Minnesota State Single Speed Champ?

MNSCS#10 Jail Trail: 6:30am alarm, Duncan citizen race started at 9:30am. In biffy even before toothbrush, before waking Duncan, it hit me hard. Bring the single speed! Yep, if "MN State SS" title was really on the line I'd race both SS & Expert races. PRE-RIDE: once on trail, figured out 19t wouldn't cut it. Long story short Revolution Cycle & Ski Shop guys we're da'bomb. They drove me to da'shop sold me a 17t fw then got me back in time. SINGLE SPEED Race 11am: I led out around parking lot. Hollywood answered later during prolouge, I passed him before single track & held. The rest was history. I won race by 4 min, 2nd place SS'er Hollywood 5 min back. I did this race for two reasons; Love my Misfit Psycles 29'er SS. ALSO, I couldn't let this race go w/o showing SS'ers should be challenged. A State Champ Title Race should be more than sport length! SS'ers are supposed to be hardcore right? ha ha Point. It's all good. EXPERT Race 1pm: slow start pace to enable finish. Hung farther back in pack. By lap 2 thighs we're doing electrical shock tricks. I slammed alot more energy drink (my bottle had 5 scoops of heed & enduro's). Yeah, nasty...but did the trick. By end of race legs all heat, no cramps, weird feeling. I didn't pound it just rode it out smiling! 2hrs 4m, 5th in age. DUNCAN's Race: He had a great day. He said some areas we're double diamond. Not sure what he meant. Perhaps after Chequamegon, the single track twisty is harder. Anyway, Squrrel Jr. scores 3rd in age, great job!! POST RACE a group of 10+ LCR/Farm went out for burritos & beverages. Guse, Miller & the Horner family showed up. It was awesome! Two races in one day for me, sweet!

Single Speed wins Chequamegon 40 mile

Yep, Jesse LaLonde won on 29'er rigid SS 36x16 (cheq site). His blog race story. Ducan nudged in ahead myDad in the 16. Mom 10 ft behind! First pic, Duncan in LCR blue w/mom in black/white jersey close behind. Second pic, Duncan on d move, Amy's wicked witch of the west leg, me on fence yelling GET'EM!! Last pic, D did the deed. Best part....neither knew they we're close til I started yelling & chasing. HA. ..Wha else, my SS 29'er rigid, killer fun at Ojibiwae (night ride) & Rock Lake. baha

24 Hour Makeover

Hit Mammoth w/LCR & Farm Sisters Saturday AM. However, on either side of that adventure answered my wife's wish. A bike makeover, yes that wish. Amy's been riding more, gone clipless and had the fresh paint request. I could't refuse. It's my old Cdale 700. In her eyes it's officially hers now. Give it back! I tore it apart Fri night. With Dad's help sanded & painted Saturday. Sat night rebuilt, vwalla!! She likes. See pics. She's going to stenzil & who knows what else to it. A fashion design, costume design major, just about anything "in fashion" possible. ..Hayward next for Dad, Duncan & Amy.

Hillside Race

I was able to join the Hillside fun last night. Le-mans start. Great turnout, fun course, beverages, lot's of lcr/farm folk & after bar made it good fun. Race as expected. Sam, Luke, Tom & I hit woods in that order. I kept them in sight for a bit. My 2 yr old Bonti Revolt tires had me sliding. Need to switch tires. I went down on a right hand corner w/shelf rut. The rest of race went quite sketchy, some falls, some rain, fun sliding, & Colbert chasing in distance. On sec4(?) in hilly area put hammer down, that's it. 4th place.

MNSCS#9 MAPLELAG

GREAT WEEKEND AT MAPLELAG !!!! Everyone shows for the fun and the awesome course. The best MNSCS weekend of the year! FAMILY ROAD TRIP (spot all 5 of us ?) ALL 5 RACED.....LOTS OF WORK Duncan and I both did all three events! STX, TT and XC....awesome fun!!! LOTS OF REWARD MAPLELAG sure was fun. We swam, ate great food, biked, hung out with friends, and as always really love everything about Maplelag. We already booked next year. Early in 3rd lap I was sill holding off Jan, Bill & others. That was then. By end of 4th I went from 1st to 4th age (13th oa). So goes the typical mnscs race for me. Good learning.....look out next year....I have it figured out now!! Maybe. In pic I'm on top, Doug out walking....both Swanson's not on results rouster but I count both in my 26 total XC Expert racers!! THE FAMILY RESULTS: -Amy 3rd in age Citizen(only -1m to Dunc) -Duncan 2nd in age Citizen, all 3 events 9th oa, he moved up to mid-pack! -Leo finished another Kids Comp race -Alta 1st in age Kids Comp -Heath: 13 of 26 OA ExpertXC (made top 15 payout!), -58sec TT, -1:16 STX (full 20 min MTB STX!!) 10th OA all Expert events. Some pictures are from skinnyski.com.

24 Hours of Afton (LCR RICOH!)

Great time! Nothing like a 24 hr ordeal. On LCR team of 4 we camped w/Farm gang. They have special set up each year, 10 yrs in a row out there. Somehow Goat got the draw for last lap at 4:45pm, did the deed, nice! 31 laps for our LCR team, 4th in vet. 7th oa? Not sure. Didn't care just glad to be there. John ski area manager made sure we had wood & everthing needed. Thanks John! Good job Larry & LCR on trails. Duncan, Leo, Alta & I didn't find time this year. Feel guilty about perks. Anyhow trail is harder, LOVE IT! Duncan was able to get official, "crew" nod to ride. On cash bet with sir Goat, Duncan did 3 full laps. As Goat put it, "Duncan made the money round." Duncan had a great time with his friend Branch who came out to camp too. Sean Nelson (The Hub) won solo w/18 laps? Congrats. Chris, Brendan, Ben & Paul laid out win w/34-36 min fast laps, slow laps near 40. My 2 fast laps 36 min each! I had a few 39's, few 40, perhaps slowest @42m? Anyway, super freaked bout my speed. http://www.24hoursofafton.org/results/ Later...

MAVIC REBUILD post LEADVILLE

Ok, relube of rear CRmax hub is standard. I was told do it every few months to be safe. My Dad eager to repair, said it was already lubed but out of spec, had some grass in it? Should'duh serviced b4 Leadville. Freewheel stick is common on CRmax. See pics, damage done. Anyway, remember "DUH" word. It almost cost me big Leadville buckle! I did bike last Wed & today. Wed was slow going to start then HR seemed back! Today went for 1hr & continued another 30min in heavey rain. It poured big time on Dad & I. Good ride. Will commute this week to get willies out b4 Afton. Then Maplelag & finally St. Cloud. A few Hillside too, Wahoo! Start school again soon, blah! Last 3 pics: on course, post glee, & find the CREW! Anyway, since Leadville I've returned to work, went to Vegas on business, bowled, baked cookies, hit game works & forced kids to help clean basement. Amy went to Cable, WI to ride this weekend!! She loves her new clipless pedals, YES!!!!