Why Hike-A-Over The Mtn?

Just because. Desert Classic to goatless path (hike-a-bike) over the ridge to Hidden Valley to Buena Vista via remaining National to Geronimo! I found out where Hidden Valley is and where it goes the hard way, from the opposite. Geronimo rocked. Tight twisty in sections was absolutley rad. Steep corners and 1-3 foot drops all over! My pictures do it no justice. South Mtn

Shaving Made Easy

Band-Aid or Gauze: Hillside State Race

I needed lots of Band-Aids and even Gauze after Hillside. Yeah, IT DON'T COME EASY! More on that later. First, shout out to D-Man. Duncan actually trained on the road bike three times and intern did good at Hillside. He got on podium 2nd in age and as it turns out 2nd in SS under 34.

< 34 Speed Podium Comp D-MAN!!

The drive up to Elk River I was thinking to myself, look at these cars move over funny like in front of me. I was thinking not a good sign. I dismissed the thought, but it came back. Hollywood and I both blame each other. I was going for the uber speed pass on the left side of road. Lots of room before angle off into power line climb. He looked back and saw me but perhaps didn't see me coming that fast. He merged into me I had no time to re-act, bars hooked, my front wheel lifted into his.

He landed on me as we went down hard. My worst crash ever. I blocked the gravel ground for him. It was loud. His shoe went flying. We didn't get run over. Owen got hung up put back to 20th but thankfully didn't ramp us. Thanks Owen, he finished 3rd even with another incident with Barry. What is with the day?

Anyway the crash hurt. My left side, knee, hip, arm, wrist and right knee are all messed up. Whatever, stuff happens as you go for the gold. Hollywood! Cuts sting, hip got knuckle punched, right calf hurt, other stuff would feel weird later, like the center of my foot was swelled in shoe. That facial expression people saw was anger, frustration and pain.

After straitening the bar on carbon niner fork by forcing (got it basically straight). Carbon forks make a weird shudder skipping noise when you force the bar straight. My right brake lever was cockeyed and felt funny and a bit sticky too. I decided to ride it off on course. I like Hillside, I'm gunna ride! T. Norrie was nice enough to stop and make sure we we're ok and encouraged us to go.

It took until after prologue then it was game on!!! I figured 5 minutes, I can catch many. Go! Unbelievable result. The pain made me go angry fast. I was back up to 6th talking with Dave, Dave and Devin by lap two power-line climb. I decided at that point to cool it a bit so I don't completely blow. Dave stuck on my wheel for a full lap until finally seeing me slow. He went by lap 3 top of power-line climb as I bottle hand up'ed. Joe was the only other rider to also pass me back in last lap. DFL to 8th. I'll take it!

 later

It Don't Come Easy, Buck

it don't come easy, Buck, you know it don't come easy

Could not shake them....!

If you click on pictures it will take to to Todd Bauer pictures, most awesome! 
You can zoom way in with sizing, buy digital, embed or buy prints etc etc.

Sprint up the hill to the finish.....great race folks


Buck was a hurt fest for this guy last night. It didn't take long for breathing, grimace, and perceived exertion to be heightened. Good start, in 3rd behind Barry and Kevin Ish. My race started strong enough passing back and staying ahead of Kevin S and Jon. Well didn't really stay ahead because Owen, Jon, Kevin S all passed before top of water tower climb. In woods I went off course under yellow tape! Duh, new re-route section routed me. Charlie was right on my wheel. Sorry Charlie. Basically the rest of the race Charlie kept me honest. we traded placed at least three times. Lap two was brutal, Mason snuck by when the hurt was the worst. Man, five guys all after my blood for basically the whole race. Sprint to finish to boot. Results don't show how close many we're to each other. Pics do. Hammer as fast as you can for 4 laps! Ouch. aye, eye, aaah, muy, yo ended 7th.

Buck Recap & AZ

So my best South Mtn AZ pictures, the good ones with big cacti and views didn't turn out. 40ft high cactus, rocks, steep climbs, steep downs that made the sus feel rigid. I like South Mountain, AZ. One brutal aspect.....105-108 degree temps, at night. Yeah I biked for 1.5 and 2.5 hours two different nights. Next trip bringing shoe, pedals and renting full sus.

AZ = ready for Buck Heat no doubt. Other recent HOT efforts.....both days on either side of the 4th of July Hillside and 60 miles to Hutchinson Sunday one way SS CX.

I like the bike out to Hutch on Luce line. Quiet, boring sorta gravel but not really, a total mind trap because it's hot, can be windy and you never see the end. The farther you go the worse the route. When i got to Hutch proper i saw these kids with bikes, poles and caught fish. Yeah, that's what being a kid is suppose to be.

Buck Thurs night 4th, 6th overall elites Sunday waHoo! Thanks for taking pic Lisa

RACE RECAP:
A short pre-ride, and a tighten of all rear spokes (fresh wheel i built) then headed to the line. My race prep was cold water, no gel, and no fuel while racing. Just water because i didn't have fuel (forgot). I literally rolled into gate zone then heard my name and turned the bike around, lined up (stood for 15 min until gun). The course got skinny on a dirt road quick so I wanted a good start, plus lap traffic was only a 1.5 laps away. I knew the race would only last just over an hour...

START. I got the start and was leading with Brendan on my left. We we're not intentionally blocking but because it was skinny road no one really charged past. I was happy cruising in that spot! I'm sure all we're watching Brendan. Up slight incline before field we we're going comfy like, Jesse made the move charged by and took the lead. I chased hard and held third up most of the hill. Devin went by at top. It was hot.

The next steep grassy climb came quick. After the climb was lap single track with few passing areas. With 4 more laps of this climb and legs starting to scream a bit i decided to pace up the hill (not kill it). After all I had a good start and I was still near 5th. I think the climb is where Owen, Jon, and Scott went by, maybe Micheal too.

Lap two start I was near Barry, Scott, Micheal and someone else. I was racing my pace making sure not to kill myself for nothing. I hung on staying near this chase group to start lap2. Jon and Devin we're just a bit ahead. The big grassy climb before single track woods I punched it and passed at least 4 to hit the woods back in 9th. I figured after the move I was still in top ten, that was a goal. Barry stayed on my wheel until passing Lap 3 I think. Lap traffic got heavier each lap.....

I saw Jon and figured I could get him by the end of the race. Devin was a ways up, Michael and I went back and forth a few times. I chased Jon after getting by Micheal for good. Jon had a freak accident where another rider broke his valve stem off. I was 7th. I saw Devin and went hard until I passed him on the same big grassy climb...so it all went something like that....finished 6th. A good day.....I hope this sticks.....

Results & Pics (MN State Results) (MN State Pics) (Thursday) (SkinnySkiPics)
Skinny has Sunday and also look back a few weeks for Thursday pics.

Sweet

I did some biking in AZ this week. South Mountain. Biked in 105d heat. I have a few pics and a recap coming, Great food too. I'm too lazy to spend time to post all that now. It was really fun though. Glad I had shock and 8 inch hydra rotors! Back home, 5 laps at brownie on SS today....

For now a sweet video I found while searching for AZ South Mtn trails (they we're really fun).     UTAH trail.... SWEET distraction. Check it. Not too big for hucks but worthy exposure.

Hawk, great race with flat

Great race and really liked the course. I pooped out last year and wanted revenge. Not this year. Off the start I went easy as I could up the hill. Faded from the front group to 15th in-line but before woods put a big surge in up the hiil. Kevin waved me in ahead of him. I think top ten into woods. After settling I started going and feeling good.

I heard Kevin's chain grind bad up one of the little hills. I'm sure that put him and two others back a few secs. Later I started to feel a low tire in back while rolling. Ahhhh! I went slower to figure out the deal. I finally flipped the bike over and noticed I had a good gap before the next three chasers came by. Then another group many seconds later. I had a great race going!!

The start of the day....I got a flat before the race as the stans blew out (bead pop). PITA. Ahhh, the tire was holding fine Friday when installed and Saturday at Theo Worth. No issues. In Duluth before race tire blows off rim doing nothing. What gives. Got a tire before race and put a NEW TUBE in. found out later, the tube had a loose stem!!! It lost air during race.

Yeah, jumping back to the race. I pumped up the tire up three times with small pump trying to keep valve stem in, it kept unscrewing. PHSSSH air rushing out, deflating! Mosquitos ate me alive!! Finally I unbolted the SS from frame and put a new tube in, pumped up tire a fouth time!

I had three awesome laps after that. i passed alot of the comp class and many experts. It was a catch up, wait, then pass game for three laps. I had a great race, but a bummer result. However, I felt awesome!

Duncan realized sitting on his but don't work. We'll see what he does. I had a good time with my boy all day, then got my flight Sunday night. Anyway, next time.