Dan Action

Mountains May 23, 2009

 

I’ve just returned home to Philly last night, dropped off by such good friends I’ve just spent the better part of the last two weeks with in vans, hotels, pools, bars, and roads twisting through the Appalachian mountains.

As a Rapha Continental rider I went southward to take part in a few of the hosted rides put forth by folks as part of the Continental Calling project. My trip took me on rides starting in Tennessee to Georgia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and ultimately, to D.C.  As they post, I urge any reader to check out the more or less daily reports posted on the Rapha Continental Site, which I will add, has gotten a great facelift. Also check out some extras and behind the scenes takes posted quite often on the Embrocation Cycling Journal Blog, as Jeremy himself is along for the ride as well.

It’s hard as I sit here to really convey or even truly unpack all that has occurred in the past twelve days. Rides, drives, storms, meals, conversation, and drinks are only now being digested and becoming actual memory. The best I can do is show all of you some photos for now. In the coming days I will find a way that I can best break down the trip into something more manageable and post more cohesive stories. 

J. Dunn at Gran Fondo

Hotel Rapha

Strictly Recovery

Pretty OK

Tax Man’s Work

Weird Treats

Breakfast at Tryst, Thanks, Sol

Catch Up May 6, 2009

Another move is over, luckily this one was a mere few blocks away from our old place. The recession seemed to help out with some rent prices here in Philly and we were able to secure a new house with close to three times the size for shorter cash each month.  No matter how good a deal is though, it still sucks to pack your shit up and move. A few weeks into the new place and there is still an ever growing list of things to do.

On the Camp Cupboard front that means our studio is still not set up to work in yet. Hopefully within the week there will be a semblance of order there. I can’t wait to get in there and start cutting again, I’ve got some good ideas rolling around my head.

On the riding side of life, there is much happening. Currently I am getting ready to head down to the southern states of our huge country to do another series of rides with the Rapha Continental. A summer long campaign is already in the works. All riders, photographers, videographers, and coordinators will be doing their parts along with a list of gracious hosts around the country to add even more depth and breadth into the already stunning, however regional, current catalogue of rides. If you find yourself with a few spare moments throughout the days of the next few months, I highly suggest you visit the Continental site and follow the Road Journal as I am sure there will be beauty and hi-jinx to spare.

I did get to race at Battenkill. It was my first master’s race, albeit 30 plus. I managed to ride at the front most of the race, making all the early selections, but made an error with ten miles to go letting a small gap open up. I figured I would just catch on the descent, but that descent, it would turn out, just went into a series of rollers which I would just parallel the front group. Then I can only imagine as the attacks came in the final few miles, there would be no hope. Oh well, I felt good throughout the race, and I’ve come to the conclusion that I really love riding my Colnago. That bike is great, I feel that even as it is less special to me than the bikes that good friends have worked at making for me, it most definitely deserves it’s place in the line up.

I will soon follow up this post with a bunch of photos I’ve been taking. I just need to find where I packed the reader for all my SD cards. See y’all soon. So much to talk about.