I was asked by someone what 260 days meant the other day. It was 260 days until my first 24 hour solo race in 2 years which will be the 2008 24 Hour of Summer Solstice. I'm signed up and confirmed. I needed to do that as part of a goal to start training. I have the migraines under control and I think I am ready and committed. I took all of 2007 off from racing (apart from Pauls Dirty Enduro) and most of 2006 off as well. But I am ready. Bought another bike (pictures to come) to help get things going. It will serve as a training bike, back up 24 hour bike, and occasional short course racing bike. I'm also planning a full schedule of racing besides this one 24 hour. Other races I am planning:

24 Hours in the Old Pueblo (in Arizona in February) - Duo with my Brother
24 Hours of Hot August Nights - Duo with Dave
The Ontario Cup series - my daughter wants to race peewee so I'm going to race too
Pauls Dirty Enduro
Maybe some 8 hour races - duo or solo

I've set some personal goals for these events as well as a few other things. I'm not planning to post them....just for me to know right now....if I make them I will post! But I am trying not to take things to seriously. No sponsors, no pressure, nothing....just fun training and racing....the way it used to be many years ago.

To get things kicked off I had hoped to take my new bike our for a ride yesterday. The parts were delivered on Friday night and I planned to get it built right away. I purchased a Niner EMD9 Frame, White Brothers Rock Solid Fork, XT Crank, post, and stem...the rest was either coming off my other bike or I already had as spare parts (i.e. spare wheelset). I did also purchase new XTR shifters, front derailleur and rear derailleur but those went on the Asylum which is my full out race bike. Back to the Niner....as I was putting it together everything went well until the front derailleur....it was a hand me down from the Asylum and was a high clamp...unfortunately I needed a low clamp for the Niner. I got everything else done and then went to the bike shop on Saturday to pick up the right derailleur. We ended up going to watch a UCI Cyclocross race afterwards so no riding (other than a short ride with my son) was done but that night I finished assembling the bike.

Today, Sunday, finally got out for a good ride. Weather wasn't that nice....cold, windy, overcast....just the conditions I dread. I ended riding for 4 hours 15 mins though which was longer than I thought I would. I realized I still had a bit of work to do setting the cockpit but think I have it sorted out now. I also put on cyclocross tires thinking they might be faster than my Small Block 8's because they would be lighter and have less rolling resistance. I just picked up whatever the shop had and they are a bit on the knobby side. Not sure if I was going any faster or not....didn't feel like it. I'll have to do a few of my routes with them and time it. Then do the same routes with the SB8's and see. I don't really like the look of the cross tires on the bike....just looks disproportionate.

A long update but a lot going on recently. Hopefully more to come as I starting riding more.

Steve