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.

On the Mend

There is a 50/50 possibility I will do 24 hours of Seven Oaks, at last weeks Metro Challenge I cramped up something fierce in the 6 hour and am still sore now. My Left hamstring is the cuprit and last time I checked that is a pretty important muscle in climbing. I'm going to give it a good stretch, spin, and stretch tonight along with some other voodoo. I should know tomorrow if this weekend in Iowa is a go or not. I might just scrub Iowa in favor of more friendly course, stump farm, nice and flat and 12 hours or less.

We'll see what tomorrow brings