Trails

I know that normally I have a post up on Monday mornings, but my weekend was taken up by some other writing.

My independent study paper is due on Friday. This means that I am spending way more time thinking about mountain bike trails for the next couple of days than any normal person would. Honestly I am thinking more about trails and trail design than I do when I'm on a bike.

OK, I'll be more honest, I only picked this topic for my paper because I can go on training rides and then call it work. The problem with this method of "research" is that I have been spending a lot of time riding, lots of time on the trails, and haven't really made a lot of observations not related to the rather poor state of my fitness. I would really love to hand a paper in to Dr. Davis that simply said, "I'm out of shape and wish I were riding more." That would not get up to my 12 page requirement though, so I have to get a little more work done on my observations.

I have three solid pages of writing done after spending some time writing this weekend, although to be honest I was more concerned with having a good time, as I am on most weekends, than I was with having any real work to show for it. I now have four days to churn out nine more pages of work, so if I can do three pages a day I'll be done early.

My training schedule for the week is probably going to be abused, but once this paper is done I'm going to start training for Wintergreen. I've already switched from chocolate and candy to celery for my snacking so hopefully I'll see some improvement on the scale even without putting the time in on the bike that I need to.

No Shave November

November is upon us and for those of us here at pink racing that means two things:
1. The memory of being in racing shape is starting to seem more and more fuzzy. The words, "we used to do this ride in two hours?" can now be heard an hour and a half into a ride that has not even reached the ridge line yet. Last season may be a fading memory, but next season still feels far enough away to not be overly concerned that many of my days consist of nothing more than riding to school and then riding home a few hours later.
2. It's time for No Shave November! I'm sitting here right now with three days of scruff on my face and to be honest I already miss my beard. I look way too young without it. I was even carded at the ABC Store the other day. It will be worth it though because at the end of the month it will be Mustache Monday, a holiday that demands pictures and I assure you they will be provided.

In other news, Jono and I have started setting up a trials park in the back yard. It's still definitely a work in progress, but it's fun to have something to play around on.

Jared