Now that I have your attention, if you are in Sioux Falls tomorrow, we are planning on hitting Monks between 8-8:30 after the Nike XC banquet. Should you be so inclined, this would be a good time to start talking about ride dates for next year. Who's in?
It's been a long time between posts and that's a bit unusual for me, but for lack of a better reason, I've had nothing to say! A short rundown of what's been going on:
1. The weather is getting a little ugly. Therefore, I'll need to set up the trainer for extra training that I'm not getting outside. Yeah, I'm still riding outside, just not 1-2 hour rides like I want to.
1a. Can't set up the trainer in the family room in the basement anymore as we finally got our carpet in.
1b. We now need to set up BOTH trainers as Laura is going to train off season as well.
1c. That means setting up in the laundry room.
1d. The laundry room was the main catch all during the remodeling of the family room.
1e. I've cleaned most of the laundry room and scrubbed the floor.
1f. It's taken me most of a week.
1g. And it still has a way to go.
1h. Laura and I have discussed how we need to "declutter" our lives.
2. I'm working on reformatting an old computer that will work good enough to run videos off while we ride. Spinnervals, Carmichael Training Systems, Movies, whatever.
3. This weekend is going to be brutal starting Thursday. I'll be working the HS Football Championships in the dome except for the Friday night game. Friday night I'll be going to Sioux Falls with a friend for a banquet for the Nike HS Cross Country meet that is being held in Sioux Falls on Saturday. After the six different XC races (I THINK that's all there are), I'll be back at the dome Saturday night for the last championship game.
4. I have survived so far this month without getting in a vehicle of any sort. That will end Friday when I ride up to Sioux Falls.
I'm in a funk and need to get a GOOD outside ride in. It won't be this weekend unless I have energy after church on Sunday.
It's probably a good thing they don't sell this in South Dakota. It makes it a bigger treat when it arrives this way. Too bad for New Belgium Brewery though. They could make a profit if they came to South Dakota. 
Aaron Packard did a great job taking pictures while Dan Letsche and I tried our best to look like awesome mountain bikers. Letsche is MUCH better at the Mountain Biking scene than I am. I'm getting a little more cautious in my old age and not willing to do all the crazy stuff. Click HERE to view the stills or enjoy the slide show.
Quite the group of riders showed up on a day that turned out b-e-a-u-tiful, albeit with a cool beginning. Here are a few shots from the ride.
Only one of the dudes below is a true Lane Hog. It's the one to the far right...go figure!
Since I couldn't pass these dudes, I reflected on the fact that after nearly 20,000 miles on my bike that I've never read the safety warnings in the owners manual. Duly panicked, I nearly got off and walked the rest of the way. Nearly...
You can all quit commuting by bike now because they are giving gas away now!
I haven't heard so many people so excited about gas prices in my life. I'll stay on my bike thank you.
Drove a little more the last half of October. Three days of driving was due to Schnoctobeerfest in Elkhorn/Fremont. We made a long weekend out of it and enjoyed our time. We also went to a play last Sunday in Yankton. The other day of driving was due to the fact that Laura had to work and I had to pick up the kids after school because it was raining. Unlike myself, I don't expect them to ride in the rain...yet.
One major surprise was that I had a day without any biking. The reason? I was sick. Didn't leave the house all day and was basically a lump on the couch all day.
| Date | Bike? | Drive? | Passenger? |
| 16-Oct | Yes | No | No |
| 17-Oct | Yes | YES | YES |
| 18-Oct | Yes | YES | No |
| 19-Oct | Yes | YES | No |
| 20-Oct | Yes | No | No |
| 21-Oct | Yes | No | No |
| 22-Oct | NO | No | No |
| 23-Oct | Yes | YES | No |
| 24-Oct | Yes | No | No |
| 25-Oct | Yes | No | No |
| 26-Oct | Yes | YES | No |
| 27-Oct | Yes | No | No |
| 28-Oct | Yes | No | No |
| 29-Oct | Yes | No | No |
| 30-Oct | Yes | No | No |
| 31-Oct | Yes | No | No |
| Totals | 1 | 5 | 1 | Month | 30/31 | 5/31 | 2/31 |
| Percent | 96.77% | 6.45% | 16.13% |
