So I find myself at a new point in Kross. I started doing the "program" in August. I haven't raced much at all this year. So body fights these efforts. The races I have done. I know exactly how to race. Burn the matches when needed. My recovery is great. But I did OK.

So I find myself at the Kirkland race and decide to do the "double" usually this happens at Syracuse then I get my fitness boost and come out swinging. I'm thinking maybe I need this now. Well the best laid plans of mice and Krossers........ Race one went Ok. I got a good start but had no power in the tough sections. The Tufos were working and I'd pass people back in the grassy parts. Finished about were I expected. Grabbed a gel and some water and lined up with the 3/4's, just for training a back of the pack start and stayed there and just flat out suffered.

I dug deep and finished. I wasn't last. But the hecklers had a field day with me. It wiped me out for three days. I was sore all over. WUSS.

Next up was the Moustache 100. That should have been right up my alley. But with City Mouse coming to visit,I'd be gone the whole day. So I shifted gears and we did Buckhill. Jeremy did a great job. Only one race this weekend. A handful of Gangsters in attendance. "Delicious" Jeff Walker is killing it. We used to have some great battles when we first met. He's upped the game this year and rode the pine. Great to see him flying. His other half the ever energetic Katina is on the same ship.

Any Kross race demands a good start to keep the wolves at bay. Goal one was be in the top three for this. I got the hole shot and this allowed me to ride my own race till we hit the pavement. About half way up Dave Faso launched a brutal attack. I stayed within myself. Now the players started coming, Jeff, Ad, Glenn and Ernie. I hung around the top five and was redlining it everywhere. The "Skinny Family" was yelling encouragement as was City Mouse, Katina and the Jeff's parents. The Maxxis Larsens were a crap shoot as it got wetter the front became worse. Slip slide oops almost crash. Not my style. My run ups were good and strong. Ninth. It will come.

City mouse had to get to NYC so we bolted early and hit the Mythaca Apple Fest and had lunch at the Ale House. Good beers and food. Some snooty college kids burned our waitress for the check. They obviously were not poor. Losers. Our waitress was really a fun person, she got stuck paying for them beers and all.

It's the Ommegang weekend. I did the double there last year and beer hand ups. I'm thinking YES, for the double. It will be a NY Cross Race this year so we'll see what that brings for us.

Friday found us trying the new Dim Sum place after driving by it and almost hitting Thai Thai. It will remain a secret spot. Great food and very in expensive. We had a one year old Weyerbacher Pumpkin Ale. MMMM and a Souther Tier PumpKing ale. This was like liquid carrot cake. Then the white wines flowed followed by a Malbec. A trip to the Ale House netted a couple fall Ipa's.

Saturday night the mice went to see Groovin' to 60's at EPAC. It was a fun show.

So love the one your with. Drink good beer, eat good food and ride your bike.

Most of all come see a Kross Race near you. Heckle, see the suffering. Enjoy. OGQ

Three not quite blind Mice loaded into the Vi-bee and made the drive to Pixburg. It rained most of the way, making for "a dark and stormy drive". But we made it. City mouse had some really nice shrimp chowder waiting for us along with some breads and cheeses. Trans mouse of course had brought wine that needed tasting.

Saturday Country mouse made omelets and we were off to The Big Pour at Construction Junction for the brew fest. It was to be a zero waste event,that was cool. The event opened smoothly and you were in the organic area first beers and food. So a little snack and a organic Pale ale to start. I'd mapped out the beers I wanted to try. TRASH (Three Rivers Alliance of serious home brewers) Had great white beers. My favorites of the day were from Voodoo Brewery. Their Majic Whit and Grand Met were great. Jaunty Mouse found a Hail Mary that was tasty. The Sharp Edge made incredible waffles. Point Bruge had great frites. You could even have Indian and Ethiopian food here. Mad mex had some tasty wings and ribs. A super good time.

Then we went back to City mouses' for a pool party and more food and drink. I knocked out some quesidillas for appetizers. He'd made a chicken salad prior, then WE did the prosciutto wrapped basil stuffed shrimp on the grill. Rocky did not make an appearance. Everyone was pretty well "n the edge" at dinner time. We tried to watch a movie after. But only Jaunty mouse could keep his eyes open.

Sunday we had a Denver Strata. This is becoming a breakfast favorite. Then is was back on the road. No tickets. Priceless.

Now Kross starts this weekend. Thoughts of the double roll through my head. The workouts have been good. A double usually gives me a fitness boost. It will be my first race on the new carbon rig. Rolled a tubbie today. Mounted up a new one then the valve wouldn't seal. Hope I can run the Tufos tomorrow. Raise a pint, toast your friends. Be good. OGQ

Last weekend was my birthday. So since I've turned 45 I've beaten the family curse. of expiring with a heart attack. Though I occasionally seem to throw myself to the ground or have some other malady to remind me of my mortality. I just keep on truckin'.
So country mouse really wanted to ride the big Zook to Pixburg. The rear tire looked like it had just enough meat on it for the job. Wrong. I get there and the wear bars are all showing through.
Now lots of people would run it even longer. I had a "half a tire" at home I thought I'd put on when I got back. Wrong again. So a trip to various shops and Cycle sport had one on sale and a 20% discount. Back we went got it mounted up and return home. I start to mount the rear wheel lift the rear caliper and noticed the piston has moved inboard. Great. I hadn't touched the brake lever. Push it back in, which would usually solve the problem. Wrong again. Now the lever bottomed out like it had a huge air bubble. So a quick check of the master cylinder shows it's down a little on fluid through the sight window. True to an engineers heart you can't access it easily. Half the bike has to come apart. A trip to the hardware and auto supple nets the parts to bleed the brakes. Hmmm, one tiny air bubble. Still bottoms out when pushed back,but pumps up right. A call top Pops nets other solutions. Follow through with these and I'm back to square one. So I call the local shop and they say they'll take a peek at it. Zip down and the sign in for service. The wrench comes out and we pop it up on the center stand. I show him what I think is happening. He checks things and says " These brakes are right on". HUH? Sweet. Thanks, Gattos Cycles. So that drama is over.
City mouse made my birthday special with a nice dinner out at the Red Room. Oddly we both thought the potato gratin was the best. Three kinds of potatoes saved thin and baked with Parmesan. Yummy. We capped off the night at the 6 and Save with the "Ten Patrons".
We'd been there earlier in the week and Sean a Sam Adams rep had brought in a Koozie with a handle for a pint glass. Everyone thought it was a good idea. BUT, The new African American bartender thought it was the "Gayest thing he'd ever seen" and kept going on how gay and queer it was. Well that raised the hackles. He had his sun glasses on top of his head. So I said " Hey all the gays wear their sunglasses like that inside". What? Yea it's true. He took them right off and asked where should I put them. I said "Where ever you want". I had a suggestion. HA!
Did sneak in a ride among the rain storms and city mouse and I rode the butler trail.
We also went to see Inglorious Bastards. OK a bot slow but fun. The Hurt Locker was on the schedule but we got behind. We'll get to it.
As usual we cooked up a storm and enjoyed some new beers.
Thanks City Mouse for a fun Bday trip. My new sqaure plates will compliment the new kitchen.
Thank whoever your higher power is for what you have. Tell your friends how great they are.
Ride your bike,drink good beer and eat good food.
Oh and LGV watch out for raccoons.
OGQ