The journey ends

I have to say I'm very disappointed I'm not going to finish TSE. I have been feeling pain on my side from day one but kept on pushing the issue. The prologue wasn't long but it was a hard 10 miles. Around the mid point I had chain suck issues and after I fixed it, I hustled hard to get that time back and I could feel the effort on my side (ribs). I pumped myself full of pain killers and got ready for the next day, 40+ miles of 90's and humidity that you could cut it with a knife including the hike a bike from hell. Over a mile of pushing and carrying the bike over rocks, big rocks, roots, logs name it it was there. The single track was the same and I rode most of it, just find a line and let the bike roll over it. The last mile took us back to the same hill we came down during the prologue, a hard 1k climb and a short descent back to the finish. The second stage was basically a road race with about 5 miles of rocky single track. It was a stage of relentless climbing all day long. 1,2,3 mile long climbs. Not real steep but steep enough to hurt you all the way up. Made it to the finish and my back locked up and my ribs were hurting from all the pulling and standing up to climb. The race doctor pumped me full of ibuprofen and I took care of my legs all evening getting ready for the next day. The next day came and I felt good and looking forward to the Raystown stage, one of my favorite places to ride on the east. Basically a bmx track on steroids. Lots of roller coaster ups and downs all machine made single track. The stage started and I was well positioned when we hit the single track and the pace was furious but I was feeling good until I stood up to power over a short climb and snap, I knew right away I was done and had 13 more miles to finish the lap. I crawled out the woods knowing my race was over. Went to dinner said my goodbyes went back to the cabin and went to bed, I would pack up in the morning after breakfast. I'm not signing up for the race next year but I know I'll be back to redeem myself, it is hard stage race but I enjoyed it.

1st. 2nd. Stages

Sorry for the late post the wifi at camp doesn't let my iPad log in. Got help and even them couldn't figure it out. Had to drive into State College and find a wifi place. Yesterday went well, it rained the night before but the stage didn't start until 3pm so it was plenty of time for the course to dry up. I started at 3:17:30 and within the first 3 miles I had caught the master that started before me. I relished I was going out to hard and let up a bit and let him go on a climb. Caught on the roots rocky single track and pulled away from him. Finished 3rd on the stage. Today's stage was brutal, it rained hard again last night and the start was at 9:30 am. Lots of gravel road climbs wich I like but I had no legs on the first half of the race ans also plenty of mud to go around. Before we hit the first check point at 11 miles, there was the hike a bike from hell, about 2 miles long and it just kept going up. Made it to the first check point and I wanted to curl into a ball, call my mommy and go home, but you go through rough patches during a race this long. I kept telling myself, this is it I'm not racing ever again. Normally I like the long sustained climbs but with no legs it was a love hate relationship. I was riding the hard single track better than ever picking lines over rocks that had no line at all, bouncing all over the place and loving it. Found my legs later in the race and was able to go a little harder on the climbs and pulled away from afew riders. It was 90 and so humid I even unzipped my jersey which I don't like to do, it looks unprofessional, yeah I'm real anal when it comes to that. Overall great day and I was able to finish strong. I haven't looked at the results but it looks like I finished 4th on the day I'll find out at the dinner tonight. Tomorrow is another hard day but "only" 32 miles. Im riding the hard eddy and I tell you, I had my doubts about the bike but it has been great, as stif as the bike is, it is also very forgiving. I'm glad I chose to ride it. That's all for today, I'll try to post again tomorrow as I have more time since the stage is shorter. Thanks for reading.

Dinner

Made it to the race venue around 3 pm today and now I'm ready for dinner. Having pizza at a place about 30mins away. I was going to ride the prologue but the sky opened up and rain came down hard. Every time I race it rains or is wet, what's up with that. I'll pre ride tomorrow morning. The cabin I'm staying in is ok, so glad I brought glade. I hope there's no bed bugs in that mattress. I'll post a few pics tomorrow if I can, the wifi at camp is not letting me log in. More later tomorrow.

One more day

One more day to the sart of TSE "Transylvania Epic" mountain bikestage race. Ready or not, it is too late to back out. This is not your typical nountain bike race, 7 days of beating your brains in PA. 150 racers including teams, should be a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to it. I'll be posting at the end of every stage a short account of how many times I crashed and how far behind I'm. So, check often or check the website for updates. http://www.tsepic.com/

I've been going to the "forbidden until June" trail trying to dial in the new bike and I'm still at a loss. I may race on my Jamis don't know what to do.

The new trail is looking great. The Metropark people are doing an excellent job with all the bridges including a big one to cross the creek. 3 huge steel beams will support it, is going to look good. This is going to be one fast trail and only 1.5 miles from my house.

As seen on the trail on my way there Wednesday, wild Turkeys crossing the path at Bonnie Park.

The Knob and me just don't agree

Went to Vultures Knob in Wooster to do a couple of laps and ende up with one lap. That place and I just do not agree. The last time I rode ther was 4 years ago. I go there to help with the races but never to ride. Every time I go I crash. Yesterday i crashed twice and got stung by a bee. Got a nasty cut and bruise on my sheen and another nasty bruise on my big toe.

Beautiful feet I may say.

And all this coming one week before I leave for TSE.

The first crash was because I didn't cut the handlebars down from 26"" to 23".  and I nicked a tree and went down hard. The second one was on a turn when I hit a lip and down again. After that it was "forget this" I'm just going to make it back and go home, which I did. Got home took a shower can't remember what else I did and around 3 I decided to finally cut the handlebars and headed down to the new trail in my neighbohood to poach it since it is still closed until the gran opening in June. I needed somewhere to keep on dialing in the new bike, Oh yes, I forgot, I picked up the new bike on Friday and went to Mohican on Saturday to test it out. Very stiff and handles well. I'll know more fater the race next week. The Kenda slant six tires I chose rode well but I'm still not sold on them, I may change to my Specialized ground controls before te race if I don't like them after I ride them a couple more times this week. Bike pics soon.

Coming into form...I think

A week and a half until I head to PA for the start of TSE. I've had 2 weeks of hard riding with one more day coming tomorow and start tapering all of next week. My legs can feel the load and the stress I have put them under the last two weeks. Rode in yesterday and today to work getting two long days on the saddle lke last week. yesterday was a descent day and my legs didn't scream much until the last 5-7 miles. Going up 130th I shifted into my 39 and just spun my way up, I knew I had a good day. Today started mellow until blinking lights be dammed. Saw a blinking light in front of me and like a carrot on a stick I had to chase. I caught up to the rider which I have rode with him in the morning before by the golf course in Broadview Heights. He's a teacher in the Brecksville school district and commutes to work often. We rode together until we hit 21 and split off. Down the valley, up the valley and the legs were hurting from the effort I putting to catch him. Spun my way to the Bedford reservation and all of the sudden my legs felt great again and I just let them go and do their work. Made it to work in 1:52 which is 7 minutes faster than my normal times. I need a shorter commute in the morning!!!
Looking forward to hitting Reagan park tomorrow and possibly picking up my new frame all built up for the race. Rest day Friday and hitting Mohican again on Saturday.
Get out and RIDE. have a great day everyone.

week worth

Had a good week hrs and miles wise with close to 300 miles last week and feeling it today. Thought about riding in but my legs and body thought otherwise. The kicker was Mohican on Saturday. I was in the parking lot getting ready and a young guy from Columbus pulls in and we start talking and rode out together. Within the first mile I was at 90% and he wasn't going as fast as he could. I just can't start that fast right away, I need to ease into the ride and then pick it up. Anyways, I told myself this is a good test fro TSE and decided to go at his pace until I that moment whene you feel like blowing up. On our way down to the covered bridge he took a spill on the downhill but was up and riding againg like nothing happened. We got to the covered bridge and I pulled my first aid kit out cleaned up his wounds and check his bike. Very nice frame that when I first saw it I thought it was a carbon frame. His rear brake was rubbing and the wheel wasn't spinning good. We decided to take the road up and then hit the pine section and I was glad, my legs finally rebelled agains me and I fell back on the climb right away. He waited for me at the parking lot and we hit the pines. That's a great section of trail and a lot of fun to ride.

The welds are perfect and looking at it from a rolling bike it looked like carbon. We hit the parking lot and the Cannondale demo rig was there.

I wanted to ride a full suspension Jekyll but it was getting to late and yard work was calling me.
Thought about hitting Mohican again  on Sunday with Ken but I'm glad I didn't go because I would have taken the short cut of shame instead of the call of shame. I went to Reagan after church and did one lap and was cooked. Very glad I didn't go to Mohican. I just rode very sow and admired the blooming flowers all over the place.

Taking today completely off and commuting all week to work.
Get out and ride.

Gravel Metric

Had to post this as soon as I watched it.

Is a beautiful morning

Yes it is.




A short passing shower in the Bedford Reservation, cool temps, blinking lights to chase, feeling good in my commute to work in the morning for the first time in a month...priceless.

Fog shrouded field down in the valley.

One of my favorire view on my ride in to work in the Bedford Reservation, the Sun just coming over the horizon,

Have great day everyone.

Get out and ride.

PARAPROSDOKIANS

Like I mentioned in yesterdays post, I had a flat on my way in to work where I tried to nurse but I had to stop and change it one mile from work. In the afternoon I found out my front tire was flat again, I pumped it, checked again later, flat. WTH, it was anew tube never used.  I had to ask a friend at work to drive me to the local bike shop to buy a couple of tubes for the hot, muggy ride home and I enjoyed it, although  being the first real hot day this spring I was a little gassed went I got home. 87 today, enjoy.
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  PARAPROSDOKIANS: (Winston Churchill loved them.)




Here is the definition:

...

"Figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or

phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous

situation." "Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of

paraprosdokian.



1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his

level and beat you with experience.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on

my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people

appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left..

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not

putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and

then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from

many is research.

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is

where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted

paychecks.

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says,

'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'

13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down

the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are

sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall

of a successful man is usually another woman.

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a

parachute to skydive twice.

18. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier

to live with.

19. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone

down so they can't get away.

20. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

21. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

22. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call

whatever you hit the target.

23. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

24. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

25. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than

standing in a garage makes you a car.

26. Where there's a will, there's relatives.

Treadmills are evil

Rainy days on Wednesdays make me cry, blowing bridges and 40 years of bliss

Left the house this morning for my bicycle commute at 5:20am in a very light drizzle. I kept trying to convince myself to turn around and just drive to work. I kept going, the drizzle intensified but not hard enough where I had to stop to put my raincoat on. My team vest was enough to keep me dry. Roads got really wet but by the time I got to the bridge that those nuts wanted to blow up (more on that later) the drizzle had stopped and the sun was starting to show up over the horizon, what a great sight. To finish off the morning commute, I got a flat one mile from work but still in the park roads. I pumped it trying to nurse it all the way to work but had to change it. That's ok, the sun was bright and the morning was turning beautiful. Made it to work safe and I'm happy I kept going, if I didn't I would have regreted the whole day.
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Now, the FBI uncoverd a plot to bomb the route 82 bridge over the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation area by 5 nuts.
http://www.newsnet5.com/generic/news/local_news/oh_cuyahoga/in-depth-bridge-bomb-plot

This is the bridge I drive or ride over everyday on my way to work. What really goes through somebodys mind in order to do this? You have to be really sick mentally thinking that by blowing up a bridge you are going to force the government into something you want...sick, very sick.

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Now for some good news. Today marks 40 years my wife and I have been together, I was 17 she was 15 and we've been married 33 years and I wouldn't change a thing. I've been the greatest husband a woman can ever want, i fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee. My ears are ringing right about now.

Have a great sunny day.

Get out and ride.