Month: September 2007

Hello from the City Brew in Missoula where I just got done checking out the photos and reminiscing over a cup of coffee and a blueberry scone about yesterdays mountain bike race in Lolo Montana. [results]

As I arrived it was apparent that last year's course had doomed the turnout for the race this year. The numbers were down, way down. Most of my competition was not even there. Needless to say I had a enjoyable race since no one challenged me for the win.

The big news of the day is the carnage. As I topped my second climb of the day I saw my friend walking up the course holding his shoulder. I asked if he was ok and he told me to keep going so I did. I kept wondering if he was alright. I remember a time when a friend back on the east coast never came off the mountain. We later found out he broke his back and had to be heli-ported off (remember that ROAR).

After the race he was at the parking lot all bandaged up in "Kona" course marking tape. I wish I got a photo as it was quite comical. What was not comical that he had to go to the hospital with a shoulder injury (Final Diagnosis–right AC separation, sprain: AC joint). looking around there were ripped shorts and skinless knees and elbows all round the finish line.

In the end my friends did well. One missed second place in the sport category by mere seconds while the Brown girls took top honors. And me, well I got some cash for first place.

Well I lost this battle but the war is not over. Tonight was my first cyclocross race out at Fort Missoula and I got pulled from the race for being lapped. I started out behind the main pack untill it split into two groups. The wann bees (me) and the pros.

I dropped my chain on the first lap setting my bike down too roughly. Then I proceeded to drop my chain 6 more times. Soon I realized that my seat post clamp was broken and the seat post had fallen down about 4 inches. I got my knee bashed in on a remount error. My run ups were very, how do I say it? Not elagent! With my friends rooting me on I struggled to at least look like a crosser.

Then … I had to ride my bike home standing up and collapsed on my front lawn. THAT WAS FUN! I cant wait for next week!

So now as I struggle to hit the showers I got a bike to fix back up and a Thursday Night Ride to prepair for tomorrow. It doesnt get any better than this.

I just got a cup of coffee going but this morning I am out of soy creamer so I put a little soy milk in my brew. Yuck! Oh well, what can you do. Tonight after work is the first Cyclocross race of the season. I don’t have time to get nervous because I go right to the starting line from work. I get out of work at 5 and the race begins sometime after 5:30. Work has become stressful so I don’t have to worry about thinking about anything but what I have to grab as I walk out after quitting.

Last night’s Online Meeting was a pretty big success as I won the bowling tourney and chatted with a couple users. there were 4 of us chatting. One topic was what we should do now that the entire world hates us as a country. Some recommendations were to get rid of our nukes, stay out of other countries business, knowing thy neibourough (who knows how to spell), starting a way to go club, and drinking beer.

Tomorrow is the Thursday Night Ride and we will be doing the Sidewinder Trail. This trail is quite popular so I expect to at least see my comrades one more time as winter approaches and threatens to smother the mountain biking fun. Well it is off to make some breakfast.

I Have just completed cleaning my cross bike after watching an episode about Glacier Park on PBS. Tonight's ride took me over Pattee Canyon Road and then down Deer Creek road. I finished up coming back into town via the Kim Williams trail. It was only an hour and twenty minute jaunt but all I needed was a relaxing ride.

Coming down Deer creek road was not as relaxing as I would of preferred. I managed to dodge an light blue truck whose driver tried his best to actually run me over and kill me head on. As I ducked under his mirror I could feel his stubborn anger as he pretended to not see me. I don't know, maybe he didn't … maybe he was drunk. This even came after getting flipped off by some young jerk in a jeep.

I survived the drivers but the real danger was whistling down a gravel road abut 45 miles an hour on skinny tires as they skipped across sharp rocks and bedrock peeking out of the roads surface. The last time I tried this I got a flat and just about crashed. My front rim is still dented from that last adventure.

I did make it and once home I ignored my promise to get the car leaned up for its appointment tomorrow. I even ignored my "do not eat past 6" policy as I made up pasta, had chips and salsa, and cearl as well.

So now it is time to retire and look ahead to Wednesday's races. Tomorrow I take the car in and give my money away to the VW mechanics. I really need to get rid of this car.

As I lay here watching my breath float away and listening to pelting snow on my tent walls I feel the need to blog. I just finished putting together a hansom looking snowman on the picnic table. Well I think it was a picnic table! My friends are settling in for a long winters nap. In hopes of a good mountain bike result tomorrow. We are camping at Wallace Lake 15 miles out of Salmon ID at around 8400 feet. And … it is snowing heavily!

I got out of work around 4:30 and hustled home to pack. My friends picked me up and we headed out of town with a "hot-n-ready" pizza steaming up the windows.

As we entered into Idaho we joked about it snowing. When we arrived in Salmon about 8:00 the temp was already 20 degrees warmer than back home in Missoula. We left town and headed to the camping area mapped out by our trip advisor (my friends wife). We climbed for 15 miles into q huge snow storm. So big that we can not even find the out house that we saw on the way in. By the time we got the tents set up there was 2 inches on the ground.

Now it is nighty night time. The snow continues to pitter patter on my tent and I sign out of reality and into a good nights rest.

On the verge of taking off to Salmon Idaho this morning the sore through that has been plaguing me as of late is still with me and worse than ever. I am hoping the all the irritation from the fire smoke wouldn’t get this bad but it looks like I could end up suffering long after the smoke has cleared. This brings me to the good part.

It started raining yesterday and that cleaned up the air and you can even see the mountains around us. I just heard on the news that they caught the teenager that started all the Bitterroot fires. yes, one teen started all 20 + fires in the Bitterroot. I knew someone was starting them. I feel he should be prosecuted and sent to prison for life. This little jerk is a sick. Who would knowingly start fires that ruin the summer, homes, lives, and a beautiful valley. He should never be set loose to pyro anything again.

This weekend I set forth to Idaho for some camping and bike racing. Tonight I leave with friends for a run to the border where we will camp before getting up and racing the next day. The race called “Janna’s Monumental Mountain Bike-O-Rama ” is in Salmon Idaho. Once again I sent off to race with something wrong with my physical self. Sore Throat! The season of sickness and injury for sure! Have a good weekend everyone.

A couple of days ago, I arrived home for lunch aboard my single-speed Trek-erizer! As I prepared my pasta, the mailman stopped by with a package. “More bike parts,” I thought to myself. But it was not. Actually, it was a package from the Way To Go Club. Every week, I log my commute miles to and from work, and they tally them up. Apparently, I had reached a milestone and was receiving a nifty travel mug, a sticker, and a free caffeine ride at Break Espresso. Now that I am without a car and it is raining today (I must ride), it is nice to know that I will be rewarded.

Yes, as I sit here getting ready for work, it has started to rain. You would think it would be a good thing with all the wildfires filling the valley with smoke. Instead of the cool, refreshing smell of sweet rain, it is a choking smell of burnt wood. My throat is sore, and if the air does not clear up, it may get worse.

On tap for this weekend is a trip to Idaho for a mountain bike race, and tonight is the Thursday Night Ride. I think my normal mountain bike will be staying home in favor of my Trek-erizer since it is supposed to rain all day. Cheerio!

Hello from the Break Espresso. I am still looking for comments on the new navigation menu functionality here at the lodge on the left. It is also interesting to note that the Sidewinder trail is almost catching Snow Bowl for top local trail. This morning I stumbled upon a racing series that is way more organized and looks to be more fun than the Montana MORS gatherings. Am I being too spoiled?

With 28 cross-country, 13 downhill and one spanking-new dual free event class, there's a class for all ages and abilities. From the recreational to the extreme racers, everyone from under 12 to over 57, the Wild Rockies Mountain Bike Racing Series is the quite possibly the best way to experience the Northwest on two wheels.

Prizes include clothing from Cyclone Sports Wear, MTB Shoes, trophies and more. The top three points finishers in every sport, expert and pro class, plus all junior-beginner classes, will receive year-end recognition and a series award. Your best 7 out of 10 cross-country events (for downhill racers, your best 4 out of 5 downhill events) count for points, the smallest-turnout race of the year pays double points for each.

Wild Rockies is The official NORBA Regional Cross Country (XC) Series for the Northwest. The web site is top notch and the catagories are fully broken down unlike the MORS series where everyone races each other. The downside is that they cost more and the traveling may be a little extreeme. Still, it worth a thought. I am already dreaming!

Hello from Bernice's Bakery! I woke up around 5 Am probably due to going to bed early. Still dark outside and patrons and neighborhood dwellers are slowly filling up the cafe. What a nice place. When I rounded the corner and saw the lights on (the only ones on the block), I thought to myself, “Ahh home”. It seemed warm and inviting.

I had to cut short a checkers game short with mom last night because I knew I had to rest up. I did not feel well yesterday but I tried to do the daily routine as normal as possible. I still have a headache and when I stand up it feels like my head is suddenly under pressure. I guess when I go to work Ill learn if my focus is better.

Yesterday I could not focus on anything and found myself lost in la la land quite often. Last evening I took Marcy for a walk up Mount Jumbo and found myself feeling nauseous. I stopped by Chuck's house to drop off some CDs that I had borrowed. Now I am reminded of some CDs that I have to do for Larry.

Tonight I am hopeful that I can do a hike with Marcy up Waterworks Hill. Tomorrow I will go cycling again and I am thinking about returning to Marshall Grade to finish my exploration. That, and to pull that small boulder off the singletrack.

It's a cold crisp morning here in Missoula Montana. I notice that the mornings are getting darker and I guess I should not ignore the fact that winter is on its way. When I first woke up my thoughts were to drive to work but as the time neared I felt good enough to ride my bike. So here I sit at work after riding my bike one handed and grimacing when I would hit a bump. It's a good day, and a good thing my swollen brain didn't kill me last night.

Oh yea, did I mention that I had a major concussion headache all night. Yesterday I called a friend for a ride and was reminded of a place I wanted to explore. So I went mountain biking and I not only explored this area but its rocks too. Close Up!

I was riding in the Marshall Canyon area. Its mostly overgrown and the single track weaved in and out of visual contact. On one corner there was a basketball-sized rock and when I saw it … well, it was too late. I vaulted off the bike and smashed head first into a bunch of little boulders. Not good-ol-smooth-boulders. These boulders where square and had sharp edges.

It was a hard journey home and I had wished I had some phone numbers with me. I figured I was ok because I got my self out. At first however I thought I was real messed up considering where I landed. At home I assessed the damage and was relieved to only have a few bumps and bruises. The only dangerous this was this brain sensation that I had. It felt like it was real large and my headache was tremendous.

I ended up with a puncture in my elbow (produced way more blood that it should have) and my neck. I have contusions on my legs, forehead, nose, and jaw. The evening was miserable and I really pumped the Excedrin. I knew that my headache and weird sensations were due to my brain sloshing around as I rattled my head off a few rocks. That is why I was happy to wake up this morning. I hear so many stories about what a concussion can do.

So now I sit here at work, with a headache, feeling pretty raw. But, I did ride my bike to work and that says all is well in Missoula Montana.