The First Crash of the Season

Place: Egypt Valley
Time: After work
Actual location of Crash: The first downhill sandpit.

Well, It just happened. I crashed for the first time this season. It was at the beginning of the sandpit before the optional log jump. I have gone through that section over a hundred times and I guess I had my weight forward just enough that the front wheel buried itself and hurled me over. I literally was up in the air 4 feet. The next thing I remember was the Seven heading towards me. I caught the back wheel so that it would not do more damage. I was thinking, laughing how quickly this happens. I tucked and rolled and got up and first thing I did was inspect myself and then the bike. The handlebar had somehow twisted itself over the top tube and scratched my brand new decal from Seven. Oh well, I usually refinish and re sticker the bikes every 2 years anyway. In the meantime, I will have to go to the store and buy myself some black nail polish. Purple East? Shakedown Street? I frequent those often;) Haha. I'll probably go to Rider Hobby and get a paint pen. Your bike has to look good you know.

Well, I rode on Wednesday to work. Nothing of note except that my neck hurts from the fall. I got home in 32 minutes.

Here is another picture from the past in one of the Colorado trips.

Ride at Egypt Valley Game Area

I rode one of the trails that introduced me to the sport of Mountain Biking last night. What a riot! The trail conditions were perfect. The weather was great! I remember this trail from my early days of trying to make it up the hills and learning from the guy who never wore a shirt how to make it up that sand hill before they re-routed it because of erosion. He said, just stand on it as soon as you clear the downhill section. He with his Merlin Ti with White Brother Front shock.

When I got there, there was a good number of cars and trucks but not the crazy amount there usually is on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which is the day when guys and gals go there to ride and socialize afterwards. I also saw a father with 3 boys getting ready to ride. I just thought of Ryan when he gets old enough to "big ring" it all the way through. What a glorious time. Thank you God for everything!

I did the trail in around 35 minutes. Okay for the first time out. I remember when I could do this in 28 minutes, big ringing it all the way through.

I am planning on riding into work tomorrow, weather permitting. I am also thinking of riding Egypt Valley or Yankee Saturday Morning. I need to get a state park sticker as well.

Have a glorious time whatever you all are doing. Just thank the Man above.

-Carl

I noticed something...

Well, the mornings are getting brighter. I noticed that as I leave my house at 6:40am that I have the start of the sun showing. Makes for a cheerier commute. I also noticed that eventhough I feel tired going up some hills, I am carrying faster speeds up them. It was warmer this morning so I think I overdressed. It seems like my radiator was overtaxed. It going to be a scourcher today, in the 70's. Summer is approaching and I can't wait until I can wear shorts all day long.

Till Later...

Monday Ride To and From Work/My Lovely Wife and Son

The ride to work was even better. I noticed that I go to work faster, about 5 minutes faster...hmmmm? Guess what I upped my tire pressures to 75 psi. Last week, I had them at 55 psi. Mind you that I am riding my Seven Sola Mountain Bike. Usually on the trails, I have the psi at 35-40 psi, but I am using some Ritchey Tom Slicks that have a rating of 55-85 psi. Go figure that 20 psi makes 5 minutes of quicker times.

The ride to home was uneventful, just the usuall ignoramous that do not know the rules of the road concerning cyclists. I just shook my head and rode on.

At the end of my trek, I was greeted by my lovely wife and son. That made the whole thing worth it. Anything that went wrong that day was erased by seeing my wife and son waiting for me in front of the house.

Love You, Mick. Love you, Rye-Rye!

Waiting For Daddy

Hi! This is Carl's wife, Micki, writing this post. Today I took our son, Ryan, outside to sit on the front porch and wait for Carl to coming riding down the street from his commute to work. I know how important biking is to Carl, and how even more important it is to him that his child(ren) have an interest in it too. So, I thought I would help Carl get an early start with Ryan by letting him see his daddy riding his bike. Ryan wasn't too sure what to make of Carl all suited up, but I think he was attracted to the bright colors and patterns of his biking jersey, so that is a good start :). I know when Ryan gets to ride in the burley cart he is going to think that is the cat's meow. And, I know that Carl is going to be in his glory biking with his son. That will be a proud day in our household.

Happy riding to all!!

The Second Week

Last week's ride quelled my fears and now I look forward to riding to work as a alternative to the gas gussling vehicles that we are accustomed to. I felt great riding to and from work. I felt that I accomplished something. I did not ride this weekend. I was too busy working on the newest project. A week ago I acquired a 1996 Geo Metro. This was my brother-in law's work car and he was getting rid of it. I had always thought that it would be good to get this car for the mileage it gets. This has a 1.0 liter 3 cylinder engine that get 45-50 MPG. Almost as good as my Seven Sola mountain bike. Saturday I changed oil and air filter on the Metro. It works like a top now.

I saw a number of cyclist out this weekend and I remember the times that seem long ago that I could hop into my Ranger and go to Yankee Springs and do a lap.



Well that time is coming soon and I will get into the Acheiva or the Geo Metro and head towards those favorite trails like Fort Custer in Battle Creek. My son, Ryan is getting older and he is almost crawling. I can't wait to put him in the Burley and go ride with him behind me laughing and looking in awe of the outdoors. It's time to sleep this Sunday night and I look forward to the coming day that I hope will be a great adventure, like all days are.

The Ride Home

Well, the commute home was fairly uneventful. A few snickers and geers from local gang bangers, all in all a safe ride home at 5:00 to 5:38 pm.

I felt great doing it and I got in a good 20 miles of riding. Boy, I can feel my fitness level, which is not as high as It used to be after marriage and a child, but now I have a greater appreciation of this hobby that still makes me feel like a kid again. The simplicity and freedom of riding a bicycle. I can not wait to share this with my son, Ryan.

First Ride In

Well, I did it and I did not get mugged or run over. It was actually really quiet and easy. I completed the trek in 40 minutes. It is about a 10 mile commute to work. I felt refreshed and I did something that I always said I would.

Safety gear: Lights, lights and more lights. A sharp wit and a 6th sense.

Let's see how the commute goes going home.

Later...

Planning the first day of riding to work

We'll, it time to get the bikes from the depths of the basement and start using them for fun and work. I am planning on riding to work from the Alger Heights area 2 to 3 times per week. This should prove interesting as my route runs me through some tough areas of Grand Rapids, MI.

The rig I will start out with will be the Seven Sola since it is that only MT Bike that is together at the moment.

The IF just got powdercoated and stickers are to be adhered soon and that will be the rig of choice for riding to work.

We'll see how this goes and see if I survive my trek.