Training

That's my training bike, well, as soon as it gets a new rear wheel. Whatchusayinwillis!? Seriously. Here's the deal, I'm doing the Dirty Kanza 200 in a year, so I figure I might as well get started.

First goal is in June to begin averaging 150 miles/week. In July I'm bumping it up to 200 miles/week. This sucks, in a way, as this week storms and mechanical (or MECHANIC) issues have made my average suck. No riding Sunday, and only partial days Monday and Tuesday (12.5 miles each day) add up to 72 miles as of this writing. I SHOULD be up to at least 100 by this time in the week, but no dice. I'm going to have to pull a long ride this afternoon, as well as a decent one tomorrow to make the 150 happen.

Also mechanic failures = me. I trashed the non-drive crankarm on the Surly by not properly tightening a pedal, then realizing my mistake too late. The crank got, well, ate but the pedal survived. A trip to Cycle Works resulted in a new crankarm, installed on the spot by the guys at CW. Seriously, next week or something I need to take them some beer as a "thank you", they always go above and beyond. Anyway, $20 later and I was out the door.. not bad. Not the same crankarm (Sugino XD2) but who cares, looks the same and is cheaper.

Speaking of, there is a reason I mention "needing a new wheel". I was cleaning the Hardrock a bit before I did a "brake truing" to the rear wheel, and I noticed something. Well, a big something. I noticed that around the spoke eyelets the rim is cracked, and cracked in such a manner that only i could do. It's basically coming apart.. ooops! I guess 3,000(ish) miles and no broken spokes on a wheelset on a $350 bike.. something eventually was bound to "give" :).

Once that's done, training on dirt/gravel begins. For the next year. Goal, of course, is to complete the DK 200 in 2009, and be closer to my goal weight. Long ways away, but hey, I've had loftier goals.. I think?