ESSC08 European SingleSpeed Championships - Massa, Italy

This is a copy/paste from my 'real' blog over at http://wunnspeed.wordpress.com

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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75434221@N00/2523356215/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/2523356215_e41ba9b3a5_m.jpg" alt="The face of dissapointment" width="180" height="240" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75434221@N00/2524171550/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2524171550_df73ab304c_m.jpg" alt="Pinkle pause" width="240" height="180" /></a>

Which one is pissyer.....? Them or me?

So... a couple of weekends back I drove along with two others to Massa, Italy where the European SingleSpeed Championships were held.

All-in-all the photos probably tell the story better than I can. Suffice to say we drove a long way, 700 km's each way, got in a bit of a ride plus the race, got rained on, had some really good food, met some really, really cool people and had some really good times. The race is going to be in Dresden for the '09 version of the European SingleSpeed Championships. That'll make it a bit closer... I think.

I'm looking forward to hanging out with the whole <a title="Los Lobos Blog" href="http://loslobos06.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Los Lobos</a> crowd again somewhere down the road as they're some of the nicest, most welcoming people that I've ever had the pleasure to meet.

Oh... our buddy Isaac pulled off a 3rd place finish on a borrowed bike against a pair of pros. Not bad in my book. Unfortunately, for us, Isaac is heading back to New Mexico in a month. We'll miss him but you guys out west keep an eye out for this skinny speed-demon.
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Vox... one of the coolest, most laid-back dogs ever... Poor guy got attacked by another dog.. hence the bandage.

<img src="//localhost/Users/wunnspeed/Library/Application%20Support/ecto3/cache/11E51A78-5D72-4836-96C1-1C5CD9699769.jpeg" alt="" width="240" height="160" />

This crazy chef-dude below makes some of the best ribs that I've ever tasted. Yum!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75434221@N00/2524191996/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2331/2524191996_c0cfe37911_m.jpg" alt="Crazy cook dude." width="180" height="240" /></a>

Check out where the path leads... too much <a title="Ramazzotti" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramazzotti_%28liquor%29" target="_blank">Ramazzoti</a> boys? It'd never happen in good old Deutschland.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75434221@N00/2524600042/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2524600042_bdbf46ea26_m.jpg" alt="IMG_0943.JPG" width="240" height="180" /></a>

My buddy and teammate Ed... also from Missouri.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75434221@N00/2523318063/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3128/2523318063_fd28e627f8_m.jpg" alt="Ed... team mate and buddy also an ex-pat from Missouri" width="180" height="240" /></a>

The kind in the Grey French SS jersey is Isaac (aka The Fastest Boy on Wheels) and the guy in the metal jersey is Flo. A really nice guy from north of Munchen.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75434221@N00/2524155802/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2524155802_42cc58921e_m.jpg" alt="IMG_0995.JPG" width="240" height="180" /></a>

Gary never considered this marketing scheme.... Gay Fisher

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75434221@N00/2524168552/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2214/2524168552_39cf607ed9_m.jpg" alt="Gay Fisher" width="240" height="180" /></a>

The aftermath of the trip.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75434221@N00/2527349188/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2237/2527349188_ec44d34161_m.jpg" alt="The aftermath02" width="180" height="240" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/75434221@N00/2527347418/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2261/2527347418_68148d4ff1_m.jpg" alt="The aftermath01" width="240" height="180" /></a>

Looks as though they put me down as finishing 41st even though I'd call it a DNF. <span style="text-decoration: underline; color: #0000ee;"><a title="RESULTS HERE!" href="http://www.singlespeed-italy.com/html/leggi_News.asp?id=220" target="_blank">RESULTS HERE!</a></span>

<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>A few different places to find more info. and photos.</strong></span>

<a title="Orme.tv" href="http://www.orme.tv/photogallery/pro.html" target="_blank">Orme.tv SSEC link</a>

<a title="Orme.tv pics" href="http://www.orme.tv/portfolio/ssec/index2.html" target="_blank">Orme pics</a>

<a title="Stefano" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/13689476@N04/sets/72157605257228336/?page=3" target="_blank">Stefano's pics</a>

<a title="Singlestoph Photos" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/singlestoph/sets/72157605405914809/" target="_blank">Singlestoph Photos</a>

<a title="Flickr ESSC08 Pool" href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/essc08/pool/" target="_blank">Flickr ESSC08 Pool</a>

<a href="http://loslobos06.blogspot.com/2008/05/il-mucchio-selvaggio.html" target="_blank">Los Lobos Blog post on ESSC08</a>

So.... got my squeaking problems fixed today after putting Teflon tape on the bottom bracket threads and anti-seize on the outside of the EBB. Thanks to the folks at MTBR.com for helping me fix it.

My in-laws show up on Friday and then I'm doing the <a title="Teg Marathon" href="http://www.tegernsee.com/veranstaltungen/mountainbike-festival/ausschreibung.html" target="_blank">Tegernsee Marathon</a> on Sunday. The following Friday we're heading toward Rome for a week of vacation.