Eye of the Tiger

My size frame was "out of stock" a month ago at the Kona warehouse.  Magically, it became "in stock" this week.  My warranty frame arrived yesterday.  Haven't decided what to do about it.  Seems like rigid single speed is its future, at least for now.

This bike definitely has potential.  Especially since this is what the head badge looks like.

Rrarrh!  Go get 'em tiger!

Things I've been doing

About a month ago I went to Maui with my mountain bike.  Little did I know it would be my last ride on my tiny Kona XC bike.  I logged 6 hours of riding and 9000 ft of climbing on day 1 (which apparently did my frame in) and 1 hour of careful riding in the rain on day 2, avoiding a catastrophic frame failure.   Makawao forest reserve now has the esteemed title of "My Favorite Trail in Hawaii."  6 miles of multiuse trail traverse the slopes of Haleakala.  I later found out that this trail was actually designed for bikes, and that's why it flows SOOOOO well.  On Oahu I have only found flow once- at Royal Summit.  The rest of the Oahu trails climb and descend scary lava rocks.  Admittedly, I like the lava rocks a lot, but that style of trail is very taxing on both the mind and body.  In addition to flow, Makawao also offers trails with serious climbing, neat vistas, fast descents, dirt jumps (which I elected not to try), and berms like you wouldn't believe.  Here are some photos from the trip:

Verifying that I was there.

Buff Trails

BRRRRAAPPP

New Friends

A view from the top- still another 5000 ft of possible climbing

Nap time

Now here's the irony of  this trip: Makawao Forest Reserve is ~ 3 miles (as the crow flies) from the town of Kula.  My Kona bike was a Kula Lisa model.  I think my bike was just waiting to go to its name sake so it could die.  You know... like elephants go to the elephant graveyard to die.

Prior to learning the fate of my frame, I decided to re-retire from road cycling.  I did this once in 2006, but some how got dooped into thinking road bikes were fun when I moved to Hawaii.  Mountain biking is way to fun to waste time on road bikes.  I must have been drugged.  In fact, in the past year, my poor mountain bike saw less than 1/3 of the ride time that my road bike saw.  Anyway, the broken frame was quite the ordeal.  It involved all of the stages of grieving: during my day 2 ride on Maui, I kept telling myself it was cosmetic (however, the unbelievable creaking when I stood up was very telling of the crack).  Then I was angry- how could my bike do this to me?  I just gave up road cycling!  I'm not quite sure if the bargaining stage fully developed- this might have been when I was considering my other options if a warranty frame wasn't available.  Then the depression... this included several bouts of crying and being in a really sour mood for about 4 days.  The moment of acceptance finally arrived after I took my 24 inches of love Kona (dirt jumper) our for a short evening ride and Sideburnz's coworker clued me in to an Orbea closeout hardtail frame.  I conceded that I still had a mountain bike- 24 inches of love- and then felt quite guilty that it had sat in pieces since we moved.  My optimism improved once my new Orbea frame was on order.

Sideburnz was supportive, but he kept reminding me that it was time.  I have ridden mountain bikes for over 10 years and never broken a frame.  I ride aggressively, and even with my minimal body weight, this was inevitable.  I'm glad that my Kona's last ride was on Maui.  It was an epic weekend.

Now I have a new member of my fleet.  My raspberry colored Orbea.  Its officially a 2007 D'ella, but there's no model name on the frame.  I like being stealth like that.

Sideburnz built my Orbea while I was on the mainland.  The best way to get back on Hawaii time is to ride for 2+ hours at Royal Summit. She really proved her worth last weekend.  I never thought I could replace my Kona... the Orbea might even be an improvement!  

As if I don't have enough ways to have fun on a bike, I visited the Sand Box for the first time, this morning.  Its been a long time since I rode at the BMX track.  This was a phenomenal exercise in body temperature regulation.  Per ABA regs, I was wearing my BMX pants, long sleeve jersey, and full face helmet.  Yowzers.  I think "sweating profusely" might be an understatement.  I later found out that shorts are permitted with knee and shin pads and and short sleeves are permitted with elbow pads.  The track riding was fun.  I really got into the rhythm section.  Its slightly down hill, so if I had enough speed coming out of the berm, I could pump the whole thing without pedaling.  FUN! Good thing Sideburnz has a BMX bike!

As part of my BMX recovery this morning, I'm enjoying the Twins vs Phillies game (Twins just tied it).  Next up is a trail run in preparation for an off-road triathlon in July 4.  This evening, I'll meet Sideburnz at the beach for a short swim.  I might complete a triathlon today!  Can't wait for more awesomeness.

Things that make a Saturday great

1. Liliha Bakery (diner for breakfast, bakery treats to-go for tomorrow)

2. Freshly overhauled Xtracycle (no more rodents!) to cruise town

3. Browsing Macy's 1-day sale and buying a new pillow

4. Sampling fancy cheese and proscuitto at Whole Foods

5. Finding the beer jackpot- Deschutes Mirror-mirror and The Abyss

6. Maui range fed beef for dinner tonight (also a Whole Foods find)

7. Getting total respect from the guys at NAPA auto parts

and its only 1:15!

How to be super awesome

I had forgotten how to be awesome for about 6 weeks (hence, no blog updates).  Yesterday and today I pulled awesome out of storage, and it actually turned out to be super awesome.

Yesterday started with a super productive day at work (new grad student signed on to work in my lab, made the kids laugh in class, planned our new curriculum for Fall) and then I donned the Red Arrow dress (also here) for Art After Dark.  This month's theme was "Camelot," referring to the Kennedy clan, so I thought the Red Arrow Dress was appropriate.  It definitely was.

This morning Sideburnz suggested that we eat breakfast at Bogart's.  I think starting with a Bogart's breakfast guarantees an awesome day.  My breakfast bagel with ham fueled an hour long swim at Kaimana beach.  My swimming is going the same way my running went- I can hammer out a run in the neighborhood, but its not fun.  I prefer running in the woods.  I haven't swam in the ocean for nearly a month, but I've been logging serious hours in the pool.  Its going to be tough to return to the pool... no currents, no waves, no coral, no fish, sighting is virtually pointless... alas.  After my killer swim, I felt this strange urge to be more triathletic, so I went for a run.  75 minutes on the Tantalus trail system was awesome.  I finally ran all of Pauoa Flats trail.  The view point at the end was incredible- I'll have to bring my camera next time.  I could see the Windward side and the South shore.  Loved it!

Next I'm prepping for a "clothes swap" party at a friends house.  

Now that's how to be super awesome!  

New Record

I used to be a "runner."  Then my left knee went bad, I found other fun sports, and running just became a ski coaching and CX conditioning activity.  I ran enough in the great white north so I could do the Milk Run, but nothing more than that.

With my knee's history, I never expected to be a runner again.  However, all it took was a change of location and climate.  A series of events has transpired in the past 12 months that resulted in increased running activities...

running trails within 1 mile of my house

Sideburnz is now a runner (and a darn good one, as long as he's on trails)

Xterra trail running world championships is 40 miles from my house

I tried triathloning, and it was ok

My coworker introduced me to a masters running group that does intervals on the track once a week (and I join them frequently)

So now, I guess I'm a runner again, and with that I now compete in running events.

Yesterday, I ran the Straub/Kapiolani Women's 10K with 1798 other women.  I made the mistake of seeding myself where I actually belonged (between the 8 min/mile and 10 min/mile signs).  I spent the first mile dodging the walkers- who in their right mind thinks they can walk a 9 min mile?  Then I got my run on.  With the assistance of my new Garmin Forerunner 310XT (yes, its the hot one), I learned that I can still max out my heart while running.  I thought that I was still in bad enough running shape that I couldn't reach max capacity.  I finished the race 56th, 49:03 total time, 7:54 min/mile average pace. 

Now here are my records for the event:

1st 10k race

1st race longer than 5k where I've broken the 8 min/mile barrier since 2000

1st time since who knows when that I've seen 202 bpm as my max HR

I can still walk today (although I'm a little slow)

Photo credits to Sideburnz 

Weirdness, regret, surprise, resolve.

Today started off weird with a tsunami warning at 5am.  I knew something was up when Sideburnz's phone rang, and immediately afterwards, I got a text message.  I helped Capt. Richard get his boat out of the harbor, and then waited for the tsunami.  It was sort of like watching paint dry (which I'm thankful for).  I ended up napping through the entire 4-wave set.  Oh well.

In an effort to make my day productive, I decided to put a new chain on my mtb.  Tomorrow's plan involves a TT and then a mountain bike ride- better be ready.  So I took the chain off my mtb, found another chain laying around, and then decided that perhaps this random chain in the bike room, wasn't actually for me.  Still waiting to hear back from Sideburnz.  With that project on hold, I decided to take my egg beaters off my CX race bike and put them on my mtb.  I took my CX bike down from the hook, and then felt really bad for it.  I haven't ridden it since October.  Its a sweet bike.  I should totally ride my CX race bike this afternoon.  Problem is... my Aksium wheels (former CX training wheels) are on my travelers check and 2 speeded.  Ok, this is an easy fix, I'll take my wheels off my cross check.  There's no tires on them anyway.  So I pull that bike off the hook (presently, there are 3 strewn about the bike room in various states of disrepair + 1 bike on the futon-don't know how that ended up there), and consider my options.   I actually need commuter tires on my crosscheck, not knobbies.   My only geared commuter bike, the xtracycle, is really sick (ill, in need of dire repair) .  Maybe the crosscheck wheels aren't the best answer.  How much do I want to put knobbies on, change cassettes, adjust my brakes, and do who knows what else before my ride?  Not very much.

My road bike, which I don't think needs any repairing would be the easy ride option.  I could even leave the entire mess, ride for an hour, and return to ponder my options.  But road bikes aren't very fun.

So I made some coffee.  And turned on the Killers.  And thought about how stupid it would be to ride my tubulars on the road and on mtb trails... but they just need air.  I looked at the disaster I created in a matter of 15 minutes and sighed.  Maybe I should go running.  I was feeling immensely sorry for myself, and really regretted the mess I created.

As I turned to leave the bike room, I caught a glimpse of my wheel bags.  Wait a minute!  They are holding their shape while propped on top of Sideburnz DH bike...there's something inside them!   I crawled under the bike on the repair stand, moved another bike to the side and carefully leaned over the remaining pile of bikes.  I felt knobbies inside.  Could it be?  Do I have another pair of wheels?

I do, but I'm only 50% closer to solving my problem.  These are my wheels from my 1 speed CX race bike (regular front wheel and ENO rear wheel).  Well, I guess this solves my problem enough to justify changing cassettes and just putting 1 new tire on the crosscheck rear wheel.  So now I'm done blogging, and ready to wrench.

How can someone who has so much bike stuff, not have the right bike stuff?

Sigh.

7 bikes in the quiver.  2.5 are functional (xtracycle is only 1/2 functioning).  If only I knew  a bike mechanic.

Oh... to be a triathlete

Here's a first for me... running in bibshorts and a longsleeve jersey at noon in Hawaii.  No, I didn't have a mechanical problem on my bike.  I was actually pretending to be a triathlete.  Today was my first day coaching a triathlon training group.  I'm officially a bike coach, but I "get" to participate in the entire workout.  Today's 38 mile ride, which I expected to take ~2.5 hours, lasted 4 hours (due to mechanical issues and overall slowness).  I anticipated that I'd be home by 10am, so I didn't put on full sunscreen.  Nevermind... my options were to burn or to sweat.  I sweated... by the way, what is the past tense of "to sweat"?

Other news includes the rediscovery of Superpretzels.  The last time I had a Superpretzel was definitely in the 20th century.  I slightly improved the Superpretzel by buttering it before applying the salt.  Much better than the suggested "sprinkle" of water.

Last week, I reinvented my Traveler's Check.  Now its a 2 (manually switched) speed with comfortable, upright positioning.  I feel very European when I ride this bike.  Sideburnz and I tested it out in Portland last weekend- winnah!

Upcoming funness?  Uh... a time trial tomorrow?  I'm registered and plan to compete in the TT tomorrow, but I'm questioning its funness.  Lately, I've been really into suffering while working out, so maybe I'll really enjoy myself!

Now that its after 2, and I obviously will not get to work before my dinner engagement, I should nap.