Category Archives: Exercise

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The Massacre at Tea Creek

The Tea Creek Trail Head
The Tea Creek Team

We all kind of laughed at the potential title to this post but in some ways, it was kind of true. Syed Hyder, Mark” the Shark” Sauers, John Casuccio and his daughter Haley, Pete Hilton and I all made the trek to Snowshoe, West Virginia to take in the UCI World Cup Mountain Bike Races and do some riding in the always challenging trails of West Virginia. Little did we know that our ride in the Tea Creek area would turn into probably one of the most challenging rides we have ever done all due to a navigational error. But we will get into that in a bit. First things first. We started out with a nice ride at the Baker’s Ridge trails near the WVU campus with our good friend Roger Evans. He led us around these beautifully created trails as a first stop on our way south.

Roger- upper left. Gave us a good tour around Morgantown.

Moving towards Slaty Fork and Marlinton after the ride, we made our way to a wonderful cabin at the Jerico Bed and Breakfast complex. The cabins there are restored pre-Civil War structures that are truly spectacular. If you ever want a nice place to stay- look no further than the Jerico and rent one of those beautifully restored cabins. https://jericobb.com

The Lee Cabin- named after the famous Confederate general. Right near Marlinton, WVA.

After settling into the Lee Cabin, we awoke the next morning to a spectacularly sunny day with the changing leaves all holding court for our visual enjoyment. John and I had discussed the route on the Tea Creek ride prior to the trip and had agreed on a plan to take us down the Gauley Mountain Trail, making a right turn on the Bear Pen Trail which would eventually end up on a fire road which we could take back to the lot, or we could add a few miles by rerouting on some of the trails generally around the parking area. John and Haley had downloaded the map on their Garmin devices and I went old school with my map of the area from the old Wild 100 days. I have had a lot of experience riding in that region and had a pretty good idea of the good routes versus the tough routes. John suggested that we make a right turn on the way down the Gauley Mountain trail which deviated from our plan. But we were all cool with it as we were challenged on the rocky, rooty, always slimy terrain. As Shark would say, ” it gets West Virginia in a hurry” once you begin riding anything in that region and the Gauley Mountain Trail and the Red Trail were no different. You always have to keep your speed up because momentum is your friend. As soon as you slow down and think too hard about what is in front of you, trouble ensues.

Pondering the crossing
John and Syed slogging through

Had we decided to go all the way down, we could have hit the Tea Creek Mountain Trail which several of us had ridden before. That would have led us to the Tea Creek campground with an easy out on the Bannock Shoals trail to the fire road to the finish. But what could have been a nice “Gilligan’s Island” three hour tour turned into a true backcountry slogfest when our only route out was the Tea Creek Trail which was clearly marked on my map as ” not recommended”. I knew when we were headed there that it would be a very challenging route out. Most of it was unrideable and it even would be challenging as a hiking trail with multiple stream crossings before the trail ended.

We all tried to keep our shoes dry by handing each other our bikes and gingerly crossing the slimy rocks in the Tea Creek. But by the time we hit the 6th stream crossing, we all basically were trying to get across the best way we could which included hip deep wading and steep banks on the other side where we once again pushed our bikes up the steep inclines out of the creek and passing the bikes up the bank when needed. Our shoes were soaked and the going got tougher when we tried to ride some sections out. Shark fell and banged his noggin and had some blood on his lip which caused his Confederate general, snowwhite beard to sport some red. Doc Hyder made sure he was ok and we plodded on primarily pushing our bikes over four miles of steep, rocky, unrideable terrain. Along with the usual annoyances of stepping on ground bees nests and getting multiple stings, falling in the creek, getting pounded by the relentless uphill rocks, roots, and mud bogs, we finally escaped the Tea Creek Trail and made our way back to the fire road and ultimately to the parking lot……………..5+1/2 hours after we began. Including a half hour lunch break of pre-packed peanut butter and honey sandwiches. Always a winner and a life saver on long rides.

West Virginians are tough as we saw several of them on the rides plowing their way through everything. They are used to this challenging terrain, but our crew held our own in what was truly a backcountry adventure leading me to the conclusion that any deviations from the mapped plans can lead to more than we would bargain for. Haley, the mother of two young kids, was undaunted by it all and showed that once again, youth is wasted on the young. She was amazing.

The World Cup Races were fun to watch especially the downhill on Saturday. The fitness displayed by the XC racers on Sunday was amazing to see as well as they are all the best in the world and we had the good fortune to see them up close. Snowshoe does a great job putting on these races every year and hopefully the UCI schedule will permit another wild, wonderful event in the premier showcase resort in the area.

East Coast Legend Jeremiah Bishop. The always smiling Pete Hilton in background.
Defending Olympic Gold medalist and current World Champion Tom Pidcock. So cool to see him in person.
The very personable Brit Evie Richards -always a contender for the women’s XC crown. Our doc Syed on right.

I am getting a little long in the tooth for 5+1/2 hour rides, slogs, hikes or whatever you want to call it. But sometimes age and treachery survives ,and I will be back to try the new 30 mile trail system currently being developed near Marlinton. This system we are told, will be an IMBA Gold Trail System- the first on the East Coast. This will bring Marlinton well into the game of being a top- rated destination spot for mountain bike riding. But I will be using my maps for sure and not deviating from the plan. However, if it were not for the deviation, we would not have had the adventure we had. So, no problem, John. A fun adventure. Sometimes you have to deviate. Thanks for reading.

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When the Autumn Weather- Turns the Leaves to Flame

Skipper Lake at the Lodge at Glendorn

The title line here is from the iconic “September Song” – arranged by Kurt Weil and lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. But when I play this song on my piano, ( from my mother’s sheet music), it reminds me that fall is here and the leaves are changing, the nights are cooler, and probably my favorite time of the year has arrived. As much as I try to rush into ski season, more and more I am relishing the cool, crisp days of fall with the spectacular foliage we have here in Western Pa. I am in no hurry for winter. It will come soon enough, and I will surely enjoy it. But as I get older, I really enjoy the changing of the seasons – especially summer to fall.

The other night, our posse was out mountain bike riding on one of our regular weekly scheduled rides, and we noticed that after the sun went down, it got real cool ,real fast. The sweatshirts came out and we sat around with our post ride beers and snacks ( courtesy of Bob K), and really enjoyed riding and relaxing in cooler weather without the swelter of summer. I seem to ride better when the humidity is lower and the temperatures start to moderate. But aside from that, to sit and take in the cool weather, a nice IPA, and listen to the cricket symphony of early fall is a true blessing.

Bear Cub sighting last fall.

Sometimes when you hike or ride in the fall, you come across some interesting things- like two bear cubs scampering up a tree in the Allegheny National Forest. I was looking for mom when I snapped this photo but got it and then quickly took off so as not to irritate the mother bear. The Laurel Mountains, close to here, also paint a picture a little earlier than in the suburbs. It is great to venture east and see the changing of the leaves happen a little earlier with the slight rise in elevation. Sunshine, cooler weather, and colder nights, seem to bring out the colors faster than in the city and suburbs. I tend to visit the Laurels a lot in the fall because of the wonderful fall portraits that display themselves in Ligonier, Somerset, and Rector, Pa. The fireplaces are cranking up and that smoky smell just excites me to no end. The smells of fall are intoxicating. There is something about a crackling fire that enhances the fall experience, and the smell of leaves is not really accurately describable – but we all know that smell.

I am also a fan of the tastes of fall. Nothing like a good Octoberfest to get you going. And even though I don’t enjoy the great wursts, sauerbraten, and pork loins anymore because I am not a meat eater, nobody can slam potato pancakes and apple sauce like me along with some nice braised red cabbage washed down with a great German beer or a local Penn Brewery Octoberfest lager. Maybe a warm pretzel as well! I like to listen to the ooom pahh German bands too. They seem to go along with the great beers and food.

Great time to hike or ride a mountain bike and take in scenes like this. Seven Springs, Pa.
My old outdoor fireplace was always blazing in the fall.

You know, I am not really sure I could ever live in a place that does not have the change of seasons. Especially a place that really does not have a fall season. I love wearing sweaters, sweatshirts, and even those times where you have a puffy jacket on and a pair of shorts. That kind of describes the weather here in the Mid -Atlantic and the Northeast. Cool mornings, warmer days, and then cool again at night. Great sleeping weather. I don’t miss the summer AC at all.

Bondieu Lake- The Lodge at Glendorn- Bradford, Pa.

As time marches on, I find myself taking time to really enjoy what God’s creation has to offer. I notice the flame red leaves on the trails as I ride, I take in the smells, I look for little things that might have gone un-noticed as a younger person. Watching a particular maple tree in my neighborhood change colors so slowly but yet somehow- so quickly. Holding my wife’s hand on a hike instead of rushing up a hill to be the first guy there. Fall is like that. It gives you perspective, but rewards you with scenery that you only see for a short time- once per year. My advice to all of you is get out there and enjoy it and take the time to enjoy it all. We have a good deal here in Western Pa. Thanks for reading.

The Transition Spur in transition time in the Laurels.
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Time

Ocean City, NJ

So we visited Janet’s cousin and aunt last week at the “shore” as it is called. Looking out at the ocean and listening to my soundtrack on my new Shokz Open Fit earphones, I had some contemplative moments. The Open Fits are a great item that allow you to listen to music or podcasts but fit outside your ear canal so you can hear what is going on around you. Check them out. But anyhow, I was thinking about the end of summer and the beginning of fall coming and getting close to another lap around the sun for me which will be the end of a decade. Next year is the beginning of a new decade for me and sometimes I feel like I am running out of time. I feel like I am in a Ferrari at full speed, standing and holding the steering wheel, both feet slammed on the brakes to no avail. Thoughts like that are on one side of the mental checklist, but more positive thoughts are on the other side of that checklist. Things like good health with which I have been blessed. The plant based diet seems to be working as I have lowered cholesterol significantly and lost 13 pounds which was not really intended. I don’t need to lose weight, but I did and feel so much better. I have been riding my mountain bike better and feel lighter and stronger even though I am getting older.

I use a Garmin Fenix 6 X fitness watch which allows me to track a whole host of data, some which I use and others that are not used. But two of the interesting metrics are that is says my fitness age is 57 and my Vo2 Max is 43 which is in the top ten percent for my age group. Not sure how much stock I put into those metrics, but it makes you feel a little better. I am not afraid of getting older, but sometimes when you have time to think, like at the shore, thoughts creep into your head. I lost some friends this year and that is sobering. But as Dr. Peter Attia says, it is not that we are trying to live longer, but to enjoy the years we have with good health. He also says in his book “Outlive”, that if you want to roll around on the floor with your grandkids, and get up with no issues, you have to “backcast” to where you are now and start exercising with that in mind. A lot of that is genetics and good blessings, but exercise is definitely a contributor and something to which I have always subscribed.

The mountain bike has been a wonderful tool for me.
End of summer floral greetings on the trails.

As I move to this new decade in 2024, I do still have some fitness goals. I also want to continue to learn. My friend Eric is helping me to work on a more modern ski technique which I will practice this winter. I need to get lower, wider, and use both skis in a turn like the modern race turn which is facilitated by the new equipment available to us. You can always learn new things. Sure, I can stay with my A frame classic technique but why not continue to learn new things and make more dynamic turns on the slopes?

I can’t do it like Mikaela but it sure is a good mental image.

But other than exercise, there are more considerations about the topic of time. I am moving towards retirement, and I am beginning to think about the use of time for Janet and me in a world where I will not be employed anymore. Janet’s cousin Jeff had an interesting comment during our stay at the shore. He is retiring next year, and he is a surgeon. He told me he thought that the most important thing is not what you are retiring from, but what you are retiring to. He says the new chapter in your life should be filled with a purpose. In his case, he is going to be actively involved in the ministry of the Eastern Orthodox Church. He not only has a medical degree from Yale, but a Divinity degree as well. He is going to make good use of that in retirement. I also think that is a good mission statement for Janet and me. There are so many worthy causes to which we can give our time and we will make an effort to pray about it and see where this path will take us.

Time spent together is priceless.

But getting back to that mental checklist, the fear of running out of time is offset by being active and enjoying all that life has to offer. Time together, traveling, active lifestyles, continuing education. To be honest, I feel better now and more fit than I did ten years ago. How that is possible is beyond me, but I will continue with the exercise and the diet and see how things go. God has been good to us. I appreciate all the blessings we have, and the contemplative thoughts are usually overshadowed by an active and productive lifestyle. And as most older people have said – keep moving.

Bill McCollom was a former masters ski racer ,all American ski racer at Middlebury College and editor of Ski Racing. His famous line was, ” I want to go skidding across the finish line of life, missing parts, leaking oil, and screaming……..GERONIMO!!!” An interesting mantra from a very active guy. Thanks for reading and keep moving.

Now the time has come

There are things to realize

Time has come today

-The Chambers Brothers.

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The B Team Bringing Their A Game

You know, Pittsburgh is a beautiful city. And to see it from the seat of a bicycle along with riding to and through all the beautiful city parks is something very special. Cyclo X is the brainchild of Aaron Shafer who started this ride a number of years ago and it has increased in popularity. Aaron’s route changes each year for variety but for the most part, it encompasses all the parks with some mixed surfaces like road, gravel, and of course singletrack trails.

The founder of Cyclo X- Aaron Shafer. A Team Leader
The start at the Grist House Brewery – Millvale, Pa.

The ride can be done on a gravel bike, but the preferred bike would be a mountain bike. No chance on a road bike. There are some fairly technical trails in the city parks especially the Emerald Trails up on Mount Washington where having a mountain bike is an advantage. Sure, gravel bikes can be used, but unless you have some pretty superb technical skills, you really are better off riding a mountain bike which is fine on all surfaces.

The Emerald Trails- Mt. Washington.

This year the route began on the North Shore trail and made its way through the Northside up to the first park on the menu- Riverview. After an insanely steep climb from Woods Run to the top of Riverview, the groups were tested early. There are two groups- the A group consisting of mostly younger guys and gals who are still racing and riding at a high level.( I have socks older than them). And the rest of us, the B group, with less mileage and climbing. Everything is up from the rivers and thus the vertical challenge. The A group ride is usually 70-80 miles and over 5000 feet of climbing, the B group is around 50+ miles and over 4000 feet of climbing. Nonetheless, a challenge for either group.

From Riverview, the groups make their way to Point State Park and out to Oakland near the Pitt and CMU campuses. Riding your bike along the roads of Oakland and the Southside is interesting because you tend to see things and neighborhoods where you might not ordinarily go. But the real challenge was ahead on the climb to Mt. Washington.

The Shark making his way over the water.

Many people don’t realize that you can take singletrack trails all the way from the Southside up to the top of Mt. Washington. These lead to the Emerald Trails which yielded some really nice views of the city, but things get tight and technical real fast. And they are off camber making you pay close attention so as not to plummet over the hillside. All of this is rewarded with a lunch at Redbeard’s which is an annual affair. Sitting outside, both groups gather together for a quick lunch before hammering the Emerald Trails back down to the Southside and once again out to Oakland to complete the route through Frick, Schenley, and Highland parks. Frick Park has some technical riding and again, a mountain bike is preferred.

The view from the Emerald Trails
CMU Campus with University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning in the background.

It is always amazing to me to see the kindness and friendliness of Pittsburghers. I needed some water and we saw these guys in Hazelwood sitting on their porch. Mike Connors, our attentive leader on the ride, asked them if we could get some water and they brought out bottles of cold water from their fridge. They were interested in where we started and would end up and were so engaging with our group. Pittsburghers are like that and even though most of us don’t spend much time in Hazelwood, we were grateful to the guys on the porch.

The annual lunch stop- Redbeard’s Mount Washington.
Our MVP Wesley on a vintage Rob Vandermark Merlin titanium frame – single speed. Tough climbing on a single speed. Not the burliest tires either.
The B group bringing their A game to Mt. Washington.

After about 6 and half hours of riding, our group made it back to the Grist House for a well deserved beer. The A group was still out but we all were satisfied with the effort that we made, and it was time to relax savoring another Cyclo X. These events tend to bring people together maybe that have never met or perhaps not seen each other in a long time. I was encouraged that it seemed to go well this year even though I was starting to wonder if I was a little “long in the tooth” for this event. But with the fellowship of friends, the beautiful weather, and the really scenic route, I am committed to do this ride until I can’t pedal. After all, I was the oldest rider at Cyclo X. Plus, Pete Hilton would never let me quit attending.

Steve Gurtner of B group bringing their A game fame.
Steve Gurtner, Mark” the Shark” Sauers, and Robb Alarcon- friends in winter and summer.

The nice thing about these kinds of events is that they are memorable for a number of reasons. One of them being a comeback for a guy who had some setbacks last year. The Shark had A fib issues and wondered if he would ever ride at a high level again. But with a lot of prayer, good medical attention, and some serious fortitude, Mark ” the Shark” Sauers, came back to ride strong this year and strong in this year’s version of Cyclo X. In fact ,he rode some extra miles, well, because he could. Stories of the ride, the mishaps, the fun and the climbs, all abounded at the Grist House after the ride and Cyclo X 2023 is now in the books. Hoping that Aaron puts together another interesting route next year. If you have any interest in a really fun but challenging ride, check Facebook for next year’s event. Thanks for reading and don’t forget to be a follower on the page. http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com It helps me a lot.

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Housekeeping

The one who started this whole thing. My wife Janet.

I am writing a little bit of a different post this week to kind of set straight my ideas about my blog. This is a hobby for me. I like to write but also, I like to share stories which my wife thinks should be written down and kept for our son and hopefully his family someday. In fact, I have used a company from Rochester, New York called Blog 2 Print that has published four volumes in a coffee table book format for me. Not that my stories are anything special. I have done nothing outstanding, but I do have some stories that have a purpose, are sometimes amusing and put forth a positive message for all of us seniors. Life is good and we can all be Younger Next Year.

Fall is coming

Most of my posts tend to focus on outdoor subjects like alpine skiing, hiking and mountain biking. These are my “go to ” activities and they all have something in common. They are enjoyed by all kinds of people from all walks of life. The cool thing about enjoying the great outdoors is that all the politics, personal biases, and differences are all left behind and everyone tends to enjoy each other’s company through these activities in the wild. People need to get away from the pressures of life and if they can enjoy it with an outdoor activity, especially with friends. That is something special.

Activities spawn lifetime friendships. The Flying Smittys.

So, as a bit of housekeeping, I have a favor to ask. Many of you follow the blog on Facebook and that is fine. But it would be good if you would go to http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com and look for the little white box in the column to the left, enter your email, and be a follower on the page. Or you can scroll down on your smart phone and the signup box is right below the post. You will get an email once per week or once every two weeks with no ads, and no subscription or bother. Be sure to click on the title to get all the pictures too. You can decline at anytime . I am trying to grow the blog a little bit only to perhaps spread my message a little more to an expanded audience. Again, I am nobody special. But I want to somehow reach some people to inspire them to get out of their comfort zone as a senior and perhaps try new things. I also like to verbalize my thoughts and would like to reach more people with some humor, perhaps some little inspiration, and maybe give them something to think about in a positive way- once a week or once every two weeks depending on my own inspiration.

Handling the shark took me a little bit out of my comfort zone too.

The blog will also get some potential sponsor advertising from some outdoor companies if I reach several thousand hits per month. Word Press will help me do that. I am close to that volume of hits and perhaps I can get to the goal line with expanding the follower base of the blog. I want to thank all of you who support this thing with your kind comments and friendships. Get outside, enjoy nature, and follow the blog. http://www.chroniclesofmccloskey.com Also spread the word to your friends and families. They can be followers too and help get this thing off the ground a little more. Thanks for reading.

Mammoth Mountain, Ca. One of my favorite places.
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The Moon Rocks

The Moon Rocks- Davis, West Virginia

Well, the old dudes are about to make a return to West Virginia late September to take in the UCI World Cup Mountain Bike Races at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. Lots of fun watching the pro men and women in cross country and downhill. Their skill is amazing and the atmosphere is electric with all the fans. But part of the fun is riding the uber challenging trails of West Virginia. I am currently plotting out our rides for the long weekend and the ride routes in Davis, West Virginia are etched in my mind. This would include the famous Moon Rocks as seen above. This interesting sandstone formation is very old and the pockmarked water spots make riding this section very challenging. This is an ancient rock formation that has surfaced over the years. Supposedly it is 480 million years old. Knowing that, it kind of commands your respect as you make your way onto it’s pockmarked surface. It is unlike any other area on the trail system in Davis but certainly a most interesting feature of the technical riding there.

The first time I ever saw the Moon Rocks was in the 24 Hours of Canaan years ago in Davis. I was warned about them as I slogged my way out of a portage in the river at the start of the race. I was totally soaked and the marshal said, “wait until you get to the Moon Rocks.” I was kind of taken back when I first came up on them and worked my way through them slowly but surely, so as not to crash on the sandstone/bedrock surface. Three laps later at about 3:00 AM, I came on them in the pitch dark of night. My lights illuminated the marshal who was standing there with a long coat looking like the grim reaper. It was kind of eerie making my way in and out of the rocks with no one else around at that particular time in the race. It is sometimes tough to make your way up and through the rocks, stay upright and exit without incident.

My posse back in the day at Davis, West Virginia

The race days are over for me but we still like riding down in West Virginia. We are staying at the Jerico in Marlinton where we used to stay years ago. We are utilizing their Lee Cabin which is a restored Civil War cabin. When we first went to the Jerico, the proprietor’s father asked us where we were from. We told him and he said, ” Yankee boys.” ” We have four of you buried on the hillside behind us from the war.” We laughed about that one, but I slept with one eye open. LOL!! The Lee Cabin is named after the famous Civil War general and the history of the Jerico will be on full display there. I will also drag out all of my old maps from the area and compare them with the Trail Forks app to come up with a good itinerary of rides before we get cleaned up to take in the races at Snowshoe. But the riding there is no joke and you have to be prepared for wet roots, slimy rocks, and generally difficult conditions. Just the way the West Virginians like it. We will have our doc with us to patch things up if anything goes sideways. That is if he doesn’t need patched up himself which is more likely the case.

We are also hoping for some dry weather. More often than not, we have experienced torrential rains when we headed to West Virginia. The Wild 100 days, the NORBA races at Snowshoe, the West Virginia Fat Tire Festival were often plagued with heavy rain which made the riding conditions even more challenging. Last year, the UCI race at Snowshoe had biblical rains and it was interesting to see the men and the women pros handle the really slick, muddy descents.

The finish line for the pros at Snowshoe after an incredibly muddy race.

Hopefully we will have a dry shot at the Moon Rocks in Davis on the way down. Perhaps a slice of whole wheat pizza at Sirianni’s or a burrito at Hellbenders then head south to Marlinton. It is always a great time in the Mountain State and we are all looking forward to a visit to the Moon. Thanks for reading.

Cheering on the racers with ………..more cowbell.
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Après

Après in the City
Après with the bride at Niagra on the Lake- Canada.

Recently I have been posting about the necessity to enjoy each day as we get older. Instead of always planning the next trip, adventure, or whatever, enjoy each day as it comes. You can’t get time back and it is important to grasp each moment of each day and enjoy it for what it is. Not that you can’t make plans or on the flip side, make everything spontaneous( I wish I could), but take the time to enjoy where you are and relish the good day at hand.

Après is a celebration of each day’s events. Usually accompanied by a beverage or two and involving all the folks with whom you did something with that day. These summer days, it is usually with my mountain biking group. We finish a ride, change clothes, grab our coolers and snacks, haul out the camp chair from our vehicles, and relax as the day winds down. The stories that come out are fun and relishing the day’s events with friends is truly the best part of the ride in my opinion.

Après is more famous in the ski setting as most people like to do the same thing after a great day of skiing. Sitting around a fire with a beverage or two and reliving the great conditions of the day, is a major part of the ski experience. The pictures below celebrate après and also our friend Tim Girone’s birthday up in Bend, Oregon this past winter. Janet asked me, ” we are going to sit around in the parking lot and drink beer and eat snacks in the cold?” She was the last one to leave. It was so much fun and an adaptation on the usual après ski venue.

Happy Birthday Tim- cold but fun.

I posted recently about one of my favorite après ski places- The Cottage up in Lake Placid. Another great venue for celebrating the day’s events.

Most often, one of the more humorous parts of après is how the day’s stories grow in size similar to the standard fishing stories. The size of the fish increases as the day wears on and the same with après. The stories get more spectacular the longer you sit in your chair. Like my dad always said,” The first liar never has a chance.” LOL! All part of the après scene.

Après is fun no matter what sport you participate in, and you should make it a part of your outing whenever you go riding a bike, playing golf, tennis, or whatever floats your boat. Celebrate the day and the friendships that you have made. They say if you go out of this world and can count your good friends on your right hand, you are fortunate. Kind of grim, but really drives home the point to take the time to enjoy each day on this planet, and enjoy the friends that make your days special. Après is like the icing on the cake to a great day. It is the signature of the outing, signed sealed and delivered. You always remember the great days of riding and skiing and equally, most of us remember the great après events that followed the days. They are etched in your mind forever when thinking about good friends. The memories, the pictures in your mind, will last a lifetime. Celebrate with après in whatever you do and most importantly savor each day as it comes. They go quickly. Thanks for reading.

Bob Kowalski – master provider of snacks for the post MTB rides.
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Ya Gadda Have a Laugh

I try to make Jan laugh every day. Usually, I am successful. LOL!!

Have you noticed how serious some people are today? Politics, the economy, and other daily stressors tend to make some people very agitated when really there is not much we can do about it other than try to be kind to each other daily. Part of that kindness is to get a laugh out of people and for a brief moment, they forget their troubles and laugh at the situation. In my case, I self- deprecate to elicit that laugh. Take last week for example. It was my nephew’s birthday. He was not happy about turning 31, but I told him I have socks older than him. That got a good laugh from him even though Richard tends to be fairly serious. For a brief moment, he realized that his Uncle Pat made him feel better. I enjoyed hearing him laugh.

In the last blog post, I talked about getting hit in the head with a chipped ham sandwich while riding my road bike. Not too funny at the time especially with what the driver had to say to me, but funny today thinking about it. And the best part- funny to all of you . Admit it. A chipped ham sandwich……..whack……right in the back of the helmet. With mayo!!!

Speaking of road riding- have any of you riders noticed how serious some road riders tend to be? I happen to be friendly on rides and when we pass a group of road riders, oftentimes they don’t say hello and kind of give you a scowl like they are in the Tour de France or something? I chuckle and think to myself, nobody is going to the Olympics on your ride…….lighten up.

Making Pete laugh is a daily occurrence.

I think the main reason a lot of people like to ride or ski with me is I make them laugh. We jokingly talk about mishaps on the ride or on the slopes. And I bring up some inane conversation that has nothing to do with the ride. I just try to make them laugh while we are killing each other up some hill. My friend Porter always laughs when he reminds me that I took out a whole PSIA clinic group one time on the ski slopes. They were all serious involved in a conversation about technique when I skied down to talk to them, crossed my tips, and took out the whole group like bowling pins including the examiner conducting the clinic. I was embarrassed at the time. But now……..it is one of the funny things Porter remembers. He always says” a level III certified guy cleans out the whole group!” You would think I would know better, but it gets a laugh every time Porter and Tim bring it up.

The makeshift meet and greet table at the World Cup in Snowshoe

I also like to create things to get a laugh. Like when Bob Anderson and the Shark and I visited Snowshoe, West Virginia for the World Cup Mountain Bike Races. Shark is a character and Bob and I saw a free table in the expo area. We set up a makeshift meet and greet so that the UCI mountain bike community could meet the Shark. People didn’t quite know what to make of it, but you would be amazed at the riders and their entourage who came over to meet the Shark. We had a lot of laughs about that. Especially since Bob A tends to be on the serious side……………until you get a big belly laugh from him. Doesn’t take much. LOL!!!

Specialized rider Haley Batten. She was anxious to meet the Shark. LOL!!!
Specialized rider Sina Frei didn’t quite know what to make of the Shark. LOL!!

I have a lot of fun riding mountain bikes and skiing because I don’t take things too seriously and a laugh on the chairlift or on the trail is well worth my effort. I like to brighten people’s day and getting a laugh out of them is always a fun pursuit.

There are so many funny things that occur during the day and if you take the time to capture them, have fun with them, and get a smile out of someone, you have done a good thing for people. I make my wife Janet laugh every day and even though my son Jack often doesn’t appreciate my humor, I like to get a laugh from him as well. Remember- dads are dorks and it is a challenge to overcome that. But oftentimes I relish my role as ………………the dork.

My buddy Dixon always gets me to laugh. He is a character. I have a lot of characters in my life.

Surround yourself with fun people and your life will be so enriched. Things are tough today. There is a lot of division, bitterness, and bad blood, but if you can make the best of it, look on the bright side of life, and don’t get hung up on the news, your life will be so much more fulfilling. Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself either. So many people are insecure that they don’t like to make fun of themselves. I don’t know how secure I am, but I don’t have any trouble making fun of myself. It makes other people laugh, and for that………………I am happy. My mother always said, ” happiness is like a perfume…..you can’t sprinkle it on others without getting a little bit on yourself.” No truer words have been said and my mother was…………..a character. Thanks for reading.

I even had Greg Lemond laughing on some rides.
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A Tough Decision

Greg Lemond in the middle. JR Ellis and I were guests of Scott Weiner on this charity ride.

I was watching a really good documentary on the Tour de France this week on Netflix. If you get the chance to see it, watch it. Very well done. It brought up some thoughts of when I was real active riding road bikes. I started back in my 20s with a ride from North Park out into Butler County with Larry Cohen and Chuck Martin. These two guys, who are no longer with us, got me started and what a “ride” it has been. From long rides in the country, to racing the Allegheny Cycling Association time trials and criteriums at the Pittsburgh Zoo parking lot, to races in New Jersey and the Mt. Washington Hill Climb in New Hampshire. I also had the chance to ride my road bike in Holland, Ireland, and England as well as in many states of the U.S. Lots of good times riding along with lots of time on my hands.

Greg Lemond- our only Tour de France champion. Thanks again to Scott.

I always enjoyed riding in a pack in the races and also on long road rides with all of my friends. The road is so smooth and when you get in a good group and exchange leads in a counterclockwise rotation, you can really motor along and rack up some serious mileage. Road cycling was always my go to spring, summer and fall activity for many, many years, until it all came to a screeching halt 5 years ago. Not by any accident or traumatic issue, but rather from the circumstances surrounding the roads that I had cycled for years. I started to notice an aggressive behavior of drivers on the road who seemed stressed. I used to ride in the city a lot and never had any vehicle issues- well maybe a few, but I generally kept my head down and kept pedaling and didn’t get into any confrontations. One time I had a guy throw a ham sandwich with mayo at me and smack me in the back of the head. After a few expletives from him in his car, he drove off and I wiped the Teddy Bear sandwich from the back of my helmet and kept riding. But it was starting to make me nervous.

Not much room on the berm on Pennsylvania roads.

The years went on and the road cycling continued. I enjoyed my weeknight rides to Mars, Pa. and beyond, and my weekend rides the country north of where I live. Most of the time, when I got further north, the roads were not as crowded, and the scenery was great, and it was a pleasant riding experience. But as housing developments began to spring up, replacing the farms and wooded areas I once rode through, the traffic became more of an issue along with the aggression of the drivers. Even though road bicyclists can share the road with motor vehicles, there was a feeling from a lot of drivers that we did not belong there. I always tried to ride to the right of the road as far as I could and gave drivers the appropriate hand signals to alert them if I was turning. I never got into confrontations and always tried to be courteous. But things started changing.

Beautiful fall riding but no berm.

With the advent of car phones and then cellular phones, I noticed an increase in accidents, sometimes fatal on our roads. The ones I used to cycle on all the time. Different organizations put white painted bicycles called Ghost Bikes at the fatal accident sites as a reminder of what can happen. I came to the decision, a tough one , to sell my road bike and not leave my safety to the whim of someone not paying attention to the road and texting their friends. It just wasn’t the way it used to be, and I was thankful that at least mountain biking had taken over as a very good alternative option.

Ghost Bike.

I miss road cycling. I miss the friends that I rode with. I also miss the solitary times by myself on some country road seeing picturesque farms and mountain views. Technology with the phones, and the spur of housing development had deflated my passion for riding on the road. Watching the Tour documentary this week brought back a lot of memories of road cycling. I looked at those nice Pinarello road bikes that Ineos uses with a bit of nostalgic envy.

I don’t mean in any way to suggest that anyone stop road cycling. I miss it. But I am just relating my experiences good and bad which made me come to the decision to stop. Maybe I am getting more conservative as I get older, or perhaps a bit more cautious. But the time came for me to put my road cycling life in the past and focus on other pursuits. Be careful where you ride. Stay safe. Be alert to vehicles and their drivers and avoid confrontation at all costs. Thanks for reading.

https://fb.watch/lpjYpG610H/?mibextid=qC1gEa

Good Rules of the Road for Cyclists link from Lake Placid.

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More than Raystown

The Adventurefest Mountain Bike Group.

Last week I told you all about Adventurefest and the great time we had at that event. Part of the deal was to get a group together to ride at the wonderful Allegrippis Trail System at Raystown Lake in Central Pennsylvania. Now many of you know about the lake and the trails that were created by the Army Corps of Engineers and the whole facility is a testament to their hard work and planning for many years. Raystown is the largest manmade lake in Pa. and the trail system is really well laid out and lots of fun to ride. They have lots of flow and the views of the lake from the trails are spectacular. But I will leave that there. Lots has been written about Raystown and I don’t need to reinvent the wheel. But what I do want to talk about is the group of us that ended up riding together that day.

Raystown Lake from the trail system

We split the group into four of us who were pretty strong riders and the other group who were more casual and went off on their own. I rode with John Casuccio, Mark Sauers, and Bob Horrell. I ride with John and Mark fairly frequently and it was nice to connect with Bob who I have ridden with before and also ski with him. As we rode along, we were treated to a good route by Mark “the Shark” Sauers who knew a new route for us to try. Pretty good pace and nice dry flowy trails. But again, that is not the story here.

The Four Amigos.

The story that I thought about on the ride was the fact that all of us are different ages. That is the cool thing about mountain bike riding and skiing for that matter. The love of the sport transcends age and if you can keep yourself in shape, you can continue to ride no matter who you ride with. Bob is on the left here and he is 43, I am 68, John is 61 and the Shark is 58. I chuckled to myself when I thought that I was 25 when Bob was born. But when we are on the trail, age is not a discussion point. We all are mountain bikers and skiers and snowboarders for that matter, and we all bond together on the trails and on the slopes. It was interesting to have a conversation with Bob who is younger and to get his perspective on things. I like the younger guy’s perspective and as the Health and Safety guy at Seven Springs, Bob has a lot to say about the state of skiing locally. He also has a great perspective on life. Again , nice to get a young guy’s perspective on things. But the thing that united all of us last weekend was the riding, the camping, and the Adventurefest. Nobody thinks of age when you are pounding up a hill. You all just get in the rhythm and ride. The experience unites all of us no matter the age. That is why it is so important as you age, to stay in shape. You can enjoy the experience with all kinds of people in all kinds of different age categories. As long as nothing catastrophic happens with your health, you can continue to enjoy your outdoor activities for a long time.

John the Bear whisperer.
Dan and Steve Gurtner at Laurel Mountain. Dan is one of the fast young guys who is gracious enough to ride with all of us. Steve is his old man.

Now I don’t kid myself. I can’t ride with the fast, young guys anymore. I have to know my limitations. But the thing I have found as I age, is to enjoy the experience. I always tell my crowd that no one is going to the Olympics and there is no need to fly out of the parking lot. Just ease into the ride and enjoy your friends, the conversation, and the beauty of the trails and not focus on the back of some guy’s shorts in a heated pace. I am one of the oldest guys on most rides, but I love being in the fray. You can level the playing field if you have a good perspective on your time on the trails. Enjoy the ride, the scenery, and the company of people who are diverse in background and age. So no matter what your sport is, golf, tennis, running, road cycling, or whatever floats your boat, keep at it. Stay in the game. Thanks for reading.