Tuesday Night Cross

My legs we're simply too pain ridden from the Duathlon to race, but Duncan did. Every Tuesday right in my hood there's a practice CX race. Tuesday Night Cross. Jordan Cullen beat out Doug Swanson and other to win lasat night. Cheap, mellow, and good training. Duncan sufferred good using the bike we have ready.....a 23lb front sus mountian bike! He did really good pushing big tires and bike araound.

Minneapolis Duathlon post Camping trip

FAMILY CAMPING TRIP: Tuesday to Saturday the whole family headed up to Walker Mn area (not too far from Maplelag actually). Kind of cool to be up north many days then come back to the big city for a huge duathlon the next day. More on the Minneapolis-Duathlon below. Back to family trip first. We found this resort that has two camp spots and about 20 cabins. We pop-up camper'd. It's a great place as the row boats, kayaks, and canoe's are use at will. Fishing was great, 28 kids running around all swimming to the dock and enjoying Summer. Mom and Dad had fun too! We had lots of fun family time. One day we biking on the trail 8 miles to the next town for lunch. Alta wasn't too happy but we all made it. One day I showed Duncan the roadie style pulling him 10 miles one way on mountain bikes on path. It was the first time I've done steady state road type miles for two months. Duncan never did it before. He said he didn't like it much but funny how he basically hammered the next day doing it again in spurts on aforementioned family ride.

MINNEAPOLIS DUATHLON: http://www.minneapolisdu.org/race-day/results 5km run, 18 mile bike, 5 km run again. I did much better this year. I took 8 minutes off my total time!!! This year my transition times we're 3 minutes total instead of 6. That's the time between running and biking. This year no shaking bottles, goo or tying shoe laces! My runs we're 7-8 min per miles instead of 8 & 9 minutes. AND surprisingly my BIKE time was 3 minutes faster with average speed over 22 miles an hour vs. last year at 21mph(no drafting allowed).

Biking hurts a bit after running when your suck at running. Overall I placed close to 130th of 1,400. Last year close to 200th overall. That includes women who are pretty fast. I'm pretty happy especially since I didn't run outside once (like last year). In fact other than early Summer speed tread mill efforts I quit running many months ago (just like last year). Also felt like this year did much less commuting and road miles mid summer.....and my racing shows it as of late. I burnt the race don't train match about a month ago. But I signed up so it was time to step up. Glad I didn't wimp out. I'm re-invigorated for CX season..... Maplelag next.

Oh wait. Last minute note. Yes another topic. Look what I got in the mail. Nice gear guide pictured below.......I do miss it so I buy the mag........if I lived in the mountains again duathlon would NOT be in my vocab... there I go whining again. I got it pretty good. Like I always say, "can't have it all."

Hillside Thursday

Ma, Leo, D-Man and I made it to Hillside Thursday. Alta was at a friends. It's a trek to get there with traffic and all but worth it. It's always low key and fun. The swag is entertaining and much like an arcade mystery prize machine you never know what you'll get. Leo got a Lexis model car. I got a car vac. Ma a cutting board. Duncan got the 1st place podum champ shirt.

Yep Duncan did the one lapper and even with 32x19 on 29'er he scrambled down the road and passed others into 1st place. As far as podium, Amy made womens and Leo made the kids comp podium too! I was the big loser. Actually no big deal.

It was my first time on the bike since Afton 24. Wasn't tender sore from Afton (9 laps ss 2 laps gears) but my legs we're sluggish! Off the start I chased rocket Ray down the road, then Eric flew by too fast to get on. Then Sam decided to hammer by. I was able to stand and with 4 good cranks got on his wheel. In third and set to ride out two laps...then at start of beginner loop chain fell off my 1 by 8. I got back going again slowly in 10th? Anyway a few more chain drops later and still made back into 4th. Yeah the bike didn't get any care since the 24. It was tough as Broten and others we're after me and my stale legs. Hey, just realized no dnf's this year. I don't dnf much at all as I'd rather finish slow than dnf. Not sure when I dnf'ed. Knock on carbon. Looking forward to more causual Hillside fun...good times.

26 Races in 2011 so far....

Duncan has about 20 races in too.....

Single Track Attack MNMBS ended 8th (dana's pics)

So far all races for me have been SS and rigid and happy with results. The exception was Cheq100 ss with front shock and 2 of my 11 laps at Afton24 used 1x8 with front shock. Maplelag I need gears at least, gotta figure out bikes. I only have one wheel with cassette freewheel (cx open pro rim). I may need to lace up another.....

Afton 24hr Attitude

Afton 24. I know it's called Salsa now but to me it will always be Afton 2 4. I was interested in winning the 2-man but my real "attitude" was ensure Duncan had fun. I promised myself I wouldn't push, stress or be a jerk. It was worth it.

Reese(now angry catfish) and Matt killed it. Killer "attitude" from the start. I thought tortoise and hair might work. But the 17yr olds didn't sleep. Duncan and I had a great time so met my top goal. Talking about "attitude." Zilla wanted fastest lap and proved. He must have been flying on those downhills and around those corners. Rocks and dirt were a flying for sure. Earlier this year TJ at Afton race averaged 30min laps for 4 without manhandler. Richie lap close to 34m with manhandler and DLA added!! = "Attitude." How does Z roll so fast?

Z training food. Grease. Z attitude, it's all downhill.

Anyway the work week and family chores left me packing late Thursday and Friday AM. Shopping for food etc etc. We arrived Friday afternoon and we set up. Lot's of bike work was needed!!!! I removed a cassette off one wheel and put it on another, Duncan's bike (my black Misfit.) 1x8. I removed the crown race on the Reba still on and un-touched since Cheq100. Put shock on his bike with disc brake. I borrowed a wheel with a 160mm disc and spacered in a 21t cog for my bike. Finally I put tubeless tires on here and there to complete 2 singles and a 1x8. Anyway the bikes works great! If that wasn't enough. I proceeded to stay up Friday until 1:00am keeping company with the bad company. No worries I was up and ready Saturday AM.

The LeMans start was a long uphill run with a your front wheel in hand. Duncan had a 30ft gap all the way up then Richie passed him. Duncan still came in second back around to the bikes. Really weird start idea but fun to watch Duncan run.

Not sure what else to say. Course was slippery then got tacky, it rained a bit but it was welcome in the afternoon heat. At night it was thick fog, like droplets floating. The vibe was fun. The guy on the top of manhandler was abnoxious. Course mainly tacky. Our camper was a mess. Duncan left food and food containers open and all over. I for some strange reason just kept cleaning and maintaining lights and happy attitude...it was awesome. We had a good time. My butt was thrashed halfway through, I got bad shorts with terrible seems that rash my cheeks (overshare I know). Anyway, it was a nice break from ripping 13 Buck races and 7 MN series races. I'm trying to take a break and revive for maplelag and especially CX. I'll just race.....I mean ride for fun. September all CX practice. No real training plans, just race and ride back into shape.......maybe.

Hawk on a Shoe String

Duncan and I hit the Hawk Chase race. I'll make this quick. While others are coming into form, mine has been. Add in the fact I went too hard at Buck on the pug and whine whine whine. Devin gets the stop start stopstart medal for blocking 5 of us many many times, right before every steep up too. Many un-neccessary SS start from stop grinders in first 1/2 lap. Hawk is a tough course for SS. I may sound flaky but I'm putting gears on for a few events. My arms are fine but may put a shock on too. My legs and mind need a change up. To further augment, a nice beat down schedule coming up; Afton 2-4, Mpls Duathelon(I may skip) and Maple-Lag to name a few. 15th at Hawk yesterday for me obviously I'm already toast!!!

Duncan did a great job on his rigid single. 3rd in age. He looked good in the Angry Catfish suit. But that's another story......

Fried Green Tomatoes, Venison, Bruschetta Aioli at Hillside

Ok not that food at Hillside. Hillside does have it all though. More on Single Track Attack race next. Momma sqrl and I cooked up the pro food tonight ha ha ha. Momma scored some green tomatoes so we fry and that's that. Jack, thanks for the venison (last steak). Get those wheels over for spec check. Back to food. Not just tomatoes but basil aioli dip. I like onion rings and jalepeno too, done. Add a salad, home made bruchetta with more of Amy's fresh herbs. Feast. Full.

Hillside was another hot one. My Dad raced again, said he felt good. He finished before sport. But no pics of him up yet. My Dad summed it up well saying, Richie really knows how to run a race. It goes off like clockwork, course is marked well, really organized, it's fun, prizes great too. I won an ipod.

Duncan continues to get faster.... He had a good race. He went for gears on 29'er again this time. I have a few pics below thanks to Todd skinnyski.

While out supporting D-Man in the woods I saw Dana. Dana and I both had bug spray on with deet but it didn't help. Wow these photopeeps go through the thick to get pics of us. I'd be sore from all those special photo taking stances not to mention the schlepping, skeeters and Sun. Yeah Todd Bauer with skinny ski and Dana (Dana was already tired from a few wedding shoots but still provides).

Expert/Pro Race:  Single speed. I haven't put gears on the Niner yet. Not sure I ever will. My results at Cheq100, Cheq40, RedWing, DuLac, many more and now Hillside pretty much suggest gears not needed. With preferred start I got off the line first. My goal was to get a good enough gap up front to hold my place...to my surprise that effort worked. Just like DuLac (because of the heat) I think everyone went out slower. Lucky- I can get out of the gate first often. I hamster spun the single around the start corners and down the road first. To my surprise when I looked back just before road exit and onto climb, I had a 30ft+ gap on everyone.

Up the prolouge climb I led the field to the top! Only Brendan went by before top. The downhill and road was totally a blur. I remember seeing Brendan rocket away when we got to the road. I chased Devin, then Barry and Eric's wheels loosing every one. Again to my surprise I hit the beginner loop single track in 5th. One guy went by on beginner section downhill (he flatted soon after). SKJ took an inside line on a grassy corner and nearly knocked me off my bike. I wobbled my front wheel to stop from falling and almost clipped his pedal. Spokes into pedal at that speed would have been a bad crash for both of us. Earlier I actually heard his weeds into hidden rocks OTB at top of prologe climb. SKJ's claims Devin cut his way forcing him off. He was still a freaking charger to catch leaders when he hit me. All good I guess. I should have had my elbows out.

The effort to stay with the front was a big effort yet it felt ok so I kept the pace. I got by Barry early in lap. I chased SKJ and Devin for a while until SKJ crept away. Owen was heard and then seen behind chasing for near two laps. I can't recall but think we went back and forth a few times talking a bit too. Kevin who was on my wheel earlier chasing Barry crept back up to Owen and I, with Barry in tow. I let Barry and Owen go by as early efforts and the heat made legs feel full(and hot). I later chased them and eventually got by Owen(on his ss too) ending 8th behind Devin. Good times!!! I'm never satisfied but happy with 8th. The field was stacked pretty good.

Skinnyski

P.S. go to Buck Hill this Thursday 8/4 for the last race. It's also a benefit for the Andrew Morris family. A fellow racers family going though tough times. A very sad story, toddler with terminal cancer. more here