Com'n off the couch... there's just no competition

(Out of the office most of the day, thanks to Cap'n and B for the write up...the one editorial suggestion was applied)

How fitting that ride number 103 had only three riders. RG did show up in the right kit with the wrong bike for the Mosquito send off, which helps with FT3 solidarity. We loaded up while the local homies spied us from across the Mosquito lot. With only B, Book, Cap and X present, carpool was at the height of efficiency. Arrival at the Knot lot found that temps were mild but there was some patchy snowy cold on the ground. While donning our FT3 jersey's there was discussion about the sac bee and local news covering our expeditions and individual handle-bearing jerseys selling for top dollar. "The B jersey's are half price this week." Yes, we think highly of ourselves. The departure out Cap'n's trail and across Sly Park Road had us feeling exploratory and we ventured into new grounds. It was decided that if we had taken said route in the dark we might have felt like we were at the deliverance cabin as we passed a partially tarped mobile home. No matter, we found a sweet single track that took us to a rocky fireroad and back down to familiar territory near the spillway. Being only a three pack and not accustom to seeing the spillway actually spill, we stopped for a homey photo shoot there. We then proceeded on to Fleming, which was in good condition, very little snow to ride through and trails were not as wet as we had expected. X was definitely feeling his oats and it is clear that burying it at the 24 has produced some quality fitness for him. He noted that he is already looking forward to next year's 24, indeed the bug has bitten him. B, in spite of having taken down two summits worth of May pow, was still charging. The Fleming decent was sweet in the evening light, damp but the trail was tacky and seemed a bit like the north shore, but what do I know having not ridden there. The fireroad climb near the parking lot produced some sticky mud so we opted out of redneck rising for a road ride up MET in honor of road man RG who gave us the send off, not to mention the TOC this weekend. Our intent was to drop the right lip before sundown, alas, lights were on on the way down. At the bottom the twighlight and light fog coming off the lake was fitting of a haiku but none was produced.

We headed back via horse trail, then took the steep climb up the powerline and decended the powerline trail. X and I were qued up for a granny free ride up until that point. Whilst dropping back to the lake, X's light died and my front tire was going flat. We took the road back to the Knott. With light encouragement, the Knott Dad, who was provided a handle last night, 'even keel,' was encouraged to turn on the Giants/Padres game and he pleasently ablidged. Wille the supposed taco champion was there with his knotthead friends and gave me a bit of flack for taking the Pepper Plant in his vicinity. I still took it. Tacos were good, sauce selection light, although the trifecta of Pain sauces was produced. We met some of Lars' wirey ultra running friends - a couple, the only couple, that has completed 1000 miles worth of Western States 100 runs. Each with knee surgeries and wobbly ankles, another reason Lars should stick with cycling.

(Running with a balanced cycling mix or Cycling with a balanced running mix keeps the mind fresh and body healthy!)

Until we Ride
LOtB

Ride #103

That's right my friends, we are rapidly approaching the two year point. I counted it up last night, thinking that this week was two years, but alas I was a week off. So with snow, yes snow, on the ground, tonight will mark the One Hundred and Third episod of FT3.

Unfortunately I am still on the DL, and will be celebrating my wife's birthday and unable to attend. Let the hidden blow comment field blow up with whatever P3 comments you like, but I will happily take this fine evening with the family!

The Amgen Tour of California rolls through our neck of the woods on Sunday. Sounds like most everyone will be in attendance in some respect or another. While no group viewing seems viable, FT3 will be manning the course and cheering on the best in the world. Is Amgen giving out free samples?

RG took a crit win over the weekend, keeping the train rolling. Cap'n is talking about the off season. and NoHandle and Bambi are talking up the CX season, and I, I have been spied on the El Dorado Trail, yes I admit it, I have been spied, running. Not making rides, running, what is the world coming to?

Until we ride or run (just kidding: I know I run alone)
LOtB



Until we ride,
LOtB

24 Hours Come and Go Pretty Quickly...

But the next 48 hours feel like death warmed over...

I am happy to report that FT3 took over the 24Hrs of Cool. We established ourselves as a force to be reckoned with in the camping meadow. We were almost three 4 man teams strong (A third team ran with two FT3 members and two others), 2+ 8hr Solo riders with Taco Spawn making a brief showing...lots of fans, two amazing wrenches, and tons of fun.

For camp this year we proudly flew a pirate flag and Cap'n provided marching orders via a snare drum that left others wondering, "what the hell is going on over there?!?!". After a few years of this race under our belt, we could easily steal NoHandle's tag line as this was, "not our first rodeo".

Course:
The course this year was a classic Olmstead loop with nothing really exciting added in. There were several bridges over some of the deeper mud holes or streams. Even with the bridges, there was plenty of mud. The first half of the course was marked by two or three ridiculous mud pits that kept growing and growing throughout the race. I dreaded these holes taking off for each lap, and felt moral and speed pick up as soon as I passed through the last one. Once you were through Knickerbocker, the course was fantastic. You still had lots of climbing to do, but conditions were good and fast. The pain cave was actually one of my better sections as it led to a screaming run back into the start finish area. The basic lap allowed for high speeds and a full on throw down to occur. The reality of an hour avg quickly became evident to several teams!

Racing:
8HR: VD, Ghost, and Spawn all rolled out for the solo event this year. I can't remember the last time I spent 8hrs in the saddle. In fact, I don't think I have ever spent 8hrs in the saddle at race pace...It seems some enthusiasm got the best of both Spawn and Ghost as they pulled early not feeling it. VD rolled on a bit longer before settling in to the camp chair and partaking in a longer endurance event of consumption and stamina. Sorry for the briefness of the 8hr report, I didn't get much in the way of details.

24HR: FT3 was out in force in these divisions.

In the open division, I believe the combo team made the podium after racing a consistent hard pace throughout. We never heard panic or catastrophe coming from this group so it seems like things went well.

FT3 team 2 showed some first time poise coming from a spot down in the early laps to race hard for the second spot on the podium. NoCar learned the the importance of Salt! Team 1 learned the importance of Joe! and Poptart may have learned the importance of gears (joking aside, he kept an amazing pace rolling on just one)! Team 2 did FT3 proud putting down lap after lap of solid effort to finish in a solid third and gain a podium spot! In the end the race for second come down to the last lap with Xteric putting down a monster sub hour 6th lap to send CMan out for one last loop. CMan put it down in an attempt to beat the clock and MadCat and left it all on the course. It took all day, but finally Knickerbocker "gnashed is terrible teeth and roared its terrible roars" thus putting an end to CMan's attempt at lap 6. Spot on mates, spot on.

FT3 Team 1: Came with a purpose and delivered on that purpose. Unfortunately, the fifth team in our category pulled out at the last minute leaving us with a four team category and no prize money. Therefore with pride on the line, we went out and went out hard. Bambi was a man possessed! Simply put, he dominated the dojo delivering lap after lap (6 of them in all) all under the 60 minute mark! There was some quality racing and laps had by all, but my hats off to you my friend, hats off, well done. NoHandle took the Mr. Consistency award for the 4 second variance from lap one to two and then never wavered too far off that mark. Cap'n took the Hard Man title to a new level, guaranteeing himself a place in lore, he race the entire event with an abscessed tooth, having a last minute root canal Mon. morning!!! Here I thought my hang nail would suffice! I, for my part, continued my roll as the chaser, doing my best to keep my teammates in my sights.

Special Thanks!
This is going to sound a bit corny, but for the two Four Man teams out there I count, at least 13 children (Don't know if Poptart has any strudels at home?). There is no way we would be able to pull this off with out amazing support from our families. That is 30 some odd hours without Dad at home over the weekend and many more hours of Dad being absolutely cashed! Thank you, thank you thank you. (In all honesty, I don't know if any of you actually read this thing either in secret or to keep up on us, but wife's Rock and ours are the best in the world!!!!)

Trevor, Joe, and the G Spoke kept us running "Fast and Loose"! There is no way I would roll out on a clean bike if it was up to me. Worth noting, Trevor had to bleed my brakes twice! Thanks a bunch for the help and support.

Councilman had a friend posted up with a trailer...never saw the trailer or the shower, or the tacos, or any of it for that matter, but others did and it sounds like I really missed out.

The rest of the FT3 family that kept us going fast all winter long on night ride, after wet ride, after snowy ride, the speed paid off with two podium spots!

Oh yeah, its Tuesday, I am out, actually would like to ride, but we have Open House at the kiddos school, probably should make that one. Mosquito @ 5:45...exit 54? If that 54 guys shows, look out, he is fast.

Until we ride,
LOtB