Grey Egg! Jucifer!

As some of you may or may not know, Joshie and I have been balls deep in the 2010 Hawley catalog. Well, Friday was our last day of work on it so that meant it was time to blow off a lil' steam. Hunter Gatherer for the Grey Egg show? But of course. Fellow Hawleyians Michael and Marcie were also there getting their pint on. Jason Beasley, former Outspokin now Portland wrench shook my hand and chattered aimlessly. I gave him the vacant stare and waited. Grey Egg was weird as usual. Why do people like this band? Meh. After five pints of pale ale and a Wild Turkey 101 shooter with Marcie, I decided to call it a night. The next morning came quickly. I woke up and rode over to the PCC. Helped with a bike move that was well organized and full of all sorts of snapperheads. Goddamn, I was hungover. After dropping off my shit and then nearly losing it, I went home and grabbed the four pronged thunderbox for a Poulenc gig in Florence. My hangover kicked into overdrive. Longest 3 hours of my life. After coming back into town, Joshie bailed on throwing down so I met some friends at The Whig for pints. A quick check of the watch and it was already midnight! Shit. I missed Acid Roach and ...For Science's set at Art Bar. I ran down the sidewalk to catch Jucifer. I got there in time to chat with Chris Maret (!), Mentos, J-Town and settled in. Holy Christ. It was loud. Scary loud. Bowel-loosening loud. I thought I was going to pass out, even with ear plugs in. There was very little treble. It was mostly bass frequencies that blew your hair back every time the kick drum hit. The smoke machines and lasers didn't help matters. After a little over an hour, the show ended and the rescue workers began clearing the rubble. Somehow got home and passed out from the rock. This weekend? A smashing success!

Snow Hike!

Similar to a Bear Fight but without the bloodshed and bruising. Myself, Chad Storck, and Jim Morrison hiked Cold Mtn (elev. 6030 ft) this past Saturday since snow was forecast for the higher peaks. We debated riding but decided a snow hike was in order. Anyway, hiking is harder than biking. Enjoy.

Tough as nails (liquid nails).


Jimberly debating the uber technical creek crossing.


A Winter Wonderland.


Fudge time!


Thru Hiker extroidanaire Chad Storck (top of page also) in front at Deep Gap below the summit. Basically Jim and I brought enough to bivouac for a month. Chad wore his fancy fanny pack and hiked in "tenny pumps".


Snowy rocks of doom...just ask Jim.


Summit approach.


Chad Storck ponders how much more enjoyable this would have been if Jim and I were actually good hikers.


Jim ponders how he can be so good at mtn biking and so unable to stay upright hiking.


Dramatic black and white photo.


Dangerous rock outcrop at the top.


Me watching Chad Storck on the dangerous rock outcrop.


Chad Storck, minimalist, regretting his decision to not bring anything warm. Later he was seen cupping his nutsack sitting behind a rock in an effort to warm his hands. Not pictured is the delicious Highland Cold Mountain seasonal and pizza we packed up to partake in at the top.

Lunch ride

I managed a leisurely quite enjoyable lunch ride today leaving from Cane Creek headquarters and traversing some of Fletchers sleepy roads. Below are some things you may see on a typical lunch ride.

Beautiful fields



Farms



Curvy roads





Mountains





Inquisitive cows





Shotgun shells





And lastly, scurrying Peacocks...seriously





Seen but not documented: countless derelict automobiles, heavy machinery, and trailers.

-- Post From This Hoff's iPhone

Freaking South!

So I sit here with my delicious whiskey and coke, getting my daily dose of internet surfingh and a wave of sadness has overcome me. Is cross season really over? You gotta be kidding me! It seems like it just started. I keep seeing all the pics from all the rad races still going on around the country and i grow envious. While the southeast has its advantages, 70+ degrees yesterday.... it lack a certain cult cross following.

So i began skimming over my iCal to see if there is anything races left. Winston Salem, NC this weekend then nothing untill the NC winter series starts on January 9th (all the winter series is an average of 3 hours from home, LAME!)The problem is the majority of the Hoff cross crew has already paid their dues for Southern Cross on the 9th, which I am pumped about, but I feel I didn't get my fair share of cross racing this season. People seem to get and average of at least 10 or more while I only got in maybe 7...
To sum up what i thought of this season.... I feel fairly good about my first season with the 3s. Having some good results here and there but also some not so good results (im wont get into the details, id rather not relive those races). 1) I feel I know definitely what needs to be worked on, Starts! I had several bad starts this season that I feel cost me some crucial spots. 2) Tubies are rad! 3) Finally having a crew to roll with is awesome! I'm glad cross has gained popularity with the Hoff kids. Thanks guys!

I miss cross already!!!

Ridin

Some pics from our cross ride at bent creek on saturday and mtb at dupont on sunday. ooh, and the first fire in our new fire pit!

Hendersonville CX race report

this weekend brought with it many firsts: my first entry in a cross race, hoffs first muddy as fuck cross race, will's first time sitting out a weekend of cross racing, hoffs first group meeting (duhhhhrama), mr. mcnamee's first viewing of a cross race and trip to AVL, and everyone's favorite - kenny's first time wearing a sombrero while celebrating his fake bday at papas & beer.

i'm going to let the photographs do most of the talking, but i will say that i didn't hate cross racing but said immediately after that i've done it once and probably don't need to ever do it again. a character builder, but no thanks. today i woke up thinking "maybe i'll train for next fall and do another race..." STUPID.

Caught slippin'

-- Post From This Hoff's iPhone

My SC cross report

hi, my name is eric. i enjoy Busch Lite, chips, and finishing near the back of anything cyclocross related. i also enjoy andrea stork's homemade salsa and chad storck's mad tax skillz, but i digress.

i finished near the back again. kyle, will, and kenny won some money. we're pretty much the best team in SC at cross right now.

in more interesting news, will decided being dehydrated, then racing, then bonking, then making cash money, then obliterating a 22(oz.) was a good idea. ken and i found him asleep under the truck. then he woke up and puked. and i heard something about Teenwolf trying a parking lot re-mount and crashing. also, my wife sat in a bed of fire ants. Now to the pictures...

kyle jumping



will jumping. hot technique




suck ass run up


top of suck ass run up


kyle punking will by riding said run up


will punking kyle with his undeniable couth


shit, i can't even come up with anything for this


ball rub and over enthusiastic fan boy creeper



ole kenny



ole me



transfer to frontside





post crash look of dispair


ole kenny on his way to the podium



head down in the caboose of the pain train



over enthusiastic fan boy AGAIN. kyle is my favorite/most loathed heckler


i like cheese!

SC State Championships

Some rode, some pushed, some shouldered, which ever way, it hurt! The Greenville Spinners boys threw down a gauntlet of a cross course for the SC state championships. The abandoned driving range and golf paths proved to be quite the challenge. I had decent legs but a wrecked back and pulled off a 2nd place in the 3s.
Now i do not think these pictures will do these climbs justice. I can not remember the last time my legs have burned so bad...

caught creepin

Considerate Fagg and CX Racing: Absolutely No Cycling Related Pictures

Saturday was an epic day for this Hoff. I awoke with a sore throat and mucous coating my lungs. Excellent. Then I did a cross race on an insane course in Greenville. In a nutshell, it was two separate courses "linked" (it was at an abandoned golf course) together. Although the lungs and legs weren't there, a small turnout and a little luck earned me an undeserved 4th place. I can't begin to sing the praises of the Grifo tires. Jesus, they're so fucking grippy! Anyhoo, I was dominated and during the car ride home, I dozed off dreaming about a Dollar General that had these crazy African masks for sale and I really wanted one. But, I didn't have any money but I had my prize check from the race, but they wouldn't cash it for me because the African masks were cash only. Then my deceased grandparents were there buying glue sticks and other school supplies. I tried to ask them for the cash (900 dollars) but before they could reply, I woke up. I drove home from Joshie's and made some soup. I was attending the Confederate Fagg show later in the evening and would need my energy. I copped a cat nap and then jumped on the bike to ride to New Brookland around 10:30. Got there at 11 and after I order a mouth-watering "Budweiser", Fagg takes the stage playing a super-sexed version of "We Will Rock You". That was followed by such classics as "Cherry Bomb", "Surrender", "Search and Destroy", "Sonic Reducer", "Round and Round", "Now I'm Down With The Boys (And I'm On Top)", "Queen City" and concluding with "Freebird". Approximately 200 stuffed animals were destroyed during the performance and about 50 porno mags were distributed. Coworker Marcie wore a severed teddy bear head like a Daniel Boone cookskin hat. Painter friend Jamie tried to keep a cute little stuffed pig only to receive the throat-slitting motion from me so she promptly tore its head off. I think we ended up at The Whig and then for some reason inexplicable reason went to Bar None. What an epic night of tomfoolery! See you suckas in Asheville this weekend....

Jamie and Marcie destroy a beagle head
Stuffed animal innards and pornography