photo2so the longer stem is on there, and it’s angled down. and in my non-expert opinion on terrain that hardly qualifies me to evaluate anything — i couldn’t tell the difference. in other words, it didn’t feel any longer. Oh well, our trip to AZ is next week and so I guess I’ll work it out while I’m there. Lot’s of Niner folks will be around and maybe they can help me figure out the sizing.

In other news, I’m trying to sort out what my schedule will be for the spring and summer. So far I’m registered for the Stowe Derby on February 28. This is not a biking thing, no, it’s a cross country ski race that is mostly downhill. I will likely be seriously injured as despite many years of attempting to gain skill at this sport, I descend very very poorly. I’m on a team with some folks from work, so at the very least it should be amusing.

After that, the next big thing on the schedule is to host the Gravel Grinder on April 18. As the organizer I never ride it, but running it sure takes a lot of energy.

Today I signed up for Singlespeed-a-polooza on April 25. That sounds like fun. And if it does turn out to be fun maybe I’ll do their Darkhorse 40 in early August, as logistically speaking, it’s not that far away and there’s a female singlespeed category.

Then there’s the whole summer to sort out. This will be our first year of not having childcare during the summer as the boy is in school now. So I’m pulling out the calendar and trying to fill in the blanks with my travel, potential vacations and so forth. Now that he’s six and not quite so much trouble, we’ll be trying to work some things out with our parents for some extended visits. It’d be fun for him to get to experience and see some new things over the summer.

We’d like to get back down to GA for Fool’s Gold, which is the 21st of August this year. There are quite a few endurance races going on that weekend that are closer, one in New Hampshire and one in PA. The timing is good for us to go on a road trip as school starts the following Wednesday and there will be no childcare available until then, so that means a mandatory two days off of work. So, I expect I’ll be riding at least 50 miles at some point that weekend.

There’s more to think about. VT50? Canadian Singlespeed Championships? Trip to Portland, Oregon to see my forthcoming niece or nephew? Tack some vacation days onto a planned work trip to Lake Tahoe? When am I going to Maine? The biggest problem is that I lost about 4 vacation days this year, so time is not on my side.