Another Ride

I rode at Webster Park and Whiting this morning.  It was nothing too exciting, but good exercise.

I saw an old high school friend and his family.  I'm sure they think I'm weird.  I guess they'd be right.

Muni at Whiting and Webster Park - 2013-08-17 at EveryTrail

2013 Suicide 6

I decided to muni at the Suicide 6 mountain bike race this year.  It's a little more than an hour away at Harriet Hollister Spencer park in Canadice.

It felt a lot like when I did it two years ago.  I came to the conclusion that the first half of the lap is awesome.  It's challenging for muni with a combination of roots, rocks, climbs, and descents.  The second half of the course is much wetter, loamier, and hillier.  The change happens right when the course crosses the park road.  On my first lap when I hit this section I was sure it was freshly cleared trail.  It's not really a cut trail, just the kind of quick trail clearing that removes vegetation and debris but leaves the dark organic soil.  Not only is it top soil, but the surface has awkward little ups and downs.  This kind of trail is my nemesis and causes my lower back to work extra.  As I rode it I realized this trail was not a new trail but the same trail I rode two years ago.  I guess as far as muni is concerned, clearing a trail like this is not ideal.  Last year my lower back got very fatigued from this area and the same happened this year.

Before I finished my first lap I questioned how I could possibly do another.  My hope had been to try for three laps this year.  Now I knew that would be impossible.

After finishing my first lap I went back to my car to rest and refuel.  About 20 minutes later I was feeling like I should just get out there and do another lap.  Again, the first half wasn't so bad and I was glad my lower back was not screaming at me, though I was getting sloppy and was clearly fatigued.   And again the second half was really hard and I found myself shamefully pushing my uni up quite a few inclines.  I was glad to finish and finally be done.

The mountain bikers were all great and gave me more praise than I wanted.  The fact is, I saw so many of them powering up hills that I complain about.  I really need to try a mountain bike to see if it's so much easier, or if these guys are just super strong.

The course was really well marked with arrows, tape, mile marker signs and paint on the trail.  Nice work Park Ave Bike Shop!


Suicide 6 - 2013-08-11 at EveryTrail

Bay Park Wednesday

Just like last Wednesday, I took a few hours off from work to ride at Bay Park West.  My ride was good though I had a few more UPDs than typical.  Maybe I can blame it on the humidity or my lack of sleep.  One step-off caused me to pull a calf muscle a bit.  UPDs happen suddenly and I think sometimes a muscle reacts reflexively and too strongly, straining itself.  About an hour and a half into my ride I was near my car but decided I should push myself and ride some more.  In the first 20 feet of the first hill climb my calf cramped bad and I decided it best to be done.

I especially wanted to push myself because the Suicide 6 race is Sunday and I'm considering it.  It's a mountain bike race at Harriet Hollister Spencer Park in which you ride as many laps as you can in six hours.  I rode this race two years ago.  I'm glad I have this blog to look back and read what it was like.  It was tough on my lower back and quads and I managed only two laps, and headed home well before the event was over.  Maybe I should ride this year and try to do three?  It's nice to think I'm strong and better than two years ago, and I bet I am, but by how much?

Muni at Bay Park West - 2013-08-07 at EveryTrail

Give Me a Sign!

I rode at Webster Park and Whiting today.  I especially avoided riding anywhere too difficult.  My last ride at Bay Park West made my quads so sore it's been painful to walk for the last few days.  I could use a few more days before I do that again.

I had a good ride and pushed to ride a bit farther, ending up with 10.5 miles.

I think it was toward the end of last year that I saw some 4x4 posts at many trail intersections in Webster Park.  Sometime in the last week the signs were put up on these posts.  I have been waiting to see how the county would label the trails.  It's always been confusing in Webster Park and I thought they might come up with a better system.  It turns out the new signs don't change how the trails are labelled, but rather point the way to points of interest.  This will probably help a lot of people find their way around the park, but it still kind of makes it hard to reference many trails.

Muni at Whiting and Webster Park - 2013-08-04 at EveryTrail

BPW = Big Punishing Workout

I vacated work for a few hours and rode at Bay Park West this afternoon.  As always, my heart got close to bursting and I saw stars.  It may have been a bit tougher because of my month hiatus, but I did have a great ride.

I saw 4 or 5 individual mountain bikers and got lots of positive comments, which doesn't hurt.  I kind of like when someone rides behind me but keeps a distance.  I can tell they're interested in seeing what muni is like, so I try to do my best.

Muni at Bay Park West - 2013-07-31 at EveryTrail

Back In The Saddle

It has been a full month since I last rode.  I got sick and the cold took a week to move from sore throat, to head congestion, and finally to my lungs.  I had an annoying cough.  Even after the cough was gone I still felt my chest was tight at times.  Temperatures and humidity were high up until about a week ago anyway.

So finally I got back to riding and went to Whiting and Webster Park.  Unfortunately I forgot to bring my helmet and decided it would be best to go back and get it.  Whoops. Once I got back and started riding I found I wasn't rusty at all and had a strong ride.  I saw a lot of hikers and runners, including a coworker.


Muni at Whiting and Webster Park - 2013-07-27 at EveryTrail

Firemen's Parade

This evening the girls went out to the Webster Fireman's kiddie parade which precedes tomorrow's parade and festival.  The kids wear costumes.  Sydney rode her unicycle, and so, dressed as a unicorn.  Kessa rode her tricycle, and so, dressed as... a unicorn.  She could not be convinced to be a triceratops.  Oh well.

In other news, I've was sick for a week with common cold symptoms, and have had lingering chest irritation and "tickle cough".  So I haven't been riding.  Most of the past few weeks has been very humid and extremely rainy, so I haven't missed much.  Maybe I'll get out this weekend.  There's trail work at Whiting on Saturday.  Not sure if I'll do it.

2013 Chevy Sonic

Also, I bought a new car and got rid of the old one.  That's not really muni related, but my old car had my muni sticker on it.  I'm not sure if I'll put another muni sticker on my new car.