Well then...

I had a dream that I updated this blog a few nights ago, I figured I'd take the leap and make my dreams come true...

It's been a busy summer... and spring... (April 23rd was a really long time ago), far too many things happening to bore the now non existent following of this poorly written bit of internet space, so I'll use photos for most of it.
In short I have been:
Clinicaling (HIPPA says I can't take photos)
Pedaling (see below)
Adventuring (also somewhere beneath)
Sweating (you don't really want to see that)

I rode the first part of the road season on a cross bike. Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done.

Then road in gravel with my road bike. I love it when that happens.
Got angry at something in Stillwater.
But got over it quick!

Did a few delightfully fun mountain bike races. Which I need to do more of.
Was reminded how much better trails are then time trails.
Had a low number of racers at the Northfield Crit, and lots of drama about Ride Of the Year following... Relax, show up next year, and have fun.

It's rained a lot down here this year.
I mean A LOT.
Luckily my house is up on the hill behind me in the photo, no problem for me!
I've gone camping, or surfing on this past trip.
We invaded Canada and fought the Mounties off with paddles while distracting them with orange life jackets. Then built a phallic shaped object to commemorate our glorious victory.
And brushed my teeth as best I could.
And just got back from a friends wedding out in Montana, I do enjoy the mountains.

Coming up soon are a whole bunch more clinicals, state road race (the last of the year), Cheq. and then CX! Yahoo! Maybe I'll update more, maybe not, bribes of good things to eat and drink to keep you entertained help...

Backlog and wheel sale

Life has been busy, school keeps me on my toes and the weather keeps me outside.

A few weeks ago the Twins played their first "real" game in their new Stadium. Ben was up to discuss 4th of July Crit plans, and we just happen to roll up for the last two outs of the game. It was pretty cool. Hopefully I can go enjoy a game sometime this summer. If someone wants to take me I'd be good company, I promise.


Bike racing also started this past weekend for much of MN including myself. Due to various reasons I sucked. It was pretty bad, one of my worst races in years, but I think I figured out what most of my issues were. Things went better at Opus this past week, but that is a completely different and much easier race then a typical road race. I guess I'll see if I figured things out on Saturday down near my former home.

I am also working on building up a true road bike. So far the cx bike has done a couple of road races, not as bad as it sounds. It is in fact, a road bike right now. Should be a good bike when it's done.
Due to the new build, I have some lightly used items for sale. Lucky you.

Again I have a Power Tap SL. It was completely refurbished and rebuilt last fall, the rim and spokes by Bontrager, and the internals by Saris. The only original part left is the hub casing. Even the CPU unit was replaced last fall. It is wired, which means the batteries last long (which were also just replaced last month), and I have 3 wire set ups which means multiple bikes is no problem. Heart rate strap also included.
All of it is working perfectly. The hub is extremely fast, I usually out coast most people (without having gravity assist on my side). I just simply don't use it how I should, thus no need to keep it.
The cheapest complete Power Tap setup you can get right now will run you $1400. I'll send this one out the door for $825.

You know you've always wanted one, here is your chance!

Comes without the cassette, you can have the tire if you want it, but that's pretty old...

I also have a super nice pair of Easton EC70 SL wheels that are up for sale. Super fast, decent weight wise, a super solid race set. Mostly carbon, which an aluminum braking surface, so you don't have to worry about fancy pads. Which is all I used it for last year, they probably have about 1,000 miles on em. Never been crashed, nice and true. I never even road these on gravel!
MSRP $1,200
Yours for $675.

Again cassette not included, not the tires either on these though...

Super nice set. They could be yours!

If you want to chat about anything: jwboyce@gmail.com...

Outside the box

I bet I have said this before, but getting outside of the 494/694 box is always a good thing to do on a bike ride. I think the air just gets a hair cleaner out there...
Yesterday I rode my mountain bike around for a good 5 hours. I had so much fun on the trails, to bad I now live in the city, rather then up in the forest where there are more trails then I know what to do with. Oh well, Mpls is doing pretty dang well for what it is. Among the many great perks of off roading that I have rediscovered, is the complete lack of automobiles. I am so sick of those...

Some of the trails...

Been doing some stair running, for various purposes.
Buy lots of things with that.

I have also been debating whether or not I am really using my Powertap. I just got a new HR monitor and notice that I usually only look that that anyhow. Thus is it really worth it for me to have it? Give me an offer I can't refuse and it's yours.

Built on a Bontrager Race X Lite rim. Rim plus spokes all replaced/rebuilt (by Bontrager) last year.

Hub was also completely rebuilt last year by Powertap, since then I have not abused it.
It is still old school and wired, but I have 3 cables, so multiple bikes is no problem...

March or June?

I am not really sure

March(ing) along

The weather has been quite nice in these parts as I am sure most of you know. I've ridden multiple times in shorts, which at least for me in March here is not something that happens. I have definitely enjoyed it, I just have to be sure I don't wear myself out to early this year...

Last week I set out in search of country roads

It took way too long to find them. The endless suburbs never cease to amaze me.

Yesterday I had a good adventure...

I almost thought I was in Euroland for a moment. People were using trains,

planes, and

tanks?

I even passed a castle,

but lacked a boat. Detours are no fun.

Especially when you need to pee.

Handicap boat parking?

At least there is minimal smog right now.

And yes, the grass is greener on this side.

It's Time...

!

In other news

I rode to the wrong side of the river the other day...

Today this made me hungry.

Finally, people are dumb.

Spring is springing?

Hopefully. 40+ this whole week, rain tonight, time for sun.
Winter has been good, lots and lots of skiing, up until a few weeks ago pickup hockey, and a fair amount of beer brewing. The roads are starting to dry out, but the bike trails (Greenway) are still wet and/or icy...
I've been riding a bit, but am enjoying skiing until the last minute, the bike season is long.

Lake of the Isles pond hockey.
Homebrew explosion
One of the parents dogs (Stella) visited last weekend and enjoyed ski time.

which is almost finished.

On a completely different note, this is one badass swiss army knife... Buy it here.

Hope you don't need a tool soon, may take some searching...

New Olympic Sport

Buy me

For Sale:
Extremely badass 2009 Specialized Tarmac SL Pro.
56 cm.
Full SRAM Red brakes, shifters, hoods.
Dura Ace 10 spd chain with Ultegra 12/25 cassette.
Bontrager Race X Lite wheels (Strange, I know) with white spokes, which have never been ridden!
Almost new bar tape, and Toupe seat.
FSA K-Force seat post.
Was raced and ridden a fair amount since April, but taken care of extremely well. One small chip in the white paint on the underside of the frame, can't even see it.
Selling on ebay right now for $3,000 I will sell it for less then that for sure. Email me and I'll let you know the price.
jwboyce@gmail.com

Fancy FSA seatpost

Almost brand new rear shifter/brake hood

DA chain, very few miles on it, with never ridden wheels.

See told you it was badass...

Long Haul

As we were out west, we were hoping that Colorado would get slammed with some snow, and the hills would all open up. However this never happened, so the icy half opened mnts of CO remained untouched by my skis. In addition to low snow, travel across the midwest was supposed to get awfully sketchy the next few days, and I did not want to get stuck in North Platte, NE...
From Salt Lake we drove South to Moab to check it out, sadly I did not have my bicycle. But the town was pretty cool. We also visited Arches National Park, since we were in the area.
Following that we blasted across the mountains in the dark to Denver, then after a stop at a fabled Waffle House. Finding any of these above the Mason Dixon Line is a task. I would bet we were at the furthest north establishment... The closest one to Mpls is in central MO. It was back home. We could have made it in two stops, but I did not trust the coffee at one of our stops, so we had to do a redo...
It was a good trip.

There were very few others around.

This particular arch spans around 100 meters.It was cool with the red rock and snow.
Cliff hanger."Balanced Rock"We pushed it to the max in Nebraska...