Real Housewives of Atlanta.

I do believe America is going down the toilet and it's not due to the economic crisis, a crashing stock market, or even failing banks. I blame reality TV and The Real Housewives of Atlanta in particular. I stumbled across this travesty of "entertainment" while surfing between games over the holiday and took less than ten minutes to reach a level of total disgust. Are these women real? The show should be called The Real Gold Digger's of Atlanta. While I didn't watch the entire episode, I really didn't have to because the show and the "Housewives" are so shallow and one dimensional that one can sum them up in a matter of seconds. All these women do is complain, spend someone else's money (a lot of it), catfight, and engage in over the top drama. What's that saying about lipstick on a pig?

Bama Cross Update

The results for the Bama 'Cross race at Heardmont Park were recently updated and it seems I finished 7th in a field of 20 rather then the 9th place I was given on race day. I'm not sure what happened, but I'll take it.

50 miles on a CX bike

I took my cyclocross bike out today to scout some training routes and to do a little unofficial training for whatever endurance events I make next season. After looking over a county road map, I found a promising route through the Holly Springs National Forest along county road 225 and 2066. The route is roughly 40% gravel road, 55% pavement, and 5% grassy road shoulder.

It took me 3 hours and 40 minutes with an average speed of 13.6, which is disappointing. However, I did tinker around a bit when I was on the gravel road and even stopped a few time to consult my map when I was unsure abut a turn or two. All in all, it was a good ride and a good route. I have a few more routes to explore in the coming days, one of which looks to be around 65 miles.

*** Bikes I Like ***

Jamis, Xenith T2 This bike is pure wind cheating speed with internally routed cables, a credit-card-gapped seat tube cutout that shields the rear tire, a reduced-diameter head tube for less frontal area, and a chain stay-mounted rear brake that moves it to a position out of the wind. Take a close look at the front fork. The Super Aero shrouded front fork hides the front brake from all air flow, creating a significant reduction in drag.




Blue Competition, Triad
One word describes this bike - sexy! The small Georgia bike maker has only been around for about 5 years and is already making a name for itself. Sarah Haskins rode the Triad to 11th place at the Olympic Games in Beijing, less than three minutes behind gold medallist. Blue Competition Cycles is so confident in the Triad, they are offering one free hour of wind tunnel time at the A2 wind tunnel in Charlotte NC to anyone who purchases this bike. Your podium time will certainly be longer.




Cervelo, SLC SL
This is the world’s aerodynamic road racing frame and a perennial tour contender. Everything about this bike is designed to reduce wind turbulence without sacrificing stiffness and energy transfer. The cable housings are routed inside the frame to keep them out of the wind and the down tube has an airfoil cross section designed for optimal aerodynamics. This bike is a speed junkie's dream come true




Trek, Madone 5.2
This isn't the lightest or the most expensive bike in the Trek stable. That honor belongs to the Team Astana Madone 6.9 at just over $9,129 and a weight that is below the UCI limit with the right parts. Still, the Madone 5.2 is a race worthy frame and much easier on the wallet. Trek knows carbon racing frames and the Madone is proof.




Pinarello, Prince
Show up at the local group ride on one of these and be prepared to answer a lot of questions. The Prince is a monocoque carbon frame, but it's not just any brand of carbon fiber. Pinarelo uses Torayca 50HM1K carbon fiber, the same stuff used in jet fighters, and that is a good thing because this bike is designed to go fast. Parachute not included.




Carrera, Phibra
This bike makes the grade on looks alone. Forget the one-piece carbon frame. Forget the aggressive geometry. Forget that it is hand built in Italy. This bike is AWESOME!




Moots, Mooto XZ
This is the Hummer H2 of mountain bikes and I own one! With 4 inches of suspension and big 29er wheels, the Mooto XZ eats bumps for lunch and comes back for more. The Matched Arc (MARC) suspension system offers 4 inches of travel and has no pivot at the rear axle, so it stays active under breaking and doesn't sacrifice power when you need it. The frame is made from 3/2.5 grade titanium and the rear triangle is Sapa manufactured 6061 series aluminum. The silky feel of the titanium frame combined with the big wheels make this bike a pure joy to ride. It will go through, up, over and down anything the trail has to offer. This is simply the best 29er bike on the market!





Seven, Sola
Why do I like this bike? One word - Mary McConneloug! You've never heard of Mary McConnelouge? Well, she's only America's premiere women's cross-country racer and she races on THIS bike! Another reason to like the Sola is Seven will custom build and fit the bike to your specifications and riding style. It's expensive, but you get a lifetime bike made with a custom blend of Arge butted titanium.




Titus, Racer X
This is a trail-thrashing machine. It's the kind of bike that will boost your confidence on the trail and make people eating your dust insanely jealous. If you want a responsive bike with a plush feel, then the Racer X is your bike. Titus will even build one to your specifications in Titanium or a carbon fiber/titanium hybrid called Exogrid. If that's not enough, you can get it with 26" or 29" wheels.




Trek, Fuel EX 9.9
Trek put a lot of time and money behind the Fuel EX lineup and the result is an all day racer with amazing traction, super climbing ability, and a desire to be ridden hard. The secret of the EX series is the EVO link and Active Braking Pivot. In other words, braking cannot interfere with the suspension. Be prepared to fork over some big coin for the EX 9.9. It cost as much as a used car. Fortunately, the EX family ranges from the intro 5.5 on up, but be warned that the ride quality varies. You get what you pay for




Specialized, Epic
Weight weenies rejoice! Specialized set out to build the world's lightest full suspension cross-country racer and they have succeeded. The Epic S-Works comes in at mere 22 lbs. That is reason enough to make my list!




Niner, Jet 9
Niner is a company dedicated to promoting the 29er revolution in mountain biking and the Jet-9 is their answer to critics who say 29er's cannot race. The Jet 9 uses a CVA suspension system (Constantly Varying Arc), which means there is no feedback from suspension movement. The wheel arc constantly changes throughout the path of suspension travel .Simply put, the Jet 9 offers bob free pedaling in a 29-inch race package.




Look, 986
Look makes some of the sweetest road frames in the world and is now making a move on the mountain bike market. The first thing you notice about the 986 is the fully integrates seatmast, a feature found on high-end road frames. The 986 frame weighs in at a feather light 2.6 lbs. That's comparable to most pro level road frames.




Redline, Conquest Pro
The Renton, Washington company is known for making world-class cyclocross bikes and the Conquest Pro is a major reason why. Made with lightweight U6 alloy and featuring S-bend stays for plenty of mud clearance, the Conquest Pro is a cyclocross die-hard. I not only like this bike; I own and race one. It is very stable and just begs to get dirty. The best thing about this bike, outside of its good looks, is its toughness. The Conquest Pro can take just about anything you and the racecourse can throw at it. You definitely want a Redline when conditions are bad




Pinarello, CX Cross
The Italians are some of the greatest craftsmen and artisans in the world, so it is no surprise the CX Cross is a rolling work of art. This bike is so beautiful it almost seems criminal to race it in the mud, well, almost. The CX Carbon is Pinarello’s top end cyclocross racing bike and made from 30HM12K monocoque carbon fiber. That translates into a stiff, yet compliant, ride. You can also hang it on the wall and admire it after you are done


Honorable Mentions:

Time Trial
Look, 596
Trek, Equinox TTX
Specialized, Transition Pro
Cerevelo, P4

Road Bikes
Specialized, Tarmac
Look, 585
Felt, F1 Team
Giant, TCR Advanced SL

Mountain Bikes
Scott, Reflex EX35
Giant, Anthem
Blue Competition, Ryno
Gary fisher, HiFi

Cyclocross Bikes
Kona, Jake the Snake
Blue Compition, CXC
Moots, Psychlo-X
Fuji, Cross Pro

Memphis CX Championship

There is something about early morning that makes the familiar seem different. I’m sure it’s the light, but it could just as well be the overall stillness of the moment just before daybreak. I made doubly sure I was up before the sun so I could be at my race with plenty of time to register, warm up, and get myself situated. As I turned onto the highway, I could see a line of clouds peering above the horizon. They looked like purple mountains in the distance, and this instantly transported me to a far away place. “It has to be the light,” I think to myself. My drive to Memphis was peaceful.

I walk to the registration tent with a cold wind slapping my face and the tips of my fingers rapidly becoming numb. With each step, I calculate what I should wear under my team kit.

“Which race do you want to do?” asked a shivering woman behind the table.

“I’m not sure. What’s the difference between CX4 and the Masters 4 group?”

“Are you chasing TBRA points?”

“No.”

“Well, you can race either one, but since you are a Master, let’s just put you in the Master 4 group.”

With that, I get my number and go back to my car to get ready. After much trepidation, I decide to wear a red long sleeve jersey and arm warmers under my team jersey. The hard part was trying to decide between tights or regular leg warmers. The leg warmers won out in the end because changing into tights in a crowed parking lot was just not going to happen. Besides, I wore my team shorts to Memphis.

When the call came for the B group to line up, I made my way down to the staging area, making sure to be as close to the front as possible. With everyone being in a tight bunch, it was a little hard for me to tell the exact breakdown of each class, so just I decided to race against everybody.

It sounded like a hundred guns cocking when the whistle blew as everyone clipped in and started hammering. The stampede of bikes stayed tight and hectic with one rider after another fighting for position as the group rounded the first corner and up a small hill. Halfway into the first lap, the group started to sting out a little, making it easier to negotiate the course. By the second lap, I thought my lungs were going to catch on fire and billow smoke through my nose like an old train. Did I really pay someone so I can hurt like this? I could hear my own breathing and feel my heart punching the inside of my chest. “Easy“, I think to myself. “Find a rhythm and grind it out.” The course developed a few soft spots in places as bike after bike cut into the wet ground with each painful lap. By the third lap, I found a good, quick, pace and set my sights on catching riders in front of me. One by one, I closed gaps with riders and small groups in front of me, mostly on climbs and a windy back straightaway. “Breathe! Keep the pace. It will all be over soon,” I keep saying to myself.


With three laps to go, I find myself about ten bike lengths behind two riders and wonder if I can catch them before the finish. Slowly, painfully, the gap narrows and I catch a wheel on the back straightaway just before crossing the finish line. Now with only two laps left in the race, I know it will probably come down to a sprint unless someone attacks. I look back to see if anyone is sneaking up from behind and don’t see any threats. I decide to hang on the back until one of the riders in front makes a move. We remain in the same positions going into the last lap. Things are about to get serious. As we roll off the top of the levee and turn to go back up a very steep climb, I throw caution to the wind and attack from behind on the climb, moving into the front position. I have a small gap at the top of the levee, drop the hammer, and go down the levee again into a flat section. One of the two behind me falls off the back and appears to be out of it. The other guy is about a bike length behind, but still in the hunt. Deciding it wouldn’t be smart to go all out with over a mile to the line, I sit up, let him pass, and latch onto his wheel. We go up and down the levee three more times, each almost as painful as the one before. There’s a run up on steps and a hill with barriers at the base. The last trip up the levee is a climb not requiring a dismount. We make our way down this hill for the final turn to the line when he attacks and opens a small gap on me. I go after him, through the last turn and still slightly behind. The last set of barriers is just ahead, three large logs, and I’m starting to eat into his lead. I get his wheel roughly 150 meters from the line and my heart rate is well above maximum. I think I’m going to die before this thing is over. He starts his sprint around 100 meters out, and I make my move for the line right behind him. My face is twisted with unbelievable pain as I put my head down and move my front wheel past his with less than 50 meters to go. I can’t feel the cold anymore. I can’t feel the wind. I focus on the line and can only hear the clank of cowbells as the finish gets closer and closer. I have the gap and take the line by a few bike lengths. It’s over. I roll off the course and find a place to collapse. It’s over.

I finish my day with first in the 4-Master division. Oddly enough, I realize after the race that I didn’t have to sprint that guy at the finish because he was in a different division. I should have known that during the race because he looked about 10 to 15 years younger.

More photos can be seen here here and here.

Congratulations to Ryan on finishing third in the CX 3 division and to Andrea for winning the women's single speed division

Memphis Race Prep.

I wanted to go mountain biking out at Clear Creek today. It's been a while since I've ridden my Moots, and I'm really itching for some single-track. To be honest, I was probably going to ride hard at Clear Creek, a stupid thing to do before a race, but the cycling gods brought rain and high winds, which forced me to do the smart thing and stay inside. I decided to take the hint from the gods and get everything ready for the Memphis Cyclocross Championships tomorrow.

My first order of business was switching out wheels - again. I got the bright idea yesterday to put my super-lightweight Rolf racing wheels on my cyclocross bike to save a little rotational weight. However, it was suggested that I would ruin them, which did cross my mind a few times and is problem true. So, I put my Bontrager X-lites back on the 'cross bike. The Bontragers replace the Ritchey wheels which I never really liked, so I use the Ritchey's for general commuting and road training. Once I got the wheels replaced, I decided to do a little general bike maintenance on the fleet, cleaning and lubing various parts on each of my bikes. My place literally looked like a bike shop for a while.

Bama Cross - Heardmont Park

I desperately need a Trun-by-Turn GSP. It's hard reading Google-Map directions while driving at speed in a strange place. Sometimes the directions don't always jive with the signage or the signs are just hard to see. I guess multitasking isn't part of my skill set. With this in mind, I left home for Birmingham at daybreak so I could be at the race with plenty of time to register and warm up. This didn't quite workout as planned. First of all, I left my cooler at home and had to turn around about 5 miles from home to go retrieve it. Things really went awry when I missed a turn in Birmingham. Somehow, I ended up in the Vestavia Hills area, so I had to backtrack until I found my turn to get on Cahaba Valley Road. In any event, I arrived at Heardmont Park with just enough time to register and do a quick warm-up in the parking lot.

Since I was running behind all day, it seems fitting that I arrived at the starting area only to line up at the back. I raced CX4 in a mixed CX4/CX5/Juniors field, so I figured they would, at least, call the CX4's to the front, but this didn't happen. The juniors went to the back, and the race started right away. This forced me to fight my way through a lot of slower traffic and congestion for the first two laps. The CX4/CX5 group started to string out going into the end of the second lap, so I found room to launch a few attacks. As the race progressed, I would attack and bridge up to the next rider or group, rest for a short period, and then bridge up the next rider. I'm not sure how many people I passed, but I do recall lapping the juniors and not loosing a place to anyone I attacked. Going into the last lap, I spotted three riders strung out in front of me, so I went for it and managed to catch the wheel of the guy in front of me. I passed him going through a double barrier set and closed in on the remaining two who were now riding together. The course flattened out and I managed to catch them on a dirt section going toward a short hill/run-up not far from the finish line. Seeing my chance, I shot past the rider in front of me and closed in on the other rider who opened a small gap. I eventually caught and passed him just before the hill. Once I got over the hill, I gave it everything I had and went for the line. I finished my day with 8th place.

Cats and Curiosity

My cat is extremely curious and this often gets him into trouble. I’ve rescued him from high places on a few occasions, and he has gotten himself locked in more than one closet over the years. His antics have been rather amusing to a point. However, today my cat's insatiable curiosity scared me to death.

We were outside and I saw my cat looking intently at something. That is when I noticed a brown stinkbug crawling up the side of a plastic bucket and my cat walking over to investigate. Before I could reach my cat, he stuck his nose up to it and got a chemical blast in the face. He immediately backed off and ran around the corner like a bolt of lightening. When I found him, he was hunched over, eyes closed, and foaming at the mouth. This scared the living crap out of me. I immediately picked him up and ran inside where I got a wet rag and started wiping his face, eyes, and the inside of his mouth. He was in some serious pain, and I was close to a panic! After a good bit of wiping and cleaning, he started to feel somewhat better and was able to open his eyes. He sat in my lap for about an hour once I got him cleaned up and he even started purring, so I felt better and knew he would be okay. I'm not sure if the ordeal scared him more or me, but he did stay close for the remainder of the day.

Election Day

After hearing stories of long lines and waits up to 6 hours in many places for early voting, I decided to get up at the crack of dawn to be at my polling place an hour before the doors opened. I arrived at 6:15 AM to see a small line already forming outside the door of about 18 people, so I apparently wasn’t the only person with plans to beat the crowds. With good weather, the wait outside wasn’t too bad. I grabbed the 20th spot in a line that grew progressively longer with each passing minute. Once the doors opened, the line flowed into the armory rather quickly to a row of tables designated by different letter ranges in the alphabet. It only took a couple of minutes before I was given a plastic card for the Diebold voting machines. I spied a machine in the back of the armory and made my way over. When I inserted the card into the machine something happened and the machine failed to work. One of the workers came over and opened the machine, did something that made some funny sounds, and inserted the card only to have it fail again. He went to the registration table to get another card for the machine. When he inserted this card the machine failed to work for a third time. He opened that machine again, did something, and closed it. He then waived over an official of some sort and got yet another card for the machine. After inserting this card, the machine finally worked and I could vote.

I’ve never been a big fan of these Diebold voting machines. They have too many issues and there isn’t a paper trail should the election be contested. The really scary part is you don’t know what is going on inside that machine when you cast your ballot. This just seems fundamentally wrong to me.

2009 USAC Ultra-Endurance Calendar

I plan on doing some endurance races in 2009 and two of the events on my hit list are part of the USAC Ultra-Endurance Calendar. Any advice will be most helpful. ;)


Feb 14. "Mas O Menos 100k",
Terlingua TX.
www.desertsportstx.com

*March 7/8. "Spa City Extreme",
Hot Springs AR.
www.DLTmultisport.com

*May 9. "Dirt, Sweat, and Gears",
Fayetteville TN.
www.dirtsweatandgears.com

June 20. "8th Annual Cowbell Challenge",
Davidson NC.
www.cowbellchallenge.org

July 4. "Marathon National Championships",
Breckenridge CO.
www.mavsports.com

September 19/20. "24-Hour National Championship",
Payson AZ.
www.tucsonracing.com

October 24/25. "National MTB Oktoberfest",
Davidson NC.
www.NationalMtbOktoberfest.org