GSC #4 West Point, Ga.

West point is almost like a local race. It is only about 40 miles north of Columbus. This was good in that I was able to actually go up there 3 times and ride the course before the race. It is a very typical course, about 10 miles with it's share of up and down hills and fast flats.

I had a flat front tire the week before the race, so I decided to buy 2 new tires instead of just trying to fix the flat. I got the Kenda Blue Groove for the front and the Kenda Nevegal for the back. Both are a lot more aggressive than the tires I had on the bike.

The new tires turned out to be a very good thing as it rained hard the day before the race. The course was very slick in the corners and on the bridges. The start of the race a 250 yard flat sprint, then a 90 degree right hand turn up a 100 foot steep hill that was very muddy. So my plan was to hopefully get the hole shot and be the first to the hill. I didn't want to get stuck behind anyone and take a chance that they screw up on the hill. I would hate to have to walk the bike up it.


As the gun goes off, I sprint out to the lead. I was challenged by a new guy riding for the Cycle Youth team. Luckily I was able to hold him off right before we hit the hill. I motored right up the hill and sprinted back down and into the woods. They were not too far behind me tough. I also wanted to get to and over the first bridge in the lead.

As I get to the bridge I see a lot of people watching it. I am sure they wanted to see a crash. As I carefully cross the bridge and sprint up the hill and around the corner, I hear what sounds like a crash. I have no idea what happened and I never look back. I am hoping that whatever happened slowed them down.

As I am racing through the woods, I am able to eventually catch a glimpse back when I do a few switchbacks. I have a good lead on them! Maybe I can hold them off. I am in the hilly part of the course, which is good for me. I know that Curtis is back there and will giving it everything he has to catch me. I really don't like being in the lead as I have nothing to judge myself to. All he has to do is keep me in his sites and try to catch me.

Shortly after I reach the top of the hill section, I hear someone coming up behind me. I am about halfway through the course by then, but I know it probably is Curtis. Shortly there after he passes me. We are on a long slight down hill section so I try my best to keep up with him. I am able to do it for a while, but my legs are almost short so I have to back it off a little. Curtis is very strong and I will kill myself if I try to push it too hard.

Shortly, another guy passes me. I don't pay any attention to his race number and just let him go. He is on a single speed bike so I was thinking that he was in that category. Well I was totally wrong! It was Bob Saxon and he is now in 2nd place. Dang it!!! And I just let him go without a challenge. Oh well. I will not let that happen again. Learned the hard way.

So anyway, the race a good one but still pretty slick. I did manage to finish without any problems. But I did do a lot of sliding around in some corners. I ended up finishing 3rd. Still in 2nd place for the overall series.


Here are the RESULTS

SERC MTB Race #5 - Monte Sano St. Park Huntsville, Al.

Well this one will be a short story after a long haul!!! I drove all of the way over to Huntsville, Al. (5 hours) on Saturday with the intention of racing the SERC race on Sunday morning. I get to the park early Saturday morning for a pre-ride of the trail. After about 3 miles into the course I scrape against a rock and break my deraileur hanger!!! Shoot, dang it!!!

I have to walk it out the 3 miles. When I get back to the start line I start asking around for help. No one has a hanger that will match, but someone tells me to go to the local bike shop and see if they have one.

So off I go and find the bike shop. After about an hour of them looking around, nothing! They even call all of the other shops and they have nothing either. The closest shop that has one is in Birmingham, 2 hours away. Oh well.

So I just decide that it wasn't meant to be. I have to go break down my camp site, pack up the car and head back home. Another 5 hour drive. For some reason I feel as though this race wasn't meant to be and therefore I am not mad. Hmmmmmmm... And the part only cost $30.

GSC #3 Fort Yargo State Park, Winder, Ga.

This was the 3rd race of the GSC series and I am now standing in first place in my age group and cat, by only one point mind you. So I have to everything in my power to keep this lead, all be it might be hard to do. My bike is broke again and there wasn't a quick fix this time. So I am having to borrow a bike and luckily Al Pickens is letting me use his spare.

It is a full suspension bike but it weighs in around 30 pounds. It fits me fine and I able to pre-ride the course on it the Saturday before the race. I have no issues with the bike during the ride so I feel as though I am good to go.

For the pre-ride I met up with Al, John and Mike. We started on the trail not too long after the Xterra race awards was over with. The course was clear but the weather wasn't so much. The forecast had threatened rain and we knew it was on its way. About halfway through the ride the skies opened up and the bottom fell out. And it fell out hard, with lightening too! There was nothing that we could do but keep on riding. No where to hide. The rain didn't last too long and we actually finished in the dry.

Later on that night, after we all got cleaned up, we met in Athens for the Twilight Crit race. We first went to eat at the local Carabbas. The crit was exciting as always and we really enjoyed it. Until the rains returned, that is. Luckily I anticipated the rain and brought my umbrella with me. As did many other folks. It didn't slow down the racers though. They kept on going, and they were probably faster in the rain than I am on the dry pavement.

Fun was had by all, but i now had to go back to the park and attempt to sleep in the storm. The forecast had predicted severe thunderstorms which had me little concerned. But by the time I got back to the camp site, it had all but quit. I quickly changed clothes and went to bed. There were actually a couple other campers there too.

The morning comes bright and early on race day as Dave and Terri Berger crank it up around 7am for pre-registration. At least they are playing some good music over the loud speakers. I lay around for a while, then slowly decide to go ahead and get up. My race doesn't start til 9:30, so I am in no rush.

So the time has finally come a we are all staged at the starting line. I am hoping to get a great start and to be able to hold off the other guys. Not thinking about the "other" bike that I am riding. When the gun sounds, I can't seem to get the bike rolling. It just doesn't want to go. I am in about 4th place off of the line, but I am struggling. This is not a good sign, especially from the start of the race.

The course is 10.5 miles and I am having a hard time keeping pace. I have no idea why it is so difficult. About halfway through I crash twice in the back 40 and am really starting to get pissed off by now. The first half of the course seems to be a lot of up hill trail, but the second half seems to be a lot down hill trail, except for the very end where there is the bill hill climb.

I am now thinking that I can maybe catch up to the leaders some since I am on the easier section of the trail. I have no idea how far ahead they are of me, so at the next road crossing I ask the volunteer. He says that they are only about a minute ahead, so I really start to push it hard. I almost crash a few times on slippery roots, but I don't.

I never am able to catch the leaders and I end up finishing in 4th place. I am very disappointed in my performance. I seemed to be in a struggle the entire race. I never fell into a groove. But that's the way it goes sometimes. 4th place isn't bad, but it puts me back into 2nd place in the series by one point.


Click the link for race RESULTS

GSC #2 Flat Rock Park Columbus, Ga.

Since this is my home track I was somewhat wondering if I would actually have an advantage for the race. Being that I practice here at least 2 times a week, I feel that I should. The time trial on Saturday surely showed that I have the potential to make it happen (except for the crash at the end).

So the hour has finally arrived and I am feeling strong and confident. My race doesn't start til 11:30, so I am patiently waiting. As I am riding around warming up the legs, I notice groups of riders starting to line up near the start line. Hmmmmm I wondered. Are the races ready to start? By the time I got over there the first group was off and riding! WOW, I almost wasn't paying enough attention and almost missed my start! Doh!!! So we were the next group up by the time I got over and ready to go.

The whistle blew and we were off. I had told the guys that I didn't want to be leading the race right from the start, but wouldn't you know it, I am. But not for long as Robert Wommack got a little impatient and passed a few hundred yards into the race. So it is Robert, me, and Curtis and all of the rest heading off into the first section of woods. It is still a tight pack as we turn on the new berm and head towards the trench.

When we reach the top of trench hill we are hitting it pretty hard and fast. Robert is a little out of control on the dip and crashes right in front of me. Luckily he veers off of the trail and into the woods, so we just keep on going right past him. He is uninjured and continues racing, but is in the back of the pack.

So I am now leading again. I have to keep telling myself not to push it too hard and don't worry if you get passed. I am thinking ahead to what is coming up next on the trail. The chicane and then the rock garden. Neither of which are my favorites, but I have to do them non-the-less! I just hope that I don't crash.

As we come to the top of the hill I glance back
and see that there is now a 4 man breakaway from the group and Mike Nichols is in it with us. So we enter into the rock garden with much anticipation. As I make the first right hand switchback I get stopped on a rock with my front tire and fall over. Curtis passes me before I can get up. As I am getting back on my bike Mike pulls up and stops to let me in. I couldn't believe it. What a great guy and teammate!

As we come around the bottom of the rock garden
I am planning what to do for the climb up the rocks. I decide that I will get off of the bike and run it up the hill. So now I am back in 2nd place and I have lost some ground. I tell myself not to worry as we still have a lot of ground to cover. I eventually catch back up to Curtis as we are about to cross the road at the end of the lake. I stay right on his tail all the way through until we reach the exit of the first back woods section.

As we are approaching the exit we catch up to a slower rider from the group that started ahead of us. Now I am planning my strategy to pass Curtis. As we exit the woods I gun it and pass both guys before they knew what hit them and shoot back into the woods in the 2nd section. I know Curtis is going to be right there so I try to keep a fast pace going.

We are about halfway through the 2nd wooded section when we catch up to another slower rider from the group ahead of us. I ride is tail for a short bit and ask him to let me pass when he gets a chance. He does and I pass but Curtis doesn't get the chance to pass him too! YAY, I think. Now I can really put the pedal to the metal and try to pull away from him. I do this and never look back.

As I am exiting the woods and finishing the low area below the dam I catch up to David Jones. I tell him to look out for Curtis as he is coming up behind me. I don't know how much of lead I have, but hopefully he will get stuck behind David and have to slow down again to pass. David tells me that this is exactly what happened after the race is over.

So I am now flying through the top 2 sections on my way to the finish line. As I round some of the switchbacks I get a glimpse back and see Curtis is a pretty good way behind me now. I just have to finish the race uneventful and I will have the win! I feel that I am blistering the pace just like I did in the time trial. I come out of the last section and no one is behind me.

I cross the finish line in 1st place about 30 seconds ahead of Curtis! YAY My time was 50:29 which equates to 12.23 mph. This win also puts me in 1st place overall in the GSC points series (by only 1 point though). Mike Nichols came in 3rd place.


See complete results HERE

GSC #2 - Time Trial - Flat Rock Park Columbus, Ga. April 17, 2010

Well this was a much anticipated weekend to see if my 2nd place finish in Thomaston was legit. Curtis Tucker had finished 1st ahead of me by 3.5 minutes. That is a hard lump to swallow and I was out to prove that it was just a fluke.

A little recap of the week before the race to set the stage. Nicki Sutherland and I decided to head up to ride a few laps around the West Point Lake trail on Sunday April 11. It was only my 2nd time riding up there so I jumped at the opportunity to go. We got there around 10am and headed out for our first lap. We were about half way through the lap when I heard a POP from the rear of my bike while going over a dirt mound on the trail. The bike immediately wabbled so I knew this wasn't good. I immediately stopped and told Nicki that something broke. And I was right! The left side chain stay had broken right behind the weld. Can you spell SUCKS?

Well, since I knew this was just part of being a mountain biker, I had to suck it up and start walking. Since I had been up there recently with Blake Melton I knew my way out. I told Nicki to go ahead and ride and I would just meet her at the car. She insisted on staying with me, for a little while at least. LOL

So we had about 2 miles to walk it back to the car. It wasn't too bad as we found the nearest road pretty quick. It was also nice to have someone to talk to for the walk. So this ended our day there, and we headed back to Columbus. Once we got back to her house, we decided to get her other bike and she was going to let me ride her Santa Cruz. So we headed over to Flat Rock for a spin so I could check out her bike. She was going to let me borrow it for the race the next weekend. The ride was good except for the blister that I got from her grip shifters.

So Monday after work I bring my bike to Ride On Bikes downtown for them to look at. They said that they would call Trek and see how much the new part would cost and how long it would take them to get it in. Of course Trek was closed for the day, so the call had to wait til Tuesday.

Tuesday I call down there and they say that the part is in stock and was going to be around $300 installed. So I told them to get it shipped over night and I woul dpay the difference. They said ok and told me that it should be here by Friday and that I could pick up the bike after work.

Well low and behold I get a phone call on Thursday and it is Kyle at Ride On Bikes and my bike is READY!!! YAY So of course I run down there and get it so I can take it for a spin. I was supposed to meet Paul and some other people at Flat Rock around 6pm anyway.

So I get myself and the bike to Flat Rock right at 6pm and Paul and the gang are ready to go. So I tell to go ahead and I would try to catch up to them. I still had to swap pedals and get all of my gear on. After about 15 minutes or so I am ready to go. Everything on the bike is perfect and I have a great ride. I am so very stoked to have my bike for the race!!!

So back to the race. Saturday presented a beautiful day for a time trial. There were 74 people registered and the park looked packed with racers.
The time trial started at 5pm and went by race category with each racer blasting off in one minute increments. The course consisted of just the top 2 loops of the trail system which was around 3 miles. A time trial is just a blast as fast as you can go for one lap. There are series points on the line here too. 5 bonus points for the winner and so on down to 1 point for all of the rest. I had a feeling that Curtis was going to be here so I knew I had to do good.

I was 37th in line and was hoping for a smoothe ride with no crashes. When in race mode I then to put all fears aside and just go for it. I know that this can and probably will get in trouble one day, butit is what has to be done to get better.

So the clock ticks down and I am off. The entrance in to the woods is a hard left turn on the loose leaves and oine straw so I had to be careful not to slip down. I slid out a little bit but nothing was lost. It usually takes a half mile or so for me to get warmed up, so I actually take it a little easy on the first stretch parallel to the railroad tracks. After that I crank it up.

About halfway through the first loop I have no problems other than brushing a tree with my right shoulder. I was concerned that the ground would be too dry and slippery, but it wasn't too bad. I felt that my speed and handling was good and that I would really be able to turn it on in the 2nd section. Towards the exit of the first section I hit a root and get a little sideways and slid out to the left a little missing a large pine tree and then over correcting and rode off the trail on the right side. I don't think that I lost much time here but it sure was a little scary.

So I survived the first section and am heading out and on the 2nd section. Terry Witbeck is standing right at the exit and is trying to take a photo. So I yell yeehaw and put the pedal to the metal. I am flying and hoping that I don't make any mistakes, especially in the loose dirt and rocks. I hit the new berm and shoot off the end without loosing much speed. The hairpin turns slow me down a bit but the addrenaline is high. I fly down the revine and blast up the hill towards the finish line.

The approach to the finish line is a slight down hill and I know I am flying. So I decide that I'm NOT going to slow down and I am going to take the ditch full speed ahead. I have hit it pretty fast before, but not this fast. My plan fails misearably
and I crash big time right at the finish line in front on EVERYONE!!! I think I actually hit the up-hill side of the ditch and flew over my handlebars. The adrenaline was so high I didn't even care. Nothing was broke so I jumped up and tried to carry the bike to the top of the hill. I slipped and slid back down the hill, so I just threw the bike up and over it. LOL The whole time Dave Berger was yelling at me to not worry about it that my time was already stopped. And I didn't even hear him at all. I was just wanting to WIN.

So I did just that! I won my age group with the time of 13:32. See the resuls below and also check the full RESULTS HERE.

Wheels of Fire Charity Ride

This year for the first time in the history of the Wheels of Fire ride, they are offering a mountain bike course. It is a 15 mile trail on the property of Hal Avery in Harris county. The property is located off of Hwy 18 west of I-185. It is an 1100 acre farm that has woods, pasture land, several creeks and a lake. I have been wanting to do the course this year, so I asked around and found a couple local guys that agreed to do it with me. Yves Roskam and Tim Boucher. The start time didn't matter to the organizers so we decided to sleep in. The only rule was that we had to start before 11am. The day was nice and a little cool, but overall a perfect day for a ride. We met around 9:45, registered and headed over to the course. The course coordinator there said that there were 20 people ahead of us and that we would be the last people out on the course. So we head out and start our leisurely ride. The property was beautiful. .Gently rolling hills. The trail mostly followed the edges of the pastures and headed into the woods several times. We crossed 4 creeks and climbed a couple hills The ride took us 2:38 hours and we traveled 14.93 miles. I considered this a training ride but it was a little slow for my tastes. It was quite enjoyable though. Here is the official GPS recording.

GSC #1 - Camp Thunder, Thomaston, Ga.

So the first official GSC race of the new season has arrived and I am ready to take on the challenge. I have been training most of the winter in anticipation of this day. Last year I did 2 mountain bike races and fell in love with the sport. So I decided to buy a bike and give it a try this year. After hurting my shoulder back in September, I really didn't know what to expect. Not being able to ride all winter as I had planned would be the big "am I ready for this" question.

I have been riding a stationary recumbent bike since about 2 weeks after my surgery. I started doing spin class in February and started riding my bike on March 1st. All of this was strictly enforced by me as directed by my doctor and physical therapist. I tend to abide by the rules and listen to authority. After all, they know what is best for me and my recovery.

So I decided to go up on Saturday afternoon to give me enough time to set up camp and go for a pre-ride. I like camping as it gets you close to nature and it also offers the opportunity to meet other racers and socialize some. Plus we can usually camp right on the property where the race is taking place.

Camp Thunder is an Official Boy Scout camp that is located between Woodbury and Thomaston, Ga. Approximately 50 miles north east of Columbus. Comprising over 2400 acres of land and many miles of trails. It lies right on the Flint River and is heavily wooded. It also contains some of the highest hills south of the north Georgia mountains. Beautiful, majestic and "steep" are the first words that came to my mind when I arrived.

I arrived in the early afternoon and set up camp. Knowing that there was a good chance of rain that evening and on race day, I brought all of the rain gear including tarps. The camping area was very nice with permanent scout tents set up for rent. I had my own tent so I just picked out a clear flat spot and popped up the tent and tarps. While doing so I met some nice folks from Albany and the South Georgia Cycling Club. I think that there were 6 or 7 of them here with 3 guys actually racing.

They were very cordial and invited me to join them that evening by the camp fire. Vonnie has been racing many years and knows some of the Columbus racers too. So we at least had some things in common to talk about, including racing. He decided to race his single speed bike for this event. Something that I wouldn't have even considered because of the steep terrain.

So after I set up camp, I get my bike gear on and head out to ride the race course. The only thing that I know about it is that it is steep. I am somewhat of a good hill climber, so I think, so I shouldn't have too many problems with it, or so I thought. Well that was the last time that I thought that particular though! LOL The hills weren't the problem at all. It was the down hills that kicked my butt. They were just as steep and probably more narrow than the up hills. I was just praying that my brakes didn't give out!

The first part of the course, 1.25 miles was flat and followed the banks of the Flint River. Flat with loose rocks, deep sand and several water crossings I should say. The rocks and water crossings were not too much of a problem. Just stay away from the BIG rocks and I should be ok. It was the sand that was the problem. As long as you can maintain your speed, you won't have much of an issue. But slow down too much and it will be hard to control your steering and could possibly fall over. I had no problem with this section at all.

The flat transitions into the first Big hill with a quick swoop up to a very narrow off angle trail. After about 100 feet or so you arrive at the first switchback. The trail is loaded with rocks and roots and close trees that you have to navigate carefully. The first switchback is probably one of the hardest ones because it begins the steep climb and is loaded with rocks. If you loose too much speed you will fall over, and I did just that. Not hurt too bad, mostly my pride, I try to get back on the bike. I can't get started so I have to walk up the hill until I can find a tree and a flat spot so that I can get on the bike and get clipped into the pedals.

So off I go again with a large appreciation for the rocks and roots. This hill is a monster and larger than any hill I have ever been on. According to my GPS it is over a mile long and over a 600 foot climb. Woooooooooooooo!!! My heart rate monitor is freaking out and I am finding it hard to breathe. I have to really concentrate and talk to myself and remember my training. Slow and easy is now the new theme of the day. This hill is going to wipe me out if I am not careful.

I finally reach the top of the hill so I decide to take a short break and take in the view. Since the leaves haven't arrived on the trees yet, the view is spectacular. I don't know how far I can see, but the Flint river is way down below me now. I start back on the trail and quickly hit my first down hill section. It is as steep or steeper than the up hill and it is very narrow. I am not used to this and am somewhat nervous about it. Brakes don't fail me now!!! You can't even let off them for a second or you build up too much speed.

Arriving at the bottom unscathed I reach the first creek crossing. It is a small stream and it is not too bad or muddy. At the second crossing there is a small bridge that someone has made over it. The third crossing is very soft and muddy but I maintain my speed and cross with no issues. The trail immediately starts climbing up the next hill.

This hill is somewhat different than the first one in that it is not going straight up, but transversing at an angle. The climb is just as hard though and it littered with rocks and roots again. According the my GPS it is about .75 of a mile to the top.

When I get to the top I am greeted with a long logging road. What a welcome relief it is too! It is about 2.25 miles long with several rolling but smaller hills. I think this is where I reach my fastest speed of the day at 21 mph. The relief is quickly over with and I reach another down hill section.

This time instead of being long, fast, narrow and scary, it is very winding and technical. It also has all of the rocks and roots just like the up hill climbs. This in itself can make it dangerous. Putting on your brakes in loose rocky dirt laden with roots is not a very comfortable thing. I just have to make sure that I do not use the front brake like I did on the first down hill. It wouldn't take much for the front tire to slide out from under me.

At the bottom of this hill is my worst nightmare! A 90 degree off angle right hand turn between 2 trees. I am pretty good at left hand turns but not so good going to the right. So what do you think happens? Yep you guess it! I crash and burn, badly. On the way down I get a bright idea and try to grab the inside tree to help slow me down and hopefully stop me from crashing. Well it worked as far as the slowing down part went but I still crashed and the tree shredded my right forearm when I over shot it when trying to grab. OUCH is now the new word of choice!

So I am now laying on the rocks, still in one piece and wondering how I am going to maneuver this in the race tomorrow. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Swing out wide to the left and make the corner bigger than it appears. Might work, might not. I will have to wait until tomorrow to find out. So I gather myself up and check for any missing body parts and broken parts to me and the bike. Other than the chain coming off, all is well (well besides all of the missing skin on my right forearm).

So I re-establish my chain and my pride again and jump on the bike. I am only 10 feet from the bottom of the hill so I try to use the quick speed gain to maneuver up the next hill. This works out fine until I hit the first set of roots. The trail is not very steep but it is off angle and just covered with roots and some rocks. Every time I hit a root my tires shoot out from under me and I go down. Not hard but down anyway. Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I am getting very frustrated with this and wondering why they couldn't have flattened out the trail better. LOL

So I struggle through what seemed to be a "not so hard" section. I reach the top of this short climb to find a rock garden. The trail is lost and looks as though it goes straight between 2 trees that are not wide enough to get my handlebars through. So I attempt to go around the trees and spin out my tire! WHAT? It was as if it was in slow motion. I am fallllliinnnnggggggg... And right into a tree I go. The bad thing about this fall was that it was down the hill and onto big rocks. Luckily the tree that I fell onto was small and I actually rode it all the way down. It broke my fall enough that I wasn't hurt too bad. A little cut on my leg and right chest. Just more frustration than anything.

I am now telling myself that if I fall one more time I am going to pack it up and go home! LOL I would never do that, but it did cross my mind. So after the rock garden I get back on the bike and continue up the hill. With the rocks quickly behind me, the trail works its way into a Pine tree forest. Up and over a small rise, through the pines and onto another long up hill. This time the hill is what we call double track. Simply put it is wide enough to get 2 cyclist on it side by side. This hill is also very clean with no roots or rocks.

The top of the hill brings another flat section and some smooth sailing for a short while. The trail soon becomes rocky again as it starts heading down hill. You can build up a little speed here so I have to be careful again as to not get caught by a larger rock and go down. I hit 20 mph and it is scary just thinking about the crash if it was to happen. Things would break for sure here!

The down hill quickly bottoms out to another steep up hill climb. I am hoping that this is the last one as my legs are really starting to feel the burn. I don't want to over do it today. I have been on the course for an hour and should be getting close to the finish. This hill is a straight up shot. And I mean straight up buddy. No turns, but some rocks scattered around.

The top brings another logging road that meanders through a mature pine forest for a short stint. Another short and somewhat rocky trail and it then opens up to a large clear cut area an a large clay down hill road. It is steep and fast and straight down too. Filled with washes from the rain but not slick. This will be a big mess tomorrow if it does rain. Hard clay and water make for a very slick track. I must maintain my hand on the brakes all of the way down.

At the bottom the road takes a sharp 90 degree turn to the left and continues on for another 100 yards or so. I can see the camp ground now so I know that I am almost through. The road stops and I enter the trail again. This is a new trail that tracks around the left side of the camp ground through the woods. It hasn't been worn down and flattened, so it is off angle and slick. I know that I will bust it here in the race tomorrow because of that. Especially if it is wet.

The trail goes around the camp for about a quarter mile or so and comes out right at the start line. WHEW! I am finally done. Well almost that is. I have to continue on around the bathrooms and camp office buildings and loop around to the actual finish line. Ok! Now I can say whew and I am finally done. Nothing broken, so all is well. I get out my GPS and check what the results will be. 8.75 miles, 1:18 hours, 6.7 mph average, base elevation 662 feet and top elevation is 1112 feet. I am told that the course has over 2500 feet of elevation climb! Wooooooooooo!!!

My next task at hand was to get something to eat and to take a shower. So made a turkey and cheese sandwich and ate it with some corn chips and Gatorade. I then head up to the showers to get cleaned up. The showers looked cold and only had one pipe leading to the shower head. Hmmm I wondered. Can they only be cold water showers? Well it didn't really matter as I had to take a shower. So I pull the draw string and what I feared was right! COLD water. Well this is not going to be pleasant experience. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... Well at least I was able to shave and get clean despite the cold water. I think that I might skip my shower in the morning before the race! LOL

So I see my new found friends from Albany getting their fire ready, so I head over to say hey and see what their plans are for the evening. They are in the process of cooking their supper on the grill so we just stand around the fire while it is cooking. They are having steak and other fixins!!! Yum I thought. So they eat and we sit around the fire til about 11pm or so. It is actually getting pretty cold out by now, and I am getting tired so I head off to the tent and call it a day.

The rains start sometime in the middle of the morning before the sun comes up! It wakes me up but it is still dark so I try to go back to sleep. It is not raining hard but it is steady. I think I finally fall sleep but not for sure. The sun comes up and the rain is now off and on at times. I am dreading having to race in it, but I am here and the show must go on. I get up around 8am and attempt to eat something, anything, but I can't do it. Just like every other race I have been in. I just can't do it. We have a mandatory meeting at 9:15am with the race director to go over final instructions. I am in the first group of racers and we blast off at 9:30.

After meeting I head back over the my camp and get dressed and ready for the race. The rain has slacked off and I can only hope that it says away, at least for the start. I am hoping that the course is not too muddy and slippery. Maybe the first groups of racers will make it better for the rest of us by packing it in.

So I am now at the line ready for the gun/whistle to go off. 3, 2, 1 blastoff!!! There are 12 guys in my wave and I am in 3rd position off the line. We are going alone side the river and the #2 guy gets caught up in the sand and goes down. He gets on his bike and starts back going before I can pass him though. Then all of a sudden the guy in 4th passes me. Ok I tell myself this is ok. Maybe I am a better climber than they are and will get them on the hills. I am just trying to get my legs warmed up and my mind into race mode at this point.

As soon as we reach the first hill we run into traffic. The wave before us is jammed and crowding the trail. I have to holler ahead several times for them to get out of the way, which they do. I soon catch up to the 3rd place guy and pass him. I can see the first and second place guys ahead but they have a pretty good lead on me. I tell myself to not worry about it as the race is still early. My goal is make it to the top of the hill without dieing or hyperventilating.

I soon see David Jones from Columbus and pass him. He is having chain problems and is walking his bike up the hill. I eventually catch and pass Mike Nichols which is in the wave ahead of me too. I am also gaining on the 2nd place guy in my wave. By the time we reach the top of the hill he is just a few yards in front of me. The first place guy is now gone.

I finally catch and pass the 2nd place guy after I reach the top of the 2nd hill and are on the logging road. He is not paying attention and is trying to remove the sleeves from his cycling jacket. I guess he is over heating or something. This is good for me and I am ecstatic that I am in 2nd place!

As I am going down the next large hill I here him gaining on me. I am faster up the hills but he fast down the hills. Shoot I think but I will get out of his way if he catches me. Well this the hill where I had my major crash at the bottom, so I am going to swing wide on the nasty corner. Well it just so happens that this is where the guy catches me and wants to pass! Dang it! I swing wide but he is now in my way to cut back into the corner. What to do now? Oh, well I guess I will miss the corner and go off into the woods and hope for the best! LOL There are no trees in the way but no trail either. So I just sit way back on the saddle and hope that I don't hit something I can't see.

I made it!!! Swoop and I am now climbing up the now very nasty rock and root covered off angle hill to the rock garden. I immediately go down on the first root. I decided that if this happened I would just just get off and run up the hill pushing my bike. So this is what I did. I can catch the now 2nd place guy going up one of the next 2 remaining hills I thought.

Going up the 3rd hill I can see him and I am gaining. I hope that I can catch him before we go down the other side but I don't. He and another guy from the wave ahead of us are going down the fast rocky down hill to the last big hill. I have told myself in previous races to conserve energy going down the hills and pour it on going up the hills. The 2nd place is right there in front of me so this will probably be my last chance to get him.

I am flying down the hill and scared out of my wits. If I crash now I will be hurt very bad, I think. Just keep your eyes focused on the rocks ahead of me and avoid any of the big ones that can cause you to crash. I do this with seemingly unwavering out-of-controlness and catch them right at the bottom of the hill. I pass the other guy and quickly pour on the gas. The 2nd place guy has already started up the hill but quickly catch and pass him. I am now in full race mode and no one is going to slow me down now! As I pass him he tells me good luck as I guess he is conceding it to me.

So I never let up again. Coach told me to never look back so I don't. There is only one more down hill and he isn't going to catch me there! I am ecstatic and flying now. I hit the last logging road downhill and I am going as fast I can without being out of control. There are people there cheering me on and taking photos. I holler at them with glee as I am flying down the hill. I tell myself to don't get too crazy and stay in control. There is a huge left hand turn at the bottom and then you have the new trail to manipulate.

So as I am turning the left hand corner I glance back and I see no one! YAY. I turn off the gas a little bit as to not crash on the new trail section. Well just as I thought that day before, I wipe out about halfway through it! My back tire hits a slick root and spins me out. I am not hurt and no one was there to see it and no one was there to pass either. I exit the woods and quickly fly through the loop to the finish line. I can't freakin believe it! I took 2nd place in my very first GSC race of the season! WOW What an awesome feeling it is.


Click here for the official Results

Chasing the Cure MTB Race

Saturday March 6 was my unofficial first day of racing for 2010. Paul Hein of the Columbus Cycle Club and Columbus Bike Racing did a great job of rallying the troops and organizing the First Annual Chasing the CURE for Childhood Cancer mountain bike race. It was held at Flat Rock Park in Columbus, Ga. It included races for all ages and all abilities. Racing started around 9:00am with the kids/beginners and ended with the Men/Women 18-39 Sport category.

The weather was a little chilly early in the morning, but it warmed up and the conditions were perfect at race time. There were about 50 racers that participated as well as several spectators. At last count there was close to $3000 raised for the CURE. I think that it was unanimous amongst the troops that Paul make this into an annual event.

My event was the Sport Men 40+. Having been the only one in that category, Paul combined me with the 40+ Beginners. I think that there were about 7 of us all together. It was to be a 30 minute plus 1 lap race.

I was a little nervous at the start line, but as soon as the gun went off I went into race mode with no problem. .I had no idea who my competition was but I knew that I wanted to be near the front, but not in the lead. At least I didn't want to be in the lead at the very start of the race. I have a problem with pacing myself and tend to want to go all out, right from the start.

So when the gun went off, I took it slow and let someone take the lead. I was in second place and hoped to stay there as long as I could. The first and second laps went quite well, but at a fairly slow pace for me. Both times as we came around to the finish line banner, the lead guy up-shifted and missed a gear.
We almost ran over him when he slowed down that fast. So after this happened at the end of the 2nd lap, I decided it was time to get around this guy before something bad happened.

So I quickly down shifted and jumped on the gas and passed him. I guess a couple of other guys had the same idea and we pulled away form him fast. I was now in full sprint mode and took off. I am now is first place and loving it! I was told by my skating coach that you never look back to see where your competition is, so I didn't. I just kept focusing on the job at hand, winning and not making any mistakes.


The race quickly became a personal challenge to me. I wanted to see how hard I could push myself and still maintain position and stay in control. I soon realized that I was about to start lapping the field. Not my plan nor intention, but true non-the-less. I ended up lapping all but 2 guys and won 1st place.

At the end of the race I officially completed 11 laps in 34:26. An average of 3.11 minutes per lap. I was told it was a .7 mile course, so that puts my speed around 11.14 miles per hour. Not too bad, but it was a relatively flat course.

I really enjoyed the race, the swag, the competitors, and the opportunity to be able to support a very worthy cause. Hats off to Paul again for an outstanding job. And I would also give a shout out to the wonderful volunteers that help make it all come together too.



Here is the link to all of the race photos.

The Olympics are here!!! GO USA USA USA USA

Check out the following links for all of the latest action and results.

Team USA

Team USA news

The bands are here and I have been playing that tune

It has been 3 weeks now since my first visit back to the physical therapist to start my strengthening exercises. She (Sachi) gave me 3 different bands to start doing. I am doing 5 different exercises with them about 5 times a day. This week she gave me 2 more harder bands and 2 more different exercises to add to my regime. She also said that I can start doing bicep and tricep curls if I want, just don't over do them. Light weights and a lot of reps.

The training is coming along very well and I'm getting excited about getting back to full strength. I am pretty tough on myself and I do what I am told. The doctor said that I should be ready to start swimming by the first of March. YAY

My potential first race is a mountain bike race at Flat Rock Park on March 6. Here is the web site to the race Chasing The Cure. So I hope that I am ready for it. I plan on starting spin class the first of February to enhance what I have been doing on the stationary bike.

Tonite I had an excellent workout at the Y. I did 20 mins on the elliptical machine at level 8. Then I did 30 minutes on the bike at level 8. Then 5 minutes of stretching. Abductors, hamstrings, guads, biceps, triceps, crunches, back extentions, stretching, then 5 more sets of crunches. Woooooo. I need to bring another shirt to change into after all of that! And I feel great right now. Can't wait to do it again tomorrow.

Check this out and DO IT...