Almost Time

In just a few weeks, I'll be able to take the scenic way to work. This year, I might take the CX bike and mix in some dirt with it.

Never Ever Talk About Flats Before A Ride

We all know that rule. It's a good rule. Cycling 101. Never talk about flats before or during a ride.

I got lazy and forgot about the rule. Just two days ago, I was talking to a friend about the advantages of running tubeless w/ Stans. I was bragging about how it's been over a year since my last flat. As soon as I heard those words come out of my mouth, I knew I had cursed myself and there was nothing I could do to reverse it.

The very next day on my lunch ride, I sliced a hole in my sidewall big enough that the Stans couldn't seal it. That tube that has been wrapped around my seat post for the past year finally came in handy.

I can't wait to see what happens on today's ride. I'm going to carry a tube in all three jersey pockets.

RAWROD TT

This is the only picture I took of my RAWROD TT on Friday.

It's a pic of Brad's new secret sauce. That's all I'm going to say about it. Other than I want some.

We had a good group of nine fast riders. Brad, Grizzly, Aaron, Brandon, Miles, Jesse, Keith & Carson.

This wasn't a social ride. It was a personal, self-supported, TT over 100 miles. (If you wonder why we do this, be sure to look at the video miles put together. It's one of the most scenic rides I've ever done). But being a self-supported ride meant I would have to carry a camelbak. I hate camelbaks. I made the mistake of putting all of my food in the pack (not my jersey pockets). which made it hard to eat what I wanted when I wanted. I also made the mistake of packing 4 chicken strips which I thought I would eat at the "lunch spot". There was no lunch spot. And at mile 90, that chicken would start to talk to me and mess with my head.

At mile 40, I started to cramp any time the trail kicked up. Half way up Murhpy's, I had to dismount several times to stretch out my legs. I knew it was from a lack of eating/drinking enough. At the top of the climb, I decided to take out several items from my pack (Gu, powerbar, and chews) and stuff them into the legs of my shorts for easy access. Once I did that, my legs were good and I was able to recover and push the pace again.

I finished in 8:15. 10 min behind Brad and about 30 seconds in front of Grizzly Adam. Which brings me back to the chicken strips. After climbing out of the rim and hitting the pavement back to the car (It can't be more than 10 miles of paved road). I was completely out of energy. So bad that I was actually riding a very fine line of passing out. I was talking to myself (and the demons in my head). All I had left was the chicken strips which sounded so good but would require me to stop and dig them out of my pack. I couldn't do that. I couldn't do that because Grizzly was chasing me and I knew he was within a few minutes. Sure enough, I looked back and could see him. He had gears and I didn't and being back on pavement, I knew he would close the gap and he did. But I managed to stay about 30 seconds ahead of him.

I rolled into the parking lot, flipped down the tailgate and ate that glorious chicken and the protein shake I stashed in the cooler. I carried that chicken 100 miles through the desert and thought about it many times during the day. I almost named it like it was a pet.

Later that night at the camp, the brats tasted twice as good with the ride done and nothing left to do but hang out.

Fast Friday Cometh....

Getting ready for RAWROD "Fast Friday" version. Something tells me this isn't going to be a very social ride.

99.96 miles
7,489 ft of elevation gain



Eating brats AFTER the ride might be a nice change.

First Commute

It's that time of the year when my co-workers get to see me in my super hero outfit and I get to answer all kinds of cycling related questions during the day. Most commonly asked question- "how much does your bike cost?" I remember Fatty writing about this and recommended the following:

The solution? Tell non-cyclists you paid $499.99 for your bike, no matter how much you really paid for it. This number has been scientifically formulated to sound like more than a non-cyclist would pay for a bike, without otherwise drawing attention to itself.

It's solid advice. Now if I could come up with a way for people to stop flicking my bike or touching my saddle. Actually, I really like it when they touch the saddle. Especially just before lunch time.

Like Father Like Son

Seth loves to hang out with his peeps -the Clark kids. (photo borrowed from Sam)


I don't know where he gets it?

The post ride chill (me and Grizzly enjoying a cheese filled hot dog after 2 hours of dirt)
(photo borrowed from Adam)

What Did YOU Have For Lunch On Friday?

LUNCH

I had so much fun, I forgot I was hungry. Thanks Miles for some of your best work yet.

I Sense Some Suffering In My Future

The post work weekly MTB races start back up in 3 weeks. Nothing better than a 60 minute interval to relax after a hard day at the office.

Fast racers, amazing single track, cheap entry fees, good prizes, and a very casual environment. What's not to like?

We Had A Special Visitor In The UC Today

And Now For Something Very Funny

Palomar

At the top of every mountain, there should be a place to get an ice cold Coke in a glass bottle and chill. If you are ever in San Diego, check out the Palomar Mountain ride. Huge up with a cafe at the summit followed by a fast, technical, twisty down.

Dug and I enjoying a cold one after climbing 4,000 + vertical ft.



I hear the Utah mountains are getting slammed with snow. I'm a skier but in this pic, I'm not missing the snow.

One and Out

Sometimes you gotta exercise a little self control and pull the plug even when conditions are prime....live another day employed so you can make money to support the habit.

Today was one of those days. It was really hard to stop after one lap.

It was deep already and snowing hard all morning. Snowing hard enough to partially fill in the skin track. And it was the good kind of snow.

The freeway skin track up the gut of Scotties


But now I'm at work. Stinky and without socks (I knew I forgot something). At least I got one really, really good lap in.