HURACAN 300 - 2012

What an EVENT! So much planning and preparation went into this race/ride that I don't even know where to begin. I can definitely say that there was more mental than physical preparation. Finishing basketball in February only gave me a month to get some mileage in, but I started preparing and researching back in November. Thank goodness I talked Steve into going. (It took about 3 weeks of constant texts and emails to break him.) It's nice to have someone to suffer . . . I mean share the experience with.

There is so much to tell, I'm not even going to try. We started at 9:00 a.m. Friday and pulled in to Claremont at 2:00 a.m. Saturday morning. (137 miles) We pulled out at 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning and pulled in to the Central Motel in Inverness at midnight (88 miles). We pulled out at 8:30 Sunday morning and finished at 3:30 p.m. (60 miles).

• The Ocala National Forrest was HOT and SANDY
• Saw a BIG gator in the Seminole State Forrest
• Made it in plenty of time to the Rock Springs Run gate.
• The river crossing was actually AWESOME.
• The single-track in Wekiwa Springs seemed longer than expected.
• The guys at the store stop in Zellwood were huge support.
• Lake Apopka alligators are plentiful to say the least
• Sand-hiking out of Apopka sucked, but at least it was cooler at night
• Sugarloaf Mountain Road - who the hell put hills in central Florida???
• Fresh picked oranges can never be bad.
• Rich Loam could have been a LOT worse without the rain.
• The Withlacoochee Trail is an incredible Florida feature.
• Croom during the day was fun . . . Croom at night can kiss my @$$.
• Thank God for the Central Motel and Coors Light in Inverness.
• Potts and Halpata Tastanaki were actually enjoyable rides.
• Santos part 1 was technical and fun. Santos part two was fun and FAST.
• Beer at Greenway Bicycles was icing on the cake. (Big thanks to the fellow that bought the first round!)

I can honestly say that I have never been so satisfied after a ride or and event. And to top it off, Karlos informed me that I had set a new Single-speed Course Record. All you need is ONE baby!

Here are several fantastic write-ups from the race:

Click HERE for David Muse - 8th Place & my personal Bikepacking guru

Click HERE for Kari Lindner - New Female Course Record

Click HERE for Kelly Klett - 2nd Place Overall

I'm in the process of editing the "Gear List" of items that I actually took with me. It's too long and detailed to add to this post, but if anyone is interested I'll be happy to share that as well. It might be useful for someone else's first bikepacking experience.

RESULTS - per the Naked Indian

All times received a 10 min time bonus.

1. Shay Linder 23 hours and 59 min 2012 New Overall course record

2. Kelly Klett 1 day 3 hours and 35 min

3. Chris Tompkins 1 day 7 hours and 45 min

4. Jason Murrell 1 day 9 hours and 45 min

5. Kari Lindner 1 day 11 hours and 54 min 2012 New COURSE Best Female Record

6. Chad Parker 1 day 13 hours and 45 min

7. Ruth Cunningham 2 days 2 hours and 50 min 2nd fastest female

8. Dave Muse

9. Steve Julian

10. Vonnie McClung New Single Speed course Record

2 days 6 hours and 20 min

11. Peter Kraft 2 day 6 hours and 45 min

12. Chris Benkley 2 days 8 hours and 33 min 3rd fastest female 2012 MASTERS COURSE RECORD

13. Paul Schmitt and Lynne Daniels Latern Rouge 2 years running!!!

2 days 8 hours and 45 minutes

ITunes killed MusicLand

I have to admit, I'm not big on change. And while new advancement and technology makes thinks more efficient and accessible, it takes away from the experience. I have however accepted some things into my world. Disc brakes on my mountain bike is a must. I love my DVR. I don't think I can go without satellite radio anymore.

But buying music . . . . that's where I'm torn.

I am a music junkie and frequent ITunes. I can honestly say that all my music has been purchased and not "shared". It seems like digital music is all but making the music stores I remember (Turtles, Musicland, Peppermint, etc.) obsolete. It is a luxury to be able to sample different music and buy just the songs you want. It's kind of like the Warehouse's micro brew deal - create your own six pack. But sitting at home buying one song at a time dilutes the experience of the music.

When I was going to school in Carrollton, there was a small independent shop that carried new and used music plus imports and rarities. I probably stop by there at least once a week to see if anything new was in. And then there was the shop in Statesboro that would have midnight releases of albums. They'd have beer and wine and blast the album in the store while everyone just partied and waited. At midnight we'd storm the counter to pay for the new album, tear off the cellophane, and spend the next hour listening and reading the booklet. It was part of the experience; a part that is being lost, but I found it again.



Pearl Jam released their latest album several days ago. I love all kinds of music, but if I'm stuck on a desert island with one album, it's going to be Pearl Jam something . . . probably TEN. I've had intentions to pick it up all week but haven't had time. Each day a sense of urgency grew and I started getting a tingle. I'd here "The Fixer" on the radio and it'd just stoke my need to have the album.

This morning I ran some errands and made my visit to the store to actually buy a new CD. The wrapper was torn off as I walked out of the doors and the sleeve was opened before my truck door was opened. I sat in the truck and listened to the first three songs before I ever put the key in the ignition. I listened to the rest of the album while cooking lunch and having a beer.

Long live tangible music!!

BEEN A WHILE

Yep . . . it's been a long time since I've posted anything. July, August, and September have been slammed. Spent a lot of time on the bike and with the family. Ended the summer with a great trip to the mountains and then an awesome adventure with some of the guys to do the Off-Road assault on Mt. Mitchell. I spent most of the summer preping for that one event. It was nice to have the trip and race go so smoothly - and I actually raced well.

Schools obvioulsy back in session which means chaos. There's just not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Tiff and I could be professional circus performers with the amount of juggling we do. Needless to say, work has taken over, but we're still squeezing some time for play.

Cadence has become quite the personality. She seems to change over night. Her thoughts and vocabulary amazes me. She keeps us on our toes.

The real reason for my neglect is that we've abondoned our team website and shifted to a blog. I've put some serious time into getting it set up and functioning. I think it's a better alternative for our team purposes. Simple is most DEFINATELY better. www.southgeorgiacyling.blogspot.com (if you're interested)

Fall break's coming up and we're heading up for an extended weekend with Clark and Suzy. We're heading up for the annual Helen Fat Tire Festival and 6hr race. It's going to be awesome to drink some beer at Burnt Dog Lodge and get some NGA mountain biking in. PRAY FOR GOOD WEATHER . . . or I may SNAP!

I promise not to neglect my first born blog for so long this time. I'd hate for my three followers to give up on me.

peace

Two Days: Braves, Biloxi, & Black Crowes

WOW!!! I'm cashed. The last three days were about as much as this thirty-something can handle (without a day to veg). 

Wednesday, I met Gene at the shop at 6:50 a.m. for an early ride. We hammered the Prison Road loop and got him back before work. I headed home to clean up and for breakfast.

At 1:30, my Dad, sister, her friend Cali, and I traveled up to ATL for a Braves game. Merritt met us at the stadium. 7:10 first pitch, game went to extras, braves lost 3-2, three hour drive home, in bed at 3:15 a.m.

I woke up at 8:30 Thursday morning to shower, pack, and eat breakfast. Chris, Matt, and John arrived at 9:55. On the road to Biloxi. 

Beer, beer, beer, slots, beer, slots, dinner, beer, blackjack, BLACK CROWES LIVE @ the BEAU RIVAGE, beer, beer, slots, bed.

I got back home Friday around 8:00 pm. I don't plan on leaving the house until sometime Sunday. 

(SIDE NOTE: The Robinson brothers are back together and were awesome. The Crowes are scheduled to release an album later in the summer. The played a lot of new music that sounded incredible. Nothing beats a big sound in a small venue. Welcome back Crowes.)

UPDATES

It's officially summer! I ended the school year on a sour note. I sat in Microsoft Certification training for two days; 8:00 - 5:00. The facilitator Nazi wouldn't let us out a minute early either. I missed the faculty golf tournament for the first time in six years. But, I did make it home in time to work a ride in, which ended up being epic. 28mph in pounding rain, bridging to Steve and Gene who jumped off the front six miles earlier. Countering and soloing for the final 500 meters. Warm shower, dry clothes, and Terrapin beer. Excellent start to vacation.

There are two new editions to the Drive Home Sing Along that are awesome. Hunter Jack makes a guest appearance. (Thank you Mr. Buice for continuing the good work.)

The garden is progressing nicely, but the constant rain we've been having has been a little much. We need a little sunshine to dry everything out. On the other hand, my grass is finally filling in. 

I've got a list of need-to-dos, have-to-dos, and want-to-dos. Hopefully I'll get around to it all in the next eight weeks. 

Party Like it's 1999

Tiff wasn't feeling well yesturday afternoon, so she gave me the go-ahead to ride. It's a rarity for me to ride on Mondays or Wednesdays. I've been envious of her because they'be been having 18-20 show for rides and we've had 7-8. The rides they've been having resemble the rides we used to have everynight back in the day plus, some of the old guard have gotten back on the bike and have joined the group.

Long story short, I had a blast. No females showed so the testosterone was probably a little higher than the normal monday/wednesday ride, but it was great. At no point did I feel like I, or anyone in the group was "training". We were just riding.

We were missing a few key pieces from yestur-year, but there were enough of us there to recreate what used to be the highlights of my week. (That and the partying we did afterward.)

Sometimes, the way it was . . . is how it SHOULD BE. The only thing I can't figure out is what was the better song of 1999: Genie in a Bottle - Christina Aguilera or I Want it That Way - Backstreet boys?????

(I'm sure Weaver's voting for the Backstreet Boys.)

We Don't Need No Education . . .

This piece is to piggy-back a post I made several weeks ago. Once again the school system for which I work continues to surprise me with the level of idiocy with which they act.

#1)We have been “strongly encouraged” to sign incomplete contracts. We’ve been told that downtown will fill in the figures and our years of service later. This leads to my second point.

#2)Our moronic financial supervisor is planning on cutting or eliminating our local supplement. He’s also meeting with the athletic directors about cutting or reducing many of the coaching supplements. These decisions are being mad by a man that earns $110,000+ per year to give sound financial advice to our school system. Did I mention that’s he already held that same position for two companies that filed bankruptcy?

#3) I had to justify why 4 of my 89 seniors would not pass my class. Let’s see . . . one student is in JAIL, one of the student’s quit coming in January, one student is already enrolled in Darsey earning a GED, and one student failed 7 out of 7 classes. Should I really have to justify this BULL$h!t????

Oh yeah, our Human Resources director makes $95,000 per year and had no H.R. experience prior to taking the job.

Welcome to Dougherty County. Where illiterate, underachieving know-it-alls with little to no experience can make mad cash and be given decision making power over the truly educated employees. Hell yeah it’s the Good Life City . . . for them.

(I "borrowed" the picture from the Internet. It pretty much encapsulates how I feel at this moment.)