How did THAT happen?

I managed to get out to the Whirlpool trails after work today for a planned two hour training ride, but things just didn't work out that way. Not 30 minutes into my ride, I magically get a 5 foot long, 4 inch thick, log jammed between the chainstay and spokes of my rear wheel. ... A log - Seriously!

I didn't have my camera with me, but I promise it looked like this.

Spring has Sprung!

Ned Knows 29ers

If you still aren't sure about 29ers, or want to know what all the fuss is about, just listen to mountain bike legend, Ned Overend, explain why the 29er is the future of mountain biking in this interview.

Can't Catch a Break

I was supposed to start getting super serious about my training today, but it seems I can't catch a break. It's like something always happens that throws a wrench into my training plans. I had planned all week on going out to Clear Creek bright and early today for three laps or more of hard endurance training, but not two seconds after I woke up I did something to my right shoulder. I literally opened my eyes, started stretching as I woke up and WHAM! I get a sharp pain in my shoulder and couldn't move without hurting.

2011 Races

I didn't do a single race last season because the economy tanked and I'd just bought a new house, so something had to give. I'm hopeful the worst of the bad economy is behind us now, so I've been looking at various race websites and trying to figure out which, if any, I'd like to do this year. Naturally, this all depends on a lot of unseen variables like gas prices, the general economy, budget cuts, and even bad weather, so I reserve the right to change my mind and just stay home. One thing for sure is I probably won't be doing as many cross country races and I've done in years past. In fact, I only have two XC races on my list. This is the year I'm making the jump to more endurance (XXC) style events.

April 30, Cohutta 65/100
June 5, Bump 'n Grind at Oak Mountain, Birmingham, AL.
July 24, ORAMM, Old Fort, NC.
Aug. 20, Fool's Gold
Sept. 11, Black Bear Rampage, Ducktown, TN.
Oct. 2, 12 Hours of Stank, Memphis, TN.
Oct 15, 6 hours of Herb, Collierville, TN
Sept 4, Skool of Hard Nox, Louisville, MS
Sept. 18, Clear Creek Challenge, Oxford, MS.
Nov 12, Oak Mt. 6-hour Race, Birmingham, AL

New XO Brakes

I have a new set of brakes to replace those lousy Elixir CR brakes that gave me nothing but grief. I'd finally had enough and contacted the shop about getting SRAM to man up and replace those worthless things. To SRAM's credit, they came through and sent a new pair of XO stoppers.

They look and feel great, but time will tell how they perform on the trail.

My only real complaint so far are the ridiculously long cables. Seriously! Just look at those things. I don't know why the shop didn't cut them to fit when they were installed. I'll eventually have to get that corrected, but I'm just thrilled to have working brakes for now.

Another day in Oxford, Colorado