The Deep Freeze Cometh

Well gang, I hope you all didn’t get too used to the warmer weather of late – sounds like winter will be making a roaring return. It was nice to get in another Wednesday Night Springer’s ride last week. We had nine participants. Mr. Jones showed up on his 40lb commuter rig with the requisite hiking boots and toe-clip setup. Skiing has taken a hit, but after tonight and tomorrow, it sounds like the trails will be back in good shape.

The Brazen Dropouts Swap was a roaring success. I managed to unload about 90% of the stuff I wanted to sell. Parts that didn’t sell went to Wheels For Winners. Unsold clothing went to the project to outfit the Zambian National Cycling Federation development program (read about it Here.)

The only thing I didn’t sell was my Raleigh fixed-gear. Lots of looks, no hard offers (except one guy who called me on his cell, but then never made it over to our table. Harrumph!) Anyone looking for a 59cm (57-58cm actual) fixie? Gimme a call!

New Year and January Thaw

Whew.  Thank goodness the holidays are over.  It’s always fun to see family and friends, but it is hectic.  I managed to get some decent skiing in (Blue Mounds was great) and get some overdue organization projects done around the house.

Sounds like a good deal of our snow pack will be melting in the next few days – get out and ski while it’s still here.  Who knows, I may be able to bust out the fixed gear for a ride.  I’m still waiting for decals to “officially” complete it;  I’ll post a pic when it’s ready.

More Skiing

Well. It looks like the 2007 Cycling season is officially over, now that CX Nats have wrapped up. Our boys JPE, Paul Roltgen and Glen “the Animal” Jones acquitted themselves quite well. Chapeau to them. I saw what the course looked like – it was great for anyone with a death wish.

I did pull the trigger and I’m now the proud owner of a set of Nordic skis. I’ve been out twice. First time – like a drunken moose on skis. Second time – like a hungover moose tip-toeing around the morning after a bender.

Ok, I’m exaggerating a bit. It’s definitely a good workout and there seems to be no signs of any snow melting anytime soon. That was confirmed while I was on my roof for three hours on Sunday, clearing ice and snow in order to prevent lovely waterfalls from the 2nd floor ceilings. Ah, winter – how I love and revile thee…

Time for Skis?

Well folks, it looks as though Mother Nature is making up for the last few years with regards to winter weather.  Seems like I’m shoveling every other day.  Don’t get me wrong – it’s a good workout, but it’s getting old, fast.

Now that CX season has ended it Wisconsin (and much, much earlier for me), I think I’m finally going to break down and buy cross country skis.  You all think I’m slow on the bike?  Hah!  Just wait until you see me flailing around on the trails like a sailor on a three-day bender (JPE – care to comment?)  I may start out on groomed trails, but by the time I’m done, they’ll be skate-skiing trails!

Global Warming?

Well, well, well. 5+ inches of snow/sleet and now freezing rain as a kicker. Wasn’t the latest prediction that we would have an above-average winter, temperature-wise? My commute home from work today was a 25mph sludge while I watched people in SUVs (I’m in a SUV! I’m invincible!) blow by me at 50 only to have to slam on the brakes so as to not pass the plows.

I’ve been trying to get my “new” fixed-gear built up in time to debut it on a Wednesday night ride at Springer’s. Looks like there won’t be a rush to get this done anytime soon. Oh, well. There’s always the New Year’s Day ride from Stoton Cycle!

Good luck to those attempting to travel to Hales Corners tomorrow for the State CX Championships. I’d like to race, but with the roads/weather and a very likely possibility of having to work tomorrow as well, I don’t think it will happen.

Yee-hah! Only 120 days to Spring!

Post-Turkey Day

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Spent the day at the in-laws in Milwaukee – plenty of good food and drink. Unfortunately, work intruded and I spent a couple of hours attempting to remotely debug a program error. Sometimes technology is truly too invasive and pervasive.

Sounds like Angell Park CX was a roaring success – I was planning on racing, but after my business trip to Austin, my left IT band started acting up and caused a chain reaction of knee and back pain. It seems to be mending. I hope so because I am looking forward to the State CX championships in Hales Corners. Sounds like the course will be, ahem, challenging.

Good luck to those headed to the Jingle Cross in Iowa City. I’ll have to try and make it there next year. Finding tasty food in Iowa can be something of a quest for the Holy Grail, but the Airliner in downtown I.C. has great pizza and beer on tap – highly recommended.

More actual content is in the works for the SVC blog – stay tuned.

Hello world!

Oh, Hi! What brought you here?

Well, this is the latest and greatest incarnation of the oft-ignored Stoton Velo Club web site. Hopefully, putting ourselves out on the ether as a blog will result in a slightly increased frequency of posts, in addition to having other fine contributors instead of yours truly (the previous SVC website administrator / sole-contributor.)

More content, pages and maybe even some pictures will be added in the coming days. So swing by every now and then to see what might show up here.