Nerd on a Bike

144 on Saturday?

2012-02-02T06:55:00.002-06:00

This weather is crazy! I might try and get the 144 in on Saturday afternoon. Leave a comment or drop me a line at velofamily@comcast.net if you are interested!

Inside and whatever

2012-02-01T20:41:00.001-06:00

Consequences...

2012-02-01T07:16:00.008-06:00

Consequences…

· Show me a sharp kid and I will show you a kid with real consequences.

· Show me a kid with consequences and I will show you a kid that knows that they are loved.

· Consequences equal love, consequences equal connection

· Show me a kid with fake consequences and I will show you a spoiled child (a mess)

· Show me a kid who can pout their way to a fake consequence and I will show you a spoiled child (a mess)

· Show me a kid with no consequences and I will show you a mess

· Show me a kid with no consequences and I will show you a kid that wonders if they are truly loved; this confusion leads to real problems because they feel ignored

· My children know they are loved because the bar is high and the consequences are real and consistent; thank goodness for my wife!

· Real consequences lead to greater connection, results and long term happiness

· Fake consequences lead to frustration, failure and long term confusion

· No consequences early leads to bigger consequences later (do you want them to come from loving adults or from the authorities?)

My kids don't like consequences and I don't like giving them but give it 15 minutes to an hour and you will feel more love and have less of a headache than if you would not have given the consequence... and this lasts for the rest of your life.

Show me an adult who does not reflect humility and love and I will show you a bitter, greedy, pessimistic person who thinks that they personally have all the answers. We adults have consequences too. (That is why we Christians are the worst offenders of all adult groups. Most of us say one thing and then do quite another and the consequence is that people see us as being full of it.)

Pitfalls of the 2000's:
We show love through things instead of through genuine connection. (Kids like the stuff initially but give it time and it leaves the kid confused.)
We have grown soft in many different areas; easy, fast and fun is right and anything else is wrong.

Solutions:
Read with your child every day. Read every day.
Voluteer together.
Keep the bar high and be clear with expectations.

Inside

2012-01-31T21:58:00.001-06:00

Unbroken Interview... What a guy!!

2012-01-30T21:07:00.001-06:00

Inside and musical

2012-01-30T19:28:00.002-06:00

60

Spun to this tonight

Basketball is not good for me either...

2012-01-29T17:44:00.005-06:00

I get a little to hot in contact sports. I want to play for fun but I go for blood way to fast. Best to stick with the bike and skis. I had great friends there that got me laughing though. Thanks to those looking out for me and my many moods.

Alberts! Belgians! WOW!

2012-01-29T09:24:00.000-06:00

20 Minutes Away! The Worlds! J Pow top ten?

2012-01-29T07:41:00.001-06:00

http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-5.php

I am not a Mountain Biker

2012-01-28T18:34:00.001-06:00

I need this!

J Pow

2012-01-27T07:36:00.000-06:00

So I send Jeremy Powers an e mail telling him how much I love Behind the Barriers and I get an e mail right back telling me how much he appreciated us being at nationals and that he could hear me on every lap. What a cool guy and what a great sport! Behind the Barriers is an example of what life could be like if we decided to do what we love and love who we are with; I know that people think that I am silly for seeing something deeper in Behind the Barriers but I really think that there is a deeper message to it all. I don't think that it is intended, I just think that it comes out of the show. All of those guys seem so real, so positive and so dedicated!

What if we could be dedicated and nice?
What if we were confident in what we were doing?
What if we were encouraged to be ourselves?
What if people didn't threaten relationships when frustrated?
What if we were open and accepting of differences?

The show is like a life handbook!

Great Friends, Awful Snow

2012-01-26T21:31:00.000-06:00

Inside and Tired

2012-01-25T22:27:00.002-06:00

30 and I skied with my students today!

Inside and Outside

2012-01-24T21:10:00.000-06:00

40 and 14K

Back in the Basement

2012-01-23T21:51:00.001-06:00

Outside Again!

2012-01-22T16:43:00.000-06:00

Inside and Talkative

2012-01-21T18:08:00.003-06:00

Inside and Sleepy

2012-01-20T07:21:00.001-06:00

Inside and Warm!

2012-01-19T21:21:00.001-06:00

Inside and Lonely- I was there!!

2012-01-18T19:52:00.004-06:00

Inside and Lonely

2012-01-17T22:18:00.001-06:00

Back to the Skis

2012-01-16T21:26:00.000-06:00

Inside and Lonely

2012-01-16T11:37:00.001-06:00

Inside and Lonely

2012-01-15T22:38:00.001-06:00

Loving the Valley!

2012-01-15T13:59:00.002-06:00

Inside and Lonely

2012-01-14T08:55:00.001-06:00

Inside and Lonely

2012-01-13T22:56:00.001-06:00

Highlight from yesterday...

2012-01-13T12:00:00.004-06:00

My daughter is getting straight A's in school and I went to her conferences last night. What a feeling to hear all of those great reports. My daughter works hard, she always has. I think that she is loved by her teachers because she takes an attitude of, "You first, me second," in almost everything she does until it comes to her grades. She always gives her best at what she does, she always has.

It is like riding a bike and training; I am training for an event in mid June, when does that training start? Right now. It was the same with Rose, she worked hard in elementary school, that was her base miles and now she is reaping the reward. It feels good to be fit.

As a friend of mine once said when we pulled away from the group on a long climb, "The cream always rises." It is so true, if you put in the effort and do your very best good things will happen, you will get results.

Humility

Inside and Lonely

2012-01-12T21:43:00.002-06:00

Rose did great tonight and the first Local of 2012!

2012-01-10T21:28:00.002-06:00

Top 20 Day! Cross Nats!

2012-01-09T17:25:00.002-06:00

J POW! I was there!! More to come!!

2012-01-09T06:47:00.001-06:00

Watch more video of USA Cyclocross National Championships 2012 on cyclingdirt.org

MTB Hike

2012-01-07T17:00:00.002-06:00

One more time with my brother Bill!

2012-01-07T11:37:00.002-06:00

Skiing with da kids

2012-01-06T18:47:00.003-06:00

The snow was terrible tonight.

What was your highlight today?

Foleydrome! Jorge and Dan!!

2012-01-05T21:28:00.002-06:00

Ski Practice- Team Broken Bones

2012-01-02T11:49:00.000-06:00

Ski Practice

Well, Belinda got Rose and I out of bed and off to practice and neither of us were happy about going. It was cold and windy and the place was packed with skiers. I did bump into Larry and Melinda. There should be a new category for those participating with broken bones. Nothing will stop Larry and Dave from getting out, nothing. In the end I think that both Rose and I are glad that we went. It was great to get fresh air and the snow was better than it has been for two weeks and as annoying as it is to have all those people there, it is kind of exciting too.

A walk in the park

2012-01-01T16:12:00.002-06:00

I hiked the mountain bike trails while the kids went sledding today, it was beautiful. I might go again tomorrow. Now I am about to hop on the bike in the basement ugh...

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-01T10:33:00.002-06:00

Great night last night with great friends!!

A couple things for the new year...

oh, forget it... Happy New Year!!

Last Ride of 2011!?

2011-12-31T15:11:00.000-06:00

I love my wife... Last ride for 2011?

2011-12-31T13:44:00.000-06:00

What a week! Thanks B!!!

Happy Birthday Brian!

2011-12-31T10:30:00.002-06:00

Back on the Horse!

2011-12-30T16:36:00.002-06:00

My turn to crash!

2011-12-29T11:05:00.001-06:00

Well, it is only a matter of time and I went down today. I had been thinking that it had been a while and it happened quick and hard. It could have been much worse. Helmets are amazing. My head slapped the pavement and I really thought I was in trouble. The fall rung my bell but it was actually my hand that was pounding and still is, like I said it could have been much worse.

Keep on Riding Brothers

2011-12-28T17:15:00.001-06:00

Ride! Ride! Ride! It is the answer! This is the best Christmas break ever!! Woooo Hoooo! Let's keep riding!

Walking on Sunshine! Snow is bad but riding is good!

2011-12-27T16:46:00.002-06:00

High Performance Athletes

2011-12-27T12:17:00.001-06:00

The snow was pretty bad this morning. We need some real snow. It made for an interesting observation though and I wish I would have got a picture of it. The place was packed because it is the only show in town and when it is like this I have a similar experience each time I go; there are three decked out skiers discussing their holiday on a hairpin turn, in the middle of the turn, completely unaware that there are any skiers around and we all have to go around them in mass. What is that?

Riding into 2012?

2011-12-26T19:51:00.000-06:00

Christmas Cross

2011-12-25T17:14:00.004-06:00

Well, it is Christmas and it has been a wonderful day! So so nice. Let's ride and everything will make sense!! Ride ride ride!! Thank Jesus for bikes!!

Playing in the Park!

2011-12-24T12:16:00.003-06:00

What a beautiful ride! I love my friends and my bike. I just got the green light to ride for two hours every day for the next week!! Oh boy!!

Chirstmas #1- Cousins

2011-12-24T06:08:00.002-06:00

CPHS Nordic Practice

2011-12-24T06:07:00.002-06:00

Holiday Treat from 3EE

2011-12-23T09:38:00.001-06:00

Merry Christmas

2011-12-19T20:46:00.001-06:00

The kids are getting older
The interests they change
But their love fore each other
Has yet to be rearranged

The year was full of wonder
Moving to and fro
Mom moving to Preston
Cambridge streets I will not know

And as the change hits us
I know that it sounds strange
Life only seems to get better
When we move from day to day

We keep on moving
This family does not stop
If we are not skiing or riding
We are going to see friends
To celebrate all we got

The adventures they keep coming
There seems to be no end
That’s what life is like
When you marry your best friend

The kids can do more and more
Their interests they progress
Owen helping to set up the camper
Rose hemming a dress

Rose stuck with Nordic skiing
Owen took to the bike
Belinda took up fat tires
The single track she does like

We traveled to see family
We traveled to Superior’s shore
Always finding open arms
And a light above the door

We celebrated 20 years
Of marital bliss
Grandpa and Sabbina had the kids
A vacation not to miss

Sunsets over Lake Michigan
Never the same
Watching a movie in the evening
Or playing a board game
The kids had their own adventure
They will have to tell you themselves
Of overturned boats and divers
Good thing Rose was turning 12

The trip to Massachusetts
Was so much fun
Getting to the top of Mount Holyoke
Or going for a campus run

History abundant
On every corner there
The Old North Bridge
And all the shops with flair

The Basketball Hall of Fame
And a reunion with old friends
I want to get back East
So I can do it all over again

Baseball, Soccer, Trombone and Horses
Challenges coming from advanced courses
The kids working hard and
Always polite according to sources

I find myself looking back
At another year not to forget
I am counting my blessings
On this you can bet

You are the greatest blessing
In this life that is flying by
I never take my friends for granted
You make me laugh until I cry

Please come to visit
Or drop us a line
You are the spice of life
And always make us feel fine

So I end this
With a simple prayer
That we celebrate another year
Surrounded by those that care

Jordan raced this course today

2011-12-18T19:02:00.002-06:00

and finished top 20. This was a wild wild race!

http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1179526

45 Degrees, Justin did great!!

2011-12-18T16:55:00.000-06:00

Ski #5- What a Day!

2011-12-17T20:58:00.002-06:00

Basketball, Projects, Biking, Projects, Shopping, Skiing, Projects... crazy!

Foleydrome #2

2011-12-17T18:07:00.000-06:00

Sam to Owen for Two

2011-12-17T18:06:00.001-06:00

Foleydrome #1

2011-12-14T20:49:00.000-06:00

Just what I needed. My mind is back to normal!

Stand By Me

2011-12-13T07:01:00.002-06:00

Rose in the Jackson Middle School Jazz Band! Very fun show!

Ski #4

2011-12-11T14:45:00.000-06:00

My favorite people to ski with!

Ski #3

2011-12-10T12:40:00.002-06:00

Ski #2

2011-12-10T12:39:00.002-06:00

Ski #1

2011-12-08T22:15:00.002-06:00

Even on a 1K track that is a lot of fun!

O Cross was a blast!

2011-12-04T16:48:00.002-06:00

Short version

CPHS Cyclocross!

2011-12-03T16:12:00.001-06:00

Great great ride with great great people. Cry Baby Guy wond the race easily, but what to you expect from a guy that was forced to upgrade to 3 this season? He waited for me so we could talk for most of the race and then he left me for the win! FUN!!

I am on Behind the Barriers!!

2011-12-02T21:58:00.001-06:00

http://www.behindthebarriers.com/imitation-contest

Cross Practice 11/30- Snow

2011-11-30T21:55:00.000-06:00

Nice ride in a light snow tonight with Brian. Hot lap of 6:06.

Cross Practice 11/28

2011-11-29T07:05:00.000-06:00

Jay and I did a few mellow laps last night on the Jackson Cross Course. It was a nice way to end the day. Jay felt like it was a good cold riding option. I like it because we could talk the whole time. I love the mountain bike trails but it sort of seems like downhill skiing, I will talk to you after the run. The cross course allows you to ride, talk and stay warm. It is always nice to ride with Jay!

George the Gopher Fan!

2011-11-26T22:20:00.002-06:00

COME ON OUT!

2011-11-26T10:03:00.000-06:00

I had just finished breakfast and what do I see? Brian out on the course, I got the green light and was out there in about 5 minutes. If you want want to do some laps drop me a line!!

Riding Through November!

2011-11-25T18:21:00.002-06:00

Turkey Cross 2011!

2011-11-24T23:05:00.001-06:00

It was a smash, same time next year! Bring lottery tickets!\

My kind of Cross

2011-11-24T06:14:00.001-06:00

Watch more video of Highlighted Video on cyclingdirt.org

I am thankful for my friends and my bike!

2011-11-23T16:35:00.000-06:00

Backyard Cross

2011-11-21T20:08:00.002-06:00

The course is legit with real cross features!
http://connect.garmin.com/player/130221859

O Cross Course

2011-11-20T17:49:00.001-06:00

Owen is having a Cross Race Birthday Party, O Cross 2011. We tried out the course today! Brian came over too!

What a Race! Jordan comes back!!

2011-11-20T08:37:00.004-06:00

Great day!

Click Here

Warm in the woods!

2011-11-16T20:36:00.001-06:00

I am not very good at single track but it is fun! There is only one thing missing, I miss Dave.

Mountain Cross!

2011-11-14T21:16:00.002-06:00

New game in town! It is Mountain Cross. I once again invented a race I can win, well that is because certain people were not there but I can say that I won the first mountain cross race at Elm Creek.
Click here for map!

The course it great, a little bit of everything! I got the hole shot and Dan was on my tail until he went off course. After that I could only see lights from quite a ways a way and was able to even stop to take some pictures! Great times on the course tonight!

C: Was it really that good?

N: Better than I thought. The course is a great mix of three types of trail and a good climb to boot. The course switches back on itself so you can keep track of where you stand. It was super cool. I am going tonight to do some practice laps I think.

C: You won? How did you pull that off?

N: Non of the speedsters were there. I got the hole shot and Dan missed a turn and that is all she wrote. He was on my wheel and suddenly he was gone.

I was on my cross bike which is much faster than my mountain bike, it just rolls better. We ended up racing for about 8 miles, about 40 minutes. It was nice to put in a steady effort in there, to bad it is going to snow soon.

When the speedsters come the goal will be to not get lapped in an hour!

J Pow is on a roll!

2011-11-13T21:27:00.001-06:00

Curvey Races the MTB

2011-11-12T11:14:00.001-06:00

I started out with a loop of the pavement and finished with a race against Curvey. It was his first time so it wasn't much of a race but it will be next time! Beautiful morning!

Curvey: Good race but I am figuring that out!

Nerd: I know next time will be very different.

tentative

2011-11-09T20:53:00.000-06:00

Curvey: Sorry to hear about Dave.

Nerd: You have no idea. He is one of my all time favorite people to ride with... ever. When he is gone on a vacation it doesn't feel right. I hope the recovery is quick. I rode with a tentative style tonight, my riding was laborious. The ride was great but I couldn't get it dialed in, when we went past the bridge it was like we were at the scene of a crime. I wish a speedy recovery to one of the greatest guys I know.

Sad News

2011-11-09T13:01:00.004-06:00

One of my personal heroes and friends, Dave Hemstad went down hard in the woods last night. He is going to have surgery on his shoulder. Send thoughts his way. Dave, we hope to see you back out as soon as possible.

Something was out there!

2011-11-07T21:06:00.001-06:00

Curvey: What was out there?
Nerd: Something was running with us!
Curvey: What?
Nerd: I don't know but the other night when I was by myself and I stopped I realized I was hear breathing other than my own. It was sort of freaky.
Curvey: And you want me to go in there with you?
Nerd: All you need is one other person or 6 lemonades to get your courage up. In my opinion people work better than lemonade, sometimes.

B on 52

2011-11-06T19:46:00.002-06:00

Great ride with Belinda on Highway 52 today!

Guy wins today!

2011-11-05T22:10:00.001-05:00

Pictures to come! What a great race and what a great ride with Brian and Hogi! Best ride of the year, a little bit of everything! Stay tuned!

Nice Surprise and solo in the woods

2011-11-03T21:34:00.000-05:00

Curvey: I see Jorge in the picture!

Nerd: Yes! It was great and he is going to get a mountain bike!

Curvey: No way! What? Now let me get this straight, Jorge is going to the woods too?

Nerd: That is right! And so is Brian. Come on Curvey, it is so fun.

Curvey: You rode on pavement right?

Nerd: For part of the ride. I was on my mountain bike and finished in the woods.

Curvey: Are you still running a two speed.

Nerd: It is fun. Tonight I ran a 19 in the back. That was nice in the single track.

Curvey: What do run on the road?

Nerd: 48x19. It was nice. Biking has become nice, I know that eats you up but that is what it has become, just plain nice.

Curvey: Mmmm?

Night Riders in the woods

2011-11-02T20:30:00.003-05:00

Curvey: How was the ride?

Nerd: Bernie says you lose road fitness in the woods... He hasn't ridden with these guys! They are so fast you can't believe it.

Curvey: What do you mean?

Nerd: I can't get ahead of them even if I cheat. The strange part of all of this is that speed is being taken out of the equation. I am not all that concerned with losing fitness or keeping up. I am simply enjoying riding my bike. I used to enjoy riding my bike by simply riding my bike. I think that I am getting back to that! I am realizing just how persnickety I have become and I don't like it. These trails are bringing me back. As Dylan would say, "I was older then, but I am younger than that now."

Curvey: What are you talking about?

Nerd: That is exactly my point, people don't realize how much they change over time. They don't realize just how persnickety they have become. Persnickety people are kinda kind. I want to be just plain kind again...

Curvey: I will beat it out of you.

Nerd: I hope not.

There should be a study...

2011-10-30T19:24:00.001-05:00

Curvey: How was your day?

Nerd: Great, Belinda did a run for Team Strongheart and I saw Bernie. It is rare these days. We had an interesting conversation. He brought up something I was suspicious of, I was wondering if I was losing fitness through mountain biking. Now here is a guy who has done both big time and you know what he said? In a way I am, that they are two very different disciplines and that I probably have lost some strength on the road.

Curvey: See, you need balance man. The road is going to keep calling and you are going to need strength.

Nerd: I agree, I was wondering if there was a difference, I mean it only stands to reason. But here is the thing, the season is wrapping up, road riding is close to done anyway. Mountain biking is a great transition to skiing and there is nothing like skiing for fitness. So maybe this season was close to perfect. Road focus early with a shift to the trail later in the season. You are right, balance will be the key but for now look out trails, here I come!!

Curvey: Look out man, Saturday I am going to teach you a thing or two in there!!

Gophers Win the Pig Again!!

2011-10-29T21:15:00.005-05:00

A little like last year...

Sunrise in the park!

2011-10-29T19:11:00.002-05:00

Curvey: Looks like a nice ride. Wasn't it cold?

Nerd: Another beauty of riding the trail! You stay pretty warm in there! It is great. I brought a backpack today full of stuff. You see Curvey, mountain bikers can wear backpacks. It is a very liberal sport. No one bats an eye. 26 Degrees at the start and with booties on I was fine.

Curvey: That is big. I mean you are still riding at 26 degrees and show no signs of slowing down. That is pretty neat.

Nerd: Not only that, I thought that it would be cool to have a dawn to dusk 7 lap race in there sometime in November just to make you happy. We could race in an ultra endurance event. I think your average in the park will be about 11 mph.

Curvey: Mmm, you certainly have me thinking.

Nerd: I know!!

What is the big deal with the MTB?

2011-10-28T08:07:00.000-05:00

Curvey: I am still trying to get a handle on this… What is the big deal here? Why is this so different?

Nerd: In its most simple terms, it is groovy, it is not persnickety. It is a community that takes pride and responsibility for the trail, they just want more and more people to use the trail that they have helped to build. On the road I would worry about people getting dropped or left behind, it doesn’t even cross your mind in the woods. The trail is simply too fun. You bump into and ride with people you know but if they go away it is not the end of the world, you are just on your own ride loving the trail. That is groovy.

Curvey: So why even go back to the road?

Nerd: To talk and relax. It is another ironic twist, even though the woods are groovy it is also where the workout is. The road will be for socializing and cruising. That is what I have always liked about the road. That won’t change for me. You work in the woods, you just don’t feel it until you leave. It is so good.

Curvey: You will have to give me time with this idea. I feel like our racing days are over. Are they?

Nerd: Maybe, you need to come in there with me. It is truly a different world.

I likey the mountain bikey!!

2011-10-27T20:31:00.001-05:00

Curvey: How was the ride tonight?

Nerd: Wonderful, I love the lights in the woods! It is really neat. Gary, Hogi and Dan the man were great company. What a great ride. I can't explain how much I am starting to like this.

Curvey: Will you ever go back to the road?

Nerd: Oh, for sure! But I bet it will end up 50 50. I can't believe that I am saying that I like it more than the road, but I think that I do. I think about it during the day and I smile.

Curvey: Didn't you say that you didn't like the mountain bike at the Fat Tire?

Nerd: That is not mountain biking. That is a dirt road race. Mountain biking is quite different than the Fat Tire 40, I just didn't know that until now. It is a whole differnent world!

Curvey is Curious!

2011-10-27T07:38:00.000-05:00

Curvey: So how was the season?

Nerd: Well, it is not over, I don’t know if it will end. There is no reason for it. The mountain bike trails have changed everything.

The season was great, maybe the best ever from my perspective which is kind of funny because I thought it might be the worst since Trailhead opened up. Our group had turned into a bit of a high performance team and I think that people were starting to shy away from the rides. The mountain bike trail seriously put a wrinkle into everything. For one thing mountain bike rides act a lot more like cross country skiing than road riding. In road riding there is a feeling that you have to keep up or else. On a mountain bike ride you regroup and the corners and stretch out during the ride. It is very different. It feels more natural but that may have something to do with being out in the woods.

Curvey: Are there people that resent the trail?

Nerd: I don’t know, probably. I think they do until they get in there and then they get it. They see a totally different style of riding and how fun it can be. I like both and will continue to do both.

Curvey: What else is different about the mountain bike experience?

Nerd: One interesting thing that I have noticed is that the coveted position in the line is the last unless you are one of the super fast guys, which I will never be. At the back you ride just the way you want to ride and it remains pretty social. When at the back you really start to grove with your ride. All thoughts fade away into the trail. I am not kidding when I say it is sort of a meditation for me. There is a peace there that I did not expect. Again, it is a lot like skiing which is a definite surprise!

Curvey: Is it a good workout?

Oh man, it is great! You don’t think that you are working that hard but when you get home you know that you did work. Yet another surprise. The trail is full of surprises!

Loving Cross 1997!

2011-10-26T07:45:00.001-05:00

The C. J. Smith Trail

2011-10-24T21:42:00.002-05:00

They really should name it after him.

Ollieden MEA 2011

2011-10-23T20:57:00.001-05:00

Great times! Thanks to the Roses!

What a year!! Thanks everybody!!

2011-10-20T20:19:00.001-05:00