Snake Farm, that's what the tire choice has turned into. But only one snake rises to the surface.
Michelin Muds. The chosen ones stayed on the Pride.
Country Mouse and jaunty mouse made the trek to Syracuse. Now this course is either fast and dry or muddy. Today it was muddy again. Early rains and morning dew made it a bit sloppy.
Following Coach Mayhew's advice. I went for a good start but not the holeshot. Out of nowhere mark Shenstone zooms by. Can't have this. Then in an uphill right hander I hit the gas to cut inside and wheelie turn this corner almost lose it. But kept the gas on and blasted by two people. We hit the road and Mark Williams comes by. I jump on his wheel,but he is flying. So settle in and get the rhythm.Then crank it back up. Damn that was hard. But I card the win in the 55 plus. I am wasted,nothing in the tank. Roll around with the empty eyes and shoot a gel at the car. i have twenty minutes of recovery. Feel a bit better. Line up and the legs aren't there. I do two laps and pull the plug. Why dig a big hole? Usually the double is my turning point. But I guess Omme was.
We hit the Dinosaur Barbecue for post ride grub and beers. Mission accomplished.

Double up Buttercup.

Red Cross and the Cross Fire challenge were on the plate for this weekend. City mouse was in town and Jaunty is a big supporter. Nice having a race so close.
Last year Red Cross was a rain soaked epic quagmire of a race.
This year it was cool and dry and warming up. It had rained the day before so the early races were a bit slippy.
AJ pulled a big holeshot in the masters I slotted in around fifth in the first turn. I knew Bill would be tough. So tried to pull the advantage where I thought I had it. I had the gap. Mark and Bill were chasing hard. I'd gone up on tire pressure to avoid flats there. The front wasn't quite as solid as I liked in the turns but it wasn't bottoming out. Then I slid out and got tangled in the tape. Damn. This closed the gap for Bill. People were cheering us both. Then he attacked on the run ,but I got him. Was holding him at bay with one to go. he made a smart move as a lapper impeded me in the barriers. I jumped right back on him. Tried for the pass going in the tunnel,then we bumped I had to get both feet out. Time lost. Stay close. Figuring the place to pass was in the long  off camber if I could stay close. But he nipped me. A good race. But.


Sunday brought the second annual Cross Fire Challenge. A low key fun event. Teeter totters on the barriers. Not your average Kross. as Tim O'shea said "Any race is hard".
The plan today was give it my all. Haven't doubled back to back days in awhile. Last year Glenn said at the start "Our job is to catch all the open men". I told Paul this.( I caught all but four) Then the goal was get the holeshot and turn the screws, I did it. The first time up the hill I wasn't so sure about my legs. But what the hell. Then they loosened up and I hit the gas wherever I could. The gap grew,now I wanted out of sight out of mind.Come on little legs. They did it. The mice were cheering. AJ was telling me. You've done rule one and two concentrate on rule three. Only one bobble on the last lap as I pushed a line. job done, punch the sky. Felt great in the end.
City mouse made a veggie chili for the apres ride activities. Corn muffins too. Lots of good food, a curry, a pumpkin chili. Nice breads and desserts.
Thanks Pat and Marsha for hosting the Dirty Little Klub. All the cool kids were there.
I was glad City mouse got to see me win.

This weekend States looms. Weather looks to be cool and clear. A bit of fine tuning and the point will be sharpened. Then it's onto race promotion.
Eat good food, drink good beer, ride your bike. Love the one you're with. OGQ

Snake Farm by Ray Wylie Hubbard

Well a woman I love is named Ramona


She kinda looks like Tempest Storm

And she can dance like little Egypt

She works down at the snake farm





Chorus:



Snake Farm – it just sounds nasty

Snake Farm – well it pretty much is

Snake Farm – it's a reptile house

Snake Farm – Uuuggghhhhh......





Well Ramona's got a keen sense of humor

She got a tattoo down her arm

It's of a python eatin' a little mouse

Wearin' a sailor hat that says snake farm



Chorus



I asked Ramona how come she works there

She says it's got it's charms

Nothing to do in the winter

Now and then some kid gets bit at the snake farm



Chorus



Well Ramona likes her malt liquor

And a band from Wales thats called The Alarm

She said she cried when they broke up

She still plays their records at the snake farm



Chorus



Sometimes Ramona calls me up

And says come on down here, it's getting warm

She runs everybody off

And we...you know...it's a snake farm



Chorus



Chorus

The King headed to the Ommegang Brewery with city mouse in tow to help the Gangstas set up  the course for our event. We had plenty of help and I appreciated others asking for my wisdom on course layout. All added their own touch and we made a great course. Staking it out around the waffle and puppets event. Maybe even creating a few converts to come watch the next day. Six hours later we were done.
Headed to Oneonta for dinner at the Autumn Cafe. Good food and good beer. So after a nice meal we headed back to the humble Amber Inn. Minimal was it's feature. But it was clean warm and dry.
Up early prepped the race breakfast and headed to the Brewery. City mouse was supposed to work the reg table? I'd help a bit with course prep. Then suit up.
Kitted up and hit the course. The Michelins were working and pressures felt good. Legs were not feeling the Mad Alchemy Chocolatee love. The were feeling the being on my feet all day. But you have to make the best of what you have. Plan to work, work the plan. There was a Vermonter there in my age group that looked strong. I got a call up because of the Kirkland race. But I was on the right and should have moved left.
Off goes the gun and I get pinched at the first corner. Kick it in and move up. The Vermonter goes,get on his wheel. He punches the hill can't quite answer that but make it up in the technical/ But I'm already bumping the rev limiter hard. So have to ease up a bit and settle in get the diesel working. Start figuring out the course. OK ended up fourth. A bit of fade when I usually turn it up. Had decided to do back to back races.So I run in .change numbers,shoot a gel and some water. Toe the line mid pack. Oops forgot my timing chip. Back I go and now at the back of the pack. The first two laps are easy. It's a big living organism back here. Catch my breath as we lumber around. Punch the hill pass people. Move to anew organism,pass when I can. See an opening and go for it. Settle in and train. Then a Chris Cookie guy and I go at it for two laps in the end it comes down to a sprint he gets it after sitting on for two laps. but that's cool. The extra race will pay off. It's a rest week in the training cycle. Pics here.
http://mrw-design.com/ommegang10/

Thursday is too nice to pass up after three days of monsoons. It will just be a ride. High winds but no need to push it. Legs were so so. But that's cool too. Rest as hard as you train. The Swandrome awaited.
So the Texter emailed me and we had a plan for dinner. Text, text, text. We hit Los Tapitios then The Ale house for Firkin Friday and have a Dogfish 75 minute IPA and  Oktoberfest of various breweries. About midnight the rumblings start. This is going to be  bad. Backwash over and over. I give up and drive the bus thinking the evil will leave me. No it continues till 4:30 am along with a fever and aching. Needless to say I'm wiped out from lack of sleep.
Get up and meet Bobber for breakfast. I have an appetite but not much hope the coffee will remove any evil that is left in me. It helped.
Then had to get ready for house guests. Thought the exhausted haze I'm thinking Thai. Nothing like a green curry hot to rid the body of all things bad. It helped. I hit the bed early and had a decent nights sleep.
We were up and headed to the Swandrome. What a day. Bright blue fall sky. Low key,but hard event. I'd decided to give the Clements another try. More pressure in the rear. The front was fine.
Toed the line with everyone open men etc. Ad got the holeshot then some Syracuse guy took over. Slotted in the mix and tried not to hit the rev limiter. Then it happened a big hole opened and I moved into second. Pace yourself. We had the split and the idea is to hang in there. It was a mix of old and young. Then on lap three. Bang a flat off the back I go. Way off. Ride to the pit get a wheel change. Didn't bring the spare bike. Chase. Caught a few. Keep working the course. A few more. People are telling me my progress. One to go and one to go to be back where I was. I end up ninth overall fourth in the 55 as best I can tell. Bill Erickson is killing it. A target. I could have been fifth or sixth had a I hung in there. But I had fun and rode well.
When I was walking my wheels back  a man I didn't know that had been cheering me said " It's a joy to watch you race". That took me back. I thanked him. Was the gunfighter back? I hope so.
What a day. Nature at it's best. Now for week one of the second phase.
Eat good food,drink good beer and love the one you're with. The King