Who turned the Oven on

Where did the heat come from? Managed only 90 minutes of saddle time yesterday before I ran out of water, my legs walked off and the mind shut down so I decided to head home. Didn't get any cross drills done. oh well. But I wish my ride enderd here again, and i could order up some butter dipped goodness

I wouldn't visit this place at night unless you have a sick fascination with getting sucked dry by viscious mosquitoes. Is this considered a good recovery food?

The bike is 80% ready for sunday. Haven't found decent brake pads that I like yet and the ones I ordered are making there way here by Mule. Brakes or no brakes, complete lack of skills will provide amusement for not only spectators but competitors alike. Spent today off the bike since i had to mop out my basement when the neighbors hot water tank started leaking, again! Which means the basement compound is in a state of disarray, more so than its usual organized chaos. Till Friday is a crap shoot with the weather and saturday will be spent chasing the tornado around town.



I know what my pre-race meal is going to be....do you....if I Can wait that long...hmm......

Amesbury

Anyone..Anyone....
Amesbury Pines Park Amesbury, MA
Sunday, September 30, 2007

The MTB is back up on the hooks and Redline is ready to go, the Maxxis Mimo's have been mounted, race cassette mounted. Just waiting on some brake pads....but when you are going as slow as I am..who needs brakes. Anybody run a SS in CX?

Smashing Pumpkin MTB Race

Root66 wrapped up the MTB season with the final event at Winding Trails. This course has been historically a fast non-technical course with lots of fire roads and quick terrain. This race was no different except for more laps, less training and new tires. Got to the race just in time to kit up, register, dump the kid off and get on the line for the roll out. The whistle blows and the start was not as chaotic or as fast as I thought it would be. It was fast, but not stand on the pedals and crank till your blue in the face. Maybe thats why i was at the back of field.. The pack of 26 didn't break apart until about the 2 mile mark and then it split into three groups. Guess which group I was in! One slow guy really held up the group when he stacked it on some log rollers but I was able to get around him and two other riders in that third group where I was destined to stay. On the second lap I was able to catch riders (notice i said catch and not "pass") on the ride up through the start/finish area and that long slow rise to the single track. The new single track was pretty nice and they even threw in some jumps right at the end. They were pretty fun with soft landings. The dust that was kicked up was pretty thick, it was amazing how dry it was.
Anyhow, the second lap, a fellow MTBMINDer joined on we rolled at a decent pace passing one or two other riders...before he flattted on the third lap. I could catch people on the inclines but would loose them on anything that required braking. It was a combination of bad techinical braking skills and no traction by the tires in the soft stuff so they would pull away again. Finished the 3rd MTB race of the season with my highest placing in the sport class...a whopping 19th...sweet!!! The effort put in will hopefully pay off at the Amesbury race next weekend. Either way, good race, happy with the effort put in, good weekend!

The Race weekend

Finally got the fork on the Cross bike. It rides alot stiffer and more responsive. Currently trying to dial in the braking, its getting close but it's not 100% where i like it yet. Going to try some different pads to see if it gets better. Also need to wipe down the braking surfaces as well. Been able to get out and hit the Belmont Trails on it lately and it is a blast to ride. I think with a better saddle, it will continue to improve. The Fizik arione will be up for sale asap!
This weekend, I'm going to dust off the Giant and run that tank at the Smashing Pumpkin . It should be interesting becuase I have two family BBQs to attend that weekend. Nothing like carrying a little extra weight around, but it should be a decent way to get some miles in.

Random

So, I got in some sprints down by the river last night, all on the way home. Testing out a new saddle too....about 6 adjustments and its feeling good now but sunday will be the deciding factor. Even managed to get the new bearing race pounded onto the cross fork (aluminum fork is going to be better than the steel one i think). So thats ready for installing this weekend. So many things going on. Once the fork is on, might start taking the other route home by the Wildlife preserve and blasting around on those trails. Should be good to go.
Got bored so here are some photos from when I was biking a few weeks ago in either early morning around nap #1 or after the little man passed out for the night...guess where I'd rather be...my best riding is always when i'm on vacation.....


Stop playing with your Dingy


Food Review: The sandwiches stunk but thats not what you go here for...Food or more specifically, French Fries fried in DuckFat....very tastey...just avoid everything else on the menu. The taste was pretty different than what I expected, geasey but not too bad, smokey flavor and easy finish...who thought you could review a french fry with such complexity


Sunset...the mosquitoes showed up in force, only after stopping for a few seconds, had to get moving or loose way to much blood. Lycra is a mere speed bump for those little bastards, they can pierce it easily,the determined ones anyways.

It's all the Same

Its been a while becuase there has been nothing to really talk about. Cyclocross season is rearing its anaerobic head so that means I should be doing sprints and practicing dismounts and "technique". It hasn't happened. I have a wife, a toddler and a job that all take up all my time. Hours on the bike consist of going to and from work and little in between. However throwing the litlte man on the back of the bike is pretty fun, i can eak out an extra hour here and there. I however did pull the trigger and buy a slightly too small Redline Cyclocross bike. The deal was too good to pass up. Kinesis frame, made in the USA (yes, the frame is older than most remember but made in the USA is a deal) and it's got some fun components, all 9spd-105 with CXP33 rims (Good training wheels). But what was the ultimate deciding factor, he threw in a complete ultegra drivetrain with it. So I got a steal of a deal. I had to do something with the money I made selling the last bike...one bike goes out the door, another comes in, an even exchange. So I have started to dial that bike and gettin' it ready for the Amesbury race. End of september. I"m gonna be terrible, it will be comical.

Actually made it to Wells Ave twice in the past month. I don't recall the previous race, i was dropped midway through and tried joining back up only to have the HR hit the roof and I was cooked, felt like puking up my nutella and coffee. Ended up at the back of the field. Last week wasn't great either but much more fun. During the mid race sprint for some Shackley product, someone on a yellow specialized put another rider into the curb, they were both pulled the next lap and spent the rest of the race on the sideline jawin' at eachother, these people gotta relax, were crash-5s, and nothing more. Then three guys decided to put on a show of force on right after the sprint when we were all sleeping and the peleton split into two groups. I was stuck in between both. I tried to bridge back up to the first group but the were really putting the hammer down. Turns out two of the guys were Triatheletes who like to TT. The second group was less organized and finally collected me but I put too much effort into sucking, that i got dropped by that group but then that group fell apart and splintered even more. I was all out of matches to burn. Eventually picked up two riders, who I dragged for two laps, one finally cracked and dropped out, the other guy helped out for a lap, and we would switch back and forth each lap, trying to collected riders. Made it back to Mr. Scattante and Mr. Ibex who linked on, but Ibex just took off and wanted nothing to do with us slow-folk so he went solo. Got lapped by the power-trio on the 2nd to last lap. Finished with a smile and a hunger for omlets with bacon and peanut butter pie.

Bengals beat the ravens in a close game...6 turnovers, and a turnover to end the game was fitting. Can't believe BC is 2-0 and Michigan is 0-2...NICE.

Registered for Gloucester..saturday and sunday. Can't wait to turn myself inside out for a less than mid pack finish...some people want a top ten, i'll be happy with top-75. ha. It's gonna be awsome even if the little man isn't awake to see the carnage. There my update for the month...boring and in-coherent


I wish my ride would end here on most days