Lettermanator

From the Grass To the Dirt

2009-03-30T14:29:00.006-04:00

Been along time since the last post. I am so busy a can't get to everything. Cross season ended for me just over a month ago and I must admit after 25 races I was getting pretty tired. Haven't done much since then. The 2008-2009 CX season was probably the worst for results in the 5 years I've been doing this but the most for fun! Went several places I've never been before and would likely have never went. Fayettville, Tn and McEwen, both beautiful places and great cross races.

I must say of the Winter races, Knoxicross 1 & 2 and Cross a nooga had to be the most fun. Knoxicross at Victor Ashe park was held in true Belgian conditions, with two days of heavy courses. Saturday during the masters race it poured the rain and was in the low 40's (broke another chain), and the course was extremely muddy. On Sunday, the rain had stopped but is was colder, and the terrain of the park resulted in the rain run off filling the little valley where 1/3 of the course ran, the mud on the dirt road was thick and deep. Had to actually pedal hard down hill! Afterward everyone was covered in mud, and happy about it. Only cross racers!

Cross a nooga was a course that really suited me, and had I not got lazy after MSG, and continued to train, I might have had a good result! Both days the course was mostly flat, technical, with mud and sand, and very well marked. Even though I sucked, it was great fun. Had a blast Saturday night with everyone at Stinky Fingers.

'Cross-a-Nooga! from Craig Walker on Vimeo

Suffering form the usual past CX lack of motivation. Don't really care to ride on the road much anymore except to train with other people, so I decided to give mountain biking another try. Sold my GT Avalanche a year ago because it hadn't been ridden in two years. I usually rode my CX bike on the trails around here, but it occurred to me that if I still had my MTB I could at least add some MTB races to the TT's I'm planning on doing this year.

Sometimes it pays to be in the right place at the right time: I was poking around Hampton Trails Bike Shop a month or so ago looking for a beater MTB frame (not going to put a lot into one) and found a great deal on a mid range Jamis circa 2000. Brian only wanted $100.00 for the frame, fork, headset, seat post and wheels! Already had a group of SRAM 9.0 gripshift on a downhill bike that a friend had given me to sell (still got the frame, fork, headset, wheels, seatpost if you're interested) so I was there. Add to that one of my oldest and best friends showing up at the shop and putting down the $100.00 as I was hum hawing around about it. So, essentially I got another MTB for the cost of cables and housings. What's funny is it rides better than any of the three before it especially the GT Avalanche I bought new in 2001! I've really enjoyed riding it and look forward to doing some MTB racing from the rear of the Cat 3's

I guess this it for a while, so much to do. Cheif Refing three collegiate races in a row starting April 4th, never been responsible for the whole shebang before, a little nervous. Also, in April is the start of the Asheville TT series and then MTB racing starting in May. Add to that my duties in the bike club, TBRA, organizing MSG and work (still barely have a job) and I don't have time to breath. Of course no one is making me do all this, don't know what I would do if I weren't busy. Well, I hope to enjoy my transition from the grass to the dirt. Wish me luck!

Mr. CX Un-Cracks

2008-12-18T13:01:00.013-05:00

Since my last post was at the start of MSG 2008, It's only fitting I bookend it with another. This has probably been my worst cross season as far as results, but the most fun in the five years I've been doing it. I've done 17 races since October 5th and everyone of them has been a blast. Of course all of the mechanicals haven't been a blast, but after about the fifth one in a row, I quit whining and decided I must need a lesson in humility. One benefit to doing that many races in two months is the weight loss. I thought I had gained weight but venturing on to the scale last night I was surprised to find I am 4lbs lighter than two months ago! Still got that inner tube although it is smaller, at 47 I'm thinking it's always going to be there, so I've quit worrying about it.

There have been several highlights to this season thus far:
the USGP in Loiusville, the UCI race in Hendersonville, having a good group of folks to travel with, but the biggest and brightest highlight has been MSG. Especially the last Three races. I must say being a race organizer for this many races is very daunting at times and can wear you down, but halfway through it became very special to me. Especially since this may be my last year organizing the event. The best thing about it is seeing it all come to life on race day. Arriving early in the morning just as the sun is coming up, cold air, hot coffee, the camaraderie, the work, all make it really special. Over the course of a few hours the open fields and wooded hills become decorated with brightly colored course tape and sponsor's banners, all whipping in the wind like the parade ground of a medieval tournament. It's like a sleeping dragon that slowly appears from the ground to lay in wait for the first group of riders to jump on it's back and snake around it lap after lap. People start to trickle in and music starts to echo around the park and all is spontaneity, tension and energy, as the start line is populated with the first group to race. The races start and all to soon are over. Slowly, people trickle away until all is left is the dragon. Slowly coming down, once again the dragon fades into the mist to return another day. Designing courses, and the bringing it into realty has been very rewarding to me, and not to toot my own horn, I think I've enjoyed the MSG courses as good as any others I've raced on.

The final race was a blast and I'm sorry everyone who went to nationals missed it. The course included the infamous run up dubbed this year the "Redline Run up". This was the place to be as rider after rider struggled to gain the summit while being cheered on by the crowd at the top. By the time the Pro 1/2 race rolled through things were getting pretty rowdy as someone thought it would be a good idea(Kris Bedsaul?) to put dollar bills on the run-up. It was amazing to see the acrobatics involved in coming into the run up, trying to carry as much speed as possible, dismount, shoulder the bike, and pick up dollars all while running up a 25% grade! As if that wasn't enough, the challenge went up to see who could ride the run up and Santa of all people was up to the challenge! He Rode it at least four times that I can remember almost from a dead stop. Each time he made it the cheers went up and the bells rang. Other prizes were to be had by the end of the single speed-juniors race. The festivus tree was decorated with MSG socks for those showing great feats of strength to grab when gaining the top of the hill.

After the last race we all gathered in the pavilion for Nave burgers and dawgs, the awarding of prizes and the Uber Raffle. The Uber Raffle included, a certificate for a complete Chris King Wheelset, a Redline Conquest Pro Frame, an Alpha Q Cross fork, along with a bazillion other prizes totaling almost $3000.00 in retail value! This had to be the biggest give away we have ever had in five years of MSG. Thanks of course to our generous Uber Sponsors and to MSG founder Eric Wondergem who did most of the work gaining sponsorship from such quality companies. It's over now, at least for 9 months when hopefully another MSG series will be born and continue the tradition that was started by Eric five years ago. This was our greatest attended series yet with 693 entries! Thanks Eric for bringing the best of all the disciplines of cycling to the Tri Cities, thanks to all of the volunteers, thanks to Bart "Big Neckid" Nave for the excellent photography, and thanks to TCRC for whole heartedly getting behind the craziness! Thanks to everyone who raced and made this the biggest and best year so far! MORE COW BELL!!!

Mr.CX

Mr.CX Cracks

2008-10-21T13:00:00.007-04:00

Cyclocross season is in full swing now, and attendance at all of the races I've been to so far has been phenomenal! The first weekend of MSG was a huge success with 242 entries over the two days of racing. It was so good to see people I hadn't seen since last Fall, a few I looked for were missing, I hope the show up in November. The course was demanding and the racing was hard and fast ( people just continue to get faster). It's amazing to me how fast you can go on a CX bike!

I had a great start to the season at the first race in Parrotsville finishing 4th in the 45+ field, however from that point on it's been all down hill, one of those teeth rattling bone jarring descents. MSG #1 pretty much sucked. I had a good start and was moving up in position until halfway around the course when I rolled my back tire and had to hobble back to the pit for a wheel change. At that point I was pretty well finished for the day I kept but kept riding. I've only DNF'ed one time and I didn't want to do it again. Managed two from last place.

Saturday was a long day, and being on my feet from 6:00 AM to 6:00PM didn't help my race on Sunday. When I got up Sunday morning I could feel the tiredness in my entire body, and I hoped that I had enough to race later in the day. Organizing races is very stressful, and when you add to it officiating every race except for the one your in, it begins to be no fun and a lot of work. I had another good start and was gaining on the three leaders as I battled another guy for position, but after two laps I started to shut down. What energy I had was draining away, and each time through the second sand pit I didn't have the power to push through and got stuck at the end. After chasing down the guy I was with each time that happened I became frustrated and cracked. I walked through the sand, over the barriers and stopped to fix course tape. People would ask me what was wrong. I whined and complained about how tired I was and did just about everything but throw a tantrum, stick my lip out and stomp my feet. I was pretty embarrassed with my self afterwords. What was even more embarrassing was the sound of crickets when I went by the DJ each lap. Previously he had yelled out" Here comes Mr. CX", but like everyone else he realized that Mr. CX cracked.

This passed weekend we traveled to Fayetteville, TN for the new "Beat the Freak" series. This series has the potential to become a big series. The venue was great, Lincoln County High School, and the promoter Kevin Freeman is Mr. Enthusiasm. Never having raced in a cross race or organized one he did an awesome job. The course he laid out was wide and fast, a real big ring course, not very technical (not what MSG'ers are used to), but even without the technical aspect is suited me since it was long and flat. Of course here is where the rest of the bone jarring descent continues. Not being responsible for anything left me at a loss, and with to much time on my hands I didn't pay attention to time and rolled up to the start finish line and what do you know, they left without me, four minutes ago! This was a first for me. I've never missed the start of an event. I rode my ass of for last place, never did catch anyone.

Sunday morning I felt fresh, slept well, legs felt good, no heaviness in them. This will be my day. Everyone sure took advantage of my missed start on the day before to give me a little ribbing. I received constant reminders of the time from friends and officials all day, so I made the start well before start time. Another good start, in fifth place as we turned into the stadium, began to get past on the short steep pitch to the top, but i wasn't worried since I knew with the long flat stretch coming up I could turn the 50x13 to easily get back in position. So much for that plan, as I exited the stadium transitioning from pavement to grass in a hard left turn my seatpost clamp came loose and my saddle slid halfway down.

Each time through the Pit I switched bikes with Mike Seek till he got my seat adjusted. On one pass I got tangled up, hit the deck and rolled. Another last place. I'm starting to get used to it. Even with the crappy results, I still had fun, it is cross after all. My friend Mike Seek did great, his best effort of the weekend was winning the single speed race in a full on sprint. Going to Louisville this weekend for the USGP, can't wait.

Spontaneity

2008-09-18T15:47:00.002-04:00

If any of you have laboured through reading this blog over the last year you'll have noted that It's pretty biased towards cyclocross. Not sorry for that, it is the best sport around, especially in any of the cycling disciplines. Which brings me to something else I noted at cross practice last night. Spontaneity. CX Practice started pretty much as usual, heart rate out the top of my head on the first lap of the pretty hilly course, trying to keep up with the faster guys, letting out air in the tires, running barriers, general asphyxiating fun! After about four laps I noticed a group forming near the barriers, people just chatting not really wanting to go as hard as we were. Demonstarting dismounting and remounting to new comers, doing crazy stuff like trying to dismount and remount on the right side of the bike. Over the course of conversation, people started riding as slow as possible around in tight overlapping circles, track standing when your path was blocked by another rider seeing who could stand the longest. Good hearted fun and laughter. We must of looked really strange to other people in the park ( if you are a cyclist of any stripe you are used to that though). Eventually, Mike Seek our unofficial leader and one of the Wise Micheals, started riding around light poles that formed a triangle and people started to follow. Spontaneity happened, and everyone followed suit riding around like crazy meeting in the middle heading toward the next light pole, whipping left an right to avoid colliding with each. Faster and faster we rode, all right hand turns, and the like a square dance everyone turned a rode in the opposite direction. Soon we were just riding in one big loop around two of the poles, and jumping the barrier at the third point of the triangle. Racing each other to the turn, cutting each other off, and laughing the whole way. This went on until the sun was setting. That's the longest I can remember staying on Wednesday nights. It was spontaneous! Imagine trying to do something like that on a road ride, and I know it's a different animal, but cross is so open to creativity and freedom of movement and such a social thing. You actually get to know the people that show up each week. Sometimes when I'm riding the road a lot I feel like I'm in a coloring book and can't go outside the lines. Thank goodness it's only three weeks till cross season starts, where the lines are constantly moving.

Running Behind

2008-09-12T20:55:00.006-04:00

Well, this past Wednesday was the first of the 4 Cyclocross training races hosted by Ned Dowling and the folks at Biowheels of Asheville. The race was held at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC. I have to say, I was very nervous on the way over the mountains as to how things would turn out but also happy and exited that it is the beginning of cross season. On the way over I questioned my fitness level, I'm fit, but not in race condition and was even wondering if I should race the 30:00 "A" race.

Upon arrival and seeing the course set up with lots and lots of turns and a ride/run up, self said to self "you gotta go 45" then you'll have a benchmark. Even though this was only a training race I still got the jitters lining up with about 20 other riders. All but a handful that were Pro's and CX3's. Mike and I took our rightful place in the back with a few girls. Girls that looked like they could beat us. The start was pretty fast and we all got gnarled up in a big wad at the first narrowing of the course. Why is everyone pulling away from us? next thing I new I was even behind the girls. As things usually go for me after a few laps, things settled down, and people started coming back to me as I pushed to catch them. Realizing that this is a training race and not wanting to burn matches I'll need later in the year, I went hard but not to hard. I eased of and let the people go that I was gaining on. I did however get into an impromptu competition with one of the ladies. I caught her and passed her, and a few laps later, as I was getting lapped for the second time and moving over as a courtesy to the faster riders the girl on the MTB went passed me. Now racing, even a training race, is more fun if you have someone to compete with. I certainly can't compete with pro 1/2 guys and most of the CX 3's, but it was fun to push a little harder and swap places with someone on the course.

The course was the perfect training venue, all the elements that you need to master were a part of the course. Hills, ride/runup, lots of tight turns, sweeping turns, a long flat, a transition from grass to pavement, pavement to gravel, and of course two sets of barriers. Anyone who is a beginner needs to do the next race on September 24th. Far better to hone skills at Wednesday Night Cross than at an actual race.

All in all I didn't do to bad:

made the 45:00 (back hurt toward the end)
felt good the whole time
rode the ride/run up each time (dabbed once at the top)
didn't get beat by the girls
wasn't last
and, Dwight Wyatt didn't lap me.(close but no banana)

I can tell that I'm definitely behind where I was last year, but maybe I'll be in better shape toward the middle of the season when things really get tough. It sure is good to get a race in and back on the CX bike.

PS: go here read my bud Dwight's blog. He did a much better job of descriping the experience (especially the snot), plus there's pics!

Crossin' on the Creeper

2008-09-07T10:03:00.014-04:00

I'm really happy with my cross bike. It has to be the most versatile bike I have. It can be ridden on paved roads, gravel roads, dirt roads, mtb trails, and of course raced in a cross race. A few years ago I rode my Bianchi on the Virginia Creeper Trail and was so happy with it on that kind of terrain that I never road the MTB on it again (sold it a few months ago). Ever since riding on the Creeper I wanted to ride the entire trail from Abingdon to White top and back, which is 66.8 miles. If you ride on the road a lot that doesn't sound that impressive, but riding on the surface of a former rail road bed requires a lot more effort than a smoothly paved road.

We were supposed to start riding at nine from Abingdon, but I got to Jeff's late, and then he forgot some of his stuff, so by the time we got there it was 9:40. Mike was taking a look at Jonell "AC" Johnson's chain when he realized the one link had completely separated from the outside of the chain, so rather than send her back home we shortened the chain and finally got underway around 10:00 AM. There was a lot of traffic on the trail, good looking runners who must have been kin, they all had "Shorter" on their shirts. After weaving through all the runners we rolled pretty fast at around 15 to 16 mph. The trail was beautiful, a corridor of trees and then open fields. When we arrived at Alvarado I looked up the road and thought I saw a dog crossing the trail when someone else saw and yelled bear! It was huge, about as tall as my saddle is from the ground. Probably around three hundred pounds. I joined in the chorus of "bear, bear, bear!" as people back in the parking lot we had just past began walking toward where we were. The bear ran across the road and up hill, stopped, turned and looked at us for about 20 seconds and then wondered off in to the bushes. Fortunately, it must have been a male since there were no cubs around. I'd have been hauling ass in the other direction if there had been.

After about an hour we rolled into Damascus and took "AC" over to Adventure Damascus to get her chain replaced. We talked the whole to time to Dave, another South African American. He seemed pretty surprised when I asked him if he was from South Africa, and seemed happy that some one in his adopted country new of his home country. Once the chain was fixed we started out of Damascus and up to White Top, which is a steady grade that runs for almost 17 miles getting steeper the more you near White Top. I've never seen so many herds of unhelmeted riders of the larger persuasion, putting along in a coast as we actually climbed faster than they descended. Got a lot of strange looks as we passed on road bikes at a fast pace. Many people gave the thumbs up. I think we were the only people on the whole trail going up hill? Climbing at the pace we were, on the rough surface, and knobby tires, hunger made it's way into the situation and I new if we didn't stop and eat on the way back I was going to bonk. Never get this way on a road ride. No one else objected to the idea.

After a very fast descent from White Top, slowed intermittently by the herds, we stopped at Taylor's Valley and ate at the Creeper Trail Cafe. That place has to be a gold mine since every time I've been there the place is packed. Had an awesome hamburger and french fries, really hit the spot, lots of annoying music playing though. On the trail again Jeff and I were "attacking" each other as he puts, but that was short lived as the awesome hamburger tried to come up. Racing each other put us ahead of everyone, so I made the obligatory stop at Mojoe's coffee shop while everyone caught up. Nothing like a good cup off coffee in the middle of a 70 mile ride. There should be coffee stands on the side of the road on every route we ride..... I digress. On the way out of Damascus I noticed the only Rail on the whole trail. We were riding pretty fast at about 20mph when I dodged it. Billy hit it and blew a tire for the second time on the day. "AC" decided to ride on ahead while Billy repaired his tire. Repairs completed, we started off to catch "AC." The flat tires, and the urge to just be done with it must have taken hold of Billy. We started off at reasonable pace off 20mph when Billy came around like he had a bee up his shorts and accelerated up to 24mph! 24mph on a pea gravel surface, with knobby tires? I never thought I would be riding on the Creeper trail in a pace line at 24mph. After about a mile he finally swung off and we slowed to a reasonable 21, since that was as fast as I could go. We caught Jonell pretty quickly. The last eight miles were about as hard as anything I've ever done and with three miles to go Billy took off again and I went too. We were of the same mind " I'm ready to get this done". It rained for a few miles but just as we got back to Abingdon the bright sun returned.

This was a great ride, something different and great training. I rode 73 miles and averaged 15mph. The combination of the distance, terrain, and pace, kicked my butt. I felt like a had done a road ride with multiple mountain climbs. Can't wait to do it again, may even ride slow enough to enjoy the scenery.

Been A Long Summer

2008-08-17T11:47:00.006-04:00

This summer has been pretty hectic and seems to have flown by. Had a lot of good rides though some of which were very demanding. Haven't raced any and only done one TT. I feel stronger than this time last year, but I can't climb anymore? I guess loosing two months of riding in the spring has gotten me behind and still haven't gotten down to the wieght I was this time last year. Cycling is such a hard sport. Most of us have to put in a lot of effort just to be mediocre.

The best part of riding this summer has been the buddies. Thursday nights especially when we all pile into Buck's pizza after the ride for Pizza, Libation, and Laughs. We've had a lot of laughs and it's amazing what you see sometimes, like the picture my friend Jonell took. Gas prices are high, so I guess if you have a BIG KID you're feeling the pinch and have to get rid of them. Maybe they could work out a trade with the parents of little kids?

The end of summer means the start of Cyclocross. I've been up to my elbows in organizing the ole' MSG and a new race this year near Greenville, TN: Meadow Creek Mountain Cyclocross. Lots of good things coming this fall can't hardly wait. Running will have to start soon, as well as weekly CX training at Kiwanis park. Cool thing is there will be a training series in Hendersonville. I can't wait for that.

......and life goes on

2008-06-15T18:11:00.016-04:00

As the saying goes "life goes on". It is inevitable, when someone dies, we grieve and mourn, but we the living continue until our date with destiny. Today is Father's Day and it's the first one in my life that I haven't went to visit my Granddad. Still tough not having him around.

It's been a long eight weeks since my last posting getting on with life and back to riding. My friend Perry lost his mother and another dear friend had surgery that didn't go so well but has recovered now. It's also been a busy time helping with the final preparations for the Settlers life Omnium which was very successful this year. I've also been helping with the Kingsport Criterium and even started on the organization of MSG cross even though it's still four months away, a lot of perpetration to be done.

Riding has been so good this year. I'm probably in the worst shape I've been in in years, but going slower and riding with my head up instead of down all time has been very enjoyable. Especially on Thursday nights. The TNR had become the highlight of the week, a thirty mile ride and then Pizza and libation at Buck's pizza, lots of laughs and camaraderie and crazy people in cars (unless you are a cyclist or work with the public you wouldn't believe how "eat up with dumbass" most people are). It's amazing to me over the past 15 years I've been riding, all of the good solid people of met through cycling, very few duds. Like my friend Mike Seek said "cyclists are inherently good people" and I've found that to be true. We have developed a close nit and strong cycling community in the last few years and I'm proud to be associated with it and the good things our club does for the local community.

Time to get serious though. Four months and we'll be racing cross, so I've got get rid of those last 10lbs and back to my svelte bald self come October and cross season. It's better than Christmas when you were a kid.

Hope you like the photo's below taken at my surprise birthday party at Buck's, boy was I surprised. Don't usually get duped like that, hook, line and stinker. Thanks to Jonell and her camera.

My Granddad

2008-04-21T07:46:00.008-04:00

2008 hasn't been a good year so far. A lot has happened in the last three month's. Most recently my Granddad died as a result of emphysema. His right lung collapsed at the first of March and from then on his strength failed him. He became weaker each week until he couldn't breath any longer and left this life on April 15th, 2008.

My Granddad was one of Tom Brokaw's greatest generation. Granddad was a testament to that generation. He lived through the depression, served in WWII, came home and worked hard all his life, raised a daughter and practically raised me. He was kind, loving, honest an all around good person. He set an example that most of us should strive for. Very few people are of his caliber, and I hope that I am at least a little like him. Watching him slowly struggle for breath the past six weeks has been very hard on my family and myself. Needless to say I haven't been riding, but it was worth it to see him every morning and every evening until he passed on to his reward. If anyone was ever deserving of it he was.

I appreciate all of the email condolences, phone calls, and everyone who was able to come to the funeral. It really meant a lot to to hear from you and see you.

Thanks for all you did for me Granddad. I miss you.

Donald Nathaniel Patrick B. 9-20-1916 D. 4-15-08

Ronde van Vlaanderen: In a perfect world

2008-03-27T16:23:00.002-04:00

Stole this from another site, nice if it were like that here.

Two Tons of Fun

2008-03-27T15:39:00.001-04:00

I'm out of shape. I remember when I was in shape, thinking that it wasn't that great that I should be in better shape. After essentially being of the bike for six weeks (only rode 5 times and not in a row) beginning to realize that where I was was pretty good. I really miss where I was. Sickness, family pressures and a big dose of the mullygrubs haven't allowed for much riding. That was blindingly evident this past Tuesday at our club ride ( which a really is more like a race than a ride). Still had plenty of power on the flats ala CX, but the gravity demons really enjoy grabbing hold of the extra tonnage around the mid section, and pulling me backwards like a bug's intestines after bug hits windshield. Really can't believe how fast the mighty have fallen. Last November I was a svelte 166lbs, now the scale is edging up to 178! 14 L B's! When you get old it's harder and harder to keep the weight off, especially if you're only exercising your table muscle. It is getting warmer an I keep telling myself I'm going to fix up that "vintage" Motobecane for a commuter and start riding to work again, but the Moto just keeps hanging on the hook. Lack of motivation is the devil. I can hear it saying why bother, whats the use. Eat, drink and be merry.

Life is but a Vapor...

2008-03-01T16:53:00.000-05:00

Life is but a vapor... That's what the pastor said two weeks ago at the funeral of one of my daughters best friends. The quote is from the bible, paraphrasing: "life is but a vapor that appears but for a moment and then is gone" Nicole was only twenty three when she took her own life. I didn't know her well but it has affected me deeply. She was young, and pretty, but life was just to much for her, she couldn't cope. The last time I saw her was at the Chattanooga cross race. She had my big cow bell and was running along beside me yelling and screaming, having a good time. You never know the inner turmoil someone is dealing with, from their outward appearance. I feel bad for her family and friends, and hope that in time they can come to terms.

If I've taken any thing from her death it is, life is way to short and we need to love now, do now, and be thankful for every breath we take, every day that we wake up. Each time I get on my bike I'm thankful to get to do it again, no matter how bad it hurts. I know this post isn't about CX or bike racing, but I feel like I should honor her in some way. This for you Nicole Renee Johnson where ever you may be.

Winter Cyclocross Part 3

2008-02-13T11:11:00.000-05:00

I think I'm starting to loose motivation for cx at last, with only one race left, small turnout and no big events to look forward to. It's kind of aggravating since I don't do the mountain bike and I don't care much for road racing, that leaves the cycling side of me a little listless. Which leads to weight gain. Last year after the last cross race in February I gained 8lbs before I finally started riding long rides on weekends to shed it. At 46 soon to be 47 it doesn't come off quick. I've tried to do better this year and with a TT the first week of March maybe I can get motivated for that.

Knoxicross #3 was a grind. Held at Melton Hill Park which is way out in the boonies ( don't ever want to hear about Steele Creek being out of the way again ) and is surrounded by a lake with very hilly terrain. When I got there I new it wouldn't be my day. I was tired, and my legs were fatigued and sore from running the previous few days. The course was 90% grass, thick power sapping grass, and half the course had long open uphill sections which were exposed to the wind.

The start was no fun, going uphill, on grass, into the wind, I felt as if someone was pushing against my shoulders (the picture at below showing the spare tubular, and man boobs illustrates the other problem) and as we turned right at the top of the hill a rider caught a pedal and kicked his back wheel over in front of me. I shot to the outside of the turn almost stopping. At that point a gap opened up and there was no way I was closing to the guys I usually race with. The only saving grace was the more technical side near the lake I was able to slowly pull people back each lap on that section. I have never been so glad for a race to be over as I was that one.

The last race will be at Melton Hill again with the infamous "Hill of Death". THe HOD is a long dirt path that goes uphill at about a 20% grade for around 70'. That's why I started running again. Last year all I could do was shuffle up while getting caught at the top by a women on a MTB with a cog on the back the size of a dinner plate. Oh well one to go and then what?

Winter Cyclocross Part 2

2008-02-01T12:57:00.000-05:00

After the State race I decided to race in NC rather than go all the
way to Columbia Tn. Had everything packed and ready to head to Hobby Park in Wintson-Salem, when my friend Mike called to tell me that the race had been canceled. What? Who cancels a cross race because of the weather! Turns out it was the park, not the organizers. Great, should have went to Columbia and raced in the arctic conditions there.

January 26-27:
Chattanooga had a great venue, fast, flat course with lots of turns, and once again a lot of mud. The ride/run up on the back of the course was very slippery but ridable thanks to the tubies. I had another good race. Hoping to move up in the points I raced hard and moved into second position ahead of Tom Gee, whom I have never finshed ahead of. I noticed that he was having trouble in the muddy turn before the barriers and run up, so I raced into the turn ahead of him and got a gap by the time we reached the top of the ride run up. With no lap count going through the finish I thought we were further into the race when I made the move. Turns out we had 4 laps to go and I had burned a lot of cake pulling away from Tom. As I started to fade he caught me on the last lap. He passed me just before the finish and I had nothing to answer with. Still, finishing third moved me up in the points series.

Knoxicross #2
was held at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville. This park is very similar in terrain as Winged Deer In JC, but has a lot more trees. This was a power course, and Steve Rider who has been helping with course design did a great job on this course. From the gun there was no let up in the pace and no place to recover. A lot of people wore down qucikly. I was suprised when I caught and passed Tom and thought he would come back to me. Each time down the long bumpy hill on the back of the course I would pedal till I spun out, shift to the little ring, brake hard and pick my way through the muddy "U" turn at the bottom. Each time down the hill I would pull a little further ahead. Ended up second on the day.

Knoxicross is becoming a great series, John Baker and his volunteers have made it better each year. Looking forward to the last two races of the year at Melton Hill Park and the "Wall of Death". Hate to see CX season in TN end. The day after the last race will be like the day after Christmas when you were a kid.

Winter Cyclocross Part 1

2008-02-01T11:13:00.000-05:00

I've always wanted to try tubular tires on my CX bike since I've heard how great they are in all conditions, but couldn't really afford them. My friend Mike Seek got wind of it and helped my out by giving me a Campy wheel set with Vittoria CX tires glued to the rims. He built the back wheel himself with a hub donated from another friend Paul Hayes. I really appreciate it, and they really do make a difference.

Salisbury was my first race in a month and I was wondering about form, so I decided to go down for the CX 4 race. Got there late, didn't get to pre ride the course, and since it was my first race on tubies I took it easy the first two laps. Ended up 17 out of 35. I was sold on the tubies after the race and it looks like the clinchers will be sitting in the pits from now on.

January 12-13:Knoxicross #1 was the following Saturday in Knoxville. The course was a favourite of mine since I won there last year. Not so this year. I raced masters 45+ ended up fifth, but I could feel the form coming back. Great course that really suited me with all the turns and flat power sections. Plus, it was good to see my buddy Dwight from Asheville at the race.

Sunday was the big race of the winter season. The first ever Tennessee State Cyclocross Championship, which was sponsored by my club. The course was probably the most demanding, technical, and long course I've ever ridden. The course had everything, pavement, mud, sand, grass, three dismounts and did I say mud. One section was a long stretch of course wide mud leading down into a flat, it looked like the videos you see of the muddy Euro races. It was a blast, and the low pressure in the tubies made a difference.

This was probably the best race I've ever had even though I didn't win (didn't expect to). I at least wanted to medal. Since it was a TCRC event the TCRC officiating team was there with honorary member Vicki Lyons from Boone, and as part of my duties I was also officiating. After the CX 4 race I went to post results and stopped to answer questions and lost track of time. My race was the next race. Standing at the Finish line putting my helmet on thinking I need to get to the start, I looked down the road and saw the field racing toward me! Oh shizzle! I missed the start. When the last rider went through I jumped in behind, and when I topped the hill I saw Jeremy Chandler exiting the woods. Wait, he's a three, and I'm in the wrong race. Riding back the down the field parraleling the course I tried to get to the start before the masters came through. To late. They went flying by, so I waited again. After the last women (they were in the same race ) went through and got back on the course at the bottom of the hill again. I was so angry I started thrashing my bike up the hill and through the first technical section with no one in site. Chasing hard for the first two laps (10 min laps) I finally caught the back of the race. I raced past riders mud flying, sliding through turns finally riding past Greg Casteel. Realizing that I had third position, I extended the gap, but got too exited on the fast decent on the backside of the course and crashed hard. When I remounted and looked back Greg had closed half the gap. Powering the bike with everything I had I pulled a little further away. Coming to the end of the final lap I could hear people yelling for me and Greg. Approaching the sand pit I new I should get off and run since I struggled through the last time, but at the last moment I decided to ride it. About half way through the front wheel augured in and through me over the handlebars landing me in the sand on the wrong side of the bike. By the time I got up and got back to the Banchee, Greg blew by me. I didn't have anything left and the gap woudn't close. Greg beat me to the line by 30 feet. I was pretty po'ed because I had raced so hard from beyond last place and screwed up on the last lap by crashing twice. Riding down to the bike wash trying to tell myself, "just be glad you can do this, a lot of people can't even ride a bike let alone race" it was still hard to swallow. When I returned to the finish area to resume officiating. I found out that I had actually been racing for second not third, so I actually ended up medaling. I was very happy and proud of that achievement. State CX photos can be found here Sidetracked Magazine

The rest of the TCRC CX team did really well medaling in all categories but two and Mike Seek took home the Single Speed Championship Jersey. What a great club, and team. Dan Werle did an excellent job designing a Championship course.

Happy New Year! Thank Goodness

2008-01-01T16:31:00.000-05:00

Seems like forever since my last cross race of 2007up at Hawksnest. I'm really looking forward to this weekend in Salisbury, NC and the beginning of the Wintercup series, really can't wait to see how bad I suck. I've gained 4 pounds over the holidays, and haven't stuck to training like I should. Lots of racing left in the 2007/2008 season though, in NC and TN. So, maybe by the end of January I'll be back in form (or at least what passes for form for me).

I'd really like to do well at the TN CX Championship race on January 13, but I'm to far gone. The course sounds awesome though it will be fun. Spring will be here before you know it and no more cross till October. Guess I'll have to live off TT's till Cross season 2008/2009 rolls around again. More MSG for me!

Merry Christmas Velo Fellows!

2007-12-21T20:03:00.001-05:00

Click here X-Mas Greeting from Team Elf

Whew!

2007-12-09T22:34:00.000-05:00

Well, it's over for another year. MSG had a banner year with the largest turnout in the three year history of the event. I don't mind saying I'm very tired. It caught up with me in the final race Saturday. I had a great start and was running fourth or fifth when on the second lap, after the run up, I started to fade. Ended up seventh and was about to be caught by Darryl and Bill, and had it not been for more experience at remounting the bike and clipping in quickly I would have been ninth.

The end of the series is always bittersweet. I'm glad that the pressure's off and that the work is done, but at the same time it's sad that it's over and the camaraderie that has developed over the past three months is at an end until next year. A lot of folks that come out and race I don't see all year until cross season starts again. The good thing is I can concentrate on racing in January and February and not worry about getting things done each week for the series.

The series final had to be the best one yet. Ironically I was joking with one of our local sponsors last week and he jokingly said "all we need is some rain, mud and cold temperatures" the forecast on Thursday of that week for Saturday was sunny and 60. Boy,
I'm gonna become a weatherman since it's the only job I know of where you get paid to be wrong 95% of the time. Of course I was glad they were wrong since I like racing in the mud. Finally some semi Belgian conditions. As the day progressed the misty rain kept falling and the ground got muddier. Mud+Cross rider = crashes. Lot's of folks were eatin' mud pies as it got slicker. It was great.

The most fun of the day was during the Single Speed race. At the start we surprised the SS crew with a short cut option. The only drawback was, you had to eat a Debbie Cake before taking the cut which cut about 20 seconds of the lap. First lap, Andy Applegate came running over the barriers and grabbed an oatmeal cake. Almost every lap riders took the short cut, and It wasn't long until everyone figured out that it was the Swiss Roll that you wanted since it was small and soft and it went down fast. Each lap, at the beginning of the barrier section the call went out "swiss cake, swisss caaaake!!! No one threw up but there were some jittery Single Speeders at the cookout.

The cook out was huge with over 100 people. Hot dogs and Hamburgers were flying around Meredith Pavilion. We had a raffle blowout too, with about 20 items, including a Reynolds carbon fork and the grand prize a Complete Redline Conquest bike. It really was a big year and just writing this I'm forgetting all the work and looking forward to the good times next year. I really appreciate all the herculean efforts put in by all the volunteers and my co organizer Eric, I couldn't have done it without you. Thanks to all the folks who came from all over to race. Hope to see you all at MSG 2008.

PS: To see more cool CX pics click here and go to Bart Nave Photography.

Crossnut Crosstube

2007-11-07T14:06:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple of cool cross sites that Darryl Muck found. You may already know of them if not click the logos below.

Mysterious Spirals Found at Steele Creek

2007-11-05T17:03:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, November 4th, Steele Creek Park users were welcomed to an intriguing site, mysterious spirals found in a bowl of earth about 50' across. Observing the spiral and actually following it to the center and back out again caused dizziness and nausea.

Park goers are concerned that there could be super natural or extraterrestrial forces at work here. Sitings were made the day before during the late morning and early afternoon hours of colorful two wheeled object circling the ground in the vicinity. Strange humanoid creatures were also seen in the area.

Spooky Cross was Scary BIG....

2007-11-05T16:49:00.000-05:00

MSG#3 at Steele Creek Park was another record. Each race of the series has had over 100 entries and #3 of 07 was no exception. 137 entires! That is the largest group of riders ever in the three year history of the series. Riders in Spooky Cross who wore a costume were rewarded for their efforts and racing in a cumbersome costume with 25 extra points toward the overall. Dummy me forgot my kilt and missed out on the points, but I was hyperventilating over get a very complex course set up in 2.5 hours. Thanks to Bart, Bill, Kingsley, Mike, and Perry we got it done with 5 minutes to spare. Thanks guys.

The most exiting and fun part of the course was the "Maxxis Spiraling Cyclone of Death", as it was eventually dubbed. Man by the time I got to the middle of that thing I was feeling dizzzzyyyyyy! Had to make a conciuocs effort to make the let turn and start back out. I say again, that's what's so great about cross, or should I say psclyocross.

Sands of Time

2007-11-02T20:23:00.000-04:00

Sorry it's been a while since I updated the old bald blog, but my duties as race organizer for the Mud, Sweat and Gears CX Series are really keeping me busy. I have tons of help from the great volunteers in the club but there are things that I am responsible for during the week in preparation that I have to get done. I did finally find a couple of hours to service the Ole' Banshee. She is really starting to show some wear after 37 cross races. Speaking of cross races last Sunday at the USGP of Cyclocross in Louisville, Kentucky I completed my 45th CX race. That's pretty awesome to me considering I started cross racing in 2004. One would thing that after that many races a person would pretty much have it all dialed in, but that's the great thing about racing cross, it's fluid, ever changing, always something to learn.

The first race in Louisville on Saturday proved to be tough for me. The course was muddy, which I like, and there were 5 sand pits. The pits were all ridable except one long deep one that I just couldn't ride. Each lap forced a dismount, and the wet sand clogged up my cleats so that I couldn't clip in and my feet bounced of the pedals until I could finally get clipped in. Each lap I would get passed by more riders and chase back only to loose ground again when we made it to the sand pit again. by the end of the race I was pretty steamed, and was whining like a baby. I didn't have fun on the "non technical" course as Katie Compton called. Sometimes I take myself to serious and think I'm better than I really am. After a couple of hours and some hot coffee I realized that I should just be thankful that I'm able to enjoy a sport as satisfying and fun as Cyclocross.

Sunday was a beautiful day sunny, blue skies, flaming trees, and warm temps. Rolling to the start I felt so calm, more calm than I've ever felt at any other race. I guess the talking to I gave myself over getting upset paid off. I was so calm that I wasn't paying attention when the whistle blew for the start, missed my pedal and got gapped about 20 feet right off the bat. When we approached the deep sand pit I was determined to ride it and after watching the pro's do it the day before I figured it out. Instead of slowing down and braking at the top of the little hill going into the pit I put my hands on the tops, accelerated into the pit and pedaled like my backside was on fire! Made it through every time. I was happier about conquering that obstacle more than I was about placing higher overall. Looking back after a week I'm thinking about how much fun it was just being at such a big event.

The atmosphere was festive like MSG but magnified by about 40 times. I heard reports that on Sunday there were 4000 spectators for the Pro Race. It was pretty cool that so many MSG racers were there, Me, Eric, Mike Seek, Mike Mefford, Nathan Wyatt, Dwight Wyatt, Cara McCaulley, and Andy Applegate, pretty cool. Of all of us though, it was Eric who was the most impressive. Finishing 8th on Saturday, and a very impressive 4th place on Sunday after leading most of the race.

I've got photo's and video posted on my Picasa album most of which were taken by my daughter, Samara. Have a look if you like. Gotta go, another CX race to go to tomorrow. Welcome Back My Friends to the Show That Never Ends...

Now I know I'm Crazy

2007-10-19T14:45:00.000-04:00

I get so wound up when I'm promoting races that now I'm having nightmares. Sleeping well for me is about a once a week occurrence. Last night was no different. I meant to get up at 7:30 this morning so I could get all the prize bags stuffed for the COC tomorrow. Woke up around that time thinking I need to get up and do it. I ran the day before 3 miles and those running days always wipe me out so of course I fell back to sleep.

Anyway, while sleeping again I dreamt that I was at this school in the soccer field waiting for volunteers to show up, as it got later and later and I began to worry. The soccer field was filling up with soccer mom's and their off spring and I was running around telling them that they had to get off the field, so I decided to go to the trailer and start pulling stuff out and setting up the course. At some point somebody switched trailers on me because the one attached to my truck was a rusted piece of crab with junk inside it. I really started to hyperventilate at this point because at the same time I realized that I was at the wrong venue and it was only an hour till the first race. I yelled out while dream "this has to be a dream when will I wake up" of course in my dream I didn't wake up and the panic set in. I guess my mind must have became afraid and finally woke me up. I woke with a hiss of breath, my heart thumping and all sweaty. I looked around the room and at my dogs on the bed and thanked God it was only a dream. Stumbling off to the kitchen I made a strong cup of coffee and started stuffing prize bags. I've finally cracked.

Come Get A Steamin' Cup O' Cross

2007-10-18T21:49:00.000-04:00

Okay everyone, as if MSG wasn't already great, this weekend is the big ole' Redline Cup O' Cross race. We're goin' 8 deep on the prize list with loads of quality prizes. Awesome 1.7 mile course with a sand pit, get ready to dig! Ladies and gentlemen! Do you want it? Do you need it?!
Come on out to Winged Deer Park in Johnson City and pedal till you puke!

It's a Beautiful Day...................................

2007-10-14T08:19:00.000-04:00

For some reason on days like yesterday at MSG #1 I think of that U2 song, not just because it was meteorologically a beautiful day, but because the whole cross thing was beautiful. All the cool people that I haven't seen since last December, all the cool bikes ( like Mike Seeks Big single speeder), the course with all the colorful tape billowing in the breeze, smiles and relaxed atmosphere, and all the little kids. When I got out of my truck that morning it was really beautiful to see all the volunteers there, best of all was my ole' buddy Bart standing there with a cup o Starbucks bold coffee with cream. Can't say enough about the volunteers you guys are awsome!

The battle of the day was the pro 1/2 race between Eric and MSG Sponsor Andy Applegate. There were only 7 that showed up and after Will Black pulled a Bookwalter and gapped everyone by about 2:00 I thought well this race is over. Not so, Eric pulled up to within a minute of the leader and had a huge gap on Andy. I thought Eric's going to take second, but slowly but surely Andy pulled back to Eric and with two to go they rode together. Exitment really started to build when the came through the turns behind the finish line. Eric was in a primo position right on Andy's wheel. I could see those big levers of Eric's twitching for the sprint. As they made the final turn Andy was still in front and winded up the sprint. Everyone was cheering their names (I didn't know who to cheer for cause I like them both), Eric started around Andy, they were neck and neck coming to the line and at the last second Andy through his bike taking the win by about a half wheel length. Thanks to you guys for making that one of the most exiting finishes I ever seen and showing us why you guys are Pros. Thanks to Bart Nave Photography for the awesome race pics like the one at the right.

There was a scary moment in the CX3, Masters race that wasn't so beautiful. Jeremy Chandler, a veteran MSG crosser, came into the barriers fast and tripped over the first one causing him to fall face first into the second one. When I came through and saw him lying their bleeding from the nose and saying his neck was hurting my hear sunk. Fortunately his dad John who is physician and his mom Susi who is a physician's assistant were there and did a great job of assessing the situation and getting him ready for transport to the hospital. Thank goodness he is okay. He fractured his wrist and busted his nose and thankfully there was no other serious injury. That made it a truely beautiful day. Can't wait to next week, promoting bike races is a lot of work but what I get from cyclocross is well worth the effort.

MACDADDY: The video staring Wonderdog

2007-10-11T13:47:00.000-04:00

Great video shot by otis. Eric and Andy get a lot of face time, and if you listen real close you can here the Mike's and me yelling at Eric.

MACDADDY Results and Pics

2007-10-09T23:06:00.001-04:00

http://www.ashevillevelosports.com/Sundayrides.html

Cross Vegas: Nuff Said

2007-10-09T14:50:00.001-04:00

The Crossman Cometh

2007-10-08T10:14:00.000-04:00

Well, I finally feel like it's cross season. Andy Applegate hosted the MacDaddy CX Training race at Mars Hill College yesterday. The course was great except for the one big ass hill. It was unavoidable though and it would have been a shame to leave it out. I didn't do to well, (insert excuses here) last weeks pack ride was brutal, the wind was howling in every direction and since it was the last PR until April, everyone was riding as if this was their last shot of glory . The pace was extremely high, 28mph into a strong headwind. Then on Thursday we had the final of three TT's. I like our TT course although it's not for purists, with four turns, and three hills that get progressively harder it's a difficult course. I rode pretty hard and ended up with a personal best of 26.37 for 10.5 miles, my previous best time was 27.30. Anyway, getting back to the point I was pretty tired on Sunday for the MCD.

With the way I felt and that big ole' hill looming above us, starting in the back was a given. I started slow not wanting to blow before getting to the the hill. We rode up a grade almost from the start until we turned into the hill side and it was to steep to ride. Then it was shoulder the bike and run or kinda shuffle your feet until you made the pavement at the top. The fun part of each lap was loosing all the elevation we gained, dropping fast, catching air over the lip of the embankments we rode down and then oodles of tight turns it was great.

Crashing didn't help my position much. I crashed in the same place on the first two laps, hit a tree root that was in the shadows. I think I took a different line through that turn then during warm-up. You should always do a hot lap at race pace before you actually do the race. Don't know where I ended up, but the second crash took the wind out of my sails and I pretty much rode in for the rest of the race.

Other highlights: Seeing Jason Morgan the NCCX champ face plant into the second barrier at speed (fortunately he was unhurt), watching this young guy bunny hop the barriers and the biggest highlight... watching Andy and Eric battle each other for two thirds of the race. It was awesome to see those guys, they are both gifted athletes. Eric finally gapped Andy on the descent and pulled away from him (big ring Eric) and was closing in on second when he ran out of road. Great job on getting third place Eric.

I'm pretty sore today, I thought that after all the CX practice we've been doing I would have been more used to things, but my spindly right arm is sore from lifting the bike so many times, and I'm stowed up from the crashes (feeling sorry for me yet?). Mike Mefford crashed too but was the best finisher of our group in the B race. Mike Patterson was like me when he saw the BAH, and used the race for training. The race served it's purpose for me though, got through the 45:00, got some crashing in, and I'm beginning to feel that tingle of exitment that is so special to CX.

Race entry fee: $10.00, 2 Crashes: sore body, Racing Cross: Priceless, The crossman cometh.

Sguirrels and Cows

2007-09-24T11:50:00.000-04:00

You never know what you will see on a ride around here. Saturday's ride was in the mountains again (can't seem to stay away from them), we went from Erwin, over Tillson Mountain, Spivey, Indian Grave and back to Erwin. We had a great time. This time of year folks are more apt to stay together on rides and wait for slower riders. Riding along with guys you normally never see on rides was nice. It's amazing how as riders rotate around the different conversations you hear and are a part of. As we rolled along through Flag Pond we must have been interfering with the high paced lifestyle of the locals, since one of them in a big assed truck came around us with the angry roar that always seems to accompany accelerating loud vehicles. Looking to the left I saw a dog barreling down a bank barking at us on a collision course with the big ass truck. I cringed because I was afraid we were going to see a dog explode into a cloud of pink mist! Fortunately, the dog had good brakes because the big ass truck wasn't going to slow down for anything. That dog had to have grazed his whiskers on the tires of the truck as it went by. I guess the guy in the truck wanted to show us who was boss because he continued bloviating on down the road in the left lane till he was out of sight.

Tillson Mountain road makes a u-turn once you come off the main road, the first hundred yards rises so that you can see the road you were just on below you. As we were approaching the turn we heard a voice from above say " hello down there!" Was this the voice of god? I hope not because it sure sounded a lot like Bill Bridger and that's a scary thought. Once we topped Tillson Mountain and started down the technical top part of the descent Zach and I ended up in the front, as we rounded the last corner and started out into the flat there was a sight I'd never seen before. A beat up pick up truck was crawling down the road with a big black cow tied to the tailgate. I new what would happen as we went by but there wasn't a whole lot we could do at the speed we were traveling. There was no way to stop and I'm not sure that would have made things better anyway. We blew by the cow and it went crazy, bucking around and twisting it's neck, wild eyed like it was being lead to slaughter. Spun completely around the right side of the truck into the ditch. I felt bad for the farmer and his cow, but who transports a cow like that? Tillson Mountain had another animal oddity I'd never encountered before. We crossed the flat sections and started down the last down hill section when I looked up the road and saw what I thought was a pop bottle in the middle of the right hand lane. Zach veered toward me and I went closer to the center line in order to avoid it. As we got closer it began to look more and more like a squirrel. It was standing on it's hind legs, holding a nut in it's front paws, stock still. It just kept standing there. It must have never seen such contraptions before and suddenly realized at about 3 feet before impact that it should move. It zigged left, then right and off into the grass. I though for sure it was going into Zach's spokes. I don't think he would have fit through the forks when he went around.

The rest of the ride was sans anymore animal incidents, but was definitely hard since we raced off Spivey and along the Toe river where Zach and Perry handed out several fresh ones before we got to the store at Huntdale and regrouped. This is probably the one of the last long rides I'll be doing in this year. I'll miss the mountains till next spring, but now the real fun starts Cyclo-cross.

PS: I apologize for the butchering of the English language something which several people have pointed out to me. I know people who's native language isn't English and they do a better job than me. Oh well, I am from Carter County you know.

The Mike Patterson MSG CX Camp

2007-09-16T23:05:00.000-04:00

I've been kind of wondering who was going to be the first out of the gate with cross practice this year. Turns out Mike Patterson got the ball rolling this morning at Winged Deer. I showed up about ten minutes late (irritating guy in line at Starbucks kept adding things to his order, thought he was going to buy the whole pastry case) and felt a little let down to see only two other people. Plus, I was feakin' tired from the "ronde van hillengen" the day before. As I started dragging the barriers out of the truck and started setting them up people started trickling in, new comers and vets. Soon we had 10 people standing there eight of which had cross bikes, pretty cool. Eric and I made note of the fact that when he first started MSG it was only He, and I and my son Sean showing up for practice. Now cross is the shizzle (boy that sounds funny).

Practice was great, we looked like those little ducks going around in circles at the carnival. The ones you grab up and look at their bottoms to see if you won a prize, except we were on bikes going around in circles jumping barriers. Really strange looks from the park goer's. Most of us were a little rusty but repetition like good techno brings it all back around, and after about 20 minutes it started coming back. Eric and Mike Seek paired off for about a 45 minute simulated race, man those guys are fast and smooth. The rest of us continued with skills for a few more minutes. Mike was very helpful explaining the finer points of mounting, dismounting, and clipping in and out to Jonell who will be doing her first cross season this year. For the grand finale we decided to ride a course so everyone would know which way to go and do a few hot laps before we packed it in. We were held up by an elderly man who couldn't understand why we just didn't jump the barriers on the bikes. He said he had a '59 Schwinn Panther with balloon tires that he could jump them with, and he was taking bets to do it. Anyway, man when we started it was like all thought went to the back of my mind and experience kicked in. Mike and I sprinted off the line first. I clipped in first try and started hammering. Rode two really fast laps. That charged me up I feel that cross excitement really kicking in , I'm ready to race. Like Eric said "this is to much fun" thanks for getting the ball rolling Mike. Cross season is here, baaaabeeee!

Roze Lint: Ronde Van Hellingen

2007-09-15T13:50:00.000-04:00

We rode the 50 mile ride for the Pink Ribbon ride, which is coming up at the end of the month. I thought that this would be a pretty easy ride, 50 miles, no mountains, and ladies along on the ride. Boy was I wrong! One rolling hill after the other, short steep ones, shallow long grades, one hill after the other, some with about 20 feet of downhill to recover before the next one. Plus, Jeff and I racing to the top of each one didn't make it any easier. 2 hours into the ride we were averaging 18 MPH. The temps were in the 60's and it was overcast perfect weather, CX weather, perfect for CX training.

Oh! and remember the ladies, four of the strongest fastest ladies I know! Janine, Jonell, Nicole, and Susi very strong riders. We were all especially proud of Nicole since she rode ten miles further than ever before. Since the ride was a group ride with no drop we always regrouped at intersections (once we all figured out were everyone was when one group took a wrong turn) and I still ended with a 17 mph average. This ride is so hilly it's great for building aerobic fitness not to mention very scenic. It has been renamed the "Ronde Van Hellingen" what a great ride.

Baldman Blues

2007-09-12T11:22:00.000-04:00

I hate running. As I mentioned before I quit running after discovering the bike. Athletics were never important to me when I was in high school. My career on the cross country track team we brief and uneventful except for my 4th place in the 880 (yards), then I quit when I found a job.

Backpacking used to be my thing and that's what prompted the reintroduction to running. In between backpacking trips I would do absolutely nothing and as I got older, strapping on a 30lb pack and walking 25 miles became increasingly difficult. So, running was my way of staying somewhat fit for backpacking. The challenge that I enjoyed from backpacking was replaced with that of cycling and so I said to self " self you are never running again, ever".
That was until I discovered cyclo-cross. Never say never.

Running still sucks and I suck so bad at it I get passed by toddlers and little chihuahua dogs. Yesterday was the first official day of CX training (following my excellent plan from Andy Applegate) I only had to run 15:00 minuites. Felt like a forced march by General Sherman on the way to Atlanta. My feet felt like lead weights and I couldn't quit looking at my watch "Oh' god it's only been five minutes". It's amazing at how specialized the body becomes. I can ride 5 hours at a good 18 MPH average, but 15:00 of running puts me down for the count. As my day wore on I actually bonked at work! Couldn't get anything done I was so glad when it started raining and I new the Pack Ride would be canceled. When I got home I was so hungry I ate anything available till supper was ready. Then I just sat on the couch staring into space. All over a 15:00 run. Today is CX skills / mow Grandparents yard day, tomorrow I gotta run 20:00 that's five whole more minutes and ride 1:30. Like I was told by Cara McCauley "You gotta work on your limiters" whoa is me.

I Can Feel It Comin'..........

2007-09-06T14:09:00.000-04:00

Cross is in the air folks, it's getting so close I've lost all motivation for anything else. Got the State TT next week and I don't even want to do it, and I'm one of the few who likes TT's. Plus I'm actually thinking about running, me the guy who hated running and quit when he discovered the bike! My friend in the video expresses it so well, click play and let my friend Jone's show you how I feel.

Paybacks

2007-09-03T10:47:00.000-04:00

Paybacks are supposed to be hell, and I guess that depends on how your read it. Levi Liephimer stormed to victory with a 1.11 gap over the rest including team mate George Hincapie whom everyone assumed was helpin' out a team mate for the win at last years USPRO, but he seemed a little disgruntled afterwards. I won't bore you with to many details you can read those on the web.

Greenville, SC is a perfect place for a bike race. The city center is well kept and you can tell that the city takes pride in it's main street. Tree lined, providing a green canopy high above to shade the citizens below, wide side walks with manicured shrubs along the way, and brick pavers on the road. Great place to watch a bike race. The format of the race made it great for spectators to mingle through the downtown area. After 3 four mile circuits of the city the crew went out for four 21 mile loops across Paris mountain, so every 45 minutes the race would speed through town and go back out again until the final 3 circuits of the city. It was great to sit at a table along the side walk eating my lunch and watch the field come coursing through the turns right past me on their way through town. The finish was a monster with a climb of about 500m and an average of about 10%.

This race had a special feel to it, kinda like a hometown race and one that will live my memory. I guess it had to do with it being and American race with American fans, an American city, and 114 American racers. It was very special when the national anthem was sang and to hear the hush come over the crowd and the cheers go up when it was finished. It's great to be an AmeriCAN. I hope the USPRO Championships come back to Greenville next year.

Unlike other sports American cycling fans are participants, and understand the sport from a whole different perspective than other sports. Ever go to a football game and look in the stands. What do you see? Big-un's, acres and acres of Big-un's all living vicariously through some guy whom they couldn't get within ten feet of and probably wouldn't give them the time of day. Go to a bike race and what do you see? 90% of the people there are lean, healthy and fit, and enjoying a sport that most participate in at some level, be it racing or recreational riding. And the racers will actually talk to you.

There are a lot of negatives associated with the sport at the highest level, but there is more good than bad. I think American cycling is the place where the image can be restored. Why do so many Euro's want race in the US for less money? Because the pressure to dope is not prevalent as is in Europe. That's not to say all American cyclists are pure. There is always some rat fink dirty scum back cheat willing to do anything to win, and they should all be thrown under the bus. I'll put faith in the sport and which is still something worthy of our support. Judging from my experience in Greenville, AMeriCAN cycling seems very strong and I have hope for the future.

PS: look where the arrows are pointing in the pic. You can see my bald head above my wife's. We made the big time.

TTT with the Diesel and Kamos

2007-08-29T10:57:00.000-04:00

Tuesday nights are fun. There is a large group of us who meet down at Lamar for a handicapped group ride. the "A" group consists of accomplished racers, and fast recreational riders and the "B" group consists of beginners, rec riders, and accomplished racers who aren't quite fast enough for the "A" group. Each group is usually subdivided into three smaller groups ,the last in each group being the fastest. In theory that should allow everyone to come together near the finish line on the second lap.

This Tuesday anyone who is interested in doing the State ITT and TTT should come with TT bike in hand if (you have one) ,and get used to riding the distance in the TT position. If you've ever watched the TTT on TV during a pro race it is a very elegant thing to watch and I've always wanted to participate in a TTT. As much as everyone loves to time trial I figured it would be just Perry, Kingsley and me and so it was. We decided to roll out early before everyone else so as not to interfere with the groups of riders not doing the TT, so we rolled out about 5 minutes ahead of everyone. I was a little apprehensive about riding with Perry and Kingsley since they are light years ahead of me in fitness and have done a whole lot more racing than me. As we started off we agreed that we didn't want to race but just get used to riding the distance in the aero position and riding in a pace line on a squirrelly TT bike.

Rolling down 107 was smooth like butta', it's such a nice thing to ride with other skilled riders whose handling ability you are sure of. The first half mile or so we rode with about two feet between us and as we became more comfortable with the close proximity we tightened up the pace line and cruised along at 26-28 mph each taking about a 60 second pull and made the 90 deg turn off 107 without falling apart. I began to think "okay this isn't to bad" " if they don't crank it up I can stay with them". I did just that all along the river and up the first hill. Halfway up the second hill I flatted. I waved them on but the turned around and rode back down the hill to give me time to affect the repair.

After one of the fastest tube changes I've ever done, and just as I was putting my wheel back on. the first "A" group went flying by followed closely by the last (fast) group of "A"s and then my TTT Teamates. So, we jumped on the back of the group. I fully expected them to leave us but on the downhill grade and flat section before the next hill the areoness of the TT bike made it very easy to stay up. Starting up heartbreak (a hill about 1/4 mile long and 5-6% grade) I was sure that they would leave us. Ending up on the front of our TT group I got exited at the fact that we were staying with them ,and rode way harder than I should have and used a lot of cake riding at 19 mph. Almost to the top I pettered out. Perry waited on me and we got back on at the bottom of the descent and got sucked up the next hill from the draft of the group. Perry went to the front of the group and thinking that he was trying get me and Kingsley back in line I accelerated down the right side with Kinglsey following. Went straight to the front and started pulling down the long grade at 33 mph. The three of us were lined up again on the front. Starting up the long grade to the finish line I swung out, then Kingsley pulled and swung out, and then Perry "the Diesel" pulled through. Perry must have forgotten that we were TT practicing because he immediately gapped me and as I struggled to stay on I red lined. Letting out an explicative I swung out, toasted in the wake of the "Animal".

As I recovered I gained some ground but stayed about 1/4 mile back of the group. I could see the white jersey of Perry on the front dragging everyone down 107. I eventually started passing riders left by the pace. I was still riding very fast 29-30 mph along the road off 107 but it still wasn't enough to catch back up. Riding the TT bikes as a team was great while it lasted, we were a very smooth unit and I was comfortable the whole time. unfortunatley I don't think I'm the man for the job at the State TTT. Time is taken on the third man across the line. I felt kinda bad afterwords but I have to remember I've only ridden 2000 miles this year and raced only once since February. Besides, cross season is fast approaching and that is what my focus is. I always amaze myself at how I can rationalize anything into sounding better. C'est La Vie.

Turtle Intervals

2007-08-26T17:59:00.000-04:00

Rode 68 miles today, hadn't ridden that far in about two months. Starting at eight in the morning meant getting up at 6:30. I'm not used to 6:30. Arriving at the start in Kingsport I was surprised by the number of people waiting to ride. 14 of us total, most of whom I've never ridden with before. I'm always a little nervous about riding with people I don't know, not because I can't hang on if need be, but what are their bike handling skills like. I hate to ride in a squirrelly group of riders.

The sky was not looking to inviting, dark, low clouds, with the rumble of thunder nearby. There was a small discussion about waiting it out, but most seemed ready to ride me being one of those. About 5 miles into the ride, just past the last building offering any refuge, the clouds dropped a load on us for about an hour. I didn't really mind though, I was thinking about the cross race I did in January in a downpour and 40 degrees, this wasn't so bad. Eventually the rain stopped and we moved along at a pretty good clip following a valley road on the way to Rogersville. As we started up a rise in the road I noticed a small lump in the road which turned out to be a Box Turtle. I really hate to see dead animals on the road, but there isn't much you can do to help a possum across the road but it's pretty easy to help a turtle out. "Helpin' a turtle out" means gettin' dropped by the group. Fortunately, things weren't rolling along at too fast a pace and I was sure I could get back. Which I did by riding an interval of about 3 minutes. I was almost back to the group when someone else decided to follow my example and "help a turtle out" I kept going and got back to the group.

Riding on a cool day as a result of the rain there is not a lot of sweating going on, but I still drink to keep the energy stores topped off. For me the this resulted in the Pee Interval. Rather than slow the group down I decided to ride off the front and get a big enough time interval to take care of bidness and then reintegrate the group. So, I told my buddy Jeff what the deal was and road off the front. I was hammering along and took a look back to see how I was doing and saw Mike Patterson trying to cross to me. He had covered about half the distance when I thought man he really must have to go. Finally finding a suitable side road I swung off, then I heard Mike yell "oh, sorry I thought you were going for a harder workout".

Once we neared Rogersville we had a pretty good hill to climb which broke the group up a bit and on the other side I found another turtle. This sucker was flat and fast, but I got him across the road. I think it was a baby snapper, maybe? Anyway Turtle Interval II commenced and I had to ride harder to get back than before. We were going slightly downhill, but I caught up as we started up a pretty good climb. When I got back one of the guys asked me if I "had seen the other two?" Crap how'd I miss two turtles? he said "no" with a good natured look of you idot on his face and said "no the two riders". I didn't realize there were two back so I suggested we pull off at the first opportunity and thought It was communicated up the group. Somebody didn't get the memo because we got all strung out on the climb and mixed in with a bunch of church traffic. Mike and I just hammered the climb to the top passing everyone till we reached the top and finally found a place to pull off where we finally got the band back together.

"A kind word turneth away wrath" or makes a redneck talk to you when he just called you a dumb ass under his breath. At the Rogersville pit stop a guy gets out of his car near me with his nascar hat on, makes the remark thinking I didn't hear him. That angered me. So, since the sun had came out and it had turned into a beautiful day I asked him just that. "Beautiful day isn't it" "yeah" he answered with a scowl. "Did you enjoy the race last night" with hint of sarcasm, "yeah pretty much" wouldn't even look me in the face. What is it about bikes and spandex that angers redneckeus east tennesseeus? They really don't know how to act when you speak to them and the realize you are a person going down the road.

After the pit stops we headed back to Kingport on road surface that looked like something from a disaster movie. As I topped another hill, low and behold I saw another turtle in the road ( why do they always seem to be in the middle of the road?) I swung off toward the center line to pick up my turtle when I looked up and saw Mike barreling down on me. All the sudden he clamped down on the brakes slides the bike sideways towards me with the "oh ****" look on his face. I braced for impact. He came to a complete stop in the locked and upright position, parallel to me about a foot way. Mr. Turtle was right in between us, blissfully unaware of the sitution above him. I wasn't sure if Mike was rushing to my aid, or was practicing sliding through a turn? Great bike handling Mike.

Not long after that we came onto some flat roads and got the train rolling, we covered a lot of ground pretty quickly, as we topped a hill near Yuma I sat up to wait on Mike who had dropped a chain. We started off the hill whippin it good when I made a left turn fast and out of the corner of my eye I saw a stop sign. Blew right through it at about 30 miles an hour. That was a pretty scary, couldn't see the sign for the all the tree limbs and weeds. I'm glad a car was coming down the road. I always try and stop at red lights and stop signs as we should since we are subject to all the same rules of the road as other road vehicles. I certainly wouldn't wittingly blow through an intersection.

On the way back on Carter's Valley road I was in the front thinking I new where I was going. coming down the hill I sensed that I needed to turn and looked back and saw someone giving the right turn signal. When I turned around I was about 30 feet from the turn and going about 25 MPH. No time to signal, tapped the brakes leaned steep into the corner and dove into the turn. I pulled that one out of my rear end. Couldn't believe I made the turn and stayed up. Quickly looking back I saw the ensuing chaos of the no signal, quick turn, folks spread across the road and some completely missing the turn. Don't let the guy who thinks he knows where he is going on the front. doh!

When I realized that I was only about five miles from the barn, I was ready to get this thing put to bed, so Jeff and I hammered the last few miles back in. Had a great ride with a good solid group of riders, plus it was made more interesting "by helpin a turtle out"

Where No Cross Bike Has Gone Before.......Pt.2 The Benchmark

2007-08-25T17:31:00.000-04:00

Well, someone else has probably ridden a cross bike at Bay's Mountain Park before, but it was the first time for the ole' baldman steed. Jeff and I arrived at about 1:00pm in the heat of the day. Tame deer are running around like dogs up there. They just walk right up to you and possibly out in front of you. Hope none of them wonder of Bay's they'll get nailed by a hunter real quick. I digress, It was freakin hot! In the nineties again as we started down the road and up th Azalea Trail. Very dry, and sandy but climbed pretty fast up to the road. The heat even permeated the woods.

Once we reached the road I was thinking about the last time I rode here which had to have been five years ago. It's unbelievable how one doesn't realize how much they have changed over a period of time till there is a bench mark. When I last rode here I was on a mountain bike with a 30x32 granny gear(I can eat a pizza of that rear cog), this time I road my Bianchi CX bike wit a 36x26 low gear. Riding up hills on my CX bike that I couldn't ride on the MTB was very gratifying for me. Descending skills have really improved as well. I've always been a good descender on the road but at the bottom of a MTB descent I used to have to pry my white knuckled fingers off the bars. Riding the rollers on Bays which is loose rock gravel, bigger rocks and sand I felt confident not terrified as before. The last descent on the north of the rim around Bay's is very rocky and rutted in places, again not a place one would think of riding a cross bike, but I descended it faster than ever before and without walking. All these things combined bode well for CX season. We only rode for about an hour, but I felt very good about how I'm riding. Hopefully, with the start of cross specific training next month I'll be a bald cross machine in October. Also,when October rolls around I'll have more cross specific stuff to write about. I never realized how much fun it is to talk about oneself. Stroke the ego. I guess that's part of what a blog is about. Isn't it?

Andy and Cara, still at Worlds

2007-08-24T11:25:00.000-04:00

Here is a pic from Cara's Picasa site of Andy rolling down the start ramp at the begining of his run for an 11th place finish, which was 31 second's faster than last year. I think TCRC needs a ramp like that for our TT's. Read more posts from Cara here.

Glenn makes it to Brest!

2007-08-22T11:49:00.000-04:00

Looks like Glenn Himstedt is plugging along, he's made it to the turnaround point in Brest. Keep riding strong Glenn.

News from across the pond.

2007-08-21T11:43:00.000-04:00

My friend Glenn Himstedt is currently participating in the 1200km (750 Miles) Paris-Brest-Paris ride in France. He's been training for this about 5 years now and all that hard work had come to fruition. In case you don't know, PBP is held every four years and is a distance endurance ride. Each rider has to qualify in rides called Brevets of lengths from 200k-600k and complete them in the required time in order to gain selection into PBP. PBP riders have 90 hours to complete the ride. If you would like to track Glenn's progress go here and enter his rider plate number which is 4808. As of 8:56 French time he was at checkpoint Villaines.

In other news MSG sponsors Andy Applegate and Cara McCauly are in Germany competing in the World Road Championships. Cara has already racked up an 18th place finish and has one a huge silver cup to show for it. She is posting to her blog here, so go and see how they are doing. Probably more interesting reading than anything I could write. To see pics like the one to right of Cara in leopard skin arm warmers go here.

Mountain! I dont need no stinking mountain!

2007-08-18T13:05:00.000-04:00

Okay, a few posts ago I said I was through riding in the mountains this year. Of course when you live in upper East Tenn they're kinda hard to get away from. Today was supposed to be a flat to rolling sort of ride, but as we met at the starting point the other stronger guys were meeting there too and wanted us to ride with them over to Iron Mountain. I didn't want to go but reluctantly agreed.

Boy did things start to heat up about seven miles into the ride when the pace started to quicken. In the words of my buddy Bart "somebody started handing out some fresh one's" long and short of it I shot out the back like an exploding pustule. Three of us regrouped at the back and turned up Sciota Road. I was determined to get to the mountain I didn't want climb before the faster guys who went a hillier route. So I hammered (well it was hammering for me) down Sciota and up 107 to the base of Iron where Bart took over the pace making up the climb. The three of us rode at a steady pace wondering if we were ahead or not. At every turn I expected to see the other guys come screaming past us on their way down. Well, turns out we did get in front of them. Brad Price went flying by me about half a mile from the top followed by Jay Westbrook and Mike Stewart.

After regrouping at the top we did what I love best about mountains, descend. That's about the only thing I can do well enough to stay up with the faster guys. We went down the climb like a Peregrine falling from the sky onto it's unwitting prey. Going down fast, FUN. Regrouping again at the bottom, the screws started turning down HWY 107 (33MPH) somebody started handing out fresh ones and things blew up. I found myself and two buds Mike and Bart off the back again. Just as well they turned up Sciota and we went down the old Erwin Highway back to JC and arrived a few minutes ahead of the other guys. They are very strong.

It was a good ride , rode a little harder than I wanted. Bring on cyclo-cross, I don't need no more stinking mountains!

What the...........!

2007-08-16T11:24:00.000-04:00

Can you believe this contraption? Looks' like something out of a bad SciFi movie. I got this from the free About.Com Bicycling newsletter:

The operator of a Hyperbike uses a total-body climbing, swim-like motion to propel the Hyperbike, while balancing as if on a unicycle. The driver twists his torso, contracts the stomach and back muscles, and alternately extends the arms up and down as in a foot pedal motion, while coordinating with the legs to get the best push and pull from the lower pedals.

I'd like to try and control this thing coming of "Bald Mountain"Neyaaaahh!

Where No Cross Bike Has Gone Before.......

2007-08-12T16:34:00.000-04:00

O'kay, I know yesterday I said that I was through riding in the mountains. Wrong, I meant on the road bike. My fellow CX'er, Mike Seek posted a ride on the message board for Sunday morning consisting of some fire roads he was interested in. Sounded like a good idea since I've ridden on the road since April. Might be nice to get out in the woods....

Evidently, Mike and me are the only ones who thought a three hour tour of mountain fire roads was a good idea since we were the only two who showed. My legs really weren't happy about climbing a steep rock strewn hill at 8:00 in the morning, still upset about hammerfest from yesterday morning. Seems like it took a long time before they were spinning somewhat comfortably ( could be old age ). The road wasn't to bad over the first three miles or so, rocky in places up to tater sized rocks, but as we started to climb in earnest things began to change.

Rounding a 180 bend in the road I wondered who put the creek bed where the road was supposed to be. No way were riding that It would have been tuff with MTB gearing. Baby head rocks sticks, ruts, ... the cyclists anathema walking became our only choice. After a nice 50 yard slog things leveled out. Consulting the map we began to realize that we missed our turn about two miles back down the road. Undeterred we decided to continue on up the "road" walking another 25 yards. We where rewarded for our persistence with a dark shady forest with pine needles, grass, and fewer rocks for a road surface. It was a blast flying down the road bouncing and skittering along. Descending on essentially a road bike with knobby tires on this kind of surface is a little on the edge, amazing what a CX bike is capable of. Got a little squirrelly when we crossed some water running across the road stayed up though. Just when I got into the descending zone we dead ended on the edge of a gorge. Not yet having our fill of adventure we rode a side road that got extremely steep and rocky as we went down. I wasn't really exited about the direction things were going, straight down, in the opposite direction of my car, so we pulled the plug before things got to crazy and headed back down the mountain.

With all the descending getting back was a lot quicker than going out and just as tiring. It was a real strech of bike handling skill to get down the creek bed section unscathed. Mike flatted half way down. I'm amazed that we didn't have more. The descending was so technical my calves and hands began to hurt from riding out of the saddle and feathering the brakes for a good hour. Finally the descending was over and we stopped to observe a burned out rusted Subaru suspended in some trees. How does that happen? Just a little more climbing and the final decent to pavement. I flatted 100 yards from the pavement, front wheel, flying down the road had to struggle to stay in control on the rocks and stop without crashing.

Two flats down, 15 miles of difficult riding, 2098' of climbing, and three hours later we finally returned to the Cheoa parking lot unscathed. Great ride, proud of our bike handling skills on terrain better suited to a MTB and how well a CX bike rides in MTB country. When I got home I didn't even make it to the shower. Fell flat on my face for a two hour nap.

Goat's be gone

2007-08-11T13:37:00.000-04:00

Had a great ride this morning. Funny how many people show up when there are no 6 mile climbs in the mountains involved? Had about 17 guys. It was a little sad to see that the goat farm was gone about half way through the ride. It was the "Goat Farm Ride" after all, and I was all ready to strap on my goat dance leggings and do the goat dance. Little hot for those though and I didn't want to be the only one with a pair. Starting at eight in the morning cut down the heat but the pace hotted up after we crossed Susong Hill " this ain't a race boys!". Seemed wierd to be riding so fast instead of grinding up a mountain. I think I'm done with mountains for this year, built plenty of power and endurance, now it's time to work on speed leading up to CX in October. I just had second breakfast: bacon, biscuts w/butter & jam and coffee w/milk. Ain't being a cyclist great. Nap time.

Surface of the sun

2007-08-10T20:28:00.001-04:00

Man it's hot! Me and my buddy Larry road today at high noon. 96deg (100 heat index), 90% humidity. The air was so heavy and hot it was hard to breath. Like breathing in the air from an oven when you open it to get out your pizza. We actually rode a cool, tree covered road up a mountain to get cool. I can't wait for fall and the cool cross weather. I used to hate the thought of winter coming, but since I've discovered cross I actually look forward to that wet, cold, muddy CX Saturday. Days like today make me look even more forward to MSG Cross. I've got to do a lot of prep work to be ready to keep from being last.

Why do people do this?

2007-08-09T13:51:00.000-04:00

I've looked at several blogs over the past couple of years and I'm not real sure why people do them. What I have read on other peoples blogs is usually interesting and witty though. I am primarily doing a blog to talk about cycling and in particular MSG CX.

I'm sorry about the huge picture of me but every time I re size it it screws up the title font. Don't know enough about it to make work. This picture of me is my favorite taken by my son who is an excellent photographer but has quit cold turkey. I like it because it shows me doing what I like best: going downhill, through turns, fast, on a cross bike. Look at the intensity in my eyes, that's CX.