give the girls their credit too

Tough race.

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Slogg'n

Pretty sweet crowds. Coffee break material. Long watch! Dual Tasking . well's mtb skillz proved to be too much in the mudd for the cx'rs

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Merry Christmas to all

Hello everyone,
Instead of sending my traditional Christmas card this year, I have decided to do something more ecological and economical. While teaching at the local elementary school, I have seen how many families really need financial help this year, and how many kids need simple items such as hats and gloves. So that is where my Christmas card money will be going this year; to those who really need it. Our card is below.
Sarah

The Bacastow's 2010

The year 2010 has been really good to us. Ashley turned five in January and lost her first tooth this year. January and February were spent playing in the deep snowfall. In April we camped at Cape Henlopen before heading to Bethany Beach for Easter with the family. In May I graduated with my Art Education Certificate, and I am currently subbing art in a local elementary school for five weeks. The kids finished school in June, and then Clay headed to his first overnight camp experience at Camp Tockwogh. After five nights, I could not wait to pick him up! Clay turned 9 in July, and did his first mountain bike race this summer. Mark's bike team won second place in the 24 hour Champion Challenge race at Seven Springs. Our garden was bountiful with vegetables, herbs, and even hops for Mark's homebrews. We spent the summer cooling off in the Brandywine Creek with friends, and spent many weekends at the cottage with the family. The kids have been busy with school, soccer, playing with friends, and are both doing really well!! Ashley loves her dance class and is in her first recital this month! November was spent here with my family from California, and we hosted Thanksgiving for the first time at our house. We are grateful every day that we are so blessed. We pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and joyous holiday. We love you all. Peace.

Dad

My kids are not my life,
just part of what makes my life great,
does that make me selfish?

Wo

What a weekend. Completed the Chester County portion of the Horseshoe Trails. 36 miles 4 hours 30 minutes ride time. Some really steep stuff at about mile 20-25. We started at 4:10, I forgot my phone so headed back 5 minutes in. Yoder and bock had camp setup by the time we rolled in at 9:37pm. Sunday was summer like sun, bock talk me in to a jump into the 50 degree water, it was cold but pleasant. A little beat up, back on a new week.

Hammer Fest

These guys tear it up

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Cycling tip #25

Don't do a plumbing home repair after a 5 hour mtb ride. The body just does't want to contort and get into uncomfortable places, when rest is hidden subliminally in the arms, legs and soul. The simplest task is complicated by odd positions (like hooking a waterline back to the toilet). For those do it yourselfers, like hydro - brake - lines, always use new compression rings when replacing.

Halloween Past

2009


2008


2007


2006


2005


Man I love Halloween, but Shoot where does the time go? Can't believe they are 10months and 4 in the last pics, we had a blast that year. I think it was the last year clay stuck with me, he lost his hat running after the 12 year old neighbor kids. I asked them what kind of tricks they were playing.

Massive Low

Riding up the coast. Better make sure the gutters are clear.
http://www.weather.gov/sat_loop.php?image=ir&hours=24

Hard around the lake

Think'n about another October event.
I do like this time of year.




maybe change it to a criteium house party,
although Scavenger in the night is always fun.



Need to freshen up the fitness again for some of this.

Home front

is good. others are not. Each day its own

good ole work

is not what it used to be.
but neither are we.

Better pic

Second ain't half bad

This video rocks good song too

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Thanks Cycling dirt and Alex Grant. Bishop was hammerring that last section.

Whatz Hop n ing

drying some



Wet ones go in a fresh batch

dad cleave

This is why I where bibs

The best thing about racing

Is drinking beer afterwards!

Ride

veg

life

growth

repair

Don't drop .

Cycling Tip

Get pissed for the right reasons. Cyclist get pissed. Make sure it is the right reason. For example. You just rode the Tourmalet, along with 100 miles and three other climbs and the Presidents is blocking your way to get want you need. Right to get pissed. Yes.

We push ourselves hard, there is not time to waste, for things that unnecessarily slow you.

Another example I wrecked with a car. I knew it was my fault, not smart riding. No right to get pissed, be sorry and glad you are alright. No right to get pissed.

I think the natural hormones give you some edge. The Unnaturally derived ones throw people over the top, don't do that. Staying cool is very important. And steriods are def not cool, unless you are dying some sick disease.

Don't expect patience with someone whose body is depleted. And Unecessary anger beware. Why are drivers mad and why do they go fast only to slow down. must just like burn gas. Cool, maybe if you have a straight away and miles of freedom but during local rush hour, very un.

Wrecked

No helmet either one nothing to be proud of. Yesterday sweeping left side of
big pickup as we got the green he makes his left, I am on in a blind spot on his right stampin on the pedals and he turns a quick right into the gas station. I couldn't tell if he
signaled or not from where I was. stuck, neck and shoulders out and brunted
it off his door and mirror. We both stop. Nice guy. I wasn't hurt, I was more concern that my wheel in tack, was just leaving WC. Dude was worried he killed me. I said no my fault, shouldn't been assuming you were going straigt. shooks hands and parted ways. Glad he didn't care
Hope I didn't dent the door too bad.

This morning wizzing traffic on 322. I am on the shoulder start heading up hill
after the power station going to WC. Out of the saddle head focued about15 feet
out, going about 20 look up and a fucking metal work road sign right in front of me (
I saw it yesterday late too but no cars were coming) no where to go. cars in
sucession and no way around the sign. Barreled right into it. took it down and
myself too. Twisted the ankle and brushed the elbow on something. Cars
must of had a good laugh. I hit the fucking thing like a bowling pin. Picked up
the bike and the fucking shifter is fucking skipping. God dam.

Into the real world

with some photos..
Lots of good stuff along the bay. Plenty more pics

Desperation

why else attack at that point at least hold up until you see him on his bike. He was scared because he got dropped, lacksa little bit of class in my book. We will see what happens on thursday . One last chace for glory.

But I like this kinda stuf the best

Cycling Videos on CyclingDirt

Photographer Harlan Price, Cycling Dirt

Footage from Whistler, BC

The North.

I like it. Not sure so many tour de france riders would agree. Where else can you see a peloton shattered, on flat roads. Thor's bitterness came thru, he didn't work one pull that I saw. Cancellara, drove the lead almost the entire way, with Evans putting in some work too. Not sure how Andy got thru with the big boys but nice ride for him. Too bad his brother really took a hard fall, and looks to be out. That will really hurt the team's overall contention. It is a little problematic to see two contenders out within two days. I doubt we will see these roads in a tour for a long time. But man it was good to watch today.

Yesterday's coverage was spotty, Never really had good footage, but the road must have been like black ice. Verses manages to cram in more commercial footage than race coverage. Yeah, American mainstream is awful, but what the heck can we do but hope for intelligent companies to make changes.

Not sure how Lance got dropped on sector 5. He did manage a very strong pull on sector 7. Those cobbles are definitely not for the skinny climbers. Boxed rims and 28 were in order. Fabian is the man. My long shot hope for GC was Vande Velde, Now I guess I can hope for Evan's or Andy and still would be exciting to see Lance make a miracle. Alberto did ride well especially on the cobbles, why does Vino drop his man. So much for his early Statement. Maybe he didn't see his man dropped, but there were only 5 guys in that group.

What to say

Life is gay.

Road kills, road signs road bikes

Not a good week for the racoons, rigor mortis and heat equal stink. road work signs and divets. I know they say not to swerve for animals, but if no one is behind me I slow down or let them cross. Motor vehicle kill free for me. Those road noise impressions require one to hold a very tight wheel. Cars don't know that being close is okay. Just don't threatten me with your motor. There is a balance between the agressive and the passive, both extremes scare me. If the attitude is any measurement of people, I would say people are just very tempered. as they say chill. The heat does oppress. no worse feeling to me than sitting in a car in traffic moving nowhere, all those idle motors working over time to keep us and the them cool. on a bike all you need is a little shade, a cool breeze, and some water. Ah much better. Laws of the sea are wind power has right away over motor. Second to the traffic laws I would like a clause that motor should give way to non motor and non motor should give way to foot. Really it is just common decentcy and respectful discretion.

The trials of a road sprinter

you can see that he clearly is coming across the road towards haussler.

Lacrosse, Tennis, waiting for the Cup finals

I am watching the NCAA Lacrosse finals. Duke vs Notre Dame. I can't even hope for one team over the other because I dislike both. Interesting that Duke seniors are the one's in a scandal in 2006. For some reason it doesn't seem that long ago. But the Irish. I can't root for the Irish. Oh well Duke just won. Have to say that Lacrosse is a pretty cool game. So two hours to kill until the Flyers. Rode home from Galena,MD this morning 10:25 to 3 something. Four hours in the heat had me cooked, so bad I took a stop 5 miles from the house to cool off in a fresh flowing steam. Had a packed cobber, so sitting in the water watching the natural fish run was what I needed. Still hopped on the bike and had no go. Slow motion is okay sometimes as long as it is motion you are headed in the right direction. The heat kicked my ass. PA riding was much better the the Cecil/Kent farm land, although pushed to much early tempo probably hurt me in the end. Nearly a delusional state, but made it by. cycling tip heat is a big factor when it comes to human powered travel.

The Giro is massive

Yesterdays stage broke down cyclist like the projects. God the Giro is a massive event and today the snow cover peaks of Gavia, with 20,000 feet of climbing. Arroyo Did an amazing ride, blowing past the likes of Cadel and Sastre, making up 2 minutes on a downhill. would have been sweet to see him hold the jersey. I am not sure what these guys do to recover from that to ride 20,000 feet uphill today. Imagine the calories you need for that stage. Seriously it would take and Local pro Mtb or roadie for that matter, hours beyond the cut. Good thing they don't show the sag wagon because I am sure there is a lot of car hold bottle passing and other sheet going down. Drug, shit I could imagine trying this type of tour with out. All in good faith I guess, but how do you bring yourself to ride a stage like this after the week they have been thru. TT tomorrow and it is all over. Sometime I wish the verdict didn't always become so obivious in the mountains. But Basso is looking good and has the Italiana climbing team to go with it. The next question can he climb with the condor. no edit check done. thank you, good buy, have family duty.

Saddened and suprized

The local community lost a local legend. Clyde, better known as Bud was a friend to all of us in the local Mountain bike community. It was his group of friends/riders that got me introduce to this great recreation and so many people that shared a passion for it. I was a young energetic youth with no etiquette. He taught us so much more than to just ride fast. It was about being out with friends from all walks of life, and sharing in an activity that is plain fun.

I can tell you I will miss him. Miss seeing him smile and shake hands whenever we saw each other. Even though we didn't ride much together anymore, it wasn't really about riding as much as it was being part of a group, a community that shared in laughter and fun. It is time to tip our hats with utmost respect for a great community leader. The past time he loved and shared with so many people, we can only hope to do the same. I think we can all say Bud epitomized a stand up, proactive and good person. Rest in Peace.

Song for friday

I see a wolf up in those hills

Is it really crying wolf if you do see one? Or if it is far enough away should you leave it be? That wolf may never come by again. Landis and Lemond now can join hands and sing together. I think moving forward is much better than looking back. I think anyone watching the sport would see that times changed (and that goes for the america's pasttime too). But why slander now. You lost your credibility by admitting you lie. What I would like to know is what happened the tour you won? Did you stick a patched of testoserone on yo nutz, finally ride with some aggressiveness, win a stage knowing you would fail? That is the big question, are you that dumb? Did something else goe wrong(you get one shot with honesty)? Didn't the whole tattle tail thing fall flat. You know when congress decided we could entrap a person into false testimony? Where did it go? At least Lance didn't get caught. Maybe congress should try and entrap or slander further. Is it some big conspiricy, with power and politics and money?? Your guess is as good as mind, the closed doors may always remain. You had a chance at honesty. Let's cry some wolf together.

Cycling tip

Keep menthol or similar acting substances away from the nether region. Way more tingle then you want to imagine.

cycling tip

When bumping into a person on the trails or the road be polite and happy. Say High, and look them in the face before you look at what bike they are riding.

thoughts arise

my mind runs clean, when i ride my human powered machine

Repeat - de ja vu

I cry when I ride,
because of wind in my eye.

Must feel good to beat the worlds best climber...

On a climb! That hill looks oh so painful.

ey yay yay

Sometimes life really hits you with an unexpected punch. So much stuff is out of our control. Medicine is a marvel. I pray for the best.

Brew Review - Victory's CBC

Got cooked on the local ride, but wanted to watch the orange line anyways (Note I crunch these post in short time frame 5-10minutes). So I read the article about the this years Victory's CBC. I have had previous years CBC beers and they always impress. This years are superb quality. Every one an A+ beer. Considering the long day and hard ride I went straight for the Sapphir Triple. Boy did it hit the spot. Much smoother and more refreshing than the Monkey, very well balance and it comes in a big glass. Much less yeast flavor than the Helios. Next I sampled the Pale ales, aroma was pretty sublte but I did just drink a big triple, Taste was perfect. All four amazing beer, One thing that stood out for me is that the yeast strain seemed to leave no lingering blegian flavors, just a clear, clean smooth beer(can't do a better mash), where the hop flavor shined threw. I think I like the Hersbrucker the best, maybe becasue it stood out a little more than the other. The one called Bravarian IPA was brewed with Hefeweizen yeast, but came out clear as a whistle balanced and tasty. The beers are a series that fit together perfectly, I have yet to see an example of such a perfect set of beers. This is the perfect platform for examplifying the great German hop region. Wow two thumbs up! Cheers!

Hell of the North

In what other Race can a man go out on his own like this and power away from chasers with 30 miles left. Man this guy examplifies power house. My favorite cyclist by far.

Time Out

I wish working wasn't so obligitiory, at least work in the sense of 40hours/per week for a pay check. Other work I find complelling, but maybe that is because my work is not that work. Regardless speding the day in a climate controlled box under flourecent light, is not always so enjoyable. Wouldn't it be nice (I hear a gingle in my head) to be able to just say time out. I will be back in a few, no not minutes, hours. See ya, out of here, lots things to enjoy on this spinning ball. I could use a little enlightenment.

I am still pulling thorn splinters from my arm from clearing some trail and making water flow in other directions, this past weekend. Great night spent out in the ruins, but the 3 hours of SS has my whole body a little sore, wait maybe that is the abuse and lack of sleep. It is a cumulative affect. So I am getting good at complaining, but in reality the small things are the most important and there is truly not that much to not be happy about just stuff to look forward to .

cycling tip

Don't drink beer with the word lite, light or Ultra light in the title. Might as well enjoy the sweet goodness of a real beer .

cyling tip

After 2 feet of snow melt do not ride on the local trails when they are soft. Can you really not wait? There are plenty of roads out there to ride. There may even be some local fields, but public trails require some stewardship of the user's. Use your common sense. It is not that fun to tromp thru peanut butter anyways. If you are smart wait until the overnight lows are below freezing and head out early morning or late night. If you left at 6am this morning you probably could have rode until about 9 on solid snow dirt mix.

cycling tip

Mix it up. Take some time and do some other activities. There are plenty of sports to try and when in good company most will invoke positive energy. Watching the Olympics is a true spectacle. Some of the things those athletes do is amazing. Not quite sure how one gets involved in such things, but never the less impressive.

cycling tip

Beer is a recovery drink not a pre-game PED. Although I would rather be a drunk than some ped taking wanna be.

Cycling tip

What is the rush. I like to the turtle pace sometimes. And when planning for a long season of rushing the winter is a perfect time to stay healthy, but keep the pace tempo. Sure get the heart rate going, but don't kill yourself in the name of saving grace. Keep the rides mellow for a little.

Kranked - Revolve Teaser from The Coastal Crew on Vimeo.

cycling tip #19

Don't love your bike more than your wife (or signigficant other).

cyyling tip 18

Cycling is a drug. I could use some. It would take away the frustration of a day at work and a night with two kids. My goodness parenting is tough sometimes, it is a mental fatigue that is hard to explain. Wife is in the final term of a teaching cert. Thursday are brutally tough, sometimes. I guess with any addiction balance is the key to longevity. My gut is craving a beer as much as my legs are craving a ride. I think tomorrow is calling some mental health time, plus I need to get the paper work into the park for the group camp due date is rapidly approaching.

cycling tip 17

when it is cold get dressed inside. If you are driving to a ride in the winter get changed at home. Plus do all the bike prep @ home also. no need to freeze your fingers before you even start riding.

cycling tip 16

You get out what you put in. Not only with training, but many aspects from mental clarity to nutrition.

cycling tip 15

Fitness trumps skill. Technical riding is inherently slower than smooth sailing. When the trail turns up fitness will show itself. I am lacking the fitness lately. I feel like the handling is good and dialed in for the local terrain, but the fitness has me struggling when gravity is against me. I do fine if I don't push myself too hard I am able to clean the more technical spots.

Bored-N@7 sprgs

Sweet weekend at the ride in and out Bullata chalet. Volcano hit as smooth as the mountain did. Ice limited us to staying out of the glades, which was probably a good thing.

Turning the page...

Onto another year, can't say much has changed, and that is just fine with me. I was pretty beat up from snowboarding on Saturday and draggin out a deer alone on Monday, almost felt sick on Tuesday, but rested well and really enjoyed riding last night, Wait service sucked, the problem is that the staff turns over so quickly, and most the staff is under 18, most these kids have no hustle in their bustle, no sense of work ethnic, as Larry the cable guy would say "Get er done", move, snap to, use some intuition, quicker in quicker out. I have to say the brewers and quality control have been great. If you have not been, go sit at the bar at Victory, sit near the front taps to admire the entire selection. The Tap selection is unrivaled, three traditional pils, numerous ales(including 4 cask and barleywine), great lagers including a rausch beer and doppelbock, so many options and a small braumeister pils (14oz) is only 3.75. Well worth it.

cycling tip 14

Be courteous, a group ride is meant to be fun. Starting a ride with the intention of showing up anyone, cutting in, sitting in, generally being way too serious. Riding together is a great social gathering, you don't always need to have that racer's edge, Sit back enjoy the scenery or have a chat, don't feel the need to always make the front group at the cost of pushing 95%, so out of breathe you can't even talk if you wanted. Enjoy the day. Of course there are the Race rides where nobody stops if you get a flat and the talk is limited and the idea is to strut your stuff, if I have learned anything a little wit goes a long way, so stay cool, and don't be a dick.

Murderous

I shot ,
and down,
did not die,
finished it off with a knife
I sat and watched a shuttering final breathe,
soon it will be dinner.

Ugg - (silly shoes better suited for eskimos)

Wiping out sucks, but at least when it is cold the pain goes away when the cold sets in. In true bizzaro world fashion, Ben on gears and Rick on SS, we had most of the crew last night, maybe because the temp was hovering around 3o instead of teens, regardless it was super fun fast and all of that. Rocked the Lander express twice, second time was a charm as I slipped into the front. Hit the trail fast, had to hop and stick to slow down as the little trace of snow had a hovering affect. The trail is really more like a ride. Hit the new IMBA certified section, wide fast and smooth. I'll give them this, they do know how to make fast trails, my complaint is that the trail loses some character. Off to other side, Mike lost his light on a bad section and clipped his banana, the wait was what I needed to get the steam back in the engine. I blow steam hard, but the little engine can't on the long ones. Thru the river that needs diversion up to the school. This is where it got bad. Following a wheel, on the fastest part of the down. I usually push off the turn hard to build speed into the last stretch. Well I wasn't watching the ground close enough. Not sure if it was something the sent me off or just lost the edge of the trail, but it went something like this: 25 mph,Wash, Superman, Pete Rose, Owt. Terra firma was not forgiving. luckily I had on a couple of layers or I would be missing a couple layers of skin, but the hip bruise is hurting pretty awefully. I'm limping into the office like Randy the Ram. Ouch.

Blog

I took a blog dump this morning. I am going to call it Blogarrhea. Goes well with my thursday morning hot wing expulsion. did I really need those cookies when I got home at 11:30.

Self Portrait (with a phone)

I took this after a punchy little climb ( all the climbs are little relatively around here, but it does not make the climbs easy) up after crossing beaver creek. It looks like the township may be putting in a park where an old building is in ruins. I should try to get involved and help build a nice little trail system. It is free recreation everyone can enjoy. Here is a link to the loop I did. I thought to myself that if I could get up early and do this every other morning I might start to get myself back into some kind of shape. Short little ride

Random Phone pics

Here is a hollow sycamore tree. I went on a bike ride during the big snow storm we got in December. Sat in this tree for a little. It is right along the Brandywine. These giant sycamore trees don't mind having their feet wet. Although hollow at the bottom this tree is prefectly a live. It was snowing hard, I was wearing googles. The streets were cover with about 3 inches and the trails about the same. Needless to say it was lots of fun and made the beer drinking upon return even better.

A few Days after Christmas I took my flintlock out for a walk at Marsh Creek. The picture below is the far northwesterly corner of the park. Most of Marsh Creek is a man made lake. This is the actual stream that flows into the lake. It was very windy and cold, I walked between the PA turn pike and this creek. I was suprized at the flow the stream carried. The terrian is very very rocky, big round rocks. Across the stream there are steep knobs with more jagged rocks. Potentially an sweet technical rockier than FC red/white, type terrian, for a trail. As I slowly walked upstream, I saw three deer parallelling me on the other side of the stream up the hill, about 150 yards away. No way of making that shot with a Flintlock. The lead deer was a large buck. I could see the white of his horns pretruding straight forward from his head. We paralleled each other for a while and they eventually went up the hill to the top. I later spotted a bunch of doe up the same way. Unfortunately, the land was post as a nature preserve across the stream. I could have easily cross, but I stayed low and never took a shot. When I left I look towards the preserve and saw about 20-30 deer spread out in the field.

Wednesday - Ride

So dry it was dusty, food for soul...and picture of St. Victorious, food for well food.

Demolishion Progression

Guillotine

On my way into my office this morning, I noticed a huge crane dropping a guillotine shape block onto the old Dormitories. It was fascinating to watch the power of the device smashing thru the building. I was going to take a pic from my phone but the sun was bright above the crane. Anyways at lunch I walked around to take a picture. The dust was blowing right at me so I took a quick picture and headed down wind. The phone pic is really terrible but you get the idea.

I now work below the new building, which was funded by "The Fund", which basically get contracts and funding via a private market. So though you may not know it, there is a chance you could own a little piece of this.