#32 just won't go away

Been busy being a dad since I have been home, nice to be back to my girls! My constitutional energy has been low all week and my body is still dealing with this crazy tooth garbage. Last year after BC it took a full week before I felt ok, this year it will take longer as I am still fighting this tooth thing and not able to recover, also had to dig into my reserves just to function during the race.

Was at the dentist again on Wed and looks like a little piece of bone seems to be punching through my gum which is causing the continued infection and pain. I am back on antibiotics and hopefully it will smooth over without having to have an incision, grinding, and stitches. Crazy that a tooth can cause so much havoc!

Also good to be back at work. Bike racing is a fairly selfish endevour and it feels good to be in the trenches treating patients. Also puts my little bum tooth in persepective when I am working with someone who has not walked in months due to a non-healing ulceration on an amputated limb.

So my bike racing will be put on hold for a bit while I get healthy. Looking forward to building up to some later season events, maybe Leadville, a stage race in Peru, Point to Point in September, Pisgah in October, will see...

Did you check out the video we made in BC?

day 6

Well I made it through day 6. Not that fast but I trudged along at one speed. Body still aches but I slept better last night. I have had to swollow some pride and ride pretty slow out there, I guess it builds character.
Talked with Eva on the phone this morning about started crying. I miss my girls, 2 weeks is along time and I am soft.
Happy 4th of July tomorrow, I will be ripping some knar trail in Whistler. Day 7 can't wait!

more BC

Having a tough go. Extracted wisdom tooth seems to be rearing up again. A couple nights with a fever. Yesterday was possibly the hardest day I have ever had on a bike, 4 hrs of agony. Every pedal stroke hurt, soft pedaling hurt, it took everything just to finish.

Today I sent Alex up with the leaders so he could get a workout why I drug along to the finish. I am going to finish but it won't be pretty. Singletrack today has to be some of the best in the world.

later

BC

Quick update...
Having a good time here in BC. Weather is good and the trails are great. More single track than last year. Been suffering on the climbs a bit but keep pushing on. I keep telling Alex he knows what it's like to race coed. Infected wisdom tooth has now cleared, eating solid food without trouble which is great. Still keeping it packed! Bike is working great, new 40T ring rules!
Yesterday was the full gamit of emotions as we got in a good rythmn only to get lost for 10 minutes. Got the vibe back later in the race. Attitude is everything here!

Early morning tomorrow (4:30) with 2 ferry transfers before race start! Not even half done yet and feeling the beat down, got to love it!
no time for pics

Seattle's Wed night Worlds

After finding a local dentist to help out with my dry socket and re-stock my packing supplies before heading to BC, I caught a ride with Russell Stevenson to the local Wednesday night MTB race at South Sea Tac.


twisty fast 1 track!

burgers after, thanks Russ (2nd at Test of Metal last weekend)

The Local MTB scene is thriving in every corner !

Emv blue and skillz practice

The wisdom tooth thing was a disaster, it's funny how a little tooth can cause such big problems. Anyway,it seems to be getting better just in time, only a few more days of antibiotics.

The monavie convention was a mad house over the weekend and with the team in town I barely had time to breath.

Highlights include:

-Green/purple--> blue/grey transformation

-Pyrotechnics

-Rosie's bbq food

-Eva playing mom to her new house guest Conrad (JB's 5 month old)

-All day photos shoot for a couple hours of photo's

-Fine tuning bike fit with Tom from Wobblenaught, that's a lengthy post itself.

-Hangin with the crew!

Now I am in Seattle for a work conference on the Amputee System of Care before making my way to BC this weekend for the stage race.

I checked out the Urban MTB park under the I-5 freeway this evening, you won't believe this thing...

BC prep

switchback practice!

Stan's testing?

Bike position tweaks are feeling pretty good and my teeter-totter skills are dialed!

#32 is gone

Emergency wisdom tooth extraction today capped of a fine week in the pain cave. I have never been so happy to go to the dentist. He could have charged me anything and I would have gladly paid. Surely the worst is behind me now, I just got to heal up the crater in my mouth.

After having monavie and yogurt for lunch I needed something a little heartier for dinner, Ice Cream did the trick!

Team's in town for the Monavie convention so hopefully my jaw heals up and I can shred some trails. Also watch for the new bikes and kits this weekend, looking good!