Up Up Up

Hill climbing and people chasing.

Afton is a good bit of pain.

Always on of my favorites..

Wish I was Ocean sIZe

Goals are good things to have... I try to make them,,, I try to  stick to them

when I can,,,,

This morning I had goal in mind and it involved my single speed Lemond and

it all started with promise and vigor.

Then my rear tire went flat,, DU to a big ass staple in the rubber.

Pulled it out and still had time to go up Bliss and then repeat. 

That is when the tube must have been in between the rim and tire and K...boom...

My Kick ass wife came and got me and I changed shoes and bike and headed to work. 

This time up the Quarry road and then down bliss. Felt good and 

was happy that the gravel was dry. 

Through out the day at work all I could think about is bikes 

and what to do with my self torn about racing the Subaru Cup or 

racing the next day in Red Wing. One is a once in a life time chance to 

race against the top guys in the nation and the other is 

part of the series that i am chasing points in. 

Which ever I choose it will be good and fun and for two hours hurt just a bit. 

To clear my head I went out on the Spot and once again climbed the 

quarry hill and rode the uppers of the HPT as the sun started to set. 

Wheels felt fast and legs felt ok... 

Now rest and the the 5 AM train. 

Summer does not suck.

Been a long Time

It had been a few years since I went and raced the Big Ring and with the Subaru Cup coming thought it was a good idea. The family and I loaded up the Pop Up and some food and got rolling.
Sophia and I had enough time to ride on saturday and got to see the lines through the rocks and feel the speed on the wide open sections.
Now for me this is like a dirt road race and not the best format of racing for my self. Regardless my biggest fear was the start DU to the fast tight corners. I made it trough and was able to get on the wheels of the fast guys as the speeds climbed. For the first third of the race I was right where I wanted to be,,,after coming out on to ski trail shortly after the Hocheemin trail I lost the wheel in front of me and the group started to pull away. I went and could not shut it down,, then a group of three came around and I was so spent for the previous effort they gaped me,, was able to get on the wheels in front and sit,,,but they to started to pull away. This is pretty much where I sat for the rest of the race on the brink of no-man's-land. I stayed on the gas and by mid lap three and in to four felt good and was able to pick up a spot or two. Flat, Fast, and some tricky rocks.. Happy with the way that the day went,,yes it could have been better 21 out of some 70 racers is not bad but I was up front and should have stayed there. Always next time, and it goes down as some really good training.

 The Kid killed it finishing only three mins back from the only other Cat1 JR and beating 4 or so of the Cat 1 women. She railed the tech sections on her new Tomac Flint and enjoyed the new shifting and speed on the ski trails. Next up is back to Minnesota and Afton Alps which with all the climbing is so much better for me.. Good race ever one it was fun and we'll do it again real soon..
PARTY ON

What the

This 

Week 

it's 

all 

a 

Blur

Hard Charging

Photo from Dana

Sophia and I headed over to Mankato on Sunday.  I have had good luck racing there in the 

past. It fits my style being a ski hill race. In years past I have been on the one speed but this year

just trying something new. About a 50 yard dash to the first climb. I got there in good shape after working my way up to the front row for the Gun. 

Following the lines of those in front of me I hit the Frog Pond in good shape. 

Following close to SKJ I called out and went for the move up to the 5 spot and tires rubbed and

I was down. Back up and rolling with my Cateye now in my back pocket I could feel the chasers

coming and I did not want to loose my position. 

Over the course of the next tow laps I went back and forth finally getting passed

by young Jake he was flying. The whole time I kept reminding my self that this 

was my first real test of the season and I just needed to keep the pressure on no matter how hot is was and it was hot. 

I managed to pass two more in the last of five laps and crossed the line in 8th place. 

Landed in the money and got to cheer on the kid as she crossed the line. 

She killed it one hard race for her but she dug deep and pulled it out. 

The next test is the coming weekend in Wausau and that one will be a barn burner.

Thanks to all that have made this season happen I hope to have may more good days on 

the bike and watch this kid of mine grow in to a fast Cat1 racer.

New Big Wheels

The Kids new Wheels are together.

Need to have Tostin go though my work before  I 

send the kid off to play.

Sweet ride and I think that she is going to go fast. 

Thanks to Hwood & Kwood.

And Tomac!

Taint that hot

Well it is warm finally after a cool wet spring it is safe to say that the Heat is On. 

Such a change in the temps can make the body do weird things like sweat from 

places that you are not used to.

This morning at 5AM it was nice an cool 

minus the wind from the south. Again for an Emag ride their were

20 plus riders. All taking turns and pulling through. As the hills 

started to show and the ball of orange rose in the sky the 

whip started to crack on the sharp end of the group.

I like the morning rides when I can make it good people strong riders and 

gets you wired for the first part of your day.

Weather is going to be good for the weekend and the shop should be 

buzzing tomorrow. 

Bikes are cleaned and ready. This will be the kids last

ride on her Fisher before she jumps to the Tomac.

One Iconic name to the next. I can still remember Tomac riding a disc wheel on the 

kamikaze down hill in Mammoth.

Here is to a good weekend and some fast wheels... 

As Jay would say 

Party ON!!