Motion Suggests

The wheels that are in motion suggest that the time is drawing near for my first Solo 24 of the year. Just a little over a week until my Spicy 29" wheels hit WVDirt at the 24 Hours of Big Bear. This will be my 6th 24 Solo effort in now what is year four of my lackluster endurance racing career. I still get sort of giddy thinking about it. The SICK thing is I have NO IDEA WHY!!!

The current list of Solos for Big Bear include Plum Grove Bob A., Tinker, Rob L., Sologoat, Cha-Cha Steve S., and a dude that once mountain biked with the President, amongst others. It's gonna be epic just to get mid pack. BUT I have my goals, and a plan to have fun for a change. Yeah, I'm gonna suffer, cry, and as we all know too well probably vomit all over my top tube. That's all a given. But I'm also going to allow myself the time to make sure I'm prepared to get out for another lap. Too often my adrenaline is pumping, I'm geeked to get out and get another lap in and I realize- "Shit! I forgot to eat" or "Shit! I forgot to get a new bladder!"

You read all that stuff about Chris Eatough and his "Formula-1 like pit stops". I'm here to say I'm bringing mine down to (or keeping mine at) the Go-Kart level. I'm tired of pumping out 8 laps and then crawling like a half dead, molested dog pulling 3 hour laps until Noon Sunday. I feel that my pacing is off for these events. With some work I can do better overall and get the most out of my Solo experience. If my belly and bod say rest for 10 or 20 minute and absorb some fluids and nutrition, then damn it, that's what I'm going to do!

The goal is to place well of course. It IS a race and I have some kick ass sponsor that help me in my attempts to that. But I also to make sure I do things right. To push myself and improve as a racer. I've said it a million time here- if placing was the only thing I raced for, I would have given up long ago. What exactly I am racing for, I continue to search for. Is it the challenge? The satisfaction? The pain? Who knows? I'm sure it's a combo of all that shit. I'm more excited for this race than I've been for a race in a long time. Plus, I need to keep racing so I can keep writing this digital fish wrap. I mean I can only write about Turkey Ballz for so long!

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The Fox F29 is now on the Dos Niner. Tom reports that the transformation went smoothly and I'll be picking up the Dos tomorrow after a ride at Boyce on the Mamasita. Anxious to see it and to get my air pressure all set up for a planned Big Bear recon trip on Saturday (if the storms hold off).

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I finally pulled the trigger on a cargo box for the Soob. Went with a small Thule box to free up some room for the B-Man and his bike when we go to these events. When we went to Leesburg, we were just packed in WAYYYY too tight.
I ordered it from a place called ORS Racks Direct. The Thule Sidekick is small enough that it can be shipped UPS so it qualified for free shipping. Other places are charge up to $50 to ship even though it still qualifies for UPS. Hmmm. The Sidekick is not huge, but even if I can stash just the camping gear in it, it should free enough room for my unit (family unit).

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I finally got an appointment with the chiropractor on Friday. The back is MUCH better than it was, but I won't be happy until I can get it to 100%. Looking forward to it. As long as they don't try to convince me that seeing a chiropractor can make my teeth whiter and cure hemorrhoids it will be good. I just want some work on my back man!

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Is it just me or does Greipel look like George Dub-Ya? Holy crap! Looks like as soon as he crosses the finish line he'll start talking about how the U.S. in an economic slow down NOT a recession!

Spooky. One is PLENTY.

Time for sleep. Later.