Support THE MAN

I want to give a shout out to Ben Popper. He will be racing out east in a number of UCI races. He needs all the support he can get so go over to his blog and give him a shout out. I think he is a great up and coming CX Racer, he's gone from his first CX race to Cat 2 in less than a year, now if he only trained...lol.

Me and the Big Baby

I have found my duo partner, its none other than the big baby



Me an Theo Peters have informally agreed to do the 12 hour Duo Series next year, its a good fit for him and for me. He will be contesting the 24 hour Junior Team Title @ 24-9 and he needs to train up for it and I'm looking for a partner and its best to keep it within the team when possible. I will still probably need a 3rd man on the roster as I know the peter's family doesn't do the entire schedule and I want to Points chase. I am sitting down with my mechanic tonight to figure out my '08 bike as described in earliar blogs and finalize build spec.

Guess the Rider

I submitted a photo to the Admin of the Wicycling.org page for the Guess the Rider section, they did decide to use it. Go guess who those riders are and do it quick, first person to guess correctly gets mentioned on the Wicycling.org Website and the Doing Something to the Max Blog Good luck to everyone.

Proposed Build for '08 Geared bike

My First double blog day.

I have been getting a mix of feedback, some that is conflicting, I think that I have come to a head and I think I have made a decision as far as frame and build up. I'm going to remind you once again, this is not a bike for WORS this is a WEMS Bike specifically for Duo/Team Racing. I believe I have found a partner BTW, detail to come in a blog another day. Proposed build is listed as follows.


$500 Frame: 16" Salsa Moto Rapido '08 w/ carbon seatstays

Headset: Cane Creek S-8
Fork: Reba Team (Dual Air) 80mm
Shifters: SRAM X-0 Trigger Shifters
Rear Der.: Sram X-0 Rear der.
Front Der. Shimano XT Front Der. (own used)
Cassette: CS-970 11-32 (own used, but barely 20 miles on)
Chain: SRAM PC-991 Hollow Pin
Wheels: Bontrager Race Disc (own used)
Tires: Maxxis Cross Mark (own used)
Brakeset: Avid Juicy Ultimate (140mm Rear & 160mm Front)
Crankset Crank Brothers Cobalt SL Cranks
Bottom Bracket: FSA Platinum ISIS
Pedals: C Egg Beaters (own Used)
Seatpost: Thompson Elite (own used)
Seat: WTB Speed V (own used)
Handlebars: FSA K-Force ATB (31.8) Flat
Stem: Ritchey WCS 4-Axis Alloy (100mm) (own used)
Grips: Ergon GX1 (team sponsorship)

Pictures from Haloween CX, Enjoy!

Give it up for Aaron Brandt Everybody.

Everyone Else

Halloween CX

This years Halloween CX Turned out to be not a great race on my part. I got there around 840 ish, Registered, Gus and Christie got there shortly after me and they set up the party on the hill. I prerode in my regular pants and jacket. Then I went to go put on my costume, turns out it wasn't such a good idea. IT DIDN'T FIT! oops. As Theo Peters said, "I was going as a Roadie". I got a good starting position was about 5th or 6th to the first turn, up the steep hill... I spun and spun and spun my tires, I literally lost like 20 to 25 positions. The move to put my Michelin Jet (30C) on my rear and take the Panaracer Cinder X (35C) off turned out to be a bad decision. Oops again. That did it for the Oops category, but about 1 lap in I started feeling like absolute junk. I felt nauseated and sick to my stomach, I wanted to stop and hurl, no clue why, but that's what I felt like, even as I write this I'm still a little nauseous. I looked down and my HR was in the mid 170s for the first 2 laps and slowly came down when I was letting it get the best of me. I finished it out getting lapped only about .3 of a mile from the finish. Laps were about 1.53 miles and were in the 5-6 minute neighborhood. The end result was something like 54 out of 58 or something, not last but pretty terrible. The Party on the hill was a Hit, Hot cider, prizes for costumes, candy, cookies, music, beer and just a grand ol time. I will post pictures from the party and the races tomorrow, probably in a Slideshow format. I got some good ones so stay posted. I have also had some good conversations with teammates and friends on other acquaintances today that have helped me be more informed as to some decisions next year. Blogs to come.

Personally I like Guatemalan Polak Costume, as described in the Rusty Tool Shed Blog, he has to be the only Guatemalan Polak in the world.

For All of you people that are flipping out

I do have a costume, it may disappoint, but at least its a costume. Its so bad I might go to jail for it.

As Suggested, here are some suggestions

Steel


Cro-Moly


Full-Carbon


Composite


Alloy


Titanium


Swiss


I've been told I should get a Hardtail because its the only way I'm going to be happy on the bike. As far as fast goes its really the only way to go here in WI. Here's a pick of the lot. Leave Your 2cents, I'm only wanting a frameset ignore components.

Pondering about my '08 Purchase

With my only geared MTB going up on Ebay, you can find the link here I'm pondering what to get to Replace it. I'm thinking about trying a brand I have never tried before, something I little less mainstream. I'm kicking around the idea of a Ellsworth Truth or Ellsworth Evolve.



I want a sporty full-suspension bike that can rail like a hardtail. I'm not looking to buy anything ASAP because I'm not really in a postion to spend that kind of money. But when the time comes I will spare no reasonable expense. I'm willing to spend up to $2000 for top-of-the-line frameset. A freind on my team also suggested Niner. I plan to go Full Sram XO and Juicy ultimates or something like that. I plan to use this for WEMS @ 24-9. It all depends on if I end up doing solos or Duos. In the case of Solos I want SS Duo or team, Geared for faster laps. I know that multi person racing is fun I want a piece of the action.

My favorite Pro Cyclists

Have you ever given thought to who your favorite Professional Cyclsist is? If you have did it occur to you did you think about your favorite Male and Female Cyclist as well as consider Mountain, Road, Track, and Cyclocross. You may have not, but I have. My Favorite Female Cyclist Hands down is none other Team Mata's Monique "Pua" Sawicki.

Pua was the 2007 24 hour Solo National Champion finishing 4th among all Male and Female Solo riders a field of 99.

My Favorite Choice for Male Cyclist is a hard decision I like David Zabriske From Team CSC I also Like Saul Raisin from Team Credit Agricole, and lastly I like Jeremy Power of team Jelly Belly. With it being Cyclocross Season I'm going to give the nod to Jeremy Power. Have you ever seen his mad Barrier Hopping Skills!

I need some help on something

I need some low to no cost suggestions for costume or something to go as for the Washington Park Halloween CX Race. It needs to be easy to ride in and be easy to dismount and mount my bike as well as not get caught in the chain. I'm open to ideas and people who think outside the box, cause I don't. Your Idea's and Suggestions are appreciated.

I'm looking for a partner

For 2008 I would like to possibly do a 12-hour duo for the Series. I am looking for a partner or two to do this. For a duo you can have a roster of three. So you don't have to do all the races. Inquire with me if you are at all interested. The WEMS Series has put out their 2008 Schedule already. You can find it @ WEMSeries.com. If you aren't willing to Endurance race with me I have one other position open. Race support. I need someone to help me out in the pits for solo racing if that is what I end up doing.

If I cannot find a Partner I will end up doing 12-Hour Single Speed for the Series. I also am strongly considering doing 24 hours solo @ 24-9 Single Speed, but we'll see. I need to buy lots of lights and I'm going to have to kick butt training and hope that I have a good first half of WEMS or else I'll do a 12 or 24 hour Duo or 12 hour solo like I did this year. I have already decided I'm doing Sport Single Speed in WORS for '08 unless I have a killer off-season as far as training but I don't think I'll be that great come spring, just simply competitive, not dominating. I need to podium some and have some success. As you know 8500 #1 is Raring to go, the only thing that may change is I might build up a new front wheel and I may do new hydraulic brakes. But neither are nessasary. I haven't decided quite yet how I'm going to build up 8500 #2. I'm only a v-brake compatible fork and handlebars short of having the minimal amount of stuff needed to having a working bike.

That didn't go as planned...

As you may know I was going to try to do the triple this weekend, 3 races in two days. Well I had made arrangements with a freind in whitewater to stay the night and I couldn't reach him and didn't know where his appt was. I called everyone I knew in Whitewater and Madison since Sunday's race was on the NW side of Janesville. So anyway I ended up going home and I woke up Sunday morning and decided that I shouldn't waste my gas and that I thought it wasn't worth my drive. So this weekends Triple ended up being nothing more than a single. I decided to do some laundry and Mow the lawn then after I did that I decided, what the heck I want to build myself a Cyclocross barrier.

So I did...

I don't want to even resemble Bambi

Today went so-so, I finished 26th out of like 40. My legs felt a bit flat too. I didn't care for the course. I was going to go to John Muir but when I listened to the trail hotline and they were strongly recommending that riders wear blaze orange I decided I didn't need to go riding that bad. Tomorrow will bring the Gibbs lake course, its not much fun either. We'll see how my legs feel and if somehow I bring home a decent finish I will continue on to Carpentersville for the Chicross race.

Is the impossible possible?

This weekend is going to be freaking crazy.

4 Venues
3 Races
2 Bikes
1 Racer

The 4 Venues

Whitewater Aero Modeling Park
John Muir trail system in the Kettle Moraine Southern Unit
Gibbs Lake Park in the Janesville Area
Carpenter Park in Carpentersville, IL

The 3 Races:

UW Whitewater Cycling CX @ Aero Modeling Park
Gibbs Lake CX
Carpenters Park CX

The Two Bikes:

2004 Gunnar 10spd
2004 Trek 8500 singlespeeded

The One Racer:

Me

would anyone like to take bets at how many miles I do this weekend? In actuality, it probably won't be that many

New Items installed

New Ritchey Post and WTB Saddle


Used and Forgotten but loved Tires


new Wheel (Rim, Spokes, Nipples, Hub, Freewheel)

Velocity VXC Disc Rim
DT Swiss Revolution Spokes
DT Swiss Alloy Nipples
White Industries Eccentric ENO Disc Hub
Generic Freewheel chillin' on the pre-loved wall @ Expo



Close-up of the new Hub


I will be taken all of the new components out for a test ride Saturday afternoon @ John Muir trails after the Cross Race in Whitewater. Be jealous, be very jealous. I always welcome people to check out my new equipment and even test ride it by request.

Have you seen my brother?

Hi I'm Front Wheel Neuvation R28 SL2 have you seen my brother, rear wheel. I really miss him. I haven't seen him for over a month. He's my partner in crime. My yin to my yang. I would greatly appreciate if you would help me find him. He was last seen wearing Michilen Pro Race2 blue Tires just like me with an Ultegra 6600 10spd cassette that has seen its better day well over 3000 miles on. If you find him please call me, I'll be right over with my owner Cody I miss him so dearly. No one can change that fact we have matching serial numbers, not time nor distance can seperate.

My Picture is seen below, we are identical twins basically so I hope this helps.

The Stand Alone SS Minus Singulator

Its official, 8500 #1 is now badass. I did two upgrades last night, yes I said two. Last night I stopped down by Expo and Aris and Marcus were there, I have been teasing Marcus about building a wheel for me and tonight he was like, "Where's that wheel" and I was like "Let me go get it". So I ran home and got my hub, spokes and rim and I got my new seatpost that I have been meaning to install. You might laugh at the fact that installing a seatpost is easy right and normally it would be but the bolt on my seatpost collar was stripped out. Its been stripped out for a while, I had a new one to put in we just had to get the old one off. A vicegrip did the trick, once I installed the new seatcollar I lubed the post and now I have a brandnew Ritchey WCS Alloy Post. Marcus in the meantime got the wheel laced and tentioned. For those of you who are wondering the new wheels weighed in at 970 grams with rim tape and no rotor. That wasn't enough for the night so we decided, we've come this far, lets install it. Well turns out I needed to buy a new chain because the 9spd chain is too narrow for the freewheel, o well. Installing the fancy Disc brake caliper wasn't to hard but what was hard was getting the caliber alignment correct that it wouldn't rub and the throw was correct. I'm a tad picky about my brakes besides to I like my throw short and firm. We worked on it till about 10:15 and couldn't get it right. We called it a night and Marcus said that he would work on it tonight some after he got done with work.

Pictures to follow in forthcoming posts.

New Goodies for my '08 effort

As some of you might know I intend to do some Singlespeeding next year. I don't want to buy full fledged SS bikes so you do the next best thing. Get the stuff you need to make it all the single speed bike it can be.

Such as White Industries Eccentric ENO Disc Hub.


The best Spokes, short of Titanium, money can buy, DT Swiss Revolution Blacks


Velocity VXC Rim.


I plan to Run a set of these on a pair of Trek 8500 for '08 Currently I'm just going to start with one, this whole wheel is going to cost me about $300 when all is said and done. It will be one sweet ride though. SS bike #2 needs prett much everything though, currently only has a seatpost, saddle, Seatpost collar and headset. I have a few cranks sitting around I could probably throw on there if I wanted to. I would like to get a few of the free wheels that White Industries offers, w/ sealed bearings and stuff, they run like $70 a piece. '08 WORS, '08 WEMS, and 24-9 2008 is still along ways off and my bank account is saying stop spending money. With a handful of cross races left you never know what could happen that might involve an unexpected expense in order to finish the season.

Verona CX @ Badger Prairie Park by Capital Velo Club (CVC)

Today was the second cross race of the Madison Cross weekend. Today started out to be a crappy day and never really changed. The only thing I had going for me was that I raced in morning, with a steady drizzle/rain and temps hovering around 50 it made for a very cross like atmosphere. Cross isn't meant to held in the 70s and 80s with the sun shining, its meant to be held in what would be described as crap weather. I found that after yesterday I knew what it would take to win. It seems that the weather didn't keep many people from racing, fields were about as big as they were @ Cam-Rock. The course picked and setup and promoted by the folks at CVC was great. Fun, challenging, and all round a separating the men from the boys kind of course. There were 3 barrier sets, but only 1 of the traditional sort of 2 by 12. the other were using features found on the course. There was a run-up w/ two logs. In dry conditions someone could go up that hill including going over the logs, but with conditions as slick as they were no-one was doing that. Theo and Aris Raced Juniors, I would have like to see Aris Race 4s but o well.

Anyway, When it came time for my race @ 1030 it seemed the rain picked up a little bit which sucked. I got a good place on the left side not the best spot, but pretty good, I just wanted to be top 10 to the first turn. Finally we started, I got going hard, it was one of my best leadouts ever, I think I was like 6th into the first turn which was a tight one I knew making it there before other people would help a ton. This course isn't the smoothest, not rough enough to warrant a Moutain bike, but you couldn't sit in the saddle much. The course had lots of sharp accelerations and dips dives, fast sections and slow section including haripins and 3 different types of barriers. This course had pretty much anything a cross racer aficianato could ask for. Back to the race I tried really hard to stay in the top 10, after realizing I had very little expierience in the mud particularly on a cross bike my only expeirience was at Janesville last year and that course sucked a bit as well as I was slow. I found that my legs didn't show up to race and I was getting passed left and right. I was still ahead of a lot of the 4s so I gave it about a lap or so and they never really came round. I was pushing harder and going slower, never a good sign. When we got to the run up on the second lap I made the decision that enough was enough, I was getting run over and being nothing more than a nusisance on a bike, Continuing would have been dumb and unsafe. I did well yesterday and this gives me all the more motivation to train harder for next weekends races. So ending result was a DNF or a W/D which ever term you prefer.

Someone I know didn't feel like getting Their pretty nice White bike all dirty, so he didn't come. Do me a favor and go give him crap.

Just to give you an idea of how dirty and muddy the race was today here are my friends from Team MARS, Nate and Mitch.




Check back tomorrow night, I already have a blog planned, just need to push it out.

Cam-Rock CX (Brazen Dropouts CX)

Today was the Cyclocross race @ Cam-Rock Park 2 in Rockdale, WI. The morning started a little bit chipper with temps in the mid 40s but warmed up nicely. I was not the first race of the day again which was nice. First was the Cat 4 40+ and 15-18 Juniors. I raced Cat 4s as always, today it was @ 10:30. I got stuck at the back, which sucked. I would later find out todays field was 56. On the start Some dude missed his pedal or something and biffed on the start. Making a huge pile of people behind. This gapped the field a little bit, good for racing bad for me. I felt like I was passing people all race. After the first lap that was the case, doing nothing but passing people. The longer the race went on the fewer people I passed. On Rider caught me on the last lap that I had passed Earlier in the race on the first lap. I pushed really really hard. Once again my HRM monitor failed, IDK what is up with that. I know I was averaging in the 160 and 170 and maybe ever some 180s during the race. I could tell on lap 4 I was starting to give up the gusto. The aerobic capacity was spent. I had give it all she had. However on the finish I blew the doors off a guy I thought was a lap down turns out he wasn't. So learn from me kids, never ever give up no matter what lap and how much you feel like crap. Every position counts.

Keep your browser tuned to this website, cause I will do another post tomorrow and Monday.

The Almost screw-up, Blame MC

On Thursday my afternoon class was cancelled, I knew this somewhat in advance and I knew that I needed new brake pads. So I decided to go down to Expo and throw some on there. Of those who know me well, know that I do not have extensive mechanical knowledge of bikes, as far as tuning and stuff of that nature. Irregardless I decided that I would take a stab at it, I had something like 4 or 5 hours to kill. Rear wheel went alright, I had some problems with pad adjustment, but Mike helped me out.


New Rear Pads

I went onto the front removed the drive side caliper because while I was replacing the pads I decided to give a thorough cleaning, overhauling and greasing. when I went to take the non-drive side caliper off I found that the whole thing was spinning. The part where the spring pops into to hold in the spring tension was spinning freely.



I went to mike and was like "should that be happening or did I do something wrong" and mike was like. That's not right. So then I made the decision to run home and get my spare fork, the OEM Fork. I was putting that back on when I made the point, it was only 3:30, why don't' we give ritchey a call and see what their policy is on warranty. We called QBP and while he was on the phone with Quality realized, try to tighten up caliper post. So I did as he directed, and guess what, it stopped spinning. Hallelujah. So now I had to go backwards and uninstall my OEM fork which was already in my bike



and reinstall the Ritchey Fork and Continue with my original job of installing brakes. At least I ended up cleaning the steerer and learning how to uninstall and install forks, yay for me. So in the end, was it my Fault, yes, Was it Mikes Fault, yes, chalk it up to a learning experience.

Badger Cross weekend

This weekend is the Cam-Rock race in Cambridge Saturday and in Verona Sunday. I'm staying with my cousin in Mad town will be houseing me Saturday night so he'll save me bank. I will try my best to do a blog post Saturday night but I don't know . I hear Cam-Rock is a fun race. I'm feeling great and am expecting to do well as I have been training as hard as I can with what little time I have. I need to work on my holeshots which is really hard to do, I guess I could try in my backyard or something. If I can get better at my holeshots and hold my position during the race I will more than likely show much better finishes. With scoring my first point at Laphem peak I continue to be pumped for the CX season. The cool air reminds me what CX is all about, I just don't want it to snow too soon. Racing in sloppy slush/snow isn't that much fun, I'd rather race on ice. I wouldn't mind a touch much but mud is no fun either.

I wish everyone the best of luck that is Racing the Beechwood Blaster on Saturday.

How do you Wreck 18 Spokes all at once?

You chain jumps the Cog, that's how. I went out for a road ride on my Pista on saturday. Thats the first time I ever did a road ride on a fixie, I've ridden that bike around town some but that doesn't count. I rode from Hartford out to hwy 33 and back and when I was coming into town on hwy 83 I crossed the railroad tracks and I hear a nasty nasty pinging noise, I see my chain jumped, slowed down as fast as possible, but by then it was too late, the damage was done. Luckily this happened literally a few hundered feet from Expedition Supply so it was a click-clack walk there. I won't be needing those wheels till the end of next may, so its a winter project. I have a spare wheelset of fixed gear back up wheels I can use in the meantime, I should really be riding my cross bike this time of year anyways. I'm glad I have John Donovan @ Johnovan Bicycle Works to back me up on all of my needs.

Sheboygan Wigwam/Ultimax Classic

Today's result, besides the fact my race hasn't started yet... was a no go. I woke up this morning with a bleed in my ankle. I know it won't be where it should be by race time so I didn't even bother going. Adding to my decision is that I have tons of HW to do and other things I can do around town. Skipping this race is not a big loss to me. I live for cyclocross. I'll see everyone next week @ Cam-Rock and @ Verona. Its a double weekend and I'm expecting points that means I'm expecting top 20s. With fields of 60+ thats not 1/2 bad.

For the Expo Racing Masses, KICK ASS!!!!!

1st ever WCA Point Among Road and CX

I just strolled over to WiCycling.org and discovered that I scored my first individual WCA point. I should point out that I scored that point Riding a Full Suspension 29er Mountain Bike. USCF only goes to 10 but WCA must go to 20. So Yay for me. See proof @ Cat 4 Overalls

The triple in two days?

I was reviewing my race schedule over the next month and realized that on October 21st I could, If I wanted to do the 10:30 race in Janesville and the 2:15 race in Carpenter Park in Carpentersville, IL. This would be my first time ever doing two seperate USCF Races in one day. I love Cyclocross, for some reason it tends to be one of my better disciplines. I've been kicking butt on the trainer and watching my diet really closely as of recent, more than normal. Every cyclist has their peak each year, I'm trying my hardest to peak during Cyclocross season, I think I'm already in the best condition I've been all season but I'm continuing to get better.