Sunday, August 31, 2008

Sunday


I slept in this morning until 8:45am. That was nice. I lay in bed pondering what to do with my day. My legs and body did not feel terribly tired. I considered a bike ride. Then I thought about driving to SC to watch the National Championship Road Race. I finally settled on breakfast at Hardees. Gravy biscuit, hash rounds and OJ. Washed that down with a grande cup of Ethiopian Sidamo at Starbucks.

I decided to continue working on the roof. I finally got all of the decking down and the roofing felt on it. We are going to put a beige colored metal roof on it, but that has to be special ordered to length. The felt will protect the decking while I get that process taken care of.

So, what to do with the rest of the day? Maybe a hot bath and a nap!!!






Have a great day.
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Saturday, August 30, 2008

Saturday

So far so good. I woke up at 5:50am. I went for a ride with Mike Keeley. We did the Biltmore Forest, Town Mtn, BRP loop. Great ride, lots of great conversation, and a finish at Starbucks, Mike's treat!! The Wyatt's showed up for some coffee and before we knew it, it was time for Mike to head back to his family.
I was planning on riding long on Sunday, but I considered staying for the Liberty ride. I went home instead and started the roof project again. I was able to get 95% of the decking done!! I'll finish up in the morning, and then figure out what to do with the rest of the day.
Rhonda and Jubal's secret mission is going well, everything is working out according to plan.....
Downtown Asheville ( 7:30am)
Town Mtn
Town Mtn
Great Coffee
Have a great day
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Secret Mission

Rhonda and Jubal have gone to Roanoke on a secret mission. She made some friends along the way.
I will be hanging out in Asheville, riding my bike, maybe working on the roof, but definitely riding my bike. I have a long ride planned so I can work on my endurance nutrition.
Have a great day.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

When it Rains....

...it pours. This week, I got the title transfered for our new truck with no problem, the electrical contractor approved the electric work with no problem, Progress Energy is at my house NOW moving the power lines ( with no problem? Let's hope!!), And it is still raining, everything is turning green again!!!!

Rhonda and Jubal are going to Roanoke ( I just noticed that the first part of Roanoke is Roan), my plan was to ride all weekend, but now that I can work on the roof, it looks like I'll only be riding part of the weekend. Then again, the roof can wait a couple more weeks!!! Ahhh, it is nice to have some simple decisions to make for a change.

If you are reading this and you are interested in sponsoring some high caliber endurance mtn bikers, please let me know. Eddie and Namrita O'dea lost their sponsorship mid-season for no appearant reason. They need your help to get to some more races that are part of year long series. If you can help contact me, thanks.

Have a great day.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Off Time

With having to work last weekend, taking a day off last week, tropical storm rain this week, I ended up with 8 days off the bike. This break came at just the right time, as I was feeling rather sluggish and needed a little bit of a change.

I have the Bridge 2 Bridge coming up on Sept 21st. This ride usually goes to the top of Grandfather mtn, but with construction at the top this year, it will end at the bottom. We will still get 100 miles of road riding in NC though.

I will be joining Mike K and friends for the ride. This will be Mike's first 100 since getting dragged down with some sort of illness that I can't remember the name, but it made him very tired and there was no way he could ride his bike. There is no way that I am going to miss his comeback ride!!! Welcome back Mike!!

Some more exciting things happening:
-The electrician was calling the inspector, supposed to have come out yesterday but it was raining, so maybe he came, maybe not, we'll see.
-The new truck is sweet, according to initial calculations, it gets better gas mileage than the old truck.
-My grass is turning green again.
-Jubal and Rhonda will be heading to Roanoke again this weekend, her grandma will be in town from Ohio, so they will get to visit.
-That means long rides for me this weekend!!! I have some ideas of rides to do, but I think I'll post after the rides if it works out, that way I don't have the pressure of living up to what I post!!!

Have a great day.

Monday, August 25, 2008

New Truck

Well, after a long time of praying, saving, waiting, thinking, waiting, praying etc, we brought a new truck home last night. We got a gracious deal on a truck with less than 100,000 miles and no oil leaks. I have to acknowledge the fact that this would not have been possible without God's grace.

This event in out life has caused me to stop and ponder. Did I do something good to deserve this? Do I deserve this? What am I doing right? I try repeatedly to figure it out. But it is not me, it is my Creator. It is not about deserving something, or storing up holy brownie points. It is a gift that I did not earn or work for.
Same goes for the past 4 months of trouble with the deck roof, permits, electrical, dentist bill, etc. I believe those were also gifts, situations that were provided to make me stronger.
"Every good and perfect thing is from God"
And I learned some good and perfect things from the roof project!!!




Speaking of the electrical work, the electrician called today and said the inspection should happen tomorrow. After that Progress energy can move the main connection and the maybe, just maybe, I can finish the roof!!!

Have a great rainy day!!!
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Saturday, August 23, 2008

Blueberry Pickin'

We took our annual trip up to the highlands to pick some wild blueberries. It is up around 5000 ft and beautiful. The air is crisp and clear, easy to breathe. The scenery is astounding!!!






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Friday, August 22, 2008

Sold

I listed the truck on Craigslist Ahseville. I got calls from at least 10 people and sold the truck within 24 hrs of posting. Sweet!!!

We are now a one car family for a little while. We have worked out a deal on a new to us vehicle which we are very excited about. Details after the deal is done!!!1

Have a great day!!!!

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Back to School

Those were dreaded words in my day as a school kid. I was always kind of wimpy though. Jubal seems to be doing better than dad, he didn't even cry today when I dropped him off. ( I didn't either). He chose the spot and the pose for his back to school picture!!



My niece and bro went out west for some backpacking and relazation. They hiked up Half Dome in the big Y. Kara took a picture of windmills. I don' t know why we don't have these here. If you are a farmer, lease some of your land to a windmill/power generator company. You'll be rolling in the dough in no time, then you can donate half of the profit, help end world hunger, and still have enough to buy a new car!!!! Think about it!!

Have a great day!!

For Sale: 1992 Ford Ranger




The truck is currently for sale. $1500 gets you a 1992 Ford Ranger Pick-Up with 140,000 miles, camper top, 4 speed with overdrive, re-built transmission ( 1yr ago), 6 month old tires, 4 cyl, old school cassette deck, runs great. Great little truck. Reply to this blog if interested.
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Monday, August 18, 2008

Cold Days

With the days getting shorter, I already start to think about cold mid-winter bike rides. Here is a picture of me on Squirrel Gap in Pisgah last winter. Jeremy and I finished this ride after dark, approx 36 degrees.

Fun Stuff!!

Have a great day.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Family Fun

The Asheville Janes had quite a fun weekend. Saturday morning, Jubal and I went out to Camp Rockmont to spend some time working in the garden, while Rhonda stayed at home and caught up on some sewing.
After lunch we loaded up for some hiking around Black Balsam. That went well until a rather fierce thunderstorm closed in and chased us home. After we were thoroughly drenched!!!!

Sunday after going to church, we hit the trails at Bent Creek for some mtn bike action!!



This sunflower grew in our yard.


Rhonda at Lake Powhatan.

Jubal throwing rocks.

The family.

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Friday, August 15, 2008

More photos

Here are some photos from high mtn camp. This is the couple that I chatted with while waiting for Mike and Stan. " The Raulersons".





Mrs Raulerson was kind enough to take a picture. She had never taken a picture on a cell phone before.
This is Mike and me on the Blue Ridge Parkway on Sunday, shortly after the infamous climb up hwy 80.

No Fool's Gold for me this year. Maybe next. I get to spend a lot of time with my family this weekend though. No new vhicle for now either!!! The time is not right, and I have learned not to rush big purchases. Ahhh, patience young grasshopper!!!





Have a great day.


Thursday Night Ride

My Bent Creek mtn bike ride last night started with this:


A little black bear running across the road!!! I hooked up with Kylie again, and another fast dude on a Maverick, today I am stiff. I need more rides like that. We rode for about 2 hrs and maintained a 10 mph avg. Lots of climbing was done.

We are considering a new vehicle, scraping together our finances to see if we can afford it. An offer has been presented to us. In light of that, it looks like I am bailing on Fool's Gold this year. Priorities!!! If I were in contention for the $1000 prize for first place, I would go and the trip would pay for itself, but since I'm not......

Have a great day!!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

dilema


Fool's Gold 100 miler or 50 miler, this is the question. I'm registered for the 100. I'm considering the 50 in case I'm not feeling so hot, I can finish with one loop, or finish feeling good. Or if I do well, then I can finish. If I stay in the hundred, and only complete one 50 mile loop, and call it quits, then I get a DNF. But, if I am feeling really good, then I can continue and complete the 100. I guess I need to figure out if I am doing this as a race, to place well, or as training: continuing to figure out my nutritional needs. Really, I need to focus on the later. Focus on feeling good, and enduring, rather than pushing past my limits.


Hmmm, what to do?


Have a great day.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Night Train Results

http://ridethenighttrain.com/results2008.html



I'm pleased with my 6th out 9 solo 12 hr placing!!!!

Onward to Fool's Gold this weekend. My nutritionist has advised me to double the amount of sodium intake as I was taking way below what is recommended. So, I'm gonna do that this weekend. Unfortunately, I won't have time for a long ride before the weekend, so I'm gonna give it a go and really listen to what my body is telling me.

I sold my single speed mtn bike, so now I am down to two bikes. While I will miss the WUSS, I am feeling good about simplifying, and feeling good about reducing debt!!!

Have a great day.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Ridin' the Night Train

Two weeks ago I retired from racing until I could figure out what my nutrition problem is. One week ago I had a successful road ride, feeling great at the end. I had decided to try to sell my spot at the Fool's Gold races in GA for next weekend. Inside I was hoping that it would not sell and I would get to go.
Last week the promoter from Night Train 12 hr race e-mailed me to let me know that he was holding a spot for me if I wanted to race.
Thursday, Rhonda and Jubal went to Roanoke to visit Rhonda's parents and some hometown friends.
I had planned to ride the ORAMM route solo, to prove to myself that I can do it. But, with the invitation to participate in an event with other people around to help out, I went with it.
I left Friday night, headed to Fontana Village in the Nantahala National Forest. I got there around 10:30 pm and was greeted by some happy people. The lights were out, but some people don't equate a good night's sleep with a good performance. The loud drunken talk finally finished around 2 am. I slept until 7, got up and headed to the restaurant for breakfast. I was determined that I was not going to race. This was a practice ride, the intention to focus on nutrition. And that is exactly what I did.
When I got hungry, I stopped and ate. When I was tired I rested. When I felt like I could keep going at the end of the day, but knew that it could push me over the edge, I finished, jumped in the swimming pool and hung out with friends the rest of the evening.
The day went well. The course is 9 miles with 2400+ ft of climbing per lap. I rode the entire thing 6 times. Lap one felt good, lap two I picked up the pace a little bit because the trail was so fun. I didn't go real fast but apparently did something wrong because sometime during lap 3 I stopped sweating. I had stopped to relieve myself just after starting the lap and the color was clear, indicating that my fluid intake was good.
But, here is the catch, the above statement is not always true. I read an article that stated that if your bodies electrolytes are low, the body will flush out excess fluid to balance the electrolytes/fluid in the body.
My theory, I can't rely on my urine color to confirm electrolyte balance. Also, I'm inclined to think that I did not have enough electrolytes in my system and by body was flushing extra fluids. Unfortunately, I was not rested and thinking things through so I kept going. I finished lap 3, sat in the pits to re-hydrate. I was not moving until I started sweating again. Laps 4-6 were a fine balance between feeling good and feeling not so fresh. Hence the decision to stop. I was not feeling constant, not improving, and likely, I was getting slowly worse.
I don't know how I placed and don't know that I care ( OK I care, and wish I had checked to see where I had placed). I do plan on doubling up on my electrolyte intake to see what happens. I have heard that one cannot take too many electrolytes, but will have to research that.
Below you will see pictures of SAM. He is one of the many animals that lives with us, and I chose him to be my traveling partner for the weekend!!!



For some reason, I decided to wait until the awards ceremony at 11:15 pm, instead of driving home to my own bed. At 12am, I tried to sleep in the back of my truck but sleep didn't come. At 2 am they finally turned the ball field lights off. I took my sleeping bag, laid it on the field crawled inside and was asleep in minutes!!!! 6:30 am my ballfield neighbors were up and packing quietly. I woke up, roll up my stuff, threw it in the truck and headed home.
The morning was spent legally working on my deck roof, then watching the Olympics while waiting for the family to return.
Next up? Fool's Gold 50!!!!
Have a great day!!
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Friday, August 08, 2008

Riding with Champions

Last night's Bent Creek ride was fun. I have been wanting to ride with folks who like to keep it moving. Stopping and chatting is fine, but for me, I only get to mtn bike 1-2 times per week, I like to push myself.

I pulled into the parking lot at Rice Pinnacle, got dressed and ready to go. Phil and Kylie pulled up and asked if I wanted to join them. Heck yes!!! I hoped to keep up. Kylie just got 3rd place at U23 National Mtn Bike Championships!! I couldn't keep up with her, but was able to hang with Phil on his downhill rig, until we hit the downhills. Then I was able to hang with Kylie, we were having a slow speed, small air comp!!! Fun Stuff.

I got a bill in the mail from the Buncombe County Tax collector's office. Apparently the tax on my truck is due. So, I have to scrounge up the $6.83 that I owe. Freaking ridiculous. I bet with man hours and everything involved, it cost way more than that to even send me the bill!!!

I'm NOT racing this weekend, but I am on a secret mission to try my new nutrition plan on the mtn bike. I'll let you know how it goes!!!1

Have a great day.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Fun

We have our own little water park in the back yard!! I have a tender heel and right buttock from this!!


Have a great day!!
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