Out with the old, in with the new

Well, at least in with the new. I don't know about the old one yet. Oh, yeah, just to clarify things, I'm talking cars at the moment, and not bikes - pretty unusual.

So I decided a while ago that I need a new ride (mostly since I don't have all the neat M-Plate vehicles from work any more due to my new project), so I started looking around. I wanted to have a wagon and all-wheel drive. No, not to carry family around, but to have a safe place for my bike.

A BMW 325XiT was one of the candidates, as well as a Subaru Outback, and I also considered the Audi Allroad. I did some research and checked out and test drove a couple of them, but couldn't make up my mind and didn't find one in good enough condition.

Today, on Saturday, Jim, Scott and I wanted to do a 100 Mile ride, but it started pouring 2 hours into the ride, so we decided to stop riding since we were completely soaked. This means I had some time in the afternoon - turned on the internet and saw a new post from a dealership just 20 miles away.

They pretty much had my car waiting there. Audi Allroad 2.7T, modelyear 2002, 40k miles (still 10000 warranty left), very nice condition - and fully loaded! All the bells and whistles you can imagine. Sweet. Test drove it, knocked of $2000 of the asking price - and there I am, proud owner of a sweet ride.


This is it - ouside...


... and inside - sweet!


These lines are for you, Vanagon:
I don't know what to do with you. All I know at the moment is that we'll drive you to Virginia next weekend. But this may be one of the last trips...

Alex

1. Place "Michigan Endurance Cup Series"

WON!

Yeah, I achieved my main mountain bike racing goal for 2005 - I won the series!

Here is what had to be done:

--> There were 5 endurance events in Michigan:
- 8 hours of Pando
- 24 hours of Boyne
- 12 hours of Drummond Island
- 12 hours of Addison Oaks
- 12 hours of Pando

--> Depending on your result in a race you got points, and for every rider in your categorie you got one extra point. (double points for position in the 24 hour race.)

--> The four best results combined made the final points, and - of course - who ever had the most won. And this was me in the very competitive category "men 30-39".

This link takes you to the table that has all the details.

Alex

Last 12 hour race of the season - somewhat successful

So there was only one more race left in the "Michigan Endurance Cup", the series I wanted to win so bad. And all I had to do was finish at max 2 spots behind Chris, my main competition.

The race was in Pando, similar trail to the first race of the series, only difference was this time it was 12 hours and we went the other way around on the trail.

The race started at noon, I felt pretty good at the beginning, I had 3 riders ahead of me, and Chris was riding my rear wheel. After 2 hours we caught up to the 3rd overall position and raced each other hard for many laps. Finally Chris and I made up some time, so we were riding in position 3 and 4. Halfway in the race I finally started to make up some time on Chris, still feeling good, and another 2 hours later he was back again, right behind me... I knew my series win would still be safe if he would pass me, but somehow I got ambitious and didn't want that to happen. So I pushed a little harder again.


Woo-hoo, another lap done

It was 10:45 at night when I was told I have a 12 minute lead on him. Yeah, finally the hard work payed of. Seemed to me like the pace I maintened was the hardest I've ever gone in a 12 hour event.

OK, now be sure you are not eating when you read the following lines:

I don't know what happened exactly, but knowing I have a good gap on him I changed my pace and took out some speed. That must have messed up my rhythm completely, since out of nowhere I had to throw up. It was somehow funny, since I did it while still pedaling. And I knew there was more on the way, so I decided to stop since a technical section was coming up. That took maybee a minute, and after all the power gel's and Gatorade I had all day long it didn't smell like the regular throw up, but was rather sweet. All right, enough of the details...

A couple of minutes later I was back in the pits, drank a little bit more and headed out for another lap. Now I felt completely dehydrated, and I couldn't drink any more of the Gatorade I had with me. I asked every rider I passed if they have some water, but nobody could help. This lap took forever - but Chris still didn't pass me.

Back in the pits again I had 2 sips of water, and it triggered another throw up session. Some people came over to see if I was OK... ha ha, I wasn't OK at all. I walked over to the timing tent to check if I would still finish 3rd if I'd stop riding now at 11:30, and once I got it confirmed I decided to call it a day - and right at that moment Chris flew by my pit...

The finish in Pando wasn't exactly how I imagined the race should end, but hey - it was good enough to win the endurance cup!

Alex

Not too much going on lately

So I got a little lazy about the biking thing - but I just needed some rest. Actually, the week after Addison I mostly slept, once I got home I crashed on the couch. I realized that kind of lifestile actually can be fun for a while.

First time back on the bike was one week later, we wanted to do an easy 3 hour ride on Saturday, but we decided after 45 minutes that the Mexican restaurant is already open, so we decided to get some food instead. Sunday's ride was about the same...

The most important thing that happened is my new job that I started in August. I'm now working on Hybrid vehicles - everything is top secret, so I can't say too much here (wooo, that sounds important). But it's a lot of fun so far and the next three years here in the US will be very busy!

Alex