Unwind and Rewind
It doesn't take long for a week to go by without me offering a post. Geesh. Well I am back from Collegiate Mountain Bike Nationals in Banner Elk, and it proved to be a very successful one for the Cumberland University Cycling Team. We finished 7th overall in division II, and for us it was a big step to compete in every discipline, male and female. To improve upon this finish requires more depth and riders specializing in at least two of the four events. We'll get there. There will be a news report posted soon detailing the results, but in the meantime you can visit this item from USA Cycling.
Some general thoughts about the racing in Banner Elk; Fort Lewis is top to bottom the best program in the country with a couple of other Colorado based schools close behind. Two SECCC schools nipped at the heels of the eventual champions in both divisions, Lees-McRae College in division I and Warren Wilson College in division II. Both schools compete in the same conference as Cumberland and demonstrated they were the strongest during the regular season, but they don't have the horses that Fort Lewis or Colorado School of Mines have. The champions are loaded with national team talent, and to beat them at their own game will take some extraordinary feats to earn more team points overall. Easier said than done that's for sure.
So now that our mountain bike season is over and my training is at a halt I can now take a little time for myself. What better way to enjoy the rest than to fly out to California for The First Sip: Lodi's New Vintage! My good friend Adam Housley of FOX News is putting me up for a few days as I help him at his family's winery, Century Oak Winery. Adam has been busy reporting on the fires overwhelming California, but now he's got some time off to work at the winery.
Last year during the region's wine festival Adam said they greeted and served over 1500 guests over the weekend. My job will be to welcome people, pour wine and encourage them to buy. Even with two broken elbows I think I can handle that responsibility with ease! The doctor said to not lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk, so I'll follow his instructions and keep it at a bottle of 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Now I'm sure you're wondering.....broken elbows? Yes, that's not a mistype and it is plural. Both of my elbows were broken two weeks ago in a stupid mountain bike accident. I was riding a mountain bike on the downhill course at Clemson University and went flying over the bars. In other words, I was doing something I had no business doing. I should have either taken an easier path or simply walked down the course, but no, I had to go too fast through a very technical section. Dumb. For six weeks I cannot lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk, and even that is difficult to do. I've got another post idea to discuss this more appropriately titled "Bones or Bicycles." I'll weigh the pros and cons of each scenario, so stay tuned!
We have some special events taking place here in the Nashville area the next two upcoming weekends.
BToGS - BeThereorGetSlower
First, this weekend marks the official beginning of the BeThereorGetSlower training rides on Saturday mornings from the Airplane Fields. Go to the link and you'll see a new sign-up and unsubscribe link for the mailing list. Everyone who was on the list before are still on the list now, but now it's on a different host and easier to manage. I'll be posting a news item on NashvilleCyclist.com later today, and on Thursday everyone will get info about Ride #1 of the winter training season.
Bicycle Street Smarts
Second, this weekend begins a series of bicycling 101 classes held by Walk/Bike Nashville called Bicycle Street Smarts. This free clinic begins this Saturday, November 3rd at Centennial Park. It begins at 12:00 PM and lasts until 2:00 PM. It's open to anyone wanting to learn how to ride on the road and learn basic bike maintenance. Visit Walk/Bike Nashville for more details.
2007 Long Hunter Mountain Bike Festival
The Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) is having a fun mountain bike festival this Saturday, November 3rd at Long Hunter State Park. Everyone is encouraged to come out to ride, eat and play. For more information visit the link above and email trails@sorbamidtn.org to get involved.
The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride
Third, on Saturday, November 10th this ride benefiting wounded servicemen and women will start at the BToGS location of the Model Airplane Fields of Percy Warner Park at 9:00 AM. The ride is beginning in Little Rock, AR on November 8th before going through Memphis and finishing in Nashville. Some of the wounded riders plan to ride either a 25 mile or 50 mile loop, so come out and support our troops on two wheels!
Nashville Cyclo-Cross Series #3 & #4
Promoter Dan Werle offers up some fine cyclocross racing the weekend of November 10th and 11th. These two days of racing will take place in Antioch at Cane Ridge Park.
Some general thoughts about the racing in Banner Elk; Fort Lewis is top to bottom the best program in the country with a couple of other Colorado based schools close behind. Two SECCC schools nipped at the heels of the eventual champions in both divisions, Lees-McRae College in division I and Warren Wilson College in division II. Both schools compete in the same conference as Cumberland and demonstrated they were the strongest during the regular season, but they don't have the horses that Fort Lewis or Colorado School of Mines have. The champions are loaded with national team talent, and to beat them at their own game will take some extraordinary feats to earn more team points overall. Easier said than done that's for sure.
So now that our mountain bike season is over and my training is at a halt I can now take a little time for myself. What better way to enjoy the rest than to fly out to California for The First Sip: Lodi's New Vintage! My good friend Adam Housley of FOX News is putting me up for a few days as I help him at his family's winery, Century Oak Winery. Adam has been busy reporting on the fires overwhelming California, but now he's got some time off to work at the winery.
Last year during the region's wine festival Adam said they greeted and served over 1500 guests over the weekend. My job will be to welcome people, pour wine and encourage them to buy. Even with two broken elbows I think I can handle that responsibility with ease! The doctor said to not lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk, so I'll follow his instructions and keep it at a bottle of 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Now I'm sure you're wondering.....broken elbows? Yes, that's not a mistype and it is plural. Both of my elbows were broken two weeks ago in a stupid mountain bike accident. I was riding a mountain bike on the downhill course at Clemson University and went flying over the bars. In other words, I was doing something I had no business doing. I should have either taken an easier path or simply walked down the course, but no, I had to go too fast through a very technical section. Dumb. For six weeks I cannot lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk, and even that is difficult to do. I've got another post idea to discuss this more appropriately titled "Bones or Bicycles." I'll weigh the pros and cons of each scenario, so stay tuned!
We have some special events taking place here in the Nashville area the next two upcoming weekends.
BToGS - BeThereorGetSlower
First, this weekend marks the official beginning of the BeThereorGetSlower training rides on Saturday mornings from the Airplane Fields. Go to the link and you'll see a new sign-up and unsubscribe link for the mailing list. Everyone who was on the list before are still on the list now, but now it's on a different host and easier to manage. I'll be posting a news item on NashvilleCyclist.com later today, and on Thursday everyone will get info about Ride #1 of the winter training season.
Bicycle Street Smarts
Second, this weekend begins a series of bicycling 101 classes held by Walk/Bike Nashville called Bicycle Street Smarts. This free clinic begins this Saturday, November 3rd at Centennial Park. It begins at 12:00 PM and lasts until 2:00 PM. It's open to anyone wanting to learn how to ride on the road and learn basic bike maintenance. Visit Walk/Bike Nashville for more details.
2007 Long Hunter Mountain Bike Festival
The Southern Off-Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) is having a fun mountain bike festival this Saturday, November 3rd at Long Hunter State Park. Everyone is encouraged to come out to ride, eat and play. For more information visit the link above and email trails@sorbamidtn.org to get involved.
The Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride
Third, on Saturday, November 10th this ride benefiting wounded servicemen and women will start at the BToGS location of the Model Airplane Fields of Percy Warner Park at 9:00 AM. The ride is beginning in Little Rock, AR on November 8th before going through Memphis and finishing in Nashville. Some of the wounded riders plan to ride either a 25 mile or 50 mile loop, so come out and support our troops on two wheels!
Nashville Cyclo-Cross Series #3 & #4
Promoter Dan Werle offers up some fine cyclocross racing the weekend of November 10th and 11th. These two days of racing will take place in Antioch at Cane Ridge Park.
posted by NashvilleCyclist.com at 10/31/2007 11:47:00 AM
1 Comments:
I also broke two elbows on 30 October flying over the handlebars - also a wrist and a scaphoid! One elbow healed after three weeks, the cast for the wrist comes off tomorrow and the right elbow is still very stiff after 9 weeks. Hope your progress is better!
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