One month ago I was discovering new trails in the Tortolita Mountains! The 'WILD MUSTANG' was an instant favorite!
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Monday, April 21, 2014
Training & The Southwest!
Does it count as training when you have a huge smile on your face the whole time? When your riding with these guys it does...
I'm so glad I decided to make the trip to Prescott a week early and get in a good day on the race course with Tom, Trav, and Chloe. Last year during the race I really struggled with a longer race than normal and not being familiar with the course whatsoever was a killer. I think its going to be a huge advantage this year.
We had a blast ripping the descents on the Whiskey 50 course and I feel it was critical to preview the one hour long 2000ft+ vertical climb in the middle of the race. I'm much more confident now heading into the week.
The ride capped off another big week of training which makes 3 solid weeks of quality volume leading up to the race. Now its time to rest up and soak in all this good training. I'll go out again on Wed and ride the 25 mile course which does not include the Skull Valley climb, but will allow me to dial in all the technical lines. Other than that its going to be full rest mode.
In a few minutes I'm going to be headed out for an easy spin with an old school buddy! Skyler Reeves....yep its been a long time. After our ride yesterday Sky invited us over to Prescott Station, a really nice restaurant in town, where he works with some amazing food. If you are in town this weekend for the Whiskey stop by and say hi. Its been about 9 years since I've seen Skyler and must be another 3-5 since we've ridden together! Can't wait.
Driving across the Navajo Nation Reservation on my way back to AZ I had a ton of time to think about the good times we used to have...whether is was in the Saab or in the Dodge Caravan we covered some ground!
The only other time I had been to Durango was back in 97. We rallied Sky's Saab on some dirt roads, went cliff jumping, and on the way back managed to catch some air over a cow grate and came down with a flat after dropping our buddy G - Heitman in the 15 passenger van. G rolled by a few minutes later threw a banana peel at us and laughed as we struggled to get the car on the jack on a powdery dirt road. In the end the lid to a Tupperware container gave us enough stability to get the car up and change the flat. Later that night we almost got arrested for playing a little frisby in the buff up at Ft. Lewis on the soccer fields. Finally it was race day...the Cow Chip classic and Derek managed to uphill endo into a scorpion on the pre-ride....so many good times from back in the day!
The plans for the next adventure are coming together....Sedona and Moab on our way home from the Whiskey! Can't wait....but first the race!
I'm so glad I decided to make the trip to Prescott a week early and get in a good day on the race course with Tom, Trav, and Chloe. Last year during the race I really struggled with a longer race than normal and not being familiar with the course whatsoever was a killer. I think its going to be a huge advantage this year.
We had a blast ripping the descents on the Whiskey 50 course and I feel it was critical to preview the one hour long 2000ft+ vertical climb in the middle of the race. I'm much more confident now heading into the week.
The ride capped off another big week of training which makes 3 solid weeks of quality volume leading up to the race. Now its time to rest up and soak in all this good training. I'll go out again on Wed and ride the 25 mile course which does not include the Skull Valley climb, but will allow me to dial in all the technical lines. Other than that its going to be full rest mode.
In a few minutes I'm going to be headed out for an easy spin with an old school buddy! Skyler Reeves....yep its been a long time. After our ride yesterday Sky invited us over to Prescott Station, a really nice restaurant in town, where he works with some amazing food. If you are in town this weekend for the Whiskey stop by and say hi. Its been about 9 years since I've seen Skyler and must be another 3-5 since we've ridden together! Can't wait.
Driving across the Navajo Nation Reservation on my way back to AZ I had a ton of time to think about the good times we used to have...whether is was in the Saab or in the Dodge Caravan we covered some ground!
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| Some beautiful scenery thru the Reservation |
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| Love the Southwest |
The only other time I had been to Durango was back in 97. We rallied Sky's Saab on some dirt roads, went cliff jumping, and on the way back managed to catch some air over a cow grate and came down with a flat after dropping our buddy G - Heitman in the 15 passenger van. G rolled by a few minutes later threw a banana peel at us and laughed as we struggled to get the car on the jack on a powdery dirt road. In the end the lid to a Tupperware container gave us enough stability to get the car up and change the flat. Later that night we almost got arrested for playing a little frisby in the buff up at Ft. Lewis on the soccer fields. Finally it was race day...the Cow Chip classic and Derek managed to uphill endo into a scorpion on the pre-ride....so many good times from back in the day!
The plans for the next adventure are coming together....Sedona and Moab on our way home from the Whiskey! Can't wait....but first the race!
Monday, April 14, 2014
AZ 2 CO
Well its been a while...guess that means I've been busy with Momentum Endurance coaching, training, moving, and building bikes! Being busy is a good thing!
Its definitely game time for the 2014 race season. My first race, the Whiskey 50, is two weeks away, and the first WORS race is the following weekend! All the Momentum Endurance athletes are in full swing with their training and so am I!
We packed up and left AZ about 10 days ago. So far Durango is awesome and the training is going great! I did however get in a few good jam sessions in AZ w/ Tom Sampson before making the trip to CO.
Shriver has been a great host and tour guide for the huge network of trails in Durango! Thanks man...I've hit so many fun new trails on the Remedy and now on the new Superfly FS! However I have been slaving away. Painting, carrying King Size memory foam mattress' up two flights of steps, and even fixing laundry room appliances....I think I'm paying my rent in labor for the month!
Had to fix the dryer with some Pro Gold EPX Cycle Grease!
My new Rock Shox equipment arrived last week and I was able to finish the build of the Superfly! Two days ago I took 'er out for the first shred sesh! WOW...it can go! I'm always blown away at how good a 29er FS can descend after being on a trail bike. In my head I think I can and should be able to rip so much faster on the trail bike with the dropper seat post, but then I get on my race bike and its just as fast or faster and I love it....
The jump to the bigger wheels size was much easier this year after riding the 27.5 Remedy all winter in Tucson. I'm a huge fan of the trail bike and think everybody should get one! They are so good for you skills, your visual confidence on the trails, and they take a beating that keeps your race bike in tip top shape.
No time wasted in finding some mud, some river crossings, and using all 100mm's of buttery smooth travel!
Training at altitude is definitely a little different and way easy to overstep the boundaries of fatigue. I've definitely learned that you need to back it down a notch or two sleeping at 6,000+ft and training up at 8,000+ft. I just finished up a 20+ hour training week and today resting and cleaning bikes! One more big week of training on tap and then the Whiskey 50! Can't wait for the first big race of the year! Thanks for reading!
Its definitely game time for the 2014 race season. My first race, the Whiskey 50, is two weeks away, and the first WORS race is the following weekend! All the Momentum Endurance athletes are in full swing with their training and so am I!
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| Gila Monster on our last ride! |
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| Great Horned Owl nest spotted on drive to Durango! |
Shriver has been a great host and tour guide for the huge network of trails in Durango! Thanks man...I've hit so many fun new trails on the Remedy and now on the new Superfly FS! However I have been slaving away. Painting, carrying King Size memory foam mattress' up two flights of steps, and even fixing laundry room appliances....I think I'm paying my rent in labor for the month!
 |
| Pro Gold - 1 Dryer - 0 |
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| Colorado Trail |
Had to fix the dryer with some Pro Gold EPX Cycle Grease!
My new Rock Shox equipment arrived last week and I was able to finish the build of the Superfly! Two days ago I took 'er out for the first shred sesh! WOW...it can go! I'm always blown away at how good a 29er FS can descend after being on a trail bike. In my head I think I can and should be able to rip so much faster on the trail bike with the dropper seat post, but then I get on my race bike and its just as fast or faster and I love it....
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| Rock Shox front and rear! |
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| Shimano XTR all around! |
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| Bontrager cockpit w/ 720mm wide bar! |
The jump to the bigger wheels size was much easier this year after riding the 27.5 Remedy all winter in Tucson. I'm a huge fan of the trail bike and think everybody should get one! They are so good for you skills, your visual confidence on the trails, and they take a beating that keeps your race bike in tip top shape.
No time wasted in finding some mud, some river crossings, and using all 100mm's of buttery smooth travel!
Training at altitude is definitely a little different and way easy to overstep the boundaries of fatigue. I've definitely learned that you need to back it down a notch or two sleeping at 6,000+ft and training up at 8,000+ft. I just finished up a 20+ hour training week and today resting and cleaning bikes! One more big week of training on tap and then the Whiskey 50! Can't wait for the first big race of the year! Thanks for reading!
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| I wonder if the baby Road Runners have left the nest yet? |
Monday, March 10, 2014
The Hustle
Another last minute decision to head up to Phoenix turned out to be a great weekend.
Lots of riding, lots of coaching, and lots of work on the upcoming race season. Cooper Dendel was in town and we did some serious shredding...both on the road and on the trails. Last Sunday was really big with a successful Tour De Cure followed by a Bugs shuttle run in the afternoon! The dirt was amazing up there....
After Cooper left I was pretty smashed and had to go for a massage....it was one of those massages that was pretty serious and almost left you more worked over than before you started....which probably meant my body really needed it....
Friday I headed out for another good Bug Springs run w/ Jake and Kenny from NoTubes. My legs felt horrible after the massage...at least for the first hour. Or maybe it was just pedaling the Remedy up the mtn for 5,000+ ft.
The race was just really an excuse to skip town and hang in PHX with good friends, but as soon as the race number goes on things change. This time I raced Andrea's Remedy which is a solid 2 lbs lighter than mine. Its really is crazy how much 2lbs makes a difference in accelerations and on the steeper climbs.
The race started and pretty quickly it was whittled down to 4 guys, but I had a feeling it was going to be another tactical battle with Trav. He crushed me on the climbs...just enough that I couldn't get around him for the descents. This went on for the first 2 long laps...he even gapped me a few times, but I made sure to sit on him on the last climb of the lap into a headwind and jump him before the final descent before heading to the 2 tech laps. I had just enough of a gap to push on and extend my lead on the first tech lap. As the race approached its final lap I started to fatigue. Trav put 30 seconds into me on the last lap, but I had a large enough gap to hang onto the first victory of the year! Andrea proceeded to match me and won her race as well!
I was pretty smashed after and we didn't party Saturday night, but was feeling good enough for another sweet ride w/ Tim Racette and his fiancé Evelyn on Sunday. We did just about everything in the Maricopa County Park system including the race course at McDowell which I hadn't done in a long time. Finished 'er up with some Senor Taco. Perfect way to end the weekend.
Next up: New race equipment for the 2014 season! Bye Bye Remedy hello Superfly. Can't wait!
Lots of riding, lots of coaching, and lots of work on the upcoming race season. Cooper Dendel was in town and we did some serious shredding...both on the road and on the trails. Last Sunday was really big with a successful Tour De Cure followed by a Bugs shuttle run in the afternoon! The dirt was amazing up there....
 |
| Bugs Hike a Bike w/ Cooper |
After Cooper left I was pretty smashed and had to go for a massage....it was one of those massages that was pretty serious and almost left you more worked over than before you started....which probably meant my body really needed it....
Friday I headed out for another good Bug Springs run w/ Jake and Kenny from NoTubes. My legs felt horrible after the massage...at least for the first hour. Or maybe it was just pedaling the Remedy up the mtn for 5,000+ ft.
 |
| I was just making sure the bike was ready! |
The race started and pretty quickly it was whittled down to 4 guys, but I had a feeling it was going to be another tactical battle with Trav. He crushed me on the climbs...just enough that I couldn't get around him for the descents. This went on for the first 2 long laps...he even gapped me a few times, but I made sure to sit on him on the last climb of the lap into a headwind and jump him before the final descent before heading to the 2 tech laps. I had just enough of a gap to push on and extend my lead on the first tech lap. As the race approached its final lap I started to fatigue. Trav put 30 seconds into me on the last lap, but I had a large enough gap to hang onto the first victory of the year! Andrea proceeded to match me and won her race as well!
I was pretty smashed after and we didn't party Saturday night, but was feeling good enough for another sweet ride w/ Tim Racette and his fiancé Evelyn on Sunday. We did just about everything in the Maricopa County Park system including the race course at McDowell which I hadn't done in a long time. Finished 'er up with some Senor Taco. Perfect way to end the weekend.
Next up: New race equipment for the 2014 season! Bye Bye Remedy hello Superfly. Can't wait!
Monday, February 24, 2014
Tour de Cure
Hey Everybody,
I'm officially kicking off my 2014 season at the Tucson Tour De Cure. If you can help out and make a donation the ADA and 26 million people living with Diabetes would really appreciate it...
Donate Here
Its a 100k ride and just about the perfect way to start my training for the Whiskey 50!
I've also been getting in some good training at building Trek trail bikes and bleeding Rock Shox Reverb dropper posts!
I can build an entire bike in 5 minutes!
I'm officially kicking off my 2014 season at the Tucson Tour De Cure. If you can help out and make a donation the ADA and 26 million people living with Diabetes would really appreciate it...
Donate Here
Its a 100k ride and just about the perfect way to start my training for the Whiskey 50!
I've also been getting in some good training at building Trek trail bikes and bleeding Rock Shox Reverb dropper posts!
I can build an entire bike in 5 minutes!
Thursday, February 13, 2014
White Tanks Whirlwind & Wolftooth
Last weekend we decided to skip town and head up north to Phoenix. We had a blast! I was up in the air about racing, but I wanted to go to the venue and at least do a lap on the course and hang out with Trav, Chloe, and the AZ Devo crew. It doesn't hurt either that the burrito truck at the MBAA races is top notch!
So Friday evening we headed up to Brad P's house. He grew up in the same neighborhood as me in Pinckney and moved out to Phoenix in 94 or 95. I still remember going out to visit him to do Cactus Cup way back then...
When we arrived Andrea was unsure if she was going to race, so I made the commitment. I had a hard time justifying going to the race if neither one of us was going to twisty tie on a number!
So once again I found myself on a start line of an MBAA race w/ a trail bike. That's right I raced XC on my Remedy 9. Luckily the courses out here are a little more tech than the courses back home. I was able to suffer through the climbs (Remedy pedals pretty good) and use the 140mm of travel and Rock Shox Reverb dropper post to my advantage on the descents. Of course after the dust settled I was locked in with Travis Woodruff my buddy and Momentum Endurance coaching colleague. Ben Sonntag of Durango and Bryson Perry of SLC were long gone. Trav would try to drop me on each climb and I would try to recover on each descent. With 1.5 to go I tried attacking the descent and got a gap, but Trav closed on the pedaling section. It was a heated battle that came down to the last corner. I tried to stay patient. I was riding the corners a little better(maybe it was the 2.35 knobbies) than Trav and when he started to slide I went. It was just enough grip to get the last spot on the podium!
That evening I was pretty smashed and vegged on the couch and watched all the Olympics that I could handle.
The next day we woke up early and hit up some amazing trails in Gold Canyon, AZ before driving back to Tucson. The drive home was interrupted by a huge biker rally organized by the Hells Angles who were riding to the prison in Florence. There must have been 1000+ bikes....it was huge!
I have also been doing some testing for Wolftooth Components since I have been out here. Midwest proud! Lets just say I am really impressed. I was pretty happy to be running the light set up while Trav was crushing me on the climbs in the race last weekend!
I was able to remove my front shifter, f. der, inner & outer chainring, cables, housing, and frame fittings and replace with a WT 34 narrow/wide chainring.
So far the set up has been flawless and I have done everything from racing XC to 4 hour trails rides, to gnarly 2 + hour descents...not a single dropped chain.
All you need is a Shimano R. Der. with a locking clutch and you can do it....I actually ran this setup on my Superfly for Iceman this year.
The exciting part is the new GC(Giant Cog). Its a replacement cog to convert your Shimano cassette to an 11-42. You simply remove the 17t cassette and spacer and install the 42 GC on the inside of the cassette.
Out here in AZ with all the steep mtn climbs its been really nice to have the range. I've been riding the Wolftooth 34 in the front and with the GC in the rear I've been able to climb everything that's climbable and never run out of gears on a descent. The shifting to the 42 both up and down is flawless!
The production models will be available soon and improvements have been made(not sure how you can improve perfect though!)
This weekend I'm hoping to make it up to the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo and have some fun ripping more trails! WooHooo - Thanks for reading. Next up - Training in Tucson w/ the Czech's!
So Friday evening we headed up to Brad P's house. He grew up in the same neighborhood as me in Pinckney and moved out to Phoenix in 94 or 95. I still remember going out to visit him to do Cactus Cup way back then...
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| Had to rock the Bontrager skinsuit! Aero to make up for the heavy bike! |
So once again I found myself on a start line of an MBAA race w/ a trail bike. That's right I raced XC on my Remedy 9. Luckily the courses out here are a little more tech than the courses back home. I was able to suffer through the climbs (Remedy pedals pretty good) and use the 140mm of travel and Rock Shox Reverb dropper post to my advantage on the descents. Of course after the dust settled I was locked in with Travis Woodruff my buddy and Momentum Endurance coaching colleague. Ben Sonntag of Durango and Bryson Perry of SLC were long gone. Trav would try to drop me on each climb and I would try to recover on each descent. With 1.5 to go I tried attacking the descent and got a gap, but Trav closed on the pedaling section. It was a heated battle that came down to the last corner. I tried to stay patient. I was riding the corners a little better(maybe it was the 2.35 knobbies) than Trav and when he started to slide I went. It was just enough grip to get the last spot on the podium!
First race of the year!
That evening I was pretty smashed and vegged on the couch and watched all the Olympics that I could handle.
 |
| Supersition Mtns in the background. |
I have also been doing some testing for Wolftooth Components since I have been out here. Midwest proud! Lets just say I am really impressed. I was pretty happy to be running the light set up while Trav was crushing me on the climbs in the race last weekend!
I was able to remove my front shifter, f. der, inner & outer chainring, cables, housing, and frame fittings and replace with a WT 34 narrow/wide chainring.
 |
| Clean look and light weight. |
So far the set up has been flawless and I have done everything from racing XC to 4 hour trails rides, to gnarly 2 + hour descents...not a single dropped chain.
All you need is a Shimano R. Der. with a locking clutch and you can do it....I actually ran this setup on my Superfly for Iceman this year.
The exciting part is the new GC(Giant Cog). Its a replacement cog to convert your Shimano cassette to an 11-42. You simply remove the 17t cassette and spacer and install the 42 GC on the inside of the cassette.
The production models will be available soon and improvements have been made(not sure how you can improve perfect though!)
This weekend I'm hoping to make it up to the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo and have some fun ripping more trails! WooHooo - Thanks for reading. Next up - Training in Tucson w/ the Czech's!
Thursday, February 06, 2014
Video Killed the Radio Star
Having so much fun on the new 650b Remedy! The bike is so capable, so fast, and so fun. Words can't describe so I thought I'd just do a video blog!
Don't forget to switch to HD!
The big ride! First time on the stuff at the top of Mt. Lemmon. WOW! That's some good stuff. Just need to work on my climbing so I can make it up there more often!
Possibly the most fun section of trail ever? The Chutes - I think I spotted Greg HB Herbold out there the other day!
The Upper 50 - Like a playground for MTB's...so many alternate lines!
Until next time RIDE ON - or maybe more realistically STAY WARM!
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| The Trek Remedy 9 |
The big ride! First time on the stuff at the top of Mt. Lemmon. WOW! That's some good stuff. Just need to work on my climbing so I can make it up there more often!
Possibly the most fun section of trail ever? The Chutes - I think I spotted Greg HB Herbold out there the other day!
The Upper 50 - Like a playground for MTB's...so many alternate lines!
Until next time RIDE ON - or maybe more realistically STAY WARM!
Friday, January 10, 2014
Back in the Desert Again
Well we made it....Happy New Year
The driving has been epic lately. I think I spent over 70 hours or 5,000 + miles in the car between leaving for the last race of the season in NC and arriving in Tucson. That's a lot of miles in a 3 week time frame...I might even be qualified to drive a big rig after that amount of hauling.
So - CX Nationals is this weekend....and I'm not going to be there. I'm a little bummed but at the same time when I look back at the weather conditions in WI from mid Nov - mid Dec I am not surprised. It was hard to even train thru to the North Carolina race. Add in the holidays and the time spent traveling and starting my season earlier than normal there was no way I was going to be prepared to have a good go.
Now that I'm hear in Tucson where its 70 and sunny every day I'm pretty OK with it. I hear the weather in Boulder is pretty rough from snow and frozen mud ruts to gail winds.
I'm totally ready for a break and I definitely found my Remedy for the bad weather!!!
So far so its pretty awesome! I've just been on a few (4) very low key rides to get the feel of her. First Impressions....650b wheels are definitely for me, for a 140mm trail bike it climbs like a dream, super stable at high speeds, and again the dropper seat post is a must! Really looking forward to some more time.
So far we've hit Fantasy Island, AZ Trail, Bug Springs/Prison Camp, and even discovered a new loop at the Como Trails...check it out
Next up maybe a trip up to Phoenix area for the McDowell Meltdown, some rest, some relaxation, and a little cross training...oh yeah and of course more fun sweet mtb rides on the Remedy!
The driving has been epic lately. I think I spent over 70 hours or 5,000 + miles in the car between leaving for the last race of the season in NC and arriving in Tucson. That's a lot of miles in a 3 week time frame...I might even be qualified to drive a big rig after that amount of hauling.
So - CX Nationals is this weekend....and I'm not going to be there. I'm a little bummed but at the same time when I look back at the weather conditions in WI from mid Nov - mid Dec I am not surprised. It was hard to even train thru to the North Carolina race. Add in the holidays and the time spent traveling and starting my season earlier than normal there was no way I was going to be prepared to have a good go.
Now that I'm hear in Tucson where its 70 and sunny every day I'm pretty OK with it. I hear the weather in Boulder is pretty rough from snow and frozen mud ruts to gail winds.
I'm totally ready for a break and I definitely found my Remedy for the bad weather!!!
So far so its pretty awesome! I've just been on a few (4) very low key rides to get the feel of her. First Impressions....650b wheels are definitely for me, for a 140mm trail bike it climbs like a dream, super stable at high speeds, and again the dropper seat post is a must! Really looking forward to some more time.
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| Rock Shox Reverb Stealth edition |
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| Great Platform for Climbing |
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| The Perfect Wheel Size? |
Next up maybe a trip up to Phoenix area for the McDowell Meltdown, some rest, some relaxation, and a little cross training...oh yeah and of course more fun sweet mtb rides on the Remedy!
Monday, December 23, 2013
Carolina Dreamin'
NCCX is definitely one of my favorite trips of the year. Its always a good excuse to make a trip to Athens and visit mom and dad, its an awesome drive thru the mountains of VA and TN, and the racing is top notch...even more so this year.
The last couple of years there has only been a handful of fast guys showing up in Hendersonville. Shriver, Frattini, Berden, myself, and Kerry Werner...this year the level of competition increased quite a bit.
I still managed a number 8 call up both days and it was pretty nice to be in the front row. With a fast up hill paved start followed by 3 or 4 muddy off camber sections and some tricky U turns it was important to get out early and avoid the carnage.
Day 1 was a wet and cold battle. The entire race I was following between 5-10 seconds behind Zach McD and we were slowly moving up. By the last lap we had caught Yannick and were within striking distance of Kerry W in 4th position, but my buddy was shutting down. It seemed my feet and hands were blocks of ice. At the 1:00 mark we still had a lap to go and it was that extra 10 minutes that put me over the top. I yelled for mom to turn the heat on in the car as I went out for my last lap. I finished up pre-hypothermic and experienced the shakes for about 15 minutes while my core temps tried to increase. Problem was at the same time my core was warming so was the embro on my legs and I started to get that uncomfortable warm feeling. Soon it felt as if somebody was holding a match to my skin....it was classically painful. I finished 7th. Huge thanks to Andy Swartz for ruling the pits for me. He jumped in head first and it was like we had been working together for years. Wouldn't have been able to finish without him.
Day 2 - I was fatigued...the course was getting heavy. Not nearly as wet as the day before, but after staying up till midnight working on bikes I was not feeling rested. Instead of proper warm up I was searching for help in the pits knowing again it would be a day that disc brakes pads would go fast.
Luckily a Cane Creek employee jumped in and saved the day. A slow start due to lack of warm up but then after a few adjustments I started going forward. The gaps were huge but by the end of the race 8th - 11th position were in a tight battle. I ended up 10th.
That pretty much wrapped up my CX season. With extreme conditions in WI making training unbearable, lots of travel time coming up for the holidays and an early start to my season I have called it a year.
After NC I traveled back to Athens, home, and now I'm back in Athens again for Christmas. Next stop Tucson! Happy Holidays to everyone and thanks for reading.
The last couple of years there has only been a handful of fast guys showing up in Hendersonville. Shriver, Frattini, Berden, myself, and Kerry Werner...this year the level of competition increased quite a bit.
I still managed a number 8 call up both days and it was pretty nice to be in the front row. With a fast up hill paved start followed by 3 or 4 muddy off camber sections and some tricky U turns it was important to get out early and avoid the carnage.
Day 1 was a wet and cold battle. The entire race I was following between 5-10 seconds behind Zach McD and we were slowly moving up. By the last lap we had caught Yannick and were within striking distance of Kerry W in 4th position, but my buddy was shutting down. It seemed my feet and hands were blocks of ice. At the 1:00 mark we still had a lap to go and it was that extra 10 minutes that put me over the top. I yelled for mom to turn the heat on in the car as I went out for my last lap. I finished up pre-hypothermic and experienced the shakes for about 15 minutes while my core temps tried to increase. Problem was at the same time my core was warming so was the embro on my legs and I started to get that uncomfortable warm feeling. Soon it felt as if somebody was holding a match to my skin....it was classically painful. I finished 7th. Huge thanks to Andy Swartz for ruling the pits for me. He jumped in head first and it was like we had been working together for years. Wouldn't have been able to finish without him.
Day 2 - I was fatigued...the course was getting heavy. Not nearly as wet as the day before, but after staying up till midnight working on bikes I was not feeling rested. Instead of proper warm up I was searching for help in the pits knowing again it would be a day that disc brakes pads would go fast.
Luckily a Cane Creek employee jumped in and saved the day. A slow start due to lack of warm up but then after a few adjustments I started going forward. The gaps were huge but by the end of the race 8th - 11th position were in a tight battle. I ended up 10th.
After NC I traveled back to Athens, home, and now I'm back in Athens again for Christmas. Next stop Tucson! Happy Holidays to everyone and thanks for reading.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
STATE CX CHAMPS
Been a little while since I've updated the blog. Its been cold! Too cold to blog? Not really, but I'll go with that excuse for now. I'm currently in Athens, OH at Mom and Dad's house half way down to the NCCX.
I'm pretty pumped because its twice as warm here as in Sheboygan. Its 4 home and 11 here! Woohoo. Needless to say I'm getting pretty excited to be headed to Tucson soon. The race in Hendersonville will be the last of the 2013 season....unless I just happen to squeeze in one more in Chicago on the 21st of Dec.
First though...a recap of a bunch of local races. It started with the Turkey Trot! A few days after Jingle Cross and I was pretty smashed still. Very little motivation to go training in frigid temps. So I laced up the tennies at went for a 1.25 miles run. Figured if I could do that I could do the Turkey Trot! Mission Accomplished! 2 miles in and feeling good about eating lots of food and watching football the rest of the day! Too bad the Packers stunk. I finished up the day with a sweet night ride 'The Turkey Hurl' in super slippery conditions working on the skills.
By the time Saturday rolled around I got motivated! Who knows why but I went with it....3 hours of jamming all within 4 miles of home? Again who knows why? But it was fun...
After watching the video again I realized that it was Saturdays morning viewing of the Koksijde WC that got me motivated!
Sunday I did the first of three local races. Isaac Neff proceeded to smash me at the Booty Cross in Madison, maybe I was tired from the 3 hour jam session, maybe I wasn't 100% motivated, but it didn't really make a difference. Even if I was on my A game the day belonged to Isaac.
The next weekend was the Norge CX down in IL. What an awesome course! It was a little warmer too which helped. Technical, Off-Camber, with some good climbs and some good descents. Reminded me of a course you would find in Belgium. I scored the W.
The motivation from the W set me up for one good training day and just enough fitness to grab a little revenge. Isaac and I battled it out again at the State CX Championship this past weekend in brutally cold conditions and with 1/4 lap to go I attacked him on an off camber descent just before a tricky corner and the only climb on the course. It was just enough to get a 2 seconds gap and hold it till the finish. I think it was my first State CX title in WI!
I'm pretty pumped because its twice as warm here as in Sheboygan. Its 4 home and 11 here! Woohoo. Needless to say I'm getting pretty excited to be headed to Tucson soon. The race in Hendersonville will be the last of the 2013 season....unless I just happen to squeeze in one more in Chicago on the 21st of Dec.
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| 2 mile run! |
By the time Saturday rolled around I got motivated! Who knows why but I went with it....3 hours of jamming all within 4 miles of home? Again who knows why? But it was fun...
After watching the video again I realized that it was Saturdays morning viewing of the Koksijde WC that got me motivated!
Sunday I did the first of three local races. Isaac Neff proceeded to smash me at the Booty Cross in Madison, maybe I was tired from the 3 hour jam session, maybe I wasn't 100% motivated, but it didn't really make a difference. Even if I was on my A game the day belonged to Isaac.
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| Norge Ski Jump in Background |
The next weekend was the Norge CX down in IL. What an awesome course! It was a little warmer too which helped. Technical, Off-Camber, with some good climbs and some good descents. Reminded me of a course you would find in Belgium. I scored the W.
The motivation from the W set me up for one good training day and just enough fitness to grab a little revenge. Isaac and I battled it out again at the State CX Championship this past weekend in brutally cold conditions and with 1/4 lap to go I attacked him on an off camber descent just before a tricky corner and the only climb on the course. It was just enough to get a 2 seconds gap and hold it till the finish. I think it was my first State CX title in WI!
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| Early in the race trading pulls with Isaac. Must have been the bikes! |
Monday, November 18, 2013
Jingle Rock - Don't stop!
I want more....sometimes I wish I was back in Belgium during the Christmas period racing day after day after day. The Cincy/LVille/Jingle Block is the best we can do here in the Midwest though...and I can't make Cincy with Iceman....so I want more COWBELL!
This is when you can make or brake a season. Motivated because it was so fun, yet thrashed from 3 weekends of back to back racing w/ 16+ hours in the car traveling each weekend. Last year motivation trumped knowledge and I blew myself out. This year I am going to rest up a little before going again. Older = Smarter!
Jingle Cross truly was a blast though and definitely the best cross race in the US. Hard hard hard, Belgian like courses. Raucous spectators, Beer, Flyovers, Runups, Handups, and more. If you've never been you need to make it next year.
Oh yeah - and each year the competition gets a little better! Friday night under the lights has to be one of my favorite races of the year. Last year I was 5th and this year I managed to one up that with a 4th! I was pumped to be battling with Powers and Driscoll. Towards the end of the race it was down to just me and Driscoll and I felt like a might have had a shot at the podium, but he kept the pressure on in the last few corners and I made a mistake. Stoked to race in the stealth Bontrager kit for the night!
Saturday was round 2 and I was ready for battle again. This time I struggled just a little with fatigue after a getting to bed late and a big effort the night before. The long climb in the back of the course was killing me! The descent on the other hand was awesome with the disc brakes! So much more confidence. I ended up in a 2 man battle with Lindine, but really wanted to save a little gas for Sundays C1. 8th place. Respectable!
We had some killer burgers Saturday night at an Irish Pub and watched a sweet movie Ghost Ship before a good nights sleep and the final race of the weekend.
The C1 on sunday was the best yet. Straight up Mt. Krumpet w/ the bikes on the shoulder and a ripping off camber new muddy descent on the back side. Legs were definitely not as sharp as Friday night but I was in the mix. I found it easier to slightly hang of the back of the group rather than run into the back of them at each hard part in the race. Mid way through the race I sensed a small gap before and slick off camber towards the end of the lap.. pedaled hard, but nothing was there??? After a series of unfortunate events I had realized my skewer had come loose. I stopped tightened the skewer, but the group I had been with 6th - 12th place was gone....30 seconds lost just like that...swapped bikes and kept going but was in no mans land.
A little bummed to end the weekend riding the last 3 laps solo, but that's the way it goes....leaves me hungry for more and with some new confidence that I can ride w/ the best when all goes right!
Thanks to all the supporters and sponsors!
This is when you can make or brake a season. Motivated because it was so fun, yet thrashed from 3 weekends of back to back racing w/ 16+ hours in the car traveling each weekend. Last year motivation trumped knowledge and I blew myself out. This year I am going to rest up a little before going again. Older = Smarter!
Jingle Cross truly was a blast though and definitely the best cross race in the US. Hard hard hard, Belgian like courses. Raucous spectators, Beer, Flyovers, Runups, Handups, and more. If you've never been you need to make it next year.
Oh yeah - and each year the competition gets a little better! Friday night under the lights has to be one of my favorite races of the year. Last year I was 5th and this year I managed to one up that with a 4th! I was pumped to be battling with Powers and Driscoll. Towards the end of the race it was down to just me and Driscoll and I felt like a might have had a shot at the podium, but he kept the pressure on in the last few corners and I made a mistake. Stoked to race in the stealth Bontrager kit for the night!
Saturday was round 2 and I was ready for battle again. This time I struggled just a little with fatigue after a getting to bed late and a big effort the night before. The long climb in the back of the course was killing me! The descent on the other hand was awesome with the disc brakes! So much more confidence. I ended up in a 2 man battle with Lindine, but really wanted to save a little gas for Sundays C1. 8th place. Respectable!
We had some killer burgers Saturday night at an Irish Pub and watched a sweet movie Ghost Ship before a good nights sleep and the final race of the weekend.
The C1 on sunday was the best yet. Straight up Mt. Krumpet w/ the bikes on the shoulder and a ripping off camber new muddy descent on the back side. Legs were definitely not as sharp as Friday night but I was in the mix. I found it easier to slightly hang of the back of the group rather than run into the back of them at each hard part in the race. Mid way through the race I sensed a small gap before and slick off camber towards the end of the lap.. pedaled hard, but nothing was there??? After a series of unfortunate events I had realized my skewer had come loose. I stopped tightened the skewer, but the group I had been with 6th - 12th place was gone....30 seconds lost just like that...swapped bikes and kept going but was in no mans land.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Mud Fund = Dry & Fast
Another year of the Derby City Cup is in the record books. This year was not quite as good as last, but I'll take it for my first "real" cross weekend of the year.
I went to China and raced cross, but it was more for the experience. I raced the first WCA but it was more to test the bikes that weren't quite ready. I raced Boulder, but I was pretty blown out. I raced another WCA but again more of a warm up for the next days WORS race.
Basically saying that I wasn't mentally ready for the battle in any of these previous races. Louisville however it was game on. I had all my equipment dialed. My new HED Ardennes wheelsets had just arrived and I was prepared for all conditions w/ the three different tire options(files, mediums, mudders). My bikes were dialed in as identical as they have been all season and my form and confidence were pretty high after Iceman!
We rolled down to Louisville in style too! Thanks to ShareCare Cycling Team for loaning us their Sprinter Van for the weekend. The van is setup pretty sweet. Reclining leather seats, TV, Cooler, definitely the most plush set up I have experienced...kinda like flying first class!
Unfortunately we got caught up in a little traffic on the drive down and lost a little daylight Friday night so the pre-ride was cut pretty short. 13 minutes total to be exact, but I could tell the legs were good!
Saturday morning we took a spin over to the course to check out some lines, say hi to some friends, and pick up the numbers. Then according to Louisville Standard Operating Procedure we were off to Panera for some lunch and then it was go time.
I was called up in row 2. I lined up behind Ben Berden, but was instantly swarmed and felt like I was pretty deep coming off of the pavement. Every move I made seemed to get shut down, so instead of wasting energy I stayed patient. Things finally started opening up and then I started a long mission to make it back up to the top 10. Tristan was on the same mission just a few spots behind me and when he caught me with 2 or 3 to go I was pumped we could work together. He pulled for a lap and when I came through he couldn't hold my wheel. I went by him and proceeded to catch a group of Zach McD and Jeremy Durrin on the last lap to secure 10th. Felt great and moved forward the entire race...wish I could have started a little better.
Saturday night was more tradition....Spinellis' Pizzeria...and this photo says it all! Pretty cool place and great Pizza!
Sunday was more of the same....the start was a little better, but not good enough. I was in the second big group and it seemed like it was more of a drafting race. Lindine had a problem and came out of the pits and joined our group. I was pumped to work with him and keep moving forward but shortly after Mith Hoke bobbled the blinding off camber and I proceeded to battle ram the back of him....it only comically got worse from there in the next 12.5 seconds for me and then group was completely gone. Lindine ended up 10th...I 18th. In no mans land....caught 2 guys in the last few laps but never close to the back of the group. I was disappointed.
Luckily I get to go again this weekend at Jingle Cross! I'm loving the new bikes, I'm loving the disc brakes....and it looks like mud this weekend to really give them a good test!
I went to China and raced cross, but it was more for the experience. I raced the first WCA but it was more to test the bikes that weren't quite ready. I raced Boulder, but I was pretty blown out. I raced another WCA but again more of a warm up for the next days WORS race.
Basically saying that I wasn't mentally ready for the battle in any of these previous races. Louisville however it was game on. I had all my equipment dialed. My new HED Ardennes wheelsets had just arrived and I was prepared for all conditions w/ the three different tire options(files, mediums, mudders). My bikes were dialed in as identical as they have been all season and my form and confidence were pretty high after Iceman!
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| All 4 HED wheelsets ready to rock! |
We rolled down to Louisville in style too! Thanks to ShareCare Cycling Team for loaning us their Sprinter Van for the weekend. The van is setup pretty sweet. Reclining leather seats, TV, Cooler, definitely the most plush set up I have experienced...kinda like flying first class!Unfortunately we got caught up in a little traffic on the drive down and lost a little daylight Friday night so the pre-ride was cut pretty short. 13 minutes total to be exact, but I could tell the legs were good!
Saturday morning we took a spin over to the course to check out some lines, say hi to some friends, and pick up the numbers. Then according to Louisville Standard Operating Procedure we were off to Panera for some lunch and then it was go time.
I was called up in row 2. I lined up behind Ben Berden, but was instantly swarmed and felt like I was pretty deep coming off of the pavement. Every move I made seemed to get shut down, so instead of wasting energy I stayed patient. Things finally started opening up and then I started a long mission to make it back up to the top 10. Tristan was on the same mission just a few spots behind me and when he caught me with 2 or 3 to go I was pumped we could work together. He pulled for a lap and when I came through he couldn't hold my wheel. I went by him and proceeded to catch a group of Zach McD and Jeremy Durrin on the last lap to secure 10th. Felt great and moved forward the entire race...wish I could have started a little better.
Saturday night was more tradition....Spinellis' Pizzeria...and this photo says it all! Pretty cool place and great Pizza!
Sunday was more of the same....the start was a little better, but not good enough. I was in the second big group and it seemed like it was more of a drafting race. Lindine had a problem and came out of the pits and joined our group. I was pumped to work with him and keep moving forward but shortly after Mith Hoke bobbled the blinding off camber and I proceeded to battle ram the back of him....it only comically got worse from there in the next 12.5 seconds for me and then group was completely gone. Lindine ended up 10th...I 18th. In no mans land....caught 2 guys in the last few laps but never close to the back of the group. I was disappointed.
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| Good off the pavement on day 2...but still missed the split |
Luckily I get to go again this weekend at Jingle Cross! I'm loving the new bikes, I'm loving the disc brakes....and it looks like mud this weekend to really give them a good test!
Monday, November 04, 2013
20th Iceman Cometh
Its definitely one of my favorite races of the year and even more so lately with the amount of talent at the top end of the race. It really gives me a chance to go and compete with some of the best. It makes me want to do even more cool Mountain Bike races and try to improve.
This year I was feeling pretty overextended 3 weeks before the race. I had just driven thru the night on my way home from the Boulder CX race and was still recovering from China. I decided no more racing till Iceman. Its amazing what 2 weeks of solid training and no travel on the weekends can do to your confidence, energy levels, and fitness. I really needed that 2 weeks to get ready for the Iceman and it paid off. The first week I just went out and road endurance miles. The 2nd week I did 2 * 20 intervals 4 times in a 5 day period. Nothing fancy just pedaling hard. Scroll down and look left and you can check out all the training rides on Strava. Then it was a little rest and a final VO2 workout before traveling to Traverse City.
We arrived after a long rainy drive up and over Lk Michigan. The scenic route wasn't so scenic this time, but still better than Chicago any day! We rolled into town and hooked up with my dad and the Buermans for dinner.
We picked up our packets and had a good pasta buffet at the Grand Traverse and then it was early to bed.
Race day temps were a little chilly and a little wet but really not bad. I raced w/ a long sleeve base layer under a long sleeve skinsuit, a hat under the helmet and leg warmers...perfect for me. The start to me seemed much more controlled and less chaotic than normal. Maybe it was because the one line in the course was really dialed and the wet leaves and sand weren't quite packed to cement status off the main line. There was one crash not too far behind me early on that scared me a little. The puddles were a new factor to consider, but everyone again seemed pretty respectful.
I felt like the group was still pretty big after the first Tornado Alley singletrack section. Somewhere in the middle after a long singletrack section Kabush, Finsty and Ettinger really put the hammer down and started to split the group...maybe 10-11 guys....after Williamsburg it was down to 7.
Jeremiah Bishop went off the front shortly after Williamsburg but the group had him safely in check the entire time. Cole must have done a huge effort on the early parts of the Vasa trail to bridge back on, but was only to be popped back off up Anita's Hill. The group was working together really well and caught Jeremiah with 4k to go. To my surprise we didn't fly by him...we actually slowed up and let him sit in and recover....it was at that moment that I should have attacked but I missed my split second window in confusion as to why we slowed so much....I was also a little further back than I should have been because I was taking a free ride while the others were chasing JB.
My Superfly PRO SL was dialed and worked perfect. It was light and fast and I could definitely tell the XXX 29er wheels made life a little easier on all the rollers. Huge thanks to RACC and all my other sponsors for the support for another great MTB season.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Boulder CX
So I mention perfect weather and then this happens! Andrea just got home from her ride and its now pouring down rain and maybe just on the plus side of 50 degrees.
Luckily for me I just got home from the Boulder UCI CX weekend and I'm pretty tired from pulling an all night drive across I-80 and I'm not riding today. Maybe just some yoga, some tea, and some Red Bull Rampage! WOW - those guys are crazy.
So yeah, time to reflect on the first UCI cross weekend of the year. Chloe had just stayed at our house for the Sheboygan WORS race and offered to return the favor and let me crash at her parents. Billy Jones had offered the space in the Sprinter van for bikes to drive out and me to drive back. So a one way ticket was all it took. Karl was pumped to lend a hand, get out of town and tag teamed the weekend with Mike Teff who was wrenching for the contingent of juniors who were out representing the ISCorp-Intelligentsia Team.
It was the first time I had been back to Boulder since Andrea and I lived in Niwot for a short 3 or 4 month spell back in 2002. It was pretty much how I remembered it, but a lot more developed.
Day One's race was out at the Boulder Reservoir where I remember racing back in 02. The race course was a little different, but we still got to do same time on the sandy beach as well as plenty of corners. I had a pretty good start, but was not nearly aggressive enough thru the first 4 corners. At the same time if you were aggressive you were likely to crash on the loose pea gravel over hard pack terrain. I eventually settled in a group that was racing for 16th place, but with 3 riders just in front of us 13th was within grasp. I finished 19th....not very exciting.
Day 2 - I was ready to give it a little more gas. I went out for a morning spin to loosen the legs and preview the course at Valmont. Pretty technical and definitely no hiding or drafting like the day before. I had another great start, but wasn't aggressive enough again. I also really struggled at the 5-10 minute mark in the race which didn't really allow me to latch on to the back of the group. Again I found myself racing around 16th - 17th position with a group of 3 which included Tristan just a few seconds up. For a few laps I was close to bridging, but just didn't have that extra 2%. I finished 17th..slightly better but nowhere near what I'm capable of...the last lap was a little exciting battling with 3 others and trying to sprint with a bunch of fish net in my cassette??? Hope that stuffs not a factor in Jan at Nationals.
I was finally feeling comfy on the bikes and was starting to have fun ripping the corners. I loved the disc brakes....so much confidence and reliability especially on the steep descents of the Valmont course. The new HED wheels were solid...With a little more time on the bikes and some quality training at home from now until Louisville I think I'll be back in the top 10 soon!
The drive home was brutal....straight from the race course to the back of the sprinter van. Thru the middle of the night. 17 hours later and I was totally wasted and back in Sheboygan.
Luckily for me I just got home from the Boulder UCI CX weekend and I'm pretty tired from pulling an all night drive across I-80 and I'm not riding today. Maybe just some yoga, some tea, and some Red Bull Rampage! WOW - those guys are crazy.
So yeah, time to reflect on the first UCI cross weekend of the year. Chloe had just stayed at our house for the Sheboygan WORS race and offered to return the favor and let me crash at her parents. Billy Jones had offered the space in the Sprinter van for bikes to drive out and me to drive back. So a one way ticket was all it took. Karl was pumped to lend a hand, get out of town and tag teamed the weekend with Mike Teff who was wrenching for the contingent of juniors who were out representing the ISCorp-Intelligentsia Team.
It was the first time I had been back to Boulder since Andrea and I lived in Niwot for a short 3 or 4 month spell back in 2002. It was pretty much how I remembered it, but a lot more developed.
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| I was so stoked for Chloe - 2nd both days racing for Amy D! |
Day One's race was out at the Boulder Reservoir where I remember racing back in 02. The race course was a little different, but we still got to do same time on the sandy beach as well as plenty of corners. I had a pretty good start, but was not nearly aggressive enough thru the first 4 corners. At the same time if you were aggressive you were likely to crash on the loose pea gravel over hard pack terrain. I eventually settled in a group that was racing for 16th place, but with 3 riders just in front of us 13th was within grasp. I finished 19th....not very exciting.
Day 2 - I was ready to give it a little more gas. I went out for a morning spin to loosen the legs and preview the course at Valmont. Pretty technical and definitely no hiding or drafting like the day before. I had another great start, but wasn't aggressive enough again. I also really struggled at the 5-10 minute mark in the race which didn't really allow me to latch on to the back of the group. Again I found myself racing around 16th - 17th position with a group of 3 which included Tristan just a few seconds up. For a few laps I was close to bridging, but just didn't have that extra 2%. I finished 17th..slightly better but nowhere near what I'm capable of...the last lap was a little exciting battling with 3 others and trying to sprint with a bunch of fish net in my cassette??? Hope that stuffs not a factor in Jan at Nationals.
The drive home was brutal....straight from the race course to the back of the sprinter van. Thru the middle of the night. 17 hours later and I was totally wasted and back in Sheboygan.
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| Always good to see first light after driving thru the night. |
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