Read between the lines

Sunshie Iceholes

Today is going to be an easy day with rain in the

forecast.  I have been getting after it the past seven

days. One last big test not saying that I am training but going to be ready to take on the Sith.

Not sure that people take me seriously but at least I can put forth a good showing.

I chased down a car the other morning ,,,almost to work and some lady 

almost smoked me at the intersection of State and 4th St. Went up to her window and 

asked her why she thought it was ok to almost hit a cyclist,,,she was stunned and said she did not see me.

I think it is hard to pay attention when you are on your phone listing to the news

and putting on eye liner.

Days are short nights are getting longer people everywhere are going cross crazy,

here in the armpit of Wisco it is just time to ride and enjoy the fall.

Watch out for bimbo's they aren't watching for you.

Load em Up

Took a day off the bike last week,,it was more of a travel day 

but was still off the bike.

Since I have been getting after it enjoying the last 

throws of summer and trying to get

my self ready for the last big test.

I am tired and hungry so I think that the 

work is doing what it should.

May go out into the dark woods tomorrow

to switch it up. The MTB bike

has been making me smile new seat has the taint happy.

The rumor is that the King Jewels are to be moving on Wednesday.

Shread the Dog

The Laddies Loppet two days and three stages of racing up at Jay Richards super cool northern MN XC ski and bike resort.

Saturday was going to be a TT and short track.

The TT came about 10ish in the AM and I was ready, cool and damp so the times were coming in a bit slower than the ones from last year. I had given the course a test lap and thought that I had it down. At race pace it was another story.. Coming of the ski trail in to the single at speed was a bit of trick. Came across the line a few ticks over eleven minutes. Little mad at my self for not being faster but it going to be a long weekend. 

The short track was not till 5:30 so time to hang out and ride bikes. I wanted to see the xc race course. Went out for a spin with Hwood and Smoking Joe. The single track that they have cut by hand is amazing. Tight twisty and needing to be on it at all times.

Short track time,,,, I knew that this may be a fight to stay on. With the Road Races and cyclocross experts lining up holding on to the pain train was going to be hard. 18 minutes +2 laps. I lasted about 10 minutes before getting pulled. My 34x18 was no match for the speed up front. by the end 1/2 of the field was pulled.

Sunday brought the XC race, and an onslaught of people to the resort. Today was going to be more my speed. 

Up front trying to hang on the ski trail again the pace was flying. Got into the single track and needed to start making up some time. The trails took a lot of brain power to stay moving and stay up right. I had one lack of attention an was over the bars and on the ground.

Got the bike up and was moving not missing a beat.

Two more laps pushing through the pain. Came across 14th over all 3rd in age… one race left and the overall is still in sight.

If you have not been you need to get up to Maplelag and enjoy all that the Richards have to offer…. Party on and ride with Pride

Maplelag

I spent my labor day weekend in a small slice of Heaven.

The Maplelag Resort in Callaway MN.

Owned by the Richards family, the resort is a XC Ski mecca confrence

center and venue for the Minnesota Mountain Bike Series.

It was my first time to Maplelag (pronounced LOG)

and I was very well taken care. 

They put on a real good show, and the homestyle

meals are superb. If you are looking for something new

or have been before this is a place that is not to be missed.

Bottomless Cookie Jars and Coffee 24/7

Some of the cabins old train cars

The infamous lake jump in the setting sun

The entrance to the lodge Welcoming the Races

Maplelag — A destination cross country ski resort: overnight accommodations, American Plan, home cooked meals served family style, 64 km of Pisten Bully groomed trails.

Few More

Getting the work done when and where I can.

Been an interesting week with shorter days

and the kids back at school.

Yesterday was a wet ride to work with a nice mid day and then wet on the way home.

Getting all my stuff ready for the Loppet this weekend, could not 

be there if was not the kindness of a few good people.

I feel some what guilty for going and leaving the family behind

but it sounds as if they will go to their happy place.

Their will be a chill in the air this weekend so the 

cold weather gear will come out to play. 

It is September not much racing left weekend will be for exploring on the backs of

two wheels.

Eye AgaInst Eye

Worked the shop on saturday so not much

in the way of riding just a commute to the shop and for what it is worth

the legs were happy.

Got to ride dirt with Deyoe on sunday

thirty miles of single speed fun under hot october sky's.

Trying to keep my self in race 

mode if all things work I can be up in Maplelag.

Songs are playing in my head and the wheels are moving.

I have a new project bike in my closet.. Matt T from Durango 

sent me his old Titus Drop U and I am going to turn it in to the next single speed road machine.

Few parts needed my have some old Ultergra hubs built up.

Waiting to see what is going to be in the magic box from King.

Keep my PMA in Check.

Lay it down in Fullview

Start of the weekend and I have eaten all the food in the fridge.

A good week of putting my legs into the 

hurt zone. Good bits of climbing and 

a mid week dirt ride.

My goals are set just not sure if i can meet them.

I am tired of working and not getting anywhere.

Everyone else gets to take my money but me.

I have few outlets in life and racing my MTB 

is by far the biggest. I don't ask for much, just a chance a few days a month in the 

summer to line up and for two hours see how much punishment my body and mind can

take. When I am off the bike and take the same punishment it is not 

so great.

I could not do the racing if it was not for the support of my family and all the 

good sponsors that I have picked up over the years.

It is a symbiotic relationship, with out the racing they would have

little to no interest in me and with out them I could not continue to compete at the level that i do.

I seem to be going through a midsummer midlife crises.

The wheels spin and my brain stays quite get off the bike and the voices speak to me.

When do i get mine,,, am I doomed to fix broken household appliances for ever?

The wheels are calling....if you see me out and about and I am smiling,

their must me a bike underneath!

Dirty Humpday

Chose to take the Spot out this morning and

ride dirt to work.

Great idea just required me to have my stuff together

so I could be out the door by 6:30.

Bike was good still a bit dirty and needs to be stripped down and deep cleaned

from the weekend.

Trails were perfect fast and tacky and the small block's

ripped through every turn.

I never have as much time to ride on the trails 

work always gets in the way.

I like the trails in the early AM because the sun shine lights up 

areas that  you may not always see.

Have the weekend off from racing do have to 

work at the shop but no travel or racing.

Should be able to ride some bikes and get the work done that 

needs to get done as the end of the season approaches.

Would like to stand on top again and think that 

if I try real hard that I may be able to do so.

Work Work Work.

Now I need sleep the belly is full Hump day is over

and I am tired.

Big ass Lake

Loaded up the family truckster and head up to the land of Dylan and Big Water.

Always kills me how fast the drive is from here in Lacrosse.

Anna and the double decker

Got to Duluth to find the camp site was water logged. After an hour of trying was able to make fire, and smoes were eaten.

Race day was a clear and sunny with cool temps.

Sent Sophia off on her race, up the fire road and she was gone.

I did not see her as she came in after I had finished.

She lead the whole race till the end got beat by a local gal they both fought hard.

It was a good race for the kid one race closer to the cat1 upgrade.

The Boy did two laps on the kids race and still needs to work

on shifting he had fun and gave a big fist pump as he crossed the line.

On the line for me looking up the the ski trail wondering what this was going to feel like.

As we charged no one wanted to take the lead out till Doug S hit it hard. The ski trail

hurt me it was soft and the guys with shifters were flying.

In to the single now I could sit in and start to move.

First lap made some moves and by lap two was chasing down two local guys in front of me.

After one of the big mud puddles starting the third lap I was able to get around 

the two that I was chasing.

Now I just worked on staying in front and being smooth.

Through the muddy run section for the last time got back on cyclocross 

style and pushed through the last bit of the lap.

The finish was ski trail again with mud puddles and some sketchy sections.

Finished in the park in under two hours and seventh overall.

Happy with the work. Good race only a few left.

Thanks to all for the help keeping me moving this season.

Mud Mask

Nearing the end lots of Mud

 

Photo Jay Richards

Riding the Family

We have a new convert to the holly land of one track minds.

Boy moving through the single track, rode all the upper single today pushing only when the trees got in the way.

Riding bikes on a sunny day many miles and

smiles from ear to ear.

Redemption test this coming weekend.

Momma looking good in her new T6 Gear.

Monday is almost here and 

I am not running out of beer.

Go ride a bike.

Little wheels rolling

Slow day at the bike shop and the sun was shining.

Hpt was putting on a trail fest,

group rides and a BBQ.

I loaded up the car with bikes and took the kids on up. 

The James was all about riding some single track and that is what 

he did. He was all over the pump track and 

flying on the single. The first time that he tried this spring

to ride some of the mellow sections of trails he had to walk a bunch if not all.

Last night he was spinning and grinning, riding all but the down trees and logs.

Then it was time for some PbR's and Brats. I headed out for a quick 1/2 lap with some the 

boys beer in hand.

Towards the end of the lap we came across Pip and The James out on the single again,

having a blast.

Good fun and great to see the  kids both of them enjoying the 

two wheels and the single track.

Bottled Time

Never seems to be enough time 

to do the things that you want to do.

Some call it teeter totter and others call it juggling. 

It is hard to find time to ride between work family and the crap weather.

But when it is found I take full advantage and love the

ride.

It may be hell in a bucket but 

I am still rolling along.

Sharp edges

Roll out of bed 5AM

Espresso and out the door 5:15

Dark and a bit of fog.

Start moving fog gets worse brush 

by a runner going wrong way in bike lane.

Glasses on helmet looking pro hard to see. 

Meet the group and head out. 

Now thicker fog and spinning out at almost 30mph...Gear not stiff enough. 

Up over regroup and up again,, gear is stiff now.

Up top clear blue skies and large orange ball of sun.

Back down into the fog bars wet and hard to hold on to .....Train!!!

Glad I got out more rain to come,,, 

want to ride dirt. Cooking pork and 

that is good !!

Grow to be a

In the mind of a child

Another long week in the 

books...the recall on dishwashers has been kicking

my ass a bit and now I think that my

old man back is paying the price.

Great race last weekend followed by the fastest time

at the local dirt TT. I 

was building and getting ready for a suffer fest 

today. I had to convince my self that I wanted to

race and I was there going for it.

But last minute the young racer girl pull the plug, not sure why

but in her mind something went snap.

Hind sight probably a good thing had 

heavy rain last night and going to stupid hot today.

Next one is not till the 21st so more time to build and get ready.

The only crappy thing is the weekend is done and I did not ride my mountain bike..That

SUCKS!

Working on the weekend

Buck Hill 

Photo Dana

Focus

Elk River Race ,,,, Photo from Dana she does great work..

Sometime to return

Buck Hill cue the Music one more time..

Short drive and good heat..

Sophia was off the front and killing it to 

bring home a win. Good job kid after a DNF last time out. 

Now for me this is only the 2nd time racing bikes at Buck..

The locals race here every Thursday and I am sure that some of them can race it with their eyes closed. The start is at the bottom of the hill in a sandbox up to a wood chip pile then to the single track. I took the grass line to the wood chips and got to the single in a good spot. 

Now pushing it to stay towards the sharp end. Did so for a bit but the recovery for the first

lap was a tough. Recovered and tried to hang with the Heath group but he gave one hell of 

Jay Richards Skinny Ski

a acceleration and put a gap in. By lap 4 I had been Caught by young Richards and jake Begley. They came through and I held on. Lap traffic was bad and passing became an issue again just like last year.

At time the congestion caused gaps to grow and shrink. 

Coming through on the last of six laps young Jake Richards caught a flat which was a shame cuz he was flying. I came through in 11th overall which was not a total let down. I need to find the switch to flip so I can go faster,,, I can feel it I know it is there just need to make it happen.

Huge Thanks go out to Ethan @ Maverick for keeping my fork up and running and 

the awesome support from Northwave and Magura/Uvex. When the bike is 

running well I have nothing to worry about.

And thanks to Nuun for hydrating me on a hot hot day. 

A the ones that put the clothes on my back TWIN SIX and Hollywood, as it is said 

Party ON!! 

Next the Boarder Battle? Not sure have to see on that one..