The demons ....

Why does this happen? No really why??
When I pulled out of my second race this spring with not agonizing but painful to be of concern tendon ankle pain . I was angry frustrated sad almost to the point of tears. But I was able to say ,Hey you're a 38 year old Ironworker who needs to be concerned about his ability to perform a very physical job that at times walking on steel beams at respectable heights . And messing up a tendon in my ankle was not going to help anything especially when the only thing on the line is a respectable middle of the pack placing in a mountain bike race. Yeah I did a lot of mind fucking on myself to deal with it. And so all summer long I thought about the racing and tendon and all that stuff and earlier i hit the bike and although it seemed fine while riding the ankle was in a 7-8 in pain which told me to let it be and heal.
Add to that very slow work i probably worked as mus as I was laid off this year but I did better then some. I got some good Triumph rides in and the year was not a total loss. I am working now maybe for another couple weeks. I had a real close call at work which could have left me dead,disfigured, mentally incapacitated(keep the joke to a minimum),but for what ever reason was able to grab the beam and hold on and thankfully I did not pass out and Thad and BVG were near by to get me backup on the Iron. If any one thing from the tie off to the bundle of decking was off 1/4 or maybe less it would've been different.

Sooo last week I found myself cruising the Siren Bike website which I really like the style of bike and would love to steb up my bike quality but if I am not racing a full season I cannot justify the new bike but i still like to look. Then I started looking at the the sites of the riders I admire riders who have jobs and are able to ride at the the highest level in the endurance races, Mr .Strout,Mr.Unwin,Mr.Marenchin,as well as others like Justin Lund, also hitting the WEMSsite and realized how much I missed the racing

Now I sit here debating,deciding,plotting,configuring?,where do I want to be On October 30th,2010? Well I'll tell you , as it stands right now I want to be out of debt,working steady , in a new home, in a stable relationship,and will have been able to Triumph trip to Texas in the spring for 1-2 week trip,with meetin L.A. and ride back , and to have raced through the season maybe not evry race or even with series points in mind but enough that I kept at it and enjoyed it and maybe if Granny Gear get's their Sht together I'll compete in the 24 nine. But the way that went down last year was a shame. If they think they lost $ last year what about the continued loss of the years to come. Maybe the Good folks involved with WEMS could create a 24/9 alternative???? I know there is a lot too it. and people not as worried about money would help too. OK OK OK .back to me again. In addition to learning that Damned guitar to the point of having 10 song's Iknow as well as a comprehension to facilitate a little improv on it. If not I'll sell that and the 8500 trek for a new pc and play video games 'til I retire at 75.

So thanks for allowing me to vent. As I sit right now I will plan a coordinated,hopefully well executed plan in which in addition to a new strength and conditioning program in which i can include a program of base building ,which the lack there of I believe was the culprit of my ankle situation. Hopefully things will get clearer as time goes.

Have a Great Halloween.

Be Well.


and Oh yeah,
did you see this?

24-9 update

Solo Class Update for 24-9


Just receive this email From Moriah,

Moriah Munsch
to teammoosen, bmccaffrey, dan.clasen, me, graphics, SNGLTRK2061, the4kents

show details 1:31 PM (6 minutes ago)


Reply


Dear Concerned 24-9 Solo Racers,

We have received a lot of feedback on the 2009 solo classes at 24-9. Though we made our decisions back in February about classes for our whole 2009 series, we had another meeting today to discuss the emails and phone calls that continue to come in from 24-9 solo racers such as yourselves. We really want this year's 24-9 to be as successful as it has always been, and we want the racers, their support crews and families, to have a good experience with Granny Gear, now and ever after. The racers are why we do it, after all!

So we have decided to update our classing decisions by adding a Solo Just For Fun class (two, actually - Mens and Womens), as well as an Open Duo Just For Fun class. These classes will be modeled after the Solo Freak classes from previous years at 24-9: there will be no prizes for the classes, and they will be priced per person the same as our other non-pro classes. It will take our IT guy about a week or so to add the new classes to our computerized registration system. After that, you'll be able to register for $100 until April 15, and then the prices go up incrementally as we get closer to the race.

I sincerely hope this is encouraging news to you and that it's not coming too late! If you have already registered for one of our other classes and would like to switch, please contact me; I will be able to override the no-refund policy for you. Also, if you have any further questions or suggestions, keep the emails coming! We put a lot of thought into our decisions, and racer input is a huge part of that.

Thank you again for your feedback, and I hope to meet you all at 9 Mile!
-Moriah

PS. A reminder to please be patient with the registration system; Zack our IT guy says it'll probably be the end of next week before the new classes are ready to roll. Thanks!

**************************
Moriah Munsch
Production Manager
Granny Gear Productions
P.O.Box 189, 24 Fourth St.
Davis, WV

Here I will begin my blog . Deciding to do this is thoroughly self serving with no true intention of readership or fan ship merely to force myself to journal each day publicly so as to discipline myself to the necessary rigors of training to meet my cycling goals of this year. Which include competing in 5 or more 12 hour solo races this year and not only finishing but doing well in the 24 hours of nine mile race in Wausau this year, in the solo freak non champioship division. I got back on a bike in fall2001, raced 2002 in citizen class 10 overall for age, miscelaneous races in the sport catagory, and then in 2005 I did a couple 6 hour races and in 2006 I did one 12hour solo. did 99 miles and 6th out of 10 riders. I never knew I could get lapped so many times. It was a lot of fun and I had a basic attitude of take it easy and just finish it. 2007 no races, 2008 started training in winter but that faded when I realized gas costs and what not, along with a back injury. When the weekend of the 24-9 race came around I truly regretted not training and competeting. I hope not to repeat the scenario this year. I am in the process of base building again as well as more intensive weight training to gain the tone and musculature I feel is healthy for a 38 year old man whose abs became stomach and hopefully never become belly. I will be reading more blogs especially those of the career cyclists and if you have visited me through their sites feel free to comment or offer training advice. Please keep in mind I get up at 5 or 6 am drive 30 mins to an hour work very hard each day and am not alotted the luxury of a 5 hour training ride each day. "Go Etough!" AND of Course GO LANCE! My current bikes are a raleigh fixed rush hour,(yes still have hand brakes on it, but can skip stop pretty well, a trek 6500 xt/xtr, and my Trek 8500 ,which I love , and willhave to do until I race all year , then I'll see about upgrade.