Getting Back And Giving Back

Sunday was a really good day.  I didn't ride much, but I was on a bike.

And around bike people.

You see, I decided to spend my Sunday volunteering to help out with a clinic for the 2017 Charlotte Winter Short Track Series.  It's a race I've done many times in the past, and it's also the very first local race I ever attended when I first moved here.  It's lots of fun to do, but this time around I decided to give back and share some of my "racing knowledge."

I know, I know, I don't race it anymore.  And no, I didn't teach a clinic about heckling (although I could have.)  It was a beginner's clinic, designed to get more people interested in the series and maybe get some of them that are undecided a push in the right direction to give it a shot.

The turnout was pretty awesome.

There were men, women, children, and I think I even saw a couple of dogs (they didn't bring bikes.)  Some were beginners, others were folks that were returning to short track racing after a long hiatus.  Some were just there to pick up a few pointers.  We broke up into several groups and the clinic-goers rotated between stations that covered race start/prep, cornering, passing, and trail vision.

I (along with two other "experienced" racers) took the race start/prep group and ran with it.  It felt weird being up in front of people as a so-called "expert", so I was a little uncomfortable at first.  But in reality, I've never forgotten what it was like to be a beginner and I was able to share that with the group quite easily.  Everyone seemed very receptive, and they were having a good time while learning a thing or two.

Once the everyone filtered through our group, I ended up on the trail riding with one of the other ones.  I didn't log much distance that day, but I was on my bike on an unseasonably warm winter day and having a great time.  It felt good to give back too.  Maybe I should do that more often and quit being such an asshole that's trying to be what's wrong with this sport.

I kid.  You know me.  I dig this shit.

Tune in tomorrow for what might be a ride report.

Yes, I said tomorrow.  Trying to keep this thing going again, you know.

Fun Friday

My favorite day.  The weather is back to being nicer (for now), but more importantly, I have two days off from work.  I've been a little stressed out this week because my truck is in the shop.  Not a mechanical issue though, luckily.  I was in an accident, so the body shop is working on it while I drive a much smaller rental.  That kinda sucks, because it limits what kind of bike riding I can do over the weekend (i.e. traveling with my bike to The Pisgah or someplace like that.)

I'm sure you're much more interested in the accident though.  If you don't follow me on social media (I know some of you don't do that kinda shit), you haven't seen it.  So, I'll tell you.

I hit a deer.

It jumped out in front of me, I swerved, and barely hit it.  I didn't kill it though, and it kept trying to get up.  I was pissed, yet compassionate about this poor, suffering deer so I did what any humane person would do...

I put the fucker out of his misery.

My truck wasn't too bad, and very much driveable.  Still, it was bad enough that I had to get it fixed.

It's enough to make me wanna drink though, which is exactly what I plan to do this weekend.

Make sure you honk if you see me.  Or stay for the drinking.

See y'all next week.

Dance Like No One Is Watching

Or write this shit like no one is reading.  Same same.

I'm back to blogging sorta regularly, but I won't be here every day.  Maybe when my activity ramps up and I'm much busier bike-wise, I'll have more to talk about and can justify being here more often.

Speaking of which, maybe it's time to plan for the "season."

Last year, I had a plan.  Coming off of winning the 2015 Southern Classic Series, I wanted to give it one more go.  I'd try to win the series again (in the fat boy class of course), and retire from short cross country races.  I actually had fun doing them finally, but the constant travel was wearing me out.  I started the season with one race, then a couple of health problems made me pull the plug on my plan.  I didn't race again until November (which was a 3rd Place in the Tree Shaker), but I figured that once 2017 rolled around I would re-visit my plan.  Aside from the Southern Classic, there were a few races that I always do, such as this one...

The 6 Hour of Warrior Creek.  It was always a fun time, but I'm out this year.  It did indeed sell out (like always), but not at the record-setting pace as it had in the past.  I know some people were disappoint that they didn't get in, but I wasn't one of them.  I had plenty of chances to register but I decided against it.  While it is a great race on some fun trails, I think it's run its course for me.  The love just isn't there, but I hope the rest of you that signed up have a great time.

Send me a postcard or some shit.

One race that is absolutely on my calendar is the Great Winter Escape Race, better known as...

Yeah, it's Florida.  Yeah, it's "flat."  It's also back in my home state, which is usually quite warm in February compared to here in North Carolina.  It's a race and a party all rolled into one, which is in line with the kind of fun I'm trying to have this year.  Plus, in addition to my Florida friends that will be there, a whole bunch of NC people usually come down there too.  So yeah, I'm definitely in for this one.

As far as the Southern Classic Series, I'm sorta "meh."  I've made a lot of friends during that series (some of them are "dirt roadies" and that's perfectly okay), but traveling to some of the same ol' places far, far away to race for an hour or two might not be the thing for me this season.  So like I said last year, maybe my "retirement" has started a little sooner than I wanted.

Who gives a shit.

I'll do some other events (or races, whatever.)  Maybe some more stuff in The Pisgah.  My main goal this year though is instead of traveling all over the Southeast to "race", I'll spend that time traveling to trails to ride for fun.  You know, getting into adventures like Caine from Kung-Fu.

Or Jules from Pulp Fiction...

I should have shotguns for this shit.

Snow Day

Well, the weather folks predicted a shit storm of snow over the weekend.  It didn't happen for most people in Charlotte, but it hit us pretty good.  Starting Friday night, the snow fell and started accumulating.  It was schedule to go on all night, so I knew the next day would be fun.  I grew up in Florida, you know.  Even though I've been here for ten years I still get pretty excited.

Something funny happens when it snows.  It's like the rules of society go out the window.  Once the fluffy white goodness started covering the ground, roving bands of teens (and adults) starting gathering outside.  In the middle of the night in a snow storm, the rules don't apply.  People walk down the middle of the road, through yards, and even ride four wheelers on the median of major highways.  I dig it.

Anyway, I didn't stay up all night to watch the storm.  I went to bed just as the shit started sticking to the ground.  When I woke up though, it was different.  I had a nice view from the bathroom during my morning uh, ritual.

Please excuse the screen.  I wasn't about to remove it for a photo.

It was still snowing when I woke up.  It was awesome.  While some of my Facefriends complained about the lack of snow, we had plenty and continued to get more.  I was happy, but not as happy as Carl was.

Carl loves snow.  Despite the freezing temps, we played outside with him for hours.  He like to have "snowball fights."

And he also likes to eat the snow for some reason.

At about mid-day, I thought about going for a bike ride of some sort.  Then, I changed my mind and started doing something more fun.

I saw lots of Faceposts from my friends that were out riding.  I wanted ot get in on that too, but I ended up spending most of the day watching the snow fall and playing with my dog.  I thought that would be my entire day until Lunchbox wanted to go "exploring" with me.

I couldn't turn down an opportunity to hang out with my son, so off we went.

We have a little more land now, but by no means do we live out in the "country."  Still, there are some woods behind the house and, according the The Google, a creek.  We sloshed through the snow, down the hill, and found it.

We've been in the new house for over three months, but this is the first time any of us have been back there.  It was beautiful.

Lunchbox definitely enjoyed it too.

The snow finally stopped falling sometime in the afternoon.  Even though we didn't get what was predicted, we had plenty.  In fact, three days later it's still there.  I didn't end up riding my bike at all, but hanging out with my family in the woods playing in the snow was still just as fun.

I even took an opportunity to get my Star Wars on with the temporary scenery too.

So yeah, I'm blogging again.  And it doesn't always have to be about bikes.  I got outside to enjoy "outside", and I had a good time.  I'm enjoying life.  

Because that's what you're supposed to do.

Fun Friday

I made it.  Back to blogging and I did it every day this week (Monday was a holiday.)  Since I'm back to normal, it's time for Fun Fridays again.

You made it too (through a short week.)

This weekend, I'm not sure what's gonna happen.  The all-knowing weather people around here are saying that we are getting a winter storm, which will include several inches of snow.  While they are all guaranteeing at least a few inches, some reports are saying that we'll get nearly a foot.

That might be interesting.

Since we're in the South, I'm all stocked up on bread and milk.  And since I'm a not-so-srs cyclist, I'm also stocked up on several types of alcohol.  I'm ready for whatever, and I damn sure don't plan on being out on the roads this weekend (especially if there are AT-ATs walking down the highway.)

I'll most likely take one of my bikes out for a snow ride, but I'm pretty sure that I'll be spending most of my time indoors...

Drinking beer and working in my new shop.

Yes, the new house has a huge garage, which gives me a "proper" place to work on bikes.

I am excite.  Not for the snow,  Well, maybe.  I am from Florida, you know.

See y'all next week some time if I ever dig myself out of Snowmageddon.

A New Adventure To The Same Ol' Place

Three months in the new place.

I moved to the opposite side of town (near the Whitewater Center for all you locals), so I'm still getting familiar with my surroundings.  I've ventured out a few times to meet my neighbors (see yesterday's post) but I'd often wondered if I'd be able to find any good road riding routes.  Living almost ten years in the University area I knew where to go and how to get there and, most importantly, how to do it without getting run over by aggressive and/or distracted drivers.

Luckily, whilst perusing The Internets I stumbled upon a road ride route I did quite a few years ago with a group.  The ride was on a side of town that was very unfamiliar to me.  Little did I know that the far end of the ride circled back at a spot only a mile from my future home.  I scribbled down some notes) including road names and such) and headed out the door.  After stopping to see my horse friends, I wandered into the city on some nice, quiet roads.

I've ridden into the city before, but from the new house it was much more pleasurable.  Country roads for the most part, and even when I got closer to the urban stuff it was quiet.

Let's haz beer, okay?

I started exploring a little bit, not really knowing this side since I usually came in the other way.  Soon though, I spotted a sorta familiar spot and I stopped for a quick break.  And to take a picture of the big buildings of course.

You can't really see the buildings too well because it was shitty outside.  I didn't mind.  I was outside on an adventure.  I didn't stay there long.  I took off towards parts unknown, but sorta towards those buildings.  That's when I spotted a path along a railroad track and decided to investigate.

It went on for a while, and so did I.  I was lost on a cold and rainy day.  A good lost though.  I may have even ended up in The Pisgah at one point on my ride.

I wasn't lost.  I headed back towards my house, taking a different route this time.  You see some weird shit when you take the road less traveled.

I guess we had a lot of rain.

I eventually made it back to the house, after nearly twenty five miles.  That wasn't much, but it was enough.  Upon my return I learned that the little lady had gone out on her own roadie adventure in the rain.  She no haz blog though so it doesn't count.  

So yeah, I'm still here.  And I'm still riding bikes.  

Who gives a shit.

Maybe I Was "Ded"

I'm back, but for how long this time?  With everything that's been going on, I kinda feel like I've been out of the loop.  Or ded.  That's more appropriate.

That's how I felt.  Left on the side of the road and unable to get up (although the subject of the above photo is probably really ded.)

Now that I'm mostly settled into the new house, I've actually been riding a little bit.  The weather around here is shitty at the moment (for trial riding anyway), but before it got shitty I got to enjoy some local singletrack a time or two.

BYT.  One of the few local trails I still like riding.

I've also taken a few trips around da hood by bike to explore a little bit.  I'm still in the "city" of Charlotte, but the area around me is much moar country than most places in town.  

I've met all the good neighbors, like this horse couple that loves it when I visit:

And this asshole pig that yells and screams at me in a way that very much says, "Get off my fucking lawn!"

There are quite a few cows too (much to the little lady's delight), but they won't pose for pictures.  That's fine though, because the guy that owns them offered us up some fresh beef.  They should take that as a lesson...

Pose for a photo or I will eat you.  I don't dig swine BTW, so fuck that pig.

Anyway, it's all good in the new hood, and apparently back here in blog world too.  I mean damn, I made it here two days in a row.  That has to count for something.  I stillhave a few housekeeping things to take care of (like logos, etc.), but the actual blogging part is back to whatever the hell normal once was.  For now, anyway.

Now you have more choices for things to read while you poop.  You're welcome.