Last Call (for now)  //

Wednesday - April 30, 2008

Verbage: OK kids, any hat orders received after 6pm EST on Thurs. 5/1 won't ship until after I return from Gooseberry Mesa and surrounding areas around 5/10. Weather is looking good for the trip, bike is packed, still some loose ends to tie up but it's all falling into place. Spent Saturday riding bikes and drinking beer. Big cheese Hugh Sisson gave the team a private tour of the Clipper City brewery. We rolled over in a big pack on the bikes, then imbibed in the fine malt beverages they produce there. I've been brewing for well over a decade so I know the terminology and processes but I still learn a lot of things at the tours, especially from the commercial and production side of things. Interesting stuff for sure and Hugh was an entertaining tour guide who knew every last detail of the operation. The beer was damn tasty too. If you want to do your own tour you can sign up here. Award winning beer The Vault Sunday was supposed to be a run on the Tour de Patapsco ride, the 50 mile round trip from Avalon to McKeldin and back. Massive rain Saturday night nixed that but Todd came out my way and we hit up 50 on the pavement and gravel with the fixed gear skinny tire rides. Scenic riding, grinding climbs and sphencter puckering descents on loose gravel. Sweet riding. It looked something like this. Knocked out a solo ride tonight, pushed steady but tried to keep from hammering too hard. Save the legs, 9 day trip ahead, the plan is to ride everyday. Looking forward to some foreign singletrack and riding with that foreigner Markie Mark again. See you on the return trip. - riderx

Click This  //

Sunday - April 27, 2008

Verbage: Some links for you: - SSUSA race. Mysterious 3 stage event from the sounds of it. I'll be thousands of miles away or I'd probably be there. - These guys are riding fixed gear bikes in Race Across America (RAAM). Met them at Bakers Dozen where they were using the race as training for this big adventure. Doing it to raise money for diabetes, so check them out at Adventures for the Cure. - To the left is the PayPal button if you want a cycling cap. $20 + $1 shipping in the US, plain brown envelope. I'll ship what I can by Thursday, after that I will be in Gooseberry Mesa and the surrounding area getting my ride on, so I obviously won't send anything out at that time. Funds get funneled back into our support for trail advocacy organizations. Thanks to those who have already purchased one, we appreciate the support. - riderx

Bakers Dozen Race Report  //

Thursday - April 24, 2008

Verbage: With exception of the race director's stolen bike (see previous post and please keep an eye out for it), what a great weekend. Everyone was keeping a close eye on the weather leading up to the Leesburg Bakers Dozen 13 hour relay race knowing that it is April and in the Mid-Atlantic that means there's always the chance of rain. We had about 10 people heading down so half of us ditched work on Friday and set up our compound to insure a good location. We camped across from our friends at the Pedal Shop and next to the Avalon Cycles kids. Plenty of friends to hang with between laps. After camp setup we set out for a pre-ride of the course. It was hot, sunny and dusty and I got a good start on my cyclists tan for the season. We left Big Jon as night watchman to guard the camp and our kegs and headed home to finish getting gear together. A couple of months back Julie and Kathy were looking to fill a 3rd spot for a co-ed team for the race. Even though there was no women's only category, they were hoping to fill the team with another female. When that didn't happen they settled for me. Being their first race they were a little nervous about what to expect but I insured them we would do this 100% for fun and their would be zero pressure. I'd race the race however they wanted to do it. I offered to do double laps to give them a bit more recovery time between laps but it was also to my benefit. With a 7.5 mile lap I felt like I'd benefit from being warmed up and rolling straight into a second lap. The ladies took my offer and we had a strategy with the understanding that they could change any of it at anytime during the race. Well, let's just spoil the ending and say the ladies rocked! For first time racers they sure didn't seem nervous and they put out consistent laps through the race, both running single speeds 'natch. I was stoked to see them doing so well and having a great time. Having the right team mates who are all on the same page makes the relay races fun. Photo by John Gorham As for me, I had a pretty good race overall despite a few mechanicals. Took out the fixed gear Q-ball 29er and cranked up the gearing to 34x16 for the relatively flat course. I pretended to be racer boy with my 1.9 tires and high pressure. Pre-loaded for the race with a bottle of Carbboom and a half pint of Belgian Saisson right before the start. I played the lead out roll for our team and positioned myself up towards the front for the start. It was a big field and getting caught in the back would not be fun. As expected, when the starting bell rang it was a mad rush off the front, round the campground and up the farm lane to spread the pack. We entered the first piece of singletrack through the cow fields like a swarm of buzzing bees. A pile of riders eats the dirt. Stacked! I avoid this mess and grab a couple of positions knowing we will be entering the tight wooded singletrack shortly. People are jockeying all around and I know it's going to be a cluster once we hit the woods but there's not much you can do about it. I hit the woods riding another fixed rider's wheel (Pat Miller), Camp is right on mine. I'm in good company and we are up towards the front. What I quickly realize is there are some fast riders with little technical skills. The course itself isn't very technical but there are a few spots to keep you honest. Even the small stuff is jamming some of the riders up and it's having a ripple effect on the train. And that gap that's opening up in front of them? Well you can't do anything about it because there's few places to pass and this isn't one of them. Accept your fate and work with what you've got. Pat, Camp and I grab some passes whenever we have the chance, but the train is still herky jerky as we hit slight rises in the course and the gearies are in the wrong gear and grind us nearly to a halt. What are some of these guys doing up front? Pat drops a chain and Camp and I roll on. I launch the first rock drop, a tricky approach on the fixed gear. CREAK! That's the sound I hear when I touch down, my FuBar has just slipped in the stem. Need to watch that rolling forward. Keep getting it and eventually I pull away from Larry a little and roll through the start/finish and try to wind it up with some open space. On to lap 2. Larry transitions and Andy chases me down with fresh legs and is on my wheel as we hit the woods. Sweet, just like another day riding in the woods with my friends. I get lazy early on over a log pile and clip a pedal. Eject in 3...2...1...impact on that nice strategically placed rock. Andy calls out to see if I'm alright as he passes. I let him know I'm OK and scoop my bike up and chase. Eventually catch and pass, churn pedals and roll in for the ankle bracelet swap. The girls are ready and Kathy grabs the bracelet and installs it on Julie. These two are like pros! Julie sets off with a big smile and I head for some recovery drink: Endurox followed by a Peg Leg stout. Looks like a long day and I hammered the first two laps, both a hair over 32 minutes for the 7.5 mile course. At this point I'm not sure how those are going to feel later. The course is fast and since it's relatively flat there is nowhere to rest and there's nowhere to hide on the fixed gear. Photos by Gary Ryan Julie turns out a faster lap than her pre-ride so she is stoked. Kathy does the same and it's time for me to saddle up again. Out of the gate and whirling cranks. Klasmier knocks on my back door as we enter the woods. We ride together for a bit before I drop my chain for the first of two times on this lap. Not sure why since all was tight on the pre-ride check, but I have a way of stretching chains quickly so I'm thinking I better throw this thing in the stand and check things out but I'm hoping to avoid that until after lap four. Hammer back hard after each of these stops, then lose it again as I flat about 2 miles from the finish. Not enough finesse with these skinny tires when squeezing a rock gap. Get into NASCAR pit mode for the change but recall I swapped pumps with Julie to give her the one that pushes more volume faster, so I'm stroking more than Pee Wee Herman at an adult film. Get enough air back in to feel safe, then take the opportunity to tighten my chain when I notice a broken tooth on my fixed cog. Ah HA! So I really tighten it and hope for the best. Time to hammer again. Rolling into camp calling for the floor pump and a fresh tube, my friends have my back and I'm in and out quickly, hoping this lap is uneventful. Whirl those cranks again, over and over and over. Three or four miles out from the finish I feel some twinges in the legs. Whoah, must have gone out too hard, too fast, too early, laps 1 and 2 are coming back to haunt me. Like I said, no where to hide on the fixed gear. Fight through it, keep turning, sit and stand, push on through. Fight those demons and push them out. Roll into camp and pound some Endurox which then starts rumbling around in my stomach during my wait for my next go. The girls pull consistent laps and are doing great. Any nervousness seems to have disappeared and they are riding strong and having a good time. We get word Jay had a flat and prep for him rolling in by getting the floor pump and a fresh tube ready. He's in and out quick for a double lap. Photos by Gary Ryan Laps 5 and 6 having me feeling rejuvenated. Arms are a little tired from the beating they've been taking on the bumpy course and all of the logs to negotiate, but the legs feel refreshed and I dial the intensity back just a hair for the long haul. I mount up lights for lap 7 although I definitely shouldn't need them and might even be able to make lap 8 without them but that would be questionable, especially if I have a mechanical. I don't want to make a pit stop between 7 and 8 so I figure I'll just roll with them now. Legs are still feeling good but I'm starting to feel the stiff gear on the little rises in the course. Steady rocking three miles from the finish I hear CLUNK..pause...pause...CLUNK. Hmmmm, that can't be good. I tried to ignore it put it persists and it's coming from the drivetrain and it's loud and sounds pretty serious. When it doesn't go away I pull over for inspection. Shit, looks like that one missing tooth on my cog has turned into 3 missing teeth as a giant chunk of steel is now missing. I've got a 19 tooth on the flip side of the hub, but that's a 3 tooth difference and I that will leave me spinning like a hamster and might require me to add a link to the chain. I decide to push on and hope I don't rip my chain in half. I want to get back as fast as possible to deal with this but I need to be a bit more gentle on the mashing, it's a fine line I'm trying to walk. I wonder what people think about the racket my bike makes as I pass, it is an ugly soundtrack accompanying me my last 3 miles. I make it back to camp and luckily Julie is ready to rock and quickly rolls out for her night lap with Becky (who is on the solo gig) while I deal with my mechanical. No one has a spare 16T cog, John offers a 15T but man I do not want to go harder at this stage of the game. Luckily Jay has a spare fixed wheel with a 17T so I do a wheel swap with the help of our newly arrived pit crew and I'm back in business. Grab some of JoJo's pasta she has arrived with, put down a Peg Leg stout and I'm ready for action again. Kathy wants to keep her spot following Julie in the rotation which is of course fine, I told them this was their race, I'm just here to help them out. Kathy rolls with Amy and Becky and returns full of smiles and a great lap. The temps are still very warm and a full moon has risen in the sky, hard to beat those conditions for some night riding. Photos by Jon Shultz and Tony Ritrivi The girls let me know that at 4 laps each, they've decided they've had their fill and are ready to kick back and work on the keg. Who can blame them, they've had a great day of riding and the party is in full swing, they deserve to tip a few back. I roll out on number 8 unsure of my own plan from here on out. With the legs feeling pretty good midway through my lap I decide 10 laps at 75 miles sounds like a nice even number and stick that in my head as my personal finish line. Roll into camp and ask for some water, eat some Clif blocks, wolf down some Oreos and head back out. Only 2 more to go. At the first rock drop Klasmier catches me and gives me a hard time for rolling it instead of launching it. Sorry, no more slipping handlebars for me, I just want to stick a fork in this ride. We ride together until we hit the farm road where he can big ring it, he's on his first double lap of the day and finishing out his race. One more to go for me and I roll through the transition area and grab a few more Oreos to eat on the fly. I see the clock and realize I can get another lap in after this one but soon push that thought out of my head. The legs have it in them, but I'm done with the hamster wheel, this is my 10th time around this course and there's nothing left to see. Number 10 is uneventful and I cruise it at a pace that is more relaxed than previous laps. Roll into camp, let them know I'm heading for the transition tent and cashing out and I'm done. Just in time for beer as the rain sets in. Perfect timing. Photo by Ricky d - riderx

Stolen Bike Alert  //

Sunday - April 20, 2008

Verbage: Scumbags. Please keep your eye out for this bike and if you have any info email leesburgbakersdozen AT verizon DOT net. Or contact me and I will pass along the info. Unbelievable how low some people are. FROM: Leesburg Bakers Dozen ------------------------------------------------- I am hoping somebody can help me. Someone decided it would be cool to steal my personal Moots Moot-X YBB that I had made available for demos. I gotta tell you, at this point I am not interested in doing another race next year, or ever. I spent countless hours over the past 6 months to get the course and the race ready for YOU. What little compensation I thought I was going to receive is now gone. The feeling of accomplishment? Gone, too. I dont think I have ever been more disappointed in my life. I guess the notion of being a MTB family is dead, at least it now is for me. I lost money and the best bike I have ever owned to someone I hosted and hoped to provide a special and unique environment for. I am not wealthy, in fact, the only reason I have a bike like that is because of a shop discount and the fact that cycling is my passion. I dont drink, go out, go to movies, nothing. My money goes to my bikes. I was set to pack the bike up for my long awaited trip to Arizona next week for a little punishment of my own at the Whiskey Off Road race in Prescott. Not sure what to do now. Cancel my vacation?? I do not care who stole it or why or where they live. I just want my bike back. Mail it, ship it to Plum Grove, I dont care how I get it back. I just want it back. Its an 18" Mooto-X YBB with full XTR, White bros 20mm thru axle fork, and Jones H-bars. If you have any information, please let me know. Rob Harrington Race director 571.225.2225 - riderx

Spring has sprung  //

Friday - April 18, 2008

Verbage: The Leesburg Bakers Dozen 13 hour race is this weekend and it's shaping up to be a nice one with temps predicted to be in the low 80s. I'll be out there on a team with 2 lovely ladies and a bunch of the other Factory Team kids will be making appearances as well. The course should be fast with all of the dry weather we had. Look for our camping compound and stop by to say "hey". I got in a batch of SSO cycling caps that I'll have on hand at the race. $20 gets you one. Whatever is left over will be available next week through the web site for a dollar more to cover shipping. We will use proceeds from the sales to cover our donations to local trail advocacy group MORE and the big ones at IMBA. We don't just put shovels to the dirt, we put our money where our mouth is. Please try to ignore the model in the photo below and focus on the hat. It's made by Pactimo of a nice wicking material. Slips under a helmet nicely if that's your thing and it's easy to crumple and pack in a jersey pocket if you need to do that too. One size fits most. - riderx

Full Accounting  //

Tuesday - April 8, 2008

Verbage: Official numbers for Saturday's 1903 Adventure Ride: 49.7 miles 6,136 ft. of climbing 10 dirt roads 1 stream ford 11 riders started 6 riders finished Unknown quantity of Dales Pale Ale + 1 six of Stoudts American Pale Ale consumed before and during the ride. Large quantity of other beers consumed post ride. 7 Flats - #1 - Jon: two tubes and one pump consumed during repair #2 - David #3 - Ken's Father-in-Law (sorry dude, forgot your name) #4 - Jon again #5 - Jay #6 - Steve: high speed downhill explosion #7 - Yours truly 1 great spring day 6 fixed gear bikes 1 old school MTB with full knobbies 42 photos by Steve - riderx

Who has a patch kit?  //

Sunday - April 6, 2008

Verbage: Was it 6 or 7 flats? I lost count after a while but a lot seemed due to pure random bad luck. A 2 inch nail, a massive high speed blow out, a slow leak from undetermined causes and a few pinch flats from gnarly terrain. Hardly any rider escaped from this evil curse. This slowed the overall pace of the Adventure Ride. down, but other than that it was a fine day to spend in the saddle. Started off chilly, I was under dressed for sure, but once the clouds broke free and the sun gave way we had a warm day that was hard to beat. The weather "experts" sure botched the forecast as they called for rain in the morning and cloudy skies all day. Score one for us. Lots of skinny tires dicing it up on the dirt roads and pavement. Started the day with some Dale's Pale Ale and eleven riders with 7 embracing the truest spirit of the ride by rolling the fixed gear. With so many stops for punctures early on the Dale's jersey pocket reserves were quickly consumed. Down to 9 riders before 10 miles clicked off, then down to a half dozen around mile 20 or so. The final six-pack of riders got some of the best stretches of riding, not that the earlier stuff was anything sub par (far from it), and also got some of the best(?) hills. When it was all done we had 48 miles in the bank, quite a few beers in the gut and some nicely worked leg muscles. Build your own dirt road adventure or contribute to the database at DirtData.org - riderx