Charlotte race recap and photo dump

So this past weekend the hoff cross crew (Josh, KB, Eric and myself) made the long strenuous journey to Charlotte for NCCX race #4. Eric and Joshie planned to bust heads in the 4's and i would try keeping up my decent results in the 3's.

My race went pretty horribly. In the starting sprint someone hit the back of my shoe, which on my Lake Mx330 (which i do love, and yes many mistake them for golf cleats) is where my Boa closure is located. The hit resulted in my shoe opening completely and my foot flying out while my shoe stayed attached to my pedal. For those of you that have raced or even seen a cross race you know this was NOT GOOD! So i stopped, ran the next four or five steps up to the top of the hill without a left shoe, put my foot back in, closed it up and went back at it. All the while, 20-30 other racers pass me with ease. So i spend the next lap or two almost time trialing to try and make up time. It was not to be. I ended up a disappointing 25th. I wont tell the tale of the 4's race. I think i see if Joshie or Eric have anything they'd wish to share.

Eric lap #1Eric last lap

The one plus to my day was sweet sweet heckling revenge. This being Eric's first cross race i took the opportunity to do a little friendly encouraging....

20082009

Sunday i traveled solo to Salisbury for NCCX race #5. Race prep went well. I showed up early (im talking registration was being set up), warmed up properly, pre-rode the course plenty of times and felt determined. The master race wrapped up and i went out for a last pre ride. When i came around the turn coming out of the woods i saw all the 3's lined up ready to go 20minutes before the scheduled start time (which was new to me). So im now sitting 4th row all the way on the outside. Since i had some time to kill i noticed the racer in front of me had his number on upside down so i decided to help him out. After re-pinning his number, he politely let me in front of him. Sweet! After such a generous act, what do i do? Somehow pull a foot out and miss my other pedal simultaneously!! Great another horrendous start. I was not going to let this happen two days in a row. So once again i began my time trail back through the field, this time being aggressive, taking every opportunity i could to take a spot. I rode pretty well ending up 14th out of 39. I was ok with it but still somewhat disappointed.

This weekend is the SC state Champs. Time to bring the A game and hope that everything comes together. Be on the look out....

Gettin' Awesome, Cross-Style

Spanky's first run at the barriers.

Double Down

No, not the sandwich. A double day in Pisgah today. Kel's mom was up and we wanted to take her around Bent Creek as she had never ridden off road. Plans were made, bikes were loaded, and we were off.









When we came up to a creek crossing Kel tried to talk her mom into doing it too. First Kel...









Then her mom...









Sike. It was a little intimidating what with slick leaves and rocks. Speaking of leaves, the trails are barely noticeable. Case in point:





After finishing up I decided it was best to spend the rest of the day playing frisbee golf and drinking. I was done with the golf and on the couch with a delicious 1554 black ale and a couple of Dove bites when I remembered I had to pick up our new cat. Yet another stray will be overtaking the garage soon. So I called my buddy Chad to see if they had absconded said cat and when could I come by and pick him up. Oh, you're going on a ride huh? Bent Creek to N Mills River and back huh? Shit. I mean I had to go. How could I pass up such a sweet ride on a Sunday afternoon? And so we began the ride up to Bent Creek gap at the Parkway.













And finally at the gap.





Chad deciding which way to descend. Delicious singletrack was decided upon.













And then the not so bad climb back to the gap and down to the car. A most excellent Fall ride!


















-- Post From This Hoff's iPhone

Coming to the rear of a CX4 race near you!

Yes, soon you will be able to marvel at my tremendous beer gut, lack of fitness, and complete lack of cyclocross skills at a race near you. Through a recent series of very complicated transactions I have acquired quite a hot Santa Cruz Stigmata cross bike.

BEHOLD!




Alpha Q CX20 fork to come and I'm done just in time for the charlotte race next week. Hoff crew should be representin' well!

This bike is complete overkill for me, on a racing level. Hell, I can't even ride in the drops comfortably because of my ginormous gut. But here in Asheville it'll be used more for mixed dirt/pavement riding and some singletrack as well.

Bonus points if you can name that water bottle cage.


-- Post From This Hoff's iPhone

Incase you didnt know...

Sven Nys is rad!

WTF!

So with my new job I have limited access to the internet (being I work for a credit union now) and everyday when I get off work I look forward to getting my daily dose of bike related internet surfing. In the past few weeks or maybe even the past month ive noticed a trend and i just wanted to share it and or get if off my chest.

Who gives a shit about Alberto Contador and his freaking contract? Who gives a a shit about next year's Tour route? Who gives a shit about next year's Giro route?

It's freaking cross season people! Now more than ever should there be homepages dominated by cross coverage. Not what random roadie is going to what random team and who is sponsoring who. Do these guys really not know how rad cross racing is? I mean seriously!

So now that's out of the way. In case you missed it last night, you serious need to check out Race across the Sky. Im not sure when it will be showing again but find out! Its totally worth it! Those kids are insane!


Look for the Hoffen kids in Augusta this weekend in the Georgia Cyclocross Series race #3. Should be a pretty good showing!

Lady Hoff down

Kelly, AKA my boo, has been down for the count all week with a non swine like cold that has her perpetually TKO'ed it seems. She is in good spirits though and made it to work today despite her weak state. I made her as comfortable as possible tonight with chocolate milk and Advil PM. Please send your get well Haiku's and let's hope for a speedy recovery.










-- Post From This Hoff's iPhone

Suck it Kyle

In all of your sticker collecting days you will never be able to compete with the one I just procured. Behold:






That's right... A sideways Richard sachs cross sticker.

In other news Joshua fixed my iPhone blogging capability so expect lots more useless drivel from me.


-- Post From This Hoff's iPhone

Check it..

Cx Mag did an article on the cross race Will the G and I did this past weekend. Pretty rad. Would have liked to have seen more peeps in the 3's but what can ya do... Also check out about 1:50 into the video, yup that's our boy Will all the way on the left, number 418 if you can make it out. Click the logo above to check out the article...

Tree Shaker this weekend, pray the rain holds off!

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

I saw a guy on Fat Mark's blog this morning riding a pair of REVOLUTION cross wheels! That's freakin' awesome! And heres 10 seconds of cross training. Fifth place first followed by 13th.