Metcalf

You can't really tell from the picture above but that is a big berm that goes into a short downhill.





This turn is pretty loose and you can get the back tire to slide out.


I am really concentrating on getting some big time air!

Well at least the wheels are in the air.


I had Monday off because I worked on Sunday. My brother had today off too so he met me at Metcalf at 11. The place was pretty deserted. I haven't ridden since in August? so I wasn't sure how I was going to ride. I got going to the beginner practice oval thing and it was so easy. I was riding good and confidently. I moved over to the mini beginner mx track really quick and started to ride there. Wow this is much easier than before. The track had been smoothed out a lot and it wasn't as loose. It was still loose in a few turns but it was noticeably less bumpy. It was fun. I felt like I was going fast. My brother took some pictures and jeez he is the worst photographer. I have more pictures of the dirt than anything else. Then he videotaped me and the footage is all shaky. Then he rode a few laps and I took pictures and videotaped. I rode some more and he videoed and it came out better this time. He said I caught some air so that got me excited and I tried to catch some more. It was fun and scary at the same time. Not scary but... I wasn't sure how the bike would react off the jumps. You can't just move it around. I did an endo which he got on tape which is good for a laugh but it didn't help me at the time. Phew.

He said I did a lap in 48:60 and then he went and did the exact same time. What are the odds on that? He is way faster and smoother and everything but he has been riding motorcycles all his life. I have ridden 5-6 times.

He left and I went and rode the trails. I remember going on trail 2 and 2f but other than that it gets a bit confusing. I rode for awhile and my knees were beginning to hurt so I stopped. I wanted to go ride my bike at Calabazas but it got dark too early.

So I had a lot of fun and my brother had fun too and I think he might end up getting a bike. I need a bigger sized bike. The kx 80 sure has some pep to it though. I have only gone in 3rd gear so far. I have only done the easiest trails there too. In due time. I have so far to go. I thought I was riding all fast, it sure feels fast, but then I saw the video and it was pretty damn slow. I wish Metcalf was open on Wednesdays so I could ride on my day off. I have to go on the weekends when it is all busy. Maybe I could use some personal leave to ride?


I brought over my Bontrager so now all the bikes are here. I lifted weights for an hour which felt good other than a cat pooing in the litterbox and another cat constantly trying to get on my lap while I was on the weight bench.

I had a really good day today. I feel happy.

I like this bike...

except that it is a boring road bike.

Hi Mom

My last post was at 3:35 am so the earthquake was on the 30th. Now it is 3:40 am. I fell asleep early and woke up so I got on the internet. I am going to email this blog to my mom now. I think she would enjoy reading it.

Earthquake!!!

We moved the bike room around and came up with this. It works and looks much better. I need to get or make some new racks today for the bikes. We got a new weight bench which I like but the cats claw it so we have to cover it with a towel. I'll have to take a new picture of the room because half the bikes aren't even in this picture.



We had an earthquake today. I was in the return bin area and heard some noise and thought we might be getting an earthquake so I took a couple quick long steps to the doorway and saw the lights were moving and Bev kind of scared. I didn't really feel anything but most everyone else did. It turned out to be a 5.6 with the epicenter at Alum Rock Park. When I got home two of the bikes in the crummy racks fell over. Nothing else happened though.



So I was on the computer minding my own business when Emma came and climbed up my back and took a seat for awhile. Luckily the camera was here so I got some pictures.

Surf City Halloween cross, De Laveaga, Natural Bridges

We went to the Surfcity Halloween Cross. We drove past the exit and had to backtrack but we still got there at a good time. Lots and lots of people so we had to park up the road in front of someones house. It didn't seem to have the same vibe as last years but maybe because I saw it last year it isn't new? I took some pictures. There was a cowboy on a horse bike, a yellow chicken, Tigger, Polo player and a construction worker that I thought had good costumes. There were a lot of people but a lot of the costumes just sucked. No idea what they were supposed to be at all. After that we saw the women do a couple laps and that was fairly boring so we left to go ride.

We went to De Laveaga and once again had problems getting there. Once we got there they had a really nice parking lot with a bathroom which I was happy about. I thought we were going to have to park on the side of the road or a bit down the road at the high school or something. The trails were right there. I have never been and Elizabeth has been once a long time ago. We started and went left. This trail is cool. Then it went uphill. Then it went REALLY uphill. As in start pushing. I am thinking if we have to go down a similar trail E is going to have to walk the whole thing. We get to the top of the steep trail and you can go left or right or straight up a small rooty trail. We go left and right away 3 people come the other way so we turn around and go the way they are going. Figure that must be better? I push up the little rooty trail before we go down and there is a small set of doubles. Cool. I begin to push up more but I hear a woman talking and I don't want to bother her so I just turn around and ride down the rooty section. Get scolded by E. We go down the trail and up the trail. It is really nice trail. Go over lots of roots. E walks in a couple places. We end up at the edge of the golf course and ride a trail that goes by it. Then go down some trail and end back at the car. I think the riding was only like 4 miles but it was still cool. I would like to go back again.

After that E wanted to go to see the water. And to Natural Bridges. So we drove over to the water and parked past Steamer Lane and rode our bikes up the bike path to Natural Bridges. E walked down some path to see some butterflys and I stayed with the bikes. We rode back and then drove home.

It was a good day and I felt like we did a lot of stuff.

Lotto

I thought I won $11 but the numbers were from last times drawing and I ended up winning nothing. Good thing I didn't get more of the numbers right on Wednesdays drawing! What a bummer. I thought I finally won something. Oh well I had $1.00 worth of fun just thinking that I could technically possibly win $23 million.

hee hee

E is snoring really loudly for some reason. Nice that she is getting some sleep, but I can't watch tv and the internet is actually quite boring now. Now that I start typing she quits snoring. Uh oh she is awake. I think I am in trouble. Hmm maybe not. Emma is making her Emma sounds and is now sitting on my lap purring away. happy cat. oh my gawd. she is asleep already. all she said is "what are you doing?" and "did your clothes come out" and then right back to sleep. Oh man this is too funny. She saw me typing and the only reason why I would be typing would be on this blog. Hand is on the top of her head. She must be really tired. she is so boring when she is asleep. Wake up and keep me company! she is just breathing a little loud now. Emma is quiet and sitting on my lap. Ooh I should see if I won the Lotto today. Then I could quit my job and ride my bike more. man she is just sleeping now. no snoring or anything at all. The fire is about to go out. Going...going...it's out. Okay I am gettting bored.

5 minutes later- I am a lucky guy.
7 minutes later- she just scratched her stomach. oh bummer emma just left me. hmm guess I will go check on that Lotto number.

My thighs hurt so much...

from doing squats yesterday morning. I did 40 squats all the way down with no weight. Then I did 36 squats in a minute. Then I did that again. Then I did a minute of lunges on one side and then a minute of lunges on the other side. Did as much as I could in each minute. Then I stretched. Now ouch!!! I can barely make it down stairs. I have to hold on to the railing with both hands. I keep stumbling because my thighs hurt and I feel like I am crippled because of the stumbling. It is pretty sad.



Elizabeth and I lifted weights a couple of days ago and I can't concentrate when she is there. So I will have to plan accordingly. We did clean up and change up the bike/ weight room the other night. I want to make a long shelf that goes all the way across the back wall above the bikes to put helmets and bike tubes and lightweight stuff.



Surf city cyclocross in a few days, the next week, two weeks after that http://www.racefortara.com/