Dan Action

So much to say… July 27, 2008

… This summer has already been on of life-changing proportions. What with the move to Philly, starting a new job, living with Nathalie and our two dogs, it seems so different when I stop and think of it. But honestly, not too much. I hardly ever live somewhere for more than a few years, and have been a part of so many households so widely varying, it hardly seems like a change of pace. I always tend to do more or less the same things wherever I am so in a way,even through the changing scenery, company of friends, and geographic location, I have to say my life still has an air of consistency. I mean, wherever I am I tend to ride the bike, eat the food, and have some decent beer.

Furthering my feelings of being extremely new to this town, I have decided to take a new job. Who wants to feel settled? I will soon be working at the prestigious Cadence Cycling and Multi-sport Center of Philadelphia. I am truly excited about this prospect. If only to be working in service again. B. Therapy is a phenomenal shop, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m awful tired of working the sales floor. I just feel slightly under utilized at times not getting to work on bikes.

It’s not often that I write at all about equipment here on this site, but I’ve been gearing up a bit for the upcoming cross season, and I feel like talking about it.

Crank Bros. pedals work so well for me. I have ridden them in cross for 2 years now with no issues, and now, as they are a sponsor of the Rapha team as well, I ride their road pedals too. I have to say they always feel right. I am thinking about changing over from candy’s to egg beaters for CX, but who knows. Whatever I end up with I am happy. Their support of the Circle A team has been awesome.

I got some Challenge Grifo XS tubulars the other day, they’re stretching now, but I can’t wait to ride them. The consistency of the tread is impeccable, and they feel so soft!! I could use these thing as pillows or toilet seat doughnuts if I so desired.

I may get to test out some of the new Dura-ace wheels this year. The scandium tubeless ones. Hutchinson is making two tread patterns available this year to run tubeless. One file tread, one real knobby. The only thing I think may hinder the tires is they only come in 34’s. That’s pretty wide, but if they ride well, then that’s awesome. Shimano Super Rep. Matt Hagen has made an aside comment to let me race, “ahem”, field test his demo set of wheels, which I will gladly help out with. Other than that, I also started talks with Brian at Circle A about a new frame. I am going into my 3rd season on the first frame, with minimal damage. That’s astounding seeing as how I love to take this bike on any trail, rock garden, downhill course I can find. What a stellar ride. What stellar folks.

Less often than I write about equipment, I omit many things ongoing in my personal life from here, but I am incredibly saddened to say that my Mother, Janice Walsh, has passed away this weekend. She had a very brief and horrible bout with cancer that lasted four months or so. It was incredibly virulent and was not receded by chemo whatsoever. She was still very young. Many of the folks that read here are probably familiar with her in some way. She was always an excited face at many cross races and was eager to travel to them and supported me and my racing in many ways that I can’t quantify. She was a gracious host to many, and took much interest in my friends in a way that was completely genuine. She died yesterday, which was my birthday.

Getting faster? July 8, 2008

I ask the question in a twofold manner. Is the cosmos celestially changing? Is time moving faster? September will be biting on my heels soon, and before I can say “Three more laps!?” with excited , I will be lining up, maybe even called up to the line at the start of another race.

Which brings me to the other side of my original and pointed question; Am I getting faster? Will I be able to be a stronger racer than the one I was last year? I am pretty sure I will be, but the question always lingers. With last year’s season under my belt alone, I think I will do better, seen as the tactic of “racing yourself into shape”. But I went backwards as the end of the season drew closer. I also have to mention that my living and working situation were as such that they worked against me. This season, like all the rest, will be brand new. I will try out another formula to stay ahead and keep my form through ‘cross season.

The Rapha squad did a great loop around eastern MA. the other weekend making Walden pond a focal point of the ride.  As some know, the riding around those parts would have to be exaggerated a bit to be called “epic” even at just over one hundred miles. So even though the operative word of the team may be the “e” word, I prefer to think of the ride by another alliteritive term: essential. Maybe I think of the ride that way because all the roads are so familiar to me, bending and rolling almost aimlessly, or because the scenery of deciduous forests amd colonial buildings recall many memories. If only as the amount of other riders out on the road as we rode as an indicator, we needed to ride this route. Haters stay home.

I managed to negotiate my work schedule that week and stay away from home fr a few days. In a whirlwind of public transport and my sister, I was able to swing down to Worcester, after returning to Boston on our ride, and make it to the Go-Go anniversary party and catch up a bit over drinks and then breakfast. I then rode uphill all the way to my dad’s house and got to spend some QT with him and my stepmom, with my sister arriving shortly after with my brother-in-law and their six kids in tow. I spent the night there and departed the next day with sis and the gang to my mom’s house in CT. It was nice catching up with so much family, sometimes I get used to the rarity of our visits, but when we do get together, I so enjoy the times. I spent the night there and took the train into NY, got some coffee at Cadence NYC, and then made my bus in Chinatown departing for Philly. I got home, said Hi to the mutts, walked them and got back on the bike for the Drives ride: the fast, fast group ride here. Whew.

Stay tuned for some possible actually interesting news regarding my employment. I am in a pickle to say the least.

photo by Daniel Sharp.