Out And About

Wow, where have I been lately? I for sure haven't been posting anything on here, I hope I have been out riding my bike. I can say that I have saved some money this year by not racing as much but I have paid a price of fitness and speed in doing so. Now I'm saying I'm not in shape or able to ride very fast because my fitness is pretty good and I can still carry some speed, it's just racing is a whole different level of training in fact I believe it is the best training. And for a guy like me that has never won a race when you come across as second best here and there it is some motivation to do better next time. Plus the racing scene is just so much fun, being around like minded individuals that enjoy riding their bikes in the dirt.

I am less than 2 weeks away from my second 24 hr solo race, I'll be heading to Boone, IA for the 24 hr of Seven Oaks on August 20-21. Am I ready? Maybe not where I want to be but I don't think it matters how good of shape I'm in I don't think I will ever be satisfied with where I want to be. I am ready to go out and race my bike for a day. My wife, kids, and parents will be there so it will make it that much more fun. I'm trying to get my body and especially my mind ready for the pain and agony that is inevitable. I will be taking my Specialized Epic and my Dad's Santa Cruz Blur for this race, I thought about taking Mary but I hear there is a ton of climbing on this course and I don't want to toast my legs earlier with no gears. I have only ridden my Dad's bike a couple times, but I really like how it handles (even with it being an XL frame). I rode a lap of the race course at Crowder and on some of the rocky climbs that bike climbed like a rocket, that bike has the VPP (Virtual Pivot Point). I don't know exactly how it is designed but it makes the bike handle very well.

I've been getting some miles in at I.C. and the cobwebs have been excessively bad this year. My last ride James was there before me so he got 95-98% of them knocked down for me so that was great, thanks James!!! My last ride out there I did a couple extra laps on the campground loop (which is blazing fast right now). After riding next to the water there is a short distance of gradual climbing and then the drainage crossing followed by some downhill again. The sun was getting lower in the sky and on the downhill the glare of the sun off the water was almost blinding and riding that section was a little difficult since I couldn't see exactly where I was going. My concern was that my speed was pulling me to the downhill side of the trail and I was afraid I was going to clip a small tree but it all worked out just fine. It made me think about Coach and the fact that he could probably close his eyes anywhere on that trail system and ride for 30 seconds or so and not miss a beat, I think that man knows every rock and root on that trail. Actually I think he knows a lot of trails like that, Lyle has mentioned about how fast Doug can memorize features on trails even in a single preride.

Truth In Advertising?

I am always looking for a deal whether it is on ebay or Craigslist or just a huge blowout on one of the many online shopping outlets and I have come across some really good deals. I watch a lot of bikes sell on ebay basically just to keep in touch with what bikes are going for, they always vary but it gives you a pretty good idea of what to expect. I am however always amazed at how many people list their bike as "Gently Used" or "Barely Ridden" or "It Has Never Seen Dirt". Wow, you mean you dropped $3,000 on a brand new bike and didn't ride it? I will say that I do believe that is the case sometimes as there are probably some people that have more money than they know what to do with and the idea of a high dollar bicycle sounds cool.

It's funny how these "Barely Ridden" bikes have "Normal Scuffs" on them, of course because you rode it because those scuffs on your chain stays didn't happen by keeping your bike in your garage. Now I'm not saying that there aren't some bikes that haven't been pampered out there and are probably just as good as they were when they were brand new but I sometimes want to list my bike and lay it all out on the line...something like this.

For Sale: 2007 Specialized Epic Comp

This thing has seen more miles than a hooker on the Vegas strip, and has been ridden harder too!!! I have beat the crap out of this thing out on the trails and she just keeps coming back for more. I wouldn't call her "Chubby" but she isn't exactly light, this is no featherweight carbon bike here. Adding to the weight is a downgraded wheel set that I bought after she and I took quite a tumbling pass down a hill at a high rate of speed, you have to watch out for gravity. I didn't buy the same level or better of wheels because...I'm cheap. The inside of the handle bar is able to breath really well as I have bounced off a few trees and tore the ends of my grips off of the bike, it's these little things you don't get on a new bike!!!

Now don't get the wrong impression because she is a great bike and has handled everything that I have thrown at her. Just be careful if your riding in Oklahoma, make sure she doesn't try to put her saddle somewhere it isn't suppose to go...I'm just going to leave it at that.

Registered!!!

Not sure if I should be excited or scared, I just registered for the Men's solo division at the 24 hours of Seven Oaks in Boone, IA on Aug 20-21. From what I have read and been told this will be a VERY demanding 24 hr course. I have been told that this trail is NOT built to IMBA specs and has a lot of up and down, lots of short steep climbs that can wear a person down. From what I remember being told it isn't too technical as far as rocky and rooty (but I could be wrong) but there is a lot of off camber tight twisty single track to enjoy.

It's time for the trails to dry out so I can ride a mountain bike again!!!

She Doesn't Want To Listen

I keep telling my Epic that the trails have been too wet to ride most of the year this year but she just isn't listening to me. I think she is still mad that I didn't take her to Michigan this year. I got quite the silent treatment from her when she found out that Mary got called up from the minors for that trip. That being said she is ready to perform, last week at Crowder she was loving that trail!!!

My Trail Buddy

I have been out a few times here lately to do some trail work, this has consisted from just simple trimming to blowing debris off the trail to armoring and deberming. I have been taking a companion out with me on these trips, it is our dog Selma. She is a Weimaraner/German Shorthair mix and she is a high energy dog, she loves to run and play outside. I have been going out often enough that on my days off when she sees me grab my hiking boots she starts getting pretty excited, she will go to the back door and start hitting her lead with her nose.

I really wanted to take her out but was hesitant at first because I wasn't sure if she would just take off and then have a hard time finding me but she has done really well everytime we have gone out. She only gets about 40 yds out and then runs back to me and then off again, that is about the perfect range for a bird dog and it must just be instinct. I'm glad that she likes to go because she gets a lot of exercise and when we get home she is on the couch and is out for a couple hours.

This last trip I took her on we were doing some armoring and dirt work and it was pretty hot, I brought water for her but she wasn't drinking as much as I thought she should. On the way out I was stopping and doing some deberming and she was getting hot so as I removed layers of the top soil she would lay down in it and roll around to cool off. I tried it but I just got dizzy and dirty!!! At one point she thought she would help me dig but I had to put a stop to that real quick, while I appreciated her interest her technique still needs some honing.

What's Your Kryptonite

I'm no Superman (I just have the chiseled body) but all of us have our weaknesses, Sampson couldn't cut his hair or he would loose his amazing strength. I keep checking out James' hair length and it appears that he is still having it cut so that is not where he is getting his leg ripping power from, let me guess he's probably doing the old fashioned way by earning it with hard work and dedication...figures!!!

I think my biggest weakness is that I am a classic over eater at times, especially when I'm overly stressed or start getting depressed. Thing is that I eat all the wrong stuff and I absolutely know better. I know what it takes for my body to perform but I still eat the crap I shouldn't, then I get mad at myself and to punish myself I eat some more. Well this shit has to stop, eating the occasional crap isn't that big of a deal to me but doing this spiraling out of control is not okay. I'm seeing my performance drop off with it and I do not want that at all.

On a side note, when the trails dry up everyone needs to get out and ride them because they really need some traffic on them to make them faster. They are a bit spongy right now and need to get packed down....just sayin.

Right And Wrong

There are the "Right" things to say and then there are the "Wrong" things to say. Here is a list of examples.

#5) When you see a couple riding tandem and you engage them in conversation. The right thing to say is "Do you ride together often?". The wrong thing to say is "Do you shower tandem?".

#4) When someone asks you if your friend really just took their drivers test and why, the right thing to say is "They let their license expire by 2 YEARS, and they had to take the test over again. The wrong thing to say is "Well he grew up Amish!!!".

#3) When you see someone applying Chamois Buttr the right thing to say is...nothing. The wrong thing to say is "Do you need a hand?".

#2) When you are in a race and you work hard to bridge a gap and you tuck behind another riders wheel to recovery before passing and they ask if you want around, the right thing to say is "Not just yet I will let you know when I'm ready". The wrong thing to say is "No thanks, I'm just enjoying the view".

#1) When your riding to the top of a long climb behind someone that is in their granny granny gear the right thing to say is "Great job, keep it up" (with great enthusiasm). The wrong thing to say is "Are you still in that gear?".