Back to the fun stuff. Took the Badger out this week with some skinnies on it. That bike shines. Playing in the leaves on the trail.
This weekend was a stupid-fun run. Mid-30s and not too far out it started to rain...high winds and then some snow in there too. Came in shivering.
Today? It looked nice and sunny and warm out there. Me? Trapped in the office all day. Sure hope we get one more of those stellar days before the temps stay cold for months.
Ride often....smile more
10.30.2006
10.03.2006
Reflections
Been thinking a lot lately. Have to say that's a lot easier to do when you're not in a concussion-induced fog. Much of the thinking has surrounded deciding what to make of the tail end of "the bike season". I'm usually full on for CX now. Couple of races under the tires. Not this year. I'd really worked to get back the lost fitness from the broken ribs earlier this year. This last 'incident' put the brakes on in a slightly different way.
Concussion
A single word. The ramifications of mutilple head impacts to the ground...not good.
This last 'crash' wasn't really even a crash. Nothing fast, simple stuff really. The easy kind that happen when you just bobble on a trail. But the result from this impact was worse, quite possibly due to the frequency with which my head has met the ground over the past 20 months. As i've said to a number of you, it is like all the possible injuries I've avoided or been fortunate to avoid over the past 15 years of cycling have all caught up with me.
After living through a couple of fairly scary weeks and sleeping more than I ever knew I could things started to head back to normal. A hint of the usual energy, a bit less tired, things got me kinda excited again. Wanted to get back on the bike, get training, barrier practice for CX. Then another simple bump let me know my head wasn't ready for any jarring.
This past weekend was my first real ride, a nice LONG road ride. I hurt like crazy the next day. But what a great day! The sun was out, the wind was still a summer's wind. Soon enough it will stay cold. Thanks to a small group of you for the company mid-ride too.
I started this post out writing I'd been thinking a lot. Much of centered about biking. What really is most important to me about biking? The freedom that comes from doing it. The clarity of mind, the rush of the ride. It is the experience of riding. Focus. Stress relief. Life balance. The racing is a nice plus but it isn't the reason I ride. So it'll just be a couple of cross races toward the end of the season this year. For now....I'm VERY happy that I can get back to riding. And even more happy my head has cleared up and things seem to be 'heading' back on track.
Thanks for reading.
Laugh often!
anne
Concussion
A single word. The ramifications of mutilple head impacts to the ground...not good.
This last 'crash' wasn't really even a crash. Nothing fast, simple stuff really. The easy kind that happen when you just bobble on a trail. But the result from this impact was worse, quite possibly due to the frequency with which my head has met the ground over the past 20 months. As i've said to a number of you, it is like all the possible injuries I've avoided or been fortunate to avoid over the past 15 years of cycling have all caught up with me.
After living through a couple of fairly scary weeks and sleeping more than I ever knew I could things started to head back to normal. A hint of the usual energy, a bit less tired, things got me kinda excited again. Wanted to get back on the bike, get training, barrier practice for CX. Then another simple bump let me know my head wasn't ready for any jarring.
This past weekend was my first real ride, a nice LONG road ride. I hurt like crazy the next day. But what a great day! The sun was out, the wind was still a summer's wind. Soon enough it will stay cold. Thanks to a small group of you for the company mid-ride too.
I started this post out writing I'd been thinking a lot. Much of centered about biking. What really is most important to me about biking? The freedom that comes from doing it. The clarity of mind, the rush of the ride. It is the experience of riding. Focus. Stress relief. Life balance. The racing is a nice plus but it isn't the reason I ride. So it'll just be a couple of cross races toward the end of the season this year. For now....I'm VERY happy that I can get back to riding. And even more happy my head has cleared up and things seem to be 'heading' back on track.
Thanks for reading.
Laugh often!
anne
9.21.2006
CX on delay
Yes, I've been neglecting the blog. Funny how life can intervene and mess with things. I suspect I'm getting close to finding a bit of time to be able to post up a few of the recent musings.
Getting real geeked about CX season, had a bit of a setback though, seems this last time off the bike resulted in a significant concussion. So a slight delay of game.
Anxious to see the new Badger CX frame! The 29er will soon have a stablemate.
For now though...sleep reigns supreme.
Getting real geeked about CX season, had a bit of a setback though, seems this last time off the bike resulted in a significant concussion. So a slight delay of game.
Anxious to see the new Badger CX frame! The 29er will soon have a stablemate.
For now though...sleep reigns supreme.
8.18.2006
Whoooo Hooooo
Ribs are officially healing. Not all the way yet but enough that I can finally ride off road again.
Getting really wound up for CX season. Celbrated by hitting the trail with the CX rig tonight. Almost got taken out by two deer. Then a couple kids riding the wrong way. Wrapped up the night just missing a skunk. I'll need to get out there earlier next time.
Very cool news: Rob is building up a CX frame for me. This should be one VERY comfortable ride. After some discussion it will be all steel (no carbon rear end). Stay tuned, I might have some pics up here late September.
Getting ready for a nice two week push on the road bike. Looking forward to a super season.
Laugh often!
Getting really wound up for CX season. Celbrated by hitting the trail with the CX rig tonight. Almost got taken out by two deer. Then a couple kids riding the wrong way. Wrapped up the night just missing a skunk. I'll need to get out there earlier next time.
Very cool news: Rob is building up a CX frame for me. This should be one VERY comfortable ride. After some discussion it will be all steel (no carbon rear end). Stay tuned, I might have some pics up here late September.
Getting ready for a nice two week push on the road bike. Looking forward to a super season.
Laugh often!
8.03.2006
Fine Badger Indeed!
The Mighty Orange Badger 29er
Those of you that have followed along know that Rob Pennell of Badger Cycles built up a super sweet 29er frame for me. I’m a shorter rider (as 29ers go) and had asked him to consider S-bend seatstays which he did put on it. In the end the tire clearance we were after just couldn’t achieved on a frame as small as I needed. Knowing that I was anxious to get this frame and have it for Ouachita in March, Rob pressed on and finished it up.
After that race he took the frame back to rework the rear end. It now sports some sick seat stays and talk about clearance! Yowza. Loads of room there now.
Since I broke that batch of ribs late May I didn’t get much of a chance to ride it after it came back. Well, I’ve been on it a few times now and just have to say this bike sings! What a ride. It doesn’t take long to forget I’m riding a hard tail.
The handling is superb. Steering input from the saddle is the best I’ve ever had. The custom fit means I’ve been able to ride this bike for hours and not end up with a sore neck or back. Rob has the rider mass/weight distribution dialed.
Life, Spirit, a batch of custom selected light tubing make up this frame. The filet construction is a look I’ve always been partial to. This bike is rolling art. It is as much fun to look at as it is to ride. Makes for a very nice combination.
Some of Rob’s newest work is even sweeter looking. They seem to just keep getting better and better.
How’s it look? Take a peek. Final build was under 24#. The Industry Nine wheels are sub 1500g and spin up FAST. The whole package is incredibly responsive, especially with the CX 42s on there.
Those of you that have followed along know that Rob Pennell of Badger Cycles built up a super sweet 29er frame for me. I’m a shorter rider (as 29ers go) and had asked him to consider S-bend seatstays which he did put on it. In the end the tire clearance we were after just couldn’t achieved on a frame as small as I needed. Knowing that I was anxious to get this frame and have it for Ouachita in March, Rob pressed on and finished it up.
After that race he took the frame back to rework the rear end. It now sports some sick seat stays and talk about clearance! Yowza. Loads of room there now.
Since I broke that batch of ribs late May I didn’t get much of a chance to ride it after it came back. Well, I’ve been on it a few times now and just have to say this bike sings! What a ride. It doesn’t take long to forget I’m riding a hard tail.
The handling is superb. Steering input from the saddle is the best I’ve ever had. The custom fit means I’ve been able to ride this bike for hours and not end up with a sore neck or back. Rob has the rider mass/weight distribution dialed.
Life, Spirit, a batch of custom selected light tubing make up this frame. The filet construction is a look I’ve always been partial to. This bike is rolling art. It is as much fun to look at as it is to ride. Makes for a very nice combination.
Some of Rob’s newest work is even sweeter looking. They seem to just keep getting better and better.
How’s it look? Take a peek. Final build was under 24#. The Industry Nine wheels are sub 1500g and spin up FAST. The whole package is incredibly responsive, especially with the CX 42s on there.
Has the heat wave finally moved on?
Whew, is this what it would be like to live in Phoenix in the summer? Burning my hand on the car shift knob?
Check out the storm front that cruised in here on Sunday, it's the same one that ended the 24 Nationals early.
The temps dropped about 15 degrees and the clouds were almost spiralling like a horizontal corkscrew. Wall of wind blasting them along. Glad I got in from my ride about 15 minutes before this thing blew in.
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