It’s 5:30 and it’s quitin’ time at the Salt Mines. I’m taking tomorrow off to get rested and ready for Saturday’s ride across the Santa Ana Mountains.

Big thanks to the wrenches at Revo Cycles in Dana Point for putting my bike back in racing condition after its untimely wreck two weeks ago. (Hey my scabs are almost gone too.) I have a sixth sense for wrenches I can trust and those I should watch while they work (and I’m the worst wrench I know).  Mike and the guys at Revo are the kind you know are going to get it done right and without having to wonder why the hell this bolt or that skewer is loose.  

Tomorrow it’s clean and lube the bike, fill the BD1 (but first decide if I want backpack support on this race), fill the feedbag with a few goodies, throw the kit downstairs, load the bikes, check the equipment twice (Oakley Radar frames snapped in half and they aren’t willing to take them on exchange–guess which sunglasses I used to love that I won’t be buying any longer), double up on FRS and pretend to go to sleep until 4:30 Saturday morning.

Then it’s on!

Well. 3 weeks ago I was planning on being on the beach in Hawaii, but that “fell apart.” So now this week is all about hydrating, resting the legs and getting ready to spend them on a ride across the Santa Ana Mountain range. 40 miles and 8,000 feet of elevation gain. Should make for a fun day of suffering. Temperatures, currently projected to be about the mid-70s, should make for a pretty nice day in the saddle.

A little color from The Warrior’s Society:

The ride will begin from the end of Black Star Canyon Road at 7:00 AM. You will ride up Black Star Canyon Road to the
Main Divide Road and at this point you will traverse the Santa Ana Mountain range via the Main Divide Road hitting all
the peaks (including Modjeska and Santiago Peaks) until you intersect with the Trabuco Canyon Trail. You will then
descend down the Trabuco Canyon Trail to Trabuco Creek Road and out 4 miles to the finish line at Trabuco Canyon
Road. You must reach Aid Station 1 located at the intersection of Maple Springs Road and the Main Divide Road
(4 corners) by 11:00 a.m. to be allowed to finish the course. You must also reach the intersection of the Main Divide
and Lower Holy Jim by 12:30 p.m. to be allowed to finish the course. If you do not make the cutoff times and refuse
to return to the staging area you have violated the terms of your participation and the Warrior’s Society will no longer
responsible for your safety. Your emergency contact will be called and notified that they will be assuming all
responsibility your safety.

If I have to be here instead of HI, I’m up for the sufferfest. OK! Let’s do it! See you there.