2nd Annual Hoffencross. Don't be there !!!


Sorry kids, but Hoffencross is postponed until further notice. I was already considering calling it off due to the current trail conditions but now that we have at least 8" of new snow on the ground up here there is no way to pull this off without shredding the trails. It sucks cause now i am going to have to celebrate my birthday by myself with all this top shelf Tequila...but i'll manage.

Unfortunately unless our weather changes up here it may be March or April before this happens so check back often for updates. If you just can't handle not getting your Hoffencross fix, click here to reminisce on last year. Or better yet check this or this and get ready for the 2nd annual Gentleman's Race in June.

Palmetto Trail Madness

This past Saturday a few brave souls decided do a little mixed road/trail ride on the Palmetto Trail. We started out on our usual Ft. Jackson loop then broke off in what we thought was the correct trail head. Turns out, not so much... After about 30 minutes or so a doing circles on a military fort with live ammunition readily being used, we decided to head back to the road and search out another way in.
Just a few miles down the road, jackpot! The trail was littered with sand pits camouflaged by leaves, mud and giant flooded trenches. Don't think for one second that any of those were bad things. This ride was super FUN! My DeFeet blaze wools were soaked completely through and my I couldn't feel my last three toes but I did not care. I think we did 25ish miles?
I definitely have plans to do this ride again when I have a free weekend which I think won't be until March. Shucks!


yes Kenny rode shoe covers. That's how pro Kenny is... for those who didn't already know



sorry couldn't figure out how to rotate

Slop Fest in Charlotte

aka Charlotte Short Track Series Race #1

Sunday's short track race in Charlotte proved to be quite the mud fest. Buckets of rain were dumped on the Carolinas Saturday making for a delightfully muddy course. The rain only let up during our (the single speed) race. The only sections not covered by slick peanut butter mud were those covered in gravel. This being my first short track race, I quickly found out that gearing for short track and gearing for everyday riding or a 12 hour race aren't even close! The last time I remember spinning that fast was on my first fixed gear commute. I will admit that I enjoyed this kind of race more than I expected. Will I do another? Who knows? I will tell you that I will NOT be running the same gear!

Its that time again kids...

Kit Orderin Time!


So this year were changing up our kit ordering process. Send your quantities, requests and sizes to teamhoffenchard@gmail.com by Sunday January 31st. We will be sending it to Champion Systems on the first of Feb so if you miss it you'll have to wait and see if we do a reorder or not. We'll figure out your total and let you know what you owe.....2010 here we come!

On another note, if there are any potential sponsors out there and want to help out the Hoff clan that would be rad! email us and we shall discuss. There is still time and room on this years kit so act now!

Happy Birthday to the King

There are no words that can fill the void left by The King, Elvis Aaron Presley . Lets all take a monent and reflect on the man.

Elvis Aaron Presley, in the humblest of circumstances, was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. His twin brother, Jessie Garon, was stillborn, leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948, and Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953.
Elvis’ musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the gospel music he heard in church and at the all-night gospel sings he frequently attended, and the black R&B he absorbed on historic Beale Street as a Memphis teenager. In 1954, he began his singing career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis. In late 1955, his recording contract was sold to RCA Victor. By 1956, he was an international sensation. With a sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and blurred and challenged the social and racial barriers of the time, he ushered in a whole new era of American music and popular culture.
He starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television appearances and specials, and knew great acclaim through his many, often record-breaking, live concert performances on tour and in Las Vegas. Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles, far more than any other artist. Among his many awards and accolades were 14 Grammy nominations (3 wins) from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received at age 36, and his being named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970 by the United States Jaycees. Without any of the special privileges his celebrity status might have afforded him, he honorably served his country in the U.S. Army.
His talent, good looks, sensuality, charisma, and good humor endeared him to millions, as did the humility and human kindness he demonstrated throughout his life. Known the world over by his first name, he is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture. Elvis died at his Memphis home, Graceland, on August 16, 1977.

All the Bio stuff was a rip off from the Official Elvis website. I am not that smart.

2nd Annual Hoffencross. Be there!

You have one month to get ready. The 2nd annual Hoffencross bike ride thing is happening Saturday, February 6th around noon. As much as i would like to limit it to CX bikes, a few people can't make that happen so run what ya brung knowing that you will be ostracized from the cool kids and generally made fun of on a mtn bike (although a 26" full suspension bike with cross tires would be sweet).

This years ride will start and finish from the Guion Farms parking area in DuPont State Forest. There will be 5 mandatory checkpoints, 5 or so extra credit checkpoints, and a special skillz time trial to determine starting positions (i would start practicing riding elevated platforms, teeter totters, and skinnies if i were you). This is not a race, is not sanctioned by the UCI, has no entry, no payout, no insurance, and no credibility. It is a friendly ride amongst friends to test navigational skills and intestinal fortitude.



If you are unfamiliar with DuPont, get a map. Either buy one or print it out and coat it in fancy map waterproof coating. It's confusing as hell. Also, bring 2 extra pairs of socks in your camelbak's, you will probably need them. And warm clothes, it's February after all and unless it thaws out anytime soon it will be cold. If you are coming please RSVP with Hoffencross in the subject line to teamhoffenchard@gmail.com. Cookout, after ride beverages, and fire pit action at mi casa in Asheville afterwards.

Good Ole Dirty Gross Stupid Columbia

Haven't been on the bike in a while and with Ian's Memorial ride fast approaching, I knew I needed to see where the legs and lungs were at. Verdict: I am out of shape, but the knees feel great. A moral victory of sorts. Christmas Eve was chilly so I donned the Old School Hoff kit complete with wind vest (the only one in existence) and rode out to the fort to dick around. Stir up some trouble. Mix it up. I saw the dude from Healthnet out there with some other retired pro. Well, I didn't see them. They came flying past me up a hill. They were fast but my bike looked nicer. After about an hour, my vest started cooking me like a rotisserie chicken. Is that why we wear vests when we ride? Core temperature and all that. One thing is for certain, the extra tall vest collar looks even more obnoxious in all its salmon glory. After getting owned by the roadies, I kept the pace redlined, probably around 15 mph. I had no idea as it has been about a year and a half since I've ridden with a computer. I got a flat tire on Wildcat which pissed me off as I had just put in a new tube. The offending culprit was a metal shard that cut through my Maxxis tire like a Vorheesian machete through a libidinous teenager's tent. After the repair, I rolled back through town. I saw a couple kids on track bikes rolling up Greene Street and gave them a wave and hello. Must've been too busy talking about that new Japandroids album to acknowledge my entreaties. Fair enough. Upon my arrival home, Mimi and I lolled about in the sun watching the idiot squirrels fight over spilled sunflowers from the bird feeder...

Old School Flava...
Mimi!

Good Ole VA

One of the things I enjoy most about going home for the holidays (besides quality time with my parents) is being able to ride something different, seeing how my old stomping ground has changed (if any) and giving the legs a nice little jolt from the usual work commute or Fort Jackson big loop. This year mother nature decided to dump 18 inches of snow on my home town just days before my arrival. Now I had gone over and lubed up the road bike but decided to take the cross bike last minute. It was definitely the way to go as roads were still completely covered in areas and muddy half melted messes in others. Here's my day in photo...
dope water bottle I know, email me and I can tell you where to get this limited edition bling.
well deserved!

I have to admit that this ride reminded my why I love riding my bike so much.

Merry Christmas!

The Ghostface Killah mix I've been listening to for 5 weeks straight. Josh Baker approved...