Epic gear is in!

I just got back from my first day at the bike shop. I was nervous about making a fool of myself and/or breaking something, and well, I just kinda wound up bumbling around. It was a slow day so no worries. I'm excited about the new shop, it's going to be fantastic.

I came home and found a box full of goddies from Alaska.
I am very impressed with the fit and finish of the gear. Everything is stout too.
I still have to figure out my handlebar situation though, not sure what I'm going to run. They kinda fit, but I need a few extra straps to put them on the aeros.

Sorry it's a little blurry.

I placed third!

from last :(
I did the Serc #3 race at Tsali today.
I decided to do a little food experiment in prep for the GDR. I'm blaming that for my upset stomach at the beginning of the race. I made a pound of "buttery goodness" and brought with me maybe a table spoon or two to eat as a pre race snack(I did have a healthy breakfast, bagels, cereal etc). About 3 minutes into the race I felt like puking and had to let the whole crowd pass me right before the single track. Fortunately I changed my 'tude and decided to just enjoy the race. Shortly after that I got a huge glob of mud in my eye, sunglasses just don't protect from everything. Later on I wound up going off trail for a bit and cut up my leg in some briars, which was a little bloody and raised my spirits!

I plan on spending some time in the trainer this week, and hopefully doing a 100mile ride to Clingman's dome and back. Then interview on Monday.

update from work(during lunch break!)

I'm at work doing planning on my first decent lunch break in weeks!
I just realized, that I could scan the queue sheets off the maps and blow them up! instead of typing them out. On the other hand typing them up allows me to add the updates(plus), but more importantly I can change the wording to something that's easier to understand.

My frame bag and other equipment from Epic Designs should be in for the Cohutta 100. I plan on only stopping at every other Sag station. I think that will be a good shakedown ride.

In other news. I have a job interview. Not sure if I'll get the job, but I'll have a big decision ahead of me.

2nd Job and a Job Interview

I have Tuesday's off for this month and next month. My employer has been hit by the "economic downturn"(read we make car parts), so I can only work 32hrs per week. I guess I drew the short straw and was given Tuesdays off. I have made the most of it though, used the time to plan for the GDR, study computer stuff, job hunt, and defiantly mountain bike. I contemplated a second job, but finding one that is worthwhile and only on Tuesday is pretty damn hard. Until today.

Starting in April I'll be working at TVB on Tuesdays. I will not be paid much, but it's about the experience and the "pro deals".

I did get a call from Duke Energy in Charlotte NC. They want to interview me. I'll go for the interview, but who know what I'll do if they offer me a job.

We'll see.

Wool Stinks and other brain droppings

I don’t care what people say, wool sticks, and moisture wicking is marketing BS!
Both my wool shirts(new) smell bad, like baby poop so I am told. I’m not sure if that’s better than the funk my poly shirt had during the AT though.

I finished the Snake Creek Gap Time Trial yesterday in 4:01:and some change. Much better than my 4:24, but not the 3:59 I was hoping for. It was still a big success, I did not cramp as much, and did not hike-a-bike as much either. I paced myself and had plenty of fluids and fuel. I almost hand a mechanical when I lost a chainring bolt on my granny, but I was fortunate to make it to the halfway point and tighten the rest before they all came loose. Thread locker will solve that problem.

I'll be buying some new chainring bolts a saddle, and I guess a new chain. I need to find out if the Shimano thumb shifters will fit my handlebars, they have a smaller inner diameter than regular road bars, I assume. I want to run the setup I have on my commuter for the GDR, and I would like to try it out at the Cohutta 100 . Hopefully by then I'll also have my frame bag, and I'll try to avoid the sag stations.

I just learned "the rule of thirds" and finally realized that's why my camera(canon s80) had those grid lines.

Snake Creek Gap 2009

I competed in the 34 mile race at Snake Creek Gap.

I am very happy that I finished. The last seven miles were killer.

Snake Creek Gap is a time trial series outside Dalton Ga. There is a 17 mile time trial and a 34 mile. I recommend that anyone who wants to do a 17 mile time trial, sign up for the 34 and quit halfway. The last 17 miles were the hardest. Started off with a steep climb then a good bit of double track, and finally and ridge run full of rocks and another steep climb. I was very frustrated with the last seven miles. My legs were cramping, I was hungry and I ran out of water with two miles to go. I'm ashamed to say I had to hike-a-bike, but it beats quiting.

I learned a good bit about how to eat, and what I can eat while riding. Defiantly newton, and other breakfast bars, soft and easy to digest. I only drank water, but I'm pretty sure some sort of drink mix would have giving me some more energy.

Next month I think I'll mount my thudbuster, and maybe I'll have some bags from Epic Designs to test out. I think I'll mount my commuter bars and aero bars as well.

I missed competing in the weekend's Knoxiecross but I got quite a few photos of the TVB team.

Icycle 2009

I competed in my first sport class race this past weekend. It was a blast!
The race was the Icycle at Fontana Village NC. The trail was fast and had just the right amount of climbs. The biggest slow down for me were the grassy field sections, they were half frozen and just bogged down as soon as I rolled onto them.
I was pretty damn happy when I started out in fourth, unfortunately that did not last. I fell over and was passed, and before that I started running out of steam. I am proud to say I did not "hike-a-bike". That's about all I can claim, anyway I finished in 8th. Not too shabby.
Kaitlyn, another rider for TVB finished 2nd in Beginner womens; It was her first race too. Great job!
After that I watched Scott and Drew race single speed. And I made some new friends.

Sunday I spun for 2 hours in my trainer. My legs were still sore on Monday. I overslept on Tuesday, but I got early today to spin.

Saturday is the Snake, my first long(relativly speaking) distance race at 34 miles. Hopefully I can keep a good pace.
I will probably skip out on the next Knoxiecross that Sunday. Hopefully I'll have enough energy to spin for 3 hours on Sunday. My plan is to keep building up each week.

The job hunt continues.......