For the record...

... because I race for C3-Sollay.com, which is sponsored by Joe's Bike Shop, I want to make it perfectly clear that Joe's had nothing to do with the shoddy build of my bike referenced in the post below. I merely did not have Joe build it because I am lazy and did not want to drive all the way up to Baltimore. And since I'm often seen around town sporting my old Capitol Hill Bikes kit, I also want to clarify that they did not build the bike either.

On another note, I did not realize how bad I look getting back on my bike after the barriers. I need to work on that. Definitely not smooth at all.

The long Metro ride home after my chain broke.
Eating (and drinking) at Cafe 8, on Eight Street SE.

But this one goes to eleven...

This pretty much sums up my weekend...

I was supposed to race NCVC's Ed Sander Memorial CX race but instead I stayed home, drank beer and watched the Skins beat up on the Cowboys. Yes, I could have raced another bike, but I was not in the mood, not after picking up my brand new Blue cross bike and nearly crashing because the stem bolts were not tight and the bars took a major nose dive on me going down Capitol Hill. Then I dropped my chain about 50 (I kid you not) times because the derailleur limits were not set properly (or at all if you ask the bike shop that wound up fixing everything). Then my chain breaks because the pin was bent during installation. Thankfully, we had already made it back to the city and were near a Metro stop, otherwise that would have been one long walk. Oh, and then the straddle cable on the brakes was cut too short so my wheel would not fit. Yeah, I was pissed. In fact, there was so much wrong with the build of the bike that it took Conte's (by the way, Conte's did not build the bike) 2 hours to fix everything. They had to basically rip all the cables off and start from scratch. But on the bright side, the Blue is ready to go and hopefully I will be too come this weekend's doubleheader of Hagerstown/Kelley Acres.

I'm behind on my blogging so I'll just state that last weekend's races were ok. I had good finishes (a 2nd and a 3rd) but something seems to be wrong with the legs. I can't climb my way out of a paper bag these days. Or maybe it's Anne Rock(star) intimidating me at the start. Here are some photos...

Dirty Girl Anne (in pink). See how she's already got her elbow on me?

Charm City Cross podium. We are sporting our coveted Under Armour jackets that we won.

Goat with chicken.

New favorite place to eat on the Hill, Cafe 8. Belga, my old favorite place, is always too busy. The only thing Cafe 8 lacks is Belgian beer, but this Polish one will do for now.

DCMTB-City Bikes host another cyclocross clinic at Fort Reno Park in Washington DC

Picture taken without permission from Gwadzilla.



See more pics on his famous (or should that be infamous, maybe notorious?) blog.

DC CX Practice

C3/DC does DCMTB CX Practice

Cross practice tonight.

Practiced dismounts, barriers,

and off-camber turns.

Thanks City Bikes for hosting these awesome clinics and special thanks to Mike Birner for coming out tonight and teaching this old dog some new tricks.

Kinesio Tape to the Rescue

My leg is getting worse.  Fighting compartment syndrome and still in a lot of pain.

I hope this helps... 

Ouchies!

The result of my crash on Saturday. It looks even worse now. I'm hoping the pain goes away soon so that I can race Coppi. My shoulder is pretty good unless I raise my arm over my head.

West Virginia (RTR) Day 3

Hiking with the White Menace

Our Ride

Look Jesse... we are riding on pavement.


Ride cut short due to a blown sidewall.

Hanging out at the Ranch/Barn

Snow White.

Snow White, Gary, and his kill.

White Menace and Gary playing Frisbee.

West Virginia (RTR) Day 2

West Virginia (RTR) Day 1

Hell Yeah!

Check this out. Article poached from cyclingnews.com. Go here for the original.

Van Gilder, Schempf and Gallagher high light C3-Sollay.com Cross team

Nationally renowned criterium specialist Laura Van Gilder will join the cyclo-cross scene this fall by joining the C3-Sollay.com 'cross team. Van Gilder has been a mainstay on the elite women's national road and criterium circuit for years with her explosive sprinting and aggressive racing style - both skills that team Director Kris Auer believes will help Van Gilder quickly adapt to the 'cross discipline.

Joining her on the squad will be Michael Gallagher, a multiple time US Armed Services National Champion racing with the elite men. Gallagher finished third in the MABRA elite series and looks for bigger results in 2008. The team will compete up and down the East Coast of the US, racing in the USGPs, the MAC and MABRA Series and targeting US Nationals in December. It will also promote the Charm City 'cross race, which last year drew 400 racers.

C-3 Sollay.com for 2008-9 Elite Men: Wes Schempf, Michael Gallagher, Andy Wulfkuhle, Ethan Townsend, Eric Linder, Zach Adams (U-23)

Elite Women: Laura Van Gilder, Diane Grim, Heidi Von Teitenberg, Beth Mason, Elizabeth Harlow, Amy Breyla

Elite Masters: Kris Auer, Jeff Cordisco, Chris Nystrom, Michael Kolb Juniors: Sam O'Keefe

Killer B's: Kat Wulfkuhle, Diane Vettori, Miles Smith, Norman Brach, Jon Hostetter, Marc Vettori, Rich Bilson, Doron Petersan, Scott Olson, Johnny "Anger" May, Christina Briseno, Pete Kennedy