Out & Back
Given the lack of weather, I've been able to string together a few out & back rides on the hardtail. The roads are too crappy to attempt it on the road bike, but it is also nice to press some longer miles on the CC bike. The way things are going this year, I'll be doing some dirt rides before long. Of course back in 2018, I was riding BST on the east bench a couple nights each week by this time of year. That was until I broke my ankle. Not only did that take my out of True Grit, it set me back a solid ten weeks. On top of that, I was treating that ankle with too much caution. At the end of the season I did manage to pull off LOTOJA. This year has to be a little more strategic. I need to build up to 3-hour tempo rides with more of my time in zone 3, followed closely by zone 2.
Currently overall averages don't look too bad, with peak HR a little lower than I would hope for. It's still not far off, but I'll need to work my way into hill intervals fairly soon. Given my current work load, I'll have to start making a hard evening schedule, allowing 90 minutes twice each week for hills, with at least one solid tempo ride every week.
Upgrades - Maintenance
The hardtail needs a few upgrades and soon. The bike itself is built on a tremendous frame. Full carbon with an Iso-Link between the seat tube and top tube. A very compliant and fast frame. Most of the components are very entry level - at best. They build it this way for a reason, as to make it affordable while still allowing for the thing to be ridden right out of the store. I've already setup an alternate wheelset with some DT Swiss 1900's. I still need to acquire a better 10-51 rear cassette - with one in the works. The hydraulic brakes are probably the lowest grade component on the bike. I'm up in the air as to install four piston enduro brakes, or go with a lighter 2 piston system - ideal for cross country. I'm hard on brakes and normally run 203mm front and rear discs, but on this bike I'm running a 180mm front with a 160mm back. The larger calipers may help offset some of the losses the smaller rotors come with. Still up in the air. I'm also looking for a suitable dropper post - as the bike came with an alloy tube post. I've already swapped out the saddle, but still not sure it's the right one - yet. The front ring is a 32 tooth setup, which spins me out at around 28 MPH. The bike can take up to a 36 tooth chain ring, but I'll probably work my way up to it through a 34 tooth first. The derailure and rear shifter will probably stay put - for now. Of course those heavy non -responsive forks will also go before too long as well. I'm just not sure what will go on front. In the end I really like riding the bike. It's pushing around 2,500 miles, making it a definite keeper. Give it a little time and she'll be a dream - just kind of stiff in the back end.
Goldie Locks Weather
Not necessarily ideal riding conditions. Cold weather has a tendency to stress the body differently than hot weather - for sure. Bundling up makes mobility a little more restricted, but your body also reacts differently to the cold. Some days the toes get cold, other days everything gets cold - making it hard to shift. I think it was 2010 LOTOJA we started in some really cold weather - but dry. Rolling through Preston that morning I had ice frozen into my mustache -like 28°F. I can deal with that more than driving rains, or abject heat. Still, these rides at the moment tend to allow for some pretty good overall conditions - with some preparation and patience. In the end, the overall effort is worth every bit of the time. A long ways to go, but for now it has been enjoyable and lonely.
One for the season - George's best
Not a lot of people know that "Abby Road" was actually the final Beatle's album they recorded together. It wasn't the final studio release however. "Let It Be" came out in early 1970, but had actually been recorded in January/February '69. "Abby" was completed in August '69."Let It Be" was left in the can, but was puled out fulfilling contracts that wouldn't otherwise have been satisfied. It was part of the whole Kline/Specter thing. Abby Road was a completely different recording setup, including Ringo playing on shaved-heads. They were able to convince George Martin to come back and do it "like the old days". It wasn't easy, as the boys were all going their own ways individually. That was particularly true of George. He had written a huge catalogue of material that typically got shelved by both Paul and John. Directly after the breakup he laid down a massive double album - "All Things Must Pass". He had actually started work on "Something" during the '68 "White Album" sessions. It very nearly didn't make it onto a Beatles album - until "Abby Road" In fact, the two most enduring tracks on "Abby" were both George's songs (including "Here Comes the Sun"). To this day, "Abby Road" is still a soft spot for me - for a lot of reasons. The melody "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End" is without a doubt the greatest final track of any album (event though it wasn't the final track actually recorded). Something is probably the most covered Beatles song ever recorded - period. Sinatra said it was the greatest love song of all time, but never once even mentions the word during the song. Had things go a little differently it would have ended up on on "All Things Must Pass". That would have been a disaster, as Specter would have loaded it up with the "Wall of Sound". There wouldn't be the distinct 16 track sound of Ringo's shaved head drum fills. McCartney's melodic bass line, or John's sweeping guitars - not to mention the classic harmonies. In fact, John played a solid roll in helping arrange and develop the lyrics. The world would be an emptier place had it not happened the way that it did. As such, it holds a special place for me personally - that I will keep to myself.
For the record; 67-70 was never called the "Blue Album", nor was 63 - 66 called the "Red Album". Those came out much later and were initially lost in the shuffle at your local record store - except for a few of us die-hards (my first album I bought with paper route money when I was 11 years old was 67-70. I still have that vinyl to this day). Play this one for all the right reasons....
Ride HARD!
