Monday, February 20

It's Time for Change

The winter that never came, longer daylight hours and February is nearing end. BRX is 4 weeks away, Mother Nature is a month early and the roads are busy with cyclist.

It's time for change.

Change with work means starting now, instead of early April. Maybe this change will make my May and June a little quieter? Change with riding means starting the 'plan' and getting ready for BRX. Change with home and family means getting a jump on outdoor projects and travel baseball. Life is about to get real busy around here and time management is going to be very important. I need to plan and adapt so I don't lose momentum.

Monday, February 13

Keep On, Keepin' On

Mid February and the rides keep on rollin'. A couple more weeks and the Blogs and social media will be buzzing about how fast Ice Man  (March 1st) and LumberJack100 (March 3rd) sold old. How bottle necked the registration was and how they are done with these events or can't wait to race. It all seems comical and absurd at times, but I'm grateful and blessed to be a part of it.  Remember why you ride, race and participate.  I hope it's not for the medal. I hope it's for something more. That any hardware or step on the box is just a inner 'pat on the back' and not a 'look at me' moment.

'Don't concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory!' BL



                                                                         2012 Mile 500





Friday, February 3

hatin....bring it mr. rotten

It's a repressive society where you can't be horrible, I'm not horrible, they made me horrible, I'm just honest. JR





Wednesday, February 1

Off Season.........?

Today is February 1st and most of the Michigan cycling community should be enjoying their off season. Eating ice cream, drinking beer and loosing themselves in something different. The opposite seems to be true.

Michigan Mountain Mayhem is Sold Out, Barry-Roubaix has less than 200 spots left, Steve Kinley heads up a ride every Friday and many already have there 2012 planned with rides, races and trips. Training plans have started, Simonson appears full on and I can't remember the last time I had so many people ask me to ride in January. Is it the weather? Mid 30's-50 is a lot easier than teens. Is it trying to get a jump on the season / competition? It's a long season with Barry-Roubaix through to Cyclocross Worlds. Not to mention the 'winter' events of Fat Bike races and the LOHS.

What's the problem JMAK? Nothing, I think it's F'ing great! Get out and ride! Some people run, walk, etc. but I ride a bike. It's what gets me going. I'm on a single speed for the first time ever. I love it. It's great going on rides and not being able to hammer 20mph. Anything over 16-17 and I'm spinning like a fool. With this new found pleasure the same old route(s) have become new again. I look around more and notice things you can't see during the summer. The leaves are off the trees and you can looking through the valley on a trail or at homes that were hidden. It's not the same scenery. There's a sense of calm. Riding for the fun of it. Not looking at the monitor for the next interval or wattage level. My screen only has the time of day and ride time. On more than one occasion I found myself riding longer than I planned because I was having so much fun. All to soon that fun will turn into training. I'll try and hold it off as long as I can.