lame

Rich & I entered a contest,
to get into a bike race.

We weren't chosen as finalists.
We made clear our intentions to do
the damn thang fixed.

I thought, of course, that we had a
pretty damn entertaining and not too
boastful letter of intent. The thought
was that we had to present our palmar'es
in order to ease any fears that we
wouldn't be able to finish the event.
I thought we did that in a creative and
not toooo racer boy way to at least get
a shot at the public vote.

Didn't happen, didn't make the cut.
I wonder why? Maybe we didn't fit
the criteria, being more racing circus
sideshow pals vs super buddy wknd
warrior riding partners. Maybe they
didn't want to risk a sweet prize package
on two fixed gear kooks who they assumed
wouldn't be able to finish their catered
event.....who knows.

leaves bitter thoughts.

last wknd brings new strength.
now wheels are turning. what to do?
what to do? what to do?

Put on a show.

Where?
Mohican.

How?
Jabber.....of course.

Fixed?
Fixed....and chase that 9hr dragon.

or Free?
Free......free, free, free. hhmmmm,
that should put the fkear in ya.
I might have a point to make in a
week and a half. gettin' hungry.
might even throw the Reba on
the Jabber, see how she likes the
squish. maybe it's time to come
out from the shadows, for a bit.

beyond all that and backtrack a bit;
Harlan sent me, by request, a handful of
pictures from last wknd, I think they're
a quick Cliffnotes version of the ss S-D-S
experience:

and this one by Chris:
makes it all worth it,
thanks again everybody.

"big boy survival"

is the phrase from the invite that was stuck in my mind all wknd.

first, huuuuuge thanks to everybody.

everyone involved in this wknd rocks. ya'll kick ass, especially the behind the scenes crew; Carri, Julie, Misty, Sarah and evil mastermind Mumbles and the crew that heads out each spring to open up portions of the route.

S-D-S was a hoot.

I'm whupped.

75 with 14k+ on Saturday in 9:15/12:20 elapsed.

Played the role of lone wolf singlespeeder amongst the 20ish strong peleton. Found that tempo climbing pace early, and kept it in check for the most part. Gotta keep those matches dry, knowing that the normal end of the ride is only half way today, just a quarter of the wknd.

Early start.

Views were insane.

Descending Dowell's was a good warmup/introduction to the now coastable Jabber, interesting. Lots of questioning the decision not to swap the Reba over from the Salsa, 20+mph on the trail is a bit different than the 15ish max usually seen with her fixed, and the rear brake is an interesting component. Working the SMT at a smooth conversational pace with Jake was a good groove. Carp's first broken bike, four zip ties got him across the SMT and down ze mountain.More learning for me down Jerkemtight, incurring a front flat. Spotted a beautiful eagle while rolling along the Bullpasture with Sue and a banged up Mathew. Lunchbreak, 6ish hours in. Carp gets a bike change, I get more single solitude either OTF or OTB to mythical Little Mare. Fuck. That. was. tough. The rippin' descent off of Brushy made it all a distant memory though. Finally started to get comfortable with big mtn speed again. Streams were runnin'.With Carp now a singlespeedin' freak like me after tearing up his 2nd bike on the manicured trails of Little Mare, and the clock rolling thru 12 hours, there was no major push to head up Middle Mtn. I didn't like the prospect of possibly another hour plus push a bike, so I opted out with the majority, following a Bo'yes led train for a bit of flowy desert along the fisherman's path. Only 5 threw down for the extra credit, but all rolled into Creasey about an hourish or so after us with big fat grins. Much food and caring for battered bodies ensued. Slept like a rock, then up at 7, kick it into zombie gear up mode, throw down a big breakfast and departing 8:30ish, rolling up thru Douthat Middle Earth to Beards. Poz getting ready for BC. Surprisingly able to ride a couple of those incredible switchbacks, so the legs have rebounded kinda well. Bye Bye Middle Earth. Dropping off of Beards was holy smoking pure benched tight pitchy off camber tackiness puckertude, along with some loamy piney love. Wow. Old Man Freeride gets his carve on. Two hour session of roadiness spinnin' with many a helpful push to keep me in the group at 20+mph, thanks guys. Lunch break at about 4hrs, one final incredible spread along the scenic Calfpasture. Rolling out at 4:20 elapsed, decision time. Elliot's taunts me, I thought I had 'til Deerfield to make the call. Body felt hollow before lunch, and bailing was heavily considered, lots of out loud options debated with those in the know, gathering beta. Feeling kinda better now with a rest and food and travel partner Cheryl is game for whatever. So we make the immediate right hander with the group and bid Jake adieu as he heads off for some Jake time along the valley roads and the long commute home to Joisey.

Plug in the speakers and tempo it to more meaningless KOM points up to the left towards Elliots. Weather has been crisp all wknd. Breezey sun on Saturday, cloudy breeze today, ridgeline temps are feeling like hi 50's. Sunday started out sorta damp with a rolling out shower first thing, then cleared for a bit thru the morning, eventually clouding up as we hit Ramsey Gap. Heading towards Elliots, we learned about the spontaneous nature of mountain weather and were all reminded what it's like to be really fucking miserable while riding your bike. A windy 50ish degree all but downpour pouring rain soaked everybody to the bone. Sam volunteered and was charged with the mission of getting up ahead to build a fire.

Cold, wet and kinda scared, I kicked it into survival mindset, getting up the trail whenever the opportunity presented itself, just in order to keep the motor running. Getting to Elliot's turned into a one foot in front of another shivering cold slumtown slog. But once there we had breaking cloud teaser sunshine and a top secret hot air plume along with Sam's mtn man skillz to get us somewhat warm and dry before cashing in a bit of what we just earned. Haven't been down Elliot's in a few years. Holy wowie zowie! Really getting into sync with the flow and pace of the rigid, the Sun began to pop here and there and the benchy scree was confidence inspiring gravity induced luv. Bouncebouncepoploftdriftbounceloftpowerbrakeoomph and awwwww yeahhhhh! What cold miserable rain? Then the hike a bikes of Crawford and a 30sec too late chance to see a bear up around the fourth one. Harlan and Reubane said it was pretty cool. Clamber up the fifth hike a bike, then bombing down Chimney hollow, holeshot dibs to the 4 for 5 club. Take a Press Pass at the turn and scared Carp a bit setting up the photo shoot. Sam too.More more more how fast do you wanna go singletrack.And then it's back to reality for the final climb up Dowell's. Not as bad as expected. Riding more than hiking, would be plenty ridable if not at hour 23 of 24. Perfect headstart gap as the group catches me at the final stop overlook, then bomb it on down and back to camp, but not before rolling up on a trailside Whipporwill in the fading light. Saw it flutter around a bit once flushed, but things were kinda blurry at that point. Punched out on Sunday with 70 on the odo and another 14K est, 8:55/12:05 elapsed. Dropped off Cheryl at 1ish in the am as the big city gangstas rolled in for the overnight crash and finally stepped thru my door 2am.

Thanks again to everybody involved, you are all special people.

Will get more pics up on the Smug, also saw Harlan, Bo'yes and Mumbles sporting their picture boxes.....

fear.

keeps you honest.
lets you know when.


the Jabber looks like this,
but just thru the wknd.


why? I have my reasons. this:
& this:(thanks Boyes.)


the fabled S-D-S.

another step into new territory.
some familiar terrain involved,
some not so much.

how deep does the well go?

Was tired last wknd, tacho not
winding up. because of the fear?
subconcious self preservation
keeping that powder dry? or
genuine from all the work since
March? few small scattered breaks,
but the load has been consistant.

so, minimal riding this week. trying
to read the signs, and not seek the
bailouts on the map.


this ride scares me.


other scarey things, help fight a good fight:
HERA Women's Cancer Foundation
please throw some love Sam & Elk's way,
feel good about doing something!!!
win an IF fork! race for free!
win the best freewheel out there!
Here's the info: BikeReg Raffle

sellin' out.

started another project a few weeks ago. Saturday
was go time after a sweet post rain sticky clean
BlueBLaze-Narrows session with Jake. tomato and pepper starters from Jackie, sowed in some
carrots and lettuce, onions and broccolli. Wonder how this
chilling rainstorm will affect it all?

Sunday ridin', lots of this as usual:

Unfortunately led to some of this, Pedro found a tree:Buck put some ooomph into it, better than before, bit of fine tuning, we kept moving. Man I love it here. so does this little guy, Huck Gettier:

and this was on my doorstep today, thanks guys!

more later.......

duh.

fuel to the fire

couple days of relapse.
Wendy's Baconator indulgence for post race
recovery. Followed by Monday laziness, and
then take out lunch for the first time in months,
since I started doing the two wheeled commute.
The chicken cheesesteak was solid reinforcement
to keep brown bagging it.


On the road bike and down into Meeshow last
two nights. Tackled 233 tonight, remembered
the key to 2:1 power, more work to do.

But those damn distractions, springtime in Peeyay!:

Think that it's time to start looking for a fresh fork
and resurrect old red. The TK is sooo comfy, but
also kinda whippy. Leaves a bit to be desired when
trying wind it out into the mid 30's,
wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

What's ahead? I'm gonna ride a coasty bike this
wknd, should be interesting. Need to shake down
the Dos before S-D-S. 80+60 w/ 16k & 14k puts
me in the mood for a bit more freedom on the downside.
Then roll that over into the Mohican for another battle
with the 9hour demon. And if you think 5th ain't shit......
a spot on an actual box is the next step,
see ya at the Stoopid, bitch.

patience

Spring Michaux went well, another experiment.
Psyched to get after, bit of bitterness to spit
out after Cohutta, unslain dragons to be hunted
down.

Camping, fun. Choice of tent spot, didn't test it,
wake up with a stiff neck. Annoying, but it'll be ignored soon enough. Big question is the legs. Fog rolls in and out, sun teases us from 6ish to 7 or so, then a bit of blue, then more gray, then it finally burns off. Extra hour of prep before the start meant nothing as I was still a bit late for the pre-race. Take a front to back approach and slot in second thirdish row, big crowd back there. Then Wonderboy decides to stage us by class, which I wasn't excited about, but it was actually kinda nice considering how big the ss class was. Also meant I wouldn't be fearing for my life on the first 25mph descent after that quick roller at the start. Watch Jake and Cheryl leave with their 2minute headstart, nerves ticking, cleansing breath, GO! SPRRIIIIIIIINNNNT.
to 18mph. Then SPIIIIIIIIN, and relize how fruitless it is on the falselfat down and wait for the roller and there goes TimmyD on the right with young Martin on his wheel and it tilts down and......there goes the train. Swarmage, bigtime, see all the recognizable faces go by, the contenders checklist, flattens out, start to close the gap annnnnnd it tilts down again. Swarmed again, don't really recognize anybody this time. 10minutes in and I'm already looking over my shoulder......I see two riders about 15 and then 30seconds back. I have a lot of people to pass.

Hit the next roller, close the gap, now on the end of the long train, visions of TimmyD and Topher and Buck and Doug and MArtin and and and and......just rolling away off the front, clean trail in front. And I'm stuck in fucking traffic with guys who are crashing on thumb sized virgin roots and loam. or 3" 'logs' Time to make some moves and try not to be an ass about it....or say fuck it, this is racin' bitch. Take the inside alternate line on a few occsasions. See it, gun it, stuff it.

"Oh, so that's how it's done....." he says.

"Yeah."
If I hear you coming, or if you're actually holding my wheel, then talk some shit, otherwise, watch and learn, son.

Conversation is short and sweet,
"Hey man, yoou reallllly need to pass this guy in front of you."
"Ya'll are kinda holding us up...."
click click click goes the ticker. I know they're up there, clean lines, rolling the morning flow. I just keep passing, and passing, and passing. And hey there's green!

"Hey Buck!"

"Tomi!!!!"

Trail turned near itself, Buck is that far ahead. How long until I'm back near that spot.....more traffic, finally finding cleaner lines, traffic is thinning, getting in front of the herd. Shit, downhill doubletrack. Harlan goes flyyyyyyyying by after flat #1. I don't even pretend, chat with Browntown Bender as he slides off into the trees....and again. Roll that rock garden with steady flow and figure I'm feeling pretty dialed. Take comfort in spoting Keith up ahead, know that he'll be running a good pace. Must be getting back into my normal company. Long steady gunnin' chase to reel in Keith and Michelle at about the same time. Pulled off a puckery move getting past Michelle, somehow bulldozed thru a possible dayender and kept her hooked into the loam, then got the hell out of there. Tick, tick.

Who's next.......VisitPA? RayRay? No shit....now I'm getting somewhere. Latch onto Ray's wheel then get sloppy immediately after he lets me by, ooops. Let it come back to me and find the slimey root flow again. Work the terrain best I can, knowing there's some fixie false flat descending slum coming up soon. Cross B'ville, still small gaps and steady pickin'. Never attacking to get around, just steady hard work. Up the variation to Climb&Punishment onto Piney, sit up and take in the morning view. Eastern exposure over Adams County orchard country in springtime damp morning light, don't forget to look around.

Then Fender, 20minuteTT done at a 25minute pace. Patience. Get off and hoof it, don't be a hero, there's nobody else out here, burn those matches later. Always looking over my shoulder. Where's Ray? Keith? Out of Fender, not really caught by anyone, another carrot about a minute up the road. Into My Fav, and super bummed to see Tim with a torn up wheel. Today's battle of I9 vs Meeshow Rock, goes too...........Meeshow Rocks!!!! Sorry Tim, hate seeing you like that on race day. Over the shoulder, somebody back there about as far as I'm behind the guy in front of me. Steady Gunnin', don't need to find the limit, you saw that line earlier this year. Clean run across My Fav, tick. Maybe passed soomebody? Dunno, things were kinda tilted from about hour 1.5 to 3. Got into that zombie groove of just workin' it. Just keep rolliin' it, been here before, check the tach, yeah 170....perfect. Just keep workin'. all. day. long.

And they'll come back. Secret Singletrack to Cliff to Grave's Ridge. Caught by probably 2nd place Vet, didn't ball it up, couple of smart dabs. Caught by the OldGuy. Saw the Littebug fixin' a flat. Wasn't in the mood to chat, know that the climb begins after Graves, DeadWoman's is only part of it. Find soome quiettime, hit the hardroad. Look for a familiar face, need some beta, gotta be pulling back into this thing......There's Kent, something about Keefer....
"What about singlespeed????"

"You're fifth-ishhhhh......"

Dayummmm, where's my gel. Water. Let's go to work. That must be Keefer ahead, OG still back there. Play it smart, don't be a hero. Pick away at the gap. pick pick pick. hoof hoof hoof. oooo! couple of singlespeeder up there beyond Keefer. ooooo! they're hiking. focus on Keefer, he'll get you there. pick pick pick. tickticktick. hey, that's Buck, and....Chad?

OK. now we're really gettin' somwhere. See the pit crew go to work as I roll up, they're gettin' chains lubed. It would be nice, but that's time I can't spare. Roll in, swap bottles, do my duty with the Dale's Pale as Buck rolls out and the three of us are gone. No one back there, Larry tells me that it's Topher (who's flying!), Martin, then us three.

Interesting. Podium on a fixed gear? hmmmmm. Enjoy some chitchat with Buck & Chad, then we turn right on Three Turn and I bid them good bye. They weren't keen on the idea of giving me a 5minute headstart. Did a good bit of nerve wracking coasting down that road, Saturday pre ride served me well. Saw Keefer go whizzing by and heard somebody else after hopping over the gate. Saw Poz on the descent to the big water jug. Hairiest moment of the day was throwing it sideways to a hockeystop in the middle of that loose babyheaded rut. Kind of save where you look around to see anybody else saw it....nope, still all alone. Thru the maze of Tobacco Patch, watching the masters battle it out and occasionally catching a glimpse of Chad & Buck. Then there's seperation, then just Buck up there. Then it's me, a beginning to cramp up Buck and the OG hiking the creekbed. Not in a mood to discuss the principles of aging, I'm off in search of my quiet place and that red jersey I keep spotting just around the corner. And then up ahead on Woodrow, and there's another singlespeeder in the mix...looks like we've reeled someone in.

Still quiet back there over my shoulder, so focus on those carrots. Both are walking, if I don't walk, I'll cramp for sure. Choose your battles. Work the pitch, on the bike, off the bike, on the bike, off the bike. Catch him at the top of the first headwall. He blows by immediately and I see him working hard for the holeshot in Rattlesnake. He's riding Rattlesnake well, just maintaining, I'm lurking, still steady gunnin', patience. Just ride 'em into submission, patience. I'm not gonna attack, but I'm not going anywhere either. tick tick tick. 4:20 goal long gone, 3hr arrival on top of DeadWoman's blew that one away. Still quiet over the shoulder, where's Buck? I know he's coming, I know it. Off of Rattlesnake with a typical run down it, dabbing the typical spots and into Heisler's and the NowhereLoop and where's Buck? Out of Nowhere and up the speed jumps and bang BANG.

LAte game hammy cramps. Kick it back, but don't stop. Push thru that shit, it's just muscle fiber tearing itself apart, it'll heal....push. roll. pedal. still nobody back there, to the snowmobile bridge, left right or straight.....staight! thank you. my favorite way out of this drainage, ss dude still hangin out up there, up that bit of a headwall after that patch of roots and looks like he's slummin'. Quick test of my legs on the same pitch, definitely more spring that what he showed. Down the mudbank, cross the road, ss dude pulls into the aide station...whuuut???? damn, he must be slummin'. I roll thru knowing only Loglsed lies ahead. Get some beta that Cheryl is 2minutes up.....another carrot, or insurance that I wasn't gonaa be chased down. lots of over the shoulder hope around those corners, awfully quiet back there, where's Cheryl? Jake?? race ain't over until the finish line, they gotta be there.....damn 2 minutes.

No surprise right hand turn up to Shake & Bake, so it's a straight shot into the cattle chutes. Five oh something finish time. 20thish place overall, and get this......5th place singlespeed. I actually got called up for a podium, racing on a fixed gear.

makes you wonder.

what the hell.

even though it looks like rain overnight,
I'm figuring to camp, 20 minutes commute
from my doorstep. Something about
waking up before the sun with that fine
pitterpattar serenade of miserable
pissyfuckingcold rain that really sets the
mood for an epic day. Focus?

BOFUS?!?!

and when you get beat by that asshole
on the fixed gear, don't worry,
it's not you, it's me.

I really am that good.

bitches.