Confessions of a burnt out Tick

Forgive me Father for I have sinned. Its been 4 days since I last got sweet air. Tomorrow I shall say five "Hell Yeahs" and ten "Woo Hoos" in the woods. I will be surrounded by beautiful nature and ride whenever and wherever the day takes me.

Instead of day after day doing something that sucks - do something that rocks. Faith in happiness, joy and nature. A belief that when there is joy and peace the rest will be taken care of. Sometimes you have to jump off the cliff and have faith that you will land upright and be propelled forward.

About to jump......

Is that A ROADIE in the WOODS?

Its been a while..... a lot has happened since the onset of the invasion of the chiggers. Wounds have heeled, and decisions have been made. Team Bloated Tick attempted its first race ever! Too much hard training before the race left only 1 tick standing for the race. Unfortunately that tick had no GPS and got lost in the woods, but it was still a great day and lots of fun!

Graduation day is just around the corner and a new 29er stumpJumper is on the way. Christmas comes early this year to 15!

Of major note was a sighting in the woods - almost as rare as the GREAT SASQUATCH ------- A ROAD TICK! Yes! And believe it or not the words "this is fun" actually left the lips of R. Cabs!!!

Rain and wind are swirling around 15 this morning - hoping for a break to get in a run or some woods action! Fall is the best season for Bloated Ticks!

Chiggers

Its ending - I just know it! The light is different, the people are getting antsy, and the chiggers are attacking me. Counting down to fall, the best season of the year for Bloated Ticks! Been out 4 days in a row finished out last night on the Swtichbacks and Farmstand. Finally getting my balance back and feeling comfortable again on the bike - happily slogging thru deep sandy hairpin turns! In love once again!

What?

Are these not our friends?

Sorry, but cannot understand how someone who clearly hurts these innocent creatures is allowed not just back but back to make big money!!!

Is dog fighting not a criminal offense or maybe it should be! Dogs are the best friends man has and deserve nothing but love and kindness. Our world supports this more today than in years past.

It's important to support not bloating big industry cashing in on the most heinous acts of cruelty.

Here's to our friends...

Bow to the wow!!!!!

School of Hard Knocks

There are so many pretty colors and the landscape is all bumpy and lumpy. Fall in New England? A poppy field in Burma? An acid trip? Nope - just my body. The collection of bruises and lumps rival most car accident victims. A weak woo to the ouch. Wild and untamed trails - 1 / 15 v schleck - 0.

There are moments in life that remind you that yes, you are human. I am not a flying superhero. I shall not see a giant log as a launching pad into space. Frickin gravity. Today I feel human. I am reminded of this every time I move, sit, or blink.

There were lessons learned yesterday, still tying to replay most of them in my head. Breathe, control, go slower, take your time - don't get angry at your bike and drive over it in the driveway!

It is with great reflection and total openness that I look to the woods and ask - WWTD? (what would tick do) - I know the answer. Take some Alieve and get your ass back on that bike. That's the problem with the Bloated Tick - once you believe there is no turning back, the freedom and purest of highs tug at your heart and you know that the bruises will heal and the sweet air will be calling.

The one and only

It's Monday which means Wooo to the hooo! Pictures tell a thousand words. Can you say ouch? Gotta hand it to you, me sitting in a/c waiting to hear how it goes hoping this doesn't happen. But the night is young and the woods are wild. We'll hear

Bloated Ticks out early

Team BT left b/e this morning on a "do over" ride. Mo had a score to settle with that evil log - he got some sweet air this time. Log - 1 Mo -1 can't wait for the final score....

Saved myself for Tomorow night's ride - want to be fresh for riding with the girls so instead of riding to Montauk and then riding back on the dunes as the Ghost suggested we went for a nice 1.5 hr ride.

What a difference the clips make and the seat height - who knew. The Ghost pointed out that I'm missing gears and that I cracked off some spokes from one of the disks - huh, go figure, no wonder why the gear is slipping. Oh well. Looks like its time to go bike shopping. I wonder if I can get one that gets SUPER sweet air and has room for like 4 horns?

There is no better way to start the day than flying down a hill mildly out of control screeming woohoo - that is total freedom.

Is it to early for a beer?