Oars in the water. That's what I feel like. A boat sloshing around waiting to move. Promoting madness and lactic acid days are gone. It's the time off/recovery/ride your bike have fun phase. After a few days,I can't do it. I need the focus,the edge. It's a bit to early for next years regime. I haven't even set goals. Other than Kross will be at the top. One stroke,forward backward, starboard, port. I drift.
I bought a balance board to work on that. Maybe 50 year old men shouldn't go near these things. rip it up DUDE!
I put all the pads down around me.In five minutes I'm toast. A few of the exercises really mimic climbing on the SS. Work that core. I bought it. Now I have to become a slave to it.
Breaking up the routine tonight. Hitting the Black Bear Winery for a show. Not a fruit wine fan. But time to crawl out of the rut. Beer will be available at numerous points on the route home.
Shop party Saturday. Xmas parties are filling up fast. Book now!
The sun is out. Very nice.
Christmas lights up. I love them. I even like the over the top crazies that put a zillion lights up.
Hey, we dig cycling they dig Christmas lights. Everyone should have their own addiction.
Enjoy, walk the hood,see the lights.
Smile.
OGQ

The holiday, Black Friday or Buy Nothing Day and the vacation are over.
I have a lot to be thankful for.
First I have the bonus years. I'm alive and kicking. Second My friends. I have the best circle of friends. From the tight knit bunch of the Kingdom of Kross to far reaching Internet friends. I love them all. maybe someday we'll cross paths in real time. Thanksgiving is a crummy time for me and my friends made it special.Third,the one year anniversary of the broken femur looms. I'm riding etc. That's good. my Mom continues to travel. That rocks,good for her. I went to brunch in Syracuse yesterday. What a nice place. indoor pool and hot tub ,huge house, more pets than a pet store, and of course tons of food.
Thanks that people read this blog.
I rolled out the New Soul Cycles Dillinger this weekend. Really need a 410 seatpost. but I wanted to ride and ride I did. To avoid hunters. Venus, Bobber and I hit CVSP. Now this place is rocky ans I was running rigid. The 29'er soaked up most of it. Bottomed against the rim a few times. But what a ride.
For Thanksgiving Bobber lead a sweet ride on South Mountain. Sure if I had a longer post I could climb better seated. But It was 66 out and we were riding. Bobber has steadily improved and seems to enjoy riding the MTB more now. Then I went to the Mills clan for dinner. Afterwards we played cards. A great day.
Life is simple. Enjoy it everyday.
Later. OGQ

So after the DPM,. I still had mixed emotions about doing States. This was a hard year of racing. The comeback from injury is different than a comeback from absence. So I stewed over doing States. One side says go do it or you'll never know. The other says take a break,I have nothing to prove. But in end I followed my own advice. Silly me signs up for two classes.

Sunday broke cold and clear 23 degrees. That would bode well for this course as maybe it would all be ridable this year. The NY Cross crew(Not to be confused with NY Kross) made some nice changes to the course. The top stayed firm and lines formed all over the place. Warm up and the legs felt good. At this race they start all the masters together. No staging,so you have no idea of who your racing against. So I opted up to the first line. Were off,it's a road start and ballistic settle in,don't red line,keep an eye on Ad and Rich. Hang in there. Paul S slips by and the motor isn't warming up fast. Others sneak by. But I pass a group on the off camber downhill and am back on Paul. It stays this was then he opens a slight gap. Two to go. The plugs fire and I catch and pass Paul now to put a gap on him. Some pesky CCBC guy is all over me. I'm faster in the technical he pulls even in the run ups. Lots of bumping and pushing.Fun but annoying. Just pick a line and follow it. If you want to pass make, it stick. In the end I finish 9Th. Not bad. A bot of disappointment. I was shooting for top 5 or better.

Back in the pits I change kits and don the Henry's pink for the Single Speed class much bigger this year and they lump us in with Open Women Masters women and Jr's. A top five start then we hit the mud and rrrrr the motor dies. I guess I left it all on the course for the masters race. I finish my lap call it a day. Why dig a bigger hole. The sinus is on red alert and I would have been just riding around. The King has fallen,Long live the King.

Yesterday I washed the bikes ,prepped them and they'll be put to bed till the new frames arrive. Looking forward to Soul's new KX rigs.

Now today I get to ride the Dillinger my new 29'er from Soul Cycles. Just ride and learn the new bike. FUN.

Yes, I said FUN. That's what it's supposed to be all about.

Have a good holiday. Be thankful for what you have.

Remember it's not Black Friday it's National buy Nothing Day. Go ride your bike.

Pic is props to those that make it happen.

Enjoy life. OGQ

Sunday I awoke to a true Kross morning. Cold with a heavy frost. This usually means hard fast ground early. Then turns to slop. Kross.

Now today was special. It was the second time for the Dave Panella Memorial. I tried to get my head into the "wayback machine". When last year I went pedal stroke for pedal stroke with Glenn Swan for the win in horrible conditions. My legs had given good signals after last weeks failure. As I drove up the hill to the course. I broke out of the fog to find a bright sunny sky. Henk already had the Ommegang banners flying and Mikey was flagging the course. I looked at that clear blue and smiled. It would all pull together. That blue sky was a big as Dave's smile.

Today I would ride well. Mike added a new moto x section to the course and the X. A spiral to keep all happy. I suited up for a couple easy laps. The armada of NY Kross Kontingent had things in order. Riders showed interest in the Dillinger up for grabs in the raffle. Hey, Who would't mind a free frame? Rob Coapman showed up to announce. The pieces continued to fall into place.

Time to race. We had a moment of respect for Dave. Then call ups. I heard Glenn say. "Let Karl lead,he'll be suicidal on the opening lap." I took the holeshot with Glenn and Ernie hot on my tail. I knew Glenn was watching lines. He attacked on the uphill but this pushed the others wide and tucked in underneath to regain the lead heading into my house. Pure moto. I let those michelins drift and turned up the gas. Careful not to redline. Almost lead the whole lap. Slowly the series leaders came by. I hung tough. Rich has been riding great. he got a bit of a gap. Then the diesel turned on. My head was in the game all day. gain in the technical. try to power away then. I drilled it hard in the mower section heading into the telephone pole turn. OOHHH Houston we have a problem. Down I went at speed on the leg. tumble into the grass bike still attached. Now like a turtle I'm downhill trying to get loose. Thinking about the leg. but thinking about the race. I get untangled and Dave hasn't closed. But Rich has a full straightaway on me.

I feel good an give chase two to go. I end up 6Th. One shy of the goal 5Th or better. I had a good ride. Again I look to take blue sky and smile at Dave. I'd done my best.

I grabbed some hot veggie chili and Middle Ages tenth anniversary Ale and went out and heckled the open men. The PA was buzzing as Rob kept us entertained. More chili,more beer.

After the open men. We had the raffle while series webmaster Steve update the points and scoring. Dawn and Bobber nailed the scoring with super fast results. First we gave out the beer. Then Ommegang apparel. Then DPM wear. it seemed the team and the Kross Kontingent were mopping up as were the Walkers. In the end Peter Ozolins went home with the frame.

Some people even picked up the flags and the course while all this was going on. Thanks.

Not sure of the final count donated to Kim. But people bought tickets right up to the end.

I was elated and tired. People asked to join the team. That's cool.

Bobber and Dawn came over for a beer and Mike D tasted some new brews with us.

What a weekend. I am the luckiest man alive.

The confidence is up for States. Legs were great on the road last night.

Can't wait to ride the Dillinger at Shindagin.

Enjoy life. OGQ

Some pics from Greene DPM later

Man, I'm wiped out. race promotion takes it out of you. Lots of stress getting things ready for the race yesterday. all the details to pull together.
But in the end. NY Kross Kontingent pulled off the "I'm 18 and I like it" race. No real glitches,highest attendance ever. Sweet fast course lots of positive vibes.
My race was the worst of the year. I got the holeshot. Fellow "gangsta" Gregg passed me in the start of the twisties. I nascared him in a turn and retook the lead. He retook it on the little climb in the spiral. Sign one the legs weren't working. But the skills were good. One by one riders passed and then I was in my "5th". (Seems to be where I am ths year). faso just ahead. Then Rich comes storming by. Some guy in pale blue. I try to hang on. Just no gas in the power sections. Self doubt creeps in. I really had to talk to myself in this one. I reel the group back in in the fast sections. Opened the suitcase of courage on the climbs only to foul plugs and BRRRR went the motor. One to go I can see Dave and Mark. I make a huge effort on the road and pass them in the fast section. I tell myself hang on you can beat them. BRRRRR goes the motor again,they slip away. Glenn crushed it. After the race hr pretty much summed up my day.
"Sometimes you dig deep and come up with a handful of empty". That was my day. my mood was bolstered by all the props from the racers. The kids helped out. Bobber and Venus rocked results. Hope someone has a video of the spiral. Pics later.
Now to get it all in order for the DPM. I think it could be huge. People were stoked with the idea they could win a frame and there's a ton of prizes waiting. Pots of chili and cornbread are being readied. Ommegangs in the frig.
Can I go head to head this year like last year? We'll see. I'll do my best. this is the season final.
I'd like to go out on high note.
Even better news is Soul Cycles is going to sponsor a select group of us for Kross next year.
If you're thinking about a new SS or 29'er. Check them out. The new frames are sweet.
Enjoy life.
See you at the DPM sunday.
OGQ