Very Important

While checking out Cyclocross components PyZahl found an very important part at CyclocrossWorld:

CyclocrossWorld Cow Bells

Now you can cheer on your favorite racers just like they do in Europe. A must have for any event.





Quite a fake cow bell...

What a great late November day

Can it be better? The mercury climbed up to 18 C today and the sky was steel blue!

This morning there was a nice A ride from Krebs, nothing exciting, here a regrouping, not yet all there.





Once around Krebs, PyZahl discussed some Cyclocross Bike options.... but more research needs to be done.

Later the day the even warmer weather and sun asked for little more riding and PyZahl's favorite North Country road was calling -- out to Wading River, little around the hilly WR neigbour hood and proceeding to Wildwood SP.





a quick stop and look at the North Shore...



heading back home PyZahl decided to do the Wading River hill on the left of the Duck Pond and well, down the hill a sudden hissing stopped the ride, PyZahl hates nothing more than fixing flats.

Thanks & Giving alias "Turkey Day"

Today morning, as PyZahl arrived back home from NYC late and went to bed not before 2:30am, used the rainy day to sleep looooong and relax. It's "Turkey Day" or "Familiy Day". However, PyZahl is home by himself, as his Family is far away overseas, a little bored and writing up all this blog.... Many things to sort out at home, a good day for that.

Today there was only a little bit of turkey in PyZahl's meal plan and no overeating -- only a lack of excericise due to all day rain.

And it is still raining...

Looking forward to ride tomorrow morning 9am with blue sky.

TOSCA

Last night PyZahl dressed up in a differend suit and headed to the Met in the big city with friends and watched and listend to Tosca, an action loaded story in three acts. PyZahl had a good time, however, he did not like the crowds of people in the big city so much as he is not used to it.

Tuesday Night

... last Tuesday PyZahl left the lab around 6pm to meet at GR (see right) for a nite MTB ride. Great night, dry, cool, dark.

Good group of riders showed
up and PyZahl had a hard time to keep up this night - excuses are always good: very tricky, technical tight and winding trail in the woods, steep at sections -- and all new and unknown terrain for PyZahl at night were quite a challenge, and this in combination with his service over-due bike, worn cleats -- always getting unwanted off and out the cleats at most inconvenient times and not very well tuned full suspension, also need an overhaul :-(

But no big deal... just missed one turn getting a little behind in the dark, but confident with all this LI type of MTB trails, just keep going until you are back out :-)

Hey all of you -- sorry, PyZahl did forgot his camera this nite and he only remembered a few names -- , we must to do this fun ride again!!

5th Episode of STUND

Die fünfte und vorerst letzte Episode von STUND ist online!

Hier gehts zum Download: STUND #5 (rechte Maustaste > "Speichern unter ...")

"This is it! it's all over now. STUND is done and it's time to give you all the best stuff rolled into one complete package. We say goodbye, for now, to the STUND crew and thank everyone for their support. In this episode we do a little recap of the tour, check out some unseen footage, and best of all, roll all the bails into one juicy segment. Get it while it's HOT! "

A just so different world

PyZahl is chilling a bit and browsing the MTB News forum where he meet his swiss bike buddies first. It is just a so different world of biking.

Great Ride and Cheesecake

Today is Sunday and nothing special but the usual Early Bird ride which in the winter becomes Trevor's ride. What a day, high 50s, crystal blue sky and long peleton of fast riders. PyZahl did still not managed to get his CCD a glimpse on the impressive long moving pace line... you have to imagine about 25 cycles moving fast wheel on wheel. No Deli stopps today, but on mechanical halt.

















That ride done, PyZahl found himself hungry and the idea of his labmate going out for lunch and checking out a new opening of The C**************y was just right and a happy ending with some geat Cheesecake never felt better.

Cross Bike "Race" exprience

Some thing new for PyZahl, today at CP he joined the East End Rideres and few more for an informal Cross Bike Race. A cross coarse was laid out, a bit of everything, a fast paved section of road, dirt road, few sections of "technical" single trail form CP with some (optional) logs, grass, sandy road, and woods with some jumps. Two warm up and test laps, 5 race laps took about 1h10. PyZahl was pushing his fat tired MTB today -- should he get an Cross Bike??? He is undecided... He was a bit slow compared to the EE racers, even he did hard but some how was not really tired after the 5 race laps and did on full CP loop after that.

Hmmmmm, what shall I do?

No plan, need advise :-)

However, after that fun workout PyZahl drove to the bike shop to pick up replacement MTB shoes at Byron Lake, PyZahl is very happy -- if things break and warranty covers it :-)

The Big Ride - X Long Island by MTB in two days

We made it. Rocky Point to Montauk by MTB on almost 100% single trail.

On Friday the 10th PyZahl helped preparing the "Big Ride" logistics, dropping food and bags off at our good host at about 1/2 way, positioning cars and leaving cars at Montauk Rail Road Station.

What a great day, Friday was awesome. PyZahl was almost tempted to ride his road bike back home as he brought it, but for saving "legs" he decided not to do it all teh way, but rode home from Manorville, not the direct route but a little more secenic via Wild Wood SP in a slow and high cadence mode.

My recovery afternoon after that recovery and preparation ride back home, because PyZahl was crasy enough to do a 10km beach run on Thursday night with moon light.

Later in the day PyZahl had a oil burner service man at his house, what turned the kitchen into a black sooty mess and the afternoon chill was disruped by an unplanned major house cleanup :-(
The good thing, Friday night PyZahl went out on short notice for an Italien style pasty dinner. Very good.

Saturday, day 1

Start at Rocky Point, KK, hitting the trail at 8am. Here are a few selected photos:

Finish at Mark's around 4:30pm. Bikes stored away for next day.

Transportation over to the Youngman's house for the great Big Ride party :-)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sunday, day 2

Start at Mark's at 7:30am. Hitting the trail after a short road section. Little rain sets in.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Finish at Montauk just after sun set, just in time.

Go here to see More Photos

is this art or functional

Review on equipment: Back home from last night ride inspecting the "component" shown here looked funny.

PyZahl is just wondering if this fancy looking material is of any use at this location. He really likes the light weight and stiff thing but does it need fancy optics if they are less protective and easy rippable?

Start into the winter

Switching to winter mode this Sunday.
PyZahl did the first time the EBs Sunday winter route it was a good ride, it was hilly :-)












Late addition from Saturday: a good North Fork ride from WR-duck-pond, very early, very nice, very cold.

CP @ night

PyZahl is too tired that late to write more than that ride was hell of fun once more...