Spring

Update.

While an overly obvious statement like, “Spring is here!” is in order. The overall spirit of things needs to be clarified -Every ride seems to have a tailwind.

Work will take me to Zion N.P. for the first 3 months of summer [April-June] followed by a return to Logan, UT. I fully anticipate that emailing, calling, and blogging will become even more sporadic. After a bought of Flu and respiratory distress, I have been too happy peddling on the Surly to even touch the computer and I expect this trend to continue…the days are only going to get longer.

Over the last few weeks the cycling computer has been put aside, I’ve taken the rear breaks off and built up a Phil Fixed/Fixed rear wheel. Skidding and short sprints have pushed aside any notions of long driven rides this past week. Audio books and NPR in the mornings have been replaced by raucous music on my rides but I’m sure that the passing of March will eliminate sounds produce by the likes of the Dropkick Murphies.

The crosscheck looks goofy with naked rear break bosses sticking out the back and the canyons aren’t holding enough cold air to warrant second thoughts of an ascent. Who knows what the surly will look like in a week but whether it has a loaded B.O.B. with a new dingle cog or the Phil rear wheel with no breaks, fun will be had.

While the impetus for the Phil was to have a flip-flop wheel for some of the longer brevets this spring and potentially for PBP[Paris-Brest-Paris is August 20-24, 2007 ], I have backed away form any notions of heading to France. I still have high hopes of knocking off a 600km brevet [possibly 1000km] fixed. Other exploits like touring the grand circle is going to be more my style for this summer.

Lauren is slowly taking to road riding and she now has her own fixie in the stable. I'll be posting the renovation and fixing of the Miyata soon. Although not completely committed to a fixed brevet or century the intentions for adventure are there...it will just have to wait until after may [post graduation]. All in all I think a healthy mix of hiking and climbing will be the only obstacles for some great cycling this summer.

Stay in touch,

Ike