Boston

Media Fridays

We'll post videos or photos that will hopefully inspire trail shredding weekends.

Thoughts remain with Boston this week.  I hope everything gets resolved quickly and safely today.  

Here's a little something (although I couldn't watch too much of it cause of the editing...) that I wish I had been aware of when I was living up there.

Boston Midnight Marathon Bike Ride - 2013 from Vorpal Chortle on Vimeo.

Who does #2 work for?

This Sunday marks race number 2 for the season for me.  I'm headed down to Spartanburg SC (about 1:30 from me) for what looks like it's shaping up to be a fast race.  I've scouted through the internets minefield to gather some key information.

Here is the map provided by the Stump Jump site.  Cat3 rides the blue loop shown below.  Cat2 and above ride a longer loop that extends into the trails to the east (past G).

The course should be similar to that of last year, although I know the start will be slightly different but I'm not sure that will be that huge of a change.  Looking at the strava data you can see from the elevation and speed that it looks like it's going to be a fast one.  

From some videos I've found it looks like the (significant) climbs are wide open so it should be easy to get around slower climbers (or move over for faster riders) if necessary.  Here's a little recap from the 2011 Cat3 race - again no sure how close the course will be to this years, but it gives a sense of the terrain.

Looking at the results from last year it looks like I'll be aiming for sub 28 minute laps (26.5 if I'm looking for the win).  From the strava data it would appear 30 minute laps would do the trick...  Cross referencing my data I see that the number 2 spot on the strava list finished in 8th in the Cat3 race.  So 28 sounds like a good aim and we'll see if I have a little extra to lay out there and finish quicker.  In reality I need to try to get off with the front group and just hang on.  If I get stuck too far back I fear I'll settle in with a slower pace, leaving too large of a gap to the front group.  

I go off at 9:30... meaning an early morning for me to get up and out there.  Although the weather looks fine for race day, looks like they'll be getting rain out there Friday.  Someone posted up that the trails don't drain all that well out there, so we'll see how that might effect conditions.

I'm excited for the race.  Not sure who else from the team is going to be there.  I do know that my buddy Sean won't be there - doctor ordered him off the bike for a month due to some back issues - brutal...  With the second race in the books I'll be "in" race season and I just might have to start paying attention/planning my rides a little more appropriately for race preparation.  Although, the pace of the "social" ride is a nice kick in the pants at times - when we aren't standing around and talking on the trail that is.

Well, I'll be back next week with a race recap and other assorted stories.

riding or socializing

I've said it before, and I will say it again:

A good ride can wipe away a day of work.

A social ride, although not possessing the wiping power of a good ride, can offset a day of work nicely.

An excellent gathering after a social ride can more than make up for anything else in the day.  And that, my friends, was the case last evening.  After hitting the trails at the USNWC some of us headed over to The String Bean in Belmont NC.  This place is AWESOME!

If you're a local and haven't been there, you need to get over there.  It's like the Common Market, except with more food, and bit more family oriented (read: less hipsters).  Don't get me wrong, I love me some CM as I can walk over and enjoy their fine beer selection.  I've enjoyed a sandwich from their deli as well and it's top notch, they have a creative menu for sure.  But, with The String Bean you get a full menu with sandwiches, burger, flat bread pizzas and a very large beer selection.  I can't say who has more/better beer selection as I've never seen CM's offerings listed like I did SB.  But the beer menu at SB was a bit overwhelming.

Like CM, you can grab your favorite bottles to go - or enjoy them on the patio.  I didn't take any pictures - so I've google hacked some for you to enjoy.

stop it

After the headset came... which was glorious but underwhelming small to Annie and my brother - they figured with a name like"headset" it's be some massive part of the bike... I got some stopping power.  

I'm still not 100% on the reasoning for the different sized boxes, because the 180 fits in the smaller box - I checked.   

But there we have them, 180 up front, 160 in the rear.  Oh, and of course, got them in white.

I have a group ride tonight that I'm really looking forward to.

First and foremost, I need a ride.  Could have really used one after yesterday's day...  so I'll be looking forward to getting out there and having some fun in the dirt.  I always say that a good ride can totally wipe away a day of work - fingers crossed for a good ride.  As it turns out Tuesdays are my late day at work so as the trail selection choice changes things will get super tight for me making it on time.  Tonight should be fine as it is on my work side of town.  Who knows, maybe I can sneak in there a little early and get a little solo ripper in.

Secondly, it's about time to get this build moving forward.  Hopefully Good Guy Greg will be in attendance so I can set a time up to get together with him and build this bad boy up!

I wasn't there

This weekend there were some bike races in town.  Some local and national road crits to be exact.  I had planned on checking them out for multiple reasons.  One, they were held just a few miles from our place.  Two, my in town riding buddies were going.  Three, the Velo16 BSG guys were coming in to town to watch as well.  Four, probably some great picture opportunities.  Five, packs of riders going fast and all crashing together sounds kinda like the appeal of NASCAR.

But, I didn't attend.  My parents had just arrived in town on Saturday so time was spent with them.  I know TheMutt watched and participated (in his own, very special, way) so you can check out his blog for the insiders scoop.  Had I not forgotten about the NoDa grand prix on Sunday, I would have checked that out.  Instead I went for my own road ride.  Shorter then I had planned because by the time I was leaving time was becoming a factor - Annie wanted to check out another open house.  It's getting to be the real deal looking for a house time.  It's fun, but kinda stressful as we are looking to stay in this neighborhood - so we are at the mercy of what pops up on the market the next few months.

So, on the ride I rode, which ended up being my "standard" loop, I was happy and disappointed.  Happy that I felt pretty strong throughout the ride.  And the weather was nice, not too sunny and hot - but sunny enough that I still got some nice burn on (NEED that cycling cap stat!).  Disappointed that it didn't smell like onions on the ride.  I went by the fields that always held that wonderful smell, and there was nothing in the air.  Kind of a bummer as the smell always provided a nice pick me up.

Oh, I got another box in the mail last week... but I'll tell you about it tomorrow.  I also have another race coming up this weekend, so I'll talk about that at some point this week as well.

Shamrocks and Shenanigans

Media Fridays

We'll post videos or photos that will hopefully inspire trail shredding weekends.

This will be a random one, so hold on to your helmets.

I rode the Whitewater Center again yesterday with much better results.  Hit Goat Hill and enjoyed every second of it.  There was one option I did not enjoy.  As you climb Goat Hill you eventually get up towards the top and you can go left to continue climbing before heading down, or you can go right to just head down.  I hit left cause I wanted to go all the way, and it was fun until you hit the bottom and it spit you out on a clear dirt path that went straight back up.  After climbing Goat Hill the last thing you want to do is climb STRAIGHT UP.  Whatever, I did it... and for all the whining, I probably will continue to do that and then hit the fun decent.

I hit up everything USNWC had to offer (I think) and then stopped back at the parking lot to see if I wanted to go back out for more.  After drinking more water and waiting and thinking, I decided to just head home.  I was suddenly feeling like it was a Rhode Island kind of day.

Unfortunately my local beer acquisition station was out of Gansett... what can I say, sometimes we buy them out... so I grabbed a local faithful (or two) - Olde Meck Copper 

CM don't care, they'll sell what they want however they want.

While I was searching the Gansett, to no avail, the mood struck me and I went a little House of Pain on things.

Check out that sweet apron in the background that my brother got me for my birthday

The Dennis Leary intro is worth a watch if you aren't in the mood for the entire video, very old school MTV.

Ok, so now the REAL video of the day, let's try to bring things back to biking in some sense.  I need to get a cycling cap since I don't want this to happen again.

  So who better to get a cap from than good old Walz Caps.

Walz Caps with Great Rock from Whitenosugar Productions on Vimeo.

I'm thinking this

or this

Not today

Yesterday I had planned on finally hitting up Goat Hill.  Of the many times I've ridden at the Whitewater Center I'd never found Goat Hill.  Apparently, I'd ridden right by it many, many times.

During last week's group ride the entrance and exit to the trail were pointed out to me.  Since we were on a social ride we weren't about to torture ourselves with the climb... the kind of climb one could expect from a name like Goat Hill.

Armed with the knowledge of it's whereabouts I planned on tackling that bad boy to see what all the fuss was a bout.

Plans change.

I clearly didn't drink nearly enough water throughout the day yesterday.  How do I know this?  A bike ride in the heat - quick indication as to your current hydration level (or lack thereof).  I finished a bottle just halfway through the ride... an 8ish mile ride...  I took a picture to commemorate the devouring of my water (I actually finished the water in the bottle as I was taking the picture).

I did, however, get to ride another section of trail that was pointed out to me on the last group ride.  There is a sign... just not for it.

The arrow pointing straight indicates that the main trail continues straight - you don't say?  But, there seems to be an arrow missing pointing to the right... which is easy to miss as you fly down the main trail.  I have previously noticed the trail out of the corner of my eye, but never knew what it was or where it went.  Yesterday I was sure to explore.

Yup, it's a legit trail.  Signed just off the main trail.  It was a fun little loop.  At first it was fast and smooth, then you get into some roots and rocks, and before you know it you're back onto the main trail just before Toilet Bowl.

I had planned on skipping Toilet Bowl because it can be a beast sometimes, but after pausing to take pictures I just went for it.  It was fun.  But when the phone started ringing a dilemma appeared before me.  Typically when the phone rings while I'm riding I can pretty much bet it's Annie.  Typically, she's checking in because I've been out for "too long" and she wants to make sure I'm still alive.

Usually I'll let the phone ring and wait until I get to a natural stopping point and not just stop on the trail.

Today I decided to take the call, and take the break!  Annie was going to ask me to pick up dog food on the way home - already done!  Back to riding.  Plan was to finish up Toilet Bowl and head back to the parking lot - and follow that plan I did!

It was great to be out, but I was disappointed at the brevity of the ride.  Nothing I could do about it really, the heat and lack of hydration demolished me and by the end of the ride my head was pounding. The good news is that today should be a short day for me so I'll be pounding waters and heading back out for round 2 and 3 today.  Goat Hill will be MINE!

When I got home from the ride I had a package, complete with cursive handwriting.

I like the variation of all caps in the return address and thoughtful cursive for mine.

What was in the box you ask?  I'll tell you, but only if you ask nicely.

Excellent.

This little piece of glory was in the box... and is now on the shelf, awaiting the big build day.