IGVENTURE

[jackx]

Hey Iggy,

Thanks for your sharing your experiences and ruminations.

I had that same exact thought yesterday about snakes on the roads. I have never seen so many snakes on one ride. I rode about 40 miles yesterday throughout Chester, Long Valley and Pottersville and I saw about 6 garter snakes, 5 of which were smushed. Although I anticipate seeing snakes in the woods when MTB'ing, but don't probably because they are camouflaged in the woods and not as apparent as they are on the pavement.

 

[vanseggern1]

Very enjoyable reading, Iggy. The pictures really make the thread. Good stuff.

 

[stb222]

+1 on the pictures, great stuff

 

[bonefishjake]

you're right poo, i am proud of you. nice pics too.

unfortunately with my riding schedule over the next two months squats just aren't in the cards. i'd do nothing but burn myself up. i am still hitting the gym though. i know you don't care but i figured i'd mention it. that's how i can put a bike on my shoulder for cross w/o having it hurt. there's more there just skin and bone. and in norm's case, hair. 🙂

 

[pooriggy]

I'm glad everyone is enjoying the pics. One of my hobbies at one time was photography. My bachelor pad consisted of a keg-orator and dark room, we also had a pool and a pond.

Hey its the weekend...par-tee on.

 

[rottin']

we also had a pool and a pond.

"...the pond is good for you"

 

[liong71er]

i like snake pics too..but not the snake.

i'm too seen too many death snake on roads.
never though, the cause of death was simply laying there to warm themself and waiting to get smushed.

thanks,iggy!

 

[pooriggy]

​

Ok lets recap what I did this weekend. This was a busy one that included mtb racing, a state cup soccer match, and a trail maintenance session at Allaire. Oh and say hi to Dave Castner, aka Panhead...he raced on Saturday morning with me.

Saturday

The morning started out with the Bagels and Bacon race at Allamuchy in the BSA camp. The course was a 1.5 mile loop, with a little climbing some flow-ee single track, fire roads to pass people on and just a couple rocks thrown in here and there. Compared to racing at Jungle last week and the Mooch Madness in late August this course was a lot easier to get through. Nothing was real technical nor was anything real steep.

I was happy with how I did, I came in 8th out of 26. This made up for my week showing at Jungle. Racing for 40+ minutes was a lot more fun then beating myself up for 2+hrs. Now I see the appeal of cross racing. The other thing about this kind of racing is that you saw other racers more and competed greater to get ahead of them. In some of my races this year I would go a lap without seeing anyone. This race only had 30 something people but you were constantly battling to stay ahead of someone or make a successful pass. This is were the fun comes in.

If it weren't for homo love I'd have no love at all.​

The day of the race everything went smooth and the results were up really fast. I was able to hang out to watch the award ceremony and still get on my way by 10:30 to make it back for Jamie's soccer game. Chris R. really has the scoring thing down to a science.

State Cup Soccer Match

By 12:15 I was in the car with Mary and Jamie on my way to Delran for soccer. This is a state cup match, which basically means its a big game. On the way there we're going down rt 130 in Burlington and pass a go-go bar with a sign that says Play House, A Classy Go-Go. What does this mean?

As I was driving down the road I thought that is a stupid sign, who wants to go to a classy go-go?! If I owned a go-go bar my sign would say Come in for a beer, we got dirty pigs.

Ok so the soccer game is tied up 2/2 and we go into over time. With 2 minutes left in OT Jamie gets his foot on a ball that came screaming across the center and scores the winning goal. Yay! I felt good for him, as one of the smallest kids on the team he was getting manhandled a lot during the game and didn't have a strong showing. He had a great celebration dance after the goal, his team mates loved it.

J is in the front row on the left with his hand on the ground.

Sunday

Did the early shift thing at work and cut out of there by 8:00 so I could head over to Allaire and help out with the TM session. We cleaned out nicks and skimmed sand deposits off the trail. This sand traps water from flowing off the trails and also makes traction on a mtb very difficult.

At the end of the session I met FFT, aka John. It felt a little awkward introducing myself but I think it would have been more weird to ignore John. I like to be friendly with everyone on mtbnj. I shot a cool group pic and posted on the Allaire TM thanks post that Frank put up.

I only have room for one more pic, so here it is. From Saturday's race.

Colorful Socks & Sexy Calves​

​

 

[Steve Vai]

Remember, it's only gay if you push back.

Thanks for yelling at me through the weird rock section that for the life of me couldn't get right. Maybe I should stop riding that weirdo bike with the little tires around the grass?

-Jim.

 

[pooriggy]

You hammered those laps, I tried like hell to catch you on that last lap. No could do. Great race.

 

[UtahJoe]

Nice work out there Iggy, I think you will find that the effort is pretty similar in a cross race. Felt like it to me anyway. Though cross courses usually dont have climbs as big as that one.

Nice pics!

 

[pooriggy]

The Buzz

​

Wow, everyone is all a buzz about the Bagels an Bacon race. The thing sold out in like 36hrs, I think there may be some sport openings but that will be gone by tomorrow. The chic's are even getting into it...as well they should.

What's not to like about an event like this. Its short, fast and cheap. There is probably a joke in there but I'm gonna skip it. The overall reaction to the 1st race was what fueled the sell out of this 2nd ST. This event is that good.

Bagels & Bacon Builders LLC
back row: Dan, Matty, Jim, Chris
front row: Mike, James, Mandi, Rob

[/CENTER]

If you didn't get in the race there is still plenty to do on October 9. This is the date of the MTBNJ Picnic. Group rides will be scheduled along with plenty to eat and drink. You should make every attempt to come to the picnic and here is why. You get the chance to put some faces to names and develop some friendships. This is the one time of year we get together, show up you'll be happy you did.

Dragons welcomed​

The Training​

The short track thing has kicked me into training mode, or as about as serious as I can get. I did more of those power intervals yesterday in the training grounds. This is where I put it in the highest gear at a near stop and stay seated and grind it out.
6X75X75
These things make every muscle in my body contract, even my eyebrows hurt from the grimace.

I don't have a power meter so I don't know what kind of wattage I'm putting out. This is probably for the best, do I really want to know how weak I am. Ignorance is bliss, if I think I can beat Vreeland I'm half-way there.

Off Topic​

Jimmy or Liong...What the hell does this say? I think its Korean, no? Does it say drink more ovaltine . It's a golf towel I found at work a couple weeks ago, now its my bike rag.

I Like​

moss. some people tell me bleach and water will take care of my moss problem on my pavers...they be illin

 

[Steve Vai]

I wouldn't use me as a guage. I have a rigid fork on my bike now, I'm going to die.

Jim

 

[The Kalmyk]

Moss problem??? Really??? I think it totally adds to the pavers... Dem cats are crazy talking with bleach and water

 

[stb222]

Dragons welcomed​

​

Shark? Dragons wear even tighter jeans.​

 

[pooriggy]

I wouldn't use me as a guage. I have a rigid fork on my bike now, I'm going to die.

Jim

You always say stuff like that, you'll be fine. Just take it to CR and do a test ride.

I could use Dave K. who came in 10" before you as a gauge but Its more fun to pick someone you know as a target. I'm sure Grateful Jeremies are gonna have a bullseye on my back. Its a dog eat dogfood race.

Back to the Training Grounds.

I took a page out of Utah's training manual and did 3x8x8 and followed it up with 3x1x1. This looked like something I should be doing. I admit I'm flying by the seat of my pants with this training stuff but hey its better then doing the same tempo rides. Besides doing this new stuff is just a good mental thing to keep me motivated to train. I've gone out to the Swamp a 1000 times to ride, going out to do these types of work outs makes it a lot less boring. Again no power meter, it would be nice but at this point its not necessary.


Way way

The last h2h race is 10 days away. Waywayanda is back and it looks like its going to be pretty much the same course as in May. I'm going to do this one, I did the spring cleaning race here and got 8th out of 19. I was happy with this result but I'd like to try and do better. Chances are there will only be like 10 guys signed up in my age group, it is the last h2h race. The h2h fades as the season goes on. Oh well, I like wayway and need to work on my tech race courses.


Take a Hit

Caper is going to see Wilco tomorrow, I like Wilco, I like Norah Jones singing Wilco.

 

[soundz]

Jimmy or Liong...What the hell does this say? I think its Korean, no? Does it say drink more ovaltine . It's a golf towel I found at work a couple weeks ago, now its my bike rag.

I would first like to point out that you got it upside down. Translation : "Woodbridge Korean Catholic Church". All the Korean churches give out towels, it's like a tradition when you go to a picnic. I think original thought was that you would use them on the ground so you can get down on your knees and pray every morning, but everyone uses in the bathroom or for golf. I have 1000 of them in my closet.

 

[pooriggy]

Thanks Jimmy!
I hope the rest of you were paying attention, this will be on the final.

 

[RNG1]

Ironic golf association

 

[pooriggy]

Ironic golf association

no, no its United States Golf Association, or just USGA...there the governing body of golf.

The IGA folded years ago, the wasps wouldn't let them in there country clubs...friggin whitey!

This will be on the final as well.