1st degree MURDER!!!

Ok, I just had to call it that. Check back soon since I am yet to collect all the photos from this race and a full report is yet to be written. One thing I can say is, this was the best day of my life.

Hup! Hup! Hup!

I would have gone faster, but I think my number was acting as an air brake.

I love this picture because it depicts two polar opposite states of heart rates. I'm turning myself inside out and the lady in the chair is passed out. Greg Pizarek is seen nipping at my heels.

I'm a model, you know what I mean?

Of all the things I am, a model I am not. However, I volunteered myself to show off one of the latest pieces available from DeathRow Velo cycling wear at one of my races this weekend.

http://rutgers.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3775033&id=57346057572#/photo.php?pid=3775033&id=57346057572

Happy Birthday to me!

I was a little undecided as to what to name this post. A few good titles came to mind, i.e. "Gettin' my kicks!" since my race number today was "66", "2nd degree MURDER!!!" which you will see the relevance of as you read on, but sounded a little too menacing, and the one I chose since yesterday was my birthday and I gave myself the best present ever.

I turned 29 yesterday, my last year as a "twenty-something" before I hit that milestone that suggests to some that they are no longer young. I'm not really worried about that. It was however my best birthday thus far for many reasons. The birthday wishes began the night before and continued all through the day with a few unexpected surprises. My day started with a ride with my boss on the cross bikes before heading in to work. It was as perfect of a November day as a birthday boy could have asked for. The woods were literally golden with the early morning sun shining at a low angle through the last of the leaves still on the trees boasting their most vibrant shades of yellow. Once at work, while receiving a birthday phone call, suddenly the lights switched off and a chorus of voices rang out to the tune of "Happy Birthday" and a candle-lit ice cream cake hovered through the darkness in my direction. I was as blown away by the kindness of my coworkers as the candle was after the making of my birthday wish. Later that night, I headed over to my Mom's house for pizza and, yes, more cake! Looking back, it seems that a diet of cake, pizza, beer, and cake is just what the doctor ordered for the day before a race.

I'm not really 31.

Everyone was in the birthday spirit!

Today was the First Annual Horseshoe Scramble cyclocross race hosted by High Gear Cyclery in nearby Warren, NJ. A special surprise was the attendance of my sponsor DeathRow Velo's creator, John Landino, whom until today was more of a pen pal than a team manager. I arrived early enough to chat it up with him and get a good warmup and a pre-ride of the course, which I was very familiar with since I helped create it and turned plenty of laps in the weeks leading up to today's race. I pre-registered for it over a month in advance, but still found myself lining up worse than mid-pack during the call-ups. For once, my mind was clear at the start and from the whistle, I just went to work picking people off. The course was very fast and didn't offer any areas where riders could take a rest from the intense pace. By the time the pack entered the first technical section, I had worked my way into the top ten.

Now, fully aware that I was near the front, I knew I had to keep the pedal down to make my passes stick. The cheers from my friends were all I needed to slay people as I overtook them over the barriers, around corners, and even on fast straight sections. I was hauling ass and my body showed no signs of letting up. As I passed the start/finish area (not sure of what lap it was) I heard the song "Panama" by Van Halen (for those of you who don't know, it's the song played in the movie "Superbad" when the cop is doing donuts in the police car) playing over the PA and it fueled yet another attack on the riders ahead of me. When the race ended, John was quick to point out that he thought I came in 1st. I didn't believe him, since I was sure there were riders ahead of me and figured myself to be no better than top 5. I went to see the officials and asked who came in first and they gave only a number (not mine) and not a name. I asked where #66 placed and they said 2nd. WHAT?!? I was so shocked, all I was able to say was, "I'm 66!!" with a huge beaming grin. I couldn't believe it! I felt I was killing it out there, but 2nd? I murdered them in the FACE!

It was really the best present I could give myself, a podium finish. Also, what better way is there to make a good first impression to your sponsor than to get on the podium? I also found out later that the leader and I did an extra lap because we were so effing fast, we were among the lapped riders as we came through the start/finish area. Unsure if the race was over, but given the impression by the cheering crowd, I raised the front wheel in true Nick fashion as I crossed the finish line. I know I say this all the time, but I really mean it when I say that THIS was the best day of my life!

Wheeee!!!

My winningsesseses.

Along the D&R

ABC and I went for a recovery ride this afternoon along the D&R towpath. Having left so late in the day, I was sure of two things: I was going to witness the sunset and it would be dark by the time I got back. The autumn sky is capable of some pretty amazing things. The air smelled of winter and a growing season's worth of detritus had covered the trail almost completely. The only sounds were of an incessant crinkling of leaves beneath my tires interspersed with the high-frequency buzzing of one getting captured in my brakes.

Aside from the awesome sky, a highlight of the ride was on a portion of the trail where the canal and river are right beside each other, with only the towpath to separate them. It was nearly too dark to see, but I noticed a four-legged creature on the trail. I initially thought it was a dog, but did not see it's owner anywhere and as I got closer I realized it was much too large to be a dog. It was a huge buck and when he noticed me, he began to run. Only he had nowhere to go since the river bank was on one side and the canal's on the other, so he ran straight down the towpath with huge leaps and bounds. I immediately gave chase, following that flashing white tail with everything I had. As soon as he had some room to get off the trail, he slipped into the trees and vanished.

Halloween critical mass ride

This Friday was the monthly Marty's/Morristown critical mass bike ride, but since it was the day before Halloween, all the participants were invited to wear their costumes. I dressed as a hipster, which was pretty easy and a good excuse to wear really tight pants. I don't dress like a hipster, but when I put together the right combination of clothing articles from my usual rotation, I was able to create a convincing ensemble. I added some knuckle tattoos for good measure.

I can hear you

This past sunday was the Westwood Velo Cyclocross event at Campgaw Mountain, which, for me, was the race that almost didn't happen. I had gotten a little mixed up to say the least regarding my race schedule. I thought I had pre-registered for this race, but in actuality it was for a race two weeks later and what happened was basically I found myself at the right place at the wrong time. When I approached the registration tent and answered the attendant's question of "What category?" he then pointed to the race currently underway and said, "There they go." My heart sank under the weight of the realization of my error. Since there was no other race that day that I could "legally" participate in, I settled into my role as a spectator and cheered for my friends. It looked like a really fun course that only got better as the day went on and I was seriously bummed that I couldn't ride it.

About an hour before the Cat 2/3 race, my friend Jdog rolled up and asked why I wasn't racing. I explained what happened and how I couldn't race with the B-men. When he asked, "Why not?" I really didn't have a good answer. He said he was going to, so why couldn't I? Good point. He marched me over to the registration tent to not ask, but tell the guy I was going to race as a Cat 2/3, even though my license permits me to only race Cat 4. I needed $30 for the day-of race fee and I didn't have it. Thank you, Art for spotting me and yes I DID get your money's worth! I learned later that it's allowed to race up, but not down. In either case, the guy said if I podium they wouldn't be able to count my points. I said if I'm in 3rd at the end of the race, I'll hit the brakes before the finish line. We laughed and he handed me my number.

I was super excited and I ran all the way to my van, passing Laura in the parking lot waving my number over my head yelling, "I'm going to race!" A quick change into my Superman uniform and a short warmup later, I was lined up at the back of the pack just in time for the 30 second warning. Moments later we were off! My friend describes 'cross racing as having nowhere on the course to win, but only places where you can lose. I'm reminded of motorcycle racing in the respect that the riders are pushing their tireless machines to the absolute edge from the start of the race to the bitter end, and only when an opponent makes an error does he get overtaken. Cross racing is as close to motorcycle racing as I've ever experienced. When I raced XC, the field was so spread out that oftentimes I would ride entire laps without seeing another racer. With cross, the course is much tighter and no sooner do you overtake someone, you can immediately set your sights on the next guy. Whoever can push their bikes harder into the corners, use their brakes less, accelerate faster, and negotiate the barriers better will find themselves moving up through the field.

The first two laps, the pack was still bunched up and passing was a little tricky. Once things spread out a bit more, I was able to take the best lines and carry more speed through the corners allowing me to close gaps on the guys in front of me. My favorite thing about cross racing is how involved the spectators are and how awesome it is to hear them cheering your name. My friends were littered throughout the course and were cheering for me each time I went by. With every time I heard my name, I got a surge of energy that carried me until I passed my next cheering fan. I had a mantra going through my head as I rode faster and faster and passed more riders; "I can hear you. I can hear you." I thought as their voices fueled each attack. It's one of the best feelings in the world. Thank you. "Thank you."

Overtaking a rider on the staircase.

The best place to be cheered for, at the top of the hillclimb of pain!

I can hear you.

Recovery day

Since the one spill I took on Sunday left my knee a bit tender and unwilling to bend, I decided to exercise the joint and went for a summit hike on Mt. Tammany. This was certainly one of those spiritual hikes that are great for clearing one's head. I was in the woods alone all day. There are no words to go with these images. Only thoughts. Okay, maybe some words. Enjoy.

Halfway up. In the crack.

A slab-tastic discovery! This thing is HUGE!

Note to self: Bring climbing shoes next time.

They weren't even afraid.

Mt. Minsi

I lowered myself onto this little outcropping with a sheer drop before me. I was actually shitting. I hope my mom doesn't see this.

The swimmin' hole. Gotta come back next summer.

An entire hillside of ferns.

This is no rolling stone.

This reminded me of that scene from Into The Wild when he's on the PCT.

The rainbow tree.

Where I was (above).

A stage of life complete and a whole new chance to grow and learn.

I almost step on bugs. Then I take their picture.