Well slap me naked and hide my clothes...

24 Hour Race was CANCELLED!!! It took a lot of wind out of my sails, so I went off grid for a little while. Did some camping, spent a lot of time with the crew, and I've been back to the designing board with some stuff I'd like to release in the fall. I'm looking at doing another nice fitted shirt with a design that I'm steadily falling in love with. I'd like to pair it with a batch of military caps also. Currently digging up the proper chassis to use, and making some good ground doing it. Come back soon to see the release of VB's latest and greatest- one word to describe it... RISE.

Alpinestars Tech 7 Boot Review...

Alpinestars Tech 7 Boots! Time for a review!

There's not much out there on these boots yet, so I thought I'd chip in. Aside from a little paragraph in Dirt Bike Magazine, I couldn't find a thing on these when it was time to replace my trusty old Tech 8's. If you're anything like me, you want to make sure everything you buy is worth it, especially when it comes to something as vital as boots!

I'm coming off a pair of Tech 8's that I've had since 2005. They were great boots. I did a LOT of MX, broke my leg in them, started racing enduros, kicked my way in to supermoto, and just absolutely mistreated them through a couple more seasons of enduros and hare scrambles. Absolutely no gripes with the 8's, just the price and knowing what kind of beating they'll take in our enduros and scrambles. I wanted something a little simpler with a different sole and much lower price tag for when I finally destroy them. I also went through a pair of Sidi Crossfires that felt great, but only held up for a year of supermoto racing, then retired.

The tech 7's look great! Good style to them, just like all the Astars goodies. I'm indifferent about the color change on the soles (went from black to white on the white boots). I opted for the white to help alleviate some of the heat here in Texas. The cool thing is Astars knows this and actually makes the white model a vented model! It's got some little screen vents on the side!

I love the buckles! They work great! I usually find myself half pissed by the time i get my boots all snapped up, but these go right in to place, are easy to grab and leverage, and adjust very easily. Also, they're beefy and seem like they'll stand up fine. Great construction and very user friendly, I haven't cussed a single time getting them on/ off.

Watch the sizing! Go somewhere you can try them on if possible. There's no bootie and they run a touch big. I went down a full size from my shoe size, and they're still a touch roomy. Hopefully when the weather breaks and my thicker socks go on, it'll get even more dialed! I actually intend to put some kind of comfy footbed in them also. I was spoiled by the bootie in my 8's before and miss the extra cushion for those hard dabs and the foot vibration my 300 gives.

Overall, Great boot! I loved them coming out of the box- so clean! Too bad they won't stay like that forever. I have a feeling they'll take their beatings well and give me a good lifespan. I like the fit, feel, and look very much, and the sole design doesn't look like it will come apart any time soon like some of the MX designs. This should be a great offroad boot!

If you have any questions, hit me up on VB's Facebook page! Go to FB and "Like" Vita Brevis Clothing!

32 Days!!!

Only 32 more days until the Texas Xtreme 24 Hour Challenge!

We're coming into the last month of prep time for the big race, and it's about to get nutty. I'm trying to think through every possible issue, detail, and scenario. We're gathering all the little goodies like lenses, socks, gloves, etc. We're also testing more gear and setups, as well as trying to dial in the nutrition. Looks like this thing is going to burn some serious calories, and I need to stay on top of that and be fueled!

Training has stayed right on track despite the heat. I wish it would break a little so I could get some more time on the road bike, but I'm not counting on it with it being August in Texas. I've tested the lights on my course, and they should be great. Kiwi even came up to stir up the dust for me while I practiced! We'll be trying to cram some more Hillbilly Hangout Night Sessions in before the big day. The core of my training, CrossFit, is steadily kicking my butt bright and early every morning with some evening classes thrown in to keep it mixed up. Loving that program and definitely plan to stay with it afterward! I'm even looking to compete with our scaled team at the Life as Rx Tour in Dallas this weekend!

But the big pull is the seat time... I'm sneaking off every chance I get to put some miles on Alice and get comfy in the saddle. She'll be undergoing final prep in the coming weeks with some fresh bearings and meats. I'm excited/ nervous, and looking forward to this beat down!

Starting to love Mondays... I get to go RIDE and usually have the place to myself!

Operation Alice!!!

59 days and an undisclosed amount of money later... SHE'S ALIVE!

What you see here is a bike that died a brutal death in a mud/ water/ pit of despair at the Train Robber's National Enduro. When she took her last breath, water was about 3 inches over the seat. The motor was completely trashed in the process, as well as every seal and bearing:

Luckily, that was the last race for a while on my schedule. Here in Texas, our off season is the summer when it's just too hot to get out and ride. I went at her with the pressure washer and commenced to tearing her all apart. I took my time and paid attention, and made a LONG list of everything that needed to be replaced. From there, I went ahead and added some things on there to make sure she cam bike like new. No point in leaving the opportunity for a weak link...

This was actually my first time to rebuild an engine, and I'm certainly glad it was my 2 stroke and not the 450. Proved to be fairly simple and I now have a much better understanding of what's going on in there!

-Hot Rods complete Crankshaft
-KTM Piston/ Rings
-KTM Main bearings
-All New Seals
-Gaskets
-NGK Plug
-Bolts
-O-Rings
-Pegs
-Moose Wheel Bearings Front/ Rear
-Moose Brake Pads Front/ Rear
-Moose Rear Sprocket
-Shock Bolt
-Woodruff Keys
-Spotless Flywheel
-KTM Countershaft Sprocket
-All Ballz Shock Bearing
-Trail Tech Light Wiring
-New Filter/ Cage
-Battery Tender Lead
-Electric Starter Motor Springs
-And some other goodies I'm forgetting

Ran her through the breakin process yesterday and set the rings- running like a champ so far!

Now for some Thank You's- Stone Motor Company plays a big part in all this. Also, as you're well aware- Vita Brevis Clothing. Huge thanks and props to SMS Racing!!! Josh and Haydn were a huge help with all my questions and parts needs. Thanks big time guys! Also need to thank my wife, Candice, for her patience and encouragement, as well as my RP boys for keeping the ball rolling!

www.stonemotorcompany.com
www.vitabrevisclothing.com
www.smsracing.net

2 Months Out...

Missed the three month update! That's alright though, been a steady grind of prep work. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, VB Racing has entered The Tejas Xtreme 24 Hour Race in East Texas this September. I'll be lining up in the Ironman class and trying to hammer out as many laps as possible in the 24 hour time period.

I decided a while back that the preparation was definitely key, so I've researched, trained, wrenched, ridden, and hustled like crazy to get ready for this event (and be better at life in general). After all, strong people are harder to kill and generally more useful, right? Now here we are at the 2 month mark. I'm still fairly close to on track. The only thing I'm coming up short on is ride time aboard my KTM. She's still being rebuilt, but coming together nicely. It's too hot to ride right now anyhow, but I'm hoping to start a weekly night session on my practice track here at the compound. Other than that, I've been grinding away at CrossFit at least 4 days a week. Some days I feel strong, some days I feel like getting hit by a bus would be a more desirable activity. But I'm definitely getting stronger and more agile. This training coupled with the Paleo diet has been a home run for me. I've dropped 20 lbs in the last 6 months! I just wish I had the discipline to go strictly Paleo and avoid the self-destruction that I jump into every weekend. But as Papa Pierce says, "Beer is carbos and painkillers!"

I geeked out and scored a closeout deal on a new Cannondale road bike from the local shop. Never thought I'd find myself on a road bike since I'm too gnar core for skinny tires, but turns out I love it. It's my guilty pleasure, and I haven't told any of my freeride buddies about it yet. If you guys are reading this, I'll race you right now, and no I don't wear spandex! I've got sweatbands, a mirror on my helmet, and a techno mix on my iPod now- it's like I don't even know who I am any more. But it does a lot of good to get out and stay acclimated to the heat, not to mention I can ride all over the place locally and don't have to transport the bike 45 minutes to a good trail. It's good stuff, and I'd recommend it to anyone considering a road bike!

On the mtb front, I've been hustling the SS rig all over. We slayed it with a ton of urban miles around downtown Austin for Fat Tire's Urban Assault Ride. Lots of white trash wheelies and some great food, music, and beer. I always forget how rad Austin is until I've got a pitcher of Lone Star in me and an earful of raucous tunes. Trail rides are happening about every other week, but will get more frequent if I can get my Element back from Candice! I've found myself out cranking Erwin Park in McKinney a few times with good results. It's a very entertaining 8 mile loop of fast hard pack with some great woods sections that's guaranteed to put a grin on your face! In fact, last night was all smiles as me and the CrossFit crew hit the trail in the dark with a few headlamps. That was an absolute blast and will become an integral part of my 24 hour training.

Life is Good, Summer is HOT!!! Big thanks to all the VB crew out there for the support and for repping the VB Gear! Get out and DO STUFF!

VB's Sinclair Kills it at Pikes Peak 2011!

HUGE props to Leeland Sinclair for his performance at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hillclimb! He edged out the rest of the 450 Supermoto Class and took the win this last Sunday at Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs. A great follow-up to last year's "Rookie of the Year" award which he also won. His brother, Stuart Sinclair, also had a great day and took the win in the 750 class aboard his Aprilia. Great job fellas!

From the PPIHC.com website:
"The race is run on a 12.42 mile course with 156 turns that begins at 9,390 feet and finishes at the 14,110 foot summit of America’s Mountain; Pikes Peak! As the drivers climb toward the summit, the thin air slows reflexes and saps muscle strength. The thin air also robs engines of 30% of their power at the summit. Competitors and vehicles must be in top shape simply to finish...let alone win! "

Both Sinclairs ride for the Sisneros Speed Works/ Epic Motosports Team based in Colorado. Contact Eddie Sisneros or Kevin Bland for all your tuning, street, dirt, and supermoto needs!

Epic Motosports / Sisneros Speed Works

Train Robbers National and the nightmare following...

Whoof. Take a race that is usually good for a 50% dnf rate in good conditions, and add nearly 2 feet of rain. My personal first DNF since I started racing enduros. Saturday started well with a nice drive to Bismarck, Arkansas with Bloody J on board and picking up Kiwi a little east of home. We rolled in early to catch the 1st ever Awesomeness Competition that Seat Time was putting on. Absolutely loved how easy the new campground was to get to, and it set a great stage for the crowd that a National Enduro brings. As soon as we got camp set up, we rolled over to registration and the Seat Time setup for some Awesomeness...

The competition was a 100m sprint aboard the Concept2 rower, as well as a tire changing race. I was all over the rower, but it took some convincing before I jumped on the tire changing (one of my least favorite tasks). Glad I did, because I managed to get top three in both events! Highlight video quick edit with some Beasties tunes- Candice even jumped on board and showed her stuff on the rower!

Seat Time Awesomeness Competition from woodybepierced on Vimeo.

Saturday evening got a bit warm, but we had a great camp setup and the box fan proved once again to be worth it's weight in gold. Steaks were grilled (fully paleo legit!), and then Candice and I rolled over to check out the church service they put on before races.
About that time, the sun was going down and the lightning show began. We had a clear view of the sky, and this storm rolled in like a scene from a sci-fi movie. I actually had to say the prayer asking to please not be struck by lightning in a porta potty. Thankfully, I made it out ok and in time to see some more of the show before the rain started in. Soonafter, the perfect Saturday conditions were hurricaned away by yet another brutal storm. Total rainfall for the event was 22". 22 freakin inches. We laughed it off in the camper all night, then racked out thinking the next day would be ok.

Sunday morning was muddy, rainy, and showed no signs of improvement. Kiwi and I were on row 54, just in time to sit and wait through a downpour. Gear was soaked, grips were slippery, and goggles were useless- and the race hadn't even started. Knowing then what I know now, I would have turned around, gone to the trailer, and spent the day listening to the radio and snacking. But that just isn't my M.O., so off we went. It was miserable, so I'll keep it brief- Mud is an understatement, zero visibility, zero traction, brakes went out, and never think you know how deep a mudhole really is.

When my race ended, I was 23 miles in, and nearly 4 feet deep in water. The seat height on my bike is about 40 inches, and it was underwater. Not that nice clean water you see on TV, but the kind of shit you'd expect to stay in the cup if it were turned upside down. Down and out after that notorious gulping sound. I worked on the bike, wrestled it, and tried to make it do something for over 3 hours until the sweepers got there. Then had to get the sweepers un-stuck a couple times and we wrestled the bikes together for nearly two more hours before I was back to camp. Good news is by then I was so exhausted that my cussing fit had subdued to defeated grunts, and I was trying to get my head wrapped around the rebuild.

Which brings us to now...
FULL rebuild time. I need to restore this bike's badassness in time to get back on the horse training for the 24 race, so it's been a steady process of wrenching and bleeding both my knuckles and my wallet. Good news is she'll be like new by the time I'm done, and I'll have a much greater understanding of the inner workings of a KTM 300. Poor girl makes me want to cry every time I see her like this, but I know it's for the greater good.