JB's Adventure Blog

American Mountain Classic Updates

2008-08-22T18:34:00.002-04:00

Until Jeremiah is able to log on with the inside scoop, race updates from the American Mountain Classic stage race will continue to be posted on the News page.

Something New

2008-08-21T16:43:00.004-04:00

(Erin here, once again invading the main page.) Jeremiah's about to begin the American Mountain Classic stage race in Brian Head, Utah, so before all that excitement gets underway I wanted to throw a link out to a new site that I was introduced to over the weekend.

I saw this graphic for MTBCast.com at the Fool's Gold 100, and by the day's end Jeremiah was giving an audio interview for the site. If you want to check out the broadcast you can follow this link: http://mtbcast.com/wordpress/, scroll down to episode 110 and click the little play arrow.

I'll break it down for you, if you want to get straight to some good stuff. Jeremiah and Jeff Schalk's playful smack talk begins at 3:40, race director Eddi O'dea gives his predictions at 5:23, race notes continue at 6:35, at 8:01 smack talk karma is revealed, Jeremiah's interview starts at 8:33, followed by interviews with Trish Stevenson, Gunnar Shogren, race announcer Bruce "the mouth of the South" Dickman, and others.

We really did have a blast down in Georgia, especially thanks to the great people we met and enjoyed the festival with.

JB should be blogging in with AMC race updates. Check back for those. Results and other updates will be posted on the News page.

Have fun riding!
Erin

Fool's Gold 100 Festival Dahlonega, GA

2008-08-18T10:07:00.007-04:00

Erin and I had a blast at the race this weekend. It was one part race, one part festival. In the last year the Fool's Gold 100 and 50 has doubled in size, and there is no wonder why. Bands, beer, camping and activities like bike limbo and group rides made for a lot to do!

Early in our 100 mile test, about halfway up the first climb, the golden rays of the first light of day were just starting to filter in through the trees. Orange glowing orbs dotted the mountainside foliage to my left. I saw them speed by out of the corner of my eye, but I was busy covering the moves so I didn't look for long. Already at full speed and only ten minutes into the race, our four man group was surging toward the top of the mountain. A hard charging Jeff Schalk traded blows with Diego (a pro road racer from Columbia, South America), and Thomas Turner of Cannondale. Our group was closing in fast for the KOM at the top of the first climb up Sassafras Mountain.

Schalk has been on a tour de force in the NUE 100-mile national series this year, winning all of the events he's entered so far and locking down the series overall. There is no wonder why, after seeing him ride the other leaders off his wheel in the first two hours of the race. Jeff has an incredible motor and I knew to watch out for him.

I had to play defense because I have been training for XC races and have not done a ride over five hours in months - let alone seven hours at full throttle pace! Eating and staying hydrated were the most important things in my mind. I knew I would need my strength to put in some efforts late-race.

We raced and raced, 40 miles in and we were flying well ahead of the rest. As we flew through the single track I tested Jeff, and when we hit Sassafras Jeff tested me. It would come down to the wire - or so I thought.

Jeff stopped to get a feed at mile 63 and while catching back on to me on a 45-mile-an-hour dirt road he pinched flatted. He put his only tube in, but it wouldn't hold air. After waiting for a donor he finally fixed it, but pulled the plug.

Meanwhile, I just thought Jeff was still back there just out of sight so I kept the pace steady to avoid a late race leap frog. (I had an interesting exchange with Harlan Price last year at the Wilderness 101. I was 30 or 40 seconds up, we both had to pit at the last stop and as I was leaving he was entering. Had he skipped it he would have been back on my wheel!)

Anyway, after my time trial effort and rushed pit at stop 2/3 I was told that Jeff was out, but I didn't trust that Thomas Turner, Garth or Charlie Storm were that far behind so I kicked it in gear and had a blast riding my own fast pace through the last sweet sections of trail to the finish of my first National 100 race win of the year. It was epic, I forgot how tough 100 miles of trail can be, and this race had ZERO pavement unlike most other 100's.

One of the best parts of the race was the hanging out afterward with the most awesome people, listening to good bands and reveling in the adventure of the day. Believe it or not, that event makes me want to go out and do some more mountain biking. I think I'll give it a day off first!

GO RIDE!
JB

My Victory

2008-08-11T14:42:00.003-04:00

This is Erin, blogging in for Jeremiah with exciting news! This morning a good friend of mine e-mailed me to tell me that she'd just seen Jeremiah during NBC Today's coverage of the USADA clean sport campaign "My Victory."

Here's a teaser:

USADA's My Victory campaign was developed in collaboration with a number of inspirational athletes. USADA describes the title My Victory as symbolizing the ideal that all athletes fully dedicate themselves and make sacrifices for the love of their sport, in the interest of reaching the pinnacle of success, which is personal achievement through honest effort and ability, and without performance-enhancing drugs.

Jeremiah and I have truly enjoyed his opportunity to partner with USADA for this initiative. It is encouraging to see the dedication and resources that are committed to protecting and promoting the integrity of sport and the accomplishments of athletes like Jeremiah.

Here is a clip featuring Jeremiah and some of his background relating to competition and clean sport.

This is the full-length promotional video that will be seen in movie theaters and other applications.

For more complete information about the initiative and Jeremiah's role, check out the News page.

Thanks for reading!
Erin

Oh, Canada!

2008-08-06T20:02:00.005-04:00

My week in the north east was fun. Most of the time between the two World Cup races was spent in Burlington, Vermont hanging with Lea Davison and her crew.

Up in Bromont, Canada, the rain came in sheets and the mud was even worse than expected. My last World Cup of the season wrapped up in style (17th place) though it started about as well as bull running through a china shop with a wet floor!

Right after the first climb, we did a short descent and I tried not to get caught behind a wreck, but as I corrected my course my front wheel slid and I crashed!

At first I thought I had surely broken my ring and pinky fingers. Last time I checked, fingers aren't supposed to bend backwards at the joint like that! OUCH.

I did what I always do if I'm not unconscious and got back on the bike and assessed the situation while riding. The good thing was that I could still hold onto the bars and came on strong at the end of the race. I battled it out with a surging Carl Decker, and just caught Karl Markt from Germany on the last section of trail. Mud is fun to ride in sometimes, but it always makes for exciting racing!

Now I am just chilling at home with Erin and catching up with some busy stuff.

Next on the radar for me is an appearance at the Tour de Skyline this Saturday. If you are a man who's over 40 years old - or who wants to live past 40, check out this link www.ProstateCancerAwarenessProject.org

The event has filled up, but if you show up randomly to ride Skyline Drive this Saturday morning at 8:30 I may see you there. We're riding halfway, staying at Skyland Lodge and then finishing up on Sunday.

Also congrads to Leah who bagged her first top 10 finish in Bromont. NICE!

Cheers,
JB

Burly Bromont

2008-08-02T17:59:00.003-04:00

My pre ride of the course today was a little tougher than yesterday due to thickening mud.

Nasty mud holes, step plunges down slimy rooted embankments, steep grunting climbs and of course off camber boulder traverses! WOW. Sketchy.

It was fun if you could keep the danger aspect out of your mind. I had a fun time riding through with Adam on a pre lap. The course sure is nasty, nasty!

It will be important to keep it in control and run sections that are cluttered on the first lap or too slow to try to ride. I look forward to see what happens tomorrow. If it rains the course will be easier to ride... I think. It should be fun, and it will be a challenge.

Later,
JB

Catamount!

2008-07-31T12:32:00.003-04:00

The Trek/Volkswagen Team had a fun last night attending the longest running mid-week mountain bike series in the country at the Catamount act ski area!

There were close to 300 people there and it seemed like there were 100 or so kids there!!! WOW!

It was like a weekend event because Trek's "Demo Dave" was there with all kinds of bikes to try out, our team had a tent, we were signing autographs and the Little Belles were having a silent auction to raise money for their kids club.

The course was on fast act ski trails with rolling hills roots and a couple really nice turning single tracks that had roots and just a few rocks to keep us on our toes.

The race was super fun!

Notice that our team manager Zack just barely nipped Subaru Gary Fisher star Andy Bishop (also our host for the week). It's been neat hearing stories of him racing with Lemond and tales from the Tour de France.

After seeing how cool this was I am going to talk with our local club, the Shenandoah Bicycle Coalition, about having a Wednesday night series next summer too. It could be a great chance for riders to compete have fun and not drive really far to do it!

Next stop, my last World Cup of the year - BROMONT!
I'll keep ya posted!
JB

Place Name City Age Overall Time
1 Jeremiah Bishop 32 1 53:05.7
2 Adam Snyder 24 2 54:21.4
3 Nathan Ringquist 26 3 54:59.9
4 Wiley Mosley 30 5 56:03.7
5 Mikiael Stearns 20 6 56:06.7
6 Travis Voyer 31 7 56:19.2
7 Zack Vestal 33 8 57:30.2
8 Mat Katz 29 10 57:39.8
9 Daniel Hock 22 14 59:20.8
10 Andrew Nelson 24 21 1:00:47.0
11 Jason Achilich 29 23 1:01:14.1
12 Dusty Labarr 33 25 1:01:34.8
13 Tim Burgher 27 26 1:02:53.5
14 Matt Schifferele 30 31 1:07:00.9
15 Kyle Hickey 23 33 1:09:47.2
16 Josh Welch 32
Vet 35-44 4 Lap M

Place Name City Age Overall Time
1 Jay Provencher 40 4 55:31.7
2 Andy Bishop 43 9 57:31.7
3 Nate McHugh 41 11 58:21.5
4 Dave Ricklefs 38 12 58:53.4
5 Marc Stannard 36 13 59:02.5
6 Kevin Spillane 40 15 59:46.8
7 Stefan Bumbeck 37 16 59:54.8
8 Don Harmeyer 42 18 1:00:03.1
9 Shawn Patenaude 36 20 1:00:25.3
10 Stephen Gorman 43 24 1:01:15.5
11 John Zouck 42 29 1:03:31.8

Real Mountain Biking

2008-07-28T10:33:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was the Nissan UCI Mountain Bike World Cup at Mont Saint Anne, Quebec, Canada.

I have been racing this race for some years now and it's always one of my favorite races. The torrential rains made the slope-side technical course really tough. In fact some sections we were forced to run. I love the transitions that reward you for holding momentum. And the rocks and roots, drops and berms were awesome!

The roots were gnarly, the rocks camouflaged by a layer of black and brown mud and the traction on the course varied between sandy hard pack and clay. Ross and I agreed this was the coolest mountain bike course of the year.

So I had a fun race, ended up 17th after racing back and forth with a surging Mathew Toulouse. My race start was fantastic. I surged up the side of the pack on the start loop and was top-10 going into the bottom of the first climb. Then I foolishly decided to ride the grass up the side of the gravel climb. I rolled my rear wheel on an apple shaped rock and lost all momentum while at full power. Any one who owns bar ends knows this is bad when fully committed. I tried to push out but the gear was impossible. My good start was gone. I was one foot down in the wrong gear getting passed by the masses. I should have just chilled out a little.

The rest of the race was solid. I moved up and up from 27th on lap 2 and was not passed by many riders. I made a really good surge on the last lap to almost catch Mike Broderick and Bas Peters. Well I did catch them but couldn't pass before the line. Man that hurt. What a tough course and at 6 laps our race was 2:20 or so at max effort in the blazing sun and high humidity.

Next week's World Cup in Bromont, Canada will be another chance to ace the start.

Thanks for reading.

Jeremiah

Wearing the Starts and Stripes

2008-07-23T11:25:00.004-04:00

Ok, it's just a shirt right?

That's what I first thought to myself as my nose started to run from the exertion of yesterday's ride, but I found my self pause to instead wipe with the glove - not sleeve - as I looked at the flag on my left shoulder. I also made sure that I stoped at the light before my right turn.

Trust me I am very proud to wear these colors it is a special honor!

Check this out...

United States Code Title 4, Chapter 1 - The Flag

SS1. Flag; stripes and stars
On the flag of the United States shall be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; and the union of the flag shall be forty-eight stars [Note that sec. 2 which follows provides for additional stars. Today the flag has fifty stars representing the fifty states - Webmaster], white in a blue field

SS2. Same; additional stars
On the admission of a new State into the Union one star shall be added to the union of the flag; and such addition shall take effect on the fourth day of July then next succeeding such admission

SS3. Use of flag for advertising purposes; mutilation of flag
Any person who, within the District of Columbia, in any manner, for exhibition or display, shall place or cause to be placed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, drawing, or any advertisement of any nature upon any flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America; or shall expose or cause to be exposed to public view any such flag, standard, colors, or ensign upon which shall have been printed, painted, or otherwise placed, or to which shall be attached, appended, affixed, or annexed any word, figure, mark, picture, design, or drawing, or any advertisement of any nature; or who, within the District of Columbia, shall manufacture, sell, expose for sale, or to public view, or give away or have in possession for sale, or to be given away or for use for any purpose, any article or substance being an article of merchandise, or a receptacle for merchandise or article or thing for carrying or transporting merchandise, upon which shall have been printed, painted, attached, or otherwise placed a representation of any such flag, standard, colors, or ensign, to advertise, call attention to, decorate, mark, or distinguish the article or substance on which so placed shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $100 or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days, or both, in the discretion of the court.

Yikes. I think I'm going to start riding with tissues! :)

So, the code goes on for another two pages, but I thought it was interesting.

The next stops on the race circuit are Mt Saint Anne, Canada and Bromont, Canada for consecutive World Cups. My start position may not be great, but it will be fun if my legs are still on! A podium race could be in the cards!

I'm stoked for the rest of the season because I get to do some more really fun endurance races and shift gears a little!

The week after Bromont I'll tackle the Fools Golds 100 miler in north Georgia. This will be my first time doing the race but the reviews are awesome and it sounds like as much of a festival as a bike race!

See ya at the races,

Jeremiah

Book Ends!

2008-07-21T07:00:00.003-04:00

WOW!

Today I won the USA National Short Track Championship!

My first short track win and I couldn’t have timed it better, and I'm a little shocked that I pulled it off - but wow! I will go with it!

Yesterday was a good ride in the cross country, but a flat put me out of contention for a top spot. I finished a solid 7th. This was just extra motivation to put on a good ride in the short track.

After last week's lesson in tactics from Todd Wells, I was ready for a smart race this time. I grabbed the hole shot and felt really good. Once the pace settled, I was able to read the race and cover moves.

I let others cover the moves except when Todd bridged up to Ryan Trebon. The Giant riders, Adam and Carl, and JHK closed the gap down only to see Todd on the side of the course with a chain problem. As we closed in on a flagging Trebon, I tried my hand at an attack but it was answered by Adam. Then I put in another attack just as we were making contact with Ryan. It worked up a small gap, but it was enough to work with. It was long five laps to the finish but I was committed! This was my only chance - I was going long. This was especially risky because there were two Kona riders and two Giant riders on a fast course where drafting comes into play.

I drove it at a max pace, attacking the hill each lap and tucking in on the long start/finish straight. I think there was a lull in the chase for one lap. But for the last three, Barry Wicks of Kona was chasing hard.

Then with two to-go it was time to punch it into over drive. I sprinted up the second to last time up the hill. The crowd was going nuts! I sprinted again, though I was inside out. My 12-second gap was enough I had it!!

Two National titles in one month! One was long and one was short but both were amazing.

Thanks to the Trek/Volkswagen crew and everyone out there that helped me get here.

Sue; this one is for you! Thanks for the inspiration!

Whooooooo-Hoooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeremiah

Fourth of July Surprise

2008-07-04T20:38:00.005-04:00

I WON ????? I was confused... Nick Martin, Brian Smith and the rest of the Trek crew were spraying me in the face with Pabst Blue Ribbon, screaming and jumping on me.

Today, somehow, I won the US National Marathon Championships even after a major mechanical.

I had a strong race going and had a 90-second lead with about 35 miles left when my chain got caught in the spokes.

Ryan Trebon and Andy Shultz were not far behind.

I tied up the three broken spokes and took a link out of my chain. This took a while and I assumed my chances of wining the race were becoming next to none as riders passed by. I charged hard hoping to rally for a top-5 finish. Then I caught up with Travis Brown and he helped pull my hanger back out. He gave my a really good pull on the flat fire road before the major descent to the finish. THANK YOU! I thought that if I kept on charging I could pull back some spots.

I just buried my head and went flat out the second time up the first 2000-foot ascent of the course. I was fired up after losing the lead. Then, just as I was making good headway, my chain went out again! I laughed as Travis passed again as I remounted. 'What else can go wrong?' I thought, but I went like hell.

This time I was just possessed to hammer every hill at max! My lungs were on fire but I was moving! I caught Dave Weins with about 7 miles left and he encouraged me to chase the two guys who where just 30 seconds ahead. I only had one climb left and my body was in the hurt locker. I just went max and caught a guy with an orange jersey. I sat for a little and then jumped for the hole shot for the single track. I was going for it hoping to catch the next guy, Evan Plews. I did catch him about halfway down. I tried to surge pass but he picked up the pace. I guess he was going too fast thru some rocks and flatted!

Absolutely exhausted and light headed, I conceded that I was not going to be able to catch any more riders so I just tried to stay smooth and not crash. I found out that behind me Ryan Trebon and Andy Shultz had pulled out - they'd not been among riders who passed me when my chain broke - so I was racing for the win!

Wow. That was a strange but amazing race, I will not soon forget it!

THANK YOU to all that have helped me out past and present to make this win a possible.

I'm donating prize money to the mike Janelle fund www.livelikemike.org. I thought of Mike while I raced today and I knew he was a fighter and loved to push it to the max. So I did the same. Thanks Mike.

Happy Fourth!

Jeremiah

ZOOOOOOMMM!

2008-06-29T22:00:00.003-04:00

Today' race at Deer Valley was one of my best short track races not because of my fourth place but because it was a crazy ride that still panned out...

Against the odds, I was called up pretty far back. The start was rough too. I was caught behind some first-lap carnage when Geoff Kabush slid out causing Ross to lose his chain right in front of me. There where riders running up the first hill of the first lap.

'OK, my race is over,' I thought as I rode in 15th place in a cloud of dust.

But I felt some good power on lap 2 and sprinted by a group of riders on the course's large climb. Around 8 minuets in I was able to surge again to get past JHK and Sam.

On the next lap, I made contact with Kabush and Ryan Trebon who where trading attacks. I sat on for a couple of laps, they slowed and I felt some good kick so I went for it. I was in the LEAD!? The super short track duo did catch me, but still I was able to claw on the back of Kabush and Ryan with 3 to go. I was dicing the third choppy corner of the decent and rolled my rear tire burping some air; the bike flew sideways, in a split second I got my foot down and saved it! YIKES

Then with 20 PSI in my tire, I played it safe. Carl Decker was closing in though and made a inside move on me for the top corner of the course making it near impossible to pass with my low rear tire. It was painful, but I actually had fun racing the short track for a change.

Ross also had a good ride, rounding out the top-5 in what has turned out to be a great weekend for the Trek Volkswagen Racing Team.

Plenty of excitement, lots of speed and a little danger!
That's short track.

Next stop is the big re-match with Ryan Trebon at the USA National Endurance championships in Breckenridge. If I thought the short track hurt, I'm sure 50 miles at 10,000-11,500 feet is going to be a tough one! There are a lot of fast racers on the line up and it promises to be a great race.

Wish me luck!
Jeremiah

Race 17 - June 29: Elite Men Short Track
Results

1 Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis 23.39
2 Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona 0.04
3 Carl Decker (USA) Giant Mtb Team 0.11
4 Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Trek/VW 0.13
5 Ross Schnell (USA) Trek/VW 0.41
6 Sam Schultz (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 0.42
7 Troy Wells (USA) Tokyo Joes 1.04
8 Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 1.10
9 Cody Peterson (USA) Scott Bicycles 1.20
10 Adam Morka (Can) 3 Rox Cycling 1.29
11 Tad Elliott (USA) U23 National Team 1.38
12 Brett Morgan (USA) Sobe/Cannondale 1.41
13 Robert Marion (USA) Kenda Titus 1.47
14 Andy Schultz (USA) Kenda Titus Hayes 1.56

Full Throttle

2008-06-28T23:14:00.004-04:00

Ok, maybe my second-lap attack was a little too aggressive for just coming up to altitude, but it sure was fun!

Kabush and Ryan Trebon opened up on the first climb and were just flying. I jumped around JHK in pursuit and made contact on the second switchback climb of lap 1. I had to sneak around Kabush on the descent because a gap was opening up.

I made contact with Ryan on the first big climb of lap 2.

We had some good lead changes and the race was exciting. I lead from the end of lap 2 to the end of lap 3.

On Lap 4, Ryan was coming on fast and I was starting to cramp. Attacking in the feed zone, I thought it was over but I clawed back his 10-second lead on on the descent. It was mono y mono... Unfortunately this hombre was experiencing bad quad cramps so I had to put'r in cruise control while Ryan rode away in the last 3 miles.

I was a little surprised not to get caught by Kabush because the cramps were bad!
Railing the descents and putting in good racing moves was really fun today.

It's nice to be back in the groove.

Tomorrow is the short track.

Keep ya posted,
Jeremiah

Pro Men

1. Ryan Trebon (USA) Kona 2:08:42
2. Jeremiah Bishop (USA) Trek/VW at 0:43
3. Geoff Kabush (Can) Team Maxxis 1:28
4. Andy Schultz (USA) Kenda Titus Hayes 3:11
5. Carl Decker (USA) Giant Mtb Team 3:24
6. Sam Schultz (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 4:18
7. Ross Schnell (USA) Trek/VW 4:51
8. Jeremy Horgan-Kobelski (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher 6:52
9. Cody Peterson (USA) Scott Bicycles 8:39
10. Sam Koerber (USA) Gary Fisher 29er Crew 9:04

The Big Sky Out West

2008-06-27T21:55:00.003-04:00

Back in Deer Valley, UT once again for my first NMBS race of the year.

It's nice to be back in the high and dry country. All of the sun and thin air seems to make me buzz for some reason. Not sure what it is, but I dig some time out here. Our crew is Zack, Jenny, Shep, Dusty, Cait, Laura and Ross for the Trek condo. It's a stereo typical log cabin interior with river stone fireplace, antler chandeliers and five chainsaw sculptures of bears rounding out the Sundance feel. It's actually really fun and I bet kids love this stuff.

Speaking of kids, our crew went to an autograph session of the Young Riders kids bike club of Deer Valley. Hordes of little mountain biker grommets were there at Squatters eating burgers and drinking cokes and getting us to sign everything from stickers to posters to t-shirts! Cool.

The course was really fun to ride and in good shape due to a big snow year and some snow even 3 weeks ago! Now its pretty hot as usual with bleaching sun and temps in the 80s. The flowers and aspen trees seem to encroach on the course quiet a bit this year so you have to stay on your toes. It's kinda more like east coast trails, really fast dry east coast trails.

I am not sure how the race will go as I've had a big block of training and a couple of races to get me back on track, so I am in the land of the unknown. I think I can roll a top 5 with some luck.

I'll keep ya posted.

Jeremiah

Wild and Wonderful in West Virginia

2008-06-23T11:41:00.004-04:00

So, Saturday's event in West Virginia was the wonderful part. Our friend Paul Buschi's wedding at the Elk River Touring center! The once-H'Burg mountain biker and Trek/Volkswagen Team member tied the knot with the equally energetic and happy Megan Tillett. Congratulations!!!

I was happy to see so many mountain bike friends there. Chris Eatough and his wife Allison made the 6-hour drive from their home in Maryland. Sue and Tim, Thomas and Julie, the Carpenters, Andy McKinley, Andrea and Peter, the C-Ville Posse and more. It was a lot of fun with some crazy dancing going on! I am sure Paul was stoked.

Sunday was the wild part. We drove north to Canaan Valley for the West Virginia State Championships. Canaan rhymes with what? Rain, Pain, Cain, Wayne, Slain..... Anyhow, for myself and the rest of the crew, it was a total flashback to the days of yore. Sometime in the early 80's the Davis area was the eastern hotbed for this new extreme sport called mountain biking. If you don't think XC racing is extreme then you should have been there yesterday!!! It was retarded and totally crazy, roots rocks, mud and bog holes four feet deep that looked like 4-inch puddles. The moon rocks were awesome. I almost ate crow when my brakes gave out on a steep drop after the moon rocks, and there was one stream that was crotch deep that was ridable.... SICK!

I barely held it all together to take the win in front of a tenacious salamander named Nick Waite. He got the state championship title and the bragging rights of beating Russ Langley in the mountain road race the day before and still giving me a major run for it. After the race we where so caked in mud you couldn't tell what color our jerseys were!

I'm just glad I didn't have to do the race on a 30-pound full rigid bike with no working gears or brakes like back in the day!

Classic! I loved it!

I have some pictures on the way so be sure to stayed tuned.
Jeremiah

Home Work

2008-06-21T09:27:00.002-04:00

For those of you who are in the know, you know I'm not at Worlds this weekend. This was a simple decision, I need to take care of business and get my groove back after multiple trips to Europe that provided me more germs than race results.

The early season went like this:
Went to Cape Epic and survived the onslaught of Africa. Hung in Africa and had fun riding the local trails for two weeks. Headed to Europe looking forward to some good racing. Got sick... Raced the best I could. Came home had good training. Back to Europe. Posted a decent race in Andorra moving up 40 spots. Got Sick... Mostly better, raced in Scotland and flatted! I got 77th.

Anybody knows that being sick, international travel, and five hours a week of training gives one the lactate threshold of a drunken snapping turtle. Ok, it's not that bad, especially after a week of good training. I'm almost back to normal and headed for some good form - or at least I'm training that way!

Last week, Erin and I headed over the hills to do some down home racing at the Appalachian Classic. We had a great time, listened to some blue grass, hanging out at the awards and doing three races each! Check out our Gallery link for some cool photos that Erin took.

This week, Nick, Jeff and I had some good riding and threw it down! Just what Hunter ordered.

Today is a good friend Paul Buschi's wedding. After what is sure to be a late night of fun, the H'burg gang will caravan to Canaan Valley, WV for some more down home racing! So maybe this is all going to work out and I will have some fresh fast legs and a smile on my face for the rest of this seasons goals! Coming up are the NMBS races in NY, US Nationals in Mt Snow and two east coast World Cups, Bromont and the Classic Mt Saint Anne.

Time to kick some ass and have some fun racing on the east coast!
JB

Photos from Andorra

2008-06-13T10:20:00.002-04:00

Andorra was much like I'd imagined, but you never really understand a place until you go.

The sky was busy with clouds, and snow freshly powdered the tops of the 10,000-foot peaks.

After the race, I went on a recovery ride into the mountains with Sue, Lea and Adam. We found an awesome waterfall.

We were riding along, looked down below a 20-foot stone wall supporting a bridge and "what the!?" Willow had climbed down there somehow and was taking a cold soak.

In the grocery store, we pused around these little smart car versions of shopping carts.

More photos are up in the Gallery. Check em out.

Jeremiah

No More Promises

2008-06-08T12:43:00.005-04:00

Yo,

Well this weekend's race in Fort William was a nut cracker and I ain't talking about the one on ice.

I fought for position after the starting gun. I got passed, did some passing and it was going well until someone slipped out on the steep climb up the first big hill. I got bumped off the bike and had a hard time starting up again. Just as we rounded the first tight corner some dude knocked Liam Killen off his bike foolishly trying to pass. But that's the World Cup when your in the middle of the pack.

Anyway, I wasn't fully over my cold from this week and was feeling kinda empty. I started to loose ground on lap 2, but found some rhythm on the next few laps. Hammering along in the 50's, I was having some fun, passed a few riders on the long bermed up downhill and even found a few better lines on the course. I went a little too fast thru a rock notch that was a stream crossing and PSSSS.......... heard the rapid evacuation of air from my rear tire! Shit.

As I was a ways from the tech zone, I figured I would use it as practice flat changing. A photographer was having a field day getting close ups as I was dripping with sweat and struggled to undo the lock nut of my tubeless valve stem.
3 mins later I got it done and was off. Sprinting this time because I promised my self that I wouldn't get pulled because of the 80% rule, so I just had one lap to give'r for a good hard workout. I railed it and actually caught a few guys. I looked to the official every lap after a max effort just to get sent out on another lap full of steep climbs and rattly down hills.

I was surprised to see JHK with 2 to go, and he seemed interested in just cruising to get the ax by the 80% dude. He too suffered a flat and had to run to the tech zone. I was like "may as well get a workout" I am going to keep pushing at least at a brisk pace. I didn't get pulled even after the bad flat?! I was in the mood to suffer some and got just what i was looking for!

No mercy and a few broken promises that this is the LAST lap... I did have a lot of fun railin' the downhills, hitting some good jumps and was glad I stuck it out.

Thanks to all those crazy spectators, Ralf with the Dolphin Trek Team, Steve in the feed and those dudes with the sombrero's and ponchos for keeping me going!

Gracias,

JB

Scottish?

2008-06-05T12:18:00.002-04:00

I am here in the land of good whiskey and bad food once again for the Fort William World Cup.

After the high nerves of last years World Championships here I am at ease...Pretty calm..Kinda bored actually.

I rode the course today and it was so dry that it was nearly dusty! I am not sure what’s up with the weather but I don't mind.
The recent issue of Bike Magazine with Frischi on the cover reminds me how bad it was here 4 years ago. Knarly!

Since then the coures has changed allot. For the World's the organizers made the course an armored gravel and rock bmx track with big climbs on it. For this years race they cut out the top of the toughest climb and clipped off one other trail section. I think they should have kept it the way it was but what ever. It has gotten rougher because the dry weather and trail traffic has exposed the foundation rocks and made things bumpy with a high chance for flats.

I wish I had my full suspension! Maybe I will bring it to Worlds?

So next weekend it the Appalachian Classic weekend. I was on the fence about going but with a Time Trail and a short track I am getting tempted to load the car up and convince Erin to go for a fun weekend.

Cio.

Jeremiah

Raining and Training

2008-06-05T12:06:00.003-04:00

Rays of sun and slanted columns of rain made the sky a moody patchwork. Sue, Leah and I rode left from our lodging at Gilberga upward into unknown territory on a freshly paved climb. During the rainy cold climb of many switchbacks we were treated to a an amazing view the city of Lamassan below and the snow capped peaks above.

It was pretty chilly and we wavered on descending the far side into the next town. I have a slight head cold I was fighting off so I wasn’t as committed to the adventure.

The switchbacks lay like a stabbed snake coiled below in a painful way warped around old stone buildings and green fields. Ok, ok, I'm in. We dropped down on the steepening now-dirt road! The sun came out and we were a lot warmer down in the valley. We rode into Andorra la Valley and then took a side bike trial that winded under the main road overpasses. Tightly squeezed thru a notch in a massive mountain and just above crazy rushing cascades, the overpasses took up most of the space and the bike lane was merely 10 feet above the snow swollen torrent.

The first part was like a goat trail on top of a cliff before we found the bike path. I realized one false move was as good as falling off a 3000-foot cliff however it was only 30 feet down. This water was moving at an incredible speed thru boulders and jumping up in waves.

For the last part, we had to take the main road tunnel but there was as good shoulder and it was wasn’t very long.

The ride worked out great and the sun was a nice surprise on an otherwise rainy day. I was glad to get out.

Enjoy the ride.

Jeremiah

Progress

2008-05-31T13:46:00.002-04:00

Hey people,

Today was World Cup #4, high in the Pyrenean mountains of Andorra. There was some light rain and it was really cold up there.

The race went pretty good today for me. Uh... aside from getting caught behind a major high speed pile up on the first turn. After getting my bearings straight, I worked my way up thru the field from the 50's all race.

Sam Shultz and I raced back and forth as we picked off rider after rider on the slick rooty and steep course atop the ski mountain. I had fun today and found some throttle. With 2 laps to go I gave it every thing I had to surge thru the last lap or most of it. I got a little low on sugar on the last downhill and lost it on a fast off camber root section so Sam passed me. Oh well, I will plan or settling this over a game of pool later to get my revenge.

The race was held at 6200 feet and the course was wet and rooty so the results were a shake up from the norm. I still have to get the story on how our Canadian neighbor Kabush raced to 3rd place today! Even crazier Burry Stander - he lead the race for some time and finished second! Wonder what he had for breakfast? Strange too how Sid Taberlay was off the back after winning in Santa Ynez.

I guess that's racin, ya'll.

I'm super stoked about the fun that is coming up this week exploring some fat trails high in the Pyrenees. I'll tell you how it goes.

Later,
Jeremiah

Where in the heck am I?

2008-05-29T17:33:00.005-04:00

I am in a country most don't know exists, yet it is extraordinary.
Andorra looks like a shoot location for a James Bond movie.
I could see a sleek Aston Martin skipping around a corner thru the busy down town area of Andorra La Vella against the backdrop of a raging blue river in a small vertical city with canyon-like streets and green mountains caped in ice and snow.

Modern but stone slate roof architecture are definitely the theme. I guess since the place has a lot of rock it isn’t as expensive to build with. People seem to speak mostly Spanish, Catalone and some French I detect.
The towns are just cramped in the few flat places available and upper floors of the downtown hang over to grant a few extra feet. There are a lot of stake-and-wire retainers for the cliff sides that are natural or have been dug out to make space for things.

Natural space up in the mountains is in abundance though none of it flat. Andorra is forested like Colorado’s high country with evergreens, some olive-like dry shrub plants and even some Aspen trees. I said to Sam Schultz as I bumped into him on the panoramic course, “All in all it's like Summit county with Euro style".

Keep an open mind there is always a lot out there you haven't seen!!

Thanks for reading,

Jeremiah

For Your Viewing Pleasure

2008-05-28T16:21:00.003-04:00

A picture's worth a thousand words. I've neglected my blog, but I'll start making up for it with a link to some of the many fresh photos in the Gallery.

I'll check back in with an update from Andorra!
JB

World Cup Downhill

2008-05-13T09:15:00.004-04:00

No, not the one in Maribor.

Yesterday I rode out from town to my local training spot - Massanutten Mountain. I live on the west side of the mountain, and on the eastern side is the Massanutten Four Season Resort. Twelve years ago it was the site of a UCI World Cup downhill. That year, I raced and crashed in the amateur dual slalom.

Anyway, I have a nice route that climbs the 1000-foot gravel access road on the western slope. Then I climb the ski mountain and ride down the downhill courses and then I ride back over the mountain and finish up with the 40-minute ride back to town.

I was curios to see what the course for last weekend's Virginia State downhill championship was like. (Congrats to Sue, she won!)The corners were still taped, but I could ride the whole thing despite the fact I was riding my hard tail. FUN!
The course is technical but does not have any of the real scary stuff that I have seen on the DH courses in the last few years.

I can't wait to get my Fuel EX built up, I have some trails to catch up with and that is the perfect bike for Virginia mountains. Way rocky.

Enjoy,

JB

Oh yeah, this week is bike to work week!
So for my part I'm going to ride from home to go on all my mountain bike rides. But really, I have commuted by bike a lot and it is a great thing to do and fun, too, so give it a whirl.

Bulls of Madrid

2008-05-06T09:20:00.002-04:00

An amazing race to wrap up an amazing trip.

No I didn't ride in an amazing fashion but I definitely prepped for the race well, ripped thru the descents and high-speed corners and had a good time.

I was glad to be feeling over the stomach bug I caught in Belgium. It could have been better but it also could have been worse.

To put the Madrid World Cup into words is not easy because it such a unique race. It is an 8 k super fast, action packed roller coaster trail net work with some fast open dirt road connections and a few steep ups and downs.

The race is in a city park with a flat super fast dirt road start and winds thru the steep hills of Casa del Campos the biggest park in Madrid. Some sections were desert like gravel had some trasitons onto dust patches of old pavement bumby washboards and some were blue groove from tire skids.

I put on a fast 1st half of the race and moved into 32 by lap 4. However the hamstrings had a different plan than I did for the race and I had some wicked cramps! The kind where you can't move your legs. The went right to wooden planks. It was bad but I walked it out. And got back on. The cramps subsided but I was really bombed that a good race was going going gone. ..

At least the cramps went away and I fought thru the final laps with no thought of giving up I scraped and raced up to the end.

As Dave Weins once said after he had such a race.. "Sometimes you feel like a nut sometimes you don't"

It's good to be back at home after an ubber epic trip and enjoying SPRING!

Have fun and keep it real.

Jeremiah