JB's Adventure Blog

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

Day 2 the Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:22:00 +0000

The concensus is that the first climb of yesterdays stage was the longest sustained pitch anyone has ever seen on a road. 30% in spots and an hour long. It was so steep that only 10 or so people did not have to get off and walk the steepest bit that was rock and concrete i suppose so the jeeps can scale it. This would have been cool but all i had was a 2 by 9 crank. I made it but my effort looked more akin to picking up boulder off the ground for each pedal stroke. Not sure why i didnt just jogg. I would have still been leading. ha ha. The endsing decent was roucus and just as steep and on shinny wet clay! I backed it down a little and whent my own pace knowing there was 50 k of mostly road comming. http://adventurerace.com/mapas_laruta_09/stage-2/elevation_chart_stage_2_la_ruta_09.jpg 3.000 ft in 7.5k!

A missed turn derrailed my hopes of riding at the front. It turns out i was on a 4 k detour that included an uneeded 2k. I chaced in vain but did have the pleasure of hooking up with Tinker and Alex again and rode with the World Super bike Champion Ben Bostrom who knew he could `pedal like that.

Key board is funny here. Anywhoo. I thought it was good to keep company and just have a good time. It turned out we caught quite a few that where dropped from the lead group including a fadding Roberto Herras.

Allex and i where the only ones willing to work, Herras sat on for 12 K and tried to sprint around us.. Go figure.

La Ruta is a test of paitence bike and body. Not just a race for the fast indeed.

j

La Ruta stage 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:23:00 +0000

Today was hard; really hard.

The infamous Carrara section of la ruta served up some tank stopping mud.

My derailleur decided it would see what it was like on top of the cassette for a change. Not good.

This mysterious incident happened just as our lead group dropped off the mountain top into the muddy hell. Steep ravines rivers and rutted bottomless red clay. This up and down section ended up taking even longer today since my bike malfunction had me extracting the chain from the spokes, oh and my only usable 5 gears were Big ring in the front. Needless to say the next 3 hours would be silly hard. Lots of running and riding in retarded gears! Weeee!

I was taking it in stride and decided to have fun and see if i could catch anyone to ride with.

I was lucky enough to catch up to Tinker and Alex on the 20 k 4,000 ft climb on the road.

That was the pick me up I needed to push thru. Glad to be done that! Ha ha ha.

Tomorrow things will go smoother... I think :)

First day in San Jose.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Opening the blinds to the hotel to another world is always a surprise (it was dark when we got here) Wicked steep mountain s covered mostly with dense green carpet. 5% of the worlds biodiversity is here, around 10,000 species of plants alone! There are some green pasture thousands of feet up there too. Wild landscape.

Outside the air is palpable and smells like a green house. The team is all here and we are taking the relaxed. AKA well figure it out approach to things. We have some kind of brunch with the organizers and the other riders, I guess, Thomas Deitch, Herras Remeriez and some others ticos will be there. Also doing the visit to a children's hospital. At 1. pm We have EMV caps and Team shirts to give out.

I was lucky enough to have some visitors when I was in the hospital here after my horrific crash in 2006. It will be nice for the kids to see some spadex clad athletes showing up.

After that we have the 3 hour drive to the west coast to prep for Wednesdays 5 am start.

Now I am going to the pool since my bikes not build.

Later.

Bishop

Highlanders

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:57:00 +0000

Yesterday felt like a one way mission after getting lost just after this picture.

I was ready to kill Andy (the navigator) who was "Sure its this way" Really I should have had a map but could not find a map of the area! It was funny after the fact but lesson learned.

Also part of my condition was due to and 8hr 100 mile mountainbike ride the day before. I was at the cracking point. We where half way and 3.5 hours in. I only hoped to ride for 4 hours, it was raining, cold and we where in a strange land with dark clouds and leafless dark trees. It worked out to be a great ride after we got back on course and I hit some calories.

Jack Mountain the 2nd biggest climb of the day is not even ON most of the maps out there. Yet it is a big mountain pass with a nice crushed gravel /paved surface that climbs about 1,500ft.

The road find of the year for sure! How do you hide a Cat 2 climb 5 miles long with juicy horse shoe switchbacks? Awesome! Curtis Andy and I hooted and hollared (as is customary in these parts) and rippend down the steep mountain side on a very euro style decent. Andy under estimated the 200 degree switchback and was locked up on wet leaves and almost went over a ledge.. Ha ha ha.

Highlights of the ride include.

asking a mountain man for directions to Jack Mtn.
Looking at the camo deer hunters in the gas station wonder who had the best costume.
Finding a dude in a pickup truck that was actually impressed we where soldiering over 4 mountain passes to get home.
Finding a new manly new mountain route to come back to.
Seeing the scary sight of 4 dead ground hogs hanging from nooses in a wiry old oaktree on a creepy dirt road.

Did mention that was awesome? So 6 hours in we hit the reddish knob trading post and knew we had but 1 big ass climb left. At this point we knew we would make it so we our spirits lifted. A job well done. In fact another 5,000 Kj ride and 109 miles in the bank.

Afterward I sped home to enjoy the trick or treating with Erin Conrad Josh and Erin's Parents.

Funny thing is I had no interest in candy, just huge plates full of the Chicken dinner!

The twilight zone.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:55:00 +0000

La Ruta is a cool event but one of the many factors that seems to make it tough on us gringos is that it's so late in the year.

Seem like there are few people that want to train 6 hour days in the mountains this time of year! It is like everyone else has left the party but I am still dancing.

I am trying to talk some friends into a tour of West Virginia a 3 day Uber Epic dirt road quest under the quize of adventure.

My proposal? H-Burg to Davis (the mountain mother land). Day 2 ride to the bike barn near Lost River day 3 back to the Burg. Better bring a map and a banjo.

Anyway the Tidewater Mtb challenge was super fun as usual. I liken it to taking one of those really long wacky spiral straws from the carnival and putting angry hornets in it.

We zipped around testing the very limits of the side knob. Brrrreeeeeep .

It was great to see Todd XXX Helmic and his new hotrod. Much missed where Big David Duval and Chris Eatough, it didn't seemed the same with out them. We have had many good races there and sure to be many more besides a new crop of talent is comming! It was awesome to see Nick Wait make a return to the podium (2nd) he may just be staging a comeback?

Well off to bed. Hunter has an tough am workout on tap. Then tomorrow night is the Blue Ridge Cyclocross Cup round 4 in Cville.

GO RIDE!

Jeremiah

Guess which one is nicks!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:19:00 +0000

Awesome reward for a great race at Tide Water Mtb Challenge. I won it was hard! Waite was 2nd; Justin Raynes3 rd Ryan Fawley 4th. Sent from my iPhone Www.jeremiahbishop.com

Exploring Fox Ridge

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:37:00 +0000

Had fun today just getting out. After a tough training week and the Pisgah Mountain Bike Stage race it was time to relax and do some exploring with friend and local neopro Chris Michaels

We were stoked to find a previously undiscovered hunting trail. One that for at least a little ways was ride able. Not only was it ride able but it seemed to head in a way that one could for see it connecting to other trials in the area! After and hour of following some orange blazes we lost the scent. For sure I am going back there with the GPS. It will probable have to wait until after La Ruta.

After some back country exploration we rode the more established trials at mud pond and off the front side of Oak Knob.

Later. JB

Pisgah Tough.

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremiah Bishop) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 16:18:00 +0000

After riding through freezing cold streams, falling over a few times and battling with Sam Koerber in his backyard root labyrinth. I have to say that the Pisgah Mountain Bike stage race was the most challenging course of the year! Man that was FUN! My legs feel like I lost a mixed martial arts battle but the big check proves I in fact survived the beating better than the rest!

Despite what looked like a large time gap to second the racing was in fact very close and exciting. Even though Sam broke his chain in the wintry near 5,000ft top of Laurel Mountain; I felt as if anything could happen. A couple minuet lead here is like 2 seconds in a normal race!

Sure enough I had to fight to keep my lead on the last day when it was my turn for chain problems.

After a brutal pace on the opening 30 min climb thanks to (Evan Plews and Colby Peirce) a lead group formed.

Sam, Christian Tanguy, Colby, Evan and myself.

The stages highest point was removed due to a snow and ice situation. This also was good for me because I was less stressed about holding my lead since we where skipping a very gnarly slick trail. We hit some snow cover on the leaves at only 3,500ft at the top of the first climb and I felt in control of the leaders jersey.

After just a half hour of dirt roads I realized I could only use the big ring due to a worn 2nd ring and grimy conditions. Uh oh! After some massive chain suck i realized it was just best to keep it in the big ring. Lets just say the granny gear climbs I knew where coming brought feeling of dread!

Talk about a workout! I made sure to put it to max pace on the low grade 20 minuet climbs to make Sam work but also to reduce the impact of any time gap that may arise. The run ups hurt but i kept it together; Sam got his much deserved stage win! The second to last trail of the day was stupid gnarly but I could see the tire tracks. As I scampered down the wet rock staircase I knew that just Sam had today locked up but I also knew I was just 8 miles from bringing home the overall and was now in no hurry.

Sue Haywood also brought home the gold for Team Rocktown.

After the race we all went to a upscale restaurant bar in Brevard and shared stories and toasted surviving Pisgah.

The Lion has Risen!

Jeremiah