year end slow down & season recap

I can feel the year shutting down. Holiday Season will be hear before I know it and I'm looking forward to skiing. After the last race I literally didn't touch my bike for about 6 weeks. Just the last few weekends I've been getting out for a few rides on borrowed mountain bikes and my road bikes. Good thing too cause I was on the verge of really getting lazy and, um, squishy in the middle.

On a quick season recap, I feel good overall about my finishing up my 1st expert season. Fitness definitely improved but has a long way to go to break into the top 10 on a consistent basis.

Many many bike & equipment drama issues that I don't want to revisit. In summary, ordered bike in February, received bike in May after race #1, broke frame mid season and waited for replacement forever, then had frame completely recalled at season end so that I get to missed riding for fun in the fall. Missed or rode an unfamiliar borrowed bike for 4 races. Awesome!

Back to a positive note, I broke the top 100 for the Chequamegon Fat Tire race. Stoked about that. Just crushed my time from 2007 by 17 minutes.

Bib # Overall Division Age Gender Finish Time Event
1203 95 84 11 93 02:22:06.4 Chequamegon 40

For the last race of the MNSCS series I finished 11th overall and accomplished my goal for the year of getting paid at least once. Granted it wasn't as big a turnout as some of the races but, I showed up, raced hard, and made at least my entry fee back.

I'm already noodling plans for next year. New training schedule, new bike (maybe), new goals. Getting excited again already.

Yah, I hear ya brother, preach it!

8th at Buck Hill!

Pretty stoked about it. I was determined to get a good start last night and started in the front row. Dropped the hammer at the gun and really pushed it. Was 5th going into the hill traverses and feeling good about it--almost in unbelief. My legs were hurting though and heart was maxed. I knew it would be tough to keep that pace. I stay with the top guys through a good part of the first lap but they just kept pulling away.
On lap three I was still in 5th when my front wheel skewer came open. Had to pull over to fiddle with it and a guy passed. Another caught back up to me that we had passed earlier. Then I was off my flow a bit. Ended giving up those last two spots but still felt like a strong finish.
Cool. Looking forward to next week now to do it again.

Danny MacAskill is unbeliveable unbelievable!

Mt Kato put me in the hurt locker

The last couple weeks have not been stellar for my training schedule and I knew this was going to be a tough race. I'd already had a little time off earlier so it wasn't like I could call it a rest period. Anyway, I started a ways in the back but was determined to push it up Kato's first hill and get in a good position in for the single track.
It worked pretty well. I passed a bunch of guys up that climb and was feeling OK still. Was pushing my redline pretty hard though. The first lap was really fast for me. I was climbing the hill on lap two after about 21 minutes. But on that hill I started to feel chills. Yah know, not the kind when you are cold but more like from low blood sugar. I was starting to Bonk. My meal plan this morn was out of the norm and something wasn't right.
Soooo, the pace started slowing a bit but I was still fighting. The whole time I realized I was running very HOT though. 180+ on my HR monitor and I couldn't get it down. This was going to hurt.
I was sucking down my drink and grappling for Hammer gel in my pocket for a boost. I managed to pass a few more people on lap one and two but then just couldn't push any more. I settled in for a OK but not stellar finish until...
Lap 4 and 5 were a really bad experience. I have never seriously cramped in a race before. Maybe a few small twinges here and there but not full on cramps. I've seen guys pulled over unable to continue before but never had to deal with it myself.
Well on the hill up at start of lap four I was feeling my hammys tighten. Then I stood up to go around a comp rider and whoa. Instant lock up of my thigh. Sat down and my hams started screaming. Frick. Those laps were horrible. I gave up at least 10 spots. Including getting passed by Jenna Rinehart. Dang it. I know she is fast but dang it.
Finally, as I was coming down the Quick release on lap five, totally spent and locking up, I checked a big tree really hard on the last 90 degree turn before the final chute. Unfortunately a couple choice words flew and there were spectators at the bottom. Ooops, too late. My whole left arm and should are scrapped up pretty bad.
Anyway, that's it, thankfully. No broken bones an such. I felt like junk for several hours after. Even the Summit didn't taste that great. I know, heresy.

Back to the training schedule. I don't want that happening again.

Candadians can rock too...

Beautiful day for a ride

Just got back from a 60 miler with M.D. What a great day out. Decided to extend a familiar route that takes us from SW mpls/edina out around Minnnetonka Lake. Its always fun to explore new parts of the area. Headed toward Maple Plain then out to Baker Park Reserve. After that I'm not sure what happened. A few wrong turns and double backs later and we were finally heading the right direction southeast toward Wayzata to pick up McGinty.

Descent route if I can pull out the long stretches of single lane highway without a shoulder. Glad I'm still in one piece. Fun to explore though and I felt good.

Looking forward to next weekend's race at Mt Kato. Sweet single track. I hope to have my brakes working better by then. The whole last race was just a squeal fest. Swapped out the pads for Organics so I hope that works out better.