Run AWAY..... now!!!

Yikes, I am writing

2010-10-11T22:22:00.003-05:00

So this past summer I did not race track, I didn't race much of anything. What I did do was to work A LOT! But that is life.

Anyways, it is cross season which means a lot of races. So far i have done 5 cross races and one mountain bike race. Being a cat 3 cross racer means if you are not in shape you will finish very badly. Not a good reason not to blog, but honestly who wants to admit they are truly out of shape? Plus if I were to state that I had an injury it would sound like an excuse. I don't like excuses.

On a more positive note, I did the last WORS race in Sheboygan. I must say the course was a BLAST! I sort of got off on my own a few times and I could have swore I was just out for fun and not racing. I did not make it up the Equalizer any of the three laps, but I did out run everyone on the hill, riders and walkers. I guess my cyclocross training is paying off. I plan on heading back up to Sheboygan to ride there again. I was also about to explain the city, aka I drove around it, and it seemed kind of cool. I might have to head back up there and explore some more.

Shifting gears back to cyclocross, a few of my bigger races are coming up. I am signed up for the Louisville GP, and Jingle Cross. While I am officially registered for the races I have yet to find a place to stay.... I really should work on that soon.

My Future

2010-02-04T13:21:00.002-06:00

So i have been thinking all about what i want to do this year, as far as cycling goes. in the past i would do road races, crits, track races, and mountain bike races before cross season. I am thinking i should dial it back some, but to what? I enjoy all the different disciplines of cycling but i believe to be good i need to work on just on.

my gut instantly says stuck with the track, you have had success stick to it. but this does require me to get a new bike seeing the current on might only last half a season. (see post before it you need to know why) and buying a new bike means more $$$ i would stick with mountain biking, but that involves a lot of travel and that means less time at home, for races and practice. i could do road, its for the most part close, but my weight and size is a huge issues with that. Cross, well that is sticking no matter what.

This leads to be believe, that if i want to be good at cross i should do a discipline that helps benefit cyclocross. Well Jpow and Tim Johnson both races the road, while Todd Wells, Ryan Trebon, and Barry Wicks are all mountain bikes. So which do i choose. If you noticed i didnt say anything about track. (hint for later) I am thinking that i would work on mountain biking the most due to the handling aspect and its relation to cross.

This by no means, means i am giving up on the road. The road is a great place to train and i have already signed up for Hillsboro 4-10-10. So i guess this means i will not being racing at the track this year. It will allow me a year to work on my spinning for the next time i race on the track. (i cant believe i said i will not be racing the track this year. aurg! before this post i have fully intended on getting a new track bike and racing this year.)

And with that bomb shell i am off to class and to let you think about what i just decided.

PS i reserve the right to change my mind at any point in my life that i darn well please!

PSS this wasnt editted so if you want do it for mean and email me a proper copy, feel free

Big and Tall?

2010-02-02T13:02:00.002-06:00

As the cross season is officially over with the world championship being done, and with the road season fast approaching, i signed up for hillsboro monday, i have noticed a very common tread in cycling. I always keep an eye out for new bikes, new wheels, and other new things for cycling, and the tread i keep noticing is that everything is made for 150 lb 5 foot 10 inch tall cyclist. What about us, the big boys of cycling? I can't, and don't really care to, hide the fact that i am 6 foot 4, and 240lbs. this with the combination of the fact that the cycling industry has it's target cyclist being the small guys stated above makes it very difficult for me to find proper fitting equipment. I need big tall long bikes that can handle the abuse of uneven roads, combined with strong stiff wheels. I have been riding Trek for so time and they seem to put out a pretty good frame that can handle the abuse i give it. (i currently have a madone 5.5 pro) while the wheels are good, with the abuse the winters of wisconsin puts on our road, my wheels can only handle so much before they need to be either trued or replaced. Most of the wheels i look at don't suggest anyone over 175-200lbs ride them wheels, with the exception of zipp. they used to have clydesdale wheels, aka wheels for guys JUST over 200lbs, but it seemed they are now just called cyclocross wheels.

what does this really mean? this means the cycling industry seems to be ignoring a decent and rather big part of its community. I wish, but highly doubt, that the cycling industry will do something to change this. But is it really that hard to ask for a pair of wheels that i can ride without having to get them trued or replaced often, or a bike long enough that i can properly fit without adding long stems, 180mm or longer crank, or extra tall angled back seat posts?

if anyone knows of any company that makes or produces cycling gear for us tall and big cyclists or know of equipment that can withstand a beating PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!!!

floppy disk

2009-11-20T16:22:00.002-06:00

that is right i have been recruited to reformatted my parents computer which means i will be using http://www.dban.org/ and since it gave me the option of using a floppy disk I AM GOING TOO. that trick now is to find one that i can formatted on my computer. yes i have a floppy drive on my desktop, and yes i did pay a lot extra when i got this computer and yes this is probably the first time i have used it, but it SOOOOOOOOOO worth it now. now off to find a functional floppy disk, if one exist in this house

Deal Time

2009-11-01T21:03:00.002-06:00

in a deal with Marne Leigh (wow her site looks professionally done) i promised to update my blog. So you all, like 3 people, might have asked yourself what i have been up to for the last 6ish months and the short answer is riding my bike. (this is the point in time that i remember why i do not blog, i am getting distracted. right now i am on steven cozza website) (now on to hulu.com to find a movie to watch while i attempt to type this blog.) still looking but o well this needs to be written.

So the last 6ish months have been all about bikes, either mountain, road, but especially track. (pause again to look for a video, but i think i found a Veggie Tales movie i can watch.) anyways i have spent a lot of time this summer on my track bike. the problem was i didn't spend ENOUGH time on my track bike or any bike for that fact this past winter. I did manage to prove i can out sprint people in shorter events, but i have no endurance when it comes to longer races. so this off-season i need to train harder than ever.

BUT the off season hasn't started yet because cyclocross is in season. that season hasn't been the greatest because i am back in school. but the season is almost over. The state championship is the 22nd, and than the most fun race of the season, Jingle Cross Rock is the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday after Thanksgiving. want proof its fun, watch this video.

anyways that is all have for now, ill try to update more often.

Pro

2009-05-22T14:48:00.001-05:00

What makes you feel like a pro? for me it could be as simple as riding with no gloves, which isnt advised. what makes you feel pro?

Quote of the Weekend

2009-05-04T22:04:00.001-05:00

Bike Haven guy, talking after the race, "every time i attacked, i looked and DAMN! that yellow Trek was still there." LOL i was riding that yellow Trek

Vernon Hills, and the Race within the Race

2009-05-04T13:30:00.002-05:00

Vernon Hill was a raced I signed up for a while ago, so long ago in fact I forgot I signed up for it. But never the less, with quite a few teammates signed up for it, and the money already paid, I set off Sunday morning for the race. (anyone else love the idea of showing up to the race and not having to pay, is almost makes you feel like a superstar.)

For some reason I have no issue getting up at 5:45 for a race, but I can’t for the life of me get out of bed at 8:45 for class. Anyways, I was up and out the door at 6:30 for a little more than an hour drive to the race. My goal was to get on the course before the first race at 8:10 to get a nice warm up while on the course. This failed when I pulled the bike out of the car and found a completely flat front tire. I had done a 60 mile ride the day before and it was full when I put it in the car. O well, changed the tube and off I go to do 5 quick laps and register. Back to the parking lot to pin the number, eat some delicious Clif blocks and shots, and relax until the start.

Upon lining up, we were told to take a lap, makes sense to ensure everyone has seen the course at least once, Cat 5 rides aren’t always smart enough to preride the course at least once. After the one lap, I lined up, towards the back, a failure I really need to fix one of these days. Because of this I ended up chasing for the first fourish laps, which is never good. Can you see where this is going? I did, off the back, again. So it is time to switch to TT mode, in an effort not to get lapped. I ended up getting caught by 2 Bike Haven guys, a guy on a Specialized, and teammate Tom, a very happy site to see. I jumped on the back to recover, and switched from TT mode back to draft and race mode. This was going to be my race within the race.

We worked well as a group, until I got to the front because I accidentally, nerves I guess, bumped the speed up an extra 3-4 miles per hour, which resulted in us dropping one of the Bike Haven guys. Which I wish the move was intended, it wasn’t, even with a somewhat positive outcome. It was now 2 Half Acres vs 2 independent riders, this could work. The Specialized ride seemed to have a lot of energy and made 2-3 different random attacks, all of which Joe covered wonderful. As a group we decided that if he wanted to attack that much, he would lead as long as he wanted, I doubt he liked that because he started to noticeably tire.

As was headed in to the headwind, with the Specialized guy leading, Joe second, Bike Haven third, and me sitting his wheel in fourth, I noticed the Bike Haven guy look at his teammates, who yelled something. I figured he was going to attack; there was no reason to take all of us to the finish in 4 laps for now. So I shifted, and readied for some pain, sure enough he attack, and I chased. Tom, who I found out later, was too sick to chase, that fact he rode at all is amazing, but to see all the work he did mind blowing. (he really did sound bad, it would have been cool to see him health)

So it was Bike Haven and me for the next few laps, and he attacked again, and again, and again. Using the knowledge Julie had thought me from the week before, I refused to give up, and chased, and chased and chased. We ended up caughting a guy in a University of Illinois jersey, so with 2 laps to go it looked to be a 3 up sprint, for what ever place we could get. The Illinois guy liked to attack out of turn 3 (assuming it was purely a 4 corner course), so I made sure I was on his wheel with 2 to go, after leading thought the headwind, it was Bike Haven’s turn to pull. As he took the lead out of turn 2, it was Illinois guy on his wheel with me perfectly placed on third wheel. The Illinois guy was playing it right and refused to take the lead, until he attacked. Which he did out of turn 4, I chased, HARD! And as I was caughting him, I figured it was now or never, to make the pass. So I put whatever I had left into the pass, which I did, took a quick look back to see if Bike Haven was there, he wasn’t, than back to the power to finish it off.

I ended up winning the 3 up sprint for 40th place. I swear there were more people behind us, but I never count, so I must trust the refs. Either way, it was nice to be able to work with other people, and have a race within the race.

I still owe a huge thanks to Julie for helping me with the mental game of cycling. Basically she yelled at me at me for trying to quit during the Leland road race the weekend before. She really got me thinking about not letting the pack or the wind beat me before your legs say do. It was all that keep me going while covering the attacks that the Bike Haven guy threw at me. To you Julie, THANK YOU!!!!

Madison-Basco-Madison

2009-04-15T11:16:00.002-05:00

The week leading up to this race was filled with doubt and wonder. Would my single speed cross bike make it all 100K? would i have legs to ride 100K? did i really sign up to race my longest off road race, and my longest single speed race this fricken early in the season? does this finally prove i have lost all my marbles? (i mean i figured i did when i quit my job to be poor and back in school, but this might be the official flag that signify my leap over the edge.) To late, so off i went

Friday night was spend at Amber's apartment, the girl friend of Jason, my friend and only other Wisconsin member of Half Acre. It was a nice relaxing night of pasta and being geeks about our iphone, yes all 3 of us had iphone. its a good think i had mine because Amber told me i wouldn't be my friend if i didn't have one... i hope she was joking. This was also the first time i met Scout, Amber's rabbit that had free run of the house. She was nice, and we bonded surprisingly nicely. After a night of restless sleep i woke at 6am, thanks jason! (i enjoy sleep and normally wake shortly before i need to leave, not 2 plus hours early.)

The morning of the race went pretty quick, a toasted bagel thanks to Amber (she was like a mom away from house) and off to the start with Jason. after checking in and getting our sweet ass H8terville water bottles we headed back to the car to debate what to wear. I choose my Pink Floyd Darkside of the Moon jersey, a pair of black bibs, underarmour winter longsleeve mock turtleneck, underarmour winter hat, and some old school Planet Bike winter gloves, with a pair of SixSixOne gloves in my back pocket just in case i got too warm. (i choose not to wear my jersey knowing that i was going to suffer horribly, and i have too much respect for our kits to suffer like that in team kit, plus it wasnt an official race so i choose dark colors to keep me warm in the 50ish degree weather.) I believe i only saw one other person wearing only bibs, ie no knee or leg warmers or leggings of any type.

After the standard meet and greet, we were told the order of business and head out for our 100K race, this is where i should say it was more like 50miles, the head of the race cant count i guess. After a short lead out for safely, and a very loud tired blow out we were off. After the blow out someone asked if it was a gun shot, to which Jeff Kao said, "if you live in chicago you KNOW that wasnt a gun shot." back to the race, the lead out was short, but the lead out was mainly to control the few who believed they had a chance at winning, ie it was not for me. after a mile of nice even clean pavement we were off to the "unfinished" part of the course/trail. they call it unfinished, i call it hell. think of single track thought a farmers field, on an over geared single speed with no suspension while scraping your legs on very bush possible. now repeat for about 8 miles! After about 6 miles i took off my winter hat and switched gloves. i was working up a good sweat and didnt want to over heat yet.

once the trail hit the crushed gravel/limestone it was nice, i grouped up with a few people, but was feeling really demoralized and seriously debating on turning. i know at some point i would run into the tunnel, but i seemed like forever. But hitting that tunnel was the best thing, mentally and physically that could have happen to me. it was dark, cool, and slightly damp, it was nice i would have love to explore that tunnel some more, but it was a race. I must say that my newly purchased Planet Bike light, i got just for this race, worked wonderful!!

after the tunnel it wasn't long before the turn around, and the 10ish mph head wind the whole way back. The way back had a twist, instead of going back thought the tunnel, you would ride the mountain stage of the race. it was a series of uphills that sucked on a single speed. i ended up walking part of the hills in an attempt to save the legs some. than back to the trail for the ride back.

I finally got in a groove and started slowly caught people, place didn't matter but i was just tapping out a steady rhythm on the pedals. I came upon Jeff Kao, and Jamie (unknown last name) fixing Jamie's flat, so being a good friend i stopped and offered help. as he was changing his flat we started talking about all the flats we had seem that day, i counted about eight. he finished his change we were off again. three miles later i got my flat, a slow leaker in the front. but again jamie and jeff stopped to help me, karma can be a good thing!

back on the bike and off we set, the three of use ended up slowly separating, regardless how much we tried to stay together. in the end we just split up and finished the race on our own, with me being the farthest ahead, still just tapping out a rhythm on my pedals. this is when the mind starts to wonder, like singing "just keep pedaling, just keep pedaling", to a song for Finding Nemo, you know the song i mean, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming!" the mind also wonders to better things like attract female you know, some of your past, some of the present, and the wonder of the possibility of some in your future. and other random things like umpa lumpa taking over the world.

The final part of the race had to be the hardest, it was back to the unfinished section, on tired legs and with a tired body. I did my best to tap out a rhythm a slow slow slow rhythm, but a rhythm that kept me going. finally back at the start i fell over and laid on the ground and attempted not to cough up a lung. after gaining all my strength i rode/walked/hobbled to the car and changed, than back to the start of the raffle. i ended up winning a pint glass, but i was happier on the ground sleeping than i was to get the glass. (i was one tired puppy)

after the raffle i head back to Amber's with Jason to shower, rest, and get some SUSHI!!!!!!! i had not had real sushi in, well ever so this was going to be a treat, and it was! it made my trip so much nice on the way home.

more training this week, and the slow start of a diet. i need to go buy healthy food to have in the house before starting a diet, it would have made this week more successful and cheaper. more than likely i will do the madison crit this weekend and pass up the mountain bike race. until next time

PS as a side note, Jason killed me by about 45 minutes in the race. he was a beast and a monster on the bike, i predict a good year for him, he is stays health.

PSS i owe Jason and Amber a huge thanks, for letting me hangout the night before the race and taking me out to sushi afterwords. and to Scout for letting me not sleep in a cage while you ran around the house.

Vindication, Hillsboro style

2009-04-08T11:58:00.002-05:00

2008 edition recap
Cat 4/5 44 mile race
dropped in the first 10 miles or less
bonked after 30ish
road another 5ish before getting off the bike and walking. thankfully com car 2 (i believe) picked me up and took me back to the start.

2009 edition
Cat 5 22 mile race
dropped ?? i dont remember when i but i am a big guy who doesn't go uphills well, i try but we all know how well that goes, of course unless your Ulrich.
no bonk!
I FINISHED!!!! 40, but i finished, and i wasn't even last!

Now of the details

The 2009 edition of Hillsboro started with a trip to and around chicago on a friday afternoon, bad idea!!! i started with a trip to my wonderful teammates Julie's work to get my brand new spank'n kit, i heart our kit, than to teammate Mia's apartment to gather her things and head to Hillsboro. The idea was to leave around 3 so we can miss as much traffic as possible on the way to Springfield, the location of the hotel for the night. We failed, we hit bad traffic, and our 3ish hour drive ended up taking 5+ hours, and with the forecast of 60+ degree we were both drinking plenty of water which means plenty of pee stops.

once we were out of the traffic, it was pretty smooth sail to our hotel, which is were we planned on meeting some other teammates of ours. The reason Mia and i traveled together was with my huge bike, her small bike was an easy fit into the back of out Honda Element, ie big bike plus tiny bike make an easy fit into any vehicle. once we checked into the hotel it was off to Subway for some rude service and some good food. than back to the hotel for more waiting and sitting around until the teammates arrived. Upon there arrival it was bed time for the 7am rise to get to the course early enough that Mia could register... yes it is good to be female somedays, like those days were you stay up all night to make sure your still awake 2 months before a race just so you can register, yeah she did not do that, she just walked in and registered same days..... no fair at the least.

the drive the next morning was uneventful, and before we knew it, we were checked in and preriding the brick section of the course. being the non-climber i am, i tried my best to convince my legs they had to climb today by climbing all the hills i could at a nice slow study pace, it seemed to work. several pee breaks later its go time.

being a cat 5 race you expect stupid things to happen, but not normally within the first 200 meters after the neutral zone. But that day, someone locked up there brakes and slide sideways, on a DOWNHILL! they didnt fall but to prevent running into the back of everyone, as they slammed on there breaks, i had to swing out past the yellow line and ended up passing the whole field, opps! in my attempt to avoid a penalty because if i didnt swing i would have started a pileup, i slowed and waved everyone past me, so i could just back into the spot i started. i got there with no momentum at the bottom of the hill, bad news for any big guy. a nice hard effort to stay attached ensued which involved a lot of dodging in and out of traffic. i stayed with the group for a few more climbs but as with all hilly ride i got snapped off the back.

After the snapping, it became ride for vindication, sure it was a shorter distance, and i had actually ridden my bike during the off season, but i still wanted it finish, and not finish last. knowing that i wasnt the first one dropped, it helped the mental part of riding alone while being passed by small juniors who can cut thought any headwind, while i act as a parachute for the slightest gust. finally a guy passes me, we worked together for a little bit, but it was one side and not in a good way. so i let him go, but kept a close eye on him. as we neared the end of the race, we had the final 2 climbs still to do i could still see him.

i decided if i kept a nice steady rhythm on the pedals i could probably cut into his lead on these hills and just use my weight advantage and pass him before the brick section. And slowly, pedal stroke by pedal stroke i slowly closed. with lactic acid reaching the eye balls, remember i dont live near hills and i am 240lbs, i just kept climbing. at the top of the final hill i was within 5 bike lengths, with only one left hand turn until the bricks. he lead thought the left and as the road rose slightly before starting the downhill into the bricks i attacked, went over the top and hopped into my 53x11 and hammered down the hill. with it being a short hill i hit the bricks around 45 mph, and held on for dear life. (the cobbles travel by a lot faster and are a lot smoother when your flying over them) another left at the bottom of the hill and over more bricks, and i attempted to keep whatever pace i could, I DID NOT WANT TO BE CAUGHT! one more left and on to the final straightaway, take a look back do i need to sprint? i saw nothing, where did he go, check the other side, still nothing. i guess i keep pedaling until i hear someone yell or i cross the line.

He, the guy i was chasing, never caught me and ended up 15 second behind me. but the important thing for the day is that i finished and wasnt last. My legs did hurt, and my winter training proved to be nowhere near enough, which means i have lot of work to go still. but the season is young, and i still have no DNF on my record, lets hope it stays that way.

Training ride

2009-01-27T11:55:00.002-06:00

hour and a halfish
other side of main street and back
not too cold today (50ish)
legs feel tired (get on the bike more often you fool)
spring is a cruel bitch at time
i heart craft base layers (note to self, GET MORE)
spring break would be more fun if it was warm out (50 if good but no good enough)
not much else to report sorry

more next time

PS i LOVE banana chips!!!!!!!!

phase 1 failed

2009-01-16T15:06:00.003-06:00

so the diet idea failed... for now. let me explain. i woke up Sunday morning to head out to our training session at Element but a car had decided to park on my chest. as everyone knows when your sick, diets fail.

that means with week has been sleeping, rest, healing, eating, and getting stuff right with school. i have my classes this year, and they look easy. which in theory means more time to train, but with a tuesday and thursday night class i will not be at the track(s) until the school is over. well i will be at the track, just not on race nights.

It started, sorta

2009-01-06T22:46:00.004-06:00

so phase one of my cycling season has started. there are about 5 or so phases right now. ill explain the phases as they come, so let me start with phase one.

cycling is a numbers game. how long does it take you to cover X distance, what wattage did you up out, what your peak wattage when sprinting, what your resting heart rate, working heart rate, lt threshold, VO2 max, blah blah blah. while all these are, in there own right, important, i am currently working on my power to weight ratio. this fact could be wrong, its something i think i remember from years ago, but your ideal power to weight ration is like 7 watts/kg. (weird europeans and there kilograms) that means at my current weight i need to put out an average, remember this is an average, not a peak, of roughly 735watts. this is an insane number.

so this means, since i am not a 735 watter, i need to lose some weight. phase one. this is being done a couple ways, but the first week by far is the hardest, not only because my work is physically demanding, but because getting good health food in a little lunch box to last all day is hard. but i have solved a few of the problems. this first week, my last week of work (ill get to this in a bit) i am taking lean cuisines and fruit to work. when i get hungry i will eat an apple, and for lunch my intake is regulated. dinner is normal dinnerish food in smaller amounts.

my addicting to mountain dew is a tad bit hard to over come. and yes you can be addicted to caffeine. right now i am getting the with drawl head aches, which suck, but can be over come. in the last 3 days i have had one 20 ounce coke. the headache was bad and i was falling asleep while driving the company truck in milwaukee, i needed something. to replace my intake of mountain dew i have been drinking a lot of water, oj and other juices, but mainly water. i lived most of my fall and winter in a dehydrated state, so my body is LOVING all this water.

next week will be easier, ill be done with work. if you read some of my other entries you will know that i wanted to, and now know i got accepted to go back to school full time. with the holidays i put a three week notice in, so i get a week off before school starts. just enough time to switch gears from full time work to full time school. i am excited and nervous about the whole thing. my history with colleges has not been the best, but i think my new found maturity (towards school) will assist me in full commenting myself to my education.

speaking of older blogs, i also noted i didnt want to ride the track this year. i wrote about some of the reasons, and talked to some people about the other reason. and i think i have decided to do what CSC says and "Harden the Fuck up" and race. i still wanna race my mountain bike in the WORS series. but this also means i plan on being more selective on which track races i do. i wanna give myself time off the bike this year. crossresults.com says i raced 20 cross races this year (sept-dec), and i know there is at least one more race. i also wanna travel to race the track. living between milwaukee and chicago i have the honor to have at least 4 velodromes within 6 hours of driving. i think my focus will be on kieren and sprint races. this also means i will more than likely be taking advantage of the team sponsor, specialized and sram.

that is really all i have for now. phase 2 should start next week, i hope. i also wanna post more. the way i look at it, if i am following my plan ill have something to write about, so i need to write. plus if it interesting julie can steal it for our site, halfacrecycling.org. until the next time i write.

PS if anyone wants to help me celebrate my last day of work this friday, PLEASE let me know. i currently have no plans, but i feel like i should be celebrating.

four days

2009-01-01T20:23:00.001-06:00

it starts in 4 days, but when will it end?

NatCXChampsD4121420084176LRR Photos

2008-12-18T19:59:00.003-06:00

NatCXChampsD4121420084176LRR Photos
Originally uploaded by LanterneRougeici

Thanks to Ms Julie Popper who founds this, and Lantern Rouge for taking it

Changes for 2009

2008-12-17T21:16:00.002-06:00

Nothing huge to report from Nationals, other than I predicted the winner of the SS race. none other than James Lalonde.

The big news, for me at least, is that everything that i knew to be cycling will be changing. So lets start at the beginning.

Food

Now: i eat what i want, without a care. i have been on the seefood diet, see food, eat food.

Reason for Change: I need to monitor what i eat so it will support and promote muscle and bone growth. food is the energy that makes my body move, give it bad energy and it will preform badly. Also i need to lose about 20-30 pounds, this should help. Also, no more soda, that is right, i am giving up my beloved mountain dew.

Soon: first i will never go meatless! but i will start drinking my fruits and vegetables, beans, and other things i normally would pass on now. I will do so because its help me mentally and physically on the bike.

Work

Now: i work 40ish hours of week, at a job i hate.

Reason for Change: i hate my job, i was recently given a change go back to school. IF i get accepted, ill be able to better my position in life.

Soon: ill be back at school full time (if i get accepted). while this will allow me more training time, it will probably kill a few weekends, that will require me to do homework instead of racing.

Bicycling

Now: i dont really have an official discipline i work on, i just ride what is fun. I never rest, or work on one thing.

Reason for Change: If i wanna be good at cycling, i need to choose one kind of discipline, weather it be road and track, or mountain and cross. For this reason, and for others, i am choosing, for the time being to give up my beloved track cycling for mountain biking and cross. Another big reason is with school i will need my tuesday and thursday nights in the fall and spring free to do homework. Also with giving up my job, ill be buying my own insurance, and when accidents happen on the track, they arent cheap. So in the interest of my future, i must, with a VERY heavy heart, put up my track back, and work off road for the year.

There will be more things to come, and this is by no means set in stone. it will take a lot of hard work, but i think it will pay off in the end.

1802

2008-12-03T21:21:00.001-06:00

I am unofficially number 1802 for Cyclocross Nationals next Sunday. I will be official when i pick up for number friday sometime.

Speedo Picture.

2008-12-02T22:24:00.002-06:00

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uU3MP1qS_K4/STNaTOw3xOI/AAAAAAAAApw/nxg4d1mAxPQ/s1600-h/JingleCross+2008+009.jpg

if i knew the photographer i would give credit.

Brief Update JIngle Cross 1

2008-11-29T12:39:00.002-06:00

went speedo, wasnt to cold, got 14th, one behind MCNEAL! free swag was not worth the price of the speedo, will speedo again tomorrow, pictures to come soon, only if i am unlucky, warm shower = good, lunch = better, time to watch ben race, picture of him for sure, end brief report that is really one long run-on sentence, real update later.

PS i hate the grinch

Jingle Cross Pre-race day

2008-11-28T17:38:00.004-06:00

this is the view from my hotel room for Jingle Cross, and let me say this room is DOPE!!! i am paying less for this room than i did for my room in louisville. its so nice that feel like i should go downstairs and offer to pay more. this is just not fair, but i am loving it!!!!

Be Kind, Rewind

2008-11-11T19:47:00.003-06:00

Photo Credit: Amy Okay, the rewind part is a little much, but you should be kind when you ride your bike. And I don't only mean on normal every day rides.

With my recent upgrade in cyclocross, from 4 to 3, I get passed a lot. I am not saying that I am slow, but I could, I am saying that the cat 3 start a little infront of the women's 1/2/3 and the master's 50+. In my few races as a cat 3, of which my finishes are not so great, i have been passed by some women and some old men. old men are not always that nice, but the women are always nice. The two nicest ones so far have been; Rebecca Much of xXx Racing, and Holly Klug of Killjoy. Why they both always seem pass me, they are both cat 1/2 races after all, they are always very nice to me.

For example, when Miss Rebecca Much (who is super cute, i have no fear in saying that because only maybe 7 people might ever read this) passed me at Northbrook on Sunday, she wished me a nice race and good luck. When Holly Klug wanted to pass me she told me not to worry, she would find a way past. Come on, how many people, when winning there race would wish you well as they pass you?? I know the old men don't! 2 of the old men forced their way by me on the inside of a wet, slippery corner. I had fully planned on letting them by after the corner. but no, they had to ram there handlebars into my butt. I kinda wished i would have fallen and made them crash (kinda but not really because that would have been a bad day for all). There is no need to force your way by. Just ask and you would be amazed at what can happen.

On a more positive note, the new cyclocross tires recommended to me by the famous Ben Popper, the Michelin Mud 2s, worked amazingly! I can't believe they worked so well in such sloppy conditions. Also, a MUST for all races of any type, that do not race with computers, Trek's Time Watch, is an amazing piece of equipment. It's only a clock, with hands, but its a life saver. Think about it, how many times have you been warming up for a race and had to ask someone what time it was so you could find out how much time you have left. With this little doohickey you keep track of your time, and still save it by taking it off the bike as you line up.

Next up, Whitewater (yes after last year going back, it gets one more chance) and than maybe lansing. It depends if i can find a place to stay so i don't have to drive from Wisconsin to the Illinois Indiana boarder.

Carpentersville

2008-10-21T20:41:00.002-05:00

So Ben said that this coming weekend is the midpoint of the cross season, this is kinda scary, but its kinda good too. Before, i go there i should start with this past weekend. this past weekend, was the chicross cup race in carpentersville. If you read 2 entries ago you already know i didnt go to any other races this weekend. so this one race, was my only cycling focus this weekend.

With my single speed races coming up (jingle cross and nationals), i have been trying my darnest to race single speed, when i can. (this coming weekend isn't one of those weekends) so single speed it was. After recounting, my front ring, i realized my front ring is smaller than i thought. so all my gearing calculations have been off buy about 3-4 inches. that is HUGE!!! basically i have been running a gear too small, and not understanding why i couldn't put power down. well i fixed that problem, and finally started running a better gear. the gear of choice this weekend was about a 61, instead of the 57 i have been running. (that is inches the tire will travel per full revolution of the pedals.)

the race itself wasn't to bad, a crash at the beginning. i was not involved, just caught behind it, sometimes that could can be worse. I didn't pass many people, but i did get a few. The single speed was a good idea, it made me push myself more than i probably would have before. the only place the single speed was a bad idea was the sandpit. I wasn't not able to down shift, so it was harder to than it would have been to get thought. out of the 4 laps we did, i was able to ride it the second lap, but it took too much out of me.

the sand pit is always where something weird happened. for the first time, all year, i got past while off the bike. on the last lap, while running thought the sand pit, i got past by someone who was also running it. I was shocked, and almost let him get away i was SOO shocked. But i hung on his wheeling, wanting revenge. I wanted to take my revenge on the run up after the barriers. As we approached the barriers i saw him look back, so i acted like i was going outside, but upon my dismount i took the inside line. I dismounted 3 steps behind him, but was half a step behind at the top of the run up. At the last second he noticed and cut me off and took the line i wanted. It was his line, he was technically ahead of me. With a straightaway, turn, and the finishing straightaway, i didn't have much time left. With no room on the first straightaway, i wanted until after the turn to start a sprint. I, on my single speed, still had enough to pass him and win the sprint for 43.

it was a fun race, and after the 40 minute race i did last weekened, a 30 minute race was nice. I can't image doing 1 hour races, maybe in 2 or 3 years. THAT bring me to this coming weekend. with plans for next year looking the way they are, i might not be able to travel a lot. so this weekend i am going louisville to race the CAT 4 GP of louisville. it should be fun.

everyone trips

2008-10-18T19:33:00.000-05:00

2008-10-18T17:13:00.002-05:00

7am-alarm goes off
me- damn i dont want to go to work today
me-hits snooze
me-why o why do i have to go to work today
cell phone alarms goes off
me- wait, its not friday its... SATURDAY!!!
me-hits snooze on cell phone alarm
me-wait if its the weekend than i need to get go to my cross race, which means i can't sleep in
(long pause)
me-screw this, AM sleeping in

so no race for me, first time since the cross season has started. all it means is i have no saved 2 tanks worth of gas, and 20 bucks for entry fee.

maybe now i can afford louisville... the debate goes on.

Heroes and Friends

2008-10-14T23:40:00.001-05:00

So I have been really slacking on blog entry’s, 7 cross races into the season and this is maybe the second entry. This season so far I have proven I am not in cross shape. This is several different types of shape, and I am not referring to square or round. The shapes I am referring to is shapes like, mountain, track, road, crit, and cross. Each discipline requires different types of fitness, and abilities. Cross requires a 30-60 minute all out effort. You can not slow, you can not be weak, you must be near or at your redline for the either race. Do not forget that at the end of the time, you must be able to push yourself beyond your redline and sprint all out until you either finish or blow up and lick your wounds as you cross the finish line.

While I have licked my wounds, I have also finished with some strength left; this post is not about that. This post is about some changes in my thinking.

Some heroes come and go from your life, but if you’re lucky enough you can call some heroes your friends. Recently I was able to travel away to a 3 day race out of state. On this trip I realized my heroes have changed the older I am getting. I have been around cycling enough to run into several pros. Most pros will say hi when you talk to them, but few are willing to hold a conversation with you. Cyclocross is the one exception to this rule. This year I have been able to talk to many pros, not limited to, Tim Johnson, Todd and Troy Well, Jeremy Powers, and Katie Compton.

This past Sunday, while sitting on the hill watching the Men’s UCI race, I looked and saw Katie Compton, the 2007 US Women’s Cyclocross National Champion. She was sitting there watching the race, just like everyone else. If you didn’t know any better you wouldn’t know she just raced and won by over a minute. As she sat there, she interacted with everyone on the hill like a normal person. I also saw Jeremy Powers when he arrived take a picture, with his iphone, of his cone. This was not just any cone, but a cone that reserved his parking place at the race. It was very cool, and he was amazing to talk to.

But the one major thing I noticed is how my personal heroes have changed, and I never noticed. I can now call someone I know, someone who I spend the weekend with, someone whose house I have been in, someone whose phone number I have in my cell phone, one of my heroes. This person is super friendly, honest, and someone I believe I can truly call a friend. At times I think he is rather hard on himself. But to me he is pure pro. He does not act like one, he has no attitude, and he is not a pre-madonna. He is a normal guy, trying to live the dream. But he isn’t a normal guy, he is a pro. He is unbelievable strong, and smart. I wish I had the power he had, the loving wife who supports him and helps him out as much as she can. He is my hero, he is a pro, and most importantly I call him my friend.

First 2008 Cross Race.

2008-09-22T22:17:00.003-05:00

Pain was the name of the game, not as bad as last year but still OUCH!!. let me rewind a minute and start with the weekend. Saturday started with a 10am breakfast with an old friend i hadn't seen in over 10 years. than back home to pack and head to Audrey's house for the weekend. The reason i was at her house saturday night, other than her being the coolest single girl i know, she happens to be a teammate, and offered her house as a place to stay before the Jackson Park Cross Race. After getting there, i decided to treat her to dinner as a way to say thanks for a place to stay that was with in 15 minutes of the race, instead of having to drive 2+ house thought evil bear traffic. I don't remember the name of the place, but it was foreign, it was good. I always got a food rub from the person next to me, and offered some hienny. Back to her place to rest and relax.
The next morning brought some computer and loading up an ipod. After packing up a backpack, Audrey, Amanda (another teammate) and i heading to Jackson Park. After watching some races, and doing a handful of practice laps, i got ready to race. I, once again, got a first row starting position. Riding a Single Speed, a fast start isn't in my favor. But being a single speed did allow me to find a flow rather quickly. my flow helped in the technical part of the course, but during the wide open sections, i lost a lot of ground that i gained. That is the way of the single speed versus the geared folks.
The race was fun, but i cant wait until the weather cools down. this race was hot and humid. I unzipped my skin suit during lap one, and sweated a ton on sunday. Post race i rode back to Audrey's place, showered, and headed out to eat at some sweet Chinese place. It was good and very fast. After my drive home i slept liked a little kid. 6 more days until Madcross, and maybe a cat 3 upgrade after that race?

Holly KillJoy Style Update

2008-09-14T23:39:00.002-05:00

- Downers Grove was fun, but next i dont want to be hurt going into it.
- Palo Meltdown was fun, but i want to race sport next year.
- Track Season is over, i am sad, very very very sad
- Time to start preparing for next track season, ie time to get a new stiff as hell track bike.
- Cross Season is upon me
- this past weekend was my last planned free weekend until after cross season, ie the weekend before Christmas
- I am signed up for Madcross, and Jingle Cross
- I am currently waiting to sign up for Single Speed Nationals.
- My currently cross bike is setup to be a 1x10 or a single speed with the rear derailleur acting as a chain tensionor.
- I cant spell and i know it, plus my grammar sucks.
- My toe isn't healing, after 7 weeks you can still see the break plain as day
- My toe will be broken probably until after cross season, but i will not let it be an excuse.
- My goal is to not freeze my fingers at nationals this coming year.
- I send my best wishes to Ben and Julie as they start there cross season this coming weekend
- Ben is the riding and Julie is the mechanic.
- They happen to be married, which is awesome that they share the love for cycling
- When i get married one day, i hope my marriage can be filled with as much love as i see in theirs.
- i am soo tired right now that i am getting dizzy
- i cant go to sleep until i register.
- does anyone else agree this wait sucks donkey balls?
- My best wishes to Tristan, and his quick recovery.
- I am excited to see 2 brot hers i watched in the WORS series race cross this year.
- Registration is minutes away so here ends another crap entry.

I AM BACK!!

2008-08-11T18:46:00.003-05:00

I can now officially say I am back on the bike. I say officially because i kinda "raced" the Glencoe Grand Prix. I finished 27th of 30th i think, not bad for breaking my toe 3 weeks to the day earlier.

Okay, I'll start this blog with the race. Having not been on a bike in 3 weeks, and being told i should wait 4 weeks before i even try, i decided to see if a cycling shoe fit and to see how i could ride. O, did i forget to say i signed up for the race on Friday night, and didn't try riding till Saturday with the race being Sunday, oops. Well the good news is my shoe fit, and i could pedal. The bad news, my legs felt tired and slow, but after 3 weeks off the bike they felt good. Saturday night i packed the car and attempted to go to bed early.

The alarm rang at 5am, so i could be on the road by 5:30. I left late, but some how (looks around) made it to the race around 7am, like planned. After signing in and getting dressed, i took a few warm up laps in a failed attempt to shake some more rush from the legs. I got a front row starting position, like i always seem to get.

The race itself was a pretty slow race, compared to what i am used to. The race didn't really reach the 30mph i am used too. With that said I did get filtered out the back after a few laps. HEY, i was off the bike for 3 weeks, so i had a good excuse. I did stay in the race for the full time, I got lapped the 2nd time at the VERY end. I could have tried to sprint and not get lapped again, but why should i take away the glory of the people who could keep the pace and wanted to win.

After the race i took my camera out and took pictures for the rest of the races. Click for some of them. I had fun, took a lot of pictures.

Now to the important part, the doctor's appointment from today, the 11th. I left work early so i could go to my doctors appointment. After getting X-rays and taking to a gentlemen, who should have been dead from a motorcycle crash with no helmet, who happened to be a police officer, i met the doctor. The doctor remembered me because i attempted to talk him into letting me ride my bike the day after i broke my toe. Any ways, the X-rays showed that my bone isn't healing, or at least its not showing any bone growth on the X-ray. The doctor explained that it could just be bone growth delay, basically the bone is growing, the X-ray just isn't showing it. Either way he wants to see me in another 4 weeks (7 weeks +1 day of the break). Next is the fun part. The doctor wasn't quite believing me when is said i felt very little pain, so he squeezed the toe. And i don't mean nicely. He squeezed my toe like he was juicing an orange while looking me in the eye. After that, he started to believe me that it didn't hurt and I was fine.

I then explained to him my cycling shoes don't flex due to the carbon fiber soles, and my foot wouldn't bend at all. He finally agreed that i could "try" cycling, to which i told be about the above race, but called it a "fun ride". He than agreed i could ride my bike again, as long as i didn't push it. (like i listened to him the first time) He also agreed i could wear a normal shoe, and not my boot.

So expect to see me around the cycling scene again, but I don't promise to be near the front. Downers Grove any one????

I am out

2008-07-21T19:53:00.002-05:00

i broke a toe on my right foot. It sucks, the story sucks, i suck. i am out off the bike for about 4 weeks. i see the doctor in 3 and am going to try to talk my way back to riding. until then, nothing to report.

am going to try and make some races with my camera. if i get any okay pictures ill upload them here.

2 weeks in review: plus monday and and a Cat 3

2008-06-28T17:54:00.002-05:00

2 Tuesdays ago: I won my first official races ever. I won a cat 4 Scratch Race, and a Tempo race. I also placed 5th on the consolation race. All the races were track races at Kenosha. I ended up winning 24 dollars that night.

Last Sunday: WORS race number 6 (i think). not preriding ended up costing me first place. I ended up sitting and recovering when i should have been pushing harded. I have sense added a odometer to my mountain bike so that doesnt happen again

Last Tuesday: I won the cat 4 unknown distance, and was WAY! over geared for my next 2 races, and ended up 10th and 7th.

Latest Track related news: i have brought a nice set of used tubular track wheels. I also have new gears so i'll not be way over geared next week when i race the Cat 3s in kenosha. Its not an official USAC cat 3 upgrade, but its getting closer.

ok i am done, not its time to nap at 7pm on saturday. tomorrow, sunday the 29th, i am supposed to be heading to Kettle for some trail riding, lets hope the weather holds.

DSC04946

2008-06-17T07:12:00.001-05:00

DSC04946
Originally uploaded by velocorapture

67 and 2

2008-06-07T20:30:00.002-05:00

Saturday was a HARD day of riding with Pro riding Ben Popper. I emailed Ben to see if he wanted to ride something other than the Lake Shore Path, and he joyfully agreed. Seeing how Ben is a master at creating routes, and he needed the training, and I just wanted to ride. Ben created a nice 67 mile route starting at my house. The only problem with the route was the first 30 miles was into into a 20+ mph wind. The second half of the route was very fast. I must now note that Ben's route followed a bike route, nearly perfectly. I must also note that Ben, with only a small front ring, kicked my butt the whole ride.

Sunday, was the Big Ring Classic, aka WORS 3. I took off WAY too fast trying to be the first to the single track, not knowing that there was about 3 miles before the single track started. So I burned out a little earlier than i wanted. I did manager to recover and and finish only 40 seconds behind the leader, the same guy who beat me by over 7 minutes in the previous race. It was a successful race over all.

This week has been a week of rest of me. As of Saturday evening, I have only been on a bike once, and that was on a mountain bike Thursday.

Until next time....

Good Week

2008-05-29T21:14:00.002-05:00

This week has been a good week. I won my first fixed gear track race. It was a 3 lap scratch race and i won by a few meters, or at least that is what the guy in second place told me. the rest of the night was ok, nothing special.

the second part is a lot better. i just received this email

Dear Racer,

Congratulations! You have qualified for the 2008 USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships scheduled for July 16-20, 2008 at Mount Snow Resort in West Dover, VT.

in only 2 race in my life i qualified for nationals. i am debating on going. and i know its nothing special to qualify, thousands of people do it yearly, but racing in VT, sounds like sooo much fun.

anyways this week i am racing WORS 3 in Wausau. anyone else wanna go? I am heading up saturday and camping up there until the race on sunday. normally i would drive, but i dont want to drive that much on sunday, and a preride would be wonderful!.

Until next post.

PS this wasnt editted or reread

tim

2008-05-19T06:55:00.001-05:00

tim
Originally uploaded by refusethestate

Tim 2nd cit. clyd

2008-05-19T06:54:00.001-05:00

Tim 2nd cit. clyd
Originally uploaded by cardstock

Tim

2008-05-19T06:53:00.001-05:00

Tim
Originally uploaded by cardstock

DNF + 2nd = Good weekend

2008-05-10T21:20:00.002-05:00

Baraboo = DNF

I flatted 5 mins after i pulled myself from the hillest road race i have even been on. Hillsbouro was bad, but Baraboo was nasty. DNF official one, unofficial two. there isnt much else to say, it sucked

Iola (WORS) =2nd place in Citizen Clydesdale under 34

I decide to attempt a mountain bike, and i must say i had more fun in that one race than ANY road, or crit race i have even been in. I mean the pre and post races weren't all that different, i know a ton of people no matter where i do. but the race it self was something amazing. I personally thought my race was very bad, but i was only 10 mins behind the leader of my group.

I was so excited about the race i am went out and got of Gary Fisher X-caliber this past week. Next stop WORS stop 2 Treadfest in Lake Geneva. after doing a race i promised a teammate i would help him win, Monsters of the Midway.

Iowa Day two (crit)

2008-04-28T21:51:00.002-05:00

UPDATE on day one: i heard the wind speed was a constant 30mph, which explains the near 50mph back stretch that helped me spin out my 53x11, and the need to pedal downhill to maintain the 13 mph i had just climbed a hill at. the lesson for day one, wind SUCKS!!! when its a head wind, but ROCKS!!! when its at your back.

before i get to day two, i need to explain more about the evening of day one, that turned out to be very useful. While at dinner Donny, the head of Punk Rock Cycling, advised, Ana, Maria, Kelli, Jen, Clara, Jessi (no E), and I (yeah i was spoiled this weekend by hangout with beautiful women all weekend), about how to successfully race the crit. He told us about the course, which most of us haven't seen before, he told us how we should climb the hill and the idea gear which we should be in (it was a big gear, high speed, power climb). He explained all the things that could help us know the course the best we can, without actually riding it.

Okay back to day two. I woke up, ate, and headed to the course. I parked in the parking garage, but took my race bag with me. I ended up putting in Maria's van, I HEART THE PRC girls. After riding 3 to 5 laps with them, i watched the first couple races, including the Cat 4 women, which the PRC chicks kicked ass in. I tried to spin around the parking lot, but with so much nervous energy i had a hard time cheer and warming up. As the race before mine ended i took a lap to double check the course.

My race was the Cat 5 and the Col D race mixed into one. I lined up about 3 rows back, and we were off. It was a VERY fast start, and with a short course that isnt always good. the laps were 1km long and the race was only 10 laps long. for the first 5ish laps i stayed with a couple people, but with hills ,being the enemy of big guys, i started to slow. I ended up getting pulled on the final lap because i got lapped. O well that is life.

After a shower at the hotel and I was back to watch the rest of the PRC girls race in the W 1/2/3 race. Sydney Brown (Team Revolution) lapped the WHOLE field, and about half the field twice. Back to the hotel so Jen, who i rode/drove down with could clean up and we could check out. I must now pause and give a shout out to the Baymount inn and suites in Coralville IA for the 2pm check out they granted us. After checking out we headed back the course to watch the men's 1/2 race. The pro men made the hill that made me suffer look like pie 40 times.

5 hours later i arrived at home, hating wind, yet wanting to go back to Iowa as soon as i can find a race and visit the PRC girls. Maybe Snake Alley? I can only hope. Until then i am looking forward to the track training day at the Northbrook Velodrome. ;)

Iowa Day one (road race)

2008-04-26T21:28:00.002-05:00

So after driving 5 totals hours, with 2 stops with Jen Greenburg, to get to Iowa, I found myself at the Baymount Inn and Suites in Coralville, IA. One the trip here i realized i left both my water bottles at home, and niether Jen nor I knew how to get to the course the next morning. While the water bottles are easy to figure, the idea of of having no idea how to get to the race day seemed to be an issue. Once at the hotel it dawned on me that i had a laptop and could get the directions to the course from a website. (score one the laptop)

I semi good night sleep later, i awoke to my phone alarm and the sound of winds howling outside. I "dresses" and got some breakfast before heading out with jen to the course. Upon arriving at the course, I realized the wind was 10 times worse than i thought. O well, i drove this far, so why not race. Our start was delayed about 40 mins due to a crash in the Master race that required the the closing of the race and 2 ambulances. While once we got started it was off into a 20+mph head wind. On a 4 turn course, the wind at some point has to be at your back, when it was i spun out my 53x11 gear while going 47ish mph. with that kind tale wind, it meant the head wind SUCKED!!!! at 12mph it was a LONG front straight into the wind. 2 laps later i crossed the finish line in 18 place. not bad, but no in the lead pack that dropped this big guy while riding into the wind.

I stayed at watched Jen race in the Womens open, she placed 8 with her teammate Jane placing 6. (both are cuties, i will admit) After a drive to the hotel to change and shower finally, we and her teammates from PRC and 2 girls, Clara and Jessi, headed out to Atlas to get some dinner. After eating some good food, i, clara, and jessi headed back to the hotel to type race reports and head to bed. While jen and her teammates headed out to do there thing.

Am now i am going to play a game of chess and and go to sleep. Stay tuned tomorrow for for Day 2, a crit.

More updates coming

2008-04-25T13:16:00.003-05:00

one of my many reason for the lack of updates is the face that i have to sit in front of my desktop computer and that isnt always possible. to after getting my tax refund i have been able to purchase something i have been looking at, researching, and lusting over for nearly 2 years, a laptop. so right now i am watching Law and Order in my living room, posting an update. I am home on a friday because i am heading to Iowa for the old capital crit and road race this weekend. And now that i have a laptop to take with, i can update the races when they are fresh in my head. Until later.

Shaved

2008-04-23T00:15:00.001-05:00

My season has now officially started. I shaved my legs for the first time this year today. in celebration, i took the day off riding.

Long Over Due 2 or is it 3?

2008-04-21T23:06:00.003-05:00

I have been going to races, but to say i raced would be a stretch. I have stayed in the pack for 75% of the time, but i always ended up getting dropped. i am starting to think its because i never warm up enough, i mean other than the givin reason of my legs exploding like a tire running over pieces of a old beer bottle. O well there is always next time.

speaking of next time, this weekend i am going to Iowa to race the http://www.oldcapcrit.com/. i was convinced/told that i was going, so i must go.

in other news, with my tax return i might finally be able to buy a mountain bike. I have my eye on a Gary Fisher 29er. yeah i talked about a Trek 69er, but after seeing the GF's in person, i am SOOOOOO sold on them. weather i get one or not will depend on my bank account.

that is all the news i have for now. ill TRY to up date more often.

PS This post is dedicated to Julie, without her, i might never up date. (see link to her blog on the said)

Its Been A While

2008-03-23T16:13:00.002-05:00

Yes I have been riding
No I havent been writing somewhere else
Yes I have raced
No I didnt win
Yes I tried hard
No I am not in shape
Yes I was the first of my team to sport the new kit in a race
If you have any othr questions just shoot them my way.

Now important things. I just brought new cycling shoes. (sorry Julie) but they are Nike Lance Limited Edition. I got them at the Bike Expo in Milwaukee because they were on sale. For those who dont know Nike is getting out of cycling, they bank on being able to do bulk business and cycling isnt about bulk. So all of Nike's cycling stuff is 50% off.

Random Notes, here is a list of cycling videos i want to buy, if you can think of others, PLEASE let me know.

Quick Silver
American Flyer
Breaking Away
The Fling Scotsman
A Sunday in Hell

Other cycling news, my baby, the Madone 5.5 Pro is getting new bars, bar tape, and a very nice cleaning and lube. O and I have a secret, once it arrives i will share.

Sorry with I had more. maybe later this week.

2008-02-02T19:20:00.001-06:00

April
5	CRIT	Evergreen Park Criterium	Sheboygan, WI
13	CRIT	Great Dane #1	Madison, WI
19	CRIT	Brown Deer Criterium	Milwaukee, WI
20	CRIT	Great Dane #2	Madison, WI
26	CRIT	Whitnall Park Criterium	Hales Corners, WI

May
3	ROAD	Baraboo Road Race	Baraboo, WI
4	CRIT	Wheel & Sprocket Crit	Neenah, WI
4	MTN	Iola Bump & Jump	Iola, WI
10	CRIT	Muskego Park Criterium	Muskego, WI
17	GP	Leland Grand Prix	Leland, WI
18	CRIT (?)	Wheels on Willy	Madison, WI
18	MTN	Treadfest	Lake Geneva, WI
24	WEMS	12 Hours of GEARS	Kewaskum WI
31	STATE TT	State Championship Time Trial	Brighton, WI

June
1	CRIT	Sussex Criterium	Sussex, WI
1	MTN	Big Ring Classic	Wausau, WI
8	STATE ROAD	Spring Prairie Road Race State Road Championship	Spring Prairie , WI
14	STATE CRIT	State Criterium Championship	Elkhorn, WI
14	MTN	Subaru Cup	Nordic Mountain (?)
15	MTN	Subaru Cup	Nordic Mountain (?)
15	CRIT	Fond du Lac Criterium	Fond du Lac, WI
21	CRIT	Grafton Criterium	Grafton, WI
22	MTN	Reforestation Ramble	Suamico, WI
22	CRIT	Sheboygan Criterium	Sheboygan, WI
28	WEMS	Levis / Trow 100	Hatfield WI

July
5	ROAD	UWW Road Race	Whitewater, WI
6	CRIT	UWW Crit	Whitewater, WI
6	MTN	Chippewa Valley Firecracker	Eau Claire, WI
12	WEMS	12 Hours of Blue Mound	Blue Mounds WI
19	WEMS	Metro Challenge	Franklin WI
27	MTN	Alterra Coffee Bean Classic	Franklin, WI
28	CRIT	Elm Grove Criterium	Elm Grove, WI

August
2	US 24	USA Cycling 24-Hour Mountain Bike National Championships (24-9)	Wausau, Wis.
10	MTN	Sunburst Showdow	Kewaskum, WI
16	WEMS	Blufflands Epic Enduro Race	LaCrosse WI
23	CRIT	Chiropractic Criterium	Brookfield, WI
24	TT	Chiropractic Partners Time Trial	Dousman, WI
24	MTN	Border Battle	River Falls, WI
30	WEMS	Stump Farm 12	Green Bay WI

September
7	MTN	Smokin Spoke	Rhinelander, WI
27	WEMS	Thunderdown in the Underdown	Merrill WI
28	MTN	Wolf River Rendezvous	Shawano, WI

October
4	WEMS	12 Hours at John Muir	La Grange WI
12	MTN	Wigwam MTB Challenge	Sheboygan, WI
18	WEMS	RAIN DATE for WEMS	RAIN DATE

http://www.wors.org/news/
http://www.wicycling.org/index.htm
http://www.wemseries.com/

I hope that is easier to read.

WI CUP, WORS, and WEMS

2008-02-01T21:23:00.000-06:00

Here is a compiling of WORS, WEMS and the WI Cup schedule. If you use it somewhere else, just let me know. If you find errors, i will correct them, if you tell me.

Cold Riding

2008-01-30T17:50:00.001-06:00

The list of Clothes i wore today while riding in 7 degree with a wind chill of -25
Helmet (duh)
Black hood sock
Under Armour Hood
Oakley Goggles
Planet Bike winter gloves
Under Armour mock turtle neck
Twinkies cycling jersey
KR bike club vest
Nike Cycling jacket, windproof
Under Armour leggings
Team Discovery cycling bibs
Trek summer leggings
Twinkies socks, to match the jersey
Under Armour cold gear socks

(not pictured, Lake boots, and old Trek 1000)

I rode, I read

2008-01-28T00:29:00.001-06:00

So i got up Saturday, rode in the very crazy unshoved roads around my house. I did about 10 miles, but it felt like 50 with all the snow on the ground. I should have used a mountain bike, it would have been safer. But i ended up getting a fever and sleeping most of the evening. too bad too, i really wanted to go see Rambo with my friend Ross. (only friend from high school) O well, it happens, i guess i will have to see it next weekend. It will at least give me something to do while i am watching the dogs for my parents. They are going to MN to visit my sister. I would love to go, but I promised my team, Half Acre Cycling, I would make all the team meetings, since i am currently the only nonflatlander on the team. (GO WISCONSIN) But i guess that means i can do whatever i want on Friday night, since everyone will be gone. (that should read, I will spend the night at home in front of the TV and/or the computer, seeing as i have no life.)

Speaking of no life, directly yet more indirectly related, I have found a new blog. I relate to this blog more than words can express. I want to share the link, but i also don't want too. It's one of those, do i accept that i so closely relate to this blog, or do i attempt to hide from this. I have been hiding for a while, and doing a fairly good job, if you ask me. I have even been debating weather i should email this blogger, and let them know they aren't the only person like this in the world. (pee break) Or maybe i will email this blogger a link to my page. That way when they read this they will understand, and anything else in the email would just be wrong. Yeah that is what i might do, be as indirect as humanly possible. I think i would get along with this person extremely well, but i but that will never happen. O will, i guess that is life, you lose some, and then you lose some more.

Peace out you extremely few readers, if there are any.

quick up date

2008-01-24T23:27:00.000-06:00

so here is why i haven't been posting. the nights are dark, and i find myself mid evening dreaming (like day dreaming but in the mid evening) about stress free rides on a open road with no potholes, and a long hard hill i cant seem to top. during the day i work, well get a workoutish. I mean i deliver packages at work. they range from 1oz to a couple hundred pounds that require a forklift. But basically anything under 150 i carry. My average delivery amount for a day is about 70-90 packages/chemicals. Its a chemical company so they unbox the chemicals and log them before i can deliver them. I should note that my deliveries span 2 city blocks, and its all by foot and all in 4 1/2 hours or less. I am also trained on 3 of the 4 mail runs (so i know about 150ish mail stations by heart over a 4 box campus), the receiving dock (and all the deliveries they do(less than i do) but they get to drive the fun fork trucks, i don't :( ), and other basic mail room related things. I make crap for money, but i like the job because I NEVER have work to do at home. once 3ish hits i am GONE! in the summer its nice, but winter am indifferent. i walk an average of about 5-7 miles a day at work, and for a lot of it, i am either carrying something or dragging a overly loaded cart around. Yeah fun.

As soon as the morning temp is around +5 i will be riding again. I cant justify riding in sub zero degrees because i have that much better of a chance to get sick and screw my spring training over. O i am also on a low cal(ish), no taste diet. It sucks, but its saving me money. I now make my lunch instead of buying an overly price greasy lunch at work.

so that is my life as it stands. I am going riding Saturday reguardless the weather. I also really wanna try the Tour of Chicago, but i can't (for certian unsaid reasons) skip church again. no i am not worried that my soul will burn forever if i miss church (i miss enough that if that was true i am ROYALLY SCREWED!!!!), its very different reasons. Maybe if all works out i can explain it to you very few who read this later.

Night all YOU few who read this, or is it good day. I guess it depends on when you read it.

WTB: Camera

2008-01-14T21:40:00.000-06:00

So i am looking for a camera. Not just an ordinary camera, i have a digital rebel with tons of lense already. what i am looking for is a small camera that is durable. I want to be able to carry it in the back of my jersey while i ride. I want to be able to crash or drop it, and not worry that i just just lost a lot of money. i want it to be digital, i want it to be simple, and i want it to be cheap. any ideas?

After seeing the pictures that Jill puts up, i know i can't compete, but it would make this dull blog more interesting.

Long Over Due 1

2008-01-13T23:56:00.000-06:00

I hope you are ready for another rambling post; because here it goes.

I made the first Half Acre Cycling team ride in Chicago. O yeah, drum roll please...... I AM ON HALF ACRE CYCLING!!! wooooooooooot I am finally officially on a team. WOOT WOOT!!!

ok back to the team ride, we had 4 total flats, i only had 1. It was a dirty, wet, flithy ride. Basically it was a what a typical January ride is ment to be, minus the snow. It was fun, annoying, and i can't wait until i can do it again. (thanks to kevin for a place to shower and chill after the ride)

next was a mountain bike ride with my friend chris at pets in Kenosha. it was raining the whole time, and since we had a tornado the day before, it was a very interesting ride. We were either riding on left over ice, mud, or though rivers that used to be trails. it was a kick ass ride with a friend i don't really get to see enough. and again i choose the WRONG GLOVE!!! GRRR that is twice in 1 months i have screwed up my glove choice.

the last ride of this post is a ben popper special. Its called, or i am calling it, the popper ride of pain. I believe he wanted to see how much pain he could inflect before we called uncle. it involved 13+ stories of climbing, and a lot of riding straight into a head wind. this was another ride in Chicago, but there was no flats (as in tires), WOOT! and for once, i choose the right gloves WOOT WOOT!!

anyways, i will soon be dieting or attempting, drinking better ie more water, and riding more. Most of my ride this time of year will be solo since all my group ride have been in chicago. the winter riding scene in WI isn't too big, so solo i will go.

that is it for now. I ride, i try (to get a date), and i survive.

Long Over Due

2008-01-01T23:40:00.000-06:00

Since my attempt to stay off the bike for a few weeks failed, i guess i will post. For Christmas i received, and have been using (the reason for the failed attempt) a trainer. Not a personal trainer, like i am that lucky. But instead a trainer to ride my bike on, and i am. i am riding my bike often, yet still not often enough. can one ride it often enough? i don't think so. For Christmas i also received a new pair of Lake Boots. *for a link look in the last post, i am too lazy to repost a link, so sue me!* I, for the third year in a row, failed to make any of the New Years Rides i had planned. I did have a good New Years, but this isn't the place to talk about this. (get your mind out of the gutter, i too much of a gentleman for any thing a dirty mind can think of.)

So my current plan is, to stay off the bike for one more day, and get back on the 3rd. There is 4 reasons for this: 1) i need a new rear wheel for my old road bike. (the old one got was created into the rear wheel for the single speed cross bike.) 2) in my job (note to come later on my job) there should be A LOT!!!! to do, and i will be pretty tired. 3) i could use one more day off to relax, and eat junk food 4) because who is going to tell me differently?

Now the note on the job, i hate my job, i need a new job. Any job is better then the job i have now. I make crap for money, i work part-time, and its a crappy job. While i will work any job, i do have a few simple requirements. I must make decent money, work full time (with benefits) -first shift work- (i ride in the evenings), and only work weekdays (i race on weekends). I am qualified to do many different kinds of work, and i learn very quickly. If you noticed, the type of work doesn't matter if they requirements are met, the job does matter if the requirements can't be met.

But on a happy note, i am VERY excited to begin track, and road season. The Mountain bike season i am slightly worried about. with the job thing the way it is, my plans for bikes are in flux. there is several possibilities of how stuff could work, and we will see what arises.

Until next time kiddos, take care.

2 in 1

2007-12-20T16:07:00.000-06:00

Kansas City

So i somehow got off on work Friday and traveled the 600 miles to Kansas City solo. Leaving at 5:30am let me arrive at the course in KC at 2:15pm. I arrived just in time to see the lovely Holly playing in the mud. (o.k. she was racing, but it was playing too) After meeting up with Ben, we watched Holly finish and clean up and heading to check in at our hotel, the Great Wolf Lodge. Ben and i enjoyed the nice water park while waiting for Julie to arrive from DC. After dinner, where Julie met up with us and like 90 other people we knew, we ate and relaxed for the evening, after some more water park, "yeah water park". we slept, that night i woke up every 2 hours and then would fall back to sleep.

Saturday was mainly chillen and watching cyclocross races in the snow, as it snowed Friday night. After a trip to Cabela's for some extra warm stuff and a snack, it was off to the Comfort Inn to check in before a preride. The course was nice and frozen. the ruts from the mud on Friday froze and made one hell of a hard course. Not only was it 1.9 miles only, but it had over 30 turns. After preriding until dark, we headed back to the hotel to clean up and head out with Klugs and Amy for dinner. Dinner was followed a restless night of sleep.

The next morning the alarm went off at 6:15 am. Since my race was at 8, i had to get up early. I tried to tell Ben to stay in bed, but he refused, mainly because i figured he wanted to watch me freeze my ass off. After arriving at the course around 7:15 i did my best to warm my legs up. While warming up my extra warm gloves were making my hands sweat, and i didn't want that during the race, so i opted for my thinner gloves. BAD IDEA!! i started towards the back, but made up tons of spots on the opening straightaway, while i slowly felt the blood leave my fingers. after a few crashed a head of me, i ran my bike and felt the remaining blood in my fingers leave. With no blood in my fingers/hands i had no control of my bike. Two nasty crashes later i pulled myself from the race, IE the DNS. After pulling myself from the race, i got to feel the worse pain on earth. That pain would be the blood surging back into the frozen parts of your body. i have broken 4 bones (sternum, clavicle, and 2 in the hand), requiring 3 surgeries (2 clavicle, 1 hand), 8 pieces of metal (1 plate, 5 screws, and 2 pins), 1 cadaver bone, and the pain of blood coming back is still the worst pain in the world that i have felt so far.

After warming up and chillaxing (chillen and relaxing), i helped Ben get ready for his race the best i could. Its hard to fill Julie's shoes, but i did my best. I must say Ben Kicked Ass. while he didn't win, he sure did beat a lot of people that have been said to kick his ass. Yeah, he showed them. Shortly after the final of the men's elite race, i headed home. another 600 miles later i laid my head on my pillow around 2am and slept.

Milwaukee

So Tuesday i did my first snow ride. My old school GT Aggressor with 195 tires is no match for the deep snow of the River trail in Milwaukee. O and disc brakes are a must of winter riding. 2 hours and A LOT of running later, we finished. My Lake Boots are now waiting for me at Ben's Cycle in Milwaukee.

Final notes.

1)I have a lot less hair now, i will post a picture when i can. (hair cut)
2) i think i have decided which bikes i want to get for the mountain bike season.
a) the Trek 69er 3x9
b) the Bianchi Rita 29er SS
2)dressing up for work gets you lots of attention
a)but no dates

Update soon

2007-12-18T09:12:00.000-06:00

my update about Kansas City will be coming soon. I need to caught up on some sleep and i will post it. 1300 miles in 3 days takes a lot out of you, but i am excited to go back to Kansas City next year to do it all over again.

untitled one

2007-12-10T19:50:00.000-06:00

That picture to the ----> direction is of me riding at the Flatlanders State Cyclocross race. Can i technically make fun of the land of Lincoln anymore?? O well that is for a whole another day and a whole different dollar. Speaking of which, WHO IS DOING DOLLAR HAND UPS AT NATIONALS???? or isn't that allowed? Any who, I left this blog 3 hours ago because i don't have a lot to say.

I am going to nationals, i am going to ride/race in the single speed race. It's not a national champ race because that already happened in Portland. But it will be one hell of a hard race no matter what. I fully expect to be pulled near the end, but I DO NOT!! expect to be last place. Maybe i set lofty goals, but i fully expect not to be last at single speed nationals. (watch i am last and someone will make me eat these words)

I am not in the mood to post much. I am watching Shooter, and drinking a TON!!! of water. (my race on sunday is 45 minutes long, and i don't want to pass out due to lack of water.) So i need to make a few decisions before bed, and then a few more days of work and its time to go to KANSAS CITY!!!

WOOT!!!

2007-12-07T20:37:00.000-06:00

It finally came in the mail. It only took 3+ months, but I now officially have my USA Cycling license! Other than that, i am officially signed up for the Single Speed Race at Nationals, which isn't for the national title. I am waiting for an email back from Jen to find out my about trip to nationals. Anyways, i am watching Next as i surf the internet. Yeah, am bored, on a Friday.

So I am crazy

2007-12-06T21:48:00.001-06:00

My mother came out to watch her first cyclocross race on Sunday. Sunday happened to be the Wisconsin State Championship Race. After the race she said i really was nuts, but she kinda thought so before because of how much i ride in the summer. Anyways the race went as follows; it was snowy, wet, raining, and cold. If that wasn't enough my shoes aren't water proof and i choose, for some odd reason, to wear shorts. The race started great, i some how sprinted past 40 something people into second. * my theory for the day, why not make someone else pass me, instead of making me pass them, and o did they pass me later on.* But shortly after starting i made mistake one, i didn't preride. In the 3rd or 4th turn lead to a sand pit, and if you stayed inside you were fine, but i went outside, and lost 5 spots. I had to put a lot of effort into not falling (mistake 2) and i started the blow up of Tim. After a barriers and a run up, i filled into line(mistake 3). I got passed by 3 or 4 people as the course was slick and people right in front of me were going down (mistake 4). Than came a long, not so steep, yet very slick, no well traveled yet, where i decided to power up (mistake 5). But as i powered i had to go though untraveled snow (the kind of snow that you kill your legs on) and killed my legs(mistake 6). The rest of the lap was uneventful.

My mom, later told me, I looked good during lap one, like i was going to die in lap two, and like i was going to make it during lap three. Well as you can guess my legs popped on the hill and run up on lap one, so during lap 2 i was HURTING!!!!!! But i did manage to recover somewhat, and finish 36 of 48 (if you call that recovering). O did i forget to say i also successfully called that i was only going to fall twice, and only did fall twice (mistake 7 and 8), on cold, wet, hard snow in the rain with only shorts on?

The rest of the day i spend in a nonstop cycle of getting my feet numb and wet and about to fall off, to heating and drying them off, to getting them wet again. Normally i would have left, but i had to use my "voice that echoes" those Ben's head during his race to cheer him on.

But on to the fun stuff, after talking to/with Julie and Andy, i decided, since i never shift during a cross race, why not race single speed. BY random chance... (whistle to self) this would also allow me to race in the Single Speed National s in less than 2 weeks. I haven't registered yet, but i really wanna go, i am just not sure where to stay, and i REALLY!!! don't want to make a 8 hour drive by myself. SO NOTICE TO ALL!!! (i should say to all 4 of you who read this) if you know a place i can stay, and someone who needs someone to drive with, we can even take my car (it has 2 internal bike mounts) LET ME KNOW SOON!!! i need to sign up by midnight Saturday. I plan on asking for Next Friday and the following Monday off. Anyways, I will be racing my semi-finished converted to single speed cross bike on Sunday at the Flatlanders (IL) State Race. There is a few things left to do on the bike, but I have all next week to get them done.

PEACE YO!!

PS here is a picture Amanda took of me Sunday.

Am offically CRAZY!!!

2007-12-01T18:23:00.000-06:00

While i have figured I was crazy for a while now, today made it official. Today i went on a club ride (no I am not on a team, its a club of people who ride) and we hit up the Des Plains River Trail. The ride started out cold at 27 degrees. The first half of the ride to Starbucks in Libertyville, IL wasn't too bad. My EXTRA HOT!!!! cafe mocha and warm sandwich assisted in my thawing process. This is the point in time i should note that i don't have booties or shoe cover and i didn't wear any thing other than thin tights and i didn't have anything to cover my face, only my ears.

The ride back (36 miles round trip, so 13ish miles each way) started with a flurry of 2 in the air. Knowing it takes some times for my legs to warm up, i hopped out front and spun my legs up to warmth. About the time my legs where no longer numb from sitting in Starbucks but not to the point of even mildly being warm it started to snow pretty good. While most of the trail you are sheltered by woods, there are several place that you are FULLY exposed. And being my dumb self i, still being out front, had my face pelted with hard snowflakes. These were not the gently falling snowflakes you artfully and creatively dance around in a feeble attempt to caught one on your tongue, but rather the type of snowflakes that you run and hide from. Because if these snowflakes created by the devil. For when they hit you, you fear they will slowly rip the flesh off your body until you are a pill of bones. For the first o lets say 9 miles on the way back, i have very little protection from the devil created snowflakes because the group i was with wouldn't caught me. But when they did they made me go out front. CURSES!!!!!

So off the front i go again, in a somewhat half-asses attempt to speed to my car. Once i finally reached my car, i found out i didn't shut the door all the way. It was just shut enough to turn off the lights so my car would start, but just open enough to let the entire drive side door to be covered in snow. CURSES!!!!! (number 2) The drive home wasn't bad, only took an extra 30 mins because people stayed out in the summer sun to long and let the sun bake away any knowledge they had about driving in the winter.

Summary, 36 miles, 13 in snow, didn't shut the door on my car enough, need to buy booties, and warm leggings, excited for tomorrow state cross race (the next blog will explain this), and i am sleepy.

Jingle Cross Rock 2007

2007-11-26T22:58:00.000-06:00

This past weekend while most people were eating leftovers and sitting on the couch, I along with a few hundred other people decided to travel to Iowa. Despite common belief we did not go there to eat corn, we went to race in The 2007 Carousel Volkswagen Jingle Cross Rock cyclocross race. This being my first season riding (I am not good enough yet to call it racing) cyclocross, I had been debating traveling over 250 miles to go ride. But after realizing the worst I could do is die, why not go and ride. I knew a few people who would be going, namely Ben and Jen, I also knew a lot more people that I have seen ride in the Wisconsin Cyclocross Series would be there. Namely the heavy hitters of Tristan, Marko, and Brian. (I don't claim to knew these guys personally, they just ride very well, and I try to learn all I can from them.) Well I signed up 6 hours before preregistration ended, after quickly booking a hotel and telling myself I am not crazy for attempting to do this. I then started packing.

I woke up Friday, still believing I was crazy for doing what I was about to do, but I said screw it and left. Four and a half hours of uneventful driving and I was in Iowa parking at my hotel. I knew I would run into to Ben and Jen at some point in time, but I nor them expected it to be 30 seconds after getting there. (they probably passed me while I stopped to get some McDonald's (great pre-race day food huh?)) I checked in and moved all my bags and bike into the room. For those questioning why I took the bike into the room, you need to ride your bike more and you will understand. I started to settle down for what I figured would be a pretty uneventful night and my room phone rang. Ben, with Mike, Dan, Holly, and Kevin invited me to dinner. (Kevin and Holly being married to each other are both on Ben's new team Killjoy) After dinner Ben, Dan, Mike and I headed down to the pool because "The Elite Races go down the 100 foot water slide". A few hours later I poorly attempted to sleep before a ride I was still unsure I should be doing, but it was too late now to turn back.

After a quick pre-ride of the course on frozen solid ground I attempted to thaw my feet out before my race. I turned out I was the 23rd person to register for the Men's Beginner Race, so I got to line up 3rd row on the outside. To date that was my best starting spot yet. At the sound of the cow bell we were off. The outside opened up and I was able to pass a few people, but after the first set of barriers I took the corner a little wide and lost more spots than I had gained in the start. The beginner course had a shorter run up and we didn't have to climb the huge hill everyone else had too (it pays to be a crappy rider some days :=)) The rest of the race was pretty uneventful, other than a dollar hand up from Ben in the sand pit. It was just me slowly passing slower people and ending up 20th of 32. My highlight of the race was being able to out sprint Sarah Huang at the finish. She may be a junior be she has more than once out sprinted me on the track, so today the revenge was MINE!. The rest of the day was pretty much me screaming and yelling for anyone I knew. By the end of Ben's race I could barely talk. The day ended with a shower some more dinner with the same people as the night before, a dip in the hot tub, and a quick slide or 2 down the huge water slide.

That night I ended up waking up at 3:30am cough horribly bad. After coughing for 20 minutes I took a warm shower to clear my chest and finally fell back asleep around 5ish. Two hours later I was up packing to head to the course and then home. It was a earlier start on Sunday, and the grass was frozen solid making for a VERY slippery warm up, but since the course didn't change too much I did 2 laps and retreated to the car to warm up. I managed to get a 2nd row outside starting spot. The bell went off and i took off, I managed to be 5th at the first barrier and 3rd over it. But some guy decided to put his front tire between my shoulder blades and then use my calf as a way to put his bike down. I recovered and managed to be at the tail end of the first group. Down the back stretch I had ice chucks from the grass throw at me from people's back tires. The mini riding uphill was the worst part of the course for me. Lap one, some guy in the middle fell forcing everyone off the bikes, lap 2 my back tire slide out on some mud and I went down, and the 3rd and finally lap I make it over the crest when my bike decided to drop its chain. Needless to say, it wasn't a good day for me. The sand pit helped prove it. After day one the groove in the sand pit was nice, a little too nice. First lap I carried too much speed in to make the S-style type exit and had to dismount, lap 2 I thought I had the exit dialed in, only to find out I was 2 feet off. This resulted in a meeting of my hand and brake lever into a solid cement wall. (nothing is broken, just a VERY sore right wrist) Lap 3 was uneventful. With all my crashes I ended up 26th of 40. After cleaning myself up and a quick trip to the hotel to help someone, I cheer and screamed my lungs out until I had to go. Four and a half hours later I was home and ready to go again.

Overall I learned a lot, I learned the start is the key because no matter how strong you are, you can't over come a bad start. I learned I want to travel more to races, while it might be kinda costly, its a completely different animal when your away from home.
Next up the Wisconsin State Championship for Cyclocross, with new wheels (shh) and a new outlook, I might not do so bad, who knows I could ever made fifty bucks from Ben.

Photo Credit goes to http://bikeiowa.smugmug.com/

PS please forgive my grammer, its late and I don,t care to fix it

Test

2007-11-23T00:27:00.000-06:00

This is my first blog, its a test. I really can't write a lot because i am supposed to be packing for Jingle Cross.