It's been almost a week since anybody posted. Now i realize that it's hotter than he11 but that's no reason to not talk skiing, snow and winter beer. I stopped by t-line's TD's house on Friday and we chatted about things to come. Guys like Jimmy, myself and girls too (Monica)will be needing to get their ski legs early this season in prep for level II exams and the like. What are most folks doing to ready themselves for the season or are you just waiting for cooler weather? Just askin...

Beer drinking and road tripping. With next week at the beach. After that, I try to get back into shape.

On Saturday I traded in my old beater bike I use to commute with to work during the "unseason". I got another beater, but this one is only five years old instead of 20 years old and the gears and brakes work, and hopefully the chain doesn't pop off once or twice a week. I took it on a 16 mile test drive on Sunday and hope to use it tomorrow morning for first time commuting to work. It's another hybrid and doesn't go very fast, but gives me a good workout.

I need new ski boots this year and probably time to upgrade my primary ski jacket and retire the old green standby, and maybe look for some bargain ice carver skis (Vince appropriated my old faithful RX8's), so looking forward to making some ski gear upgrades too in the next few months.

In the winter cycling offseason I've almost completely outfitted myself with winter riding gear, thanks to steepandcheap and chainlove. The plan is continue riding a few days a week and when things with my schedule settle down come November, I plan to start hitting it a little harder. Then again, I'm probably dreaming by thinking I'll get at least 15+ days in this winter....

I'm keeping in shape by going to the gym 5 days a week and I just got a pair of inline skates and started taking lessons with them last weekend. My quads were burning after the inline skating lesson.

There isn't any equipment that I need for next season, though that won't stop me from looking at any good bargains that come my way. I do need to get a buckle that is bent fixed on one of my ski boots and may get more work done on them, but that will likely be in September or October.

Still continuing with the physical therapy for the leg I broke last season. When that is done I'll be starting a program built around exercises designed to get me in shape for ski season - it'll be the first time I've really focused on getting in shape for ski season.

I just finished my recertification class for license renewal...my last. XC starts on monday, and I'll start biking a few miles every night. The season will be here before we know it so I'm really training hard in my beer drinking. Never enough time to adequately get in propper shape for all-kee-haul consumption.

Actually, some of the "landscaping" I've been doing is Bode-esqe. Hauled ~5.5 cubic yards of topsoil in a contractor-grade wheelbarrow in one weekend in June. For those who don't know how much 5.5 cubic yards is, it takes a dump truck to deliver it.

Getting pumped to hit it real hard ~Sept 1st. Too hot right now to extend myself like I wanna. But I'll be doing some serious body-surfing at the Jersey shore starting on Monday. Cross-training baybee.

Hey johnLLLL, between the cool baseball parks of america tour and trips to the beach have you taken the summer off or what???

Did you reemember to save some time for ski season? Just back from the beach myself, grass is knee deep, new retaining wall is 90%. Summer's not so bad but winter weather, even last year, is so much better.

For a skier Sept. Is the cruelest month. I have skied in Sep just 3 times, Mt Hood (easy), St Mary's glacier, CO (easy approach hike and just off I-70, follow signs), and Rollins Pass, CO (20 miles up a dirt road that starts near Winter Park. It was the first road across the continental divide and cut by hand tools, men and mules in 1830). Take a rental car up there at your own risk. I got away with it.

Edited to add this link with some nice pictures,

http://veiks.com/hiking/report/rollinspass.html

Note that the road was actually completed in 1873.