The Secret Single Speed Class: 8 hours of Labor.

Well, its time to make bike race.
All week I focused on eating right to stay and burn as clean as possible on Sunday. Stepped on the scales and I am a Lean 168lbs going into this fight, mean and cut up like an MMA fighter.
Around 3pm as a rule for the SSSC class I will start shotgunning a cold one every lap till I finish the race.
I reckon we ain't starting at 10am cause that would make everyone in this secret division an alcoholic, and trust me, I am far from an alcoholic, I like beer only when I ride single speed.
They go together, I have done extensive research, riding SS means you like or need to find the love for brews.
I know if you just started SS you might have a hard time believing this, but give it some time you will see what I am saying is indeed fact.
In fact one of the most memorable rides I had was a full moon ride out at Santos after hastily drinking 3 cold Ambers. One word to describe it: Psychedelic!!!

Those of us brave enough to fight the heat on Sunday: God speed. Find it. Follow the flow of and the rhythm of the trail. Be open to the lesson that the universe will teach you that day. Be in the moment, accept the experience, the suffering, the pleasure, the agony and defeat. Accept it all and then build towards your next personal investment in seeking the most beautiful gift of fighting a battle like a lone and true warrior!

Ao'N

Laters,
LOS

100 MileS And RuNNiN: Final thoughts before the race.

The run is done and I'm feeling good. Ready to go out there and put my best effort. Its funny, I now understand the whole sponsorship thing a little better. Jay P, former record holder of the GDR, uses slime tubes. Got me curious on trying some, ordered some and installed them last night. All because I knew if he used them then they had to be worth it, the man's an animal.
I learned from my previous race experience at the Santos 12 hour.
1. I got super worn out from the tech riding, to combat it, I beefed up my arms.
2. I got fatigued quick, but found out later, it was due to a medical condition, problem fixed.
3. I climbed too slow, lost 30 lbs to help with that.
4. I got a flat late in the race, when I was tired and fatigued, I discovered changing a flat was not as fast as I would of done it in the day time during a XC race. I got slime tubes, a slight weight penalty but I should be flat free and not have to worry about changing a flat late in the race. That flat made the difference between 81 miles and 90 miles. I could of moved up like three spots if I would not have flatted and made the podium in my class my first race.
5. I never really knew where I was in the race, my place, if I would have known I would of done somethings differently. This time I will have my pit do a better job of keeping me informed as well as fed and hydrated.(as if she doesn't have enough to do)

My concerns. Well, I am not worried about the heat, nor the rain. I'm not worried about the nutrition and I got all my bikes ready last night. I am worried slightly about my legs. I guess my new levels have made me stronger then my legs can handle and it will take some time to adjust, so I got no choice but to just go for it and hopefully I can ride myself into the numb zone quick.

I am really looking forward to getting the start out of the way. I do well in the run, I do well in the start, but I really look forward to that part of the race, that even though there may be 300 other people out there, you somehow always end up alone, that's the part I like.

On some final notes. At first I was hating my new expensive custom handlebar bag. But once I figured out how to use it, I discovered that thing is super duper fly. It works so good. I'm planning to head up to Pisgah early October and I plan to use it instead of a hydration pack for the purpose of secret training. Also, although I didn't get a crankset, I finally resurrected my surly cross check and its ready for some road work. I don't like riding road, but I don't want to do the horrible hundred on my Mamasita again, so I guess its the right tool for the right job kind of thing, I will probably take it for a spin tonight, why not. I applied my wobble measurements and it looks spot on and really nice. I know once I get on it, I will remember how much I love that bike and how many good memories we have. So many good and hard races together.... Its actually the bike out of all my bikes that I have had the longest. On average an MTB bike last about 1 year with me, I have learned to start keeping them a little longer now.

Laters,

LOS

100 MiLeS and RuNNiN: Impressions of the NK ride I did last night.

100 miles is the goal. All before the 8 hours of Labor.
Last Night Naked Indian Ride. Best Training Ride in West Volusia.
My house is an Island. People flooded to the hilt, their house is the only thing left not flooded.
Everything else is submerged. Riding thru lakes and streams that didnt exist several months ago.
Soft Sand is Bad. Hard Sand is good. Over Saturated Sand, is Awful.
50 miles, in 4 hours and 7 minutes, fastest for me yet. 13 miles, I had to stand and pedal the whole way, the saturated sand is an evil foe.
The single track was sweet. Super Sweet. Till I climbed North. Then it turned Evil Overtly Evil. I have never ever had a forest in my way with downed trees to big to simply carryover hop. Kick the branches, pound my way thru, If there is away to Gently throw your bike over a downed tree, I discovered it last night.
No hydration packs, I aint racing with one so I aint training with one. Used my new handlebar bag to carry extra water.
At first it sucked. Till I figured out how to use it, then it rocked.
Streams everywhere. Nearly Hub deep and bottom brackett deep water. Nearly, my pedals got submerged and going fast splits the tide like Noah in the fabled bible myths.
Toughest Naked Ride I have done to date.
Now I got a new problem. My lungs are about 100 times stronger then my legs. So although I had the ability to pedal 13 miles standing up (and no choice) my legs are hurting bad today.
Interesting problem I have never had before.

Laters,
LOS

A Tale Told Two Ways: ParT TwO

The story really starts on Friday. Late evening Friday my good friend Magii calls to ask if I want to go to the All Nations Skate Jam at Vans Skate park in Orlando the next day. He informs me that he will be competing around 3pm and he would like the bird and I to show our support. I wanted to go and I wanted to be there, but I got a race a week away I really need to just put a little more conditioning into the legs.

What alot of people don't know is that I run the Shaolin School for Cat Training and I have a student named Mo Mo. Its an important part of feline development to fight and play fight, especially for little Mo, he likes to test his skills. And this Saturday morning was no different then the others as Mo Mo and I engaged in mock battle. Its good times to see him developing his self defense skills.

Shortly after that session, I decided to just go ahead and shoot out there early to the skate jam and skip the ride all together, I figured I will ride the Monday, Tuesday and Thursday to make up for the ride I will miss today. Everything you do when it comes to kids turns into a mission and this morning was no exception as we made our way to drop my sons of with their Biological Mother. As I was dropping them off I found the most curious piece of wood with spikes sticking out of it I had to take a picture.

We had a pretty good drive out there, stopped at Olive Garden for Unlimited soup and salad and then made our way to Vans Skatepark. Its actually my first time being in this place and I was really curious. Were walking around, we find my friend practicing, I go ahead and buy a membership to the park and sign up for a session. We make our way upstairs and I spot a table that was hosting the sponsors of the contest. I start checking out their merchandise and notice the announcer of the skate contest was at the table. The people putting on the contest are based out of Michigan and their company name is Native Skates. They are one of a couple of Native American owned and ran skateboard companies. I introduced myself to the announcer, Jim, and for the heck of it I asked if I could help judge the contest. He asked for my credentials and I told him, I have been skating for about 24 years, I think I can do it. He motioned to another Judge named Bill and asked him if we could use another Judge, and Bill said Yes.

I have ALWAYS wanted to judge a skateboard contest ever since I was a kid. This was such an awesome moment for me, I got to sit up there and judge the contest. The contest started in the street section with the Beginners 18 plus. The skating was pretty fierce, and I judged well. Bill then came back and asked me to judge the two remaining events.

The bowl contest was Bananas. The kids, even the small ones were just doing so well, so fierce and so fearless. I was thoroughly impressed by the caliber of the riders. The last street contest really set it off. One kid pulled a 540 off the big quarter to the slant bank, pretty much guaranteeing the win. The last street contest final street jam was crazy to say the least, they were doing some hardcore innovative enormous tricks.

In between contest. I met the owner of Native Skates, Todd. And I basically asked Todd if he ever considered sponsoring a MTB Racer. And he said he hadn't, but he also said he would, and hooked me up with tons of shirts and tons of all natural Tanka Bars for my upcoming race. So I am now sponsored by Native Skates for Clothing and related accessories, I'm sure he will hook me up with a free deck. Magii got picked up as well for skateboarding and we went to dinner with the whole crew.

Before dinner, Magii and my wife were driving around in my car when he told me that the other Judge was Bill Danforth(damn skateboarding Legend) and the announcer was Jim Murphy (another skateboarding legend). I about had a heart attack. There I was judging a skateboard contest with a skateboarder I looked up too as a kid and the announcer was a legend as well. Turns out they were all going to dinner as well, so we got to hang out for several hours, sat right by him, talked and drank beers all night, it was good times with some really good people. Incredible.

One Saturday, one sponsor, two legends and a skateboarding contest. That's the stuff dreams are made off. Its amazing what you can get when you simply ask. By asking, not only did I get to fulfill a dream of contest judging, but I also got a new sponsor to dud me up for all my future adventures.

Final Picture, Do you got a little captain in you?

Laters,

LOS

A Tale Told Two Ways: ParT OnE

A Tale Told Two Ways: The ProLoguE

I love to share stories thus the reason for the existence of said blog. Our weekend was spectacular make a wish type of weekend for me. Really, really good. So in the spirit of interesting reading for people who read this said blog, I will share the story of this weekend in two separate ways. I usually combine the two and mix the pictures with the writing, which is the normal way of doing things. This time it will be different.

OK off we go..

Enjoy,
Laters,
LOS

End Of YeaR RacE ScheduLe

I'm going against my own ways and posting up a schedule of the races and places I plan to be at for the rest of the year. Because I am part of one of the best teams in the state BikeWorks Orlando, I am going to take the kids to some of the XC races so I might as well join the suffering fun. Plus I like the courses that they are going to be at, so I might as well take another crack at the SS class.

Here we go:
8 hours of Labor, August 31st. Alachua, FL
Florida State Championship #1 September 13-14. Gainesville, FL, Hailes Trails SS class.
Florida State Championship #2 September 28th Fernadina Beach, FL
Florida State Championship #3 October 11-12 Tallhassee, FL
Double Dare October 18-19 Pisgah Forest, NC.
SWANK 65 Pisgah Forest, NC November 9th.
Horrible Hundred November 16th Clermont, FL.
Florida State Championship #7 November 30th Alachua, FL.
Individual Time Trial of the L.O.S.T. Lake Okeechobee Florida, December 13th.

That is all, hope to see you guys out there pedaling your hardest.

Laters,
LOS

B-a-n-a-n-a-S!!

Wow. The weather is ridiculous. On my drive home from work I could see the chaos unfolding. Its getting crazy out there and if it keeps raining the problem is going to get much worst for everyone. I feel pretty safe, but there is some serious flooding afoot. I am concerned for some of the people round here. As I sit I am looking out the window and the wind is really whipping. Wow. Ok. Ya check back for some media when i collect some...
Laters,
LOSThe water pump you see in this picture usually sits above ground, the front of the shot is the street, crazy right.


This is the rear parking lot at work, The lot is now undrivable and since I took this picture the water went up even more, doesnt look like its letting up either.
This is the same lot, 30 minutes later, the flooding increased dramatically. Our shop is up on the hill, the one behind us is at the bottom. He will have problems here in about an hour or so.

StaTe oF AffAirs

The 8 hours of Labor is ten days away and I want to take a minute to evaluate myself.
I have ridden as much as I can, considering the fact that this was supposed to be a huge training week for me and now I got a Tropical Storm Parked over my house for going on three days now.
So the legs don't have as many miles in them as I would like and with the race being less than two weeks away, I will just have to rely on good ole fashion stubbornness and deep rooted suffering skills.
Now I remember my 12 hours at Santos experience all too well. And I learn from my shortcomings and have been doing work on my core and my arms to keep them strong threw the hours and hours of technical riding. That part of my plan is going well.
I want to put out an honest effort and crack the top ten in a field that will probably be filled with lots of very fast and seasoned riders. I have never really stepped to the line feeling as good with my physical form as I am about to do on the 31st so I am interested in seeing what the results will be and what will happen.
I plan on riding the WarMachine in the race, but wish I had a Vassago Rigid fork since I love the one I got on my Mamasita so much. I may even buy one before the race and slap it one just to get the feel for the bike that I want. I will have my Mamasita there as a back up just in case I experience any mechanical problems which is doubtful on a single speed bike.
So my goals for that day are simple enough. One lap an hour. Have tons of Fun and ride for the entire 8 hours with less than 10 minutes of pit stops. Well see what happens.
In other news, I finally got my custom Bike packing bags from Jeff at Carousel Designs, now I just got to figure out how to use them, and I will have my bad ass trail running shoes soon so I can continue my preparation for the double dare.

Laters,
LOS

PhotoJournaL: Our Family is TriPPiN!!!