Cleaning House...

Big Ride...

Beautiful Day, Great Ride.

SPOKES, part 2

Here is an article from Friday's News Leader that expands on the SPOKES program:

Teens repair bikes for happy children throughout Shenandoah Valley

By Chris Lassiter

WAYNESBORO — Shawn Farrar didn’t leave with a bike. The 13-year-old Staunton resident left with something more.
Farrar is one of a handful of teenagers volunteering his time in the Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth’s S.P.O.K.E.S. program. It’s an acronym for Supervised Program Offering Kids Effective Skills.

Under the tutelage of repairman and former long-time juvenile justice worker Steve “Sun Bear” Blair, Farrar and several other teens spend Tuesday and Thursday afternoons fixing up bicycles.

On Thursday, Farrar and friends saw the fruit of their labor as kids left with good-as-new bikes. MORE...

Mike Tripp/NewsLeader

More Pics HERE.

GREAT Job Shenandoah Valley Office on Youth, thanks for bringing the joy of bicycling to kids and for helping older kids be involved in the community. And Thanks to the News Leader for the article.

SPOKES Program...

Supervised Program Offering Kids Effective Skills

This is a program that is offered by the Central Shenandoah Office on Youth to give kids opportunities to learn skills, be involved in the community, and work with mentors.

According to today's News Leader, the SPOKES youths gave away 12 bikes that they refurbished to needy kids.

Good Stuff...

IF Racing News...

The signing has just been announced:

INDEPENDENT FABRICATION Signs New Rider

Parker's Jersey...

Parker received his Indy Fab jersey today and he was happy...



He couldn't wait to wear it on a ride...



Parker looks good in Indy Fab Green...



Ok, he's got his sippy cup, now if dad would just open the gate...



Thanks Jon B.

Gillian and Parker...

Aren't they cute?

EX2 @ Rocky Gap...

Wow, that was a fun race.

Rocky Gap State Park in Flintstone Maryland played host to the latest XTERRA race on my schedule. And since this is my first year racing off-road triathlons, I was a newbie at this venue. This race has a 2lap swim over a 600m course and the laps were split by a 200m run. Ah Swimming the necessary evil of triathlons... The goggles came off , the sidi's strapped on, and the bike course began with about a mile of pavement before spilling onto the rocky double/single track trails around Lake Habeeb. This leg was also a 2 lapper. I missed a turn towards the end of the first lap and added some distance to that lap. I realized my error in navigation and after dropping a few "F" bombs, I was cranking the BIG-little to get back on the course. I was pissed that my inattention was going to add minutes to my time. After settling down it was back to the rythym of racing . The tire setup was spot on for the loose trail conditions. I'm running a Kenda Kharisma up front and mounted a new Hutchinson Bulldog on the rear. I didn't have any trouble washing out or loosing traction. Thanks Les. My second transition was smooth and I felt okay starting the run. After a mile I found myself in a group with 2 other runners. We traded off pacing a few times and had fun running on the rocky trails. Once the trail turned up, I bid AF Rich farewell as he had better hill legs and mine were starting to give the telltale twinges of cramps. The run followed the bike course for a while and once it turned off on its own, the real rock sections began. Lots of scrambling and one long section of hand over foot of bouldering up the hillside. Photos soon here It was during this section that the left hammie seized and I moved forward with straight legs and clinched teeth. After the trail leveled off, the legs loosened up and then it was onto pavement for the final mile. I lifted the pace as much as I could and finished with a smile.

I didn't have the time I wanted but I had a lot of fun, and that's what it's all about. I tried to give all of the racers I encountered encouragement. Spreading the IndyFab Love.

Lessons Learned:

1. Don't get up at 3am and drive 3 hours to a race. The money saved not getting a hotel room isn't worth it when you're tired/sleepy at the start.
2. It's not good to race blind, PreRides are necessary especially if it's the first time at a venue. And you're less likely to miss a turn. Go to the race the day before and preride then get a good night's sleep, see #1.
3. Smile for the cameras, give fellow racers an "atta boy/girl", "isn't this fun?" or "you're looking great", hoot and hollar the fun sections and when you clean technical bits; because it's FUN

Thanks to the promoters of the EX2 race for hosting a well run and fun race. And thanks to Independent Fabrication for all the support. The Ti Deluxe is amazing. Point and Shoot bike.

getting ready...

Cyclocross season is right around the corner with City Bikes in DC hosting a race on September 16th and Baltimore's Charm City race the following weekend.

Snazzy new skinsuit awaits race season. New drivetrain components have been acquired and await installation on the Planet Cross. New right STI, rear derailleur, chain and cassettes will let the shifts be clean and crisp. Kinda like the 20 year old bourbon I've been enjoying lately.

Who else has been dreaming of 'cross season and races? come on, raise your hands, you know you have. I may have to switch from Old Pappy to Chimay soon. And start eating frites with mayonaisse.

Eat Cake

Happy First Birthday!!!

apres Sherando

I had fun even with a bonk...

ESPN's take on the TdF

The Excessively Self Promoting Network has this to say about the Tour de France. Read HERE.

Wow, something positive from espn that doesn't involve a ball...

Thanks to GoClipless for the link.

Recap...

It's been far too long since the last post, I apologize. Even my mom was giving me grief for not updating my blog.



Here are some race recaps (I'll post trail/road advocacy separately)

• XTERRA East Championships: This was my A race, too bad my body didn't get the memo. The swim went ok for me, even with the multiple crossings of the river. Once out of the water I was on the bike and onto the trails, fighting to get around people on the tight trails of Belle's. This was repeated in the Forest Hills section, seems people didn't know to move aside when someone comes up from behind. It was tough getting around them and I didn't have the bike time I wanted. Once on the run I felt good. At least until the flood wall, out in the sun and I started to cook. By mile 4 I was done. I started feeling the onset of cramps while crossing the dry river bed. The hammies seized at the top of Belle's Island, vision blurred and tunneled. I did see a bunch of guys in my age group go past me as I hobbled towards the finish. I'll do better next year.


• Charlottesville Sprint (road tri with a trail run) I had done this race last year and finished 6th overall and 2nd in my age group. I would match those placings again this year while taking over two minutes off my time from 2006. And that was with a longer swim this year. I needed to do well to put richmond behind me. The bike leg is similar to what I ride in the valley with lots of rollers and swooping turns. I ended up with the fastest bike leg and hit the trail feeling great. This feeling lasted for the 3 miles of tight and twisty trail. The family came over and watched the race, while not as spectator friendly as cyclocross, they still had fun.


• Firecracker 5k, OK, it's not cycling but a wheeled vehicle was involved. This was Parker's first official race as we signed him up so he would have an official result. He was ready for the race with his "I raced with daddy for the first time on July 4, 2007" t-shirt. Thanks Terri!!! There were no other baby joggers in the field so we didn't trash talk at all. (Bill W. was traveling back from IMCDA) We took it easy and ran a decent pace finishing the 5k in 21:27, with Parker coming across the line a split second in front of me. He has a great finishing kick. Parker received a trophy for winning the 10 and under age group. He was magnanimous and gave the trophy to the kid who actually ran the race and hadn't ridden in a BOB. I was suprised to see that I took 3rd in my age group. It was awesome to be able race with him and I look forward to many more.
  

Next on tap is the EX2 in Flintstone Maryland on the 15th. This will be a 1200m (2lap) lake swim, 14 mile mountain bike and a 5 mile trail run. I feel strong and will try to podium and get some points.