122 miles

Placed 2nd in my age group out of 60. Placed 27th out of 320 total. Rode with cleats and ankle is a bit sore, but not that bad. Labor Day is the last run for me this year. I feel good, albeit tired. My legs ache and am off to couch surf with advil. My only regret with the healing couch surfing is that there is no football on...

Attention All You Brown Trash Crack Weekend Visitors To The Bay..

No, it's not cool to keep your unleashed pitbull on the beach. Chased me for over 100 yards, trying to bite and attack. My mistake was I should have pushed hard, but the bike lane was crowded and I'm sprinting in the right lane, with a full pack and bags. I've out run dogs before, but this ass was very fast. As soon as I tried to kick him off, Forced me over in the left lane of traffic and bit the back of my upper thigh. HARD!

All during a packed weekend. In full view of another 100 + foot road race party support group.

Finally I was able to pepper spray that piece of shit. He kept coming at me (By now I had the bike between us) I kept spraying until he couldn't hardly breathe. He kept coming at me. Then I went all Godfather and beat him with my now ruined $100 pump. Funny how he crawled off only to be taken off 1/2 hour later to be put down by Animal Control. AND the "owner" and "family" freaked out on me. WTF?

I had 4 stitches later, on the side of the road by AC, I might add. Thank goodness my tetnus is up to date.

AC and Sheriffs issued a $2000 ticket, impounded the car and hauled them all off.

I love dogs, but this was not a dog. IMO Drug dog.

Getting Back At It

Slowed way down this week. The dehydration issue over a week ago has still kicked my ass. Actually I get a whole lot nervous now. Which, for lack of a better word SUCKS since I'm 11 days away from my last 100 mile summer run. Will be riding with DP Phil and our awesome Stone Jerseys.

The Dead Pirates are down to the original 2 members. We fired everyone. A few are pissy about it, but hey it was our gig to begin with. And it will be our gig when it ends.

Gel and fluids, just going to be a mental thing for me. Ditching my toe clips and will be running pedals with cleats. Wish me luck. After that, this nonsense is done.

Until September. :-)

Done

Finished. Done, Until I heal.

Dehydration

I think I fucked myself up. Dude I am so sore. It had to be the dehydration. That west coast bike trip was cake, compared to climbing Baker. It's 80 again and I don't even have a craving for a beer. HAHAHA! I really pushed myself yesterday, and you know what? I lament this drive and energy, where the hell was it in my 20's? I was way more reckless and stupid then I guess.

At hour 7 I made the summit. Everything hit at once, all my issues of missing Maddy, my problems with Kathy, being unemployed, keeping everything together, and I'm fucking thirsty, and I am going to beat those 20 year old spandex fuckers, I miss my Dad, I think I'm going nuts at 8000 feet. You turn around and see the ocean 60 miles away and dive right back into it. Downhill, steep fast ride. Craziest thing I ever experienced. DP Phil was nowhere to be seen. I had this tunnel vision on the way down. Dude that road drops fast and rocks! My Uncle is there at the end to watch me fall down. It was so weird. I felt so stupid having to be helped standing up.

What did I learn? 1 - drink more water. 2 - Turn all of this energy into something good for the planet. 3 - Be thankful for my life. 4 - Sleep on the deck today, wake up and do it all over again!

5 - change out peddles. 6 - ditch Reebok shoes. 7 - Adjust seat height, I went a bit taller and my legs ache.

8 - Heal 9 - Refuse to "mellow out" 10 - see #4

NFL And Taking Command

Rode 20 miles after missing the eclipse with a taped ankle and cleats. It felt ok, kind of sore now. Changed out the cassette which has too much torque. Changing my mind and going back to toe straps and wrestling shoes. 4 weeks to go. After this race I'm finished until the next one in September. :-)

Get the hell out there and LIVE darn it.

It's official, I am CAPTAIN "2FAR2CARE" of The Dead Pirates Bike Club. I started this and I had to get voted in?

The Dead Pirates Jersey July 31, 2010

Ankle and Regrouped

It is getting better each day. I am looking forward to the July 31 Century Run. On a sad note, my play time is over, and am headed back to work in August. On a happy note, it's for one of the local bike shops!

And on an even a BETTER note, I get to spend (for the first time in over 5 years) the summer here. Nothing really new to post other than my continual training for 7/31.

It was odd to do the Saturday ride solo, but The Dead Pirates are still my outside friends. Maybe I'll join up again, and I am probably sure I will. It really is too much fun to get away from.

SO WE ARE A TEAM AGAIN!!!!

DP Phil threw me a surprise "Anti Pity Party BBQ" Sunday, and that lifted my spirits. I am blessed to have a handful of close friends, including that SNURFER dude in Utah.

CYA

Survived Ski To Sea. I did not do as well as I wished. But that is over and finished. I have rebuilt my original frame and I am in the process of putting 20 miles a day with it. I have disbanded The Dead Pirates bike club and will just ride solo this summer. It was fun and a blast with my friends. I would rather ride by myself.

Summer is almost here...

I'm riding SKI TO SEA, ankle and all. Road race, not the downhill or mountain part. Backed out of my team, and am riding solo. I have ditched my cleats and am going with old school toe clips, composite peddles and, get this, Wrestling shoes. Light weight, total lateral support. I've tried it the past 2 days and it works. No wonder the NFL tapes up...

I have been riding 6 hours a day for the past month. 2 weeks to go until our local Ski To Sea race and I have the bike tuned beyond anything. My legs are good, strong. And on a side note my roommate has her whoohoo checked tomorrow. Why?

Forever coming up short...

Placed 2nd! AGGGG! 25 seconds behind the leader. Damn!

I Don't Care Anymore

See above. 

I'm riding the Memorial Day 100 mile. 

As far as my Saturday battles with the spandex Canadians, I've decided to give up. I can not do it anymore. It is best that I just walk away with a 2nd place last year. And besides, these guys are total douche bags. They hate American's, but in this day who doesn't"

Thanks to all for your support and kind words. I truly tried. The Dead Pirates are, well, done.

yeah right.....  

Next Saturday, stripped down new bike, Better bottom end, gearing and 29" tires. We will place first. Just running aggressive and "pushing".

AND on hybrid hand built Gary Fisher frame MTB's.

DEAD PIRATES

  

 

RACE DAY

Placed 10th overall. Too much rain, and my heart really just was not in it. I will say this, the evil Canadians are actually kind of cool. Making new friends, even though we compete. I'm just not into road bikes. I have always loved the Mt. Bike setup, and this new hybrid. I can't get the speed on the flats and that is frustrating. Climbing I can kill with the gearing, but flat out last mile I keep getting my ass handed to me. Maybe I was just tired, ok I was tired. Head wasn't in it...

I will be taking next weekend off. I bought another Gary Fisher frame and will be building another bike this week. It's a composite, supper light. Might be going with cleats and v brakes. Will see what happens. 

Totals for the week. 250 road miles, 20 race day.

Wind

Crazy ass wind. 

Race day put off until tomorrow. 

Fine by me, I had a nasty spill yesterday on the mud trails. My knee looks like sausage and my ego is completely crushed. Not a good start for the weekend. 

Collecting

1963 AMERICAN built Schwinn. 3 speed. It's the summer beach cruiser. Sat in a garage for over 30 years. There are a few scrapes, but the chrome is good. I packed the bottom end with grease, and a new chain. I will have to change the tires this weekend. Growing up with a hotrod fanatic restoration Father, I've decided to make it functional. Seriously, riding a 47 year old frame? It's a bit heavy, but cool beyond all. 

It's fun to sit up and ride, vs. my other bikes. Now I am like all the old folks cruising the beach! HA! The seat feels like a pillow, and it's not very fast. Epic feeling knowing it's older than me. Enjoy

Thursday total 200 miles. 

The Big Push

The weather has dropped, it actually was snowing this morning! Overcast and a wet cool mid 40's. Spent the day putting in 50 miles. Birch Bay to south side Bellingham and back. The goal is 200 miles by Friday, then race day Saturday with my fellow DP's.  Our new logo silk screened attached. Will be getting T's made for you know who you are. They are black with logo on front, and "2010 mayhem" on the back.

Not Even Trying To Place In The Top Ten

An amazing gorgeous sunny Saturday!!! SUN! Mid 50's!

If you lived up here you would be excited also...

SO.... I placed 30th. (last) No Kidding. I did not even try, I just whistled and peddled like a kid. Enjoying the moment and weather.

Oh wait, LIE!

I lost my damn chain! I felt something going on, and as soon as I hit the top, pulling hard, shifting and ahead of them. SNAP!

I almost lost my nuts with the instant deceleration.

Coasted down the hill and walked 2 miles to the end. Oh well, lesson learned and no skin off my behind. 

The Canadians bought me a Molson, laughed, pitched me crap, and toasted to better days. 

I'm actually starting to like these asshats. Broke some ice with them. It was a very good day.

Can not wait until next week. The Gary Fisher will be stripped and ready to rock.  

Weekend update.

It's legit. The Dead Pirate's are welcomed into the wonderful pompous world of "Club Racing". 50 bucks later and a promise to play nice. I have a bad feeling about this...

Friday totals.

M - 22

T - 45

W - 30

T - 20

F - 5. Yeah, yeah, yeah I'm not freaking Lance... 

The weather has broke. It's sunny and warm. 51 is considered warm here, hell at 65 people run in doors and turn the AC on. No lie.

The rebuilt Trek gets it's first workout tomorrow against the spandex Canadians. The composite rims are so very light. Here's an idea, why don't you airbrush dudes (shawn) put some amazing artwork on them? 

Riding solo. Fellow DP's are holding off for another week. No concern about time and placement. I just want to see what I can do with the bike. 

I already know that my speed will drop with the standard tires vs. my 29're. Yet, my new cassette will work wonders climbing. Still not using cleats. Old school toe clips! 

If I can beat them to the bottom, or at least keep up, I know for a fact I can take the hill. It's the damn flats where I'm getting my ass handed to me. Mt. Bike vs. Road Bike.

Ever since Canada took the hockey gold, I am getting nothing but a rash of crap from these guys via e-mail. All in good fun. But come July, we will beat them and take first. And on that 100 mile trek, the DP's will be wearing Canadian colors. ;-)

cya next week...

Tsunami craziness...

Ok I'm wrong. The water is weird. Maybe it's the wind or the quake, but it was moving southwest like crazy. Choppy as all hell and just a mess. Strange to be the only guy out there. 

Have you ever sat on the water? Seriously, even if it's a mile offshore. It's incredible and scary. Not the shark thing, just the amazing in the middle of nowhere vibe going on. The shore looks like a small strip and you are floating like a cork. Behind you is the endless horizon of sky and water. Makes you feel very small and puts all the bullshit into perspective. 

I do love it out there, I admit it. It's beyond quiet. You can sit and figure it out. I wish you could experience it. 

I didn't surf today. Took the kayak past Pt. Whitehorn to almost Sucia Island but the wind and weird currents freaked me out, for lack of a better word. It was a 4 hour paddle back to the bay.

The best part was being treated to seeing some cool small gray whales. 

Everybody Panic!

Tsunami alarms have been going off all morning. Waves are the same, off to surf anyway. Seriously if it did hit it would only throw me into my backyard. 

Today's total. Another big fat zero, off to play in the water...

Ok it's Friday here's the update. Total miles today, a great big ZERO. I was a lazy pig and just shuffled around my shop. Actually it's a garage, but I like saying shop. So enjoy my new baby.

This blogging thing is wasting my time. However you all ask for updates. How about just calling me? It is nice to hear a voice, screw email, but I digress...

So this is it. I'll post every Friday.

I am in the process of building a beautiful bike. By hand. Composite frame and wheels.

 

I will ride across the country this summer. To the tip of Florida, that is the plan.

 

20 miles today.

It's raining again like crazy, and for once I hit the "I don't give a shit anymore" wall at mile 19.9.

This should bode well...

Peace and Quiet

30 miles today. 

All damn day in the rain and wind.

Paying off bets. Aka spring training...

70 miles today. The sun is amazing here, lower 60's in February, in the Northwest??? Imagine that. Last night inspired me to keep going on. Why?

 

Team USA put a huge smackdown on the favored Team Canada. It was epic. I have never been a hockey fan, but after watching Miller defend his net at over 40 some odd shots, has sold me a bit. An awesome display of "bring it on, that's all you got." They attacked him for over 3 hours and I have never seen such aggression on the stage of sport entertainment. And I want to clarify that I am not a big sports fan. But what I saw was amazing.

I have decided to keep training and cross the country in late summer. Logistics being worked out. Better temps and conditions to actually attempt this. It will not be as big of a push as the coast trip. I'm planning back roads, more miles with even better gear. Might actually get away from my hard tail frame? No way, too much energy being wasted with shocks and all. Just my opinion, maybe ask Shaun?

Not going back to Alaska, at least not this year. It's a beautiful place but not a healthy one. Who would be so insane to work 100 days in a row for all these years? 

Spending the spring/summer working on local boats. It's good work if you can get it. If not then well, I don't care. I would rather take this chance in my life NOW, than be 70-80 wishing I did. 

But at that age, I'll be half way around the world :-)

Oh the bet payoff? Yeah I beat Dead Pirate Phil on the flats this morning. 2.6 miles done in 7 minutes. I lucked out, no wind.

Look up Ice Brewed Camo Black Ice. Pure swill. He had to drink it, at least he tried. 

No I'm not going insane, trust me brother.

67 miles today.

I changed out my handle bar, and it does make a difference with the shoulder pain I have caused by crashing hard surfing La Push. 

I am going to expand The Dead Pirates Bike Club. I had such an amazing experience riding south. I want to do that again, but further. Stay tuned.

Props to my friends and go USA vs. Canada tonight...

30 miles today. 

I'm using mass transit and have never seen such sad people, my God. I think I am slowly going insane. I'm incredibly tired from the trip. Nothing really changed with her, it just made her all the more angry by being away. 

So you wake up one day, and you go... "no I'll pass on coffee, hmm its 1200 some odd miles to California, I can do that."

And I did it. 

And I left my cell phone.

And I missed her, more than I can explain. 

1227.2 miles in the weather. Why are you doing this? Trust me it crossed my mind. The whole time. WTF are you doing, mile after mile after mile...

Why? I love how my legs feel. It's crazy. I realize how alive we are.

I'm pissed about having skills and being laid off.

I am so very thankful for my health and midnight roadside conversations with my Brother. I am very tired, emotionally, physically, and finished with bullshit.

Kathy, I know you read this. I love you. 

You told me I was "stupid, and immature" to do this journey.

But get this, I did it.  I refuse to be idle... I refuse to get old... 

So what do I do next?

 

1227.2 miles

I did it. 

I admit I cried like a baby once I made the California border. 

I can't really remember now if it was regret or just some soreness in my legs. But when you think about it, they both go away after time. Lie, I really did cry. A freaking guy on I5 changing a flat and crying in the wind and rain.

 

I yelled alot also, then I headed south in the dark, and yelled a whole lot more. I rode the entire time without music or bike computer. You should try that head fuck. Seriously, mile after mile after mile after mile with your thoughts. It was a very selfish thing to do because I find myself a bit angry with life now. That's something I will have to work on, but know this... 

I've never been so "clear" and confused in my life.

I have this huge story about this crazy thing I did. Stay tuned.

Sunday Zen

The weather has broke for a bit. Did a short loop through Birch Bay Park and Semiahmo. It's nice to see people out and about. I feel fortunate not to be freezing like the rest of the country...

Todays Total : 22 miles.

Finally

It's Friday.

Early morning run on composite rims lasted almost 3 hours. New SRM XX Cassette shifts without any effort. Looking forward to doing some hill climbing with the new bike.

The new bike feels too light in the wind. After all the miles on this amazing frame, I still miss my heavier Trek at times.

So to cure this, it's off to the mud trails with the Trek tomorrow. My fellow Pirates are going to rip up the Bellingham Urban Trail in the rain.

Todays Total : 36 miles. Wind and rain.

Gear

Red Ledge is my favorite. As stated earlier, I use the featherlight gear pretty much all winter.

http://www.redledge.com/

And...

My new baby:

Back At It

2 weeks since last post. Got a bit lazy over the holidaze. I took one week off from putting miles on, only to start up last week and feel the burn.

We rode the New Years Day 50 mile run down Chuckanut to Edison with a local group. Non competitive, which was fine by these legs. The only drawback was a 4 hour ride through a nice NW downpour. Espresso brewed IPA's at Boundary Bay warmed the heart when finished!

My Red Ledge gear is really holding up well. "Featherlite" is the model I'm using. It's breathable and the only place I was soaked was by my neck, gloves and shoes. It was nice to stay dry albeit a little cold. My hand issues are solved with some wind break gloves by (get this) Reebok??? Yep.

The New Gary Fisher frame is an amazing road bike, that's all I have to say about that. ;-)

All the best for 2010. Cheers...

Todays Total from New Years Day : 150 miles.