Epic with a capital E

There aren't a lot of multi-stage off-road races. It's a brilliant idea, but the European tradition of six day classics just hasn't mated itself often to the off-road scene. It's unfortunate, as it looks like fun, but the logistics have got to be a nightmare (Could you just hike over that mountain and hand me my feedbag at around noon? Bring a wheelset just in case.)

However, organizers of the Cape Epic haven't let that bother them. Sadly, it's in South Africa, so unless there's a sponsor out there looking to send a blogger, it just ain't gonna happen for me anytime soon.

There's so much to scope out and plan for in the most basic race...mud, singletrack, rocks, roots, climbs, DHs...it would seem ludicrous to try to do one on a single speed. But then, single speeders are kind of ludicrous anyway.

So when these two cats found each other and formed a 'team' to run the Cape Epic on single speeds, well, let's just say, they were guaranteed a podium finish (415th overall). Sounds like fun, but then again, if I had a custom IF Ti ss off-road machine, I'd be happy to ride it for 61 hours myself.

Which got me thinking...hmmm, the 24 hours of 9 Mile is coming up, and while I don't have a race-worthy ss mountain bike, I do have a ss 'cross bike...ludicrous is as ludicrous does...

it's getting sloppy out there

This is what happens when you start to see alley cats crop up in places like St. Augustine, Florida: accidents, cops, tickets, and collisions.

Part of me wants to say "rock on."

However, more of me wants to say "this is grown folks business and you best handle your ride first."

For obvious reasons, my heart's just not into 'cat racing at the moment, but it's true, there's nothing like it, and I surely can't hold it against anyone for wanting to give it a go. But that's the kind of pack you stay out of.

Photos from the event. Whiskey and wheels, indeed.

Why post it? Well, there are lots of 'cats sprouting up everywhere, but I thought this one was worth mentioning if only because it's in a dinky little town with nary a courier in site (iirc, the site of the oldest jail in North America) and because two, yes TWO, of the competitors launched on or over the hoods of cars. A coincidence?

one guy you don't want checking you into the boards

Dhani Jones: Cincinnati Bengal, occasional rugby player, linebacker, special teams captain.

And, according to the Bengals' profile, Dhani will "continue to eschew a car in favor of the Fixie, his fixed-gear bicycle."

Word.

Matthew Manger-Lynch, 1978-2008

The Tour da Chicago is no more.

For the "official" rundown, read the Chicago Tribune version of events; please skip the hundreds of snarky comments. The local news, for lack of anything substantial to report, cobbled together a story from youtube clips. It was less than flattering.

There's so much more to the story, but this much needs to be said: Matt was out front. He was riding boldly and aggressively. He made a bad decision. He couldn't undo it in time. From what I hear, that sounds like him.

Matt's family are sportsmen (and women), adventurers, outdoorsmen, risk-takers, achievers...and they welcomed the other racers with open arms. We should all be so lucky to have a family like that, a family capable of celebrating a life so vigorously in the wake of such an event. Their response was uplifting and inspiring; some even urged the racers to continue the Tour. The idea was not well received.

Had things happened differently, Matt would probably be taking a long pull, without any complaints, at the front of the Stage Four right about now.