RipStick Nation and Ramblings

So Ian (and the rest of us) is having a great time on his new mode of transportation. The following are clips of his SECOND day messing around (Jake and Deb's first); I swear the kid is a natural at about anything he tries:

Friday evening we hit the tandem with the Kemps for 1:30hrs. It was a beautiful evening. We finished up at 3Gs (met the boys there) for a little frozen yogurt. When we got home everyone was still taking rounds on the RipStick. Ian and I watched the end of stage 19 (as he's a big Cav fan and hadn't watched it yet).

Plopped myself in front of the tube (Ian joined me midway through) this morning and watched AC and LA defend their positions against the Schleck attacks. It was pretty good to watch, but not as dramatic as the advertised. Interesting to see if MC and Columbia makes it 6. Poll question: 6 stage wins or green jersey; as a ride and as a sponsor which one?

Got the Orbea switched to a 53 ring for today's crit in SPR. Loaded up the truck with Deb and Ira (Jake hanging out with friends and Ian at a SPR Cards game) and off to the races... I had watched the rain all morning and was hoping it would pass through and the crit course dry by race time, but it was not to be. I don't mind racing in the rain, but put several things together (Cat IV + rain = someones going down, don't want to damage a bike going up for sale next month, save some race fees for the new rig...) and I decided the best thing was to spend a relaxing afternoon watching. I could have jumped in the 3/4 race, but with a good group of fast guys I really didn't want to pay just to get dropped a couple laps in. Will reload for tomorrow morning. That's the great thing about mid-summer events; if you don't do them no big deal.

Took a look at Jake's '09 XC schedule and it has the potential for some fast times; more speed courses than climbing (which is good for him). Added more Saturday meets (5 of them) so will have to see how it works with my 'cross (obviously his takes priority).