New Found Gap Again

I was glad to sleep late on Saturday and after a small breakfast, we made a chili start up the mountain. As it began to warm, I couldn't help but think about the fact that I had ridden the same pass with 8 to 10 inches of snow just a couple months before. We had a great climb but at about mile ten my brother unleashed a series of attacks that kept things interesting until we reached the top. After a couple of picture oppurtunities we started the almost routine descent. But much to my surprise something different happend this time. In a 180 degree turn and at about 45 mph, I heard a pop like a .22 rifle and had just enough time to realize that the sound was my rear tire. I went out of control, crossed the opposite lane and had a close encouter of the Ford kind before shimmying back into my lane and came to a stop. My brother was in front and didn't know that I fell off. My tire was trashed. I started to walk with my thumb out. I couldn't believe how many cars just blew right by before two nice ladies picked me up and took me down the mountain. All in all, it still turned out to be a nice ride and we finished it off with Cajun food and a PBR.

Smokey Mtn Parkway Here We Come

We took an easy and slow start to Gatlinburg after work. One fast food run and 5 hours later, we found ourselves chill'n in front of the fire at one of my favorite $ 50 dives. Tomorrow we plan to ride our road bikes up the parkway to New Found Gap.I Always love this ride. After the road ride, we are excited about moving on to a cabin at Tsali to meet some Fl co-workers for a few days of mountain biking. . . Tsali on a single? Might be tough. I may find out the hard way.

New Hipster In Town

It may take a while for him to transition into the skinny jeans and wool cycling caps. And of course the ML will have to be replaced with PBR. But, he has the bike right so far. One of our towns local legends has been pub crawling around town at night on this smooth SS. I'm Jealous!

Another One Bites the Dust

My Bro G has good reason to spend more time in our town lately. We have taken advantage of this by hitting SLP on lunch during the week some times. Unfortuantly, Bro G was watching two tiny dogs cross the infamous "Collar Bone Creek" when he got into my back wheel and made some racing stripes of his own. I hope he and his bike recover before our epic Clingmans Dome/ Tsali trip this weekend.

Sloss

The weather was great for Sloss Cross. This is such a cool location for a race. The hipsters were out in force. The course was more technical on one area than I prefer, but that is cross.
You have to take it or leave it. In the rear of the SS Chris O (the Tattoo wonder) put a whoop'n on me this week, But Brent was the real surprise of the day.

Throw back of the month.

Ok... the rumor that I invented mountain biking is not true, But this was pretty darn close. The other guy in the pic is,you guessed it,My Bro G. I don't remember what year this was, but I do remember that it was in Swanee Tn. Notice the rigid forks and toe clips.

Anniston Cross

The single speed racing was pretty tight at Anniston. Chris and I exchanged places three or four times. I even made contact in one corner on an inside pass (my fault) leaving my right brake lever at a 45 degree angle and then eventually broken. I finally was lucky enough to pass him on the last hill and hold him off to the finish for 8th. Thank you Captain! It is still hard to get used to crappy canti's after being spoiled by the disc 29er.

This race was a rave! The heckling at the 30 yard sand pit was at an all time high. The beer,Bacon and waffle hand ups made for a lot of fun.

On to Sloss this weekend. I've never raced there, but hear good things.