So Cal Endurance Series Cal Epic 50 (Race?)

Oh yeah!

The weather for the inaugural Fat Tire 50 Marathon was better than PERFECT! Temp in the mid 70's sunny with a few scattered clouds, blah, blah, blah... This was the second event for fellow Nimrod Ivan P. his first was a mid week overthehumpseries XC race in Irvine, CA. He placed 6th in his beginner class - Great first showing Ive! Back to the 50, the race started smooth. Ivan and I rolled out together and as luck would have it, the group we started with (Masters 40+) were labeled with a large "I" on there right calf! The mark of "I" emblazoned on our legs for all to see (as they rode past us up the hills.) We rolled until I took my first of three OTB's on a little techy switchback downhill section. No real blood just humility. The race continued with some fun climbs and then a horrible 4 mile creek wash through 4 inch deep sand culminating in a mile + climb up a rocky sandy steep (but not for Tinker Juarez) ridge with beautiful views. The first lap was a mully, Ive and I were just checking out the course, lap two - cramps and sore arse. Then the real pain began...near the top of the Bridges Climb I noticed my front tube stem was missing - sheered off to be exact and leaking air with each big bump. I stopped twice to add air and then reached the top of the Damn Climb as I flowed like water down the long very fast decent, I chose a right line when the left was smoother - automatic flat at 25 miles per hour, no control, no stopping...release...curl...pray...ready for impact...OUCH! Granite and dead bushes greeted me upon my return to earth- blood skin, flat tire. Ivan caught up to me and hung out while I fixed the flat. I was passed by a 60 + year old lady and a young woman who recently gave birth. Humbling..
Off we go again....bounding bounding down down down...rest stop. Ahhh! Heed, Hammer Gel, Water, and Endurolytes...away we go - again. No sooner did we leave and enter the Damn Decent on a rocky fire road. Ivan was going too slow, we were passed by a guy in a white cotton tee and some tan cammy shorts on a hard tail - I followed , drifted toward a berm and gully, then looked over a thirty foot cliff to the creek below, "oh shit" - I thought scared over compensated and found the dirt road on my back, bike flipped over my head and the seat hit me square in the face before skating down the road without me...more blood, skin, humble pie. Ivan said it was the worst OTB he had ever witnessed, I said it was not so bad (just a little internal bleeding and bruising). Just a side note - subsequent to the race I found bruises where bruises should never be! The remainer of the race I picked a mellow pace and rolled to the finish broken, battered, bruised, and alive. What a race...Great Job Ive. Ivan came in just behind me and placed 5th overall in beginners, I placed 15th overall in 40+.

Peleton Rules - Break Check

Good evening, to me. Today was a fast roll around the O.C. with the Food Park crew. Mark Scott and Hoverhawk, Dave Worthington were out donning the nimrods racing kit and looking stellar. I on the other hand, mountain biked yestarday and felt it in my legs as we rolled out of the Coffee Bean parking lot in Irvine. The ride went well we hit 36 mph down El Toro Rd. and veered onto Laguna Canyon tearing up the tarmac as we do (I say "we", though I mean "they"). As we approached the Pagent of the Masters facility in Laguna Beach the three way light turned yellow! One third of the pack was through as the remaining riders hollered "roll it!" this is unfortunately a much too common occurance on a large (40-80) person group ride when the peleton is going through a light. In this instance, a gentleman (I use this term loosely), decided in mid pack to stop for the amber/red light as the rest of the peleton in unison chose to "roll" the light. I was blessed with lightening fast reflexes and found myself staring up into the cavernous arse of the rider ahead of me with no time nor room to maneuver, instead I torpedo'd his ass and went flying onto my own. My bars were twisted, my ass was shredded, and my kit, my beautiful nimrod racing kit - torn and dirtied! I was bleeding from both knees and my left wrist was swollen to the size of a ping-pong ball. Screw-it! Tyler did it with a broken collar bone, Hincappie did it with a busted wrist, Levi did it as well...I rolled on. To the poor sap that received my horns, I am truly sorry but YOU FRICKING DON'T STOP IF THE PACK SAYS GO!!

Captain Nimrod - RIP

It is with bewilderment and sadness that I post the loss of a fellow cycling enthusiast and Nimrod. Mr. Chris Hipp was Captain Nimrod to those who knew him. On his way to his regular weekend group ride Chris had an aneurysm and died. I was not fortunate enough to ever ride with him, however, from the posts that I have read, even a message from Lance Armstrong, Chris was a GREAT person and cyclist. He will be sorely missed from the pack and his Nimrodity will forever remain. He was a lover of life, his wife Lorraine and tearing up the tarmac. May he rest in peace and his memory be fuel for the fire's of life still burning in those who knew the Captain!

Nimrods Racing was touring the California coast and stopped by the Hammer Nutrition Company in beautiful Whitefish, Montana. The company headquarters was open and modern with team jerseys encased in glass frames adorning the walls. Proprietor Brian Frank has built a highly professional yet fun work environment and my tour of their facilities was awesome!

Nimrods representing in full effect! Might try to work a sponsorship deal with them - if "we" ever post some results.

12 hrs of Temecula Jan. 24th 2009

The first race of the 2009 series appeared to be destined for wetness, mud, and cold. However, the racing gods were with us and as we drove out through the fog and wet roads the sun broke through and shone down on the race course welcoming all to what would be, a damn sweet race!

The course was excellent, sticky, fast, varied, and short enough to trick the mind into believing you could pull 12 in 12.

My race was successful, for me. Sixth overall in beginner solo out of 19 entrants. Not one cramp! Nine laps, 82 miles, 12,000 feet of climbing and 7000 calories - bye, bye love handles! My secret recipe will be divulged latter. Pappy my solo partner took second in the Clydesdale division 2nd! out of 5. He has shed some blubber, but I believe he is up there around 190ish (his driver license shows 225lbs).

I met Pho'd up and Shudder, 1x1clyde, and Surlygal among other STR members - good people! If you have never been to the website: www.socaltrailriders.org check it out you might get there and ride more if you do. Tim with Troupe Racing was out with his leigions of solid racers. Trouperacingco.com. We hung out with David Rotter and his beautiful, hospitable family - more extremely good people! We parked at his campsite and his wife fed us, beered us, and cheered us all on. www.therotterteam.com (loans and real estate)

The secret concoction that helped me beat the blues -

Garden Patch veggie juice from Trader Joe's 6oz per lap!
1 Camel Back Elixer in my water bottle per lap
1 Hammer Gel per lap (two would have been better)
Stopping at the water truck for a drink of water and a chat with Jason's dad. I call him Vic but I don't think that is his name - ugg!
A couple of quarter turkey sandwiches at lap 6 and 7
And a blueberry scone when I my mind was stuck on sweet eats!

Next race - the Counting Coup