Fortunately or unfortunately it ain't about biking, its about the rain. Riding has definately taken a back seat of late for a variety of factors. The rain and lack of a cross check keep me from riding. Have to aviod Walnut Creek cause the clay ruts up so bad and Greenbelt is a pain in the ass cause you have to dismount for so many stream crossing from all the rain. I mean its actually pretty damn sweet actually. Barton Creek had some water in it when Tara and I moved down here in May '05. The rain was minimal then so it mostly dried up except around springs. Well, its been raining like fuck since December and the creek is filled up. Swiming holes everywhere and tons of beautiful people enjoying them. seriously, until you experience riding some killer trails in hellaceous heat and stopping for a quick dip in the chilly Barton Creek and a glimpse of some eye candy in one of the many holes along the main trail you're missing out on one of the better reasons to ride a mtn bike. You risk some serious damage to your body riding in wet conditions cause the rocks or so slippery, but trail damage is minimal. Some areas puddle, but the soil is generally so thin your not going to leave ruts.
Not riding a ton right now isn't too big of a deal to me mentally either. I had aa real fun year from Cyclocross into some enduro style mtn bike races this spring. On top of racing I was just riding a ton and having fun. Just been super busy on top of the rain. Work is busy which sure as hell beats the alternative. We've also been doing a lot to get ready for the kid we've got coming. Found out we're having a son! Its pretty fucking exciting. Scary, but exciting. Tara's in full nesting mode. I'm like, "shit, we've got start saving up some dough," but she's, "no way, once that kid comes we ain't eva gonna do shit to this house, we got to fix it up now." So we've finally covdered up all that shitty old tile in the house, well the 2nd bath still has it, and laid down laminate flooring in every room. Somewhat expensive as a material, but I am not that skilled in carpentry and I made it look pretty good.
All the riding I have been doing lately has been good. None of those days when I'm riding cause I feel like I need to be riding even though I don't. Any laziness our lack of desire keeps my ass of the saddle and I'm doing something else. In an ebb but hopefully it'll start flowing again. I'd like to have a good cross season this year. I'd like to win a b race this year as a singlespeed and be there at the end in an a/b race at the tuesday nighter. gonna be difficult as Tara's due in October. we'll see. if baby's got me tied up this fall and winter i am sure i'll be pretty stoked on it. then next year hopefully he'll be starting on the path to kick some ass in life.
All the rain has been sweet. Everything is so fucking green. Our huge live oak in the front looks the best it ever has and all the other plants and trees are doing great. Shit's even growing in the compost pile. Guess it means that it ain't really working, but when its producing crops, who cares. Some big cucumber plant is going crazy. Pretty sure that's what it is, but could be a squash. There are some tomatoe plants hanging out in there, as well as two avocado sapplings. Squirrels must have miss placed some of their nuts and there are also 3 pecan saplings growing. Found another sapling growing in the front while mowing the lawn. Have to make sure from running it over.
The real garden is doing great. Had a bunch of artichokes already and the kale and chard are still producing. Three artichoke buds are still growing and will be eaten this weekend. The Texas heat makes them a bit smaller and tougher, but they've been really good. Although there not really producing that much, which isn't too unusual for the first year, the strawberry plants are getting bigger. Peppers are kicking, we're going to have pablanos, anahiem, and jalepenos. Tara make some killer chillie rellenos and I can't wait till she makes 'em with my pablanos. And the tomatoes! Tried a thing called the japanese ring. You make a center ring and fill it with compost and cirle it with tomato plants. Raing and water flowing through the center ring leaches the compost and feeds and waters the plant. My plants are pretty big and getting some nice fruit on them. A squirrel has been getting some, but we should still have plenty. One tomato they've been leaving alone are the tomatillos. Probably due to the protective covering. So needless to say with the tomatos and peppers all its going to take is some onions and cilantro from the farmers market and its homemade salsa all summer long. I can't believe I didn't plant any cilantro. what the fuck. oh well, I've got some friends growing it. My love of plants and gardens is something most people probably don't realize about me. I love this shit, mowing the lawn, weeding, trimming rose bushes, tending to plants, growning food. Mowing the lawn and shoveling snow have to be two of my favorite things.
Without a cross check, sounds like i might be finally getting a new one from surly, I can't believe i didn't do this sooner. The 1x1 has the cross check's wheelset on it as a 34x16 fix. It's a hella easy gear since it is what I like to ride mtn 29er off road if there are only short and steep climbs. The unit has been set up 34x18 since I've been riding the greenbelt so much. I've been too lazy to shorten the chain to go 34x16 with it. the chain was cut to ride oauchita challenge geared 34x20 and can take an 18t cog at the rear of the sliders. but this is cool, a 1x1 running fixxie with 700c wheels. gonna ride it to work tomorrow. I'll actually ride my bike to work during bike to work month. unless it thunderstorming. fuck 30 miles round trip in that shit.
