Just got a SPONSOR!

I tried to get sponsored by the usual players in the game,   Maxxis, GU nutrition,  Hammer, Shimano (yeah right)

Emergen-C,  new sponsor of  58inches.blogspot.com, and Chainbuster Racing!

and several others.   It's difficult to think too far outside the box,  because this is a sport.   Mountain biking is a serious physical test of a persons fitness, mental health (or lack of it)  and the ability to heal after a big race event.  So I got to thinking.  What is something someone takes to aid in healing?  To fight off a cold?  To aid in rebuilding your immune system or just giving it a boost?   How about  'Emergen-C'  ?   I emailed them with details of the next race series I'm going to participate in,  and described all the insane conditions the mountain bikers face before, during, and after these events.   There was mention on the website about how it could take them up to 3 months to reply.   I have to admit,  my hopes were not that high.  But they came through,  and now Emergenc-C  is sending me lots of goodies!!!    Hooray!   I can't wait to see everyone's excitement at the Chainbuster 9/6hour Endurance Race at Heritage Park  which is taking place Saturday February 12 in Farmington Georgia!!!!    So pumped! 

Snake Creek Gap 34 Miler, singlespeed aftermath!

Well that hurt a little.  After the series finale I had some stitches below my right knee.  No riding for 2 weeks.  Of course I tried anyway,  and broke them open.  Another week and a half off the bike.  Slow recovery for sure.  I wasn't going to let that get in my way though...   cold weather in Georgia?  No problem.  I went to Florida and rode for a warm weekend with my girlfriend.   Back in town and it's raining?  I rode the trainer.  Went for a run.  Unfortunately, I next got a sinus infection.  No way to beat that except for rest, and meds.   Oh,  the Snake Creek Gap TT is tomorrow?  No problem.  I'll just suffer through it and be stronger for it.
Goal I set before the sinus infection:   5 hours.   5 hours for the toughest 34 mile race course in the southeast.  I'm going to need every second of it!

I rolled up in the starting line that morning feeling pretty good.  Advil Cold and Sinus in my system,  a little caffeine,  and no idea what the first 17 miles had in store.  Saw a few familiar faces and had a few laughs.  Mark Duffus and myself (Mark a.k.a 'the nemesis') and two others started at the same time.  He had gears however, and for the first few miles of uphill I would slowly climb away from him,  then on the long downhills he would catch up.  This went on for the first 10-12 miles.   I passed him,  he passed me.  Repeat.  I'm okay with that.  I noticed 3.5 miles into the race that my lungs did NOT have the capacity I'd hoped for, because of the sinus infection, and had to hike more than I had hoped.   I felt my legs getting way to tight, and knew cramping was near.

Halfway point.  Wow,  I have a new found respect for Singlespeeders.  This is tough.  At the halfway point at 2:07.   Just a couple minutes slower than I had hoped, but still do-able.   After eating half a banana and a couple of fig newtons from the sag stop  (A sag stop is basically a volunteer concession stand for racers) I filled my camelbak and took off.   Knowing that most of the people just getting to the sag/halfway point would be trying to pass me soon,  I had to get moving.  The next half  starts with a climb almost 2 miles long,  with short steep grunts, slick roots and some rain puddles.   My legs started cramping up just before the gravel road climb.   This is about 3 miles long and at the top is another volunteer sag/concession/aid station.  I pedaled as smoothly and as efficiently as possible up this climb and kept the legs from cramping anymore.  Temporarily.  They got worse, but I fought on.  Biking when it was do-able.  Hiking at a quick pace when it wasn't.   Just before you finish this race,  you come to a final steep climb,  with a radio antenna tower up ahead.  This is what you hope to see as soon as possible when you start this race.   There it was, right before me,  and I knew that it was all downhill from here.   Even coasting downhill hurt at this point.  My arms were tired,  my lungs were exhausted.   Here is my Garmin track for the event: (Will add soon, garmin's site is down temporarily)

Coasting in at 36 mph down the final downhill,  so excited that I was finishing.  Every year they have some home-made chili cooking at the finish line,  free beers, and bunch of good friends and fellow racers to chat with.  I got some chili,  got some kisses from my girlfriend,  and went to change clothes.   Then,  we went to feast with Keith K. at Cracker Barrel.    Final time:  5:09.   Not bad considering how bad i felt 3 miles in.  Thanks, NWGASORBA!  Can't wait for February 5th to knock some time off this.   Later I heard 'the nemesis' mention that it took him like 7 tries to break the 5 hour mark.  That being said,  I did great on the Singlespeed.    Results here:  http://snake.nwgasorba.org/    Thanks for reading!

2011 Snake Creek Gap TT#1 Jan 8th... the prequel

So I was thinking to myself...  "self,  if you are going to get a jump-start on the season you should definitely race the Snake Creek Gap Time Trial."   Info about the race here:  http://www.NWGASORBA.org  This seems completely feasible.  Lets see,  my longest ride since the Jackrabbit Mountain Chainbuster finale in October was probably around 20 miles.   Also, since that race I switched to Singlespeed.   No shifters, no cables, no derailleurs to break off mid-race.  So even then,  with my lack of recent mileage on the bike, the 17 mile option should be absolutely possible and probably not all that difficult.   (slight hint of sarcasm...)

So...  Why did I sign up for the 34 mile option?  Keep posted to see how it turns out :) 

I will upload my garmin edge 305 gps route, my time,  and tell my story.  Should be very much worthwhile...

-58inches<a 29er reference...>

The right way to ring in the new year...

Been a while since I went on a trip anywhere for fun.  Well, except for every single trip I've gone on in the last year and a half.  ;)   But this was different.  I wasn't training.  I wasn't racing.  I was going to Florida to spend time with my girlfriend Nikki G.   I got a hotel about 10 minutes from the Santos trailhead,  and there are currently over 60 miles of trail there... soon to be 70,  thanks to the OMBA SORBA volunteers and their hard work.  Those trails are awesome.  A little bit of everything....   beginner, intermediate, advanced, and the infamous 'double diamond'  or expert trails.  We rode a few hours, exploring the trails, took a lunch break, then rode even more until just after dark.  We packed Nikki's 'Magicshine' light just in case we out-rode the daylight, and it's a good thing we did.   On the way back we saw an armadillo in the trail and an opossum just before that!
First time I've ever seen an armadillo in person.  Neat creature.  Looked like a tiny dinosaur or something...

After the riding ceased we returned to our hotel and went out to eat dinner at a wonderful french restaurant in Downtown Ocala called 'La Cuisine'.  Since Nikki had lived in France for about a year at one point, I thought this would be a great romantic meal.  I was right!  She loved it...   and so did I.  In fact my stomach is growling now just thinking about it....    the duck l'orange and the side dishes were amazing.  The duck just melted in my mouth... fantastic! 

Next morning we stopped off in Cocoa Beach for a surprise I cooked up for Nikki G...     a surf lesson!  Here are some pics from this trip for you all...