Guilty by Associations (at the wing)

Red Wing MN MTB series race, a great time! Funny how we are all guilty by association. I'm not just talking about my 70yr old pops (on-right) or Duncan either.

We do this thing called MTB racing. All kinds of us goofy types. One thing we all talk and seek is a good start. The best part about the start is, although it matters, it's not the end all deal if your not stuck in too slow a group. The local racer gaps aren't that great.....but I'll never learn. I want the fast start just like every other kid in every race level. Right?!

I got the last call up spot and tried to fit beside Brendan. He engineeeeered himself an outside spot and left enough room for me to get beside(sort of). Not quite enough room. The family chit chat conversation didn't looosen the situation either. I could tell he didn't want me on the line. I decided not too push it, after all my starts are faster - for first 50-150ft anyway :). 

I knew darn well my SS wasn't going to cut it for more than 500ft at Red Wing start. And bang, we we're off and I totally reved the uno gear into space. Ha, I bet it was funny to watch. I made sure to keep it safe, none of this happened, all good. Pretty sure I do a good job at the starts safety wise. With my size I want no wipe outs until it's just me in the woods. I entered woods in 20th or more. It was a waiting game between passing groups. But I worked my way up and with big meaty tires finished pretty good. How about that stairway. Harder than Afton w/o manhandler.

Kevin Kvalsten had a good race. He came up on me after I foo foo'ed the water bottle fueling. I sketched the front wheel into loamy drift land and laid it down. Hmmmm Barrry saw me do similiar at Buck recently. I better start taking my multi-day and getting enough sleep. Kevin on his SS beat me by 1 minute(nice job). But I got the stairway clean! Nope not worth it. Speaking of Barry, 3rd overall!! I command you to go fishing now....

D-Man got 3rd in his age. He says he'd been 1st overall in 35 or less SS class. People are starting to realize D-man has an engine. Me too. I got time though right? Right? He was 19th overall in sport. For no training, the racing is doing it for him. Buck Hill video (stay motivated) See you at the races!!

Wet Dogs

Saturday Leo and I working the Cub Foods dog stand. Boy scout work for Leo, saving for Scout camps.

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