Long overdue cyclocross update

Race #3 in the series at Boone was kind of a bust. It was a fun course and had a great spectator section.
unfortunately I was lapped about 100 ft from the finish.

Race #4 was in Salisbury(not the steak), and was a little better. I didn't get lapped but I was at the back of the pack. It was a little bit technical which was fun.

I missed a few other races because I was busy doing this:

Race #5 was in Statesville.  This was much worse. I'm not listed as DFL, but I didn't see a single person behind me. I made a rookie mistake and lowered my tire pressure just before the start. I had to take it super slow around every corner to avoid rolling a bead; eventually I was lapped on my 2nd lap(the lead's first). Only 4 people in Cat 3 lapped me the others were from the 35+ who started 1 minute before us...small consolation.

NC Cyclocross #1 Southern Pines, NC

I never thought mountain biking is south Mississippi would have come in handy but it sure did last weekend.

A lot of trails back home are either covered with pine straw, comprised mostly of sand, or both.

The back half of the race course included 50+ft of sand; deep sand.

I watched the cat 4 masters ride through and saw what not to do. 

I flubbed the start, but I think I passed 8 people on the back half.  A few of them around a some sandy turns. dumb luck or skill? 

Sand trap

The rest of the course was flat, wheel sucking grass. Something I need to practice on.

That helmet just looks silly

I was a bit disappointed with the scene. Courtney's first CX race should have been in the midwest. It wasn't a party atmosphere, maybe Boone will be wilder.
23rd out of 33 in my first Cat 3 race; not bad.

First Cross Race

Photo

Kent Baumgardt

Courtney's fall break just so happened to be during the Gun Club CX race. Obviously a trip to Cincy was in order. Courtney and I hit all our favorite restaurants on Friday and Saturday and Sunday I raced while Courtney Studied.
It turns out I am actually Cat 3 in Cross, probably because I'm Cat 1 in MTB. They let me race Cat 4 since it was my first serious CX race. I've done a few on my mountain bike but more for fun/the challenge than anything.  Cross is huge in the Midwest and probably huger with my teammates.
Cross is a lot of fun, it's defiantly the most family/friend centric type of race.  Everyone had their wives/husbands and kids there to cheer them on.  Mountain bike races generally are the same but you only see the racers once a lap, and there aren't breaks between categories.
I placed 23rd out of the cat4/juniors so not bad.
Hopefully I won't be stomped on at my first cat 3.

Bike DNC

They didn't search me, but I just walked around that checkpoint.

Google Headquarters

Abraham Lincoln, not the vampire hunting version. I ran into Piers Morgan too, but no photos.

and then there was this guy...plenty of dead fetus photos to go around.

How to destroy a chamois

The top is the chamois turned inside out. I'm not sure how I ripped it but I did.
The green pads came unglued after <20 a="a" all="all" and="and" around="around" back="back" black="black" br="br" came="came" champ-sys="champ-sys" days="days" didn="didn" floated="floated" folded="folded" give="give" i="i" if="if" inside.="inside." it="it" just="just" last="last" lasts.="lasts." ll="ll" me="me" nbsp="nbsp" new="new" over.="over." pad="pad" pair.="pair." probably="probably" see="see" sew="sew" somehow="somehow" t="t" the="the" together="together" unglued="unglued" week="week">

Finally Gone Pro

with wheel building.

I finally built a wheel and got the logo centered(paying attention helps) when viewed through the valve stem hole.
Of course a white rim with silver spokes and a black hub is pretty hideous, but I already had the hubs spokes and the rim was on sale. The roadies are going to make so much fun of me......

Back Home

I came back on the 5th...or maybe the 6th. jet lag and....train lag?
Pretty upset with myself over this. I knew I didn't train enough.
IT band and achiellies issues didn't help either.
maybe 2013?

Leaving Tomorrow, starting the 30th

Super nervous. I'm hoping I'll have the same luck I had last year, and of course be faster.
Who knows how it will go; so may variables.
Stalk away.
http://trackleaders.com/tourdividei.php?name=Stephen_Huddle
 http://mtbcast.com/site2/

Drugs and invites

I'm not going to understand some Latin word when I'm sick. short and sweet I will understand

Oh and wedding invites.

Her idea too!

Charlotte commute

Blue Ridge Parkway Ride

 

Notice the new helmet? Yup; drove all the way to Asheville and forgot my helmet. I found a guy in the parking lot and asked where the nearest shop was.  He sent me to Youngblood Bicycles just down the road, and after a quick chat he told me to put in my resume......uh....damn it, just moved here.

So I started a little late, but wound up riding with Billy from Catawba Valley Brewing Company. Lucky for me he was riding at my pace so we spent our time chatting which of course made the time go by much faster.

Unfortunately we had to part ways after this photo. I kept going too Linville for dinner and just down the road to camp out around 7 or so.
The next day was faster but the rain/clouds slowed me down. I did manage to get one measly photograph.
At the last little snack stand I stopped for water and to warm up; which didn't really work since the fire was too small. I managed to get a ride for the last 18 or so miles. Mostly downhill and more than likely very cold.  So I'm a wuss, but it was for the best.

First Pisgah Ride

I finally made it out to the mythical Pisgah Forrest.  It's a long drive, which doesn't serve well as a day trip area. Hopefully a few overnighter's are in the future.
I planned doing a loop of Laural Mountain, for a total of 14 miles of difficult riding. Unfortunately I got a bit mixed up and just wound up doing and out and back. I'll have to try again perhaps with some more planning, and maybe I'll figure out how to use my fancy pants GPS to help.

Long Overdue Cohutta Write Up

Way too much walking.
They changed up the course; added more single track(a welcome addition for many).
The first 30 miles or so I had sore arms due to the single track and the stiffy fork.
After that it was ok, but I had to walk up that long climb as you might have noticed.
I don't think the ridged fork slowed me down too much, but I'm still on the fence.
I will not be running it on the 24hrs of Burn though. 

In other news I'm in Charlotte with the Mrs'.
And I'm in for the 2012 TD, June 30th.

K. Bedford Cross Bike

I need to adjust the saddle height and whatnot(and I guess replace it with a black post). And I need to adjust the grips and wrap the bars. I've put a few miles on the road and on grass with it. It's pretty nice. My major complaint is that the brakes aren't that great; real squishy. It might be from the cable housing, how I set them up, or maybe I'm just spoiled by hydraulics.  

Death Barf

Well my Frame from Kelly Bedford came in, but unfortunately the chainstays interfered with the crank arms so I had to ship it back.  Hopefully that will get squared away shortly.

The Death March was a bust for me. I woke up Saturday and threw up.  I haven't had a solid meal for several days now; not a fun way to lose weight.

The men's teams took 16,17,18, and 20. I'd like to think Jeff and I would have filled in the 19th slot easily. It sucks I had to miss out on the teamwork and fun.

Heather and Sherrie DNF'd because they didn't get to Lutes I believe.

Jeni and Darren got 6th and Ted and Katie got 20th(her first race!).

Good job to all. 

This guy's name better be Jake Podium; otherwise he's a schmuck

Sunday Ride

Nice day for a ride on my pseudo road bike.

Seriously California?

 Sidi spikes carry a warning from California:
California Proposition 65 Warning
this production contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

They're just aluminum spikes!

You Snooze You Lose

I overslept a bit today and then went riding before the snow melt.  I totally forgot about the Dirty Kanza 200.  Well it sold out.  I am not surprised endurance events like this, the NUE, and now the UltraCX are becoming more popular every year. That downside is what draws me to the TD and other ultra endurance events.  No registration no fee, and the option of racing when I can.

Note the butt print