Mtnracer

When I was 14, I raced for Specialized. I was riding a hardtail Specialized Stumpjumper M2.

After winning the 1994 UCI Pan-American XC Championships in Squaw Valley as a Junior, I met and chatted with Ned Overend. His birthday was the day before, and he put in a stellar performance to get second to a flying Mark Howe (if I remember correctly) on a super-high elevation course. I remember saying something along the lines of, “It’s a good day for Specialized — you got second, and I got first.” Although embarrassed after realizing what I said, I managed to still get in a good chat about Fort Bragg and the Botanical Gardens.

Anyhow, Specialized mountain bikes are still the pinnacle of my desire. I have such fond memories of flying on the mountain trails around Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, and Big Bear. Perhaps one day I will again wield such beauty between my legs.

No, not Lily. She’s spoiled rotten, as I would have it no other way for my baby girl.

Mtnracer.com has been a neglected blog for too long. During my nine-month tenure at OSU Federal, I failed to publish a single blog post – suckage! This is my fault, and needs to be remedied.

“Because of you, I’m alive. For you, I’m awake…”

I rode and ran today – kickass! I think I always reach a turning point in my training when I do a two-a-day. Once I’ve done one of those, my body says, “Ok, time to get my ass in shape. I better start burning calories and rebuilding musclies.”

I don’t have a particular goal in sight for this year, as most of my training has been lame-duck, chicken-footed, monkey-balled, rhino-horned, donkey-cheeked, horse manure! However, the annual Mt. Ashland hillclimb is coming up in September. Perhaps I will have the legs to smash the mountains up!?

Oh, before I sign-off, I forgot to mention that I broke my middle chainring climbing Boxwood drive the other day? Do you think my superman-musclies actually broke it *again,* or is my shit somehow bent and wobbly? This is the third Campy middle-ring I have replaced in two years, and I can’t be putting that much torque on it (25% grade + my beer gut =…)?

I’m thinking about going full Dura-Ace or a mixture of FSA-front and Dura-back. This Campy stuff is really killing the width of my wallet.