November, eh?

Average air temperature in Earallysville this Nov?  63 degrees.  And today, Nov 28th, we're tipping this anomaly even further in the anomolous direction with a 70 degree afternoon. 

May your Holidays be merry and your flowers be a-bloomin. 

I hope you did something good with this most wonderful of wonderful Novembers.  I've been doing a little exploring, myself.  Creating new in-roads.  Reckoning about a reckoning come February 19th. 

Exploration, something Pat Byrom might have known a thing or two about:

Her biographer seems to have left out the details about her massive calves, and the way her friends used to call her "Quadzilla".  But the park in her namesake reveals this. 

Mighty Fox Mountain, taken from the West, shortly above the Byrom trailhead. 

A bit short on the mileage, but way, way adequate on the elevation - Byrom is a tall one.  Mostly 1.5 track that's rapidly becoming single.  Well worth the trip west to check it out, but I'd recommend riding there, warming the legs up a bit.  If you dig right into that climb cold, right out of the parking lot with your morning latte still bubbly on the inside, you're in for some trouble about switchback number 3, 100 yds from your car.  But if you roll out Shifflets Mill to the base of blackwell's hollow on 810, you'll be ready to face the lady. 

Pat Byrom, you remind me of Colorado.  Bless you.  Damn you.  Thank you.

We'll try to be worthy.

Onward, it looks like BRC racing has finished atop the VORS scoreboard. 

Individually podium accolades:  Kev 29er wins SS, JP 3rd in XCat. Dreama 2nd in sport, Whedbee 2nd in expert.  And lots of folks filtering in here and there below that.  All in all, good enough for a 274 point victory in a 6000 point race with Design Physics out of the RIC.  In the grand scheme of a yearlong race, that's a photo finish.  Radical.  I'm psyched to see those folks up this way in February. 

Keep it pointed up, up, up. 

Climb.

It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll.

Watching a bunch of grown men sweat and wrestle late into the evening last night, it occurred to me that Cycling, in a way that doesn't always exist in sports, is fair to those that pursue greatness.  Unlike certain other sports where, through luck, teamwork, bullying, outright miracles, or other outside forces, you can win despite being substantially inferior.  See here, Denver Broncos.  See also, Tim Tebow.  They're winning a freakish amount right now.  Realistically, though, they're never the better team.  Racing bikes isn't like that, and contrary to popular opinion and excepting drug use, there is only one way to the top:

You've got to climb there. 

The Winter Training Series, back for good.  From Shawn at the Shop:

Need some extra push to stay fit and have some fun through the winter months?  The Winter Training Series is back for 2012.  This is a "for fun and fitness" attendance based point series intended to encourage area cyclists to stay active through the winter months. 
As an attendance based series, it is all about showing up and participating, NOT about being first to any finish line or quickest in any transition.

Events on slate for the WTS this year so far include.

Weekly:
Monday "Chill Will' rides 1pt
Tuesday/Thursday Trainer sessions: 1pt
Wednesday Night Rides: 1 pt
Thursday Ted "Shred" rides 1pt.
Saturday Fortuna 9am Ride: 2 pts
Saturday Clay Fitness Trainer Sessions: 2pts
Sunday Gravel Rides: 2 pts

Special events with point value include:
Darden Towe Cross Race (volunteer or race-November 27th)- 3 pts.
Two Man Mtb time trial (January 22nd) 3pts
Black Dog Bike's GW Ride (Date TBA) 3 pts.
Any CAMBC trail work day (Dates TBA) 2 pts.
Superbowl Ride (February 2nd) 3pts
Pantani Ride (February 19th): 4pts.

This series will start Dec. 1 and culminate on February 19th at the Marco Pantani ride.
 
Prizes for the series: (because a little incentive never hurts)
Men and Women leaders get:
1st place: $100 gift certificate to BRC
2nd place $75 gift certificate to BRC
3rd place $50 gift certificate to BRC
4th place: Free Fitting at BRC
5th place: free socks. (sort of a consolation prize)
13th place: new Bontrager RXL shoes!  (MTN, road or Triathlon….you pick!)

I welcome your ideas of any events that you would like to see in the series.  Look for a link in the coming weeks to a page that will track progress and the "rules" and standings.

 This is a "for fun" series only.  It is not a real race or competition.  Please don't kill yourself or others trying to do this "series" and if you do, we are not responsible.  Have fun, ride safely, stay fit through the winter, that is the goal.

Paranormal 2011 Results

Duo Coed	Name	Lap Count	Finish Time
1	Andrea Dvorak/Paul Buschi	8	5:33:24
2	Bev Richardson/Whit Zirkle	7	5:29:54
3	Mandi Goetz/Danny Frizzell	7	6:28:46
4	Mark Munn/Robin Robinson	5	6:35:58
5	Lauren Mills/Chris Petz	2	1:48:32

Duo Coed

Duo Men	Name	Lap Count	Finish Time
1	Jake King/Ben King	10	6:05:09
2	Ethan Lindbloom/Ian Marcuse	10	6:19:45
3	Jon Ciambotti/Patrick Norton	10	6:34:07
4	John Gonyo/Jason Plank	9	6:08:18
5	Peter Hufnagel/Chris Keeling	8	5:22:14
6	Ian Critz/Kevin Murray	8	6:29:48
7	Steven Cook/Scott Ramsey	8	6:34:32
8	Dave Tevendale/Shaine Smith	7	4:36:59
9	Lorenzo Battistelli/ Coleman	7	4:54:40
10	Sam Lindblom/Eric Magrum	7	4:59:16
11	Joseph Hoskins/Tim House	7	5:11:09
12	Brian Decker/Sean Graves	7	5:24:15
13	Dave Evans/Brian Mershimer	6	4:37:11
14	Spencer Ingram/Bryce Lowrey	6	4:48:48
15	Ted Smith/Matt Eckert	6	5:14:28
16	John Compton III/John Compton II	6	5:42:02
17	Joe Gibson/Tyler Cloutier	5	3:58:11
18	Carl Bailey/Michael Crockett	4	3:58:05
19	Robert Orgeira/Alex Pruneda	4	5:38:04

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Solo Men	Name	Lap Count	Finish Time
1st	Kyle Rodland	9	6:15:46
2nd	Jay Catlett	9	6:20:00
3rd	John Petraylk	9	6:22:31
4th	Alex Kurland	9	6:2548
5th	Marcos Lazzorato	9	6:32:47
6th	Geoff Keenan	9	6:33:41
7	Chris Cunningham	8	5:42:50
8	Benjamin Padilla	7	5:15:21
9	John Lewis	7	6:25:59
10	Joe Perpetua	6	5:06:45
11	Bruce Wickham	6	5:29:23
12	Dave Hardisky	6	5:34:49
13	Wood Thornton	6	6:05:05
14	Joseph White	5	4:45:05
15	Shane Griffin	5	4:54:37
16	Jim Fisher	4	2:56:45
17	Bridge Cox	4	3:35:22
18	Donny Peppard	4	4:01:19
19	Cory Woods	4	4:22:23
20	Andy Yost	4	4:29:56
21	Luther Barden	4	4:31:35
22	Rob Breckenridge	4	5:05:35
23	Thomas Burke	3	2:22:22
24	Robert Eiserman	3	2:36:04
25	James P. Morgan Jr.	3	3:11:23
26	Ethan Seltzer	3	3:1408
27	Tony Brown	3	3:49:44
28	Phillip Robb	3	4:00:05
29	Alan Bewley	2	2:14:18
30	Daniel Reilly	2	4:27:51
31	Jack Funk	1	3:59:38
32	Eric Fletcher	1	48:53

Solo Men Results

Solo Women	Name	Lap Count	Finish Time
1st	Jenny Whedbee	6	6:08:05
2	Nikki Chambers	5	5:43:07
3	Amy Coleman	4	4:05:25
4	Paula Smith	3	2:23:24
5	Stephanie Blanch	3	3:48:30
6	Dreama Davis	3	5:03:32
7	Ellen Ramsey	3	5:05:05
8	Stephanie Shephard	3	5:05:07

                       

Duo Women	Name	Lap Count	Finish Time
1st	Crista Fore/Jessica Riddle	6	6:15:26
2nd	Deborah White/Geana Wray	5	6:36:20
3rd	Maggie Neterval/Emily Heymann	4	5:03:34
4th	Carey Hill/Kristi Lomard	4	5:22:22