flail

saw Liz Phair and the Smashing Pumpkins.  I haven't been to the thrift stores since the days of grunge,  saw a new place, It was swell, as always, I'll keep it's location secret, not that anybody, goes to thrift stores to by cardigan sweaters anymore.   Picked up a framed signed print for $5.

at the top of one climbs out at Valley forge, off on Horse Shoe Trail,  a right at the top of Diamond Rock, is a place I need to go,  I've ridden past it a bunch of times,  not till a visit to the Philly Museum of Art, and looking at the big old wood fireplace, it's Esherick's place.    and Belmont and me came to a deal,  and I'm happier riding there. 

I need to race.   Cheers!  dlowe

Man of Steal

Brandywine Valley Roubaix


I've been going to the gym, now for about 3 or so months.
Goal, build up bone density, and more strength in the legs for cx in the fall.
I went Saturday, crushing myself, up-ing up it all, its fun, satisfying to hear the sound of the new plate slide down the bar, to increase the effort.

 The wind tore through, a good spring guster, Saturday night,  peeling riders off the start line, even I laid in bed Sunday, and needed that bonus impulse to go ride this ride.

My legs were made of steel.   Heavy, and each pedal stroke, a dozzie.  Roubaix's are excellent rides, I go to get lost, find a new friend, to survive.   I dropped off the front group of eager dogs, and was in a no mans land of wind and hills.   As my luck had it, I had good luck, and two lads were there for me.
A thanks to Matin Beels and Michael Hoffman.  They sheltered me from the wind, towed me up climbs, were cheery, and in no way made me feel like a anchor.  I was a laboring cow.

I had a grand time, got lost, missed turns, ate a couple of doughnuts on the top of a climb.  As much as I'll remember bits of the ride in the future, I'll also remember the good will, and riding with a couple of dudes.  Everyone ends up with a story,  mine, a fine one.

         each night, or afternoon, I'm getting a couple of LeDuff's tales of 90's NY in,

it's cool to be put into that time,  He does a fine job,  two or three couple page reads, Nice!

                       from Charles LeDuff's Work and Other Sins reproduced w.o. permission, Ha!
                           much like riding, poaching a bit,....


Cheers!  be strong, tow someone along, carry their weight, do the extra work.  Dlowe

Black Mountain Air

In the past I didn't restrain myself, I couldn't, at the  Great Valley 30 thursday night training crit.
Last night I wanted to ride on the crest of the wave,  in the front, around 15-20th.
Just hover.  Hold my place.

I parked next to Kelly in the lot, he had a treat for me, coffee beans, from the place we really enjoyed, the coffee they served, at the swell Over Easy Cafe while we stayed in Asheville for CX nats.


after this mornings pot, now all done: utility room cleaned, kitchen cleaned, blue tooth connected to stereo/laptop, house swept, floors mopped, trash out, recycle bins cleaned, books stacked, invoices sent, cats brushed,
streaming new Black Mountain album, it's good, bike shit all put away, fireplaced cleaned of ash, 
monday equipment work prep, cleaned some cabinets out, read all the blogs.....new post....awesome strong coffee!






I followed good wheels, and was being towed up to the establishing break, just right there, but pretty early with a lot of laps to go.  I sat up, and let it drift away,  not for me tonight.
I looked back over my shoulder,  man we got up the road quick, and was good and away.
I sat on the right of the yellow lines and waited for the pack.
Pulled out my belly board, and laid back in.  Stayed outta the white water, stayed up on the high peak, studying it, the ride, riders.  Kept my nose out of the wind.  Hurah! a first, I followed a plan.

buzzing along!  cheers,  dlowe

Wind

A bit of prep time on the cx bike today, not much of need, change of tire, wipe down, out for a ride to shake it all out, just prep for the Brandywine Valley Roubaix.  

The reg list is cool, full of friends, good cycling peeps,  this ride is a treat!

We shook it out, the bike and me,  not much talk, didn't take long, zip here and there, and onward we kept going.   We stopped by the river and the bike lazed in the sun on the little shells and warm sand.

"Yo, get up"  I squawked, We've got Horse Legs, Boyz II Men, Stony Stony lane, ahead.  I gave a little nudge, and we were on our way.

It feels good to ride with my friend, on the old trails again.

"Left here!" the bike said,  "I know", we turned up Nature Boy.


around the old reservoir, dropped into the Meadows behind the rec center.
Keeping a speedy click, jumping the rocks, knock out the turns cold.
and down the Monster.
Rolling down the Monster, with good speed, scattering the rocks, absorbing the bumps.
"did you fart?"  the bike said to me
"opps"
We laughed, and did a big fish tail skid to a stall on to the Forbidden Drive.
Rolled down main st, full of strut.
The head wind, ffft, nothing at all.
Home.

See ya Sunday,  dlowe