JB's Adventure Blog

Sometimes the Hammer; Sometimes the Anvil. Both are TOUGH!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:48:00 +0000

This weekend I was full of effort and intentions of putting on my best. The Cohutta was not possible for me due to some 24 hours of the worst food poisoning I have ever had. I admire greatly all those who endured the cold pouring rain in the grand pursuit!

Check out this quote! Awesome!

Keep going! JB

"The Man in the Arena" Speech by Theodore Roosevelt at the Sorbonne in
Paris, France on April 23, 1910

The Famous Quote:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the
strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives
valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there
is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually
strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great
devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best
knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the
worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his
place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know
victory nor defeat.

Sea Otter.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 04:16:00 +0000

As is the the beast the Otter is huge this year. The vibe is good everyone seems to be having a great time and the weather is the best I have ever seen here.

Quick highlights.

Visited my friends in the industry as well as sponsors,

Trying new samples at the Raw Revolution booth #

Checking out rad new gear from the technology incubator otherwise know as Cannondale. Alot is under wraps but I have long distance photo of the bike Roel is riding tomorrow. The 29r flash is pretty hot too!

Getting the fresh Oakley hookup from Blick in the back parking lot, (it just looked shady). ;)

Did a lap of the pump track.

Rode 14 miles on and off road to the venue. Geez.

Got the new Joule power meter. So many amazing features that I will never have to look at the road again! Sweet. ;)

Cannondale Factory Racing put in a good effort in the short track but will be fired up for big showing tomorrow. Tough but hey.... thats the way we like it. If racing where easy....

Keep you posted on the ups and downs out here at the Otter race.

Later

J. Bishop

Cannondale Factory Racing

Harris Roubaix

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:40:00 +0000

Nothing more fun than riding steep dirt roads thru the country at excessive speed. Especially when the gravel truck just came thru making it like a sand box full of sharp stones!

More than a few riders went down. I managed to stay on the bike, always a plus. And I did make the lead group Nick Waite, Joe Dombroski and Andy Guptil. Guptil double flatted. The gravel did take its toll and I ended up with a slow leak. In an attempt to make it another 4 miles to where the cars where parked, I stopped in the middle of the dirt road (almost got ran over by the pack) and then chased hard to catch back up. Lucky for me, the lead group had reformed and the pace backed off. Phew... I didn't get much rest and then it was the final 14 mile lap. Nick set a blistering pace. I was doing about 550 watts on his wheel for the 90 second effort, Ouch...

We had fun attacking on each other with no mercy! On the final lap's hills and pave sections I snuck a few seconds on the twisty dirt road decent through the forest. I seemed to have the two wheel drift dialed. I punched it everywhere I could get traction. The duo of Waite and Dombroski closed down the gap but I went again when they least expected the open highway stretch. Didn't work either. It would come down to the final steep 1k gravel climb. Nick cracked a max attack effort showering my front wheel with gravel. It was everything I had to match his jump. Dombroski was gapped. Though I could not go faster I knew who ever entered the downhill first would likely take it. I gave it biggest gear I could push to harness a few more watts and drop the gravel pit descent first. It was just the 6 seconds I needed! 650 watt final climb for 45 seconds on soft gravel.

Afterward we hung out and had some food and drink with all the riders that took on the challenge. It was great to see everything from tandems to tag along bikes, hybrids and club riders.

Next stop: Sea Otter Classic!

Oh, sign up to follow me on Twitter. There's going to be a Cannondale contest, and when Cannondale has a contest you can bet there's going to be some cool prizes! (Twitter.com/JeremiahBishop) You can also join in at on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeremiah-Bishop/191133684022?ref=ts)

Jeremiah

Grave'

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 13:29:00 +0000

2010 Harris-Roubaix
Find more Bike Rides in Singers Glen, Virginia

A lot harder than it looks... Ha ha ha..

Jedi Trails

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:23:00 +0000

Here are some pics from my lowland exploration at the Jedi trails near Redland, this trail was the only one of its type I found but it made for awsome photos, it explains the name... to ride them fast you would have to be a Jedi otherwise you fall way down!

Afterward I made my uphill, WAY uphill. 14 miles up and nearly 5,000ft higher than the valley. Team mate Ben Sontag for a little altitude time at the Mastermind Athletics. Its sort of a training house for athletes run by Joe Whiley who I met thru sponsor Wheelbuilder.com

Cool idea. The two young guys staying up here (Devan Dunn and Ryan Cooke) have made for a nice place to hang out between races with lots of cycling video group dinners and joking around. Unfortunately I am going stir crazy because I love to hammer 5-6 h rides in mountain terrain like this but i have to race for the little 90 min race on Sat..

I guess thats another reason i prefer endurance races MORE RIDING!

Go BIG...

Jeremiah

Sunrising.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:29:00 +0000

So the sun did finally come up at the vision quest I was starting to wonder if I was halucinating .Tinker and I clawed our way back to Manni on the first mile of the days longest climb Modjeska and Santiago peaks. Tinker was pulling really strong.

The climb takes over an hour going flat out. That was my plan but my stomach wasn't ready.

Something clicked as the sun starting beaming down on us in the canyon. My legs woke up.

It was my turn to put on the attacks. Tinker marked Manny as I put in several attacks until I got away. I figured I would need every second. Tinker later made a push for Santiago peak forcing Manny into a frantic chase on the ensuing downhill.

The good news for me was that I knew this section from pre riding. The descents were just ribbons of loose single track that started with some steep drops on upper Holy Jim. The lower trail was more flowing but had some NO mistake area where error could be fatal.

I was hoping not to fall off a cliff or make any mistakes. Huge awesome decent that is fun at a relaxed speed but took ever ounces of concentration I had. Numerous switchbacks and a tight shurb lined cooridor made reading the trail like riding a dirt bike as fast as you can thru a labryth. I made the bottom hit the fast steam crossing grabbed another couple bottles from Noah CFR California rider and took off.

I manage to ride the insanely steep 30 min climb up Trabuco without walking but one stretch.

I felt good. Sweat streaked down my Radars under the great effort. I left the rear suspension on my new CFR Scalpel on for more ground biting traction.

Getting to the top with now on in site was little relief I knew I wouldnt be out of the woods until I made it down horse thief. Another hair raising decent but this one i was in the zone. Railing the inside turns and in good control on the dangerous exposed outside turns. You could not see the bottom of the canyon so I didn't even look. Better that way.

I pushed hard in the final dirt road miles incase someone was close. I was surprised to see my wining time of 4:45 was a new record! Even nicer was seeing Conrad and Erin at the finish.

Little did I know but Manny going mach 5 on Holy Jim tore a tire and had some chain trouble taking him out of contention. What"? I thought he was on my heels!

We enjoyed talking about the bikes with the other racers at the Cannondale truck and hanging out after the race. With a great day like it that we all had alot to talk about.

Thanks for the support from locals Steve Kwait and Noah for setting me up on course recon and feeding.

Jeremiah

Vision Quest Darkness to Light.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:43:00 +0000

"In many Native American groups, the vision quest is a turning point in life taken before puberty to find oneself and the intended spiritual and life direction. When an older child is ready, he or she will go on a personal, spiritual quest alone in the wilderness, often in conjunction with a period of fasting". (Wikipedia)

It was ironic that a race called Vision Quest was the longest I had ever and ever will ride without lights in a race. For the first 55 mins of the race I was like a remora on the ass of a shark. Never leaving the sanctuary of the lights of the the lead duo. Tinker who was also without lights had this fat flashlight he must have gotten out of the bed of some ones old rusty Ford! I will never forget it Tinker is riding up the first dirt road with this light in his clutches like a eagle holds a wet snake after the kill. He eventually put it down his riding shorts so it would beam forward.. Ha ha ha!!! What the......??

We both had our excuses because Joshua just got his tonsils out; TJ barely made it at all. And I am from VA so I figured like the other Long races its dark or twilight for a few minuets on the first climb and then all is good. Besides why would they make us race in the dark?

NO light! It was pitch black and cold. In blackstar Canyon. Not even a moon. Sure enough the loose dirt roads where sketchy, I sped around them following the bright lights Mani and the other leaders had because the alternative of getting dropped was not an option.

I looked down at miles of switchbacks and the pure blackness was only interrupted by the Orange Grid below and to my shock a white snake like constellation on the ground that went for 5 miles down the canyon! All the riders that had lights!!!!

After cresting the climb 1 min off record pace with the lead 4 ( Mani, Cameron Brennamin Tinker and I)

I was worried.. we had a roller coaster of alpine dirt roads with tank traps and sand holes and all sorts of scary black stuff. STILL NO LIGHT Where is the SUN! Just a faint golden glow on the huge mountains south of Palm Springs.

10 mins to day break I guessed. I survived the short downhill section but had to jam hard to catch up the 100 meter gaps that would open as I chickened out. There was just a halo on shapes now I had to hit the single track first because Mani is going to go apeshit on his home downhills to put pressure on me. I decided to drill it and make him work to catch me I got a 30 sec gap but lost it with a small wrong turn. I did not want be off the back after the first down hill! "note racing down a 3,000ft decent on super steep side cut mountains with blind turns is not cool"

My max sprints on the opening dirt road decent worked or so I though, I fought him off with several surges. Just as I was dropping into the steep and narrow Mani went for a left had pass and nipped me into the single track!

Home turf is a big advantage. SOMETIMES

Stay tuned for the rest................

Triple Crown action.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:40:00 +0000

I was not too sure how this whole 3 ring circus would work, 3 races best 2 out of 3 count toward a weekend total. It was fun and made for more action than normal.

The xc was full of climbs that the riders used to punch each other with between drafting tactic filled strait aways.

The short track was almost too exciting. Max Plaxton (Rt) crashed in front of me with just 8 minuets left in the race! Hi hit the deck with a grunt then I spray him with gravel and dust as I locked up both brakes! Ahhh!!! It took a whole lap to catch up to the leaders. Once I made contact they sat up, I took a gamble and powered past with an unknown amount of time left!

The lead group hesitated, Kabush was gone! Sid Taberley Jhk and Todd Wells realized the mistake of letting me go. I had a great 8-10 sec gap! I buried my head.

With no lap counter I was trying to pace it so if I had just two laps I would cross with a little energy, but I should have just kept the gas on 100%. One of the quirks of the format is there is now lap counter until 1 to go. So I guess I just went 1 lap early. I tried to come around but the final strait was only 20 meters! Fourth is not shabby.

More important I am in great shape and brought the race to them! Fun times. Each week I should get my fitness a little more into season.

Thanks to In Cycle of San Dimas for all of the help that made this weekend a success!

Jeremiah

US Triple Crown, VIP Mechanic

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:41:00 +0000

Always something new! Keeping to my tradition of shaking it up if it's not shaken, I decided to go to the Bahatti Foundation Team Launch at LA's club Nokia. Though I spent most of the day assembling my hot new Scalpel at In Cycle and preriding, I still had some energy and had check out the party.

Lots of glitter glamour bumpn' club music, tall skinny well dressed people. Cannondale is a proud presenting sponsor of the team in 2010 and it looks to be a great partnership. Having a VIP invitation was fun an there were many famous people there; I should have known who they were but I have been behind in my episodes of Access Hollywood. Ha ha ha.. I enjoyed seeing a few people, racers and industry insiders that were in attendance who I did know.

More than racing the team's mission is to spread the word about the foundations mission. To inspire and empower underprivileged youth thru programs and fundraising.

Growing up in a poor family outside of Baltimore, I can relate - cycling was my salvation. I look forward to learning more about the foundation.

SO.. Today is the real season opener for the US mountain bike scene with the XC of the US Triple Crown. I am excited to see how this all-mountain format works. Should be fun if for no other reason than it is NEW! It scores with best 2 out of 3. Super D, XC and Short track. Should be fun.

Time to get ready to GO!

In like a LION! TransSylvania

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:26:00 +0000

Never easy to tell what the first races will bring. In this case my first race was a tough but successful end to a week of training in Southern California. Got to see sand dunes palm trees more big pickups than I though would be in Cali as well as some fun trails and wicked roads. Ended up fourth my legs were just not there but I know I am fitter than that. Guess we will see in the coming weeks if I am right.

Results never seem to tell the story like, Kristin Armstrongs story from her last race the World road champs. A gold medal ride turned into a battle to finish and she came back from a wicked crash for fourth! Hmm. Guess the mtb coverage just needs better story telling.

Also in the news TransSylvania maps are up!! The course look really cool. This first year event is coming in strong with top riders the longest stage race in America and one of the most single track strewn adventure in all the land. I hope Tinker will come to the race, I hear there is really good fishing there so I think he will go for it. Ha ha ha.

Back at it!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 04:00:00 +0000

Here I sit at the Ayers Hotel in Alpine CA, about 40 miles east of San Diego. Bike tucked in the hotel corner.

I pre rode the Sage Brush Safari course today with Mani, the heavy downpours have turned the sandy soil into a slower wet sand type of mud I am not familiar to.

The venue is really neat with large foggy shrouded mountains that from the highway look like the highlands of Scotland in this weather; 48 and rain. Upon a closer look the valley where the race starts is very pretty like a cross between Texas and South Africa. Large granite boulders had me wondering if my bringing the hard tail was wise to my disappointment there was no real tight techi single track as I imagined just more of a swoopi ATV trail, a few nice berms but not really technical. Well see what the rest of the course is like sure the mud will make it exciting.

Tomorrow should be nice opener for the season and great test of where my form is.

I will catch up with some nice photos from the training week here in Cali.

Jeremiah

Good think I brought my finest suit!

Ceasars Head/Sassafras Loop!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:53:00 +0000

Amazing ride today. Nearly 100 miles 6 hrs, 8,060ft of climbing and some serious pain for the legs.

The main challenge was the legendary climb of Ceasars Head. One of Hincapies favorites I hear at 6.5 miles and 2200 vertical it is a nasty as it is sweet. Like those fireball candies I suppose.

Well in line with our theme this week of chasing carrots, we managed the grand loop as fast as ever (6 hours). We also chased the record on Ceasars Head despite our tired legs for our fourth day of hammering in a row. My Cannondale Super 6 helped make up for my lack of snap, I rocked up the climb, Jeff set an evil pace that made me wince. Knarly...

Very close around 29 mins! Nice, after toping out we realized there was still alot of snow up there at 3000+ft.

To our surprise we ran into photographer Jeff Zimmerman on Glady fork road. He took a few awesome shots of us climbing Sassafras.

Can you say STEEP!

After battling on the bike Jeff and I stopped to take in the awesome view. And enjoy making it over the final monster climb.

Riding thru the warm foot hills thousands of feet below was a treat as were the fajita's and negro modelo at Panchos!

A good day!

Thanks to www.jeffzimmermanphotography.com

Jeremiah Bishop

Cannondale Factory Racing.

Chasing Carrots; Clemson Training Camp 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:10:00 +0000

After 2 great mountain bike rides and nearly 8 hours of race pace mountain bike action with Jeff Shalk my legs are getting that good tired feeling. Camp Clemson is well under way.

The signature route that Ian (our long time host) put together was our challenge yesterday, we started out with the aim to do some race tempo riding. The trails are technical with tight twists and turns like if and dwarf ranger builds them for the purpose of disorienting unsuspecting riders. The trails have every imaginable turn and type of steep punchy climb. Sprinkled in are some longer climbs of 300ft or so.

Anyhow Jeff and I slipped and slid in the leave chasing each other like squirrels in the hardwood an deuce pine forest. Pushing the pace hard, in fact we where closed to the course record that my friend and team mate Chris Eatough layed down several years ago!

Coming into the last 2 big climbs we had around 9 mins to finish the lap to be on the record pace. We nearly sprinted up the last big single track climb to be just over the 2.5 hr mark. We never set out to break the record but chasing carrots is the making of all good training. Afterward we met up with Ian, Scott, Kirstin, Jeff, Anna and Lee for the tradition of Tuesday Pizza Buffet at Columbos. Ah.. the chocolate chip desert pizza is the best!

Today we have an easier 3hr road ride planned, I think with 60 mph wind gusts it might become our easy mid weekday. Tomorrow Its up to the big mountains for the big 6hr Caesars’ head loop. I wonder what Hincapie’s record is up that bad boy?

Later; Jeremiah Bishop

Cannondale Factory Racing.

Snow Cycle.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:44:00 +0000

I knew it was a questionable plan to head to a local mountain bike race despite a major snow storm bearing down on the mid atlantic.

Well it worked out! I got to race in a full snow track slip N slide two wheel drift course. TJ would have loved. it. As is my tradition in smaller races I started on the back row. Little did I know the course is almost all single track. After alot of action. I made my way to the front around halfway into lap 1. Joe Frish and Jared Neiters where at the helm. Jared flatted and then my rear tired went soft. Needless to say I got the workout I came for. I chased after gassing the soft rear tire and chased like mad to catch up and take over the lead for good!

The drive back from the race was even more sketchy, I fought to maintain control of the Element as I watched other cars careen off the road. You would have thought they used butter to pre treat the road.

Event the interstate (81) was closed in both directions near Mt. Jackson. I ended up taking back road thru the country. It took 4 hours but it is rare to see such amazing veiws and race in the SNOW! .

The game plan is to enjoy a few more snow workouts and then I am out of here for some training in Clemson.

Peace. and drive safe!

Jeremiah

Hmmm.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 23:57:00 +0000

Writers block. Cutting Block... Block of cheese, training block..... Nah.. Block as in downtown Block. ...

Ok Not sure what to write about..

Todays ride as alot of fun. Took my new Cannondale Flash out on the road! Yes. Rode the mountain bike on the Saturday SBC Sprint road ride. It was pretty amazing. This thing accellerates like a alein space craft! ZZZZZZZHHHHHHHH>>>>>>>>>> At 17 lbs my size large bike is about the same weight as most road bikes. It sure is a fun game trying to sniff for every little piece of draft, I was like some sort of draft leach. Ha ha ha. Curtis got me this time but I'll be back! Tomorrow its time to hit the trails, should be fun.

Monday I have the power pow wow with Hunter Allen (my coach) and talk game plan for 2010. It is always like a board game. Do I focus on this race or that race what benchmarks should I be hitting to roll to the first race without embarrassing my self? ;)

Thursday I head to see Jay Dicharry at the Speed Clinic at the University of VA for some advanced motion analysis. Every little bit counts. Check it out... http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/internet/pmr/Speed.cfm

I am planning to bring my video camera for some behind the scenes looks at the pre season prep!

Have fun and get out there, there weather is always better than it seems.

Jeremiah

Cannondale Factory Racing

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 13:56:00 +0000

I guess the word is out, exciting. I am on board with Cannondale Factory Racing for 2010! I am not sure about the details yet. I can tell you I am in great company with the other athletes and incredible resources that CFR is renowned for. I will keep you posted as more details become publicly available.

It was appropriate that given the teams name that I take a tour of the Beford Pa. Cannondale Factory! Drew Hanna; Headshock/Lefty Product manager and guru lead the tour.

It was amazing to see the capacity of people and the facility. Tons of custom heavy machines and puzzle like bins of frame parts lined the organized corridors. It looked like a set of the matrix! Everything from plasma cutters to mills, lathes cutters grinders heat treating ovens it was awesome! Not sure why but they all look like really expensive toys to me. Maybe they will let me build a bike or part next time I am up there.

Well time to get behind the mule and PLOW. The rocktown posse is taking Keck Baker on the "Kings Crossing Route" Should be a solid 5+ hours.

Oh. Stay tuned to my facebook page for the Epic awards that I am moderating with help from XXC mag.com! Cast your vote!

Jeremiah

www.mbaction.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=news&mod=News&mid=9A02E3B96F2A415ABC72CB5F516B4C10&tier=3&nid=A04A92AD712C44DDBAA4B2BB1FED4AB8

A Season to Remember

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:49:00 +0000

Before we get to full steam in planning what races we should do in 2010, let's take a look at the crazy year of new races, great flops and super surprises that the 2009 season of endurance racing brought.

This article has motivated me to put together my Best of 2009: The Epic Awards! I have been sitting on this idea for a while. The idea is a participant's award to the events and people in long distance mountain bike racing.

Any ideas for categories? Like Best 100 Miler, Best New Race, Most Improved Rider, etc?

Just list your category ideas here or add your comment on my facebook page.

Ciao

After the Storm

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 14:38:00 +0000

After any storm the sky clears and the impact can be assessed. No, I am not talking about the Christmas wrapping paper, boxes, tags, unpacked bags and leftovers. I am thinking about testing.

How out of shape on in shape am I? And perhaps the real questions are what zones and type of training tweaks do I need to get back on the curb of the best I can be?

The answers to these questions invariably are skewed by a headache, some sore legs from the XC skiing or whatever. The lab-style of the FACT testing Hunter (Peaks Coaching Group) and I have gotten accustomed to does have some short falls too, but when it comes to lactate balance point it is usually very accurate, even if I am a little rusty, tired or whatever.

The FACT test is a standby and when combined with field testing it gives me the bull's eye I need to fire up my fitness.

In addition to the FACT protocol I do the the CP 60s, 5 min, 20 minutes: no better results than performance and my favorite sprints! No, I hate sprints unless I am sprinting for a real finish line.

SO. A challenge in and of its self; testing is as much a measure of determination and grit as it is of fitness! I better get another wicked iTunes playlist started.

Be sure to check back for the results here! I think I will wait until the weekend since the lifting and fix grear have me SO sore I am walking like an old cowboy!

Jeremiah

Solstice Ski!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:06:00 +0000

The shortest day of the year is almost upon us, but before welcoming the longer days we may as well enjoy the winter. A posse that include Dan Fidella, Andy McKeegan, Mike Carpenter and I decided to rally over to the 'Nutt for some freshy powder.

Word on the street was that Thomas and Julie Jenkins had forged a track thru the shin-deep virgin snow with their snow shoes! This meant we would have a path to follow and get some gliding in.

We followed the track for a while until it ended, then I remembered how much of an ass-bust it is to cut track in 19 inches of snow going uphill. Great workout though. I was on front breathing heavy, not talking much but making progress traversing the Ravine Trail and then the whole way up berms three-fourths of the way up the 1,000-foot climb. I would stuff a tip under a 2-foot drift and have to back up just to get moving again! Andy worked to cut some track down the upper ravine, it was great being behind the plow for a while.

The best part was coming down the purpose built view trail with all the rock drops, whoops and big berms. Someone had snowshoed it so it was a narrow but part packed line. On the berms I wiped out a couple times because though I can steam engine up, I suck at Teli turns. I would flounder to get back up and get the snow out of my sleeves but it was SO FUN! Did hit some great turns on the final DH. Good times.

Carp: "It smells like Thomas has been thru here!"

We finished it all off with some Jaliscos, a Pollo Loco fajita, a horchata, and of course with Carp rallying thru some parking lots in his camo Land Cruiser and down this one crazy hillside that you might sled down!

Fantastic ski day.

Peace,

Massanutten Rocks for XC Lets go!

Winter surprise.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 15:41:00 +0000

No not just the 19 inches of snow. While skiing thru town we where captured by an unasuming photog. Well Well it made the Associated Press!!! SO far the phot of me in my Cannondale Jacket has popped up in Ohio Florida of all places.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/dayton-sports/winter-storm-disrupts-east-coast-sports-schedule-456691.html

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/winter-storm-disrupts-east-coast-sports-schedule-134673.html

Cool... I guess I will ski again today. The trainer contest for yesterday was surely won by Keck Baker a bad ass roadie from Richmond. He rode over 5 hrs!!!! I'm not sure if I would tell anyone if I DID ride that long on the trainer.

Props dude.

Peace!

I think I may need a bigger shovel!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:07:00 +0000

You know it is a good snow when you need crampons to get out of the basement!

Did a great 4 hour ski to JMU ISAT hill, the arboretum, westover and hillandale parks with Andrew McKeegan,Kyle and part of it with Thomas Jenkins. WOW! I am sore from trying to lift the tips of my skis from under the snow.

Epic conditions. 19 inches here....Tomorrow I will try to get a report from the mountains!

Peace.. JB

Social

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:08:00 +0000

It took some time, but now JeremiahBishop.com is taking advantage of the interactive nature of "social networking." Now you can stay in touch and get updates on Facebook and Twitter. Here are the links:

In the weeks ahead, JeremiahBishop.com is going to take on a fresh new look and function.

Stay tuned!

Silver Lining

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:40:00 +0000

The weather has been nasty to train in, but true to winter - beautiful.

Sent from my iPhone

Good Mojo.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 23:04:00 +0000

Nice not to be riding for a few days.

I went to Colorado a for a couple days on Wednesday for athlete ambassador program with USADA. It is an honor to share their mission to keep sports true to their roots; as a beautiful and pure pursuit of mankind. It was really inspiring to here the stories of the other athletes and I was in awe as I listened to how hard they have worked to get where they are and what they had to go through. April Holmes, Deedee Trotter, John Godina, Christine Armstrong and Natalie Bartelson have more than an incredible stack of titles and Olympic hardware but it is something different that makes them special they are all pitching in at a time when professional sports are at a tipping point.

What do I mean? Well...when I hear other cyclist say that doping is so bad they should just make it legal and have two classes clean and anything goes. Uhh... NO WAY!

When America assumes that all track and field stars and NFL players on drugs so its ok because every ones on them....

NO WAY!

Now I am no saint, but when you devote allot of your life to a sport you want to protect it for the future know the results of your effort. At first when I was asked to take part I was like "sure I will help out". But after meeting some of the other athletes willing to stand up for their sports and for the kids getting into them. I thought that's awesome !

As I walking the Olympic path. I realized the path is not a place but a way of living. Just like being an athlete is not winning; it is a way of life.

Later Thursday I thought it would be nice to meet up with Sam J. for a hike. Little did I know that he was taking us up "THE INCLINE" in the dark with ice and snow everywhere. The incline is the most hideous thing you have ever seen. Its like a mile long and climbs 2,000ft. The average grade is 40% with sections at 70%! Those spots you have to use your hands to scurry up or at least with the ice you do. Supposedly Apollo Ono and some of the Olympic tri guys can do it in 18 mins or so. On the way down we took a switchback alternate thankfully. The trail still had packed snow that turned several spots into luge track. Erin from Usada when down several times. Christine fell once I fell once but Sam I guess is used to the ice.

Well back at home now after a whirlwind season. Time to clean up from La Ruta get my bikes all the parts they need to work again and then the prep starts for next year. The mojo is already gathering.

Happy Turkey day.

Jeremiah

This is La Ruta.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:52:00 +0000

The have a saying for when things are just Fubar in Africa, you just laugh and say TIA This Is Africa.

Well that sums up the week for me. I rode as strong as anyone out there, prepaired well, stayed out of trouble (no crashes)) and fought hard to get back in the game when the demons of the jungle tried to stop me in my tracks.

"This Is La Ruta" I told my self and smiled. Anytime I was on the verge of frustration, if it was being sent the wrong way by a moto while leading day 3, double flatting on day 4 and running 4k. What next? I can take it. Roberto Herras passed me after his personal moto stopped to fix his flatt. "necesita de una motocicleta"

he said. No i don't

Strange to say it I was satisfied by the experience. I did what I came to do. Get over my fear of the race. Have fun while racing. And make it to the finish line! Ride as a team.

What more can I say. It is crazy ass race. Everything you have heard is true. So go check it out, but do not get frustrated, just smile and say the saying......

Check out the cool video on www.cyclingdirt.org It's awesome.

Pura Vida.

Jeremiah