Inclement weather

It's pretty sad when the winter wonderland exhibit at SLP closes because of the threat of snow. The most crazy thing is that this was the day after and it was a balmy 55 degrees.

After a couple of failed attempts to drum up a riding partner on road and mountain bike, I was still dying to take advantage of the warm but wet weather and ride today. It was 50 something degrees( maybe more) and humid. The sun was trying to peak through the clouds. I tossed my 29r into the truck and headed for SLP. Before I arrived, I was surprised to find myself in a gully washer of a rain storm. Discouraged, I turned around and headed back South. Suddenly, I heard a little Voice in my head say "Southern Cross". I recalled the commitment I have with CC to ride the 50 mile torture cross race in Eligay in late February. I turned around again in the pouring rain and headed to SLP. I found it to be closed because of Inclement weather. Maybe by the same people who chose to be the only ones in the state to close the Schools yesterday? I managed to ride up the hill and sneak in the side of the trail. The rain stopped and the trail was beautiful. I have never seen a trail that drains so well and so quickly. It was actually nicer than the slippery and crunchy leaves that I have been used to riding the last few weeks. With the help of the mp3 player, I was able to slip in a few laps before dark.

Anyway, back to the Southern Cross. http://www.55nine.com/southernX.html

It is a 50 mile race that starts out on a cross course and then heads out onto 50 miles of dirt,paved,and gravel roads and then returns to run the cross course one last time. Last years, times varied for 3.5 hours to 6.5 hours. And in North GA in February, one can expect the worse from the weather. It should be quite a challenge. They have a 35 mile citizen race but, I have decided that it will only be worth it to do the open class. I like rides that suck. I don't know why I am wired that way. It's just that way.

For the the first time in 9 years, I have decided to actually watch what I eat. For the last three weeks, this has meant, No cokes (sad) limited beer (but not too limited) and pretty much no sugar. My plan is to be successful at dropping weight right through the holidays. Crazy huh?

Of Steel

I ripped this off of the Italian Cycling Blog. We need to find this DVD and have a movie night with a projector on the side of Masters house.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ9mICMYlWo&feature=player_embedded

Autumn no more

It wasn't the most beautiful Autumn that I remember, but the leaves have really seemed to cling this year. I am afraid that this week is for sure Falls final act. With Thanksgiving here, it will be a down hill slide through the holidays in super high gear. I don't know if you can truly appreciate this time of year unless you have lived somewhere that doesn't have seasons. Each season is a true since of closure that, for ten years, I really missed.

With that said, Sometimes little E is so full of a constant flow of questions, that I feel like I really need a break. But, now that he has been at the GP's for a couple of nights, I'm sitting here watching Thanksgiving bread rise and longing for him. While browsing my pictures of him, I've decided to post a few pics of some of the fun we have had this Autumn. It really is surprising how fast times flies and how much he has grown.

We had his birthday party early to avoid the shadow of Christmas, but I can't believe that he is about to hit the big 04!

DFL

Saturday night I rode the team bus

to Anniston to do the night time cyclocross race. I chose the masters class that I raced in 06'. This class has become much more aggressive. When I saw riders to the likes of Hungerford and Cupp lined up at the line, I knew I was in trouble. I may have to step back and regroup in the 4 class next time.

I went the distance. That was a personal accomplishment.

It turned out to be easy to keep going as I really looked forward to the 50 or so hecklers at the sand pit. Lap after lap. They were wound up and full of zingers. It's amazing how much laughing at them, masked the pain.

On a positive note, CCC's BF was pretty glad to finally take down Curtis "beans and tators" Cup in the Masters 45+.

Surprise guest and The Master's front porch.

Sunday evening provided surreal weather for a ride in November. 70 something degrees and enough foliage left on the trees to create an orange hue fueled by a long sunset.









We got a great surprise visit from my bro GC. There was nothing particularly special about the Hanceville loop ride this day other than the unseasonably warm weather and a lesson in bike etiquette and hand singles from GC.






The master told us stories
of his visit to De Rosa
as our shadows attacked
us along side.
Autumn in the South
is full of wonderful treats.





The biggest (rare) treat of all was when we managed to mooch a post ride brew for good conversation and a few laughs on the infamous front porch of the Master.

1950's Cyclocross

I'm not big on recycling videos, but I thought that some of you Cyclocross folks might like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9_Fs1QtsOY

BF and WF representing

I am really glad to see that BF and WF are representing us so well. Lord knows I can't get motivated to race. I picked these pics, from Sloss, off of a buddy of mines mutli media site.

Keep up the good work guys. BF, try to avoid those PBR hand offs. If you have never Cyclocrossed, you probably have no idea how much torture it is. Why do people do it........? Im not sure.

For more CCC Xross see http://cullmanat15mph.blogspot.com/

Bikes not Bombs

This is a really cool organzition that I came across on one my kids tv programs.

http://bikesnotbombs.org/

New Trails!!!!!

Remembering when the original Trails at Oak Mountain were under contruction 20 years ago, makes it even more refreshing to enjoy the development of some new trails. There are two new additions to the traditional loop.


The first addition, Rattle Snake Ridge, was added just in time for the Bump and Grind in June. It starts not far beyond Johnson Mountain. The trail starts out right away with some great short down hills, and large but easily ridden on a 29r, tree crossings. It then starts twisting climbs up to the ridges with a few off camber trails that require a tad bit of technical skill to avoid sliding down the hillside. You maneuver through a couple of root and rock gardens then the trail goes wide and downward toward the lake with swooping high bank turns that allow a lot of speed without braking.

As the Rattle Snake Ridge trail nears the end, you have the choice to take a hard 90 degree left onto the lake tail. The lake trail starts with a blazing fast down hill with for or five large sweeping turns that run right on the bank of the lake. It opens up and hits the Dam. This Fall the dam crossing provided an awesome view of Double Oaks foliage with the lake in the fore ground. After the dam, you cross a cool steel bridge that goes over the spill way. When crossing the bridge, prepare yourself for the fastest and best designed double track that I have ever ridden. When all is done, it dumps you out right across the road from the entrance to the rock garden trails.









The bump guys worked really hard and created a fine system of trails. I saw some of them staking new trails on top of Double Oak this Saturday. I am looking forward to seeing how those turn out.

I have ridden famous NC , KY,TN,GA and CO trails. I personally feel that these are now equal to or better than most.

I have managed to make it down to ride OM at least twice a month this fall. It is always worth the drive. I usually am able to con my bro Greg into going. He is still riding a 40lb dual suspension 26r. I'm hoping he makes the switch to bigger wheels and less shoxs as soon as possible.

Whether it's mountain bike or road bike in Birmingham, One thing is true about 85% of the time. I run into James Earl. He must ride about 50 hours a week. I am starting to wonder if there is not two or three of him.

Yazoo Tap Room

On Division Street in Nashville, I found the Yazoo Brewery. It is always strange to me that Yazoo beer comes from Nashville. I have raced several crits and left a few pounds of ass flesh on the downtown streets of Yazoo City, MS back in the day. It turns out that the owner of Yazoo is from Mississippi and moved to Nashville. He quit his real job and started brewing beer, much to a lot of peoples pleasure.

It is not a large building and all of the Yazoo comes from the one location. The best part to me is the tap room. It is a very basic, cement floor, wooden table, metal exposed beams, section of the warehouse that is used to serve Yazoo beer right out of the taps. No thumping music, no flat screens, no hot wings, no low cut bleach blonds flirting for a tip........Just man and beer. (and a few women).

They have eight taps in the wall and a cement bar. Brian will sale you a sampler for $6 so you can try everything from the rough, bitter and ever changing "Hop Project" to the Ultra smooth "Fall Fest".

My favorite of all is the growler. They are giant glass jugs with the painted ,not paper, Yazoo logo on the front. These are "to go "only. They are only $11 when you buy the first one and then you can bring it back and have it refilled for $7. What a deal! This is a must for any beer lover!

It would be great to have a tap room like this at the brewer in Bham....but from what I understand, the minority has ,once again, decided that it is immoral and therefore illegal to serve beer at the same location where beer is made to be distributed. Sweet Home Alabama.

For the lawyers:some images were borrowed for this post. No livers were harmed in the making of this blog.

Nashville

The company that I work for is always amazing to me. They are in many ways on the cutting edge of every technology (spare me the comments) and in other ways are stuck in the past. Every facility I go to is almost a carbon copy of the previous. Old toll maps on the walls, wood grain electric pencil sharpeners, harvest gold cloth swivel chairs, Bell Blue walls. They all have miles of poorly designed mazes of narrow hallways interrupted by an occasional room with some display of a system that looks like it came straight out of the bowels of the USS Alabama. It really is an unique family of odd people, all different, but disturbingly the same..... Including myself.

I am in a system design school that is, as usual, over my head. As I listen to the instructor talk about Copper fed slics and protect carrier lines, my mind quickly drifts off to the mountain bike trail on top of Double Oak Mountain. In my fantasy it is Fall and the leaves cover all but the narrow strip of dirt that makes it's gradual climb up to the crest. The top is always a great place to slow a little and catch a glimpse of the Vulcan over on the opposing Red Mountain. ..........Suddenly I am startled by "Mr. C! Did you get all of that info on the alternate mark inversion with binary 8 "0" substitution?" Uuuuuuuh............

When I was in my twenties, travel with the company always seemed exciting. Now it's just time away from the family and friends. Marriott's "weak" Artisan blend coffee is a far cry from the bold rosetta masked macchiato that I had last weekend in Cahaba Heights. It's sobering to realize how spoiled one can become.

Anyway, Nashville has a great downtown and lots of good food. All of the dives and pubs are to many to try to cover in two weeks. It's a pretty good reward for being here though. It looks like they have recovered pretty well from the floods. Opry Mills is still trashed, but down town looks good.

There is a good German beer hall

and a neat Irish pub with 30 foot tables that seat 20, live Irish music and Guinness on tap.

"Im a lumber jack and I'm ok"

just kidding.....

I guess I will be home by the time you read this. Nashville.....Been there, done that.

Hanceville Loop...scenic serenity

A late evening ride with the BF , P and Master. BF and P's tires were still laced with the smell of the hot melting tar of Mount Mitchell. The Masters reeked of Miller lite, which he had used the night before to buffer his pain from his Saturday dirt assault on Skyball with B. Although other options were discussed, P chose the Hanceville loop. The Hanceville loop is delightfully predictable and scattered with drying golden soy bean fields, leaning barns and the occasional crazy dog. I am always perplexed by the bicycle and everything else graveyard just before the hard left turn going out and always love the gradual climb of Hopewell rd. coming home.

The master "The Twilight Champion"

BF evidently sucked the air right out of my back tire. I found myself left alone with my first flat on the Proton wheels. It was an easy change and I was back in the garage before the first PPR was opened. Sometimes a ride like this is exactly what you need to put a weekend, that you mostly wish had never happened, behind you.

Things you find in the Trimble Super Saver

Seems to go ''hand in hand'' with my number 2 reader Richard Morningwood.

Farwell Fignon

Goodbye to one of my Tour favorites.

Sorry Lemond doped his way past you in the 89' Paris TT.

This is just a cool Blog I found. I will put it as a link, if I ever figure it out.

http://italiancyclingjournal.blogspot.com/?expref=next-blog

Mystery of Goat Island

Since I have moved to the area, I have been intrigued by the giant Island in the North East corner of Smith Lake. Every one calls this place "Goat Island". It comes by it's name honestly because of a rogue band of goats that live on the island.

On occasion, when we feel like trespassing, we like to point the old Julie B in that direction and check it out. I don't really know how big the Island is, but it is quite large, maybe 30 acres? Rock cliffs start high and submerge deep into the crystal clear water and are visible up to 15' below the surface before fading into the lakes abyss. The island is umbrellaed by a canopy of large trees that cast so much shade that there is almost no undergrowth.

Evidently this was a mountain top at some point that sat high above Ryan creek before Alabama power made the dam and flooded the valley which is now the lake bottom . It is said that the lake is 350' plus at some points.

The most interesting thing to me ,other than the goats, is the giant old wooden house. The old house has cedar siding and has obviously been standing much longer than the lake. It's tin roof is rusty and the windows have succumbed to vandals. Keeping the old house company is a 50's model truck with "Tucker house moving" hand painted on the door. Some have told me that although the house is older than the lake, the Tuckers continued to live on the island after the lake was complete and had a barge to take the truck to the main land. I can just see an old timer wearing boots with no laces and grasping a shotgun on the front porch ,refusing to leave, as the lake makes a steady rise. Straight out of an "Waltons episode" huh?

Anyway, it's a peaceful place with killer views from any direction. It would be cool to see it made into a wildlife refuge or a managed boaters campground someday. Until then, I guess it will just remain a playground for goats, raccoons, vandals and little explorers.

Saturday

First real climb this year

Those who know, know

Enough said

Comfort food in "The Front Porch Capital of the South"

I am always surprised that there isn't more blogs and ect. found in a google search on the old beach route Alabama hwy 331. I have driven the famous "Route 66" and believe that this stretch rivals it pretty well. The road has a wealth of decaying icons paying tributes to the past glory days of the great American two lane. There are several one level motels, mostly abandon or turned into flea markets, multiple dead gas stations and a hand full of towns that have fallen victim to interstates and out sourcing. They're crumbling facades, rusty junk cars, sleepy old timers propped against brick walls (like out of the movies) make for interesting travel. A few of the many are Luverne, Opp, Florala and my favorite, Brantley "The front porch capital of the South".

If you drive down 331 main street, you will see exactly why it has this name. Every beautiful 1900 era house has a front porch that literally encroaches on the highway. Some of these houses are really nice and some are in disrepair. http://www.townofbrantley.com/

On our last return from Grayton Beach, after passing through Brantley for years and not stopping, I decided to stop into the Southern Foods Restaurant and smell the roses. Instead, we smelled home cooked squash, sweet potato, green beans, rutabaga and a big corn fritter.

The restaurant is on a corner in a cool turn of the century ( the last century,not this one) brick building. The ceilings are 18' white washed tongue and groove pine, tarnished with water stains from the past. The wall s are covered in black and white photos of everything from the BHS 1956 band, to photos of flag draped coffins at the train station which were returning from WWII. The Cullman connection in me made me note one photo showing what might have been the largest event in the past 70 years. Big Jim Folsom comes to Brantley March 12, 1954.

There is nothing particularly special about the place or the food, but it is definitely the place where the locals go. It was us, 4 bankers and 25 saw mill workers. I was able to find a photo of the same restaurant in the 60's. I suppose they have been cooking this same Southern sole food for a very long time. So, if you find yourself going South and don't mind being stared at, Stop in, drink a sweet tea and see whats on the menu.

Skinny for a day......Tires that is.

I have rarely been on the road bike in the past several months. I like to think of myself like the illusive Bobby Fisher and randomly appear for a big nasty mountain ride and then disappear back into obscurity. If I were just a legend, like the master, this would be so much more romantic.

Anyway, I got a wild hair on Sunday and decided to take a sultry tour with some local legends. All of which have had they're share of miles across the big pond on the twisty half lane roads of Europe. No Europe today, but I guess Cullman Co. is about as close as you can get in North Alabama. The master chose Bethesda as our target with a small diversion up a small but very scenic climb in the Grandview community. Of course B and I interrupted the master's route with one token dirt road.

My companions seemed to have a few miles under they're belts, but I found most of the ride to be a slight struggle. A relaxed pace and good conversation allowed me to hang on and enjoy the ride. Large fluffy clouds towering miles above us, casting pleasant shade and a nice cool head wind coming home topped it off as an excellent tour.

The highlights of the ride were flushing a flock of quail, An old grand paw in a 50's Chevy truck driving down the center line and of course a little motivation up the grand finale. Chigger Ridge.

How to get a girl.......By Evan

First, move in close. Try to act distracted to avoid spooking the target.

Next, make eye contact using your deadly ice blue eyes as a weapon.

Time to move quickly. No turning back at this point

Score!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!