Caney Creek Enduro Race Report...

What a Race!!!

Enduros are always tough. Every single one of them. It doesn't matter if it's the rockiest, nastiest, toughest terrain or a cart path- you ride them all as hard as you can, and you know it at the end. This particular course, the Caney Creek Enduro, is put on by the Trail Riders of Houston. It winds through the Sam Houston National Forest, full of trees, sand, whoops, and some nasty roots. Conditions were a little dry, but somehow the dirt had a touch of moisture in it earlier in the day.

The drive down was easy once I got rolling- the dogs didn't want to cooperate with me leaving for the weekend. But I finally hit the road - new goodies on the iPod and everything I needed to snack my way to Houston for a race. Since this was a solo run, I opted to run my stinger rack on the back of the excursion and tent camp it, banking on mooching an outlet for my box fan (Thanks Ryan). Camp was set, bike passed sound check fine, and check in was smooth and easy- row 41. The Reynolds crew was in full effect, so I had a good time kicking back in my camp chair and chatting over a couple cold pre-race beers - as Papa Pierce likes to say "It's just pain killer and carbos." Good times were had and we all called it an early night.

Coming soon: "Enduro Cribs"

I knew coming in to this one that there wasn't much elevation (climbs) or technical terrain to be involved. It would be just like a skinnier Cycleland- lean back, pinch the seat, clench your butt cheeks and shut one eye as you pin it a touch faster than you're comfy with. I'd love to see the pro dudes go balls out on this stuff, because they smoke me like a turkey and I felt like I was flying. I went off course once, and took a spectacular 4th gear over-the-bars sandy face plant right before I realized my body and brain were done communicating. That last section was exhausting- same stuff, just more of it, and you need to keep the pace up. I pushed through wanting to puke and gasping for air and got the finish as hard as I could- a feeling I'm growing more and more comfortable with thanks to CrossFit Solus. Dehydration was a factor despite the two Camelbaks I went through. Temps in the 90s and Houston humidity will inspire some cramps. It was strange to pull my fingers off the bars after they cramped on in a pure hillbilly death grip. I felt good about my ride, just a little nervous about that last section "fade", but at least I knew I gave it all I had- the moment of truth comes later when they post scores and hope it was just as rough for everyone else.

And that was a strange moment. At first, my score was incorrect, only giving me a ONE second lead. That's absolutely ridiculous, especially considering we were on course for 5 hours. We sent the scores in for double-checking, and mine came out corrected, but still only a six second lead. 6 SECONDS!!! It was hard to believe, but that was good enough to bump me into first for the Open B Class win! A great day of racing, and thoroughly exhausted drive home. There's just no better feeling than putting it all on the dirt and it paying off like that!

Memory Lane: MY first dirt bike was an 86 Yamaha IT 200...

Klim F4 Helmet Review

As cool as everything seemed, I eBayed it.

Here in Texas, we have a little heat to deal with. That said, when it's time to get a new lid, I pay very close attention to venting and weight. I'm a sucker for murdered out black graphics and tough looking helmets, but after having my brain boil in a few, I've come to appreciate the better things in life- like a well vented and light helmet.

Enter Klim's F4. I was a big fan immediately after seeing the slick design and of course the orange. I ride KTM, so it's a well known fact based on solid science that all things orange are in fact faster and perform better than any other color. Add to that the slick vents and nifty graphics, and I was typing in the credit card number pretty quick. The closest shop to me is about an hour away, so I'm all about the shotgun web orders.

The box arrived, got opened, and dumped out all over the place- LOTS of cool stuff. The helmet bag was sweet, and nearly stayed with me. Also included was a spare visor, the nifty cold weather liner, and the breath deflector. Very well packaged and those goodies made it seem like a very adaptable helmet for Texas between our summer racing and winter series.

Problem was in the fit. If you're looking at one of these, go try it on first or make sure you have a backup plan if it doesn't fit well. For me, it sat up way too high on my head and left my jaw exposed. It also meant that those top vents were even higher up, which is no bueno for me. I'm already tall, on an open class bike, and you can see just how many limbs my head comes in contact with by taking a good look at my helmet. I probably would have lost at least that top vent pretty quick. For reference, my Troy Lee and Fly formula helmets fit like a glove.

Other than the fit to my head, it was pretty slick. I'd consider the usual riding you do and whether the vent clearance would be an issue. But as with everything, find somewhere you can go try it on and put your hands on it! There's no substitute for forming your own opinion on things like this. The Internet is full of opinions, junk, and a touch of decent info- but you'll learn more in five minutes of handling this helmet than you can reading for hours. Go check it out and go ride!

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!