JB's Adventure Blog: March 2007

Yo.

Here we are at the first race of the US national series already. It is nice to see all my friends again.
Our team camp in Sedona was a blast, the trails are sick. Lots of rythm but technical as well. It was fun to ride with Chris again and got to see Ross and his NZ form.

We found out out what a vortex is or at least what it does and got in some super trail riding too.

Stay tuned.

Later JB

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 10:24 PM 0 comments

Up and Running... or, uh, Riding

SO, without further adieu.

The blog has been down for a few days. Not my fault, I actually wrote stuff! Really, I did.

I will prove it then... I can only type about five words a minute. So think how long it would take to type, proof my bad spelling, and then post the following "better late than never" blogs.

In other notes, the JMU Cycling Club is hosting a collegiate hill climb on my favorite climb; Reddish Knob. It's a shame I will be off to Arizona at that time. I've heard that they are using a course that is 11 miles long. It must be starting in Briery Branch. Big hill!

The stage race known as 7 has changed its name to "BC Bike Race." I'm not sure if the province decided to sponsor it or if Leslie thought the old name was dumb. Regardless, it looks to be the coolest race that I can't do this year.

I think the Lion of March finally has winter on retreat. While everyone is in Puerto Rico, I've been training in the icebox. While I rode for six hours and 15 minutes of burly training with snow on the side of the road, 38 degree temperatures and wind gusts to 40 mph. Yes! I'm giving myself a gold star for that one. In the last few weeks, the training has been tough to get, but now I am up and running.

Enjoy the ride.

JB

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 5:11 PM 2 comments

Riding to the Dry Side

If you know Paul Buschi, you know he likes to hammer, and when not hammering he is doing some giant ride no one has tried before or been able to complete.

"Going Big" as Paul puts it. It's just what you do when the opportunity is there! Well, I was in a funk and trying to figure out what to do last Saturday, while many of my training buds were out of town. It was 33 degrees here in the morning and with five inches of snow, I was stumped on how I'd get a big ride in. Good thing was that they didn't get any snow east of the Blue Ridge, according to Paul. He said, "you should circumnavigate the south side of Shenandoah National Park via Afton Mountain, Crozet, White Hall, Dyke and Standardsville, then ride over Swift Run Gap and back to Harrisonburg."

My mind started racing. Then I exclaimed, 'you're brilliant!' I had never thought to do that, it just sounded too big... I could ride to the good weather side of the mountains and then, by the time I get around to this side again, most of the snow would be melted.

The second part of my plan was to hook up with someone to boost the morale. Mark Hardman and his friend were in for some riding, sweet. That made a big difference.

At the top of the windswept, icy and snow crusted Swift Run Gap, there was a girl who was looking for her lost friend named Chris from JMU. I told her to let the rangers know he was missing. I hope she found him.

So, not a bad day. I felt some good energy after all that crazy travel and now I am back in the groove. I've got some photos from the Continental Championships posted in my Gallery. Check 'em out.

Go big... but go smart!

JB

The dry side of the mountains with Mark Hardman.

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 5:54 PM 0 comments

M.I.A. in MIA

I have been sitting/sleeping in a dream-like layover in the Miami airport (MIA) since 4:30 (five hours ago). I have seen few noteworthy sights. But, the constant flow of travelers of all shapes, sizes and origins always makes for some slight amusement. I've watched a tiny mouse that is carving out quite a good living on Starbucks crumbs.

Can you see the little mouse below the bench?

I also picked up a few new bench-sleeping techniques.

You see, the airports put these arm-rails on the benches so you don’t sleep on them, though we all try. I saw one lady figure a back-out fetal position by which she cantilevered her weight just so she fits. And a much more clever bloke than myself figured that the benches aren't bolted down. So he moved the whole bench next to another until the two seats formed a continuous surface. I've learned that in some airports you can, if you have no other choice, set up camp under the benches that are fixed. In Chicago they have ones that work well for this. It's dark under there, and if you manage to snag a plane blanket, you can catch some good zzz’s.

Get lost… it’s half the fun!

Jeremiah

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 7:34 PM 0 comments

Pure Patagonia

As cool and refreshing as you have heard, indeed.

On Team USA’s return to the Bariloche airport we were almost in T Well’s lap in a frantic effort to get a better look out the window and capture the grandeur of our eye's feast. Everyone, myself included, had to capture a piece of the scenery to absorb and take in latter.

All and all, our stay in magnificent Patagonia was too brief. We did have the opportunity to ride to Chile on a three hour post-race cool down. In honor of Barry Wicks' border attempt from the other side with Adam four years ago at the Pan-Am’s. Adam suggested the idea. I was smashed from a sub-par race and had to redeem some purpose for the day, so after the race our small and tired group made of Adam, the young guns Sam Shultz and Colin, and me headed out for the border with some peanuts, a couple gels and our cameras. It promptly started to rain, but it didn’t bother us. I got some rad shots I will post to my photo page. The mountains were raked with tearing clouds, the forest had a lot of smells and rich strange stringy moss on some of the oak-like trees. The forest there reminded me of New Zealand, crazy things were growing in the black soil. The place is as wild as wild gets. Cool ride...

Back to the drive... White boulder strewn streams poured briskly into a huge alpine lake with jagged snow capped peaks for the backdrop. All sorts of strange boreal greenery and flowers speckled any spot not full grown on. Amazing. I think the neatest part was that most of what I saw on the trip reflected the wild image of Patagonia. There were not any villages on the way back and no sign of industry.

It's cool there are places this grand and wild left in the world.
I will try to come back to this place. Next time, I am bringing the fly rod and Erin!

Have a nice day,
Jeremiah

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 7:28 PM 0 comments

Mega-Travel to Patagonia

Yo,
As my US team mate Sam U. pointed out, we didn't run into any problems like the airplane running out of gas or anything, but it was a travel day for the record books.

The reward is in the desination.

Erin and I started for Washington Dulles airport at 10:30 a.m. and I just got here in Angorastura at 11:32 p.m. one and a half days later. Phew! Longer than my travel to New Zealand, I think.

I'm hittin the showers and hope to be asleep by the time my roomates Adam and Todd get back.

Sleep well...

JB

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 7:10 PM 0 comments

Readying for the Continental Championships

After a short-lived off-season, it's time to pack up my new Fuel 9.9 and take off for the biggest UCI race of the spring, the 2007 Continental Championships held this year in Argentina.

The race promises to be fun and I'm looking forward to it. I think that we'll all be pacing ourselves carefully, since we've only just emerged from winter. Because of all of the UCI points available, it will be very important for the US riders to finish well, but not necessarily a crucial race to win.

The 2007 season starts where last
year left off, on Team USA.

I promise to take lots of photos, and load them in the gallery. Until then, I'll keep you posted on my first trip to Patagonia!

JB

posted by Jeremiah Bishop # 11:22 AM 3 comments