Farther and Higher

While Bridget competed in the Mohican 100 I decided to do a little tourism by bike. I ate breakfast after the start of the race on the Main Street of Loudinville, Ohio. There was a cute little deli where I had a rather large breakfast that I planned to work off that day. A local guy told me about a cool bike store in Wooster so I decided to set out on an adventure.



I visited the store in Wooster and they made some really cool bikes all on site at Groovy Cycle Works. I really liked a single speed they had with leather handlebar wraps and seat. Wooster is a pretty cute and slightly yuppy country city. It had a very beautiful late 1800s downtown.

I grabbed a scone and some coffee and headed off to Shreve for my first venture into Amish cuisine. I forgot to mention the beautiful rolling country side which I would enjoy while slowly climbing hill after hill. Seriously. Like 300 feet of climbing, then some more, then some more... So I sat down to a lovely lunch of some trail bologna at "Des Dutch EssenHaus". It was really delicious and very filling, so I set out to finish my ride and catch Bridget at the end of her race.



So even more hills! Some even bigger than before. I guess I missed a turn and ended up riding down to Nashville. But all roads lead to Rome and fortunately I made it back to Loudinville. I tacked on even more miles riding back and forth trying to find the race shuttle and unfortunately got a little sunburnt in the process!

I can't believe I rode 56 miles and probably climbed 3000 feet or more!





Check out my ride

KYMBA - Capital View XC

My husband, my doggie Button and I headed down to KY for the 3rd race of the KYMBA series. Despite some poor directions (my fault) we managed to arrive with about a half hour to spare. I was sorta nervous before the race, perhaps because my stomach felt hungry and I had only had a few pancakes and a lone energy gel. We (pro/expert) women took off after the sport guys. I had a good start but sort let the pro racer in our field go ahead of me. I stayed on her wheel for a while but I had to do a lot of passing during the race and I lost enough time that I didn't see her again. The course was a blast and I was loving my 29er on the uphill rooted sections. I felt pretty good during the race but I wish I'd have put the hammer down a bit more. I ended up finishing 2/4. My skills are coming back & I'm getting a tiny bit faster each race. Next weekend I'll be headed to the DINO race out in Brown County, IN.

KYMBA - Capital View XC

My husband, my doggie Button and I headed down to KY for the 3rd race of the KYMBA series. Despite some poor directions (my fault) we managed to arrive with about a half hour to spare. I was sorta nervous before the race, perhaps because my stomach felt hungry and I had only had a few pancakes and a lone energy gel. We (pro/expert) women took off after the sport guys. I had a good start but sort let the pro racer in our field go ahead of me. I stayed on her wheel for a while but I had to do a lot of passing during the race and I lost enough time that I didn't see her again. The course was a blast and I was loving my 29er on the uphill rooted sections. I felt pretty good during the race but I wish I'd have put the hammer down a bit more. I ended up finishing 2/4. My skills are coming back & I'm getting a tiny bit faster each race. Next weekend I'll be headed to the DINO race out in Brown County, IN.

Is it a sign?!

Humm...we were out riding last night and we cruised past the VW dealership in Loveland, OH. I spotted a sweet GTI out front, it was white w/ a black racing stripe. So, I had to get on the VW website to check them out. I found these photos:




Is it a sign - I dunno, you tell me. I think I just figured out what my new car (2009?) will be.

Is it a sign?!

Humm...we were out riding last night and we cruised past the VW dealership in Loveland, OH. I spotted a sweet GTI out front, it was white w/ a black racing stripe. So, I had to get on the VW website to check them out. I found these photos:




Is it a sign - I dunno, you tell me. I think I just figured out what my new car (2009?) will be.

Dropped!

My first group ride was tonight and it was rather embarrassing. I could not get my heart rate to drop below 170 even while I was drafting at the back. Some of the other riders were taking 1-2 minute pulls at 24-25 mph so when it came to my time a rush of nervous adrenaline made me shoot out the front like a bullet. Everyone thought I was crazy. And unfortunately I collapsed after my pull. I kept coughing and I felt like my lungs were imploding. After about another 20 minutes of struggling to keep up I ended up breaking off to lick my wounds on the way home...

Goettawurst, MaiFest and Franziskaner

I turned an annoying day of working overtime on a beautiful Sunday into real fun as I took a late lunch at Covington's Mainstraße MaiFest. I had a couple Goetta (a local delicacy) made into sausages. They were really deliscous, and the vendor was called the KaiserTeller or King's plate.

So I took off and rode 30 miles of rolling hills along the Ohio River checking out the little farms and the views. The wind was crazy on the way out, with gusts knocking me nearly off my bike. But on the way back I felt like I had wings!

So my return into Covington I revisited MaiFest where I had a Bratwurst with a Franziskaner wheat beer from Munich. Great recovery food!

The goes my Bike Part $

I had to get a root canal yesterday, so after a 2 hour & $980 prochedure I'm broke. (I still need a permanent bridge costing another $500-1,000 - awesome!) The root canal itself was not painful at all, but after a few hours the pain set in. I was good to get out on my MTB last night. I was having so much fun riding I forgot all about my aching tooth. My Superfly is exceeding all of my expectations. Light, rolls fast, corners like a dream, all it needs is a faster pilot (and perhaps a tubeless set-up).

Today we are getting more rain in Cincy...uggh! It has been a nasty & wet winter followed by more of the same in spring. I'm hoping to do a OMBC race at the Wilds this weekend...I hope the weather holds out.

The goes my Bike Part $

I had to get a root canal yesterday, so after a 2 hour & $980 prochedure I'm broke. (I still need a permanent bridge costing another $500-1,000 - awesome!) The root canal itself was not painful at all, but after a few hours the pain set in. I was good to get out on my MTB last night. I was having so much fun riding I forgot all about my aching tooth. My Superfly is exceeding all of my expectations. Light, rolls fast, corners like a dream, all it needs is a faster pilot (and perhaps a tubeless set-up).

Today we are getting more rain in Cincy...uggh! It has been a nasty & wet winter followed by more of the same in spring. I'm hoping to do a OMBC race at the Wilds this weekend...I hope the weather holds out.

The Morning Dove

My accident-free streak came to a halt today when I came upon a Morning Dove resting upon a local bike trail.I swung wide as to not hit the little bird but it launched into the air as I rode past. It flew in unison with me — elegantly hanging in the air as if in slow-motion. I was struck by the pure beauty of flight as the Morning Dove came to rest upon a limb. I looked forward to find I was heading off the trail! I thought I would just come to a stop as to not wipe out on the drop off from the shoulder. But I came upon a ditch behind some weeds and went barreling over the handle bars!

I hopped to my feet, my pride more injured than my body. Fortunately I had a tool on me and I need to straighten my handlebars and my right shifter.

I felt pretty good after the rush of adrenaline so I went on to climb up Kuglar Mill in 8:15. As I descended back to the trail I saw Bridget and we went on to ride around Indian Hill climbing another 2400 ft on other climbs.

It is out!

I saw that Saris finally launched a powertap for MTBs. It will only set you back a mere $1,500. I'm sure a MTB ride with this thing would be humbling for sure!

It is out!

I saw that Saris finally launched a powertap for MTBs. It will only set you back a mere $1,500. I'm sure a MTB ride with this thing would be humbling for sure!

Turkey Vultures

I almost never stop during a ride but last night I came upon something pretty crazy. I saw some giant birds hanging out in a tree above the river. I have seen some pretty big random birds but to see 15 or so of em together was really amazing.

Anyhow, I got online to identify these big old black birds and I think I probably saw some Turkey Vultures...aka...Buzzards. Dang, I wish I'd have had my camera!

They are some pretty amazing animals so I'll leave you with some interesting facts about em:

Turkey Vultures live and work together, in cooperation and friendliness. They communicate with friends and neighbors when they find something to eat. They let the others know where the food is. When there is a big feast they communicate with neighboring flocks in distant roosts.

They enjoy playing games, too. Almost every evening when they return to the roost there will be about half an hour of follow-the-leader, tag, and speed soaring, if the winds are favorable.

Thermoregulation is the name of the game. Turkey vultures allow their body temperature to drop in the evenings. So, in order to prepare for flight the next morning they spread their wings in the sun to warm up. They can also get to hot. To battle over heating, turkey vultures will defecate on their legs. When the defecation evaporates, it cools them off. How conservation minded can an animal be!?!

Turkey Vultures

I almost never stop during a ride but last night I came upon something pretty crazy. I saw some giant birds hanging out in a tree above the river. I have seen some pretty big random birds but to see 15 or so of em together was really amazing.

Anyhow, I got online to identify these big old black birds and I think I probably saw some Turkey Vultures...aka...Buzzards. Dang, I wish I'd have had my camera!

They are some pretty amazing animals so I'll leave you with some interesting facts about em:

Turkey Vultures live and work together, in cooperation and friendliness. They communicate with friends and neighbors when they find something to eat. They let the others know where the food is. When there is a big feast they communicate with neighboring flocks in distant roosts.

They enjoy playing games, too. Almost every evening when they return to the roost there will be about half an hour of follow-the-leader, tag, and speed soaring, if the winds are favorable.

Thermoregulation is the name of the game. Turkey vultures allow their body temperature to drop in the evenings. So, in order to prepare for flight the next morning they spread their wings in the sun to warm up. They can also get to hot. To battle over heating, turkey vultures will defecate on their legs. When the defecation evaporates, it cools them off. How conservation minded can an animal be!?!