Back Home, back in the saddle

So as to appease the readers that care nothing about hearing my stories of a guy trying to heal from a massive injury, who would instead rather see pictures of Cooper, I'll start with the that. I'll finish with my pontification about riding dirt roads, how much I love my Niner SIR9 and updating my yearly mileage totals. You've at least been warned.

Cooper is getting big in a hurry. A couple weeks ago, he couldn't reach the toys in his high chair, now he grabs them at will.

From Cooper in his chairs

He gets his good looks and winning smile from his Dad, of course.

From Cooper in his chairs

He thinks he is big stuff already, and loves to try to stand, drink from cups and sit in the chair on his own. He is sitting up on his own really well now, but will eventually tumble over and the commence to crawl backwards somehow.

From Cooper in his chairs

**** WARNING ******
No further Cooper content.
**** END WARNING ******

Got out again today on the Niner, after wussing out yesterday. Was cold, windy and I was tired so I skipped the ride. Today, my goal was 14 - 15 miles and for the first time in a long time, I carried a GPS to quantify how far I went and unfortunately just how slow I am these days.

Chased the sun back to the house today, and was pleasantly surprised to see just over 20.5 miles put in. Of course, the sluggish 12.6 mph average was disappointing but I've got to get healed before I can get faster.

My Route:


Had a minor scare when doing some adventuring off route and hit a nasty goathead patch, but the Stan's tubeless stuff sealed the leak in the front up quickly. Note to self - go tubeless on the rear now before you forget and almost get stuck way, way out from the house like you did today.

Tomorrow shows better weather, so probably try to get out again for another ride. Considering my options for shipping/buying a bike for Calgary, really need to be pounding out some trainer time during the week so I can spend more time chasing Cooper around, he is a busy little kid.

Ride Log
Days On Bike - 3 (All Niner singlespeed)
Mileage - 35

Suited and booted

Today was my last day of freedom, as for tomorrow the bell tolls for me. Back in the air to tropical Calgary (well tropical compared to Fairbanks, AK) till Thursday. The sunny temps that helped usher the new year in the new year are a distant memory, and today was downright cold. Unlike most cold days here, we had 40% humidity and light winds which made the 26 degree temps feel more like 12.

I've never been a big fan of cold. In Tulsa, we used to play roller hockey in the mornings before work. The others would laugh at me as I would sit in my truck, engine running, till everyone was on the rink and skating. Then I would promptly head to the rink, play our hour or so and then return to the warmth of my truck and drive home. I think most of them thought I'd never make it in Colorado, but since moving here I've toughened up, or at least I've bought some good cold weather gear.

Today after going back and forth about getting out, I finally just decided to suck it up and get out. I kept thinking back to the last 8 weeks when I couldn't get out for a ride and decided I would brave the cold weather and ride.

I geared up, AmPhibs (Love Them!) on under my Helly Hansen pants, long sleeve winter jersey with fleece vest, skull cap and ear cover. Told Jill I'd be gone 30ish minutes, and was hoping to make it that long. Didn't take me long after getting outside to realize it wasn't too bad and that 30 minutes would be easily attainable.

For the first time since my Achilles rupture and subsequent surgery I headed for the dirt roads east of our house. Not exactly the "stationary bike" the doc prescribed for me, but I was smart about it. I rode in regular shoes, not clipped in as usual and took it pretty easy. Felt great to be out, and although I'm in terrible shape right now I rode pretty well.

Legs felt good, lungs hurt. As I was reaching the furthest point on my route, I encountered another bundled up biker. We gave each other a head nod and a "you're crazy enough to be out here too" look. Couple joggers and a car or two, but for the most part it was just gravel, me and my one gear.

Ride was 8.5 - 9 miles (not carrying any GPS, heart rate monitors, power meters, etc right now) with a whopping 157 feet of climbing. Yeah not exactly a climbing route, but I'm not technically supposed to be off road either.

Which brings me to my latest motivation tool, this website. At the bottom of each post, I'm going to post a "Days On Bike" and "Miles Ridden" tally. Not sure if I'll count trainer days or not, but just thought it would be interesting to have a tally and hope it helps me get motivated to get on the bike on days like today, when I usually would not have ridden. When I get a little further removed from the holidays and the surgery, I may even be bold enough to post my weight in each tally.

2009 Totals
Days on Bike - 2
Miles Ridden - 14

Hanging at home

The gorgeous weather we've been having has passed through, leaving us with chilly temps and chances of snow. Not all bad though, as we had an excuse to be lazy and sit and home and play with Cooper.

Jill and Cooper color coordinated

From Cooper Just Playing

He spends a lot of time playing in/around his new tunnel he got for Christmas

From Cooper Just Playing

From Cooper Just Playing

Cooper thinks he is ready to drink out of his (or someone elses) cups, so we started giving him a sippy cup to drink a little water. Mostly though, he just plays with it.

From Cooper Just Playing

The year that was, the year that is

2008 came and went in a hurry. Seems quite surreal to think that this time last year Jill was about 2 months pregnant with Cooper, and now he is 5 months old. Our lives have certainly been changed forever, but its an incredible change.

Pregnancy sure seemed to fit Jill, and she was a champ at being healthy

From 2009 Looking Forward

I spent the first 7 months of the year skiing and riding like crazy, knowing that the next year wouldn't feature quite so much of that. I came into Cooper's due date (July 20th) at 184lbs and probably the best shape I've been in overall. Then in a snap it seemed like July had come and gone and still no Cooper.

Then on the 1st of August, early in the morning the time came. In what was an eerily calm event, we proceeded to the hospital and 12 or so hours late we had a healthy baby boy and a healthy mother.

From 2009 Looking Forward

1 month came and went quickly

From 2009 Looking Forward

From 2009 Looking Forward

And at about 2 months, we gave Cooper his indoctrination into our family with a hiking trip in Rocky Mountain National Park.

From 2009 Looking Forward

Fall came and Cooper geared up for football season and got to attend his first basketball game at Gallagher Iba.

From 2009 Looking Forward

We kept getting Cooper, Baloo and Molly out when we could, although that would hit a road bump the day after this picture was taken.

From 2009 Looking Forward

My winter sporting and travel schedules took a hit in early November with an ill-fated game of squash in San Antonio that left me with 1 good Achilles tendon.

From 2009 Looking Forward

A week later I'd undergone successful surgery and 8 weeks later I'm walking without the boot and riding my bike, although still a long way from "fixed".

From 2009 Looking Forward

The other big event of the year was our first child, Baloo celebrating his 10th birthday. Baloosy has been around for almost all my post-college life, and is pretty much the best dog you could ever ask for. He may be 10, but to see his energy levels one would think he's a year old.

So to honor Baloosy's big birthday, two of my favorite pics.

From 2009 Looking Forward

From 2009 Looking Forward

We spent 3 weeks in Oklahoma and Arkansas around Thanksgiving. Got to see lots of family and friends, visit Jim and Judy's new swank pad and Super Cooper got to see Aunt LK again and meet uncle Justin for the first time.

From 2009 Looking Forward

Who knows what 2009 will bring, but I expect to see lots more of this...

From 2009 Looking Forward

and this

From 2009 Looking Forward

and probably some of this too

From 2009 Looking Forward

2009 looks to be fine year so far, with the first two days being high 50s and sunny. Here's hoping you and yours have a great year, and as we usually say on our Christmas cards.....

See you on the trails.

Joel, Jill, Baloo, Molly and Super Cooper

Molly and Me

Its quite easy to draw some comparisons to the famous Marley and our Molly. Here Molly makes herself at home on the couch, although that does not look even remotely comfortable. What a wacky dog she is...