Buck#3 Dirt Fog (aka dust bowl)

DUSTY KIDS: Regardless of dusty dry conditions Alta, Leo & I had a great time!! Thanks Penn Cycle. The kids got to kick up dust & throw down a kids race. Leo & another kiddo we're leading kids race then got tangled 20ft from finish. Kids races are fun to watch (esp. after I'm done w/my race!)

MY RACE: I had a good start, Brendon gone, chased after Jesse & Jack, Andy went by then watched Jesse, then Jack motor away. I held 6th chasing after Tom. CJ was working hard to catch but never made progress. We we're all slipping a bit, out in the dust bowl. My bike went down once but chain & all came back on quick enough. Since printer was kaput, here's prelim results in case you wanna see. Penn Cycle will have results up soon, check-it.

STANS CROW vs. RAVEN: click for pic. Later....C U @ AFTON.

Buck#2 SS, Truth, Afton Turkey

M A N H A N D L E R Buck#2: Very competitive year shaping up!! Week 2 vs. Week 1 data reveals interesting facts. The top 10 adv racers all finished slower this week with one exception. Scott & I had least amount time decrease with 10 seconds add vs. last week (harder course), everyone else slowed more. Brendan, Jack & Andy bled the most (are they training really hard?) Jesse, in shape sooner than later in 09 was the only faster than prior week time at 10 secs quicker! Even though my finish time was 45 sec off 3rd vs. last weeks 60 sec off 3rd, my place went from 6th to 10th!! Tim, Luke, Chris & Barry all snuck in the 45 sec window. The race was crazy competitive with 9 guys all with in a minute of 4th place (& each other). Gap btwn 3rd & 4th just 20 sec. Because we we're all so close, my night was spent rallying with 7 or more. Brutal fun on my SS. For me it was even pace on front climb, better on back climb & woods, and poor on front ski run traverses due to my SS spin out. What a blast!! Scott & I were elbow to elbow laughing on traverse section. I'm quite happy with the SS results. Tim Norrie is fast this year & hungry. Dave O, Wenk, Chris, Paul & Luke still ramping up... Where's are the Oftendahl's, the J's from up north?? No buck 4U? Anyway, think about it, very very competitive year shaping up for us chasers...... buck results Duncan & I had a blast. Duncan says it was awesome fun. When I asked if he liked the food, he said in a teenager smart arse reply, "Dad, how can it be bad food after a race?" He chowed! Soon enough we'll invade the place with all 5 of us. TRUTH: I'm a bit off my volume & intensity mark from last year. 5 hrs a week average! Many rides last year replaced with trainer as substitute for volume (welcome Buck!). My February base is missing. As analyst for day job I graph everything including weight for avocation. No worries I'll ramp up enough before Leadville 100 SS & St Cloud SS race where my quest to SS Champ again will be tough tough tough...U in??? AFTON TURKEY!!!! Manhandler waits to torture. Turkey's about again at Afton to laugh at us as we suffer. I recently did 3 laps & believe times will be faster (barring weather). Ready??

MNSCS#1 No matter. Done!

Funny thing about today is, no matter, it was fun. Never mind- lost my mind- or just don't mind. Starting into woods near 10th was good. Later in lap 1 after passing H-wood & a few caught JayR. & hung. I was feeling great noticing breathing was mostly relaxed, only sometimes labored. My goal was stay the pace as we we're running 7th-8th spots? Start of lap two I took the lead but it cost me. JayR. was throwing supportive comments my way(thanks man). My goal was keep it cool(me?). Jay R. took over mid-way through lap2. Start of lap 3 my steam ran out. Pack of 6? went by. Lap 4 solo. Then I went through finish chute ha ha. After a few experts went by grabbed my chip & headed back out to leisure lap5 just for fun. Dave O & Jake we're on my tail. It motivated me a bit. Near end of lap5 sketched, they passed. Rolled in 16th? Don't really know, don't really mind either. This isn't my type of race & look forward my future plans. AND school, these 2 classes done next week. Paper to write tonight. Then a load will be lifted!! Duncan did Sport for the first thim, scored 3rd in age. He had a great day and says he'll stay in sport. I'll support whatever he does or does not want to do. Great day for Dad. Alta and Leo want to start doing Buck Hill. Mom will help and take laps with them once school out. WaHoo! MNSCS#1 results will be posted soon. Picture of Duncan courtesy of skinnyski.com

Buck#1 - Public Service

Un-official Paparazzi BUCK HILL 2009 #1 news. 1st Buck race of 2009 shows youth willpower, new blood & elders. My position solid considering self abuse tactics of late. Good times. Sorry but my Buck pre-lim results will be less frequent than prior years, too much pressure. My race report: I led out start to enable proper math -1, -2, -3 etc. First bendan, then jesse, jack before woods. Andy on climb. Later Jesse let Tom & I by lap2? So it was Brendan, Jack, Andy, then Myself, Tom & Jesse battling. I gave it all on water tower climb 3 to pass lap traffic. Jesse & Tom on. At one point later lap 3 I slowed after traffic to let Tom & Jesse catch up. Bad idea perhaps as start of lap 4 I faded as Jesse & Tom powered it. I ended 6th. Andy gave up 3rd to Tom thinking 10th was up for grabs, Jesse 5th. I'm humored by Andy in mix not knowing it. 17yr old Jack showing hamster like will power. Good times!! Time! Early season for da 5 seasoned. Penn Cycle Results now avail

Hillside Early Spring Shake Apart

Do People Think I have too many mechanicals?? Not too many in my mind. I will say my bike maintenance doesn't always take priority. Often times I'll just throw bike in the truck & go.....

TOP TEN REASONS MY BIKE MAY NOT WORK LIKE A PROFESSIONAL: 1. Limited Sponsorship: new wheels, frame ect rare, component changes my game 2.3.4. Alta, Leo, Duncan: three awesome kids 5. Momma Squirrel: bless her heart, demands many things 6. St. Thomas MBA Program: up late studying often. 2 classes this semester 7. Building 2 rooms & full bath downstairs: arms too sore to do maintenance 8. Weight Weenie: when tinker it's w/unconventional parts vs. conventional maint 9. Sr. Forecast Analyst report to VP: HR supporting advancement, work FT+ 10. Ok Ok Ok we're all busy..prioritizing appropriately: I'm prioritizing!

The Day at Hillside: Just Leo & I hit Hillside. Momma sqrl was busy at flower shop and Alta and Duncan had sleepovers. Leo had a GREAT DAY! He did many stunts, construction & general rippin all day long. Right after my race we did a father son ride through section 1. He wanted to hit the big jumps really bad. Good times. Hillside trail is absolutely a hoot. Saturday was my 2nd time on single track all year. Friday was the first, bike worked great for quick slap together. Other than a floppy loose brake lever Race went fine(I kept manually tightening bolt as I rode through twist trail). Just like after 2laps at Buck my legs we're opened. I was starting to mess with Barry, Tom, & Jack leading them through sec 4 (they we're sticking to my wheel real good). We we're working hard and I was ready to hammer harder to experiment. Then a stick in my wheel/frame derailleur side, slowed me. Later in down hill area of Sec4 the brake issue made me pull off. Those 3 went on to catch Jay. Anyway, I'm cranking at right speed. Same general group fun again this season. Plus young Jack, Jake & Michael McB prob there this year too. NextGen absolutley a good thing! Later

Black Co-MoJo

I absolutley dig my old Puegeot commuter. We'll not mine, someone else's old MTB. My old 87' Stumpy is long gone. This freebee was given away by a Hillside racer a few years ago. Jimmay piked it up for me per local forum board "I'll take it!" call out. I put on a seat, a used 8spd cassette, cut bar-ends off, cut front d cables (frozen in big ring) & lubed'er - she rips!! 6 spd range via thimb shift is all she gives, perfect, 30 ish lbs. 8-9lbs heavier than my 2x9 Kona. Great time of year with weather turning, sweet night commutes home from school, to work ect.....hard time of year also as often sore, adapting, not sure if Dr. Jeckle training is optimum. See you at Hillside Saturday. Looking forward to Buck & MNSCS#1.

Elk River Race Race Day B4 Mother's

Confirmed. XC Race at Elk River Day before Mothers Day. Saturday Preseason Shake Up: Registration at 10am, Race Start at 11am