Archive for the ‘biking’ Category
new wheels times 2
We did get a new (to us) car. One of just a few cars out there that fit the 2 rear facing kids and me.
The 03 4runner. Its a 4×4 and a v8 (i know, I know, you are thinking gas hog). Its actually pretty fuel efficient for its size. So far we are getting 21mpg (way better than a suburban or something). I think its pretty cool. Very comfortable, quiet, and lots of cool toyota features.
and yes, i already added the appropriate stickers. I just need to get some good biking related ones.
(click for full view)
This week I also got my new bike. Finally after a few months of no road bike, the replacement is here (last one was stolen from a friends house). Its a 2009 Jake the Snake Cyclocross Bike. Meaning its a road bike, but burly, can fit knobby tires, and is meant to be taken in the grass, dirt & mud. Not sure if I will ever run a cyclocross race, but its cool to have a bike that is quick on the road, and can cut through the park when i want to.
First Duathlon in Prescott
So If you didnt know yet, Stephanie and I have been training for an Off Road Duathlon. This a 1.5 mile run, 8.4 mile ride, and then another 2.5 mile run. All on trails and dirt. Much different than pavement. Training went pretty well, despite being sick. After pre-riding the course, Stephanie wasnt in for the biking leg. So we switched to being a relay team. Stephanie would run, Matt would ride.
are you kidding me?
this is amazing. i cant believe this guy thinks this way.
Saturday Biking in prescott
Today, Stephanie and I went up north to prescott for some biking. We are participating in the Go Off Road Duathlon (run – bike – run) in 2 weeks, and we needed to pre ride the course. Good thing we did, because its way more hilly than anything we have here in the valley. I mean some steep, long climbs at altitude.
Stephanie and her bike.
the zoom in of what she did to her bike
Yep, she some how over shifted, and then wrapped the chain around the crank arm. I really have no idea how she did it to be honest.
Me riding through a tunnel
Friday Update – 01.30.09
Adoption: Still waiting! 47 weeks! Anyone want to take bets that we will get to 50? (I am thinking more and more that I was right with February 23) There was lots of good news this week. 12 infants were referred. Seven girls and five boys! Congratulations to all the happy families. We also received news that due to the extended wait from referral to travel our agency will be providing more photo updates for waiting families. Families were just getting pictures at referral and after passing court, but now they will get pictures ever 4-6 weeks.
Training: Training for the duathlon is still going well. I ended up taking two days off this week due to a little cold. I was also hoping to add some strength training this week, but it just didn’t happen. I hope to be back to full strength next week.
Gardening: The winter garden is still going strong. I have been snacking on snow peas all week. Yummy! My first head of broccoli is finally starting to grow. It looks like I will have some onions and garlic in a couple of months. It is also time to start seeds for the spring garden.
Biking: I still love my new bike, even if it tried to eat my pants today. Thanks to Keith and Erin I have a lovely sticker of Africa on it.
Stephanie's favorite bike trail
Yesterday, I took stephanie out to east mesa to ride her favorite trail at Usery park. I love riding with stephanie. Yes, I ride all the time, but riding with stephanie is fun. We get to hang out, chat, and have a good time with each other in the car, on the trail, and during our little picnic after the ride.
Its always so pretty, and lush for a desert. This video doesn’t do the trail, the vegetation, or the beautiful day justice.
Friday Update – 01.16.09
Adoption Update: 45 weeks down! I am trying to feel better about the wait, but it was difficult this week. The wait for referral is one thing, but the wait from referral to travel has been extended and is now expected to take about four months. It used to only be about two. The increase of adoptions in Ethiopia has burdened an already overwhelmed system, please pray for the Ethiopian government and that they are able to do what is best for the children. Also, pray for the adopting families to have patience as this part of the wait is the most difficult. To know your child but not be able to hold, comfort, or love on is a very difficult time.
It has been a month since the last round of referrals. To be honest I always knew in my heart there would be a drought of referrals before we received our referral. I do not know how long that drought is going to last, but I am hoping that this is the last drought we have to make it through.
Duathlon Training: I have been doing very well with my training. I either bike or run every day and some days I do both. I am improving little by little and happy with the results so far.
Gardening: The garden is continuing to thrive.
First snow pea!
Life: Is going great. We are going to see Abby tomorrow and Matt is doing a little photo shoot with her. I am sure we will have some cute pictures to share. We are also going mountain biking. I last went on my birthday so I am long overdue for a ride.
With the duathlon training Matt wanted to buy me a road bike, but I opted for a new (to me) commuter bike that would also make a decent road bike for the few times I will need it as one. I got to ride her for the first time today and am loving her. My old commuter was a little small, plus this new one has a few more gears. Needless to say it is much faster and easier to ride.
Matt still needs to attach my panniers and my basket then I will be all set for running errands again. Oh and that suspension seat post has got to go!
b-day bike ride
For her birthday, stephanie wanted to go mountain biking.
here she is.
this video does not do the hill justice. it is 5x steeper looking in real life, both going down and going up.
I'm back from my first epic mountain bike trip
So I have never really gone on any big epic, multi day biking trips. Earlier this summer, a good friend invited me along with some other guys for a trip. I waffled back and forth about going for a while, but I decided it was a trip of a lifetime.
And it was an amazing trip.
So me, and 4 other guys headed off in a suburban and a 30′ camper. The Agenda: Biking in Moab Utah, and then over to the Durango Colorado area.
We left on Labor day, for a planned 9 – 10 hour drive to Moab. About an hour away from Moab, we had a minor engine issue. The tensioner pulley seized.
Here is the awesome parts of this break down. 1. we were on the top of a hill. 2. at the bottom of the 1 mile hill, a small town called Monticielo. 3. At the bottom of the hill, just inside town, an RV park, and a NAPA auto parts. Man were we lucky. we had to stay the night and wait for napa to open at 8am. The local sherif even escorted us to the napa. small towns rock.
9am, we are off to Moab.
we get in, set up camp, and we head to slick rock trail by 11am. Slick rock is a different kind of trail. in fact, its almost one solid rock, with a white dotted line indicating where the trail should be. 45 – 60 degree slopes are pretty normal. The tires grip the rock like you wouldn’t believe. It was pretty intense.
Unfortunetly, one of our riders strained a muscle in his back before we even got to the trail. so it was just four of us riding the 12 mile trail. It was toasty, and I was a bit dehydrated, but an awesome trail regardless.
Wednesday we tried to ride another trail, but it was more sand than any of us liked. 6 miles of super fine beach sand, we had enough, and it was time to head back, and break down. Off to durango. Our camp site was rough. 10 miles north of durnago, backing up to the Animas river.
Thursday was a killer ride. We drove up behind Purgatory Ski Resort, and rode Hermosa trail. This is a 20 mile trail, dropping from 11,000 feet, to 8,500. a great ride.
We ended up having to ride from the bottom of the trail, 9 miles on the road back uphill to camp. 30 miles on the saddle was tiring.
Friday we took it easy, rode our bikes around town. Durango is a way cool town. Lots of cyclists, great shops, bike shops, and good food & beer on every corner.
Saturday we drove up halfway to Silverton to ride the Colorado Trail. We headed west from Molas Pass. Starting our ride at 11,000 feet elevation was tough on my 1,200 feet lungs. The views on the other hand, were amazing.
Sundays trip home was uneventful, and we made it home in great time. I think the 7 days with the boys and bikes was great. But its always good to be home.
the rest of the photos can be seen here
http://flickr.com/photos/mattlikeshockey/sets/72157607114386302/show/
Friday Update 8/22/08
Adoption Update: Our agency didn’t have any referrals this week, it has been since the week of 7/11/08 since the last set of referrals. 
Highchair I scored off of Craigslist for Tom or Jerry (of course, Jackson gave it a test run for us)
Running Update: I didn’t run at all this week. I still have been staying up too late watching the Olympics to bother with getting up early to run, but I have been riding the exercise bike this week. It is so much nicer to exercise in air conditioned comfort.
Push-up Update: We did them this week, well I still have one more set to do, but we did them! We did repeat week 2, so we are a little behind, but I thought it would take more than six weeks anyway.
Matt got a new-to-him toy this week:
Jackson was excited about the box
Carter was excited about the foam (he loves to eat foam)
Matt was excited for the new toy and that his wife let him put it together in the house because it was so hot in the garage
Random stuff from the web:
I was looking for something to do with old magazines and might have to give this a try.
All I have to say on this story is, “Seriously!?”
gas costs on a bike
i thought this was funny.
Cardboard bikes
Ahh my two favorite topics finally merge in a new way. Bikes and environment.
BBC is the best. They have a story out on a 21 year old college student who has designed and produced a bike made of 95% cardboard. And its rideable. The only non-cardboard parts are the chain, tires, crank & rims. Even the spokes are cardboard.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7457220.stm
What I love most about this, is the outside of the box (pun intended) thinking. As an avid biker, I’m glad to see new ideas. As a environmentalist, its great to see new uses for organic materials.
This bike is estimated to be produced for $60. This is 5x cheaper than the bamboo bike I have been drooling over for a few years.