Another Scorcher...

It was so hot at work today I had to leave. I was getting a head ache and not feeling well at all. The building I was working was about 25-30 degrees hotter than outside. I went to the park at Lunch time ate a sandwhich, and drank some juice, but just couldn't see myself going back. Driving down the road with the AC blasting I started to feel better. I made a pit stop at Henry's then decided to go ride.

I am trying to get used to the heat. I didn't ride hard, but kept a nice steady tempo for 2:15, I never felt aweful but I didn't feel awesome either. I recently switched to a rigid fork to get ready for the 24 Hours of Big Bear. Matty T, fatmarc, SS Dan and myself are signed up for the Rigid Single Speed class. Tuesdaynight was the first ride rigid in months and it beat the shit out of me. I went to some cushier Oury grips and a higher volume tire and it felt a lot better tonight. I do like rigid but it does take a little getting used to.

I am really stoked about this 24 hour race, racing with Marc, Matt and Dan is going to be a blast, not to mention we have a pretty good chance to do well.

I have to go now, It is time to cook dinner.
Thanks for reading
Buddy

I'M FEELING HOT,HOT,HOT.....

Our area is currently caught in a little heat wave. It seems the temperatures went from low 70's to low 90's and humid over night. I am not a big fan of the heat, but I can usually deal with it when it is gradual. For the past 2 days I have been working in a hot nasty chemical processing plant. I spent this afternoon out in the blazing sun.

We had some nasty thunderstorms yesterday so I was planning to ride on the road tonight. When I got home and checked my e mail I saw the TNT ride was on. I loaded up my now rigid bike and headed for the ride. We did the usual, hit the Judge at 5:30 and swing back to the lot at 6:00 for the everybody else. We had a good group tonight, Todd was hammering the Judge despite the jungle like heat in the woods. There was also, Paul G, SS Dan, Fuzzy, Alan(sporting his brand new On-One), Mr. perfect, and Micky. Later we picked up Marc. The trip around the judge hurt me pretty bad, but I was hanging on. Todd was still throwing down and Dan who is coming off being sick wasn't feeling it, and Marc didn't get a chance to jump on. I waited for Dan and Marc and let Todd and co. go.

After easing up on the pace I started feeling better, but I was wooped. I rode with Marc for a while as headed for his toaster then split off and headed back myself. I plan on trying to ride in the heat as much as I can to try and get used to it. I must go now I need to drink more water, that's right no BEER tonight.

Thanks for reading
Buddy

Finding the Positive....

Yesterday Matt and I jumped in fatmarc's toaster for a 3 hour trip to Danville, PA for the MASS #6 Tour de Tykes. Lucky for us it rained all night and most of the morning. I was trying to stay positive and embrace the upcoming mud. I don't like mud and I usually don't do well in it. It is a totally mental thing so I was determined to make a non-factor. The trails weren't that bad, it wasn't stick to your bike peanutbutter mud, but it was slick and traction was hard to come by. In fact the only climb that was totally ridable was the start, it was a mostly gravel fire road with single track at the end, but it was a mile or more long. Our awesome group of Single Speeders decided to pace ourselves up the start climb, and that was going well until the end when Wes started getting a gap and that was the last time I saw him. I was able to stay on Marc's wheel until the descent ,which he used his Spot 29er to get a gap I kept him in sight for a little while then he got away. Matt who was just a little bit off caught up and proceeded to get a gap on me. I tried to settle in and ride, I kept Matt in my sights and slowly started to bring him back. The course was taking it's toll on everybody. It was just constant long steep climbs and steep descents, with zero flat sections to recover on.

I caught back up to Matt and we rode together for a while. I was feeling OK but not great. I was also taking comfort in seeing most of the guys on gears pushing there bikes up the hills as well. While bombing a loose rocky descent I flatted. I was pissed, so much for stan's no tubes. I took my time fixed the flat and took off again. I was determined to finish and catch as many of the guys that passed me while I was fixing the flat as I could.

At one point about 1:40 in, we came by the start area and I thought we were done. Not even close, we were only a little more than half way. I thought i was going to be racing for 3+ hours. I rode what I could and I walked what I couldn't. All the time picking off anyone in front of me. On won of the big time fun down hills, I came up on a sport rider off his bike, I yelled "rider back", there was a log coming up with a drop off on the other side. I heard the guy yell "be careful", I am not a guy who launches or hucks off of anything, I will ride off of stuff but I usually don't launch off it. I launched off that log only to find a 20 foot steep drop on the other side. My back wheel hit about half way down and I some how managed to ride through it and not shit my pants in the process.

I finally crossed the line, I didn't beat anybody in my class but I finished and I never bithed about the mud. I talked about it, and compared stories, but I didn't allow it to be a factor. Hopefully it never is again. I also have to send out big congrats to fatmarc (see www.fatmarc.com for some cool pics and another man's perspective) Marc got his first podium in a MASS race taking 2nd on the day, awesome job my friend.

thanks for reading
Buddy