Alaskan Pack Fodder

I couldn't help myself. I bid on a Moots Psycho X frameset. I'm not sure why I did it. I mean, it had cantilever brakes, and I already have a Ritchey BreakAway CX with cantis. Not only that, but the Ritchey has never been on the road or trail, and was simply a travel trainer-only bike. I haven't lined up for a 'cross race since 2014, when I bulged a disc in my back during the first race of the season. Breaking ribs and losing skin was one thing, and I did that every year, but that was another level. I sold my 'cross bike and instead spent my cold, rainy fall days riding on the pavement.  I must admit sometimes I sorta miss the short, brutal races and the 'cross atmosphere. Changing out of muddy/soggy kit into to warm/dry clothes while my heart slowly stopped trying to burst through my ribcage like the monster from Alien  was the best part of the experience. Nothing like intense pain and discomfort to make you appreciate the little things. It would take most of t...

I'm not much of a car collector anymore. I just see them as a way to get from point A to point B, and as long as they run reliably and fill the purpose they were intended for, I don't give them a second thought. My idea of fun is not going down to the dealership and seeing what new marvels they have. My Toyota Matrix is a base model from 2006, which was a replacement for the exact same car when that one was totaled. My plan is to drive it until it falls apart, which, judging by my current mileage, will be in about 20 years. I bought my late father-in-law's 2007 Honda Fit on a whim, mainly because it was mint, extremely bare-bones, had a manual transmission, and gets great gas mileage. Didn't really need it, and it really isn't going to save me a ton of money over my Matrix, but it's kinda fun to drive a stick again. My wife, however, likes new cars. She's been begging me forever to replace '11 Honda Pilot. I was hoping the Fit would quiet her yearnings f...

It's been a while since I've made an effort to watch the Tour de France. After Floyd's miraculous ride and Lance's comeback, I pretty much lost interest. A bunch of years of Sky domination really didn't exactly draw me back in. I'd follow the results casually on various cycling websites, but actually sitting down and watching stage coverage end-to-end? Nah, a clip of an attack or wreck was about it. This year, mostly thanks to me being at a place that carries the right channel, I've watched the majority of the race. I delighted in the chaotic nature of this edition, with the rise of new powerhouses and plot twists nearly every day. It was like ASO finally figured out that their race was boring as crap and finally did something about it. See? There's a bright side of the pandemic after all.  

I've been playing around on eBay lately. With my down time no longer taken up with making sure the puppies don't pee on the rug and the never-ending list of projects, I surf the internet, and eventually I wind up at eBay. Let me be 100% honest- I don't another bike or any more bike parts. Yet I'm still searching through listings for bike frames. Narrow that down to disc brake frames. Narrow that further down to cyclocross frames. Drill right down to frames with quick-releases and a certain spacing. Why? Because I have a quick release disc wheelset sitting around. That's it. That's the whole justification. Even if I was in shape to race 'cross, I wouldn't. I run into trees and hurt myself when I race 'cross. I wouldn't ride the bike casually on gravel or whatever it is the kids are riding these days. I have a ti gravel project that has been languishing at 90% complete for years. Just have no interest. So yeah, an old wheelset is inspiring this stu...

So far I've stuck to the plan. The plan isn't that hard or overly complex, so sticking to it has been made that much easier. Start slow. Don't overdo it. That's it. Every morning I get up and do an hour on the bike. I might go for a steady pace. I might go for a sprint. I might do something in between. At this point I keep it simple. One thing a workout. No intervals or that sort of stuff. Get the legs under yourself. It's September. The riding season is pretty much over for me. Sure, roadies back in Anchorage are still riding and will be until the snow falls. Me? Yesterday I stood on top of a mountain and saw Russia. Riding on pavement for the next month or so is pretty much off the table. When I get back, we'll see. I may not feel like it. I may have conflicting priorities. All I can do is focus on the here and now. That means facing my current reality and try to improve it. I'll probably never get back to where I was only a couple years ago, but maybe I...

I jumped on the trainer this morning. No, that's a lie. I procrastinated a bunch, fiddling around and adjusting minor things before I finally threw. leg over the top tube. I had planned on doing a short ride last night after replacing the trainer flywheel bearings I munched last spring, but it took longer than I intended and I wanted to get a good night's sleep. Seemed like a valid excuse at the time. Anyway, I started pedaling, not expecting much. No surprises here. I couldn't maintain even an easy pace. The transition from road to trainer always takes me a while, but this was a magnitude or so worse. That tiny bit I rode this summer was reflected every time the cranks came around. OK, that's where I am. It will get better if I stick with it. Chances are, the next few workouts will show marked improvement, even if they will still reflect a serious lack of form. It's where I am. I guess I could get upset about the fact I probably had more power my first year of raci...

  In my partial purge of junk from my house (some of that stuff I need ), I would periodically load up my trailer and make a trip to the dump to avoid the giant piles tippingover and flowing back into the house. My wife got into the spirit of things and started adding to the pile, which made it grow faster than I could haul it away. Then the rain came. I covered it as well as I could with tarps (because, Alaska), but Iknew it was only a matter of time before the rain seeped in and turned the boxes and bags into heavy mush. I needed to get this stuff gone. So, while the cold rain poured down my back, I toted the junk off, load by load. I could feel my body contract as I worked, but I knew I had to get it done before I left for the radar site. Yeah, I got sick. Normally, the sniffles are not a big thing, but in the age of the 'Rona, a runny nose is viewed as a serious threat. Run down the list of COVID-19 symptoms and you'll see a bunch that look like what you get with the common...

  After almost three months of being home, it's time to head back out and make some money. My war chest is depleted, and sooner or later the bosses would figure out just how replaceable I am. Time to restock the supplies and sort out the gear. I pulled out the Pelican cases, which hadn't been touched since my last hitch, and tried to organize the mess. The bike cases will have to be started from scratch. I had stolen bits and pieces from the trainer bike's case, and months later I have no idea where anything is. I just look at everything with fresh eyes, culling the stuff I don't need and adding the stuff I do. More often than not, my editing skills leave a lot to be desired. I fly out Friday, and I feel like I'm leaving behind a lot of unfinished projects at home. There's never enough time, no matter how much time I have. I'll squander whatever you give me. The riding I wanted to do never happened. The good weather coincided with time-sucking chores, and th...