Kona 1 - Tree 0

There was a time...

Hockey took the place of biking......now we do both and all is good!

Life Goes On, On or Off a Bike

I happened along the blog of the fiercest competitor I know in Jonny Bold and was shocked to learn he has hopped off the bike for the immediate future. Of course I can relate to his terribly mixed emotions. But something triggered an alarm in him to say stop. It may have been the crash, or it may have been the crash as an excuse. Either way, the motivation has stopped and the quest for it begins anew. It may not return.
His rhetorical question "...who gives a shit?" is what I can best relate to. Why was I spending hours alone on the road training, driving to races, and racing? For a sponsor? For my ego? For a mid-life crisis? For fun?
All I know is, I was acting extremely selfishly and was NOT racing for my family who didn't attend 1 race my best and final season of my career. So, I'm done, for now. But I admire, respect and applaud all those who are able to find the proper lifestyle balance and are riding and racing for fun. Please enjoy it, in part for me, and I hope to join you again, for fun.
In the meantime, my energy and wallet is focused on these 2. If nothing else, the ridiculous amount of driving throughout New England to races prepared me well for the same ridiculous amounts of driving to hockey games. Damn the cycling gods must be angry for handing me 2 goalies!

Typical Day of KHS MTB Team Training!

Bike Commute Stage 1

My evolution from racer to rider has begun. Summer racing is being replaced with 1-way bike commuting. It's a 15 mile jaunt from ice rink to lake house that takes less than an hour. It is complete with 1 stoplight and a ton of elevation change. The 2007 Major Jake is my bike of choice. I drive in on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays mornings due to a 7am ice rental and home Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, but ride in the others. It's certainly nothing to brag about. But a roll in the right direction to at least get some riding in once a day and save some gas as well.
So happy summer everyone and enjoy your time on the bike no matter what the situation!

Something's Gotta Give

This picture is going to cost us approximately $2575 and at least $320/month in gas alone October-March.

The equivalent of a typical race season for me I estimate.

Can't do both.

Reality check time.

Had a Big Wheel as a kid...

Now I have big wheels as an old kid!

It's 29" for 2010 for me thanks to Kona.
I guess I better start training!