Winners and Sinners

So this evening we ventured over to JHB in Natique (many thanks to Steen for taking good care of us) for some dinner, Gold Spike IPA, and logistics discussion surrounding the 24 Hours of Great Glen, the next goal of the season. What was quickly discovered is that each MRC team clearly has differing goals. Bad Brad, GFG, Art and I are all looking to be pretty competitive. We're going up there to try and ride smart and place. Our comrades have other ideas. Steen, Lowry, Bauer, and Jorge are bringing a keg, and Todd is coming up to help them drink it. So it's going to be the MRC Sinners and the MRC Winners....the question is which title applies to which team???

First trip to the Bronx...

Took the opportunity for a rare weekday afternoon game to bring Meghan down to Yankee Stadium for her first game (a 2-1 thriller won by the good guys in the bottom of the 10th). She had only previously been to Fenway and (like her mother) her first reaction was, "Wow, this place is BIG".

I love that you can only get Yankees stuff at the shops around the Stadium (conversely my first "official" Yankee hat was purchased at Fenway during a little league trip); saw these beauties at Stan's and felt compelled to capture them:

As a fan of the Bombers, it's fun to see the other side of the rivalry when I'm in NYC. Other observations:

1. It is 2.5 hours from my parents driveway in Springfield to the bat in front of the Stadium-about the same amount of time to get to Fenway from Stow, including traffic, parking 5 miles from the ballpark and paying 40 bucks to do so (17.00 to park in the garage RIGHT next to Yankee Stadium).

2. 8.50 for a Bud Light is ridiculous, but at least they bring it to your seat.

3. No obstructed view bullshit like at Fenway.

4. New stadium that will be amazing opening next year (I won't hold my breath for the same here; though being able to afford a game at the new Yankee Stadium may require a part time job).

While I'm no Mets fan, I need to get down to Shea--never been and it's closing this year too!

New life for the old girl...

When I first really got into riding, post college, it was in trail riding. I have had this bike since 1997, and it was my second "real" bike (my first one was an M2 Stumpjumper). This past winter, I sort of "re-discovered" how much I love riding off road and have been spending more time on this old rig. The issue is that the parts are wicked old and things are starting to simply fall apart-virtually everything on this is circa '95-97.

So I'm trying to do some sensible upgrades-the first was a replacing a Judy XC from '95 with Arlo Englund Total Air cartridges with a slightly used RockShox Reba from GFG who is now sporting a brand new 29er. All I can say is Wow. What a HUGE difference this thing is-no more pogo sticking down the single track. The steering is a bit off due to the increased travel but I can deal with it. With the new fork I also put on a new headset so the front end is Ok now.

The shifting, however, sucks even with new cables and adjustments....I think the 1996 8-speed GripShift is just breaking down. My buddy Norm may be willing to part with some X.9 shifters and rear derailleur and if I can manage that expenditure, she should be ready to roll for 24 Hours of GG. If I ever get lucky enough to stockpile enough newer parts I can theoretically make the jump to a duel suspension bike next year....it's a pipedream but still....

Note to Rich....hang on to those CrossMax disc wheels, I want to get on your payment plan!!!