Tools

This weekend was ladened with tools. One I couldn't find and the other found me. As mentioned in my previous post, I got the 20 tooth cog for my rig, the problem is that I didn't have the proper lockring tool. So I went to the nearest LBS, Race Pace, and they suggested a tool that might do the trick. So I get the tool and take it home. I fumbled a lot to get it off, noticing some rounding of the notches...not good. So I immediately take it back. Still looking for the right tool.

On Sunday, I went to REI just to browse. Luckily it was their Attic Sale, where returned goods are sold at cheap prices. Most goods are damaged or heavily used. So I stumble across some "nearly" great finds, only to find out that they are ripped, chipped or missing parts. Then I get to the piece de resistance. Before my eyes laid the Garmin Forerunner 201. I have been tinkering with buying one of these bad boys for a while, but it was way down the list...a hair to pricey for what I would want it for. Well, low and behold, here it was at a cut rate. They had it listed at $50, which is a phenomenal deal...then they shouted everything is half off the lowest ticketed price.

Shocked and awed as I was...I started tinkering with the watch to ensure that there was no hidden damage. I asked if I could take it outside to catch a signal. So I hopped outside and "BINGO!". Then I hopped in my car to see if it tracked and the mph's and waypoint function worked...indeed. Lastly I plugged in the charger to ensure that it charged properly...yessir. SOLD! I got the Garmin with the last of my REI gift certificate with a huge smile on my face. It reatils for $150, purchased for $25!!! It is less expensive than the crappiest cyclometer and has loads more functionality. Finally we can get a good peg on altitude and distance on biking excursions

Workin' for the Weekend

I should be getting my 20 tooth Surly cog tonight. I'm excited to see how that pans out for me. I think I'll be spinning a ton in the flats, but climbing more "currently unclimbable" inclines. One of the joys of SS'ing - always tinkering/perfecting.

Tomorrow promises to be a nice day high 50s!!!

Roll with it!!

THIS JUST IN...Got the cog from Speedgoat, had to find the proper tool...the new cog is installed and ready to roll. Unfortunately, no ride today...I have to go to a work function with K. There's always tomorrow.

Springtime in January

Mountain Bike @ Loch (Saturday). With temps in the mid 60's, it was time to hit the trails. I met up with Volk at the trailhead at Seminary, where dozens of riders assembled in short sleeves and shorts to hit the singletrack. Volk and I once again wore the same jersey, looking like team goofball out on the trails. We headed in with no real game plan, and ended up riding for three hours touring almost every trail that the Seminary Trail offers. I got to see the Loch Raven Dam for the first time since the construction. It is pretty impressive. I digress.

I think I am going to gear up with a 20 tooth cog in the rear. I fear that will put me in spin central on the flats, but I want to see how it would effect my overall ride.

We ended up going to Baja Fresh for some grub and called it a day. I got home and washed the bike then myself....then it was chili time.

Chili. I am getting closer to perfection with my chili skills. This time I used Rogue Smoke Ale as my beer of choice. The name pretty much says it all and the chili actually did have a hint of smokiness to it. Good stuff...can't wait to try it today as we watch the football games.

Hike @ Soldiers Delight (Sunday). Took a nice stroll throughthe western side of Soldiers Delight this afternoon with my main hiking comrade, Cobi Joan. She was a tad confused and I was a little hesitant. I didn't want to stoke her desire to hike so early in the year. She might now come to expect it. For those who don't know, Cobi Joan is a 15 lb Shih Tzu and isn't very adaptable to snowy/cold conditions. She is however an extremely durable, strong pup. We've gone on 10+ mile hikes where I've thrown in the towel and she is just getting warmed up.

Back to our hike. The trail was a little sloppy, but because 75% of the trail is stone-fortified, it wasn't a squishy mudfest. We tallied about three miles.

But what about bikes?

Not much discussion around bikes lately. I need some outdoor biking miles...pronto. I am heading out this weekend for road or dirt...I can't take it!!

My Rig is, all like, mad at me. I bring her in the family and leave her in her room, not to be ridden like the stallion she is. My bad! I definitely need to get a new rear cog...either 19 or 20. I am having issues pushing her up some hills I typically have little to no problem with. It's all about the gear inches baby.

I'm also missing the road..the cruel, grinding pain cave...which for some unfathomable reason I enjoy. Mostly because I know I'll be able to quaff a tasty beverage at the end with no guilt! Actually, because it takes you to parts of the world...ok, state...ok, county....that I would otherwise not see by car. You have time to smell the roses (and dead animals and cow dung and...you know, if you know). Not only do you invigorate your physical being, but all five of your senses become hightened and enlightened. Good stuff!

I think I have an idea on what to do with by broken Surly 1x1 frame. I was perusing the Dirt Rag site and ran into a rant by Karl Rosengarth re: SCUL (Subversive Urban Chopper League). Basically they are a bunch of riders dedicated to the art of the chopper bicycle, among other interests. It got me thinking that, with the assistance of my father-in-law who is handy with welding, I could create a frakenbike that I could tool around town/beach with. I have all sorts of ideas in my head, but they probably won't come in to fruition for a while. Too many things on the plate already. Here's a great movie trailer from SCUL: http://www.scul.org/movie/. Check it out!

Okay, I'm done.

OR NOT...

THIS JUST IN...



I finally found DFH Fort at Calvert Wine & Spirits...YAY! Tonight...me, my girl (meaning my wife, not the beer) a fire, some cheesecake and a bottle of Fort. Sounds muy bueno to me. I actually picked up two bottles. After searching high and low, I found her...all thanks to beeradvocate.com's user forum. A fellow beer nut from the area rated the Fort and I tracked him down and asked...WHERE!!! I ran to Calvert and picked the last two up with a huge smile on my face. One to drink, one to lay down. I have a feeling this one will age great! Might also be highly collectible due to the rarity of the bottling this year!!!

Temperature Check!

So, I have already made some headway into the goals I have set forth in my last blog. My dad and I got confirmation that we were admitted into the brew class...Check! K and I looked at houses in the Westminster area on Sunday...Check! I've been on the trainer and working out in preparation for my physical challenges...Check!

Dogfish Head AleHouse









K and I went to the Dogfish Head AleHouse on Friday night, in an effort to go to restaraunts in other parts of the world. This choice was heavily influenced by your's truly. Dogfish has some of the best beers in this part of the world and we are lucky that they are close by.

We started the evening with a short stay at the bar waiting for a table to open up. K indulged in the finest of sodas and I started off with a Burton Baton offered in a snifter glass. I may have chosen a easier beer to kick off the night, but it was tasty all the same.

We then immediately got our table and started the feast. We began with a three cheese crab dip. Next beer up: Raison D'Etre . Then we made our minds' up for the entree and we both went with pizza... I went with the seafood pizza and K went with a spicy pizza. Both delicious. Pizza loves beer, and beer loves pizza. I went with a Snowblower Ale next, not because it went the best with pizza, but it is only available in draft...I had to go for it.

Our dinner filled with great conversation even with the fact that K was slightly under the weather. We talked and ate for over 2 hours. So why end the party there? We got an excellent chocolate cheesecake which prompted me to take it a step further with a year-old World Wide Stout. This was an excellent pairing. What an excellent night! Why end it there, K allowed me to have one more nightcap. We sat at the bar and people watched as a quaffed a Olde School Barleywine. Upon finishing the wonderful night, we picked up another momento for both of us.

And yes, K so graciously drove home with me in tow. She was all hopped up on soda :)

BIG PLANS 2006

Here goes the list of all the things I'd like to accomplish in 2006. My plan is to fire a ton of possibilities out there and see what sticks. A short list will be created soon. Aight:

24 hour races:
Big Bear - June 10th-11th
Seven Springs - first weekend in September

Adventure Race/Off-Road Tri:
Rocky Gap Adventure Race - May 20th

Charity Rides:
Maryland Wine Fest Ride (road) - mid September
Chesapeake Asthma Ride (road) - June 2nd-4th; may be hampered by Big Bear.

Local MTB Race:
Race in at least one area race. Never have competed in a normal race before.

Run in a 5k:
Building block to longer runs and eventually a real triathalon.

Hike a section of the AT:
If I can take a week each year for a couple years, I will have completed the whole trail

Lots of weekend camp/ride trips:
Plan for a lot of training rides/camping in the Mid-Atlantic area. I also really want to ride the entire C&O Canal in a weekend.

When Daylight Savings returns to better daylight hours:
Ride, Ride, Ride to work again!!!

Start brewing:
The Big Man and myself are taking classes in February. Family Chesnik will sow the empire they have been destined to create through malt, hops, yeast and water!!

Woodcrafting:
My dad and I have been talking a lot of game about making our own furniture and whatnots. Time's up...this is the year!

Friends:
I have some yahoo's that want to start a clothing line. I know zippy about the biz and have zero design qualifications. They are very creative and inspired gents who are very passionate about their idea. I hope I can help them with the business side, which means I got some studying to do. It's all about the biz plan, baby!

Family:
The wife is eager to find her "nesting" house. The time may be right to find new digs. All I want is a garage and a shed to call my own. A shed for brewmaking and bikes! Oh, and two bathrooms.

It would be great if we could start filling the house as well.

Guess who's back....

...back again. Guess who's back, tell your friends! Guess who's back...okay, you get it.

Been a long time! My apologies. No excuses...just 100% plain ol' busy (wait, that's an excuse). My punishment is your enjoyment (maybe). The world's longest blog submission. Here goes:

Biking

I have been on the Rig sporadically during the holiday season. Hoppe tries his damndest to get me out on the sloppy trails, but I refuse. I did enjoy our iced singletrack session though. This was our pre-Christmas ride which included a bottle of Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale and a little Beam. Those two definitely warmed our innards.

I am enjoying the hell out of the rig. It is definitely a beast on the trail. I think once I get my strong cycling base back...I will be a force on the trail :)

Other than my minimal outdoor antics, I have been doing some indoor training. Fun stuff.

Brew

My new found love of all things brew was given a shot of adrenaline during the holidays. I received a couple gifts relating to the glorious hobby:

Books
Ultimate Beer by Michael Jackson
Homebrewing for Dummies
Beers of the World- a gift from my riding buddy Hop.

Gear
Hop Holster - My bro-in-law and I received these from my wife. BIG HIT at the family party.
A cool bottle opener.

Knowledge is Power!
However, the cream of the crop (though not so much a Christmas present) is the class my dad and I are taking in February through the local homebrew store. We are going to learn the ins and outs of homebrewing. I was going to take a class at some point, but it's great to take it with my pops. After reading copius amounts of info on the process, I believe his analytical/scientific brain will be a wonderful asset to my learning process. My scientific brain is likened to a bull in a china shop...I like beginning projects and ending them...it's that in between stuff that I'm not a fan of :)

Bottles
My neighbor is a huge brew afficianado, whom I give beers to every time I see him. Most of the time he has quaffed my selection, but I throw some newbies his way to. Well, one day during the holidays he stopped by mt house and handed me three new selections (Bezelbuth, Lion Stout and another I can not recall). Anywho, we were talking and he mentioned his "cellar" and I told him I'd be interested in seeing it one day. And off we went. He literally has dozens of "laid down" brews. He treated each one with kid gloves and he new the ins-and-outs of every last one. His excitement sparked mine and we talked for a few hours about beers, brewpubs, etc. I ended up leaving his house with about a dozen different brew, my favorite being a 2003 DuClaw Devils Milk wax-dipped growler, which apparently DuClaw no longer does. What a treat! I now have started a mini cellar in the back of my refrigerator. My finished basement doesn't stay cool enough...fortunately and unfortunately. My plan is to start having tasting parties with my drinking buddies...price of admission: a bottle to lay down for a future party.

Family

I hope the readers understand that these blogs are a stream of consciousness and no, my family ranks numero uno in my heart. They do not rank below bikes and booze...my dumb brain is just a little slower than my big heart.

We had a wonderful holiday. Not too much rushing around. We were able to enjoy each other's company...something I haven't had the opportunity to truly do for a while. My eyes have definitely opened up to spending time to the people I truly care about, including family and friends.

While I like getting gussied up to party on New Year's, I really, really enjoyed grabbing a bite, enjoying libations and camping out with my wife and pup in my basement, watching movies and the ball drop. I assume we'll probably do something different next year, but if we don't...that's cool too.

I already talked about the upcoming class with my dad. And I am also eagerly awaiting the addition to my parents house which will also include a workshop. We are in a huge d0-it-yourself mode. Brew and Furniture...watch out crafting world!

Big Plans for 2006...forthcoming!!!!