5 days until Moab, my nerves are starting to crackle and come alive in both a positive (and negative) ways. I have a few more training rides to do before the big ride and so many things to think about.
I will do a recovery ride tomorrow, then a few climbing intervals on Wednesday, off day on Thursday, and a little ride on Friday. Big thanks to Derick Williamson at Source Endurance for helping be get ready.
My light situatin is dialed. I will have 2 L&M HID's with and ultra battery, an li ion battery, and and NIMH battery. It looks like I will be able to use 2 L&M stella's for the helmet also.
I am working on the food plan. most of my substinence will be from hammer products, perpetuem, heed, and gels. I will also have some salty stuff, most likely pringles, to mix it up a bit.
I have the strongest support team anyone could ask for, janine and gene, (wife and dad). both type a organizers that will have plan a, plan b, and plan c documented in crisp lap by lap checklists.
woo hoo... can't wait.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
First Flight
I had the privilege today of taking a ride in one of our companies planes, and Eclipse 500. It was a hoot. Talk about a moral boost. This plane is amazing, a flying SUV
We flew to Roswell, did three approaches, then back to DE in Albuquerque.
what fun.
Gotta go help build some planes.
We flew to Roswell, did three approaches, then back to DE in Albuquerque.
what fun.
Gotta go help build some planes.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
The Double Boundary
Things started out a little tough on the DB for me this weekend... I managed to twist a wheel up about four miles into the race and crash, I was hanging out with the lead group at the time and the soon disappeared as I pulled myself together.
Things got worse at that moment as I realized the GPS screen was blank. Most of the trails of the DB were new to me, and the first half, the NBT, was a maze of little used single track, I hung out for a bit and latch onto the wheel of Chad from AZ. At that point I had given up on doing anything with the race and wanted to use it as a training ride. After 45 minutes or so, we caught Matt, Dan, and a couple of other guys as they were stopped gettting food. I latch on to Matt's wheel and never left it. I felt a bit bad about following Matt, these are supposed to be self supported races and I had NO idea where to go. I finally caught Matt and explained and he was really cool about it. we ended up riding together most of the day.
The DB included some amazing trails around taos, the SBT is the best known, but a new loop on the Jacarita is my new favorite trail in NM. I cant wait to get back to that place.
Matt flatted with about 10 miles to go and encouraged me to go on. I was on the SBT at that point and knew my way. 20 minutes after I left Matt I managed to crash again (I will blame weariness). It would not have been that bad but I landed on my arm, between the shoulder and my elbow, directly on the exposed end of the cut log. My original thought was that I broke my arm. I looked at it and then thought I had taken a huge check of skin out as there was a large indentation... the indentation turned out to be a "dent" in the arm and it returned to somewhat norma looking. Normal looking is different that normal feeling. It hurt like hell. I had to use my left arm to do most of the steering from this point on, the right arm ached and I had sharp pains when attempting to brake.
Matt caught me on the last downhill with about a mile of single track. he was flying. I was able to catch him on the road as he was on a single speed, We finished together and he gave me 2nd (one of the two that were ahead had missed the Jacarita section of trail).
All and all a great day. 9 1/2 hours on the bike, some amazing arm art (I will post a picture of the bruise) and a good confidence builder for Moab. I am going to try to make all of the NMES next year as these are great races.
Things got worse at that moment as I realized the GPS screen was blank. Most of the trails of the DB were new to me, and the first half, the NBT, was a maze of little used single track, I hung out for a bit and latch onto the wheel of Chad from AZ. At that point I had given up on doing anything with the race and wanted to use it as a training ride. After 45 minutes or so, we caught Matt, Dan, and a couple of other guys as they were stopped gettting food. I latch on to Matt's wheel and never left it. I felt a bit bad about following Matt, these are supposed to be self supported races and I had NO idea where to go. I finally caught Matt and explained and he was really cool about it. we ended up riding together most of the day.
The DB included some amazing trails around taos, the SBT is the best known, but a new loop on the Jacarita is my new favorite trail in NM. I cant wait to get back to that place.
Matt flatted with about 10 miles to go and encouraged me to go on. I was on the SBT at that point and knew my way. 20 minutes after I left Matt I managed to crash again (I will blame weariness). It would not have been that bad but I landed on my arm, between the shoulder and my elbow, directly on the exposed end of the cut log. My original thought was that I broke my arm. I looked at it and then thought I had taken a huge check of skin out as there was a large indentation... the indentation turned out to be a "dent" in the arm and it returned to somewhat norma looking. Normal looking is different that normal feeling. It hurt like hell. I had to use my left arm to do most of the steering from this point on, the right arm ached and I had sharp pains when attempting to brake.
Matt caught me on the last downhill with about a mile of single track. he was flying. I was able to catch him on the road as he was on a single speed, We finished together and he gave me 2nd (one of the two that were ahead had missed the Jacarita section of trail).
All and all a great day. 9 1/2 hours on the bike, some amazing arm art (I will post a picture of the bruise) and a good confidence builder for Moab. I am going to try to make all of the NMES next year as these are great races.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
The LT100 has come and gone this year. Floyd Landis entry in the race made for a great event, Many more starters (rumors of over 1000) much faster times (sub 8 to be in the top 20, and great weather, ok, you probably can't attribute the weather to Floyd, but who knows. Dave Wiens remains that champion, I think most in the crowd were rooting for him. He won with a new course recorde 6:58!!!
I had a good race. I felt strong, hydrated, and only had one small mechanical issue that brought me to a grinding hald on the decent of Columbine. It did not cost me much time and I was on my way shortly. I ended up 52nd with a 8:29. I think I can shave some more time off of that.
On a not so great note, Jan Bear, and 11 time finisher, crashed on the descent of the North Face and broke his femur. He is one tough guy and I would guess they had to talk him out of doing the surgery to pin the femur himself. His wife, Kim, got her 1000 mile buckle, first woman to do so. She pretty much had the whole crowd in tears as she presented Ken and Merilee, the event organizers, with gifts when they were giving her the big belt buckle. She is a class act.
I rode the scott hardtail and was thrilled with it. It climbs like it is on crack and descends pretty well also, The jarring on top of Columbine shoook the chain out of the derailuer and the front chain rings, other than stopping for a minute to fix that, I had no complaints or issues.
I had a good race. I felt strong, hydrated, and only had one small mechanical issue that brought me to a grinding hald on the decent of Columbine. It did not cost me much time and I was on my way shortly. I ended up 52nd with a 8:29. I think I can shave some more time off of that.
On a not so great note, Jan Bear, and 11 time finisher, crashed on the descent of the North Face and broke his femur. He is one tough guy and I would guess they had to talk him out of doing the surgery to pin the femur himself. His wife, Kim, got her 1000 mile buckle, first woman to do so. She pretty much had the whole crowd in tears as she presented Ken and Merilee, the event organizers, with gifts when they were giving her the big belt buckle. She is a class act.
I rode the scott hardtail and was thrilled with it. It climbs like it is on crack and descends pretty well also, The jarring on top of Columbine shoook the chain out of the derailuer and the front chain rings, other than stopping for a minute to fix that, I had no complaints or issues.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
slacker blogger
I am a total slacker in regards to my blog... which is probably ok, as I believe I am the only one reading it. I told by wonderful wife that I had a blog and she didn't believe me, which is also ok... I am not much of a writer and SHE is an editor... literally.
This weekend is the LT100. I am going to ride the scott and should be 4 to 5 pounds lighter for the climbs than last year. Also, I think I am in better shape overall. Should be a great race.
J9 and I rode the tandem partway up the ski area road this weekend to cheer on friends that were doing the santa fe hill climb. My road bike was in the race, ridden by Dale, and they did well together.
enough for now.
This weekend is the LT100. I am going to ride the scott and should be 4 to 5 pounds lighter for the climbs than last year. Also, I think I am in better shape overall. Should be a great race.
J9 and I rode the tandem partway up the ski area road this weekend to cheer on friends that were doing the santa fe hill climb. My road bike was in the race, ridden by Dale, and they did well together.
enough for now.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Results thus far
2007 24 hours in the old pueblo - 9th geared solo
2007 Dawn to Dusk - 7th geared solo
La Tierra Torture - not good
BFL, Santa Fe, NM - DNF
Leadville Silver Rush - 8th overall 3rd M30-39
Silver rush was a race where everything felt great... Great weather, good nutrition, and a mechanical that actually forced me to ride faster. I bent my derailluer on the last down hill before the turnaround and lost gears 1, 2, and 3, in the back. 4th was the lowest I had so I ground it up most of the rideable trail on the way back. I pushed very hard on the last climb knowing I had 12 miles of descent when it was done. Had the climb been 100 yards longer I think I would have cracked... fun race!
2007 Dawn to Dusk - 7th geared solo
La Tierra Torture - not good
BFL, Santa Fe, NM - DNF
Leadville Silver Rush - 8th overall 3rd M30-39
Silver rush was a race where everything felt great... Great weather, good nutrition, and a mechanical that actually forced me to ride faster. I bent my derailluer on the last down hill before the turnaround and lost gears 1, 2, and 3, in the back. 4th was the lowest I had so I ground it up most of the rideable trail on the way back. I pushed very hard on the last climb knowing I had 12 miles of descent when it was done. Had the climb been 100 yards longer I think I would have cracked... fun race!
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
La Tierra Torture
well, I stepped it up and raced with the Experts... my first Expert mountain bike race. A major course mistake cost me 9 minutes... my own fault. A course marker for a turn off a road was torn down and I blew right by the turn. went 1 mile down hill before coming to my senses and figuring out that this was not right, road back up hill. Luckily, I was running my Garmin 305 so it was documented and I could get an exact time of what it cost me. I ended up in 10th (my personal unofficial result, less the 9 minutes, put me in 6th or 7th.)
La Tierra Torture is a well run race and a blast to ride. I think I also learned that I am better at the long suffering endurace events than the cross country sprints.
Janine and I have the SF century on the calendar on 5/20, then the iron horse the weekend after that. Right now, I don't have anything scheduled in June. I am going to attempt to talk J9 into going to SLC for the 12 hour race in Mid June...
Lessons learned:
Electrolytes
go harder at the start and DO NOT get caught behind slower traffic.
La Tierra Torture is a well run race and a blast to ride. I think I also learned that I am better at the long suffering endurace events than the cross country sprints.
Janine and I have the SF century on the calendar on 5/20, then the iron horse the weekend after that. Right now, I don't have anything scheduled in June. I am going to attempt to talk J9 into going to SLC for the 12 hour race in Mid June...
Lessons learned:
Electrolytes
go harder at the start and DO NOT get caught behind slower traffic.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
I took last weekend off the bike, mostly a time issue.
Janine and I were in Boulder for a WFA course. (stepping up on soapbox) Anyone who spends anytime in the backcountry should have this certification (stepping off soapbox). We planned on taking the tandem out last night after work on La Tierra loop, but it was not to be. The weather in SF has turned. I got up early this morning to again attempt a ride, but was turned around due to cold and snow. I figured I could wait until after work when the weather improves, but as I sit here, it is windy, on and off raining, nasty out. I will have to bite the bullet and ride tonight, J9 has dibs on the trainer so I will probably take the single speed out on DB.
I ordered the enlightenment, although it will not be in til Jun or July... yikes. Definitely planning on riding it on the LT100 and maybe the silver rush also.
s
Janine and I were in Boulder for a WFA course. (stepping up on soapbox) Anyone who spends anytime in the backcountry should have this certification (stepping off soapbox). We planned on taking the tandem out last night after work on La Tierra loop, but it was not to be. The weather in SF has turned. I got up early this morning to again attempt a ride, but was turned around due to cold and snow. I figured I could wait until after work when the weather improves, but as I sit here, it is windy, on and off raining, nasty out. I will have to bite the bullet and ride tonight, J9 has dibs on the trainer so I will probably take the single speed out on DB.
I ordered the enlightenment, although it will not be in til Jun or July... yikes. Definitely planning on riding it on the LT100 and maybe the silver rush also.
s
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Dawn to Dusk - Gallup
Dawn to Dusk started cold… very cold. After spending a chill night in the tent, I knew I was overdressed right before the start so I took off a layer. It was the right choice, other than numb hands for the first lap, I was dressed perfectly. The course was fast.
The Race was run a little differently than last year, eliminating the crossovers and running the initial climb in the opposite direction. I found it to be a lot faster on the climbs and was putting in much faster laps.
I was self supporting this race. And this is related to my only complaint about the race. The promoters attempted to make everyone camp and park away from the course. At least that was what was intended with signage and rumors that they would move you if you were to close. What this did for self supporting soloist is create a lot of work and hassle in the morning. I needed to shuttle everything from camp, to a support area near the transitions. It took three trips and about 20 minutes. It was a huge hassle.
I rode a solid race. I stopped after every 2 laps to grab a quick bite to eat and grab a new bottle. Early morning I was only drinking ½ a bottle a lap, when it warmed up, I was drinking 2 bottles a lap.
I really had no idea how I was doing the whole race. My goal was to ride 9 laps. The 9 lap goal came from wanting to improve by 2 laps over my last years race. I finally started to crack on lap 8. It will be interesting to see what happens to my lap times in laps 8 and 9. Lap 9 was the most difficult. I could not eat or drink without feeling like I was going to hurl. Luckily, I caught up with Deb, a fellow Santa Fean, about ½ way through lap 9 and, unbeknownst to her, she paced me in with encouraging words and offers of food. Deb went on to place 2nd in the solo women.
I finished at 6:34 and left it all on the track. I had to take a quick shower and crawl into my sleeping bag for a couple of hours. I was sure that I was going to throw up at anytime. I was able to revive myself after a couple of hours and eat. I slept well that night.
D to D was a good race. I ended up 7th in the geared solo field.
Lessons learned.
self support sucks
need to get the Nausea issue figured out
Cliff block hurt your teeth.
need water in addition to Cytomax
The Race was run a little differently than last year, eliminating the crossovers and running the initial climb in the opposite direction. I found it to be a lot faster on the climbs and was putting in much faster laps.
I was self supporting this race. And this is related to my only complaint about the race. The promoters attempted to make everyone camp and park away from the course. At least that was what was intended with signage and rumors that they would move you if you were to close. What this did for self supporting soloist is create a lot of work and hassle in the morning. I needed to shuttle everything from camp, to a support area near the transitions. It took three trips and about 20 minutes. It was a huge hassle.
I rode a solid race. I stopped after every 2 laps to grab a quick bite to eat and grab a new bottle. Early morning I was only drinking ½ a bottle a lap, when it warmed up, I was drinking 2 bottles a lap.
I really had no idea how I was doing the whole race. My goal was to ride 9 laps. The 9 lap goal came from wanting to improve by 2 laps over my last years race. I finally started to crack on lap 8. It will be interesting to see what happens to my lap times in laps 8 and 9. Lap 9 was the most difficult. I could not eat or drink without feeling like I was going to hurl. Luckily, I caught up with Deb, a fellow Santa Fean, about ½ way through lap 9 and, unbeknownst to her, she paced me in with encouraging words and offers of food. Deb went on to place 2nd in the solo women.
I finished at 6:34 and left it all on the track. I had to take a quick shower and crawl into my sleeping bag for a couple of hours. I was sure that I was going to throw up at anytime. I was able to revive myself after a couple of hours and eat. I slept well that night.
D to D was a good race. I ended up 7th in the geared solo field.
Lessons learned.
self support sucks
need to get the Nausea issue figured out
Cliff block hurt your teeth.
need water in addition to Cytomax
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
