Stars and Cirles

I've got one of these cool jerseys on the way.

In my very first blog I put it out there that I was going to try to win a state champions jersey. I have to say there is as much satisfaction in stating my goal and then doing it as there is in winning the jersey. I had a great time racing against Daniel, Shawn, Ted and others this year.

Next year I think I would like to do some longer distance stuff and some grand master races. I might also do some SERC and I'll think about clydesdale class for those races. I think SERC races are a little more competive in clyde.

Mission Accomplished

After last weekends race at Booker T Washington State Park in Chattanooga I have officially secured enough points to earn the state champions' jersey in the clydesdale class.

http://tbra.org/seriesstandings_2008.php?type=mountain&mode=racer&catid=54&Submit=Submit

The Booker T race was a little disappointing as far as competetion goes. My friend Shawn and Daniel who is closest in points both missed this race. My time was 11:27 ahead of 2nd place. I cleaned up, changed clothes and ate before anyone else finished.

http://www.tbra.org/results/2008/20080831_bookert.htm

My wife Ginger went to the race with me. It was nice to have family at the race although I almost took her out on a water bottle hand up. I told her to have a bottle ready for me but I forgot to tell her how and when she tried to walk to me I almost ran over her.

Booker T was in great shape. Since last year the Chatt folks have built berms on many of the turns. That makes for more fun and a little faster course. I always appreciate a race that starts on time and we did. It did seem like it took a long time to do awards though.

One more race in the series. Next week we go back to Lock 4 in Gallatin. Lock 4 is one of my favorite venues. I think both Shawn and Daniel will be at the race and mayby some other new comers. I would love to have a big group at the line.

TBRA Series results:
Chickasaw Trace 3rd
White Lightning TT 1st
White Lightning XC 2nd
Montgomery Bell 1st
Mouse Tail 1st
Haw Ridge 1st
Lock 4 1st
Stanky Creek TT 1st
Stanky Creek XC 1st
Booker T Washington 1st
Lock 4 ?????????

I Swear I Don't Do This On Purpose..no really!

I did it again. I took the guy in front of me out in the Stanky Creek Race in Memphis this weekend. I really, really tried to miss him, no, really.

Shawn James(2nd from the left next to me) and I raced together wheel to wheel most of the day. Shawn is my buddy. We met at Land Between the Lakes in the parking lot and since I travel to that area quite a bit we ride together often. He is coming off rehab on a bum knee and is pretty much back to full strength.

We went off the front together and he led the 1st lap until I decided to press the issue towards the end of lap one. With the pace quickened, we opened up a bigger gap. Just at the start of the 2nd lap I lost my chain. Shawn went ahead and I spent the next 1/2 lap chasing him. I caught him about 1/2 way thru the 2nd lap. I got greedy and hit a tree and he opened a gap again. About 3/4 of the way thru the loop there is a long, flat wide section that can be as fast as you want it to be. Going in I saw Shawn up ahead. He looked back when I was about 100' behind. He looked like he was slowing a little. I put it in overdrive. I was thinking I could sneak (blow) by him on the right side. Just as I started around on the right, he looked left and then cut right in front of me. I was probable at around 22 or 23 mph and he was at about 13 or 14. I took the right side of his handle bar with me as I went by. He ended up about 20' into the woods.

I stopped. I ask him if he was OK. He said he was and to go on. I told him I was so sorry and that I surely didn't mean to crash him. I finished the rest of the race at a slower pace and Shawn finished 8 seconds behind me.

After the race He told me he knew I was coming and he was trying to get over but his left grip slipped off. When that happened he went to the right and right into me. "Rubbin is racing" indeed!

There are some more pictures, a video and some results posted here. http://www.stankycreek.com/

If you are in the Memphis area Stanky is definitely worth checking out. It is almost flat and twisty and parts of the trail are very fast. It is in Bartlett at exit 18 off I40. The trail is well marked and I don't think you could get lost if you tried. The race was 9.2 miles long and I think it covered pretty much all of the available trail.

Awsome Amigos at Walden Ridge

Wednesday afternoon BHann broght his group of Awsome Amigos to Walden Ridge for some trail crewing.


BHann looking all spiffy in his bee slayer outfit. Maybe I should have had one also. 17 stings...


Louisana Lou, Jeff Harkleroad, Jay Basile and I worked on the trail along with the Crew.
[IMG]http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u34/clipper_pics/Walden%20Ridge%20Work%2081308/IMGP1088.jpg[/IMG]














Jeff and Lou

One year AMBC Anniversary

Monday we had our one year anniversary party/ride/meeting for AMBC. I can't believe it's been a year already. We were able to achieve some of our goals and not some others. One goal was to get membership up to 50. I think we have surpassed that. Thanks to Jimi and SORBA for securring us grants to be able to buy tools and still have a little money in our account. We were able to secure permission and construct just under 2 miles of trail at Hastie Natural area. This winter I think we can ad 2 1/2 or 3 miles to that total.



We were not very good at supporting the Windrock project. I applaud the downhill guys for taking the iniative to build XC trails there. I hope to get some shovel time in soon and help with the connector trail for the 100 mile race.

From towards the top at Windrock

Looking the other way up the mountain at Keith

One disappointing thing for me is that the same 10 or 12 people seem to be at the meetings and doing the work. I've not been doing a good job getting the word out I guess. I am proud of what we have accomplished and feel good about the future of mountain biking in the Knoxville area.

If you missed the meeting Monday you missed the fireworks. On our ride we got bombarded with thunder, lightning and very heavy rain. I told Smap on the way back in the storm that there is nothing in the world that will make you feel more alive than being out when the weather is breaking like that. I believe that was the fastest run I ever made from one end of the park to the other.

Defeated Creek Ride

Last week I was in West Tennessee. My racing buddy Stanley Wills had been telling me about Tuesday evening rides at the new trails they had built at Defeated Creek. Since I was passing by Carthage, TN at the right time, I stopped to hook up with them.

There are about 8 miles of trail with more in the works.

Stanley leading the ride. I never get to see him from the front at a race!










Andy the giant


Andy was nice enough to send me a GPS file overlaid on a map but I had trouble with the file. I'll try to get him to resend.

As you can see, Stanley had been refining the trails some just before we rode.

The trail winds back and forth acroos a ridge gradually climbing until it dumps you onto the ridgecrest. Once it hits the ridgecrest the real climb starts. There is a great reward though, a 2 mile downhill at the end. These guys have built a great trail and it is getting better.

I'm not sure this is a destination ride yet with only 8 miles of trail but, if you are heading to Nashville it would make a nice stop. If you do a couple of laps you'll get all you want.

http://sorbachattanooga.org/trails/trail_guide.php?state=TN&trail=162

No racin happening

I have missed a couple of races in the last couple of weeks. I missed the Hamilton Creek Race with a bad back. The Raccoon Mountain Race happened on a weekend that I spent with Ginger at her Aunt's birthday party in Greensboro, NC. Ham Creek was somewhat planned. It is a TBRA race and I have been chasing points all year. So far I am ahead in the clydesdale class and Daniel Spann is a close 2nd. I had enough of a lead that I could miss one race and keep a slim lead over Daniel so I thought it would be prudent to rest the back rather than ride the rocky trails at Hammy.

The AMBC Summer Time Trial Series is at it's midpoint. Racer turnout was very slim the 1st week but really picked up for the 2nd race. So far we have signed up 5 new members who have shown up to race. Hastie is in great shape and the limited amount of trail lends itself to the time trial format. Times so far have been as fast as 10 and 1/2 minutes. most times are in the 11 to 12 1/2 minute time. I would like to see more women show up. So far we have had only 2.

Finally, I got to spend some time with my ole buddy Joe Cross this week. He invited us up to ride at Big South Fork. We rode and cleared trail on the Grand Gap Loop. My neighbor Jaques rode with his hand in a cast and did just fine. Also along was Margo Carrol. Margo is a former expert level racer and currently works as a sales rep for Jamis Bicycles. It rained the night before and quit just in time for us to ride. The trail surface was perfect and the few sandy spots were packed down from the rain. As we pulled up to the first overlook, I stopped to have a look. I soon discovered neither Jaques or Margo care for heights. Margo fought looking over the bluffs the whole ride. She did tough it out and we had a great ride. I really felt for Joe. He was pulling a Bob Trailer with several tools including a big Stihl chainsaw. By the finish the trailer was taking it's toll on Joe and he was feeling it.