Wilderness 101

I would first like to start by reporting that there was no crying. With the added climbing and singletrack this year, there was a good possibility of crying. I didn't even have my normal "6 hour serial killer" mood where afterwards I always feel bad for all of those who came into contact with me during this time. Last year, I had one of my most miserable experiences on the bike at the 101. I actually came away with a smile this time. I felt pretty decent the whole day, which was a new experience. Yes, there were climbs that really hurt and some flats were unpleasant because of the singlespeed thing, but I survived.

Earlier in the day I had decided and made it my mission to conquer one of the climbs that caused me to come undone last year: Stillhouse. I didn't know what it was called last year. This year I actually looked at the map and got the name. Then after the race I did a web search out of morbid curiosity. Let's just say I'm not the only one who has come undone on this climb. It wouldn't be a bad climb if it came earlier in the race. However, it comes at around the 77 mile mark. I decided I was not going to put a foot down on that douchey climb this year. Aid Station #4 is under an overpass right before it begins. I stopped and switched my bottles. I also had caught up to a teammate and a friend and that put a little pep in my step. I kinda flew under the radar at the aid station. They took off and I followed closely behind. You leave the aid station and turn right into the horror show. Just as I had remembered it: a meandering line up a rocky-ish and sweaty doubletrack. Last year, I actually made one of the turns (on foot), saw it climbed more and stood for what seemed like forever hunched over my bike in full on tears and break down mode. I am not a crier, so this was new to me. I remember it raining really hard at this point and not being able to stop crying. This year I was not walking. NOT WALKING I SAY!!! I stood a little, sat a few pedal strokes and stood some more. Mostly, I did a whole lot of standing. I passed my teammate and my friend at the beginning and that helped mojo wise. There was no way I was putting a foot down now. I grunted it out. I made it to the top where it kinda flattened out and I knew I had made it and I had what I like to call a "Fuck Yeah" moment. At that point I decided I need more "Fuck Yeah" moments in my life. I don't have nearly enough. They are good for the soul.

 After that I giggled and spun like a maniac because I knew the two hooligans behind me would do everything in their power to catch me on the downhills and flats. My least favorite part of the day came when it was time to descend Panther Run. Last year, I actually had to stop around three times to shake out my hands and give my elbows a rest because they hurt so bad. This year they hurt, they really hurt...but I didn't allow myself to stop. I knew JS was coming for me on his fully. I went through the final aid station and made it to Fisherman's which is a lovely hike-a-bike section. This year more hike-a-bike was added. I heard someone behind me, I glanced over my shoulder and saw an orange helmet. Shit! I trotted and slid around in the ankle buster boulder field and finally made it out to the flat, rail trail section towards the finish. Doomed. Doomed! I spun my ass of and was going nowhere. I had to pee so bad for the past hour so I could hardly sit on the saddle. I glanced behind me and saw that damn orange helmet again. About 4 minutes later he flew past me with a cadence of about 40 and I think I may have heard a snicker and then,"If you had gears you could jump on....". Bah. Well, no reason not to not stop and pee now. It had gotten that bad. I was about to throw up. I couldn't even make it the ~1.5 miles to the finish without stopping. After sweet relief came I continued to pedal and could see the campground. I pedaled through the campground and into the finish. Yay!!!!! I can honestly say I was in good spirits the whole day. I started with a smile, had a smile in the middle and finished with a smile. Not something I can always say about hundreds.

I think 8 Toasted Head team members represented at the 101. That was pretty cool to have that many people there. Now I'm rethinking this month. Hampshire 100 or Shen? Hmmmmm. Hampshire 100 would be a new course. New is good.I'd better be making up my mind soon. I'll see what the body has to say at the end of this week and make a decision. Right now it's not too happy and it still hurts to brush my hair so the thought of another hundred in less than three weeks seems like not such a good idea. However, I have a little experience now and I realize how quickly the tide does turn...

Bear Creek Nats



Well, that was quite a weekend. There were a few things that stood out this past weekend: the heat, the heckle pit, the racing, hanging with old and new friends, the heckle pit. On Friday we showed up and got a little riding in and visited. Saturday was the cross country race. I fed Mike for his race and then it was time for the ladies to go off. Uggh. I raced gears for the first time since I don't know when. It was a bit odd. Riding gears is different than racing gears. My singlepeed habits sure have a way of popping up. I made a concerted effort to sit the climb. My legs were not the snappiest they have been and they were a little shocked when I asked them to sit and spin the whole initial climb. They played along. The first time. I was a mess. What does this lever do? Big ring. Little ring. Spinny. Grindy. Standy. No! No standy! Once we got up the climb and to the fun, technical part of the course I became an impatient asshole. I used the fully to pass people in the tech. I took some funky lines that I would have never taken on a single. Although, it seemed like a good idea at the time because I was passing people, I was working way too hard because the fully allowed me to. At about 40 minutes in my body let me know it was not fond of the idea by hitting me with twinges of cramps. I'd been drinking and I was plenty fueled. It was due to effort. Geared, sitty efforts at that. I was starting to fall apart at 45 minutes and it was horrifying. I finally made it through the first lap and was faced with the second lap. The pace of the second lap: backwards. I didn't think I was going to make it to the finish. At one point I tried to remember if I had gone through a stream crossing or stepped in water because my feet were squishing and sloshing in wet shoes. It then hit me that it was sweat. My legs were cramping and I was cracked. Somehow I made it up and over the final little gravel climb to the finish. I made it and I wasn't last. Mission accomplished.

The only thing that kept me going was the LWC heckle pit. It was incredible. There are no words. I could hear the roar before I got to the drops: horns, screaming, jeering, and whistling-a cacophony of drunken goodness. Toasted Head is a PA/Philly team really, so I got a little extra love and shout-outs which made it that much better.

My first lap I dismounted up the steep up and ran like I was on my singlespeed and I heard, "You have gears now, use them!". I remember screaming, "I don't know how!". That about sums up my cross country race.



 After I was done racing it was time to get changed and participate in the heckle pit for the pro races. This was the highlight of the weekend. If I do not race next year, I will be fine with being a professionl heckler for the weekend. I may have gotten a little boozed up in the heckle pit before Super D practice opened. I think my best runs came on Saturday night when I had some liquor in me. I was loose and relaxed, that's for sure.

Come Sunday morning, it was time for a morning run on the course and a crash. During the race I had some issues going into and coming out of that same spot. I was a bit tentative and lost my mojo right away and that got in my head the rest of the run. I ended up taking 3rd in my class and I was pretty happy about that. Gears and suspension were pretty damn fun for the Super D. One day I will learn to ride them cross country. One day, but I won't be working on that this weekend.

I will be showing my ss some love at the Wilderness 101 on Saturday. My goal as always is to take time off from last year and for the W101, I have added the extra goal of not crying. For some reason last year I had a meltdown. It wasn't that it was so hard or that I was so tired and spent. The course is not even a particularly hard hundred. I just lost my mind last year. I'm not a crier. All I remember is crying in the rain and not being able to stop.

I will not cry. I will not cry.

Ahh...Summer

I'm not sure what is is about summer and where we live in particular (oh wait, yes I do...heat and humidity and living near a creek), but the crayfish go crazy. If you are sitting in our front room and the windows are open, you can actually hear them crawling up the driveway. I've had to wait for dogs, cats, bears and geese to cross our road, but this time of year I regularly have to wait for these attitudinal little creatures to get out of the way.

It's also the time of year when the rhododendron are blooming.

They are pretty, but they get a little flirtatious and downright aggressive at times. They have a tendency to get a little ornery and grab you off the bike.

This summer there will be a first for me. With some feet dragging, whining and lots of peer pressure,  instead of being a spectator/handler, I will be participating at the Cross Country Nationals in Macungie, PA. Notice the use of the word "participating". Much to some people's surprise I did not go in the SS Category. I chose to go in my age group (younger old ladies) and am going to race my fully for the first time.  I don't expect to do anything other than finish and get a high intensity workout. I have the W101 on the singlespeed the following weekend, so we'll get plenty of quality time there. I'm not worried our relationship will suffer.

I have this nifty, new bike with shifty bits and cush now and I kinda want to ride it. Plus, why not ride a bike with a little cush at a rocky, technical course? I also registered for the Super D which should be a good time. My first Super D experience was a blast on the singlespeed and I'm assuming it will even be more fun on the fully. I could be wrong, but it does gives me a good excuse to break out the baggies.

Road Kill

My old and cantankerous Litespeed, "Vito the Guido", and I attempted a road TT. I had some issues. Mostly some mental and shifting issues. Let's also add that I had no idea what I was doing. Mike went off early, so I was left to my own devices (which can be questionable at times). I got a lecture before his start not to screw around and miss my start. Me? Screw around? Never. I observed the other riders closely and followed their leads(minus the trainer warm-ups and incessant bike and saddle wipe downs because of the rain. So much to say about that last one.It's raining- your ass is going to get wet. But what do I know?). The shifting issues were do to me being in panic mode and also maybe a little to do with the fact the bike hasn't had a damn thing done to it since we bought it used on EBay about 4 years ago. I'm mostly traumatized because because I almost slipped out on road kill. The official at the start actually warned us about the "unusual amount of road kill". What dumb ass hits road kill? Long story short, I was going right, it was splattered all over the road. I did not react in time and I hit a chunk of carcass and I started to slip out. I over corrected and ended up thwacking my left foot against the road to push myself upright. My pedal hit and it hurt. It felt like a jolt of electricity going up my left side.I got myself together and remained upright the rest of the trip. My thoughts during this whole calamity? Please don't splatter up on my bike and body and bottle. I will surely vomit. Close your mouth.

I actually enjoyed the experience (minus the near death experience by road kill). It was short, sweet and to the point and we were home at 11:00 am. I probably could have been a second or two faster if I could have kept my mouth shut. I'm sure some of you have something to say about that last comment.