More Trip Stories

Well I got the race report out of the way for my lackluster performance at nationals, but I did get some other riding done while I was out there. Trying to get "acclimated" to the altitude I was able to go out by myself and hit a few trials out in the Denver area.

I did the post for Red Rocks already but I was able to get to a trail called Three Sisters. This one was a little bit easier but I still think I went on a hiking only trail.

See, proof I was there.


Fun with the camera


After that I went back to the base camp for the week and then got changed to go for a roadie ride with my uncle.
We ended up somewhere near boulder. During the ride he ended up dropping his chain on a climb and we lost the rest of the group over the hill. The downside was neither of us paid attention to the route we were supposed to be taking and ended up taking an alternative route. His thinking was if we go up the side of a mountain that they were supposed to be coming down from that we would meet them. Works in theory but not if we did a different route.

My final tourist trap for the trip. Buffalo Bills Grave


Thats about all I got for the bike riding, but I still have write about my 2nd vacation, a wedding in Michigan, to bad I couldn't bring a bike. More on that tomorrow.

The Wrap up and Back in Action

Sorry about the delay in getting back to this for all of my fans (and I thank both of you) but it has been really busy around the household. Drove through 13 states and 3 time zones in the past 3 weeks and really didn't have any time to devote to the blog.

I am back and settled in so the routine should be starting up again.

Finally the wrap up of the Nationals Race in Sol Vista.

First off the starting hill really seperated the men from the boys. I was one of the very little boys as the field took off and I was pretty much left in the dust. The first climb was brutal. Almost straight up and a lose dirt, I couldnt get any traction and couldn't push a harder gear. Although in retrospect it was faster to walk up it than to try and ride.


Most the field was gone by the time I got up to the top but it was a rough course and I knew there would be a few stragglers who couldn't maintain the pace. As we went through a little more singletrack and then up another fire road I saw my first victim. Sitting on the bike trying to catch his breath. I just kept peddling and eventually caught another one.

Heres the the rocky singletrack. You had to choose your line wisely otherwise you would end up dabbing your foot.

After climbing for what seemed like hours I finally reached the top.

Estimated altitude topped out around 10,000 feet.

And someone had some confusion with the signs.


After the decent which put some of the berms at Warrior Creek to shame the first lap was done. Time to climb the hill again. Didn't make it, lost traction in the loose dirt again. After passing another rider I dropped my chain and had to flip the bike over. After wrestling with it for a few minutes I got it back on. Turns out those precisions minutes would be the difference in a top 10 finish.

Another mile into the trail I stopped upon one of the younger riders. I asked him if he needed anything. Turns out he needed a CO2 cartridge. Also turns out that he was only on his first lap. Poor kids parents had to be worried about him as he had to be in last place by a long shot. Another minute gone.

After struggling through the altitude and the heat I ended up running on someone in my class. The rough part was there was no place to pass in the past quarter mile as it was all banked downhill turns. I ended up coming behind him by .10 of a second. I just wish there was a straightaway at the end to get a sprint to show off my one skill.

12 of 16 place. Not to shabby. Those few minutes messing around the chain and playing trail fairy giving away my CO2 cartridge and tire leavers cost me some time, but it was an experience. Plus I got to drink beer, which might have been my downfall as well. I still have some other pictures to put up from the Denver area trails so getting the fun part out of the way for all you racer bois.

Red Rocks - And another trap

Oh yes, I fell for it this time. The signs started out nearly 100 miles from this point of interest in the wonderful state of Kansas. Can you guess what it is? I bet you can't.



If you would have guessed the worlds largest prairie dog you would have been right! And if you honestly knew what it was, please pick up your prize at the front desk, I will have your name on it.

Anyway with all the signs hyping this thing up you think it would have been more of a spectacle. Turns out after you get inside this gated community of prairie dogs that it is made of cermanic material. BOOOOOOO. I was tricked. Well, at least I saw Roscoe, the 36 inch mule. Now I didn't ask nor did I really want to know why he was called the 36 inch wonder, but hopefully someone can tell me.


So the rest of the drive was uneventful to wonderful Colorado and I arrived at my training camp and met my coach (my uncle) who handed me a beer. This was going to be a great trip. After a few words about the tenative schedule it was off to bed.

I awoke the next morning to go on a 5 mile roadie ride at 5 am. The mountains in the morning are some of the best views I think I will ever get to see, the peace of them, the chill in the morning air, the vacant roads at 5:30 in the morning.

After wishing them off to work I ate a late lunch and then headed to Red Rocks National Park for some riding. While I was getting ready in the parking lot a camera man stops by and ask "would you mind saying a few words about this heat?" Apparently it was a heat wave there. My response to him was "I just came from Charlotte, NC and it was 105 with humidity when I left, this is nothing" "Perfect" he replied, "Now say that into the camera"

So yes, my first day in Colorado I made the Fox News. Pretty impressive, now if I would only get noticed for my riding, not my stupidity of playing against mother nature.

The trail at Red Rocks was pretty fun, it is a lot different riding there with a lot more dust and rocks. Take a look.





This was the hogs back, across from Red Rocks. I went the wrong way on it and turned it into a hike instead of a ride. Plus no shade anywhere made my sexy farmers tan even sexier.

A few blisters on the foot later it was time to go. A little dehydrated and a mild sunburn, it was a nice day at a beautiful park. I just really wish I could see a concert there. Tomorrows update will be the Three Sisters and the final tourist trap of the tour. And Oh yeah, I did them all......

Tourist Traps and Time Zones

Those are about the 2 phrases that come to mind when driving the interstate. According to mapquest it is a 24 hour drive from Charlotte NC to Denver CO. Yes, you read that right, a drive across 3 times zones and multiple states.

I haven't blogged in a while, but the whole reason I came out to Denver was for the eventual race for the USA Cycling National Championships in Granby, just north of Winterplace.

Before I get to the bike riding portion Ill just update on a few pictures of what I saw.


Yes, metropolis, the home of superman, You have to stop at places like that. Especially when your driving by yourself, something to break up the hours in the car.

So I also ended up driving through St. Louis.



And ended spending the night just east of Kansas City.

So I woke up the next day and started driving...
Anyway no biking for the blog yet but still have a few days left on the blog time.

More pictures and updates tomorrow

The Hotties of the World Cup

As promised here are a few of the hottest Wives and Girlfriends of the world cup. Good news it they get as much camera time as the players. Just not always on ESPN.

Alex Curren - Married to Stephan Gerrad of England



Sarah Brandner - Some German dude. (lets not take anything away from her by saying his name in which I cant pronounce)

How does this?


get this?




Abbey Clancey - Model

Anyway, you want world cup scores, check out sportscenter, minus the hurt that Portugal put on N. Korea no real upsets. Anyway the U.S. plays on Wednesday at 10:00. Tune in, support your country unless your a communist, then go to Korea.

So on Sunday it was another day at the WWC for some laps lead by our local single speed mad man MaddSS. An 8:00 AM start time to avoid the heat and off we went. He allowed me to have the lead for most of the time pushing my happy geared ass up and down the hills. He also made me do the weigh station loop and green trail. So anyway he pushed and pulled me through 2 laps there and I think I am a lot better shape for the 50 mile Rivers Edge this year. I am hoping to be my 6 hr and 30 minute time from last year. Shouldn't be too hard assuming no mechanical issues.

So after 2 laps I decide to head some to watch some soccer and get some R and R and while I am taking a nap I receive this text message. "I should have stopped and 2 like a really smart friend of mine" The crazy single speed rider did another 2 laps! 50 miles total on his own free will with no one chasing him and more importantly no promise of beer afterward. This is why he is faster than me, I enjoy my couch too much. Hopefully should get in one more post this week, planning on doing the race at the WWC (where I have been spending all my time recently riding to train for Nationals in Colorado) and then I think I got the burrower convinced to volunteer for the NC State Games with a promise of a T-Shirt. Plus its only for a few hours. Anyway enjoy the pictures.

Its the Cup of the World

Yes, it is the time again that happens every 4 years for a month at a time. The World Cup.



I am a pretty big soccer fan, I played for 3 years at my college, St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA. And hopefully even if you are not a follower of the greatest game in the world you heard of the injustace that happened to the US Mens National Team. If not, well check it out here. Sports Illustrated dot com.
Yes, we as a country got hosed. Good news is that the US team holds their own fate in their own hands. I am not going to play out all the different scenarios, but if they win they go through. So just win baby.

On a biking related note since the burrower is working at Holy Angels Sat and Sun. I get to ride until my heart is content. And I did just that. My ride on Saturday was a solo effort with just a little Fall Out Boy to keep me company for the early morning ride. Please enjoy as I did for my rounds of figure 8, carpet trail, toliet bowl, gas line, goat hill and a potty break for 2 laps.


Sorry for the break in thoughts here, just had to watch the video and got sidetracked. Anyway the first lap was a little rough as I stayed up a little to late drinking and playing some HALO 3 with Suerto and Swami. I think my best quote of the night was "I call wheelman" From some random dude on our team, "Why do you get to be wheelman?" My response, "Because I suck at killing things!" Suerto responds "Its true, he doesnt have the name coattails for a reason" Anyway, enough geeky HALO talk and back to the ride. It was hot. I rode until I couldn't ride no more and realized I need to quit drinking so much and then expecting to ride 20 miles the next morning well.

Tomorrow post (If I get time, I need to mow the lawn and finish the bathroom and probably a few other things on the honey-do list) I went back for more toture to the
WWC with MaddSS. And I might just post some pics of the WAGS (wifes and girlfriends) of the world cup. That is usually a good predictor of who will will by who has the hottest wife.

Fail...Again

I am no bike mechanic. Well I'n my defense I'm also not a very good rider either.


But anyway I forgot about my SR-Suntour Axon fork that wasn't fully functional on the install. When me and my neighbor/bike mechanic Leo put on my shiny new air fork there was one part that eluded us. The remote lock out. We had the cable installed and everything peiced back together when we completed an adjustment and the part stripped out. Stupid piece of .08 aluminum. Anyway I emailed the company and actually within a few days I got a new part.

Yup, that is it on the left. Well I attempted to install it again, got the cable all cut and ready to go, tighten the thing and then....stripped the stupid S.O.B. again. Forget it, I am done trying to put the lock out on.

Tomorrow, shermans branch for hopefully 2 laps. Also, since the burrower is doing her thing working at her 2nd job at Holy Angels (Please donate, I have been there and these are some of the most caring people you will meet.) in Belmont first shift Sat and Sunday, I might see if I can lure my friend Casey out with his new ride (still waiting to get some pictures) to go up to the Kerr Scott Area. Maybe if I bribe him with beer I can ride his bike too. Anyway, to sum it up, no remote lockout, one beer down, and a whole lot of World Cup soccer going on

I apologize...

That I went another week with only one posting. Last week was a little busy with getting ready for my best man's bachlor party. I was able to squeeze one ride in. But to pick up where I left off with some mechanical issues.

I decided to commute from work, to blockbuster, to verizon last week. I try and do that occasionally, have a gas free day (to bad the burrower always complains about a different kind of gas) Well as it turns out my commuter bike decided not to want to complete the trip. I just left work and was about to drop off a movie at blockbuster when I had a mechanical. My pedal fell off. The pedal just stripped the crank. That sucks. Not only do I need to get more cranks I lost my commuter until I get around to it. With Nationals less than a month away I need all the ride time I can get.

Well after trying to coast my way back home I decided to work on the house. Mow the lawn, trim the bushes etc etc. What I am saying is that this home ownership really gets in the way of my riding. My bathroom is still in shambles and I continue to try and put it back together. I keep attempting to put it back together but never have all the parts I need. Fail.


This is how I feel after trying to get this completed for about 3 months now. Its getting close as I think I ordered the final peices to finish the glass block project. After that its tiling.

On a riding note I did have the opportunity to ride Poplar Tent with a couple of good friends. The Mutt, MaddSS, MrsMaddSS, and a few other local trailblazers.

That ride was just what I needed, instead of attempting to do a race that wednesday we all decided to just have some fun and play around at the most fun place in charlotte to just goof off. It was was pretty fun to just ride with a group of friends. I usually end up just riding by myself but it was much needed.

Anyway, hopefully I can get a ride in this week, I don't think it will be a race in future this week as I didnt' have a chance to ride this weekend due to a lot of beer.


Damn Bachlor parties getting in the way my medicore biking career. On the other hand, it was so worth it. But I might save those details for another night if I can remember them.

Falling off the wagon

I have fallen off the horse in more ways than one. First I half-assed the blog last week. It was just a busy week (more like a exciting weekend that lasted way to long) and I didn't keep up with it. And I was only able to get on one ride last week. Although I did have a few good laps at Sherman 1 hr 1 min and then a 1 hr 2 minutes lap before the skys opened up


Not horrible considering I really wasn't feeling like riding and "forced" myself anyway. Really all I did was force myself not to drink like a fish the night before so I could get a few laps in so it really wasn't any punishment.

Fast forward to the next week (which was really just a recap of this weekend) in which we got a man's day out. Since the Ash in the Cashley team was in Boston searching for her wedding venues Casey was giving his noble steed one last ride. He was all giddy like a school girl that he ordered a new bike. For the good of all my readers I will volunteer to ride it and review, if he lets me. But me, him and his co-worker Dan decided to ride the WWC, mostly because it has the bar there for afterwards.

Well I am not sure if I am in good shape compared to the average biker, or bad shape compared to the average racer, but either way those two were sucking wind. It also was around 90 degrees outside so that didn't help either.

I decided to take point for some of the North trail and was setting a pace that my grandma could handle when I heard some rustling in the bushes and then off like a flash, I swear it was a coyote. I turned around "guys did you see that? I swear it was a coyote" They looked at me in confusion. I take it that it was a no. It might not have been a coyote, but it was a wolf-like dog off a leash with no owner chasing it.

Another switch back later more rustling and then flash, a big deer bounds across the trail. Again, I scream like a little girl. "did you just see that big deer come out of nowhere?" Again with the dazed looks, that was a negative. I guess that is what happens when your sucking wind, you miss all of the things around you. So after the only options on the trail finishing the figure 8 and tackling carpet trail by myself (I heard toilet bowl was a mess.....no pun intended)we hit up the bar.

We order some drinks, tell a few biking stories while Casey and Dan were still trying to get their breath back after being off the bike for nearly 30 minutes. We then decide to part ways to meet back up for a guys night out at the bar. I wont bore you with details but there was the challenge against the women to see who could get the most phone numbers. They guys won hands down, granted we cheated a little bit by asking girls for fake names and numbers just to get handwriting variations, but dammit, some of them had to be real as we are a good looking group of guys.

I wanted to go riding on Sunday but the activities from the night before were still lingering on me so I napped instead. So much for training for Nationals next month. Tomorrows adventure, my daily commute in which was made a lot more difficult by equipment failure.

Happy Memorial Day Again

After a nice long much needed weekend I only managed to get in one ride this past 3 day weekend. That will probably be tomorrows topic. The whole crew decided to get together on the J and A boat for some Memorial day all day drinking.


This is before the destruction of many a good beer.

So at 10:30 last shore call and we loaded up 3 large coolers, 4 small coolers, and all of the sandwiches that fit in the girls (and Erik's) purse.

Besides a nice long day beached on a sandbar, a mild case of sunburn, and a few cases of adult beverages we kept it pretty low key, besides the moonshine.


This was also my first ride on a jetski. Granted the things are pretty point and go but the burrower is pretty scared of new things. But she decided to ride with me on one anyway. I really need to get one as these things are a blast. Now if I could only stop spending money on the Culprit.


Tomorrows post, Shermans Branch and Thunderstorms