CX Confusion

Did I say my bikes have the big tires on? Fall MTB ready. Then why did I switch a pair of wheels to 30 wide CX? Ha ha .

• -tried my first cx race last night .
• -it took 2 yrs to finally do a CX (no school) schedule eased .
• -my 29'er scandium mtb looked funny but enabled a goofy finish .
• -my wheel fell off at the gun, bye bye 35+ racers .
• -i put wheel on laughing and caught many tail of packers .
• -rear brake was "gone" as pad must have fell out when wheel fell off, gone .
• -wiped out by applying too much front brake on off-camber, no rear brake .
• -front 35psi, back 45psi, I didn't know tires wouldn't blow like at Cheq40 .
• -lap 2, 5 min into 40, wheel fell off again I'm no quitter! put'er on .
• -later I caught the "they made put on a jersey with sleeves" Eddie .
• -with Eddie in tow went for 18 inch barrier hop at speed, back wheel hit hard .
• -knocked barrier over big time, cart wheeled magnificently after front wheelie .
• -i knew I'd fall down but it was hilarious fun .
• -i finished bottom 20% .
• -it was fun regardless if race had way more runs, run-ups than normal .
• -my inner legs don't hurt, it's my ass and back, arms ok .
• -generally last 2 months included no road rides, big ring muscles hurt .
• -ss next time, racing is the training .
• -oh I'll giver a couple more tries before pug season .
• -i also learned I'm in the 45+ age group cause next years age counts .
• -didn't hurt too bad, month since Buck VO efforts, kept mellow back of back .
• -maybe next race I'll put a race together....or do another circus show .

Signed MTB'er with misplaced 2.4 and 2.2's

2.4 & 2.2 NO SS STATE

Recent race re-caps soon. First just had to share it's big tire season!! I raced with my Fall tire selection of 2.4's or 2.4&2.2's. Both MTB's are set with big tread. The pug is also out. Picture and video from last Fall. Are you ready??

Nope, I didn't do the SS State Champ Race. I might have done well but after three good races last 3 yrs decided Hillside Friday Night sounded better, and it was. Hillside is a blast cause the course is a good workout and the after party (with bonfire) always a good time. I ran the SS 2.4 front and rear. Spinning like mad I was able to stay ahead of the crowd. Down the road and accross the parking lot for hole shot then kept that place. Duncan's bike is also set up ss rigid like pops. He had a good 1 lap race and pulled another 3rd place podium on hid 29'er. Leo hung out by the fire blew up mushrooms, cans and such (fire crackers). After the race we ordered a pizza. Domino's delivers! I gave a piece away as swag.

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St. Cloud Jail Trail Race- I gave Duncan the choice if he wanted to race Sport race, SS. He wanted to sleep instead. So that was the call. I hit the Expert race at 1:00 solo. The semi-long double track race start was sorta painful after prior night Hillside race. I was able to get into the woods top 10. From there I chased the leaders with Barry in front and Devin close behind. Devin snuk by and the train continued. The leaders we're in site for quite a while. After the prolouge around parking lot I went by Barry and Devin into woods, Nick followed. At that point I felt pretty good. With Nick chasing close he asked if anyone was up there. I already had my eye on Luke up ahead and let Nick know. I chased Luke down and passed him. Nick got by me later in lap and I chased hard. I began to tire a bit before lap 2, Luke went by. At start of lap 2 I saw Devin and Barry chasing. I held them off until the start of the third lap where they bot got by me. I rubber banded behind Barry and Devin trying to stay close, they slipped away mid-lap. I held the rest of lap 3 in that place for 12th. The straight aways we're more work as the 2.4 and 2.2 tires took there toll. In the woods the tires we're awesome. Love this time of year. Come on leaves, mud and cold. It's the wet and wicked season. Below video, try the log backwards....watch my tires...close to the edge and hop is the way.

Plus Three Minus One Cheq

Chequamegon 40 ReCap:

• AMY (Momma Sqrl) raced the S & F 16, won the Womens SS division. CT was second. They podium again. In years past there was more than 10 SS F's. This year they we're all scart. Nice finish time momma!
• STEVE (Grey Sqrl) also raced the S & F and did well again. Go grandpa still tearing it up rolling 29'er. Look out 70+ 2011 category.
• Duncan (Sqrl Jr.) you got it. S & F. At 15 he hauled pretty good at 14.5mph to score top 85. His rigid 29'er worked great and he is pumped. How many years do I have left in the lead??
• My Race (ARS Angry Red Squirrel) I finished and that's what really counts!! My bike was dirty, not prepped & without the love I deserved the long day. I will say Momma's and D-Man's bikes worked like a charm thank you very much (they matter most). Honestly my race plans we're in the air until Thursday. That's when Alta and Leo had transport /supervision lined up.

SO off the start it seemed easy, felt good. A slow pavement lead out to rosies this year. I had gears for a change. Up rosie's and in felt ok, sorta painful but not too bad. Later into the trail I noticed others around breathing really hard. I was not. I amped it up and found myself trading places with Jenna, Nikoli, Dave O, and other familiar faces. I decided it was a good place to settle. Sara KJ was around and really gunning for Jenna. Fun to see. It was Nikoli and I with Dave ahead Sara back a bit I think. Then BAM the dirt single track was NOT the line. I double rimmed both wheels harder than I ever remember. I was flying on a shallow downhill and just didn't see it coming. 5 miles in I slowed down to look as I was sure I double flatted...not yet. But 100ft later rear flat. Tubeless tire wouldn't hold air as rim wall was bent, not enough stans. Risk realized. But D-Man's and Momma's bikes worked I tell ya!!

Anyway, tube in was off to the races looking to make up 5 minutes in a recless way. It was mile 5? Soon after flat again!! Tube out, wiping off stans, could not find hole. Later with sandpaper and patch kit started patching a hole, then another. Then I started twisting the tube to help determine where more holes we're. The scenery changed....riders changed, alot. Variety. At that point it was heck no I will finish. I saw the sweep crews starting to pass. A nice fellow gave me a tube! Nice. I hammered a good pace racing and drafting no one. No one wanted a ride on the train, I swerved as safe as possible holding a pace. To OO I was 30 minutes slower. OO to finish 8 minutes slower than year before....finished 3hrs 4minutes with one bee sting on neck and sticking freewheel to boot (SS next year). Highlight was the 2 foot plus deep puddle, glad I didn't drown! All good, this race wasn't my A goal. Not sure what my goal was this late summer. Still coasting through the last half of the XC season... Next year another age group class, or not.

4.5hr Tour Sun. 34x16 29'er to Leb 1 lap+1/2

Re-Post. Serves me right for trying to remote post. C-dog, it was only a lap and a half at Leb. The rest of the time was on the road there and back. So a small gear on road most of the time. I thought you we're giving me crap. Which I deserve.

Bikes I've Owned or Own

If it had wheels it was a bike to me....nothing too special really. What's your list? Fun to recall. So about... 1968- Red tryke with white wheels 1969- lil red wagon, fast on downhills, many scabs on arms and legs 1970- Big Wheel, plastic bomb baby! Side pull brake. 1971- 8" inch wheel'd kmart special til training wheels came off 1973- Schwinn stingray, banana seat, 2 inch wide rear slick, skid-a-riffic 1975- after 1st stolen schwinn got another stingray w/3 speed stick 1978- GT skateboard & many to follow...many scabs, not a bike, who cares 1978- used mom's ugly yellow 5 speed shwinn, way big but 5 speed levers! 1979- Kabukki 10 speed road! Paper route savings 1980- Kabukki 12 speed road, 12 speed!! 1981- Robinson Pro bmx w/cranks, tuff wheels, redline bars 1985- Colongo 10spd stickers said. $2bills from betty. 2 fast scared sold back. 1987- Specialized Stump Jumper, not comp $800 new, funded by illegal jobs 1996- C-dale F700 Altlanta RwBlue $850 new bought w/layaway Amy's ss now 2004- Cannondale Scalpel Frame/Fatty I built, raced it 2005- Misfit Phycles SS 26'er i built up and raced then broke 2006- Misfit Phycles SS 29'er " " still race it 2007- Kona Kula 29'er, my versitale ss or geared race bike 2006- Scored a really old puegot from a hillside racer for free, commuter 2007- Pugsley Grey built it up 2006- Bought a 2001 used green bianchi 10spd Last 5 bikes I still ride and/or race. Amy has my 1996 c-dale as SS now. D-man has his own Misfit 29'er now. Leo is on D-mans old 15 inch haro. Alta ride a t-jay special for now.

Maplelag: Pop-Up, Pop-Down, Pop-Up

You thought Duncan is getting fast? Watch out for Leo, he likes it. Three Citizen races plus other races this year. Ok the story, the fab five headed up to Maplelag. The resort rocks. It's hard to explain how awesome the weekend is, how great the people are etc etc. Your missing out. SO! With Pop-up in tow we made it (almost not), more on that later. I'll make this a quick post. Basically Leo, Duncan, Mom and I all raced. Alta just had fun camping etc etc with friends. Here's are some highlights:

-Mom got a podium using SS in Citizen open age Women class

-Leo got a podium in Citizen open age class

-Duncan didn't get a podium but from what I see in pics and beore chain drop, he's getting so fast. Maybe ST is his thang. Or is it Afton 24 8 LAPS

-Back to LAG, I got a podium. We'll 15th for cash ain't bad

-Although I ran a Du-Athelon the Snday before (my first run race, my first run outside this year) and couldn't walk at State Fair Tuesday, I felt fine at Maple. I had a great start to XC race.

The big distraction for me, other than Friday night late night 2AM (getting yelled atfor being too loud) fun was the POP-UP. Yep, about an hour before the ST I noticed the wheel was almost falling off the Pop-Up camper. Freaked me out as it was late Saturday, holiday weekend and 5 people worth of crap was in there. Bearings shot, wheel hosed, what do I know about that stuff. I learned. What about my race????? Long story short I did the ST while thinking about the Pop-Up. Was able to fix Pop-Down on holiday weekend and Pop-Up made it home Sunday!!!! Notice the bearing races and outer ring in pic above. Yeah no bearing, no lube, all luck it was salvage-able!!! Crazy stress. Next is St Cloud, Chequamegon, Hillside, maybe CX. Levis Trow in the forecast. Maybe more running. Oh by the way. Check out Cody Larson's blog link on right. See ya

Perhaps Something Different?

Did a few new events recently!! Camping with 3 kids & their 3 friends, a few of our friends too. 6 kids for Amy & I all weekend. A handful is an understatement. Murphy TT: My first M-TT. Duncan's first time on trail. . .. Hillside TT: Duncan makes podium. A first at Hillside. Afton 2-4: Duncan 8 laps solo. OMG!! I didn't race at all. BTW sorry to anyone in sqrl range Friday night! Wahoo. Watch for sqrls on road, crazy this time of year ya know. DuAthelon: Did my first Du. Felt weird to start an event without helmet. What me run? 3 mile run, 18mi bike, 3 mile run again. Did good. Ouch still. sore.

Under Willow River Falls.