Off to the races...

It's always two days after a hard effort that I feel the most sore. In that case, I'm going to be definitely feeling it tomorrow...

It's cross season again, and I had my first race of the year on Sunday at BamaCross #1 at Avondale Park here in Birmingham. They held a race at this same park last year, and for the most part the course followed the same route. The few changes they did make made the race a lot tougher than it was last year (and it was already a plenty tough race). Last year it would be considered a "runner's" course, with 2 long and one short run up. This year, it was much more power oriented with the second long run up rerouted to be mostly rideable. A couple extra twists and an off camber section made this much more of a power course instead.

I did fairly well here last year, running right around the top 10 until I got a flat on the penultimate lap that left my bike hobbled and me doing a bit more running than I should have. I finished my last lap on my mountain bike to come in 20th out of 21 finishers. A little disappointing.

Let me just say, I don't think this course likes me. This year, I line up at the start about mid pack and held that position through most of the first lap. As we started toward the back half of the last lap, I realize my front tire is feeling a little low. Shortly after that, I realize that I have caught a flat again this year. Great...

As a side note, the tire that went flat was the one that I spent a few hours gluing onto the rim. One of the benefits is that they are supposedly less flat prone. I guess not for me today.

Now to add injury to insult, I get crashed into as I near the pit area to swap out my now flat front wheel for a spare. As I go sprawling into the dirt, I blurt out "Aww F#$%# Dude!" I'm not sure what I was more embarrassed about. Dropping the F Bomb was bad enough, but to punctuate it with the word "Dude" just added another level of lame. The result was a nice set of scrapes on my left arm and leg. As Morgan put it, "Daddy got a boo-boo."

Anyway, I make it to the pit, pull out the flat wheel and try putting the spare back onto the bike. I was wearing full fingered gloves, and every time I went to put the cable end into the brake arm, the fingertip of my glove kept jamming in the way. So, off comes the glove, the cable gets re-attached, the gloves go back on and I'm back out onto the course. Other than a few young juniors, I don't see anyone within eyeshot on the course. This isn't going to be fun.

Long story short, I end up spending the rest of the race trying to catch the tail end of the race to try to save something for the day. I end up passing a few people and finish up 23rd out of 28 in our class. Not exactly the result I was looking for, but I guess my results can only improve from here.

I was glad to have Samantha and Morgan out as my personal cheering squad. It was nice pick me up each lap to hearing them shouting encouragement as I went by. It was also fun catching up with some folks that I generally only see at races.

Two more weeks until the next race. Wish me luck!

Once more into the breach you hosers.....

Welcome the The Adventures of B!

Part of me can't believe I'm actually taking the time to do a blog. While the utility of blogging (updating friends and family on goings on in the world of B) has quite a bit of appeal, I've often wondered if blogging isn't just some latent form of exhibitionism ("Hey look at me! My life and thoughts are so interesting! Aren't I soooo special!"). Well, I guess I will just have to subject everyone who reads this to the inanity of my life. Actually, life ain't so bad...

The quote for the title, it comes from my friend's younger brother. If I remember correctly, he was reading a bit of Shakespeare at the time, and had just seen Strange Brew. Hence, the quote blending to two was born. Who says oil and water don' t mix? Thanks Philsy...