tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72520458961846260092024-03-13T19:33:17.871-04:00Design Physics RacingJason Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17712736062394080735noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-71601843843380382122015-05-20T16:23:00.000-04:002015-05-20T16:23:39.805-04:00Welding a frame??I noticed a 1/4" hairline crack just below the seat clamp where the top tube meets the seat tube. It's at the top of the weld. (Niner Air 9 Scandium aluminum frame.) Has anyone had experience with trying to have a frame welded?Farmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02769064618413687554noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-12476977003066279752015-03-12T22:19:00.000-04:002015-03-12T22:19:03.707-04:002014 Recap - Xterra StyleWhat a year 2014 was.<br />
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I made some big commitments and changes in 2014 knowing that I am not getting any younger and if I was every going hit some of my stretch goals it was now or never. Time for the rubber to hit the road. There were three goals for 2014. Lose 10 lbs, get faster on the swim,/run, and get to Worlds. I was working with Jim McGehee from One on one Endurance and we planned out the year. After getting humbled at the 2013 Xterra Worlds Championships, I knew there were somethings that needed to change if I was ever going to go back. I made a pact with my wife Kate that we would go back if I could earn a qualifying spot for Worlds.<br />
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I aged up a category which meant there were only four races and two spots per race in the 45-49 age group in the USA to qualify. The races were Xterra West Champs (Vegas), Xterra Southeast Champs (Alabama), Xterra East Champs (Richmond), and Xterra Mountain Champs (Beaver Creek which was out due to altitude). In each of these regional races only the top two finishers in the 45-49 will get to go to Worlds. I had never finished higher then 5th since 2009. This year there was one less spot then the 3 for 40-45 last year. I had my work cut out.<br />
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There was also the Xterra USA Championships in Utah in Sept. where they take the top regional qualifiers based on earned points in the region for a race for the best. Its a small race but the caliber of athletes is off the charts. I was always intimidated by this race but in 2014 the secondary goal was to qualify as a top mid-atlantic racer and get here as well. 2014 also marked the year that USA Triathlon had sanctioned Xterra East Champs (Richmond) as the USAT Cross USA Championships. Richmond was my best chance to qualify for worlds due to it being the home course, but with it being a USAT Sanctioned Championship, I knew the competition would be steep at home as well. So, big goals and big races. That was the theme for 2014.<br /><br />It did not start out stellar. As in a previous blog, I started getting points in regional races by traveling to Miami for Xterra Key Biscayne. Solid race finishing 8th overall and 1st in age group, but I was not sure how i was progressing. I hit Monster Cross a few weeks afterwards and flatted on the second loop. At this point the season openers where looking a bit tough.<br /><br />The first big test was going to be Xterra West Champs in April in Las Vegas. Racing on the moon is what it is dubbed. On this moon it was hot, windy, dry and steep. Ironically, I was given my lucky number #14.<br />
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Swim was super cold, bike had 1,400 ft of elevation with 2 climbs coming in around 14% grades.<br />
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Had a solid bike, but went from 1st out of water in age group to 3rd by the run. I came out of transition running with the 2013 Women amateur world champion and knew I had to run with her to try to pull back at least one competitor. </div>
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I held on to her for half of the 10k, but got dropped on a big climb and passed by one more competitor in the 45-49 age group. Holding strong for a solid 4th place finish. A long way to travel and no spot for Maui.</div>
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I really need to go back to the drawing board and focus a little harder. I had a month to prepare before the Xterra Southeast Champs and with only two races left and two spots to make up there was some work to be done.</div>
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A few week later I had a test race in-between scheduled. The Richmond Tri Club Sprint. Its an "open water" swim with a flat and fast bike and run. I was going to start in the 1st group with some local stellar athletes and thought this would be another good test.</div>
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The race unfolded well. I was 5th out of the water and fourth off the bike holding on to a strong run and finished the race a solid 4th overall and 1st Master. The run was coming around and the power on the bike was improving. A glimmer of hope was unfolding.<br />
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After a solid build up to Alabama I had no idea how things were going to go. This race is also on the same weekend as River Rock, which my daughter loves to go to. I made a decision to fly in on Friday, not preview the course, race Saturday and out that night. Not the best prep but I was not missing the whole weekend with the family. I woke up to an overnight rain and the forecast was for a chance of showers. Pros go first, 2min gap then all age group men, 2min gap all age-group women. I had a solid warm up, hit the swim start hard and being solo for the race, no one was there to give me a split. I rode like I stole it on the bike. The course was 30k of some of the sweetest single track on the east coast. About a 1/4 of the way into the bike, the skies opened up and it down poured. As other rides started to get timid, I put on the gas full throttle. At this point I had caught the middle of the pro women's field and rode with Shonny Vanlandingham from Team Luna Chix, one of the strongest pro women mountain bikers. I just followed her wheel with everything I had. We caught a few more age groupers and pro women and was just rolling. Hit the run and ran out with another pro women and after a 5:45 first mile, I knew i had to dial it back and just run for my life. I had a feeling things were going well since I was around pro women that I have never caught in five years of racing. I finished strong with the fastest 10k I had run in decades popping off a 39:56 on trails. I patiently waited for the results and then saw them place my card down. Boom. It finally happened. I ran to car to call Kate. The only person I wished was there with me that day was her, and I could not wait to tell her. It was a darn special day. 8th overall amateur and 1st 45-49.</div>
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The next few races came fast and furious and the fitness just kept building. I had a great experience at Rev3 Rush. Making it into the grand final and racing back to back races and hanging out with some great friends.</div>
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Xterra East Champs -USAT National Champs were few weeks later and for the fourth year we housed three pro athletes which makes for an exciting week and a chance to catch up with a great group of fellas. </div>
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With Worlds sealed it was all about going out and leaving it all on the line and having fun.</div>
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Maybe it was the monkey off the back. I just had a blast at this race. I had never raced as hard with so much fun as I did this day. It will go down as one race I will remember for the rest of my life. So many friends out there cheering, the crowds and home course it all came together. As usual nerves are always high before a race.</div>
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But once the gun goes, you just let it rip. Strong current, hot weather and hot run was in store, But i was smiling the whole time</div>
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Mayan Ruins</div>
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Finish!</div>
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Then the results. Never in my wildest dreams did I think it was possible but when a day comes together a day comes together. 8th overall amateur and 1st 45-49 for USAT National Champion</div>
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The fitness held for a few more races. I raced the Bath County Tri in beautiful Bath county. The 40+ age groupers start in the second wave so never knew where I stood in the race. I just tried to catch as many people as I could. It paid off with some big success and my first overall triathlon victory happend.</div>
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A few weeks later the family traveled up to Rock Gap Maryland for Xterra MD. A great course that's really well attended. A super calm swim, killer mountain bike and a run that makes you honest. Solid swim and by the time I hit the first climb and asked a volunteer how far ahead the next place was he said "no one, your it" put a spark in me. A fella who could race pro Daryl Weaver from PA was there and I knew it was a matter of time before I saw him and and on the second bike loop he rode away. He is also a stellar runner but I knew if i dug deep I could just maybe hold on and get on the overall podium. I ran from the heart as fast as i could to get my first Xterra overall podium.</div>
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We all know that top fitness can not hold forever and I took a much needed brake in August with a build up to USAT Road Triathlon Nationals in Milwaukee, Xterra USA in Utah and Xterra World Championships. The big three. Kate really wanted to do National Roads and we decided to give it a go. I ended up getting pretty sick with bronchitis a week before and raced Milwaukee on half a tank. I suffered like a dog but was good enough to place 11th in my age group and qualify for Road Sprint World Championships in Chicago in Sept 2015. It was a deep dig to race this one. </div>
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September came quickly and I knew Xterra USA would be a tough race.I was eccstatic to get an invite to this race butt its at altitude, a ton of climbing on both the bike and run. Probably some of the best competition outside of Worlds on the Xterra circuit. The six Regional Champions were named at a dinner the night before the race and I was named Regional Champion for East Coast 45-49 along with a friend Greg Schott, from RVA in the 15-19 age group. Greg is a real up and comer who is going to go far in this sport. Already a top 5 overall racer it will be fun in the years to come watch Greg rip up the scene.</div>
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Race unfolded well and ended up 6th in my age group 32nd overall amateur. First time here and a tough course for me. If I ever get invited back to race I will need to figure out how to rip this one. The climbs don't favor an east coast flatlander like myself. We will see if I can figure this one out in 2015.</div>
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Shortly after Utah on a descent I crashed my mountain bike and was in an arm cast for two weeks and a thumb brace for six. This was not the ideal build up for Worlds, but thats what they made trainers for. A bit disappointing but I was gonna make due with the cards that were dealt to me.</div>
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October and the Xterra World Championships, Maui, HI</div>
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This race is a beast. No way around it. They save the best and hardest on the Xterra circuit for last. Swim is a no joke "rough water" swim, 3200 ft of climbing in the jungle and 1500 ft of climbing on the run. I had a score to settle here and was looking forward to seeing if I could better my time from last year.<br /><br />What draws me to this race is the atmosphere and the people. You get to meet and race with some of the fastest folks from every corner of the earth. This race is a great race to catch up with old friend and make new ones as well. The atmosphere is just electric. </div>
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The day before they have a kids race and Maddie as always was jazzed up to take part in the atmosphere. She crushed the race and took the overall girls win. Stoked me for what was in store tomorrow. How can an 8 yr old continue to inspire? Her racing, grit and determination in sport leaves me speechless.</div>
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Race morning came and was ready to tackle the day.</div>
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<br /><br />Race went really well for me, considering I was racing with banged up thumb in a brace. Swim was off the hook. A 500m out and back, 200 m beach run, 250 out and back in an M shaped swim course </div>
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Bike is a straight up to Maui mountains from the beach and some screaming descents.</div>
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Coming off the bike, Maddie ran with me and said if I wanted to she would do the run for me. Gotta love it! Gave me a boost to make her and Kate proud so i dug deep.</div>
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Coming into the finishing stretch I could see Maddie and Kate. Maddie was waiting to take it home with me and this is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.</div>
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All in all it was a solid day. 24th in my age group and a 15 min drop from last year and one proud kid of her Dad. What more could one ask for in life.</div>
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Post race there were some fun times with some of the nicest guys in Xterra. The Tri suit Sunburns for Xterra!</div>
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The final days of 2014 were fun. Maddie of course wanted to run the course the next day so we tackled a few sections, paddle boarded and cliff jumped!</div>
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It was a heck of a run in 2014. Could not do it without the inspiration and help of my wife, Kate Fisher. She believes in me more sometimes then I believe in myself. In 2001 she talked me into riding a mountain bike instead of a road bike. Who knew it would bring us to the places we have been in 2014.</div>
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2015 has a few changes in store, changing things a little which is always uncomfortable for me. I started with a new coach, Craig Evans, from teamcraigevans.com , a jedi master at Xterra. I figure lets see if we can push this envelope a little further in 2015.</div>
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<br />Thanks for reading!</div>
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kfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08361821703485540863noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-31028013356898359572015-01-26T10:19:00.003-05:002015-01-26T11:18:21.810-05:00Frosty trainingSunday, I headed west for some secret mountain training in the GW. Crossing over Afton on 64 west I noticed the tops of the mountains around me were frosty. All of the valley floor was snow and ice free, but up here the trees still looked touched by Jack Frost.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Mike Coco</td></tr>
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My Lynchburg riding buddy met me at the White Oak lot, where we both noted that it was a lot warmer than we expected. 40 degrees did seem a lot warmer than the expected 30. We set out on Tillman and headed for the old school festival trail on Narrowback.<br />
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While climbing up onto the ridge, it became clear that this mountain was still frosty at the higher elevations. Patches of trees were covered in a thin coating of ice that was slowly melting. The scene was like riding through a crystal forest. A sporadic rain of ice pellets peppered the trail and our backs as we rolled across the ridge. It was very pretty and some unique riding conditions for sure!Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025961232816713886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-40822187090696709862015-01-21T19:34:00.004-05:002015-01-21T19:34:50.116-05:00BTS Bonus RideGot a call this morning from Toddy G wanting to sneak out for an early ride before the weather rolled in. I told him the best I could do was 11am since I had a 9am meeting. He hit me back up - see you at 11. We decided to ride the cross bikes on the trails and Todd hooked me up by picking my bike up from the shop on his way over. This was Toddy G's first trail ride on his cross bike and he was looking a little skeptical about rocking out Forest Hill on the skinny tires. <br />
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After we left the house and were making the left onto Dock Street, there was a dump truck just heading in the same direction. I yelled at Todd to jump the the back of the dump truck and proceeded to nail it in order to catch the draft. I got a sweet tow all the way down to Shiplock Park before dipping off onto the Capital Trail. I looked back briefly and saw Toddy G a few car lengths back. It seems he did not quite catch the draft, all he caught was the downdraft of the truck directly in his face... He tried to catch on the entire way, but it was not to be. Needless to say we both started the ride with a one mean interval.<br />
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It was a fun ride over to the trails and we proceeded to run a lap of Forest Hill. We also took some time out to discuss the VAHS race we are putting on in April. We looked at the course layout and how we could change it from years past. As it started to rain harder, we had to head back as Todd had a meeting and I had to get Mason early from school because she is on exam schedule. <br />
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So it looks like Toddy G has once again taken advantage of the Bonus BTS ride!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A TCX kind of day!</td></tr>
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<br />Jason Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17712736062394080735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-77320762722567773812015-01-18T18:33:00.000-05:002015-01-18T18:33:06.348-05:00BTS # 4The day started with me and the boys heading to meet up for trail work. They're 7 & 9 years old. A little young for back breaking trail work you say? Nope! These are my boys! Little Toddy Gs! They've been splittin' & stackin' firewood with me for a good 2 years now! So I knew they were up for the challenge. They jumped right in there, got in front of the trail cutters and started gathering trash into bags. So much trash bottles, cans, bags, papers, old clothes, pots, pans, broken dishes, hub caps, cell phones, broken lawn chairs, even a hand gun!!! Thankfully someone else discovered that!!! It was quite obvious that someone thought that this hillside was their own personal garbage dump!!!The boys were appalled by all the trash. River my oldest son asked me "Papi why do people throw all their trash in the woods"? I had no answer for him.<br />
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They worked hard filling bags with trash and dragging them up the hillside to the stone wall. They had the trail site cleaned up in a little over an hour. Next they both eagerly grabbed a rogue ax and started bench cutting the trail in.<br />
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They worked like champs for a solid 4 hours, and seemed genuinely excited about soon being able to ride this very trail they were helping to build. They even asked to come back next weekend and do more trail work.<br />
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The showing of volunteers on Saturday was pretty awesome! The trail was totally cut in when we left to ride at 1:00. Paulito showed up with like 20 pizzas and was still working when we left to ride!!!<br />
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On to the riding!!! We left out of the Reedy creek parking lot and headed east on Buttermilk. River and Bluesky were proudly sporting their new jerseys. We then headed over to Bell Isle of course to hit the skills park. River doesn't shy away from the techy challenges and always insist on trying the rock garden under the service road bridge.<br />
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We then rode around on all the trails up top. I was pretty sure after working 4 hours and riding what they already had that they would want to take the service road back to Reedy creek. Nope! Even though it meant carrying their bikes back up the stair tower(their bikes are heavier than mine) they wanted to "ride the trails"!!! So we did and I couldn't have been prouder of them. BTS #4 was an awesome day for the Green boys. So much that we'll be glad to host it again next weekend!!!<br />
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Call out to the team next week bring it!!! Work & ride after!!! If these boys can do it can't you!!!???Toddy Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12722187352695596158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-5623054141829921302015-01-14T09:21:00.004-05:002015-01-14T09:21:46.652-05:00BTS#3Dave Hardisky hosted BTS#3 a tour of the monster cross course. When anyone offers to lead a ride out there I'm always willing to tag along. I love riding out there but aside of a few sections I'm pretty much lost in that forest.<br />
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The day started with temperatures in the low teens, but by the time we met to ride at 10:30 it had more than doubled. Still cold though. Bar mits and booties were a necessity for the start of the ride.<br />
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We started out by knocking out the middle loop 1st and then on to the main loop. Dave knew every turn. We even rode one of the new pump tracks. No issues or mechnicals. All in all it was a great day to ride!!! Thanks to Dave for leading me around Pocahontas. Next time hopefully some more folks will show up.Toddy Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12722187352695596158noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-73797622602617156302015-01-11T20:38:00.000-05:002015-01-11T20:38:10.895-05:00Short Rides Shorter ChainsSun's out, temperature is above 40, chain's lubed. First ride since who knows. Rides have been few and far enough between that the trail feels new every time. So much trailwork being done. New rocks to hop, berms to carve, mud-patches to wash out in. Only a few mudpatches out on the poop-loop. The work there is amazing. 2 miles of pump-track action, and so dry. <br />
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It looks like a highway is going in on the upstream side of the Manchester wall. A 20' wide swath has been turned to mulch, presumably for the connector trail up to the belle island bridge. </div>
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Damon initiated this thing. Jeff and I have very nice wives that watched the babies. Paul was too 'sick' to ride. Outside Damon's apartment we wrapped our toes in neoprene and complained about 'ice-crotch.' There's a market out there for a windproof cycling cod-piece. Heading east in the shadow of the flood-wall was a slow awakening for stiff legs recently subjected to a half-assed, early-morning, New Year's Resolution-style squat and lunge regimen. </div>
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The Slave-Trail connection to Ancarrow's Landing is a nice carve session now. I feel guilty having so much fun on a trail commemorating so much really un-fun stuff. </div>
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A few other cyclists enjoyed the Poop-coaster with us. The berms just rail so hard. </div>
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Happy as shit we determined Forest Hill was next. Barely made it past Canoe Run park. A bomb went off inside my rear derailleur. Chain jammed tight between cogs and spokes. Shattered cage, bent hanger. While I disassembled, bloodied knuckles, shortened chain and reassembled, Jeff and Damon turned trail-detective. A derailleur-height gash on a rock revealed there was no bomb, just an unfortunate lean of the bike.</div>
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A make-shift single-speed roll back to Damon's included revelations about the retarding effect of political correctness on expressiveness, and the need for a new rear wheel. Today's 9.8 miles got expensive. </div>
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Evidence:</div>
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A trip to Coqui is in order. Need gears. Need a wheel with less hop. Need a straight hanger. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-16362844835712299472015-01-10T06:42:00.001-05:002015-01-10T06:43:21.058-05:00BTS #1 BTS (Bonus Ride) #1 happened on Thursday... You may ask yourself how you did not know about this ride since it was not posted anywhere but that is just BTS for you. Bad news is that it involved Toddy G and it was a really cold ride. New for 2015 - if you are riding downtown mid-day and hit me up to join you, instant BTS Bonus Ride! If I cannot make it, that is just the luck of the draw. Just the first of many surprises in store for the BTS this season. Now get out there this weekend and go score some points. <br />
<br />
Congrats to Dave, the first person who offered to lead a BTS ride - 50 points.<br />
Also bonus points to certain riders who have made orders with with I9 or Schwalbe.<br />
<br />
Jason Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17712736062394080735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-34189417461135090352015-01-07T14:37:00.002-05:002015-01-07T14:37:57.745-05:00BTS 2015BTS 2015 coming at you. Goal #1 this year is to try and find someone who can beat out Toddy G & Plassman. Not only are you looking at the prize of supreme cycling fitness, you are setting yourself up for some super primo swag. DPR is going all out and the prizes will be well worth all the suffering. Rules are slightly tweaked so please read below. Lead a ride and get a leg up on everyone else. Game on!<br />
<br />
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<br />
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<u><span style="color: red;">Points:</span></u><br />
30 - MTB Ride<br />
25 - Road Ride</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
25 – Cyclocross Ride</div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">20
- Run<br />
<br />
<u><span style="color: red;">Bonus Points:</span></u><br />
5 - BTS write up on blog<br />
5 - Pics included in write up</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">5 - Ride Leader<br />
10 - Raining<br />
10 - Night<br />
10 - over 5 DP riders<br />
15 - MTB ride >30 miles<br />
15 - Road ride >50 miles<br />
20 - over 10 DP riders<br />
20 - Temps below freezing<br />
20 - Snowing<br />
25 - chance gathering of 5 or more DP riders on trails<br />
50 - Over 15 DP riders<br />
50 - Pre-season race (frozen Cross, Monster Cross, Southern Cross)<br />
DOUBLE POINTS - only one to show up at any event<br />
TBD - Epic Rides (50/50, super bowl ride, pantani ride, etc.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">TBD - Supporting sponsors</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<u><span style="color: red;">Demerit Points:</span></u><br />
(-50) Riding on muddy trails<br />
(-50) Crashing teammate on road<br />
(-20) Not wearing a DP kit (for those who have them)</span>Jason Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17712736062394080735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-72160621948540650672014-06-15T21:17:00.000-04:002014-06-15T21:17:38.763-04:00My Informal Race and my Demons
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been racing since 2008.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the past 6 years I’ve averaged 20 races a
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think…I am…getting burned
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure, but I just haven’t been my
usual self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it doesn’t help that I
lost my race buddy (Tom’s crash that has put him out of commission this
summer). This year I just don’t have that spark I used to, that makes me dig
deep.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So today I had just left my house for a road ride, turning
from my road onto Clazemont in Montpelier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As I started up the shallow long hill, I heard “on your left”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What?” is my typical response, not as in “I
didn’t hear you”, but as in “Oh no you don’t, you are not going to pass me!”
(Old habits die hard even though my biking Spirit is weak lately.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stood up to start banging the pedals and
looked to my left and lo and behold it was Frank Yeager, my teammate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the first time I’ve seen a teammate
while I’ve started a ride from my house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Instantly, I think partly because it was Frank and I knew I didn’t have
much of a chance, and partly because of my weak bike spirit, and partly because
I’m not in great shape right now (not training hard because of the weak bike
spirit), I just sat back down and didn’t chase.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Background- since I started riding I’ve always been a chaser, like a dog
I can’t let a road bike pass me without trying to stay on their wheel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I slogged my way to the top of the hill, feeling sorry for
myself…then when I got to the flat part, I saw him at the stop sign turning
right onto Taylor’s Creek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was
where I was going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was quite a ways
away from me, just a small speck…but something in me went “I can’t let this go,
I’ve got to try to get him” (maybe it was that I had finished the hill, or that
I had a little warm-up, or mostly that I wanted to give myself a second chance).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I put my bike in the big ring and started
hammering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The old chase spirit came
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My legs eventually started
burning, I was breathing hard- and it felt good to suffer, the way it used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think I’ve pushed myself in a
while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt good too, passing two
other bicyclists that he had passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
after a couple of miles I realized I was gaining on him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly, but steadily I was reeling him in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">About 4 miles-ish up the road, when I was so much closer,
maybe 75 yards from him, he turned right onto Centreville Road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was going straight, so the chase was done, but
I felt good- it had lit that old fire again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not sure if it will stay lit or not, but now I know the embers are
still there…and for that I thank you Frank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And please, let me have this…don’t tell me if you weren’t going hard on
Taylor’s Creek, if that was some recovery spin for you- I don’t want to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leave me with this spark of hope.</span></div>
Sonya Richesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18435798200770464969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-81312808031519827342014-05-19T15:00:00.000-04:002014-05-19T15:00:39.767-04:00Sometimes Everything Just Comes TogetherEver since I started mountain bike racing I wanted to win at the RiverRock Urban Assult. It's held on the trails that I started riding on and where I still ride most often since they are so close to me. I don't have a very good track record here, but I look forward to it every year.<br />
<br />
I don't make it to a lot of out of town races and with the lack of local races this year I decided to make this my top priority for the season. I usually ride the JRPS loop clockwise, but started doing every loop counter clockwise early in the year to get used to the race direction. I focused on riding smoothly and not scrubbing too much speed in the corners. I created a plan for every aspect of this race. Training, nutrition, race strategy, etc.... <br />
<br />
I started to have some doubts about how I would race when I had a few crashes in training on features that I easily cleared in the past. My head started to get the better of me every time I got to these spots. Then 2 weeks out I got sick and couldn't ride for a week. At the same time work got really busy and had me up till midnight most days that week. Thankfully I recovered fairly quickly from my illness and work calmed down a bit during the week prior to race day. I was able to focus and ride some crash free laps and get my confidence back.<br />
<br />
We had a monsoon of a rain storm Thursday night into Friday morning, but luckily the trails held up well and were perfectly tacky by race start. On race day the temp was upper 60's or lower 70's with some good sunshine. Not too hot and not too cold. <br />
<br />
I chatted with Roger and Brandy at the check in (who both did an awesome job organizing this event!) and found out about a few course re-routes and modifications. The non-rocky line on the first climb was blocked off. Everyone had to take the harder route up the climb. My goal was to try to be the first one to the climb since it became a bottle neck last year. Also taken out was the tunnel through Reedy Creek since it was flooded. I was fine with that too. In the past I haven't had problems with that section, but for some reason in every training ride through there this year I would end up smashing my knee into my handle bar on the climb back out.<br />
<br />
I headed out on North Bank a little ways to look at the beginning of course again and get in a good warm up. At the first rock climb I ran into a single speeder and the two of us practiced the rocky climb a few times. It seemed like the main line was changed a bit too. Both of us were having difficulty getting all the way up which made me a little nervous.<br />
<br />
I got back to the starting area and found Dave Hardisky and Thom Flynn. A little later Paul Leeger and Jennie Belt showed up too. We listened to the announcements and then lined up for the start. As the waives ahead of me went off I started to get really nervous and felt a bit weak. I wasn't sure how this would go. I did my best to stay relaxed when we rolled up to the line. <br />
<br />
Before I knew it we were off. I can usually clip in really quickly, but totally missed my pedal this time. It was tight at the line, so I was knocking shoulders with the guys next to me. The one on my left started clipped in, holding on to the railing and blasted to the front of the pack. After finally getting clipped in I was in 4th or 5th going around the first turn. I stayed calm and seated up the first gravel climb. The guy in front of me tried to stand and power up the climb, but spun his wheel on the loose gravel and almost came to a stand still right in front of me. I got around him quickly and was third wheel in the train moving down the gravel road toward North Bank. Soon I moved past the 2nd rider and bridged up to the racer who took off so fast at the start. Before we hit the fence to the narrower gravel road I sprinted past him and kept pushing forward toward the "hole shot" up the rocky climb. I cleared it with ease and heard the guy be hind me cuss as he got stuck half way up which probably brought the rest of the field to a stand still. I flew down the armored descent on the other side, took a page out of Tom Richeson's book and stood up and hammered on the flat straight away. (I saw Tom do this at the Poor Farm race last year, disheartening those chasing him and increasing the gap. I always wanted to do it, but never found myself with the energy or position to do it. Thanks for the inspiration Tom!) I rode the rest of North Bank as hard as I could. Once I hit the parking lot I again got out of the saddle and hammered away. I looked back before going down Stairway to Heaven and just saw 2nd place come on to the straight away from the parking lot. I couldn't believe my strategy was working. I planned on trying to get a gap and then relax a bit and ride my own pace and not worry about the others around me. I usually have some kind of a plan worked out in my head before a race, but it never seems to work.<br />
<br />
I focused on hydration on the flats by the canal and quickly made it over the Nickle Bridge to head down ButterMilk. I focused on riding smooth, descending fast, and staying off the brakes. I kept pushing hard, but tried to relax and spin up the longer climbs since I usually fade hard and fast at the end of races. I started getting into a lot of traffic from other groups at this point which caused a lot of slowing and accelerating which I knew would hurt me later, but those behind me would have to come through the same traffic, so I hoped they wouldn't get too close.<br />
<br />
Forest Hill Park was a lot of fun with the fast descents and high speed corners. Near the end of FHP I came into a turn too hot, drifted off my line and smacked my forearm into a tree. I nailed it right on the top of the forearm muscle near my elbow. At first I thought it would affect my grip on the bars, but I was able to work through it. Somehow I hit the exact same tree on the 2nd time through there as well. <br />
<br />
I was really surprised by how fresh I felt at this point. I knew that I burned a lot of matches pretty early, but I kept my pace as high as I could and kept taking in fluids since I often cramp when I go out too hard. At the start of the Manchester Bridge I caught up with Emily Bashton who was leading her group. We chatted briefly and then agreed to trade pulls over the bridge. Once over the bridge I stood up and accelerated to the start of North Bank. On the rocky climb I came upon the single speeder who I practiced with during my warm up. Both of us cleared the climb, I wished him luck and kept moving on. Near the end of North Bank I started feeling the first twinges of cramping in my quads. I quickly finished a bottle and tried to ignore it and use easier gears on the climbs. <br />
<br />
As I started back into ButterMilk my thoughts started going negative. The cramping was getting worse and I had a feeling that I would get caught. I could see a couple of riders coming through the woods a bit behind me. Really...everything was going this well and it wouldn't pay off?<br />
<br />
At the first creek crossing my front wheel slide out, but I caught myself before going for a swim. The rider behind came up to me quickly. Thankfully he was from a different category and gave me a wheel to stare at till I could get the demons out of my head. I continued to throw back fluids (thankfully I had decided to bring 3 bottles) and the cramps finally went away the second time through Forest Hill Park and I was able to charge on again. There was still someone lurking about 50 yards behind me, so I again focused on descending as fast as I could and riding smooth (except for hitting the tree again). Whoever was behind me was soon out of sight and I was re-energized coming out of FHP. <br />
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I finished the rest of ButterMilk without issue and pushed hard over the bridge. I looked back and didn't see anyone behind. I couldn't believe that I had actually managed to stay away for the whole race. I'm excited that I finally got the win that I always wanted and that I was able to actually execute a race strategy as planned!<br />
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Great event, beautiful weather, perfect trails, bike worked flawless (Thanks to <a href="http://www.coquicyclery.com/">Coqui Cyclery</a> for the tune up) .....Sometimes everything just comes together!<br />
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All I saw were smiles at the finish. Everyone got their free beer and hung out for a while telling their war stories. Everyone seemed to really enjoy the trails and atmosphere. I talked to a few out of town folks who absolutely loved it. They weren't expecting anything like that in the city. <br />
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All teammates rode strong and had a good showing!<br />
<br />
Jennie Belt - 2nd Female Expert<br />
Dave Hardisky - 7th Sport 40+<br />
Thom Flynn - 12th Sport 40+<br />
Paul Leeger - I couldn't find Paul's result, but I know he rode hard on his singlespeed since he broke his other frame.Erik Bleecherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17372184406388827966noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-25447713354659013582014-03-13T10:19:00.001-04:002014-03-13T10:20:24.434-04:00Bless the JRPSWow, Tuesday night's ride around the JRPS was awesome!<br />
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Eric joined Todd and myself for a spring fever lap of the classic downtown loop. There were a ton of people out, but the trails were not too congested. They also had amazing hero dirt! Just the right amount of moisture for fast rolling and increadible grip. My new Anthem 27.5 seemed to be purpose built for ripping the loop.<br />
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During our ride we got momentarily held up by the po po, who was driving along the gravel access road just past Hollywood semetary. Then we got chased down by none other than Joe Fish who was out for a run. We navigated accross the hanging foot bridge to Belle isle and passed a guy walking a dog that was almost the size of a pony!<br />
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After a fun loop of the island we zipped through buttermilk and forest hill, rounding out a classic ride.<br />
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Riding in normal gear without numb hands and feet was very refreshing!<br />
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Bless the JRPS.Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025961232816713886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-60278554111687012592014-03-10T21:48:00.002-04:002014-03-10T21:48:25.725-04:00Danville State ChampionshipsSo the mountain bike State Championships were this past Sunday in Danville. I had never ridden the course before. Tom and I decided to make a weekend out of it and get a hotel room, since it's about a 3 hour drive. We drove down early Saturday and got to the course around noon, planning to do a one lap pre-ride. Well, remember the sleet that the Richmond area got Friday? Danville got a couple inches of snow, that was still there. The whole park was white. Then up a steep hill from the parking lot we saw what must have been the race promotor on the trail with his bike, and he was shoveling! We walked a ways up the trail and it was pretty bad- snow with mud underneath. We decided to save our bikes (and ourselves) and not attempt to pre-ride. It was a warm day, so the only hope was that it would all melt overnight.<br />
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That night we met Jason's family (Mason was racing too) and Tom Haines family for dinner at a Mexican restaurant, which was nice. We all stayed at the same hotel, so saw them again for breakfast. All night I tried not to think about those snowy trails. What can I do? I had driven 3 hours and gotten a hotel, I wasn't going to back out now. It didn't help that this was going to be my first cat 1 race, so the race was longer than I was used to. It was going to be 21.6 miles (3 laps), vs. the usual 14 or so.<br />
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The morning we got to the race there was still snow in the woods but the trails themselves were snow free, however they were completely soaked and mucky. At the race start there was a rumor they were going to cut our race short. They had cut my husband's 3 lap race one lap shorter, so he had 2 laps. Then when we got to the start line the official asked us if we wanted 2 or 3 laps. There wasn't a consensus so he kept it at 3. I had to race longer than Tom???<br />
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So the start was up a steep hill with straight paths but tight switchbacks. As soon as I got into the muck, it was a bizarre experience. It was worse than I even thought it would be. You'd pedal, but your wheels would just spin in place which was exhausting, and when you did make forward movement your bike was pulled one way or the other depending on the hidden ruts in the trail under the mud. I must have fallen about 4 times on the first hill. At first, I was so discouraged, I thought there's no way I can do almost 22 miles of this. I think I came the closest ever to quitting a race. But I couldn't, I knew I wouldn't be able to live with myself so I just kept going. My goal became just to finish. It got easier, not because it got less muddy, but I think because I relaxed and stopped fighting my bike. It actually became fun (mentally, physically I was suffering), learning how to ride in the mud. I found out two things- ride through those deep puddles instead of trying to go around them- they clear the debris from your drive-train. The other thing was when the water was literally flowing down the middle of the trail like a river, to ride in the center of the stream- the water carries the silt away and leaves sand and the sand has better traction. (For those of you that maintain trails and are cringing reading this- I know, I know- that was the other thing running through my head the whole time- the poor trails! But they didn't cancel the race, and so race I would.) Another thought would poke in my head sometimes. You know that show "Monsters Inside Me"? There was mud over every square inch of me and my camel bag- drinking from that muddy thing, I could even feel mud stuck on my teeth. I was just imagining what parasites I might be picking up along the way....<br />
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When I finished my second lap I yelled out to the officials whether I had one more to go, just to be sure, they said yes so I mentally geared up for another round and as I was nearing the hill at the start I heard my number being yelled frantically! Ah...they were pulling me! I was so excited, my race was over and I didn't quit! (For those that don't know, an official can pull you out of a race and place you based on where you were relative to the other riders, they then pull out all the remaining racers.) The grace! It felt so nice to be done.<br />
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Luckily they had three hoses for people to wash their bikes and themselves. <br />
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I learned that our teammate Tom Haines had gotten third in his cat 2 40-49 race getting a state bronze medal, that teammate Thomas Flynn finished (finishing this race was a victory, there were many DNF's), and that my husband Tom got first in his 50+ cat 1 race and took away the state gold!<br />
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For my 30+ cat 1 race I got 5th place, but got a state bronze in the 40-49 age group. I was very happy with the results, and to get my first cat 1 race behind me.<br />
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Three state medals for out team, that's not too bad! I think the Richesons are going to the Nationals in Pennsylvania this summer. For Tom, he has a chance to do something, for me it will be a neat experience if nothing else.Sonya Richesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18435798200770464969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-10872472054081629812014-03-06T00:31:00.004-05:002014-03-06T00:31:48.451-05:00WC Ride - It's time to go Winter!Todd and I met up at West Creek again for our weekly polar vortex road ride. Even though the air temps were supposed to be around 40F, rolling around it felt a lot more like 30F. I'm guessing this is because all the leftover snow acts as a giant 'cool pack' and chills the surrounding air. Great.<br />
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We were careful to avoid the multiple bucket sized corpses of rotting icebergs that lined the road, each one orphaned by a snow plow as it cleared the road some time ago.<br />
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My toes are getting sore from repeatedly getting double socked and then stuffed into my riding shoes.<br />
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Winter, this is getting old. Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025961232816713886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-5096884391307524002014-03-04T14:11:00.001-05:002014-03-04T14:11:16.253-05:00The KID still gettin' itMason is working into her early season form and a team weekend provided everyone a little bit of relief from Jeff's massive accumulation of BTS points. Looks like she saved us 145 points this week. Although it might a little too late for everyone as Mason's riding might be taking a back seat to healing this week...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah that might take a few days to heal...</td></tr>
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Jason Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17712736062394080735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-49397503303474576482014-03-04T08:48:00.001-05:002014-03-04T08:48:08.735-05:00Slummin' in the snowI had to keep close to home yesterday so my snow ride consisted slumming through the alleys and streets near my house. I visited a nearby school and rode in the tennis courts which had a very odd ice cover that was solid, but sat on top a thin layer of water with air bubbles that moved under my tires as I gingerly rode around.<br />
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Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025961232816713886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-75370241637604545902014-03-03T13:21:00.000-05:002014-03-03T13:30:50.779-05:00I’m not sure if I ever made the varsity team<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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In <a href="http://designphysicsracing.blogspot.com/2014/03/jv-team.html" target="_blank">Jason’s post about yesterday’s team ride</a> at Poor Farm, he
said he felt like he “got called up to varsity to play with the big boys”. A
comment that instantly bubbled up to my already inflated ego and spawned the sophomoric
drivel that awaits you if you read on.</div>
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When I was actually in high school (before the internet for
you young-ins) I wasn't on the varsity team. I was in the Marching Band. My
instrument shall remain a mystery... We were never really the cool kids at
home coming. </div>
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A year later I remember the band instructor asking me why I
was switching from Band to Drafting. I had discovered girls, guitars, and Guns
N Roses. Marching Band was done! For a few fleeting high school years I was
sort of a cool kid. My varsity jacket was made of denim and had an Ozzy Ozborne
patch instead of a school letter.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obsession #1</td></tr>
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Way past college, the birth of the internet, and then the
dot com boom, I had been riding motorcycles for years and was a weekend knee
dragger. Every weekend I drove to the mountains with my sport bike in the back
of the truck. I would unload it and ride about 300 miles of the most twisting mountain
roads I could find. After many a hooligan’s outing, and getting chewed out by
an off duty WV cop for passing him on a double yellow at about 120 I started to
realize I needed to get on the race track, or I was going to kill myself on the
street or get locked up. So I effectively hung up my leathers… my motorcycle varsity
jacket. No school letter on my leathers, just knee sliders and a full face
helmet.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4N3hX9OATjg/UxTE23LpPVI/AAAAAAAABJw/gtArd1eNHcY/s1600/jeff_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4N3hX9OATjg/UxTE23LpPVI/AAAAAAAABJw/gtArd1eNHcY/s1600/jeff_1.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obsession #2</td></tr>
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I needed something exciting and legal. My fitness also
needed a lot of help. So, I started riding mountain bikes with a couple of
friends from work. I paid my dues riding the JRPS way back before north bank
existed and well before buttermilk was sanitized for the masses. When it came
to mountain bikes I was about as Fred as you could get. However, I was a hard
charger and gradually got pretty decent.</div>
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A few years later my rough and tumble mountain bike style
caught up with me and I had to get help for serious back problems. It took a
year and a half of physical therapy and rebuilding my core, but I had a great
coach. Clarke Tanner from Optimal Solutions Physical therapy brought me back to
life as a mountain biker. Did I mention that Clarke was one of the cool kids,
and played college football? </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gEB8eNeRQCs/UxTFYSmr49I/AAAAAAAABKI/Q0J3ue5QS48/s1600/PICT0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gEB8eNeRQCs/UxTFYSmr49I/AAAAAAAABKI/Q0J3ue5QS48/s1600/PICT0062.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Clarke asked me to race the 2008 BC Bike Race with him. That’s
when I got serious about mountain biking and training. In October 2007 a 30
mile ride at Sherando was about as big as I could go, and that kind of ride
left me hurting pretty bad.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQ5iplLzUL0/UxTFHgJUaAI/AAAAAAAABJ4/DFP35pwbZAs/s1600/BCBRMap08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IQ5iplLzUL0/UxTFHgJUaAI/AAAAAAAABJ4/DFP35pwbZAs/s1600/BCBRMap08.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had about 8 months to get ready for the BC Bike Race, 350
miles over 7 days on the most challenging terrain I have ever ridden! I needed
a training montage, err… training routine. Clarke suggested we follow <a href="http://bcbikerace.com/media/7287/part3training.pdf" target="_blank">AndreasHestler’s 11 week training program</a>, and so we did. The big race came, we had
many highs and lows and ultimately rocked it out! I finished the race with a
finger that was taped up following a dislocation and manual relocation courtesy
of my trail side body mechanic and race partner, Clarke. This race was an incredible
experience and forged the serious mountain bike racer in me. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-99EPQ4KUo/UxTFP78vQrI/AAAAAAAABKE/Qi80HkjWptw/s1600/jeff-clarke-scanned_edits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-99EPQ4KUo/UxTFP78vQrI/AAAAAAAABKE/Qi80HkjWptw/s1600/jeff-clarke-scanned_edits.jpg" height="300" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obsession #3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A couple of years later I was searching for a
cool team to race with in Richmond and I started riding for Design Physics
Racing. I remember how awesome I thought it was to finally have a legit race
kit and be a member of the cool kids racing team in the RVA. Years later, it turns
out that the folks on my race team are an awesome bunch of riders and friends. My
mountain bike varsity jacket sports our team logo and I’m always proud to be
rocking it out.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmqlythSOF8/UxTFgYB4KcI/AAAAAAAABKQ/ZkXAD1NssMg/s1600/Turkey+Pen+A_17+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmqlythSOF8/UxTFgYB4KcI/AAAAAAAABKQ/ZkXAD1NssMg/s1600/Turkey+Pen+A_17+-+Copy.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Varsity Jacket</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025961232816713886noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-9483931973876016062014-03-03T10:10:00.002-05:002014-03-03T10:10:24.921-05:00JV Team...Headed out to Poor Farm to meet up for the 11am BTS ride. I joined Plassman, Toddy G, Tom R & Tyler for the ride. I knew I was in trouble as soon as we left the parking lot... Plassman was leading the group, barely scratching zone 2 and I was already in zone 5 sucking wind. I felt as if I had been sitting on the bench for the JV team and got called up to varsity to play with the big boys. As exciting and fun as the opportunity sounded (and it was), the reality is that I am not prepared to play with them at the moment. Coach Jeff has mastered the trail system out at Poor Farm and links together the trails like a point to point race! He had a solid gameplan which did not seem to include time to breathe. After an hour or so we headed back to the cars for a water break and that is when I opted out of the two-a-day schedule. It was fun to play with the big boys but a reminder that I need a lot more practice time before I can hang. <br />
<br />
BTS bonus for the day were free DPR t-shirts for those who showed up for the ride. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v_TXmvBN8ak/UxSbDdPQFeI/AAAAAAAAAmo/AHRJPxcgrGw/s1600/IMG_2157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" closure_lm_524325="null" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v_TXmvBN8ak/UxSbDdPQFeI/AAAAAAAAAmo/AHRJPxcgrGw/s1600/IMG_2157.jpg" height="400" ota="true" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Headed back out for round two.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jason Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17712736062394080735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-13360718302528658452014-03-01T16:31:00.003-05:002014-03-01T16:31:46.481-05:00Saturday's BTS part BAs I was gearing up for this morning's ride, the work monster made an appearance and gobbled up my chance to make it to Poor Farm at 8:30. Boooo.<br /><br />I'd entered the matrix and did some cyber battling while repairing a broken network route between two of our servers. Neo never showed, so I just had to take care the Agent myself. Stupid computer stuff.<br /><br />I sent Sonya an email to give here a heads up, but her phone must be as old as mine... Seriously, people laugh when they see my well worn flip phone.<br /><br />After work stuff settled down I got back into the real world and headed out to Poor Farm. I saw Tom and Sonya leaving and we chatted for a bit.<br /><br />The trails were no longer frozen by the time I started riding so I carefully linked together the driest loops I could and rode for almost 3 hours. I repeated a lot of stuff because a lot of the trails were still to wet to ride. Fortunately by the time I was leaving, most of the upper trails were firming up nicely increasing the options.<br /><br />I'm glad Tom and Sonya made it out, and wished I could have been there earlier. Better late than never.Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025961232816713886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-44071010506755250072014-03-01T14:59:00.001-05:002014-03-01T14:59:12.926-05:00Saturday's BTS part AI called this BTS Part A because I assume there will be a blog for part B...Tom Richeson and I went to join Jeff Plassman at Poor Farm Park at 8:30am today for his BTS, and he never showed! As it turned out he had e-mailed us that he couldn't make it but we didn't get the e-mail in time. But, it got us out of the house early to get our ride behind us, something we may not have done otherwise since it was only 22 degrees when we left the house. It made for good riding though, the wet spots at the park were frozen solid. <br />
<br />
I think though that Tom was disappointed to get stuck riding just with me, since I am slower than Jeff; he was hoping to have someone to play with. Tom and I rode together for over an hour, then split ways so that he could go a bit faster. We ended up out there for about 3 hours, but part of that was spent fixing a flat I had. We had put on my new Rocket Ron tires last night with Stanz, as I wanted to try them out before the State Championships next weekend. Something happened and the front tire lost the bead.<br />
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But it was a pretty day, we saw the herd of deer about 4 times. I was thinking the trails at Poor Farm must drive them crazy, as the trails are so twisty..."The Humans are coming straight at us! "No wait, they're going away from us!" "Now they're coming at us from the opposite direction!"<br />
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Here is a picture of Tom with his new bike, a Giant XTC Advanced 27.5 1, with his new Industry Nine Wheels. He loves his new bike!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8r4yQu_V_HQ/UxI7nlDGCDI/AAAAAAAAALY/SNZzHw6hROM/s1600/downsized_0301141133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8r4yQu_V_HQ/UxI7nlDGCDI/AAAAAAAAALY/SNZzHw6hROM/s1600/downsized_0301141133.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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On the drive out of the park we passed Jeff driving in and talked to him, he had missed the morning ride due to work. Happy BTS part B Jeff!Sonya Richesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18435798200770464969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-79578332352476854442014-02-27T11:23:00.002-05:002014-02-27T11:23:45.713-05:00BTS - That’s how we roll<div class="MsoNormal">
Last night Todd and I were getting ready to head out for
some chilly laps at west creek.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was almost all geared up and realized I had left my
knee/leg covers at home. Dang!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was wearing full calf socks, but that still left my knees
and about 1/3 of my upper legs exposed... So I desperately was trying to figure
out how to repurpose any other gear I had. It was not looking good.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Todd rolled up and I explained my plight. Todd offered to go
back to his house and get his spare warmers and I tried to decide if I could
make the extra gear I had work. Todd realized my attempts would not work well
and talked me into the idea of him driving back to his house and getting his
extra warmers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What a team mate! Todd made a round trip to his house and
got his knee warmers and I got to ride in relative comfort. We knocked out
several laps until both of us got really cold.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IhFpRBxdq8M/Uw9mggp34NI/AAAAAAAABJg/wBpht2FyWzo/s1600/IMG-20140226-00101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IhFpRBxdq8M/Uw9mggp34NI/AAAAAAAABJg/wBpht2FyWzo/s1600/IMG-20140226-00101.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's awesome to have such a great team mate and riding
partner! </div>
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That’s how we roll on the Design Physics Racing team.</div>
Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025961232816713886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-36283324077835255722014-02-26T12:42:00.000-05:002014-02-26T12:42:34.200-05:00Tuesday's Poor Farm BTSI keep hoping to be surprised and see someone on the team show up at the parking lot, but alas, the lot was empty. I admit as usual I did not want to ride at lunch, 37 degrees and gray, it just felt cold. But also as usual, after I warmed up I had a fun time and was glad I did it. Got in exactly an hour of riding. The trails were in great condition except the bottoms which are still a very soggy mess and so were avoided. I had to go look at the river though.<br />
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Sonya Richesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18435798200770464969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-82318486039748195382014-02-21T16:19:00.003-05:002014-02-21T16:19:58.753-05:00The KID holding you down...Felt bad for Plassmido & Toddy G so I only took away 1 point for each mile Mason rode last week. For this week I will limit it to to only the top placed rider in the BTS...<br />
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Got out again with Roger on Thursday and had another great ride. Sweet 25 mile loop with a nasty headwind had us limping home. I did save enough to attack on the last hill up into Rocketts. Good times!Jason Hopkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17712736062394080735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-64782876924702452362014-02-20T15:36:00.002-05:002014-02-20T15:36:54.339-05:00BTS#21 Is it spring yet?<div class="MsoNormal">
Todd and I met up at West Creek and it was
uncharacteristically pleasant... No ice, no snow (on the road) and temps about
60F!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I reflected on how much easier it was to get ready for a
ride when you don't have to put on layer after layer. No toe warmers to fuss
with and I did not mind getting dressed outside of the car. It's been a while
since I could basically just get on my bike and go, and that felt great!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The weather was nice enough that bats were out and one in
particular seemed to be following just overhead of me. That's weird because
bats usually fly around like huge moths on crack darting around nonexistent
light posts. This one was odd, flying basically in a straight line with me.
Maybe it's the high pitch squeals and noises emanating from my neglected derailleur
pulleys...<o:p></o:p></div>
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West creek had it's typical pockets of warm and cold air and
it felt nice to work up a sweat.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I pulled us around and played a little cat and mouse with a
fellow rolling on a time trail bike. We caught up with him for a bit, and then
he lit it up and pulled out sight. Seemed like he got on 288!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Towards the end of lap five I had some good burn going on in
my quads and we finished out a solid set of laps. Back at the cars I noticed
how the parking area was still surrounded by gravel encrusted icebergs left by
snow plows almost a week ago. </div>
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Is it spring yet?</div>
Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16025961232816713886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7252045896184626009.post-12985495817394691952014-02-18T17:06:00.002-05:002014-02-18T17:06:46.038-05:00Weekly Poor Farm BTSThe woods in Ashland are still covered with snow, so to protect the trails today's BTS ride was again a Hanover Country road ride. I did a 24 mile loop, but this time routed it through some major hills. Included were Fire Training Hill (on Winston Road, which borders Poor Farm Park), and one of the 3 sisters (the notorious 3 big hills just leaving Ashland on Blunts Bridge Road).<br />
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Well it wasn't below freezing today, but the wind was incredible! In a cross wind I had to lean to the side to prevent from being blown over. I (luckily) started out in a headwind so could finish in a tailwind. It's interesting how psychological training/riding is- in the headwind I was feeling dark thoughts about Monster Cross this weekend, wondering if I am ready, why do I race, etc., then in the tailwind I felt so strong I had thoughts of "Man, I should have registered for the full 50 miles instead of the 22 mile Mini-Monster".<br />
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The point-requisite photo below. Yes, I'm hiding behind my Jeep- I didn't want the Town of Ashland employees next door to think I'm vain...<br />
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Sonya Richesonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18435798200770464969noreply@blogger.com0