count down to blast off

Friday

Well, almost got kicked out of my Pen’sion, as the tour bus arrived, that just about stole my room, after a rapid am departure from sleeping past wake-up. Made it to Preloup for an easy roll around and one lap on the course. There is no way keeping it under AR on this parcourse with the steep climbs and nasty switchbacks.
Ran into the current World Champ, Rob Anderson, and he had lots of details on the competition and tomorrows start.
When I flicked on the tv, there was coverage of the race,.. no wonder these guys keep asking me if I’m a pro, …even the frighten Italians did not know what to think, as I tried to befriend them in four languages, sorry Italian isn’t one of them. Anthony’s design team really makes a difference
Spent a long while speaking with the Frenchman Cedric Emery, he was beautifully representing Specialized in their factory kit and Sworks machine …looks like he needs a new carbon one. The Irish had a great interest in the carbon marathon frame, wondering if it was as good as the Sworks, I guaranteed them, Nic had a secret formula into making it the best.
Funny thing, the downhillers are more detailed about their bikes ,..lots of suds and boxes of different spray lube, looks like they are getting all the tv time too.
Spent the remainder of the afternoon driving to the top of the Col d’Allos,… I think they just widened the goat trail to accommodate cars, the trip was well worth it, with a view and unbelievable world opening.

Tomorrow is race day, 10am… lord knows what will happen. My only worries are tire pressure and enough water,… yah right!!

Set your clocks

What a drive to Barcelonnette and the ski site of Parloup where the event is being held. The roads whine like snakes and are as narrow as the waists of the pretty French girls. The cool thing is there are none of those obnoxious Bot dots. One corner was so tight to the overhanging cliff I thought I was spelunking. The short 70k drive from Gap on this labyrinth, took 90 minutes. All fun, nothing flat, up and down, with views to paint.

The little town of Barcelonnette is right out of Mexico with hip-wide streets and humming with folks, so I elected that was not the place to stay and went back towards Gap 25k, to a place I spotted on the way. This is the Ubaye river gorge, and a summer hangout for families and rafting this section of river. Kids are running around everywhere, loud disco music, foosball, a swimming pool and a cool summer breeze…. Oh, not to mention me, sitting alone tapping away, nerd like. The rooms are euro standard small, but not here for the accommodations.

No dude, you’re here to race your mtb bike, so whats’ up with the track at Praloup for the worlds? Well I was worried going into this that it would be nasty technical like last year in Canada, so trained to up those skills…. The start list alone for my wheezer group is over a page.. the Canok , said his 35+ group has 120 starters, ouch . But these Frenchies couldn’t even get us on the ski hill for this event, guess those wired DHers really rate. The track is really cool and very hard and tricky, but it reminds me more of riding Skegg’s. there are some nasty switchbacks, both climbing and dropping. Tons of fast single track through the forest.
Technically, natz were harder, but the climbing is steeper with one section that is too tricky to ride, but that only lasts 10 meters
Gosh, glad I got here a couple days early, cause the moved the race day up. That may leave time for that side trip.

Did some good laps today, a couple extra, to see where the tired takes effect, tomorrow with have to be easy for Saturday race. Should get the front line with last years third. Don’t know if the ruler of the class is here, the Ity, but last years winner and a lot of other talent, you can bet, is here for the fun.

Landed....

Well, made it to France and into the Alpes. The last bit of the drive was at night to Gap. The Alpes are layers of mountains, not a place for ocean people. Booked this hotel, but not so sure I’ll last ,…though the receptionist is exceptional and speaks perfect English.

They changed the start time to a day earlier….. and we jump on our starting grids. GEEE

Great competitors can always adapt, maybe it will screw up everyone else.

Pooped……….

Take Off

Finally!!! getting on the plane to the Alps (via frankfurt/geneva)

By Thursday, ridin' some hard ass Euro Mtb tracks, looking forward to see what they have on the menu..... could not be more ready for this one, just hopin' for a good ride and some smiles.

love ya all.................................

Post toasty

Just not a lot of juice to write much of anything with the wife and daughter, that job thing and two wheeling around to stay ready,... be ready. Wife cleaned up this weekend at the MCC horse show on someone elses fancy steed, champion - 2 wins, 2 seconds,... hard to keep up,... Kate was making her first fortunes dabbling in entrepreneurialship by selling any kind of good or service. she even dressed up and faked a British accent to get some more free product to turnaround and sell. I say, look out, she is only nine, course she had a 10 year old partner.
Tuesday pm flight to Frankfurt.....
Packing is never easy, so I figured gettin' it out of the way.... keep it light, 35lbs bag (love those wheels, thanks Specialized) and 50lbs bike bag.... that is just one nasty fast Specialized marathon that my man Nic made right!!
did a final tune up at Demo, amd that place rocks! and some roots, but lots of trees,.. and like the fellow said, "to bad that down hill can't go on for ever".... well, it is the best vertical around, not all this Skegg's crisscrossing bunk,... don't get me wrong, Skegg's is number uno, especially at 20 minutes away. it is kinda like goin' powder skiing in the middle of a weekday afternoon.

my best to everyone, and congrats to all the Strawberry success!!!

off to France

Call me crazy, and they have for years. Figured the least I could do to challenge myself this summer is to journey to France and face the toughest MTB riders in Praloup, France at the mst world championships. After winning the Nationals 2 years running on two distinctly different courses in a dominating fashion, and then slashing my way last year to a bronze at mtb worlds, it only came naturally to elect to go duke-it-out with the Euro-trash.
You can bet I am scared. God himself may descend from the clouds to line up at the start, but I have always figured I was racing myself and not the others who have lashed me with insults over the years. So, as always, if it is a good ride, it will be a happy day and if there is a podium, it will be a glorious day.
I wish all those competing good luck!

Strawberryness

CALIFORNIA GIANT BERRY FARMS AND SPECIALIZED SPONSOR 2007-2008 CYCLOCROSS TEAM

California Giant Berry Farms of Watsonville California and Specialized of Morgan Hill California are teaming up for the 2007-08 U.S. Cyclocross season, and expanding their highly successful program from last year. In 2007-2008 Three Elite Men including Worlds U23 team member Chance Noble, 2 time 30+ National Champion Justin Robinson, and Specialized Product Manager Andy Jacques-Maynes. Three Elite Women’s riders featuring 2-time Collegiate National Champion Melodie Metzger, 2005 U.S. National 30+ silver medalist Josie Beggs and nationally ranked road racer Shelley Olds.
All Six Elite athletes will be riding the super light Specialized S-Works Carbon Tricross Bicycles powered by SRAM Force.
In addition to the Six Elite athletes, three masters will be rounding out the squad. They include 2006 World Masters Silver Medalist, 2 time U.S. Silver Medalist Henry Kramer, 2-time National Champion and 2006 Bronze Medalist Todd Hoefer, ,and top 10 National Championship finisher Gannon Myall.
In addition the sponsorship provided by California Giant Berry Farms and Specialized the team welcomes returning sponsors; Weyerhaeuser Paper Company, SRAM, Crank Brothers pedals, Squadra Team wear, TRP/Techtro and Clif Bar. Several other agricultural industry sponsors will also be featured and recognized as the season begins in the fall.
Beginning in October, the team will tackle a full Northern California schedule of races, the six Crank Brothers U.S Grand Prix races, CrossVegas as well as the National Cyclocross Championships in Kansas City, KS.
Watch for exciting results from the California Giant Berry Farms/Specialized Cyclocross team as the racing season begins. For more information on team activities or individual rider profiles, please contact Anthony Gallino or log onto www.calgiantcycling.com.
California Giant Berry Farms, one of the nation’s largest grower-shippers of fresh strawberries, has sponsored a cycling team for over six years and is proud to contribute to the health of American consumers by providing an abundant, healthy & delicious product. The company is committed to supporting cycling and other organizations that send positive messages about the importance of combining diet and exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle.
2007-08 Roster
Andy Jacques-Maynes Capitola, CA
Chance Noble Camarillo, CA
Justin Robinson Santa Cruz, CA
Josie Beggs Capitola, CA
Melodie Metzger Berkeley, CA
Shelley Olds Saratoga, CA
Gannon Myall Lafayette, CA
Henry Kramer Menlo Park, CA
Todd Hoefer Watsonville, CA