Here are some cool sites that I have been keeping track of:
this one
this one
this one
scott jurek
wasatch range

This Christmas I totally racked up on coffee products. There will be no shortage of coffee for awhile. My parents hooked me up with the above product. Made by Cuisinart. It grinds my beans right before brewing, hells yeah! My wife and I have been using the same coffee pot since we been married, almost 3 years and it was time for an upgrade. It makes great coffee. I am stoked.

As for sport I was able to get at least 2 easy hours in yesterday. I rode the hardtail with slicks on focusing spinning my legs out and keeping the heartrate down. If any of you have noticed I change my schedule more than a prostitute changes clients but I think I have figured it out. I definetly want to push the limits this year with some distance. I am not saying that I am strictly on this schedule, if another event throughout the years strikes my fancy then I will do it. The cohutta 100 is definetly going to happen. Check out the profile. I don't know how I am going to train for this but I am going to make it happen somehow. Anyone up for the challenge.

I would also like to try some long trail run events as well. But we will see. If for some reason after Cohutta if I can't fit some good rides in I will definetly throw in more running than what I am doing now. Speaking of trail running I will be out at the Pig tomorrow morning running 7 miles on the singletrack with my brother. It should be fun. I have found if I throw in some fun runs during the week it really helps keep me fresh so I don't get sick of training on the bike so much.

Next post will be going over some of the new Fisher products that I am pumped about for 2008 and what will I be running for the upcoming season. Also how will I train for the Cohutta, I will explain next time on BBandB.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A FUN AND SAFE HOLIDAY!

BEANS AND A GOOD READ

Its been awhile. I apologize. I have been busy and sick as of lately. Two things that I want to bring up.

One, I tried out some new coffee that one of my friends, Chris bought me. It is from Ravens Brew. I am drinking a cup right now. I have to say it is one of the best cups of coffee I have had out of my coffee pot in a long time. Here is a little description(its cracks me up every time) of the coffee:

"Got Goat? Get it! One of our three most popular selections by professional baristas. Velvety mouthfeel and superb body. Uncanny high notes of fruity sweetness on top of a dry-chocolatey flavor base. Explore the exotic effulgences of Arabia and the spicy redolences of India as you stroll your palate through fields of wild flowers and citrus groves. An epiphanous panoply of flavor in liquid-jewel form. Crudely named, but aptly famed. Also available in Certified Organic form. Dark Roast."

"A brew that is too placid
may leave a billy flaccid.
But three willies on a billy,
is that too many for a nanny?
If not, then your billy should sup
from the cup that keeps him up.
So fill his cup or apply as a lotion,
then enjoy his three-stroke motion."

At least I thought it was funny.


The other thing I wanted to talk about was what I saw this morning on TV. Most people don't know that I read a lot. I am always on the lookout for the next great read. I am not one of those people that can read a book in one or two afternoons. It takes me awhile to read one. I only read right before bed time to help me go to sleep so it takes me a while to read an entire book. I don't like fiction books, what I really like is books about people and how something has helped change their lives or something to do with the wilderness or cycling/running. Well my wife and I watch CBS News Sunday Morning every week and this weekend they had a story about Michael Gill and how Starbucks saved his life. It looks like a good read. I have to wait and see what book or books I get for the holidays and decide when I want to purchase it.

3 Hour Dauset Ride

Chris, Rick, and I met at Dauset on Sunday and rode for 3 hours. The weather was unbelievable for this time of year. I had a few objectives during this ride that were pre-thought and then some other things just popped into my head while riding awesome singletrack in great weather. This ride just reassured me of how much I love this sport of mountain biking. It seems like whenever I get burnt out on something I always seem to come back to it and once again mountain biking accepts me.

Objective 1: Test out the Ergon BD2
Objective 2: Test out the Shimano M182 shoes
Objective 3: Get 3 hours of base riding in, no hard efforts

The Ergon BD2 pack when above and beyond my expectations. For some reason every product from Ergon does that. I love the fact that it doesn't come with a hydration bladder. (some folks don't seem to like that based on price point) I like it because it allows you use any hydration system on the market. I found that it seems to have infinite space for items. (tubes, vests, food, tools, etc.) Once I filled it with everything I would need for the ride it seemed to be really heavy but once I put it on my back and started riding I forgot all about it, amazing! When I had my head pointing down the trail during descents it didn't hit my helmet. B/c of the adjustments that it has you can lower or raise the pack based on your back lenght so it will fit a wide range of people. Probably one of the best things about this pack though would have to be the breath ability. Air flow between your back is not a problem.
I will not be using it during XC style racing but if I venture into some endurance events or for my long training rides even on the rode it will be on my back. For reviews will come as I use it more.

Objective 2 was to try out the Shimano M182 shoes. I have wearing SIDI dominators since the summer of 2004. Simply put, I love the shoes. They have a totally different last than SIDI. I had no problems transitioning over to them. Right out of the box they fit perfect, no complaints.

Objective 3 was easy to meet. Get 3 hours of base riding in with no hard efforts. Objective accomplished.

The unthinkable

So I am going to do something that I said I would NEVER do. I am going tubeless. After doing some research and talking to my co-worker Jesse I have come up with this combonation.
Bontrager Race Disc TLR (tubeless ready)
Bontrager Revolt Super X (yes i know, they are not Maxxis Ignitors, very similiar though)
Bontrager Super Juice

This is why I am going Bontrager all the way.
"ontrager's Tubeless Ready Technology ways on average 100 grams per tire in weight. Standard tubeless tires are heavy due to extra butyl rubber sidewalls to seal in air and prevent punctures. Tubeless Ready tires remove the heavy liner of butyl rubber and instead use Bontrager's Super Juice to seal the tire. This thin, glycol based sealant won't clump up or "cure" quickly like other sealants. Its thinner viscosity also does a better job of coating the inner surface of the tire.

Why tubeless ready technology? It provides riders the benefits of tubeless tires. That includes impoved traction through lower air pressure and elimination of pinch flats.

Bontrager Super Juice vs. latex based sealants
Latex sealant is puncture protection while Bontrager Super Juice creats a tubeless seal.
An ammonia based latex sealant allows riders to run tubeless and will protect against punctures. However, it's not an integrated tubeless system and there's a possiblity the seal between the rim and tire will "burp" and let out air. To compensate for this, riders may need to run slightly higher air pressure to prevent "burping" and negate some of the benefit of a tubeless setup. In addition, setting up aube with a latex sealant can be a messy affair, especially if the wheel blows off with the latex sealant in the tire.

Bontrager's Tubeless Ready system incorporates the tire, the rim, the rim strip and Super Juice to create a secure seal. Super Joice is a thinner glycol sealant that better coats the interior of the tire. It creates a secure seal between the tire and rim and coats the inner casing to prevent any air from seeping through the sidewalls. Super Juice will seal small punctures as well, however, there's a limit to the size of the puncture Super Juice will seal."

This was all taken from Bontragers readings.

More upgrades to come as well as photos.

Greg was on his morning commute and some person who didn't yield for the bike lane ran him over. Luckily Greg is okay, just some big bumps and bruises. He cracked his helmet, fork, stem, and bent up his front wheel. I have not checked out his frame yet. I will let you know. Good thing he was wearing his helmet. He had lights on the front and rear as well.

I have stuff for sale. Check here for details.

And here.

This is the route my brother and I plan on doing tomorrow morning to get in an easy 6 miles. Super easy and flat.

I wonder if he is on Slipstream this year.

I rode out at the pig trails this morning with a group of about 10 or so.

This guy rocks! I have read a ton of articles on him.

I went on the local WBL ride today. It was a bit cold this morning but my body began to warm up thanks to The Bike Store's new kit. I also purchased one of the Craft WS baselayers.



I think the ride was around 55ish miles with a 10 mile attack zone. Go to the local WBL site to check things out. I can tell I don't have any endurance b/c of specific training for cross. I was dropped not even half way through the 10 mile attack zone at the end of the ride.

As of right now I am 10th overall in the state with two remaining races for the Georgia series.

I have finalized my 2008 schedule or at least the major events. I don't have the exact dates for my small events just b/c its hard to find them for 2008 yet. I will post it all tomorrow for your viewing pleasure.

Sneak Peek:
Here our the shoes I have ordered to start my 2008 bid for my main event.

I finished with no mechanicals! I placed either 7th or 8th. Gearing up for next weekends state champs in Augusta. Race report soon to follow.

Tuesday night, it was a cold one!


Thursday evenings ride.



Thursday was a long 45 minute TT ride.

I ran this morning. Legs felt good.

Race schedule is going to be posted by this weekend along with sponsors, wait I am not sponsored, oh well.

Brady and Chance stopped by from Blue Competition Cycles today. Great lineup for 2008.

The RC8 as shown has full carbon dropouts. More specs to come. I supplied pictures for your bike porn viewing pleasure.

Good warm up


The Pro12 field. Tim Barrett leading all day with the chase group a ways behind.


Well today was another mechanical. Lets recap shall we. Conyers, crank breaks off spindle, Ft. Yargo, could not attend due to death in family, and Monroe, front derailleur slips into big ring of crank (Dave from Thomson and I could only figure I must of hit it with my right foot while remounting the bicycle. It happened on the second lap after passing the pits so I had to wait until I rode past it again later in the lap to switch to my hardtail. So while I was trying to stay composed I also had to keep everyone in site. Well that didn't happen. So I decided I would keep racing but pretty much all by myself in the back. I did eventually pass some people.

All in all it certainly does suck but stuff like that you really can't help. If it was something I could have prevented with normal maintenance its one thing but these two mechanicals just popped up. My last mechanical before this season was back in 2002 when my handlebar broke. 3 mechanicals/freak accidents in about 6 years, not bad. I will keep trucking and push on towards Macons race this weekend coming up.

I also have to start getting ready for a half marathon coming up in January. I will just start adding more running into my schedule. I just want to finish around 1:34 which is about 7:10 per mile pace.

Speaking of running the olympic trials for the marathon were held in NYC this weekend. My man Ryan Hall won, Dathan Ritzenhein and the hard working Brian Sell placed behind to finish up the top 3. They will represent the USA in the upcoming olympics next year. Ryan broke 2:10, sub 5:00 mile pace. Check out some interviews at Flocasts.

This morning was cold enough that I had to pull out the new team winter jacket. It was almost to warm. Chris and I did a warm up, 3 moderate intervals, 2 stomp intervals, and then a cool down. Just enough to get my legs ready for tomorrow.

Bike is dialed in and ready to go.

The race is in Monroe, Iplaced 7th last year at this course. We will see how it goes.

Pictures from last nights ride with my dad. I threw in some intervals to wake the legs up. I felt pretty good.

Cross race on Sunday, more intervals tomorrow morning with Chris.

Pictures from the Ergon pack will be up hopefully by tomorrow's mid-day. The family is headed to the Sweetwater festival tomorrow for the day. It should be fun. I don't get many Saturdays off.

I will also be posting full photos/specs of my cross bike.

It will be here tomorrow. Reviews will be coming soon.

Brief overview of cross series so far:

Oct 21: mechanical, DNF
Oct 28: death in family, could not attend.

So as of right now I do not have any points. So from here on out I will be racing my balls off.

I will releasing my 2008 schedule by the end of this week. I am still working on some minor details.