A race of a different kind.

So, with inspiration from the Tour of the Battenkill, our love of off-kilter events, and the desire to put on a race with a twist...

The 2011 Autodrop Invitational

I know you probably have questions, so hit the link and read up.  We'd love to see you in NC in October.

Adventure.

Just a quick post to say that adventure is soon to arrive. 

Baby Grant #1 should be here in just a few weeks, and if that weren't exciting enough...

The Battenkill Bros. (aka Barry and I) are putting together a very unique race involving bicycles, maps, rally points, and bonus points.  Try to keep late Sept or early Oct open on your calendars. 

Heads up people, life is coming at us.

Pilot Mountain Time Trial. Ouch.

http://www.cityloopmafia.com/2011/06/nospeed-pilot-mtn-time-trial-report.html

Roots, Rock, & Roulette.

So, it's been nearly a month since the last update.  Here's a two-for.  On Monday, Barry, Mitch and I hit up Pisgah for some seriously aggro riding.  I don't think I've been so close to death on such frequent occasions since my last Dixie crit.  Kidding.  After the 13 mile climb to Pinnacle, we bombed down sections of boulders, roots, slim-rhododendron-lined singletrack and some wicked switchbacks.  Good times.  Here are a few more shots.

Once back to Winston, it was rush-rush to get some work stuff done before hopping a plane to the annual American Academy of Physician Assistants national conference. This year, the venue is Sin City.  So far, the only trouble I've gotten into is a frosty beverage by the pool at the Hilton.

I'll get back to town on Saturday just in time for dinner.  Here's to hoping the jet stream provides a helpful tailwind back to NC. 

Next ride is probably the MNRR, put on weekly by the City Loop Mafia, but as for racing...nothing on the books at the moment.  Hmmm...

Mule Hell - Roubaix.

Mule Hell - Roubaix is a 48-ish mile Gran Fondo-style ride to benefit the Family Resource Center, a shelter for abused women and children.  The route begins and ends in Wytheville, VA, following a few ridgelines, a few creeks, and a few choice gravel / dirt roads.  There were also a few choice words uttered when tires began to blow on the first gravel section, but since this is a family site, we'll get on to the ride report...

Weather was purrrfect.  Upper 50's to mid-60's and not a cloud in the sky.  With 40-50 of us lining up, it was sure to be an interesting ride.  I noticed quite a few SWVAC kits around.  These guys, the Southwest Virginia Cyclists, put on this ride and at least three others as fundraisers.  The others have cool names like Big Walker Century and Bikes and Barbeque.  Sounds like some stuff worth getting out of bed for.  Anyway, I was greeted by Lee, the event organizer.  He seemed to think that since I was fresh back from the Battenkill, I'd be in fine shape for his ride.  I decided not to tell him I've been pretty lazy since early April...

The ride started and immediately, I mean IMMEDIATELY this one guy in a Subaru kit (not the cycling team kit, as far as I could tell) slides off the front.  He was nearly out of sight after a few miles of straight, rolling highway riding, but slowly and surely he started getting larger in our view.  Not sure what his plan was, but the breakaway lasted about 8 miles and by mile 10 he was off the back.  Fun times.

I took my first pull (see the pic above) just as we passed Photographer Jill.  I tried to hold a good pace up and over a few rollers, and did thin the field just a bit.  The first gravel section came up around mile 20, and as soon as we hit it two guys blew out, then another just before we got back to the pavement.  I ended up on the front with Lee at the end of the gravel climb, which was nice as I wasn't sure exactly how hard this ride might be.

Now down to a group of about 16, we rolled up and over several more hills, cruised (pretty quickly) along nice creekside country roads, and approached gravel section #2.  This sections wasn't as hard, and the group pretty much stayed together.  A semi-truce was called until the last dirt section, at which point I found myself on the front.

I tapped into a little left-over Battenkill frustration and picked up the pace on this section just a bit.  Most of the SWVAC guys had no problems hanging on but the Hokie you see here was a casualty. 

On to the last set of steep climbs, both of which required a granny gear and nearly some paper-boy action.  We crested more or less together as a group of 5-6 and made turns for home.  It was with about 1 mile to go that I realized we were closing in on the finish, and with the spirit of camraderie and fun that had been such a part of our group, sprinting for the win was really more for kicks than any result. Plus, the only prizes were door prizes, so it made the end that much less stressful for all.  I followed wheels and rolled in 3rd, happy to line up for BBQ and some slaw.

Big kudos to the SWVAC folks and Lee for putting on a cool event.  I really think this ride should be bigger and draw a huge crowd.  The route is perfect for a fondo-style ride but could get hard to manage with categorized racing.  Nevertheless, mark your calendars for next year's event and join me there.

http://www.swvac.com/



Down and Dirty.

I don't think it's a rash decision to go ahead and declare that this summer will be the Summer of Dirt.  What does this mean?  It doesn't mean that I plan to go sans a shower June - Sept, nor does it require that I employ my own personal dustcloud a la Pigpen.  It does mean that I'm going to get back to my roots in mountain biking, or at the very least some significant dirt on the road tires.  Pretty simple.  Battenkill was a good first step...

We'll start on May 7 with a little ride called Mule Hell-Roubaix in southern Virginia.  Then, on Memorial Day weekend, I'll hit up the Wilkes County singletrack with a co-ed team for the BURN 24.  That's gonna hurt.  Lots.  After that, it's time to plan some epic (did I just use that term?) rides in Pisgah, Boone, and the Brushies.

Why dirt?  Why now?  Well, my road fitness has brought me to a place where mountain biking is actually fun and less difficult than it was before.  Not to say I'm fast on the dirt, but the legs are less of a problem compared to the technical skills and upper body strength I need to work on.  In a way, it's a new (old) challenge that keeps me in shape, less frequently on major roadways, and in the company of the homies I like to ride with - they are already way ahead of me and enjoying the dirt scene.  I'll probably still shave my legs. 

I'm heading to Virginia this weekend for a little Easter R&R with the in-laws, but will hopefully get a ride in.  The original plan was for a 50+ mile spin from the homestead to Williamsburg, VA, but I think rain will keep us from doing that...unless I can convince the fatha-in-law to don a rain jacket and make it a REALLY epic (there's that word again) ride...

A Farewell to Arms.

Battenkill done and the seduction now fading, I returned to riding just for the sake of riding today.  I had to, actually, as the new City Loop Mafia kits had arrived in the mail.  It is well known that you can't leave a new kit sitting around for too long, lest it spoil. 

Mitch and I rolled out of Winston around noon.  It was surprisingly chilly, but by the county line we were plenty warm.  We took a direct route to Pilot, catching up and spinning the hills.  On the slopes of Jomeokee, we caught a small group of cyclists, offered greetings, and kept going.  Mitch adhered to his ritualistic duties and enjoyed a Mellow Yellow at the top (the Mt. Dew machine was busted).

We pushed a little harder coming home but we were never really in a hurry.  This was a perfect ride to follow the frenetic Battenkill. 

Next up?  Mulehell-Roubaix and then the BURN 24.  Gonna be a fun spring!