Author: Bill

 

Hello from a cloudy Missoula where I expect to be all alone on the TNR tonight. I just realized that I uploaded the Sunday photos last night.  You can locate them by clicking on the “photo” tab above.  Check out the video^NEW.

While this man is taking it easy in MOAB.  Is that fair? Ronnie reports in from MOAB, says he might make the Rolling Thunder! He just got done ridding a trail that is top secret! Dave, you know!

My ISP is DigitalBridge Communications at 1942 Birch St, Missoula, MT 59808, 406-542-3444. Last night as with many nights I wanted to make a simple phone call using my Internet phone (cheap, otherwise I would have no phone). The bandwidth was so bad I couldn’t talk to mom.  I tried to chat or email with her …no go. I sent a letter to them this morning:

Not that you care or this message will get to anyone with proper authority to do something … Your service is getting overloaded and not usable at 224 West Central in Missoula Montana. It’s not my set up because it is happening to everyone in the community. Your getting a bad name and your commercials are adding fuel to the fire.  Last night the service was down and since I got a bill this morning I thought I would write and bitch about the terrible service. When there is a viable alternative in Missoula tons of customers will jump ship unless you do the right thing now.

I recommend that everyone stay away from this service.  Dial up is faster and the commercials are just out right lies!

Racing begins at 2:30 and will continue until 7pm with the men’s 1,2,3 at American Legion Field.  Come out and enjoy Montana’s best cyclocross racers.  The Rhino Bar will be on hand to serve beer and wine, and as in year’s past the music will be bumping and the atmosphere will be popping!  Other highlights include a Major Jake frame and fork for the men’s winner and a complete Felt cross bike for the ladies winner (donated by Missoula Bicycle Works and Great Northern Cyclery). 

Schedule

• 2:30 Kids Race (short course)
• 3:00 Junior/Beginner Race (20 minutes)
• 4:00 Men 4/Master B
• 5:30 Women
• 7:00 Men 1/2/3/Master A

Podium presentations will be at the conclusion of each race. Official Race Website, MontanaCyclocross.Com.  Keep up with race details, registered riders, and the latest hype atwww.montanacyclocross.com. Five Valley/Team Stampede Riders remember Bookwalter’s email!  Come out and support Thunder and the Hellgate Duathlon on Sunday

Saturday was race day in Big Sky, Montana. Kicked it off with berry pancakes, and by sunset, I crossed the finish line in 5th place.

It hurts when you have been training for and doing ultra endurance mountain bike events and then turn around and try to go all out in cyclocross races.  I think it is the exact opposite sports.  All I know is it hurts.  Check out Flickaterro!

Last night was the 3rd installment of the Missoula Wednesday Night Cross Series.  I tried to start fast but found myself a quarter mile behind everyone on lap one. It took 30 minutes until I started to reel in riders and by the end came in 3rd.

This weekend is two Montana State Series races in the Bozeman area.  I plan to stay with teammates and we should have a great time socially.  On the course … PAIN.

Recently I have been extremely busy house and cat sitting for a friend.  More work than you think.  Does anyone have any idea how much four cats crap and piss every day?  This all no to mention a cat that needs a pill shoved down his (Buddy) throat every day.  Still though, Buddy likes me more than the rest. buddy also gives me hell for not letting him out. Do you know cats can howl?

Who is going on the TNR tonight?  King cans at the end!

Doing two cross races in one day is brutal.  I have no skin left on one hand and all I have left to show for the weekend is a 5 dollar bill.  And that I had to pull out of a mans ass.  You had to be there.  Mule of the weekend … Erik!

Reflecting on an epic journey:

I went through a whirlwind of emotions – bargaining, anger, depression. But then, we came together, rode, and through it, I found healing.

Together, we conquered 153.16 miles and 22,648 vertical feet of climbing in 21 hours and 16 minutes.

A heartfelt thanks to Sten for always having my bottles ready and handling Marcy’s ashes with care at every stage. Your support throughout the night and your companionship on this journey meant the world.

Gratitude to Ronnie, who joined me at the start and stayed all through the night. Your presence was invaluable.

A special thanks to Dave for being part of the early leg of the trip, for the beer, and for sharing your wisdom on long-distance riding.

Rich and Marta, thank you for being part of this journey, for staying when exhaustion hit, and for being there the next day to see me finish my pancakes.

Jim, your spirit and enthusiasm throughout the grand loop of Missoula were uplifting. I truly appreciate it, brother of the map.

Garland, thank you for the fantastic rides this year and for blazing the trail ahead of me. And for being there the next morning with your son to welcome me back.

And Larry, riding over 80 miles, your presence at various meetups on the trail was a huge boost.

We did it. What an epic adventure, what a vision quest. Thank you all!

Hello from City Brew where Sten and I go over last minute details.  Rich and Jim are up on Blue Mountain as I look up there but se no lights.  The sun is coming up and I am going home to pack the support vehicle and get ready for the adventure of 2008. If you find yourself in the area come on and lets do a leg.  Just give Sten a call [406.570.2954], get a status or set up a ride. And so it begins!

It’s almost time for the Remember Marcy Vision Quest (RMVQ), and the excitement is palpable. The anticipation is building as participants gear up for this incredible adventure. Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store:

• RMVQ: This link provides an overview of the RMVQ, offering insights into the unique and challenging nature of the event. It’s a test of endurance, determination, and the unyielding spirit of adventure.
• Carbo Rocket: Thanks to Brad Keys, a shipment of Carbo Rocket has arrived just in time for the RMVQ. The new Raspberry Lemonade flavor is all set to fuel the participants on this remarkable journey.
• Kettle House Brewery: After the Thursday Night Ride (TNR) at 7 PM, participants will gather at the Kettle House Brewery to connect and share their excitement for the upcoming quest.
• Pizza Party Tomorrow Night @ My Place!: The festivities continue with a pizza party, adding to the sense of camaraderie and adventure that defines the RMVQ experience.

The RMVQ is not just a cycling challenge; it’s a test of resilience, camaraderie, and the unyielding spirit of adventure. It’s truly remarkable to see individuals push their limits and embark on such extraordinary journeys.

Wishing all the participants continued success and unforgettable experiences on their future adventures!

Citations:
[1] http://www.williammartin.com/visionquest
[2] https://www.adventurecycling.org/resources/blog/one-big-circle-the-first-90-degrees/
[3] http://picasaweb.google.com/baldwina/RMVQ2010?feat=directlink
[4] https://williammartin.com/rmvq
[5] https://williammartin.com/mountain-biking/the-rmvq

I have been fatigued lately and I wanted to take it easy. I took a few warm up laps and discovered I am way out of practice dismounting my bike and getting back on. No problem, I would just go easy.

At the gun I let the entire field go. As I looked up I noticed that the pace at the front was not that fast and if I would of been on top of my game and didn’t have a 24 hour ride coming up, I feel I would of been  up there.  Soon I got into a rhythm.

So I picked racers off one at a time and worked my way to upper mid pack and was going pretty good. A rider crashed and I waited till he got back on, he was doing well and was a good pacing partner.  Then it happened!

I came around a gravel corner, deep just plowed gravel, and my front tire washed out.  I went down hard and drove my knee into the ground.  I crashed hard onto my shoulder and I hurt my back so bad it took me quite a while to get going ( a long time).  I don’t know how I finished but I did.

So now the RMVQ is questionable but at the very least I will support my friends and we will have a good weekend anyway.  I am real bummed I may not be able to ride.  I will Keep ice, clean it up and asses in the morning.  Good Night!

Last night after I posted the last of the RMVQ map details I realized I needed to do laundry and start the cleanup of last weekends race in rainy Phillipsburgh. I have been sick since then and am finally starting to chip away at the chores. So just when I think I am getting caught up I learn that this week is the first Missoula Cross Race. Doh! So I spent the rest of the morning cleaning up shoes and thinking of how I am going to pull off this race in the midst of a major planning campaign for the big Vision Quest this weekend.

Tomorrow I will be at the Kettle House around 7PM for a RMVQ information meeting!

I am broken.  Riding a hill climb in mud is way more demanding than in dry conditions.  Not only that add in a deraileur so muddy it refuses to shift resulting in some missed shifts you get a situation to break things.  My chain broke because of shifting under load (not me … did it by itself) and I broke due to pushing against all that muddy resistance. I was able to ride the rest of the race and around town though and the chain stayed together enough without any complaining.  So I better stop complaining.  The weekend was good and a report my be in the works for the Bloggatero.  Stay tuned!

Hello from City Brew! I am waiting for the sun to go down so I can go night riding.  It is Friday and the weekend starts now.  I am bypassing the usual chores to get a blueberry scone and go night riding.  No one wants to play tonight so I will head out alone.  Tomorrow is big time planning and RMVQ meeting.  Next week I will be getting ready for bed so I can ride the next day for 24!

Thanks Fatty! I was feeling like no one feels the way I do and only you can write an light hearted response to USAC’s new changes.  I can only gripe and irritate some of my (former) friends. Well, at least I find out who my MTB friends are. How come MTB(ers) are wussies and cant speak up?  Well Fatty has …

New opportunities to sandbag. I’m listing this one last, because since it doesn’t affect me, I honestly don’t care about it. But the fact is, the biggest thing this change does is force people not quite good enough to cut it in the Pro ranks to decide, “Do I want to spend the rest of my life racing way off the back of the field by going for Pro, or would I rather race in the front of the field by going in Cat 1?” Gee, I wonder what most of them will decide. My friends Brad and Kenny are about to never win another race again. Sorry, guys.

~http://www.fatcyclist.com