07.24.09 update

well, it's been about a week and 4 days or so back on the bike and i'm starting to turn the pedals over better every day as i can finally put in a good amount of hours in on a daily basis.

physical therapy started up as well for me and is going great. feels kind of odd to be in a gym working on the legs during july, but after weeks of sitting around, i was really just looking forward to doing some type of workout. i think the physical therapy people get a kick out of watching me do leg workouts for 2 hours.

are you tired yet? ah... no. ok - do another 4 sets.

so, instead of writing about heading out to nine mile, i am writing about leg press workouts and getting some juice shot through my knee. good luck to all who are racing..

but things are getting better everyday and i expect to do some road races in about 10 days. and maybe drop that guy that was riding around my neighborhood on an moped again.

and - pivot demo day in speedgoat's backyard coming up on august 8th. i'll be heading out to help out and will be the lead on some rides - or we could head out for some 30 minute hill efforts up linn runn. whichever you prefer.

sologoat out

great post up...

over at molly cameron blog, "training versus talent" - check it HERE.

molly is one of the top US cross riders - raced in a two man group with him a few years ago at cross vegas as he was taking sips from a can of pabst. during the race.

three laps later, so was i.

sologoat out

caffelatex blog entry up at the 'goat

caffelatex_01
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

check it HERE

sologoat out

back on the bike

full blog write up on the speedgoat blog. you can check it out HERE.

sologoat out

071009thisisofficallydrivingmecrazy

not too mucho going on these days, but offical rehab to compliment what i can do on my own starts up next week. in order to avoid jinxing myself, i prefer to not speak any more of when i can get back on the bike full time.

contemplating a full week training camp based out of the home and maybe a trip or two details are kind of open at the moment.

in the meantime, back to setting up the basement for the trainer - sucks to think i'll be riding stationary when it's 85 degrees out in ohio.

as the saying goes - whatever doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger.

sologoat out

070209 update

070209 LEG
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

still not much going on these days, busy with work, reading and getting stuff ready for some intensive rehab back on the bike. i keep hoping that tomorrow i will wake up and this nightmare will be over.

everyday it's getting better - got a ton of movement in the knee compared to just a week ago.

with june and some of july being a wash of no racing, i'll save up some cash and spend a little more time out west this year and stay at interbike for the full 3 days of the expo. and crossvegas is a must this year.

latest hobby for me lately is looking for new techo toys - latest one is the roku player which lets me stream my videos from netflix straight to my tv from my wireless setup. pretty sweet so far.

next up will more then likely be the western digital wd tv. hook it up like a vcr, then plug in your external hard drive with the video you loaded up from euro cross videos and ride away. looks like a pretty cool device.

and - other hobby is checking out the 2009/2010 cross bikes. i've been a fan of redline bikes and they have come up with some new paint and build ups for their 2010 Pro and Team models which are now running SRAM. what is looking suuuper hot is the new 2009 Ridley X Night and X Fire. very nice completes, also running SRAM, and the with the X Night running4RZA brakes and Alex Tubeless wheels.

also got a few new additions to the sologoat garage - most noteably, my custom vicious mootivator painted in speedgoat colors is back up for sale. check it out.

that's it - gotta rip some old radiohead singles, drink a beer, and dream of the day i get to ride all day.

sologoat out

update

062809_leg
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

not much has been going on the last week or so other then rest and getting ready to get back on the bike. ordered up a stationary trainer that will be first used for rehab and then for cross season as i normally just use rollers for my winter training.

last x-ray has the fracture healing up good, swelling is going down, i can move the knee quite comfortably now but feels a little funky if i try to walk on it. rehab will start within the next two weeks, though i've started some rehab on it without trying to put weight on the bone.

new kits are finally in. we came up with something a little different this year and i will be running two colored kits, same layout. the ergon green kit will stay and we added the speedgoat orange kit as well. should be pretty sweet. and - hoping to possibly get some of the green in skinsuits this year for cross season.

the past few weeks has been as much pain on me physically as well as mentally - very odd not to be on the bike every day. but, i am making some progress in the house projects as i hope someday to officially have a kitchen table.

sologoat out.

sitting still, going crazy

2009 Big Bear - 10
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

2nd weekend in a row off the bike and i'm going stir crazy. trips and races cancelled, i'm getting a very rare opportunity to catch up with work, family, and life in general.

good news came this week in the shape of a clean MRI. bones heal, but busted up ligaments don't. at this point, i can bear weight on the hairline tibia fracture and bend to some extent as well. next good news is when i can get the hinged air cast which i am going to push for sometime this coming week. believe it or not, the cast i have now is actually causing more discomfort from cramps in my leg then the break. i used to think lactic acid hurt, but this is an new extreme level of pain.





so, if all goes well, maybe back on the bike trainer by the end of the month. we'll see - i'm not going to push anything as i need to focus my efforts.

thanks for all the well wishes - more updates as they come.

sologoat out

mid week update

2009 Big Bear - 05
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

still no official 100% word from the doc until i get my MRI tomorrow AM, but the word from the doc is i got a hairline fracture in my left tibia. so small in fact that i can't even see it in my x-rays.

at this point, swelling is all gone and i can stand on it. racing endurance, i've come to learn with pain, but the mental pain of just not being able to walk across the room is starting to wear on me.

race schedule has changed and i'm waiting until next week to plan out the rest of the year. i am most bummed out not to be at the firecracker 50 and being able to hit up the post race ride and training with the toastman.

so, no breck - instead, a netflix subscription and a roku box to wirelessly stream it to my flat screen tv.

pass the brews

sologoat out

2009 Big Bear - a DNS

2009 Big Bear - 03
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

it's friday and i'm back in ohio very disappointed.

thursday pre-ride was going well. got at the venue early and headed out for a ride around 3pm.

course was wet, but holding up well as usual. after the first downhill where you started climbing after climbing a stream, laird re-routed the course to go away from the mud and water and up to higher groudn on an old service road.

after that, past the run way, was a 100 foot section that was typically super muddy - they added crushed stone making it rideable even in the worse conditions.

lap was going smooth unitl i decided to try some different lines right before the big downhill about half way through. i went to jump a log paraelling the trail and my front wheel sunk down and shot me closer to the log - i stuck out my left leg to catch myself and i basically stiffed armed the ground my left leg.

the pain and the thought of what i just did nearly had me puking right there. i rode out the rest of the lap in pain, barely able to get my left foot out of the pedal.

i then went back to the hotel, elavated, iced and compressed -- all with the thought that if i couldn't walk normal in the AM, it was a no-go on saturday.

8am today, i decided it was a no-go. with about 30-40% of the movement back and about half the swelling down, i decided to see the doctor instead of the start line on saturday. better to be sure and not race, then to chance it and only do more damage.

at the momemt, i am feeling crushed - it's hard to take in all the thoughts of training for a race i couldn't start in.

thanks for the well wishes already coming in. with that, off to watch the pens and elevate the leg.

sologoat out

060709 ride

060709_ride
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

ride, work, sleep, eat, repeat. various hours, various intensities.

been about my life the past few weeks as i prep for what i consider my home town 24 hour race, big bear. it's in WV, but it is where i got my start and somehow will always be home. i can still remember back at my first 24 solo at snowshoe where there laird knight had fireworks going off over our heads at midnight. by far, the most surreal moment of my life to date.

bikes are just about done, caffelatex going in tomorrow. blog posts up on the 'goat blog this week - cane creek, tifosi, limar, jagwire... hats off to all the sponsors this year - sh*t is tight in the sponsorship world and they came through. can't say enough thanks to all of them.

big bear wil be a challenge - the field is more deep then ever before, the rain is a comin' and i'm looking forward to going back to my roots of racing and hopes of catching a ride on one of those rigged up golf carts they have down there with the base kickin, the dub wheels, neon lights and everybody on board with a cold miller in their hand.

hells ya west virginia - see you soon.

sologoat out

pivot buid up pics

2009 pivot 01
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

are now up on flickr... only one more thng to switch out - going to run a twist shfiter for the front derailleur to eliminate the chain rub.

now - gots to run. must ride. thinkin' of WV and a bear.

solgoat out

mohicanand pivots

060109_pivot_ride_s
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

short update - pivots now built up, mohican in the books.

mohican started out hot, but i rolled out steady. kept within the limits of not killing myself but the pack kept a rollin.

soon, at 30 miles in, i was by myself. i would roll in a group of 1 for the next 70 miles.

nice course - first time this ohioian has ridden the mohican. looking forward to getting back down there.

pivots - pics up tomorrow if i don't get slammed at work for the 100th time. build up's went great but i think i am starting to loose my patience with xtr's inability to adjust the front derailleur so i think i'm going to resort to sram twisty grips.

anyhoo - off to sleep.

sologoat out

lazy monday

05.29.09 - goat group 10
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

in the spirit of a lazy monday, a short post.

mucho bike work in progress, drinking way too much coffee and enjoying the day off.

so should you.

sologoat out.

day off

IMG_0405
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

whew, been a few hectic weeks as i am getting in some miles and building up and repairing bikes.

few melt downs last week trying to fix and repair bikes. never fails. at some point during a hectic week, my training bikes decide to act up. drives me nutz. now i'm back in business. just remember, 'when in doubt, switch it out." i should remember that more often.

this weekend - long recon mission at the shop and few other spots. should be good to get out on trails and not have to freak out about getting back into town for the joby job.

all parts in on the pivots - and dan the man is taking top secret blog pics as i type away at the shop.

have a good weekend, get in some miles, drink some good brew and coffee.

sologoat out

i'm feeling tarty

new video passed along by past fellow irma street posse member tris - tarty bikes Danny MacAskill showing off some skillz.

warning - when watching, prepare to have your mind blown away at 3:10 into it. unreal.

sologoat out

Ernesto DSG interview on CyclingDirt.com

full write up on the SPEEDGOAT BLOG.


sologoat out

dsg 12 hour - short write up

100_2550
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

mud - and lots of it.

pulled out after two and half of laps - 1 1/2 of laps of pure mud hell. offical result - 6th place.

1. jb
2. harlan
3. andy a (offically not an ohio resident, but that's OK)

congrats to all that finished and who completed a lap - it's an epic that will be talked about for years to come.

now - gotta catch up on life. longer write up in the next day or two - until then, chekc out flickr (about 25 pics up)

sologoat out

DSG 12 hour pre-ride

IMG_0523
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

at the dsg and hoping the rain won't come.

pre-rode today and yesterday - course has new sections which are holding up good, but the existing trails are pretty soaked and holding lots of water from the week worth of rain dumpage.

lets just hope the rain stays away - potential rain coming in tonight.

write up coming sometime sunday - for now, time to rest.

sologoat out

next up

2009 cohutta 01
Originally uploaded by solo_goat

dsg 12 hour

sologoat out