Creamed corn

It is safe for me to say that was not waiting outside a store at 4 this morning I was sleeping dreaming of endless single track and red rocks. With full bellies the family and I had a wonderful day of eating, Packer watching and beer drinking. Did some laundry room intervals with the CTS crew always funny when people that you raced against are on the DVD interval session. Maybe I can be fast like Fros someday. It kills me that we judge the wealth of the country on these people. This is supposed to help swing our bad economy people spend more money that they don't have on inflated credit cards so they get deeper in a hole. But the stores bottom line will look good and make some marketing guy look like a genius. Oh tis the season. To spend spend spend do your part as an American.

In Print

Anna said and now it begins as we open the new to find our young James in print. Launching in to the world of Mountain Bikes by getting his photo in one of the best magazines on the planet. His sister was jealous but I told her that her time would come. Temps have chill a bit here but the new Gate should do the trick.. Have fun eating

sun carving

Sometimes things don't go the way you plan. I was all ready to head to the cities when it happened could not make the trip. I was looking froward to racing, been a bit of a grump the last bit with no action. This has been a crazy fall with all that has been going on. Oh well PBR cures all. Out on the single cross sunday morning, I have been liking the bike because of its double duty. When it is 32 and sunny here you have to go and get some riding. Found some dirt to ride but with the morning dew and leaves the Red machine was the wrong weapon. I think that I was the only person out in the woods with out blaze orange doing my two wheeled John Cash impersonation. Home today with a sick boy need to be healthy for the up coming turkey day.

In the van in the morning off to the land of my child hood. First and last CX races of the season. What will it bring. More than anything going to support the Hollywood gang and to see the great folks from Twin Six . The Kid and DR Marchiando are going to do a 5k run race called the turkey trot. So it sound like a full day of racing for everyone. I am going to do the single race and dip into the 3's race . Work up an appetite and go get a Slipstream Burrito. The faster you go the faster you go !!

Get out the way

Simple concept right you yell out on your left and folks should move or stay to the right? Some understand better than others....

Racer types that are passing or being passed for the most part have this down some don't but that is for another day. Some blogs

have been devoted to this concept like the Cross Father and had lead to may arguments on bike paths around the country.

On a busy weekend in summit county you can tell your self horse telling all the weekend world champions that you are over taking them on the left side.

You can take the silent approach and not say

any thing this sometimes ends up with

the passed person

mad you did not tell them.

Lots of people on bikes here in the Big River Valley

but not all aware of what is going on so

pay attention and let them know you are

coming.

Sticky Buns

A good day riding in the woods today. The pace off the front made some drop to their knees or at least that is why we hope he was on his knees. Good group......riding in some nice weather and lots of leaves! It was a big week with a lot of miles, for this time of year. Still thinking that I may go and race the CX race in the twin cities this coming weekend. Long drive short race. When the ride is all done and said Clays some day wife to be Jen, had cinnabuns hot and fresh. MMMM.. I like riding my bike and when I can do it in the woods it makes things all the better. What will this week bring?

Sunglasses at Night

The new warm stuff

was worth it's weight this morning with

the balmy 24 on the ride in.

A few more tweaks and i should be dialed.

Looking forward to a weekend on the bike Sunday is going to be the warmest

so up to the dirt to spin up some leaves.

With a week left before my first and last cross race of the

season need to make sure that I am ready, might have the Kid yell and throw beer at me while I do some run ups in the park next to the house.

Need to work on my Nat Ross skills.

Need to get lit up >>>>borrowed a light last night for the ride home and

dam you can see a lot.

Just watch out for parked cars..!!

More to come

Congratulations to Human Powered Trails on a $10,000.00 award to help build trails. This is good news for the

Proving Grounds. More money to make more trails. More trails mean more fun , and more fun means less crazy people, at least on top of the bluff, it wont help the perma F'ed people downtown.

I think you'ed get your ass kicked>>>>

No case of the mondays here. Chilly start but a good start none the less. After a good day at the proving grounds rolling the single cross just felt right. It was D Boon who said the Wheel is an extension of the Foot. Well said D. New stuff added to the site a little greenery for our hands to get around. Check out the great stuff that Ergon has to offer. Miles this week as long as the cold dose not get to bad more to come. I need to get lit up it is getting dark early. I think that a new light might be coming my way. No more Living in Darkness .

Mybikelikesme

Their is nothing like a few hours on a bike to clear the head. Today was one of those days and everything just flowed together. The bike is riding the best that it has all year, helping me add to the total. The leaves are almost all down which makes things tricky but just getting one ready for snow that may come some day.For now as much as I can get,, kind of weird this time of the year to be on the bike so much I am used to being on sticks dropping knees and flying through white smoke.. Bikes are good. Smile!!

Sand in the ............................

Hike up your skirt and ride a bike.. Weather is going to take a turn this week so it could be now or never for some dirt riding. Motivation is not lost here.

Sub 30

Well it is now November and my hopes are to keep the outside riding going as long as I can. Chilly this morning but nothing that I have not felt before. People keep telling me that it gets really cold, yea I know that been there and done that,, just need to keep the inside fire burning.

My Frankenstein cross bike is felling more and more like it should just another

extension.

More warmth on the way.

pain cave

I hear this term thrown around all the time in the cycling world some times I just have to laugh. That is only because I have been there and the one that I love has and from time to time lives in a pain cave that few of us would understand. So we spent the morning at the doctors having more test done and another one of these things to see what is wrong. She is only 3 weeks post opp and what they think is that their might be an infection around the area that they reattached the colon together . Damm strong kid..So after running around and getting her comfortable I head out for what was to be a hour on the single cross. I ran in to an early edition of the tuesday night group ride. I am thinking this should cause pain knowing the direction they were going and cupped with the 20+ winds. One big hill was on tap and I thought it would hurt. pain was irrelevant I just went up 6 mins of standing and it was over. So more like a pain tunnel not a cave.

Crazy Crazy Crazy Day

What a day started off with the whole family together which is so nice. Right in to mowing the grass and off to go ride with the Girl. Stopping in to the shop to get her bike we find out about Donny. Good wishes go out to his family. On the trail Two Wheel Fun fun was on it, she was riding things that I didn't think that she could. Riding strong and fast, she said that she was riding for Donny since her bike was the last one he ever tuned. Crazy. The trails are sweet and the Wily rode so sweet. the grease job that was all Donny's idea and it was smooth so smooth. We are going to miss ya..

We Will Miss You!!!!!!

It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that Don Ames Passed away. He was an amazing man and one of the best bike mechanics I have ever met. He had a heart attack while hunting this morning only a few short hours after he and I tuned and cleaned up Sophia's Mountain Bike. He passed doing something that he loved. All of you out there that had a chance to meet him or ride on a set of wheels that he built up know he will be missed. Work wont be the same with out his humor and funny stories. We will miss you Donny Rest In Peace.

Against the Grain

Not only a great record but a fun way to ride the single track up at HPT. Some of the trails are directional and this time of year you can get away with coming at them a different way. It was a chilly start but the sun was out and the dirt was perfect. Nothing like spinning on dirt to make on smile. I opened up the king on my Wily and gave it some grease first time in 8 years not bad. So simple and so smooth. Anna has been home now for two days and she is getting back in to the swing. She made the boy costume tonight and james is ready for candy. I get to change the dressing on he wound, I never got to see it in it's glory it must have been huge,only getting better. Next Bikes family and FUN!!!

Nipplie

First real chili one of the year....Only 37 on the ride in it felt like going to work in Breck. Time to get some shoe covers. You do warm quck when you can't shift.....the toes just never feel it. BURRRR<<<

Parking lots are slippery

Some days it is the little things like getting out and riding on a bike. The weather has been tough lately so when the clouds stopped crying I headed out. I did a mix of county roads and dirt paths. With all that has been going on it was nice to be outside. Tomorrow will bring the symphony which should be different I am not one for sitting that long but you got to support the family. More miles to come race in Iowa in a week? Maverick and Wily on board for next year are you ready??

Eat warm Bread

I need to get some riding in. Things have been crazy, sometimes the pancakes are not cut right. Sun has come out and things will dry up. Slow days drag sideways. Sleep comes in and goes. Go and see mom healing fast. Stupid Pancakes.!! Nov 16 one month cross?

Good to Be OUT

That is the statement of the weekend!! Anna got let out on saturday and she is looking great and doing so well. She is at her parents house relaxing and and getting much needed rest. It is nice that she has people that care about her. I was able to escape and ride the trails for a lap and a bit.. the wood are alive with the tons of fury things getting ready for winter. The weather has turned to rain here a system that dumped snow in the high country, it is winter there the trails are now covered for them they will have to head west to the promise land of Furita. Stay warm and ride fast, and remember time spent on a bike is better than time behind a DESK!!!

Falling Down

A nice afternoon in the woods.. You can now see the forest through the trees. Thanks to my inlaws for all the help riding the single made the week feel a little more sane. A cold ride in to work and a stop at the hospital to see Anna. New Twin Six stuff on the way warm toes!!

I hate your Bike!

Things keep moving along for the

HPT here in Lacrosse. A new section of trail has almost be completed which will allow for more single track fun. With the weather turning more like fall I head back out into the woods to ride the trusty single.

What do you think? Should single speeds race in their own cat.. or should they race against the geared folk//It has been an on going topic here at the shop today. Just ride a bike and shut up!!!!!

One less biker..............................................in Breck

Watch out Big George and the rest of you NASCAR freaks, something new and fast is coming to town. Good luck and have fun you Cross Freak. Keep him in line Peggy.!

Green Light

Out with the bad and in with the good. Anna is recovering nicely and should be back to her old self. This photo is from wikipedia, to help show what was removed... Part if not all of the ilium, where the small and large come togother and 6 inches of the ascending colon. She looks good and happy knowing that this the start of something new.

Sticky

Looks like this forest Gnome needs a little help.

Now I am not bitching because it is warm and I can ride but 87 isn't that to much for October? The leaves really fell between friday night and today some places hard to see the single track. Rode the new section that they have been working on. I am so impressed with the work that the HTP crew have done. Well tomorrow is the day anna has not been able to eat all day and I need to have her at the hospital at 6:30 it should only take 2 hours. Fingers are all crossed all to go well.

A night at the Kingsbrey

I have not spent to much time riding in the dark but I got out tonight with a little help from some friends and their lights. Meet up with kings at the top of the bluff and we got down to work. It was easier than I expected and we had a blast. I felt like i could have kept going but need to be at the home. Correct me if I am wrong but beer is food right? Don't think that I am getting enough calories. Last race of the wors this weekend my bets are on the Creep. I am going to miss out but I have bigger things on my plate.. I am hungry must eat more..

515 in the house

Sweet looking bikes and nice landscapes, new to come and faster horizons. Now all the pieces need to fall in to place. Spread out and caffeinated. With nothing to be raced it is time to ride.

One gear and lots of beer

Notsoberfest What a concept. The best part of the day was going out and riding single speed mountain bikes. 7 guys all with one gear and most with big wheels. Good fun riding trails backwards and forwards made the trails seem new. With all the leaves that are on the ground also give it a bit of "stay on your toes",,,, leaves can make things tricky. After 30 miles and two hours on the bike I got to take a nap a get ready for the night to come. Anna and I headed off to Pickles party a keg of beer and brats can't go wrong. Hung out talked shit listened to EPO talk about his freezer. Anna had bigger plans she wanted to check out the Fest grounds and see what she was missing all these years. Ok to me the beer garden was not what I was thinking it would be, I was expecting large chested women handing out beer while umpa umpa music played. NOT>>>>>>>> It was one line for tickets and another for beer and loud bad music and a lot of drunk people.. It was almost enough crap to make someone not want to drink beer.....I said almost. So I can say that I have been there and done it and if I want a crazy party I'll get the kids hepped up on sugar and rock out to tunes while the old lady shot guns PBR'S.. I know i sound old and lame..

Friday

Just another day in my life rolling on the single cross sure makes getting from point A-B more fun ,just kind of different able to jump more than on the road bike. I guess the reflective tape works on the new jacket. Saw lot of wildlife while the punk was rocked. This is the weekend of the world famous not-sober-fest it is going to get crazy. Hose here is cooking up brats, at the shop kind of an employee party except I still was working. Last day of our cost plus ten deal on bikes.. Sold a few nice one's today. Getting out with the freaks from the shop for a ride in the woods. Should be fun then off to the drinking. Hose said he cooked the brats in High Life for two hours sound like a good bath. This last shot is the calm before the storm this is riverside, A place where drunk college kid try to swim the Mississippi. GOOD LUCK!!

TNWC

I have not gone on one of these Tuesday night World Chamipon group rides all summer so it was my chance last night. We went in to Minnesota and rode on some bike path that was effected by the floods of last month. The damm thing felt like the cobbles of northern France. Not knowing the riders style I was a bit weary of all the crap on the path and carbon wheels that wouldn't track right . We went up a good long climb up to the top of Nodine hill and across the ridge then dropped back to the Mississippi. It was fun, i still like going and riding the hills around here in Wisco better but going to another state to ride works. Now I would rather ride a bike with only one gear.

Sandy

photos @ rusty

Phat Lady

Well yesterday could have been it for 2007. First off all I would like to say Thanks to WILY , TWIN 6 , SUN RACE , MAVERICK and HOLLYWOOD . Not to forget my family that puts up with me leaving every weekend and anyone else that has helped and i may have missed. Yesterdays race could not have been better. Good group at the line and a loud GO. I followed the lead out of the guys who had call ups. Waited to see what was going to happen and made a move. At first we were all still together through the first few climbs, one more move and this one stuck. Now off the front it was all about getting more distance between me and the chasers. At the end of the day rolled 1st in the single and 4th over all not a bad day. It was a good season of racing and I am all ready looking froward to next year some new things on the horizon. Now it is time to get Anna healthy and get things back to normal here. Thanks all....

Out

I am a home body and don't do much epically at night. But last night the guys from the shop were getting togother at Knigs house so I had to go. J set me up with one of his lights to get home with so I was set. I swung in to the shop to switch bike and we were off. Friday nights in a college town can be scary all the frat boys have on to much clone and the girls are all whored up. Lucky I was just going to hang with a bunch of dirt bag bikers. The best part of the night for me was flying through town on the single cross at top speeds. the 44x17 never felt so good. Took the long way home and enjoyed to darkness. Quick day of work today and racing tomorrow. We are having a sale at work employee pricing on bikes, should make a busy day.. What would Gibby do?

Snake rattle and ski..................................

My Brothers new Roommate ........ they didn't along and did not last long... Not something that you want to wake up to...

Jive Turkey

The voices sometimes get to loud and it is hard to see straight but when it gets to be to much I go and climb. The hills offer the feedback to remind me why I am here. The days keep getting shorter and memories of riding and smelling the first snow are still strong. I miss the freaks the heckler and ball , coach , krash and all the other randoms that filled in the back ground of my silly cartoon of a life. Riding has been good I hope that I don't scare away the ones that offer the help. Another test this weekend and I want a better grade. soon the cold will be here and flying down hills at 49+mph wont happen. Tonight on county S I almost hit two 30 lb wild turkeys. That would have sucked and hurt bad... It would not have been good.. Sleep eat repeat. Some dirt on the WILY tomorrow that is a good drug.....

Heavy

With the the winds of change comes the weather of fall. Days getting shorter and daylight fading fast. Warmer clothes are coming to help regulate the temps. Miles still pilling up just smaller piles. At least one more this weekend hope the legs work and move. Another weekend and the Brothers have again ripped the legs off once again. After a keger at Anna's cousins body and brain is still tired. More miles to come longer saddle time just need to find the time. Sugary looms on the horizon. WHOOOOOO PARTY

DRIVEN

Check out the new stuff the the Folks at SUN RACE have comming out..

Who is your Grandaddy

I forgot about cold... This morning on the way in was by the coldest I have felt since leaving Breckenridge. The boy didn't want to dress warm so I closed the plastic cover on the Burley and he just sang songs the whole way to stay warm. It is time for some new clothes stuff to stay warm. Riding turns from lots of volume to getting the work done when I can. Anna is going in for her sugary first week of Oct so time to start planning that. At least I don't have to buy a ski pass.

Had a good climb up Grandadas don't know if it is faster just like doing it in the big ring.

Iola is a week and a half away no event for me this weekend. Other than Plow Cow's 40th party.

Stay warm.

photo from rusty @fatties and beer

Sunday Sunburst

The Sunburst was a good day on the bike and a lot of driving to get there. It took three hours each way to make it to the race,,,lots of football on the radio. Sorry Johnny The PACK is back.. Thanks to Wily The bike rode like a dream and climbed even better, I did fell like I could have run one more tooth. And the good folks at Rudy for helping me see and cover my head. And of course to Hollywood for giving me colors to fly. The race course was was set up with good climbs and fast swooping downs could not have asked for more. Now the question is to do the next one in Iola or not. Well have to see things are going to get crazy as we get closer to Anna's surgery. I like riding my bike it is good old fashion fun. Good job to all the vapor trail 125 finishers can't say that it sounds like fun. Photo from Rusty @ fatties and beer

Passion

Totally in love with his bike James fell a sleep on the way to the HPT race.

He did great I think that the trikster would have been better than his onespeed with training wheels. he had a blast and got a medal and a water bottle. Sophia did a 3.5 mile run with her aunt laura did the whole thing in one hour. Me I had my first flat of the year on dirt I was flying and I think that I just pinched because I was trying to run lower pressure. I opted to not change the flat because of the skerters they were eating people alive. Good night with pig and good beer . great to see all the folks having fun in the dirt trails. Wors to come long drive but I hear it is a great race.

Jerry is big in france

After a day on the MTB and a full day in the pool I am a little toasted. The ride on the bluff yesterday was great. I took out the new nanoraptors and really like the way they rode, smooth and fast. Good in the pool fun to watch james swim like a freak. Te family and I went up to Trempealeau for some frisbee throwing and food neat little city could have some smoking single track if the effort was there. Pig eating tonight and TT at the HPT should be a hoot then School tomorrow so no more kids needing something to do. USA swept the SSWC Craig is on fire.