And So It Goes...

Missed the night ride last night. Per usual I was out early getting some time in at Plum Creek and the River Bluff Trails. On the way home I went to shift to my big ring and got nothing but a sickening metal on metal noise. I knew what happened as I firmly believe SRAM front derailleurs suck and this one was no different. First they don't make one with a clamp size of 28.6. They have about 10 different options for direct mount. Who the hell is making bikes with direct mount? I have yet to see one come through the shop. So I had to shim it, with a shim not from SRAM as they don't make one. The front derailleur already comes with a funky shim that doesn't like to stay in place, so trying to get it meshed up with another shim takes more patience than I have. Hell the Dali Lama would flip out. Then once you get both shims aligned you have to be lucky enough to get the bolt lined up with the nut. You cannot be a mm off. Ridiculous. So I gave it about 10 minutes last night before I threw in the towel and removed the front derailleur. Gotta love Whipperman chains and the Connex removable chain link unlike, mmm who's again? Oh yeah SRAM.

By this time the cold had really set in and I was freezing. I thought about busting ass home, putting warmer shoes on, grabbing another bike and meeting up with the others on the trail. But by the time I got home my feet were numb and my only bike left at home needed the front crank put on, doh! So I jumped into bed with the kids and let Brinna read me a story. Not a bad way to end a frustrating night.

Today, after voting, Mike and I are headed to Monticello for a couple of laps. This time I am taking a single speed, as we know: derailleurs suck! That and it's my last bike currently working.

I still ended up with 1.5 hours of riding. Not the 2.5 I was shooting for but it works. So far the training and eating are off to a good start. I still haven't decided on my goal weight, either 180 or 185. I guess it depends if I want to stop lifting like I currently am. Oh the decisions of life.

Later.