The Old Grist Mill Tavern

Today is Barbara and my anniversary. We're going to The Old Grist Mill Tavern for dinner tonight. Our first date was there, so every year on our anniversary we have dinner there. They have a great salad bar there and pretty good food.

Here We Go Again

We're getting hit by another snow storm as I'm writing this. Their not sure how much snow we'll get because it's supposed to change to rain. I can't wait for the temps to start warming up.

Colder Than I thought

I went out for a quick 10 mile ride last night after work. It was 29 degree's when I started but the temp must have dropped pretty fast during my ride, because my water bottle froze for the first time this winter. I have to admit, I was colder than usual while riding.

NBW Slater Park Ride

You can see the cold front moving in where the bright blue sky meets the clouds.

Behind this park on Daggett Ave is where the next extension of the Ten Mile Bikeway will go.

Ok, I wussed out and decided to do the ride Saturday instead of Sunday. The weathermen were warning us of that Arctic Blast moving back in Saturday night so I hopped on the bike in the morning and did the ride. I did have to put up with a pretty good wind but the sun and warmer temps made up for that little inconvenience. The ride didn't get arrowed till later in the day, so I had to read the map whenever I wasn't sure which way to go. I ended up with 21 miles and rode three days in a row. By the way, if you haven't figured out the title of my blog, it has to do with my new bicycle seat. With my other seats, I would never have been able to ride three days in a row. That's why I Love My Brooks Saddle!

Two Days In A Row

This is one of my favorite downhills on Rocky Hill Rd, it's a tight S curve and rolls out for quite a while.

The way the weathers been this new year, I'm amazed I was able to get on my bike two days in a row. It was 39 degree's when I started the ride and managed to get 16.5 miles in around Rehoboth.

Back In The Saddle

Even though our regular Thursday night ride was cancelled( the bike path is still covered in snow), I was able to get a 12.5 miler in around Rehoboth. There's still plenty of snow around as you can see in the pictures, but 32 degree's felt balmy.

Preseason Testing

The NHRA season opener is just around the corner and all the Pro teams are busy testing their new setups. Here's a great shot of Ron Capps NAPA Funny Car in Florida.

Another Snowed Out Sunday Club Ride

We're batting 1000% right now. Every Sunday ride this year has been snowed out so far. It's never been this bad for club rides. But then again, if we were hardcore like the riders in these pictures, we wouldn't be complaining.

Bicycle Bill Signed Into Law

Thanks to Mass Bike and everyone else who was involved in this bill. Governor Patrick signed this bill into law Friday. Click on the link to check it out. http://www.massbike.org/bikebill/index.htm

NITRO ALLEY

One of the many things you can do at a NHRA event, is to go down to the pits and visit Nitro Alley. All the Top Fuel and Funny Cars are located there and you can walk right up to within about 5 feet of the cars and watch the crews work on them. You can't do that at a NASCAR event! You also get a chance to join in the frenzy, as fans run from car to car to listen to them warm up. You're eyes burn and you gag from the Nitro, some fans wear gas masks! You're ears hurt from the pulsating sound coming out of the headers. If you're lucky enough, you chose a car that still blips the throttle a couple of times before they shut down the engine. You feel the sound waves bounce off you're chest and you're ears scream in pain. While you're there, get an autograph of you're favorite driver too.It doesn't get any better than that. Click on the links and see what its like. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1cGbEfn8vs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdSQAvP3Dk8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcyfCJwHEj0

Tiffany's Return To Brandeis

Yesterday after work Barbara and I drove Tiffany back to school and helped move her back in. Three flights of stairs and multiple packed objects stuffed with clothes, I got my cardio in. We went to The 99 for dinner and then said our goodbyes back at school.

Darth Vader Wannabe?

No, not really, it's 2008 Funny Car Champion Cruz Pedregon in his fire suit getting ready for a run. Click on the link and watch one of his runs down the 1/4 mile. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mseKxCYRTCM

Warmer Thoughts

The weather forecasts are calling for the coldest temps of the year, the end of this week. Now's a great time to think about the upcoming NHRA drag racing season. Less than a month away the Winter Nationals will be taking place in warm and sunny California. I love the smell of Nitro in the morning. Click on this link, turn up the volume and enjoy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svWPItw6_UU

Another Sunday Club Ride Snowed Out

As expected the storm that hit us Saturday night snowed out our ride. I wonder how long it will be before the roads clear up enough so we can ride again.

Another Storm Coming

Looks like our club ride will be snowed out Sunday. Their calling for 6 inches from Saturday night into Sunday morning. Thats the storm on radar over the Great Lakes right now.

Thursday Night EBBP Ride Iced Out/Broke A Spoke

Our regular Thursday night ride was canceled due to too much ice on the bike path, so I tried to get a ride in around Rehoboth. Unfortunately I broke a spoke on my rear wheel about 2 miles into the ride and had to cut the ride short, I only ended up with 8 miles. Just as well, the side roads had quite a bit of ice on them and it was a little hairy riding.

2009 DISTANCE GOAL

I'm going to increase my goal 500 miles from last year. It shouldn't be that much of a problem if I stay focused on my riding.

First Ride Of The New Year

Leaving Barbara's driveway.

Cross street, nice and peaceful, except for the gun club on it.

Coming to the end of Fairview street.

I got in a short loop of 10 miles after work yesterday around Rehoboth. I haven't been on my bike in over a week so I knew I needed to get a ride in.

Jen & Jay's New Pug

I stopped by to see my daughter Jennifer and my son in law Jay the other night. This is their Pug Miss Piggy, she was rescued from a puppy breeder that abused her. She doesn't like men, but she's beginning to warm up to me.

I DID IT !

With one day to spare, I reached my goal of 3000 miles on 12/30, I actually ended up with 3007. That's the most I've rode in one year since 2004.

Scituate Reservoir Club Ride

There's quite a view from this dam/causeway.

You can hear the noise from this waterfall, a 1/2 mile up the road.

I almost got blown over from the cross wind here.

This ride was snowed out back on 12/21, so I decided to do it on 12/30. I needed to get in at least 31 miles to reach my goal and this ride was 38 miles. The wind was pretty brutal at times and on a couple of down hills where I would normally be reaching 35 mph, I was barely doing 20 mph, because of the head wind. The reservoir that this ride goes around supplies most of the drinking water for RI.

East Providence Club Ride

One of the oldest still working carousels in the country.

I started my Sunday ride at 8:30, I wanted to get back in time for the football games. The ride wasn't arrowed when I started out and found myself stopping to read the map more often than usual. I was flagged down by a older man with a flat tire on his car, he didn't have his cell phone. I let him use mine to call his insurance company to get road service. I noticed on the longer loop that our club arrows starting appearing on the road and spotted our arrower a few times as I was riding the second loop. I don't know if he got the whole ride arrowed before the official start at 11:00. I ended up with 29 miles for the day.

Rehoboth Loop

Still some ice in the driveway.

My bicycle computer.

In my effort to reach my goal this year, I was able to get a ride in the day after Christmas. I saw two members of my bicycle club as I was finishing up my 23 mile loop.

Christmas Day

Bella snuggling with her mommy, Tiffany.

Tim, out like a light.

I started out the morning at my daughter Jennifer's house. Jennifer, Jason, Thomas, Brandi and I exchanged gifts and then it was on to Barbara's for the rest of the day. By the end of the day I felt like Tiffany, Bella and Tim in the photo's.

Christmas Eve Part Two

The frenzy starts as the little ones open their gifts.

Then it was off to my niece's house for the rest of the evening.