Sharp's Stick in the Eye

Necessary comments on unnecessary events

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Endurocross

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So Sunday I got invited to a guy's property where he built a short (6 mile) hare scramble, as well as a motocross track and an endurocross track.

I didn't particularly like the motocross track, the jumps were not bad, but they were quite scary. I'm used to sort of a two humped design, where if you fall short, you at least aren't guaranteed to case. However, these jumps were like one big hump, with the middle cut out, giving a nice edge to the landing spot that made missing short a very very bad idea. I missed short. My leg hurts, but it is working itself out.

The REAL good part about the property is the endurocross track... lots of tractor tires and logs. I was nervous at first, but by the end of the day I was LOVING it. So now I am a little obsessive over getting back and working on the track some more. I've been scouring YouTube for videos, to look for tips and give people an idea of what endurocross looks like.

These guys are sick...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wyAUcyPqKE

And this is what a race looks like
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Ov7O0eGSU

I'm nowhere near these guys' skill level, but they offer good tips if you watch them.

Also, I have to say that the new KTM really does help me. Notice that not everyone is on a KTM, and most of them that ARE don't have my model (EXC-fw), but the first gear in the wide range transmission really helps a beginner like me make it through obstacles.

I am going back tomorrow. I'll let you guys know how it goes, maybe I can get some video and pictures.

Bike weekend

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So i spent the weekend riding for my 4th of July. I've been working on my control using my legs to keep from burning out my upper body so much and i must say that i felt damned good after 16 hours of bike time. I think with newer riders like myself too much focus is put on the use of arms and back when riding. I worked on keeping my outside foot bearing my weight on corners where i needed hard bite and on the corners where i needed to drift more, keeping weight on my inside foot. This when combined with keeping my legs tight to the bike really freed up my upper body to roll with the whoops in the terrain. I'll see if i can implement this into my race this weekend in hiawassee Georgia. This place has a lot of fast paced sections where i can conserve energy this ways and still rip. More importantly, i think my experience with hill climbs should really give me a leg up. If even one drop of rain hits this place it turns into a real challenge that should trip up some of my fellow c class riders. But after the time i spent in west Virginia at the hatfield mccoy trails and some of the climb i have made in past rides, i think i won't have a problem like the first time i was there. Aka spending the entire race half way up hill #1 stuck like an idiot.

It also helps that i have all the confidence in the world in my new bike. It is a ktm exc-fw with the 6 speed transmission. First gear is great for getting out of tough spots, however the only real way to beat those stupid hills is to hit them at speed and hold the throttle.

on another note, my ufc 100 predictions, as promised.

i think lesnar has mir's number this time. I just don't see him falling for another leg lock, and his upper body strength and his agility will be too much for an arm submission. Without that i don't think anyone has a chance right now against that freak.

st. Pierre, i am not worried about him. His fights have gotten a little tedious with all the wrestling and gnp, but he is the best there is at it.

i really hope bonnar takes coleman down. Coleman is both old and an a-hole.

i am rooting for bisping over Henderson, simply because i am a rich Franklin fan despite the fact that he is such a Jesus freak.

and of course anyone who doesn't root for Jon fitch is unamerican.

now for the bad news, usually anyone i pick to win based on skill usually wins. Anyone i pick based on being a fan usually losses. So too bad for those guys.

last note: i am blogging from my trusty Sanyo scp 2700, a fine little device for simple people like me, and it let's me type pretty fast and i use it constantly for messaging, directions, internet, email, and pictures, but when typing on the net, it doesn't like to get capital letters right and i do NOT have time or patience to type longhand for this long, so sorry to all you grammar nazis out there. All 2 of you who read this.