Yes, I know this post is about a week late, but what can I say, I'm back to 13 hour work days, coming home to cook dinner, then go to sleep to get up and do it all over again....
Regardless.
FIRST and FOREMOST. I am so FORTUNATE to have the Sponsors I have. Although they don't make my experience free, with their support and deep discounts, they make my dreams possible.
At the top of that list is Bikeworks Orlando, Especially Broadus Bunch and Carson Wampler. A 10 plus year relationship that continues hopefully to be beneficial to us both or at least entertaining. I may not be their fastest rider, but I am sure the one who rides the longest and farthest!
I already thank them once but Edith and Sarina Williams did a tag team effort to get my bike to Bikeworks for a final tune up and then brought it home to me. Working 13 hour days makes for little time to do much after, without them I would not have made the start line.
Marisabel Matta, My good friend, watched LiL'r Naked Indian and made sure he got him to school each day while I was gone.
Next, ENORMOUS thanks to all my other sponsors, Busby Flooring, Mountain Bike Feedbags, Specialized and SRAM.
I cant say enough How well my kit worked, and 90% of that KIT was created by Rob Roberts. Its a dream come true having a Best Friend who makes great bags, on top of it all Rob put my drivetrain together for this ride.
What drive train was that? Well I rode the ride 2 x 9, no granny gear, 44 big ring, 29 middle ring, 12 - 36 9 speed cassette. I think it worked awesome, the Sram XO drivetrain was flawless.
For the Ride I used Water Bottles, and my Mountain Bike Feedbags on top of holding some small essentials held one water bottle in each, I liked my set up, no complaints.
For lighting I alternated between my Light and Motion Stella and my Princeton Tec EOS bike light, again, perfect for what I was doing.
I have to thank Sean Crichton. For the first time in my Cycling Career I trained hard, and it was his plan that I followed. Truly helped me a ton, I feel kind of bad that I actually achieved the goals I was after, to ride the ride and enjoy it with minimal suffering.
Marcel Aguirre played a huge role in getting my support out to me for possible pick up and to bring out the tubes. Where I was, there was no cell signal and I was able to get a hold of him and he coordinated it all, HUGE THANKS TO YOU BROTHER!!!
Mulberry Gap made so much possible for me, cause Logistically things were not looking up. Rick Moon saved me from not finishing, I have to thank him for that as well. Mulberry gap is the place to be and I see lots of associations for us in the future.
I tried to pack as light as possible. I didn't take any toiletries except some baby wipes so for days I took no showers and didn't brush my teeth. I focused mainly on bringing items that would keep me speedy and comfortable in the temperature changes and I think I achieved that. I had some thin wool socks, some thick wool socks, a wool base layer, some Capri Hoss Shorts, 2 bibs and one shirt. Every morning I started with Fresh Bibs and on the cold mornings and at camp I wore my thick wool socks. I used that wool base layer many a time. On Tuesday morning I was quite the sight. I was wearing my wool base layer, arm warmers, and bibs only. Did I mention that my wool base layer was sleeveless? I must of looked like some sort of freak, but I was warm. I like to put a cargo net on my rear pack and its the perfect way to dry gear as I ride, also a quick way to access gear while riding. I tied my other pair of bibs to dry and sun bake. The UV rays throughout the day will bake them and kill any bacteria on them essentially cleaning them. Also my socks and arm warmers would be tied back there making for quick changes. The race really tested the extremes as it started and peaked with 40 degree weather and then got way up into the 90's before it was all said and done. I had rain gear as well, and I used the jacket on the coldest of morning, choosing not to put on my wet shirt and letting it dry on the rear pack. Everything worked great.
Unfortunately I had an issue with my front tire flatting. During the final tune up, I asked them to re stans the rear wheel, I should of had them due the front. On top of that, I should probably send that tire to specialized its probably got over thousands of pavement and dirt miles on it, been riding that particular tire hard since January 2008. All my fault really, I could of been better prepared, but like all my challenges I learned alot and the Tour or whatever my next Enormous challenge will be, will go alot smoother for sure.
The TNGA has by far been the most beautiful experience I have ever had on a bike. No matter what, It was great to be up there, pushing up over that peak, then sitting in a truck driving around doing Tech work.
Cant wait till my next adventure, which will be the CFiTT on October 9th, which I will go and attempt to break the fixie record, in the process of tuning my bike now. I have not ridden since the TNGA, but I figured that was best, let my muscles heal and my body recover, I feel great, just got to tune up the war machine so it feels all day ready.
I am planning on painting the Mamasita, so I will probably move some parts over so that I can be a serious threat even to the geared riders at the CFiTT.
Take Care,
Laters,
The NaKeD InDiaN
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