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.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you if you are reading this, or happy holidays, whatever your religions affiliation is. Its been over a month since my last post and I would like to say I have been busy the entire time, but really I have been lazy when it comes to non-essential things such as blog post and bathing. Since it is the end of the year I would like to give thanks to the Burrower for putting up with my antics throughout the year.

That's right, thumbs up right back at you! She was there for Warrior Creek, 6 hour race, and my first 24 hour race, Burn 24, in which she promised she wouldn't let me die riding my bike for that long straight. She puts up with me riding on the weekends, and coming home smelling like sweat and booze (I love early morning rides with booze), and just putting up with me in general, mostly because as of this year she has to officially do it for the rest of her life. Sucker. Other than that I am thankful to have great friends, some of which who ride bikes, and some that don't, that are always there for a good time. For the past week I have been feeling under the weather, I have tried sweating it out, didn't work, killing it with alcohol, didnt work and and running out of ideas. So I apologize for the rambling and crappy(or crappier) post than usual, but I just wanted to wish everyone a good time for this upcoming year. Dress warm and go ride!

Fun on Three Wheels

Since I work for a company that deals with a lot of non-profit universities and hospitals all of the employees are encouraged to give back to the community. This year I have volunteered to mentor a young student at one of the local elementary schools. I figure this will be a good learning experience for me to help some underprivileged child in some way since I always had everything I needed growing up. This will be one of my first times donataing a significate amount of my time instead of my money to help others in need. But don't worry, I also decided to donate my money as well to a national 501c 3 corporation (you know the kind where you get the write off). This years donations is going to IMBA or the International Mountain Bike Association. They build trails, help advocate bikeing as a healthy lifestyle, and also have some pretty sweet perks if you want to take advantage of them. The reason why I keep rambling on and on about volunteering is to lead up to this....the employee giving campaign in which the company will match dollar for dollar up to (I believe its) 1.2 million dollars for charity has an annual tricycle race. This is the 3rd year in which I entered it. The first year I helped win the trophy.

I couldn't find the picture of the trophy, but here is me from the first year. The goggles make me more aerodynamic. Last year the team got knocked out in the quarter finals.

But this year I wanted a little more than a picture, and got a little creative. Take a look at how easy we got out of the first round. The format is a 4 person team, 2 male, 2 female and you ride then switch riders. You will get the idea after watching the video. I am the 2nd rider. YOu see how fast we got past the other teams? Thats skill. And here is where it went wrong in the quarter finals. Although it would have been nice to win the trophy again, it was all for fun (mostly) and all for a good cause.

Time for an update

Except I haven't got one so I will try to ramble on for a few sentences, maybe post a few pictures. 2 weeks ago it was my birthday, I turned somewhere in the area of 29. After a while I just stopped counting. Round numbers such at 30, 40, 50 dont scare me. They are just numbers. I just try to survive one day at a time, and how many times I have circled the sun just isn't that relevant. With the weather turning great I have gotten out to ride for fun again. Nothing like wearing shorts and a t-shirt, not having to worry about carrying 4 lbs of water just to get through the train. Its a great feeling and great time of year. Also in another update I think I am about ready to drink the kool aid.

Last time I tried a 29er bike, the experience wasn't a good one. I didn't like the way it fit, the way it turned, how bulky it was. That was a few years ago and things have changed. I just happened to be at the USNWC when the Trek demo showed up all the way from the Cheesehead state. I got to ride a nice full squish 29er, and although it was nice, it just wansn't for me.

Then was the hardtail superfly.

I think due to how much I suck at climbing up a side of a hill, the hardtail is the way to go. I climbed goat hill without a problem. I see why people like these big clown wheels. I also did have some fun playing with a downhill bike.

A little overkill on the flat land, but I did get a taste going down the old downhill course, and man this thing rides like a Cadillac. It was smooth no matter what you rode over and you just felt like you would be floating. Well, this weekend is the 4th annual Beer Olympics, and although it might not be as organized as in the past as we are getting the partners together only a day before, it is sure to be a good time. Let me know if you want to play, we are always looking for other countries to pretend to represent!

End of September - in a Nutshell

Today is the last day of September and the weather has finally started to cooperate. No more boiling temperatures at 9 pm, rain forecast is close to 0 percent, which is nice considering that Noah called, he wanted his Ark back, and I have vacation days to use. I could have used them during the summer, but it was just too damn hot. Now the weather is close to cool in the prime riding hours, a nice cool breeze on your back as I ride through the singletrack. These days are my favorite. I took today off partly because it is my birthday on Sunday, and partly, I looked at the weather forecast. I ate a light breakfast and headed out to the local racetrack, Shermans branch. Since it was during working hours there were only a few cars in the parking lot when I got there. It also means I get to ride as slow as I want to without anyone catching me. I have been having a problem lately when riding of my body overheating. One of these days I will get it checked out, until then, I just keep riding. Another fun thing about riding when it is not crowded is that all of the animals are out. I was lucky enough to see a squirell (one of many) who had a deathwish and decided to run on the biking trail. This is basically what it looked like.

Yeah, those squirells were about ready to go all West Side Story on me. I also managed to startle a deer while I was out there.

I didnt see a rabbit, but doesn't mean they werent working in pairs to get the next rider. And finally Bart was kind enough to give all the members of the team a Podium T-shirt. Since I will never get on the podium, I am just going to call it a regular t-shit and wear it as such.

Rocky went ahead and inspected it. He didn't pee on it so I assume it passed. Not a lot going on here much anymore, the summer has wound down, don't have any more weddings for the year (and as far as I know none next year either) so it is nice to get back into a routine. Hopefully I can guilt some of my buddies to go riding with me tomorrow, weather is perfect again, and well, I am going to pull the birthday trump card if they decide to wuss out because it has been way to long since I have been riding with friends. Hopefully I will have some good pictures for you from the celebration on Saturday. If you want to stop on by after reading this, party starts at 630. And if after reading this you dont want to stop by, well, just drop off the beer and leave.

Conclusion of Summer

Today it was 52 degrees when I woke up. Today is a high of around 71 degrees. This is cold for a lot of the southerners around here as they are started to get bundled up and starting up the heater. I am just happy to turn the A/C off after 3 solid months. I am sort of glad it is over as now I have excuses why not to ride. "Its getting dark to early, its to cold, it rained" anything just to not ride. In a way I am sort of glad this summer is over. All the traveling across the country is done. No more wedding gifts to buy (or receive). I get to sit outside and not sweat my ass off drinking a nice cold beer Friday after work. Yes summer has its advantages, but so does fall. My latest mis-adventure was up to New Jersey for a wedding just last week. Me and the burrower had a mutual friend from Charlotte move up there and then she found somebody and blah blah blah, another wedding. Instead of flying, we decided to drive there. Its only about 9 hours or so, a nice easy day trip from the Queen city. Driving up north and right when we hit the Virginia state border, it started raining. Im not talking about a little drizzle, but the hurricane rain just came down. It didn't stop until we hit Delaware.

Lets just say it made for a miserable 8 hour drive that took closer to 10 total. While we were up there we did have a few hours to kill before all the wedding type stuff was going on and decided to head into the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia.

And yes, I bought the Fanatic dinner before I touched him like that. I am a gentleman after all. We did all the historic stuff, walked were Ben Franklin walked. Sat in a chair that George Washington farted on...etc etc.

I licked the Liberty Bell. Tasted like Freedom.

Me in front of the first bank in the U.S. And yeah, I made it rain Benjamin's there. And finally something almost biking related. I know that it takes me a long time to warm my body up when I ride so I want to try to increase my anaerobic threshold (Yes I used spell check for those words). The burrower also wanted a piece of home excercise equipment so we compromised and got this bad boy.

I know its no replacement for hitting the trail, but hopefully I can drop a few extra pounds and learn to increase my heart rate for a longer period of time. Its all hopefully right? It just might be another expensive piece of exercise equipment that becomes a laundry rack, only time will tell. Later today is the Lake Norman Beer Fest up at the Galloway Hooker in Birkdale. I am sure I will have a few good stories and pictures to tell after visiting that.

What hurricane?

So checking this world wide web thing Friday night and all the news type websites were talking about the hurricane. Good news is that it headed north, the bad news is that it is causing a lot of damage higher up on the east coast. Hopefully people evacuated when they were told to.

But since it did head north, that left the central part of North Carolina free of rain (at least of any real measure) and on a dark and windy morning my journey to Uwharrie for the Battle of the Carolina's started. Driving my box on wheels with a bike on top in high wings is always an adventure, but eventually me and my trusty pit crew, the Burrower, made it in plenty of time for the start.

After checking in and putting on my number plate (Number 2, this is the lowest number I had ever gotten, almost made me feel like a ringer) I headed to the start line for the pre-race meeting. These were the events in chronological order. If you notice there was no warm up. Im supposed to ride 50 miles, I don't see the need to ride 2-3 to warm up. After talking with the MaddSS, DirtyBikeLoveDave, the Mutt, and a few other of the usual suspects it was time for the race to start. I took my place in the back of the group and then headed off.

Now this course is no typical Charlotte trail, this is like the mountains, real climbing, rocky and rooty descents, and I would soon find out that I just was not ready for it. The course was a 5 lap 10 mile loop. It had been a while since I had ridden there, but I figured by the 5th lap I would know the course pretty well.

The first lap was pretty uneventful, just the normal hustle and bustle of people changing up positions and figuring out their pace. The climbs were brutal, but I avoided the granny ring for the first lap and was able to power through at a pretty good pace. After the brutal climbs comes the bone shaking descents. My body was not ready for these either. My bike and my body (which luckily was attached to the bike) were getting shaken up real bad. But lap one finished without incident.

The second lap was pretty much the same, touch climbs, still feeling good, brutal downhills etc. Nothing much to report there. It is when I came through on my 3rd and just happened to be final lap. There was a mild climb right after the fire road and my body was done. Legs just stopped working. No cramps, no pain, just no power. I back-tracked to the pit area and saw the burrower ready with her camera, waiting for me to come through. We talked a little bit and then my fearless leader Bart convinced me it was all in head. I went out on another lap. This lap was painful. I walked up most the uphills, (which was a lot) and then rode the brakes on the downhills hoping to smooth out the ride. It didn't work. When I dismounted the bike to walk, my vision got blurry. As much as I wanted to finish this race, I don't believe it was in the cards for that day.

As the burrower often points out, "you are closer to 30 than 20 right now". Physically that is true. I can't expect to go ride for 50 miles, when the most I had done all summer at one time is 20. This type of thing happens when you grow up I am guessing, traveling, weddings, time with friends, and I just didn't put in the miles I needed to complete this goal. I hate to sound like a Chicago Cubs fan, but there is always next year. Sorry for being long winded without any picture, but here yo go, the burrower set up shop at the start/finish line and took a few, at least while I was doing the last few miles of trail.


Me cruising through the last 2 miles.


The Mutt on Patrol

Chase cruising on through.

Daniel on a SS rigid, he regretted this lack of a suspension.

Summer in Full Swing

With the 100 degree temp's in which we have been having for the past 2 months, these 80 degree days are a blessing. But during that heat wave there was still a lot going on, even at the risk of heat stroke.

After hearing of all the people completing the Booty Charity ride there was the Charlotte Criterium downtown. With one of the largest money prizes in the country there was a lot of action going on. First up was the women. I don't think I could keep up with these ladies, and when they crash, they crash hard.






One of the ladies was actually down and didn't move for about 10 minutes. They stopped the race for medical attention. She did get up and walk off her own power, but didn't continue.

Continuing on, my first top 10 finishes of the season for the Wednesday night race series occured. Granted the number of racers in my class was 11, 10, 7 respectively, but finishing does get you points. Now I am tied for 10th in the overall standings for my race class, not because of my stellar finishes, but because consistency pays off. I might get my race fees back in prizes this year. Score.

On the vacation front, I just got back from Boston for Cashley's wedding festivities extravaganza. Saw Fenway Park, the fishing town of Gluscester (I am sure I spelled that wrong but I don't care) then partied and got drunk at a lot of historical places.

See, Fenway Park


The double point, I am that cool.

Cleaning up nicely. Oh yeah, the burrower doing her thang as well.

The newly happy couple


A drunk historical spot, sponsored by Allison.


Big Buck Hunter, I won a lot of beer playing that


They wouldn't let me play with the guns. Apparently I'm on some kind of list.


That water was 61 degree. That is damn cold.

If you want to see the rest, become my Face-friends and in the subject line put "nude pictures" (I just want to see if you will do it)