I would be afraid the Kool-aid guy would break through a wall and accuse me of stealing his gloves or something. Anyways, to each his own. Ill just keep wearing normal gloves and being warm like a normal person.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Okay so sometimes we all get cold
But seriously? Do we all live in Siberia? Or would any of us ride if we needed these?
I would be afraid the Kool-aid guy would break through a wall and accuse me of stealing his gloves or something. Anyways, to each his own. Ill just keep wearing normal gloves and being warm like a normal person.
I would be afraid the Kool-aid guy would break through a wall and accuse me of stealing his gloves or something. Anyways, to each his own. Ill just keep wearing normal gloves and being warm like a normal person.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tidewater CHALLENGE!!!!
One of the highlights of my race season every year is the Tidewater Challenge. Some of you may know this race as "steve's race," and rightly so. Steve Nevins, a former pro for someone (I dont know who) back when anodized purple was stil the hot thing, puts this race on every year alongside the Eastern Virginia Mountain Bike Assoc. Steve and the EVMA use trails on Steve's property right outside of Williamsburg, VA. Williamsburg??? What mountains are there in W-burg? Well, they are in Steve's backyard. Literally! Steve has built about 8 miles of trail in the forest right behind his house. Now for most of us that would be pretty sweet. Add in the fact that Steve's trails are some of the favorites of east coast pros; boasting fast-as-lightning sections, technical descents and ascents, and even a killer BMX track, and you have a recipe for one of the coolest races I have ever done. So here is the report.
I love this race an awful lot but Kristin really loves this race. I often think that Kristin wouldnt love mtb near as much as she does if it werent for the promise of Tidewater at the end of October. So Kristin drove up to ol' Hampden-Sydney on friday and spent the night so we could be prepared for the drive the next day. She still had her slicks on from the PoMo so that was priority numero uno when she arrived. Hmm...seating kevlar beaded tires without an air compressor and with only a million year old Wrench-Force floor pump and some elbow grease, not so fun. As it turned out we had to re-tape her rims three times and use the compressor from the Exxon station down the street to put on a freshi(ish) pair of Maxxis crossmark tires. That done, we hit the hay.
This is the 21st running of the challenge, but the first annual Tidewater Mountain Crit. "The" race was on sunday, but saturday afternoon was the crit. K and I figured we would go and watch some folks tear it up in the crit and maybe get a chance to ride the course before sunday. **This is especially important in Steve's race because the only day it is open is the day of the race itself and the day before to pre-ride.** We get there, get suited up, and I decided that it wasnt any fun to be all dressed up with no place to race. So I entered the crit. Steve promised 100% payout for the crit so I figured "hey, at least I wont lose that much money on it right?" I kne I would be at a disadvantage being on a single racing a bunch of gearheads, including Steve himself (talk about home-course advantage). But who cares
So the first lap, I blow off the front in classic Gordon Wadsworth style; only to miss the first turn, again in classic style. I always did like a challenge i suppose. So I manage to quickly start cutting through from last place up to an eventual second in the first heat. there was an epic battle between Steve and myself for an entire lap. He had a lot of advantage (gears and an intimiate knowledge of the new crit course) but I still managed to take him by the second to last lap. Second heat went a little better at the start. I managed to jump into third, again pass steve (a little easier this time) and try and catch up to the only pro to do the crit. I never managed to catch that pro, but I gave it a good fight. 2nd overall in the mountain crit and a little richer for the effort we headed off to find out lodging.
A last minute decision ot stay in a hotel was a good call since the KOA was closed, and rain was hitting pretty hard by the early evening. A little Applebees later (we couldnt find anything with a little character believe it or not) and some Wal-Mart for the mornings fuel and we hit the hay.
Arriving at the races we were both a little nervious but not too bad. The crit helped me burn through some lactic acid that built up over the past few days getting the nerves up. We proceeded to sign up for both our races. Kristin for the sport women's race and I for the SS state championship. Tidewater is also a big race for me because it is the state ss cup. A big single field always shows up, including some W&M guys and a lot of local folks. There is usually a field of about 10 or 15 or so, this year w had 14 riders, including last year's defending champ. Last year I flatted and couldnt manage a really respectable finish.
This year was going to be different. I had faster wheels, suspension, a better feel for the 29er, and a lot more miles in my legs. Bang! The gun was off, I hit it pretty hard and made the turn this time at the front of the pack. I felt pretty good about my speed and what I had in the legs. Through the BMX, into the woods, over the barriers (yes Steve even has barriers laid out for the pain train) and off to a good start. The one spot of trouble I consistently had throughout the race lay ahead. A nasty rooted steeply off-camber and uphill section was the bane of my first lap. I slipped and put a foot down, allowing three other racers to come around. I got the third, but first and second stayed consistently ahead of me the rest of the race. Too bad I suppose.
I was glad I raced both days (so was my wallet) and I had a great time. I think that If I had'nt raced saturday, i could have taken sunday pretty decisively but hindsight is 20/20 and both races were a blast. Heres a fw good shots of some of the best sections of steve's race.
Up and over BOSS!!
Thanks folks. Hope to see you all there next year!
I love this race an awful lot but Kristin really loves this race. I often think that Kristin wouldnt love mtb near as much as she does if it werent for the promise of Tidewater at the end of October. So Kristin drove up to ol' Hampden-Sydney on friday and spent the night so we could be prepared for the drive the next day. She still had her slicks on from the PoMo so that was priority numero uno when she arrived. Hmm...seating kevlar beaded tires without an air compressor and with only a million year old Wrench-Force floor pump and some elbow grease, not so fun. As it turned out we had to re-tape her rims three times and use the compressor from the Exxon station down the street to put on a freshi(ish) pair of Maxxis crossmark tires. That done, we hit the hay.
This is the 21st running of the challenge, but the first annual Tidewater Mountain Crit. "The" race was on sunday, but saturday afternoon was the crit. K and I figured we would go and watch some folks tear it up in the crit and maybe get a chance to ride the course before sunday. **This is especially important in Steve's race because the only day it is open is the day of the race itself and the day before to pre-ride.** We get there, get suited up, and I decided that it wasnt any fun to be all dressed up with no place to race. So I entered the crit. Steve promised 100% payout for the crit so I figured "hey, at least I wont lose that much money on it right?" I kne I would be at a disadvantage being on a single racing a bunch of gearheads, including Steve himself (talk about home-course advantage). But who cares
So the first lap, I blow off the front in classic Gordon Wadsworth style; only to miss the first turn, again in classic style. I always did like a challenge i suppose. So I manage to quickly start cutting through from last place up to an eventual second in the first heat. there was an epic battle between Steve and myself for an entire lap. He had a lot of advantage (gears and an intimiate knowledge of the new crit course) but I still managed to take him by the second to last lap. Second heat went a little better at the start. I managed to jump into third, again pass steve (a little easier this time) and try and catch up to the only pro to do the crit. I never managed to catch that pro, but I gave it a good fight. 2nd overall in the mountain crit and a little richer for the effort we headed off to find out lodging.
A last minute decision ot stay in a hotel was a good call since the KOA was closed, and rain was hitting pretty hard by the early evening. A little Applebees later (we couldnt find anything with a little character believe it or not) and some Wal-Mart for the mornings fuel and we hit the hay.
Arriving at the races we were both a little nervious but not too bad. The crit helped me burn through some lactic acid that built up over the past few days getting the nerves up. We proceeded to sign up for both our races. Kristin for the sport women's race and I for the SS state championship. Tidewater is also a big race for me because it is the state ss cup. A big single field always shows up, including some W&M guys and a lot of local folks. There is usually a field of about 10 or 15 or so, this year w had 14 riders, including last year's defending champ. Last year I flatted and couldnt manage a really respectable finish.
This year was going to be different. I had faster wheels, suspension, a better feel for the 29er, and a lot more miles in my legs. Bang! The gun was off, I hit it pretty hard and made the turn this time at the front of the pack. I felt pretty good about my speed and what I had in the legs. Through the BMX, into the woods, over the barriers (yes Steve even has barriers laid out for the pain train) and off to a good start. The one spot of trouble I consistently had throughout the race lay ahead. A nasty rooted steeply off-camber and uphill section was the bane of my first lap. I slipped and put a foot down, allowing three other racers to come around. I got the third, but first and second stayed consistently ahead of me the rest of the race. Too bad I suppose.
I was glad I raced both days (so was my wallet) and I had a great time. I think that If I had'nt raced saturday, i could have taken sunday pretty decisively but hindsight is 20/20 and both races were a blast. Heres a fw good shots of some of the best sections of steve's race.
Up and over BOSS!!
Thanks folks. Hope to see you all there next year!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Yep...
John McCain made a very classy speech admitting defeat this evening, and like senator McCain, I stand behind our new president 100%. But I know someone that doesn't:
Oh Yeah Baby!
Oh Yeah Baby!
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