jcaino dot com

Site Revisions...

2009-07-16T02:20:10Z

Playing around with a new version of the site, still using MT. Going to be slimming things down quite a bit I think. Still playing around with it while I decide just what to do. Want to check it out? Head over and see for yourself.

Time is Flying!

2009-07-11T03:24:20Z

I can't believe how quickly this year has been going. Finally feeling like I'm getting somewhere on the house - much thanks to my parents for all the help on this. Can't wait for this coming month when I get to marry the girl of my dreams. Work is going well and I'm so happy to work here at pair. I'm very lucky and while I may not be wealthy, I really couldn't ask for more.

Missed a Few Rides...

2009-06-20T06:13:25Z

Well, now that Sanoodi's SMap software supports Twitter, each ride will be posted there and Facebook. Much more convenient. I will continue to post any particularly fresh routes, good long loops, or whatever I deem worthy.

I'm currently on the search for a new 29er front tire, something with more volume than the WTB Prowler SL I'm running now. Don't get me wrong - I love the Prowlers. It's just a shame that they only come in 2.1 sizing. They do have decent volume for a 2.1, though. One thing for sure - they deal with low pressure very well. Matched with Mavic TN-719 rims, I've found that 18psi front and 20psi rear works well, eventhough I'm running tubes. I've gone as low as 15psi f&r before pinch flatting the rear. Mind you, I'm about 185 with gear, and try to ride smoothly ;oP Unfortunately, I ride a lot to and from work, which involves a good bit of road, especially if I want to make the commute worthwhile; I live less than 3 miles away. When paved, concrete, or other like serfaces are brought into the mix, they wear -fast-. At about 300 miles of mixed terrain and the rear is shot, with the front about half worn.
I've since relegated to using a 700x38 hybrid tire for the rear for commuting duty and probably will continue doing so. But I'm on the search for a front tire. I figure I can eek out the rest of the year on the current rear tire, get a new front tire and then I'll stillhave the Prowler from the front to use out back next year. So far the the options are the Maxxis Ardent and the Continental Mountain King 2.4. I wish the Ardent had just a bit deeper tread...I'd also really like to try the Maxxis Ignitor but it just isn't a big enough tire. I really wish they made the WTB Prowler SL's in a 2.3 or 2.4 size...that'd be the perfect front tire. As it stands, they are race rubber, which mostly explains the quick wear - they use WTB's DNA compund, which conforms to the trail better due to a softer compound.

Ride to South Park

2009-06-13T23:34:36Z

Decided to ride to South Park and hit some trails out there and then ride back to work.. A very hilly ~25 miles, but worth it. I did stop at the house briefly on the way back to eat some bacon. Yum bacon.

test

2009-06-13T23:00:47Z

The Short Way to Work

2009-06-12T23:24:36Z

Well, shorter that 25 miles, anyway. I think that this is going to be my normal route to work, at least the part about riding to Station Square, coming back on the Jail Trail and crossing back over Hot Metal. If I leave an hour before work, that should leave me with time to shower before punching in, no doubt my co-workers will appreciate this as much as I.

Heading North

2009-06-07T00:40:56Z

Going to be heading to Stoneboro tomorrow to visit with the soon-to-be in-laws. Looking forward to it, should be a good time and nice weather is forecast. Going to be taking the bikes up and hitting the trails, maybe hitting Moraine State Park on the way back on Monday. If you want to join us at Moraine for some fun in the rocks and some tech riding, let me know and we'll try to coordinate a time.

Pre-Work Ride: Frick Park

2009-06-06T22:34:43Z

Left my riding shoes at work by accident last night. Decided on a whim to grab them on the way to Frick. Got a decent, short ride in. Was surprised how muddy it still was out there. I swear it was less muddy back in April.

Bavington - Continuous Loop

2009-06-02T00:29:36Z

Well, more or less, anyway. Had a lot of people asking if we knew the other side of the park. Well, we do...kinda. One thing to be riding on it and know where to go versus telling someone. Apparently, some people have the idea that the one whole side of the park is beginner trails or something - that simply isn't so. While there is a beginners -loop- you can definitely make a wrong turn and up heading down some decidedly advanced stuff.

Quarter Century

2009-05-28T19:14:47Z

Well, I didn't quite make 25 miles last week, so I was determined to hit it today. I did. Humid day out there this morning, I was glad the rain held off. Another mini tour of Pittsburgh, if you will. Not sure what's up with the elevation profile on this one. According to the stats, I had an altitude gain of 709 and an altitude loss of 808 - but the elevation profile just seems to indicate the drop. Oh well, here's the route:

Bavington Before Work

2009-05-23T01:48:56Z

Got in a nice ride out at Bavington this morning before work. Got a brief sprinkle during the ride that I wouldn't have minded had it continued. Little bit humid, but one very fine example of a day. Starting to get the hang of the different loops out at Bavington - got the next one planned out, which should make for minimal retracing. Still, today worked out pretty well. Trails were wonderfully dry.

Tour de Pittsburgh

2009-05-20T18:53:33Z

Got in a nice pre-work ride today, chalking up nearly 23 miles. Weather was just right, not too hot, not too cold. Rode out through Schenely to Frick Park and did a couple loops out there, turned around and game back through Schenely, onto the Jail Trail to Station Square and then down the South Side trail to work. Glad there's showers here at work.

Roaring Run, Apollo v. 2

2009-05-20T01:23:39Z

Dave joined for most of this ride. He had some rough spills though (OTB) and bowed out early. I rode some more after that while Livia and Sebastian had a good time in Roaring Run creek and in the Kiskiminetas River. Route comes after a short clip on the rocks:

Ride Your Bike To Work

2009-05-16T05:39:10Z

This week was the week to ride to work, nationwide. Today, specifically. So I rode today before/to work. Here's the map. Bed beckons. Riding sometime Monday or Tueday - probably both.

Roaring Run, Apollo - Solo Ride

2009-05-12T23:39:52Z

Apparently leaving at 10 to ride an hour away is too early. As such, I was solo on my trip to Roaring Run. Long story short - really enjoyable trails (even some of the ATV trails) and had a good day, getting in just over 15 miles. As has been the trend, this ride comes in two maps. This was due to my Storm freezing up. Nice. Luckily, I had just stopped to take pictures when it ultimately locked up and SMap had apparently gotten all the points uploaded before the phone bit it. Lots of climbing - over 4k feet, twice. Longest ride of the year thus far, felt really good the whole ride, too. Here's the maps: