2 Days in the Dirt
Been taking it easy for the last week or so nursing a sore knee. I didn't ride at all Friday and Saturday. Sunday I woke up early and drove to Keith's for the carpool to Monty Bell. The plan was a big ride hitting all that Monty Bell had to offer.

We arrived right on time meeting the large group of eager-to-ride bad asses. We hit the trail at a good clip. After a little warm up on the red and blue, we headed over to the hard stuff in the yellow and green throwing in the goat path for good measure. After a couple hours we regrouped in the parking lot and several of us decided to call it a day in favor of food!

Monday the plan was to pick up J5 and head to Lock 4 for a few laps. On the way to pick him up I texted Super D(aka Dustin the Pro or DtheP) and pretty much invited myself & Thad over to try out his trail we've heard so much about. I talked over the new plan with Thad, over some horse droppings, and after a few shovels full of poo and some food for his horses we hit the road.

Dustin's trail did not disappoint! It was 4 good miles of trail with a ton of jumps, skinny's, drops, rocks, roots, nearly impossible climbs, and some tight corners. I think I even saw a teeter totter in there somewhere...seriously. We rode the first lap without stopping to play much. Riding it on a single speed really works you over. We rode it again stopping to play a little more on the obstacles and take a few pics. The 3rd and final lap was a long one stopping to flat out session some of the obstacles in the way. I even stood in a sink hole with a snake while Dustin jumped over me. After the 3rd lap we decided to call it a day and get some vittles at the local KFC/Taco Bell.

Photo Cred to Thadieus J5 Hoffman. He took the lions share of photo's yesterday and I just stole them all from his blog....found HERE




































We arrived back at the farm and I noticed some missed calls on my phone. I checked my messages and received news of the Moots. It's ready to ship! On the way home I made a call to Moots Headquarters in Steamboat Springs, Co, and after speaking with Jon I found out that I would have my new, super sweet, hand built, double pass welded, bead blasted, lifetime warrantied , straight gauge 3al/2.5v Titanium 29er Mooto X w/Sliders by Friday, just in time for the first XC race of the year Chickasaw Trace Columbia, Tn. I knew we were getting close as last week we were sent multi-page 2 year contracts and bio's to be filled out, signed and sent back.

Guess I need a new blog titile.

Adam

Saturday was the 3rd and final snake of the year. Sad to see it go but I couldn't imagine doing it every month. The weather could not have been better. Friday the Go-Go-Gadget Tundra was loaded with eager riders, Me, Keith(KRS1), Dustin (Super D), and Thad(J5), all hoping to lay the smack down the following day, knowing full well it would be our last chance till January to battle this trail and it's evil demons. We battled our way through rush hour traffic rocking out and telling awful poo stories, like guys do, and just having a good time.

We arrived a little later than usual and headed strait to the parking lot to drop off J5, the consummate camper boy. We didn't hang out as long as usual as the rest of us were pretty beat down. We met up with Jeffy at the hotel, toasted with a frothy beverage and called it a night.

The weather was great early in the morning with a thick mist hanging in the air and high 50 temps. We decided to drive ourselves to the start early and come back for the truck post race. As a result most of the Mid TN crew were able to start at the front of the pack instead of the usual mid to back of the pack start.

We rolled off the line at a good clip. The start is pretty flat for about 2 miles before hitting the first of the brutal climbs. I was spinning an easier gear this round but it didn't seem to slow me down on the flat much. I was rolling pretty hard and feeling phenomenal, tucked in right behind Keith. We rode together till about halfway up the single track. I pulled ahead slightly which made me think that I might be going too hard too soon. I pushed the thought out of my head and just kept the pace going all the way to the top.

Cresting the top, I gave a quick shout out to the volunteers and proceeded to let it all hang out down the fire road. It's funny you spend 30 minutes or more climbing this monster and 2 minutes getting to the bottom. Climbed the next short hill a little slower than the first, busted a hard left back to the single track and right into a nice steep pine needle covered climb. Steep and short and it led to the first hellafied gangsta single track decent. With nobody in front of me, for the first time ever, I let it all hang out...again, blowing through the nasty rut and down the the flat shady bottom. The whole time I kept thinking of the early demise of Poor Ol' Johnny Black Death Cash, and how her death was likely caused from just such shenanigans.

On to the short peanut butter climbs leading to the 2nd big climb o' the day and they were actually dry and ridable. Sweet!!! Usually there is a line of walking suffering human beings playing leap-frog-hike-a-bike but not today, today we were riding it. The not-so-peanut butter climbs lead to some long and steep, lung busting, single track climbing which I managed with minimal dismounts this time. When the climbing was all done I was rewarded with the best downhill of the day. It's long, steep, fairly smooth with banked corners and water bars for airing it out. I decided to pump the rollers rather than jump them and risk a flat or worse.

Out of the woods and up to the parking lot/halfway point and the sag. I traded out water bottles, gave Becky a shout out and big thanks for providing support for all of us, and started chasing Thad. Dickman, megaphone in hand was heckling him as he climbed the next few switchbacks leading out of the parking lot and up the 3rd major climb for the day. I was just barely cranking the pedals over at this point and not real sure why. Then I realized that I was having so much fun on the last decent that I never allowed myself to recover before starting the next climb. Wood N' Wave Steve Wilson is always reminding me to do this and I got all wrapped up and forgot.

I slowed the pace just enough to keep from blowing up and continued to grind my way up the single track climb. Catching Thad, which would have been a huge and rare accomplishment, would have to wait for another day. Nearing the top of the climbs I felt the beginnings of a calf cramp coming on. I popped some electrolyte caps and kept on going. Bombing the next downhill was exhilarating. It's rough, rocky, and super flowy. not a single person in front of me and I was once again able to let it hang out. Sweet, starting near the front really pays off.

Crossed the last creek crossing for the day and started up the dirt road to the last aid station of the day and I threw down some electrolyte powder that Matt gave me a month ago, and almost gaged on it. It helped but sure was hard to get down. I settled into a good climbing pace and motored on up to the top. I had a quick conversation with a fella on a Mooto X who was kind enough to inform me that we were on pace for sub 3:45. Holy shit. I caught a glimpse of Thad again and gave him a big woo hoo then jumped out of the saddle to try and catch up to him. Bad move. Both legs went into cramp mode instantly. Back to the saddle again for me all of the way to the top of the climb.

I bypassed the aid station, with a quick shout out to the support folks, and entered the section of trail that i fear most. I have a history of brutal bonks on this section of the snake. It's incredibly rocky and brutal, especially on a rigid single speed. I pushed the negativity away and just motored on. I rolled up on Thad who was feeling great but way over geared for this section of the trail thanks to the early demise of Johnny Black Death Cash(rest in peace) and hub issues on the Ti bike. I know the feeling. It's so hard to keep momentum through this rough stuff without the perfect gear.

I shared with him the good news of that we were both headed for unknown, to us, territory of 3:45. Not sure he believed me. I kept the pace going despite the occasional cramp and made my way to The Wall. The wall is a steep mother of a climb that is a hike-a-bike for the likes of me. Normally, I can't even walk up it without stopping for air but today i was determined to walk with a purpose and not stop. I mounted the bike and attempted to ride some of the huge rocks on the ridge with minimal success. Pretty soon I was cramping so bad I had ot get off the bike and walk on flat sections. My legs were toast. I peddled as much as I could and walked as fast as I could when I had to walk.

By now the tower was in sight and I put my head down and peddled hard for the gravel road decent. I put my head down, tucked in tight and bombed away down the 2 mile mountain road to the finish line.

It was awesome watching my friends all cross the line, busting out personal bests left and right. The whole Go Go Gadget Tundra crew plus Jeffy put up new personal best times. Dustins wasn't actually his fastest but considering he was riding a 32lb behemoth and had a flat it was a victory anyway.

Jeff (Jeffy), Matt (Xtanker), Greg (Old Greg), Steven Myers & Wife Ruthie, and Andrew all busted their best times.

This was my second SNG Series so 6 races total with times being all over the place.
2008
Jan- 5:52 (ish) That really is a 5 its not a typo.
Feb-4:28 (ish)
Mar-4:30(ish)

2009
Jan-4:21(ish)
Feb-4:4x(ish) i was so disappointed i didn't even check the result somebody told me my time.
Mar-3:34 That really is a 3 not a typo

Anywho, this post is growing long winded so I'll stop now. Looking forward to a great race season.

4 days till the Snake Creek Gap Grand Finally! I've been on 2 mountain bike rides since the last race, almost a month ago. I have been hitting the trainer/rollers and occasionally the road quite hard though. Hopefully, my increase in road bike riding will make up for my lack of mountain biking. The weather has been pretty crappy. Mostly wet coupled with massive freeze/thaw has made most of the local trails unridable, at least on the days that I would be able to ride. All that road riding has led to some much needed weight loss. Despite eating more food than usual, I've somehow managed to lose 9 pounds in the 3.5 weeks since the last snake. More controlled cardio exercise and healthier food choices, though not always, have really helped shuck the pounds.

I've also had the chance to do several days of trail work at LBL. After nearly 600 man(and women) hours the Canal Loop has been cleared. The trail remains closed though until the Forest Service can figure out how to drop some of the hangers that are threatening to fall on the trail. I can't even describe the damage that the ice storm caused up there. Almost every tree was damaged in some way. The tree's that managed to stay upright lost their tops or most of their limbs. The skyline looks like a bomb went off in the woods, just a mess of toothpicks sticking up out of the ground. Wood N Wave Steve Wilson has been busting his ass out there lugging a chainsaw, cutting reroutes, organizing work days, politicking to get trail workers in the woods, and just being an overall champion of the LBL trail system. He'll be joining us too for the SCG Grand Finally, it should be a much needed break for him.

In happy news. My little hommie KRS1, aka Keith Schaper hooked me up with a smoking deal on a road bike from his old place of business. I was chatting it up with him telling him I was having a hard time finding a decent bike to fit into my price range. When he told me he would call the old bike shop where worked back in the day(Sheels), I hardly gave it another though. A few minutes later I checked my voice mail and he had already called and left me a message about a smoking deal on a new 07 Trek 5000 (just happened to be my size)that had been sitting on the shop floor for over a year. Anywho, it was such a good deal that I called the shop later that day and bought the bike site unseen and they even hooked me up with a deal on shipping. I sound like a sucker who thinks he just got one over on a used car salesman, when in fact he got the shaft.

Moots Mooto X Slider should be here in a few weeks! Pics when it gets here.