Misdirected Traffic

Enough sour Ergon green grapes. I can't stomach them any longer. There will always be more contests to win.

Thad's theory concerning my loss: I should have never posted the provocative image of Topeak Ergon rider Irina Kalentieva from her awesome "Race Day" video.

Powers that be, I snub my nose at thee once more.

I'm a man, I like boobies, so kill me.

Sunday I promised myself a proper recovery from Saturday's efforts; a short road ride, time on the foam roller, a nap... I did none of those.

I went straight to yard work when I got up. Gina the guide dog puppy went off to her second year of the guide dog process, and I was left with a yard that had been slightly altered by a black Labrador.

After the yard work I caught up on emails, cried a little, slunk around the house, and then got back to business. My bike needed cleaned and beer needed drank.

Did I mention the first couple laps around Warrior Creek were a little messy?

Maybe a lot messy? Since I had two water bottles (unlike Kelly Klett's one dangerous bottle) I chose to keep them outta the elements.

My new Awesome Strap Race was coated in North Wilkesboro's finest soil...

Which reminded me of the test I did back in February 2010 where I packed mud onto an original Awesome Strap to prove a point. The mud was real, but the application was simulated, so I was always a little embarrassed about the test.

So I decided to see what my bundle of tube, CO2, tire lever, etc. looked like after a real exposure to real mud at a real race.

Off the bike and still looking crusty.

Strap removed and still a bit clumped.

Tube unfurled and mostly unmudded. I knocked the residual mud off with a swipe of my hand, and it was good to go. I forgot to cover the threads on my CO2 cartridge with some tape or a rubber doo-hickey, but a quick twist in my fingers, and I was able to spin on my Microflate Nano inflator. Note to self: always keep one cartridge ready for mud and always bring it along in case the course gets an unpredicted deluge the night before.

Well how about that?

I try to send some traffic over to Backcountry Research, and they go and take a break. I guess sewing straps 12 hours a day wears on you sometimes, and what's that about "new products?" Dunno... maybe they have my Tülbag (pronounced tūl-bahg) ready?

Say it with me.

Boobies.