Odds and Ends

It's getting closer now and I can feel it. Seven Springs is just a handful of days away and the butterflys in my stomach won't let me forget it. Am I prepared? I haven't a clue. I do know that it's been quite a while since I've been this excited about a race. The best part is that my race bike isn't even ready to ride yet. I just got off the phone with Taylor and we decided to go with the Dakota Elite hardtail frame. It looks pretty sweet, same geometry as the Dragon only it's aluminum with carbon stays. I think it might even be better than the Dragon but we'll see. I'm sure I'll have a pretty good idea of how it rides by Sunday afternoon. Friday will be Official Frame Swap Day and then it's off to Seven Springs to camp for the night. Matteo and a 'mystery guest' will be making the journey with me as my pit crew.

If this doesn't get you pumped to race for 24 hours, nothing will.

In other, more corporate news, I have been diligently working on top-notch resume to submit to Jamis Bicycles next week. I am really hoping that it pans out and turns into something good. I've also sent emails to other companies in the industry in hopes that someone takes pity on poor mountain bikers. I also gave my first speech of the year in my communications class this morning. Public speaking is not my thing, at all. I couldn't help but feel uterley pathetic when I realized that I am hundreds of times more willing to destroy myself in this weekend's race than to stand in front of a class of 20 freshman and give a simple 2 minute introduction speech about myself. I was terrified. Is it lack of self confidence, being afraid of what people think of me, people not accepting me...? I have no idea. All I know is that it has always been like that for me, ever since my 5th grade science presentation on rabbits. Weird...

It all adds up to nothing in the end

This weekend was Iron Hill. It's been two years since I've raced here and I was looking to have a pretty good race on returning to the fast, flowing Delaware course. Things didn't look good from the second I woke up. My first thought when I opened my eyes Ssturday morning was, "I'm not going to this stupid race". It was the first time ever that I had truely not wanted to go to a race. Something inside me that morning just didn't want to go through the motions of a typical race day. I pushed through it, thinking that I just needed to wake up. I packed the car, grabbed some breakfast and headed down the road. I still didn't want to go. When I was almost there, I realized that the only reason I had gone to the race was because I felt like I had to. It felt like it was a job, something I couldn't not do. Weird...



The actual race report is nothing spectacular. I had a pretty bad start and went into the woods around 8th. I passed two or three people, got up to 5th or 6th, but couldn' t get up any farther. At the end of the first lap I was riding with Mike Yozell. Long story short, after telling him that I felt terrible and still had a 24 hour race next weekend, he advised me that I not finish the race. I rode one more lap and tried to find some rhythm but it didn't come and I dropped out.



I am, however, very excited for next weekend's 24 hour race at Seven Springs, PA. It should be a really really hard race, but for some reason I'm looking forward to it. Rob will be there, so it seems there is potential for a good race between the two of us. Nontheless, it'll be the hardest race I've done. Doing my first solo 24 hour race will be hard enough, not to mention that Rob's got his shit together at these things. I'm going into the race with a different attitude; hoping for everything, expecting nothing. It will probably be my last fully competitive race of the season and, honestly, I'm looking forward to that. I can't wait for winter to get here already. Lots of time off, recovering, hiking, and then maybe some long rides. Until then I'll be preparing for this weekend by doing nothing. I still feel like I'm only about 90 percent recovered from the 12 hour, so I'll laying around alot this weekend taking lots of naps and eating lots of food.

I'll trade you my burrito for your taco....

The Rock-chuax

The first ride at Michaux proved to be carnage. Brandon and I planned on putting a long day in, lots of fireroads with some trails tossed in. Three hours in we're both flying down a long fireroad descent practicing aero-tucks. Sharp turn, 40mph, no way I'm making it...trying to scub as much speed as I can I sliding in to ditch and think I'm home free. Then I see a wheel-deep hole with a pile of rocks behind it. I hit the hole probably around 30 mph, got ejected from the bike, did a tumbling set that could have secured me a spot on the '08 Olympic gymnastic team, and came to a stop in the road. I opened my eyes just in time to see my bike execute an equally impressive tumbling routine over my head. It doesn't look like I actually cracked the head tube, but it's definately crushed in a bit. Enough to not ride it anymore. Welcome to Michaux...

On the Fence

Mmm...12 hour racing. Gives me the gooshies. Over the last two years 12 hour races have become my favorite discipline of racing(except short track of course). This week was Ole Bull. It's a pretty cool race, different than most others. Its put on by the locals, who are totally stoked to host the race. Most of the volunteers are senior citizens. They work the water stations, handing little cups of water, taking numbers, and giving lots of needed encouragment. On paper, the course seems pretty lame but somehow its pretty fun and still works you. Its almost exclusively fireroad and gravel with lots of climbing including about 900 feet right off the start. Just like every other endurance race this one started with a run. The start went smoothly, I settled in for the first couple laps with a pretty high pace, keeping all the team riders in sight for the first lap. By lap 4, I had found my steady pace that I could hold for the rest of the day. I did pretty good as all lap times except my last one were between 50-60 minutes. I rode the whole race alone except for when I lapped 3rd place around 8 oclock. When I caught him I slowed down and asked him if he minded if I rode with him for while. I told him that I was getting tired of talking to myself. He laughed hysterically and patted me on the back. He was a really cool guy. We talked for a while til we got back to the transition where he took a break for some dinner while I headed out for my first night lap. That turned out to be his last lap of the day and second place retired around 9 after severl 10-15 min stops.

It turned out to be a great race for me, my best 12 hour to date. I felt amazing through the whole race, turning consistent lap times. So amazing that I'm convinced I could have gone another 12 hours had I started with that mindset. Instead I've almost defintely decided to do the 24 Hour Challenge at Seven Springs two weeks from now. Roberto will be competing as well and Matt has graciously offered his sauvy pitting abilities.

As for now, Brandon and I have just moved into our new crib. A two bedroom suite at Shippensburg University. Hopefully it'll keep both of us motivated all winter and get us out on some epic rides. Next year is only a few months away...