"Perhaps poker's just not your game..."

You just never know what is going to happen at a 'cross race, but apparently counting on Old Man Welch to pull off a W with style is not too far off the mark. He and Ed Dickenson duked it out on a long, tough course with lots of running and slippery sections. The end result was two in a row for Jeff in the Masters 35+ category.

After endoing and landing on my shoulder and back (while my bike tried to eat my left leg), I got back on and raced harder than I should have to finish 26th in the Masters category. Shaw Brown demanded a pee test after witnessing my solo pileup and resurgent ride after. I swear that the team doctor is just giving me vitamins...



Shelli Welch made it official: she is definitely the woman to watch in the B class as she finished 2nd this weekend. There is a win in her future before Thanksgiving, mark my words... Jenna "PS" Proffit debuted with a respectable 17th in a very large women's B field. The grin said it all though!



The CX 4 race saw 51 guys toe the line! As always in 'cross, the start was crucial as it went from a wide open straightaway to a singlefile path almost immediately. I got a good start and hit the first turn in 3rd, managing to avoid the inevitable bottleneck. I managed to finish 18th. Dave Brown kept out of trouble and finished an awesome 31st in his 'cross debut. Jack Brown, after a less than great start, pinch flatted and had to DNF due to the mechanical. The guy is going to be looking for revenge in Boone...
Thanks to everyone on the Sledgehammer Charlie's team for providing support during the races and good attitudes the rest of the time. Thanks to the out-of-nowhere 'cross hooligans (see picture) for heckling everything on two legs and two wheels coming up the run-up. Just wish I'd known about the beer handups...

Cary preliminary race report

Tough course. Tough competition. Huge fields. Wind.

Jeff Welch - win #2 in the masters class (out of 43 starters), 16th in the pro, 1, 2 field (out of 31 starters)
Shelli Welch- 2nd place women's cx4's
Jenna Proffit- not last
Dave Brown - 31st men's cx4's (out of 51 starters)
Jack Brown - DNF cx4's (mechanical)
Shawn Moore - 26th masters, 18th cx4's

Tired. Sore. Homer sleep now...

Round 2: Cary

Owen aka Edward Sockhands
6 am Sunday is the roll out for the Cary 'cross race, round 2 of the NC Cyclocross series. Looks like a bigger turnout than at Salisbury is in the works. Double down and PS are going to make their debuts this weekend. Double down acquiesced after a few words of "encouragement". True, I had to insult his manhood to a horrendous degree, but in the end he thought this weekend would be a fine time to jump in the ring and see what happens. PS is excited, as always, and is looking to just "do a good ride". As soon as that girl figures it out, watch out! She and Shelli could end up being the terrors of the women's B class.

I don't know if my plan to race the master's and then race the 4's, like, 20 minutes later is a smart one, but I'm sticking to it (for now). It is welldigger's crack cold and raining to boot. The real deal weather forecast is calling for clearing tonight and WIND tomorrow. A-rod says bring your spinnaker to the group ride tomorrow...

Not much to say tonight. Finished another work week. Didn't lose my cool with any adolescents. Not bad. Teacher work day monday, so this weekend will be a little more relaxed. Bummer for the weekend will be the absence of the fam at the race sunday. Owen can't take that long of a trip in the car seat... can't say that I blame him on that one. Boone is next weekend, so he should be back out in his bear suit and ringing his cowbell! One thing that worries me though: he really likes being in the water. He gets really excited and kicks his legs and giggles a lot in the tub. Could I be raising a triathlete?

More from round 1... (thanks for the photos Howard)

"Say when..." Jeff and Ed with one to go!
Shawn vs. Sandpit
Sandpit vs. Jack
Chris Thomas
Jeff and Shawn before the Master's race

Salisbury 'cross pics

Salisbury Race results click for full results! Sledgehammer Charlie's storms to a 4th place team finish in the NC Cyclocross Series! Just wait 'til all of our injured reserves get activated!

The Pictures:
Jack Brown and Harrison
Shawn Moore
Shelly Welch
Big E
Chris Thomas

The king is dead. Long live the king!

Old man Welch pulled off the upset that I called for! In an awesome display of power and bike handling skills, Jeff tore the master's field apart and then performed delicate surgery to take apart Ed Dickenson. This marked the first defeat for Dickenson in over a year!
In other racing news: Jack Brown had a sparkling 'cross debut with a 6th place finish in the CX4 category. Shelli Welch beamed with joy as she finished 4th place in the women's CX4 and discovered her new favorite sport. Big E finished his first 'cross race, putting in a huge effort in less than great conditions. And Chris Thomas struck fear into the hearts of the 35+ group as his reputation preceeded him. Between him and Jeff, things could get pretty interesting this season...
I rode the master's race for training and then "showed 'em I was there" by holeshotting the CX4 start, but then faded to a mid-pack 24th place finish.
I'll post pictures when I get 'em. Next stop: CARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Links:
Belgian SuperPrestige Pro Cyclocross Race Oct. 8th 2006 1+ hour of coverage!
2006 Cyclocross World Championships (starts at the 19 min. mark of the video) 30+ minutes of coverage!

2 days...

Two days 'til the big throw down. Get prepared by downloading and filling out your registration form now, instead of having to do it on race day. Follow the link to get the USA Cycling standard athlete release form. For those of you looking to do two races per event: remember it is $15 for the first race and $5 for each additional race per event!
Snuck out for a training ride yesterday at the Aquatic center. Saw Troy and did a few laps with him. It felt good even after a day of work! See you saturday for practice and sunday for racing!

Sat. Group ride time change

The Sat. group ride will move to 10am from the frosty 8am start we have been having. Please help spread the word!

The excitement grows

So, Jack and Heart attack Mark came in to the shop today talking about their coming 'cross debut this weekend. Talk of "I'm just hoping to survive" and "I just want to see what its like" flew through the air. Yeah, right. Ever ridden with guys that try to rip your legs off for fun and then smile at you like your all buddies sharing the same joke? They don't know the meaning of taking it easy. So come Sunday, when they belly up to the line, you better believe that it is gonna be on like donkey kong, my friends. KC (sans Sunshine Band) came in and got her bars re-wrapped and picked up her new helmet. She should be there Sunday. Pornstar came in tuesday, showing off some significant bruising from her fight to conquer the "corkscrew" during last weekends 'cross practice. She will be sitting out the Fall series, but look for big things from her this Winter Cup.
The question that is on everyone's mind is: can J-Dub repeat last weekend's performance and pull out a win at the NC 'Cross Series opener? The guy is coming on to form, so you never know what the shredder can do.
Finally, tip a glass to Double-Down as he sits in AZ learning how to drop laser guided triscuits to Afghani locals.

Another one bites the dust

By the way, it is 4 days until NC 'Cross season starts. Hope your ready, 'cause I know I'm not. A little Luna news: Doctor, Father, aging cycling phenom and all around good guy, J-Mac decided to give an entire middle school soccer team a little what for and ended up tearing his hamstring (see picture) just days before his cyclocross debut. The word on the street is that he was fouled, but we'll never know. J-Mac reports, "I scored the goal at least." That's the spirit...

6 days to go...

It is time to start whipping yourselves into a frenzy! NC 'Cross starts this weekend! Check out some video:
Starcrossed '03
Gloucester USGP Cyclocross '06
Check out how fast the freakin' start is!
Bunny hop barriers like a pro!

Johnson City lowdown

Alright, normally going to a race is a logistical problem to be tackled and experience teaches you the smoothest ways to deal with it. A baby really presents a new set of variables and we underestimated their effects. Needless to say, I arrived in Johnson City with about 20 minutes to register, dress, warm up and pre-ride the course! Not to worry though, it was plenty of time. The 4cx race started well enough, I found myself in third place at the start. In fact, I was wondering why everyone was going so slowly! At the end of the first lap I was still in third and I began to hear Bill Murray saying, "he's the Cinderalla boy, with the Cinderella story". And then Scotty started yelling from the engine room that he was giving her all she's got. 8 guys passed me in a big clump - BOOM! I had no power on the little grass climbing section and it showed. I was riding the off-camber really well and wonder upon wonders (after a few really ungraceful and completely unremarkable dismount/remount sections) I actually began going through the barriers better than ever. 5 laps, 14th place (out of about 40)... not bad. Then about 25 minutes later, the masters race. 7 laps of brutality. Again got a good start. Then the 2nd guy rolls his tubular in the corner, 3rd guy (J-Dub) hits him and stops, so that 4th guy (yours truly) can hit him from behind. We sort it out quickly and no harm is done. I fade towards the back of the middle while J-Dub charges off the front. I rode for training and J-Dub won the thing! Pretty sweet. Now I have two really angry grapefruits where my butt cheeks should be, Owen has windburn on his cheeks and Golden is worn out from the sheer effort of the trip. I think it's time for bed...

Impending doom

Saturday is about to jump up and slap me silly. The plan is to race the men's cat. 4 AND the master's 35+ 'cross races at Johnson City this weekend. 30 minutes in the pain cave (cat. 4 race), then like a 15-30 minute break (defib time) and then 45 minutes of deep pain cave exploration. I'm gonna need a safety line to find my way back out. This little jaunt is a sad attempt to try to shock my system into realizing that the season is now upon us. I am sooooooooooo not ready...
Oh well, can't stave off the inevitable. If all goes to plan, J-dub and I should still be able to make it back in time for 'cross practice! If not, think of me as you throw a leg over the barriers.
There is one HUGE positive to the race though: young Owen McCormick Moore will be attending his first bike race! The search is on for a size appropriate bell for him to ring along the course. It will be the first of many memories he will be able to recall on the podium when he wins his first world championship.......

Our grommet can beat up your grommet

This is Jacob, our new shop grommet. He is, hell I don't know, 7+ ft. tall and like 500 pounds of pure muscle. He plays football and has decided that cycling needs the athletic skills that he has to offer. He is also 17, which makes him a junior category cyclist. Jacob will be participating in the Luna Cycles winter 'cross campaign this season. I want to give you a mental image: Jacob lines up with all the other junior cyclists ( decidedly waifish and pigeon-chested lot ) at the start line. I'm gonna go with Jacob on the whole intimidation factor...
"So, what is a shop grommet?", you ask. The grommet (or grom) is the first step on that wonderful ladder to riches and fame that is the bike business. "Wow, how do I become a grommet?", you cry. Easy. Step one: hang around a bike shop until the owners start asking you to either leave or start dusting and sweeping. Step two: Continue to hang out at the aforementioned bike shop, but occasionally bring your bike with you and start asking for help fixing it. Step three: be willing to suffer harassment and hazing practices of loooooooooooooong time bike shop denizens. Follow these simple steps and be willing to not get paid for anything you do and you are well on your way to grommethood. "Why?", you now whimper. Well, the grommet is the first step in the long and arduous apprenticeship that takes earnest, good-natured young people and turns them into the subversive, misanthropic characters that inhabit the grease and rubber scented caverns of the true bike shop. The kind of shop where you feel like you've been let in on a secret about how to have more fun than most adults think is possible...

new bike + bitter realizations = my 'cross season

The Good: I finally have gotten a super sweet 'cross bike. Jeff and I both got Redline Conquest Team scandium frames with Ritchey WCS carbon 'cross forks. My bike is now almost a pound and a half lighter and much smoother in the rough. Jeff keeps eyeing my bike and telling me to take good care of "his" pit bike. I am seriously gonna have to set him straight one of these days...

The Bad: I don't think that my 15 minute, one-way commute and one training ride a weekend training schedule is really working out for me. I think I'm gonna have to train more... heck, maybe I should start with actually training...

The Ugly: 3 weeks to the first 'cross race of the season. Color me sucky... I know that the Nemesis is eating miles like rice krispies. My only hope in helping with his dethronement this season is to get a great start and flying tackle him in the first turn and hope he dislocates something... not that I would actually do anything like that, mind you...

Back (jumping) in the saddle again

Well, dusted off the 'cross bike, gave it a new chain (seems the old one had rusted into a really cool oval shape that matched the drivetrain) and set off for the first 'cross practice of the season. Hit the field and saw my two 'cross compatriots from last year, Jeff and Alex, plus Double Down, Johnny MC, Jenna, Katrina, Chris Thomas, the grommet and Ron. I went ahead and broke the ice by blowing a clip out and nailing the barriers. This provoked a wave of imitators, but I want all to know that I did it first! We worked on those damnable dismounts and remounts. I finally managed to get over the stutter step remount that plagued me all last season. Here's hoping for more improvements... We took a couple of hot laps and I gotta say that Lenoir has the makings of a sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet 'cross course! The bug has definitely bitten a few people and I hope to see some more faces at this week's practice ( hell yeah, I'm talking to you Mark and Jack ). Maybe the Mayor will put in an appearance?

It's 'Crosssssssssss time!

Well, B2B is over and we are still in the recovery process. Some significant crashes have definitely laid some of Caldwell's finest low. Our pre-ride pick for top Caldwell finisher, Max Dyer, was taken out by an early crash. We had to give Max the edge over the eventual top Caldwell finisher, John McMenemy, due to depth of experience. However, fate had different plans, and although John was involved in the same crash, he managed to avoid any injury or bike damage and continued on to a stellar finish.
Now we must turn our attention to the greatest sport in all of bikedom: CYCLOCROSS!!!! Practice will be this Saturday at 4:30pm. Meet at the soccer fields on Zack's Fork Rd. We have practice barriers and will be running skills drills and some hotlaps. You won't need any ego or pride since we will all be falling at some point. 'Cross is definitely a when not if proposition. Hope we get a big crowd. I know I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself. And if you have no clue what we are talking about, stop by the shop and let us make you a 'cross convert. It's the most fun you can have on two wheels... or at least it's like fun, but different...

We all were grommets once...

You really do have to start somewhere, but usually there isn't any photographic evidence of our formative moments. I never raced against Max back in the day, even though we were in the same circles so to speak. This photo has got to be about '89-'90 given the presence of a Team Z jersey in the group. This should begin a randomly occurring part of this 'blog entitled "When they were young...". Send in those embarassing photos (preferably of someone else!).

Luna product test

In a neverending quest to provide you with the highest quality product information, I have given up the Scott CR1 I have ridden all season and built up a BMC Streetfire SSX. The Streetfire is BMC's all aluminum and least expensive road frame. Jeff described the ride as being like a "jackhammer", but I don't agree. Either he is of a more delicate constitution or my butt is tougher, but I think the ride is surprisingly smooth and lively. Not something that aluminum is known for being. It does not transmit much road vibration and is really the first aluminum frame I have actually liked riding. I let you know more thoughts when I have more time on it...

I also got a pair of Sugoi RS flex bib shorts. They are possibly the most comfortable shorts I have ever used. They fit VERY tightly, but the fabric is super lightweight and very soft to the touch. The chamois is the 2006 version and is very comfortable. I have seen the new 2007 chamois and it must be super comfortable to be an improvement on the '06.

Sad news at the shop: the weekly rides (monday, tuesday, thursday) will start at 5:30 beginning Mon. Sept. 11th. I know many of you won't be able to make the new time (we won't be able to either, Jeff is a frickin' slave driver) and we apologize. Due to the shortened amount of daylight, the traditional 6ish start just doesn't leave enough safe riding time. We are still a small bike shop and we can't afford to lose any customers!

Don't be bashful about leaving comments, you don't even need to have anything meaningful to say. Want info on something? Let me know and I'll see what I can do!

2 days in a row and more than 1 gear!

Today makes the first time in a loooooooooong time that I have ridden two, count 'em, two days in a row! Plus, I rode a geared bike on a road ride for the first time in a month! So my "base" training schedule consisted of: 1 gear, 1 day a week for 1 month. Think of it as the anti-Carmichael Training System. I have also included a carefully controlled regimen of beer consumption to naturally increase my testosterone levels.
The ride today was definitely an insult to the body. The soreness definitely presented me with an anatomy lesson of the musculature from the waist down. It was sheer dedication that kept me riding. Now, unbelievably, I'm contemplating a ride tomorrow morning! I'm afraid of overtraining, but I might just risk it....