riding with Chris and Brian

Was working on the road all day, then checked messages when I got back to the office. Chris Lenth left a message that he was in town and he and Brian were going to ride at 5:45 at the Old Farm parking lot.

I got home and told Karen, and she wasn't too happy to let me go ride, but let me go. I drove to the lot, and there were tons of riders. This was that big group Wed ride. So we finally get rolling, and I was following Chris up, and kept up just fine. Chris has been in New Zealand for the past 4 years, and rides All the time.

We waited and waited and waited up at the top of the hill for the rest of the group including a guy who'd broken his chain. Finally I said I had to roll because of time. I just can't handle this waiting, when I only have a short time available to ride.

We went to Beauty and rode down, then over to Beast and up. My downhilling is so much slower than those guys, but my climbing has improved to the point where I can hang with them.

This year is the first time in over 5 years that I can actually keep up with Brian and Chris. Part of it is Brian not riding as much and part of it is me getting better.

He can climb anything on the full suspension. I wonder how much of it is the bike and how much the rider, because he was a good climber with a hard tail too.

It was good to hang with Chris and Brian. Even though Brian moved back into town, I rarely see him. He stopped calling about doing rides, because how in the world am I going to go to D. Back or travel more than 15mins from town to go ride, with Karen giving me the guilt trip. I have not ridden out of town except during the week at Salem when I am down there for a meeting in over 4 months. I did one Mon night ride at Carvins a few month ago and that is it.

Regardless of how much daylight there is, riding in the evening is not worth it. She resents so much me going out, and yet she does make an effort to go out herself. Tonight I think she is, but it's more of well you did it yesterday so I am going today. Ok, as it should be is what I think.

John asked about going camping but the first thing that pops in to Karen's mind is wives watching the kids while we ride. Well sure, but you two can go ride also and we watch the kids.

I'm thinking that I need to get the lights charged up again, and motivate myself to get out for nite rides at least once a week. I'm pretty lucky to be able to ride during the day at work, but it's hard sometimes when I'm focused on a project or something. And I'm hoping that a night riding will help my technical skills.

Get the kids to bed then go out and ride. I just hope I can find some company in case things go wrong when your'e out there alone. We'll see if I can get myself to motivate and go. It's been years since I've gone night riding.

It's been almost two weeks since the Massanutten race, so I'm recovered and riding strong. I hope I can keep this going until the October races. I always seem to come on strong late in the year.