NBC!!

Nothing But Cross!

Well except for cruising to town, or running across the street w/ Jackie, or playing w/ that new frame...
But besides that-
Nothing But Cross.

What part of Nothing don't you understand Chris?

The Lord Baby Bi-atch!!

Hath been born-ed.
Finally and foresakingly for real.

Little Isaac Yozell.
Cheering his bad little self on to another successful... something!

Yay Team!
Go Sport!

DCCX Weekend!!

Yippee fan, I got to stay in my own bed this past weekend. At least Friday night. I let Jackie and the Shogren's have the bed Saturday night. The race, a cross race just up the street, kinda: up the alley, down Newton, zig-zag, left on 16th, right on Upshur a couple of stop signs and there. See right up the street.

It was a beautiful day, a kick ass course and an absolute hoot of a venue. Great racn', tasty ale, fries and one sexy cheerleader.

Sexy Beast!!!!

Gunnar and I decided to do the Elite Masters and Elite race. I would say about seven other's decided to give the double header a go. From what I can tell only three of us finished both: Michael G. (who got 2nd in both, way tougher then us), Gunnar (4th in the Elite Masters and pack fodder in the Elite) and Me, Chrissy(pack fodder in both). It's training for MTB season right? It was all fun yet painful. Smiles and drool was plentiful.

Betsy has been losing the fight against some illness but she managed to have a great race still and against some heavy hitters.

And we had our first "cougar" join the Cougar Fest.
It was a great weekend for sure.

Thanks DCMTB.

"May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face" and may your wheels always find it safely back to the ground.
PEACE
Chris

MAC round 3 & 4...solo

I headed out to round 3 and 4 of the MAC series (Granogue and Wissahickon) races alone this past weekend fan. The Shogren’s stayed close to home but I did meet up with Team Bi-atch member at large Mike Y. and baby Bi-atch Yozell and mom Erica.

Granogue was a hoot. It was a picturesque fall day and the course was pretty darn rad. I got there late after Google.maps and I had a small disagreement so I got to line up DFL. Sweet, with 70+ guys in front of me I could only move forward. With my warm up consisting of slamming a Redbull and a stop in at the Porta-John my expectations were high. I had a blast though, I chased down many groups, I am starting to feel like I may be developing some cross “form” as those 100 milers are still in my legs and smiles with drool was a plenty.

Beauty!!

I pitted for Mike and headed off to Gotham to visit some friends and eat some dinner.

See me? No, I am waayyy in the back!

Thanks Kevin

Then day two. I actually arrived to Wissahickon early. Wow, warming up does have certain merits but at Cycle-Dumb Training we feel its over rated. Again not pre-reging gave me a killer starting position, yippee DFL again. Fan, you know what that means. Yup, it can only get better. And it did, chase, chase, chase…bridge, bridge, bridge still just pack fodder but I feel like a CX’er kinda finally so maybe I will pre-reg next time to see if I can duke it out near the front. Again, lots of smiles and drool were had.

The wrist is getting better and so is the cross “form” yippee, maybe by December I can make the podium just in time for this long season to be officially over. I do miss the mountain bike. Over all it was a great weekend. It would have been more fun with my mates but we all need a break.

This weekend…lots of sleeping in and DCCX 5 minutes from my apartment, yay no traveling. And the old man and I will be racn' twice. What possibly could go wrong? One reason I like DC.

See you out there fan!!

Nop no how...

...is your step child, the bucket of bolts, staying here with out you. I will not have it. He votes Republican!!! Ahh WTF.....!!

Jackie is welcome though. I heart Jackie.

Beer and a Movie Time!

Kennebunkport Pumpkin Ale
Grilled cheese and tomato sandwich
Annie Hall

We decided to not race

This weekend.

We just want to ride our mountain bikes around.
See ya!

A Weekend at Home???!!!!

Chris and Mike were the only Bi-Atchs representing this weekend at the MAC races.  I guess Goose hasn't updated, because gunnar told him to cut out his whining.  Like racing with a broken wrist hurts or something...

Anyhow, rumor has it that Goose got a glimpse of the little Baby Bi-Atch, but since I haven't seen a picture yet, I don't know if I believe it.

Extentuating circumstances, namely lingering strep throat and developing bronchitis, as well as the need to do some socializing, saw the Shogren's at home this past weekend.  Regardless, we still managed to throttle ourselves.  On Sat. we did "Coal Cross," in homage to our new favorite cross race.  We rode up to Cooper's Rock, where we encountered about a bijilion leefpeepers and about froze our tooshies off.  The ride wasn't quite as long (in length) as the Iron Cross, and was missing a few key features (such as vertical cliffs to scale with bikes and Aid Stations), but it was still quite the adventure.  You can check it out HERE.

Here I am coming THISCLOSE to landing in a hefty pile of deer poop (note said pile between my hands).  

Hey, is this the way to the Aid Station?

Sunday, I pretty much chased gunnar around in circles all day.  

You can see that HERE.  

In between all this, we visited gunnar's Bionic Dad, who now has two fake knees to go along with fake shoulders and corneas.  We also visited the Klimas's, who were celebrating little Sammy's last chemo treatment with a big old happy bonfire.  Sammy was in bed by the time we got there, but we were happy to celebrate the fact that he is now CANCER FREE!  HALLELUJAH!!   YAY, Sammy!

Next up, is DCCX (frites!), followed thereafter by Marilla Cross (nuts!).  

Have a great weekend, my Friends!

Podium Place Holder

Apparently, gunnar has a new talent for sitting in for racers that have missed his or her podium. Attention race promoters:  I am pretty sure his services are for hire, if  you find yourself with an empty spot on the podium.  

Here he is sitting in for Mike Williams, winner of the 55+ IC Lite.  Notice the pained expression and crick in his back.  Jim Carlson, 3rd place 55+, looks a whole lot better than the old man Shogren.   I'm filling in for Nunzio in second place, but not very well.  Sorry, Nunzio.

Here's gunnar filling in for the 2nd placed female, Terry Spanogle.   He looks quite delighted with that second place!  You go, grrrl!!!

gunnar obviously knows the importance of putting a little shimmy in his shake!

A hoot at the Iron Cross...

Fan it was a splendid weekend in the mountains of Eastern Pa. The foliage is changing yet the temps, during the day at least, were summer like. It was a double day of some rad racn’ . Day #1 a traditional cross race followed by day #2 a 100k cross race. It felt more like a shortened Ultra-marathon race then a cross race though.

The weekend through Chrissie’s eyes….

Day #1.

I decided to sleep in a bit so instead of doing the Elite Masters at 11am I decided to do the Elite race at 2:30pm. I headed out of DC around 11:30am for my 2-hour drive to Michaux but I needed to leave no later then 11am so I could get in a warm up, opps, they are over rated. The NPR was jamming and I was making pretty good time. I figured I would get to Michaux by 1:30, which would allow me to actually get in a warm up. Ah, but I saw an old-timer struggling at a rest stop with his car jack so I decided to help out and change his tire for him (weekend FLAT #1). I arrived around 2 hopped on my bike said hey to Gunnar and off racn’ I went. The spiral off death was a hoot, Gunnar heckled, Betsy encouraged, JR snapped photo’s and I had fun popping wheelies and drooling on myself.

The Team got some sweet digs right near the finish line for our camping pleasure. We were certainly the envy of the campgrounds. We advertised for the cougar festival but no one showed. It was a great spot but man did our bunkhouse get cold Saturday night. We made the most of it and had a grand ole time chatting, sipping beer and jamming to JR’s laptop Itunes. Between the chill of the fall air and JR’s nonsleeping snoring we did not get much sleep but that’s normal before these big ole long races. It was better then the torrent we experienced before the Mohican 100 earlier this season.

Our Front yard!!!!

Day #2

I poked my head out of the bunkhouse door around 7am and saw folks already chamoised up. Ahh shit, did we sleep too late? Nop, just some over zealous folks getting ready way too early. Since our bunkhouse was smack dab in the middle of all the action we got to eat breakfast while heckling and offering chamois cream applications. No one stopped by except SteveO and Gunnar got to work. The riders meeting started about 100 feet from our bunkhouse and as usual Gunnar and I were still in our civilian clothes Team Bi-atch style. Oh boy 8:45am, time to suit up. The chamois was cold and the chamois butter was colder but oh so refreshing.

The race…

We headed out hard. I was somewhere in between 20-30 as we hit the spiral of death. It was certainly a sight to see 300 people flying around Saturday’s cross course. Around, around, around we went and off to the first climb we go. There was some gap’s formed and bridged yet by the time we hit the first climb I made the cut with the lead group of about thirty. The pace turned up with the road. A few got dropped but I held on. I was not feeling that great so I too eventually decided to ease up or got dropped. I was happy to see Gunnar make the cut on his SS(I rode gears, never again) and he was off and running with the overall kiddies with derailleurs. We hit the Jeep trail and I was probably around 25^th. I saw Team Bi-atch pal SteveO and many others on the side of the trail fixing flats already… a few minutes later, bummer, my turn(weekend FLAT #2). I fixed it fast and jumped on the wheel of the Trek guy that won Saturday. We hit the ash fault and he was dragging me along at mock speed. Sweet, he would pull for 2 minutes while I only pulled for 30 seconds. Awesome, we took turns and cruised past all those that had passed us while fixing our flats. Back up to the top 30 I suspect, sweet…shoot flat #2 (weekend FLAT #3). Ugh, by this time my wrist was hurting and the dexterity in my hand was lacking. The result, one very long flat change, oh well, I waved to all the 150+ people that passed me including Bunny, Hi Bunny! After 10 minutes of wrestling with my tire off I went. The day would now be a ride and no longer a race, which was not bad at all. Sometimes when you are racing all macho like you never get a chance to look up to see the view’s and ah man the views were amazing. I chugged along encouraging folks while having fun. I flatted again (weekend FLAT #4) but did not worry too much about it. I bummed a tube, fixed it and just pedaled along. The wrist hurt some and I was a little disappointed but it was a good day.

Betsy killed it!!

JR crushing this young lady just under seven hours.

As for the Team they all kicked ass. Betsy had her hands full all weekend but in the end she crushed all comers. She is glad to see the women’s field getting more competitive however does not like the extra work. In the end, she won both days and the QOM. Good work Bunny. The old man Gunnar killed it on the SS giving the overall a run while winning the SS and 7^th overall with a flat (weekend FLAT #5). And JR, did great. Competing in his first cross race and marathon type race. He finished both with stellar form. Good work Team!

The Old Man Crushed!!

Thanks to Yellow Breeches Racing for an awesome event and weekend.

Ansel Adams Shit!!

"May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face" and may your wheels always find it safely back to the ground.

PEACE
Chris

110 chain ring "spacing"?

Poor Goose has fallen two too many times this year.

He's gone simple.
Or perhaps he's just aging prematurely.
But regardless, it reminds me of another SNFU song (I think they are the Artist of the Month for October).

The song is "He's Not Getting Older, He's Getting Bitter", not only did all their albums have 7 words in them, but a few of the songs did as well-

Life is full of its ups and downs
and this man has seen his share
Now he finds that he's losing his mind
just as fast as he's losing his hair
All he does in the old folks' home
is sit and shit his pants
And all he has left is memories
But now those too are fading fast

He's not getting older, he's getting bitter

Everyday he sits and waits for death to set him free
He looks and laughs at old photographs
Ones that he can no longer see
He wonders why dying takes so long
He wonders just what it's waiting for
He'd like to throw himself out the window
But his body doesn't move like it did before

He's not getting older, he's getting bitter

Poor Goose, we'll visit you though...

"Hi, I feel like poop. How do I look?"


"Ack, it went like this..."

Iron Cross or bust!

I am off to meet the Shogren's and JR up in the Michaux State Forest sick and broken. My race expectations are realistic and low however being in the mountain's for the weekend may be what the doctor ordered.

See you out there fan.

(editor's note- Hey mopey-dopey boy, enough already. It's not like we're saving the world. If you can't put on a pop-tart happy face then perhaps you just need to stay in DC and sulk in the alley. This ain't no emo-blog. So get LOLing or die!!!)
:)

Sorry folks

Betsy has finally gotten a Facebook account.

She is now deeply immersed in the TimeSuck and may never be right again.
It wasn't my idea.

Again, my apologies...

gunnar.

What possibly could go wrong...

...by doing the Iron Cross race with a broken wrist? Nothing I suspect!!

Yup, doing a butt load of a 100 mile MTB races was not enough this season for we Bi-atch's so this weekend a 100k cross race, brilliant!! So come on out to cheer us on fan. We will be doing the "normal" cross race Saturday followed by the "long" race Sunday. Should be fun.


(editor's note- Well you could be sick Mr. DipS...)

Broken wrist and Cross #2

Well fan, we at Team Bi-atch headed out for a second day of Cross out at KelleyAcres near Fredrick, Md. It was truly a beautiful fall day on an equally beautiful farm. The leaves are not fully changed but they did not disappoint. Ahh, I love being in or at least near the mountains.

The course was pretty darn sweet. It was a miniature MTB course with log barriers, a stream crossing and some descent elevation change. I tried bunny hopping the one large barrier but sadly my broken wrist decided we would have no more of that. From what I saw only Gunnar, Jeremiah, Chris S. and Roger M. were the only ones bunny hopping it during their races. Roger may have stopped after his pretty sweet rolling endo.

Well the race...
I once again chose to do the old man race which I almost missed after passing the turn as I was so flustered driving through Fredrick seeing all the McCain/Palin signs in the yards, WTF!! Anyway, I made it with about 20 minutes to spare, Team Bi-atch style, but was almost not aloud to race since I have a broken wrist. What the, they let a Cat1/Pro race the C race!!! I got in.

Off we went. Gunnar led and I split my time between 2^nd and 3^rd for a bit, sweet, maybe I will be racn’ today after all. Nop, I hit a hole pretty hard, remembered I had a broken wrist and started to ride more conservatively. At this time I started to move backwards too. It was no longer racn’ but just a hard training ride. Give a guy a break fan I have a broken wrist. I can use that one for at least another month I think, right? Gunnar crushed it and won. I'll get it together old man.

Betsy crushed it too winning her race. The HUB girl did keep her honest for a bit or maybe she was just messn’ with her. Bunny?

Great event that I am looking forward to doing next year healthy. All grassroots and old school, how I like it. Thanks Kelley's Acres, HPC and Team Kenda. I am sure Kevin worked his magic too, we are all narcissist!!

Next weekend, maybe Iron Cross Lite and Iron Cross. We will have to see, it is just up the road.

"May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face" and may your wheels always find it safely back to the ground.

PEACE
Chris

*note to director: Please add pictures

Broken wrist and Cross #1

Well fan, I jumped in my first Cross race since breaking my wrist less then two weeks ago. Yeh, I know, that's dumb but what else am I going to do. I'm a bike racer that's what we do. I chose to race in my age graded class instead of the elite race just because. The wrist hurt a good bit but most of my trouble lies in the fact that I do not have any top end cross fitness after taking close to two weeks off since the crash. A mediocre ride with a mediocre result, oh well, its good training and I had mad FUN so it does not matter. Besides I have a broken wrist give a guy a break. I guess doing well in 100 mile MTB races does not mean you"ll necessarily do so well in cross racn'. Its a start though and there is plenty of time to find some cross form, or not! I am happy to report that Gunnar won our race and Betsy won hers, yeh Bi-atch's!!!!! So whats next? Another try tomorrow. Time to ice the wrist.....

Other news, the BMX track was closed and Betsy and I tried out for the OUTLAW CHEERLEADERS. Ahhh yeh.....

The fall try out!