Thursday, December 25, 2008

2008 In Review - Year of the Snapped Wrist

It has come to that time of the year when old father time needs to have the Depends changed and we prepare for the crap filled Pampers of the New Year's baby. It is also the time that I like to reflect back on another year gone by and the adventures that will be ingrained in my mind (at least until Alzheimer's sets in). This year started out with a bang as I partied out of my 40’s and into the 50’s.
Suddenly there was the realization that I had perhaps reached, if not passed the apogee of the bell curve of life. I recall seeing a flash of bright light, thinking I had perhaps reached the end of the tunnel and an appointment with my maker. Turns out it was the flash of the camera catching me in a semi conscious moment of alcohol abuse.
The brighter note was the knowledge that no longer was I going head-to-head with the young turks of mountain biking, instead I was the young punk of the Master’s class. This also meant that it was time to shed the ENO cranks, single rear cog and rigid fork and go back to racing a fully geared bike with suspension, at least on the front end. For this I had the guys up at Independent Fabrication put together one kick ass Ti Lefty 29er. I was making sure I had every advantage available (short of a few rounds of EPO).
All of the training was getting to me but the results were coming in with podiums in the first two 100s. But there was something missing, that spark that got me into the sport, and it wasn’t until after the Mohican 100 that it came rushing at me like a hot kiss at the end of a wet fist – TEAM SEAGAL.
(Image lifted from Team Seagal's http://teamseagal.blogspot.com/)
No sooner had the first swig of PBR been poured and the googi berries sacrificed to the gods that I realized these guys had it hard wired for fun and like a future crackhead taking a first hit off the pipe, I was hooked. Born out of the loins of the Mohican 100 was the New East Coast Syndicate - and the new found incentive to ride in honor of the Grand Master Seagal spurring me on for the remainder of the season. Supplementing my training with late night sessions in the dojo I was fully prepared to take any beating that would come and was able to score podiums in the balance of the races. The season ended with two thirds a second and a fourth. Due to the scoring system of the NUE series this meant rather then third overall I ended up in fourth overall – I felt worse then this guy.

Working in the financial markets meant that the season essentially ended in September when the mother of all financial tsunamis hit the global markets. Work went from low stress 50 hour weeks to grueling 70 hour stints in the trenches. Despite all of this there was no stopping the New East Coast Syndicate from making it's international debut for Team Seagal at the Baja Epic. With the master himself riding shotgun I was able to dodge the bullets flying around Baja, survive the rabid canines and bring home the hardware finishing 1st in Master's and 6th overall.

Due to sudden unpredictable events (at least I still have a job for now) my race plans for the coming year have been put into total disarray with only the Singlespeed-a-Palooza and the Wilderness 101 confirmed. Certainly the highest priority is to meet the rest of Team Seagal and do one of the crazy events they are plugged into, perhaps Burning is in the cards! Stay tuned for the further adventures of the New East Coast Syndicate.

Chirstmas 2008

Look what Santa has brought for young Steven!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Ice Capades/The Dark Horse Sunday Single Speed Ride

The past week was spent basking in the sun of Southern California, dining at Spago, rubbing elbows with Wolfgang Puck and of course conducting business. While all of this was going on I never bothered to check on the weather back East, only finding upon my return that one of the worst ice storms in decades had hit, leaving a thick layer of ice, thousands with out power, the trails in shambles and our bikes like this.
After several years of mind numbing time on the rollers and trainers I tossed in the towel and hooked up with the Dark Horse Cycles Racing Team for the Sunday single speed rides. There are only two requirements for the rides, good attitude and beer, neither of which I have any trouble digging up for these rides. (Sadly the cold weather sucked the life out of my camera battery so I was not able to record the actual events, but trust me the following shots closely resemble what actually took place). This weekend with the ice storm the trails were proved to be a bit trickier then usual and at times the riding felt like this.
Habitually I, like a top flight equestrian rider, dismount by unclipping from my left pedal first. Well for the second weekend in a row, despite massive amounts of forearm torque, my left cleat loosened up enough that unclipping in a hurry was not an option. It provided fodder for the pack as I usually ended up looking like this
Mike Rave, riding his new scandium Niner, was feeling more bullet proof then ever and tempted fate by trying to ride every ice patch on the course. The highlight came when he broke through the ice and with rear wheel spinning put up a rooster tail just a shade smaller then this.
After almost 2 hours riding in 20 degree weather we all agreed to spin back to the cars where George Z, the Mayor of MTA, conducted another brilliant post ride debrief.
I can't wait for the New Year's day ride!