Anyone want to Ride?

 

 

The Truth

A Beer Outside the Box

Okay for the most part I do not go out and drink the Big Box beers, except when absolutely necessary at a sporting event or a beggars cannot be choosers type event when I want a beer, and there is only the watered down versions of what most claim to be beer. But I went to Circle 7 Ranch after my oldest daughters softball game for a bite to eat with the family. They did have a bunch of craft beers to choose from, most of which I have tried, (and others I will soon try, if not there then somewhere in the near future) but I was intrigued by something I had never seen before, two beers mixed as one drink.

 

The Black & Blue was a 16oz (although they did have a 22oz) glass of Guinness and Shock top. Maybe I am just that ignorant and this is something common, but it was the first time I saw it so BACK OFF!!

 

 I am a fan of Guinness and have drank Shock top before (a product of Ahneuser-Busch but at least a bit more taste than the normal beers they put out) So I figured what the hell let’s give it a try. It was actually pretty good. That heavy flavor of Guinness mixed with the citrus taste of shock top which came through as I drank it.  Now if I were to rate it against my 10 Sam Adams Octoberfest, I would have to give it about a 5 (keep in mind normally 3 and below are almost undrinkable, I say almost because I am not wasting a beer, I will suffer for my "craft")

So beer to beer or head to head against the Octoberfest I had to give it a 5 on my 10 scale. Simply because there are so many other great beers out there. But as something I have never tried before thus nothing to compare it to, I would give it a solid 7, pulling it away from that undrinkable area,  and giving it an average rateing of 6. It was good and I was a bit "shocked", no shock top pun intended, that the Guinness was floating on top.

 

 Would I drink it again? Hell I wish I had this as a choice during sports events and places where you can only get Big Box beers. So Yes I would, but I need to knock a few (as in hundred) other beers off the old list first. In closing I know this is not my average Craft beer rating, but hey outside the box is what we are all about so till next time Cheers!!! I'm gonna get myself some more Beers!!!

Enjoy Some riding this Week...."END"

Enjoy Some riding this Week...."END"

The Chemistry of Beer Feat. Sam Adams Brewmaster Grant Wood

Yes we are trying to stay original with our own posts here at Dirt in My Beer, But even though this video is not made by me, it is something I would like to share. Following Grant Wood a Brew Master at Sam Adams for 15 years. Just some interesting stuff for those of you like me starting out....Enjoy!

Beer Entertainment, Brew Dogs

 

One of my new favorite Shows is Brew Dogs On the Esquire Network. My wife and I found this one night by accident and we can't get enough of it.

 

From Esquires site, James Watt and Martin Dickie, owners of the UK’s fastest-growing brewery, travel across America visiting different American beer towns, celebrating distinctive craft beers and creating their own locally-inspired drafts.

Now the tough part about watching is you always want a beer, which usually in my house is never an issue, one night though we started watchingm and had to pause, and wait till the next evening (once we could pick up a six pack) so we could enjoy some tasty beverages while enjoying Brew Dogs....

 

Here is one of my favorite scenes from When they visited Boston and Samuel Adams, the guys have an awesome sense of humor and you learn a lot about making beer along the way.

Got Beer?

How Mountain Biking is helping me get ready for my First Half Marathon

Do I enjoy running? Well if I look at it as my required exercise, due to the fact I love my beer, and I don’t exactly eat the healthiest food on a daily basis, yet want to maintain my 190 pound figure. Well, No I hate running. It becomes torture to meet an end.
Do I like running because I like the outdoors, and enjoy that half hour to an hour of peaceful yet painful reflection, away from the day to day rigors of life. Yes. And I always feel better when I do it. So I decided in my infinite wisdom I would attempt a half marathon.  

Why? I ask myself that question on the hot humid, long afternoon runs, as I look up a hill and call myself an asshole all the time, but in the end I say, Why not?
All has started well, running three to six miles a few times a week. Some days feel like that peaceful reflection and getting away, while other days feel like a chore (see hot humid hill climbs above). Especially as I try to extend the mileage, worrying about how long I am out there in the heat and away from the family time I have each day.

Obviously I love mountain Biking (otherwise this would be called my Beer blog or something like that, and I would not be writing about my 190 pound figure rather my 350 pound Jabba the Hutt beer drinking frame) and although I have taken both activities as separate things I now know one is helping the other. I know we are not all stupid, this is not some breakthrough I have discovered, ready to sell you a DVD set for three easy installments of 29.99, Plus Shipping and Handling. Obviously exercise is exercise. And cross training a bit helps to shock your body and break through plateaus.

 But I have noticed since using a heart monitor, on both my runs and bike rides, I can get my heart rate to its very upper limits with short stretches on the bike trails, without noticing until I stop. Why? Because I never look at the riding as exercise.  It is always about fun in the outdoors.

The thrill I have in the woods and on the path. The peaceful painless reflection not about the day’s bad times but the fun I have had on the trail at that moment.  So as my runs have become a bit easier (still depends on the day but I have noticed they are not as hard) I realize that even that one bike ride a week is helping me cross off that Half marathon on my bucket list in life.  And soon after concentrait more on the bike trails and beer drinking!

Good Article for both the Beginner and Budget Conscience

This is one of those posts where I could write the differences between Mountain Bike categories and pretty much just take info from other areas, but instead just gave you it right from the Mountain Bikes mouth, if they had a mouths...I found this article on Squidoo.com titled How to Choose a Budget Mountain Bike I copied the categories below, but the article itself delves deeper with subcategories such as Riding preference, Suspension (hard tail versus Soft tail), Disc brakes or rim brakes and just some general info on the advancement of Mountain Bikes. Good info for the budget conscious and beginner Mountain Bikers.

I have pictures of examples (not necessarily low budget bikes just examples)

 

 
Mountain Bike Categories

Which one fits most of you're needs?

These are the most common categories:

1. Cross Country (XC)

Cross Country (XC) bikes are the lightest and most efficient to pedal, but aren’t necessarily the best for really rough terrain or the most comfortable.

2. Trailbikes (Trail Bikes)

 

 

These are the most common and most versatile mountain bikes. They are made for the most fun riding in the largest number of situations. They can take you almost anywhere, and they won’t wear you out doing it. They can come as either hardtail or full suspension.

3. All Mountain (AM)

 


These are essentially trailbikes with stronger frames and longer suspension travel. They’re best for riding more difficult (technical) trails with steeper descents, increased obstacles and small jumps. These days most are full-suspension, but there are still many hardtails to be found. Primary emphasis is difficult terrain.

4. Freeride (FR)

 

bikes are great for hard hitting trails, jumps and stunts. They are built to get you up the hills as well, but not very easily. These bikes are heavy and tough.

5. Downhill (DH)

 

These are built specifically for downhill racing. Don’t expect to be able to ride these on most terrains. You will need to find a way to get them to the top of hill or other incline, but once you are there, you won’t find a more fun and exciting way to get down no matter how rough the trail is.

6. Dirt jump

 

These are made for those who like to spend time with their wheels off the ground by performing aerial stunts. You’ll find these ridden mostly by the young (or young at heart) at designated bike parks. Primary emphasis is aerial stunts.

Bike Humor

Just Another Ride Toward Experiance

 

Well It wasn't down hill but.....

Out with my daughter Julie and Wife Sarah we took to the bike path off of Marshall road. Since I had discovered the Mountain bike trail I had to get back and really run it. 

 So I traveled the couple of miles with my wife spending some time with her and keeping her company. With the plan of breaking off to get some alone time with the dirt path. We said our goodbyes and when we would meet up and I was off. Now I had only done a partial run of this trail and slowly at that, the first time.

This time I took off and let the Trail take me. I was doing great till I shifted the wrong way just before going up one of the steeper climbs (not a long climb but enough to slow you down if you do anything wrong, Like I did) so I hit it and got up off the saddle as I just reached the top I lost control the bike wanted to go left as I wanted to keep it on the trail and stay right, I over compensated and it went right, right off the other side of the path as I went down the hill trying to maintain some control of the bike, one of my feet fell off the pedal. Now I could see this all happening in very slow motion, and as I saw a small but I guarantee very solid tree coming ever so closer, I taped the brakes trying to slow up. The wheels skidded through some shrubbery and I saved the bike, as well as my man parts and forehead from what could have been a bloody ride home (more my forehead and hopefully just sore nuts not bloody) I caught my breath and thought “That was awesome!” it is always awesome when you don’t actually crash. So I got right back on the path and got moving again, for a while no real incidents. Dodge a root here avoid a rock there, while enjoying the ride.

Coming around a corner a little too fast I lost control again for a split second, regained it and let another biker go by hoping his GoPro had not seen my sloppy maneuver. After almost completing the almost mile and a half path, I came over the top of one of the steeper climbs and this time I shifted correctly but still did not have enough speed (being too cautious this time) and just made it over the top as I lost my bike out from under me. No crash, no injuries, no bike damage, just looking stupid for no one, but the animals in the woods to see. I hopped back on and completed the ride. Met up with the wife and kid and got another couple of miles in back to the car. After a couple of almost wipeouts and getting worked by the Bike trail, I had one thing on my mind. I could not wait to take it to the trail again with just a little more experience below my belt, and my balls still intact.

Bike Riding Babes

GO RIDE YOUR BIKE!!!!

The Cost of the Gear doesn't Matter as much as the Love of the Experience

As I sit and read my monthly magazines, I came across an article in Issue 178 of Dirt Rag Magazine.

The article was Mountain Men by Jamie Goldmen. If you do not subscribe or don't read it, Go get it, great magazine...

And although the article itself was a great adventure in Idaho’s Smokey Mountains, the line that struck me was
“If you can learn to love the suffering, you can conquer anything.”

I have said mountain biking is at times hard work, at times strenuous, and at times bloody. But with anything in life, if you love what you are doing, it is never work.  I have also touched on the subject of cost before. I wonder how in the hell a bike can be worth 5 to 10 grand? Now keep in mind I have never ridden a bike worth more than my first two cars combined cost. Maybe there is something to them. I mean they look awesome. They all have great components on them, which I know raises the cost on the bike. Maybe it is because I can’t afford a bike that nice. Hey I could be jealous, I am not a hypocrite if Giant, or any other company said here is why this cost so much and handed me a bike for a few days or for good to rip up some trails, I would, without a doubt, use the bike and try to discover why my bike is a $500 dollar bike and that one is worth ten times the amount. But I just can’t wrap my mind around a bike that cost that much. More so around some riders who have to have the expensive bikes. I suppose it is just like someone who wants an expensive car, Boat or hunting rifle and I am sure you get what you pay for, I am not trying to trash any bikes here. I ride what I can afford and if you can afford the top of the line, God bless you. But here is my question today as I write. Can they make the rush of the trail any more exciting?  

I am sure, there is a comfort level to the bikes that make work on the trail a little easier on your body. But a good time, hell a great time can’t be bought. I hit the trails with my bike and the world melts away. Well it melts away until I eat it on a turn or a hill, then I get back on the bike and go back to my own world. I have said it before I love looking through the magazines and seeing toys I may want to own but never will. But more important I love the stories about men and ladies enjoying the trails all over the world. (and  Mountain Men by Jamie Goldmen is a great story beyond the quote.) Yes most of these riders probably have bikes worth more than mine, for their own reasons and comfort levels, preferring a 29er over 26 or 27.5. Liking the full suspension over a hard tail. Or liking their 10,000 dollar bike over a 500 dollar bike. But while reading their articles (unless they specifically bring it up or it is a test ride comparing two bikes) the bike never matters, it is the journey. I love the similar stories on how someone overcame a hill or trail, and the unfamiliar ones about places I have never been (which let’s be honest right now are most of them) the beautiful photography from around the globe, where in some cases show how small the bike really is in that particular environment. I think my main point in the rambling on about cost and experience goes to the old saying beauty is in the eye of the beholder or in this case experiences are in the eyes of the rider.

Small or big. Cheap or expensive, adventures are out there for everyone, no matter the cost of the bike you are on. It is about a good time and memories you will have forever. And it goes back to the quote Goldmen used was “If you can learn to love the suffering, you can conquer anything.” My suffering may be to always own a less expensive bike, and I am alright with that (now any company wanting to convince me how great their 5-10 thousand dollar bike is I am open to it) but either way I enjoy the hell out of my time on my bike!

 

No Big Box Beer Please!

A Hidden Trail Discovered

While out riding a regular bike trail off of Marshall Road in Kirkwood which leads into Valley Park, with my wife Sarah and Juliette our little one.

Just a bit of exercise along the shaded trail. Then I discovered a Mountain Bike Trail I was just riding along and saw someone zip by in the woods. The mission was on to find the entrance. Now this is the area where it was at…..

Can’t tell till you are up close that there is even a trail back there. Sarah said she thought she saw an entrance and showed me where it was. Thus came an end to our bike ride. She told me “Go ahead, don’t kill yourself.” As she took the baby the rest of the way on the bike path, and said she would meet me on her way back.

 I came into the trail and instantly realized this is a great beginners trail, overall flat, with some up and downs to it that snakes in a small wooded area around to about one and a half miles.

 

 

Coming out of the woods in a couple of spots, which connect you to the next part of the trail. 

 You can move through it very fast and for the most part there are longer segments that you can also really see what is coming even on the first ride through I got going pretty fast.

As a side note this was the first time I got to test out my new tires. (See a Two Weeks Without a Bike Parts 1-3) In a word amazing, no more sliding off the trail when I sped through my turns and I could grip the trail as I climbed the hills.

Just before I exited a met a guy who rides it often and he told me “it is a fun little trail.” He also told me that they have races every Thursday Night in July, with A, B, and C groups. BINGO! I found a trail I could somewhat compete on and have a blast doing it with out, as the wife said “killing myself”

The difficulty on this trail was minimal.  As You can see from the pictures....

The only real hazards (if you do not know what you are doing at all) are some roots crossing the trail occasionally and because you can really get the bike moving the twists and turns can come up quick.

There is also a cut through that you can change up the ride a little. I did a test lap and got the heart rate going.

I felt bad that I kind of abandoned the wife and kid, but that is where I have the best wife in the world, she knows I get excited over little things and let’s the kid in me free. She finished her ride with the baby and met me back at the entrance to the trail and when I completed my fun ride, with my now dirty legs and my heart rate booming, we rode back to the car together.