Greatest song ever

Would have to be Run DMC's "Walk this Way," which came on in internet radio I was listening to this morning at work. And no this was not the DMC/Aerosmith version, just straight up Run DMC. WOrd

My Year in Photos

Since the year for me, interms of racing is over, I decided to reminisce about what I accomplished this year. I have seen many people doing this over the past few weeks, which turns out to be alot of words, so I will be doing it in pictures!!!! As you know, they represent a thousand words, so this will be a novel.

The year started with many long cold days on the single speed mountain bike along many rails to trails in Northern VT.

Opener of the year was the Hardcore 24 out near Rochester, NY. It was a long travel to the race, pre ride showed that the course was non-techie climbs, followed by double track descents. Not my cup of tea, but it was fun. Til the race got canceled 9 hours into from a racer having a heart problem out on the course. First time this has ever happened at a race I was at, and hopefully the last. I didn't know the guy, but respect the heck out of him for what he was doing.

Here is another photo from the Hardcore 24. This was taken at about the same time the rider was found on the course having a heart attack. For me, this is how I want to go eventually, racing a 24 with my friends, in an awsome vibe to the event, and this is the last thing I see.

The second race of the year for me was the 12 Hours of Pats Peak, where I learned that you should not race a 12 hour on a single speed at a ski resort without adjusting your ratio!
The 24 hours of Great Glen came and went, with me winning the Single Speed race. My trusty pit person/photographer was racing with the Backcountry Magazine team, so I was racing mostly unsupported and no pictures! Bummer. But here is one from the podium. Notice me looking at the ground, it is scary up there!

This result means alot to me, as there was alot of big talk in early March about me winning the SS race here. I was super stoked to be there with all my friends on the course cheering me on, thanks, Jeff W., Andy S., Thom P., Kris, Lyster, Harry, and the other SS for all the support at the race and the good times, especially the 1 am beers with Mike!!!!


After this weekend, there was one last thing to do.
Bike tour! A nice overnight to the Champlain Islands. This was moments after we found that the ferry we were to take was on wind hold. So the 20 mile ride with a ferry turns into a 40 mile ride, across a big ole bridge, the getting caught into the most fierce rain storm I have seen since Montana. Thanks for the use of your porch, to the house that was for sale in South Hero.

Thats about it for the year. Afew solo 24s, a handful of local xc events, 2 cross races. Note to self don't try to race cross after training for solos, they don't work.

Enjoy the ride.

That time of the year

Since it is finally starting to look like fall here in the great north VT, my mind is slowly switching from bike riding to skiing. This is always a really hard time of the year, my body is beat, my mind is tired, but the trails are great and are calling me. I want to go roll all the singletrack that is out there before the snow falls. Sneak those last few rides that get ingrained in my mind. But my body is tired, I am trying to avoid getting sick, but the call is too strong to miss out.

Then there are days like this when I want to crawl into a hole and go to sleep. What really sucks, is I ate all the food I brought with me today by 10:30am. So it was loads of apples and coffee for the afternoon to keep me going.

I actually can't wait til November when we have the cold rain, so I won't want to ride more than my commute, but the snow will still suck so I won't make it to the mountains.

November, my one month of rest before the ski into bike season that I have been chasing the past few years.

Gratifying

is what it is to build some trail on Sunday, then go out and ride it in on Monday. Helped to add to the Mo-Flo trail on sunday with the Fellowship of the Wheel, a nice rolling piece of singletrack, that adds some more fun to the Flo trail.
When I went back to ride it on monday, a light rain was falling making all the leaves extra slick and the mud nice and slippery. Dabbed a few times around some corners that I shouldn't have, lowered the pressure in the front Kenda Nevegal, and helped alot. Running in the high teens, plush.
But as I feared, the cold and the rain caused me to practice for my Great Divide Race hopes and crap in the woods off the trail. Always fun thing to do in the rain.

Can't wait to head back with the Earl's crew and little David Diamond.