E'nuff Packing! Let's Ride! (so I can have a beer soon)

Well the rain is finally out of here and it's supposed to be nice the next 4 or 5 days. Sweet! Best news is from the what I read at accuweather.com, Champion, PA didn't get all that much rain. So 2 days of sun and warm breezes should make things pretty good.

Stopped at Tom's tonight for Lantern, Pop-Up Tent and Folding Table. He's the man letting my borrow this stuff. Thanks! Did all of my clothes packing; Team kit, SmartWool socks (THE BEST!), shoes, etc. At work today I topped off 4 HID batteries and have my 10W back up recharging now. Worst thing about this race is that it gets dark at like 7:50 and STAYS dark till 7 a.m. Damn! Half the freaking race in the dark and NO recharging stations, thus the onslaught of HIDs. Thanks to all my peeps for lending me the extras.

Went over some nutritional instructions with the newly christened Pit Boss- Wifey. This should be fun. Seriously, she'll do fine. Tom's coming up to help me from dusk on... the time when I need the most help and that is much appreciated. Plus Papa-M is rolling up to watch the B-man. Thanks padre!

Looks like some fast XC guys in the Solo cat. this year I gotta hope I can out last them when things get miserable over the long haul. I'm pretty pumped to get my cheeks in the saddle and get going.

Anxious to see all the local folks up there + J.B. from down in VA-Beach, Fatmarc is racing on a team and more. Should be a good time... When it's over! Look out 'cause I'm gonna be pilfering beers come 12:01 Sunday.

Busy day tomorrow: B-Man doctor's appt., work, spin for 45, put 2nd fork mount on the E., last minute shopping and the cooking of pasta of course...

My brand of choice:



Note: On the bag is says "A VERY HIGH SOURCE OF FIBER" should just say stop in Aisle 6 and grab some T.P. too while you're at it dingus.

Then all you need is a roaring boil, some "Woking" Vegetables and a 80 year old stove to provide the flame.



Have a good one. Gotta get some Zzzzzzzzz.

Later.

What's In Your Fridge?....

Picked up a few more items for the race today. Some pop for Wifey and other little snacks. Rained most of the day today but not nearly as much as they predicted. We're getting off pretty easy with this one. Thursday through the weekend looks dry, so hopefully the course will dry a bit.

Did 50 minutes on the trainer tonight. Had a bad ass iPod mix going. Heard myself singing out loud (we all do it, admit it) and realized when I sing songs by Interpol I sound like Fred Schneider from the B-52s.



Why? I do not know, but I gotta work on that.

Other Stuff:

I discovered this gem in the fridge at work today...



It's moldy cheese and pepperoni that's been in there for like 2 months. I think this one kat at work who was doing some form of the All Meat and Fat Diet®- (Atkins), forgot about it when he went back to the all you can eat buffet over at the Golden Corral.

Didn't need an alarm to get up this a.m.. Our bathroom mirror fell off the wall and smashed on the sink scaring the absolute shit out of me. B-Man slept right through it and I'm running around the house in my boxers like a chick that just saw a mouse. THEN I proceeded to think WAY too long about whether there were any bad luck repercussions. I mean I didn't break the mirror, I wasn't even in the same room. Does cleaning it up make me an accessory to a mirror break? I say NO and will sleep soundly.

Later.

Target, Shopping, Rain, Packing, & W.T. Mexican

Made a lunch-time run to Target today for some race supplies. Found some supreme deals on Balance Bars (80¢), Clif Bars (87¢) and best of all.....



Sweet F-ing Red Bull 4 for $5.99!!!
The absolute best price I've ever got.

Saw over at Jeff's site he was doing his shopping today too. Funny how we endurance racers all buy essentially the same stuff. Someting carb, something sweet, something salty and something to kick you square in the junk at 3:00 a.m.

Also Went to Biketek for Tubes 'cause 1. I forgot to order tubes on my last bikeman.com order and 2. Out of all the local shops they have the best price on regular ol' presta valve tubes. But damn that dude is such a wanker. As I've mentioned before I'm not sure he even rides or likes to ride. He's real good at being an ass though. Hate giving him my cash.

Then tonight I packed up some more stuff and put fresh tubes on the Salsa. Lubed chains, whiped bikes down etc.. Also rolled up a bunch of spare patched tubes. I use them as spares but for a race I like to start with virgin tubes.

Found my new race/camp vehicle...



How freakin sweet is this thing for 24 Hour camping. I love the Element but this would rock! Maybe some day. Wifey says NO WAY! But if she can drive the E. she can drive this.

Cooked up some bust-ass, whole-wheat Mexican casserole tonight. Mmmmm.
You know you want some... so here

J-Man's Mexican Whole Wheat Bust-Ass Pasta:
1 Small Ball of super low fat ground beef
(1lb. or 1/2 pound)
1 Can Kidney Beans (rinsed)
1 Can Black Beans (rinsed)
1 Packet Ortega Taco Seasoning
1 Jar Salsa
1 2 Cup Bag of Low Fat Mexican cheese
or equal size of Low Fat Velvetta
1 12 oz. bag of Whole Weat Pasta (something chunky, not spaghetti!)
1 chopped red peppers
1 chopped green pepper
1 small chopped onion

Pre-heat oven to 350., Cook pasta to your like. Sautee meat, peppers and onion. Add taco seasoning, Mix through on low heat. Add beans and a half jar salsa. Mix again. Add drained pasta and half cheese. Mix through. Top with remaining salsa and cheese. Bake in casserole for 15 min or until cheese is melted. Enjoy.

Best served with a nice Pale Ale. Tonight is Monday and a race week so a 32oz. water had to make do. Poop!

Don't ask why I felt the need to share this. Call it Taper-Boredom.

Hurricane Katrina is about to beat down on me like I'm her school-boy bitch. But at least it won't be as bad as it was down south. Feel bad for those folks. Weather sucks.

Later.

Monday A.M. Post

F! Check this out...



Got a small rip in the sidewall of a Maxxis Advantage. F! These have been my fave tires all year. I can't risk tearing if furthur in the race with all the rocks at 7 Springs though, so it looks like no ADvantage(s) for me. DOH!

Getting ready for a week of rain brought on by Katrina. Thursday through the weekend looks good though, so hopefully the course will dry out a bit. It shouldn't be too bad except for the new sections of trial they cut.

Extreme taper week begins today to. 2 to 3 rides, most likely on trainer do to weather.

Later.

Watch Out. The Guns Will Getcha....

Sun finally came out here again after yesterday's piss down-bore fest. Took the Salsa out on the road today, full knobbies n'at. Rolled for about 1:40. Stuck to all the country roads. I don't fill like as big a dork if I ride the back roads. It's the town roads that I feel like I'm sitting still. Nice ride, shifts we're on the money (thanks Tom).

Thought I was gonna have a "throw down" with a dude driving a Conversion Van that would NOT pass. I waved him around... nuthin! I pull over slow and he stops... I give out a "what the fuck?" and motion for him to come over... He rolls down the window and just as I'm ready to let fly with a storm of F-Bombs, there's a freaking 90 year old woman in the passenger seat and the dude is a little, Amber-Vision wearing, Moe Howard hair-cutted little Van Man. Dammmmmn. So I apologize, and say "hey I just wanted you to go around" he says "sorry, it was tight and I had an accident going around on a narrow road before..." yada, yada, yada. I felt dumb, the dude was just a tad backwards. Shoulda just stopped to begin with and let Van Man around. That will teach me. At least I didn't have to go and get my ass kicked a week before the race.

Did you check out the F-ing Spam I got yesterday.. What the F? Gotta stop that somehow. Even Kerkove was busting my balls about it. Had like 9 Spams. Tried to delete some.

Next few days look like Katrina is gonna put down some liquid. Tart!

Kabush won the Vermont NORBA and took the series. My fave chick Shonny V took the overall NORBA and Allison "ADvantage" Dunlap won today. Nice way to go out.

Random: Is the 29er the Hard Tail's comeback? I mean there are FS 29ers (Sologoat's Asylum, Fisher, etc.) but 90% seem to be hardtails. No wonder Mountain Bike Action seems to not like the 29er! I kinda dig 'em but I got too much cash wrapped up in my 26's and road bike. Like to try Salsa's with the short travel rear... oh well.

Later.

Bored Senseless (posting just for something to do)

OK it's 3:40 and I have not left the house yet. In fact I haven't even put on pants today. Bike shorts don't count, and they were only on for 30 minutes while I did a spin on the trainer to keep my legs loose. Gonna road ride tomorrow hopefully. It pissed down rain all day here here today. Real razor blade weather.

Glad I didn't do the Frick Park ride with Ned Overend today. Would be a real mess. Maybe I'll just crash the party at Pittsburgh Pro Bikes? Nahhh! Too much trouble.

Guess I better go put some pants on before Wifey gets home or she'll think I haven't left the house all day... Oh wait, I didn't. Viva le Boxers!

Later.

The Organizing Begins....

Started organizing my race foods last night. Still need a few more Balance Bars, some Coke, water and ice. And you thought all I had to do is ride my bike for 24 hours.

News: Jeff kinda got srewed with his trip to the Worlds. Check out this messed up story here. Hang in there Jeff!

Found another Enduro freak blog by Adam Lisonbee from Utah. Check it out.

Not sure what riding will be done today. Closing in on my hours for the week and shitty weather might have me spinning for an hour or so and then going to the store to by some stuff for next weekend.

My stomach is a mess with nerves. The teams list was posted yesterday. Looks like 13 Solos so far. Last year's winner Steve Smith from Fisher Mid-Atlantic will be there, a kat from Cannondale and Dirty Harry's enduro freak. Not to mention all the guys who I don't know who can no doubt can rip it up. Little do they know that NO ONE can embrace misery like me. HA! I gotta poop.

Later.

Laying Track on The Rail Trail

How my day off from work played out:

Got up. Fed and played with B-Man. Took him to day care. Went back to bed. Got up, Read all the Bloggs, looked at some cycling sites with no bikes or cyclists but plenty of nude women. ate breakfast, drank java, cut some weight and went for a ride on the Yough River Rail Trail. My first time on a rail trail in about 2 years. Not a fan. But I wanted to get outside and ride without going hardcore so... the Rail Trail it was.

Rode 28 miles or so for 1:40. Not too much traffic on it today. Mostly old farts. I was ruling the trail! YOU WITH THE BAR ENDS POINTED UP... OUTA MY WAY! YOU, WITH THE PANAMA HAT AND BUTTON DOWN (unbuttoned, exposing old, hairy belly) MOVE OVER! ON YOUR LEFT! I SAID ON YOUR LEFT!!! Just kidding. The ride served it's purpose and was pretty scenic. IF you like brown river water, trailers, trash, cars on blocks, rabid dogs tied to trees. AND I think that you do.

Did see about 20 turkeys blocking the trail, a Fawn and 3 suicidal groundhogs. Cool.

Get this. Wifey comes home with B-Man and I thought it would be nice to wait on the porch for them... So Wifey goes to pull into a parking space in front of the house as big as a freaking airplane hanger and slams into the front of my Subaru with the Element... WHAT THE F#CK!!! The alarm starts going off etc. I got so pissed I had to just go inside. THAT'S why I try not to do anything nice. 'cause it always causes me grief. Thank goodness the front of the E. has the molded panels and didn't do any damage. When I asked her if she just got her Learners Permit... I of course was the bad guy. GO FIGURE!

Have a good weekend. And get some miles in!

Later.

Off The Chain!...

Tonight's road ride was completely off the chain....


DK, is this the same chain from your Underground Rail Road Scenario?

After the week I've had I did NOT expect much out of tonight's ride. I've been having trouble sleeping, heart burn and one day a case of Chamois Skids. But the legs felt great! I cut down the workout length, but went hard and did 30 miles at avg. speed of 18.9 mph. It was a real mouth open-spit flying-quad-burning-Double T. Gonna chill tomorrow. Day off from work. Might rock the rail trail with the Upright Bar-Enders or do nothing as I did last week. All my rides till next Saturday's 24 will be at an easy pace. Hard to do around here with the hills and my HR monitor in the trash but I'll get it done.

Lance on Larry King tonight. Not very interested. EPO-Shmee-Pee-Oh, I got my own shit to worry about right now.

Wifey will be attending her 2nd Naughty Toy Tupperware party in a week tomorrow night. Any more purchases I'll be rendered obsolete... and have to watch out when I bend over. JJJJJJJJJJJJJJust kidding. I'll be chillin with the B-Man watching Bob The Builder. Can we build it??? Oh F!

Like the Von Bondies say: C'mon, C'mon, C'mon, C'mon, C'mon, C'mon,....

later.

Pretty In Black

Did a 40 min. spin to keep my legs loose and get a sweat on and then mowed my vast estate and trimmed a tree that poked me in the neck whilst mowing. You poke me, you lose a limb. That's the way I roll.

Although I think Fox shocks are the best forks you can ride I gotta say next year's Reba looks pretty sweet. Check it out.



Found a pretty good new blog called Go Clipless. Nice reviews and info.

HItting the road tomorrow most likely.

Later.

Break Out The Mittens & Moon Boots!

Ohhh yes life CAN be good once in a while... For the first time in months, I was actually a bit chilly. Evening temps down to the 60s, dry and clear. I did about 19 miles of single track goodness at Boyce Park tonight. It was so, so sweet.

Ran into Tom doing the P.O.R.C. ride tonight and then I ran into Kev who had just lost his head set cap and bolt coming off a small jump on his Klein single-speed and was about to start hoofing it to his Vee-hicle. Turns out he also broke his stem. Metal sheared like butter. On top of that he cracked his LeMond road frame last week. DOH!

Theres's this one kat I keep seeing on the trails riding a GT. Dude NEVER yields to me when I'm climing up a trail and when I stop to let him by, he looks pissed and NEVER says anything. He can go have large amounts of intercourse with himself.

Work has reached new levels of boredom. In the past 2 days. I've scanned two logos and made a 3 word correction to an ad. The days are DDDDDDDDRAGING. Somebody better start selling something soon or I'll be in the cheese line. But I have got all kinds of work done to my 05 race resume and trying to put together a plan for oh-six.

Later.

Happy Freaking Monday

1st. Congrats to my buddy J.B. who finish 5th Solo and in the money down at the 18 Hours On The Farm. Way to go J.B.! Consider yourself "marked" for 7 Springs!

O.K. Back to me now. THIS picture should tell you a little bit about my Monday.



No ride.

Later.

Screw The Last Blog: Sunday Blog #2 Is Here

Today's first blog should be ingnored a bit. It was Pre-Java. Post-Java I got me some Mojo, grabbed the B-Man, My Trek and Bikeman.com kit and headed out to Papa-M's house. Whilst the B-Man got some lovin from Pappy I went out and did 30 miles of Tempo/Recovery riding. Weather was too perfect NOT to ride. Had I not rode it would have been one of those days that you regret not riding on when it's December, 20 degrees and snowing.

Got chased by two black dogs which had me dropping all kinds of F-Bombs in the direction of their master's house. Then I round the next bend and there's another dog licking a dead ground hog. Think of that the next time you see a "dog person" licking his dogs face and then giving you some kinda bullshit about how "a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's". When was the last time YOU licked a dead ground hog?

Legs felt great. But then I got off the bike and could feel it, so tomorrow will for sure be a day off the bike. A good week of riding overall.

This weekend was the Single Speed Worlds. Wonder who got branded? Fatmarc?

Later.

Hood ornaments and RVs

Drove up to Seven Springs again on Sat. for a couple laps. On the way up the mountain a bunch of small birds flew in front of the Subaru. SMACK! Took a few out. When I got to the Springs I check and there's a dead bird stuck in the air vent near the fog light. Looked like bizarre hood ornament. THEN I tried to kick out and ripped it almost in a half. I decided that 75mph on the way home should knock it out. It didn't.

Got two 12+ mile loops in. The last climb is a killer. Doable but ssssslow. 3mph in granny gear on grass, and steep loose gravel. Passed a dude walking his bike up the final pitch and he just looked at me and say" "YOU RODE THE WHOLE THING??" I did, but not much faster than his walking. Sure I'll be walking some come race time.

El Santo was great on the rocks again. Always amazed how it smoothes the rock gardens out. On one steep, rocky down hill I passed another guy walking who had all this body armor on...man it's not a down hill course! But whatever works for him I guess.

On the way home I stopped at the Six Pack Shack to get a water and a F-ing incredible homemade pepperoni roll. It was the best, THE BEST I TELL YOU!

On the way back down the mountain I noticed an RV Camp area. What's up with that. You drive all the way out in the middle of nowhere and park your camper RIGHT smack up against another one. Sounds relaxing. I'd like to have a little camper someday, but I'd take it away from EVERYONE!

The "adult" tupperware party was apparently fun, so says Wifey. Good thing I like raspberry. I was enjoying a flat beer watching a rain delay(?) for a pre-season football game. Actually it was pretty fun.

Might chill today after yesterday's hard effort. I might actually cruise the rail trail for an hour or so, but sometimes I'd rather just hit the trainer and watch old bike videos for an hour rather than deal with the "rail trailers" with their upright bar ends riding 3 abreast.

Made an order for 3 jugs of hammer gel and Heed last night. Giddy up, I'm all out!

Time to for me and B-Man to go visit Papa-M.

Later.

Gettin My Mr. Mom On...

"Beer?
It's seven o'clock in the morning!
Scotch?"

Took the day off from work today and from riding. It was blissful in it's own way. Got some bike maintenance done, got me some clean chamois, and did all that stuff that I don't have time to do working all day and riding all night.

Stoped up at the new Pittsburgh Pro Bikes location on Forbes Ave. They're having a grand opening ride/party next Sat. and Ned Overend is coming. Pretty sweet! David the owner told me to make sure I go. Not sure I will, but I'd dig a chance to meet a mountain bike legend. Driving in to Squirrel Hill just reafirmed why I hate the city.
Crowded, no parking, traffic, etc., etc.,

Going up to Seven Springs again tomorrow for a couple laps unless it rains tonight, Then I'll hit the road.

Wifey is going to a Tuppeware party, except with sex toys tomorrow. I'm going too but I'll be at the "guys only" bonfire by the woods at PJs house. Should be fun. As long as Wifey doesn't come home with the ElectroVibe 5000™ or anything. Who the F has parites like this? Hey it's free eats and beverage. HA!

Good luck at the race J.B. look foward to your race report.

D.K. did you pick that ride up yet? Jeeeezus dude, pick it up!

Have a great weekend everyone and Get some miles in!

Later.

Sometimes you're the bug....

and sometimes you're windshield. Tonight I was the bug. The big smashed green one that your windshield wiper smears right in your line of sight. Felt like a big bag of steaming feecus riding tonight. All over the trail, cut up by thorns, etc. Shoulda saved energy and gone tomorrow. Rather than wasting energy and doing something stupid like crashing or pushing my bod too far and getting sick, I aborted the ride at 1 hour and headed back to the Soob.

Wonder who won the Marathon today? The one I DID NOT do 'cause I'm lame. Or is it broke? Or is it both? HA! Bigger fish to fry coming up in two weeks at event were you can at least win some cash.

Good new. Tom is back in Dodge and said he'll be able to make it up to Seven Springs at least to help me through the night laps. RIGHT ON! Thanks.

Later.

Cheeks Meet Leather For A Sweet Road Ride

Got my cheeks in the saddle tonight for 2 hours/37 miles of small town, country road, perfect weather, road ride goodness. Had a whole Zen thing going on. Bod felt good. Climbed well and dumped bunch of stress all over the roads. Overall great ride.

BONUS: My dad gave me some super tasty chicken breasts that I had with my special homemade Spinach Pesto & Whole Wheat Pasta. Should rock my colon good and get me going for tomorrow's planned post work single track ride.

Taking Friday off. Not sure of ride plans, I just have a bunch of vacation days that I need to take so... I'm taking them.

Got my first "comment" spam yesterday. What's up with that. At least it wasn't the one about me needing to increase the size of my......

Later.

Are you ready for some football?.....

Do to the weather I decided to hang at home and do an hour of easy spinning on the trainer with few hard efforts put in to get the HR up. Also did some light weights and core stuff. Doing a night like this once a weeks is pretty good for me. Watched the '05 Roubaix whilst riding and had a sweet iPod mix going too... Interpol, Futureheads, Ordinary Boys, Raveonettes, it rocked!

Plan on road riding tomorrow for a couple hours, supposed to be nice.

RANT: I guess football is back. Man I HHHHHHHHHATE football. (American football Craig, relax!). Never used to, but the hate grows each year. Bunch of overweight, overpaid, uneducated lummuxes running around and people go mad for it! I kinda like college football, but it's still balls compared to cycling. RANT OFF.

Kinda bummed. Wanted to do the Snowshoe Marathon on Thurs., but I just don't have the cash for the entry/travel/etc. Seven Springs is more important and I have to focus on that. I wish the 24 was tomorrow. I'm so ready to go. I gotta relax, the freaking race is over 2 weeks away. Breath in.......Breath out.......

Is bike lust bad?

Later.

1 Hour, 45 min. Of my life... Wasted.

So several weeks ago, my wife and I go to a baseball game. At one point during the game, she takes a walk with B-Man and enters a "contest" to have the house re-done by a window company. Long story short- The window company showed up on the door step tonight to SELL us windows (big surprise!) The dude had props and all kinds of shit. He was like the Carrot Top of window sales. It was the saddest/funniest/most pathetic thing. We couldn't stop him. He busted out a heat lamp, A HEAT LAMP!!! To prove the window's energy saving ability. "Great! That's amazing!" we cheered.

Then he gives us the estimate.... $29,000. BUTTTTTT! Because I went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh (whatttt???) 15 years ago he's gonna give it to us for $20,000!! Finally I told him. We have no money for windows. We'll call if we do. Goodnight. That and the B-Man laid down a diaper full of peaches and milk.

Some meager bike stuff: Put together all my lighting for the upcoming 24 on Labor Day weekend. Gonna do some charges and run time estimates this week. My pit man Tom will be M.I.A. at this race due to family stuff so Wifey and Papa-M will be doing the work. I'm putting together tip sheets for Wifey and we're gonna have a tutorial next week. Either gonna hit the trainer or road ride tomorrow. Weather looks "if-y".
Going to try to borrow the EZ Up from Tom. I was gonna get a room at the Springs too, but pretty sure that is NOT going to happen.

Check out this Team Reevax crash action from the TransRockies Race! Nice.

And remember... Windows with Argon-3®, Tri-Sided with Du-plex® molding for ulitmate, weather proofing and secure fit is really the only way to go.

Later.

Seven Springs Recon: COMPLETE

After a No Ride Saturday (more on that later) I rolled up to 7 Springs Mt. Resort to pre ride the 24 Hour course. Not much changed from last year except they took out 1 monster climb (nice) added some sweet single track (sweet) and they royally f*ck you on the final climb. Last year was hard, but fine. A switchback fire road up the slopes. NOW they have you traversing the sloaps twice, through high-ass grass THEN to the final ass kick part of the climb. Not a big deal just through the grass is a tad dumb.

It was hard to follow some of the course do to a lot of construction at the top of the mountain. MUST. BUILD. MORE. CONDOS. MUST. MAKE. MORE. MONEY. But I found it after some petering around. Did 2 full laps plus some scouting at the beginning. Looks like my better laps will PROBABLY/hopefully be around 1:30/1:35. Both 24 courses I've done this year have been kinda long 12.5+ miles or so, with some steep, slow climbs and false flats.

On my first lap just as I went to start the final climb I hit a rock square on and pinch flatted in the rear big time! A quick change with a C02 and then up the climb. I blew a tear in the tube about 1/8" long.

The temps were 10 degrees cooler up on the mountain but the sun was baking hot.
3 mph up a 15% grade. You could hear the skin sizzling.

The El Santo was spot on. I cleared 98% of the rocks. And cleaned the rocky decent on the 2nd part of the course both times. Sweet! And the Fox 100 was a dream.

Saw a chick on a sweet ass Moot's YBB that was my first dream bike. Never got it. Never will. But man, that's a sweet frame.

Just before the last climb on my 2nd lap I ran out of water and HEED. DOH! By the time I got to the Soob I coulda drank toilet water. I have to make a new Hammer order soon. I'm nearly out of HEED and only have a little bit of gel left. Drat!

OTHER STUFF:
The highlight of Saturday's birthday festivities was seeing my Bro-in-Law's brother rocking a "Wolves howling at the moon" T-Shirt. AAAAHhhhhooooooooo! I hate to judge (actually I love to) but that shirt was unreal man! Where do you even buy a shirt like that??

Wifey picked me up some whole wheat pasta so it's time to get some grub and enjoy a Penn Pilsner.

Hope you all had a good weekend and got some miles in. Ride now for in a few months winter will be holding you down firmly over a frozen barrel of suck.

Later.

Mug Club Friday

Another work week in the bag. Spent the afternoon on the web and scanning photos of Maytag appliances... whooo hooo.

Did a post work singletrack ride of 12.5 miles or so just to check out the El Santo. Haven't been on it in a couple weeks. Need to put more air in the SPV for the smooth singletrack at Boyce.

The '05 Fox Forx are the BEST! I have and '04 on the Titus and an '05 on the Salsa and the difference is HUGE. The '05 is soooo smooth!

No ride on Sat. since we have some family-crap-ola that we need to attend. F!

Sunday I'm heading up to Seven Springs to ride the 24 Hour couse a couple times.

Went to John Harvard's Brew House last night, where Wifey and I are now proud members of the "mug club". Had some fun , fought some crime, went to bed.

Observed: On the way in to J.H.'s there was a guy wearing a LIVE STRONG bracelet, that's nice and all, but he was smoking a cigarette! I guess he feels he better help find a cure for cancer 'cause he gonna have it someday.

Later.

Want some sugar? I have some in my car.

Not much going on tonight. It's a "No Ride Thursday" in more ways than one ;)

Installed new Hope pads tonight on El Santo. Why does a job that takes others 5 minutes take me 30? Hmm?

Then I got the CatEye Micro WIreless installed and set up. Easiest computer I've ever set up. Dig the back light for night rides but what's up with the button to turn the light on being in the back? I installed on the stem to allwo extra room for bar mounted lights and HR monitor (if I had a HR mon. that worked)

Saw on Kerkove's blog and in BIKE magazine about Giant phasing out the NRS. Shame, that thing looks supa fast. Can't imagine that their new design could be made as light.

That's the thing I regret about my El Santo. The frame itself might be just a tad, a smidge, a tiny bit too heavy. And I think that 4" of rear travel on a race bike might be overkill. Man, 2 weeks on the hard tail and I'm going all "retro grouch". I've been loving The El Santo on the rocks though and can't wait to get it up to the Springs this weekend.

Other frames I dig: I like the Scapel (except that it's a Cannondale and has the Lefty) and the Orbea Ois looks bad ass. 2.5" travel, and you're not tied to the Lefty fork, and I like(d) the NRS too. Wonder what Salsa has planned for the El Santo next year?

Anyway, can't wait to get back on the Salsa this weekend and get it all prepped for the end of the month.

Short ride tomorrow night around Boyce. Then maybe some crime fighting with Wifey.

Later.

I'm very good at spotting the mentally ill...

Nice 2 hour ride on single track last night. Felt real good. Still rocking the HCR hard tail 'cause of the lack of time to install my new brake pads on the El Santo. I could get used to this dry weather. Hope it holds through the fall. (yeah right!)

Been following the TransRockies. What a race!! I love this stuff. Tour Shmour THIS is bike racing!!

And my team for the TransRockies is hands down the Reevax team from Belgium (home of the best beers in the world). Reevax only races Marathons and Epics on some sweet Orbea hard tails and are amateurs (meaning they have real jobs like most of us shmoos). The topper is they admit the name Reevax is just made up, 'cause it "sounded" European. Check out their web site.

No ride tonight. Gonna install the new CatEye wireless tonight. I think I might be reading too much of Jeff's blog.

Later.

Mini Wednesday Post

There's a bunch of picts from the Wilderness 101. Check it out if you want to see a little of the race action. Some good, some bad. Check 'em out here.

Only one pict of little ol' me.



That's Bob Anderson in front. He won down at Lodi Farms this year where I came in 3rd. No clue who the kat in the middle is. Then me in the back (supersized for your viewing pleasure) This is close to the end and not too far from where we saw the ephing snake. Yikes! Those bridges where narrower than a Republican's mind, and a few people had some problems.

Later.

The Beauty Of The Ride

Tonight was one of those just fantastic rides. Kinda had a stressful day and after work I headed out to my Dad's in Scottdale. The weather was perfect. Warm, but not HOT!, a little humid and no breeze. I made some saddle adjustments that worked out perfectly and my spin was on tonight. Nice circles. It's amazing how when you get a nice fluid motion going how you just seem to be flying. Super efficient. Got in 2 Hours/36 miles.

One big ass section of road was just paved last week and now is smooth as silk, whoo hoo!!! Most of roads out there are great to ride on, and most of the ones that I ride now are low traffic farm roads. Had one of those perfect moments where the sun is getting lower and lighting up the corn fields with a nice orange light, the shadow of me and bike spinning smoothly is cast along the road. It's just perfect. Saw some baby turkeys buzzing around too. That was cool. Especially since I didn't get chased by Mama Turkey like I did at Boyce Park a couple years ago.

It's funny the whole time I lived out In Scottdale I wanted to live in the city. You know, artsy-fartsy stuff, coffee houses and clubs. NOW I want to move back to that area or somewhere out in the middle of freaking nowhere so bad. I miss seeing cows and corn. In White Oak I just see litter, wanna-be gangsters and stress. Do you know you NEVER see a rabbit in White Oak!! Where are the rabbits? Guess we have rats or something. Don't get my wrong there's' a lot of yahoos and freaks there too, like the two teenagers in a "riced out" Honda that pretended drive right towards me tonight and then swerve back into their lane. Nice.

Got my Hope Mono Mini pads tonight, so I can finally get on the Salsa soon. Hope to get up to Seven Springs this Sunday to pre ride the course and check out the new sections. Sending in my registration tomorrow.

Later.

Monday Blog: F-ed

Posted once. Ephed it up. Not sure where it went.

It was basically that I had no mojo today. Recovered with the magic potion that is Red Bull and then did an hour spin/weight/core workout. Exciting stuff!!

And I posted two new links. One is Trek pro Nick Martin's site. Nick is master of the audio blog and gives some good insight into the life of a NORBA pro. Where else can you hear Adam Craig talk about his love of peanuts.

The 2nd is by my buddy J.B.'s. He just started riding not to long ago but has jumped in with both feet clipped in. Doing solos, riding centuries, dropping pounds and having the time of his life. Ride on J.B.! See you at the Springs!

That's it. Goodnight and thank you. And remember, if you're drivin' don't drink and if you're drinkin', don't drive.

I love the smell of road kill in the morning...

Me and the B-Man headed out to my dad's house today so B-Man could hang with Papa-M and I could get some road miles in. Got 2:15 in and felt pretty strong. Heat started kicking up at the end. Baking those road kills good. Love it when I'm on a 10% grade, standing with my nose over the bars and you suck up a big hunka 10 day old baked possum. Mmmmmmm.

Going up a hill today that splits two sides of a ranch/farm and it stinks like Besse's ass and there's always some sort of fecal run-off oozing down the side of the road to breath in, when a flock of birds flies right over me and all around me I could hear bird shit splatting. Somehow they missed me. Sweet!

I gotta get registered for 7 Springs soon. Still debating the Snowshoe Marathon. Want to do, but a Thursday a.m.??? What the eph? + Not sure how I'm paying for these races yet. Got some sweet bonus coming the end of the month a week AFTER early reg. closes for Seven Springs. EPH!!! So looks like Mr. Visa will get used again. Oh well. I've had a great summer doing these races and I'm already looking forward to next season. But hey I still gotz some racing to do.... Whoooo Hoooooo!

Hope all had a good weekend tomorrow it' s back to hell tomorrow.

Later.

Funny Little Tid Bit Post

Saw this quote on the Cannondale web site talking about the Scalpel...

"FACT: The Cannondale Scalpel has captured more World Cup XC podium spots than any other full suspension bike on the market. FACT: It's the ONLY dual suspension XC bike to win a World Cup Championship without the athlete using the drug EPO."

Of course this is in reference to former Specialized XC rider, Filip Meirhaeghe who won the WC all doped up on EPO. Nice.

Later.

Lord Chestefield Ale Presents: Baywatch Nights

Man work was boring as shit Friday. All I did was surf the web and watch the clock. Luckily at 4:30 boss called and said to head home. Sweet!

A quick clothes change and and I was on the trails by 5:00. Been going with no CamelBack lately. What a nice feeling. Just took a seat bag with tube/Co2 and and a big bottle of Heed. Had a nice 1:40 minute ride on singletrack. Legs felt great and my knee felt good too. Kept getting bit by some super small insect though. Not mosquitos, not flys, but man does they hurt. Feel like little pin pricks. Then about a day later they turn in to itchy as hell welts. Happens every year at Boyce this time of year. Must remember OFF before next ride there.

Then it was home for some dinner and super bad beer. Didn't feel like blowing coin on good beer this week, so in my basement I still have a case of Yuengling's Lord Chesterfield Ale.... IN CANS!! Shit it's bad. I have it since April. Some sales rep I did a project for at work gave it to me.... thannnnks.

So Wifey and I stayed in on Friday night, ate whole wheat pasta with red sauce, drank a couple bad beers and watched a Biography on David Hasselhoff (40 minutes of my life I'll never get back). Life is just fan-tas-tic.



At least I had a great ride. No ride Sat. watching the B-Man whilst Wifey gets dolled up for her seestor's wedding. Road ride Sunday most likely.

Hope you all are having a great weekend and getting some miles in.

Later.

Open Oven: Insert Head- It's No Ride Thursday

And that means it's boring as shit and Random Blog Night.

Wanna see the ride that Chis Eatough used to spank everyone's buttock's last Saturday at the 101? No? Too bad, here it is....


He ran a 2x9 with no granny. I was maxing out my granny (why does that sound like code for something sexual?) in the race. Guess that's why he beat me by almost 3 hours. That and that he's a freak (period!).

Check out this photo from the Transalp Challenge


What a sweet ass race! Maybe someday. There was a cat at the 101 that did it this year. Came in 92nd I think. Sweet.

I though I was all over this stuff then I see one of the lads over at Kona Enduro beat me.

If you want great cycling race coverage go to www.cyclingnews.com. One of the best! VeloNews is 80% road, this is a great mix of all, even downhill but to me that's like NASCAR. People like it, but I don't know why.

Gonna ride tomorrow since Sat. Wifey's sister Jenn is getting herself hitched. Good luck to both ya... YOU'RE GONNNA NEED IT! (not kidding at all). Hope to get 2+ hours in if the storms hold off. Usually take Fri. off. Friday's at the park are great 'cause everyone's out gettin' their drink on or going out, and the park is ALLLLL mine.

If anyone would like to buy Thomson Elite Road Post or a set of Mavic/Ultegra wheels, let me know. Daddy needz some cash.

Later. Gotz to go cook me up some Mexican de la Mahokey. Where's the Velveta??? (kidding) I mean where's the Fat Free Sargento's Taco Cheese?

Sweet Lincoln's Mullet! The Wed. Road Ride

What was supposed to be a 1:30 road ride at easy pace turned in to 2:15+ and close to 40 miles with bunch of climbing. SSSSSSSSSSSHIT! I'm cooked. After this weekend I needed climbing like I needed a hole in the head. Because of some minor bridge repairs and a road closure, I took the posted detour today and hit a ton of unexpected hills and pavement getting prepped for resurfacing, then I kinda got lost for a bit and the heat was cooking my pea sized brain good. Didn't get home tonight till close to 8:30. Didn't eat dinner till after freaking 9:15. F! Quads are done. Better take tomorrow off. This is one of those rides that you just have to think will make you stronger physically and mentally.... I hope.

SEEN: a HUMMER with a PA Endangered Wildlife License plate. Holy oxyfuckingmoron. People. I don't get them. At all.

Confession: I ate Velveta cheese tonight for maybe the first time in over 4 years or more. I feel so dirty. I'm not even sure how the shit ended up in the house!!! I have a feeling B-Man's cheese lust has gone too far.

Later.

The Heat... My God The Heat!

I know I should have been on the road tonight. Nearly 10 hours in the saddle on Saturday my legs needed a nice spin out. BUT it's sooooo freaking HOT!!! It was 94 (according to the Subaru's thermometer) and I just couldn't face the road with it's baking road kill and jacked-off sweaty drivers who needing every inch of road for their gas guzzling SUVs. Sooo instead of an easy spin on the road I did a ball buster on the Titus. Only about 1:15 but other than the 5 minutes to get the freaking gravy out of my legs, It was on! Felt great! Knee felt good, trails were freaking dry as a bone and pretty vacant. Saw one other rider, 1 runner and 2 people doing that freaky walk/run thing on single track. Whatever gets your caboose moving I suppose.

On a down note I got me some SERIOUS monkey butt. Gotta bust out the B-Man's "Monkey-Butt-Be-Gone" cream. Speaking of B-Man, I'm proud to report one of the words in his 18 mo. old repetoir is "bike". He even noticed the old Klein hanging in Jerry's apartment when I was watching Seinfeld tonight, and yells BIKE! And when we would watch the Tour he would yell "BIKE!" or "DAD!" and point at the TV.
Ok enough kid stuff, I know it's sappy.

Looks like I'm gonna skip the NORBA Marathon at Snowshoe most likely. Only 4 weeks till 7 Springs and I really want to do well there. I would love to go see the Pro XC race, 5 hour drive though. Hmmmmm.

Saw that Niterider has a new HID/LED light now too. Called the MOAB and the FLIGHT I think. I gotta e mail into them looking for more info. Anyone out there sponsored by Niterider? What's the deal?

Alright. Time for bed and maybe some crime fighting.

Later.

WILDERNESS 101 UPDATE

Got the results from Saturday's race:
Finished: 42nd/162 Men's Open Class Starters, Time: 9:48:28
You know what's SUPER impressive?.... Every woman that started finished. Way to go ladies!!