CIRREM.

Friday we, Jen the girls and I, head down to Iowa. Another 5 hours in the car. Thank God for portable DVD players!

I am pretty excited for the CIRREM. I don't know too much what to expect. There is very little information available. I believe Des Moines has recently received some snow so who knows what the gravel roads will be like. I will be bringing my studded tires down just in case.

I got my last training ride in yesterday.

I took out the Surly LongHaulTrucker (LHT), geared. I just built it up and thought it would be a good idea to get at least one ride on it. I love how it feels. I got about 3 hours on it yesterday. Climbing out of the saddle feels a bit weird but other than that I love it. Not bad for the first ride. I will also be bringing the CrossCheck single-speed incase it is crazy sloppy. Having done a few long rides on the CrossCheck I feel comfortable with the 100k distance. But again, there is little information so I don't know the course at all...hills or no hills. I will just have to decide when I am there.

It seems to be a pretty low key event so I am not stressed at all.

I think that is why I am drawn to these types of events. No stress, no douche bag riders (on your left, race leader coming through), just bikers out for a good time!

Yesterday at work I spent the majority of the day writing up orders for next winters gear. It's always hard to predict and forecast what will be needed. If I knew we would get snow early on it would be a lot easier, but as a former boss said, "if it was easy everyone would do it". After the winter show in Madison I am always super pumped for next winter. It sucks to see all the new gear and then have to wait 7 months before we can actually get it. Damn production time. This excitement quickly wanes and the anticipation of spring and warmer weather takes over. This time it lasted a day. Bring on the warmer temps. I have been told skiing is at its best at Graystone but it doesn't appeal to me. Good luck to all the Birkie skiers.!

Later.