Burn 24 hour Race (1 of at least 2)

Lets just start off saying that I survived my first 24 hour mountain bike race. I was (dumb, stupid, stubborn, unprepared, determined) pick one.



But I finished it. There were a lot of things that were going against me for my goal of 100 miles. The weather. It was hot. Damn hot. It was close to the mountains and not even June yet, but the temperature was still up around 90 degrees. Also, it rained the day before. Judging by the mud puddles it was a good amount. Also with mud there is the extra effort in which you need to put in. The wheels just kept on spinning on the first laps but the bike wasn't going anywhere. I guess I just put out to much power on the climbs that the bike couldn't keep up... Well, as long as I am lying to myself, I might as well make it a good one.


Look how naive I look, all ready to go.

I managed to get 2 laps in before coming into the pit area where my dedicated (and at this point still sober) pit crew awaited. (A big thank you to all of you for showing up and helping me out, it would have been rough without you). There was the always faithful and helpful Burrower, the traveling man Erik, Sunscreen Erin, Skipping Jason, and Potty mouth Amy who decided to show up for the weekend. The first exchange was a little rough as they didn't know how long I was going to be out on the trail, how many laps I was doing at one point. Logistics in which should have been thought of before the race but looking back, a few minutes didn't hurt resting off the bike.

The trail was still a little slick when I went out for laps 3 and 4. I could feel the pace of the group getting a little slower, and mostly my pace getting slower as well. I still had about 20 hours to go at this point, so I really wasn't in much of a hurry. The rest of the pack also started to thin out just a bit as well, I wasn't getting passed as much or doing as much passing. I think the heat and course took its tool on people earlier than expected. I managed to come in after the 4 lap unscathed and just fatigued. My neck had been bothering me for a week and I couldn't turn my head back to the right, but that didn't matter as long as I could look forward. At this point I took in a few cliff bars, some fruit snacks, filled up the camelback and kept going for lap 5. The rest is to be continued.

Last Minute Changes

Everyone always says doing last minute changes to your bike usually results in failure. Thats why I went ahead and did them last minute before the Wednesday night summer series race. That way they wouldn't be last minute before the Burn 24 hour mountain bike race.

I went over to the Mutt's secret headquarters. I have been running the same tubeless tires for 2 years now and needed to replace them. It also gave me a chance to get rid of the front tire in which I didn't like, but still rode for 2 years. The Continental King 2.4. I just don't think it was right for the Charlotte conditions of sand and clay, although when I went to Colorado last year for nationals it held its own.

Instead I opted for the tried and true Kenda small block 8 on the rear and Nevegal on the front. I took some pictures but the card doesn't work with my 5 year old laptop. I will have to post some later.

In other news Queencity Bicycles Bart has loaned me a Seca 1400 for the Burn. Thank you Bart for that and I will definalty use it to its fullest and try to blind some squirells for you. Thats all for right now, sorry no pictures, but I am going to the bar and then off for a family dinner. What a way to train for the weekend right? Till then.

The Honeymoon

And no there won't be any of the "good pictures" on the blog. I took video of it....and put it on youtube. So there.

After getting Married on May 7th, the burrower and I went back to her home town of Galesburg to do a quick opening of gifts and re-pack the car. After arranging everything to our liking in the vehicle we took off around 3 central. Then felt disheartened as we changed the clock to 4 right away and seems we had lost an hour. We ended up driving just past Indianapolis before stopping for the night. We completed the journey back to Charlotte and got home at 7 on Monday. Our flight for the Bahamas left at 7 am on Tuesday. Talk about a quick turn around.

When we got to the Bahamas at Sandals, our resort for the week, we were greeted by a glass of champange for both of us. Way to take the edge off, right before noon. While they were getting our room ready we were taken to a buffet and started eating...and it didn't stop the entire time we were there. I will just take the easy way out and say that all we did we drink, eat, drink, sun, volleyball, drink, eat.


The burrower choosing her drink of choice for the night.



I disconnected the call, they were charging me like 4.99 a minute to call.

The closest I got to a bike was the water bicycle.



Turns out, they can get flats just like land bicycles.



We had to be towed back to shore


Which basically brings us back to the present time. Or within 2 weeks. I might not have time to discuss my previous 2 Summer Series races, but due to all the eating and drinking and not riding I have been doing, theres really not much to say. On the other hand this weekend is Memorial day and you should know what that means. The Burn24. My first 24 hour mountain bike race, and I am choosing to do it solo. I will probably spend the next 2 days getting everything together. Food, camping supplies, ammunition, possibly bike and biking clothes, but not sure if going to have enough time.

The Wedding Day (very picture heavy)

Getting up to the midwest a week early and finishing up the details, (dj, favors, photographer etc) the big day finally came. The plan was to meet the burrower at Vanderveer Park before the ceremony at St. Ambrose for her big reveal to me and to take some pictures. The men got dropped off at the park first and we were greeted by an unusual sight. For those of you who have seen the movie "Role Models" there were people there larping.


Me taking it all in...


somebody probably should of helped the guy who had his legs chopped off by a nerf sword.


Then finally my beautiful burrower showed up and we started the picture taking.




The guys with the bride.


Everything went off without a hitch,mostly because she still decided to go through with it.


Afterwards off to my favorite college bar


Didn't find any pictures on the f-book of us at her favorite bar, but looking forward to the photographers pics of those.

And finally the reception


Everything was good, a fun time had by all. Tomorrow if I have time will be Bahamas pics, then probably back to the same old bump and grind blog. I might still throw pictures of me in that bikini if I get enough responses though.

I'm Back!

Well, just physically, mentally I am still on vacation in the Bahamas.

That is me and the new Mrs. Burrower in front of the crystal clear waters of the Bahamas.

All the wedding planning finally paid off as we got married on May 7. I need to everybody who reads this that fact, so they can remind me next year to get her a gift or something like that.

We left the Queen city of Charlotte the Saturday before and headed up to her hometown of G-burg. Due to my history of mountain biking and getting hurt, bringing the Culprit was out of the question. (BTW, I am going on chronological order of the past 3 weeks, and if I run out of things to talk about I will just show pictures of me in a bikini).

Mountain biking is hard to come by in parts of Illinois.

Nothing but corn. The town also did have a bike route, but it crossed the train tracks.....twice.



But along with a boring road ride through corn and train tracks there was also planning and getting ready for the wedding that was happening in a few days from our arrival.

Me and the burrower getting together the party favors/guest table numbers for the big day. Enjoy the pictures, theres still about a week more of them to come. Oh, and send your condolences to the burrower for agreeing to go through with the wedding.