Feeling Flat (But I Was Great!)

Woke up today with the LEAST amount of spooge in my eye so far this week. I think I could ACTUALLY SEE some white in my right eye. SWEET! On top of that, the weather looked good and I was gonna hook up with my bud Y-Nizzle for a ride at Boyce. Y. had to pick up his Can-Of-Ale 29er that was in for service at Pro Bikes, so I met him there and chatted with Jason and Timmy C. while Y. settled up with P.B. management.

I was so stoked to even be riding today (given the previous week's pink eye and possible strep throat issues) so I was completely comfy with riding with Yancy. I usually stay clear of group or multiple rider rides due to time restraints or the group being either too fast or too slow for my training needs. Riding with Y. is cool because I dig his vibe, he's a good friend, a good rider, and there are no expectations. Just do your thang and the ride will follow. That was just what I needed a week after being ill and a week before my next race.

2 miles into the ride Yancy had flat #1. Oh well, shit happens. Whilst he put a new tube in, I did a small loop and came back to find my shaved headed friend just finishing up his tube change.

OK, tire in. Game on. .25 miles later. Flat #2. What the f*ck??? So I once again left my friend to patch a tube while I did a mini loop. Once back we headed off and got some miles in. Stopping every-so-often to check tire pressure and to let me sweat all over my Tifosi glasses.

Once again we headed off. Having fun riding the wet, but not mud bog un-rideable trails of Boyce. We ran into a few other folks who were also having their share of flat issues too. I felt good and was enjoying showing my friend around Boyce. He rides Mingo a lot and could not believe the amount of uninterrupted single track and non f*cked from horses dirt to be had at Boyce Park.

At about mile 13 I gave Y. the option to either do a STEEP double track back to pavement and the cars or to continue on single track and another two miles. Y. chose to more single track. Good man! BUT soon we encountered flat #3!!

Ok, enough is enough! The tire was clean, the patch held, but there as a big ass tear in the tube! UG!! I blamed Y. for bringing his Friday night "bad Karma" to MY Saturday Ride, but that was all in jest of course. It could have just as easily been me with the 3 flats. It wasn't, it was him (ha), but still, I was not gonna bitch too much. Shit happens, right?

So after tire inspection, and the blowing of our last Co2 canisters, it was time for Yancy to to show the tube some self man love and get his stroke on. It was a real treat to watch. While Y. pumped I said a silent prayer to the Ride Gods that this would be our LAST flat of the day.

Once the tire was back on and pumped, it was off for our last 2 miles. The tire held until we got to the car and that was all we could hope for. After we got back to the car I said goodbye to Yancy and headed off to get 5 more miles of single track in. In the end I got 20 miles in on the Dos Niner and 2:30 of dirt in. Damn happy with the time, and the fact that I got out at all. I give credit to Yancy for the ride. If it were not for him I would have just gone on a road ride. BUT I gotta tell you the dirt was the titz. It was like slipping in to warm apple pie. IF you know whatta I mean?? If you don't, sorry. You need to get out more.

The Panaracer/IRDs held up pretty good today, but in some sections the Boyce "clay/mud" got the best of them and made for some gooped up knobbies and some slick climbing. Overall though, I can't complain.


It was SO freaking nice to be back on dirt/mud. My legs felt spanky, and it was nice to share the day with a friend. I only hope he was able to leave some of his bad Friday mojo out there and go home to Ms. M. and Izzy refreshed and ready for action.

The only bad part of the day was finding out that Wifey now has the pink eye that B-Man had, then I had. I can NOT believe that despite washing, bleaching, our linens and towels, she STILL got it. This pink mother is ONE contagious M.F.!!!!

This time next week the Cranky Monkey will be in the books! I can NOT wait to roll rubber on that sandy ass Virginia soil.

Later.