Mountain Biking Riding this week....

Was able to get in 5 rides this week ending today. Most have been over at Ted Williams, which is my regular ride. Yesterday, I was able to hook up with the guys above. Eric, Kevin, Mike and Thomas. Met Eric a few months ago out on the trail and have been out with his group a couple times now. Great group to ride with. Everyone is in pretty good shape and low key.

Can finally feel my legs and lungs coming back. It's taken awhile and losing a month and a half when my frame was broken has set me back a little. Still carrying around 20#'s extra. Once I lose the weight, my fitness and strength will be right on.

As far as the bike goes, it's all dialed in since the rebuild. I have had a "chain-suck" problem on both rides with the group. Seems everytime I ride with them, it's lots a water. When I'm on my own, somehow I miss the water, there's usually very little if any at TW. Anyway, once the chain gets contaminated with water and dirt, the small chainring up front holds on to the chain and stops everything. I guess this due to the age of the drivetrain. It's all original, so it's going on six years old. Chain and drives have always been kept very clean and I never have this problem on a dry ride, so I'm thinking it's the combination of moisture, dirt and a worn chain ring. Simple enough to order up a new small chain ring, it's the only one with any real wear on it, although I will put a new chain on it at the same time. Well, maybe a new crankset with chainrings......

IMG00388-20110108-1858.jpg

Anaheim One. 2011.

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

Chelsea King Loop - Road Bike

Went and did a road ride this morning. Just couldn't resist the urge. Felt great, I've got pretty good stamina in my legs, but no snap to em. Heart Rate is considerable lower than before. Max I saw today was high 150s. I used to see 170 all the time on a considerable ride. Ride ended up being 44 miles/2500' of climbing/average speed 16.0. Really had a good ride overall. Could be more road rides down the road.....

IMG00378-20110106-1056.jpg

This only means one thing. Well, maybe two.

This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!

To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.

Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.

IMG00377-20110105-1100.jpg

IMG00376-20110105-1058.jpg

Morning ride at Ted Williams.

No Grand Canyon, but Happy New Year!

Well, as soon as I got into the planning our proposed Grand Canyon trip, the idea was shot down in the beginning stages. Apparently, you have to apply for a permit to hike the canyon up to five months in advance. We are already at four months and permits are not available. They do issue a few permits onsite, but not worth the risk of showing up and not getting a permit.

So, we are thinking of a kayak - camping trip to Lake Powell. We have been to Powell as a family once back in 05'. We drove our RV to Wahweap Marina and met some friends from Colorado. We rented a boat for a few days and traveled around the lower parts of the lake, sight seeing, inner tubing, etc. Unfortunately, the water level was over 100' low, so we didn't get to see the "Rainbow Bridge". I have been to the lake a couple times when I was younger on a family vacation and you could go right up to the Rainbow Bridge in the boat.

So, now we are thinking renting kayaks vs buying kayaks. None of us have a lot of kayak experience, especially the "sit in" types that would be needed to secure enough camping equipment for a 3-4 day trip. A little research has shown that you don't just show up to the lake and hop in to go camping. Permits are required as well on Lake Powell. So, the research goes on.

On the biking front, I have been able to get the Turner all dialed in now. Went up to Daley Ranch on Sunday with Eric, Mike and Tommy. New group of guys to ride with. Bad idea, the trails were muddy as heck and our riding them certainly didn't help them out at all. With all the moisture, I was having serious chain suck problems on the small front chain ring. So bad that all hills had to be climbed at about 30 rpm, which is a bad deal with some of the hills (think K-2). I made it through, although I was lugging the group down towards the end with the drivetrain problems. Bike was really muddy at the end of the ride. Should've taken a pic, but didn't. All cleaned up now and waiting for a morning ride tomorrow at Ted Williams, where the trails are dry, dry, dry!

First post of the New Year, 2011. I have to say that 2010 brought mixed blessings for the Scates Family. Many ups and downs. Not only is 2010 over, but the first decade of the 21st Century is now in the books. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and healthy and prosperous life ahead.