John Henry

 Dreams do come true.  Since I got bit by the bikepacking bug, I have been riding an aluminum frame.  While lighter than steel,  aluminum is very stiff, and that stiffness had me thinking about a steel frame.  I had considered a Niner but could not get away from the quality of a hand built Siren. 

After a long time of waiting, not knowing if I would ever have the funds for this frame,  it worked out, and within a couple of weeks, I was building it up.   The build went fairly easily,  I only had to make two trips,  one to Liberty to have a blue Cane Creek 110 headset installed, thanks Gabe,  and one to a friend a little closer to borrow a crown race puller.  The Frame arrived at 3pm and I had it built up by 8pm.  All of the parts transferred nicely, and I replaced the old chainring bolts with some Loaded blue one.   This bike will slowly be highlighted in blue.  (blue I-9's?)

 I built it up and rode it around outside.  It feels fits and it feels good.  I brought it back in, took some pictures and stared at it for a while,  then I sat on it,  looked at it, etc.   I had trouble deciding on color.  It took me about a week to decide, so I went for a ride one day to mull it over.  Then it hit me.  Clear coat.  Brendan Collier is the builder, and does a fine job.  "Performance Art" is his motto, and I figured "Why cover that up?".  I want to showcase the frame, and I also want something to look at in the hotel room, in the middle of a long ride when I'm feeling beat up.  I'm riding a piece of art over hill and dale.  So cool.

And then she started to look a little naked so I dressed her up proper.  And she looks good!  All dressed up and nowhere to go....well lots of places to go, just have to wait for the right time!!

Thanks Brendan and Mary at The Hub Cyclery for helping me get this rolling, and thanks to Liberty Bikes for helping me build it up.   (And thanks in advance to Salsa for the blue seat post collar and skewers..... ?)  Why not, its ok to dream.   After all, dreams do come true!

And lastly, thanks Rhonda for helping me fuel my wanderlust!

Coming to Grips

This season's training has been interesting so far.  Since starting racing about 5 yrs ago, I have been hellbent on forcing my way to the podium.  I talk about how winning is not the most important thing etc, and while I believe that, I would still like to get to the top. 

In the past 2 months, already pushing through several challenges,  I have been coming to grips with the reality that I might not be programed to win.  I'm not sure why, but that inner drive to sacrifice everything is simply not there.  Actually, I think its there, it is just supressed by other things in life.  Things like spending time with my wife and kid.  I skipped two major workouts this weekend, in trade for fun time with the family. 

Some would say that I was sacrificing training time and that my fitness was suffering.  I say I'm not willing to sacrifice that much family time and have my relationships suffer.  Its a balance, really, and I have to remind myself to stop comparing myself to others. I have to stop trying to stand on top and be the best. 

Instead, I need to focus on my personal goals.  There will be plenty of time later this season that I do sacrifice that family time and head out on a big (hopefully) adventure. 

So, my goals are changing, or rather, I am realizing what I am capable of.   While it would be great to stand on the podium,  I'll keep doing what I'm doing,  enjoying my family, then riding my bike.  That sounds like a winning combo to me.

Survived

So,  apparently, things have changed quite a bit since I last had a physical.  One of the first things the doc asked is why I was there and what I expected.  I told him that I wasn't really sure what to expect but was under the impression that a human was advised to have a physical yearly, getting blood work, urine sample etc.

(this rant is not directed at doctors,  I have lots of friends who are doctors, and I love and respect them.  This is directed to "the system".)

After some discussion, where I admittedly got lost in confusion,  I left with the understanding that things have changed and a yearly physical is no longer needed.  If fact I felt like the doc was confused as to why I was wanting a  physical since I had nothing wrong with me.  I agreed,  if I don't need anything done, I won't have it done.

He said I could have blood work done if I wanted to but I would have to come back after fasting for at least 8 hrs.   I don't remember them telling me that when I scheduled the appt, but if they had told me, I'm sure I would have come prepared. 

Which brings up several questions and puts me further in doubt of the health insurance rip off.   Is the medical field so overwhelmed that medicine is not pro active,  watching for signs and symptoms of severe diseases such as cancer, heart disease etc?   Do we wait for the symptoms to surface before we get concerned?  

Or as an athlete am I more in tune with my body?  Listening to every ache and pain and researching to figure out what is going on inside? 

And why am I paying hundreds of dollars a month for something that I don't necessarily need?  Just in case........  hmm ,   so many questions, so little time.

I vote for a society that is more pro active and less concerned about making money off of "what if".

Dr Appt

I go to the doc today for a physical and I am nervously anxious.   Don't get me wrong here,  I don't have a problem with doctors,  I have more than a few friends who are doctors and I respect what they do.  

What I have a problem with is my thought process.

First, I go to the worst case scenario.  I haven't had a physical in 4 years, due to not having health insurance.  That's a long time.  Who knows what is happening inside my body.  Tumors, disease, etc could be spreading.......ok,  I'm a little skeerd.

Then the doc comes in, asks questions, hmmms  a lot,  makes notes and decides to take some bloodwork, " just to check some things".  

Really?   Like what?  Why so secretive?  So I don't freak out?  I'm already freaking out, so tell me what I should be freaking out about, and so on. 

Then comes the next waiting period,  waiting for the bloodwork lab results.   It takes up to a week.  That's another 7 days of freaking out, without knowing what to freak out about!!

After that, I get the e-mail that says everything looks fine.    Really?  All that freaking out about nothing?  Typical human being.....

Here's to hoping everything is all right.

Columbine-The Book by Dave Cullen

I borrowed the book from a friend.  I was interested to read the account for myself and draw my own conclusions.  It seems that the author did a lot of research and uncovered a lot of stories,  both sides of the stories,  something the media rarely does.

In fact, a portion of the book was dedicated to what I already know,  the media tends to report on the fly, with half truths and not knowing the whole story.  And when part of the story is missing, they tend to fill in the blanks.

I don't understand why people continually fall for the hype.  I'm guilty of the same in some instances.  Human nature I suppose. 

I'm not doing a complete summary here because it would take too long, and I'm still sorting through my thoughts. 

For those of you who don't know, I spent quite a bit of time in the child mental health field as an assistant house parent, then later as a Child and Family coordinator: a case worker working with children, family and community  to attempt to help them all adapt and help the child.  Some of the children were severely abused, while some were convicted sex offenders. 

One of the goals of the book was to show that Eric and Dylan both suffered from assorted mental disorders.   It was not guns that were at at fault, they were merely a tool.  The kids were not targeting specific people groups,  they wanted to die, and they wanted to take as many "inferiors" (humans) with them as possible. 

They had propane take bombs that fizzled, they spent over a year building an elaborate plan on how they were going to end it all.  They planned to execute on the anniversary of the Oklahoma Bombing. 

The kids were sick and they didn't get help.  Their parents were "unaware" of what their children were going through and doing.  It is difficult not to judge, but there does not appear to be a connection or relationship between the parents and child.   Eric's father was domineering, and quick to punish transgression in a very militaristic style,  which seems like it offers consequences but lacks nurturing. 

Nurturing is a very important part of child development,  without it, the child/ adult craves those feelings of love and acceptance and seeks them out in ways that are sometimes unhealthy.

Dylan wanted to die, but lacked the "courage" to do it by himself,  he needed approval and got that from Eric.  Eric was a mastermind and needed a partner to help him carry out his plan.  Dylan was a perfect fit, doing just about anything that Eric asked him to do without much resistance, receiving approval.

I'm not convinced that gun control laws would have stopped this or other massacres.   The person with this type of severe mental disorder is so driven that they will find a way to accomplish their goal regardless of laws in place.  I'm not saying I am pro or anti gun control.  I am simply saying that I am not convinced that it would have helped.

The big picture problem that we are dealing with is mental health.  Why won't the media stir the public into a frenzy about that?  Probably not as exciting as assault weapons.  I also think that we are not 100% sure how to deal with the mental health issues.  Mental health is much less tangible than a gun.  It is much easier to "make something happen"  and issue a law about banning weapons than it is to funnel more funding into mental health research and treatment.....or is it? 

According to society, a mental disorder is something that is "not normal", or "shameful".  If you have a mental disorder, there is something wrong with you. 

As a kid, I was taught that my family was "normal" and that anyone who thought or acted differently, was strange, not normal or even crazy.  Continuing through life, I have come to realize that that assumption was false, and that people experience very real issues and deal with them on a daily basis.  These people are not strange or crazy,   I would say they are normal.  Mental health and its demons are a part of daily life and we are all attempting to cope with the demons of various sorts that haunt us.   Each battle is fought a little bit differently, and each battle is worth fighting.   Never give up.

As a final point,  I want to urge you to spend time with your kids.  I have a goal of listening more than talking when I am with my kid.  He has some important things to say.  He has some deep questions to ask as he develops his own world view.  I hope and pray that I can give him the nurturing that he craves and that I can give him the guidance to make sound decisions as he moves through life and battles his own demons,  ones he does not even know exist.   When he makes the good decisions, I will celebrate with him.   And when he makes poor judgement calls,  I'll be there to urge him onward.  

We can't do this alone.

Cold January Rain

It was cold but the forecast said that I had a 3 hr window of no rain.  The temps were mid 40's so I dressed with long sleeves and a vest.  I would later wish that I had a jacket. 

The air was cool but I was excited to be riding outside.  A huge rainstorm was moving into the region and I knew that it might be several days before I could ride outside again,  so I went for it. 

Pedaling south on the parkway, I enjoyed the bare trees and the sights of winter in the woods.  Once I reach the gravel and started climbing, it felt good.  I paced myself, knowing that I had a ways to go.  but I never faded.  I felt good, and stayed that way for the whole ride. 

Finally a break through.  Roughly 30 days after my new fit and things were starting to click.  I managed a steady pace and ground up the gravel,  coasting the downhills,  easing into the corners and spinning through the climbs.  Occasionally, I stood up to get over the top of a steeper climb. 

Halfway through the ride, I was cold.  It had started raining 30 minutes into the 3 hr ride and now I was wet.  I wished I had my jacket to cover my arms.  My core was warm, but my cold arms some of the fun out of the ride.  I cut the ride short and headed  home,  satisfied.

It was one of those good rides that will linger in my memory and motivate me to keep going forward.

Keep moving forward.

Humming Along

Life hums along and sometimes I can't remember exactly what consumed my time in the recent days, but I know I was busy, because I'm tired at the end of the day.

Training has taken a bit of an unexpected turn this week due to the monsoon rolling through.  Some roller time, but not enough.  Better than nothing.  There might be a little less rain today and I'm hoping to get out some.

I hope so, The Snake is coming up fast, and in maddition despite knowing better, I got this:

Message from the Event Director

Thank you for registering for the Pisgah 111K mountain bike race!

I need to finish it this year.  Last year was derailed due to sinus stuff.  I made it 50 miles. 

The Wobblenaught fit continues to treat me right.  I am halfway to the point where my body and mind should be mostly adjusted to the new fit and pedal stroke.  I'm starting to do some harder efforts, and while still feeling weak, I can also feel a little more power creeping in as the muscles develop.  Good stuff!

One last thought for the day.  As I was doing some volunteer work at my kid's school, I wondered just why more people don't volunteer,  anywhere.  I decided to throw out a challenge:  Commit to volunteering 12 times this year,  somewhere, for at least 1 hour.   If you do, I promise, it will change your life!!   If you need ideas on what to do, contact me.

Have a great day! 

Canoe Trip

 Sunday, we finally got the chance to take our new canoe out on the lake for a trial run.  After a quick stop at REI to get the kid some polar fleece clothes, we were off.  All he had was cotton and there was no way with all of my wilderness training, that I could let him go out on the water on a cold day like this wearing "the death fabric"

We launched and started paddling.  I was very surprised and please at how stable the boat was and how easily it moved through the water.  There was  a breeze kicking up as we made our way all the way across the lake to the far side where we stopped and  had lunch on the shore.

It was so exciting to hear the kid's exclamations, this being his 3rd canoe trip ever, there is lots for him to discover, and lots for me to rediscover! 

After about 2 hrs of paddling around, we headed back to the boat launch to call it a day.  I was also happy that the kid did not complain once about anything for the 2 hrs!  Success.

I cannot wait to get on a river with him.

The Snake #1

 The Snake Creek Gap TT finally rolled around and I was scared.  I've done the race before and I knew that I was not prepared to go fast and long.  So what did I do?  I told myself to keep it reeled in and take it easy,  this was just a training ride,  there is no way I wanted to DNF.   And that is exactly what I did not do.

See,  there were 400 other people out there, trying to go fast and I kind of got caught up in it.  A power descended on me and I could not resist...  until I could no longer submit.

The day started bright and sunny with hotel breakfast and a quick run to Starbucks.  Then it was of for a drive through the country to find the start.  Our plan to get there before the crowds was shattered when we pulled up and there was already a line formed with a couple hundred more riders rolling to the start. I was mostly ready so I finished getting my gear on, bid the family farewell and headed to the back of the line.

 

This is how I mark my bike...;

 The air was warming and my fingers were the only things that were really cold,  the rest of me was hovering between comfortable and cold.  I started with a steady pace, focusing on my new body position and pedal stroke.   I am sure the the Wobblenaught fit and accompanying instruction played a big part in saving my ride today.

After getting started, going to fast, slowing down, getting stuck behind slower riders etc, I kept going too fast.  This scenario repeated itself all day long leaving me on the verge of cramping and praying that I would finish and not DNF.

What happened?  I went to hard too soon.  I hope I got that out of my system for the year.  It seems this is  a hard lesson to learn and I am not done learning it yet.  Don't know why....

The start

 The temps warmed up and halfway through, I stopped on the side of the trail to strip arm warmers, vest and swap hats for a lighter one.  I was then on the chilly side, but no longer worried about overheating.   I also realized that I did not drink enough early on.  I have gotten used to 2 hr rides with a granola bar and a bottle of water.

At the last water stop, with 10 miles to go, I was blown.  I was cramping in my right hamstring and my left trapezoid.  My arms were like rubber and my eyes were stinging from the dry, cold air.  I passed the spot where I DNF'ed last time I was out here and that gave me a little boost.  Then I pulled out the Honey Stinger Lemon Lime Chews with caffeine, and munched every mile or so for the last 6 miles.   Little miracles infused with honey, and while all I wanted to do was sleep, I was able to summon the energy to continue driving forward.

When the spectator said "1 Mile to go"  I did not believe him and asked " Exactly 1 mile?".  He assured me that it was and I knew then that I would make it.   I tried to accelerate but my body would not have it. 

Crossing the finish line felt great.  I wasn't worried about my time, just elated to have finished,  and motivated to put my nose to the grindstone on the training end of things.  Not that I have not been training, just December hit, along with illness and the holidays,  you know.

So, my first long training ride of the year complete, and as I sit here writing, I feel fatigue but not unusually sore,  thanks again to Eddie O'dea and the Wobblenaught fit.  And thanks to Brendan at Siren Bicycles  (and Mary) for some quality work on the Siren 55 SL!!  And thanks to my awesome wife and kid for being my support crew.   I apologize to the folks who tried to talk to me after the race and I didn't stick around.  I was heading over to get some food and spend time with them.

See you next time.

The Finish

Racin

I'm racing in two days.  I'm pumped, and nervous.  I have not done any consistent racing in the past couple of years.  It is exciting to get back into it and I look forward to continuing to improve. 

My best time at the Snake is 3:58, in 2008 on a single speed,  that was the first year I started training with HRM.  I was not able to beat that time since,  even after moving to a geared bike.  This is the first time the Siren will be heading down there so I look forward to seeing how things go. 

I don't have high expectations though, its been a rough month.  Weather,  sickness,  some weird swelling in hands, knees and feet (possibly a reaction to shrimp).  I'm just going to go out and have fun,  enjoy the ride and the company.  After that, who knows, I'll have 4 more weeks of training under my belt for the next one!

Happy New Year

 What did you do with your Christmas break?   Me?  I took the wife and kid to visit her parents, I rode my bike, played with the kid, went out to see The Hobbit, rode my bike, went for a hike, got some sort of ailment that is making my wrists, hands, knees and feet swell....

Carvins Cove, Roanoke VA

Up on the Ridge

Game Face

solo and peaceful

Fancy Rock Armoring

Awesome Trail Signage

Me and  my  favorite Lady

This is how Christmas Day was spent at our house....

Now I'm waiting for the doc to call me back with an appt time so I can find out if I am going to die or not... "If you are not living you are dying"

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve rolls around and I am awake at 6am, listening to the sound of rain hitting the metal roof on the half of the house that has metal roofing.  Then I start to wonder if the old part of the house/roof will leak or if the wet patch will continue to hold out.  That leads me into thinking about the next phase of our dream.  Who knows if it will become reality?  We really want to rebuild the roof on the original house, raising the pitch and adding metal roofing.  By doing so, not only will it match the rest of the house, but we will be able to raise the interior ceiling as well.

Its a bit of a daunting task because that involves calling construction people and hopefully finding someone who will quote a fair price and do what they say they will do.  I often consider doing it myself, but I want to make sure it is done correctly to insure resale value. 

Dreamin'.

The Wobblenaught fit seems to be treating me right.  I'm have a dull soreness all over.  I'm not sure how much to contribute to the fit and how much to wrapping gifts at REI for 4 hrs every evening over the past 8 days.   Tonight is the last night of wrapping, so I'll be able to get some rest from that.  One major thing I notice though is that it takes less effort to climb, and I am more balanced on the descents.  Another observation is my muscles, esp lower back don't feel tight after a ride.  We'll see if that changes once I do some longer/more intense rides, I don't expect it to.

And so, here we are,  Christmas Eve, drinking coffee, and looking forward to spending the day with my kid!!

Merry Christmas!

An Open Letter To The Oakley Elementary School Staff:

Dear friends, 

It is with great honor and pride that I write this letter to you.  My family wants to take the time this Christmas/New Year season to celebrate you and what you do.  We are very grateful for you and the part you play in our lives and in our neighborhood.  

When Jubal started kindergarten, we as parents, were nervous.  We didn’t know what to expect.  I (Stephen) was a missionary kid, moving around every 3-6 years for the first 20 years of my life.  New schools, new friends and a new language or two…every 3 years, left me feeling lonely and often rejected.  

 

The first day of school came, and we dropped the kid off for Kindergarten, then we walked out to the parking lot and cried (we have cried a little less each year since). 

As the days turned into months, then years, our confidence grew.  We gained faith and trust in our school system.  We formed friendships and our respect grew for the people who were responsible for our child for a large portion of the day.   

We want you to know that you all are doing an awesome job.  Sure, the little “life” things creep in- personality conflicts, stressful events, bad things.  But, good things happen too.  Not just good things, GREAT things.  This little kid, who just 3.5 years ago, could not read or write,  is now doing research, using creativity, critical thinking, using math skills that will soon surpass mine (I can still run faster than him).  The media simply does not spend enough time sharing all of the thousands perhaps millions of great things that happen at schools on a day to day basis.  

We notice.  We notice the little things: the warm smile, the comforting pat on the shoulder, the constructive criticism.  We notice the stacks of paper being graded, the cleaned out desks, the charts, the efforts to teach the kids more than reading, writing and arithmetic.   

This is a great school and spending time there has provided healing in my own life, along with insight on how to provide a better childhood for my kid, better than I ever could have imagined. 

We are honored to be able to say that we are part of the Oakley Family!  

Thank you. 

Your Friends,

Jubal’s Dad, Jubal’s Mom and Jubal

First Impressions

I was finally able to take a ride on the two bikes that I took down for the Wobblenaught fit.   I was a bit concerned about the changes in positioning and wondered if it would cause any discomfort.   I also knew that there would be a time frame while my body adjusts to the new fit, where I would not feel very fit.  I was reminded to take it easy for several rides to let that happen.   This is difficult with my first race in 15 days, but it is important.

My first impression  is WOW.   Even though my muscles are not up to speed yet,  I am able to ride steady up and over hills with an RPE that is lower than previously.  Obviously, it would take a power meter to know exactly what the benefits are, but I don't have one, so we are going with RPE. 

I think that the fit on it's own would make sense.  But with the added benefit of Eddie's instruction,  it really is the whole package.  He answered a lot of questions that I have had for a long time.  I'm not saying that Wobblenaught is the one and only way.  There are a lot of other fit processes that are done by people I respect.  What I am saying is that I notice an immediate difference, and can't wait until my muscles catch up!

Th, Fri, Sat ,Sun

Wow.  What just happened?  A whirlwind hit and now it is Monday and I am most likely the only person in the universe who is glad that it is Monday. 

Here is the low down:
I was listening to Mountain Bike Radio and scored a Wobblenaught fit.  Wanting to do it right, I made arrangements to drive down to Atlanta to visit Eddie O'Dea of 55Nine Performance to get the fit done.  I also forked out the extra dough to have my road bike adjusted along with my mountain bike.  I was pretty excited leading up to the trip and on the way down.  I have had a couple of fits before, and they were great.  This was supposed to be more in depth and I was looking forward to it.

 I got to the studio and Eddie got to work.  The entire process with 2 bikes took about 4 hrs.  The first 1.5 hrs was spent measuring my body size, weight, arm, leg, torso length etc.  Standing, laying, squatting,  needless to say, the process was already very thorough.  After getting my cleats realigned, I got on the Siren and started spinning.  One of the benefits of the visit was having Eddie teach me proper techniques for pedaling, sprinting, etc.  The whole session was filled with tiny little tidbits of info, that when added together, make a lot of sense.  And then, we repeated the process with the Foundry. 

 

After that, I was hungry, and since it was on my way out, I met Jay Dillard at The Varsity: "What'll ya have!" But first I sat in traffic for 30 minutes, taking said amount of time to move 3 blocks.  I heart Asheville.

Friday:  unload the shop and load the trailer for the used gear sale.  Then go wrap gifts at REI,  we are doing that for free through Christmas eve.  Come see us.

Sat and Sunday:  Used gear sale at the NCCX races, and more gift wrapping.  

Today?  I have  a lot to do, but am determined to ride, even if it is on the rollers!

 

 

Goin' Boatin'

So I sold the bike. That bike I didn't realize I had grown attached to.  6 years ago, when I bought the bike, I needed to do something to scrape the money together.  That was back when gas was cheaper and I was paddling whitewater 4-5 days per week. 

I paddled some of the big rivers here in the S East.  Tallulah being the biggest, and was working my way up to the Green Narrows.  Wilson Creek, Nanty, Tuck, Noli, French Broad, the Dirty Bird, Little River Sinks, Big Creek, New River, Gauley....and then some.   I started out in a canoe, went to kayak, then switched to C-1 and OC-1.  One of my favorite accomplishments was rolling the open canoe.

I studied the art of paddling and worked to get my American Canoe Instructor Certification in Kayak and Canoe. 

And then gas prices went up and my kid started getting older.  Old enough that I didn't feel right being gone so much.  I sold my boats, all 4 of them to help buy the Bianchi Giro. 

As the kid gets older, I yearn to share life with him.  To introduce him to activities outside of cycling. 

When I  found out about the canoe, I knew what I needed to do.  At first I was sad, and will cherish the memories of that bike,  but it is totally worth it, essentially trading something that brought me so much challenge and joy, for something that will do the same and hopefully form a strong family bond.  (and possibly some long, multi day, solo trips).

I can't wait to get on the water. 

Sold

After sitting around the house all day,  keeping watch over a sick 8 yr old, and keeping him quiet while the wife slept after staying out all night,  I was able to squeeze in a 45 minute hike..... and for that I was thankful.  The wind was biting and it felt cold enough to snow. 

And then it was time.  Time to say goodbye to my faithful Bianchi Giro.  The bike that carried me on many trips over the past 6 years.   I was thinking back to when I bought it, how excited I was to bring it home and ride it.  The derailleurs had been installed wrong and it wouldn't shift.  I was disappointed and frustrated.  I took the bike to Liberty Bikes,  they fixed it and earned my respect. 

I'm sure I had some bad days on the bike,  those have faded from my memory though,  it is the good days that I remember and cherish.  The wind blowing through my hair, the clicking of the chain as it passed over the chainrings, the crunch of the tires on fresh chipseal.... fun times. 

But it was time to sell it,  to open the door for something that I walked away from about 6 yrs ago.  Something that I won't write about until the deal is sealed..... today is after all, the end of the world!

The Mop

If you ever wonder why I wear a hat all the time, this is why.  I hate my hair.  It is wavy, and poofy.  Especially in the humid south.  I could never get it to do what I wanted and anytime I went to the barber shop,  they cut it weird,  like opposite of what I wanted....every freaking time!

As a kid, I was never allowed to have long hair.  Like they were afraid that I would gain a Samson like strength if my hair grew long, fearing that if I had more power than them, I would rule them.... or something.

I did end up growing it out,  it was midway down my back at one point,  then I cut it and donated it to Locks of Love.  Probably not cool.  Some kid is wearing my bad hair.  I tried. 

So I started wearing a hat.  The only problem is, there is some weird superstition that wearing a hat indoors is disrespectful.   I don't know,  the mop on my head seems way more offensive than wearing a hat that tames said mop. 

And besides taming the mop, a hat is functional.  It keeps my head warm, keeps the sun out of my eyes,  looks classy ( you might disagree, that's fine,  it's my hat)  gives clothing critics like Kevin Hessler something to comment on, and makes everyone else jealous that I look so stunning ( again, you might disagree.  Again, that's fine).

So now you no longer have to wonder what is under that hat.  You no longer have to surmise that I am covering up horns or something of the sort.  You have seen and have been amazed and you can now appreciate the hat.

For Sale: Bianchi Giro

Bianchi Giro   Size 57 cm,   $450,  Shimano 105 components,  Ultegra rear hub. Aluminum Frame, carbon fork.
My old steed is for sale at a great price, (if I must say so myself). 

I would still be riding it had I not won the Foundry back in May.  This bike is fun to ride and handles well.  We have been through a lot of adventures together, but now it is time to sell it, to facilitate some new adventures,  sort of a cycle. 

If you are interested, let me know: thejaneschronicle@yahoo.com

Flippin Fun

 Not a whole lot going on in the life of Asheville Janes.  I've gotten into a good rythym and feel like there has been huge progress in making peace with my past.   I didn't realize how much of my time had been spent still trying to work things out in my head, rather than accepting the facts and focusing on the good things happening in my life: ie my wife, kid and the 1000's of people who have made Trips For Kids WNC possible.  I've been sleeping better lately as well.  Its weird how much the subconscious continues even while the body is trying to rest.

This has been a dream of mine for a very long time and I am very excited to a part of WNC during this time of growth and change.  I'm a little less excited about the growth in numbers because that means motor vehicle traffic increases,  but the influx of creative and driven people moving into town, will help the growth of the cycling community and greenway push. 

It is very exciting to see the greenways plan, which was a dream only a few years ago, coming to fruition!  I can't wait to take kids for rides across town, all on a greeway.

And so the journey continues.  I keep looking forward, doing what I can to make this world a better place....and riding my bike because its flippin' fun!!