This was the first ever self-proclaimed 6hr World Championships (isn’t this how SSWC and SSCXWC started and continue today???) in Capitol Forest near Olympia Washington. Also known otherwise as “6Hrs of Capitol Punishment”. After a day or two of summer, Junuary started again the night before this event with steady rain continuing through most of the race. I chose to ride single speed again–why bother with silly gears if they aren’t going to work after a couple laps anyway?! Read more »

Some of you may remember posts in previous years about the Test of Endurance race. Several years ago this event started as a two lap 50 mile race that is held outside the tiny village of Blodgett, Oregon on the way from Corvallis to Newport. Corvallis (home of the Beavers) is also home to Barry “WicknastyB” Wicks and has a storied history of mountain bike events and sweet trails dating back to the 80′s. Mike Ripley, owner extraordinaire of Mudslinger Events, has threatened to add a 100 mile version for several years but there has never been much interest in a four lap 100 mile race.
This year he planned to make the hundy a reality by starting in Corvallis and riding to Blogett then completing the customary laps there before returning to town for the finish. I was pretty stoked about that and since I am two time TOE50 winner, I decided to come back for MORE after not attending the TOE for a couple years. Unfortunately we had a late winter with numerous snow events down to the valley floor in March followed by very wet and warm storms. This provided near record flooding in some areas and ended up washing out a bridge crucial to the Corvallis-Blodgett loop.

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This race took place at Washougal motorcross park. This is a world famous MX track that has been used for AMA national events for as long as I can remember. They have also opened it up for cycling events periodically but usually these events take place outside the moto season (spring/fall). Unfortunately loamy moto track doesn’t mix well will rainy northwest spring so against my better judgement Ryan and I headed north two hours after a week of showery weather. Read more »

If you’ve checked out my schedule for 2012 you will notice a re-visit to the NUE series. Back in 2008 I did quite well racing these ultra events and I wanted to check out some of the venues I hadn’t visited this year. While most of the NUE series consists of 100 mile events the Syllamo’s Revenge race in Arkansas is “only” 125k. This is likely because most of the course is singletrack trail and fairly technical in a rough, slow sort of way. With the shorter distance and  slower average speed I chose to rock the one-speed at this event as it seemed like the logical choice.

I arrived in Little Rock in time to check out Orbea USA and conveniently assemble my Ibis Tranny using proper shop tools. As has always been my experience visiting the “South”, these folks were super cool and generous and full of southern hospitality! Their sponsorship honch Frank had offered to give me a lift up to the venue Friday afternoon so we shoved off with his fiancee for the 2 hour trip north. We arrived Mountain View in time to pick-up our packets and preride the start which seemed to be the only selective part of the course. East-coast singlespeed guru, Gerry Pflug had kindly shared his suggestion for gearing which proved spot on. Read more »

It’s weird, but in four years of mountain bike riding and racing, I don’t think I’ve EVER flatted. A couple cyclocross flats and my share on the road, but never on a mountain bike. So warming up on the road, I rode through a parking area and picked up a chunk of glass in my rear tire. There was a half-inch slash in the tire, it wasn’t resealing and start was in less than 20 minutes and over half a mile away, so I didn’t have time to wait around, so I took it apart and put in the tube I was carrying. That’s a really messy job on a dirt road with new tubeless tires!! Fortunately a guy with his car nearby let me use his floor pump. I made it to the start with about 5 minutes to spare. I didn’t want to overfill since the tire was slashed, I put in about 25 psi, I can usually get by with that even on tubes and I figured if it wasn’t going to hold, I’d know during the 3.5 mile start loop and I wouldn’t have too far to get back. Read more »