Also:

There will be no Countyline Jamboree 2010.

Sorry for you my friend. It is true. Face it, the whole thing is a bad idear anyways.

No, I do not know the why.

It is good to have friends!

alternately, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers...

Ridiculous.




Hello, enthusiastic person! How was your County Line? Mine was outstanding.

14 starters at the 5am rollout from Watsonville. Several of us were cheating already, riding geared bikes. There were murmurs about this. Talk your little talk. It is strange to me that some people would rather have my absence on a SS than my prescence on a geared bike, but. Couldn't have dreamed up more perfect conditions weatherwise.

Rolled up to the base of Old Mt. Madonna, where there was frantic flipflopping from the "single"speeders. That climb was like nothing. We floated up in the pitch dark. I guess it was not being able to see the climbs looming. It had lightened enough for me to see the cue sheet at the turn onto Summit, which was nice. So I didn't miss it. The sun rose for real on dirt Summit, and it was glorious. No pictures (which I regret, esp. in light of what came next) as we were rolling so nicely along. Sun on high, clouds down below.

What came next was my 1st flat. I bid farewell to my riding partners, Punk Ass C__, and A___ from Ft. Collins, CO.

I replaced the tube, patched the old one, and rolled on.


After 10minutes or so, I got my 2nd flat. Ripped at the valve stem. DANG! Swapped back in the patched tube and rolled on.


After about 10minutes or so, I got my 3rd flat. I felt a weird hop in the rear, and then the tire blew with a loud bang. I was well and truly effed.

I called my friend J__, and told her my plight and my plan to try and make it to her place before they all left for Watsonville. She was originally going to drive my van from there out to the start. My van, which held my fixed wheel crossbike for the short course section, and my secret weapon, with it's fat 40mm tires.

I booted the tear with a gel pack, and used my last extralarge patch (which I put into my patch kit the night before in anticipation of an epic ride with all kinds of possibilities, haha).


Rolled on. Bumpbumpbump. Dropped the pressure, bumpbumpbump. Stopped, ate another astronaut food bag, and booted the outside of the tire.

This worked for a disappointingly short time. The wrapper wore poorly.



So, I stopped shortly and diassembled my front fender, which was attached with zip ties. I folded up the Esge fender (indestructable!)and strapped it to the pack and put the stays inside. Then I used the zip ties to reinforce the external boot.





This required loosening the rear brakes waaaaay up. And remembering not to use them!


This worked well enough for ~45minutes. It blew out at the top of Eureka Canyon and Buzzard Lagoon Rd.

Where I called J__ again, and the plan became that I would try and meet them at the shawshage market in Corralitos. And then I waited ~45minutes to hitch a ride down the hill. A real nice couple allowed me and my bike into their car. Cars are ok in my book.



Met KB at the store, and found that J__, M______, and S______ had driven up the hill to get me. Bummer. So I bought a tallboy, and we waited.

Turns out, KB was due to emcee the start, and my little wrench in the works would possibly prevent him from making it. He said he knew something was going to happen to eff it up as soon as he'd been told "we're counting on you", but he didn't know it would be something so farfetched as this. The lengths to which the man will go in order that he really fail to come through are impressive.

Ladies back, we changed the plan again and headed straight outta town to the start. This put me in the position of continuing on my geared bike, but what am I gonna say? J__ had brought a tire for me (thanks, J__!), but I figured I would be screwed because that's how my ride was going. The clearance on that bike is low; low enough that anything over a 32mm will rub, and even some 32s rub. We got to the start in time.

It was good to see you all!

Yes, the tire was a 35mm Panaracer TServ. I put it on, pumped it up, and it would not roll. Air out, would not roll. More air out, rolled. Man, that tire pressure was low. I was freaked out and flustered, and I figured I'd pinch flat right away once I got to the railroad tracks, so I headed out ahead of the start- then I could be getting passed when I flatted and I'd be able to bum tubes.





I met here with Mr. Craig Ashcroft:
and Christopher St. John:
for some serious railroad riding.



The TServ held up super well. I could feel it bottom out with frequency, but it held. Power to the pedals and lots of wieght off the seat. On and on. Chasing those guys with S______. Some yokels were sitting along the railroad tracks, and when Christopher St. John came by they yelled, "Hey, Monterey!" They were right. Craig Ashcroft liked to sit up and straighten his sweater's drape as it was tied around his shoulders.


Then it was through some of the stinkiest stink ever stunk, which really had me reflecting on the fact that the shore is the end of the line for every foul thing washed away from somewhere else.


There were these guys manning a beer stop:


Thanks fellas.

After that it was some riding and stopping at a couple bars for drinks. Brady's was a timed in/out 5 minute mission to get tequila shots.

Then I got another flat. But for variety, this one was the front tire. Craig Ashcroft's swinging bachelor pad was 2 fortunate blocks away, and we headed there. For whatever reason (it is not clear to me now) we decided I should just take the 700x23 front wheel from his townie. I know. I can't explain.

Yes, it was back to the tracks, where 10-15 minutes later...pinch flat. Weird. That tire/rim combo is cursed. I pinched the tire getting it back on. Took it off, patched that hole and put it back on only to pinch it again.Took it off, patched that hole and put it back on only to pinch it again.Took it off, patched that hole and put it back on only to pinch it again.Took it off, patched that hole and put it back on only to pinch it again.Took it off, patched that hole and put it back on only to pinch it again.Took it off, patched that hole and put it back on only to pinch it again.

Down to the last patch! Christopher St. John had foolishly stayed with me, and insisted that he be given his shot.It worked! Off we rode, until...pinch flat. I cursed so much. then we rolled over to some guy's house, and stole his front wheel off his crossbike, and rolled on.

my 3rd front wheel of the day.

We got to the beach and I said,"There is no ____ing way I am putting my drivetrain through that. Nor am I riding it on these skinny tires. See ya." Christopher St. John cursed so much.

So it was the road to Watsonville and a fun party with like-minded individuals.

Good Times.

That is how my bike looked this morning. See how great it would have been on the other? I'd have totally won.


Thank you so much, people who helped me! Y'all are solid and have good attitudes.

The coming storm

Rain clouds. I am glad to see them.

It has been wonderfully warm and dry, and that is great for riding the bikes. Not so great for the local environment. I've been seeing lots and lots of wild(er)life on rides (witness the golden eagles) that do not usually show around here. It has to be the result of all the burning in Big Sur last summer, that joint is wrecked... So, bring on the rain!

I am calling the rain.

Too bad for you, though. Because this means your candy ass is gonna get soaked come Saturday. The Big Gundown will be a celebration of all that is wet and chilly. 10th Annual County Line Jamboree, at the crack of 5am in Watsonville is going to be a long hard slog in the wet slippery mud.

I see you all searching. You know it is a bad idea to do the short course at all, and a request for a humiliating kick in the tender parts to go long and hilly. You should show your support instead by lining the trails with beer and whiskey handups. Some of y'all will probably ride it anyway, so.
I recommend:
1) Have a Good Time, don't be uh crazy. It's a celebration.
2) Prepare for cold ass wet= clothes and food, people (do not forget your hands when packing your stuff...you won't be able to think about anything else when riding if they are numb and wet)
3) tune your bike! duh. Gear choice? Looooooooow and high.
4) my secret weapon? sure, I'll share. Mostly because I know you won't listen, and then I laugh: fenders, bro. Yep.
5) Cheat. Cheat well, cheat often.

Having said that, it could well be glorious and sunny up on them ridges. Still mud for sure, but you might end up riding in some personal bright and cheery Shangri La surrounded below by clouds. Taking the backroads and trails for what they can be; your own private wonderland. Then drop down from the sun into the gloomy short course and rejoin the "race".

Flyer Chump!!

Wondering about the 2009 County Line Jamboree?


All right.

who's that, puffing down the track?

Y'all been waiting for a while? Well, then it must be me.

Saturday night (allright!) and the Full wolf Moon did NOT disappoint. The (wildly speculative) rumor was that this is the closest we'll have been to the moon in 150 years. Someone else threw "Forever." into the pot, but that seems like a lie. Much of it seems like a lie. Regardless, the moon was huge and lit up the place real satisfactorily.

Fort Ord is getting torn apart. Eucalyptus is shorn of it's pavement and is now a 4 lane wide swath of sand. That'd be OK if it stayed that way, but it won't. Much of the good ridgeline stuff between the Stairs and the old Scout Camp is shredded and gladed and on target for overpriced housing with no water supply. Shit.

In spite of all this (and we knew it was coming), riding is still there to be had. Good twisty singletrack under the arching moonlit sky. Beers in the dark-er light. Kept it an early night, as Sunday was big plans, big plans. Rode out from town in time to see the sunset and then on into the moonlight, getting in about 11pm. 24-27 miles?

BIG Plans involving the recon for the upcoming 10th annual County Line Jamboree. A ~47 mile rattler involving HWY1 from Wadell Beach at the Northern end of Santa Cruz County, transitioning to riding "within spitting distance at all times" of the railroad tracks into Capitola/Aptos/someotherconfusingsubsectionofSantaCruz, where the strong of body and weak of mind ride the lowtide line along the beach to the Pajaro River (3 miles past the finish/party in Watsonville), which marks the boundary to the South. I have mentioned before what a rotten idea this County Line is, but this year really takes the cake. The historic course is this year's "short course", and the "regular route" is: Watsonville to Mt. Madonna, dirt Summit to Loma Prieta, cross 17 and up Bear Creek to 35. Take 35 (which has got to be one of the most windy and satisfying roads around) to 9, and drop down to 236. Climb to China Grade, and then make decisions about getting to the coast at Wadell to then ride the short course in. If this is not gobbledygook to you, you know what I'm saying.



We took off from Nisene to do this at 8:45am. Geared cross bikes. We returned around 8pm. Distance estimated from "at least a 100" all the way up to "102 and haaaard"miles total.

There was AN extended stop at the Summit Store-by which point I was so addled I could not decide what to get for snacks. I decided on a tall boy, 2 bananas and some wasabi roasted almonds. I noticed no one else was purchasing beer and this concerned me. Primarily because that meant I would probably have to share if I opened it around them. MA graciously shared her electrolyte drank mix with me, though, so fair is fair. The already haggard peloton lost 2 at Summit Store. J and M were smarter than most and opted out of the remainder.

One other stop at the intersection of 35/9, at the Mr. Mustard Hotdog stand, where we witnessed the jackass motorcycle scene and I got a sad little tofu weiner which, saggy and small as it was, was critical for my ability to remain conscious. I was stretching/hanging from a post and groaning.Then I gathered up a loogy from deep inside, something vital mixed with trail dust and grit, and spat. Mr. Mustard was concerned and asked me if I had been feeling bad all day. How to explain the deep and sustained suffering? Impossible. The closest I could come was a sad chuckle and the words'"We've been riding a long time and...this is hard." He did not understand, this is not an illness or a sudden attack- this is an abiding thing, a dark, creeping obsession that will never go away. Broken at least twice and we still look forward to the next section of swooping Goodness. Just a taste, and all the grinding climb is worth it.There were none other stops for me.

I had known there would be trouble when I awoke at 6am to swap tires, drink lots of water, and feel like I could have done with 2.5 less beers under the Full Wolf Moon. Some things have to be done, though.




I had known I was in over my head midway through the initial sustained steep of Mt. Madonna at 9:30 in the morning.By the time we began 236, I had gotten accustomed to rolling up to a group of people I recognized who then hopped on their bikes and rode away again. I understand this was a necessary thing. The pace has to be what it has to be, cuz sunset won't wait on my slow ass to stop and sit. We moved on. On roads and shadows of roads I've never seen. DAMN, it is beautiful on that long and winding ridge. Lots of varying conditions and trail surface.




When we came out of the hills, around that last corner when the golden sunset light was allofasudden a thick haze you felt as some other medium than air, we arrived at the start of the short course. On Game Day, it will be necessary to ride the actual course route, but we were all prepared to ride back in on HWY1. Which we did, as the just past full Wolf Moon rose in it's own thick golden shroud.

The thinking has been to add 3 hours to our total time to account for singlespeedage. I now believe this estimate to be inaccurate. I would add 3 hours to the total time for SS, but taking into account our easy road cruise back in, and skipping the beach as we did, and all the beers you will end up drinking en route, a 5 hour add on is realistic. You know, for my pace. That puts the total ride at something like 16 hours. What?

What?

I will also be leaving Watsonville around 5am, not this 9am bourgeois stuff. There is wise talk of flipflopping; I cannot imagine doing the route in a single singlegear. It's just too sustainedly hilly; low enough to climb will KILL you on the downs/flat, and walking more than a little up will put you in the deep dark by the finish. So bring what you think you will need to climb Mt Madonna (39x27 hurt), and get through the beach flats. If you are thinking of attempting this on your little baby-housecat 26" SS, just stop right now. You will hate yourself. Bring lots of water, there is only Summit Store to refill. Bring lots of food, there is only Summit Store to refuel, as I suspect Mr. Mustard is fickle. The ride is scheduled Feb. 7th, and I'll post a flyer when I get one. I got a lot of training to do between now and then...

3 things.
1) If you don't ride the County Line, you are smart. But you will miss a very Good Time.
2) If you ride the County Line, and do the "short course", you are (a pussy) smart. But you will miss a very Good Time.
3) I am categorically stating that I will arrive at the finish proudly aboard my singlespeed.

Smoke that shuttlecock.

2008 Countyline Jamboree

Here is my well chosen race machine, pre-Jamboree...
With my well chosen race tires...

The County Line kicked off this Saturday past, and I'm pretty sure I won this year. This "race" is such a bad idea. I don't know the actual mileage, so I'll say 60 miles. Am I wrong? Divided by thirds between road/railroad track(on/within spitting distance) /beach. Santa Cruz, North to South. Wadell Beach, High Noon:

Rolling with DanO at the front...(photos from flick'r...De La Paz Coffee)


Beer stop on the tracks...

Beach riding...(photos from flick'r...twowheeledlady)


Party at Hunter Cycles' HQ...(photos from my camera)


The trophy...I forgot to take it home, so someone else may have actual possession of it...look at the FuckoRacingProducts rear brake, and fancy shifter mount on that green sled. See Woody sleeping on the floor.
My post-Jamboree beat-ass rig. Note the custom bent seatpost. I'd shown up with a little bit of a cold set bend to the cheeeeeeep 7/8' post and hoped for the best. Kept my weight on the rivet as much as possible while killing it down Hwy 1. It was Flexy Day for me, with all kinds of different shimmies going on. With the fixed/too small/mixte/whipped parts/bent crank set up I was running, it got a little hairy at speed downhill...Rode accordingly- spared the saddle on the railroad tracks (yes, between the rails for awhile) and babied it in the gravel beds. Threw the bike down gently when stopping for booze (or parking inside for the bar stop (Brady's?). And then, as I was leaving the checkpoint/beer stop in Capitola and riding down to the beach, I got careless. I guess. One little bump with my weight on the saddle, and there you go. Done and won. I won because I skipped the beach.

Real Good Time.

Though, last year was better :
KB and D. G____, missed you guys!