Speaking of log crossings

I was riding along a little ahead and you know that sound that is kinda like a scream but, with the sound of the air being forced out of ya. Well, I think that is what I heard, but she was out of sight. I turned around to find my darlin' Babycakes on her back and facing the wrong way on the trail. She got a few bruises, a little blood, and a sore neck after her acrobatic face plant, but all her teeth are intact and no stick punctures. It gave me that parent panic. She's pretty tough.

Pocahontas State Park

Babycakes and I went to Pocahontas State Park to camp and ride. It was pretty cool and only a couple of hours from home. The trails are pretty cool. The advanced section has more log crossings than one ever needs in one ride, but still better than being at work. The weather was awesome. We went to Pierce's bbq on the way home. Everybody says that its so good. Well maybe after a three hour ride, or something, but other wise it sucks. And there was some dude that worked there that would not stop talking to me about my tattoo's. He was nice, but get a social clue. fuuuuhhhhhhdge!

Night riding in Richmond, Va.

Night riding w/ your ole' buddy alcohol can be dangerous. James Hoard aka The Rev. ate shit on an invisible cliff. Actually he went of a drop off that couldn't be seen in the dark. Yeah, you guessed it the collar bone is broke. You can't see it but, his right ear got half ripped off. The stitches went about half way around the ear to hold it back on. Here's to ya not doing anything half ass James. I love ya.

old skool

I've known these folks for over twenty years and I bet there aren't many guys who have a photo of their ex-wife and current wife and a bunch o friends together. Life is funny.

mystery machine

Who doesn't love Scooby Doo?

No Arms

Babycakes learns to ride w/ no hands and insists on calling it riding w/ no arms. I don't know what is wrong w/ her. But, the next time we went riding she completely had riding w/ no arms all figured out and did it like it was her job.

Disco Queen

Babycakes gettin her groove. By this point it was amazing that I could hold the camera. Don't remember much after this point, but people tell me it was great.

Boston

Went to be my buddy's best man. For those of you who know Rick Curtis, he actually did it. Yep, he got hitched. Babycakes checked out the sights after the wedding. Boston seems to be clean and everyone we encountered was pleasent and nice. Man, those folks love some sports. Lots o cyclists around downtown.

Independent Fabrication

Went to Boston Mass. and skipped over to IF to checkout where my favorite bikes are born. Saw Tyler, Matt and some of the other guys at the shop. Joe was nice enough to take the time to show me around before lunch. I got a hankerin for a new bike. How could you not?

Phil Wood

I know this is bike porn stuff. The old Fat Chance needed a new bottem bracket and I still can't bare to put cheap crap on my old friend. Phil Wood puts such a sweet finish on everything I had to take a picture of it before putting it in the bike and never seeing how sweet it is again. I don't know why I think its so cool to put such effort in a finish that goes inside the bike. I know it doesn't really matter and that you can't see it once its in the bottem bracket, but I guess its like when a chic wears sexy underwear. You know its there and it makes you feel sexy.

Fort Story

This is right here in VB. For some of you that use to do the Conte's ride before 9-11 you may remember Fort Story Army base being part of the ride. After 9-11 it was eliminated as part of the ride because you had to check in at the gate w/ a picture id, which was not convenient w/ a group ride. Well, as of this labor day weekend civilians are no longer allowed to ride on the base even with proper Id. That sucks. It was one of the few places that has hills and low traffic. Why do changes around here seem to always decrease it's appeal to me? Well at least I got to ride one last loop.

Award ceremony

Babycakes got 3rd place in her race and I got 2nd. When it came to prizes we didn't need much so she grabbed a multi tool of her own and I got some great surley two strip wool socks. And finally a well deserved nap. Those morning races are hard on us night owls.

timbuk2 saddle bags suck a big one

See that saddle bag looking all innosent well, it isn't. Flying down the mountain I could feel that the damn thing had come loose again. I was in fear of it sliding down and getting into the rear wheel so I tried to re-attach it while riding. Ofcourse it was driving me crazy and pissing me off. I finally got the damn thing to re-attach and this tree jumped out in front of me at about a twenty mph desent. You know when you do somethin' and you end up flat on your back and you think, "that hurt", well you can figure it out. The terrain was so rough in sections that it would slap your chain off. I dropped my chain no less than three times. You know the saying, "three times and your out", not so true. Even after all this crap it was a great ride and I still got 2nd place loosing by 2min. Once I stopped the pain set in and the adrenaline decreased and I thought I was going to vomit. But, never fail my darling bride caught it all with this picture.

The Action

The hills are a beast for us flat landers. Look at the smiles inspite of the pain. It is strang how painful it is to race at times and how we call this fun. Interesting. Humans are so weird.

The starting line

Everyone Is getting ready to start the 8th annual newriver race. Babycakes decided that she just wanted to start in the back. So she did just that. I tried to get her up a little bit so that she didn't get hung up behind slower riders, but she didn't believe that there were slower riders. There is a pattern here. She doesn't listen to a thing I say and always thinks I am mistaken when she does listen. She did get hung up behind slower riders. (I was right).

New River Bikefest

Babycakes decided to do her very 1st mountain bike race. She raced the beginners womens class and was very nervous about the whole thing. After multiple trips to the restrooms she commited herself and we got ready to race. Keep in mind she hasn't had a mountain bike for a whole year yet.

Salsa Jersey "new"

Babycakes got me a surprise. It is a new jersey from Salsa. It has a theme of "de Dias de Muertos" which goes really well with my tattoo theme and I feel faster in it. Awesome.

The beginnings of the bunnyhop

Imagine; she wouldn't listen to me and researched it on line and went to her parents house and practiced. Sure enough came home and could get both wheels off the ground at the same time. Believe me, I couldn't be prouder. She rocks.

Babycakes is hooked

She's even gettin her Dad into the mountain bike mix. That's Tom and Babycakes up in WV. Here's to the family.

Wahrani, New Kent County

There is a new place to ride. For the locals it is just a little past the Croaker Norge exit. It's not bad, but its new. Which means a little soft. It has some good climbs, but the map is a little confusing. I ended up riding some of the same stuff in reverse, which is fine here because it is bi-directional. Its always nice to ride somewhere new. There are a couple of loops that you work together in order to get about six mile total loop, but it would be cool to start including some of the open power line hills. That could make this place great for training for those of use that are in a hill deficit.

FSA cranks and seatpost

I originally had FSA K-force cranks and carbon seat post on this beauty. The seatpost was 4in. in the frame and it still broke completely off. (no warranty on their posts by the way). The cranks on the other hand lasted a little longer, but the insert inside the carbon broke loose giving the cranks the sensation that they were loose. FSA did on the other hand warranty the cranks after about 3 weeks. The good thing about this was I got re-aquainted with my ole' friend "Yo Eddy" and I got some ole' faithful parts. Thompson seatpost and XTR cranks. In yer face Full Speed Ahead.

Converse New Fishheads

Converse red eye customs. You can go online and pick any color combo, lace color, rubber color and everything. 15% of the retail sale ($60.00) goes ta charity. These beauties are navy w/phantom gray tongue and heel strip, blue stitching and racing strip, and the custom LOGO. SSWWWEEEET.

Clipless Pedals

She goes up and she goes down. Babycakes is gettin use to her new clipless pedals.