Going Pro & Oleta Challenge

In my last month in Florida I did my final race of Winter @ Oleta. The 60 mile Oleta Challenge. The results haven't been posted online yet. I did 50 miles on my hard hardtail, but the big newsbreaker from the event is that I've gotten sponsorship from Infinit Nutrition for this year. Free Entry into 24-9 and free entry into 24 hours of Big Bear and 24 hours of Moab. I highly highly doubt I'll go to Moab since its so far away and happens at a bad time of the year for me in regaurds to work and would be cost prohibitive for me to get there. I'm excited and proud to announce I will be racing in the Mens Solo Pro Class and pushing myself to my limits. I don't think I'll poidum, thats not realistic, but I do think I will be in the top 50% of the class. If I do both 24-9 and Big Bear in the pro class I will be scored in the Series standings. I just hope to build my racing resume and show others that I'm not a pushover. Maybe this will be the start of future sponsorships as well. As long as Infinit Sponsors and I don't make a fool of myself and represent the company well I think this sponsorship will be perpetual.

Hospice 100K, the race for charity that will land you in a Hospice

The Hospice 100k was on March 1st marking the 13th consecutive month I have raced. The Hospice 100k race @ Markham was the most technical race course I have ever ridden, but that isn't a good thing. The course beat me up. I felt like I had been kicked in the gut. I finished 40th out of 50 in all solos. Which is terrible but I don't feel bad because I quit, I think I did pretty good with the course in the shape it was in with the bike I had to be honest.

Race Hydration

Mostly Infinit Nutrition... and water.

33rd out of 43 @ 6 hours of Oleta
8th out of 10 @ 12 hours of Santos (as a Duo)
Hospice 100K, my goal is to finish above the 70th percentile.

24-9 Prospects and Thoughts

With 24-9 being taken over more or less by Granny Gear Production has its good and bad. There isn't a non-pro/base/sport/comp/non-cash payout solo division, there is however a $60 Single Speed Solo Division which boggles the mind. If this is Still the Case come race time, I might be pulling the Monocog Redline 29er out of the cob-webs to avoid the $280 entry fee. and spend the difference on a suspension fork for it.

I've emailed them to this effect and pointed out how "Dumb" this is for lack of a better term. I would rather boycott my home state's 24 Hour Race and race @ Salsa 2-4 aka 24 Hours of Afton or 24 hours of Boyne or 24 hours of Seven Oaks. Races that are put on well, and aren't commercialized for profit per se, productions run by people who have unconditional love for the Sport. I understand a change in management means that changes will happen but this is just "Dumb". I would appreciate it if you would write Granny Gear Productions @ heygranny@grannygear.com and tell them you are displeased with their Choices they are making and that we want a race that is fun as well as fair for all involved; young and old, base/citizen to expert/pro. A promoter that puts on "Cookie Cutter Races" is not promoter I want to endorse. Just because a race format works in Utah or West Virginia doesn't mean it will work in Wisconsin. Come on, we have the largest Single state Endurance Series and Cross Country Series in the Country. We love our mountain biking and we know what a well run race looks like.

Last Labor Day I had Signed up the 24 Hours of Seven Oaks but the week before I decided I needed a Tune-up so I did the 6 hours @ Metro Challenge. I hyper-extended my Hamstring and was sore all week, I knew that Seven Oaks was a climbing intensive course and combined with the considerable drive I determined it wasn't worth my drive. I asked the promoter if he would be willing to refund me my Money, even though he wasn't required according to his disclaimers he did anyways.

I will do all I can to attend the 2009 24-hours of Seven Oaks because I want to Support promoters like that, that passionate about thesport and feel compassion and know where there participants are coming from because they (the promoter) have been in your position. I just don't believe that exists with Granny Gear Productions. I won't come to a race just because Chris Eatough or Nat Ross is there, OMG I have a huge amount of general distain for Nat Ross more than any other Biker Amateur or Pro in Road or Mountain, than in the entire United States. Smooth Registration and Smooth and updated Scoring get the biggest brownie points in my book. Followed by course marking and neutral support.

Imitater

It was COLD!

Race morning @ 25F

12 Hours of Santos

Last Saturday I did the 12 hours of Santos in Ocala as a Duo with the SE Rep. for Infinit Nutrition which graciously sponsored our entry and free product. Unfortuneatly, as I found out by the end of the race, DUO is a rather stacked class, 10 team entrys and we finished 8th with 108 miles=12 laps, I finished with 56 miles=7laps. The course was rideable with just about anything you brought rigid SS 26ers to full-suspension 5" rigs.
My bike was set-up the best I could have under the situation with my 2.35" tires tubeless @ 30psi. I had a fun time, but I was sore when it was all over. My night laps were a ton of fun. I'd do it all over again, I might next year, god willing. I will post some Photos and links for photos and sponsors, sometime in the next few days.

Next up: Hospice 100K on March 1st, Sunday

Oleta has my number, it knows where to find me

Well, yesterday I did my last XC Race of my Florida winter but sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't just retire from XC racing all-together.

I raced the final of the Coconut cup series, Race #6 @ Oleta River State Park in North Miami, FL, it was a hot one @ 84F

The race fields are small as compared to what we in Wisconsin are used to.

Next race for me is the 12 hours of Santos, that I will be doing as a duo.

Decisions Decisions

24 Hours of Boyne
v.
24 Hours of Big Bear
v.
24 Hours of 9 Miles
v.
24 Hours of Seven Oaks
v.
24 Hours of Oleta La Roota

Eve of last XC race of winter 09

Tomorrow I will be taking on Oleta Again for the middle race for that course for me this Winter. I did the 12 Hours of Oleta, the coconut cup 2008/2009 Finale, and the Oleta Challenge on March 15th. I'm optimistic this time, I'm getting comfortable with the course, I have my bike set-up nice and spongy and I'm in the best shape so far. I'm getting my Computrainer on Monday so I'm very optomistic that after that things will begin to be on the up and up as far as racing goes. I'll try to remember to take pictures @ Oleta tomorrow. Next race after this is the 12 hours of Santos which will prove if I'm any good @ relay racing as its my first relay ever.

2" vs 2.35"

Tonight, I put on my new 2.35" Maxxis Ignitor Tires. I decided to make the switch because the 2" tire volume just made for too rough of a ride on the trails here in Florida. They are quite rough. Since I don't have a Full-Suspension this is the best choice I have to allow my bike to have a more supple ride. The trails are also very twist. With a bigger shoulder on the tire I'll be able to bank the turns more aggressively. One week from today will be the true test of my training and the new tires. Next Sunday I'm racing on the same course I did the 6 hour on Jan 5th. In the past 2 years I've logged over 70 miles there so I'm getting comfortable with those trails. They aren't my favorite but I'm not hating them as much anymore.

Compare my old set-up w/ new set-up

Old

NEW!

2009 Racing

As many of you know I'm spending in Florida, and as you can see by my last post I also get in a little racing. Going through my 2009 schedule will take me to a record amount of states.

1. Wisconsin (XC, Enduro, CX, Track, Road)

2. Florida (XC, Enduro)

3. Illinois (XC, CX)

4. Minnesota (Enduro, XC?)

5. Iowa (Enduro, CX)

6. North Carolina (XC)

7. Pennsylvania (CX, Enduro/CX as in "Iron Cross VII")

8. District of Columbia (CX)

9. Michigan (XC, Enduro?)

10. Kentucky (Enduro)

11. Maryland (CX?)

Florida Foto Dump

The escape from Wisconsin

As some of you know I'm in Florida now and until early April. I've been here since just before New Years. I did do the 12 Hours of Oleta, in my case it was the 6 hours of Oleta as in that was the class I chose. I got 33rd out of 43 w/4 laps @ 9.5 Miles a lap and maybe 100' of elevation gain a lap. There is a 40' hill in the middle of the course, lol. The bike held up pretty well. no major complaints, I wish I had a 100mm fork and larger tires for the lower spring rate. I just purchases a Pair of Bontrager Jones XR Tubeless Ready Tires for a guy is Wausau on Ebay. I also Bought a Pair of Maxxis Ignitor Tires. After I ordered those I became worried that they would fit in rear triangle in my Salsa Moto Rapido that's why I got the Bontragers too.

Yesterday I rode @ Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah, Florida site of Sunday's Coconut Cup race. It will be my first XC race since Iceman. and Also mark the 12th consecutive month that I have raced. There were a few sections I liked but for a section I liked there was a section I didn't care for. I don't know if the local Club that maintains the trails is IMBA educated but I there are some things that scare me, sections that are rather unstable. I will do the Sport race which is like WORS Comp. I'm in good shape now that I've been training daily for that last month and I felt fairly good yesterday.