Wow. I mean, Ow.

I'm still not back to a normal sleep rhythm yet but my legs are doing better than I thought. Thursday I rushed though the building of the bike and I totally missed the skipping of the new chain on the Surly cogs. I didn't think they'd have worn so much just being single speed cogs, but 10 seconds into a lap around the parking lot at 9 Mile had me perplexed. So much for a having the 5 speed gearbox. Off came the deraileur, shifter and 4 cogs. When in doubt, go single speed. The 34x19 seemed like a safe bet. Stuart, Rick, Dave, Connor (Stuart's son) and I went into Wausau for dinner and beer. After cracking open a New Glarus Naked we sat down to talk strategy. First on the list was to have fun. Next was to ride hard. If you couldn't ride hard, just have fun. Then came the drawing of the cards. An Ace, 2, 3, and 4 were pulled from a deck of card and Connor held them out for us to draw. Dave drew the 4, Rick the 3, Stuart the 2 and I pulled the Ace. I was fine with that. I don't get stressed out or nervous but I don't think I start as well as Stuart. After a couple of beers and hanging out with numerous other riders it was time for sleep.

The morning went well. I didn't worry about a warm-up since it would be a Le Mans start to the bikes. There were plenty of BKB jerseys in the field. PLip, Skip and I were a few. The Darkness was flying the mothership's colors. We were off and it was great. Rick Walls had also drawn a short straw (there's a pun there somewhere) and he'd been making noise about giving me a sound thrashing all day and all night. Unfortunately he meant on the bike. I jogged along behind him and hopped onto the Ferrous (almost typed 'Rig') just a rider or two behind him. I stayed with him and Russell until the second minor climb. Then a little voice inside my head said "easy there big shooter, this is an All Day Sucker. Make it last." So I mellowed a touch and worked on the trail. It was a great trail, except for the rocks. Not too much open ski trail, lots of nice single track, not too much actual climbing and plenty of places for spectators. All in all a better course than the WORS Marathon course a few weeks back.

Time for some sleep. I'll add more tomorrow, photos too.

Off I go...

Well I'm (we're) ready for 24/9 aka 24hr Nationals. It's just a local race to me, but then what do I know. I stayed up a little past my bedtime putting the finishing touches on the Ferrous. Yes, I'm well aware there's a couple of "growths" on the handlebars and rear drop-out. But they're there for the 5 Surly cogs (15t-21t odds + 22t) because I don't feel like wrenching in the wee hours of the darkness tomorrow night. Shifting courtesy of Suntour XC Pro "old skool" thumb shifter. A quick shower, pick up a case of beer with ice and I'm on my way to Wausau.

IT'S HERE!

AND IT IS REALLY PINK!

This week proved it isn't what you know it's who you know. While Creepy Friendly was able to get the warranty process started super fast, completion and delivery was out of his hands. Enter my neighbor... Tuesday evening after dinner with my parents he was doing yard care so I stopped to chat. He asked how the warranty process was going so I told him it was out of my hands with no actual ETA. He said he'd check Wednesday AM with the warranty painter and see where I was in the line... somewhere around #90. I got bumped ahead a bit and today he left me a message I could find the Ferrous on his porch after work TODAY. He was off at a function so it was safely sitting there waiting for me.

So now I have some wrenching to do. The phones are turned off, blinds drawn and the doorbell disconnected.

I have a bike to build.

Slow start to the week

Working four 9 hr days will be good training for 24/9. By the end of the day I'm worthless and needing a nap. That makes it difficult to get in a workout when the pillow is whispering to me.

Jesse called this morning with the "bad news, good news." The bad news is GF has no Rigs. The good news is they have a Ferrous. Better news is it will get covered in pink like you see here...

It's better in person, trust me. It'd be great if it shows by Thursday, but I'll be thrilled if it just gets here.

I'm still riding the Phinney with Super Record & tubulars until the end of the TdF or I get tired of riding a steel frame. What with the Ferrous on the way it may be a while before I hop on the Seven.

SNAP! uh oh... v2.0

After a good week I decided to head over to the Crystal Ridge course in Franklin for the WEMS race. I was still vacillating with 11 minutes before the start of the 30 mile race when Super Dave says "it's all good miles racing before 24/9." Oh what the hell, it's only $25. So I scurry over to the Rig, change the 15t to a 19t and hop into the BKB kit. I was able to stroll down the hill with a minute to spare before the Le Mans start back up the hill. I ran relatively hard and was easily in the top 10 onto the trail. I caught one single speed before the nasty single track and latched onto the rear wheel of a Muddy Cup rider. He was super smooth and he made it easy for me to go fast with 2 riders behind me taking turns bumping my rear tire. When the trail opened up again they zipped by me on their multispeeds and I tried to spin the 19t up to stay in touch. That didn't work. We hit the single track again and I caught back up and was content having them show me the lines and brake points. As we exited onto the gravel trail we wound around the western slope of the ski hill. Last year I ran a 32x19 for the WORS event there and walked the western slope every lap. The 34x19 wasn't easy but being in better fitness than last year showed as I was able to stay with the group to the top. Then they shifted gears and railed the flats.

Races like this keep my perspective straight. I was running between 10th and 15th once things were settled by the 2nd lap and I was content. I knew who was in front of me, good Elite and Comp riders on multi speeds. Yeah, there were 3 or 4 singlespeeds in front of me too, but I think they were Comp riders or they were locals who live on those trails.

I was cruising the 6.1 mile laps in 37 minutes and being relatively successful in dodging the trees in the first section of lethal singletrack. I wasn't hurting and was content following a multispeed when I sat down and heard a familiar SNAP! from beneath my fat ass. Only this time there was a bit of BANG! mixed into the sound. The guy in front took a quick look behind at me and asked if I was okay, "was that your chain?" I take a look and my seat is where it should be but now there's a rattle. I sit down again and the seat moves significantly. I reach back, grab my seat and as I lift it it takes the top of the seat tube with it. "Nope, I broke my frame." Dammit. As I pull off the trail out of the way I briefly thought about riding the next three and a half laps standing. No fucking way, I didn't need to finish for points so I bailed.



As I come out of the woods Dan Schneider sees me bushwhacking and says "hey, no cutting the course!" I can only shake my head and yell back "my frame broke, I'm done." I rode up the finish hill one last time and Rick, who was working the event says "what's the problem?" I reach back, pull the detached parts and toss it in his direction. Sorry it landed so close, I wasn't trying to hit you.


The usual group of onlookers assembles around the carnage. I can't blame them, it isn't every day you can see a broken frame.


Rick gives me a "drown your sorrows with this beer" as I sit down to watch the rest of the racers. Al was nice enough to offer his El Mariachi for a test lap but I lacked the motivation to change the pedals.

I looked at my watch and saw TBSwest sieeeeda was open so I gave Jesse a quick call. I told him what happened and his first words were "what color do you want your new frame to be?" Pink, definitely pink. He tells me to bring it in (today) and he can get the ball rolling. If a new frame isn't here in time for 24/9 he offered me his 19" Rig with V-brakes. This makes my freak-o-meter turn off. At least I have a bike for 24/9. Russell offers his glow in the dark Gunnar to me as well. Once I got home I stopped by Paul's place to show him the break and he adds a Ferrous to the stable of bikes.

So as I stripped the parts last night I wasn't worried about having a ride beneath me in a week. But I did feel sad. The Rig has been good to me and I've learned quite a bit from it, and not just about riding a singlespeed. I'll miss it.

Power napping

it's been a busy week. I've worked at least 9 hours every day and still managed a 2-3 hour road ride afterwards. Today I sat down on the couch to watch the last 20k of the TdF stage only to wake up 3 hours later to my brother on the phone. Thanks bro, otherwise I'd have slept all night. I'm going to ride around on the Rig with a light for some 24/9 dusk training. I'll keep it short as I have to work from 6-noon tomorrow. I'll also be driving to Milwaukee to preride Crystal Ridge during the Metro Challenge. I might even do the 3hr (30 mile) race.

it hurts so good

yesterday I intentionally went out on the Rig to run errands and get the joints moving. It wasn't pretty. By the time I reached my Dad's house I needed to get off the bike. A brief conversation later I was back on the road to drop off the pictures I took over the weekend. I should really get a modern digital camera. I was feeling better so I kept heading south and I stopped in to thank Gary for giving me such a deal on my new Maverick rims. I almost think they steer better than noodley road rims, hmmm could be. Nothing too scary, and just to be sure I did a few hill loops at Olbrich sled hill. I rode around until dusk and called it a night.

Today was a long day at work mostly because the rain wanted to fall but wouldn't. By the end of the day I was wearing wet clothes. I was so frustrated by the tinners at the job I just needed to sit. I went to one of our many jobs to help a pair of our steam fitters get their wiring pulled only to find the tinners had sawz-all'd anything that might have been in their way. On any other job if another trade has something in the way of their work they come to you and ask if it can be moved or put in after their work. Most times everyone works together thou not without the usual bitching and moaning about how it's costing them time and money. Not for these tinners, they cut out 3 of our pipes which are needed to connect with their system! In the entry of the building they cut 6 of the electrical contractor's pipes, and 2 already had live wiring within. I told my boss if I catch one sawing one of our pipes I'll take the sawz-all away and throw it off the roof of the building. Then I'll tell them if I catch them doing it again I'll send them after the saw.

Anyway, I didn't ride tonight. So there.

Yesterday's images

If a mullet makes you fast, I'll keep shaving my head

2 of 3 Single Speeders on the podium prefer Ale Asylum Diablo

just use a bigger hammer

After two weeks lacking real training I'm more than pleased. Friday I drove over to CamRock for some actual trail time but after an hour I was done. Saturday morning I worked for 6 hours only to lack focus when it came to packing the 4Runner for the trip. After getting gas, ice, beer and food it was easily 3pm with a two hour drive ahead of me. I had set the cruise and settled in only to find an 18-wheeler to draft. It pulled me almost all the way to Green Bay before it exited. When I arrived it was a beautiful day for a ride. Once I registered I asked a couple other single speeders what they thought about gearing. The consensus was 34x17 but a few suggested a 34x16. Since I don't have a 16t I thought I'd try the 15t. So I quickly changed it and pushed off in such a hurry I forgot any water. As I did the 12.05 mile lap I began to think of that 18-wheeler. Since we would be mass starting I would have the luxury of a multispeed infested pack to sit in, if I had a gear that I could push. There were no real climbs to speak of, just minor rollers which momentum could carry. As I finished the lap I decided I would run the 34x15 and be happy.

Then I went to dinner with Liz, Rick, Dave, Ben and two other guys whose names I've forgotten. I gotta start writing names down. The pasta at Luigi's was okay, but since it wasn't promptly served it allowed Ben some time to decompress. Ben's the driving force behind the event at the Reforestation Camp. He had the usual political headaches as well as others but he did an excellent job and in the end the event was Grade A-plus. I hope he does it again and is able to show us more than the 2.5 miles of singletrack that we rode because the Camp is a great trail. After dinner I set up my tent in the dark, grabbed a beer and went for a walk. I did the usual socializing and encountered a teammate I hadn't met, Scott Shapiro and his wife. His first SS race had been the Wausau marathon event and he'd placed just ahead of me in 7th, but 7 minutes faster. He had borrowed a Ferrous set up as a SS from a friend and we talked for some time. I started to lose it so I excused myself and went off to the tent for some sleep.

Race day.

Again a beautiful day. After a light pancake breakfast made by domestic goddess Rick I had a little more than an hour to get ready for the race. After doing the various rituals I attempted to spin the 15t out on the paved road. Once warmed up it felt good, on the road. I was a little worried when all my BKB brothers were running 34x16 or 17. Oh well, no worries, just deal with it. Everyone stages in their massive fields Expert, Comp, Sport and Citizen. Each left at 4 minute intervals in a "controlled start" across the paved parking lot led by an ATV. Right. Everyone was pinned as soon as we hit the pavement. I was spun out in the pack all the way to the first singletrack, which may have been 4 miles or more. It was 4 or 5 riders wide at times with all the multis pushing big gears. I just kept remembering the 18-wheeler and sat in the draft. I could see Ryan at times and on the longer straights I could see Stuart, mostly because he's so tall. Rick was busy checking out on us. I didn't get a chance to talk to Ryan after but I'd love to know how long he paced Rick. As we neared the first singletrack, I was behind two SS's, Roger Eckes and another. I could see two teens just ahead of them but I really didn't want them in front of us in the singletrack. So I punched it and passed them all, and with maybe 10 feet to spare I entered the singletrack first. I hit that section as hard as I could and by the end of it I couldn't see them behind me. I was hurting on the first lap. I hadn't found a tempo yet but I wasn't totally hating the 15t. On the ski trails I was able to draft the 6-8 multis with me and just before the singletrack I would repeat what worked the first time and jump them all to ride at my own pace. I kept leap-frogging groups of multis because I was able to latch on to new groups as I exited the singletrack. As I came out of the first lap Liz was standing in the feed zone with my water bottle kind of like the torch of the Statue of Liberty. As I grabbed it I startled her... she hadn't seen me coming at all. She just had it ready and was either daydreaming or looking at the earlier part of the trail. Midway through the second lap Spencer Strigel pulled up along behind me and "pushed" me up a small roller. I was happy to see a familiar face even if he was on a multi. We formed a group of 6 or so and took turns pulling the flat sections. Spencer must have figured out what I was doing leaping into the woods first because he followed me every time and by the start of the last lap he looked fresher and pulled away with a thank you and a wave. I was feeling good but I just didn't have the ponies in the motor to stick with him. That left me and a 21 yr old from Kentucky, Matt. He seemed to be suffering as much as me but he was willing to work together. The packs had dwindled and now we had to go on pure motor. He pulled most of the first straight while I pounded my hand-up from Liz and a Gu. We stared working together and were catching riders pretty steadily. Early into the last lap I saw Dan Schneider and John Bogdanski. I told Matt I needed top pass them and make it stick so I was going to give it the berries for a bit if he could hang I'd still work with him. He smiled and led the attack. We went wide and flew past and I didn't look back for a few turns. It had worked. A guy from Appleton joined us quietly but shared the load all the way to the end. I had been fighting off calf craps during the last 6 miles or so so I didn't bother to contest their sprint to the line. My final time for the 36.15 miles was 2:28:49.8 roughly +7:56 behind Rick, who won again. Ryan was 2nd at +2:38 back and Stuart 3rd at +6:12. Oh, I managed to come in 4th. Scott was 8th at +13:30.

Avg HR 156, 168max
1st lap 52:15.1 157av
2nd lap 45:14.9 156av
3rd lap 51:20.8 158av

A great big hug and thank you to Liz for the hand-ups. An even bigger hug and thank you to Ben Griggs for putting on a well run event that I will look forward to doing again next year.

As we were leaving there was a pair of young girls walking a bike with a dropped chain. It needed a deep 15mm socket to unjam the rear wheel from the stay but nobody had one. I didn't like the idea of them walking the mile or so home so I grabbed my dead-blow hammer and gave it three sound smacks which moved the foot peg back enough the tire was unjammed. When I finished they politely asked if they could ask me a question. "Sure" "Sir, why do you have one black Sun-Ringle sock and one white sock with flames?" My answer... "because Russell Jobs pays 50 cents a foot for Sun-Ringle socks on the podium and I still wanted to wear my good luck socks" ... as I showed them the two quarters Russell had paid me after the race.

Sometimes a bigger hammer fixes things just fine.


Now for my "what the fuck was he thinking" award. At Phillips the Comp riders had to do 4 laps of a course before turning off for the last 2 or so miles to the finish. Jim Liesen had managed to win the Comp SS event but the other SS riders never saw him pass them and he had no history of riding that strongly. Since nothing could be proved they let it slide but everyone knew he had missed a lap and finished early. Today he did it again. When he finished roughly 8 minutes before the first multispeed and maybe 15 minutes ahead of the next SS, even Don (Mr WORS) knew it wasn't right. When Jim Liesen didn't answer repeated pages over the PA system they did what had to be done, they disqualified him. Did he really think he could pull a Rosie Ruiz and get away with it? I hope he's DQ'd from the series/rest of the year. What an idiot.

wow...

what an exiting week. Since Monday all I've been able to do is build a pair of wheels and work. Yeah, work, it's the way I like to prep for a 30+ mile race. Climbing a ladder, hanging like a monkey from building steel, and driving a scissors lift around a new 90,000 square foot Gander Mtn to run the control wiring to 17 roof top Heating/Air Conditioning Units. 12 hrs Weds, 10 hrs yesterday and maybe 6 hrs Saturday. The only thing that takes the sting away is after 8 hrs I'm on time and a half and Saturday is all time and a half. I'm thinking new rims (again) and Avid Juicy 7's. I'll ride tonight since I'm nearer the house and there won't as much windshield time.

At this rate I'll be happy to repeat 7th or 8th but 10th is looking better. I'm sure Rick will win, but who will keep him company? Not I.

There's nothing like being with old friends. Today I felt like I was in the late 1980's so I wheeled out the Serotta complete with tubulars jacked to 170psi and Super Record friction shifting. 4 hours later I feel a little "buzzy" but all in all fine. And why not? When most people think of Columbus Day they think of an Italian with a bunch of ships. When I think of Columbus Day I think of streets filled with hand brazed frames under people who appreciate a good ride.

After stopping at TBS-West to get the low-down on Jefe's Carpet Fiber project I looped northwest of Cross Plains with intentions of hitting Lodi. I didn't go quite that far north but I did play on some quality hills.

Time for that ice water I mentioned yesterday and then I'll join the cats on the living room floor.

Africa Hot

"Man it's hot. It's like Africa hot. Tarzan couldn't take this kind of hot."

I've grown soft in my old age. 15 years ago I was living in Dallas and temps in the low 90's would have been a wistful memory in July and I still would have ridden for 4 hours. But that was then, this is now.

Yesterday we drove to Milwaukee for the day and it was comfortable. A late lunch at Cafe Lu Lu, a trip to the aquarium, smoothies and a breve by the marina were in our itinerary. I though it would be rude not to call Rick & Liz since we were in their 'hood. They were doing their version of dealing with the heat by sitting in an air conditioned movie theater for the afternoon. After the movie we met them for dinner and drinks (mostly ice water) at Riviera Maya. We rolled back into Madison just after 10pm and it was still in the mid-80's.

Today Karen decided she was leaving tomorrow. Relax, it is nothing dramatic, she turned in her bound dissertation Friday and will be returning in time to prep for her August 20th defence date. I gassed up the Jetta, drove it through the carwash, cleaned the windows and vacuumed it free of sand. We sorted the camping gear into theirs and mine so I'd have what I need for the race weekends and they'd have something in case the hotels are full. I'll miss the Jetta... and the girls too.

I just talked to Stuart about 24/9. I had an email from Richard and he's more inclined to do a solo if the 4 person falls though for me. Stuart was open to the idea to a 3 person team but he is going to pursue one more guy and should have an answer by the end of the week. I sent an email off to a woman coming in from Cali in response to her needing a mechanic for her solo. I'm confident I could mechanic for half the field for the night without any theatrics, but knowing the psychology of riders it would be better to keep single digit riders happy. Stuart sounded cool with the idea of extending hospitality to her but I would hesitate to assume it would include his RV. I should ask first.

Anyway, tomorrow the girls will be on the road to Seattle so after work I can hit the road on the Seven until dark.

Then I'll drink a gallon of ice water and sleep in front of the window AC unit. I'm telling you it's that hot.

yeah, I've been riding too

The last few days have been uneventful. Pedaling in circles by myself is just that thrilling. Headwind, tailwind, hills, cornering all on a ride.

It's also that time of year a cyclist's imagination can be a good training aid. By cyclist I mean roadie. By imagination I mean fantasies. By training aid I mean a means of motivation when you're grinding miles by yourself.

It was 3 years ago when it happened. It was mid-June and I'd been out in western Dane County riding solo and was on my way back through Cross Plains. What little energy I had left I put into reeling in various other cyclists. I wasn't traveling at warp speed but then they weren't either. As I rounded the corner at the base of Old Sauk Pass Road I saw a rider in a US Postal jersey. I suffered through the climb but hadn't gained much ground by the top. I hammered the flat and carried as much momentum up the brute of a climb on Timber Lane. I reduced the gap to maybe 100 yards on the downhill of Old Sauk and was slowly gaining as I big ring climbed. I was feeling better as I came up behind him, but I eased up and tried to ride silently as I began to hear his "conversation."

Okay Lance, *heavy breath* the break is just up the road *heavy breath* beyond the rise. *heavy breath* You just sit there *heavy breath* and I'll pull you up to them. *heavy breath* When we get there *heavy breath* you attack them hard.

I had to try really hard not to laugh.

As I pulled along side him he gave me a mortified look, knowing I'd just heard every word. I smiled and said "Viva Pantani" as I put a little more into a few pedal revs and pulled away. I'm pretty sure he soft-pedaled a bit and let me go.

I'm sure he's not the only roadie to fantasize while riding. C'mon now, I know I've done it, you must must have too. Unfortunately he got caught in the middle of a good one.

Last night I found the Evil Cycling site. Zeke is Evil when he's not flying the BKB colors One of the Evil missives is as follows...

...But let's get one thing straight: even though the L'Equipe 1999 EPO story is, in my opinion, a witch hunt, there's just no way he did what he did without cheating. No fucking way you do that year in, year out, putting out that kind of wattage, with overall speeds continuing to rise, on just training and technology. Ask Greg LeMond. If you think Lance is clean (or any of them in the top 100 are) you're a fucking idiot. You probably also think we went to war to save the Iraqi people from a vicious dictator, and that God exists. That being said, Lance is still superior, drugs and all. They're all on something and Lance still decimates them. Does the Discovery/US Postal crew have access to better drugs? Is it the Bristol Myers Squibb arsenal of chemists that's making the super good shit? Maybe they're crossed the threshold and just know how to dope on a better level. Who knows. But if you took all the juice out of the peloton, Lance would still stomp on everyone. So, just give up like I have. Take it as face value. I coin the oft-used analogy that cycling is now like Pro Wrestling. Just take it with a grain of salt, and understand you're being duped when you watch the big guns at the big races. Just know that we'll be watching, giggling, and laughing all the way. Hey, you're on EPO and god knows what, we're on Pabst Blue Ribbon and pot. So who's worse? Who are we to talk? God, I hope they're talking shit about us. I know they are, in certain circles. Again, we'll be watching, we're fucking everywhere. The sport, with its millions of dollars and huge fan base, will continue to purport itself as reality and continue to hush up the whistle blowers and truth tellers, and continue to look up the chimney at what they think is Santa's big fat ass. Whatever."

Without working myself into a similar frenzy I gotta agree.

Let's get back to Mr Roarke's method of training. Yesterday I found myself on the same road recalling the ride 3 years earlier. It was then it dawned on me I haven't been fantasizing this year, but why? As I rolled through town I surmised it most likely due to my dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs in what is professional road cycling. Where have the heroes gone? Are they waiting in line at the pharmacist? What has happened to the soul of road cycling? The spirit of cycling was in men like Cipollini, Jalabert, Pantani, Roche, Delgado, Chiappucci and Virenque.

As the TdF has lost passion in it's stages, I've lost the passion to watch. Gone is the day of careful VCR programming to record the stage while at work, working, a training ride and a late evening watching the stage "live." Gone is the summer spent driving in Wyoming and Montana only to spend an extra hour looking for a hotel or bar (and bribing the bartender) with OLN. Simply gone.

The tour needs passionate men... without radios in their fucking ears. Fucking Motorola assholes.

I'm doing fine without them in my head on training rides, but for the sake of the sport this shit has gotta get resolved.

Viva Pantani!

Road rims

Suck. Well, they do for use on 29ers when I use them. The last two rims I've used have had issues with me trying unnatural acts. The Mavic Reflex didn't like to be perpendicular to the rest of the bike at WiSSSC, and the Wolber didn't like having a pedal jammed into the spokes during Eau Claire WORS. So I'm giving up on road rims and sticking to dedicated 29er rims. The short list includes the stock Bontrager Mustang, Velocity VXC, Salsa Delgado Race, DT TK7 and Sun DS2-XC. 32 hole limits me to those choices as I'd like to continue using the stock hubs, RockWerk hubs, King rear and DT front hubs. I may as well buy 6 of the darn things.

Help Wanted

I'm also sending this out to the few emails of MTB racers I know but I'll give the blog-o-sphere a shot too. I or rather we need a fourth for the 24/9 race. At present me, Stuart Shelton and Rick Schnell (he sounds fast) are three of the 4. Registration is $98 and obviously a bike and lighting system is needed.

Ah, lights. There's still a month but what are my options? Is there a coordinated group purchase of a system? Someone mentioned rentals at 24/9 but what's the cost?

If you're interested click on the race link over to the right of this post and email me at kawab8s@yahoo.com

Hucker Handiman

The Space Bars I ordered yesterday came in today's mail. That was pretty freakin fast for $5 shipping. So instead of riding I drove to TBS Eastsieeeeeda to buy a pair of BKB grips and some brake housing.

Sephie found the 24" MTB's while I was taking care of bidness. The one she liked was fully rigid, mostly because it was more like a hybrid being a 7.2 for ~$450. It had room for 24" knobbies, and I'd rather have her hone her skills on a rigid than learn sloppy on a faux suspension bike.

No sooner did we unload in the driveway and start installing bars on the 69er did I have an audiance. A couple of kids, Chaz and Steve, on BMX bikes stopped to gawk. They had plenty of questions ranging from "do you race?" to "how many tools does it take?" Steve asked if I was going to do the 24/9. That caught me off guard. Steve then explained he has a Freeride Mongoose awaiting a new fork over at Willy Bike. I explained I was prepping the C-dale for 24/9 and had just installed the Switchblade. He asked if I could install his fork and save him $10. I couldn't think of a reason why not so I told him I'd do it. The left and returned maybe 30 minutes later with a frame, fork and headset. 20 minutes later the parts were united. In the time it took me to zip over to Michaels Frozen Custard with the family he'd put his wheels, seat and brakes on and ridden over to show it off to me.

While installing the fork we had talked about the recent work he might find interesting at Quarry Ridge Park. Ater seeing Jesse's carnage on his blog I'll make sure he has a helmet before he tags along.

I never did finish my work.

69er development time

Yesterday I was mistaken in thinking I would have dominated my multispeed age group by 6 minutes. Upon reflection I think I was either looking at page two or an uncorrected result for a wave that started behind us SS's.

Today I installed the 26" Bontrager Switchblade Race fork on the 1995 Cannondale M900. I ordered an Origin 8 Space Bar from a shop in Hartford. They should be here by the end of the week. Saturday I picked up a 36t chainring in 94mm BCD for the CODA cranks. Once installed they have ample chainstay clearance compared to the 44t that was on there previously. The only remaining items needed are a front brake caliper and a pair of Big Cheese grips. I'll be using the Avid levers which were on the Rig before it got the Pauls and a very cool SunTour XCPro 8sp thumb shifter.

It should be fun sorting it out on the trails before 24/9. I'd like it to be the alternate bike for the Rig. Ah yes, 24/9. Stuart Shelton asked me to be part of a 4 person team with him. What the heck, I should be in fine form in 4 weeks.

Hey wheels, Go Fast!!

What a good weekend. Seph and I left Karen to finish proofing her dissertation and headed to Eau Claire. It was our first father daughter road trip so short of hitting Tijuana and the bullfights we still had fun. Sprecher Rootbeer, organic potato chips were our toxins but for the most part we stuck to the usual food.

The folks in Eau Claire stepped up the venue this year. They had a 25' movie screen and a kids obstacle course. Rick and Liz had rolled in just ahead of us so we figured out the logistics of riding, setting up tents and Sephie watching. Rick and Liz did a lap while I set up our tent. Then Rick and I did a lap while Liz hung out or watched Sephie in the kids area.

I really can't thank Liz enough for helping keep track of Seph. Seph was a real pain too. I would have taken away her bike but that would have been more harmful in the long term. So she got to do the kids race, which she did on her SS and even though it wasn't an actual "race" she was 4th. All the kids got finisher medals, but Seph didn't strut around with it afterwards. Despite her ignoring Liz and me, I'm proud of her for having her head on straight when it comes to her outlook on competition.

Anyhow, Rick and I picked our gears, 34x18 for him and 34x17 for me. I'd tried the 34x15 on the preride but I didn't think I would be able to climb fast enough to warrant any advantage on the flats. It also didn't feel fast in the singletrack. Once I saw how sandy everything was I gave up on the Tigres. Unless it rained all night they would be useless. I put the clinchers back on shod with the Mythos CX slicks. At 42mm they were fast on the flats but were shit in the singletrack and lacked volume to absorb hits from the roots. Rick had brough a pair of WTB Nano Raptors to sell me and I'm glad he did. They were perfect during the race.

Saturday evening was spent eating in Eau Claire, having Cold Stone ice cream for dessert and watching "Roam" on the big screen at the venue.

If you have to rent Roam, don't. First, it isn't a cycling movie. Don't misunderstand me, the guys in that movie can do acrobatic things much in the way a gymnast or snowboarder. But after every run they'd turn around and PUSH the bike back up the hill. A 40# 1x9 getting pushed up a hill, weak. Rent "Ride" instead.

Race day.

I warmed up and was called to the line first. Wierd. I'd feel better about being first if I hadn't had had an 18th wedged in there. When "Go!" happened I had a good start but I didn't have the revs that Rick, Stuart and Ryan had all the way to the woods. Yeah, Ryan showed. He's had "a couple two more" training rides but he sure was in prime form. I as 10th SS into the woods but passed 2 on what there was of open trail before the rock corkscrew. As I came down the short downhill where I biffed it during last years preride I rearended a bee with my left earlobe. Than to add insult to injury, as I pull the bee off my ear, a multispeed behind me had the balls to tell me "hey singlespeed, if you can't ride the up-coming rocks get out of my way." I told him if he could stay on my wheel I'd let him by after the bridge. There were two multis in front as we hit the rocks. The first one screwed up and suddenly was sprawled across the trail. #2 Multi went left and crashed into him so I could only do one of two things, crash too or bunny-hop over. As I hopped over I heard the guy behind me pile into the carnage. I got on the gas and tried to get a tempo. By the time I cleared the new "sand luge" feature I got an update from Ben Griggs who was spectating. Rick was in front and I was 15 seconds back. At the top of a short climb the trail opened really wide and I managed to pass two more SS's before passing a picnic area. The trail was littered with 40-45 yr riders and most of them were aware enough or cool enough to move aside when I asked. One guy kept pace with me in the singletrack but would pass me in the open areas. Every time I had to repass him on the singletrack. After the first lap I looked under my arm and saw him drafting me on the long into the wind section. I told him to pull thru as he had the gears but he was sort of cool about it and said "why? You'll just have to pass me on the singletrack again." I told him I'd pull on the downwind side over the "camel hump" and all the way to the single track if he pulled to the first corner. As we rounded the corner a guy on a Trek 69er passed me. He'd been drafting both of us and I got on his wheel. As we came up on a multi he pushed a pass and pissed the multi off. I told him I'd wait for a more open area if he just stayed near the 69er. He was riding over his ability as soon after he clipped a tree and took us both down. I pulled his pedal from my front wheel and did a quick spin check. It was mildly taco'd. I didn't bother to remove the wheel I just grabbed the two affected sides and put some weight on it. Good as new. I remounted and got right back on pace. I'd caught the previously mentioned multi in time to make good on my offer but the 69er was far up the trail. I could see him ahead but I knew unless he crashed or flatted I'd be finishing behind him. The rest of the race went without mishap and I felt good in my pain. Every time I looked at my heart monitor it was showing 169bpm, and no it wasn't on average or max. I out sprinted a couple of multis before the line and finished in 1.10:42ish. I was roughly a minute faster than last year but the course was vastly different. With more singletrack and less open crosscountry ski trails laps were longer and should have been slower. But I've improved on all fronts so a repeat of last year's 7th is easier to stomach.

Rick won, Ryan was second nipping a guy from Alterra Bean at the line. Ryan also narrowly avoided throwing up after the effort. Stuart, Ryan and the other guy had worked together on the flats trying to gain on Rick but to no avail. Rick is just not going peacefully. Good for him too. We'd all suffered hard and fast on a demanding course.

DJohn finished a couple of minutes behind me, 10th I think, and asked me, "do I look like I just tunneled out of prison? Because you do." We all had collected trail dust and looked as DJohn said. Josh had turned in a good showing too.

Jesse and Marko went to work today too. As I broke camp I caught glimpses of them passing on the open flats. Jesse was working over Phillips ad by the finish had easily put 15 seconds on him. Marko had a lock on 3rd which reinforces the 29er SS cred.

Thanks again Rick and Liz. While I may have needed the time to race, Karen need us both out of the house to finish her work, and she did.