I'm on a New Team!!!!!

By Default

I don't know how to say this without freaking a lot of people out, but I have recently joined the ranks of Team Brokeneck!
That's right, after a week and a half of hardcore riding, and neck/shoulder pain I decided to get some x-rays and validate my theory that something aint right. The doc pointed out a crack in front of the C6 vertebrae.
So I have some excellent drugs, and some taking er easy to do. Don't wanna screw up IronCross!



In other news a true legend in my life has passed on. I got the call last night that my Gramps who's been suffering for a while died yesterday. I am comforted by the fact that I said my goodbyes to him the last time I saw him, the suffering is done, and he is with the love of his life who passed on earlier this year. Its one thing to expect it, its another for it to be real. These two were like parents to me, and i've gotten so much from them. So a Jersey trip is in order later on this week!


What a week indeed...

Pre- IronCross Ride

If you're doing ironcross and you never do one of these rides, well, it's just gonna hurt that much more. It's our best simulation and a great introduction to those who will be going for their first time, or even considering...
You can adjust your outputs in sections because we always regroup or you'll get very lost.
New Kent is a great area, and provides an awesome riding experience with its rolling hills, and lots of unpaved roads.
We would never ever manage without our tour guide/ride leader Danbo! Thanks again bro for putting together another 60 ish mile 3 1/2 hour tour.
I've never seen so many flat tires!!! I was part of the few, the proud, the no flat crew!
The weather was whats often referred to and a fave of mine "mixed bag". With partly cloudy to sunny skies, very humid, mild winds then over to ominous clouds, rain, and thunder.
Thanks to Mike and Jerry for pushing me inside out, and beyond my limits every chance we had! And everyone else for joining in the fun.

weird...

what a week!

I just keep wrecking myself...
I sometimes wonder if my head is magnetized to the ground.

We kicked off our Tuesday CX training sessions at Trashmore and we had a nice small group who was eager to learn. We went over everything lightly hoping that some of it sticks. It's a lot to take in all at once, but if you do a little homework and keep coming back, the improvements will show. We did 3 laps of our mock course at a good training clip and boy did it hurt. We finished up with barrier drills where I made quite the fool of myself. As the group was circled around chatting I rolled up to the first barrier with my hands on the tops (away from the brakes) and my right cleat wouldn't release from the pedal. As a last ditch effort I lifted the front wheel to try and bunny hop my way out of it but was going too slow. I ended up raking my left shin on the barrier and landed on my butt. The pain up and down my shin hurt just a bit more than my pride! The next day I bought some new pedals and cleats (thx contes).

Tomorrow will be session #2 of CX training starting at 6pm. If youre interested in running prior to class for extra credit let me know...

Thursday was the All About Bikes night ride in Chesapeake which is very close to my house and has a mix of on and off road and it just totally suits the cross bike. Also a great bunch of people show up for the ride and post ride fun! This ride was good and fast, I had a great workout and was stoked to race the mtb in c-ville. But on the way home in the arboretum, i took a spill and landed head first in a 6 to 8 foot ditch. I was wearing a backpack because 5 of us meet up an hour prior to the ride to do some much needed trail maintenance, so I packed a change of clothes and stuff. So just before the crash I ran up the stairs and remounted cross style but the weight of the pack kept my momentum going to the right and i quickly veered off to the right. As I lay at the bottom on my back near the water, my light eerily facing up and it was very quiet. I couldn't lift my head or arms but I could turn my head and move my hands. That was very scary, but after about 30 mins of remaining calm i was able to claw my way outta there and bring it home in limp mode. I found little to no marks on me but I was sore as hell. I still feel the burns from the backpack straps on my shoulders. So the pain is where my shoulder blades come together and in my neck.

Below is a great pic of where it all went down. I went back the next day to put some light on it.

Below is Mugs mowin stuff down. He really wanted a chain saw and to break stuff and other things I just can't mention... Mugs, Baker, Nick, Albe, and I made quick work of a temporary trail re-route. This is my helmet that I didn't noice was broke till the next morning! I have never broken a helmet before...
I thought this was just a classic place for me to pose for a pic at the blue ridge school drama shop. I think I could ace that class!

So I had to fight the demons and figure out if I would make the trip up to c-ville for the off road omnium. I went, I was tight, but toughed it out and rode a little light to ensure no crashes but that was really hard due to the technicality of all three courses. Big ups to my host house for putting us up. We didn't even break anything.

Thanks to the Tevendales and everyone else involved in making this great race happen. I met a lot of really cool people and was reminded why I love mountain biking first.
The race details and results can be found on the Bike Factory Racing Blog
It was a lot of fun, and I will definately look for it again next year and you should too!

enjoy your coffee, i will blog soon...

grab your balls because we're going bowling!

Shenandoah Mountain 100

Almost a week late...
I must say I've been reading and viewing everyone elses blogs and photo galleries on the SM-100. I'm very impressed with how blogged this event is. But anyway, as most of you bloggers know, the more you wait, the harder it gets to post. I'm going with bloggers block!

We rolled up there early saturday morning and got there in the afternoon to tent city. Our usual spot was full so we were freakin out a bit. Found a nice spot near the pavillion. Good to be close to the food and beer, but you're also near the late night partying too. That's ok, the rain shut it down early saturday night, and sunday night, who cares?

This is my 4th go at the 100, and I really enjoy it more and more each time. I also try real hard to better my times with each attempt. I had a goal of under 11hrs this go, but fell short by clicking in at 11:07. Its all good because I know what I need to do; get a Pivot Mach Four MTB and work on the climbing. Everything else rocked, but some of the latter climbs after the big long one, I just couldn't do.

Despite being the only peeps from Tripower or anyone from the beach, we had a great time. Met a lot of new people as well as seeing some regulars. Having the girls volunteer aid station 2 really helped the event and made them feel more a part of the race.

I got to ride with Tom Gillespie for a lot of the first half of the race till he pulled away. We were rollin pretty good, but I felt the burn coming so I had to turn the heat down a notch.

I met a lot of people from the Arlington Contes who just loved our jerseys! I rode some with a guy who manages the shop who was suffering with his back on the big climb. He says I helped him up the climb, and I said no one would ever believe that!

I rode a lot with a lot of DCMTB/City Bikes peeps. We were rockin the roads and fire roads, that was a blast!

Mike Phillips and wife were there, she worked aid station#4. They let us borrow a pump for our air mattresses, our pump was brand new and needed like a 12 hr charge. Thx Guys!

Mike was riding well and passed me early, I saw him later on with a broken chain that I guess he couldn't repair.

I met and rode with single speeder Ryan Delaney who was cool as hell and very encouraging

mountaintouring is where it all begins... Every year they step it up to make it better than the last. Can't believe this was the tenth!!! Some people have done them all. It was really nice that a cake was presented to Chris for the anniversary. Even nicer that he gave it up to the volunteers at their meeting.  Chris, see you at some cross races, and your crew on super bowl weekend!

Gwadz was there, and I have yet to meet him, but i'm a bigtime fan and loyal reader of his blog! He went the hell off with numerous posts on the sm-100! He even attempted to write a hundred thoughts about it but fell short at 60 and left it open for us to chime in to finish. In that 100 list is links to i think everyones blog and photo gallery. Good Job, and look fwd to meeting ya in person!
         

cyclingnews has the race report, various pics, and broken down results




Bob's Photo Gallery Got to meet Bob at the camp. Cool guy who takes cool shots and supports his son! Cool last name too...


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Jonathan Bruck Photography



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Camp Horvath!

Aid Station#2 Where the Horvath Ladies did work! The oranges were a must at every stop.
Ryan McKinney going back to his roots and hitting the dirt. His first crack at the 100 was most impressive! A well deserved pint glass free of charge for you my friend.
I got 4 of these bad boys now!!!!

We'll be back!!!