9/28/07

friday funny

heard about this on the radio,
then Joey found it on youtube.

fuckin' stoners....


9/26/07

huh?

ya know, I try to keep this blog thang
centered on active fun type stuff,

but this guy is an ignorant piece of shit.
(as you probably already know)

An asshole that you'd really like to just punch in the throat.

Why does he still have a job?
And her too, for that matter.


With fucks like this spewing the 'news'
and the sheeple swallowing it all,
is it any wonder?

9/24/07

The Ultra @ Big Bear

Decided early in the week to head to WV for one more fling. Running around Friday doing the turbo gear shuffle & load, on the road shortly past five. Chased the sunset, hoping for a decent viewpoint out along rolling Rt 68. The best I could do at 70mph: The race: Wicked fun first two hours chasing Gunner & Benji, then the rear shock on the Dos shit the bed. Happened about when the route was leaving the camp property to head out for the hills and back. Weighed the options of trashing the frame vs not, took inventory of the legs, then bailed out and spun her back to camp. Had the tools I needed at camp, jacked up the rear shock pressure in an attempt to lock it out, loaded up the big Camelbak and set back out to get in some more fun miles at the very least. Jumped back on course straight out of camp, so basically right back at the beginning again. Rerode all of the race course, stopping for a beer break and scenery along the way.Odd thoughts of trying to finish the thang kept crossing my mind, still riding with a purpose of sorts. Got back to where I bailed and the watch reads 4:20 elapsed, the Dos begins to sound & act normal again....interesting. Keep rolling along, following arrows and get to where the course splits. Decision time, spin back to camp for good this time or drop wayyyyy down off the mtn to the next aide spot and get some solid beta on finishing the loop. I'm about 2.5 hours off the back at this point. Is a Super DFL effort worth it? Do I really need to suffer for 8+ hours, and why? Decide to at least get the solid beta and drop down the screaming descent. Hang out at the water stop, watch some folks pass thru & try to get opinions on the outer loop. Betsy tells me it's not really worth it and I value her opinion. Linger a bit more and then officially throw in the towel for the second time. Turn to climb the four miles back up to the campground, and punch out for my DNF of the year. Still got in a solid 6+ hours elapsed w/ a 9.5 avg while riding, gizmo read 49.5 miles for the day. Not the full race loop, but I'll take it.

Apres' race was sweet, grilled chicken and taters and beer, and beer and more beer and the Silver Dollar band playing for the campground's residents. I passed out in the EZ chair under the stars. Tore down camp in conjunction w/ BoYes and Andy, then jumped back onto the bike for a Sunday spin. Took a bit to get rollin', but the groove came back and had another sweet session of the BigBear flow, snapping a picture or two and saying goodbye to the 'race season' with a fun 2+ hour loop. Not exactly the 'result' I was looking for, but it was the wknd I'd hoped it would be.

let the Classiques begin!

9/18/07

going pro

things that make you go, hmmmmm.
Saw this post the other day, and it piqued my interest.

Been slowly thinking about 'what to do' next year.
What to do? The list of possibilities is long, but whatever it is,
sure would be nice to have some help along the way.

So, after reading that blurb, I looked at the Beyond Clothing
site, and found a pretty interesting company with a decent
looking product that I could definitely get some use out of.
And my ski/harsh weather wardrobe could use a bit of an update.

Another blurb went up today, outlining the process and specifics.
I think it looks like a possible "good fit" so who knows? Guess
I'll put together some sort of 'media pack' and send it their way.
Don't know unless you try.....

In other news, Merv's Bike Shop rocks! If you need SS stuff,
go to Merv's! Ran down there tonight to take back the uneeded
20t cog and 34 ring, figure to exchange for another new chain
and maybe some tires or something else. On a whim I ask if he
has a 4-bolt 32t ring, the shifty one I'm using now isn't the best
tool for the job. He sorts thru the drawer of the filing cabinet
and the first one he pulls out is a shiney Surly stainless, $30.
I love not dealing with the 'Well, we can order it for ya' bullshit,
freakin' awesome! He tap tap taps on the calculator and I grab
a new bell off the wall to make it even steven.

The bell has an integrated compass.
I'll never get lost again!

ding. ding.

9/17/07

bullseye.

hmmm, kinda don't wanna write this race report type thang. Because this could be the last one for a while, depends on if I head for the hills next weekend. I really should go, get in one last toeing the line experience, and burn up the rest of this fitness stuff. And actually riding with people during the race is kinda cool. On the fixy, you pass folks with a strained "unngggghhh, how owww you....", then the next time you see them they're hollerin' "On your left" while blasting by on the following descent.

This wknd was different.

The weather was cool, summertime is over. Camping was crisp and the stars were bright after The Law showed up. Slept well and hit the snooze a few times. Efficient start to the day and rolling behind a biiiig group to the official start line. GO! A spun out 32:19 is no match for the big rings and five of us form the 'lead group' of singlespeeders. Spend the next couple hours trying to wind it out up the climbs, pushing the pace but not quite à bloc, wondering who'll crack first; Timmy D, Les, Topher, Buck, myself?

4 out of 5 stop to take notes at the Racer's Meeting and then it gets quiet as we try to make up the gap. Efficient splash and go stops for me, nobody else is screwing around much either, Tim keeps rolling on thru. We're still a tight bunch of four with Tim just outta sight past the halfway gnar gnar and then the train is derrailed as we miss the left turn into Buckets. Quick 2 minute backtrack at most and rolling comfortably again. Half way up the mtn, time to go look for Les & Tim. Around to the front and the conversations stop. Solid 20minutes of quiet time with Topher and then all alone after I get dropped high speed descending off of Spicer Knob. Now sitting in fourth, out of sight front and back, figuring Buck should come ripping by at any second, the mood turns sour. Where is that damn water stop!!!! Why am I riding like such a pussy?

Slum across Chickadee and at the oasis Johnny T has a beer in hand. I have the taste, but not the stomach for it, I decline. They tell me that Topher is only a minute up the road. Set off up Rattlesnake Run with a mission. Legs getting empty and twingy, need to accept that cramps are gonna be part of the equation, just keep pedaling, and drink. No Topher, but surprisingly I spot Les up the road and turn my focus on that carrot. Slam some calories & drop a gel pack on the road just as I'm closing the gap...fuck, skid, stop, off, pick up, in, back on, rolling....still in sight, barely. The climb lets up, we drop some doubletrack and once at speed, that 30 second gap turns into out of sight. Shit, shit, shit, where is he?

Resume climbing, ahhhh there he is, just pedal. Back out onto more climbing fireroad, flashbacks of chasing Buck up this last year, and Les is right there.....and then just up the road Topher appears!!! Look deep for a bit more cadence, need to get the holeshot onto the ridge. Chasing down a singlespeeder, on a singlespeed, when you're all similarly geared and about 40 miles into a fitty, sucks. Come on Scotty, I need more power!!!! Turn right onto the gravel double, finally onto Toph's wheel and around without hesitation, trying to appear strong. Tempo, tempo, tempo. Left onto the gas line, over the tanktrap hump, drink now, then a right into the woods. Les is latched on, gotta try to break the elastic. Riding Rocky Ridge as hard as I can, working and trying not to show it. Try to look smooth. Thru a ton of gnar and I can't even stretch the elastic. Les has breath for commentary, I'm licking my stem. Fuck, what's it gonna take?

I bobble and weave, then Les takes over and I stroogle to hold on with Topher within earshot. Chasechasechase, focus, pedal and chase and keep it tight and where's Topher and Buck's still back there lurking too and fuck he's got another bike length! Damnit, focus you dipshit, get smooth, roll it , flow it, no brakes, bounce and giddee up on it.

Ride like you know how, bitch.

Chase across the grass field and hit the final rollers together. Pass the final aid and noone bluffs as we push up that first pitchy bit. Keep looking back for Topher, keep looking back. Follow Les across the final bits of trail, push thru the one insane full right leg cramp of the day without a whimper and work survival mode while trying to hold onto Les' wheel and maybe we'll reel in Tim at this pace, but he could anywhere from 1 minute to 15 in front of us by now. Plan the line to maximize flow, avoid that stabby power move, keep the cramp monsters at bay. Final rocky oomph, up over the last gnarly log machine blasted knob, throw down a show of strength over the last six or so pedal strokes and make the pass. Yeah, that was worth it, for the next 2 or so miles we spin and tuck down the grassy path to the road crossing, chatting and looking back for Topher or Buck. spinspinspin, tuuuuuuuuck.

Cross the road, hard left, off the bike and hiking with conviction. Not exactly an attack, but if he wants to play, he'll follow, it's not like I'm running or anything. Back on the bike as soon as possible, look over the shoulder and it's vacant. Spin thru the last bit of trail and roll it home for second place singlespeeder, eigth overall. Timmy D. rode like a flawless machine all day and won it with about a two minute gap, Les was third within a minute, Topher another one or two back and Bucky crossed the line about when we cracked open the first round of Troeg's. Damn tight group, I kinda like this singlespeed racin' thang.

Gotta give props to all that helped make this happen; G'burg Cycle, the Cupcakes that gave up their chances at glory to feed us and the moto crew for their course work.

Thanks a bunch everybody,
coasting can be fun.

9/14/07

yay!

Woohooooooooo! Congrats to Holly & Buck.
They brought little Hayden into the world yesterday.

Apparently another enduro nut job
freak is in the making, 36hours
for Holly to get the job done.
Makes these silly bike races look like,
well, silly little bike races.

In good spirits after talking to the proud papa,
took a quick lap around this year's favorite
shakedown loop, Comm Serv to Jake's to
R'Snake and back. Lucky to have such
quality only a hop, skip & a jump from
the backdoor. Good mood translated well
into the legs, twas a quality fun ride.

32:19 is working sweetly on the Dos,
love that half-link magic, no loud distracting
clackity-clik thru the rough stuff. It's like, all
shmooove and shit. fun fun fun.

Dicky put up some thoughts on the whole
spancership game and being a 'washed up old man.'
Timely subject as I wonder if that's a
fork in the trail that I should maybe explore......

hmmmm, do the NUE series fixed?
Just looking for a 29 or 69 that's fixable with
a bottom bracket that's a smidge higher than
the Dos and some $$$$ to help with four entries.

My resume':
I've done a handful of idiotic things on fixed gear
bikes that some thought not possible, and that
most just don't understand. And when I'm not fighting
this self-imposed handicap, occasionally I'll be first
across the line....

Who wants to hook a brother up?

9/12/07

spinnin'

Dry NW wind
has cut the temps
and made for
nice n easy 20mph
spinnin' on Pine Rd.
Fresh tarmac,
crisp white line,
pedalling on auto pilot.

Sun gets low
earlier now.
Looong shadows,
wish I had the camera.
Didn't allow myself
to 'ride hard.'
Scared to ask the
question.
Singletrack tune up
tomorrow should
clue me in.
thoughts of one more
road century taking shape.

9/11/07

Stormin'!

fuck.
not even 8 o'clock,
3, THREE! Victory Storm Kings
down the hatch.
diet of a champion.
regardless,
didn't feel I had those legs at the Hundo.
I still think they're there, one more time.
pleeeeeeaaaaaaazzzzzzzzeeeeeee.
Gameplan: I'm gonna get around that
loop as fast as I fucking can.

I'm coastin'
Be ready
for toastin'.

If this works out,
maybe take this
show on the road.

over the top

Last time I raced a coasty bike was back at il Giro in May. I'm pretty certain that my 'peak fitness' for the year has been realized, probably sometime between the 101 and the Hundo. Peaks don't last for 6 weeks. So either the brilliant sensations of the 101 were it, and I've just been riding it out since then, or it was closer to the Hundo w/ kinda short coattails.

Either way, those magical light summer days of dancing on the pedals are probably gone for the year, damn. Fun while it lasted, that's for sure, and now we're down to checking the cupboards for those few lingering crumbs to munch on. I figure that everybody else is in the same boat for the most part, so Sunday should be an interesting day when Jes says GO! It'll be neat to race with a coasty bike, wonder if I'll be faster than on the fixed?

9/10/07

there it goes

Over the wknd I unveiled the secret weapon to an incredibly hudge audience. Let's just say that the ss class has gotten a bit spicier as the calender winds down. It works like magic. Saturday, rocked out for a solid 4:20, putting the rig thru the paces. Didn't quite manage the motor too well though; one gel, half a car baked Luna and a beer weren't quite the calories I needed to fully fund the day.

Recovery was a bit wanting on account of needing to replace the spoke I popped along the rail trail to the car. Head up valley to a shop I get a discount at, make it in before they close at five and get the random neo-sales guy to help me. Need a spoke, don't care about gauge, don't know the length, here's the wheel.....
Mouth breather dip shit takes wheel, heads back into 'the shop', I chit chat with owner, dude comes out with my spokes, I asked for 2 drive and one non-drive, so I'll have one each as spares. He leaves my wheel against the bench, I step into 'the shop' area to retrieve it. Then I get the explanation that since it's a 'singlespeed' wheel, the drive/nondrive spoke lengths are within 1mm of each other, so here's three of the same.
Uh-huh. I've tried to take a picture of my wheel, but the ExiWolf gets in the way. The wheel is off the Dos, it's a nine speed cassette hub with umpteen spacers on the body and a single cog in about the #3 position. That thing is about as faw away from equal dish as you can get. Whatever, dipshit. Then he explains to me about the Enervitene super cyclist crack in a pouch that I'm also buying....about how it's not a 'gel' and to be careful, cuz you can crash pretty hard off 'em. Yeah, thanks for the tip, spoke boy.
So I get home, and then realize.....I had to grab the wheel myself, which means he never double checked the spoke length.....which means the three spokes he sold me are probably wrong. Yeah, you guessed it, fucking lip spittal boy figured out that the spoke I needed should only be able to reach the end of the nipple. Must have forgot about that whole threaded portion that you can't see. I know I should have double checked it myself at the shop, but how fucking hard is it to figure out a spoke length when you have the fucking wheel right there!!!!! Reason #826,426 why I sometimes feel this intense urge to open a shop in Carlisle, cuz there doesn't seem to be a competent one within an easy drive of town. I shouldn't have to make a 'special trip' to go to the bike shop, or at least to one that I trust knows what the fuck they are doing!!!!!
Anyway, after looking at every other option, ended up yanking a spoke out of my LeMond's rear wheel, got lucky and it worked. That finished off my Saturday, along with a brake re-bleed and then out to BigFlat for the Sunday ride. Missed the memo on the venue change, Cupcake dysfunctionality at it's finest, and bumped into the Michaux Enduro at the turn onto the part of Wildcat that I've never ridden. Saw a lot of guys blast thru the corner, luckily none hit my bike, got to see a couple of elbows rubbed, then gingerly worked my way up Abby against the moto flow, skeeeeetchy. Out of the motos for the most part at the campfire ring, then found nice solo groove for a couple hours until I was bonked at the entrance to Lollipop. So I drank the beer I'd been carrying, felt kinda funny by the top of the climb and the descent was special. Opted to just ride the road back, but after stumbling upon the cars of the Cakes, I jumped into Hanzel & Grettal figuring to see them coming the other way. Didn't, so I bailed and bombed down Fegley then back up to the top for more moto traffic.

Dirtball!!!!

9/7/07

cool million

playing with numbers.

on the mtn fixy, 100 miles = 39,062 revs

subtract 5 minutes for each off bike stop,
actual ride time at the hundo = 9hrs = 540minutes
which works out to an avg cadence of 72rpm.

On a long tempo rd ride with a bit of climbing,
I usually avg about 15-16, which is in the
mid 70's cadence range.

Coincidence?

In cruise control on the road bike,
it rolls along sweetly at 18 mph = 86rpm
which translates to 13mph on the mtn bike.

Top end comfortable spin on the rd bike is
24-25mph, or 120rpm, which is 18ish on
the mtn bike. Spend a lot of slum time here
spinning down the flase flat pave' and is pretty
much max speed in the woods. Don't wind her
out much past this unless I know it's clear sailing....

So, those are the numbers behind the sensations.
Don't run a gizmo on the mtn bike other than the hr/watch,
so on 'race day' it's all about feel and just ticking 'em over,
knowing what you need to avg to beat the clock but never
actually knowing your speed on the ground.

Just keep pedaling.

Oh, and the other interesting thing I figured out, to me at least,
is that between the 2500 miles on the road and an estimated
700 on the mtn (93hrs), but not counting Dos Niner miles,
I've ticked over those pedals more than one million times this year.

And my knees still work!
Woo hoo!
yay ME!
I'm the greatest cyclist in da WORLD!!!!!

shhhhhhh......

9/5/07

it's a celebration.

Fast Girls Fast Guys.
fast guy & girl.
rock star staging.
Timmy D in da house!
late finishers.
Danielle
Topher, so hot right now.
Keith & Buddy.
Old Skool legends, Swampie & Ramponi.
Dharma & Gwadz.
WV drops the hammer, I cracked.


made a run for the rockstar, but cracked a bit early. Good day on the bike deserves a celebration. good times, good times. awesome to put faces to names and meet a bunch more freaks like us. thanks to Ramponi & the other SSer's for letting me pop the cork on the spare bottle after the call up, that was sweet. Anybody got pics? hell of a good time, on to Teaberry.

9/4/07

just pedal, Shenandoah 100.

Where to begin? Wow! What a wknd that was. Super duper good times around camp and an interesting day in the saddle. Back track to the week prior. Solid couple days of riding, in hindsight, probably a bit much on the volume. But what are you gonna do when the inspiration strikes?

Spent the week in the best recovery mode I could muster. Battling the inner question of when the brilliant sensations will reveal themselves while fronting confidence. Every sniffle, sneeze and cough are searched for impending signs of doom. Not finding any snap on the road bike during the tune up spins, back and hip remaining tight and tender-ish after the weekend's mistakes. Was the 101 it? Hard to tell if you've reached a peak until sliding off the backside.

Word of Floyd hits the press, game plan revised and departure is moved up in order to secure the volleyball court flatness. Pick up Mr Bender 9am, 3 hours later we're at Mr J's for a lunchtime snack and visual distractions, throw in a last minute stop at the Food Lion next door and it's country road to Stokesville. Got the call at the bagel shop and opted out of the pro dawg-rockstar preride of Braley's with Bucky, Harlan, Reubane & Floyd. Didn't know Floyd was involved, or maybe would have swung the effort. Securing land for the Cupcake Compound seemed more pressing. Set camp & rolled out instead for an EZ afternoon shakedown to Narrowback with Bender, Buddy, Topher, Keith & Larry. The gear was rolling well, legs felt a bit better than earlier in the week, game plan seemed to be working. Settled in for a cool evening of food, some beer, and lots of bullshitting w/ friends old and new. The rockstar comp got rolling, a couple of short flyers were taken in the form of pulls from the flask, but no serious attacks were launched.

Up early 5am, reorganize last night's organization, standard breakfast of oatmeal and a banana, shot of coffee from Buck, then off to the blue box, suit up and snack on a bit of chocolatey desert. Carpong appears, last minute social and onto the front line for the start. No false jumping this year, try not to ball it up in the first 400m and exchange pleasantries with everybody while fading to about 200th spot on the pavement. Climb up Narrowback and pass probably about 100 people back. Into the woods behind a bobbling crowd, take a moment to breath, leave a gap for visual comfort, hear a gnarly crash behind, then Carp steamrolls by. Try to hold his wheel.....not. Get passed by a boatload of folks on the way to climb #2 up Lynn. Start hiking in line behind Jaunderson & Churtle, get close to catching Buck until he latches onto Jaunderson's wheel and takes a tow up thru the crowd for what I'm sure was a rippin' good time down Wolf. I hold my own on the descent, only marginal loss of the front brake and didn't dismount once until the bottom rollout thru the pines. Pull of for a pee and a turbo safety check, two hours in.

Find the slum groove and tempo for the next hour into CP#2. Find a comforting familiar face in Nicole and she tops off the fluids as I graze the table and swap flasks from the drop bag. In and out, rolling with a mouth full of PB&J. Quickly back into the quiet place and cheat a bit by coasting the tarmac descent into North River. Sit up for another portion of brownie love then get down to business climbing up Hankey. Catch Carp and the Fooftown Mafia w/ Churtle leading about half way up the red road, roll right on thru and on and on and on and up and up. Then down and up and hike and down and up and hike then down. Down, down, down the off camber love of Dowell's. Wondering if I have enough of a head start to not get caught by Carp.....nope. But at least I'm not caught until the bottom flow, good sign.

Into CP#3, browntown is in full effect, 4:20 elapsed. Top off the again empty camelback, another gel flask, handful of Pringles and rolling. Hear the cheers for Jeff, then see Harlan roll by and pass Floyd going the opposite direction on the pavement, they're only about 1-1.5 hours in front of me right now, wonder if I can close it? Folks talk about the long climb from 4 to 5 to be the worst. I think they're wrong. I dread the portion of pavement along 250 to Mountain House. False flat, not quite spun out climbing with absolutely no rest, unless you get off the bike. Pedal until the world tilts, then hold on and repeat the Fear and Loathing mantra. It's only the drugs, just keep pedaling, it's only the drugs, just keep pedaling. Stop to piss on the shoulder and immediately get passed by a paceline of 20. Back on and on and on up the road, watching the 20 strong paceline disintegrate into shelled clumps of 2 or 3. Catch a bunch by the turn at Mountain House and pick off the rest heading up the trail. Cash in some experience and know when to walk on this climb. Try to recover while hiking bits of the middle third and then give her hell over the top, salvation is at the bottom. Get sketchy scared here and there on the descent, then hit the rollout and sit & spin into CP#4.

5:50 elapsed, stumbling around trying to stick to the agenda. Don't dick around at the aids, get food, get fluid, get moving. Fill the bottle with go go juice, fill the empty bladder and roll. Get to the pavement, look down and realize my bottle is back on top of the cooler, oops. No turning around, passing by CP3 on the way, so sneak in there and grab a fresh bottle. More slum and more of the mantra as the world tilts again. The kicker after the pavement ends is a good test of the legs, up and over the wall ok, then it begins to suck. Loooooooong portion of false flat gravel descending. Spun out and wishing I had a gun. Wishing I could just get off that fucking bike. It goes on and on and on. Fighting the urge to pull over and ball up fetal style sobbing in the brush. Where is that god damn turn? Finally make the left at the T and the road tilts in my favor.

The clock is my enemy. 10mph avg is needed for the goal. Can I do it? Been hitting the CP's on schedule I think, but not sure how the lay of the land will help, not sitting on much of a buffer. CP 4 is mile 60ish, rolled out of there right about 5:55, need to reach CP5 by 7:30 on the clock to keep pace. Gonna be tough to avg 10 over the 17 miles of mostly climbing. Just pedal. Again I'm reeling in the bunch that keeps passing me, back n forth, back n forth. Finally reach the right hander, tell myself that it's only another 25 minutes up to CP5 and go really deep into the cave. Do not walk. Do not walk. Do not walk. You rolled the 40:15 road bike up this bitch back in July, you're sure as hell NOT getting off the 2:1 mtn bike. Fucking pedal you fucking pussy! Clock ticks, 7:30 is ready to flip, each blind sweeping turn brings false hope.

Finally, the oasis appears. Off the bike and stumbling for fuel, graze a bit while the fluids are topped, then right back on it, time is wastin'. Shit, look at the time, past the 7:30 mark, 2.5 hours to get home, 25ish miles to cover, not sure how much Chestnut will help the avg speed. Target is to reach CP6 in 8:30, leaves 1.5 to go 12 miles. I think that can be done. Work it backwards and loosely figure I need to reach Little Bald in 8:00. Be Like the Squirrel, break it apart. Mood goes gloomy as 8:00 passes and no trailhead in sight. Turn one more corner, there it is. Drop in at 8:02.

Chestnut is looooong and taxing. Self preservation takes over and I'm walking the gnarly bits, white knuckling the rest, the brake is not inspiring confidence, but it's still working. Looking for the bottom, looking off to the side and still seeing ridges, still with plenty of elevation, clock keeps ticking. When will this end????? Clock rolls past 8:30, still descending. Fuck, not gonna make it, it's just not happening. Finally reaching the bottom, into the zone of rolling water bars, then a gate, then a creek, then the pavement and a quick spin up to CP6.

8:40 elapsed, this is gonna be close. A-Hoy-hoy-hoy appears from the crowd like an angel and handles my water fill, choke down my last Enervit from the drop and roll. Climb up that steep fucker out of the CP and coast down the other side again. Set the table for the final push and settle in for one last effort up Hankey. The field is thinning by now, gaps are stretching so not as much traffic or targets to focus on. Spy a singlespeeder up ahead and chase down the dangling carrot. Catch Craig, have about 4 pedal strokes worth of conversation and continue on up. Reach the T on Hankey with maybe 9:10 elapsed and breath a huuuuuge sigh, maybe even hooted and hollered a bit. Survive the final downhill and then keep ticking 'em over across the finishing flatness, watching the clock constantly, tick tick tick. 10 looks to be in the bag, what's the final tally gonna be? How long is this final stretch? Pedal Pedal Pedal. pedalpedalpedal. Finally make the right hander into the campground, more hootin and hollerin', throw a micro air off the volleyball jump and 'sprint' her in to stop the clock at 9:30.

9:30!!!!! Fixed. Can't fucking believe it. Still can't. Still feeling good. Still happy, and still grinnin'. Chased that bitch all year long, maybe longer if you go way back to originally seeing Hugh Jass doing their thing and wondering, can I do that someday? Well, turns out that I can, and it feels good to know it. Still lots to absorb, sooo many good vibes from the event. Seems like a lot of people had the ride that they were looking for, which certainly added to the festive nature of the afterparty. Thanks to everybody! Chris for providing the arena for the spectacle. Cathy for her behind the scenes work, MORE for the food & SMBC for the trail love.

It's been one hell of a fun ride.
peace.


After party pics later.......