Big Weekend

I'm retired to the couch for the rest of tonight. It's been a big weekend of some great riding(for the end of the season anyways). I'm hosed currently, but I'm at least not coughing anymore!

Saturday, I finally finished my first cross race!! I'll happily take my place as the last finisher (at least I didn't get lapped). Last time I finished dead last was the first road race I ever finished. 2 years later, I was a Cat II. So I'll take it as lessoned learned. I rode all the way down to the course as it was just south of c-470. It was a good 45 minute ride down, and then I got in a good 30 minute warm-up. I put on a great show rolling to the set of barriers near the beach. My left foot never unclipped, and I barrel rolled right into the barrier and went down pretty hard. It was a nice display of form for all the fans, that were congregated in the area. After I dusted myself off, I was dusted in the race, but grunted it out and rode hard. The course was more mt. bike-ish with lots of singletrack, some fire-road, a paved bike path and some barriers thrown in for good measure. It was a super fast course. After the race, I rode back home. Within 10 minutes all the food I had brought was scarfed down. It didn't make much of a difference. I was bonking hard on the ride home, as I slogged up a little rise, I located a gas station and filled my stomach full of hostess orange cup-cake goodness and a snickers bar. Man, did it ever hit the spot. Within a few minutes I was back at it and hammered home. All said and done, I managed a good solid 4 hours of riding!

Today, I was up early and decided to grab the road bike and head up into the mountains. It was an awesomely beautiful day, warm and sunshine. I headed up to Evergreen, then decided to switch my route and head up towards Mt. Evans. Didn't make it to Mt. Evans, but made it up to around 10-11,000 feet or so before I decided to turn around.

Elk Meadows From Evergreen to Squaw Pass

Getting Colder as I get Higher From Evergreen to Squaw Pass

I climbed pretty much for 2+ hours till I decided to turn around, I was getting chilly just climbing as it was mostly in the shade. The views were just incredible, and the roads were lightly traveled and super twisty and fun.

Beautiful Views From Evergreen to Squaw Pass

The Rockies From Evergreen to Squaw Pass

There's a bunch more pics so click thru to view the album

The descent down was incredibly fun. However, I didn't expect to head that high up and was only wearing a vest and arm-warmers. Descending at 60kph and 25 degrees in the shade meant instant brain freeze. I had to stop a few times in the sun, take a few minutes to warm myself back up. I made it to Evergreen, teeth chattering and hands numb and hit up Starbucks for a coffee to warm-up. Once the blood was flowing again, I floored it the final 11 miles down to Morrison. It was an awesomely windy descent, mostly in the sun and the lower I went, the warmer things were, which made me happy!

All said and done, I managed another good 4 hours. It was a heavy front loaded ride as I hit 1800kj in the first 2.5 hours and only 400 in the last 1:30!

New Bike Day

Yesterday was new bike day! One of the greatest days for bike racers. I got the email that my bike had arrived from the crew at Geneva Bikes and rushed out after work to start the assembly.

While Mark was finishing up his work, I did the unboxing, prep work and light assembly, aka I was the "fluffer" for Mark to come in and do the real stuff. I managed to do this 2x somehow as we grabbed the wrong size box originally and I had the bike assembled before we really noticed. So the 2nd time around I was quite good and a bit faster.

I've yet to give her a real ride in the dirt, but she sure is purdy' and I'll guess I'll have to get her dirty next week. For now though, here's some pics!

From Cross 09

From Cross 09

From Cross 09

From Cross 09

Today is some fast and furious openers, then head up to my brothers place in Malone and visit him and his family as they are all coming down to cheer me on at Whiteface in Lake Placid tomorrow (click the link for course pics). Looking forward to putting the number plate on this weekend. I'll have to be fast as I need to wrap up, drive home and get up early again to drive the opposite direction for the Root's Rocks and Ridges race in Ellicottville. Looks like its going to be an early start!

I'm an Uncle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This past wednesday evening my brother's son; Peyton Thomas Hilimire was born!! I couldn't be prouder!

Unfortunately there were some complications. Peyton was born with a mild case of Spina Bifida. He was rushed to Syracuse hospital where he underwent surgery yesterday afternoon. I spent the entire day there with my brother and family.

The doctors are very optimistic and surgery went very well. It appears there is no neurological damage. He's been kicking his legs and has bladder and bowel functions. He is a little fighter!

I'm asking everyone to devote their thoughts to him for a full and speedy recovery.

Peyton Tells us all what he thinks of us!

My brother's wife is expecting!!!

Huge news on the home-front. I'm gonna be an Uncle soon!!! My brother and his wife Becky are expecting. They just received the official confirmation from the doc yesterday. So far she is about 5-6 weeks along and is due sometime in early July. This is awesome!! I'm so happy for them. Do you think it's to early to go get the kid a bike? Gotta get 'it' (I refer to babies as it until they can speak) ready and prepped for the big show!! I'm thinking 'it' is gonna have the chance to get an early jump start on everyone else...

On the flipside, I just picked myself up a shiny new macbook. It's pretty slick. Loving having the ability to run XP right alongside Leopard (Vista just plain sucks, so no chance of running that). So far Leopard is pretty slick, but I need to get some more RAM for it to really purr. Took me a few days to get all my info in here all proper, but I'm psyched.

Riding/Training wise; yah been slacking but it's due time. Gonna go get me a gym membership and get started on the whole adaptation process of the weights. Probably gonna have to dust off the trainer and get that setup and working.


~Uncle Jason
(Like the ring to that :)

Getting Back into the Swing

So my brother got married this past weekend. Poor Sucker! Just kidding. It was a great time. Had lots of fun at the Rehearsal Dinner and at the Wedding. But I sure am glad that it is all over with.....

Time to get the bike back up and running and to get back to some normal routines. Don't have too long to get some good fitness for the Wilderness 101, so we'll see how that one goes. I put a bit of time on the road bike lately. First miles in a long time. Also been doing a bit of singlespeeding and that has been a bit of fun.

Hopefully I'll have Mary Poppins up and running prior to Saturday's Dryer Rd time trial....

Currently playing in iTunes: Give 'Em Hell, Kid by My Chemical Romance

Morning Road Ride

Got out for a nice early road ride with Mark and Suzanne Hartman this morning. What a beautiful morning it was. It felt great to get out and stretch the legs, especially after last night Glenwood World Cup. I rode the Single Speed again and Mark was on his new Blur. He was pretty much a blur to me the whole ride as I was pushing as hard as I could to keep up with him. But that's par for the course, especially when Betty shows up beforehand.

Tomorrow is my brothers bachelor party, going to play some golf in the morning then hit up some good food and fun that evening. We'll see if I behave myself completely or not. I have a feeling this is going to be one long week with all the family and friends in town for the wedding next weekend

Sunday hopefully I won't be hurting too bad and can put some time back on the road bike again with maybe a nice century or so...

Currently playing in iTunes: Bones by Editors

Shindagin Hollow

Yesterday, was a nice ripper of a day down at Shindagin Hollow. Mark, Suzanne, Chris, the dogs and I bailed on our original plan of pulling a century around Cayuga Lake on the road bikes and hit the trail instead. It was a cool, crisp and wet day. I rode Mark's Singlespeed (Fisher Rig) for the 1st time. Somehow I lost a crankbolt on my ergomo so the Supercal is down for a bit.

Trail conditions were incredible even though it was pouring. Ripping it up on the singlespeed was just so much fun. Plus going back to a hardtail was pretty cool. I think I might just have to go get me one of those :) . I had a full on blast. I kinda love those conditions where its sopping wet, but the trail is just perfect riding. I haven't had that much fun on a bike in a real long time. I think there was a permanent grin splattered with a little mud on my face the whole ride. Lizzy was having a blast too! She is for sure tired from it today though, as she hasn't moved. Same with Cadence, she never even made it upstairs to bed last night!

My racing is on a little hiatus with my brother getting married on the 14th. But I'll be swinging back in time for the Dryer Rd Time Trial on the 21st. That should be some fun.

I'm out for now...

Doh Bears!

Ah well, the first half of the game was kinda exciting. Then the usual happened, Grossman turned the ball over not once, twice, but 4 friggin times. I'm not a pro football player, but dude, work on the footwork, seen it all season. As soon as you throw off your back foot = interception. The Bears Super Defense was a dud. Play cover 2 worried about the deep threat and Peyton picks em alive with the swing pass out of the backfield. Every play it seemed like. I mean, these coaches get paid millions, and I think my brother could put down a better game plan than the Bears came up with. (That's not a jab, I think he could actually out-coach them). I think Grossman will be back next year and so will the Bears!!

Saturday was the cycle for hope; I raised 255 dollars and thanks to everyone who donated!! I made it all 6 hours, it was tough but I managed. There was a organized spin class around each hour, but I just put my headphones on and joined in when I felt like joining in. I'll never complain about the trainer again after that. Besides, if some 300+ lb lady can ride it for 3 hours I think I can manage a few hours during the week.

I went to my brothers place right after the ride up in Malone, suppose to take 4.5 hours took about 6+ with the snow. Had to get up and on the road at 4:30 am this morning to get to Syracuse and it took 6+ hours to go 3 hours normal. Crawling conditions, rt 81 is closed right now. It was super slow. So bad that I was taking inventory of my food and drink (1 bag sunflower seeds, 2 diet cokes), plus gear/clothing (1 fleece blanket, 2 pairs gloves, winter cap, clothes on my body, spare sneakers, bag full of clothes) just in case I had to hoof it to some town or something as there ain't much up there.

Looks to be friggin cold this week...spend some time on the skiis and some more time on the trainer and practicing my no hands, one-legged spin on the rollers (yes I can do it without crashing!!0

~J