Some awesome pictures and another muddy race!

Current Song:Semi-Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind 

What I did Today: Went for an excellent recovery ride 

Energy: Still tired but feel better after the ride.

After a busy week, finally the weekend came around! This week was filled with rides that were not too intense but with everything this week, I was worn out. I thought it would be great to put in a pretty big week for conference. So with that I was not expecting the biggest results this weekend but everything worked out better than I thought! It was a really great week as far as riding. Got some cool rides in with Tristan and St. Marie and even by myself, which is why I have so many pictures! Thought it was cool to finally get some, the ones of the bike after the race are pretty entertaining.

Well in short this weekend was a blast, not my best races of the year but they were not bad. In the short track we warmed up and were ready to go at 9, the scheduled start, well the organizer didn't decide to show up until about 9:45, leaving us sitting there for nearly an hour, as you can imagine no one wanted to race and everyone lost their warm-up. So the first half of the race was not great. I couldn't get my intensity up to par and climbing the hill was not very fun. Halfway through I was able to move up a few places but only jumped up to 16th. It works but I wish I could have done better.

The morning of the cross-country we woke up to pouring rain. So out to the course and sure enough it was going to get sloppy. So after a rushed start, we were off. I got stuck behind a slow guy for the first lap but was able to keep moving up through the field to eventually get up to 12th. The last lap was great because I was able to keep my intensity up and I made up 3-4 positions! So that was great but still not too excited about not continuing my top 10 consistency, well next week! It was a fun muddy race and I felt great on the descents! The bike ran great despite the excessive mud! 

Now this week should be good with some minor intervals and what not to possibly get ready for nationals. This weekend is Conference champs and we are racing on the first ever olympic mountain bike course. I think its the coolest thing in the world. I know I will have one more level just because of that! Well enjoy the pictures.

Some rock garden action on Farlow Gap

Blue Ridge Parkway view.

and at night.

Air-strip trail, literally an old airstrip, the trail is fun too!

View from the end of Airstrip

Something-falls, can't remember the name

same waterfall

Nice and muddy!

I am surprised I could shift!

Or my chain could work

Or my crank.

Even used a mud-flap

You can tell it was a fun race!

I could stay here...

Current Song: Young Forever, Jay-Z
What I did Today: Went to class, a light ride is on the schedule
Energy: Feeling great!

Well, time keeps on rolling and I am still amazed at the fact that I have not even skimmed the surface of Brevard. Last week was the stage race, It was a blast being able to volunteer for a race, because for once I was the one behind the scenes, kinda gives me an idea of what kind of work goes into a race. It is an amazing amount. The work I did included marking course until dark, yes we broke out the lights for the last hour! I also swept two courses which was very tiring. It was great to learn a lot of new trails, and with my new map, the links of all the trails are slowly starting to form in my head. Soon the loops will get going just in time for the base mileage. After the stage race, I had to put on a white squirrel suit which was horrible! So hot inside one of those mascot suits! Afterwards I got to chat with some of the racers! Jeremiah Bishop actually recognized me which was really really cool. I asked him about the race and he asked me about how college was going. I also got to talk to the coach from our camp, Andy and Cory Rimmer. It was fun getting to see everyone and what an atmosphere! A stage race is definitely on my bucket list.

This week has been mellow yet hectic which is basically all college has been! I went for an amazing ride in DuPont State Forest yesterday with Tristan and Matt. It made me realize that the biggest reason I have gotten faster since I have been here is that there are people who kick my butt. So I go as hard as I can to keep up with them, and pushing that envelope has given me much more confidence! At one point the trail literally was just rock. Like slick rock! I couldn't believe it! It was just way too much fun. I also finally got to see out of the trail. The craziest thing about riding here is that its easy to get tunnel vision because you can't see like you can back west! Its so easy to orient yourself because you know where town is, but here its almost impossible. Hopefully I will get it eventually!

On the other side of things, I keep trying to balance sleep, a life and of course homework. Balancing everything is difficult but absolutely worth it. Well on a parting note, remember the pursuit is the reward!
Over and out

New meaning of mud! (Lees Mcrae Race Report)

Current Song: Save Tonight, Eagle Eye Cherry
What I did Today: Went to my 3 classes
Energy: Tired but extremely happy

Mud has always been something that has been very fun to ride in just because of its spattering qualities. At Lees Mcrae I experienced a totally different mud. Don't get me wrong, it was an absolute BLAST! but wow. Every one has been saying this is one of the most technical courses already and when St. Marie hoped it would rain so we would really have fun, I was worried. They were right. We pre-rode the course when it was dry and wow, it was so much fun. There was a very large rock garden and several "euro-drops" (steep inclines that last 3-4 feet that drop to flat and even one that was like 10 feet long) and too many roots to count. It was so so so much fun. The course was scary and hard but the flow it had and the adventure involved in just surviving was so awesome.

Now that I think back, we didn't even know what technical was at that point, that night it start pouring. All in all we started in a cold drizzle and that slowly turned into a downpour. Well back home, dirt plus water= tacky, nice dirt. Back east dirt plus water equals MUD. It was amazing, it was harder than riding in snow. I hit so many trees I can't even count! It turned into a slop fest of all time. I had a really great start putting me into the top ten or so and I held that position throughout the entire race. I felt really great climbing in the mud that allowed for almost no traction and the descents were way too much fun to even contain myself. Put it this way, no one could tell what jersey someone was wearing, we all wore brown. I guess an excellent souvenir from Lees Mcrae. At one point I had to get an extra water bottle just to spray off my drive train so that my bike would keep rolling! Well I ended up in the top ten and the second on our team. It was a really great race for me and I realized the only way to be good in mud is to have too much fun in it. At one point I tried to get around a guy but his wheel was in the trail, promptly taking me down, but usually one goes down and stops, no I slid about 15 feet completely out of control. It was awesome.

Then the short track. We were all hoping this would stay dry as a majority of it was in the grass. Our wish was somewhat granted. It was definitely pretty wet but nothing we couldn't handle. The nastiest features were a literal mud pit, which thankfully had a sneak line that I found early on in the race, and a creek crossing. I had another really good start. It put me in great position to pick people off. And throughout the race I was able to keep it up. This time I was actually able to finish one lap down which was so awesome as last time I raced three laps and that was it. I was really psyched to get that goal alone and the position it put me in was awesome. I felt really solid on descending and my power is still there. I think I need to do some climbing in Pisgah though.

Well this upcoming week is our biggest fundraising event of the year, the Pisgah mtb. stage race. In return for providing workers, our team gets $5,000. So for the next few days I will be doing 3+ hour rides on the most amazing trails to mark the course! It should be a blast and an easy way to finally get some more pictures. I do have some from a ride in Sycamore cove last week.

A really awesome skinny!

Sycamore Cove!

Well, that has been the last few weeks! I will get some more pictures up soon and for now keep playing in the mud!

First Collegiate Race

Current Song: Over the Hills and Far Away, Led Zeppelin
What I did Today: 3 hour road ride with the team
Energy: tired, finally recovering from being sick.

Well sitting here, it seems the What I did today section has not changed much from summer. It is probably because I omit what I want but the whole college schedule thing works for me. I can ride as long as I want most days so finally my training is not interrupted by school! Still no pictures, the essence of this place can't really be captured in pictures. but soon I will attempt it. For now, one must deal with just words.

This week included an awesome skills clinic on tuesday, a rest day monday and a big milestone- the first collegiate race of my career which is what I would really like to report on. First day short track. I was very bummed this is what would start off my collegiate career and I can't say I am too proud of the result. After 4 crashes on the start, me and my teammate Kody Adams finally got rolling, a full half lap behind the leaders and we hadn't even done one lap. The course had an awesome double (probably a 5 foot gap) but other than that it was fast and well, short. This made for a lot of pulling. Kody got pulled first as I just barely made the cut, I didn't the next lap, leaving my race at about 4 laps or 6 minutes of racing. Awesome. It was a hard race and its frustrating. Well that was it on that.

The cross-country I was looking for some redemption. First of all there was no pulling so I knew I could at least race the whole time which was an accomplishment in itself at that point. I had an ok start, that put me about midway through the 40 man A pack. I was psyched to have made it that far so I was already happy. About halfway through the first lap I realized there was no way I could hold up such a pace. I ended up just taking a little off and ramping it up from there for the duration of the 5 lap race. It totally worked. With a tube getting stuck in the wheel I had to keep fighting to pass two more people and ended up sprinting the faster of the two and winning. All in all a very good day. I was able to pass people every lap and keep bettering myself, in fact my last lap was the fastest! It may have something to do with the position I started the lap, it changed everytime, but it was no dramatic loss which was good. I kept strong for the second half of the lap even though I was hurting. When the guy behind me tried to make the move I was strong enough to counter it and end up ahead. I was extremely happy to learn that I finished that day in 9th. Hopefully its not a plateau but I will be happy with a top ten in a field like that any day!

Well the college adventure continues, and gets better every day. Classes are actually really cool and having people to ride with is so unexplainably awesome. All I can say is, Everything is a once in a lifetime experience.

Alright, Classes make everything a little harder.

Current Song: Black Rock, O.A.R
What I did Today: went to a lot of classes
Energy: Very sleepy.

Well college has still not disappointed. In fact I am so happy here. I found out two days ago, that because of all of my AP tests, I earned 27 credit hours. Making it very very possible to graduate an entire year early. Meanwhile I have been loving most of the classes I am taking at the moment. Sure its school but I might as well make the best of it. It really has been a lot of fun here. We have taken a few trips to sliding rock, and spent many nights staying in a room just talking about everything. We were laughing last night because we feel like we have been friends for years yet we have only known each other for like 5 days. Kind of ridiculous.

Riding has also been going well. After my calculus class I was able to take care of USA Cycling license so that I can race this weekend. Jumping right into the A race which should be awesome. We race short track on saturday, I can't wait to redeem myself for my fall at nationals but then again my fitness isn't that high still. Then Sunday we race the cross-country. It really should be a lot of fun. Our team has been bonding really well and is very skilled in my opinion. Should be a great race and hopefully we can pull something that keeps Brevard a big name.

Well as I sit trying to find something to do, I find my sister's Life is Good book that she snuck in my glove compartment. And as every quote gives me goosebumps, I figured it may be a cool way to end my blog everytime. My plan is to just flip to a random page and put the saying up. Pictures will be up soon, still compiling some good ones, for now, dream on.

The Third Day of College

Current Song: Out Loud, Dispatch (again)
What I did Today: 37 mile road bike ride with the team
Energy: Tired

Its been a great three days. The continuation of the road trip was a success including some awesome frisbee on the inter-state. We got through to North Carolina and after an awesome few nights with Josh's uncle we were ready to go off to school! We got josh to school and finally I was able to head to school.

It was a really really beautiful drive into Brevard. After getting here I moved in, which went really smooth considering how little stuff I had. Well the room-mate matches must work well because neither did my room-mate. His name is Asher, he is an awesome guy, we are getting along really well. As school got on we slowly accumulated more freshmen cyclists and now literally roam in groups of 10. All people who shave legs and everything. Me and another guy, Kody Adams had an awesome ride on Black Mountain really showing why this place will more than satisfy our mountain biking thrill cravings for the next four years. We had an awesome road ride today with a ton of team-mates who we hadn't even met yet. Well Life just keeps on rolling and now that I have an ethernet cord, you readers of this blog can finally stay in the loop that is my life! Until then.... going to have to come up with some more of those phrases!

ALWAYS CAMP WITH A FLY.

Current Song: Big Yellow Taxi, The Counting Crows
What I did Today: Went Rock Climbing
Energy: Great, pretty tired, definitely missing home.

Well It has been an eventful week (with no working internet, reason for not blogging) with the biggest thing being that I left for College. Me and my best friend Josh are headed on a road trip together across the country and it really is great. Our current city is Lonoke, Arkansas. Last night we made it to Amarillo, after some very sad departures from home. We had a surpisingly good birthday dinner for Josh at Hooter's. The idea hit me while we were driving, and seeing as neither of us had ever been to one, what better way to start off a road trip to college? It was a hilarious event that definitely made our day after everything at home and almost 7 hours of driving. It was funny because Amarillo, seeming to be the most moderate place on earth was in fact not while we were there. I almost didn't put the rain fly on, as it was so warm out but opted for it in the end. I am so glad I did because if I hadn't me and Josh would have started our lives out with a horrible, wet night. It absolutely poured. So after being woken up at 5:45 and waiting out the storm until 7 we were ready to leave. We threw the tent in a bag soaking wet, more rain was inevitable and luckily we were able to jump in the car to drive relatively dry. After a nice breakfast at IHOP, I highly recommend the Nutella Crepes we were off to Oklahoma City.

In Oklahoma City, Josh had a friend whom he spent time with in Germany. Turns out he was at work. Did I mention he worked at a Rock Climbing Gym? Well I immediately jumped on the idea of getting to finally do something athletic! So we met him, (after a wild goose chase) and started climbing. It was such a cool place, they had taken some old concrete silos put some nice paint and flooring in, hand holds all the way to the top and about 6 different routes and anchors per silo, It made a sweet rock climbing place. We stayed on the good old 5.8 climbs but they had all the way up to 5.12, it went up to the top of the 90' silo, had handholds over the top and continued down the other side. It was a blast and we got a great workout. We then made our goal of reaching Little Rock to spend another night in Arizona. We got put up in a nice hotel which will probably make up for our experience camping.

Meanwhile, I am coping with the loss of those close to me. Hoping that soon college will cheer me up again and expose new paths that lie hidden from the beaten path, until then I am content with the path I am on.