MNSCS#2 Steeple

FYI-I won't have time to attach race picture or video "links" like ussual. I'm in Phoenix on business for a few days. 107 degrees here... THE RACE: A real flip flopper. I came into this race with big mud tires, legs without rest and no spark off the line. But real happy to finish. Duncan did great, I'm real proud of his effort in that AM humidity. He even stood up on the hills lap 2! He got 2nd in age at his race!! Duncan on Steeple Course, credit-obviously http://johnpedersenphotography.com/ Race Highlights/Low Lights: * very heavy, slow off start * near wipe outs lap 1, don't change tires! * Zenna past me lap 2, I got her back & ahead before lap 3 start, she beat me to end of lap 3, I went on to do one more lap per class * I was past by 3 comp leaders lap 3 * I pass tail end of comp class my lap 4 * Duncan my fuel hand off manager, thanks son! * we both finished with improvement I'm as capable as late 2006. That's great because like last yr comp class, this 41 yr old expert virg will keep progressing. The Leadville prep of long rides with intervals mixed in has started. It makes for a hard next 30 days. It was nice to see success for some whom had it coming and a bummer for others off the finish line track. The 2007 saga continues........

Get-da-Fork-Out, for Miles

...love carbon forks. Edit prev post...fork it...it's put in time time!! Only 76 days/11 wks to Leadville 100 MTB. 3 wks until Horribly Hilly 120mi road event!! It's the time of year where i waver betwn absolute intensity & distance training..... Friday- 62 miles roadie, longest 07' ride (house to Mendota br. to 494 br. etc) Saturday- 10 miles with kids at River Bottoms on 29'er ss Sunday- 61 miles on roadie (to Delano and back) Monday 25 miles (2 laps) Mammoth dirt on 29'er ss Wed, Thurs &/or Fri planning more road miles & then intensity prep for Steeple.

MNSCS#1 EXPERT (1 Scoop)

Yep, I raced Expert. Wow. 2 years ago my first year racing, raced Sport. Last year Comp, if you'd asked me 3 years ago if I'd race expert I'd have said, "expert whaa?" Down and Dirty: Salem yuks, road racing like. It's just not my type of dirt MTB race. However, I'm faster than last year by over 7 min. More YOY improvement than most. It will be hard to podium this year, yet one goal is at least once. The Race: Off the line hammered hard behind Brendan and Justin. Was able to hit the water tower in about 12th.....but already 30ft+ off the leaders. Ofendahl passed me around the tennis courts(I'm sure he was thinking, gotta get around this goofball). On the way back to start finish I was pooped! I suppose my post prolouge place was high teens at start of 1st lap. Screaming pace compared to last year. Really fun. I was passed by about 4 on lap one. End of lap 2 Barry and I went back and forth a few times. He flew by at the start/finish line and that's the last I saw of him. On lap 2 & 3 I worked hard to catch Hollywood. Lap 3 Charlie was moving, I drafted on his wheel for half the lap. In the end, couldn't hang with Charlie but caught Hollywood. I was 5 feet behind Hylwd in the woods....then I made alot of "arrrrggh noises" and I went down on a rooty corner. He asked, "you ok" and I replied "yep". I think it was excitement, was feeling good and where I wanted to be. Funny, it was the same side my scabs we're from last Buck race. I was pissed. I got up fast, didn't look to see if blood was ozzing outta scabs, told myself to hammer and catch him! I caught view of him before the exit ramp then couldn't bridge to start/F arrgh. I was ready for lap 4 to be it, pushing really hard to keep Scotty, Minneti, Shane and basically everyone else off. I was in low areo position as much as possible. The whole lap I saw them coming. It was tought to hammer alone. Really tough. Finally Mike and Scotty bridged and advanced. I worked hard to stay with them but lost them for a bit. I was between groups yet again with pressure still in sight behind. Minetti was gone but I eventually caught Scotty mid-lap 5. I passed him, it was enough cheer for me to motor us home. LCR! The whole time til the final section the pack was threatening. It felt good to finally start gapping them....wow, tough crowd!! About those LCR team cheers, good people people! Final Thoughts: I'm quite happy with my mnscs results. Compared to last year I'm faster. I know what to do and like last year, I'll get much faster over season. We'll see how that translates with red label crowd. Scott Traczyk John Pederson (limited showing) scroll down to see Dana's Pics Jimmay pics Skinny Ski pics (sport only)

That's Just a Peak Over There

Vid from WA trip, my old hood. My line, "that's just a peak over there", makes laugh & cry. Anyway, really miss those mountains...!! BTW it was Glacier Peak. Trying out photobucket. Seems better than yahoo or google. Better resolution.

BUCK RACE "Wipe Out"

Yep that was me on the ground 20ft from the start of the Buck race last night. I was in row 2, decided to shore up in open slot row 1 between Hall/Guse. Bad move. It was obvious right side of line-up was going to require a merge left after start(congestion). At the gun I hesitated not to interfear with Hall. Next thing I knew my bars we're between Hall and Guse's seats. Guse veered into me to avoid that right to left issue mentioned above. Front tire lift over and down, on the ground. Didn't get run over, whew. Got up and chased for 11th, <53m> Duncan was super pleased, he finished a lap in about 22m. He likes his bike w/d-brakes, can ya blame him. Lucky kid. Branch and his Dad came out and raced, so Duncan hung out with Branch after the race. Alta came along tonight. It as great to see her riding the bike and without leg cast. She had a good time with Gracey (sp.), Teel, Keith, Sheila and all. Awesome so many peeps came out!! Can't wait til Amy and Leo show for the fun. Oh, I won a helmut in da raffle. It's a small road type, Duncan may sport it. Buck link on right updated to 2007.

Recovery Rides 4 kids

It took a while but finally found my heart rate again after Hillside single speed effort. Racing the geared bikes with my SS for 3 hrs was work. Finally recovered, ready to go.

The road bike has been, do I dare say, enjoyable. I like the big ring effect. It may be the ticket this year. Been able to hone in on desired effort and effect. Still freak'n scared, but riding road!

The other day, at airport, between waiting for flight and layover next day....I walked an hour straight, twice, with carry bag dragging behind. It kicked my butt. Not while doing it, next day, I was trashed. I suppose it was the amex effect too if you know what I mean.

Since I can't be totally selfish and do want my kids to enjoy the sport, we went mtn biking. River bottoms it was. We hooked up with Joe and his kiddo's for a great day. Out to the raft and back...don't worry moms!!!

Hillside, first race

Duncan & I headed to Hillside today. I did enduro, Duncan did 1.5 lap beginner class. Fun to see everyone. The enduro was 4.5 laps, some 30 odd miles, near 3 HOURS!! I used rigid 29'er SS 32x19. An aggressive endeavor but what the heck. Hillside is a twisty roller coaster ride with many short climbs and lots of techy fun. From the dirt road start I hit woods in a spinny mid-pack position. Not sure how many, but passed perhaps 5 during race. I was in 5th/6th by start of lap 4. I won't go into detail but without too many issues pulled off 7th of 23, quite happy since I was the only SS. Great first race. Found out the training is on track. I still have the race pace, whew!! Duncan had a great race. No issues with 1.5 laps. The course is tecky for little man, no problem. Nice Duncan, 3rd place in age(12-19). Swag was good and Duncan got a real live "wood tic" swag too.