Morning Catch Up

Instead of biking this morning - I have decided to drink some coffee, catch up on my internets/posts and milage updates then do my hair, finish laundry and have a wonderful Sunday afternoon.

Team Skinny has been slacking :(.  I didn't mean for it to happen, but the weather has been nothing but rainy the past week - both morning and afternoon and I dislike doing the trainer..so - the dislike took over the 'need' to do it....there it is.

We're considering the summer months our 'off season' anyways (per The Greek) since most of the time it's just too hot and too unbearable...

However, I have been riding most of the time, both days on the weekends..and taking some pretty neat photos while on my journeys...

Taking photos while on my rides really makes me apprciate the bike riding even more...and gives me a small mini break to nom and drink water moreso than I do while riding.

I think I'll be ready for Six Gap in 30 days..ACK!  Training and better eating habits start this week.  No more eating out constantly.  We're going to dinner tonight with a group of friends, but that is mainly for a person's bday and I'm going to attempt to just order something small.  

In other news - I <3 my new bike!  It's so light and fluffy ;)..ok it's not fluffy - but you can see it in most of the photos posted above.  It's comfy - I'm really really happy with it.  Best decision I ever made was to go Carbon :)

Conclusion of miles rode will be in the next post.

D had knee surgery a week and four days ago ..he's actually feeling a lot better and is actually looking forward to doing Six Gap as well.  he's been slowly getting on the bike and riding slow when he can to get  his knee in shape/physical therapy and  him and I have also started doing upper body working out.

I've learned what moleskin in for blisters and areas that rub your feet.  Why did I not hear of this stuff before??  Holy crap it is a godsend, especially with my freak feet.  The big toe constantly rubs the sides of my shoes which hurts like ungodly hell.  I thought that seamless socks would be the answer, but then realized it's also my cycle shoes and the stitching on them from the velcro.  Double wrapped the big toe in moleskin yesterday on my ride..and BAM no pain.  Amazing stuff.  And no, it's not REAL moleskin..maybe it was back in the day, but now it's just a tightly woven cotton fabric with padding. 

I think for the most part, I am ready for Six Gap ....I think.

Fingers crossed.

Life has been busy  I have been biking and I have pictures to share of my adventures...so be prepared.

Sunday - Sunday will have a supa dupa post for you...about ..you guessed it - MORE CYCLING..

And some life stuff that's going on as well :)

THIS PAGE HAS BEEN BLOCKED BY YOUR PROVIDER

So while I can't read my blogs at work anymore (BOO cause that's what I did at lunch) I can read them before work...well I can read them..but not make posts..
Meaning that updates probably won't happen unless I actually get up and type in the mornings (Like I'm doing now)...
Anyways
I'm depressed.  It hit around my birthday and no I don't know why.  Because of it - I have not been so ept at getting on the bike, even though it is a new bike (I've only gone on it three times in one week...wah).  I was hoping to knock that out today with the weather being nice, but that didn't happen.  So training is going to start again TOMORROW and I will be biking both days this weekend to make up for it.   It will pass eventually like it always does when it hits...and I have been DYING to take a PTO day and be depressed, but I really just don't have time right now.

I committed to doing Six Gap, meaning I registered for it - so I've GOT TO DO THIS TRAINING NOW.

Sharon is moving out today :(...it's bittersweet.  I am going to miss having one of my BFF's right across the hall (D doesn't get the talky talky thing as often as her and I do after work on the weekdays, etc ) but at the same time - I'm GETTING MY OLD ROOM BACK and can start SEWING AGAIN.  So like I said - bitter sweet.  The kitties are also going to miss having her stuff to des---- I mean sleep on :P.a
Dimitrios is having a guys night tonight.  I get the house COMPLETELY TO MYSELF tonight for a few hours.  I have not had that in ...well 8 months for sure ..I should do something crazy like drink a bottle of wine and run around naked, but instead I am going to crash out no later than 10 so I get my ass up in the morning for a ride.  Like I said - gotta go back to the TEAM SKINNY DEDICATION.

Hope everyone else is swimming along ok.

Six Gap, Georgia - End of September

http://www.cyclenorthgeorgia.com/

I have decided that I am going to commit to doing this.

Which means I definitely need to start training for this.

Weather is not fully agreeing with me on this - but I will start as soon as I don't hear rain in the morning when I wake up with the riding.  Including having to ride on Saturdays if I have to.  Those were supposed to be my off days, but with this coming up rapidly - I think I'm going to need to do that for the next two months..

Along with the other things I got going on (sewing for costumes, etc).

I will only be doing Three-Gap (or at least that is the one I am signing up for)...depending on how I feel after three gap, I will then determine if I can keep going or just stay back and enjoy myself/wait for B-Man and D and take photos while I'm waiting...

Fingers crossed I accomplish this...

New Frame

The frame when we pulled it out of the box (note the box and the old bike in the background. 980grams. Meow

Saying goodbye to the aluminum frame - putting it on the rack to move parts over


When we hit the speedbumps. Needed a new stem, and seatpost with a new seat clamp.
All the snafu's have been adjusted now and I rode the bike today. Man, they weren't kidding when they said that carbon is the way to go. It was lighter, and felt so easy/less struggle. I loved it.
I'm still a little over-extended on the bike, so I think I'll need a shorter stem or just to simply move my seat up just a bit. But other than that - she rides like a dream. :D
And Sean Connery and I rode over the bridge again this morning. I'll give you more details on that later.
Also - will make better photos of the bike this weekend with the 'real' camera.

All I got ..since I failed at waking up this morning.

Goodbye Trek

Sold the Trek Alumunium frame (and fork and seatpost, which were carbon, and seatpost clamp) yesterday for 120.00 via Craig's List.

It actually went to a cycling buddy of D's who found it on there and is making the bike up for his girlfriend.

So it's getting a good home :).  

Tomorrow I ride the carbon frame for the first time ever.  Going to take it out tonight when I get home to make sure everything fits just right.

Back on Track for Team Skinny!

P.S. It's AUGUST now - and while I am shocked that the year is flying by - I am also glad as it makes it closer to cooler/better weather for us here in sweltering Florida.

Sorry for the delay in post

The week after my birthday always seems to be full of craziness..and most of it having nothing to do with Team Skinny.  Boo

New bike came in and D started working on it on Saturday, hoping that everything would transfer over with minimal damage/problems.  And it did - with the exception of two things.

The problem with transferring stuff from one bike to the next?!  Neither are good if you hit road-blocks...and the fact that you don't want to break everything off/down to put on the former bike until the parts get here is also it.

So I'm not doing any riding this week - and this weekend I will be doing leisurely rides to compensate for the non-riding (meaning I will be on my Miyata cruising around).

I did think of riding the Miyata to work..and I might still do that on Friday - but that bike is a heavy bike..although very comfy for riding - that's for sure.

Plus - I really just want to ride the sweet new carbon bike...;)

Yesterday morning

On my ride in - I got to 'pace' a pelican while on the bridge.  

He was slowly flying..(well about 15mph actually) and i was able to ride up right next to him while he scanned the water underneath for fish; thinking he was 'clear' of the cars/bridge/people on the bridge.

When he realized I was there (I sped up 1mph more to try and get a better look at his face) - he flapped away, surprised that I had snuck up on him and broke the 'allowable space' he had created between him, the cars and the bridge.  

I could hear his wings through the air when he moved over a bit to get the space back.

THAT is what makes riding so awesome :)

Movin' on Up

Last night I became the proud owner of a PedalForce RS2 Carbon Frame...

Thanks to Ebay (and my wonderful boyfriend, who watches for these things like a hawk) I got it at a pretty sweet deal.

If you want to check out more info on the frame, click here...

I am moving up in the cycling world. The cool thing?! I already have wheels, and other parts from my trek that we will just move over to this frame that I am 100% happy with (the frame on the Trek was the only thing that was holding me back so to speak)

This new frame is also a 49er...my Trek is a 47. Which is, in all honesty, a little too small for me (WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT)..but it did put me in a more aggressive position for riding..and while that can be nice when you're racing, I have yet to get the urge to do any major races (Crit's for example) - I already dropped and busted my elbow/got stitches..but we'll see that could change as everything else seems to be changing as I ride the bike more day by day.

So the new dishwasher for my birthday lost to this...hell it's my birthday - who wants to buy RESPONSIBLE toys then?!

Sunday Ride

I <3 my Sunday Rides

Hadda crash day on Wednesday

It was a day of doing absolutely nothing - no yoga - no biking...just sleep.

Body wasn't 100% used to the whole new workout regime, so it was telling me to QUIT/RELAX for a day.

 I'm back on the bike and back to doing the yoga now and I plan to keep going.

I'm 11 miles short of my goal this week - so that means tomorrow I will have to ride at some point in time.  My friend Christina is participating in an art show with her jewelry in DT St. Pete (which is about 11 miles from my house) so I think - depending on when I wake up - I shall ride to see her tomorrow and ride back.  That will put me above and beyond the mile goal for this week.

Add the standing Yoga poses for the weekend (all this past week I have been doing the back poses/stretches with the assistance of Senor) and I should be good to go.

Tonight is hanging with one of my favoritist's, going to dinner at a place I've never been to and then hitting up 'Da Club (ok this place is really nothing like "DA CLUB as it's the CASTLE in Ybor) and the heading home to relax with the bestest man in the world.  Watching what I drink tonight won't be a problem at all.  

It's going to be a great/awesome weekend!

Why I Run Red Lights

Why I Run Red Lights

Great

I am now considering venturing into mountain biking....

Yoga Day

Had to change the schedule around a bit - after going almost 40 miles on the bike yesterday, my body needed sleep more than anything (no I did not take a nap yesterday..yes I am surprised).

I crashed out by about 9:15 and then woke up about 6 - too late to jump on the bike/get ready (it takes me about 20 minutes) so I decided today will be my yoga day and tomorrow will be bike day.  Not that big of a deal/change and still totally doable and on track.

I'm thinking I will keep up the Team Skinny Regime until Screamfest/Spooky Empire (October 8-11th).  That weekend will be my complete - OFF weekend as a reward.  If I can keep it up that long (3 months) then I think I am deserving of a three day weekend off from exercise.  I will however, be selling special effects makeup all weekend...

Oh and What is UP with Lance crashing three times yesterday?!  Yowzas..wonder how much that pissed him off mentally...as I know it would me...