update

Its been a little while since I posted last. for this I am sorry. Truth is nothing has really been going on. Three weeks ago I crashed while bombing down Blue Ribbon and sprained my shoulder so I have been baned from the bike...until today. I am tired of not riding so I am going to see if i can manage a road ride today. I should not have any issues. The shoulder is feeling much better and I am back to 90% range of motion. The main problem is the fitness I have lost in the last three weeks. This season has seriously been a black one for me hopefully I will start to see the light in the last quarter.

THE TOUR

Happy 4th!!!

Hello and welcome to my corner of the interwebs once again. The rumors of a group ride on July 4th finally became actual plans at 830pm July the 3rd. We were going to follow Casey Ryback though Dtown St.Louis and into Furby's playground. Don't tell him though because it was just too nice a day to "Stay the hell out of Illinois!" Five of us met at Forsyth and Skinker; Casey Ryback ("Guide"), Captain Jack Tagert, Gino, Shop Minister and myself. We cut though Forest Park, jumped on Bike St.Louis trail network, and shortly found ourselves crossing the swollen Mississippi. The weather was beautiful and despite the hammer fest in the rain the night before at Cwood (AKA the Short Track Series which you should be attending) the legs woke up and were ready to lay down some miles. Once we entered the state that's only claim to fame is Abe Lincoln and the worst Baseball team on earth we made short work of their trail system which is head an shoulders better then the previously mentioned baseball team. It even gave us warning of potentially sliding sideways.


I honestly didn't pay much attention to what we were riding on or where we were going because the legs just felt to good to focus on anything else. We stopped off at the Lewis and Clark site to break the law before heading back toward our home state. This is where our coarse and superior attitude were both put to the test. However, we recovered and found an alternate route though hell and high water back to the city that is home to the boweling hall of fame (which is fleeing). Back at our starting point we bid fond farewells and kind sentiments before heading our separate ways.

62miles with a 17+ mph average is a pretty good ride no matter which way you type it. Enjoy this video clip of Casey's Bike after the mud fest.


This is how the ride left me=> => => => +. => => =>

Still single ladies...Call me!


PE@CE~

Dirt Crits!!!!1

My first mountain bike race was one of the short track races. I showed with a full suspension, cargo shorts, a free ride jersey, and stood out against all of the lycra clad riders on hardtails like a fat kid during dodgeball. I was stoked this year when I heard the short track series was coming back. A huge thanks to Pfoodman for putting this on! Thursday night was a uber rad.

Instead of handing of $25 to pay for a one day licence and entry to the "C" race I forked over $50 to cover me for all 6 "A" races. I lined up in the field with 19 other BAMFs wearing lycra straddling my hardtail (a lot has changed). I was positioned behind Chris hoping I might get a lead out. This was a mistake because he was gassy and the smog before the race didn't help me much. The siren went off and it was time to grip it and rip it. My pseudo hopes of holding on near the front were shattered pretty much when I clipped in but I sprinted none the less as the pack started to spread like jelly on wheat bread.

I yo-yoed with a group of four riders one being a super sport rider Drew Black, another being fellow DRJ teammate Tom Albert, another Mesa rider (they are always a threat), and Mr. Velo Force Pace Setter. I watched as the pace began to take its toll on the guy from Mesa and Velo Force and started digging to get up with Tom who was losing Drew slowly. The road bike must be having an effect because I caught up to him and we started working together for the middle part of the race. I got in front and started pulling as much as I could as we came through the start finish " 24 min and some change" we where told. "3 laps left" I heard Tom say over the pounding of my heart. I asked the legs for more hoping we could pull Drew back in. They answered with a "HELLZ YEAH" the start/finish line came around pretty quickly "29 min and change" the time keeper said "Now three more laps" Tom said with a sheepish tone. I did not have the legs left to hold my pace and Tom went around me. I still had to worry about the Velo
force rider so I kept the self motivation up. I managed to pass Scott on a surly cross bike and he said something about no legs. I came through the start/finish with Tom and Drew still in sight but slid out in the grass and pretty much rode to hold my place from there on out. I have not had that good of a time on a bike since lost valley when I felt like superman flyin' through the sport class. But this post has gotten Dave Breslin (who was mysteriously absent on Thursday) long so I am going to pe@ce out.

Since I normally have to be at tarbucks at 445am and I get off at the bike shop at 8pm riding from home means I have to leave my house no later then 345am and I wont be returning till after 9pm. The solution to this problem: A semi-commute. I pack everything I need in the back of my MOPAR rocket and drive to sbux. After my shift I don my gear like the portly cycle dork I am and head off to job two at TC. Once my time there is completed I again mount up, ride back to sbux to pick up my hooptie and grab a soy chi for some protein replacement on the drive home. The route to varies depending on how much time I have between jobs. So far this is the longest route I have done.

Two days and just over 70miles kind of weak sauce but I'm getting it back.