The Crack

Not the craic. There was nothing fun about these two rides.

Last week started out pretty normally. Medium length ride on Monday, long ride on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, though, I thought I'd mix it up. Instead of just waking up in the morning and riding on my own like I would normally, I slept in, cleaned up some broken glass (stupid cats) and had lunch with Jennifer downtown.

Later that afternoon, I was going to meet with the group that rides from Bicycle Link for their Wednesday night group ride. On the Savannah Wheelmen website, this ride is advertised as a 20-30 mile ride depending on light. I figured that we'd ride for about 1:30, like the weeknight group rides back home, so I went out for two hours before meeting the group.

When I got to the shop, the ride instructions were announced, and it turns out that we were riding 40 miles. This meant that I was going to total up close to 75 miles by 8:00 that evening. Two consecutive days of 4+ hours shouldn't be a problem, but it wasn't exactly what I had in mind.

The beginning of the ride seemed sort of disjointed. The instructions were to keep the pace no higher than 20 mph on the ride out, and that the group would split up on the way back into town. It was a really big group heading out of the shop, and the accordion was in full effect.

The ride back was fine though. I managed to sneak my way up into the front group, hanging onto the tail end of the 10-15 person group. This left me closing down gaps pretty rapidly as people started to come off the back. Eventually, I was the one who opened a gap, and my evening was done. I did lead out one of the shop employees in the next group for the "finish line" sprint. So I figured I had earned my beer back at the shop.

Thursday morning the Adams and I had a conference call to discuss the Cycle-Smart 'Cross Camp South p/b KindHuman. Everything is going well with camp organization and I couldn't be more excited. Of course after all this 'cross talk, I had to take my old, trusty Gin & Trombones out for a ride. I left the house for Skidaway Island and, with the help of the TuneIn app, was able to listen to the USA World Cup game while I rode. I didn't plan on riding hard or doing a specific workout really. Just ride to the trails, ride moderately quickly once there and then come home.

I noticed though that my legs weren't really cooperating to get any decent amount of wattage to the pedals. When I hit the trail, riding anything resembling quickly wasn't an option. It was still a good ride and I got to at least work on my handling, but the legs just weren't having it. As I was leaving the trails, I decided I would stop to get some more water and maybe a snack. I missed my turn for the gas station though, and there wasn't another stop until well after I left the island.

Right as I got to the base of the bridge (which is probably the gnarliest hill in Savannah) it all came apart. I'd lost interest in pedaling, and definitely wasn't making quick progress. I limped to the gas station, stocked up on water, Coke and Sour Patch Kids and then went home to unsuccessfully nap.

I'm blaming it on dehydration. I had left to ride in what felt like the hottest part of the day the day before, and then added another 40 miles of group riding. Finishing that off with a beer at the shop probably didn't help either. Friday's ride wasn't as bad, but just didn't feel very good either.

Luckily, after five weeks of training, I've got a rest week that starts today. My workout for today is to make mine and Jen's lunch, and then after she goes back to work, find a coffee shop approximately 30 minutes away, drink coffee, ride home. I'll upload to Strava when I get back

Of course, I have some super fresh Phlegmish Designs shirts I need to mail out today too. There's plenty more available for order!

Midsummer

So I guess today is the official first day of summer, huh?

Unfortunately, in South Carolina and Georgia, summer temperatures started right around the time Christmas trees hit the curb.

 My summer got kicked off for real this week. It's basically been everything I thought it would be.

June 13th was my last day at work. It's not so weird looking back on it now, but at the time it was a really strange transition. I started with that company when I was 18. It opened my eyes to a whole section of the world that I didn't know, that I mostly denied still existed. It was educational.

For the most part, though, the people there were good to me. They worked with my school schedule when I went back to college in 2009 and I was paid fairly. For a while there, I was almost part of the family. We all saw how that worked out though.

Last Saturday, MM and I loaded up The Beast (tm) and headed up to Greenville to go ride up some hills. I had never done Caesar's Head before that and the climb that followed it, Bitch Hill, was a lesson in maintaining enough momentum to not fall over. It was a solid outing with the riding crew that I seemed to settle into over the past two years. And a decent excuse to stop at Wendy's

Tim Malson and I scouted out the location for the Cycle-Smart 'Cross Camp South on Monday, and let's just say, I am stoked. The lodge itself is super nice and has great potential to be a really beautiful spot. The trails that were recently cut into the woods provide lots of double track, a few creek bed crossings and a great opportunity for a run up. I think that the majority of the skills work that takes place will be right around the lodge itself, creating a super welcoming and comfortable environment for everyone who comes to attend.

After a short drive back to Columbia, the real work began. I started loading up the van for the big trip down I-95. I packed more bike equipment than I probably needed (three bikes, three extra sets of wheels, tools), a dog, a turtle and some food. Blue and I made what felt like the longest drive to Savannah EVER. She was sort of restless in the car, and liked to stand up and block my side mirror at the most inopportune moments, but once we got settled into Jen's house she got quite comfortable with the other dogs.

I kind of took over the spare bedroom, and a cabinet, and the fridge. But Jen seems ok with that. It's super relaxing that we can hangout and not feel like we're on a schedule. It's Sunday afternoon and she's napping while I lay on the couch and watch TV. We know we don't have to say bye this evening and that's been great.

However, Jen has to get up and go to work tomorrow morning. I just have to take care of the animals, ride, study and sleep. This past week was my biggest week of riding ever, totaling up to about 18 hours of training. It's been great getting to wake up whenever I naturally wake up, go ride for 3-5 hours and then come home on my own schedule. There's no added stress of having to squeeze in rides around work, and the only big obligation I have coming up (and it is a BIG one) is the GACE on Friday. Of course, I should probably also finish my grad school application for Armstrong.

With that, I'll leave this blog silent for a few more days. I've got another big week of riding coming up, the big test, and general Savannah relaxing. I'll try to be more diligent with the posting, as I know you all are eager to hear what I'm up to!

Mama Said...

There'd be days like this.

Saturday's ride in Savannah was just one of those days.

Within minutes of leaving the Savannah playhouse (I mean, Jen's house), I got a nice dose of harassment. Riding up behind me, laying on your horn and then stopping in the middle of the road (on a residential street) really isn't a smart idea. I resisted the urge to fling a bottle through their window, knowing that: 1) I had three hours of riding ahead of me; 2) it had my name on it.

I tried to snap a picture of the car but, as usual, there isn't any useful information in it. They got stopped at a redlight, and we had a nice friendly conversation. I won't repeat that conversation here.

About an hour and a half later, more excitement. What I thought was a very large bumblebee decided to take up residence in one of my helmet vents. Rolling down a straight, flat piece of tarmac, I sat up and took my helmet off. When I did that, my earphones came out of my ears and fell into my drivetrain, getting tangled in my chain and cassette. Of course, I didn't realize that this is what happened initially. All I knew was that I had both of my hands off my bars, my helmet off my head and that my back wheel was locked and skidding across the road.

All of this took approximately .35 seconds. I got the bike stopped, realized that the giant bumblebee was actually a cicada, and set about to untangling my headphones to I could ride home. I had to use my drivers license to get the last bit of plastic out from between the cassette and hub flange so I could actually coast for the rest of the ride.

Once I was just about to get up and get moving again, pssssssss... My tube decided that being a tube was hard, and evacuated all of its air.

I assumed that the flat had something to do with my skid stop or that the tube just quit after sitting in the sun for 30 minutes, but I still checked the inside of the tire just to be sure. Nothing there. New tube in and I was on my way.

I guess thirty minutes later, the same tire went flat. I rolled in the grass the extra few meters to get to a gas station so I could have a Cheerwine while I changed my SECOND flat.

I assumed that the second flat was the result of a bad spare tube. Again, I checked the inside of the tire, taking it completely off and feeling around to be sure there was nothing sharp in there. Assumptions are stupid.

Clouds were starting to build, and Jen was texting me worried about how long I had been out. I sent her a Glympse link and asked her to be on standby in case I had another flat.

I made it home safely, went to the shop that afternoon and restocked on tubes. I went out for a ride the next day and, of course, had another flat. This time I was 4 miles from the house. Apparently my Velox tape folded back, exposing a few spoke holes, and destroying every tube and dream I had. I turned around and went home, knowing that riding bikes just wasn't in the cards today.

The weekend rides brought at least one smile ^^^.

The rest of the weekend was the polar opposite of those two rides. All sorts of guests were in and out of Jen's house and we took time to explore, and eat, as much of Savannah as possible. One of Jen's old classmates from SCAD and his girlfriend were down from New York and both of Jen's brothers also came to town. It was cool to hang out with the whole lot of Huling kids, and this was the first time the three of them had been together in around three years.

It also provided a wonderful opportunity of Cards Against Humanity, and a Westbrook Mexican Cake. Mexican Cake might be my favorite beer in the world, and it looks like I'll only have my hands on one bottle this year. 

Everyone went their separate ways Sunday evening and Jen and I got to actually hangout without being hosts and tour guides. I realized that Sunday night would be my last night in Savannah as a guest (at least for the summer). The next time I go down there, I'll be carrying all sorts of crap and squatting for two months. Summer in Savannah begins!

Of course my tour guide gig fell through. The company's owner told me I was taking too long to get started, and accused me of costing him business, despite knowing when he offered me the position that I wouldn't be moving until after the 13th. So, this will also be the summer of ramen!




Post script: had a fourth flat on my ride tonight. This time it was a pinch flat on my cyclo-cross bike.

Moving Forward

On Tuesday, I scheduled my appointment to take the Georgia Assessment for the Certification of Educators. To be a teacher's certification exam, you'd think they could give it more straightforward and less jumbled name- the Georgia Educators' Certification Assessment (or Exam) maybe? I guess then it wouldn't have a cool abbreviation (GACE). I've told a few people that I'm taking the GACE exam in June and they usually mishear it and say something along the lines of the "WHAT EXAM?"

The GACE is all a part of the admissions process for Armstrong Atlantic State University (rumor has it that they're attempting to change their name to Armstrong State University, which would be much easier to say/type). Of course, I guess certification is a part of getting a job in Georgia one day, also. One step at a time though, guys. I've already filled out my admissions application, and I'm steadily working through the rest of the grad school admissions checklist. I still have to apply to Carolina as well. Jeez.

I'm not exactly stoked on taking a certification exam, but it's a necessary evil, I suppose. Luckily, my summer situation will allow maximum study time. The poor, minimally employed bike racer lifestyle is really just an investment in my future career, I swear.

That's not the only exam I have to take in Savannah. I still have to take my tour guides' licensing exam before I can start my new tour job. This, of course, also means studying the 100+ page history of Savannah and memorizing a load of squares. I'm not sure I've ever done this much work just to get a job, but I'm excited to show tourists around my future hometown. Plus, it'll be like leading a field trip... a slightly inebriated field trip of adults.

As of this week, I'm back on the bike too. The beginning of base training is probably my favorite time of the year. Long hours fall away under tires and solo miles are logged. There's a sense of hope and expectation for the coming fall. I'm excited to go into this season full bore and I'm grateful that I have a support structure around me that has allowed me to do this for five years.

I'm Savannah-bound again this weekend. Hanging out with our new friends and laying down roots in a new city. Piling some more stuff into Jen's house and getting a taste of what near-distance is like. If we could turn the heat down, I think this would be the ideal summer.

The Shifters Formerly Known as Retroshift

I've been curious about Retroshift shifters since I first heard about them in Cyclocross Magazine. I'm not generally known for my mechanical efforts, and dirty and contaminated shifters are something I'm all to familiar. I'm also completely enthralled with both anything "old school" and completely screwing off from typical norms.

Last year at the Asheville Cyclocross race at Carrier Park, I came face to face with the pitfalls of broken shifters. It was a muddy race on a course that I'm all too familiar with. Of course, it also just happened to be the weekend that Jen and I decided that not being together sucked, so she traveled with me to watch my second 'cross race of the year. Needless to say, I was super stoked on this event.

However, my SRAM Force shifter broke in the muck and mire. My options were take my single speed without tubulars out of the pits, or ride my impromptu single speed and keep the advantages of having low-pressure friendly tubular tires. The mechanical knocked me out of a potential podium spot that I was racing for and was then followed by a (lucky) warranty process, and a few shop visits to replace shifters.

Going into this 'cross season, I've decided to try something new. I collected a few Shimano derailleurs to tend to my chain and cassette and picked up a Gevenalle CX1 shifter set for my Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie. I appreciate the college student friendly pricing that Gevenalle offers. The shift system is simple and seems easy to maintain, even after a gross race and months of my typical neglect. Plus, they offer super easy crash replacements.

Going to take the bike out tonight and test it out. I'll post and updated review after a few rides. Hopefully, I'll be making the full transition on both bikes soon.

Anyone want some SRAM shifters?

School's Out Fundraiser: The Aftermath

The School's Out Gravel Grind is the third ride I've organized while heading the Gamecock Cycling Club, and the second fundraiser ride. I've always been nervous organizing a pay what you want fundraiser event, rather than charging a registration fee, but it seems to work. There's not a ton of financial risk but after securing a USA Cycling non-competitive event permit, and paying a $1 insurance fee per rider, there is the possibility that the fundraiser will become a losing endeavor but I like to think that the events my friends and I put together are fun enough that the riders feel comfortable contributing to the cause.

Seventeen hearty souls showed up for the 9:00 rollout in Blythewood, ready for a day of sun and dirt. The group all seemed to have the same thing in mind- hangout together and enjoy an awesome morning of bike riding. There wasn't going to be any sword measuring, and little talk of watts. 

Unfortunately the morning started off with some difficulties, as Tyler from Charleston found himself with a broken bolt on his seatpost collar. Luckily, the mechanical error gave a hungover Clayton an opportunity to get to the parking lot a few minutes late. After cobbling together a fix, the group rolled out.

The weather cooperated the night before the ride, bringing some moisture (well, thunderstorms and hail) that packed down the dirt and sand. The first section, the downhill washout leaving Cobblestone Park, however, did not benefit from the rain. It wasn't bad but as the first section of dirt, a slick, grassy descent made things interesting. It didn't help that I started to overcook a turn and entered a two-wheeled drift... while leading the group. That could have ended poorly.

While we did have one bottle-ejection on this section, the worst of the damage was yet to be seen.

As the dirt sections, and the climbs, began to steadily tick by, we discovered that Tyler's cludgy seatpost repair had failed, and his seatpost was now swinging freely in the frame.

Unfortunately, the two Charlestonians had to turn back to the car. It bummed me out that they traveled that far and didn't get to complete the ride, but I guess these things happen. It also continued my tradition of organizing a ride, and seeing someone who drove from out of town have to turn around early. Next time, I'll bring a collection of spare parts.

The rest of the group carried on, taking in the scenery of Blythewood and enjoying a new (for most of us) part of town. There were abandoned farms, donkeys, baby goats and every type of gravel you could imagine, including a stone that flew off of a rider's tire and left a significant welt in my shin.

 BABY GOATS?!

I think that the climbs caught everyone off guard, just as I expected. "I'm tired of this uphill shit" was uttered more than once. It seemed like every road went up, and 35 miles into the ~45 mile event, I was definitely starting to hurt. I think everyone else felt the same, and hopefully that's a good thing.

The second loop, the shorter 15 mile loop, was very well received and will likely be revisited soon. It's definitely one of those "it'll make you fast" routes that you could repeat a few times in one ride.

As for me personally, I could tell I've been off my bike and the bike itself was quite the comedy of errors. My Paul Components chain guide was set in a little too tight, rubbing on my chain when I was in my small gears. My tire was showing some obvious wear, and I was worried that the bead might separate from the casing. Lastly, I caught a nice pothole late in the ride, after the legs had already clocked out, and my saddle slipped nose-up, making the last few miles that much more uncomfortable.

Overall, the ride went very well. I'm really thankful for Henry putting together this loop. As a fundraiser, it was super successful and this is a more than welcome relief, especially this far ahead of the fall semester.

I was told at a group ride on Monday that I put together good rides. More importantly than successfully fundraising for the club, I'm happy that I can do something that people like. I've really enjoyed putting together these few events and I'm hoping that it's something I can continue doing, and maybe do more seriously in the future.

Of course, the next event on the schedule is heads and shoulders above anything I've organized so far, and I cant wait for it to happen.

If you couldn't make the ride but you're still interested in supporting the Gamecock Cycling Club, you can donate here:
http://www.gofundme.com/cyclecarolina

School's Out Gravel Grind Preview

Back in the winter Mark Merrill and I had the idea to toss together a gravel/dirt road ride to help send the Gamecock Cycling Club (me) to cyclo-cross nationals in Boulder, CO. The ride went off smoothly and we had a ton of fun exploring some new dirt in West Columbia and met some new folks from out of town.

My friends at Summit Cycles reminded me that there was lots of other dirt that needed to be explored, and the college club always needs some fundraising done, so the School's Out Gravel Grind was born.

This ride will start in Blythewood, SC, a little bit farther away from USC's campus and farther out than I normally ride, but the drive is well worth it.

I really like this route. It starts through Cobblestone Park, the neighborhood that used to host an early season omnium in March. After cutting through a short washout, you hit your first gravel section. The dirt comes early and often, and you sometimes forget how about any connecting paved roads there might be. I don't think that it's a majority dirt, but it certainly feels like it. When you do get back on the tarmac, you're thankful that you can spin your legs out a little bit.

I know that people are going to be tempted to smash this ride but trust me, especially if you're riding the full 45 miles, you're going to want to save your bullets.

I swear every dirt road finishes uphill, and at one point it hits 25%.

TWENTY FIVE PERCENT

I might be lying, but I don't think I am.

It was at least 20%, and I know that for a fact. So, it feels like more elevation change than what we had in December, but I'm not really much of one for tracking elevation gained/lost on a ride.

There are two out and back roads. This may sound lazy, but it's really cool. It gives the group a chance to naturally stop and collect everyone who may be straggling on the hill, and the change in direction gives a new perspective on the road.

The dirt roads are in pretty decent shape. There are a couple that just got new stone, but it's not a big deal at all. Only ONE road that is sandy, and I think we may be able to avoid that one by way of jeep trail. A little bit of moisture would be nice, as it was super dusty the day we went out and rode. My chain was less than pleased. (We've had some rain but I think we'll need more this week to pack everything in nicely)

I know that we're going to have some folks "sign-up" for the 45 mile ride but, when we get back to the parking lot after the 30 mile loop, will change their minds, pack it in and call it a day. It's a pretty tough loop, and it's going to be a lot of fun.

That said, be ready for what's coming for you on Saturday. It's not a race, and I doubt it will be "epic", but it's still going to take some preparation.

Despite what The Rules say about saddle bags and frame pumps, you're riding gravel. The clean lines of your frame can give way to efficiency every now and then. One tube probably won't cut it and it wouldn't hurt to bring along an infinite amount of air (i.e. a pump) if you blast through your CO2 early.

Also, it's South Carolina in May. It's going to be hot. Not South Carolina in August hot, but still hot. The great thing about this route is that after 30 miles, we return right back to where we started. I suggest putting a cooler in your car so that you can have fresh water for the final 15 miles. Or you could always just swing into the Food Lion. Some electrolytes might be a good idea, too. I hear Nuun Hydration makes good stuff...

It is NOT a race! But, it is covered by USAC as a sanctioned non-competitive event. This means that we're covered under their insurance should anything awful happen. *knocks on wood*

It is FREE! But, donations are more than acceptable. The Gamecock Cycling Club is still not funded by the school (we're too new) and we operate strictly on sponsor dollars and donations. Anything you think you can do to help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks to Henry and Summit Cycles for putting together a great loop.

Henry's Strava Route

Garmin Page

Coming Out

Hello. I'm Justin. I'm a 25 year old child.

Long discussion regarding finances, jobs and bike racing over dinner tonight. What was supposed to be my mom's Mother's Day dinner, turned into another realization that I'm broke, and that life might get hard after leaving my job...

Oh yea! I quit my job Monday. I put in a month+a day's notice. It was a long time coming, but it's still weird knowing that I'm leaving a company that I've been with for nearly 7 years.

My step-dad told me that it would make more sense to work this summer, save money and then leave work in the fall to race. I'm going to make more fitness improvements over the summer than during race season, and this is the only chance that Jen and I have to live together before I go to grad school. Neither one of us wants to find out that we can't stand living in each other's mess after I've changed schools, so now's the time to test the waters.

I do realize how absurd it sounds to quit a steady job, leave home for two months and only work part-time, but I also realize that I need to take this chance when it comes, and this is the only time it's coming. At dinner I said, "if I put in work this fall, and become an elite racer, then maybe a team will find me that wants to pay for my entries next year."

I know it's a long-shot, but it is a shot. Next fall, no matter what city I'm in, my hierarchy of needs isn't going to be the same as the past five years. I can't screw around once I start grad school, and paying the bills may mean taking a job that requires I work on the weekends and nights. As long as I get my studying done, working may take precedence over bike riding. This is probably my last chance to try to become an elite bike racer. It's also my last chance to move to a colonial port city to live with my girlfriend mostly worry-free before adulthood starts. I HAVE to take it. It'd be absurd not to.

Savannah Weekend

Just like most Friday nights for the past year and a half, I packed my crap and set sail for Savannah this weekend. This time was different though since the only thing I brought home was an empty bag. Everything else stayed in Georgia.

Of course, I was also heading down I-95 with a short stack of resumes and an interview lined up for Saturday morning. Not a regular occurrence when I go to visit Jen.

I met with Jeff from Full Moon Tours at a local coffee shop Saturday. We discussed the requirements for a tour guide license and my potential role with his tour group. If all goes as planned, I would be responsible for one haunted pub tour a week, herding a group of tourists around the historic district, guiding them to a few bars and throwing stories at them that they're likely not paying attention to.

I like this idea because I would work once a week for maybe 2.5 hours, leaving an abundance of time for base miles, napping and reading. Of course, it also means attempting to live off of $50+tips a week, and I don't know if I can ride 20 hours a week on ramen.

The interview went well, but I decided to drop off a few resumes around town, including at the coffee shop where we met. After discussing their training process and how they avoid college student employees who leave every few months, the owner left me under the impression that I'd need to keep looking. Despite my resume listing a home address 3 hours away, I got a text shortly after offering me a shift from 3-10pm. I didn't go in.

Following up on my morning interview, Jen and I went to Jeff's tour that evening at 7:30. I wouldn't say I believe in ghosts but I think ghost stories are fun and, at their most basic level, they're just spooky history stories. I am a history major, after all.

I have a feeling that most of the folks on the tour were just there to take advantage of Savannah's open container law but it was a good time. The decibel levels definitely rose after the third and final bar, but no one was out of hand. I'm pretty positive I can bring the necessary energy to make the ~2 hour tours fun, and not go crazy dealing with drunks and ghouls.

Since I'm not riding right now, we slept in Sunday and went down to Whole Foods for breakfast from the hot bar. I always forget how pricey that is until I pile a pound and a half of potatoes and eggs on the compostable plate.

We took advantage of having an entire day without obligations and got in the car for a trip to Statesboro to spend the afternoon in the sun. Our friend Matt will be moving away from Statesboro soon but I'm going to need to figure out an excuse to go back. I think there are more dirt roads than paved in that town.

I showed off my athletic prowess throwing the football around and climbed a tree. A solid wrap to a fun, bike-free weekend. It's nice to remember normal life every once in a while.

Just a few more weeks until "summer break". Which means that base miles, and a semi-permanent Savannah State of Mind are right around the corner. I'm looking forward to it, but not the ramen.

Want to help subsidize intentional underemployment or just buy stupid stickers? I have your answer: Phlegmish Designs

KindHuman Kampionne Review

I’ll preface this by saying- I’ve had a carbon cyclo-cross bike, I’ve had an aluminum cyclo-cross bike with carbon seat-stays, and I’ve had an aluminum road bike. I’ve ridden steel road bikes and mountain bikes, but this is my first carbon road bike. I came into this bike expecting it to feel like I was riding on a cloud, or being carried down the street by a loyal gang of servants while I sat on a plush, velvety seat woven from angel hairs. That’s not what it felt like. What I got was a bike ride, but it’s way better than anything I’ve ever had

My carbon ‘cross bike was nice. It was comfy; it was relatively fast, but ‘cross bikes and road bikes ride differently. It doesn’t matter what they’re made out of.

My Kampionne has been ridden in crits, power tests, road races and Thursday night world championships. It’s done well in all of them. It would probably ride better in these events if it had a better engine (that’s me!), but it seems to be doing well with what it was given.

I’ll start with comfort. This isn’t a full suspension bike. It’s not a minivan. It’s a road bike. You know what? It’s possible for road bikes to be comfortable, or “plush”, but they’re still road bikes. I was kind of disappointed the first time I rode this bike because when I rode over cracks in the road, I still felt them. I just assumed that because it was carbon, it would completely kill road noise. Once I understood what to expect, I understood that this bike rode awesomely.

My carbon ‘cross bike felt dead on the road. It muted road noise, but it didn’t give any feedback. My aluminum road bike gave LOTS of feedback. Have you ever ridden on chip-seal roads? I felt every chip, and they weren’t sealed very well. My Kampionne quiets road noise; it doesn’t mute it, but it controls it. If I want to charge into a corner, I understand what the bike is telling me. I know when I’ve got grip, and when that grip starts to waver. But the bike is comfortable enough that I can ride on South Carolina roads that are ignored by everyone who doesn’t own a 4x4 and still be happy. This means that when I do a hotdog criterium with a 180 turn every 500 meters, I’m not limited by my bike… just by my skills. The bike turns, and turns well. It holds a line, and is ready to accelerate out of it as soon as I catch my breath. It also means that when I want to ride 4 hours, my back doesn’t hurt nearly as much as my legs. I can ride as long as I want, as comfortably as I want.Let’s be honest: you can only be so comfortable sitting on a 145 millimeter-wide piece of plastic and faux leather, but this bike doesn’t remind you that what you’re doing hurts, it embraces it.

I’m not Mark Cavendish. I’m not Mark Renshaw. I’m not even the best sprinter on my group rides, but I know when a bike is stiff. I’ve ridden bikes that were noodly, but didn’t ride smoothly at all. The KindHuman Kampionne wants to go forward! Once you tell it to accelerate, it’s already 10 meters ahead of you. I’m almost positive that I could make this bike do a sick burnout if I want, but I don’t, I want every ounce of energy I put into pedalling to make me go forward. I have cheap medals to win, afterall. This bike does that- it goes forward, it turns, it even goes up. If I want to crank it up a hill, the bike is ready. It’s light enough to climb (sub-16lbs with SRAM Apex… APEX! Seriously!) but it’s stiff enough to sprint. If I want to shoot for town lines, it’s down. If I want to race it in a collegiate conference event, it’s waiting for the last lap bell… long after I’ve resigned to a pack finish.

The geometry is a little bit different than what I’m used to in a road bike. The head tube is a little bit taller (and it wishes it was a baller). This took a little bit of getting used to, but it’s paying off. Once I get finished with my brief road season, I typically switch to my ‘cross bike from June until February. I don’t like changing back and forth between the different geometries on my road bike and ‘cross bike. I’m planning to do a full summer base period on this bike though. Heck, I’ll probably ride this bike all year. I can get this bike into a position that resembles my ‘cross bike, while still getting the ride benefits of a road bike. Braking is better, obviously, and unlike a ‘cross bike with road tires, it still feels and rides like a road bike should (that’s probably because it IS a road bike). While I usually switch to my ‘cross bike to get into the same position I’ll be racing in all fall, I can ride this bike, be just as comfortable and still benefit from the lower bottom bracket when I’m in a road group or navigating 24 mph turns.

The only parts where this bike doesn’t quite live up to my last road bike is the bottom bracket, and cables. I love a threaded bottom bracket. They’re easy to install and maintain… and almost all of the cranks I have in my inventory are SRAM GXP cranksets. I don’t own a bottom bracket bearing press and don’t intend to get one anytime soon (I also own BB30 bikes, and have the same issue). When I got this frameset, I had to get my LBS to order and install a GXP converter for the BB86 bottom bracket shell. My only complaint about the internally routed cables (again, the shop ran my cables, so I haven’t dealt with the routing) is the lack of downtube barrel adjusters. Of course, this isn’t a new design, nor is it exclusive to the KindHuman Kampionne. It’s not so much of an issue on the rear derailleur but on the front, there’s no way to adjust shifting without loosening the anchor bolt or installing an in-line adjuster. I suffered from a new-cable-stretch induced panic attack while sitting on my trainer in the parking lot before a crit a few months ago. While warming up, I realized that I wasn’t getting into my big ring, and had to stop, get off and readjust the cable. I was less than stoked. If this happened in the middle of a long ride, instead of on a trainer, it would have been pretty annoying.

I could say something like, “it rides laterally stiff and vertically compliant” or brag about the scholarship program and how awesome it is that this bike was designed in my home town, but I’m not going to. What I’m going to tell you is that this bike does its job. It rides EXACTLY the way I want it. It’ll probably ride the way you want it to, also. Want to rail crits? Drop the stem, pedal F$#*ing hard and hope that you don’t run into a stopped moto-official. Want to climb? Skip that cookie that you’re holding, and head to Boone. Want to go ride all day? Get a decent fit, run it by your significant other and clear your schedule. You won’t have to worry about your bike, ‘cause this bike wants to do it all. It’s plush enough to ride forever, but it’s stiff enough that you can ride it in a crit and accelerate every 30 seconds over and over and over and over and over again until you’re holding your arms in the air and thanking your significant other for all the free time they gave you.

This bike can and will do it all. You’ll love riding it, and you feel good that you've contributed to youth cycling through the Take the Lead Scholarship. It’s a win/win/win. That’s a win for you, the scholarship and a race win. I promise.

Check out the Kampionne here

Second to last at the second and last

Sunday was the second race of the South Carolina State Championship Mountain Bike Series, and my second mountain bike race after a pretty long absence. Lucky for me, it's also my last race for a while, as I switch my focus to building the aerobic engine for cyclo-cross season.

I quit mountain bike racing after only doing it a few times. I hated the way we were corralled at the beginning and sent into the woods in 2 minute intervals separated into 1000 different age groups, in 3-4 different ability categories. Add in single-speeds and clydesdales, and its just a lot going on, on one course.

My problem was that I didn't spend enough time on my mountain bike, and I was slow. I really enjoyed short track racing, but cross country bummed me out. Especially after getting caught by the 30+ guys, and having to stop and pull over on the side of trail while groups of fitter, older guys went by.

I decided to give mountain biking another shot this year. I wanted to build more technical skills for cyclo-cross and I hate road racing. So off we went.

Back in March, we opened the two race state championship series at Poinsett State Park. I was a beginner... it was only my third cross country race, after all. It was also my first race after hanging up the wheels after cyclo-cross season.

I won the race that day, got stoked on mountain biking and got a license upgrade, setting my goals for a cat. 1 mountain bike upgrade and maybe even collegiate nationals this fall.

The race at Harbison State Forest wasn't quite the same though. These are my home trails, but that only meant that I knew the spots where I would be walking. The race was fast fast FAST. I went into the single track in 4th place, hoping to keep my sights on the three guys in front of me. I got passed by one more rider and the gap got bigger and bigger as we went flying through the woods, slipping and sliding over the dusty trails that could have used a little bit of moisture.

I had moved back to 6th place after the first tight, semi-technical section and trying to conserve energy on the open, power section of the course. I knew that there was a super technical trail coming and there would be lots of short steep climbs. I needed to save the energy that I could have used to close the gap to the 5th place rider, just to survive that trail.

Spider-Woman is the infamous, rocky, twisty trail that I knew would likely break my race. On top of walking the rock garden, I was routinely being passed by groups that started behind me, slowly extending the gap to the other men in my race as I stood stationary on the side of the trail. Here I settled into 6th place, second-to-last, and hoped that the 7th place rider would not catch me.

Leaving Spider-Woman, I had to open the engine up and try to make back some lost time. I rode by my friend and KindHuman teammate, Steve Noiret, and together we charged into the next section of single track.

I came through the start/finish line to sound of cheers from my parents (all three of them!), Jen, and KindHuman boss Adam Abramowicz. I swear, today was the unofficial first day of summer, and luckily I had a bottle waiting in the feedzone. In just 1:40 of racing, I went through nearly three bottles of water and Nuun.

The second lap was only 10k, and much less technical. I made it my goal to try to make up as much ground as possible. Shortly into the second lap, I caught the 5th place rider. I planned to ride with him for a while, but he pulled over to let me pass and I set out to open as much of a gap as I could.

The second lap went by with little issue. I only hoped that I would get caught from behind, as I didn't think I had anything left for a race to the finish. Luckily I rolled across solo, in 5th place. A whopping 12 minutes behind the winner, but only 4 behind the rider in front of me. Not great, but good enough for me to feel hopeful moving forward.

After the race, Jen and I waited on the state championship results. Since I upgraded mid-series, I could only take half of the points that I earned from my win in March. I thought that my 5th place at Harbison would earn my a spot on the podium and a South Carolina State Championship medal (well, for third place at least), but I was wrong. I finished a few points short, in 4th place in the overall.

Despite my disappointing result in the state championship series, it was a good day. Both Steve and Adam had good races, and afterward, we had a great cookout at Adam's house. It was great to do some team bonding and, most importantly, gain a few pounds before starting base training for cyclo-cross season.

The Plan

When I got my first bike, before I even started my first race, I dreamed of becoming a professional cyclist. I wanted to go to Europe and race Paris-Roubaix, I wanted to bang bars in the sprint at Athens Twilight, I thought that I would race cyclo-cross in Belgium, instead of drinking beers from New Belgium.

I'm going to be a professional. Except that I'm going to be a professional teacher. I realized very quickly that becoming a professional bike racer was a pipe-dream, but that I could still enjoy the sport and attempt to compete at the highest level possible.

So, going into my last semester at the University of South Carolina, I decided I didn't have much time left. I also decided that being in a long-distance relationship is a lot of work. Jen and I decided we could figure out a way to take care of both of those in one swift kick. Admittedly, the bike racing thing was more my idea, but we both benefit. I promise.

This was the plan we came up with: I'm going to finish this semester, work for a few weeks, and then leave Columbia for the rest of the summer and put in mad base miles in Savannah. I'm 27 ('cross racing age) and starting grad school in January. Time is at a premium. Racing is going to have to take a back seat when I start my Masters in Teaching program and, as my 30s rabidly approach, I'm running out of time for it to be socially acceptable to spend all of my time on my bike and in coffee shops. I'm taking advantage of it while I can.

The goal when I come home is to come flying into the cyclo-cross season, maybe win a race or two and upgrade. I've been a cat. III cyclo-cross racer for long enough. I'm planning to return to Savannah for the Savannah Super Prestige weekend as a II, finally, and get that UCI License that has seemed like a myth for so long. Am I going to win UCI races? No. Am I going to get a UCI point? Maybe. I can only hope. Am I going to get lapped out of races that I drove 10+ hours for? Probably.

The important part here is: when I start teaching, I'm going to be able to tell my students that I was an elite bike racer in a past life. I'll be able to look back and remember that summer I dropped everything to hangout with my girlfriend and chase a dream that's really silly in reality, but super important to me.

It's my punk rock dream. It's my #getinthevan world tour. It's my last grasp at irresponsible youth. I'm gonna give it a shot.