Sugar High, and Northfield CX

It's been a busy weekend. Saturday was up at my Grandmother's farm looking for Bambi, he eluded me and sadly no venison for the freezer. One of these days... Once it got hot, the deer all went into hiding, no point hunting. So it was off to Northfield to set up course for the return of The Back To School CX race. Starting at 5 Ben, myself, and a some Olaf ski team members helped us set up course. Finished up there about 8:30, ate some dinner, then met a friend and did not get to sleep till 12:30. 5:30 AM to then is quite a long day.

No wonder I could not find the deer. They hid here.

Today started at 7. Back to Olaf to reset up the course after drunks pulled a good portion of it down, and soon enough it was time to race. A beautiful day, and a great turnout was all I could ask for. For sure the most successful race we have had there. Including the most spectators ever. Course changed up a bit, I tried to make the hill easier, I am not quite sure if it was easier, but the course as a whole was more entertaining. It was very possible to ride the whole thing without getting off you bicycle, which many of the A racers did. Standard barriers are over rated.
I know there are some good videos of crashes and then "Pinwheel of Death," I'll collect them all and try to put an entertaining video together.
Congrats to Chris Doig for winning the best crash award.

Oh yeah, sugar high... It seems all I have come across to eat today involves way to much sugar. Cookies, rice crispy bars, coffee/hot chocolate, sports beans... No wonder my personal race sucked! I have never cramped up that bad during a cross race, and besides death cramps, was one of the top crampy races ever. After one of the bunny hops Both calfs froze up and I could only coast...

Some photos.

Pinwheel
Bike race! Even a good turnout for the A race.
Mr. Dan Swanson can fly.
So can young Jack. Not everyone though...
But he sure cleared the barrier.
I had fun too.
Must have been a close one there.
Hollywood

I did not enjoy the hill so much this year, thanks to Linda and the other guy getting me up.

Results

Thanks to everyone who came out today, and especially to Ben Witt of Milltown, St. Olaf, the St. Olaf Nordic Ski Team for all there help, Rawland Cycles, and anyone else who helped out! I'm sure it'll happen again. And until then, plan for another visit to Northfield for the 4th of July, big things are in the works.

School is cool

But first a short recap.
Jackson Meadows a few weeks back. Felt alright but lots of mechanical issues. Anyone want to buy all my SRAM stuff?


Last weekend was one of my favorite races up in Taylors Falls. The course was not quite as fun as usual, but still not bad. I got pushed way way to the back at the start, and spent the rest of the race trying to move up. It only kinda worked.
Halloween, was as usual a good time.

2 weekends left in the season for me I think. My ass hurts, time for some off season.

Ever since starting school, I have not really enjoyed it much. Olaf had some good classes that I did indeed enjoy (being there was a blast). But actually enjoying almost everything I am learning (or supposed to be) is a new experience for me. Today we got into starting IVs on each other, luckily the program is smart and limits us to being stabbed max. 3 times a day. It'll add up though. So if you do see my arms and they are full of holes, yes, I have been playing with needles. And no, I am not doping or doing other illegal activities!

It's Back!

The pinwheel of death.




It'll be badass, everyone show up. All proceeds benefit teams that keep kids from getting fat!

Bike Polo

I did not race last weekend. I simply did not want to drive, so I found other entertainment.
Saturday was quite nice, I got out for a good ride on the new mtb. and got some good sightseeing in.

For being a big city, Mpls is really quite nice.

This dog (center) was people watching, no owners in sight, just sitting enjoying life.

Sunday was again nice, the trails were all packed. I rode by these guys, then decided it looked like fun, asked if I could join in and played for an hour. Apparently they play Thursday nights, game on!

Bike polo.

Snow!

I woke up on Saturday morning with no plans to go bike racing, until I looked outside. There was snow, bike riding in the snow is fun... really.
So I went and raced. The snow turned to mud and it was real cross racing!
The race went ok, nothing special, but I had a good time.
I did get to whip the first sh!tty of the year though. Gotta practice that winter driving.


Sunday was racing at Theo Wirth, I rode my bike there. Such a nice option, after all the driving the past years for bike racing. Living in Mpls is indeed nice at times.
Hopefully I can steal some photos from somewhere soon, maybe a passerby could post a link?
Again, just an OK race, dropped my chain at one point and lost about 20 spots, could have been a whole different race had that not happened... Oh well, however, the race was fun as well.

Sunday night into Monday it snowed again,

Had to brush the car off in the morn.

I am now very very excited to...

Anyone want to take me on a trip?

Brought to my attention.

Why it should not be called football.

It will be worse tomorrow

Of course it started raining today just as class finished. Lucky me. However, I found out (again) what happens if I try to race without pedaling much during the week. In short I just suck. No excuses, just what it is. At least I know that, so let us see if I can remedy it!

Anyhow, I saw the weather will be even worse tomorrow, so I decided to suck it up and go pedaling.

Look at southwestern North Dakota...

I had a bit of other motivation (not that it is going anywhere), but today was map day in school, and I happen to run across a familiar street name, which just happen to be not very far away from home via the Greenway.

I should move there.

The rain kept the people off the trails, which meant I could do a few intervals and not feel like/look like a tool trying to show off (and not kill/be killed by anyone, safety first)!

I did have to watch out for these though.

I was also out of bread, so on the way home, already being soaked, I had no problem going the extra 10 minutes to the super secret bakery.

That costs the amount shown. Always impressed when I buy a loaf.

On another note, I need to sell

this, asap. Contact me if you are interested.

It's Here!

Yay, cross season. The best of all the world of bikes rolled into one delightful hour.
Today was my usual first of the year, out to St. Cloud it was. Usually a good course, with good food after, even though by the time the A race is done most of the chili is gone... Oh well.
Anyhow, after last weekend I did not expect anything much, but might as well go ride bikes if I can. Right from the start things felt good, and I guess for much of the race stayed so. I followed Mr. Dewey when he picked it up on lap 2 and that's how the race went. I kept him close for half of the race, then he just kinda rode away per usual. I tried to put time back but no good, I had a good pace going and was putting time on the chasers so just kept it there and came across 2nd. Quite a surprise, again considering last week and wanting to die. Who knows, but hey, I'll take it!

First barrier experience of the year!

I match...

Nice fast grass.

Win some, loose some

More often lose some, but I like to try... Ha!
Anyhow, as everyone knows this past weekend was Chequamegon. It was my first year joining the party, and I was very excited for it. I have heard so many fun things about the race.
After staying near OO at Mike and Michelle Haggs (thanks to them). Saturday morning came, and it was off to the bike race. Luckily I had preferred start so I did not have to get up at 5:00 A.M. to line up. Poor people...
After a few minutes warm up it was time to go. After hearing so many horror stories about the start, I was ready to fight some people to stay safe, did not have too, it was for the most part a calm start. Once to the open road it was fast, but sitting in not a problem. Although as soon as the speed picked up my legs said you are not ready yet, not enough warm up. In that race, I found out very quickly, if your not warmed up, things don't go well at the start. I did what I could, which was not enough to stay up. Hung with group 2 for a bit, then slowly drifted back as I simply could not recover from the simplest of hills. So I just held onto groups for as long as I could. About 45 minutes in I looked down and noticed my front skewer was open, strange, thought I tightened it real good. I had been in a good group, but lost that with that smart move...
About 80 minutes in I started feeling decent, and struck off to find the next group on the trail. However, I just ended up pulling a group of incredibly unhelpful riders. Only one Velorochester guy would help, everyone else just made me angry but I could not drop them and no matter how slow I would go (allowably slow) they would not go around.
The energy I had disappeared as fast as it came and I was left empty handed for the last 45 minutes of the race. I actually had to walk some worthless little bump because my legs were so crampy (crappy).
Eventually I finished, feeling like crap, dirty and dehydrated...

I rode with her for a good chunk of the race. As you can see I do not look pleased...

I did not have a very enjoyable Chequamegon, but I can easily see how if one is feeling good, it would be a wonderful bike race. I will be back in the future to redeem myself.
I know why I sucked to. The past month (like I said before) has been crazy busy with school. Thus training has gone down the crapper, hopefully I won't be suffering like this for CX season which I guess has now started. Just gotta wait on the CX weather, not this nice stuff!

Busy Busy

Since the start of school I have been swamped. Rides have been a bit short because of so much studying that needs to be done, I guess that works out since I am just now getting rid of a cold I have had for a week.
I meant to write after State road race, but ran out of time. So long ago now, but all I remember is that it was one of the most fun races of the year...
Road season is finally done, next up is Chequamegon . It should be a great time, I have been riding my 29er as much as I can, mostly at Theo Wirth, since it is so close. Not a very challenging course, but lots of twists and turns, which is exactly what I need to work on. After that cross starts, how exciting, I love cross! I think I like it more then road racing...

But this is what is on my mind right now.

Back to the neurons!

Moved

As many know, I no longer live in Duluth. Last Thursday I packed the Subaru full and headed south to my new home near "The Wedge" in Minneapolis. I am now also attending paramedic school, thus the move, I was perfectly content in Duluth. Despite having stupidly long drives for bike races and similar cold weather...

The quiver ready to go.

Anyhow, after staying up way to late for various reasons on Friday night I woke up, and with a horrible stomach ache was off for 85 miles of fun just west of St. Cloud.



With the help of a 1/2/3 field the race was quite large, and with extreme luck for me nearly the entire first lap was really quite easy. The other 4, for many sections were not at all easy. Great course though, had good hills, and nice little towns that we rolled through. I felt ok for most of the race, hurt a little on the finish hill when the hammer fell, but considering the night before things were great. The final climb did not go well for me though. I cramped up pretty bad and just had to limp it in, such is life. However, I can attribute my issues (all the following completely my fault) to staying up to late, not drinking enough water, and failing to be able to stomach breakfast. Even though I hate to show up to a race without the aspiration of winning, or putting some serious work in to help someone win I had fun.

Sunday I did some mountain bike trail exploring. Someone tell me more trails, besides Lebanon.

I cruised around Theo Wirth. Nice, but small.

Today (Monday) I had class number one of paramedic school. 7:45-2:15 every day. I am quite pleased with the subject matter, and hopefully it will be a good time. My only issue is that class is in White Bear Lake, and I am all the way over in Minneapolis. Thus a (for me) long commute. For the last year and a half I have commuted 4 km to work. I am not a big fan of driving so I used this website to map out a route for me.
If you have never used this website and live in the Mpls/St. Paul area, and you like bikes, use it. It will blow your mind how cool it is. Mapquest for bikes!
A quick search showed the way, after class today I took off to see what the commute would take. About 75 minutes. There are tons of bike trails and lanes the whole way there.

Como

Victory! Heading home.

Absence

I've been out and about one could say.
Today I got a new bike.

I think Chequamegon will go well on this. ZOOM!

Well, maybe not on that bike, but I did get a new bike today. Big tires are fun.

They allow you to go where ever you want...

and do wheelies there!

On the search for Sasquatch again.
No luck this time.

Apparently the link to Mr. Kask's website did not work on the last post. Try again here.

Test

I have been unhappy with my training and racing for over a month now, and things I have been doing, have not been working. It just so happens that I have a good buddy (Jason Kask) that has majored in performance coaching, and is going to grad school for high performance science. Read make you go faster.
I finally got Powertap back from the company, thus getting all the data I need for the test. This evening it went down and fun information was found

Post test sweaty.

Anyhow, check him out. He knows his shit.

Even his own legit website.

Raspberry Festival

I have never found the real raspberries at the Hopkins Raspberry Festival. It is at least a month before they are ripe and for the picking, maybe they should change the name to strawberry festival or something that they can actually provide...
Despite not finding any fruit, there were quite a few figurative raspberries to be found after the races yesterday. A big field and flat fast course caused some problems in the 1/2 field. There were a couple of broken bikes, hopefully no bones, and lots of road rash. No fun.
Despite the crashes here and there the race was pretty fun. We were cruising right from the start and did not let up too often. There were all kinds of attacks, but nothing could stay away. I think the longest break was all of two laps. Instead of my usual dumb racing I tried to race at least somewhat intelligently, just covering attacks that no other teammates were in and generally just be ready to go if I needed too. I was feeling good coming into the finish, but a crash right in front of me on the final corner proved difficult to sprint around. Plus I was much further back then I had thought I was.

I need to sell my mountain bike still. I know someone out there wants it!
800 bucks for an S-Works, can't get any better then that.