Placeholder until I get time to fill this in. Meanwhile - you can check out the photos of the B2B that I FINISHED! Click here to see photos (note: click on the LG images [the SM images are intended as thumbnails for my blog] there are 4 pages in the photo album, click "next page" to see. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to write about it, but pictures describe more than I have time to write at the moment.

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Welp... I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Bridge to Bridge is on Sunday, driving down tomorrow, early to get there in time to pick up my race packet before 5pm.

Work was ok, just another day - I had other crap on my mind. We had thunderstorms roll through here right about the time I got off work, decided to go to the gym to do a spinner class and forego the drama of biking in the rain with a clean bike - don't need to have to reclean/lube it tonight. Ran a few errands, came home and packed, loaded my car. Everything is set - even coffee ready to brew.

Wish me luck - this shall prove to be an interesting weekend. I'll return on monday night. Will post pics tues/wed.

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Have to type this quick - still too much to do to prep for this weekend, thank goodness the worst is over (gee, I don't mean the actual event of driving the 20+ hours all weekend sandwiched by cycling in the hardest Century on the east coast).

Work was bearable - other than the fact that the AC was still out - it got repaired late in the afternoon. Left on time to meet up with my cycling club ride - was a fast n furious 38 miler (it's getting darker earlier). Ran a few errands on the way home and launched into maniacle speeds of domesticity and such. Cleaned my bike from top to bottom and put it all back together. Gave it a good safety check - especially the brakes. These mountain centuries is a testament to how good brakes are, especially if you are screaming down a mountain at 40-50+ miles per hour - wanna make sure the brakes work..and WELL. Suffice to say, bike will be fine. My nerves are a little wack, but nothing like a good 10 hour drive down there to think about it more. Arrg.

Well, off to finish cleaning the house and finish packing (I like coming home to a clean house after a "vacation"). I ONLY want to spend tomorrow night loading my car and relaxing after a short stretch ride - I have to get up super early to drive down there.

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photo by d. scott gregory FSC Gossamer crankarm 1 click on photo to enlarge	photo by d. scott gregory FSC Gossamer crankarm 2 click on photo to enlarge
photo by d. scott gregory Handlebar tape warpaint click on photo to enlarge	photo by d. scott gregory Praying Mantis in my Garden click on photo to enlarge

Oh what a day...Woke up groggy as heck - tired and cranky, slurped down some coffee and went into the office where to find that the air conditioning was broken. It was 82 degrees in the office - and rising. We got on the horn to have the issue resolved (which won't get fixed until tomorrow sometime) while we struggled with another crisis. All be told - was a shitty morning. I dropped my bike off across the street to have my new FSC Gossamer crank arm put on (pictured above, installed), and patiently waited until after work to make sure the index shifting was absolutely perfect. Meanwhile - the heat rose to 87 degrees outside and up to 88 degrees inside - we were all miserable.

We all bolted from the furnace at exactly 5:30 and I went over and picked up my bike - what a beautiful crank arm and a great job they did - I paid up and left for a long hot 44 training ride out to Purcellville and back to make sure the shifting was perfect. I could not believe it - it was flawless. And it took the hills great. I am releived.

Came home and was greeted by a praying mantis on my front door - I caught him and brought him inside and put him on my deck garden - he looked pretty happy (pic of him). Started all my chores of laundry and organization/packing/calls for hotel confirmation, et al. for the long weekend - and then desperately needed to replace my cork handlebar tape (pictured). I had stopped by Home Depot on the way home to get some electrical tape to finish off the ends and found red - cool, perfect war paint for my bike (and matches).

Ate dinner and now finishing up laundry and stressing about this weekend - with the new exception of my fabulous crank arm.

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What an odd yet exhilerating day. The oddness was work - which was amazingly casual. I managed to finally clean up my desk and organize things, even had my computer defragged and email archived. During this process, one of our favorite clients came by to go over a few things - but was preoccupied by a triathalon (his first) he's doing this weekend. I caught part of this discussion when he called me in to help him order a bike for the cycling part of the triathalon (it's a casual, "starters for newbies" charity event that he described, he's doing it with a friend). I said, how can I help? He understands very well that I do a lot of cycling and sequestered my advice - then just flat out asked - can you help me buy a bike this afternoon? How could I say no - he's a client, and I have the knowlege. So we shuttled off to Performance Bikes after a few phone calls. What I thought was going to be a casual quick extended long lunch break with this client, turned into a full afternoon of getting him completely set up.

We went to the Performance store in Reston and we settled on a bike - a 2005 Fuji Roubaix, with carbon fork, carbon seat stays, but he's a tall man and needed a 60cm frame. The bike store called around and found the same bike at their sister store in Tysons Corner. I helped him get all the usual bike shit - tubes, patch kit, gloves, tire levers, mini pump, and a saddle pouch to carry it all - he bought me a few water bottles in gratitude then we drove over to Tysons. Now, a quick note about this client - he's very multitasking oriented, and high maintenance. He drives while answering emails on his blackberry, driving with his knees. At one point, he said "grab the wheel while I answer this" so he could draft an email on his blackberry. It was too funny.

We got to Tysons, the bike was already being prepped - and pedals were put on, all the mechanics there know me by name. It was reassuring to him as I continued to help him get all the things he needed. Including a bike rack, helmet, gel packs, power bars, et al. Finally got it all out to the car - assembled the bike rack and put the bike on it. He said "how sexy!" (red Pontiac Grand Am, bike rack with a red Bike - he has a red helmet, and had earlier in the week - he and his buddy had custom triathelete cycling outfits made in red). On the drive back to the office, he asked - so you up for a quick ride tonight? Sure why not, how far ya want to go? He was like, only 10 miles. Cool (will be just my warm up ride).

Got back to the office @ 4:00 - and no pressing business - while he called and ordered the same bike, rack, helmet, et al for his triathelete buddy. He said "you just made a $3,000 sale. We laffed. I asked him what his wife would think of his purchases - le laffed, "naw - she has her hobbies, I have mine". I finished up what I could and then suited up - we headed out. On this "quick" 10 mile ride, I wore his ass out, but he kept up and loves the challenge and was very thrilled with his new bike, and all he was needing to set up. I said farewell as he put his bike on his bike rack, and I went another 34 miles (he thinks I'm a freak).

The weather was amazing - perfect sunset, warm weather. Life is good.

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I am now totally psyched and freaked out - in less than 6 days I'm doing the Bridge to Bridge Century in Lenoir, NC. All the details - and preparation is finally coming together and the anticipation is stressing me a little. First of all, I'm not a fan of driving anymore than 4 hours - this drive down to Lenoir, NC is a long lonely 9.5 hours. And I need to leave very early next saturday to make sure I get to pre-race packet registration at 5pm. Afterwards, I have another 35 minute drive South to my hotel in Morgantown - check in and try to relax and prepare for another really early morn. Will need to get up at 5am and then drive back to Lenoir stretch out and get in line for the 7am mass start (about 800 cyclists). Hopefully I can synch up with a few riders I know in the masses to gague a good starting paceline. Another thing about this is that I'm meeting a buddy and his wife at the finish so I can score a lift back from Grandfather's Mountain. Then after driving back to the start, I need to drive back to my hotel in Morganton - try to recover and relax for another early morning to which I have to drive back 10 hours home to which prepare for a stressful work week.

Oh the drama. Why do I do this? BECAUSE IT'S A FUCKING LIFE CHANGING EVENT. Laffs. If I finish this thing, I'll be grinning for years.

Work was unstressful today, even for a Monday - spent the majority of the day preparing things for a large chunk of our staff to go to Hawaii for a industry expo for a week. It will be a good week, will have time to get things done without drama from ABBA and the rest.

Such beautiful weather again - crisp, warm, clear sky. I suited up for a training ride on time - biked to Purcellville and back (44 miles) - it was glorious out. Came back to my car, it was dark. Ran a few errands and came home and caught up on correspondence.

Time to make a list of things I need to get done before Friday night. Including cashing in my right arm for the small fortune it's gonna cost me to drive 20+ hours over the weekend.

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9/11 Where to begin. Unsure I will. Today's date is too rife with horrific feelings and melancholic memories to even address the date. Unwithstanding, today IS my Father's birthday. I called him this morning at exactly 9:11am to wish him Happy Birthday (he turned 65 today) - left him a quick message on his cell phone (he was in flight to California for work until wednesday). I followed this with a phone call to my mother - who I'm sure will be lonely for the next few days (especially without a computer - their computer died). We had a nice conversation.

photo by d. scott gregory 10,344 miles click on photo to enlarge

Spent the morning cleaning the house, vaccuuming, dusting, windexing, swiffering, et al. Then suited up and went on a 32 mile stretch out ride - still really sore from the century yesterday. I had realized that in a week I was to do the Bridge to Bridge Century. Ugh. I'm drooling with total fear and excitement.

Watching Oceans Eleven on tv, chillin before another difficult work week ahead. Sunday night anxiety sets in.

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