Last Saturday I rode the Tour de Tuck, a 105 mile road bike ride along the Blue Ridge Parkway that gains 11000 feet of elevation. This ride is to be the first in a double header. Next Saturday, I am competing in the Iron Mtn Trail Race, a fifty mile run. On the way to my parents house in Cullowhee Friday, Alenda (my wife) and I stopped at Liquid Logic HQ and picked up a Jefe Grande. I knew the boat would be good for someone my size, but it totally blew me away. It is responsive, stable and boofs like a madman. I am really excited about taking it on some big water runs when it rains.
My 200 lb. frame bogs most boats down and I end up low in the water. This picture, taken at the bottom of Hammer Factor, shows my water line well above the surface. Sitting in the new seat, you will feel like you're paddling on a cloud. This is not a boat for a little guy (or gal), but for big boaters, this is the ride.
Alenda and I stayed at my folk's house that night and got up early in the a.m. for what would prove to be an epic day. I met up with my buddies Jed Hinckley and David Jacobsen before the race. The whole group of 200 or so bikers stuck together through Cherokee. Once on the Parkway, the climbing began in earnest. Last year I lost the group on the hills. This year Jed and I stayed in the front of the pack and ended up in a strong group of 15 people. We rode harder than I have ever ridden in a century. It was nice to see everyone working together. At Balsam Gap our group thinned out. Jed and I rode the next 20 mile climb at a moderate pace. We were feeling great at the highest point on the Parkway when someone told us we were only 10 minutes behind the rider in first place. Fired up, we got off the Parkway and headed down 215. On the way down I saw a sign for Transylvania County. I did not remember that from last year, but blew it off. It was not untill we got close to Rosman that I knew we missed a turn. First I was super pissed because we were smoking the course, but I quickly realized I just had to focus on the 10 to 15 miles of steep road we had just descended. Eventually we made it back on the course and headed for Cullowhee (we were still passing people). Alenda had gotten wind of our misfortune and picked my truck up. I told her we would meet her at my folks place instead of the start/finish area. Adding on unexpected miles is psychologically devastating. For the next few hours I thought about two things: cold beer and burning legs. We rode about 130 miles in 7.5 hours. I technically DNF'd it, but rode farther than the course. Jed rallied for the finish (and his car) after stopping at Mom and Dad's for a few egg burritos and beers. I hope he did not puke on that last seven miles.
Me and Jed partying after a brutal 130 with 15000 + feet of climbing. Thanks to Alenda for the shuttles and pictures, and Mom and Dad for the hospitality.
My 200 lb. frame bogs most boats down and I end up low in the water. This picture, taken at the bottom of Hammer Factor, shows my water line well above the surface. Sitting in the new seat, you will feel like you're paddling on a cloud. This is not a boat for a little guy (or gal), but for big boaters, this is the ride.
Alenda and I stayed at my folk's house that night and got up early in the a.m. for what would prove to be an epic day. I met up with my buddies Jed Hinckley and David Jacobsen before the race. The whole group of 200 or so bikers stuck together through Cherokee. Once on the Parkway, the climbing began in earnest. Last year I lost the group on the hills. This year Jed and I stayed in the front of the pack and ended up in a strong group of 15 people. We rode harder than I have ever ridden in a century. It was nice to see everyone working together. At Balsam Gap our group thinned out. Jed and I rode the next 20 mile climb at a moderate pace. We were feeling great at the highest point on the Parkway when someone told us we were only 10 minutes behind the rider in first place. Fired up, we got off the Parkway and headed down 215. On the way down I saw a sign for Transylvania County. I did not remember that from last year, but blew it off. It was not untill we got close to Rosman that I knew we missed a turn. First I was super pissed because we were smoking the course, but I quickly realized I just had to focus on the 10 to 15 miles of steep road we had just descended. Eventually we made it back on the course and headed for Cullowhee (we were still passing people). Alenda had gotten wind of our misfortune and picked my truck up. I told her we would meet her at my folks place instead of the start/finish area. Adding on unexpected miles is psychologically devastating. For the next few hours I thought about two things: cold beer and burning legs. We rode about 130 miles in 7.5 hours. I technically DNF'd it, but rode farther than the course. Jed rallied for the finish (and his car) after stopping at Mom and Dad's for a few egg burritos and beers. I hope he did not puke on that last seven miles.
Me and Jed partying after a brutal 130 with 15000 + feet of climbing. Thanks to Alenda for the shuttles and pictures, and Mom and Dad for the hospitality.
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