Family of Pain

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

2011-11-09T20:12:00.004-05:00

Dear County Commissioner,

I'm tired of you paving all of my good dirt roads, please stop.

Dear pain in the butt cyclist,

How's this?

Season Phenale

2011-10-19T04:56:00.003-05:00

If only I had the grace of Jackie maybe I would be faster.

The long season that started in April was over after last weekends Knob race. I knew 1st overall was already gone but 2nd place was still a three way battle. Apparently Franek told Cochran that he wasn't going to race in mud so it was just me and Jeff battling for 2nd. (It really wasn't very muddy at all). I also managed to heckle the Chief all week long till he finally came out to race just to shut me up I suppose.
The race started and I took off hard and entered the trail just ahead of Clark. I figured this was a good way to slow him down a bit, which it was, but only for about a mile. He quickly left us and I set my pace just ahead of Chief, Cochran, and Miranda.
Racing for 2nd all the time can seem a little frustrating but I ain't no spring chicken anymore as the saying goes. I could see Chief behind me in different sections of the race and really didn't want that Indian catching me. (Shouldn't he be working in one of Ohio's new casinos anyways on the weekends?) I held him off for 2nd, and also 2nd overall in the series, Cochran was third overall with Franek and Miranda rounding out the top five overall spots. All in all a very tough and fun year with some epic 2nd place battles between us 40 years olds.
And so now I'm taking a couple weeks off the bike for a factory re-set. I have some changes to make this winter, more core, more base, and some weight loss. I don't envision myself taking the Power Series title, but I still plan on showing up at every race and turning myself inside out. Isn't that why I do this in the first place anyways?

Vultures Knob with The Chief

2011-10-12T05:14:00.005-05:00

Riding with the Chief. Watch how much distance he gains on me going down the powerline. He turned a lap just a few seconds over 36, so he's riding decent now...if he could just keep that bike on the trail.

The last NEO race is at the Knob this weekend. The course was perfect this last weekend but there is some rain coming, which pretty much sums up 2011. Clark easily has the series locked up, but for me, Cochran, and Franek the war still wages on for 2nd place. My legs are finally coming into some good form so I hope to carry that into this weekend.

West Branch Mini-Enduro Recap

2011-09-22T11:20:00.002-05:00

The race I had most dreaded all year is over and I have mixed feelings about it. I had several mechanical issues during the race. I broke a spoke early on in one of the rock gardens. The spoke went into my cassette virtually turning me into a hipster-fixie rider(sans goatie and Starbucks). I had to make a pit stop to fix that after the first full lap.
Once underway again I kept it mello until lap three when I was already 5 minutes down on Cochran and Franek, and who knows how far back from Clark. For once in my life I actually paced myself well and was getting faster with each lap. I was told the gap was down to less than three minutes on lap 4. By lap five I came around the aid station and was told that Franek was only 40 seconds up. I kept the pace high and caught him with about 3 miles to go.
We had a short conversation and he jokingly told me that Cochran wanted him to put a stick into my wheel when I came by. Here's the funny part, not ten seconds later I picked up a stick in my rear wheel that sheared two more spokes off. The spokes then went up into my rim and busted the Stan's liner causing my rear wheel to flat. No foul play was suspected by it was ironic and comical now that I think about it. I started to run with it but then figured that the wheel was already toast so I jumped back on and started riding it. I absolutely destroyed whatever rim was left hitting rocks and roots. But riding was faster than running until the tire bead broke loose from the rim. Then if I gave it too much gas the rim would just spin inside the tire.
I finally hobbled in and ended up fourth with a 5+hour ride. Despite the problems I was actually pleased. I rode well, had a good time, and can't complain about that. In the future I won't be running sub 1500 gram Stans wheels at Westbranch, but I think that stick was big enough to destroy pretty much anything.

It could have been worse. While cleaning my bike after the race I saw that my rear derailluer cable was only holding on by three strands. A couple more shifts and I would have been really screwed.

A few weeks until the last Knob race, in the meantime I'm just enjoying some of the last nice days of the year.

The Chief bites it

2011-09-15T08:45:00.003-05:00

But don't laugh too hard, you may be next!

Manitoc MTB race recap

2011-09-08T09:31:00.004-05:00

For nearly a solid week leading up to the Manitoc race it was bone dry and sunny. Probably the only week ALL year with no rain. But that of course was too good to be true. The night before it rained about 1/2" and it was cooler and overcast at the start of the race. Lap one was pretty decent and I rode with Lorson and Cochran as we watched Clark and Adams disappear into the abyss never to be seen again.
Coming into the final climb on lap one I gave it some gas and had a little gap so I kept cruising, figuring I would get reeled in. It started raining(big shocker), and the trail became downright treacherous in areas. I tried my best to keep steady and not slide off the trail. I had the Nevagals set with 24psi which turned out to be perfect.
By lap three all hell broke loose on that trail. Staying upright was priority #1, and I ran more that day than I have in the last decade. I ended up third, with 2:28 and some change, a long slog for sure. Clark and Adams apparently stayed together for a sprint finish way ahead of me. So fast in fact that they destroyed everyone except for The Jedi(Dave Walker). Me thinks we will need a 46+ Expert class in the near future!
It was also good to see The Chopper(Jeff Pendleberry) come back to the dirt for a day to donate some blood again.

I miss that DRY Florida Singletrack!

The Chopper proved that too much road racing is bad for you.

Groovy Evolution

2011-08-22T09:00:00.003-05:00

Seems like only yesterday....

Last week was was fun and brutal. The weather has been much better so I rode Reagan, Quail Hollow, Mohican, and then West Branch. This gave me a great chance to test out the Xfusion Velvet 650B. The fork sits slightly lower than my fox, making the headtube angle 73+ degrees! I honestly don't know why major bike brands use such slack angles, this bike rocks the tight stuff. It cornered fast before but now it's on steroids. It's laterally stiffer than the Fox also.
At Mohican the Chief and I were taking the downhill switchbacks like complete fools. He's finally got a bike built up and claims he will be at Manitoc. Oh well, better to lose to the Chief than some stranger I suppose.

Wang:Hey Spock, check out my new fork. It steers really tight.

Spock:Sir, your head tube angles are illogical, you will certainly crash.

Wang:What do Vulcans know about mtb geometry, I won Findlay didn't I?

Spock:I prefer the Fisher G2 geometry.

Wang:I rest my case.

All natural fork enhancement. I grew 20 mm!

2011-08-14T12:43:00.004-05:00

Rody got my xFusion Velvet 650B in and it is installed ready for abuse. My Fox29 was 80mm but I really want 100, and Fox doesn't do a 650B so they are out of the picture now. The fork looks to be nicely made and I am told that xFusion makes the internals for Fox anyways. Going from the 29/80mm to the 650B/100mm dropped my front end down a few millimeters it seems, but who am I to complain about even tighter steering, bring it on baby! Unfortunately it just rained at least an inch so the trails are going to be a mess...again.

Look at that sweet paint, I didn't know this baby existed. I hope this guy doesn't live near me. If we show up at the same race it would be like two girls with the same prom dress on.

Good move Jamis...650B hardtails coming soon!

2011-08-11T06:48:00.005-05:00

Well I am very pleased with my Groovy 650B but can't afford to get one for the wife at this time. So I am thinking about one of these for the wife next year since she has been pretty dedicated in the dirt. If only some of the other large bike companies(Trek) had to foresight to see why the 650B IS the ticket for so many applications. It comes with a fairly racy geometry, and a 71 headtube. With the new Angleset I could make that about 72.5, which would be pretty good.
If I was to start my own bike shop Jamis would be at the top of my list for brands to stock.

I'm going to be making some changes to the Groovy soon as well. A 650B Xfusion Velvet should be on the way soon. I like the Fox 29 I have now but it's only 80 mm and I really miss that 100mm of travel. Not to mention I want to support a company that believes in the 650B format.

Thorn TT...unfair advantage

2011-08-08T10:48:00.002-05:00

Stop #3 of the NEO Powerseries was at Findlay state park with a one lap time trial around the twisty Thorn trail. Despite the recent rain the course was pretty dry and I knew if there was ever a day I could perform well this was it. The trail is a handlers course and my Groovy gave a me a serious advantage. The 650B wheels and tight geometry allowed me to really nail the turns like there was no tomorrow. I was skimming trees with my shoulders so I knew I was at full speed.
Only by the grace of God did I not crash and I nearly vomited with 200 yards to go. I ended up with a 39:39, a mere 14 seconds in front of Ross Clark, and just behind him was Jeff Cochran and Tom Franek all within less 30 seconds.
This was a much needed win and a serious confidence boost to an otherwise lackluster season. Steve Twining took the win in his class with a reported new course record making it a very nice weekend for Groovy Cycles. That boy rides like a freak.

NEO Double Down Enduro

2011-07-19T07:04:00.004-05:00

Perfectly dry conditions and sweltering heat were in place for the Double Down race this past weekend. The race was double the normal laps so in my case I was set to race 6. The 36+ open class was again pretty large, twice as big as the younger guys. Add to that the likes of Ross Clark and now Brad Wilhelm in my field and I was wondering if a podium spot was even in my grasp.
I was anticipating something around four hours so I tried my best to take off slowly. I missed my pedal off the line, which was all the better since I wanted to set a nice mello pace for myself. The first 4 laps went nicely and I felt really good, I was sitting in 3rd with Tom Franek on my wheel for a couple laps. He is stronger than me and doesn't know the course like I do so I figured he just wanted to follow my lines for awhile.
As usual he eventually got bored with my pace and took off. I tried to maintain my efforts but the heat was causing some stomach upset. The fluid just wasn't digesting and my arms were cramping horribly. On the last lap I was sitting fourth and did not see anyone behind me with less than two miles to go. Then all of a sudden I was passed by former team mate Chris Skinner, he went around me at nearly double my speed. I had no response and ended up 5th in my class with a time of 3:57:51. I was pleased with this especially due to the high level of talent in the 36+ this year. This is one ridiculously hard class now.

Check out that sweet retro Systeme U jersey. It's my tribute to the late great Laurent Fignon. If only I had installed those aero bars...

And as always, many thanks to Bob Grimm for standing in the brutal heat to take great photos.

Summer update

2011-07-14T07:30:00.003-05:00

Well not much has been happening on the racing scene for me lately. I skipped the Reagan Park TT in favor of a family vacation. I hated to skip that race, however the logistics of getting the family to GOBA the same day was just more than I wanted to deal with. GOBA itself was the usual sufferfest. 20 hours that week of family fun beating our heads against windswept roads the entire week. The wind was so perfectly arranged as to give us a head or crosswind the entire week, sweet.

On a more fun note, I just got back from Vermont where we visited family and savored the perfect singletrack known as The Kingdom trails. There are about 100 miles of listed trail there, I didn't ride it all but hit some seriously fun stuff. The soil is sand based and very flowing. This purpose built singletrack is twisty and rooty in places. I also hooked up with former Ohio resident Sheldon Miller (David Millar's long lost cousin). He is now a local to these parts, where he can put his climbing prowess to good use. We had a great ride on Friday, it's nice to have a local show you around. If Vermont wasn't so freaking cold in the winter I would move there eventually. If you ever get up there this place is a must ride. I did some road rides in the mountains as well. The dirt roads are desolate, with intersections not even having stop signs in either direction.

This Saturday is the VK double down enduro race. Which means 6 laps on my favorite course. Given my performances so far this year I don't have high hopes, but I have surprised myself in the past so you never know. Well speaking of racing, I better go get my bike ready with new application of duct tape on the fork.

Vultures Knob #2

2011-05-23T09:56:00.005-05:00

Despite all the rain we've had, the Knob was in pretty good shape for the 2nd race there this season. The expert 36+class felt ridiculously hard, either that or I am just getting too slow. I took off hard and entered the rock tunnel just behind eventual winner Ross Clark, who to the delight of us all had just moved up to my class. Mix in Shawn Adams, Tim Mould, and Tom Franek and you have one hell of a fast group.
Long gone are the days of me and Lorson duking it out for 1st and 2nd, now we fight for 5th and 6th. Actually, my time would have placed me 3rd in the young expert class, maybe I should drop back down?
Oh well, it sucks getting old, but the season is still young and I know my legs have more in them. Some of these guys have been racing/training in warmer climates this spring so hopefully my time will come as the season progresses, it is a long season too.I know I need some more speed so I have decided to switch to the Karen Carpenter meal plan for a few weeks.

On another note, I did spy several camelbaks in my field. Maybe I'm not such a nerd after all?

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention how much I am enjoying the ongoing Lance saga. It looks like the end is finally in sight.

Many thanks to Bob Grimm, for the photos. He is quickly becoming the Graham Watson of northeast Ohio.

Hi-Lo, Hi-Lo, It's off to suffer I go

2011-05-12T12:06:00.000-05:00

I met the Chief at his house this morning for a ride feeling pretty fired up and I wanted to do some Hi-Lo's with him. I have been sworn to secrecy and can't tell you exactly what a Hi-Lo is, however, I can assure you that it's the most suffering that I have ever experienced on a bike, ever. The HI-Lo concept came to the Chief in one of his peyote induced hallucinations back when he was searching for the ultimate interval training. He explained his vision to the local shaman, and after some more peace pipe smoking, the Hi-Lo was born.

Well as it turned out, the Chief was pretty knackered from his previous rides this week, so I figured the Hi-Lo's would have to wait for another day. We were set to cruise into the valley but as we got ready to descend a storm cell popped up looking very ominous. We turned around right away and beat feet back east. There is nothing like trying to run from a looming storm to get you moving. We were trading hard pulls, albeit mine were only 1/2 as long as his. My lungs were on fire and I felt things rapidly moving around in my intestines, this is always a sure sign that I am on the brink of disaster.

Somehow we did manage to outrun the storm, and not a second too soon, as I was ready to implode. Great ride all in all, that's the kind of training that you just can't get riding off road.

Chief's house.

A big snapper we saw at the start of the ride. The Chief got him worked up into an attack mode rather quickly.

We've Got Big Bells!

2011-05-02T10:02:00.002-05:00

Me, Soup, and John shaking our bells like only 40+ year olds can do!(Thanks to Magnus for the pilfered photo)The bells were awarded for the 2010 Groovy Series overall standings.

The 2011 season kicked off in fine fashion at Vultures Knob last weekend. So fine in fact that it was one of only 3 dry days the entire month of April that I recalled. We have been getting pummeled with rain records that were set back in the 1800's. The Knob however was mostly dry with a few puddles and pasty areas. (amazing!)

So I line up next to four Soupcan guys, thinking I'm about to get worked over like an MS 13 gang initiation. I took the hole shot and managed to promptly crash in the first mile on a slick turn. I hit the deck and curled into a ball, Tim Mould showed amazing skills by not running over my neck, thank you!
No biggie I thought, just get back up and hammer. I entered the cradle 2nd and dropped my chain the first time, for what would turn out to be an ongoing problem the rest of the race. (note to self...buy new chain and rings every spring moron). I have always prided myself on almost never having mechanical issues during a race, but I dropped the ball big time this day.

Then while climbing up the first real climb my bars hit a tree and stopped me dead in my tracks, and I held up Soup in a very bad area for a singlespeed, sorry dude.
Soup soonafter passed me and quickly had 30-40 seconds gap in no time at all. But as fate would have it he flatted on the 2nd lap and his day was pretty much done. (Yes, I feel your pain).

I ended up third, 2 1/2 minutes off the winners pace. This would not have upset me if a local rider had won. But the first and second place guys were not from the area. (Tim Mould and Tom Franek).

Lots of hours, but not on the bike.

2011-04-10T20:09:00.003-05:00

46 hours in the car with the family. To those of you that have traveled long distances with kids know all too well what that means. It was still a fun trip with stops in Savanah, Fort Lauderdale, St. Cloud, Mt. Dora, and finally Savanah again.

King of the jungle.

I did manage to squeeze in 8 hours of riding in very pleasant, dry weather. I never made it to Santos, but did ride at Markham Park a couple of times. I raced there in 1996 when the trail was new and I lived in Florida, but the trail is now all grown up and extremely fun. I showed up on a Tuesday night and found about 50 cars in the lot...damn. It never seemed crowded because I was told there are about 19 different trails there now. I rode about 10 minutes then got passed by a couple local fast guys. So being the idiot I am I jumped on. These guys were freakin' fast, they had the trail dialed, and a high level of fitness since they are about mid-season down there. I struggled to keep up on what was surely my hardest effort since last racing season.
These trails demanded complete attention, and any slight mishap would leave you with a gap you don't want to have to close. After about 2 hours of complete beating I had enough for one night. I was absolutely riding the only hardtail bike on the trail that I had seen. The two racer dudes that were ripping my legs off were both on full suspension 29s, which seemed to be to popular set up down there. And yes, I wish I was on a dual suspension too for that place. If you ever make it to south Florida, it's worth the short drive from Fort Lauderdale, you won't be let down.

Time for a road trip

2011-03-25T11:43:00.004-05:00

Have I ever mentioned that Ohio weather sucks? I realize that warm dry trails are coming around the corner, but these long cold road rides with the Chief are getting far too painful. Here is some good news for me...my daughter is swimming at Nationals in Florida soon so that can mean only one thing. SANTOS Baby! It's been over a decade since I've ridden there and I can only imagine how big it is now. I can't wait to get that Groovy drifting through tight, sandy switchback turns, all whilst a steady rooster tail of sand blissfully coats my shins. Oh, and don't forget how much fun it is to get an entire Banana Spider web wrapped around your head. Off road paradise.

Lessons Re-Learned

2011-02-15T09:28:00.002-05:00

Oh how quickly I forget some of life's hard learned lessons. When riding with the Chief, always, and I mean ALWAYS take four hours worth of food along.

Hope your winter is going well

2011-02-10T10:15:00.006-05:00

I'm really starting to miss those warm days and dry trails. This is always the longest part of the year and the training seems unproductive. I realize the base is important and that soon the speed will come, but for now it's just monotonous. At least I get to ride with the Chief a couple days a week. He never rides less than 3 hours it at a time seems.

Look at this gem, no it's not mine but I wish it was my size.

This should help the winter blues.Thanks Henry.

Pass the sauce this way please

2011-01-30T12:16:00.003-05:00

The FDA has formally invited the cycling world to a Texas style BBQ. The lead investigator Jeff Novitzsky says he plans on grilling 160 lbs. of Texan meat in the near future. Don't worry about ecoli, Jeff is gonna let that meat cook till its well done. No amount of slippery sauce is gonna help this BBQ slide off the plate this time. Man, I'm famished, how about you?

Brat Montage

2011-01-29T09:12:00.004-05:00

Feeman went rabbit hunting instead of riding today, so this is what he gets.

Update:Feeman was pretty pissed about his photos, so they have been removed.

Not much new to post this time of year. My winter training is coming along as usual.(suffering in the bitter cold). The only difference is that I'm riding with the Chief a couple days a week, which is good for both of us.
Rody is trying to assemble a crew to go the the SS world championships in Ireland this year. I don't think I can swing that kind of trip, plus I don't want to put myself in the position of having to get a tattoo if I won(insert sarcastic tone).

2011... A Fresh Start

2010-12-29T07:27:00.003-05:00

Don't forget to come out and have some fun New Years day in Medina at noon. 49 degrees this year? Hopefully the Chief will be there too if he doesn't get too drunk again. You know them Indians can't control their liquor.

This is how I usually find him on January 1st.

2010-12-28T17:17:00.002-05:00

Long time no update. Well I've been putting a lot of things off these days. The training however has not been one of them.
I have been using the trainer quite a bit. The thought of cleaning the bike after every ride has taken its toll. Indoor training is good for working on smooth spinning and one leg drills, and its time to rewatch the classics videos anyways. I am going to tweek my plan a bit this year as always. There were some elements that I was missing last year.
Speaking of videos, the wife got me a Contour helmet cam for Christmas! I can't wait to make a crash video collection. If you want a starring role let me know and we will ride the Knob together.

Sunny skies in November

2010-11-23T07:13:00.003-05:00

Usually this time of year finds me doing nothing more than shooting zombies and eating copious amounts of food. However the last couple weeks of weather have been stellar. Two weekends ago I went to Reagan for a ride in the 65F sun and Dave walker and Tim Carson were in the parking lot too. It should be no surprise that Dave was wearing a full pair of jeans(winter clothing?). He had no trouble dispatching Carson on the twisty trails. Tim's bike handling skills while hungover were leaving him blazing new singletrack as he slid off several times.
I dug in deep while Dave picked up the pace. I consider myself a pretty good bike handler, but with every turn he would gain a few inches on me. Luckily a dog ran out in front of him and slowed him down enough for me to catch back on. It was a fun but painful day.

Then just this past weekend I finally went to Ray's for the first time with the wife.(Fun date)! It was sweet and I rode almost non stop for 3 hours. I was definitely out-gunned with my big wheels there but it was still a blast. I don't really fancy the Groovy as a jumping bike. However we fared pretty well considering I was twice as old as the median age rider there, and my wheels were probably twice as big too. Guess I'll have to get some skinny jeans and flat pedals to fit in there next time. Speaking of skinny jeans...they would make a great time trial kit for Walker.

Hard to believe, but it's time for me to start thinking about next year's race season. Hopefully this winter will be mild so the 4 hour rides in January aren't quite so brutal. I figure I need a little more speed next year so I will make a few changes to my bike setup and well as my waistline this winter. Easier said than done.

Perfect Season Finale

2010-10-18T08:56:00.004-05:00

Perfect weather and trail conditions were in place for the last NEO/Groovy Series race at Vultures Knob. And since it was a Halloween themed event there was a small(ten feet)starting line bonus for showing up in costume. Since I had crashed earlier in the week I just added to that blood and tried to look like Pendlebury. They let the younger Pro/Experts go 30 seconds in front of us so I took off hard and tried to catch as many of them as I could. I actually rode with Ross Clark for a bit on the 2nd lap but could not hold that pace for too long. We passed a few guys with mechanicals, Walker and Proppe appeared to have flats.
I purposely skipped Mohican the week before and had rested so my legs felt great. I set a PR for 3 laps at 1:49:41, which is about 5 minutes faster than before. Overall I ended up winning the Groovy series and got 2nd in the NEO Power series. I do wonder how long that I, Cochran, and Lorson can stay on top in this class. We are all in our 40's and I think that Ross Clark may be 36 next year, so that will throw a wrench in everything. Looks like it's going to be a brutal winter of training for me yet again.
Apparently my bloody costume looked very real. Many spectators had a look of shock as they saw me ride by with my fresh looking wounds. I just smiled and chuckled at the comments.

Making the most of that ten feet.

Sporting a sweet Amish coat and shirt on the podium. Is this a costume or just part of my Swiss heritage?

I got cash for my win, but the wife really racked it up. She won her class and finally shed the 2nd place curse that we both shared the last few races. In addition to a sweet plaque, she got 4 cases of Marathon bars, a mini pump, a set of pink Groovy Luv handles that I am trying to steal from her. And as if that were not enough we also came home with 3 Ray's VIP passes!

331 Promotions has once again laid down the template for a well run race. These are bar-none the best venues around. They gave out so much schwag that it literally took Rody an hour just to hand it all out. Add to that a huge bonfire, food, libations, tunes, and you have more fun than would seem possible.

Some recent photos

2010-10-14T08:36:00.002-05:00

Just some miscellaneous photos:

The Mr. Man award, Sheldon should remember this guy. Looks like he's on his last leg.

Speaking of last leg: Yes, I do crash on occasion.

Four plates at the Chinese buffet and I lived to tell about it.

The Groovy is ready for the Knob this weekend, but am I? I plan on getting the fork fixed after the season, but that duct tape does look sweet.

Reagan Park Time Trial

2010-10-05T10:48:00.001-05:00

The photo says it all. Stop #4 of the NEO Power Series brought me yet another 2nd place. An overall points win is now totally out of reach, with Cochran too far ahead for anyone to touch. There is still one race left at Vultures Knob, which is the finale for the NEO and the Groovy Series. It should be a fun race and I can't wait to see what they have planned for the post race festivities. Not to mention one lucky racer will win a Groovy frame. I'm pretty sure you have to be present to win so don't miss this one.

I have a comfortable lead in the Groovy series, as does Twining. And Pendlebury has a firm grip on the NEO overall. Not a bad season for the Groovy Cycles team.
A BIG thanks to Rody for all the support he has given us this season. He has spent countless, sleepless hours in his shop keeping our bikes rolling. Anything you need from a frame built up at 3:00am to stitches in Jeff's skin, Rody never says no to anyone. I'm kinda surprised his wife hasn't killed him yet actually.

I think it goes without saying that 331 Promotions has the best races around. I don't say that lightly either, since I started racing in 1984 I have seen plenty of promoters come and go. And it also seems that northeast Ohio has the best competition too. Everyone in my class has really stepped up the speed this year and there have been some really epic battles waged. If you only do the OMBC stuff you are really missing out on all the fun. The post race atmosphere reminds me of the way it was when mtb racing first started around here. 331 races exist for the riders to benefit, so come check it out.

Some days there is just nothing you can do

2010-09-20T11:46:00.004-05:00

I'm not a big fan of endurance racing, but since West Branch was part of the NEO Powerseries I didn't really have much choice. The last few weeks I had been training really hard for this event, working on my endurance mostly. With several grueling rides under my belt I figured I was at least ready to survive this thing.
However, I got pretty sick last week and wasn't able to ride for 5 days. Friday night I had a fever but was feeling a little better by Saturday evening. I was already preregistered and the wife was racing also so I figured why not give it a try. At the very least I should have fresh legs right?
The first lap was 14 miles and aside from some gastric disturbances I was able to ride with Lorson. After that first lap though things really fell apart for me, I just felt like all the energy was drained from my body. As I came around to the aid station I just pulled off the course and told them I was done. I then crawled my way down cable line road back to the van at a snails pace. Oh well, I wasn't going to win anyways and hopefully I am still in the fight for the series. Cochran won with relative ease and has a pretty sound lead over Lorson and me. He is not totally out of reach yet, and there are two races left so it's still game on for the three of us at this point.

Pendleberry got 2nd and actually wasn't bleeding too badly. The only thing he needs to decide now is whether he wants to make a living racing on the road or mtb.

Warning! The Knob is Not Safe!

2010-09-14T07:57:00.005-05:00

It was an action packed weekend by all accounts. The plan was to stuff as much singletrack into 3 days as possible, but Friday's ride almost ended in disaster.

There I was riding down the rocky shoot of the Over-Under, minding my own business, when all of a sudden I was instantly blinded by what felt like a mild form of mace in my eyes, nose, and mouth. Somehow I skidded to the bottom still upright, dazed, confused, and unable to see much at all. Still unaware of what had happened, I assumed the worst, yes that's right...an attack from the fabled KnobSquatch.
I figured this was some sort of debilitating venom he was shooting into my eyes as a pre-emptive strike, preparing my carcass for a tasty meal. However, once I wiped my eyes clean I could see that the lockout knob on my fork had come loose. And with each contraction of the fork legs hydraulic oil was shooting me in the face.

Not wanting my weekend of riding to be spoiled, I turned to the classic Lorson standby, duct tape. With the fork refilled with fluid and the lockout knob secured, the rest of the weekend was productive. 10 total laps at the Knob and 2 at West Branch for the three days of riding. Now it's time for rest, there is nothing more I can do at this point to make myself faster for this weekend.

Manitoc Battle Royale

2010-09-08T07:43:00.003-05:00

NEO stop #2 met us with seriously dry conditions at Manitoc. It was do dry that the first 2 miles were nothing but a dust cloud, I couldn't even see the trail at times. No complaints here though, it was the most fun race I have done in a long time. I purposely didn't go too hard at the start since I had not raced in 6 weeks. On the first lap I was riding with Lorson, Cochran, and some younger experts. Nearing the end of the first lap I passed Lorson on a downhill as he was blazing some new trail. A bit later I could hear him go off the trail again.
I kept a steady pace and he caught back up, we road together for quite awhile. I was able to stay with him on the climbs this year which is a nice change for me. Manitoc is a pretty open course, there is some tight stuff, but not enough to suit my type of riding. The Groovy was performing well and I never even came close to sliding out on the silty areas. I was running Nevagals front and rear with about 25psi. I'm pretty sure Lorson had too much air in his tires because his rear wheel slid out on numerous occasions.
On the third lap we hit that long steep climb and both dismounted to run up it. I took two steps and knew that if I took one more at that speed I would cramp. So I ended up walking as he pulled away. Once I got back on the bike I felt fine, but the damage was already done, another 2nd place for me. That's ok though, I was 7nth last year so I was actually quite pleased.

Pendleberry and Twining had a great race and battled it out for 1st and 2nd in the Pro/Expert. Heck, I didn't even see any blood dripping off of Jeff this time, internal bleeding maybe?

This week I'm trying to get ready for West Branch. I went to the Knob yesterday and rode 7 laps total,6 by myself and one with the wife. I felt pretty good and paced myself appropriately, but on the 6th lap there was a noticeable decline in my handling skills. The mind just starts to wander at that point so I had to really concentrate on the trail. I have done much longer rides than this on the road bike, but the Knob has a way of really beating you down.

Just what I needed

2010-08-28T06:06:00.003-05:00

It all started out so innocently, like it always does. A 7:30am departure time for a mid length ride. But when you make plans to ride with the Chief things tend to get out of hand rather quickly. So 50 miles of hills later we find ourselves in New Bedford at the general store sucking down sweet tea and pop tarts. I was still feeling good at this point as I had taken the Walnut Creek and the Coshocton County signs on the way down. Yes, of course Chief took Apple Creek and Trail(50+mph sprint!).
On the way back north I was still feeling pretty good until about the 5 hour mark. That's when it got real ugly for me. Chief seemed to be fine and was pulling in the big ring for what seemed to be miles and miles. My stomach got queasy as I tried in desperation to get some fuel in the tank to keep the pending cramps at bay. I felt the pain I have inflicted on both Belmont and Feeman in seasons past. This is what I have been needing and longing for....a damn good beating. Once we got back to Apple Creek I was in survival mode and crawled home for some good fetal position recovery.

Of course my day was not over, as I had promised to take the wife to Vultures Knob that evening. Fortunately we only rode a little over an hour there. The kids went along and they both wanted to ride the Cradle. Sydney rode it 3 times but I wouldn't let Gillian ride it. She was mad but she doesn't pay the insurance premiums either.

Here we see a composite photo of the Chief laying the smack down on me.

The B side

2010-08-25T11:37:00.002-05:00

August is somewhat the mid-point of the race season for me and I have not competed since July. The NEO PowerSeries continues Labor day weekend at Manitoc, which is where I will find out if my off road training regimen did the job or not. I don't expect to be flying by any means. Hopefully my speed will progress throughout the next two months just as it did last year. The great thing about self coaching is that I have only myself to blame if things go wrong. I must admit that the West Branch enduro race has me a little concerned. The longest I have ever raced off road is about 3 hours, and I'm sure it's no secret that I tend to go really hard at the start of a race...then explode on the last lap. I ordered some electrolyte tablets to try. Maybe they will help thwart off those nasty cramps that left me pedaling with one leg for nearly 2 miles at the last Knob race.

And now for some really boring tech talk. After well over 100 hours on the Groovy with the 650B wheels I have to say that I made the right choice. I did give up a little in the really tight stuff, like Reagan. However the bike rolls noticeably faster over rough stuff. I have not put much time on a 29r, but I can only imagine both the steering and traction changes would be even more exaggerated. I can't see myself enjoying any further handling loss, even if it meant faster rolling elsewhere.
Rody set my headtube angle at 73 degrees with neutral steering. This would probably not suit a novice rider very well. The tight angle also changes the angle of attack for the Fox fork, making the suspension feel slightly less supple. But this is what I asked for...super tight steering, and that it does very well. The speed of this bike has actually scared me on several occasions this summer, each time leaving me laughing my head off at the near misses with trees and other hard objects. Someday I won't be laughing so hard when I hit one of these things hard, but until then I will continue being too stupid to slow down.

Endless summer

2010-08-16T11:26:00.002-05:00

The has been one of the best summers I have had in a long time. LOTS of trail riding for sure. So much so that I might actually O.D. on singletrack. The road bike is collecting dust which is fine with me. I've been getting 100- 125 miles of trails every week for about 7 weeks now. Also the weather has been hot and humid and that suits me just fine. This is the stuff I dream about while riding in January, so keep it coming. I want to gorge myself on trails and vomit dirt all winter long.

Mini vacation

2010-08-03T12:06:00.003-05:00

Took the family camping to Coshocton Lake park last week. Across the road was a trail system built by a boy scout. It was nice to ride a new trail, but this one was brutal. I was actually wishing for full suspension here. It kinda reminded me of riding Spangler park in the old days with death defying cliffs, rocks, and roots. But it was bone dry, and with the way this summer has been it was a welcome feature.
No racing going on for me this month, just waiting till the NEO series continues in September. I think this is about week six for riding almost entirely off road, except for the Sweet Corn Challenge on the tandem, which was 50 miles of rain.

NEO kick off

2010-07-20T11:32:00.003-05:00

Sunny skies started off the NEO Power Series nicely. The first stop was the Findlay State Park TT on the 9 mile course. I had made a few trips there in the last two weeks to get used to the course. When it's dry you can really scare the crap out of yourself through all the twisty stuff.
Naturally, Ohio weather dumped a good bit of rain the night before so it was partly dry with some greasy puddles lingering. The real problem was that some corners were dry and others were a mess. So you never really knew how fast to take them until it was too late to change your mind.
A proper race pace in these conditions should leave you on your butt several times. Unfortunately I never went down, which means that I was pussy footing around and not really going the right pace.I kept swearing at myself the first half, trying to get some motivation to take the proper risks. Finally about half way through the course it got dry and my confidence rose, as did my pace. I started grazing trees with my shoulders and hips, which meant I was doing what needed to be done.
I pulled out a second place, about a half minute behind Jeff Cochran, he is obviously a great bike handler.
The wife raced too, for the first time since the mid nineties. This is a mixed blessing. It's good to have a spouse that approves of my racing, but it means twice the bike maintenance. I won't complain. This week starts my fourth week of riding off road only, which is nice.

Vultures Knob#4...and more!

2010-07-12T21:46:00.005-05:00

If you missed stop number 4 in the Groovy Series you really missed a good time. The course was in great shape and the racing was fast. I got a good start and was leading my class the entire race. However a calf cramp with about 1 1/2 miles to go almost cost me the race. My leg was so locked up that I had to pedal about 200 yards with one leg. Lorson almost caught me and was only 15 seconds behind at the end. That was too close for comfort, but little did I know, the real discomfort was yet to come.
I chugged a quick Miller beer at the finish line then lined up for the annual single speed challenge. This year's event consisted of getting spun around for 30 seconds then a Le mans type start to the bikes. One lap around the kids course then chug a Monster Energy float(yes they had a soft serve ice cream machine at the Knob!).
Another lap then we had to eat the sombrero, which was a powered doughnut with a pickle inside. At this point I was neck and neck with Bob Rodgers and thought I might have a chance. However I dropped the pickle and lost some crucial time as Rodgers and Ross Clark left me in the dust. Third place ain't too bad, and I vow to be prepared for next year.

The real star of the show was of course, Feeman. In the next four photos we see him in his usual state....on the ground.

Getting ready to fall.

Here we go!

On his butt!(Click on the photo to enlarge, then right click the photo, select 'set as wallpaper, then you are set.

Back up then down again!

Serious competition.

Last year's winner Bob Rodgers giving me "The Look".

On a more somber note:A serious hooligan stole a Groovy bike at the after race festivities. I'm no Columbo, but I'm pretty sure this last photo has the suspect in it. Please check the 331 link for the description and keep an eye out for the bike. It's probably stripped down and parted out by now cause the frame is one of a kind.
Paste this link so you can see photos of the bike.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/331Racing

Photo credits:I'm not exactly sure, but I know Justyna was there with her camera so they might be her pics. Anyways, the photos of Feeman on the ground are priceless.

Well boys, break time's over.

2010-06-29T12:09:00.004-05:00

All of my winter training and suffering in the bitter conditions finally paid off. No I'm not talking about a race...that stuff is much easier. This was my family vacation on GOBA, and this year is was in southeastern Ohio, chock full of long, steep climbs on the heaviest bike on the ride. I knew the climbing would be tough but I was in for a real shock after about day 3.
Never in my life have I ever had the fear that I would not make it up a climb. Not only did I have that feeling, but it occurred almost every day that week. I did find a new all time low speed... 3.8 mph without falling over. The hills were so long and steep that I fried the rear disc pads out on day four.
My legs are now burnt to a crisp after 18 plus hours on this torture machine. However I did get to eat a lot. I ate so much that I gained 3 lbs despite all the hard riding. Now that's what a vacation is all about.

The mud is your freind

2010-06-15T17:57:00.002-05:00

More good times were had at Vultures Knob #3. It was a smaller turnout likely due to the recent rains that just won't go away. I'm sure anyone who raced at Mohican the previous week had seen enough mud to last them a lifetime.
I have been swearing at the weatherman for weeks now but had finally made peace with the mud just a day before the race. Since I was the only over 35 expert they lumped me in with the young guys. And to my delight it was a sprint to the rock tunnel since they did away with the prologue lap. YEEESSSSS! I actually enjoy it when the first 200 meters are like a bmx race that narrows into a bottle neck. That's how racing should be.
I took off hard, and tried to stay with the top guys as long as I could but faded back to a sustainable pace after half a lap. I sure felt better this race compared to the last one. I guess the intervals have been paying off. The trail was pasty like last time so the overall times were slow again. By the third lap the course been whipped into a cake like batter in some areas.
I was on the new Groovy and didn't have any mechanicals despite the conditions. The Kenda Nevegals front and rear turned out to be the right choice again, and I never went down once. In fact I was able to drift a lot of turns without losing control.
I ended up 4th overall and still got my vet/expert points for the series. All in all not a bad day.
The real fun was watching the bikes of days gone by race down and up the fire road. Mike Colona gets the sweetest bike award, but Feeman sure had the best outfit.

No longer too fast for paint

2010-06-05T17:48:00.002-05:00

The finished product is coming together. The Groovy frame has a sweet paint job, I will almost feel bad getting it dirty. Speaking of dirt...I haven't seen any of that in a week. Nothing but torrential downpours here in Ohio. It will take a solid week of sun to have decent trails again, hopefully next weekend's race will be dryer this time. Have I mentioned before that I hate Ohio?

This is a trick setup for the rear brake. It should distribute the braking forces between both stays and makes it easy to pull the wheel straight back for removal.

Fixin' problems

2010-06-01T12:49:00.002-05:00

There has been quite a bit of road rage from motorists against cyclists this spring. I have been pondering the reason for this and the only thing I can think of is this:
All winter long the local paper has been trying to outrage the Wayne county citizens over this bike path issue. They have worked hard to paint an ugly picture of the land grabbing cyclists who they think want nothing more than to ruin some farmers livelyhood by placing a multi-use trail on the already existing rail bed.
This of course makes no sense. If a motorist doesn't want to share the road with a cyclist, then they of all people should encourage the use of bike paths. But these ain't the smartest folks out there anyways. Stupid is, stupid does.

It's still a Groovy Series.

2010-05-24T08:08:00.002-05:00

Groovy Series #2 at Vultures Knob.

Ohio reared its ugly head the days and hours leading up to the race. Several inches of recent rains had the course pasty and slick, as if the Knob isn't tough enough when its dry. I knew this would be a suffer fest once I did a prologue lap to warm up and check the air pressure in my tires. I had just put on some Kenda Nevegals and they got a good breaking in.
Bob Grimm had a new helmet cam and wanted some race footage so I had the GoPro mounted to my helmet, and it was set to take a photo every 30 seconds.
I like to get a fast start to gain time on Lorson during the first lap. Unfortunately there was a sweet pile up right in front of me about 50 yards into the race. I don't think I've seen this in an off road race in almost 15 years.
Anyway I was on Lorson's wheel for the first lap and the legs seemed to feel fine. The helmet cam had come loose so I handed it off to Bob a half lap into the race. The bike was running smooth and the Nevegals were really biting well. Tracton was never a problem despite the mud. The problem came when Lorson jacked up his back wheel, fixed it, then came raging by me.
There was no lifting of the pace for me. The pasty mud seemed to eat away at my speed like a nasty headwind does on the road. This was a day for strong riders to excel, and that's exactly what happened. I ended up 4th and still have the lead in the series so it's not all a loss.

I received my official Groovy frame with a sweet paint job.

On another note, the Knob now has working showers and a bike wash which sure came in handy this time. Unfortunately there was a creepy guy hanging around the entrance wearing only a towel, and holding a high pressure long hose. Not sure what he wanted but I didn't want to find out either. I think he must have gotten lost while he was looking for Spangler park.

Insider Exclusive

2010-05-21T07:49:00.003-05:00

Some of you may know this former Iceman winner as Jon shell, but anyone who has raced against this man knows him simply as 'The Chief'. In this Family of Pain exclusive interview, the Chief finally comes clean about his own substance abuse in his early days of racing. The Chief also lashes out against Wang, and has some shocking allegations about him.

F.O.P.:Chief, why have you decided to come forth about your early racing days?

Chief:Well, I just want the truth to be known and don't want to see up and coming junior racers go down that same path.

F.O.P.:What types of substances did you use?

Chief:Cheap beer mostly, lots of Fallstaff and Killians Red back in those days.

F.O.P.:You were underage back then, how did you acquire the beer, were you working with a veterinarian?

Chief:No, I had a mustache back then so I looked a lot older.

F.O.P.:When did you use this substance?

Chief:The night before a race, I would drink at least 12 beers or more and by the next morning I was flying. I would usually go off the front in a criterium and lap the field at least once.

F.O.P.:Did any of your teamates consume as well?

Chief:Oh yeah, Wang tried to put down 5 or 6, but he was only 118 lbs. back then. He usually ended up passed out in his own vomit. There was also Big Bill and Kardas. Big Bill was usually too busy looking for his lost wallet or trying to scam on some chicks to partake. But Kardas on the other hand, he was on a whole other level back then.

F.O.P.Tell us more about Wang's involvement.

Chief:Well I really blame him for most of it. I mean, that guy was always there yelling at me to drink more. He always wanted me to chug a whole jar of salsa at once. I reluctantly did it on several occasions. I have ruined more than one carpet that way, 'cause it always came back up.
Wang also stored our beer in a cooler in his closet at his parents house. We did get caught once by his folks, but just blamed it on Matt Haugh.

F.O.P.:How did you avoid detection all those years?

Chief:Wang would usually take the empty cans and dump them off in the dumpster down at the park in Smithville.

F.O.P.How about when you were on the road, traveling to races?

Chief:Yeah, well that was no problem, avoiding detection was very easy in those days. After all, I drove a 1964 Mercury Comet with a built up 289! That car could easily out run the cops, plus you could open the bottles using the door handles.

F.O.P.:Some say this is just sour grapes between you and Wang, you know he was always a better off road racer back in the 80's. He has stated on more than one occasion that your handling skills sucked back then. Why did you wait until now to talk?

Chief:He's trying to make a comeback racing that Groovy series. And I think he still abuses cheap beer. Just look in his recycling bin, it's usually full of Old Milwaukee's Best....LIGHT!

F.O.P.:Will we see you toe the line this year? I have heard that you have been training some.

Chief:Not likely, I don't even have a mtb right now.

F.O.P. What about all those Slingshots you have hanging in your garage?

Chief:No comment.

F.O.P.Wang has said that your stories aren't credible. He cites the time you were riding TOSRV and drank a two liter bottle of wine cooler right after finishing off a 12 of Michelob....with no food in your system. He went on to say that you then crashed your bike so hard that you bent both of your rims and snapped the seat right off of it's rails! He claims to have also saved your life that day. He had to turn you on to your stomach and drag you outside by your feet because you were trying to pull a "Jimmy Hendrix".

Chief:No comment...this interview is over.

Cheating gets it faster

2010-05-20T06:59:00.004-05:00

Floyd comes clean. Thank you.

In a shocking blow to the professional cycling world, Landis admits his doping ways ever since he joined the US Postal team in 2002. Lets see what kind of spin Armstrong and Bruyneel can put on this one....it ought to be an epic fabrication.

Was this song made for Landis? It sure seems so.

On sale now:Get your discounted copy of Positively False before they sell out.

Aside from his book sales, Floyd is having a Mennonite yard sale in rural Pennsylvania. Here you can pick up various IV bags and syringes, as well as some of his sister's old dresses.

The wind is your friend.

2010-05-16T06:39:00.002-05:00

Beautiful White Lake.

TOSRV was dry this year. That's pretty much the best thing I can say about the weather. It was cold in the morning with highs in the 50's. Also a tad windy, 20 mph steady cross winds on Saturday with gusts pushing upper 30's. We trudged along on the tandem, averaging 18 mph, which was a lot more work than it sounds. When we rolled into Portsmouth it was like a ghost town. I'm pretty sure the sag truck was overloaded this year. We saw people riding into town at 8 pm.

Sunday was a bit better with a NW wind around 13mph. We kept it steady again and only one guy ever jumped on our wheel. After lunch we passed a group of guys in a paceline and we could overhear one of them telling his buddy to jump on. Then the buddy shouts back something like, "The hell with that!"

Enjoying some quality snacks under the tent.

I think Mark is comptemplating where to attack me during the last 30 miles.

I've got some new tires to put on before the next race. Kenda Nevagal 2.1's in the 650B. The Pacenti's are nice but the rear Qausi Moto is wearing out way too fast. Currently Kenda has only the Nevegal in 650B, but I will keep trying to coax them into making a Small Block 8.

Haben sie gedopt? Part Duex.

2010-05-11T09:53:00.009-05:00

Ok, I realize I have been slacking big time on the doping front. But it's springtime now, and with it comes the sound of freshly discarded needles hitting the bottom of the trash can. Nothing says spring like fresh, positive A sample. And with this I am reminded of the task at hand and bring to you another edition of 'Where have all the good dopers gone?'

So many to choose from, where do I start? DiLuca would be an easy target but I will save him for another day. Who knows, he might be the one to get his suspension overturned. Fight the good fight Danilo. We are behind you all the way!(Just like your veterinarian was when he shoved that needle in your butt).

Today we catch up with Jannie boy. Apparently the last couple of years have not been so kind to him physically. But despite his inability to put the bratwurst down, he has been enjoying time by mastering the Pan Flute while trying to recreate those haunting melodies in true Zamfir fashion.
Also Jannie just recently was elected to be the Captain of the German Star Trek fan club. With this comes the great responsibility of subtitling all original episodes to German. He already has 13 episodes completed, but is running out of space in his mother's basement and will be looking for his own apartment as soon as he finds a suitable room mate.

But wait, it keeps getting better yet. Jannie will have the lead role in his own Star Trek dinner theater production, in which he will play as Captain Kirk while serving Beef Stroganoff to hungry patrons. And as a special tribute to William Shatner, Jannie has taken on the daunting task of doing the entire play in Esperanto!

"I am up to zie challenge." said Jan. "Zie Stroganoff......mit zie Esperanto, most difficult together."

The time for suffering has arrived.

2010-05-06T07:51:00.003-05:00

Why can't I buy this in Ohio?

All the long winter suffering was not for race fitness, that is merely a by-product. Single bikes.... those are what children play on.
If you have a penchant for real, self induced pain that lasts for days you need to go big.

Last Sunday the Quad came out of hibernation. After six hours of cleaning and adjustments for growing stokers she was ready for the tarmac. 20 mph winds just added to the fun. I believe we averaged somewhere around 14mph for 25 miles. The only redeeming quality of a bike this big is obviously the downhills. When it gets going there's not much stopping it, literally.

Lessons learned for Boonen.

2010-05-05T07:51:00.002-05:00

I heard this quote on the Two Johns and it seems to fit Fabian perfectly:

Training is like fighting with a gorilla. You don't stop when you get tired, you stop when the gorilla gets tired.

The Livin's Easy

2010-05-01T06:40:00.006-05:00

Ahhh...summer is almost here, and yesterday's ride at the knob was a real treat. Perfect soil conditions and four laps of fun left me feeling refreshed and beat up at the same time. I got a Droid app that tracks workouts so I can tell you that the knob is 6.75 miles per lap according to my phone. Man it sure seems longer than that sometimes.

On a more important note: I just upgraded the wagon's sound system. I can feel the bass now.

Now this just screams SUMMERTIME!

I was feeling like a climber in my Fabio Parra jersey. I don't usually break this baby out till July but she was calling my name. If the wind is just right I can still smell Fabio's sweat emanating from the fabric. Smells kinda like Beans, tortilla chips, and Modelo.

It's hard to believe that I have elevated cholesterol, but Doc says it's genetic.

Even the Amish are out pounding the miles. I would love to see this dude climb that thing out of Fredericksburg.

Groovy Cycles in the press again:In the June MTB Action mag Rody had two bikes featured from the NAHBS show. Nice work.

More envelope pushing...

2010-04-26T11:42:00.002-05:00

Last week the Knob was bone dry so I got a chance to ride there three days. I am still testing the 650B waters while trying to get a feel for the bike's limits. Once again I was pushing a little too hard and went into the drink. I went over the bars onto a pile of rocks at the end of Mazeville. The bike slid off into the decaying ooze head first. Good times.

I stopped by Groovy Cycles and Rody set me up with some Luvs. Anyone who knows me realizes that I am a very hard sell when it comes to new bike technology. So I must admit that changing from my flat bars to Luv's had me a little scared.
However, once again Rody did not steer me wrong. On the first ride with these bars I felt very comfortable. These things have a more natural feel than anything I have ever tried. The only problem now is that I need several more sets to put on the other bikes.

Know your limits.

2010-04-16T11:52:00.003-05:00

I rode the Knob again this morning and Lorson was already burning out laps when I got there. (Black ops training?) We did one lap together before he had to split for work. It's nice to have someone to ride with which rarely happens for me with my work schedule.

I did a couple more by myself and really wanted to see how hard I can push the Groovy. I was taught by the Chief that you don't know your limits until you crash. So I kept leaning that Neo-Moto tire over farther and farther until it finally gave out on an off camber turn. Limit found.

Lawn still needs mowed.....I wonder how long I can wait till the city sends a nasty gram to me?

Feeling Groovy

2010-04-14T11:40:00.003-05:00

She's a beaut Clark!

Took the Groovy to the Knob for the 3rd time. Today the legs started feeling better so I got on it a bit. I was feeling comfortable on the bike and was able to take 90 seconds off of my fastest lap time from Saturday's race. The bike was just begging for the big ring on everything but the 2 hard climbs. The larger wheels seem to like a larger gear it seems.

I took the small ring off the crank to make it a double and I think this will be a good set up with the 11-32 in the back. The Stan's wheels seem a little light for training, I might have to get a more burley set for general riding.

On the road racing front it appears that my prediction of Swiss dominance this year is coming to fruition. Not sure what Fabian has in his veins but it is certainly high octane.

Race Day

2010-04-11T09:02:00.002-05:00

Perfect weather and perfect trails started off the racing season in great style. I am convinced that Rody is some sort of nocturnal creature that doesn't need sleep. He stayed up all night working on my frame. I got to the shop around 9 am and he was putting her in the drying box with some fresh primer. No time for paint but who needs that anyways.
My first off road ride of the year was also my first race of the year. And my first ride on the Groovy. I finished building it up 3 hours before the race and was anxious to hit the trail.
The 650B wheels were awesome. Rody had the frame geometry dialed in perfect. I did not lose any of the quick steering that a 26 provides. But I gained noticeable traction and faster rolling with the bigger wheels. I took the 1st lap a little slower as I got used to the bike. By lap two I was simply blown away by the experience. No bike has ever left me with such a great impression. I did find a few sharp turn tougher to negotiate. Not for the lack of handling, but because I was simply coming into the corners faster than before!
A steady pace and no mechanicals found me on the winners podium. Bad luck for John and Wes with flats that cost them lots of time to repair. I feel your pain guys.
Jeff Pendleberry and Steve Twinning took 1-2 in the younger Expert class, making Groovy Cycles the dominant race machines this day. Jeff has gears now, and it shows.

F ing ham county Georgia

2010-04-10T07:14:00.002-05:00

Just got back from vacation in Effingham County GA. Goods times and good riding on the tandem. Not exactly what I would call a week of tapering before my first race but the wife needed the miles so we rode everyday. Headed over to Groovy Cycles now to build up the bike for it's Knob debut...and my first off road ride for the year as well. This should be fun!

Name that road

2010-03-29T08:16:00.002-05:00

Ok Holmes County aficionados, here is one for you. This may be one of the least traveled roads I have ever been on. Any guesses where this is?
I took the tandem down here last Saturday, and of course got a flat at the bottom.

Subscribe now and save!

2010-03-27T07:10:00.002-05:00

A major US based cycling magazine is changing it's format after decades of posting the same articles over and over again. This more aggressive style of writing will undoubtedly be a refreshing a breath of fresh air, however the cycling community will be missing out on some of the great articles of days gone by, such as:

Get race fit in only 3 hours a week!

Drop weight with the Mary-Kate and Ashley diet!

Ride your first century and finish strong!

Ten easy steps to convert your Masi into a recumbent fixie.

How to properly approach Lance for an autograph.

Hemp fiber, the new carbon?

Eat junk food and get fast!

Overhaul your Campy shifters with nothing more than a paper clip and stick of gum!

Photo courtesy Uno Tre Le Rockefella

Hillbilly Chicken Jerky?

2010-03-24T12:10:00.003-05:00

I don't even have a comment for this one.

Rody should have my frame done soon. The parts kit is patiently waiting. The wheels look sweet, and seem plenty light. Stans 355 rims, Revolution spokes, and Pacenti tires. I don't usually like this much meat up front but every review I have read about the Neo and Quasi Motos is positive. It should be a good Knob setup, but I am a little concerned they won't roll fast enough for my liking. Time will tell.
I don't really know how the 650B gear ratio will feel. I put a 11-28 cassette on for now. This should be similar to the 12-26 I used last year with the smaller wheels.
This is a recovery week for me so I plan to keep the hours down around 8 or so. And with more rain in the forecast that should be no problem.

2010-03-22T07:49:00.002-05:00

Went for a ride with the Chief Friday. He's not super strong yet, but I didn't drop him on any climbs so that's a big improvement. Oddly enough I was pulling most of the downhills so he could rest for the climbs. I was rounding a 90 degree curve with sandy grit on it when he decided I was going too slow. My tires were sliding in cinders when he passed me on the outside of the turn. Crazy Indian.

Last week was another solid week of riding so I was more than happy not to ride this last weekend. I spent the entire time at the Zones swim meet in Bowling Green. 1400 kids running around hotel rooms like crazed idiots. Kinda reminds me of Juniors racing back in the day.

Monumental Beat Down

2010-03-17T11:25:00.002-05:00

Is it possible to OD on too much spinach? I intend to find out.

Got a glimpse of the sun today, seems as if all the snow has melted as well. I have to ride early so it's pretty cold when I start, but then I'm roasting when I get home.
I do wonder how much more abuse this bike can take. For that matter I wonder how much longer my legs will hold out. I'm riding on auto pilot, the legs keep turning over but there is no snap in them at all. I plan on taking a real break soon so I can take full advantage of my efforts and absorb this block of training. I have been riding at the limit of what my body can take in right now.
I can fully appreciate why a pro can't have a real job on top of training. After hard rides my body just wants to shut down for a the rest of the day. Sometimes it seems that no amount of food or drink satisfies my cravings.

Let the good times roll

2010-03-11T12:14:00.002-05:00

Finally got some above freezing temps so I've been making the most of them. Daily rides into Holmes, Tuscarawas, and Stark counties have made for some sweet riding. Today was a four county day on some roads I have never been on before.

I have been stopping in Winesburg everyday for the best deal in Holmes county. Only 99cents for an Amish made 1/4 lb. cookie and a coffee! The roads have been super-D- duper-awesome with nothing but the best surfaces money can't buy. Spring thaws do make the best road riding we will see all year, so get out there now before it all dries up.

The freaks come out at night!

2010-03-02T13:01:00.002-05:00

You never know what you see on the streets of Orrville late at night. I didn't realize a town this size had so many drunks stumbling home from the bars.

Not much has changed in the riding arena. Good lubes are essential for those long days on the trainer. I need to get back outside but the kids have been sick a lot this year. I have been adding some tempo rides on top of the base. Intervals will come pretty soon as well. I don't want to bring it on too fast, the goal is to be slightly under fit at the first race. It's gonna be a long action packed season this year.

And now for a Chief update:That Navajo is pretty pissed and is feeding off of his anger. He's been logging some good hours and running too. I have no doubt that he is still the best bike handler in Ohio so he doesn't really need to be in prime shape to win. In the mean time I will keep taunting him so he stays motivated.

Cabin Fever

2010-02-23T22:15:00.003-05:00

Just ordered the Monkey Warfare DVD. Can't wait, revolutionaries on bikes!

I finally got back outside today. I put 28 hours on the trainer in the last two weeks and that was enough to last me a lifetime. I am all too ready for those carefree days in the summer sun riding the hills of Amish country.

Take that Norway!

2010-02-15T17:29:00.003-05:00

It has already begun. The 15K gold is in the bag.

Here on the home front the snow is not quite getting the warm reception as it is in Vancouver. I have been actually enjoying the trainer with the aid of technology. Portable DVD players and iTunes are making it bearable. At the end of this week I will have 100 hours of base in the legs since mid December so I will be adding the tempo rides soon.

Here is a riddle for you:
How do you make a 2 hour trainer ride seem easy?

Answer:
Ride 3 1/2 hours of course!

Prepare for Global Domination

2010-02-11T13:01:00.002-05:00

For hundreds of years the peaceful Swiss people have lived in tranquil neutrality. Well no more! Alex Zulle with his Hansen Brother spectacles paved the way for the Swiss uprising back in the 90's. Now we have 2 more world champions to rip up the road and dirt.

Take that Absalon. You couldn't follow the last kilometer attack that Sauser put in at Canberra.

Cancellara shown here, decimating all others in a way only a Swiss heritage could produce. Could it be that the next world champion could be living nearby in Amish country? It was only just yesterday that I saw many of our Swiss brethren out putting in some miles in the harsh weather conditions.

What's Holding You Back?

2010-02-08T17:43:00.002-05:00

No, this isn't a seat belt usage campaign. I've been thinking recently about human cycling performance, mine in particular. When I first started riding I knew nothing about VO2 max, heart rates, watts, or other measurements of performance. It was in the mid nineties when a lot of information about performance came to the forefront for me. Prior to this knowledge I just figured that anyone faster than me obviously trained harder and longer than I did.

Of course now I know exactly what my VO2 max is, and what heart rate zones I should be training in. My genetic makeup puts me at a Category 3 lifer according to Chris Carmichael. These are things I can't change and must accept as my physical performance limiters. There is however a big arena for improvement in the area of attitude and that I am the only one holding myself back here.

Since it was -3F this morning I begrudgingly got on the trainer with the intent of riding for an hour. At some point during that time it occurred to me that no one can do the work for me and that I'm done making excuses for myself. 3 1/2 hours later I got off the trainer, still feeling pretty good.
The time is now, and if you don't do it for yourself, it won't ever get done. What's your excuse?

Fail to the Chief?

2010-02-01T14:05:00.003-05:00

Finally, I got the Chief out on the road. He had not ridden in about 3 months so me and The Brat rode over to his house and took him out in the cold. He was a little feisty at first but that did not last long. His legs quickly faltered and I knew he was in trouble when I turned around and saw Chief holding onto Brat's rack to get himself pulled up a slight grade.
This was a moment to savor, but as much as we enjoyed it now, we both know that this day will come back to haunt us in the future. This was a beating that he won't soon forget, and I'm pretty sure he grumbled something about vengeance down the road. Hopefully this was the pivotal moment that will light a fire under his butt and set the stage for his 2010 season. Only time will tell.

Eating Crow:I did not ride indoors all last winter and vowed to do the same this year. However certain circumstances(not the weather) forced me to either ride the trainer for 3 days last week or not ride at all. It took me 15 minutes just to find the the stupid thing, then I had to dig out my favorite shirt to complete the ensemble.

The real lifesaver this winter has been these little heat packs. I can't believe I have suffered needlessly for years without these things. Most of my rides are 3+ hours these days and they have saved my toes more than once.

Bigger Wheels Here I Come!

2010-01-25T08:57:00.004-05:00

I'm getting stoked about the 2010 season already. I've been putting in the hours and hopefully laying the foundation for a good year. The Groovy frame should be taking shape soon and I will officially be riding for Groovy Cycleworks this year.

Again, many thanks to GT for a great 2009. I appreciate everything they did for me and hope that they got some good exposure from my efforts on and off the bike. I had a lot of fun racing on the Zaskar because that bike is a rocket.

Rody has me fitted for the new Groovy frame and it should be in the works soon since he is taking it to NAHBS. Rody is the kind of builder that seems to know that the little details make a big difference. I haven't had a custom steel frame built for me since the Paisley in 1986.(A frame that I still have!) It will have 650B's on it which I can see eventually taking over the 26" for many applications. Yes, you heard me correctly...and I haven't been drinking.

My biggest reservation about bigger wheels is the handling in the tight stuff. I live for tight, twisty turns and have to have a quick steering bike. Rody assured me that this would not be a problem and is setting the angles accordingly. Now if I could only figure out what colors use. His paint jobs are so fantastic I feel the need to exploit those talents.

As an added bonus I will be off on weekends this whole summer so race dates won't require vacation time like they did last year. Afternoon shift isn't my favorite but it does lend itself to good training hours. As always I will be coaching myself and I feel pretty good about that. Over the years I have developed the ability to sense the subtle changes in my body that let me know what I need. Plus I can't afford coaching so it's a perfect fit!

MIGHTY PLASMA!

2010-01-14T08:14:00.003-05:00

BILLY MAYS HERE! YOU WANT TO ROCK YOUR LOCAL CLUB RIDE THIS YEAR? THEN I HAVE AN AMAZING OFFER FOR YOU.....MIIIIIGHTY PLASMA! WE'VE GOT TWO DISGRACED PROS WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK DONATING THEIR OWN PLASMA JUST FOR YOU. THEY HAVE BOTH TAKEN SO MUCH IN THE PAST THAT THEY FEEL THE NEED TO GIVE BACK TO THE CYCLING WORLD. DON'T BE FOOLED BY IMITATION PRODUCTS...THIS IS THE REAL STUFF GUARANTEED TO BE 55% HCT OR YOUR MONEY BACK!

We have a bag with your name on it, call in the next 20 minutes and receive a second bag FREE!

Hurry because this offer won't last long. They are becoming emaciated and only have a limited supply left.

Too good to be true

2010-01-11T12:28:00.002-05:00

It's so much fun, it might be illegal.

At last, it's cold enough that there was no slush on the roads today.

A Real TREET!

2010-01-09T07:52:00.005-05:00

I've decided to try out the Jan Ullrich diet this winter. When you just can't afford Spam, reach for the Treet.

Throw that trainer in the trash and get out there and enjoy nature!

Good Stuff!

2010-01-05T08:47:00.003-05:00

The New Year was started off right with the traditional Medina ride. It was bitter cold, windy, and the roads were wet and salty. Perfect. The riding was good, but the real treat was seeing Al Marconson there. He is as fit as ever and I was wearing 2 wool jersies that he had made back in the late 80's under the Good Stuff clothing label.
We were both riding mtb's and quickly found ourselves off the front with a Summit guy on a road bike. Sharing pulls with Al was a delight as I rode down memory lane. I let him know that his Woodsfield stage race is still the most brutal race I have ever done. AL doesn't say much but he seemed amused upon hearing this.

The devil may have went down to Georgia, but he once lived here. I can feel my legs burning now. The Woodsfeild stage race featured four stages over 2 days. A team time trial, 2 brutal road races with some gravel roads, and a 30 mph average criterium with time bonuses on every lap.

Rollers suck

2009-12-21T19:21:00.002-05:00

This pretty much sums up the winter riding.

Yeah, this sucks too but it's better than riding indoors. The great pyramids weren't built in a day, and neither was my base. But this year it's gonna be huge.

Bottoms Up!

2009-12-06T13:57:00.003-05:00

Today we helped cut in some new trails at the Knob. The new downhill section is going to be really sweet. A decent crowd showed up making the work go quickly. I was a little late getting there due to the frost on the wagon. I had no idea that frost could actually form on the inside of a window so I had to get the tea candles out to speed up the process.

The best part of the day was right here. This photo is definitely worth 1000 words as we see Feeman proving that beer and mud do not mix!

Click on the photo once to enlarge it. Then right click to set it as your desktop background.

V...D....B....!

2009-12-05T17:25:00.004-05:00

Another year, another Pro, another death. The drunken crash years ago should have been a big sign that his life was in turmoil. Despite VDB's bad boy antics over the years I always had a soft spot for this famous Flandrian. Yeah, he was the typical cycling rock star in Belgium which meant lots of drugs on and off the bike. But when he won a race there wasn't a pub in Belgium that wasn't packed. Those are some hard core fans and they stick with a guy through thick and thin. Not so much can be said about Americans. How 'bout them Browns eh?

The new British Columbia?

2009-12-03T12:59:00.003-05:00

So it is now the most wonderful time of the year. Which means Christmas break with the family and some pretty low key riding. I have been off the bike for 2 1/2 weeks now except for riding to work yesterday. It was raining with a headwind, as usual. But it occurred to me that the ride was probably going to be the best of my day, and I was right.
Last Sunday I went to the Knob to help with some projects Kevin had going. Mostly work on the slopestyle course, which would probably kill me if I tried to ride it. We did however scout some new XC trail to detour some wet spots. There will be some distance and climbing added, but don't freak out 'cause there will also be better downhills with more sustainable speed included.
I did request that we add lots of tight switchbacks on the climbs to slow down the SS riders. Hey, if never hurts to ask! There will be an XC trail day coming soon I believe so the new course can be cut in.
The Knob is going to be a one -stop-shop this year with all the new happenings. Downhill, Slopestyle, XC....man, all in Wooster!

This is what I have been doing instead of riding. It passes the time pretty quickly.

Too much of a good thing

2009-11-19T08:11:00.003-05:00

I have had the wagon since May and put nearly 900 miles on it. Its' running like a champ and I have only added one quart of oil! Disregard that red light you see there, I'm sure it doesn't mean anything.

Recently the trails have been as good as they can get. I got quite a few laps in at the Knob and met some new people to ride with as well. It wont be long till these conditions are just a scant memory and slush will be the only thing I see. I need to take two weeks off but since its been dry I have delayed that rest because perfect singletrack NEEDS to be ridden.

Help is on the way though. I just got a new Resident Evil game which should keep me from riding for awhile. Plus it's raining as I write this so Ohio weather has taken it's toll on the trails as usual. Now where did I set that Wii remote?

Hey Two Johns!

2009-11-11T14:33:00.003-05:00

For all you Two Johns fans out there...I finally found a photo of them together after a local cross race. This photo further shows how the lack of off road riding has the same effect as inbreeding does. So don't say I didn't warn you.

Winter preparation

2009-10-30T10:57:00.002-05:00

Look closely, he's coming up the hill!

Long gravel climbs are what make road riding bearable.

Finally in sight!

I had to go away for two days of training where the food was included. My goal was to gain 4 lbs in 2 days and I am proud to say I exceeded my own personal best....4.4lbs! Yes it was quite painful but this is one area where I really know how to pace myself properly.

Autumn comes

2009-10-27T09:57:00.002-05:00

Monday was a pleasant day at Mohican. Rode the trail and did some extra site seeing along the way. The Gorge was at its leaf changing peak, but my legs were well past their peak. So today as I writhe in agony I ponder back on the racing season. Many thanks to GT for the fine bicycle that handled very well and never let me down once. The only mechanical I had was one flat tire all season. I only suffered two injuries; one broken knuckle and one strained arm tendon.
I'm not ready for winter but I am looking forward to next season.

Why did I ever move back to Ohio anyways? I really miss Florida singletrack. It is very fine indeed, nary a mud puddle to be found. I can't wait to retire and move back down south again.

Off the reservation

2009-10-25T08:23:00.002-05:00

After ride libations:Making you thirsty Lorson?

Dressing up the neighborhood anywhere I park it.

Went down to Mohican with the Chief last week. Despite his lack of fitness he was able to turn out a 2:21. He was suffering like a fool but his handling skills kept his pace up a good bit. And he even gave me a compliment on my downhilling skills in the form of only having to nearly run me over one time. I do think I descend faster these days, mostly due to my lack of climbing speed, gotta make up for it somewhere.

I will be following Chief's return to form as he progresses this winter. In the meantime I will enjoy every minute putting him in the hurt locker while it lasts.
Now if I can only keep him out of the casinos and off the liquor bottle.

Go till you blow!

2009-10-12T09:59:00.007-05:00

Photo credit:Bob the Picture Guy

Mohican State Forest trail...nothing in the Midwest can compare to it's quality. So despite my waning form I just couldn't resist racing there yesterday. They sent the young Pro/Experts off first then about a minute later us old guys took off. It was a bit of road before the trail so I got into 2nd place to draft some. In about 2 miles me and the eventual winner(Don't know his name, but he had dreadlocks) started catching some young guys. this went on for about 5 miles until dreadlock boy got away from me on a climb. I settled into a decent pace with Luke Spisak and a few others.
These younger guys would gap me on the climbs and then I would catch them on the downhills and then have to slow down. This makes no sense since I'm small and riding a 26 hardtail, but I will chalk it up to experience I suppose. I even passed one of them on the outside of a hairpin, nearly going over the edge. This is the kind of maneuver that I would only risk in a race, which is why racing is some of the most fun riding you can experience. There is no thought of crashing or serious bodily injury. Only pure adrenaline courses my veins. I got to witness a sweet crash as one guy fell off a wood bridge at about 25 mph right in front of me.

I was sitting third at mile post 21 when the legs blew. I cramped up hard and was waiting for the broom wagon. I got passed twice in the next 3 miles and ended up 5th. I sometimes think that I should start out slower and pace myself better. But if I am going to race, then I am going for a win, not just to survive. All or nothing is the way I like it.

On a lighter note, The Chief raced in my class with virtually no fitness at all. He finished, but when he did he WAS finished. It was poetic justice watching him laying on the ground and writhing in pain.

No, its not a bomb.

2009-10-07T10:46:00.002-05:00

Now this is recycling! I made my own XT disc brake bleed kit and it works great. It only took about 10 minutes per brake to bleed. Shimano makes some nice brakes, the downfall is that they use mineral oil. And I found out last winter that this stuff freezes and blows out your seals when its really cold out. I talked to Shimano and they have no solution other than moving to a warmer climate, which is a pretty good idea I must admit. I will be looking for some Hayes brakes to put on before winter starts, which seems to be pretty soon.
One more race is on my list at the Mohican State Forest this Sunday. This place stays dry better than anything else I've seen in Ohio. A 24 mile loop with some good climbing will give me some good painful memories to think about in January. That's when I'll be riding icy roads and thinking about another installment of Captain James T. Kirk's log entry.

Last days of summer

2009-09-29T09:54:00.002-05:00

I really am not looking forward to this winter at all. Last winter I rode outside the entire time and probably scarred myself mentally. But the thought of the trainer is even more bleak so I know the wool layers will be coming out soon.
I went on a 50 miler with the Chief Sunday and guess where we ended up? You betcha, the greatest road bike downhill around. And this time it was plenty muddy at the top.
Despite his lack of fitness he managed to take 3 out of 4 sprints from me, so he's not a complete disaster. Man he loves pain, and I sure love giving him exactly what he wants.
I'm trying to get him fired up about racing again. I figured Saeler needs a good beating and the Chief is the only old guy around that can do it. We'll see what happens, I will keep working on him this winter. If he could just ride about 6 hours a week he would be winning in the Vet/Expert class I bet.

WW3 about to start at the World Cup

2009-09-23T08:18:00.002-05:00

Lorson sent this to me, I think Smed found it, which once again leaves me wondering...what exactly does he do with all his free time now that he's retired?

It's about time

2009-09-22T21:18:00.003-05:00

The last race in the NEO Power series was a time trial at Reagan park. It's a fun format, being only about 9 miles long, it adds a new dimension to the need for speed. The Reagan trail is the most twisty course I know of in Ohio. In other words, it was custom built for a guy like me. I don't like the big, open trails because they are quite frankly boring. That's what cyclo-cross is for anyways.
I signed up early and was the first off the line with 20 second intervals. This was nice because I didn't have to worry about any other riders to get in my way. On the other hand, it's nice to have someone to chase. Also, since I was the first rider in the woods I almost ran over three sets of hikers and a dog.
One of the Spisak boys was behind me and I held him off so I never got passed, I ended up first to secure my first win of the season. I was pretty stoked about that, but I keep thinking about that flat tire at the last race costing me a series overall win. I guess that just means I will have to return in 2010 to accomplish what I had set out to do this year. Jeff Cochran was only 11 seconds behind. I knew he was the guy to beat in my class after viewing his results from the last two years.
My prediction was right, and 26 inch wheels ruled the day, taking almost all the top spots. Dave Walker as always, won his class, but only by 1 second over Steve Twining!. I can't imagine Steve didn't beat himself up all night about that one.

Long live the King! (26inches baby)

2009-09-18T08:12:00.004-05:00

Well this is what I get for trusting a French tire I suppose(Michelin). The cut was 1/4inch long, and if you read the back of Stan's sealant, it claims to fill gaps up to that size. So technically I lost the race by 1/4", making it one for the record books. Take that Steve Bauer.

I am however, getting this Fox fork dialed in, using all 4 inches of travel now. If you are like I used to be, and putting too much pressure in because you think its faster, you are missing out. You might as well take your fork off and go rigid.

We had a good week off road. Knob race Saturday, Quail Hollow Sunday with the family, Findlay on Monday with the wife, and Reagan on Thursday.

Gillian rockin' the fourty-sixer.

Reagan was a reconnaissance ride for the TT this Sunday. The course is bone dry. While at the park I switched bikes with Feeman for a short loop. He's got a 29r and I had never really ridden one off road. The big wheels had astounding smoothness, and I can see how they would be very nice on open courses. But Reagan is not open at all, quite to the contrary.
In the tight trails it felt like I was trying to parallel park a limo in New York City. The front end just pushed to the outside of every turn and I had to manually raise up the front end and place it back in line with the trail. Now I realize that one ride doesn't do justice for a bike, but that kind of slow turning does not suit my style of riding at all. Velo News says the 26 hardtail is dead, apparently they haven't ridden any real tight singletrack. I may have a big wheel bike in my stable someday, but it will have to suit the course of the day before I ride it.
Choose your weapon wisely.

Of course he's running, he flatted on the last lap! If I see him in the woods this Sunday I'm gonna put some tire tracks right down his back. Get some Jenny Craig in your life you piece of lard!

Rubbin' is racin.' And so is flats I suppose.

2009-09-14T19:21:00.003-05:00

I went into the last Vultures Knob race with a five point lead on Lorson for the overall. So all I really had to do was beat him at this race and the series was mine. I knew he was in good form so I figured I would just take off like an crazed idiot and see how long I could hold it.
I got the holeshot and Walker was right with me. We went 1-2 into the woods and I tried to stay with him but that lasted less than a mile. That boy goes as fast uphill as most people go down.
I settled into my pace and was running back and forth with Chip Meek. We were 2nd and 3rd for the overall and I was leading the Vet/Expert class. He finally got away and one of the Spisak brothers also passed by me.
I got a few splits on Lorson's position and I was told he was about 1:20 back as I was into my last lap. The legs felt good and I was figured I just had to maintain the pace for the win. I came out of the snake and and met up with some of the worst luck I have had racing. I cut my back tire and it went flat in about 50 yards.
I used the Geax latex inflator but the hole was too big. My race was over. Lorson came by and that was that. I let out one explitive but really didn't get too mad. I calmly walked back to the car and got my Chiplotle burrito and EAS drink. 311 Promotions really does put on a nice race package.
I stayed for the awards and had quite a change of fortune. Groovy Cycles had a raffle for a frameset and they pulled my name out of the hat. "You got to be shitting me," was all I could say. Rody confimred it, he really did call my name.

Polishing the Knob.

2009-09-08T08:37:00.003-05:00

Last Saturday I attended the Knob trail maintenance day. I got my first experience with a gas powered weed wacker. (If you have seen my yard you will realize that I know nothing about weed wackers). It was hot and bug infested but these sweet 1980's shades I found in my closet really kept the eyes safe. And they added a good bit of Duran Duran style I must say. It really is amazing just how much grass can fit up one's nostrils after this type of activity. Furnace, Mazeville, and The Good Bad and the Ugly all trimmed up. Fortunately I don't get poison ivy, 'cause Mazeville is totally infested with it.

Self portrait, respect the wagon.

I had the wife buy me some Pasta de Guayaba while she was visiting family in Florida. I can't find this version in the north but sure do miss it.
I used train down there with Henry, a Columbian pro, when I lived there. One day he pulled this stuff out of his jersey pocket on a 95F day. It was four hours into the ride and it was almost molten when he handed it to me. He didn't speak much English but just said, "good for you," so I ate it, and loved it.
It's just guava and sugar sandwiched between cheese slices, but on a long ride it trumps any bar or gel for palatability, and packs some serious calories.
Henry told me alot of interesting stories about racing in Europe on a Division III team. His training methods were archaic to say the least. His former coach used to make him climb mountains in Columbia while dragging a car tire behind his bike. He was not allowed to get out of the saddle for 5-6 hours at a time. He told me I was too fat to climb, and that I must take pills and injections if I wanted to be "forte." He said he never knew what they made him take, nor did he care. Making a living as a bike racer in Columbia was good job, so you didn't question anything.
I was always a big Fabio Parra(Kelme) fan back in those days. (I'll take Columbian Greaseball Climbers of the 80's for $500.00 please). So Herny went back home to visit family and brought back a Kelme Jersey for me. It wasn't from Fabio, but Humberto Parra, his brother, I believe. I traded a Doug Shapiro autographed Denver Spoke jersey for it. And if you don't know him either than you got some U.S cycling history lessons to learn.

The whole enchilada

2009-09-01T15:28:00.004-05:00

This last weekend was the Manitoc Big Valley Festival. I took the family up on Saturday to preview the course after the hard rains we had on Friday. It was pretty sloppy in some areas but was mostly dry for the race on Sunday. I cant say it's my favorite course, but it definately is a big area.
The singletrack sections were good, but they were laced together by open grass fields and roads. This course suited the strong riders, and the strong guys won with good margins. As for me on the otherhand, the race played out differntely. I started out good, and got the hole shot, despite trying to take it easy. I would have rather have just sat in and drafted on the long grass start section. Ever since racing in Florida years ago, I just can't make myself start slow.
I had not raced since June so I knew this race was going to be brutal on me, especially given the long distance and steep, muddy climbs. There was a long gravel climb going into the first section of real singletrack and I knew I wanted to be first in so I attacked on the hill and kept the pace high in the woods. I was opening a small gap in the tight stuff, and thinking it might be a good day afterall.
Then I hit the first tough climb and was passed by Lorson and another guy. No problem I thought, I will just hang back and bide my time. Unfortunatly, my legs had nothing going into lap 2 and by lap three I was cramping hard. At this point I was just in survival mode and no amount of gels would bring me back to life.
I got passed three times with 20 minutes to go and ended up 6th. Te series offers a yearly supply of Chipotle burritos to the winners, and each time a guy went by I just kept thinking...there goes my burrito.
Oh well, that's racing, sometimes you got legs and sometimes you don't. I will adjust my training accordingly and should be ready for the next Knob race, where the course is tight and suits me much better.
One thing for sure, the Zaskar has not let me down once all year. It's by far the best tight singletrack bike I have owned. I often find myself brushing trees lightly with my shoulders because I take such a tight line. This suits my riding style to a T.

Photos credits:justysia on flicker. much thanks.

Mount that thing!

2009-08-18T18:33:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I realize I missed more than a decade of racing after 1997. When I left the sport, Camelbaks were not only the height of mtb fashion, but were deemed downright necessary, especially in hot climates.
I used to line up at an expert race and everyone had some type of hydration system on their backs. Now when I line up I am the ONLY one as far as I can see. When exactly did this change? And what for? The only thing I can figure is that people like to emulate the pros. And pros have pit crews handing up bottles and sponsors that don't want their precious names on the jersey covered up.
With the camelbak I can drink on any part of the course I want to. Some courses, like the Knob, offer very few good places to pull out a bottle.
And I even go against all good decorum and use mine road riding sometimes too. A moral and ethical blunder I'm sure. But keeping in the good graces of the roadies has never been on my agenda, on the contrary.
So if you can think a good reason I should'nt wear a camelbak, please let me know. Otherwise I will just keep on looking like a dufus on my own.

Wave your hands in the air like you just don't care

2009-08-11T19:41:00.004-05:00

Ok Lance fans, you ain't gonna like this post so just look away now. Not that this should surprise you coming from me though.
So Lance goes to Colorado and wins the Mtb State Championship, which I'm sure was a tough race. But seriously, WTF dude!? You are beating up on some guys that probably work 40 hours a week and have kids at home to take care of.
There is this little thing called UCI World Cup racing that you might want to check out first before stripping a title from a hard working blue collar worker out there. Have some F#$%^&g class man!

(Send your hate mail now, I love it).

Mommy, I am this big!

On a lighter note: I went down to the Mohican State Forest today and the trail was PERFECT! You know that 2-3" deluge we got here last night? Well it must not have rained at all in Loudonville so if you are looking for good trails then head on down.
The GT was railin' the turns and I was drifting the tires on several occasions. I can always tell when I have a good ride by the amount of debris kicked up by the front tire and stuck to my shins at the end. The only problem there now is that mile 16-20 is closed weekdays for some logging. This was quite a dissapointment because 'Ze legs had goot zenzations today' (Say this in your best Jens Voigt accent). I dearly wanted to set my best time there and was on pace for 2 hours until I came to that picnic area and saw the 'TRAIL CLOSED' sign. Crikey mate!
Oh well, I probably would have blown up anyway by mile 20. But it sure was fun while it lasted.

Dinner is served

2009-08-07T14:38:00.003-05:00

I decided to try to eat a Vegan diet for a week to try and drop a few pounds. So I stop down at the local farmers market looking for fresh veggies and come a across this Amish made peach pie. So I bought it along with three lbs. of yellow beans.

The crust was perfect and it was then that I realized it was probably made from lard. So much for the vegan effort. The beans are still in the fridge.

Note to self:If your'e buying a pie from a 250 lb woman, that should be warning enough by itself.
I wonder if elderberries will be in season soon?

Place your bets

2009-08-05T13:35:00.002-05:00

Leadville 100 coming up soon. Hopefully the finish will look like this again. Go Dave! Anyone think Lance can topple the Man this year?

Oh yeah, I forgot Floyd will be there too. I wonder if he will be back racing in sweatpants.

Just the beat down I needed.

2009-07-28T15:00:00.003-05:00

Six hours, four flats, lots of gravel, and Coshocton county. Now that's a ride.

Beetles tribute in Holmes county?

Sheldon came down from Vermont and of course wanted to do a cheese ride. I thought I rode gravel fast until he smoked me down a few hills. That is, until he flatted of course.

Can anyone guess where this is?

I think this sign pretty much says it all.
Notice the Amish crack house in the background.

Back in the saddle

2009-07-26T13:36:00.002-05:00

I took 7 days off the bike. Really, a solid week I did not turn one pedal. The legs feel better now but I lost some speed. No worries, it will come back soon, hopefully just in time for the NEO Power series.

Took the tandem to the Sweet Corn challenge ride today and had a good time in the hills. It's always a fun ride in the snobbish Bath Twp. area. However I must warn everyone with BMW's not to park next to my minivan. Well, at least he's not peeing on my car this time.

Mid season update

2009-07-14T14:11:00.004-05:00

I have been enjoying the cool summer weather and getting loads of miles in. There is still lots of gravel to be found in Holmes County, and we have done some sweet tandem rides down there. I think I really made Feeman mad with this one though. It was about a 10 mile section of HEAVY, freshly laid gravel leaving Winesburg. It was all I could do to keep the tandem upright. And as usual, if you look real close in the photo you will see Feeman coming up the hill behind us.
I been riding the Zaskar off road a good bit too. That bike has not given me one single mechanical all year which just makes riding all the better. I am to the point where I need to take a week off of riding to reset the system. It's hard not to ride when the weather is good so I bought another Resident Evil game to keep me at bay for week. Die Zombie scum!

Family Vacation

2009-06-29T16:04:00.005-05:00

Had a nice GOBA vacation last week with the family. We got in 335 miles of horribly flat roads but at least there was no rain at all. The average speeds were high and one day we did 50 miles in 2:16. I will be looking forward to hills next year hopefully. I only managed to gain 2 lbs. last week which is normal for me during that week. That's alot of food when you think about all the miles I did.
I ate copious amounts of mexican and the photo shows the bathroom in one of the finer establishments I visited. The toilette looked even worse, especially when I was done with it. This place was a real hell hole and the beer was even warm! Very authentic I would say.

I have a litte break in my race schedule now so it will be nice just to ride tons of hours with no particular training regimen. It's kinda funny how racing actually gets in the way of my riding.

Found this little gem in Elmore.

Many thanks to John for letting Charlotte ride with Sydney this year. I think they had fun on the tandem and they held a good pace everyday.

How's that 60 miles feel? Finally speechless.

Eternal 2nd

2009-06-15T14:09:00.002-05:00

I am starting to feel a bit like Joop Zoetemelk with another 2nd place at the Knob. Yes, Saeler showed up again in my class and of course won, but did not beat me by as much this time.
I lined up at the front again and took off hard from the gun. I found myself 2nd into the woods and figured I would see how long it would take for the younger experts to pass me. Just as we were about to finish the prologue lap Walker came by me. He must have thought I was Wilhelm because he called me Brad as he was about to pass.
After a few more young guys came around I settled into a more sustainable pace. The legs felt pretty good despite the worsening conditions from the rain. My front tire was not a good mud tire so I went a little easier on the downhills.
On the second lap I could hear a couple guys closing in on me so I cranked up the speed a notch and never saw them again. I knew I would not catch Saeler but figured I would keep the pace as high as I could sustain. The legs never once faltered, the only cramping I had was in my left forearm, but it went away with another Powergel.
Consistency has always been my strong point and I am now leading the overall series, which was my original goal.
Wes had a great race and seems to be riding well. I'm not sure what happened to John, but he sure was not at his usual level. Possibly winning Mohican took a toll on him. It sucks getting older, too much recovery time needed.

Out of the Closet!

2009-06-12T13:43:00.002-05:00

Former Tour de France victor Fignon has cancer, undergoing chemotherapy
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS – 2 hours ago

PARIS — Two-time Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon says he has advanced cancer in the digestive system and is undergoing chemotherapy.

Fignon announced his illness on Thursday. He says doctors told him the cancer probably wasn't caused by taking performance-enhancing drugs during his career.

Fignon has written a book, "We were Young and Carefree," in which he describes his use of amphetamines and cortisone. The 48-year-old Frenchman won the Tour in 1983 and 1984.

Fignon's admission of drug use doesn't bode well for Lemond either. As much as I hate to say it, he was probably juiced up as well in those days, otherwise he wouldn't have spanked Laurent so handily in several tours.
I will never look at a TDF winner, past or present, without clouded vision.
And to think, I used to have a Systeme U team kit back in the day!

You are ready now

2009-06-11T14:50:00.002-05:00

Poor Grasshopper. Your death, though tragic and gruesome, will undoubtedly provide some sick humored blogger many future posts and commentary. Not me of course, you all know I have quoted the Grasshopper in numerous postings and have the utmost respect for his fine acting over the years. But I do think that the way he died will change the famous Kung Fu line: "You must first snatch the pebble from my hand, but you must do it while wearing a wig and fishnet stockings my son."

Fourty Sixer!

2009-06-08T13:34:00.002-05:00

Patent Pending: The new rage in kids bikes. My daughter wanted to ride the Knob so I had to make some significant changes to her current 24" mtb. Mainly I need to drop about 10 lbs. from it by removing the P.O.S. front shock. I had an idea to install a 26" Kinesis aluminum fork and put a decent front wheel on it too. The old 24" shock had the same stack height as this non-suspension corrected 26". It was a perfect match, and when paired with some xt v-brakes it is much, much lighter. It kinda looks Frankenstienish, but it works well.

I've been eating my fair share of cheese these days.

Just what I didn't need, one more bike in the house! Yes, I realize I have an addiction, but they say recognizing the problem is the first step to recovery. This is also the first 10 speed set up I have ever owned. Seems like only yesterday I was on 6 speed downtube shifters.
GT does a really nice job on the welds.

This is the bike that has been getting to most use recently. Doesn't it look sweet parked beside the wagon?