Last Jacobsburg of the year?

I was going to start Jacobsburg early tonight anyway, but Phil posted an early start at 5:30 so met up with him and another guy from easton. Steady pace, I held them up a bit, especially at the bottom of the downhills. Crashed a few times early on for little to no reason. Screwed up my knee a little because I couldn't get out of the clips on the second one. Loosened them up a bit, I think the angle of the clip may be the issue but we'll see how this adjustment goes. Overall a great night that pushed me at parts and I held my own in most. 11.9 miles over 1.5 hrs was just what the dr ordered for maybe one of my last rides of the year. Rides recently have been more like 7.5 so that was awesome.

Donut Delight

Absolutely outstanding day. Finished the race without an issue. Could have kept going actually. 4 donuts first stop, 3 the second. Dude who won ate 17, apparantly 15 the first time! Phil came in second in his class and ate 13 I think. Mine are sitting like a rock, but I felt good during the race.

Started off pre-race with the camelback and didn't see a single other one on so opted for the frozen gatorade as the sole source of fluids. Felt pretty good and airy actually. Didn't need much of the gatorade.

Start was relatively uneventful and first 3/4 mile was SLOW. Once around the first turn things seperated out quickly. Met up with Liz and Chuck and had a nice ride. I went out a little fast and it was WINDY. Worst was about 2 miles from finish, wind dead on and had to be 20mph. That really took it out of me, thank god it was at the end. Liz and Mat boogeyed on ahead after about 5 miles as my quads started to really tighten up. Chuck and I caught up with them about 5 miles later and helped Liz fix her blowout and get her back on the road. Quads loosened up during that and never looked back the rest of the day. 4 donuts first stop, bathroom break and a bottle of water and back on the road. Rode with Matt for a while, seems like a nice guy. He didn't get into the race, person in front of him in line got the last pass. He peeled off on his new bike to see his dad and Liz and I pretty much rode together the rest of the day. Rest of the race was uneventful. Long sections of just pedaling, no thoughts going through my head, feeling like a machine. Exactly what the Dr ordered, I don't get that level of peace much.

Heading into the wind at the end just about whopped me, but got some encouragement from Liz, jammed the GT into high and pedaled like hell.

I will definately do this again. I got 37.2 miles on the computer, 15.2 average, 2:24 of pedal time. I am going to be sore tomorrow, but who cares. I want to do this road thing again.

Slackin and smackin

Slacking on the updates this week. Lots has happened and tomorrow is the big day. Here we go.

Shoes finally arrived on Monday, almost tipped the ups guy. Tried them on, close enough, then ripped down to Saucon Valley Bikes before they closed. Grabbed a pair of Shimano SPD pedals that were taken off of another bike, plus some socks and goo. Don't have to pay psycho's health insurance any more so happy birthday to me. Pedals went on easily at home and got the cleats fitted into the shoes and took a spin in the pitch black around the neighborhood. Practiced clipping in and out a few hundred times. Wasn't nearly as bad as I thought they would be. Decided to leave them on and give them a try a Jacobsburg Wednesday.

Jacobsburg went fair. Rained like crazy the day before so the trails were real slick and I was real tentative and tight because of the shoes. First part went well, could tell the differnce the shoes made when I let them, spent a lot of time clipping in and out before obstacles etc, that will come with time. Up the powerline then to the usual downhill. Slipping all over the place and legs were like steel. Finally loosened up a little then starting going around a curve on a fairly flat section and wham. I am face down in some muck. Left shoe still clipped in but right popped out right away. Bike was parallel to the ground I think. Got the first place trophy in my short but prolific history of crashes. Turns out from the guy behind me said i hit a root and tire slid right down it. What I hit was some newly laid cinders like the kind on the tow path. Made for a fairly soft, yet dirty landing. Some scratches and what not, but not too much worse for the wear. I think these tires blow, need an upgrade after this race. Ride finished in total darkness again. Lots of work being done up there. Should be interesting in the coming months.

Wednesdays are probably pretty much done for now with hunting season around the corner but I would like to do at least 1 more. Need to get more arrows under my belt and broadheads still have to be put on and tuned.

Rode to heights on friday for bread that's about it though. Put together a bike rack during hurrican ernesto yesterday. Pretty interesting project. Have 1/2 of it cemented together, enough for tomorrow at least.

Ah tomorrow..the Donut derby! Signed up for it, figured what the hell. Getting pretty excited about it actually. Need to get up at 6:15 on my first day off in months, but hey, i can and probably will sleep in the afternoon. Supposedly going to ride with Liz and Chuck and maybe a few others. Carbed up for dinner with some penne with venison inside loin, black olives, capers, mushrooms, garlic, onions and cayenne. Came out real well, may be been better with some seafood. Plans are for a big bowl of oatmeal in the morning, get the camelback filled (is that cool in a road race?)

Sure I will be a bit of a doofus on my mtb, but who cares. Going to try and finish and have a good time. Need some icecream and off to bed. Need all the energy I can get tomorrow. Weather looks to be fantastic after a rough week of rain.

Cheers.