Finaly got the OMBA Kit orders Processed today. Now its just a waiting game til late April. Got in my weight Training tonight. 3 Sets of Curls, upright rows, and military presses. I also did a moderate ride on the stationary bike for an hour Then stretched for 30 min. My Knees are just a little sore from the epic road ride I did over the past weekend and I really did not want to aggervate them too much. I know a lot of people right now with knee problems from cycling so I want to make sure I take care of mine.

Cassidy and I are all set to run in the 24th annual GIECO 5k this Saturday. Well I say run, but I'm sure she will do her best to run as much as she can. We are going to have fun and thats what matters. She has a good pair of Nike Running shoes that I got her a few months back. My running shoes are all wore out. I'm about to order some Puma TrailFox Shoes. I'll need them for training and competing in the Xterra Off-Road Triathalon on Saturday April 28th at Fort Yargo State Park. I made reservations today in Winder, GA at the Jameson Inn for that weekend. There also is a Georgia State Championship Mountain Bike race that Sunday on the same course and if I feel up to it I may do it as well.

PUMA TrailFox

I had an overly busy week last week. With work and trying to finalize the OMBA Kit orders. I only got to ride the Stationary Bike one night for an hour. I've slacked on my Strength Training this past week as well. I have to get back to it. I started taking a Creatine Supplement everyday. I will continue that until early summer.

Today I got an Early Start meeting Some Folks at Cracker Barrell in Perry at 6am. We were gathering to cravan over to Cochran for Biking Bleckley. A recreational road ride put on by the Cochran-Bleckley Chamber of Commerce. I had a few things to do when I got to the Bleckley County court house for the start. By the Time I got registered and used the bathroom and got over to the start the Metric Group was leaving allready, before the 8:30am start time. I did not get any pictures of the mass start. I just hung on the back of Shane, Diana, and Ralph for about a mile before they dropped me. I didn't want to start out too fast and blow up. I new I had a LONG way to go. I stuck with my proven regamine of a Power Gel pack every 30 minutes and drinking Perpetum as well as sipping on Plain water. I was drinking too much cause I had to stop on the side of the road 3 times to relieve myself. Ok, I know TMI. The roads were clear and not any traffic. There were Police at most of the intersections during the first half of the ride. I just enjoyed the Scenery and tried to keep a good pace spinning in an easy gear. At half way I ate a PowerBar protien bar and a banana. I knew I needed somthing other than gel-packs and perpetuem. At the 50 mile cut off I noticed I was all alone. I did not see anyone after that. Finally a SAG truck pulled up beside me and said "You are the last one". Great, LAST as usual. I didn't let it bother me and just enjoyed the rest of my ride. I entered the "Twighlight Zone" at the last two rest stops. There were tables with water, cookies and stuff laying around but not a soul to be found, nobody. It was wierd. And by that time the wind was really gusting. I had to pedal down hill the wind was soo strong. I caught myself saying (outloud), "I love Wind", "Bring on the Wind", "Wind is my Middle name". I'm sure I was delirious. All in all a Great ride and good training for me.

Still trying to recover from the weekend of riding down in Reddick, FL at the 12 Hours of RazorBack. Mark D, Beth Mac and I left Perry last Friday, right on time at 9:30am. We made good time getting down to Razorback only stopping at the Florida Welcome center and Steak and Shake. Monte was already there when we arrived. We got ready and set out for a pre-ride lap. Beth was not sure if she was going to race the next day, she wanted to see how the pre-ride lap went before she made her decision. All I will say is, "She did not race". I fell in love with the place right off the bat. Very technical climbs and downhills with fast flowy rolling trails in between. Plus the fact that its in Central Florida, one of my most favorite places to visit. After grinning all the way through the Pre-ride we registered and then bolted to Santos to set up camp. We got there with just enough time to set up before dark. We went and ate at Pasta fair in Bellview, FL and it was delicious as usual. We got back to camp and I had to make some minor adjustments to my seat and front deraileur. I had just put a new chain and derailuer pulleys on the night before so the Pre-ride was the only miles I had on them. I wanted to make sure everything was tight.

Race mornin we woke up to 22 degrees! I got up about 6:45am got the fire going then the coffee brewing. I wore shorts, 1 short sleeve t-shirt, under a long sleeve shirt, under my Maxxis Jersey. Of course I wore PUMA socks, and my PUMA trail running shoes to race in. We ate at BK on the way to RazorBack and the Pit area. Beth was to be the pit master for "Team Collard Green" made up of Monte, MarkD, + Mike and Kevin from Jacksonville, FL. There team would be racing against Sport and Expert teams. I set up my chair along the course not far before the start finish. I had plenty of Perpetuem and Power Gels. There was a prologue run at the start about a quarter of a mile. I got to my bike about mid pack of the runners. It was stacked up for the first mile and had to wait inline to go through some tight sections. After everyone spread out I set into a good steady pace and just had a good time riding. I drank a whole water bottle of Perpetuem each 10 mile lap and ate two Power Gels, also sipped plain water as I went along from my Camel bak. I had left my whole tool kit back at the camp from working on my bike the night before. Knowing I had just put that chain and pulleys on, I had no way of fixing any mechanicals. I did have a Pump and tubes. I did not worry about it, I thought to myself every things gonna be fine and that shimano XT chain is gonna hold, and it did, just like a champ. My bike was shifting crisp and clean the whole race. I felt great every lap, never cramped, I had to stop on the trail and pee one time so I knew I was staying hydrated. My back did not start hurting until after the race was over and I was sitting around the pits.

We did not get back to camp that night till 1:30am after eating at Waffle House on the way back. I used my Etrex Legend GPS to find us a Waffle House. It has points of interest loaded in the map. I just looked at what was on each exit of I-75 along the way back to camp and found one that had Waffle house listed. 441 is the road from Santos to RazorBack and it runs parallel to I-75 through Ocala, FL. Once back at Camp I went and took a HOT shower, as I came out of the shower it was pouring Rain! It didn't matter, I was soo exhausted I did not even care. I slept like a rock! No literally, a rock, because my air mattress would not hold air and I was laying on the hard ground. We had planned to get up Sunday and do a lap at Santos but since the Trail was wet we just packed up and Headed North. I great Weekend! I am looking forward to next years Race!

I registered for the RazorBack 12 Hour Race down in Reddick, FL on this comming Saturday. I'm doing the 6 hour solo option. Should be alot of Fun. My goal is 5 laps, ~50 miles. That is a mighty high goal! I'm taking Friday off and riding down with Mark D and Beth Mac. My girl friend has become sick with flu like symtoms so she will not be making the trip after all. The low temp down there Friday is suppose to be 28 degrees. That will make for some chilly camping.

I went by The Bike Store today and chatted with Charles. I bought a new XT 9 Speed Chain for $29.99 which I thought was a good price. I was just glad they had one in stock. I'm going to put it on as soon as I get my new derailur pulleys that I ordered from Cambria Bike. They should be here tomorrow. I screwed up the XTR chain I installed last month by putting links in and taking links out trying to get the length right. Every Time you push a pin in and out it weakins the chain. I'm going to lay this one next to the old chain I replaced last month so I know I will have the right length set before I install.

Attended the Central Georgia Cyclist meeting tonight. It was held at Prinnie Mack Coffee Shop. I had a Small Press of some delicious Sumatran. Yes thats right you can order your own press of coffee. The small I got was a little over $2. I made my order for a CGC jersey. I got an XL club cut. There are many different styles and Materials offered.

Got a wild hair today and wanted to ride. But with the rain we had the past couple of days I new the trails would be Too Wet. Decided I would pick a destination to ride to and eat a sandwich. The Public dock on Houston Lake. I threw the left over Subway sandwich into my camel bak, oiled up the chain and off I went. It has been years since I toured Houston County Roads on a moutain Bike. 12 years ago it was nuthin for me to ride to Perry in back. Well Times have changed! I didn't realize how much danger I was putting myself into. The ride to Houston Lake was not that bad, even riding on 247 for a short stint. But from Houston Lake home was a night mare. If you value your life, NEVER ride your bike down Lake Joy Road on a Saturday Afternoon!

GPS DATA of the Tour De Houston County

Today's Ride: Road - 36.04 mi, 3 hr 30 min, 11.8 mph avg

Got off work early yesterday to ride a few laps out at Thomosn before the OMBA Meeting. After my first lap Mark D showed up and I did a second lap with him. Few more fellas showed up for the third lap. Not far into the third lap my Chain Broke. I guess thats Karma. My chain breaking in front of five riders since I talked bad about Sram Chains and how good Shimano was on the OMBA Forum couple weeks ago. I thinks its beacuse I had to break this new chain more than once to get the length right. They say its weakest point is wear you break it and put it back together. I'll have to get it worked out before next week and 12 hours of RazorBack. My girlfriend Jill will be making the trip down to camp out and hang around wile I ride for 12 Hours.

We had a good OMBA meeting. Finally got the OMBA kits squared away and I am taking orders. I allready have almost 25 kits spoke for. I will be making the order as soon as enough people pay me to have Half of the total amount.

Spent almost the entire weekend out at ArrowHead Working on trail. Got there at 9:00 on Saturday to 28 Degreee temps. Warmed up quickly moving a shovel and rake around. Did a nice re-route amost "by the book" with Eddie W. in the afternoon. Back out Sunday mornin at 9:00 to haul rock and pea gravel up hill to finish off the re-route. We cut in some new trail that eliminates the pavement downhill. I am soooo sore all over. I put in a good 12 hours of hard labor over the weekend. Sorry no photos!

Renewed my USA MTB Cycling License (NORBA). $60.00 instead of paying $5.00 per sanctioned race for a one day license. I'll need this in a couple weeks for the 12 hours of RazorBack.

I also did my taxes on-line using Turbo Tax. I will have my return check before March!