I Can Admit When I'm Wrong... CUSS!

Today proved to be no different than the past few days.... I should have rode outside 'cause we ain't got no snow and the weather was PERFECT (40 and sunny), but work got in the way and I rode the trainer. As Mr. Fox would say... CUSS!!! Too much to do + not enough hours in the day + Wifey's bowling night = me on the trainer for an hour and hating life. OK, that seems strong.

Today was the sort of day that was rip fore riding too, the sort of day that I will kick my own self in the balls for not riding. But that's just the way it is. Shit needs done, shit gets done. Period, dash CUSS!

After I picked B-Man up at school I did get to shoot over to Mo-Mo for some Stan's goo and an injector. Mmmm.... goooo.... mmmm..... injector. Now the Spearfish is aired up good. I still need a new rim and a new valve core for the El Mariachi, but I am getting there. Slowly.


Jury is out on how long it takes for me to stick that nozzle in one of my orifices'.

In other news; The new issue of Rouleur showed up on Monday. Freaking GOOD! Love that mag. All other mags (other than XXC Magazine) can suck it. Shit, I don't even REALLY dig road racing and that mag has me loving it. I used to think that the text was too "flowery," but in hindsight I think I was just not in the right frame of mind. The best part is their coverage of old school racing. Back when the peloton had some ballz and often the roads were made of dirt.

OK, time to take my tired ass to bed and say halfheartedly that I will ride outside tomorrow.

Later.

I Feel So Dog Gone

XXC business got the better of me today, which meant that I was forced to do a quick trainer ride at lunch rather than a brunch time roll out on the gravel roads. Probably for the best as just about 10 miles south of MP the weather was shit. Rain/snow/sleet/wind... UG!

Later today Wifey and I took B-Man shopping. At least that's what we told him we were doing. We actually went to a visit with a dog breeder to pick out a dog. B. has been after us for about a year for a dog and I have avoided it for a year. Since I will be mostly responsible for the dog (being that I am home most of the day) I told Wifey that the only dog I could put up with is an English Bulldog.

I have loved bulldogs since I was a kid and even used to do a cartoon about one when I was in about middle school or so. They are a low maintenance type of breed which is good for us since we have a small yard and most importantly they are real good with kids. I am also drawn to dogs that can't catch and bite me when I'm on my bike, so none of those f*ckers out on the farm roads were considered.

As an added bonus B-Man loves bulldogs too (our old neighbors had one) and just bought a stuffed one last weekend. Now he has a real one, not to be too corny here's a couple bad pics of the new dog "_________."

To say B-Man was stoked would be an understatement. He was in his glory when he realized that we weren't just there looking but to get one of our own. On the way home he said that on a scale of 1 to 10 his happiness level was about a billion-trillion. Sweet!

We don't have a name yet. I suggested Mozzer or Moz (the nickname of my fave British recording artist- Morrissey). Wifey loves the idea and B-Man digs it too since he sort of likes Morrissey too (he doesn't know enough to be depressed by him yet). But then again B. also thinks Dave is a good name for a dog too, so we shall see come Saturday when we pick the little guy up.

OK, lots to do; work stuff, ride/spin stuff, bike parts to get, Christmas presents to get and now dog stuff.

Later.

A Weak Week Start

The start of another week took me to the post office with about 15 packages to mail. The woman waiting on me did an amazing job of weighing/stamping/tagging and never flinched at the amount of stuff (AKA sweet XXC Mag merch) that I had piled up in front of her. Now the 10 plus folks behind me.... Well I have a feeling that they thought differently of me. But who gives an eph? I'm trying to make a living here! Ha!

I am very much behind on getting work done on XXC #14 so a ride had to be squeezed in on the trainer for an hour on lunch. It was still pretty darn not bad since I got to spin to my fave bitzs from the new DJ Shadow CD and from Girl Talk's Stop Cleveland Hate e.p.. It was a smooth and funky spin for sure.

Now to chill with my just arrived on my front porch copy of Rouler mag #26.

Lots to do this week and some fun things happening.

Later.

Back In The 989

After 5ish days of holiday travel, visiting and eating we are back in the 989 (we're back in central Michigan). Good food was had, good people and family were visited with and good times were had. I could do without all the driving and traffic, but whatcha-gonna-do? Such is life living away from family, etc.,

Lots of work to catch up on this coming week and lots of "training" to get back to. It's been sort of nice to be off the bike for a bit, but I realized that I don't do much that doesn't involve bikes. Looking forward to some low key riding up to the new year, getting back to my regular diet, and then turning attention to 2012.

--------------

BTW, many Soiled Chamois readers have been calling and e mailing me, asking about the change in the layout and font of the blog (OK, I admit no one has). Truth be told I just got tired of the old one. Not crazy about this, but I like the Courier font. It gives a real typed manifesto feel to the blog and basically that's what this is.

Later.

Low Laying Plans (and Bellies)

Not doing much the past few days and weekend. Got a ton of work done on XXC and then traveled to Pittsburgh for T-Giving. I didn't bring the bike and of course the weather is great here. Had I brought it I can assure you it would be pissing down snow and rain. Oh well. I could use the time to get my brain back in line and catch up with family and friends.

Got thinking about bikes again. I may put a rigid fork on the El Mariachi for the winter. Not sure I trust my current Bontrager fork at my current weight though. I might get a cro-mo Salsa one to ease the mental thoughts of shards of fork going through my neck. Actually, I just think I need more steerer tube than I have on my Bontrager. Either way.

OK, off to watch my nephew play hockey and then on to hang with some friends later.

Later.

Wide Eyed. Legless.

I read a piece in Rouler #25 about the book 'Wide Eyed and Legless'. I got pretty sucked into the article and found myself utilizing the remainder of an Amazon gift card to pick it up.

I'm not one to read TOO much about road racing and have very little interest in modern day road racing (other than some of the Spring Classics), but I figure 1987 is long ago enough that I could enjoy this firsthand look at the Tour de France. Jeff Connor joins the British team ANC Halfords as not just a reporter, but pretty much part of the team doing a variety of duties over the span of the Tour. EPO was just coming into vogue at the time, and the team was pretty new, so I am lead to believe there was no stashing of blood in any coolers or other such bullshit, but surely the drug topic will be brought up.

Looking forward to delving into this one this holiday week. Nothing can calm holiday melodrama like some skinny ass Pro Tour roadie melodrama.

Later.

Rolled and Chilled

I sort of had it in my mind today that I wasn't going to ride. Not sure why. So I slept in, putzed, ate some breakfast, putzed more, then said the words that can make any boring, chilly, grey Sunday better... "fuck it, I'm riding."

The weather type people said that temps would be in the low 40s. Hmmm... Not sure it ever got out of the mid 30s for my 2 hours spin out on the gravelish dirt roads outside of Ehm-Pee. Not exactly freezing temps, but combined with some wind and no sun it would be chilly.


Hunting season is full on right now, unlike back in PA where the hunters take Sunday off from killin', here it's on 7 days a week. I have to say I was less than thrilled to hear gun shots echoing nearby as I rode through the farm lands. I got nothing against hunting, but I have to admit I have no real want to take a bullet on a ride.

Not sure why (must have been the tail wind), but I felt pretty darn no bad out on the CX bike today. I bagged a few farmer waves, saw a cool pheasant type bird up close, heard a few gunshots, saw one gutted deer hanging in someones' front lawn (camera didn't fire in time. Stupid digital camera lag times), saw some nice looking chickens struttin' their stuff and doin' their thang, and got a nice wind burn from the chilly head wind that I enjoyed (not so much) on my return trip. In other words it was a nice way to spend a couple hours today.

The coming week looks to be no better than last week for riding. I think I can squeeze a couple rides in early in the week but then the Holiday Trifecta of Evil begins and we head to PA for Thanksgiving. Not taking my bike. Sort of a pain in the ballz to take it for just a few days and our time is usually pretty spoken for when there and it would just add to the pressure of the travel family visiting experience to put pressure on myself to try to squeeze rides in. I think my sub par mediocrity will survive.

Later.

Sweet

I FINALLY got back out on dirt today. Couple loops of dirt was just what I needed to blow the stink off of me. Oddly I felt pretty good today. Between the way my legs felt this morning and the lack of riding I just just assumed that the ride was gonna hurt. It didn't. That's sweet.

Later.

The Race Year: 2011

This week hasn't had a lot in the way of riding but it has given me a bit of time to reflect on my 2011 race season. This season in a (made up) word was... goodgreatish. There were no amazing results, but it had a variety that my race seasons never have had and that not only spiced up the season, but increased the challenge.

The challenge of entering the world of XC racing after years dedicated pretty solely to XXC racing, was a challenge for sure. XC is to me was cross is to many others. It burns and hurts in a way that is different than endurance racing and when I'm doing it I can't wait for it to be over and then when it's over I can't wait to do it again. It's an addiction of sorts. It felt great to do it.

I have trouble saying which of my 13 races was my favorites, they all had some good parts, but in the end I think the middle distance XXCish Ore 2 Shore was my favorite. There wasn't much singletrack, but it was a race that I just felt "on" the entire time. No great result, but just a beautiful day in the saddle on a variety of dirt in the U.P.

Close second and 3rd comes the Ron van Stony and the Log Splitter XC. The RvS was a gravel race that I did on my CX bike, and just in the zone again for this one. There was cool temps, mud, and I was pushing hard the entire time, dragging some other folks with me. The low light was missing a turn at the end that cost me some places, but it didn't take that feeling of crushing some nice Michigan gravel away for too long. The Log Splitter was sort of like Ore To Shore. A variety of singletrack ski trails, double track and dirt roads. Again, no great result was had but I felt great the entire race and was even flying though the singletrack... a litte TOO fast actually as I missed a turn and had to backtrack. That seems to be a theme with me. Get in the zone, blow through signs and have to backtrack. GRR!!

The Hanson Hill 100 was pretty sweet too, as I got back on the hundie horse for the first time since 2009. I thought that wold carry me through the Lumberjack a few weeks later, but the heat and some dehydration had me bailing after 70 miles. Anymore once I know I'm dehydrated I tend to not want to risk too much with my thick blood and tendency for clots and DVTs.

You would think that the Iceman would be my most hated race. I had some serious bad luck with a flat just a few miles in. But actually I was pretty happy with my ability to deal with the bad luck and try to get myself back to the finish for a respectable time. I think it's sort of a tie between my Lumberjack DNF and the Yankee Springs TT. Yankee should have been great; my pre ride the week before I ripped off 3 great laps in good time in great conditions. Race day it was like 20 degrees and blowing snow. My legs felt like shit and I had little desire to race. But I did and got bitch slapped pretty good.

Hmmm... NO, the ball suck race award goes to my performance at Boyne! Damn that race hurt! I was all over the trail, got dropped fast, and each lap I thought about quitting. Somehow I finished, but I was less than thrilled with my performance, so yeah the Boyne Marathon wins the ball suck award. No wait... Lumberjack does. A DNF gets and automatic ball suck award.

I raced 13 races this year and rode literally thousands of miles, yet I found my now 40 year old the heaviest it's been since 1992 or so. Strange that with this weight gain, I was still fit and raced more than ever. While I hope that I am a few pounds lighter next season, I'm not gonna beat myself up about it. I'm still racing, still riding, still having a great time, my clothes still fit and I still get to fight crime on a semi-bi-weekly-full moon cycle basis. What's to complain about? Looking forward to next season and continuing to leave my comfort zone. Including trying out some new things like possibly stage racing at altitude. We shall see.... The Barry Roubaix and the start of my 2012 season will be here before I know it. I better start riding again PDQ!

Later.

Pffffffttttt....

OK, this week has NOT gone how I planned, but it is going....

A. Wifey out of town all week in TC slinging law.
B. B-Man off school both Tuesday (hunting day) and Friday (Parent/Teacher conferences).
C. Lots of work to do on XXC #14
D. Lots of I don't give a pre-holiday fuck attitude going around (all me).
E. More of D.
F. More of D. and E.
G. Oh well...

Total minutes in the saddle since last Saturday.... 80. Brilliant.

There are some cool things afoot with xxcmag.com and peeps in the know, so that is cool.

Time to not give a D. E. and F.

Later.

Layin' Low, Not Hangin' Low

The lack of posts here on the blog is reflective of a couple things, mostly being that I haven't been out on the bike since Saturday. That's about it. Sort of...

Sunday was yard work madness trying to get it all tidied up before the snow flies, Monday was me being ballz deep in the yet to be published XXC Magazine #14 and posts at xxcmag.com. Today brought the Deer Holiday... yep, a day off for kids for the opening day of rifle deer season here in Michigan. Since I don't hunt, me an B-Man hung out, played some soccer and went to the book store so he could get the new Diary Of A Wimpy Kid book (and has read 50+ pages already) while I looked at bike magazines. I then alternated between jealousy and overwhelming hatred for mankind.

Why? Well just because 98% of all magazine fall under some corporate publishing company. Because of their backing they can pay more cash, for more for stories, can offer subscriptions to boost numbers and in turn get advertisers to pay bills, etc.,. XXC can't do that. I get jealous, I get bitter, then I just say "fuck it," I'm pumping out a great mag by myself (along with my awesome contributors) and being a real fly in the ointment to some folks as they are forced to realize how they bullshitted folks into thinking that no one races mountain bikes anymore. I can live with that (for now), but it sure would be nice to get a pay check. Or at least attract freelance writers and photogs without offending them with the low pay out.

Speaking of pay checks... or is it sleep?

My sleep issues have improved as of late. Slightly, but still better. I think it has something to do with my dietary changes. Of course I still can't go to bed without 1. Having a panic attack about dieing. 2. Thinking about loved ones dieing. 3. Obsessing about what I need to do the next day and 4. Dreaming/having nightmares about working an office job, (usually at my old job at the paper), hating it, but knowing that I would get paid at the end of the day. I still wake up at 4 a.m. every day, but seem to be able to fall back to sleep a bit quicker. So that is good. I guess. Therapy beckons.

Back to school for B-Man tomorrow, so I hope to hit some trails. Wifey is out of town all week up in Traverse City, but I should be able to get some miles in whilst the little man is at school. I continue to be sorry for the lack of bike related material here. Please check out xxcmag.com for more ACTUAL posts about riding and endurance mountain biking. Thanks.

Later.

Two Days, Two DIFFERENT Rides

This week has been strange. First I got a night ride in on Monday, something I hadn't done in a while, then it was two trainer sessions (booo!!!), and then Friday and Saturday I hit MMCC. Then to top it off, I went against my previous dietary comments, (inspired by Wifey's 15 pound drop) to give the whole low carb/high protein diet thing one more go and do it hardcore. Good Lord, it actually WORKED! Like FREAKY worked!! I swear to God I dropped like 7+ pounds in a week! A WEEK!

Now, I know I can't keep that up and much of it is water weight, it was still sort of freaky to see it something work so well. I also know I can't keep it up because while the trainer rides went well, the attempt at riding MMCC on Friday SSSSUUUUUCCCKED. It took all I had to do 12 miles. I was cold, tired and pissed so I retreated home. Again I say "Boooo!!!" Last night I upped the carbs and returned to MMCC today and had a MUCH better 20+ mile ride, where I rode at or above my threshold HR for most of the ride. It still hurt though and my body is still very much adjusting to the diet restrictions. Because of this there is NO way I can compete or "train" (in the loosest sense of the word) doing such a diet. BUT if it can get me down to where I need to be to feel comfortable in my skin again and not feel like I am behind the big 40 year old gut 8 Ball I will be stoked.

In looking at my numbers via thedailyplate.com I cannot believe that just a week ago there were days I took in 400+ grams of carbs and I dropped it to around 30 grams. I will be anxious to get back to a more normal diet, that's for sure.

Today's ride at MMCC was much better. It was warmer, I felt better and pushed harder. I ran into another dude out on the trail. I could see him through the trees but it was hard to tell if he was in front or behind me. I knew he was pushing hard so I push the pace. Turns out he was behind me, came up quick on me in some tight singletrack. I said "hi" and got no response. I think he wanted me to move over, but said nothing. Just sat RIGHT on my wheel. Sorry dude, we're not racing and in tight singletrack, I ain't moving, especially if you can't respond to me.

We hit a double track and he calls "on your left!" I move over say "go ahead" and let him pass. Turns out he had ear buds in. I friggin' hate when people ride with ear buds in. 1. Don't you want to hear the amazingness that is the sound of the wood and your bike on the trail?? And 2. It's just sort of douchey. I will also say the if the dude plans to ride that far up my ass in the future (not racing) he better have the goddamn common courtesy to give me a reach-around (thank you Gunnery Sergeant Hartman). Grrrrr...

It was a good ride though in some AMAZING 60+ degree and sunny temps. Gotta ride all I can 'cause by this time next month we should be nugget deep in snow.

BTW, did you see the new gear up on the xxcmag.com site? You should check it out. A new gravel inspired T and a new micro fleece beanie to keep your noggin warm. Back the cause, yo.



Later.

Plucked From The Box: Vol 1

My race season is pretty much shot in the ass, the weather will be turning shitty (as it has the past 2 days) and that means time on the trainer will be increasing. With that, I have been inspired to do some new random stuff here on the blog. Here you go....

I've always loved music and find that it goes hand in hand with my riding and racing. No, I don't dig riding or racing with an iPod, but my time spent in the car traveling to and from rides and races, working and on the trainer is always fueled by my music collection.

I have a TON of CDs that have gone unripped to Mp3, and remained in boxes since our move to Michigan last fall.

Until now...

I have decided to pluck a random CD per week from the stash as I unpack, rip it, and devote one trainer ride that week to it. (That is IF I am forced to the trainer, and if the CD is not already on my iPod). So with that I introduce the new series entitled Plucked From The Box. (Also a possible name for waxing parlor).

Today's pluck was The Full Custom Gospel Sounds of The Reverend Horton Heat. By (you guessed it; The Reverend Horton Heat.

A pretty damn good CD for a spin workout (skipping Gin & Tonic Blues of course, that will drive you insane). But the CD is one fine example of up tempo rockabilly cow punk and one of my favorite RHH albums. The first 8 songs are perfect for some sweet spot tempo riding: Wiggle Stick, 400 Bucks, The Devil's Chasing Me, etc., just cook.


The Reverend Horton Heat
The Full Custom Gospel Sounds of The Reverend Horton Heat
Released in 1993 on Sub Pop Records

Wiggle Stick – 3:00
400 Buck" – 3:09
The Devil's Chasing Me – 5:31
Livin' on the Edge (Of Houston) – 2:52
You Can't Get Away from Me – 2:26
Beer:30 – 3:00
Big Little Baby – 2:31
Lonesome Train Whistle – 3:22
Bales of Cocaine – 2:11
Loaded Gun – 4:18
Nurture My Pig – 4:00
Gin and Tonic Blues – 3:39



The weather looks to be getting colder here for the next two days and the "S" word has been dropped in the forecast. Nothing too bad though, so I'm hoping for the best for some nice rides.

Later.

Unhappy Parts/Gear Updates

If you read my Iceman post, then you saw that a flat was a real pain in my race day balls. That was simple to the growing financial ball pain increased I have coming my way...

1. I lost my Stan's valve stem to my front wheel on the side of the trail.
2. In my haste left my Co2 inflator on the side of the trail.
3. Noticed that my rear Stan's 355 rim on the El Mariachi is El Mari-f*cked.

Fantastic. There's an update that I didn't see coming. Frig. Since the 355s are no more Terry's has a Crest on order for me.

Ug. Tis the season I suppose. I could also do with a fork servicing, some new drive train parts, a new Co2 inflator and some fenders. I have a feeling that I might be in Terry's a lot the next few months.

Here's some video that I put together from the Iceman. My friend Chris shot the video while I was shooting the stills. Thanks Chris.



It was sort of cool to get a high five from 2011 World Champion Chatharine Pendrel.

Pissed down rain all day today. No ride, but lots of coffee and lots of work.

Later.

Night

B-Man was at a friends house after school yesterday, so late afternoon I headed to MMCC to ride a couple laps. The first one would be in the crisp autumn dusk and the second would take me into the night.

Sun setting.

I headed out using the Amoeba light that I purchased last winter and hardly had a chance to use, since as soon as I got it, we got dumped on with snow. In the summer it doesn't get dark here 'till well after 9 p.m.. So anyway... The light is handmade, tight, bright and LIGHT. I had it on my helmet and never ONCE noticed that it was there (except for the amazingly bright light that it put out). It's been a while since I did any night riding, I always forget how fun it is.

Moon rising.

The only downfall is that the trails are REALLY covered with leaves right now, so full and constant attention was needed at all times. I'd love to rake the worst part of trails, but not sure what the trail steward's policy is on raking of the trails. Or if he even has one. I'll have to shoot him an e mail.

Riding by the light of the moon and several hundred lumens.

Real fun ride on the Spearfish and I'm glad that I got out, 'cause the rest of the week looks pretty crap for good riding.

Later.

Iceman 2011, Unlucky 13.

I was a tad nervous going into to my first Iceman Cometh. My Michigan friends gave me some great advice though and said to just relax and take in the "experience" of the Iceman. It's beyond a race; it's more like a bicycle festival with a race attached. It's all about personal records, having fun and beer (thank you Bell's!!).

Well at least that's the case for most mortals. The Pro race that ended the day is beyond words, and the most fun I've ever had at a mountain bike race. To see Jeremiah Bishop and Lukas Flückiger sprint to the line while THOUSANDS of people screamed and cheered was amazing (see below). It was like being on the finishing straight of the Tour de France, except it was a mountain bike race, so it was automatically way better.


The Iceman weekend can be a tad overwhelming, especially when you're not a huge people person like me. The expo and check-in is massive (but well organized), all the restaurants are packed, Traverse City traffic is nuts, the start is nuts... it's ALL nuts!!! It's 4,500+ racers racing 30 miles, in like a million waves. Yet it works. Somehow they make it work!!

Truthfully, this year's Iceman was very UN Iceman. Even though start temps were in the 20s at 9:02 (for the 1st wave), they would rise to the mid 50s by mid afternoon. Bright sun, dry trails and not a flake of snow in sight. From what I'm told, this means next year will be a cold, snowy mess! LOL!

OK, my race....

My race started with me sitting in a un-started mini van trying to say warm whilst my friends with previous good finishing times got to start in early waves. Me? Since I had no previous results to base a start time on, I had to wait until after 10 a.m. (10:09 to be precise) and the 24th wave.

I managed to stay warm and got the start line expecting chaos. But it was SUPER organized. Tall signs with wave times indicated where to stand, a wave went off like every 3 minutes (I think) and it was all run like clock work. Just amazing given the amount of racers.

All I wanted to do was get a good start, get warmed up and keep a good pace. As per usual I had no podium aspirations, just looking for a good time and good enough finish to move up a wave or two in 2012.

We got to the line, the USA Cycling chick spewed out some info, 30 second warning.... 10, 9, blah, blah, blah... GO!

While I wasn't at the front of the group right at the start, I quickly moved up once we hit dirt/sand. I was shocked at how good I was feeling and I was stoked. It seemed like I was already catching folks from the wave before me. Sure, they had platform pedals and I could see panty lines through their Lycra (seriously??), but STILL, I WAS catching folks.

I was powering along along a flat 3+ miles in or so, and I heard a noise. "I wonder what that is?" I thought. "Crank... seat post.... flat? Nahh...." Two seconds later my front wheel starts wobbling. A flat indeed. BUT HOW?? FRESH STAN'S, SEAL YOU F*CKER!! Nope.

I pulled over, shot a Co2 into it. No go. F*CK!! I haven't flatted during a race since about '06 or '07, yet here I was pulling out a tube and praying to God that my last Co2 would inflate it enough to get me to a road crossing to beg for a pump.

As I got the tire off the rim, Stan's goo covered me. I felt like I was on the set of gay porn or something (too graphic? sorry). My hands were slipping and sliding all over the place. The tube was a tangled mess inside the tire, but I had to take my chance. I shot my last Co2 into it and only got it to about 10 or 15 PSI. FRIG!!

I started walking alternating with moving over for folks, walking, moving over, walking, moving over. And when I say I "moving over," often I was waiting for 15 to 20 riders to come by at a time. Did I say "frig" already? I came upon a dude who had pulled over for some unknown reason. I asked for a pump. YES! he had one. I pumped away as he waited. Nothing. The tube must be f*cked. I handed it back, thanked him and started walking again. Occasionally I rode the flat tire, and then started running. Yeah, right! Only 25 more miles to go! Dumb ass.

As I walked, another dude passed...
"YOU, OK?" He shouted.
"YEAH, JUST A FLAT!"
"NEED A PUMP?"
"YES!!!"

He threw the pump on the side of the trail for me. I shouted up to get his name/team so as to get it back and grabbed the pump. Thank you Rob(?) from RBS, I owe you dude!

So there I was on the side of the trail pumping away like a 15 year old with a fresh stack of nudie books. But it worked! The tube was holding air. I might not have to walk after all!! At this point I had NO idea how long I'd been f*cking around; walking, fixing, walking, running, pumping... At LEAST 20 minutes, maybe more. Frig!!

OK, LET'S GO! I started time trialing this Iceman shit now, passing, passing, dumb move, passing, dumb move, DON'T BRAKE!, passing, etc., I was starting to overheat from the layers I had on to combat the early morning cold and from this unexpected effort, but I didn't care. I needed to make up time. It felt good when I caught the dude from RBS (Rob?) that lent me the pump, I thanked him and kept on cranking. I felt even better when I recognized some dudes from my start wave. There was still a lot of fruitless work to do though.

I was shocked at the amount of folks that would see a hill and just jump off the bike. Ride that shit!!! On one hill lined with spectators I cranked that shit up passing walkers and riders, a dude beside me was on a freaking cross bike, powering through the sand and making it along with me. I started screaming "PUSH IT DUDE!!! DIG! DIG! DIG! WHOOOOOOOOOO!!!" I was so pumped with adrenaline and seeing him power through that deep sand whilst others walked beside us that it just stoked the fire. The crowed was nuts, I was nuts, the CX bike riding freak was nuts. It was nuts! It rocked! F*CKING BIKE RACIN'!!!

I kept motoring and pushing hard but of course I knew deep down it didn't really matter at all, my race ended as soon as I flatted. There was just too much time wasted fixing, putzing, dealing with Stan's goo, walking, pumping... But still, in the end I pushed hard, caught some folks from my 40 year old class and did NOT finish last. That to me is a minor, MINOR, victory.

Pre-race, I thought that I could finish in about 2:15 or less. Nope! 2:44 and 76th place out of 97 in my class. Looks like I wasted an estimated half hour walking, pleading, begging and pumping. Not cool, BUT, not last... I have to say, there is no worse feeling than standing along the trail with a mechanical whilst dude after dude, after f*cking smart ass tandems (I think I hate tandems now) pass you. OK, standing along the trail bleeding to death might be worse, but it still sucks.

I sprinted a few guys to the finish, God knows what wave they were in, but it's a race, right? At the end, one of the dudes cam over and shook my hand to say nice sprint. That's bike racin' shit right there.

My first Iceman could have been a hell of a lot better. But I guess it could have been a hell of a lot worse.

After I finished I somehow tracked down my friend Chris (who had an equally bad day dropping his chain numerous times), and had a beer. Then I was off to drop my bike off a the bike corral, pick up my drop bag, and hit the showers. (YES! Hot showers) to get gussied up and watch the Pros finish.

Not sure how things would have gone had I not flatted, but it WAS a chance to get tea bagged by fate and deal with it. That's part of racing. While I finished WAY off of my expectations, and way off of what my equals did, I have to TRY to find a silver lining, and I think that it's the fact that once I finally got the tire set, I pushed harder than I thought I could and didn't give up.

Jury is out on whether I return to Iceman in 2012, but right now I have to say I have a feeling I will be doing my best to get in.

Bike racing... it's a curse. A really sweet curse.

My mountain bike race season is now over. 13 XC, XXC and gravel races in the books. Figures my first Iceman was "unlucky #13."

Later.

2 Day. Week, Whatever....

This blog seems to have died long ago, yet I continue to feel the need to post. So here it goes...

Halloween was cool. B-Man went Trick or Treating dressed as a pirate (the robbing and pillaging kind, not the sort that lose 100+ games a year) in the CMU dorms with Wifey and his friends and cleaned up. Really cool of the college kids to do that for the kids. Dude came home with a half a pillow case filled with good shit. I was forbid to go. Wifey said if we happened upon any taut young co-eds in the dorm I would make a fool of myself. She's right. I would... It's my curse.

So, I stayed home and passed out candy. Only about 10 kids total came all night. It was VERY unlike the days back in White Oak/McKeesport, PA where we would run out in about 10 minutes or less, most kids didn't even wear costumes, never said "trick or treat" and never said "thank you." Here at least the kids we did get were dressed up and polite. Hell by the end of the night I was telling them to take a bunch."REALLY? THANKS!"

Tuesday I got out for a gravel ride. I decided to use the El Mariachi this week since that is the bike I plan to race Iceman with on Saturday, I figured I'd better make sure everything is shifting and feeling good. It's aces. SIDE NOTE: This post on XXC is from today's, I mean yesterday's ride.

If I had permission then it wouldn't be trespassing, would it?
It would just be passing I suppose.

Today I had a ton of work and life stuff to do: blog (the work blog), approve some merchandise, plan out some new stuff, send some e mails, get the bi-weekly blood test and last but not least post this post up. Because I care, because I know you do. BUT! I did not let that get in my way of riding.

I planned a short ride 'cause along with being busy I had a lunch date with Wifey. And of course by "lunch date" I mean... Um, ah... forget it.

As soon as I got my (real) blog posts done I chamoised up, hit Start on the HR monitor and headed out. I made it about 6 blocks away when I looked down and saw that my HR monitor wasn't working "WHY YOU PIECE OF SHIT! Oh wait, I forgot to put on my freaking chest strap!!!" Idiot.

No effect indeed. Still not sure how I got 126 bpm
without a chest strap.

I pedaled another 60 yards to an intersection, as I waited for traffic I decided to take a drink.... "SHIT!! I FORGOT MY FREAKING WATER BOTTLES!!" Idiot. Good thing I was only planning on a short spin. Eessh. I blame my wife of course... she got me all discombobulated with all that talk of hot, steaming... rotisserie chicken from Rics. DOH!

Today's ride had one of my fave dirt/gravel road incidents: a man in a pickup truck flags me down as we pass out on a dirt road. I stop. "Do you ride out there a lot?" he asks. "Yeah, all the time." He produces a photo on his phone, "Did you ever see these two dogs?" "Hmmm... not sure, I see and get chased by a lot of dogs out here, but I can't tell from the photo. Are they lost?" "No, they keep coming on to my property and attacking my chickens! I sell eggs down the road here." "Yikes, sorry, good luck with that."

Not sure if I was more upset that there are dogs terrorizing this dude's chickens or that an egg farmer has a cell phone with photo capability and I do not. Such is life.

All in all a good quick 25 mile ride to blow the stink off me (and if you knew me, you would know there is a lot of it. I blame my high fiber diet). I made it home in time to enjoy a few minutes of hot chicken with Wifey and life was good. Then I had to bust ass to get all my shit done before it was time to get B-Man at school. Done did it.

This pic (above) is a re post from the one further above but in it's un processed normal state. The pic is meant to call attention to the empty dehydration causing water bottle cages, but it also ended up showcasing why I love my Ti El Mariachi so much. On top of a sweet ride it just looks so damn good. Like a surgical instrument or some such. So supple, so fresh, so clean, so Salsa Ti El Mariachi. I actually suggested that tag line to Salsa, but the opted not to. Go figure.

So far a good pre-Iceman week. Not sure why, but I am more neverous to do this race than I think I ever been for a 24 hour race. I think it's just the nutz-oh amount of folks racing. Right now the weather looks to be VERY UN-Iceman-ish with sun and temps in the 50s (probably 40s at my wave time).

Later.