TNNDDR - That's a Wrap

Days are getting shorter, summers drawing to an end, soon the leaves will be falling and the cold temps are just around the corner but you certainly wouldn't be able to tell that from today. Today was the last Official TNNDDR of the season, you always know it's coming but it always sucks when it happens. Wilderness might not be the most technical place to ride but it's close and it's fun and it's made even more fun with a great group of people to ride it with. I personally am very grateful that Cycle Works decided to do the ride a few years back, I know they don't get paid to do it so they are basically volunteering their free time to help boost the sport and give local riders like myself at least one singletrack group ride a week to look forward to. Great shop and great group of people.
 
Traffic on the way to Cycle Works was unusually heavy today poor, poor suckers.


Heat kept the group relatively small but small usually means fast and today did not disappoint. At least I was smart and brought the right bike, had gears and everything.


Did I mention it was hot, humid and windy... I guess dude didn't get the memo, must have been almost hotter than I was.


Quick tight group tonight. Thanks to Nate for the pic... although I didn't necessarily ask.

Halfway point turn around, catching a quick rest and some water before shooting back through. 

TNNDDR - The Heartburn Express

Today was Tuesday which meant it was time... blah, blah, blah, if you don't know what Tuesday means by now then you obviously aren't paying attention so shame on you. It's been awhile since Cycle Works has had one of these due to weather, it's been awhile since I've been able to breath normally again and it's been awhile since I've been out on the singlespeed for the TNNDDR so figured I'd take it out for the trifecta.


Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do... luckily we weren't going that fast yet.


Small group tonight, should have been my first indication it was going to be quick one. Weren't many pictures from tonight's ride because we were blazing through Wilderness and for most of it I was head down and pedaling my ass off, I realize for Nate and Rob T. (great name by the way)  it was probably more of a normal pace but it was fast for me. To be honest it's been some time since I've ridden that fast, haven't done any racing this year and most of my rides tend to be solo efforts so it's good to get out with guys that are going to make you push yourself past your comfort zone. Couple of things soon became apparent however... I shouldn't have had Taco Bell for lunch, it tried to make an encore appearance at least once or twice and I should have left the singlespeed at home and brought some gears. The way out wasn't too bad, the effort did give me heartburn and I pretty much blew my wad but I was able to keep up fairly well. The way back I think I slowed the group down a bit, I did tell them they could just ride on but they decided to ride a bit slower; hate holding up the whole group but appreciate the gesture for sure.


Picked up a fourth on the way back, he probably would have met us at Van Dorn on the way out but he was hit by a car on the way out, luckily both the bike and rider were unscathed. Dude still made it for the way back though, much props for that.


Because I have the most awesome GF in the world who happens to love beer as much as I do... maybe even a bit more, she picked up some, now available in Lincoln, Stone Brewery beer from Moran's.

Because I'm kind of a sucker for the darker beer, first up was the smoked porter... in my Domino Effect glass I picked up for free last week at Moran's during their Empyrean beer tasting night. It hit the spot and was a great recovery drink, I'd take beer over Gatorade any day.

Another Fat Tuesday

Time for another TNNDDR hosted by the great folks at Cycle Works, to be honest I kinda look forward to these rides all week. 90% of my riding is done solo so it's nice to be able to tag along with a group every now and again. Cycle Works was also hosting a Jamis demo night, they had some really sweet looking bikes, had I been able to make it to the shop by 5 I definitely would have taken one of the 650b bikes through the park. As it was I rode one around the parking lot area while waiting for the ride to kick off... I can see why these bikes are catching on, they seem more nimble than a 29er but a lot more stable than a 26 inch bike.


Rode the Jamis xct, seemed like a really great bike just not sure if I could justify another bike without selling one.


Mukluk and Krampus both came out again tonight, the Mukluk looks like a blast and I do have a soft spot for orange but I'm not sure I'd ride one enough.

Nate on the Krampus.


I'm horrible with names but this guy can fly through the single track and it proves that you don't need the latest, lightest bike to ride... said he picked up this one for $50, that leaves a lot of money for beer.

Mid ride, phone, glasses and rear wheel check.


Smokey says "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires", it was forest fires in my neck of the woods growing up but wildfires seems like maybe a more universal term... even Smokey the Bear has gone PC.

With little or no rain over the last few weeks the trails and the park is really drying out, if not for the grass clippings it'd be almost perfect right now. Took the geared bike out the last two times to give it a little love, not sure if that's helped, if they guys are just taking it easy on me or if I might just be getting a little faster but I've been able to keep up a lot better the last couple of weeks... I'm guessing they're just riding a bit slower. Think I might try my hand at the road ride later this week, see how the other half lives and all that. 

Smells nothing like teen spirit

Today is Tuesday and that means another TNNDDR hosted by Cycle Works. The theme for tonight, if you want to call it a theme, was heat. The temp at 5 O'clock according to weather.com was a mild 96 degrees with a heat index around 102-105, it was so hot my sweat was sweating.

First Krampus I have seen outside a bike shop, that sparkly green paint is pretty sick in the sun... like thousands of little fairies were all smashed up and sprayed on a bike.


Mukluk came again today as well, fat vs. sorta fat.


This is what happens when you give any old moron a camera, you'd be surprised how many photos I have taken of the top of my helmet or my shoulder when trying to take a pic of someone behind me. It's kind of the equivalent of when you used to have to go get your film developed and came back with beautiful shots of your thumb and part of a lower body. But look at how sexy, smooth and aerodynamic that helmet is; you want one, I know you do.


Krampus dude is either having way too much fun or he was delirious and on the verge of heat stroke, could have gone either way really.

We all decided to get in a few extra miles today and rode the Jamaica North/Homestead Trail out to Roca for about an additional 6.5 miles. Despite the heat there were quite a few people out on the trails tonight, good to see we aren't the only crazy ones. Couldn't even get a hug when I got home, apparently sweat soaked and smelling like something died inside your shorts isn't exactly something you want to rub up on, story of my life.

TNNDDR - Beginners Luck

Today was Tuesday and that meant it was time for another Tuesday Night No Drop Dirt Ride hosted by Cycle Works. Today was the beginners night as well and a lot of people showed up, always more fun with a group.

Had a full on fattie last time and a half fattie tonight, this fat bike thing just might be catching on.


This guy didn't go on the ride but he definitely won the style points for the night.


Not only was Cycle Works hosting the TNNDDR but they also were offering a free bike maintenance class at the shop. Nate being the super cool host that he is didn't want those of us who opted for the ride to miss out so he gave a quick lesson on tube changing before the ride.

Huge turnout and a great group.


Talked the GF into picking up some beer on her way home and she brought me this! Love this stuff, it's a bit pricey but well worth the money, just wish they made it in a six pack. Not sure why I felt like beer after the ride...

...I'm going to blame Damon though, I think it was his mid ride libation that did it. Had a few sprinkles on the way to the trail and it looked like we could get more but thankfully it held off, ended being a super fun ride.

Slowest fast dude...

Twas finally dry enough to get in a little dirt singletrack for this weeks installment of the TNNDDR (Tuesday Night No Drop Dirt Ride) hosted by Cycle Works. Seems like it's been over a month since we were last able to ride in Wilderness.

First Fat Bike sighting on the TNNDR since MG rode his a couple of times last year, things look like a whole lotta fun but just haven't been able to justify the expense... yet.

Three generations of Rasta, well one technically before it even was Rasta. That one goes way back, half the co-sponsors aren't even around any longer.

In addition to the first fattie sighting of the year it was also the fist confirmed tick in at least three years, found this little blood sucker in the shower. Luckily he hadn't really gotten a chance to dig in yet and came right off. 

Started getting my shit together again this year and trying to eat a little better and exercise a bit more, haven't done any racing but I personally feel I'm riding better and stronger than I have in a few years. I've pretty much reserved myself to the role of the slowest fast dude in most cases but last year and the year before I couldn't even claim that with any confidence. I do feel I'm getting faster again this year, if I can hone my cornering skills a bit more I think that there is plenty of room for improvement, especially on a singlespeed all it takes is a few bad turns and you never really can catch back up to the geared guys. Being in the back does have it's advantages though, I'm almost positive I wouldn't push myself as hard as I do if there weren't faster dudes ahead.

TNNDDR... the "casual" edition

It's been pretty wet around here the last week or so which has made most of the dirt unrideable, so when I saw that the Tuesday Night No Drop Dirt Ride was going to be a ride out to Eagle for the Nacho Ride I was all for it. Nice casual pace, get some beer and maybe some grub and then casually ride back... my definition of casual needs a little work. I was one of two singlespeed guys to show up to a geared cyclecross event apparently. Those dudes were trying to kill us I think, max speed on my Garmin was 22.7 mph which is faster than I thought my one gear could take me, average was 15.2 but as they say, that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. 

Geared dudes hanging back, plotting our demise I suspect. 

Quite the turn out at the One Eyed Dog. 

The beer was flowing, had a two beers I had never tried before from Cornstalker out of Kearney, might have to see if I can find them at the local liquor store. 

Once properly refueled the ride back was just as blistering, great times though. 

Thirty in a hundred

It was the hottest of times, it was the windiest of times but it was Tuesday and time for another TNNDDR. Not sure I was ready for triple digits but I survived and sometimes that's more than enough.

Must have been hot, first time I've ever seen Nate with a hydration pack. 

Lets got that way! 

Half A$$ing It Through The Park

Somehow, and I'm still not sure, I managed to break a seat rail on the way to Cycle Works for the TNNDDR. Riding 29 miles through Wilderness Park on one cheek is not what I would call fun exactly but it still beats sitting in a bean bag chair naked eating Cheetos watching my DVR'd soaps so that's exactly what I did.

I think it might be time to call 1-800-JennyCraig and maybe stop the naked Cheetos thing as well... seriously, this is the second seat rail in four years I've busted, either that or maybe it's a sign that I need to stand up a bit more while riding. I guess it did support my large butt for over three years, that's not an easy task apparently.

Had a great turn out tonight, always a lot more fun when there's a big group rolling through the single track.




Nuthin but a rasta party...

Mid ride regroup, picture is much better bigger, click on it to see it in a larger size.

Unlike last week, the rain didn't exactly hold off until after the ride but just a few sprinkles never killed anyone.

TNNDDR the technology sucks edition

Yesterday was Tuesday, which meant it was time for another installment of the Tuesday Night No Drop Dirt Ride hosted by Cycle Works. Weather was actually really good for a ride, temps were warm but not crazy hot and the rain gods decided to give us a reprieve and didn't start dumping liquid sunshine until I was already safe at home. I was going to post this last night but when I got home the technology gods greeted me with a dead wireless router and a switch that wouldn't behave... two and a half hours later it finally decided to work but I was too wiped and frazzled at that point.

Clouds looked like they really wanted to get us wet but they never did.

One thing that always gets me excited about riding singletrack is the thought of being able to see wild creatures in their natural habitat.


Trails were in really good shape, won't be after today for awhile but last night they were near perfect, there was even a rare Joel sighting.





Lots of dudes all dressed the same, ok so maybe I'm a little jealous.


Bringing up the rear.

Saw an entire Karate/Tae kwon do class on the Jamaica North trail. Nate said they looked like bowling pins, I'd have to agree... lets go bowling.