The Sun Doesn't Like You

Mr. Sun has not been kind to us in the Midwest during the month of October. And that coupled with the limited daylight hours available, riding is sporadic at best.

I was able to get in one last week night gravel grind on the single-speed just before Halloween weekend; in between the rainy days of course. It was a cold ride requiring toe covers, ear covers and insulated base layers. But the road was dry and fast, so quit yer bitching and get out there! I made a stop to see the mystery train along the way. Still have no clue why these are here?

But with November has come a warm up. And I for one am enjoying it. The mornings often feature foggy sunrises thanks to the cool night air and still warm river water.



The big warm ball in the sky returned this weekend and with it, I hit the road for a CX bike gravel grind. I found all the local roads to be dry, packed and great for riding. The final tally was just under 30 miles and it turned out to be one of the best rides of the year. Just love those Big Green Machines. I want to drive that behemoth!

It was so nice this past weekend, I was able to ride both days with shorts and short sleeves. A rare occurrence here in November. Saturday was an MTB ride at the Ski Hill trail. I had the place to myself all afternoon, which I incorrectly assumed was due to the 4,000+ racers up in Traverse City enjoying one of the warmest Iceman’s on record. I assumed wrong. Actually, the Ski Hill trail is closed to riding for the rest of the year and I was pouching! Had I known that fact, I would not have ridden there. I did not see a sign indicating this and no one came running out of the lodge to stop me, so, let’s just call it a misdemeanor. A first offense if you will!

This coming weekend is round #5 of the Kisscross series; Manhattan Park. The last event was Halloween weekend at Richmond Park and the course was a beauty. It had a little of everything and that combined with sunshine and a chili potluck, made for a great day.

The Bissell boys were fully in charge during the ‘A’ race and finished one-two.

Steve Kunnath, the manager at Ada Bike was all smiles here. He later crashed the barriers (which I recorded for posterity!) and mangled a shifter/brake lever. But he trooped on and finished in the top 10.

There were a lot of mountain bikes in attendance at this race and the course suited them. The guy on the sweet blue Niner above actually rode over the logs and up the run up, so that had to be an advantage!

Jeff Jacobi from the Founder’s team always seems to be enjoying himself. As he was riding by, he asked me if I got his good side. I said "what good side?" and he almost feel off the bike!

Then came Bronson (me). I had my best race of the season, moving up 8 or 9 positions from the previous week. Part of it was due to the new Vittoria tires but a bigger part was not hanging back at the start for a change. I eventually caught Kirk (who beat me last week) on the final lap and just barely beat him to the line! That was fun but we were both feeling like death warmed over afterwards.

It will be a long week due to a project deadline on Friday and that coupled with the sun setting at 5-ish probably means no riding until the weekend. Guess its time to pull out the wind trainer and head for the basement!

Champagne from a Paper Cup

I guess the title could have said "make hay while the sun shines" but I thought that might sound too colloquial. My point is the weather, my work-load and the world in general have been pretty hectic of late. But despite that, I need to focus on the positive.

So, here are the "highlights". Fall has been beautiful here this year. Even with the gloom and rain, the forests and fields have been amazing. All month it has been a joy to walk the trails as it has been in a constant state of flux.

The boyz really enjoy running around in the leaves but often get lost sometimes as the trail disappears from sight.

The sunsets have been beautiful and often enhanced by the cloudy overcast skies. Rene and I have sat down by the river a number of times in the past couple weeks to take in the light show.

Between rainstorms I have been able to get out and ride and it is a treat for the eyes too. Every tree lined road is a canopy of color and you just have to stop once and awhile to take it in.

And then, there is cross season. It really has been fun regardless of my finishes and I am looking forward to this weeks event at Richmond Park despite the possible rain in the forecast. The last race was a great course with a mix of true cross challenges like a never ending series of s-bends and some MTB style, rooted trails. It was fast and the weather was great. I could not muster up the skill or ability to beat Kirk (pictured below in the red jersey and blue helmet) to the finish line but we were neck and neck the whole race! The loaner Challenge Grifos from Ted at Ada Bike were awesome and as a result, I made a purchase the next week for a similar treaded tire by Vittoria. We will see how they compare at this weeks event.

So, life goes on and the dance continues. I guess you either have to join in and find a way to enjoy it or become a bitter, grumpy old man. Well, lets just try to avoid being grumpy then!

Moon, Turn the Tides . . . Gently, Gently

Unfortunately, despite my constant whining the weather here has continued to be cold and rainy and November-like in October. After a September of 85% sunshine and abnormally warm temps, we are enjoying 3% sunshine and temps 10 degrees below normal. Sounds like Cross season to me!

Speaking of which, I entered race #2 at Highland Park two weeks ago and enjoyed a big move towards the podium, leaping from 34th to 32nd place in the standings with my stellar performance. And all while mugging for the cameras!

Since then we have had little good weather for riding but when I do get out, the fall scenery can be spectacular. Harvest time is in full swing too, so this is a constant sight along most of my gravel road routes.

The mornings can be frosty and foggy, but once and awhile we are treated to a light show spectacular.




Last weekend, we stopped procrastinating and spent Saturday downtown enjoying the final day of ArtPrize. This was a artistic competition brought to Grand Rapids by one of the Amway co-founders son's (I won't hold that against him!) and it appears to have been a success. From all accounts, the revenue brought to our local economy by visitors and residents alike was substantial (and a welcome boost!) Plans are in the works for a 2010 version as we speak.

I was able to get out once this week (between rain and darkness) to ride the famed Luton trail. The park is in its peak of fall beauty, so I just had to stop periodically to capture some of it. However, that cuts down on riding time. I was only able to get in two laps before dark.

This weekend is Round #3 of Kisscross; Caledonia Park. I have not entered this race before so I am looking forward to a new venue. Weather outlook is favorable now (hopefully this doesn't jinx it!) with sun and mid-50's temps. I am trying out some new tires this week thanks to my friendly Ada Bike wrench Ted. Challenge Griffo skinwall clinchers! Real cyclocross tires. Should be the difference between 31st and 32nd place for sure!

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend!

Hindsight

Looking back over the past couple week, I just realized how quickly the time has gone by. Much of it lately has been filled with clean and discarding and giving away and relocating many of our too many cherished possessions. Why you ask? Because we officially have put the Green Box on the market. Yes, our home of almost 10 years is up for sale.

The time has finally arrived to start making our next move(s). Rene is looking at a new position with an old company or another upstart she has been working with on the side. Either way, we will have to move. And we want to. Not because we hate it here or even MI for that matter. We just need to "shake things up" as Rene says so often now. And we do. Try something different. There are so many things yet to be done and most of them are not here. We have been here and done this. 

Speaking of trying things that are new, I have officially decided to run the full season of cross this fall. First up was the Kisscross night race, held at Cannonsburg Ski Area, home of one of the best mountain bike trails in the local area. It was warm and wet and very un-cross like that night, but it was fun too. And painful. The course was very sandy and slow going and the legs were dead tired at the end. I finished 5th, from last. Not my best outing but no where to go but up, right? 

Since the night race, we have been lucky enough to have a long streak of very nice, warm fall weather. Plenty of time to hit the trails if you hurried out after work. And so I did. Luton Park has been my regular ride most days. The photo above does not do justice to the fun, twisty trails that lay just beyond the cornfields.

Even the old barn where I park looks rather shabby and in need of repair. But the trails are n great shape. The newest route, the black loop is still sporting marker flags.

On nights I did not have time to drive out to the trails, the gravel roads were happy to provide me a nice workout. Most are slick and fast now with the cool nights and some recent rains. Hilly and in many areas, tree covered, there is an endless number to pick from. You can usually ride a good 20 mile route with only limited stretches of pavement between the gravel.

Along the way, there are many great sights including this line of parked grain cars. This is the line being removed to build the new Rail Trail but for some reason, this section has remained intact all summer. My original theory that they were temporarily parked there until the wheat harvest did not seem to hold true. I am going to have to ask around and find out what the story is. Stay tuned.

The biggest deterrent to riding this time of year is the lack of light. The sun is setting earlier and earlier now and one has to hustle to get miles in. But the low light makes for some great shadows too!

Along with fall comes cooler temps now. Mornings have been foggy and grey most days, but eventually burning off to allow a little sunshine.

So, when the sun is shining and I have more time, I am still out there on the road too. I have been able to get a couple 40-milers in the past couple weekends and as the colors change it is a great time to tour the area by bike.

But most of my on-bike time has been on-trails. Mainly riding Luton on the single-speed thanks to a stupid move on my part. I dropped my mountain bike. Not while riding it. Rather, I actually dropped it. From over my head while taking it off the rack. And it landed, on the fork dropouts. Which then proceeded to break. Ouch. And since you can't safely ride a bike with broken drop-outs, the Inbred became my main trail-squeeze. I had to send the fork out to Fox for a replacement lower assembly (which beats the hell out of buying a new fork!) and it just came back this past Friday. A costly lesson in roof rack removal techniques!

The nice thing about having the geared bike back is not having to pedal the roads with only one gear all the time. And the bumps are a little easier on the arms too.

This weekend I ventured back to the Ski Hill trail with the reborn Sinister and enjoyed riding the very fall-like trails. Many are covered already and the season has just begun. The trail was fast and fun and I virtually had the place to myself that day.

On Sunday Rene and I and the Boyz ventured out to the Fallasburg Fall Festival in the park. An arts and crafts fair, it comes to town each year and we typically trek over to take a look. Last year Rene and I purchase some new "wedding rings" so you never know what you might find. This year, it was more crafts than art and after a short tour of the booths, we decided to go to the park trail and enjoy the fall colors instead.  Spots of fall are showing through here and there but it is still pretty green. With the cooler temps this week and rain, that will soon change.

I am home today with a cold or something that has thrown me for a loop. Not sure where it came from but it started coming on last night and hit me full force at work. I decided to cut my losses and head home for some R and R and hopefully, the other R; recovery. Can't afford another day of this. And not riding. The next Cross race is this Saturday at Highland Park and I am really looking forward to getting out there and mixing it up. Or tagging along behind. One or the other! 

Rene is in Minneapolis today until Thursday, making an appearance with the powers that be to remind them she still works there. The final plans for her job are still up in the air and we are on hold because of it. But regardless, there is no looking back now. The wheels are in motion. They are rolling slow almost imperceptibly sometimes, but change is coming.  

chaos/control

Summer is coming to an end. Hate to admit it but the signs are all there. Cooler temps, color in the trees. Apples ready to be picked. Yup. Fall is here.

Straw has been cut and stored, ready for pickup.

So, with one last batch of nice weather and an extra day off, we headed to Chicago to visit friends and see the sites.




Found some interesting bikes. Not sure I would want to pedal this one in city traffic!





But with Fall comes cross season and I am really looking forward to it this year. Especially the first race this Friday. A night race under the lights! Hopefully, the bike will not look this bad for at least a couple races!






I do need to work on my barrier style. Not really sure it is a style. More like a leap! Probably should do that tonight. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.






I hate to see summer end, but I do love fall and cyclocross. So, bring it on!

Rain Down

It has been a little wet here of late. Okay, a lot wet. Like, 7 straight days "with" rain wet.

It finally stopped on Saturday but the sky still looked gloomy even on Sunday.

So, with the trails still damp and recovering, I spent my ride time heading downtown to the Gaslight Criterium (the State championship event) to watch the youngsters tear it up.

The road was dry and the riding fast. I can't imagine hitting this corner in the wet at the speeds these guys were riding!

Found a nice xtra-cycle hanging out along the course. I don't know who the owner is but they had better invest in a lock!

Danielle Musto, endurance racer extraordinaire was hanging out having coffee and watching her sister tear it up. Seems pretty engrossed in the race! I was actually worried that plant would fall on her, but it never happened. The guy with the white glasses behind her is Ben Renkema, the eventual Men's pro 123 winner and State champ. He used to race MTB with my son during the Youth Cycling Team days but has gone on to fame and fortune as a road racer with the Kenda Inferno team. Good kid.

I have been riding this thing a lot thanks to the rain. Trying to stay off the trails and wet gravel, the road bike is the go-to ride lately.

This is what I want to be riding. And in the dirt. On trails. Hope to be out there tonight or tomorrow. Rene is out of town the next 3 days scoping apartments for her potential move to MN in October. Not thrilled at the prospect of her being away for an extended period of time, but in this economy you do what you have to do. And if all goes well, I might just join her next May. But that is a long time from now.

Saving up airline miles and vacation time for future rendezvous here and there. We were laughing the other night at the idea of both ordering a movie on HBO, turning on the phone to speaker and watching it "together" on a Saturday night! Might just have to give that a try.

Until then, we are enjoying the end of summer and hoping to take a trip to Chicago in a couple weeks for a day or two. One last get away before fall. And Cross season!!

I'm Lonely (but I ain't that Lonely yet!)

I spend a lot of my on-bike time alone. It is convenient and often, easier to just get out and ride by myself. We live in a rural area and there numerous places to ride right from my doorstep. But very few of the folks I know who ride, live near my doorstep. So, I travel solo the majority of the time. And this year, more than ever. But it has been nice, really. The time I spend on the bike is not only beneficial to my health, it is crucial to maintaining my sanity.

And lately, that has been important. Life has been chaotic this summer for both of us. Even though Rene has thankfully been at home, it just seems busier than usual. Our oldest daughter came home from Tampa FL to visit with us (and her old friends) a couple weeks ago and while she was here, we had an impromptu family reunion at the house for Rene's family. Our daughter Heather left for home just this past week and we said goodbye in typical fashion: a final family Mexican dinner! And my son acting like a moron. Wouldn't have it any other way!

Speaking of the boy, he has decided to also fly the coop. He lost his electrical apprentice job in January and has been out of work since then. With a lot of extra time on his hands, he has decided to go back to school. Starting this summer he enrolled at a local junior college and now is becoming a full-time student this fall. Along with that came the desperate need to move out of the house. He and 3 college friends have found a cheap house to rent in the big city and are living the life without parents that they have always craved. Well, except for the occasional trip home to steal food and other items from our house that they need!

And this past weekend, the final child has left the nest. My youngest daughter moved up to college on Saturday and after only 27 trips up and down 4 flights of stairs, she is officially moved into the dorms. And the nice thing is, we get to do it all over again in 8 months when the first school year is over! But now, Rene and I are empty-nesters and as you can see from the photo below, pretty sad about the change!

So, time to get back out there and get some late summer riding in. The roads are still fast and shady.

The local drivers are not well trained in car-bike interaction. It should say "do not pass unless you plan to give me three feet clear!"

The rail trail is well underway but I don't think we will be able to ride it until next summer. The original rail bed is still in place and difficult to navigate. And they might want to consider installing some railings along that old rail bridge too.

Hope everyone is having a great summer. But hurry, its going fast!