After nearly a week of wondering how we finished up at the Running Of The Dogs Race. The results were posted last night. Half way through our 5th and last lap Marc and I had decided we were done. We had lost track of where we were in the pecking order, we didn't even know how many expert duo teams there were. As it turns out there were 7 expert duo teams, and can you guess how we did? That's right we Fucking Won! On that cold wet day the only thing on my mind was getting warm and getting home. I don't think anybody stuck around long. So it is just my luck, the first time I win an expert race, Hell the first time I won a race other than a 24 hour, and we didn't get a chance to stand on the top of the Podium. Just knowing that we won is enough for me, but it would be nice if they mailed us our water bottles or what ever we did win.
The big week on the bike continued yesterday and today. Yesterday I rode with Fitzy, and Chris, I have been partying for 8 months Vann. It was a good ride, I was feeling really strong. I managed to do almost the whole ride in the saddle. Plus it was good to see Chris out riding again, I hope we see more of him on the trails.
Today I would pay for yesterdays efforts. I met up with fatmarc, Slick Rick, Fitzy and Chris H from Beans. We rode a lap around the Granogue course, which seemed really soft and slow, or was that just me being soft and slow. After that Fitzy called it a day and the rest of us headed over to Brandywine to play on the rocks. Chris had never been on the trails we did, and I think he had a good ride. I was feeling like shit, I didn't even ride well in the rocks. It was still a lot of fun though, all except the car key incident. It seems I pulled the bone head move of locking them along with my camelbak in the car. We accuired a coat hanger, and after about a half hour of coat hanger lock wrestling my keys were freed.
Another 3 hour ride tomorrow and then a rest week before Michaux.
Time to Veg,
Buddy
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Return To D Town...
It has been a couple of weeks since I rode with the Beans boys. The best part of this ride was, I was seeing the trails in the daylight for the first time. What a difference. Downingtown is hard no matter what but it was just a bit easier in the light. I was able to see the climbs coming and roll into them better. Plus, I could see on the downhills for the first time. The ride felt a lot smoother.
The Beans boys a flying right now. You can tell it is race season. I think I will be skipping this ride on race weeks, but I will be there every other Wednesday night. Did I mention the beer? My favorite recovery drink.
Buddy
The Beans boys a flying right now. You can tell it is race season. I think I will be skipping this ride on race weeks, but I will be there every other Wednesday night. Did I mention the beer? My favorite recovery drink.
Buddy
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Upon Further Review...
Today was a pretty lazy day. Sure Rachael and I took the dogs for a long walk, but that was about it. I did spend some time thinking about yesterday. A couple of things stuck out. Like Marc said it was an Epic day. In my opinion there is a fine line between being Tough and being Stupid. We spent a lot of time yesterday dancing on that line. The good news is we made the right decision.
My other thought was about friendship. How exactly do you define a friend? Well I don't think there is one answer to that question, but I can tell you this. What Marc and I went through yesterday is one definition. I was ready to call it a day after the 2nd lap, yet Marc kept focused and positive. When Marc was feeling a bit rough I tried to return the favor. I really liked that type of racing format. It is a lot easier to suffer when you have someone else doing it right along with you. I just hope the weather conditions are better next year, because I know we can win that race.
Thanks,
Buddy
My other thought was about friendship. How exactly do you define a friend? Well I don't think there is one answer to that question, but I can tell you this. What Marc and I went through yesterday is one definition. I was ready to call it a day after the 2nd lap, yet Marc kept focused and positive. When Marc was feeling a bit rough I tried to return the favor. I really liked that type of racing format. It is a lot easier to suffer when you have someone else doing it right along with you. I just hope the weather conditions are better next year, because I know we can win that race.
Thanks,
Buddy
The Hell of the North...
Yesterday was the first race of the year, and wouldn't you know the weather was NOT good. I was really looking forward to racing together with Marc. After a nice long drive to North Jersey, we arrived at the venue. When we got there it was just a light rain falling, that would end up being the best the weather got all day.
The format of the race was do as many of the 5 mile laps as you could in 4 hours. The course was a lot of fun and would have been awesome had it been dry. The first lap the course was in pretty good shape. Marc and I were doing pretty well ,but we may have gone out a bit too hard. Lap 2, my turn to lead. I quickly noticed that the course was getting worse, I just tried to keep the pace brisk but steady. Lap 3 Marc is doing a good job keeping us moving, and by the end of this lap I am starting to feel better. The problem is the rain has turned to sleet and then to snow, it was getting colder. On lap 4 it is my turn again, despite the lack of feeling in my hands and feet, my legs are feeling pretty good. This is where I made a mistake. I started to push the pace a bit, not realizing Marc was trying to recover a bit. At this point the course was getting down right dangerous. I had no brakes left, and upon further inspection when I got home I figured out why. Both front and rear pads were completely gone, and theses pads were not that old. I just hope I didn't fuck the rotors up as well.
Lap 5 we agree to make this our last lap. We are just trying to survive at this point. We were both riding very well given the conditions, then on one of the twisty slimy descents, I lost it and crashed. Now, believe it or not I was even colder, plus I shredded my arm warmer in the process.
We stooped at the finish and told them we were done. Despite the conditions, most of the race was fun and riding with Marc was great. We kept each other in check and motivated. If not for riding with him I would have
quit a lot sooner.
It does say Spot on the jerseys!
Also racing today were fellow Mighty Spot folks, Matt who took 2nd in the single speed class despite a broken eggbeater pedal, Spot Paul, who broke a saddle after 3 laps, Fitzy who decided to live to fight another day, and Elk who was having a tough day. Mike K man Kirk, who was kind enough to drive me too and from, had a good race. L Webb and Jeb bagger, were also smart enough to know when to stop. Ted 2 lap Logic, who made sure the truck was nice and warm for Matt. Hats off to everybody in attendance, this was one for the ages. Check out www.fatmarc.com for another race report, and some more pics.
Buddy Out.
The format of the race was do as many of the 5 mile laps as you could in 4 hours. The course was a lot of fun and would have been awesome had it been dry. The first lap the course was in pretty good shape. Marc and I were doing pretty well ,but we may have gone out a bit too hard. Lap 2, my turn to lead. I quickly noticed that the course was getting worse, I just tried to keep the pace brisk but steady. Lap 3 Marc is doing a good job keeping us moving, and by the end of this lap I am starting to feel better. The problem is the rain has turned to sleet and then to snow, it was getting colder. On lap 4 it is my turn again, despite the lack of feeling in my hands and feet, my legs are feeling pretty good. This is where I made a mistake. I started to push the pace a bit, not realizing Marc was trying to recover a bit. At this point the course was getting down right dangerous. I had no brakes left, and upon further inspection when I got home I figured out why. Both front and rear pads were completely gone, and theses pads were not that old. I just hope I didn't fuck the rotors up as well.
Lap 5 we agree to make this our last lap. We are just trying to survive at this point. We were both riding very well given the conditions, then on one of the twisty slimy descents, I lost it and crashed. Now, believe it or not I was even colder, plus I shredded my arm warmer in the process.
We stooped at the finish and told them we were done. Despite the conditions, most of the race was fun and riding with Marc was great. We kept each other in check and motivated. If not for riding with him I would have
quit a lot sooner.It does say Spot on the jerseys!
Also racing today were fellow Mighty Spot folks, Matt who took 2nd in the single speed class despite a broken eggbeater pedal, Spot Paul, who broke a saddle after 3 laps, Fitzy who decided to live to fight another day, and Elk who was having a tough day. Mike K man Kirk, who was kind enough to drive me too and from, had a good race. L Webb and Jeb bagger, were also smart enough to know when to stop. Ted 2 lap Logic, who made sure the truck was nice and warm for Matt. Hats off to everybody in attendance, this was one for the ages. Check out www.fatmarc.com for another race report, and some more pics.
Buddy Out.
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