As we all now by now the 18 hour race was canceled due to major storm damage earlier in the week of the race. It has now been rescheduled for November 17-18. That same weekend, is the VA State Cyclocross Championship in VA Beach. I really enjoyed that event last year as well even though it is very clear to me that short races like cross racing I do not excel at.

Would have been a tough decision to make had I been forced to make one but luckily I'm not. I will be arriving back home late that Sunday from my trip out west to visit my lil sis! I am super excited about this trip. I know for a fact I will be taking the road bike with me but may also end up taking the Carver as well. We will see!

Since my schedule isn't going to be too Cross friendly this year, I have decided to put my training efforts for the next few months onto longer rides. The 24 hours of Sebring looks to be my next big race, also the first of next year, and I want to do better than this year. Actually riding the bike more than once a week like I was before the event this year, will be a good first step. I think?

Chris has been trying to get down his way for a trip around his new favorite loop through Southern Chesterfield for awhile now. Finally got the schedules matched up and planned on meeting up with him on Friday evening. On the ride back to get my car from Jenn's place after work I started to get a ridiculous vibration in my left pedal. Limp it back to the car and take a look at it. Crank arm has come loose.

Threw the bike on top of the car and call Chris. "On my way, I will need an 8mm wrench when I get there." Arrive at Chris', throw the bike up on the stand, insert said wrench into bolt. The bolt has no head. Argg! Ride is called off.

Call around on Saturday morning looking for a new one. Thinking Ben at 3 Sports would be the only place who would have one in stock he was the first I called. "Yup! I've got one." Great! Headed over there during my lunch break and picked it up. The Felt is back up and running! Going to give the loop another try tomorrow night. Looking forward to it!

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Jenn has expressed some interest in road riding. Decided to tear down the Cross bike and build up a bike for her. It is coming along great and I am excited because she seems very excited. The last pieces of the puzzle will be arriving this week and I will be able to get her out on the road.

Cannot wait to get this bike complete. What is it about building bikes from scratch attracts me so much? Light frame with 105 shifters, Ultegra front and rear and FSA carbon cranks. NICE!

His and Hers

His and Her's

More to come ......

Mother Nature, I'm mad at you!

Unfortunately, someone really pissed off Mother Nature here in the Central Va area and she through back the ultimate F-U! Storm damage has left many of the local trail systems closed until cleanup crews can get to them. Goochland where the Scout Camp is located, took a tremendous hit and has forced the cancellation of the 18 hour race this weekend. Bummed to say the least.

Spent the day yesterday mooping around the store while trying to figure out how I wanted to spend my now free three day weekend. Looks like a day full of history lessons while visiting Colonial Williamsburg. Might try to grab a wheel or two tomorrow morning on the Powhatan Courthouse ride in the morning.

18 Hr Prep

Met up with the other members of Yoda-Llama's Juicy Sin last night for a short night ride at an undisclosed location. Not really sure where I was when they finally took the black bag off my head but was glad to be out on the bike.

I was hoping for a relaxed pace with a few hard pushes to test the limits of the lights. If they were relaxed, someone is in trouble because they were ridiculous quick. Not sure if Llama could see Yoda or Sin but at times I was having trouble keeping Llama in sight myself. Not sure how Yoda didn't see that one thorn along the trail that reached out and bit his rear with that bright a$$ light he was using but it provided a great photo op.

That will probably be my last day on the bike until Saturday. Which is probably what my body needs as it tries to fight off this head cold.

On a side note, I will have some pics of the Hilbert Race up in the gallery probably tomorrow. There are some pictures of others, aka Scott Davis and Jared.

Hilbert Race Short Story

Took part in the 3rd Hilbert race this afternoon. With the 18 hour race just a week away I decided to run in the SS class once again. It is becoming more and more apparent to me that the shorter the race the more I suck.

Much to the dismay of the new Carver, my legs were nonexistant until the end of the second of the three laps. That is when the Carver showed me what it really had in it. The legs began to cooperate with the rest of my body and I began to reel the leaders back in. I was able to pass the second place rider and pulled the leader back to what I think is probably in the 30-35 second range. (Offical times will be up tomorrow I think)

The Carver was amazing especially once I was able to truly put the hammer down. I cannot sing my praises for it loud or often enough. The machine is simply amazing!

I will have pictures of the race up later this week. Until then I will be laying low all week as to save my legs for this weekend.

3 in 3

Made it out to PSP once again this afternoon for the third time in three days. The heat has been slightly ridiculous all week and I really began to feel it today even though today was the coolest of the three days.

All three days have been on the Carver and now that I have some decent miles on it I have to say I absolutely love the ride. I was a bit worried the ride would be a rough, mouthpiece requiring ride when I made the decision to run it with the Origin 8 carbon fork but quickly became elated to find that the bike does not beat me up at all. In fact I feel as if I feel less fatigue than I did on the BUSS or Turner.

The combination of the carbon fork and 29" wheel really makes the bike float over everything big and small. My forearms and shoulders are less tired at the end of the ride and I have to give the credit to the light front end. The fork itself weighs in in the sub 800 gram class. Total bike weight is 19.1 lbs. This bike's climbing ability is borderline unfair. It just shits and gets up the climbs.

The true test will be this coming Sunday at the Camp Hilbert race (which I forget to pre-reg for). Hilbert has always really beat me up. Lots and lots of big roots. Going to be running the SS class once again. With that being said, I am going to take tomorrow off and hydrate well so I will be ready for Sunday.

Thanks again to Davis Carver of Carver bikes and Bikeman.com for hooking me up with such a great ride! I'm in love!

Carver 96er

All the pieces to the puzzle have been put together and I have to say this is one sweet ride. Have about 20 miles on her so far. Smooth and fast are the only two words that come to mind. Now only if the engine was strong enough to push it to the limits. Thanks goes out to Davis Carver of Carver bikes and to John Gonyo for selling me his Paul hubs. A more in depth review of the ride coming up after a few more rides. But for now here are some photos for your drooling pleasures.

Now you know