Something very interesting that has happened…..Today I am heading to the hospital for a CT scan. Seems as if I have a huge kidney stone. I had some blood in my pee pee (ok it looked like I wizzed coke) so I got it checked out. The urologist told me he looked at some x-rays I had taken in February and said it was too big to pass then. I hate to see how big it is now. So today, I get to drink a bunch of colored stuff and get passed under some dandy machine to see what’s in me. The Dr said asked me if I was doing the 24 hour race, which is in August, and when I replied “yes”, he told me that he would “try” to have me ready to go by then. Goodness that is a long time…I told him either way, I am riding that race, so lets get this sucker out of me.

Seems like it will be tough to get in some saddle time with the pain I am experiencing. Sometimes its ok, sometimes not so much. It seems that the more my body gets jarred around, them more it hurts. Good thing I have lots of bike watching to keep me busy. The tour starts next Saturday, and 3 videos to watch before then, Offroad to Athens, 24 Solo, and Between the Tape. I do need to call the cable company to get the dvr hooked up so while I am traveling I can record the tour. Seems like July will be the month of watching biking on tv..

Well, I would classify the Mount Saint Anne trip a success.  Sure, our athletes didn’t place very well, but I did get to ride every day.  Maybe it sounds a little greedy, but whatever, I am training…..or something like that.

Got back and yesterday was a day full of doctor visits.  First went to a pain management center to check out my back, YEAH, more meds, then to the walk in clinic here in North Conway.  Good times.  2 different people’s hands on me and one urine cup filled up.  Good times.  Off to a urologist tomorrow to see if I might have kidney stones.  That sounds like a good time.

Other than that, same old stuff, except for a friend, John and his wife, are in town this weekend so I am sure some shananagins will take place.

last night I got in about 2 hours on the single speed and things felt good.  I am quite happy with the effort I put in.  Unfortunately, I am leaving bright and early for Mount Saint Anne in Quebec for a world cup race.  Sure, its a great race, but I don’t think I will be able to get much riding in and that is the major dissapointment.  ohh well, what can ya do?

I have been quite busy lately and I must say that is sucks.  I went back home to the parents place for Father’s day just leaving Wednesday returning yesterday.  It was nice to see the family.  The only bad thing about it was not being able to ride the bike.  Ohh well, what can ya do.  I did get to introduce Campy to my parents bassett hound and I must say that was quite a show.

Kelly is still at her parents house from the trip so I think tonight will be a good ride.  I did get the new gear for the single speed so I will be rigging that up and head out for a long ride.  I am going to try for 2+ hours without lights if both the body and light holds out for me.  I do need to get out being the race is slowly creeping up on me.  I should be able to change over the cog real quick so I should be ok.  The only part that will slow me down is the 1.5ish mile I will have to ride on the road each way.  One gear on the road will eat up some time and I am WAY to lazy to switch my light over to the bike….should be a killer time…

Last night after work I got to sneak out for a quick hour ride.  I took the single speed 29er and I must say I absolutely LOVED it.  The trails I rode are the same ones I ride just about every day and I had so much more fun on them.  Yes, I hiked a little more because of the gearing, but other than that, I can’t complain one bit about the bike.  The new cog is in the mail so the gearing will be changed up soon and I need to retention the wheels as this was the 2nd ride on them since I built them.  They seems a little spongy after the ride was over.  I do have to admit that riding a hard tail is certainly a little different than the dualy I normal ride.  My back hurt pretty bad during the ride, but as soon as I got off the bike I was fine.  Seems as if I need to retrain myself to stand just a bit more now that I am on a single speed hard tail.  That plus I have some wicked blisters on my hands from gripping the bar that hard while climbing.  The new cog and the bar ends I ordered should fix that.

Yesterday and today seem to be the regular type days with no riding for me.  Things at this point just seem to be so busy.  I really need to become a morning person so I can get up and ride in the morning.  On a note of the bikes, my 26” geared bike is out of commission with a blown front fork.  It seems as if the bushings and what not are all torn up.  To be honest, it has been like that that since day one, so I always thought that is the way it just was.  I now believe that opinion was wrong.  Time to send it back to Fox and see what they can do with it.  So as of now, I am riding on the single speed 29er that is completely over geared.  I guess what doesn’t kill me, which it just might, will make me stronger.

 I was supposed to leave work a little early today to go for a ride, but my boss forgot his shoes, so here I sit at my desk looking at how beautiful it is outside.

Well, another weekend has passed and I have not gotten a ride in.  Saturday Kelly and I did a little shopping plus it was raining all day.  When I did get home and thought about riding, I thought it was more important to take the dog for a walk being she was in her cage most of the day.  Sunday came and we did some work in the garden.  Sure, I was digging holes and swinging an axe, but it still wasn’t riding.  I did however get my King hub all tightened up sI i can ride the single speed, but this morning when I woke up, my back was all messed up, probably from the shoveling and axe swinging.  Seems like tonight I will try to get out for a couple hour ride on the single speed.  That should work me over pretty well being it is over geared.

Today was just another typical day without any riding. The forecast for the day said heavy rains with damaging wind and hail. I would say that is about correct. I got home from work and didn’t have the motivation to ride being it was so ugly out. After about an hour at home, it got real nice and I felt bad about not heading out. Instead, Kelly and I took the pup for a 3 mile walk into town and back. Even though it wasn’t riding, it was worth it. Not the dog is passed out tired. My plan has worked as she is not running all the place.

While Kelly was finishing up making dinner, I went down to the workshop and finished up a mountain bike that has been about 4 months in the making. I don’t have the bike 100% the way I want it as I need to get a few parts for it yet, but I will still be able to ride it until the new parts arrive. The biggest thing I will need is a new cog in the back as it is my single speed parts used from a 26′ bike. Due to the fact that this is a 29″. The frame is a Vassago Jabberwocky and so far the bike feels nice..I plan on commuting to work with it tomorrow, which can and will be about 25 minutes of single track, so I will have a bit more of a review on the bike tomorrow. Some eye candy to glare at…

A friend from home will be visiting me at the end of the month and is currently into running all kinds of 5ks.  Some for fun and charity and some for actual racing.  After talking for a moment about me running again, he got the brilliant idea for me to try and win my $50 back that I lost to him in the weight loss competition back during thanksgiving last year.  I thought what the heck.  Then I looked at the calendar and realized that it is coming up in about 20ish days or so.  I have to get myself back into shape in 20 days.  hrm, this might be a tough one being it is raining, let me correct myself, pouring today.  I told him I would take a “test” run tonight (now pushed back until tomorrow morning) and let him know what I think.  Seems as if I might be stretching myself to thin with trying to do this and get some stamina for the 24 hour race or maybe I’m doing the right amount.  Who knows.  Either way, I would really like to get my 50 bucks back from him.  Seems as if its back to running for the next week or 2 with some bike rides on top of it.  I have a feeling I’m going to be one tired pup for the next little while..

Kelly’s brother had to move apartments again, so Kelly and I went down to Boston to lend a hand. Thank goodness everything was moved into the new place, we just had to help rearrange everything. I must say it was quite the weekend. The good part about it was that Campy did well in a new house, a new yard and with tons of new people….

Tonight though, I had an realization. With a little reminder and some clever math from some fellow riders, I found out the 24 hours of Great Glen race is in a hair less than 10 weeks. Ok, I think I can handle the training, but I do need to start losing the weight. 10 weeks, 30 pounds, thats an average of 3 lbs a week. That is easily doable. I just need to keep my mind on track and have Kelly quit baking so much. With wanting to do some cyclocross races this fall, I figure some running will help out. So the plan is to run, walk the dog and bike, not all in everyday, but do possibly 2 of 3 every day. Last Thanksgiving when I was running 20 miles a week, I was dropping weight and in GREAT shape. So its time to get back on the horse, or off the horse (whatever that saying is). Either way, as Mello says about buffets and the last day of vacations……its balls to the wall time. No more screwing around. Its time to get serious. I figure week 1, keep a serious log about what I eat. I used to count calories, but not this time. just write it down so I know what to eliminate for the next week. Tomorrow is the start of a new day, and a start of a new Mike…..