Reforestation Ramble

Aside from 12 Hours of Santos, Iceman, and Wausau24 this was my most expensive race year because about 8 minutes in I was involved in crash and shouting match and resulted in my Garmin being broken. Repairs are going to run me over $100 at least if not more, a complete loss would be about $300. I was so pissed I couldn't bring myself to finish the race and called it an early day with the expectation I have next weekends 12 hours of Pitchblack single track to look forward to.

Hats off the Ripon Redhawks kicking butt and taking names. Oh I almost forgot, Saturday was the formal grand opening of the trails @ Ripon. I put in over 20 hours there working and doing what I could. Its nice to see the pay off a reality.

Where the hell have I been, having not posted for over 2 Years

2009 was a bust of a year with a screwed up ankle. The only highlight being Iceman where I did a 2:28.

2010 - I became a dealer of WN Precision. I do professional level bike fitting no. I did lots of racing but was plagued by a mid summer GI issue that had my go in for surgery that I later found out was cause by a food allergy that I soon found out was from a Soy, Nut, and stomach acid allergy. I now take a daily antacid.

2011 - Has been a bit better to me. I had a so-so florida season. I capped it off by purchasing a Niner MCR which was a good move. I got 8th out of 23 @ the 55mile solo @ the "Southern Kettle Classic" I trained my butt off in july in prep for Wausau24, the race ended up being a bit of a bust due to inclement weather and about an inch of rain. I, on August 15th became an event Rep for thee Infinit Nutrition. I will be going to a bunch of races this fall, I hope this will be a good endeavor for me as I'm really excited for the future relationship with the company.

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.

The New Year and 12 Hours Oleta is Upon Me

Next Saturday is my second attempt to do the 12 hours of Oleta in North Miami, Florida. I really want to complete the entire race this time. I have my Salsa in tip top shape, however the ride isn't in very good shape, I will have some crash training this week when I get to Florida on Monday. I plan to kick my own ass this winter and hope to come out the other side a better rider.

No I haven't died but I am going to heaven.

well howdy folks, no I haven't died. I just have had a busy fall with work and stuff. I did an handful of important races this fall since my last update, the two that come to mind are Iron Cross VI in Pine Grove Furnace, PA it was the hardest race of my life. Its a 63 mile race with over 6000' of climbing, traversing fire roads, mountain bike trails, and county highways and state highways. I rode my crosshairs, I wish I had a 34-50 front crank as I need a really low gear for climbing, I have a 12-27 rear cassette. I had to run a 38 front ring as that is what I had set-up for cross season and I would have liked a 50 for the road sections. 

The other race I did that I'm proud to have done is the Iceman Cometh in Traverse City, MI. I fell 11 minutes short of my goal which I though acceptable under the circumstances. I'm excited to give it a go next year again and I'm bringing along a pair of first-timers to do slush cup. They were/are my hosts in Traverse City and excited to do it in the future.

I also did Kletch Park CX, Wisconsin State CX, and tomorrow I'm going to do the Illinois State CX for my third year in a row. Keeping my streak of racing in every month of the year, with the exception of February in 2008. in 2009 I plan to race heavily in the winter in florida including a pair of 12 hour solos, a pair of 6 hour solos, a 100K and up to 3 Coconut cup race similar to our WORS. My Salsa Mountain Bike and Trek 2300 have made it to Florida in the Trailer. Sent the road bike down there but it needs to be overhauled before I can use it. I just want it to commute to work which is about 6 miles each way, or so. 

When I get to Florida after Christmas I plan to hit the gym 2 hours a day as well as 12 miles of Commuting. I hope to come out in spring in mid-season form. Words are not action so time will tell but I'm very hopeful. I know that mountain biking in Wisconsin is very different and a lot more anaerobic. There isn't anywhere to "open it up" its all about bike handling. Upper body is hugely important. I desperately need to drop like 20 lbs to become competitive and comfortable on the bike.

The early fall/Late Summer lull

I've been poor at updating my blog. Since my last update... I did the Stump Farm 12 which didn't go so well because I was still recovering from the same hamstring soreness that kept me from racing the 24 hours of 7 oaks. I didn't race Rhinelander WORS or Palos Meltdown or Cheq. Fat Tire Festival, but a congrats goes out to Aris "I'm Faster Than You" Peters for a quality 2nd in the Short and Fat 16. I also didn't do the ABR Garden Prairie 40k Final Event of the MATTS Series as i did last year. I also didn't do the ABR Kenosha Crit. I did however do the Cyclocross opener for the Chi-cross Cup Series in Jackson Park on the 21st. Amidst all this I did also have some rather cool happen, I bought my first car. I bought a Red 2003 BMW 325xi Sedan, its pretty cool. Unfortuneatly due to my job I won't be able to race until Halloween cross as I'm currently out East in Maryland and Pennsylvania until October 23 when I come home. However I will make up for lost time, when I come home I plan to race the remainder of the WCA Cyclocross Season, 3 Non-conflicting Chi-cross Cup Races Including the Illinois State Championship on December 7th @ Montrose, Wisconsin State Night Racing Championship, Iceman Cometh, and possibly both days of Jingle Cross. Which is about 12 Races. I go down to Florida for work around new-years and I have a 12 or a 6 hour Race the first weekend after new years. So I will have a full plate so to speak when I get home. 

Until Next time Peeps, FYI it will probably be a month

DNS by Cramp

I have decided I shouldn't attempt to start my 24 hour in Iowa as there is tons of climbing and I'm not in spectacular health in regards to my Hamstring. It will be a Race time Decision. I'm leaning t'wards doing it 12 hour Single speed, but we shall see. On top of all this I'm do sitting.