New year, new chance to get it right...

So, it's been a while...
Well, my excuse is that I'm getting a lot of good riding in, and am fitting my weight lifting program in nicely. However, all this is definetly kicking my butt (in a good way), and I am still trying to fit in family time, leaving me with little time for much else. The New Mexico weather has been nothing but 50 and 60 degree days since I have been here for my "winter training camp", so I've not had any excuses to not ride outside.
On New Year's day, I got in a big ride to start the year off right, and did so with a local weekend group ride that leaves from the UNM campus. I had a good chuckle seeing some of the riders quite bundled up due to the wind we were experiencing that day. Having experienced cold Colorado wind, this was like a summer breeze to me, and I could have ridden all day in it.
Another chuckle I had was when I was riding into the wind at the front of the group, when I was reprimanded by one of the locals for "going too hard". Sorry...just trying to get some base miles in.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have brought on Hayes Disc Brakes as a personal sponsor for next season. My plan is to exclusively use their new El Camino disc brake.
My very first race bike (circa '99) came with the original Hayes hydraulic disc brakes, and I have owned several other pairs on my downhill (yes, I used to race downhill, and actually still do on occasion) and freeride bikes. I have used V-brakes for cross country for the last 4-5 seasons, and I feel that a good pair (especially with ceramic coated rims and pads) perform just as good as hydraulic disc brakes in dry and wet conditions (not factoring in how V's like to accumulate mud). However, I have become very tired with all the adjusting and maintenance that is required with V's, and I look forward to the simplicity of discs. Oh, and you just can't forget how discs add a sexy sleekness to your bike.