If I think that I am paying off some Karmic debt by taking this ride, because as we know it is supposed to be all about suffering. I could only imagine what my poor partner has done in their life to be subjected to mile after mile of sitting inches from lycra shodden bottom.

I will keep you updated as the week progresses. Lets see if I even make it to the start line, because making it to the finish in one piece is about as likely as me exploring mars or acting as Angelina Jolies stunt double.

Like Alice, I woke up to a whole new world free of crazy clouds and lightning. I got my fancy pants and tap shoes on quickly and headed out the door. My dad, sitting in the backyard, warned me about the impending darkness. I was able to convince him to meet me on my route around the time the dark would settle in.

With my ride home secured, I was free to go longer than intended and actually complete a pretty good ride, or so I thought.

I was set off to ride towards the setting sun in the western mountains. I had my eyes on a local lake as my rendezvous point with my pops.

In my haste to leave, I did not inflate my tires which left we with a good back tire, but a low front tire. This is usually not an issue, but if you ride like a blind bull, which I have been accused of, sometimes when reaching the golden calf that is 30mph, you hit a rock so hard  it sends you realling and jailbreaks the air of your tire from its butyl walled internment.

I was on a remote stretch of road by design and I had everything I needed to fix the flat, so there was no worries. I was sure to do this quickly so that I could get moving along in the northern direction for the rest of the ride.

As I rode a bit further, some of the signs said that the road ahead was closed. This road is all dirt and potholes. The train tracks are the only thing separating the road from the river so it floods often. It is also at the bottom of a steep escarpment which seems to add more water to this pitted road, and also drops some large boulders to the road below so closing it may be the best scenario to keep cars from being stuck along this road and allowing illegal dumpers more access to soil the beautiful surroundings.

Knowing what was ahead, and following the trail to meet my father and avoid the setting sun, I had to keep my momentum heading north. The road is a bit difficult to ride on a road bike, but it is totally worth the risk. I have ridden this route many times, as my family had a cabin at this lake for years, and I love going up there. This time I was not as lucky as the others. I ended up with a second flat.

This flat was on the rear, and as before it was not hard or anything to change, but it did bring my fresh inventory of tubes from 4 at the start to 2 now. I had no spare tubes, just the two in the chamber so to speak.

With my other tubes at the mercy of this pretty rough road, the fact that my dad does not own a cell phone, and the idea of walking in my tap shoes in the dark on a remote road, I decided to turn around and head for home.

I gingerly got back to the tarmac with my tail between my legs. Once I hit the hard stuff, I really put the pedals into super spin mode trying to make a good shot at getting home before my dad left.

Along the ride, my dads big white boat of a

Buick came around the bend heading north as I was headed south. I rode along a bit then waited for him to let him know that I was alright but was down two fresh tubes so I had turned around and headed home. I figured he would go along and I would see him for dinner.

Instead he drove ahead every few miles and waited for me to come into sight, then drove along, waiting for me at semi regular mile markers. We used to ride these same roads on single speed bikes back in the day. Me on my BMX, he on his 60s cruiser heading out to some remote location on the river to fish and skip rocks. He used to ride ahead a bit and wait for me to come into sight then…somethings never change.

Dust this guy off.

Mike of Trophy, and Ron of Tri State Velo are having a time trial for all of us steel bike riders! That is right, on Saturday June 4, The 8mile official time trial will kick off the TD Bank classic race. This year there is a twist, there is going to be a vintage bike/all steel bike category. That is right, no carbonium forks or frames. The only carbon here has been bonded with iron and forged into tubes long ago.

I am sure there will be a few burners out there on some classic bikes, or maybe their new one. I could think of a few steel riders who will be chomping at the bit to destroy these 8 miles.

I will be there making sure that no one else has to finish last. I might even take my fenders off to save some seconds. If you want to register for any part of the time trail, check out this link to bikereg.

This might be the most expensive race I am ever in. $28 for 8 miles is a ton of scratch, and the same dollar to mile ratio of the wellness challenge the next day where for $45 you could have the pleasure of riding the whole course for one hour and you get a t-shirt. I hope that jawn is from Rapha, because a 13 mile non timed, non charity ride is an absolute rip off.

Check out the flyer to the left and we will see you at the park this weekend.

When: Saturday, May 14th – Race Starts @ 2pm

Where: Washington Square Park (7th and Walnut)

Registration: $10

Prizes from GirlBikeDog, Surly, Chrome, Fyxation, FixCraft, Bilenky, Seagull, Velo City Bags, Bailey Works, R.E.Load, Oury Grips, Rothera Cycling Caps, VP Components, and MORE

Additional Sponsors: Firehouse Cycles, Volpe Cycles, Fairmount Bicycles…

PARTY

As soon as the first racer crosses the finish line, the party will begin.  There will be live bands, KARAOKE, gold sprints, prize raffles, and some fancy beer.  Since this is a benefit, there will be a sliding scale cover of $12-15 at the door…but racers get in for FREE!

Where: Danger! Danger! Gallery (5013 Baltimore Ave)

* Riders of all levels and genders welcome. We use the term “Gentlemen” to imply a respect for the “rules of the road”. A cue-sheet for the route will be provided.

See you there. Maybe I could squeeze my body into my Rapha Jersey by then.

With all of the building they have been doing out there, it seems like this will be the best season yet. I am excited to get up there some weekend to throw myself down the hill. Maybe I should just stick to taking pictures…

Celebrate spring, the new shop, 5 years of Brevs, and the miracle that is the Easter Bunny!

Part down at the new shop on this coming Saturday from 7-10 or so.
Check the site for more details.

The number one accessory that I have that keeps me enjoying this type of riding is my fenders. Some people think that it is a sin to have fenders on their road bike, and some people have commented on my fenders, but i know they keep some really awful rock and debris from contacting my frame. They of course are very useful when I hit an extended wet patch out on my rides.

Take your bike off road. You will be surprised how awesome it really is.

Keep an eye on their site!