Westbranch was a mud hole, but I lowered the air pressure on my GT Marathon and it performed as it always has. I rode straight over every rock and root that Westbranch had to throw at me and never put a foot down. The cool thing, I reached down to switch my Fox RP23 shock from fully active to platform mode and it was actually hot from absorbing hits. It is neat to think that enough friction occurs from the oil whooshing around in the damper to heat the entire shock. I think it did a great job handling the bumps that I found on the trail, but it makes me want to ride it even harder next time.

On another note, It’s the end of the season and if you haven’t put your racing resume together it is time. Most teams want your resume in hand before the end of October. If you haven’t done this type of thing before, there are a few things that you will need to include. First, give them a biography. Start with accomplishments and passions, but remember to make connections that your sponsor will understand. Then, outline your results for the season and remember to include your class, the location, and the events name.  Bear in mind, you should also tell them how you have been making a difference in the cycling community. Lastly, explain what you will be doing in the new season and how you will help them promote their brand.

Here are a few tips from another site, but If you have any questions, I will be glad to help. You can email me directly at David_H_Walker@Hotmail.com.

I’ve had mixed results at time trial races in the past. At these races, riders start at intervals not as a group. They then race on their own from point A to B, all the while not knowing how the competition is doing. In that scenario, I tend to take risks, which have led to big crashes. Of course, one crash leads to more speed, and more speed leads to even more crashes.

Today I started in the 16^th spot, 20 seconds behind 15^th and so on. It’s understood that I was working hard, but it was a surprise to have caught three riders within the first couple miles. I think that I passed eight in all. This brings me back to what I was thinking last week. Not knowing the course, I pedaled hard many times when I would not have If I had known what I was about to see. Is it faster to pedal into a blind corner or to relax knowing that you will be slowing down in a moment? Today I pedaled, but it was my way of making up for taking fewer risks.

1^st Place Neo Power Series Overall

1^st Place Reagan Park Time Trial, Neo Power #3

Some Fotoooos

For winning this series, I won a years worth of Chipotle Burritos, but I am not the only one. The prizes, cash, bike frames, and burritos flowed like water, furthering the case that this may be the greatest race series ever.

This win secures my win for the Groovy Series at Vultures Knob and puts me into a solid position to take the overall lead for the Neo Power Series. These two race series have the promise of becoming the preeminent series in Ohio. They are amazingly well put together and draw great crowds of riders at all competitive levels. I also like riding trails that are so familiar. With each lap, I push deeper into each section without braking.

I did realize that knowing the trail keeps me from pedaling when I would otherwise and I’m wondering if this is slowing me down. I should probably be pedaling if I’m not braking. The problem is that I think it’s easy to become comfortable with riding a trail at a certain speed. Pedaling were I usually don’t has the tendency to put me on lines that I wouldn’t normally ride.

Fotos

Leading up to this weekend we had a great time at the Cleveland Air Show, the opposing Peace Rally, and at Oktoberfest in Berea.

On another note, the 2010 GT bikes are on the site and they look good.