I Feel A Smile When the Pain Comes

It was supposed to be a light week, only 6.5 hours on the bike, according to the OMTP (old man training plan). So I did the gym thing Monday and Wednesday, rode the Higher Ground ride on Tuesday, and rode the north side with B and Big Worm Thursday. Easy pace, knowing the Stomp XC race was going on Saturday I figured we'd do a little light ride Sunday. Things don't always go as planned though do they?

Saturday was 48 degrees with a 15 mph wind and cloudy. I couldn't get B out of bed, I couldn't blame him, so I went to the race solo. Odd how riding the same trails I've ridden a lot seemed different when someone says "race". The event was well run and I got a good workout. I also got some revenge for the beating I took at the CX race last year, he had a good excuse though. It was still cold when we finished, especially after standing around in wet riding gear. So after I got home I built a fire and took a snooze on the couch. Hey, it's what old men do. Little did I know what lay in store for Sunday.

It was still cold Sunday morning, with a good chance for rain. I figured there was no way we were riding so I pigged out on the donuts my family had gotten me for my birthday and planned on spending the day on the couch. Then the phone rings, it's big Worm leaving me a message about a ride Silk's planning, so I check my email. Sure enough, another exploring type of ride, starting at the St. Marks trail head, heading who knows where. Big Worm, Big Jim, and B are the only ones mentally unsound enough to take Silk up on his offer. I check the radar, it shows rain. Silk says "it'll just be light". He doesn't know anything about predicting the weather. It started raining on us an hour into the ride and didn't stop for what seemed like 2 hours. And no, it wasn't just "light".

Big Worm did a better job describing the journey in his blog so I won't rehash the details.

Silk has some sick fascination with riding to the Ocklocknee River on his mountain bike. The best I can figure at our closest point we were still 18 miles away. He didn't bring a map, in fact if BJ hadn't had his Garmin we'd probably still be down there. The only thing that turned us around was a creek crossing deep enough to have to swim.

On the way back we stopped at Trout Pond for water, we had eaten all of our food. We were cold, tired, wet, and hungry. But we all had these big stupid grins on our faces. How could that possibly have been fun? Why does suffering make some people smile?

Anyhoo, after almost 5 hours of pedaling we made it back to the trucks. It was starting to get dark, it was still cold, but the rain had stopped. I had brought some of those birthday donuts, we each devoured one. Still smiling, it was a great birthday.

Thanks to BJ for the pictures!

Let's Go Exploring

Silk uttered these words as we met at the St. Marks trail head last Sunday afternoon. Like music to my ears! It was a spur of the moment ride, I had other plans for the morning and was hoping someone else would want to go in the afternoon. B is getting to the point where just riding with his dad isn't as fun as it used to be, imagine that.

The previous nights rain had made the other trail options a little damp so when Silk mentioned Munson we jumped at the idea. The fact that he wanted to go exploring and not just ride laps made my day. I just wish we had planned it earlier in the week so I could have looked forward to. Anticipation can be part of the fun. I know that's weak but at my age, ya know, you take what you can get.

Anyhoo, we turned right at the bench at the intersection on Munson and began our exploration ride, and what a ride it was. I hesitate to tell you exactly where we went. I know that's rude but some of the ride was on, shall we say, less established trail. But I had been there before. Many years ago in another incarnation, on a different vehicle. As we rolled I had flash backs to a less regulated time, when you could ride where you wanted. Before the days of the dreaded four wheeler. Many dusty, sandy, Sunday afternoons were spent on these trails. I could even remember certain turns and what I was riding the last time I was there. I hooped and hollered like a kid as we pedaled. I had figured B would never get to see these trails since they became unavailable before he was able to ride. When I asked him if he was having fun he replied "I'm finally getting to ride these". Like most old men apparently I talk a lot about "back in the day" so he had heard stories about this area before.

We got a bit lost towards the end but came out right where we needed to. Three hours for B and I, Silk had ridden to the trail head, so he still had another hour to get home, so we called it a day. I could have ridden till dark. I was so excited about the ride I had to call Big Worm the next day, not to gloat, (although that's what he thought I was doing) but to share my excitement. The best part about this is there's more down there that we didn't ride, a lot more I think. We'll be back.

All Clear

Big Worm in an earlier incarnation.

Sorry about that last post being so morose. For those who asked everything seems to be working out.

That was Saturday, now I want to talk about Sunday.

28 degrees and we were loading the CX bikes in the truck. Every time the wind blew I wondered if this was really a good idea. Sunday was the collegiate crit. in Monticello, Fl. and we were headed over to watch and then ride clay roads. I'd missed my ride the day before plus I had been off the bike earlier in the week with that damn cold so I was determined to ride, even if I froze.

Big Worm, Lil Ball, Mingo (?), and B were all crazy enough to saddle up. Watching the kids race around the streets in downtown was scary. I learned quite a bit about race strategy on a road bike, it's almost like a chess match, only you might get hurt. After the race we gobbled cookies and energy bars in the parking lot of the old high school, then worried over how much stuff to wear or not to wear. It had warmed up to the lower 40's by this time. We picked up BS on the way out and headed North.

The Worm had plotted a route which was 70% dirt. The first section of pavement was ridden at a moderate pace. As soon as the road turned to clay we hit our first little hill. I was warm by then, at least on the inside. My nose however kept reminding me of the words from the Jethro Tull song Aqualung "Snot is running down his nose, greasy fingers......". It seems the leftovers from my cold combined with the cold dry air had my sinuses flowing. I haven't perfected the snot rocket yet so I ended up with it all over me by the time the ride was over.

The pace on this trip was a bit quicker than my first clay road ride. Some of the roads had just had the ditches pulled and were rough. So rough it rattled my teeth and made it hard to see. The short sandy sections got my attention real quick as I headed for the ditch. After some coaching I was a little better prepared for the next spot. I still have trouble trusting that skinny front tire in the dirt.

B was riding a CX bike on loan from Higher Ground. He had a couple of water bottle ejections. Plus his tires were on the slick side so the sand really had him pissed. But by the end of the ride he was trying to figure out how to save his money for a CX bike. By the way he beat me on the yellow sign sprints despite my best efforts at the end as we came into town. The rest of the crew blocking me and telling him I was coming just wasn't fair though.

The ride worked wonders for my mind. At the end I felt dirty on the outside but cleared out on the inside. We stopped at the Jr. Store on the way home and bought bags of popcorn and drinks. The sun had the cab of the truck warm as we headed west. B and I started picking at each other about the yellow signs, telling stories about the sand, the dogs that chased us, and smiling.

Outside

The waiting room had surgical masks and hand sanitizer at little stands placed all around the room. Even though it was a Saturday evening in a big city it wasn't crowded. I tried not to touch anything, going so far as to not even sit down until I realized I would be there awhile. Outside the wind blew hard, it was cold and getting colder. I looked longingly out the window wishing I was anywhere but here.

Hospitals are a scary place. I've only really needed one myself once when I got stung by yellow jackets. I've been lucky so far. Unfortunately as you get older you tend to spend more time in contact with them. Friends and family members have issues that require you to visit or take them to one. I use every rationalization I can think of to stay away. I am so weak and self centered. Damn I wish I was outside right now. See, it's all about me.

As the time passed it became clear that the issue we were there for would not be cured that night so we left. As the door hissed open I took a deep breath. Finally outside. I felt guilty leaving, even though she had told me to go, she'd be alright, she needed to rest anyway. I looked back at the tall white building as the wind screamed around it. Just so damn glad I was headed home.

Back at our house I made a fire in the fire place and fixed myself a Jack and Coke, a double. I took a shower so hot it made my skin tingle. I just wanted to wash the day off.

Is this how it will end for some of us? Staring up at fluorescent lights in a strange place. Breathing that disinfected air. God I hope not, just wheel me out in the parking lot. Outside!

Sick Days

I spent the last 7 days feeling like someone had stuffed cotton up my rather large nose. It's amazing how bad a simple cold can make you feel. I haven't had a good one like this in a year. According to my training book once you start to increase the hours you become more susceptible to catching something. I had just finished a 12.5 hour training week when I felt that little scratch at the back of my throat. It's disappointing to find out that I'm not above these kind of things.

After 7 days off the bike last nights ride was like being let out of a cage. The roots seemed smaller and the trees further apart. The full moon over Piney Z lake was just a bonus.

I've got over half the course arrowed for the Tour Of Amsterdam on March 3rd. I hope I have made it easier to follow than last year. I used some different trails and hit some of the same stuff only from the opposite direction. The poker run format adds a little fun plus a chance to win some swag. You can just hammer and ride it like a race or put it on cruise control and enjoy the scenery.

Please help me pass the word about this event. It's not every day we get to ride on something completely different and it's for a good cause.

Registration is at http://www.shandsgiving.org/

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

My First Time

Photo courtesy Big Worm

On a road ride, and I liked it. We rolled from Zone 5 in Tallahassee Fl. on a clear Saturday, temps were in the mid 60s, perfect. Big Worm was to be my teacher in the ways of the roadie. I have to admit I was nervous. Stories of being yelled at for the slightest error by a bunch of testosterone fueled cyclists had me gripping the bars like it was a race. I did get yelled at but they let me go awhile before they started the corrections.





"Mr. Norman! Get on that wheel!" Was the first thing I heard as we tooled along two abreast while cars impatiently zipped past. The white line was to my right and BW was off my left handlebar, about 4 inches off. It seemed like I was already too close to the rider in front of me, what, you want me to get closer? "You have to trust the guy in front of you." I don't even know the guy in front of me, if he sneezes I'll be on him. Just relax I told myself, you'll never make the end of the ride like this.





Speaking of the "end of the ride". No one but Mr. Silk knew how long we were going to ride. It was a surprise to everybody when we headed for Monticello, which would end up being about 70 miles and 4 hours round trip. Steve A. and Lil Ball both stated that they wouldn't have signed on if they'd known. Sissies! I thought to myself early in the ride. I could go like this for days! Of course that ended up being soooo wrong.





They told me I didn't have to "pull" on this ride. In roadie talk this just means be in the front. Well Silk and I were discussing some up coming rides and before I knew it we were "pulling". I could immediately feel the difference, especially with the head wind. So I got down in the drops (isn't my use of roadie talk impressive?) and pedaled harder. Silk and I continued our discussion unaware of the turmoil my blistering pace was causing behind me. I heard BW holler "Norman, move over!" I assumed I was going too fast for them, but that wasn't it.





Seems I was weaving all over my side of the road. Truth is I was so glad not the be hemmed in on both sides, I was like a dog off the leash. Unfortunately that made if difficult for the rider behind me to stay in the draft. I asked Silk what was wrong to which he replied "Just some roadie sh#*." Indeed.

About that time I started to get tired, my butt hurt, and my arms were getting a little numb. Then the Shankanator got on the front. I quickly learned why I needed to stay on the wheel of the guy in front of me. Man it was like I couldn't get close enough! Finally he pulled off into his neighborhood and the pace dropped back to almost bearable.

We got split up near the end of the ride with people doing their own little sprints. Lil Ball herded me close to Zone 5 and then went his own way home. I still managed to get turned around but ended up seeing Mo Mo's Pizza so I knew where I was.

After the ride my lovely wife T and I ended up at Oscars in beautiful downtown Havana. Sitting outside in front of the fireplace. A cold Peroni beer, a plate of chicken Parmesan with hot bread, under the stars, what a great way to end the day.

I'm ready for the next one!

Tour Time Again

March 3rd is the date this year for the second annual Tour of Amsterdam Mountain Bike Poker Run. I'm planning on a full 30 mile route this year with some different stuff and some stuff run in the opposite direction from last year.

The ride is held on 14,000 acres of privately owned land just outside of Attapulgus Ga.We will have 50 entries that will include the Dancing Chickens for lunch, if we get more than that we'll cook burgers and dogs if folks want them. Unfortunately we are limited on the Dancing Chickens due to the fact that Mr. Boatright can only cook so many. He donates his time, expertise, and food. So we can have as many bikes as we want but first 50 will get the Chickens. I hope we get more than 50, if we do please understand about the lunch. Your money is going to a good cause.

All the proceeds go to benefit the Children's Miracle Network at Shands Hospital in Gainesville Fl.

I spend a lot of time on this property but it's still a treat for me to be able to ride it. There's nothing technical and no real single track but it's a different place to ride.

I'll arrow it better this year so Carol won't get lost again.

I will also go 5 deep on the poker run prizes instead of 3 like I did last year.


I think everybody who entered last year had a good time. Some got lost, some took a while to do the route, but I didn't hear any major complaints.

Please help me spread the word. Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

The address for entering is: shandsgiving.org