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| The D-MAN is 17 !!! |
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| Friday almost went down |
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| Hillside, out of the medals. Look under rear wheel, long sketch to full contact |
Monday, May 28
Hot Skids & D-Man 17
Sunday, May 20
Afton MNSCS#1 oh Cockleburr
Oh man, everybody's in shape already. And some are still ramp'n up. Cockleburr for so many reasons, top two: 1) it was cold today, burr, near 50 degrees in the am and not much warmer at race time. Yesterday 90 degrees. The long sleeve was awesome. 2) there's lots of season left, haven't even got a cockleburr yet.
Looking at my records I've biked 20 times in the last 50 odd days. That includes a few two a day's commuting. Time on bike lacking compared to last year. Average time on bike not even 1.5 hours! Afton was hard being earlier in the year on the SS. Got 11th overall, 4 spots back from last year. All good. Feels good to complete that course no matter what.
Highlights of the day:
-who worry, I wasn't worried bout no rain even w/slicks on....then
-THEN I slid out on some grass, Reece crashed into me. ha!
-Getting a good start, in 8th-ish, then falling to 20th on gravel
-Punching a few climbs & top of Shady to get back 8 spots
-Sliding out and loosing all 8 spots again (both cables out of ferrels)
-Settled, relaxed, got 8+ spots back through race, finished 11th
-Passing Duncan who has been on bike all year only 3 times, period
-Duncan finishing comp class, SS, cause he wanted too
-Great to see racers back at it, some showed up again after MIA
One of the best things no doubt was spending time with my boy Duncan. At home he thinks parents stink yo. You know....he's 16. I did a good job of not harassing D-man once today about life, it's so hard not to parent 24/7!!! The two of us had good time together. A great day with my boy..........D-man.
Looking at my records I've biked 20 times in the last 50 odd days. That includes a few two a day's commuting. Time on bike lacking compared to last year. Average time on bike not even 1.5 hours! Afton was hard being earlier in the year on the SS. Got 11th overall, 4 spots back from last year. All good. Feels good to complete that course no matter what.
Highlights of the day:
-who worry, I wasn't worried bout no rain even w/slicks on....then
-THEN I slid out on some grass, Reece crashed into me. ha!
-Getting a good start, in 8th-ish, then falling to 20th on gravel
-Punching a few climbs & top of Shady to get back 8 spots
-Sliding out and loosing all 8 spots again (both cables out of ferrels)
-Settled, relaxed, got 8+ spots back through race, finished 11th
-Passing Duncan who has been on bike all year only 3 times, period
-Duncan finishing comp class, SS, cause he wanted too
-Great to see racers back at it, some showed up again after MIA
One of the best things no doubt was spending time with my boy Duncan. At home he thinks parents stink yo. You know....he's 16. I did a good job of not harassing D-man once today about life, it's so hard not to parent 24/7!!! The two of us had good time together. A great day with my boy..........D-man.
Friday, May 18
Buck#2 Race Report
Wow! It's so easy to forget the Bucking pain of the garbage pile. Yep that little ski hill made of garbage really delivers a good time, and good dose of pain. A good dose of people digging life.
Below video captures the fun had biking the Buck. I particularly like 1 MINUTE 30 SECONDS in where a guy in blue/yellow jersey on left throws a duster up off the starting line. Gets the lead out. More on last nights version later. Fun to see kids growing up and people having fun, the vid is timeless but maybe needs update?
THE RUSH
So before race report I must share the family dynamic. Not unlike many. RUSH TO BUCK HILL. With 3 kids going in different directions Mom and I had to take two cars. I brought Alta. She picked Leo up from Golf and got him & friend to Buck w/bikes, on time, for beginner race. Duncan had school obligations, not sure how he got to school. rush. RUSH hour to Buck Hill !!
LEO WANTS IT
So Leo, being a little bigger now fits D-Mans ole Haro 13.5 inch alum. He's able to hammer a bit. He got 4th in beginner not far off 3rd. I hear he got the hole shot, or led out the race. Right on! Flying Sqrl, like Sqrl Jr., like Angry R.S...
THE BIKE
I busted out A9C Niner for the first time this year. In fact I haven't gone rigid this year yet either. Did a once over Wednesday including tightening the headset and peeling some duct tape off. After Buck pre-lap I taught the chain line and raised the seat a 1/4. The Niner still way lighter than Misfit felt nice. The Air9 still a pound+ heavy with Ralph, Captain tires and Powertap set-up. Wide bars and slightly different geo compared to othrer bike made for new feels. Rigid made my arms wake up even before race started. But I thought, this is my ride. I got this. FUNNY how the pre-lap is slow and cautious then race all balls out freaky fast. Nothing like a race to bring it.
ADVANCED RACE (it hurt so bad I gotta ramble):
Hanging out at the start line is always crazy. Hurry up and wait to get a spot (don't be the first guy to the line, not cool - be cool hurry up then wait) and then rush and get a spot! Ha Ha we're funny. I'm the funniest. I have that sprint, I want that line. SO OFF THE LINE my pedal came un-clipped, I had both un-clipped at one point. I learned over the years from race starts and river bottom log abuse etc, being clipped in don't matter. Spinning with out being clipped is way do-able. Just keep feet in the right area. I managed to zen, kept the hammer re-clip'n/centering on the up strokes. I got the hole shot and led the race. Silly stuff after not being on bike once since Saturday Hillside race. But hey, I'm a sprinter.
Brendan chose to finally pass at start of big grassy climb (tubing hill?). I remember looking back near top of tubing hill climb and seeing many rolling behind me. Once on tar a Jesse went by. With 34x18 gearing I was surprised I held his wheel across most of first traverse. The whole race thus far i felt red line ish. I couldn't catch myself. It was not good. Before the next traverse many went by. By start of lap two I was still 4th place I think.
Start of lap two on long traverse I was still in chase pack but let Brendan Bellow go by. Then I was in 7th falling to next chasers. Later in lap two Charlie Simacek and Mike P went by. Lap two sucked. I wanted to quit. I started making excuses...."I haven't been on bike since Saturday, Afton race on Sunday, this is painful". I saw John Sandberg, Wallace, Sauber all charging closing the gap to me. I thought they would get me. Then I felt an urge to compete. I woke up. John and I had many fun Thursday nights. Larry my bud and X-LCR mate would razz me if he beat me. Game on. Ride angry. I thought, top 10......race to lap traffic, race to lap traffic.
I held off that gang and saw aforementioned freewheel guys Charlie and Mike ahead. I pushed hard. Lap three I started to come back more. I wanted it. Mike gave a huge effort chasing. The best thing about Buck is you are gunna get challenged many times in a race. Some challenges really hurt. You gotta want it worse than the next guy. I ended 7th. Happy as heck to be old and getting fast again this year. Every year it takes a few Buck races....then I get my game. Yeah, you must embrace that Buck Pain!
Below video captures the fun had biking the Buck. I particularly like 1 MINUTE 30 SECONDS in where a guy in blue/yellow jersey on left throws a duster up off the starting line. Gets the lead out. More on last nights version later. Fun to see kids growing up and people having fun, the vid is timeless but maybe needs update?
THE RUSH
So before race report I must share the family dynamic. Not unlike many. RUSH TO BUCK HILL. With 3 kids going in different directions Mom and I had to take two cars. I brought Alta. She picked Leo up from Golf and got him & friend to Buck w/bikes, on time, for beginner race. Duncan had school obligations, not sure how he got to school. rush. RUSH hour to Buck Hill !!
LEO WANTS IT
So Leo, being a little bigger now fits D-Mans ole Haro 13.5 inch alum. He's able to hammer a bit. He got 4th in beginner not far off 3rd. I hear he got the hole shot, or led out the race. Right on! Flying Sqrl, like Sqrl Jr., like Angry R.S...
THE BIKE
I busted out A9C Niner for the first time this year. In fact I haven't gone rigid this year yet either. Did a once over Wednesday including tightening the headset and peeling some duct tape off. After Buck pre-lap I taught the chain line and raised the seat a 1/4. The Niner still way lighter than Misfit felt nice. The Air9 still a pound+ heavy with Ralph, Captain tires and Powertap set-up. Wide bars and slightly different geo compared to othrer bike made for new feels. Rigid made my arms wake up even before race started. But I thought, this is my ride. I got this. FUNNY how the pre-lap is slow and cautious then race all balls out freaky fast. Nothing like a race to bring it.
ADVANCED RACE (it hurt so bad I gotta ramble):
Hanging out at the start line is always crazy. Hurry up and wait to get a spot (don't be the first guy to the line, not cool - be cool hurry up then wait) and then rush and get a spot! Ha Ha we're funny. I'm the funniest. I have that sprint, I want that line. SO OFF THE LINE my pedal came un-clipped, I had both un-clipped at one point. I learned over the years from race starts and river bottom log abuse etc, being clipped in don't matter. Spinning with out being clipped is way do-able. Just keep feet in the right area. I managed to zen, kept the hammer re-clip'n/centering on the up strokes. I got the hole shot and led the race. Silly stuff after not being on bike once since Saturday Hillside race. But hey, I'm a sprinter.
Brendan chose to finally pass at start of big grassy climb (tubing hill?). I remember looking back near top of tubing hill climb and seeing many rolling behind me. Once on tar a Jesse went by. With 34x18 gearing I was surprised I held his wheel across most of first traverse. The whole race thus far i felt red line ish. I couldn't catch myself. It was not good. Before the next traverse many went by. By start of lap two I was still 4th place I think.
Start of lap two on long traverse I was still in chase pack but let Brendan Bellow go by. Then I was in 7th falling to next chasers. Later in lap two Charlie Simacek and Mike P went by. Lap two sucked. I wanted to quit. I started making excuses...."I haven't been on bike since Saturday, Afton race on Sunday, this is painful". I saw John Sandberg, Wallace, Sauber all charging closing the gap to me. I thought they would get me. Then I felt an urge to compete. I woke up. John and I had many fun Thursday nights. Larry my bud and X-LCR mate would razz me if he beat me. Game on. Ride angry. I thought, top 10......race to lap traffic, race to lap traffic.
I held off that gang and saw aforementioned freewheel guys Charlie and Mike ahead. I pushed hard. Lap three I started to come back more. I wanted it. Mike gave a huge effort chasing. The best thing about Buck is you are gunna get challenged many times in a race. Some challenges really hurt. You gotta want it worse than the next guy. I ended 7th. Happy as heck to be old and getting fast again this year. Every year it takes a few Buck races....then I get my game. Yeah, you must embrace that Buck Pain!
Wednesday, May 16
Cottonwood Grow in Your Lung!
Yo, when your out riding beware! Have you heard the one where the guy breathed in a cotton wood seed......a tree started to grow in his lung? What ever I'm going to breathe one in or cough one up racing this week.
Monday, May 14
Hillside Race B4 & After's
My Dad, Duncan and I all completed Hillside race this last weekend. I can stop right there. Cause that's super Cherry in and of it self no?
The spring tanks. D-Man's sporting a new large Misfit 29'er SS like R Sqrl. Mine with heavy tires, p-tap and shock up front (yes cheq100 prep shock, shocker I know)....mine near 25lbs. A mere 8lbs heavier than my Niner rigid carbon SS wt weenie machine. I like weight in the spring at times.
Before the race I noticed my shoe plates had issue. First skewers now shoes! Can you see the issue with the cleat area?
Before the race Duncan and I waited for Grey Sqrl to pick us up.
Before the race I noticed my shoe plates had issue. First skewers now shoes! Can you see the issue with the cleat area?
Duncan has NOT been on his bike except one Buck race. He's surviving. By July he will kick all of our ass''ss's'. He's an inch or two taller than me and 30lbs lighter! My Dad who's over 70 still hitting dirt too!
My race went really well. I've been searching for my heart rate all year and it showed itself at Hillside race! B. Moore, Doug Swanson, Luke Nelson, Joshua Tesch, Nikolai, Barry Tungseth, Jeff Colbert, Dave Hougland, and many we're present to hammer two hot laps. I can always lead or stay with anyone off the start.....for 50-400ft. So I was able to surge off then spin the SS 32x17 all the way down the road behind Brendan. It was pretty fast, then slow, then fast again.
I was able to hit beginner section 3rd behind Doug S and Brendan. Sweet. Funny my max heart rate didn't happen until later in beginner section. That's when Joshua went by mid beginner area. I chased and maxed out. Later I heard Colbert let'n Luke by. I gave it some gas and eventually Luke caught me halfway through Sec3. After giving up chase for Luke rest of the race I held steady. Solid focused effort. Colbert was back there most of the race but never too close.
Finally last lap of sec4 I buried myself. It's so cool to see my watts and peak 1min 5 min & 10 minute heart rate efforts on a graph in sec4 of last lap! I'm convinced I have a unique view with the p-tap, Single Speed MTB bike. Many questions are being answered and many I'll figure very soon. The p-tap on the mtn bike is not even close to my cx road efforts (well normalized power is close but not variance). This training article not too bad http://www.fascatcoaching.com/mtbpower.html .
I got 4th place and happy with results. Most importantly I have race pace heart rate again!! Below, heart rate and watts on training 39min/41min hot laps and then two faster laps with prologue race laps........what a difference 3 weeks and a "Race" makes.
After the race before and after cross mow training.... How about that yard!! No I don't lie around and try to please the neighbors. Too busy for that game.
Crappy push mower is highly recommended!! ...see ya soon.
Tuesday, May 8
Setbacks. Move On
Time of year I realize, no matter. Plenty of time. Whatever. My season lasts because I recover and deal with setbacks. Sure I have ups & downs, crappy periods and all but it's sustainability that leads to consistency. Not going tweak anything in stupid desperation. Winter, Spring, Summer n Fall...be there.
So I liked the topic of setbacks. Gots some lame setbacks to share. It seems every year it's a muscle, tendon or too much "other" life activities which set me back. But realize....the season is long, enjoy. After all no broken bones! That would stink....my recent set backs:
-Work demands more as I demand more (I will miss Buck races!)
-Hamstrings hurt, heavy SS lifting period (taking days off needed!)
-Put my SS cog on freewheel w/o a lock nut. No stop (worked fine sloppy like)
-Derailuer skipping on SS cog. Bad idea. Cassette on in 5m. Got ride in. killed it.
-Rain. Go out anyway. Remember before bees always 30% chance of rain. Scared?
-Games. Quickly swapping parts to ride. Many bikes not together. Swap games. No excuse.
-Multiple races conflict with family or work plans.....where's carrot race now!?
-I stay up too late drinking anti-energy drink. Got energy, no excuse.
-No time, make time, there's no excuse, or just don't worry about it.
Don't be this guy..............
So I liked the topic of setbacks. Gots some lame setbacks to share. It seems every year it's a muscle, tendon or too much "other" life activities which set me back. But realize....the season is long, enjoy. After all no broken bones! That would stink....my recent set backs:
-Work demands more as I demand more (I will miss Buck races!)
-Hamstrings hurt, heavy SS lifting period (taking days off needed!)
-Put my SS cog on freewheel w/o a lock nut. No stop (worked fine sloppy like)
-Derailuer skipping on SS cog. Bad idea. Cassette on in 5m. Got ride in. killed it.
-Rain. Go out anyway. Remember before bees always 30% chance of rain. Scared?
-Games. Quickly swapping parts to ride. Many bikes not together. Swap games. No excuse.
-Multiple races conflict with family or work plans.....where's carrot race now!?
-I stay up too late drinking anti-energy drink. Got energy, no excuse.
-No time, make time, there's no excuse, or just don't worry about it.
Don't be this guy..............
Saturday, May 5
Cake Eater (jus a little)
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| Leo say's, "I just took a little piece-" By the time I snapped this picture he was half done. If your going in, go all in. |
Hillside don't go soft like a cake on me now!! It's on a Hillside for gosh sake. What happened to the uber roots, rocks, and bumpy rut trail I used to like. I'd take it over pack any day. The sho must go on. Duncan hasn't been on new bike yet, he says in, all in! At 16 he may shy away if we don't get his ash out there now!!!!
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