MNSCS#4 Kato

I must start with LCR teammate Lonnie (thank's Jay & SkinnySki.com). Lonnie, Rebecca's manly man had a clothing accident. The shorts got mixed with the lipsick in the wash? Hulk, wear those shorts at Leadville & you'll hammer Levi, Lance, Dave & Tinker. Pictures...Watch Dana's site for race pic updates as well. Duncan dnf. Brake cable snapped. His quote, "Dad, I know you fixed it but i'm going to enjoy my dnf." He proceeded to eat & be merry until his 1:15pm water bottle duty time. Thanks to all da crew. With 7hrs (including Kato race) and gym leg workout earlier in week....a real "build week". Seriously volume is for not in 09'. I'd love a 10+ hour ride week! Legs we're ready to work some more!! Yet, I decided after hitting turn 1 in lead 1st wasn't right so I backed off and paced leaders. SS 34x19 was feeling sweet hit woods 4th or 5th after lead climb & traverse. I felt quite good at 43 gears, I mean yrs. It's all training for Aug/Sept. Into woods skidding w/crow rear tire "Fisher said, nice save". Lap2 found my crazy old man place 4 day pacing w/Devin for 2 laps. Wait a sec, how come most fast guys either have no kids, work at b-shop or 10-20-30 yrs younger? Anyway Jake & I had fun on last laps. Start of lap 4 asked for water- Jake snuck in, got the water splash on the back. I said, "Lucky" napolian like. A few feet later my water team couldn't run fast enough to deliver either. Good times! Good luck to all heading to Nat's. Til next time.

Latest Sponsor Origin-8

So far in 09' DuLAC was the only race I opted for squishy fork. It was soft yet around here in flatlands suspension hardly needed. It's rare for me to go there. I prefer rigid for climbing more than sus monkey complications. Anyway found a fork that rocks. Although Origin-8 has the carbon fork in all steath black I went with White top and bottom version, she matches my gal Kona. Claimed weight 720 grams. Origin-8 fork looks good and a match to any other. See you at Kato. Other blabber. Family time tonight wins over Buck. After take apart and reconstruct in my yard we now have a used trampoline. Holy crap those kids can go forever on that thing. I hurt. Beat myself down and knocked myself out. Saw the wizard and escaped the light. Getting old, learning things the hard way but won't give up. Watch out for the crazy old man!!!!

Buck#6 Demolition and Derby

Not Unlike Puke and Rally First Off: it was an awesome night with perfect weather, a good turn out and a slight course change-up. It was tacky trail with sunny skies. My legs we're still a bit sore from DuLac?? The legs had the "been working" sensory feel going on. Never know if that means they are ready to rip or will go KA-put when they have that feel. Anyway the starting line-up was odd as it was not a straight line instead more concave shaped. I think the odd shape start line-up caused the wave from the left to merge with right wave which caused a crunch.......I was captian crunch. The Race: The ussual group got off fast. As I spun up the SS I noticed Andy and another rider near my sides with Brendan, Barry and a few up ahead leading out. Although I held my line it appeared everything closed in on me!! That left/right wave merge mentioned above. My bars we're too far back(near Andy's seat) for me to elbow and/or help hold our group steadfast. As I tried to slow and avoid Andy IT HAPPENED the long balance and hope. Oh nooooo as I slowed my bars turned left as the right bar side hooked Andy's seat, Thornquest on my left went over my wheel or leg. In an effort to stay upright I jabbed my foot right and it totally got caught in Andy's spokes!! In an awkward position I went down taking Andy's spokes with. We got up and Andy ran (later to get knocked down and run over again!). Andy was racing for top three and he pulled a Superball move last night. Andy & I hammered every opening available trying to get back to the front. Found out later Sam was behind us with chain issues. The masses get respect. We've got a lot of riders out there. Every time I'd pass a few I'd recover in the next group. Every group was moving fast. Everyone was racing for it!! In each group between passes every time I'd think, I'm breathing way hard, this hurts and these guys are fast. Somehow I kept going and was able to work from near the back to near the front. My leg hurts today as it must have been ramped or something. My front rotor is bent. I'm happy with the experience and as always never give up, the start is only a small part of the race. Of couse I'll forget I just said that in about 2 minutes. BTW SUPERBALL worked his way up from near last to 4th(2nd oa in series). Nice!! Sam crawled back up to 3rd last night. Good show all!!!!! Penn Cycle Results

MNSCS#3 DuLac ShingleShpeed

MISSED BUCK: Called away to funeral in Ohio Thurs. Duncan & I hoped to make it back in time for DuLac. Without ride in legs since Wed., it was a mystery how quick legs would open. One bonus of Ohio trip, Duncan's Flop went Hawk, then removed to Short for the funeral. Bonus? DuLac ROCKS: DuLac is an awesome course. Once in the woods the roots & swoops just make it feel so natural. A bit like colorado trail, CO. I wish Afton & Hillside still had those roots &/or debris. THE RACING: DUNCAN kicked it in Sport again. He sufferred good as he's been a real good school boy. Physical work is an adjustment. He's fumbling into another good teenage racing season. I never push & always cheer his decision to race. Nice job cranking those Hills finishing strong!! Back on shingle shpeed my race went real good. SS rocks, but I can totally tell my weak points. I know what must be done. Generally my racing is improving. Although initial climb really hurt I bounced back (opened up after doing nothing for days). On "first" climb SS forced me to hammer or die. Like any good fool I hammered. Topped out basically with front 5 guys. Then spent most of the ridge recovering. Before "final start climb" Devon snuck in front, right in front, for me to draft or something. I was seeing stars maybe not that close. Regardless a good move, prob picked up from his team mate Hollywood :). It was all I could do to "pedal" last climb to the chair lift tower!! Love that SS tourture. Lap 1 Chuck meandered through the woods as Tom, Barry, Michael, Myself & Nikolai followed for 10th spot. Andy was up ahead in sight. Brendan, Jack, Jesse, Eric, Sam, Chris, Eric, Jake & Devon we're out of sight. With our 10th-15th spot train Nikolai was quite eagerly asking to get by. No where to pass, stuck, I felt good & replied I'd like to get by too. He was persistant. Finally on an uphill I hammered hard to pass Micheal. At least I didn't have to hear that anymore. Well I could still hear it. I actually gave a friendly yell up, come on let's go xyz. Honestly none of it bothered me and thought it a bit humorus. The train of 5 continued. I remember telling Tom, money in the bank. As I knew it would all shake out. To Nikolai's credit he has gone from middle to top of expert class in a race before. But traffic is price to pay for slow start. Really late in lap 1 trail gave way to passing. I led group at a bit faster pace to finish lap1 woods. It was a comforatable pace. I offered Nikolai the lead in woods but he seemed content. Even though some money in the bank is best for long race I wanted to hold my spot. To do this I needed a little gap before the big climbs. The SS was bound to kill me climbing. And it did, recovery & catching the remaining train peices was a challenge after cranking SS up those climbs!!! Next few laps I generally caught or chased that group. Long story short Tom, Barry & Michael raced smart ending ahead. Nikolai ended behind me as did Jake who hammered hard on start. Andy did kung foo move to his leg and Chris was slowing and I was able to pass both of them Lap3. I did catch Devin lap4. After he ignored my desire to pass, instead of being patient I hammered through uphill weeds to pass. I was laughing as it similar to the goofy things we do on team rides. I kept the pace up in woods but burned too many impatient matches. Devon wanted it. I was silly again. He passed, I followed home for 11th oa. My enurance is coming around. The SS will do the rest. Good times!

Buck#4 Family Style

Our Fam of 5 had fun at Buck last night. Man-o-Man we need rain cough-cough-sneeeze. I'll be quick on this post. Penn Cycle results click prior week, then current. The Race: Duncan did intermeadate, getting quicker. My Race: using SS (think I'm faster on SS). Brendan flew, Jesse & Sam passed chase. It was Tom, Barry, Charlie & I chasing Andy(4th). Basically Charlie fast off the start faded then came back lap4 in traffic. Barry & Charlie each sketched a bit, Tom & I stayed upright. Did ya hear that, no crash 4me. Anyway Tom & I traded leads a few times. Lap3 in lead I slowed once as thought traffic got Barry, Charlie caught on. Lap4 after 2nd pavement pedal broke(the spring). See pic. Crankbros will fix. SO ended 8th instead of challenging group for 5th.

Smoothing The Trail....."SAFE"

THANKS DANA!! A dangerous job you got there (link to Dana's photo's).

Click picture twice for full spray....

MNSCS#2 AFTON & 24 Hours of Leadville

A few overall comments and quick race recap for Grandpa, Dad(me) & Duncan. Oh, about the leadville comment in subject. 24 hours of Leadville? You in???

A huge turnout of racers, friends & family's. Cheering crowds. Perfect weather. Course was fast & dry dry dry. Nicely done event all around. Good job MNSCS & Afton (LCR too).

GREY SQUIRREL: 50+ Citizen podium alone at the top. Oldest racer?? ---> SQUIRREL JUNIOR: scored 3rd in age, now Sport. Nice job at Aff-TUN O climbing.

RED SQUIRREL: • Drafted lead pack off start & settled into 9th for 3 laps solid & comfy until Lap 4. • Lap 4: with legs twinging bad- Devin, Tom, & Dave caught-up & passed. Bye buy.... • Lap 4: Woods section before DLA (Duncan, Leo, Alta) areaI slid into home plate on right hand corner, hopefully Dana got pic. Flying near 20 mph? Stem knocked 3’ off to right. • Lap 4: in Afton gully after rocky downhill on one of the swooping woods turns- bike went left as I rolled head first toward a tree. My head impact & roll-over slowed me enough before impact. Whew, thought my ribs we’re going to do stopping work (head & roll over worked well as brakes!). • Lap 4: after said crash finagled chain back on then stopped again as stem was now 7’ to right. While fixing stem, CJ passed. • Lap 4: thinking about carbon fork, bike in general, stem & minor cuts..…carried on confused but happy to be alive!!! Must have been conused was still enjoying the race. • Lap 4: with CJ in sight on manhandler, was able to catch & pass CJ on manhandler. Finished 12th overall. • A little off my game as ended in slower time tier than last year, endurance will come. Not sure about those tires though. Maybe next time I'll go 22-24lbs vs. 26-28lbs. Overall a great day for the three of us!!! See ya next time.