nevermind

nevermind the new set-up, we'll I guess it'd be free since I have the stuff already, but I just spent $180 on a full-on tune-up and some gloves. The bike did need some serious work--like having the rear link replaced (not sure why I those little needle- bearings seemed gross but I don't know why those couldn't be popped out and replaced. Anyway, now the bike is ready to go but I've got a cold. No racing for me this weekend. Is there anything between derby weekend and brown co? Not counting Warsaw.

I'm thinking of going to the Garth Prosser set-up

no, not dreads. But I have this spare 12-25 road cassette that is brand-new and was thinking of putting it on the mtb and getting rid of the big ring.

Benefits- will be weight savings and cost, road cassettes are lighter and cheaper than mtn., removing the big ring instead of granny = more weight shavings, and I'll be able to remove some chain.

drawbacks- I may spin out of gears every once and a while but can't think of too many courses around here when the 32x12 will be too small, except on long smooth downhills which I can't think of too many around here, and I guess I may have to shift between rings on the front more often. As is right now I can leave it in the middle ring for the entire race at most courses

thoughts?

today

Sold my motorcycle :( and went for a little bike ride at Frankfort, nat henton let me borrow his scalpel :) while he rode a single speed that kept dropping its chain :P My bike is at clarksville cyclery get a full-on tune up, apparently they had to order a linkage piece or something for the rear shock, I didn't really understand what brian was talking about but I'm confident it's being taken care of. 3 more weeks and I can start riding for real, but right now I've got about 60 pages worth of term papers to write 26 different books so I won't be riding too much till the first week of may :( I'd like to get some serious work down and show up for the norKY race next weekend. That means I need to stop updating my blog and get back to writing an essay. Holla.

Death Machine

Rusty's little Santa Cruz may be all black and "menacing", but lets face it, it's about as big of a threat to the general population as a member of Stryper. And like most threats to the general well being, my Cannondale looks unassuming, but it is now officially a death rider.

I have hit a squirrel once, but he survived. I have run over road kill. I have wanted to die and/or wanted to kill some people while riding, but yesterday was the first time I killed.

Truckin along US 42 about 25 mph, a bird flew right into my spokes (steel, bladed spokes 1 - robin 0). The little bugger almost took my down, amazing what a few ounces of unexpected force applied to the outside of a wheel can do, but instead, his lifeless body now lays along Brownsboro road as a testament to all other wildlife as to what happens when you tangle with me.

I'm headed out now to take out a bunny. Happy Easter.

Tues night worlds and thurs afternoon tempo

At tnw my pedal was feeling really loose, I figured I needed a new cleat for my speedplays but I still thought I should check to make sure the pedal wasn't coming off the spindle or something, it seemed okay so I continued on and then suddenly my chain dropped to little ring and I couldn't get it back in to big.

Anyone know what problem I was suffering from yet?

After this I figured I needed to either head home, or get off and really check to see what was going on, although I didn't know the two problems were connected until 30 yards later when my left crank arm came off and dangled from my foot as I unclipped the right and pulled over to to take the crank arm off my shoe. Luckily the bolt was still in so it was all good.

Yesterday and last time I did a hilly tempo ride (trying to get up the hills with low cadence/high gear seated) it has been my calves that have crapped out on me before the ride is over, not my quads. And actually the calves start to hold me back cause they threaten to cramp about 1h 30m in. What's up with that. I mean yeah I was dehydrated before the ride but so what.