Happy Halloween!

(photo by Chad Holm)

Jerry Hadley at Tidewater Mountain Bike Challenge last weekend. He placed in the duo enduro class with Mark Mugler:

Ace Frehley/Gene Simmons 17 laps 6:07:48

Wes posted some more photos of costumes from the race.

Rider down

To know me is to know this: when I am acting all serious or uptight, that means things are normal and I may even be bored. When I am laughing hysterically, those are the most serious situations to me.

So Carol and I were JRA after just finishing 2 pre-ride loops on Tidewater Mountain Bike Challenge course before the race tomorrow. We had ridden the technical course without incident and had just finished a conversation with Penny about how low speed spills can sometimes be the most dangerous.

So as Carol would say, I just had to be competitive, so I started popping wheelies on the way back to the car. There was the implied invitation for Carol to compete, so she did, and on the third try, her Specialized slung her



backwards onto the chunky gravel. She hit with the pumped thud of a dropped crowd surfer. She froze spread eagle in classic wind-knocked-out-of-you fashion, though for those 20 seconds, it was not clear to me if that's what was wrong since the symptons are similar to punctured lung. I tended to her with one hand and grabbed for my phone with the other as she sought desperately for oxygen.

The phone wasn't in my pocket but my camera was, so as she came to, I said "stay still" and laughed my head off as I snapped shots. Turns out the force ripped her foot right out of clippped-in shoe as if she'd been raptured up right there from the woods in Croaker, VA. I am glad she's ok, and I think she has known me long enough to not misinterpret my laughter during the whole drive home!

First Dance

Sally and Mike

Sent to bikevoice by cyclist and photographer Wes Cheney http://www.wescheneyweddings.com/

Family Ties

Bress Pawn in Norfolk has a tandem for sale that is way overpriced. I heard from Josh that Mike had wanted to have a tandem waiting for him and Sally as they left their wedding reception, but Bress wanted too much. Honestly, I think Sally preferred the pedicab! (photo by BJ Samuel)

Friday's rehearsal: Sally's brother Nick and girlfriend Charlotte; Parents Pete and JoAnne; Mike's daughter Sarah; Sally and Mike.

Just last weekend, Nick and Mike completed Ironcross, and Sally completed a 24 hour adventure race with Pete on support crew. Wedding weekends are much easier!












Pete knew he could not get away with this on wedding day, so he wore it to the rehearsal.



















In other family news, Meaghann and son Zach both completed Ironcross last weekend. Zach, 14, is the youngest to ever complete the race. He has raced for 2 years, and Meaghan says that he has been drawn to the bike since he was a toddler. He read Lance's "Not About the Bike" book in 4th grade and hasn't turned back since.

Meaghann is a long-time runner who competed in high school. She broke both feet during a very chilly New York cross country meet, and the timing of the injury kept her from collegiate running. So instead, she rode tandem across the United States when she was 18, then put the bike away for a spell. She then competed in recreational running for the next 2o years. She recently got back onto the bike and finished the difficult Ironcross with Zach cheering her into the finish.

Another week

Also representin' the sport--

PEDL HRD= Matt Keane

BELL LAP= Mike Virden

I DROPU= Keith Johnson






I got my first massage in years this week in preparation for Ironcross. Robin literally walked all over my back (as demonstrated here with Dominic). She balances on the ceiling bars and does a high pressure foot massage on the back, butt and legs. WHAT?! So worth the money.

These hot custom bags were year end gifts designed by Anette for Laura and BJ. The bags were stuffed with ride essentials--lipstick and sunblock--not tire levers or CO2 cartridges.