Going Long and Hard.
- Thread starter Steve Vai
- Start date
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
ArmyOfNone
Well-Known Member
What if I post this on facebook? The word is out all over the world already just so ya know.
Pure sarcasm on a solid utilitarian bike compete with 8lb Brooks saddle.
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
The Weekend.
Saturday.
Commute over the Rock. Drilled it. Good times. Shop was sorta slow in the morning, but picked up a bunch just after lunch. Some guy brought in a wheel I gotta rip apart and re-lace with a PT and Sapim CX-Rays. I laced it up before I left for the day but was too busy to get any farther. No porn.
Sunday.
Annual High Gear employee ride up at Lake Minnewaska. Sorta what it sounds like. Rone takes both stores and the warehouse out for a nice bike ride and one heck of a dinner. It's nice to get everyone together to hang out. We talk with the guys at Millburn all day long but the shops seldom get to hang out. A few of those guys have been coming out to races but that's really about it.
Early day. For me. Norm would've been done with his ride already. I had to get up at 5am. Way too early for my blood. The now very skinny Eric rode his bike over to my house to meet me and EJP. Threw the bikes on the wagon and headed out to get Dave from the warehouse before driving up into NY for the ride.
The plan was to meet at the park @ 9am. We decided to instead park down in town at the restaurant and ride up the hill to the park for some extra miles. We didn't tell EJP it was a 7-mile long climb. Shhhhh. He found out soon enough though 😉
I rode up past everyone and headed into the woods about 1/4 way up. I had my own plan. The other guys were on CX bikes so they couldn't get into there anyhoo. Got about 3/4 up the climb and came into a trail closed sign. Poop. There were too many people around to jump it and go so I turned around and headed back to the road. Why not make the climb longer? Caught the rest of the group and rode by everyone. I like climbing with guys that are slow, it makes me feel pretty strong 😀
We met the rest of the staff up in the park and took our group picture. The one above is one we took later at the end of the park. Susie has the full one. Not much of the Stirling staff was represented. The 2 Petes don't ride bikes at all, neither does Mike, and Dennis had a family thing. We dropped Susie and Craig and the old people so the group above is what made it.
It's gorgeous up there. The cycling is great. No singletrack but there's plenty of climbing and cool scenery. Cody and I raced each other up the main climb into the park a few times. His skinny little 130-pound ass had me working way hard. I could keep him in check but couldn't get in front of him. Punk.
While everyone was packing up to head down to eat. We still got to ride. We hit the trail that was closed en route out of the park. Figured we're leaving anyways so who cares if we get in trouble. This cool waterfall was down there. Sometimes breaking the rules pays off.
The food was awesome. Took a long time and we got stuck in traffic on the way home. Didn't get home until like 9 or something. Long day. But very much fun. I'd like to get back up there sans co-workers and explore the surrounding area. There's a ton of cool stuff up there.
-Jim.
Saturday.
Commute over the Rock. Drilled it. Good times. Shop was sorta slow in the morning, but picked up a bunch just after lunch. Some guy brought in a wheel I gotta rip apart and re-lace with a PT and Sapim CX-Rays. I laced it up before I left for the day but was too busy to get any farther. No porn.
Sunday.
Annual High Gear employee ride up at Lake Minnewaska. Sorta what it sounds like. Rone takes both stores and the warehouse out for a nice bike ride and one heck of a dinner. It's nice to get everyone together to hang out. We talk with the guys at Millburn all day long but the shops seldom get to hang out. A few of those guys have been coming out to races but that's really about it.
Early day. For me. Norm would've been done with his ride already. I had to get up at 5am. Way too early for my blood. The now very skinny Eric rode his bike over to my house to meet me and EJP. Threw the bikes on the wagon and headed out to get Dave from the warehouse before driving up into NY for the ride.
The plan was to meet at the park @ 9am. We decided to instead park down in town at the restaurant and ride up the hill to the park for some extra miles. We didn't tell EJP it was a 7-mile long climb. Shhhhh. He found out soon enough though 😉
I rode up past everyone and headed into the woods about 1/4 way up. I had my own plan. The other guys were on CX bikes so they couldn't get into there anyhoo. Got about 3/4 up the climb and came into a trail closed sign. Poop. There were too many people around to jump it and go so I turned around and headed back to the road. Why not make the climb longer? Caught the rest of the group and rode by everyone. I like climbing with guys that are slow, it makes me feel pretty strong 😀
We met the rest of the staff up in the park and took our group picture. The one above is one we took later at the end of the park. Susie has the full one. Not much of the Stirling staff was represented. The 2 Petes don't ride bikes at all, neither does Mike, and Dennis had a family thing. We dropped Susie and Craig and the old people so the group above is what made it.
It's gorgeous up there. The cycling is great. No singletrack but there's plenty of climbing and cool scenery. Cody and I raced each other up the main climb into the park a few times. His skinny little 130-pound ass had me working way hard. I could keep him in check but couldn't get in front of him. Punk.
While everyone was packing up to head down to eat. We still got to ride. We hit the trail that was closed en route out of the park. Figured we're leaving anyways so who cares if we get in trouble. This cool waterfall was down there. Sometimes breaking the rules pays off.
The food was awesome. Took a long time and we got stuck in traffic on the way home. Didn't get home until like 9 or something. Long day. But very much fun. I'd like to get back up there sans co-workers and explore the surrounding area. There's a ton of cool stuff up there.
-Jim.
The Kalmyk
Well-Known Member
I have been going to Minnewaska since I was a kid (never bikes always hiked)... When my pops was alive he would bring me at least twice a year... if you havent been its worth it... They also have a 35 foot cliff jump there I like to hit
BiknBen
Well-Known Member
I agree with the stiffer wheel part. I did this and the spokes creaked endlessly. They were rubbing against the hub flange. I had to lube the spokes more than my chain.
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Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
The scenery is awesome, and even without singletrack the riding is great. My loop was 30 miles with over 3,200 feet of vertical.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/122367136
PS-This is the first time I've uploaded my Garmin data since August. Maybe I should look at it?
On that note, Justin, here's the "1st Bridge" loop...
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/122367182
On another note. 173 again today, same as yesterday. Pretty sure I broke even yesterday. After eating at New Paltz, I had nothing for the rest of the day to stay on target. I was expecting to weigh 180 pounds this morning. The scale has been on a steady decline. So at least I have that going for me. At this rate I should hit back under 170 next week. I've almost 100% decided not to do HPCX in favor of something long and interesting in a feeble attempt to be closer to 160 by Westwood. Not to mention my base has fallen out a bit more than I like. Those 2 things are hurting me significantly more than being able to sprint for 15 seconds :hmmm:
-Jim.
The Kalmyk
Well-Known Member
Are you crazy??? Into the water of course
IDK, you get pretty argo from time-to-time.
RacerChick
Hudson Valley Girl
Jim Minnewaska is literately my backyard! If I would have known you were riding in my hood I would have bombed you with snowballs!
Except there's no snow yet. Minnewaska is good riding (6 on the 1-10 scale). Minnewaska is in the Swangunk mountain range which is part of the Appalachians and strangely enough ties into the Watchungs! The riding just a few minutes North of Minnewaska in the Southern Catskills were is where Tommy and I live. Here it's crazy with climbs over 12 miles long with 4,000+ feet of vert ... So sad I'm moving back to NJ.
Except there's no snow yet. Minnewaska is good riding (6 on the 1-10 scale). Minnewaska is in the Swangunk mountain range which is part of the Appalachians and strangely enough ties into the Watchungs! The riding just a few minutes North of Minnewaska in the Southern Catskills were is where Tommy and I live. Here it's crazy with climbs over 12 miles long with 4,000+ feet of vert ... So sad I'm moving back to NJ.
The Kalmyk
Well-Known Member
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
Monday.
Might as well just post now. I see a second SaladWorks Greek salad, a hot shower, and a pair of pajamas in my near future. Running out of steam quick.
I went out for a "recovery ride" on the trials bike today. Played around the corner at Columbus Park for a little over 2 hours. Took a bit to get going. There's a ton of lines here. Played on the tables mostly. Just trying to get my feel back before I go for anything I may regret. Pretty much anything you'd want as a trials rider is here. Tables, ledges, bleachers, rail gaps, and there's even a few big rocks. It was fun. Riding trials alone all the time is sorta lame though.
I also spent some time goofing around with the camera just to practice. Set up the camera, hit record, go get your bike, hit an obstacle, ride back to the camera to shut it off, repeat. For every 5 minutes the camera is going, you get about 15 seconds of riding
Whatever. Peep it.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=2538506863945
-PS, there was a version with music but FaceWorld immediately pulled it down. Has anyone come across that? If so, where do I post ones with music?
Might as well just post now. I see a second SaladWorks Greek salad, a hot shower, and a pair of pajamas in my near future. Running out of steam quick.
I went out for a "recovery ride" on the trials bike today. Played around the corner at Columbus Park for a little over 2 hours. Took a bit to get going. There's a ton of lines here. Played on the tables mostly. Just trying to get my feel back before I go for anything I may regret. Pretty much anything you'd want as a trials rider is here. Tables, ledges, bleachers, rail gaps, and there's even a few big rocks. It was fun. Riding trials alone all the time is sorta lame though.
I also spent some time goofing around with the camera just to practice. Set up the camera, hit record, go get your bike, hit an obstacle, ride back to the camera to shut it off, repeat. For every 5 minutes the camera is going, you get about 15 seconds of riding
Whatever. Peep it.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v=2538506863945
-PS, there was a version with music but FaceWorld immediately pulled it down. Has anyone come across that? If so, where do I post ones with music?
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yo , Jim ... do you know which direction to mount challenge limus tires? They do not seem to be labeled for direction. We are mounting some, and they look like there might be a difference which part of the side knobs face forward- the single knob or the double knob?
Steve Vai
Endurance Guy: Tolerates most of us.
Hm. How do I explain this? Here. Imagine your looking at the bike from the rear.
The one all the way to the left is the way the rear faces, little scoops going forward.
The one over from it it the way the front goes. Skinny long part of the Y facing forward.
-Jim.
The one all the way to the left is the way the rear faces, little scoops going forward.
The one over from it it the way the front goes. Skinny long part of the Y facing forward.
-Jim.
Hm. How do I explain this? Here. Imagine your looking at the bike from the rear.
The one all the way to the left is the way the rear faces, little scoops going forward.
The one over from it it the way the front goes. Skinny long part of the Y facing forward.
-Jim.
I tried them both ways. They rip in the corners either way. Very inspiring.
I did the Y-stem forward on the front and Y-chevron forward on the back. Thing climbed like a charm at Whirlybird.