The Windrock 100

If you have any legs left after a long season, you need to check this "hundie" out. http://www.mattstegall.com/windrock100 This one is being put on by the guys at The Bike Zoo. So if you want to suffer some more, climb on board.

As for me, I have an excuse. I will be riding the Virginia Creeper trail with my daughter and a few girlfriends.

Hmmm ... perhaps next year.

Marvelous Mallie

I'm so excited ... and I just can't hide it! Mallie is going to design my up and coming webpage. You see, I won this wonderful gift by contributing to Mallie's efforts during the 24 Hours of Booty. I have had some sneak peeks into Danielle's and Namrita's websites and they are FREAKIN' AWESOME!

As you are all well aware of, my blog (content notwithstanding) is blah. It definitely needs some TLC. Now, I will not have to buy the book Blogging for Dummies.

Hopefully, my new website will be up and running in time for Interbike. I am going to try this ol' sponsorship begging thing this year.

Is it true that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? If so, watch out Sin City because here I come!

Thanks Lisa

Last fall, I was approached by Kim, a friend and adventure racing partner of Lisa's. She said that Lisa was interested in doing TransRockies with me. At first, I was a bit unsure as I knew that Lisa was a tough competitor with a strong personality (as in, she could get in your sh!t pretty quick). But then I also knew that this was a chance of a lifetime and my best possibility of getting on the TR podium.

And so began our adventure. We did not get to train much together as we both had hectic off the bike lives and lived 2 1/2 hours apart. Most of our communication was via e-mail.

As we started started the first stage, I was praying that we would be pretty equal on the bike. I had heard the horror stories of TR partners having fights on the trail or DNF'ing because of personality conflicts.

Let me tell you, Lisa was a tremendously strong partner. My hardest day was Stage 6. My legs just felt crapped out that day and I had a bad case of "PP," Pulverized Perineum. Lisa stayed strong and pulled my a$$ all the way from the first control station to the finish in Blairmore. She even shoved Cliff Shots into my mouth as she grabbed my bike and hiked it up the rest of the mountain.

Lisa, this was the race of my life! Nothing else can compare to the time I spent on the bike and racing with you! Thanks for an awesome week and an outstanding victory!

And no, I am not interested in doing an adventure race ... yet.

Priceless Moments of TransRockies

1. Collapsing at the end of each stage knowing that our bikes would be taken care of by our awesome support team.

2. Eating two pounds of spaghetti and 5 pieces of garlic bread with never a thought of how many calories I was consuming.

3. The look on my face the moment I realized I (along with 100 others) had just hike-a-biked an extra 700 vertical feet on Stage 2.

4. Regaining the lead on Stage 2 as we passed the 2nd place team on the final climb. (They were far enough in the back and so did not do the extra hike-a-bike.)

5. Watching the full moon rise over the Rockies.

6. On Stage 4 (2nd place was just a couple minutes behind us) hearing a long-ass train come down the tracks just moments after we (but not they) had crossed the tracks.

7. Watching a male racer endo into a 2 foot deep mud bog after I had let him pass me because he was rubbing my rear tire.

8. Fists in the air as we crossed the final finish line in Fernie!

Canada Bound

Hopefully, there will be no "white-knuckling" the airline seat ... just a smooth ride to the wild blue yonder.

You can keep tabs on Lisa and I at www.careyandlisaattransrockies.blogspot.com.

A Wing and a Prayer

Dear God,

I pray for a safe and speedy passage to Canada. Safe ... as in arriving in the same number of pieces that I was boxed up in and speedy ... as in arriving on the same plane as my rider.

I understand that the airport gorillas oftentimes have a thankless job, but I seek their mercy as they load/unload me onto the plane. Please show them the righteous path. Let them know that my rider is appreciative of them working all hours and in all types of conditions to ensure their luggage (and me) is reunited with them upon their arrival.

And if I do have the misfortune of falling off the airplane onto the tarmac, I pray that #1 I am noticed and #2 that my layer of foam padding, two layers of bubble wrap and two blankets offer me a protective cocoon.

If I am given protection under your angels' wings, I will do my best to be strong for my rider and propel her to victory.

Amen

-- Pinky