Bushwacka

Santa Cruz and Giant Demo day.

2011-06-06T04:22:00.000-07:00

I recently got to check out some new bikes from Santa Cruz and Giant. Here is my XC racer biased take on what I had a chance to try.

Santa Cruz Blur Trail Carbon size M - this bike has potential to be one of the most fun bikes you ever have owned, if you live in the right place. At first it was a bear on the tight XC trails of Darling Hill at Kingdom Trails. The bike pedaled well enough actually really well, but was just too damn slack to make tight turns. after I left some air out of the front shock to get it to feel plusher and the bike become almost fun on tight singletrack. My own 29er was still alot more fun, as was the tallboy both of which have much steeper head angles. Then I hit a trail called kitchell. Kitchell is a flowly Slope style downhill with berms, tables, and pumpable rollers. This bike really came alive on this trail and begged for more. It geo of being low,slack with 5 inches of travel made this thing ride on rails down this trail. It was a joy to manual over the tables, and really loved being thrown into the turns. Overall I think this bike is not a great bike for most place in vermont, or most places back east but if your deal is pedaling a couple hours to get a long fast flowly or technical decent this could be the most fun bike on the market. this would be alot of fun on say Porcupine Rim,Moab, Ut or Flying Dog, Park City, Ut.

Compenents - Full XX including, an XX revelation, and brakes, and fat tubeless tires. everything on this bike worked flawlessly

Santa Cruz Tallboy Alloy size M - This is a great bike, its eat up trails with speeds, quickness, stability and flat out just steam rolled terrain. It was way better at tight EC riding than the Blur TrC, the bike climbed over technical stuff that was great but wasnt as plush as a maestro bike. Bike maintained it line really easily and I cleared several tech sections that give me fits on my hardtail SS. The quirk though are this, in really tight stuff it just did not feel right, the front end was sometime tough to control and felt very 29er in the wrong ways as well as the good ways. My monocog by comparisons is alot more nimble on tight trails

components - Full XX again - the shifting was less than great on this bike. It was clunky and frequently missed shifts despite me trying to reindex it. I chaulk it up to being a beat on demo bike.

Giant Anthem X 29er size M - you know the song anything you can do I can do better? This bike is the fastest XC bike I have ridden in my short life. I do not know what makes it so fast. but the stiffness from the BB30 BB, the stiff frame, the big wheels or maaaybe my knickname Josh Lemond. Whatever it was even in the parking lot it was apparent that this thing get off the line quick and can hold speed like no other. Climbing on the road it was easy to maintain a high speed and burst when I wanted to. Once on dirt it just had ridiculous traction on the uphill in any type of conditions. On singletrack once I got the fork air right , this bike ripped despite it dumb overinflated tubed tires. Nearly perfect, Jedi like handling. every thing I didnt like about this bike could be easily changed. I will own this bike eventually.

Components - Full XX - rear shifting was great, brakes were amazing, front shifting didnt like to go to the big ring. Tires were tubed and it rolled slower, rougher and cornered slower because of it. It could have used bigger than a 2.1 on the front of it as well. Giant put tubeless on your demo bikes!! the stock Fizik seat flat out blew and was like sitting on a skinny cinder block. I also feel the stock stem was bit long, and the handlebar could have used alot more sweep.

Sleepy Hollow trail report

2011-06-06T04:15:00.000-07:00

On friday, mother nature finally stopped crying about the loss off all the beautiful snow we had here in Stowe for the winter of 10-11. Finally giving the trails a chance to dry out enough so that riding on them would not destroy them for good. Being that this is my first off season being spent in Stowe, I have been exploring every local trail system that I have had time to explore. Friday's destination was a very scenic and secluded spot, in Hungington, Vermont called Sleepy Hollow. Its about 40 minutes west of Stowe, Vt.

We basically did the Jedi Force Loop shown here. Part of this trail were really fun.

Erik on a rooty, with rock slabs decent that was old school steep but alot of fun.

me on the same trail on a steep little roll down

but with it being early season, some trails were just a tad soft and steep for me on my trusty Single Speed. On the loop there was everything from really well designed flowly almost buff singletrack, to technical rock roll down and drops. The cherry on top was the final decent down Getting Better which is more open, and flowly than any other trail we had a privilege of riding. Overall this is a really sweet little place to ride and can be combined with Hinesburg Town Forest, and Carse Hills to form some epicly large XC Mountain biking loops. Think 50 plus miles! The Fellowship of the wheels website has more info on these trails and all off the Greater Burlington Area trail system.

http://www.fotwheel.org/

The Best and Worst of it.

2010-11-17T12:26:00.000-08:00

Cross is chaotic. Sometimes you rock times you dont. Last saturday I did both in the same day.

First I just want to say that the Morgantown Monster Cross was by far the best cross course of the year. JR is doing a great job with this series and this course. The course had everything including the run up from hell.

SS Race

After a very nice front row call up for my second in points. I was happy to be starting next to pflug and montana. The start was pretty chaotic and a found myself sitting pretty far back in the SS/Cat 4 field.

Marc Glass had a really great start and was holding the Gerry's wheel for the first lap of the race. On the second lap the true front runners were moving towards the front. Montana and Gerry were pulling away together which was to be expected. I moved past alot of strong riders and was finding myself in no man's land. Morgan Miller was moving up fast to join me though.

For the second week in a row me and morgan would battle. My Cross Bike vs his MTB and I thought on this course that I had much better advantage over him. The course was smoother, and the turns were grippiery than last week at Lost Creek. A fall in the sand pit from me left me in 4th chasing down Morgan. Instead of passing him like I would have weeks past I sat in and let him push wind. For 1 lap he lead, and I got good rest. It was then time to fly or so I thought. I could here him breathing hard, about as hard as I was breathing. I got a lead and was faster on the run up from hell. I guess all that running was paying off....or it was just the lighter weight cross bike being easier to carry.

This run up was tough. On a SS bike I think it was un clearable, some of the stronger 3/4 and elite group were able to ride it. Everytime I hit it thought I gave it my all knowing that there was a sweet SL downhill though some trees to recover on.

On the last lap I had pretty good gap on morgan but he was catching up fast. One last time Up that hill and I was givin it all. Morgan still caught me by the end of the DH and was on my wheel for the sandpit. I carefully rode the sandpit hedging my bets on my sprinting ability. Out on the finishing piece of Pavement. I pounce on the pedals as hard I could and held of a hard charging morgan. 3rd place, according to crossresults.com my best finish of the year.

3/4 Race

The 3/4 race to follow ended up being my worst finish of the year. A really bad start and some glimmers of hope passing riders that I should be passing I caught up to my buddy Jason and being the nice friend I am, I wanted to put both of us into the pain zone.

I was just to exhausted from the first race to safely go fast though and it would soon show in an epic barrier fall. It was scarier and looked worse than it was. I was really stunned about the fall. Jason words to race him remotivated me. It was like remotivating a drunk to go fall down again. I caught up to jason and passed him again, some friend I am, eh? I then proceeded to fall right in front of him. Yep. This was not going good. I start soft pedaling contemplating what I was going to do. My buddy Tim passed me missing a brake pad. I then decide to be charitable and give him my bike. My bike is tiny compared to his. We then both dropped out and joined the hecklers spraying people with whipped cream on the run up from death.

My first cross DNF. IT kinda of sucks but I literally just wasnt feeling it.

I am feeling the last cross race(s) of the year this weekend in Bruceton Mills and the start of ski season is less than 2 weeks away.

I do stink after cross race sorry Gerry

I won! ....for one Lap. Murrysville CX classic Race report

2010-11-08T16:24:00.000-08:00

After a not muddy but REALLY bump and tight cross course in central WV yesterday. I was prepared for Murryville since there was no SS class at Murrysville I was running 3/4 men. I had a secret weapon though today. My buddies Redline Conquest Pro. After a couple laps of preride I was happy to have gears there was a couple uphill but on in particular that would have been a pain in the ass on a SS due to the hairpin prior to it.

the course was varied much faster in sections than any of the ABRA races, some hard off cambered turn, the barrier were smaller and closer than what we have been doing in WV, and there was also some stiff climbs.

I lined up inside and first row, and no call ups so I stuck there! 6 of the top ten are first row

On the start initially I was only doing ok but after a couple hundred yards I was catching people, not only catching people but catching them easily I put in the Big Ring and hammered up to first. I entered the first grass section with actually a little gap. Surprised myself on the start thats for damn sure first time I have ever gotten a holeshot in my life. I kept it nearly flat out and lead the entire first lap. Start of the second lap I was still leading but hoping for some help from Todd and Jordan on the road section. It never came... second lap goes by Todd get past me really quick but I pass him again at the barriers. At the start of the third lap I say to him let put sometime in the other guys, I was out of breath and he didnt hear me. eventually there was a group of 4 of us and we are riding strong. My sticky seat was catching my shorts on remount and making it really hard to pedal with my shorts falling off. Tim Baur eventually catches us while Brad goes off the back. Tim goes off the front. Tim starts dropping back. 2 laps to go Todd and Jordan are off the front at least a 10 second gap to me, I'm third, Brad is catching me in fourth and Tim was coughing up a lung, sorry tim but I heard you coughing when I passed you. Great job staying strong for 5th though.

Brad passes me just prior to the barriers before the last lap, I catch his wheel on the final time though the start finish line but I only hold until the grass. I still put out everything I have to try to catch back up to no avail. I truly left nothing out there today. 110 percent effort. 4th place behind 3 rock stars in a strong and big(30 plus riders I think?!) 3/4 field.

First lap trying my best to Bushwack the entire field

2nd lap me and todd hitting the barrier together.

Its 45 degree and I was getting to hot, I look like I know what I am doing here.

Jordan my dreaded friend went on for the win.

WV Night Club Cross

2010-11-08T15:41:00.000-08:00

Thoughout the entire week I was looking forward to yet another cross race. The adrenaline high of cross racing is so great that the entire week kinda of suck. Monday suck the most and its almost down right depression from the lack of endophines flowing though your blood. Although the week the weather report were forecasting snow. Being that skiing is my number one sport off course I was uber excited. Saturday finally came and at my house disappointment....no snow.

On the drive down though from Uniontown to just south of Morgantown it was snowing hard in areas heck some areas had snow on the ground! me and my road trip mate Jason were now really stoked to get a sloppy, cold wet snow cross race. Sometime just prior to Lost Creek, Wv though the snow stopped and sun came out. At the venue the race wasnt even muddy! ca va.....

Whatever! cross racing is fun no matter what, but oday would just be pain with maybe alittle bit of fun. Preriding the course I found that I was extremely over geared and that today's course was extremely bumpy. Never has a otherwise benign grass field been such a bad ass mutherfer as today. That course kicked my ass. Hell I endo in a ditch on my preride! The grass was like riding on velcro, there was as many hairpin turns as Gunnar is old(which is alot), and it was bumpy as a ski mogul run. Did I mention there was singletrack section that led to a ditch that was pretty hard to bunny hop on a single speed speed? Then there was an slick off cambered run up to quick remount steep DH.

Start of the race after some hard effort warms up though I felt good and was thinking I would be better than most. My call up was nice for a good start

I didnt totally suck at the start and ended up maybe 7th wheel. A hard effort though the first lap put me in second not to far from the Pflugger. My belief in cross racing is to go hard at the start no matter what. trying to ride though traffic is a waste of energy. I kept a strong effort in a attempt to try to chase down Pflug unsurprisingly it didnt work. It did however solidify the gap I had on the field with the exception of local nightcluber Morgan Miller. Morgan was riding a lower geared SS mtb and I have to say that wouldnt have been a bad choice for today.

So an epic 3 lap battle ensued. Every time I would get a gap I either have to slow down to breath, get caught up in lapped traffic which 3 laps in is when we started to lap people, or I would have to dismount and run that stupid ditch when the MTB was able to bunny hop it. In the end morgan seized a moment on the run up with traffic and got me on that run up. smart move and after 3 laps of trying to out run him I was so beat my pace and motivation dropped way off. After a couple hundred yards of recovery, I went hard again to ensure Marc Glass wasnt going to catch me. The reality was me and morgan put in such a strong effort that noone was really that close at all in the SS class.

So a hard fought battle and a 3rd place

hopefully some pictures of the actually racing soon.

WV cross weekend Marilla and WVU. I keep dropping myself.

2010-11-02T12:08:00.000-07:00

I have been working my ass off to try to get faster at cross, mostly because its so much freaking fun! its also chaos most of the time sometimes with very little control.

- Marilla Park Cyclocross • Carrera De Los Muertos

The race of the Dead, proved to be one of my most trying race this year. I committed many blunders today.

the marilla cross race was much more technical than anything we have rode on thus far, its truly did favor MTBs IMO or just might be that I am not as good of a cross bike rider as I was thinking.

1. I rolled up to the start thinking smugly "hey I was the third best SS last week" I am getting a call up. NOPE. noone got call ups. I sheeplishly moved way into second row.

2. I feel so many time on loose corners and overall rode like donkey poo.

3. I recently switched to single release shimano cleats to keep from popping out when mashing my SS uphill. guess what on the hill of death I wasnt releasing. the hill of death

4. I attacked Marc and John when I should have just kept going strong, instead they smartly dropped my ass and I could never recover.

I ended up 5th place which according to crossresults.com was my second worst race this year after the first SS race of the year at Waynseburg. Good news? I beat Don Powers again call it revenge cause he is much better MTBer than me!

me getting ready to run past Powers

Me railing hard into the Hill of Death

me laughing at how terrible I was on the run up. Painfaceblog.com photo.

and Pratt got a great one of me warming up

I also found out after the race that my square tapered cranks was done. I hate square tapered cranks with passion I am not ever willing running one again after this season. Luckly pathfinder hooked me up.

After helping set up the course for the next day and some fun times in WVU town on devil's Eve and a surprisingly good night's sleep in a crowded college apartment(thanks Ryan!), I was feeling better the next morning for......

Day 2 - WVU Cross aka White Park aka the base ball field cross.

Day 2 of the weekend brought us one of the more varied cross courses off the year thus far. It was also sprawling and not compact like the rest of the ABRA course this year. The course started out with a road section after 2 sweepers put you out on to a very root hairpin on to 2 basketball court hairpins, some twisty grass stuff to a long straight till a quasi run up that most anyone rode everytime. it then went into a playground with the the worst gravel of the year so far. After the playground short steep little climb to a hair pin back down the hill leading to a couple more hair pins then down to the mud pit of doom by the low baseball fields. You then started a medium length gravel road section that generally went uphill. this lead you into the 3 baseball infield in a row that was VERY tricky to navigate at first as the sand had such varying levels of traction. Till the final road section with a 180 turn before the finish line.

SS race

I showed up and got front row start spot. Beside my unclipping fail going into the first gravel pit I had a really good race, Ill give it a 8 outta of 10. Crossresult.com seems to think it was second best race of the year and I can agree with it. I stayed strong the whole time and eventually caught montana but he got away again before the finish. Still only a 8 second gap to him is the closest I have been all year and Gerry didnt totally crush us either but then again maybe gerry didnt want to totally crush us either. 3rd place behind Montana and Gerry is ok and i got closer to them so I am happy.

The quasi run up that was clearable everytime

start of the gravel road section did I mention how cold it was?

3/4 race

I was feelign good so I signed up for the 3/4 race. This would be what I thought was my best race this year in cross from a effort stand point. crossresult.com agrees. I started strong and was sitting in the back half of the top 10. I continued to move up and ride a pretty clean solid race. I was eventually finding myself in the top 5 then the top 3, and for a very brief moment I was second. While I was second with Duncan Oliver on his fast crossized Superfly I tried to drop him on the road and really just drop myself. The MTBer were killing it in the baseball fields and I well wasnt. He eventually got past me, and Jason Cyr made me look like I was going backwards and evnetually Duncan's WVU teammate Todd got past me. I recovered and held of the ever fast Joe Lydic for a 5th Place finish. We (being place 2nd -5th) also were closer to beating Jacob Grantham that anyone has been in weeks.

My painface and my brief time in second

close up from painfaceblog.com

overall a great weekend I look forward to a double(maybe triple) header this weekend, should be cold muddy and maybe snowy!

ABRA CX #3 Little Washington

2010-10-23T18:13:00.000-07:00

today brought me down to Washington, Pa which at 40 minutes to get to was probably the easiest race for me ever to drive to.

As always in cross I was late, got there at 10:20, registered, dress, drank some HEED, downed some clif shots and went out to warm up at 10:35. soon find out that my 40/18 gear is pretty fing stiff and I am no where near spinning it out anywhere. Panic ensues and I begin to try to change my bike to a 38/18. At about 10:56(11am start) its together and I made the right choice with this gear. The course wasnt practically hilly, it just had dont of tight turns and the longest straight aways were maybe 200 yards long the 40/18 pretty much made no sense to me.

Due to my crappy race at Waynesburg 2 weeks prior I knew I wasnt getting a call up. Gerry Pflug, Montana Miller, Rob and Don got there though. It wasnt so bad I was only second row back. At the start I get clipped in fast and quickly find myself getting to be in the front group. Half way's though the first lap its me, Montana, Gerry, and Rob Lochner pulling away from the rest of the SS/cat 4 field. This was expected, well except I didnt expect to be there.

Montana though in a effort which caused Gerry Pflug's chain to drop right here

after Gerry dropped his chain, which I guess this is luck's way of keeping Gerry in check I grab on to Montana's wheel for 2nd place. Lochner didnt match this and was left in 3rd. Me drafting a very speedy Montana.

The next lap I do an ok job of keeping up with Montana, but I am truly running at 11. I hold his wheel for most of the second lap but lose it on the long flat section. this was un in the spiral of Doom entry.

He was able to put this much into me in such a short period of time

I though that would be the last I would see of him, but coming into the barriers he was on the ground. I got with him again. He was simply to fast and I was running at above my breaking point already. He slowly put a minute gap into me(according to my dad). I continued to run at my breaking point which was getting critcal at this point in time, a couple really stupid remounts and 2 falls now had 3rd and 4th aka Rob Lochner and Marc Glass Bearing down on me. The Pflug also was no longer having bike trouble and was sitting in 5th moving up fast. Rob and Marc caught me on the long straight to pavement and I couldnt match them at first, but after the first tight turn I was thinking they must have used a decent bit of energy to catch me so I start to go into the red again.

Rob leading, Marc, Me and Gerry

I am figureing the Pflug can actually help me I put my head down and wait for his pass

I then grab his wheel down the road section and held it till the run up. It was a great boost and put me decently ahead of Rob and Marc. thanks pflug! For the next couple laps I start to put much less effort into the slow sections but give 110 percent on the faster longer straight away. I also stopped making stupid falls.

It was still painful

it was tons of fun, there is nothing I love more on a bike than carving turns

I ended up keeping Marc Glass at bay, I also got some time back into Montana but not enough to make it a race again. Finished 3rd in SS behind Montana(2nd) and Pflug(1st). Actually pretty stoked on that, still wishing I can some how get a 1st but Pittburgh wasnt built in a day you know?

I am sure Montana and Gerry will blog about this at some time also more pictures to come.

North Park MOM Time Trial

2010-10-18T16:25:00.000-07:00

I have a love hate relationship with Time Trails. I hate them cause they are short, intense, and hurt so much more than a normal XC race or even a 50 miler. Heck I actually enjoyed the 2 50 milers I did this year and they werent all that painful. I love them because TTs have alot of elements I like. My extra chunk I carry around is actually not all fat, there are some large muscles in those legs. I should probably lay off my love of mexican food, and ice cream but that is not going happen. I may not be able to climb or respond to attacks in an XC race like the best but I can put out tons of power on flattish course better than most. Course knowledge is another key thing. I am expert course remember, I get this from Autocross. Yes as a younger man I use to burn petrol just because it was fun and was actually quite good at it.

I know everyone I am racing against is probably more fit, and probably has a nicer bike than me so I do what I can. I try to race smart and get every advantage I can get. This weeks key advantage was this, prior to this week I have ridden the first half of the TT loop at least 10 times. In the past week I was able to get 6 laps of the TT course. I basically have it remembered down to the root now. I was going to ride anyways so why not ride the race loop? This knowledge helps alot in TT. Going into the race I knew this was going to be tough to do well with the couple solid climbs in the race.

Race Day was quite a pleasant morning besides the chill, I saw my first frost of the year. Had a decent breakfast, some banana and a gu prior to the race. Fellow SSer Heath Neely helped me in a pinch with a headset problem I should have taken care of the day prior. I choose my normal 32/19 gear today which felt great for everything except was stiff on the 'expert" loop climb and was alot spun out on the start of the decent....but its a SS its almost never in the right gear or always in the right gear.

On the initial climb my legs just didnt like me, what ever it was I was running on 7 of 8 cylinders today. Not horribly bad but not good either. must have been my exuberant preriding the day before and the couple days doing intervals the prior week. Not everyday your going to feel perfect so I pushed on.

the first climb. Thick Monster!

A couple people were actually cheering me by name, whoever you were you guys rock!

Such a little fun rock pump, I am actually smiling despite my pain

it was then up alittle to the first little flowly DH that I nailed! sharp hairpin left and up the next climb.

my old buddy Vaughn got a sweet shot on the climb.

I climbed as fast as the tired legs could go, got up to the next flowly section and just nail it again. The preriding at least kept me going quickly on the gravity assisted parts of the TT. Over the little bridge up the switchback and into the first fun dip of the race. though the first rock gardens which the 29er just rocks on. Made sure to take the right over the log pile that I knew was quicker. up the next climb.

Despite not having a 100 percent legs I literally rode every thing perfectly, no dabs, no washouts, no bar hits on close trees, I was going quick and efficient up to the road cross over. Take the expert loop which has a super sweet log jump/pile thing at the start and just wheelie hop the whole thing(sick brah!) down that fast DH, left on the hairpin of DOOM and now on the last hard climb of the day. The climb goes up gradually at first then turns left and gets looser and steeper. 20 percent grades, with loosen dirt + Single Speed its tough and my tired legs start to faultier half ways up the climb. I end up hike a biking it but at least it gives me a chance to rest.

topping out the last climb its now the start of the final decent, its start rolling and slow. I see Evan Perrone with sadly a flat tire. If not for the flat he would have in the hunt for first for sure. Slight DHs that are straight and not technical are a SSers worst enemy and thats how the decent start. Spinning at a 234 RPMs down the decent I feel good now, I hit a couple of the really fast turns and nail the left handed sweeper on top. Down to the road, up the last 100 yard climb to the final loose and very fast decent. I nailed it. Literally left nothing out there on the decent. stayed off the brakes where I needed to, kept everything just this side of control from the edge. caught MJ(thanks for the cheers I was outta of breath!) in the finish line grass and whew it was over.

4th place out 19 in Single Speed against a bunch of rock stars. the results.

after the race I ate some , then went out on with Brian and Michelle Beitko for some post race riding. What a pretty day to ride. Went up to ride the new pflugstein trail which is coming along. The bridge that you can jump off of to the rock roll down is still my favorite part of that trail but its starting to become alot more rideable than it was mid summer.

Michelle smiling for my camera

Her husband Brian was kicking my tired butt

Fun sweeper on Pflugstein

Pretty Trail

we then rode up to the swimming pool and I said hi to all my old car racing buddy up there for the NHSCC autocross. They left me while i tried unsuccessfully to sign up to run. I then finished up with Pie Trainer over to koko buki where I called it a day on dirt.

On the road ride back to my car I saw this awesome display of fall

that all for now folk, Little Washington CX, and the MOM finale at Moraine next week.

We are crossed up.

2010-10-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

Last sunday me and 10 other were really confused. We took are cross bikes into the woods for some singletrack riding. We didnt stop there though. Not only did we ride singletracks some of use rode the log piles and bunny hopped the biggest obstacles we were able find.

Cross bike while very efficient in a cross environment make for a rather rough ride on otherwise easy singletrack. Its is great cross training though for cross. The skills you can learn by riding singletrack will make you a faster cross rider. My bunny hop gets better each time I go out and ride trails, hopefully soon I can start to bunny hop cross barriers.

Ben Stephans got some GPS data from the ride. I was surprised to see 2900 feet of climbing.

Oh yeah we also rode the BMX track, learning to pump.

Rob on the singletrack

Joe and Tim on the leafy trail

and lastly a video of me and Jake's BMX escapades

SCSSS - Singletrack Causes Spontanous Smiling Syndrome

2010-10-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

Got to ride Raystown Lake last saturday. For those of you that dont know Raystown Lake is a 40 miles of purpose built MTB trail located just south of Huntington, Pa. These trails are some of the fastest and flowiest trails anywhere. Simple put I was spontaneously smiling at several point while whooping it up the whoops.

So here was the GPS track

and some pictures.

me and my big "motor" love these fast trails

J's bike nearly let us down a mere 8 miles into the ride

Jason takes his fun way to serious

He was railing some hard turn though fun to watch.

At Raystown they take the flow so seriously that they actually blow leafs of the trails.

Peee Aaaaayyyyyy lookin pretty

Short little clip of J's motocross steeze right here.

all in all 24 miles at a average speed of 10 mph, apres ride was some pizza being served by a pretty Italian girl in some no name town in Pa. I will be back, just dont if Ill be back this fall.

Month of Mud was finally muddy!

2010-10-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

after a horrible Single Speed race and a pretty good B race, I was more than warmed up from the Grove City MOM infact I was tired. Although HEED and Vitamin I helps my muscles not ache and made me about 95 percent for the Grove City race.

Grove City cross was the exact opposite of the ABRA Kick Off in Wayneburg. Where saturday was dry, warm, fast and had bunch of tight turns on a non technical course. Grove City was cold, wet, slow,muddy had open areas and was actually quite technical. Grove City's is a really hard place to gear a SS for as well. There are a couple loose climbs, some singletrack, and a couple really tight turns that make you want an easier gear...but there is also some long road sections that will quickly spin out a low gear. I went with a 40/18 gear which kept me from being spun on out on all but one section of road and was good for 95 percent of the course. In the dry I think that it would have been perfect but with the wet there were several sections that become run ups for me.

Start

No call up for me as I was nowhere near the 10 fastest at Brady's Run. but I was still only 2nd ish row. The SS is easy to hammer up to speed as its just feels great sprinting on it. I quickly passed a bunch of spun out SS guys at least the 40/18 was doing something right. In the prologue laps things opened up quite a bit and I luckly found my way to Jpok's wheel who was being pulled by his teammate down the road. I had delusions of grandeur and actually tryed to jump Jpok out of the hairpin on the road. I got past him for couple seconds but he went past me with Montana in tow on the road. That would be last I ever saw of the eventual 2nd and 3rd place. Evan Perrone the leader of the series was already up the road.

Race

not having the legs its was hard to go flat out. Knowing that the first 3 were most likely gone my goal was just to hold off fellow SS Rob and Darin that I could see ever so close to me everytime the course doubled back on itself. Some racing and battling with a fast veterans Joe Fotia, Matt Tinky, Don Powers and expert rider Kieth Hower. The course was a mess and some of the tight turns were really wearing on me on my SS.

Some of the pschocrossers today, Fred Jordan photo

Ben got a great picture of how muddy this place was

also I was having to run a 50 yard long section in the woods because my gear was just to tall for the loose. muddy, rocky climb this made it pretty hard to hold my ground. I did stay almost to close for comfort ahead of Darin by the last lap.

Last Lap

with no Single Speeds in sight in front of me, but Darin and Rob with in 30 seconds of me at the first barriers. I decide to start putting out everything I have to keep them as far a away as possible. Kieth was glued to my wheel after my 50 yard foot sprint in the back woods and I was also hoping I could beat Keith as well despite being in separate classes . Nothing against him he is just strong enough Id feel good about beating him. I did a strong and smooth lap but Kieth was smart and in my draft nearly the whole way. I put some distance on Darin and Rob. I was hoping Id get to hold his wheel to final hairpin to sprint it out but I made a bone head move in the second to last non pavement turn and he went right past me while I was on the ground. I got up looked back and still went hard cause I didnt not want to be caught. Finish.

4th outta of 14th SS not good overall. Results

The photo Paparazzi was out today in force. Ben Stephens, Jon Pratt, Thomas Tad,Fred Jordan, and Mike Briggs. Special thanks to these guys! I am sure all of the racers love to see the suffering. Here are some shots of me, and yes Jason it is all about me!

How not to run a barrier by me, my right foot got stuck so my timing was all off hence I had both hands on on the bars and not one on the top tube.

The back Boggy section leading into the hill of death. For some reason I look happy to be riding it though

Dazed and confused

Pratt takes pretty pictures

The start of the Pavement section

Checking out my competion

Me staying ahead of old man or young whipper snapper powers

Air me!

Passing out on the bike is so me

Murphy's Law and a little bit of flow - ABRA CX Kick Off

2010-10-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows what Murphy's Law is. Basically my first cross race of the season had so many mishaps that to finish well would have been a miracle. Going to recall these race as best as I can as I was half passed out doing both of them.

SS race

At the start line its announced there will be a 25 dollar holeshot prime. The Cat 4/Single Speed group is all talking and all the sudden the whistle blows. Talk about a blown start. I wasnt the only one. Pflug also reported that he was caught be surprise as well. So now I have tons of people to get past. Which I do in a lap or 2 but Miller, Jpok are gone and I am struggling to go any faster. I preceed to duke it out with Don Power for first half of the race but I am having many issues. Issue one my shoes wont stay on my pedals every time I hit the 2 short uphills I am pulling my feet right out of my pedals. More serious issues were to come. The first serious issue is my ghettoiezed tubeless system burped my rear tire, and its was causing more burps it was making it very hard to ride the course hard as I had to slow down alot doing the corners. Then while battling with Don Powers I had the most serious. My square taper crank decide to back off the non drive side. I limped back to start area pedaling with one leg, and after a couple minutes and lots of places losses, I found a 8mm Allen wrench and tighten the bastard down to ARGGGGHHHH. At this point in time I was already lapped by the leaders. I finished 9th outta of 11 Single Speed (although would have been 5th Cat 4). If anything at least I learned in defeat

A. The course
B. To tighten my cranks bolts tighter
C. To not run 25 psi in my ghetto tubeless
D. To tighten my pedals up.

frustrated with my showing in the SS race I signed up for B race. I tighten the cranks bolts, tighten up the pedals, and also tried 33 psi in my ghetto tubeless tires. On different note the weather was amazing with temps in the 60s and not a cloud in the sky. Watching the womens was fun as well. B race time.

B(cat 3/4) race

I first I got a second row start position, and I also notice my left pedal would not clip in(more on that later). At least this time I actually paid attention on got went when the whistle was blown. I came to the first steep climb and saw a pile up inside so I went outside and ran up passing a bunch of people stuck in the pile up. I then was able to keep hard pressure on, making move up though the field till I was solidly top ten. This course was a blast being super dry and havingg tons of turns places to pass. My favorite way to pass was to start late apexing turns untill I could be inside of people and use the SS advantage to get them coming out of the turn. So much fun. I was for sure running on all cylinders and felts like I was on the edge, but was able to stay there. Jordan V. and Tim Mould were great people who I got to race with in this race also got to battle with my teammate Stick who was glad I blew myself up. I was having issues clipping back in which ended up being that half my SPD was missing. I ended up blowing myself up and had several people pass me on the last lap but still finished 9th outta of think 30. First SS as well. This race hurt bad but I enjoyed myself and besides the pedal breaking everything else held together. This race felt like I was flowing instead of fighting. I also didnt leave anything left in the tank at all.

Ben got a sweat photo of me on the little downhill.

Greg Flood got this right after the little stiff climb

Stick looks angry because he forgot his Thick Jersey and instead went with the ninja look

I also picked up some new 520s, and put some lock tight on my cranks bolts in prep for Grove City MOM the next day.

Random Skiing post of the week. Vermont Helmet Camera

2010-09-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

http://www.vimeo.com/8831958

BTW anyone know how to embed Vimeo to blogger?

Damage Control

2010-09-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

so I was sick enough to not ride from monday to saturday but since I still kinda of want to do well in the MOM series I went anyways hoping that only my cold infected lungs would be a bother and not the stomach issues I had the day prior. I normally ride at least 10 hours a week if not much much more some weeks. I have no real "training" schedule and probably do tons of junk miles.

I decide to go to Brady's take a Vitamin-I to make sure I do not Soil my chamois. get there sign up. Hear we are doing 3 laps! I am excited but also know that my cold weaken lung are going to cause me to hack a lung on Brady's short but pretty steep and tight climbs.

Decide to run my wimpy 20 cog on the rear which will leave me spun out on the parade lap, but should be faster on the Singletrack.

Start

Apparently I was the 10th fastest person last week, so I got the last call up.:) but being that we are doing about 3/4s of a mile on flat paved road knew that many geared riders were going to pass my now even more under geared SS. Oh BTW Single Speeds are stupid. were off and I am spinning at bazillion rpm to go almost 20mph. Lots of geared riders pass me, luckly they aint in my class. Only Justin and Evan are far ahead by the short pavement climb. I accelerate up the climb starting regain some postion.

Lap 1

Spinning down the next fireroad section I hold my own and start to hold back slightly to get up the first steep and just technical enough climb that I know people will be walking. I make the climb passing a bunch of riders walking. Success the 20 tooth is working out. On top of the climb starts what I have dubbed the log crossing capitol of the world. The first lap goes like this.

pedal
hop log
pedal
turn
turn
log pile in the middle of the middle of the turn
pedal
turn
log
log pile
big log pile

basically I think there are about 123 log piles per lap here coupled with the tight singletrack its heaps of fun, but makes it hard to pass. On this lap I managed to drop a bottle, which lead to the 3 SS guys who were behind me passing me. Kieth Hower provided motivation though for alot of the laps as I refused to be passed by him, he also never called it out. Kieth your a strong rider. Ride with less anger and you wont break your bike!

down the doubletrack section that is scary and make my sphincter clench everytime I go down it at race pace.

Lap 2

my lungs hurt but my legs feel great. I am really starting to hate this cold. I am holding my own and doing quite well. This lap goes smoothly and I ride everything except for one to steep hill. end of the lap I catch up to a junior finishing his 1st and only lap and start encouraging him to sprint it out. Which he does, but he also abruptly turns left and stops right in front after finishing. I do my best job to impale him with my bar ends and luckly I dont succeed. As soon as I untangle, I start riding realizing that my handlebars are really crooked and I am way to anal to ride with out everything "perfect" so I have to get my tool out and straighten them and now start with a couple SS guys in front of me.

Lap 3

so now I am playing catchup to about 3 SS. Luckly for me I again make the climb and again catch them all as they are walking. Luckly for me this would be the last I would see of any of them. Brian B says at the top you must be hurting, instead of responding that yes my lungs were left back at the car I just pedal as fast I can down the super fun technical singletrack. For what I lack in pedaling proweness I more than make up in the ability to go down singletrack and mach looney. Mark Liti provied a good rabbit for me but I never caught him.

end of the lap there was a super fun Pump Track section. Leelikesbikes would be proud.

notice that intensity? yeah thats because my lungs were screaming not because I am fast but because I am still sick.

ok so 6th outta of 15 SS for the day, really bad overall. Still kept my third for the series which is my realistic goal. Although Jay B, Brian P, and Darin arent going make that easy.

results and standings

this week so far still have a cold but have been out enjoying the chilly fall weather on the road bike. Waiting for some cross parts as this weekend is a cross double header! My plan is beat Pflug! ha I wish but I hope to do as well as possible and hopefully my cold is gone by then.

coming up next why Single Speed bikes are stupid, but yet I continue to ride them.

I am 3rdiest......MOM opener Bavington TT

2010-09-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

So lets start with some simple math.

I won money today, actually the first time I have ever won money MTB racing.

2 Jackson's I am a rich!

but since I paid 20 to enter I only really won this.

I then went to Mad Mex to consume

and this

which left me with this

long story sort you cant get rich racing bikes, especially when you like limey alcoholic drinks as much as I do.

ok on to the Bavington TT

Month of Mud(MOM) is how I got started bike racing in 2006. I remember the first time I ever did this TT it took me 56 minutes to complete it. So 43:34 this year wasnt so bad.

So signing up in the morning I notice how many people are there. 192 to be exact. second biggest MOM ever. I go get my number and I am 220, meaning there is already 20 people in SS. There would end up being 28 people in SS. I am almost sure that is the biggest SS class ever at MOM.

I see lots of old and new faces. Justin is surprised to see me on a wagon wheeler. I am surprised by just how many fast people are there. My goal was a good placing going in to the race. Seeing all of the fast guys on lighter bikes has me hoping for just a top ten. Aaron S run expert....why I dont know. So new goal is to beat my last year's time of 42:59. I am actually thinking that there is no way I am going to be top ten in the field.

so preride/warm up done. down a Gu take on water, let out water. Spin down the road to try to not enter the course cold.

Line up, my friable attempt at a track stand works and shoot up the first hill. The first section of singletrack feels ok besides the fact that I am buried with in a couple minutes seemingly not recovering. I am trying to control my breathing, but it just is not happening. I love anaerobic! eh not. at least I am going faster than a turtle down the trail and despite the hurt can keep going.

cross the first road you can see me trying my best to not lose my lungs. Hey look my shirt is actually zipped up. photo by Benjamin Stephens

now we are in the meat of the singletrack at bavington. for those of you that dont know, Bavington has some really twisty fun singletrack. Its not technical from a normal stand point but is technical when you start trying to go as fast as possible down it. its tight and require you to be on your game to find your flow. I love this course cause I loove turns and basically its a couple hundred different turns that I now have memorized down in 8 miles. For those of you that dont know Bavington has about 40 miles of awesome trail when its not all over grown.

In this section I am doing well, I pass a couple guys dont make any mistakes and overall my go slower and smooth strategy is at least making it so I am not hitting my handlebars off everything. I even make the climbs going pretty fast. My only real mistake is slowing down to get my jersey unzipped just so everyone can see how hairy my chest is.

cross the road still doing well, heart rate still pegged but its not slowing me down much. TT hurts so much more than enduro races. catch some more people. I was expecting to have been caught be Jay Blews or Darin Shriver, but they havent caught me yet and they havent come. Hit my favorite turn of the whole course(a left hander at like 15 mpher up a hill), cruise though to "the Drop" and at the drop I finally get my heart rate down.

The Drop

This makes me laugh

cross the road up till the second last section of singletrack and now I can really start to hammer on the straights. everything is still smooth. Untill the dreaded hairpin left handed cliff side that goes straight up hill. damn it dab. It would be my only mistake the whole race though and Ill take it. Flow though this section. out to the road....

Hike a bike next, I pass 2 guys on the hike a bike huffing and puffing like a mad man. Very much like Carson passed me last year. Flow though the last section, love the couple quick rollercoaster type up and downs. Hit the finish.

told you I had a hairy chest...dont worry girl if thats not your thing it can all be gone as well.

Finish i look and feel like death for what is sure a bad place.

bad news

I didnt beat my last years time. 43:34 this year 42:59 last year. I am thinking 29ers might be slower at bavington.

good news

Noone caught me and only Evan and Justin beat me in Class. I stayed ahead of alot of people who I thought for sure would catch me. So far 3rd is my best finish in an expert category. I am actually quite stoked on it. Results

more good news not that bavington is known for flats but the new Hutchison Toro tubeless ready was awesome. Rolled well, gripped better in turns than the ignitors, was easy to grip while pedaling, and most importantly DID NOT FLAT. Its good enough for absalon I guess its good enough for me. ran it at 24 psi.

So thats all, looking to try to do well again at Brady's Run for round 2. I also might be going to the Pyclocross race on Saturday at Kent State. For sure doing Brady's Run though, hoping to see another huge field of one speeders out there.

I am the DNFingest

2010-09-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

an entry on how to epicly fail.....

about a week ago I found a link to michaux endurance series. I had never been so I decided why not and I pre reg for the 40 miles of "The Terror of Teaberry". I am at the point where I can do a 40-50 mile MTB ride at will and am figuring this race should be no problem. I may not be that fast but at least I dont quit. Well untill today....

The forecast called for rain, ironically I wanted that. I was think man the trails are so dry they are kinda of slippery. Rain could make them tacky again. Well I was right kinda. before leaving th radar in michaux area showed the rain clearing, but driving out from the burgh its never stopped once I got to the laurel highlands all the ways to Michaux.

i get there sign up, and get myself ready. I feel good, I actually feel like I could do well today. At the race meeting they says its only 36 miles. Now I am thinking this might be easy.

the start...was le-mans style. I hate le-mans style starts I dont totally suck at running, but I do totally suck at running with cycling shoes. We start "the couple hundred yards run" more like a half mile trail run to get back to our bikes. Tomi McMillar got a great shot of me suffering on the run. BTW all photo credits go to him on this one.

I'm the guy on the far right with bestest jersey's in the world from the shop that sponsors me.

Get on my bike right behind Aaron. hit first section of singletrack. Its packed and everyone is just trying to go with out hitting people. behind him I am figuring ok just hold his wheel.

First single track

we then hit a long shallow uphill and I pass some people but aaron passes more. I lose his wheel, never saw him again.

then the 'fun' began. I look up and see a line of people starting to walk. Rocky section after rocky section its all tough and barely rideable. Apparently this is easy compared to the stuff I dont see. We get out of the first rocky section and hit gravel road. then hit some fun flowly loamy singletrack with these pretty ferns everywhere.

I am enjoying life right here, this was REALLY fun stuff. tomi got a picture its was damn good looking trail.

so I am now taking everything as fast as possible. the new 29er is so fast and stable and I am just going as fast i can. untill I hit a couple small rocks and get bounced then here the hiss from the rear. I yell FUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKKKK excuse my michaux. pull off. I try to air it up and see if the Stans will seal it. it doesnt its a fairly large 6mm hole. It doesnt, its tube time.

Its so muddy I can not get the tube in with out it getting covered in 'forest". I pump it up much harder to the feel than my front tire and get on my way. I have watch 15-20 people pass me. 10 minutes later I hit some chunk at speed and I now hear hissing. Its the tube, I wish it was a rattlesnake. Put my second tube in(I am now out of tubes) and get on my way. I pump this tube up much harder than the last one. For the 5 minutes I got to ride it, it was pretty much the least grip tire ever. yep 5 minute thats how long it lasted. i am now out of tubes. Sweet. I have tube patch kits but its rainy and I will probably never get one to stick.

I hear motos, it the sweeper crew. their KTMs are sweet. I so want one of those right now over my flatted out bike. they give me some paper towels. I walk for 30 minutes back to last road I was on.there is patch a tube and ride it back to the car. i feel defeated and it sucks but I dont trust the rear tube.. This is my first DNF ever. I also drove 6 hours round trip to not finish.

.....to be continued

continued...

after at least 30 minutes riding the road I get back to my car. At least it over. I figured id hang around and take some pictures of the riders finishing.

Lance showed up, I wonder what trek would do if they found him riding a Cannondale

Jay Blews had the best showing out of the westernish Pa SS.

Rob finished trust me he badass for that.

Montana is dazed and confused

all in all not a bad day. Some freeze thaw/penn state peeps were great cheerer upper at the end. The drive back was sunny.

Its now time for Month of Mud. Which is the series that I credit to my start in bike racing. This year I plan to run the Single Speed class. I should be able to make 4 of the 5 races skipping sadly, the North Park TT due to a commitment.

fall is here I know because of these pictures

2010-09-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

Well its not officially fall yet, but the humidity is gone, the days are mostly cooler and the sun is setting early.

Which means night riding!!

Red Sky at night sailors(and bike riders) delights

I use some pretty bright lights

and apparently I am 'artsy"

photo credit to Kent Douglas(with my camera though)

leaves are changin as well but no pictures yet. Misucks write up next.

Sweet night ride last night!

2010-09-10T05:21:00.000-07:00

Got some cool pictures which will be posted when I have time.

Terror of Teaberry is on sunday and it will be the first enduro race on the Monocog Flite.

yep and I ride it at that saddle height as well. It helps me freely ride trails!

It would have been funny but "Pap and kids" did not beat "Off Constantly"

2010-09-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

This story starts last year. I raced the 24 hours of Seven Springs as a "ringer" on very much under prepared corparate team. Our 8 person team went to a 5 person team prior to start. I was made captain that day. Sweet make the youngest guy the captain I am really good at bossing around 50 year old guys.....not. Frustrating and not what I was going for. I had some of the faster lap times and learned what not to do. Like let teammates go out with no tubes/pump. Some guy did that to us.... and had 4 flats on 3 seperate laps in 2009. No amount of weight weenieness is an excuse for losing 3 hours on course.

Fast forward to spring of 2010, I am more committed to riding than ever. With goals of doing well at some 50 milers this year in prep for 100 mile races in 2011. A couple of my friends asks me about doing a 24 hour team. Sure why not cant be worse than last year. I am not fast enough for an expert team, and me running sport would surely lead to a protest. Basically I am in no mans land between expert fast guys and sport. I find 4 people really fast and decide to do a 5 person open team. Lucky enough we are all young and with the right person we can do 0-124 age group, noone raced this class last year. The fifth came when I had friend call me and ask if I was doing the Shenandoah Mountain 100. My answer was no as it was on the same day as 24 hours of Springs, but do you want to do springs with me? Yes, sweet Kelsi is in.

Being that I would rather approach anything with a carefree attitude, than serious mister type a racer stuff. My buddies being simpson fans dubs us "Off Constantly". We should have strong team against anyone else in our age group despite having 2 females. the 2 female are 2 off the most bad ass young girl riders in the area and can be faster than some 'fast' guys. So the team was going to be me, Kent Douglas, Mike Ambrocik, Erika Kopanic,and Kelsi Randall.

One week prior to the event Erika develops a strong allegri to the ground with a dislocated elbow, she was clearly the second fastest on the team after me. bummer. Jason Berardinelli will replace her and I have no idea how good of a MTB he is. turn out he is pretty damn good.

The race for those have you that havent done any 24 hours racing. You should. Its just about as much as turning fast laps as it as about hanging out with friends.(BTW Jon Pratt and Ben stepthens get almost all the photo credit here). Upon arriving its damn cold. Its freaking freezing at 3000 foot high in the mountains of Pa.

I am so glad I brought ski socks, a thermals for the night along with all my cold weather riding gear.

kelsi tells me on the ride up she actually wants to do the run. I hate le mans style starts and the idea of passing nearly the entire field on the second lap will sure boost me ego. So she leads off. The starters get ready for a torture device know to Mountain bikers as a Le-mans style start.

The crowd gathers to watch.

Kelsi lead off with a strong lap and got some sweet pics in the rock gardens as well.

The 650Bs are easier in the rocks.

Next came my turn.. My first move though was a washed out turn on to my knee on the VERY first turn. Whats really funny about this is I warned everyone about this turn on how lose it was. I then spent a minute or 2 fixing my crooked handlebars. Then off I was on what would be a really good lap, despite the crash and bike fix would my teams fastest. The entire lap my new 29er was awesome, it has changed how I ride in technical terrain. Rock gardens are downright easy now...typical race course trail

and I could pass on less than ideal passing lanes. Passing is something I did alot of I easily passed 30-40 people on this lap. the 32-19 gear felt good except going up the dreaded ski slope fireroad climb where I was chugging along struggling just to keep going. Nice thing about a SS is that you may sometimes suffer going up, your suffering at a faster speed than geared riders.

Pratt got this photo of me topping out the climb. Painface.

i finished strong passing people although the lap. turned in a 1:10(should have been 1:06 without messing with my handlebars). Next came our ringer aka Jason.

Jason turned it what would be the second fastest time on our team at 1:16. He was happy, we all were happy. We also learned that we had competion in our class in the form of "pap and kids" which is exactly what it sounds like. it was a grandpap with his 4 teenage grandchildren. they were already an hour back at this time. Unless we did something stupid we would easily beat them. the new goal was to beat our camping neighbors "8 balls and a pocket" and whoever else we could.

After some eating and hanging out at 9:01 it was second lap time. Mike and Kent turned in good efforts and we are doing ok overall. My real competion is to stay ahead of my teammate. I love night laps!! I feel at night with proper lights you can see better than during the day. I was rocking a 900 lumen Slickrock, 500 Lumens MOAB, and 100 lumen Stella pointed at the ground. I charged hard and was hoping I had enough power for the dreaded climb on my one speed. I got caught up in traffic on the climb and lost traction and ended up walking the last section. I passed some geared guys riding as I walked.:). pass alot of people on this lap and felt fast with a 1:16:45 on this lap. 3rd fastest on my team.

Jason turned out a fast 1:19 at night and kept up his fast lap streak. Jason's night time post climb pain face.

Mike and Kent both turned in solid 1:45ish laps at night. I couldnt sleep due to the wind howling all night and blowing my tent around. Kelsi and me got the coldest time to go. Lows dropped into the 30s for a couple hours that morning. Kelsi was admittly alittle slower than I expected and I got frozen waiting for her. Next time warmer clothes.

I left my 3rd laps really cold. I wasnt really warming up riding my bike either despite my winter clothes either. I hit the 3rd climb and local semi pro roadie Stevo passed me on the first major climb. I accelerated and held his wheel for about 3 pedal stroke till he pushed on faster. He was the fastest guy all weekend with a 58 minutes lap around the course.

Then my hell lap started. I had a rock go straight though my rear ignitor as I pedaled. I could here the stans spurting out every turn of the wheel. I stopped and filled it up and tried to plug the leak with leafs to give the stans sometime to bind against. The 4nm hole was to much. I had to stop and put a tube in it. UGH do I hate tubes in wheels. I could instantly feel how heavy and bouncy the now tubed tire was. On the final rock garden prior to the climb I hear a hissing noise. Pinch flat rear tire. the tube lasted about 3 miles. Yep tubes officially suck.

I spennt another 10 minutes patching the tube, the only good out of it was I know had enough energy to make the big ski slope climb. even at that I want to finish with out stopping again so I was really carefull in the last miles rock gardens.. I was slow, embarrassing slow. 1:55. yuck.

I get back frustrated enough that I have a mind to go out on my lighter Jamis 26er SS and try to redeem myself. PBR and my parents fresh breakfast won out though.

PBR its so good it won a blue ribbon good enough for 8am.

we ended up with 15 laps. 3 laps a piece. Not bad at all. better than my team last year and good enough to get some real sweet jerseys

thanks to out support crew Amanda Ambrocik, Patty and Ed Ambrocik, and Linda and Dan Matta your food and support helps alot.

Pratts awesome photos

and

Results

Podium!

2010-09-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

My team Off Constantly won the 0-124 5 person open this past week. more to some soon.