JB's Adventure Blog: May 2006

Hello bike peoples.

Scotland was rough I was really looking forward to the race before hand and excited about the course. Cold rain and flat in the beginning dampened my enthusiasm a bit but I made the best of it and pushed passed a lot of riders to finish in 56 out of 160. Not too shabby as Adam Sandler would say. It rained every day and by the finish we looked like swamp creatures with white only on eyes and teeth. JHK had a break out ride and hung in the lead group most of the race to finish in 5th, the US mountain bike renaissance is well under way. I just need to start kickin in the top 5 at one of those.

Phew the month long slog has come to an end and I am finally going to get some time to spend with Erin doing some garden work catch up and other restful activities like swimming! I will be nice to come home to some warm sun and recharge.

Later on.

Jeremiah

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 5:18 AM 2 comments

Scottish mist.

I think I know why they named a soap after Irish rain. The air on our trip has been blue and dusty in Madrid, good in Spa, sweet diesel and cigarettes in Brussels but here? Crisp as the first frost. The bright side of all this rain is a magic mist that primes the cold fresh air of the North Atlantic. I must be really bored to be writing this.

So today's recap.. I woke up ate some eggs and toast. Headed to the venue and rode the trainer under our borrowed TREK UK tent ( many thanks to Brian Buckle) and rode the trainer for an hour. Armed with an umbrella I took a few moments to admire the trail work that was artfully executed to protect the trail from harsh Scottish weather. The bridges made of existing dead falls and cross cuts of strait pines. The plank walks where anchored to the ground with pilings and secured with weather proof hardware. The traction was amazing with the hexagonal chicken wire that is stepped tightly onto the track of the bridges and walkways. The best part was a rocky turn that drop's down to the bridge that is constructed out of 500+lb rocks. They were even settled in a way that the flats of the rocks were sloped to the inside of the turn to enhance cornering and perhaps help self cleaning with rainfall.

I will post some pics later.
Hope I can put some moves on tomorrow and get up to where I belong.

Wish me luck.
Jeremiah.

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 9:44 AM 0 comments

Snow on Big Ben

Ben Nevis, the big mountain where we race here in Scottland is covered in snow like a lone alp. Freezing cold rain and 40's has greeted us on our first day here in Fort Willam! Here it has been one of the coldest Mays in years. The range to the south is snow caped and the mountians are loomin dark and steep.

I think there is really good fishing here. We are next to Loch Lochy the sister lake to Lock Ness! I may go for an hour or so and sit on the lakeside if I get a chance. I will stay off my feet and bring the camera.

I just saw Wells, he is in love with this weather. The Euro weather is in a stormy cycle. The stage of the Giro was shorted yesteday and landing in Heathrow was tough due to seriouse weather and shifting winds.

I wonder what the weather in Harrisonburg is doing.

Off to the NOAA.gov site with me.

Jeremiah

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 3:45 AM 0 comments

After the storm

Hello,

I am reporting from the Arden region of Belium after a way tough world Cup at Spa Francor Champs.
The venue was like a bizaro version of the Sea Otter venue. They both are on race courses with lots of fences and barriers but that is where the simularity ends. Well it IS rainy windy and dank at both venues too. The cool thing about our set up was that Dave and Poz secured a one of the garages that the race cars use, that was a great work area and it was out of the rain and we had windles place to get set up.

I was looking forward to the long up hill drag to the trail before the race, I though it was going to be good for me but I was boxed in on the left side of the track. I could tell the fresh cut pine trails would turn nasty with all the rain. The course looked like a war zone with many gimpy bike riders reduced to foot soilders. My legs where pretty flat anyway Ce La Vie as they say in these parts. The redeeming part of the race was I seemed to hit the run ups really well and moved forward all day from my 125th place after the start 1/2 lap.

I was surprised I ended up in 58th and got some World Cup points at least.

The Calm after the storm:

When I woke up today I felt like I raced the Boston Marathon yesterday. My 2:30 time would have been good if I was a runner. Uh anyway . I whent for a nice 3hr ride on the back roads. It is no wonder that the national pastime is road cycling. The roads here are a maze thru the forests and fertil pastures.

See ya in Scottland.

Jeremiah.

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 8:42 AM 0 comments

Belgium mid week

We have had a little rain on top of yesterdays deluge. I opted not to ride the course and did my workout on some of the local roads. This area is amazing and doesn't look like mountians but the rivers cut deep evergreen lined valleys with dark shadows and cold rocky streams. I like the fairy tale gingerbread houses and old stone churches.

The history is apparent though I know little about it. The old town of malmedy is nearby and the group took a stoll thur it. The old village and steets where really intricate and filled with shops.

We will have to see what comes of the course with all of this rain. Somthing tells me it's going to be tough.

Jeremiah

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 1:11 PM 0 comments

Belgium de l'eau.

The travel day was a long one we left the smog of Madrid for the eternal county side and green grass of Belgium. We flew Luft thansa to Frankfurt ( my Euro fav) and then on to Brussels. Apon ariving we found our bikes didn't make it. I guess an off day would be good. I wasnt' planning much anyway. The hotel has the typical dark appearance with wooding veener walls wraught iron lamps and the pheasant above the fire place. I don't mind the cramped lodging but the kitchen looks like a RV set up from the 70's. The beer however,, superbe. and it is cheaper than the water. We have Val Dieu, Diekirch and Leffe to start and the chocolate. Sweet. I just have to keep it to one.

I will keep in touch and send some flower pictures.

For now.

Au revoir.

Jeremiah.

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 2:32 PM 0 comments

Mayhem in Madrid.

We started as expected like a giant bee swarm with a few not too unsuspected crashes and clusters on the corners. With a start position of 85th out of the 240 staters I expected it to be chaotic but nothing would prepair me for what would happen on the 1st lap. We got to the second up hill that has some switchbacks and not 5 or 10 people started cutting up the hill behind us. I was riding in the same area as Todd Wells at the time I was friggen shocked there where no less then 80 guys cutting the course ripping thru the tape and running past a screaming course marshal. I stayed on course and on the next hill the same thing happed this time it was worse because people where going way off course and cutting out an entire trail section. On the 3 up hill a rider started to initiate course cuttning ducking under the tape and I grabed him by his collar from behind and yanked him back into the race while screaming nasty things. The spectors at this spot joined in yelling at the cheater. The rest of the race I rode really hard to catch up from my new possition wich I was told was around 150. I was fuming mad. I punched it and cut thu the pack with Wells. He was the only guy to work with me on the fast straits. I ended up cramping a bit with 2 to go. I crashed pretty good on the blue groove section of the course. I guess I was anerobic and just slid in the dust aproach. I got back up after 3 guys pased me and pulled in at 55th place. Wells I think was 48th. Jhk was like 22 and Craig was 41 and Broderick 77th.

The mayhem didn't end after the race there is a holiday in Madrid for the patron saint of Spain this weeked so after dinner we saw thousands partying and walking the streets and shops of down town near the gigantic royal palace. There were police wagons and cops in full riot gear Nick Rano was stoked on the buzz of Madrid as for me I could go for some predictability.

Jeremiah.

Todays race was the stangest I have ever done.

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 2:38 PM 2 comments

Madrid trekin

I am here in the bee's hive of Madrid Spain with the crew, the Kid Dave Meadows, Sue and Nick Ranno of the Trek Rockies team. I think I am just glad we had a smooth travel day and for a trans-Atlantic travel 24hrs it wasn't too bad. The bulk head seat helped the melatonin and lots of water seemed to do the trick. Driving to the hotel was not so easy. We eventually got there but got a good sight seeing in.

Hasta Luego. or somthing like that.

Jeremiah.

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 2:29 PM 1 comments

9.9 on Time

I had a good short track...a break thru even... go figure. It only happens when I least expect it, or when I am most tired from the XC. I actually was on the lead group on the final lap and saw the move go. I kind of choked and took a bad line while trying to punch it on the last hill to move up. Decker swung the berm of the four cross course a bit wide and so did I. The sick part was the top 6 of us where totally berming out the steep back going uphill! Rad!. Then we traversed a bit and did this really sketchy rocky powdery shoot down to a few sweepers to the finish 50 m. The course was tough but also tactical.

I was elated and disappointed at the same time. This is a really good sign that I have the speed for Madrid. The being off the box by one spot.. that is just more motivating for next time!

The kids race was really fun two. The dust proved difficult for them as it was for everyone else this weekend. I had to pick this tike's bike up for him because he stacked it. It was kinda good to hand him his bike back so as to distract him from the actual wreck. "It works for me when I am about to cry after doing a header".

All in all Fontucky wasn't too bad. Not the mountain views we have gotten used to at the NORBAs, but really good racing and a boost in new attendance that the circuit needed.

Over and Out!
Jeremiah

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 3:57 PM 1 comments

Fighten for 5th.

5th Place was my spot today. I deserve no better is what I thought as I rapidly approached a limping T Wells. (He and Jeremy crashed hard with 2 miles to go) I tried really hard to get past but cramped like a champ and had to crawl my way over the last K. I was riding sloppy and just didn’t have the greatest start but made a got a good place out of it.

In related news the juniors junior women and pro women where all on course with us a the same time on a 8 mile course. What a mess. I wiped out trying to pass and I am sure the riders being past didn’t want to pull over but most where really cool about it.
Tristan has beat both Velo News and Cycling News to the punch with the 1st available race results. TristanShouten@blogspot.com Good work!

It was a big field at the race today with over 100 guys! . There are a few drawbacks like smog and guys trying to shoot us with paintballs while we are racing, all in all the southridge venue is pretty cool. There where a lot of spectators and the kids were coming in from the local neighborhoods to check it out. I just need to find a dust mask so I can breath during the dusty shortrack.

Later Yall.

Jeremiah.

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 9:33 PM 0 comments

LA Urban Assult.

Yo!

Where here in the Inland Empire of Ontario Ca for the 1st Norba National of the year. It seems like the season has been on for a while now but it is just the 1st big US race! The course is kinda cool.. it is on this set of mountains bursting through in the middle of the massive sprawl of the east LA basin. Flowers owe the rainy spring for there vibrance. The hillsides are mostly shaparel brush with boulders and the occasonal reminder of past industy. In a few spots we ride down these drainage culvers that have graffiti. It's like Curacou and here could be stages of a nintedo video game!

A new venue and alot of new stuff going on. There are going to be alot of developments I am not sure what... but I will keep ya posted. More spectators more more riders and more vendor and sponsor tents and trailers. The waffles are good at our hotel and the shopping is great so that's a plus.

Back at the homestead Erin is sprucing up the sunroom on the side of house with some new plants and pillows for the outside chairs. I am really glad I am going home for a couple days before my Euro trip. It will be nice to have some quiet days with Erin and just chill out.

GO RIDE

Jeremiah.

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 7:13 PM 0 comments

Scottland World Cup XC #4