Putting the Puzzle Together

As you could tell from the other posts, I have been receiving all the parts piece by piece this past week. I took the frame and old fork over to the shop to have the headset pressed in and race pulled off so I could slam it onto the new fork when it arrived. Low and behold it was awaiting for me when I got there!

Planet Zwerg facing the headtube

After I grabbed a bite to eat this evening I headed out to the shed to put the remaining pieces in which I had onto the bike. I have to admit it is starting to look really nice. I am super stocked to get her finished, hopefully by this weekend so I can break her in nicely with a ride at the Scout Camp on Saturday. Just waiting on some new fat Maxxis tires (which might actually get here if I place my order), chain, headset spacers and a couple of brake cables.

Looking pretty while awaiting the final pieces

Puzzle Piece #2

Puzzle Piece #1

Not an entirely too much to report as of late. Been doing the ole road bike thing. Commuted to work a few times last week as well as got in a nice ride down by the riverside on Saturday. Have to say, I am excited by my level of fitness at this time. Average speeds for these rides have been a couple of mph's higher than a month ago. Which oddly enough was the last time my butt hit the road saddle. Ah well here are a few pictures to keep the boring level of this post down to a minimum.

Planning can be a waste of time sometimes...

Headed out to the Scout Camp once again this past Saturday. Plan was to try to get in 4 laps, two on the BUSS and two on the Turner. Plans do not always go the way they are scripted. Forgot to pack a pair of riding shorts and since I drove almost 40 minutes to get out there decided to rock the khaki shorts.

The first lap was on the BUSS - 45 minutes. Changed bikes for laps two and three. It was freakishly weird to jump off a SS and onto a full suspension bike. Took the entire lap to get accustomed to sitting. Lap two time was 20 seconds faster than the first. Stopped by the car to refill the good ole water bottles. Wait fill it with what?! I left the gatorade in the refridgerator. F! Went out for a third lap but decided I would take it easy and just take in the lovely scenery. Took a few pics so you could as well. Enjoy!

You ever have one of those days in which you feel stupid amounts of slow all day? Yesterday was one for me. Had plenty of legs but no rhythm. Going to watch the Tour this morning. Maybe it will motivate me a little bit.

Been trying to figure out why I have been down in the dumps for the past couple of days since returning from roughing it in the woods this past weekend. Could think of only one thing, I haven't ridden since the Scout Camp almost a week ago.

Decided to run home after work to grab the bike and gear and head over to PSP. With the roads on this side of town wet from showers and the color of the sky turning a darker and darker gray, I checked the radar. Maybe I shouldn't be a weatherman because even after looking at the radar I was certain we were going to get hit with a band of severe thunderstorms. "Screw it! I going out anyway."

Arrived at the park dead set on getting in at least 10 miles before I called it quits due to what was either going to be weather or darkness, I jumped on the BUSS. A mere 25 feet later I was off the the BUSS brushing sand and dirt off my body. Thought to myself, "Are you serious?!"

Back on the bike I went and started to try and outrun the weather. Legs felt strong with hardly no acid build up whatsoever. More importantly my lungs were still there as well. Felt as if I was on about an hour pace. Got back to the car checked the time and it was closer to a 49-50 minute pace. Felt good when seeing that. The weather looked as if it were clearing up. Just for giggles I checked the radar once again when I got home.

Looks as if everything missed us completely. Glad I decided to tempt fate and head out anyway. Would have been even further in the dumps had I not ridden because I cannot predict the weather.

Weather should be nice this evening so I may try to get in a decent road ride but more than likely grab the BUSS once again and possibly hit the Lakeview. But for now, I'm off to hell, errr I mean work.

July 4th a Week Later

Ran in the Firecracker 5k

Couldn't decide which footwear to rock

Cleaned the Scout Camp Mud off the Oaks

Decided on the old busted ass running shoes

Gathered at the start

Finished in 23:05 all the while wishing I had one of these

R-Braves game followed by spectacular fireworks

__________________________

Spent the weekend up at Douthat without the bike. Did a lot of hiking and relaxing with Jenn and the family.

Setup camp

Maxxis living the easy life

Signs are put up for a reason :-/

Dad and Maxxis resting for a second

Sunset at the lake

Photos from the rest of the trip here

The post Cranky recovery ride on Monday at PSP brought a lot of stiffness to the stems hanging off my waist. Decided to take it easy for the rest of the week and stay off the bike until the weekend. Friday was not only my 4th straight day off the bike but also a day full of rain showers. Was looking questionable whether the pre-ride at the Scout Camp would take place or not. CED said it was a go!

Met two of the other 3 members or Yoda Lama's Juicy Sin. This was the first time riding with Chris (Lama) and Gonyo (Yoda). Knew they were fast and quite frankly was afraid I would not be able to keep up coming off of the Cranky Monkey and subsequent week off the bike.

John Gonyo aka 'Yoda'

Chris Dauley 'Lama' (right) Rick (left)

Headed out for the first lap around the ~9 mile course which had me chasing Yoda and Lama. The initial pace had me searching for my legs. At one point I almost started yelling out "Marco" in hopes they would reply with a "Polo", but to no avail. The singletrack is a bit overgrown in areas next to the lake. Be careful around those parts. Handlebar creatures live in those parts. Seems I was not fast enough through that section to avoid their grasps. Down I went when I hear Yoda say, "Andy's down". Replying with an embarrassed "I'm OK" I hurry back to the bike and try to catch up. Lucky for me they eased up a bit. Rest of the lap went alright considering the amount of work it was to climb the slick hills and it was unbelievably hard to breath in the thick humid air.

After all the rain on Friday the course was a little more than tacky in most places and down right sloppy in others. Having fun playing in the mud, we stopped by the lot after the first lap so the Lama could adjust air pressures when I saw a familiar face ready-ing himself for a lap.

JB

We jumped back onto the trail and was delighted to find the ridden tracks packing fairly well which made riding seem a little less than work and a bit more fun. My legs finally replied with a faint "Polo" and I was beginning to feel a bit more comfortable in the saddle. Made it through the overgrowth where the handlebar creatures lurk without a hitch. So now the legs are responding somewhat when my lungs decide they need more O2 than I could take in. Finished the lap out sounding like an asthmatic moose. Made it out alive and with every passing lap around that place I look forward to the 18 hr race that much more.