My neck... my back, my silky smooth crack

So there was a time when I was doing bike trials in Big Tony and Jaysun's backyard - which happened to be owned by Ken at the time. It was great. Brent and I would go over there with a couple of 40s and try to ride through the maze of skinny boards, tall wooden spools and other hateful obstacles. The maze wove in and out of trees and pretty much covered the yard. With the beer flowing, industrial work lights on and music blaring, it was a recipe for oneupmanship. I bet you cant do this, I bet you want do that - you get the drill. So we'd ride for hours with brakes chattering from the roofing tar on our rims (awesome braking power). I loved it. Then one night something clicked - in a bad way. In my early to mid 20s, I found myself barely able to walk and having to go to a series of doctors just to be able to sleep, let alone walk. I've never been cut on but I know that type of pain. That's because I am very familiar with it. It took four of five times of this type of episode for me to give up trials. That still bums me out. This pain is exacerbated by my neck. Trying to keep up with my brothers in high school, I jacked my neck up bench pressing way to much weight. I feel that every day.

But... Spanish mackerel will tell you I'm full of shit. Anybody that has these types of pains will tell you "it only hurts when I do this". I can remember being on the shop floor with a full bag of party ice bellyaching during the day, then at night grinding on some chic on the beer garden dance floor at Bullwinkle's. I mean just working it. We were all tore up and Steve looked over and gave me the "I don't ever want to hear about your back again" speech. We all hurt. But Bump and Grind only happens once a year. Everybody is going this year and my brother is wearing a skirt - his punishment for the slowest lap time last year. He's wearing it in a bid to pass it off to me - the odds on favorite for slowest lap this year. Saturday night will not only feature good food and good times, it is when you pick up your time slot (you get to negotiate your time bonus). What I'm trying to say is get in the truck bitch. All together now - let's pile on HWB so that he makes the trip.

Dragon

Sunday Morning Ride on a Monday Afternoon

Well that was fun. Nice little ride on a Monday afternoon felt easy like a Sunday morning. Most of the fellas were there but some were missed. The worm and Big Jim were on stupid bikes. The rest of us were rollin on dualies. Chris neglected to tell everyone that he had to put in two hard hours. So when we got to the Fern, he pretty much hammered everybody. Chill on Goose Pond then hammer on both sections of Cadillac and the bucket loop. I hate him now and my legs hate him. It's weird how all the different personalities, ages, ride styles and fitness levels seemed to click. It was a very cool ride.

Dragon

WTF, where is everybody?

So I'm totally bummed. We need to get the band back together. When are we going to have a regular Sunday ride again? When are we going to have a lunch on Thursday again? All the lurkers in the house say yaya!

K sizzle

I LIKES ME SOME...

TCBY (large cup of chocolate/strawberry mix)

Fig Newton’s on a road trip with the fellas

Beer after a particularly hard day at the office

Red Wine after a particularly hard day at the office

Good singletrack with very few sharp corners

Road biking on a road with very few sharp corners

Bikechain.com/bikeposse

Time away with Mrs. Slade

Market Diner in Thomasville

F150

Jimmy Durante and Dean Martin

Epic Saturday

Steve having a happy (gay) moment

The fellas

lil' Ronnie leading the way

Suns out guns out

Another happy (gay) moment

Tired

A year and a half ago, before I started riding bikes again, I was a fat sorry mess. My weight was over 200lbs and I felt like crap every day. My typical day consisted of: getting up going to work; eating a BIG meal at lunch; go home; eat a snack/drink a coke (maybe a beer); cook BIG dinner then eat it (while watching biggest loser) while sitting in my lazy boy; another snack before bed (mmmm Oreos and milk); sleep. I was so out of shape that I’d get winded walking from the house to the mailbox. A doctor’s visit put a little fear into me when he started talking about high cholesterol and chances of diabetes. It was time to get motivated so I started running then eventually riding bikes again.

So now I’ve lost a little weight (need to lose more), and get plenty of cardio. Funny thing is….I’M STILL TIRED. Granted, this is a different kind of tired. Me and the boys did intervals on the mountain bikes last night. They (the intervals) were particularly brutal this time. I’m not one of those people who ever had a need to puke during or after a workout, but last night was about as close as I’ve ever come. Silk and Marko swear that these things will make us faster, and they better be right (intervals = no fun). It was good to have Spanish Mackeral and Brother Kent join me and Marko for the painfest.

Tonight is the “Joe’s” ride. A special appearance by lil’ Ronnie visiting from North Cuba will make the ride extra fun. Don’t know if my legs have much pep in ‘em, but I’m looking forward to the ride.

Wish I could go back home and crawl into bed and take a long nap instead of sitting in an office all day. Oh yea, in case I didn’t mention it…..I’m freakin TIRED!

Peace and Love Baby

This blog has been missing something the last few days, PEACE AND LOVE.

Hey, group hug…..I love you guys!

Let the verbal assaults begin. I can take it.