Devil's Backbone Mountain Cross - May 5, 2012

https://www.bikereg.com/Net/15411

I intend on hitting this race.  I got destroyed last year as I was not geared low enough to tackle the opening 3 mile 21% grade climb.  By mile 4, I knew I was toast.  Mile 27 I had both quads and thigh cramp simultaneously.  This was the worst pain I have felt in years.  I promptly exited the 49 mile race.

This year, there is a 27 mile route.  I plan on picking up this option.  Camping at the Crabtree Falls Campground makes for a well rounded weekend.

Anyone else going?


I mapped the first 27 on my garmin and saw Jimmy Miller right before I quit and passed off the GPS to finish marking the route.

Moonrise Kingdom

During my rides, I have all these ideas for posts-- by the time I get home, I've forgotten them all. This comes out May 25.

Featured: Meredith's Pisgah

Mr. Miller's previous post has got me thinking that it would be nice to see CHUNK team member's bikes featured here from time to time, accompanied with a little back story about both the rider and the bike. I think everyone locally knows this rider and his story, but if not, here's an excerpt from his website--

The Bike

There has been a lot of mention about my bikes and the fact that I want them hanging in our office. On October the 31st 2004 when I went over the handle bars in the Eastern Virginia Mountain Bike Challenge, my life as I knew it stopped. It wasn’t the bikes fault.

The previous five years that I was mountain biking I can honestly say that I don’t know of anything that I enjoyed more. I was in the best physical shape of my life. Riding on beautiful trails and enjoying nature was therapeutic as well as great physical exercise. I think its only fitting that I bring my bikes inside and restore them to a great working condition. And given the opportunity, I would throw my leg over my saddle, clip into my pedals and take off down a trail. Do I miss it, damn right! So at least I can think about it more positively. As in the “glass remains half full.”

Bike Porn!!!

Bike Porn!  We all love it!  We all wanna make it! 

Here are my babies after getting some love recently. 

Soma Groove - This one is my true baby.  21" Steel Hardtail, Fox Fork, CK Hubs and headset, XT/XTR drive train, Thomson stem and seatpost, and tons of fun. 

Scott CX Team - Sram Apex, Ultegra hubs and Alex rims.  Fun bike for most applications.

Trek 2.1 - Ultegra Group/ FSA crank.  Nothing too much out of the ordinary, but comfortable ride for true road riding.  (comfort is where the scott falls short on long road rides)

All three bikes match my Chunk Jersey about the same......

This photo was taken during the 'Lighter Knot' adventure race in Florida.  My teammate also rides a soma.  This was a shot of us at some point during the 8 hour race.  (time split trekking, canoeing, and biking)

Post race muck.

Who can forget the billy cross???

Chunk debunks shrinkage

While visiting family up in Northern Virginia a couple weekends ago I had the luxury of getting out for a nice Sunday morning ride. Weatherman had my back as the high was to be in the mid 50's, alas that was afternoon high. Tartar sauce!

After careful embrocation calculation and selection of my favorite red argyle socks I set outside to get ready for the blast that would be with me for the next hour or more. TV says it's 45 out, it's all good.

If ever a ginormous ball of flame could be a good thing, today was that day! The sun beamed brightly and my wiener wanted to get in on some of the action!



Have a great day peeps

3 shops in one weekend deserving of some love...

Kudos #1

East Coast Bicycles and Tripper.
Rob absolutely helped me transform both an under achieving Trek Road Bike and a Scott CX Team bike into better machines by tuning my equipment after a component swap.  My Scott was ultegra and geared too high for the Devil's Backbone Mountain Cross last fall.  Also, I found the gearing to not be optimal in Robert Maye's backyard for Billycross this year.  Equally disappointing was my Trek 2.1 Apex.  For an incredibly comfortable road bike, it was gear entirely too low and left tons of holes in the gear ratios to enjoy a lengthy road ride. 

Answer:  Swap drive trains.
Better Answer: Swap Drive trains and let Tripper rub his hocus pocus on the machines.

In the end, I have two bikes that perform better and more faith in a mechanic I have trusted for years...  And a sidenote... I saw a chunk racing bike in as well....


Kudos #2

Fat Frogs Chesapeake and Ben Nippert.
I took the Trek out for a shakedown this morning with Steve Forss from Fat Frogs.  We did the normal Fat Frogs 21 mile loop.  At mile 10.2 - I shifted on a loaded drive train and the chain started hopping on the cassette.  Pulled of the road to inspect... the inner plate on a chain ride had popped off.  Called Ben at the shop and asked if he could possibly run me out a master link and chain tool (I know, I was not prepared) and he did.  I repaired the ailing chain on the side of the road and finished my ride.  When I got back to the car (parked in front of Fat Frogs) I walked inside to thank Ben again and pay him for the link and effort.  He was more than generous and told me to not worry about it.  I know he is a coffee drinker, so i snagged a coffee for him, Walter and myself.  A fantastic show of rider support!

Kudos #3

Conte's Bike and Fitness (and Daniel just because he is entertaining)
They are blowing out old winter gear 75% off.  I snagged 4 long sleeve jerseys a rain jacket, a hat for Megan, arm warmers and knee warmers for $125.  An absolute steal!

-----------------------

On my ride today I did sport Chunk colors.
I intend to do the same on May 5th when I hit up the Devil's Backbone Mountain Cross again.
Lastly, looking to do a Bandito Burritos Century this Spring/Summer.  If interested let me know.  Should be a chill ride on Sunday from Jamestown to Richmond for beer and burritos & back.



Miller

Riding On My Bicycle

So, after a half-assed search, it looks like I've misplaced my copy of Life's Too Good-- actually I've found the case, but no disc. It's probably doubled up with another cd I had in the car around the time of it's alleged disappearance. Anyway, while waiting for Chuck's post about cold weather riding and shrinkage, I thought I'd throw this video up here as some visual filler-- Not only does it offer everything I could possibly want in a music video, it also features one of the coolest cycling jerseys I've ever seen. If you are cruising the ebay late at night and happen upon a Vibor team jersey, size 3/medium, please let me know IMMEDIATELY!
   
     While I'm on the subject of jerseys, you should know that we are doing a second run of the CHUNK kit. Order deadline is April 15, so let me know if you are interested.