The Golden Sombrero

No, I didn't say shower. Check out this D-ville Race Report for more details.

What an epic weekend! A spot on your calendar should always be left open for this race.

I didn't back up the schmack talk. So no more inappropriate photos of Schlachter and Frankie on this blog (unless of course I somehow hack into Frankie's password protected photo site...)

Next time he'll reconsider wearing the TWW kit

So an Asian guy wearing a TWW jersey made the podium at D-ville on Saturday. Unfortunately, said Asian wasn't me gol dang it (missed it by 1 spot - more details tomorrow).

Anyhow, Jaeill Park took 5th place with a time almost two minutes faster than me (he is under 35, so he was in a different class than me). So after being on the podium in the TWW kit, instead of basking in the glow of the podium, he had to tell a bunch of people that he was not me. It apparently got to this point:

"As soon as some random person started talking to me, the first thing out of my mouth was…."I am not Mike"…to that they responded by saying…"oh, I'm sorry I thought you were him"

I'm amazed that people know of me, considering I haven't done much racing. Guess maybe more than a handful of people read the blog... :)

So remember, his name is Jaeill Park. Congratulations on your podium ya bastage!!!

I need a beer to put out these flames...

This should help... and I don't even drink beer.

Thanks Big Sky!!!

Hope I'm not tested after the races at D-ville...

Noooooooooooooooooo!!!

Please say they F'ed up the test (or the French are bitter over another American victory and polluted the sample):

Floyd Tests Positive

Still holding out hope...

Downieville Race Weekend Update

Team,

Here's a few details to help you find the Wild Plum campground. Below is a map of the camping sites in the area.



As you head up highway 49 from Downieville to Sierra City, the last building you will see before the right hand turn on to Wild Plum Campground road is the Yuba Inn (pictured below). It's pretty easy to miss to turn off, which is why I've include a picture.



One more reference directions to the Wild Plum Campground on the GORP website:

Directions from GORP Website

Looks like we will have about 30-40 people. That includes TWW, VB, Roaring Mouse and RideSFO hommies. It's gonna be good times. Meredith and I, along with a few others are camping out Sunday nite as well. So if anybodys got some partying left in them after the race, then feel free to join us at our campsite.

Cheers,
Isaias

Levi to Disco, Hernando to TWW

I'm sure you've seen the news about Levi going to the Discovery Team in 2007. We don't care that much though because, 1) it's a roadie thang; 2) we're fans of the Floyd due to his MTB roots. No big deal - Levi doesn't have the fire anyhow. Now Jan on Disco, hmmm...

Enough of that roadie schtuff. The big news for 2007 is that Mr. Hernando has agreed in principle to race on the dirt for Team Wrong Way (he doesn't know that, but he will soon enough). He will assume the role of the Fastest MoFo on the team, schooling us sandbagging Sport riders something fierce.

He will still race on the road for the Bag Boys, as he likes the discount on groceries.

Join us in welcoming Michael aboard.

Got Ice???

lest you naive ones believe in the Gin-o-meter that it will be a balmy 76 degrees in Downieville this weekend.........

Most Interesting Quote from McCranky's Last Wed TWW Ride

"Sabine and Michael are getting married?!!!"

- Mo

Not sure what cave Mo has been in, but she seemed so convinced it was a joke. Then I started thinking, "Did I get Punked?"

I mean, no one has asked me to do those invites... :(

Have we all been Punked?

Suffer you beeotches!!

I'm leaving the bike home and bringing the innertube and water gun

Downieville Predictions

Okay, the day of reckoning is nearly here. Schmack talk started when registration opened in like April. But now it is time to put up or shut up. Here are the Top 10 predictions for TWW at Downieville:

1) Polka Dot Jersey (fastest time to Packer saddle): Who else in our group but Isaias. He's the fastest Cat 5 I know.

2) Il Falco Award (fastest downhiller): after all the schmack talk between skinny boy Scott, notso skinny boy Frank, and garage trainer me, Kyle will beat us all with his Expert level fitness and crazy handling skills. Bastage.

3) Mountain Man Award (best combined time of XC & DH) - Frankie-baby won it last year, but clearly he doesn't have the same form as last year. I have no idea how fit Jaeill is (heck*, have never met him), so I'm going to say he won't win it either. What do you know? That leaves me as the only one left man enough to do both... I win by default.

4) Biggest Whiner Award - do we even need to answer this? Of course Mo, she's already whining about having to race Sport.

5) Best Battle of Old Fast Guys - Mike U. vs. Jeff H. Hopefully Mike U. will show up. Even after a week off for vacation prior to the race, I'd put my money on Mike with those crazy bike handling skills.

6) White Jersey (Best Young Rider) - not that young actually, but his first time racing at Downieville. David G. will hold his own very nicely.

7) Big Weenie Award - Ken J. for talking schmack about the DH and then not even doing it.

8) Most Tubes Needed for a Bike Race Award - again, a no brainer with new guy Ty. I hope I just didn't hex myself...

9) No Mistaking Him for Sloping Schoulder Schlachter - Allan in his sleeveless jersey muscling his way up to Packer Saddle on his SS (unless he rents some funky geared bike - Allan, do you still know how to ride a geared bike?!)

10) Just One More Snooze Award - Matt C. will be on time to start his race. But just barely.

Downieville Week...

Stay tuned...

Floyd in retirement

Or maybe this is Floyd's dad. Who knows. Who cares. Whatever. Let's just hope he's back in 2007 to defend his title with that Ti hip...

Congrats dude! You helped make this tour one of the best ones ever.

Memorable events from McCranky's Last TWW Wednesday ride

Well, Demo was super fun. Great send off for Dave. Huge turnout, including a long lost TWWer (Robert). Here are some of the things I found memorable last night:

- Isaias to Kyle (or vice versa) - "You were hammering my a$$..."

- Keith polishing his pole.

- Me spooking Kathleen when I rode in between her and another rider - she was next to quite a cliff exposure.

- Frank looking like someone landed a serious left hook to his melon (he mentioned something about a serious pile driver - odd, we were talking about a guy that used to ride with TWW who got nicknamed "Pile driver" for his incredible crashes).

- Rookie Boy Matt's inability to figure out Schlachter's bike rack.

- Kyle missing the last part of the bridge stunt and dropping 3' front wheel first only to save it thanks to Schlachter's plush Fox 36.

- Camille leading all the guys down the fireroad downhill.

- Wheelsucking Kyle up the hill and then hearing the sound of him dropping 2-3 gears while I was grabbing for an easier gear. Buh bye.

- Big ol' burritos at Andale.

- Frank saying he's done with women and then cozying up to a couple there at din din.

- And the bizarre phone call I got from the bar while driving home.

Oh yeah, and freakin' Floyd kicked some serious arse!!! I like the fact that Phil Liggett brought up the fact that he was a mountain bike National Champ and discussed his DH skills. Dude put over 30 seconds on the DH compared to 2nd place. Amazing day. Almost got weepy...

32:16? More like 16:32

Holy fock! That was as painful as watching Schlachter pull away from me on the hill climb at Skyline. And the time he spun away from me at Santa Theresa. And the time... Jeez, enough already. I suck, okay?

From the mai-yo joon, to out of the top 10 in one climb. Crap.

His cadence looked like mine - 4. Oi.

It's not over, but day-am, it doesn't look good. Sum beotch.


You still da man Floyd - put the hammer down tomorrow and at the TT... puh-leeze!!! At least finish ahead of Levi...

Floyd's New Jersey

Floyd in green tights and a polka dot jersey? Wha wha what?!!!

Froggy Legs

So that's his plan - ditch the yellow leader's jersey so that he can create a tres chic outfit. Dude is a fashion visionary. Europe must be wearing off on him - you know how they say the Euros are several years ahead of us when it comes to fashion.

Sorry Sabine, it wasn't an airport food and jet lag induced bad dream... it's as bad as you pictured. Although very Christmassy.

Again, get on a mountain bike once and awhile

Dang, more carnage at lay Tour. Crazy shite. Did y'all catch that over the guardrail wipeout? Oi, that had to hurt.

I think that some of lay Tour riders need to spend some time working on their handling skills. Here's a perfect book that they can get at Amazon.com. Prolly wouldn't hurt to get on a mountain bike once and awhile. Look at Lance when he went offroading. And we know Floyd is a bike handling extraordinaire (former MTBer). Hope I just didn't hex him with that bum hip and all.

Of course, it could simply be going 60mph on a 20mm glued on tire on melting tarmac...

Watch out Mr. Pennington*

Because Levi may be trying to take your job next season.

Was it just me or did anyone else hear him let out a big ol' yell at the end of the stage after getting beat in the sprint finish?

That's the kind of fire that Jorgee needs... poor lil' fella. Hated to see him suffer like that.

* Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover Home Edition if you aren't into the whole home remodeling thang. He's really obnoxious with the bullhorn.

Before he made the switch to the Dark Side

Jeff Hane found this shot of a certain Tour Day France rider.

So sad, just so sad...

I miss the days of when mountain bikes were King.

Training for uh...oh yeah...Downieville

I went to Tahoe and rode my bike to the snow




















to look at the snow capped mountains





and then I did some cross training on the river
















and I rode to a pretty meadow and took a picture



and then I went to the lake



and then on the way home I walked up this little hill called Castle Peak




I had fun :)

Mix in a MTB once and awhile

Watched the crash of Bobby Julich many times over on the Tivo. That definitely had to hurt. I'm wondering, if he had some mountain bike skills if that would've helped him. When he came into the roundabout too hot, instead of trying to steer around that curb, he could've simply bunnyhopped up onto it and then rode off of it. It was small curb really, even on one of those funky TT bikes he prolly could've pulled it off. Oh well, too late now. Get well soon dude. Man, rough day for the Americans at the TT.

Check out his diary entry on ESPN

Top Ten Old West Phrases That Will Never Sound The Same

I guess people are seeing that I'm hurting for content lately. So I'm getting charity info to post to the blog. This is the TWW blog, but for some reason everyone calls it mine. Here is the first of two entries from fellow TWWer Kat:

I thought of you and your blog when I saw this...

Top Ten Old West Phrases That Will Never Sound The Same After That Gay Cowboy Movie (Brokeback Mountain)

1. "I'm gonna pump you fulla lead!"
2. "Give me a stiff one, barkeep!"
3. "Don't fret---I've been in tight spots before."
4. "Howdy, pardner."
5. You stay here while I sneak around from behind."
6. Two words: "Saddle Sore."
7. "Hold it right there! Now, move your hand, reeeal slow-like."
8. "Let's mount up!"
9. "Nice spread ya got there!"
10. "Ride'em cowboy!"

And here's the link to one of my favorite Pshop jobs - Brokeback Mountain Bike post. Interesting that Kathleen was involved in this one too... not that there is anything wrong with it.

Blue Screen of Death!!!

Holy fock fought the dreaded blue screen of death for the last couple of hours. Dang*, might not have been able to blog... oh the humanity!!!

Oh wait, I always have the mobile blog to fall back on... But haven't had much inspiration lately anyhow. TWW is apparently in hibernation during the summer swoon.

Actually, I'm sure some of you (Frank) would have been pretty happy about the blog being down.

It is pretty frightening though when your PC sounds like a jet getting ready to take off.

And the Award goes to...

Kyle Brookes for the

"Rider where you need to have a welding shield to look at when they're not wearing their shirt" Award.

Isaias Job is the 1st Runner Up.

Dudes, mix in some self tanner or something...

Visual Inch Baby!!!

Appropriate with the talk of the ballular region goin' on...

Never too soon to start talkin' schmack

Well, Downieville is now only 23 days away. Seems like we were just talking about this not too long ago:

March 16 comments (scroll down and note my result was good for 7th place)

April 17 post

April 22 post

April 25 post

Another April 25 post

May 17 post

Now that we're actually in the month that the race is going to happen, let the real schmack talk begin. Will skinny boy Scott "Mr. Gaunt" Schlachter have any muscle mass left to pedal a bicycle? Sorry, with 30 lbs. of weight loss, not all of it is fat (well actually in Scott's case...) And can Frankie-baby show up after his "retirement" to beat me at both the DH and XC? Survey says, "highly unlikely." Something tells me Schlachter's loss might have been Frankie's gain.

And who is gonna get Seery's DH entry now that he is injured? Get well soon BTW. All I gotta say is that Mr. Urbina cannot race Sport DH with his fitness and skillz... or he will definitely take the Sandbagger of the Year Award.

And since oV's wrist is all jacked up, will the Queen Bee have her way and race D-ville (and skip the roadie-scum district crit)?

Almost as much drama as that other bike race that's going on right now... you've heard of it, right? Tourdaysomethingoranother...

Downieville Classic website

I gotta new bike!

Well, kinda sorta. Riding with a group of TWWers up Mt. Hamilton on Sunday. On the descent, I was squirrely as usual, crossing over the centerline a number of times on turns, and moving at a moderate but not super fast pace.

My teammate behind me passes me and then when we stop to repair a flat of one guy, he says, "It's easier to descend in the drops." Being the mountain biker I am, I preferred the more upright position for descending, so my hands were always on the hoods (not to mention the back would never allow me to spend that much time in the drops).

I thought, what the heck, give it a try. Well, let's just say that I had to tell myself to not be too overconfident with this new riding position. Dang*, was I hauling now. Crazy. Felt like a new bike.

Guess all the core stuff and yoga is helping with the back. I was in the drops for a long a$$ time. You can teach an old dog new tricks...