Trails Dreams and Jelousy

The weekend was nice. Sunday, spent a few hours at Beechwood making more trail. We actually added some flat singletrack. We did our best to make it flow but you never really know until you ride it but it looks good. There are some tricky parts, parts that I dont want to be the first to ride. They are more of the let someone else ride it and find the best line. Kind of like when we built the sweet jump last year and let Ben go first to dab a couple times, then Hirsch went and pile drove his face into the ground. That was when we figured out we needed to add a little dirt to the launch. I wouldnt say this little rocky line is like that just I dont want to be first. Of course, it is Beechwood, and adding the extra trail of flat single leads you to a climb.

Andy says the dream team is together for 24-9. I dunno, I don't think I would classify Mike C, Raging Ron, Andy, and Scoots as dreamy. Maybe it is just me.

I have my own vile plans for 24-9, if I can get the Bozz on board. Instead of dreamy I am thinking more towards nightmares. 24x2. A 4 man team is so February. I know, big talk, but it makes me accountable so everyone else can talk smack to me if party more than I ride. Then again, who knows what will happen.

I am still in covet my neighbors toys mode. I obsess about things and then convince myself I need them too. I have my road bike, I have my mtb bike, but I don't have a commuter. Listening to Andy talk about... what was that???...uhhhh.... hmmmmm.... oh... Poprad... got me thinking I need a commuter/ rec bike too. So I set out on a quest and I think I found something that wont break the bank and will make me happy. FedEx man says it should be here Thursday.

Its Still Winter

I was thinking about how much this weather was driving me crazy, than I figured no one cared since we all deal with the same thing.

Unfortunately that was all I had. Time to write wandering thoughts...

I got my truck for sale. Time to get a car again. Since Amy got the new truck we don't need two trucks so a 4 Dr sedan capable of decent gas milage that can haul me and my bikes to Beechwood every Tuesday and all the races I hope to do is in my future. If anyone knows where I can find the above in the form of a Honda let me know. Bonus if it is white and I can call it "The Rocket" or "White Tornado".

I have had some action on my truck. Apparently Toyota 4x4 ext cabs are hard to find on the cheap. I got one. Now I just have to find the right person.

In my quest to keep up with the Jones I have my eye on a new bike also. By keep up, I mean want and covet. There is hope and we aren't talking huge KKKK's here. So attainable and affordable is the key.

I love hearing the rain pound on the roof top. I hope it doesn't snow.

This weekend holds minor plans. My mom is visiting, a night at the comedy club with friends, and time spent at Beechwood getting ready for the year rounds out the highlights.

I hope all my rider/racer friends suffered good this weekend. CB, AH, RR cant wait to hear.

Nothing Creative

My story telling has gone to nothing since the work filters wont let me log onto this site. All I want to do is post...

Since I cant login I cant comment either. I have been reading just cant comment. I guess I just have to be productive. I use that term loosely.

I can try and catch up but I don't even know where I left off.

I got into Cheq 40. Problem is, it seems no one else did. I need a crew. That is too far to go to not have a crew. ANDY and BEN write a letter, please!!!

Last weekend I went to Madison to ride with the BRR guys. A 3 day ride turned into a 1 day ride since my truck ended up in the shop and I used up my legs on the one Saturday ride.

Last week, I don't know, worked and... I don't really remember.

This weekend I tried to get out on the bike a bit with the impending cycling season quickly approaching. Who knows what is going to happen this year. Will this finally be the year I put a little more effort than "just be competitive" or will I finally try and ride more and party less. It is a fine line but it is really one side or the other. So far the dark side has been winning but I am not getting younger. My chances to do whatever I want, when I want, with who I want, and have the money,time, resources, and ability to do it aren't going to last forever. Then again I may not be able to party as much.

Decisions.

Latest

I haven't written but I haven't had anything to say.

A few things I guess have happened. Amy and I moved. It was a local move to a bigger place. We were a bit cramped in her place after I sold my house so we basically tripled out square footage. I now have a place to park, put my things, have my tools, my bikes and a place to use it all. By the way, moving sucks.

Last week I got cussed at by the old lady who works the drive thru at mcd's. I was getting coffee before work and I got cussed at and called sunshine in the matter of 10 seconds. I think that is a record.

My best moment though had to be Friday. I was getting irritated by a station wagon I was following that was driving too slow. Every time I needed to turn up ahead they turned right before me thus slowing me down even more. Turns out we were heading to the same place. That isn't the thing. What was funny was following the station wagon with WWJD 01 license plates all the way to the bar.

Happy St. Patricks Day

Mustache Thursday

In case you missed it.

OP '08

Sufferfest 2008 is in the books. I know it is only February but the combination of weather, lack of fitness, and just doing a 24hr race will be hard to beat for the rest of the year.

Thursday. I head to Chicago with Amy to drop me off at the airport. My 4 pm flight was delayed. We board the flight and a mechanical sends us all off to wait some more. By now I will have missed my connecting flight in Dallas. I get with customer service and they get me on a different flight and I get into Tucson late.

Friday. I wake up to rain. Chris and I try to wait it out but weatherman says it is going to be a while. We head to the race site and if you don’t have 4 wheel drive, good luck getting in or out.

It is muck everywhere. We set up camp in a break and when it starts to rain again we sit huddled up in our tent trying to stay warm.

The rain turns to sleet and then snow.

We have no shelter until another teammate shows with a tarp that is rigged behind his truck.

We have a limited supply of firewood and burn the box it came in. It was cold.

Saturday. I wake to cold and snow left on the ground.

I wipe the snow that has accumulated on my bike and seat.

It will be time to ride soon. With a high of 58, I put on all the cold weather cloth I brought which I will wear for every lap. Lap 1 goes off. Legs don’t feel terrible. Lap time didn’t completely suck. I didn’t cramp or have a mechanical so I figure round one a success. Lap 2 is somewhere around 10:30pm, it is dark and cold. I actually get too warm and remove my stocking cap from under my helmet and take off my 2nd layer of gloves. Night laps are interesting. I couldn’t describe it but if you have ridden one you know. You feel like you are flying but being cautious at the same time. Lap ends positive as I dread the final climb less than taking my cloth off in the cold at camp. Lap 3, 3am. Oooooohhhh this sucks. I didn’t think it could get any colder. Famous last words. When I tried to get something out of the car it was covered in a solid sheet of ice. If water freezes at 32 degrees it was a lot colder than that. My thoughts were it didn’t get colder so I left without the extra gloves or a hat. I was wrong and really cold. Every part of my body was freezing. When I got back and took off my helmet I brushed ice from my hair. The thing was is there was no way to get warm. You just had to sufer through it. Lap 4 and the sun just came out. I can actually get away with a sweatshirt. Last lap is the victory lap. Reinvigorated with the sunshine, I enjoy the last lap like I had anticipated they all would be like before I left. Race over.

We did pretty well. 35th out of 140ish teams. That isn’t bad for a bunch of out of shape, snowed in, racing in February guys with 2 24hr rookies, up against guys with tan shaved legs. Everyone took their turn, rode the best they could, took care of their own business, and kept a positive attitude which wasn’t easy considering the weather. That is the best way to do a race and having great teammates like that makes it all worth it.

So my first race of '08 is in the books, and what a race it was.

Side note- My moment to remember from the race, I got a “on your left” request to pass, I moved and girl (Kona team rider) went by. Before she stood and rode away from me on her singlespeed, she turned and blew a huge snot rocket and then took off. I was speechless.