Ed McDaniel - Biking Adventures

Been A LONG Time

2009-05-26T12:47:00.004-04:00

It's sure been along time since the last post...and it seems to be very little about MTB'ing...it appears it will be that way for the rest of the summer too (unless a healing miracle takes place).

You see from some of my earlier post you'll have read that I am getting into DH riding...yes it is an absolute blast, the best riding on a bike I've ever had...unfortunately it can also be somewhat painful when you crash (as some of my recent reports have displayed so graphically). Well, I've gone and done it again...signed up for my first downhill race, the 8th/9th of May in Massanutten Va. I also signed up for a DH clinic to help learn some of the specific skills needed since I have literally been just flying by the seat of my pants. Well on our first practice run I was just 100 yards into it and in the boulder garden went down...reflex, I put my hands out and shattered my right wrist pretty good. A very nice "little old lady" (literally) saw it and help me drag my bike out of the woods onto the fire road and she walked it down to the chairlift for me. The first aid guy was waiting at the bottom for me, they splinted me up and found a ride to the nearest town hospital...got the most painful xrays done, and half cast, some killer pain pills called my GP and then got ahold of a buddy that was on his way to race also...he came and gave me a ride back up to the mountain, where I had to wait for Jennifer to drive 4-5 hours from Baltimore with Mike so they could drive my "stick shift" GTI home. Was Jennifer mad...nope...she just laughed, said it wasn't a case of when but what was I going to break that weekend, so she knew it all along...on Monday went into my GP who referred me to a ortho surgeon, who met me at the hospital, where he was already in surgery, he looked at my xray and said I REALLY needed a specialist, said I really scrambled it up pretty good.
Saw the specialist late that afternoon, who then scheduled surgery for the following week...surgery went off beautifully on the 19th, plates, screws, cut out tendons, some fusing, and half cast...follow-up June 1st....but any biking plans are on hold for awhile...SUCKS!!!!!

So it will be many hours at the gym working abs and legs...the summer schedule starts tonight...500 abs and 1-2 hours stationary...work up from there, mix in leg workouts (ie, lunges, squats, presses, etc)...then as soon as possible back on the "horse"...gotta hit the DH parks before they close this next winter...

I'll be seeing alot of you at races taking pics and cheering you on...went to the US Open of DHing in Vernon New Jersey this past weekend, it was incredible, what a place to ride...WOW!!!

Everyone warned me this would happen, but hey, just made me stronger, wiser, and more experienced...did in both collar bones so far too, and learned how to avoid them but also strengthen up the shoulders too...it's been killing me being so in-active...and yes I really only enjoy adventurous challenges, so please don't suggest golf...sorry not knocking it just not my cup of tea..

Check out my flickr site for pictures of the US Open and the progress of everything else.

Introducing Shaun Edward McDaniel

2009-04-14T14:07:00.004-04:00

Yes our new Grandson, born April 4, 2009, to our daughter Devon Rose and his sister Lexus Elena...he is 20" and 7 pounds 4 oz. you wouldn't think he's that size when you see his HUGE hands...the boy can easily be either a basketball player or a pianist. Jennifer arrived in San Diego on Monday and got to bring them home on Tuesday...Mom and son are doing great, the young man has an unbelievable amount of jet black hair, just like his big sis, (who BTW is gowing up so big now) and Lexus I'm told, is being a great big help to mom...loving and taking good care of her little brother...I wonder when she's going to ask to take him to school...LOL.

Devon will be coming out our way in June so we all can see our new addition...Devon once again is very blessed with a quiet child...Lexus was the same way, hardly ever fussed and I guess the "little man" is the same way...

Introducing - RILEY!

2009-04-14T13:48:00.005-04:00

Well I got the new pup this past week. He came home on the 7th of April at just barley over 8 weeks, weighing in at 14.2 pounds...and BTW had his first Dr. appointment 3 days later and on that day weighed in at 15.4. The Pup is going to grow fast...Jennifer happens to be in San Diego at this time too, we have an even bigger news event happening there...OUR NEW GRANDSON was born on Saturday the 4th of April...Handsome young man too...WHEW what a week.

So I'm here alone with a new puppy, I have a hard enough time getting up in the middle of the night with Jen here waking me, now it's up to me on my own...pitty the poor puppy....LOL...we survived, just three nights together and he's making it through the night, he runs to the front door first thing in the morning, good boy! Really keeps me occupied...up and playing non-stop for 1.5 to 2 hours, then he's out for about the same amount of time, ahhh nap time...my time to get things done...

Needless to say, have only ridden the bike this past Sunday, and no gym visits since a week ago Sunday. Really need to get to the gym, miss it...when Jen gets back we can share the load...I know she'll think differently though...LOL.

Riley is such a suitable name, he has really grown into it...he shows signs of stubborness, definently trying to be the Alpha, already alpha over our Daughters dog Leo, it's hilarious...he's very much a puppy, constantly chewing...have lots of toys for him to help distract and substitute for all the blankets, chair legs, clothes, carpet, etc....but the toys just aren't as fun....I know he can't replace Sweetie, we sure still miss her, but Riley is filling the quiet space we've had, he is going to be special too...and keep us on our toes for sure...Jennifer comes home late tonight, can't wait to introduce the two, I think she's really going to love Riley and visa-versa....

Video of my "Clean-Up " after the wipeout

2009-02-23T21:09:00.003-05:00

For Riders Association

2009-02-20T20:38:00.000-05:00

For Riders Association

It's Been Awhile

2009-02-20T19:52:00.003-05:00

It's been sometime since the last post...was not fun losing Sweetie, we will always have a very large and warm spot in our heart for her...and yet this past weekend our new Golden Retreiver male puppy was born (the day after Valentines)...we'll be able to bring him home in approx. 8 weeks, and we are very anxious to have a pup running around the house again...His dad placed 17th at the Westminster dog show this past month, and mom is a gorgeous champ herself (looks alot like Sweetie)...thats the pictures...

It's been awhile since posting what this site is about...MOUNTAIN BIKING!!!...
And looking at my last post, you all have missed out on my spectacular bloddy crash...all is okay now, but ya gotta check out my Flickr site (located in the side bar)...and look up DHing in Gambrill..check out the video...my son-in-law did a good job at capturing my clean up in the creek and the cracking noise as I straightend my nose back...not for the weak stomach though...:) Been really loving the down hilling though and am looking forward to all the traveling and racing this summer...I did sign up for a XC race at the end of March...I will take it easy with NO expectations other than just participate and have fun...It is at Patapsco the local stomping grounds we all ride at every week...Yes the doctor hasn'e givin the okay yet, but I will ride it like it is just a normal "fun" ride...I can do it, the competition won't "pump" me up...I know the risk invloved, and certainly don't want that outcome...it's just that it is on the trails I ride constantly so I just have to do it!!! Those of you that ride "might" understand...

But this summer should really be fun...it takes stamina, but not that cardio blast for such a long extended period like XC...

Sad News Today

2009-01-14T15:39:00.004-05:00

Today is a sad day for us...Our beloved "Best Friend" had to be put to sleep...she has had a few seizures over the last few years and unfortunately she had one just a couple weeks ago and then this past evening she had another one. This morning she couldn't move, so I took her to the vet...sadly she had alot of cancer and therefore because she was such a vibrant outgoing girl it was just to hard to allow her to have to go through alot of surgeries and suffering...she went very peacefully in my lap (one of the hardest things I've ever had to do) but I was glad I was there for her...She will be missed very dearly by Jennifer and I, our day to day world will be very out of sync for a bit, but we will manage...even though she was "just" our pet...we were just like what I used to laugh about when I was younger...the old folks replacing the kids when they left home with a pet and they treated their pet better than the kids...YEP THAT WAS US!!! So she was a BIG part of everyday...heck Jennifer always got up every morning earlier than I just to take Sweetie for a walk...Jennifer will probably get me up tomorrow and want to walk me...:), there are countless routines that invloved Sweetie that we are sorely going to miss...thanks to all for your prayers and the affection you used to show Sweetie, we're going to miss her...God Bless!

AWESOME Winter Ride Today

2009-01-11T19:46:00.003-05:00

WRONG, MisterC...ya see Gambrills is pretty resilent in inclement weather...EXCEPT when it turns into an "ice skating rink"...BUT...even then it turns out to be a BLAST...Sanders and I got up there only to go around ONE turn and say "OH SH**" the road and terrain went to total ice...the trees bushes EVERYTHING was covered in ice...went by the parking lot at the yellow trailand only 3 cars were there...we did see 3 bikers heading into the woods...we got up top and I pulled over just to get a picture, couldn't believe the ground cover it was or looked liked ICE CUBES from your ice tray...it was very incredible...welll we headed on down the road to the Towers...as we rounded one corner there was a cop in the road and a car off the road into a tree...three guys standing on the road all looked okay but the car was "demolished"...the roads sucked...we got to the parking area or shall I say another skating rink....

Well Sanders and I were shocked...we decided to take a hike down the trail...man everything and I do mean EVERYTHING was covered in ice, on the ground was ice in the shape of tree limbs and leaves...the whole trail was covered by these chunks OR was simply a smooth sheet...very hard to walk on very slippery...

We hiked quite a ways down the trail all the way to the first 4 way intersection and man...the rocks look wet but were solid ice over them...the log climbs, holy cow were nothing but solid ice too...damn if your going to ride this...

Then all of a sudden my phone rings and it's Crackerass wanting to know where we are he's at the parking area, sees our bikes on our cars but no us...so we started heading back and he rode down to meet us...when he caught up he convinced us to give it a try said it was easier riding then it was walking...OKAY WHAT THE HECK, I'M ALWAYS GAME FOR A NEW EXPERIENCE...when we were getting ready Nate and a couple buddies came riding up via the power line route, thats when we recognized them form earlier as we were driving up...so hey 3 XC guys, so why not give it a go...after they left we finished getting ready then started out...very strange...a little slow start but then started getting the feel for letting the ice and rocks and obstructions kind of slide and bounce ya around like a pin ball and it worked...before long we were breezing right through...very cool...a few time felt a little "sketchy" but we all managed...now we didn't go up over a couple of the big log rollups cause they were covered in ice and worse so were the rocks on the backside...when we got down to the "jump park" only the top jump was doable, cause the landing area was not icy, the second BIG hit was way to icy and so was the landing...made it down to the bottom, then we turned around and HIKED 2 miles UP...what a *****!!!

half way up 6 guys on DH bikes came ripping by...AWESOME...things were looking up, the bottom half was starting to get just a little softer...by the time we got up top we decided "yep lets keep playing"...so we shuttled the cars and went out for another run...was faster and alot more fun this time...Sanders will tell ya about his fun ride down...:) When we got to the car man we found the mud...it was definenetly softer in the bottom half adn the bikes and our butts really showed it, they were covered in Mud...weeehhaaawwww what a frickin blast were having now...the inside of my car is a MESS now...:)

We did our shuttle thing, and decided one more run would be good...have to bring LOTS of food next time and a PU truck then we can stay till dark...this last run was again faster yet, and softer, and sure alot more fun too...I got a flat in the exact location as last week, Sanders bent his hanger and rear derailuer jsut like last week, then at the bottom just as we were coming to the creek crossing near the car Crackerass broke his chain just like David did last week...weird karma...but man that last run was the best...really feeling it and just runnning in a groove felt GREAT I'm lovin this DH stuff!!!! And Man MUD is what mountain biking is all about...

Made it to the car, went up and got Sanders, then headed into town for a great Mexican dinner...yep Mexican Jason, it's a great meal to fill ya quick...:)

WOW I've been missing out on this!!!

2009-01-06T20:16:00.003-05:00

Yep got the Down Hill Bike out on a true DH run this past weekend and it was a total blast...It is truly amazing how a bike can REALLY make a difference. First off we (Sanders and I) headed out to Gambrills...we drove seperate cars so that we could shuttle...well we got up there to the mountain and parked my car at the bottom then headed up to the trail head...as we pulled into the parking area a couple guys there were getting ready to head out...we made intros and they suggested we ride with them, they had a PICKUP truck at the bottom of the Mt. Yeah!!! the bikes go in the bed and we all can ride up together the easy way...

Well it was very cool these guys knew the route and their not killer banzi leave ya behind kinda riders...the top 1/4 we already knew but then as soon as we went past where I am accustomed to turning it really started to become fast and fun...we then "bermed" up out of the culvert we were flying down and headed into some sweet single track...a couple little jumps, then the flow....STOPPED...a friggin tree had blown over and stopped the flow, and to bad cause just on the other side of the tree was the run down to some sweet BIGGER jumps...so we had to start there and pour it on to hit the first jump then it hits a big right hand smooooth berm towards a LARGE jump..the biggest I've done to date in my short riding history...wow the bike makes the diff...it landed like I just dropped off a curb...on the sites and through write ups I found that the Perp is a top notch bike for "Big Hits" and it certainly proved itself today...after the big hit it was a short stretch down to another little jump which dropped you into a culvert that you then shot up the other side...but wait....dont jump it unless ya got alot of speed....you see...there is a step up on the top, so ya have to have speed to get up on it or fly over it...well MOST come out of the culvert and merge to the right around the "step-up"...oh I didn't do that...I had about half the air I should have NOT had or should have had MORE...consequently I ran straight into the "up" ramp and went flying over the bars and to the right into a big hole...NO PROB...ya gotta love all the body armour and full face helmet, not a bruise, scratch and best of all NO BLOOD...

We played there a bit then continued on down the steep hill to the end...on the way down the "steep", Sanders caught a stick and bent the hell out of his rear derailuer. We got it bent straight again and it continued to work the rest of the day...well one of the "new buddies" David lost his chain so we made a line and all of us climbed the hill slowly looking for the chain...no chain, so we headed down looking again, I couldn't help think its probably right back at the bike at the bottom of the hill...well....yep there it was 3 feet from the bike right in the middle of the trail...Murphys Law...:) Then we loaded the bikes in the truck, and there began my conversion to "The Dark Side"...wow WE RIDE BACK TO THE TOP...now that is riding bikes...funny the only strain today to my heart was due to excitment not the usual strain from pedaling uphill...my Doctor might really appreciate this new venture of mine....:)

Well we spent the reat of the day trying different trails and shuttling back up...we all had so much fun the last run ended at the bottom just as it was getting dark..got off the mountain at 5:30pm...so it was a GREAT DAY and I'm looking so forward to this coming weekend to do it again...for that matter this entire spring/summer has BIG plans for some exciting mountain bike park riding and racing... Check out the Flickr site for pics of the riding...this coming weekend I am going to mount my video camera so that should be fun to watch....

Happy trails...If Ya Hit It...Hit it Big!!!

AHHH Almost another year gone by

2008-12-31T22:45:00.004-05:00

Figured I better post since it will be the last one for 2008...amazing how quickly time goes by...it is so true what was told to me and everyone else when we were young "time flies as you get older"...damn if it isn't true...looking at my poor little puppy laying on the couch sleeping all curled up she has white hair on her face now...she turned 9 yrs old this month on the 3rd...I'm going to be a "GRANDFATHER" again this coming April, my third grand child, amazing...I always remembered and imagined and actually experienced "grandparents" as OLD...they have gray hair, wrinkles, missing teeth...DAMN THATS ME, I'VE GOT ALL THOSE, HOLY COW, I'M A REAL GRAND PARENT...Yikes...HAHAHAHAHAHAHA....See the picture above...sure looks like it to me!!! Funny the last few days of every year they always talk about who has left us this past year...now this is when you start really thinking (trust me young guns, this will hit you sooner than you think, so quit thinking I'm "waxing" ridiculously)...and realize a number of the popular famous people are ones that you have grown up with, some are your age, yikes...MORTALITY sucks....so what does this have to do with biking....

hmmmmmm....

Well, as some of you have followed all this stupid writting I do and for those too that know me well and hang out with me...I have had some experiences this past year with my health that has lead to a "re-evaluation" or better way of looking at it "re-discovery" my skills have not wained just my physical well being...the harder I try the weaker I get...So I have learned a new avenue and/or approach to riding....and that is "when in doubt (when the heart starts to pound to hard), dismount". I have been having a real great time meeting alot of new friends and having a blast with our rides...I just now take it a little more easy especially on hill climbs or when everyone wants to "hammer" I just have to settle into my rhyteum and "let go and let god"...thats my speed now. So far so good...

BUT....there is another way to bike that can give you a rush like nothing else...and that is going down...yep DOWN HILL/FREE RIDE...I picked up a Downhill bike in hopes of learning and experiencing this excelleranting speed riding...this is definenetly a concept I can grasp...crazy, fast, fun, and no uphill pedaling (or very little) then shuttle via truck/car/chairlift back up to the top...I am very pumped about getting into this more...have only been out a few times and it is SO MUCH FUN!!!!! Looking forward to a whole new group of friends this spring/summer to meet and hang with, even figured to keep the racing spirit going by maybe giving a try at a few DH races...

You know even though riding is such a love, I believe the gaining of friends fullfills our lives more so than what it is were doing..it's simply a common denominator that brings us all together, at least for me it is...and a HUGE thanks goes out to EVERYONE OF YOU...thank you for being friends I appreciate how you all can tolerate me at times...(another beauty that comes with age, the older you get the more of an asshole your allowed to become HAHAHAHAHA)

Happy New Year to all of ya...I appreciate everyone of you and hope we all can enjoy a super year coming up...Pray for us all.

Ed

The fate of winter.....

2008-12-15T20:04:00.003-05:00

IT SUCKS...the time has changed and as we all know it gets dark early...and earlier yet right now...at least on the 22nd it starts going the other way...and it can't change fast enough for me. And now the weather is screwing with the routine weekday rides...trying to find a day to ride was a pain last week with all the rain...I know there is the trainer (yuck)... riding is more than just pedaling...it's about time spent with your friends, being outdoors (preferable soaking up the natural vitamin D, which the doctor tells me my blood is lacking and has me taking supplements) and seeing beautiful places you've never been...WELL WINTER IS REALLY MESSING WITH ALL THAT IS DEAR TO ME...I wish I could click my heels together 3 times and make it all go away...I know I NEED TO GO BACK TO CALIFORNIA FOR THE WINTER...god that was perfect timing last year...then when we all have the time to ride, and the weather wants to cooperate...along comes what they call hunters!!! We all have our personal opinions and since this is my blog...
...oh well..I didn't start this blog to get into things like that or political points of view so back to the weather....again IT SUCKS...so nothing I can do about it...but take advantage of the days when I can ride...I really went out and messed myself up too...I got a DH bike in winter...yikes not good timing, the DH/Freeride parks are now ski runs...WINTER...BAH HUMBUG...Its nice during the late spring or early Fall when the sun is warm, the days are long, the choice to ride is almost everyday or at least pretty much anytime you want to...So it's back to the Gym...I'm going to drown myself at the Gym...I've been away for awhile, and man it feels like it...
Happy Trails everyone.

First Ride on the New PERP

2008-12-06T20:37:00.002-05:00

The first ride was close to home at our back door spot of Patapsco State Park...not a real big DOWNHILL area but it did have a few good little ones...

First off I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A bitch TO PEDAL THAT BEAST UP HILLS...and the beast was for the most part out of its element...BUT...I stayed with it for the day, and enjoyed MYSELF...the group of course (as I totally expected) raced off to do their thing...again we were on different bikes and different missions...)

1. Its' brand spanking new and how exciting is that to take your new bike out for a ride...besides needing to get to know it.

2. The Dam run (which I did 3 times, hiked up it)...has some of our favorites jumps and NOW they are definently jumps...and at the bottom I cleared from the trail 4' down right to the asphalt trail...HA...If I feel like playing on some DH, I can park at the Hilltop lot and play for awhile on the 2 dam runs....

3. Funny I still did at least half our usual loop (adding the additional up and downs multiple times) and hiking up the blue trail to the top on the south/west side of the bridge only to run into the gang again...and rode down (stopping twice for the XC DHer's...:)

4. I found some kids with the same interest and they showed me some incredible riding skills as we walked up Vinyard and FLEW down, these kids race DH and have some amazing skills...told me a thing or two about the hows/whys/and the really big advice...TRUST YOUR BIKE, IT WILL DO AMAZING THINGS FOR YOU... they aren't kidding....it was incredible how this bike hooks up and rails the corners...surprised the sh** out of me a number of times...one time I dove into a corner to hot, hit the brake, it slid around, foot stabbed the ground and I kept rocketing around...amazing...surprised me.

5. The rock garden DH from the tire park was SOOO smooth...just blasted right through it all...but then I had all that damn uphill from there...Jason you know the trail thats shoots across/under the power lines where the vine caught me...wow this time I hit that berm, caught air right where I landed was that slight up to the right then left wow it was all so quick and smooth...for going down this is what it advertises it to be...an incredible, precise, smooth, capable, RAIL MACHINE...YEEE HAWWW...can't wait now for spring/summer...going to hit all the different parks...probablly do some beginner Dh races too...

In conclusion, for Patapsco...damn heavy machine...fun on the DH's...YEP...but there just to short there...I'm sure I'll do some more though...just know that I will do walking as well...but it's certainly worth the moments of extreme pleasure...this bike performs the job it's designed for better than anything I've ridin...(yeah I'm a real rookie)...but this bike SHOWS you right from the moment you point down...kind of like Jasons Jet9...it just jumps right out at you with the features it's designed for...the other bikes I've had and ridden just don't act that way, they ride very similar to others...where as these have their own SPECIFIC personalities....

Wish I had some shots of me riding it today but i was off by myself, maybe next time.

Picked up the new Perp

2008-12-05T21:33:00.003-05:00

Picked up the new Perp tonight...will be going out tomorrow morning at Patapsco to meet the guys and give it a go...going to be very different...been ridin weight weanies for ever, now a 43lb monster...whew...but man its going to handle sweetly on the single track DH's and the "hits"...careful learning curve ahead...:) Post some pics tomorrow night (it'll be dirty then I'm sure).

My new PERP

2008-12-02T21:36:00.003-05:00

Will be getting my new Perp in a day or so...then it's blasting the DH's, jumps etc...a little Freeride fun is in store...come this spring it'll be the ski mountains for me....take the lifts up and blast down....WEEEEEEEE

Niner

2008-11-24T09:17:00.001-05:00

Well here she is...the new Niner Jet 9 ... soon as I'm done paying her off it's riding in heaven!!!

SOLD!!!

2008-11-24T07:55:00.002-05:00

My baby is gone...I'm certain she went to a very good home...a relatively new MTB rider...so she'll be baby'd along for sometime...

In the meantime, went out yesterday with Jason & Eujinc to Patapsco and had an AWESOME time...first time in over a month riding in there in the daylight...so with all the leaves off the trees it was amazing what you can see...we found an incredible trail that we have all passed by forever...it is part of a loop we do and have never spotted it...well let me tell ya we have really been missing out on some fun...it's got 3 jumps in a row that you really LAUNCH off....then its got it's share of a small rock garden, some steeps and just plan fun flow...next Tuesday night we'll add it to our route so this should be very interestiing...especially the jumps at night with our lights on...WEEEEE HAWWWWW!!! Enjoy some cool pics on my Flickr of the ride....

Die of Shock, Selling one of my Bikes

2008-11-18T22:20:00.007-05:00

Yes I am parting with one of my "babies"...my 2007 Cannondale Carbon Rush 2 Large size for $1800 (great deal). The seat post and saddle will get swapped back to stock...I'm keeping the Thompson Masterpiece and Fizik saddle. This is the bike that made the difference in my racing a year ago...it moved me up in my finishes, light weight, quick, snappy a pure joy....November 07' decided to jump on the band wagon and get a Single Speed...do the "winter training" thing (yeah right)...well when I went to California got hooked on racing the single speed, so I didn't ride my Rush except for the Sea Otter Classic in April 08', a ride at Boggs in NoCal May 08' and then not until Sept. and then the last couple weeks about 4-5 more times...I'm hooked on the 29er thing...went out tonight to my usual (even in the friggin cold)Patapsco on my Superfly and really missed it...Jason made a comment that I was alot faster tonight....wellllll.....IT'S THE 29ER THING!!!...so I'm getting a Niner Jet9, a Full Suspension 29er...:) ahhhh light, 4"(mistake...3.1" and/or 100mm) of "cush" and fast, should be fun...so there it is the bike and the reasons for selling my old beloved...next will probably be the SS Rig due to Doctors orders...
Check out my flickr for the folder titled Cannondale Rush for pictures of the bike.

MOV05631

2008-11-12T21:29:00.001-05:00

MOV05631
Originally uploaded by cableguy46

White Clay/Middle Run Skills Park

Had To Go Back

2008-11-12T18:22:00.003-05:00

Went back to White Clay/Middle Run this past weekend. Took Jason and Eujinc, a couple buddies I ride with weekly...I do beleive they had a good time...how can you not at this place...we spent some time at the skills park as usual...Played on the "skinny" across the culvert and Eujinc went over on his first try...at least it was towards the bank side so it wasn't too high of a drop...he "maned" up and "jumped back on the horse" to do it again, this time his 2nd trip he made it...there is a video posted on mtbr.com

The leaves on the ground seemed like they more than doubled over the previous week...and yep rode the 26" Rush AGAIN...have been enjoying the "posh" ride...:)

I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT...WHITE CLAY!

2008-11-01T21:07:00.002-04:00

What a great day at White Clay...we had such a blast....I went to Fair Hill to meet up with Randy and watch Gunnar race Cyclocross...while there ran into Leslie and saw Forset racing with Larry too...they decided to join us after the cyclocross race and come ride "Clay".../while unloading at the church parking lot we were talking about trail directions and what we wanted to see, well a fellow biker came up with a map and started showing us some routes to take....thats all it took we introduced ourselves and asked her to join us as a guide...So Hope took us on a great, fun, flowing, fast ride....man it was so much fun...the first time I rode Clay I loved it, it's been a year and it still gives ya a super feeling....we did the corkscrew which I had never seen that was an absolute blast!!!! As you can tell from the pictures, I did the skinny across the ravine, that was a trip...Randy laid down in the ravine and looking up clicked the picture...

And guess what...I rode my 26" RUSH...felt a little strange at first, but half way through Gunnar and I were jumping every berm in the pump track like section it was FANTASTIC...then with less than a half mile left to the ride I discovered I had the rear shock locked out...it had a "little" give not much but hey I ride a hardtail so it felt okay to me...this next week or better I'll be riding the RUSH, should be fun, give me a new found appreciation huh?

If ya haven't ridin it...GO RIDE IT YOU WON'T REGRET IT.... Of course it's a lot of fun with someone that knows the route....

More pictures on my flickr.

Ed

Jennifers New Bike - "Little Pink"

2008-10-28T20:25:00.004-04:00

WOW, Bling! Bling! Check out the PINK! I call her bike "Little Pink". It's a Gary Fisher Hi-Fi Plus Deluxe GS...We've been out on a couple rides...very easy, 10-12 mile routes...the NCR trail out of Hunt Valley a week ago, then last Wendesday we went on the AA Trail for the same 10-12 this time on the way back we used our lights...it's new for me I actually have seen things I never have at the slower pace...it's "smell the roses" rides...tomorrow night we're going out to Rockburn Park, right next door to Avalon. We'll take it easy, but we will get her tires on some dirt and roots before this coming Sundays Jamboree...do just a couple miles or so, slow steady baby steps to get her used to riding without getting hurt...gotta protect my girl ya know...c-ya all soon.

Ed

Been awhile...and alot of Ridin!!!

2008-10-26T23:38:00.004-04:00

It's been aloooong time since my last posting and that is due to a couple reasons...foremost being the laptop has been acting up...where the power cord plugs in it is very loose so therefore it doesn't always charge...so I have to sit at home in the evening wiggling, jiggling, and forcing the darn thing to hit the "sweet" spot (sorry girls) to make it charge...well it's a royal pain in the ass...so i have been on it as little as possible...One way I have gotten my fix is with my new "crack" berry oh I mean Blackberry, but whew does it take time to type on...so Jennifer has given me her NEW laptop and she is going out tomorrow to buy herself another one....so tonight I'm getting my "fix on", no more "jones'in"...
now reason number 2...lots of ridin lately, have met a couple new guys and a couple of the older guys from the gang enjoy night riding as much as I do, so we've been out on the trails alot after work lately...and the past 3 weekends have been out at the Shed in Gambrills...it's been a ton of fun....thats what it's all about right, FUN!!!! Medically, at least this type of riding allows for many breaks and/or breaks whenever I want, (certainly not like racing), so I've been able to ride with out my heart "racing" ahead...:) or at least racing only for slight moments...
Todays ride at the shed was one of the best of all time...a new group of guys, exactly 13 of us, and still the same shed but from a whole new prospective...alot of the trails I've ridin out there over the last month are always the same ones, today the ride leader took us on most of the same trails but in different directions....man did it flow so much better this way...the shed is so great for practicing and learning technical skills...the group today liked to play in the real tech areas trying to get it down pat...I tried the boulder climb you see in the picture probably 5 times always falling over at the top until (as the picture shows) I made it...that was fun, instead of spending weeks only trying it each time you go out we spent time until most made the obsticle that gave them a hard time...we were out for 5.5 hours, what a beautiful day out too...one of the guys described the leaves on the tree as matching the colors of a Macintosh apple, perfect analogy...the fall time is so perfect for riding...need someone like Zach Adams who writes so philasophically (ms)to explain for us the beauty of fall.

On another very cool note....Jennifer has a new bike now...we got her a Gary Fisher Hi-Fi Deluxe GS (women specific) and its a very cool flat pink color...the bike is set up with some pretty good components...for those coming out to the Jamboree, you'll get to see it...she's going to try the VERY beginner ride, I'll join em too...we've been out a couple times on very easy "rail trails", and an average 10-12 miles, one ride I pulled our grandson in the little buddy cart, he had a blast, even fell asleep on our return trip, that was funny to see...I even took her out on a ride where we needed our lights, that was fun...

Lights to me are such a blast...it takes the same ole mondane trails that you've ridin 100 times over, that you can actually follow yesterday and the day before that and the day before thats...tire marks that you placed months before....and they somehow magically becaome trails you've never ridin'...the lights are bright enough to see the entire trail in front, but dark enough at your sides and when you glance behind that the riding experience to me becomes even easier...just recently we found a completely new trail we've never ridin, and it was just getting dark to top it off, wow what a downhill it was too, what a great feeling to have that surge of fear keeping you jacked up and ready for anything...thats the point right there about night riding...your senses are hightened, there at a level they usually are never at...you feel the trail and the variances of the terrain more than you ever have...it's kind of like how they say the blind become with there other senses...(how's that Zach)...

well everyone have a great week, keep the rubber side down, see a bunch of ya this Sunday...Ted if ya read this hope to c-ya too!!!

Ed

Water Shed Ride Today

2008-10-12T21:07:00.003-04:00

Ride at the Watershed today

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WOW...what a spectacular day for riding, period, no matter where you were...BUT...we were at the shed and it was great...team members came down from DE and PA to ride and brother did we ride...aprrox.24-27 miles...tons of fun, some mechanicals...Fernando had a broken chain (which he fixed), and poor Ben had a couple three flats, the last one was brutal with only approx 1/2 mile left...his tube popped out spun around and wraped up in his rear derailuer and sheared it off, poor guy...some of the rock gardens were a blast, very technical...good experience for all... I'll have a couple dozen photos up on my flickr account, check'em out!

Okay, here are some pictures now...on another note about the ride...did laundry last night and was going to put my bike shorts in my bike bag and you know what happened, they didn't make it in the bag, therefore....I got to ride in my "street" shorts today....yikes...ouch... took a shower this evening and whoa, tough day ahead tomoorw at work if ya know what I mean....anyways here are some pictures...lots of rocks to climb and manuver today it was great....

Rides the last few weeks

2008-10-09T20:52:00.009-04:00

The exciting part of the last couple weeks was that a buddy from the west coast that I met while I spent the spring out there showed up here on the east coast...took him around locally and did some east coast style riding...BJ was amazed at the trails and tech riding that we have....went this past Saturday to Patapsco, met up with a few of the Tuesday night guys, Manuel, Nathan, Eujin (with his awesome ne Ti bike)and had a fun ride...BJ used my Carbon Rush, which is perfect for the trails we rode....and BJ rides a hardtail at home so this gave him a nice "plush" ride...then on Sunday we went out to the watershed at Gambrills and hooked up with Fernando & Loretta...this as most of you know is much more technical then Patapsco in a "rocky" way...ironically I was the only one that DIDN't wipeout...fortunately it was just some bumps, bruises and blood...a couple were pretty scary...Loretta came within inches of her face on the rocks when she wiped out...thank god she was okay...
And then there was our group ride Tuesday night...we got approx. half way and I was still in the mood for more riding so a new guy, Jason, to the group decided to come along, low and behold Larry joined in to...just prior to the dam DH Larry did a quick endo, landing on his left side (he crashed his right shoulder approx. 6-8 weeks ago so that was close), but he stabbed himself with his sproket, and believe it or not he had to get stitches, ouch...thank god I've always "packed" my cuts with mud so I don't have to get stitches...:) Now Larry says he's going to retire till next spring so his shoulder can heal up and there wont be any permanent damge in the event he were to wipe out on it over the next few months...awwwww...

I've missed the Wed. night rides over the last few weeks, to tell ya the truth I'm a little concerned over my heart getting such an aerobic stress on that ride...it's kind of the opposite of my Tuesday ride, Wed. is a "hammerfest"...it's a great location and the guys are super but I really dont want to push it to see what could happen...worse case scenario I don't think the family would appreciate, neither would my fellow riders having to deal with those kind of hassles, so for now I'll forgo te "hammerfest" until after my next doctors appointment in November....

To all thanks for the last couple weeks, and I look forward to the next few weeks...Gambrills with the gang, bike flea market this Saturday, the Jamboree coming up November 2nd and I'll go out to ride and watch the Marsh creek race on the 9th, wish I could race the course is fast and fun...but for now I'll just "ride" it...c-ya all soon...Ed

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

2008-09-29T09:03:00.003-04:00

What a mouthful, huh...well, that is my new diagnosis...conclusion, at this current time "have fun, ride with your buddies, DO NOT RACE, NO ANAROBIC EXTENDED STATES, take it easy enjoy your rides...so says the Doctor...and thats what I'll do...I had these instructions prior to Bear Creek, but kept it to myself just to get the last race of the year done, it was hell...ESPECIALLY when Jennifer found out...I told her AFTER the race, she was pretty upset, understandable...but ya all know me, if it wasn't the race to kill me it'd be her...hahaha...serious though (no laughing matter)besides, I hate all the "fuss"...the DH was easy enough, but as most of you racers may have noticed (especially if you were passing) I spent most of the uphill sections walking...I was keeping my heart rate at a tolerable pace (ie under 160 bpm for me)...but for the next 2 months NO RACING...well have another stress test and more examines in November, then every 2 months after that to see if there has been any change...med's have been up'ed a bit, all is well..no need for panic...just cannot be my "Obsessive Compulsive" self anymore...

What is "Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy" you ask...here is a definition:
"HCM is a complex but relatively common form of genetic heart muscle diease that occurs in 1 out of 500 people, but often goes undiagnosed in the community, and has caused some confusion to both patients and physicians periodically over the years. HCM is the most common cause of heart-related sudden death in people under 30 years of age, and it can also be responsible for exercise disability at almost any age. Although HCM is a chronic disease without a known cure, a number of treatments are now available to alter its course." It has been referred to as "Athletes Heart" The heart has become enlarged and the left ventracul muscle has weakened...

This is a cut and paste that explains it all.....
The Many Names and Other Sources of Uncertainty

Much of the confusion about HCM, as well as the limited awareness about the condition in the general public, comes from factors such as the vast array of complex names and acronyms given to the disease (over 75 in number), and its infrequent occurrence in cardiology practice. Patient support and advocacy groups have closed the information gap by using the internet, facilitating more effective communication between interested parties independent of geography (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association [HCMA] web site is available at http://www.4HCM.org; phone (973) 983-7429 or (877) 329-4262).

How Is HCM Diagnosed?

HCM is usually identified by an echocardiogram that produces ultrasound images of the thickened wall of the heart muscle (hypertrophy of the left ventricle). This is usually most prominent in the ventricular septum (the wall separating the left and right ventricles), but is not accompanied by an enlarged cavity. Normal thickness of the left ventricle is 12 mm or less; in HCM, the thickness is usually 15 mm or more, although we know that some people who carry a mutant HCM gene may have normal wall thickness.

In HCM patients, hypertrophy does not usually appear on echocardiogram until early adolescence and then may increase dramatically until the end of the accelerated growth period. However, since hypertrophy may not begin until middle age, we now suggest that some relatives of those with diagnosed HCM should be checked with an echocardiogram periodically well past adolescence. Small differences in wall thickness reported to adult patients from one clinic visit to another are usually not clinically important; technical factors such as the angle of the sound-wave beam can account for such variations. Sometimes modestly increased thickness must be distinguished from the innocent consequences of athletic training (athlete’s heart) or high blood pressure.

Echocardiograms will also show whether (partial) obstruction of blood flow from left ventricle into aorta, caused by forward motion of the mitral valve, is present (and to what degree), and also whether there is abnormal leakage through the mitral valve. Invasive cardiac catheterization or electrophysiological studies are now rarely necessary. The ECG usually shows a wide variety of abnormalities but is of limited value in HCM, with the exception of family screening.

Your physician may suspect HCM by the presence of a heart murmur, new symptoms, abnormal ECG, or family history. Physical examinations alone, including those prior to participation in sports, are not reliable for identifying HCM because about 75% of patients do not have obstruction to the outflow of blood from the left ventricle and a loud heart murmur is therefore absent.

Inheritance

HCM is caused by mutations in any one of 10 genes and appears in 50% of individuals in each generation. The mutant genes that cause HCM influence certain proteins that are part of the heart muscle. Therefore, when HCM is diagnosed, all close relatives are advised to have an echocardiogram. While analysis of DNA is the most certain method for diagnosing HCM, it is time-consuming, expensive, confined to research-oriented laboratories, and cannot yet play a role in routine day-to-day decisions for patients. Gene therapy would be a daunting task and is not presently a realistic expectation to become a cure for HCM.

General Outlook and What to Expect From HCM

HCM is unique because it may be identified during any phase of life, from infancy to old age (sometimes over 90 years). While its potential adverse consequences have been emphasized for years, particularly the possibility of sudden death, a more appropriately balanced perspective on HCM has emerged.

It is a myth that HCM represents a generally unfavorable disease. Its risks have probably been exaggerated to many patients. In fact, realistic mortality rates for HCM are only about 1% per year and are not dissimilar to the general US adult population for all causes. Therefore, HCM frequently causes no or only mild disability over a lifetime, and many patients achieve normal life expectancy (some without even being aware of their disease). Therefore, many HCM patients deserve reassurance about their prognosis.

Sudden Death

Sudden and unexpected death is the most devastating and unpredictable complication of HCM, but only a minority of patients are actually at risk. Sudden death in HCM may occur without warning signs and is caused by lethal heart rhythm disturbances (called ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation) that probably originate from the disorganized heart muscle structure or from small scars. Patients are rarely aware of rhythm abnormalities that may precede sudden death; however, fluttering, pounding, or skipped beats (palpitations), as well as dizziness and fainting, should always be reported to the cardiologist.

While sudden death occurs most commonly in children and young adults, the risk extends into mid-life and beyond (although less frequently). Reaching a particular age does not therefore confer immunity from sudden death. Sometimes sudden collapse occurs with vigorous exertion on the athletic field; athletes with HCM should be disqualified from most organized sports to reduce their risk.

A number of risk factors for sudden death have been identified, although most patients will never experience a life-threatening rhythm. HCM patients should have a clinical risk assessment with history and physical examination, echocardiography, 24-hour ECG recording (Holter monitor), and exercise testing, and should be routinely evaluated by a cardiologist about every 12 months.

Who Is at Risk?

Patients with a prior cardiac arrest ("heart stoppage").

Patients with one or more family members with sudden death caused by HCM, particularly when closely related.

Patients who experience fainting (syncope) that is otherwise unexplained, particularly when it is related to physical activity, occurs repeatedly, or appears in young people.

Patients with brief episodes of rapid heart beat (ventricular tachycardia) shown on Holter monitor when present on several recordings.

Patients whose blood pressure fails to rise during exercise testing, particularly in those younger than 50 years of age.

Patients with extreme thickness of left ventricular wall (30 mm or more) on echocardiogram.

Symptoms

Some patients with HCM develop shortness of breath and chest discomfort, as well as fainting, dizziness, palpitations, and fatigue, with physical activity. Symptoms may begin at any age and often do not appear until mid-life (30s or 40s). Symptoms can develop at different rates, with long periods of stability, and often vary from day-to-day; severe exercise limitation is, however, uncommon. Occasionally, patients may be unable to sleep in a flat position or may awaken short of breath.

HCM involves a unique form of heart failure in which the heart muscle is often not dilated and flabby, but rather is stiff and has normal pumping capacity. Shortness of breath results from the high pressures in the heart chambers and can be controlled with ß-blockers, verapa- mil, or disopyramide. Although any patient with HCM can develop symptoms, those with obstruction to the outflow of blood from the left ventricle are most likely to experience severe disability.

Patients with obstruction should take antibiotics before dental procedures to prevent blood-borne infection of the mitral valve. Women with HCM generally experience little difficulty during pregnancy and delivery, with the exception of some of those with advanced disease.

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation occurs frequently in HCM and accounts for many unexpected hospitalizations and unscheduled work loss. Atrial fibrillation can be well tolerated and does not increase the risk of sudden death. In older patients, it may cause heart failure and stroke (clots can form in the enlarged and fibrillating atrium and travel to the brain). Because of the risk for stroke, anticoagulants are usually recommended. It may be necessary to control heart rate with drugs, or restore normal heart rhythm with an electric shock, or with medications.

Treatment

The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is the most reliable and effective treatment for HCM patients at high-risk. It has the potential to alter the disease course by automatically sensing and terminating lethal disturbances of heart rhythm, often in young people with little or no symptoms. ICDs are clearly warranted for those who survive a cardiac arrest, but should also be considered as a preventive measure for other high-risk HCM patients after taking into consideration the strength of their risk factors(s), the level of risk acceptable to patient and family, and the access to ICDs.

Should symptoms worsen despite medications and the patient’s lifestyle become unacceptable, major decisions about treatment depend on whether blood flow obstruction is also present. For those patients, the most standard option is the septal myectomy operation, in which the surgeon removes a small amount of muscle from the upper part of the septum. At experienced centers, myectomy has low operative mortality, and most patients experience long-lasting improvement in their capacity for physical activity. This is due to the return of pressures within the heart to the normal range and the elimination of mitral valve leakage.

For those patients who do not have ready access to major centers experienced with this operation, or who have unacceptable risk because of other medical conditions, advanced age, or previous heart surgery (or are insufficiently motivated for operation), 2 other treatment options are potential alternatives to a septal myectomy. Pacemakers may improve symptoms and reduce obstruction in some HCM patients, particularly those of advanced age. The data from several controlled trials suggest, however, that improvement with pacing is often largely a placebo effect.

The septal ablation technique has been developed, in which a small amount of absolute alcohol is introduced into a small coronary artery branch for the purpose of destroying heart muscle in the septum, leading to reduced obstruction and symptoms. Alcohol ablation and septal myectomy have similar risks. However, ablation is a new technique, follow-up of patients is relatively brief, and there is some concern that the permanent scar produced within the sep-tum could eventually generate serious rhythm disturbances and actually increase risk for sudden death.

Treatment options are more limited for patients having severe symptoms without obstruction, such as those reaching the "end-stage" phase in which pumping capacity becomes impaired. Such patients may become candidates for a heart transplant.

Common Misconceptions About HCM

With HCM will my life be shortened? Probably not, although the disease can have important implications for some patients. HCM is compatible with normal life expectancy, often with few if any complications.

I am afraid my heart will continue to enlarge until something bad happens. Usually the thickening process in HCM ceases by the time full growth and maturity is achieved (at about age 17 to 18). There are extraordinary exceptions, but this rule covers about 90% to 95% of the relevant clinical situations.

Will injection of alcohol into my septum be a cure? Alcohol septal ablation is a promising alternative to surgery that can decrease obstruction and symptoms. However, HCM is a chronic disease, and none of the available treatments can be regarded as a "cure."

My cardiologist says I have obstruction and need a major procedure, but I feel fine. Obstruction can have consequences over long periods of time and may need to be relieved. However, major interventions such as surgery and alcohol ablation are not justified unless patients also have symptoms that significantly limit their lifestyle.

I am afraid I am getting worse; my obstruction went from 20 (mm Hg) to 30 (mm Hg); or, I am getting better; my gradient went from 30 (mm Hg) to 20 (mm Hg). Patients should be aware that obstruction in HCM can change under a variety of circumstances from day-to-day (even hour-to-hour); therefore, small variations in either direction should not be taken as evidence of worsening or improvement in their disease.

I have been told that I may need surgery, but that it is dangerous. I think I would like to try something safer. Actually, in experienced hands, surgery has a risk of only 1% to 2% (and even less in recent years), which is similar to that for alcohol septal ablation.

I have heard that HCM is more common in men. HCM is transmitted as a dominant trait and precisely one-half of those who inherit the gene are men and one half are women. However, HCM often goes unrecognized in women, who represent only about 40% to 45% of those patients in published clinical studies.

WHEW...thats a lot of sh** isn't it...but that helps explain it for those that might be "freakin" out, it's all good...I've got good doctors and am pretty stubborn...

On another note, one of my riding buddies from the west coast is coming out this week and will be going out riding this weekend...I will be taking him to see the local "stomping" grounds at Patapsco, then going up to Gambrills Water Shed for some more "narly" east coast riding...anyone is welcome to come along, let me know...

C-ya all on the trails, but NO RACING!!! :)
Ed

2008 Race Season Completed!

2008-09-22T08:12:00.005-04:00

This past weekend was the Bear Creek Summer Showdown, last Race of the MASS series for 2008. I started the year out in California with my first race on February 10th 2008...since then this past weekend completed 30 total races for the season..way too many! I started getting burned out approx a month ago...tried to revive my spirt by doing group fun rides during the week so as not to think of it as "training", but I guess I just needed to take the time off, would have been better all around...Oh well I did survive...

Finished up the weekend in 10th out of 10 in the Single Speed class, and 4th overall for the season...I am very proud of myself for the acomplishments gained this year...Competing in the SS class in the beginning was somewhat humbling never having the opportunity to stand on the podium (once this year)going against the "young guns" did become rather fun "ribbing" some of the youngins that this old man just about beat ya..:) For you non-racers, the Single Speed class is "open", it does not have an age range like the other classes...which I will compete in next year, the 50+ guys (if my Doctor permits).

Bear Creek is a very suitable race course for a finale...it has climbing that will sap your lungs...rocks like you've never seen...lots and lots of them, strangley very few log hops...funny I remember last year "blasting" through this course, granted I was on a full suspension geared bike and we only had one lap to do...I think this year with "burnout" and SS it got the best of me...I was determined to finish even if I had to walk the whole course, which it felt like on the last lap...the rocks actually felt good today, I went through most all the rock gardens riding them and not "dabbing". But the hills really took their toll...I had to pay close attention to my heart rate this race so I spent alot of time recovering on the hills by walking and then "bombing" on the DH's.

I will really miss the weekend races for the group of friends vs. the races themselves, that is the biggest fun about racing...hanging out with all my new buddies...hopefully we can all continue to get together throughtout the fall and winter doing "fun" rides...I know there is a Jamboree in Nov. so I'm already counting down the days...I really enjoy my group rides on Tuesday night and Wednesday night, their all a super bunch of guys to ride with...now if I can include maybe some additional nights...and for you that know, don't forget we still have to complete on "adventure" at Patapsco real soon...

After my upcoming Doctor appointments I'll keep you all abreast as to my riding abilities, may need to slow down a bit for a while, we'll see...until then, keep pedaling, rubber side down, and all those other cliches, c-ya on the trails...

Oh yeah, and BIG thanks to everyone for making this past year so great!!! Love ya all for your support and encouragement, but most especially just for your friendship, it means alot to me to hear you all acknowlege me at the races and I apologize to you if I had not remembered your name....I do remember your faces though, and it makes me very happy to have done something for you too. Again THANKS!!!

Stans Blowing Out

2008-09-11T08:30:00.003-04:00

This was during the Shasta Lemurian Race in California this past May...the "smoke" coming from the front tire is actually Stans burping out!!!

Back To Back Weekend

2008-09-07T21:22:00.005-04:00

Went up to Randy & Gunnars cabin this weekend for a couple races...the first race was on Saturday at Wellsboro...the 15th Annual Laurel Mountain Classic...Gunnar kept teasing me about ALL the STEEP climbing that was invloved...he wasn't teasing, there was..whew!!! Rather tough on SS and just 10 days after surgery, 21 miles too...the location was perfect, central northern PA...just on the edge of the Hurricane, so we only received a slight drizzle AFTER the race...This race featured the Single Speed class as OPEN for sport/expert, yikes, felt strange looking back at the Sport pack, and being up front with all those expert riders for the MASS start...heck I was right behind Ray from Visit PA team, didn't last when the "horn" went off, hahaha...

More to follow, I'm tired right now, just had to get something up for now, will write some more tomorrow...BTW thanks, Randy & Gunnar, your great friends!!! Todays race made my 29th of the season!!

Well I'm back...I've been to the doctor to check out why my thigh swelling hasn't gone down (actually grew a little)..well it seems to be full of blood, so he may want to go back in and "suck" it out...find out more on Thursday...

The Laurel Mt Classic was everything everyone said it was...very grass roots, steep, variety, (ie water, logs, rocks)...but you know in a good way, it seemed to flow, never got to the point where it was to much for too long, just the right amount...the weather was okay...it didn't rain during the race, and the sun wasn't out, but it made it very humid, your sweat couldn't evaporate (consequently, wouldn't allow your body to cool)...but brother the descents on this ride would certainly cool ya off with the speed you could get...
The "Stinger" was something else...VERY STEEP DH...sat way back and just pretty much "slid" through...tapping off the brake just in time to make corrections in the direction...
then came the "GREEN MONSTER" everyone was talking about...a grassy hill with a single track in the middle and it just kept rising, just when you thought it was going to top out you came over another little rise to see it going further...must have lasted 15 plus min.s... you know though every time there is a lot of climbing there is always the reward of some kind of DH...one little short burst of DH under the power lines was a grassy descent which had a hidin little "bump"...it had a very bad angle to it...saw it at the last second, yanked my front end up tied to bunny hop the ass end at the last second and "whew" cleared it...could have been a very nasty endo...I heard someone did get hurt there...

The end of the race was FANTASTIC...it was a "Super D" all the way..at least 2+ miles of DH Single Track, mostly smooth, a few rock sections (but going so damn fast just skimmed right over them, passed approx 3-4 riders by yelling out "hot rider" and they'd pull over, thank god cause I had some great 30+mph speed going here...it was actually so long my arms were starting to tire and I was wondering if you really could get tired of DH...hahahaha...NEVER, but whew tough on the arms...there was one little dip which I saw at the last second braked HARD, then let off and jumped it the best I could and got back on the pedals as fast as I could to get the speed back up...then boom...right out onto the dirt road where we started, round the corner and a "squirt" to the finish...no one behind me and no one in front...but I still pedalled it out like a hammster...always finish in a sprint even if by your self!!!

We then headed back to the cabin....more again in a day or so....

Spent another great night at the cabin...very cool place way up near the top of a mountain.

BTW on the drive north from Baltimore I discovered that the front tire holders on a Thule bike rack don't hold up well over 100+MPH...they want to come off, the tire holder flopped back some and one tire actually came a little loose, so in the car they went...the bike holds firmly though...

Sunday we got up early for a long drive over to Ringwood New Jersey for another race..yep a glutten for punishment. Looking back I really shouldn't have done this race, or for that matter either, simply because I thought my leg would be fine well....it may be the unerlying reason for the "GIANT" blood blister now...but oh well, I am "hard" headed....the day turned out perfect htough and the location was awesome, right next to a lake. You would never know that we're only 30 miles outside New York City in "gods" country. The race was 2 laps of (they said) 7 miles, my computer read 8+ miles...the course started out on a fire road relatively flat, then a gradual climb at te end of the road, slowly turning into double then single track...and it kept getting rockier and rockier as we went...so much so that I stopped enjoying myself and so did my leg when I endod and hit it...ouch...so by the time I finished the first lap I had it!!! I pulled out and waited for Gunnar...he did really good, Gunnar got 2nd place, way to go...

We saw some familar faces and spent some time talking to them...Aaron Synder, Rob L. and Matt...Great guys...Aarons a very good ambassador for the sport...he goes out of his way to approach, encourage and talk to the young racers, nice to see...thanks Aaron...

A few things I took out of this weekend (and even at this age we all still continue to learn)...1. trust you doctor and your gut feelings 2. Pre-ride, not knowing the course and selecting the wrong gear on a SS will "kill" ya :) 3. If it's not fun, DON'T DO IT...save yourself for another day :)

Have fun all!!! Keep the rubber side down!!! And help others along the trails, who knows it may be you sometime that needs the help...KARMA!!!

Going to Try and Ride Again

2008-09-02T09:37:00.000-04:00

Broke down and ordered a Chris King hub for my "play" rim...since I bent the hell out of my rear I9, decided to get that fixed, but in the meantime have to ride on my stock Rig wheel and it sucks...Have gotten spoiled with the instant engagement of the I9...and your right guys, I am "spoiled", but why not do it the best way...so I will relpace it with the Chris King and have instant engagement and yet have a stronger rim I won't be to worried about bending or breaking...actually going to put it on the stock Bontrager Race X that came with the Superfly...make it just a Single Speed for now (since thats the way the "Fly" is set up) and yet it will be a hub that could always become "geared" again if need be...and will be a "sweet" hub at that...

Going to try riding tonight, will take it easy, don't want to rip the stiches open, but dying to ride...so I'll wrap the leg REAL GOOD to hold it all together...and no POWERING up the climbs, if need be just hike-a-bike...should be well enough for Laurel Classic this Saturday (crossing fingers)...

Hope everyone had a great time riding this past LOOOOONG weekend..let us all know about your rides....

Ed

Last weekends Rides!

2008-08-27T08:31:00.004-04:00

Had a great weekend of riding...as some of you know Jennifer was back in San Diego for the week...took our grand daughter home...and then visited with our Daug and her Dad...so I had a ton of rides last week...Wednesdays was eventful with the bending of my rear I-9 rim, YIKES...so I am running a stock Rig rim for now, stronger for all the FUN rides (save the high dollar stuff for racing)...

On Friday night after work I raced up to Jim Thorpe State park to go riding with Randy, Phil, Brian, Gunnar, Jacob and Tim...camped out and rode Saturday. The weather was "blessed", the trails were rocky and technical, the boys had such sore butts from riding so much that one had to stand most of the ride, actually it was very hilarious, sorry for making fun of your pain but come on it was funny...besides your young and strong and can do it...there were some real challenges to some of the sections and we all had fun trying out our skills...we're all lucky Randy Bergey doesn't race...the man has skills!!!! Way to go Randy, and Phil what can we say, he is FAST! Now we see where the young guys get it from...then of course theres Old Me...:) Well I got to experience FLATS...yep my first on trail rides...and not just one, both and totally unprepared...after borrowing and leaving everyone depleted we got my flats fixed and then cut the ride short to get back to break camp, go into town resupply on "flat" material then go hit another trail....

The next area was a fast grassy fire road that just kept gradually going down till we hit a point of a late evening possible, so we had to turn around and head back up...well let me tell ya, Jacob diappeared on us, the guy BLAZED back to the cars, smoked us!

From there it was time to head home...the area was beautiful, I really do like PA...what a great state for riding!

Well on Sunday the Bike Line team (12-15) came down to our neck of the woods and we all rode Patapsco...had a great time, hopefully everyone else did too...thats what is so much fun about Patapsco, it offers a wide variety of riding levels...rocks, roots, climbs, trees, water and smooth fast...the group split up just after the beginning into a small slower pace and then the larger faster group up front, and by the end we all were together for the ride back to the cars...off to a local "dive" for a LOOOOOONNGG wait for food (Daniels, biker bar/resturant), took so long for food I didn't get to eat, had to go get Jennifer from the airport, which her flight was on time and I made it with approx. 5 minutes to spare...

Thanks to everyone for making the weeks worth of rides so enjoyable, the friendships are cherished.

Iron Hill Race

2008-08-17T20:16:00.008-04:00

Yesterday was Iron Hill...which is in Delaware (just over the state line from Maryland)...last years race was SO HOT!!! I was a beginner racer last year and our race was the first which started at 8-9am, and yet it was already so hot and especially humid...sweating just getting out of the car...the later races had a lot of DNF's due to the heat. So this year turned out the opposite, very comfortable and Sport class started out last at 2pm...so we got the brunt of the days heat which was bearable....

I raced like hell to get there in time to change my race from sport SS to Enduro SS, unfortunately the promoters were having a day over "Panty Bunching"...when I asked another guy for Beginner master 1 needed to sign in (he had pre-reg) and the guy working the sign in table was more than a little perterbed that he was "late" and I wanted to do something so dramatic...HELLO IT WAS 8:40 AND THE RACE STARTED AT 9AM...the guy plugging in the names at the computer was very snotty about it, so I simply told them just forget it, I'll stick with what I originally signed up for...so I'll hang out and watch all the other races...BTW the guy who was the Beg. Mst 1 made it with 10 minutes to spare...

All the racers were flyin coming through the pit area, as each lap passed the enduro racers never seemed to waiver, they seem to all be doing really well...Rob and Hebe were flyin through the pits each lap...looked really focused!!!

Then our race was soon to start, I decided to do a short little pre-ride of the start 1-2 miles...well back into the woods and on a little climb, the chain started skipping like crazy, actually had to walk it back didn't have a tool and my soulcraft chain tensioner came loose from the hanger bolt...ran back to the car got my wrench and tighened it down...then had to fly down to the start line...go there and had a few min. to spare...

The start was pretty cool, we were in a grass field that then narrowed down to double track with tape on both sides...BUT...right at the end of the field when it narrowed there was a big tree trunk caution taped off, go to the left or go to the right...I felt and heard something behind me in my class start right about the trunk...after the race found out my team mate Holt did an endo at the tree trunk split, not sure how but it bunched up and knocked down approx. 4 other riders...

We headed into the woods, typical East coast Single Track...twisty, roots and FUN...there was a steep"dip" about 7-10 feet down and a crowd gathered encouraging riders to pull up and jump...I couldn't resist and got a yell out of the crowd...found out after the race almost all the Jr's jumped it, but just this old guy did..)

The first lap was fast and fluid...I didn't hear Holt behind me (which usually happens most races...he is so good at bideing his time then jumping on it and picking us off one by one)...I came up on 3 SSer's and made my way around, then on a hill climb my chain started skipping again...damn...I never bring my tools with me, just air and water, well fortunately I brought my tools and got it tightend back down just in time...I saw one of my competitors approaching the switch back turn...I jumped on it and got away...the first lap I climb'd all...when I got to the "Mega-Dip" (which is approx.40-50 foot giant "culvert" sttep down then shoot straight back up...well don't brake and peddal like hell to get up the other side..there is an easy bail half way up the exiting side which is an easier grade off to the right then crest and make a quick left to get back on main trail...so first lap I shot off the easy right...the other two laps I went straight up...

On the last lap at the back half of the course loop just after a little bridge crossing, the trail gose up a steep climb...just didn't have it or want to do it "grinding" so I jumped off and started running...ran past a guy on "gears" then I hear this ..."hey Ed"...OMG it's Holt and he is SPRINTING past me...I grabbed his camel pack in jest (and for fun) told him "hey how did you catch me?" I thought at this point of the race I was well ahead of anyone in my class that we all would be pretty well settled in to our own paces...well as I wrote earlier Holt is great at coming from behind and picking everyone off, he has the strength to do it...

I had a lap pace of:31:39/31:46/31:32....then Holt had 34:05/30:10/30:20...you can see that his first lap reflects the endo he suffered at the start...then slowly gained...we finished at:
Holt 9th - 1:34:36:84
Me 10th - 1:34:58:58
Andy 11th - 1:34:59:62

As you can see Andy and myself were very close...well the ending of the race was probably the most exciting of the day...on the last gradual long straight climb I was just catching up to Andy when we got to tthe top you make a right and go approx. 100 yards to the "Mega Dip", well I was panting by the top so I let him go ahead so we wouldn't be bunching or attempting passes at the mega dip...when I crested the top of the dip and started down I looked up and saw Andy "bonk" on the tree roots at the very top to the right I blasted and yelled ot "headache" ole Lineman saying for WATCH OUT, and I blasted just to his left...he realized it was me so he jump on it and we both sprinted down a open fire road which headed right towards the Pit/start/finish area...well I told Andy "go ahead young man...ya got me" my legs were BURNING...well we were turning the corner towards the pit straight away and I saw him slow just for a moment...so I pulled it out from deep down and gunned it...I wanted to squeeze off the left side knowing the turn coming up would put me on the inside...(age & wisdom over youth and strength, right!)..well I managed to squeeze by and take the turn, I heard someone yell for him to go...I knew I had him, he probably had to brake...we rounded the turn and then sprinted to the finish...and the result was the time difference was 1:04 seconds...

Andy's buddy and team mate 17 year old Chris Logan smoked the class for a first place with a time of 1:25:29:05 AWESOME time...I was in the 12 hour race last weekend with Chris...he did really well there too...second place went to a very strong Allen Gracey for a time of 1:26:08:95...he's one of the "old guys rule" group...

It turned out to be a great race for everyone, lots of fun...after wards was a SUPER BBQ and Pool party at a team mates....Thanks Kathleen, you have a fantastic place thanks for having us over, made for a perfect "capper" on a great day!!!

NEW VW

2008-08-15T08:20:00.005-04:00

Got rid of the camper van but stayed with the Volkswagen Family (my first car was a '72 VW SuperBeetle)...Now its a 2008 GTI...fun little car, FAST (which we all know I like), no more 0-60mph in 1:30 like the van...more like seconds...heck the darn speedo goes to 180, of course it is governed to 130...MPG is pretty good too....at least 30 on highway....I lack the sleeping inside like the Van, but I still have all my camping gear and tent, that'll work, and I have doen a test fit too, and it fits...already have the roof mounted bike rack (love it) and all my biking gear in the trunk...pick'ed it up last Saturday and had the 12 hour race on Sunday...bike with both wheels off fit in the car with gear...(didn't have rack until Wednesday)...Love'in the hell out of it so far, all the "kids" like it!

The 12 hour race was great fun...there were approx. 60 riders, tons of SS even a super rider on a fixie...rode a few laps with him...20 years old and very strong to climb all the hills we had to do...TONS of climbing...by the 8th lap (8 hours into it) my legs were turning to jello trying to get up the hills...I have no idea how I finished up compared to others...I did 8 laps in 9 hours and change...they were going to call the last lap at 6:15 and there was threat of thunder, lighnening and rain apporx. 4-5pm, didn't really hit though...waiting on the results, will post when I get them and some pictures too...

12 Hour St Jude Childrens Hospital Race

2008-08-05T07:54:00.003-04:00

This coming Sunday is the St Judes Childrens Hospital 12 Hour Race...I'll be doing it Solo on my SS...this is a fund raising event, so I hope all of you can give a little something for the kids...even though I think I'll be suffering, for me it will only be for 12 hours...but the the Kids who are hurting from many life threatening cancers and dieases live with pain every day...god bless them and their families...help me try and make a difference for them by going to the web site I set up and donating whatever you can...

http://www.active.com/donate/12HoursForStJude/emcdani5

To me riding for this cause or ANY cause for cancer is very personal and motivating...we all need to do what we can to help find a cure for the "MONSTER"... thanks so much...if any of ya can come out please do...it starts at 7:30am this Sunday August 10th at Patapsco state park...

Fun Ride Last Night

2008-07-30T09:27:00.002-04:00

Went out last night with the Tuesday Night gang at Patapsco...what a blast...Patrick our ride leader took us on a technical section that was so much fun!!! Tons of tree climbs, and some very interesting log "highways"...that were intersparsed with stumps to climb up on and ride over...I did it!!! That's what I'm talkin bout!! Gettting back to riding for fun...this is a "No Drop" ride every Tuesday Night at 4:30pm at the Rockburn Park ball field (I think) #7/9..then we head out over to Patapsco...spend about 3 hours and just explore....It's a fun group of folks, big bikes, light bikes, SS's, fast riders, slow riders, all mixes...those fastest stop at intersections and then when everyone arrives it's off we go again...now we need to get together afterwards for a "bite" or BBQ, that would top the night off well...

BUT MAN IT WAS FUN TO JUST BE OUT WITH NO PRESSURES AND JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME!!!!!

Can't wait for another ride like that tonight too....

Later, keep the rubber side down!

New Converted SS & Cranky Monkey Race

2008-07-28T08:20:00.004-04:00

I converted my new Superfly last month to a 1x9 now this past weekend took it one step further and converted it to a 1x1 Single Speed...Rides pretty nicely if I do say so...Got it done Saturday night, tested it in the alley, and left early morning to Wakefield for the first in a series at the Cranky Monkey...pre-rode the day before on the Rig SS and it was a fun fast course...but Sunday during the race, just didn't even feel like being there...had no fun...legs felt fine, was a bit to hot for my liking, but all in all just didn't feel like RACING...just wanted to ride for the joy of it and that wasn't there...so after a pretty good first lap of 31 minutes for 6 miles I pulled the Plug and DNF'd myself...

As you can see by the sidebar I have had a LOT of races this year so far and I'm just feeling a little burned out with "competition"....going to do some fun rides, like the Tuesday night ride at Patapsco, and go up to Iron Hill this Wednesday, but no racing until Iron Hill..JUST FUN...need to capture the joy of it all again...so I'll see some of ya on the trails and the rest at Iron Hill...callme if ya just want to go ride and PLAY...(still got the kid thing going though)!!!!

Mt Snow Vermont - National MTB Championships

2008-07-23T07:18:00.004-04:00

This year marked my 2nd year qualifying for Nationals...wasn't as fun as last years "Mud Fest"...:) Just the opposite....hot and humid....this year I moved up from Beginner to Sport Class and from the young guys group of 40-49 to now in the 50+. We had 17 start in our group and one DNF'd. A number of the guys were from the Northeast (ie NH, MA, VT, RI) and there were two from FLA (placing 2nd and 4th), one ea. from (CA, WI, PA, TX) three from VA and then me the only Marylander...I finished in 8th with a time of 1:26:53, the leader had a 1:16, then 2nd finished with a 1:20...considerably better than last year where I finished in 10th and yet off the leader by over 35 minutes (of course we all know that Scott Tedro from Sho-Air is a sand bagger).
The course was switched up a little from last year...from the start the prolog section consisted of the same steep start, but then it continued up and just stopped at a gravel road then turned and came back down...really missed the woods that it dumped us into last year...the wood section last year really separated many...then it was back to the start finish area to continue up the 2.5+ mile climb!!!!
Lets not forget that on the down hill coming back into the start/finish area the "BUMP" was still on the hill from last year... it would "kick" your rear end up if you weren't ready for it and some would take a tremendous endo if not careful...well we named that section the "Kill Phil Hill Bump"...after our buddy Phil Erlinger, he bit it good there last year!
On the "monster" climb they kept you out in the open on the gravel roads much more than last year too...really would have preferred to be in the woods more...I did hear that the course is just so worn out after all the years of abuse. The hill climb is where it really separates the pack...ultimately determines the winner...on my second lap it was very cool to hear a rider coming up from behind me asking..."is that you Cableguy?" to my surprise it was RJ2 from the bay area in CA...he raced beginner in the CCCX series I was in while back in CA this past winter...of course he passed me up...I kept him in site for most of the climb, then on the DH figured I could catch him (he wasn't in my group but still a target to focus on)...we were half way down the DH...I was getting within a few bike lengths of him when we came up on a REALLY slow rider (was going over the rocks like he had never seen a DH, probably from Nebraska)RJ2 yelled out and then squirted to his left, I was going to follow suit when he turned into that line...I steered right quickly and folded my front on a rock sending me right over the top...funny after all the falls I have taken while riding and the "scuffs" getting a little blood...I never figured I'd get blood where I did...ON MY EAR...when I went down I hit the upper right corner of my helmet and MY RIGHT EAR on a rock...strange...well my right foot stayed clipped in and twisted along with the bike right around my back and to the left....needless to say my calf and quad locked up good....I let out a scream and the guy that cut me off was SO APOLOGETIC...thinking I got hurt he was saying how sorry he was...I jumped back up as fast as I could and got back on it...told the guy that cut me off "thanks"..he just waited till I went by...I didn't catch RJ2, but got close 7 seconds behind him!!! Great time seeing ya RJ2!!!
For the Sport class they cut our laps by one...we were suppose to race for three laps, never did find out the exact reason why they cut ours and a few other classes I understand they cut too...I think I could have done three, would have been very hard, but it really would have separated our group big time...all in all it was a blast!!!
On Sunday morning they had the Super D race...it is a mass LeMans style start, throw in a couple short uphill sections to separate the XC from the DH'ers and then a ton of fast ripping DH's and you have a Super D...I told everybody for 2 days that I would not do it...I always go beyond my skill level trying to push it DH and wind up breaking something on ME (not my bike)...well the kids finally got to me, (thanks Gunnar)...he talked me into it Sat afternoon, so I registered. The pre-run we got in right before the race had me a little worried, there were a lot of places where I could see myself getting out of control trying to push it, and could get very hurt...so during the race I took it easier than maybe I should have but hey, I finished without getting hurt and had a blast...there is something to be said about going DH fast with no peddaling...very FUN...finished 11th out of 16 with one DNF...had a time of 10:33:27, the leader of our group did it in 8:44:10...maybe next year I'll take a different bike and all the body "armour", then let it all fly!
Had such a great time this year staying in the hotel by the lake/mountain...did a lot of swimming and hot tubbing, met a bunch of great people...funny how I still had a few come up to me that knew who I was (I was told it's cause I'm all over the internet, and that I should use that time to train instead, I'd probably be expert class buy now...NOT!)
Well look forward to next year, thanks to everyone, would love to name you all but there are so many to say hi, thanks, miss ya...major thanks though goes out to all my team mates that were in attendance...made some great new friends that I hope will continue to grow and we can have fun together...now off to the next race!!

DTS Fairhill Classic

2008-07-21T08:43:00.008-04:00

Photo by Tom Borrows

The weekend of 7/13/08 was Fair Hill Classic, which is the longest course of the year and is very fast as well...just like last year it was a good scoorcher out too...The turn out is always so HUGE at Fair Hill due to it's central location to ALL the states...and it is just so damn fun!!!! Great seeing a lot of folks I haven't seen since last year, and once again meeting many more new friends...The Single Speed group saw a very large turnout (all the other classes did too, Fair Hill draws a lot of non-MASS members) we had 26 in the group...the course was 22 miles...Fair Hill is a perfect course for Single Speeders...from the start I hung with fellow team mate Holt Benner for approx. 5-6 miles, then on a little tree climb a rider in front of us "clipped" out...conversely Holt pulled away while I was to deal with getting around the guy...at this point I never caught back up to Holt...when I reached the top of a climb, I saw Holt heading back down adjacent on the gravel road...Fair Hill had a few climbs but nothing that would "break" ya...Lung Buster Trail was tough but doable...the three water stations were great on such a hot day...one of the water stops was actually a "soaker" stop, guys in speedos with water cannons....what a relief!
After "Crack Head Bob" (which is approx. 2+ miles in length, but you only travel 1/4-to 1/2 mile...very twisty)...it was a relatively short ride to the finish, about 3 miles remained...I got behind a fellow SS'er and we pushed it to the end...he was pulling away at points, and when I'd try and attack my quads AND calves would completely lock up...never had cramps like this before...funny at the start line Holt was telling me about the very same thing happening to him the year before...JINKS...at one point every time I tried to stand and "grind" the legs locked and I would scream in pain causing the SS'er in front of me to go faster...well just before arriving at the edge of the woods towards the finish stretch I caught up to him, we "popped" out of the woods onto the pavement he climbed up to the finish "chute" pulling away, I dug deep, squeezed through the pain, (see picture above) and was pulling up, when all of a sudden he just stopped pedaling to coast across the line...thats when I punched it and just by half a tire length beat him across the finish line...when I came to a stop I had to fall to the ground cause of the cramping...

I went over to thank him for the challenge, he said..."dude, you didn't have to do that, I'm not in your class"...WHAT!!! I looked down and his number plate was not my SS catagory...he was merely riding a SS just in his age group, though...oh well, you should ALWAYS push hard till you cross the line no matter what, shaved some seconds off anyways...

I finished 15th out of 26th or 107th out of 206 over all sport class....my time was 2:05:03, the leaders time was; 1:47...the young guns were really "smokin" today...
Thats what keeps me motivated is the age of the guys in my group...I'm 50 and most of the others average mid 20's to mid 30's, with a couple three in the 40's...if I can get ahead of any of the younger guys thats a successful race for me!!

Fair Hill is always a great place to ride, the Delaware Trail Spinners do a superb job of keeping the trails up and organizing a great race venue..thanks to all of the volunteers that made it so enjoyable...and the team commaderie after the event is what makes doing this the best part.

Marysville Stage Race Weekend 4th of July

2008-07-14T08:41:00.003-04:00

The Marysville Stage race is always a super weekend...this year I camped in the RV field which was a little hotter than up in the tree area by the first parking lot...decided on this change primarily because the signs posted at the entrance to the Osterling Farm said "one night" stay to the left by the first parking lot..."two night" stay straight ahead down by the "venue"...so following directions I camped in the RV area...it still turned out to be a fun spot...close to everything was nice...especially the FOOD...man I couldn't get enough that weekend, haven't felt like that in a while, just wanted to continuously eat (and the food and selections were great...ditto with the staff too!)

The event started out with the Friday night Time Trail...and this year I had GOOD LIGHTS...no more pin style flashlights, they were real HID bike lights...one for the helmet and one for the bar...as I was awaiting my turn, I was staning next to one of the up and coming JR racers who had the kind of set up I did last year...I just couldn't let him go out that way so I loaned him my bar light...he faired well, thank goodness....I had a blast on the trail too...fun to be able to see, the course was shorter and faster than last years...it turned out to be only a little over 3 miles...we ran down along the creek going backwards as opposed to the XC race...I finished okay in the overall Sport 'A' position 15 out of 29.

Prior to Marysville race I was reading on the MASS forum about the race rules and there was mention that you need to race the stages on the bike you are raceing in the XC...well I race SS so I guess I had to race SS in all the events...therefore thats the only bike I took...as per the following conversation in the forum:
BShow wrote:
"In the stage race final results, when you say age groups are scored against each other for the "extra" MASS race, does that include singlespeed?All sport senior 1's will be scored against each other, all senior 2's will be scored against each other... what about the singles? I assume a single geared bike must be used for ALL events to qualify?"

"Yes, that includes SS. Yes, we decided a few year's ago that if a person wants to count the stage race in the SS series they have to use an SS in all stage race events. We expect SSers to self police on this one and let us know if anything is amiss."
See you soon,kuhn

This would put me in SPORT A group throughout the weekend...don't know which is worse, I've usually been in SPORT B which consist of the Jr.s, masters and women...the JR's kill me...you've got Gunnar and Jacob blowing us all away...never raced in the 'A' group and thats the SR's, Vet's and Clydales...young 20 somethings kicking it too...HELL GETTING OLDER YOU KNOW...

So, whew, it made for some interesting events...in the Night time trail the SS'ers finished up Ryan Gerlach 1st and me 2nd...

Next event was Saturday's XC...the course had a few different "flavors" this year..not really to bad for SS'ing...oh, and BTW the weather reports earlier in the week were expecting rain on and off throughout the weekend, all we had was a little Friday night after the race, and slight early in the am....other wise a clear weekend....
Just prior to the start of the race I noticed my left foot "floating" just a bit to much...I borrowed an allen from Matt at the Bike Line tent and checked my "cleats"...all was well there, hmmmm...my left pedal looks funny, it's sticking out further than normal...grabed it and it moved in and out..damn..the body of the crank brother candys was loose...I took the end cap off and the tiny nut was gone and the little bearings were just "floating" around in there...damn...frantically looked around for another pedal...no one had one, oh well I am not DNF'ing!!!!
Off to the start...everyone I could ask I did for a pedal, no such luck...during the race it felt very loose at times but it was holding...
I had one good crash in the race...going DH, just about to go between 2 trees, there was a fat root right in the middle of the trail prior to "splitting" the trees...well my front tire "DIDN'T" go where I wanted it to...it slipped over the root and buckled under...I went over the bars slamming my right side into the big tree on the right and my left knee hit the tree on the left...then a tire ran into my back...there were 4 riders "screeching" to a halt to avoid me...had to jump up fast to get out of the way, and brother did my hip hurt...(I still have a nasty purple/yellow bruise with a knot in it too)...I let the 4 go by then jumped back on it...sore now but still grinding away...(this was into my 2nd lap)...now I am just about 2-3 miles out ready to climb out of the hay field up the first of only a couple big hill climbs, when WHAM goes the pedal...came right off...now I have just a spike sticking out (very dangerous looking)...it only scraped my left calf twice no stab wounds...the climbs were impossible with the pedal this way, way to slippery..straights or DH not to bad once I could find the grooves in the tread of my shoes...going into the finish area I was "one foot" pedaling...
Finished in 7th out of 11, pretty good time too...I still get a kick out of the fact I'm the old man of the SS group...being 50 and the others mostly in their 20's-30's, with a couple of 40's...so 4 guys got beat by an old man twice their age...:)

Saturday evening was fun...good food, live music, and tricycle races...I didn't participate in those, not my luck, I break to easy.

Sunday morning started off with the Hill Climb...last year I did it as a beginner, we "gently" rode to our start area across the highway up onto the asphalt road at the base of the climb...this yr being in sport we started at the venues start/finish area...The Pro/Experts were in front then the Sport groups...it was a MASS start...they added some new areas to the ride this year, with a creek crossing right into a very steep what turned out for most "hike-a-bike"...then we went behind a house and out onto the asphalt road...then...the long climb up the mountain started...I guess I was the only Sport class SS'er...there were a couple in the Pro/Expert group...it was tough...I certainly did some hike-a-bike stretches...Jakes Mom was on the trail and got a picture of me walking...made a funn comment..."Jake said you'd be walking about now"...meaning since I was on a SS...my finish was a respectable 18th out of 21 in 26:25...
The fun then began for the blast DH...at least this year it was better controlled...last year was a BONZI affair...

We all got a little break before the Short Track race began...This was going to prove very interesting...I've never considered a short track on a SS...and in Group 'A'...whew...it actually went pretty well...I really passed a few folks, couldn't believe that...I figured by the end of the race I would come in last and be passed by everyone...well it wasn't to be...near the end it was fun "hunting" down Phil Erlinger...I finally caught hime with only, I think 3 laps to go...passed him and it barely lasted one lap...I just couldn't keep spinning like a hammster for so long I had a 20 cog on (way to big for this race)...Phil passed me back with at least another lap to go...I kept him in my sites but couldn't close the gap...ended up passing 2 of my fellow team mates on the beginning of the last lap...coming into the home stretch, I saw Phil glance back and look at me...hehehehehe...he poured it on then...when I crossed the finish just 5 seconds behind him in 16th out of 24 he said "there was know way I was going to be embarassed by a SS'er beating me!"...we had to crack up...:)

So the weekend event was great...My young JR Buddies did superb...Gunnar taking 1st overall in all his event's and Jacob in 2nd...these guys are such a great addition to the future of the sport...us older folks were talking about how cool it's going to be to see them in about 4-6 years lined up in the Pro/Expert group...we'll all be cheering them on and pushing them hard...

It sure is nice to be home racing and enjoying the company of all my friends new and old...thanks to everyone for everything you do!!!!!!!!!!!

Guys Neshaminy Race 6/22

2008-07-13T22:02:00.003-04:00

It's been awhile since I have posted about my races, and some of you might be missing it, and it gets harder as time goes by to remember the exciting details...Neshaminy is considered by most a technical race...primarily due to ALL THE LOG crosssings...there are tons of them...your upper body feels like it got more of a workout than your legs the next day...don't get me wrong it is a blast during the race. It lends to so many opportunities for mistakes to be made and either you can take advantage or someone else takes advantage of you if you "burp"....

They had a very different opening this year. As usual we started in the field, but this time they added a prolog that you only saw during the beginning and not the other laps...to me it screwed me up as to where we were when we laped....oh yeah and they dropped a lap on us this year, for most it was a good thing. Funny I ran into a guy that raced in Master one last year in Beginner with me and now he is racing Sport Open Single Speed...He was in front of me at during the first lap, so I ear marked him for my pace and goal...it sure took awhile but made it around him, then I stuck to the tire of a young man in my class that rode pretty darn strong...impressed with his hill climbing...one of my team mates from Bike Line was on my tire during the first lap and the start of the second lap decided to take over and brother did he...he blasted past at least 4 other riders and we were going up hill!!!!

The day was threatening rain/thunder and lightening, and it just held off for the race...GREAT...but whew was it hot and humid...which made it rough, I had gotten used to bottles out in Cali...but on the last couple races the terrain really does not lend itself easily to bottles....and I really had loved not wearing a pack...I'm going to have to pick my races as to pack or bottle...I got pretty thirsty during this one, and of course lost most of my bottles...if it wasn't a log climb, or rock it was a tree root that would knock it out of my hand...thirst aside...during the second lap I decided to hang as best I can with Ryan Gerlach another SS in my class...near the end there were moments on the climbs that he would pull away, but then I'd finally be on his tire again...then another hill and his pulling away...I recognized the ending so I really wanted to stay right with him and make it a fun sprint for the finish...there was a little DH with a sweep to the left, right around the corner was a big tree that was sawed in half for the trail to go through...Ryan shot around the corner probably 30-50 feet in front, when I dipped around my front tire washed out right before the tree split....I barely hit the ground and was back up running to get back on the bike...just as I did I could see I was now 50-75 feet back....righ at the top of the hill you went through the opening of a guard rail and made a hairpin turn to dash down the fence line (flat in the grass) sharp left then a short sprint to the finish....needless to say Ryan took the turn at the guard rail just seconds in front...when I made the hair pin I screwed up and went way to wide nearly running into a bystander...straightened out and by then Ryan was down near the end of the grass straight about to make the sharp left to the sprint...I pushed it as fast as I could peddle my 32x20 gear set up...(felt like a hammster in a wheel)...turn the left to see Ryan crossing the finish...close but no cigar...Ryan had me beat by 4 seconds...GREAT FINISH....made for a great race to pick fellow competitors out and then work to catch them...

This race placed me in 11th overall for the SPORT SS group...I say thats not to bad since I missed the seasons first 4 races...don't think I can gain to much more ground because of that though...

Stoopid 50

2008-07-07T15:53:00.003-04:00

Short Track Race Marysville

2008-07-07T07:49:00.001-04:00

Stoopid 50

2008-06-18T16:23:00.002-04:00

Well did my first 50 miler for the season (here in the east)...as some of you know I did the Coolest24/8 and did the 8 hour solo which totaled 66 miles on my SS....my goal this year was to beat last years 50 mile attempts, which I turned at 8:04 my best...I really wanted to be in the 6 hour range...YEAH, I did 6:56:58....thats where I wanted...rode my new Gary Fisher Superfly (which is now converted to a 1x9) and came in 8th on the Maters catagory...could have done better as usual, but I can never pass up someone in need...so I could have shaved maybe another 10 minutes, oh well..hopefully that individual got to finish too...

The night before the race they fed us with spaggetti, bread, it was super...then we had a movie to watch on the big "blow" up screen...they showed Seasons, very cool movie, gets you pumped for riding...the sleeping was so comfortable cause the night really cooled off...in the morning there was pancakes and coffee, during the race at the food stations it was like being a king, they treated you SO WELL...all the helpers would come running to give you anything you needed they wouldn't let you get it, unbeleivable...super folks...then after the race they had pasta, beans and veggie burgers..>WOW!!!

The Stoopid 50 was up near State College, PA at Rothrock state park...this area has like 5 state parks converging...it's rocky, mountainous (beautifully so), 70% Single Track and only 30% dirt/gravel road...and the single track was in some places SO ROCKY, going up or going down...the rattling going down was something else...and brother did I see a lot of flats...thank god I didn't experience one...I did help this "roadie" from Indiana, poor guy had 5 flats that day, tough way to compete...

The weather was perfect (at least to me) I did hear some say it was too hot, but after Danville race I don't think it can get much worse than that...so to me it was perfect...we had a mass start with everyone following the chase moto for a few miles on the dirt road...lots of fun some of the downhill sections we were flying on, my computer registered 38mph...of course you know that with all that fun down hill comes uphill, and that it did...the only REAL BAD or TOUGH uphill was the infamous "Hike-A-Bike" everyone was talking about that NO ONE CAN RIDE..well I believe it, it was SO STEEP...and very long too, my ankles started hurting from the angle of the climb...met some great folks during the hike....met great people all weekend as a matter of fact...good to be back home, everyone is so friendly....

This year I did the WHOLE race without having to do any major walking due to exhaustion or cramps or any other reason...did some short hikes but thats it, otherwise really pushed it to keep riding...only felt the start of cramps once at about 37-41 miles,,,worked them out with some stretches...then the finish, they dumped you out on the paved road...I didn't know if it was the last stretch to the finish or if they were going to send us back into the single track...then I saw the sign that said hwy 322 3 miles...I knew it was 6 to the campground from the hwy...so we had 3 miles of raod to cover...up gradual...that was almost killer in itself...there was a competeing team member from beans in front of me on the road...so I worked hard to reel him in and get past to get the extra points for the team...did it...felt good after the finish and even better the next 2-3 days...went riding yesterday and a good long one today and no adverse affects...feel pretty much recovered (being in shape has helped), and nutrition plays such a vital role...

This coming weekend will be Neshimeny on my Single Speed.

Yeah...but I do love my bike too..

2008-06-16T09:52:00.002-04:00

My New Tattoo

2008-06-13T20:01:00.003-04:00

Here it is on my right calf....

First Race Back Home

2008-06-12T21:17:00.006-04:00

Tour De Tykes 2008.....

This race always brings back "grueling" memories and this year added to it, but this time with a very positive spin...a First Place win on no less my Single Speed...

My first year at Danville was actually only my 4th Mountain Bike Race ever and I did the XC on Saturday, just placing outside the podium...thought I'd give the DH a try on Sunday...had the "body" armour and full face, just NO SKILLS...sure sounded fun though...just go down hill fast NO uphill...I can do that...yep... until I wiped out and broke my collar bone...

Last year, I was not feeling myself...had been having chest pains...so as Dr. Tony recently told me..."I heard foot steps"...so I took it easy and finished in 9th...all together different story on the short track...I was drafting Ted Cam the entire race and I had someone hooked on my back wheel as well...just as we came out of the woods into the home stretch...the guy behind me bolted to the right of Ted...Ted looked right, yelled out... "oh sh#* Ed he's taking off on..." just then Ted looked left and I had bolted too...getting the jump on the guy that had been following me...it was a sprint to the finish...and poor Ted who had carried us all the way came in third...I nailed the 1st slot.

For this year as you all know I had been in Cali since January doing ALOT of riding and racing...so the expectations were sure high...and most of you were certainly letting me know it...so the pressure was on...the Short track was on Saturday and as usual they have us "Old Farts" racing against the young bucks...ie...GUNNAR BERGEY! My man...15 years old..SO much taller and stronger this year, what a great surprise...the young man is going to be smoking over the next 10+ years in this sport...well he easily had 1st...I was on my new Gary Fisher Superfly...first real ride on it...and first race on gears in months...no excuses, but needless to say I literally RAN the last lap..the rear wheel kept coming off, so not wanting to risk a new bike I decided to RUN...10 minutes later crossed the finish line in 3rd...

The Hill climb was next and I tried that on my Single Speed...I'm sure gears might have been easier, I have just gotten more comfortable on the SS...I have no idea how I finished there, thought I did okay though...it was a real heart pounder, but aren't all hill climbs...this was at least very short lived, nothing like Marysville...

Then the big event on Sunday...13+ miles at 3500' elevation..this is where everyone has been expecting me to stomp after all the riding in Cali with ALL the climbing out there...but as I told a few on the first climb out of the start, when asked "how was Cali"...I explained if I was there racing today it would probably be in the high 60's to low 70's with a slight costal breeze, early morning late afternoon marine layer...geez not that way here...man did that humidity zap the (blah, blah, blah) out of me...90 plus degrees and humidity at least 50+%...again no excuses, but whew, was it hot...I was SO proud of myself to make that first climb out of the start ALL the way...the previous 2 years I couldn't do it all...that has been a new experience for me this year...I learned SO much humility out in Cali getting my butt handed to me in most all the races, that I learned to make little goals for just me in each race, having nothing to do with competition...such as "make it up this hill with out getting off"...do it again...pedal more on this down hill...IF I have to hike it...don't stop to catch breath or drink...keep moving...concentrate on reeling in one at a time...keep pedaling...pedal faster...

The heat was so "choking"..I think I poured more of my water on me than in me...for every drink I also squirted it over my head...that would help, but only for a minute or two...early in the race there was a guy with a S-SS on his calf..so I stuck behind him, he had a good pace...so I figured I'd hang for a while see how he lasted...I knew at the start that I was lined up ahead of most of the SSer's....this was my first encounter...well his pace was slowing and he finally told me to go by...I really didn't see any other SSer's for along time...not till right near the last couple miles..I passed up 2 of them going up hill they were hiking it...then shockingly after the last water stop one of them caught back up to me....and just as I was catching up to another SSer...which turned out at the time to be the lead SSer...well the last hill had us all zapped...I just have learned since Cali...that I can hike and run alot faster up hill than most...plus I HAD TO DO IT!!! If I didn't come in that way you all would never let me hear the end of it...but at the time I really didn't know where I stood..just that I was still picking off SSer's...then after coming in having someone interput the standings that I finished 1st, was truly surprising...Now I have to live up to it...

So off to the Stoopid 50 Marathon this coming weekend...going to give the new Superfly a try, should be a great break in for it...

More to come...

My New Superfly

2008-06-10T12:42:00.001-04:00

Here is a picture of my new Gary Fisher Superfly...hooked on 29er's!!!!

My Trip Home

2008-06-10T10:14:00.004-04:00

I left California on the 30th of May to head home...yes my job is completed, I did as instructed (very successfully I must add), therefore my lay-off was complete too...so now I am headed home to find new endeavours in my life...as you know it would be GREAT to find some sort of career where I could ride my bike all the time...such a dreamer as always...okay back to reality...
I intended my trip to be as quick as possible (safely too)...my plans were as follows:

Day one (Friday)- leave CA...arrive at KOA either west side of Salt Lake or just inside WY...
Actual - left Sunnyvale, CA approx 11am, arrived Wells NV approx 9:30pm.

Day two (Saturday) - leave either of the above locations and arrive in Omaha, Neb.
Actual - left Wells Nev. and arrived just to the east of Laramie, WY.

Day three (Sunday)- leave Omaha, Neb. arrive at Uncle Dan's in Chicago...
Actual - left Laramie arrived on westside of Omaha, Neb.

Day four (Monday) - leave Chicago and try to make it home...
Actual - left Omaha heading to Chicago...broke down in Iowa City, Iowa stayed the night...

Day five (Tuesday) - should have been home.
Actual - leave Iowa City, stopped for dinner in Chicago at Aunt/Uncles...cont. on to Toledo, pulled over at 2 am for few hours sleep.

Day six (Wednesday) - should have REALLY been home.
Actual - woke up at service center at 7am left for home...southern PA BIG storms...freeways closed at Frederick, MD made to pull through town...FINALLY MADE IT HOME LATE AFTERNOON.

Glad to be home...get back to family, friends, races and oh yeah, have to find a new career!!! Wish me luck all...

ED

Last Ride In California

2008-06-01T21:19:00.000-04:00

Well, Wednesday night after work was my last ride in Ca...it was fitting that it was on my SS and with some climbing...but best of all was the company...some of the BEST people you would ever want to meet and be able to call your friends...missing a few that I would have loved to ride with..Chum and his new bride Sunshine, Gordon (from the races), the Zen master of course, Marco, Jeff and his better half too...the group I had the priveldge of riding with are the best though...Caryn, thank you so much for being so wonderful! And Scott, you are the man...loved trying to keep up with you on your SS with the experience..."I could have been a contender..." under your tutilage...BJ love ya man, you and I could have had fun hanging out Bro...next time you see me my tri's will buldge so big they'll put Caryns to shame (god I hope), the new guys like Collin and Mica (ms???) it was great fun...loved your DH style!!!!...and Kris, thanks for befriending me at the races...I was beginning to lose hope in the Ca. racers being a little to "uppity"...but you showed me the way....thanks for everything man...your ready for sport, take it on get the extra riding per race it's great, it's humbling, and it's worth it...took me 4 months to move up from last...:) oh yeah the ride...well it took place again at Lake Chabot just outside Hayward in the east bay area...really beautiful from way up top after some big breathing exercise climbs...the views of the bay are spectacular...the DH single track along skyline is such a blast, especially the tree stump....

And then to read your doing a WEEKEND campout on the 13th...AFTER I LEFT!!! Darn, oh well another time I'm sure...this winter, my birthday on the 28th of Dec. I'm going to try and be at my Daug.'s in San Diego, Scott we'll have to do that DH run in the Cuyamecas...I'll keep you up to date on that idea as time gets closer....

I'm in Hot and Humid Omaha Nebraska tonight (June 1st) on my way home...and there are bugs...lots of them...I forgot how misrable it can be here in the summer, for that matter the winter too, and...oh heck I know just move BACK to CA for the PERFECT weather...:)

RACES THE PAST TWO WEEKS

2008-05-24T21:15:00.000-04:00

HERE ARE THE 13 RACES I'VE DONE WHILE IN CALIFORNIA

(Look closely, some number plates have multiple races done with them)

Its been a few weeks and as usual I have had a few races in that time as well...If you didnt hear the West Coast had a minor heat wave a week or so ago and the race last weekend (17th & 18th) was in the triple digits...it was (as Robin Williams said in Good Morning Vietnam)..."DAMN HOT"...The race was in Santa Ynez, south of here approx. 246 miles down by Solvang, Santa Barbara. It was actually held on the Firestones Vineyard property...VERY open...everytime I saw a tree in the distance I prayed the trail would go under it just to get a brief moments shade...didn't happen but like twice in the whole race...this race was a National Qualifier so important for me since I did so crappy at Sea Otter...I entered as Sport Single Speed and "officially" finished in 7th, so I will get my letter of invite to the Nationals...but there was definently "screw-ups" at the race. They had the beginners start directly after the sport, we all headed out group at a time with approx 2 min intervals (same as most races), BUT some of the differences were: they put colored dots on our number plates, one color for sport and a different color for Beg. This was to help the course marshall identify the racers as they came down the hill from doing the "Pro-Lap", which the Beg's did one then were sent left to do one lap around the long loop...the Sport group did 2 "Pro-Loops". So at the bottom of the hill we were to be directed to the RIGHT...well a number of Sport riders went LEFT after just one "Pro-Loop". Needless to say it really messed up the results, and in my class (Single Speed) we had problems...they STILL didn't get it right, but oh well...we ALL answer for our "karma" either here or at the Pearly gates.

Then Wednesday night the group from Boggs organizes an after work ride in Hayward/Oakland area at Lake Chabot...fantastic...we started at approx. 6pm and rode into the dark till 9:15pm... I think approx. 15-20 miles...I was with the "fast & fun" group...the trails were really fast even on the climbs...this will be my LAST ride in California this coming Wed. Kind of sad, just now starting to meet great riders and friends. We had a BBQ afterwards and forgot all about the time till the Police came by at just a couple minutes to 10pm to remind us about the curfew at 10...:)

This weekend is packed full of rides all over the Bay area and North as well as east into the mountains...what to do...well I stuck close to "home" and did my last race...felt really good and strong today...came in 5th, my best showing at the CCCX just another one or two and I might have been able to crack into the podium...:) It was good to attend, had a chance to say bye to some of the racers I've just breifly gotten to know...the course is the one that I pulled out of a month or so ago because of my heart, so it felt good to be able to complete it strongly today and feel healthy about it...Thanks to ALL of you that I got to know and compete with it's been a blast...will miss ya all, but as you know I have been getting VERY ANIXOUS to get home...funny I feel torn now between the "coast"...hmmmm.

BOGGS

2008-05-12T19:01:00.000-04:00

Boggs was great...SWEETEST flowing single track since I've been here...they could have filmed "Roam II" on some f it...that's what it looked like from 4th in back watching those in front flowing down the trail....come into a turn, slight brake before, swoosh through, pedal hard and fast out, coast, hit the next turn, do it all again, over and over...the forrest was GORGEOUS redwoods, blankets of pine needles...my slid out felt those on some pre-existing scraps, that are now "NEW" again (can you say...SCREAM!)...but that only lasted for a few seconds until I was back up and feeling the sweep of the single track again...even the hills weren't to bad...and geez we climb to nearly 4,000', taller than anything back home! I was on my Cannondale so got to really put it to good use...and even kept it in the middle gear, seriously thinking of turning it into a 1X9, never felt any reason for any other gears but those...the SSing has really help that out... The group I got to ride with were great...really enjoyed making friends with them and look very forward to doing some more rides together...
Don't really know how it can get any better, each "free" ride keeps getting SWEETER, so we'll have to wait and see till the next ride...maybe end up going to Downiville, they say THAT is the place...
Till then, thanks to everyone, and you all enjoy the pictures on my "flickr" link...Ed

The Offical Results are in for Coolest 24/8

2008-05-06T00:26:00.000-04:00

Here are the official results for my class at Coolest24/8 this past weekend...I'm pretty stoked about my turn out, I have worked hard to make improvements since I've been out here in Cali...thanks for everyones support....I am listed under 8 Hour Solo Single Speed:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pIh6QJpLLS40pth9QbFBSfg

The Coolest24/8 Hour Race is Completed

2008-05-05T01:02:00.000-04:00

The Coolest24/8 Hour Race this past weekend was FANTASTIC!!!! There were so many things that made it so good…some were personal goals I had, LIKE FINISH… Also since as most of you know I have been riding and racing my single speed since I’ve been out here, doing an 8 hr endurance race first of all is a goal, secondly to actually do it and complete it was a huge goal…plus the 50 milers I did last year were completed in 8 hours so this would be a good barometer to beat those miles in that time frame…yes that is “back east” trails vs. here…I do believe though the total elevation out here in CA turns out to be more and I am on a single speed for this one vs. last year was on my geared bike…anyways I looked down at my odometer at 5 hours 35 minutes into the race and saw I had done 50 miles…with a total of 63+ miles completed...that really put a smile on my face…

This race was to have 100% of the proceeds (and many $1,000’s in donations) go to Cancer Research…what an awesome job they did…hoping to raise at least $55,000 (last year was $44,000)..I truly hope they did it…during the entire event, everytime you would think about this being a “Race”, there would be someone or something to remind you that there is more to it than that…there were and are many lives being touched by “the MONSTER” everyday, and that’s what this is all about…celebrate your lives that we can all be out there racing and celebrate those that are fighting, as well as those that fought harder than any of us did in the race to maintain their lives…Britney you truly are a worthy recipient of this years Cancer Cup…I was so glad I had on my sun glasses, as the tears flowed…What a fighter you are, your dad is blessed to have you…I wish I had the privelge to know you…I was very inspired during the race at all the photos on Memory Mile…I met a young lady along the race just prior to the pictures that told me the story of her father, as I did the same about my sister, we both I’m sure shared a tear or two as each lap passed and we said hi to our loved one along this stretch…it certainly kept me going strong up that hill to the drink station each and every lap…

The course was SOOOO Dry, it was incredible with the mass start the amount of dust that was in the air the first lap…some locations had so much dust I felt like a pilot flying into a cloud…the total unknown of what lay inside waiting…when we were all going across some of the meadows you could see the longest line of riders ever…with a huge bank of dust following…really an amazing site…and geez lets not forget what most all of us were breathing in…yikes…the course had some great spurts of single track blended in with some fun and fast downhill sections…got up to 34 mph on 2 of the sections each lap…”knickerbocker” creek proved well to “rinse” off the bike and quiet down all the grinding and squeeking it was doing from the dust bath…by the last 2 laps it was running smoother again…the hill climbs were more grueling after each lap…except of course the overall and class winner on the single speed a 19 year old young man that literally “BLEW” by me like I was standing still (probably was at the time) on his way UP HILL…and I saw him on his last lap today going almost as fast…amazing…

I met SO many great and wonderful people along the way…I don’t remember eveyones name, but hopefully if any of you are reading this, I’m the SS from back east out here temporarily…each and everyone of you were so encouraging and helpful, thanks…I was very impressed with the strength of so many riders, the hearts so big…what a wonderful sport we’re in…look forward to many more like this…

Seems after talking to the promoter Jim, after the awards ceremony today I might have been the only mess up to the results, but the time keeper, Carlos from Bike Monkey (hope I got his name right or I might not even show on the results next week at Lake Sonoma…Just kidding) wanted me to email him my name, number and class…the results showed me in open solo 8 hours at 24th position 5 laps 7:22…I should be Single Speed…putting me in at 5th out of 10 (unfortunately that messes up everyone elses spots, sorry everybody)..kick my butt next week, should be easy enough since it will be at Lake Sonoma…4 grueling laps there…whew…

Well check out my flickr site for pictures…I was busy racing so there are not a lot of “racers” in action, but enjoy anyways…Thanks.

Coolest24

2008-04-29T23:36:00.000-04:00

This weekends race...keeping a close eye on diet/hydration/exercise/and sleep this week to prepare...here is a map of the course...will be Solo on my Single Speed...
The red is last years route, yellow this year.

Lemurian Shata Classic

2008-04-28T20:21:00.001-04:00

Okay the story...wow where to start...this was truly an "EPIC" race that is worthy of at least the top 3 rides I've ever done...I know some of you will say well your not THAT experienced and traveld yet...okay, okay...but I've been around a little. Flume Trail Lake Tahoe, Mt. Snow Vermont, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware..and on the way home Utah and Colorado for good measures.

Now the start of the race was a mass start with 300+ riders...3 different courses.

1 - beginner 8 miler

2 - intermediate 20 miler

3 - expert long course 26 miler

I choose the long course cause everyone was writting about the 6 miles difference is SO INCREDIBLE you can't afford to miss it, well all my races have been over 20 since I arrived out here so what the heck...

We started in the parking lot by the lake and headed up the asphalt road approx. 1/4 mile, turn on to the main rd for approx another 1/4...then it was a turn into the fire road for the long butt kicking climb up this killer mountain (they call them hills out here)...well I did okay for at least half, then I had to succumb to the ole "hike-a-bike" for a bit...SSing it again this race...well at the top your greeted with our first descent...

Check out MTBR.com under forum, Lemurian and you will read the stories and expletives of the downhill, described anywhere from "dangerous, scary, awesome, fast, fun, amazing, brutal, have never seen anything like it, etc" I think everything you could say about DH was mentioned...it was steep, rocky, ruts, slippery loose granite, definently brake busting/burning...you could smell hot brakes...but most of all...I FRIGGIN LOVED IT!!!...

Then we all got to experience the sweetest single track you could ever imagine...pedal half dz. strokes, pump, coast....pedal, pump...coast, it was that flowing for 5-6 miles....fantastic...the I-9's were so cool through here as I approached other riders I just came up behind and coasted, the "rachet" sound bugged em and they let me by...great, thanks...the pace through here was awesome...

Had some fun, cool and refreshing water crossings...we had shade in the pines, open BIG sky and snow covered mountains in some areas that baked ya in the hot sun...it was absolutely breath taking...and YES I SMELLED THE ROSES...you have to LIVE IT while you race...I'm not a Pro, life is way to short not to see the views and soak it in...

Then....another....murderous...friggin...hillclimb...worse then the first one...look at the elevation chart below you'll see, we were just under 1,000' and climb to almost 3,000'...there were a couple spots I would have loved to see someone climb...saw lots of riders hiking...including myself...

But, what goes up (at least that high) must come down, yeeehawww...so down we came...they even had "X" runs and "XX" runs...those really made your eyes pop when you went over the ledge/drop...my favorite was at a water crossing that you literally dropped into...I yelled at a rider ..." rider-up" he backed out of the way and just as he said "i'd like to see this" I was dropping into it..my butt hit the backside of my rear tire, I probably couldn't stretch that far again if I wanted to...didn't "dab" though (love the 29er)...

There was a guy on the 2nd long climb that I couldn't stay with that I caught up to on the DH and we were flyin, I know he was trying to keep in front and I was just waiting for the end...well the end came at a parking lot for the RV's and I spotted one with just a short incline of approx 50' you came up into the RV camping area..dashed downhill through the parking lot to a 200-300 foot section of single track and poped out into the lower parking lot at the finish...well right at the little incline to the RV parking the guy pulled up with a cramp, darn if I din't cease the moment (hey ANY glory after this ride was worth it)...I didn't know where he was but on the SS I pedaled like a hammster DH to the finish...

Here is a local newspaper article, very cool:

http://www.redding.com/news/2008/apr/27/nirvana/

This is actually a race I would consider Flyin back to next year...way more so than even Sea Otter Classic....

Now this coming weekend is the Coolest24...I'll be giving it a try on my SS too...this race is to benefit cancer survivors and victims...100% goes to non-profit... As just a few of you know, I lost my big sister last year in May to cancer so this race will mean alot to me (crying right now)...they are going to have a memory lane where they will post pictures of those lost..I have mailed my favorite picture of Cindy to them and can't wait to see it on the trail, in the meantime here it is, (see above)...I am going to get pictures of this strecth so I'll be posting that too...

C-ya all real soon

Lemurian Shasta Classic

2008-04-27T13:32:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple pictures from this past weekends race...story to follow, and check flickr for pictures.

Biker Ed

2008-04-22T23:18:00.000-04:00

One of the guys at work drew this up...pretty cool, he used to be a tattoo artist...

Pictures from Sea Otter Janice Morris and Mike Laub

2008-04-21T01:34:00.000-04:00

Check out my "flickr" link for new Sea Otter pictures...Janic Morris and Mike Laub have a seperate folder...check out Mike getting his Medal today...that was awesome he did TWO LAPS!!!! 38 miles...and came in a close 5th...way to go East Coast...Janice came in a tight 8th place...in her group all the ladies were group together pretty closely (she'll say otherwise, just being modest)...but it was great to see them and cheer them on, and likewise for me yesterday to get cheered on by a couple of fabulous back home folks...really made me home sick for some MASS racing!

Old Guys Rule!!!!

Sea Otter...My Race Today

2008-04-19T20:39:00.000-04:00

Well today was the big day for me...got up at 4:50am at the KOA, morning routine, packed up and headed for the race it's about 30 minutes away...it was FRIGGIN COLD this morning (I know I'm whimping out, back home it would be considered warm) but hey in the 40's is cold, and it was marine layered....and EXTREMELY WINDY...the wind was incredible30-50 mph gust. The warm up was pretty neat, the race started on the road course for the cars...any car buffs will know LAGUNA SECA, very cool race course...well everyone is out taking spins up the big hill climb of a course then racing back down...there were some pretty huge age groups...100+ racers in some age groups. Mine 50-54 had only 69 racers...and I finished....65th, yikes...had my first mechanical...wait'll you hear this one and the picture...anyways.

The race got started, you go for approx. 1/2 mile or so on the road course then turns off into the dirt...my pack was like "wolfs" heading out for a hunt...by the time we hit the dirt it was a long "snake" line... I even got "elbowed" and the guy didn't even look at me when I told him a thing or two...well just as you get on the dirt, ie fireroad...you go for about a 1/4 mile up then its a radical steep fireroad sprint down...speeds easily over 30mph...there are 2 little bumps, and as much as I love to get air I popped it good on the second one with my computer reading 34mph...got some awesome air...high...long...and then the gusty wind and...OH....SHIT...I'm laid out side ways...I know now what is coming, it felt like forever, then down I came laying out on my left side and slidin' in the gravel...ouch...rash like hell....and brother did it burn tonight in the shower!...well only one guy made it past me and I caught him by the bottom and then it was up for a ways. It turned into a single track and there was a slow leader in front of about 10 guys or so...we all pedaled close together till it opened up into a double track going up were myself and 2 other guys and we blasted by the bunch...then back down some fun single track into the "SAND PITS"...wow that is something else to pedal through, steep down and deep "wiggelly", steer ya where it wants to crap...made it through okay, there were a number of folks that would get bound up in it, some hurt there today too...then when we started up hill 82, very steep climb, it felt like I "sucked" my chain...I couldn't pedal...I looked down, chain still on, tried like hell to pedal, just couldn't do it...stopped tried to pedal it by hand and could barelly budge it...figured I'd start running up the hill till I found a good flat spot...in the meantime, I had the front pack of about 15 in site, me and the other two guys were charging hard....man the last 2 months of single speeding it has really paid off on the geared bike....anyways, those two guys were pulling away and some of the guys we had passed were gaining...when I stopped it turned out to be a set screw on my small sproket was backing out and hung up on the bottom bracket housing...well you can only see half the "hole" so I didn't have a wrench that could get into it...I tried squeezing it in with my leathermans...no luck..then got pissed and wedged my wrenches needle nose into the half hole and beat it with a rock...moved it enough where it was just literally a hair separation...jumped back on and started grinding up the hill in a bigger gear which seemed to keep it from gauging into the bottom bracket...by now the womens groups had caught me...spent the next 5-8 miles inching my way...caught a few of the guys...but man it was hard the set screw was dragging and really diggin a wonderfull groove, which I'm sure will cost me...but no way was I DNFing..my heart felt great, breathing good, legs okay, all in all feeling okay, just pissed off that anytime I pedaled it was like grinding up hill...I'm certain I would have done much better...oh well...I finished...was thrilled it was such a blast...good long climbs, felt my improvement...and best of all...I AM HEALTHY!!! No leg cramps either...lots of hydration ALL WEEK, with electrolytes...

Unfortunately for a numer of folks today it wasn't so good...I saw a guy on the down hill at a step jump (which I'll be posting alot of cool pics on) landed wrong right in front of me and you could here his leg "snap" and then his scream...he had an awful compound fracture of his shin bone...and I heard from a photographer that a downhiller was killed today as well...hit some air a little to high and wacked his head...could be a "legend" not sure...and there were many other shoulder, colar bones, bad scraps etc...considering, I did okay then.

Now just have to get the bike into the shop pronto for a good long REAL mountain bike race this next weekend in Northern California near Shasta and the Trinity Mountains...The race is the Lemurian Shast Classic 26 miles....

Oh and it was pretty cool just as I started, I was being cheered by another MASS racer...thanks much Janice...her and Mike have their races tomorrow morning so I'm going to head over there and cheer them on....they should really kick some butt on this course.

Later all..I'll try and upload some pictures to my flickr site but I'm in a camp ground with so-so internet connection speeds....in the meantime here are a couple.

Ed

Sea Otter Classic and My Condition

2008-04-18T02:03:00.000-04:00

Well, it's that time of year and the annual Sea Otter Classic started today. It's held annually at Laguna Seca Park in Seaside California...It is one of the worlds largest mountain bike festival weekends and a major National Qualifier. They anticipate up to 10,000 entrants...THATS RIGHT NOT MIS-SPELLED..10,000...ENTRANTS, and up to 50,000 spectators...I'm told that most classes can and do have over 100 entrants per age group...after the start you race 1/2 way around the road car course to the backside then climb on a fire road to the top of a hill where it flattens out then dives into a single track and continues on for 20 miles amounting to 6850 elevation total...but they say it is amazing to be among the large group diving into the single track...at that point it behooves you to have sharp elbows, it gets VERY aggressive....there are a couple of the MASS racers coming out so I am VERY excited about seeing folks from back home...I saw pictures (I believe from last year) of Jerimiah Bishop out here, that would be cool to see him again....all classes except Pros do one lap...Pros do 2 laps 38-39 miles for the big guys....

Now my doctor story...I had a very unusal heart beat at my last race 2 weekends ago...after the first lap I didn't want to risk it so I DNF'd (for the first time) and went over to the Paramedics...they took my BP and it was 170 over 168...time to get the nitro and take it easy...watch the rest of my race from the sidelines and my BP got down to a more respectable 120 over 70...then I rested all last week, went to San Diego for the weekend...did a small easy 10 mile ride Monday, doctors appointment Tuesday, small easy 10 miler that night...feeling okay, then Wednesday a Cardiac Computed Tomography Angiogram...today the doctor called and it is all good...no calcium build up, all major arteries are clear and strong...told me it was probablly related to my intense schedule that week and just as happened to Ted, not enough hydration...he said I could resume my riding just "rachet" the "training" down a bit...so no more 6-7 days a week and only one hill burn climb a week...Since I've been out here in Cal. have nothing much to do in my spare time but ride, so my obsessive compulsive personality just takes over and watch out...So hopefully I'm not "too" rested for Sea Otter...heading there tomorrow do a little riding around, see the folks from back east, and watch the Beginners take off at 3pm...do some shopping too!!!
I'll let ya all know how my race goes later this weekend.

Thanks to my new team for sending out a jersey to wear for the race and "represent"...GO BIKE LINE!!!
Ed
"Old Guys Rule"

Race CCCX#5 Pictures

2008-04-07T16:50:00.001-04:00

You can check out most of the pictures on the link "flickr" I have but here are a couple...the one of me running is probablly why I had a "blow" up in my race...:) Oppss forgot it's a "bike" race...I left the bike at the car...

Blew Up in Race #5

2008-04-06T19:43:00.000-04:00

My first DNF today! The race today was approx. 5 mile laps, 4 for sport...The first half was all up hill heading out then down hill the back half coming back. I got up the road then really started feeling it in the chest...by the time I got almost to the very top I felt like sh**...heart felt like it was beating way to fast for what I was doing...knowing the rest of the lap was downhill I figured I'd see how I felt by the bottom since it wasn't tough going down...well got to the bottom and just didn't want to take any chances...told the guys at the start finish I'm going to have to DNF...my first ever...but you know I want to be able to ride another day...I don't make a living at this so I can come back again...I pulled over to the medics and asked them to check my BP...it was 170 over 168 not good at all...beats were at 120, not bad there....so I did the right thing, who knows they could have been doing CPR on the next lap...I took it easy and watched the rest of the race...then went and got another reading it was now pretty normal 120/70...strangly I got a text message from a buddy who was in the ER for the exact same thing and he was racing too..."kismit", "karma"...I think last weeks riding got to me...Monday and Tuesday was intervals with 90-98% cadence for at least an hour...then Wednesday easy 25 mile ride, then Thurs. & Friday tried the Kennedy Climb, and yesterday went to Laguna Seca for a pre-ride...guess I really over did it for this Old Guy...well I'll be taking it easy this week with only an easy spin Wednesday, & probablly try and slip out to go to try out Demo Thursday then its down to San Diego for the weekend...next week will then be some easy riding...from here on out it will now be on my geared bike...getting ready for Sea Otter than Sonoma, Lemurian, and then a 8 hour race out past Folsom in May too...then a BIG maybe whether I'll still be here for the next CCCX race on the 24th of May...
I guess I've just been working so hard to try and catch up to the condition of all the riders out here that get to ride so much...I'll be checking in with a Doc this week to make sure everything is okay too...heard about the first race back home, looking forward to seeing the pictures and results, congrats to all, and my best goes out to my fellow "Old Guy" hoping he really doesn't join our "heart" club, just take care of yourself and I'll do the same...check out my "Flickr" link for pictures from today...since I sat out my race there are some sport class pictures too...miss ya all.

The Burning Hill

2008-04-05T12:34:00.000-04:00

This "Hill" is in Los Gatos California...this is about a 20 minute drive from my hotel, I discovered this from a message board site and has and will become my "training" hill...it is REALLY incredible. I made it in 53 minutes last night on my geared Cannodale Carbon Rush. That was the first time on my gears since the last week of January. The "wall warmups" and the "WALL" are SOOOO Steep. Interesting part is when your coming down though, on the wall you see the view WAYYYY below and it feels like your going to ride off a cliff...what a "ball buster"...and chest pain, whew! But as alot of the folks on the message board say that it does get easier and that they see improvement on their times, well we'll see about that, just hope I dont have a heart attack trying...If anyone finds me laying on the trail, my Nitro is on the key ring in my hydration pack...just don't try the mouth to mouth thing unless your pretty...:)

Ride on Kennedy Trail last night

2008-04-04T12:34:00.000-04:00

WOW...what a ride...3+ miles of STEEP climbing...and on a SS, kicked my butt, and theres a guy that says he makes it to the top in 43 minutes which is even further than where I stoped..holy smokes!! It started getting dark on me and I didn't have my lights, plus they all say the Rangers are pretty strict out here...they supposedly even ticket you for going faster than 15mph...let me tell ya going down damn near burns out your pads...thank god mine aren't organic or I could have.

Pictures from Sundays CCCX #4 Race

2008-04-01T12:32:00.001-04:00

Results From My race on Sunday the 30th

2008-03-31T14:47:00.000-04:00

Well finished another race...came in last again. Did more miles but still average 33 minutes per lap..this time it was 6+ miles per lap...whew...finished up at 2:13...still sticking to my SS, the new Industry Nines sure felt tight...have to do some work on the disc alignment, terrible rubbing, so bad by the end it wasn't even "free wheeling"...

Weekend of March 29 & 30

2008-03-31T11:23:00.000-04:00

Well had another race at Ft. Ord this past weekend and the rain held out...for the beginners race it was a little mistsy and overcast...by the time our race, (Sport) was less than half way through the skys cleared and the sun shined it turned out to be a beautiful afternoon. The course changed up a little from the last time with the laps increaseing to 6+ miles ea. (we do 4 laps)...it seemed to have a better flow this time...the tough part was they combined the tough up hill section of race one with another up hill from race 2 & 3 no less than 100 yards apart...whew...just when you thought your legs could recover...I took a bunch of pictures (132 to be exact) and put them on Flickr. Attached here under "LINK" give it a try and check them out, let me know if it opened for you...have another race this coming weekend, then the next weekend is off and going to San Diego to see my loved ones...then the following is Sea Otter, the BIG race of the Year! C-ya all soon...Ed

2008-03-27T12:03:00.000-04:00

Scenes from Monterey Area

2008-03-27T11:29:00.000-04:00

My First Race In California

2008-03-27T01:45:00.001-04:00

My First Race In California

2008-03-27T01:07:00.001-04:00

My first race was in Ft. Ord which is by Monterey south of San Fransico along the Pacific coast. Ironically I lived there in 1964, my Dad was stationed in the Army there...I can remember my mom helped me count by counting the head lights of the cars in the fog along the coast. Anyways, I went down on Saturday to pre-ride the course and was shocked that it was such smooth dirt trails, double track, fire roads, and single track...but all so smooth and rolling and fast...very different from the east coast roots, rocks, tree climbs and just your basic narley technical. I rode my geared bike for a loop then went back to the van and got my SS and did a lap...which really got me fighting inside as to which bike to ride during the race...one main goal I had coming out here to California was to get in great shape by being able to ride so much due to the perfect weather...and that also meant to ride my SS much more...well this is a perfect course for that..that night I stayed at the KOA in Moss Landing about 10-15 minutes away right along the coast...fabulous place to stay...a couple great resturants and the beach to walk on and watch the sunsets...the next day of the race and I decided when I registered to ride my Cannondale geared Rush...got blown away during the race...did 4 laps..whew 20 + miles...apporx. 550 feet elevation accent per lap...but WOW are they soooo fast here...it was a big eye opener as to conditioning...I was last place, 22 racers, one DNF so there was 21 and that was my position...just have to start riding alot more...which I have been doing since...was very surprised at a few differences here though...one...very, very few people call out as they are approaching you which side they are going to overtake you on...it can be a little nerve raking...it is a habit I am used to doing and hereing back home..."on your left" or " on your right" "lead rider"...when I hear someone raging I ask them to simply call out which side and I'd be glad to give it to them...but if they dont say then they have to wait till the trail widens and they can go for it...another oddity is that when the race is over..it is OVER...they get their medals off the table and thanks, see ya all next time, and their gone..a few socialize but I see more leaving than not..the poor pros and experts have very little cheering sections...my goodness it's awesome to watch them race and see the power, strength and endurance those riders have...besides a little support and cheering helps everyone...back home it's great to have almost everyone hanging out after the races, and have a celebration of presenting the awards..and all the "family/friends" atmosphere is great...it will get better!!!

My Tattoos..show yours

2008-03-26T12:33:00.000-04:00

WHERE MY TRIP STARTED

2008-03-26T11:32:00.000-04:00

For those of you that are not real familar, my work and life changed dramatically near the end of January. I was informed that I could either take a one day notice for lay off or make a temp move to San Fransico Bay area for a 5 month notice...so I took the 5 months (help to get things in order)...plus GREAT weather for lots of riding...always thinking of riding...well I certainly have been able to do alot of that...since I have been out here I have had the opportunity to do up till now 6 races with my 7th this weekend and 8th the following weekend. After work is either road bike 25+ miles or gym and stationary for hour after weight training...my computer on my road bike now has over 700 miles since I've been here...

What an experience the racing has been...there really isn't an off season out here so WOW are the racers in great shape...I moved up this year to Sport class so that has changed as far as caliber of racer and the distance is really something here...every race has been 20+ miles...really getting used to that now...but the big change has been my Single Speed...my first race I used my geared Carbon Cannondale Rush...but since then I have only used my SS and am really getting to love it and become very comfortable with it...who knows may just stick with it for good...one thing it really has made a major difference in conditioning.

The race scene is somewhat different out here too...more on the diff's and comparisons later...

I will start posting pictures from the start of my Journey from when I left Baltimore and started my travels across America...as you'll see in the photos, I have a Volkswagon Euro Van Camper which has proven to be perfect for the travels and races...miss ya all back home and am enjoying making new friends while I'm out here in California.

My New Industry Nines

2008-03-26T11:19:00.002-04:00

For those that have not been able to see my pictures that I have attempted to post hopefully this will help that matter...so now I'll be able to post lots and lots of pictures for all to see and keep everyone up to date on all my riding adventures and travels....

Here are my new Industry Nines..this is about as light as my bikes going to get...22.3 lbs...and thats fine with me now...