Family Visit, Stone Mountain

My family came down from TN to attend the Yellow River Festival and hang out at Stone Mountain with us. My brother Mikah is now in the Marines and stationed in NC, he came down to beat up on (show love to) our younger brothers.

Yellow River Clinic Oct 07

What a great weekend for rides and clinics. I led the advanced clinic and we had a great group. Thanks to Dave for taking me on a pre-ride of the trails the night before to prepare. Sorba Link

Cyclocross

After leaving Florida we spent the day in Anniston, AL so Todd could put in another day working in Talladega. We rode the Cheaha State Park trails Thursday. Todd worked Friday. I did errands and sat for three hours at a doctor's office trying to get something for the poison sumac, chiggers and fire ant bites that are almost covering me including my face (more welcome to the south items).

Saturday Todd and I did our first cyclocross race (Nashville, TN). Thanks to Dan Hensley and Cumberland Transit I was able to borrow a cross bike. Todd rode his hardtail. We pulled into TN at midnight the night before the race and started the cyclocross DVD that Kari Linder recommended over a year ago. I had ordered it, but never opened it. We got through the mounting and dismounting sections then went to bed. The morning of the race we watched the carrying section while we rushed around getting ready. We got to the race (late), I put my pedals on the borrowed cross bike, took the cages off (didn't adjust the seat or anything) then raced. I raced Pro/1/2, Todd raced Masters 35+, I placed 1st (of only 4 women, but I raced with the Cat3s so had plenty of people to race). Todd started one minute behind us and passed me right before the finish line, he placed 3rd of 12. We did it again on Sunday then had beer and food with Thad, Troy (pictured), Dan and Holly. Thanks to Holly for the good food and place to hang out.

Interbike, Ride with Tinker

Monday and Tuesday was spent at the Bootleg Demo, test riding bikes and socializing with a lot of people we hadn't seen in a while. The doors to Interbike opened Wednesday and we attended the Cross Vegas race. I had never seen a cross race, they made the mounting/dismounting look easy. Todd had to fly out for a job Wed night, I rode a night ride at Red Rock led by Tinker Juarez. There was a big turnout for the night ride (a bike demo ride by Cannondale and a light company). We split into three groups, the fastest (smallest) group went with Tinker, a fast local guy (the leader), 5 other guys (mostly non-American racers) and me.

I was a little worried that the pace would be too fast, but after the first 5 minutes or so (where I thought I would be dropped for sure) it was perfect. It was a fun ride, hammer as hard as possible (for me) then stop and wait. At first everyone was fast and I was in the back, but as guys fumbled I would pass. By the halfway point I was riding 2nd or 3rd, Tinker chilled out behind me, he is the nicest guy, no ego whatsoever. It was pretty crazy, twisty-turny-rocky with a low powered handlebar light that kept coming loose. If I was not on another guy's tail I could not see or stay on the trail. I think I hit my pedals and bottom bracket more times than I have all year put together. There were some super-fast, buff, swoopy sections that were pretty scary (at speed, in the dark), I was riding second through that section and didn't want to hold anyone up. After a really rocky section I got a flat (rear tubeless TTs with Stans). I added air and rode out on less than 20 lbs, the Stans held. After the flat I was leading for a while, big ring semi-rolling section, I got really tired and pulled over to let the whole group by and it was only Tinker and the local leader guy. The three of us came in together, the rest of the group had broken up. :) Thursday October 18, 2007 - 10:22am (MDT)

09/22/07 Leaving NM, Headed to Interbike

Todd cutting us a path out. We knew it would be a little difficult to get out of our parking spot at Todd's Mom's.

Florida con't

Taking the ferry from Jacksonville, FL to Amelia Island. I was not sure we would be allowed on, but there was no problem.

Todd found another State Park with large rig camp sites and a good mountain bike trail. We decided to do a big ride since we haven't spent much time on the bike recently (except the race) and are planning to do the 6-hour race at Gainesville College. 4.5 hours, six laps, at a 4.5 hour race-pace I guess, I was pretty tired when we were done.

I am not used to tight trees anymore, I nailed one with my head and broke the helmet in three places. The cover kept it all together so I could finish the ride.

10/07/07 Hanna Park, FL XC Race

Crazy muddy MTB race in Florida (it had been raining almost non-stop for 7-days). The mud pits were long and deep, so I started practicing cyclocross a bit, at least running (sludging) through the mud and trying to jump back on. I tried a dismount once but it was too nasty muddy with hidden roots and tight trees, I almost wrecked so I stuck to practicing mounting. In addition to the mud, it was really hot and humid. My HR was really high, but my watch display was out due to yesterday's wet pre-ride so didn't know it till I looked at the download. I placed 2nd by 1.11 minutes. It was great to do a Gone Riding race! I really enjoyed seeing Dave and Terri Berger, they always put on a great race. Thursday October 18, 2007 - 11:35am

2007 Fall Trip to the Southeast

Drive, ride, not enough sleep. Drive, ride, not enough sleep. Drive, ride, not enough sleep. I drive late, Todd drives early, pets eat whenever, we sleep when we can. We tried to ride a bit every day just to keep our legs loose. 09/29: Nevada to NM, arrived Tijeras, NM campground 3:00am. 09/30: rode Cedro one last time, drove to TX, spent the night on the road when neither one of us could drive (3:00am-7:00am). 10/01: Arrived Tyler State Park, "East" TX 5:00pm. Rode good trails at the park. HUMIDITY! BUGS! I was soaked just walking out the front door and eaten alive before we unhooked. Welcome to the south. 10/2: Rode Tyler State Park trails again, shipped eBay items out from the local post office, drove east, spent the night on the road when we both needed sleep. 10/3: Arrived Anniston, AL campground ~10:00am. Todd washed up and went into work (Talladega), I went to sleep. That evening was an easy spin on Chief Ladega trail (Silver Comet on the AL side). 9:30pm I started driving toward Florida. (I like driving at night anyway and we did not want to deal with Atlanta daytime traffic.) I got us past Macon and we spent the night at Camping World. 10/4: Todd did some Camping World shopping when they opened then headed to Florida. I stayed in bed for a while. Arrived Hanna Park, FL. Short easy spin in Hanna Park mud, light rain at sunset. 10/5: RAIN, RAIN, RAIN, RAIN. No ride. Shipped some wheels to Germany and Puerto Rico (eBay), found a Starbucks, stayed indoors the rest of the day. No more driving for a few days. Thursday October 06, 2007 - 11:10am (MDT)