Well I am here!

It is so nice down here in North Carolina. Sitting here front of my computer listening to the latest Carolina Chocolate drops Cd called Genuine Negro Jig. Great music if in the mood for something different and good southern hometown sounding music. Well here in Cary ,NC (Suburb city of Raleigh). Staying at an extended stay right now until can buy the house my GF and I are very much interested in. Finally went for my 3rd ride since have been down here. Hasnt been pretty the last month or so. Got sick b/c of long hours, no sleep, improper diet and stress of moving, but turning the corner now. Finally felling human again. Just starting out riding slow and enjoying being out. It was 70 deg yesterday and about 65 today. Very nice with cool breeze. Hopefully get back into the synch of things here soon and refind my legs again. Still only feeling about 75-80% on the bike right now. This weekend have to get my cross bike out of storage and ride it! its right at the end as well as my gear. Raleigh and Cary are very biker friendly cities. Love to see that. Bike lanes all over CAry and some in Raleigh. Bike shop prices arent that great down here, but its all good. Got a slime digital psi gauge at performance here in Cary, well not impressed. I am taking it back and just getting a analog style gauge. Wanted one instead of using my pump all the time. Well got other things to do. Take it easy all and go out and ride.

If you surrender to the wind, you can ride it. ~Toni Morrison

Well This is it.............................

Well folks/fellow Hupsters and all you other ragamuffins. I'm officially out of here. I am no longer riding here in Pa. The house finally sold, I am moving to NC! Time to represent in NC since the godfather says no HUp sters in North Carolina.....gotta be the first! Moving out of Pa here in Feb 27th and moving down in temp housing for a month or two and then new place, new area, new fun!!!! Going to miss alot of the Md, Pa, VA and midatlantic races. Probably do some Vsothern Va , SC and of course whatever NC races I can find. It was great riding and racing with all and having a blast up here. My next post will be from north carolina , where it is warmer and can ride all year round much easier. May be up for an occasional race in this area. Thank you all for all the good times, hard races, heckling, cowbells, and Teammates. Hup teammates and others are definitely invited down if need a vacation. Let me know and drop me a line. Thank you and adios all! : ) Peace out!

Not Cold, Just Wet & Snow

Interesting Ride today. Wanted to go out. Its been a few days since the decent amount of snow we received (listen folks I lived in Watertown, NY for a few years-This is only dusting type snow!- they close schools around here if an ant that has dandruff has some fall to the ground). Well its only mild chilly(mid 30's- not too bad and not very windy. so i decide go for a ride, HHMMMM cross bike or road bike. Cross bike would be slow in many areas, but if roads arent that clear i'l be on ice skates with my road bike. Oh what the Hay! I take the road bike out, b/c its cleaner(still mud on cross wheels from last race-yeah I know its been a few weeks now). Well start out on main roads, not bad even a slight shoulder to ride on. Go onto some secondary roads, well getting a little more narrow roads now and no shoulder, with a couple areas of snow/slush across the road. still not too bad, go to Brennemen rd and then onto 114. not to bad, plow trucks took alot of divit strokes, grass and mud all over the side of the road?!?! head left at intersection and go up hill, still not too bad and onto Siddonsburg rd. Well the hills are a little treacherous going up and down, always looking for ice under snow hiding. My slick michelin lithions not doing too bad, besides kickin up lots of water and making my arse wet.

Well take a breather , grab a drink and enjoy the snowy view for few minutes. Pace much slower than usual, but safety first and then ride. All in all not bad till last 3 miles of route. hid snow and slush all over roads especially in last 1.5 mile. Was sliding all over the place, but kept upright and thankfully noone coming in either direction so I could ride in middle of the road. Ok I admit michelin lithions suck in snow, but still a fun ride and didnt freeze like rides last week with wind and high 20's/low 30's temps. winter is fun if you take the time to go out and enjoy it. Keep it safe all and keep on training. Sorry no pics to convey during this ride.

End of Season Races

Sorry but late on end of season recap of the last 2 races. Both of them cold and still lots of fun!

TaneyTown Mabra Championship race:

Recap from 2008, cool, muddy beyond belief and a bog fest, hopefully better this year. Well no immediate rain for this one, but it was cool and windy for a few days before race so course should be dry. EEEEHHH! Wrong again my dear Watson. It was cold, sloppy, and slick. Given nicer weather this would be a sweet course, but i have never experienced that here in my short Cross career. Well got there in plenty of time, saw my Cross nemesis and buddy, Adam L. Chatted for few, went and registered, and visited favorite location prior to all races. Deciding what to wear, try on white knee warmers and skinny. this is before i knew it was muddy. Went out and reconned the course a little, and white knee warmers now trashed in mud. Well go back to car, down more water, changed a few pieces of gear out for some drier items and head down to start. Syd is there leading us in the right location, gotta love that kid, even when he kicks my ass all over the course. Well line up and only 1 row behind Adam. Aha!!! I have a chance, but no biggie no hurry at all. this will be quite a few laps, that i know. Start race first corner is at he start of mud bog 2009, sludge through the straight away, and then turn 45 degrees to the left and bam mud and water. Dismount and run up short hill, see riders jumping back on up top and riding down short hill only to get slowed by corners, so i figure run it out and remount on the clear straight away after another 90 deg. turn to the right. I think a smart move overall. first 180 corner causes a little pile-up so dismount and run again till safely able to remount. long straight away with off camber hill to left and then lots of long zigzags all over field, finally end up out on gravel road. come up on another 90 turn to the left, most riders off and running through ankle deep mud, i decide to torque it out and actually manage to get thru the slime/goo rather well considering but used considerable power to do so. Having fun and taking names. passing a few, see Adam up ahead and hone in on him. , do off camber hills after longer straights. Then we go back to a road(short jaunt) and then right turn back on grass , wind through the trees and then behind tennis courts. a Pair of barriers waits on the straight away, easy and fun, remount and take a sweeping left turn into a divot and back toward a tree. Roundabout behind a tree and around ball pen, come to a section(after a few more turns) in which is a longer straight away into another turn. Super bog down, that straight away was a slow down section to the crawl. didn't look that bad, but it just sapped you of energy. Back to right turn9muddy section) and then top of small hill riding along till drop to right and do a sweeping left turn to short uphill. Had to dismount and run most of this section, too muddy to even try. Get to top of little hill and traverse the top of it and then quick right downhill along fence line, another slow muddy bog section, which leads to a sweeping left turn around small body of water. a few quick turns and back out on gravel road to start area and then all over again.

Did this again at least three more times, for a total of four laps. Passed Adam right after first bog section on second lap and never looked back. Finished decent for weather conditions, 25th out of 54, so at least in top 50% range. Adam came in 28th position, was hoping for more of a distance, but still beat him. Made it through the rideable ankle mud section 3 out of 4 times, when last time going too slow so dismounted and ran it. Here's is a pic of my bike in the after effects of the mud. The other pics are of the masters race in which teammate Mark W. is in. Thought i would grab some pics for fun.

Capital cross at Reston, Va.:

Last year (2008) race was so cold and windy, it was ridiculous. hopefully 2009, would be better, NOT! It had snowed the day before the race and lots of residual. Figured it might not be too bad in Va. though. I got up early as ever and drove down, roads pretty clear just lots of snow on side of roads. Still only high 20's that morning, this should be fun. Get down to the reservoir rd and it is completely snow covered with extra ice. Not a Good sign at all! Well went and signed up, after almost falling on ice up stairs, saw Adam and chatted few minutes. AH warm Bathrooms, how nice a luxury! got changed, and went out of course. Holy @$#%^$#&, ice and snow. Don't mind the snow but ice on start line on the road, ice going across reservoir, ice on backside of course. Dam, i can see some injuries here today. Well start is on icy road and everyone was smart and started slow( I was 5 rows behind Adam-not good). We then sweep right into a snowy section of grass follow that around a big semi circle and go down short decline and up short incline, around tree, and into short straight away. this led into the double barriers, which leads to a great crowd, cheering section. Colder then a witches tit out here! Remount and short cross road section which lefts to left turn into off camber section, not too slick considering. slight right and then left around dicey hard uneven ground, will be a few wipe-outs before end of race at that spot. then go left and then quick right around tree, leading to a gradual zig zag section, which is next to first pit area. this is slightly muddy with ruts throughout and snowy as well. Right turn up hill is next, some riding, but too many riders slowing things up so get off and run that section up mud. Get to top and remount and ride across reservoir, only one actual riding lane and it is to the right. Ice and snow everywhere else, so mostly single file through this section. Then right to run up hill section. Easy footing considering and up to top of hill and then 180 switchback on loose rocky trail, hard to keep line but manage to do so. Sweeping left turn to downhill section, great mtb section and then left again to off camber section which is either a run or dab/foot down section.

Enter onto a short road section, off to right into a sweeping small downhill with grassy section a mud feast, slip and slide through that and go uphill slightly to a another sweeping left and then a fun cool nice downhill section. Swing around to right again and a little zigzag area @ a tree and then right again to a longer straight away. this section good recovery section and easy to pass some riders, a little right , and then a left, and then a right into a muddy bog puddle section. Another left around a tree and then a icy straight with a sweeping right onto a snow/icy road again. quick left short uphill, easy to ride up with some minor effort. Up on top of hill and then a few zigzags again, leading to a short downhill to a short straightway and then a left sweeping ice/snow turn onto gravel with ice in the middle of it, make a short right after bridge and back onto the finish/start line again. Each lap thru this course was more treacherous. int that riders would take extra risks. saw quite a few go down. I managed to stay up (which was my main concern, not hurting oneself last race of year) and adam did beat me, but that wasn't my main concern this race. I stopped for a down mtb when that last section of gravel ice road, he went outside of the thin trail everyone was making and went down hard and slide fast first along the ice. I watched him, and then watches him not get up, so i stopped and he looked up at me with a haze look to him and asked if ok, he said go on, i'm good then he laid his head back down. A few marshalls' saw it and were already running to him. that didn't help the race results either, but oh well. Tough race. got 35th out of 89, while Adam got 31st of 89. That's how the cookie crumbles sometimes.

good overall season, happy with last 6 race results besides Tacchino ciclimo, so last 5 races in the top 30's and 20's. Had fun, no mechanicals, no DNF's, and no major crashes! A great season, now having fun riding in the frigid 20 degree weather, and looking forward to whatever else comes along. Thanks for listening to my race recap and keep the rubber down and get out and ride.

Howard County #2/ Rockburn Recap

Well alittle recap from the #2 version of the Howard County cross weekend in Maryland. Was the infamous Rockburn Cross, third version (year) of this race I have frequented. Love this race, never have done really well here, but just like the course(except for the long hill always on the backside of the course). Well girlfriend and doggies come along with me, start out on time(0615) and making great time down the road, probably get there @ 0745 or so. Get on 95 see signs saying accident on 95 south at same exit, I need to get off. It give alternate exit on sign, so figure be ok, but pull out GPS just to be sure. Well get further down the road and Blam! Standstill in traffic on 95. I see another unfortunate biker with bike on roof caught in same dilemma. folks are turning around, yeah turning around on 95 and going back down an entrance ramp to get off of 95, and go another direction. These freakin Marylanders are crazy!!! Saw almost 4 other accidents from this abuse of stupidity! HONESTLY FOLKS IS THERE ANYWAY ON EARLY SUNDAY MORNING THAT YOU NEED TO GO, THAT ENDANGERING OTHERS WILL ACCOMPLISH? Come on now!

Well did see three other actual fender benders besides actual wreckage that caused the closed down originally. Fine finally through the muck and rumble, 45 mins later and arrive at rockburn @ 2025. Just enough time to run(warm-up now) and register and visit por-pot(if you dont know what this is well you are missing out! : ). Get back , don my gear and get bike ready, got time for quick warm up ride up. Luckily parked in overflow right near race start, so can be there in flash. Getting close to time, and see noone lining up, HMMMM did i miss something? check with UCI judge and they kicked start back 30 mins because of accident. cool! But now ready way to early. I go back to car, relay info to better half and dog kisses await, then put on vest and go out and check out newer course this year. They made some changes, and i even like the changes: lots of turns and twists, short hills, stroll the woods remains, and few barriers, actually like this course even better. See my cross nemesis, Adam, and few others. Get chatting well soon time to go now.

Mass start of race, but position is decent for once! 2-3 rows back form adam, but not bad. Fast road start, no problem, bunch up a little at off camber entrance, but rolls quickly. Actually had good start and decent pace going. Love all the quick turns and flowing corners, nice combinations and yeah, NO long climb on backside of course. already reallyl liking this race now. See adam up ahead as usual(Mr early pre register always gets better starts!!!) Through one lap no problem, ending second lap and hear bell, well because they started late they decided to shorten race as well by one lap. Snap! time to put the heat on now. Wasnt even close to tanking yet, so speed up and flowed through corners that a lot of riders were getting sloppier at becuase of being tired. Come around a corner and adam right in front of me, we do another right 120 degree corner and then Adam goes down on slick corner, i go to outside and keep riding through it. He recovers and pulls in behind me, well i gunned it and started taking corners close and flying up short hills, he never comes back at me and i pick up 2 more riders along the way and trample them. Come in with gusto, and ready for sprint but noone takes the charge. Adam comes in few places behind, so the cross results margin is narrowing now- AHA! Come to find out he went down 2 more tiems and i finished strong with no wipeouts or any other problems.

Found out got 26th out of 66 , not too shabby still feelign pretty good, not wiped out like last season. have at least 2 more races to shine, so no holds bar- gotta go! did 2 more road rides in sloshy rain post race Tuesday and Wednesday, felt great and rode strong. Definitely feeling it for this weekend at Taneytown! See you there all and beware adam, I am gunning for you partner!

Fairhill and Tacchino Recaps

Well Had a blast of a race weekend, this past weekend. Started off with Fairhill race in Maryland. I have always loved this race, and even the mountain bike race back in the days I use to MTB. Great venue, shame more people never show up to this one, but well kept hidden secret. SHHHH! I arrived there with plenty of time to spare, chatted with few folks, normal get ready ritual. Rode some of the course because some changes form last year, looks to be nice changes at that. rode on the road for last minute stretch out and waited for whistle. Started off in mid pack position, and managed to stay up well with the other riders. loves the twists and turns of this course. Hurry up to the sandpit(horse arena) area, which has always been my favorite section. They changed it slightly, but all rideable and went strong thru that section each lap. Didn't know where i was position wise but felt great and even felt confident about my riding. finished strong, and ended up 21st place out of @ 55 racers. not bad at all, did much better then last year, where I was in the 30's. No crashes, no mechanical issues, and a great race with solid results. Stayed around and cheered on my fellow teammate Mark. glad to see him out, he will be back to this race cause it is a nice course. Gorgeous day with slight chill, but warmed up nicely.

Sunday at Tacchino: Whole new venue this year- different park, location, city and course of course. Hoping to do another recap of fairhill's race. got there after a few misjudgments of location. Rode to registration because it was about 3/4 mile away. Only 1 urinal and 2 toilets for men, a little weak if you ask me, considering the amount of racers at last year Tacchino race. Course was set up nice, not my style though, too many long straights , there were some short sections for speed, but the longer staights are not my forte. not a lot of places to recover either. Well rode most of the course for warm up and saw my fellow Cx results nemesis, Adam. Chatted for a few minutes with him. Dang its 70-80 degrees out and i have my thermal skinsuit on9forgot to check weather night before), at least i took my underarmor thermal shirt off, even put some light chocolate embrocation cream on, becuase it was slightly cooler earlier, but warmed up real quick. Kiss form girlfriend and ready to fly! Mass start without prolog is a mistake. You have got 80-90 racers all vying for a small area to an off camber upgrade and a quick sharp right turn after that, and then another quick left turn to a slight straight away. Well started off with elbows and positions at stake, took a few and even gave a few got off 100 feet of road and then on grass on off camber upgrade. riders on both side, probably mid to 2/3 back of pack. At least 3 riders go down off the left front of me and then one right in front of me he went sprawling to ground bike in my path, no where to go, cant stop cause others bearing down on me form behind with a clue, eyeballs got huge and lifted front wheel up and rode over his rear wheel and managed to stay in motion and upright at the same time. Next quarter lap, was checking tire/wheel alot, worried i would have a flat. Had my spares , but never pitted them-DORK! , well continued up the steep inclines and long rolling flats with corners around bushes, bike riding well and no flat. Really short course only at 2-2.5K length, so they stated before that lapped riders would be pulled. Saw Adam up ahead after 2 laps and with 3 laps to go. Still quite a bit of carnage going on, folks rolling tires, flatting, broken ankles, small crashes, but managed to stay free of all this luckily. Was going to jump barrier for a sausage premium, but chickened out instead. Have no idea where my position is riders everywhere, even I was lapping some riders. Couldn't quite catch Adam, he powers to much on flat areas, which is not my game. I would be close and then lose him again. After 5 laps and coming to finish, 3 riders in front of me, gained on them in corners, but they pulled ahead on flats, but gained on technical sections right before finish. One guy took off 2nd guy started to, but i had changed rings and started to kick it in and finish strong. The rider in front weaved and tried to push me off course, but beat him by @ a helmets length and own my third sprint finish this year. WhoooaaaaHHHH sprinted for 47th place(after checking results). Well 47th out of @ 90 some riders isnt too sucky, but not great. i hope they fix the cross results for it only has 57 because they stopped numbering the lapped riders. Now it looks worse the i actually did.

Anyway, no actual crashes from me , no mechanicals or flats, and got to watch the Tacchino turkey having fun with masters racers and ate some Belgian frites!!!! now thats a race!!!!

Mid Season Thought

Having a fun season so far this year, not the results i was hoping for, but its all good. Having fun, staying healthy, and finishing the races are more important. Hup camaraderie is nice as well. Always fun to cheer on fellow Hupsters. Well doing another double this weekend. Fairhill and tacchino. Should be fun, having normal fall weather looks to be, not the usual rainy Belgian style weather. Peace out and keep up the pedal power transfer all.