IGVENTURE

[pooriggy]

Its September and right on cue Jamie has a soccer scrimmage tonight, so I gotta get this in quick.

Post Mooch

Sunday was Hurricane day, no riding but I wouldn't call it a rest day. I made it through ok and hope you did too.

I felt like I was tackled by Jake & Utah at the same time after the Mooch race. I went down a few times on rocks and have some nice bruises with that great black and blue color's.

Monday was an easy day on the bike to recover from the race, followed up by by Tuesdays moderate pace ride for 2hrs. By Wednesday I was ready for a tempo ride. After work I did the the 3 hr. out and back from upper Freehold to Princeton. I've found that these tempo ride's are easier when wind is not an issue. Next time I have to remember to bypass Princeton, Nassau street is nice and all but when your looking for tempo speed it can be dangerous.

I signed up for some eggs and bacon ride, I'm not sure what this means but I'm in. I know what it doesn't mean, like me going up to Lake George before the ass crack of dawn to race my road bike in the tour of the Adirondacks. I was kinda looking for an out to do that race, eggs and bacon just seems easier.

Post Irene

Hopefully folks are getting there power back and drying out at this point. I made my way over to Allaire Wednesday evening to help Frank and his crew with clearing trails from the storm. I'm not the poster boy for Jorba trail maintenance, but I do what I can. If you can do what you can and help out Jorba with trail clearing we can all enjoy the trails sooner rather then later.

Ok that's enough preaching. How about we get stupid instead? My friend told be about this on youtube...I love the commentary from the Manville dude.

Tune in an turn on.

I sending this tune out to Soundz and Spence. This is a tight sound for a live performance, which is not easy to do when your not in the studio. The one great thing the band can do is take the song to another level when performing live...and I think they did here. Dig it.

I like Galloping Hill inn. Great burgers and dogs, but I like it because it reminds me of my childhood. My parents used to take me here, now I take my kids...every time we go I tell them i used to come here as a kid, I like annoying my kids.

 

[Carson]

NJ.com is reporting that the NG troops who drowned the Hummers in the flood waters will face no discipline. That's fine as I am sure they got screamed at by someone with collar brass.

 

[pooriggy]

Soccer

This is Jamie's 3rd year on a soccer team based out of Morristown. We travel 45 minutes+ to make it to practice 3x/wk and then there are the games which are all over the place. This season we're going to Philly, NY and as far as MD for a tournament. Even I don't go this far to race my bike...ahhh the things we do for our kids. Every year the team gets better and the level of competition is intense. This year we are facing the top ranked U14 teams in the state.

J is front and center next to Pele. I'm not sure what to call black people anymore, my kids say its african american. I want to be called an anglo saxon american.

More Mooch

Saturday morning I went up to mooch to help put together the ST course for the race in a few weeks. I was late cause I needed to sleep in. This was my one day off so I was a man of leisure. I worked for about 45 minutes then rode the course with Pearl, Mandi, Jim N and rlb Rob. After doing a couple laps of the ST we hopped over to the original 10 miler mooch madnss course and did a lap. We rode it in reverse, some of the rocks were really washed out from Irene.

The concept of a short track course is new to me, doing 1.5 mile laps for 40 minutes is something I've never done. The shortest mtb race I did this year was 2hrs. The short track course is all about going at top speed the whole time without concern for pacing. I did one lap with Chris 26er at a hot pace and gotta say that it was a blast being able to do a lap in 9 minutes. I'm not sure if I could do that for 40 minutes but I'm gonna try.

I managed to take a group shot of the folks who came out to build the course but Bret didn't want to be in the picture. As he was telling me he hates having his picture taken I snapped this.

Today

I went into work early this morning then came home and fixed the toilet, changed the oil in my car, cleaned my mtb and drove to Marty's in Morristown to pick up an Ingitor tire for my bike. When I got home I set it up tubeless. My neighbor up the street has an air compressor so this was a breeze. Its amazing how much you can do when you take a day off from riding the bike.

This was my back tire I replaced. This Saguaro has seen (2) Dark Horse 40's, 6 hr's o Cathedral Pines, Bearscat 50, 4+hrs at Mooch madness, Many h2h races and many group rides to Mooch, Ringwood/Ramapo. I'd say I squeezed quite a bit of life out of it.

 

[Norm]

Next time you gotta ask me about the Ignitor. I have a few in the basement unclaimed by the team.

Here he is hiding:

 

[pooriggy]

Do you have any other unclaimed team stuff? i need some new road tires too.

Bret actually posed for me.

 

[Norm]

Do you have any other unclaimed team stuff? i need some new road tires too.

Bret actually posed for me.

No road tires but I think I have a pair of gloves that I had to eat

 

[pooriggy]

Happy labor day.

party up.

Get it Daddy

 

[pooriggy]

Obligatory Home Town Ride Post

Anyone who blogs is required to ride to there home town, take pics and report back the fact findings to the mtbnj public. Norm told me this when I started my blog and I finally got around to doing this.

I grew up in Roselle, not to be confused with Roselle Park. Westfield Ave seperates the 2 towns, the gamin maps Roselle out.

This is a ride I do during rest weeks or for recovery stuff when I don't want to climb. Warinaco Park is nice because its one way and its a loop, which means you don't have to stop, unless some jogger runs across the street right in front of you and you hit both brakes hard to avoid taking out dumbass with ipod on. So stupid.


Well anyway I had my head in the clouds for this ride, there were even some breaks of blue sky and a hint of sun. Riding in this weather beats the suck ass shit we've been getting. Riding in Warinanco park is usually just a cruise ride but as I was fiddling with my camera on the side of the road some muggles on bikes passed me. After my fiddling I pedaled to chase these guys, not full on sprint but prolly tempo pace. Yeah I ended up blowing by them. I don't know what it is but If I know someone else is in the park I have to get a pass in, or at least I felt that way this afternoon.

​

As I was riding around the park I saw a banner advertising Music Fest. They have this every year in Union County, it usually involves some washed up act. This year its Blondie. Damn I am kinda curious, like I would like to hear Deborah Harry but seeing grandma Blondie could kill my image of vixen Blondie. I watch that Blondie vid I posted up a couple weeks ago like 1x/wk, seeing 2011 Deborah could be rough.

Thats the problem with musical vixens, no one loves them when they get old and frompy. Someone like Greg Allman can sing Stormy Monday until he drops dead and people will still go seem him...I think he died 2 yrs ago but he still performs.

Ok so pedal out of the park and head to my house I grew up in. I pass by my old house like 3x/ yr but I am always amazed how small the block seems, I feel like the scale is off or something. I loved my block and the town I grew up in but damn, this place is a shit hole now...maybe it was back then too and I just didn't know it.

Its a shame to seem my homestead is such a messy state. My dad used to keep up with all repairs, painting and yard work. He used his vacation time to paint the house every 5 yrs or so. Well there is siding on the house now but other than that it looks like someone let the place go.

As I look at this pic I just remembered the time when my brother played sniper and shot a kid with a bb gun out of the attic window across the street.Ahh, the good old days.

Continuing the ride I headed over towards the shopping center by Wood ave. along the way I spin around the parking lot of the 1st golf course I worked at...that place was as close to Bushwood as you can get. I remember one busy Saturday morning when golfers were teeing off we lit a bottle rocket that somehow ended up getting aimed toward the 1st tee. Those golfer's were pissed, but we darted out of there like cockroach's when they came to yell at us.

Last stop, Lun Wah. This is the only business in Roselle that was around when I was a kid. Well the liquor stores are all still there too(hey no shit, really?) I've eatin here, I guess its good. I am not a connoisseur when it comes to chinese food, Norm would have to tell me if its good.

Well folks I hope you enjoyed the tour of my crummy but happy little hometown...see you around the hood.

 

[Norm]

I'm fairly sure that place is going to suck. What's Polynesian food anyway? But really you might think authentic Chinese sucks so who am I to say that a Chinese place that reminds me of Joe Canal's in deep south Jersey is bad?

That music fest banner is loaded with washed up action. Paul Rodgers too, impressive. When I was young Bad Company was good stuff. I have to admit I kinda forgot they existed. I will likely forget tomorrow.

I went to see Jim today and forgot to warn him you're stalking him.

Good use of Muggles.

Surprised no music links given music fest. The vixen idea applies for sure with Lady Miss Kier. You actually linked the "now" video when I brought that up months ago. Sad.

Is it ok to say penis?

 

[Delish]

Damn I am kinda curious, like I would like to hear Deborah Harry but seeing grandma Blondie could kill my image of vixen Blondie. I watch that Blondie vid I posted up a couple weeks ago like 1x/wk, seeing 2011 Deborah could be rough.

My mother in law (now officially a grandma) went to college with Blondie. Pretty sure you'll be better off not seeing 65 year old Debbie Harry. Some memories are better kept on the shelf.

 

[pooriggy]

i just like saying Lun-wah.. all these chinese places use only like 3 different names. There is only 1 Lun-wah. it almost sounds Hawaiian...no?

Jim stalked my bike, I saw jim 3 days in a row...thats more then i see my kids.

Penis is ok, but its more correct to say Richard.

My mother in law (now officially a grandma)

Congrats Eric! Hopefully you'll still be able to get xc racing in.

 

[pooriggy]

Can you dig it...i knew that you could.

This is on my radar, maybe a 1 hit wonder but i'm on it.

The studio version.

The fun open air performance.

 

[The Kalmyk]

As I look at this pic I just remembered the time when my brother played sniper and shot a kid with a bb gun out of the attic window across the street.Ahh, the good old days.

Me and two of my friends got busted for shooting at the PSE&G guy with a bb gun... Behind my house in North Brunswick was a station of some sorts and every so often they would come by in their trucks... I remember I was aiming for the gas tank

 

[The Kalmyk]

This one hitter had to be in your blog😛

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dZW1C3neao

 

[pooriggy]

oh shit i forgot about that song! In college we had knew every line of the end of that song and would quote it more than caddyshack.
you dismissed

 

[Norm]

It is going to be a long, long winter.

 

[pooriggy]

its on

you just a squirrel trying to get a nut!

 

[pooriggy]

Let me tell you about my weekend.
​

Saturday I had to be at work early, like in at 5:30 am early. Working weekends is not rocket science this time of year on a golf course. I just basically have to show up to make sure everyone else showed up. Needless to say there are a lot of other things I'd rather be doing at 5:30 am on Saturday morning, like maybe sleep until 6:30 then get out on the bike...oh well, the man don't pay me to do that.

I got out of work at 9:30 then headed home to drive to Philly for my sons soccer game. Before I even left for this game I already drove 80 miles. Yeah my cars has lots of miles on it.

The game was ok, the boys played well and the parents were well behaved. I used to yell at the refs on occasion but my son told me he can hear me during the game when I do this and its distracting...so now I keep my mouth shut. I admit my 13 yr. old is more mature than me sometimes.

We got home by 5:00. I was not in the mood to go out on the road bike to do a pre-race tune up for the Jungle Habitat race the next day so I just got my bike stuff ready for the next day and had dinner. Fell asleep my 9:30, getting up at 4:00 am will do this to you.

Jungle Land​

Sunday I woke up at 7:00 and went to church with the family. I like the late starts for Cat 1 racers, it allows me to wake up and be a family man. By 10:20 I headed over to my buddy John Kuhn's house to catch a ride with him to the race.

We got to Jungle land by 11:30 and saw the Cat 2 riders begin to trickle in. As I rode around the parking lot I saw a lot of bruised riders, one guy had his arm in a sling and an ice pack on his shoulder. Seeing this just re affirmed my plan not to kill myself today.

Did a warm-up with John, Rob Hayes, Kirt, Utah...well it started out this way, we lost Rob and John. At the start we all found each and lined up in our age cats. I took my customary position next to Kirt, cause this is what I do.

We went out and I felt good but wanted to pace myself. I was in the back third going up the fire road. There was a lot of talk about the course being wet and muddy, the only wet stuff was in the beginning on the way to warthog. There was an occasional wet spot but compared to mooch a couple weeks ago the rocks were fairly dry and ride-able. I also put an Ignitor on the back to replace a very worn Saguaro. This worked out well for me.

I rode well in warthog but fumbled a lot on the climb up otter. With a lot of people in front of me and behind me I could not get into a rhythm. I lost ground here and could not get it back. After the descent down goat I fumbled a lot again on the way over to animal chute. I would clear one section then stumble on the next.

At the start of lap 2 I came upon this guy in a Black Bear team kit who passed me in lap 1. I passed him and then he passed me when I would fumble. This passing each other thing went back and forth for pretty much all of lap 2. We also started to annoy each with comments as we passed each other. Looking back now it was kinda comical.

Going into lap 3 I knew I had to get back into this thing and loose Black Bear team dude. As we came out of animal chute I drilled the warthog section, the only section I could ride without issues. This effort was enough for me to stay out of sight of Black Bear and the stragglers.

I continued to muddle my way through the course and finished with no one behind me. Looking at my garmin my 3rd lap was faster then my 2nd, which is my usual mo.

When Black Bear dude came across the line I went over and shook his hand and we shared a laugh. Bill is a nice guy, my 3rd lap effort came from trying to keep away from him. I'm not so sure I would have had the same motivation if he wasn't chasing me.

I ended up getting 11 out of 18, not quite mid-pack but given the terrain I'll take it. This course favored great technical riders, so my finish was no great surprise to me. I was just happy that I survived.

After the race I walked around with camera in hand looking for some interesting subjects. I didn't have to go far to find Art White, Kirt Mills and Ellen White hanging out. As I was composing the shot someone said hey the Jorba connection.
The Whites are Jorba reps and handle TM at Ringwood and Kirt is responsible for Chimney Rock. These folks work hard on trails and lead volunteers to provide us with great trail conditions. They also support the racing seen as fierce competitors. Art races 50+ and is a regular on the podium. I turned 45 this year, Art is my inspiration that you don't have to be young to be fast.

Art White , Kirt Mills , Ellen White

I was going to walk up to Utah but he was parked too far away. These 3 clowns were closer. Right after the shot they busted out this group robot dance thing, it was awesome.

John Kuhn, Rob Hayes, Kirt​

 

[Norm]

I was going to guess it was Bill from BB. He's a really good guy, and supported both our races. He and I used to race against each other when it was still called Sport.

 

[pooriggy]

​

Switch it up.

Its easy to get into a rut with training, we usually stick to what we know. This gets boring after awhile and doesn't provide much for inspiration. Bored with the idea of a tempo ride but still needing to put in a decent training ride, yesterday I did some power work on the roadie.

Talking to Kirt before the race at Jungle on Sunday he told me he was doing these killer over-geared starts for 75". I don't remember how many sets he was doing but figured 6 would be a good number. I set my roadie on the highest gearing and slowed to less then 10mph. When I hit the lap button I stayed seated and grinned it out. The first 45" wasn't too bad but the last 30" was rough.

6x75x75
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/114635827

I screwed up the lap button thing but you can see the 6 spikes in my HR when I did the sets. This was harder then I thought it would be, I didn't think 75" could hurt that much. White Bridge rd is a good area to do this kind of work because it long and flat with very little traffic. I call this area the training grounds, back when I was a dedicated roadie I used to pedal out here to do interval work. After the power work I tempo'd home to finish out the ride. It felt good to throw this type of work into my training, my legs felt like I squatted when I was done, Jake would have been proud of me.

The shadows are starting to grow long and I can feel the summer sun softing its beam. Cool nights and warm pleasant days, this is the best time of year to be out on a bike. In the coming weeks I'm gonna take days in the middle of the week to head up north to ride. I did this a lot last year with Falco, Kirt and Weber, it would be fun to get that crew together again.

My race schedule consists of a short track race at Mooch Saturday then maybe one more ST in October followed by the last enduro of the year at Cathedral Pines. Cross is something I like to get into but my son has a busy soccer season in the fall and besides I can't afford another bike right now.

Oh yeah, this is totally random but I put a whole in a pair of my new team socks already. Well the hole is in one sock and not the pair. Me and grammar Glick had a texting session about this. GG doesn't like the fact that the high tube socks hide his sexy calves...i agreed. I suggested cutting the top part of the socks and making sweat bands. If you see him in these sweat bands I take the credit on that one.

Watch out for snakes on the road. Reptiles warm themselves on asphalt this time of year to stay warm during the cool nights. Sometimes they stay on the road too long and get run over, like this guy.