natbikes.com

Last week I my ‘attacks’ on the noon ride were brought back in seconds, my pain receptors had rejuvenated themselves, and I suffered all sorts of unknown pain. 3 days before that I went for a flat ride in the big ring, and had to turn back after 20 minutes, because my feeble, furry, legs just couldn’t hack it. Thank Goodness for 18 years of muscle memory.
I LOVE TO RIDE MY BICYCLE!

Bicycle… bicycle.

Last Week I was backing out of the race in lieu of secret training (see the snow slog post of the other day), this week I’m signing up to race in the Visiallia Cat 2 Crit that little Ollie won a few yeas back.
Doubtlessly procrastinating something I end up looking up trials mountain bike stuff. Here are the coolest videos I found

some guy in Britain
and

Canada’s Ryan Leech

By about this point I started thinking that hopping around on bicycles was just plain silly, and started to box up the pile of carbon handlebars people have paid me for today, and I want to have in the mail tomorrow morning.

So the rest of the week I didn’t do much other than make boxes for the 140 things which needed to get to the post office. I’m all caught up now, which I guess it means it’s time to sell 140 more things.

After my brilliant week of training I found myself twitching with nerves, yes I am hairy legged getting ready to do a crit. The last time I did the Visalia criterium I borrowed evils then cutting edge trek 5900, pinch flatted, bounced off the curb, KO’d myself and then Kevin Monohan ran over my bike. I broke both evils wheels, his carbon handlbar, carbon fork, bent large, and small chainrings, as well as the rear derailleur, helmet, and sunglasses. Everything else save the cassette and seatpost was scuffed. Of course when I woke up 2 laps later I just wanted to get back on the bike, but Brain Sommers prudently, and firmly escorted me to the ambulance.
So the bike I ordered isn’t in yet, so I’m heading up to this same race on Evils borrowed SSL 5.9 MSRP is $8200, but he’s got a custom paint job, so it’s a little more than that.

After my second trip of the day to the post office, and a bike ride with Courtland, I am just bouncing off the walls, and decide to join Evil for a green Beer at the new Prime Cut. For come reason I though that green beer was specially brewed by leprechauns once a year, rather than having some coloring dumped in it (you mean I could do this at home for my oatmeal?).

Court is there, and tells me that the avalanche danger on Mt. Whitney is minimal, and that if we leave town at 2am, we can drive there, climb up, power-glissade down, and be back in Bako before midnight. I just have to get some boots which will fit cramp-ons.

Suddenly my mind is off racing.

Laters,
Nat Faulkner

PS for those who are keeping track the damage to the borrowed bike so far is just two shredded tires (lousy continental sidewalls)