Off'd' Racing

As weeks come and go by far the weekends are the best time. Not that this is a ground-breaking statement but the truth is everybody is working for the weekend. 

The whip has been getting cracked a ton at the salt mine,.,more more more is all they every want. 

The shorter day and extended work has been making it harder and harder to get out and and move.

Had the thought that I would head up to Portland East and do some cross racing with the Boss and crew,,, and then got the thought in my head that the last WORS race could be a good idea. 

Spent saturday getting the Spot ready for a war, put on some new fresh Geax tires with some new TnT Sealant. Cleaned up the drive train and bike and race bag was pack loaded and ready to go.

I knew that it was supposed to be moist as it rained off and on yesterday and today was supposed to be just windy with showers ending early,, Woke up to the sound of rain pounding the house and checked the radar and saw nothing but green and yellow on the way. Gave my ride a call and told him I was out then went back to bed.

Flash forward 8 hours I get a call from josh saying that the trail and race were nothing more than shit. 

Deep mud hard to pass streams, hard rain+ slop= a crappy day to race bikes,, not even racing I won.. my bike looks like this..

Now the weekend comes closer and closer to being done and not much to look forward to next weekend other than the weekend,,,no idea what the weather will be like and no races that I know of at least no mountain bike racing.  Time to get the Pip, back on the bike and healthy hoping that she can do the last MN High school race,, This virus she has had has kept her off the bike for over two weeks now. With all the kid has on the horizon time to get back to work..  Her team that she will be racing for next season is on their way here. 

Hotter than FIre

Sizzle Chest

Third year in a row of going to Winona for the 

twentynineandsingle Hot Lap. 

This year was a cold and windy which is a change from the years past. 

I opted for the Twin Six Metal super suit which is all

warm and fuzzy on the inside. After a good warm up seeing the start and finish of the race I was ready to take my place in space. 

I got the honor of starting one minute a head of Jesse and when the clock started I spun out 

that 34x18 as I hit the single/double track. 

Looking down at my computer as the one minute mark went by I knew that it was going to be anytime when it happened.  I made the hard right turn off the road and on to the long single track climb,,,, I put in a nice smooth grove as I worked my way up the bluff,,,, 

Yes I have raced this three years in a row but for the life of me can't seem to remember where anything is.. 

Got to the top of the climb and out of the corner of my eye I could see the Creep coming,, as I went to let Jesse around I drifting a corner with way to much air in my tires I did a nice ground check. 

Back up and rolling I pushed on through the new section of trail that Kevin W had made as a FU to all the logs taken out of the HPT's,, Log after log after log the flow of the race was getting knocked around. 

Flashes of past years started to flood my mind as I got to the quarry,, and I knew that it was time 

to go down hill,,and again I had that gear of mine spun out.  Charging down the hill

I crossed the line in forth spot.. 

Three years three top 4's and a shit ton of fun..

Creepy

Hot Lap Done fun was had Ground was found.. 

Speeds were high,, Beer was drank... 

One by Ones went really fast//

Now i want to ride more dirt,,,,

Tomorrow is another day ..

Twin Six and 29nSNGL  Kicked the asses of many ..

Rick Flair

I have spent the past few days getting back to my roots while I wait for stuff to show up. 

Stripped the Spot down to it's single version and have been logging some good miles to  and from work. I forgot how much a 34x18 can hurt going up the 30% grade of the quarry hill. 

The event of events is this coming Saturday up in ynoina .. The Holzinger  Hot Lap..

Trying to figure out what gearing I want to run,, have gone with a 2:1 the past few and think that i can go one harder,, or if all the shifting stuff shows up go with a 9sp drive. 

I do know that a Wisco legend and member of the 612 mafia will be 

racing so that turn the race on it's ear,, just like the old days.

I will be cold and should be a good day to run the 

Twin Six thermal skin suit,, stitches and all. 

Working on one of these,,,

time for something new and something that I could race and or just spend some hours on riding up and down the bluffs and dirt roads in the area.  Lots of good things coming together  for this one. 

Until then i'll sit and do the old debate about how many inches is just right??

 

Rub On This

You know that feeling of being all dress up with no where to go?

That is how I felt as I pick my self up off the ground sunday at the last 

Minnesota off Road Race. 

The motto of the team as we were all pretty much there was lets have a good race and just 

finish. Seemed like a simple plan.

Had to make some quick changes to get Hwood to the line as his rear hub blew up in warm ups,, and heckled the kid as she was standing on the side lines due to have mono,, and not that cool euro ski thing. 

The race got started around the the field and Justin took the lead with Paul on my wheel, as we got closer to the entry to the single track,,,which was a hard left hand turn, Justin pulled over to 

let Paul through and i jumped to get on his wheel just before the entry. Justin shut the door on me and

and I had nothing to do was hit the brakes or Tbone him,, next my wheels started to slide and had Justin sitting on top of me and the rest of the crowd trying to get on the one track. 

Once I got up and and ready to start moving I looked down to find my rear derailleur ripped off,, totally ripped off,,  the lower was gone and the upper was upside down and twisted in to the frame.

Game over and the day was done,, I walked over to the exit of the single track and waited to

see the one I had the issue with and blurted something NASCAR style. 

Watched the rest of the race and cheered on the team and other friends.

Pissed and let down on how things played out, and once I cooled down I was seeing thing a touch clearer.. But still pissed.   Wheel tweaked Hanger Bent,, brake lever broken, and all I got was this lousy t shit. 

This year was a great year it was a fast and strong year, learned a lot and still have a few hurdles to  clear,, Namely being a marked man,,,  Rubbing is racing and bumping will happen ,, Drafting happens,, team tactics and blocking not so good. 

Racing the Hollywood Cycles Team is a Privilege,, an Honor and one that I will fight for..

In the Words of the Boss Party ON!! 

Ride Fast Ride Hard and Ride with Pride!! 

Fork It

The last two days of the Bike Show are a bit of a blur,,,

not from some kind of drunken haze but more or less from my ear drums being blown apart by Ozorn.

Stevil and Swobo and Soulcraft and Ritte, put a party for the Rest of us in the bike industry. 

I finally found my self walking the streets of sin city looking for the 

Double Down Saloon for what would be a loud rocking Party. 

The best part of the night was beer was only 4 dollars a bottle the only trick was getting 

the bartenders to get to you to take your money,, but 4 bucks that is a deal in the shit hole that is Vegas. 

Waiting for the band to come on ran in to some Northerner who had been at Maplelag for the Laddies Loppet race. The the first cord was struck and i knew that I was in for something. 

Wobble my way back to the Hard Cock after watching Geano do his best bouncer act,, the Hotel was still jumping du to the hall and oats concert,, bed was all I wanted. 

Friday came and went and the show was over with very little fan fare. I did make it over to the cliff bar booth, to give Georgia one last hug and thank her for all the support and kind words that she sends the Pip....

As I wandered I saw some more stuff and tons of hipsters, and some others that I have cheered on for years.. 

The lion king was walking around and that was damn cool.

All said and done I was glad that the show was over and I was going home to the warm arms of those that I missed and my Family..  Until next time you slim hole of a town...