Cross Practice Anyone?
Irving was all excited about his first cross practice, but looks like we're getting rained out. So it's rollers in the garage.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
It's Just Another Day
I had off today. Great right? A day to get some stuff done, relax, get a ride in and what not. Well things don't always go as planned. I got up at 6:15am. Not exactly a day off time to rise, but I had to take my car in and I made an early appointment so it wouldn't take all day. So I get up, take off, all is good. I'm riding down listening to music and then I see a sign, "congestion ahead at 695". I look at my directions, no problem, I'm getting off before then. I get off and look at the next step in my directions, aghhhh, back to 695. Traffic comes to a halt. I'm running late now, but it's just a car appointment no big deal, so I relax and make my way through. End up being only about 10 min late. Not too bad considering.
They take my car back, tell me it'll be about 2 hours and I say I'll wait because I don't want to have to drive back down again. 30 min later they call my name. Uh oh I think, that's not good, something has come up. Turns out I need new brakes and routers and all 4 tires because they are bald. Nice! Luckily the brakes and routers were covered in my inspection and free, so that was an upside. As for the tires, my dad actually told me a couple months ago, but I blew it off being in denial not wanting to have to replace run-flats. All I've heard is how pricey they are. Well now was the day. All had to be replaced. They said it would take longer and asked if I wanted to take the shuttle over to the mall. I declined, thinking they'll leave me there or something or work faster maybe because I'm still waiting. I know I'm crazy. They always make you wait regardless. So I wait.
Hours later the guy comes out to inform me it will only be about another 30 to 40 min and another guy will be helping me because he's going to lunch. I couldn't believe he had the nerve to inform me he was going to lunch as I sat there all morning starving to death. I look at my watch, it's already noon! I say ok because I have no choice at this point and wait some more.
40 min later another guy does come out and tells me my car will be ready in about 5 min. I go and settle up with paperwork and what not and take off.
It's now pushing 1pm and I still haven't eaten. I see a McDonald's, the only food place on the strip, so I decide to pull in. It's packed. So I leave. I figure it's a sign that I shouldn't be eating McDonald's. I now have to drive to Marc's work cause he called me saying I didn't sign some form for insurance that he had given me last night and it had to be done today. Funny I say, usually they give you more time. He says he just got it Friday. Mmm still odd. I don't know about anyone else, but everywhere I've worked they allow way more than 3 days for benefit elections. Anyway, I now have to drive all the way to West Grove, PA from Towson, MD. I don't know a direct route, so I take the roads I know and it takes me almost an hour and a half. I call when I'm close and tell him to run it out so I can get home to grab something to eat, cause I still have a dentist appt to make too.
I sign the paper, go home, get some food, brush my teeth and head off to my dentist appt. Luckily it went fairly quickly as dentist appt's go (no cavities). I was out by 5pm. I then had to go home, grab my guitar and books for lesson and take off yet again. On my way home between the dentist and guitar it's just dark enough that everything looks black except for the glow on the horizon. I'm thinking about my wasted day and then as I'm just about to drive under a bridge that connects the two sides of the Fair Hill park I see the outline of two big deer standing on the bridge as if they're watching the traffic go by below them. It was so peaceful looking.
So though my day didn't go as expected, it was a good day. I got to see deer standing on a bridge watching all us crazy people hurrying around. I'm going to eat some dinner now before I have to go to bed.
I had off today. Great right? A day to get some stuff done, relax, get a ride in and what not. Well things don't always go as planned. I got up at 6:15am. Not exactly a day off time to rise, but I had to take my car in and I made an early appointment so it wouldn't take all day. So I get up, take off, all is good. I'm riding down listening to music and then I see a sign, "congestion ahead at 695". I look at my directions, no problem, I'm getting off before then. I get off and look at the next step in my directions, aghhhh, back to 695. Traffic comes to a halt. I'm running late now, but it's just a car appointment no big deal, so I relax and make my way through. End up being only about 10 min late. Not too bad considering.
They take my car back, tell me it'll be about 2 hours and I say I'll wait because I don't want to have to drive back down again. 30 min later they call my name. Uh oh I think, that's not good, something has come up. Turns out I need new brakes and routers and all 4 tires because they are bald. Nice! Luckily the brakes and routers were covered in my inspection and free, so that was an upside. As for the tires, my dad actually told me a couple months ago, but I blew it off being in denial not wanting to have to replace run-flats. All I've heard is how pricey they are. Well now was the day. All had to be replaced. They said it would take longer and asked if I wanted to take the shuttle over to the mall. I declined, thinking they'll leave me there or something or work faster maybe because I'm still waiting. I know I'm crazy. They always make you wait regardless. So I wait.
Hours later the guy comes out to inform me it will only be about another 30 to 40 min and another guy will be helping me because he's going to lunch. I couldn't believe he had the nerve to inform me he was going to lunch as I sat there all morning starving to death. I look at my watch, it's already noon! I say ok because I have no choice at this point and wait some more.
40 min later another guy does come out and tells me my car will be ready in about 5 min. I go and settle up with paperwork and what not and take off.
It's now pushing 1pm and I still haven't eaten. I see a McDonald's, the only food place on the strip, so I decide to pull in. It's packed. So I leave. I figure it's a sign that I shouldn't be eating McDonald's. I now have to drive to Marc's work cause he called me saying I didn't sign some form for insurance that he had given me last night and it had to be done today. Funny I say, usually they give you more time. He says he just got it Friday. Mmm still odd. I don't know about anyone else, but everywhere I've worked they allow way more than 3 days for benefit elections. Anyway, I now have to drive all the way to West Grove, PA from Towson, MD. I don't know a direct route, so I take the roads I know and it takes me almost an hour and a half. I call when I'm close and tell him to run it out so I can get home to grab something to eat, cause I still have a dentist appt to make too.
I sign the paper, go home, get some food, brush my teeth and head off to my dentist appt. Luckily it went fairly quickly as dentist appt's go (no cavities). I was out by 5pm. I then had to go home, grab my guitar and books for lesson and take off yet again. On my way home between the dentist and guitar it's just dark enough that everything looks black except for the glow on the horizon. I'm thinking about my wasted day and then as I'm just about to drive under a bridge that connects the two sides of the Fair Hill park I see the outline of two big deer standing on the bridge as if they're watching the traffic go by below them. It was so peaceful looking.
So though my day didn't go as expected, it was a good day. I got to see deer standing on a bridge watching all us crazy people hurrying around. I'm going to eat some dinner now before I have to go to bed.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Mudder
(very few pictures this week, I was too busy bitching)
Oh where to start. It was a hell of a weekend. It was the second weekend of doubles, so I wasn't real sure how it w
as going to go. I went to tell Marc to only sign me up for Sat just in case, but by the time I had asked him about it I was already signed up for both days. Oh well no biggie. As the weekend came closer I became more and more warey. I don't know why. I was riding well, I wasn't burnt out or tired really. But just wasn't feeling this weekend.
I woke up Saturday morning and was in a horrible bitchy mood. I tried everything to shake it off. I went through my normal pre-race routine; had every thing packed, had all the right food items I wanted. All was good except my frame of mind. As we drove up it did not improve. I kept trying but to no avail.
Then we arrive. The venue is completely flat. No hills, no off camber, no run-up's, just flat and long sections bef
ore turns. Great, a race of speed, but wait, the majority of the course is saturated with water. On my pre-lap I'm grinding through just trying to keep moving. The ruts just get deeper and deeper. So I already didn't feel like racing, and now I'm racing on a flat sluggishly slow course. By this point I'm so pissy that I think I may be able to get to the point I'm so pissed off that I can find that fighting spirit.
We line up, the gun goes off and I take off. Had a great start, found my pedal on the first take, had the hole shot into the first turn and then into the muck everything started to unravel. Women are passing me left and right. It's so rutted the bike is kinda taking me instead of me taking the bike. I'm slugging through a long section I knew I should
have got off to run. This is confirmed as I come around and Tom yells at me, "run it next time, it's faster". I continue on, I'm having to stand way to much to keep going. It sucks. There's always points in a race when you're not happy with how things are going and you can't wait until it is over, but this was the first cross race I actually contemplated dnf'ing.
I kept at it though. I came back around near the pits and I hear Marc say, "Henry is coming up, he's the leader". Beautiful I think, it's almost over. I just need him to lap me and put me out of my misery. That minute or two it took until he finally came around seemed like an eternity. All I kept thinking was "there's no way I'm doing another lap". Finally he passes me and I finish the last bit until I'm done and then it's over. My worst race of the season. Not necessarily results wise. But just overall riding/attitude.
Afterwards I said there was no way I was racing Sunday. I was pre-reg'ed but I didn't care. I couldn't possibly do that to myself again. We went home, got cleaned up, and by the time I went to bed I was contemplating Sunday's race. Sunday morning, I got up and my back was killing me so I decided I made the right choice, but still on the drive up I wasn't so sure I had. That is until we pulled back onto the race property. As soon as I viewed that slopping wet flat ass mess. I knew, I had made the right choice. I had a great day cheering on and supporting everyone else that did decide to put themselves back through it. Great job to anyone who did. I know it sucked.
(very few pictures this week, I was too busy bitching)
Oh where to start. It was a hell of a weekend. It was the second weekend of doubles, so I wasn't real sure how it w
as going to go. I went to tell Marc to only sign me up for Sat just in case, but by the time I had asked him about it I was already signed up for both days. Oh well no biggie. As the weekend came closer I became more and more warey. I don't know why. I was riding well, I wasn't burnt out or tired really. But just wasn't feeling this weekend.I woke up Saturday morning and was in a horrible bitchy mood. I tried everything to shake it off. I went through my normal pre-race routine; had every thing packed, had all the right food items I wanted. All was good except my frame of mind. As we drove up it did not improve. I kept trying but to no avail.
Then we arrive. The venue is completely flat. No hills, no off camber, no run-up's, just flat and long sections bef
ore turns. Great, a race of speed, but wait, the majority of the course is saturated with water. On my pre-lap I'm grinding through just trying to keep moving. The ruts just get deeper and deeper. So I already didn't feel like racing, and now I'm racing on a flat sluggishly slow course. By this point I'm so pissy that I think I may be able to get to the point I'm so pissed off that I can find that fighting spirit.We line up, the gun goes off and I take off. Had a great start, found my pedal on the first take, had the hole shot into the first turn and then into the muck everything started to unravel. Women are passing me left and right. It's so rutted the bike is kinda taking me instead of me taking the bike. I'm slugging through a long section I knew I should
have got off to run. This is confirmed as I come around and Tom yells at me, "run it next time, it's faster". I continue on, I'm having to stand way to much to keep going. It sucks. There's always points in a race when you're not happy with how things are going and you can't wait until it is over, but this was the first cross race I actually contemplated dnf'ing.I kept at it though. I came back around near the pits and I hear Marc say, "Henry is coming up, he's the leader". Beautiful I think, it's almost over. I just need him to lap me and put me out of my misery. That minute or two it took until he finally came around seemed like an eternity. All I kept thinking was "there's no way I'm doing another lap". Finally he passes me and I finish the last bit until I'm done and then it's over. My worst race of the season. Not necessarily results wise. But just overall riding/attitude.
Afterwards I said there was no way I was racing Sunday. I was pre-reg'ed but I didn't care. I couldn't possibly do that to myself again. We went home, got cleaned up, and by the time I went to bed I was contemplating Sunday's race. Sunday morning, I got up and my back was killing me so I decided I made the right choice, but still on the drive up I wasn't so sure I had. That is until we pulled back onto the race property. As soon as I viewed that slopping wet flat ass mess. I knew, I had made the right choice. I had a great day cheering on and supporting everyone else that did decide to put themselves back through it. Great job to anyone who did. I know it sucked.
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