Riding the Trail

Facebook vs Blog

2011-02-15T23:11:00.000-08:00

Facebook has been winning obviously! However the race season is here as is NASCAR so I think I will have a few more things to post here. Starting with life is going well I have a new bike waiting in the LBS, a specialized Tarmac Expert that I got fitted on today, was hard leaving at the shop since I have to wait on the tax return (which I finally recieved notification it was accepted by IRS)to pay for it. Also I have PRK surgery this Thursday so hopefully I will be able to ride without prescription glasses for a while! Hawaii is quite the place, enjoying the scenery and the people, with the exception of thier driving style, extremely passive-aggressive! Enjoying it so much I am considering staying here after I retire from the military which by the way will be about two years I have figured out my time frame and am looking forward to it! Ready to be a civilian again. Anyway I have some pics from my trip to Japan and some views and cycling pics from Hawaii. Enjoy the reading and keep the rubber side down!

December in Hawaii

2010-12-25T00:25:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a B E A utiful past couple of days 78-82 degrees nice breeze and great riding. Still to muddy to get out on the trails from the previous rains but had a great road ride today with alot of climbing and an equal amount of downhill at one point was cruising at about 43mph. Just wanted to wish my avid readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Life is getting Better

2010-12-22T00:14:00.001-08:00

Well it has been more than a little while since I have posted but life has been kinda hectic in more aspects than one but I seem to be getting on with life and trying to get myself going in the right direction again. I have gotten back to cycling again doing 34 miles a day four days a week commuting to and from work. Been involved with a road riding group Tradewind Cycling Team and have even hit a couple of trails recently. That has been kinda slow due to the college classes I was taking this semester but that paid off as I now have a Bachelors Degree! Anyway just wanted to let everyone know I am still alive and kicking and should be posting more here in the future. I am attaching some pics and as always I will See you on the Trail!

Hanging in Hawaii

2010-07-21T21:39:00.000-07:00

Well just arrived here in Hawaii and am still living out of a suitcase but hopefully will have something to call a home by the end of the month. Still minus bikes but will get them out here soon enough. Meanwhile have to work on getting myself healthy again so I can get back on the bikes when they do get here, nothing too serious but enough to derail the riding for a while. Anyway look forward to some pics once I get a new camera, my last one broke in Korea on my last trip out to see stuff what timing! Thanks for reading and Thanks to Sam for the ride at South Mountain while I was home that was great!

42 and still Pedaling

2010-05-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

To the Top of that Rock is the Goal and it was a hike!
The View from here was even with the surrounding peaks and I wasn't even to the top of the rock face here
Next day at another National Park, Tallest peak at 1563 meters
Tour de Korea wishing I could have been part of this that would have been awesome!

Well I know it has been a while but I am still here, and in Korea as well but at least I only have 58 days left in Korea. Well since my last post I have rode more road miles than trail but still getting the time in the saddle. Haven't done any races yet as I had hoped so I guess I will just have to wait till I get back to the states for a race. The Rocky Mountain Element Team made its way out to the folks house in Az so I can't wait to get a ride in on that when I get home on leave. Turning 42 was pretty anti-climatic over here I think this is the first B-Day I have had since I was 22 where I didn't have cake...bummer lol. I have been doing some different things these past few weeks spent two days hiking the national forest over here and while I was at it got to see the pelaton for the Tour de Korea go by those guys were flying and I was wishing I could have been part of it, though I am sure I was no where near the skill level these guys had. I am still looking to get a race in if possible here before I leave and will definitely be hitting a few more trails so will update as I go. Hope I all my readers are enjoying the riding and keeping the rubber side down! Till I write again

Life is all about changes

2010-04-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Well, back to single status again, not something I planned on at 41 but here I am. At least I am still riding, the past two weeks hit the same trail after issues trying to get up to Seoul. Last week I got lost in Bundang could find the trail, today I was halfway up there and blew all three belts and the fan clutch off and had to get towed to Osan and get it fixed. I ended up riding in Osan again with a buddy so at least I had some company. Amazing how thing go but eventually I will hopefully figure it all out. Happy Easter everyone have a good weekend.

Road Rides and Stairmaster

2010-03-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a busy couple of weeks here so the riding has been somewhat limited. I have been able to work in a weekend roadride for the past two weekends and hit the gym a couple of days in the past week. Missed the first race of the season due to work requirments but thats alright will have to work with the rest of the schedule see if I cant get a couple in between now and the end of June. It is strange that in this time in my life I am not so much focusing on my riding as I am escaping in it, my passion has become my sactuary from some things that I didn't think I would be facing at this point in my life. "Life aint always beautiful, but its a beautiful ride"

20yrs and counting

2010-03-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Well its official, at least in Korea, 20yrs in the military, never thought I would see this day. 19yrs and 4 months ago I was telling people two more years and I am out and back to college! Well guess that wasn't the case, and I wouldn't change it for a thing, for the most part. Either way it has taught me much about myself and life that I don't think I would have ever learned elsewhere. I am proud to have served my country this long and am committed to rededicating myself to the goals and principles I discovered in the years after I first joined. Have no doubts about it I joined initially so that Uncle Sam would pay for my college, I stayed because of those who could go to college while I did my job. There is a honor and gratitude expressed or not that the American Service Members receive from those that know and recognize their sacrifice that makes it all worthwhile. I serve the government of the United States - for the benefit of my fellow comrades in arms and they are my primary concern. I have received many accolades for my accomplishments in the past the truth is those accomplishments are a reflection of who I serve with, for and those who work for me all in service of Freedom.

Good Riding time this week

2010-03-03T04:27:00.000-08:00

Well hasn't been to bad for the past 5 days three days of riding a day of lifting and a stairmaster session and feeling pretty good! I started on Saturday doing 12 miles on the trail rode with a couple of new guys and had a good time took them up to the Tiger Rock trail in Osan so it was a good trail for someone new to MTBing they had a good time.....at least on the way back since it is mostly downhill. Sunday hit the road and got 52miles in, tire held up this time so I was happy about that didn't have to call a friend for help. Monday weights, Tuesday stairmaster, and today did a 21 mile interval ride around the post with a 19.2mph average - not to shabby I thought. have to take the bikes in for tune ups this Saturday won't be riding much until after the 19th anyway going to be kinda busy with work. Looking for the first MTB race of the season I can get signed up for here, the first one is actually the 13th but won't be able to make that due to work so will have to see when the next one is. The new Element frame is in at the Grand Rapids Bicycle Company and they are starting the build can't wait to see it! That will be awesome to race once I get back to Arizona. Other than that not much new here so I will leave you with some pics from Sundays ride enjoy!

Picking up the Pace

2010-02-23T05:19:00.000-08:00

Well maybe not literally as it would apply to speed but definitely as it applies to training. Hit the road early today for some intervals around the installation only got a couple of laps in before it started getting dark but was able to work some intervals in for 15 miles. Hopefully will be able to keep up a solid training routine for the next week and half before my schedule gets overtaken for a couple of weeks during which time I won't be able to do any riding. That sucks seeing as the first race of the season is right in the middle of that time frame as well. Anyway had my first mishap on the road here in Korea this Sunday, couldn't get anyone to go with me so headed out on our standard road ride route looking forward to a nice 45mile ride in some decent temps around 40 degrees. Was doing good up until the 34 mile mark where I ran over something that flattened my rear tire, np got a spare in the seatbag with some CO2 to fix it up. Well I did have some CO2...cartridges, no shooter to use them with and low and behold no tube! Apparently I had grabbed the wrong seat kit so 13 miles from Camp Humphreys out on a Korean road stuck with no spare! Luckily I had my cell phone called a buddy and since I was on our standard route he was able to come save my ass! Lesson learned there always check the seatbag! Anyway hope everyone is doing well it is getting late here so I am going to wrap it up have a good day and Keep the Rubber Side Down!

Another day at work

2010-02-16T04:56:00.000-08:00

Well it wouldn't have been such a big deal but we were suppose to be off today but due to Poor planning on someone Else's part we had a emergency for our part! Anyway not much to write about today hit the gym this evening kept it light did 30min on the stair master for a speed workout and some abs after that. Heard from a buddy of mine today that the season out here in Korea starts about the middle of March. I will have to miss the first race of the season but hopefully I should be in race shape by the time I can hit the trails after that we will see. Almost at race weight another 6lbs to go and I will be there, hopefully that was just a bad ride yesterday cause I am under the weather otherwise my climbing abilities haven't improved to the point I had hoped they would we will see soon enough. Other than that just life as usual here so until I see you on the trail, Keep the Rubber Side down!

Cold and Slow

2010-02-15T05:10:00.000-08:00

That would describe todays ride, it ranged from 32-36 degrees for the entire 62miles with a average of less than 16 mph as well. These hills out here can really kick your ass if your not up to par. Anyway got in some good distance and enjoyed the time out of the room so it was a good day overall. I was a slacker most of the ride I pretty sure the number of miles I did any pulling numbered in the single digits out of the entire ride. Hopefully I will get over whatever bug it is I have here that has been kicking my butt for the last week. Reading Chris Carmichaels Time Crunched Cyclist to see how I can more effectively make use of the time I have to improve my riding. Hopefully it will have some good pointers that will help me be more competative at the Sport Class level when I get back and get some racing in. Other than that not too much new here just working riding and counting the days.

Try this again

2010-02-14T06:43:00.000-08:00

Well it was a late night last night with a pretty sore throat and cough this morning so the ride that was suppose to happen today I didn't show but was able to call and give a heads up that I wasn't making it. So tomorrow morning going to try it again. Will hit the road with the group hopefully around 10am and get 70miles in. Lazy day today and planning on being up in 4hrs for the Daytona 500 so I am going to hit the hay and get up in a little bit. Thanks for reading!

Train Rides and workouts

2010-02-13T04:31:00.000-08:00

Well there seems to be a reoccurring theme here, hope I can keep it going. Arose this morning and went on a little site seeing trip even though I had already ridden the bus and train and knew how to get around pretty well I went as a refresher course. I did learn that if you got on a particular bus in Pyongtek and took it the wrong way they ended up kicking you off at a point! Anyway made it back to Humphreys in time to go up to Osan, get a haircut and then head back to Humphreys and go to the gym for a workout. Was pretty empty again today so once again could do my workout without having to work around anyone. Have a three day weekend this weekend was suppose to be four but certain failures to plan have taken one day away from us. Hitting the road tomorrow for a 70mile ride with the BeerBellyBicycle Group so that will be a good time will be a crisp 38 degrees when we start hopefully will get some good picks. That's about it for today here been kinda quite so I will leave it with that. Keep the Rubber Side Down!

Friday Night workouts

2010-02-12T05:22:00.000-08:00

One of the great things about a Friday night workout is that most people just don't seem to want to workout on Friday evening so the gym is usually fairly empty and you don't have to wait for the weights or machine your planning on using. Did a pretty good workout tonight inspite of still feeling under the weather. This sore throat is a kicker. It is still continued crappy weather and found out this morning I had to replace a compressor at the property in GA due to a mouse getting up in the fuse box and shorting out a wire that locked up the compressor. Fortunately that was still under warranty so that didn't cost anything however, the repair work cost me almost $600 so there goes any profit from next months rent. Hopefully this weather will clear up tomorrow so I can get a road ride in on Sunday at least the group is planning to do 60-80miles if the weather works out. Anyway think I will do a how to travel around Korea trip tomorrow and see what I can learn and burn a few hours out of the day. Well thats about it anyone heading up to Santos and hitting the 12hr event hope the weather holds out for you and hope you have a good race!

Weather and being under it

2010-02-11T03:32:00.000-08:00

Well the weather took a turn for the worse this morning and did so while I happen to be traveling north to conduct some training(of the Army kind). Anyway if you ever driven in a area where it snows but they haven't invented snow plows or salt yet then you know what it is like to drive in Korea under winter conditions. At the end of the day we had slid the NTV I was riding in into a wall on the side of the road, cracked up the back of it pretty good and wrecked a Korean civilian car with a LMTV(really big 5ton vehicle) and didn't even get to conduct the training. We also took some scenic routes on the return trip which involved a U turn or two in the process. All this while going on 2hrs of sleep and having a developing sore throat what a great day. So I am skipping the workout and hitting the hay to get some rest and maybe hitting the spin class in the morning if I feel up to it. Have a good day.

Focus

2010-02-10T05:02:00.000-08:00

Well in a attempt to keep myself busy and get myself in shape prior to having to take two weeks off from the gym due to work I am going to take the next three weeks and engage myself in some serious training time. Also I will try to upkeep the blog a little better as I try to get in to some quality of competitive shape. This will also be a blatant attempt to just keep myself busy and preoccupied for the next three weeks. I hit the 150 day mark today so that means I am less than 5 months from being home for a couple of weeks before I head to HAWAII!! Yes it is on assignment but I am not going to complain about the Army wanting me to spend the next three years there. Who knows maybe before I leave I might even try to compete in the Iron Man Triathlon out there. Anyway I am recommitted to keeping up the blog and will try to add some photos every now and then so Hope all my avid readers are getting in some good riding back home, I know the season is getting ready to kick off in a couple of states with some good 24hr races, ie 24hrs In The Old Pueblo in Tucson....that is a great trail and good event. Until I can See You on the Trail, Keep the rubber side down!

First Ride of the Winter

2010-01-23T04:53:00.000-08:00

Well was thinking about going to Bundang originally however that plan fell thru so met up with some of the guys from the BBCC(Beer Belly Cycling Club) in Osan and we rode Tiger Rock trail. Felt good to get back on the trail, it was difficult technical skills were a little rusty and the Maxxis Crossmark tires suck under these conditions but overall it was a good ride and therapeutic as well. Afterwords stopped at the local watering hole for some fried chicken and beer - good recovery food. Anyway that was about it dealing with the weather out here is something new this is the first place where it was literally so cold during winter that I can't ride outside unlike say GA, or AZ so anytime you can get on the trail you take it. Hope everyone is enjoying the riding back in the states and Keep the rubber side down.

Been a few days

2010-01-20T04:55:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a while since I posted, been back in Korea and back at work. I have been doing some training not much need to pick up the pace if I plan on being in half way decent shape come race season. The winter time in Korea leaves something to be desired as far as riding weather so it has been trainer time, weight lifting and spin class. Other than that nothing to exciting to post about might hit the trail this weekend if the weather holds out as it has cleared up a bit here lately so hopefully will have some pics from the ride to post next week. Meanwhile here is me trying to take advantage of the snowy weather and have some fun.

Christmas Riding thoughts

2009-12-25T13:14:00.000-08:00

WHY DO I RIDE

The reasons I ride could probably fill a book but if I was to narrow it down to my top five I think I can keep it to a blog post

1. Freedom, no matter how difficult the section of trail I am on whether it is the worst rock garden I have ever traversed(Snake Creek Time Trial miles 29-33). Or the best section of downhill trail rolling into high banked sweeping turns that sling shot you through them I am there because I chose to be there. I had no financial requirement to climb on the bike and punish my body for hours at a time. No individual in a position of authority directing that this is where I had to be at a specific time for a preset duration. I chose to be there of my own free will I am riding simply for the love of the ride, enjoying everything from the most difficult of climbs to the best air catching, hanging off the back of the seat, Adrenalin pumping downhill section – and its all because I want to.

2. Seclusion, regardless of how big the group you ride with, whether you start a race or just out on a ride. Somewhere in that ride out there 12 miles from nowhere you can get lost in your own thoughts. Eventually you hit that section of trail where it is smooth and you go into autopilot just enjoying the scenery around you and the lack of anything resembling civilization in any direction you look

3. Simplicity, somewhere out on the trail whether your suffering up a climb, screaming down a hill, or rolling through some smooth single track the realization of how much enjoyment you can get out of the simple act of riding a bike hits you. Countless times I have found myself riding, wishing that somewhere along the lines of trying to grow up and be rich and famous how happy I would have been if I had just kept riding for the pure enjoyment of it.

4. Exploration, no matter how many times you ride a trail there is always a new aspect to be experienced. Whether it is riding the trail in the opposite direction or pushing yourself just that little bit harder to make it through the difficult section instead of taking the short cut.

5. Challenge, because what is life without a challenge. Climbing that impossible hill or navigating the scariest downhill, the sense of accomplishment when reaching the top or the bottom of either lets you know that your living your life not letting it pass you by.

Merry Christmas to Everyone and Keep the Rubber Side down!

Christmas Come Early!

2009-12-22T20:54:00.000-08:00

Yea Buddy!! This years present is a 16.5" Rocky Mountain Element Team 2008 Frame from the Grand Rapids Cycling Company owner who had the frame and gave me a great deal. The Shop has the best selection of Rocky Mountain Bikes I have seen anywhere since Rocky is a difficult Bike to find at the stores. The Frame will go great with the Mavic 819s I have with red nipples on the spokes, the Red Cane Creek Headset and the new white and red Candy Ti2 Pedals I just bought. I also bought the white and red WTB Rocket V SLT saddle to top it off. So to get it all together I am building it with the components off the Vertex hardtail I have, not sure if I am going to sell the Vertex or hang onto it to have as a another frame to switch between will have to see. Anyway hope everyone is having a good holiday season I know I am, might have to keep my eye out for a FOX RLC 100mm fork for the bike as I might have to try that I am currently using a Marzochi MX Pro 120mm fork on it. Well keep the rubber side down and ahave a good holiday!

Home for the Holidays

2009-12-17T14:44:00.000-08:00

Well I am back in the states for the Holidays, and lucky me it starting snowing the day I arrived and has been freezing ever since. The family is doing well and it is good to see them again, the location leaves something to be desired however. I have been able to hit the gm one day at the local HS gym here since that is the only one within 30 miles and I did some running today got in 5 miles this afternoon in the sub freezing weather - Yeah Fun!...NOT. I am looking forward to the holidays and enjoying my time with the family while I can. Here are some photos of the family pets and weather that I am enjoying.

So Much for the Trail Ride

2009-11-28T03:42:00.000-08:00

Well I was looking forward to a good day of trail riding out at Bundang park this morning when I got up but I guess it wasn't meant to be. The two guys going with me bailed last minute, both with valid reasons but a bummer none the less. No big deal rode trails with the people I was meeting before just have to drive up myself. Well since I didn't know the way I was meeting another guy at a location to rally up and head out. Well I got there a couple minutes late and either he left already or didn't show, not sure which yet. Well that shoots that to shit so I head back to the Hump and when I get back and pull the bike out of the back of the van low and behold I have a flat! well that was the third strike. So I did what any good cyclist would do I got dressed and grabbed the Trek SL1000 and hit the road. Was feeling like being out for a while anyway so I did the 75miler again this time combining two different road rides we do for the milage. The temp was ranging between 48-54 with a wind so I had on the Craft and other snivel gear to keep myself warm and it was a good thing I did. Over all it was some good base training kept the HR avg at 148 and burned 3100 calories according to the Sigma ROX 9that thing is a awesome computer. Well that will probably be my last ride prior to coming home for leave so I am going to clean up the bikes this week and get them set aside for the month. I am already sure the hardest part of going on leave will be coming back for my second six months on Penisula but we do what we have to. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and as always, Keep the Rubber Side Down!

Almost Trainer Time

2009-11-22T00:35:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a couple of weeks since my last post, not much exciting been happening. Doing alot of road riding, spin classes and weight lifting - typical off season stuff. Work is keeping me busy as usual and I am looking forward to the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday, while I wish I could be home with my family I realize there are others spending this holiday in more dangerous and remote locations than me with far less of the everyday commodities we take for granted. Meanwhile the road riding has been good for working on the speed and been getting stronger on the legs with the weight lifting. The temperatures are definitely starting to drop so it will soon be time to hook up the trainer and start riding some of the Courses on that so will see how some of these computer course push the training envelope. Looking forward to being back home soon for a couple of weeks for mid-tour, and hopefully the second half of my tour goes as quickly as the first half. That's about it for now so Everyone have a good Holiday and Keep on Riding.

Been Keeping Busy over here

2009-11-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

Gotta have the proof if your riding this far - 75.8 miles(Basically to Seoul and back)

This is the view of Korea when I am 30 miles from Home

Not exactly sure what this sign was warning was ahead but I sure never saw them!

This is waht the fields look like when they harvest the rice in the fall

Looking good and sporting The Bike Store Gear at 0700hrs!

Well it has been a while since I last posted, have been in a MTB race, Hiked some Korea Mountains and Been working 18hr days during the week on occasion. This weekend was kinda nice had a few days off and took it easy for the most part. Yesterday was a nice day to get out and ride so I headed up to Osan AFB, Songtan, Korea met up with Mark, a rider up there and hit the road for 25miles with him. Since I had ridden up there, a additional 13mile warm-up and then back I hit the 50 mile mark right at the intersection to head back to Humphreys. Well since I had little else to do yesterday I decided to go straight head out to Pyongteck Harbor and round my ride up to a even 75 miles. Was a nice easy base mileage ride and was actually a good way to clear my head and relax.
Anyway, next weekend we are looking at hitting a race down south it is a 100 mile MTB race so need to get the ETSX ready to go - some of the hills out here can be pretty steep as I have noted in previous post. Weather is starting to get winter like out here so working more on the strength training at the gym and pulling out the Real Axiom trainer so I can keep up the riding. Looking forward to the fact that I will be back home in about 3 weeks for leave and spending the month of December back home with the family. Well that is about it for now I have some pics to post and as always - Keep riding and Keep the Rubber Side Down!

So you think you can downhill huh??

2009-10-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

Well that was the question I was asked one bright shiney Sunday morning as I stood at the base of the slope where DHers were screaming down the trail catching massive amount air and comparing who had the bigger.......suspension. Anywho one ski-lift ride to the top later there I stood with my All-Mountain ETSX about to see how all mountain it really was. The phrase I don't think anyone has uttered to me in quite a while came out "I am not waiting for you to go down the hill", that was humbling indeed. Well to make a long story short I made it down the hill thought it was awesome, I am sure the DH guys thought I was a pansy taking the smaller jumps not to mention wearing spandex, but I can say I actually rode a DH trail on a Ski slope......AWESOME! think I might try it again.

My 200th Post cool!

2009-10-16T06:43:00.000-07:00

Well didn't realize it till just now as I signed in write this post and add some pictures from last week but this is my 200th post on this site! Wow who would think I would find that much to write about? That has to be at least that many rides if not a few more. Anyway Here are some pics from the Saturday ride up in Daechon - Enjoy!

ORAMM will be a breeze.....

2009-10-12T06:53:00.000-07:00

Yes folks that is Rebbeca Gross

Several of the riders that went for a second epic ride on Sunday

This is Mik our guide on Saturday and Sunday

Well if I continue to ride these trails out here doing the climbing and downhilling that is part of standard Mountain Biking in Korea I will definitely be in the kinda shape that would make ORAMM much easier. Went out to the city of Daechon this weekend to do some riding and camping and got a good dose of both of them. The camping part was good food, good beer and good friends all hanging out together. These guys and gals in Seoul that ride do this right, trailer Bar-B-Que grill, enough food to feed a small Army and one great cook who came down to camp and cook for the rest of us riders.
The riding was what I now realize is typical for Korea, the trail warm up is usually a climb that will get your heart rate up to max, levels out for a little and then climbing again. We then decided to do a downhill run before we went up the hills in our groups. So the original statement from one of the female riders was that the downhill was nothing that a beginner with a little bit of skill couldn't handle. As we are sitting at the top of the hill the DHers all start busting out shin guards and elbow pads, I ask "Hey if this is so easy why all the hardware??" oh just in case don't want to get scratched. I am thinking ok what are we in for? Sure enough it starts out mellow enough but gets kinda hectic pretty fast there where six foot drops rollers off of roots going vertical and stairs that were enough to make you teeter/tooter your bike on the wrong line(guess where I was). I once read that riding downhills that had erosion and washouts, ruts was to make you feel like you had a bigger pair than you actually did, well if that is the case then they are all walking around Korea thinking they have elephantitis of said body part.
Anyway after making it down the first run without wrecking the bike(I tried at a really hairy and rooted section but the bike wouldn't go down) we started back up the hill. This time we climbe up to the point we started the downhill at and then mapped out the climb to the fortress on the next mountain over so we could get there. The climb on the fire road wasn't to bad when we hit the point that started the single track I could tell this wasn't going to be good. Now our guide up what was going to be the most irritating, challenging, tourretes inducing, single track climb I have encountered since.......well I can't think of a climb this difficult in my extensive 6yrs of riding, not even ORAMM said yea this is rideable except for a couple of parts. My impression was those couple of parts where the beginning , the middle and The End. At times I had the bike by the handle bars and stem dragging behind me as I used my other hand to pull me up the trail. Add to this the fact that the favorite Korean past time is hiking and that puts a whole new dimension of difficulty in technical single track.
When we finally get to the top of the climb from hell, Mik our guide looks at me and ask "Are you ok?" well you can imagine the response that got. Anyway I have to give him credit though, short of the view over the Grand Canyon this was the most B E A utiful view I have seen in any country I have been to to date. I am pretty sure I could see Seoul and that was over a 100 to the north of us. Without a doubt worth the effort to get to the top. After a couple of photo ops we do some fire road back down the hill and meet up with some of the other riders on the way eventually meeting back at the point where we did the first downhill. A couple more runs down and back up the hill and we called it a day and headed back to the campground. No ride would be complete without one wipeout which I did as I made the second run down the hill on the very end of the downhill section that combined roots, washout and ruts all at once for the trifecta of downhill challenge. While I am waiting for one of the riders who was out there with us to email me some pics, Wong from Malaysia, I have a couple from the Sunday ride the group did. I wasn't part of this ride but the view is pretty much the same and some good pics so thought I would include them. So Keep the rubber side down and keep riding!

Good Training Week

2009-09-27T05:10:00.000-07:00

Well the MTB race last week was a good measurement of how much work I have ahead of me to get competitive with these guys in regards to climbing. That was 25 miles of up the hill down the hill nothing technical in fact about 10 miles of it were road riding so I could have done without the FS on this ride. The trail was all fire road on the hill the big technical portion was maneuvering through the lose rock and gravel and maintaining your momentum up 22% grades. More than once I crested a hill only to look up and go "you gotta be kidding me!" Combined it was over 3300 feet of climbing in 25miles. The Koreans were passing me like I was standing still going up the hills on there Carbon Fiber hardtails cruising up like it was cool, however on the downhills....different story there. I would have to say they err on the side of caution going down, with good reason as someone was killed in last years event when they missed the turn. They were a little to cautious for me though, you had a fire road wide trail and your major concern was not hitting some really lose stuff and hopping from one side of the trail to the other on the turns other than that the benefits of FS definitely helped me make up ground. So for the rest of this week I have started lifting trying to develop some strength for the climbs and do some off season training while still getting in a ride or two during the course of the week. I seemed to have added a couple of inches to the waist line when I wasn't watching so need to get that back off and get the body fat back down to a acceptable percentage. Anyway here are some pre and post race pics still waiting for the website address from the event they had some good photo and sag support out at the event. Hope everyone is doing well back in the states and Keep the Rubber Side Down! Later.

Mountain Bike Racing in Korea

2009-09-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

Well this oughta be interesting, I am in no way in competative race shape but how many people outside the pro ranks get to say the raced in a foriegn country? So I am heading out this weekend to a town called Jecheon to ride in a 45Km MTB Race with some other of my military MTB riding buddies. Should be pretty interesting I hear it is some pretty steep hills on the climbs, not technical but definitely a workout. Since I have been getting my butt handed to me on the hills out here this oughta be a experience. Life is good between work, college, and work I have managed to get in a ride or two when I can. Well it is late so I will keep it short, oh by the way I got a few pages of fame in the INSCOM Journal a article detailing the skills and exploits of my dazzling mountain biking skills! LOL but it is good reading. Anyway I will post more when I get back hopefully I keep the rubber side down and don't wear out Granny on the way up the Mountains!

Trail Riding at BUNDANG(Yep that really is the name of the trail)

2009-09-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

This is the hoopty we will be traveling up to Osan in(amazing what $500 in Korea buys!)

Hello all, well today I went up to Seoul again and road with the group up there at Bundang Trail. Let me say there isn't a place in this country that is flat! Now having said that I would have to say(not to disparage any GA trails) but This is Mountain Biking We climbed for about a half hour on some technical single track before it even leveled out slightly and then the downhills, lets just say they would have gotten covered and rerouted if they were in GA as "Erosion" This was get off the back of the bike feather the brakes and smoke your forearms downhills. The ETSX was loving it and I was relearning skills I hadn't used since I was in Arizona, it was a blast. All told in 13.5 miles of riding we climbed and descended over 3500ft in each direction(according to the Garmin). Anyway after that we hung out tailgating in the parking lot of the park for a couple of hours telling stories cooking brauts and drinking beers it was a blast. Tomorrow I am heading up to Osan in the van with a few of the riders from Camp Humphreys and we are going to get in about 16miles of some up the hill and down the hill riding should be fun. I think the major replacement parts I am going to need will be brake pads at least initially until I get comfortable with the downhills again. I figured out a riding goal for this year while I am in Korea and that is to find the highest point that is rideable to and get to the top before I leave so I will have to work on that one because if I don't get it before November chances are I will have to wait until April or May to try it then. Anyway life is good hope everyone is well back there and if your out there on the bike-Keep the Rubber Side Down!

Trail Riding Tomorrow(Hopefully)

2009-08-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Well it has been over a month since I was able to trail ride last and over two months since I have been able to trail ride the ETSX so hopefully tomorrow will break that dry spell. I am planning on hitting the trail up in Osan with the Beerbelly Cycling group and will be riding up there with several members of the Anjung-Ri Cycling club here at Camp Humphreys so we should have a good warm up it is about a 12mile ride up to Osan. Life has been busier that ever here with getting into the new position at work and getting back into the flow of a real Army unit on a Army installation. 7rs at TRADOC and 4 at the Wing have made me a little rusty when it comes to actual Army activities but I am getting back into the flow of things. Well this will be short hopefully tomorrow I will have updates and pics from a good trail ride. Until then Keep the Rubber Side Down!

Hello Again

2009-08-09T06:36:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a fun week, recieved my household goods here only to find out they lost a box that had uniforms, manuals and water bottles,(the new Bike Store green ones I recieved from Bill before I left) Have been busier that a one legged man in a gluteous maximus kicking contest so haven't gotten to file the loss report yet here. As for the riding, hit the road 3 times this week for a total of about 95 miles in the last 4 days here. Missed out on trail riding due to weather and other interfering factors but hopefully this coming Saturday we will be able to hit the trail and do some riding. Meanwhile between trying to get this place set up, work and everything else I have been keeping pretty busy. I see my cohorts down in GA are racing the last race of the GSC series this weekend good luck to Greg, Ethan, Monte and the others out there competing looks like we should have some top 3 finishers in a couple of classes for the season. I am starting to actually get this place in a setup where I can eat my meals here for a change I have been hitting the fast food establishments like I was doing my own Supersize Me dcoumentary here for the last month so it was good to actually eat all three meals without going to a drive thru today! Well it is late and I have to run 6 miles tomorrow so I will end here enjoy the pics(have to go to my flicker at http://www.flickr.com/photos/koreariding09-10/ and remember to Keep the Rubber Side Down!

Group Riding in Korea

2009-07-29T05:03:00.000-07:00

Had to climb a few miles to get this view here!

This was the group we rode with Sunday put in about 37 miles

View of Seoul from half way up the mountain on Saturday

This was the sign about 2 miles from the top did this climb 4 times - Good Stuff!!
This is the town right outside the Post good place.

Well hello again from the land of Morning Calm. I am hanging out at the hotel still waiting for a barracks room - starting to get old living out of the luggage. On a good note I was able to hook up with the local riding group here at Camp Humphreys and was able to borrow a Turner FS from one of the guys on post and go riding down in Seoul last weekend. Imagine lending someone your Turner with a Chris King Wheelset and XTR components, and oh by the way you have only met the guy once. That is what another soldier did for me so I could go ride this weekend. I was grateful for that it was awesome some serious downhill I was wishing I had the ETSX I could have used the extra travel on the downhills which were ORAMM style steep. then the uphill was short and steep as well (see attached pic) did 4 loops around the trail and called it a day and it was a blast. Sunday did a group ride on the road on the Turner again that was a pretty good challenge once again hills that were intense. Hopefully I will get a barracks room soon and then I can get settled in and have my bikes and do some riding with my stuff. Anyway that is about it here just getting into work and Hanging out at the gym doing spin class to get some pedaling in we have a good instructor smokes us pretty good doing the session. Well that is about it for now I have a flicker account so I posted all the pics there for viewing and will keep doing it so I can keep ya posted on all the fun I have over here during the next year. I would be remiss if I didn't Wish my Wife a Happy B-Day and hope she had a good one! So to all my readers Enjoy the trail and Keep the Rubber Side Down!

Land of Morning Calm - And all day Rain!

2009-07-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

Well I have arrived at my destination which I will call home for the next year pretty much. I was wandering around trying to figure out which barracks I will be living in this evening when I ran acrossed a couple of guys in front of one of the buildings so I thought I would ask. Well long story short as one of them was showing me the rooms I spot a Turner Hard tail and a Maverick 6+" Travel downhill bike. So needless to say I start asking about riding groups trails and anything he might know so he puts me in touch with a couple of the groups out here and hopefully I will be riding here by the beginning of August! As for the location it looks barely like I remember it from my last visit over a decade ago, there are a few buildings and locations that haven't changed but overall 90% of what I used to know is either gone, relocated or renovated. I found the new gym here today and was able to get a workout in on the stairmaster so that was nice. Anyway I am looking forward to getting into my barracks room this week hopefully and getting my stuff by Friday if possible so if that is the case I will be putting the bikes together this weekend and looking for a ride soon after. Once I get out there I will make sure to get some pics and post on the ride and how it was until then Keep the Rubber Side Down and enjoy the ride!

Inter Blog harrasment

2009-07-09T19:18:00.000-07:00

Well no pictures and no stories other than about my packing up to get ready to fly out on Saturday so instead I will harrass Charles. Since his camera "Followed" out of his pocket the other day the camera should have gotten some great shots of the ride so I am not sure I understand the lack of photos? However Charles seems to be having some great rides (lucky bastard!) meanwhile I am making arriangements to put my Vertex in a garage for the year - still haven't found a buyer for it yet. Anyway not much to blog about no rides or stage TT's just chilling in BFE Michigan. No pictures here since my camera didn't fall out of my pocket so hope to have something to write about soon until then Keep the Rubber Side Down and enjoy the ride!

Last Trail ride in the States for the year

2009-07-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

Well I hit a local trail up here in Michigan today. I went out to Eygpt Valley where they have about a 10 mile loop that is smooth fast and easy to ride. It was just what the doctor order I hit 2 laps and rolled through pretty steadily and just enjoyed the ride. While not hanging with my buddies down south in GA who are managing to hit the road everyday of the TDF so far(lucky bastards! - especially you Charles!) I managed to get my first ride in for the last 2 weeks now it is time to start packing for my trip to the East! I found a local Bike Store up here that actually is a Rocky Mountain Dealer had some SWEET Elements in the shop almost had me buying a new bike but definitely got me looking for something to consider when I get back. Well this will probably be the last post till I get to Korea so until then Keep pedalling and I will let you know how the trails in South Korea are once I am able to hit them.

Getting the family settled in

2009-06-29T18:44:00.000-07:00

Well I have been up here in Michigan for 11 days now and almost have the family comfortably set in the house we are renting and getting the family pets readjusted. So far we have had to have the cleaners come back in, repairs done over most of the house, the AC inspected cause it sucks and the storage shed treated for termites! If it wasn't for the money the wife is going to be making while she is up here this would be a total nightmare for a relocation. I honestly almost feel bad because my living conditions in Korea might be better than what my family is in. On the other end Pams Pristine Cleaning has been a outstanding investment in getting the house ready to rent. The house itself looks as good as it did the day we moved in-definitely pride in their work and outstanding attention to detail! if your looking to get some cleaning done for any reason I would definitely recommend them they are well worth the price and they have a military discount!
Well in regards to riding the Lumberjack 100 became the Lumberjack 25 for me. I had to return to GA from MI to pick up the stuff we couldn't get in the car on the first trip so I returned from GA the day before the race and got in the house about 12 am that morning and then was up at 4am to drive a 1 1/2 hour to the race. That coupled with the fact that I had ridden twice since the 12hrs of Ft Yargo and took 3 weeks off during that time due to tendonitis I wasn't even close to prepared for any endurance event. Maybe I could have gotten away with that at 21yrs old but 41yrs old its a little harder to do. It was a shame to because this course was without a doubt the smoothest, fastest rolling course you could ask for - the trail was the closest thing to a paved trail in the woods you could get. This trail was the least technical trail I have ever ridden and had I been in shape would have had the fastest pace I could have averaged on trail race. As it was Chris Eatough was finishing up his second lap and starting his third about 10min after I finished my first lap which was about as close as I was to him for my race! Not sure if I will get the chance at another ride before I have to head out to Korea but am hoping for at least one more. Might be about this long before I get a chance to post again so to all my readers - Keep the rubber side down and keep pedalling!

Slow Month

2009-05-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

First off my apologies to my avid readers for not posting anything new lately. It has been a slow month since the race and been spending the majority of it off the bike, recovering from tendinitis, and trying to get prepared for my PCS move and moving the family. I finally rode with the beginner group this past Wednesday and got to stretch the legs a little since it had been over 2 weeks since I had gotten in the saddle and pedaled any amount of distance. In the process I am trying to sell everything from my Truck to a home entertainment center. What I have found out repeatedly on CraigsList is that the only ones seeming to respond to anything outside the truck are just out to rip me off! All the offers I have had on anything except the truck have been bogus. In a moment of clarity though I might post all the items on here and see what kind of response I get, things haven't been to promising even on the OMBA site trying to sell the bikes or parts. Everyone wants you to part out the bikes and nobody wants to by the parts that I have up for sale so why would I part the bikes??! Anyway it is off to Az this weekend to see my God Daughters confirmation and hang out with the family before I head up to MI to see the wife's family get her set up and then head to Korea. The wife got called for a job interview already so we are keeping positive thoughts hopefully it comes thru. Well baring any new developments hopefully I might get a trail ride in before I have to pack up the bikes but I am planning on doing The Bike Stores Century Ride on the 31st so if your out there I Will See You on the Ride!

12hrs of Yargo Mudfest Aftermath

2009-05-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

Well Finally I was back at the trail again for a full day fun in the saddle! While I initially started the weekend out with a minor mechanical where the cassette was locking up the hub, a minor issue that was resolved over the phone that evening with Charles. The next morning I wake up from a dream I was 3hrs late to the start of the race, only to find out its only 5am. After getting registered and enjoying the Breakfast of Champions, Red Baron Breakfast Pizza's it was time to get ready for the race. Then as I load the bike up on the car rack I notice my rear shock sleeve is separated from the bottom part of the shock so nothing is sealing the bottom part of the shock so another panicked call to Charles and after a short discussion about how bad it might be I decided to race it anyway.
The night before the race it rained enough to make the trail kinda tacky since it was extremely dry the day before. Some of the low lying areas where a little slick and apparently one of the bridge crossings was really bad you would have to ask the rider who just about ended up in the culvert. I had a sag point set up about half way through the course about 6 miles in so the first lap was actually a lap and a half about 18miles before I stopped for my first refill. The real fun began on lap 4, just after my stop for a fresh bottle and few enervite gels I head out on the trail and a couple of minutes later it starts down pouring, the trail basically became a creek and I joked to the rider in front of me how mountain biking was a dual outdoor land and water sport all at once. While that lap was definitely the wettest it wasn't the worst. At least on that lap the mud got washed off as you rode, the following lap when the rain stopped we just had fun in the mud and it was slick!
Well I think about the 5th lap is when the rear shock decided it had enough and felt like I was riding a low rider hard tail. After that lap Monte was at the start/finish area where they had hooked up a hose to spray off the bike so he helped me out with cleaning off some of the mud and put as much chain lube on as it could stand. So I head out to complete lap 7 get the light set on and head back out to the trail. Now with all my mechanical fun I had been having this weekend to make it to lap 7 of the race and actually finish 12hrs I am feeling pretty good about it. 3 miles from the end my rear wheel starts locking up on me - not sure what caused it but I cured it with some accelerade from my water bottle and finished the lap. I felt worse for my bike than I did for me I put that rig through a hurting some Charles is going to have to put some work in on that bike to get it back in race shape! I ended up with 7 laps in just under 11hrs which is slower than last years pace but due to conditions so was everyone, so I am fairly happy with the results. Big thanks to my wife and son for hanging out all day in less than stellar conditions as my support crew. My son Austin also provide help to the volunteer running the road crossing by cheering for riders and stopping traffic. Also to Monte for helping me out and motivating me the last two laps, and finally James who provide the post race beer that I am holding in the pic Monte got of me. Congrats to all the guys who raced, Monte, Mark, Duckman, and anyone else I missed and once this weather lets the local trails dry I Will See You on the Trail!

Finally - TRAIL TIME!!

2009-04-17T17:45:00.001-07:00

Well the weather finally cooperated and I was able to get in a couple of days of Trail Riding out at Thompson. I was definitely having to work on a the handling skills just a little. I have missed getting out there in the dirt and worked out some suspension tuning issues while I was out there. This week has been some quality training time even if it has been on the trainer. The Real Axiom training courses work wonders for intervals since the course already have a set distance for the slopes on the segments of the climbs it makes it easier to work the intervals to the best possible training level. So I did some trainer time on Monday with intervals, Tuesday with steady spin pace, Wednesday I hit the trail, Thursday did some more intervals and Friday I got in three laps out at Thompson. That along with my steady regiment of PT has made this a pretty good week overall as far as training goes. I have managed to loose a couple of more pounds in the process so another 7lbs to race weight for the 12hrs of Ft Yargo.
On another note, the impending PCS to Korea and family relocating to Michigan I was fortunate enough to be contacted by someone already registered for the Lumberjack 100 who wasn't able to race and so now I am entered. This event is one of the stops for the National Ultra Endurance MTB Series so there are several big names to include Chris Eatough. It will be cool racing in that event I make sure to count how many times Chris laps me so I can tell everyone lol! So on June 20th I will be up in MI racing with the big boys trying not to look to slow. Since I will have already shipped the FS to Korea by that time looks like I will either be racing the HT Vertex-70 or the Trek Fuel EX-8 not sure which one to go with, will have to get a topo of the course to see. Well the rest of the month looks like this, 75mile road ride on Sunday, More trainer time during the week with another couple of days trail time to work on handling and technical skills and then conditions permitting a long trail ride out at Dauset next Sunday. The following week will be a prep time maybe a day or two on trail with a tune up and race prep for the bike some new tires and head out on Friday for Yargo for my second event in the sport class. Hopefully I will have a better finish than I did at Heritage Park I have prepared better for this event so I feel good about my chances. Anyway I am looking forward to more outdoor time on the trails, weather permitting so if your out there I Will See You on the Trail!

Another week without Trail Time

2009-04-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

Well the weather just doesn't want to cooperate - rained all week until Friday and then decided to clear up. However with the amount of rain that was dropped during the week there was no way anyone should be hitting the trails unless they wanted to put some ruts in them. I managed to drop down to 8lbs away from my goal this week so I am seeing some progress. Friday was a wicked trainer ride on the "Col du Galibert" which was 21.7miles and 6852ft of elevation gain rough! I burned dang near 1500 calories and could only manage 250watts of power average took 1hr 54min with a 11.8mph average - Good Stuff! Today I hit the road again with Charles and Chad for a 50mile ride. Started early which was a good thing because the rain rolled in earlier than predicted. Kept a pretty good pace and had a enjoyable ride hopefully the weather will cooperate and I will be able to get some trail time in either Friday or Saturday. Here is some graphics from the ride today and if I managed to get out there this week I Will See You on the Trail!

Steady Training

2009-03-31T18:19:00.000-07:00

Charles just getting up on the handlebars and cruising on a Sunday...digging the fancy red gloves
Chad says that a good traing regiment requires some high quality insect diet, and demonstrates how one goes about getting that diet
Is that a sharp looking bike right there or what?!

Well I have been able to keep a good training regiment going for the past week or so, just trying to keep my weight going in the right direction as well which seems to be the difficult part. I have managed to get in at least one workout a day with several days being a two-a-day workouts with a recovery day thrown in for good measure. Thursday night-Friday morning was a good high intensity day or 16 hours, I started Thursday night with a high intensity 45min climbing regiment on the Real Axiom Trainer, followed that with a 35min high intensity StairMaster session the next morning and then at lunch time hit a spin class for a good 45min high intensity work out. Took the following 42hrs off and then hit the road with Charles and Chad Sunday morning for a 36 mile road ride where Charles got my hear rate elevated with a few interval areas during the ride. It was a good ride and was early enough that the forecasted winds were not a factor to much at least. This week has started off well with a good effort spin session, another StairMaster morning and tomorrow morning I am taking the whole platoon in for Donna's spin class - sure to put even a strong rider to the test by the time she is finished, the guys will thank me for this NOT!
As for the weight, everyone says that last ten pounds is the hardest to loose which brings the question what do ya do when your at that last ten pounds when you start to diet? It is slow going I drop down to a 1/2lb below where I was previously only to bounce back up to where I originally started at the following day. It is difficult but I guess you just have to take the small steps as they come and stick with it hopefully by the time Ft Yargo rolls around I will be at my race weight which is 10lbs away right now. So I will keep working away at it and stick to the eating habits that seem to be helping and I should see the benefits. Well with the way the weather is acting this week I think any outdoor riding will be confined to the road and supplemented with some trainer time indoors as well. Hopefully the weather starts cooperating as I am looking forward to some trail time and working on the technical skills(which I need). So whether it is the road or the trail I Will See You on the Bike!

The Dublin 50, wait 55 oh no 59 mile ride

2009-03-23T18:54:00.000-07:00

Well it was a choice between racing in Macon, or riding in Dublin out of the two I knew the race while challenging and fun I would be way out classed and my technical skills still aren't quite up to race level. So I thought I would just join Charles, his Dad, BK, Chad and a his brother, Bill and a couple of others for the century ride out at Dublin. We decided to do the 50 miler which then changed to 55 miler and then ultimately ended up at being 59 miles by the time we finished. It was a good ride through some really great scenic country and with some pretty good climbs and descents by the time it was over I had a pretty good workout in.
I figure since I am focusing on the endurance races this season I gain more from doing the long ride than competing in a XC race so I worked a couple of pulls at the start and at the end of the ride to get the HR up a little bit. Still working on my power endurance, on a few occasions I would start up the hill in front and end up in the back of the pack at the top of the hill. Hopefully the next month of StairMaster, spin class and riding laps out at Thompson to improve my technical skills will help make me a little more competitive come Ft Yargo. Not sure yet what this weekend will bring but hoping to find my way out to Dauset so if your out there I Will See You on the Trail!

Happy Snaps from Heritage Park

2009-03-15T20:48:00.001-07:00

A couple of the shots this was one of the paticularly messy areas of the trail!

Heritage Park 6hr

2009-03-14T18:21:00.000-07:00

Boy if I was as fast as this picture looks like I am I would be riding for a living!
Army Strong at least in the endurance part just need to work on that climbing strength
A few of the Macon Crew that were up for the race, hanging around the heater keeping warm

Well Today's event was outstanding, the weather was a balmy 39 degrees at the start and I am not to sure it got much warmer than that all day. I was able to wear snivel gear all day and was comfortable. There wasn't to much precipitation I would say it actually helped keep the trail just tacky enough to help the grip for 95% of the trail the one section it made nasty was exactly that boggy but it was only about 25ft across. As for my conditioning it definitely opened my eyes to the need to condition myself better and lose the extra half-a-bike I am carrying around. I managed to get 4 laps in but the climbs were killing me, I would tear down the hill only to get past coming back up the other side. The first lap had the usual parade lap followed by the inevitable back log at the first technical section of the single track and since I am no Jeff Kerkove I wasn't able to get to the front before we entered the single track. One particularly nasty section of roots sent me sideways into some rocks and bent the rear rotor so I had a enjoyable rubbing noise the rest of the day. The second lap wasn't too bad got to visit grandma a little more she was glad to see me, by lap 3 she was wondering if I had a gear of my own and by lap 4 granny was really tired of getting used and abused. The day ended with a total of 36 miles in about 5hrs and 15min, since they implemented the done at the 6hr mark and coming in after that doesn't count and I was running hr+ laps there was no sense in going out for a fifth lap which under last years rules I would have. They had Bruce out there doing some great announcing and some good photographers so there should be some good photos coming up. There was a strong group of OMBA riders out there doing some strong riding and having a good time, thanks to Mark for hooking us up with a good location at the start finish with a space under the pavilion. I am looking forward to doing the century ride this weekend with Charles from The Bike Store and getting in some mileage. I am going to focus on getting in some training time and make sure I am more competitive come The 12hrs of Yargo. Meanwhile I will be hitting the trail as time allows so if your out there I Will See You on the Trail!

Dirty Spokes Season Opener

2009-03-12T18:58:00.000-07:00

The Only Pic I got from my 3 flat 2 mile hike, wasp stung round 3 of the Snake!

Well here it is the first of the 4 events I wanted to race in this season and the weather is as usual for the start of the season - rainy all weekend what better way to start off the endurance races?! Looking forward to starting this season in the Sport category however not sure I will be even close to as competitive as I was last year as my training regime was definitely less intense this off season than it was last year. Several factors impacted this not the least of them being the fact that I wasn't deployed,not that I would trade being home for more training time in the desert! Anyway I am looking forward to the race it should be a pretty good time regardless of the weather, running the Mud X on the rear and had to replace the front one with the Maxxis ignitor since I blew the sidewall at the Snake. Anyway i plan on getting there early on Saturday and hopefully get comfy with the fact that I will probably be muddy and soaked all day but I am looking forward to it so if your out there I Will See You on the Trail!

Life Outside the wheels

2009-02-23T19:01:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a while since I posted but there have been more than a few events that have refocused my attention outside of cycling. Just prior to the 2nd Snake Creek TT I was informed of a family emergency in Arizona so shortly after DNFing half way thru that event I was on a plane out to Arizona. Unfortunately while I was out there my wife received a call from her family informing her of a family emergency on her side of the family. I guess these things really do happen in 3 because while I only had one family member with a issue she had two. Well that resulted in a return flight from Arizona followed two days later by a drive up to Michigan. These past weeks events have put life in perspective helping me to put things I get wrapped around the axle about in a different light.
Reapplying myself to my riding this week with a lighter approach for the rest of the season is my goal. I still plan on being competitive but I want to get back to having fun again while I am at it. Seems I have been so busy focusing on "training" that I forgot what got me started in the first place. The first time I went on a mountain bike ride I travelled up a fire road huffing and puffing while the rest of the group I was with rode a parallel single track that ran along the side of the hill we were gradually climbing. When we hit a creek about 4 miles up the road and the trail became rockier and a little steeper I thought "who in their right mind calls this fun?" After what seemed a eternity of rocks and climbing we hit a point where they decided to turn around.Downhill Arizona Style, it took me three tries to make it down this "major" drop

Going back down the road proved just as hard and a tad bit scarier(mind you we were just going over rocks in the trail not major drops). But as we continued down the trail I managed to keep myself upright, eventually ending up back out on the fire road we started going up. Travelling at what seemed like 40mph(I am pretty sure it might have been 15mph now)thinking "great I didn't have a heart attack going up the hill I am going to break my neck going down!" I survived that day and after a couple of more difficult rides and some encouraging by some guys who had been riding alot longer than me I was addicted. I remember the first time I put SPDs on for pedals, I was brilliant figuring "If I do this on the road at least I wont fall into some rocks or cactus or something hard" Shortly thereafter putting peroxide on my road rashed elbows palms and knees from falling on the soft asphalt when I couldn't get my foot unclipped at a stop. However the ride ended whether muddy or bloody, flat tires or broken frames, we always managed to have fun and always ended with a smile on our face(ok well not when we broke a frame). It was as if being 35yrs old and riding like a 16yr old kid made life seem a little less like the hectic grind of the day to day work and bills routine. Better than any day at the office the first ever 24hr event I participated in

That is the mind frame I want to get back to, not how I place but that I finish and have fun. If that produces a result that gets me on the podium then so be it and I will be glad for it. I will still ride to keep in shape and get faster and better, I will continue to go to spin classes and road ride since it is great exercise and I have always worked out in one way or another. When I hit the trails though it will be to enjoy the ride, catch some air, bomb down hills and enjoy the company more than to see how hard I can push it. So that is my renewed approach to riding this season, to approach it with the attitude I had when I first started and remember this is a recreational activity that should be a stress reliever not a stressor. There ends the sermon hopefully I will get out sometime this week for a ride at Thompson so if I do and your out there I Will See You on the Trail!The B E A Utiful effects of flying like superman while everyone else wants to mountain bike how could anyone not love this stuff?

Spinning in the Desert

2009-02-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

Well this past couple of weeks have been somewhat uneventful as far as riding goes but that is about how it goes during the winter time. I spent the last week out in Las Vegas at Nellis AFB in support of some training, and while I didn't get down to the Strip I did manage to get to the gym for some training of my own. I managed to get in some solid work on the Stair Master and some time on the Spin Cycles. While I would have rather had a FS bike out there and a way to get out to the mountains I was flying over every day I had to settle for the gym so I managed to make it worth the effort. Well it had been almost two weeks since I had been out on the trail and I was itching to get some dirt on the bike so I headed out to Dauset on Super Bowl Sunday at about 0630hrs(thats 6:30am for all my civilian readers)to hit the trails, it was COLD! to say the least but not as cold as it had been in the past. So I put on the snivel gear and headed out, the trail was it pretty good shape and I could tell the areas where it had soaked up some pretty good rain. The Huff and Puff extender was in pretty rough shape so I made my best effort not to add to the ruts. I am going to do a full check out of the fork and rear shock this week before Snake Creek I want to have it dialed in as it was feeling kinda rough this weekend.
Speaking of biking stuff, since this is a biking blog, I have been signed up on Loop D' for a little over a year now this year I have been picked back up by Sock Guy and also have a new sponsor Endurance Training Center.com The have quite a bit that they offer so I am looking forward to using some of their products this year. It is definitely the time of year for me to start getting back into race shape I am currently back up around 154lbs so I need to get back into the aerobic and weight watching mode so I can drop the 14lbs and get back down to my race weight again. This year I am looking more to focusing on the endurance events and just hitting a couple of the series races for fun. Since it looks like I am heading to the land of the Morning Sun in July I am going to be limited to events I can compete in before June so that has me looking at a few events in particular, I am already competing in the Snake Creek TT all 3 this year,and the following
12hrs of Santos - 21st Feb
Dirty Spokes 6hrs of Heritage Park - 14th Mar
GSC 1 E. Macon - 22nd Mar
Cohutta 65mile"Big Frog" - 25 April
Dirty Spokes 12hrs of Yaro - 2nd May
12hrs of Tsali - 23 May
And possibly a event during the month of June if I can find one that fits the time frame before I have to get ready to head to Korea for the year. This events location may be somewhere in Michigan or depending I may just see if there is a event I would really like to do before I PCS. Well that is about it I will leave you with some pics from a frosty Sunday morning at Dauset, Charles and I plan on doing some trail riding Wednesday evening at Thompson so if your out there I Will See You on the Trail!

Weather Forcast Inaccuracy

2009-01-18T19:25:00.000-08:00

Well was planning on going to Dauset this morning even got so far as Forsyth before I turned back around due to the amount of rainfall and when the locals that lived in the Jackson area said it had been raining all day yesterday on them figured the trail would be to nasty to try. Driving back home as I got back into the Macon area thought about stopping at the Pig but it seemed as though the weather decided to follow me home. Since it was forcasted to rain this afternoon and not this morning I was a little irritated with the outcome but will try again tomorrow for Dauset again and see if I can't get the ride in this time. So if your out there I Will See You on the Trail!

Verdict is in Sigma Rox!

2009-01-12T18:46:00.000-08:00

Well it has been just over a couple of weeks and about 6 or 7 rides since I switched out the Trek Incite Team computer for the Sigma Rox9 and it was a very worthwhile switch. The computer itself has a plethera of functions that monitor everything from your speed to the tempatures during your ride. The display can be set up for various functions with the ability to switch from one view to another easily during a ride. The display is also easily readable regardles of the number of functions. The computer download functions are outstanding with the capability to send and recieve data and use your computer to input settings for the cycle computer.
The after ride capabilities and displays of training info are outstanding as you can select which functions to display and what mode you want to display from total training, averages, and mins and maximums during the ride. All displayed in a easily readable graph with adjustable zoom capablility. The memory storage can hold quite a few rides depending on the save settings you input. Overall it has been a very useful tracking tool in monitoring my rides and progresion in base training overall. Using the data downloaded on the laptop from the computer allows me to see where I am maintaining my RPMs, speed and heart rates during the rides to see if I am improving. Overall I am really happy with the switch if your interested in getting a quality computer that has all the functions you need and is fairly simple to use I would recommend the Sigma Rox 8 or 9. I would also recommend a good place to buy one at either of The Bike Store locations in Warner Robins or Macon. Well enough of the reviews I am thinging of hitting Dauset hopefully on Sunday so we will see depending on weather and if it works out I Will See You on the Trail!

Snake Creek TT Suckfest

2009-01-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

Well approximately 2yrs, two deployments and several races later I returned to the place that I keep telling myself I am never coming back to - Snake Creek TT. Weather conditions were outstanding the weather channel hit it right on the head except the part about it raining all night the night before and being misty and raining all morning. Well morning of was decision time as far as apparel went since it was 44 degrees out and suppose to get warmer I went with the leg and arm warmers and left the foot warmers in the bag. What I should have done is sprayed my entire bike down with Pam no stick so the mud would shed off. Had a good drive up to the start with Monti and Chad and a couple other guys were I decided to go with Monti's idea of getting a early start before the other 250 riders who would be tearing up the trail ahead of me, well since they would all pass me by the 17 mile mark it really didn't matter to much.
I lined up with Jesse at the start and hung with him for about the first two miles and then away he went. After the first water crossing the feet were soaked all the way through. The weather not only made the trail into soup the humidity kept fogging up my glasses so I couldn't see worth s$!t so in the interest of time I just kept them off for the most part. I had decided to run the IRC Trail Bear 2.25 tires on the bike, this turned out to be a good idea for the most part since the trail was in such bad conditions they gave me grip in areas I would have probably spun out in with other tires. In the rock garden it was a different story the rocks were so slick that the tread was too tall to hold it just slipped. Either way was a good and bad thing depending on where I was on the trail for the most part it was a good thing.
To add to the list of issues somewhere in the first 7 miles or so I broke a clip off the right pedal so the cleat wouldn't clip in correctly. I went over a few rollers going downhill with my foot slipping around until I figured out I had to rotate the clip to one side to get clipped in. On a good note the energy product I was trying called Enervitene seemed to work really well. Especially on that hill right at the start of the second 17 miles I was able to pedal my way up that with some pretty good consistency.
Overall it was the same suckfest I had forgotten about two years earlier only worse with the weather included. I was about 15min slower this time than I was in the previous TT I completed. There is something about this trail that I just have to keep trying, it is the only trail I have ridden out here that I don't feel like I have come away going I did it right. I leave here feeling like it kicked my A$$ every time and so I have to keep coming back until I at least don't feel like I started Mountain Biking the day before I arrived there! So while I still HATE this trail and will tell anybody who ask the fact it is the toughest challenge I can think of including ORAMM. So I will continue to return until I have accomplished the goal of having a Good Ride at the Snake Creek TT. So until that time I Will See You on the Trail!

WHITE Christmas

2008-12-28T20:32:00.000-08:00

Well it was a good Christmas visiting my in-laws up in the artic......I mean Michigan. Travel was interesting both on the way up and back as we ran into a snow storm on the way up and on the way back near zero visibility fog and heavy rain. I managed to get in two running days while I was up there considering the conditions the runs took a little longer than they would have down here. Anyway I am back at the house now and looking forward to the Snake Creek TT coming up on the 3rd so I am going to get in the New Years Day ride to get a few miles in before the TT which should be a good challenge to start the season with. So I will leave you with some pics of the White Christmas I enjoyed and I Will See You on the Trail!

B-E-Autiful Weather for a Road Ride

2008-12-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

Well it is Great weather for spring, let alone the middle of December and a beautiful day for a ride which is exactly what we had today. Hit the road around 1430hrs for a 45miler enjoyed a casual pace for the most part with some good downhill sections I managed to hit 48mph going down the one hill it rocked! Tried out the new Sigma ROX 9.0 for the first time it is a great computer that monitors just about everything from speed to temperature. Have to work out the ride log setting since I didn't get it this ride but will be able to set it so I can do the graphical display for the transfer to the laptop so I can analyze the training. it should be a useful tool to get ready for this season. anyway this is short I am getting ready to head to MI for the week so I will be doing some cold weather running to keep in shape. so here are some picks and Merry Christmas to everyone. I Will See You on the Trail!

Hit and Miss riding

2008-12-15T20:05:00.000-08:00

The sleeping herd of Dauschunds

The Three ladies of the herd

Working out the setup on the FS

Hello all, well it has been a while since I had anything to post and really don't have much to post today just want to keep the site a little updated. Since I have last posted I have trail rode once at Thompson - still working on the set up on my FS to get rid of some back pain - and hit the rode about a half a dozen times mostly short rides with a 50miler this past Sunday starting from The Bike Store. It was a good ride with just about a 17mph pace and was pretty enjoyable, since that was my first group ride in about 4 months I was just looking for a good cruising ride to loosen up the legs and get some pedalling in. Looking forward to the Snake Creek TT coming up in January, don't think it is going to be a better time - at least in January since my training regiment has been less than consistant or stellar! Either way I am looking forward to a good time up there and definitely bringing the Craft base layer stuff for the cold! On a more important note my wife has just about accomplished her first goal in her nursing carreer of graduating from the LPN program at CGTC! She has done a outstanding job and is going to be a great nurse. All her instructors have said the same thing as she displays how much she loves working in the field of nursing it is evident even as she goes through class. This is very important in the promoting of my career goal after I retire from the military of being a stay at home Dad and a Bike Bum, she is going to have to make enough to keep me in Rocky Mountain Bikes and top of the line accessories! Anyway training for the next week or so will have to consist of running (in the snow) as we are going up to Michigan (YEA!) for the holidays so should I not get the chance to post again before I go Have a Happy Holiday and when I get back I Will See You on the Bike!

Dauset Pics II

2008-11-23T17:08:00.000-08:00

Dauset Pics

2008-11-23T16:55:00.000-08:00

Our Fearless leader taking us through Huff and Puff!

Monte thought he would take a recovery day to ride slow enough so us mere mortals could keep him in sight(I however was unable to do that for any distance greater than a mile)

A few group pics before we headed out

Winter Wheeling

2008-11-18T18:56:00.000-08:00

Well it may not be snowing but boy it is pretty chilly out there. Been a while since I posted keeping busy with work, school and everything around the home while still trying to get in some riding. Dauset festival was a good time I enjoyed helping out with registration and course marshalling as well as leading a group ride afterwards. Today I brought the road bike in to work with me and hit the road for two laps around the airfield. The wind was kicking up pretty good so I got a strong workout on both laps by switching directions on each lap to even out the head/tail winds. Kudos to the creators of Kraft undergarments that jersey kept me nice and warm even with the strong winds. Tomorrow I am looking forward to hitting Thomson Trail for the first time since I have been back this time I am charging the lights as I type to make sure I can see where I am going. So if your out there tomorrow I Will See You on the Trail!

Just another day at the office

2008-10-29T19:50:00.001-07:00

Hey, how close we going to get to this guy?

Now this isn't your average Fuel Stop

About $150,000 worth of gas later,"thanks for the fill up"

Whats the view out your office window look like?

Well getting close to wrapping it up out here for another exciting trip to the desert. This was a short one this time so I am not complaining since so many of my fellow soldiers are out here 4x's as long as I am at a time on average. I am looking forward to getting back home - didn't bring the bike with me this time so it has been spin classes and weight lifting primarly while I was out here. Not sure what this years schedule will hold for me as I am moving to a new assignment in March. It will be further SE from my current location, still in GA and still within acceptable driving distance for several events. I am leaning towards focusing on the 12hr solo events this year as well as some of the Epics, it would be nice to make it to a couple of the Snake Creek TTs and ORAMM. Well other than that not much new looking forward to seeing everyone at the Dauset Festival so hopefully we have good weather for it. Thanks for reading and if your out there when I get back I Will See You on the Trail!

What more could a guy want

2008-09-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

My current Residence this trip

My projected assignment coming this spring

Which will probably result in a return visit to here!

Well another fun month in the Desert, 16hr work days, a dependable meal schedule you can set your calendar by, routine workouts that you can attend either day or night, and 3 beers a day available whether or not you want them, not to be confused with the 3 day turn around on the laundry. But all in all could be alot worse for alot longer so I try to look at the good side of things. Anyway along the lines of workouts I have had to take it easy over the last week due to a sore throat just when I was starting to get in some good weight training. Tonight I was even so lazy that I skipped my spin class. I am trying to get over this so I can get back to training for the month. It appears the Army may have other plans for my residence come spring time though so we will have to see, I think I am going to have to pick and choose what races I can attend this summer due to relocation. I currently am slated to still be in GA just 3hrs to the Southeast. Funny if I do have to go there I will be retiring from the military in the same place I was when I first came in - talk about coming full circle. To be Honest that is not a circle I was looking to complete there is other locations I would much rather remain in my current location or go to Ft Carson, Colorado or Ft Huachuca, Az especially in light of the fact that I am reaching 19yrs at the time they are moving me. So much for the best laid plans of mice and men huh? Well I am looking forward to getting back in time for the Dauset Festival hopefully and being out there with everyone for that weekend so if you are out there and riding that weekend I Will See You on the Trail! Thanks for reading

What was I thinking?!

2008-09-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

Well I am not sure what I was thinking but I am pretty sure it wasn't the same thing I was thinking as I finished my first 15K training run in preparation for the 20K. That was the longest distance I have ever run in my life and I can see why I don't do that on a regular basis......Well a few days later, now that I have finished my third 15K run(in the infamous words of ET OOWWWW)I am sticking with the shorter 5-10Ks just working on my pace and keeping the conditioning up for the 20K in 9 days now. It is starting to cool down out here so it shouldn't be too bad depending on how the weather goes. Life is back to it's usual schedule out here, with the number of trips I have made it is easy to fall back into the same routine. I am trying to avoid that using the opportunity to cross train, work on some strenght training as well as running. I am also trying to work on some educational stuff as well trying to self-teach MS Office 2007 interesting stuff with some unique features I wasn't aware were there until just a little while ago. Anyway keeping busy working and when I am not doing that trying to keep busy doing something productive. Saw the results for the 4hrs of Pig and constantly recieving the reminders about the 12hrs of Dauset just makes me that much more jealous but this being a short trip I will be home for the Dauset Festival so I am looking forward to that. Well that is about it for now so keep riding and eventually I Will See You on the Trail!

Fun in the Sun

2008-09-04T01:08:00.000-07:00

I need one of these at my place!

Well this is nice I can access my blog from here! Well I am doig good over here keeping busy and trying to fill my time in between work with some computer learning and some conditioning. I have already found a event to try to get in quick shape for that being a 20K run they are doing out here on the 27th of September.......Charles your a bad influence I don't think I would have even considered this event if you hadn't spent all summer talking about endurance trail running! Anyway I have done a couple of 5K runs and a 10K this morning and am steadily working myself up to it. My primary concern being more the nutrition side of the house, I have been blessed with the ability to get my conditioning ramped up fairly quick most of my life(I have noticed it has taking a bit more effort as I get older though). Anyway the humididty out here is the kicker even running at 3am I still look like I just jumped in the pool with my PT's on when I am done! Seeing as I left the bike at home this trip it will be mostly running the first half and then some weight training with some spin classes for the second half of the trip as well. Well that is about it for now so I will keep all my readers posted on my progress for the run and thanks for reading!

Riding and Raining

2008-08-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

Well we got in a good ride this morning at the Pig managing to get out there before the rains kicked in. The trail was still fairly dry as it looked like it hadn't received much rain prior to last night. Charles and I were out there early and ran a lap with the lights - it is always good to use the lights whenever I can seeing as the combined cost of my two lights was $700. We ran a lap in reverse, then a second lap at a pretty good clip and then started a third but cut it short due to time constraints. Now I find it odd that right before I go out on another sabbatical from riding that this phrase that can be found on my December 07 post comes back to haunt me "Was a good ride overall and had a great time I felt a little bummed out though I was unable to hang with the guys when they kicked it up a notch on the trail, it wasn't as if they kicked it to race pace or anything I just couldn't hang with them once they got going." That was once again how I felt on the third lap thru the technical sections as Charles and Ethan left me in the throes of a tourettes fit that would have had a sailor blushing. While my training regiment has been less than stellar or regular I just cant believe I fell off as much as I have since the beginning of this season. So the plan is to get in some solid weight training over the next two months while still maintaining a strong cardio routine consisting of running and spin classes. The goal being to develope some sustainable muscle strength so it doesn't fall off as bad as I have currently and in the past. Now being 40yrs old I guess I also have to take that into consideration that 3 weeks off will have more of a impact on my conditioning than it used to in my younger days. Well I will be out of net for a couple fo months again but aparently I will have a less restricted access to the internet so if I can get to the net to post for all my avid readers I will anyway today was the last ride until I return so it will be spin cycles for the mean time until I return. So have fun out on the trail and I Will See You when I Return!

Season Pics

2008-08-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

GSC #8

GSC #7

GSC #6

GSC Make-up SERC #6

GSC #5

R&R time

2008-08-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

Well the race season is over for me this year I would have like to have competed in the 12hr solo at Conyers and Dauset but the Army has other plans for me the next two months. I am enjoying the downtime just taking it easy doing some PT getting in a short break before I start my transition period. I am looking at doing some weight training and some swimming while I am deployed as well as the infamous abs classes, I always come back in better shape than when I left. Anyway this weekend will be the first time in 4 months that I am not planning on doing any riding either trail or road so we will see if I don't go into withdrawal. I will however be doing the fun household chores that have gone neglected for the past race season so I will have a full schedule even without the riding not to mention it will be nice to sleep in both Saturday and Sunday so if your getting up to go riding this weekend I Wont See You on the Trail!.........Have Fun!!

GSC Series Pig Trail Race

2008-08-03T19:05:00.000-07:00

Started in April with flat rock...........

First Win Ever at Ft Yargo.......

Athens mudfest that was a challenging race.........

Clemson race that was a cool race with some good climbs........

Carter Lake a Challenging Course and my second GSC win of the season.....

Well it was a great day for the GSC Final at The Pig Trail. The weather was pretty warm and the trail was in perfect condition. I ran a pretty good race but my plans for a perfect day were spoiled by a North Florida rider who had nothing better to do than come up here and steal my season finale win by stomping my time by over 2.5min. Anyway I managed a 2nd place finish and clinched the GSC Series for the 40-49yr old class for 2008. Gone Riding provided some outstanding awards for the overall awards and provided a good banquet on the short notice cancellation of the previous arraignments. OMBA crew once again put on a first class event with great support and a perfect race course. Mark, Monte, Eddie, Jake, Grant, Rick, Renee, Dean, and a dozen or so more that helped put on this event I need to Thank for putting on the event. A Big thanks to Bill Stoudt and Charles Reeves from The Bike Store for all there support thru the Season and while not officially sponsoring me I couldn't think of a better couple of guys both personally and professionally to promote cycling for. I think I might take a rest from the trail for a little while, maybe a ride up at Dauset for a fun Sunday morning before I have a work imposed two month hiatus from the trail. Looking forward to Tuesdays Stork demo Ride at The Bike Store so if your out there I will see ya there

Preparing for the Pig

2008-07-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

Well just one week away from the end of the GSC series and accomplishment of my overall goal I set back in January when I started training for this year. I finally got the Vertex-70 out and back on to the trail at the Pig, wow little different riding a 16.5" FS with 5" of travel then going to a 18" hardtail with 105mm fork. So I am getting used to the handling of the hardtail again and checking out the new sections of trail that were cut. I have my training plan all set out with a ride out at the Pig Saturday and then again Monday morning, Tuesday will be a Spin class during lunch and then back out to the Pig on Wednesday, with a recovery day on Thursday a training ride Friday evening and a Spin loosen up ride Saturday morning before the race. Quiet a bit of riding this week - just a good thing its getting close to the end of the season as the wife is getting about at the end of her patience for my obsessive behavior when it comes to MTB racing. anyway I have been getting in some good road riding as well trying to keep up the conditioning this past week the Tuesday group ride had a good pace with a overall pace of 19.3mph, it was a good thing the train came thru in Byron otherwise I probably wouldn't have seen the front of the group until the finish as they dropped me pretty good there for a while when they started doing the pace line. Anyway I will be switching out the Maxxis Ignitor with a High Roller for the race so I am going to do that tonight for the next week and get used to the handling of that tire, from what I read it has some great grip, very predictable and low rolling resistance so I am looking forward to seeing how that works out. I will be sporting The Bike Store new kit and for the race with the Ergon Team grips as well(gotta keep that color coordination). So if your out there at The Pig this week or Sunday I Will See You on the Trail!

GSC#7 Ft Mountain

2008-07-20T17:28:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to go to the Dinning Out Friday evening

The Elusive Bruce is spotted at the GSC Event

Was hoping to get back to top of the podium with Gary absent but Steve was more determined

Getting ready for the start of the race

Well after a month off from the race scene it was back to the trail this weekend. This was a new trail for me as I have never rode Ft Mountain before and it was quite the challenge. I arrived up there late Saturday night and camped out with Steve and some other riders who were competing up there, BTW Ft Mountain has a great Camping area if your ever looking to go camping in the area. Anyway it took me longer to get there than expected so there was no opportunity for a pre-ride of the course and was just going to have to wing it for the race. Sunday weather was great for racing and we kicked off on the second wave around noon I was able to get a strong start I could tell this was going to be a challenge with how it started climbing early into the race. Anyway Steve must have been training something fierce cause he was climbing like a man on a mission, I was able to catch up to him at the end of the first lap right at the Start/Finish when he thought he had a mechanical but he managed to close up again about a mile into the first lap and just took the lead and away he went on the second lap. Anyway since I wasn't getting on the top of the podium I went for the cool points, ripping down the Power line Hill at the end of the course I was passing another racer doing 29+mph and got a little squirrely to put it mildly and somehow managed to recover, well Bruce was announcing the race and I guess it was impressive enough that he even held his breath for a second before announcing I had the good hands award for the save of the day. Well it was a good time overall, and a good work out and warm up to get ready for the Season Finally at The Pig. It is time to crank it back up a notch and make sure I am in top form as I plan on winning this race decisively. So if you happen to be out at The Pig over the next 10 days or so or if your racing in the event I Will See You on the Trail!

Back to the Spin Cycle again

2008-07-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

Sporting The Bike Store before I get all dirty on the trail!

The Pregnant Zoe and the proud Dad........Anyone want a puppy?

Well after a couple of weeks of recovery and healing time it is back to training and getting ready for the next race at Ft Mountain. I started off the week getting rained out at The Pig trail on Sunday, I was disappointed in the new reroute on the trail I like the difficult, sometime treacherous downhill sections that are considered trail erosion to most I guess(I do not claim to be knowledgeable about trail building either btw). I try not to complain because I am rarely around for trail maintenance but sometimes it seems to me we try to tame down the trails so much that when I go somewhere that has some of the more mountainous terrain it is that much more difficult due to lack of opportunity to ride it here. That being the third such reroute around the more challenging areas of the trail since the storm. Enough of me complaining though I appreciate the work that everyone does on the trails to maintain them even if I don't agree with some of the changes. Well I managed to get a lap and a half in before the rains and see how the hip and knee felt which was pretty good. This morning I got in a 4 mile run and then hit the spin class during lunch. While not the funnest of ways to train it definitely helps with the training as it makes me push myself harder than if I am on a group ride our out by myself on the trail. I am also working on the diet as well trying to get myself back down to 140-142lbs for my race weight, I still have 3-5lbs to go. I plan on hitting the group ride on Wednesday and get a trail ride in Thursday. I will be taking Friday off and then heading up to Ft Mountain on Saturday so hopefully the training will get me ready to go on Sunday. I will be sporting the Army Kit for this race coming up but am looking forward to showing off the new Bike Store Kit it looks really sharp. So if your out there on Sunday I Will See You on the Trail!

Rockin the Pig

2008-07-08T18:32:00.000-07:00

Not me....my son, 11yrs old and really not to keen on the riding scene had me wondering who was this kid on the bike in front of me as he went charging up hills and rolling thru some of the sketchy stuff. It was definitely one of those moments when I was so proud I was just smiling all the way thru the ride. That was until I decided to do my second lap, now I haven't ridden since the 22nd of June at the GSC #6 Race due to my leg injury and having some travel requirements. So all told a little over 14 days since I last turned the cranks the leg seemed to be healing OK still having some weird muscle issues at the point of impact on my upper thigh but still not hurting when I ride. Anyway I get no more than 2min into my ride and one of those don't know what hit ya happens and I go down right on the same spot, OUCH!

Well not to be refused that easily I get up shake it off and ride on, I had several motivating factors driving me. 1) No training last two weeks 2) CGS #7 coming up in 10 days 3)GSC #8 at the Pig Trail in just under a month. While I am not sure how my performance will be at Ft Mountain I am determined to win at the Pig at the Season Finale. That gives me 24 training days to get back into the shape I was in for the first half of the season. Being that the Pig Trail is more about speed than technical I figure some solid spin classes and maybe a couple of road/trainer rides and a weekly trip out to the Pig to memorize the trail and I should be ready to race.

So while it has been a nice break the past two weeks I had wished it wouldn't have been injury driven. From what I can tell I did damage to a muscle that is apparently not a primary cycling muscle but can cause some issues with the leg itself as my wife can attest to. Apparently a deep tissue bruise can lead to calcium deposits being left behind in the muscle after the blood clears if it has been pooled there for a length of time. Hopefully I did enough over the past two weeks to keep that from happening and am not causing more damage by riding(as long as I don't keep falling on it). If the calcium deposit is big enough it basically acts like a bone spur floating in the muscle and causes a cutting effect when it gets stuck in the muscle just right and can be fairly painful and requires surgery to remove it on occasion.

Well that has been alot of rambling about not much of interest to others but I figure it keeps my avid readers current on the excitement that is my life. So if you have plans to ride the Pig Trail this weekend or any weekend before the 3rd of August or our racing at either Ft Mountain or the Pig I Will See You on the Trail!

Rock Hawk Photos

2008-06-24T19:55:00.001-07:00

Hanging out Chillin' before we get racing

This was the "Steep" drop-off at the start of the race

Some of the new section this was a serious technical second half of the trail

I was glad to see this line the second time I came around

Hopefully I won't have to race the guy on top of the stand in the last two GSC races might stand a chance at being up there at the top of the stand!

All Photos courtesy of Mesta Photography

Let the Healing Begin

2008-06-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

We all started at the same time but.....

Gary started getting his lead right off the bat and .....

He kept it all the way to the podium!

Well after getting lectured by my Dad and wife about the danger of being 40yrs old and having a severe deep bruise on my thigh that takes up my entire thigh especially since the bruising kept spreading. Don't even ask what I dealt with when i told my parents I raced after having the injury, that was a lecture waiting to happen. Anyway the visit to the Doc proved to be exactly the waste of time I thought it would be, lets do a X-Ray, well not broke(duh! think I figured that out Sunday) here is some 800mg Ibuprofen(Army cure-all)and take it easy on the leg. Meanwhile I have a spot that giggles like I have a water balloon stuck in my thigh, gee wonder what that is? Anyway I am icing it down for a while and taking the Ibuprofen to reduce the inflammation and taking this week off of training(that will be the hardest part of healing for me I am already itching to hop on a bike). I don't feel quite so bad today on the time split between me and Gary today since he would have placed top 3 in 4 of the sport age classes with his speeds yesterday I felt like it was a deja-vu with Ron Fields last year! Anyway I will be keeping busy at work this week and then up in MI for the 4th of July so it may be a while before the next post, or ride for that matter but it looks like I will be going to Ft Mountain so if you happen to be out at the Pig Trail in July I plan on doing a lot of training out there for the season final I Will See You on the Trail!

Rolling at Rock Hawk GSC #6

2008-06-22T18:18:00.000-07:00

It was a good weekend of Camping and Racing out at Rock Hawk Park this weekend. Gary smoked the rest of us as usual however me and Steve had a pretty good race going there. It was a good finish 2nd place again I am glad Gary is focusing on the SERC series otherwise I might not be having any 1st place finishes this season! Tomorrow it is off to the Doc to see what he says about the leg as the bruising from Thursdays spill has now spread to the entire thigh pretty much, good thing I will have about a month to recover before the race at Ft Mountain I think I will need it. Anyway tomorrow I should have some pics and more details to follow. Thanks for reading.

OUCH!!

2008-06-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

Well that was exactly what I was thinking as I went flying into the dip at the bottom of the fast single track out at Thomson today. That was because a second before I went flying into the dip the front tire caught some of the loose sand on the outside of the trail sliding it sideways and before you could say deep tissue contusion I was laying at the bottom of the dip bike on top of me. So a serious elbow abrasion, sore shoulder(not sure what might have happen there) and a sore raised area the size of a fist later(will get some pics once the bruising comes out!)I was up and walking it off. I managed to hop back on the bike and ride out at a decent pace even put a little effort into the last stretch but was definitely not going for a second lap. While it probably will put the kibosh to any riding I was planning tomorrow we will have to see what if any impact it might have on the race abilities this weekend. However if Tiger Woods can play the U.S. open with a injured knee and double stress fracture I think I can manage to race a mountain bike with a bruise, abrasion and some muscle aches so I am still planning on competing. So I am resting this evening and getting packed up tomorrow to head out to the Camp grounds at Eatonton on Saturday and with all the local riders that are planning to be there it should be a great weekend. So if your going to be out there I Will See You on the Trail!(Hopefully I won't be laying on it when that happens!)

Clemson Cruisin'

2008-06-16T16:52:00.000-07:00

These Guys provide me with all the equipment and support so.........

I can get up here at the end of the race using..............

The training and discipline I learned here

Well it was another fun weekend of MTB racing this time up in Clemson, SC. This weekend was the GSC make-up/SERC #6 race with a ITT on Saturday evening. Unfortunately it looks like we lost one of the top competitors in our class Francisco Alba to a back injury - hopefully he can come back before the end of the season. The TT was a good preview of the more difficult sections of the trail with some good climbs and technical areas involved in the course. Race Day was great with good weather and the course was in perfect condition. We had our usual consistent group size with Francisco there to cheer us on and try to motivate me to beat Gary who is the fastest out of our group (right now). We got a good start and a few seconds on Gary when he started turning at the wrong spot on the course, however being the good sports we are we hollered back at him not to turn as we kept going(we will take any advantage we can get!). Anyway we hit the second hill and that was pretty much all he needed to take the lead, I dogged him all the way to the end but just couldn't quite get there to catch him. I will have another chance this weekend at Rock Hawk so we will see if I can use some of the single track to my advantage. I am going to stick with the same training plan this week since I am racing back to back weekends for the past three weeks and try to keep myself fresh without burning out. So if your out at Thomson on Wednesday or out at Rock Hawk this weekend I Will See You on the Trail!

Ellijay - Thomson on Steriods

2008-06-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

That is what I was thinking as I went around what was probably the longest 5 mile trail I have had to race this season. I remember why I said last season if I hadn't missed a race by this point I would use this as my drop! The layout was a little different this year as we just had the two laps instead of the short lap added on to the standard lap to make the distance. That gave all the riders the chance to do all the hills twice...YEA! Granny was getting rode hard on the second lap, I went with a plan on the second lap I would either be in the big ring or granny gear which seemed to work well for me considering the finish. I am considering running the SERC race at Clemson this weekend coming up and using that as a makeup for the Ft Mountain Race but that would cost me 15 bonus points which I might need so I will have to work the math and see.

Either way this week I plan on spinning the legs out this week and thitting a spin session or two during PT if I can. I have the ARMY Birthday run this Friday which I was planning on running with my son as a fun run and just have a good time. Hopefully I will have a decision for this weekend by then and figure out what I am going to do, I hear it is a pretty fun and fast course so I know I would enjoy the course regardless. The finish definitely made the drive worth it and the race was definitely a challenge and one fo those courses when you finish you know you earned it. So if your out there on Wendseday I Will See You on the Trail!

Preparing for Ellijay

2008-06-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

Well this past week has seen more time on the trainer and in spin classes than I have since I returned home in April in preparation for GSC #5 at Carters Lake. This is to get ready for the terrain up there since we don't have the hills to train on down here so I have been working the trainer courses with some good elevation changes. Sunday I went on the road ride with the group from The Bike Store for Derricks B-Day it was a pretty good ride with a casual pace for the most part with a few areas where we picked up the pace for a little bit but for the most part was fairly casual and enjoyable ride which was good because the temperatures were up there quite a bit. I went through 2 water bottles of accelerade in the first half of the ride and refilled with water and gatorade when we stopped at the store. Was pretty happy with the ride though I haven't had the Trek SL1000 off the trainer in a while so it was good to get it out on the road. I was also trying out my prescription Tifosi sunglasses which have done great for me on the past couple of endurance races and GSC races they allow the air flow through well and are pretty light and stay secure on my face during some pretty hectic terrain. So the rest of this weeks training will consist of PT all week with one or two more spin classes and a trail ride out at Thomson, weather depending. The wife decided to make the trip up to Ellijay this weekend with me so we will be heading up on Saturday so I can get in a preride so if your racing this weekend or out at Thomson this Wednesday I Will See You on the Trail!

Heritage Park Race

2008-05-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

Well it has been over a month since my last GSC race so I was looking forward to hitting the trail for a race shorter than 12hrs today. We were riding in style up there with The Bike Store trailer and truck courtesy of Bill Stoudt and Charles Reeves. The weather looked promising for a dry race however it apparently decided to rain yesterday up in the Heritage park area so the trail was slick in some of the rooted areas but just tacky enough to provide traction in alot of areas as well. There was quite the central Georgia showing at the event with Charles, Chip, James, Monte, Dean, Chad and the Fields. There was quite a few Bike Store kits out there as well. I could tell I need to get back on the trainer and get a few high intensity workouts in before Ellijay/Carter Lake in two weeks and get the legs strong for the climbs felt a little slow today. The flow of the trail was intermittent as well, with the wet rooty areas really interrupting any area you could get a flow thru. But it was a good challenge with some technical up and down hills with some roots and ruts that made it pretty difficult to keep a good momentum. However if I remember correctly than this was a good warm-up for Ellijay. Anyway I had a 4th place finish so while I am feeling disappointed with my effort today I wont complain about the finish. Charles posted a 11th place sport finish, which considering he hasn't raced or trained for a mountain bike race at all this season is outstanding. Chip had several mechanicals with two flats during the course but still managed a top 10 if I remember correctly, Chad won his group of course. Well my goal for the next week and a half is to get in some pretty intense power workouts and get the legs ready for the hills up in Ellijay in two weeks, most of which will be done in the spin classes or trainer with a couple of rides at Thomson and a ride at Dauset should weather permit this Sunday coming up so if your out there I Will See You on the Trail!

12hrs of Tsali

2008-05-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

Lets see how to describe the 12hrs of Tsali this year.........AWESOME! To start with the accommodations, we stayed at the Nantahala Resort Cabins this year very nice. We had a Jacuzzi on the deck and a two person jacuzzi tub in the bedroom very nice and secluded area.

As for the race accommodations the setup of the transition/feed zone was idea for the race right in the parking lot off of the county line road so that we didn't have the 1/2mile hike up the hill to set up the pop up.

Next the weather was looking rough for the day prior to the race overcast and rainy, locals said it had been raining the previous three days as well. However when race day came it was clear, blue and 72 degrees out, perfect race weather. Trail conditions were as good as could be asked for it was pretty dry for the most part, with some low spots that held water that made it just sloppy enough to cover the bike in mud each lap.

So to the race start, we had the typical Le Mans style start so I did the stroll up the hill to the bike and headed out just about my typical dead last. I did notice at the start that the participation in this years event didn't seem to be as large as the previous year but it was a pretty good turn out. So for the first lap I did the typical catch and pass until about 6 miles in were I hit that spot between casual rider and serious racer were I was pretty much riding by myself for quite a while. it was pretty uneventful at this point with the occasional pass and getting familiarized with the trail so I could get the flow down. With the first lap down I settled into a pretty good routine with about a 10min pit stop in between laps and back out to the trail about lap 3 the knee started to let me know it was going to let me know it was there so I popped a aleve in between lap 3 and 4 and away I go. Anyone who has ridden Tsali knows the last climb starts with the climb up the steep V shaped cut with a large tree to the left of the trail and pretty good roots. I almost managed to clean it on the second lap got 90% up and lost traction, that was pretty much the only area I couldn't clean on the entire trail. By lap 5 Granny was getting rode hard on the steep parts and some of the not so steep parts as well. About 8:45pm I started my last lap with the lights ready to go, the combination of the NiteRider Tri-Newt on the handle bar and the Flight HID on the helmet lit up the trail like it was day, for the combined cost of the lights it should but if your looking for a night riding setup that is a sweet match. Anyway on lap 8 the knee was letting me have it I could peddle up the hills but the slightest resistance and I was feeling it, if I stood on it I was feeling it, and if I tried to race it was screaming at that point I realized this was the last lap for the evening. So even though I finished in time to start another lap I had to call it a night conditioning wise could have made another lap but the knee wasn't going to allow that, plus I have the GSC race this weekend so all told I had the 8 laps for about 85 miles in about 10hrs and 45mins which I considered pretty good for Tsali. Based off of what I saw at about 10:30pm had me 11th place in the combined 12hr Solo male, female, and single speed riders. The plan is to take it easy enough to recover from this race while still do enough riding to keep me ready for the race this weekend and not aggravate the knee anymore than it already is. So if your out at Thompson this Wednesday I Will See You on the Trail!

Off to The 12hrs of Tsali

2008-05-15T20:05:00.000-07:00

Well we are packed and ready to go, just have to load the bike rack in the morning and get the family packed and will be on the way. We are staying in Nantahala Cabin resort so the family will be extremely comfortable and I will have a jacuzzi to come back to after the race. Last year I only completed 6 out of the 12hrs and didn't run any night laps I am hoping for a better showing this year. I have been taking it easy with the training the last two weeks since I just came off of the 12hrs at Ft Yargo so I need some recovery time as well hopefully I didn't let myself go too much we will see. I am going to be running a new light set up at Tsali I received a TriNewt NR light for my B-Day and the angled helmet mount for the Flight HID so this should be a solid set up for the race checked out the lights tonight at Thompson and combined they really light up the trail. Well it is getting late and I need to get up early so I will wrap it up hopefully I will have a good ride to report on when I get back. I Will See You on the Trail!

The BIG 40

2008-05-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Carl Mesta Photography

Well it has arrived, I have lived to see my 40th B-Day. Many a time my father stated he would be suprised if I lived to see my 18th B-Day but somehow I managed to squeak out another 22 on top of that. In light of this significant milestone I have set up several goals before I reach the next big step at 50 as they relate to biking.
10. Compete in a 24hr event Solo
9. Podium finish in the Sport Class
8. Acquire national level sponsor for racing
7. Convince Army to sponsor MTB Team
6. Convince wife I need a new Carbon Fiber Full Suspension Racing bike
5. Establishment of Mountain Bike Promotion Company
4. Sponsor one local and one regional event
3. Learn how to maintain my own bicycles completely
2. Win a open catagory 12hr Solo Event
1. Compete in the Trans Rockie MTB Stage Race.

How we Roll and Ruff Ruff

2008-05-04T18:07:00.001-07:00

Travelling Dauchsunds

Rolling in the first class section

12hrs and 108miles of Ft Yargo

2008-05-04T16:14:00.000-07:00

Army Strong with a before race breakfast burrito!
Still looking good with one lap down - 8 to go
Top 3 male Solo Beginners 12hrs
Yes I fit all of this in a Saturn Vue.....
Along with the four bikes on the Saris Rack

I believe this is a first - 12hrs without busting my butt or running into a tree! That was without a doubt the best I have ever done on a endurance event and I was pleasantly surprised with the results. The weather was great it was overcast enough to keep it cool all afternoon with enough rain to cool ya off during the first couple hours. The late afternoon the sun broke thru and it was beautiful for the rest of the evening and into the night. I hadn't run a 12hr solo in 2yrs so was a little concerned how I would hold up once I got passed 6hrs. Most of my training in the desert was short interval 1hr spin class with my longest ride being about 4hrs. My longest trail ride was out at Duaset after my return about 3hrs so I knew I would have to work my on pace and not bonk half way through. So a month after being in the flat land of the desert I was out in the hills of Georgia winding my way around the trails. The trail was fast, clean and flowing after the field got spread out alot of the smaller uphills could almost be cleaned on momentum.
We had the perfect feed zone location right after the start/finish line thanks to Mark D. who set up our pop up for me the day prior right off the tape. So after getting in a pretty good pace for the first 4 laps I tried to back it down on the next two so I would have something left for the evening as I was pacing myself for 9 laps. Granny gear was used frequently during the last couple of laps on even the some of the smaller hills but I managed to keep a fairly steady pace through all of my laps which was my goal. The trail was awesome combination of twisting single track with downhills you could rail and catch air on according to the Garmin I topped out at 30mph down some of it. The steep uphills were usually led into by some equally steep downhills so if you picked the right line it was just a matter of timing the shift and using your momentum to get up and over. There was of course the unavoidable long steep uphills that you just had to downshift, lock the fork and go for the rpms. Overall I won the beginner group with 9 laps in a time of 11hrs 54min. This was a good warm up for the 12hrs of Tsali in 2 weeks which I only did 5 or 6hrs of last year so hopefully this indicates I am better prepared to ride compete in this event. I have to give a shout out to Charles Reeves and The Bike Store for getting my bike in great condition for racing it ran perfectly the entire time on the Trail and definitely helped me ride as well as I did. The new Saturn Vue was outstanding in loading up all the gear for the event plus, 4 mini dauschunds, my 11yr old son and all the DS gear that comes with him plus the Saris Bike Rack and all four bikes that travelled on it. Well I will be taking tomorrow off pretty much with a recovery ride Wednesday and then a Friday afternoon ride, this week will be kinda busy so sneaking in some riding to keep the legs fresh for the 12hrs of Tsali will be a little tricky but I am sure I will manage while not overdoing it. So if you are out there when I happen to be I Will See You on the Trail!

Checking out the night life

2008-04-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

Well starting to get everything around for the 12hrs of Yargo, making sure I have a list of all the things I will get half way up there and realize I forgot anyway! Since it has been almost a year since I have trail ridden at night I thought it would be a good idea to try the lights out and make sure I still could ride at night and not run into a tree(Oh wait I do that during the day anyway -- boy am I screwed!). So with the FS in the shop getting the race tune and clean up I took the HT out to Thompson and put the lights to work. 50 yards into the trail I had to turn around, first lesson learned, need bandanna under helmet harness not secure enough otherwise that lesson left a nice mark across the bridge of my nose. back out on the trail and rolling along.... OK bouncing really...those of you who ride hardtail regularly at Thomson your Hardcore! Anyway the rest of the ride went pretty good worked on looking through the turns and down the trail to get the best light use and quickest travel. So tomorrow after work will be the preparation and packing evening and will be heading up to Winder Friday evening my pop up will already be up there thanks to Mark D. So if your going to be racing up there this Saturday I Will See You on the Trail!!

A New Vue, and a New View

2008-04-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Well this week saw a couple of new things first a new Saturn Vue which we got a great deal on that gets much better fuel mileage than the Colorado so the wife is driving it to school and we are taking it to the races. The nice thing about Saturn is you can get one pretty much loaded with very nice features, the OnStar turn by turn directions are great, but the cost is much less than what you would pay on a equivalently equipped vehicle from any other manufacturer. Also they finally started allowing the GM Earnings to be used on Saturn purchase which helped us a bunch.
Now for the other new View I finally got to see what it felt like to finish the race first and be the tallest rider in the class(which I need some help with at my height). Ft Yargo was definitely the fastest trail I have ridden in GA combine that with the wet trail conditions and we were in for one awesome race. I arrived out there at about 7am and since I had never ridden the course before I figured I would hit a familiarization lap and check out the course. It was in good condition even with the rain and for the most part a big ring course. I ran the setup as planned 4" in the rear and 100mm on the fork it worked great. Since we had a 0930hrs race the lap served as my warm up as well, I had a little trouble on the start getting clipped in dropped to 4th but by the first half mile I was out front and staying there. I was also trying out a new pair of Tifosi sunglasses with a optical insert, they worked great didn't fog up and stayed clear even with all the mud and muck the tires were kicking up if your looking for a pair of shades or just eye wear that works good for riding check them out. This was a good warm up for the 12hrs next weekend I am looking forward to that it will be a great event. Not sure if I will hit the trail or just hit a group ride this week, have to get the bike into TBS so Charles can make sure it can take the abuse I will dish out but if your out at Ft Yargo this weekend I Will See You on the Trail!

Running Sucks!!

2008-04-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

OK well maybe it doesn't but if you haven't done it in about 4 months and then try to hang with the fastest guy in the Company (Army Unit) for 4 miles it does. I felt pretty good during the run, and was even able to hang with him when he was pacing at 6:30 a mile, when he kicked it up to 6 min miles then he left me behind. but for 4 miles I was able to hang with him. It was the following 24hrs when the leg muscles started tightening up that it hurt. Anyway that was monday morning, I spent Tuesday night on the trainer did the 17 mile Ligomes course with a pretty strong pace kept the cadence high to try and spin out the legs. They seemed to loosen up a little this morning which I spent stretching out trying to get the lactic acid out and focus towards race day. Picked up the bike from Charles today at the LBS he did a race tune up on it for me and put some new ignitors on it these are supposedly the Lightwieght UST aka LUST which I promptly tried out at Thompson this evening. The tires work great good grip on everything, which I can attest to becuase I kept catching sand in the face off the tread even though the trail was bone dry! Ran two good back to back laps out at Thompson and then headed home. Will hit the trainer again tomorrow for some speed work and then The Pig on Friday to fine tune the setup for Yargo which is should be similar to that as I keep hearing how flat it it so we will see. With all the training I have been doing focused toward the races I have had minimum long rides on the trail but Sunday I did get 26 miles at Dauset and felt pretty good all the way through. Hopefully I will still have the endurance abilities to go for 12hrs in two weeks at Yargo, I would like to make a good showing in my first endurance event of the season. Well that is about it for now so if your going out to The Pig on Friday or racing at Yargo on Sunday I Will See You on the Trail!

Hardtail vs Full Suspension

2008-04-17T19:07:00.000-07:00

Well it has been a enjoyable two weeks with nothing but riding time and getting acclimated to being back home but all good things must end and after this weekend it is back to work again. I made the most of it with almost a 1:1 RPD (thats Rides Per Day) average for the last two weeks including the race. I was able to get a ride on the trainer on Monday, did a 17 mile course on Ligomes on the real axiom, stairmaster for 30min on Tuesday, Thompson for 2 laps on Wednesday and then Arrowhead today for 3 laps. I have been maintaining a pretty good schedule this week which I will hopefully be topping off with a morning ride at Dauset on Sunday. Today was not only to get some training in but also get the new Fox Talas RLC set up I am debating on which bike to take out to Yargo - the Vertex or the ETSX. The course description sounds like a good hardtail candidate but I am doing the 12hr Solo there the next weekend so I would like to get a feel for how the FS is going to ride out there. I believe I found the set up that will work for it, if I set the fork to 120mm and lockout with the pressure activated lockout release and set the rear shock to 4" travel with the propedal set + that seems to lock it down pretty tight while still providing the travel where needed. Anyone considering the Fox fork be it the Talas, Float or anyone of the models there in you can't go wrong, this fork is sweet and adjusting on the fly is fairly easy as well. During my 3 laps out there today I ran it through the gauntlet of its adjustments messed with the rebound and compression and got the fork set for my riding style. Then worked through the varying travel settings and the automatic lockout release pressure settings, the fork responded great in the fast technical sections of the trail I was flying thru the stuff like it was cool. Once I locked it down it climbed like nobodys business I have always been a fan of Marzocchi Forks and still believe they are good forks but I gotta give it to Fox this Fork is a sweet ride. Anyway I hope to be out at Dauset on Sunday morning so if your out there I Will See You on the Trail!

Flat Rock - Podium Finish

2008-04-13T18:59:00.001-07:00

FINALLY!! I got to feel like what it was like to lead a race, still waiting on how it feels to win it but I managed a second place finish and felt pretty good overall about my performance. It was a fast course with some changes to last years layout that allowed for a better start and spread the field out before it got to the narrow single track sections so you could pass. After getting past the eventual 3rd place finisher I had to make up over a minute on the leader to catch him which eventually I did(only because he figure he had such a lead he could cruise for a while - my turtle and hare ploy almost worked!) The interesting part was once I caught him he apparently thought I was in a different class and waived me around shortly after that he realized it, I was a good sportsman and offered him the position back however he said no and from there the race was on. I managed to keep him working for it all the way thru the single track and the first part of the parade lap but couldn't hold him off after that and basically blew up on the last stretch of climb. Hopefully next time I don't get so far behind and don't have to work so hard to catch up. This was a good start to the season and hopefully one I can continue in two weeks at Ft Yargo. I was reading the reviews on that course it would appear that it is also a good trail for a Hardtail and pretty fast as well, however I am planning to do the 12hrs Solo there the following weekend so I may take the ETSX out there to get a warm-up run in, guess we will have to see take both out there just in case. Anyway the plan for this week is some drivetrain maintenance, some trainer time or road ride with some stairmaster thrown in for good measure and a trail ride or two out at Thompson. I would be remiss without mentioning a Big Thanks to Bill and Charles and the rest of The Bike Store employees for all the support and assistance they have provided me over the past two years which has directly contributed to providing me with this awesome finish Thanks Guys!! Anyway if your out at Thompson this week I Will See You on the Trail!.

Back in the Saddle Again

2008-04-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

Well after the last two days at the Pig hopefully I have knocked the rust off the trail riding skills and am prepared for my first race of the season at Flat Rock. The last three months of spin classes and some interval road rides on the hardtail have helped alot on the conditioning and weight loss I have gotten down to a race weight of 141 lbs so hopefully the weight to power ratio has been helped in both directions. I have been able to improve the lap times each of the last three days of riding up at the Pig which is a pretty close match to the course out at Flat Rock so I am feeling pretty good looking toward Sunday just hoping the weather is good this weekend for it.
Hopefully this will be the start to a full season of racing for me, work schedule appears to allow me to be home to compete in the entire GSC Series this year. I am quickly approaching the big 40 so I will be competing in a new age group this year but same class, I am sticking with my commitment to have a competitive season in the beginner(base) class before moving up to Sport where I will continually get my butt handed to me. Along with that I am planning on competing in two 12hr events, Yargo and Tsali in the solo category as well as competing in the 64 miles of ORAMM again this year, that race was a A$$ Kicker! I am looking forward to keeping myself busy this summer and hopefully be more active in the OMBA chapter as well to give back to the group.
Well that is about it going to pack for the race tomorrow and relax and get ready for Sunday me and Rick will be carpooling up there together and racing each other once we get there. So if your going up there on Sunday I Will See You on the Trail!

Trainer and Pig Trail

2008-04-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

Well I was looking forward to hitting the trails the day after I arrived home however the weather put a kabosh on those plans. So while I was waiting for the trails to dry I did a couple of sessions on the trainer, which was still better than the spin classes at least I was on a regular bike. Today when the sun came out I figured the Pig had enough time to dry so me and the wife headed out to break in her new Trek Fuel EX8 WSD and get me some trail practice for Flat Rock on Sunday. The trail was in good condition a couple of rough spots but was ridable for the most part. I am looking forward to getting back out to the race and see how I do on the hardtail at Flat Rock. I am planing on hitting the Pig early tomorrow, putting in a couple of laps hopefully knock off some of the rust on the handling skills due to being limited to road rides and spin cycles for the past 4 months. So if your heading out to the race on Sunday or out to the Pig tomorrow I will see you on the Trail!

Back and ready to ride

2008-04-03T17:57:00.000-07:00

Well it was a long break from the trails but a short deployment overall only 3 months. I was able to kee myself in shape with the spin and abs classes and the frequent long road rides thrown in. Will have to see how well it pays off in a week here up at flat rock GSC #2. Well I will be out on the trails this week so if your out there I Will See You on the Trail!

Merry Christmas

2007-12-25T16:07:00.000-08:00

Well just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas from our family to yours wherever you might be and however you might celebrate make sure to take a minute raise a glass in toast or spend a minute in prayer for those spending there holidays away from their families and love ones so that we can continue to enjoy the freedom to celebrate with ours. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Rain dampers and Hangovers

2007-12-20T20:16:00.001-08:00

Well been a eventful week off here at the Houghtling House last weekend we had two parties scheduled for the Saturday. My son's B-Day party at DJ Galaxy Qwest and my promotion party at the house with Keg. Now my son had a limit of 10 people he could invite and had ten kids there 4hrs of fun! wasn't too bad actually and the boys had a good time. Now with the limit my son had on his kids he could have and he still had more people show up for his party than I had for mine! The weather kept alot of people home but those who did show up had a good time and some good food as well. I did my best to put a dent in the keg of beer with assistance from those who came over and paid for my efforts on Sunday! Anyway I got back up on the trainer Tuesday evening and then out to Thomson Trails on Wendseday. Once again I was painfully reminded I need to work on my strength training and climbing so I will do my best while I am out on my Desert training camp so I can come back ready to race in April. The new helmet showed up today and it is SEXY I will leave you with the bike porn and if you are out there on Sunday I Will See You on the Trail!

Training Made Fun

2007-12-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

Boy been a little while since my last post been busy with work again, like I said before I hate it when work interferes with riding and blogging time! Anyway I have been up to Atlanta, where we had to go to the mall and of course Performance Bicycle. Well I have been looking at the Axiom Real Trainer with the virtual ride software except they run about $700. Well in the store the trainer was set up with the computer so we could see the actual system in action and it was sweet. It was also $200 cheaper so without hesitation the wife said "Merry Christmas" Well long story short this trainer rocks with the optional courses and displays that track HR, Cadence, Power, and Speed. The training courses are pretty good and the video courses are pretty tough and provide some good training as well, I haven't missed a morning all week! If your seriously looking for a indoor trainer this is a great system to look at and for $500 not a bad deal. Anyway I am planning on taking some time off next week and hopefully get in some trail riding before I have to pack up for my trip which I will be packing up the Vertex to train on while I am out there. Well that is about itfor now so while it may not be anytime to soon I Wll See You on the Trail!

Why Stans is Better

2007-12-07T19:16:00.000-08:00

Recently one of my esteemed colleagues whom I have great respect for posted about the wonders of the Bontrager Tubeless system and how it is better than the other systems on the market. Being a devoted user and avid promoter of Stans Tubeless I felt obliged to respond and defend my products standing as the best tubeless system on the market. Of course the following is the excerpt from there home page however from personal experience I have only once had a incident that Stans couldn't seal and that was a sidewall tear that no tubeless system would have sealed. So without further due here is my response(all in good fun and competition of course!)
About Our Tubeless System
Stan's tubeless system will convert your existing wheel set to tubeless allowing you to use either standard or tubeless tires. Saving hundreds of dollars and weight over purchasing other Tubeless Systems.
Check This Out

The side walls are touching and the bead lock is exposed!

Features and Benefits of Stan's Tubeless System
Stan's Tubeless System offers two sealing points on the tire versus other tubeless systems which use only the bead lock as their sealing point. First the bead lock is sealed, as well as the lower portion of the tire and rim to create a second inner seal. This unique design allows you to break the bead lock seal without losing air pressure. Secondly, the inner seal flexes inwards with the tire to maintain air pressure (see above photo).
The patented Rim Strip makes installation simple. It can be removed as easily as a tube and can be used over and over again. Time involved can be less than 10 minutes per wheel. With this system you can lose rotating weight in an area that previously was not possible.
Your lightweight wheel set can be converted to a tubeless set up with only 56 grams of added weight per wheel. Saving hundreds of dollars over purchasing new wheels.
No need to worry about the dreaded pinch flat.
Possibly never having another puncture flat again because of the self-sealing qualities of Stan's Tire and Rim Sealant.
You will be able to keep using your lightweight tires and not be limited to buying expensive and much heavier tubeless specific tires.
The New Molded Rim Strip features a new Presta valve stem with a removable core allowing you to add sealant without removing the tire. This removable valve core will make inflating easier by increasing the air flow into the tire. Removing the valve core also allows for cleaning or easy replacement.
Stan's Tire & Rim Sealant can also be used to seal punctures and slow leaks that occur in most tubeless tires. As a result, your tubeless tires will hold air for longer periods of time.
Other Information

If you are interested in rotating weight (and who's not!!) you can lose anywhere from 100 grams up to 400 grams of rotating weight per wheel set.
This System does not require any modifications to your existing wheel set. If you are not satisfied with it, all you do is remove the rim strip, and put your old heavy tube back in and go riding.
This System requires very little mechanical ability to install.
It does not use any glue and you can change a flat the same way you do now.
Lower Air Pressure, Better Traction and Ride

Stan's Tire and Rim Sealant will usually last from three weeks up to three months. At that time you simply add more. (Time will vary due to different tire characteristics). It leaves no mess in your tire.
Stan's Tire and Rim Sealant can also be used in tubeless tires for puncture resistance and STOPS leaks.
Once you seal your tires they will not lose air pressure.
What happens if I get a flat on the Trail? -- Do like most riders, and bum a tube from one of your pals because they always carry one. Heck, use their pump too!! Stan's Tire & Rim Sealant does not use any glue, so you can change a flat the same way you do now.

Pig Trail Riding and Planning for Training

2007-12-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

Well it has been almost 4 months since I was out there but it was great being back out on the Pig Trail today. Was out there with Charles, Ethan, Gary, Chad, Jesse, Ryan and a couple of other riders who's names escape me at this time. Was a good ride overall and had a great time I felt a little bummed out though I was unable to hang with the guys when they kicked it up a notch on the trail, it wasn't as if they kicked it to race pace or anything I just couldn't hang with them once they got going. I have several excuses, ran 2 miles Thursday morning, rode 15miles same day at lunch, rode thompson last night, ect, ect, ect. However bottom line definitely seems to be I need some more leg strength when I hit the hills my leg muscles started to burn as soon as the elevation started going up. That not withstanding I did have a good time hitting the trail again, and look forward to getting out on the trails a few more times before my next work related trip.
Speaking of the next work related trip I should be able to get some outstanding training in if work doesn't interfere. I will have access to spin classes, ab classes, weight room 24/7 and of course a good 20 miles of road with some guaranteed wind resistance to make up for the lack of elevation changes. This means it is simply a matter of putting together a good 3 month training regiment and sticking to it as well as not overdoing it on the 24/7 buffet of a chow hall as well as all the available junk food. So my challenge is to develop a focused workout plan that accomplishes what I need to create more speed and hill strength using the resources I will have available to me. Not quite sure at this time what I will be able to compete in or if I will even be here for the entire season. As it stands right now that does not have a high possibility of being the case however, I should be able to compete in a couple of the GSC races and the 12hrs of Tsali and maybe one other endurance event. So I am hitting Charles up for a training program for the time frame so that I can get in shape along with my other goal of getting down to 140lbs for racing season, which is a 14lb loss from my current weight. For the time being though I am just enjoying the riding time and am going to stick with the trail since I am going to get plenty of road time coming up so thanks for reanding and if you happen to be out riding while I am I Will See You on the Trail!

Dropped like Michael Vick from a Nike Commercial!

2007-11-24T19:39:00.000-08:00

Well I have fallen behind before in a ride but always been able to get pulled back up before I lost the group however today that was not the case. For the first time in my vast experience of 4 group rides I was dropped and then subsequently lost. So after missing the left turn I should have made that I didn't see(my bad as well I failed to print the map) I continued straight on RT 42 for about 7 miles until I finally decided that I would have come across someone by now so I turned around and headed back to the last known position, Forsyth. So by the time I went back to Forsyth I had 56 miles on the Garmin and decided rather than try to get back to Macon I would just call the wife have her drive out and pick me up. Charles who asked me if I wanted to go ride with the group today and James another rider spent a good hour checking the route for me so they did attempt to locate me once they got back and realized I wasn't there so I appreciate that. The first half of the ride was pretty good the group got doing some pace line work which started my demise as we hit the hills. I really need to work on my climb strength that seems to be my primary weakness because I can hang on the flats and I have never had any issues with downhills. However I am not deterred, just more determine to get up to speed with these guys I figure it has to help the MTB Racing if I can get up to speed with the road guys enough to hang for the entire ride. The technique of tempo riding is a interesting one, most situations I fly down the hills no brakes getting as much speed as possible for the impending uphill. With these rides I am breaking all the way down the hill to stay off the guys wheel in front of me and spinning earlier to get up the hill but it definitely makes ya work for it up the hill. I did get some good cookies though due to the fact that I was dropped so I was lucky there they were some good cookies, Thanks Steph. Well this week will be a couple of more short rides during the day a night ride on Wenseday with Charles and a ride this upcoming weeked which will probably be the last road ride I do on the weekends as I will be road riding for a few months after Christmas so I will be looking to get some trail time in before then. But for the near future I Will See You on the Bike!

Dauset or Road this weekend, Hmmmm?

2007-11-20T20:26:00.001-08:00

Well been a little while,(over a week) since my last post and has been a eventful week. The Good news is I was selected for MSG by the board so I will be getting promoted sometime in the future, hopefully near future. The drawback to that good news is with that promotion comes a guaranteed PCS to a new duty assignment so come this time next year I will definitely be somewhere else. Anyway as far as riding and training goes I had a good week last week, ran 3 days for a total of 10 miles and rode 50 miles during the course of the week and the WBL ride on Sunday for 57 miles. This week has been a little less with the holidays coming and all the arraingements that have to be done so looks like a Wednesday night ride with Charles and either a trail or road ride this weekend haven't made up my mind on that yet. I will probably see if anyone is going to do a group ride on the trail and what time and see if that fits the schedule and then make my decision so whatever the outcome I will See You on the Bike and thanks for reading.

"hmmm, what gear should I wear and how can I get these gloves on??"

Dauset Festival

2007-11-10T19:06:00.000-08:00

Well it was a good day at the Dauset Festival today I headed out about 0730hrs and was there by 0900hrs. I had plenty of gear and the bike and everything loaded up the night before so I was well prepared for the day and looking forward to it. I think the last time I was at Dauset was about a month ago so I was ready to hit the trail. we had a good showing of riders to begin the day with and it only got better as the day went on. So we started out with a good size medium group and me as the group leader-first time for everything since I hadn't been a ride leader before. I tried to keep everyone together while making it a fun and challenging ride for all. Based on the feedback I guess I did a half way decent job of it. We did the entire loop and were back in time for lunch, which was some Delicious firehouse sandwiches. After that I relaxed for a hour or so and then got some clean riding clothes and hit the trail again, this time it was solo cause everyone was out riding already and I wanted to do Huff and Puff again(not a popular choice the first time!). This time I kept a fairly steady pace, eliminated the stops and rode straight thru the whole route so I completed it in 28min..... oh wait no I mean 1hr and 51min. Had to head back home after that so I didn't get to make the weekend of it but it was great to get back on the trail again and 34 miles on Dauset at any decent pace is a pretty good work out. Tomorrow will be a day of rest and relaxation and I will probably hit Thomson on Monday since I have it off(don't forget to thank a Vet)and will be out there early enough that it won't be dark before I finish. So if your out there I Will See You on the Trail! Meanwhile here are some pics of today's festivities.

Good Week for Riding

2007-11-08T17:34:00.000-08:00

Well this was a good week for riding at the Houghtling House. After Sundays ride I took Monday off and recovered, on Tuesday I was able to get in a hour of PT in and did 15.9 miles at 16.9mph avg, Wednesday I did a couple laps around the airfield for 15.6 miles at 17mph avg and then Wednesday night received a call from Charles to do some intervals which was pretty fun it was pretty cold out there at 9:30pm, 37 degrees to be exact. Today I went out and did the C group route for 21 miles at 18.3mph avg I started at 4:45pm and by the time I wrapped up 1hr and 9min later according to the Garmin it was getting dark. The kicker was I decided that I would be warm enough with the short sleeve jersey and the wind vest, well two miles into it I realized that decision might have been a little off. Well since I was already out there I was going to suck it up and I managed to keep myself somewhat warm. I also realized why riding alone(particularly road riding) was not such a good idea but ya do what you gotta. I am looking forward to this weekend out at Dauset I will be out there Saturday for the festival days and since I haven't been on the trail in about two weeks I am looking forward to getting some dirt and catching some air. So if your out there riding I Will See Ya on the Trail!!