Rumors, Weather, and I got a big ASS!!

 I love this pic!  "Hi, I'm Becca (Super B) and I'm ready to kick some ass!"

  

Junk in the trunk!!!

Now tell me you can't see the whole alphabet going across that thing!!  

Ian making sure the oxygen mask works for Sunday's triple hitter!!  That's right, I registered for them all!!  

Will Mr. Woldring make an appearance?  My money is it!! 

 

Rumor 1;  I got a call the other day from Mr. Woldring..  Seems he may be going to join in the fun this weekend in Conyers..  Let's hope so, it'd be good to see him get out there and see what he's been missing all year..

Rumor 2;  I spoke with Jim tonight and this is going to be a tough course!!  It's wet already before the rain, so now it's REALLY going to be wet..  Word to the wise..  Don't wear that white jersey, it's gonna get dirty!

 Rumor 3; Brett and his son Conner are going to race this weekend..  Yes, finally Mr. Barrier, (Brett can run a set of barriers faster than anyone I've seen!) is going to come out in the elements and join in the fun..  (Brett, you can't use the weather as an excuse, it's cross!)  

 Rumor 4;  I'm going to do three (3) races..  Yes, I've registered for masters, SS and B's..  Should be interesting..  This is how Kyle explained it to me "see, you use the masters as your warm up, do the SS all out, then cool down during the B race"  Yeah right, how about this, "I race like mad all three races, then fall over from exhaustion."

Weather;  So, it's supposed to rain all day tomorrow and Sat. night..  I just hope it turns out cloudy only on Sunday with a chill, not no full on rain and bitter cold..  I've become a wuss in my older age and just can't handle it like I used to..

I was flipping through some fotos tonight of some of the races and guys..  Why didn't you tell me my ass was so big!  The hell with ACC, you could spell the whole thing out across my ass.. I mean you could go ABCDEFGHI and on with the whole alphabet..  All I know is that I gotta shed some ass!  So much for taking Ian to McDonalds in the morning, we're having FRUIT!!

 

See you Sunday!!  

I did it.. Well, almost..

 Cold day in Hamme Zogge!  Jonathon Page running the steps..  I love steps!!
                         Coming out of the pits..  

Photos courtesy of Bettini Photo

As I sat down to lunch today I thought (must use self control)  Well I'm proud to announce that I did it..  well, till M brought out the apple pie AND the whipped creme..  DOH!!  That's okay, I did go for a ride this afternoon to burn off those (extra) calories..  :)  I rode my SS and I'm wondering how I'm going to pull of this Sunday's quest to do three races..  I mean, that's a lot of racing and the B race starts right after the SS race...  That's an hour and five minutes of racing!  As it stands now, I'm planning on doing them all..  I just wonder how hard that SS race is going to be and if I'm trying to turn too big a gear..  I'm running a 42x19..  The course is supposed to be flat and fast.. I know Dallas is tough, so I decided I would do it in Conyers instead of trying it in Dallas.. 

Here's a couple pics from last weeks Super Prestige race in Hamme Zogge, Belgium...  Great race and I highly recomment you ck out the highlights at www.crosstube.net  

Hope to so take it easy tomorrow..  No shopping for me, interesting thing I did see today was at 12:30, there were people already camped out at Best Buy..  Come on people get a life, what's worth spending your Thanksgiving sitting on a sidewalk in front of a retail store?

Till next time...  

Turkey and Bikes..

               Ready to make her debut in the SS class!! 
             John and Chris neck and neck..  (notice the differences in these set ups..)  Photo courtesy of Loose Nuts cycling team..

So Thanksgiving his here and it's time to do what we all love to do..  EAT!!  I'm headed to my ma in laws to chow down, but will try to control myself as I know this gorging will not help my results on Sunday..

Speaking of Sunday, Conyers race 2 is coming up and we're hoping for a another good weekend of racing..  Some questions:  Will Super B be able to handle those young rebels from Athens? Will JP be able to handle the other young rebels from Athens that are riding on of all things, FIXED GEAR BIKES?  What's up with that!!  I mean, you gotta see these guys rides, not exactly what you'd expect to see at a cross race..  But hey, obviously it works for them..  I bet if they were on geared bikes they'd be really giving the B leaders a run for their money..  Can The Kid get back control of the B race and retain that jersey?  Lastly, will I beable to step a way from the dessert table?  (Probably not, Michele did and apple pie and there is ice cream as well)  :) 

My goal this weekend is to do three races..  Yeah, I whimped out and didn't go the NC to race there, but I figure Conyers is going to be the best place to break out the SS that I've thrown together.. So, we'll see what happens... 

Till next time!

  

4 Out of 7 Ain't To Bad!!!

Anyone else notice how much Kyle smiles when he's running the barriers?  That's just sick!
                    John and his gang of misfits..  
                     Becca and her arch rival..  
    Matt airing out the boys and taking his place on the podium...

  "Yeah guys, this roller thing is great..  Just don't move this truck..  "    

So, this weekend the team headed over to Ft. Yargo for the Georgia Cross State Championships..  Since I whimped out of the NC races, I decided to shack up with my friends Adam and Nancy in Athens..  (BTW:  If you think Nancy's brownies rock, Nancy's got the best hot chocolate in the SE hands down!)  I got the Ft. Yargo Sat. afternoon and rode the course some with Adam, Shey, John and Spanky..  Course was typical Yargo, kinda rough, good sand and marbles in some of the corners..  Good course and I like the fact that Dan doesn't change it up, but keeps it consistant..

 

First race of the day was us old guys..  Slightly chilly, but not too bad..  Brian decided to join Kyle and I for our masters adventure, but unfortunately for Brian, his last name is Culpepper and he took the roll of Mr. NL (Mike Culpepper aka: No Luck) and flatted 100 meters after the start..  Anyway, all he missed was a bunch of guys with rockets tied to their asses, because all I saw was vapor from where I was at..  SUPER fast race from the start, I totally blew up where Brian flatted..  It was nuts!!  Congrats Brady on taking the win.. I was 12th and Kyle was 9th..  Good showing..

Next up was JP, staying consistant as he has been all year,  he was 3rd after battling it out with the young guns from Athens, these guys and gals know how to have fun at a cross race.  Ck out their flickr site and you'll see..  (Hey guys, were you both on fixies or SS?  That disc wheel rocks!) Great race especially since he really took a dive in "Marble Alley"..  Chad put in a great 4th place and after watching him at practice tonight, he and JP could really put a hurting on those boys in the Dallas race..  Brian managed to survive the start of this race finishing 12th with Jake pulling in 27th.

.

Super B put on a great show in the women's B race giving Mary a run for her money and ditching the competition all over the course.. I joked with the girls about beating up on Becca, but didn't expect them to literally take a dive,  poor girls looked like they got eaten alive by the marbles, although they did seem fine after a few beers..  (BTW: I was really looking forward to that beer feed you guys teased me with)  Spanky's wife joined Becca in the race and "I think" had more fun that she's willing to admit..  We just have to encourage her to use that right shifter.. :)  Honestly, it won't hurt..   (Thanks for joining us Melissa hope you will come play again) 

 

In the SS race Kyle put a hurting on Shey, (well actually made Shey work real hard) to come in 3rd place.  I'm gonna join Kyle next week to see what all the fun is that I'm missing..  Supposedly it's so much fun that my toes will curl!  We'll see..

The B race was our final of the day..  This is the race I feel more comfortable in..  My results don't really show it, but at least here I'm not in no mans land the whole race and have other people to ride with, not just ride past me..  I got 29th while The Kid put on a good show finishing a rock solid 2nd and my little buddy Spanky coming in 12th..  From what I hear, the front group was all together and Matt just put the hammer down and it exploded.. 

 

All in all, a great weekend, kinda expensive, we killed two sets of carbon wheels, one of us is probably facing shoulder surgery, but it was fun.  Right now we're 2nd in the combined and 3rd in the overall..  We've got two riders leading their categories, Becca and Matt, so right now with 2 races to go we are rocking..  The teams that are around us are all older teams with very experienced riders, so for this to be our second year shows we're kickass!  Out of 7 podiums, we were on 4 of them..  

Next week is Conyers..  To the competition:  Eat baby eat, you know you want to just keep on eating that pumpkin pie and turkey leg!!  Jim has promised an exciting course with something for everyone except moutain bikers, so we should all do well I hope!!  

Till next time!!    

 

If seen, net and take to the nearest cross race..

The season is half way over now and what a great season it's been.  Another good performance this week by the team..  A smaller team this weekend in Blairsville, but still some good results..  The team is still sitting 2nd and 3rd in the two team competitions..  With the team at full tilt this weekend minus one rider, we should add some points to our total to help solidify our position..  Now, if we could get a couple of guys to come out of retirement (hint, hint, you know who you are) we could REALLY add some good quality points..  

  

To sum up the weekend:  Super B got 2nd this weekend in the women's B race, JP was 5th in the men's C race after dancing with the course tape with Jake taking pulling in at 26th..  In the men's B race The Kid finished 5th, don't know the story there, but I'm sure it's gotta be a good one with The Cutter making the podium in the SS with a 3rd AND bringing home some bacon in the 35+ race..  

This weekend is the state championship race at Ft. Yargo State Park..  Should be some REALLY good racing this weekend with riders coming out of the woodwork to put on a show and maybe throw in some surprises..  Hopefully, we won't have any guys who only do this one race of the year show up and steal the show.  I mean, there are guys who race the whole season week after week and then someone shows up and decides "hey, I think I'll go do the state race and ruin their season".  Yes, if they are stronger they should win, but come on, it's like you standing in line waiting on a Egg McMuffin and they throw the "it's now lunch only menu" when you get to the line at McDonalds..  I mean, I don't want no damn Quarter Pounder, I want my Egg McMuffin!!    I've been standing here fantacising about a Egg McMuffin and you want me to eat a hamburger??  Total bummer..

This weekend will be big for me.  I'm doing something different this weekend, well, probably something stupid as well.  I used to race two days a weekend in my younger years, but haven't been able to do so in several years because of how the season is set up..  Soooo, I'm going to do the Hendersonville, NC race on Saturday and then turn around and race Ft. Yargo on Sunday.. Here's the big kicker (and something I've never done before)  I'm hoping to do 2 races on Saturday and 2 races on Sunday..  In the past, I could race all out on Saturday, and then turn around Sunday and do even better, but I'd only do one race a day.  What's up with that?  I think it's you get your body over the shock and it's ready to rock the second day..  What ever it is, it's intersting..  If only I could get some Extran..  DOH!!  Honestly, I didn't know that was a doping product..

Well, time to go ride the cobbles with Devolder and Gilbert..  It's freaking cold out tonight, so I'm gonna do the rollers..  Ah the fun on sitting and spinning..  Actually, if you've never ridden rollers, give it a whirl, it'll actually work you over more than you think..

    Oh, and on a final note, if you see these two cats, grab them by the scruff of the neck and take them to the nearest cross race, I'm tired of answering the same question every freaking week.. (Where's Nate and Robert?)

Till next time..  

TJ, I like flannel sheets..  

Adam, Will Nancy have fresh brownies?  

Rome..

                    Our PRO set up in "Hunting for Love" park

                      This isn't going to end pretty... 

                       Spunky killing it!!  

             Coach Ian getting me through the warm up..

So you know what they say, NEVER change anything on your bike less then three days before an event no matter what right?  WRONG!!  I bought a front der. to use for the rest of the year so I could run a double set up since I'm not as strong as I used to be and noticed that the amt. of energy I'm using to push a mamoth gear could be used much more later on when I need it, if I could conserve it for later in the race..  or hell, even after the next hill!  So, I didn't change anything and to much regret, there was a hill that a lot of people could ride in a 39x27, that I couldn't ride in a 42x27.  Now, I'm not making excuses, I'm fat and out of shape, those are the facts.  I'm just saying, instead of 23rd, maybe I could've been 21st! 

So, the team rolled into Rome for the fourth race of the series..  Some of the guys camped out the night before in "Hunting for Love" park and I'm glad to report none were violated during the night.  The course was a fast course with a good amt. of off camber and some devilish hills that could be ridden with the right gearing, but really wore on you during the race..  We had eight riders in Rome and again had a good weekend, but then again had a rough weekend on the crash and burn department.

First up was Kyle and No Luck (Mike C.) in the masters race..  I have to admit, I slept in guys..  sorry, but I worked real hard so we could all have fun on Sunday..  Kyle was 9th in the 35+ race and No Luck crashed during the warm up and cut his head open.  He started the race, but didn't last long..   

Next up was JP (John P.)  I think for the next race I'm gonna give JP a frame pump to put on his bike so he can take anyone out that is threatening him in the last turn..  After a bad start, JP was up front on lap two..  Great job of keeping his cool and biding his time..  The next few laps were great, he was sitting in the perfect position when on the last ride\run up, there was a crash..  All three went down and unfortunately, the first one up won.  What can you do, that's racing..  Still, 3rd out of 60, that's super..  Great job JP of keeping you cool at the start.. Personally, I'd probably blown up from panic..  Jake looked like he was trying out for the WWF, but swears he wasn't trying to kill the guy..  :)  

Next up were Super B and Melissa.  Super B had her hands more than full today..  Actually, I think the winner of her race could've given the women in the A race a strong run for their money, but I won't go there.  Super B got 3rd, but is fighting mad and ready for redemption next week.  Melissa was 9th after falling and breaking her wrist\hand..  Great race and determination to hang in there.  She drove up that morning, 4 hours, fell hard and still had a respectable finish..  While the women were slugging it out, Kyle was once again, and I don't understand the methology racing the SS race.  Today he was 5th, so we got some good points there..  Shey again left everyone wondering if he was really using a SS..

The final race for ACC today was the men's B race.  Spunky took his pills,  The Kid looked like he was fresh and hungry and I was relaxed and ready for some fun after Coach Ian (see top phot0) guided me through my warmup..  I have to admit, I really like the start..  It's just crazy and aggressive..  Today was NO exception..  You started on a long paved stretch, then did a 180 at the top of the hill on to grass on a sharp off caber turn.  I got a great start, got a great angle into the first of camber section, got to throw some elbows and felt great..  Well, then reality hit...  So, as I realize I'm gonna blow, I hear Spunky behind me yelling..  I know he's so much stronger than I so I tell him to follow me, I'll take him to the front..  Well, I did my part and it was game over..  I blew like a steam kettle..  I finally settled into a rhythm and unfortunately he hit a big pot hole and his shoulder said uncle, then he said, well, I can't say, I hope more than just the team read this and I don't want the whole world to think we have potty mouths, let's just say it was game over..  Meanwhile, I'm plugging away trying, begging my body to recover, but it just won't do it.  Finally, with two laps to go, I get in a groove, just in time for The Kid to come around me like he's on a Sunday cruise..  So, Matt killed them again, and I finished 23rd..

So this weekend, we had three top fives, a win, a broken wrist\hand, a gashed head and a banged up shoulder.  I liked last weekend better :)  We should be really well positioned points wise going forward..  A couple of heavy Fulton Fliers guys have called it a season, but GTC is hot!   

Next up is Blairsville..  I won't be there, so we'll have a guest reporter next time..  Speaking of reporter, Kyle was on the front page of the Rome paper..  There's a link to it on the cross forum..  They said he was someone else, but we all know The Cutter..  

I hope to add a photo section, the problem is, we're all so busy racing we forget to take pics.. I'm hoping to get a few from Adam..  I see some other people taking photos, but unfortunately they won't money, and right now, that's a little tight.  So, if you have any team pics to donate to the blog, let me know..  Better late than never..  Brad at Chain Reaction donated his photos to last weeks post..  Thanks Brad!  

I'm off to install a front der. now.. Coach Ian said that should help me out!  We'll see...    

    

You're killing me Troy...

As the days get shorter we all are aware of what has to happen next.. Trainer Time!  Can you think of a better way to spend the evening than with coach Troy and the trainer!!  I've come to the conclusion that the only way I'm going to regain any fitness is to start spending time with my favorite person coach Troy..  Let me elaborate on this relationship..  Coach Troy and I have a love/hate relationship.  The first ten minutes on the trainer, I'm motivated and really appreciate the time coach Troy has set aside to work with me..  After those ten minutes, I really hate coach Troy..  He makes me sweat and really do a lot of uncomfortable things I don't like doing..  I mean, is sitting on the trainer turning a 53x15 for five minutes standing 30 seconds and sitting for 30 seconds over and over again supposed to be fun?  I think not..

This week the team is headed to Rome, Ga. for another exciting weekend of racing..  Should be some great racing and a good time with friends and family.. 

Can John P. pull off that victory that's been eluding him all year?  Will Super B (Becca) pull of another victory in the women's B race?  How will The Kid (Matt) do in his first A race?  Will Slow Poke (me) be able to get my arse in gear in the masters race and be able to hang in with The Cutter (Kyle)?  And finally will Spunky (Dan) remember to take his anti-inflamatory medication so he can race?  Ck back Monday for a full race report and fotos!!    

Conyers Celebration and Pain..

The Augusta Cross Coalition (ACC) headed to Conyers Ga. test out their legs against what would be the largest race of the year with a field full of a lot of talent and strength.. Keeping with their showing so far, the team put on a great performance. We had two wins, Rebecca Phelan and Matt Stewart winning the Women's C and Men's B race respectfully with John Phelan getting 3rd and Melissa Liegh getting 3rd in their races.. In the masters race Kyle and Brian both had good races while I sucked totally.. Kyle then jumped in the SS race because he just couldn't get enough.. The big race of the day for the team was supposed to be the B race. Well, things started out quite well, but then I noticed on the second lap my man Dan standing watching the race. WTH? Dan crashed hard in Dahlonega and still hasn't recovered, so maybe in Rome. On the other hand, Matt scorched the B field and I myself actually had a decent race putting in some attacks with the group I was with and having some fun..

So, that was our weekend.. Practice should be good tomorrow, it's cold and rainy tonight, I sure hope it isn't tomorrow..

Eight ACC riders at this race..  Two wins, and two thirds... Not bad..