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

Happy Memorial Day.

This goes out to all the Soldiers in all branches of the Military, Past and Present

Patrick

A dead sprint victory (Summer series wrap up race 4)

Before I get into the race events of the evening I want to give credit to the Mutt for taking the picture of my injury. Thank you for getting the picture of me at my finest.



Now for the race report. I didn't suck today!. A middle of the pack finish for me.
No crashes, all and all it was a good day for a race. I really wasn't feeling like going for 2 laps at the USNWC today when Neil shouted "Racers ready.....GO" But I took off like a bat out of hell anyway.


After a decent start I was in the middle of the pack and feeling pretty good. I wasn't getting passed by anyone in my class and the age group above me hadn't caught up to me until after the carpet trail and even made a few passes of my own. This was a new feeling for me.

I kept pushing myself and got to lap 2 still feeling good. After some encouraging words by The Mutts significant other Little Miss Sunshine at the start/finish line I decided to see what my body could do in terms of keeping my heart rate up. Instead of going at my normal lets ride for hours and hours pace I kicked it up. I ended up passing a few of the older class that got me on the previous lap.

Anyway after what I thought is a blistering pace I neared the end of the 2nd lap and I saw a rider ahead of me. Not thinking of looking at his number plate I passed him near the parking lot. As we exited near the walking path around the whitewater I caught up to another rider. I yelled and asked him what class he was in "Over 45" he replied. I yelled up "I'm not in your class, I wont do anything stupid" Then like a flash I see the rider I just past not long ago and get a glimps at his number plate. Crap he was in my class. He had a 15 foot head start on me with only 600 feet to go till the finish. I put the Culprit into the big ring and start grinding away. I notice the guy is running a 69er (not as dirty as it sounds, it means a 26 inch wheel on the back and a 29 inch wheel on the front). 50 feet to go and I am standing up mashing my pedals and within 3 feet of his front tire. 10 feet to go and I pull even with him, and at the finish I squeak by him by by less than a wheel. After catching my breath I go back to the start finish line and ask "Did I get him?" I just wanted to be sure. "Yeah you got him".

All that for a middle of the pack finish. On the plus side I have never lost a sprint at the finish. Granted I have only been in about 3 or 4 of them, but it goes to show what the power of the big ring can do. Also shows that small wheels are again superior in the sprint.

With no new parts to be excited about for the culprit and a long weekend, hopefully I get get a few rides in between all of the alcohol that is going to be consumed.

Have a good long weekend.

The Race Report (biking related) - Riverfront Classic

So after trying to re-hydrate myself after completely wrecking my body the day before it was time for the Tarheel Trailblazer fundraiser race, the Riverfront Classic, and it is also part of the Southern Classic series. After doing some socializing and a quick couple of sprints to try and get the blood going it was time for the race.

It was a pretty decent size group with around 15 riders. I took my usual place near the back and waiting for the “Racers Ready…….Go!” And we were off. Well we weren’t like I said I took my usual place near the back. The first sprinters were off and then the race of the pack gets tied up on the first turn into the singletrack. By the time that is all sorted out I get caught up to the tail end of the group and hit the trail. I was following the local BikeSource rider and competitor Daniel through the trail when we hit the Figure 8 black trail.

After heckling him for not going fast enough we get to the first tough trail feature. Actually we were supposed to go around it but a non-local rider decided to do a 6 foot drop, unsuccessfully I might add. Seeing as I was already in last place I dismounted my bike and moved his from the trail. He tried to get up but got right back down to the ground. Luckily he just had the wind knocked out of him but I would rather be safe than sorry as that has been me in the past. Well the rest of the first lap was pretty uneventful except to say that my running training has been paying off. My climbing improved tremendously but I still was in the back of the pack.

Coming around the start/finish line I saw my race nemesis Daniel again about 45 seconds ahead of me as I made it my goal to catch him. Then disaster strikes again, this time to me. Along the figure 8 section again there was a small creek that opened up due to the WWC starting there pumps. Normally a little water never hurt anyway, but when that water gets onto a wooden bridge, it hurts a lot. My front tire slipped and I dropped face first 3 feet to the ground. Luckily I was ok but my face was a little tore up, I got a black eye and most importantly I lost a lot of ground to Daniel. After taking a GU pack, 15 minutes later the caffeine of it kicked in and I got a second wind.



I saw him up the carpet trail and tried to catch him before the downhill section. Didn’t get him. I kept seeing him on the switchbacks and knew he was in sight. Finally we get to Goat Hill, which is probably the toughest climb in the Charlotte area and he dismounted as didn’t take the right line and off I went! He never caught me for the rest of the race and I was just happy I passed someone in my class.

The rest of the trail was pretty uneventful, no crashes or many other people. I didn’t stick around to see what place I got as I knew it was near the back, but I will check it online one of these days. Anyway with the Summer Series race coming up on Wednesday, also at the WWC, I should be in good shape for that one as it is less mileage. But as we discussed earlier, I really need to focus on 6hr races or longer as those seem to be more my style. Thats the new goal for next year

The Race Report (Non Biking Related)

It is that time of year again in Charlotte N.C. in which we lose our fair city to people who live in RV’s. Yes NASCAR season is once again upon us and we are doing our annual All Star race festivities. Now I’m not a NASCAR fan by any means but I can struggle through 100 laps of watching the cars turn left. Plus the winning driver gets 1 Million Dollars for winning so there is a lot of unnecessary chances getting taken to win that money.

Heres me and Danica getting a little cozy


Well I primed myself for getting ready for the race like any good redneck should. Get beer. Check. Ok, that was about it. Couple of chairs to sit in, a card table, ladder golf set and some turkey burgers and me and the burrower are set to go.



First drink…9:56 a.m. We have 2 of the 3 cars we are driving to the track waiting in the driveway and getting ready to load up. Finish first drink 10:00 even. Then there was another beer before we left and blah blah blah we get to the track and set up camp like pros. Well to make a long story short I will just supply the pictures and you can put the story together. Hint, each one of these pop tabs once belonged to a can of beer that I once drank (14 total, 16 for the day).




Needless to say I was carbo-loading for Sundays Riverfront Challenge at the WWC. That race report will be tomorrow but enjoy the pictures for today.