Campaign begins...

with the Charm City Cross this weekend!

Picking up my new & tuned up Gin&Trombone today. Hope to get some pictures of it up soon!

CRANKY MONKEY XC SERIES: SCHAFFER FARMS

EX2 Adventures always put on a quality MTB race…great courses…nice sized fields…free postrace food. This was the first time that Schaffer Farms was having a race in about 10 years and I was pumped for this one. My apartment is a nice 10 minute bike ride away so this was by far the easiest travel to a race in my recent memory. So, Schaffer is my backyard training grounds…I know the trails real well and I was looking for a great result.

A late start time allowed for a nice morning of a solid breakfast, coffe, and laying around. Packed the car and hopped over to the SoccerPlex to park for the race. Got kitted up in Black Metal and rolled over to the start/finish area with my girl. It was super humid so my warm up was rather light just to keep my muscles warm. The start of the race was pushed back a little due to an emergency in one of the earlier races.

Got lined up for the start a tad late and had to scrum my way up to near the front. Chatted with a few guys and settled in for the start. 2 laps of the 9 mile course was on the menu. On the horn we throttled up the gravel road…I bobbed and weaved my way up to the front and threw it into the big ring to cruise to the singletrack. On the sharp right hander onto the final stretch of road I dropped my chain…UGH! But I was able to keep it rolling and lost a bottle in the process. So I lost of few key spots dumping into the long and twisty singletrack.

Punched it hard on the open field climb to stay with the leade group. But once again…into some of the more punchy climbs, my chain kept dropping…which causes me to get off…spin it back on…and get back into line. Frustration was setting in. But this was my homecourse and I knew I had time to make up any lost places.

Came through the finish of the first lap and got a fresh bottle from my girl…she is super pro…flashed me a smile and it was onto the second lap.

I had a good reserve left in the tank from not blowing up on the first lap, so I gunned it on the open field sections and made up a ton of time…making passes…sitting in and pacing in the right places.

Second lap only saw one drop of the chain so I was felt great mentally…with 2 miles left I started feeling it in my legs…cramping. On the last punchy climb, I drilled it hard and dropped a fellow rider who was sitting in…he couldnt answer so I kept pushing to try and catch the next rider. Every time I stopped pedaling my legs would start to tighten immediatly so I had to keep grinding. Just missed out on the final pass by about 3 seconds…finished hard!

Whew! Tough effort! Got a big hug and kiss from my lady! We stood around and I chatted with a few guys from the race. Results posted and I took the 8th spot. Pleased with the result…curious to see if I didnt have a bunch of chain drops where I would have been…but that’s racing!

Made the walk back to the car…cleaned up…and was back at my apartment in 10 minutes! Sweet! Nap time!

Made the decision a few days later that this would be my final race of the XC season. I will opt out of the final race at Fountainhead. Lots of factors played in to my decision. Had a great season. Cyclocross is right around the corner. Needed a break from the time in the saddle to mentally reset my brain for cross.

Thanks for reading!

BEAR CREEK CHALLENGE XC 2010

The Bear Creek Challenge marked the final round of Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. I was amped to race here because I had my first XC race on this mountain back in high school…back then it was called Doe Mountain. This was also a Kenda Cup Qualifier for the Shoot-Out.

Got to the venue nice and early…grey skies and a light drizzle met my girl and I there. Picked up my plate and kitted up to get my warm up started. Then it started to rain. Threw on my Metal Wind Jacket and it kept my kit nice and dry!

Felt good and ready to get the race rolling. The race was set for 2 7-mile laps of the course. Word around the start was that it was very rocky, rooty and an overall tough course. Sounded good to me! Little did I know that I was in for a beating.

Off the gun I had a good start and sat right behind in 5th place as we weaved around the base area before dumping into the first set of single track. Punchy and twisty track…with some quick decents and rooty climbs. I sat in and tried to keep my HR under control.

Road some fireroad into the next section…where I was met with rock garden after rock garden…downhil tech sections…up hill tech sections. It was crazy. I could not find a groove…kept dabbing and putting a foot down here…down there…it was frustrating. Stopped myself on a decent with my shin on a big rock and split my shin open…blood just was flowing down my leg…although it didnt hurt…at the time.

Rolled through the finish of the first lap in just over an hour for 7 miles…brutal…got a fresh bottle from my girl and some positive cheers from her family that had come out to support me.

Throughout the second lap I was gassed…bouncing off rocks and roots trying to maintain and finish the race. I was coming into the final steep grass climb and PING…chain broken! ARGH! Again! Was able to fix it in about 2 minutes and finish the race.

Got cleaned up and went over to First Aid to look at my shin. Cleaned it up…no stitches needed…sweet!

I was asked if I would race here again. I answered: Yup!

Finished 7th on the day and still waiting for overall MARC results…hoping for top 3!

Thanks for reading!

'CROSS? ALREADY? YES PLEASE!

It is already time for my brain to get into 'cross mode. I have some great news for the upcoming season. I will be racing for the Cycle-Smart Grassroots Cyclocross Team! Cycle-Smart is a coaching company set by pro Adam Myerson and his staff. They were looking for riders and I submitted my results and got placed onto the team. I am super excited for this opportunity. Adam has a great line of sponsors set for the season: Van Dessel Bikes, Verge Clothing, Challenge Tires, Lazer Helmets, Williams Wheels, TRP Brakes to name a few. I am lucky to getting to ride a new Van Dessel Gin & Trombone for the season.

I can't wait!

Adam Myerson:

The Van Dessel Gin & Trombone:

THE BLACK KEYS!

This past Monday, my girl and I got a chance to check out a sweet show: The Black Keys! I have been following them for about 2 years now and was stoked to see them live.



Concert was at D.A.R. Constitution Hall...a really cool venue to see a show...super loud...great time!

WEDNESDAYS @ WAKEFIELD SERIES RE-CAP

Wednesdays @ Wakefield is a cool little mid-week summer series. It is a good time to get a hard effort in with little pressure to get a big result. It is a 4 race series…the plan was to do all of them at first…then ran into some frustrating issues. Here is a small re-cap:

Race #1: Rocked Full Metal Gray…lined up in the start. The start was interesting to say the least. The park dumped a ton a gravel in the start so it was a couple inches of loose gravel. Gun goes off…slip my pedal and lost a ton of places right off the start. Things didnt go well from there…dropped my chain on a rooty flat section…lost places…clipped my pedal on a turn and dumped onto my buttcheeks. Finished up pretty frustrated…but thats racing. Had a nice rash on my cheek…looked like i got hit with a meat tenderizer.


Race #2: Rocked the Speedy USA Kit…lined up…blew the start again in the gravel. Chased hard throughout the first lap…then flatted near the end of lap 1. Changed the tube and rode just to finish up…bummer.


Race #3: Passed it up to rest for the Bulldog Rump XC.

Race #4: Back in Metal…finally nailed the start and went with the lead group. Had a solid first lap and turned back the throttle for the remainder of the race.

All in all…not the best showing for me at W@W…but tried my best to have fun and use it as good training.

Thanks for reading!

Mid-Atlantic Super Series 2010: DTS Fair Hill Classic

The DTS Fairhill Classic is fast becoming one of my favorite summer races. The format is simple…one large 20 mile loop over some really solid trails. Being a Cat-2 the race had an early start…8:45am…so my girl and I had to get up early. Had a little warm up knowing that I would be able to get into it on the 2 mile dirt road lead into the singletrack.

Had a decent position dumping into the singletrack…made a good amount of passes through some twisty trails…then dumped my chain…again…seems to be a theme for me. Got out onto the gravel road connectors and made up some time on the lead group.

Felt great throughout the race. I was climbing real strong…but was in no man’s land for the majority of the time…passing a few here and there. Lost one bottle early on, so I had to conserve some fluids until I got to an aid station. Luckily there were a good amount and got a fresh bottle from the DTS volunteers…nice.

With a few miles left the legs began to tighten up and cramp a little. Put the rest of my fluids into my body and made the break for the finish.

Finished with a good pace and a smile when I saw my girl right there! Downed a coke in the air conditioned pavillion…cleaned up…headed home for a needed nap!

Again…thanks for reading!

H2H SERIES: BULLDOG RUMP XC

Headed up to Jersey for the 3rd round of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship Series. I’ve raced ‘cross in Jersey…but never XC, so I was pretty excited to see what they had to offer.

Got my number plate…kitted up…and headed out to warm up. Talked with a few locals about what to expect from the course. Reports were all similar…not too climby…but rooty and rocky. Met a fellow Metal rider who would be on a singlespeed…good guy and gave me some good info on the course. It had dumped rain the night before so the everything was going to be slick. Interesting…

Lined up and waited for the start. The plan was simple: hang in the front and see what was going on…then try to push the second lap. Plan was going great…feeling good…but the roots were slick and rocks were all over the place. Sharp ones. I dumped over the bars early when I clipped my pedal on a flat section. Lost a good place while I shook my head clear. Then the chain problems began…dropped the chain a good amount on the first lap which is frustrating.

Came through the end of the first lap and got a fresh bottle from my girl and went out to finish strong. The heat was starting to play a factor as I was gassing on a few climbs and started to get sloppy on some technical sections. Dumped a couple more times and it played havoc on my brain. Now I just needed to finish in one piece!

Came through the uphill finish strong and was pleased with the days effort. Cooled off and cleaned up!

On a cool note…I met BikeSnobNYC…parked next to him…too funny!

Thanks for reading!

4TH OF JULY FUN!

Had a great holiday at the beach with my family and my girl. Great weather! Ton of beach time! Fireworks on the beach!

I LOVE SUMMERTIME!

MASSANUTTEN HOO-HA 2010

The Hoo-Ha has been an important race for me the past few years. It has been a part of the AMBC as well as the Kenda Cup. This year the second race of the MARC series and my goal is for top 3 in the overall series.

It was looking to be a tough race…dry course conditions and hot/humid weather. The Cat-2 race was set for one 12-mile lap…it is a demanding course…long climbs…technical descents…fast rolling sections as well.

Got kitted up and spun around for a limited warm up as to not overheat too early. It was a “mass” start…pros, cat-1, and cat-2 were all rolling out together. It was a little hectic to find where to stage…found a few guys in my group and slotted in and waited for the countdown.

Gun goes off and so does the race! I planned on taking the first long field climb mellow and get into a good group. But that was not going to happen…people were everywhere…I ended up pushing up to a few cat-1 riders…we swung into a slightly rocky climb and I was feeling good…then it happened…

My hand slipped and hit my shifter and dropped my chain…so in a panic I shifted to get the chain back on…PING-PONG-PING…chain…broken. No way…I thought my race was finished 7 minutes in. Learning from previous experiences I jumped off and got to work fixing the chain. I had a master link in my pocket, so I knew I just had to get the broken link off…easier said then done. I had no chain-breaker. I just wrenched it off sing my hands and chainstay of the bike…not the best plan but it worked. Threw the chain back on and realized about 90% of the entire field past me…eek…no worries…the goal now was to finish.

Rolled by the finish area out to the climb and saw my girl and let her know why I was so far behind…got a huge smile from her and I went up the climb.

Rest of the race was solid…climbed real well and came down feeling good…passing a large amount of racers along the way.

Finished strong and was pleased with the result…10th…not bad for nearly calling it quits 7 minutes into the effort.


Thanks for reading!

MID-ATLANTIC SUPER SERIES 2010: IRON HILL

RAD! The word of the day…the word of the month…the TSOTM! It was a great feeling seeing the homepage late saturday night with the “Hell Track” shirt…I knew Sunday was shaping up to be a winner.

Have not raced in a month…put myself through an extended Build Phase…reasoning to peak by the Hoo-Ha in 2 weeks. I was excited and nervous for Iron Hill. Iron Hill worked me over last year…spraining my thumb and putting my right hand in a soft cast for a solid week. Read over the pre-race reports…running the course in reverse and the “Mega-Dip” will be in play.

Got up early…packed the car…fueled my stomach…headed up to DE. It was shaping up to be a hot and humid day. Kept fluids the fluids down the throat. Super stoked to kit up in the NEW BLACK METAL…looks SHARP!

I was again super lucky to have my girl cheering me on AND giving my bottle hand ups! Rad!



Off the start I did my best to keep from gunning it too early in the heat. Sat on a few wheels and enjoyed getting to know the course in reverse. In my opinion…it felt like a climbers course…some long not too grinding climbs. Felt solid throughout the first lap…began to pick off riders who pinned it too early and couldnt recover.

Bottle 2 and I was out on lap 2…turned the cranks a little harder this lap to up the race…sat in “no-man’s” land the majority of lap. Hit the “Mega-Dip”...always fun.

Bottle 3 and final lap…hands were taking a beating…I need new gloves…and I was starting to feel a hot spot under my left foot…a tad uncomfortable. Still though I felt great…not too blown out…with still some left in the legs to push it when I would catch some fools.




Finished real hard. Cooled off. Cleaned up. Packed the car and took off with my girl to my niece’s birthday party. Then got home…cooked some burgers and fresh cut potato wedges and a nice cold beer…shared it with a smile then called it a night!




Hoo-Ha in 2 weeks!

Thanks for reading!

MID-ATLANTIC SUPER SERIES 2010: GRANOGUE

Granogue is always an awesome course…awesome set up…awesome crowds…all around solid vibe. The 2009 edition of Granogue was epic. Drenching rain…mud everywhere…one of those races that you will always remember. As far as 2010, the story would be a little different…hot and humid weather…tacky and fast course.

I was flying solo for this race…my girl was helping with the “Tough Mudder” adventure race up at Bear Creek. Got up early and on the road to Delaware. Felt a little weak in the legs…most likely needed a little more in the tank before I went to bed the night before. Registered…kitted up in Black & Grey Argyle…warmed up…got to the start and waited to drill it!

BRAAAP! Pinned the start and didnt look back. Had a solid first lap…was caught by the chase 3/4 of the way through…some little traffic jams with the marathon racers in front…and a few bobbles on some tech sections.

Fueled at the beginning of the second lap and was going through my bottles pretty quick and had to conserve with no hand ups the rest of the race. Spent the second lap recovering on the long fireroad decents and stayed hard on my climbs.

I was pretty gassed on the final long climb up to the finish…a switchback fireroad…got caught by a rider from my class right at the end. Cleaned up…recovered…checked the results…8th on the day…but checked them on Monday and final results had me at 9th. I’ll take it…top 10.

Long break until Iron Hill…got postponed until early June Still looming is the Stoopid 50. Flip a coin…do it!

Greenbrier Challenge/AMBC/MARC #1

Greenbrier is always highlighted on my calender every year. It is Maryland State Championships, partof the AMBC, and the new MARC series. Last year did not go so well…led 2 of 3 laps…then flatted…crashed…then a mechanical took me out. This year I was looking for redemption on Greenbrier.

Forecast all week was not looking good…showers Saturday and Sunday. Saturday came and went with a sprinkle in the morning…then a solid storm rolled through during the night to make the course tacky. Sunday morning…fog and slight drizzle on the drive up with my girl.

Had a solid warm up…legs were feeling good…lined up for the start. Informed by a race volunteer that they had been looking for me for the last 1/2 hour because I “took the wrong number plate”...I only had the number plate that was “handed” to me…no worries…had to focus…numbers were squared.

Had a great start…holeshot up the first climb…got caught on the first decent by 4 riders and tried to hand throughout the first lap. Greenbrier has 3 good climbs…climb 2 is the burner and with the rain made the ground soft and every pedal stroke felt like I was digging into the ground.



Laps 1 and 2 were solid…right around 30 minutes…I could still see top 5 in front. I climbed hard on the 3rd lap to avoid lapped riders…finally catching 4th, 5th, & 6th placed riders. Organizers changed the course slightly this year with a rocky false flat climb near the end section. I stayed with 5th & 6th place and sat on their wheels…I knew if I could get out to the grass finish around the lake I could make a solid finish.

Dumped into the final section and big ringed it to the finish…catching 6th place and just missing out on the 5th and final podium spot. Legs were cooked…lungs cooked…body cooked…a great feeling to a great race.

And with my lady waiting right there for me at the finish nothing could be better.

Mid-Atlantic Super Series 2010: Fair Hill

Race numero uno in the books! Had a great time and felt good on the bike...legs are coming together nicely for this season. Greenbrier is Sunday...looking for redemption...DNF'ed last year...looking for a strong finish.

Read my full race report on the TwinSix site here:
http://www.twinsix.com/team/reports/mid-atlantic-super-series-2010-fair-hill/

See you soon!

2010...a new schedule...

Pretty much have been grinding away at training...fighting some early base injuries...mixing in some running...including an 8K...now fighting off new allergies...the season begins this Sunday with Fairhill...the start of the MASS series...my confidence in my fitness grows after each ride...I'm stoked on my choice of races...looking forward to ripping all season long.

2010...a new year...

Life is full of challenges...whether they be positive or negative...happy or sad...painful or exciting. Over the past few months I have been able to feel just about every emotion that life can dish out. Ups...downs...way downs...way ups. One thing that really kept me centered was my bike. I found that I was able to get lost in my training and racing. I jumped to CAT-3 for cross. At Charm City...when I lined up I felt like I did not belong...timid and nervous...alone...but by the end..after 16 races...I lined up at the Capital Cross Classic and felt like I belonged. 2010 is here...training has started...a lot on the plate for the upcoming season. Staying with Twin Six. Talking with a potential bike sponsor. Race schedule is coming together. It is going to be a good year.