Dec. 16, 2012

A great day for a solo ride in Uwharrie and then picking parts from a Land Cruiser in Charlotte.

Dec. 14, 2012

The dreaded size comparison?

Nov. 9, 2012

Kay climbs in Uwharrie, felt great to be back on a mtn bike after so long.

Aug. 26, 2012

The last race of the Southern Classic Mountain Bike Series at Dark Mountain in Wilkesboro. I still have not recovered from my lack training and didn't expect much. The race started with this up and over drainage ditch and I knew in my race I wanted to be close to the front to avoid anyone crashing (like this guy did) My start was great and I was second over the pipe and onto the first big climb. I dropped to 4th on the climb and bombed down the other side till the next climb. I gave up two more spots on this climb and stayed in 6th the rest of the race. Luckily that was enough to stay in second for the series and second in the North Carolina State Championships. It was a fun summer of racing, riding a bunch of new trails and meeting some great new friends.

Aug. 25, 2012

Packed and ready. I spent the day "messing" oil change, bike maintenance, etc. But seeing how I need to leave at 5am, I am packed.

Aug. 22, 2012

Pre-riding the final race course of the season, Dark Mountain.

Aug. 12, 2012

The next to last race of the 2012 Southern Classic Mountain Bike Series. I knew going in that 4 rides in a month was not a receipt for success and I was right. (Summer semester kicks my ass) I also learned my worn out Conti Race King rear tire doesn't like muddy climbs. In the end, my 7th place finish should wrap up third for the series.

July 15, 2012

A muddy third place. Great race in the Greensboro Battle of The Bikes.

May 26, 2012

Look what was blocking the trail. An adult Timber Rattlesnake.

May 22, 2012

Lots of choices to post today, the first small format class and lab, Erin making a silly face while I demonstrated a flash, my boss making a face, but I choose this picture since this was the subject of chatter all day for my racing friends. There are 4 of us racing for the Cat 3 Southern Classic Mountain Bike Series championship, all of us got this e-mail. We have petitioned the series to allow us to finish the series as Cat 3, just waiting for the answer. Fun fact, in the race two weeks ago, I finished second, my lap time, if doubled for the Cat 2 race (assuming I could do another lap just as fast.... read unlikely) would have had me finishing DFL.

May 20, 2012

The rabbit. Spitz captured this baby rabbit last night. Mountain biking, today was the River Classic in Charlotte as part of the Southern Classic Mountain Bike Series. I had a great start and ran 2nd for most of the first half, I lost a little ground while passing back markers from earlier waves and even fell to 4th... I caught 2nd and 3rd late and set them up for a sprint. I ran out of room, finishing third, second and I were wheel to wheel, I was just a 1 foot behind him. I learned I don't know how to throw my bike like Tour de France sprints... but I was on the rivet... 5 more yards and I think I had him. As they say in NASCAR, it was a good points days for me in the series. Congrats to Chip Harris on his first series victory!

May 6, 2012

Great second place finish today in the Southern Classic Hobby Park race, Matt and I exited the woods together and I finally got to sprint (and win) someone for a place. I was really lucky Matt chooses to race singlespeed : P (all photos by Sam)

April 29, 2012

On the top step, I won my age group in the Southern Classic's Race to the River in Columbia. I had a great start and everything was dialed in... just a good day. On a side note: Yesterday after I pre-rode the course, another racer parked next to me asked me "why do you race?" He was over 50 and doing his first race, his friends had talked him into it since these were his home trails... My answers: 1. I need the carrot and stick. I love riding my bike, but without racing, I don't ride enough to really get into shape, or at least slow down the effects of my bad diet (love of food) 2. I like the travel, riding new places, seeing new things, an excuse to explore. 3. I really like the nervousness I feel on the start line, the "butterflies" waiting for the gun. I felt it in triathlon, every softball season in my first at bat and at every bike race. As we talked, about my answers, it came up he has motorcycles and I explained I have wanted a dual sport, I admire how motorcyclists still just go for a ride, they have no agenda, place to be, just drive small roads for the fun of it. I do this in my truck, but I would really enjoy 60 mpg over my 17mpg. The dual sport is needed so I can still explore dirt roads, etc... he said he has been wanting another bike but has a spreadsheet for his retirement (he is an engineer) and knows how much he can spend so his kids don't inherit too much and how much to save so he doesn't run out of money. All I could add was my feeling, "no one lies on their deathbed and says I wish I had saved more...." I don't think I helped him.

April 14, 2012

Saturday:
Sam and I started the day with a bike ride in Tsali, then the family hiked along the lake trail, including finding this old homestead and a mule shoe that I think was from when they forested the land before the damn was finished. Clay and Kay joined us and we rode the other half of the Tsali trails (Mouse and Thompson) - after dinner Clay and I rode Thompson on a night ride.
Great day!

April 7, 2012

My mom's cat "Baby."
Late picture, but a fun day. I headed back to Manchester State Forest (before my annual pass expired) and rode for 2.5 hours, even got in the new trail Campbell Pond.

April 1, 2012

A See Rock City barn and on the podium (5th) after a great race. See yesterday's pictures of the views, cause I didn't see anything today... I went as hard as I could. I was in third at almost half way when I got caught by 4th, I could out climb him, but he was dropping me on the way down and pulled away.... then I was passed by someone going so fast, I assumed he was a fast guy from a later wave, but nope. I stayed at it as hard as I could go and had a blast. That night my mom and I played some at the casino in Cherokee, I did better in the woods.

March 31, 2012

Today was spend pre-riding the race course in Tsali in western NC, man this place is awesome! My lap will have three steep climbs with fast and flowing single track between them. The image of the guys climbing one is pro and one an expert... look at their body language... of coarse when they "caught up to me" they called me "sir"... That hurt ; )
I tried to ride with them to the next hill.... they were so smooth going down.... I have a long way to go!

March 29, 2012

Brian and Cindy's last day of the visit, so we went back to Uwharrie NF and rode some more. We then enjoyed the first camp fire of the year and pie iron calzones. Thanks again for driving down and hanging out Brian and Cindy, we had a blast!

March 28, 2012

Brian and I attacked Country Park and Owls Nest in Greensboro, then we all went visiting potteries. Brian and Cindy brought the fixings for Skyline Chili, so we ate well!

March 13, 2012

Day 2 of "Summer Break"
I drove over to Sanford and prerode a race course. I hated the course, I may not even race now. On the way home I stopped for my first kayak in the moving water.... well moving it was, I dropped in and tried to get up stream but a small waterfall turned me away, so I started down stream when I noticed two men drive up on mopeds and park near my truck... so I stayed close and just played. So neither "workout" went as planned, but it is still "summer."