Now we just some pigs and all will be good

Ok, honestly in the 25 years of riding the off-road velocipede, I have never seen a winter like 2014 here in Maryland. A few years back, we had a monstrous 2 week dumping of the white crap that totaled 44" in two storms. Sure we have had more snow than others, but there was always a freeze that would allow for some frequent dirt excursions. Heck, there were times that I even enjoyed a break and hit the road dare I say,
but this year, yes this year has been what can best be described as a "caliginous cornucopia quagmire." Sorry, couldn't really put three words together that started with a q.

So anyway, I have been on the mtb 3 times in 3 1/2 months, I mean I change my underwear more frequently than that for pete sake. The above shot is how our trails here have looked for 95% of the season so far. How do you guys in Washington deal with this on a yearly basis? There were four races to start the march season and all have been postponed until the last weekend in march or the first week in april. We just had 8" of snow this past monday-just to add insult to injury. I finally get Trace to do some more off roaring ventures and ole man winter is not having any of that either.

I have been on the road and the trainer trying to sort this whole power meter thing out, so I haven't been slacking, but this weather has also thrown off my training for the second straight year. I was ready to go for the 8 hours of Patapsco, and the Snow Miser had other plans. Sugar Hill? Yep, Snowy brought more of that wet, cold white garbage again. All I can say is that we need more of his brother Heat Miser to put an end to this pig size smorgesboard. Am I complaining, I do believe I am. I have a beautiful new Ritchey SS just waiting to be raced and I am slowly losing motivation health points each day this goes on.

Why couldn't I have been born in Arizona or some other place that thinks snow is the 90's one-hit wonder rapper that spent more time in prison that on the charts-if only he had an Informer. That was bad…

Well, I am going to quit this writing and go sulk in the pit of despair along with my other dirt merchant friends who have had to call road biking their home. Over and out...

Just some good pics of a future star…maybe?

Thats my boy…

Alexs' final stats (in-house/travel team combined)

Batting:
.387 avg.
21 doubles
2 home runs
36 runs scored
18 rbi's
32 stolen bases

Pitching:
0.84 era
36 innings
4 - 1 record
12 hits
62 strikeouts
5 walks
(1) no-hitter

Race season is a comin'

Well, it is finally here and this winter has been horrible for training, but still grinding my way through it.  Yeah, riding when it is 16° out doesn't do a whole lot for certain parts of the male anatomy (remember the Seinfeld episode with George and the pool)-yeah, like that. March 9th I will be heading to Patapsco with my female comrade Liz to endure 8hrs of cold and fun. This isn't our first race as co-eds, but our first as single speed teammates... Heck yes! It has taken me an entire year to get her to come to the dark side.

I expect this race will be a bit rough being so early in the year and with a lot of elevation; 1053 ft per 8.7 mile laps. Liz and I have done super awesome in our races-all podium finishes, so I expect nothing less from us. I am dying to get my leg over my new steed. Looks like my first ride will be tomorrow with Trace since the trails will be frozen after tonights 16° temps...oh joy. I can't wait for the nonsense to move on. Anyway, I am really looking forward to this year and see what this old body can still churn out on the monocog machine.

19lbs of shear beauty

Power to the people

I knew that I didn't have the willpower to withstand the call of the wild. I mean, I really didn't see the purpose or even the remote possibility that this would be something that I should attempt. I have friends that use them and swear by them. I have read many reviews and articles on different types and pros and cons of each of them. Really, what can a 46 year old ss mountainbiker hope to gain from this? Well, I am not really sure. Numbers are awesome...performance numbers are even more awesomical..um...er.
Numbers can be a bit sneery too, especially since they are true facts and figures; there is no hiding from them. Hear rate has been the mainstay for training forever. There are still athletes that use this, including myself. Yeah, I know about drift and all that hoopla, but it works and as you get older and know your body, I think it is still a great way (and the cheapest) to train. Sooooo, where does this lead to in terms of power meters and how it will fit into my training?

Well, since I am relatively new to this whole deal, I feel that the two of the can work together in perfect harmony and maybe even compliment each other. More later...

Ritchey P-29er Teaser Pt. 2

Well, here it is and I don't think I have been this excited about a bike in a long time. Here are some pics to dream to tonight.  It came in  a lot lighter than I thought (with heavy tires to boot). All told, 19lbs. When I switch to the newer tires, the bike will come in at 18lbs. 12oz. Thats what I am talking about. Frame weighs exactly what Ritchey's site claims - 4.75lbs. Welds are clean and the head tube work is awesome and uses drop in bearings. Anyway, enjoy.
Parts are as follows:
Bontrager RXL Wheels (DT Swiss Hubs)
Bontrager RXL Bar, stem and carbon saddle
Bontrager XXXL Seatpost
Bontrager RXL Grips
Bontrager XDX Tires
Niner Fork
Niner 18t cog
MRP Bling Ring 32t CR and Spider
Truvativ XO crank
Avid Elixir CR Carbon brakes
Shimano XTR CL Rotors
Crank Bros Eggbeater SL pedals

Something cool this way cometh

Just a teaser until it arrives next week...

I have always wanted a Ritchey frame ever since I saw my friend Kirby's P-23 from around 1994 or so. Of course, my hopes of ever riding one seemed hopeless until good ole' Tom made a 29er version of that beautiful rig and did it right with sliders. The frames weighs in at 4.73 lbs for a large...very nice. Just a run down on the parts- Niner carbon fork, Bontrager RXL (dt swiss) hubs, RXL bar and stem, RXL carbon saddle, XXXL seat post, XT brakes and cranks. All told, it should come in at around 20.5 lbs., maybe less.

It will get here just in time for race season to start and put it through its paces.

2013 and Feeling of Age

I initially thought 2013 was going to be a phenomenal year on the bike. I had ideas of top 5 finishes at every race and feeling like I was 25 again. I mean who doesnt want that at 46 right? I had trained smarter, and longer than before and felt like I could tackle the world.

Well it started out that way. I had a 5th place finish at Snotcycle, a dismal, but albeit 5th at AFC Sugar Hill, 3rd at Bakers Dozen and 2nd at the 12 hr of Cranky Monkey. All was looking great and then it hit me, for the first time in a long time, I decided to pull the plug on the race season. It was a strange feeling, but I just didnt want to get involved in anything else. I just wanted to ride for the sake of riding without worrying about my LTHR or what zone  I needed to be in while watching my this and that. I have to admit, I enjoyed it.

Funny things happen when you let loose and just have fun; somehow I got a wee bit faster. I set  alot of personal goals this past year (most of which came on the road of all places).

I put in the most hours, rode the most miles and blew away my previous personal records by 100. Heck, I even joined some Strava running challenges.

Strabbaranks is a cool website that tracks riders based on their locations and ranks them based on a points system for the segments you have ridden on Strava. I ended up 6th (still ongoing) out of 2000+ riders in the Maryland, Baltimore area. The only one over 40 in the top 10 which is pretty cool. So, in some ways, I still can bring it when needed, but not on a more consistent basis as my younger folk.

I learned alot about myself as a rider as well. I pushed myself harder, but I also found that I dont recover like I used to. I was stronger on the climbs and on hard efforts, but wasnt able to lay down an attack like I was used to doing, which was a bit depressing at times.

I also learned that you can have an impact on other riders as well and not really know it. Trace works with me at the shop and we started riding together more and more as the year went on and hill day became a staple in our rides together. Jim, who is 66, rides a lot and is a strong rider for his age also rides with us on a daily basis. It was very cool to see how these two progressed throughout the year and became much faster than last year. As some of you may know, I love to tackle anything vertical. The more Everest it gets, the more fun it is. Over the course of a few months, they went from "casually" riding hills to attacking on a more consistent level. Now, I am not saying it was because of me-not at all, but it does show how you can have a positive influence on other riders that want to further their riding level.

I spent alot more time on the road bike then ever before, too. Must of the reason due to trail conditions. We have quite a few hills around the shop, so that became my regular routine on the road. None of which are "easy" attempts; well I guess it all depends on what you classify what your attempts are.

I realized that I am not getting any younger. I still hold my own with the younger guys, but it definitely was quite evident that I am going to have to work a bit harder to maintain a certain level of riding.

To be continued...

Merry Christmas!

Hope everyone has a great CHRISTMAS! That right; not xmas, holiday or whatever retail people have made it into. It is Christmas whether or not you celebrate it, is up to you, but it is what it is; the birth of Christ. Enjoy!

Is it that Time Again? Pt II

To continue on...

I think a lot of people fall into the "I only ride _____ bike" syndrome. I know people that would never set foot into the clipless pedals of a mountain bike and vicee versee. Nothing wrong with that, but they miss out out on the extra benefits of what the other disciplines can offer. For me, riding the road bike in the winter is great. It is crisp, clean and the cold air keeps you moving; unless the temps get to be unbearable-than it is time to mount the dirt (or ice) machine. Of course, I ride the mountain bike all year round, but the winter offers some interesting rides depending on the weather round dees here parts.

I guess what I am getting at is base miles can be a bit on the snoozey side if you dont add some variety in the mix; yes this does include some trainer excursions as well. I know it is super convenient to just ride out of the front door on the road bike and do the same old same old. I have to agree that sometimes I go through those spells, too. It can be a bit of a drag to get everything loaded in the car a drive somewhere to ride your bike, but the mountain bike has so much to offer. From a great workout to getting in some great scenery. Most of all, it is just a great way to take a break from the mundane (and be honest-a little safer).

Now, this doesnt mean that you have to go out and feel like you have to throw it down as if you were on the road-and honestly, you aint gonna do that anyway. Just get out and enjoy this time of the year and meet some super cool people as well. Funny thing is, you will find more people willing to ride the trails when it is 30º then you will find roadies.

So, do yourselves a favor and swing from both sides...yep, pun intended and throw in some rides that you wouldnt normally do on another bike during this upcoming boring base mile blast. Who knows, you may even enjoy yourself.

Is it that time again? Pt I

Yes, I am afraid it is. There are a few things that remain unchanged in this world; taxes, death, visiting the in-laws and yes the dreaded discipline known as base miles. Just the sound leaving the lips has reduced lesser men to mere mortals and sent a few others into the waiting arms of the recreational cyclist. NOOOOOO! No there is nothing wrong with riding for recreation so dont reply with some stupid comment, please.

The fact of the matter is if you want to elevate your cycling to the next level, base miles are THE most important aspect of training...period. Think of base miles like the gas tank in your car. Your car drives more efficiently and gets better gas mileage with a full tank for the long trip ahead. When was the last time you went on vacation knowing there was a quarter tank of gas left and convincing yourself you will make the 300 mile trip? Yeah, thats kinds like what base miles are like.

Now me...I have a little friend that can really put a damper on training-Will Power.  Funny thing is, I am finding out more and more that Will Power has brought his ugly form of defeat to many of us out there trying to keep the young guns at bay. It seems, Will Power, is a great friend to have-if you can keep him happy. Doing base miles requires keeping Will Power on your good side; if not, bad things can and Will happen.

You can rest assured of one thing; without base miles you will be on the side of the road with your AAA card and waiting for the fill up that will never come. Trust me, I have been there; it aint pretty. I have also been on the better side of that as well. I have been racing for a while now and I have gotten pretty good at spotting the guys that dont train properly (or at all) and by the first lap, yep like a bellows working overtime.

More to come...going to bed.

The Ultimate Workout

I have been riding for quite some time, now. I have ridden all sorts of "the latest and greatest" machines that promise you all sorts of life altering trail riding bliss, only to find that cycling is not immune to technological advances either. Yep, that $4,000 wonder bike is now last decades landfill; ok maybe not quite, but you get the gist of my point.

Mountain biking has changed considerably over the last decade, even the last few years, but there is one discipline that remains untouched; untamed in all of it's unbridled glory. One area that some companies have dared try, but alas, come way scratching the heads of the bean counters and come away wondering why. What is the allure of this...this, this simple machine? Well, by George, simple is the reason.

The whole purpose of this blog is to give people an insight on why they should add a singlespeed bike to their quiver. Working in a bike store gives me a lot of stage time to perform my gig and hopefully be back for an encore performance. My tour is doing very well and I am opening the eyes of some of the nay-sayers.

Let me put it to you real simple. Riding a SS not only is a blast to ride, but it makes you a

P90X? I dont think so Mr. Tony Horton...

stronger rider from top to bottom. I mean think about it; what other recreational activity can give you a total body workout and still keep you wanting more...ok, this is a clean blog, dont even go there. When you are riding that geared thing, you have a tendency to want to sit and spin and eventually you get to the top. Sure, you made it, but did you? Be honest, wouldnt be great to get to the top of a climb faster than your geared buddies; sure it would.

Now there is nothing wrong with that, but to some it is still the way to go just because you have the gears to "make" you go that route. I have been guilty of it myself, you get lazy and before you know it you are relying on them more and more. If you think about it, you arent fully utilizing the strongest muscles in your body... your quads, arms and shoulders. When you get out of the saddle and tackle a climb while standing, you are getting full extension from your legs and your shoulders and arms are sawing the bar back and forth; just like watching a Great White tear apart its prey and flicking and PULLING AND TEARING AND...whew, ok-got a little excited there. Think of the SS bike not as your mysterious enemy, but a close friend that is there to help you get stronger and faster. Just dont approach it with the attitude that riding one is too hard or I am not strong enough to climb on one...sure you are! One nice thing about todays bikes is that some come with the option to go both ways (here we go again). If you choose to go back to the gears, you can do it without buying another bike.

Now. I am not here to say that geared bikes are undesirable, pointless or dead; nothing is further from the truth. I have a few and I do enjoy riding them. I am not as efficient as I am on the SS, but it is a nice break to just cruise around and have fun.

All I am saying is riding a SS is super fun, but more than that, it is a great workout that will leave you begging for more. I honestly didnt think I would ride one, and it took a few rides to really get to the point that it would be my ride 90% of the time.

So the next time you are on your local trails, try and hook up with some monocoggers and watch and learn and ask questions and maybe throw a leg over one and maybe, just maybe you will get away from those Richard Simmons Sweatin to the Oldies Videos and get the only REAL total body workout.

It has been some time...

Well, this is the longest I have gone without boring you with my usual pointless bantering and frivolous writings; but I figured two months was long enough.

There hasnt been too much happening in the way of racing; ok nothing has been happening.  I aint doin' no kind of dat racin' stuff till next year. I even thought that I may decide to "retire" from racing due to the fact that I am having a blast just riding and doing as many junk miles as possible. In fact, this has been the lowest race total sincel 2007 for the year. Funny thing is, I had some of my best results (at least consistent) this year; all top 5 finishes. I do still have some goals that arent race oriented for the final leg of this year, though.

The goal that is at the top of my list is 450,000 ft of elevation. My previous best was 301,000 from two years ago. As of today, I have amassed 386,000+ ft. All told, I have been really hitting the hills in and around Ellicott City for the past two months where you can easily get 3-4k in a short time. I have been feeling pretty good, but definitely feeling a bit tired.

I am also going to beat my previous best of 7,500 miles in the year as well. A little over 300 miles to go with a month and a half to go.

I have also destroyed last years best of 332 personal records. As of today, I am at 414. I really have felt a bit stronger than the past few years even though I have pretty much abandoned any form of training known to man.

I turn 46 pretty soon and I really dont feel that old, em er young. I am still putting up some pretty good consistent efforts. My recovery seems a bit slow, but again, that is what fun junk miles will do.

Most of my rides are of the road variety with at least two mountain bike rides a week. I am feeling pretty strong on the mountain bike, although my technical skills seem a bit rusty as of late.

On another note, our Aviation Velo kits arrived and man they look great. I have to admit, I

think I did good this time. Hill Killer handled the job and did it well. They look better than I thought. We have had nothing but super positive responses as well. So far, 13 kits are out and about tryn' to get the word out-yeah, that was lame. I do have that Euro look about me though, huh?

So, next year I may just focus on endurance races instead of the short stuff. I have a great co-ed partner in Elizabeth. I really want to do the Shennandoah 100 this year in the SS class so it is going to require a new mindset on my part. We shall see if I can maintain some sort of training plan. Hmmmmm...

These are a List of my Favorite Things (er uh climbs)

Well, I have nothing super important to say, so I will just fill it with some pointless and mindless gibberish. This is a list of my favorite segments for you to enjoy via Strava. I have been lucky enough to hold my KOM's on these for quite some time, so I will enjoy them while I can!

Bunches Creek Fireroad Climb, North Carolina

Steep Gravel MTB Climb Anyone?

Just Keep Goin...

The View is Worth the Effort

Ugh...Nothing More to Say

Yes...Strava is a good thing

Yeah, Strava Powered

Those of us that use Strava on a regular basis, know that it is the best thing to happen to cycling since... well, cycling itself. Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit, but it is arguably one of the best ideas that actually promotes good health and of course fun.

Now, before anyone sends me any hate mail about my views; send them somewhere to someone who cares-it aint me. Strava has come under fire in the last few years due to the unfortunate incident that involved a rider in California and ultimately lead to his death. I am going to be blunt and straight forward; just like guns dont kill people, people kill people.

I know in this day and age of blame someone else for my stupidity has become the new schtick, I still (among many other cyclists) agree that you control your own stupidity. How far you are willing to go to prove how stupid you are is based on your perception of stupidity; not society's. If you feel the need to go out and win a digital challis without regards to your own safety, by all means go for it, but dont blame software for your moronic decisions. I know my limits and I know going beyond them could reduce the SS Moron to just a moron. So, there is my flaming arrow to the heart on the view on people that use Strava as a scapegoat; now why Strava is the cat's meow.

This is what matters

I am not a Facebook, update my status every 3 seconds kind of guy (I am not even on facebook or care to be for that matter)
nor do I think that the majority of the population cares anyway. This blog is the extent of my updating (which isnt very often). Strava, at least by what it was initially designed to be used for, is a way for those of use to track not only ourselves, but others in the cycling community. It is a great way to track your progress. Whether it be for racing or just for fun, it is a great online tool. 

What I really find unique about Strava is that it also allows users to connect with other riders that you would never even thought about riding with. It allows cyclists to get out and ride and learn a few things about each other and share tips as well.

This is Benjie Moreno. A very cool cat that started following me on Strava. The only contact prior to this ride where comments on Strava about rides. Today, we finally got a chance to ride together along with 4 others. Now, Benjie isnt the fastest guy out there (yet), but he learned some valuable info on the ride-have fun and dont be afraid to push your body to where it is comfortable for you. I had the most fun on the mtb in quite sometime. Trace was on his second ride and his first time at Gunpowder and he had a blast and met some cool new people as well. I think we tend to get caught up in the ride hard every time you go mentality, we lose track of these kind of rides. I would have never known who Benjie is or ridden with him had it not been for Strava. 

So, say what you will about Strava, but I am stickin' to my guns. For those of you that think it promotes pointless racing, mindless achievements and feeds ego's, well...it does. Nothing is perfect, but think of how many people you have met because of it. Over and out.

Hill Killer Apparel Review...sorta

Well, not on this road

Well, I have put some time in my new digs from Hill Killer Apparel and not only are they a Maryland company, but they have awesome cycling clothing.

Long story short, the shop received some of their samples in the mail a few months ago and I called Mike at Hill Killer and told him what we were looking for and we talked a bit and we were really pleased with what they had to offer. I also asked about sponsorship and Mike and I talked a bit and said he would love to send something to me. Not only did he send a great looking kit, but hand delivers it as well...awesome. Now dont expect that if you live outta the area, but give these guys a look.

I have been wearing my kit religiously for a month now and it is the best fitting

My Peter Sagan routine

stuff I my arse has rubbed against since...ok, onward. The chamois is top notch. I have had a few 40 and 50 miles rides wearing this kit and complete bliss (altogether now...ahhhh). No sore caboose, in fact, it is the only chamois that didnt seem to be stitched too high in the back. I have had some really nice stuff (no names, but they hail from Europe) that made you wonder if they used a unic for a model?

I normally wear a large jersey and medium bibs and these fit the bill perfectly. No binding whatsoever and the bibs go un-noticed...well from a comfort standpoint anyway. Full zip jersey and pockets are at just about the right height; could be a tad lower, but not worth really nitpicking. The SS moron does not believe in cages on the bike, so it must pass the bottle test; and it pass it did. I didnt eat asphalt nor run any fellow riders off the road whilst trying to get my bottle out. They were very easy to stretch and manipulate. I was told by Mike that the fit was close to Primal Wear, and he was spot on. I have to admit, I like the racer fit, but these really didnt feel to "clubby." The sleeves

Pretending to be a Hill Killer

arent elastic; which I prefer, too.

They have a fitting chart on their site, but my measurements are as follows (now dont be jealous, it took 45 years and riding the ss to get this) 44 chest, 31 waist and 35" inseam. I like my shorts about 3-4 inches above the knees and that is close to where these fall.

These guys have THE BEST PRICES ANYWHERE. Seriously, if you are looking into shop, club or team kits, there is no need to look elsewhere. No minimums and you can provide your on artwork of course.

So my final thoughts? Great stuff all-around. I look important wearing it and people wonder if I really am a killer of hills... especially on the flats. Give the guys a call and tell em' the SS moron sent you and you might just get laughed at, but its worth it.

Just Some Thoughts on the Year

Well, this year's race season was a bit of an abbreviated version of what I normally manage to drag my elderly body to. I picked the races that are my favorites and left it at that. Although the Cranky Monkey series was a no-go this year, I had pretty good success elsewhere. I would have to say the highlight of this year was getting to know and race with my new co-ed partner-Liz Hunter. We literally met for the first time at Baker's this year and really clicked. We went on to finish a super nice 3rd spot. We teamed up again for the 12 Hours of Cranky Monkey and finished 2nd. I have to admit, the whole co-ed thing was not on my bucket list in the beginning, but having Liz as a team mate certainly changed that.

I decided this year that I was not going to have a structured training plan. I

The Crew

had no reservations about this; just ride hard when needed and rest hard as well. I have to say, it has been fun and I dare say that I may have even gotten  a little faster? I can say, at least on the road, my efforts have been beyond what I expected. It is nice to just get out and ride and see things that you never noticed before.

The Aviation Velo Shop ride is going very well. Everyone has been getting stronger as a group. What started out with rides in the 17mph range, are now in the low 20's. Pretty impressive when you figure in the average age is 41. We have also been having a great time with our "spin-off" rides at the shop as well. Now if I could just talk them into doing some dirt exlporation.

Now the sad news. I havent really been riding the mountain bike like I should. it's not like I dont want to, but the trails have been unrideable on the times I can ride them. I have been on the monocog steed 10 times in the last 3 months. No, the moron is not jumping ship and embracing the dark side, but rather getting in touch with my inner asphalt merchantism...something like that.

We had an awesome time away in our home away from home this year. Spending time with the family is always an adventure on these trips. We went from from me having to rescue my son from the rapids after his tube flipped to wondering if the truck was going to make it through the mountains. All ended well. I was able to find some awesome new fire roads to ride which yielded some great elevation and views to boot.

Last but certainly not least, spending time with the kids on the trail. It is very tough to get them both together and both wanting to ride together, so I cherish those times when I can. My wife (who does not like being photographed) does not indulge in the two wheeled arts ever since her crazy accident a few years back.

I am not sure what or even if I am racing next year, but I will certainly be riding and having fun. I have been thinking about "retiring" from racing and just enjoying the "casual" side. I am at the age where I can say that I have accomplished most of my racing goals and did them all over the age of 40. That is the most satisfying accomplishment of all. I can honestly say that I am in better shape now than I was at 40. I am riding faster and as long as I can still match or even beat my younger cycling comrads, that makes it worth while. Wait, I think there is still a sense of competitive nature still in there? Of course there is.I am a moron, not an idiot.

Firefighter 50 and Fun with Friends

Skidz in all his morning glory

First off, thanks to Skidz Shanley for fronting the registration so I could do this ride. My funds were a bit miscalculated from vacation. Anyway, this was the first charity ride I had ridden since 1997 at The Chesapeake Bay Bike Tour. I was really looking forward to doing this because there was a bunch of us from the Aviation Velo Club going and it was all good and funny people; the kind of people that your just like to call your friends. Trace, Bob, Daniel, Jim, Matt, Paul and John are great guys to ride with. We have all gotten faster as a group so we stay relatively close. We have being doing hills on...oh wait-Guess what day it is, guess what day...it...is...Hump Dayyyy Yeahhha! ok, sorry for that. Anyway, it has really helped everyone get a wee bit stronger and perfect for this type of ride.

How much climbing?

I had never ridden any of the roads out in the Westminister area. It was drizzly and a bit on the chilly side, but it didnt last long and it became almost perfect conditions. Originally, we had discussed doing a 15-16mph casual pace; that quickly went the way side. This was a 53 mile course with nothing but rollers-a few of them of the steepish sort (hmmmmhhhaaa-evil laugh). The first 5 miles saw 600 feet of elevation; wake up call! The course was backroads and two lane highway type stuff. There was minimal traffic. The rest stop was plentiful and a much needed stop. I was pleasantly surprised with the course. It was full of climbs, fast descents and again, very little traffic. 

We were together at various parts of the ride, but branched off as well. I think we may have ridden faster than we really wanted, eh maybe not. I averaged 19.1 for the ride with a KOM and 2 top 5's to boot. We managed 3,254 feet of elevation;the hardest coming at the end...whew I say. 

Bob "radar" Novotny rode with us and is just getting into the road deal-poor chap. This was his longest ride on a road bike by about 30 miles. He did really well and finished about 15 minutes behind us-not too bad. 

The ride ended with a great pit beef and all thesweet tea you could drink! This was Big Jim's rather macabre looking sandwich (I think it was still breathing). We got a chance to sit and talk a bit while we ate and just really had a good time. I (who never wins anything) won a nice Bontrager floor pump; no Daniel, I did not switch tickets! 

All in all it was a super great time and is definitely on

Yep, this good

the to do list for next year. I hear they are adding the Cotoctins to extend the loop (hmmmmhhhaaa-evil laugh) again. Hopefully we can get together and do some more rides together and do some of that weird male bounding, thing.

The Jersey's are Coming...The Jersey's are Coming...

Well, we finally got the green light on the shop jersey and bib design. I finalized the artwork and it is a go. I really like the way they turned out. We are having them done through Hill Killer Apparel. They are a Maryland based company that does great work. I am officially sponsored by them so this is not a shameless plug, but rather a well deserved advertising plug. We are looking to get them by september. This will make us official; kinda like gold bracelets. It will finally be good to have some guys wearin' this stuff. We have a Strava based club that has 16 members and growing. It will be nice to see 16+ riders lookin like the soul train mminus the soul anyway.

The ultimate convertible...the only way to see the Smokies

I am not much of a photographer. I dont claim to take a picture because of its relationship to the negative and positive space. I dont make something out of an image that doesnt exist. I take pictures as just a simple memento of any time spent in a given place at a moment in time.

When I am on my bike, I normally dont carry a camera, but on very rare

occasions (you would have a better chance of catching me walking around my house nude while vacuuming and cleaning while listening to The Cars Greatest Hits...wait, something sounds vaguely familiar about that) I do break one out.

I found a new "playground" for my Ferrous this year. I nice little fireroad that just happens to be the longest and steepest off road section in the Carolinas-lucky me, eh? Words cant describe it, so here is the elevation chart.

As you can see, you get tall real quick. Now, since this blog is about my misadventures on the ss, it must be noted that 90% of the time, I was standing; Which isnt bad until you realize that 90% of the time you are standing.

These climbs had an average grade of 8.3%...bleek! Thats right fun indeed. I did manage to get my first HC climb out of this mess, though. The great thing about climbing these mountains is the view you get from the top. Ahhh yes, it is indeed worth it. It managed to rain the first time I went up, but I got lucky the second time around, yes as if once wasnt enough. The gravel grinder takes you to the top of the Blue Ridge Parkway were you see some amazing views.

Of course, a 14 miles climb means only one thing...a 14 miles decent. Now, normally this would be a blast, but this is a forest access road which means there is the occasional truck or car coming up the mountain, so you have to be super careful around the multiple 180° turns. I think I even unclipped and did a few little classic MT Tam drifts on the corners.

I will leave you with one last pic from Mingo Falls. I took this standing right underneath it. These are amazing falls. We hikes up to the top on what could be best described as unclimbable trails that were near vertical.

This is my home away from home. I cant imagine going anywhere else, nor do I need to. One day, this will BE home.

Better Late than...Later

Just some nice pics (Swim, Bike, Run Photography) from our 2nd place finish at the 12 hours of Cranky Monkey. I even made my Facebook debut on SBR's Facebook page...The SS Moron does not engage in such Tom Foolery as Facebook.