One year later

I stayed up late last night watching When The Levees Broke.

At least the first two acts.

I hope that no one is under the illusion that when the big quake comes, that help will be forthcoming from the government.

We will see which local leaders truly have the right stuff (questionable in my mind at best)

We will see unknown heroes.

Just don't expect help. We are busy elsewhere in the world feeding people and delivering water.

It makes me wonder how much of what happened was truly politics, class and racial differences as opposed to simple ineptitude.

I volunteered to go to the Big Easy last year for a month straight. Ready to go, leaving in two weeks, the whole effort was cancelled." FEMA won't pay" , I was told." They have a private contractor working on it for twice the cost".
Sound familiar?
Worse was the response of many of my coworkers- " Dude, you could get sick!", and my favorite- " they say the French Quarter is up and running, what, we won't be allowed to leave? Aw hell no!"

I always wondered, how would they feel if N.O. decided they couldn't come for us due to funding concerns? If their families were wandering around lost?

Watch it, then go out and buy some bottled water.

Stretch

So I had an opportunity to spend an hour and a half with PT, coach, bike fitter and all around nice guy Curtis Cramblett today.
I won a set of primes at Albany this summer for a bike fit( the biggest payday this MOP er has ever gotten, and a reason I'll be back to that little four corner deathmatch- see Nome's rant on this subject)
Curtis was good on his word, and so I took a trip down to San Ho today to have him take a look at my gimpy ditch digger ass on a bike.
Very, very systematic approach. I was able to understand what we were talking about the whole time, and we will be making some incremental changes over the next few months, provided I do the work required.
20 years in a ditch has beat me up a little, apparently, and I could use a little more work on the core and hammies.
Who knew a foam roller and a tennis ball could bring a grown man to his knees, and fix him up at the same time?
Gotta go suck up for my massage now, send me happy thoughts........

Remembering

Looking at old pictures

Of an old friend

She's smiling in every one

I hate funerals

Seeing the family left behind is the worst

Just so sad

Who me?

The countersurfer struck again, swiping my carefully constructed egg mcmuffin with smoked turkey while I was in the garage helping the missus.
Did it so cool I walked around for 5 minutes wondering why I was still hungry when I just ate.

Old dawg, old trick.

Spent the day today doing my coaching thing in GG park, then hooking up with The Seal fresh off a Alcatraz swim and heading down to Skeggs Point for some dirt.

Nice. Real nice.

How did I ever miss this one? Single track, woopsies, redwoods, ya ya ya.

Not too long, about an hour and a half of single speedin'. Two nice new raspberries on my knee and elbow, and we were off to the burrito joint.

MMMMMM.

Foodie Friday!

FF had to take a break due to work actually requiring my presence, but tonight is slow, so here ya go........

Pizza- mmmm. A dangerous luxury for us weight weenies, but a necessary one.
Easy to find after a gawdawfully hard effort in some gawdawful Central Valley/ Nevada armpit. Even bad pizza is good pizza in these times, and I have never had a bad pizza in Bishop after a few days of sloggin'.

But let's talk about the real deal here, the real classic masterpieces.

WINNER

Cheese Board, Berkeley

Damn, this was tough. Hit the Board on a Friday night and share whatever pie they have decided to make by communal decision on the median on Shattuck. Check out the Chez Panisse crowd across the street and know that you are at the top of your foodie game with a whole lot more scrilla in your pocket.

DAMN CLOSE 2nd

Zacharys Pizza

JS writes poems about this stuff. I have dreams about it. Cash only and long lines, and worth it all.

Makes crit racers out of spindly climbers every time.

Supa- garlicky caesar with those cool breadsticks.

I hear from those in the know that it's hard to find better in Chi-town.

Spinach and Mushroom the day after, when the spices have time to meld= damn.

Coming to San Ramon- I'm in deep.

SOMEBODY HAD TO BE THIRD

Amicis Pizza

Much hype, a little pricey. The best is the most simple, just cheeses on a thin crispy crust.

I wonder how much Ralph would eat for free........

Paint on the road

So , I went for a nice ride with Merkle today out Calaveras(leaves are changin just a little), up Sierra and back home. 60 miles of fun and conversatin'.

While slugging it out up Sierra , I had lots of time to survey the names on the road, Levi, DZ was all over the place, Simoni, and Landis.

Forlorn, fading names.

Mixed feelings about pro cycling right now.

I really liked this article by Magnus B. on the doping.

Kind of drew a parallel I could understand. I work in a place were we have been randomly tested for years, yet last month we got a visit from the company drug czar, informing us there have been WAY too many positives this year for amphetamines.
Lot's of rumors fly about individuals, but nobody really knows, and the individuals in question certainly are keeping it under their hats.
Sometimes a name will come out, a firing or resignation. Usually it's a big suprise and not the usual suspects.

Kind of like the bike world sometimes.

I pinch

Silly little link here-

Running Long Today.....

reminded me why I no longer like it.

Kind of funny, since 20+ milers used to be a weekend staple.

I did 2 hours of OV's drills while Miz C shuffled.

That's right, Monty Python dance moves while running, baybee!

The trails were pretty at Lake Chabot.

And the pup, well he had a 4- swim, 10- mile day with some poison oak rolling to top it off.

Pretty good day for a dog.

Cross = training for a 30 second run.

50k= training for a 30 miler.

Kind of different, no?

Gaiter-sporting, shorty short hiking, dirty sock, bandanas on the neck and head, bearded, braided, old race t-shirt from 1992 niche sport.

Ultra running or Santa Cruz cross racing?

The Tandem...

is rolling.

New to us, probably about ten years old. Had to get used to Barcons again, used to have em on the old crosser. Suntour XC shifts ok, you just have to be patient and not pressure the drivetrain, the way we all had to shift before the fancy stuff.

This thing is gonna be fun, I have a new Terry Butterfly coming for Miz C. that hopefully will take the edge off things. I need to find a odd size suspension seatpost in 26.8 also. It has a rack and a light already, perfect for a cold beverage or some sandals or a couple of jackets, depending on the season.

The beast is classic Burley steel, weighs as much as a Sherman tank and drives like one too. The drag brake is a cool invention, keeping comments to a minimum from the aft compartment on long descents.

Now for some corny matching outfits.....

Cave Day

Today was just a great family day. Spent the day with my sisters, Little C., and Cousin B. Stopped in Valley Springs and visited New Cousin D.- 5 months and 20 lbs, gonna be a big boy! Man I gotta finish riding that Hogan Dam Rd out behind their place, I rode it one spring day for an hour an a half, finally turned around when the stream crossings got a little too deep for me and the Kelly. On Yahoo maps it goes through to Milton Rd, which I wanted to do and check out the copper course. Ran out of tubes and tools on the dirt road on the way back, next time I take the crosser.
Went to the California Caverns outside of San Andreas, the sisters stayed outside and took a nap while me and the kids suited up-

Major fun on the one hour tour, a little squinching to fit through some holes, but nothing too serious. Hard to shoot good pics with my crappy camera, but there were some amazing rock formations in there.

I'd love to go back for the big tour, 5 hours of mud-slogging, crawling, rafting across underground lakes....

I'll have to wait for after the mud-slogging, crawling, aboveground lakes crossing with-a-bike season to end before my return, though.
Really looking forward to it. I wish Bob would put up the East Bay schedule. I love tuning up in 100 degrees and dust. I see one in Folsom that fits with the schedule, maybe I'll head up there and get killed by all the guys that started base in June. MMMMmmm, I can't wait.

Anyway, Little C. is going to the Jelly Belly factory tour tommorrow, so Pops slipped her a few extra bucks to get him some black jelly beans and look for the Sport Beans.
Sport Beans and Clif Bloks, who needs real energy food?That shit is gooood.

Dear Joe Friel-

Just a couple of thoughts-

Do guys that make their living in muddy holes doing muddy hole things need a Maximum Strength period? 600 lbs on a leg press is fine for cycling, IMHO. 180 on the seated row is way more than I need to pull on some bars in a sprint.
This concept of functional fitness, that's the name that rolls around in my head and is probably copyrighted somewhere, now that does attract me. Keeping my core muscles strong so I can pick up a piece of equipment at work, or put a bike up, or give my kid a hug without spending a day on the couch, very cool. Being fit enough to enjoy my later years and not be getting endless surgeries like many of my coworkers in their fifties.
Core and stretching- probably 30 minutes twice a week. Real fitness gains with a minimal time investment.

Thanks for giving me a flexible planning tool for all the dumb sports I like and probably some new ones as well. It took me 30 minutes to draw up a plan through December.

Keep telling me to mellow out and ignore my buddies going to Gutterfest 2006 when I'm in Base and not even in a rest week. I won't go to Gutterfest as long as a occasional Tuesday bone is thrown my way to keep the champing to a minimum.

The dreams of crit racing- is this good or bad? Why do my tires never hold air? Why are they in parking garages?

Gracias,
Mr. zn 1

Shadow Cliffs

Ahhh, the things that I finally have time to do in the off season, like find a great unofficial dog park in the east bay.
Lab Central, baby!
Good running and cross practice as well.
In another life I used to swim around in the big lake at 0600 wearing a speedo in 61 degree water, but now I have seen the light. Actually, the best swimming is in the winter, when the water is clean and the coliform counts aren't too high from the zillions of people and their poor hygiene.
Speaking of coliform counts, maybe some bad lettuce took me down this weekend.
No worries, 36 hours of sleep and some Pepto-B and I'm back at it. Even had a damn salad tonight, little hair of the dog action.

Foodie Fridays # 1

Sooo,
Like most bikey folks, I'm equally obsessed with food and starvation. As the season turns towards the dirt and home improvement, I'm giving myself a little latitude to enjoy some of my favorites and share them with my bloggy friends.

Lunch Spot-

WINNER

Intermezzo- Haste and Telegraph, Berkeley. Classic place, best and biggest salad for the money known to man. Huge sammiches as well. I eat there most afternoons/ evenings, so IF ya see a guy in a reflective vest ordering one to go, say hi.

1st Runner -up

El Balazo- Various Contra Costa Locations.

Chicken Caesar Salad will fill anyone with about a pound of warm grilled chicken rubbed with epazote and garlic. Decent burrito, etc., but the salad is the thing.

Coffee- For most bikey types, way more important than food. Bucks' is everywhere, and Peets is chasing them. Some people hate them, but I remember when coffee in the suburbs consisted of 7-11 and mickey-d's, and thank them.

WINNER

Cole Coffee- 63rd and College, Oakland. Name has changed from Royal, everything else is the same. For years Miz C. sent me down there on Saturdays for a lb of Celebes, damn junkies.Way cool people watching from the tables on 63rd. A hub of bikey action.

1st Runner-up

Bellatazza- Bend, Oregon. Absolutely sublime double cappucino with the foam spun in like a cirrus cloud over the desert. Cool and friendly crowd, doggy friendly. I look at a receipt in my wallet from last month and smile at the memory of a lazy hour in July.

Soul Food/ BBQ- probably more open to personal interpretation than anything else, different strokes for different folks.

WINNER

Rodericks BBQ and Seafood- Gilbraltar and Stoneridge, Pleasanton.Soul food in P-town?Roderick is a pure genius in the kitchen, ditching his boring-ass tech job for something he loves. I was worried for a while he wasn't gonna make it in the tri-valley, but the lunch crowd from the offices has come out in droves . Expanding to Oakland soon, not the usual path. Awesome BBQ, my favorite sides are the yams and greens. Hot hot hot red beans and rice, and don't forget the hushpuppies. I only wish the Sunday dinner had worked out, this is food for the heart and soul.

Very high on the rewards meter after a tough race/ season.

1st Runner-up

Nellies- 3rd and Adeline, Oakland. Great Sunday dinner. Favorite spot to eat with my crew on friday nights after a hard week. Classic soul food, oxtails, fried chicken, fried seafood. The yams are sliced and candied, which a lot of people like more. I'm a pureed with butter and nutmeg guy myself.

Tied-

Chicken and Waffle house, Embarcadero x Broadway, Oakland.

Great late night spot. When the clubs let out it's pretty wild around here. If you have never had a hot piece of chicken and a waffle with warm syrup and butter late into the night, I highly recommend it. Good breakfast as well, but stick to what they do.

Happy Birthday to me

I've been obsessed with one of these since Nome and I went to Chico Pauls' for Sattley.Apparently Miz C. occasionally listens to my babbling, because when I got home last night , there it was.
Now I want some cool chickens. Somehow I have a feeling that if the hamsters running Pleasantville don't like a trailer in the driveway, chickens are way off the list. Actually- looking at it, this was some fascinating reading.
Chicken Fight!
I was going to make a Minden reference here, but am going to stop while I'm ahead.

Chickens running around would require this guy to calm his ass down, not an easy thing for him. the four legged killing machine. The mice have left, the snakes don't dare leave their holes, the rats are all dead. The squirrels though, they have no fear. The rabbits out back can't climb trees, so now he stays leashed to avoid further traumatization of Little C, who had no idea her little puppy was the freaking Terminator.Not his fault he's the birdiest dog alive, maybe he'll mellow in another year.

Districts- sometimes your the windshield, sometimes the bug

All weekend at bike racin' and not one bad picture, guess I forgot the camera in the car.

The racing? Not much for me, our ducks were all scrambled this weekend and we just made lemons out of lemonade. Bailed out of the 40+ on Saturday and did the 3/4/5 with the other domestiques.
Kinda wild with a full field of combined juniors, old guys, young guns..... No excuses, I just didn't have it on the climbs. I have been climbing better than ever lately and hoped to stay on and be the finishing punch, but it was not my day.
Seeing the writing on the wall, after the second lap with a little chase, I went to the front in the crosswind and gave em' some gutter time to try to rid some more deadweight from a field that was down by half. Not too effective, but better than nothin contributed. Caught the broomwagon on the next lap and rode in with them. Why do people want to sprint for 23rd? Props to the kids from Alta Alpina, people slam the kids, but they rode real safe while doing 40 downhill, and hit it hard everytime on the climb.
Minden was rippin' and good. Tons of talent on the line, MS and the Baggies had the numbers, Hutch and Roemer have been flying on the lap the field move. Lots of people to watch for only 2 guys.
I bet the farm on the Hutch/Roemer combo and missed the move of the day while regrouping. Reading a race of that caliber is still a couple of years away for me.
All I really had left was one good pack-dragging move to try to hold it together for a remainder of pack sprint, and I got to watch the rest from the sidelines with 10 to go.
Saw a lot of smart racing, no bitching from me. In hindsight keying off Safeway would have been better, why would they let H/R get away with 6-7 guys in the field?
I guess there was lot's of bitching when it was over, I dunno. I can toss out a few MFs and am pretty willing to back it up when the competitive fire is burning, well, sometimes I need to go cool off by myself for a few and remember I'm a 40 year old dad as of Sunday and not on the playground in South Stockton anymore.
Highlights for me-
Sweet campsite! 6 miles from the race, shady with a lake. Kicking it with Nome and DDR after dinner and watching the bats fly around in the meadow was way better than bad TV in Minden.

Soaking up some knowledge all weekend from guys that have done it a looong time.

Rolling with Roemer and looking down at the computer through a corner doing 32. In the flounders we would be SO GONE. Looking back and seeing a long line of determined loons, just savage.

Nice time in the park watching the 35+ race. Lot's of cool people in bike racing, I'll ignore the dumbasses. Great race with Nate, Taz, and the Straw-dude. Killer counter by the Olaf, the Straw-man just wanted it more than anyone else in a extremely motivated bunch from a half-lap in and never let it go .

I came for the pizza but got wine instead

Albany Crits
40+ 3/4

Teammates, Dave A. and Mike B.
Plan, get Dave OTF, and follow Mark Patton at the end. We start in the back, a few minor fender benders, and about 15 minutes in Dave moves up. I follow him off, then soft pedal and gap. He gets a little company, but he's going like a freight train. Berkely works with us, as does Newman's just cause we're cool. Dave wins two primes before being dragged back, and informs me it's my turn. I let a guy go off, bridge to him, but he's gassed. I hear it's a prime lap and gun it on the hill, dropping him and going solo for a few, winning two primes myself. The announcer keeps calling me Dave, he got used to seeing a EMC off the front, I guess. I slide back and slot in with 4 to go, with one to go I'm looking good on Pattens wheel, but we have a mixup and get swarmed as Patten jumps early, I chase and sprint at the end for 9th, cool!

E-4 race- crazy crashfest. The same corner that everyone rolled through 3 wide in the previous race was a mess. Too many crashes to count, I ate a little median strip and got a free lap, then 2 laps later there is another guy on the ground. This time they stop the race, now all the loons that were OTB get a fresh start. There are many more adventures on straights, turns, etc. I start looking for a break cause I'm not staying in this mess. I get in a promising one right as they announce a prime with 2 other guys. I originally wanted to work together but they ran out of steam, so I got a nice Ritchey umbrella.
I hear another prime announced a couple laps later, on the backside they all balloon out looking at one another, so I go again with kind of a wishy-washy move up the inside and get another one. I stay away for one more, but TP has like 10 guys in this race and they are coming hard with 4 to go. I slide to the back, then see my wife and decide to call it a day. Stop to give her a kiss, and finish OTB safe and sound.
Days' total- 4 primes, two bike fits with Curtis Cramblett, noted PT and coach, one wine tasting experience donated to the party kitty, and my favorite, my new cross umbrella for December.
The EMC section of the median strip was rockin', much love, much love.

Little C and Little M got along like gangbusters, going for double overtime on the playdate (thanks, Alicat!)
Some Zacks with friends, a few homemade cookies tonight, just wonderful.
One more set of races next weekend and I'm done for a while, looking forward the season's end.

I wanna be a sprinter.....

Cause they have all the fun.

Diving, ducking, hollering for SOMEONE to take the wind.

They get all the glory.

Even when off the back on the last day,

otherwise sane housewives will run into a open road and scream

"I Love you JJ!"

And with a shy smile and a smooth South American accent, you say

"Thank You"

Nice

Worked the feed for our remaining guys on Sunday, the feed was right up the hill from the campground, so it worked out good.
Set up and got Groove Talkin and Petit to give me some pointers. Groove is El Capitan of the feed, baby! Got it down! Met the famous XB with the cool ears, so we had a good fun bunch up there on the hill.
Dropped the first bottle I tried to hand off, but Petit saved me with a move right out of the Matrix and got Nate the backup bottle.
3rd lap we saw the break taking off with Pasco, Nate and Walker, then a loong time before Larsen appeared, dragging the pack with him. From then on it was hold-yer-breath time, till we saw this pic at the finish.
Nice work, Nate! The guy has been close so many times this year, totally deserving.
All in all, I learned a few things about the beast that is stage racing, the recovery is SO important to focus on. I think specifically for me I needed more long race miles and more experience with nutrition while hammering. The level of racing was a little over my head as well, real easy to burn matches in places that don't matter, keeping track of who was in the break and how this was affecting things. My teammates were great inspiration and a wealth of information helping me out, everybody sucked it up and worked hard till they couldn't turn the pedals anymore.
One thing that I really enjoyed was the level of competition, guys training their asses off all year and ending up 40th for their team's benefit. I saw athletes racing hard and being secure enough in themselves to give a congratulations to another racer win or lose, nice to see. Just because your an amateur doesn't mean you have to act like one.
Real nice.

No Sulking Allowed

So day two started pretty good, most of the previous evening was spent trying to get some calories in and work out the cramps. My chest was very tight and the hamstrings were killing me, but I woke up refreshed and after popping my chest(old accident), things felt OK.
I got out to the TT course early and staked out a good spot. Probably should have rode it, I was a little suprised later.
Got in a good warmup and while still tight, was ready to go. Followed Nome in line and tried to keep him in sight, I had no HRM, so just went old-school, stayed on top of the gear and listened to my body. I had given all my aero goodies to Nate-dawg for the cause, so I felt no pressure. Nome rode a great TT, passing his 30 second man. I was watching the k's pass and figuring I had about 2k more to go when I came around a corner and there ya go.
Got 30th, not bad and opened up my chest and legs. Got a recovery drink and rode with the boys a bit, then went back to base camp and chilled with the girls.
Got downtown early and set up the tent, loosened up on the trainer and focused on stretching and hydrating.
GREAT COURSE, custom made for me, little incline, crosswind, technical chicane and traffic furniture, and a awesome crowd. It was announced there would be a time cut if you didn't make it halfway. causing a few nervous laughs from the back where somehow I ended up.
Race starts and I'm sitting pretty tailgunning it, out of the wind and looking for wheels. Those Oregon boys leave a little more room for each other, and I was real comfy going in 4 wide. Problem- my rear wheel starts shifting wonky and the guy behind me warns me my QR has come open. I'm not a big rule guy and cycling has a million rules,(whole nother' topic there.)
I pull into the top pit OTB and announce my skewer has a little problem, figuring I can fix it and take my free lap. Informed by the blue shirt about rule 7080.45A or something that involves negligence and no free lap.
Oh dear.
I get fixed up and chase the pack that is turning the corner 2 blocks away, get within 100 yards when they zoom away, maybe responding to Larsen/ Roemer or a bridge. not sure cause all I know is I need to last 20 more minutes without getting lapped. I rode as hard as I could, but the dogwalker and Mr. Clover were coming hard. Made it one more lap with a sprint, and realized I needed one more lap that was not there. I let them go( I understand THAT RULE) and got the Sicilian Throat Cut from the head ref, 2 minutes short of the time cut. Went back and bitched a little, but the blue shirts were having none of my stopping for safety's sake/ I drove 9 hours with 2 dogs in a trailer and my family in tow argument.
Watched the rest of the race after taking a minute to cool off, some hard racing by the geezers.
Little C had her race and ended up frustrated just like good old dad after getting cut off in turn one and losing about 10 spots- sounds like a few 4/5 races lately. Hugs and Tropi-wraps made it a little better for all, and we watched about half the pro race, just fantastic.
Health Net was impressive with the whole" we are gonna put the whole team up here and control move". Miz C was oh so happy when her personal dreamboat sprinter won the thing, and another day was done.

Bittersweet

Cascade was big, kind of a lot to get an understanding of. I kind of didn't realize what I was getting into, although all my buddies would give me a funny look when I said I was going, kind of a Tim Allen in Christmas With The Kranks when he gets the Botox injection look, with the eyebrows WAY UP THERE.
I asked questions, put together a training plan, and rode lots of climbs. Long climbs mostly, but also lots of short hill intervals. I looked at profiles, ate salads, and rode more climbs. A big problem is the shortness of most Cat 4 races, only 47 miles at Pescadero, 38 miles at MT. Hamilton. The supergeezers rip, and they do it for hours. They have been doing it for years, as evidenced by the low USCF numbers surrounding my lone 20,0000 number in the standings.
We came up Tuesday from Mt. Shasta, and cruised around. I rode the circuit course which was right outside the campground and drove the RR course, stopping at a cool fish hatchery, a yuppie market in Sunriver, and a way cool Lava cave.
Thursday was marked by riding with the team and the dogwalker, then going downtown and chillin' at Bellatazza, killer cappucinno! Met the team for dinner at their house and tried to soak up some insight as well as some pasta.
I had visions of getting dropped on the first climb and was happy to see a little headwind to help it stay together. 6 miles and change is still a long way to climb for this 185 pounder, but I stayed protected and made it over, first goal a success!
Promptly got dropped on the 50+ descent with J-money who had the speed wobbles, but chased back on and rolled up front to see what was happening.
Much concern shared with the Bagboys about the Vampire getting loose, they put a guy up with him and J and I manage the gap. Not alot of concern coming from the local boys at this point. I roll to the back to grab extra bottles at the feed and burn a big match getting back,but we all have lot's to drink. Unfortunately I can't seem to absorb it well, the Powerbar that seemed like such a good idea is pushing its way out my side, and the salt pill is right behind it. I can feel the warning signs and try to conserve.
We go back through the feed zone and in trying to get extras, I damn near get dropped. The end is near and I am just hanging on over every roller. I look over and Walker is sitting in getting ready, this is gonna suck. Boom the attacks start again on the rollers leading to the last climb, and like a giant hand pulling me back, I get dropped.
The implosion was pretty spectacular, I could barely pedal the bike. The wheel car comes up and gives me a cold water, and holds on for a second to the bottle, giving me a tiny break.
I talk to Groove and Petit Lutin who are chasing the pack in the van, then I am left to my own devices. If I stand I cramp, if I sit my calves and side hurt. I know if I stop it will be over, and I'm not ready for this to be over.
Long -ass climb solo at 5 miles an hour. The 3's pass me on the steep part, then it eases off and I actually catch a few before the finish.
I get a Coke and a water and we roll to the cars, 12 miles downhill. This was probably the toughest part of the day, my body was one large cramp, just rolling from side to side. I called Miz C., she was seriously concerned when she saw me, kinda green and sucked up. She doesn't normally worry about me, Lord knows I've pushed the limit before, so it must have been an ugly sight.
A few numbers- 87 miles with the trip back to the car. 20.5 avg with the last half hour at 5 mph solo.4038 calories burned- maybe the last number tells the tale the best, I probably got in 800 calories at best . Winning time for 75 miles of hills, 3 and change, with me 24 minutes back at the end of the first day.
Proud to be hanging with a bunch of guys not afraid to put it out there for each other, makes me work a little harder.