totally within my comfort zone. The ride had started in 70 degree weather. Thank goodness the wind was blowing in my face at 20 mph and it didn't feel like the 95 degrees it was now. I made peace with the wind early. No reason to battle it. I heard Steph had made the checkpoint an hour earlier, at 10am. I knew how hard she had trained. She was going to do well today.

I fixed my cat-eye, changed the backwards batteries in the Garmin, and changed out of my bibs into my tri shorts. I stayed too long at CP1. Mistake. I felt a little unorganized. I wanted to check on Jim and see if we could continue on together. I ended up leaving solo and hoped I would see him later. On this 42 mile leg I met a soldier, LTC "Mike" Buckley. He had returned recently from Iraq and Afghanistan. He was in bad shape so I offered my wheel for as long as he needed. He told me he was riding for all the soldiers that couldn't. That touched my heart. We had such different but important reasons for being in Kansas on this gravel road pedaling our hearts out. I pulled him for several miles. I should have made him hang on, but he said he was done. I looked over my shoulder as I rode away , he faded into the distance.

Along the route, I passed many broken people. They were laying in ditches. Bodies and bikes were scattered along the gravel for miles. Very few were lucky enough to find trees for shelter from the unforgiving sun. By the way, there are few trees. If you see one, grab it. I asked if I could do anything for them. Every rider said they were " fine". I thought, if that is fine I don't want any part of it. I stayed on top of my fuel and hydration so I would not become one of them. I felt great! I think I can! I think I can!

It was also on this leg I had the pleasure of riding with Bob Jenkins. We spent our miles catching up. I had planned to run the 'big ring' only to CP2. I wanted the extra time I would gain to rest and not feel so rushed to get back out there. Soon after 10 miles Bob let me go. I think he could see the fire in my eyes. He needed to get back to his own adventure. I hoped he and Jim would find each other. I wanted to stay ahead of them, so I crushed the 46 the entire way.

At mile 97 I got a flat. I had been riding with a guy named Bobby. He asked if he could change it for me. Well, sure. Then he informed me it would be his first time changing a tire. So, I talked him through it. Karma baby. Within minutes we were back on the gravel with only 5 miles to go. He stopped to drink and I passed him. I missed CP2. Somehow, I rode right past it , crossed the hwy, and put in 2 extra miles of gravel. I glanced down to see 45 miles, it was only supposed to be 42. Shit. I called Nick. He said " how could you miss us on the right" ? Exactly. On the right,my effing cataract is on the right. I got emotional and let a few tears loose as I rode back to CP2. I arrived at 410pm. About 25 minutes lost. How was I going to make up that time?

Several riders decided that CP2 was the end of their race. A solid 102 miles of Kansas gravel is no joke. If you think differently I suggest you try it first. This was not going to be the end for me. I got my head together and ate some chicken noodle soup. About 15 minutes later Jim and Bob rolled in together. Maybe they would come with me on to CP3. Jim and I had words, several, and he said " this is the end of my race". He encouraged me to go on and helped me pack up. He said I may want a rain jacket. I laughed and said it was only a 10% chance.

Physically I was good. I had fixed my attitude after that small mental breakdown. Hell, I hadn't even had to "dig deep " yet and I was 1/2 way. At the last minute, Corey Case, of TRW , decide to come along. Awesome. I was not going to be alone in the dark and would have company for the next 60 miles. Could it get any better?

Corey and I were rolling 20mph as we chatted about our game plan. We had 5 hrs and 30 minutes to get to Cp3. We had to try. I would not be disappointed if I missed it , but I had to try. It was much cooler by 5pm and that boosted our confidence. I knew Corey would hang with me to CP3. I had 5 hours to convince him to finish with me if we made the cut-off.

All of a sudden, everything changed. Out of nowhere came 60 mph winds, lightning, thunder, sideways rain, and hail that pelted us angrily. The hail left red spots on my arms and legs. It was severe weather to be caught in, with nowhere to take shelter. Here's a video another racer took. Enjoy.

See, I really wasn't exaggerating. We kept going,but not for long. The bikes took on pounds of sticky, tacky mud. We pushed and carried our bikes. All the while hoping to see some rideable gravel ahead. It turns out there was roughly 8 miles of drag a bike before any gravel would be found. My shoes had taken on so much mud I couldn't have clipped in if I wanted to. There was no way to clean up my bike and make it rideable.

Corey called Nick, who told us that others were hiding from a tornado and seeking shelter wherever they could. Holy Crap. I thought of my daughter Sydney. She is only 5 and still needs her mom. I agreed to call my race there, after completing only 115 miles.

I prayed while silent ears rolled down my face. I had worked so hard to get here to be stopped by the weather. Seriously? Are you kidding me? DNF because of Mother Nature. As Mark Gullet put it " live to ride another day".

Barbie and her partner got 1st overall and on a tandem

Steph took 3rd place and finished about 130am

Matt finished around 1030pm

Stoney rocked his single speed to earn 5th place

Robby completed his 102 mile leg of the relay

Out of 300 or so, only 68 finished

RESULTS

Dirty Kanza June2, 2012. I will be back!

The Eyes Have It

2011-06-08T18:12:00.000-07:00

Last week I had an appointment at The O'donnell Eye Institute. I sat in the waiting room with a few 60- 70 somethings trying to fill out forms that were printed way to small. After all, you would think they would have larger type for an eye center. After several tests, it was confirmed that my right eye has a cataract and needs surgery. Basically, my surgeon will remove my 'cloudy lens' and replace it with a hard, non- flexible lens. My surgery will be performed on June 21st and will take about 15 minutes. I am sure they will make me very comfortable * wink, wink* before they try to stick any sharp instruments into my eye. Adtivan, I hope.

I was also informed that there is a start of a cataract in my left eye. Wonderful. I have no symptoms , but at least now I know what to look for. For now, the left eye will be monitored. He said it could take a year or ten years. No one knows. Maybe we could take care of this in the off season? or never? I will need some 'cheater glasses' afterwards so I can see things up close. The flexible lens they are putting in does not have the ability to focus, so I will only be able to focus on things at a distance.

I have been told I will have a mandatory 2 weeks off the bike and/or any lifting. Great. I have to give up my life. I will be trying to stay busy. Any ideas? I plan on doing some painting, walls not pictures. Any good books out there? I will be able to read!

Functioning with one eye has not been easy and I am eager to put this behind me. You never realize what you have until it's gone. I am very grateful for the technology that is out there. In some countries people just go blind for lack of insurance or surgeons.

I have been working on my Dirty Kanza report, just waiting for some pictures to be posted. I promise it will be worth the wait.