Greenbrier

Outside the window of our table @ Dennys in Hagerstown we watched this happy little duck waddle around the parking lot before nestling down in the dew covered grass just beside the entrance, as if to lay claim to its territory. It made me think about my race that would start @ 3:30 that day, would I be waddling around the course looking all happy? laying claim to the territory? Probably not but never the less we finished breakfast and headed in the direction of Greenbrier State Park.
Today's race held the fate of my riders dreams. It would be a qualifier for an invite to something in the way of a National race. Also the UCI (pros that ride for a living) riders gather points from races like these for Olympic qualifiers. So the field of riders would be many and would be strong. Above is a picture of me & Jerry Bliton who was back on the bike for the first time in weeks (since some back surgery) and tooling around the course showing his support to all. Thanks Jerry as always it was great seeing you and thanks for all the encouragement! Chris & Jeremiah after a good but unsatisfying finish. Both guys are great athletes and very normal people. I spoke with both of them in length while hanging out at the Trek Tent with Stephen Hoover (Trek Regional East Team) who included me as a member for the weekend.
Michelle, Gunnar, Chris Eatough & his wife with their new baby, Congrats to them!

Heres two more well known faces... Gunnar & Betsy (bunny) Shogren.

Michelle entering her second lap for a victory in the 30/39 Female Sport group! Great job Champ!



Ok So Michelle kicked some butt @ 10:30 which leaves me to race @ 3:30. By this time of the day I'm thinking of driving home and calling it a weekend, but that isn't how you do things. No even when you're feeling like doing something else duty calls and you're lined up at the Start. I was riding the new Ferrous for its first race and was a bit concerned about how it would handle and perform with the fast, rocky course. Nothing to worry about the starting whistle blew and off the 28 singlespeeders go! Several of the guys in my group are really strong riders and one of them I have raced several times. Most of those times I came out the victor but today's stars where not aliened in my favor. Shortly into the course two riders went around me and hung out in front But within my view for the first 2 laps before pulling away on the 3rd. I did somehow manage to hang on to my 3rd place position for the Bronze. It turned out to be a very tough day for me but there's a long season ahead with many more fast competitors to square off with.



We hung around for the awards with Gunnar, Betsy, Mike & Erin Yozell, Amy Breyla & CB before packin it in and turning toward the west..


stork

Across the Desert

Happy Birthday to my brother!

Chad lives in CA and was married just several months ago so he returned here to PA in march to visit family and introduce his wife Lora. Since we wouldn't be seeing him at the exact time of his birthday we had cake a few weeks early.

Enjoy your Birthday day there in Bakersfield and take a bike ride little bro.

love

stork

Beginning of the Next Story Chapter 2

Just to clarify a few things.. and to be historically correct

Mr. Jerry Bliton 71 years young

Married to wife Kathryn 50 years

Started racing in his 50's around 1989/90 @ Hidden Valley PA

1992 started norba racing

Several top 3 finishes in the 65+ class

2003 Worlds 3rd place Masters

Kathryn had a 1999 1st place AMBC Nationals Female Finish

She continues to ride and supports Jerry and all of us whenever she's around.

Hum! Whats this? Jerry passing along his love for cycling! One of his Grandkids (Kiernan) bikes hanging with the grown-ups. Makes you wonder if the elder are telling Jr. of their travels and adventures? Note: the race numbers hanging on the wall, yea they're Jerry's.

stork

The End of This Story & The Beginning of all the Others

OK have you figured out who this guy is? Alright, alright.. for those of you outside the bike world, and for those inside it who wouldn't take the time to talk to anyone over the age of 25 that doesn't look like Lance Armstrong, I'll tell you! This is none other than Jerry Bliton. So what you ask? Well you just want to start something don't you?

2001 Norba National @ Snowshoe Mountain West Virgina. A skinny 30 something guy shows up to a house full of strangers to share the expenses of the weekend. Shortly after arriving he is introduced to an older gentleman and his wife. Hand shakes are exchanged, as all good men do and it was at that moment the skinny guys life became a little better. Better you say? yea better because I was the skinny guy who had the honor of meeting Jerry & Kathyrn Bliton and I will tell you what made my life better.Jerry started telling those that had just arrived about the Norba course. He explained it in such detail that I would have guessed that he had actually helped lay the course out. Those of you that attended this particular weekend will remember just how muddy the new course had gotten because of the relentless rain the area was getting. Jerry sat around the table in the Chalet that evening telling of the climbs, turns and descents as all of us quietly sat like children listening to a bedtime story. I wondered for a moment, who is this Jerry, really? A man more than twice my age yet he fit the group of young people better than myself.

Later in conversation Jerry told us of something he keeps in mind during a race and I'll tell you but it may not be exact so here goes "tenths turn into seconds which add up to minutes" It may not seem like much to let a tenth or a second go during a race but when its over you'll see the results of those in minutes and minutes are the difference between winning and losing in mountain biking. Very true and I've never forgot this very sound advice from my now good friend Jerry.

Fast forward a few years and I'll tell you how Jerry invited us over to his house to see his training area and photos of the magnificent bike trips that he and his wife Kathyrn have taken. Afterwards he saddled up on his bike and rode a few miles with our small group. Or let me tell you how Jerry has driven all the way down to Seven Springs (more than once) to stop by our 24 hour camp offering support mentally and physically. Then quietly slipped away only to return with food from the nearby town. Oh I won't kid myself and make believe that he had only come to see us but the way he talked and treated us when in our camp made you feel like no one else matter to him.
To this Day I have the up most respect for Jerry and I cherish the the surprise moments when he shows up at the shop when I'm there or when you see him before a race only to watch him stick around for hours afterwards just to clap while you receive your award.
Exactly how old is Jerry, you ask? 25, 31, 43, 56, 61? Nope, he's 71. In my eyes Jerry is as young as he feels and I would hang out with him any day over allot of other people. He has Kids & grandkids yet he can talk bikes and racing with the best of you. He's sponsored by Kenda Tires and is also inMonth of Mud Hall of Fame http://www.gorocket.net/ , so look for him out on the trails and do yourself a favor... stop and introduce yourself. You would be lucky to have him as a friend.

So this story may End but someday you may meet Jerry and create new ones for you to tell. Until then I'll start writing the next chapter and I'm sure Jerry will show up somewhere within it.

stork