Eno Laced

The past days have been filled with wheel building, racing in circles, early am riding, and hanging with the kids.

The Dead Dog Experience

I love to race my bike and when I can head out to somewhere as nice as Laramie thats makes it even better.

Road Race:
Really Hard! I felt pretty good for the first 17 miles until the climbing got intense then I popped like a balloon in a cactus patch. I gave it my best effort to recover and remain in sight of the riders up the road, but to no avail I was going to slog the next 13 miles to the turn around solo. Brian "the Hammer" caught me after the steep climbs which gave me the boost I needed to keep going. I found a comfortably painful pace and just climbed to the summit trying to enjoy the views in between gasping for air. Made the turn around to see my two teammates were close behind, the big men were surely going to catch me on the downhill. I reached only 50 mph in a full tuck and couldn't quite go faster - I should of grabbed some bottles (or rocks) to give gravity more mass to play with. Finished up with an 11 mile uphill drag to the finish, I was cooked. At this point I was riding alone and heard someone yelling at me, it was Brian. We rode in together finishing the painful 1000 m climb to the line. The team went 33, 34, and 35 over 30 minutes down to the leader.

I was pleased to finish the race under the time limit but was a tad disappointed that I didn't climb better. I was shooting for top 20 in the Road Race, but thats the way racing goes.

Crit:
Fast and Fun! We had the opportunity to kicking off the Sunday racing schedule with a 7 am crit in downtown Laramie. Didn't sleep well the night before (even with a few beers) so I was tired at the start line. Once the gun went off, the fun began. The JDS squad pushed the pace early on to assist in the safety of the event. We remained active throughout the race and I even bridge to a breakaway towards the end but they had given up and we got swallowed up into the pack.

I felt great and was able to move around in the pack without a problem. I made a small tactical error towards the end when I bridged up and should of kept going past the break, oh well.

Time Trial:
Pain! These aren't suppose to be fun. I pushed hard to the turn around - 5 miles out downhill with a tailwind. Then I just suffered back to the finish.

I did better than expected and I am now perusing online for a set of aerobars.

Overall a great weekend, finished 30th, found the veggie restuarant, hung out with teammates, didn't crash, and enjoyed Laramie. The team raced great and it was fun racing with Brian and Bill. Dead Dog is on the calendar for next year.

Ring of Fire

Burn, burn, burn!

Laramie is for racing.

I am preparing for my first stage race in 9 years, a bit excited and nervous all the same. The last time I race a true stage race was the Fayetteville Stage Race in 1998. I have race some omniums since but nothing based purely on time. The legs are feeling good and my attitude is surly, so that must mean I am ready to go. I was able to get out this past weekend and train in the mountains, got out with SC on Sunday for a great Fathers day ride. I did some racing in circles last evening which was a blast, I even worked my way to the front for the last two laps and took a mini-flyer with half lap to go. Needless to say the pack gobbled me up but I stayed tacked on the back and made a futile sprint effort. Having never been to Laramie, I am looking forward to checking the place out, I'll have to see if I can find some PBR on-tap (to ease the late night cycling demons).

The summer has been shaping up well and a few events are starting to fall into place.

Keep up with D-Nice here.

Foray to downtown D

Yesterday headed to Salvagetti Bicycle Workshop to order up a WI Eno hub for the Borthwick. I have to say it was a great experience and will be directing some of my business their way.

Notorious has got me stoked for cyclocross season, even has me thinking about heading to nationals in KC.

A good chunk

After a decompresive weekend, it was time to hit it hard to prepare for the Dead Dog Stage Race. I haven't done one in a few years so not sure how the legs are going to react. I was able to race in circles on Tuesday with the weather subsiding just enough as not to race in a complete downpour. Only 9 brave souls toed the line, we went off with a flash and that was the last I saw of most of them - I forget how easy it is to hide in the pack.

Last night was a great ride in BCLP with SC, Drew, and BIL on some of the single track in the park. It was good to get out with the boys for a ride. BIL was sporting a new GF 29er which was sweet.

It was my morning today, which meant I got my butt out to ride. Rolled over to quiet stretch of road and commenced to do hill repeats, the legs wanted to be back in bed. After 2 more than planned the body was in need of coffee and food, so I rode home in enough time for Rene to catch the bus.

I feel like I am coming back around after a brief hiatus. The weekend will be filled with some long rides and time with the kids. Can't wait.

Bluegrass, beer, and bikes

Spent the past weekend lounging amoungst the cottonwoods listening to the sounds of bluegrass. The North Fork Bluegrass fest is on the western slope in the town of Hotchkiss which is nestled between the Grand Mesa and the Scenic Mesa on the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The stress level went almost to nothing, which was much needed. Fallon rolledwith her bike on the dirt roads and I got out for a nice gravel grinder on top of Scenic Mesa. Lots of great roads and trails in the area for further exploration.

We opted for the scenic way home with a drive up Kebler Pass (home to the largest living organism), then up Cottonwood Pass (over the divide), and then across South Park. Most of it was on gravel that got me thinking.

Got my Conti fix last week, tyres for TIv3 came in (finally!) and pick up a load of toobes from Mr JDS. Rode the tandem to grab my stuff which packed nicely into front panniers.

Mind Clearing Therapy

The last two weeks have felt like trudging through muck on some 'B' level Iowa road. Maybe its life, death, traveling, iceburg lettuce, beer/liquor, family, humidity, bugs, past, or the future. The ebbs of life come smack you with a reality check every so often and all you can do is 'Kick it in the Junk'!

Going to race in circles tonight to clear the mind of demons.

Back Home

Roughly 8 days away from the bike visiting Kansas and Michigan seeing family. Home! Time to get my mind cleared with some riding.

Summer break started while I was away, the kids and I are planning some fun stuff with a fair bit of riding sprinkled in.