Some Random Shots (And Thoughts)

 I think my mind turned to the "off mode" for this blog post. So, with that said, here are some real random images, with cycling being the only common thread here.

First up we have this from Saturday's Renegade Gents Race. I think it looks a little like "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse", only there are five of us there if you look hard enough! At any rate, a pretty scary site with us three big fellers up front!

I'm always amazed when I see myself amongst most "cyclists". I look like the linebacker while the other guys look like....I dunno.....the water boys! Only thing is, looking like a "water boy" in cycling is a good thing. Usually. Oh well! I yam what I yam!

 <==A future "big feller"!

So, last week my son, who is 7, learned how to ride a bicycle. Pretty cool, if I say so myself. (And I do!) Yeah, he takes after his Dad in that he will also not look like your typical "cyclist" out there. It's all good though. While he may not ever be the next big road racing star, I sure hope he has as much enjoyment from the sport as I have had.

The best thing is that he can take from my experiences and hopefully add his own twist to it. I don't know which roads and trails he might ride down, but I hope to share a few with him before it is my time to dismount for the last time.

Anyway, it has been a joy to me that he has found that cycling is fun. I had forgotten that riding around the block might be a "big deal". I can't wait to see what other things I may have forgotten as we ride together in the years to come. (Well, I hope that happens!)

Heading Back To The Desert: 

I've been starting to think about my next big trip to El Paso, Texas, slated for the first two full weeks in June.

As I've said here before, El Paso has some of the toughest riding anywhere. Here you can see an image from last January of the "Puzzler", an endurance event held in El Paso's back yard at Franklin Mountain State Park. It's like the image here for much of the riding that the trails offer. Rocks, rocks, and more rocks of every imaginable size and shape. The only real common denominator is that they sound uncannily like broken pottery when the tires make them clink together as a cyclist rides over them.

I'm pretty stoked to be going back there, and you can bet I'll be suffering a bit of West Texas heat to ride out there again.

And Speaking Of Rocks...

I was sent  this image by the fellas that put on the Melbourne Gravel Grinders in Australia. I really am drawn to this image. I like the "road" and its primitive nature. It just makes me want to grab a bike and see where this goes.

Maybe someday I'll get the chance to head over there and ride that. I'm sure we have something similar around the U.S. though.

Something about rocks. I dunno what it is. Maybe it is because I live in a place where dirt is the main feature and rocks are kind of rare, at least off-road! Perhaps there are those who would really like to ride on our dirt and get away from rocks. Maybe.

So, there you are. A totally random post for your Tuesday. I like to call this sort of thing "randomonium", although all the cool kids these days call it a "mash-up". That sounds "messy" to me. I like "randomonium" better. But I am just an oddball cyclist!

Have a good day, and I hope you get a ride in!