No Mas Sick!

Well, I've been off the bike for a few days, had to cancel plans to go to Pisgah. I managed somehow to take strep home with me from school, so I've been sick for the past four or five days. I was feeling decent when I woke up this morning; decent enough to fish, but not to ride. Decision made. Fishing it was. I managed to catch about 25 fish in just a few hours this morning, they were hitting on almost anything I threw out there. I was rewarded with a trifecta (a brown, a brook, and a rainbow trout). The most rewarding of which was this nice 16 inch brown, I thought I had a snag, until it started fightin!



Brookie!


Hooray, Rainbows!

Almost Finished!

Here is an old Nishiki that I have spent the last couple of months restoring. I have spent alot of time on this bike. This is the first paint job I have done and I am pretty happy with the results. I definately learned alot and the nex bike I do will not have alot of the small mistakes that this one did. I will be selling this on ebay as soon as it is finished being put together.

The top picture shows some of the gold guilding that my wife did around the lugs. Hopefully I will get enough out of this bike to buy an oxy acetalyne setup so I can start brazing. Also keep watching the blog, we have an old motobecane that is getting turned into a full on townie bike with custom stainless steel racks and some sweet parts!

Penny Farthing Hilarity

Check out this link, if it does not make you laugh then you have no soul. Either that or I just have a weird sense of humor. Either way its intertaining.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsanHNYZA0Q

Tee Shirt Awesomeness!!!

So my wife has been working on opening an online tee shirt shop for quite awhile, and tonight she got it up and running. Check it out, it has some really cool bike related shirts. She has about five designs up now with many more to come. If you like them spread the word! There is a link to the store right here..... www.cafepress.com/bikenerds

Above is my favorite design (oh yeah, Im going to be famous!)

Lugtastic!

Here are some photos of progress on frame building. This is a head tube lug new and then one almost finished. I am working on getting the tubeset for this bike completely prepped for brazing. I dont quite have the money for a proper torch yet so I am hoping that by the time the tubeset is ready to braze I will have a torch. I should have more updates by sat. Hopefully some images of the tube mitering process.

El City Loop!

I look like I am really suffering in this pic. The mouth is agape more from trying to figure out how the heck to use the camera properly than gasping for breath.

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Moving Time (h:m:s) 1:10:43
Distance (mi ) 18.55
Moving Speed (mph) 15.7 avg. 36.6 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +1,317 / -1,310


Curtis, Drew and I headed downtown tonight to feel slightly counter-culture. I said at one point that I should be wearing way too tight jeans and riding a fixed gear. With Drew skidding around, it only made this feeling stronger.

It was a great night with temps in the 50's there were actually quite a few people hanging out downtown. We made our way down to one of the plazas to get some pictures by a huge fountain, but alas, the fountain was off. In it's place though was this Christmas tree!


After a couple of other pictures, we made our way back through the West End. This area of Winston is very cool, very historic.

Curtis always looks like he owns the place...the definition of cool...



I've got lots of things going over the next few days. Road ride tomorrow and saturday night. Trailwork on Saturday with BMCC to try to get the Warrior Creek trails ready for the 6 Hours of Warrior Creek. And camping in Pisgah on monday tuesday and wednesday.

not much to say except it was chilly this morning!


Moving Time (h:m:s) 1:12:02 4:00 pace
Distance (mi ) 17.98
Moving Speed (mph) 15.0 avg. 29.5 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +1,615 / -1,631



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Oh, and I figured out totals for November I climbed over 26,000 feet in my rides. Next week I should be able to beat that total for december. I am planning a camping trip to Pisgah, and should hopefully get 10-15k feet of climbing in out there, at least!

Curtis' New Bike

Curtis and I decided to make a short jaunt around the city. We headed around the affluent area of Buena Vista, checking out some cool houses. On more than one occasion, we nearly tangled bars looking around at houses with Christmas lights! Anyways, his new bike is ridiculous! Giant TCR Advanced SL with new DuraAce, sick! The ride was cut short due to some soggy weather, and as we pulled back into Paceline the skies opened up, home safe....just in time!

Moving Time (h:m:s) 0:50:32
Distance (mi ) 13.61
Moving Speed (mph) 16.2 avg. 37.8 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +1,172 / -1,120


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Twilight over the Lake

I got in a ride yesterday afternoon/afternoon in Greensboro. I was able to ride the newly constructed Wild Turkey trail that connects a couple of other trails. The trail had some pretty good flowy sections, some that still needed work, but mostly well put together. In any case, I met a couple of the Greensboro Fat Tire Society guys (Mike and Steve, I think). I was told that they had planned on possible reroutes of a couple sections, but overall the trail was much fun!


Moving Time (h:m:s) 1:45:11
Distance (mi ) 14.55
Moving Speed (mph) 8.3 avg. 20.9 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +1,954 / -1,938


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Hoping to get a night road ride in tomorrow night downtown, look for a report tomorrow night or wedensday afternoon!

Cold Hands

Photo dump of fishing at Stone Mountain

Christmas Tree!

Lisa and I headed out to West Jefferson today to get ourselves a Christmas tree. Last year we had a great (and very snowy) experience at West End Wreaths. Because of how great our tree turned out last year, we decided to give them our business again. We had our friends Chris and Raena along for the ride.


Last years tree was probably about 9 or 10 feet and we wanted to top that this year. We chose a tree that was about 11 or 12 feet tall this year; it's really pretty ridiculous.

If you look carefully, you can find my feet...


Victorious!!!


In any case, my reasoning behind this was because my uncle Paul used to get these enormous trees, and I always loved them. One year, in fact, he drilled into the floor of his house to run steel cable to anchor the tree to the floor. Now, this wasn't because the tree was like 15 feet tall, but it was probably about 12 feet in diameter....seriously, no joke. So part of the reasoning is because I want to send him pictures so he can see the tradition is carried on!

OVT/Shiner's Run

Well, to burn off some thanksgiving calories, shiner's run and the OVT were calling my name. Billy and I headed out this morning to meet Jeremy. This was the first time I'd met or ridden with Jeremy, I knew him through the grapevine of my brother. We made our way out the OVT and Shiner's run, meeting up with a few others along the way.

Jeremy in a berm

Billy in the same berm

this is about the maximum amount of air allowed under my tires


We hung out for a few minutes talking with some new acquintances from Abingdon (good to meet you Dave, Mike, and crew!). Jeremy headed back at this point, it was only his second mountain bike ride, and he did very well! Billy and I continued on making it to the end of the OVT without any problems, just a few stops here and there to get some photos.

Billy hitting a berm
We stopped on the way back to investigate what we thought was a den, but turned out to be some weird hunting cavern....strange. I didn't realize it at the time, but according to the stats we were moving along at a good clip, averaging 9.6 mph over the course of the 16 miles.


Moving Time (h:m:s) 1:40:55
Distance (mi ) 16.19
Moving Speed (mph) 9.6 avg. 23.2 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +2,238 / -2,242

Spent

The school let out at noon today and the teachers were out by 1:30. So, I decided to make the most of the day and headed out to Wilkesboro to hit dark mountain and the OVT. Nothing overly special, but I am spent! The trails were wetter than I had expected as evidenced by the pictures of my bike.

The more I ride the Soma the more I realize that I love steel bikes especially with one gear. The ride quality is unreal compared to aluminum, and the feeling of only one gear is liberating, simple.



I'll be heading out to the same trails on Friday with some friends. I'm not entirely sure that anyone actually reads this blog, but if youd like to come post up a comment or show up at the visitor center at 9:30.


Moving Time (h:m:s) 2:22:40 6:52 pace
Distance (mi ) 20.73
Moving Speed (mph) 8.7 avg. 28.8 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +3,156 / -3,119

Christmas Lights!

Night ride at tanglewood. Every winter before Christmas, the city decks out tanglewood park out with christmas lights. The whole park used to be part of a huge estate, so everything there is decorated all Christmas-ee.






Stats from the ride
Total Time (h:m:s) 2:00:30 7:05 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s) 1:50:02 6:28 pace
Distance (mi ) 16.97
Moving Speed (mph) 9.3 avg. 31.4 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +1,615 / -1,700

Pilot Ride

I opted for a road ride after school. Headed out of the parking lot with lots of kids yelling out of bus windows, "Hey Mr. Stevenson!" I took it kind of slow since I wasnt sure what to really expect of the climb (it was my first time riding up it). It wasn't really as bad as I had anticipated, hihgly worth the descent though!

17 miles, 2500' of elevation gain, I might have to make this a weekly ride with a double over the top when I have more light.

Yadkin Road Loop

Today, Lisa and I had Steve and Kiersten over for dinner. While the lasses prepared the food, Steve and I headed out into Yadkin County to get in some fun, hilly mileage. The route took us from my house, across the river, and to some backcountry roads. We ended up on gravel which was interesting on 23C tires.
Steve was rocking the HED Stinger 60s he borrowed from Drew at the shop. The gravel took us down to an old mill, it was a really amazing place to find only a few miles from downtown Winston.

Anyways, here are some stats from the ride, a chill, fun paced ride with some cool scenery.

Summary Data
Total Time 1:46:12
Moving Time 1:38:13
Distance 24.82
Moving Speed (mph) 15.2 avg
Elevation Gain (ft) +2,205

Brookie!

I had the opportunity to go fishing this morning out at Stone Mountain. I caught five trout within a few hours, all but one of which were caught on an elk hair caddis dryfly. The prettiest being this male Brook Trout in his spawning regalia (hooked jaw, humped back, and beautiful colors).


I also caught this decent Rainbow as well, not quite as cool as the Brookie, but still pretty cool!

Night Ride City Loop

Steve, Curtis, Drew and I made a ride out of the shop tonight into downtown Winston. This was the first time that I had done this loop, and it was such a blast. Watching Drew and Steve catch air on road bikes going through campus was pretty sick! We took some footpaths through the campus of Wake Forest and a really old part of town, accurately named, "Old Salem." After heading out to Salem lake, we made a brief stop to catch a couple pictures, eat some snacks, and fisnish off the loop. I pulled part of the way back Country Club road, only to have Curtis and Drew blow past me on a (unknown to me) sprint. A few stats, a map, and some pictures...

Total Time (h:m:s) 2:05:27 4:22 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s) 1:51:27 3:53 pace
Distance (mi ) 28.66
Moving Speed (mph) 15.4 avg. 38.7 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +2,313 / -2,388



Creepy....


Steve and I acting typically foolish




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Road Bike

Well, for a very long time I swore against ever owning one of these machines...But alas, I am now the owner of a Giant TCR. Very cool bike, much fun to ride. The need to ride more often with a better training regimen, along with the lack of funds to go mountain biking every night after work has forced me to this decision.

anyways, photos;




road ride early afternoon tomorrow, followed by...
night ride with curtis tomorrow! rock!

A few pics from todays ride on the OVT and Shiner's Run...much fun in the woods

Total Time (h:m:s) 2:31:23 9:37 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s) 1:46:31 6:45 pace
Distance (mi ) 15.74
Moving Speed (mph) 8.9 avg. 20.4 max.
Elevation Gain (ft) +2,399 / -2,465