Finding Rhythm

School started last week! Which means I have 4 days in which I have a 3hr chunk of time to complete all my domestic duties (training, wrenching, etc.). It adds a bit more rushing around but it is a good exercise in time management. 'Cross training starts in earnest tomorrow.

So far we have been able to commute to school on the Tandem for most every trip, 3 round trips per day. I am on the hunt for a Burley Piccolo trail a bike to make the commute easier but they are not easy to locate.

In other news.....

If you have not made plans for late April 08, then TIv4 should be written in. Looks like GTed and Mr Pals are teaming up to bring us yet another great Iowa gravel adventure.

Por Los Runners

Just wanted to give the wife some props for running up Pikes Peak this past weekend in a time of 4:12.50. She placed 124 out of 485 female runners. Her next big run in Imogene Pass which is from Ouray to Telluride.

Next phase

With school starting next week, an increase in the available training time will be focused back to the dirt. Lots of 'cross practice with more days playing in the dirt than on the tar. The ACA has put up an awesome fall schedule of 'Cross events. The plan is to finish up the season in KC at nationals or take a mid-season swing out west for sscxwc. The travel for this cross season will be greater than in the past with weekends in Breck, Frisco, and Gunnison.

I can't wait to read this new rag dedicated to only one thing. Also, check out this site from Breck 'cross contingent, I am liking the Lion of Flanders logo. I will be flying some Crossniac colors this season.

The IRD is getting back together slowly. I have been riding the Waltworks mostly with a set of Speed King Cross tyres (700x35) pushing a 32x14. I am toying with the idea of mounting a set of drop bars on the Waltworks but still undecided.

I am not sure if I am more excited about 'cross or that the kids are going back to school.

Hiatus

After a quick trip to Iowa and Chicago, back in the foothills with preparation for the start of school and 'cross taking up much of my time. Brief recap of the trip: Heading east into the humidity that is the midwest making a stop in Lincoln to pillage the farmers market eating all things unheathy. First visit was M'town where we played tennis, rode bikes, ate sweetcorn, and visited ISU. Then on to Chicago with a stop in Dubuque to ride the tram and eat pizza. In Chicago we rode bikes, visited downtown, boated, and drank beer. All in all a great relaxing end to the summer.

Getting the 'cross bike built back up, decided to add gears back on with the idea of actually trying to have a decent season. The Waltworks will be called into service as my backup bike and for those few SS races. The 'cross specific workouts have begun with the first race in Breck only a month away.

Time to stock the fridge with Hoegaarden! (and some PBR)

Midwest

Marshalltown Sunrise

Circle Racing

It's a wrap. The Tuesday night activity of racing in circles has come to a close. I was able to meet both goals for the series, garner some points and gain some fitness. This was a good way to maintain base for 'cross season and to finish up the summer in good form.

More road, less dirt

Where do the days go? The summer schedule has been busier that ever - kid activities, spousal running ambitions, and racing in circles. With the end of summer almost in sight the mind is starting to turn back to the dirt/ 'cross. I have taken the past few months to fuel that roadie urge. It has helped to be racing on a fairly new team that currently has the desire to race. Some off my teammates my be more movitate than I to move up a category but my reasons for racing are plain and simple - Fun! I have been able to race at least once a week for the last two months, which I have to say has really done wonders for fitness and overall joy of cycling. I don't have that mid-summer feeling of burnout or not wanting to ride, instead the desire to continue to race/ride is even stronger. I was hoping to end my road season with some good racing in Salida or catching a few days of SuperWeek, but they will have to wait until next year. This will be a good lull of activity if I want to have the motivation to continue racing until mid-December.

A couple links to prepare for my favorite season:

Race CX

CX Elements

Bicycling Touring

A bike tour is just that a tour on your bike, it is not a race or a reason to out perform the other cyclist around you. To tour is to view the country side less traveled with the support of many volunteers working their hearts out at strategically placed rest stops providing cold water, encouragement, and food. Who exactly participates is a tour? The whole gambit of cyclist – from racers to mere novices riding high end bikes to those well aged.

The collection of hardware.

Why did I participate is a bike tour this year? Well, the team made a commitment to raising money for MS and the MS150 was the obvious vehicle to do that. The experience of riding a tour is something that I haven’t had in a few years. The mindset that one must obtain is one of a moderate pace with frequent stops. In order to set my mind correct I decided to give the Borthwick a rebirth of sorts. An Eno hub, some new bars, and a modest gear were all I needed. The Borthwick is my old hand crafted stead created in a Marshalltown, Iowa basement, which has taken me on every MS150 I have ridden.

The Borthwick.

I convinced a fellow teammate, Brian “the Hammer”, to ride the century options each day on a fixed gear. There turned out to be four fixed rider but we were the only two to ride back to back centuries. The routes were far from easy even for an experienced cyclist sporting a derailleur which raised the challenge for those of us fixed. The hardest part was the end of day one when we skirted Carter Lake and Horsetooth reservoir with constant ups and downs, the downs being the most draining. An over night stop at the CSU campus before doing the route in almost reverse with the century loop heading up Rist canyon a bit before heading to the nasty climb up Horsetooth reservoir before rejoining the rest of the masses. Rollers to the finish in Broomfield reeked havoc on the already tired legs. We finished, completing 200 miles in two days on fixed geared bikes and I raised 700 dollars for MS.

The Team.

A cause to ride for.

I am participating in the MS150 this weekend.

It won't be the black train of death rumbling through the crowd, just a couple of no-coasting fools.

Hearts and Stars

Summit County Riding

We escaped the heat this past weekend and headed to our mountain refuge in Breck. It was an action packed weekend that included running (for those inclined), biking, fishing, hiking, and relaxing.


Saturday was beautiful day in the mountains so after Rene's grueling run to the summit of Peak 9 we gave her little rest before heading to Frisco. We looped thru Frisco and found a place on the Dillion Res to have lunch before heading up to Breck. Having the tandem makes for great family rides and great workouts for me.

The kids looking less than thrilled with Rene working tired legs to keep up. She opted for the FSR instead of the Colnago for more rolling resistence.

Lunch stop views

Sunday was another picture perfect day. I headed up to enjoy the sunrise on the divide up on Boreas Pass. Tooled over towards Como mainly on gravel with some single track into Breck because I forgot cogs and was running a 32x15. Stopped and picked up a tag-a-long bike to give a whirl around town. Ran into Mr 24 working (and breathing) hard.

The tag-a-long to the mix.

Keagan actually helping

One looong bike.

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.