There will be a LARGE Trail Work Party this Saturday out at the Thomson Factory. We will be re-routing trail and various other task that need to be addressed. A Pizza Lunch will be provided by Mark D. I'm planning to bring a Cooler full of drinks for everyone. This is not only in preperation for the upcoming Thomson Apreciation Day happening in January but because the Thomson Trail needs some attention. It has been there since the early 90's and has had major traffic all of those years. So if you presently ride Thomson or haven't been there in a while, do your part and come help. We will get started at 9:00 am sharp.

I started some indoor training tonight. I set up a work out station in my garage. I have a curl bar and a stationary bike so far. I've been reading up on weight training and its benifits in mountain biking and injury prevention.

Today's work-Out: Curls 3 sets-10, UpRight row 3 sets-10, military press 3 sets-10, all w/55lbs, Stationary Bike-30min, body weight 209lbs

We made it home safe from our weekend in Charelston, SC. We stayed at the Country Inn & Suites near the NorthWood Mall in North Charleston. We visited the Historic Charles Towne Landing. We strolled down bustling King Street in down town Charleston and visited the PUMA Store. It was a Tax free Weekend in Charleston so people were out shopping everywhere. Saturday Night we ate at California Dreaming. Then we went and looked at Christmas lights on James Island during the Festival of Lights. Sunday on the way home we stopped off at Edisto Beach off of HWY 17 in SC.

Commuted to work yesterday. It was a chilly 38 degrees in the morning. The ride home was tough with wind gust up to 29 mph. My avg mph on the way to work was 14.7 but by the time I made the commute home it dropped to 12.2. The worst part was my drive train skiping. I have ~1000 miles on that cog and chain and its worn out. It slips when I really crank down on it. Every time it happens I slam my knee into the handlebar, OUCH! It started doing this during the race at SANTOS over the weekend. I guess its time to get a new drive train. I'll still be going with all XT 9 speed.

I'm heading up to Charleston, SC this weekend and won't be back till Sunday evening. I'll miss all the group riding over the weekend. Hope everyone has a safe Thanksgiving, don't eat too much!

Yesteday's Total Commute: 15.8 miles, 1 hr 17 min, 12.2 avg mph

Enjoyed a nice weekend in Sunny Florida. Mark D and I left Saturday Afternoon for SANTOS Trails in Belleview, FL. Before we left I noticed some Blisters on his rear Maxxis Crossmark Tires. Apparently you can't use tire sealant with all tires. He called down to the Santos Trailhead Bike store to see if they had some to replace them and they did. 3.5 hours later we were there. We made the trip down without stopping. He picked up some Tubeless Specialized Pro Resolution 2.0. He uses Stan's Sealant along with them. After checking in at the Santos Trail Head Campground we went for a quick Pre Ride. I was amazed at how technical the Santos Trail really was. The "John Brown" section put the FU in FUN. It was knarsty! I wanted to stop and take more Photo's of the trail but we were running out of daylight and wanted to get back to set up camp. I had brought a couple of fire logs but we needed some real fire wood, There was a dude selling Fire Wood so if your ever down there camping and need "Wood" just give him a call and he'll deliver right to your site. Ronnie FULLWOOD 352-328-4761. The temp got down to 36 F overnight but I was warm and cozy in my Tent.

After setting up camp we went and ate some great food at the "Pasta Faire" in Belleview. I would highly Recommend it if your ever there. Ask For Debbie She was our server and gave us excellent service. I had the "Italian Ride of your Life" its a Ravioli, chicken parmesan, lasagna, and Italian sausage. Also a salad with Raspberry vinaigrette dressing plus all the "Wood Fire Oven" Baked bread you could eat. For dessert Mark had the Strawberry Cheesecake and I had a fine cup of Coffee.

I woke to a chilly mornin and quickly started a fire. Wile the fire was getting going I went and took a nice HOT shower. Mark was nice enough to get up early enough to take me over to Burger King for a cup of Coffee before my 9:30 race start. The Start was a Short sprint to the single track. I actually beat a couple guys there but backed off and let them through. I didn't want to fight them through the narrow opening. I was able to stay right behind the pack through the beginning big ring fast section. But eventually got dropped. I ended up passing one guy in my class at the top of Magic Mountain. He and I rode most of the second lap together. Then he passed me going over the big rock garden and I never caught back up. I finished 25th of 26. It took me approx 2 hrs 45 min. I say approx because they didn't score my last lap! I was listed as DNF on the results board but written below was "#335 finished". The same thing happened at the Jacksonville Race so I did not think anything of it. Well when the results were posted today on-line I was listed as DNF. I e-mailed David Berger of Gone Riding and he straightened everything out. Class Act! As for Mark D's race he placed 5th in Clydesdale and got some cool schwag like a 25 Years of Mountain Bike by Specialized Book.

We stopped in Ocala, FL on the way out and ate at Don Pancho's Mexical Resturant. I had Chili rellanos with rice and beans along with homemade tortillias. Mark asked me to drive cause he was droopy eyed. He slept til just below Valdosta. He has GPS so he checked to see what my top speed was, 90.3mph BUSTED! I really wasn't going that fast the whole time I think I got up to that speed when I was trying to pass some one on the right. Mabey I was just still in RACE mode.......

PHOTOS

RESULTS

The IMBA Trail Care Crew's visit to Macon over the weekend happened without a hitch. We had more people than I had expected show up. I got off work early Friday to help David W. and Mark D. set up. Thanks to David W. we were able to use a vacant bank lobby to hold our event. It was a neat venue, we were set up right in front of the teller's row.

For Friday night's social event and slide show We had plenty of Moe's Burritos and Shane's chicken wings to eat. Also had beer provided by SweetWater Brewery of Atlanta. I took some notes from Bruce D. about the upcoming Thomson Day in January and we worked up a preliminary actvites schedule agenda. Walt B. of SORBA was also in attendance to represent. He gave me some info to help me out with the Jersey Order.

Saturday I got there bright and early armed with a box of coffee, chocolate milk, and two dozen donuts from Dunkin Donuts. Several people showed up from Atlanta. We had folks from the BOD Bike Group and RAMBO SORBA Chapter. We had a very informative classroom session until after noon when we caravanned over to the ArrowHead Trail to re-route a rough section of badly eroded trail. It began to rain just after 4:00 so we knocked off and had just about completly finished the re-route. I was not able to make it out there today to help finish up and join in the group ride.

My PHOTOS

I'm begining to get my gear together for a trip down to Sunny Florida to race in yet anouther of the Florida State Championship Races. This will be Race #7 in Bellview FL (Santos). I have never ridden the Santos Trail before But I have heard many good things about it. Mark D and I will leave Saturday Nov. 18th and Camp overnight for the Race on Sunday. The Yellow Wave (My group) begins at 9:30. I still have my FSC number plate 335. I hope to beat some one and not come in last like my last FSC race in Jacksonville, FL.

I will be out at Arrowhead Park at Lake Tobesofkee for the IMBA Trailbuilding School all this coming weekend. This Event is now FREE. They have waved the $25.00 entry fee. Hope to see many folks out there.

Rode with Mark D. and a couple other folk last night before the OMBA meeting at Thomson. Did two fast laps chasing Mark D then Put on the Lights for 1 night lap. We took one by-pass so we could make it back to the parking lot before the Meeting Started. I don't have much of a light its a Energizer Head Beam that straps around your head.

The meeting was mostly about the upcoming IMBA Trail Care Crew's visit to Macon.

INFORMATION

NOVEMBER 10, 2006, 6-9PM, 515 Mulberry St., Macon, Ga (old Rivoli Bank building) Around the World with IMBA Slideshow starts at 7:30PM

NOVEMBER 11, 2006, 8:30AM-12:30PM, 515 Mulberry St., Macon, Ga (old Rivoli Bank building) IMBA Trailbuilding School classroom session

NOVEMBER 11, 2006, 1:30PM-5:30PM, Arrowhead Park at Lake Tobesofkee IMBA Trailbuilding School field session

NOVEMBER 12, 2006, 10AM-12PM, Arrowhead Park at Lake Tobesofkee IMBA Trailbuilding School field session

NOVEMBER 12, 2006, 1:30PM-4PM, Arrowhead Park at Lake Tobesofkee IMBA/OMBA Group ride

The $25 registration fee includes a copy of the IMBA Guide to Building Singletrack (pre-registered only), free tent camping for both Friday and Saturday night at Arrowhead Park, entry to the social event Friday, lunch provided both days, and possibly breakfast as well.