Lots of Change!

Interesting how time changes many things! For example I can say that I am enjoying road biking more than mountain biking this year. COnstant hammering and seeing improvements. The company is great. Plus it is numbingly fast-which is fun to push so hard. I was, today, persuaded that mountain biking in the Midwest is not dead as I ventured north to the Grand Opening of the Cuyuna Trail in Ironton. This is worth the trip for anyone who longs the fast 'flowy' single track of CO. This was worth the trip. Plus I got to ride with some great guys while hammering the trails. So maybe MTB is making a comeback. If you ride make the trip. It took 1.5 hours from st cloud to trail head. You will leave smiling!

The pup is great. Listening. Trained. Happy to see me every time I walk in. Pure love. Kylie is crushing soccer like always. 2 goals last game. And having fun. Enjoying summer break. Addie is just "chillin' baby" (her words not mine).

Change is inevitable. Just not sure when.

Puppy has arrived! Keeva is a little over 9 weeks old and weighs about 15 lbs or more. She is a great pup. A couple of accidents but is kennel trained, knows her name, sits and comes and can make it about a half block off leash on a walk. Will post pics soon.

The girls are learning what it means to have a puppy in the house. Kylie has done a great job of helping out with the daily dog things and Addie is getting comfortable having a crazy pup in the house that wants to be in your face all the time.

Kylie has her first race of the season on Friday. Apple Du. Good luck Kid!

I have been trying to train as much as possible as I finish my last Grad class. Tuesday nights have been really fast and I usually finish with 80 miles at about 22 mph. Lots of recovery and one large ride on the weekends with lots of spinning have kept me busy. My new Addict absolutely flies! Sram Red is very smooth and instantaneous. If you get your hands on it you will love it. A little finicky but sweet. Thanks Mike for the support!

Painting starts soon. Training for some longer MTB races later in the year if all works out. Also looking at the Gravel thing for the fall. Game on!

Things are good! Slower than I had hoped for training. Last two weeks combine for about 20 hours on the bike plus a little trainer time. I pulled the bike from the trainer so now it is all outside. I finally hooked up for the 'hills' training yesterday. I think there were 15 or so of us. A cities team come up for the ride. I think I have come to the realization that this type of 'ability' comes with a lot of hard work. Every climb had me wishing I had a sub 15 lb. bike and weighed 30 lbs less. Every sprint and pace line had me wishing for more aerodynamics and more gear. That said I do not think I have the muscle to push much more anyhow. Getting chewed up and spit out at 30 mph never felt so good. Two years since the nasty ass kicking and things are starting to come around. Damn it feels good to have fun!

And soon the puppy will be here-about a month. We went down yesterday to take a look. Both the girls fell in love! I guess I did too.

All is well. Girls are great. Kristi is out of town for the next few weeks making appearances here and there but mostly in the cities for training. Earlier routine for the girls and I but today was excellent and got to school earlier than normal. The girls were happy and that makes a big difference. I am going to try and continue training for the race season so this may mean a little more baby-sitter time for the girls. They are actually looking forward to this. This weather is getting me down! Was looking forward to the Tuesday night ride(beating) tonight but it looks as though it will be trainer time. Logged 14 hours in the saddle plus trainer time last week. Fatigue hit yesterday when I hopped on the trainer and everything felt dead. Not sure if I will be able to keep that up but will shoot 12. Side project wrapped up last week! Everyone is healthy. Let spring begin! Puppy should arrive beginning of May!!!

Finally it seems as the house is no longer sick! Flu, colds, strep! Now everyone seems to be getting well. This is good. Life can go on.

Biking has begun. Lots of trainer time and hopefully the first group ride on Sunday. I skipped registering for several gravel races. I am regretting this right now. Hopefully I find something to train for. Right now, just enjoy the riding. But had a lot of fun on the gravel last year.

Something to live up to and one to remember...Jack LaLanne

"It's a lifestyle, it's something you do the rest of your life,"

"The only way you can hurt the body is not use it," LaLanne said. "Inactivity is the killer and, remember, it's never too late."