Buck#7

Buck#7 Thursday Night!!!! Guess not that exciting.......not many showed up. Subaru Cup on the mind or maybe the rain threat.

Jack showed so guess who got first. He showed Hollywood the Eurowood move cutting in just before first short woods. Nice J.H!

Barry and i got by HLWD and crept away from chasers. Basically we traded lead often. A good battle. I had some sketchy braking and surfing. Fun! This week finish line switched up the sprint effort, Barry got me by a hair. I ended 3rd.

I have the Captian mounted on the rear, front pending. Red Wing with corners n sticks, rocks into stairway and quarry demands more than Freds. Hope not rainy or i'll be packing.

The picture. Fathers day from momma. She bought it for the text. It looks good. May have to drink it before going out on town on bikes with Mom.

Afton Mind Games

Duncan and I headed to Afton for race#3 of the MN series Sunday, fathers day. I still call it MNSCS. Cloudy in the AM after heavey rain...we all knew...when the sun came out it was gunna get humid!  HOT LIKE Red Wing or last years Buck series race, way hotter than prior Mankato race. A good race to simply finish.

Money Shot, old bald guy 7th!!

Duncan, being my size now used my Misfit with 1x8. I basically set it up mid-week. I added a paul chain keeper, the one cassette wheel I own(old americlassic laced to open pro rim, my cx lace job), 8 spd cassette, shifter and vawalla. With schedules he rode it with 5 minutes of test ride. I was a bit surprised with my hachanicle skills. He said the bike worked great. He scored 3rd in age and about 25th oa sport class. Wahoo.

With weather shaping up to be dry (so I gambled) I knew the downpour of prior day would not effect Afton too much. The furious fred tires kicked ass. Never slipped. Ralph's would have been next. So after throwing on the 32 up front my SS was good at 32x19, the gear worked last year too. I almost put the shock on the front but my hachanicle bank account of time funds exhaused the desire. Too busy. Rigid it was....good choice!

PRO/ELITE RACE from my SEAT:

Lap1- I hamster spun into woods about 15th. I was able to see Jake, Scott chasing leaders going up Shady. I saw Matt going for them but held my cool passing 3-4 guys in comfort through lap. SS gear felt right. Owen out with issue lap1. Too bad by flow it seemed like we we're going to team up.
Lap2- A bit of a battle. SKJ farther, Matt then Trevor and Nathan near just ahead, Barry, Kevin "the thumb" Ish, and Bellow chasing or in sight behind at times. Went back and forth with Trevor and Nathan I think (got past them for good L2 & early L3).
Lap3- Tempurature brutal. Sweating non-stop breathing so hard with climbs. SKJ pulled off and died before Cliffs climb. I was keeping distance between myself and a small pack. I kept steady and fought the tempation to wimp in the HEAT. It felt like Buck Hill interval training and a suana non stop. Kept drinking. Kept thinking like Buck, long haul like Cheq100 I can do this. Got past Matt on Shady (took a while to get him). Hammerred the last big climb of lap with all I had to separate before lap4 start.
Lap4- The end of lap3 separation effort worked. I shook the chasers for good. I saw them but was comfy too far ahead for them to catch. I just wanted to pull ahead more so I could rest. After cliffs edge, I went easier and finished 7th overall on the SS. Devin gives me crap for prop'n myself (as he should), but I'm good at making a fool of my old self. It was a hard race day and I'm a happy cat.
After the Race- I found my super crewman D-Man grabbed a cold coke and wobbled my bike towrad shady lane. The wind as I pedaled at 4 mph and the cold coke we're sublime. I got off bike at far chalet and felt woozy. What a great feeling, sitting in shade leaning against the chalet, drinking my coke, wondering if I'd pass out..all good.

After my coke, bananna, water, and more water, a few beers went down so right. Duncan and I chatted it up with folks at race, hanging with ACF, wandering the grounds. Found out Kevin mangled his thumb and kept racing. A few kids got hurt earlier AND a guy broke/separated his arm on funky podium falter. Bummer!

The night was good with the whole fam going to grey sqrls house (my Dad's). Hey my mom needs a code name! Later. P.S. latest Dirt Rag has spotlight on gravel grinders with ALMANZO highlighted.

Buck#6 Attendance Award

Mom threatened but ended up not attending this week. Alta is not really into biking and not enough kids at Buck her age, so no Buck was her vote. Leo came out and raced. So just the boys hit it!

Duncan and I both scored the attendance award. What I mean is show up to all 6 series races and end up top 3. I ended 2nd overall again for series. Last year I was also 2nd both series1 & 2. It's been like that for years. Not all fast guys show to all 6. Obviously as the picture shows I enjoy the suffer (slight smile, slight pain expression).

This weeks race start still hurt but not as bad (not riding enough lately). I got out of the chute in front group but on concrete backed off in stress. Up grassy climb I felt out of breadth. Ed Alpasa, Freewheel guy and a few went by. I saw Barry leading second wave and Dave O in there too. Once on road I looked up and saw leaders disapear and Barry with many behind. I felt better/motivated and hammerred ahead of all of them to top and into woods. So lap1 into woods it was in no order Jack, Jeff Hall, Jesse, Brendan and Doug. Then me in 6th. Through Lap1 Dave, Barry and I chuckled as it's always us three together at some point every year. This year lately Dave has been pulling away.

Start of Lap2 Doug was pulling off on the side. Long short, Dave ended 5th behind Jack, Jeff, Jesse and Brendan M. I tried to shake Barry but couldn't. Barry and I battled. He got ahead at end and led to finish climb however I snuk in ahead of him for 6th (I returned the sprint finish favor from last week where he barely got me:).

Duncan is doing well in Rec category scoring top 10 or top 5 every race, and 3rd overall in Series #1. He might move up. He claimed he wanted a poduim first before moving up. Leo did the one lapper. I really enjoy cheering the boys on. So fun to see my guys out there. By the way Duncan is officially taller than me....hold back the jokes please..... Afton SS next.

Buck#5 - Road Bike - Pincusion Mt

Been a while since last post. I've been busy, needed a break too. I should be on the trainer right now but I hate that thing. Been riding less than I should, but there's all season. Buck last Thursday really heated up the legs (other than 30min trainier) it was 1st time on bike after Kato. Ouch!! At Buck I felt dragged down. Finally on lap 4 I went after Barry. Reeled him in but couldn't pass at finish line sprint. 8th overall. Duncan and I had fun at resurant with the gang after, got home late. Schoooool's out for summer!

Friday morning, yes the morning after late Thursday Buck night, I hit the road with Bianchi. He proceeded to show me every hill possible from my house to and around lake mtka. Although it was only a tad over 2 hours I felt like I was on 6th hour of a hundo. Thanks Keith!

Saturday morning after driving to Lutsen Friday afternoon for a friends wedding, we rode Pincusion Mt. in Grand Marias. I went with 2-1 gearing on the 29'er SS. Although we went relitively slow it was a good slow workout. I have a great video of the Moab like terrain but need a memory card to transfer. Good times. See you Thurs. at Buck.

That's D-MAN !!

http://www.danaschoppephotography.com/MNMBS-Racing

Thanks Dana! I'll be buying more pictures this year for sure.

http://www.danaschoppephotography.com/MNMBS-Racing

Kato Hot Confusing 5 lbs Trebuchet

Weekend report. Race report below too (confusing results at first).

SATURDAY went fishing with Leo. Jack took us to a secret lake to get sunburned on. We caught 3 big pike, one got away. Saw a big bass and caught many sunnies too(thanks Uncle Jack for the filets). Leo caught and reeled in the biggest 5lbs fish! I got a bit burnt on the legs from sitting in canoe. Had sunscreen just didn't put on. I don't like to see dudes legs so i'll spare you the pic. Saturday afternoon and eve spend with Duncan building a trebuchet for school. We also changed out and geared easier for Sunday's DuLac race.

Mt Kato was Typical hot. The field was loaded too. Duncan had a pretty good start but I could tell he was suffering a bit. Lap two he says he went slow. I cheered. Lap three coming up the hill to our umbrella support station he was hammerring pretty good. He placed mid field in Sport which is actually better than he did last year. Sounds like he wants gears and my medium Misfit frame for Afton. Next he'll want my new bike!

My Expert/Pro race went well. Winning times since 08' excludiung last years mud alteration have been 137/139 to 141min. My best time was 148.5 in 2009. This Sunday was dry, gravely and early season hot. Winning time arguably 1 min slower. I finished about 153m and ended 11th, my best rank finish at Kato Ex/Pr. I wasn't feeling it for most of the race. I felt overgeared on dry gravely heat, maybe still recovering from Cheq100? But I shouldn't bitch, I had a good result and held off many. Lap by lap to the best of my cooked memory.....

Lap1- good start. 7th or so up entry hill. I went by H-wood, Jesse past me, then I held good for a start. Later after frog pond and heading down I saw Devin ahead getting back on (he bumped off Scott I hear). The rest of the lap I hammerrrrred to stay away from Barry, Dave, Owen, Joshua, and about 7 guys!!! I think Owen went by at end of lap before mad squirrel, he is riding steady and strong on the SS (go Catfish bro). That lap hurt and had mucho stress.

Lap 2- Brutal attempt to stay ahead of aforementioned group. My water bottle popped out early in lap. Lips smacking worry was i. I felt overgeared. Sluggish at entry and tops of hills - Barry was applying pressure with his SS. We may have went back and forth once. Before stairway 5 guys we're behind my sluggish SS. Iwas able to hold. Blurry hot day! Later in lap 2 Dave and I separated a bit group, whew! I saw Jake charging up. Dave passed but I got by at start of lap 3 top of climb.

Lap 3- Jake was on me! The rest we're finally fading back, whew again!! At start of lap 4 Jake got by. And I thought I'd catch at top of climb like i did to Dave. But I had to "drink alot of fluids" at Duncan's umbrella stand before charging and could not catch. I follwed Jake for half a lap or more before loosing sight.

Lap 4- I think i still saw Jake but could not bridge. Matt Kurke was coming fast!! All of lap 4 in frantic fashion i held off Matt working through traffic. I saw Devin on flats below stairway climb, I could not muster enough  to catch at that point. Did I say it was hot?

Lap 5- my stairway and backside climbing frenzy worked to keep Matt back. I think I passed Peter O'Donnell in the process? I finished with room (it took all race to get to a conforatable position!!!)

My name was not on the results board. I checked with timing shack they said I was 10th, they we're paying 10 deep. WaHoo! But alas Scott got called up and I didn't as they we're paying only 9 deep? In the end I rank 11th. All good for one of the old guys. My gear was 34x19 and the other guys had 32x19. The race was almost as hot as Buck 2010 felt. Not as bad as some Red Wing races though!

Sunday after race Duncan and I ate Mexican. Sunday night sat outside and ate again with family. Nice weekend!!!    See you at Buck.    -H-

One Off - Again!!!

What's with losing 3rd & ending in 4th place?? Cheq100 now Buck.

Most of the race I wanted it more than doubted it. A good race. Had a good start and although it hurt, kept it going. HURT: not like muscles - how to explian- it's hurt like being turned inside out. You know what I mean, going hard at Buck feels like a fish flopping between the lungs and a vise on the head restricting blood flow. What a painful rush. :) You gotta want it to hold off attckers right?

So the course was full climbing at the start, part way up road, down to woods then back up grass to top of road. Good challenge for SS. To my surprise I was able to hold 3rd or 4th all night. When Fisher popped his derailer I was in third. I saw Adam, Charlie and Matt charging for me each lap, Dave was on me. Somehow they never cuaght me. Well, Dave passed me late in the race. I was able to hold his wheel through most traffic until the end, and that was that 4th. Wa wha waaah.

Duncan had a good race but ended a bit slower in 9th. I think the SS tourture got to him (getting stronger). He will be done with school soon, that should lift some stress......