CauSe I RidE mOrE MiLes By 6:09AM theN MoSt RiDeRs Do All DaY!

I finally got the ball rolling on commuting by bike. Rode home nineteen miles after work today and then got up and rolling by 5am to ride 19 more miles back to work. I have to be at work at a certain time and my first AM attempt was baptismal enough as the rain fell lightly the entire ride. I bought a timbuktu messenger bag for this type of riding years ago. I used it currently as a ride bag, but yesterday and this morning it was my commuting bag. I had my bluetooth speaker poppin and no speedometer(im working on my Perceived Effort). Rolled out at 5:05 and covered the Nineteen miles by 6:09 am including traffic stops, all on my Surly cross bike. My legs feel a little tired, but I am committed to finishing out the week and driving my work truck home Thursday afternoon. No work for me Friday as I am heading out to Pisgah for a weekend of miles, NO this is NOT TRAINING!
I got to start becoming an all day all night in and out rider if I ever plan to even finish the GDR let alone be competitive, so good training this will be. Maybe I should use my handlebar bag instead of the timbuktu bag? Something to consider? Feedback fellow commuters?

LOL.
thats all,
Laters,
LOS

ItS NeW to ThIs YeAr, BuT It HaS a NaMe, ItS CaLLed, FALL!

The bird and I did the Naked Indian Ride this Past Saturday, another fifty in the books for her and I. We decided to do it backwards and it was beautiful. Details to follow, for now, enjoy some pics of my custom handlebar bag and set up made and designed by Carousel Design works. I figure with this set up, packing ultra light, I could do a week or more of riding(with no camelbak) as long as there are plenty of resupply spots along the way.

Here is the shot pre packed before I tied it on to the bike. I have no idea how to use the equipment so I have been teaching myself along the way. Inside the bag. One jacket, 1 wool shirt, 1 wool cycling cap, 1 wool Jersey, 1 pair of specialized arm warmers, bug spray, credit cards, cell phone, electrical tape and an imitation swiss army knife.
After. Before the sound system and emergency inflation system are installed.
After, cockpit view. This is an allday set up folks, not a set up for going for a little tech jaunt around your local rock garden. You could however do that if you were so inclined. The music is loud enough to hear on the bike and share with my wife as I ride. I intentionally loaded my phones music library with 600+ songs. Random mix of stuff, I dont even know sometimes what I will hear. Some I like, some I tolerate, others I learn to like.

Front view, fully loaded for the OFF road.
Side view, I cant wait to hear what someone will say about this shot.

And my toes.

Story on its way.

Laters,

LOS

WrOuGh WoRk WeeK

Well this week was kinda ridiculous. In a way it wasn't, in a way it was beautiful. The weather has been great. All has been going good on that front. The riding, not much riding has gone down. As always life gets in the way. I did manage to get a run in early in the week and did 4 miles, I was proud of myself. The next day my abs and glute muscles were sore. Strange.

I went to traffic court. Witnessed the most ridiculous thing to date. Some kid got busted by radar, sat there and plead his case and supposedly created enough reasonable doubt that the judge let him off. I go up there and make a case saying that it may have appeared to the cop that I didn't stop but I indeed did. And I did stop, that cop was hallucinating, regardless, the judge said no go.

That wasn't the bad part either. I expect that kind of stuff to happen in these courts that you go to around here. The bad part was he only gave me 30 days to pay the fine, but everybody else got 60 and 90.

I want to take my hand and slide it in a black glove,

Slowly; I will bow my head

and solemnly

raise my clenched gloved fist.

Makes me wonder.

Regardless.

This weekend the princess and I will go pedal. I'm lucky.

Why?

photo cred. Tony Deal

Cause one way or another I will find a way to get my miles in.

enjoy,

laters,
LOS

CaTcH 22: Where WeRe U?

The individuals that live in Gainesville are geniuses. The Mountain Biking paradise they have created is magnificent and simply Brilliant!

We got up at 5am on this day with the idea of scoring breakfast and being there at a reasonable time to prepare and ride the race. This day was more about the warrior princess, more about the bird conquering and experiencing something unique. Last year she got to see the MTB festival known as the Catch 22. Last year she was supposed to sit there and do her homework and then we would hang out after the ride. But, none of that happened. She saw them prepping and cooking, caught a fever for helping and was over there assisting with the post ride buffet.

This year, she wanted to ride.

So we did. We have worked and practiced on her long riding skills. We are normal people, we ride when we can and train when we can, we don't get many days in the saddle, but when we do get them we love to go long. Recently she decided she wanted to upgrade to clipless pedals and I encouraged her. It is after all a natural progression and opportunity to reach the next level in riding skills.
Last Saturday we rolled out to inspect the last section of the NK loop and we ran into lots of flooding and she fell a couple of times and got a little frustrated with the process. Its tough learning to ride with clips and we all know it takes time. The plan was to practice during the week, but life got in the way and come Saturday early it was time to ride.

Before we knew it we were lined up. 20 to 30 die hard singlespeeders setting out to do the route known as the Catch22. As did last years it started with a Leman's start around the property to the beer cooler. There you were required to shot gun a cold one and then allowed to set out on the ride.

Our plan was to take as long as it would take to get Paloma thru the ride. I was not worried about having to wait and not worried about having to go slow, I just wanted to give her the chance if she chose, to conquer the route.
It also proved to be a good chance to test my off road touring handlebar bag. I put three 20 oz Dasani waters in there. As well as my tools and emergency stuff and my Mountain Morph pump. I didnt wear a Camelbak at all on this ride. The bike was loaded down a little but me I was free. Since we were riding all day I rigged up my Bluetooth speaker and the music was blaring the entire time. I got a lot of inquiries on the system and compliments on the set up.

To keep it brief, the day was awesome. The singletrack was super buff. This year it had way more trail then last year, barely any dirt roads, roads or double track, easily 85 to 90% single track. The dirt was in perfect condition and there were new sections added and tons of climbing. I dugg all the up and down stuff and the super long climbs, it was heavenly. The gainesville locals easily have it the best in the state bar none.

We covered some gorgeous terrain and rode choice singletrack all day long. We took breaks. Made the Upside Down V pavilion before the rain and sat there and chatted and ate while the sky opened up on the land. We had some great moments, but eventually, Paloma was getting beat down by the trail and was taking several slow speed clip related falls and at mile 31 I decided to pull the plug and head back to RB's House.

After asking a Fireman for directions we rode 14 more miles and several more climbs before finishing the day. We cleaned up, ate and drank till late. RB lit the biggest fire I have seen in years and we relaxed and chatted as I hung out with a fine bunch of interesting people.

By far the best Fifty in the state and I cant wait till the next Gainesville Event. I tried to compare their ride to the NK ride and simply put, they have CUT and BUILT a magnificent and extensive trail system. I have only put together a bunch of stuff I found. BUT, I have the potential to one day have a similar moutain biking mecca on this side of the world.

If you were not there, you missed one of the best rides this state has to offer. Hopefully You can make it, or even better, get with a local and go ride some of this stuff next weekend. Its AMAZING out there!

Enjoy,
Laters,
LOS

La PiCtOria de GaLLeria: Kai Tai

I put together this menage of shots using the camera on my hand held cellular device. Its tough to get a good action shot, but I managed to capture some curious images as we celebrated the anniversary of my sons arrival into this universe. I Love you Kailan your the best 9 year old in existence!!

Bumper boats. The first shot in a series. After this event, they all came out soaked to the bone. It was magical for them. Gabe, Kai and DJ; soaking it all in.



This place offered many different tracks. Multiple levels, good climbs and banks, a slide track that was off the hizzle, and much more. Check it out when you get a chance.
I cannot do the spin. But I can do the flip. This was a spin, so I sat out and tried to capture my son and his friend as they flew by at an extremely rapid pace. And success!
They liked it so much they went for it again. DJ however, ended up doing a technicolor yawn before we left.
The calm before the storm....
I am a menace in the bumper cars, and this was a good time...
I call this shot anticipation. Kai, waiting to exhale..

This is the first in the series. Each time he came by he did something unique to showcase his abilities. It was an event that I was not even aware was happening as I was just busy trying to capture his high speed moments of fun.
Before the ride start here he is.
This one is titled look Pa, no hands. zoom in tight, see for yourself.
More bumper cars.
Paloma and the Birthday boy.
In this shot, he is driving one handed, leaning to one side...
The Warrior Princess getting ready her battle braids ready.
In this shot, if you look close you can see Kai is throwing up some sort of hand sign.
The final shot, speaks for itself.

Hope you enjoyed,
Laters,
LOS

FloRidA StAtE ChaMpioNship 1: Gainesville

Photo Courtesy of Steve Wingo.

XC racing is where my roots lay. Its where I basically got the bug for trying to be the fastest on the course and it eventually bloomed into even more adventures and then Ultra endurance racing.
What I have noticed over the years is that you have many Great and Successful racers that started in XC, and the opposite is not exactly true. Not many people jump straight into Enduro's but I am sure there are some out there.

Saturday night I wasn't even sure if I was going to go and race the "short" race. As plans would have it, things, financially didn't work out as planned and I simply didn't have the money to take the whole family out there. Luckily our Team Bikeworks Orlando Captain, offered space in his vehicle to ride up to the race. After careful discussion with my wife, I decided to go for it.

I was drinking water like a fish, I remembered my last experience at the 8 hour and I didn't want it to happen again. So I made sure, before I hit the line I was pissing clear. My plan was to race the Single Speed class which is extremely competitive. Lot's of the people who race that class are expert level riders and above. So I knew I had some competition going in, but I was not worried about it. My goal for the day was to ride smooth, steady and safe. And I went out there and did that. The start was the usual mayhem as people are jockeying for position. I watched as Jamie Knight launched a brutal attack of the front. I am a great XC starter and I can go out fast and stay fast, but at the head of the bunch where I was at, we were all watching Jamie dance on his pedals and ride away.

Quickly after the race start the course zigs and zagged into the single track and it had the entire group sliding sideways to negotiate the entrance. I settled into my pace and watched many people pass me by. I stayed on my plan and rode smooth and steady. Before long, I single speeded many people. I was surprising my self cause my last yellow wave experience had me being passed, this time around I was catching people and passing people dealing out my own justice. Most of the ground I was gaining was on climbs as people were spinning a small ring and cog combo I was mashing the 32 X 17.

I caught up to a guy, but then he managed to get me back, and I almost covered the ground to my other team mate but he managed to shake me.

In the end, coming towards the finish line I was in full sprint mode, mainly cause I am so used to riding miles and miles I was excited that after 16 miles my race was almost done. I had the most consisten lap times ever, finishing the laps with about 29 minutes for lap one, 30 minutes for lap 2 and 30 minutes for lap 3. I usually would drop two minutes maybe even more in the past between laps so I was very proud of my efforts. Once again though, my physiological abilities are exceeding my legs ability as I rode as harder then my legs could power out. This of course means more and more miles.

Overall, it was an exciting race, it was good times and it was fun. When I was done, I was skipping around like nothing, really 20 miles in is just the warm up not the end of the race.

Mr. Goodbike was offering a free longboard in a last man standing contest. Basically, you ride around in a designated area knocking or shoving or taking out the other opponents, no dabs allowed. I really wanted that skateboard, I was claiming it before the contest started. Within thirty seconds of game on, I had already taken out three riders, one rider, which I feel awful about, after I stiff armed him, fell straight over didn't even have time to clip out. Another two I just shoved into each other, then after one person failed to take me out, I barely rode out the designated area and was DQ'd. I really thought it was crap but O well I really wanted that board.

Great times, looking forward to the next one. Will post pics as I find them. Also, check back as the Birthday pictures for my Son Kailan will be going up soon. My little boy got a year older and a year wiser.

that is all,

Enjoy,
Laters,
LOS

CriTiCaL ReVieW: Birth of a Mistake.

LOL, check these pics out.
Enormous thanks to PETER for sharing the photos with me:

shot 1: see the dude with the baby blue shirt, Im coming right around him, number three in the run, this is the very front, from the one shot in my earlier post to hear, I gained ground in the run.
Shot 2: a continuation as you see me running in the woods to get my bike.
Final shot : Me mounting the bike after fishing it out of the woods, half the field is now past me.
Great run, poor bike placement... O well..LOL

The ResuRRection!

I love my cross bike. Its because of my cross bike that I got a 29er. I like the fact, that I can pull my wheelset off any of my bikes and put it on my cross and be able to use the equipment. I like the fact that I can put a road tire on my MTB wheels. I like multi purpose interchangeable type stuff.

The cross bike sat cannibalized for several years. But just in these past few weeks I took time to rebuild it and bring it back to life.

Took it for a ride on Saturday and boy was it sweet. Just like I thought I would I remembered how much I love that bike.

That bike and I have ridden thousands of miles together, mapped out the initial phases of the Naked Indian ride, Done all the fifties, Felasco, Suwannee and Croom; Raced it at the 6 hours of El Lagarto, 6 hours of Reddick, raced it twice at the trail to trail, all mountain class with drop bars. The bike is the epitome of do whatever you want with it. Just look at the pics, its a bike I can go anywhere and do anything with, just like my 29ers.In its many incarnations, this bike has had Cross bars, riser bars, flat bars, currently, road bike bars 31.8.
All my geared bikes have a cut up cross tire that I used for a chain guard. As well, the frame can accommodate a road rim or a mtb rim.
I found these cranks brand new on ebay, 48-38-28, $20.
Above are the famous or infamous 8 year old time pedals. No grease, no maitenance and 8 years later they are still running strong. I would love to see a pair of egg beaters that can make that claim, WHAT, didnt think so!!!!
Thats right and MTB derailleur, I don't mess around!!!
Enjoy,
Laters,
LOS

BE ThanKfuL: FoCuS oN WhaT YoU Got Vs. What YoU DonT GoT!!!

I tell my sons this all the time and its good advice. I have one of the best sponsors in the world. Being part of Team Bikeworks Orlando going on 8 years now has been nothing but beneficial. An added benefit, I discovered we now have a Team Photographer. Not only does Mitch do our pictures, but he also designed the kit that we are all proudly wearing this season. I could not do the magic I do, and have the adventures I have and share the stories I share if it wasnt because of my sponsors.

Thank you.

Here is Mitch's artwork from the 8 hours of Labor:

I got to take a minute and give myself props for my poker face. I have been looking at pictures of fellow riders and you can sometimes see the suffering or effort by the expression on their faces, me, I look cool as a cucumber in all my shots.





Enjoy,
Laters,
LOS

SaTurDaY: IntrO.

Highly recommended that you turn the volume down while watching these previews of the foto extravaganza that is to come.




Enjoy,
Stay posted lots of pictures and stories to come,
Laters,
LOS

ThE GooD, ThE BaD and ThE UgLy: The Monologue

Kurt would have been the winner of the Super Secret Single Speed Class, but I dont think he drank a single beer during the race...

Note: all these photos are from the Goneriding website.


Only I can find a way to make this day the hardest day.
Only I can find the power to suffer by the minute then total up the sum to make 8+hours.
Only I can shred my muscles to the point where on this day they still hurt.

The Good.
So much went right for me this race. My nutrition I do feel was spot on. The beer laps helped alot. The hydration I thought was right, the food. One new thing I tried was using my wired headset during the race for pit communications and it worked lovely. At anytime my pit was able to call, I was able to ride and answer and communicate problems or needs 30 minutes before I rolled threw the pit.
Once again a completely flawless ride in terms of riding. Not a single crash or slip of the tire or miscalculation.
My pit did a fantastic job, thanks to my lovely wife and Warrior Princess Paloma.
I felt the very best in terms of energy and strength levels I have ever felt period.
Too many races I really felt like I held back, I feel good saying I left it out on the course.
My run was good, I was way up in the lead on the run, and it didn't tire me or wear me out in any way.

Look for me in the pic, I was running good, this is the front end y'all!!!

The Bad.
Physiologically my energy and strength levels were spot on. But, physically, to what I believe is a lack of conditioning on my part, I suffered cramps from the end of Lap two all the way threw the end of the race. On a scale of 1 to 10 these cramps measured 15. I had complete calf and thigh muscle lock ups, tricep muscle lock ups, you name the lock up I had it. After careful analysis and reflection I believe this was due to lack of physical conditioning for the effort. I don't think 6 rides in three months(longest being 50 miles) time is good enough prep for a race of this caliber and for the pace I was pushing. I straight hauled ass for the first two laps and rode as hard as I could till my legs quit cooperating.

The Ugly.
The War Machine's Bottom Bracket started creaking like a wounded velociraptor. It was driving me crazy.

The Story with all the details.
Got up early that day. Got out the door quick as we could and Paloma and I did the best we could to prep and get parked and get on the line prepared in time. So far pretty smooth. My confidence was the highest its ever been for a race. I got a little nervous when I hit the line, I started reflecting on how this was only my third multi hour lap race and my first ever single speed solo effort, but I shook it off and chose not to worry myself with it. I was feeling super human and that was my attitude straight up.

As I listened to the riders meeting, I made the line, said my good lucks to fellow riders and team mates, said my final prayers and started stretching my legs for the run. I always try to make the run as fast as I can and this day was no exception as I got off the line good, but didn't do as good a job as parking my bike. So although I had a great run, and I felt not even the slightest out of breath, my bike placement was not strategic enough to take full advantage of my efforts. Lesson learned.
We are making our way threw the grassy part, when on my right I see a Doe (a deer a female deer) kind of change direction away from me. I could see he was running towards the trail and I yelled up ahead for people to watch out, deer crossing. The deer just missed a rider, and it was sure a close call, imagine someone getting run over by a deer going super fast. I saw three deers that day.
Just when I think the Chaos is backing down we are picking our way threw the slower riders climbing past people here and there, staying very busy, picking lines, just doing my job.
After we hit the long flat single track, I start focusing on railing the berms, staying off the brakes and really putting as much speed down as I can. I notice I am like pulling 12 people if such a thing can be done on the trail. So I focus even harder on speed and straight pedal threw the corner son mentality, and after a short while I end up alone.

Next thing I notice is Mr. Ron Bennett catching up to me. Which is cool. We rode for a little while and chit chatted, I was still trying to warm up. We kept going and switched places several times before he rode away from me at the last meadow. It was during this lap that I started having Bottom Bracket problems and asked the bird to see if she could scrounge up some tools for a pit stop repair. I pit stopped, tried to do something, but it was useless and decided just to deal with the noise.
As I stopped My girl told me if I leave now I will be ahead of Ron, so I took off. I saw Namrita O had just taken off so I decided I would try and catch her and you know tell her something silly, like good luck and I read your blog and like what gear did you end up riding, just silly stuff. But just when I thought I caught up to her, she disappeared. Shortly thereafter, the cramps started. I was a little panicked about it cause I really hadn't cramped in many, many and races so I was surprised to say the least. When I spoke to my girl I asked her to up my endurolytes and up my sports legs and lets just hope for the best. It was great as I was on the phone, the guy I was behind thought I was talking to him, it actually happened a couple of times during the race till they figured out that I was on the phone.

It wasn't long that I was forced to walk, everyone has had cramps and this was the worst case I have ever had, but I was walking climbs or just walking when I locked up. I kept moving, I kept going, I kept doing my very best. Damn Sandpine Caught me, good job!!

It wasn't long before SandPine caught me. I figured he would maybe stop before me and I could catch him, so my strategy was to keep riding, don't stop.
After lap 4 I sat down to pit and drank a beer and suggested to the bird that I stop. I told her, no one should have to ride in this much pain. Her response was that was fine, but that alot of people had dropped out already and that I would gain tons of places if I just finished the ride. A good pit boss knows how to motivate and that was just the funky chicken I needed to get up and go.
So I went, my strategy, make the cut off finish with six, and hope that Sandpine did his five and called it a day. I rode my fifth and taught myself to pedal threw the cramp when it wasn't a complete lock up. Somewhere after just dragging myself over climbs, I completely locked up and was forced to lay on the ground, when along comes Morrissson. He ask how I am doing we talk about the cut off and I tell him to go, he can make it. I knew we only had five miles left and one hour to go, I was going to make it, there was no way he couldn't and I told him so. He went on and so did I. I made the cutoff at 5:22pm and sat down for a much needed break and another beer.
At this time I kept wondering, did Morrissson do a sixth, did Sandpine? Then I saw Harvey roll in. I asked him how many laps he did and when he told me 8 I thought, at the 12 hours of Santos, he almost did twice as many as I did, I can go out right now and get within 2 laps of an actual professional bike racer, enough motivation for me to get up and go turn out another, cramps and all.
Finished the ride, feeling proud that I didn't quit, disappointed that my legs and arms were not conditioned, but satisfied with my first single speed solo multi hour/lap effort. You got to take the good with the bad, that's racing. And some days you eat the trail and some days the trail eats you. I suffered so hard and my muscles all over are still so shredded today that I have nothing but the most deepest level of satisfaction that I did go out there and do my very best.

When its all said and done, that's all that matters.

I love this shot, check out Steve with his eyes staring at the camera even though he is on the run. This is truly male model material.On my way out of the sixth lap, this gentleman offered his suport and encouraged me to "get my money's worth"

This guy was going out for his 8th lap. He passed me as I was doing my sixth. I gave him the usual thing I tell people, enjoy, have a good time. He told me, the good time ended like 6 hours ago... My bad...

Every time I saw this guy during the race, I thought, goodness Matt, call this guy and get him a fit, his seat is way too low!!!
Osias, does your face hurt? Cause its Killing Me!!!
I love this classic shot, Geared Steve drafting off Single Speed Morrissson, priceless.
The Chad, coming threw, he actually had on different socks on later in the day, that's the mark of a professional I think.
Snack bowl and Trevor, Karate Monkey Fighters

Enjoy,
Laters,
LOS