Mooch Madness and a Bitch Named Irene

On Thursday, when I registered for Mooch Madness, I knew it wasn't a good idea because we are supposed to go to Shenandoah this weekend. I don't recover well anyway and I'm still not feeling great after the Wildcat Epic. I had planned on racing my single on Sunday in Sewell at the Summer Sizzler but everything was canceled for Sunday. Probably for the best. I'm still feeling flat. Off to Allamuchy for Mooch Madness. I knew I shouldn't do it or if I did it I definitely shouldn't 'race' or finish. It was the only thing going on because Irene had put a damper on any races on the East Coast.

JA and AH

I had made the disclaimer to Stacey (aka Ass Hole) that if she saw me anywhere near her she had my permission to knock me off my bike. I'm sure she was looking forward to this opportunity but I was chill and rode like a slug for two laps and called it a day. The course was great and Norm and MTBNJ.com did a great job with the race. Lots of fun. Even under the threat of a hurricane they pulled it off.

We got home just in time to prepare for whatever Irene was going to throw at us. Thank goodness it wasn't as bad as they had predicted.

Our road

Ike is way too happy that he doesn't have to go too far for a swim.

The creek across from our house more like a river

My parking spot

Working from home today because I'm trapped for now until the water recedes. Not necessarily a bad thing...

Cooked

I had some grand plans that I would be racing this weekend (or at least attempt to) but I quickly came to the realization that I was still cooked from the Wildcat Epic. I wanted to go to VT bad. Then maybe the Hampshire 100k. Couldn't decide. Mike, Jane and Chris ended up going to the Rattling 50 in PA. Monday and Tuesday I actually felt okay. Come Wednesday I was tired and snarkier than usual. By Thursday, I was having homicidal thoughts and wanted to nap under my desk so I knew it was in my best interest to chill over the weekend. I had been on the bike for recovery spins throughout the week. Wednesday, I attempted to go into the woods for an 'easy ride' but we all know how that usually turns out. Push a little too hard, have a little too much fun. Right back at total beat down.



Saturday, I was feeling fluish and my HR was high so I took precautionary measures and stayed away from any sort of activity besides reading and watching tv. Sunday, I had to get on the bike. I was getting anxious and grumpy and needed to be outside. The forecast was not a good one. Calling for thunder boomers. It was wet and gnarly riding. I got caught in a downpour. I could taste the years of bug spray, sweat and sunscreen run down my face from my old helmet. At one point I had to stop because it was raining so hard I couldn't see.

Moments of brilliance followed by larger moments of a flailing moron on a bike. I had my first crash of note this year. It hurt. It really hurt. Of course, it was in one of the pointier rocky trails. I was lying off the trail with the bike on top of me for quite some time. Hanging by my pelvis' iliac crest on a rock. I was afraid to move for a little bit because I felt like the rock was stuck between my ribcage and pelvis. It was. I was hanging headfirst down a drop-off off the side of the trail. I couldn't get myself up and off of it for a moment. That's not going to be pretty in a day or so.

The crash was in the first hour so I had to redeem myself a little. After 3 hours, I decided to cut my losses and roll home. My left side wasn't happy with me. I got it together technically. I was just so tired and Waway is not a place you can be tired or ride easy (at least not the fun stuff). It's not much fun. You'll walk more than you ride.

Pedaling squares down our road home (and such a flattering photo to boot).

Wishing and hoping I can get back to 'normal' this week.

Wildcat Pics

G enjoying the massage

Wildcat Epic Day Two: Success

Waking up this morning was rough. It poured all night long and was pouring when I woke up at 4:30 am. Hello stiffness. Thought about getting back into bed and calling it a day. I knew that would be a mistake and I'd regret it so I packed up in the pouring rain. It poured the whole way up until I got within 10 miles of New Paltz. It looked like it had rained but it wasn't pouring. I'm fine racing in the rain. There's just something about getting ready in the rain that pisses me off. Happy I didn't have to do that.

These girls are trouble

When I got on the bike I was shocked that I didn't feel that bad. I was tired and sore but it was a good tired and sore, not a sick tired and sore. I could work with that. The start also included the one day 50 milers. I knew we were going to rail trail and I knew these guys would push the pace. I told myself not to get caught up in it. At one point I looked behind me and realized I was hanging on to the back of the lead group. I dropped off the back and into a more realistic position. I had no idea what was coming and if I had to go into a climb my legs would have been toast.

We turned into an orchard and everyone was moaning and groaning about how horrible it was going to be. It wasn't easy riding. The ground was chattery and it was grassy and wet so it sucked the energy out of the legs. However, it was kind of cool weaving through the orchards. I will say my only almost crash all weekend was on an apple. Can't say that's ever happened before. I went through a blind corner and there were apples and I rode over them and slid on one sideways about 5 feet. Deadly fruit.

At the end of two days and approximately 80 miles into my journey I finally got to experience Williams Lake. I have always been sick for this race and never have gotten a chance to ride there. It was pretty cool. Slippery, rooty and rocky. Three of my favorites. Also got to ride through the cave and experience what all the cool kids are always talking about. It was quite foggy and dark in there today and it was a little scary. I wasn't sure which way to turn. The photo guy at the entrance was not paying attention because he was talking and I screamed, "Which way?". Nothing. I heard brakes to the left and I went to the left. Then I heard "Left". A little too late. Thank God I chose correctly. Webb later told me that to the right there is a cliff. Good to know.

Bike made it out unscathed. Too bad my hubcap didn't.

I finished. So happy. I may have even gotten a little teary eyed at the end for a second. Never thought I would be able to do this. Never thought my body would let me do this. I think I could have actually pushed a little harder. I was conservative because I didn't want to crack. That's good. Never done anything like this before so I didn't know what to expect.

Dark Horse represented. 1st and 2nd in the one-day 50 miler (Yay, Webb!!) I ended up second in the very small women's 100 field. T-shirt, homemade medal , 50% off my entry for next year and whiskey for the pain I'll be feeling tomorrow.

It was a fun event with a good vibe. I really enjoyed it. The promoter and volunteers were cool. It would be nice to see a local two-day endurance race grow.

Wildcat Epic Day One: Survival

I ended up actually taking the start today at the Wildcat Epic. Shocking, yes. Having some major mouth sore issues and my power is no where to be found. I think I'm at the end of it so I decided to just to hang on and survive today. I may be able to start tomorrow and I may not but there is a possibility that even after 50 miles I may feel better tomorrow.

There was quite a bit of climbing today. We climbed into Minnewaska. Absolutely beautiful. Amazing views. Trail not rutty. Not technical. Gravelly, groomed, double track multi-use trails. My worst nightmare. I had to sit and spin a lot. This is a lot of body to spin up hill. My legs really weren't happy with me. No cramping and I didn't crack. I usually crack on gears. I kept it conservative. I knew I wasn't all there and I knew that there is more fun to be had tomorrow. I started to get a little crazy on the opening climb when two girls passed me. I wanted to go with them. I actually made myself pull over and chill the hell out. I waited for my heart rate come down and then just plugged along. A few times I got a little over zealous on some flats and realized I was pulling a train at way too many MPHs. Not good. Just because I can doesn't mean I should. I had to behave.

The bike was awesome. I did run out of gears in the rear on one occasion. It is Mike's bike so of course there is a road cassette on the back. Otherwise, I can't wait to get on some single track with it tomorrow. It's supposed to rain. Even better. I'm usually pretty good in the mud.

Most people had around 52 miles on their computer today. I got lost twice. I did one climb twice because I loved it so much. 54 miles for me today. Now time for Ike and I to watch a movie and get ready for round 2...

Candy

Sunday I took the Epic out and realized it had major issues. Major issues that I didn't have time to address this week because of my trip and work. I need a whole new drivetrain. It's effed up. I have to choose what I want, order parts and take it to the shop to get it worked on. No time for that. Plus, I really don't know what I want as far as chain rings go. I need to think about this one. It's not a quick fix. I don't want to spend that much money and not be happy about what I chose.

I was totally bummed and prepared to ride a bike that may or may not shift this weekend at the Wildcat Epic. Oh yes. I forgot to write this in the beginning. I just registered for the Wildcat Epic. My legs and body took a beating in DC and the fact that I still feel like doing it is a good sign so I registered. I even thought about doing it on my SS but people who have done the event told me that would be painful because of all the long flats and rail trails. I was going to take the How to Turn Your Bike Into A SS seminar at my house as a refresher just in case things went south this weekend. Well, that would probably still be a good idea.



For a chick, I'm hard on bikes. It's no secret. Even if you don't know anything about bikes but know me, you can imagine that I would be hard on bikes. I have been told I should be a product tester for many different items--shoes, laptops, cell phones, clothes, deodorant, etc. So I was a little shocked when the man who has first hand knowledge of my trail of destruction offered to let me ride his hard tail. That's love ladies. Who needs flowers, jewelry and dinners?

I got home from DC and this baby was waiting on me. My saddle and all. I got the lecture that this does not mean I get to ride it all the time, that it is mine, that it will ever be mine, that it is mine, it is not mine, do not give it a name, when you name things you seem to think those things are yours, blah, blah, blah...

So the exhaustion I was feeling disappeared and NBS (New Bike Syndrome) took over. Wait. I will edit that as to not anger anyone. BBS (Borrowed Bike Syndrome) took over. I hadn't planned on going to Waway earlier. But now I had to. Just had to. I had planned on an easy ride but that wasn't possible. I tried. I was just having too much fun. Sure some of the downhills were a little sketchy because I'm used to riding a fully or 29er down them, but the bike made up for that in acceleration and climbing. After riding it for a little while I realized why we made the executive decision to keep grip-shifts on my Epic. Sure a little of it has to do with my thumb joints and how I used to have trouble when my hands were bad but mostly it's because I'm semi-retarded when it comes to shifting and shifters. That was the most painful part of the ride. Before I would shift I would say out loud for all the bears to hear, "Now which one makes it easier? Oh, right. Shit. Wrong one. Black one makes it harder dumbass. Now how do I shift in the front?" Painful stuff.

I got a little better. Not great. But better. I made it home just before dark and Mike asked me how the bike was and I said, "Like candy." I don't even know what that means. And what a dorky thing to say. That's all I had. Like candy.

DC

Monday I took a train to DC to meet up with family. It was a hot, short, action packed visit. By action packed I mean walking and standing. How is it I can ride a bike for 6 hours and be fine but ask me to walk and stand and I'm crippled? I arrived around 5ish and took a cab from Union Station to the hotel. The fam was running late so I entertained myself with a walk around the hood. I scouted out food and coffee. Very important. The weary traveler's made it and we hoofed it to the White House.

Grace and Jack

The bikes made me happy. The Segway gangs made me angry. Ridiculous. That's all I'm going to to say about that. I could devote an entire blog post to my dislike of Segways.



I still have nightmares about memorizing and reciting the Gettysburg Address in front of the class in the 5th grade.

SO hot. So sweaty. They aren't bee lining to the Museum of American History for culture, but for air conditioning.

Is it wrong that this was a highlight?

Finished it off with margs by the pool and watching the Europeans in banana hammocks.

little things

I haven't been on the bike all week. The last time I was on the bike was the morning of the 40. I think, wait, I know I've only been on the bike 4 hours in the last two weeks because I've been feeling so crappy. I've been keeping to the sofa and catching up on bad tv. We were supposed to go to Sewell today to race the Summer Sizzler. It was postponed because of the weather. I'm happy about that because I was looking forward to that one and there was no way I could have raced today. Mike went to the H2H race at the 909 and I stayed home to sleep in and hopefully get reacquainted with my bike. I decided to take out my little wheeled fully (aka Bigs). I figure if I'm supposed to attempt Shen on the thing I need to start riding it.

While I was getting my bottles together there was a ruckus in the yard. I heard Ike run off the porch and saw him dart across the yard. He's 13 and darting and exerting energy really isn't his thing anymore. Trust me. Old man moved. I was at the sink and I thought, "oh shit it's a bear." Hackles up and he was growling and barking. I threw my bottles down into the sink and ran outside ready to see a bear. What I saw was quite the match-up....


I was laughing hysterically. I had to eventually save the thing because it was only a matter of time before Ike got a piece of him.

Tough guys

Bigs

I rode to Wayway and it was a slippery bitch. I didn't do so hot. Technically, I was fine. Bigs still rocks at Waway. Power wise I had nothing. I felt tired and weak and like I had 30 hour week in my legs. If I come to by Wednesday I may do the Wildcat Epic for shits and giggles. That's right. You read that correctly.

I don't advise trying to cut through to the Pines. Stupid pipeline mud.

Tomorrow, I'm on my way to D.C. to meet up with my mom, sister-n-law, niece and nephew in D.C. for a couple of days. Should be interesting...

Evil Bean

Thermal Mug of death

Come Monday morning I pulled into the office and as always I was still wearing my flip-flops before the very last second I had to put my heels on. I got out and started to put on my heels. The full travel mug was on top of the car. It slid off and nailed my big toe. It couldn't have been a more exact hit. I didn't know coffee could be so painful. I let out a a yelp and some expletives and could feel the hot sick feeling over my body. Now right big toe has a past. It's been broken on a few occasions and it's never really healed. It's all jacked up now. I've had a lot of stupid and freak accidents but never have I been wounded by my morning joe.

That's the work of Backroom Coffee Roasters Biker Blend right there.

40 Non-Race Report

Dad + Bikes

I'm not gonna get into all the woulda, shoulda, couldas....bottom line is I just couldn't. That's the way it is. Not starting the 40 at all was the right decision. I don't feel as let down and depressed as I normally do. Maybe I'm actually showing signs of personal growth? Nahhh. That's crazy talk. I actually enjoyed the day. Got to hang with family and friends and that was okay by me. Monte did well, my brother finished unscathed, Reba finished her first race on an SS, Mandy represented, and other kids kicked some ass. I had great people around me who are always so supportive. Can't really complain about that.