Trust

For some, trust is a warm fuzzy teddy bear to cuddle up to. It's a feeling that is always there and they are comfortable with.

For others, trust is a 500lb gorilla on their back, holding them back and making others around them uncomfortable.

Those are two examples of the extreme, and there are many in-betweens that exist in the world of trust. Personally, I feel that I am a generally trustworthy person, but not necessarily trusting. My trust is a warm fuzzy baby gorilla that occasionally hops on my back for a ride to the grocery store, but thankfully never runs amok in the produce section throwing tomatoes at soccer-mom's talking on cell phones while their kids wander around unattended. I throw the tomatoes, at both the soccer-mom's and the kids, and I blame it on the baby gorilla.

Going down to Delaware this weekend to the next stop in the Mid-Atlantic Super Series, the Escape from Granogue. Actually, I think it has another name now, but I can't seem to recall that at the moment. Drats..... This course was a mudfest last year, and my bike and I could only handle one lap before we both called it quits. This weekend is looking to be much more pleasant, with warm weather leading into the race and just the slightest chance of thundershowers on race day. Perfecto! I trust I'll see you there.

One Banana, two banana, hot banana....

I'll be honest here, I don't have the energy to write, but still feel compelled to do so. SOMEBODY STOP ME!!! Must.....type.......can't.....stop......Ooooh ice cream!

This weekend was my first official epic race weekend of the season. What makes an epic race weekend you say? Well, by my definition, you need three (not 5), that's 3, key ingredients. One: you must be racing, or be at a race intending on competing in said race. Two: You must have to travel to said race, preferably staying over night somewhere along the way. Three: You must have epic weather (epic weather: Weather beyond which is normal, yet is not yet absurd. Can be awe-inspiring, daunting, and scary.). This weekend definitely had all 3, and by some huge stroke of luck, the epic weather did not coincide with the racing. Boo-ya.

The weekend started with my Saturday pre-race ride, although done on the road near home. Felt good, and after some lunch and car-packing, I was off to Frederick Maryland to stay at Anna & Jeff's. Once there, Anna made some kick-ass pasta for dinner and we enjoyed the company of others who shall not be named (because I can't remember their names now.......shameful!). After din-din we hopped in the car and made haste to the BANFF Mountain Film Festival showing in a nearby town for some big-screen watching. There were some awesome films, including my personal favorite of the night which was about a free-solo climber who climbed half-dome. SICK! After the show was over, it was back to the house and to bed. G'nite!

Slept like a baby, and got up to make some bad-momma french toast using some home-made amish country blueberry bread I got from the local farmer's market. This stuff is like race-fuel deluxe!!! Greenbrier Challenge here we come!!! In the car for the short drive to the course, we arrived and parked in the 'team parking' area where we set up the tent and set about socializing and getting prepared for the bike game of the day, which was a 5-lap 28+ mile XC race. Soon after setting up, Vegan Rob showed up with The Experience riding shotgun. Once chamoised up, I hooked up with J-West and Big Ed for a pre-ride where we found the course in primo condition. This got me psyched and after some more warming up it was time to rev the engines and remove the starting blocks. With 24 Pros on the start line, it was a solid group, and once the gate dropped (so-to-speak) I used the energy to my advantage, waiting for the first climb and passing a good number of riders before cresting the top to the first descent. I know this course too well, as I rode everything like it was my home trail, and quickly found myself a nook in the race. The 'nook' is the place where you are riding your pace and just flowing. I pushed it on the climbs and let loose on the descents. The new section of trail at the end of the lap was full of loose rocks, but was fun and challenging. I had myself in around 7th halfway through the race with 5th & 6th in sight when the legs starting tightening up. The pace started to slow and I knew I was in danger of cramping. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep things together and cramped hard on the last lap, having to dismount for a few seconds to shake the legs out. I had to let 5th & 6th place ride away and got passed by two riders to finish 9th. Not the top-5 I was aiming for, but I'll take it. Once again, a great race and still one of my favorites!

Amazingly, the thunderstorms predicted on the day held off the entire race, and the rain didn't start to fall until the drive back to the house. From there, we shot over to Brewer's Alley for some grub and afterwards I started on my way home. NOW is when the real fun was to begin. As I started on I-70 eastbound, the rain got harder and harder, and before long I was driving in a torrential downpour with strobe-light-like lightning all around me. I was pretty close to white-knuckling the steering wheel, but knowing that I had some good treads, wiper blades, and all-wheel drive, I kept up my 60mph pace and rode the left lane past all the other cars. This took up about 2 hours of the 3+ hour drive home. SUPER! I probably was more wiped from the drive home than from the race itself! And if it wasn't for that weather on the drive home, I'd still be waiting for my first epic race weekend of the season.

Thanks again to my old roomie Anna and her hubby-hubs Jeff for letting me crash, and for the crew at PVC for putting on a great event. Not sure where I'll be this weekend, but it's looking like I'll be swinging back down to Delaware for the next MASS race. See ya there!

Reflections of one's self

Isn't it funny how some run around this earth feeling as if we are so unique, a total one-of-a-kind? The truth is, we are made of mirrors. Those mirrors are reflections of those who have influenced us and molded who we are. Sometimes those mirrors focus and reflect on someone else who looks up to and respects you. This is the personality of modern humanity, a chain reaction of reflections creating heterogeneous consciousness' that we perceive as wholly unique. Those enlightened to this fact may be skilled enough to remove those mirrors which have negative influence, in order to more purify their reflections, but this is a rare skill. I fear that this life is too short to perfect such a skill, but I practice never the less.

Lions & Tigers & Climbing, oh my!

It was a brisk Sunday on which I found myself headed out to Danville, PA for the Tour de Tykes XC, stop #2 of the Mid-Atlantic Super Series. With a relatively early start time, I awoke at 5:30am (after getting to sleep early for once, abadabing!) to make some kick-ass french toast, pack up the bike and gear bag, and head up to D-town to pick up my travel partner for the day (Scottie W in the house!).

The drive was full of jokes, stories, and good vibes as we were both looking forward to some bike games and good trails. Arriving on time, we broke out the tent and checked in for the race. Luckily I had the foresight to pack warm-up pants and a winter jacket, as it was a titty bit nipply out, and was warm and loose for the race start. Meeting up with The Experience and B, I set out on a preview of the race's starting climb and first sections of singletrack. Very Nice (said in Borat voice)! I was happy that the trails were pretty sweet and would make up for the high volume of vertical we would be attaining on the day (roughly 4500').

Lining up in the front this time, I focused on the task at hand and when the starter called 'go', I only missed clipping in once, keeping my start position and entering the singletrack at the top of the climb around 8th. The race was relatively calm, with nobody getting in anybody's way, everyone seemed to be making clean passes, and we all knew what was ahead of us. climbs made way to quick transitions toward descents, which made way to quick transitions to climbs. Very little chance to spin your legs out on a flat section, which made it important to stay calm and focused on the trail ahead of you, not in front. My only mistake came at the end, when I was closing in on 7th place and made some mistakes that prevented me from catching the wheel and making the pass. These mistakes mostly consisted of me getting over-excited and blowing through sharp corners. Seems as though bright yellow course tape isn't visible to me until it's wrapped around me. Quickly untangling myself the final time, I made the astute decision to get my shit together and just focus on riding smooth until the end. At this I succeeded and crossed the finish 8th on the day. Matt scurried in just behind me in 13th. Solid early season race for Giant Mid-Atlantic!

Afterwards we all enjoyed some Intercourse (beer) and talked about how awesome we looked in our new team issue Custom Oakley Jawbones. Not a bad day.

Sorry for the lack of pics, if I manage to scrounge anything interesting up I'll add them later.

Whoa....

Been Busy this week! Will be in Danville this weekend for the Tour de Tykes. I haven't raced this one for a while, so it should make for some extra fun! Was hoping to race the new Anthem but there seems to be a slight delay on that. One more run on the 29er it is!

Hit the Thursday night Belmont ride tonight. Good turnout, great ride, can't wait for next week!

I race bikes. No, not that kind.....

The kind that you pedal, you know, with your legs? Yeah! Like when you were a kid........

The first XC race of the year is Sunday: Bike Line Spring XC @ Fair Hill. It's the first race in the Mid-Atlantic Super Series, and will be a good early-season test of the legs. Aside from a little cold I had 2 weeks ago, prep has gone well. I've worked pretty hard this off-season to make up the difference between myself and the front of the pack. But I must give credit where credit is due, and that credit belongs to my coach, Cody Waite, owner of Endurance Performance Coaching in Denver, Colorado. Where it's my job to execute the plan, it's his job to build the plan, and I must say that he knows his stuff! This being my second year under Cody's watch, I've seen how he's adapted his styles and methods to my personal self. The result has been astounding this off-season, resulting in a much stronger Hebrew Cyclist than I could have imagined!

You can visit Cody's website HERE.

Thank you Cody for putting up with me for a second year!

Scenes from a ride

Rode my bike on Monday from Washington Crossing, NJ to Stockton, NJ on the Delaware Canal Tow Path trail. It was a gorgeous day, ripe for picture taking. Hopefully I'll remember to take my camera more often on my recovery days. Enjoy.

This guy was obviously getting fed by somebody, since he had no qualms about getting right next to me.

There are tons of old stone bridges along the river, here's one that's easy to miss.

The day's ride consisted mostly of cinder/gravel towpath trail, with a fun road loop added in the middle to make thing interesting.

One of the many abandoned rail cars on the old tracks along the canal.

That tower at the top of the hill in the distance is Bowman's Tower. The tower was finished in 1931 as a commemoration to George Washington. Perhaps I'll mosey on over to it for some pics next time.

BIKE FOR SALE!!! ACT FAST!!!

Selling my trusty Giant TCX Rabo. Great bike equipped with Shimano 105. Comment on the post if you're interested!

Easter Tire Sale!

Hope everyone is having an eggstatic easter! While your waiting for your painted easter-eggs to dry, check out some sweet Schwalbe tires I have for sale! Mountain and 'cross (scroll down towards the bottom of the post for the 'cross tires). Throw up a comment with your e-mail and if you're interested and I'll get back to you. Comments are moderated on this site, so your e-mail will only be seen by me, which is bad enough.

NOBBY NIC UST 26x1.8: One new, one very lightly used, $60/pair

NOBBY NIC UST 26x2.1: New/Unused, $80/pair

NOBBY NIC EVO 26x2.1: one very lightly used, one new/unused, $50/pair

RACING RALPH UST 26x2.1: Lightly used pair, $60/pair

RACING RALPH 700x35c: New/unused pair, $60/pair

CX PRO 700x30c: Lightly used pair, $20/pair