More new things

Yes, some changes will be happening with the Jabberwocky in the near future.

1. I'm graduating from a 32 to a 34 front ring. Woohoo! I can play with the big girls now. We'll see how that goes this weekend. My legs are feeling quite good after this past weekend's race. I'm happy about that.

2. Thanks to my awesome sponsors I am, apparently, getting the last WTB Rocket V SLT in the universe...Yay me!! I've been riding and racing with a heavier version of the Rocket V, and I love it. Now, I'll be dropping some grams and gaining style points with my new white (yes, white) saddle. Can the Jabberwocky get any better looking???

I can't believe 24 hour Nationals is just around the next corner. I will be racing the Jabberwocky, but there is no SS-specific class at Nationals....so I will be racing with the super fast girls in the Womens Open Championship category...eek. Danielle Musto, Rebecca Rusch...probably Monique Sawicki, and some other local fast girls from WI. So, I guess I better go train. Bye.

10 minutes (Cowbell Challenge 12 hour report)

10 minutes..That's the time difference between 1st and 2nd place. The Cowbell Challenge 12 hour had a lot of really close races this time..no time to rest and take it easy for anyone.

There were four women signed up for the Womens Singlespeed class, and Rebecca Toma-wicki-wicki was there...fresh of Trans-Germany. She was on a 26" rigid SS with a bigger gear than mine. She knows this course way better than I do, so I knew she would be the main competition for the race. The entire race was spent with Rebecca and I anywhere between 30 seconds and 5 minutes apart..some laps she would lead, some laps I would lead. Somewhere around lap 5 or so, the heat started really getting to me and I was forced to slow a bit to curb my cramping toes and unsettled stomach. On one of the late afternoon laps, Rebecca came from behind, rode by me, and I knew I didn't have it in me to chase her down on that lap. Eventually, I caught up with her in the pits, and she rolled out on her last lap with lights about 45 seconds before I did. I knew it would be the last lap for both of us and I'd have to lay it all out to catch her..apparently Trans Germany was good for her leg strength! I kept seeing hints of her at various places on the trail and I would hammer up every hill I could...to the point that I really wanted to puke several times. I was envisioning the race turning into a sprint finish a la Danielle & Carey at Cohutta 100. As I hit the long steep "clay climb", I felt my cranks wobbling again...oh $hit! I knew what this meant. My crank bolt had come loose on the right side earlier in the day...now it was the left. I tried to squeak a couple more pedal strokes to get to a flat spot and WHAM..crank arm is off. I wanted to cry..scream..why me...but I didn't even have the energy. I peeled my pedal off my shoe and pulled out my tool. Soon after, it felt a little loose again so Taylor offered to tighten it as I really didn't have any energy. At this point in the game, I pretty much had resigned myself to 2nd place..there was no way I could make up that lost time as the last 3/4 of the course was not too hard and I was sure Rebecca could hammer it with her gearing. Eddie ended up catching me on a climb so I jumped on his wheel and he motivated me to finish strong. It was pretty cool that we got to cross the finish line together. I ended up in 2nd place by 10 minutes and 5th overall of the Women Solo racers...while I was happy with how I rode all day..I rolled with a bigger gear than I'm used to racing with (thanks Arleigh)...I was a little disappointed in how it turned out in the end. But, like I said, Rebecca is strong and completely deserved the win. It was SUPER cool that the Cowbell Challenge had equal payouts for all the solo categories, including Womens Singlespeed!!! What a nice surprise :-) Congrats to Eddie for also coming in 2nd in the Solo mens cat with some really tough competition.

Many many many thanks to the following:

Brandon, Tracey, and Lisa for their incredible support before, during, and after the race...a real kick ass pit crew!!

Arleigh for the mechanical support and for playing "surprise" hostess friday night for our large group of friends...you rock.

Taylor, Bart, and Connie of the Cowbell Challenge for putting on a stellar race at an awesome trail...and we really appreciate the equal payout..THANKS!!

Vassago Cycles for a bike that can ride beautifully through anything...even when I am dead tired. Thanks, also, to Misty who flew out from Cali to help support at the race!!

WTB for all their support..I am running the Exiwolf on the F and the Nanoraptor on the R..I have been for awhile now, and have had unbelievable traction on everything.

White Brothers for a fork that I am finally happy with :) Enough said.

Ergon for getting me the new gloves before the race. With those grips, I can still feel all of my fingers after racing 12 hours..that is sweet.

I don't have many pics so if anyone else has racing pics please email them to me!

Cowbell coming

Yes, it has been a rest week. The proof is in the dishwasher...only two bottles. Normally, this thing is full of bottles and we have to run the dishwasher every day. For all this rest, I actually don't feel that spunky. Not sure why...I've hardly ridden all week, maybe that's it. We are going to pre-ride the new race course tomorrow, so I'm crossing my fingers that I feel much better.



I'm really excited to try these out! They have been designed to work optimally with the Ergon grip..I think I will like them.



OK, that's the last post until after the race!

Twin Six R.O.O.T.M.

It's my turn.

hot hot heat

This past winter I said I wouldn't complain about the heat...and I'm not. It is probably going to be pretty steamy at the Cowbell 12 hour this weekend, but I've been training in the heat of the day so hopefully that helps me. I had a big week of riding, now I can rest some. I am too tired to type much more, so I'll just post a few pics now that Eddie found the usb cable.

This is how I feel right about now



Hot Breath Harry is anxious to get to the mountains



Bike, after a long day in the woods



Bike, after another long day in the woods. You'll notice the Ergons are finally back after a short hiatus. I got rid of that 200 lb. POS Flat top 9 bar and dug up a new old Easton carbon bar..took the Jones H-bars off (again). I like being able to feel my fingers again, that's pretty cool. The Ergon grips are here to stay now. I can deal with the carbon bar until I find a good deal on a Seven or Black Sheep Ti flatbar.



That's it. Congrats to my friend Danielle on her excellent race at Lumberjack 100!!

Ugh

I hate bad rides. I had one today, I was supposed to do some intervals...and I knew I was tired...so, I warmed up for 2 hours and saved the 3rd hour for intervals..hoping my legs would come around. Nope. I the harder I felt I was working, the lower my HR got. I called it a day early. I guess everyone is different, Eddie has been riding like an animal, but he doesn't seem to need the same recovery I do. Maybe it has something to do with him having negative % body fat. Ugh. Oh well, try again this weekend. Unfortunately, training is now restricted to "flat" terrain to prepare for 24 hour Nationals. I really miss the mountainous epics.

Bike is in the shop getting the rear brake bled in preparation for the big 12 hour next weekend. Looking forward to seeing many of you there.

P.S. Have you signed up for Fools Gold yet?

Kona Unit 2-9 frame and Reba fork for sale....deal!

Sorry to use this as an ad site, but I don't do it often.

Brand New, never ridden, 2007 Kona Unit 2-9 frame (18") + silver Reba Race 29 fork (just rebuilt) for sale: $400 for both, plus shipping from Atlanta, GA.

Post comment here or email info@55nineperformance.com if you are interested.

I still can't find my cable to upload pics, but like I said, the frame is new out of the box and the fork was just rebuilt. Everything is in working order. If you are local, you are welcome to come take a look.

Great pic

Here's Hodge sportin the "got banned" T before leaving for the GDR. The Great Divide Race starts this Friday. Pic courtesy of Trev Martin.

















My weekend was full of riding. I got to spend long hours in the mountains with my Jabberwocky. It was it's first time off the short XC courses and into epic ride territory...all set up with the White Bros fork and bigger gear. It did great. I have pics but can't seem to find the cable to upload. I guess it's time to clean the house.

I feel good

I got to ride the road bike yesterday, and I felt awesome...better than I did before the BURN 24 hour. How is that possible? Must be all the good-for-me stuff I ate last week ;) But, seriously, I've noticed a remarkable improvement in recovery time for me this year, due to the changes I've made in my nutritional regimen.

I'm putting the White Bros Magic 80 on this afternoon, and taking the Jabberwocky out for a little ride. Then, the plan is to try to meet Hodge aka velomech out for a beer before he departs on his adventure on the Great Divide. Joe from mtbcast.com will be going out there with him and will be posting updates so make sure you check that out.

No, really, it's time to start training again

Here's all the junk food I've eaten in the last week..at least what I can remember:

Taco Bell
Pizza--more times than I can count
Milkshake
Fries
Beer--too many to count
Wine--didn't keep track
Bags of cheddar and bbq mini rice cakes
Lots of brownies
Wedding cake
Mexican food--several times

I'm sure there is more, but I'd like to just forget about it :) It's a good thing that my metabolism has sped up a million % this year!

Hey, look what I just saw on the Vassago site....s w e e t. Hmm...I do need a backup bike....

It's good to be back in the South

I actually did miss it. There were too many mosquitos and funky plants that make me itch in Michigan. I did discover some of the local mtb trails, though, finally, and they were all pretty fun. Good recovery riding after the BURN 24 hour.

Now for some work...55nine site updating, and some much-needed Fools Gold related work..now that the BURN race is over. Stay tuned. I'll be back to training again this week. The next big one for me will be 24 Hour Nationals in Wausau, WI...another race that needs redemption. But, before that, is the Cowbell Challenge 12 Hour in Charlotte---good race! I know teamdicky must be getting ill by now with all this talk of lap racing. hehe.

Get your Pink Fat Cyclist Jersey

Twin Six is awesome. They are doing their part in the fight against cancer and have designed these sweet PINK Fat Cyclist Jerseys. There is a mens and womens version. Please buy one of these jerseys to support Susan, the Fat Cyclist's wife, in her battle against breast cancer. Proceeds go to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Oh, there are matching socks too. :-)