chapter (T)SIX : ubiquitous harmonizing or pictures of me with other people's kids

STAR LOG: Tuesday December 26.

I had visions of jumping in on the Tuesday Night Titans tonight, but also more rain, and warm temperatures have put the kibosh on that. Christmas has come and gone. It's over. It came so quickly this year, and then it was over. I ate too much, I drank too much, I acted the fool just a little. Saw all my family. That was cool. I was excited to see my father hand out packages. Kids everywhere, running, screaming, singing, wrestling, it was great. Justin has a heck of a bear hug. I appreciate that. wow I'm kinda tired. My niece Taylor was scared of me. Which prompted the nick name change from Uncle Shaggy to Uncle Scary. Kudos to my brother for that move.

Christmas eve saw Diane and I out on the mountain bikes. We had a lot of fun. White clay was a little soft, not in a muddy kind of way but in a spongy kinda way. After a pack of JARs came by I wasn't worried. This was the first time that either of us had been on a mountain bike since August. It was interesting. My Spot brand bike was beautiful and ready for action. I, however was not. Wow, I admit the bike felt funny under me. A couple of observations:

1. If you thought my bars on the cross bike were wide you ain't seen nothing yet. I'll have to give it a couple of weeks but I am considering trimming my mtb bars just a bit.

2. Suspension really works. The Reba fork has much more travel than the Fort Carbon on my cross bikes, even when I have it locked out. That extra movement when standing was freaking me out for sure.

3. Off Camber on a cross course is different than Off Camber on a mountain bike trail.

4. Unlike cross brakes that aren't really designed to stop you, but rather scrub your speed, disc breaks work exponentially better, and if you grab a fist full of them they will stop you quite abruptly, sometimes leading to your body being thrown violently to the ground. I have to learn the touch of those again soon.

Diane and I almost stacked it up a couple of times, but overall had a really good time. When I got home I made some modifications to my mtb to help my transition back into the single track world. The rigid fork will make the biggest difference in helping me to find my way again. Diane and I marveled at the new skills trail, but we were scared to walk it, much less ride that stuff. I'm not sure when I'm back up to speed I'll want to try that stuff. Wow.

The appropriation committee has green lighted the purchase of a new ride. I need a new training tool. I think Diane is just tired of me riding around behind her singing, "I want my baby bike, baby bike, baby bike..." No not baby as in a kid, but baby as in "I'm going for a ride with my baby..." She has asked that I wait until the new year. Patience is tough, but it'll be worth the wait.

I am looking forward to trying to not get too fat, and to keep some good miles in my legs. Man, the single track was fun, I am excited to get into fairhill, and elk neck, and ride my fixie again. This is the season.

respect
fm