Okay, so I’ve been slacking off here. It shows, doesn’t it? Rest assured, I’ve been active. So what have I done since… August 13?!?! Okay, let’s start with August 1, why don’t we? Riding: On August 1, I rode the Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge out of Monterey, VA. The drive down there the night …
No, I wasn’t there. I’m not that old! What can I say? It happened and there was a lot of good music, a lot of questionable sanitation, and not a lot of chaos. Let’s just sum it up with my favorite tributes to the show: Slappy the Squirrel asks… And here’s the band Slappy and …
This should be a pithy post about recent cycling adventures and reflections about my life, but it isn’t. That’s because of Susan Nelson, who died tonight after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Her husband, Elden (the “Fat Cyclist”), and other family members were with her as she passed. Elden has kept his extended internet …
Cycling is not a cheap sport. Even when you try to be frugal it can charge “convenience fees” in very sneaky forms. There are the expendables: tires, chains, chainrings, tubes, and the like. This year, I’ve replaced a chain, both chainrings, a few tubes and three tires. The last bit stings the most, mainly because …
Activity: road cycling Location: Boston, MA > Hinsdale, NH > Windsor, VT (Harpoon Brewery-To-Brewery Ride) Distance: 148.0 miles (mostly rollers, some big, with one challenging climb from miles 91-94) Duration: 7:41 (8:20 with stops) Weather: partly sunny in the early hours, mostly cloudy for the remainder, 67-78 degrees Climbing: 8,125′ Avg HR: 150 (max 188) …
This was going to be a post about my most recent cycling adventures, but that will have to wait. This week has seen the deaths of three pop culture icons who resonated in my life: Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson, as well as the news that Walter Cronkite is likely to pass away …
Activity: road cycling Location: Newport, VA > New Castle, VA > Newport > Mountain Lake, VA (Mountains of Misery) Distance: 102.7 (mostly rollers, some big, with two BIG climbs) Duration: 5:57 (6:17 with stops) Weather: overcast and mild, a little drizzle, 62-70 degrees Climbing: 10,000′ Avg HR: 160 (max 191) Type: aerobic Year two of …
This week saw the publication of a study by the American College of Sports Medicine that proclaims Washington, DC, as the “Fittest City in America.” This had me scratching my head a little bit, as the study seems to weigh infrastructure factors above all others, rather than the general health and well-being of the population. …
Activity: road cycling Location: Marshall, VA > Markham > Paris > Bluemont > Airmont > Marshall Distance: 55.0 miles (hilly with rolls) Duration: 3:07 Weather: sunny and hot, 83-90 degrees Climbing: 4,557′ Avg HR: 155 (max 188) Type: aerobic PPTC “Backwards Blue Ridger” ride. After yesterday’s hard ride, I was a bit torched coming into …
Activity: road cycling Location: Boyce, VA > Rockland > Stephens City > Middletown > White Post > Boyce Distance: 64.2 miles (rolling) Duration: 3:21 Weather: sunny and hot, 81-90 degrees Climbing: 3,000′ Avg HR: 164 (max 190) Type: aerobic PPTC “Apple Blossom Bouquet” ride. This was a bit of a hammerfest, and I easily won …
