Back from the Beach...now I can rest!

Oy Vey! I thought going away was supposed to be restful. 4 days in Litchfield gave me angina. Between the H.O., the management trainees and the BlueHairs, I've had my fill of family for a while.
Thankfully, I did a couple of good rides while I was down there. The was some drama on Friday night though. I locked my bike on the roof of the truckster and left my keys in Columbia!!! A frantic call to Grand Stand Bicycles and I was on my way. I borrowed a pair of ChannelLock pliers and coaxed the nut off the locking skewer.
The group meets @ 7:20 on Saturday in front of Grand Strand Bicycles (owned by Hawley's alum and former Columbia rider, Tim Woolford) and sets off promptly at 7:30. No waiting around for stragglers down there...
It was a meandering and convoluted way to get 60km, but it was a damn good ride. No fiddling around either...it was 35kmh out of the parking lot. Between the early start time (I was up @ 5:45...on vacation) and the lack of warmup, I struggled for the first 10 minutes or so. Once the diesel was warm, it was go time. The "A" group started with about 20.
The ride winds the Murrell's Inlet and into several big neighborhoods and ended up taking on a bit of a figure eight loop. I had no idea where I was or where we were going so I kept my mouth shut, took my pulls and didn't get invovled in the dynamic...until the end. Those guys just don't know how to ride in a paceline. Guys would hit the front and wind it as tight as they could for 60 seconds and pull left. The problem was the fact that rest of the group went left with the guy in front! No one was pulling through in the right line, so I started to...! I think they finally figured it out(kinda). Tim says he's tried to explain it, but he's not making much headway.
The ride was 60km and we were back in the parking lot with an average speed of 34kmh! Overall, a really good, steady, tempo ride with a bunch of really nice guys.
Sunday morning, we met @ 7:30 again, for a ride out of the middle of Myrtle Beach, down through Socastee and back. This ride was about the same speed, but had some stretches of open road, rather than diving into gated communties every 2 miles. There were 15 guys on it and we did another 60km in under two hours. Another good ride with nice dudes!
After both days, I went back to the condo and lounged on the beach, threw the kids around and lazed by the pool. The condo complex had a 'river' style pool that had a current in it. You sat in a floating donut and the current just carried you around the perimeter. Freakin' sweet!!!!!!!!!!! I kind of fell asleep and was jostled awake when I skipped of the side with my elbow. Yeeouch!
I tired and am going to bed. I'll be out tomorrow night, if no rain. I'll ride either way, but the rain will bring out the cross bike.

Dark...

Well, it seems that the Thursday night slugfest may be coming to an end soon.
We had a decent sized group last night and did the abbreviated loop down through the flats. The group stayed steady, except for when Dr. LP took longer and harder pulls than everyone else. Go right ahead, if you want to be in the breeze that long.
The group split a couple of times, including my little dig at the same place as last week. I just like that section of road. I think I may be channeling my inner Belgian.
Once back together, we rolled a nice, 40kmh paceline all the way to Old Hopkins. It split again and 5 of us went on to the store together. Sam flatted and we did a turbo change and were back on our way.
All together on Pineview, for safety's sake, as it was getting pretty freaking dark at this point. We had to slow at the 2nd level crossing for a train that was stopped up the tracks...only a few seconds though...
Once going, the pace shot up and the group split again on Shop. The same 5 rolled down and across the bridge to the sprint. Normally, I'd go for this sprint, but it was too dark and there was too much traffic, so I lead it out at 50kmh. It didn't deter a couple of folks, who came close to seeing the front of a 28' box truck. I've seen smarter moves on a group ride...
Next week may skip the Clarkson cut through and just go right and Cabin Creek. Time to find the lights...
We're off to the beach...see you at the TNCWC...

Interesting happenings

Strange things are afoot at the Circle K...

HealthNet found a new, as yet un-named, sponsor for 2009...not so strange...
It seems they have signed Floyd Landis to the team...

Lance has decided he's bored with having random sex with blond, flat-chested Hollywood starlets and is coming back with Astana for a handful of races next year, including The Tour.

There was no TNCWC last night, as snorkels would have been de rigeur. The sun was out @ 5:30 as I aired up my tires. @ 6, it was getting dark and at 6:15, it was raining like some movie special effect.
The plan is to ride tonight...if it's not raining. I wish my new derailleur would hurry up and get here so I could actually get the Salsa back together!

#1 wanted to go play in the rain, but the thunder and lightning prevented it...at first. At the end of the storm, I put his raincoat and boots on him and let him splash around in the lake that had been created in the front yard. I hadn't seen lightning or heard the crash of thunder for a long while, so I figured there'd be no harm. About 5 minutes into the splash fest, thunder boomed (far away, but nonetheless...) and the boy turned into an olympic class sprinter. He booked it back to the porch! I've never seen a kid move that quickly, much less one in a dinosaur raincoat and matching boots. Funny stuff, I'll tell you what...

7 of 9

It's funny how people just pack it in during certain times of the year. Saturday was a perfect day and the ride was thin.
Anyway, we did a loop through the flats and back in on Airbase. Airbase was the only windy stretch during the entire ride, and to be honest, it's been worse on Thursday nights. I ended up with right @ 80km and spent almost all of that time with my nose in the wind.
Sunday, the group was actually a group. Again, we did a modified, meandering loop through Lower Richland and came back in on Airbase. It was pretty amazing that the bunch stayed together the entire time, riding 2x2 for 3+ hours at 32-35kmh. It was a very good ride. Another 90km in the books. Since the M.T.s were out at the spa for the weekend, I did get a gooooood nap on Sunday afternoon. You know it's a good one when you wake up confused and wondering what the hell just happened...and you're in your own bed!
I have ridden 7 of the last 9 days...20 hours...575km! I'm really tired. No ride today, just water and ibuprofen.
I'll see you guys at the TNCWC. Light week this week, as we're going to attempt to go to the beach again this weekend...

another good ride...

I don't know what's going on around here, but some of the rides lately have been, well, great. Last night was another example...
The group was small, as some are over it for the season and others seem to be afraid of coming home at dusk. However, it was a very cohesive ride. After going out through the Fort, we immediately (almost automatically) settled into a 40kph rolling paceline. Instead of doing Elon, which has probably seen us for the last time on Thursday until next year, we turned down Horrell Hill and went across to the flats. The pace picked up on the DH section, but the line still just rolled through.
We cut across to Mineraville and into the Roubaix section, where I pushed a bit on the rough, headwind, false flat section and split the group...sorry...
After a re-grouping, we rolled the paceline all the way home. It was a really good ride and the sunset on Clarkson and Shop was amazing.
It was a big mileage and time week on the bike for me. 14 hours and almost 400km...more than I've seen in a long while. I really want to ride tomorrow, but I'm almost looking forward to the rain...

The sillyness continues...

...almost every team is switching bikes for next year, even some that would really surprise you...

Silence-Lotto was on Ridley, now on Canyon...
Tinkoff/Katushka was on Colnago, now on Ridley...
Saxo Bank (old CSC) was on Cervelo, now on Specialized...
Rabobank has been on Colnago forever, now on Giant...
Columbia was on Giant, now on Scott...
Rock Racing was on DeRosa, now on Fuji...
Milram was on Colnago, now on Focus...

There will be more, as a few teams are going belly up at the end of the season...where will Cannondale go after HealthNet is gone?

TNCWC

I actually felt pretty damn good last night @ the TNCWC. My bike, on the other hand, evidently has some W.O.S.* on it and performed like a low-end Trek with 105.
I had shifting issues and just couldn't get it right yesterday, so I deferred to Shrews. He installed a new chain and it got a bit better, but not by much. My chainrings and cassette were both shot, but I was out of time, so I rode it as it stood.
The race started slow and gradually ramped up. Breaks went and came back. There seemed to be a lot of folks who wanted to ride and race, but didn't want to do any work. I must have closed 8 or 10 gaps over the course of the crit. Casey was flying last night, chasing everything that went. She's hard as fucking nails, that one...
About 30 minutes in, I got stuck in the 14 and the bike wouldn't shift up. I had to stop and make an adjustment to my W.O.S.* and I jumped back in the group. After that, the rig shifted, but it took some coaxing to get it to go up the cogs.
Osama Bin Ridin took off and stayed out until 2 to go. When he got pulled back, James from Harrell's nailed it and rolled away solo. I jumped with one to go, thinking that the group might want to pull him back. I got halfway across and looked under my arm for help...there was none.
He stayed out for the win and the group sprinted for second.
It was a good ride, but there are still a few folks that just don't have a clue out there. I threw a couple of flicks and don't feel bad about doing it. Ride with your heads up and settle down...it's a practice crit for cripe sakes...
Overall, I felt good and rode well, but could feel the previous three long days in my legs!
This morning, I switched out my chainrings and cassette and the bike actually shifts now...amazing...! I guess after three years and 20,000-ish miles, shit just wears out...even high $ Dura-Ace. I ordered some new rings and will bite the bullet and order a few cassettes when they become available from PBK.

*- W.O.S.= Worn Out Shit...
No beach this weekend...T.S. Hanna took care of that...
See you guys Thursday...bring blinky lights!

3 good days

It's really funny how 3 good, long days on the bike will actually make you feel better...well, for me at least!
Saturday I felt like complete ass on the bike after a week of barely riding. Two hours on Tuesday and nothing for the rest of the week. I was blocked up, couldn't breathe, couldn't get my HR up and just generally felt like crap for our 3 hour ride. I rode okay, but it was my base fitness that allowed me to survive, nothing more. We did the normal Eastover loop and ended with right at 3 hours on the bike.
Sunday, I felt better, but not at all like normal. The ride was supposed to be a slower paced affair, but turned into a paceline ride. It wasn't all the fast (35-37kph), but not quite as slow as we originally planned. We did a very modified loop through LR and ended with another 3 hours on the bike.
This morning, we met at TVH's house for a loop through Calhoun County. We took off right on time and headed across the river with considerable cloud cover...which was the weather M.O. for the day. The pace was a good one and we settled in for the run out. Instead of the full 120km, a group decision was made to turn at Big Beaver Creek and shorten the loop to 105km.
I felt really good on the bike. I could breathe, my HR was good and my legs were good. I felt it in my legs, but it was a good hurt.
We stopped at the store in Sandy Run on the way in to refill and TVH kept going, saying we'd catch him. Well, the old man must've been killing it, because we never saw him again and we didn't exactly dilly-dally.
I ended with another 3:30 on the bike. Total for the 3 days was right at 9.5 hours and 270km. The TNCWC will be the 4th and last day of my little mini-block.
We're supposed to go to Litchfield on Thursday, but the weather may have other plans...

Ha-Ha (think Nelson from The Simpsons)

Tyler Hamilton won the USPRO championship today...
Dude served his time, leave him alone to race!!!!!!!!!!!
I can only imagine what the Rock Racing US Champ jersey will look like!

And before the nattering nay-bobs pipe up about him being a doper...

Dope doesn't turn a donkey into a racehorse!!!!!!!!!

Pretty fun...

Went to the game last night...
Went down on the field for warm-ups...
Hung out with Duce Staley...
Stayed on the field for introductions...
Stayed longer on the field for 2001...
Remained for kickoff and the first few plays from scrimmage...
...then we headed to the Superbox. Met up with some more old friends...
Talked football with the Governor for a while...
Ate entirely too much free (and very good) food...

As an aside, should there really be a QB controversy? Smelley was waaaaay better...
Carolina 34 NC State 0

Weekend rides

Saturday- 8 a.m. @ the circle
Sunday- 8 a.m. @ the circle
Monday- 8 a.m. @ TVH's house. We'll be heading across the river and doing a long-ish ride (75-90 miles) through Calhoun and Lexington counties. Shoot me a message if you want directions to get to TVH's.

Rain?

Well, I've decided a career path. I'm going to be a weatherman. It seems it's the only job you can have and be absolutely wrong...EVERYDAY...and still stay employed.
It was supposed to rain all day, and in copious amounts, yesterday. It rained for about 5 minutes, right when I left the house to ride.
I figured the threat of rain and the beautiful colors on the radar map would would keep people away from the TNCWC, and I was correct. More on that in a moment...
Anyway, I pulled the Salsa out of the ManHole(tm) and headed off into a light drizzle (that stopped 5 minutes later). Down through the ghetto and up to campus, then down across into Granby Mills. I found some trails, looped them together and headed back out. I searched for a way to get to the old bridge that leads to the locks on the river, but the kudzu was just too thick to even see the river, so I hit Bluff and went out to Heathwood Hall. I did three loops of the paved/dirt road back by the waste treatment plant...poo stinky...! The wind was pretty brutal on the uphill/headwind stretches. What took 4 minutes 30 with the tailwind took almost 8 minutes with the headwind. The stretches were almost intervals as the sandy/dirt roads were very wet and soft. 700x38 tires float over that stuff though...! It still felt good to get the HR up for 12 minutes at a time. Everything actually felt like it was working properly. Well, for me...the bike, not so much. That pig's getting overhauled as soon as I get a new rear derailleur. I digress...
By the time I looked at my watch, it was 7, so I headed over to the crit course to see if anyone showed. 7 intrepid souls came out to loop the course for 45 minutes. Crusty took the win from the small group.
I rolled in with Der Kaiser and Crusty and ended up with almost 2 hours on the cross bike.
No ride Thursday for me. I'll be in the SuperBox for the Carolina game...

back on the upside...

After last week's bout with whatever I had, I felt like complete and utter crap on the bike Saturday morning. I should have known better than to go to Pasta Fresca Friday night and eat a bunch of rich, heavy food after having a bad stomach all week, but the wives were out of town, so Doog and I went to eat. I deviated from my normal meal and got steak and gorgonzola ravioli with cajun alfredo sauce. The meal was excellent, but it laid in my gut like a lump.
We did Double Elon Saturday morning, and fortunately, no one felt the need to light the fire. We averaged a blistering 30.8kph for 2.5 hours. We did wick the pace up on Pineview and Shop and it hurt more than it really should have. I railed the turn onto Shop and didn't sit up. Sorry Mick...! Reed, Scott and I kept it wound tight to the bridge
Sunday met us with cloudy and humid weather, but we still had a really good group. We did Double Elon...again, only to turn left and wind our way over to Chaingang. It's funny how long that road seems when you aren't on the rivet at 50+kph. Maria needed water, so we stopped at the store in Eastover. Once everyone had refueled, Jed got a nice paceline working and we rotated all the way to the end of Airbase @ 35-40kph. It was a good pace that allowed some folks to get some work in and others to spin some garbage out. I spun all of the crap out of my legs and even felt good enough to give Maria a helping hand over the rise. The longer we rode, the better I felt.
We ended with a tad over 3 hours on the bike and 55 miles.
It was a good weekend on the bike.

I just got back from the zoo...
Chasing a 3 year old and a 16 month old is freakin' tiring...

News you can use...

After a bit of sleuthing (a very small bit that took all of 45 seconds or so), I have discovered the identity of TheRev from 'Church of The Big Ring'.
It seems he and Trek/VW mountain bike pro Jeremiah Bishop are one and the same.
I'm sure I'll get a terse email from TheRev for revealing his secret...I feel like I just outed Clark Kent...

No ride last night as the weather was crap. I really didn't feel like getting caught out in East Bumblef*ck in the rain. Ride Saturday morning...regular time and place...it's supposed to be nice(r)...

Today has been a busy one. Two of my three appointments have shown on time...shocking. The countertop guys and the plumber were here simultaneously, so that killed a bunch of questions and concerns. Yep, were upgrading this place yet again. A leaky faucet in the kitchen has lead to another $2500 jumping from my pocket for granite countertops. No new parts for the Ridley for a while...f*ck!
Now, I'm waiting on TimeWarner...anytime between 1 and 3, which roughly translates into 2:55pm!
The H.O. is out of town and the M.T.s are going to the spa for the night...it'll be nice and quiet around here for once...

Back on...

The crit course has been repaired and the TNCWC will go again next week at it's normal time...
I'll send out an email as well...
Please pass word along!
Thanks!

M

When good rides go bad...

Well, the crit course is all fouled up and more than a few of us flatly refused to do the 180 loop around the front stretch for more than a few reasons. Ergo, we decided to do a road loop out Bluff, up 2X Homey and across to Cabin Creek. All of the horsepower went with the road group and the ride started off fast and only got faster. It was probably better than some of the filler didn't choose to come with us, as they would likely still be out there, but I digress.
Once we reached the open parts of the loop, the pace went from a comfortable 40-42kph to a not so comfy 45kph+.
The run out Cabin Creek was a paceline affair and the line was moving along at such a high rate, we went all the way to the GMart and turned to come back in on Airbase. I was good until this point...good legs, good HR...so-so stomach...here's were our tale takes a turn for the worse.
On the run into the rise, FastLL took a monster pull and the group got lined out. At this point, my stomach was really sour and I was starting to get cold chills...not good! I made it over the rise and my abdomen just knotted itself into a tight little ball. I blew out the back in spectacular fashion and rode the remainder of the ride at a blistering 30kph...and that was a struggle. I had such terrible cramps, I almost called the H.O. to come get me, but it was bedtime for the M.T.s, so I took the most direct route home.
Once home, I spent some quality time in the loo for the rest of the night. I did catch up on some reading though.
Today, I am physically empty. It took all I had to get the M.T.s ready this morning. I'm shaky and starving, but afraid to eat anything more than buttered toast and drink Powerade. I feel as empty as Paris Hilton's head. I haven't felt this bad in many a moon.
See you when I see you...

Weekend Update...

The usual suspects met Saturday morning for a cruise out through the country. We decided to go out Leesburg to Congress and across to the flats. The run out Leesburg wasn't ball-breaking, but it was definitely quick. Reed and Scott took off at the beginning and we chased for the first 3 big rollers. The gap got to where it looked manageable, so I dropped it in the 12 and ripped across in one of the valleys. I got across, but it really hurt and shot my legs for the next 30 minutes or so. The climb up Congress sucked hard after the effort.
The rest of the ride was a nice, fast tempo affair, albeit shorter than usual. It was no VG ride, but you know...
Sunday morning, the five of us did a modified Eastover loop at a very temperate pace. It was nice. Cloudy, drizzly and cool...surely beats the normal August riding weather.

Good rides!

I'll be at the TNCWC. Thursday looks like a wash...

PS- The Crit course is fucked up...big metal plates all the way across the backstretch....

Pretty mediocre...thank you...

That's how I felt last night. I was tired, the legs were flat and my heart just wasn't in it. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to ride my bike, but killing it had little appeal.
The ride was big last night...must have been the weather. We did the normal Thursday Elon loop and the pace seemed pretty sedate for the first hour or so. Once we hit Airbase, things changed. FastLL and Der Kaiser hit the front, one after the other and jacked the pace through the roof. Everyone was together until the rise. How I went over 4th and got gapped out is an act I can only blame on my own stupidity. I let the line go by and ended up on the wrong wheel. At this exact moment, FastLL nailed it and the gap was open. I was boxed in and just watched it roll away. I got unboxed and chased my guts out for about a kilometer and then just waited for Corbett and Reed...they got gapped too.
We chased hard and the gap never opened further...it also never closed! The rest of the ride was piano. Some folks jacked it up for the sprint...I wasn't one of them.
I think I'm flat because I've been forced to take off so many days in the past two weeks. No more...
I have 3 weeks until another forced break, so I'll be on the bike. The next break is a beach trip and family photo shoot. The H.O. hired a photographer to take some of those 'big happy family on the beach' pictures. Oh joy...!

Oh, I almost forgot...
We are batting around the idea of a dirt road metric century for the late fall/early winter. Anyone who is interested is welcome. We've decided that the dirt/gravel/whatever sections will be fast, but the paved portions will be at a moderate pace. Let me know...! I'm going to start piecing the route together shortly.
Saturday 8 a.m. @ the gate...

Spoilers

Cancellara smashed the field in the Men's TT for Gold...
Kristin Armstrong did the same to the Women's field for an American Gold...

As for my toe, it doesn't hurt, but DAAAAMMMNNN is it ugly...

And it's just freaking beautiful outside today...
I like to think I'm relatively accepting of circumstance, but I simply could not live in the Pacific Northwest...
Link together 10 or 12 days of rain like today and I'd jump of the Gervais Street bridge...ugh...

Yeeouch........!

Yep, that's my toe...
I smashed the poor little fella last night walking around the bed. King size bed frames don't move when small, fleshy objects are run into them. It hurt like a MFer at the time, but is little more than sore right now. Fortunately, I can walk, run, ride, etc.
It's an ugly little bugger though...

Miss Gale

Casey,
You kick ass! Don't even, for a moment, feel bad about any results you had at Nationals. One year of riding brought you a 7th, a 12th and a 13th!!! Anyway you slice it, that's great!

Weekend...

Friday...Beer Ride...truly frightening...I hadn't ridden for 5 days and had really stiff legs, so I bit the bullet and went out. That shizz is just out of control. Too many people with too few skills. Sean and his kid almost killed the group. Peanuthead is right on the very edge of crashing, even when going dead straight. Last time out for me...
Saturday...8 a.m. ride...normal crap. People with too much false pride chasing and wanting to show how fast they are, only to be dragged home. Wanna ride fast? Tuesday @ 6:30 and Thursday @ 6:00. Saturday should be steady with a few fast stretches thrown in. Regroup at the turns.
Anyway, once the pretenders turned off and/or went to the back, the ride settled down into a nice loop. Crusty had some tire issues and there was a prolonged flat change that took up most of the group's spares. At the end, Crusty and I went handlebar to handlebar for the sprint. We both lost...me, the sprint by @ 4 inches, and he, his sunglasses. Nothing like hearing someone shout "SHIT" right beside you at almost 65kph. I was steeling myself for a crash that, thankfully, never happened.
Sunday brought out a bigger than usual group for a slow (nice!) ride through Lower Richland, up Congress and across to Airbase. It was a pleasant ride, filled with good company and good conversation.
Overall, a nice weekend with cooler temps and some much needed miles. I'll miss the TNCWC again Tuesday, as the H.O. has a work function in Greenville. Her work is putting a crimp in my schedule...

The last three minutes...

Jacked...
The Olympic Committee is serious about no other outlets showing the events...

Results

Casey is in Cali @ the U23 nationals...

TT - 7th
Crit - 12th

The RR is tomorrow...
Casey...stop listening to the naysayers. Finish your undergrad and GO PRO!!!!!!!!!! Grad school will always be there...

Love/Hate

I hate PETA and pretty much everything they stand for, but...
I Loves me some Amanda Beard...
Great Googly Moogly!

Look Keo Recall

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08354.html

The gub'ment is recalling certain Keo pedals. Look at yours, if you ride 'em.

Oh, and Svein Tuft is a tough, tough man...

http://www.bcsportsbeat.ca/More/olympian_svein_tuft_story_719.htm

I know he's Canadian, but I'm rooting for him in the Oly RR...

Hotlinks aren't working right...you'll have to copy and paste...sorry...not my fault!

#1 turns #3

The Saturday ride went off as usual and turned fast. I don't know why the Saturday ride, which used to be a nice, low-tempo, low pressure ride has turned into a 3+ hour deathmarch. I have no issue with speeding up here and there, but it may be time to have a conversation about the pace of the ride.
Anyway, we did a bit shorter, albeit harder, loop and I was home in plenty of time to run some errands and get the house ready for #1's birthday party.
Of course, festivities were supposed to kick off at 1, but the H.O.'s parents are a pair of complete shit for brains and they showed up 90 minutes late. Then they blew in and acted like they owned the place and are super grandparents. Yeah, if super means that you see your only grandkids once every 6 or 8 weeks...but I digress...
I had the grill fired up and the meat was done when they came in. Sorry to rush you two dumbasses, but it's time to get this show on the road...
We ate expertly grilled burgers, dogs and andouille sausages, potato salad, slaw and chips, then the boy ripped into the myriad presents that were laid out on the table.
Right now, he's cavorting about in his newly acquired 'Doctor' get up, complete with white jacket and stethoscope...
He cleaned up in the gift department, as usual. Then it was time to damage the cake. The H.O. took a cake decorating class (two actually) a few years ago and has become quite good at making all sorts of cakes. The boy wanted a fire truck cake, so that's what he got...and it was goooood. All of the heavy food made me feel horrible though...too much meat and cake icing...
The H.O.'s parents stayed far beyond their welcome, so the management trainees got to bed waaaay late.
I was supposed to ride with Il Prof and TVH this morning, but just couldn't drag my big ass out of the sack. I slept until 9!! I guess I needed the sleep more than the miles.
The H.O. is out of town until Wednesday, so I'm single dad until then. I'll probably bring the boys out to the TNCWC so they can watch.

It was a dark and stormy night...

The weather was great when I left the house. We rolled out on time and as the group headed up thru the Fort, the sky got darker and darker. By the time we hit the end of HG, it was flying monkey dark. The wind was howling and the storm looked a bit ominous.
It was decided that we would just haul ass down across to the flats and try to stay in front of the weather. and that's what we did...
We blew by the ever famous Peanut and the MORON tagged onto the back of the group. When we made the turn onto Minervaville, he chose not to turn his head and, literally, rode directly into Ransom. Ransom has been riding since he was a zygote, so he stayed upright and the Peanut hit the ground like a pro soccer player taking a flop. The acting job was just as good too. Nothing more than some lost skin and some lady-like whimpering...
Once we figured out that he was okay, we took off again. The numbers dwindled down to a final 6 and we took turns abusing eash other until the end of the ride. The run up Clarkson was into the headwind and was quite hard. LL said he was dead from the Charlotte TT, but he seemed to be pulling through with little trouble. He even went so far as to sit out a few turns...then attack us...
The rest of the ride was a paceline affair. Mandrus lead out the sprint to the bridge and I came around Beano and Crusty FTW. It was a hard-ish ride, but really steady..not a lot of slowing down or mucking about. And I never got wet! It started to rain about 10 minutes after I got home...Reed likely didn't make it to his house...
See you guys tomorrow morning...

My dream rig/My new favorite rider

Who do I have to kill? When do they need to be dead by? What method would you like me to use?

Glen Chadwick of Team Type 1 on the Wall in Philly...watch the vid and notice what happens @ 50 seconds...




That's right, he took a cold beer hand-up from the crowd...freaking brilliant...

To quote David Byrne...

"...This ain't no party, this ain't no disco, this ain't no foolin' around..."
It seems as though the weather is the deciding factor for who shows at the TNCWC these days. The two weeks prior to last night, the weather was beautiful. Cool, no wind, no threat of getting wet. Last nigt, it was hot, the wind was howling down up the short chute and the were some seriously dark clouds on the horizon. This, of course, brought out all of the horsepower. I can say with some convinction that last night was one of the fastest races we've done out there. There was virtually no filler last night. It also seemed to bring out the sketches as well. The guy in the Outjokin' kit and the sleeveless Summit dude were back and as bad as ever. Pick a line through the corners guys...and stick to it. And the Summit dude tried to force his way into the line about 6 times. Then he yelled at Doogie for something that was his own fault. He really needs to stay in the back until he gains some skill.
The first 25 minutes was a single file deathmarch. Crusty made the comment that it seemed that everyone was trying to outdo each other when they pulled through the line. You take your pull for a 1/2 lap, come off and drift back to 20th...quickly!!! The next thing you knew, you were back on the sharp end.
I felt pretty puny when we got started, but seemed to get better as the time clicked on. At 40 minutes, I jumped to close a little gap and my right foot felt very disconnected from the bike. I didn't clip out, but the ratchet on my old Diadora shoes came undone. Not a pleasant feeling at 50kph...and I didn't want to mess with it in the middle of the group, drifted to the back for the fix. I guess it's time to setup the new kicks...
On the last lap, I found Big Jamie and told him to follow me through the last corner. We divebombed the inside and as soon as we came off, I nailed it and led him to @ 200m. He jumped off my wheel and won with ease. His wife and grommets were there. I heard one of his kids yell, "Daddy won...!" Nice...! You owe me...!
It was a really good race. Very fast, but it felt good.
See you guys Thursday !!

Rest...

So I got up and did the Saturday ride...
The group was small, but the pace was still quick with some honestly fast sections thrown in. We did a very modified Eastover loop and ended up with just under 95km in 2:45. I felt very flat and just tired on the bike.
Il Prof and TVH went off into Calhoun County for a 140km deathmarch this morning...
Casey and Rob are moving and she was racing...
Doogie was on call today...
I just decided to bail on riding all together. I needed the rest.
The management trainees were across the river this weekend, so the H.O. and I had the place to ourselves. The house was eerily quiet...! It was nice to go to dinner and a movie though. Batman is pretty good, FWIW.
I finally chased and eliminated the click in my BB as well. I had to take the whole bike apart and re-assemble with a lot of teflon tape and grease, but no more clicky...
I may be out Tuesday night...or not...maybe some people will show up this week...

Um, that was hard...

Last night, a small group met for the Thursday ride. It seems Mrs. DK is leaving town today, so DK felt the need to get home early last night. He went to the front from the Gate and kept the pace much higher than usual out of the Fort. It was hard, but not killer...very steady.
Once we got onto the open roads of LR, the pace went back up and everyone worked together. The run down to Elon was quick, but again, not killer. The kicker was the fact that I was the slowest climber of the front group, so I actually had to burn a match or two to get over the top. I made it over just behind Mandrus and Beano, which ain't too shabby for me.
We gathered back up and started the end of ride shenanigans. The stretch from Bunky's to the end of Airbase was fast, period. Everyone took their turns, but DK would just jack the pace when he hit the front. We were losing people left and right. I got gapped a bit over the rise, but chased back with little problem. From that point on, it was down to 6, then down to 4. DK, Doogie, Mandrus and me. We caught Il Prof (shortcut) and he jumped in, only to cause a gap when Karl nailed it on the front. I was 5th in line when this happened...
I chased the gap and got to within 20 meters, but was at my absolute limit. I should have just HTFU and sprinted across, but I was tapped. DK and Doogie rode away.
We rode tempo through 2X Homey and to Shop, but the pace went up again on Shop. DK hit it going over the overpass and we spit people out again. I should have jumped, but decided to mark DK for the sprint. He knew I was doing it and didn't jump. I went too late and got nipped by a tire. Shoulda, coulda, woulda...
Overall, it was a damn hard ride and it made the last three or four crits look like child's play. I felt good, rode well and don't feel too bad today.
See you guys tomorrow at the circle... 8:00 am!

Short effort

The TNCWC went off last night with a little bit larger group. I woke up yesterday feeling pretty stiff and out of sorts, but went out anyway. I'd planned on bailing as the heat index was supposed to be 105+. The highest temp I saw yesterday was 94, so I formulated a plan.
I just wanted to warm-up to get rid of some stiffness and then ride hard for 15 minutes to open things up. And that's just what I did! I chased across to the first break and got into it for a couple of laps. After that, I chased two gaps. Just after chasing the second gap, the alarm on my watch sounded and I sat up. I felt really good and could have stayed in without problem, but I'm sticking to my plan for right now. Most of the horsepower has been absent from the Crit lately too. I guess everyone has the mid-summer laissez-faire attitude. It was quicker last night, but nowhere near the normal pace or the pace of the last few Thursday rides.
It was really hot, but not brutal.
'Cisco won last night, which was a show for his father, who's in town from Colombia.

The queen stage is today...Alpe d'Huez...gotta go watch...

Weekend rides

Saturday morning, the group was pretty good sized and had some HP. We did a modified Crusty Loop through Lower Richland. I made the mistake, again, of following Crusty through a corner. He went in way too hot and locked up his rear wheel, which isn't an issue unless you're on the outside. Did I mention I was on the outside? I went straight, down through the ditch, up the other side and almost into the church parking lot. The only other time I've hit the tarmac in the past 5 years was following Crusty through a corner at high speed.
Note to self: No going thru a corner 2nd wheel behind Crusty anymore...
We ended on Airbase and had a good, high-tempo paceline that was punctuated by a few attacks.
The ride was shorter than usual, but that was fine with me!
This morning, we met to do an easy spin. Ben Jones was in town, so he and Peter Discoe came out. It was a good ride. Nothing terribly difficult, but I could definitely feel Thursday and Saturday in my legs. It was one of those rides that felt longer than it really should have.

The H.O. is leaving town for a meeting this afternoon, so I'm in charge...frightening!

Speaking of frightening...

Holy Chute....

Felt bad...rode well...?

Man, a brother felt like complete ass-crack all day yesterday. The heavy load of antibiotics is catching up with me. I'm really tired, I ache all over and I've been short of breath for 4 days. All side effects of the Bactrim I was taking for the last week. I called the Doc and he said it would be at it's max load in my bloodstream 3-5 days AFTER I stopped taking it.
I left the house and felt like shit and was convinced that I was likely to get shelled before leaving the Fort. The pace out was quick, but not brutal.
Guns started firing on the run down Ridge and RW flatted just before the end of the road. Doogie and I rolled down Horrell Hill, waiting for stragglers. I guess everyone stopped because we were almost to Bunky's when the group got back together. From that point, to the end of Airbase, it was pretty f'ing hard. I missed a couple of turns but probably should have just pulled through. Tail-gunning when everyone is attacking each other is just hard. Gaps opened quickly and I worked my bookie-hole off to close them up. The legs felt good, but my HR and breathing were funky at best. It was like I couldn't exhale properly. I could get a full lung of air, but just couldn't get rid of it. Weird...
From the end of Airbase to the end of the ride, we all stayed together and Mandrus took out both sprints...uncontested...the streak continues.

Cavendish wins the last two stages of the Tour with ease. He's just plain faster than everyone else in the last 150m.
And I've changed my opinion of Cadel. I wanted him to win, but now I hope he cracks like a walnut. He's a pissy little bitch. First he cries on the podium when he got his yellow jersey and now he's slapping reporters for trying to touch him. Ass...

Good and bad

Let's start with the good...
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2008/features/dura-ace_79000_ride08

It seems the new D/A shifters ARE compatible with current rear derailleurs, so there's no need to drop $300 on a new R/D. The front, not so much. For the upgrade, you'll only need shifters and a F/D...that I can deal with...

And the bad...

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/tour08/news/?id=/news/2008/jul08/jul17news4a

Ricco positive for EPO...he said he wanted to be just like Pantani...he's halfway there!!! Now he just needs to OD in a crappy hotel room...
Just when I thought the Tour might be coming around...
Personally, I blame the cheese eating surrender monkeys. They threw out the UCI and let the ASO and AFLD run the show. It's been proven that the AFLD has no clue what they are doing when it comes to testing protocols, yet they are still in charge...
I think it made the riders greedy. They thought that the UCI was out of it, so they could micro-dose and skate by the testing. Wrongo...! I wish these fuckers would see that they are killing their own sport. L'Equipe reported that up to 20 riders had abnormal blood values coming into the race. Oh, and Moreau quit yesterday...injury or saving face?
Now we can watch the Tour for two reasons...to see who wins the stage and to see who tests positive...excuse me... 'non-negative'

A bit of a rant...

I went out to the TNCWC last night...it seems not very many wanted to race last night, as the group was very small. I felt iffy and my heart just wasn't in it. I warmed up and started though. I did exactly one lap and decided I just couldn't care any less. I sat up and just spun home. I still ended up with a decent 90+ minutes on the bike and 45km.
Now for my smallish rant...
On the warmup and the neutral lap, there were a few grumbles about the course being dirty and having gravel on it. One person, who never comes out and should probably just STFU, actually said that someone needs to get out there and clean it up. When you point a finger, there are three pointing back at you...gaper.
I spent two hours out there on Monday night to get it into the condition it was in. When I got out there, it looked like a cobbled section of Roubaix. Maybe the juniors and their 'coach' should get a little bit more involved in the 'community' and go out there one weekend morning and run some leaf blowers and push some shovels and brooms. Or maybe the people that bitch and moan should take it upon themselves to help out.
I don't do it for a pat on the back or for some boost of false male pride. I do it because it NEEDS to be done for the course to be safe for everyone. I've only been out to the crit about 6 or 7 times this year, but I've cleaned the course twice. It's a great place to ride and race. It should be cleaned and kept up for it to remain great. The businesses out there aren't going to do it. The city isn't going to do it...so it falls to us.
I'll continue to clean it when the need arises because I'm good like that. If you don't participate in the effort, keep your mouth shut!

Stage 10

Piepoli wins on Hautacam...
Evans takes yellow and cries on the podium...man up Buttercup!
VandeVelde is a climber now? Who knew?

I cleaned the crit course tonight. It should be better...watch the backstretch though! There's still some gravel. I got all of the big stuff, but there's only so much one guy can do with a 28" push broom!

A new and better day

Ricco wins Stage 9...the first day in the high mountains!
Kirchen still in yellow

Doogie, Rob, Casey and I met bright and early this morning for a foray into Calhoun County. I felt tired when I woke up, but much better than yesterday. I guess drinking (literally) gallons of fluid and eating everything in the house can, in fact, turn you around. I feel better now, after 3:30 and 100km in the saddle.
We ride a pretty even tempo...faster than the usual loops out in the country. I guess the absense of Il Prof and TVH made the pace higher.
Now for the scorecard...
I am proudly wearing the Calhoun County green jersey today. Of the 4 sprint points, I took out 3 with little trouble. Regardless of what excuse(s) Miss Gale might come up with, I showed clean wheels in all of my wins. The one I didn't win, I didn't contest, as it's at the top of an ugly climb and we all know about my stellar ability on the high cols. :)-

Anywho, it was a good ride, with good company and I don't feel like whipped shit anymore.
Good luck to Miss Gale, as she is leaving for the Olympic Training Center tomorrow. Kick ass, take names and chew bubble gum...

ANother high mountain day tomorrow too...I'm all atwitter...

Stage 8...wet and wild

Cavendish just has another gear...
Kirchen still in yellow...

I went out with the group this morning and probably just should have stayed home. I knew the minute we rolled out that it was going to be a bad day. Bad legs, upset stomach, no HR...just really flat and blocky. When the group went left on Airbase, I turned right and came home...slowly. I guess I'm tired from Tuesday and Thursday and a lack of sleep...! I really can't blame the drugs, as I rode well on my previous two rides. I just feel like whipped shit right now. Maybe I need a nap...

Stage 7

Luis Leon Sanchez takes the stage...

Kirchen still in yellow...

The thursday ride was good one last night. Pretty quick and steady the whole way. I really felt Tuesday night in my legs though, especially at the end of the ride.

We chased the weather for the first two hours of the ride and, of course, caught it about 15 minutes from home. Nothing like ending a perfectly good ride with wind driven rain. I actually had an excuse to give the Ridley and good lick and rub this time. Usually, my OCD forces me to clean it.

Rumor has that a certain man with the initials LL (no, not that one...the one who actually rides and is fast) blitzed the TT in Charlotte on Wednesday night. A tick over 21 minutes for 10 miles is really GD fast folks. 46kmh average fast...! The guy who won? Sub-20 minutes...where's the drug testing trailer when it's needed? That guy must piss kerosene!

Saturday - 8 a.m. at the circle.

Stage 6

Ricco wins at the top of Super Besse...showed Valverde and Evans a nice little finish kick...

Kim Kirchen in yellow...and green...

Chavanel in the maillot pois...

Stage 5 ...finally a sprint

Cavendish shows how it's done...clean wheels baby!!
Schumi still in yellow...

I ventured out to the TNCWC last, fully expecting to get shelled like a 180 pound pecan, but something funny happening. I actually rode okay, considering I'd ridden once in the past 10 days and I'm on a antibiotic regimen that would kill a smaller man. It was weird too. I can't decide whether it was a fast ride or an average ride. My computer doesn't work out there because of the electrical transfer station...quality Specialized product...
I rode at the sharp end for the first half, chased a gap or three and then decided to retire to the back.
The group was big and stretched out for 40 minutes of the race. The last 15 minutes were a muddle. There were a couple of guys with VERY suspect handling skills. One guy in a Summit jersey needs to learn that he doesn't ride in a bubble and that his head is on a gimble. He swerved off his line on numerous occasions, running into RW at one point. The best were the 3 times he almost took himself out in the turns...once while he was on the very front. I mean, how in the Wide, Wide World of Sports do you almost tuck it in when you're in the front? He was given a wide berth after that...
I have no idea who won. I pulled Der Kaiser and just sat up on the last lap.
We also had a visit from the Richland County Sheriff's department. It seems that ONE person out there called to complain. The deputy (Dep. Brantley) was very cool and basically told me that he was only out there to say that he checked it out. He said the complaint included claims of nudity in the parking lot and the entire group just riding out in front of vehicles. The person who complained didn't give his name to the Deputy...! If I find out who called the police, I'll visit the guy at his office and we'll talk like men. Not talking to us before calling the police is a bitch move in my book. We've had no complaints in 6 years...until now.
We're out there 1 day a week, for @ 90 minutes, during the summer...after 6pm! Whoever complained needs to settle the F down.

Stage 4

Time trial...
Stefan Schumacher win TT and takes yellow...on a bike that isn't quite a Specialized...hmmm!

and the Doc changed my antibiotics...after a week on them...

Oh Joy, another week of meds...at least I only have to take two a day now!

Stage 3

Holy escape Batman...

208km stage...207km break!!!!

Sammy Dumoulin wins stage...

Roman Feillu in yellow...

Stage 2 ... God of Thunder

Hushovd...

Valverde in yellow...

Doggie and I went for a short 2 hour spin through LR this morning. My foot is better. It didn't hurt to push on the pedals. I can tell two things though...

1) I haven't turned a pedal in a week and it felt really weird for the first 30 minutes.

2) A large dosage of antibiotics makes you feel very heavy on the bike. Not that I'm light on the bike on a normal day... ;)-

It felt good to ride though. I'll be at the crit Tuesday. No racing, just turning the legs over for a couple of hours.

Well, it's about time to load up the entire corporation and head to the blue hairs' house. Senior Blue Hair is turning 90 today....

Stage 1

Valverde...

WTF man?

So my back is feeling good, I finally have a bit of form and can ride with some anger. I got the bike together, working like the fine tuned piece of high-dollar machinery that it is, and I was feeling good about going to NC and having a good ride.
I got out of bed to use the bathroom the other night and steeped on a small piece of jagged gravel that must have gotten dragged in the house. I felt it immediately, it hurt! I didn't think anything of it. Come Tuesday, the resulting blood bruise is inflammed and sore as hell. I still didn't think much of it until the red streaks started appearing on the TOP of my foot. Yes, folks, the beginnings of a lymph system issue. I went to my Doctor who informed me that the blood bruise was now an abscess and needed to be drained and I had to go on anti-biotics to fight any possible infection. Fucking perfect!!!!!!! No 4th ride for the kid!!!
Anyway, he jabbed my foot with a needle waaaaay too big for the job and blood just poured out!
I limped out with what amounted to a club foot and a prescription for Keflex. Oh, and I got a hu-mangous tetanus shot!! Flash forward to today...
I'm limping, the foot is sore-ore-ore-ore and I'm on 2000mg of Keflex a day. No, that's not a typo...2000 milligrams. 4 horse pills a day...and no big straw to blow them down my throat.
The meds make me hot, itchy, give me body aches and a headache. My arm feels like a got hit with a cricket bat from the tetanus.
I honestly am starting to think that the 4th of July ride has bad mojo for me. I've never gone up there and had an uneventful ride. Something either breaks on the ride or I get sick or injured in the days before.

2004-broken spoke on the decent of the Watershed...at 40mph...
2005-broken Ridley Excalibur frame on the climb of the Watershed
2006-injured back 3 weeks before...unable to ride...or sit on toilet...
2007-bitten by wolf spider 1 week before the ride...rode anyway...felt like shit and had a terrible ride...on 'roids and antibiotics...
2008-jacked up foot 1 week before...

Maybe the Madonna del Ghisallo is trying to tell me something about this ride...

Who knows when I'll be back on the bike...

Not great

I woke up a bit earlier on Sunday and met Doog for a short 2 hour loop through LR. I felt pretty shitty when I crawled on the bike, yet my legs felt disarmingly good. I didn't have much more than 2 hours in me, nor did I have any efforts in the tank, but I felt okay after the ride. Sometimes I think you just need to rest a bit and ride easy to get stuff out of the system.
After I rode, I decided to get the bike setup for the 4th. I switched out the cassette to my 13/25 and it shifted like shit. I fuddled with it for 30 minutes and it got no better. I walked away...
Once I got inside, I realized that the 13/25 didn't require the spacer behind it. A visit to Shimano's website confirmed my failing memory. Back out to the ManHole, removed the aforementioned spacer and it shifted fine, but skipped in the 23 and 25!!! WTF!!!!
My chain had been on the bike for a while and the 13/25 had only been used once, so I figured they weren't quite on speaking terms. Upon checking my equipment log, I realized that the chain was well past it's expiration date. Shiny new chain = no skipping and no noise! Go figure!
I'm actually going to test ride the setup this year, to make sure the thing shifts. Last year, I threw everything on the night before and rode it up the street. That was all fine and well, but it didn't shift at all on the 4th ride...
Nothing like hauling 180 pounds up a few big climbs in the NC mountains with a drivetrain that won't stay in gear! It was either the 17 or the 25 on the climbs...no big jump there!
There are no open seats in the battle wagon for the 4th...sorry!

I'll see you at the crit Tuesday...

The week that was

Tuesday, the H.O. had a business function in the evening, so she came home early so I could get on the bike. Doog and I went out and did a VERY slow loop of the Fort. Legs...crap! Lungs...crap! HR...crap! Just a bad ride all the way around.
Thursday came and I felt okay through the day. I figured the ride would be thin because Blood, Sweat and Gears was looming on so many horizons. We left with 10. Mark W. and Cisco turned around at the gate. We lost Sam and Joel and the very quick run down to Elon. I sat up to wait on them on the climb, but even at my snail-humping-a-turtle pace, they never returned. I got back on and the ride turmed into a rolling, 6 man, HARD tempo paceline. I felt really good and rode well.
We rolled in together and I took the sprint on Shop with ease.
Friday, right after lunch, I started to feel bad. By the time dinner rolled around, I was a hot mess. I felt like I was somewhere between and bonk and a hangover. I didn't eat or drink much of anything after the ride Thursday and think I got myself into some sort of glycogen/dehydration deficit. You know something is wrong when I go lay on the couch instead of eating pizza. I went to bed at 8:30 last night and woke up at 9 this morning!!!!!!!! I guess my body was trying to tell me something. I still feel a bit wonky today, but better.
Time for yet another big glass of Gatorade and something sweet...

Hope everyone enjoyed BS&G today...I've been laying around...

Weekend

Saturday's ride has been moved to 8 am in an effort to beat the summer heat, but DAMN, it's early. The alarm went off at 6:15...it was still dark!
Anyway, we had a really good, even group for the ride. A lot of the usual suspects were conspicuous in their absence, but to each his own.
We went out through the Fort and down onto Old Leesburg for the normal Saturday stroll into Eastover. We were all together and going along nicely and then, as usual, my phone rang. Normally, I just don't anwer it, but it was the H.O. calling, and seeing how we have two toddlers, I felt obliged to answer. I love the H.O., but sometimes, she's a dumbass. #1 got a zinc lozenge and attepted to ingest it. For those of you who have tried 'Cold-eze' lozenges, you know they taste like a bit like a 9 volt battery dipped in fertilizer. He promptly spit it out, but the H.O. still felt the need to call me and make sure I got shot out the back of the group while talking to her on the phone.
I chased and caught the bunch right after the turn onto Chaingang. We all gathered up and noticed the NID made a bit of a sneak attack and was away. The line worked well together and brought it back a bit, but time was winding down before the sprint, and I wasn't going to let him stay away. We'd never hear the end of it.
I warned everyone that my next time through I was going to nail it...and I did. I took it to 60kmh and left it there. The gap closed quickly.
After that, we all stayed together and rode and good medium-hard tempo until the end of the ride. I felt good again and feel like some form is starting to come on.
90km in 2:45 for the day.
This morning, we were supposed to have 6 on the ride. Casey and Rob bailed (weak) and upon arrival at TVH's house, we found him in flip-flops, casual wear and decidedly pillow smashed hair...a bit too much red, white AND pink wine last night.
The ride got shortened for Doogie and I. We did Sandy Run, up into Gaston and home. I was tired and he had one too many beers last night (he had two beers, fwiw). Of course, it had rained out there, so the bike is filthy, again, and has developed a click in the crank/BB. It was a nice, slow, 2:45 on the bike and 75km.
A good weekend of riding overall. Cooler temps, little wind and good company...

Cancellara...Stage 7...bad MF

Ask and ye shall receive........

Bigger, faster, stronger...

The 50c has been rebuilt...

White Industries H2 hub (no need for ceramics here...it's smoooove)

Sapim CX-Ray spokes

660 grams

Built by the best...I'll let you guys figure out who...shouldn't be a hard one...

Good?

Wow, I actually felt good last night. The stars must have aligned or maybe it was that chicken I killed under the light of the moon a few nights ago.
The ride itself was a bit of a clusterfuck. Not on the proportions of a few past Thursday rides, but there were a few hinky moments to say the least.
Everyone was together out of the Fort and for the run down Ridge. About halfway down Horrell Hill, a small gap was allowed to open and few guys got off the front. The rest of us were working just fine when some dumbass redneck in a $400 Suburban decided to pass as a car was coming the other way. Instead of waiting the 4 seconds until it was clear and safe for all, he whipped it right over into the group, forcing several into the grass...at 40kmh. Fortunately for us, no one crashed. Fortunately for the asshole driver, he wasn't found later on.
We all gathered back up at the top of Elon and continued on our way.
The paceline was interrupted again by some moron would was attempting a 17 point turn in the middle of the road in a big, black Benz. She was propbably looking for a good place to ditch it and burn it, seeing as we were in Lower Richland and there just is not an abundance of $50,000 cars out there...
Almost immediately thereafter, Der Kaiser ruptured a valve...in his tube. We softpedaled to wait, but I think Doogie had too many Espressos through his day of taking boards and couldn't help himself. The pace ramped from 30 to 35 to 37 and then it was on again. The seven of us in the front group traded pulls down Airbase at 45kmh+ (nice tailwind) until there were 5. Some dumbfuck almost ran me down after the turn off of Airbase. He was going enitrely too fast, both for the road and his piece of shit car.
It felt really good to ride hard again and not completely suck.
The whole group came back together on Double Homey and rode back in. I got boxed on the bridge sprint and couldn't do anything...at 66kmh.
Good, albeit wacky ride...

8am Saturday ride this week...and for the rest of summer.

Signs

I went to the TNCWC tonight and actually felt decent. Warmup was good. I rode with Dr. LP for a long while....a good egg, that one!
Anyway, the race started and I felt okay, not great, but I wasn't suffering like the proverbial dog. About 15 minutes in, I went through turn 3 and the bike felt really washy in the back-end, or 'loose' for you NASCAR fans. You guessed it...soft tire. Sign #1...
I stopped to change it and noticed that the tire itself was fine, but the screw part of the valve had broken off at some point, causing the tire to go soft. Sign #2...
Michelin Pro Race 3 tires are some tight bitches, so I used my skewer as a lever. Evidently, in my haste to get the nut off the skewer, I lost one of the springs in the grass. It probably would have been okay, but I saw it as Sign #3 and just decided to call it a night. At that point, pretty much all motivation was gone anyway, so I just rode home slowly.
No sense in standing around to watch the end.

Uncle Shrews is rebuilding my front Williams 50C wheel. White Industries hub and CX-Rays will make it mo betta. They are great wheels, but the front hub design is shit...and I told WIlliams that...! It's an American Classic Micro design...(scratches head). If you're gonna copy something, copy a good something! Jeez...

See you Thursday...

Thought for the day

Thought for the day:
OPEC sells oil for $136.00 a barrel.
OPEC nations buy U.S. grain at $7.00 a bushel.
Solution: Sell grain for $136.00 a bushel.
Can't buy it?
Tough!
Eat your oil.

damp

Saturday was thin, borderline anorexic. Some folks are preparing for BS&G, so they left a bit early to ride a bit longer...
The remainder of us ventured out through the Fort, down to Elon and did a new route into Eastover. It was a nice change. Mandrus and I did all of the work, so I got a good workout from the ride.
Sunday, TVH, Il Prof, Doogie and I met @ 8 for a Calhoun County ride. The weatherman said the rain would hold off until lunchtime....it must be mice to be wrong everyday and still draw a paycheck...
We were about 2 miles past the 176/21 split and I saw something that appeared to be smoke. Well, it wasn't!!!!!! A wall of water met us with big, fat, stinging drops. At this point, it was a bit late to turnaround, so we soldiered on through the deluge. We rode out to Big Beaver Creek (heh heh) and cut across to 176. It rained until we got to Eastman Chemical and then the roads were largely dry. Once back into town, I could tell that it didn't rain enough to get wet.
And of course, once I got in the shower, the sun came out and shone brightly...bastard. I will say that riding in the rain is much easier on the body than 95 degree heat.
Another hour spent cleaning the bike...again...! I rode the White Industries wheels...GD, those things ride well.
Overall, it was a good ride weekend. I ended with 6-1/2 hours on the bike and 200km. No real efforts to speak of, but some quality, form building miles.

Oh, Casey won the NC road race championships! A year on the bike and more palmares than most of the guys in town who have been riding for 20...

Better

The Thursday ride was pretty big last night. Bigger than it has been for a long while at least...
The weather was a bit more cooperative as well. It was only 90 when I left the house. Of course, it did start to sprinkle rain on the run down to Elon and it felt oh so good.
There were some horses out last night, but the ride didn't seem to be ballistic. Don't get me wrong, there were a few moments when I was tasting pennies, but it wasn't a ball-breaker.
I stayed in the back for the most part and just surfed. No reason to be a hero when all I want is some speed work.
I knew that'd I'd have to burn a match or two on Airbase, so discretion was called for early in the ride. I was correct in that theory. Once we got to the rise on Airbase, Der Kaiser hit the front. I was last man in the left line and I saw him go. I jumped hard up the rise and tagged onto the back of the lead group. The problem was that I used the jump and sprint to get there and just couldn't stay. I passed Beano and we worked together for the rest of Airbase. The killer was the fact that the gap between us and the lead bunch never opened up. We matched their speed the entire way to the 4 way and stayed away from the rest of the bunch behind us. It was a nice tailwind stretch on Airbase too...very nice!
After that, the group rode piano the rest of the way home. No jumps, no attacks, no sprints...

I felt pretty good, but can tell I need some intensity work. No big lungs just yet...

9am Saturday this week and then 8am next Saturday...time to beat the heat...

Just what I wanted...

I went out to the crit last night, wanting nothing more than to spin some garbage out of my legs. I rode out, warmed up and rode the first 20 minutes. The group was BIG last night...probably around 50 or so. Attacks started from the gun and I just rode around on the back. I did close a couple of gaps and took a few pulls, but that was it. My legs were still heavy from Sunday and I'm just not going to push too hard until my back is 100%. I figure I'm at 80-85% right now...
I rode in the drops, pushed hard and stood up to sprint a few times with little anguish. It may be time to start introducing some anger and speedwork back into the program...
I actually kind of missed sweeping through the turns at high speed. The back of the bunch is a scary, scary place though...my fitnees precludes time on the front however!

I do feel better today. My legs aren't heavy and my back feels fine...we'll see.

Oh, if you're looking for bike stuff on the cheap, check out www.chainlove.com

And if you want some drama, go to the link >>>>> marked "Hoovis". It seems the new promoter of one of the most successful race series on the east coast has given everyone the big middle finger...! I'll just say that they are waaaay nicer up there than I would have expected. It's hard to believe that none of those guys has an acquaintance that wears shiny suits and has "The" for a middlename. It is right outside of Philly after all...

Tommeke?

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2008/jun08/jun10news

Boonen has a 'non-negative' test for Bolivian marching powder @ the Tour of Belgium...
Loses his driver's license twice in two weeks...

(popcorn is popping)

Long, hot and steamy...

No, it's not what you are thinking...dirty minds...
Saturday, most of our little downtown group went to the mountains for some sort of masochistic ritual. Honestly, I really wouldn't mind going up there to ride for 4 or 5 hours...I just don't have the 12-14 hours in my day to devote to the trip.
Anyway, I got on the cross rig and went out across the river and hit up some trails. SCE&G, with the money from my ballooning power bills, built a little nature preserve and cut some nice singletrack through the woods. It was supposed to be a loop, but I must have lost the trail somewhere because it came to a stop in a big pond o'bullfrogs about 2 miles in. The signs on the trail warning of snakes and alligators were confidence inspiring as well!
I turned and headed out, being harrassed by the biggest mosquitoes known to man. I hit the dirt service road for about 30 out and 30 back. I got home with a bit over 2 hours on the bike, a few bug bites and plenty of dirt.
Sunday, TVH, Casey (sans a sleeping, lazy Rob...bum) and I went out into Calhoun County for a 4+ hour, hot, humid, borderline deathmarch of a ride. It started out all fine and well, then the sun got high in the sky. We did 176 down to 21, across to 6 and back over to 176...THEN, like the brainiacs we are, decided to add on a bit extra and did the Gaston loop. No sooner did we get off the main road, I flatted. Oh the joys of $15 latex tubes and carbon wheels....! Thanks to TVH and Casey for the save. My spare was bad, TVH's was bad, so it fell to C to get us home. Thankfully, there were no more punctures, as the H.O. would have had to come out on a rescue mission...and she just LOVES doing that...
I got home with just shy of 125km and 4:30 on the bike. It was miserably hot for the last 90 minutes of the ride. I got home and the mercury was touching 98 degrees with a 104 heat index...just brutal. I <3 me a cold shower...
Overall, it was a really good weekend of riding. I feel better on the bike. My legs are getting better. The back is holding steady (thanks to the several hundred sit-ups I do a week) and I'm enjoying being on the bike.
Oh, and Casey is going to the OTC for development camp...less than a year on the bike and gone to Colorado Springs...! We'll be able to say that we knew her when...
She learned about town and county limit signs yesterday, so hopefully she'll take it to camp with her.

Out 'til Tuesday...

Hot!

Holy crap! It's freaking hot! My geek-o weather station said it was 95 when I left for the ride last night...@ 5:45...and it's only June. August will be a barrel of monkeys. At this rate, I'll have to go sell vital fluids to pay the power bill.

After I was in the 75 degree house all day, it was a bit of a shock to the system. I knew I was in for a bad night. I felt flat and really blocked up. Going out through the Fort sucked and the ride didn't get any better from there. Thank God it wasn't a brutal ride. I tail-gunned most of it and after the rise on Airbase, I just gave up. No 'HTFU' last night. I felt sick and quit. Rob dropped off too, so we rode in together.
I need to get out in the heat to get acclimated.
A big group is going to the mountains tomorrow, so I'm likely just going to do a cross ride on the other side of the river. There are some trails over there I want to check out anyway.

Sunday, who knows...

And we're done...

I'm tired...
I'm tired...
I'm tired...
I did the Beer Ride Friday Night. It was actually pretty enjoyable. I won't be making it a habit though. It's just a little bit too sketchy.
Saturday was the final nail in my week of training coffin. I woke up with heavy legs and not a lot of motivation. I went to the ride anyway. We did the normal Eastover Saturday loop and while I didn't feel terrible, I was really flat and just felt tired. The legs were nothing more than big, hollow meatsticks. I did everything from taking my pulls to tailgunning to simply just sitting up and falling off the back. I was dehydrated, hungry and grumpy for pretty much the whole ride.
I got home with another 90km and 2:45 on the bike.
For the week, I rode 6 of 7 days, did a total of 17 hours in the saddle and racked up 505km. Considering my back injury has kept me under 6 hours a week for the last 8 weeks or so, this was a HUGE week. I lost 5 pounds, yet ate everything in the house. The metabolism is definitely going again. It's 75 in here right now and I'm sweating like a hooker in church.
I'm going to take a couple of rest days and then ride easy on Tuesday...I'll either completely suck or get some fitness out of the past week.

The H.O. and the management trainees are home, so the quiet has come to an end.

Good luck to Casey today @ the CSC. Don't be intimidated!!!

A matter of time...

I went out with the Thursday group, as usual, but this time, I made the turn down to Elon instead of going down into the flats like I've been doing for the past few weeks. The back is feeling much better, so I figured I'd throw some anger into the mix tonight.
On the run down Ridge, we had a nice paceline going until about 600 meters from the sprint. Kevin took off when he hit the front. Why? No one knows. It's not like he has a sprint or enough power to ride away from the group. Aaron took off after him and, as usual, was riding WAAAAY over his head. They got about 100 meters from the line and shit just went sideways. From where I was, it looked like Aaron stood up to sprint, took about two pedal strokes and just fucking ejected. He did his best auger impression and tried to drill himself into the tarmac at 50kmh. The boy just flat took himself out. Thankfully, the rest off the group let those two dodos go, lest there would have been carnage.
There comes a point when a person need to realize their limitations. If you have a bad limb, be it from defect or injury, DON'T STAND UP TO SPRINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No good can come of it. Aaron has always been sketchy on the bike and ridden over his head. This time, he paid for it.
Stay in the back and don't get involved, please! Especially in a group where you're the noob!
But I digress...
The run down to Elon turned fast in a hurry. Once we made the turn, I sat up a bit as trying to climb with any force still hurts my back a wee bit. The group rolled down to Airbase together and then Der Kaiser hit the front. Again, I felt fine until the rise on Airbase. I still can't stand and pull hard on the bars w/o discomfort. I let the pipe hitters go over the top and waited for Mrs. DK and one of the Summit guys. The three of us rode solid tempo together for the length of Airbase. The group waited @ Double Homey and we rode in together. DK spread it out coming to the sprint, so it just didn't happen.
I'm feeling pretty good on the bike. My back feels above average. The heart, lungs and legs were fine tonight. This was 3 days in a row and 5 out of 6 on the bike. I'm going down to do the Beer Ride tomorrow night (shudder). Hopefully, the rubberside will stay down.

Go to this link...NOW!

http://danielsbigtrip.blogspot.com/

The guy's a war vet and he's on tour this summer...just go there and read his story! Shoot him an email and see if he's coming close to you. Make a donation to his trip, if you can...if not, send him a message of support and buy him a beer when he comes to town.

No ride on Monday...

Yesterday, I got on the bike and did a out and back loop in the Fort. It was really freaking windy, but I gutted it out. I have nothing but time this week, so why not ride. I got right at two hours on the bike and 60km. Felt like poo the whole time, but there are worse thing I could have been doing.

Doogie and I met this morning and did an easy spin through LR. I felt better on the bike today, but still not great. My back is okay, but my legs are muy heavy. I tried to spin this morning to alleviate the issue. Another 2:20 on the bike and 70km.

I have 11 hours on the bike so far this week. I'll probably end up with 15-16 hours this week. Nothing like getting back on the bike after injury and jumping right into a 15+ hour week. Funny part is, I feel good the more I ride.

The company retreat is until Saturday afternoon, so I'm on the bike until then...I haven't gone completely feral yet, but the house is need of some clean-up!

See you guys tomorrow night!

In for a penny...

Saturday, I went out with the group, only to turn off early so I could get home to see the Management trainees and help the H.O. pack the hauler for their trip to the beach. I did a whopping 35 miles and felt pretty good.
The van was slammed full of everything necessary, and some things not so, for a week long trip to the beach with two toddlers. Let's just say the back end of the thing was riding low when it pulled out. Actually, it was riding so low that the H.O. got it caught on the yard ties and pulled them all out of the flipping ground. Great, add that to the list of projects...(I fixed it about an hour later...).
Sunday, I met Il Prof, TVH and NID for a nice, relaxed loop through Calhoun County. My plan was to go to Sandy Run and decide how my back felt. Once to the store, I felt okay and decided to continue on. We made a big, contrived loop through Calhoun and Lexington counties and back to Cola. Considering I hadn't spent almost 5 hours on the bike in the past week, I rode well and my back didn't implode on me.
I ended with 130km and 4:40 in the saddle...I didn't say we rode fast!
I have to eat during rides like this, lest I'm a walking bonk when I get home, and bonking in St. Matthews, with 2 hours left to ride is no picnic.
I ate: A Clif bar, a RK treat, and two Poptarts
I drank: 84oz. of Gatorade, 40oz. of water and a sweet tea
I actually felt okay this morning when the dogs woke me up. I'm a bit stiff and sore, but I'm operational.
Now, I'm painting a 15 light French door...oh joy! Now I remember why I pay people to do this shit. Today off the bike and then ride evey day for the rest of the week. Trying to get some sort of fitness back...

Think you're fast and/or have leg speed?

Theo Bos begs to differ...

Okay...

I went out with the group last night and actually felt okay. I'm completely not fit right now and likely won't be for a long while, but the action of riding a bicycle was a pleasant one. No pain, pulling or the like. I didn't feel bad when I woke up this morning either. I guess the slight position change actually worked. It feels weird not to be stretched out, but if my back gets better, I'll ride it like that. Crusty said once you turn 35, you can ride whatever/however you want...so I got that going for me.
The ride was normal out of the Fort and proceeded to speed up once on Ridge. When we got to the end, the group turned left and I went right and rode down into the flats alone. It was a nice night and I was on the bike...everything was good. Well, my mp3 player took a dump about 5 minutes after I split from the group, so I rode alone with my thoughts. That thing eats some AAA batteries.
It was obviously dumbass cager night as well. I got passed, not once, but twice, coming to stop signs, only for the idiot drivers (both women, fwiw) to turn in front of me. Hey dumbfucks, I have the right of way. You wouldn't pass another car AT a stop sign and then turn in front of it!
Thankfully, I got home in one piece, saw the management trainees off the bed, ate a homemade blueberry waffle and crawled into bed to watch TV.
My week of PEACE starts tomorrow. See you folks in the a.m.!

As Snoopy would say...

Last night, during the height of the storm, lightning hit so close that it set of my motion lights and my car alarm. I could actually hear the pop and sizzle of the bolt.
#1 got up this morning and told me he didn't like lightning...no shit Chief, me either...

Wow!

I actually rode both days over the weekend. Shocking...I don't know how to act.
I met the group Saturday morning and we did an altogether easy 2 hours through Hopkins and back in. No real efforts, just riding along. Very nice indeed.
Sunday, Doogie, Il Professore and I met at La Casa. I ended up with 2.5 hours. I have no idea of speed or mileage as the cyclocross bike doesn't have a computer. Kinda goes against the very nature of the beast. That's a big beast of a bike though...@ 20-ish pounds. Doesn't sound like much, but the Helium weighs 16...
I'm riding the cross rig as it's a bit more upright and the cockpit is shorter than the road unit. It saved my back. I woke up this morning with the feeling that I had ridden my bike again, but NO back pain or twingy feelings.
I ordered a new stem for the Ridley in an effort to get my hands a tiny bit higher. I hate the fact that I'm being forced to ride a jacked up stem, but if it stops the pain, who cares. Seeing some positions that folks around here ride in, I'm sure mine will still look just the same as it has for a while.
I will say though, that I'm not riding with anger for a long while. I just need to ride and enjoy it.

New SC bicycling Law...

This passed yesterday...

http://www.scstatehouse.net:80/sess117_2007-2008/bills/3006.htm

If you wanna watch The Giro...

www.rai.it

Follow the links...I'd post a direct link, but the code changes everyday...

A long weekend...

This was my view for most off the race!
Before the Darlington Stripe
After the wall did it's damage
KB getting doused. Hey Dale Jr., where were you?

I went out with the Saturday group, as usual, but turned off way early and did two hours easy with Doogie. He turned because he and his wife were watching their nephew, or so he says...! I think he really wanted to get home early to play his nephew's Wii...

I turned off because the H.O. and I went to Darlington for the Sprint Cup race. We got another set of HOT passes from Joe Gibbs Racing, so we had access to the pits and garage before, during and after the race. It was cool and yes, I an better than you. The H.O.'s company is a lead sponsor for JGR, so we get upfront and personal with everything. It doesn't suck.

We hung out in Kyle Busch's pit for the entire race. The hella cool part was the fact that he won the race and we got ushered into Victory Lane! You know that celebration you see on TV after a race, when they spray Gatorade all over the place? Yeah, I was dead in the middle of that horseshit. NOS Energy Drink stings like a bitch when it gets in your eye!

We rolled out after the furor died down. I pulled the company truckster in the driveway @ 2 a.m.!! Needless to say, there was no ride Sunday morning! I felt hungover, but never drank a drop!

I took 140+ pictures Saturday night....

Thanks to Byron Coggin and the fine folks at JGR for the fat hookup!

Short man walking...

Oh, my aching back...

I am sick and tired of being hurt. It sucks a mile of ditch water.
Saturday met us with a really good group ride, only I couldn't participate as usual, thanks to my L3/L4 junction. Well, that's not entirely true. The skeletal stuff is fine. I'm having muscular and nerve issues now. I can ride on the tops @ any speed up to about 40kmh. As soon as I have to get in the drops and really give some effort, my back feels like I've been stabbed.
The ride was a good tempo affair with some efforts thrown in, as the Saturday rides have become. It wasn't a hard ride at all. It shouldn't have felt as hard as it felt. Everytime the ride got quick or the road turned up, I just couldn't make any sort of power. The legs, lungs and heart were all within the green, but the back went into the red far too much and far too easily.
I still ended with 3 hours and 95 km.
I didn't ride today as I'm going to take even MORE time off the bike in an effort to heal up. If I ride at all over the next week or so, it'll be on the 29er, as it's slow and relatively upright.

I guess I'll see you when I see you...............

We had the monkey last night...

...and didn't need to wait for the football.
The group ride was a fuckup of epic proportions last night. It had just the right mix of people who don't know how to ride their bikes. It was a special blend, honestly. The only thing that could have made it better (worse) is if 'The Peanut' had shown up.
Mr. 'Head-Down, ride at 12/10ths and try not to crash' was at the gate. My trepidation started there. The kid just doesn't know how to ride his bike. Gapping people out, riding with his head down, riding entirely too close to the wheel in front of him, surging into the line, only to stab his brakes. Either stay in the back or stay away, period.
I knew we were in real trouble when in rolled a guy on a track bike, with no brakes and a flourescent yellow Camelbak. He was just dangerous. Going down Ridge, he was completely spun out and looked like he could blow apart at any moment. He and his buddy on the Tarmac just sat in the middle of the group, trying to cause an accident.
Once we turned to go down to the old Tuesday route, Mr. Trifecta was dropped, thankfully. His Tarmac riding buddy was more dangerous and had obviously never ridden in a group before. Crossing wheels, coming through the line on the inside, to NOT pull through and just sit up, wondering what to do. You know what to do, stay the fuck home!
We got rolling down Clarkson and across the Road to Nowhere and turned on Cabin Creek. A very nice paceline was rolling through, until Cisco decided to attack. I have no issue with that, it happens on group rides. My issue is with Mr. 'Head-Down'. I jumped to get back in the line (there was a 5 meter gap), but instinctively looked over my shoulder. Here comes 'H-D', head completely buried in the top tube, not looking at all. I swerved left to avoid being taken out by this dumbass and just let the group go. For the sake of my bike and body, I just sat up. The kid is going to crash and get hurt really badly. Hopefully, he doesn't take anyone out when the time comes...and it's coming, believe me.
Il Professore and NewGuyRob (NGR) rolled up and were both going off about how fucked up the ride had been all night. Il Prof ranted for a good 15 minutes and dropped enough 'F' bombs to end the war in Iraq.
We rode in smaller groups after that. I'm sorry (not really) if this post sounds elitist, but if you have never ridden with a new group before, don't get involved in the dynamic. Stay in the back, keep your eyes open and mouth shut. I'm not getting taken to the ground by some dumbfuck who is riding completely over their head and experience level. Our litte group, as dysfunctional as it is, has been together for 10+ years. New folks have come and gone. Some have stayed and are valuable members of the bunch. The ones who have stayed did exactly what I wrote just above.
Hell, I've been riding for a long time, but when I go on a trip, or go to ride with a new group, I don't get involved with the group dynamic, because I don't know what it's like, even though I can ride in front.
Anyway, enough ranting. I rode pretty poorly last night, dumbasses notwithstanding. Bad legs and a strained back do not a good ride make. It was nice to do the old Tuesday loop though. Reed and I had talked about alternating Elon and the old Tuesday loop on Thursday nights. More discussion will follow, I'm sure.
See you in the morning. I'm not riding hard.........