Status update..Just like facebook but less interesting

You might have to excuse my spelling, as I am starting my Thursday off right with a little (big) glass of rum and coke. 'Tis the only way to get Thursday going. So just a recap from last weekend in which was the first race of the Charlotte Winter Short Track series. Weather was perfect, about 55 degrees. Cool enough were you didn't need to bring a lot of fluids, hot enough where you weren't freezing your ass off. I love the Carolina winters. I was feeling good going into the race. Went to church early in the morning, grabbed some breakfast, then headed on over to Renni park to do a few warm up laps. Luckily because it was the first race and a HUGE turnout they were running a little behind. That just gave me more opportunities to warm up...or to go out on a warm up lap and break my chain and walk back to the pits. There was still another field that had yet to start and finish their race so I wasn't too concerned with time as I did the walk of shame up the gravel fireroad. Luckily I caught Robert, one of the allen wrench monkeys for my new shop team this year Sun and Ski Sports who was able to shorten the chain and get everything all dialed in for me. I took it easy on a few more warm up runs as I didn't want to jinx myself with breaking a chain during the race. The race before my group, 19-39 sport, finally ended and my group got ready to go. It was a large field, 31 overall for my age group, and then about 30 for the 40+ group. That is a lot of people on .8 miles of mountain bike singletrack. I went off with a bang, or about as fast as I could. I ended up going into the first turn in about 20th place. Since this event draws a lot of roadies, they are fast on the gravel climbs so I wasn't concerned with catching those in front of me, just making sure those behind me didn't pass. About 3 laps in I noticed my mistake I made earlier in the day. No, it wasn't about the chain breaking, but about how I ate a bagel sandwich only about and hour before hand. Cramps. Bad ones. Laps 4-6. After pushing through those I finally settled into a rythem and had in my sights 2 people in my class. I caught one of them at lap 7,and one at lap 8. It is a new feeling for me to be able to pass people that late in the race. Most the time the leaders pass me on these short races. Well, they did, with 2 laps to go. Not to shabby holding on that long. All in all I took 24 out of 31. Although the results might not show it, I was happy with that standing considering there is always sandbaggers to deal with, along with roadies who use their brakes the entire downhill to slow everyone down, and then on the smooth climb just take off with their tiny 120 lbs bodies. And heres the part everyone loves...pictures. Courtesy of the burrower.

These white jerseys are not going to be white after this next weekend...

The Mutt picking his nose...

Thats about all I got. The burrower will be there again next week, so maybe she can have some fun with her new camera and find some different angles. Till then..

Ready to Race!

With the Winter Short Track series just days away you might be wondering what I am doing to train and get ready to rock it out... The answer is nothing really. Yes, due to the wonderful weather in which we are having here so far this year I have been out on the bike more often than last year, and after doing a few hot laps with The Mut I don't feel like I am ready to die, this is probably the best shape I have been in in the last few years I have been racing. While on the ride to the Reni Short track, the Mutt reminded me that I still need to write up what I got for Xmas. Since it is a rough economy, and well, I usually buy whatever I need me and the burrower decided to put a cap of 7 gifts for $70 dollars, so that means things get intersting. First gift...how we now settle arguments in the Bleffer household.

I am undefeated!!!! And I also never have to take out the trash again due to a 6 round bout in which I won by TKO. In addition to some other stuff, my big gift was this, a survival strap.

In addition to them making a quality product and donating funds to the Wounded Warrior Project And finally, thanks to the G-Ma (and her not exactly knowing what she got me) I am now one of the cool kids to have this Yes the Awesome Strap. I let her pick the colors, and although its not the first choice, the functionallity is still the same.

And since my hulu episodes are almost done while writing this, I think I will have to have a recap of some other time of my adventures off the bike from Saturday, Ill give you a hint, if you read the mutts blog, mine will be the same.

Happy New Years day!!!

Or a day late. Whatever. Usually when I read these things it is a wrap up of what happened during the year...this blog will be no exceptions. But since I know a bunch of people that read this are reading challenged with words, there will be pictures. The first half of the year was a blur. I did some winter bike riding, got to play in the snow, but mostly was getting ready for married day.

Short track - circa January 2011

Dogs didn't mind the snow, at least for a little bit

Annual snowboarding trip with the guys. February - Well, looking back through my pictures, not a lot happened that month so we will skip ahead. March - My buddy B. Lee got married. It was a local wedding and a good time was had by all.

I am sure there are more pictures, I just dont remember how I labeled them and this is the only one I could find April - was a party month! I was lucky enough to have all my best friend come to Charlotte (for those that didn't live here) for my bachelor party weekend. Needless to say, they left exushted and feeling a little bit dirty, just like a bachelor party should end.

The burrower also had her bachelorette party here.

May - Married day. Busy month, lots of pictures, wedding in Iowa, honeymoon in the Bahamas. Lots of pictures that cant all be posted on here.

I just liked how the colors turned out in this one.

yup, were bad-asses

Staying classy in front of the Buscalade in D-port

Another fun night in the Bahamas I also completed my first 24 hour race. It was brutal. And after all the traveling, not easy. But is was a great experience and I still want to do it again.

My Trusty Steed - The Culprit getting all dressed up and ready to go.

Ready for night riding, that way when I fell into the ravine they could find me easier. June - Can't seem to find much going on there, maybe a housewarming party? I seem to remember rain....

July - Down to ATL to see the 'rests for the 4th. Stopped by the sweetwater factory for a little taste test.

August - Wedding, this time in Boston-ish area.

Staying Classy

We wore those sunglass all night because our future is so bright.... And then my disappointing race at Uwharrie - one of my few DNF's. I blame it on all the beer.

Sept - Another birthday, some festivals, and another wedding, Jersey Style

Ok, so were were actually in S. Jersey, closer to Philly than the fist pumping.

Thomas Jefferson farted in that chair that the burrower was sitting in. It had to be true, there was a plaque for it.

Another quality picture ruined by me. Oct - nothing too crazy, just trying to end the year alive

Happy Halloween!!! November - wow, looking back, no major events, at least not in picture form. December - Ugly Sweaters!!

And that was the year in picture form. I think I hit most the highlights. I had a fun year with great friends. Cliche, but I hope this next year is as much fun as the last (although I would like to take a vacation without having to be there for a wedding is my goal for 2012). p.s. I apologize for the formatting, I just spent to much time uploading pictures that I really didn't care how the typing played out, so deal with it.