Funny how it works

Last year at this time all I wanted to do was be done with the bike season, and I still had a few weeks left. Right now all I want to do is go putz around on the trails. Funny how it works out like that.
As of now the trails are frozen mud, with a light covering of snow, some frozen ruts. Again last year at CX Nationals the frozen snow covered ruts were part of the cause of my misery, now I am entertained by riding through those sections quickly...

Trail in day, with frozen ruts.

I recently purchased a Nite Rider headlamp, the last few nights have been very fun. The woods at night are a whole different experience. Earlier tonight, Dean, Ross, Ryan (Ski Huters), and I went for a cruise in the dark. It was really fun, I highly recommend it.

Between trails. Ross and Dean.

Nice bright light

Ross enjoying the spotlight.

For Sale

08 Tarmac SL2 Pro

I just got it, you know you want it. Lets chat.
My best guess puts less than 800 miles on it. And fewer than 100 miles on the wheels.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with it, and I love the bike. I just want a new one, with scram on it.
It retails for $6,100.
I am asking $3,250.
A great deal.
Talk with you soon. jwboyce@gmail.com

New Bridges

Well done to the bridge builders in Hartley. They are quite nice.
The woods here are absolutely lovely. Super fast, not muddy, not icy. Just plain fun. So much for my week off!

Max hitting up one of the new bridges.

Fini

the 08 season has finally come to a close, a good year of ups and downs ended with the always super fun State CX race. Good thing it is done too, another month of hard training would probably kill me. To anyone who is doing nationals, have fun training in the cold, wet, and dark. I'll be racing my couch!

Anyhow, on to the State CX race. As usually the biggest race of the year, as usually a good course. With the expansion of the race to include the far side of the park, things got quite interesting.

Good thing the race started 15 minutes late, I was not paying any attention to the clock, I was just going to go take a lap of the course when I saw the entire field lined up and just about ready to go. So I choked down my sports beans and lined up, within a minute we were off. And somehow I actually had a good start, despite not being ready at all. I was right where I wanted to be until the corner after of the stair run the first lap where I botched the turn and got gapped. From there on out it was Mr. Casper, Mr. Taylor and I chasing the lead group. We were working quite well together, eventually catching a hurting Harland and Swanson. the remaining 4 of the lead group held there lead. Thus we were racing for 5th place. Mr. Casper put in a hard attack on the pavement before the sandpit. As we came into that at about 50 mph I missed the rut I was aming for and just about went over my bars, Mr. Taylor and Casper were gone. I chased hard but they are just to fast to try and catch after any mistake. In the end I rolled across 7th. Not bad at all, but not the top 5 I was going for, at least I was in the running for it though. This race was probably the most fun Ive had all year.

Eurostyle, one of the reasons this race is so much fun. A tunnel of people yelling at you.

Hard day

Stairs are fun.

The pit. My eventual downfall. However, Mr. Taylor probably beat me out of the pit this lap too. He just blasted through it every time.
most photos stolen from Sean Burns

Well, thats it for 08 bike racing. It's fat season! After a week or two off it will be back to training, hopefully some skiing. Which I will be able to afford, because no bike races!

If there are

legitimate expenses, like Super Rookie mentions, then the prize list may have to be smaller. But most of these races cost more, have few expenses and have very very little pay out. Someone who actually wins money at MN races mentioned after the last race that Iowa seems to have it figured out, they pay more with fewer racers. However, I am not going to Iowa to race, because for the most part MN is more competitive thus more fun for me. But we all could learn from their ideas.

People get to angry

calm down. Take a deep breath, drink some cocoa and get angry about things that actually matter, such as the price of cold weather clothing not some silly blog or message board.

Anyways,
Saturday.
Velodrome CX. Much much better then last year, my least favorite race award has already been given out, even without that, I don't think this race would get it this year. No garbage water!
Still to many turns, but they worked with what they had, and I still think we should ride in circles...
The race itself was not so good for me. I had my worst start of the year, and on that course there was little opportunity to move up until the field spread out which was much to late to matter. And for some reason I felt a bit sluggish, maybe it was the Arctic temps, but it just did not go so smoothly. I did better then last year though, all I had to do was finish!

If you look real close you can see the Velodrome in the distance.

Sunday
Lake Rebbecca CX
Same course as last year, which I find for the most part entertaining. When dry or packed, nice fast single track, however much of it was really slick mud for a good part of the race, which made things interesting.
My start would have been good, except I have enjoyed not using glasses in cross this year, thus the muddy gravel start was hard on my eyeballs. It took me a couple of laps to see clearly again.
After taking out a good portion of the field on the first run up due to slippery conditions I once again missed the lead group and spent the rest of the race chasing, of course to no avail but a 5th place.

The laziness of bike racers never ceases to amaze me. Is it really that inconvenient to drive 29 miles outside of the city? I wish people would drive to Duluth, the whole 150 miles, but not even driving 29 because it is out of the urban sprawl is getting pretty pathetic. The only people who I will listen to complain about driving are those who live in Moorhead, or further away then Duluth. Some of them even came to Duluth!


I hope they got some money in my races that paid out top 10 to men and 5 to women, the total purse being $600 both days! And know what is sad, I did not even end up paying out all the money (see above comments).
Hopefully this will generate some discussion, then my job is accomplished.

In the mean time, enjoy the cold and see you all next weekend!

I am not moving to Germany

or Canada, at least not quite yet. The election went mostly how I wanted. It is great that so many people got out and voted, but we still have a long way to go.
Number of people eligible to vote in the US.
217.8 million
Number of people who voted yesterday.
120,115,867
55%...

In other more entertaining news. I always thought something on the ballot coming down to one vote was something for the Simpsons. But I was proven wrong yesterday. A proposal to allow liquor sales in Duluth's far east end was defeated by one single vote. Incredible!
2,827 against
2,826 for

Almost

Last week it snowed Monday, and was 70 and sunny on Thursday...

After eating lots of delicious candy and other foods, and drinking delightful drinks on Friday night it was off to one of the race course I have absolutely no issues with, believe it or not. The Red Barn rolled around and it was time to squish around the tree farm for a bit. After growing my facial hair out for a good 3 weeks or a month, so long ago, first for my costume, and second so I could have an attempted mustache at the race, I was quite ready.

A delightful dessert

After an ok start and a few laps the main groups were established. I was duking it out in group two, hoping to catch up. No dice after getting gapped, so Mr. Casper, Mr. Moran, Mr. Reits, Mr. Roy, and I had fun beating up each other. Mr. Casper and Moran each took a tumble, leaving the last few laps down to the rest of us. Mr. Reits went on the attack with 3/4 a lap to go, I stuck on, and coming through the barriers (my strong point that day) I took off for 7th place.
Only issue I have with the race this year was chip timing... I say no more.

Sunday sent me down to Milaca for another fun course (besides the bridge). After a super slow start I tried to chase onto the lead group which was not to far ahead. Mr. Dickey was doing a fine job of pulling me, when all of a sudden he dissappeared from in front of me and popped up in front of the lead group. All in the blink of an eye. So I rode with Mr. Casper for most of the race, in the end we were catching Mr. Taylor after his crash. We rode hard to catch him, Herr Casper selflessly leading me down the road to try and get me to him, but it did not quite work out and I came across 6th.

I really need to get those starts down. I know I can hang with the lead group, I just gotta get there. 3 more tries...

Also vote, I was thinking about a write in.
Solve the puzzle and you will know who!

ogbreweguhs

First one to solve it wins a special prize.