Back to the Big Show

It's been a while since my last trip to a "big" race.... It was good to see some old friends, go to a new place, and get in some fast racing....

I'm sure by now everyone knows the results....29th on Sat and 30th on Sun. Nothing spectacular, but not bad starting from the smoking section. Here are a few sweet photos that my mom and dad took during Sundays race.

A Run Up

Chasing Tonkin up the Green Monster

Race Notables: I was close to Best of the Rest both days. I moved up 30 positions on Sunday. Most Aggresive rider was awarded to Canadian X Doper Chris Sheppard who moved up 15 positions. Fellow Wisco racer Bjorn Selander moved up 47 spots to finish in the top 20 and 4th in the U-23 categoory. Tristan passed up Doug in the ranks and gained the title of the Prairie Schooner. He was also referrenced as the KOM....but I'm not so sure about that one???

Racing is hard work so we had to balance the weekend by having some fun...and LOU-VULL is a great place to do just that...



Home of the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory


































Home of Cassius Clay

































Home of the Churchill Downs Museum & the Kentucky Derby





















Then I saw "IT"....and the rest of the weekend I was thinking about this...

Thanks to all the sponsors, props to Jason from Crank Brothers who was out there ripping it up and had a great ride on Sunday, Thanks to BOB from Planet Bike, and Mom & Dad for driving 4 hours to watch the race.

Ya'll come back now.

BLOWN OUT - oLD SkOoL

CYCLOCROSS: I looked it up in the dictionary and it said, "The Art of Dealing w/ Being Blown Out"

The picture above hurt. The 4 days after the race hurt. I am still hurting today and I'm going to Kentucky tomorrow.

Fortunately I have lots of practice being blown out.

Warp back to 1997 Haystack Campground Mt. Snow Vermont World Cup

Friday Night: 11:00PM

World Famouse Nude Crit......lots of people showing up to the campground....confusion....

Nude Crit is Saturday night???

1000's of people (remember this is 97 Mtbing was cool then)

We need to party anyway right?

We build a fire in the parking lot....build a ramp....lots of beer....next thing you know we are on the local radio station....police show up for crowd control.....

Then this happens at about midnight...





















Ramp looks pretty safe doesn't it....

Jon "Tons of Fun" Mesko was the first to go big.....

I took his advice when thinking about KY....

This was what we looked like after the WORLD CUP the next day...





















Can you say blown out? Nap time....

Needless to say we did it again the Sat. night at the real Nude Crit, pictures might be to inappropriate to post....sorry.

What's Next?

Belt Buckle's for prizes.....what's next cut off blue jean shorts, wife beater, mesh hat, flannel jacket, maybe some camo or blaze orange?....gotta love Wisco!



The Gibbs Lake Showdown went down on Sunday. It was funny because at the WORS banquet Jesse and I were both hoping for a little more competition at the race on Sunday. Cole House and Eric Marcotte showed up and then we both wished it could have been a little more low key....I was blown out from Saturdays race and then the drive to the banquet. It's hard work being famous.

Did you know Jesse is also a world renown Yoga Master?






























The course at Gibbs Lake was a little more hard packed and had a few more corners than the Trash race. I wanted to have a good start and not go so fast through the barriers. Cole took the wholeshot prime and a half lap later I could tell he didn't have it. Kyle Jacobson then took a flyer and I let the gap go hoping Cole would close it....I put in the first big effort to drop Cole and the rest of the field and only Jesse could hold my wheel. A lap later Kyle was gone and it was down to Jesse and I. I did my fair share of work and was starting to feel the pain. With 2 to go I let Jesse go by....Jesse said he was spent...but he still went pretty hard. On the last lap I attacked up the climb and only got a small gap....it was closed on the descent. Around the last few corners I punched it and thought I had the race won....then ding ding ding...last lap bell???? WTF??? I was maxed and didn't want to go around again, but I couldn't stop...I looked back to see what Jesse thought and he kept pedaling...I had a gap a so I put my head down grit my teeth and put it down for another 7 minutes...ouch....but got the victory!





I caught a ride back to Sheboygan with Chris Zugel. Thanks Chris. I was dropped off at the In-Laws just in time for dinner...I love when that happens. Andrea and Rosco were there and brought me the rest of the way home. It was almost the perfect weekend...then the Steelers lost on a last second field goal and the Indians squandered a 3-1 series lead. Oh well...at least I got the double.

Thanks to all the sponsors and special thanks to Elicia who cooked up some good food and gave me a place to sleep in Madison. Also busted out a 6th place in the PRO 123 women on SAT and 4th in the PRO 123 women Sunday.





What I learned this weekend: Racing is really fun. Cyclocross double headers with lack of sleep are really painful. Car pooling can save you a ton of gas and $...especially if at the end of the weekend you don't have a car and you have to ride your bike everywhere. Hanging out with family and friends is the best....even if they are a little strange!

WHITE TRASH

The Mullets are rockin' all weekend long. It started off with the TRASH DASH in Whitewater. Bumpy course with a few short run-ups. A loamy slow mo cross race that couldn't leave me feeling really fast with KY on the horizon. I think our avg speed for the cross race was about 12 mph. Racing through soggy fields that weren't soggy enough to be muddy, just grab the back tire and slow you down. I took the lead on the last lap and punched it out of each corner to take the victory.



















After the race it was to Madison and then hooked of with Jesse Marko Amanda and Meghan for the WORS banquet. We showed up about 1:30 late. Missed all the food and had to order burgers from bar across the way. Saw the SOX blast a Grand Slam against the Indians...bummer. A few catergories later we were on the podium for a quick photo shoot, signed a few autographs, got a few props and call outs for the Mullet's and then a late night drive back to Mad Town w/ lots of "Deep Conversations."


I just rode to a coffe shop in Madison on the bike path and I'm doing a blog update on a WIRELESS Network on Elicia's new laptop. Life in the big city...Stuff like this doesn't happen in Sheboygan. Next up is Janesville Cross race...time to go back and load up the car. More pictures and stories from the weekend coming soon.

CULTURE SHOCK

The morning commute on the XO2....cruising through Evergreen park...reliving the WORS race....thinking about USGP in Kentucky....listening to the IPOD.....Genre: Bluegrass.......The sign from above......BAND: SOUTH AUSTIN JUG BAND......Album: SOUTH AUSTIN JUG BAND......Song: THE BALLAD OF EDDIE MULLET.....


For all you Mullet Lovers and Haters...you have to listen to this song. I can't figure out how to link it up to the blog....so go download it now.























Wondering what's going to happen with Iceman being 2nd weekend in NOV. It's been a strong tradition for the ICEMAN to be held 1st Saturday in NOV. My first Iceman was 1993. I think it took me 1/2 year to finish and I was really cold by the end. I have only missed two runnings of the 3rd triple crown since 93. I can remember 4 or 5 that were true to the name.

Here are some photos from Iceman 95....can't find results but think I was 1st Jr. Expert and 11th Overall

But before that happens the real questions is.....2 $40 entry fees, 2 hotel rooms, Gas $, and a $90 UCI license to go to Kentucky. What do you think? That's a lot of $$

Back In The Saddle Again

Just got back from a 3 hour jaunt with Tristan....Riding in the rain and fog w. cow crap all over the roads....It was almost like I was Belgium gearing up for a cross season! ALMOST

The Eagle River vacation was pretty awesome. Really low key...I went 4 for 4 in daily naps.. 2 Hikes and 2 MTB Rides. One 1 hour road ride on the 9.9 w. 700c wheels. Listened to the Packers the entire drive home...makes the 4 hour drive a little less painful. It was frickin' cold in the mornings up there and the fall leaves are all on the ground.

Not sure what the plans are this weekend with 2 cross races and a WORS banquet. Better get back to work...I have a little catching up to do...

Vacation Time

Tomorrow morning I will be packing up the Hyundai and heading to Eagle River for some relaxation, some Mtn Biking, and then more relaxation! Hopefully there will still be some fall colors although I hear snow flurries are in the forecast. After the race the legs have been in extreme pain from cramping.. I was able to commute to work Tues and today in the rain, but that's it as far as riding goes. This morning I slapped the Switchblade onto the 9.9 to start Iceman preparations. Then I loaded it up with lights and fenders so I can't tell how light it is until race day! I have been working on the Halloween costume, but might not get the key ingredient in time which really bums me out....back up plans in the works.

More stuff for SALE check it out. Also trying to get rid of a couple other things....Anybody need a THULE roof rack. I have the gift certificate from Chequamegon...fits any car and comes with One Thule Peloton tray and locks. Or you can go for a hitch mount rack any model. Anyone out there interested in a super light weight Fuel 9.9!

Like A Box Of Chocolates

But the shackles wouldn't break free.....

It was like I was Forest Gump when he was a little kid with the leg braces and they were yelling "Run Forest Run"

Really it was Rob Boldt and Crazy Karl yelling, "Bend your leg, bend your leg" I couldn't do it....It might have looked painful, but the pain was secondary...I just wanted my legs to bend so I could get back on my bike and pedal to the finish...

If you check out the map player you can see I was stuck on the top of the Equalizer for about 40 seconds while paralyzed from the waist down. I had to walk up the hill with my heels digging into the earth, every muscle in my legs completely tweaked out...I fell over when my leg wouldn't bend and somebody picked me up....

I finally clipped in, but only with my left foot and had to pedal with one leg all the way across the top of the quarry...right leg finally started working on the slick rock....but it was too late....Doug smelled the WIN...

Check out the GPS below and if you play the map at slow speed you can almost see the W vanish on the last climb...

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/player/view.mb?episodePk.pkValue=4154970

How it all played out.....

Awesome dinner Saturday night with Andrea's sister visiting from NY cooking up a mean Lasagna.

Rolled out the front door at 1:00....15 minutes over to the course from home....to the start line.

Go

Not the greatest start, maybe 8th into the woods....passed a guy....passed Chris P. Tristan leads the group of 5....wait Cole House is of the front....I didn't even know it...

Lap 2....catch Cole, I take the lead, ride hard through the technical sections and start to drop Mike Phillips

Lap 3....Jesse takes over and starts to put the hurt on Tristan....Jesse flats through the river crossing....Doug attacks up the climb after the log jump....going fast Cole takes over after the river....Up the Stairway Climb....Gap opens Cole and I are away....

Lap 4 Riding smooth....opening the gap lapped traffic starts to come into play....out of water.....

Lap 5 Jesse saves the day with a cold BKB bottle...I attack Cole...gap go....maybe a win....Cramping bad up the Stairway....equalized

...you never know what you are going to get...

Every race is different, every race will throw out some different scenarios, luck plays a factor, bad luck is a bummer, you learn from every race you do.....I have been 2nd too many times this year....Doug took a wrong turn at O2S, Simonson crashed out of Cheq, Tristan couldn't race all summer, Jesse flatted, Marko crashed into the river....I love racing mountain bikes!

Andrea finished 10th in the Elite Womens field. She didn't have the best race in the world.

Thanks to all the race volunteers, new race promoter, WORS, PCW, Trek, Hyundai, Crank Bros, Oakley, Rusty

SHEBOYGAN

http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/player/4120178

Here is the new WORS course.......check it out....stupid cloud! If you click Large & Hybrid you can get right in there...

Yep, It's ON! Sheboygan WORS is here again..

In past years I have been racing for the Overall Victory, Jesse has that Title wrapped up so it will be nice to focus on just the one race. The weather could play a factor. I felt good last time I went hard and the cross race....























Hopefully I'm well rested now....it took a little adjusting cornering on the MTB after racing the Cross bike. A commute into work Friday and a warm up Saturday and then it's show time!

OUCH!

Feeling some pain after the weekends double effort. Andrea, Rosco, and I started bright and early Saturday morning and were on our way to the Southern Kettles. It was an awesome sunrise over the lake with low lying clouds that appeared to be a fresh blanket of snow...I tried to capture the scene, but the camera didn't do justice.

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2 hours later we arrived in the I have never done the Fall Color Festival before or pedaled the trails so the start was a bit confusing when they said something like red loop, half blue loop, connector, blue loop, blue loop. I thought maybe I'll just follow because I don't want to end up taking the Ice Age all the way back to Greenbush. The trail were good. Doug was on a mission and I followed in a group of 5 riders. I was caught behind a few guys in the beginning and finally made my way around them...I was going way to fast for not knowing the trail whatsoever and went down pretty hard around a left hander. It hurt so I followed Scott KJ for a while until the pain subsided and his bike stopped working. Eventually bridged a followed the train of 5 the remainder of the race...Tristan took off on the last blue lap and I chased to no avail. Then I thought for sure I took a wrong turn....I coulnd't see anybody, the guys behind me still didn't catch after I had slowed to HR 120...I flipped it to find out a minute later that I was on the right track, did another 180 and finished it off at a leisurely pace in 4th place.

Andrea took the victory in the Womens 30 miler...she was really pumped and has been killing it lately on the MTB.

We stayed the night in Madison on Saturday with Elicia. It was really low key, Andrea was blown out in a major way after the race, so we walked down the street to the Blue Star Diner had a burger and fries and went to bed. I slept horrible having to share a futon with Rosco...not cool with a snoring Boston Terrier.

Sunday:

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee, Breakfast Coffee, then it was off to WCA Cyclocross #1. Elicia busted out her first CX race and finished 2nd in the womens 3-4 race. I didn't get to talk with her after the race, but I heard rumors of AVG HR of 182 and lots of suffering. Favre thows a record breaking TD and then its off to the start line on the new XO2. Set up with 58C frame, Tubeless Hutchinson Tires, Dura Ace Crankset 38 - 46 and cassette 12-27, XTR V Brakes w/ Travel Agent, Bontrager X Lite Carbon Bar, and of course Crank Bros Egg Beaters

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The new bike cornered like a champ and the mud clearance is huge....fortunately no mud this time around.

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The race started fast with Kyle J taking the wholeshot and I filed in behind him....the first lap was fast and my mouth was dry...Tristan took over on Lap 2 and it was like he turned on the movie Spaceballs and jumped to Ludicrous speed. I whacked my shin on the barrier amateur style...it hurt bad.

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The gap opened to the rest of the field...I took over on Lap 3, but towards the end it wasn't fast enought for Tristan and he drilled it again...my mouth was really dry...I took a quick swig...pulled through and saw 5 laps to go...Tristan and I worked together but the gap was closing....Jesse and Marko pounding on the Single Speeds were quickly closing the gap....Tristan was pulling and I saw the victory flash before my eyes....Tristan was slowing I was feeling good, just before the gap was closed I made my move and the perfect timing allowed my to solo in for the victory. I could keep my eyes on the chasing trio. I played it cautiously around the last couple corners and the last barrier section. The gap was about 3 seconds at the end, but enough. It was a good win before the WORS finale to boost the confidence.

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The drive home was painless, I had some great CHILI (recipe to follow soon) and almost finished the current book I am reading....Edgar Rice Burroughs - The Beasts of TARZAN #3 while in the recliner with Ice on my shin.