say it ain't sooo... rat tail is officially gone : ( i'll grow it back for next season : ) i'm gonna miss it in the meantime. training has been going great! for the first time in YEARS, five years to be exact, i'm actually riding during the winter. for the past several years, i've taken three - four months off from riding.. maybe here and there a little bit but not more than once every two weeks. i'd slowly get into it around mid jan or february.. making it extremely painful in the first handful of races. hopefully i'll be a bit more fit this year. the majority of my mi's come from commuting to work on tues, wed, and thurs.. i love it. there's something spiritual about it.. cold crisp air, the sunrise and sunsets, reflection time, and the hunger knocks. it's no joke.. for those who haven't commuted, you should try it. my morning ride is about 23mi's.. through the airport, up northgate (and side roads), through las colinas, and finally down campion trail to my final destination (almost). i usually take a different route on the way home.. down royal, into the airport (north side) and then snake through grapevine. the ride home is typically 4x as hard.. north wind, tired, and hungry - but a smile on my face. i switched up my bike again.. now i'm on a super sick 52cm scott r1. seriously.. this is my first integrated seatpost bike.. and i LOVE it. it's crazy lite, stiff, and super responsive. the top-tube actually measures "close" to my addict r4 but with the setback on the seatpost clamp, i'm right on the $$$ with a 120mm stem. it's setup fully for winter riding.. bar end blinker lights, tail light, and the "tire system". not sure if it was my boy kc crosby's invention but he's the one who showed me the way. it's basically a standard 23c tire (or 25c if you'd like) with an old tire (bead cut off) inside. between the "old tire" and the slime filled tube, you run a tuffy liner to prevent any mishaps. currently i'm running a modified version.. maxis refuse tire with a tuffy liner and a slime filled tube. i think it works just as well and the original system (they didn't have kevlar tires back then) and is a tad more responsive and easier to install. my trusty steed.. seriously sick! and note the arundel tape and cages. if you're not riding arundel.. well.. i feel sorry for you ; ) and last but certainly not least.. my flamboyant girls. gawd.. i can't imagine what life would be like without them.. i'd probably have more money. ella had her first sleep over party last night.. EXTREMELY tough for me.. seriously. i slept maybe a total of 2 - 3 hours.. my baby girl is growing up soooo fast. -out surFy