Took a few quick laps around the roughed out track. Looks like my distances between rollers is right, some are a little tall, all of them need to be wider and my 180 berm is way too tight. All these things can be fixed.
Headed for Bamacross in Birmingham first thing in the morning. No Single Speed race (why?) but I'll get an hour in on the Pro 1/2 race. Monday will be a big dig day on the pump track. More to come.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Pump Track day 2
Got out this morning before the big meal and dug for another couple hours, worked on stump removal and moved the compost heap (track runs right through it). Built up a pretty substantial berm and set the skeleton of three rollers. Actually pretty fun pushing dirt around now that I'm developing a technique, wouldn't be surprised if I end up with an entire pump track/dirt jump-filled yard. Sarah took a shot of me out in the yard, this will be the view from the kitchen. The black stuff left of the basketball hoop is compost (that's what a year of veggies, grass clippings and leaves looks like), the garden goes there.
about a half hour later I'd dug the first three rollers and finished piling up the first berm. Here's what it looked like from ground level.
Obviously there's a lot of organic material in there, some of it I'm pulling out as I go, some of it will die off and some of it I'll regret leaving in there, but I'm developing new shoveling/scraping techniques that should help get more of the grass out with less effort. Essential to the process will be getting the bike out and seeing how the spacing feels. I can't afford this:
(The Specialized P24, 24" cruiser BMX. My ideal ride for backyard pump/dirt jump. Only $550. If anyone out there... never mind, I'll get it myself. Sick though, right?)
But I can put knobbies back on my utility bike and start to break in the track, test out the distances between rollers and corner radius'. I've already revised my design and I expect that to continue to happen over and over and over again until eternity.
Here's a video,
On a side note, the pictures coming out of CO and MT right now have got me literally weeping. Can't wait until Ski Tour (3 months!) this winter. Hoping to hit Big Sky, Jackson, the Cottonwood canyons, Wolf Creek, and my old DMR. I'm getting ahead of myself but I can't help it. I need another shot at The Big. Ed, you listening?
about a half hour later I'd dug the first three rollers and finished piling up the first berm. Here's what it looked like from ground level.
Obviously there's a lot of organic material in there, some of it I'm pulling out as I go, some of it will die off and some of it I'll regret leaving in there, but I'm developing new shoveling/scraping techniques that should help get more of the grass out with less effort. Essential to the process will be getting the bike out and seeing how the spacing feels. I can't afford this:
(The Specialized P24, 24" cruiser BMX. My ideal ride for backyard pump/dirt jump. Only $550. If anyone out there... never mind, I'll get it myself. Sick though, right?)
But I can put knobbies back on my utility bike and start to break in the track, test out the distances between rollers and corner radius'. I've already revised my design and I expect that to continue to happen over and over and over again until eternity.
Here's a video,
On a side note, the pictures coming out of CO and MT right now have got me literally weeping. Can't wait until Ski Tour (3 months!) this winter. Hoping to hit Big Sky, Jackson, the Cottonwood canyons, Wolf Creek, and my old DMR. I'm getting ahead of myself but I can't help it. I need another shot at The Big. Ed, you listening?
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Pump Track day 1
Got it in my mind that I wanted to build a pump track. We weren't really using our yard anyway, and I had already resolved to turn a bunch of it into a garden, so it's no sacrifice to dig up the rest of it. Fortunately my wife is supportive of nearly all of my endeavors and didn't even bat an eye when I told her I wanted to dig up the yard. After a little less than 2 hours, I have an initial layout and some piles of dirt.
I've got a lot of digging left to do. Initial layout has a straight away, into an s-turn, a 180 and a left hander before another 180 brings you around to the straightaway. I've also got a dirt jump line planned that will start in the front yard, transition off the 3 foot drop near my AC unit and continue across the back of the yard. Not really sure how the neighbor ladies are going to take this turn of events, but until they buy my yard, I don't think they really have any say in the matter. It will be interesting to see what kind of dirt I've got underneath the grass...
I've got a lot of digging left to do. Initial layout has a straight away, into an s-turn, a 180 and a left hander before another 180 brings you around to the straightaway. I've also got a dirt jump line planned that will start in the front yard, transition off the 3 foot drop near my AC unit and continue across the back of the yard. Not really sure how the neighbor ladies are going to take this turn of events, but until they buy my yard, I don't think they really have any say in the matter. It will be interesting to see what kind of dirt I've got underneath the grass...
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Cross The Way: Murfreesboro
Let me tell you a little about the last 24 hours.
Band rolled into Atlanta last night and played to a full house at the Variety. Full moon always makes me feel funny, but that was cured by some pre-gig brews, followed by a couple of tall Franziskaners and some lively conversation at Porters post gig in celebration of a most excellent tour. Crawled into bed around 2:30am, alarm sounded at 8 and after rounding up the band, we headed north. The band dropped me with all my band-type gear and Sarah rolled up with all my bike related gear just as they were about to pull away.
30 minutes later we started the Pro1/2 race. There was 10 of us, I was in about 4th heading through the first two corners. Over the barriers someone went down. All I saw was a cluster of dudes and a bike in front of me, so I rode over it and caught on to Troy before the singletrack. I thought it might be the selection move, but neither Troy nor I wanted to force the issue so early, so I followed him until he bobbled, then he followed me until I clipped my left foot going over the second set of barriers (slammed my foot, really, might lose my entire big toenail). I saved myself the indignity of a crash by planting the bike, but as soon as I hopped on it was clear my front wheel hadn't faired so well. You can actually see it's not straight in this shot.
I jumped off, pulled off the wheel and started slamming it on the ground guerilla-style until it was fairly straight. After another 1/4 lap, I realized my front tire was going flat, so I slowly glided around the course begging for a wheel until Eric Boerman yelled to meet him in the pits. With a new wheel I got to work, but quickly saw that my race was over. After another lap or two I started to feel good and decided to stay on course regardless of it's futility. I think I finished 8th.
Single Speed started 20 minutes later, just enough time to borrow a tubular wheel from Nate. I was second going into the barriers and the guy in first stopped for a beer handup along with half the field. I took off into the woods, Jeremy C caught on and we started to distance ourselves from the recreational drinkers. I've raced Jeremy a lot and I know he's a great all around rider, usually stronger than me with more endurance, but I can move the bike around a little better than he can, so he was at a serious disadvantage on the narrow, windy course. I had a few seconds on him at the end of the first lap, which he shut down on the long finish straight, but after the singletrack the gap was up again and it only grew from there. I'd let too much air out of Nate's front tire, so I was forced to ride safer than I would have liked but it didn't matter.
Perfect course for a guy like me. Nonstop turns, no climbs, lots of dirt. Would have loved the chance to see how the Pro1/2 race unfolded with me in it. Hoping to head to Birmingham next weekend. Did I mention it was almost 70 degrees?
Band rolled into Atlanta last night and played to a full house at the Variety. Full moon always makes me feel funny, but that was cured by some pre-gig brews, followed by a couple of tall Franziskaners and some lively conversation at Porters post gig in celebration of a most excellent tour. Crawled into bed around 2:30am, alarm sounded at 8 and after rounding up the band, we headed north. The band dropped me with all my band-type gear and Sarah rolled up with all my bike related gear just as they were about to pull away.
30 minutes later we started the Pro1/2 race. There was 10 of us, I was in about 4th heading through the first two corners. Over the barriers someone went down. All I saw was a cluster of dudes and a bike in front of me, so I rode over it and caught on to Troy before the singletrack. I thought it might be the selection move, but neither Troy nor I wanted to force the issue so early, so I followed him until he bobbled, then he followed me until I clipped my left foot going over the second set of barriers (slammed my foot, really, might lose my entire big toenail). I saved myself the indignity of a crash by planting the bike, but as soon as I hopped on it was clear my front wheel hadn't faired so well. You can actually see it's not straight in this shot.
I jumped off, pulled off the wheel and started slamming it on the ground guerilla-style until it was fairly straight. After another 1/4 lap, I realized my front tire was going flat, so I slowly glided around the course begging for a wheel until Eric Boerman yelled to meet him in the pits. With a new wheel I got to work, but quickly saw that my race was over. After another lap or two I started to feel good and decided to stay on course regardless of it's futility. I think I finished 8th.
Single Speed started 20 minutes later, just enough time to borrow a tubular wheel from Nate. I was second going into the barriers and the guy in first stopped for a beer handup along with half the field. I took off into the woods, Jeremy C caught on and we started to distance ourselves from the recreational drinkers. I've raced Jeremy a lot and I know he's a great all around rider, usually stronger than me with more endurance, but I can move the bike around a little better than he can, so he was at a serious disadvantage on the narrow, windy course. I had a few seconds on him at the end of the first lap, which he shut down on the long finish straight, but after the singletrack the gap was up again and it only grew from there. I'd let too much air out of Nate's front tire, so I was forced to ride safer than I would have liked but it didn't matter.
Perfect course for a guy like me. Nonstop turns, no climbs, lots of dirt. Would have loved the chance to see how the Pro1/2 race unfolded with me in it. Hoping to head to Birmingham next weekend. Did I mention it was almost 70 degrees?
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
One last gasp
I read a book, Off The Deep End, about a 44 year old trying to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the 100 meter freestyle. He's crazy. But it inspired me to try to get my act together enough to salvage the season. I've got 4 races spread over 3 weekends planned before the Holidays. After that there's one weekend in Knoxville in January and one in February, but they'll both be a hassle logistically and they start to get dangerously close to ski season.
At any rate, I've got a plan and I plan to use it.
At any rate, I've got a plan and I plan to use it.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Into the Pain Tunnel
Yesterday I headed to Memphis for day one of Spooky Cross. I'd planned to head to Louisville for the Eva Bandman but bagged it in favor of Memphis for several reasons:
1. Closer
2. Cheaper
3. TBRA Points
4. I could double up
5. Afternoon racing
So it was with much anticipation that I headed for Memphis. Weather was still beautiful (will we see mud this season?) and the drive was benign. The course they set up was really exceptional and soul crushing. After a long grass-crit start, we hooked up with the last quarter of the course, winding through a tight set of corners, a super fast off-camber left hander, then a little up and down that required brakes, power and intention. After a super tight set of corners the lap started with a really sweet high speed left/right cornering section then dropped into the amphitheater. We had to dismount to cross a double railroad tie, then run across the amphitheater and up a large set of decomposing stairs, seen here:
After a remount we plunged into some wicked singletrack that was several dudes unmaking (and one of the few places I could make time). A couple barriers, some flat along the lake, a crushing grassy singletrack climb to a paved bike path, then into the last quarter grass section and through the start finish.
Single Speed lined up in front of the B race. I took the holeshot and set the pace the first lap. The course designer and crowd favorite Boomer glued himself to my wheel for the first 3 laps until I kinda cracked a little. He rode me off his wheel and I floated by myself for the remaining 3 or 4 laps. Finished 2nd. I need to learn some tactics.
The A race started immediately afterward. I drank a little water, pulled myself together and lined up in the back. For the first time I was last headed out of the start gate. It was interesting to watch from the back but also a little humbling. I started moving up, picking off a rider here or there. I started to feel really good after about a lap and a half, but we were doing 10 and with 6 laps to go I really started to suffer. After giving up a few places late in the race, I was dying for an excuse to drop out, but fortunately I got lapped. Yep, lapped. Humbling. Kept me from quitting, though, so it was a blessing in disguise. Don't know how I finished, had to split and find fast food. (Update: finished 4th of 4 in the 1/2 combined, 2nd of 2 in the 2's behind Bosio... baby leg)
I'm so fortunate to be racing at all and to even be pseudo-competitive at this stage. I'm trying to not get attached to my results and yesterday's A race was a prime opportunity to face that. This wasn't a priority race like last weekend, so I spent a lot of time on the bike last week, even got in my first long run since my surgery. I think the competition is getting better around here, the field was certainly larger than I expected and the front of the B Race was really cooking. As the sport grows, it's probably safe to assume that fields will keep getting bigger and wins will be harder to come by.
Can't say enough about the course out there. Lot's of really great elements, tons of corners, lot's of braking required, definitely not a roadie course. I was absolutely killing the bike handling, now if I could just get these legs going... maybe next year.
1. Closer
2. Cheaper
3. TBRA Points
4. I could double up
5. Afternoon racing
So it was with much anticipation that I headed for Memphis. Weather was still beautiful (will we see mud this season?) and the drive was benign. The course they set up was really exceptional and soul crushing. After a long grass-crit start, we hooked up with the last quarter of the course, winding through a tight set of corners, a super fast off-camber left hander, then a little up and down that required brakes, power and intention. After a super tight set of corners the lap started with a really sweet high speed left/right cornering section then dropped into the amphitheater. We had to dismount to cross a double railroad tie, then run across the amphitheater and up a large set of decomposing stairs, seen here:
After a remount we plunged into some wicked singletrack that was several dudes unmaking (and one of the few places I could make time). A couple barriers, some flat along the lake, a crushing grassy singletrack climb to a paved bike path, then into the last quarter grass section and through the start finish.
Single Speed lined up in front of the B race. I took the holeshot and set the pace the first lap. The course designer and crowd favorite Boomer glued himself to my wheel for the first 3 laps until I kinda cracked a little. He rode me off his wheel and I floated by myself for the remaining 3 or 4 laps. Finished 2nd. I need to learn some tactics.
The A race started immediately afterward. I drank a little water, pulled myself together and lined up in the back. For the first time I was last headed out of the start gate. It was interesting to watch from the back but also a little humbling. I started moving up, picking off a rider here or there. I started to feel really good after about a lap and a half, but we were doing 10 and with 6 laps to go I really started to suffer. After giving up a few places late in the race, I was dying for an excuse to drop out, but fortunately I got lapped. Yep, lapped. Humbling. Kept me from quitting, though, so it was a blessing in disguise. Don't know how I finished, had to split and find fast food. (Update: finished 4th of 4 in the 1/2 combined, 2nd of 2 in the 2's behind Bosio... baby leg)
I'm so fortunate to be racing at all and to even be pseudo-competitive at this stage. I'm trying to not get attached to my results and yesterday's A race was a prime opportunity to face that. This wasn't a priority race like last weekend, so I spent a lot of time on the bike last week, even got in my first long run since my surgery. I think the competition is getting better around here, the field was certainly larger than I expected and the front of the B Race was really cooking. As the sport grows, it's probably safe to assume that fields will keep getting bigger and wins will be harder to come by.
Can't say enough about the course out there. Lot's of really great elements, tons of corners, lot's of braking required, definitely not a roadie course. I was absolutely killing the bike handling, now if I could just get these legs going... maybe next year.
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