I've moved on to cupcakes

Mmmmm chocolatey (is that a word) goodness. I've moved on from the Ho Ho and I've got to say the cupcakes were much kinder to the stomach then the old Ho Ho's. I've got to thank AK for that one. Today's ride started out in the sweltering heat (think oven) and for as crappy as I thought I was going to feel I actually think my conditioning is starting to come around. After a month of training sporadically and kinda going through the motions on the bike I am now starting to feel stronger. I still don't have the top end yet but it is coming. Maybe after I shed a few more pounds it will get easier. Since 4th of July is right around the corner it is time for every neighborhood wannabe pyrotechnician to start lighting off the fireworks...It seems like we go through a good month of bangs, pops and whistles. As much as I miss my old dog I used to hate this time of the year as she would get so nervous everytime a firework went off that she used to crawl in the bathtub ( it didn't even matter that the kids were in it taking a bath). Ah yes the good old dog days of summer. Well that is all for now. TC

Nostalgia day at ILRA

Today was nostalgia day at ILRA....Well make that yesterday...As DC, Terry and I pulled into the lot at the trailhead we saw two guys with their Y's on their racks. Brought back some memories...I had one just like this back in the day...I'm not sure what year it was but according to Tom Nell I had to have one. These guys were eager to talk about how they have updated their bikes through the years and that even though they ride newer FS bikes they still love the old Y. I have to say while I had a lot of good memories of my bike I wasn't to sad to see it leave. DC had a friend named Ford who wanted to buy it (before the days of EBAY) and I couldn't wait to unload it. I even saw the guy riding it a few times at PLRA and talked to him but that was a few years ago. I'll never forget the feeling of compressing that rear end and waiting for it to rebound or the way that bike used to pogo up the hill when you stood up and tried to hammer. But anyway I knew that today was going to be a ballbuster. Friday's ride was supposed to be an easy recovery ride at PLRA that saw Butt wick it up from the get go ...I love those hot laps. So needless to say I didn't have much more to offer only 12 hrs later. Well the ride did start slow but once we crested the sand hill by the lake that all the tri-geeks swim in it was on..DC was up to warp speed and I was cooked. Terry and I finished off one lap and I was actually contemplating only doind one lap but Terry coaxed me into another lap..."come on we'll take it slow and let Don go" Yeah right...We did let DC go but Terry wasn't taking it easy on me.. He dropped me before the train tracks on the second lap but the gap was always small enough that I could always keep him in my sight on the longer straights. I did finally reel him back in after about 2/3 of the lap and we rode out together. When we got back to the lot another 2 Trek Y's had appeared..DC commented that maybe people that still own those bikes don't ride much so they don't realize what a pile they are. I'm not sure but that was enough for me. I did have an interesting ride planned for sunday that fell through as I took the kids to see this. It was time well spent and after the show we walked around Comerica park and looked at all the wonderful things Downtown has to offer. Gotta go...CYA TC

Jobbie Nooner

Although I've had a boat on lake St. Clair for the last 12 years I've never made it out to this. It did seem however that today at least 5 different people asked me what I was doing later today. "Are you going out to Gull Island"? "What are you doing here today". I'm thinking about running a water taxi service to the end of summer one if I'm in town that week. Better check the calendar and put in for some time off. TC

Just when I think I've got it fugured out

Along comes the Lump man with his new rig...Now WTF. If I would have ordered any Ti bike in the last week I think I would be kicking myself. It looks sweet...actually downright FILTHY. I'm dying to take it for a spin but since Jason is about 4 inches taller than me I'm sure the fit would be for crap. I am interested to see what he thinks about the carbon top and seat tubes. Oh well all I can say is the next time he crashes in front of me I hope that the Ti makes for a more supple landing than the old steelie. Does anyone know what kind of seatpost he is running? Hmmm it looks pretty sweet!!!TC

It is official I'm fat, old and slow

When these become your pre-ride meal you know you have officially thrown in the towel...The were quite tasty but after an hour into my ride I wanted to puke..TC

Random thoughts

As I set out for tonights ride I had several random thoughts running through my mind. I usually don't like wind but today something was different. The lake at Stoney had small whitecaps on it and there were several people windsurfing. I used to teach windsurfing...Orchard lake lessons starting at 10 and 1. It was awesome work for a 17 yr old kid. Five bucks an hour cash under the table it was sweet, sun, little real work and the chance to sail all day (plus occasionally there were the hotties that came up to the boathouse in their bikinis). I would ride my bike from my parents house (about 3 miles away) work until 5pm then ride home or occasionally to my brother's house on cass lake or even PLRA in the day. I had this job for like 5 years until I finished college and I made some of the best friends through working at Michigan Windsurfing. Sadly,Jim Coulter the owner of the shop really didn't have much business sense and ran the place into the ground. The original store which I helped build is still located in the plaza in Keego Harbor but now a store called The Windsurf Company TWC is housed there. Well anyways seeing those people on the lake brought up some old memories. I always loved sailing the only thing is that in Michigan there really isn't much wind except in the late fall or early spring when it is freaking cold and unfortunately I got to the point where unless it was blowing sailing wasn't fun anymore. Well so much for the walk down memory lane. Just wondering if a trail is well marked and suppose you have ridden it before how can one get lost even with a poor sense of direction? Just wondering...TC

Happy Father's day

I still miss you buddy. The last month has been hard but it is getting better. The emotional healing takes time. It was weird taking mom home from the airport the other day I kept on expecting to see you there. The house doesn't seem the same. I wanted to go to the cemetary today but I just couldn't get myself to go. I hope you understand. I talked to Aunt Emma today and she said that she couldn't remember either of my grandparents funeral. I guess she was just 16 when grandmom passed away so she thinks that had something to do with it but she said that she was 38 when grandad passed away and she thinks it is weird that she couldn't remember anything. I guess that time does heal all wounds and while I don't ever think I could forget your passing I do know that things will get better. Keep looking down on us I hope to always make you proud. Your loving son..Tom