Randolph Arts Guild hosts it's annual Artist Hang Show, Sam hangs her print under mine (we were early, and told the walls will be packed) . Opening reception is Tuesday at 5:30.
Nov. 29, 2013
Randolph Arts Guild hosts it's annual Artist Hang Show, Sam hangs her print under mine (we were early, and told the walls will be packed) . Opening reception is Tuesday at 5:30.
Nov. 25, 2013
A quick test to see if we get snow if I can come close to this Russian's results. This is a very small ice chip melting, photographed through a backwards 50mm lens and a macro focused on the front element.
Click here!
Nov. 24, 2013
Another year taller. When we left Scottsville, I ripped out the door jamb where we marked Sam's height.
Nov. 23, 2103
Wilkesboro Cyclocross Festival, racing both days, a couple of firsts, camping and winter temperatures.
Saturday Race Report. This was part of another series and no masters class, all Cat 4s in one group (ie racing young guys) The first first, I got the hole shot... for all 1/8 a lap. Then freight trained. I raced hard but the course was not in my favor, the climbs were off or something. 15th of 22. I had fun, but disappointed.
Sunday Race Report. I camped at the race site despite temperatures dropping to 20 degrees. In fact, at race start it was only 21! I slept great in the FlipPac wrapped in my winter sleeping bag, inside my summer bag and my head covered by a fleece blanket. In fact I slept for over 11 hours. The second first, my name was called for a call up (ie starting on the first row) The race course went in reverse of yesterday but added another climb. I had a good start and settled in about 15th... passed by a couple, passed a couple and finished 19th of 50 something... better day for me.
Cat 3 close finish for the win, last lap, last run up and they are talking to with other?
The women attack the run up.
Nov. 17, 2013
Back to Southern Pines for day two. They changed the course and the fun parts of yesterday were changed, but we all had to ride it. I was warming up and looked over at the start line 25 minutes before the race and saw they were already lining up.... doh. So I started a little deeper in the field today and then had a near crash right in front of me as we turned and narrowed on the parking lot, I had to nearly track stand to avoid going down, lost a few spots, but glad the rider in front of me saved it or else I would have plowed him.... I started picking off riders and moved into the top 15. I fell in almost the exact spot Nikki is falling in above, two riders fell right in front of me and as I changed my line, looked like her. I faded in the last 1/8 of the last lap, lost two positions to finish 17th.... and 6th in my age group. Again, a major move up for me. Good day!
Nov. 16, 2013
North Carolina state cyclocross championships today in Southern Pines. It was an interesting course that raced much better than it rode. Southern Pines is in the sand hills, so there was a lot of sand on the course, corners, pits, run ups.... I think the beach has less sand. The run up had a last step that was a reach for me, many had to place a knee on it to pull themselves up. As an added "European:" feel, the sprinklers came on in the middle of our race. My race was awesome. I started near the front and through the first 1/8 of the lap settled there in the top 15... the technical nature of the course allowed me to stay there through the whole race and I was 13th of the 50 plus starters, ratio wise, my best finish ever!
Nov. 14, 2013
I got home with enough light to rake part of my trail.... 45 minutes of pure fun riding. It has been a long time since I was on the MTB.
Nov. 13, 2103
Scrapping snow (ice) - I am ashamed to admit I had to result to a paint scraper... how after 10 years in Rochester????
Nov. 12, 2013
My day. Ride before work and snow after dinner. (I guess Walmart will be out of milk and bread)
Nov. 11, 2013
For the second half of class today, we photographed the school's Veterans Day ceremony.
Nov. 10, 2013
NASCROSS. This week's cyclocross race was held at Orange County Speedway near Durham and was a perfect course for me. I didn't feel real good this morning, been holding off a cold all week, my back is sore and my legs felt dead all week (3 races last week?). But this was a race I wanted to do since I missed it last year. The course starts on the track and after going through turns 1 & 2, you drop into the infield for some switchbacks and the barriers. After you cross over the track you go out into the parking grass and work your way through fast turns before hitting the singletrack for a bit. After you exit the woods, you work around the outside of the track on some off camber carving turns and a run up. From here you reverse back the above to enter the track and ride the banking around 3 & 4 to the start line.
The Race: Over 60 Master Cat 4 racers lined up and I started in a good spot. As we worked through the first turns, I had a "Richard" chop me hard and would have taken both of us down had I not braked hard and changed my line.... payback? He took down another rider in the woods doing the same thing... I guess he REALLY wants that medal. (I did have the thought, most of the field races with some sponsor's jersey, this guy had a Hammer jersey, it seems sponsors would not want a "Richard" to race representing them) - Anyway, I started picking off riders through the first lap and then did two things I have not done this season. 1. Big Chain Ring: I raced the whole lap in the big ring except for the off-camber curves. 2. Crashed: On the last lap, my bike just washed out from under me on the above off-camber curves, just a riding then on the ground crash.
Final: 21st in the race, 8th in age group (best of year) but still 10th in series.
PS the hornet nest. I backed into my parking spot, set up, looked up and saw it.... doh!
Nov. 8, 2013
A lovely day for a ride. I used a set of city tires on my CX bike for all the rides this week.
Nov. 4, 2013
Pisgah Covered Bridge. Since Sam had to be at school early for student government, I photographed a little of the last of fall color.
Nov. 3, 2013
Day 2. Drive back to Boone before the sun is up. It is still windy, cold, and course is more rutted.
I arrived with plenty of time to change and warm up. The field is much larger (twice the size) and we are the first race of the day (old guys, 35+,45+,55+ Cat 4) This is the race I care about and started strong again, there was a lot more pushing and such throughout the first lap, but I was riding my race, letting folks go that were faster and racing to catch anyone in front of me. I settled into my position in the middle and ran down several racers on the last lap. 26th out of the 57 finishers and 12th in my age group. (That moves me into 10th in age group for the series) I stayed around and cheered for friends, had a nice lunch and debated about racing the open Cat 4 race when another rider was begging for a helmet (he left his at home) I had a spare and since I had to wait, I might as well race ; )
81 riders lined up for the open Cat 4..... That is correct 81! My legs were smoked so I lined up on the last row and planned to use the race as practice of catching and passing riders, you know the 70 or so in front of me.... the whistle blows and we slowly start.... how fast can 81 riders go down a chute, U turn and hit a long run up? From there I was just having fun, my bike was hooked up and I was passing folks. I had no idea where I was in the field, just trying to catch the guy in front. I finished 57 of the 77 finishers. I was happy with that!
This was a fun course, flats, 2 run ups, a stage "fly over" half a lap on an old dirt race track, slick switch backs and free food on Sunday.
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