Cranky race number 1 done.

What the hell was I thinking!? Going into the woods 2nd after the sprint start on the road felt fine but I hate having all those guys behind me. I held my position for the 1st lap but then guys that had been sitting in started picking me off; bastards….beat me at my own game. Next race, Fountain Head, with lots of technical climbing and fun down hills. Game on!

Another remnant from my youth

I wonder if this guy keeps a full tank of gas in this death trap.

My right brain has been in overdrive

Could it be due to some social stimulation I’ve recently encountered?
Fricken Facebook, love, hate or indifference it cannot be denied.

I believe Sundayz for Racing!

Over worked or over trained

Either way I’m over it. Monday had me exhausted from all the preparation for the up coming race series http://www.ex2adventures.com/cranky-monkey.php so much that I over trained and had to rest for 3 days the first of this week. That’s not as easy as it would be if I was a pencil pushing, paper shuffling desk jockey. But instead I had a floor to install for ‘The Peahen’ in his new condo. Fortunately he’s in France leading a couple bike tours through the Pyrenees and Alps so no rush or pressure to get it done other than self inflicted. I’ve got a schedule of sorts but plenty of time to recover in time for my race Sunday and finishing the install. End result will be fantastic on both fronts…the 12x12 slate is beautiful and I will be kicking some old man ass in Wakefield.

Beautiful way to ride a long slow day

The start of my ride at the top of Afton Mountain with a descent to Waynesboro was windy and cold but I knew that the valley would be warmer and calm for my ride toward the climb of Vesuvius. The 3 miles up the climb took 30 minutes and had me drenched in sweat as I entered the Parkway on a windy up hill but it dried me off quickly as I rode the white aggregate surface. The Parkway always rewards each climb with smooth, fast downhill’s and sweeping turns that require no breaking, if you have the handling skills and nerve, let it eat!

one hundred thousand words

VCU’s expanded fine arts program is starting to show its good side.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a good piece of urban art in Richmond and I hope there’s more to come.
This is on a piling of the Lee Bridge and can be seen from the suspension bridge that hangs from the underside of the Lee Bridge which is used by pedestrians and mountain bikers to reach Bell Island. The island has a fun section of single track on its hill top and a gravel road around its base circumference. Bell Island is also known as ‘Titty Island’ due to all the young ladies that sun on the rocks of the rapids. Needless to say there’s a lot to see around here. Get here if you can…

Butt Rocket

Have a safe 4th of July

My Ass Is Back!

I’ve been ignoring this here blog due to a couple of things. First of which is that my laptop checked out and I’ve been using Julies work computer when she brings it home. Not a good enough excuse in itself but it doesn’t have a camera card insert thingy to download pictures and I need visuals to inspire me to write so I bought the necessary hardwear and soon more unsavory images will appear here. But the big source of this uninspired period is Facebook; it has stolen a little of my soul while at the same time filled in many missing pieced of my past. Just like everyone else on the planet I’ve reconnected with people that were a big part of my youth and whether they wanted to see my Face or not I’ve put it in front of them. I’ve also given them the opportunity to see my ass which I’m sure most would say is what they thought of me when they knew me 20+ years ago. One friend in particular has surface that is holding a certain picture of me that I had lost decades ago and has promised to scan it and send to me. When that little piece of history arrives many questions about why I am who I am will become clear.