We are finally back in California! Our trip was prolonged due to weather/airport issues on the east coast. We were supposed to return Sunday, but just got back a few hours ago. I will do a full update on the trip soon WITH PICTURES. It was a great trip and we visited many places and people. The racing was even more challenging than last year, but I also got to ride in some new locations during our vacation after racing in Vermont (New Hampshire and back home in upstate NY).
In other news... Happy 34th B-day to Greg this Thurs.
In other other news, Joy and I were apart for over a week and actually survived.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Bike Pix - Finally!
Ok I am finally posting some pix of the new bike... Enjoy! Click on the pix for full resolution versions. I think I have finally got this bike dialed in after a solid 2 weeks of riding and tweaks! After a pro fitting and some switching around of the stem height this week, I think I am good to go. Also put on the Ergon grips that just make things so much more comfortable. Prob not saving any weight, but it's worth it!
We are off to the east coast in a few days for the National MTB Championships (including riding with niece Anna and nephew Jackson in the Shimano Kids's Race!), followed by some vacation time in New England. It's going to be great. We get to see my family, Greg's family, plus east coast friends. We will also make a pit-stop in Boston to see Jen & Drew and Alison & Brian (who literally started their cross country drive to move there yesterday)
I am almost packed, just need to Stan's up some proper east coast tires tomorrow night, then pack up the bike and a few other things. I have learned that starting to pack several days early really reduces the stress! Given that my XC race is Friday at 2PM I need to keep the stress level LOW this week if I can! My weekend in Vermont will be interesting; with Friday being the XC Championship, Saturday I will watch Joy, Matt and Karen (and do feed zone duty). Sunday at 5pm (they will have the whole venue packed up by then) is our Short Track National Championship.
We are off to the east coast in a few days for the National MTB Championships (including riding with niece Anna and nephew Jackson in the Shimano Kids's Race!), followed by some vacation time in New England. It's going to be great. We get to see my family, Greg's family, plus east coast friends. We will also make a pit-stop in Boston to see Jen & Drew and Alison & Brian (who literally started their cross country drive to move there yesterday)
I am almost packed, just need to Stan's up some proper east coast tires tomorrow night, then pack up the bike and a few other things. I have learned that starting to pack several days early really reduces the stress! Given that my XC race is Friday at 2PM I need to keep the stress level LOW this week if I can! My weekend in Vermont will be interesting; with Friday being the XC Championship, Saturday I will watch Joy, Matt and Karen (and do feed zone duty). Sunday at 5pm (they will have the whole venue packed up by then) is our Short Track National Championship.
Monday, July 09, 2007
FOR SOME REASON I CANNOT INSERT A TITLE HOWEVER IT WOULD BE .....
GUEST BLOGGER - Joy!
Due to the fact that Christie has a VIJ (Very Important Job) that shockingly lasts YEAR ROUND, i (Joy) have been asked to be a guest blogger of the very exciting things that have in fact taken place in her life. Here is the run down:
Being too busy to blog!
As stated, Christie works a lot. She also likes to entertain, clean her house, and throw tennis balls for pet Murphy. She also enjoys heat-laden training rides and adventures.
Deer valley (racing plus the traveling adventures)
Unlike last years trip to Park City UT, this one was smooth and quick. We ran into very few hitches in our master plan, and if we did, they were fixed pretty quickly. Food was great and company was calm leading up to Christie's big day in the Cross Country Event. The altitude was high compared to the low lands of So Cal and the competition was stiff. They shot the pro women up an extra climb at the start in an attempt to spread the field before the windy switch back single tracks. Christie had a very strong showing in the field, coming in 36th. Thankfully, she had no mechanicals and body mechanicals, which is always a good thing!
** COMMENT from Christie: The best part of this finish was that I made a smart move after the final switchback to pass another rider, then bust into the final singletrack section, and blast out onto the pavement for a STANDING SPRINT to the finish! And alas, as the third attempted sprint finish of the season, I finally won this one!
The plan quickly switched from recovery to preparation for the Short Track event the next day. She had until 3 pm to line up, which can actually be a bad thing! Way too long to ponder over the looming task of throwing down for 20 minutes with the best in the country! This event will be looked at an a learning experience! Although Christie did not place as well as she had hoped, she realized she had made some tactical errors, which can always be fixed for the next time! We are not fortunate like the Mountain racers who have local STXC on a weekly basis, so Christie has not had the practice that some other racers have had. Plus, we only really care about XC, this short stuff is just crazy!
New bike
Although it took just a little while longer than expect, the bike has arrived! Shiny grey with the bling of SRAM XO and a pink Bontrager seat! It will take a bit to get used to, but Christie loves the 29" wheels with their gingerly handling and smooth maneuvering.
** COMMENT from Christie: Pix to come soon I SWEAR. It's a Paragon 29'er frame, with Reba Race 29'er Fork. Bontrager Race X Lite wheels (running tubeless with Stan's), SRAM X0, Juicy Ultimates, Bontrager Race X Lite cranks, Bontrager XXX Lite handlebar and stem, XX Lite seat post, Bongrater Race X Lite Pro saddle (yes with pink!), etc etc.... Had my pro fit from Mike McKovich @ Don's on Friday and things are fitting nicely.
Fun rides in the wash with joy
Our training schedules sometimes collide, and they are fun ones! Sometimes it will say MTB technical or MTB one hour aerobic. That is hard to come by, so we like to hit up the WASH. Located at the base of Morton Peak in the fantastic zip code of Mentone Beach, the wash boasts tightly woven single track with drops, rocks, roots, and sand. Although peril looms, we are always able to chat it which made me at least run into the wrong things like branches and the rocks i am NOT supposed to hit. These are some of Christie's favorite rides because they lack the stress of watching the power meter or heart rate. Plus they are close to home, which is always a plus. It is also a good place to practice riding through sand traps that are always present in the So Cal events.
And that is all i have for now! But Christie is famous for making delicious Orzo for BBQ's and gatherings at the Pleiss house! Maybe one day you can get hooked up with some of it!
GUEST BLOGGER - Joy!
Due to the fact that Christie has a VIJ (Very Important Job) that shockingly lasts YEAR ROUND, i (Joy) have been asked to be a guest blogger of the very exciting things that have in fact taken place in her life. Here is the run down:
Being too busy to blog!
As stated, Christie works a lot. She also likes to entertain, clean her house, and throw tennis balls for pet Murphy. She also enjoys heat-laden training rides and adventures.
Deer valley (racing plus the traveling adventures)
Unlike last years trip to Park City UT, this one was smooth and quick. We ran into very few hitches in our master plan, and if we did, they were fixed pretty quickly. Food was great and company was calm leading up to Christie's big day in the Cross Country Event. The altitude was high compared to the low lands of So Cal and the competition was stiff. They shot the pro women up an extra climb at the start in an attempt to spread the field before the windy switch back single tracks. Christie had a very strong showing in the field, coming in 36th. Thankfully, she had no mechanicals and body mechanicals, which is always a good thing!
** COMMENT from Christie: The best part of this finish was that I made a smart move after the final switchback to pass another rider, then bust into the final singletrack section, and blast out onto the pavement for a STANDING SPRINT to the finish! And alas, as the third attempted sprint finish of the season, I finally won this one!
The plan quickly switched from recovery to preparation for the Short Track event the next day. She had until 3 pm to line up, which can actually be a bad thing! Way too long to ponder over the looming task of throwing down for 20 minutes with the best in the country! This event will be looked at an a learning experience! Although Christie did not place as well as she had hoped, she realized she had made some tactical errors, which can always be fixed for the next time! We are not fortunate like the Mountain racers who have local STXC on a weekly basis, so Christie has not had the practice that some other racers have had. Plus, we only really care about XC, this short stuff is just crazy!
New bike
Although it took just a little while longer than expect, the bike has arrived! Shiny grey with the bling of SRAM XO and a pink Bontrager seat! It will take a bit to get used to, but Christie loves the 29" wheels with their gingerly handling and smooth maneuvering.
** COMMENT from Christie: Pix to come soon I SWEAR. It's a Paragon 29'er frame, with Reba Race 29'er Fork. Bontrager Race X Lite wheels (running tubeless with Stan's), SRAM X0, Juicy Ultimates, Bontrager Race X Lite cranks, Bontrager XXX Lite handlebar and stem, XX Lite seat post, Bongrater Race X Lite Pro saddle (yes with pink!), etc etc.... Had my pro fit from Mike McKovich @ Don's on Friday and things are fitting nicely.
Fun rides in the wash with joy
Our training schedules sometimes collide, and they are fun ones! Sometimes it will say MTB technical or MTB one hour aerobic. That is hard to come by, so we like to hit up the WASH. Located at the base of Morton Peak in the fantastic zip code of Mentone Beach, the wash boasts tightly woven single track with drops, rocks, roots, and sand. Although peril looms, we are always able to chat it which made me at least run into the wrong things like branches and the rocks i am NOT supposed to hit. These are some of Christie's favorite rides because they lack the stress of watching the power meter or heart rate. Plus they are close to home, which is always a plus. It is also a good place to practice riding through sand traps that are always present in the So Cal events.
And that is all i have for now! But Christie is famous for making delicious Orzo for BBQ's and gatherings at the Pleiss house! Maybe one day you can get hooked up with some of it!
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