Cycling Crap

[soundz]

New Thread
I didn't expect to start up a new thread so soon, but I got a bunch of photos I want to share and no where to post them, so that's my intro.

This Week
I've had some great riding this week. A bunch of short road rides, and one longer one. Yesterday I rode Allaire with Foxtrot and LeTigre. We rode a long time and Foxtrot almost died in the face, but it was good training for SSaP. It was good training for him, I don't train anymore 😀

Today, me, Monteverest, and Ebineezer rode Waway. Unfortunately, Monte's derailleur hanger exploded at Pickle so he had to walk it back out. Ebineezer and I continued the ride, but after Rattlesnake, it was a disaster of a ride because there were all these cut down trees covering all of the pipeline area. You'd need a bulldozer to clear them all out, it was ridiculous. Not sure what's going on there.

The Other Thread
I think some people over on my old thread were under the impression that I wouldn't continue writing and posting pictures, although I said I would start another thread, although I'm starting it sooner than I thought I would start it. I also need to answer a question that was left over.

I like that track. I definitely reminds me of late nights. What do you use to record? It sounds like Keyboard or MIDI controller to PC.

For that track I used mostly Propellerheadz Reason rewired with Cubase for a few VST instruments. But I could have really done it all in Reason. Reason is my go-to software because production on it is so fast. I hardly use my out-board hardware anymore, but I do think they sound better than the virtual stuff.

And address one comment.

You were sick not too too long ago, which you've documented. I have to wonder if that has any effect on your injury rate. What knocks you out for a week is a small bump in the ride for many of us.

I am almost certain I don't heal particularly fast. 30 days later, my thigh is still not completely healed. It's still difficult to lift it up to take my socks off, for example. I don't really have problems walking or riding the bike anymore though.

Photo

this was brian's idea

this is the pipeline .. this part is actually tame compared to the rest of it

 

[Norm]

First!

Happy to make the first comment list. Keep on, keepin' on.

 

[mattybfat]

Nice to see fresh MTBing again!

 

[pooriggy]

after Rattlesnake, it was a disaster of a ride because there were all these cut down trees covering all of the pipeline area. You'd need a bulldozer to clear them all out, it was ridiculous.

No, you just need Panhead with a chainsaw...but he may need a helmet before using it, and don't get within 50 ft of him.

Good to see your getting out a lot on MTB.

 

[antgold]

Are those photos fron the race course ?
If so i'v better head there soon for sone rock practicing.
Allaire sand destroying my poor tec skills.

 

[soundz]

Are those photos fron the race course ?
If so i'v better head there soon for sone rock practicing.
Allaire sand destroying my poor tec skills.

I've never done the race course, but I think at least some of it is from the race course. I heard lots more good stuff will be included for Bearscat 50.

 

[pixychick]

Great to see people riding! It looks like good conditions too. Nice pictures. I love the last one and I know exactly where that is.

 

[VelocityBoy]

Are those photos fron the race course ?
If so i'v better head there soon for sone rock practicing.
Allaire sand destroying my poor tec skills.

First three are from Sitting Bear which is part of "race course".

Most of others are "Pickle" (great job by Brian, btw!)

 

[Pearl]

hey jimmy.

 

[ebineezer]

First three are from Sitting Bear which is part of "race course".

Most of others are "Pickle" (great job by Brian, btw!)

thnks joe!

(as usual I look like I am going to sh*t myself in every photo)

 

[soundz]

Update
I decided to update because a few things of note have happened since March 19, 2011, which is the date I last posted to this thread. Sadly, I have not ridden much since Hell of Hunterdon. A week ago, I was hit with some crazy flu cold thing, so I've been off the bike for 7 days. I don't recover particularly fast from colds either. Usually, takes 1-2 weeks for it to completely go away, then I get some bad rebound issues from taking too much cold medicine. It used to not always be like this, but for now it is what it is.

Not that I care that much, but I've gained a few more pounds this winter. I'm up to 144 now instead of 142. Last year, I was hovering at more like 138. I'm addicted to this stuff:

Hell of Hunterdon
I already posted on various other thread on this subject. Super fun ride with all the mtbNJ participation. Started out pretty well, then died the last 20 miles or so. I've never cramped so bad in my life and could hardly put any pressure on the pedals. That's what I get for not doing enough longer rides through the winter. Got to meet stb222 for the first time. He is much nicer in person than he is online 😀 I don't know if he looked at my FB photos, so here you go:

Here is the "hell" part of HoH:

This reminds me, Martin had asked me to try to merge 2 GPX files because his Garmin ran out of battery in the middle. Keep reminding me Martin, I will get to it at some point.

GPS: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/75244467

Sprain
Before I got sick, I managed to get a short ride in at Sprain with Ebineezer and LooseOverHardPack. The last time I was there, I think I walked most of the park. It's got a lot of fun tech sections; I would totally ride there more if it wasn't for the $8 toll. Obligatory photos:

GPS: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/76288392

Today
I went out for my regular Hudson Drive to the Alpine climb, but wanted to ride longer than 1hr, so I decided to do the out and back on Hudson Drive 3 times (2 times going North, 1 going South). Hands down, this is the best road to ride that's within 10 minutes of where I live, I don't mind going up and down the road many times. No cars, great views, other cyclists, varying terrain with a 400ft climb, 1500ft of elevation corrected climbing for each out and back (16.4 miles) .. what's not to like? I don't know why I didn't think of doing the out & back thing before.

GPS: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/77828992

SSaP
I'm totally not ready for it. I'm actually not 100% sure I will even make it. Well, let me take that back. I know I'm more ready than I was last year as I know I can ride longer and harder than this time last year. I guess my initial feeling comes from the fact that this winter has been kind of a cycling disaster for me with all the work stuff, church stuff, injuries and being sick. But all is well. I am approaching it more as a competitive ride than a race. I still hope I will do well; that's why we do these things, right?

 

[stb222]

glad you are back posting, I totally missed that you started this thread like 3 weeks ago. I have to make appreance in person sometimes to show people I am not a total dick. I am always told I have "poor delivery" and apprently that doesn't always translate well online. I actually did see those facebook pics because I could see them via my wife's account. I guess it is vain to say, but I like that pic of me. 😱

Anyways, keep at it.

 

[Norm]

What's with the side-by-side pic style? Am I missing something?

 

[soundz]

What's with the side-by-side pic style? Am I missing something?

Just some app that I got for the iPhone called Pudding Camera. All the menus are in Korean, but you can sort of figure it out w/o knowing the language.

 

[soundz]

SSaP Pre-Ride
Headed up to Stewart for a pre-ride of the course with FoxTrot and LeTigre. We started at Weed Rd, and jumped in on the middle of the course. They know Stewart pretty well, but we made some wrong turns in places. Next time I need to bring a video camera to record the lovers' quarrel 😀

Map did not always help. We covered most of the course, but accidently skipped a section and added in another section for fun.

The course is easier compared to last year in terms of those short power climbs with rocks. Here is one of the few and LeTigre killing it.

Here is me killing it.

Not really, I ended up like this. Business casual works well in thorn bushes.

For whatever reason, I was not riding well today. FoxTrot looked strong and made me look bad.

GPS: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/77995589

 

[The Kalmyk]

Hey Jim... What gearing were you running... I am going into this blind having never ridden Stewart and cant do a pre-ride

 

[foxtrot]

Hey Jimmy--alas, I find your new blog, and hence have a reason to get up in the morning.😀

BTW, what you took as looking "strong" was merely the frustration and rage that ensued over trying to figure out a map with LeTigre:argue:

Good times riding, nonetheless. I have to say, though, it seemed that this year's SSpl course is a bit of step down from last year's. Still fun, just different and maybe not as flowy, in my opinion.

 

[soundz]

Saturday Rides
So for the past 3 weeks, I've been getting out for some long rides on Saturdays. It is my effort to get ready for Bearscat, which is the only other race I'm signed up for this year. The other being SSaP which I didn't race.


RW to JH
The first ride was from RW to JH. I pretty much followed Norm & Bill's track from last year or so, but in the opposite direction. I knew that a lot of it would be washed out fireroads, which it was. They had literally bush-wacked through a bunch of places, and I just followed, which led to a lot of hike-a-bike. There was a also a some of hike-a-bike through Long Pond Ironworks, although it was single-track. I do know how to avoid those bush-wack sections, so when Liong and I do our soccer field to Waway ride, I will make use of it.

GPS: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/79563273

Sterling Forest

JH to Ironworks

Soccer Field to RW
The next Saturday, I started out at the soccer field and went up Cannonball to the Yellow Trail and into Ringwood. At Ringwood, I met up with Ebineezer, LooseOverHardPack and Foxtrot and rode Warm Puppy and the new red switchbacks with them. The highlight of the ride was my front wheel sliding out on a wet rock on a stream crossing and doing a full body submersion. iPhone got totally soaked, but survived, kinda. It works, but has not backlight. Now, I have to carry around a flashlight to see the screen.

GPS: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/80841799

Bearscat 30
Today, I headed out to Wawayanda with the goal of doing some kind of outer loop which is around 20-25 miles depending on which route you take. Although the course is being kept super secret for now, I figured it's got to be some variation of an outer loop. I started out on the East side going up Banker Trail to Iron Mtn Trail - all very tame stuff. Then when I got to the lake, I noticed a skinny person in an unmistakeable body suit.

We rode together for a bout half the course. Ran into Sammy the Tenafly Road Dawg and rode with him for a bit. I split off on some of the new single track that's not included in the race cause I wanted to check them out. Then proceed to hit Pickle, Rattle Snake, Pines, Buddha, and Split Rock. Even found some new trail that they have not opened yet. Then I got a call from Monteverest and we met up to ride for another 1-2hrs. We hit Sitting Bear going the other way and ran into a bunch of people pre-riding, including gtLuke. Over to Nature Jim's Bridge, Porcupine and Rock-a-Dendren. Ride over.

GPS: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/82555711

Nature Jim's Bridge

Somewhere Around Buddha

Split Rock

Split Rock

Thoughts
After today's ride, I feel a whole lot better about Bearscat. After my 1st 2 rides, I was really worried because those rides took so much out of me. But looking back on it, I think the 1st ride was due too all the bush-wacking. As far as the 2nd ride goes, the soccer field to RW route is really relentless, non-stop gnar all the way. I found that although Waway trails have a lot of gnar, there's enough sections in between with opportunity to relax. It's not the constant pounding of let's say JH. Plus, I don't think they can include every single gnar single-track .. can they? Anyways, after today's 32 miles, although it was painful, I felt like I had at least another 10 miles in me. I'm not sure how the last 8 miles will turn out, but hopefully I can reach deep and limp to the finish.


Sugar
I really have an issue with the feeling of sugar build up in my mouth. The 1st 2 or so Clif bars go down ok, but by the 3rd one, my mouth feels all coated with nastiness. It's a chore to eat and drink energy drinks at that point. I am seriously thinking about carrying a toothbrush and mouthwash with me.

 

[liong71er]

great ride,jimmy!

 

[martin]

This reminds me, Martin had asked me to try to merge 2 GPX files because his Garmin ran out of battery in the middle. Keep reminding me Martin, I will get to it at some point.

reminder 😀

or just point me the right direction, is it just opening in excel and copying raw data? the long and lat pos?

i'm so ticked at my 405 for the battery dying =[